"You're Needed"

Posted on 05/24/2020 @ 1:22pm by
Edited on on 05/28/2020 @ 4:40pm

Mission: S1E3: Visit to Starbase 375
Location: Counselor’s Office
Timeline: Day 2 at 1300

"Lieutenant?"

Ilos had been reading the latest issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology when Heather appeared at his door. Her voice shook him from his concentration, but given the hour, he was glad that she did. The paper was quite detailed and he knew he wouldn't finish it soon. It would be there for him to revisit in the morning.

"What can I do for you, Ms. Rios?"

"There's a priority transmission for you, sir," she said. "Commodore Karin Saetern?"

At first, he was surprised anyone would send him something that was marked as high priority without first going through the Crazy Horse's internal system. Commodores didn't contact officers directly, especially not Junior Grade Lieutenants. But he recognized the name of course. Captain Saetern was his CO back when he was an Ensign aboard USS Queen Katherine. It was there that he'd become an expert on the psychologies of many Alpha Quadrant races. Now a Commodore, she commanded a small task group from the Queen Katherine, apparently her favourite ship.

"Why don't you take a seat and listen in," Ilos suggested. “Commodore Saetern is one of the best.” Heather sat out of sight and prepared herself to listen.

The image of a woman, human, blonde, and maybe sixty years old, appeared on the screen. "Commodore Saetern! It's been too long."

"It has indeed, Mr. Toran," she said with a disarming smile. "I heard about that business on New Bajor. Glad your sister is okay, and also glad you're back in the uniform."

He chuckled. "Ayko knew what was best for me, and it seems she's in good company. What can I do for you, ma'am?"

Her smile disappeared. Now was time for business. “A situation has developed along our border with the Kzinti Patriarchy. They’ve begun amassing combat vessels and have even fired upon Federation-flagged ships in neutral space nearby. Several Federation worlds are concerned that they may be targeted, including Nepenthe and Xendi Sabu. Mr. Toran, when you worked for me years ago, you became an expert in Kzinti psychology. I need that, Ilos. I need you.”

She tapped a few buttons on an off-screen console. “Orders have been sent. You are to leave the Crazy Horse and report to Deep Space 20’s Landing Pad Delta at 1800 hours. There, one of my pilots will take you, your team, and a handful of other new officers aboard runabout Fraser to the Queen Katherine.”

“I’m sorry ma’am, but one second,” Ilos said, holding up his hand. “Team?”

“You’ll need a staff, of course,” she answered. “Some are already here, but if there’s anyone you trust, bring them along. You have the authority. I’m sending you a manifest for your department.”

Ilos looked it over. He had an Assistant Chief, but only two of the available three other Counselor slots were open. Five Counselors total? Commodore Saetern had a full department!

Also missing were a departmental assistant and a dedicated security attaché. His own security?

Finally, he noticed his own name on top. But it didn’t read LTJG Toran. It read LT Toran.

He grinned. “I’ll report to the Fraser as ordered, ma’am.”

“I never doubted you, Ilos. See you in a few days.”

The woman disappeared from the screen. He looked to Heather, who looked sad.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I’ve enjoyed working with you, sir,” she said. “I don’t want it to end. I don’t want to go back to Ops.”

“Who said it’s ending?” He entered some information into his computer terminal and showed her his new departmental roster. Under the position ‘Counselor’s Assistant, USS Queen Katherine,’ it read CA Heather Rios.

She read it and beamed. “Thank you, sir!”

“Any advice on a security attaché?”

“I made a friend with one of the junior security officers,” Heather answered. “She’s competent, and she’s looking for a change after the Blackwell mission went badly.” She picked up a PADD and brought up the file, which read PO3 Zhen Yi.

Ilos read the file and decided she was worth speaking to. He’d need to find a Counselor to fill his team, but he could do that from the station too. He couldn’t take his entire staff, after all.

“Arrange for Ms. Zhen to come see me,” he ordered. “Then go pack.”

As she left to follow his orders, he began to pack up his things from his office. He would need to send a message to his new friends. He wouldn’t be sharing dinner with Tahlin like he planned, and he owed her a goodbye.

But first...

He tapped his commbadge. “Toran to Captain D’Anvers....”

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Lieutenant JG Toran Ilos
Chief Counselor
USS Crazy Horse