Posted by Ensign Ranlei (Engineering Officer) in Please define sanity. A visit to the CNS.

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Katie Nunn (Chief Counseling Officer) in Please define sanity. A visit to the CNS.

Posted by Ensign Ranlei (Engineering Officer) in Please define sanity. A visit to the CNS.

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Katie listened carefully and attentively to Ranlei as she introduced herself and smiled as she asked if she could be of service. She’d found in her short time as a ship’s counselor so far that it was remarkably rare for people to inquire into how a ship’s counselor was doing. In a way, that was an excellent perk of the job in her current circumstance. “Well, I think first I need to be of service to you and we should get your evaluation done. It seems like you’re overdue given the ship hasn’t had a counselor for a while.” She gestured to the chair in front of her desk. “I haven’t had much time to settle in, but we can still get it sorted out.”

Nunn, CNS

Ranlei didn’t sit as she hadn’t been given permission to do so yet. Her stint in a military academy made her a bit of a stickler for such details. “As you will maam. I know a herbal tea blend that will do wonders for your energy levels if your a bit run down Maam.”, she said taking the two steps over to the replicator while never facing away from the CNS. She tapped the command input button and said, ” two 8 oz mugs Oolong, boisenberry blend twist of lemon. A nd 4 raspberry danish. “, she ordered and picked up the teas and plate of danish in a way only a practiced server would and set them down on the commanders desk. “I was going to be in ops when I first joined the academy Maam and no meeting is complete without some edible componant. Of course I changed focus after I started getting comments on how I looked like a holiday decoration in a red unifor. That and It was made clear I was destined to never rise in the ranks because nobody would ever trust a Orion. So I entered Engineering where I can be of service to Starfleet without rank really mattering. I was upset about the willingness of Starfleet officers to judge me based on my spiecies at first but if I am honest when anyone anywhere says Orion everyone thinks syndicate in their head. So like it or not you play the cards life deals you.”, Ranlei said as she served the tea and Danish. As she took the spot she had stood in before and waited.

Ensign Ranlei Greene. Engineering.

Katie’s head bent to the side in interest as she carefully watched Ranlei’s actions. This was the first time she had been served tea and pastries in her own office by a crew member and she had to admit that it made her distinctly uncomfortable. Overhearing the order issued to the replicator, she did have to admit that it sounded delicious and she graciously accepted the goodies from the engineering officer when she returned. Respecting cultural differences was key in her field, even if they meant a moment of discomfort. Noting that Ranlei was still standing despite her previous gesture to a seat, she realized that she needed to be more explicit and, between sips of the delicious warm beverage, murmured, “please have a seat, Ensign.”

As she waited for the young woman to get settled, she took a small bite out of the raspberry danish, noting that she’d have to run a few miles further after her duty shift if she was going to have a midmorning snack. She chewed thoughtfully and then sat back. “I can’t say I disagree. Snacks are always welcome. How are you finding engineering to fit you?”

Nunn, CNS

Ranlei seated herself and smiled as the CNS sipped tea and munched on a danish, “Thank you sir. Engineering is the best possible place as far as I am concerned. Everything is inter related. Every system part of a greater whole. A new and exciting challenge every day. New puzzles to solve. New technologies to intergrate. It’s not just fix the whatsit with the whosit. Every ship is different. Far more than just parts that make it up. If you listen long enough she’ll speak to you.”, Ranlei said enthusiastically.

Ensign Ranlei Greene. Engineer.

Katie mumbled with her mouth full of danish, “please call me Katie,” in response to Ranlei’s use of sir and then chewed and swallowed her bite as she listened to the officer’s answer. “It sounds like transitioning from ops worked well for you, then.” The young woman’s enthusiasm was practically infectious and made Katie feel like she might want to learn something about engineering, which would probably be a disaster for everyone involved. “How did you end up interested in Starfleet in the first place?”

Nunn, CNS