I Feel Sorry For the Garden

Posted on 26 Feb 2016 @ 1:00am by Lieutenant JG Rael Psy.D. & Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm

1,640 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: Jupiter Station - Botanical Gardens
Timeline: MD 22 - 0900

[ON]

The travel fare allotted to him via Starfleet command permitted him to purchase passage on a passing (such alliteration) cargo service vessel leaving Earth!

Granted there were a few detours--in the end, Galileo's newest Vulcan counselor made it safe and sound to Jupiter station. He disembarked from the ECS Vitality with only a blue backpack resting over his thin shoulder, bright-eyed and with a slight smile to his features as he took in Jupiter's underwhelming metallic sprawl.

He was not to report in until tomorrow. Thus Lieutenant JG Rael began to do as always when confronted with time to spare; he walked. He walked himself all the way to Jupiter's equally-as-underwhelming botanical gardens and gently ran his hands over the flowering rose blooms underneath wilting fluorescent UV lights.

Ho hum.

Lirha was lost. Somehow, it had happened, in a confined botanical garden with walkways, nonetheless. The young Orion admiral had been slowly strolling through the meadows with her head down in her PADD while perusing the latest operational repair manifests for her starship, and suddenly upon looking up, had no idea where she was. Perhaps it had been a wrong turn at one of the beaten trails -- or perhaps she had wandered from one arboretum room into another without noticing?

Whatever had happened, she now stopped dead in her tracks and craned her head around in search of the nearest door. Several large trees and high foliage were blocking her view, and she sighed to herself while kicking a small cluster of dirt which was at her feet. The approaching sound of footsteps caused her ears to perk up.

"Hello?" she called out.

A mild, if somewhat amused tone answered her: "Good morning, Admiral." Rael appeared from behind her, hands behind his back, and he fixed her with an arched eyebrow.

"Oh." Lirha turned around and took sight of the tall Vulcan man who had seemingly appeared from nowhere. They had a tendency to do that to her. "Good morning," she greeted in return, "Mister...?" she left the question open ended in the hopes he would provide her with a name.

"I am Rael," the Vulcan bowed his head. He clasped one hand in the other and held them both close to his chest--an Orion greeting. "Might I ask your name?"

"Lirha Saalm," she answered pleasantly enough and with a small smile. "Mission advisor aboard USS Galileo attached to Task Force 21," she then elaborated. "I seem to have lost my way in this arboretum..." It was a confession she was not embarrassed to make despite it probably being her own fault.

"I would be happy to assist you in finding your way," Rael said amicably. He fell into step beside her. "The Galileo?"

She nodded in confirmation. "A Nova-class vessel. We have recently arrived at Jupiter Station for a resupply and standard maintenance," she explained. She didn't want to mention the crew's recent foray into the Mirror Universe. Not yet, at least.

"I see." A slight smile graced his features. "It is fortuitous that we have met, then. I have been assigned to the Galileo as assistant chief counselor."

Lirha raised her eyebrows at such a coincidence. "Yes? How fortunate," she replied. The risk of running into new crew members at the station was significant, and it afforded the rear admiral a chance to engage in conversation outside of the standard protocols. "I have not had a chance to read your personnel file yet," she then admitted. "Are you transferring from another vessel?"

"In a manner of speaking," Rael nodded. "I completed my internship aboard the USS Turing, but I've only recently graduated from Starfleet Medical Academy. I hope to be able to contribute positively to the Galileo's Counseling department."

"Is this your first time aboard a Nova-class starship, then?" she proceeded to ask. She wasn't sure if he had completed a cadet cruise, but if so, she imagined it was not aboard one of the smaller and more specialized class of Starfleet vessels.

"It is, yes. The Turing was a Galaxy-class. Wondrously enormous."

Lirha continued to walk next to the Vulcan through the garden and towards what she hoped was the nearest main walkway. "They are, yes," she agreed. One of her prior postings had been aboard such a vessel and she found it to be night and day compared to her current assignment. "I hope you do not mind the lack of amenities. We do have a bar and lounge, however, that the crew created to complement our mess hall. I believe it even has its own brewery..."

