Arrangements

Posted on 12 Mar 2017 @ 7:43pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Marisa Wyatt

3,310 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Episode 14 - Statecraft
Location: IKS DuJa'Q - Deck 9
Timeline: MD 02 - 1700 hrs

[ON]

Lirha's visit to sickbay had been eventful, much as she'd expected. Not all of Galileo's former crew had been made aware of her presence, and the opportunity to reconnect with the Akkadian doctor had brought her a semblance of joy and solidarity. She only wished she had the time to visit each crew member in person -- to give them the chance to inquire and ask questions...and perhaps even a hug if necessary. The days were busy, however, and there was precious little time to both take care of her obligations and supervise their perilous mission.

She was now on the hunt for a new crew member, a junior lieutenant by the name of Sandoval who was apparently a counselor assigned to the crew. Normally the Orion tried her best to avoid such encounters that forced her to undergo standard evaluations, but current circumstances and a realization of her own recent struggles had made it the prudent thing to do.

The general had paced her way down Deck 9 looking for the woman, but so far the search had been futile. She'd seen nothing but Klingons walking the deck and now wondered where the counselor would be spending her time in the absence of a dedicated counseling office. As she pondered the thought, she rounded one of the large corners and abruptly came face-to-face with a female, blue-collared Vulcan. She matched the description of the officer she was looking for, so she came to a halt and inquired. "Hello, lieutenant," she began. "Are you Miss Sandoval?"

Marisa was helping out by cleaning the lesser-used rooms around sickbay. She was heading back to sickbay when an Orion female dressed as a Klingon officer addressed her. She'd heard a lot of talk about the Admiral-now-General and assumed by her general appearance this was she. "I am. Are you General Saalm?"

Lirha simply nodded once in reply, then glanced around the corridor before looking back towards the other woman. "Are you on your way to anywhere in particular?" she inquired. "I must speak with you." The corridor wasn't the most ideal place for such a conversation.

"No, I've been cleaning some of the rooms, in case we need them later," she said. "It's empty, so we can talk there."

She turned back the way she'd come and led the General to the small medical lab and opened the door. It smelled like the antibacterial cleaner she'd been using. There was one chair and one small desk in the room. "I can offer you the desk or the chair," Marisa said, waving to the two pieces of furniture.

Lirha followed and glanced around the small laboratory when she stepped inside. The now-familiar scent of Klingon musk had been replaced with a more pungent and sterile odor, and the Orion wasn't sure which one was worse. She eyed the two seats and the small desk before shaking her head to decline the offer. "Thank you but I prefer to stand." She'd spent almost a week of her captivity on Kreanus bed-ridden while recovering from her injuries and somehow the concept of sitting in an idle position was now unappealing to her.

"I want to thank you for volunteering your services to Galileo's crew," she began politely. "There were many Starfleet and former-Starfleet residents on Kreanus who declined the opportunity. I understand you have medical and counseling experience if Medara's records are correct...your assistance is certainly valuable."

"Actually, I'm an archaeologist, historian, and counselor," Marisa said with a self-deprecating smile. "I could not decide on a career path."

Lirha studied her features for a brief moment. "And yet you find yourself as a counselor?" she replied, her eyebrows raising slightly with a small smile tugging at the corner of her gold lips. "I remember such times myself at the Academy. For some, it takes many years to find their true calling."

"I refuse to choose just one," Marisa admitted with a grin. "So, I choose them all. I have worked in science and counseling. Right now, I find I like helping people, but that also gives me the opportunity to work as a scientist from time to time and feed that part of me."

"And do you have time to counsel me?" Lirha asked. Mental evaluations were the farthest thing from desirable for the general, but she knew -- deep down inside -- that her experiences aboard Kreanus had probably left her emotionally compromised. At least, that was her belief. The final judgement would not be with her, but rather those who were qualified in such manners.

"Of course." Marisa looked at Saalm for several long moments. "Tell me about your experience on Kreanus."

