Posted by Lieutenant Commander Janusz Korczak (Counselor) in CNS Office - Onboarding

Ooc: Snipped.

Catt actually smiled in a shy way.

“I chose this assignment sir. It would hardly be logical for me to disqualify myself from service. By refusing a request of a ships officer.”,

And she rather looked embarrassed.

       "However regulations require meeting with The First officer, the ships doctor and your direct supperior.  It no where specifies the ships counselor as the doctor is expected to give a full physical and mental evaluation.",

And she sighed pretty sure he wouldn’t be happy with what she had just said.

    "Is it possible sir that what is now standard practice.  Well that regulations haven't yet caught up to what is being done. ",

Yep there was that Caitan honesty and logic again. She thought wryly. Why was it that the parts of being a Caitan that caused trouble were the ones she was good at? While she was otherwise such a terrible example of her species
And she wilted even before the expected glare and reprimand were given.

Catt Bennet. Sciences.

Korczak’s face remained expressionless as he picked up the PaDD and pulled up the regulations. “Here you go, Cadet. As you can see, reporting to the ship’s Counselor is required, assuming the ship has a Counselor. The field is woefully understaffed at the moment, I’m afraid. I will assume they missed that in your departure briefing. The Cadet Logistics Officer at the Academy and I had some conflict that I assume has carried over to him desiring me to chase down wayward Cadets. Although the task is not nearly as daunting as he probably assumes with Cadet’s magically appearing at my door as soon as I request them.” he said with a slight smile and a indication that her presence at his door had not gone unnoticed.

He then looked at her intently for a moment. “So. Tell me about yourself, Cadet. And tell me how you came to be in the Academy.”

Korczak, CNS

Catt nodded. And looked over the Padd she was offered.

   "it is true that it is a understaffed field sir. I ... Well they try to recruit all Caitans into counseling or diplomatic service. I put myself in a admirals bad books at the academy by refusing her for both services. I very logically explained to her that I was unsuitable. I refused to explain why and she took it personally.  I was rather touchy about  myself and why I am who I am. But anyways sorry. You asked a question.",

And she grabbed hr tail that was starting to twitch before it could start wagging about like a semaphore broadcasting her feelings and tucked it under her leg where trapped it was mostly held in check.
She regulated her breathing keeping her voice under control as well and having enforced a calm exterior continued.
“I joined Starfleet to ensure the the circumstances that created me as I am now. Never happen again. I went to the academy because it is evident that it is impossible to effect change within Starfleet as a enlisted crew being. Because elements of my past render me unsuitable for any position on my home planet.
Starfleet failed in its duty. I’m going to hold everyone responsible up to a glaring light of the ideals and expectations of those who founded the Federation. “,

Her tone rose as she spoke. But was never as loud as a normal conversational tone. Caitans just weren’t built for loud passionate speeches.

She took a deep breath. Calmed herself and unfolded her ears which had lain flat during her statement.

"The Frderation failed me and my colony. Sir.

But while I am cynical about what the Federation and Starfleet are. I think it can be what it is supposed to be.”

And she handed back the padd he had given her.

“Given the lack of counselors and the limiting of their deployment to ships with Civilian populations or full duty diplomatic duties I am rather surprised to find you here on the Challenger sir.”

Catt Bennet. Sciences.

Korczak listened intently as the young Cadet spoke. Unlike most Counselors or mental health professionals, Korczak took no notes as the discussion progressed. He simply listened and watched the speaker. In this case, he took specific mental note of the body language, the cadence of speech, the tone, and the choice of words and phrases. As the Cadet concluded and handed back the PaDD, Korczak took it and, setting aside, said “All Academy ships have Counselors on board full time. That is one of the priorities of the division, actually. Making sure that all of those who seek shipboard assignments are suitable to the task.” And he looked at her again, his face plain and expressionless. “You said that the Federation failed your colony, and you specifically. Can you tell me what happened?”

Korczak, CNS

Catt sighed, as her tail spawned and tried to escape.

