Support Department

Posted on 02 Mar 2015 @ 4:48am by Lieutenant Commander Amynta Markos & Lieutenant JG Ethan Walker M.D., Ph.D

1,278 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: Starbase 84
Timeline: MD43

ON:

Amynta Markos rolled her shoulders slowly as she stood in the office she had borrowed at Starbase 84. She didn't want to go on the ship just yet; her office was a mess and she needed to sort it out. So she had asked for a temporary office to meet the newest addition to her department. Another Chaplain. But they needed some spiritual guidance as well as mental, she supposed. She wore her uniform crisp, her hair pinned up from her face. She took a seat at her desk, reaching to adjust the chair to a more human setting.

Truth was, she disliked these meetings. Always forced and she didn't really care much about someone who, while in the Support Department, she wouldn't work closely with. Intelligence was different. This? She had let Thorne do what he needed and not interfered. She would be the same with Walker.

Adjusting his uniform and tucking the trailing ends of his rosary beads under the cuff of his tunic, Ethan stepped through the door into the office, following the chime and quick biddance to enter. He certainly knew Starfleet protocol on reporting and other official niceties, he'd just never had to really deal with them as he'd always been somewhat on the outside looking in. New assignment and new boss, though, meant an uncertainty in how things would be handled.

"Good morning." Ethan offered politely as he entered, "Ethan Walker, reporting for duty aboard the Galileo." he said, not providing a rank or other title even though his official record did maintain one - for him it wasn't necessary.

"Come in, Amynta said and looked at him, frowning slightly. Before her she had his file. She clocked what he wore and that he was without his rank insignia. "Lieutenant Walker, please take a seat. I am Lt. Amynta Markos and I am the Chief of Intelligence. I also take care of Support, so you lot and the diplomats."

"Father Walker, please, or Doctor." Ethan smiled back, "Pleasure to meet you." he added, taking the seat offered to him. "It's interesting that the Galileo classifies me as support and not Counseling... is that the new norm?" he asked casually.

"Hardly," Amynta said as she held his eyes. "It has been like that on several small ships. I believe it is a way of separating the professional trained from...the spiritual." She glanced over at his file, wanting to ask something before dismissing it. He could call himself Clown for all she cared. "Now, as part of the Support Department, you will be left to work individually. I do not supervise the Diplomats or the Chaplains."

"And those of us who are both?" he smiled evenly back, "Resigned to Support? I only ask to understand the role I'm expected to play." he clarified. "I don't mind working on my own at all."

"If you wanted to do both, you should have become a counsellor or gone civilian. I do not want you stepping on another department's toes," Amynta frowned, shaking her head before meeting his eyes again. Her own were serious, even sharp and there was no sign of a smile on her face. "Just do your spiritual guidance thing and do your day to day duties. You should by now know your job well enough because quite honestly, I don't meddle with things that I do not know. And the sort of compassion someone of your profession needs is not part of my character."

Ethan smiled thinly, "Clearly." he replied with none of the condescension being cast at him. "However I am required by Starfleet to maintain my credentials as both a Counselor and a Physician. That should all be in my file - Starfleet Medical with specializations in Counseling and Medicine - despite not being officially berthed in that department on this ship." he smiled, smoothing the front of his pants absently. "I will do my best not to step on toes in the process." he explained patiently, still not raising his voice or speaking in anything more or less than a conversational tone. Being angry or irritated was not his way, despite that clearly being his counterparts. "I've already spoken with Doctor Warraquim during my required pre-boarding physical and she has offered any shift I desire in Sick Bay to maintain my credentials, so long as I ask beforehand." he smiled, "And as I am also required by Starfleet to declare myself as a licensed counselor to the Chief Counselor, Lieutenant Devin... if I remember correctly..." he said, "I am due for my annual psychological evaluation anyway - I believe that will be a good time to satisfy that Starfleet requirement." he continued, offering a warm smile. "Will that be satisfactory?"

"As long as your shift in sickbay does not step on the time in my department, I honestly don't care what you do," Amynta said bluntly as she held his eyes. "Clearly, you need to decide what you want to be when you grow up. Straddle too many things and you might pull a muscle." It was difficult to see if it was said with humor or not, as Markos just watched him. "Are you a Catholic Priest? You introduced yourself as Father, I believe that is connected to being a Catholic Priest. Although religions are not my strong point."

"Yes, I serve the Roman Catholic Church. One of the very few in the Starfleet Diocese." he nodded back, choosing to take the high road on this one and just move on to more pertinent topics. "Have you dealt with Chaplain's before?" he asked. He knew that it was a relatively uncommon position aboard a vessel and genreally only at the Captain's discretion and just like the Officers in Starfleet, a great many Captain's looked down on people like Ethan as well as their faith.

"We have one here already," Amynta said and frowned, considering it. She wanted to raise questions...a horse couldn't carry two saddles. Serving a Church and serving Starfleet at the same time seemed insane to her. But that was not her concern, not truly. She had better things in mind. "Verity Thorne...a former..." she stopped and tilted her head. "No, you should meet him as soon as you can. You will be sharing offices, although I suspect you can work around each other."

"I look forward to it." Ethan nodded in reply, not bothering to hide the smile. He was used to being the only man of faith within a hundred light years - he'd never had the pleasure of having a true religious colleague.

"Thorne is a decent fellow," Markos said reluctantly before shaking her head. "But that is for you to decide for yourself. Any concerns you have with this posting?" She wanted to start ending this meeting...she suspected they were both busy.

Ethan shook his head and shrugged, "No... I actually have high hopes for it. I've had some difficult postings in the past, and this seems to have the potential to be truly enjoyable." he smiled.

"I am sure we will surprise you," Markos said dryly before giving a weak nod. This place was not the safest. Between the Borg, the zombies and everything else...not the safest ship. "Dismissed."

Flashing a polite (if not internally irritated) smile, Ethan stood up. "Pleasure to meet you, Commander." he said, and with that turned and left, glad to be done with what had to have been the most awkward conversation in a very long time.

OFF:

Lt. Commander Amynta Markos
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

&

LtJG Ethan Walker, MD, PhD
Ships Chaplain
USS Galileo

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