Elusive Answers

Posted on 06 Mar 2013 @ 1:19am by Lieutenant Commander Dea Mialin & Lieutenant JG Delainey Carlisle
Edited on on 06 Mar 2013 @ 2:19am

898 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo - Couseling Offices
Timeline: MD 2, 0800 hours

ON:

Dea had made a decision. One that wasn't easy to accept but she felt necessary to pursue. After arranging an appointment with the Counselor Mialin made her way to Carlisle's office just in time for the designated meeting. "Lieutenant Mialin here to see Dr. Carlisle."

Melody, the department yeoman, looked up from her desk and smiled. "Yes, ma'am, go right in. She's expecting you."

A moment later, Delainey was smiling and offering her hand to the flight controller. "Hello, I'm Delainey Carlisle. Please make yourself at home," she added, gesturing to her reception area within which a variety of chairs and one sofa awaited.

She shook Carlisle's hand as she entered the Counselor's office. "Dea Mialin," taking a moment to introduce herself properly then took a seat.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Dea. May I get you something from the replicator?"

Considering the Counselor's offer Dea nodded, "Just a water will do. Thank you." At the moment she still wasn't sure what had compelled her to schedule this appointment.

Delainey nodded and soon returned with Dea's request. "What may I do for you?"

"Well I'm not sure where to begin," Dea paused for a moment then continued, "It's also safe to say I've been doing my best to avoid a meeting of this nature." She didn't want others to view her as vulnerable or a whimp.

Delainey nodded in understanding. "You're not alone in that sentiment. Many people resist reaching out to a counselor for a variety of reasons, but I want you to know you don't have to do or say anything you don't want to here. Coming here actually is a sign of good heallth. You could have chosen to cope with this in any number of easier but ultimately unhealthy ways."

"All counselors use that same word. However I"m not sure I'd say coping is the best way to describe it. No matter what I have to deal with it whether I chose to talk to someone professionally or not."

"That's fair," Delainey replied easily, "though I suppose it's a matter of perspective, really. What some people call 'dealing,' I might see as complete avoidance. Depends on the problem, I s'pose. What issue or problem would you like to deal with differently?"

Dea sighed, "I'm not sure I can. Professionally I want to be respected but I'm not a hero. Right now on this ship there seem to be both extremes. Those that don't respect me or my rank and those that consider me a hero for my recent actions when we landed on Vega."

"It sounds like you don't think either extreme is warranted?"

For a moment Dea considered the question Dea nodded, "Especially in one case yes. The new Security Chief believes he can get away with anything. He had his dog on the bridge and it was getting in the way. I told him to remove the dog he blew me off and said he doesn't have to follow my orders."

"The other side is a bit more difficult to sort through," Dea commented.

Delainey could guess why that was, but she wanted Dea to articulate it. "In what way?"

"Because I was only trying to do my job and in my eyes I failed," she kept her response simple.

It was the kind of response she expected, and though Carlisle didn't agree with Dea, she knew challenging her would only make her that much more adamant. "I'm wondering if you've looked at other situations the same way? Meaning, there's only one truly acceptable outcome?"

Dea didn't really say anything. "There's never been a time that a crash landing is considered an acceptable outcome. But we both know that's not the real problem is it."

"What is?" Delainey asked evenly.

Shrugging Dea didn't say much other than, "I'm one of the lucky ones as a place to start."

"How is that a problem?"

"Its a problem because we lost good people. Beyond that I'm not just any pilot I'm a combat trained pilot. Check my record and you'll see science ships aren't the norm for me so having our mission end like it did doesn't sit well with me. Having my professionalism questioned doesn't sit well with me."

It was a line of thought she wasn't sure she followed. "Are you saying you're sorry you survived?"

"No I didn't say that at all. What I'm saying is I know my job and I know it well. Yeah a crash landing bothers me. It's made me approach things differently. More important than all of that is others publicly questioning my choice to do so. acting like I'm incompetent." Letting out a sigh, "Perhaps this meeting was a mistake on my part. I should go."

"If you want to go, you're free to, but I hope you won't," Carlisle replied. "I ask questions so I can understand where you're coming from, and I can certainly see why you'd be angry about someone questioning your competence."

Dea got up to leave, "I just get the feeling that right now isn't the time to discuss this. At least not when I've got other items that need my attention more urgently.
Thank you for your time." She started for the door.

OFF:

Lt Dea Mialin
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Galileo

LtJG Delainey Carlisle
Asst Chief Counselor
USS Galileo

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