Cadets

by Starsinger

Well, Jim gets his first set of cadets for a training cruise, and they're more than a handful. Especially the ones who think they can run the ship better than he can. Don't own any of them.

Jim was going through the roster of the new cadets for the training cruise. Twenty in all, five medical, five Engineering, five helm/weapons, and five command. He sighed as he turned to Admiral Barnett's visage on the screen. He really wished Admiral Archer was still alive. He was so much more reasonable than Barnett, "Fleet Captain," Jim always sighed when his new rank was emphasized. "You'll be responsible for evaluating the Command Cadets."

Jim looked at him, "Admiral, Bob, I appreciate the trust you're placing in me for them, but are you sure I'm the right person?"

"Jim, you're probably aware that I've given you the troublemakers, but if anyone can anticipate what they'll do, it's you," Jim laughed. "Good luck."

They signed off and the door to his office chimed, just in time, "Enter." He watched as the five marched in and stood stiffly at attention, still in their cadet reds. "Alright, next time you'll appear in your command golds with the rank of Ensign on your sleeves. You've gotten your shift rotations, and where you'll be serving during the two weeks you're on the Enterprise."

"Excuse me, Captain, why do we have to serve in positions in the Engineering and Medical sections," one of the cadets spoke up. He was promptly elbowed in the ribs before he muttered, "I'm going to be a Captain, not an Engineer."

"What's your name, Cadet?" Jim asked.

"Frederick Pine, sir!" was the prompt answer.

"Cadet Pine, are you aware that I'm also addressed as Dr. Kirk?" he quickly shook his head. "I have a doctorate in Engineering and Theoretical Physics, and a Master's Degree in Computer Science. I'm also a qualified Field Medic. I did all this BEFORE I joined Starfleet. It makes for a well-rounded Captain to know what the other sections do. I also speak five languages, so I could take over Communications if I needed to. Haven't, my Communications Department is superb. Until Commander Spock decides you are ready, you will not take the command chair unless it's an emergency. We have two doctors on board and a communications officer who are more qualified for that chair than all of you combined, understood?"

"Yes, sir," they responded.

"Now, everyone on this ship outranks you, for all practical purposes. If a lowly Seaman Apprentice tells you to jump, you ask how high! Understood?" they all mumbled their assent. "Good, maybe we'll teach you some humility. Something I had to learn the hard way. By the way, Mr. Spock is Vulcan, so you have a lot of impressing to do. Dismissed."

They all traipsed out to find Yeoman Rand, who waited to take them to their assigned quarters, Spock came out of the shadows to look at him, "Anyone remind you of yourself, Jim?"

"Keep an eye on Cadet Pine, he's going to be trouble."