The No-Win Scenario (Part 2 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 @ 6:48pm

2,985 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Earth - Starfleet Academy, Kobayashi Maru Simulator
Timeline: MD 32, 1021 Hrs

[CONTINUED]

Once into space things seemed to calm down each cadet looked as though they were all lost in their own little department bubble. Abbey caught in her own bubble was soon alerted to a presence on the tactical scanners. Gliding her hand tactfully over the console she soon had the information. "Ma'am, tactical sensor have picked up a class three neutronic fuel carrier, designation ECS-1022, Kobayashi Maru."

Already? The word screamed through Abby's mind. She knew the simulation very well, despite never having taken it, but she thought there would be more time to plan, to think. But no. There it was, in front of them.

The sudden appearance of the vessel had shocked Jennifer although her gaze remained stoic. The ship had barely left stardock and already they had encountered the vessel. Almost immediately her mind began playing out scenarios, hoping for the one solution no Cadet before her had thought of. "On screen." She said.

As the blank screen was replaced by an image of a small freighter, adrift in space, her mind continued to logically and analytically breakdown the situation. "Status of the Maru." She ordered.

Abbey ran her eyes across her read out and relayed the information, "The ship is disabled and adrift, it appears to have been hit by a gravitic mine. At least one deck is exposed into open space the others have limited life support." She looked up to the Cadet in charge. "There may be survivors aboard.

And here they were, Jemima thought. She'd been here before, and it just made her grateful she didn't have to be in command. No sir, not her. She was happy to be in science. To keep busy, she scanned the area for anomalies and odd readings in the space around the Maru.

West shifted slightly in the back so that he could get a better view of the cadet in the center chair. He raised an eyebrow and he watched her practically seeing the wheels turning in her head. He grinned to himself half in envy and half in excitement as he remembered his trip through the simulator.

"Can you detect any survivors?" she asked. As cold as it would sound if spoken outwordly the absence of a surviving crew aboard the vessel would do worlds to ease her solution of the situation. The vessel itself as far as she knew was a simple freighter with no strategic value but she knew the legendary scenario could not be escaped so easily. As she continued to consider the numerous possibilities of the scenario, her mind continued to struggle with the fact that once again she would lose. The problem was, Jennifer wanted to win, to be the first cadet to solve the no-win scenario. It would certainly fast track her to assignment, to a command.

Her name would no longer come up in conversation as the loser, the upstart who would was better suited for a broom closet then the bridge of a ship. She huffed dismissing the thought of returning to her family and the ridicule of being the failure her relatives always predicted. She needed this one, she needed it bad.

T'Ping made a mental note as she watched. The response time from the crew manning the tactical and science sensors could be faster by twelve point three percent. It was precious time dithering that could be used to better effort.

Commander Kohl, meanwhile, could only bring himself to chew on his lower lip and stomp on his left foot. Anything, he needed to take any action, to prevent himself from interfering. It was like the Academy's own prime directive and Cadet Armstrong was the primitive pre-warp civilization. Kohl wanted nothing more than to give orders to tactical, to taking over the science station beneath his own hands; if nothing else, he had a dozen questions to ask the crew. But he held back, he held his tongue.

As Jennifer swiveled in her chair towards the science and tactical officers for answers, she took note of the observers behind them. She noted Admiral West simply standing like a statue, eyes fixed upon her. While his outward expressions did not convey much she could tell the man's mind was analysing her, dissecting her every move. The same could be said for T'Ping vice her taking a more outwardly active observation of the entire bridge. She surmised T'Ping was not only evaluating her, but the entire bridge staff.

Then there was Kohl. He was biting his bottom lip and she knew he was sprung like a lion awaiting the pounce on his prey. His eyes dug into her like canines ripping into her, judging her every move. She did not understand why the man seemed ready to spring into action, what had she done wrong? What else could she do? As the staring contest continued his eyes mocked her inaction, beckoning her to do something. Was this a test in itself, was Kohl just trying to make her spin? Why couldn't he for once just stop treating her like an insolent child and give her a chance to succeed?

Why was everyone so intent on making her fail? The anxiety within her was beginning to stir anger as her teeth clinched together. She looked towards the tactical and science officers. "Cadets, if there were survivors they are probably dead now! Scan that ship and get me a status report." she barked glaring the two down, a snarl began to form off her lips as her breathing intensified with her building anxiety.

"Six humanoid life signs," Jemima said. "And three that I can't make out. Recalibrating the scans." The captain was a little too impatient, as far as she was concerned.

