On probation?!
Posted on Sun Jun 28th, 2026 @ 5:35pm by Captain Akeno Misaki & Captain Elias McEntyre & Commander Mashiro Munetani "Shiro"
2,196 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Hunted
Location: Starbase 26 and USS Wayfarer
[Starbase 26 - Turbolift]
With the Wayfarer docked and now nearly fully resupplied, Akeno wasn't expecting being called to Admiral Henderson's office. Especially since the Admiral was the officer in command of the entire sector. Also, her XO had been requested as well.
As the turbolift sped up towards the office, Akeno turned to Mashiro. "What do you think he wants with us Shiro-chan?"
"Not sure," Mashiro admitted. "But I have a sneaking suspicion it isn't good..."
[Starbase 26 - Admirals Office]
The office was huge and spacious, with large windows looking out into the depths of space. Behind the desk sat Admiral Henderson. He was known as a strict commander and had led several successful offensives in the war. He looked up at the two young officers, a stern look on his face. His hair was starting to grey and his skin beginning to wrinkle.
"Captain Misaki. Commander Munetani." He greeted. "I've been looking over your mission reports from the Wayfarer." His tone was cold and dry, there was a lack of emotion in his voice as he spoke.
"Yes sir..." Akeno replied.
"Well, I'm not impressed. Neither am I convinced that either of you deserve to be in a command position." He told them plainly. "After that absolute mess of a last mission, I am taking drastic measures regarding the Wayfarer."
"Drastic measures sir?" Akeno asked.
"I am assigning one of my Captains to observe you on your next mission." Henderson told her. "He will evaluate your ability to command a starship, and he will report back to me. Also, if he feels like you are not able to command effectively, he will take command of the Wayfarer and return you here for reassignment."
Akeno blinked a few times in surprise. "With all due respect sir I believe..."
"I don't care what you believe Misaki. Those four pips on your collar were granted provisionally at the time. Mainly because we had no one to take the role of the ships CO after the loss of so many good captains in the war." He paused momentarily. "Prove to him that you can be a good captain or I'll make sure you return to your previous rank of lieutenant and assigned as far away as possible away from my sector."
Akeno stood there a sheer look of shock on her face. She was speechless and didn't have anything to say. Her hand was trembling slightly as she stood there.
"Dismissed." Henderson said simply.
As the two of them got up to leave, Mashiro stayed behind to ask one last question that had been nagging at the back of her mind.
"If it's any of my business, Sir," she began, knowing full well that Henderson reserved right to withhold that information from her if he so desired. "May I at least have the name of the Captain you'll be assigning to evaluate us?"
"Captain McEntyre." Henderson said simply.
"You mean..." Mashiro felt a lump form in the pit of her throat. "...from the McEntyre family?"
"I believe I said dismissed Commander." Henderson said sternly.
"My apologies, Sir," Mashiro hastily apologised. "I'll be taking my leave now."
And with that, she left to join Akeno out in the hallway.
Akeno dragged her feet a little as she walked, or more like shuffled down the corridor towards the turbolift. "We're due back on the Wayfarer." She said in a low sad tone. She looked down at the deck, her usual energetic and playful aura completely diminished. Instead it seemed like a dark cloud hovered above her head as she made her way in pure silence alongside her exec.
Mashiro, evidently, had a lot on her plate, though what she did not make as obvious to Akeno was the fact that this issue was a bit more personal for her; as a third-generation Starfleet officer, the organisation ran deep in her family's blood, and much in the vein of her sisters before her, her biggest aspiration had been to climb through the ranks and command her own Starship. And now, here was a member of the Admiralty stating his opinion that he didn't feel Mashiro had what it took. And with their performance now set to be evaluated by a member of one of Starfleet's most prestigious families, there was no doubt in her mind that this was going to be a make-or-break moment for her career; if she didn't meet Captain McEntyre's expectations, the only future she saw for herself was consignment to some backwater desk job, toiling away until the crushing mundanity forced her inevitable resignation, and subsequent return to her family in disgrace. That was, quite frankly, a lot to digest, and the reality check had been enough to cast her into a pool of self-doubt. As such, she was a bit surprised when she reached over an placed her arm on Akeno's shoulder, attempting to keep it as steady as possible to assuage the younger girl's concerns.
"We're going to make this work, Captain," she insisted. "I... I know it's going to be hard, but if we keep our heads down and make a good showing, we'll pull through this and come out stronger for it."
Akeno stopped mid-step, one foot suspended halfway through the next stride. She didn't respond, no words escaped her mouth. Her head dropped forward allowing her hair bangs to dangle over her face. Her shoulders seemed to droop slightly from their usual high, confident position. For the first time she looked... small.
She seemed to open her mouth, as if words were stuck on her tongue... but no sound came. Slowly, her foot lowered and she restarted walking, silently, looking down, keeping her gaze low and face in the shadows.
[The Next Day - USS Wayfarer]
Elias had been handed down the orders to report to the Wayfarer. Intrepid Class, a lot larger than the Matthew Decker. Normally he wouldn't take assignments like this but as a favour for Henderson, he accepted it. A good change of pace from the last year spent at Ba'ku. With Gil at Starfleet in San Francisco for the foreseeable future, it was a chance to get back out there to do some good.
It was in that thought that he stood before the ready room of one Captain Akeno Misaki. He could feel the bridge crew staring at him. Elias knew his name alone carried some kind of reverence and weight. He was a descendant of a Starfleet Legend, one of the Founding Families of the Federation. That weighed on him a lot when all Elias wanted was to be a normal officer.
