Old Halls, New Role

Posted on Tue Oct 13th, 2026 @ 9:33pm by Captain Taiga Aisaka & Vice Admiral Alina Clover & Commander Laila Bennet

2,819 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Kintsugi
Location: Starfleet Academy - San Francisco - Earth
Timeline: Monday, 14th April 2397, 07:00 - Stardate 74283.0

The transporter pad hummed as it powered up. Several blue dots began to dance and shimmer as they formed the shape of a rather small person. After a few seconds, there stood Captain Taiga Aisaka. She was back in her Starfleet uniform, which Ryuuji had made sure was pristine and perfect earlier while she slept. She had left her house in Tokyo at 2300 hours local time and, instead of taking an overnight transport, had managed to gain permission to beam to San Francisco via Earth Spacedock. The huge space station above Earth was more of a floating city in space and had beamed her up at 2300 Tokyo time as planned, only to beam her down a few moments later directly into one of the Academy's transporter rooms.

"Welcome to Starfleet Academy, Captain," a voice greeted her. Standing there, looking up at the captain, was a woman in her early thirties. She had chestnut brown hair arranged in twin-tails, and beautiful Amber-brown eyes. She wore the same uniform as Taiga, with white shoulders indicating command division. However, only three pips were on her collar. In her hand, she held a PADD, which she tucked under one arm as she approached and extended a hand.

"Commander Bennet, I presume?" Taiga asked. She gave the other woman a smile as she stepped forward and took her hand. They exchanged a handshake for a split moment before the other woman broke the connection.

"Yes, Captain, although you can call me Laila if you like," she replied. "Admiral Clover sent me down to ensure you find your way to her office before you start your lecture preparations." She gave her a slightly confused look. "Although I am a little curious. According to Admiral Clover, you should know the way to her office. Pretty well, from what she told me?"

Taiga gave her a nervous smile. "You could say that... I've been there a few times before. When I was a cadet..." She didn't want to admit that in her years at the Academy she had not only known the location of the Chancellors office, but had been sent there or had to report there several times. She also didn't want to admit that back then she had developed a bit of a reputation, and not in a good way. Frankly back then she was surprised that she even graduated. It felt strange to be back at the Academy. Just like everyone's old alma mater, it hadn't changed. It was still the same establishment, with the same buildings and lecture halls. Yes, it had received several upgrades and a fresh lick of paint in the years since she left, but to Taiga, it was still very much the same place.

Laila led her out of the transporter room and down the corridors that led away from the six transporter rooms present at the Academy. They soon found themselves standing in the large central garden. Directly in the middle stood a large oak tree which shaded the gardens around it. Water features complemented the array of flower beds and stone walkways. The Golden Gate Bridge sat in the distance, spanning the bay, the tops of its towers slightly hidden by the fresh morning mist that rolled in off the Pacific. Taiga followed the Commander through the central garden area towards another building of the campus that she knew far too well to admit. The administration building.

"It never changes here does it?" Taiga asked as they started climbing the staircase up to the upper floors.

"Not really. We get new equipment, of course. But the layout hasn't really changed. I believe that Admiral Clover likes it that way. It's familiar." Laila explained as they climbed together. She glanced down at her PADD as she led the way up the stairs. She obviously did this on a daily basis. No doubt the commander knew every step and exactly where she was putting her feet. After all, she seemed quite oblivious to the fact that they were climbing stairs as she tapped away at the PADD. Taiga watched in awe, and she could feel a slight burning in her chest. She wasn't used to stairs these days. After all, starships rarely had stairs. They opted for fast turbolift connections between decks, and occasionally she had to use a Jeffries tube, which had rung ladders. Climbing stairs was not one of her common activities since she began serving on starships.

It was safe to say that by the end of the long stairwell, Taiga found herself a little out of breath. "Wait..." she panted as she leant against the handrail at the very top.

Laila looked back over her shoulder. Then twirled around to face Taiga. "Erm..."

"Sorry. I'm not used to stairs these days. Plus..." Taiga tried to explain.

Laila gave her a soft smile. "Oh yeah. I did read that you've recently had a baby, too. Congratulations on that."

Taiga nodded. She wouldn't have used that as an excuse for why she was failing at climbing up a building with so many stairs. Nevertheless, she nodded. If Laila was going to accept that, then she would roll with it. "Aren't there any turbolifts in this building?" she finally asked as she straightened up after catching her breath.

