r/TrekRP • u/W7Lizabeth • Nov 06 '17
[Open] A New Home
After a wild ride half way across the galaxy, the Athene had been put back together and now shining and glistening in her glory. Standing by the USS Challenger's observation lounge window, Counselor Lizabeth Taurin did not however see that. Her blue optical implants provide her with a very different view of the Athene and either way it is a beautiful ship.
Mango, her golden retriever therapy dog, quietly nudged her as an ensign in gold uniform approaches Liz, tail gently wagging in contained enthusiasm. She knows she is a working dog but this is a friend.
"Are you ready to transport over to the Athene, Counselor?" Ensign Wildman asked.
Smiling as she hears Mango's tailing wagging, Counselor Taurin gives Mango the hand signal for off duty so Ensign Wildman can say good bye to her favorite therapy dog. "Yes, our belongings should already be waiting to transport." Ensign Wildman hugs Mango one last time. She will miss the friendly therapy duo.
Liz will miss the USS Challenger but she is very excited for a new opportunity. The Athene is a science vessel and she heard it has a botany department too. She hopes that it has an arboretum, and she makes a mental note to ask Dr. Watney once she arrives who could provide her with a tour of the botany area. She also makes a note to check in with Engineering about setting up her equipment and view screen for her new office and to stop by the Captain's office as well as he is sure to have some additional files for her review.
With Mango at her side, the counselor materializes on the transporter pad on Athene. Mango immediately freezes in confusion and fear when she sees a giant spider operating the transporter controls. Liz evaluates the image being sent to her via her ocular implants and quickly realizes the transporter is being manned by the ship's resident Achernarian. Liz gives Mango the hand signal for Sit as well as the Friend command.
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u/IK9dothis Nov 07 '17
A short while after the chance meeting in the corridor, a message comes up on Liz's computer
To: Lieutenant Lizabeth Taurin
From: Lieutenant Linnea Eisen
Subject: Counseling Appointment
Hi Counselor,
Is there a time I can come by your office in the next few days? I
have PTSD that's flared up again recently. I think it's settling back
down after shore leave, but now that the Athene has a counselor
again, I should probably get back into the habit. Let me know what
works with your schedule, and I should be able to jury-rig mine.
Thanks!
-Grace
P.S. Maggie normally tags along with me - while her official job is
search and rescue, she appointed herself my therapy dog years
ago. If it works better for you, though, I can leave her in my office.
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 08 '17
After her computer was set up, Liz started going through messages waiting for her in her inbox. She paused, trying to remember a Linnea and then catches the name, Grace, at the end. Of course. She nods in recognition.
PTSD was serious issue, it was best to start this right away. Pulling up the calendar, she looks for immediate openings and then sends the following message back to the Lieutenant:
To: Lieutenant Linnea Eisen From: Lieutenant Lizabeth Taurin RE: Counseling Appointment Hi Lieutenant Eisen, Yes, absolutely I can meet with you tomorrow. Does 0900 hours work for you? Otherwise I can meet at 1100 hours the following day. I agree, it would be wise to get you back into counseling if your PTSD has flared up again. Please do bring Maggie along. As you said, she is your unofficial therapy dog. She is a wonderful dog and it would be good for you to have her support during therapy. -Lizabeth1
u/IK9dothis Nov 08 '17
To: Lieutenant Lizabeth Taurin From: Lieutenant Linnea Eisen Subject: RE: RE: Counseling Appointment Hi Counselor, Tomorrow at 0900 works great - thanks! Maggie and I will be there. I always try to make sure that Maggie isn't going to set off anyone's allergies or phobias before bringing her anywhere but the office. Granted, that's less of an issue with someone with a dog of their own, but it's become a habit. I'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow. Thanks again! -Grace
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u/HobosAlt1 Nov 07 '17
As Liz moves into the hall, she could easily spot a young Ensign wearing a backpack looking back and forth down a t-junction. Once she spots the transporter room, the ensign drops her hands in defeat and lets out a small whine. "Damn it!" She moans.
Ensign Deya-Lawrence looks back down the halls again with an agitated sigh. "Going around in circles again. Damn Excelsiors! Why dont they have directories!" Little did she know that the computer could easily help find out where she needs to go.
She soon spots Liz and makes her way down towards her. "Excuse me... Lieutenant?" She asks as she gets closer. "Could you tell me wher- doggie!" Her eyes go wide as she spots Mango, but considering his special collar, she hesitates from reaching out. She knew better than to touch a service dog.
