SNIP!

“Awesome!” He cleared his throat. “Excuse me. That would be great.” He said in a less enthusiastic voice. “I can paint something up and have it for you in a couple days. Is that good?”

Lt. Commander Sorazo Dar, CNS

“Once we get finished aboard Jupiter Station?” Dr. Rahm thought out loud, mentally shifting duty shifts and Poetry Club meetings and video call appointments to make room. “I can make the time.”

“Now, I’m not much of a painter, but I can hold a brush,” she admitted. “I’m more of the writer. You’re going to have to instruct me a little, but I am a quick learner.”

“Great! Do not worry. I will have drawn the outline on the wall. It makes it easier.”

Vesta finished the last of her tea.

He noticed her drink was finished and got up to refill it and bring her back another one. He should have asked but he didn’t.

“Thank you, Sorazo!” Vesta said, accepting the tea gratefully–it gave her something to do with her hands.

“So other than your office, how has your transition to the Challenger been? I’ve only been onboard for a short time myself,” she said. “But she’s a good ship “

-CMO Rahm Vesta

“Yes she is. It has been ages since I was on a ship and it feels like my first time again. I was doing private practice for a while. I am finding it easier to make friends and build relationships on this ship far better than my last time. How is this ship different from your last?” He said as he sat back down.

Lt. Commander Sorazo Dar, CNS

Vesta took another sip of tea and laughed.

“It seems like our stories are a lot alike! Before this role, I was working as a diplomatic attaché on behalf of Bajoran relations for inter-Federation allies,” Vesta explained. “I have some experience with the Occupation and Resistance and in the Dominion War that followed, and you’d be surprised how many people still want to hear those old stories. What was your practice like?”

-CMO Rahm Vesta

“That sounds interesting and yes. Our stories are similar. My practice was doing well and I had an office near the Academy. I was on the Main Base side and I usually helped people that had PTSD, trauma and the like from the wars, mostly veterans, but I had a handful of personnel still serving that I helped with those and other things.” Shaking his head. “Wow! A diplomatic attaché? What was that like?”

Sorazo Dar

“That is very important work,” Vesta said nodding. “People went though lifetimes of trauma in hours in those days. Some still do. Still are.”

He frowned. “Yes they did.”

She paused for a moment, remembering. “Work as a diplomatic can be very good. But a lot of it is what I call ‘The 4 Cs’: Classes, Calls, Conferences, and Cocktail Parties. Very occasionally would I get to do medicine or field work. Much of a diplomat’s work is after the conflict is over.”

She smiled sadly.

-CMO Rahm Vesta

“I see. So it is not a glamorous as I thought. You are basically a gopher and do all the work for the diplomat themselves and clean up afterwards. A glorified secretary if you will. But cheer up my good doctor. You are here now, practicing medicine and saving lives.”

Sorazo Dar, CNS