Honouring One of Their Own (Joint Post)
Post of the Month - April 2006
Joint Post by Daniel Butterworth, Francine Hart & Buzz Polaris
ON:
(Recovery Room 01 USS Pacifica)
Francine had been quite surprised when Doctor Morgan had informed her that
the she was been rewarded for her actions on Pearen IV and that today's
official ceremony was for her. She had been told by Commodore Butterworth
some time back that he had planned to put her in for an official
commendation from Starfleet but she hadn't expected anything to really
eventuate from it. She had been wrong though as she was receiving that
commendation today but she didn't know what that commendation was as Doctor
Morgan hadn't told her that part. All she really knew was that she needed to
be outside Jadda's by 1800 hours. After informing her about the ceremony
Doctor Morgan took her leave of Francine giving her some time and privacy to
change into her dress uniform that the Doctor had kindly brought along for
her. it had been sometime since Francine had last worn her dress uniform,
but she was pleased to find that it still fitted her like a glove.
After changing into her uniform she attached her commbadge to her chest and
walked gingerly over to bedside table. She was still quite sore which meant
that she had a little bit of a limp, but it wasn't anything bad. She picked
up a small mirror off of the bedside table and studied her reflection for a
couple of seconds. Her hair, which at the moment was in a mess had grown out
a little during the past couple of weeks and was slightly longer then she
was accustom to, but that was nothing that quick visit to the hairdresser
wouldn't fix when she had the time. Deciding on a simple ponytail she placed
the mirror back down on the bedside table and picked her hair brush which
she then proceeded to brush her hair with. After fixing her long red hair up
into fairly neat ponytail she once again checked her reflection in the
mirror. This time she looked a lot better and more like a Starfleet Officer,
even though she was slightly put off by the length of her hair.
Once she was happy with everything Francine placed her hairbrush back down
on the table and walked across to the door leading out of the recovery room.
She came to a stop as neared the door as the realisation finally drew on her
that she was about to leave the recovery room for the first time in a long
while. She hesistated slightly then looked back over her shoulder at the
biobed that had been her's for the past two weeks before she looked back to
the closed door that stood before her. Her hesitation passed quickly as she
took a couple of determinded steps towards the doors, which opened as she
approached revealing an empty corridor that she stepped out into.
--Jadda's USS Pacifica--
Butterworth had been in Jadda's now for the good part of ten minutes with
the Counselor and Commander Polaris at the bar. Jason had came across and
offered him a drink but Butterworth didn't take his good friend up on the
offer at the time as Lieutenant Hart was due to arrive shortly. Butterworth
watched as Jason moved off to serve another customer before he turned his
attention back to the conversation that he was having with Polaris and
Baron.
Baron: Are you looking forward to it?
Polaris: I am, but I'm still getting my head around all of this.
Baron: Well I'm sure you'll do fine ;;looks to Butterworth;; Right
Commodore?
Butterworth: Of course, once you sit in that command chair for the first
time all the worries go away. I remember how I felt when I first arrived on
the Pacifica. Let me tell you that nothing beats sitting in that chair for
the first time and knowing that's it's now yours.
Polaris: ;;smiles and looks around the bar;; I'm sure going to miss this
place though.
Butterworth: I'm sure that you'll cross paths with the Pacifica again
further down the road.
Polaris: Of that I have no doubt.
Baron: ;;finishes her drink;; When can we expect Lieutenant Hart?
Butterworth: She should be hear in a couple of minutes ;;looks to Polaris;;
We should get in position.
Polaris: Sure.
Polaris nodded his head before he picked up his glass off of the bar and
quickly downed the rest of it's contents. The three officers then stood up
and proceeded to make their way to the upper level, which had been set up
especially for the ceremony that was about to take place. Other crewmembers
around the bar noticed the movements of the three senior officers and
started to move into a position to observe the ceremony. Once the three
officers had reached the top of the stairs Baron turned around to face
Butterworth.
Baron: Well I'll leave you two to it ;;to Butterworth;; Is Connie attending
today sir?
Butterworth: As far as I know she is.
Baron: Well I'll keep my eyes out for her.
Baron exchanged glances with both of them before she moved off to secure
herself a good vantage point, while Polaris and Butterworth continued across
to the podium that had been set up near the main observation windows on the
upper level of Jadda's.
(Deck 6 near the upper entrance to Jadda's lounge USS Pacifica)
After leaving the recovery room off of Sickbay it hadn't take Francine long
to make her way up to Deck 6 of the Pacifica where the upper entrance to
Jadda's lounge was located. It felt good to be once again roaming the many
corridors of the Pacifica, as it had been some time since she had last been
able to that. She had been tempted to make a quick stop off at her quarters,
the importance of today's ceremony had finally dawned on her and she didn't
want to be late for it.
She came to a stop just outside of the doors to the lounge and quickly
straightened her white tunic. She stepped into the sensor range of the doors
causing them to slide open to reveal a very crowded and nicely decorated
room. She slowly stepped in through the open doors as everyone turned to
look in her direction this was quickly followed by the voice of the
departing Commander Polaris.
Polaris: Attention on deck.
The conversations that were going around Jadda's quickly came to an end as
everyone came to attention. Francine looked around the room feeling slightly
embarrassed at all of the fuss that was being made over her as she wasn't
use to this much attention being focused on her. She continued to look
around the room before her eyes fell on Commander Polaris and Commodore
Butterworth who were standing at a Podium near the back of the upper lounge
she started to make her way towards where they were standing.
Butterworth watched as Lieutenant Hart as she started to make her way down
the room to where he and Polaris were standing. He noticed that she was
carrying a little bit of a limp but she didn't seem to be in any sort of
pain if anything she seemed to be slightly embarrassed and in awe of
everything that was going on. Once Hart arrived at the podium Butterworth
looked across to Polaris and gave him the signal with a quick nod of the
head.
Polaris: At ease.
Everyone gathered relaxed slightly as Butterworth looked down at the podium
reviewing quickly the notes that he had prepated earlier. After a couple of
seconds he looked up at the assembled crew then turned his attention to
Francine.
Butterworth: Firstly I would like to thank you all for attending today's
ceremony. We are gathered here today to honour one of our own whose
individual actions and personal sacrifice saved this vessel and it's crew
from an uncertain fate. It gives me great pleasure to award Lieutenant
Francine Hart the Christopher Pike Medal of valour for her heroic actions
while on the surface of Pearen IV. ;;pauses;; And for the serious injuries
that she received in the line of duty, it is with great honour and pleasure
that I present Lieutenant Hart with the illustrious Purple Heart"
Butterworth picked up the small case with Lieutenant Hart's awards in them
as he stepped away from the podium. He opened the top of the case revealing
the two medals inside of it as he passed it to the Lieutenant.
Butterworth: ;;shakes her hand;; Congratulations Lieutenant.
Hart: ;;returns the handshake;; Thank you sir.
Francine didn't quite know what to say, as it was quite an honour to receive
the Christopher Pike Medal of Valour. She looked down at the medals for a
couple of seconds before she looked back at the sea of faces as the
Commodore and Commander wrapped up the official proceedings. The Commodore
then went on to invite everyone to remain and join in on the farewell
celebrations for Commander Polaris.
OFF: Thats the award ceremony out of the way now we can focus on the going
away party.
This was a Joint Post by:
Lieutenant Francine Hart
Chief Operations Officer
USS Pacifica NCC-72545
Bravo Fleet
&
CMDR Buzz Polaris
XO USS PACIFICA
&
==========
Commodore Daniel Butterworth
Commanding Officer
USS Pacifica NCC-72545
"Join the Adventure Today!"
http://www.usspacifica.com
