Posted by Lieutenant Tandra Mika (Counselor) in Once a Cadet Always a Cadet

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Once a Cadet Always a Cadet

Posted by Lieutenant Tandra Mika (Counselor) in Once a Cadet Always a Cadet
Posted by… suppressed (25) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Sharah had never ever done this. Not even in her position as CSO on the Ark Angel. Even when they had openings in the labs she couldn’t fill them because Q had thrown them almost past the edge of the known universe. Sharah had been pouring over personnel files trying to find someone who would be a good fit for the assistant position.

She had narrowed it down to…too many. She had to pick one. She felt unprepared for this. No matter what McBride and Dasca said. She was looking again at a file that looked like a good fit. It didn’t tell her a lot though. Skill wise yes, but Oed wasn’t an easy posting and the number of officers under their care was HUGE, then add the civilian population to that. Then she saw something in the file. Of course! Mika was here. Who better to ask for help than her very first department head? Sharah transferred the files to a PaDD and made her way down to the psychiatry wing. The light was off above Mika’s door and she didn’t feel Mika’s presence. Oh.. she was on the Fleet complex. Alright, she could head over there. Today was devoted to paperwork anyway, and the walk would be a needed break.

Half an hour later, Sharah had made her way onto the complex and to Mika’s office. She pressed the chime.

Fayth, SFCMO

Mika was stressed. Really stressed. And busy. There were too many things to do and what felt like not enough time to do them. She had to keep reminding herself there weren’t really hard time limits to get these caseload reviews and departmental things done.

When the chime rang, she called a quick, “Come in.” She had a PaDD in front of her and her chair was pushed out of the way like she’d been pacing. She looked up and smiled a tired, tense smile at Sharah. “Hey, Fayth. Did you need something?”

~ Lt Mika, CNS

Sharah paused right after she entered the office. Oh Mika was having a rough go of it. Sharah felt the same way, she still did, and she didn’t have the experience that Mika did. “Oh, well, I was honestly going to ask for your help, but it looks like you might need it instead. Overwhelmed by the paperwork?”

Fayth, SFCMO

Mika sighed and nodded. There was no point in telling Fayth any different. “There’s just a lot to do. I mean, a lot.” Then she smiled, trying to seem confident. The confidence wasn’t really there though. “It’ll be fine. What did you need help with?”

~ Lt Mika, CNS

Sharah nodded, “It is a lot, and that us kind of why I am here. Oed is just too massive for one CMO. I am constantly behind. And we have the facilities here and on the Centurion. It was suggested I appoint an AMO.” Sharah looked at Tandra’s desk, it looked just like hers. “Maybe you need one too. Hmmm…or maybe we both need a Yeoman to assist with the administrative stuff. We should ask McBride,” Sharah mused aloud a moment.

Mika smiled. “A Yeoman! That would be helpful. Actually, I think an ACNS would be better but I think that would be harder to find.” Then her smile faded and was replaced by a stressed, upset look. “I’m sure I’ll figure it out myself.” The truth was, she felt like she had to ‘prove’ she could do it on her own.

She held up her PaDD looking overwhelmed. “This is why I am here. I have to pick someone for the AMO position. I’ve never done that. I don’t know how to choose. It’s not just a matter of filling in missing skills, or someone with some administrative experience. The colony has unique needs as well and is very large, and the Star Fleet contingency is huge. I want someone who can handle not just the work but the…culture of Oed. I don’t know how to choose. And you’ve been a department head your whole career.” The more she talked the faster she got, conveying the nervousness and stress she felt over the decision.

Fayth, SFCMO

Mika had been a department head, she had been promoted directly out of Academy into a CMO position. And what had she accomplished since then? Nothing, not really. How had her career gone from so promising to so stagnant? She felt stuck and sad and Sharah had reminded her. She had to shake herself out of it though. Focus on what needed doing. And right now her friend needed help and reassurance.

“Okay, Sharah, Sharah, Sharah, breathe.” Mika said her name a couple of times trying to get her attention and slow her down. “Let’s look at these files and I can show you what to look for. That way you won’t have to ask me every time you have to hire someone new.” She moved one of the spare chairs around to her side of the desk and gestured for Sharah to sit down. “Do you have any specifically you’re thinking about?”

~ Lt Mika, CNS

Sharah took a breath and then felt bad. She hadn’t meant to upset her friend. It was clear just from her face. Sharah thought Mika’s career was quite outstanding. She had seen and dine so much in a short amount of time. Met a lot of people. She would have to stop thinking of her as a mentor. It wasn’t Mika’s job to teach and reassure her.

Sharah sat restraining any further suggestions. She understood that need to prove herself on her own. Sharah would have to keep that in mind from now on. “Well I have narrowed it down to these 7. They all have some experience on the administrative side of medical and/or have skills that fill a need in the medical team. I think you might know one of them. That’s why I thought to come ask you.”

