Friendly Hello/Reporting In

Posted on Wed Jun 23rd, 2021 @ 12:14am by Captain Maia Sterling

Mission: The Thorion Conundrum Mission Brief
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: TBD (Possible backsim?)

(Hi there just taking the horns and getting the check in out of the way!)

[ON]

Alessa was wearing her standard counselors attire, a black pantsuit with the starfleet emblem on it. It had gray trim to it and while it was no uniform it gave her the air of being approachable and easy to talk to. She wore an infiniti cross which also gave some more religious members of Luna the idea that she was more approachable. She had also gotten off the shuttle, Alessa had not time to unpack, let alone get a regular uniform which she knew was a possible conversation that was going to happen.

She just prayed to the Great Bird that the Captain was not a yeller. She did not do well with yellers. She adjusted her jacket and chimed on the door.

"Enter" Maia said.

"Ah Counsellor, what brings you into to me at this hour"? Maia asked.

She walked in and stood at formal attention, "Captain Sterling? I'm Alessa Herria, as you pegged me I am the new Chief Counselor and I wanted to report into you. Say hello and maybe let you get a feel of who I am in person rather then look at my file. I find human to human interaction to be a key about any relationship professional or personal. For the record... I also asked for this assignment." Alessa added.

"I'm glad you did. We had to leave space dock without a counsellor. Soon we may be in a state of war despite this being a ship of peace. Our assignment for the last six months has been to establish an embassy on Thorion-4. Its almost completed and we have establish incredibly good relations with the local authorities and people." Maia said.

"Its my first day and my first real assignment, so forgive me if this sounds a little off, my last assignment was counseling Starfleet family and solving martial disputes that were about to go on deep space assignments, so is there anything like staff conflict you feel the department needs to address as a priority? If not I would like to make sure everybody has had their six month evaluations done, make sure the Intel department has their heads on and then work on morale, by what you just said it sounds like there has been a lot of hard work going on by a lot of folks." Alessa said with a smile.

"Its been my experience that people are pretty much the same all over, so while this is your first deep space assignment, you will have many of the same duties you had before except that you are now the senior pschologist on-board." Maia stated.

"I find the good die young but the jerks live forever." Alessa said with a smile.

"You know I think my uncle may have served with your father, Did he know a Lieutenant Commander Emmerson.. His first name would have been Rowlf? May have mentioned him? I just remember him talking about a Lieutenant Dixon, Hunter and Sterling during a battle of Betazed and I wonder if they are one in the same?" Alessa asked.

"Rolf Emerson? I knew him and they did fight together though during the battle of Betazed I was a junior science officer, just out of Starfleet academy. my father was an ace fighter pilot in fact a squadron commander in charge of one of the first experimental at the time peregrine fighters. We were both on the Tecumseh at the time. He was the first officer. How is he?" Maia said.

"Last time we talked he was enjoying being out there. Gamma Quadrant exploration. If it wasn't so far away and I wasn't afraid of being vaporized I would be jealous. I suffer from an alleregy to disruptor fire." She offered.

"But more to the point, its nice not feeling so alone out here. What do you do to combat that? Some officers have vices, some just drown themselves in work. I could haul you in the office and do a ten point test about that sort of stuff but I find these moments let me ask the important questions without having to be annoying." Alessa said.

"What do you do to take the edge off"? Maia asked.

"I bake and I paint. The barn painting that is an example of expressionistic work in my office is my handiwork or will be once the Bosun's Office gets everything brought over. But thats me and my bout of handiness or lack there of." Alessa smiled.

"Stress tollerance is what I am asking about and how you blow off steam is important. I am not trying to delve too personally, But I was giiven a huge checklist to go over when it comes to who watches the watcher you know?" Alessa tried to be straight forward.

"Who watches the watchers huh? That almost sounds like a covert operation, though I have a tendency to describe things from a strategic and tactical point of view. The mental and emotional well being of the crew is the most important thing on your plate now Lieutenant. I am certain Mr Blake can use your services as I myself will from time to time." Maia said.

Maia smiled.

"Who gave you the checklist"? Maia asked curiously.

