The Silence Will Rise - Episode 16 Wrap Up
Posted on Mon Nov 17th, 2025 @ 9:34am by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Wow... Just wow! What a mission this has been. This mission was our attempt at showing how a large scale battle would go. I for one would say that it was an immense success.
All in all this mission had a lot of moving parts. From the Marines doing what they do best, to the science teams figuring out how to close a portal that they were not even sure how it functioned. Special kudos to our XO who worked tirelessly to plan the battle sequence and made sure that it was fun, and realistic. I want to thank each and every one of you for making this story one for the ages filled with action and humor.
So without any gilding the lily and no further ado I give you the one, the only, awards... taps mic... Is thing on?
Promotions
To start things off the Command Team would like to recognize someone who has earned a promotion. It is perhaps a tad overdue, however, it is well earned.
Edmund Merrick - There are those in this hobby that can be considered a force to be reckoned with. These are people who not only contribute to the story, they contribute to the community at large, and the running of the sim in general. Edmund Merrick is one such person. As they step up to take over the general running of our Marine department they have shown us exactly how much more there is to a Marine than simply fighting. It is for these reasons and a whole lot more that I am proud to grant Edmund Merrick the rank of Major with all the rights and privileges therein.
Awards
Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren -
Captain's Personal Merit Award -
"Maren managed to involve themselves in all facets of this mission, and there were a lot. They managed to be involved in not only the Science part of the mission, but using NPCs they were part of the Marine plot. Along with the ship's Counselor Maren caused me to rethink an entire race in this mission when they approached The Silence at the end of the mission. Truly worth recognizing Maren in this community and for their part in the mission. Thank you for everything you do."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Sergeant Major Lachlan Barr -
Executive Officer's Merit Award -
"In the best traditions of the Corp, Sergeant Lachlan took the fight to the enemy and did it with style. I appreciate the leadership they took in making our latest mission a success. With so many moving parts the help...well. Helped!
Thanks."
-Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble-
Lieuteanant Ja'sol H'ros -
Second Officer's Award of Merit -
"I think I haven't given one of these to you before. But also, I think you did great in the chaotic battle you had alongside the marines and security. Going off of reports from Ensign Nguyen. Therefore I award you the Second officer's Award of Merit."
-Lieutenant Commander Rowena McGowen-
Sergeant Audie Fitch -
Enlisted Award of Merit -
"Sergeant Audie Fitch has been a consistently outstanding contributor to this mission through rich, character-driven writing and emotionally resonant storytelling. Her posts blend vivid, atmospheric prose with a grounded enlisted perspective, giving “Silent Cries” much of its emotional weight. Pieces such as her nightmare-driven reflections and her coded exchanges with Zek showcase a deft balance of humour, vulnerability, and tension, turning personal moments into powerful narrative beats that deepen the overall plot rather than simply reacting to it. Across the mission, Audie serves as a key point-of-view character for the rank and file, tying together different corners of the crew through her relationships and interactions. Her arc—coping with the fallout of the Silence, the strain of disobeyed orders, and the cost of loyalty—unfolds in a way that feels authentic and engaging, inviting readers into the inner life of a Marine corpsman who refuses to lose heart. For excellence in writing quality, meaningful story contribution, and compelling character development, Sergeant Audie Fitch is highly deserving of this award."
-Sergeant Major Lachlan Barr-
Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble -
Crew's Choice Award -
"With the CO dealing with RL things, Tremble stepped up and pulled things together for the crew. He organized behind the scenes. spoke with those involved, made certain that the posts flowed. He was creative, also gently, but firmly pushed things forward. To top things off, the writer behind Tremble, had his character get very messed up physically but also penned a solo which was broadcast over the comms giving the group incentive to continue the fight.
Well done, and thank you for the work you put in."
-Major Edmund Merrick-
"He really helped to move the storyline and did an excellent job of roleplaying his character. That is the hallmark of a great player, He even lost a leg during the mission. Compared to that, no one else has a leg to stand on."
-Lieutenant Ja'sol H'ros-
"Lots of brave choices with his character and sticking with it."
