The USS Chimera moved silently through the darkness of deep space, the steady vibration of the warp core barely noticeable beneath the ship’s normal ambient hum. In his office, Lieutenant Junior Grade Samuel McIntyre sat alone behind his desk, the overhead lights lowered to a comfortable level.

Classical music played quietly through the office speakers. A slow orchestral movement filled the room, strings and woodwinds providing a deliberate contrast to the clinical LCARS displays surrounding him.

Samuel leaned back slightly, one hand resting against his chin as he studied the first personnel report.

USS CHIMERA — COUNSELING SERVICES
CHIEF COUNSELOR’S DAILY REVIEW
CLASSIFICATION: INTERNAL — MEDICAL/COUNSELING

The report concerned a junior engineering officer who had requested several counseling sessions following a particularly difficult assignment. Samuel read the notes carefully, pausing at certain sections rather than simply moving from page to page.

He tapped the display.

McINTYRE, SAMUEL — PERSONAL NOTES:

Officer demonstrates no immediate indicators of acute psychological distress. Primary concern appears to be accumulated fatigue combined with reluctance to discuss emotional response to recent events.

Samuel quietly nodded.

“You’re trying to convince everyone you’re fine,” he murmured to himself. “That’s usually when you’re not.”

The music transitioned into another movement.

He opened the next report.

This one concerned a security officer who had become increasingly withdrawn from the rest of his department. There were no disciplinary issues. No performance degradation. No medical abnormalities.

But Samuel knew better than to dismiss the absence of obvious problems.

Sometimes the most concerning reports were the ones that looked perfectly clean.

He pulled up the officer’s duty schedule alongside the counseling notes and began comparing the two.

“Three consecutive extended shifts…”

His eyes narrowed.

“And you’ve volunteered for every one.”

Another annotation appeared on the report.

RECOMMENDATION:

Schedule mandatory rest period. Follow-up counseling appointment within 72 hours. Coordinate discreetly with department leadership.

Samuel saved the report.

The next file appeared.

FAMILY CONTACT REQUEST — APPROVED

Samuel’s expression softened slightly as he read through it. A crewman had received difficult news from home and had requested assistance arranging a private communication session.

That one required less analysis.

Sometimes the counselor’s job wasn’t about diagnosing anything.

Sometimes it was simply making sure someone didn’t have to sit alone with bad news.

He approved the request.

The classical music continued in the background.

For several minutes, Samuel worked without interruption, reviewing psychological evaluations, personnel observations, medical referrals, and confidential counseling summaries. He kept his notes precise and deliberately avoided making judgments beyond what the evidence supported.

Then the computer chimed.

NEW REPORT RECEIVED.

Samuel looked up.

“Computer, display.”

A new personnel report appeared.

This one immediately caught his attention.

The report concerned a member of the senior staff.

Samuel leaned forward.

He read the first page.

Then the second.

The music continued playing softly.

By the time he reached the final paragraph, his expression had become considerably more serious.

He reached for his coffee, took a slow sip, and looked back at the report.

“Computer,” he said quietly, “flag this report for confidential follow-up.”

“Acknowledged.”

Samuel closed the personnel file and sat back in his chair.

For a moment, he simply listened to the orchestra.

Then he opened a fresh counseling log.

CHIEF COUNSELOR’S PERSONAL NOTES

Samuel began typing.

Starfleet officers are trained to endure extraordinary circumstances. That does not make them immune to them.

He stopped.

Considered the sentence.

Then continued.

The Chimera is a starship. Her crew are people. My responsibility is to remember the difference.

Samuel saved the entry.

The music carried on as the Chimera continued through the stars.

Lt. J.G. Samuel A. McIntyre
Chief Counselor
USS Chimera • NCC-98730
Starfleet Medical Division
Starfleet Command