Posted by Lieutenant Commander Brenna Neenna Atoded (Chief of Security) in Clearing Mental Cobwebs (Tag CNS)

Posted by Lieutenant Sheleah Ruby (Diplomatic Officer / CNS) in Clearing Mental Cobwebs (Tag CNS)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Brenna Neenna Atoded (Chief of Security) in Clearing Mental Cobwebs (Tag CNS)
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Brenna’s gaze turned to a middle distance while she thought, thumb tapping on the cuff of her boot where one leg was crossed across her knee, she was thinking. As she began to speak her gaze returned to Sheleah, “I was born on Betazed in a big city on the main continent. I was always getting into things and listening in on conversations that I was not old enough for. I was always into mischief as a child and was very active. During the Academy I had a reputation for training hard and I took my share of hits and injuries. I appear to make quick decisions about trust or distrust. I actually rely on my ability to observe others’ body language and personal interactions rather than my telepathy. I tend to be intellectual and logical,” here she grinned, “as much as a person with empathy can be. Unlike most Betazoids I enjoy working with animals rather than shying away from it. I love music, dancing, and meditation. I crave the quiet of these activities. My professional interests include interpersonal behaviors and sociology. I also enjoy the more meditative martial arts, though I know several.”

Atoded, CoS

Sheleah listened carefully and noted how well rehearsed Brenna’s recitation was. That didn’t really surprise her considering she was the COS and most she had known were like that to varying degrees.

“I think I’ve been to that city. It has such beautiful green spaces. So did your natural tendency to listen in on conversations and things of that nature lead to your ultimate choice of security as a MOS.” she asked.

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

“Midara is very beautiful. But like the rest of the planet it is very lush. Though it will always be home.” Brenna laughed at Sheleah’s observation, “Oh yes, but my primary MOS is Intelligence. My tendency to be nosey has served me quite well in that respect.”

Atoded, CoS

Sheleah nodded.

“Well remind me never to get on your bad side. How did you do in the academy, socially speaking?”

Sheleah’s questions seemed random but she had discovered that every counselor had their own patented way of performing their duties.

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

Brenna gave an internal sigh about her bad side but kept a smile on her face. The myth of scary intel people served a purpose and that’s why the big intel brass kept it going. “I did very well. The co-op I was assigned to freshman year, we ended up being very close. We all had different MOSes but we gelled together well. We were very close all the way through graduation. I participated in sports and other extracurricular activities, I did a lot of sight seeing on Earth while I was there, and camping. We did a lot of group camping. I even dated.”

Atoded, CoS

That was something Sheleah could latch on to.

“Dating in the academy. Yeah, that’s always fun for a lot of people. You make the most interesting connections there. Do you still keep in touch with a lot of your old co-op?”

Sheleah made a mental note to reach out to Mileena and Jeff again. Sometimes being a counselor reminded one of their own short commings.

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

“Richard was always fun. Pushed me to be my best. Even when I always beat him in the rankings.” Brenna shook her head, “No, unfortunately. I lost touch immediately after graduation,” there was something about the way Brenna emphasized the word that told Sheleah it was much faster than the word replied. “Though I have followed their careers over the years.”

Atoded, CoS

“Tell me about your first assignment out of the academy.” Sheleah really wanted to circle back tot hat dating thing but felt that might be better in a question or two.

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

Brenna shook her head slightly before answering. She could make up a story, but a glance at her service record would show her early years of service were mostly redacted.
“When graduation ceremonies were over, there was a Cmdr from SFI waiting for me and the other newly graduated Intel ensigns. Gave me 16 hours to set my affairs and report for assignment. Anything more than that is above your security clearance. After that I moved from assignment to assignment.”

Atoded, CoS

There was no reason for Sheleah to accept that answer for the moment. Waving around diplomatic clearances on a first date, as it were, would set a very bad precedent but, if it became necessary, she would figure out a way to handle it.

“That must have been quite a situation for you. Do you feel you were emotionally prepared?” she asked.

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

“No, not at all. I don’t feel like it was a failing of my instructors or the psychologists that spoke with us, the veterans we mentored with. Nothing prepares you for the stark isolation, the loneliness, always glancing over your shoulder and feeling like you have a target on your back. Or the sacrifices you make. They tell you, but the reality is so much different, worse, and better than what the mind imagines and pieces together.” She’d spoken with Eleyr, the counselor on the Constellation about it, so it was probably in her file somewhere. There was no way it wasn’t coming out anyway. “Emotionally speaking there are still things I struggle with from that day.”

Atoded, CoS

“It might be helpful for you to expand on that with me here, as much as you can of course.” Sheleah said.

• Sheleah, CNS/DO