Mandated Introduction

Posted on Thu Nov 9th, 2023 @ 8:03pm by Lieutenant Halli Bann & Lieutenant Alinar Vasatra

1,526 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: S1E0 - Prologue
Location: Counselling Offices
Timeline: MD02

Part of Alinar's return to Starfleet was mandated counselling sessions. These were to make sure he wasn't going back down the route of becoming a freedom fighter and betraying them once again to go and play loose with what they deemed to be the law. Talk nothing about what was right and wrong but as long as he was Starfleet, or back in, he was required to speak to a counsellor for a short time.

As such he knew the Chief Counsellor was aboard and decided a customary introduction was due, even if a proper session was not scheduled for this time. He would get a measure of the person taking measure of him. He pressed the chime of the counselling offices and entered to speak to a young man. He stated he would let Lieutenant Bann know she had a visitor and that she shouldn't be long as scheduled appointments had yet to begin. Made sense as they hadn't departed yet.

A moment later, the Counselor appeared. Her long blonde hair was pulled back so you could see her spots trailing gently down the right side of her face. The Trill was also tall, and she commanded the room, though she was friendly. "Good morning!! You must be Lt. Vasatra. Please, come through," she said, motioning for the man to follow her.

"That's me." Alinar responded as he followed the woman into the room next door. "Just coming by to show my face. Starfleet has deemed it mandatory that I see a counsellor due to events of my past so... making it slightly less awkward than me just showing up and whomever deals with me is on the back foot."

Halli nodded. "I see. Well. Why don't you sit down and we can chat for a moment. I promise, none of that dumb psych babble. Unless you want! Tell me a bit about the "events" you think the Fleet is worried about?" She had read his file. Indeed, she was a bit...concerned but it wasn't anything she felt she couldn't handle. "Before you start, though, do you mind if I take off my shoes? I find I can listen better when I am unencumbered by those sorts of things." She said.

Alinar nodded at the question of her taking her shoes off. He didn't mind at all. "Let's see..." he began. "I resigned my commission in protest in 2369 and joined the Maquis. Helped in their 'development' shall we say and then was captured in 2373. Eventually they offered amnesty under the proviso of assisting Starfleet during the war. Now here I am a little later." he waved his arms in a gesturing fashion as if presenting himself to the room. "So, they have their concerns."

Halli paused a moment before she replied. She wanted to make sure her words were both understanding and caring. And of course, fit the gravity of the situation. "I could see that, of course. DO you have any...further intentions of assisting the Maquis or ANY other rogue group? I DO sort of understand...every society, every culture, every race has their own forms of honor. We're not all showy about it like the Klingons, for example. Sometimes, it comes out in other, more subtle ways," she said. "What about the Maquis drew you in?" She asked. That would help her to identify what ways to help, and how to appeal to whatever drive the man had..

"I fought in the Cardassian-Federation War for one. I didn't like how the Federation and Starfleet did not stand up for their colonies along the then demilitarised zone. I felt they deserved protection and that if big bad Starfleet wasn't going to help then we would. They had no defences, were essentially thrown at the mercy of the Cardassians and that wasn't something I was comfortable with." Alinar replied. "As for the Maquis, we no longer exist as we were. We were pretty much wiped out during the war and there hasn't been a rogue group that I have found interesting enough to throw in with." he teased her with that one.

Halli nodded. "I once worked with a Bajoran woman who had lived through the Occupation," she said. "I think that fault lies at many feet," she said. "Standing up for your morals isn't necessarily a bad thing, though," she said. "It takes courage. Maybe the Maquis wasn't the best option to choose, sure, but I can't fault you for your reasons," she said. "But it IS comforting knowing that no one has...as the humans are wont to say...tickled your fancy," she said. She wrinkled her nose. A former boyfriend-human, of course-had once said that to her.

"Oh I won't deny that there is blame to go around for a lot of people." Alinar admitted. "There were things I questioned before doing so but for the greater good of the outlying colonies it was the right thing to do. The Maquis was the best option to choose at the time given they were the only ones giving a damn about those in need and could hit back at the spo-- Cardassians." he stopped himself from using a derogatory term for the species. "But yeah, I joined out of principle, and no matter what the Federation, or Starfleet, has to say I believe it was the right thing at the right time."

Halli nodded at the man. "I understand. Most cultures have some sort of honor principle. Most of us don't have it as obvious as the Klingons, but it's there. And in some races, only the bravest of us seek it." She remarked. It was meant to provoke a thought, not necessarily a response. "Now that the Maquis have been...subdued, what are your plans to help keep on the straight and narrow?" She asked. She needed to determine where he needed her help and where he did not. She was also carefully choosing her words. There was no reason for shame or blame-that wasn't her job.

"No plans." Alinar said simply, and it was the truth. "Right now I'm back in Starfleet, provisionally." he said pointing to the bar on his collar as opposed to pips. One way of showing those that returned to help, those that weren't quite trusted yet to have a return to a full commission. "I don't need plans to keep me on the straight and narrow. I know right from wrong without them." he choosing his reply carefully also.

Halli nodded, but made a noncommittal noise. "I see. Perhaps that's something we can work on, just in case, for the future. Not today, but...keep it in mind," she said. "Coping mechanisms for when the Fleet does something so incredibly stupid, the urges come back," she said. She had been around long enough to know that the Bureaucracy could be astoundingly mind-blowing. "But I am glad that your moral compass has righted itself. Let's move on...I know you'll be around as a mandated patient, but...is there anything besides this Maquis problem you'd like me to plan for? We can discuss anything...exploring past traumas may help you to improve your chances of staying on the straight and narrow, as well," she said.

"Well Starfleet is known for its making some errors in judgement from time to time." Alinar agreed with the counsellor. "I also don't see me being a member of the Maquis as being a problem, it was never a problem for me." he grinned at her and gave her a small wink. That was Starfleet's issue, not his. "But no, I'm as mentally fit as the next person on his ship can be. Past trauma's such as fighting in the Cardassian-Federation War in the 60's might bring out more rebellious tendencies and I may take over the ship and fly us into a fight with them." he teased.

Halli chuckled. "With this crew, I am not sure how glowing of a statement that is, but that's good to know. We'll let sleeping dogs lie, then. Is there anything you need from ME? What I mean is...some people prefer that I lead the sessions, while others like to do things like incorporate music and things. Is there something I can do to make this go a tiny bit easier for you?" She asked. For a regular patient, she might not bother, because she may see them once a year for their yearly exams.

"Nothing I need right now Doc. Thanks for taking the time to see me. I did come by unannounced so." Alinar thanked Halli. "We'll just roll with our talks and see where they take us. I'm not one for putting up rigid rules on things." He felt this had gone well and was glad he's came by.

Halli simply nodded, and stood up to see him out. "That works for me. I'll see you soon," she said. After a moment, the man disappeared into the larger Sick bay corridor, and she turned to finish notes. She was going to have her work cut out for her, but at least she wouldn't be bored out here.

 

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