The No-Win Scenario (Part 1 of 3)

Posted on 19 Nov 2017 @ 12:12pm by Commander Andreus Kohl & Lieutenant Lake ir-Llantrisant & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant Amaranai Franklin & Commander Marisa Wyatt
Edited on on 18 May 2019 @ 6:47pm

2,879 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Earth - Starfleet Academy, Kobayashi Maru Simulator
Timeline: MD 32, 1000 Hrs

[ON]

The doors swished open pushing in the light of the corridor into the dimly lit replica of a starship bridge. Cadet Jennifer Armstrong was the first to enter the room, it was quiet as all of the consoles had been shut off between examinations leaving only the sounds of the heel to her standard issued boots hitting the deck. She took only a few steps past the door just allowing it to swish closed behind her sealing away the light from the outside. The simulated bridge was organized in similar fashion to ships of old with the center command chair elevated in the middle of the room above the rest of the area. In front of that, a dual console with controls for the helm and operations console centered again before the main view screen. Directly behind the center chair, a single station controlling the tactical functions of the make-believe starship. Surrounding the back of the center chair were several stations embedded into the wall for all of the other departments required in the hub. Jennifer let out a long sigh as she took a final moment to enjoy the serenity of the room. In a way, the silence was a harmony in her mind.

Soon however, the room would light up and be filled with activity as she would embark on a test faced by many command cadets before her. The pressure mounted as her mind considered all that was riding on this examination, a reputation, a temporary assignment aboard a starship, her future.

Cadet Jemima de la Cour walked into the room and looked around. "Hey, honey-child. Looks like y'all are in the hot seat today. I'm here as your li'l ol' science officer. Nice ta meet'cha."

Jasper Higgins, a fourth-year cadet, entered the simulation with a cocky grin and perfect hair. He didn't really want to be here, but an instructor had forced the issue. He also didn't know Cadet Armstrong that well, he had heard whispers about her, about how odd she was and since she was odd he didn't pay attention. Though, odd girls needed lovin' too and tended to be easy to get into his bunk. He quickly dismissed that thought, he was here to work, and he had to be serious. If he did what he was supposed to, he would get to graduate... and he needed to graduate. "I'm your pilot," he said with no inflection in his voice. "Name's Higgins." And with that, he took a seat at the CONN. "Also, try not to get us killed," he added as he looked over the archaic controls.

"I...I'll try not to." She replied nervously as the Cadet took his station. She felt herself becoming more and more unsettled as each new person walked through the doors.

"Oh, honey, don't mind him," Jemima reassured Armstrong. "Everybody's gonna die sooner or later, and this is just a little ole simulation."

Adelaide Graves, a third-year, had been instructed to head to the simulator. Addy knew what simulation was on tap. The Kobayashi Maru. She had heard stories of the simulation and was already nervous. There hadn't been a successful attempt at the simulation as long as she had been at the Academy and technically ever. She had heard of some people trying to cheat, but that wasn't the way to success. Not in Adelaide's eyes, anyway.

Stepping into the makeshift bridge, Adelaide noticed the lead cadet and smiled. She recognized her immediately as Cadet Armstrong. They were nowhere near friends, though that could partly be Adelaide's fault, but Addy had heard plenty of stories about Armstrong and her quirks. It only made Addy more nervous about the simulation. But she still had to be polite.

"Hi," she said, shyly. "I'm Adelaide Graves, and I'll be your OPS officer."

"Hi." She replied sheepishly. So far, she knew none of the cadets assigned to her test. Part of this fact relieved her as it took some of the pressure off, but on the other hand the scenario could now provide a new vehicle for cadets to taunt her, something she was no stranger to at the Academy. She had tried to turn down the test but her instructor insisted it was for her own good. Jennifer saw no gains to be made from loosing again.

Being acknowledged by the commanding officer of the simulation, Addy made her way to the front of the bridge and sat down at her console next to the helm officer.

Abbey was next to walk into the room, she was somewhat angry at the idea she would have to be put through the unbeatable test and it showed within her facial expression. Since her arrival on Earth and the interrogation's, she had undergone Starfleet wanted to run her through a crash course the Federation Cadets underwent and though she wasn't technically being tested she was being watched... carefully. She herself was in heels, a black skirt and the standard gold tunic with her Ensign pips clearly showing. She always had her hair up in a pony tail and her signature mirror universe pin holding together her Obi which was acting more like a belt clinging tightly to her frame and where her skirt's hem rested. She looked over her shoulder to see Luke who had taken a weekend away from Miraj to be with her talking to the instructors, it was clear she knew them and while Luke wasn't exactly famous some of the actions he did in the Dominion war and even recently on the Galileo had been gossip around the Academy especially amongst the instructors, security cadets and the odd marine who was floating about he truly was an old timer. Looking around she could see the other cadets and tried to put on a smile but it came across fake and forced she was going to introduce herself but she wasn't really in the mood. Without speaking she took up her position at the security station.

