The Counsellor is In - Part I

Posted on Tue Feb 25th, 2025 @ 12:05am by Captain Robert Burke & Lieutenant JG Gianna De Luca

1,053 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: EPISODE 1: SHAKEDOWN
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD029 1700 hours

::ON::

"Transfer orders, security clearances, quarters assignment, belongings, meet the Captain," Gia nodded each things out as she said them while she waited to use the transporter to get aboard the ship. She was making sure she hadn't forgotten any of the important things, and gave up so she could talk to a couple of other people transferring in too.

That was Gia: she loved talking to people and would rather be around others than be by herself, hence why she became a counsellor. She was excited to be a part of the new program in Starfleet to being one of the first counsellors on a serving ship, and transferring from the Regent to the Hecate was going to be an amazing opportunity for her.

After transporting across to the Hecate and getting her quarters assignment and appropriate clearances, Gia headed to her quarters to have a look around, put her belongings in it, and freshen herself up before going to meet the Captain. Her verbal list of things to do had gotten significantly shorter with only one thing left to do.

"Computer, where is Captain Robert Burke presently located?" she asked, stretching her arms out in front of her and then upwards and rolling her head side to side to loosen it a bit. "Captain Burke is located in his Ready Room," came the automated reply.

Within five minutes, Gia had tamed the fly away hairs in her hair, straightened her uniform including her pips, and pressed the chime to the Ready Room. It was now the waiting game.

Looking up from his desk terminal, Burke frowned. He wasn't expecting any appointments, but he conceded after looking at the chrono that he hadn't blocked out the time for privacy either. Putting down the large-ish PADD that contained the report on the short, sharp fight with the Orions, he sighed, lifted his glasses, and rubbed his eyes. He hit the internal comm to summon refreshments.

'Enter,' he called, getting to his feet, leaning his hands on his desk.

"Captain Burke?" Gia said as the doors cycled open and she walked into the room, "I'm Gianna De Luca, your new Chief Counsellor." The way she said her name rolled off the tongue in her Italian-American accent as she greeted him with a smile. "I hope I'm not interrupting a quiet moment for you?"

He cocked his head at the accent, and shook his head and smiled widely, 'no moment is quiet, Counsellor.' Moving around the large desk in the corner of his Ready Room, he advanced across the plush carpeting and indicated the sofa and chairs arrangement he had. 'Please make yourself comfortable,' he said affably, and extended his hand to greet her, 'it's a pleasure to finally meet you.'

She took his hand and shook it before taking one of the offered seats and getting herself comfortable. "It's great to be here, and I'm beyond happy that you're wanting to be part of the future with having counsellors on board."

He took his own place, sprawling on the sofa. 'It just makes sense. We're going to be away in deep space for a few years at a time, in theory.' Burke pushed his glasses back up his nose with a finger, 'for me it's important that my crew's health and wellbeing is looked after, and that includes their mental health. I know Starfleet has catered to it via the Medical Officers in the past, but they're generalists in fairness. We wanted specialists for this.'

The side door opened and a Yeoman stepped in, politely quiet. 'Ah,' Burke exclaimed softly, 'would you care for some refreshments? We have some good coffee aboard. My personal blend if that's your fancy?'

Gia sighed and smiled, "A coffee sounds amazing, I haven't had one since first thing this morning. I usually have at least three throughout the day. If it's a special blend, even better."

Nodding and smiling, Burke motioned to the Yeoman, 'a coffee service please. Maybe some biscotti as well.' The Yeoman nodded, and disappeared quietly through the service door. 'They shouldn't be long. It's practically on tap here,' Burke laughed. Presently returning with a tray with a silver cafetiere and mugs embossed with the Hecate's unit call patch, the coffee and biscotti were deposited on a table between the two officers.

Burke leaned forward and poured Gia a mug, handing her the dark, steaming beverage, and pushing the creamer and sugar in her direction. For his part he took his coffee neat, filling up the mug as much as he could before leaning back and resting it against the arm of the sofa.

"I have a deep respect for Medical and everything they do, but you're correct in saying that they need specialists," Gia added as she savoured the taste of the coffee. "Plus, we have a similar yet wider scope of what we're able to treat than what they can. By the way, this coffee is amazing."

'Thank you, I've spent a long time tinkering with the recipe,' Burke laughed, 'it's been an all-consuming passion of mine for a few years. One of the perks of command was to load the ship's coffee supply with it so I never run out.' Taking a sip, he paused then said, 'yes. Expertise is what we need, and I understand that although you're relatively new to Starfleet, you're accomplished in your field outside of it?'

She nodded, "That's correct. I've been working as a qualified civilian psychologist and counsellor for the past almost four years. I know I went about it a little bit differently to get to where I am now, but at least I've got the experience behind me to deal with the issues ahead, right?"

'Precisely,' Burke replied with a warm smile, 'just because the path is unorthodox, it doesn't mean there's no value to it. I'm sure there are a few people aboard you'll meet who'll prove that as well.' He shifted in his seat, picked up a biscuit and delicately bit into it before asking, 'and what made you choose Starfleet?'


[To be continued...]

::OFF::

Captain Robert Burke
Commanding Officer
USS Hecate

Lieutenant JG Gianna De Luca
Chief Counsellor
USS Hecate

 

RSS Feed