Expectations (Part 1)
Posted on Thu May 28th, 2026 @ 3:02am by Captain Kaede Kayano & Lieutenant JG Talissa Solwick
2,217 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Back Into Action
Location: USS Yamato, Transporter Room
Timeline: Current
Location: USS Perseus, Guest Quarters
The Back Story...
"Talissa, thank you for allowing me to take you to the Yamato, its a good ship. And I believe you will have a chance to make some real friendships. The crew is being assembled, no established friendship or cliques you have to worry about." Treyla said as walked into the quarters assigned to Talissa, while hitched ride to Earth. The USS Portland was at Vulcan, around the same time that the USS Perseus was. Treyla commanded the USS Perseus.
"You worry about me to much." Talissa said, trying to sound a little arrogant. An old defensive habit. She hated expressing any emotion that might make her sound weak. She could not help it, but she was trying. She caught herself doing it. "Sorry you're right. Sorry Cousin."
Treyla reached over and gave her a hug. "You need to be less guarded, and allow others in." She pointed out to her younger cousin. "Starfleet will be lonely, if you don't let others in."
"I know, I know. But in the past I wasted so much time with people who did not share my goals. It hurt to watch them pull away. I dont want to go through that experience again."
Treyla smiled warmly. "It's part of life, you can not hide from it. Learn from it."
"You say that, but its not that easy. I don't know how to let it go. Clearly, its a weakness to my personality." Talissa said, again defensive, but trying to be open and communicate her feelings.
"I would suggest talking to Doctor Pierce, once you arrive. The good doctor should be able to help you out." Treyla said, rubbing her arm for comfort.
"I'll consider it." Talissa suggested to Treyla.
Treyla just looked at her, a long hard stare.
"I'm serious, I will talk with her." Talissa said, feeling the concern coming from Treyla. She gave a nervous grin on her face.
“What happened to me? I thought I was ready for this, now I am second guessing myself.” Talissa started to point out.
“How so?” Treyla asked, curious to see what her reasoning for this lack of trust in herself. What was causing it.
“Everyone is really good at their job. At the academy I was on the same level as the others, but people in the fleet are better than me.” Talissa pointed out.
“Why do you feel that way?”Treyla asked, with a big warm smile on her face.
Talissa thought about it for a moment, then responded. “The Portland, opened my eyes, I felt that I really needed to perform, and they were still better so it made me compete even more. In the process, I felt any chances of real friendship would not be achievable.”
“The fleet does have some really talented officers, but don't sell yourself short. You got to the position because you are worthy.” Treyla suggested to Talissa. “Now believe in yourself.”
“You are so certain, and wise. How do you do it?” Talissa asked.
“Experience and being a parent, mainly. You’ll get there too Talissa.” Treyla said, as she gave her another hug.
Talissa hugged her again, and said. “I hope so.”
"Are you ready for the next chapter of your life?" Treyla asked, as she waited for Talissa to respond.
"No, I thought I was. How will know if I am ready to lead my department?" Talissa said.
"You don't, you wont know until you can try. I know you can do it, but I am not the one that has to convince you." Treyla said, as the scene fades away.
"Then who?" Talissa asked, already fearing the answer.
"You." Treyla said, as the scene fades.
Location: USS Yamato, Transporter Room
Talissa beamed aboard the USS Yamato, a sovereign class design from the 70's. A stable design, well thought of. A ship designed around the concept and time of defeating the Borg. A ship class that proved itself during the Dominion War, or so she had been told. She was not apart of the Dominion War. She took a look around, surveying the area as she saw the duty officer. "Lieutenant Talina Solwick, requesting permission to come aboard."
The duty officer looked at her. "Granted Sir."
"Sir, oh please never call me that again. I prefer Ma'am or Lieutenant." Talissa suggested to him, as she gave him a stern look. She hated being called sir.
"Understood Ma'am, the Captain wants to see you as soon as you arrived." The Duty Officer reported to her.
"Understood." Talissa said with a warm smile on her face, as she started to walk out of the turbolift, she walked down the corridor and into the turbolift. Next stop would be the bridge.
Location: USS Yamato, CO Ready Room
After a few minutes, Talissa finally made it to the CO's Ready Room. She tapped on the intercom, waiting to be let in. She was a bit nervous, this was her first post as Chief Control Flight Officer. She did not want to screw up this meeting.
The sound of something falling over could be heard, followed swiftly by a "Damn it!". Then there was a brief pause. "Comem in.." the female voice called out.
Talissa hesitated for a moment, taken a deep breath. And then she thought to herself. *You can do this!* With her confidence up, she walked into the ready room, trying to show confidence, but deep down being worried. She wanted to make a good first impression. She walked over to the desk. She centered up on the desk and snapped to the position of attention. "Lieutenant Junior Grade Talissa Solwick reporting for duty, Sir."
"Here, take this." A voice said from behind and under the desk. A bright yellow cloth flew out from under there. Hot tea was spilt all across the desk and was starting to slowly drip onto the carpet. The remains of a glass teapot was at the center of the spill, shards of glass scattered around it. Evidently it had been dropped and the resulting smash had caused this mess. "Watch yourself though, there's glass everywhere..."
