Evaluation for Return to Duty.

Posted on Thu Jun 24th, 2021 @ 8:23pm by Commander Ryan Blake & Lieutenant Emily Coleman
Edited on on Thu Jun 24th, 2021 @ 8:31pm

Mission: The Thorion Conundrum Mission Brief
Location: Counselor's Office
Timeline: TBD

Ryan walked up to the door to the Counselor's office. He paused before the door with a heavy sigh. He was anxious to return to duty following his recovery from the injuries sustained on Thorion III. He was required to pass a psychological evaluation after a traumatic experience before being fully cleared. He gave a shrug as he activated the door chime. 'Just part and parcel for the course,' he thought to himself.

"Enter" the young Counsellor responded as she stood up from her chair.

Ryan stepped inside the office and gave a nod to Emily. He looked about her office for a moment before settling his eyes on her. "Good morning Counselor. I am Lieutenant Commander Blake. Here to have a post-mission evaluation after the incident on Thorion III."

'Nice to meet you, I am Lieutenant Coleman and I understand you have been ordered to get a psychological evaluation. I will do my best to give you this evaluation and make you as comfortable as possible while you are here." Emily replied.

Ryan nodded once again. He did not seem overjoyed to be here, but would do his best to cooperate and be polite. "Thank you. Do you prefer to be addressed as Lieutenant or Counselor?"

"Either is fine, which ever one is more comfortable for you." Coleman replied. "Do you want Commander or Lieutenant Commander or Ryan?" Emily asked.

Ryan let out a nearly inaudible sigh at the mention of his recent promotion. He wasn't really sure he deserved it. Especially considering the events on Thorion III with the away team he had led. "Commander is fine informally when we are in a counseling session. You can even just call me Mister Blake if you like."

"So lets get started then." Coleman stated. "I would like you to describe what you feel caused your superior to request this evaluation."

Ryan took a deep breath as he gathered his thoughts. "Standard protocol for a psych eval following a combat situation or when someone sustains a head injury. Both of which happened to me on Thorion III."

"Thank you, Commander. I ask that just to be sure that the air is cleared and we both know what the other one is doing." Emily replied. "Please tell me what you were doing that caused your head injury with as much information as permitted, please note that I have clearance and that all you say will be limited to your personnel file for only the Captain and Starfleet Medical to access if needed."

Ryan nodded. He knew how things were done. "I appreciate your candor in this matter. As to how I sustained the head injury, I pretty much smarted off to an Orion thug that was about two meters tall and a good two hundred fifty kilos of muscle."

"I understand that was likely a bit of poor judgement on your part. However, can you describe an underlying reason besides him being an Orion that would have prompted you to be such a so smart with him? I am after the primal emotion that triggered the reaction you had that thus caused the Orion to make you kotow before him." Emily stated.

Ryan shrugged. "No primal emotions, I was simply being sarcastic to an Orion thug. I got backhanded hard for my response."

"Okay, so there had to be some reason you were sarcastic to the Orion. I want to figure that out so we can work accordingly." Emily replied. "What was a past Orion experience that sarcasm was involved?"

"None. Prior to that, I had only met Orions at the Starbase. This group attacked a lightly defended mining settlement with the intent of stealing ore, equipment and taking prisoners for slave labor." Ryan felt anger building inside him. "I...I just don't like thieves and bullies."

"Were you bullied in your youth or have something stolen from you or a family member?" Coleman asked in response.

Ryan shook his head. "No. Nothing like that. The Orions took prisoner all the able bodied people and slaughtered the wounded...and...there was nothing I could do about it. If I hadn't ordered the away team to surrender...."

"So you feel like you are at fault for the actions taken during the mission, is that correct?" Coleman asked.

Ryan hands clenched in fists so tight they went white. He took a deep, ragged breath. "I don't feel like it was my fault. I know it was my fault. The miners surrendered when I surrendered the away team to those thugs. Then...you've no doubt seen the drone video...they butchered the wounded and loaded the rest of us in shuttles with the stolen ore and mining equipment."

"Okay, I am sorry this happened to you but we need to unlock your view of this event and make it a way you can move forward without the sarcasm affecting your future in episodes that may come up involving the Orions." Coleman responded. "I need you to know that not all Orions are the same and those that are part of Starfleet different than others. I don't want any emerald skinned humanoids triggering your emotions."

Ryan studied Emily's expression for about half a minute before responding to her statement. "You ever hear of Martin Luther King's I have a Dream speech. I am not angry because this was a group of Orions. I would be just as angry if what I saw happen to the wounded had been done by Bajorans or Klingons or even Humans. This group were butchers."

"I understand, so now we can focus on a means to help you overcome that anger." Emily replied. "I am merely attempting to help you help yourself and find a means that will help you refocus the anger and use it constructively and not let the sarcasm overtake you in the future. Does that make sense?"

Ryan considered Emily's words carefully before responding to her question. He nodded his head. "I understand your concern Counselor. I do. I suppose my response was partly an overdeveloped sense of bravado. I will do my best to curb such behavior in the future."

"I know that it may not have been the Orions directly but Orions do tend to open the hostile thoughts in many humanoid species." Emily responded. "We will help you get a working control and focus on your thoughts and hopefully help you get on top of it in the future."

Ryan could not argue with her initial assessment. "I suppose I have some reflection to do. Meanwhile, I would like to know if you will sign off on my return to full duty."

"In my professional opinion, I really feel you need a little more counselling before I can officially sign off on the return to duty. Your role on the ship will benefit from you spending a little more time reflecting on your situation." Coleman stated in response. "I would request at least one session more after you take the night to reflect more on our session today and what you experienced in person and let us discuss this more tomorrow afternoon."

Ryan understood her concerns. "May I at least return to light duty in the Strategic Operations Center. I promise, no bridge watch or command duties. But...paperwork stops for noone."

"I will grant you light duties but no bridge duties and no away team duties. And if you need to make the appointment for the day after tomorrow instead of tomorrow, I am game for that as well." Emily replied.

Ryan nodded. It wasn't ideal, but at least he would be able to continue advising the Captain. "Very well. "

"You are dismissed but see me in a week at the latest. Take care and good luck." Emily stated.

Ryan had no intention of staying on restricted duty for a week. The impact on the bridge watch bill alone would be problematic at best. "I'll be back tomorrow or the next day at the latest." He got to his feet and returned to his new quarters

"Okay looking forward to that visit." Emily stated as Ryan left the office.


[END SCENE]

LCDR Ryan Blake
Chief Strategic Operations Officer

LT Emily Coleman
Counselor