Checking on the Morale

Posted on 28 Jun 2024 @ 10:35pm by Captain Bane Plase & Lieutenant JG Delenna Morak

884 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Stranded
Location: Bridge
Timeline: Prior to "Tugboat"

ON:

While Bane drummed his fingers on the control panel of his chair, wondering about his Away Team, and the feasibility of getting the freighter back to Deep Space 9 in one piece, he realized he had not been paying close attention to things closer to home, that was, on this ship. Blinking a few times to clear the thoughts of the away team and freighter from his mind, he then looked over to the Chief Counselor of the vessel, Counselor Morak.

Bane leaned over towards her, his elbow resting on the arm of the chair, and in a hushed tone, partially covering the side of his mouth towards the front of the Bridge, he spoke. "Counselor, how are you, right now?" It was her duty to ensure the mental and emotional well-being of the whole crew. It was his to ensure hers.

Delenna sat next to Bane. It got her out of her quarters. She was lost in her mind. She only heard a voice and it snapped her out of her mind. She looked round to where the voice came from, "No. I can't get out of my head. Every trauma I have been through directly or indirectly, I always seem to have this paranoid, volatile, madness response and every time I end up having counselling with Dr Matthias. I am fed up of all the counselling around it all. I take everything negative to heart. I make everything a personal mission to solve it and I can't. I just seem to go round in circles. I could probably run a ship on my own given my career," Delenna replied. She chortled. "I always end up back in Medical though."

Plase gave a half smile with the right side of his mouth and patted her arm, just above her wrist. "Everyone needs to talk to someone, sometimes. Even the Chief Counselor of a mighty Starship. When we get back to DS9, you can take the time you need with Dr. Matthias," he said, not knowing who that was. "I plan on authorizing a few weeks R&R for the crew." Bane blinked once, then picked up on that excellent segue. "How is the crew morale, by the way, with everything going on over there," he indicated with a jut of his chin towards to viewscreen, which showed the Freighter, with the Away Team aboard it.

"Some excitement but alot of caution. They'll be glad to get it to DS9." replied Delenna, answering the morale question. "R&R sounds good. Dr Matthias goes where patients are needed." She laughed at a memory of when she was due back on the Ares and she was still needing one to one support. Dr Matthias delegated him work to people and told his superiors that he'd be gone for a while. Two minutes later superiors charge in and an argument ensues but Dr Matthias coming out on top as both she and he left the medical bay.

The Captain nodded, pleased the crew was holding up, happy they were excited, and also happy they were being cautious. "Excellent. I know the Station has a pretty large counseling staff. With you, your staff, and this Dr. Matthias in support, we should be able to get everyone the time they need with a professional that wants it." He changed course. "I am thinking about that R&R, or better, have been thinking about it. I was considering organizing a snowboarding and skiing trip to the Hatchimahontey Mountain Range on Bajor. Do you think anyone would be interested in that? I figure at least two or three people would just love to watch their Captain fall down an entire mountain," he said, playfully.

Delenna couldn't help but smile at image in her head. "I'll see if Matthias would like to join," she said with a smile. Delenna made a note on her PaDD to contact Matthias or leave a message. She also made a note to get a bet going with the crew. "I am sure there will be a few who will. You just got one here."

"Excellent," Bane said, smiling genuinely. "I will make a shipwide announcement once we are safely under way with that thing," he said, pointing at the freighter on the viewscreen. "If we get enough people to go, maybe I can pull some favors and rent out the entire lodge for us for a weekend or something.

Delenna nodded and smiled. "I'll call my family and see if they are busy. Not seen then in a long while. I suppose I do what my mother did as an officer and buried herself in her work." Delenna suddenly felt uneasy and it wasn't due to her mental health. "I'll go and see if Dr Winters needs my help in Sickbay." She felt like something was going to go seriously wrong and she was going to be needed.

It was a good idea, and Bane said as much. He continued. "Thank you for keeping the pulse of the crew for me. I'd be lost without your counsel, and your guidance. Bane watched her leave the Bridge before he went back to work on his display on his Captain's Chair.


OFF

Counselor Delenna Morak
Chief Counselor
USS Cygnus

and

Bane Plase, Captain
USS Cygnus, Commanding

 

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