If Lirha took the time to answer that question at length, she'd probably be stuck with the counselor for the next six hours. Possibly with some secretive information divulged along the way, as well. No, a full synopsis of her recent experiences wasn't exactly what she was hoping to reveal. That said, some elements of her story might be worth retelling. "What exactly do you wish to know?" she asked in return.

"Everyone said you were dead. Let's start with what happened and why you are now a General," Marisa said. "I assume that some of it you are either not willing or not able to divulge, but let's see what we can cover that you can talk about."

Clasping her hands behind her back, the Orion slowly began to pace around the small room while diverting her attention to various unremarkable items present while she recalled her story. "As you might have heard, I was the commanding officer of USS Galileo attached to 9th Fleet," she began. "Our starship had just completed its mission at Celes III in the Regulus sector assisting the USS Semmes' colony vessel with its deployment. On our return journey to Starbase 234 for resupply and shore leave, we intercepted a distress call of unknown origin from the Paulson Nebula. My crew was able to decipher the message and deduced its approximate location. The transponder signal matched that of SS Recluse, a first-generation Antares-class freighter reported lost over two decades ago."

Lirha cast her eyes upward toward the ceiling bulkheads. "When we entered the nebula and closed in on the signal source, we instead found a task group of Klingon warships awaiting us. It was an ambush. We were ordered to surrender our vessel or be fired upon. I..." she paused for a short moment to reflect on the not-so-distant past while changing her stare to focus on the floor, "ordered us to flee. And in the ensuing battle, Galileo took critical damage. I ordered the evacuation of the crew in escape pods but remained behind to activate the auto-destruct along with one of my officers, Ensign Alexander. The crew managed to make it off Galileo in time, but I was severely wounded and could not get to any of the lifepods. I said my prayers to the spirits as the countdown completed, but was transported off Galileo by the Klingon forces at the last second. I was put into a medically-induced coma and taken to Kreanus aboard one of their vessels. I...don't remember any of that journey, only waking up in one of their rehabilitation facilities with Sub-commander S'anara watching over me."

It was so similar, and yet so different, from the Cartagena. They'd been lured into the nebula, too, but as far as she knew, she and Petra were the only ones that survived. "And how do you feel about that?"

Something about that question didn't sit right with Saalm. There wasn't any set of emotions that could accurately describe what she was feeling, and part of her thought the counselor knew as much but decided to ask anyway. "The same way any other Starfleet captain would feel if they were in my situation, I suppose," she slowly answered. "Anger, frustration, remorse...I feel many ways."

"How are you dealing with them?" Marisa asked. "In other words, how are you coping?"

"Well enough," Lirha answered with a light shrug. "The mission at hand is the priority, and does not allow me much leeway for reflection."

"If you don't deal with it now, you'll have to deal with it later," Marisa said quietly. "That's not always the best option. I know you have a lot on your plate right now, and you don't have time for grief, but you need to spend a little time working through your feelings so they don't break out when you least expect it."

This much was true, Lirha recognized. Her species was, by nature, an emotional one -- especially on the physical level. Orion pheromone production was a direct by-product of the feelings and moods each of her kind were presently experiencing. During periods of intense emotions, production tended to increase. Non-Orions in the vicinity usually experience similar feels in relation to the type of pheromone they were affected with, which could pose a danger to the crew.

"What do you suggest, then?" the general asked. "There is not much opportunity given our current situation or the confines of our starship." The lack of holodecks, an arboretum, a crew lounge, and other comforts was a stark reminder of their battlecruiser's nature.

"Exercise generally helps. Boxing or kick boxing, free running, martial arts. All are healthy ways to vent frustration and work out negative emotions. As my friend reminded me recently, other forms of physical activity can also be beneficial." Marisa paused for a moment. "Holding in the emotions can be harmful. That doesn't mean you have to vent them, but you do have to find a positive way to deal with them."

"What about...romantic adventures?" Lirha asked, wondering if that qualified as exercise. It certainly did in her mind, for such encounters were often lengthy and strenuous affairs -- albeit extremely pleasurable. And for the sake of relieving stress, the Orion knew no other preferred way.