"Of course there is," Laila grinned. "But I take the stairs by default. I find it helps me get my steps and daily exercise in... I do sit behind a desk all day..." she admitted. ""Sorry, I kind of went into autopilot. I didn't think about it, I just did it..."

That explained a lot. No doubt this was just part of the commander's normal routine. "Thats ok. Next time, however, I'm taking the turbolift. No offence to your daily exercise, but I would rather not have a workout every time I need to come up here." Taiga straightened her uniform as she stood up straight again. "Lead the way. But please, no more stairs if you can help it?"

[Starfleet Academy Chancellor's Office]

The office of the Chancellor was large and spacious. It had a large curved wall that sported windows looking over San Francisco bay and the campus gardens. They provided a beautiful backdrop for the chancellors mahogany desk and comfortable leather chair. Upon the desk sat a personal computer console, as well as a selection of other old-fashioned stationery. Three comfortable chairs for people visiting the Chancellor sat in front of the desk, and directly behind them were two large squashy couches.. The entrance doorway, which consisted of double sliding doors complete with frosted glass, faced the desk and couches. The entire room was completed by built in bookshelves and cabinets down each wall, upon which books, starship models and personal holographic photographs sat. In one corner of the room, just behind the desk itself sat the Starfleet Academy flag on a tripod fixture. If anyone were to compare this office to one from history, they might have said that it resembled the Oval Office, from where the United States of America had once been governed in the White House.

"Come in," a voice called as a chime broke the silence of the room.

The doors opened and in walked Laila closely followed by Taiga. The Chancellor, Vice Admiral Alina Clover, rose to her feet as both women entered. She was a woman who had been running the Academy for a very long time, yet she didn't seem to age. Her long brown-mauve hair seemed to flow as she came to her feet, and she studied both officers in front of her with emerald-green eyes. She gave Taiga a confident and yet stern look as she approached the desk.

Taiga felt a knot in her stomach as she approached the Chancellor. It seemed like only yesterday that she had been in here, being told to stop being a brat and to shape herself up if she ever wanted to graduate. Of course, the scolding had come with an additional lesson, and the Chancellor had kept her there for the next two and a half hours until she had taught Taiga the meaning of her actions that day. Taiga couldn't even remember what she had done, but she knew that it was serious enough for Chancellor Clover to call her personally and order her to this very office. "Admiral Clover. It's nice to... be back?"

The facade dropped on Alina's face. "Its been a long time hasn't it, Aisaka?" she asked softly. "Honestly, it feels like only yesterday that I was face-to-face with a rather emotionally unstable young woman. I do believe you took on three Nausicaans in The Waypoint down on Chestnut Street?"

Taiga rubbed the back of her head as a slightly nervous smile spread across her face. "Yeah... That did happen, didn't it? I did say I was sorry..."

"Uh huh..." Alina replied simply. "After nearly, what, three hours of me going through it with you? You sat on that very couch..." She pointed at the couch to her left and the furthest-away cushion. "And at one point, you were so angry you were physically shaking." Alina couldn't help but smile as a wave of nostalgia came over her. But you had potential, and now I can see that it's paid off. But, you had potential and now I can see that its paid off. You're back here after all these years with four pips on your collar. I'll admit that you have exceeded my expectations of you, Taiga."

Taiga froze for a split second. Did she just call her by her first name? Obviously she would know it, but it was rare for first named to be used in Starfleet, especially in formal settings and meetings. It was also the first time she had ever heard the Admiral call her Taiga instead of 'Aisaka' or 'Cadet'.

"Thank you, Admiral." Taiga stated in response. Truthfully she was a little stunned having heard that. "I assume that you know why I am here?" she asked.

"Of course I do. In fact, I was the one that requested you. I have spent the last few weeks ensuring that we are ready for you." Alina explained as she indicated for her to sit down. "Why not take a seat. We'll go through the little details that Starfleet no doubt left out for security reasons."

Taiga lowered herself into one of the chairs opposite, whilst Laila stood to one side tapping on her PADD.

"First things first. Your lectures and seminars are open to all current cadets of third year or higher. I have ensured that all cadets know that this is an optional course and what its contents will be. I would advise you ensure that all fields are accounted for." Alina explained. "As well as cadets, other Starfleet personnel, from Captains to Admirals, may also attend your lectures. I have actually expressed an interest in some of the lectures you have planned myself. Although, many of them may not be in the room, we have organised for those who are interested in being able to remote in through the use of long range holographic communications technology." She explained.

