Posted by Lieutenant Commander Brenna Neenna Atoded (Chief of Security) in Clearing Mental Cobwebs (Tag CNS)

Posted by Lieutenant Sheleah Ruby (Diplomatic Officer / CNS) in Clearing Mental Cobwebs (Tag CNS)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Brenna Neenna Atoded (Chief of Security) in Clearing Mental Cobwebs (Tag CNS)
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Brenna shook her head slightly before answering. She could make up a story, but a glance at her service record would show her early years of service were mostly redacted.
“When graduation ceremonies were over, there was a Cmdr from SFI waiting for me and the other newly graduated Intel ensigns. Gave me 16 hours to set my affairs and report for assignment. Anything more than that is above your security clearance. After that I moved from assignment to assignment.”

Atoded, CoS

There was no reason for Sheleah to accept that answer for the moment. Waving around diplomatic clearances on a first date, as it were, would set a very bad precedent but, if it became necessary, she would figure out a way to handle it.

“That must have been quite a situation for you. Do you feel you were emotionally prepared?” she asked.

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

“No, not at all. I don’t feel like it was a failing of my instructors or the psychologists that spoke with us, the veterans we mentored with. Nothing prepares you for the stark isolation, the loneliness, always glancing over your shoulder and feeling like you have a target on your back. Or the sacrifices you make. They tell you, but the reality is so much different, worse, and better than what the mind imagines and pieces together.” She’d spoken with Eleyr, the counselor on the Constellation about it, so it was probably in her file somewhere. There was no way it wasn’t coming out anyway. “Emotionally speaking there are still things I struggle with from that day.”

Atoded, CoS

“It might be helpful for you to expand on that with me here, as much as you can of course.” Sheleah said.

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

Brenna smiled. “Not a secret. As I said Richard always pushed me to be my best. We met because we were in the same co-op. We dated all the way up through the graduation ceremony. We had plans for a short leave before we shipped out. Then I got my orders and I told him I was leaving and I thought it was best we broke it off and moved on. No explanation. I said good bye to my parents before they went back to Betazed and then I went to report.” Up until that moment it had been nothing but celebration. She’d been so excited for her parents to meet Richard. “I regretted it, but it was necessary.”

Atoded, CoS

Sheleah glanced at the holo streaming on the corner of her desk. Apparently Rex had decided it was time for a nap and was sprawled out on what passed as a coffee table.

“Sometimes our first assignments leave us with regrets. I don’t like to use the work closure but, do you think you and Richard will be able to have a productive working relationship given how things were left?” Sheleah asked.

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

“Putting aside our personal connection, no matter it’s status, to do the job was never an issue for us. Not saying it was easy to do, but we did it.” Brenna answered immediately and with confidence. “And since we spent the last year serving together on the Constellation with no problems, I don’t see why not.”

Atoded, CoS

Sheleah nodded and made a notation in the file. She had a feeling it would be that way but, the question had to be asked and answered.

“Okay so, tell me about your worst day in Star Fleet so far.”

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

Her worst day in Star Fleet? That was easy, “I went to visit a friend and colleague. She was very ill, mentally ill. She came back from an assignment with a broken mind. She’s completely detached from reality, only recognizes us less than an eigth of the time. She’s one of the best people I have ever known. She gave her soul for Star Fleet and the Federation and though her body lives, she is gone from us. She’s constantly frightened and reacts as if someone is after her or attacking her. My heartbreaks for her husband. Being Betazoid, I don’t know if it made it worse, but being able to hear her thoughts and know how she percieved us, that she didn’t recognize us at all. It makes me wonder if the sacrifice is worth it.”

Atoded, CoS

Sheleah listened and gave the moment it’s proper silence and respect.

“That must have been terrible to see. To be honest, I really can’t really imagine something like that. So what about your best day?” Sheleah smiled knowing how lame that question sounded now.

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

“That’s easy. The day I got my dogs. They are working dogs not just pets, and part of an experimental project, but it was great. No pressing deadlines, no formal duty shifts.” Brenna didn’t say it, but there were no bad guys to chase or groups to infiltrate, no combat training, or new equipment to figure out how to use. No interviews or interrogations either. None of the serious stuff.

“I got to play with puppies all day while working. It was great. They would probably get along really well with your Ocelot. At least they would try anyway. They are used to being around all kinds of animals and interacting with them.”

Atoded, CoS

The thought of that made Sheleah smile. Rex had the manners of a teenager sometimes but loved to play and knew when to keep his claws to himself.

“Did you have pets growing up?” she asked.

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

Brenna nodded, “Betazoid cats. Several, all the time. My mom bred them. And then we had a dog, a beagle from Earth. My dad visited there and fell in love with it and brought one home.”

Atoded, CoS

Sheleah couldn’t help but laugh at that.

“In my experience, Beagles are terrible. If you don’t have the right temperament to train them, I think they’re too smart for their own good. My daddy brought one back from I don’t know where. We had it 6 months before my mother convinced him that we might not be the right family for it. Of course you probably had a different experience.”

• Sheleah, CNS/DO