A New Face in the Crowd

Posted on Thu Aug 28th, 2025 @ 3:22pm by Ensign Robert Harper & Cadet Freshman Grade Micheal Taggart

1,161 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 120 - Guardian at the Gate
Location: Starbase 400, Various Locations
Timeline: Concurrent with 'Harmonizing Harmonics' / 1343 Hours (local)

ON:

Space, though vast and full of life, is still quite empty. The distance between planets in the same system, and between one star and another, used to be considered incalculable far. However, with modern technology, those distances have begun to shrink, at least at the local level.

Through the dark void between the stars, a tiny speck of reflected light could be seen zipping past at blinding speed. If one were to look closer, that speck would enlarge to reveal the shape of one of the workhorses of Starfleet, the Danube Runabout. Looking closer, towards the aft viewport, and one would see a lone individual, staring back out at the void behind the small ship.

The individual is a young man, in his late teens, with chocolate-brown hair and even darker brown eyes. He is a handsome young man, though the look in his eyes does carry a darkness to it, as if he is reliving some dark pain of his past.

His name is Micheal Taggart, and he is a new cadet in Starfleet Academy. He is currently enrolled to Starbase 400, to attend the Starfleet Academy Annex located there, as it was closer to his starting point than the historic, and original, location on Earth, in San Francisco. Micheal has never been to The Triangle, the name for the region of space where Starbase 400 stands guard, but he has done some reading to familiarize himself with the region.

It is called The Triangle, as it is where the territories of the United Federation of Planets, the Klingon Empire and the Romulan Empire intersect. Starbase 400, and the nearby planet of Fabrini IV, both act as locations where the three major powers can meet and talk.

As he continues to look into his past, the intercom chirps. "We will be arriving at the outer marker for Starbase 400 in five minutes, Cadet Taggart," the feminine voice of the Bolian pilot could be heard saying.

Reaching up, he tapped his commbadge and replied. "Thank you, Ma'am. On my way forward." He then double tapped his commbadge, closing the channel. Picking up his small duffel, he didn't have many personal items, he moved forward, through the connecting passageway from the aft cabin, to the cockpit.

Moving forward to sit at one of the aft stations, Micheal watched the view out the forward viewport.

The pilot, Lieutenant (jg) Talla Rixx, looked over her shoulder and smiled at the young man. "Relax, Cadet, you're about to start the best adventure of your life."

Micheal nodded, realizing that he was feeling a bit apprehensive. "Yes, Ma'am," he said simply.

A few moments later, the pilot manipulated her flight controls and the tiny ship dropped out of warp. She then opened a hailing channel. "Starbase 400, this is the USS Mississippi, enroute from Ceti Organa II to your location. I am carrying a supply of medicines and a new cadet for you, how do you copy?"


Ops

"USS Mississippi, proceed to external docking port six-three, we'll send a Med Team down there to meet you, and have the Cadet report to Vice Admiral K'Temoc, he's on the Promenade at this time. Starbase 400 out." Ensign Harper replied over the comm from his Tactical Two station, then glanced over at the Lieutenant at the Docking Control station who gave him a curt nod.


Docking Port Sixty-Three

After thanking the Lieutenant for the lift, Micheal informed the NCO in charge of the docking port who he was as he handed over a PADD with his orders.

The Chief Petty Officer took the offered PADD and quilt looked very the transfer orders. He then looked on his own PADD, searching for any standing orders for the cadet. Once he found that there were, he transferred the information back to Micheal's PADD, then told him where he needed to get to, and whom he was to report into.

After thanking the Chief Petty Officer, Micheal started out of the docking port, pulling up a map of the fastest route to his destination. His eyes grew large when he saw that, even with turbolifts, the trip was going to take him at least thirty minutes! With that knowledge bearing down on him, he took of at a spint, not wanting to make a bad first impression.


Promenade

Down on the Promenade, K'Temoc had finished his lunch and was about to continue with his walk around the station when he realized the Cadet that was supposed to meet him still hadn't arrived.

As if on cue, Micheal came around the nearest corner, his cadet uniform and duffel slung across his ack made it very clear who and what he was. The fact that he was looking back and forth from the PADD in his hands, to the area surrounding him, screamed that he may have gotten lost once or twice on his way up.

"Cadet." K'Temoc called. "Cadet...um Cadet..." He'd already forgot the his name, or did Lennox not give him the name?

Hearing a strong male voice calling out to him, Micheal stopped and turned towards the source. Seeing the rank pips and uniform of a Vice Admiral, he quickly snapped to attention and stammered a reply. "Y-yes, S-sir! Freshman Cadet Micheal Taggart, Sir!"

K'Temoc smirked, he was never one for all the formality. Sure, he understood the reasons and he respected the traditions, but somethings were just too strict for him. "Stand easy." He eyed the cadet for a moment, "What's your name and do you have your quarters assignment yet?"

Micheal relaxed some, dropping his duffle to the deck next to him, then repeated himself. "I'm Cadet Micheal Taggart, Admiral. And no, Sir, I have not yet. I was told, in my orders, that I would be housed in the Academy barracks, Sir."

"Well, it might be a little bit before you can move in there, Level 800 is still undergoing work, remolding for the Academy's additions....four Starship Training Simulators, expanding classrooms, barracks improvements, a new campus cafeteria, and I believe they've added a sports field too. We'll get you some quarters on Level 820 in the Junior Offices' area."

Micheal nodded in understanding. "Yes, Sir." Then he paused a beat, before asking, "Sir, forgive me for asking this...if the Academy Annex is having so much construction performed right now...why would Command send me here?"

K'Temoc smiled for a moment, "To help them get completed of course." He paused for a moment then added, "All Cadets are also being given some OJT while the last bit of work is being completed. Some hands on opportunities will come in handy I believe."

Micheal nodded again, before responding, "I haven't even chosen a field if study to focus on yet, Sir. I guess that means I'll be moving about all of the departments, won't I?"

K'Temoc nodded and smirked. "Trust me Cadet, you're going to get your feet wet in many different areas aboard this Station."

OFF:

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