Fayth, SFCMO

Mika smiled. There was little point trying to hide how she felt, but she found herself trying to do it anyway. There were a lot of people she ‘might know’ but the comment did grab her curiosity. “Who is it?”

~ Lt Mika, CNS

Sharah passed the PaDD over after flipping to the personnel file. “This one. She seems to have all the skills and qualifications we need.” It was for one Lt Asimina, Hannah Lori currently assigned to the USS Saracen.

Fayth, SFCMO

Mika lit up when she saw the name on the file. “Doctor Asimina! We were friends there. She is an excellent doctor. She would be a great addition to your staff.” She looked at the file and then smiled again. “Hannah… She was one of the best parts about my short stay on the Saracen.”

~ Lt Mika, CNS

The affection and delight Mika felt for the woman eased much of Sharah’s worry. “I know you’ve only been here a week, but do you think she would do well here? Oed is huge, just Fleet wise. But she is the one I would prefer.”

Fayth

“She won’t have any problem keeping up with the size of this place if that’s what you’re worried about.” Mika replied, her confidence in her answer evident. “When I was on Saracen though, she was dating someone on board… A pretty serious relationship.”

~ Lt Mika, CNS

“Oh, maybe she will not want to come. Then I must pick someone else just in case. All these others are qualified. Do any stand out to you?” She could understand not wanting to leave someone she loved. Sharah had no way of knowing if that was a factor, but she should be prepared.

Fayth

“Lieutenant Aamos Beiva, I’ve heard is good. I haven’t worked with him myself, but looking at this personnel file, I would be confident in this choice,” Mika replied after a moment of looking over the remaining six.

~ Lt Mika, CNS

Sharah nodded, “Thank you, Tandra. Really. I hope I didn’t bother you too much.” She hesitated, it was weird she wasn’t Mika’s JO any more. “If I can do anything, let me know. We’re all a team you know.”

Fayth

Mika smiled. “Of course. Thanks, Fayth.” It was weird to her too, that Fayth was no longer her JO. Still, she did her best to treat Fayth like the DH she was. She deserved it. “If you need any other help, please ask. I really don’t mind.” And she meant it.

~ Mika, CNS

Sharah smiled. “Let’s do breakfast tomorrow.” She stood, “Oh and be on the lookout for Nurse Alice Shrine. Head nurse at the hospital. She heads up their fundraiser too. They are doing a Bachelorette auction this year. She’s already backed me into doing it. So be forewarned. But I will get going.”

Fayth

“Breakfast tomorrow sounds great!” Mika gave Sharah a look. “A bachelorette auction, huh? And she had to back you into doing it?” She grinned, almost mischievously, “Fayth! How interesting that will be to see.”

~ Lt Mika, CNS

Sharah groaned, “Not you too?” and slipped back into a chair and covered her face. “Yes, and I hate it. But Shrine is right about my dual position making it important that I do participate. I really do not want to do this.”

Fayth

Mika was more interested in seeing it than being in it. “No, I wouldn’t either.” She hadn’t really done anything since getting here. She didn’t want to go. But… Maybe Sharah would feel better about it with a little more company? She looked up at Sharah and grinned again, “Buuuuut how about since you have to do it, I do too?”

~ Mika

Sharah gave her a look a cross between gratefulness and she was crazy for volunteering. “Oh, Mika, I would not ask you to do that. I mean if you want to that would be amazing, but you don’t have to do that for me. But if you do, you can join us. We are all going out to get a new outfit and dinner together on Wed.” It was obvious Sharah would like Mika to join them, but she didn’t want her to feel like she had to.

Fayth

Mika didn’t really want to, but for Sharah she would. She had already resolved to do so despite not really wanting to do anything. “No, really, I will, it’s alright. What do I have to do?”

~ Mika

“Just contact Alice Shrine at the hospital and she will get it all set up. You will pick somewhere to eat and an activity. Then just show up on Sat.” It sounded simple but Sharah still hadn’t picked hers.

Fayth

Mika nodded. “Okay. An activity, huh?” That wasn’t going to be easy for Mika either. She smiled, “Maybe we can brainstorm ideas together.”

~ Mika

Sharah nodded. “Over breakfast?” She would happily discuss that now. It was stressing her out trying to figure it out, but didn’t want to distract Mika more. She also needed to get these requests to McBride.

Fayth

“Over breakfast.” Mika smiled again. “0600 or 0700 work for you?” She wouldn’t mind discussing it now, but she did have a lot of work to do. Spending a little time helping Sharah had seemed to help some of her stress.

~ Mika

“0600 works for me. That will give us more time. Where would you like to meet? Are you at the complex or hospital tomorrow? The cafeteria at the hospital is great, or your place?”

Fayth

“If my place works for you, that’s fine.” Mika smiled and shrugged, “I’ve had a cafeteria lunch every day I’ve worked at the hospital. And I’m working at the complex tomorrow, so my place is closer anyway.”

~ Mika

“Sounds good. I will see you tomorrow.” Sharah stood and headed out the door. And no sooner had she but she was being paged.

Fayth