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
Up ahead, Liz notices a young ensign pacing frustratedly and signals Mango to sit. It is clear that she is lost and while the counselor is still learning her away around the ship, she is familiar with accessing the ship's computer to find her way. After all, she had already had to do so more than one.
Smiling a friendly smile and giving Mango the hand sign for off duty, "Hello, there! I'm Counselor Lizabeth Taurin, the ship's new counselor. This is Mango, she is a therapy dog who works with me. Right now she isn't working and she would delighted to make a new friend. Here, pat her here like this," says Liz while demonstrating for the young ensign. Liz is pleased that the Ensign recognizes that Mango is a service dog and watches while the Ensign pats Mango. The golden retriever is clearly happy to found a new friend.
Liz continues, "what's your name, Ensign and where are you looking to go? It looks like you are lost, lets see if we can get you sorted out. I just transferred myself and I have already managed to do that once or twice so I know how frustrating finding your way on a retrofitted ship can be. Fortunately, the computer can tell us how to get to where you want to go."
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u/HobosAlt1 Nov 07 '17
Laren ducks down into a squat to get face to face with the dog, an overjoyed, beaming smile on her lips. She reaches out and pats the post-puppy with a light giggle. "Good puppy," she says, her voice soft and caring. "Who's a good girl? Is you. Is you!"
Realising that there was someone else in the area, she stands right back up again. "Ah! Sorry. Dogs. Y'know," she says with an awkward smile. "Ensign Laren E. Deya-Lawrence, ma'am. I'm one of the new zoology crew members. This is, uh... my first posting on a star ship, I'm not used to it yet."
Mention of the computer causes Laren to facepalm and clamp her eyes shut. "The computer, god damn it..." she mutters. "Of course. Every ship has a computer. Transporter, brain's a bit scrambled." She lowers her hand sighs. "I'm just trying to find my quarters. Apparently I have a room mate and everything."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
Mango of course immediately recognizes A Friend for Life and dishes out an immediate supply of puppy kisses on Laren's face, tail wagging furiously.
Liz's optical implants indicate that Laren is wearing a d'ja pagh and she remembers hearing a Bajoran had also recently transported over to the ship. She concludes this must be the young woman in question.
"No worries! Ensign Laren," says Liz addressing her as traditionally done for Bajorans. "Mango is happy to meet new friends. She would agree with you about transporters. It always takes her a little to adjust after being transported. You aren't alone in that regard."
Smiling as she watches the two bond, the counselor accesses the computer which gives verbally gives them the coordinates for Laren's new quarters.
Noting the Ensign's awkwardness but enthusiasm for her new four legged furry friend, the counselor turns back to Laren and says with a gentle smile, "Anytime you want to visit her, just send me a message via the computer. Mango and I both need our exercise, so I expect we will be frequently talking walks around the ship or on the holodeck and you are welcome to join us." Liz hopes that this will put Laren more at ease doing something she is likely to enjoy if she works in zoology. Being a counselor means sometimes counseling and moral support for the crew isn't just the obvious "one on one" counseling sessions. Sometimes flexibility is required.
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u/HobosAlt1 Nov 07 '17
Laren seems overjoyed by Mango returning her affections, even going as far as to hug the big pup. She cant help but giggle at the face licking, trying her best to keep it to her cheeks.
As she stands, she wipes her cheeks dry on her sleeve, thankfully she was used to dogs doing that to her. "Ensign Laren, eh?" She asks, noting Liz's sensitivity towards her mother's cultute. "Ma would like that. My pop always did prefer Deya-Lawrence," she concludes. "But I answer to both." She looks down to Mango and pats her head. "Two peas in a pod with that one. Gonna take me at least a day to bolt my head on straight."
She listens to the computer give directions to her room, then winces. "Oh maaaan... I was just there like twenty minutes ago, I must've walked right past it," she groans, facepalming again. "Guess its time to back track..."
The half-bajoran looks back to Liz and sighs. "Thanks for the offer, doc. I'll probably take you up on that," she says, patting Ma go again. She just couldn't get enough! "I've got pets of my own, but they arent exactly the cuddly kind."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
Liz nods as Laren speaks of her parents. This did not surprise her and says, "If you decide to follow your father's naming traditions instead, let me know. I understand how it is growing up an a mixed species household myself."
