Posted by Lieutenant Todd Nyman (Chief Counselor) in Lieutenant Nyman Boarding

Posted by Captain Iphigenia Henao (Captain) in Lieutenant Nyman Boarding

Posted by Ensign Saoir (Transporter/Security) in Lieutenant Nyman Boarding
Posted by… suppressed (10) by the Post Ghost! 👻
A modified Armadillo class shuttle moved in parallel to the Leviathan. The Vulcan pilot contacted the Leviathan, and after receiving the proper clearance, began to dock.

Within moments the pilot received clearance.

“So, this is it.” Nyman commented, peering out the front window to look over the ship. He squirmed his appendages nervously.

“I suggest you disguise yourself now, Lieutenant.” the Vulcan commented coldly, “We will be docking soon.”

“Oh, yes, of course,” Nyman responded. Crossing his upper two tentacles brightened the shuttle with a cloud of light. He emerged transformed with a human appearance. A man of average build, pale with loose blond curls and green eyes.

“So, it’s going pretty good so far,” Nyman said, putting on his “official” uniform, one built for this humanoid figure. “I don’t think anyone suspects a thing, much less the Romulans.”

The Vulcan didn’t respond, focusing on the docking maneuver. As the Lieutenant fixed his hair into the “regulation” style bun, the shuttle landed with a gentle rock.

Todd Nyman stepped onto the Leviathan, holding all his belongings in two large duffle bags, one under each shoulder.

“Lieutenant Nyman,” the Vulcan called out from the shuttle.

Pausing, Nyman looked back to see his pilot glaring at him with cold seriousness,

“We will be closely monitoring your activities. Do not cause any more trouble.”

Before Nyman could respond, the shuttle door closed with a mechanical thud.

“I’ll try not to…” he said to himself.

~~~ Lieutenant Nyman, Counseling

Saoir waited for Lieutenant Nyman, his eyes scanning the area. When he caught sight of the man, the tendrils on the back of his neck twitched ever so slightly. With a narrowed gaze, he approached him and spoke, “Lieutenant, welcome aboard. I will be overseeing your onboarding process and acquainting you with all the ship’s procedures. Afterwards it seems the Captain has requested to speak with you immediately and I am to escort you there, which strikes me as peculiar. Normally, newcomers are given a few days to settle in before receiving a check in with the Captain. Do you happen to know the reason for this sudden urgency?”

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security

OOC: At this point only the CO, XO, CoS, Contain. Architect, CIO, and CMO have been informed and are aware of your true species.

Mika

Nyman greeted Saoir with a small nod. Looking him over, the Lieutenant couldn’t immediately place his species, which was exciting. Not that now was the time or place, but Nyman’s instincts to be drawn to and mimic unique forms were still very much present.

“I wasn’t expecting such a greeting, Ensign.” he said with a smile. This was only technically true. He was expecting to have some sort of security escort, but it was obvious by his comments that this Ensign wasn’t informed why. For Nyman it was better to keep it that way.

“If the Captain needs my help with something so urgently, it wouldn’t be polite to keep them waiting. Please, go ahead and lead the way.”

~~~ Lieutenant Nyman, Counselor

Saoir nodded in acknowledgment of Nyman’s response, intrigued by the Lieutenant’s mysterious presence. However, he understood the importance of respecting protocol and refrained from delving further into personal inquiries at the moment.

“Very well, Lieutenant Nyman,” Saoir replied, gesturing for him to follow. “Please, come with me. I will guide you through your onboarding orientation, as per procedure, and then I’ll escort you to Captain Henao.”

The lieutenant followed behind Saoir, still carrying his bags. Keeping a good pace and only slowing down to peek down intersecting corridors or read the placards labeling the rooms they passed by. It certainly looked like any ordinary ship. Then again, looks are often deceiving.

As they navigated through the ship’s corridors, Saoir maintained a professional demeanor, focusing on providing Lieutenant Nyman with the necessary information rather than engaging in casual conversation. “As you may already know, Lieutenant, our vessel is a specialized ship within Starfleet, dedicated to tracking, recovering, and studying anomalies that permeate the vast universe. We have three decks on the ship that are specifically designed for this purpose. I have been informed that your security clearance will be designated as ALPHA-01. This means that while you may not directly interact with the contained anomalies, it is crucial for you to be aware of their existence.” He pressed the button on the turbolift and continued, “I will now show you to your office.” When the turbolift doors opened, Saoir stepped in and simply said, “Deck 33.”

