UNSC Ceremonial Command Transfer

=UNSC Ceremonial Command Transfer=
Colloquially known as: The Passing of the Sabres.
When ship staff of rank O-2 or higher transfer between ships, the crews of both ships will pull in to an orbital facility. This can be a defense platform, refit station, repair yard, or deep space listening post. This is where they shall perform the ceremony. As this is a traditional Navy ceremony, those who came up with it believed that it behove those partaking to perform 'at-sea'. 
Those of ranks O-1 and below are to observe the ceremony in dress whites.
For the purposes of ceremony, whoever put the request in for a transfer will be considered the ‘Subject Transferring’ (ST-1), and their counterpart who accepted the transferral will be considered the ‘Subject Transferred’ (ST-2). ST-1 designation is given to the person who applied for transfer, whereas ST-2 designation is given to the counterpart person who was chosen to be transferred in their stead.
Both crews will stand in square formations in accordance with their parent vessel. The crewmates of ST-1 (Subject Transferring) will stand to the left, while the crewmates of ST-2 (Subject Transferred) will stand to the right. Cardinal directions are to be observed based on Officer formation.
O-1 rank officers will stand at the head of the crew formations and face their command staff. 
Command staff of O-2 or higher will stand abreast in a single line at the head of the formation, presenting a 'united front', and facing their respective crews, save for Commanders or Captains, who will both escort their respective Subjects Transferring/Transferred (ST-1 & ST-2).
Subject Transferred (ST-2), shall first approach the line of Officers from between the two crew formations, along with his or her Commander or Captain, who shall be marking on their right-hand side.
The crew of both ships will offer a salute to the passing subject, and their accompanying Commander, Captain, or First Officer, at this time.
The Commander, Captain, or First Officer of ST-2 shall now leave them at the junction, where the crew formation ends, and the line of Officers begins. 
ST-2 will stand at the head of the Officer's formation alongside the Commander or Captain of the vessel, unless the Commander or Captain are the ones transferring ships, then they will be accompanied by their First Officers, instead, and the duties of officiation and observation shall fall to them.
At this crossroads, the Commander, Captain, or First Officer shall then left face, offer a salute, and take two steps back. They shall then right face, approach two paces to the Officer's Line, and then about face to observe the approach of ST-1 down the 'aisle'.
The counterpart Subject Transferred (ST-1), from the other vessel, shall now approach the line of Officers from between the two crew formations after, along with his or her Commander or Captain. Unless the Commander or Captain are the ones transferring ships, then they will be accompanied by their First Officers, instead. 
The crew of both ships will offer a salute to the passing subject, and his or her accompanying Commander, Captain, or First Officer, at this time.
The Commander, Captain, or First Officer of ST-1 shall now leave them at the junction, where the crew formation ends, and the line of Officers begins. They shall left face, offer a salute, and then take two steps back. They shall then right face, approach one pace to where the Commander, Captain, or First Officer of ST-2 stands, and offer a salute. It shall be returned.
He shall then left face, take two steps, and then left face to observe the pair of subjects ST-1 and ST-2, who should now have been left shoulder to shoulder, with ST-1 on the left hand side of ST-2.
Once both Subjects are at their respective positions, a 'Swordbearer' of rank WO-2, from the vessel of ST-1, will approach from between the crew formations. They shall come to stand aside their Subject, holding the ceremonial sabres of their respective vessels in a velvet-lined box. As they pass, the Crew of both vessels shall offer a salute, and hold it.
The Commanders or Captains will not salute at this time. First Officers will not salute at this time if Commanders or Captains are ST-1 and ST-2.
A second person of rank WO-2 will approach from the same path between the crew formations as the subjects, also holding the ceremonial sabre of the ship of ST-2, in a similar box. This WO-2 will approach in much the same manner as the first, with the crew formations maintaining their salutes until the WO-2 passes, whereupon the crew will move to parade rest.
