[Backlog] 'The Same Song and Dance'

Posted on 14 Sep 2025 @ 2:44pm by Ensign Ryan Collingway

616 words; about a 3 minute read

OOC: Takes place a month before reassignment to the USS Arawyn.

---Earth, San Francisco---
---Counselor's Office----

Ryan entered the counselor's office, on time as scheduled. The counselor in question, Doctor Jenzen Poliski, was an elderly man in his seventies. The counselor had wanted to call him JP. It didn't stick.

"Hello, Ryan," Jenzen greeted. "Come on in. Would you like coffee? Tea?"

"Sure," Ryan said. Truthfully, he didn't want either. But he knew how this worked. Give the counselor what he wanted, and he could leave faster. "Tea would be good."

Jenzen poured a cup, and put the tea in. "Grown out of my own garden. In a few months time, I'll be out of this business and can focus on it full time," he sighed. "And I suspect you'll be in a different place as well. I am recommending you be returned to active duty, although with a weekly session with their counselor."

"You are?" Ryan asked, surprised.

"Yes. I think you're ready for it. Are you feeling okay with that, Ryan?"

"As long as my supervisor knows the difference between left and right, it should be fine."

Jenzen frowned.

"A joke," Ryan said with a small smile. "Yes, I am fine with it. Thank you for your efforts."

Jenzen leaned back. "Why don't we go over what happened. For old times' sake." He flipped on the recording device.

Ryan sighed inwardly, but he could do it. He had told the same story, over and over again, so much so that he could recite it in his sleep. It was getting easier every time. "We were on a mission to Neval 4. The colony there had made advances towards a new type of communications technology. Unfortunately, that peaked the interest of the borg. By the time we got there..the colony was gone. Assimilated. We were just a bonus to the borg."

"They shot our shields, and beamed over. They started to infiltrate deck by deck, as is their usual way-"

"-you're overanalyzing again," Jenzen interrupted. "We've spoken about this. Try not to pull yourself out of what happened."

"Right," Ryan said. "I was part of a non-essential team of engineers that had been ordered to evacuate. Our leader was my friend, Lieutenant Mendon. He was a Benzite. There were two possible ways to the escape pods-either to the left or the right. Escape pods were docked on either side. Mendon said he was going to check out the right. We waited for him, and then the borg came to the left. We fired at them. Full vaporization. That was the only setting that worked against them, at that point. I had...shot Mendon in the confusion."

"Because Mendon was suddenly behind the borg, on the left. You didn't see him there until it was too late," Jenzen said.

"Yes," Ryan agreed.

Jenzen frowned. "Why would he do that? Why would he return in the wrong passage?"

"I don't know. It was dark. Chaotic. He probably was confused. Or he was trying to sneak up on them. We'll never know." Ryan kept his gaze focused on a spot on the floor.

"And how do you feel about this?"

Ryan swallowed. "I've learned that I am not blame. What happened was outside of my control."

"I am glad you've realized that. You've come a long way from day one," Jenzen said. "I've cleared you for active duty. By ready to report back for active assignment in three day's time."

"Yes sir," Ryan said, and stood. "And...good luck with your retirement."

Jenzen smiled at him. "Thank you."

Ryan left the counselor's office, and released a small breath. He released his clenched hands.

Ensign Ryan Collingway
Awaiting Reassignment

 

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