Posted by Lieutenant Commander Finn Grady (First Officer) in The return to Office and meeting with the XO

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Samuel Andrew McIntyre (CNS) in The return to Office and meeting with the XO
Lieutenant Junior Grade Sam McIntyre stepped out of the turbolift and into the Counseling Center, the familiar quiet of the department settling around him. The soft hum of the USS Chimera’s environmental systems blended with the muted activity of counselors and support staff moving through their duties.

A PADD was tucked beneath his arm, filled with the day’s counseling notes and follow-up assessments. His cup of black coffee was nearly empty by the time he reached the door to his office.

The doors parted with a soft hiss.

McIntyre entered, crossed behind his desk, and set the PADD down beside a neatly organized stack of personnel files. Taking a seat, he leaned back briefly, gathering his thoughts. There were several ongoing cases requiring attention, but one matter in particular warranted discussion with the ship’s Executive Officer.

Reaching up, he tapped his combadge.

“McIntyre to Lieutenant Commander Grady.”

A brief pause.

=/\= Grady here, go ahead =/\=

“Commander, when your schedule permits, I’d appreciate a few minutes of your time in my office. There are several crew welfare matters I’d like to discuss with you.”

=/\= Of course, Counselor. I should be able to stop by in a quick minute =/\=

He released the combadge and glanced toward the viewport displaying the starfield beyond.

With the request sent, McIntyre opened the first personnel file on his desk and began reviewing the notes while awaiting the Executive Officer’s arrival.

Lieutenant Jr. Grade Samuel A. McIntyre
CNS USS Chimera

A few moments later, Finn found himself outside the counselor’s office. He reached out to thumb the door chime hoping this wasn’t one of those surprise counseling sessions. On the other hand, he seemed to recall that there hadn’t been a counselor on board when he arrived so he might be overdue. He crossed his fingers hoping that the counselor hadn’t noticed that and waited to be welcomed inside.

Lieutenant Commander Grady - XO

Lieutenant Junior Grade Samuel McIntyre looked up from the report as the office chime sounded.

“Come in.”

The doors parted, revealing Lieutenant Commander Finn Grady.

“Commander, thank you for stopping by. Please, have a seat.”

McIntyre waited until the Executive Officer had settled before picking up the PADD resting on his desk.

“I’ll get straight to the point. As Chief Counselor, one of my responsibilities is monitoring the psychological health of the senior staff during extended operations. Executive Officers often carry a unique burden—they’re responsible for executing the captain’s intent while ensuring the crew remains effective.”

He set the PADD down.

“I’ve reviewed the mission reports, but reports don’t always tell me how the people involved are doing.”

His expression remained calm and professional.

“So I’d like to hear it from you. How are you handling the current mission? Have there been any moments where you’ve had concerns about crew morale, stress levels, or the command team’s workload? More importantly, how are you holding up under the pressure?”

McIntyre leaned back slightly, giving Grady the space to answer.

“My role isn’t to evaluate your performance, Commander. It’s to ensure the command team has the support it needs to keep leading effectively. Sometimes that simply starts with an honest conversation.”

Lieutenant Jr. Grade Samuel A. McIntyre
CNS USS Chimera