Posted by Lieutenant Miranda Martel (Chief Engineer) in Up the Creek with a Paddie - TAG: CNS

Posted by Lieutenant Patrick ‘Paddy’ McMillan (CNS) in Up the Creek with a Paddie - TAG: CNS

Posted by Lieutenant Miranda Martel (Chief Engineer) in Up the Creek with a Paddie - TAG: CNS
Posted by… suppressed (11) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The thrum of the Asimov’s engines could be felt through her boots even as she walked. Every nerve seemed to vibrate and her stomach knotted and rolled around at the knowledge they drew one step closer in their mission. Reaching for one of the panels in engineering, her right hand shook just a little. She turned to NE Hammer. “AHmmer, I need to step out for a few. Hold down the fort.”

“Aye, ma’am.”

That was five minutes ago. Standing outside the door labeled “COUNSELOR” in some ways it was worse. She didn’t know this person. But she needed to talk to somebody before things went crazy. Even if it was just to vent. New ship, new crew. If she couldn’t talk to someone from neurosciences, who could she talk to? Her vision turned watery for just a moment and her throat knotted up at that thought. She was entirely alone out here. That was the life, of course. And making friends was part of the gig, and she was good at it. But at that moment, the floor was slipping out from under her. No stability.

Reaching out, she took a shaky breath and hit the button, sending a signal to whoever was inside. She had no idea how long it would be. If someone was in session it could be a while. What if they were? Could she stay there that long?

Lt Martel, CE

A few seconds passed by before a strong Northern Irish accent came from the other side of the door, “It’s open!” As Lieutenant Martel crossed into the Counsellor’s office, she was greeted by the grinning face of Lieutenant Patrick McMillan, the slighter younger than usual ship’s counsellor, “Ahh, our new Chief Engineer. Take a seat, Lieutenant Martel, or Miranda if you prefer? Can I get you anything?”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

Green eyes scanned the space and McMillan, first spatially and tactically. He was a couple centimeters shorter, but had about a dozen kilos on her in weight, with broader shoulders. If she had to she could probably do okay against him, or escape. The notion went through her head so fast it was unconscious. Then a split second later she took in the space and him socially. It was a nice, pleasant office. he was a little shorter, a little young, but that didn’t mean anything. Other than he’d figured out what he wanted to do in life faster than others. Which probably made him smarter. Which tracked with having higher education. And making through the Academy so quickly. He was maybe a year or two younger than her and seemed nice enough.

There came a slight flutter at her hands before she balled them into white-knuckled fists. “Either is fine, or Mira for short,” she said, putting on a smile for a moment that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Quickly she found a chair that seemed comfortable enough and sat. “Um… Tea would be lovely,” she said, her voice a little smaller than she normally would have spoken. Almost immediately she stood again and began pacing, almost like a caged animal. Her hands fidgeted together nervously, and her vision was unfocused at that point. Her breathing was slowly getting faster and her hands were turning clammy, and little beads of swat began to gather on her forehead..

Lt Martel, CE

Paddy looked up from the replicator and noticed the look on the new Chief’s face. Acting quickly, he replicated a mint tea and placed it onto the table in front of him, before guiding Mira over to the sofa, “So, how is everything in Engineering?”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

Her hands visibly shook so she balled them up and pressed them between her knees, leaning forward. “I… uh… It’s… squared away for now. I don’t know how well we’ll handle the nebula we’re going to.” Technically it should be fine. But it was a dangerous place. “It should be alright though.” Sitting still was hard and she found herself rocking back and forth slightly, her expression twisted up in worry and anxiety.

Lt Martel, CE

“Miranda,” Paddy said calmly, making a point of not attempting physical contact so as not to increase Martel’s anxiety, “If I can call you Miranda? I need you to look right at me and take a few slow, deep breaths.”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counselor-

It took a second or two, but her green gaze landed on the Lieutenant in a way that might have burned a hole in tritanium. She was still pale, and her hands were balled up tight. As he brought up taking slow deep breaths, she tilted her head to the side, just so. it was a good idea. Instead of focusing on him though, she closed her eyes, and sat up straight. Squaring her shoulders, her hands slid into her lap rather than being wedged between her thighs. Squeezing her fists enough to make the tendons pop over the knuckles she made them relax and lay flat, then loose.

Slowly she breathed in through her nose, out through her mouth. Years of martial arts training, which she kept up on also lent to a strong meditation practice. That much he would see her fall into right then. Reaching for the silence, she focused on her breathing, on her body, on the sound of her heartbeat, the thrum of the engines, her engines vibrating through the decking. Her shoulders were high and tight. She took a moment to roll them and force them to relax. Each breath drawing in more relaxation and letting it go and with it the tension in her body which had been singing like a wire in a high wind.

After a minute, her eyes snapped open once more. They were almost darker now, and her full lips had drawn into a thin line. The worry was still there, but she was sitting on top, floating on the surface like a beach ball on the ocean. Her brows were lowered, her jaw set, features stern. Not ready to bolt but the look of someone ready to fight. Not necessarily Paddy, but… someone. Anyone who might do her harm perhaps. Ghosts and specters of the past hovered behind her eyes.

“Good to still have you with me, Lieutenant. Can I get you a drink? I don’t know about you, but I feel like today has been rather long.” Paddy rose and crossed the office back to his replicator, making himself a fresh pot of raktajino, as well as making a point of noting down his findings from the meeting thus far. McMillan already had a feeling that this would not be the only meeting the two officers had over the next few months.

OOC: Don’t forget to sign off! ;)

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

((Oops, that’s a rarity.))

“Tea,” she re-stated. “Lady Grey, hot, two sugars, if you would.” Glancing at the chrono it wasn’t even lunch time yet. The initial brief hadn’t taken terribly long. They hadn’t even made it to the nebula yet. The idea that the day wasn’t even that far along was exhausting. “The day is just getting started,” she said quietly. “Which I suppose is telling.” Even as she spoke her jaw was tight but at the same time he’d see her shoulders droop and she almost slumped forward. Rather than hunching forward. That was, in some ways, a good sign. Less suffering and in emotional pain and more tiredness or exhaustion. Maybe not good for the mission, but it was along the track of bringing her back to a better state. Reaching up, she ran her fingers through her hair, letting her nails trail over her scalp as though clearing away the cobwebs.

Lt Martel, CE

“The nebula is presenting challenges for all of us Miranda, but you’re doing an excellent job thus far.” Paddy was trying to be calming, but also didn’t want to come across as patronising.

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-