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It just felt absolutely liberating to be able to leave everything behind. They had never wanted her there anyway, so they would certainly not miss her now that she had made the decision. She only needed to hand her resignation notification to Admiral Flanagan, and she would be on the first transport out of there.
Where would she go next? It didn’t matter; and she hadn’t really thought about it. Anywhere but Starfleet Academy would do. Perhaps she could board a freighter and gain some real life experience. She was, after all, quite a decent scientist.
In any case, the most important thing was to be able to forget the humiliation and the shame and never to think of what had happened in that classroom ever again.
It didn’t matter that she’d be a disappointment for her family. For herself. She just needed a way out.
She walked down the corridor towards Admiral Flanagan’s office with a determined pace and the letter of resignation in her hand. This was it: the most important moment in her career. Or rather, lack of it. But there were no doubts in her mind.
And as she was about to turn the corner to reach the office, she suddenly heard them: Admiral Flanagan and Admiral Torrison, speaking clearly about her.
“She’s opinionated, stubborn and obstinate. What happened in that classroom yesterday was completely unacceptable for a Starfleet cadet.”
“And yet you know she was right. Look, Stanley, you might not like her manners, but the truth is, Kathryn Janeway is going to be one hell of a captain someday”.
“I admit you are right. Like father, like daughter. Just make sure to tell her to improve her behavior when speaking to someone of higher rank than her”.
“I certainly will”.
Kathryn erased the PADD and turned around. Maybe leaving Starfleet had been a hasty decision after all.