Going Crazy

Posted on Tue Mar 30th, 2010 @ 7:54pm by Commander Ian Casey & Commander Dhindara Vrel

1,134 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Preparing The Fleet
Location: Counsellor's Office
Timeline: current

:ON:

Ian walked out of his office and slowly walked through the corridors. He could still feel the frustration he'd felt in his office. Walking the corridors wasn't enough. He needed to talk to someone. He immediately changed directions and soon found himself standing in front of the door to the Counsellor's office. He pressed the chime and took a couple deep breaths as he waited.

The door opened immediately, a young woman left the office. She nodded to Ian, then turned left and disappeared behind the next corridor bend.

Dhindara was standing about two metres from the door, she was in the process of re-filling a cup. Smiling at the open door she said. "Please, come in. Care for some tea?"

"Yes, please," Ian replied as he stepped into the office. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No, not at all", Dhindara replied, filling a second mug with a rich, east Frisian tea blend which she had come to like during her education on Terra. "I was just through with an evaluation, so you've come at a good time." She handed over the mug, milk, sugar and even honey were sitting on the small table in between the sofa and the two armchairs. "Please have a seat. What can I do for you?"

"Now that you mention it I don't believe I've had my evaluation yet," Ian said to her. "I came because I was frustrated and wanted someone to talk to."

Dhindara sat down opposite him, leaning back in the arm chair and crossing her legs. "Then, I dare say, you've come to the right place. Share, what is it that frustrates you?"

"I was just in my office looking over status reports for the Air Group and it made me sick, so to speak," Ian replied. "Half the fighters are inoperable and a large number of pilots are missing. It made me mad that someone would let it get to that bad a situation."

Dhindara raised her eyebrows. "You're meaning to say their records are missing, right? I'm sure I'd have heard about it if we'd actually have missing crew members."

"I'm talking about the crew members," Ian replied. "It may just be that they're used to doing what they want have started pursuing their own endeavors. I'll find them. I just can't believe the command structure down there collapsed so much."

"Report them as absent without leave", Dhindara replied. "They'll be found or declared missing officially. But I agree, this is unusual. I've not heard of a case of desertion in Starfleet since the Dominion war."

"As I said, I'm sure they're here somewhere. I wouldn't call it desertion so much as a lack of discipline. That's going to change though," Ian added. "In the mean time, do you have any suggestions for not getting so frustrated?"

Dhindara chuckled. "Well, two... find out who's responsible for the break-down and have them put up on charges. That's always incredibly satisfying to see those who messed things up having to pay for it. Or, if you feel less vindictive, take some time to work out, slay some monsters in the holodecks... I heard it's Orc hunting season in holodeck 3, actually."

"Orc hunting season?" Ian asked, a bit confused. "What exactly is an Orc?"

"It's a fictional creature from the literature of your home world", Dhindara explained. "It's by an author called Tolkien, it's a medieval setting interspersed with magic and mythological creatures. It was very popular when I studied psychology, many years ago. I understand it's a classic."

"Not exactly my style," Ian replied. "I prefer stories about old fighter planes, especially the P-51 Mustang."

"Well, I was thinking you should get away from your chosen profession", Dhindara replied. She smirked. "Besides, you'd only get more frustrated losing out against the ME-262."

"That's true," Ian replied, "but I prefer to just fly the thing rather than fight with it. Even in combat, I feel better when flying a Mustang, or any plane from that era. No sensors. No warp drive. No phasers. Just raw power and your own senses and abilities. There's really nothing like it."

Dhindara smiled. "Well, if that relieves your frustration, go for it." She took a sip of her tea. "I know when I'm frustrated I dive into a topic of interest, and I've been known not to leave a library for two days... at which point they'd ask me to leave because they don't like people sleeping between the book shelves."

Ian smiled at the thought. Returning his attention to the reason he had come to the office, he said, "The problem is, I don't always have time or the opportunity to lose myself in the skies over Europe. I'm looking for a way to remain in control when I'm on duty and can't get to the holodeck."

"Having regular relaxation time is an important part of that, though", Dhindara replied. "The longer the period of stress you're exposed to with no relief in between the more difficult it will be for you to remain in control." She leaned back. "Nobody can keep going indefinitely. But there is something you can do immediately. Ask yourself, and if you're so inclined tell me, why you're getting frustrated with the shortcomings of others?" Dhindara has an idea, but she wanted him to find the answer himself.

"I feel that the state of the Group reflects on me as its commander," Ian said after a moment.

Dhindara nodded. "Yes, it will eventually. But think about how well it will reflect on you as a Commander to take over a badly-led group and shape it into a model squadron? Every little step, it'll make you look even better by comparison."

"That would suggest I'd be doing it to make myself look good," Ian said, not really looking at her.

"I'm not saying that", Dhindara replied. "That would only apply if you had specifically asked to take over a bad unit, or covertly caused it to go bad so you can shine. See it as a side effect. It takes a skilled Commander to bring a bad unit up to shape. And you'll be rewarded accordingly. That is, if you can live with delayed gratification?"

Ian thought about what she had said and nodded. "You're right. I didn't ask for this but that doesn't mean I can't do my job. Thank you, Counselor."

Dhindara smirked. "Glad I could help."

"I should get back to the flight deck," Ian said as he stood up. "I have a lot of work to do."

"Good luck", Dhindara said. "And those pilots, if you find them, send them to me."

"I will," Ian replied as he walked to the door. "Thank you again, Counselor."

=/\\= End of Transmission =/\\=

Commander Ian Casey
Air Group Commander

Lieutenant Commander Dhindara Vrel
Counsellor

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