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security

Nyman nodded along. He appreciated Saoir’s focus on the task at hand, rather than pushing too many questions.

“You certainly seem to know your way around the ship, Ensign.” Nyman said as he followed Saoir onto the lift. “I’m looking forward to your assistance with getting through this onboarding business.”

Nyman got the feeling he was in good hands with Saoir. However, he could tell the Ensign was not much of a conversationalist.

“This ship has a very unique mission. What are the more common challenges the crew usually deal with? Just so I know what I should look out for, as counselor.” Nyman prompted.

~~~ Lieutenant Nyman, Counselor

Saoir gave a slight nod in acknowledgment of Nyman’s comment. He appreciated the lieutenant’s trust in his abilities and was determined to ensure a smooth onboarding process. “As a counselor, Lieutenant Nyman, you will primarily be responsible for the mental well-being of the crew. While our mission focuses on tracking and studying anomalies, it is not uncommon for our crew members to face various challenges that can affect their psychological state. Some of the common challenges that our crew faces include, anomaly-related stress: Working with anomalies can be both exhilarating and stressful. The unpredictable nature of these phenomena can take a toll on the crew members’ mental well-being. They may experience anxiety, fear, or even fascination with the unknown. Your role will involve providing support and guidance to help them cope with these unique stressors.”.

“Fair point, that’s a good thing to keep in mind. I’ve been told that the subjects researched on this ship are considered pretty out there, even by Star Fleet standards.” Lieutenant Nyman commented casually.

Nyman understood these anomalies were bound to be a unique challenge. Even under normal circumstances, unpredictability can be just a grating as monotony. Considering the greater risks involved, the constant insecurity would test even the most adventurous personalities. Not to mention the possibility of issues directly caused by exposure to such anomalies.

“Anything else?”

Saoir thought for a moment then continued, there is also isolation and confinement: Our ship operates in deep space for extended periods, and the crew members can experience feelings of isolation and confinement. It’s important to monitor their mental health and address any signs of cabin fever or emotional distress that may arise from the prolonged periods away from home and familiar surroundings. As well as post-mission trauma. Our crew often encounters challenging situations during anomaly recovery missions. They may witness or experience traumatic events. It will be your responsibility to provide counseling and support to those who may be affected by these experiences. These are just some of the challenges you may encounter, Lieutenant Nyman. Your expertise as a counselor will be invaluable in ensuring the well-being of our crew. I trust that you will approach your duties with the utmost professionalism and empathy.”

Homesickness and cabin fever were par for the course for Starship counselors. Frequent deep-space missions would multiply there effects on a crew. Though he himself wasn’t homesick in the same way as others, he had gotten a good grasp of tactics that worked during his residency.

As the turbolift doors opened, revealing Deck 33, Saoir gestured for Nyman to step out. “Here we are, Lieutenant. This is your office. Do you have any futher queatuons for me?”

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security

“Not at the moment, Ensign.” Nyman said, stepping out of the lift. He paced around in a small loop, looking at the equipment provided. Then he brought his gaze back to Ensign Saoir. Lieutenant Nyman spoke in a noticeably softer tone,

“You’ve been very helpful, thank you.”

~~~ Lieutenant Nyman, Counselor

(OOC Note: I’d be okay wrapping this up here and resuming back in Captain’s office when I get back from LOA. I can make a parallel thread for my medical check-in then as well. -Ava)

OOC: Sounds good! Enjoy your leave.
Mika

Ensign Saoir nodded in response to Lieutenant Nyman’s gratitude. “You’re welcome, Lieutenant. I’m here to assist you in any way I can. If you have any questions or need further guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out to me or the ship’s command staff. We want to ensure a smooth transition for you as you settle into your role as the ship’s counselor. I wish you the best of luck, and I’m confident that you will excel in your duties. Welcome aboard. Now if you will follow me I will escort you to Captain Henao’s Ready Room.” With that Saoir turned and headed back toward the turbo lift.

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security

“Oh right,” Nyman said, almost forgetting what he had said earlier about keeping the Captain waiting. “Let me just set these down really quick.”

He went to what would soon be his desk, reassuring Saoir, “It’ll just be a little bit.”

Setting his bags onto the desk, he opened on and pulled out a small, travel sized terrarium. The small red-eared slider inside appeared moderately disturbed. He gently set it down onto the desk. After replicating a small serving of turtle food pellets, he carefully removed the terrarium lid.