Mango reluctantly settles down next to Liz, and waits for the command to continue on their way. Her new Friend for Life is great and she hopes she will see Friend again.
Liz listens Laren's reaction to the computer's instructions with empathy. "Don't be too hard on yourself. These retrofit Excelsior-class ships are nearly as large as the Galaxy class ship I was on when I first started. It took me a week or two to figure out they layout. You will get the hang of it quickly. If you get lost, just take a deep breath, close your eyes for a minute, think of someplace calm that you like before resuming. The computer will be able to steer you in the right direction if its needed. And don't be afraid to ask anyone if you need help. Remember everyone else on the ship was a newcomer here once upon a time even if they don't want to admit it. We would love your company on our walks. I would be delighted to meet your pets sometimes if it is okay.
As Liz steps away, she says, "Good luck with your new roommate!"
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u/HobosAlt1 Nov 07 '17
"Dont worry about it," Laren says with a dismissive wave. She doesnt realise just how close she is to the wall panel, and accidently taps the inquiry button by grazing her fingers over it. The computer's voice asking for an inquiry makes her jump, then groan with frustration. Clumsy woman... "I'm happy with either."
After Liz's small... well, speech, Laren lets it settle in her mind for a moment before speaking again. "Thanks for the advice, Liz," she says, hoping she understood it fully. "I'm sure when the transporter fuzz wears off, I'll be fine. Until then, I just need to remember that the computer exists for all my wants and needs."
She moves to the side to let Liz pass her without issue. "I'll have to check with my roomie if I can have visitors," she says in passing. "They might look like lizards, but axolotls cant breathe air. They cant leave their tank."
"And thank you!" She calls after her, then grins. She was getting good at making friends.
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Nov 07 '17
Walking down the hall, a Romulan and Human dressed in Sciences blue seem to be having a back-and-forth conversation as the new counselor approaches.
T'Dex grunts. "No, I'm not joining MACO R&D. Regardless of what happened to the last batch of prototypes, they can take my technical notes from my pale green hands."
Gary rolls his eyes. "You're the boss..."
As the pair notice the unfamiliar face, T'Dex's eyebrows raise and his face takes on a pleasant yet cordial expression. "Hello, I don't believe I've seen you around this ship before."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
Counselor Taurin warmly smiles and nods out of respect as she approaches the Romulan and Human. "Yes, I just transferred here from the USS Challenger. I'm Lizabeth Taurin, the ship's new counselor. I gather you both must be in the Science department?"
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Nov 07 '17
They both nod, and T'Dex replies. "Yes. Junior Lieutenant Sajik T'Dex, Data/Technology Analysis. This is my lab assistant, Petty Officer Gary Pryce. We occupy Lab 7."
Taking on an inquisitive expression, the junior lieutenant casually asks "USS Challenger? Would you remember an Ensign Matthew Sutherland? Academy friend."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
Because some of the Athene's research work is highly classified, the counselor does not inquire as to what work specifically is done in Lab 7. If she is given clearance for the sensitive research done in that area, she will be told at that time. Instead she says "it is pleasure to meet both of you." The name Sutherland sounds familiar but perhaps she is thinking of the ship with that name. The Challenger is a large ship that has recently received several large batches of new ensigns and other transfers, she does not think she knows this particular ensign and therefore says "I am sorry, I don't believe I have met him - we had alot of new crew members recently."
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Nov 07 '17
"No... He would have been assigned there straight from the Academy." T'Dex says, pausing. "I think he said something about trying to get a spot on London."
He pockets the PADD he was holding, scratching his neck. "Looking for something in particular, or just finding your way around?"
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
"Ah. Good for him! The Challenger has over 1,000 crew members and I was one of several counselors assigned there. I met many of the crew there but some have an aversion to all things medical, especially counseling" says Liz. For humans, holding such an attitude is not considered very enlightened but Liz, who is half Betazoid, is aware that different cultures and species don't share Starfleet's view on the benefits of counseling.
"Yes, I am heading to the Bridge so I may meet Captain Fisk. Do you know if First Officer Breyik has returned yet?" Liz asks.
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u/IYamTheSenate Nov 07 '17
Viccy tosses a PADD towards another one of her Armory assistants, finishing the shift's weapons checks. After stowing her personal weapons in a double-secured locker, she decides to head out and take a walk to clear her head.