"They definitely relieve stress and improve your mental and emotional health," Marisa said. "As long as it's with someone you care about. Otherwise you only get the physical benefits."

It was a relief to hear the counselor's approval despite the details that said encounters might be with her own crew. Lirha followed up the line of discussion with a brief counterpoint. "But stress is a physical reaction within the body...and as such, the physical relief remedies the mental elements as well, yes?"

"Sometimes, but it's generally temporary," Marisa said. "Thus the need for some to exercise more often to stave off their stress and anger. When you add a positive emotional connection to your life, it seems to have deeper and more lasting effects. In other words, you can get a quick release, but it's only a pale imitation of the real thing, and a temporary fix for a deeper, more lasting problem."

Lirha tilted her head and thought through the explanation of a physical relationship's impact on the psyche. She was no counselor, but knew that perhaps the worlds the counselor had spoken were perhaps for a different breed of woman. "Have you counseled many Orions during your time in Starfleet?" she asked.

"Not many," Marisa admitted. "I am aware that Orions have different attitudes and needs regarding sex to other species. But even with Orions, there is a difference between a strictly physical liaison and an emotional connection."

"Yes, somewhat," Lirha acknowledged. "We experience love and passion differently, but also concurrently." She paused to think of the best way to explain her culture's values and romantic conventions. "To my people, there are different degrees of love. One may love their partner for a brief encounter and experience all the joys of romance for only a night...and then never see them. It is also possible to have recurring love, those same feelings felt over and over for as long as a couple or group is together. Marriages on my homeworld are not always motivated by love, but often prearranged for family and clan prosperity. Many married partners often seek their love through other individuals, not always their spouses."

"And Orions have a reputation which doesn't bode well for a lasting relationship," Marisa added. "While physiology plays a part in it, culture can be a stronger factor in behavior and beliefs. Risans have a similar problem." She paused, cocking her head to one side before asking, "Do you find that your upbringing causes you problems when dealing with your crew?"

Lirha thought about the various relationships she'd had with members of the Galileo crew. How many had it been over the years? Five? Ten? Fifteen partners? Perhaps more if she included the Emergency Babysitter Hologram. Such relations were usually frowned upon by Starfleet but Lirha's unorthodox style of command meant she'd never seen the harm in developing mutually-satisfying bonds with those she worked with. "No, I don't think so..." she answered quietly, her eyes turned up to the ceiling while she thought about it some more.

"As long as they know the score and are okay withit, I don't see a problem," Marisa said. "But that can't be the only way to cope. What else are you doing to deal with the situation?"

The general shrugged, not quite sure how to respond to the query. There was no opportunity for her to contact her family back on Vajripam, nor her colleagues on Earth. There was no holodeck aboard the Klingon battlecruiser for her to work out her stress. No bar or lounge for her to drink away her worries, even for a night. She looked back at the counselor and simply said "Talking to you, it seems."

Marisa grinned. "Is it helping?"

"Perhaps. Do you want to offer your...services to me?" she asked with a wink, hinting towards a subtle invitation which was betrayed by the sparkle in her light green eyes. The counselor was a very attractive woman and perhaps Lirha could show her first-hand what she had been trying to explain. And as much as Vulcans tended to suppress their emotions, Lirha knew they still felt them even if they didn't openly display them.

"Thanks but no thanks. I'm strictly heterosexual and old-fashioned to boot," Marisa said, politely refusing the offer. "But I could definitely drink you under the table if you ever need a drinking partner."

Lirha raised her eyebrows again, this time at the mention of social drinks. "So you will entertain me in my quarters, then, with the crate of bloodwine the Kreanans have provided us?" she asked, a small smile coming to her gold lips. Something about the refusal for relations but the acceptance of hearty booze made Lirha grin.

"Well, I'd rather we both go to the nearest lounge. Might be good for relations with the Klingons to drink with them," she countered. "Who of your crew would be interested in joining us?"

