Starting Over (Again)

Posted on 05/26/2021 @ 4:00pm by Captain Batya Rassek PhD & Lieutenant Kiara Rahl

Mission: S4E1: Time to Fly
Location: CO’s Ready Room
Timeline: Day 1 at 1430

Kiara had arrived onboard the USS Albright, dropping off her baggage in her assigned quarters she put on a fresh uniform before heading for the bridge. The PADD in her hand contained her transfer orders and she was heading for the Captain’s ready room to officially report in. It didn’t take long to reach her destination, she pressed the chime and waited.

Captain Batya Rassek wanted to make her ready room a home away from home. She wanted the space to be comfortable and a safe space for officers and crew to come to her if need be. She knew there were some starship captain's who barely put anything in their private offices, but she wasn't one of them - starfleet colors were sterile and drab enough as it was. She had placed a few treasured items about the office, and just a few minutes prior she had placed a framed picture of her son on her desk. Now she was adjusting flowers in a vase on a table that sat in front of a couch. Then the chime to her office rang, and not looking up from her arranging, she called out, "come in."

Walking inside the office Kiara was pleasantly surprised to see the personal touches the Captain had added to her office it certainly made it feel less sterile, and a lot more welcoming. “Lieutenant Kiara Rahl, Chief Counsellor reporting for duty Captain.” She smiled warmly as she handed over the PADD with her transfer orders on.

When the counselor entered, Batya turned toward the other woman and accepted the PaDD that was offered. She thumbed the activate button and the small information screen came to life. There it was, the transfer orders, she gave it a brief glance and then deactivated the device. When she looked up, she said, "I'm Batya Rassek, I am glad to meet you." She set the PaDD down and stepped toward the replicator. "May I get you a beverage, tea perhaps? Coffee? Or something cold?"

“It’s nice to meet you Captain” Kiara smiled warmly. “A cola would go down a treat please.” She stood waiting for an invite to sit, she didn’t like to assume the invite.

Batya ordered a mug of ginger spiced tea for herself and a cola for the lieutenant. The replicator came to life, the two drinks materialized and the captain grabbed one in each hand. She took the few steps that it would take to cross to the younger woman and handed her the cold drink. "Please, won't you join me?" she said, lifting a hand to indicate that the two should retire to the couch. "It is more comfortable than these silly desk chairs." Batya mentioned off-handedly as she took a seat on the couch and watched the counselor do the same.

“Thank you Captain” Kiara sat and made herself comfortable, before sipping her drink. Putting the glass down on the table she looked around. “I like your homely touches Captain, it makes the whole room feel more of a personal space.”

"Thank you, counselor," Batya replied. Her own gaze drifted about as she took in the pops of color and personalization of the grey and blue tones of the ready room. She took a small sip from her mug and then set it on the table. She leaned against the back of the couch and draped her arm over the back of it as she crossed her legs. "Besides my executive officer, you are the first of my senior staff to arrive, I trust the journey to Starbase two-one-four was a good one?"

“It was fine thank you” Kiara nodded offering a warm smile. “I like to get to new assignments in plenty of time, it gives me a chance to get a feel for the ship and the crew at the same time.”

Batya nodded. It had always been her own policy to try to get to assignments as soon as possible, though, once she became a mother - that changed. It wasn't always easy to balance a career and motherhood, but the four pips on her collar proved she could. The loss of her marriage proved she couldn't. She mentally pushed away that thought, the important thing was that she was in the here and now, and her son was with her. "Well, you will have plenty of time then, especially since we do not launch for the next couple of weeks." She reached for her mug of tea and sipped again, the light liquid only cooled slightly, and the spice of the ginger tickled the back of her tongue.

"I know the past few months have been a bit tumultuous concerning the Sitting Bull, but I hope you will be able to find a place of rest and to make a home here on the Albright." Batya knew the trials and tribulations the crew of the Sitting Bull had gone through, to be abandoned by a commanding officer like that was unthinkable. When she had heard what D'Anvers had done to his crew, she became angry and sad, and all she wanted to do was bring some of those lost souls into her flock.

“These things happen Captain” Kiara shrugged her shoulders. “All I personally want is somewhere I can settle and call home, the last year and a half have been the most challenging of my life.” She paused as she thought back to her torture and ensuing unwilling participation in the sexual games of the man she eventually stabbed in self defence.

Batya had extensively reviewed the counselor's file, she had done that for all the candidates for her chief counselor position. Her reason for choosing Kiara Rahl was because of this incident, and her persistence that followed. The fact the lieutenant mentioned that last year and a half... well, Batya wasn't deft to what the other woman was talking about. She reached out and placed a hand on Kiara's arm, the touch was light, gentle even. "I'm truly sorry that happened to you, Kiara," she said, her voice, soft and motherly.

Kiara offered a smile, “Thank you Captain, I guess if nothing else what happened to me gives me a unique perspective on trauma. I’ve always found the helping others helps me, hence why I’m back doing my job. I can’t promise that I won’t leap out of my skin from time to time, but I won’t ever let you down.”

Batya gave the counselor's forearm a gentle squeeze before withdrawing. "All I ever ask of my officers is to do their best with what is presented to them. That is more apropos now more than ever as we take on this new mission," she said. "I know the mission parameters have been vague, and once we all convene I will give more information... however, we will be going into places very few to no Starfleet officers have ventured. At this time, the Albright is not going to be assigned a diplomatic detachment or a first contact specialist. So, I will rely on your keen skills as a counselor and a former intel officer to help navigate when or if we come across a first contact situation."

Kiara nodded. “I’ll certainly do my best Captain, being part Betazoid does help when it comes to being faced with new situations. That’s provided it’s not a species that I can’t sense.”

"I suppose that is the excitement and the curse of exploration, we never know what we will face around the next corner," Batya stated. "Thank goodness, the excitement outweighs the curse, otherwise we would have never left our individual planets." The captain offered a small, but genuine smile at that thought. "Before we wrap up, is there anything you need? Have you had a chance to take a look around your office and the counseling suites?"

“I haven’t been there yet, but that’s my next stop” Kiara smiled warmly. “I can’t think of anything I need right now but if I do think of anything you’ll be the first to know!”

Batya returned the smile. Though this was just their initial conversation, she could feel it in her gut that her choice for chief counselor was a sound one. Kiara Rahl wasn't just trained and experienced, but she was personable and offered a personality that was warm and inviting. Batya could also tell the other woman, despite what happened a year prior, was steadfast and dedicated to her duties. More importantly, she felt the counselor would be a good fit for her son. Elijah needed counseling, and it wasn't always easy to find a good match for her only child. Time would tell though and that would be a conversation for a later time when Batya was in mom mode and not captain mode.

"Great." The captain rose to her feet and extended her hand to the shorter woman. "I am so glad we got a chance to meet and have a conversation."

“So am I Captain.” Kiara shook Batya’s hand. “It’s been nice getting to know you.”

"You as well," Batya said. She offered one more warm smile and then dismissed the counselor. She felt the meeting with her new chief counselor went well, and felt there would be a good working relationship there. She stood a moment, just thinking, and then turned back to her flower arranging.