-Lieutenant Vura-
"Shane carefully plotted the battle on Wren IX to give everyone a chance to stand out. He was actively involved in each of the posts to not only help move the story along, but to write with other players. He communicated on Discord and in OOC to make sure everyone knew what was going on and helped them find a way to get involved.
While this mission was definitely a team effort, I definitely feel Shane was the main driving force for the battle posts and they turned out to be incredible posts."
-Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren-
Gunnery Sergeant Tessia T'Lar -
Non-Player Character Award -
"This award was created to be given to NPCs that add realism to our little universe. Tessia is just such a character. In the battle that was this mission we learned a lot about this character, down to their fears. Just goes to show that sometimes it is not the officers that add the most to a story."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Sergeant Major Lachlan Barr & Master Sergeant Flarn -
Friendship Ribbon -
"The banter between these two during this mission was reminiscent of one of the greatest friendships in literature. That of Legolas and Gimli. While Flarn and Lachlan may not be at that caliber yet, they are well on their way."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Ensign Millicent Ambrose & Lieutenant Junior Grade Rachel Sinclair -
Friendship Ribbon -
"Rachel’s joint Post with this character gave her a perspective on a personal issue she struggles with. I felt this post was the start of a very supportive and growing friendship."
-Lieutenant Junior Grade Rachel Sinclair-
Lieutenant Narin Valen -
Departmental Service Badge: Command -
"It is a special treat to see how those not in command handle command situations. In the post Bridging The Silence, Narin was given command of the Bridge while the Senior Officers were in a briefing. His commitment to making this part of the story as realistic as possible while furthering the plot merits this award."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Petty Officer Second Class Sofia Cipriani -
Departmental Service Badge: Command -
"Very often we never get to see the emotions behind the Command decisions or people. During Silent Cries we got to see a number of emotions from our resident Yeoman. It showed us the kind of roller coaster that those who are left behind while others fight can go through. For these reasons the Command Badge is awarded, adding to the story is significant indeed."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Lieutenant Ja'sol H'ros -
Departmental Service Badge: Service -
"This award is usually submitted by department heads. However, our Chief of Security would not give it to himself so here we are. Most people who play Security and Tactical characters find it hard to step back when there is a battle to be had. During this mission Ja'sol stepped to the side and allowed the Marines to do their thing. Actions such as this is not only service to the department, but to the ship and sim as a whole. Thank you for all that you do."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Lieutenant Junior Grade Michael Harris -
Departmental Service Badge: Science -
"During the mission to save the Silence, Michael had one job--besides drinking and knowing things. He had to find a way to close the portal and seal the entity in its own dimension. He worked with a team of department heads and brought in the pilot of the Hawkeye while keeping his Superman costume hidden from view.
He pulled it off with his usual cocky aplomb and witty quotes, thus well-deserving of this award."
-Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren-
Sergeant Major Lachlan Barr -
Departmental Service Badge: Marine -
"Sergeant Major Lachlan Barr, during the last mission he helped to push things forward. Especially in the final part, he rose to the occasion, with Tremble being down. Lachlan rallied the troops, getting everyone focused and blasting through the fear factor that the entity was presenting. Talk about getting 'Cats' herded. Nicely done Lachlan."
-Major Edmund Merrick-
Staff Warrant Officer Rommie -
Intelligence Prowess Award -
"I would like to award the Intelligence Prowess Award to Staff Warrant Officer Rommie. During the last mission her program being connected to the suits on the ground, gave her opportunity to relay intelligence from the ground to the ship and back. Her presence of the bridge has been invaluable for the mission."
