[snip}

Stanley stood outside of Glen’s quarters in full uniform. His navy blue, long sleeve top bore on his chest campaign ribbons from his previous postings. on the left side of his chest. On the right were two badges. One for Starfleet medical psychiatric and beneath that his division badge of Earth Defense Forces division of Starfleet. He wore black slacks that were bloused into his black boots that were polished so bright you could use them as mirrors. On his epaulets were his insignia of a Major.

He looked extraordinarily different on this day. With the uniform he stood ramrod straight hands clasped behind his back and with a stern face seemingly set in stone. His short black hair had been treated with something to make it as well seem to stand at attention. He rang the buzzer to the captain’s cabin and then went still as a statue as he awaited an answer.

Captain Glen answered the chime (more of a chime than a buzzer) with a call to enter. He had no idea who was outside, but he was wearing only a regular shirt, and in any case, his own dress uniform wasn’t anything in comparison to what he would see when his office door slid open..

Stanley did everything but march into Glen’s office. He came to stop in front of the captain’s desk his hands clasped in front of him. He finally smiled a bit then and nodded his head at Glenn. “Captain it’s good to see you again! I had heard that you were ill. You are well, I hope? What was it a bad headache? “

“Yes, I was indisposed for a while,” Glen replied. Why does every conversation with this man seem like an interrogation? Glen thought. Unsure of how to reply, he thought, Are there headaches that aren’t bad? Then he added, “It’s okay! Doctor Cross gave me a shot for it!”

Verity approached the Captain’s office and saw he was already occupied. She peaked her head in to let him know she’d stop by and when he was free she’d like a word with him. “Captain, I do not mean to interrupt your conversation with um....” she held her hand out to prompt the man for his name.

Stanley saw the woman at the door and seeing that she wished to see the captain he smiled at her and motioned for her to come on in. “I am Major Stanley Wong temporarily attached to the Merrimac for a field trial of a proposed counsellor program. If you need to see the captain, come on in, I can come back later I simply had a very boring report which he probably didn’t want to hear at any rate.”

Glen didn’t want to talk about his headaches with Stanley Wong, however he had heard about it. Discussing it would only lead to a discussion about the cause, the Ancient’s Worm, and ultimately to those extremely top secret subjects that Glen had told Wong expressly not to investigate. So, Glen was extremely glad of the interruption by Verity, whatever the mundane reason might be.

“Yes, please do come in,” Glen added. “This is our visiting psychiatrist,” Glen said, emphasising the word ‘visiting’, “but he is just leaving.” The idea that Wong could be a Counsellor almost made the Captain laugh. A Counsellor had originally been the idea of Dr. Cross, but they needed someone with empathy and the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, not someone who would take their heads apart and likely put them back together incorrectly.

Stanley then turned to Glen and said, “I shall see you shortly captain. So, beware! You have been saved by this lady, but we must talk later. ”

“Yes, …well you can schedule a meeting with my Yeoman, Faith Hopkins,” Glen replied to Stanley.

Turning to the new CSO, Glen said, “Hello! Verity Aphelion, isn’t it? I’m sorry we haven’t met properly yet, but we got some new orders during the night and we had to call that DH meeting at short notice. I generally do like to welcome and get to know any new crew before they begin work. I apologise that didn’t happen. Anyhow, you are here now. Please won’t you take a seat?”

Verity smiled and nodded at Dr. Wong as he left then she turned to the Captain and said, “Thank you sir,” as she took the seat the Captain offered her. “Again it was not my intention to interrupt your conversation with Dr. Wong, I just wanted to let you know I was able to successfully complete my medical evaluation and I am all set to join the away team.” Verity briefly looked toward the door and back at the Captain, “This is the first ship I have been on with a psychiatrist aboard. I am intrigued. Is he here to evaluate the whole crew or just you Captain?”

Glen sighed. “No, as far as I am aware, I am not on his list..! I don’t dispute that we do have Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome among the Merri crew. I just don’t think that formal interviews, silly table-top games, psychiatric analysis, or strong drugs are going to help them. If anything, being asked to discuss events which people have sworn to keep top secret will only make things worse. What Doctor Cross had actually suggested for the Merri was a Counsellor and some Counselling: a trained therapist listening to your problems, and helping you find ways and strategies to deal with emotional issues; and not a head shrink!”

“As for the medical evaluations,” Glen continued, “I apologise that they are fairly routine and seem pointless, but the last mission just went to show what can happen when they don’t take place.... and it is Starfleet protocol.”

