Two Birds, One Stone... Or Three Birds?

Posted on Wed Dec 25th, 2024 @ 11:18am by Lieutenant Commander Victoria Aries & Commander Miach Tinsha M.D., Ph.D.
Edited on on Wed Dec 25th, 2024 @ 11:18am

3,221 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Let That Be Your Last
Location: Counselor's Office

'Kill two birds with one stone', that was the saying and Anastasia fervently believed that it was truly always better to handle multiple problems at the same time whenever it was applicable. Which was how she was now approaching the office complex of the Counselors at such a good pace. 'Thirty-one counselors, ten of them civilian, Fleet ranks from Commander down to Ensigns fresh from the Academy.' She reminded herself, 'Ratio of Fleet counselors at approximately one for every 280 personnel. Not optimal, but should be serviceable.' She approached the clearly defined front desk with it's partitions for Fleet and Civilian personnel and gave a rather neutral look at the Senior Chief sitting behind one side of the desk, "Commander Aventnova to see Commander Tinsha. He may or may not be expecting me, depending on if he looked at his messages this morning."

The Senior Chief glanced up at Ana before consulting her own schedule, "He has your name down, but no time slot assigned, however he appears to be present and available at this time. Take the corridor to your left, second door to the right, I'll let him know you're here."

Ana gave the Chief what could have been called a smirk, but this was perfectly in line with what she'd expected out of a Vulcan, "Thank you, Senior Chief, much appreciated." She let her smirk drop back to neutral and went over what she'd read about him in her head and knew that this would be a very unique situation. It was a matter of twenty-six seconds before she was in front of his door and being polite, pressed the chime for entry.

Miach, dressed in the teal of a science and medical uniform stood looking over his memorabilia from Ireland. The torc he wore when on the holodeck with his wife, child and shelat. The door buzzed and he turned to the door before calling out.

"Come!" He watched as the doors parted and his eyes flashed to the woman's face, collar and back to get face.

"Commander, welcome. May I offer you refreshments?" He asked in his normal baritone.

Anastasia glanced over his uniform and compared it to her own. Since Captain de Havilland hadn't objected, she'd kept the style that she'd had aboard Ark Royal, more fitted to her curves and made of a lighter more silken-feeling fabric that seemed to shimmer under the light, "If you have coffee, I'll take it black with some sugar," She smiled very slightly at him, "I do apologize about the late notice of my availability and desire to see you, but it was hard enough to find some time in my schedule."

He grinned at her. "I can order some from the replicator but I drink tea more than coffee. Old habit of mine. And I always have time for the command staff. Please sit, I'll get the coffee."

He moved to the replicator, ordered her coffee and a cup of almost boiling water. He placed the coffee down before her and the water in front of him as he pulled the tea pack out. He began packing the infuser with his personal blend which smelt of lilacs, cinnamon and an earthy slightly musky herb. As he placed the infuser into the water he looked up at her.

"Now what can I do for you, Anastasia? Please call me Miach while we are in session." He bobbed the infuser up and down a the hot water began to turn colors from the herbs and tea.

'As advertised, with that grin.' Ana remarked to herself as she accepted the coffee and took a sip of it. The bitterness actually helped the caffeine in it's own duty to her body, helping her remain as alert as possible, "Informality and we've only just met!" She added a chuckle along with a small smile as she shook her head, "Let's get the official duty out of the way: How are you doing? I know you got injured during the attack and I wanted to make sure that you were feeling better. My fault, really, I was the one on the bridge."

Miach's eyebrow shot up in a very Vulcan expression. He nodded and grinned back at her. "I find it is easier to treat people when we don't have to worry about rank, duty and customs." He took a sip of his tea and nodded "I am well enough, firmly back on the mend. Thank you for asking. Shall I read into your taking responsibility for the attack?"

"For the losses we took and the damage we took, yes, it was my responsibility, I was in tactical command at the moment." There was no remorse in her voice, she was still confident that she had made the best decisions based on the available data at the time, but it was as she said, "To be fair, the attack came out of nowhere and with only one bit of warning that was admittedly random-seeming. I've been trying to touch base with everyone who was injured during the attack, which is a fair number of people. too many."

She gave a languid wave, "I know it's part of the job, but it doesn't help that I'm 'just human'." Ana made expert use of her voice to make the last two words meaningful, to get across that she was using it as just a turn of phrase, not to denote racial prejudice. The fact that she WAS human, from Roma Nueva which made her somewhat well... 'More' than human, didn't really mean anything.

He nodded "As long as you aren't obsessing over it and you keep a healthy outlook, that's good." He sipped his tea and watched her. "I assume you had another reason to stop by aside from the check up." He looked over the rim of his cup before putting it down and eyeing her.

"Of course." Her smile faded as she set the cup down gently, "I'm about three weeks overdue for my psychological evaluation." Blunt and to the point, "I know I'm working off of my former duties as a Staff Officer for the absolute requirements, but best to have extra evaluations than not have one that misses a critical spot, wouldn't you think? I'm not afraid of counselors or the like, it's all part of the job."