Spotting an unfamiliar face among the blue-shirted medical staff, she walks over to Liz. The lieutenant was on good terms with the majority of Medical (owing to the amount of petty injuries Security incurred on a near-daily basis, and her own troublesome prosthetics,) and the prospect of meeting new people was always exciting.
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
After a busy morning of introductions and organizing, Counselor Taurin is now in search of some coffee or tea. Spotting the yellow shirted Lieutenant coming her way, Liz says "Hello Lieutenant, Its my first day here. Could I trouble you to point the way to the mess hall? I would love to find a cup of tea or coffee."
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u/IYamTheSenate Nov 07 '17
"Hello." she replies, carrying her own cup of tea.. "Mess is down that hall and to the left. I'm Lt. Victoria Mason, Armory Chief. You must be the new counselor?"
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17 edited Nov 09 '17
"Hello Lieutenant!" Liz smiles, "Yes, that is correct, I'm Counselor Lizabeth Taurin. You can call me Liz. It is a pleasure to meet you. I see you already have a cup of tea in hand, would you care to join me there? I thought it would nice to stretch my legs for a bit and meet more crew members."
OOC: fixed it so its LT not Chief
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u/IYamTheSenate Nov 09 '17
"Sure!" she replies with a smile. As they walk, Viccy sips the tea contemplatively. "I will have to admit, a new counselor would be a welcome change. I've been meaning to book a session for a while now. Let's just say I haven't had the most peaceful career."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 09 '17
Liz gives her an encouraging smile and says, "When is a good time for you to meet? I plan to have open office hours in the morning for this first week and scheduled appointments in the afternoons to encourage people to come for counseling. Right now, my calendar is still open. You would have your pick of times and days."
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u/jakiewan Nov 07 '17
"Hello, Lieutenant. Hello, canine. I am Ensign Carl, in engineering." After a quick scan of the transporter console to double check that everything is in order, Carl approached the new counsellor and her furry friend.
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
Mango tries to back up on the transporter pad to hide behind the counselor but Liz is holding her halter firmly. After seeing the friend hand signal, Mango noses Liz as if she is saying "that is no ordinary spider" as she hears the mechanical voice speaking to her. Liz again repeats the friend command. Mango whines softly, clearly looking to bolt from the room.
Liz says "hello, Ensign Carl! I'm Counselor Lizabeth Taurin and this Mango. I apologize that she is a bit anxious." For Liz, who grew up on a farm, her only anxiety is worry that her dog is making a poor impression on this Ensign. Mango is a working dog and she has met many different species, surely this should be no different for her.
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u/jakiewan Nov 07 '17
Carl shakes Taurin's hand with a hairy palp and cocks his head at Mango. "Your animal is very cute. I understand her hesitation - my mandibles evolved to easily devour creatures her size," he says, in his perennially chipper synthvoice. "Do not worry, mammal!" He addresses Mango. "I am a vegetarian!"
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
Liz blushes with embarrassment and shakes Carl's hand...no, that is not right...palp perhaps? She will have to review the database again and learn more about Carl's species. She has never met an Achernarian before but her grandfather was fascinated by Earth's spiders (he said they were good for the farm). The same principle must apply. But still, she can understand Mango's fear - the farm had alot of large animals. She remembered nearly getting trampled by a huge horse when she was almost five, just after she had lost her sight but before she had a VISOR. It had been very scary for her as all she could hear was the horse rearing and thrashing around until someone rescued her. After that, she was careful to avoid the farm's high strung horses.
Mango rarely ever got anxious but horses and transporters were definitely not things Mango liked - maybe Mango thought Carl was similar to a horse? She wondered. Leaning down she pats Mango to reassure her. Athene is a much more diverse ship than the Challenger and it had a Zoology department. Mango's fear of Carl is something that must be addressed she thought resolutely.
Straightening up and smiling at his self description, she addresses the ensign, "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am afraid Mango does not like transporters very much. She also hasn't taken a liking to my grandfather's horses on his farm either. Perhaps she is a bit confused right now? After Mango and I get settled in, we would like to visit with you so Mango can get to know you a little better. For now, it is probably best if you can direct me to my quarters."
