Chief Counsellor Reporting

Posted on Tue Mar 31st, 2026 @ 12:21am by Lieutenant B'Lakkam Slichez & Commander Cornelius 'Kit' Hanlon

3,660 words; about a 18 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: Behind the Curtain
Location: XO's Office
Timeline: Enroute

[ON]

Commander Kit Hanlon had taken the time to sit and read the service record of the man who was about to become Fenrir’s new Chief Counsellor. They had been underway for a few days now, long enough for the ship to settle after departure from Utopia Planitia, long enough for the crew to start finding their rhythm. Long enough, too, to feel the absence left by Chief Counsellor Adis Voks being called away to Starfleet Academy, flattering for Voks perhaps, but not exactly convenient timing for the rest of them.

So Fenrir had found herself short a department head for a few days. The Counselling Department had handled it well, pulling together the same way they had before Voks had shown up. But now Starfleet’s Personnel Allocation Department, in its usual way, had solved the problem by sending a Chief Counsellor to simply appear mid-journey. Well...not simply appear. There had been a shuttle, a brief drop from warp, and a transfer in open space to make it all feel a bit more official.

Kit sat with a mug of coffee near one hand and the file open in front of him, reading through it again, not because it was difficult to follow but because some people had a way of sitting oddly on the page, like two parts not interacting properly.

Lieutenant B’Lakkam Slichez.

The record was solid enough in all the places Starfleet liked. Good training before Starfleet, great performance. A career that, on the PADD, moved with enough sense behind it. Then there were the other details, the ones that made him pause a fraction longer. He had done remarkably well in weapons training and martial arts at the Academy, surprising some of the instructors. And there, threaded through the record, was that sense of someone who had not given all of himself away to the paperwork.

He picked up his mug, took a sip, then set it back down and glanced towards the office door. People were rarely as straightforward as their records made them look and Kit made a point of always having an open mind and meeting people where they were. You could be told about how something worked and that meant nothing until you were looking at the warp core.

And that applied to people too. Records were one thing. They just said where people had been...they did not say where they were going.

B'Lakkam knew that his search for Lucy required him to be on starships. From there he could coordinate meetings at various locations and shoreleaves contacting those in the places that Starfleet rarely treaded. There he could spend credits and latninum to purchase information. Often times, he could find himself ways of making more latinum, even if Starfleet did not approve of how he might get that spending money.

However, being an Assistant Chief did not afford him as much privacy as he desired. His movements were more recorded than they probably were as a Chief. Therefore, he started applying for every Chief Counselor position that he could find. He was more than a little surprised when he got an urgent note from Starfleet to get on a shuttle from the Alaska and head to the Wolff. Who was he to argue? It was a new opportunity and one that could finally lead to a conclusion of his 23 year quest.

Upon his arrival, he reminded himself, good first impressions often made for lasting impressions. He arrived at the XO's office and rang the chime. When he was welcomed in, he smiled warmly at the Commander and said, "Good day. Lieutenant B'Lakkam Slichez, your new Chief Counselor, reporting for duty, Sir."

Kit stood, giving the other man a warm and welcoming smile. The Blue Orion was shorter than him, with fair hair that framed a friendly looking face. He had met some Orions in his time, outposts traders and an occasional one in Starfleet, but he had never met a Blue Orion before. "I'm Commander Kit Hanlon. Have a seat. Do you want something to drink? I was going to get myself..." he glanced at his cup of cold coffee, then grimaced slightly. "I think a green tea. Or else I'll be buzzing with caffeine."

"A pleasure to meet you, Commander," B'Lakkam returned easily. There was something serious about the Commander, moreso than the normal officer. Was something weighing on him? Yet, he had a free and easy manner of speech. Was it practiced or genuine? His analysis caused him to gaze longer than others, and so it took him an awkward second before he settled down in the chair proffered to him. "For a drink..." he mused for several seconds. "How about a ginger beer? I had a crewmember on my last ship introduce me to it and I have to say I've developed quite a taste for it."