"There is not much that passes for a 'lounge' on Klingon battlecruisers," said the Orion with a disappointed wave of her hand. "The closest resemblance is the dining hall. Perhaps Commander Ban could join us? Though I wonder how his symbiont would react to heavy doses of alcohol..." she pondered out loud. Her knowledge of Trill physiology was limited by her basic Academy medical courses and limited experiences with joined members of the species.

"If he wants," Marisa said. "Many cultures use drinking as a stress reliever. It can be counter-indicated with some people, but it is an age-old tradition on many worlds."

"Yes...it certainly is." Lirha put a finger to her chin and paused for a second to think. "But is drinking not the same form of temporary relief you cautioned me about earlier?"

"Yes, it is," Marisa admitted. "However, with the stress of Kreanus and now the uncertainty of our current situation, sometimes it can be helpful. I would not normally suggest getting drunk with Klingons, but if it will help ease the tension on this ship, it's worth considering--as long as there are people around to make sure the situation doesn't get out of hand and that those of your crew who do participate get back to their rooms safely--and alone."

Lirha began to nod with approval of the counselor's sentiments until the very last phrase was spoken. Alone? But why? And after consuming alcohol? She'd just tried to explain the benefits of personal relations as well as her own species' customs regarding the matter. Part of her now wondered what the counselor thought of her and her command style. "You...don't approve of my methods?" she proceeded to ask.

"I'm only vaguely familiar with your command style," Marisa said. She was watching the General's eyes and had a good idea what the Orion had a problem with. "My point was that if I'm going to encourage people to drink in a public setting, I'm going to make sure that nothing happens to them while they're too drunk to be responsible for their actions. That does not mean I'm going to make moral judgments on the crew."

"Ah yes," replied Saalm, now understanding what the other woman was attempting to get at. "One of my colleagues back at the Academy had a word for it..." Lirha's eyes darted up and to the side while she tried to recall the Human term. "'Adult supervision,' I believe?" she finally remembered.

The counselor laughed out loud. "Yes, that's an apt description. Sometimes I find myself in the role of the adult doing the supervising. It's an occupational hazard."

An occupational hazard, Lirha thought. Perhaps she should switch careers to the medical sciences. The occupational hazards of being a starship captain in the command field had recently turned into a nightmare, and the thought of babysitting a group of drunken officers sounded much more preferable to her current burdens. "I will take you up on your offer," she decided. "Tomorrow at 2200?"

Marisa nodded. "Okay. I haven't explored all the ship yet. WHere would you like to meet, and who would you like to bring with you?"

The Orion was content with her previously-stated choice of partner as well as the mention of a more recreational setting. "Deck 7 in the Main Hall. I will ask Commander Ban to join me...hopefully he will be able to steal himself from bridge duty," she answered. "And you? Will you bring a partner?"

"I don't really have anyone," Marisa said. Then she paused. "There's one other person from the Cartagena. I could bring her. Perhaps there will be other crew that wish to join us?"

"I think four is enough," replied Saalm. While the prospect of having drinks with a large group usually wasn't something she'd turn down, she preferred for it to be a smaller set of company for the evening. She didn't feel quite back to her old self and the thought of engaging in multiple strands of conversation at a large gathering wasn't what she was looking for. "I look forward to meeting your friend," she added. "Have you known her long?"

"No. We met on the Cartagena. But we both share a love of science and we're both too nerdy for general company," Marisa admitted. "However, she's more social than I am."

The Orion general nodded after hearing the woman's description. The woman in question sounded like a unique crew member and she was also one who Lirha had never met. "I look forward to meeting her, then." Lirha gave the counselor a final smile. "Until tomorrow?"

Marisa nodded. "Until tomorrow." For some reason, she had the sinking feeling something was going to go horribly wrong.

[OFF]

--

GEN Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
IKS DuJa'Q

Lieutenant JG Marisa Sandoval
Counselor
IKS DuJa'Q

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