He straighten his uniform and pressed the chime for the Ready Room.
[Ready Room]
When the chime sounded Akeno looked over at her first officer who was in the room with her. "This'll be him..." she said simply. Her head turned to the door as she stood up behind her desk and quickly smoothed out her uniform.
Mashiro nodded. "Alright; let's get this over with, Captain."
"Come in," Akeno announced.
The door slid open. The tall imposing Caitian strode in, confident and tall. He took in the room. The Intrepid class was a marvel of engineering. He never thought he'd see one not with Voyager lost in the Delta Quadrant and the Intrepid off exploring.
The moment he stepped into the room, the XO visibly tensed up, her complexion paling and her pupils dilating with horror. Her jaw began to flap open and closed, but no words- or at least, anything resembling them- came out of her mouth.
Elias tilted his head very slightly, barely noticeable to the untrained eye. The XO looked absolutely stunned silent at his presence. He felt the fear radiating off her.
"Something to look out for, or inquire about in private." Elias thought before he directed his attention to the Captain behind the desk.
Akeno Misaki. A very..interesting record from what he had read on his way over. Parents served on the Pegasus, lost with that ship during the phase cloak incident. Bounced from ship to ship, commanded USS Monitor temporarily. Most likely how she got Wayfarer now. He would have to look for how she commanded a ship.
For now, he must introduce himself, get a feel for her and her personality.
"Captain Misaki? I'm Captain Elias McEntyre, how do you do?" He greeted in his sauve Texan drawl. He held himself tall, the stance of a combat soldier.
'This is all a test. Remember that Akeno. Be the Captain. Be the Captain...' the thoughts raced in Akeno's mind as the Caitian entered. She gave him a soft and welcoming smile. "Its a pleasure to meet you Captain. I don't believe that the formal introductions are needed under the current circumstances. However, please allow me to introduce my first officer." She motioned to Mashiro next to her.
"Commander Mashiro Munetani." She added. "We both welcome you aboard the Wayfarer. We hope that your time here is comfortable and we are here should you require anything of us."
'Nailed it!'
"A... I... h-he's a... a... a... a ca-!" Mashiro stammered, looking as if she wanted to sink back into the bulkhead and disappear from Elias's watchful eye.
If the revelation that she could very well lose her command had made Akeno feel small, she could only begin to realise just how helpless Mashiro must've felt, standing before their auditor and realising he embodied the one thing she feared most.
"Easy..." Akeno muttered as a warning towards Mashiro, keeping her tone low and hushed.
"Commander, a pleasure." Elias nods in greeting before turning his attention to Akeno.
"Captain my orders are to conduct an audit on you and your command potential. To that end, I'll be aboard until further notice to evaluate you. I'll keep out the way as best I can."
"Yes Captain." Akeno replied. "Well, first things first. Shiro-Cha...." she cut herself off. 'Crap!' " Commander Munetani will show you to the guest quarters on deck two. There is a senior staff briefing scheduled for 0800 tomorrow morning, with departure from the starbase booked in at 1100." She explained. "You are welcome to join the meeting, I believe it would be appropriate for the senior staff to be aware of the reasons behind your presence on board."
Mashiro looked as if she were about to faint.
"I shall be there, it will give me an opportunity to meet your command staff and get to know them before departing for our mission." Elias commented.
"Captain, I will also be a bit...blunt. Starfleet has advised me that if I find your command to be...lacking, I am authorised to take command under Starfleet Regulations and my specific orders from Admiral Henderson." Elias spoke with bluntness.
"I am hoping for this to be fairly routine, of course, but I do want to make you aware of what I have been ordered to do."
Akeno nodded in response. "Of course Captain. You'll have our full cooperation, and that of the crew." She assured him. She could feel her hand start to shake a little, so she tucked it behind her back.
"Commander. Escort our guest to his quarters." Akeno ordered simply as she turned to look briefly at Mashiro, then back to Elias. "Unfortunately captain, I still have a lot of paperwork and reports to go through before our departure. So please do excuse the brief introductions. I am sure you know, that my first duty is to the ship."
"Y-y-yes, C-Captain," Mashiro somehow miraculously managed to croak out, before shifting her attention to Elias. "R-r-right t-this w-way, S-Sir..."
Steadying herself against the bulkhead to offset the strength that her legs couldn't muster, she stumbled forward, slowly making her way around the room and towards the door, where, fighting back what must've been an intense urge to run, she gestured for Elias to follow her towards the turbolift.
Elias nodded cordially, turning on his heels in a crisp fashion. Akeno would see the military bleeding from the way Elias walked and conducted himself. He was a different breed of Starfleet. One steeped in military tradition, dedicated to the cause of the Federation and very self aware of the history looming over him and his name.
Once the doors swished shut behind Elias and Mashiro, Akeno flopped down into her chair. Her heart pounded relentlessly against her ribcage as she slumped lower and lower into its soft fabric.
Her legs shivered slightly as she stared at the grey wall, her eyes glazing over and her breathing becoming more and more rapid.
Pulsating white noise flooded her ears as beads of cold sweat ran down the back of her neck and her now clammy cheeks.
Her vision blurred.
Every sound seemed distant, as though she were trying to hear a whisper from a mile away.
Heat flushed through her body, yet she couldn't stop shivering.
Only one word popped into her mind.
'Shit...'
Posting by:
Captain Akeno Misaki
Commanding Officer
Captain Elias McEntyre
Mission Advisor
Commander Mashiro Munetani "Shiro"
Executive Officer
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