Posted by Ensign MJ Shau (Security Officer) in Main Sim CNS office

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Samuel Andrew McIntyre (CNS) in Main Sim CNS office
Lieutenant J.G. Samuel McIntyre sat alone in the Counseling Office aboard the USS Chimera, the low hum of the ship’s environmental systems barely masking the tension running through Deck Five.
The office lights were dimmed slightly, a deliberate choice. Counseling spaces were meant to calm nerves. Right now, there was precious little calm to go around.
The main display on the wall cycled through intelligence briefings on Scallax Prime.
Population: 4.2 billion.
Primary exports: dilithium refinement, heavy plasma manufacturing, and agricultural biotechnology.
Current status: Civil unrest escalating toward full planetary secession.
McIntyre leaned back in his chair, one hand rubbing the bridge of his nose as he studied the latest Starfleet Intelligence summary scrolling across the terminal.
PROTESTS ESCALATING INTO ARMED INSURRECTION.
LOCAL SECURITY FORCES FRACTURING.
FEDERATION OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF MEDICAL ABUSES.
ALLEGATIONS OF CULTURAL ERASURE AND ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION.
The door to the counseling office hissed shut behind a departing ensign who had just finished an emergency stress evaluation. Third one this morning.
McIntyre exhaled slowly.
“Hell of a mission,” he muttered to himself.

Lieutenant Jr. Grade Samuel A. McIntyre
CNS USS Chimera

Ensign Shau was almost at the Counselor’s office for his scheduled appointment.

Things has been hectic since the crew was notified about the mission. There were a lot of things to do, but MJ liked the way the crew was buckling down. The Securty Department seemed to be rising to the challenge, reviewing pre-planned responses and developing additional contingency plans.

But… that was not an excuse to stop taking care if himself. The Risian had been taking steps to maintain a semblance of balance and felt like he’d been making progress. He wasn’t going to let that go easily.

Even if he would rather be working on one of the many projects in his department than taking time for a counseling session.

MJ activated the chime to announce himself.

Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera

The chime cut cleanly through the quiet hum of the corridor outside the counseling office.
Lieutenant J.G. Samuel McIntyre was already on his feet before it finished.
“Come in,” he said, voice calm, controlled.
The door hissed open.
He didn’t rush the moment. Counseling wasn’t about speed. It was about tone. About reading what people tried to hide behind posture and duty.
McIntyre gestured toward the chair across from his desk.
“Ensign Shau. Right on time.”
A brief pause as he took in the younger officer’s stance—disciplined, but a little tight around the edges. The kind of tension that didn’t come from fear alone, but from responsibility being carried too long without relief.
The counselor folded his hands behind his back for a moment, then sat.
“I read your department’s readiness reports this morning,” he said evenly. “Security’s not just holding steady—you’re improving contingency response times. That’s not small under current conditions.”
A beat.
Then, more directly:
“But you didn’t come here to talk about operational metrics.”
McIntyre leaned slightly forward, elbows resting loosely on the desk now.
“So tell me straight—are you holding the line, or are you just staying busy so you don’t have to think about what’s coming on Scallax Prime?”
Lieutenant Jr. Grade Samuel A. McIntyre
CNS USS Chimera