Meeting the Mission Advisor

Posted on 08 Mar 2019 @ 1:53pm by Lieutenant Commander Cody Parker
Edited on on 27 Mar 2019 @ 10:17pm

1,913 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: General Sim Postings
Location: Medical
Timeline: Prior to mission Departure

[ON]

Cody reviewed the recent mission manifests on his PADD while sipping sweet tea. As the mission advisor, it was his job to be a jack of all trades and to understand how the different departments worked together to complete missions. He glanced at the clock on his desk before deciding to go for a walk.

His walk through the ship took him by the Medical Bay, as he got closer, he realized he hadn’t met the ship’s doc yet. The Doc’s job was crucial to any mission and to the crew’s overall health. He decided to stop in to introduce himself.

Stepping into the department, he asked the crewman for Dr Aldana.

Across the sickbay, a tall lightly furred being with digitigrade feet and a tail, was the Kazarite-hybrid doctor in a slightly modified medical uniform. S/he was attended by a quadruped carnivore of the family Canidae which wore a service animal vest in a style mimicking the colouring and highlights of his charges uniform. Aldana was busily fussing about sickbay, being sure equipment was in working order, putting in repair tickets where necessary and restocking supplies prior to the next mission.

As if on cue, Doctor Aldana looked up from whatever it was s/he was doing. “Hello, welcome to sickbay.” S/he smiled recognizing the man from the earlier meeting, but not quite being sure of his name. S/he wasn’t sure why, but s/he admired his square jaw. S/he’d guessed by his general undamaged appearance that he wasn’t here on an emergency.

“Doctor Aldana, it’s nice to meet you, I’m Lieutenant Parker, the new Mission Advisor,” he said as he extended his hand for a handshake.

“I’ve slowly been trying to meet with the Department Heads, first to introduce myself and secondly to better understand the role that you have played in previous missions. I just want to wrap my head around the process so to speak.”

Aldana blinked s/he wasn’t sure what Parker was on about, s/he wasn’t the department head – though sometimes it felt like s/he should be given how often Doctor Cahill was on the bridge – s/he glanced at the hand but turned to give him a quick Kazarite hug instead. “It’s so nice to finally meet you officially. I saw you in the briefing earlier, but I wasn’t sure of your name. I liked your observations about the lack of a briefing on the second and third tiers of our mission. Everyone else – including myself – were totally focused on the abductees.” Amiri moved on, “I’m sorry, I’m not sure where the department head is, but if you’d like I can have her located for you, or you can talk to me, I’m the assistant. Your choice.”

Sombra observed the two bipeds curiously, and casually reaching in to get a closer sniff of the visitor.

“I can speak with Dr Cahill later, I apologize, it appears I wrote your names backwards in my notes. I should have looked at the ship’s manifest. It is nice to meet you.”

“I don’t want to pry and if I overstep please let me know, you said Cahill is mostly on the bridge. May I ask what your duties include in relation to missions, and I also appreciate your observation of my observation,” he said smiling at his poor attempt of a play on words. “The briefing kept mentioning three tiers and everything I heard was a single aspect, disrupt the trade route which would save women and slaves.”

“No, you’re not prying.” Aldana frowned and hir tail drooped as s/he went about the hir job, “well, I’m not really sure. I can’t recall ever really having a ‘sit-down’ with Doctor Cahill – I’d really like to… I suppose I just sort of pick up the slack where ever needed.”

“So is Cahill more involved with the Away Missions, while you handle the day-to-day duties?” Cody was intrigued by the dynamic that was occurring here. There seemed to be a bit of a grey area when it came to assigned duties.”

Aldana hesitated at what s/he was doing. S/he cocked hir head thoughtfully. “I’m not clear. It seems that way so far, I guess, I’ve only really been on two or three missions with the crew, and in that time, I think only one away mission. They were abducted but I didn’t get to go on the rescue mission. (I wouldn’t mind getting off out in the fresh air once in a while.) We’ve not really had a mission together yet that’s been all that medical heavy. I’d like to work directly with Doctor Cahill some more; get to know her better.” S/he turned to look at Parker, “why do you ask?”

“I’m just curious, I am trying to understand the roles and assignments.” Parker was intrigued by the possible absence or dereliction of duty by Cahill. Making a mental note to investigate further later he changed the subject. He had noticed the small animal that Aldana had been petting, “Speaking of being curious who is this furry little guy,” he said as he knelt and gently called to it. “It almost reminds me of an old dog my dad had when I was a kid.”

Dr Aldana looked down at Sombra. “Go say ‘hi’” s/he called out loud. It was a command s/he used to indicate that he could be social, but he was still on duty and shouldn’t allow himself to get too distracted. “This is Sombra, he’s my service animal. He accompanies me everywhere I need him. He’s usually in that vest there, and it is supposed to have a patch Velcroed to the side that says, ‘please ask to pet,’ but it doesn’t appear to be there, I’ll have to try and locate it later.

