One of Many Meetings

Posted on Thu Jun 24th, 2021 @ 8:26pm by Lieutenant Commander Ryan Blake
Edited on on Thu Jun 24th, 2021 @ 8:31pm

Mission: The Thorion Conundrum Mission Brief
Location: Strategic Operations Center
Timeline: TBD (Possible backsim?)

The Ship's Counselor was making it a point to check in with the command staff. Her quarters were being set up and she was still in her casual counselor wear from her time on Luna. It was a basic black pantsuit, she threw a smile on and it had her combadge. She walked right up to the Lt.Commander and spoke.

"Commander Blake? I'm Doctor Herria the new head of Counseling. I came here as is protocol to check in with somebody in the direct chain of command when a senior officer reports."

With that same smile she continued, "Lucky you I suppose?"

Ryan looked up from his terminal at the young woman. He secured his work station and rose to his feet to shake hands. "Greetings Doctor." He stepped over to a replicator in the wall and ordered a cup of coffee. "Would you like something?"

She gave a nod, "Replicated coffee.. I worked as a barista for a few years. Computer, I want a raktijino with the following added to it, fourteen grams of chocolate syrup, vanilla extract and just a sprinkle of cinamon."

It took a moment for the computer to process it but it appeared. She picked up the coffee.

"So this is the part where we sit down and get a feel for each other?" She said somewhat playfully.

Ryan gestured his arm towards a door. "Break room should be empty. We can talk in there if you like."

She went in and took a seat. She took in the room.

"You are the first of the Command Staff I have met, what can you tell me about the ship? Aside from the good ship answer. I am looking for basic information, cross department conflict? Any personel disputing with each other at the moment? If it sounds silly on Luna.. at the hospital I was at it happened all the time. I just don't want to walk into anything weird." She said.

Ryan gave the questions a thought for a moment before answering. "I can only give you my perspective on a few of the Senior Staff from what interaction I have had. Captain Sterling is a fine ship's captain who looks for the best way to bring out the potential in all of the officers and crew. Commander Toran and I are...involved with one another and I would say it is serious. Lieutenant Brannon strikes me as a workaholic, but she is one of the most dedicated and professional officers I have had the privilege of working with. Lieutenant Dougherty's skills as an engineer are formidable, but she is rather extroverted." He gave a slight chuckle. "Speaking of another extrovert, my sister is Doctor Samantha Blake, the ship's resident civilian geoscience expert. The only other person I know rather well is our COB, Senior Chief Keitel. He and I worked together the last few years in the Strategic Operations Center at Starbase 51."

She gave a nod. "Thank you I was afraid I was stepping into a quagmire. My squad and I were stationed on the USS Winterwind for our cadet cruise and the Skipper was on his way out, the First Officer had way too much power over the captain I think an affair was going on, to top things off we were only to be on six months, warp drive broke down and we spent five and had to be towed back home by a real ship I thought we were all going to fail."

She took a swig of her coffee.

"As for your relationship, good on you I can't keep a houseplant alive. So anybody who can make more then friends with anybody is making a mitz in my mind. You don't feel any job pressure do you? Cause I know every six months you and I are going to have to do an evaluation to make sure there are no pressure cracks, intel and top secret stuff can be very headache inducing. Also if you or your sister are having family problems, One of my specialties is family and relationship counseling. Its actually what I cut my proverbial teeth doing."

Ryan sighed before allowing a half smile to creep onto his face. "Well then I suppose I am good for the next six months. I just had a fit for duty evaluation performed by your colleague Counselor Coleman following the incident on Thorion III."

She made a mental note to look up that particular incident and review the junior counselors case notes. "You are actually the first officer I have actually gotten a chance to meet, I have to introduce myself to the First Officer and the Captain, then I get to reach out to the Chief Medical Officer. All the while avoiding being yelled at or avoiding folks who see the teal find out I am not a doctor, then I have to hunt them down for evals. For the record I like to do my own evaluations. I am new and I don't want to mess this up. First assignment jitters."

Ryan kept a neutral expression as he pondered Alessa's words. He took a deep breath and finally nodded. "I suppose I understand that. Leto is my first starship assignment. I was at Starbase 51 for four years following my graduation from the Academy."

She looked at him, "So not turning this into a psych session would you mind dropping by my office for a sit down? I want to go over the junior counselors notes and just make sure what she said meshes with me because you have gone from friendly to neutral real quick. I promise you I am not a man stealer, I am not out to remove anybody from their posts. I am just a scared officer shoved out into space on an assignment I asked for and I don't want to be the kind of person who orders others around."

Ryan nodded. "You just want to dot the eyes and cross the tees. I can understand that. I will be off my administrative watch in two hours. How about I drop by your office then. It will give you time to consult with Counselor Coleman. Fair?"

She chewed on her lower lip and checked her appointment log. "That sounds fair enough. Do me a favor please bring a list of anything non top secret that is concerning you. Be prepared to answer some personal questions."

Ryan shrugged. "Most of what I deal with in this area is a compilation of public source materials with compartmentalized classified information to analyze and predict threat assessments and counter measures to potential threats. But I will do my best to address the personal issue questions you have."

Alessa sighed, "You have had these things done before I just need to make sure that nothing compromising has happened, no gambling debts or relationship drama that could expose you to slipping secrets. Its all really a formality and its a reason why a lot of counseling staff are disliked because we are so approachable and yet look for cracks in others. As I told my last CO I see myself more as a spackler, where I get to patch the cracks before there are problems." She offered. She then stood up.

"I will see you at the meeting then?" She asked.

Ryan nodded his head as he rose from the chair and extended his right hand to Alessa. "I shall see you in a couple of hours then. Good afternoon to you Counselor."

"Good day to you too Commander!" She said with that same happy go lucky smile she came in with.

[END SCENE]

Lieutenant Commander Ryan Blake
Chief Strategic Operations Officer/Second Officer

Alessa Herria
Chief Counselor