“Hold on, Maslow,” Nyman reassured him while dropping in a few pellets. “We’ll get you into a proper tank soon.”

He replaced the terrarium lid and rushed out of the office, “Okay, lead the way.”

~~~ Lieutenant Nyman, Counselor

Ensign Saoir waited patiently at Lieutenant Nyman as he quickly attended to his belongings and the well-being of his pet turtle, Maslow. Understanding the importance of ensuring a smooth transition for the new counselor, Saoir replied, “Take your time, Lieutenant. It’s essential to settle in comfortably. Captain Henao is expecting us, but she’ll understand the need to care for Maslow. While she has not pets of her own, she is fond of them. We also have a pet targ onboard. I’m sure she’ll be interested to hear about Maslow as well. Please follow me, and I’ll lead the way.”

With that, Saoir gestured for Nyman to join him, prepared to guide him through the ship to Captain Henao’s location.

Saoir, Transporter/Security

Iphigenia patiently awaited the arrival of Saoir and Lieutenant Nyman. It was crucial for her to connect with her new Chief Counselor, not only to discuss the ship’s protocols but also to ensure they were on the same page regarding his true appearance. Nevertheless, she always felt elated to welcome new crew members. A littlenwhile later, as Saoir and Nyman entered, she rose to greet them.

“Ah, Lieutenant Nyman, welcome aboard,” she said, glancing briefly at Saoir. “I see you’ve already met Saoir, our onboarding specialist.” She nodded toward Saoir and continued, “Thank you, Saoir, for escorting Lieutenant Nyman to me. You may leave us now. We have a lot to discuss.”

Saoir stammered, “Captain, I wonder if I could remain as your security detail? I…,” but she raised her hand, cutting him off. “That won’t be necessary. Thank you, Saoir,” she said, gesturing towards the door. Reluctantly, Saoir left, his distrust for Nyman apparent. There was something about him that seemed off.

As Saoir departed, Iphigenia focused her attention on Nyman. “Now, where should we begin?” she asked, ready to delve into their conversation.

Henao,CO

Nyman clasped his hands together in front of him. Unconsciously, he began fidgeting with his thumbs as he stared off in thought.

“Oh yeah, where do we start?”, he muttered to himself.

“I suppose you’ve had all my records transferred.” he said, bringing his attention to the Captain.

“I know it’s… more than usual.” he said, still fidgeting. Then, suddenly he perked up for a moment, a slight smirk coming across his face, “I know your probably very busy with ship’s operations and stuff, being the captain and all. You don’t necessarily have to read all of those reports.”

This was technically true, she just had to be aware of his history, qualifications, and service record. It was basically 50/50 whether or not any given Captain would skim over the summery or actually deep-dive into the documentation. Being Vendorian, the idea that someone you just met could quickly know so much about you was nerve wracking, to say the least. And thanks to Star Fleet’s bureaucracy, almost everything there was to know about him was written down somewhere.

~~~ Lieutenant Nyman, Counselor

Iphigenia observed Nyman carefully, taking note of his fidgeting and the slight smirk on his face. Sensing his unease, she endeavored to make him feel more comfortable.

“Lieutenant Nyman, I truly appreciate your cooperation,” she responded, offering a reassuring smile. “While I understand that reviewing your background and experiences may involve a substantial amount of documentation, it is important for me to familiarize myself with your strengths and skills. This knowledge will enable me to better support you and foster a harmonious working environment within our crew.”

Pausing briefly, she chose her words deliberately. “As the Captain, I consider it my responsibility to know my crew members thoroughly. Although it will require some time, I’m afraid I do have to go through all the documentation.” She didn’t really go through all the information. Her CIO did and breifed her on the important aspects of the information. “However, please understand that my intention is not to invade your privacy or make you uncomfortable. I’m here to listen and address any concerns you may have. If there are specific matters you’d like to discuss or share, I am more than willing to accommodate. In fact, I have plenty of questions of my own. For instance, I’m curious about why a Vendorian would join Starfleet, particularly as a counselor. Given your shape-shifting abilities, it appears that presenting your true face to clients might be challenging, which raises the question of how you navigate this aspect.”

Nyman would soon come to realize that Iphigenia’s directness stemmed from her genuine desire and purpose to establish a strong connection with her officers. Recognizing that Nyman’s species, Vendorian, had their own unique experiences and sensitivities, Iphigenia aimed to build an open and trusting relationship with her Chief Counselor.

Henao, CO