Graduation

Posted on 17 Apr 2026 @ 11:05am by Captain Alexandria Somers

1,070 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: General Sim Postings
Location: Starfleet Academy, Earth
Timeline: Current

[ON]

Unaware of what trials her cousin was going through, Alex finished her last exam and passed in the top ten. The hardest for her was the stuff that all Fleet Cadets would have to learn; basically, she had to unlearn what she knew and learn to adjust. While she floundered in non-combat-based lessons, the unarmed combat and melee weapons she duelled with, she excelled at them, beating many an upper-classman. It took her time, but she gained their respect, probably because a forty-something commissioned officer trounced cadets who were twenty or more years younger than her.

The other Cadets were in awe of her actual command experience out in the Mira Sector. Some instructors were secretly intimidated by her, while most were older than her and were now too old to be on the frontlines, but the intimidation she gave off was due to her being in her early forties and having as much experience as they had. She proved humble and an eager learner; despite who her family was, she won all her debate sessions, and she held herself like a seasoned diplomat. No wonder really, she had been trained in diplomacy but chose marine, now she had been summoned to the Academy Commandant's office.

- Commandant's Office -

Alex, in her duty uniform, the Cadet version arrived at the Commandant's office and knocked on the old-fashioned door.

"Enter Colonel Somers", the Commandant responded. He looked up and saw a Red-headed officer enter far enough to come to attention and smartly salute. He noted her appearance was now softer; her time at the Academy had taught her not to dress so rigidly. If he had not seen her in training simulations, he would have dismissed what he saw in front of him. She was a strikingly beautiful woman, and on the odd occasion she attended a function, how she bore herself and how she dressed held no reflection on how she dressed on duty. Looking at her now, no one would think she was a combat veteran who had trained with Klingons as a girl and who had a lot of practical command experience.

"You asked to see me, sir?" Alex asked

"Yes, Alex, please be seated. I have a few lingering questions about you to clear up," he said, and he could swear her demeanour became light-hearted if her small smile was any indication.

Alex nodded and sat down in the chair in front of his desk, leaned back and crossed her legs. She was sitting as if she knew something and with such ease.

"If I have to guess, Sir, you want to know why my upper-class upbringing went counter to current upper-classmen attitudes, how I managed to win fights and duels and how I managed to overcome the obstacles and to probably tell me that I will be graduating with my class in September!" she said.

The Commandant looked perturbed at her response; she was too good at reading people.

"First one, being a diplomat's daughter, I have learned more than what the Academy could teach, as for the different outlook, I started as an enlisted and got a field promotion, and over the years, I have become humble and a lot wiser than those cadets" she said "as for winning those fights, you have read my service jacket and as for overcoming the obsticles, that is just my stubborness£ she said answering her own questions then fell silent.

The Commandant cleared his throat, "Ahem... yes. As for graduation, you ranked in the top ten, which is very good for someone who had no intention of becoming an officer and has dedicated her life to combat. What changed?" The Commandant asked.

"My cousin Fleet Captain Jasmine Somers spoke to me sometime ago, after she cleared her mental and Medical check-up after her capture and torture at the hands of a man who thought she was the one who carried out a reluctant Base Delta Zero order from Starfleet" she said and saw the puzzlement with the Commandant.

"Never mind long story, one that was classified above your level, Commandant, but she said to me one day, you will be needed to take over from me as commander of the Tomcat. I did not understand what she was on about at the time, still do not *puzzled* but I ended up in temporary command numerous times, that bit you know Commandant" she said.

The Commandant nodded, "Then it will interest you to know that Fleet Captain Somers has requested a move to command Starbase 51 and was granted the rank of Commodore. She requested it because her PTSD had started to interfere with her health, and she was concerned about when, not if, it would impact her duties as Commander of the Tomcat. I have never seen a transfer request be granted so fast," he said and noted that Alex had a thoughtful look.

"So the day after your graduation, you will be granted the rank of full Captain, and you will travel out to Starbase fifty-one, and thereupon you will take command of the Tomcat. I know it is sooner than you expected, but you have served on the frontier of the Mira Sector and know what it is like," he said.

Alex nodded, a little shocked, "Things must have become bad!" she exclaimed, "Is there anything else, Sir?" She asked.

"Nothing, except congratulations on the graduation and on the promotion of sorts", he said.

"I figured that is why I was required to attend the Academy, even after all this time, experienced commanders are in short supply so many years after the Dominion war, also I knew I was destined to take over the Tomcat, just never thought it would be this soon" she added standing up in one smooth motion, the Commandant was a little off-balance with that fluid movement.

"You are dismissed, Colonel", he said. Alex nodded, came to attention, and saluted before she turned and left. She got as far as the door when the Commandant spoke"

"Oh, and Colonel!" he said as she turned around ", when you get your four pips, you are going to have to unlearn that habit of saluting" he said.

With a smile, "Easier said than done, Commandant, easier said than done" then she was gone.

[OFF]

 

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