"How does that work?" Taiga asked curiously.

"Its simple really. They'll be on the holodeck of their ship, connected to the holographic communications network we've been experimenting with. Holographic projectors will render them in the lecture hall in real time. Meanwhile their holodeck will project the lecture room around them in real time. So essentially they will be sitting in the room with you. They will also be able to interact with you, just not physically." Alina explained. "The Starfleet Corps of Engineers attempted this sort of communication back in the '70s. However it never really took off. However, communications technology has come a long way in the years since. I will warn you though, this is still very experimental. So it might not always work or operate correctly."

"It sounds like literally being in two places at once." Taiga commented.

"Essentially, it is, yes." Alina replied with a smile. "Anyway, we are assigning you to Lecture Hall Twenty-Six. That is the one that has been adapted for this. A team of engineers will be available all day if there are any technical problems."

Taiga nodded. "Understood Admiral," she replied. "May I ask, what is the scheduling like? I would like to get started as soon as I can. My husband and daughter are still at home back in Tokyo, so I would like to keep them informed."

"Ah, yes." Alina said. "May I offer my congratulations on the birth of your daughter. I hope one day that Riko will walk through the Academy doors, just like you did. Although, I hope she takes more after her father than her mother when it comes to temperance..." she gave Taiga a cheeky but playful smirk. "As for your home life. I have arranged for you to be able to transport here on a daily basis and back again via Earth Spacedock. Exactly as you did this morning. I understand your need to be with your newborn daughter and how important it is for you to have time away from the Academy..." she glanced over at Laila. It was obvious that she was indicating something about the commander.

"As for the lectures. Your first one is scheduled for tomorrow morning. As for the rest of today, Laila over there is going to show you around, brief you on Academy protocol, and show you all the spots you weren't allowed to see as a cadet." she explained. "Like the staff room for example. Also, do be aware that many of our other professors and lecturers are ranked lower than you. It's very rare that we get captains teaching here at the Academy. More often than not they want to be out there commanding starships, not stuck here on Earth." There was a definite hint of regret in her voice, but unless one was listening very closely it was hardly audible. Instead, she seemed far more relaxed and comfortable sitting behind the solid wood desk shaping the minds of generations of Starfleet Officers.

"I understand Admiral." Taiga replied with an understanding nod.

"Good." Alina said. "Oh, and relax a little, Taiga. I may have been your chancellor once upon a time, just like I was Laila's over there, and no doubt most of your crew's. But you've got four pips on your collar now and you've come a long way. Not just as an officer but as a woman. Hell, at this rate, by the time you're my age, you'll be a Fleet Admiral," she chuckled.

Taiga raised an eyebrow. "I don't mean to be rude... However..."

Alina pondered for a moment. A deep chuckle began at her belly, slowly rising up and into a laugh. "That was a little joke," she laughed. "Unfortunately, due to my El-Aurian half, I am indeed much older than you already. Sometimes I forget that. I don't really look back on the past. Keep looking forward; that's the best way to go about it." she smiled. "Regardless, you're much closer to me in rank and position now than you were back then, so chill out. Just don't act informal in front of the cadets. Many of them still need to be taught how discipline and command structures work. "So, if any of them step out of line, feel free to smack them around a little..." She paused. "Figuratively speaking, of course. Don't actually send them to the infirmary like you did with those three Nausicaans."

She couldn't hold it in; a burst of laughter escaped Taiga's lips. "I'll try Admiral. I am looking forward to being the one at the front of the lecture hall, instead of the one asleep at the back of it."

Alina laughed again. "That's the spirit. Just give me a shout if you need anything. Oh, and whatever you do... Don't cause me to work overtime. I like my own home. I'm way past working myself harder than I need to."

"Understood," Taiga said.

After that, Laila led Taiga out of the room. Once both women had returned to the corridor, Laila turned to Taiga. "Can I ask, Captain? How in the world did you take out three Nausicaans and not manage to get stabbed through the heart or something?"

Taiga waggled a finger at Laila. "Ah, that, Commander, is for me to know and you to find out." With that said, she took the lead, opting to head for the turbolifts instead of the stairs. This was going to be a whole new adventure for her career, even if it was essentially like working the night shift as she was commuting daily from Japan.

Posting by:

Captain Taiga Aisaka
Commanding Officer
USS Tokyo

Commander Laila Bennet
Aide to Chancellor of Starfleet Academy

Vice Admiral Alina Clover
Chancellor of Starfleet Academy

 

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