Glen was suddenly interrupted by Cross = /\= Captain this is urgent I believe Mr Wong might leave the ship without your permission and he has a file full of papers about our ship and its crew =/\= she paused while taking a deep breath =/\= What ever Mr Wong has scribbled down I’m 100% sure it does not put us in a vantage manner, he’s
viewpoint, attitude, lack of awareness and understanding of a crew is limited .The way he thinks will surly not be from an insight of reference ....I implore you Captain do not let him leave before you see what the true reason of his presence is known =/\= .
Cross did indeed sound worried.

“Sorry, Lieutenant,” Glen apologised to Verity for the interruption.

Glen hadn’t heard Miriam in such a distressed state since.... and whatever her many flights of fancy, she had never been someone who made things up, but she always did have the best interests and the welfare of the Merrimack at her heart… so he took notice and listened.

Dr. Cross’ demeanor was concerning to Verity. To her she was unsure why there was such distrust of the doctor. Surely there must be a reason he was assigned to the Merrimack.

=/\=Tell me that again, more slowly and calmly. How can Dr. Wong leave the ship and how can he do so without my knowledge? And what exactly do you think he has written down in his notes that should not leave the ship?-=/\=

=/\= He said I was to see him and did not show up, to be honest I did not even had a clue .He wrote something, closed the file and left his office, Captain there is too much to tell, we definitely need to talk about it probably with the Cmdr present as well. Mr Wong had entered my quarters a few days ago when I was in the shower naked, then injected me with something which I have no clue of what it was..it..it was probably a sedative because I started feeling drowsy, as to whatever happened next I have no idea, on waking up he was still there sitting on the floor .Is that the way a psychiatrist is suppose to act? =/\=.

After hearing this Verity, placed her hand on her chest and her eyes widened in total shock.

=/\= Of course not! That’s actual bodily harm. You know as well as I do that patients must consent to any treatments. =/\= But there was always that possibility that Miriam was somehow imagining all this. If it really occurred then why hadn’t she reported it earlier? Why wait until now? It isn’t as if Glen would be unsympathetic as he had made his objections to the presence of the quack psychiatrist very plain.

From her end there was some silence before Cross went on =/\= I’m questioning his true reason of why he’s here and you know there are ways of him leaving the ship especially if another party is involved, there’s no saying what could happen. I made my report, now its up to you Captain at what decision you deemed appropriate…Cross out =/\= .

‘Another party is involved’ Glen thought, Not more spies aboard the Merri! Are we back to that again? Everyone is seeing spies in every corner of the ship! But Glen could not forget that there really had been a spy aboard once before; the doppelganger of Doctor Kim, and if there could be once, then…?

Was she blowing this out of proportion it was a possibility ?What brought it on? Most definitely the methods Mr Wong used which where unfamiliar and unaccustomed methods. The female doctor felt… drained and burnt out.

Glen wanted to ask Dr. Cross more. He had many questions, but she was gone, just like that! And obviously very distressed. He needed to speak to Joe about all of this, and quickly.

“I’m sorry!” Glen told Verity Aphelion. “I’ll need to deal immediately with those serious accusations, and to check that Dr. Cross is okay, so if there is nothing urgent, we’ll have to re-schedule this meeting… And despite what you just heard, no, the Merrimack still does not require the services of a psychiatrist! Can you keep what you heard here under wraps until I can establish it’s validity… and that is an order… now if you will excuse me, I need to speak urgently with Commander Milligan.”

Verity nodded a d quickly stood to her feet. “Captain, I know I am supposed to join the away team, however I wonder if Dr. Wong should be detained as he might be a danger to other members of the crew. I also think we should attempt to trace the substance that Dr. Wong injected Dr. Cross with?” Her eyes swept from side to side as she hesitated but went on “It’s a serious accusation. Is there any chance she could be mistaken, especially since this is the first time the incident is being reported?”

“Sorry…” Glen said, “Any of that is possible! I need to get answers!”

Glen asked the Ship’s Computer, =/\= Majel, what is the current location of Commander Milligan =/\= Glen was out of his office and on his way before the reply came back. =/\= Commander Milligan is currently working out in the Ship’s Gym =/\=

Verity didn’t leave but stood there wondering how she could be of any help in the situation.

“I will not disclose this incident to anyone, Captain.” She raised her right hand indicating a promise. “However I wonder if you’d allow me talk to Dr. Cross to get the full story? Also someone, either you or Commander Milligan, should confront Dr. Wong about the incident. Then we should touchbase later and compare the two stories.”

“That won’t be necessary… thanks....” Glen called back as he made his way along the corridor outside the room.

-Glen, CO