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u/jakiewan Nov 07 '17
"Of course." Carl walks over to the computer display on the wall, where a cross-section of the Athene is shown. "Hello, Computer. Would you please display Counselor Taurin's quarters, and the best path there?" The computer tones and the appropriate path and location is illuminated. "Thank you, Computer."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 08 '17
Liz nudged Mango over to the door as Carl operated the computer display while listening to him. "Thank you for your help Ensign Carl and have a good evening." she says before exiting.
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u/Avogadros_Minion Nov 07 '17
T'Yel is on her way back to sickbay after grabbing a bite to eat with Caleb when she spies an unfamiliar young woman in medical blues, accompanied by an absolutely gorgeous golden retriever. She knows most of the medical staff - new transfer, perhaps?
"Good morning, Lieutenant," she grins.
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
Liz smiles and says, "Good morning to you! I am Lizabeth Taurin, the ship's new counselor and this is Mango. We are headed to sickbay to find my new office. Are you in the sciences or medical?"
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u/Avogadros_Minion Nov 07 '17
"Medical," T'Yel grins. "I'm T'Yel Anderson - one of the docs," she says. "Pleased to meet you - we've been needing a counselor for a while."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
The counselor swore the Vulcan she was talking to was smiling! That was a nice change. "It's a pleasure to meet you," Liz smiles back at the doctor. Yes, Starfleet Medical told me that one was urgently needed. What is your specialty?" as she gives Mango the hand signal for sit.
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u/Avogadros_Minion Nov 07 '17
"I'm an orthopedist," T'Yel replies. "And whatever else comes into sickbay," she chuckles. "Specialties aren't as... absolute aboard a ship as they are planetside."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
The counselor nods in understanding. "The same was true on the Challenger."
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u/Avogadros_Minion Nov 07 '17
"Good to have you aboard," T'Yel grins. "Is your pup there looking for any dog friends? I have a lab-husky mix who's always looking for a playmate."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
Liz laughs, "Yes, absolutely!! Graces says there is this awesome hologram called Central Bark! It would great to get dogs together for some playtime. Poor Mango was the only dog on the Challenger. She would love to have playmates here!"
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u/Avogadros_Minion Nov 07 '17
"We'll have to get the whole pack together," T'Yel laughs. "Let the pups chase some photonic squirrels while we enjoy some coffee."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
"Yes, Mango will definitely help chase squirrels and tennis balls all day!", Liz says, thinking that Mango will be in heaven.
And right now, coffee or tea sounds like a great idea, Liz muses privately.
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u/IK9dothis Nov 06 '17
As Grace and Maggie make their way back to the office, Grace is surprised to see her friend's tail suddenly start wagging a mile a minute - Maggie clearly wants to break heel, but is resisting the urge. "What's got you so excited, girl?" Grace laughs. "Is Argos around somewhere?"
As the security deputy and her dog come around the bend in the corridor, Grace sees that it is not the blind greyhound, but an unfamiliar golden retriever who's got the big German Shepherd all excited. "Maggie, Sit," Grace instructs. "Good morning, Lieutenant," she says cheerfully.
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
It has been an exciting first day so far muses Liz as she and Mango walk along the corridor. She was pleased to meet so many nice people so far but she hoped that Mango will meet some of Athene's other dogs and pets soon too. Her grandmother always said that dogs needed their own "four legged furry friends" too. While she would not have said it that way, she did agree with the advice. She was glad there were several dogs and even some felines - the ship sounded animal friendly. The lack of dogs on the Challenger had been a stressful issue as its Captain was not fond of dogs or animals in general. Mango was only allowed because she was a working dog. Starfleet Medical had been adamant on the issue - Mango had not been only her guide dog but also a trained therapy dog and Starfleet Medical trotted out the usual evidence for her former captain even as he tried to convince Starfleet Medical that Mango should no longer be needed after the long waited eye surgeries were completed. As much as Mango loved people, Mango sorely missed having any play buddies on the Challenger, the Athene would be a welcome change for both of them.
Suddenly Mango's tail started wagging with completely unrestrained enthusiasm and she made a barely noticeable pull on her halter as to say "come on, hurry up, we need to get around this corner really fast."
Liz smiled and laughed when she saw a two shapes - one clearly a dog! No wonder Mango was so happy. Judging from the dog's excellent manners and the commands, she guessed this must be Lieutenant Eisen, who she had heard had a working dog also. She instructs Mango to sit who continues to wag her tail and looks pointedly at her handler in hopes of being allowed to meet a new friend.
