Checking-Up on the Counselor

Posted on Thu Feb 27th, 2020 @ 1:05pm by Commander Tressa Brislan-Antilles

Mission: Mission 19: Taking out the Garbage
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 1500Hrs - December 24th, 2390

Yet another person the Trill had yet to meet. Doctor Brislan. Excellent service. Family-woman. Fish out of water on this crew. And to make matters worse, Zara suspected Brislan's opinion sparked such an uproar with several of the woman's friends, that it had alienated her to some degree.

And given the mindfucked experience of being a monkey, Zara figured she needed to talk to someone too. Someone she did not know well. So with a gentle knock on Brislan's office door, Zara stuck her head inside carefully.

"You busy Doctor?" Tane asked cautiously.

Nothing about Zara was orthodox. Her tactical vest was unzipped and her shirt was very wrinkled. Her pips were also out of alignment, which spoke of a woman who cared less about her uniform and more about the job.

"Hello," Tressa said with a smile. "How may I help you?"

"Errr..." Zara nervously stuttered for an answer before she came fully inside the room. "Yeah. I suppose... I wanted to see how things were going with you. Mostly because I read your report on Sullivan and well... I know people aren't happy with you because of it."

"Please, come in," the counselor said, standing up and walking towards the couch. She waited until the Captain had sat, then sat next to her. "I appreciate your coming to see me, but as I'm sure you know sometimes the most difficult things to say are the ones that most need said."

Zara nodded in full agreement. Then she looked around the room at Tressa's family photos with a smile. While she personally did not want kids, she understood the joy they brought to parents.

"This was ultimately a test I gave to Siaxx," Tane finally confided once she was done looking around. "She needed to be able to make a command-level decision without letting personal feelings guide her. And I truly don't know if her decision to give Phoenix's wings back, is the right or wrong one. As it is one that depends largely on watching and seeing of Phoenix will lose control again."

"You read my report, Captain? Phoenix has made great strides in learning to control her anger, and she has been sober for several days. The problem is her perception of Cardassians, and her attack on a fellow crewman who never gave her offence. In many ways she is skilled and capable, but until she begins to face her past she cannot part from it." Tressa's voice was soft and sad. "Siaxx has been very supportive with the notable exception of Phoenix' racism. With her fanning the fire it is that much harder for Phoenix to break free of the hate that holds her back."

"Then you must ask her why she supports this racism," Zara suggested very sagely. "Each of us has some small inkling of racist beliefs. And given a good deal of this crew fought against Cardassians in one war or another, I would guess Siaxx herself has her own daemons with them. And sees Phoenix as someone she can relate to."

Zara gave a half-smile to that, then added, "PTSD shows up on occasion with veterans. Sounds. Sights. Even textures. Question you have to ask, is why Siaxx doesn't have a problem with Phoenix's views on Cardassians."

"Let me ask you Captain, do you think it is wise to turn a blind eye to the attack on Lieutenant Kurzkai? Is that the message the Command sends to the crew of the Roanoke that what Phoenix did is acceptable behavior, or that it was Kurzkai's fault for being born Cardassian?"

"Oh I have not turned a blind eye to her," Zara spoke rather soberly. "I've served with her long enough to know brigging her doesn't work. So I took her wings away for a few weeks. And that seems to of had a positive effect on her."

"It was the catalyst for some real change, yes," Tressa said. "If it had helped Phoenix to tackle the real problem with what happened then perhaps it could have been enough, but alas it has not. Since Siaxx has released Phoenix against my advice the message from the Roanoke's Command is clear; you can be severely harmed by an officer for no reason, and that officer need not fear any serious consequences."

"Then what would you have me do with her?" Zara asked very respectfully. "Brigging her doesn't work. I honestly don't have many options to chose from. But I am telling you, as the commanding officer, I'm not fine with what she did."

"Phoenix has severe PTSD, addiction, and depression. She needs full-time treatment at a medical facility, for her betterment and for the safety of your crew," Tressa said. "It isn't just what she did, its the fact that she has no remorse. She believes that she was justified in picking a fight with a person who never wronged her just because that person looks like the people who wronged her."

"What I will do, is order her to continue counseling," Zara spoke after a long silence. "At least for the time being. Simply because her wing commanders cannot perform her duties. They aren't trained. And if the wing isn't able, then this ship can't do it's job."

Zara held her hand up to stop Tressa's protest. "I agree she needs help. I know there's a huge risk that she'll snap. And I've done all I can to limit the Cardassian from running into her... But for now, the ship can't function as a carrier without it's CAG and wing commanders fully functional."

Tressa smiled. "You misunderstand me Captain, I knew it would be business as usual even as I wrote my report, despite the fact that Phoenix is not fully functional and may never be. My concern is for Lieutenant Kurzkai and others like her, and for your own reputation. Kurzkai has no reason to feel safe or valued, and Phoenix has no reason to curb her behavior because she is essential." The counselor shook her head sadly. "How does that make you feel?"

"Annoyed," Zara sighed. "I want Kurzkai to feel safe, but at the same time, Phoenix hasn't been made to feel welcome all that much by Starfleet. She's always felt Brass was against her, and with good reason. She's not here by choice, but by a near twenty-year old decree that's essentially made her an indentured servant to a government she is dead-set opposed to."

"She could have been medically discharged, Captain. Instead she is still being used," Tressa said softly.

"Admiralty are pricks," Zara noted very personally and angrily. "They don't care who they inconvenience, as long as they get what they want."

"As above, so below?"

"I care about her too," Zara spoke rather defensively. "Brass doesn't give me a choice in the matter. I send her to a facility. They'll treat the symptoms and then put her back on the line."

"Not if she is medically discharged, Captain," Tressa said. "But this discussion is moot, the CMO has cleared her for duty."

"All that's left is for me to ask if you're OK with continued sessions with her." Zara knew this debate was going no where, but she did not entirely disagree with the counselor either.

"Of course," she answered. "I want to help her if I can."

"All right then," Zara smiled to that news. "Let me know if you need any more staff too. This staff can be daunting sometimes."

"Indeed," Tressa said with a knowing smile. "I have met some... interesting characters. I haven't met all of my colleagues but I will certainly inform you if we are lacking."

"I know on the Phoenix matter, it might seem I don't care. But I truly do, which is why I want her in counseling," Zara told the other woman. "At least here, I can pull her off the line and keep her off a while, if needs be. Elsewhere, they'd just treat the symptoms quickly and send her back out, because brass view her as a needed asset."

Tressa sighed. "Captain, she has been cleared for duty by the Chief Medical Officer," she said. "You are wasting your time convincing me of her competence, or lack thereof."

"Cleared of duty doesn't mean she doesn't need a counselor... We all need time on the sofa now and then," Zara pointed out. "I'm not convincing anyone either. But I do want you to know that I care. About you, Phoenix. Everyone."

"I appreciate that," the counselor said.

"Do take care then, Doc." Zara smiled, then exited quickly to tend to other matters.