Travel Sick [5/5]

Posted on Mon Sep 14th, 2026 @ 1:00am by Captain Jaro & Lieutenant Elara PsyD

915 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 1: The Fissure
Location: Bridge - Deck 1 - USS Amazônia
Timeline: 1 hour before arrival in the Orellia system

Jaro’s face remained entirely open, showing not a trace of offense or displeasure as her momentary flash of agitation washed over him. As a Denobulan, he viewed emotional candor as an essential mechanism of healthy community, and as a Captain, he recognized the sheer exhaustion weighing on his Counselor's shoulders.

"Thank you, Counselor," Jaro said quietly, his voice carrying a deep, unvarnished sincerity. "I appreciate the exhaustive, grueling hours you’ve spent with Ensign Claude, and the consultations you’ve had. As for transwarp... The truth is, we know precious little about transwarp corridors, let alone what effect it might have on the complex architecture of an organic mind. We might be dealing with a phenomenon that standard Starfleet screenings simply aren't equipped to detect. Yet."

He leaned back, letting his gaze rest thoughtfully on the table between them. "And I agree with you that the ideal solution would be getting him back to the Alpha Quadrant, where Starfleet Medical has the resources to properly evaluate and care for him. However, I do not find it an entirely impossible proposition. We could, in theory, arrange transport. If your suspicions are correct and transwarp was indeed the trigger, placing him in medical stasis for the trip should protect his mind from a second exposure. But the next return convoy isn't scheduled to depart Vanguard for nearly a month. We could place him in stasis right now... But keeping a member of my crew 'on ice' for several weeks simply because it is operationally convenient to do so? No."

He sighed, adjusting the velvet cuff of his tunic. "Which brings us back to the question of what to do in the interim. The brig and strict quarter confinement are completely out of the question. Your report makes it abundantly clear that this episode was not an act of Ensign Claude’s own volition; but a medical emergency. Punishing him for that is not an option.And Vanguard... well, we both know that sweltering pressure cooker would wreak havoc on his mental stability. Yet, leaving him to roam the decks with nothing but his own guilt and empty hours is a recipe for a deeper fracture. He needs to contribute. Since you are familiar with his complete profile—are there any secondary qualifications, minor aptitude scores, or personal interests we might tap into? A hobby, a cross-training certification, or even an analytical talent? Something we can tap into to give him his sense of purpose while keeping him from the ship's critical systems?"

Elara felt some of the tension ease in her shoulders as the conversation moved towards now being constructive rather than her trying to battle on differencing of opinions. She respdcted Jaro, in their short time onboard shed seen how he handled delays and various departmental crisis. At the same time, the counsellor had to acknowledge how her own emotions were interfering in her being completely objective.

"Um..." Taking a moment, trying to wreck her brain she indicated towards a PADD on Jaro's table, "May I?" With his acknowledgment, Elara logged in with her own credentials before bringing up the Ensign's bio and logs; using the search of hobby to see if she could isolate relevant information.

"It seems that on the side Ensign Claude was known to dabble in astronomy. On previous assignments, he was known to spend his spare time volunteering in the science lab with the mapping of constellations and stars." Elara bit down on her lower lip as she brought up the ships specs before speaking again. "Deck ten...stellar cartography, torpedo launch bay, shuttle bay, primary computer core...that won't work will it?"

Jaro’s bright eyes lit up with a spark of genuine optimism as he considered her suggestion.

"Actually, Counselor... I think that might work remarkably well. Mapping constellations and processing astronomical telemetry is almost entirely analytical. The equipment involved poses virtually no operational risk to the ship or to himself, especially compared to the power distribution grids of Operations. It gives him a quiet, structured focus—and a meaningful avenue to contribute to the mission as a whole."

He tapped a quick command into his armrest console, his tone  practical. "We will need to instruct Security to revoke Ensign Claude’s access clearances to high-risk areas anyways for the time being. But those security restrictions shouldn't impede his day-to-day work in the least."

Jaro looked back at Elara with an encouraging nod. "I suggest you speak directly with Dr. Vetri to sort out the organizational details and make the necessary arrangements to assign him to light science duties. Between your therapeutic support and Vetri's calm guidance, I believe we can create a safe environment."

Before Elara could respond, Jaro’s communicator issued the familiar double-tone alert of an in coming transmission.

"Bridge to the Captain. We are approaching the Orellia system, sir. Flight Control is standing by to drop out of warp."

Tapping his badge, Jaro stood up from his chair. "Acknowledged, Bridge. Have Lieutenant Khatri engage Silent Running the moment we drop into sub-light as planned. I am on my way."

He turned back to Elara, offering her an apologetic grin. "It seems duty calls, Counselor. Please coordinate with Dr. Vetri, and keep me informed of Ensign Claude's progress. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll need to change into something less pompous before I step back out on that bridge."

[END]

Captain Jaro
Captain
USS Amazonia

Lieutenant Elara
Chief Counsellor
USS Amazonia

 

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