Indeed, the non-earth domestic canid wore a vest that mimicked the Starfleet uniform with medical teal highlight. It was a standard service vest with various identification patches indicating he was a medically necessary service dog. His various certifications and ‘papers’ were displayed proudly on a PADD tucked into a see-through pocket on one side.

With the command, Sombra’s tail began to wag, and he inched forward to lick the offered hand.

Cody pet Sombra gently, enjoying the feel of the soft fur, “Wow, I heard Starfleet had begun allowing service animals, but this is the first one I’ve seen in a uniformed vest like this. I think this will be great for the crew. At least these guys don’t multiply like the tribbles. I remember reading about them in some of the old Ship Logs.”

Standing up Cody continued talking, “Sometimes when I can’t sleep, I like to listen to the old logs. Those old Starship Captains were like Pioneers. They paved the way for explorers like us. At least I like to think of myself as an explorer, maybe it’s just that hopeless, romantic outlook on life,” he said chuckling.

“Do you have trouble sleeping often?” Amiri smiled with a gleam in the hir eye. “I’d like to think we’ll still get some exploring done out here on the frontier. We can’t be all about patrol duty and rescue missions.” S/he was beginning to like Parker. S/he wondered what he liked to do outside of duty. S/he also liked that he was one of the few that could find a reason to come to sickbay other than a physical. “…so, tell me more about this ‘hopeless romantic’ you mentioned?” Hir tail twitched happily.

“I do have trouble sleeping from time to time, hazards of the job,” he said nonchalantly while stroking the small scar on the side of his cheek. The scar was a reminder of his failure on his first away mission.

“My mother always said I was a hopeless romantic, like my father. He was always chasing after lost causes and sunsets until he met my mother of course. She always said there was something romantic about a man who had dreams in the stars.”

Cody paused for a moment realizing what he had been saying, he was always composed, and never revealed much about himself yet here he was chatting it up with the Doctor. Maybe it’s just the calming atmosphere and the therapy animal he had a pet that reminded him so much of home.

“Who knows one day I may get lucky and save the damsel in distress,” he quipped. “That would be a story for mother, one she would approve of wholeheartedly.

Sombra returned to Alpha’s side and his duties but sensed something about the man change slightly.

Amiri couldn’t help but reach out to trace his scar too, “Oh, you poor soul, you know sometimes it helps to have someone or something to talk to; who will be there for you.” S/he suddenly seemed to realize what s/he was doing and pulled the hir hand away. “Who knows maybe this damsel you mentioned could have a special gift for healing in return and would like to hear all about it.” S/he commented hoping hir hint wouldn’t be too obtuse.

Parker smiled, he appreciated the concern and the gentle touch but knew he couldn’t mix duty with pleasure, especially since he was a new arrival. The last thing he wanted was rumours that could damage either of their reputations.

“I do appreciate the gesture, and I definitely would like to talk more about it with you. Maybe next time we could meet over a drink, away from our workspaces.”

“I might like that. Perhaps you could meet Luuna next time too.” Aldana smiled. “Are you off to your next department head so soon? If you’d like to stay, you’re more than welcome to help.” S/he cocked hir head inquisitively.

Sombra mimicked hir even though he wasn’t entirely sure what was going on.

“Yeah, I’ve got some departments to touch base with, as well as mission parameters to review. I do appreciate your time and look forward to meeting with you again soon.”

The doctor hugged Parker again, “well it was nice meeting you.”

Sombra yipped quietly.

Amiri chuckled at the flagrant cuteness. “Sombra thinks so too,” s/he exaggerated, jokingly.

“I will be back to visit you too Sombra,” Cody said smiling.

Aldana walked with him to the door, “one last thing, I’ll likely try to catch a meal around 13:00… give or take….”

“Sounds good Doc, I’ll do my best to be there.” Cody stepped through the doors and into the passageway. That meeting was interesting. Doctor Aldana was definitely a friendly one, though he was concerned about Cahill’s absence he knew Medical was in capable hands. Quickly he mentally reviewed the tasks on his list to allow for lunch at 1300. Making a couple of quick notes on his PADD, he proceeded to the Counselor Office.

[OFF]

Lt. Jg Amiri Aldana 365 D.V.M., M.D
Assistant Chief Medical Officer/Counsellor
USS Tomcat

CWO Sombra C.G.CA/U, PSA,C.ESA [PNPC: Aldana]
Counsellors aide/Morale Officer
USS Tomcat

Lieutenant Jg Cody Parker
Mission Advisor
USS Tomcat

 

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