"The way ahead"

Posted on Wed Mar 15th, 2023 @ 11:37am by Lieutenant Tate Sullivan Ph.D.

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Planetside
Timeline: Immediately after counseling department briefing (episode one back post)
573 words - 1.1 OF Standard Post Measure

After the impromptu meeting of the counseling team ended planet side, Tate was filled with mixed emotions. She felt immense gratitude for being alive, for all of those who had been spared, and for being part of a team that was just as passionate about taking care of one another as she was. There was also no denying the intense sadness she felt for those they had lost and there was also no denying that she felt overwhelmed and scared, almost in equal measure. Her mind tried to remind her of all the circumstances they had overcome and all the reasons she could not give up hope, but her heart knew the circumstances were different. In the past, she could be comforted by the fact there would always be a new mission to attend to and comforted by the fact that while people would never completely forget, life would move on as only it could and had to on a busy starship.

But planet side? There would need to be a new routine established, of course, but even so, there would be no easy escape from their current circumstances, and while Tate would never give up, in the safe recesses of her own mind, she could at least acknowledge there was only so much words of comfort could do in the face of a seemingly inescapable reality.

Shaking her head to figuratively push those thoughts away, Sullivan forced herself to take several steadying breaths before she reminded herself to focus on the work ahead. Alicia did not put her in charge of caring for the children's mental health as well as the trauma therapy for the entire crew just to watch Sullivan fall apart. Alicia was counting on her to think ahead and to plan accordingly.

Attending to everyone's emotional needs in any sort of formal therapeutic way would need to be purposely delayed until all structures were set up and there was less work to keep everyone busy. As much as distraction and busywork represented the calm before the storm when it came to processing trauma, Tate understood that a certain amount of compartmentalization could be functional in the short term. The last thing she wanted to do was ask people to process what they had been through while they were still trying to actively ensure their own survival. It was only after the adrenaline stopped pumping the real work would begin.

The exception, of course, would be the children. Despite how precocious so many of them were, Tate was acutely aware they would not be in a position to do as much to distract themselves as the adults around them. For them, there would be nothing but time to contemplate what had happened and to wonder what was next. She needed to get to them sooner rather than later, she resolved mentally, wondering if it would be possible to get her hands on some art supplies or even some simple games and comforting toys. She didn't want to consider it, but it occurred to her they may need to be prepared to provide additional structure by resuming schooling.

Shaking her head once again, this time Tate allowed herself to mutter out loud, "One step at a time."

Feeling much better now that she had thought of a way forward in her own mind, she approached several members of the team who would be helping her. "OK, team, here's what I'm thinking..."