Lt. Commander Foster - Both?
Jamie LeBlanc
((Donut Worry – Promenade, StarBase 118))
Wyn had always wanted to be one of those innocent sweet medical officers who agonized over the loss of patients and never would set a hand on a phaser. The Florence Nightengales or the T’Poloas of the medical world.
Instead, he started his Starfleet career with a highly mixed review as an Ensign on his first ship for being the one to fire at a clearly hostile party who was in the middle of threatening innocents. The ship’s second officer who had a security background praised him for his bravery, the ship’s Chief Medical Officer hated Wyn for his butchery. It prompted his first transfer.
In the end, Wyn determined that he wanted the fantasy of being the innocent, sweet, pacifistic medical officer because that was what people valued and he wanted to feel valued. But the reality was he was determined to protect good people, and if that meant taking martial action against people who were directly aggressing good people, then so be it. After all these years he was slowly re-wiring his brain to be proud of that rather than to deny it or hide it.
Which also meant that he would not hold it against another person, like a longtime former CMO held it against him.
Foster: I guess I’m pretty hard to disturb. I grew up on a starship and I’ve met all kinds of officers. I’d say you have an enthusiasm for doing what is right and I’m ok with that.
sh’Sonora: I mean, don’t get me wrong, if I could do a non-lethal method of threat control I will, but during our mission I found I chose efficiency over safety without much thought. I didn’t want to frell around. I saw a threat, I wanted to end it as quickly as possible. It’s frightening, you know?
His antennae tipped forward instinctively without him thinking about it, a gesture of agreement. He did know. His head then nodded, which was a Human-learned gestured. Together it read as double emphasis, even if it was pretty clear that he wasn’t trying to be over animated. Sort of like those places where each new culture named the local hill the word for hill in their language so places like Torpenhow Hill ended up translating as ‘hill hill hill hill’
Foster: There was a lot going on with Capricalia. Pirates, Romulans, Starfleet and a new lifeform. It’s a lot to process.
He watched her expression color, and her eyes drift to one side seeing an image he could not fathom. Both his antennae curled forward in deep curiosity.
sh’Sonora: Especially for a first mission. But you know what really bothered me? It’s that I may not have a Starfleet attitude about it.
Foster: I didn’t know there was a proper Starfleet attitude… what do you mean?
There was a little humor in his tome, but he was quiet, curious, listening.
sh’Sonora: I mean, we’re taught to stay our hand, to show compassion, and always find a peaceful solution. At least, that’s what’s taught in the textbooks. And some of our older professors held that ‘60s and ‘70s attitude. Yet I was taught by Dominion War veterans, and they have a more… cynical edge. Frell, my generation has that cynicism. As a kid I hear about the Borg Invasion, the Romulan collapse, how the universe has turned into such a dangerous place. And our newer instructors know that. They taught us not to frell around, don’t give the universe a chance to be a danger, beat them before they beat you. And I saw that contrast, in myself, versus the views of Lieutenant Willow. And in retrospect… It's frightening. I found her views and methods to be too soft, but is that true, or am I being too willing to be hard, to be violent? Sir, I’m not sure.
Her words echoes his previous thoughts and he found himself drawn in and considering.
Wyn knew Willow, and he liked her. She had been lauded by her Commanding officers for her diplomatic approach and ability to work with others. At the same time he was getting to know Mi’shune and he found her point of view mirrored his own.
Two people, two points of view, two truths.
Foster: What if both are true? :he offered evenly.:: She is known for and has been praised for her diplomatic approach and ability to solve problems without violence or with limited violence. But this universe also needs protectors. People willing to take action when lives are threatened even when others hesitate.
sh’Sonora: ?
He tipped both antenna towards her.
Foster: In the end we need both. The person who counsels peace and diplomacy is a necessary voice of calm in a tempest. But the person who counsels immediate action because something precious is threatened is also a necessary bulwark against inaction and may be the vanguard that saves lives.
sh’Sonora: ?
He took another drink of the hot, spicy mixture. Well, not so hot anymore as the drink was cooling as they spoke.
Foster: I admit I have had the same conversations in the medical field. You need the soft, sweet pacifist that will tend your wounds and your soul, keeping you calm when you need it the most. But you also need the field medic, willing to take a phaser and a triage kit into a hostile zone and take down an enemy to save a fallen crewmate. Just because you and Willow are wildly different does not make one of you more or less valid than the other.
sh’Sonora: ?
~*~
tags/tbc
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Lt. Commander Shar’Wyn Foster
Executive officer
StarBase 118 ops
~Julian Beck
E239010ST0