Posted by Lieutenant Alex Cross (Chief Counselor) in Side Sim: Counselor’s Office - James Grey

Posted by Lieutenant James Grey (Chief Science Officer) in Side Sim: Counselor’s Office - James Grey

Posted by Lieutenant Alex Cross (Chief Counselor) in Side Sim: Counselor’s Office - James Grey
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
After completing his medical check-in, Cross made his way down the corridor toward Deck 4, the familiar warmth of anticipation settling comfortably in his chest. His boots carried him through the soft hum of the Ark Angel’s life systems, but his thoughts were already several steps ahead—back in his office, back to the work that had brought him here in the first place.

It was always this moment he looked forward to most: the beginning. The first faces, the first conversations, the first pieces of a crew he would gradually learn, support, and—if he was doing his job right—help steer through the storms that inevitably came with life in the black.

As the doors to his office parted, he felt the quiet satisfaction he always did when stepping inside. The warm lighting cast a gentle amber glow across the room, softening the sleek lines of the standard-issue desk and the guest chairs in front of it.

Opposite the desk, the sectional seating area sat invitingly against the curved wall—deep, comfortable cushions in muted blues and warm grays that reminded him of dusk over the bayou. A low table held a small arrangement of smooth river stones from home, each one worn by the Mississippi’s patient current. The subtle scent of chicory coffee—his preferred blend—still lingered faintly from this morning.

And the artwork: two framed pieces he’d brought from New Orleans. One, a watercolor of the French Quarter at sunrise; the other, a stylized rendering of the St. Louis Cathedral, both carrying a hint of the city’s heartbeat into the quiet room.

It felt good here. Centered. Grounded. Ready.

Cross lowered himself into his chair, letting the familiarity of the space settle around him like a well-worn jacket. This was why he was here. Meeting the crew for the first time, hearing their stories, discovering the threads that made each of them who they were—that was always his favorite part of the job. A ship was more than its hull; it was the people inside it.

With a small, satisfied breath, he keyed into the console and opened a shipwide communications channel.

“Attention Ark Angel crew,
This is Lieutenant Peter Cross, Chief Counselor. I am now available to begin standard psychological evaluations for all personnel. Please contact my office directly to schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience. I look forward to working with each of you.”

He sent the message with a final tap, watching the confirmation light blink. Another beginning. Another crew. And, if he was lucky, another home he could help shape.

Cross leaned back, letting himself take in the quiet comfort of the room before the work began in earnest.

“Alright,” he murmured to himself with a small smile. “Let’s get to know everyone.”

Counselor Alex Cross

James sent a reply shortly after reading the shipwide message. The message was simply his schedule with available time slots. Then, immediately, he sent an updated schedule with a few dozen previously available slots made unavailable.

---

A few days later James lounged outside Alex’s office waiting for his appointment, only ringing the chime once.

CSO

Within a few moments the door aside to show Cross standing to the side of it. “Lieutenant Gray, welcome, please come in and make yourself comfortable.” Cross said one hand extended toward the sectional seating area, where two wing backed chairs sat across from the sectional. “Can I get you something to drink, Lieutenant?” Stewart asked while Gray made himself comfortable.

Counselor Alex Cross

James stepped in with a smile “Thank you, Counsellor. Yes please Carbonated water, chilled” He said, sitting down in one of the chairs Alex indicated to, leaning back and crossing his legs.

CSO

Cross nodded as he made his way to the replicator to order a carbonated water and iced tea. Carrying both he set the carbonated water down in front of James and carried his ice tea with him as he sat in the matching winged chair across from the other man.
“You have had a varied career, Lieutenant. What brought you back to serving aboard ship?”

Counselor Alex Cross

James reached the water and took a small sip, then sighed in pleasure “Excellent” He put the glass back down “I spent most of my early career post-war as a researcher. Ten years of pure science, healthy debate, publishing and learning. Then, after my brief stint at the Corvan Embassy, I transitioned to teaching, most of the late eighties, early nineties, teaching on Earth and Vulcan. Then the itch came again, the need for exploration and travel, hadn’t felt that since my academy days” He’s smiling as he’s speaking “My brief hospitalisation aside, I was just eager to get my physical therapy out of the way and get back out here” He gestured vagelue around the room “Space”

CSO

“An unusual move for a pure researcher.” Cross mused as he considered how to broach his next question. “Hospitalization? What happened?” Personally he wondered if that event had more to with the scientists sudden wish to return to space.

Counselor Alex Cross

James clicked his tongue “It’s mostly classified, I was ordered on special assignment to the USS Chandragupta Maurya, we had…” He hesitated “An incident.We suffered some heavy losses, the entire Senior Staff including Captain Befronn and nearly a third of our compliment” He grimaced, he disliked not being able to explain properly “I suffered some major injuries but Starfleet Medical is nothing if not capable.”

CSO

Cross winced in commiseration. “That was a very tragic situation, Lieutenant, you not only had to recuperate physically but emotionally as well. I am actually very surprised that we’re willing to serve on a ship again.”

Counselor Alex Cross

There was a brief moment of silence as James considered “I graduated from the Academy in ‘73 just at the start of the Dominion War. My ship was assigned to the tenth fleet, I was there when Betazed fell. I learned a long time ago how to cope with loss in a healthy manner” He smiled wanly “It’s always terrible to lose fellow Officers but it’s part of the risk we signed up for.”

CSO