Talissa was not sure what to make of this scene. Was her new captain just as flawed as she was? "Let me help you clean that up, Captain?" Talissa asked, breaking protocol, and leaning down to help clean up the mess.
"You're a lifesaver. The last thing I need is to be explaining to the Yard Engineers why this new carpet is already stained!" The Captain said. As their eyes met under the desk, the young looking Captain met eyes with the Lieutenant. "Welcome to the Ready Room floor. I'm Captain Kaede Kayano..." She smiled as she continued to dab the carpet with her own cloth. "Sorry about this..." she looked at the womans collar. "...Lieutenant." She added.
Talissa started to pick up the bigger glass shard pieces, making sure not to cut herself. "Not a problem Captain. I hope my arrival did not make you spill your drink." Talissa said, hoping she was not the reason for this blunder. There is a few lessons you learn early in the academy. Never cause your Captain grief, was one of those lessons.
"Oh no. That was my own stupid fault." Kaede laughed. "I was far too focused on something else, the door chime made me jump. I'm still getting used to the door chime going every five minutes these days." She explained as she pulled herself up and began to run her cloth over the desk. "Do me a favour, pass those shards here. I'll throw them into the replicator to be recycled. Luckily, it was only a standard issue teapot. Nothing fancy." She held out cupped handsm for the Lieutenant to put the shards into.
Talissa gently placed the shards in the captain's hands. "I guess the joys of being a Captain in Starfleet. Listening to the door chime over and over." Talissa said, trying to be humorous. Hoping she was not failing at it. She was nervous, and she was trying to play it off.
"You'd thought that I'd be used to it now. But after being out of the fleet for fourteen years, I got used to the peace and quiet." She smiled as she crossed around the desk and dumped the glass shards into the replicator. She activated it to recycle the glass and they disappeared in a haze of blue and white light.
She then turned to face the Lieutenant. "Well, like I said. Sorry about all that. I haven't had a spill like that since Sakura was little. She learnt that tea can scold you that day." She chuckled as she made her way back to the desk. She sat down and placed both hands on her desk. It was then she noticed a drop of red blood.
"Oh, I warned you about cutting yourself. But it seems I did it for you." she laughed. She soon located a tiny cut on her index finger. She held it up and then instantly stuck it into her mouth. "Hmm..." she said before taking it out. "It seems I need to get more iron in my diet... I should talk to Nagisa about that..." She then turned her attention back to the Lieutenant. "I'm sorry Lieutenant. This is hardly a good first impression. I'm guessing you're here to report in?"
Talissa was thrown off balance by this whole interaction. This was not typical first meeting. In some ways, she appreciated it. For a brief moment she gathered her thoughts. Repositioned herself to the center of the desk. "Yes Captain, Lieutenant Junior Grade Talissa Solwick, reporting for duty." She decided the best way to save this train wreck, was start a due over.
"Well, let me be first to welcome you to the Yamato. How about I put a new fresh pot of tea on?" She asked as she once again stood up and crossed around the desk. She made her way to the corner of the room by the window and opened the door of a built in wall cabinet. It swung down and inside was several small slots in which jars of fresh tea were stored. A china teapot, along with cups and saucers were neatly stacked inside and a spouted tap.
"Any particular blend you like Talissa? I have quite the collection here, all fresh of course. I don't drink the replicated tea if I can help it?" Kaede asked as she pulled out the florally decorated teapot and with a small klink removed the lid.
"Surprise me Captain." Talissa said, hoping this was not some sort of test. Choose your tea, to determine what type of person you are. She was not sensing deception in her captain's tone. But she preferred to play it safe, and have the captain choose for her. "I have not had good tea, in a long time. So thank you for this treat, Captain."
Kaede smirked as she turned back to the cabinet. She pondered for a few seconds before selecting a jar and popping a good couple of pinchful of leaves into the teapot. She then used the spout tap to fill it with hot boiling water. Carefully she carried it over and placed it gently on the desk, and then retrieved two matching china cups and saucers. Once they had ben set down, she returned to her seat.
"Well, whilst this brews. Tell me something about yourself. We can take it in turns if you want? I'm not your 'ordinary' style of Captain. I like to know my crew. Tell me something I couldn't find in a Starfleet personnel file."
Talissa was afraid of this type of interaction. She had to think for a moment. What would not be in her file that would tell her captain, something about her. She stood there thinking. Why was this so hard. "I am a bit of a green thumb, I am not a farmer by any means. And I have no desire to be one, but I love to grow things. I haven't looked yet, but I was hopingwe had a hydroponics bay, if so, I would love to assist the science team. I find growing things to be therapeutic."
"Growing things huh..." Kaede replied with a small smile. "I should introduce you to my husband. He enjoys growing things too. The garden back at our house was his pride and joy." She explained. "I might have to give you a challenge. See if you can grow some tea plants. I believe that the arboretum is lacking in that department."
"Any particular plant?" Talissa asked, she asked as she tried to hold back her excitement. Growing a tea plant, should not be this joyous, but for the past two years she has not been able to grow any plants. So this was going to good for her soul, and for the Captain's love for tea.
Putting her hand to her chin and resting it between her thumb and forefinger, Kaede thought about it. "I'll see what I can get my hands on before we leave Earth." She said after a few seconds of pondering. "I believe that its your turn to ask something about me is it not?"
To be continued...
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