“McHenriys world was a mining colony. Heavy metals and radioactives. It was administrated by the founders family. Like most colonies it was a one way journey in a older ship. On landing the ship because the power, water treatment and administrative headquarters. The McHenries were human but they chose mostly non-humans as colonists.
Old Man Mc Henery thought all groupings of various races would work best for some reason. “,

Jer tail escaped at that moment so she paused long enough to secure it again.

“The ship was also the warehouse. So when the power supply went there wasn’t much left. What was left was toxic coolant and oil contaminated. But our meager farms were intact but the lack of power meant the automated systems failed. We were minors and their children nobody knew how to grow food by hand.”,

She whispered getting quieter as she spoke.

“There was a routine Starfleet patrol due in two months. So a rationing plan was devised. We could last that long but there wouldn’t be anything uncontaminated after that.”.

And she paused to clear her tear ducts her tone having gone flat and unemotional.

“The patrol didn’t come. No distress call had been sent ad the only communication gear had been on the ship. The different broke into factions. My parents refused to defend themselves. They died like proper Caitans should. Civilized unto death.”

And she fell quiet for about 10 heartbeats. Her tail once again loose but hanging limp.

“I ran. I hid and what was left of the colony burned. By the time it grew quiet there was a handful of human children and myself alive.”,

And she looked up angry eyes locking on a spot on the walls.

“Robotic freighters came beamed up the ore and left. We put messages but there was nobody to read them. Starfleet never came. Two years later we were all sick weak and mostly starved.
A savage pack of feral children living on local fauna and flora. Star fleet never came but the oripns did.

And she sat there and let out a loud bteath.
“I didn’t know Orions could be kind. But they saved us. Tried to fix us then Sold us back to the Federation. I hated the Federaton. But it was a childish hate and unsustainable. So sir I was adopted by a human family and they named me.”

Cadet Catt Bennet. Sciences

Korczak listened and when she finished he said “Tell me about your childhood after the colony.” He face was still held the blank expression and his voice was calm and inquiring, even with his odd accent.

Korczak, CNS

Catt flicked an ear. Then the other ear.

“The Bennets were kind, patient people. I didn’t treat them as they deserved. I was hostile and acted out. They had two sons both younger than me. I had spent two years caring for children who because I didn’t know more about humans had suffered. I made no effort to get to know them.”,

And she staired at the carpet and sighed a heavy sigh.

“I didn’t fit into any schooling program that anyone had ready. I was too restless unable to trust and scared. I was hoarding food. Easily distracted. Someone had the bright idea to put me into a holographic class with a Holographic Caitan teacher.”,

Both ears went flat with a snap and her tail lashed wildly.

“I..... tried to kill the teacher. It was the first Caitan I had seen since my parents died.
I was as shocked as anyone. The Hologram just kept lecturing me on proper Caitan etiquette.
When I was to tired to scratch and bite I began to argue with it.
Caitans are a logical and peaceful people. I was none of those things. I was a uncivilized barbarian. I refused to go back to the Bennets. I didn’t trust myself. I was Feral. The Hologram had as its final arguement that day told me that…
So that was my childhood after I was returned to the Federation. Me arguing with a Holographic Caitan teacher till the people I was being overseen by thought me fit for society. “

AND her ears and tail once again under control she again sighed.

“When I met actual Caitans at the academy. I didn’t want anything to do with them. But Caitans never allow another Caitan to be solitary. They insisted on making me family.
We settled on a agreement. They did not try to touch me or include me in activities and I put up with at least two of them always being nearby. ,
So if I’m honest the academy was the only form of childhood I had. But while I grew used to the others I didn’t want to be part of their plan to all be assigned together. I arranged for my assignment to be kept secret till the day I left without saying goodbye. Which sir was to get on the shuttle for this assignment. I am actually shocked that I find myself missing them. But every thing they do or say reminds me I am not Caitan anymore. “

And she finally looked up enough to look him in his tunic if not his eyes.
“So… otherwise I’m not remarkable. I did have the highest Mark’s in martial arts of any Caitan cadet in the history of the academy. But again I’m not a proper Caitan so…”

Catt Bennet. Sciences.