Lt. Nolen Hobart — Didn't Say “Shoot”
Nolen Hobart
((Arboretum, Deep Space 33))
Lieutenants Hobart and Jacin stood at the bar, champagne in hand. They'd been pushing away their pre-ceremony jitters best they could by bonding over their shared connection: one Mr. Connor Dewitt, Chief Engineer of the USS Arrow. What Connor himself was doing about it, he couldn't say, but he spied the man not far off, in conversation with Lieutenant Zenno.
Hobart: Yeah. I think sometimes, we need someone who can step back and give us advice, who isn't caught up in our feelings. ::picking the drink back up, offering a toast:: To sanity checks.
Jacin: To sanity checks and good friends.
The thin clinking of glasses preceded a quiet, synchronized sip. Nolen let the silence linger a little, as they both mused, internally.
Hobart: So, what about you? Do you have a, uh... A Best… Woman? ::frowning, distracted:: That doesn't sound right. ::back to Jacin:: Who's giving Jacin Ayemet her sanity checks these days? Who's planning your bachelorette party?
Jacin: No. no I haven’t. It would have been R’Ariel but she left, and Commander Collins was going to give me away but then err he left too, so at the moment… As for the bachelorette party, well I haven’t really got round to planning that. Maybe I’ll find some interesting bar or a Bajoran shrine or something. I guess it all depends on where we are at the time.
She trailed off towards the end, and her statement was punctuated with a shrug and a weak smile. Nolen gave her a skeptical look again. She shouldn't be planning her own celebration! Didn't she have someone? Anyone? Besides Connor? He'd already made plans for the next time they found themselves in Sector 001 with at least 24 hours on their hands. Maybe he'd have to double the attendees.
Hobart: There's nobody left on the ship…?
Jacin: It’s life on a starship isn’t it? Any one of us could be moved to another posting at any point.
Hobart's eyebrows bounced as if her words had been stolen from his head. He'd spent the better part of three months worrying about exactly that issue. Part of the reason he didn't push back on the Captain’s announcement of his role change—once he realized it wasn't a joke, that is—was because it was a clever solution to Engineering’s latent rectangle-shaped defect in its organizational structure. He was sure that wasn't the reason the Captain chose him, but he was glad to be sticking around.
Hobart: Or worse. ::beat:: It is Starfleet, after all.
If they survived their entire career and only ever lost friends to intra-fleet personnel reassignments, they should count themselves lucky. Especially with a war rapidly approaching.
Ayemet took another drink, and looked at him, head tilted.
Jacin: You know it really isn’t about a big flashy party. I mean sure I’d like to do something but it’s Connor I’m doing this for. He’s the prize.
She smiled, and Nolen smiled back unconvincingly. The way she said it struck him as very sad, like someone who saw themselves as a side character in someone else's story.
His smile turned wickedly sincere. He looked off thoughtfully, and started running through the faces of potential candidates. One kept flashing before his mind’s eye, intruding herself where he didn't want her.
oO Don't say Talia. Don't say Talia. Don't say Talia. Oo
Hobart: Mm. Nah. You need a party. There's got to be someone else you get along with. Waters? Morgan? MacKenna? I hear Chief Ra is fun at parties.
In the distance, past Jacin, Lieutenant Hobart spotted the unmistakable outline of Captain Shayne as he entered the Arboretum. He intended to make note of the fact, and elegantly excuse himself so that he could be in appropriate position before the ceremony got under way in earnest. He figured he had at least ten minutes of glad-handing and metaphorical baby-kissing. And then he saw Shayne start to climb the stairs.
Nolen hastily set his glass down and made a bee-line for his spot at the left side of the stage, cursing the whole way there under his breath. He nearly tripped, twice. He didn't want to be rude to Ayemet, but he didn't want to be late more.
Hobart: ::hissing:: Shoot-shoot-shoot-shoot-shoot-shoot!
Shayne: Here we are again.
Nolen managed to get into position, roughly where he'd seen Commanders Niac and Adyr place themselves in the past, just as the Captain leaned in to deliver his trademark opener. He took a breath (or two) and straightened out his uniform jacket. He avoided catching the Captain's eye.
Shayne: I have boxes for you. Commanders Water, Lieutenants Jacin, Zenno, Hobart, Ohnari and Ensign Zerva- step forward, preferably single file.
Already at the stage, Nolen could have chosen to lead the procession, or wait for others to arrive. He opted for the latter approach, and made sure to bring up the rear.
Shayne: First allow, me to express my gratitude- it’s much easier to honor you at once, so by all means continue doing what you’re doing; but for the love of god, don’t do that for the Purple Heart.
Jacin: : :to no one in particular: Can’t promise anything.
Hobart exchanged glances with Lieutenant Ohnari and Ensign Zerva, as the Captain walked down the line of assumed officers and gave the three of them their “Congrats on not dying” award.
Ohnari/Zerva: Response
Nolen thought of apologizing to the Captain again about the leg thing, but that felt more like reopening a wound at this point. Shayne returned to the podium and, ostensibly speaking to the gathered officers on stage, spoke in the direction of the audience.
Shayne: First contact is the single most dangerous duty and responsibility an officer can engage in, and it’s harder to imagine a task with more riding on a successful outcome. While it may not have necessarily been how we’d choose to become acquainted with the Emisan people, your conduct in extraordinary circumstances is deserving of the First Contact Ribbon. Congratulations.
He watched as the Captain worked his way down the line again, shaking each officer’s hand and giving each a box. For some, a second. His eyes lingered on Talia's hands as she reached for the Captain's. A flash of light reflected off her painted nails. Looked almost like command red to him. What a weird choice; it totally clashed with the rest of her outfit.
When the Captain got to Hobart at the end, he took the box and shook his hand, again without a word. But at least Nolen nodded this time.
Jacin: :tentatively: Thank you Sir.
Waters: Thank you, sir.
Zerva / Ohnari: Response
Shayne: Furthermore! As evidenced by your (relatively) safe return, and the overall success of our mission, I’m pleased to award each of you with the Diplomacy Ribbon, for your excellent representation of Starfleet values and negotiation. Congratulations.
Zenno: Thank you, Captain.
Jacin: Thank you Captain.
Ohnari / Zerva: Response
Shayne: And now I release you. Fly, or risk further praise!
This time Hobart led the officers off the stage, and stepped aside as the others headed to their seats. As Ohnari passed, he gave a wink. It felt like he was getting away with something, and that idea twisted in his stomach for a moment.
Shayne: Mr. Dewitt! Step forward and be recognized.
Hearing Connor called up pulled Nolen out of whatever funk he was threatening to spiral into, and he beamed a smile at his friend as he approached. This was a nice spot, he realized. Got to see everybody as they came up and left. Not as primo as the Captain's, of course, but nobody expected him to say anything either.
Shayne: Lieutenant, your efforts during this mission were instrumental in our success and I am grateful for your contributions- please accept the Captain’s Commendation.
Dewitt: Response
Nolen clapped, but refrained from whistling. Dewitt deserved it. Starfleet's best engineers were like him, doing their best to make the impossible happen. Or as close to it as possible. Without nearly as much grumbling as Nolen was prone to. Now that he was out of gold, it felt okay to admit that.
As the applause died down, Hobart's eyes turned to gaze at the Captain in anticipation. There was more to come, and he was the only man who knew what was next.
Tags/TBC
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Lieutenant Nolen Hobart
First Officer
USS Arrow (NCC-69829)
A240001NH3