Kit nodded and moved to the replicator, considering it for a moment. "Computer, one ginger beer, ice cold," he said and watched the drink materialise in a glass. He took it and put it down for B'Lakkam, then eyed the replicator as he moved over. "Computer...green tea...no, make that...rose green tea, hot," he said and watched the cup materialise. Smooth, no handle, and smaller than he thought it would be. His own fault. He picked it up and went back to his cheer, chuckling. "Welcome onboard, Counsellor Slichez. Apologies if the transfer was a little abrupt."

"There is no need for an apology, Commander," B'Lakkam replied smoothly. "I could not help but jump at the chance for my first Chief position. To the extent that anything was abrupt or quick.... Well, these sorts of things should be expected in Starfleet and if I cannot handle it, then how am I going to be able to assist others who might find the process a bit jarring?" His smile became more amused as he listened and watch Kit change her mind for the third time on her drink of choice.

Kit chuckled, giving a nod as he watched him. He held the blue eyes easily, never having had an issue with eye contact. "As this is a retrofitted ship with a new crew, it's important we have a Chief Counsellor. The department has done well without one, but it is unfair on them to carry it all alone...hence my relief when we got word you were joining us."

"How long have you been without a chief counselor?" B'Lakkam politely inquired. One thing he learned as an Orion, Betelgeusian, and as a Counselor was that the more information that you had, the better that you could make decisions, or in the case as an Orion, exploit them. Slightly more concerned, he asked, "How are the counselors holding up currently in your estimation? Have they been able to get their own rest and recovery from your missions?"

"Oh...four days," Kit said before he chuckled as he sat back a little, picking up the tea to sip. Almost too hot, so he blew on it, before he took a care not to burn himself. "And they're...this is our first mission, at least our end destination will be. Two weeks of transit, we're ten days away from our destination. So it is day to day rather than...missions at the moment. But I know they are working their way through the crew with the check ups. Their reports have been good, they seem well organised."

"Well, that should make my transition quite a bit easier," B'Lakkam answered cheerfully. He took a swig of his ginger beer and said, "That replicated nicely." He then leaned slightly forward and asked, "So, all the way around, it sounds like this crew is rather new, which probably means that just about everyone is trying to get their footing together. I must apologize, but I did not have the time to read any dossiers on the way here. Is this your first time being an XO? Perhaps you could tell me a bit more about yourself?"

Kit watched him with barely contained amusement at the questions, placing the cup down. "Mister Slichez, this is your onboarding meeting with your First Officer...not me having an annual counselling session," he said, blue eyes warm. "I would rather talk about you, so I get to know my Chief Counsellor." It wasn't deflection. He didn't mind talking about himself, but priorities mattered. "Such as how you see your change from Assistant Chief to Chief Counsellor, and if you need any support adjusting to the change."

The Counselor's smile faded slightly at Kit's reaction. He did not know the XO well enough yet to directly challenge his assumption that he was somehow seeking to counsel. It was a common stereotype for a counselor and one that burned in his belly. Had he not been a counselor and asked that question, would he have reacted the same? Just because he expressed interest in learning more about his XO as a person? And even if he was utilizing his skills, was that not part of his job? To inquire and make everyone more effective?

He filed away all of these thoughts for the moment and decided that he should ignore the comment for now and answer the question about his promotion. "Do I need suport for adjusting to the change? I do not think so. I worked closely with my Chief on the Alaska, so I will likely implement much of the staffing schedules and philosophies that I've observed from her. However, I would be foolish to say that that I am certain that I will not need support. With the strong staff that you say that I have, I suspect that will help make the transition smoother as well. Unlike my duties as the Assistant Chief, where I merely reported to my senior, I will now have to report to you and to the Captain regarding crew morale, so I think it is important that I get to know as much of the crew as soon as possible, and get a sense of how things run on this ship."

