New Beginnings (back post)

Posted on Wed Dec 31st, 2025 @ 10:18am by Lieutenant Mark Valleroy & Lieutenant JG T'Pinga

Mission: A Princess Of Tial
Timeline: Just prior to leaving Tial

T'Pinga moved towards the shuttlebay, a duffel bag slung across one shoulder. She was heading down to the shuttkebay during a quiet time on board the ship, hoping to avoid as many interactions as possible with other members of the crew as possible before catching one of the last shuttles down to the planet. She however, was not quite successful, as the security chief came up and matched her pace.

After a moment, Mark said, "So, I understand you'll be leaving us."

"That is correct," T'Pinga said simply. "I will be helping the Tialians with installation of the technology we are providing them." After a moment, she added, "I will not be alone there. Ensign Delacroix has had some past experiences with Federation duckblind missions and will be joining me here."

"Is that the only reason? To help set things up?" Mark asked, a note in his voice indicating that he wasn't quite buying that.

T'Pinga was quiet for a moment. "Lieutenant," she finally said, "are you aware of what happened on my last assignment?"

"I've gone over your personnel file, as I have with everyone else on board," Mark said. "You mean what happened to those on the Halifax on the mission that affected those with telepathic abilities?"

T'Pinga nodded. "It was a very...you humans might call it an 'unnerving experience'. While Vulcans strive to keep emotions from having influence on our lives through adherence to logic, we still have them. To so utterly lose emotional control, even when it is not our fault and we are well aware of that from a logical standpoint, it still can have a profound effect on us. While I had initially believed that I had regained emotional control after the events of that mission, and had been fully cleared to return to duty by both the Halfax's chief medical officer and chief counselor, I have found myself since then to be...struggling emotionally with how things occurred during that time period. I have found such struggles to have been increasing of late, and I fear that those struggles have been interfering with my duties on board the Chimera. In my discussions with Cass'e'Indira, though the Tialians are not telepathic I have learned of certain meditative techniques that they have that may help me to regain my emotional and logical center. Cass has offered to help teach me these meditative techniques."

"I take it that the usual Vulcan methods wouldn't work?" Mark asked. "There are other Vulcans on board who would be more than willing to help if asked."

"I am well-versed in said techniques already and have attempted them to no apparent avail," T'Pinga said. "But if the Tialian method does not offer a long-term solution, there are other options, I understand that the captain has been in contact with Starfleet Command, and another Starfleet vessel, likely a California-class ship, is scheduled to be dispatched to Tial to follow up on things here and to pick up myself and Ensign Delacroix. If all else fails, upon return to Federation space I will make arrangements to take a leave of absence and return to Vulcan for further assistance."

They had arrived at the shuttlebay by that point. Mark nodded in understanding. "You will be missed," he told her. Holding up a hand in the traditional Vulcan salute, he said, "Peace and long life."

She returned the salute. "Live long and prosper." With that, she headed towards the shuttlecraft.