"I believe I'll find it perfectly comfortable," Rael assured her, eyes crinkling a little.

The rear admiral slowed her stride for a few moments and turned to look up at the taller man. "Mister Rael...have you counseled many people before? I mean, actually 'counseled'?" It was not a challenge, but rather an honest question to help her determine if he had a proper idea of the type of work he would be doing and the personalities he would encounter.

"Yes, Admiral," he assured her. "My education at Starfleet Medical required a heavy clinical practicum, and my internship included a supervised caseload which I managed. My specialty is trauma and psychological first-aid, but I have been trained to handle a wide variety of concerns."

"Mm.." she mumbled to herself somewhat thoughtfully. "What advice would you give for unwedded and pregnant Starfleet officers who serve on active duty?" she asked in a very light and casual manner.

"Tread carefully," he responded with a small smile, "and keep their medical clearances current."

She blinked once, then twice with a bit of confusion present in her green features. "The unborn children?" Or perhaps he meant medical checkups and exams throughout the pregnancy period?

"The officers," he clarified. "My apologies--a small joke."

Shrugging with little concern, she didn't feel that such a plight was a common occurrence. "I do not believe that should be a problem. I was referring more to the psychological element. Have you studied the effects of Starfleet duties on parenting during your schooling?"

"Yes," he nodded, slipping into serious like an old coat. "The effects typically fall into two categories--those on the parent, and those on the children. Both tend to create resonance with one another. My best advice for a parent on active duty would be to ensure that their children have a stable supplementary environment. The same teachers--peer groups, caretakers--can go a long way to making a child feel secure on a starship. This can also bridge the gap that can occur when a parent is away for extended periods of time. As for the parent, it is always going to be important for them to feel as though they are connected to their child. Creating traditions and maximizing their participation in activities and play helps to solidify this, even with significant absences."

"Mm.." mumbled Saalm in agreement while she listened and processed his advice. It seemed sound and grounded in science, and she herself agreed with many of the sentiments. However, she couldn't help but note that Galileo was probably not the best environment for infants and small children. "In your professional opinion...do you feel a Nova-class is an appropriate environment for younglings? They have confined quarters, tiny corridors, and limited recreational facilities. Far from what a family-oriented ship class such as a Galaxy would offer."

"I think that's something each parent has to decide for themselves. Some kids do really well with the type of individualized atmosphere that a smaller environment such as a Nova-class can provide. A family-oriented ship would absolutely offer a lot of amenities not available on a Nova-class, this is true. They're also unreasonably large with high crew turnover, which means less opportunities for a consistent routine. There are pros and cons to both, in my opinion."

Lirha pursed her lips in thought. Once again the new Vulcan man had given her some food for her mind. "You believe a smaller crew and a more personal environment would benefit some of the children?" she tried to interpret.

"Yes," Rael nodded. "Absolutely. It depends on their personality, of course. There's a lot of research out there on how starship life can psychologically impact a child, but nothing to suggest that it's outright damaging--even on a Nova-class. You just have to understand the drawbacks and adapt to them," he said. "And maximize the positives. I can forward you some articles, if you're interested?"

"Thank you, lieutenant. I would like that," she smiled. It wasn't everyday that she was able to seek parenting advice during her leisure walks. It seemed she had more to consider in the months ahead than she had originally imagined. The two of them finally came to a place where the exit to the arboretum was now in sight, and Lirha took the opportunity to part ways for the time being.

"I am afraid I must leave to finish my work. Have you boarded Galileo and checked in with your CO and department head yet?"

"Not as of yet--I plan to do so imminently, Admiral." His hands folded behind him, and he offered her a serene nod.

"Very good. In that case, I will see you soon. Perhaps after shore leave, for I am headed to Risa for a month." A protracted period of time at the quadrant's most luxurious vacation planet was something Lirha was looking forward to very much. She would be able to ignore all of the Starfleet administrative duties assigned to her and focus on herself, for a change.

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo

Lieutenant JG Rael
Assistant Chief Counselor
USS Galileo

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