Good Food, Better Company

Posted on Wed Oct 28th, 2026 @ 2:30am by Captain Taiga Aisaka & Commander Thomas Johnson
Edited on on Wed Oct 28th, 2026 @ 2:32am

2,231 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Kintsugi
Location: Starfleet Academy - San Francisco - Earth
Timeline: Tuesday, 15th April 2397, 12:00 - Stardate 74286.3

With the half way mark of the first class over, question period would take up most of the second part of the day. They had decided that explanation of the heralds tactics, weaponry and overall information would be half theory, and half questions. Make sure those that had questions, would have those questions answered promptly.

Watching the final group leave the lecture hall, "So... there is a new cafe down the corridor, care for a bite to eat?" Thomas asked as they both tidied up the desk. This being the first day of their seminars, their information was basically an information gathering, on who the iconians were. dispelling the myths that were gathered previously from archaeologists.

"Sounds perfect," Taiga stated in response. It was shortly followed up by a low growl emanating from her stomach. "Its almost as if you knew I was hungry."

"Well... you are still eating for two... Talia is the same... kinda like clockwork." Thomas replied as he gathered the pads. "So. for question period, what do you expect?"

"Eating for two?" Taiga asked cocking her head to one side. "Oh wait, you mean the whole breastfeeding thing?". She stretched as she made her way around the front desk. "Speaking of which, how are Talia and the rest of your crew doing?"

"My crew..." He paused. "Right you are still not back yet. The ones that have stayed are on leave. Talia, has been recruited to assist with counselling people coming from the front lines. Nezuko has decided to come back a little later, where on her return will assist with the decoding of the heralds computers, being the expert on the matter. The dr, and Col Ashok are off to the klingon defence force to assist with briefing them about the enemy. How that exactly going to go, no idea. When I get back to the tokyo tonight, as I plan to deal with the ship after the seminars, I have more transfer request, and have to put in for additional crew. We lost a lot, recruits may come from those that lost their ship. So even when we get back to space, there probably be a lot needing counselling as we are out there."

Taiga scowled, she took a couple of steps upto him and lightly punched his arm. "Not what I mean Tom!" She said. "I meant how are Talia, Nezuko, Tahuna and Wyatt doing? You know, your crew!"

"Right. when you said crew, I thought you meant the crew." Thomas replied as he started walking down the corridor. "They are doing ok. Talia is still sore from her caesarian. Nezukos spending extra time wih her family on Amphea. should be back in a few days. Tahuna... shes off with Talia learning about her ancestors... I hope she understands, that we weren't always the kind people. That her ancestors had a hard time."

Placing both hands behind her head, Taiga fell into line beside him. "Preaching to the choir. Ancient Japan was a ruthless place, full of death and war. Not to mention an honour system that would make a Klingon blush."

"Kind of makes you wonder if thats all the iconians see. They say we are a violent race, to them 900 years is a blink of an eye. Some points, I guess we can't really blame them. Most of our history is filled with violence." Thomas replied as he turned the corner, just down the hall from the corridor from the cafe. "Wish there was a way we could convince them thats not how we are now. It seems, too late, we had at least made M'Tara wonder, but look what that got her."

"The big question is, why is T'Ket so angry?" Taiga asked with a sigh as they reached the recently refurbished Cafe. "This brings me back. I spent a lot of time in here as a cadet. Although back then it was nothing but a glorified campus canteen," she said. The layout was pretty much the same, a spacious rectangular room with serving tables and replicators. However gone were the old tables and chairs made of metal. In their place were spacious dining booths and wooden table and chairs, complete with pristine tablecloths.

Several cadets and some of the Academy staff were already there. Many of which were chatting whilst they ate. Typical of Starfleet Academy the room was washed with a variety of different species and Starfleet Uniforms. "Looks like its quite the popular spot."

"Wouldn't I give for the cheap ass coffee they used to serve here as if it was strained through a dirty sock. It was horrible but it was ours."

A genuine laugh escaped Taiga's lips at that comment. "Yeah, it was pretty nasty. I can't believe you used to like it!" she continued to chuckle as she made her way towards the serving counter. Unlike on Starships, Starfleet Academy had always served fresh food alongside replicated dishes and drinks. Apparently it was something that Chancellor Clover had implemented when she took command of the Academy back in the seventies. Her whole argument had been that nutrition was an important part of learning and it helped the cadets not only appreciate the meaning of healthy food, but encouraged a healthy lifestyle which worked jointly with having a healthy mind and attitude. Taiga didn't always understand it, but she did like properly prepared food, especially Ryuuji's. She glanced up at the clock that was set into the wall. It would be close to four in the morning at home back in Tokyo. As she picked up a metal tray and slid it across the serving counter's railings, she couldn't help but wonder if Ryuuji was giving Riko her 4 a.m. feed as per usual. She shook it off, of course he was, he was a far better timekeeper than she had ever been. No doubt he'd already been up for the previous thirty minutes preparing their daughter's milk and ensuring that it was more sterile than the biobed upon which a brain surgeon worked.

"I wonder what they have today..." Taiga said, as she tried to turn her attention to her lunch. "Looks like it's Italian dishes today. I always found pasta a bit heavy..." she said with a rather disappointing tone. "So many carbohydrates, but I have to admit the meatballs do look rather appetising."

"Meatballs were my favourite." Thomas replied as he looked at the variety of pasta available. Opting for the linguine, with meat sauce with extra meatballs. Followed by apple pie for dessert and a root beer, to drink. "And I didn't exactly say I liked it. Just miss the old times."