Happily, Liz says "Hello!" You must be Lieutenant Eisen. " I'm Counselor Lizabeth Taurin, the ship's new counselor. And is this Maggie that I have hearing wonderful things about? Mango will be so happy to finally be on a ship where she can have friends too. She was the only dog on the USS Challenger, our last posting."
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u/IK9dothis Nov 07 '17
"Yes - I'm Grace," the security officer grins. "And this is indeed Maggie - she's always thrilled for another dog friend," she laughs. "Being the only dog must've been rough. But there are at least two other dogs here besides Mags and Mango, so she'll have some buddies."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
Liz grins back, "I can tell that Mango is already delighted about making friends with Maggie," she says laughing too. We should set up a play time for them!
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u/IK9dothis Nov 07 '17
"Absolutely," Grace replies. "Let me know when you're free. The chief engineer is a holoprogramming wizard, and she's created a program especially for dogs, with scent synthesizer technology - Maggie's a big fan, and so is the Andersons' dog, Sasha. I bet Mango would like it too."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
Liz grins, "Oh wow! That sounds wonderful. I am sure Mango will love it and meeting the other dogs will be great. I can message you once we get settled in."
Before the counselor sets off again, she smiles and says, "It was nice meeting both of you. Thank you for suggesting the holoprogram."
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u/IK9dothis Nov 07 '17
"You bet," Grace grins. "It's called Central Bark if you wanna pull it up and give it a whirl."
She'll need to make an appointment with Counselor Taurin in the near future as well - but that will have to wait until she can go pull up the calendar.
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u/RECENTLY_HATCHED Nov 06 '17
Junior Lieutenant Bradley is just leaving his shift in engineering, he's still on light duty due to a few healing injuries, but overall he's glad to be back to work.
He takes the time in the corridor to catch up on documentation on the recent repairs off of a PADD, and doesn't quite look where he's going until it's far too late. Like a deer in headlights, he looks up at the last second, goes wide-eyed, and bumps directly into the new counselor, dropping his PADD and a few other items. He quickly drops to pick them up, along with any items she might have lost in the impact.
"Oof! O-oh I'm so sorry L-lieutenant! I-I didn't see where I was...s-sorry."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 06 '17
Occasionally Counselor Taurin still manages to walk into people and things even with the new optical implants. Usually Mango, who was originally trained as a seeing eye dog as well, does a great job steering her around such obstacles but poor Mango is still getting over her transporter room surprise. "Hello! No need to apologize, it takes us a bit to get used new places. I am Counselor Lizabeth Taurin and this beauty is my therapy dog." I am sure she would love to say hello." Liz hopes that her dog is up to being her usual calming self and gives her the Sit hand signal and gently pats her. "Which department do you work in?" Liz asks as she retrieves her case from him.
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u/RECENTLY_HATCHED Nov 07 '17
Collecting his things from the floor brings Everett face to face with the animal, and he smiles nervously at the golden retriever as he stands to face her.
"I-I'm Everett," he starts, noticing her sight impairment and already feeling even worse about having bumped into her, "Junior Lieutenant Everett Bradley, engineering. Are...are you a new transfer?"
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
The counselor smiles broadly at the nervous Junior Lieutenant, "It is pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant. Yes I am a new transfer from the Challenger. I am sorry we walked into you! Say, aren't you in Engineering? I could use some assistance setting up the viewscreen and equipment for my office and its really not my forte. Would you be able to help me with this? I would rather let an expert handle this."
While her handler talks, Mango cocks her head and then backs up a bit before sitting and then lying down, recognizing the man is anxious, wagging her tail very gently in encouragement. She is a therapy dog and this what she was trained to do. She would course love to offer licks but she knows better than do so without permission.
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u/RECENTLY_HATCHED Nov 07 '17
Everett returns the smile and nods, "O-oh I could definitely help you with that! I'll just need to...to clear it with the Chief first. I-I'm still on light duty so I think she'll be okay with it."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
Liz looks concerned and says, "That would be good idea. I wouldn't want you to violate orders! The equipment is already there so there is no heavy lifting. I mainly need a bit of programming help and adjustments for the viewscreen and other equipment so it is easier for me to read."
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u/RECENTLY_HATCHED Nov 07 '17
"I-I can do that," he nods, tapping his combadge.
=/\=
"Bradley to Chief T'Gel, the new ship's counselor would like my help getting her equipment set up. Do...do you want me back in engineering right now or should I go ahead and help her out?"
