The Street Rat
Posted on Sun Feb 15th, 2026 @ 5:19am by Captain Taiga Aisaka & Lieutenant Takina Inoue
Edited on on Sun Feb 15th, 2026 @ 5:43am
1,028 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
The Return
Location: USS Tokyo (NCC-91101)- Captain Aisaka's Ready Room, Deck 1
Timeline: March 1, 2397
"Level 1 priority message, intended for Captain Taiga Aisaka of the United Star Ship Tokyo, NCC-91101
Begin Message:
On behalf of Starfleet Intelligence, we regret to inform you that your Chief Intelligence Officer, one Chisato Nishikigi, is being temporarily reassigned for a confidential mission, the details regarding which cannot be disclosed at this time; in light of her absence, it is strongly encouraged that you source a substitute Chief of Intelligence for the forseeable..."
Taiga closed the message on her screen and let out a sigh. "So they're sending her off somewhere. How very like Starfleet Intelligence..." she then tapped her comm badge. "Lieutenant Inoue. Report to my ready room."
"Aye, Captain," came Lieutenant Inoue's response.
As she waited, Taiga pulled up Lieutenant Inoue's file on her computer console. Her eyes skimmed the information of the Lieutenant. She didn't really know her that well, she had always been a little mysterious and often seemed distant from the rest of the crew.
It wasn't long before the door chime sounded, alerting Taiga to Lieutenant Inoue's arrival.
"Enter," Taiga called simply.
The doors to the ready room snapped open and Lieutenant Inoue quietly stepped inside- the staff which she had wrested from a Herald during their first encounter still prominently slung over her back, like some sick hunting trophy that she paraded about as a spoil of war. Certainly a far cry from her cheery, peaceable superior, and one had to wonder what someone like Chisato saw in her.
"You wished to speak with me, Captain?" she inquired, standing rigidly at attention.
Taiga threw a PADD onto her desk, it landed with a clatter on its surface. Upon the PADD was a copy of the message that Taiga had recieved earlier. "What do you know about this?" she asked simply.
Calmly, Lieutenant Inoue picked up the PADD and read over the message.
"If you refer to Commander Nishikigi's reassignment, Captain, I have been aware of it for at least a day now," she answered plainly, with an indifference that almost made it seem like they were talking about something as trivial as the weather and not the fact that Taiga's Second Officer was being reassigned with next-to-no-warning from SFC.
"I see. Do you know exactly where she is being reassigned? I don't take lightly to Starfleet Intelligence just pulling my crew." Taiga asked simply as she crossed over her arms.
Lieutenant Inoue shook her head. "I do, but I'm afraid I'm not at leisure to disclose that information," she answered. "You would require an access level of 13 or higher for me to go into greater detail."
Taiga frowned. "Yet you know huh..." she said. "I suppose if I ordered you to tell me I wouldn't get an answer would I?"
"Not if you don't want to wind up in a JAG court again, Captain," Lieutenant Inoue responded.
That didn't sit right with Taiga at all. "Is that so..." She replied. "Well, in that case. I won't ask." she looked away briefly out of the windows at the stars outside the window. "So, that leaves one question. Are you stepping up to be the Chief of Intelligence in Commander Nishikigi's absence? You are the next best qualified."
"That is correct, Captain," Lieutenant Inoue stated.
"I see." Taiga said. "Well, in that case, do you have any new Intelligence reports? I'm sure that the comm channels will be a hive of activity after that battle."
Lieutenant Inoue carefully pondered the question. "Well, regarding matters that I'm at liberty to share, there has been word that the Romulan Star Empire is finally in talks to join our Alliance; the details regarding their decision haven't been made public to any real capacity, but there are a few unsubstantiated reports that the Iconians have been inexplicably aggressive towards Romulan colonies and installations, especially compared to the likes of their Federation and Klingon contemporaries."
"I wouldn't exactly call their attacks on the Federation affable." Taiga replied.
"Hardly, but the Romulans in particular seem to be faring a lot worse right now than we are," Lieutenant Inoue stated. "Depending on the source, the Romulan death toll already ranges between 1 to 3 billion- a figure that's obviously hard to substantiate, but if proven true would be far in excess of the total lives lost in the entire Dominion War."
"Thats a lot of people." Taiga stated sadly. "Any news from the Tholians or the Breen? The last reports I heard was that the Heralds were attacking in their space as well."
"Details regarding the Tholians are scarce, but Starbase Frontier reports at least five separate instances of Tholian and Iconian forces engaging in and around the Rixillian system over a period of one month," Lieutenant Inoue reported. "Casualties are unknown at this time, but due to their proximity to the station, there has been talks of scuttling Frontier and cutting a full retreat to Starbase 169. As for the Breen... I am not at liberty to discuss that information at this time."
"I don't think abandoning a station is a good idea at all." Taiga stated. "But at least we know that everyone is in the same boat." she sighed. "Although, most of us seem to be up a creek without a paddle."
"Anyways. With Commander Nishikigi gone, you will be responsible for keeping myself and Commander Johnson updated with the latest Intelligence Reports. You'll also be tasked with ensuring that the correct Intel is passed to the relevant crew at staff meetings." Taiga explained.
"Yes, Captain," Lieutenant Inoue nodded in the affirmative.
Taiga nodded in response and tapped a few buttons on her computer console that was built into her desk. "Your position has been updated, as has your access levels." she said simply. "Anything else to report or that you need whilst you are here?"
Lieutenant Inoue carefully pondered the question before shaking her head. "Not at all, Captain."
"Ok, well in thet case. You may inform your department of the changes. Although, by the time you get down there I imagine they'll already know." Taiga told her. "Dismissed Lieutenant."
Posting By:
Captain Taiga Aisaka
Commanding Officer
USS Tokyo
Lieutenant Takina Inoue
Acting Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Tokyo
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