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Counsellor's Office - Wallace's psychological evaluation (end)

Posted Jan. 26, 2021, 11:36 a.m. by Commander Jennifer Wallace (Executive Officer) (Riley W)

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Séan Iven (CNS) in Counsellor’s Office - Wallace’s psychological evaluation

Posted by Commander Jennifer Wallace (Executive Officer) in Counsellor’s Office - Wallace’s psychological evaluation

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Séan Iven (CNS) in Counsellor’s Office - Wallace’s psychological evaluation
Posted by… suppressed (17) by the Post Ghost! 👻
It took Wallace a while to realize that she hadn’t visited the counselors yet. She’d gotten herself nicely settled in within her quarters after meeting with the Captain, having gotten quite comfortable with a book in hand to wait for evening. Well, time to correct that mistake, since it was still mid afternoon. She slipped out of her quarters and made her way down to the counselor’s office. Tapping a hand onto the chime, the new XO waited for the response.

Wallace, XO

The doors parted to show a reception area with a lovely looking woman seated behind the prominently placed desk. With a warm smile the woman looked up and greeted the newcomer. “Hi there I’m Cherry. How can we help you today?”

CNS Iven

Wallace nodded slightly to the woman. “Yes, of course. I’m Jennifer Wallace. I didn’t have an appointment, but I’m here for my Boarding Evaluation.” She looked around the room. It was a nice little area. Big.

Wallace, XO

“Well it just so happens that the CNS is free. Let me give him a quick page.” Cherry replied with her warm smile still in place. She pressed a couple of keys on her terminal and a few seconds later the left most door, which was colored red, opened. A tall and stocky man dressed in a blue uniform stepped out from it.

“Hello, I’m Séan. Cherry mentioned briefly that you’re here for a boarding eval. Please come on in and let’s have a seat.” He said softly and beckoned to the woman while he turned and walked back into his office.

CNS Iven

Jenn followed silently, quickly making her way over to the door. She turned back to Cherry. “Thanks,” she said with a smile to the woman, then slipped through the door into the Counselor’s office.

She stayed close to the doorway until beckoned to sit, then sat opposite the man. “I’m Jennifer Wallace, I’ve just been assigned to the ship as Executive Officer.” She said by way of introduction.

Wallace, XO

Séan walked over to the replicator first before he looked back at Jennifer and asked, “Can I get you anything to drink?”

CNS Iven

“Not at the moment, thank you,” she replied with a small smile.

Wallace, XO

Séan nodded before replicating himself some coffee and returned to sit near Jennifer. “Let me start by saying welcome aboard. I did not have the opportunity to meet the previous XO as I just transferred aboard myself.” He took a sip of his coffee as he gathered his thoughts. “Have you had any difficulties lately? Will there be any problems working aboard the Athena that you can envision?”

CNS Iven

Wallace shifted in her chair a little, then stood up and wandered the room for a few moments before settling in a different chair, sitting so that she was facing the counselor. “I am experiencing a lot of nerves, to be honest. I wasn’t expecting this posting. At this point it’s been… I’m not sure. A little over 50 hours since I heard I was becoming an XO? It was a hasty promotion and transfer. This whole situation has prevented me from going on my yearly leave to visit my family, so that’s a bit of a source of stress. I’d classify those as difficulties. I can’t envision any particular problems outside of the typical teething issues any new crew member might feel when joining a new ship.”

Wallace, XO

Séan nodded and smiled softly in sympathy. “I can imagine a break in routine being a great source of stress. Your assignment suddenly being changed along with leave delayed. This is likely too soon for you to have any answers but I’d like you to think about what could we do to help alleviate these difficulties. Would it be possible to have your family come to you? I’m fairly certainly we’ll be at starbase for a good amount of time considering the crew need the downtime.”

He paused in thought as he took another drink of his coffee. “Do you have any misgiving regarding the sudden promotion?”

CNS Iven

“It’s a big family,” Jennifer chuckled dryly. “And they have responsibilities of their own that they have to deal with. Kids and jobs and all that. Can’t take two weeks off to travel the universe and visit me. Even if they could, the transit is long, and pretty expensive. I get it free because I’m Starfleet, but my family doesn’t.”

