Toni's interview

Posted on Fri Dec 5th, 2025 @ 12:54am by Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels & Lieutenant Sky Carey

Mission: Those who are left behind

Toni was waiting in the counselling department waiting area pacing around. Behaving exactly as she had seen many patients behave over the years. Her career was in the hands of some stranger who could declare her unfit in just one interview. How insane was that?

“Commander” Felix offered a polite smile as he popped his head around the door of the spare office. “Please…” he motioned Toni inside.

"Thank you." She replied and followed him inside and took a seat on the sofa. Feeling like a bug about to be dissected.

“Relax Commander” Felix offered as he took a seat. “I’m not here on a witch hunt, I’m going to be totally impartial. I’ve already spoken with your friend Sky. She’s a dedicated friend, as well as your ship’s Chief Counsellor.”

"And my patient." Toni snapped back. "Don't forget that I still practice with a few patients. So I know all the therapist bullshit." She exhaled sharply. "Sorry, you don't deserve that."

“I’ll let you have that one for free” Felix waved it off. “However I won’t tolerate it a second time. I know you’re a therapist Toni, and a good one from what I’ve read and heard. I feel that being both First Officer and Counsellor for your friend could be seen as a conflict of interest by others at Starfleet. Hence why I suggested an outside Therapist for Sky.”

"it's not always so cleancut when serving on a ship." Toni said. "When I worked in a hospital it was easy to stick to the rules, don't see your patients outside of therapy. That does not work on a ship. Besides she needed a trauma specialist after what happened to her and I was the only one within days so it fell to me to help her through. I don't regret it."

Felix nodded. “I don’t disagree with you there. Now back to the events with Commander Price, walk me through events as you see them.”

"If you got a minute." She smiled then started to tell him the whole story from her point of view leaving nothing out. She started with admitting her mistake of not being very friendly when he came onboard just because he was an intel officer. But that she had acknowledged that to him and they had had a good talk which should have been the end of it. "But he kept rubbing me the wrong way." Toni said winding down. "that last mission of which he accused me of doing everything wrong, I reluctantly allowed it. If it had been anyone else I would have gone to the captain first. But to show my good will I let him go. But I urged him to take security with him and he ignored my request. And then when he came back seriously injured because of it, everything was suddenly my fault. And the way he attacked my character and my dad's. It was vicious, Felix, absolutely vicious."

Felix nodded as he made notes as Toni spoke. “The whole point of being bottled up aboard a Starship for months, or even years, is beyond me. In my opinion it can put a great deal of stress on those onboard especially in cases like this. Plus you only have a small Counselling department onboard ship, which doesn’t help matters much. May I ask if you’ve tried talking to Commander Price since then?”

"No after I tried a few times and all he could do was verbally attack me and my family I just gave up." Toni looked tired and defeated right then.

Felix nodded. It was obvious to him that Toni had tried, but had faced difficult circumstances. “I understand. Now how are you finding your duties as First Officer of the Resolution?”

"I mostly enjoy it. I am still learning a lot as well but the captain is a good and patient tutor. Overall I think I have a good working relationship with the crew."

Felix nodded as he kept notes, everything had to be noted for his report. “I'm glad to hear you're enjoying it. Being First Officer puts a lot of weight on your shoulders, the well-being of the ship and crew are in your hands. Part of Starfleet training has you face the possibility of having to send crew out, who may not come back, how do you feel about that?”

"It's hard. And it should be hard. Command officers always have to way the risks very carefully so nobody dies needlessly. If it is done well, it saves lives in the end. I do find it the hardest part of the command track." She said honestly.

Felix nodded. “You're honest and I appreciate that Commander. “How do you feel about your family being pulled into events?”

"That is something I am used to. I have lived in fear my whole life. It's nearly killed me a time or two and it killed my best friend's sister. I wish it would just stop."

Felix nodded. “In your position I’d feel the same.” He looked up from his notes giving her a smile. “I think I’ve covered what I need to cover for now, if there’s anything more I’ll let you know.”

Toni came to her feet. "Thank you, I know you will be honest."