Posted Aug. 8, 2021, 4:45 p.m. by Commander Siadra Enai (Executive Officer) (Silke Fahl)
Posted by Commander Siadra Enai (Executive Officer) in Post-Sim: Counsellor’s Office - Enai’s psychological Evaluation
Posted by Lieutenant Patrick ‘Paddy’ McMillan (CNS) in Post-Sim: Counsellor’s Office - Enai’s psychological Evaluation
Posted by Commander Siadra Enai (Executive Officer) in Post-Sim: Counsellor’s Office - Enai’s psychological Evaluation
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻(snip)
“Sounds like a plan, Commander, what do you want to know?” Paddy was eager to show his XO what he could, but he did understand that he couldn’t go round evaluating people without being evaluated himself.
-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-
Leaning back, Siadra mustered Paddy for a few moments. Mostly to get another read on him. One that wasn’t coloured by her position as first officer or her concern for her daughter. And partly to give herself the time to mentally shift gears. Seeking advice herself and even having a conversation with a new department head was different to being a counsellor. Even though this should be a very standard boarding evaluation.
“I have read your file, but why don’t you tell me a little more about yourself first, Counsellor?” Siadra asked eventually. Her smile was still warm, her body language still open, and yet something seemed to have shifted ever so slightly in her demeanour.
~Cmdr. Enai, XO
Reading the shift, Paddy made sure to keep as neutral as possible, “Well, I was born in Dublin in 2358. My parents owned a farm in the country. I first gained interest in joining the Fleet when my Father started using Starfleet Engineering Tech to make work on the farm more streamlined.” He paused, taking a sip of his coffee.
-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-
“What was that like? Growing up on a farm?” Siadra asked curiously, slightly lowering her mental shields to get a bit more of a read on Paddy. She wasn’t trying to pry, but she had learned a long time ago how to use her empathic abilities in evaluations and counselling sessions to her and, more importantly, to her patients’ advantage. And while her Trill markings sometimes made people forget that she was also half Betazoid, she assumed that the Counsellor was aware of her heritage and thus her abilities.
~Cmdr. Enai, XO
“We lead a very simple life, working with livestock and rearing many an animal. God knows if I’d have had the room, I’d have bought one of the family dogs on board with me, although what with me joining the Academy later than one would normally, I had to be careful to keep up on regulations, you never know what you can or can’t bring on board nowadays.” Paddy chuckled lightly to himself and took another sip, “What about your home life Commander?”
-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-
“You are distracting from your evaluation, Lieutenant,” Siadra replied with a soft laugh instead of answering his question about her home life. “As for pets: On larger ships with arboretums having a dog wouldn’t be an issue. But a ship like the Asimov isn’t the best place for dogs. Though generally pets are allowed as long as they don’t cause problems.” Tilting her head slightly to the side, she then asked, “Why did you decide to join Starfleet and leave that life behind?”
~Cmdr. Enai, XO
Paddy noted that the Commander had avoided the question, but decided to play along nonetheless, “Well, I always had an interest in Engineering as a boy, what with the technology we used on the farm. So, I knew when I was old enough, I wanted to apply to join the Academy and become a member of the Engineering Corps, maybe even one day become a Captain of Engineering, like Geordi La Forge once did - that....” Paddy paused for a long moment, as if contemplating how to word the next part of his explanation.
Siadra kept her silence, giving Paddy all the time he needed to gather his thoughts and continue talking. There was no rush here after all and it was never good to pressure people when they were talking about painful and/or traumatic experiences.
“That was until my father became unwell. Anthony McMillan served for five years as Chief Engineer aboard the USS Hogan. My Pa was quite close with the members of his crew, from what my mother has told me, he often hosted parties for the senior staff on the farm. I was very young at the time so didn’t really have the confidence to interact. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t get the chance. Not long after my eighth birthday, the Hogan was called to act as one of the ships in the ‘tracer squad’ following the Borg cube first discovered by the Enterprise to Sector 001. Unfortunately, the Hogan came directly into the firing line of the cube. Several drones beamed aboard within seconds; my father forced to watch as the rest of the Bridge crew were assimilated around him. By sheer fluke, several reinforcements from the USS Livingston were sent over to drive away the Borg recon team.”
-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-
“Why did what happened to your father made you switch from Engineering to Counselling?” Siadra asked gently. She had an idea, but didn’t want to make any assumptions.
~Cmdr. Enai, XO
“If anything,” Paddy replied with a grin, “It was thanks to my Mother. She was most impressed with the skills in psychological examination at such a uoung age. I figured I could take side courses in different fields of Engineering while at the Academy, so I went to the University of Belfast to study a BSC in Psych.”
-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-
A small crease appeared between Siadra’s eyebrows as she tried to connect the dots and fill the blanks in his story. To make sure she had understood him correctly, she asked, “You examined your father? How old were you at the time?”
~Cmdr. Enai, XO
“14,” Paddy said with a sort of whistful grin, “It was an… interesting period in my life. Deanna Troi from the Enterprise came to visit a lot of the crews of the ships that got destroyed at Wolf 359, so I picked up a bit from her.” Paddy sipped at the coffee on his desk.
-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-
“That’s quite impressive,” Enai replied and then contemplated McMillan for another moment in silence. “So tell me, what are your strength and weaknesses? Both in general and when it comes to everything with regard to your position as ship’s counsellor?” she asked curiously, while watching his body language and keeping a tab on his emotions as well.
~Cmdr. Enai, XO
bump :)
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