Counseling the Commander

Posted on 28 Mar 2017 @ 8:02pm by Commander Aren Ban & Commander Marisa Wyatt
Edited on on 29 Mar 2017 @ 7:52pm

2,116 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 14 - Statecraft
Location: IKS DuJa'Q - Ban's Quarters
Timeline: MD03 - 1400 hrs

[ON]

Marisa had not seen the First Officer since she boarded the Duja'Q several days before. While they weren't on a Federation Starship, she did want to have a talk with the senior staff to ensure that they were doing well emotionally. It was one of the few things she could do on the Klingon ship and it made her feel like she was at least contributing something.

However, finding Commander Ban proved more difficult than she first imagined. He wasn't on the bridge--her first stop--and he wasn't eating--her second. So, she decided it was time to get a tricorder and go on a search.

Aren just finished talking with a junior officer. Some days it felt that he was playing the part of babysitter more so than he was a Federation commander. He shook his head and made his way towards his pseudo office that doubled as his quarters.

"Commander Ban, can I have a few minutes?" Marisa asked, quickening her pace to catch up to him.

Inwardly, Aren sighed. Just another person that needed him today. Much of his Starfleet career he had been on the bridge of a starship and as a young ensign, had initially seen his captain's as busy individuals. It wasn't until much later had he realized the XO Was truly the busy one. Outwardly Aren nodded, motioning for her to follow. "Of course, my 'office' is just up ahead, we can talk there." He said as he made his way to what was really his quarters.

A few moments later, he was sitting behind his little desk, motion for Lieutenant Sandoval to take a seat. "Can I get you something to drink? I have water." He said trying to add a little humor into his already crummy day. "What can I do for you?" He asked, as he poured himself a cup.

"Hmm," she pretended to consider as she sat down. "I think I'll have water. Thank you."

Aren nodded, pulling out a plastic looking cup, and filling it from a thermos of water. Once filled, he handed it to Marisa.

She nodded her thanks and took the glass. "How are you doing?" she asked, taking a sip of her water to give him time to answer.

"I am about as well as one can be, all things considering." He said, making a waving motion to emphasize the point of being on a Klingon ship. "How has your integration with the crew been? Have you seen any patients?

"A few," she said. "They want clearance for duty, but aren't willing to really talk." One side of her mouth quirked up in a humorous smile. "Then again, I'm an unknown entity, so I can't really blame them. So, I try to keep busy. This place doesn't have much of a library. Which brings me to my next question, what are you doing to relax?"

"That is a rather loaded question, isn't it?" Aren said as he leaned back in his chair. "To be honest, I haven't had the opportunity to do much relaxing," he said making air quotes, "but on Kreanus, I often participated in Mok'bara, and plan to do the same here, again when time permits. Unlike Federation ships, we don't have the crew, the facilities, nor the luxury, and even less as an XO where one has to not only keep track of Federation personnel, but also Klingon." Aren said matter of factually.

"And that's why it's even more important that you find some way of relaxing here," she said. "You've got a lot on your plate with the ship, the Klingons and your own crew. You need to make time to relax."

"True enough." Aren said, as he leaned forward. "So then, counselor, what do you suggest?"

Marisa leaned forward, too, her eyes twinkling with humor. "What do you like to do besides Mok'bara?" she asked. "Or would you like me to make some suggestions?"

"Other than working and making mountains of paperwork into small piles of paperwork, nothing that really can be done this ship." Aren said, a tiny bit of humor touching his voice. "I guess I would be open to some suggestions." Relaxing wasn't his problem, he could relax, he wasn't so up tight, was he?

"Everyone, even Executive Officers, needs some form of relaxation. Reading, playing a musical instrument, any of a number of art forms, physical excercise in its many forms," she said. "Different things work for different people. The important thing is that you have some sort of outlet to help balance your life." She gave him an impish grin. "Paper pushing does not count."

Aren shrugged. "I enjoy doing paperwork, there is something almost therapeutic about it, but I see your point." He said with a sigh.

"Keep this up and you might be one of the few people I don't have to worry about on this ship," she teased. "In all seriousness, if there's anything I can do to help, let me know. Although I'm not the most social of creatures myself."

Aren raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Isn't that rather counter-intuitive for a counselor? I seem to recall that is in the job description." He said, wanting to learn more of the counselor, the parts that weren't in her Starfleet record jacket.

"Well, I love a good conversation, but you don't generally get that in a large social group." She paused and gave him a sheepish grin. "And I'm more comfortable around geeks and nerds, which are more of an anti-social group. I originally studied history and archaeology but found I enjoyed talking to my friends and helping them with their problems. That's when I decided to study counseling, too." She cocked her head to one side and asked, "What about you? Do you consider yourself a social creature?"

Aren had to pause and think about that for a moment. "It really depends. Before joining, no, I don't think I was. It wasn't that I was anti-social, just was devoted to my studies." He said pausing to think on it a bit more. "But after joining, in many instances yes. In fact, more often then not, though when repeated high stress situations happen...it is defiantly something new." He said with a shrug.