Kit listened without interrupting, one hand still round the small cup as B’Lakkam spoke, then gave a slight nod. “That all sounds fair,” he said easily. “And I was not questioning whether you could do the job. Moving from assistant to department head changes the weight of things a bit, even when you know the work well. Different pressure, different visibility. So if you do find you need support, I want you to know it is there, available, should you need it.” He sat back slightly, thoughtful but relaxed, clearly taking in what B’Lakkam had said. Then he gave a faint smile, warm enough to soften his eyes further. “And I agree with you, it is important you get to know as much of the crew as possible, as soon as possible. I’d suggest you meet with your counsellors once you’ve had your medical. They’ll be...relieved.”

"I appreciate your support and willingness to be there should I need it, Commander. I will definitely take your advice and meet with the counselors after my medical. I am looking forward to meeting all of them and forming a cohesive and caring unit."

Kit nodded, his eyes on the other man before he took a sip of his tea. "And if you end up having some concerns about things here...you can tell me," he said, turning a touch more serious as he watched him. The man who would have the true pulse of the crew, who would be able to tell him if morale was getting low.

"But of course, Commander," B'Lakkam replied easily. "My hope is that my department's services and duties will be sufficiently good that we will not have to tell you anything but that the crew is behind you and the Captain." He took another swig of his ginger beer and then shrugged apologetically. "But, while hope springs eternal, we both know that is not always the case, and not because of any fault of anyone. A lot of scary stuff happens in space..." he finished.

Kit nodded with understanding, because yes...he was right. A lot of scary stuff did happen in space. And not everyone coped as well as others being on a ship with a hull and a forceshield separating them from certain death. Funny if you stopped and thought about it. "I suppose in that sense, we just...have to trust each other, and the crew," he said and smiled, his eyes warm with it. "To know our limits and ask for support when we need it."

What is with the Commander, continuing to harp on support? Does he think I'm incapable? Or is he a control freak? What damage lurks behind that face? B'Lakkam wondered. "That is all that we can do," B'Lakkam readily agreed. "We have to trust each other and support each other."

"Good," Kit said, as if that had cemented something. The words were reassuring to hear from their Chief Counsellor, although honestly he hadn't expected anything less. "Do you have any questions for me regarding the ship or crew?" the question was asked with a small smile, because he had not forgotten B'Lakkam's opening gambit of asking about Kit's background.

"Well, if you are ready to tell me about yourself, I am ready to hear more about it. On the other hand, if you are not, then I should like to hear about what the crew has experienced so far. I do not believe that this crew has been together long, if memory serves...."

Kit watched the Blue Orion for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Three weeks," he said, his voice gentle with it. "They've been together for three weeks. We did the drills and the inspections, but this is the first time this crew is working together. There will be moments of friction until things settle. It is the way it always is. But we're all professionals. I don't foresee many interpersonal issues on duty." He paused and then raised an eyebrow. "And this is my second posting as a First Officer."

Well, that really does not say much about you, does it? You really like to play it close to the vest. "Three weeks is definitely not a lot of time for a crew to gel, but it is the beginning," B'Lakkam replied hopefully. "Where was your first posting and why did you come here?"

"USS de Balboa," Kit said lightly, sitting back a little. He picked up the cup, watching his new Chief Counsellor, curious why he was so insistent on asking. It felt like he was being interviewed. "Do you usually go around asking that bluntly, or am I getting special treatment?"

B'Lakkam leaned forward with a smug smile. "Well, Commander, the indirect method of learning about you did not have success, so I switched tactics to something more direct." He then leaned back in his chair and continued, while stretching slightly, "You see, Commander, in my experience trust works both ways. As much as you are interviewing me right now, I am interviewing you, too. I would like to know what manner of person that will be commanding me and what I can expect. However, each attempt that I have made thus far has met with resistance and I am more than a little curious as to why."

"Not resistance, we just seem to have a different idea of what a first meeting between a department head and a First Officer is about," Kit said as he inclined his head a little, humour shining in his eyes. "I see this as a chance for me to hear what you want from the ship, what your vision for your department is and what resources you need to achieve it. Whereas...your questions seem to focus on me instead. My career. My motivations..." he let out a breath and shook his head. "Just seems very intimate, for a first meeting."

B'Lakkam laughed. "Would it help if I told you that you hold no romantic interest in you?"

