Just Roll With It (3/5)

Posted on Mon Apr 6th, 2026 @ 5:28pm by Lieutenant Elara PsyD & Captain Jaro
Edited on on Mon Apr 6th, 2026 @ 5:50pm

843 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 0: 48 Hours and Counting
Location: USS Amazonia: Mess Hall
Timeline: T - 36hours

He then looked up, his voice rising just enough to cut through the ambient clatter of trays and the low murmurs of nearby tables. It wasn't a shout, but it had that resonant, commanding quality that projected clearly across the mess hall for the benefit of any anxious ears within range.

"And speaking of confidence, Counselor, I spent last night reviewing your evaluations of our crew’s psychological readiness. Your assessments are remarkably thorough. I find myself in complete agreement with your findings; this crew is as ready as they’ll ever be for the journey ahead. Your work has been invaluable in confirming that we are, indeed, capable of facing whatever the Delta Quadrant can throw at us together."

He offered her a wink, a quick Denobulan quirk of the eye, before sliding the bottle of solvent toward her again with a conspiratorial tone. "This is the part where you agree with me, Counselor."

Elara blinked as her focus twisted back from the block in her hand to the Captain. She wasn't sure she was understanding anything of what had happened; his actions and words were completely illogical. Surely like his crew; he had more than a toy to be focusing on, to help ready the crew and stations. His background was in science; last she had heard there was a holdup with samples and the prerequisite containments needed. His expertise could help in that. And his announcement...she wasn't fully ready yet and those weren't the absolute facts. There was some crew that required careful monitoring, and others again who kept dodging assessments but based on previous reports would be fine. Then there was seemingly the Captain himself.

Elara realised that it had taken her time to process; during which the mess hall seemed to have quietened and everybody had turned their focus to her. Her hearing picked up on some questioning mummering as the crew waited on her reply.

She felt completely glued to the spot; like someone had just placed the spotlight all on her and her next words mattered. She knew it was dangerous. Allow a suggestion that indicated the ship's counsellor was questioning the words of the Captain; or nod her head and just agree; keep the rest under wraps. The ache in her head worsened as she tried to pry the information apart and process her next steps.

Her hand tightened around the small cube in her hand as again she flexed her fingers. A small sharp stab of pain from the cube corner pulled her focus back to the room. “Yes Captain…The counselling department is happy to acknowledge the readiness of your crew b…”

As soon as the words ‘happy to acknowledge’ had left her mouth, she felt the tension in the atmosphere of the mess hall relax; causing her to abort her own sentence. Suddenly the conversations around them resumed, eyes were no longer focussed on them. Was that what he had wanted? A performance?

Elara glanced back at Jaro as an awareness dawned on her. The atmospheric shift being such that you couldn't help but be pulled in. In her mind, his earlier words repeated back on how through his actions he was showing the crew his confidence in them. “You used me to show the crew that while so much is stressful right now; some things are working right. The important parts are working, which is themselves. The rest will come once they recognise the faith in themselves that counselling and command has.”

His voice remained conspiratorial in tone as he spoke: ””Use” is such a strong term, Counselor. Let’s just say we published the satisfactory results of your evaluation in an informal manner. And besides, it is not a lie. There will not be much more to accomplish in terms of counseling over the next 48 hours, while everybody is running around like they’re being chased by a short sighted Targ in heat, getting the ship ready. And since neither of us are the right people to adjust an EPS manifold, the best we can do is to ensure those who are get all the support we can give them. So, in essence, they are as ready now as they will be by the time we enter transwarp in the Charon’s wake. ”

Checking with a quick glance to either side of him that the collective interest in their conversation had, indeed, evaporated after the ‘good news’ were published, he continued: “Am I nervous? Of course I am. I am acutely aware of all the little pains and troubles we”, he emphasized that word in particular, “are facing right now. As you know, we Denobulans don’t sleep much. So I tend to occupy the quieter hours by reading all the little reports and inquiries a ship like the Amazônia produces. But do you think it would help the crew getting their work done if I looked troubled by what I read?”

[TBC]

Captain Jaro
Captain
USS Amazonia

Lieutenant Elara
Chief Counsellor
USS Amazonia

 

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