-Lieutenant Commander Rowena McGowen-
Lieutenant Kolok -
Character of the Month -
"Unsung heroes should never be left unsung. For the month of October Kolok really shined with his interactions and balance of being both a warrior and a whiz at Operations. His invention of a key element that helped bring the story to a close was like an athlete coming through at the buzzer."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Lieutenant Ja'sol H'ros -
Support Character of the Month -
"When there is a battle going on it can be exceptionally hard for the Chief of Security to take a step back and allow the Marines to do what they do best. However, in the month of October Ja'sol did just that. Allowing others to take a moment to shine is probably the greatest support a character can give to another."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Narin Valen -
Outstanding Post Ribbon -
"This award is given for the posts "Connection Parts I & II" These two posts described a rather disturbing nightmare that Valen had and how he dealt with it. It also served as a way for The Silence to break through and get the help they needed. Very descriptive and well written as we take a look into Valen's dreamscape."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Petty Officer Second Class Sofia Cipriani & Gunnery Sergeant Gaagii -
Outstanding Post Ribbon -
"The Bond is an very good piece of writing, bringing the dramatic to a personal storyline as a result of characters going into harms way. It does a fine job of character development and was enjoyable reading so thank you."
-Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble-
Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble -
Outstanding Post Ribbon -
""A Last Gasp" was an outstanding post. It was both a call to keep fighting and what Neil thought would be his last goodbye. It was well-written and heartfelt. It was also memorable. This post definitely deserves to be recognized with an award."
-Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren-
Lieutenant Junior Grade Galen Trellis & Petty Officer Second Class Sofia Cipriani -
Most Creative Cross Sim Post -
"This award is given for the post titled "The Work Within" in this post the new Helm Officer for the USS Valiant is taken to their ship by the new Helm Officer of the USS Pioneer. It is a great look into what two people who don't know each other discuss when trapped in a shuttle together."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Lieutenant Kolok -
George S Patton Jr Memorial Award -
"The fleet side of this award goes to Kolok for their work in the series of posts titled Team Fleet. A Klingon Operations officer can have a difficult decision to make when they are sent into a battle that also requires their technical knowhow. Kolok keeps us enthralled with his ability to fight with honor while assisting in removing a complex computer system. Truly a joy to read."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Sergeant Audie Fitch -
George S Patton Jr Memorial Award -
"For the Marine division this award is given to Audie Fitch. Their work in the series of posts titled "Command Team" was what made that series work for me. Viewing the impending battle from the eyes of a younger Marine who was a medic was something that set the scene and made the post a joy to read. Great work!"
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Lieutenant Junior Grade Rachel Sinclair -
Library Excellence Ribbon -
"Sinclair's tags are joy to read, and very often flow so well that it takes little thought to respond. A great writer truly deserving of this ribbon."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Lieutenant Vura -
Creativity Award -
"There is sort of a story attached to the reason for giving this award. The mission titled Silent Cries was not originally slated to end in the manner in which it did. However, mid mission Vura had a great idea and we ran with it. Now a species that was designed to be both friend and foe is taking steps on becoming a close friend. Situations such as this is why this award was created."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble -
Scheherezade Award -
"The bulk of the Silent Cries mission was telling the story of battle, of war. Our XO not only took that ball and ran with it, but he slammed dunked it as well. In the spirit of this award he put the pieces together and told one of the most intricate stories that I have seen in some time. Not only did he plan the attack but he made sure that the enemy had moments as well. Like the heroine this award is named for Tremble kept us enthralled."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Commodore Tyler Malbrooke, Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble, Lieutenant Commander Rowena McGowen, Petty Officer Second Class Sofia Cipriani, Lieutenant Ja'sol H'ros, Lieutenant Junior Grade Rachel Sinclair, Lieutenant Kolok, Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren, Lieutenant Narin Valen, Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke, Lieutenant Vura, Major Edmund Merrick, & Sergeant Audie Fitch -
Tour of Duty Award -
"Awarded for completing The Silence series of missions. Further awarded for convincing The Silence to set aside their xenophobia."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Commodore Tyler Malbrooke -
Whoopi Goldberg Diversity Ribbon -
"This award is given for the development of The Silence. A truly dynamic race that has long lasting effects withing the world of the USS Pioneer."
Lieutenant Ja'sol H'ros -
DeForest Kelly Humor Award -
"A battle for the fate of an entire species is serious business. So, it takes some serious humor to lighten the mood from time to time. Ja'sol kept our spirits bright as we read through the posts of Silent Cries. His quips and dry sense of humor got even the most stoic of Vulcans to crack a smile. Well done!"