"This isn't the Starfleet of Captain Picard's time sadly, shootings are scrutinized what a person says or does is looked at more closely and what was considered acceptable behavior say ten years ago will get you court martialed today. Even the book on etiquette and protocol has had twelve revisions in six years. The Emotional and Mental Health Checklist on what counts as Post Traumatic Stress let alone Combat Psychosis parameters has been narrowed. Its no longer just sit down and have a muffin and talk like it was before. Though I try and believe me I try to take that approach, Starfleet Medical wants detailed reports. There are some things I purposefully leave out because of HIPPA. But there are still officers who see the teal and when they realize I am a Counselor they think I am there to get them discharged. SO to answer your question Starfleet Medical has a very specific checklist and series of tests I am to give to see if officers aren't combat fatigued and need rotating out. Its something I feel like I am going to hate doing." Alessa admitted.

"Hmmm, Yes there is a lot of politics involved. Starfleet has become a bit paranoid at least at the higher political levels. That is why I'm glad I'm in deep space. Some of us still believe in the fundamentals of the Starfleet we grew up in." Maia said.

"We are what we pretend to be Skipper, so we have to be careful in how we pretend. I promise you my tenure here, if there is anything that SFM requires me to report I will go to you first so long as it isn't a personal medical problem. But in my first day here I am concerned about the assault on Commander Blake, how did it happen? Everybody I talk to just says he picked the fight, but because of my lack of clearance all I can find out is the prisoners are in custody." Alessa asked.

"Pretend to be? We all wear masks from time to time. But I have found that most people are true to themselves especially when they need to be." Maia replied.

Alessa nodded thinking she was starting to get herself in trouble.

"Captain I realize that in the pursuit of trying to make a good impression I may have unintentionally said a few things to upset you for that I apologize, I am a little too free with my mouth, this is your ship and I would not imply to an officer with your Kalibur of experience what to think or even how to act. I am mostly used to folks who are on the verge of cracking or who need to be refortified so they can go back out into space, sometimes I overzealously check for cracks. This is my first assignment and I really just hope not to disappoint." Alessa admitted.

"Counseller I appreciate candor. It's allright to keep your mask off. You have a job to do and from what I can tell, my crew is in good hands." Maia said.

"Besides I realize you are sizing me up as much as I am sizing you up. I am not offended, and there is no need to apologize." Maia continued.

"I am just doing what I do best overthinking a situation and trying to untie a giant ball of string to make things better. I think it comes with the pip, but from what I am looking at there is a lot of overworked staff here, Lt.Commander Ryan, The Commander, shoot even the Old Man of the Boat all seem like they would take a torpedo for you. That sort of loyalty is inspiring. I am not so much sizing you up as trying to peek under the hood and make sure you are okay. Because you don't seem to be in a good place emotionally right now and its not something I can put my finger on." Alessa admitted.

"It has been a trying six months Counseller, when Pergium was discovered on Thorion-3, every privateer in the quadrant wanted to stake a claim. Throw in the Rixxian Caliphate and the Orion Syndicate, and it makes for a tenuous situation at best. Kind of like dancing on the head of a pin." Maia said.

"How has it taken a toll on you personally?" Alessa asked.

"Worry about my ship and crew, what captain doesn't. It has been especially difficult when Lt Brannon disappeared and Commander Blake's away team were captured. Sometimes you have to trust to luck especially when there is nothing you can do. All you have is the knowledge that they are experienced officers, but are in incredible danger. I am glad that events seemed to work out in our favor and that they are/will be alright. But you still worry, especially when you are the leader of a family. They have come to mean a lot to me." Maia replied.

"There is a Tamarian concept on the two truths, The first truth in life is not going all the way when needed, the second is not starting. The walls of Tembor do not shake without thunder." Alessa offered.

"Her eyes wide, her sails unfurled. I will be alright I knew the job was dangerous when I took it." Maia replied.

"Before I sign off on this as your six month eval, I want you to know my door is always open. I have a Nurse, one Katherine Trammel who handles all my appointments. If you need anything call on me. Remember nothing in life has happened to you. It’s happened for you. Every disappointment. Every wrong. Even every closed door has helped make you into who you are.” Alessa said with a chipper tone.

"I will do so". Maia said.

[OFF]