The question made Jennifer pause for a moment. “Ah, sometimes? I don’t know. I don’t think it’s completely sunk in yet. I think that they should have given me a bit more warning, but I know that the previous XO left due to an urgent matter so even Starfleet didn’t have much notice. I worry that I was only chosen because I was convenient and nearby, and not necessarily because I earned the position.”

Wallace, XO

Séan nodded sympathetically. “It’s certainly easier for a single person to travel than for a whole clan. And we are certainly a ways away from Earth. Which out of curiosity where are your family? I’m lucky if my dad ever settles down anywhere for more than a couple of weeks. We used to have ties to Alpha Eridani II but that was back when I was little.”

He made an ‘mhm’ sound at her answer and follow up statement. “It’s natural to wonder if you’re right for the job and to have a bit of doubt. This is all new and sudden after all. It’s my belief that Command had been eyeing you for a promotion and an Executive Officers position before the timing of this all rushed you to us. It might be a few weeks or a month earlier than planned, but if they just needed to fill the position now with any old body then they likely would’ve promoted someone from the crew. I have no doubt that you’re qualified for the position but it’s up to you to live up to everyone’s trust. A little bit of pressure will help you grow to meet the expectations put upon you but just remember that the counselling staff and the Captain will do our utmost to support you if it gets to be overwhelming.”

CNS Iven

“Small colony in the outer systems called New Canada. If you think Earth is far away, double that, but in…” she paused for a moment, then pointed in a vague direction, “that direction, and you’re almost to my home.”

“At least I have the command of a Sickbay under my belt. That gives me some comfort,” she chuckled slightly. “I’ve talked to Captain Ghubari, and she was able to relieve me of some of that anxiety and stress I was feeling before. I’m still nervous, don’t get me wrong, but I think I’m more ready for this than I was before that conversation.” Something he’d said made her pause for a moment. “Well, I suppose I did take the command training course, so that probably pushed along the promotion faster than it would have been otherwise. Talyn insisted all his Department Heads take the course, so that we’d be ready just in case he got promoted up or kicked the bucket.”

Wallace, XO

“Was Talyn your XO at your previous posting?” Séan asked curiously. “You know I’m not actually sure what the statistics are for XO’s being promoted from within the crew, but not a bad idea anyway. At least it set a good plan for when the department heads were ready to move on to a command position.”

Séan took another sip of his cooling coffee. “Did you have any other concerns regarding your transfer and posting? Or anything at all really? You seem a well adjusted woman considering the circumstances and the stress, but a quick meeting like this isn’t likely to work on any issues or build a rapport.”

CNS Iven

“Our Captain, actually. He has his eyes on an admiral position,” Jennifer said with a small smile. “And I’m really not sure, but Talyn is one of those captains who likes to keep his shipmates around. He was sad to see me go.”

She thought for a moment, then gave Sean a small shrug. “I don’t think so. My parent’s raised me well, I have a pretty good mental state,” she joked, grinning.

Wallace, XO

Séan nodded. “Sounds like a good Commanding Officer to have. I know all of them are supposed to be the best hence why they’ve gotten to their position, but there are times that position changes a person. Whether it’s the stress or the burden of having so many lives that you’re responsible for… or on the very rare instance that megalomania goes undiagnosed until they rise to power.” He shook his head to clear his musings. “I hope you were able to learn some good life and command lessons from him.”

He grinned back at Jennifer’s joke as he set his coffee aside. “I think you do too. Just remember where we are when you need to get anything off your chest. I’ll check in with you periodically too to make sure your transition is going smoothly. On that note Commander, I clear you for duty. Welcome aboard.”

CNS Iven

“Thank you, Sean,” Jennifer stood, giving the man a small smile before standing up. “I hope to see you in future. Hopefully I can last as long here as I did on my old ship. Or longer. Longer would be preferable.”

Wallace, XO

Séan rose to his feet to see Jennifer out. “I hope to see you in the future as well. Hopefully not because of a psychotic break though. Longer would definitely be preferred I think.” He said with a grin.

CNS Iven

“Well, I mean in general. See you around the ship,” Jenn chuckled. “See you on the bridge. Not in a professional capacity.”

Wallace, XO

“Of course.” Séan smiled. “Have a great day.”

CNS Iven


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