Lieutenant Commander T'Ping entered the chamber taking note of the cadets that were there. She quietly observed the group that had gathered so far in her efficient Vulcan way. There was definitely way too much talk and to her mind not taking the scenario that was about to unfold serious enough. She made a nod to the other lieutenant commander. It would be their job to rate the efficiency of the assembled cadets in the scenario.

A stubby looking Tellurian came stomping up the corridor, determined to get inside the doors before anyone could call him on being late. "I'm Gravash," he half wheezed, half barked at Armstrong. "I'll be your Engineer on the bridge. You planning on death and glory? Or sitting still and hand wringing for this little jaunt?"

"I just don't want to look like an idiot." She responded. A drop of sweat fell from her brow running down her cheek. She grasped her shirt collar tugging at it to loosen the grip it had on her neck. As time moved on, the collar felt more like a noose.

"Little hot in here?" She said forcing a nervous smile as she wiped the sweat away with her sleeve.

West walked into the simulator and took a place beside the Vulcan Lt. Commander. He nodded to her and leaned against the bulkhead out of the way.

T'Ping returned the nod and added, "Admiral, I did not think you would be inclined to a simple cadet Kobayashi Maru test."

He shrugged "Got to keep my eyes open for promising cadets. Besides having a flag on the bridge might ratchet up the pressure. "

"Yes Admiral, however, I predict that a flag officer on the bridge will increase anxiety levels in emotional beings by twenty three point four percent. It shall be interesting to observe." T'Ping replied looking at the group.

What the hell is an Admiral doing here?! she asked herself. If the room didn't feel like a pressure cooker before it sure did now. Was his presence arranged by her instructor? Did Admirals just randomly sit in on these things. Wait, she was supposed to do something when flag officers entered a bridge. "Admiral on deck!" She exclaimed bringing herself to a position of attention.

West cleared his throat and spoke "As you were cadets don't let me interrupt your test." He grinned wolfishly as he relaxed into the bulkhead behind him. He was curious to see how the cadets handled the no win scenario.

The admiral stepping onto the bridge - even the fake bridge - was disconcerting. She tried to remember if an admiral had ever watched the simulation from inside the simulation. This is not going to be good.

While her stance relaxed, Jennifer's mind continued to spin. Could she not have been allowed to do her test with just an instructor watching? The gallery forming at the rear of the bridge was becoming upsetting.

When Doolittle stepped onto the simulator bridge, he noticed Admiral West standing to one side. "Hello Nathan," he said to his contemporary as he walked up to him. "Looks like you're here for the same reason I am - checking out the new recruits." He shook his head slightly. "Looks like they get younger every year, doesn't it?"

Nathan nodded to Doolittle and shrugged slightly "Yeah they are getting younger but that can be both good and bad. Easier to mold their minds and easier to mold their minds."

Doolittle grinned. "If she was feeling pressure with one admiral here, let's see how she handles it with two."

"I'm sure she'll do fine, we all die in this scenario except for Kirk." he laughed softly.

Lurking in the doorway from the corridor, one of Jennifer Armstrong’s professors took one look around the starship bridge simulator. His sapphire eyes quickly took notice that he was another one of Jennifer Armstrong’s professors sitting in on the evaluation. As Jennifer’s ethics instructor, Commander Andreus Kohl paused to question if it was moral for him to pile on more pressure, and what impact that might have on Jennifer’s performance. He spun on his heel to escape into the corridor, but as he did so, he accidentally made eye-contact with Admiral West. That meant his fate was set. Now that he had been seen, Kohl couldn’t turn back now.

His head high, his shoulders set, Kohl marched across the aft of the bridge. His path of travel would take him in the direction of where T’Ping and West were poised to make their observations. Halfway there, Kohl stopped behind Jennifer and he lowered his voice to speak only to her. “Protect our babies,” he whispered. “The crew nursery is located beneath you, on deck two.” —He looked down at the deck and he looked up at Jennifer again— “Actually, literally, directly beneath you. You may not want to stand there. (It probably smells like poo.) Don’t let our babies die.”

"Um, I....I don't kill babies, sir." Jennifer said stumbling her words. The statement confused her at a time she was already in panic mode. How could the nursery be affected by a simulation? How would the smell get through the floor?

Thoughts began to crash into her mind like the opening of a floodgate. Her body became paralyzed as her limbs froze. Fear seeped through her veins as sweat continued to fall from her brow. She looked around the room gazing into the eyes all staring at her. What were they thinking? Were they going to laugh at her? Maybe she could just run away? Indigestion! She could claim a stomach flu.