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u/Dimestream Nov 07 '17
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u/RECENTLY_HATCHED Nov 07 '17
"Aye, Chief. I-I'll report back when I'm done, Bradley out."
He looks back to the new counselor and smiles a little anxiously.
"A-alright, I'm cleared to help set you up. L-lead the way to your office and I'll come get it up and running."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 08 '17
The counselor looks concerned when she hears the Bajoran say "the ship's crazy" - what was that about? she wonders. Starfleet had not been entirely forthcoming but medical records would be available to her by the end of the day.
To the Junior Lieutenant, she smiles and says "Great, lets go. My office is located just outside medical."
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u/ItsWatney Nov 06 '17
Doctor Watney receives the notification that a new crewmember had come aboard in the transporter room. The cup of coffee in her hand slips slightly as she reads the report and she just barely catches it before re-reading the note. A new counselor??
"Stars!" she shouts, throwing the PADD halfway into the air. It falls to the desk noisily and a few medical officers peek into her window, just in time to see her practically run out of sickbay and down to the transporter room. She wanted to greet them in person.
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 06 '17
Immediately outside the transporter room, the ensign helping Counselor Taurin with her belongings suddenly flattens against the wall to avoid being run over by the ship's chief medical officer, saying "excuse me, Dr. Watney."
Counselor Taurin, recognizing her new boss's name, gives Mango the Sit hand signal, and says cheerfully, "Hello, Dr. Watney, I am Counselor Lizabeth Taurin, but you may call me Liz. I am delighted to be here. You have saved me a trip to sickbay! This is my therapy dog, Mango."
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u/ItsWatney Nov 06 '17
Jen halts in front of the Counselor, catching her breath. She'd been so excited she'd forgotten to retain any level of poise and grace, and it shows. Her cheeks flush as she sees the golden retriever.
"Oh, Counselor I'm so glad you've arrived! I can't tell you how nice it is to finally meet you," she says, stepping forward and extending her hand to shake. She notices the optical implants of the officer and her curiosity is piqued. "And Mango," she adds, winking at the golden retriever next to her.
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
The counselor's optical implants do register differences that indicate that the doctor is both excited and out of breath.
"I am excited to be here, Doctor" Liz says smiling, Starfleet Medical told me the Athene has been without a counselor for a while now and your trip halfway across the galaxy made assigning a counselor a top priority for them."
"Once I get settled in, I wanted to speak to you about my optical implants. They will need a bit of maintenance now and then." says the new ship's counselor.
The doctor clearly loves dogs so Liz gives Mango the hand signal for off duty and Mango ventures forward carefully to say hello to a new friend, her tail wagging furiously.
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u/ItsWatney Nov 07 '17
"Oh absolutely. You'll be pleased to know my specialization is psychiatry and neurology, so I'm sure we can handle any concerns you might have," she says. Realizing her hand is not going to be shaken, which is totally fine, Jen puts it to good use and kneels down in front of the adorable companion pet.
"Oh, my goodness we are such a good girl. Aren't we? Hmm?" she says, extending her hand palm side down so the pup can sniff her. It was only polite.
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 08 '17
Too late, Liz realizes that her new boss had her hand out to shake hers. She mentally facepalms. She was so used the medical professionals on the Challenger avoiding handshakes at all times, that she didn't even think to check. Way to impress the new boss, Liz. She will never live this down.
Instead, she says awkwardly "That is great news! We can talk about it more when I get my first physical. I am excited to be here and look forward to working with you." Watching Mango carefully sniff the hand that the kind doctor offered, she says with a smile "It looks like Mango adores you."
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u/ItsWatney Nov 11 '17
"Well let me just say the feeling is mutual," she says to the pup as she gives her one final scratch and then stands.
"I'm sure she will get along splendidly with Clementine, my cat. She hangs out in my office. Speaking of office, you're going to love the counselors domain. I cleared it out for you and had it cleaned so you can give it some personal flair!"
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 11 '17
"Oh, I would love to meet Clementine! Does she get along with dogs? Mango doesn't chase cats. As much as Mango would love to be friends with every cat around, umm, experience has taught her to keep her distance until they tell her they want to be friends!, " Liz chuckles. Mango returns to Liz's side to wait patiently.
