Lieutenant JG Hana Wright - Trying not to drown

[Persephone J]

(( Pagrati Lounge, Deck 10, USS Astraeus ))

Hana felt like she was treading water only for someone to come along and push her head underneath. Everything was happening all at once. Everything was changing all at once. 

She had made a home for herself on the Astraeus. Not only was the ship herself a joy to work with (she had her quirks but any lady who had flown as long as she had was entitled to a few), but the people were as well. 

Hana remembered the moment she first stepped onto the bridge like it was yesterday. It hadn’t been all that long in reality, but still. She had been so scared, unable to have faith in herself or trust in her superiors to listen to her. But, over time, she had carved out a place for herself, working with the other engineers and gaining confidence in herself as she rose in rank and people began to trust her judgement. She didn’t feel so much like an imposter when ordering Ensigns and Cadets around when they knew she had earned her rank, had seen her do it. 

Now everything was changing. Her temperamental beauty of a ship was being decommissioned and Hana still didn’t know where she was going or what she would be doing when she got there. She had no idea if she would be on the same ship as any of her friends and would have to start over in earning respect from peers and superiors alike, perhaps even in a different field (though she really, really, hoped not). 

Not only was she being thrown a curveball in her professional life, but her personal life as well, as evidenced by her choice of plus one to the awards ceremony. 

Stoval.

Somehow he had gone from a stranger she had a one night stand with to the most stable part of her life other than Teela. At first she had been scared they would be separated by the transfer, but he had assured her that, because they were technically married by Vulcan custom, Starfleet wouldn’t separate them without a good reason. Hana had asked him then and there (before she could chicken out) if they could share quarters.

After her talk with Is’Kah, Hana had decided that she was going to let this thing play out. She had realized that she was more worried about the idea that they were moving too fast than she was about how fast they were really going. 

So that’s how she ended up watching the awards ceremony with him, mentally cycling through a list of things they would need to move in together wherever they ended up so she wouldn’t think about how stressed she was about where they were going to end up.

She was pretty much out of it until her name was called. 

Rosek-Skyfire: ::to Ral:: If you could both remain. ::to the crowd:: If Ensign Wright and Teela could please step forward. Also, Commander Alentonis.

Hana surprised they had called for Teela too, not that she didn’t know how important her little friend had been for the mission, but because she genuinely didn’t expect anyone to formally acknowledge that fact. 

All the same, she walked up to the podium. 

Mei’konda: I’ve been privileged to know you siince before you went to abbreviated officer’s school, Tim, and your genius has never escaaped my notiice or appreciation. The saame is true for you, Lieutenant Ral. You’ve been on thiis ship since you were an Ensign… you rose to Chief Engineer, and you’ve kept this ship together through some incrediibly difficult times.

Mei’konda: Well… in either caase, I’m honored to present you both wiith the Starfleet Investigation Ribbon. You both plaayed big parts in ensuring we were able to help Silenya, in learniing how to work with technology that is almost unfaathomably old and daamaged. Thank you both.

Then the Captain turned to her and Hana suddenly thought about how much. She was going to miss working under his leadership.

Mei’konda: Some of that help came from a very unexpected source, so… You and Teela both will be joining you as an official recipient of the Captain's Commendation

Alentonis: Thank you, sir. 

Tam: ::whispering:: Hana, bring that little fuzz ball over here.

Wright: I…am an honoured Sir. My time on the Astraeus has been some of the best of my life. 

Teela seemed to realize that she was being honoured too and was doing an excited little wiggle form her perch on Hana’s shoulder.

Ral: Responses

Caldwell: Congratulations to all of you! 

Mei accepted the boxes from Lael, and passed both Captain’s Commendation awards to Hana, the Investigation Ribbon to Tim and Hana, and shook their hands one at a time. When the captain offered Teela pets, the tribble purred and rubbed against them. 

Award in hand, Hana joined Divi and Stoval to hopefully spend the rest of the night having fun.

Lieutenant JG Hana Wright

Engineering Officer

USS Astraeus 

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