LCDR Nolen Hobart — Coming to Terms (Part II)
Nolen Hobart
((Holodeck 1 - DS 33 ; Simulation of Broken Tepui Aerie, Klowahka))
Shayne: I left the ship for awhile. I should have been a wreck. Panicked, lost, worried. I wasn’t. You were in command. And that is good enough for me. The Leadership Excellence Ribbon is meant for people such as yourself, Mr. Hobart. Thank you.
Hobart: ::loud enough to be heard:: Thank you, sir.
The Captain offered a devious wink, and as he returned to his post on the stage, he felt a devious poke in his side from Lt. Commander Ohnari.
Shayne: Lieutenant Dewitt! Thought you could hide from me? Up you come!
Hobart heard a sharp whistle from beside him. His efforts to pretend he didn't know where they'd been coming from all evening were beginning to look strained.
Shayne: Ayemet. You are a source of profound wisdom, grace and support. We have come to rely on you, perhaps more than is recommended. You have helped us to make peace with our circumstances in ways I didn’t think reasonable to ask for. We would not be the same ship without you. Please accept the Trauma Support Ribbon, and our thanks.
Ayemet: Response
Immediately after presenting her with one small wooden box, Shayne produced a second.
Shayne: My human ancestry compels me to say… but wait! There’s more! Your presence in Sickbay was helpful, beneficial and composed in this past engagement. Not the engagement between you and Co- nevermind. Please accept the Good Conduct Ribbon for your efforts.
A familiar, nasally toot sounded from beside him, causing the Lt. Commander’s lips to curl upward involuntarily. He realized there was a reason Talia was never on the stage with them. It was like having a circus clown at a funeral. But he realized, also, that it was sometimes needed: clowns had funerals, too.
Ayemet: Response
Rancorous applause chased the freshly-decorated Lieutenant Ayemet Dewitt off the stage, so much so that the Captain had to pause for it to settle before calling up his next victim.
Shayne: Ensign Michaels! Join me here, please.
Nolen’s eyes followed the young Vulcan as she weaved out of the mass of attendees and up to the stage. The Ensign stood at attention, facing the Captain. Her nervousness was hard for him to miss, a wafting, chilly tone that spiraled around the Betazoid-hybrid’s neck. It made what the Captain did next almost cruel.
Shayne: Ensign? You’re out of uniform.
The stoic Engineer lost herself for a moment, and began to stumble. Her fear gripped a little tighter on Nolen’s throat.
Michaels: My understanding, sir, was that... ::her words stopped abruptly. There was nothing to be gained. :: Yes, sir. It will not happen again. Sir.
Shayne: Unacceptable. And at your own promotion! Shocking.
The emotional pressure on Hobart’s windpipe eased as Lera came to terms with her circumstances. A gnawing pit of doubt still lingered, though, as the Captain’s deception apparently paid dividends. But it eased as the Captain opened the small, polished box, and produced a half-pip.
Shayne: ::almost under his breath as he concentrated:: I hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade, with all the commensurate privileges and responsibilities of that rank. Congratulations, Lieutenant.
Michaels: Thank you, sir. :: beat :: I will remember this lesson in leadership.
Nolen’s eyebrows shifted upwards. “I will remember this lesson in leadership,” said by the Vulcan in these circumstances, almost sounded like a threat. There was no room to ponder on that, however, as the crowd erupted in cheers and laughter, which the Captain brought to a sudden halt.
Shayne: Lieutenant JG Ras El’Heem!
The crew who’d been around long enough knew that anyone summoned after the first promotion was liable to get one of their own, either in rank or position on the ship. Excitement started to build, as did the chaotic murmurs of quiet commentary layered a hundredfold. The prominent ridges on the Kressari caught the evening’s dwindling light as he navigated to the fore, as if his tall, lanky frame wasn’t enough to catch the eye.
And as he arrived and turned to face the Captain, Shayne played one more bit of deception, and handed the reassigned doctor off to his former superior.
Ohnari: Thank you Captain, Ras El'Heem, while I may no longer be your superior, it brings me great joy to....
Something was happening. The room began to get slippery to Nolen. Not physically, but emotionally. Her voice was breaking like a boy on his bar mitzvah, and having been through that Nolen’s eyes widened.
Ohnari: ::slightly strained:: It is my honor to...::her words trailed off, again in that impossibly high octave.::
El’Heem: Response
Tears began to fall down her face. This was a bad idea. Nolen stepped behind her and places his hands on her shoulders to try and ground her. The heightened emotional connection through their skin, however, meant he felt his own throat welling up, and he fought it back down. He maneuvered the woman into a hug.
Hobart: That’ll do.
He made eye contact with the Captain, who gracefully took the burden of Talia on himself. At least he wouldn’t be subjected to her empathic onslaught at the same time. Probably. When she was secured to the higher ranking officer she thrust the pip-box back out towards him and he took it.
Shayne: Response
Hobart closed his eyes and nodded, so as to hide the eyeroll. Of course. It wasn’t enough of an indignity already, so he had to be the one to put on the show, too. It was for the best, maybe. He wasn’t sure if Talia could even reach El’Heem’s collar.
Hobart: Lieutenant El’Heem. ::opening the box, handing it to El’Heem:: You have served this ship and its crew for more than a year, and in that time you have made yourself invaluable to us, officer and enlisted alike. ::removing the half-pip:: We look to you now as a leader among leaders, with all the respect and expectations that come with it. ::applying the full pip:: The men and women under you will rely upon your experience, good and ill, and the men and women above you will continue to see you as an ever-greater partner in command. I hereby promote you to the rank of Full Lieutenant, with all its commensurate privileges and responsibilities. Congratulations, Lieutenant.
Hobart stepped back, and offered a firm handshake to the ex-Junior Officer. He clenched his jaw to ensure no trace of emotion besides determination could slip past his grip.
El’Heem: Response
As soon as the handshake was done, El’Heem was very nearly toppled over by an embrace from the burbling Chief Medical Officer.
Ohnari: ::shoving her face in his chest, and hugging tightly:: I-I am s-so pr-proud of yoooouuuuu!!
As applause once again roared, Nolen gave Randal a knowing look, and his eyes spelled relief. That was the hardest thing he’d have to do that night.
El'Heem / Shayne: Response
TBC
——— ○●● ———
Lt. Commander Nolen Hobart
Executive Officer
USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)
A240001NH3