Starfleet 1st Day - Chatterbox

Posted on Tue Jun 2nd, 2026 @ 12:29am by Lieutenant Commander Elias Ford

843 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Flashbacks and Side Quests
Location: Starfleet Academy
Timeline: 2376

[ON]

Ford had been watching through the viewport as San Francisco resolved from a smear of color into actual buildings, the Bay glittering beneath them, the Academy sprawling across the hills in clean whites and grays. It looked exactly like the recruitment materials. Somehow that made it even more real.

He turned to the Andorian sitting next to him. "You ever been to Earth before?" The Andorian glanced at him, antennae twitching slightly.

"No."

"Me neither. I mean, I'm from Earth, but not here. Grew up in Russel Springs, then Seattle." Ford gestured at the viewport. "Always wanted to see San Francisco."

The Andorian looked out the window, then back at Ford. "It is very brown."

Ford noticed the Andorian was looking at the hills, and laughed. "Yeah. I guess it is. The bay's nice though."

"I am told the water is cold."

"Probably. You a swimmer?"

"No."

"Me neither, actually." Ford shrugged. "I'm Ford, by the way. Elias Ford. Medical track."

"Kyvaol. Tactical."

"Tactical. That's impressive. I heard the combat simulations are intense."

Kyvaol's antennae moved again. Ford still didn't know what that meant. "I am prepared."

"I bet you are."

The shuttle doors opened, and cadets began filing out. Ford fell into step beside Kyvaol, still talking, asking about Andoria, about the journey, about whether it was true that Andorians could sense vibrations through their antennae. Kyvaol's answers were short, but he didn't walk away. By the time they reached the Processing Center, Ford had learned that Kyvaol had two sisters, preferred the cold, and found human music ‘chaotic but not unpleasant’.

"Good luck in tactical." Ford gave him a tap on the shoulder as they split toward different lines.

Kyvaol paused. "Good luck in medicine."

The line took most of the morning. Forms, retinal scans, a medical screening. By the time he was handed a uniform it was already lunch time. He looked at the mirror mounted on the wall. Cadet grays. He'd never owned pants that fit this well.

The changing area had filled up while he was inside. At least thirty cadets now, various stages of dress, voices overlapping. A Bolian was showing off his combadge to someone. Two human women were comparing boot sizes and laughing. Someone asked "Does anyone else's actually fit? Mine's perfect."

Ford looked toward the source. Tall Betazoid, examining himself in one of the full-length mirrors. The Betazoid caught Ford's reflection and turned. "Hey, you were on the shuttle with Kyvaol, right? The Andorian?"

Ford blinked. "Yeah. You know him?"

"We did our scans together. He mentioned you." The Betazoid walked over, hand extended. "Said you asked a lot of questions. I'm Titram. Titram So."

Ford had practiced handshakes before coming here. This one seemed to land just right.

"Elias Ford. What else did Kyvaol say?"

"That you talked the entire shuttle ride and he found it "not entirely unpleasant." Titram grinned. "From Kyvaol, that's high praise."

Ford laughed. "I wasn't that bad. I just asked about Andoria. And his siblings. And his musical preferences."

"He told you all that? You see, Kyvaol and I had a lot of time on the Spacedock. Our group was shipped there from every part of the Federation. He doesn't say much, but he listens." Titram then proceeded to ask a question. "Medical track?"
It wasn't really a question. Ford had been told Betazoids could do that. Pull your next words right out of your mouth.

"Yeah. You?"

"Same. My thesis advisor thought I should get field experience before committing to the Academy."

"You already have a thesis advisor?"

"From the Betazed Medical Institute. I did my residency there before applying"

Ford pretended to think as he rubbed his chin. Grinning. "I see, I see, so that's what fully fledged doctors from Betazed dream about. Being Starfleet cadets like me!"

For half a second Titram took it straight. The warmth dropped off his face. "Why you little-" He didn't finish it. His head tilted. He gave Ford a look like he was trying to read something on his forehead.

"Huh." Almost a laugh. "You're playing with me."

"You must have read my mind!" Ford grinned.

"And you let me sit there reciting my credentials."

"Well it's my first day. I must be nervous." Ford was struggling to not laugh as he was packing his civilian clothes in his duffel bag.

"No you're not nervous. You're-" Titram squinted "You're excited" He also started to pack in a hurry as he realized the room was starting to empty. "Honestly how do you humans stand this... not knowing your own emotions."

"I know I'm starving." Ford threw the bag over his shoulder. "Come on, doc, let's go find Kyvaol and look for the mess hall"

They followed the flow of cadets down a glass walled corridor overlooking the bay. The view stole Ford’s attention. Shuttles passed in slow arcs over the water. The Golden Gate Bridge stood beyond them. Majestic. Just like in the holos.

But the real thing had weight to it.

[OFF]

Elias Ford
Cadet
Starfleet Academy

 

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