The Kobayashi Maru

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

Picard was standing on the bridge of the Enterprise E. Everyone entering found their clothes shifting into Starfleet uniforms as they entered, including the observers. The captain liked it that way. He thought it was appropriate. For his part, he had only three shining pips on his neck, and when Worf entered, the Klingon would find four pips on his own collar.

"Welcome to the bridge, Captain. Why don't you sit down?"

Comments

The Crew Arrives

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

The simulation crew filed in one by one, taking their positions as Starfleet standard uniforms appeared on them. Still, there was a little time for introductions and chit chat before the test.

Re: The Crew Arrives

[sonof-mogh.livejournal.com]

Worf blinked, looking around at the familiar bridge for a moment before reaching up to touch the pips on his neck. He raised an eyebrow at Picard

"Huh? 'Captain?' I don't understand, sir..."

Re: The Crew Arrives

[telekinetic_badass]

Admittedly, Julian was slightly annoyed to only have two pips on his collar, one gold, one black with a gold border. But he'll take it anyway.

"Lieutenant Keller, reporting for duty, sir." He saluted, not that they seemed to do that in Starfleet, but for once he'd rather err on the side of being respectful than not.

Hey, it's a simulation. He can always just say he was playing the part.

[madeofwyn.livejournal.com]

"I'm here!" Wyn says, rushing into the simulation. "... sorry, reporting for duty." she hastily corrects herself, sliding two Sensorium-made pins (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zhsSKrfjfgc/SfD5oe7Qi-I/AAAAAAAABMM/848xI7QA1ls/s320/bobbypinfront.jpg) into her hair.

'Keller' is made a note of, however, as is her need to trim her bangs again.

[telekinetic_badass]

"Officer Honey," Julian greeted, even giving her a little wink as he did.

Re: The Crew Arrives

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"You'll figure it out, Mister Worf. Take your seat."

Re: The Crew Arrives

[sonof-mogh.livejournal.com]

"Yessir." Worf moves to the captain's chair, hesitating a moment before he takes his seat. He's not used to sitting here. This is where Picard is supposed to be.

Re: The Crew Arrives

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara arrived, albeit a bit late, her face flushed but looking excited. Picard had already shown her a little of what was to come, and she was curious to see what would happen with Worf.

When she arrived, she was pleased to see people she knew: Julian was there, and so was Wyn.

"Hi guys!" She said. "Guess you're both higher up than I am. I'm just an Ensign."

Re: The Crew Arrives

[telekinetic_badass]

"Not by much," he stated. "But I get to fly this thing!" Because, really, even if you were allergic to nerdiness, flying the Enterprise is still cool.

Re: The Crew Arrives

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"Really? That's pretty neat! Have you ever done this simulation before? How did you get to become Lieutenant? I thought I heard Wyn call you that."

Re: The Crew Arrives

[madeofwyn.livejournal.com]

"It's what he introduced himself as. I never called him Lieutenant, though." Wyn says with a shrug. "And I think I'm a lieutenant commander, if I'm reading these buttons right, but basically I get to make sure we don't fall out of the sky."

The Test Begins

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

Everyone was at their stations, observing their current mission from Starfleet: map celestial phenomena in a system about seventy light years from the Romulan Neutral Zone.

That was quickly cut short when, to everyone's surprise, there was a beeping noise from the communication officer's console.

Re: The Test Begins

[sonof-mogh.livejournal.com]

Worf raised an eyebrow and glanced towards the conn. He still wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but he knew what his role was and he would perform to the best of his abilities.

"Report."

Re: The Test Begins

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"Not much in this sector, Captain," Picard replied.

"Just a Class Four comet, several solar flares and an electrical spike from one of the gas giants; probably just an ion storm on the surface. It looks to be a quiet couple of weeks before our return to Starbase Seven--"

Picard's report was suddenly interrupted by a beeping from the communications console. Every officer recognized that beep.

The emergency channel.

Re: The Test Begins

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara was at her post, remembering what this was like beforehand. This time, she didn't make any mistake. She walked quickly over to the console.

"I'm opening the emergency channel, audio only."

She patched it through, and there was a shrill crackling before they heard another voice.

"This is the Kobayashi Maru! We have struck a gravitic mine! Life support is failing. If any ships are in this sector, please resp--"

And then the ship audio distress cut off, and Katara looked over to Worf.

"Communications are ceased. Your orders sir?"

Re: The Test Begins

[sonof-mogh.livejournal.com]

"Sensors, what is the position of the Kobayashi Maru?" Worf leaned forwards in his chair, frowning as he stared at the view screen. This might very well get a bit ugly, especially if the Kobayashi Maru was in the Neutral Zone.

Spectators

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

The crew weren't the only ones watching the events unfold. In a separate enclosure, anyone and everyone who wanted to were watching the Klingon and how he would handle this test of command.

Re: Spectators

[not-prncss-tldr.livejournal.com]

Lafiel, watching from the transparent observation bubble, was reminded of similar tests at the Academy. From what she knew of Captain Picard though, he would have something far more clever in store...

Re: Spectators

[captain-jtk.livejournal.com]

Kirk stands alongside Lafiel, watching with a small smile on his face. He knew this test and he knew what was coming. It ought to be interesting. He turned to Lafiel with a small chuckle, "Perhaps you ought take this test one day, Comm-, ah, your Majesty. It'd probably be an interesting experience."

Re: Spectators

[not-prncss-tldr.livejournal.com]

Lafiel opened her mouth reflexively to correct him but it petered out. "I would like to. It reminds me of my time at the Academy...You may call me by name if you wish."

[captain-jtk.livejournal.com]

"I suppose i shouldn't stand on formality. Lafiel it is, then."

Kirk flashed a grin, "Although watching the test might give you some ideas of your own about it. I wonder if you'd be able to beat it."

The Ceremony

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

The test was done; all that remained was Picard's judgment.

Re: The Ceremony

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"Open the wall," Picard commanded. On cue, the wall of the Enterprise's bridge opened wide, revealing James Kirk and the other spectators inside.

"Captain James Kirk, will you join me here, please?"

Re: The Ceremony

[captain-jtk.livejournal.com]

Kirk stepped out of the spectator's bubble, grinning. He remembered this test well. Three times he'd taken it - and he'd beaten it, eventually. In a completely unorthodox manner, of course, but he'd done it.

"Of course, Captain."

Re: The Ceremony

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"Mister Worf, you handled yourself with grace and calm. Despite facing overwhelming odds, you continued to hold to what it means to be a Starfleet officer, and refused to go down without a fight.

"In the face of horrific defeat, you did everything possible to turn it into as much of a victory as possible, even if only a moral or Pyrrhic one. And so, I now have to ask my colleague: Captain, what's the verdict? Yea, or nay?"