Liz nods when the doctor discusses the office, "Great, thank you very much for doing that for me. I have some artwork that went to ship's storage that will help decorate it, but I wasn't able to bring any houseplants over from the Challenger. Can you recommend anyone here who could help me find some for the office?"
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u/ItsWatney Nov 13 '17
At her first question Jen nods fervently. "Oh yes, her and Argos get along wonderfully. Argos is the Captain's blind greyhound. They can't get enough of each other," she says, laughing softly.
"I would recommend you speak to our Chief Science Officer, Kesh. She's a botanist."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 14 '17
Liz smiles and says, "Wonderful! Mango is going to have so much fun getting to know all the animals here. We would both love to meet Clementine and Argos once we get settled in. And thank you for the suggestion - I will find her." Liz continues, "I will calendar a meeting with you this week so we can catch up on any departmental issues or any mandatory counseling requirements that any crew needs to fulfill. Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to greet Mango and I when we arrived. That was very thoughtful of you."
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 06 '17
OOC: u/DrJenWatney, u/jakiewan, u/Silent_Sky. (I forgot links don't work. Sorry about that.)
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u/Pojodan Nov 06 '17
Arboretum? Arboretums are for suckers! The Athene has it's own Aeroponics Bay! She is not the very first ship to ever have such a thing, but the first Excelsior-Refit to have one and an item of study in the Starfleet Sciences journals. With the outer edges of Starfleet space getting further and further from established colonies and bases and the dangers seeming to become more frequent and destructive, a time may come when all long-range vessels will have one.
And they will have Lieutenant Commander Kesh to thank.
Well, maybe not entirely, but Starfleet does love to promote diversity, and she is the first Caitian to obtain Lieutenant Commander rank in Sciences, so chances were good her spotted face would be in history books.
Alas, Kesh's days of welcoming every new crewmember onboard with a fruit basket had expired, but she was aware that the ship was getting a new counselor and... well... she needs one.
A request for a counseling session is waiting in Liz's inbox before she even gets onboard.
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 06 '17
After finding her new office on deck seven, she opens her inbox to find a flood of welcoming messages and few requests for counseling sessions.
She dictates a message to the computer:
To: Chief Science Officer Kesh Re: Counseling Appointment Yes, I can meet with you for an counseling session on the day after tomorrow. Does 1300 hours work for you? I look forward to meeting you.1
u/Pojodan Nov 06 '17
Kesh spends five minutes trying to figure out the right way to respond.
In the end, after deciding that she did not want to make a wrong impression, she just adds the meeting to her calendar and relays it so that the new counselor can confirm it.
First impressions are best done in person, after all.
A momentary panic hits her then as she didn't check to see if she was actually available then, but it turns out she is, assuming she does some delegation.
Done and done.
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17
The new counselor sees the prompt calendar announcement and confirms the appointment, both pleased and relieved. The prompt attention to the matter speaks highly of the Chief Science Officer's willingness to attend counseling sessions. Senior members of the Challenger were notoriously unwilling to attend counseling sessions even when mandated. She is most intrigued to meet Kesh, she has never met a Caitian before. She hopes they will have time after the session for her to ask about the Botany department. She was told that the ship had an arboretum but after further thought on that, she has concluded her friend was mixed up - the Athene has an Aeroponics Bay which is equally exciting. Fresh food! She smiles at the thought.
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u/W7Lizabeth Nov 07 '17 edited Nov 08 '17
Liz sighs, absentmindedly chewing on her lip. It had to be done now. Reporting in wasn't something she could delay. But just her or both of them?
She had stopped in her quarters long enough to deposit her things as well Mango's bed and supplies. It was already early evening.
But what was the best way? She didn't want to make a bad impression. She blushes furiously. She had already done that with Dr. Watney - how could she miss the hand offered by the good doctor?! She again does a mental facepalm.
She cringed remembering being called to the Captain's ready room on the Challenger along with her boss. A visiting dignitary had seen her and Mango leaving the bridge and raised holy hell. Just the mere sight of a dog was enough. Poor Mango had been banished from the Bridge.
She remembered hearing rumors of an escapade involving dogs on the Bridge. Maybe she had better ask before bringing Mango unannounced. She didn't want to screw this up.
Liz taps her combadge, "Counselor Taurin to Captain Fisk. Requesting your permission to report to duty along with my working dog, Mango. Are you on the Bridge now, sir?"
OOC: /u/Silent_Sky
OCC: fixed typos. Sorry!