Jasper sat there at the helm just itching to leap into the action. His back was straight and his shoulders were squared and he could feel the tension between his shoulder blades. He knew it was just a scenario, but his four years of training was kicking in and he wanted to get in there and kick some ass. He pushed some of the nubs on his station and looked over to some readouts and was able to confirm the life signs as well. Let's get this going... he thought to himself.

Gravash looked up form the engineering post and cleared his throat with a crackly bark. "Captain, I'm detecting gamma radiation coming from the impulse drives. Its low level at the moment, but is likely to become lethal across the ship within a few hours."

Jemima didn't like the sound of that. But it still gave them plenty of time for rescuing the survivors. Her scan completed and she checked the readings again. "Ma'am, the other three life forms are...puppies."

Wait. Did she just say, puppies? Addy was a little confused. In all of her studies about this particular simulation, there were human lifeforms. There was nothing ever mentioned about puppies. Addy's mind wandered further instead of paying attention to her station. Were puppies Armstrong's weakness?

"Captain, we need to rescue the survivors, but if we cross into the Klingon neutral zone, it will be seen as an act of war," Jemima added, just to be helpful.

The comment had brought Addy back to the moment. She didn't have much to do right now, but she knew that was going to change, especially if Armstrong decided to rescue the . . . puppies.

Was this a joke? Armstrong thought to herself as she turned towards the viewscreen as if it would hold answers. Were the upper echelons of the Academy looking to make a mockery of her, killing her crew for puppies? Jennifer's fists balled as she filled with anger. Her chest expanded and contracted more deeply. She gritted her teeth as she contemplated her next move.

Deep down, she knew there was only one end to this scenario....."Miss Wyatt, arm photon torpedoes." she stated in a low tone as she stared intently onto the main viewer at the Kobayashi Maru.

Abbey looked at the main view screen to the command cadet, after a short pause she swiveled in her chair and set into motion the arming sequences. "Arming Photon torpedoes. Torpedoes armed Ma'am"

T'Ping cocked her head slightly. She knew the cadets all knew this scenario but arming torpedoes now seemed to be not logical in response to the situation completely. Still she was primarily focused on a particular aspect but wondered what the rest of the instructors were thinking at this point.

If T'Ping were telepathic enough to live in Kohl's mind, she might hear his silent please for Jennifer to protect the crew's babies. Not just the literal babies, but all the lives under her command. During his own attempt in this simulation, Kohl has separated the starship's saucer and stardrive sections to give his crew a chance to survive his own attack on the Klingons, but Jennifer was slowly proving herself to be a touch more bloodthirsty.

"Lock onto the Kobayashi Maru, target the main reactor and fire." Jennifer ordered without hesitation.

"There are six PEOPLE on the Maru," Jemima said. "And three puppies. You're just going to FIRE?" She was trying very hard to keep her voice level, but the order was so beyond anything she'd expected she couldn't hide her shock.

At hearing the captain's order, Jasper raised his head and he flinched. What was going on? Why in the world would she feel the need to destroy the ship with lifeforms on it? He looked over his shoulder at the woman who was now just 'playing' captain. His brow not only furrowed in confusion but frustration and anger as well.

Addy turned from her station toward the captain's chair.

"I don't think that's right, ma'am," she said. "I may not be the highest ranking officer on this bridge but we can't just fire on a disabled ship that is asking for our help." She stared at Armstrong. "If you continue on this course of action, I'm going to have to call for you to step down."

This wasn't new to Addy. She had been known to speak her mind with her instructors and sometimes they admired her for it. Most of the time, they told her to be quiet and keep her opinions to herself. But Addy understood this simulation and knew there was no clear solution and yet, destroying a ship of simulated innocent people and puppies wasn't the answer, either.

Jennifer turned to the Ops officer. "Your objection is noted." She turned her gaze to the tactical officer expectantly.

Noted? Addy was a little offended by the statement. Addy wasn't some green cadet being placed in a difficult situation. And she wasn't in charge, but she knew the different between right and wrong and killing innocent people and puppies. She nodded in response and turned around and prepped herself for whatever was going to happen next.

Jemima caught Addy's eye and gave her a sympathetic smile. She was not happy about this turn of events, either. Then she turned to the captain. "Ma'am, shouldn't we try to rescue them first?"

She turned her head to the science officer. "And risk a war which could kill thousands if not millions? No." Jennifer stated sternly with a fiery gaze in her eyes as she once again stared down the tactical officer this time placing her hands on her hips.