Miach laughed aloud. "I hadn't even gotten around to looking through the evals yet. Well aren't you a breath of fresh air. I take it you've completed your medical eval?" He asked as he placed his tea down after sipping.

"That one is hardly overdue, even for the six-month time period." Anastasia pointed out with a smile, "Still another two months to go before I'm required to have one of those, though if the doctors wish to poke and prod me before then, they have but to ask." She shook her head with a laugh, "I'm used to that happening anyways as people seem to think that I don't age very quickly and want to find my 'fountain of youth'. I may APPEAR to be about twenty, but rest assured I'm every bit of my thirty-three years."

He snorted "Tell me about it but as a pure blooded Vulcan people usually leave me be on that regard. Eighty years is but a child to most Vulcans." He grinned "Good so give me a moment to pull up those results." He said as he looked over the medical evaluation and nodded. "How is your sleep?" He asked as his eyes went over the eval.

"Less than I'd like, but I don't have any issues with sleeping at all." Anastasia picked up her cup again in both hands and sat back, crossing one leg over the other, "I can always sneak off for a nap if I really need one and I've got that enviable capability to go to sleep whenever I need to and wake up when desired. I joined the Roman Naval Reserve when I was fifteen, starting my formal training before I was accepted at Starfleet Academy two years later. They always kept us running around there, so sleep was really catch-as-catch-can for us."

He nodded "Good, good." The tip of his finger slipped over the button to cut off his terminal. "Any anxiety, fear of the unknown, any issues you would like to bring to my attention?"

"I am currently the Executive Officer on board the largest ship in Starfleet, I was recently the Staff Tactical Officer to Vice-Admiral Amanda Foraker of Task Force 42 of 4th Fleet. I think any anxiety issues would have cropped up before now." The XO gave him a curious look, "What about you? You came from Yamato before your stint back on Earth, but the Galaxy-class is literally the size of one of our nacelles with only about Sixteen Percent of our crew population. Quite a big step up."

He snorted "My 'stint on Earth' was as Assistant Chief of Star Fleet Medical, Head of Surgeons. Yes the Yamato was a Sovereign and small compared to the Dreadnought but I've dealt with large departments than the Dreadnought. It is actually remarkably simpler here and I don't have to deal with" he shuddered "bureaucracy. As for why I'm asking about stress, it is a typical question. You've been through enough psych evaluations you should know it by heart." He quipped back

"Bureaucracy." Anastasia agreed with that word being more like an expletive than a word with real meaning, "Don't think that you won't be dealing with it on board Dreadnought, because we're too large to not have it." She gave a short laugh, "Ha! Our Chief Engineer was complaining to me that she now has to deal with as many people in her own department than were on board the last ship she was on entirely! She's in over her head, most likely, but that doesn't mean she won't be successful, that's part of my job. This is going to be a different monstrosity than Earth, what with having to deal with everyone on board."

He grinned again winningly "Oh I learned a few things dealing with bureaucracy being number two at SFMed." He said it as all one word "I like to think I got at least a brown belt, if not a black belt in administrative violence. I still have some pull at HQ if we need something done." He laughed "A certain General owes me for taking care of a foot problem that would have had him drummed out of the service. Amongst other things." He sipped his tea and nodded "Do you have desires to bash people over the head with a ball-peen hammer?" He asked deadpan.

"Only when they're not willing to follow my lead." Ana said in her own deadpan, though the smile on her face belied the blandness of her voice, "My talents aren't in the administrative violence area, though I can certainly hold my own, I have to when dealing with Admirals and their staffs, but I'm a career Tactical officer, with enough of an ability in personal combat to keep the annoying people away."

He grinned wickedly. "Oh, do you partake in sword play?"

"I may have a sword lying around somewhere." Anastasia brought a hand up to her chin in a musing motion. She knew precisely where it was, where THEY were in fact. Three of them, one her parade sword for her Reserve uniform, one the combat sword for the same, the third a gift from one of her fellows from Ark Royal, "But if I do, I know how to use it."

He nodded "I may have to invite you to go hunting with Morrigan and myself. I have a simulation of several of the ancient battles of Ireland. Nothing quite like running across the planes of Moytura ass naked with war hounds and a shelat beside you. Good clean fun, aside from all the blood that is." he smirked "Much more safe than killing anyone actually with a hammer."

"Do I get to wear my armor?" Ana asked with a smile, "I'm sure I wouldn't need it, per se, but when one trains in combat whils't wearing it, it does get to be a part of their fighting style. I'm a fair hand with a pilum as well as a bow, if that matters."

"The ancient Irish..." he paused "ran into battle naked. Some say it was because it made them seem more fierce, others say they didn't know how to make armor. There were rumors that it was because their Druid's were able to bind natural fabrics and metals to suit their purpose even if the person was still wearing them." He snorted.

