Admiral Richard Wallace strode through the double doors into the small non-denominational chapel on the ground floor of the station's promenade, and almost ran over Chief Murphy, who was adjusting a temporary camera on the wall there, making sure it was focused on the front podium.
Upon seeing the Admiral, Murphy smiled and said, "The ceremony will be carried on all viewing screens, Admiral."
"Good," said Wallace, smiling himself, before resuming his walk to the pulpit. He was in a pleasant mood; it wasn't every day that he got to perform the ceremony at two of his old friends' wedding. He took his place behind the pulpit and tugged on the front of his dress uniform, trying to straighten imaginary wrinkles, and looked about the room. Already, most of the seats were occupied by family and friends of Kim and Garek. It seemed half of the engineering section was in attendance; they filled the left half of the chapel, and were busy talking among themselves.
Probably arguing about the proper method for calibrating self-sealing stembolts..., chuckled Wallace silently to himself.
In the front rows sat the happy couple's family and closest friends. Garek's parents, Ton and Belinda Loran sat in the front row, holding hands and looking proud. Kim's mother, Katherine Tycho was also in attendance, hanky in hand, trying not to cry and not succeeding. Her husband, Kim's father, hadn't been able to make the occasion, unfortunately. His duties as Chief Engineer on Starbase 74 kept him very busy, but he had sent a hologram along with his wife expressing his joy at the prospect of having another Chief Engineer for a son-in-law.
Max Vasser, Sam Beckett and Jo Schmidt were there of course, as well as the new recruit, Alex Something-or-other -- Wallace couldn't quite remember her last name since he'd never actually served with her -- all looking extremely sharp and gorgeous in their dress whites.
Garek's long legacy in Starfleet was attested to by Captain Stephen Maruu, his captain from the USS Virgo, and Ka'Rong from the To'Kar, as well as Captain Mallory and most of the upper staff of Starbase 901. Kassia and her circle were present and accounted for, as well as a sizable Marine presence, all decked out in full dress uniforms. Wallace couldn't remember if he'd ever seen this much spit and polish concentrated in one place before; he wasn't sure the fabric of the universe could handle it.
Wallace turned his attention to the groom himself. Standing nervously before the podium waiting for the ceremony to begin, Commander Garek Loran looked the epitome of dashing "knight-in-shining-armor", bedecked and mailed in his immaculate, white, ceremonial dress uniform. I doubt I'd be that calm right before my own wedding, thought Wallace. Of course, I'm not a 'Q'.... Standing stoically beside Garek was his best man, Colonel Tarik, looking at the same time both fearsome and pleased in his SFMC dress uniform. Only a Romulan could pull off an act like that, thought Wallace.
Garek exhaled deeply shifting his weight from foot to foot. Tarik, cool and calm, adjusted the belt on his dress uniform coat. Garek made sure that his jacket was in place. "You look fine, calm down," Tarik whispered to Garek.
"I want this to be perfect," Garek whispered back. He adjusted the collar which he thought was out of position.
"If you don't calm down, I'll slap you upside your head." Tarik grinned slightly. "Besides, it's almost time. Stop fiddling around."
A few more guests shuffled in, finding the last few remaining empty seats, then an aide standing near the chapel entrance signaled the bride's readiness. Wallace nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to Garek. "Show time."
The low-level hubbub from the gathered onlookers suddenly hushed, and moments later was superseded by the traditional wedding march wafting from the room's speaker system. At the side of the chapel, the doors slid open and a vision of loveliness stepped across the threshold: Kim Tycho dressed all in floaty veils and white satin. She was escorted by Rick, the mysterious and ruggedly handsome, tuxedo-clad manager of the station's El Taco restaurant. Together, they walked with stately grace in step with the music towards the podium. Garek looked back at them and smiled broadly. Kim smiled back through her veils.
Upon reaching the front of the chapel, Kim released Rick's arm, who disappeared back into the audience, while she came to a stop beside her about-to-be-husband. Kim and Garek looked lovingly at each other, then turned to face the Admiral expectantly.
Wallace cleared his throat experimentally, then began.
"Since the days of the first wooden vessels, all ship masters have had one happy privilege: that of uniting two people in the bonds of matrimony." --Garek and Kim glanced at each other and smiled-- "And so we are gathered here today with you, Lieutenant Kimberly Tycho, and you, Commander Garek Loran, in the sight of your fellows and in accordance with our laws and beliefs, so that you may pledge your--"
<ALERT! ALERT!> blared the intercom, utterly shattering the solemn mood in the chapel. Everyone in attendance tensed in anticipation of whatever came next. <Alert! Alert! This station is under attack! All hands to battle stations!>
Captain Mallory immediately sprang up and rushed over to the wall intercom. Slapping the activation button with the palm of her hand, she spoke into the pickup. "This is the captain. Report!"
<Two pirate frigates just dropped out of warp, Captain. They're two light-minutes out from New Canada and burning in at full impulse with shields up.>
While she'd been listening to the report, Colonel Tarik had come up behind her. Now he said, "That's an attack run if ever I've seen one."
Mallory turned to look at Tarik and nodded in agreement, then, directing her voice back to the intercom, ordered, "Deploy all fighters and notify the Iwo Jima and Ronin. I'm on my way to the Command Center."
<Aye aye.>
Turning, she addressed the room in general. "All right, everyone! You heard the alert. Move!"
Immediately, the audience erupted into a flurry of motion, Starfleet officers and Marines all hurrying to their battle stations. Garek and Kim were no exception. After a helpless and apologetic shrug in Admiral Wallace's direction, the almost-couple ran off hand in hand, headed for Engineering. Moments later, only the civilians were left.
Mrs. Tycho turned to Mrs. Loran and, dabbing at a tear with her hanky, said, "Starfleet weddings always make me cry...."
In the end, the attack turned out to be nothing more than an act of desperation by some ill-equipped renegade Nausicaans. The two small pirate ships were quickly disabled and towed back to the Station where their crews were taken into custody. Things quickly settled down and life's normal routine recommenced.
Garek and Kim were finally joined in wedlock by Admiral Wallace in a hastily-improvised ceremony down in Engineering. Both parties' parents seemed terribly disappointed that they'd been robbed of a proper spectacle, but Garek and Kim (being engineers) couldn't have been happier.
After lifting her veil and kissing his new bride, Garek turned to the gathered onlookers and said, after the applause had settled down, "Thank you all. We'll see you at the reception at the Soma!"
"Amen to that," Ashton Liteboughlt said to himself. As he glanced around the room, his eyes fell on an attractive female. She was stunning, if not somewhat disconnected looking from the surroundings. He made his way over to her. "Hey there hot stuff. Need an escort to Soma for the reception?"
"I don't think so," she replied hastily.
"Someone as sweet as yourself shouldn't be left to escort herself," he added, working the charm.
She gave him a warm smile. Her demeanor changed as she said no once again. "I'm not sure I'm into the scruffy looking, conceited llama herding type." She walked off.
"Who you calling scruffy looking?" he called after her. The day was young, however, and there were many women to be talked to. That is when he noticed a boisterous science officer speaking with a thick Cajun accent to another woman across the way. "Well now, two can play this game..."