Kit blinked once at that, then let out a short breath that tipped into a quiet laugh, more surprised than anything else, his expression staying open as he looked at B’Lakkam. "Alright," he said, a touch wry. "Now that's good to know. And...you're not wrong, trust goes both ways, but it's not something you can just...rush through in a first meeting." He finished his tea and put the empty cup down. "What I need from this meeting is to understand how you run your department and what you need from me to do it well. The rest of it, who I am, where I've been…that comes with time, once we've actually worked together, or in a session, or we can even go for lunch. Non-romantic of course," he raised an eyebrow and the smile eased. "Because I'm not trying to dodge you. I just...don't think this is the setting for me to give you all that in a nice summary."

"I doubt that you could give me a summary regardless. Nobody can. Besides, it would only be from your point of view, which will likely be somewhat flawed. After all, our own perceptions of ourselves are often incorrect."

The Blue Orion switched subjects. "How I will run my department?" B'Lakkam mused for several moments. "As to what I need to do it well, I have to say that I do not need anything at this time. It is hard to know what you need when you have not even met with the people you will be working with or see the facilities. You see, Commander, counseling is all about understanding people and assisting them to become better versions of themselves. It does not matter if we are reviewing performance data to see how or why someone is not performing well, which often is unrelated to the task or whether we are trying to help someone cope and get beyond a trauma. Most of our tasks are geared towards a one-on-one experience. Certainly there are times where I can advise and assist on group dynamics, as they are much different than one-on-one meetings."

B'Lakkam thought for several moments more before returning to the ultimate question of "How I will run the department?" He shifted in his seat to lean more towards his left. "But as to running my department, it certainly will not be with an iron fist," he informed Kit with a small bang of his fist on the side of the chair. "Again, it will be an adjustment for them and myself. I plan to listen to what they have been doing for the few weeks that I have not been here and determine what they think is required. After I hear everything, I will structure the department in a way that I believe will optomize the needs of the department, as well as that of the crew. I would like to utilize everyone's strengths, but I do not know what they are yet. You see, Commander, counseling is not like engineering or science. It is not just plug and play. It is dealing with live beings with emotions and varying factors that often cannot be quantified."

He sat up, took another swig of his ginger beer, and looked directly at the Commander. "That may not be the answer you were seeking, but it is the best that I can give at this time."

"Actually, it was the answer I hoped for," Kit said, serious as he watched his face. Because it had been real, and honest. No one who just had been promoted to a Chief slot had anything except ideas and ambitions. Admitting that they didn't know until they had tried it...well, it mattered. Although his little Engineering heart wanted to say it wasn't just...plug and play in Engineering. But that didn't matter, he got what mattered: Counselling was people first, and the people would shape what was to come.

B'Lakkam took another swig of his ginger beer. "Well, glad to hear that I passed the audition," the Counselor replied with a broad, humored smile on his face.

Kit chuckled at that, returning the smile. "Well, we did consider making it a song and dance number for a change," he said, the joke relaxed. "But felt that would be unfair." He nodded before he glanced at the time and stood. "I hope you'll be happy here on the Fenrir. She's a fine ship, with a fine crew."

Oh, look. He does have a sense of humor in there! "As do I, Commander." With a huge swallow, he finished the remainder of the ginger beer. "Looks like our time is up," he said with a traditional ending for a counselor. "But only because I'm out of ginger beer."

"Well then. All I can do is to welcome you to the Fenrir," Kit said as he looked at the other man. "And I hope you will be happy here."

Standing up, B'Lakkam replied slyly, "Oh, I'm certain that I will be. I have never figured out how to be unhappy." He then started towards the door, "I look forward to our next meeting, Commander."

Kit bit back a chuckle, taking a slow breath at the words. "Of course, Counsellor Slichez," he said and watched him leave. He reached for the empty glass and cup, picking them up and recycling them, a small smile on his lips. Yes. It would be interesting, to see how their new Chief Counsellor would settle in. And he would.

That Kit was sure of.

[OFF]

Lieutenant B'Lakkam Slichez
Chief Counselor
USS Fenrir

&

Commander Kit Hanlon
First Officer
USS Fenrir

 

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