The first WO-2 shall stand to the left hand side of ST-1, while the second WO-2 shall stand on the right hand side of ST-2.
Both WO-2 persons will take two paces backward, turn inwards, and begin the unsheathing of the swords. ST-1 and ST-2 shall perform an about face. Both WO-2s shall hand the boxes containing the swords to ST-1 and ST-2, opening the latches, and retrieving the swords from within.
They will hold their swords at their right hand side. Both WO-2 persons shall now take one pace inward, and turn to face their subjects. Both ST-1 and ST-2 shall close their respective vessel's boxes, and retain the box with their left hands.
Both WO-2 persons shall now present their swords with their right hands to ST-1 and ST-2. ST-1 and ST-2 will present the boxes with their left hands, while taking the swords with their right.
Both WO-2 persons shall relinquish their sabres, and receive their boxes. Once received, they will re-latch the boxes, about face, and depart as one down the aisle between formations.
ST-1 and ST-2 shall both unsheathe their respective vessel's swords to 4 inches, to check the blade, then keep them by their right sides, saluting the WO-2 as they both depart back down the aisle between crew formation squares together.
With both ceremonial swords now in the hands of the Subjects Transferring, they may now pass them to one another.
ST-1 will act first, holding the sword aloft with his or her right hand so the grip is at eye level and the blade faces downwards. They will move his or her right hand down to the blade, and his or her left will come up to take hold beneath the grip.
ST-2 will take the sword with his or her left hand beneath ST-1’s. ST-1 will now release the sword, momentarily depriving himself of any sword, and giving ST-2 both.
ST-1 at this point shall salute.
ST-2 will hold his or her sword aloft so the grip is at eye-level. They will keep the second sword by their left side as they do this.
ST-1 will now grip the sword being given to him with his or her left hand, waiting until ST-2 relinquishes his or her grip. At this point, his or her right hand shall come up and grip the blade.
ST-2 will then hold the other blade that was given to him up in much the same way, mimicking the grip of ST-1; left hand beneath the grip, right hand on the blade.
Both ST-1 and ST-2 will then transfer the sword to their right hands by moving their right hand up to beneath the grip, and left hand down to the blade.
They will then bring the swords down to their right hand sides, take two paces back, and remain at rest.
Their Commanders or Captains (First Officers if Commanders or Captains are ST-1 and ST-2) will then step forth and inspect their new crewmembers. It is customary for the new Commander, Captain, or First Officer of ST-1, previously the Commander, Captain, or First Officer of ST-2, to inspect him first. It is customary to fix the uniform of ST-1 in at least one place.
The new Commander, Captain, or First Officer of ST-2 will go next, inspecting and finding ST-2 to be flawless. 
If Commanders or Captains are transferring between ships, the First Officers will perform the inspections instead. The new First Officer of ST-1is still expected to fix the uniform in at least one place, denoting that a Commander or Captain must always be fit to command.
Both Commanders or Captains (First Officers if Commanders or Captains are ST-1 and ST-2) will now accept the swords from their new crewmembers. 
ST-1 and ST-2 will hold the sword horizontally, supported by both hands, presenting them to their new Commander or Captain (First Officers if Commanders or Captains are ST-1 and ST-2).
Both WO-2s shall now reappear and approach, carrying the boxes for the swords. The WO-2 shall approach side by side, carrying the boxes horizontally. They will pause behind ST-1 and wait for the Commanders or Captains (First Officers if Commanders or Captains are ST-1 and ST-2) to approach with the swords and place them back into the boxes. The WO-2’s shall now close the boxes and carry them with their left hands, saluting with their rights before turning and walking back the way they came.
The ceremony is now complete. 
Initially, it was designed to most closely resemble a traditional wedding ceremony, or matrimony service. The bequeathing of the swords, and the transference of sword from WO-2 to Subjects, and then from Subjects back to WO-2s is symbolic of their 'matrimony' to their new vessel and duties.