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Sergeant Audie Fitch -
Purple Heart -
"Awarded for injuries obtained during the battle of Wren IX. Of special note is Audie used these injuries to show us another side of their character. Well done, it is truly great work to use a plot point for character development."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble -
Purple Heart -
"Awarded for injuries obtained during the battle of Wren IX. It is of special note that he left his leg on that planet."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Gunnery Sergeant Gaagii -
Purple Heart -
"Awarded for injuries obtained during the battle of Wren IX."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Lieutenant Narin Valen -
Service Accommodation Award -
"Narin was "hired" to be the Assistant Chief Science Officer. However, during Silent Cries they found themselves in command of the Bridge and gunning down any number of baddies during the battle. It is highly appreciated when someone steps up to fill gaps when needed. It is appreciated even more when that person shows us a thing or two about their character as they do it."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke -
Outstanding Volunteer Award -
"This award is given for work they have done "behind the scenes". Hermia assisted in developing not only sections of Silent Cries, but also an entire plot that is now scheduled to run for the whole crew. Actions such as this deserve to be recognized as it takes some of the weight off of the shoulders of the game masters. Thank you for volunteering, and for contributing your talent to this community."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren -
Community Service Citation -
"Alyssa is perhaps the only member not part of the Command Team that knows some of my secrets lol. They are always ready to be a sounding board, to bounce ideas off of, and to do basically anything they are asked to do. From assisting with website issues, to helping make things make sense Alyssa is just an all around go to person. Thank you, thank you, thank you."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble -
Professional Merit Award -
"In the time that Tremble has been aboard the Pioneer I have seen the character grow. They have even become the Captain's best friend, something I did not see coming. Every post that has been written with Tremble simply flows, there is little thought needed for responses. The character is a joy to interact with."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Major Edmund Merrick & Petty Officer Second Class Sofia Cipriani -
200 Posts Ribbon -
"Awarded for completing more than 200 posts on the Pioneer."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren -
500 Posts Ribbon -
"Awarded for completing more than 500 posts on the Pioneer."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Petty Officer Second Class Sofia Cipriani -
Ribbon of Committment -
"Sofia is one of the people that I can safely say the Pioneer would not exist without. They help with creating avatars, to running plot, to helping with planning and the day to day running of the ship and crew. One of the instances not mentioned in the description of this award is friendship. Committing your time and energy to help a friend is perhaps the greatest commitment of all. Thank you!"
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Lieutenant Vura -
Bronze Star -
"Despite personal hardships Vura is always ready willing and able to write and contribute. They are present for community conversations and events. Calling others to join their chats as well. Additionally, Vura is a great and mysterious character. We have only scratched the surface of Vura or so it seems. I look forward to seeing where they go next. Thank you for all that you do."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Sergeant Audie Fitch -
Medal of Honor -
"There were a great and many people injured during the Silent Cries mission. Audie Fitch followed their orders and patched up as many people as possible before themselves becoming one of the wounded. It takes brave people to go into combat. It takes braver people to ignore the death in favor of life. While going through the trials and tribulations of medical exams, they managed to show us a deeper side of their character."
-Commodore Tyler Malbrooke-
Lieutenant Junior Grade Rachel Sinclair -
Outstanding Assistant Department Head Award -
"Rachel has been a godsend, She is a strong and capable player who is always there for the team and helps advance the storyline. She is a joy to write with and works well with those in her department and all other players on the Sim as well, for this reason alone she has my gratitude and friendship."
-Lieutenant Ja'sol H'ros-
Discovering new lives and new civilizations is what Star Trek is all about. The Silence may have not been new, however, getting them out there and in the galaxy is new.
This mission and everything that was done will not only have a large effect on the Pioneer storyline, but a deep impact on all of the crew.
Here is to what is to come onward and upward as the old saying goes.
For Now
Steady As She Goes,
Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Category: General News
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