The Betazoid Counselor watched as officers exited the bridge, following Captain Sharpe. Two hours after other officers entered the bridge for a brief second and in turn entered the conference room. The Counselor was left on the bridge with junior officers. Her shoulders shivered at the uneasiness of her powers. As the ship moved from Nipron, her symptoms began to subside.
To center her thoughts, she tried to reflect upon the recent actions of Captain Nathaniel Sharpe. She was given a direct order to watch the morale of the crew and assist in raising the positivism. She found that difficult while officers were ordered to kill. She immediately felt the resistance from the bridge crew, though not accustomed to questioning orders, the suggestion caused them to react. Especially Jonathon Lataro.
The bridge was quiet, the ship traveling at maximum velocity. Counselor Liaji called up the service record of the Hornet's commanding officer.
The Captain's service record read as a fine example of a Starfleet Officer. She noted that his history seemed to point him towards a military career. His tactical skills were noteworthy. The Counselor read about his family, his brother and his parents. She also noted his service with the Cardassian Empire.
The Counselor dove further, using her medical rank to access psychological profiles. Some of which she was not able to access. The high access level regarding several of his missions in the de-militarized zone confused her. Reading further, on the Shaw, he appeared to have a content command. According to evaluations Nathaniel Sharpe appeared to be a strong-willed officer.
As she concluded her historical psychological assessment of the commanding officer, the doors to the conference room opened and the officers exited onto the bridge. She followed the gentlemen into the turbo lift. One by one the officers exited at their respective floors leaving Lataro and the counselor alone.
"Captain?" She questioned. She noticed he tried to avoid eye contact.
"Counselor." He responded.
Getting somewhere. At least he responded. She thought to herself. "How is T'Lan?" She sensed the anger related tension subside slightly while a wave of sorrow crashed against his subconscious.
"He is fine."
The Counselor did not know Lataro's wife, but had experienced his pain before. "I am glad." She knew he felt loss. She hoped she could help. "The crew is deeply concerned about Commodore Wallace."
"Commodore Wallace is an honorable man." Lataro spoke.
"The crew is also deeply concerned about the loss of Nipron life." She added.
He finally looked into her eyes, "The Nipron are savages." Even with her abilities dulled by the medication prescribed, she could read Lataro's strong reaction. All the emotions emanating from him were strong. The reaction was a deep stir of emotion including truth, guilt, and disgust. "Even savages sometimes deserve to live."
The turbo lift doors shot open at Lataro's deck. He hesitated for a moment, "Counselor, use your talents and see to the crew." Without another word he stepped out and the door closed in front of her.
She paused for a moment and spoke to herself, "Captain you are the crew." She thought it sounded rather ridiculous at first, but the truth rang through her words. "Now for the next member of the crew. Bridge."
On the bridge Captain Sharpe retained command of the Hornet. His mind was a whirl of calculations and thoughts. In the center of the turmoil was a calm. That calm overarched his persona and projected itself outwardly. She decided this was the aura that could take a moment to ease the tensions in his vertebrae and crack his neck while he ordered the death of the Nipron.
"Captain, could I speak with you?" She motioned towards a room off the bridge.
He looked at her with flat affect. He stood up and led the way. As the doors closed behind him, he initiated the conversation. "The crew?"
"Sir?" She knew what he meant, but it was important to increase dialogue.
"How is the crew?" He was not an emotional man and it appeared that the topic made him slightly uneasy.
Zirana paused before she answered, "Overall psychologically safe. Emotionally?" She tried to find the words, "Confused, angered, guilty. A jumble of emotions."
The Captain merely nodded.
She spoke frankly, "And you?"
He didn't miss a beat, "And me? I just ordered the death of 21 beings." He paused, "I have had better days." The counselor could sense the commanding officer's intrepidation and did not want to push any farther. The comm signal alerted him they were nearing the DMZ. "If that is all."
Zirana answered, "Yes, sir."
As the two left the room Sharpe turned to Liaji, "Thanks for asking."
She could not tell if he was being sarcastic or his intentions were real. She would have to learn more about the commanding officer. She had an eerie feeling she would get the opportunity.