"But that's why the ancient Romans fared so well against the Celts." Ana pointed out, "Not sure they ever actually faced the Irish, but the Celts were very similar, tenacious as well. Roma Nueva was founded on the principles of Rome in her golden age and they sortof modeled even their armor around it, albeit with modern materials and technology. Besides, I've never really liked running around naked, even painted with magic symbols to protect me."

He laughed "If you wish to dance in armor by all means. My self and Morrigan shall come as nature intended. But aside from that it will be nice to have someone to practice with outside of the holodeck."

"Just so long as you don't mind someone who uses a sword and shield. Not getting parts chopped off really helps." Anastasia smiled with a half-grin, "I'm only middling with the katana, so I'll go with my issue weapon, but I'll show you a thing or two."

He grinned "That sounds delightful. I had a custom sword made patterned after the ancient celt's weapons. The engineering behind it is beyond me but it fits in the hilt and when the proper sequence is pressed the blade snaps out." he pulled a finely jeweled hilt in the shape of a man with arms outstretched over his head from behind his back. "Here if you would like to see it."

Ana accepted the hilt and very carefully kept the open part of the blade pointed away from either of them as she looked it over from many angles, "In this form, it's elegance and mystery and I'm sure like most blades it's beauty and grace when extended." She held the hilt back out towards him for him to take back.

He nodded "There is something.." he paused looking for the right word "primal about engaging in swordplay. It is a very good stress reliever and allows for a full body workout if done properly." he slipped the hilt back into it's sheath behind his back. "Since the war I've taken to carrying it everywhere. Never know when a blade will come in handy."

"You've got that right!" Ana grinned, "But that's where using a holodeck really comes into play because you don't have to pull your strikes. Train as you intend to fight in combat, which is why injuries among the legions in training do remain rather high. Training with blunt blades is all well and good, but they still hurt quite a bit. Of course, in the Navy, we only get a bit of the sword since we're not intended to be at the front lines, though we do still get the best of the new tech like them."

He grinned "I'm kind of embarrassed to say that took more months of pay than I care to admit. Aside from that I think I can say you are fit for duty. If you start getting insomnia or you feel 'off' come back and we will need to speak again."

"Sounds good to me." Ana stood and stretched widely, "But I doubt I'll ever feel that far off as to have to see you about issues like that. And don't get me wrong, I know better than to NOT do that just because I don't want to! Contrary to what some people may say, I'm not an idiot."

He laughed "No, I dont think you are an idiot. You dont get three pips on your collar and still be an idiot." he replied as he stood too.

"With some Commander's I've seen?" Ana shook her head, "I wouldn't put anything beyond them. But that's why I make sure I'm not like them. Besides, I'm lucky!"

"Amen sister." he replied laughing.

"So, when do you want to embarrass yourself?" Anastasia gave a small chuckle, "Whether in a sparring match or even one of your re-creations, doesn't bother me much. I may not be of the Legions, but that means I'm not bound to their standards."

He laughed "Are you ready for an angry naked Vulcan running around swinging a sword lopping off heads?" he asked.

"Only if you're ready to be put to shame by someone far shorter than you, through efficiency rather than dramatics!" Her grin was wide.

Miach threw his head back and belly laughed. "I always look forward to seeing a master in action."

"And I'm not even one of the Navy's SpecForce people." If a voice could visualize someone preening, hers was silky-smooth and would have, "They make me look like an amateur! Octavia certainly did when we had an opportunity to spar."

"Well now that makes me want to invite you to the holodeck right now and test your skills. I've studied several forms of ancient earth sword fighting styles combined with the Vulcan martial arts I learned at the monastery I think I have a unique fighting style."

"Unfortunately, I need to get back to making a few rounds of some of the sections, otherwise I'd take you up on it." Anastasia sighed gently, "Besides, Roman I am, but we are a fair bit more advanced than the legionary style."

He snorted "Naturally, there is nothing saying you cant improvise. While the classic styles are endlessly enjoyable and hold a purpose. There is great glory in learning new forms and styles and learning how to weave them together into a wall of steel. If you will forgive my bardic embellishments."

"Oh, we are quite familiar with adapting styles." Ana smiled, "And I'm sure you'll be intrigued by my own. Perhaps... A couple days from now? My schedule can accommodate a couple hours of leisure then."

He nodded "I would enjoy that immensely. As, I'm sure, will Morrigan. The new assignment has left her mildly grumpy as she doesn't have the run of the ship like she did at SFHQ or the other postings I've been assigned." He took a breath "Yes, yes a good run and fight is just what the doctor orders."

"Too much energy expenditure, unless you're superhuman, and yes, Vulcans are in many ways, it's better to let the enemy come to you or meet them partway." Ana rolled one shoulder, "We'll have to see which way works better, won't we?"

He nodded "I look forward to the trails."

"I'll let you know when my schedule allows for that much recreational time, then I'll show you what a Roman can do." She gave him a bright smile, "But until then.."

He nodded and grinned "I look forward to it. May the day be well for you Commander."

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