Bluster & Bravado

Posted on Wed Mar 29th, 2023 @ 8:02am by

Mission: Starship Side Quest
Location: Security

Soran sat desk he was behind on paperwork as usual, it was his least favorite part of the job.  I had form for a high level of security clearance for a new  officer, he scowled. Lieutenant Tala Gilohesh… a counselor… why would  a shrink need such a high clearance? He looked at his schedule and she was set for an appointment… odd… this was unusual. He contemplated making an excuse to cancel. He was planning go for a walk with Tony.

Tale's first impression of the ship was just that it was like every other ship. The Security Chief's face read 'I'd rather be anywhere else' she kept her face as calm as she could manage, it's not like she was in the habit for demanding psych evaluations on ships. That was StarFleet's prerogative. The aftermath was just a fun little headache that she got to deal with. Usually the contumacious guys set in their ways. She didn't need to be a Betazoid to read this room.

"Ah, Lieutenant Commander Wagnor, I presume? I'm Dr Gilohesh, but please, call me Tale," she said with a practiced ease.

"Well Tale, to be honest I just saw your appointment on my schedule. I see your clearance request, but the interview for that is usually a formality." The Angosian sighed, he tried to conceal a yawn by pretending to cough.

"Since you're here I will conduct the interview," Soran said. "This is not a counseling session Tale, you may use my rank or call me Wagnor."

Soran spoke in a calm even tone. he suspected this was some sort of ruse to get a read on him outside of a the counseling office. Even if this was genuine it was a waste of his time.

"No, Lt Cmdr, this isn't a counseling session," Tale cracked her knuckles loudly and handed Wagnor the padd in her green hand. "Nor is it a waste of your time. You've been selected for mandatory therapy sessions."

She could see the man's jaw clench without release and she relished in it. Denying herself these small little things would be senseless. "Evidently," she continued. "This crew has been selected for mandatory therapy by StarFleet Command. You in particular. This isn't your first session. This isn't your normal counseling session. This is a bit different. I expect you're going to be my prize student when it comes to talking about feelings. Now, we're on the matter of your security detail."

The Angosian paused "like I said the security clearance is formality. I'll see to it that you have the access you've requested. What is the brass's interest in me?"

With his people's government recently learning that he's alive as they opt to join the Federation. This evaluation was probably somebody's power play.

"The Admiralty has issued me clearance to read your records Sir," Tale's voice lowered. "All. Of. Them. And deemed it necessary that I come here to check up on you on occasion. Don't act so surprised that your of interest to a certain section of the Brass. They love them a war hero. I’m just the lucky gal that gets to come make sure that you are doing your wellness work."

"Well you get straight to the point don't you?" Soran snapped. "If they had you read my records then I don't have to explain why I don't trust you or them. There's plenty missing from those pages, You don't know me and neither do they. Things go best for everyone when i'm left to do my job."

"Oooo a fiesty one," Tale laughed to herself. "I'll cut straight to the chase. I'm here investigating why you thought it was absolutely impertinent to telepathically link to a Counselor and trauma dump all your PSTD on to her Security boy."

"It wasn't like that," Soran said quietly. "I warned her to stay out of my head. She tried to wake me from a nightmare and ended up in my mind."

Soran raised his voice  but kept his tone even. She was trying to get a rise out of him and it was starting to work. "I've done what can to help her, I wouldn't put anyone through the hell I've got going in my head."

"And you didn't put in a leave of absence afterwards because...? Pride? Relaxing is for the weak of mind?" Tale ventured a few guesses. She saw by the fuming man in front of her that she was teetering on being banned from the Security bay in record time. It was always these Security guys that wanted to get themselves into a pickle, but never wanted to take the time to do the work on their mental health to correct course after a major incident. "I'm not here to upset you Lt Cmdr or trade insults. I'm here to help you retain your assignment which your tightrope act isn't going to last forever. Accept the assistance, we'll schedule the consultation at your convenience and start the evaluation process."

"For arguments sake let's say you're right?" Soran said. "Why should I trust you?"

"I won't be the brick wall and say because you HAVE to," Tale knew her audience already and he was going to be a pain in the ass. "Admiral Brennan said you were one of Bryce's boys and my job was to keep you on assignment. Bryce's orders. Brennan doesn't care, he said there's room for you on Team Brava if you insist on being an nuisance. Bryce sent me a letter assuring me that you would do your course work. You should trust me because these two men told me to trust you to do what's required of you and I would *literally* take a phaser blast for them. Don't make something as simple as scheduling as painful and tedious as being shot, Sir."

Soran's face softened at the mention of Admiral Bryce, "I will check with the Admiral, but putting his nose in my business is his style."

"I believe his brief said, 'tell that cantankerous bastard to listen to you' and by this interaction, I think you are. You're just skeptical."

"You would be too if you'd been through half the shit I have," Soran sighed. "I've learned through bitter experience that not all the brass have my best interest at heart. I've also dealt with more incompetent therapists that I'd care to recount."

Tale shook her head her tone calm and measured like a kindergarten teacher . "I will not be called incompetent or spoken to in a disrespectful dismissive way by someone I don't even know. When my task is to make sure you keep your job, you're not exactly making a case for yourself."

"Respect give is respect earned, you had no problem verbally attaching someone you don't know." Soran said. "I didn't say you were incompetent. You've caught me at a particularly hectic time, so forgive for not giving you my full attention when you walk in."

Tale made a note. "Your perception is that you’re being attacked. When I've just been trying to schedule an appoint at your earliest convenience. Tone is incidental at this point. I wasn't verbally attacking you, but I have an inkling that you're going to make things more difficult than necessary for me. So be it."

With a few taps on her padd, she found the Lt Cmdr's shift schedule and factored in his sleep and meals. "You'll be having tea session with me every single morning. Mandatory. Before you start your shift work. You'll have full therapy sessions every week on Thursdays. You seem to have a large time block reserved. You probably have it set aside for dates or what not. You're going to have to move them if you're not going to cooperate with scheduling... you see what I mean here? Now, we start tomorrow morning. You'll stop in for tea session before work. It's about ten to fifteen minutes for morning tea session. It's a pre day tea session. You're going to complain, I'm going to listen. That's it."

"Thursday doesn't work, you can have Friday after my weekly briefing with the command staff. I'm giving up my morning coffee with my partner for you." Soran explained.

"You're still encouraged to have coffee with your partner. Tea begins before duty rotations. Bring your partner to tea session after we've had a few. Friday afternoons. You will see you now have 2 hours blocked out now in your schedule. Non negotiable." Tale made a permaschedule lock that the Lt Cmdr couldn't adjust in his routine. She knew it was a risky gambit, but he had other people in his dept to rely on and was looking for any reason to not do so. "See you in the morning before rotations. I'll get a tea that's nice and caffeinated."

She put the padd back into her belt holster and readjusted her hair. "I'm not in the business of helping people not ready to help themselves. Please be ready to speak in the morning. I'm going to go set up my room."

He sighed, 'Tony would probably encourage this.' He thought.

"I'll be there... Tale." Soran said. "In this and in your space call me Soran.

Tale nodded. Glad her bluster and calm bravado paid off. "See you in the morning, Soran. Have fun at the wedding."

OFF