No Pressure

Posted on Wed Aug 10th, 2022 @ 3:11am by Captain Wilkan Targaryen & Lieutenant Commander Cyrus Marner & Lieutenant Rebecca Donnybrook

1,481 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Short Treks
Location: Admiral's Office, Deep Space 12
Timeline: 2430-12-23, 08:00

It hadn't been long since the crew of Starfleet One had been reassigned to Deep Space 12 to help establish a secondary Starfleet Headquarters and, already, half the crew had started to go stir crazy. To have served on the Federation Flagship, explored countless strange new worlds, and now to be serving on an outpost it was quite the culture shock. For Willian Targaryen even more so as this had been one of his earliest assignments and, to top it off, had been under the command of his own father at the time. Now he had his father's job.

Thankfully, after several months of searching, he had the right person to talk to about it.

Their prior Counselor had been recalled to Starfleet Medical to serve as a Coordinator for patients facing severe mental health crisis, but that had left the Station with a key role open at a key time. With the reassignment to a Starbase, coupled with the fact that the Maelstrom Sector was so unlike others people had ever served in, it was a hard adjustment for many. He was certain that their new Counselor would be a welcome help with that adjustment and had asked for Doctor Marner to join him in meeting with her for the first time.

Now he only wondered who would be the first to make it to his office.

The tall ebony lieutenant gave her dress tunic one last tug before walking the last few meters to the door to the Admiral's office. Even if the surface thoughts weren't flittering unbidden to her mind, Rebecca would have noticed the glances directed her way. Most were just curious in nature, though one or two were mildly salacious.

Unaffected by the surreptitious attention, Rebecca signaled her presence outside the Admiral's office.

Cyrus had just finished doing some surgery upon a crewmember, reattaching a severed finger. Despite the cautions that people do take, accidents do happen.

"There you go, you will have to take a few days off to allow things to completely heal. Don't think you are a man of steel and can get back to work right away. And don't try to convince me otherwise. Take it easy as I don't want to have to redo what has been done." he said with a slightly stern expression in his blue eyes.

"Thanks doc." the crew man left and Cyrus then noticed the nurse trying to get his attention.

"Doctor, its time for your meeting with Admiral Targaryen. In fact you will be late if you do not go now."

Cyrus removed his smock and hat quickly straightened his hair as much as possible, and left. Walking at a rapid pace. He sighed slightly, realizing he was going to be late. Or maybe not. To his relief, he was able to catch the next lift which carried him to the level where the admiral's office was. He rounded the corner and noticed someone waiting in front of the Admiral's office. It was a lovely looking woman, with Lieutenant pips.

"Greetings Lieutenant, looks like I am not entirely late. I am Lieutenant Cyrus Marner." the blonde haired blue eyed doctor having a warm smile of greeting.

"Chief Medical Officer," Rebecca responded, giving the doctor a small smile. Rebecca extended a hand encased in a white silken glove that contrasted distinctly with her darker skin. "Lieutenant Rebecca Donnybrook, Chief Counselor. I look forward to working with you."

"I see that you already know my position. Pleasure to meet you." Cyrus taking her hand and giving it a firm shake. His grip was a solid one, but not one that caused pain, it was more on the line of a strong but gentle hand. "Since he is expecting us, shall we?" making a motion to let the door open. "Ladies first." his southern drawl coming out just ever so slightly.

"Salutations, Admiral Targaryen." he greeted Willian once they stepped inside, a twinkle in his eyes.

"Hello Doctor," the young looking Admiral greeted from his glass desk near their door. He rose as he noticed the Counselor, "and a special welcome to you, Counselor Donnybrook. I hope you're settling in nicely."

Rebecca returned the Admiral's greeting with a warm smile. "It has been nice so far, though I hope to hit the deck running soon."

"This place will definitely be keeping you busy." Cyrus remarked, "I know it has been keeping me that way. I have yet to be able to indulge in my time of relaxation, being upon a boat on a lovely lake, and fishing." he giving a slight laugh.

"I was going to say be careful what you wish for, Lieutenant, but it seems that the Doctor beat me to it," Willian joked. "With our recent reassignment to oversee Starfleet Operations here at Deep Space 12 I won't deny that some of the crew have had some difficulty adapting. Then you have the few of us that were directly present at the destruction of Talos and the extinction of the Talosians. It's been a lot of us. That's why I'm glad you're here."

Rebecca nodded, her hands moving behind her. "Permission to speak freely, Admiral?"

"I welcome it, Lieutenant," Willian approved as he took a drink of his replicated Altair water. It had been his experience that when people used that phrase that he sometimes needed to be on guard, so he engaged his shields a bit in preparation. That did not mean he did not welcome her thoughts.

Rebecca's stance was reminiscent of a sailor on the deck of a wooden ship in rough seas, bracing against the wind and expecting a rogue wave to come crashing over the rail at any moment.

"I've been on board less than a day," she began, "So there's no way I know the lay of the land. And I'm not asking you to betray any confidences, sir, but is there anyone in particular I need to talk to first?"

"Probably me," he answered with a laugh. It wasn't far from the truth though. Reality was he had been through a lot during his career aboard this ship - having served on it as the Captain for over 20 years. Shifting in his seat he glanced at his Chief Medical Officer, "I have some people in mind, but Cyrus will be better equipped to help you answer that question, Counselor."

"I am at your service then, Admiral," Rebecca said with a somber nod, before she turned to the stations CMO. "Doctor?"

"I do have a list of those who may benefit talking to you about what has happened, the big thing is getting them to even discuss it. You may have to erm get to know them outside of your office. I can be added to the list as well, to talk. Much has happened in such a short time." Cyrus answered.

"Understood, Doctor," Rebecca answered. "As they say in your part of North America, this isn't my first rodeo. Anyone who's willing to head to my office, send them my way. Otherwise, I'll plan to conduct sessions in a more informal settings."

The Commanding Officer smiled, "I'm grateful for your desire to hit the ground running, Counselor. Might I suggest that you start with the Doctor himself?" He expected some protests to the suggestion, "The Doctor was one of the first officers who dealt with the Talosian massacre and saw the devastation first hand. It may be prudent for your first talk to be with him."

Cyrus cast a pointed glance towards Willian, "As long as you're the second one, Sir. " an eyebrow raising upwards. Then Cyrus turned his attention to Lieutenant Donnybrook.

"By all means let us commence, if you'd like to break in your official office, shall we go there? I am a firm believer in the old adage, Physician heal thyself, and to me that also includes having a session with a counselor." there also was look of sorrow and some pain as he thought of the deaths of so many Talosians. He blinked slightly, and met Donnybrook's eyes. "Indeed it may well be a good thing."

Rebecca nodded in agreement. "My legal guardian sent me with two cases.of...well, Admiral, I'm hoping neither you nor the doctor have an objection to gin that isn't replicated or synthehol. It's not my standard counseling tool, but I have found that London distilled gin mixed with honey or lime juice can sometimes start the ball rolling. Assuming this will be an after hours session, Admiral?"

Cyrus smiled, that sounded like a rather good way to have a counseling session, having drinks and it seeming to be a more relaxed setting.

The Admiral nodded in agreement with a smile, "Sounds like a plan to me. If you'll excuse me though I have to prepare for a meeting with the President and Starfleet Command."

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