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

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Finn Grady (First Officer) in The return to Office and meeting with the XO
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻
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

Finn sank down into the offered chair holding back a sigh. So this was an ambush of sorts as he had feared, though not the exact one. He supposed he should be happy that the counselor was looking out for them all and being proactive.

Returning his attention to the counselor he gave a smile, “I think things are going well so far, counselor. I think this particular mission has some components that might be a little more distressing than normal for the crew… and for me too I suppose. But I think we are all digging in and getting the work done.”

Lieutenant Commander Grady - XO

Lieutenant JG Samuel McIntyre offered Finn an understanding smile, keeping his posture relaxed to reinforce that this was a conversation, not an interview.

“I appreciate your honesty, Commander,” Sam replied. “From what I’ve seen around the ship, your department is functioning well, and that doesn’t happen by accident. Leadership has a way of setting the emotional tone for a team.”

He folded his hands loosely in his lap.

“Missions like this ask a great deal of everyone. It’s normal for stress to build when the stakes are high, and it’s just as normal for senior officers to feel they need to shoulder more than they let on.”

His expression softened slightly.

“You said it’s been distressing for you as well. You don’t have to tell me anything you’re not comfortable sharing, but I’d like to understand what that looks like from your perspective. Is it concern for the crew? The mission itself? Or simply the weight of being the executive officer while everyone else is looking to you for answers?”

Sam paused for a moment, allowing Finn the space to think before continuing.

“My job isn’t to fix everything or pry into your private life. It’s to make sure the people carrying the heaviest loads don’t have to carry them alone. Even if all you need is a place to think out loud for a few minutes, that’s what I’m here for.”

Lieutenant Jr. Grade Samuel A. McIntyre
CNS USS Chimera