Nil Radiation

Posted on Fri Feb 28th, 2025 by Lieutenant Rhys Bennett & Captain James Cohen & Lieutenant JG Elle Hayashi

1,128 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: M01 - The Hooke
Location: Captain's Ready Room, USS Hooke
Timeline: Present

James was attempting to spend as much time as possible in his office that morning to get work done. The ship was still three days from arriving at Terra Nova, and from what he'd seen some of his crew were getting used to each other while others were probably taking a bit more time. So far Paige seemed to be adjusting nicely to the ship, which wasn't all that surprising for the Captain. His daughter was a good kid, James concluded his latest log just as the chime caught his attention. "Come in please."

Rhys was the first of the two officers to enter the office, "We have our report ready for you Captain," He said holding up the pad in his left hand.

Elle was behind Rhys, "Yes sir I think we're ready." She said and entered the Captain's ready room. She'd not been inside the office yet. She'd been on board for three days and had avoided the bridge as much as she possibly could. Her thoughts were still on the Aval situation, it had been three days and the counselor hadn't said much to Elle since the original disagreement. And, to add to it, Elle hadn't bothered talking to Aval about anything.

James warmly grinned as his two senior officers walked into his office. "Please," He said and pointed his entire hand toward the set of sofas near the window. Then he sat down on one end, where he typically sat when meeting with any of his officers. "What do you have?"

Rhys placed the pad onto the table so the Captain could take it. Once it was in his possession he leaned all the way back into the seat. "The radiation became less of a problem prior to the Dominion War," Rhys pointed out. "There will be no risk to anyone which I think you were expecting?"

James nodded, "I was certainly hoping that after three hundred years this would be the case. I wonder why they waited so long to resettle that area?" The question was rhetorical. He reviewed the report, knowing there was little they could do until they arrived in the Terra Nova system. "Everything seems to be in order. Maybe I was wrong."

Elle tilted her head slightly, "About what sir?" The Doctor asked.

James looked over the top of the pad, "I was wrong about this being anything other than a routine mission. It just always seems like what should be routine ends up being quite the opposite." He grinned and placed the pad back onto the table. "So if there's no radiation then we can probably get away with a small away team to see what the Novans found and collect it for us to review on the ship."

Rhys considered this course of action, "We probably should just leave it on the planet. If it does turn out to be dangerous we shouldn't threaten the ship Captain."

Elle nodded, "I agree," The Doctor said. Somewhere during the last three days her confidence had been built up and so she found it easier to tell the others what she thought. She'd worked closely with Rhys and had gotten used to his way of thinking as well.

"You both make a valid point," James replied. He had probably let his natural scientist come out a little too strongly, "Thanks for the report." He told the two of them then changed the direction of the conversation, "Now then there's something else that I would like to discuss with the two of you." He paused for a moment to collect his thoughts and think about what he wanted to tell them. Then he continued, "So I heard there's a bit of a conflict brewing between Counselor Aval and you?" His question was directed more toward the Doctor.

Rhys looked at Elle, he already knew the details, "Yes Captain." He answered, "But Doctor Hayashi can hardly be blamed for that. I've heard others who've talked to Aval say that she comes on too strongly with her advice and sometimes it's not requested or required."

Elle didn't mind Rhys speaking up, but she still felt as if she owed an explanation. "It took me a while to realize what she was really trying to do. However, I still don't believe a Vulcan is a good fit for the role of counselor aboard any installation. I'm sure she means well and all, but she cornered me then proceeded to make me feel as if I was being belittled. I get that I was nervous at the first staff meeting, but that's not a reason to come across as smug about it."

James let the two officers talk it out, he'd heard this throughout the ship in the past twenty-four hours. James certainly understood where they were coming from because Aval was a bit much sometimes. "I don't think she means to be smug Doctor, but I've heard that from others." He was torn between letting the behavior continue or talking to Aval directly, "Have you spoken to her since?"

Elle frowned, "Honestly, I've been avoiding her. She's spoken to me, or at least tried to speak to me over the past day or two. However, that being said I stand by what I pointed out. I don't think a Vulcan is a good counselor and it's incredibly difficult to go to someone who pushes their viewpoint on you rather than hearing you out. Or is perceived to be smug about anything and everything."

James sighed, this was going to be an issue. "I'll talk to Commander Preston before I talk to Counselor Aval. For the time being I want you to try and be patient with her. She's still learning just like the rest of us are."

"That's what Lieutenant Baird said," Elle replied.

Rhys didn't realize that Elle had spoken to her, "When did you talk to Lieutenant Baird?"

"The morning after the initial confrontation," Elle told him. She looked at the Captain once more, "I don't mean to avoid her Captain. But, it's really hard to not want to."

James understood and he made that point clear with a nod. "Let me try to handle it. I'm sure if someone points out to Aval that she's being really up front and aggressive she'll calm down. She may not realize how she's coming across especially if everyone is avoiding her."

"Understood Captain," Elle said.

Rhys stood up, "Thanks Captain." He said and collected the pad he'd put the report on. He just hoped that the Captain was right and that Aval would happily back off just a little bit. However, he'd had his share of run-ins with Vulcans and a lot of them seemed to do the opposite of what they were told.

 

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