A... slight change of plans...

Posted on Mon Jan 27th, 2025 @ 3:44pm by Miran Lalor [Lalor] HRH & Raye Crosby-Triannth & Captain David Tonelly [Reece]

Mission: Season 6: Episode 5: A church beyond heaven
Location: Academy Annex
Timeline: MD5 sometime in the middle of the day
1421 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

"But I don't wanna!"

"Too bad. We are unable to follow our normal educational pathways due to current circumstances, so now we pivot."

"Like you really want to pivot"

"No choice. We need to do something. We are graduating in a few weeks and if we do not have a job then a job will be found for us."

The pair of teenage girls were still arguing as the slender redhead pulled the equally slender brunette into the waiting area outside the Acadmey Directors office.

"Raye come on.. this is a bad idea." Miran muttered. She had spent the morning painting in the Arboretum and Raye had snagged her as soon as she came home so she was still dressed in her paint splattered shirt that she always wore to paint. She was not convinced that this was the best idea.. more so since she would have to face the Bitch Clary as an upper classman.

Raye, dressed in what she termed her school wear of jeans and teeshirt barely heard Miran as she went to the secretary's desk and said "Hello, we have an appointment. Raye Croaby-Triannth and Miran Lalor to see the Academy Director."

The woman nodded. "Please have a seat, he will be ready soon."

A few moments later, the door to the Academy Commendant's officer slid open and David stepped out. He glanced over at his secretary, as he put a PADD on her desk. "Who's next, Miss Hannigan?'

Miran tugged her shirt back into place and ran a hand through her messy hair trying to tame it.

"Ms Crosby-Triannth and Ms Lalor." The woman replied. She waved a hand towards the two girls.

David turned his gaze to the two young women and gave them a polite grin. "Miss Lalor, Miss Croaby-Triannth, how can I help you two today?" He gave them both his undivided attention, as he waited to hear what they had to say. He could feel their energies spinning both rapidly and a bit chaotically.

Raye smiled brightly. "Captain, we were hoping to speak with you about enrolment. "

David could feel that there was more to the story here. "I'd be very happy to discuss that subject with the both of you," he said evenly. "Please, step into my office." He then turned and led them both inside.

Miran bit her lip but allowed herself to be pulled into the office by Raye. The door slid shut behind them and they took the chairs David indicated.

Raye sat back in the seat, relaxed yet she was determined.

Miran's normally poised posture was missing as she sat down in her painting clothes. She wished Raye had given her a chance to change.

Before he sat, David looked at both women and asked, "would either of you care for any refreshments? Water, tea?"

Miran shook her head "No thank you."

Raye also shook her head. "No thank you Captain."

David nodded, then moved behind his desk and sat down. "Now, why don't we start at the beginning." He gave both women an open look, waiting for them to start.

Raye took the lead. "Due to current circumstances, we are looking into changes in our educational pathways. Had we been close to Earth, I was looking into the Juliard School of performing arts. I already had an application in and was fairly confident of an approval and Miran here was looking at an Art school in Paris."

"I had been accepted to it." Miran added softly.

Raye continued "But now those options are no longer available to us so we are now needing different options."

David nodded thoughtfully as he absorbed what was said. "It's very true that everyone's lives have taken a hard turn." He paused a beat, then asked, "Have either of you considered which path you would want to take? Enlisted or Officer?"

Raye considered her response. "Officer. My mother would be very happy with that."

Miran could just hear what Clary would spruce if she went enlisted. "Same. Officer track."

David nodded again, then replied. "Alright then. Before we continue, I'll need copies of your academic records, along with any extracurricular activities and or clubs that you have been a part of. Then, once those check out, you will be given the Starfleet Academy entrance exam. Pass that, and then you will be in." He allowed that to sink in, then asked, "Any questions?"

Raye nodded and handed over the two PADDS she had brought with them. "Ah, I should state that my files have a few pieces missing. No birth certificate for one."

As David had started to put the two devices on his desk, he stopped short, a slight frown starting to cross his face. "Miss Croaby-Triannth," he began slowly. "Unfortunately, due to Starfleet regulations, a Federatoion citizen who is applying for either academies, must provide either original or certified copies of three forms of identification. Your birth certificate, Starfleet Seletive Service Card and your civilian identification. Starfleet Command uses these items to verify your identity. Now," he looked over at Miran as he continued. "The only work around for the birth certificate, would be for hose individuals who were born on worlds not currently in the United Federation of Planets. In the case, your citizenship form would do." He looked back at Raye. "While I know Miss Lalor wasn't, we're you born on a UFP member world or colony?"

"They do not hand out such items on Terok Nor." Raye replied with a small smile. "I have on that PADD my current Civilian ID and a letter from the Chief Medical Officer of the USS Atlantis. There is also a Dispensation from the Captain of the USS Atlantis who permitted my retrieval from Terok Nor in the Mirror Universe and the adoption papers that show I am adopted by Serenity Triannth and Kesar Jerricho."

This news surprised David. Although, it did explain to him, why her energy seemed a bit...off. After a beat, he nodded, then continued to speak. "First of all, please accept my apologies, if my words seemed harsh. I am glad that you were able to escape that place. And, your adoption paperwork would also work as your birth certificate." He smiled gently to them both, then continued. "Alright then. I will need a few days to go over your transcripts. If they pass scrutiny, I will contact you both, to schedule your entrance exams. While I can't tell you the specifics of what questions you will have, it will cover the various schooling you should have already had and passed." He smiled again. "Anything else that you'd like to let me know?"

Miran looked at Raye and they exchanged looks. "No not at this time." Raye said. "Do you need to know the track we are interested in?"

David arched an eyebrow slightly as he grinned. "Certainly, " he replied honestly. "Many cadets don't tend to discover their passion until their third year."

"Really?" Raye asked curiously. "Well if I cannot be a dancer then I would like to go into Intelligence."

David nodded thoughtfully again. "Well, that would require you to really buckle down in your studies. The top three hardest fields to get into, are engineering, medical and intelligence." He gave her a considering look for a beat, then continued. "That being said, you seem to have the fire for it." He then looked over at Miran. "How about you, Miss Lalor?"

Miran wanted to sulk but she had been raised to behave better than that. "Operations or Medical." She said softly.

David gave Miran a considering look for a quiet moment. "Those are both very important paths, Miss Lalor." He paused, then asked, "The Commodore started out in Operations, didn't she?"

"Flight Control" Miran said softly. "She wasn't in Ops until she came to the Elysium."

"Ah," David replied with a nod. "Well then," he addressed both women. "As I said, give me a couple days to go over your records. If things add up, I will contact you both about coming in to take your entrance exam. Thank you for coming in to see me."

Raye bounced to her feet. "Thank you for your time Captain." She said all but hauling the Erisian beside her to her feet.

David smiled softly as he watched the two young women move out of his office. As they left, he stood and replied. "It was a pleasure to meet you both. Have a good day."

They both gave nods and left.