"You know what, screw it." Taiga said. She loaded up her plate with spaghetti and meatballs with plenty of rich tomato sauce. "I might as well treat myself every now and again. Plus, I'm going to need the extra calories to get through our next seminar." She made her way over to one of the tables after opting for a very rich-looking slice of chocolate cake and pouring cream and a glass of carbonated cola to drink. It was nothing like what she would usually eat, and Ryuuji would be having a heart attack at seeing such a mixture of different foods on one tray, but at this moment, Taiga wasn't really thinking about what he would be saying about her lunch. She didn't doubt he would have wanted to balance the meal, like he always did, but that wasn't on her agenda today in the slightest. "Speaking of which," she said as she placed her tray down on the tablecloth. "Our next one is the one with the Admiral's and Starfleet Captain's. I heard that it should be held at Headquarters, but they just don't have the same lecturing and briefing facilities as the Academy." she told Thomas. "So, our next one will be much more detailed. Not just the basic anthropology we just delivered to the cadets."

"That's fine... I heard there is several hundred coming on via holocommunication." Thomas replied. "Can't say I'm much of a fan of it." Opting for the chopsticks rather than fork, "So who are you expecting to make a grand entrance?"

"Several hundred yeah, but not all at once thankfully." Taiga replied. "Its a good job that the lecture theatre they equipped with the new subspace holo-communication can seat a good one-fifty," she added as she stabbed one of the meatballs with a fork, opting not to use chopsticks. "And I don't make grand entrances!"

"Well, I don't think your little one got it from your husband," Thomas replied with a smirk. "Besides I was talking about our guests."

Taiga blinked for a few seconds. She was half way through a mouthful of spaghetti and meatballs. She swallowed clearing her mouth before she spoke. "I fully expect Captain Takahashi to make some sort of 'grand entrance'," she said. "She seems to be the 'look at me, look at me' type of person. Apart from her the only other people I expect will turn heads if they attend are Admiral Janeway and Admiral Picard." She twirled her fork around to gather more spaghetti upon it before raising it to her mouth. "I do have to admit, I would love to meet Admiral Janeway. I remember the day she brought Voyager home and the celebrations in San Francisco. Of course I was fifteen at the time." She popped the spaghetti into her mouth. Truthfully she had written her final paper for her Advanced Starship Tactics class on Voyager's time in the Delta Quadrant, much of which had been written in this room because the library didn't allow food.

"I was second year academy at the time... her first flyby... was majestic," Thomas agreed. "I honestly forgot that you are younger than me... yet so many look up to you... metaphorically speaking."

Taiga smiled, as much as that was a joke about her height she found it funny. "I did join Starfleet at sixteen. Plus, if you've ever read my file, you'll know I was originally field promoted to command the Tokyo." She twirled another helping of spaghetti and finished with a meatball on her fork. "And, I seem to be doing ok with that." She leant over the table so she was a little closer. Lowering her voice to a more hushed tone, "Truthfully between you and me, most of the time I'm 'winging it' as the Tokyo's captain. Just, don't tell the crew..."

"Honestly, I'd say your full of crap if you said anything otherwise." He replied with a smile, taking the last meatball off his plate. "I have better meat at my ranch. I got a herd of cattle, its gotten large, so Nezuko has graciously offered to help cut the herd down. Care for some when we get back to the Tokyo?"

Taiga withdrew and let out a small chuckle. "I have a better idea. Why not bring some fresh cuts over on Saturday to my place. I'm sure Ryuuji would be overjoyed to get his hands on fresh meat. Plus, he did say he wanted to have you and your family over for dinner," Taiga suggested. "And, we wouldn't have to worry about the dishes. I swear that's one of his guilty pleasures, the little clean-freak that he is."

"I'll make sure that we have the juiciest steaks ready for Saturday. Thing about Nezuko, she does like her meats. I thought I was a big eater at two large, she eats double than me, sometimes more! Her tiny frame hides a ferocious appetite. I have no idea how she keeps thin."

Taiga couldn't help but smile. "Well, she is an Amphea. Her primary diet does comprise of meat," she twirled the last of the spaghetti and meatball on her fork. "I'll let Ryuuji know when I get home today. He's been searching for an excuse to use his cast-iron skillet. Not that he's said that directly, but I've noticed the way he's been eyeing it recently." She popped the last of her lunch into her mouth and quickly swallowed it. She then pushed the plate aside and pulled the slice of chocolate cake closer. "Hello beautiful..."

"Women and their chocolate cake." He replied as he eyed the pie. "I should have gotten ice cream with it," He looked around and noticed a large tub of it in the freezer area. Taking the plate of pie, he went over and scooped a large dallop of ice cream on to the pie, so much so that it wasn't visible any longer. Walked back over. "Personally chocolate... I can do without, I haven't eaten it in months, and Talia, and Nezuko both are more than willing to take my share."

"More for us then." Taiga replied as she sliced a chunk of the cake off with the side of her dessert fork. The moment its sweet and rich taste touched her tongue a sense of pleasure and pure bliss ran through her body. Her shoulders relaxed as she closed her eyes, savouring the flavour. After a few seconds she opened her eyes to look up at Thomas. "After this, I'm totally going to be ready to face those Admirals and Captains!"

Posting by:

Captain Taiga Aisaka
Commanding Officer
USS Tokyo

Commander Thomas Johnson
Executive Officer
USS Tokyo

 

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