The transformation that had taken place within Jennifer's mind was now a stark contrast to the Cadet that had entered the simulation. The woman whom entered the room was shy, nervous, sheltered and far too timid and compassionate to attempt something as cold, calculating and apathetic as the Cadet whom was now a force staring down the tactical cadet.

Abbey being from the mirror universe was used to hard, cold and calculated decisions and didn't object to the commanding cadet's orders, she looked the ship into the computers targeting system and turned to face the woman. "Target locked, ready to engage"

West watched with mild astonishment what was going on on the bridge and made a note to monitor the cadet in the center chair closely. She was ruthless and might make a great field agent.

For Commander Kohl's part, his eyes were drawn to the viewscreen. He couldn't help himself. No matter what was happening on a bridge, his eyes always went to the vista of space with it's dance between starships. With concerted effort, he turned his head to study Armstrong and her choices.

"Fire." Armstrong stated in a lowered ominous tone.

Abbey let a heavy sigh leave her parted lips and nodded "Aye ma'am" She turned in her seat and hovered her hand over the console where the pulsing red fire button stared at her. She looked up to the main screen and pressed firmly onto the console. "Torpedo's away" As if to fortify her call three streak of light flew across the space between them and the Maru.

Adelaide Graves, third year cadet, knew at that moment that she was nowhere near ready to graduate. Even though she knew this was a simulation and there were a lot of people watching for each cadet's reactions, she sank her head into her hands.

"It's murder," she whispered with a shaky breath. "She didn't even give them a chance."

It also made Addy consider the captain to be crazier than first expected based on rumors. Now she had been given proof that she didn't care about others in the line of duty.

Jemima screamed. It would probably mean her career, but you didn't just shoot someone asking you for help simply because it was easier than trying to save them. This Armstrong was a cold-blooded bi... She stopped the thought. Her mamma would be mortified to hear her daughter say that about anyone. Well, maybe, if her mamma had been here, she'd call that woman a cold-hearted bitch, too.

Gravash looked over at Adalaide. "Not even fisinished her final year, and already a disgrace to starfleet. I don't think even Kirk managed that." He looked over to Jemima. "As the closest thing to a doctor, can you relieve that crack pot of command?" he asked.

Jemima shook her head. "No. Only the XO or Chief Medical Officer have that authority, sir. Science doesn't count as medical." She jerked her head in the direction of the admirals. "They can, if they choose to."

Abbey listened to the bridge crew descend into chaos, but before she could turn around and say anything he console began to explode with information. She just managed to raise the shield and set red alert as the ship rocked violently to the right. "Three Klingon K't'inga-class battlecruisers have just decloaked, were surrounded." She said as the green strobes of disrupter fire filled the main screen.

T'Ping did not react at all, Armstrong was not the first cadet to try something like this. What was the human phrase, 'What the hell' or something like that. That is why the simulation continued with more of the scenario. Still, T'Ping made note not so much of Armstrong but the other cadets and their reactions. They were being observed just as much and she noted that they reacted slowly to the odd order.

Though Addy was not surprised by the Klingon vessels appearing, it still caught her off guard and she scrambled her fingers across her console to keep an eye on ship's systems to ensure that everything stays active.

Jennifer quickly assumed the command chair. "Return fire, helm evasive maneuvers get us the hell out of here! Send a distress signal to any Federation vessels, we are under attack by Klingons in Federation space." She barked her orders out turning her gaze to the screen as she watched the volley of disrupters impact the ship.

The ship rocked, and Jasper gripped the edge of his console, his knuckles going white. When the ship righted itself, he did as ordered and began to key in evasive maneuvers. "Evasive maneuver pattern beta nine epsilon," he said in a calm, but slightly strained voice.

Abbey returned fire, alternating between torpedos and phaser but the Klingon ships were too much of a match for them. "Weapons are having little effect, targeting the lead ships warp nacelles." She said as a volley for phaser and torpedoes impacted.

"Recommend the Picard Maneuver, captain," Jemima said. "And try hailing them. Remind them they are in Federation space and this constitutes an act of war." Maybe they could salvage something of this test.

Abbey rolled her eyes as she held onto her console as another volley hit them this time sparks showered the bridge. "I don't think there in the talking mood." She said retaliating with another Burt of their own weapons fire the lead ships shields failing and a photon hitting the engines of the ship rendering it immobile.

Jasper again found himself gripping his station and nodding his head in agreement with the tough looking broad. "Besides the Picard Maneuver is outdated..." his words were cut short by the captain.

"Hail them anyways." she exclaimed. "Helm, change course two four two mark five seven one, warp four on my mark."

A short pause.

"Mark"

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

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