Posted by Lieutenant Balfor Kolar (Chief Science Officer) in Counselor Office

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

Posted by Lieutenant Balfor Kolar (Chief Science Officer) in Counselor Office
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Kolar didn’t mind making the rounds when joining a new ship. It was all part of the process. His first stop after meeting with the security team was the counselor’s office. Straightening his uniform shirt, Kolar tapped the door chime and waited to be let in.

Kolar CSO

“Come in,” Nyman called from inside the door. It slide open to reveal his office, and fairly standard set up with a desk and a comfortable seating area, along with the slightly more unique and personal touches. Of which his pottery and ceramics collection along the back wall, and the aquarium for Maslow where the most noticeable. Nyman stood up from his desk and walked over, obviously prepared for the onboarding session.

“Lieutenant Balfor,” he addressed with a respectful nod, “Yes, I have been expecting you. You may have a seat if you would like,”

The counselor gestured toward the seating area, which had a few stools, an armchair, and a chez lounge.

“Before we get started, would you care for something to drink? Coffee, tea, or anything?”

|Lt. Nyman,
Chief Counselor|

“No, no thank you,” Balfor stated walking into the space and taking a seat in the armchair. This was not his first rodeo at a counselor’s check-in but after all the years in Starfleet, he had learned to enjoy them and not worry about them like most younger officers did. While it was a time for the counselor to get to know the new officers on the ship, it was also a time for Balfor to get to know someone on the ship.

Looking at the wall he gestured with a finger, “did you make them or do you collect them?”

Kolar CSO

“Oh, those?” he said, looking over his shoulder, “Yeah, most of them I’ve made myself. Except the ceramics, those are mostly gifts.”

Nyman paced over to one shelf. From between an intricately decorated clay pot and a displayed plate with a delicate blue design, he picked up a small ceramic sculpture of some sort of Earth animal.

“My brother loves antiques, so sometimes he’ll find something I’d like and send it over. This one, for example he just sent me. According to him, this one is from 20th century Earth. It represents an animal called, let see if I remember… a horse, I think?”

Kolar raised an eyebrow, horses remained fairly common on Earth and animals that were ridden were common among almost every developed world. It was a good representation, so he identified it fairly easily. It was odd that a human couldn’t identify it.

He admired it for a bit, a gentle smile coming across his face before setting it back down on the shelf,

“But enough about me,” Nyman said, redirecting. He took a seat on a stool across from Balfor,

“So, where do you want to start? Standard onboarding interview or something more specific?”

|Lt. Nyman,
Chief Counselor|

“I have had several of these,” He suspected most officers did. “I would suggest you take the tact that would be the most interesting to you. The point of these check-ins ins are to make sure I am mentally sound and you wouldn’t suggest an assessment that wouldn’t give you the results you require” He paused. “So surprise me,” he stated good-humoredly.

Kolar CSO

“Okay,” the counselor responded, pondering for a bit. The desire to immediately ask every question he could about Bajorians was there, but would’ve been a little too self serving. So, in an effort to make the conversation productive for both of them, he decided to keep it fairly traditional,

“So, you’ve had a little time to look around the ship, and you know about our unique mission. Being in this environment makes some people nervous, while others might be excited or curious. What about you?”

|Lt. Nyman,
Chief Counselor|

“I was on the Olinksi before this as the XO. Prior to that I was the chief of science. Science was a passion of mine so I decided to take a step back from command and explore my first passion. The Levi was the perfect ship to do that in.” There was no anger or frustration in his voice. His record spoke for itself. Balfor could have had his pick of assignments and he chose this one. “I like the idea of going back to the adventure and excitement of Starfleet and skipping the paperwork because who doesn’t love to decrease the paperwork in ones job.” There was a small smile at the corners of his mouth showing Kolar had a healthy sense of humor.

Kolar CSO

“I can understand that,” Nyman said with a nod, “It’s somewhat the same as in the field of psychology, at a certain point your expected to go from working with clients to research to publishing papers and books and such. A lot of paperwork, not a lot of helping people. At least not as directly. I could never see myself doing that, though.”

The counselor paused, searching for another question, “So, the Levi was your choice to kind of ‘get back into the field’. What do you think of her crew? At least, whoever you met so far…”

|Lt. Nyman,
Chief Counselor|

“Well, the transport chief was stoic and the room was fairly modern, but aside from the COS, you are the only person I have had any real contact with from the crew. Everyone seems welcoming enough. Lt, Mavix was pretty intense but as a former XO, I can appreciate her thoroughness. I am looking forward to getting to know them on a more personal level.”

Kolar CSO

“Right, which I’m sure you’ll have the chance to. In fact, I’ve caught wind of an interesting social event happening soon. Commander Loughty’s daughter is planning a… I believe it is a pizza party.”

He smiled a little, “Obviously it’s something very informal, I know it might not be for everyone.”

|Lt. Nyman,
Chief Counselor|

“Pizza party?” Kolar tilted his head. He was often one of the guys everyone liked and couldn’t find a bad thing to say about, but also was not the life of the party. He usually got invited, but nobody was waiting for him to show up.

“I’ve heard of the food. I didn’t know it was so closely associated with a ‘party’” He used his fingers to make the quotation marks. “I haven’t been at a random party for quite a while.” He did not have a family and had not been around bloodline family in a long time, so birthday parties were rare. He was often the only Bajorian on the ship so holidays were a no. Before this assignment, those he considered friends were rough-and-tumble pilots and Starfleet officers.

“I would welcome a ‘party’” again with the air quotes. His tone sounded fairly flat though. “When is this shindig scheduled for?”

Kolar CSO

“Oh, I figure it will be in a week or two,” Nyman said with another smile, “As far as I know, it’s still in the planning phases. So no official date has been set. At least, none that I am aware of. I just thought it sounded like a good opportunity to meet some more of the crew.”

Nyman found Lieutenant Balfor’s response encouraging. He had read their file, and of course was on alert for any of the more subtle effects such an ordeal would have on someone’s psychology. But Kolar’s overall positive view of the crew and his readiness to accept the invitation were good signs. With that in mine the counselor continued on with his questions,

“I thought it was interesting why you chose this assignment. You mentioned wanting to get ‘back to the adventure and excitement of Starfleet’, I believe you put it. What exactly does that look like to you? Besides ‘less paperwork’, of course.”

|Lt. Nyman,
Chief Counselor|