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Counselor's Office - Meeting the CNS

Posted March 24, 2023, 4:31 p.m. by Lieutenant Siennadye Nox (Counselor) (Amber DeSadier)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Stephen Stous (XO) in Counselor’s Office - Meeting the CNS

Posted by Lieutenant Siennadye Nox (Counselor) in Counselor’s Office - Meeting the CNS
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“Oh yes. The work here on the Europa has been quite challenging. By the time I was assigned here, the Europa has not had a counselor for quite a few years. They had been through many traumatizing events and had not had anyone here to treat or work through that stress. They had not had much in the way of vacation time or morale boosters. I believe I have done good work here thus far and intend to continue to do so.”

He frowned, wondering how such a lapse in personnel could’ve slipped through the cracks. Something to fix if you ever make it that high up, he thought.

She smiled softly, all to aware of that sentiment. “I can say I think I have helped many a person here to look upon appointments with me with more respect and interest than a chore. I strive to keep my work unique to the person and their needs. You will find that the Europa has an incredible crew. They are all quite passionate about their jobs. They work fairly well together as a crew and handle extraordinary circumstances with valor and determination. As a first assignment, this could either be the best or the worst for you.”

Nox, CNS

Despite his excitement, Stephen didn’t want to risk upsetting the Counselor with any more questions pertaining to her former life in another universe. At least, not yet, he thought. “I’ve seen some of that already. Lieutenant Abrams seems to just… well, have it all figured out, really. And Dvorak is just another animal. I look forward to seeing how we all interact in mission circumstances, whether good or worst.”

He gazed again out the window, the binary system slowly passing them by. “Forgive me if I’ve asked already, but do you have any questions about me? My life, experience… anything, really. I like to be transparent on a basic level, and your Counselorship makes that all the more normal.

~ Stephen Stous - XO

She shrugged and then started shuffling around, pulling out grapes and cheese. “Well, people tell me a lot more without words usually, but I suppose a question I could ask is how do you feel about not really having been belonged to one particular department? Most people have one they belonged to exclusively and it creates a sort of family feel. But from your job duty descriptions, I would say you didn’t have that sort of relationship with Engineering crew. Am I right?”

Nox, CNS

His face remained impassive, but Stous was silently impressed by Nox’s question. “You’re certainly not wrong. Most of who I would count myself closest with were in Engineering, but I tended to have many acquaintances and not as many close friends. None, really.” He paused, thinking how best to say what he wanted to say without turning the conversation into a pity party. “It could get… lonely, at times. I always had people to eat with, play games with, but felt no one knew me on a deep level. I wasn’t the first person anyone thought of unless it was for something work-related.”

Without asking, he grabbed a grape and popped it in his mouth, doing so almost automatically as he spoke. “Ironically, I think that gives me a great background as a first officer.”

~Stephen Stous - XO

She thought about his perspective and nodded. “It certainly can help, being able to identify and work with people of all backgrounds with a natural camaraderie that comes from wide experience with people. I would say though, that an XO has to be even closer than that to his people. His people have to trust him implicitly on more than a surface level. He is asking them to do the orders the Captain is giving and facilitate that implementation. How do you plan on earning trust here?”

Nox, CNS

He allowed a few seconds of silence before he responded. “In the past I’ve always earned trust by doing my job correctly and well. Now… I suppose transparency would help, though I get the feeling the Captain might not want everything to be shared.”

~ Stephen Stous - XO

She grinned. “I suppose not but there is the ability to be transparent in a way that does not compromise confidentiality. The key is integrity and holding to your standards. The rest will fall in line. I have no doubt you will do just fine Commander Stous. Do you have any concerns about the job and your place here?”

Nox, CNS


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