How could she escape?

When Jennifer responded with talk of killing rather than protecting, Kohl could only assume he hadn't been clear in his message. "The entire crew," he said, "Remember you're making decisions for the entire crew of your starship, even the babies." And if he still wasn't clear, he and Jennifer would have to live with that. He continued his stride over to join T'Ping and Admiral West.

T'Ping observed the cadets and the interaction and then asked, "Cadet Armstrong is there a problem?"

Jennifer snapped out of her trance at the Commander's prompt looking to the Vulcan instructor. "No ma'am, I guess I should probably take my seat." She said sheepishly as she nervously made her way to the center chair. "Everyone, please take your stations." She announced.

Being already at her station and had run the default weapons diagnostic Abbey decided to help the Command Cadet "Weapons and tactical ready Ma'am" This time Abbey's smile was genuine, this was where she was at home, behind the tactical console ready to react to anything.

Jasper was already at his station and he spent the last few minutes toggling various switches and pushing buttons. He peered over to look at a readout. "Helm ready," he called out. Now, he just had to wait for the go ahead to 'take them out'.

Addy had moved to her station after greeting the commanding officer so when the order was given, Addy had to turn around. Weren't most of us at our stations? She shrugged off the thought after she looked at the cadet and noticed more officers behind her than normal. This was getting out of hand. Every one of them was under scrutiny during the simulation and now it seemed as if that would be even worse now. "Ops standing by, sir," she said and turned forward.

Jemima just smiled at Jennifer.

Once the cadets were in their places, Jennifer took a moment to take deep breaths and try to ease her heart rate. The academy counselor had told her this would relieve any anxiety she was feeling. Needless to say in this instance, it wasn't helping any. She closed her eyes for a moment as she drowned out the murmurs of the cadets and observers around her. If the pictures in her mind could be visualized, simply all she would see is black, an void expanse as far as the eye could see devoid of people, judgement, reputation and instructors. The only thing Jennifer could hear was the beating of her heart, it was beginning to slow as the weight of the world around her was lifted. If joy was something that could be seen, this is what she would have guessed it was.

Outside of her mind, a smile formed on Jennifer's face. Her body began to fill with confidence. Then like a switch being flipped, she heard a voice.

Just let go. It was a phrase commonly told to her by her father when Jennifer would start doubting herself. How she missed her parents.

Her eyes slowly opened returning her to the reality that was the simulated bridge. This time however, Jennifer was not the anxious wreck ready to drown in her own sweat. She was focused, she was determined. She was ready.

She looked towards the cadet at the helm. "Take us out." she ordered calmly.

Jasper nodded. In a way, he was itching to get this done and over with, but in the meantime, he would do what he was supped to do--especially since there were officers and flag officers watching. "Aye," he said as he began to throw switches and press buttons to lay in a course. "Activating maneuvering thrusters," he said. The ship 'glided' out of dock smoothly, at least that was what the simulation was telling him. "Heading, Captain?"

"Take us to three one eight mark two seven nine, full impulse." Jennifer ordered as she leaned back into the chair looking to the main viewscreen. Prior to the simulation she had been given a faux mission brief on some mundane task she was to complete. Of course, her ship would never make it there as she would undoubtedly encounter the Kobayashi Maru beforehand. Then, it was game on.

Jasper nodded and as he keyed in the heading and repeated, "Three one eight mark two seven nine, full impulse." He then pushed the 'engage' lighted button and looked up as the stars on the viewscreen began to zip by.

Jemima did a brief little dance. She always loved watching a starship leave dock, even on a holodeck.

T'Ping watched from the background and noted Cadet de la Couer little jig. What purpose that served was basically none and she made a note in her PaDD before resuming watching the cadets. She did note as well that Armstrong seemed to have taken a more confident note. That was good.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

Commander Andreus Kohl
Ethics Instructor
Starfleet Academy
[PNPC ir-Llantrisant]

Grevash
Engineering cadet
[NPC Derani]

Adelaide Graves
OPS Cadet
[NPC Franklin]

Lt. Cmdr T'Ping
Science Instructor
Starfleet Academy
[NPC Warraquim]

Nathan West
Rear Admiral
Chief of Starfleet Intelligence
Starfleet HQ, Earth

Jasper Higgins
CONN Cadet
[NPC Nicols]

Lieutenant Commander Luke Wyatt
Chief of Security

Ensign Abbey St James
Security Officer
[PNPC Luke Wyatt]

Cadet Jemima de la Cour
4th Year Science Cadet
[NPC Sandoval]

Jennifer/Bethany Armstrong
Command Cadet
[PNPC Edward Bauer]

RADM Harold Doolittle
BUPers
Starfleet Command

RSS Feed