=/\= USS Chimera – Stardate 240911.22 =/\=
=/\= The Wedding of Richard Sharpe & Chloe Merau =/\=
This was the day. Nothing could’ve prepared him for it, and he was more afraid now than if he’d been asked to stand against the entire 92ndRomulan Legion with nothing more than a pencil. All the planning, all the preparations, all the anticipation – it came to a head here.
Standing in the lounge of the USS Chimera, waiting for the guests to arrive, Richard was wearing his Grade 1 Dress uniform, pacing up and down in front of the rows of empty chairs. He’d worn this uniform countless times in the past, and yet today it felt hot and oppressive. The ribbons on his chest felt heavy, and the two stars on either shoulder felt as if they’d been made of pure iron.
Patrick Harper sat in one of the chairs on the front row, twiddling his stick in his fingers. He too was wearing his Grade 1 marine blues, with his row after row of ribbons. Only difference was he had on both arms his enlisted rank, the gold chevrons on red, three up, four down, with a star in the middle surrounded by laurels. He looked up for the umpteenth time and sighed. “Would you take an order from me, sir?” He asked.
“What is it?” Richard snapped.
“Would you for the love of Jeez stand easy sir, you’re wearing a hole in the carpet.” Harper said, smiling.
“That’s easy for you to say…” Richard snarled.
=/\= Private Room =/\=
Chloe was fixing a pin in her hair. She was already dressed in a flowing white dress with blue lacing. The dress she had picked out for Sarah, the maid of honnor, and Richard's daughter from his first marriage stood next to her. Sarah's dress was light blue with white lacing and knee length.
((Chloe's dress: http://s.bebo.com/app-image/8363191779/5411656627/PROFILE/i.quizzaz.com/img/q/u/08/10/04/6008-M.jpg ))
=/\= Lounge =/\=
Captain Cropa Rojac entered the ship's lounge and was quickly cornered by an Operations Yeoman that issued a report. All the preparations had been made, the decorations were set and the refreshments had been prepared. All that was missing were the bride and groom. Rojac thanked the young enlisted man and continued to his station, on the small stage set before the picturesque panoramic viewport looking out into the starry fields beyond.
He wore his dress whites, something he'd gotten more used to during his stint as a Captain, and stood with his hands behind his back. He caught the gaze of General Sharpe's best man in the far doorway and nodded. That was the groom party's cue.
At the nod, Harper nudged Richard, and the two of them walked with military precision down the aisle towards the raised platform for the wedding.
Rojac nodded to the General and whispered, "Don't lock your knees, sir. It'll hurt if you faint."
Richard narrowed his eyes. “I think if I survive this, I should get the Medal of Honor.”
Rojac smirked and looked toward the door down the aisle. The string quartet in the corner began playing.
Sarah went out first, getting the que to move.
Chloe waited as Sarah went down before her, then took a deep breath. This had her nerves on edge. Finally, she moved from the private room, then walked down. Her eyes quickly found Richard, and didn't look to anything else.
Rojac smiled as Chloe reached her position and the music stopped playing.
"Ladies and gentlemen," He began, "we are gathered here to witness and celebrate the marriage of two of the Federation's finest. Major General Richard Sharpe and Second Lieutenant Chloe Merau. They met in service on the distinguished USS Enterprise and have since become, to my understanding, inseparable since."
"Both of these distinguished officers wish to declare their love and devotion to one another, will you gathered as witnesses. And they have asked me to preside over the services. So without further adu."
Cropa turned to the General. "Richard, to you take Chloe to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold in sickness and health, good times and bad, until death do you part? If so say I do."
Richard looked into Chloe’s eyes, smiled and said “I do.”
"Chloe," the Captain turned to the bride, "Do you take Richard to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold in sickness and health, good times and bad, until death do you part? If so say I do."
Chloe's attention had been completely on Richard this entire time. A extremely happy smile on her lips, she spoke the words. "I do."
"If the best man will present the rings." Cropa held out a hand, and Harper placed two rings into his palm. Cropa in turn handed the smaller one to Richard, and the larger one to Chloe.
<< The wedding rings: http://www.weddingplanningbudgetguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/what-are-wedding-ring-sets-300x300.jpg >>
Taking the ring in one hand, and Chloe’s hand in the other, he slowly slid the gold band onto her finger. It was a rather elaborate ring, being that it was a gold band studded with diamonds, set with a very large diamond on top.
Chloe took the ring that she had been given, taking Ricchard's hand and sliding it onto the correct finger. After sliding the ring on, she didn't let go of his hand.
"As Commanding Officer of the USS Chimera NCC 96899-C, and the powers granted to me by the United Federation of Interstellar Planets, I hereby declare Major General Richard Sharpe and Second Lieutenant Chloe Merau husband and wife." Cropa turned to Richard. "General, you may kiss your bride."
“Like I need telling twice.” He said, and took Chloe’s head gently in his hand, lifting her chin up slightly as he leaned in and kissed her affectionately on the lips.
Chloe kissed Richard back with all of the same affections. When the claping started, she pulled slightly away from him, a large smile on her lips.
=/\= End Log =/\=
MGen Richard Sharpe
MEF CO
2Lt Chloe Merau (now Sharpe)
Pilot
Capt. Cropa Rojac
CO, USS Chimera