Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Samuel Andrew McIntyre (CNS) in Ens Shau CNS Check In/Follow up

Posted by Ensign MJ Shau (Security Officer) in Ens Shau CNS Check In/Follow up
MJ observed quietly as the security teams geared up outside the holosuite. He would normally be getting ready with them, but he had a scheduling conflict that couldn’t be avoided.

Ensign Shau stepped up when they were done and inspected the fit of each crew member on the first team while the Senior Chief inspected the second team. MJ corrected a few minor discrepancies, but overall, the team was in good shape. Just a little green… but that is why we train. The Senior Chief gave him the thumbs up, and MJ responded with a nod.

The two security teams filed into the holosuite for a simulated search and seizure of another ship. The Marines could be involved in a real-life situation, or they could take the lead on the mission altogether. However, there were plenty of times when the presence of Marines would only make the situation worse. MJ liked to have the team train for any eventuality.

Looking to his left, Ensign Shau saw a 2nd Lieutenant inspect her Marines in front of the other holosuite. She’d be putting her personnel through a similar seizure, but for a ship with an overtly hostile crew.

With his morning responsibilities done and no other reason to delay, MJ left the security area and entered the turbolift. It was time to check in with the new Chief Counselor.

Ensign Shau was a little reluctant, but it was nothing against the process itself. He knew he’d benefited greatly from these sessions over the last couple of months. It was just that starting over with a new counselor could be annoying. Especially when he just felt like he’d finally established a rapport with the previous CC.

Progress is not a linear path, he reminded himself as he took a few diaphragmatic breaths. This would just be one of those times when he’d need to retread familiar ground before he could move forward again.

Upon arrival at the Chief Counselor’s office, MJ chimed the door to announce himself.

Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera

The door to the Chief Counselor’s office slid open with a soft hydraulic hiss.
Inside, the office was arranged with quiet intentionality—nothing extravagant, but designed to ease the tension many officers carried through the corridors of a starship. A wide viewport cast a pale wash of starlight across the room, reflecting softly off the polished deck. Two chairs faced each other near a low table, wwas positioned desk rested off, to the side rather than dominating the space.
Behind that desk stood the ship’s newly appointed Chief Counselor, Lieutenant Junior Grade Samuel McIntyre.
Tall—easily over six feet—McIntyre had the solid build of someone who looked more suited to security than psychology. His uniform jacket had been set neatly over the back of his chair, leaving him in his duty undershirt with the teal piping of the counseling division visible along the collar. A data PADD rested in one hand, but he set it down the moment the door opened.
Brown eyes lifted toward the visitor.
“Ensign Shau,” McIntyre said evenly, already stepping away from the desk. His voice carried calm authority without stiffness. “Come in.”
He gestured toward the seating area rather than the desk.
“Have a seat wherever you’re comfortable.”
McIntyre waited until the door slid shut behind the ensign before taking the chair opposite him. He didn’t immediately pick the PADD back up. First meetings weren’t about staring at records.
“I appreciate you coming by,” he continued. “I’ve been reviewing the counseling rotation schedule since I took over the department. I understand you were previously working with the last Chief Counselor for the past few months.”
A small pause followed—not awkward, but deliberate.
“Changing counselors isn’t always convenient. Sometimes it feels like starting from scratch.” He leaned back slightly in the chair, posture relaxed but attentive. “So we’ll keep this simple today.”
His tone softened just a fraction.
“No reports. No forms. Just a conversation.”
McIntyre folded his hands loosely in his lap.
“Tell me how you’ve been holding up lately, Ensign.”

LieutenantJr. Grade. Samuel A. McIntyre
CNS USS Chimera

MJ walked into the room and took in the new decor. It was spartan… but not unwelcoming. The clean lines were oddly more comfortable than the warmth the previous counselor had created in the space. Like the space accepted what it was.

The same could be said for the towering man who stood behind the desk. Ensign Shau had read the man’s bio and knew he was a Marine before attending the Academy. His appearance didn’t hide that… from his haircut to his bearing, his background was evident. And yet he wasn’t defined by it; the man managed to present himself as open at the same time. Taken all together, it spoke of a man who was comfortable with who he was.

I could use a little bit of that right now. MJ thought. He felt like he was getting back to who he was and who he wanted to be, but the destruction of the Pickett and the loss of so many friends still weighed on him.

He took a seat in one of the chairs. Ensign Shau was only average in height but possessed broad shoulders and a well-muscled build. His dark hair was naturally curly, but he kept it trimmed short and manageable. He also had a short stubbly beard and the traditional Risian marking on his forehead.

MJ listened to Lt J.G. McIntyre’s introduction, and it almost immediately made him smile. “Sir, either your bio is hiding the fact that you’re a Betazoid, or reluctance to meet a new counselor is a fairly widespread phenomenon.”

Ensign Shau felt a bit of the tension leave him, and he thought about the Counselor’s question. “Holding up? Well enough, I suppose. I recovered from my treatments and started working out again last month. I’ve gotten to know most of the security department, my fellow gym rats, and some other members of the crew. The routine is different… the Chimera is a much larger ship… but I’m finding my center in the new routine. The new normal.”

MJ shifted gears to buy himself some more time and get a better sense of who his new counselor was. “How are you settling in, Sir? I know you’ve only been onboard a short time.”

Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera