The No-Win Scenario: Redux

Posted on 12 Jan 2018 @ 8:46pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Scarlet Blake & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Cadet Sophomore Grade Bethany Armstrong

2,584 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Earth - San Francisco, Starfleet Command, Kobayashi Maru Simulator
Timeline: MD 43, 0857 hrs

[ON]

T'Ping had set up the new scenario. When all was ready she sent a message to all interested parties along with the cadets to report for the test.

Jennifer received the summons as she was taking a break in her dorm. She swiftly through on a fresh uniform, bolting out of her single quarters. Part of her felt nervous about the test, she hoped for her part she would succeed. However, in this run, part of her felt confident, like she had control of both herself and that would project onto the scenario. She arrived at the simulation room, bringing herself to attention before T'Ping. "Cadet Bethany Armstrong, reporting as ordered ma'am!" she announced.

"At ease cadet. Did you want me to call in other cadets or are you satisfied with a holographic crew?" T'Ping asked.

"I want a holographic crew." Jennifer nearly blurted out not wanting to embarrass herself again in front of actual people.

"Very good, go ahead and assume the command chair please," she paused a moment and then said, "Computer fill in compliment of bridge positions."

A few moments later various beings were at the appropriate stations. T'Ping then said, "Begin scenario."

Lights and sounds of a working bridge filled the air and already the ship was cruising through space. A lieutenant at the comm station turned and said, "Captain I am picking up a distress signal. A Kobayashi Maru...they have lost all power and are adrift near the Romulan Neutral Zone."

"Distance? Are they in the Romulan Neutral Zone or still in Federation space?" Jennifer asked moving to the Captain's chair focusing upon the blank expanse of the main viewscreen.

"At full warp, thirty minutes," Comm responded.

"Sensors indicate that the Kobayashi Maru is only fifty thousand meters away from entering the zone. At current drift rate and full warp they will be on the very edge or possibly just entering.."

"Helm, set course for the Kobayashi Maru, maximum warp!" She ordered taking a seat in her chair.

"Aye Captain," helm responded. The ship surged and went into high warp.

"All engines reading nominal Captain but it putting a strain on them. We should be good though." Engineering called out.

It took a bit less than the half hour for the Kobayahi Maru to come into sensor and visual range. She was dead looking, without any real visible sign of lights in the windows.

"Captain, the Maru has just drifted over the outer line..." Science called out.

Not this again, damn it. Jennifer cursed to herself feeling once again like she was being set up.

Almost on the heels of that came a call from tactical. "Captain, sensors show two Ferengi D'Kora on intercept course." Tactical called out.

Back behind the simulated bridge in the control room, Vice-Commandant Vega sipped his steaming coffee while turning around from the replicator with interest at the mention of sensor contacts. He let out a deep grunt of interest. "Ferengi, huh? I like your style," he murmured with a grin to the Vulcan instructor next to him who'd programmed the scenario.

"Style sir? It is simply part of the scenario." T'Ping replied with typical Vulcan literal and coolness.

"Alongside a Romulan threat. It would be a diplomatic nightmare," Scarlet Blake chimed in, looking first to T'Ping and then leaning back so she could look to Vega from her position on the other side of the Vulcan.

Within minutes two D'Kora class cruisers droppoed out of warp and came to a halt. While not exactly threatening they were spaced enough apart that they covered a goodly field of fire if need be.

"Captain we are being hailed by the Ferengi."

"On screen." Jennifer ordered.

The screen shuddered and then a very craggy faced and snaggle tooted Ferengi appeared. "Federation ship, move away, this ship is carrying cargo for us. We do not need your interference!" The words were barely out the Ferengi's mouth when a D'deridex class warship decloaked just on the other side of the border. The screen shifted as a female Romulan shared part of the screen and replied with cool tones. "I would disagree, the ship and its cargo are now in our territory. I think it best for all of you to leave."

Jennifer stood up adjusting her uniform. "We are here responding to a distress call from the Kobayashi Maru. The transmission indicates the crew is in distress and requires immediate medical attention."

"The ship its contents and crew are now property of the Romulan..." the Romulan captain did not get a chance to finish before the Ferengi cut in.

"We have contracted this ship!!! Paid for its contents!!! It is ours!!! Federation do you not agree? By your own rules you must rescue that ship!!! I demand action now or we shall be forced to make you take action!!!"

"I am also forbidden from crossing the Romulan Neutral Zone. That is, unless the good Commander will allow me entry so I can begin rescuing the stranded crew?" Jennifer asked turning her attention to the Romulan.

"Indeed you cannot without incident. However as far as we are concerned this ship and its contents are ours. Now if you wish to keep yours intact I would suggest you depart and as for you," his attention shifted to the Ferengi. "Best that you do the same as well. Sub-commander put a tractor beam on that ship."

The Ferengi commander shouted again, "Charge weapons!!! Fire on both ships!!!"

"Raise shields!" Jennifer ordered. "Damon, I would seriously reconsider what you are about to do. If you take action against us, your actions will be taken as an act of war. I am sure you know as well as I do there is no profit for the Ferengi in a war with the Federation

"WAIT WAIT!!!!" The Ferengi commander screamed. The Romulan ship also indicated weapons being charged but they did not fire. "I seriously doubt that the Federation would get involved over a lousy freighter. Still there would be little profit in it." His feed went off line and then the Romulan one did as well. For several minutes there was nothing but the ships standing by looking at each other, then the feed came back on.

"Federation ship," the Romulan commander announced. "We have come to an agreement with the Ferengi. The ship and a quarter of its contents will revert to us along with the crew. The remainder of the cargo will go to the Ferengi. You presence here is not longer required or wanted. You may withdraw."

"I would ask that you allow us to take custody of the crew only. They are after all Federation citizens and it would put their families at ease seeing them home safe, in addition it would be an extension of good faith by the Romulan Empire which I can assure you the Federation would one day see a debt repaid. The Ferengi would also be a beneficiary of such good will." Jennifer responded.

There was a long moment and then the Dendrix fired on the Federation ship, it took only a few more moments before the Ferengi ships joined in starting to circle about the Federation ship to catch it in their cross fire.

"Raise shields!" Jennifer barked as the bridge was surrounded in red light, the klaxons blaring as the ship shuddered with each blast. "Helm bring us to three four one, mark two nine two." She knew in her mind she was tactically outgunned, but she had an idea that was just crazy enough to work, and besides, this crew was only holograms. "Get us as close to the ferengi ship as possible."

The simulation brought Jennifer's ship in direct line with one of the ferengi cruisers. Now, the ferengi were making shots directly to her front while the Romulans fired upon the aft.

"Helm maneuvering thrusters on my mark.....mark!" She ordered.

The thrusters pushed the ship vertical narrowly missing the ferengi vessel. Now the Ferengi and Romulans were looking upon each other with no ship in between them.

The Ferengi ship fired at the same time as the Romulan ship while the other was still manuvering. The Ferengi energy blast and the Romulan disruptor shots passed each other. While the D'kora class was no single match for a Dendrix, the energy dampening weapon was formidable. There was a momentary lapse in the shields on the Romulan cruiser. The D'Kora though flared as its shields took a large disruptor hit. It was not enough to put it out but anyone looking at readings would know it was damaged. The other Ferengi D'Kora changed course to no longer go after the Federation ship but instead was targeting the Romulan ship. It too fired and the Romulan ship again seemed to waver for a moment. Suddenly the Romulan ship cloaked and vanished.

The remaining D'kora that was undamaged moved between the Federation and the freighter.

"Captain we are being hailed!"

"On screen." Jennifer smiled smugly proud of her work. A rare moment of victory for her.

"Captain of the Federation vessel," a different Ferengi appeared. "It would appear that our Romulan friends have fled. So allow us to take our dilitium we have contracted for and you can have the ship and crew."

"That sounds like a very profitable deal for you, considering you launched an unprovoked attack upon my vessel Damon. You see it will only take me a matter of seconds to send out a subspace distress signal to other Federation vessels saying how the Ferengi have launched an unprovoked attack against us and a Romulan Warbird. Sure, you may get your dilithium now, but think of the losses when you are at war with two major powers."

She began to pace. Leaving the Damon in silence to consider what she had said. "So tell me Damon, what's stopping me from locking onto that vessel with a tractor beam and towing it away myself? You can't expect me to just let you walk away unscathed from this encounter." She said as sternly as she had turned to face the Ferengi, a scowl prevalent across her face."

"And what stops me Hoooman from just taking what I want? I could just as easily take the dilithium and the ship myself. You are outgunned and we are at the border. You cannot cross into the neutral zone but I can. If I recall correctly anything you do that violates the zone is against your rules. So tell you what...we retrieve the ship, take the dilithium and go. Besides I would imagine our friend will be returning soon enough with reinforcements."

"And I imagine he wasn't too happy when you fired on his ship, I'm sure he and I could work out a deal."

A brief pause.

"And there is also the fact I just sent out a subspace message to nearby Federation vessels. I am certain the Federation council will not take likely the fact a Ferengi vessel fired unprovoked upon one of their vessels. Just imagine Damon, war with the two biggest superpowers in the quadrant, how long would the Ferengi last? How long until the losses dwindle away generations worth of profits?"

"You know what Damon, let me tell you a little story about the Federation. You see, before you can become a Captain, each and every cadet in the academy is subject to what is known as 'no-win scenario. You see a Captain, is faced with a decision that in no uncertain terms ends poorly either way. He or she can either sacrifice the ship they were sent to rescue, or they can die trying. I too have faced that scenario. So let me tell you how this will go. I may be outgunned, but I will stand and fight. Should you become victorious, should you destroy my ship and take the freighter what do you think happens next? You think you go back to Federation space and we forget you MURDERED four hundred innocent souls? How will this look to the council? Is war really worth one freighter?

I'll tell you what Damon, I'll make this excursion worth your while, you take one quarter of that freighter's yield, and we both go merrily on our way." Jennifer countered, stoic as ever as she stood eye to eye with the Ferengi.

"We can also leave and that freighter and its contents will be lost to both of us. It is drifting further and further away. Besides we can always say that we were only defending contracted interests and defending a Federation ship against the Romulans. The Federation would much rather let a bit of diplomacy then to have a fight. Three quarter contents and the rest is yours. Best decide before that ship is across the border and there is nothing you can do about it without violating your own law. Besides," the Ferengi smiled and showed sharp crooked teeth. "It will not be much longer before the Romulans return in force."

"Half and I'll even stay here and ensure our mutual friend does not cause us any further troubles. In addition, I will put in a good word for you in my report of this incident." Jennifer countered.

There was a long pause and finally the Ferengi nodded, "Agreed." He said something in Ferengi to someone off screen. Outside the other Ferengi ship moved into the zone and tractored the Federation ship back to the Federation side.

Again a long pause and then the Ferengi captain smiled and said, "The rest is yours." The two Ferengi ships turned and then vanished going to warp. Inside the lead ship the Ferengi captain smiled. They had only gotten half the cargo but then again they had not paid for it either so it came out as a win none the less.

As the screen turned to black Jennifer couldn't help but smirk. She had not only sustained zero casualties. She had dispatched of the Ferengi and Romulan threats, saved the crew of the freighter AND retrieved half of a shipment she originally had no entitlement to. Even a seasoned diplomat would have been dwarfed by her skills.

For once, as she looked into the deep void that was the screen, projecting her reflection back upon herself. She liked what was staring back at her.

As the Ferengi ships disappeared and the freighter was on the Federation side with the crew intact but shaken T'Ping said, "End simulation."

"Well that didn't go well," muttered Vice Commandant Vega who downed the last of the coffee in his mug and headed off to the nearby replicator to procure more. "Negotiating with the Ferengi? Ha!. I'll tell you what, though... This girl's got a pair," he said over his shoulder.

T'Ping was not sure exactly what the reference was to, pair of legs, arms, mammary glands or something else. Humans had all sorts of illogical references at times. She was not going to question the Admiral but only added, "Some interesting maneuvers and a a better then expected outcome from this particular scenario. The crew of the Maru was recovered even if not in the most logical fashion." She turned to look at the cadet and said, "Unless the admiral says otherwise, you are dismissed."

[OFF]

--

Cmdr T'Ping
Academy Instructor - Science
[NPC Warraquim]

Cadet Sophomore Grade Bethany Armstrong
Command Cadet
[NPC Bauer]

RADM Julio Vega
Vice Commandant
Starfleet Academy
[NPC Saalm]

Commander Scarlet Blake
Instructor
Starfleet Academy

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