"And that's why you're the First Officer and I'm the Counselor. You do very well in a leadership role, and I do well dealing with individuals and small groups." She shrugged. "I can handle larger groups, especially in a work environment, but parties? I'm usually the wall flower."

She met his gaze for a long moment. "What did you study?" she asked, curious.

"Well, that is really a loaded question. For the Trill Symbiote Commission, we were required to study a full spread of the disciplines. Though when I was at the academy, may main focuses were Applied Physics, Engineering, and Meteorology." Aren said shifting in his seat.

"That's quite a mix of interests," Marisa said. "I like that you're willing to expand your studies to include your interests."

Aren scratched his head for a second. "Sometimes I wonder what is truly mine and what has been influenced by the symbiote." He shrugged. "Needless to say, all three of those had elements that intermingled with one another."

"I don't know a great deal about Trill, but it makes sense," she said. "You have someone else's memories when you're joined."

Aren shook his head. "Normally yes, though I am surprised you didn't know that I am the first host for the Ban symbiote, it should be in my file." Aren asked rather curious.

"Under normal conditions, I would," she admitted. "But I only just joined the crew, and I'm basically winging it until we get somewhere more stable. Counseling isn't much of a priority on a Klingon ship and I'm not a medical doctor, so..." She shrugged. "I help where I can and try to keep out of the way."

Aren nodded in understanding. "I can understand that. Though, we were able to recover most of the medical and personnel files, well WE didn't, I was really our Romulan...uh...hosts." He said looking through a stack of assorted PADDs. Some where of Klingon make, or older Federation design. "Here, I think I found it." He handed the PADD to her. It look like one of the first generation Federation PADDs. "Just copy those files, you should have a half decent file of the Federation personnel aboard. We can start the copy now if you like?" Aren suggested.

She smiled brightly as she took the PADD, which seemed a bit odd for a Vulcan. "Now would be great, if you don't mind." The attack on the Galileo was definitely premeditated if the attackers took the time to copy the crew's files and that made her a little nervous. What else was planned for them? "It would definitely be helpful to know a bit more about the people who wish to speak with me." She paused for a moment, part of an overheard conversation coming to mind. "Does this ship have any sort of astrometrics or stellar cartography? I ask because there's a way to send and receive communications through it if you know what you're doing. I heard that only you and the General can use the ship's communications."

Inwardly Aren sighed. "That is partially true. While the general can technically send messages via subspace, there are a few reasons she hasn't." Aren said, as he held up his hand, ticking off fingers as he explained there reasoning. "One, is while we are on a sensitive mission, and EMCON and operational security are key. Regardless of how secure you you think you can make a connection, any message that can be sent can be intercepted. That doesn't mean one will know what the message entails, but it can give bearings, ranges, speed, essentially course. Two, the general and I, and others in the grew, want to help those on the colony. Regardless of the klingon general's action, we can't condemn the many, for the actions of a few. And alerting Starfleet, could tip off those within the council our intentions and close this avenue indefinitely." Aren said, about to tick off a third reason but stopped. He put his hand back on the table, ans sighed. "I understand everyone's feelings, we want to get home, I want to get home. But I think we would be remiss as Starfleet officers , if we turned on back on those asking for help." He finished.

"I didn't say you should use it to alert Starfleet," Marisa said. "I was simply letting you know there is a way to send covert messages if you ever need to. I don't know if it would work on a Klingon ship, but it works on a Starfleet one. Look, if I wanted to inform Starfleet I could have used this method myself and not told you about it."

"I didn't say that we would. Just remember that not everything is as covert as one thinks it is. One may be able to hide there tracks on ship, but once that transmission leaves the ship it is very easy to intercept parts of the transmission, decoding it on the other hand is rather difficult." He shook his head. "But that is a moot point. We are currently at EMCON, or known as river city to some. I agree with the general on this, though I do appreciate your enthusiasm, and I want to encourage my crew to think outside the box." Aren said, trying to be supportive. "But that seems to have us a little off topic doesn't it?"
He offered, trying to steer the meeting back towards the impromptu counceling session.

"I've already determined that you're sane enough for the job," Marisa said. "Although I am a bit concerned about you not having enough balance in your life." She could have told him a while ago that she had enough information for her professional assessment, but she was enjoying the conversation and was frankly curious to know more about the Commander as a person.

Aren nodded. "I will do my best to add more balance." He said. "I even promise to leave my office more regularly, in fact," he set down his PADD on top of his never ending stack, "I think I should go for a walk. Care to join me Lieutenant?" Aren offered, feeling the need to stretch his legs.

Marisa smiled, pleased that he was taking her seriously about needing some balance. "I would be delighted to accompany you, commander."

[OFF]

--

Commander Aren Ban
Executive Officer
IKS DuJa'Q

Lieutenant JG Marisa Sandoval
Chief Counselor
IKS DuJa'Q

RSS Feed