The Parting of the Ways

Posted on Mon Sep 14th, 2026 @ 3:08am by Captain Maho Takahashi & Lieutenant Alisha Reno "Jem"

1,307 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The Breen
Location: Maho's Ready Room
Timeline: March 24, 2397

Alisha wore the flight suit in as pristine a state as she could. She had looked into the mirror and not recognized who she'd seen, especially after the discussion she'd had with Jane and it was time that she did right by herself. The turbolift opened onto the bridge and she stepped out and stopped. Memories of her setting foot out here from before were vivid, just in a grey and black Intelligence uniform and she closed her eyes for just a moment, then continued on.

She felt the wrench in her gut as she kept moving forward, seeing the Captain in the middle chair and took a deep breathe as she approached, "Captain Takahashi, may I have a word with you... In private, please?"

Maho nodded.

"Of course," Maho said, turning towards Ichika. "Commander, the bridge is yours." She ordered before turning back to Alisha as she rose from her seat. "Come with me, Lieutenant."

Alisha followed behind, hesitancy in her footsteps as she did. She was certain about her decision, even more so than when she'd considered the same thing back after Gamma Zednor. This time, there was no doubt.

Maho led Alisha into her ready room. Out of habit, Maho glanced over to the empty crib where Kyoko would normally be when she was on duty. Unfortunately, Keisuke hadn't come back from the Alita yet, though Misaki had said that all evacuated personnel would be returned to the Myogi within the hour.

With the involuntary crib check completed, Maho rounded her desk and sat in the chair, indicating for Alisha to do the same with one of the open seats.

"What can I help you with, Lieutenant?"

"Captain..." Alisha started, then stopped as she reached into a pocket and palmed the PADD in it. "I wanted to let you know that after we return to whatever starbase we touch base at." She took another deep breath, then brought the PADD up onto the desk, "I'll be resigning my commission with Starfleet, ma'am."

"I... Understand." Maho nodded somewhat unexpectedly.

"Back when I was with Intelligence, I saw things at a distance, ma'am. Even if I was out there, undercover, I never had to do all the dirty work, not until Nikko. That was bad enough, until Gamma Zednor, and that just broke me." Alisha shook her head, "And losing Mia, Lieutenant Amaro, I mean." Her look looked pleading, "She lost her life because of ME, Maho.. She put herself between me and that missile and I can't do anything like that again. I just can't."

"War is not for the faint of heart, Lieutenant." Maho explained. "We make sacrifices, lose friends... And for some, the burden of it all is too much to bear. All that I ask of you is to stay safe out there. As a civilian, you won't be afforded the same protections you currently enjoy as a Starfleet Officer. And in wartime especially, your odds of being left behind in a Starfleet withdrawal are much higher."

"I'll take my chances." Alisha gave a half-hearted smile, "I've got resources and I think the first thing I'll do is go back to Earth on the fastest ship I can charter or book passage on. I do have my acting career as a backup, after all, and I'm sure that I'll be able to keep myself busy." She exhaled again, "I'm sorry to do this, ma'am, I really am, I'm just not built for this." She reached up to pick the two pips off her collar and placed them on the table in front of her.

Maho put out a hand to stop her.

"Keep them." She instructed. "You've earned them, and you shouldn't be ashamed of your service. Now, since you said you'll be resigning your commission after we arrive back at Algonquin, you'll retain your current access levels until then. Once we arrive, however, I will begin the process of having your access scrubbed from the system. I'll forward you the information on which equipment you'll need to surrender, and what's yours to keep."

"Of course, ma'am." Alisha's hand closed again on the pips, heart still sinking as she did what she'd hoped she never have had to do, but this time, she had to. "I'll still see if I can't pull some usefulness out before we get back. I know there will also be a lot of paperwork to sign, non-disclosure clauses and given my service record, agreements to not go into any contested space with potential belligerents without notification and probable escort." She sighed heavily, "Maho.. Can I ask you a question or two off the record? Not as a Lieutenant, but just as Alisha?"

"Sure," Maho nodded. "I'll answer what I can to the best of my ability."

"How do you do it?" Alisha asked her, lower lip quivering, "How do you deal with the casualties, the deaths, the close calls?" She shook her head slowly, "I'm a damned good fake, an actress, that's why I was so good at going undercover because I could BE whoever I need to be, want to be. But in the real world? When the bodies are hitting the floor, when friends die around you.. I can't do it, Maho, I just can't."

Maho lowered her head. She knew the answer wouldn't be one that Alisha would want to hear, but the other woman deserved honesty.

"Alisha, I know that the answer is going to be hard to hear, but I ask that you hear me out:" She began. "Miyahara... You really only knew the crazed lunatic who literally attempted to destroy the Federation when he didn't get his way, but before that... He taught me a lot about compartmentalizing my feelings. Remain stoic publicly, and mourn privately. It doesn't make writing letters to relatives of the fallen any easier, especially when you lose a good officer, but when you're a command-level officer, you can't afford to show weakness or appear indecisive in moments of crisis- because that's how you lose the respect of the crew."

"Which is why I could never be what you are." Alisha said quietly, "Because I take it all too personally." She smiled up towards Maho, "Thank you... For understanding what I'm going through and for granting my resignation. I want you to know that if you or your family, or anyone on the Myogi ever need anything, I'll do everything I can to help. Premiere tickets, I'm sure I'll be volunteering for USO visits, if you let me know, I'll do what I can to help at least with everyone's morale."

"I'll be sure to keep an eye out for the next time Alexis Silverstar is making a USO trip out to our assigned sector." Maho nodded with a smile. "In the meantime, were there any other questions you wanted to ask of me?"

"I know there are about a million of them out there, but I can't remember what they are anymore." Alisha glanced at the table in front of her, "I don't know whether I should be relieved that I'm putting this behind me, or disappointed that I didn't do more for everybody. Life is just so complicated."

"A wise man who drove a black GT-R once told me that how to feel about a life-changing event isn't something learned like tying your shoes or changing a flat tire; it's something you have to figure out for yourself." Maho offered. "Now, since there's nothing more to discuss... I suppose I have the liberty to dismiss you for the last time."

"Yes, ma'am." Alisha said as she stood, "And Captain Takahashi? It's been a pleasure serving with you.

"And with you, Alisha." Maho replied.

A Mission Post By

Captain Maho Takahashi
Commanding Officer
USS Myogi

Lieutenant Alisha 'Jem' Reno
Deputy Flight Boss
USS Myogi

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