Posted by Civilian Sair Songz (Counselor) in Songz Arrival

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Songz Arrival

Posted by Civilian Sair Songz (Counselor) in Songz Arrival
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

The door slid open to frame the standing figure of the Commanding Officer of the *USS Manhattan, Alexander Cochrane. He smiled at the nw arrival and said “Hello. I am assuming you are the wayward Counselor? Please, come in. I’m Captain Cochrane.” anhe stepped to the side and gestured her in. Looking at the Security detail, he said “Thank you. I’ll let you know if we need help getting her anywhere else.” and chuckled as did the two escorts as they nodded and walked away.

“Aye Captain,” the Bolian replied with a grin.

“Thank you both for lovely help!” Said said. The officer bowed their heads and left.

“Please have a seat Miss… or is it Mrs.? I haven’t met a member of the Kobliad species before, so you will have to forgive my lack of knowledge of the customary greetings.”

Cochrane, CO

“It depends,” Sair said with a laugh as she took a seat at the desk and immediately crossed her legs and tucked a loose strand of lilac hair that had escaped her swept up-do. “As a people we’re big on formalities. Rigidly so. It’s probably why I dislike it so much,” she said with a smirk. “But I know that here those formalities have their necessity, so while I would prefer Sair, if you need to be formal, Miss could do, but Doctor is probably easiest. Even if my medical degree isn’t in mental health, I’m still technically one,” she said with a shrug. “Captain,” she added, remembering the expected formality on her end. “Honestly, it’s not so different than the hierarchy in a hospital, so I’ll muddle along.” And realizing he was starting to ramble, she promptly shut up.

~Sair Songz, CNS

Cochrane smiled and nodded and said “If Sair is what you prefer, Sair it is. I’ll keep the Doctor for formal situations. Now then… how about you tell me how you came to be assigned as our new Counselor? I will say… 8 was surprised a civilian was put in the role. Not upset, mind you… just a bit out if the norm, is all.”

Cochrane, CO

“Well, the Medical Exchange Program covers all areas of health, not just physical so it’s not unusual to fund mental health professionals in these positions. But I understand that this ship is in a unique position and that a civilian can complicate things. But I’ve worked on a Starfleet facility before and am familiar with how they work. The difference between now and then is that I had a career change and I’m coming here with a slightly different perspective than I had before >” It was fairly straight forward in her mind, though Sair also knew that that wasn’t saying much.

~Sair Songz, CNS

Cochrane shrugged. “I don’t mind civilians in roles on the ship. I know a few who might, but this isn’t a warship… we are explorers and scientists. I don’t see why a civilian in the role of Counselor would be bad thing. Besides, it also lends more credibility to our mission. More civilians in authoritative positions on board may help some be more at ease when meeting us for the first time. And your medical background will certainly be an asset should things go… poorly. I hope you understand that everyone on the Manhattan pitches in when the chips are down. Job description be damned.” and he chuckled, but there was an edge in his voice that indicated there was truth to the statemement.

Cochrane, CO

Sair shook her head. “I’d never back away from someone in need. It’s practically etched into my body’s willing at this point. To a fault, perhaps.” Her face shifted into a smile. “But here’s the thing. For the first time in a long time I feel like I can get too involved. Even during my first stint it was hard not to approach patients without a great deal of distance. And yes, medicine requires you to have objective distance with your patients, but…”

For a moment she felt lost as to how to communicate this part. “I changed careers to deal with the living, rather than the dying, Captain. But back on Kobliad, they’re only just figuring out how to live and meanwhile, there are still several generations of us who live with this genetic disease and have a short life span. We cant’t escape that. So I was dealing with all these patients who were constantly losing those they loved and dealign with their own fears while trying to support a new generation of children born free of this madness. It was too much. The collective grief of an entire society just… broke me a little. So I knew I had to leave. That’s why I’m here. I don’t know what I’m looking for exactly out here, but I’m a single-mother and I want my son to grow up seeing what’s possible, rather than what the limitations are. If that makes any sense?”

~Sair Songz, CNS

Cochrane listened and then smiled. “Most of us on this ship are looking for the unknown, Sair. So I think you not only in the right place, but with the right company as well. Just keep that in mind when you talk to the crew and staff. Many of us are here because we are missing something and are searching for it… without knowing what that ‘it’ actually is.”

Cochrane, CO