trans_9 | explaining the universe [closed]

"We," the captain replied, "are going to continue doing what Stacy expects of us. We don't have the answers or ship access to do anything else at this time. So, in the meantime, Miss Katara, enjoy yourself and learn everything you can. When the time comes to make a stand, we'll be ready." Picard lifted the girl and spun her again, pulling her back in close. If anything, he was coming to view the curious and intelligent young woman as a niece. He had little doubt that she would adapt well.

"I believe you will do just fine, Miss Katara. Now, if I could ask for your help concerning one of my crew from my own home?"

Katara sighed. She figured as much, and not going back immediately was definitely not going to please Sokka. He definitely would not want to hear her say "We'll just have to do whatever Stacy says." Still it wasn't as if she had much of a say either way. She squealed a little in the spin, surprised but definitely having fun. He really was a fun!

Katara did look a little puzzled at his request though. "I don't know what I could do, but I'll try my best! What do you need?"

"I'll show you, Miss Katara," he said, ceasing their dance so the girl could see the scenery change around them. "If you want to see starships, why don't I show you mine? This is the bridge of the USS Enterprise E."

Katara's mouth dropped open as the scenery changed into something far beyond anything she could have comprehended seeing (except, of course, the beginning of the universe). All around her were these...well, they looked like square windows but they actually had a display, but somehow with nothing written, as if it were powered by some unknown force. The seats looked a little uncomfortable, stiff, but Katara could easily see why. This wasn't a place meant for lounging about: it was a ship ready for situations in which it might have to fight its way out. She stared at the imagery on the screens a moment, trying to make heads or tales of the strange writing, then observed the large center "window." It was big enough that Katara imagined it was to talk to someone else on the ship: what else would it be used for?

There were two chairs in the front, and she imagined that one was specifically meant for the Captain, and the one beside it for the Captain's second in command.

"Amazing," Katara said, looking around her. "This is so...well so beyond anything in my world. What could I do for you that your world couldn't?"

"See that console over there?" Picard gestured, pointing behind them. "It's a communications and systems console. I need someone to operate it for a simulation, and I will show you how."

Katara was definitely intimidated. This was more something that Sokka should be doing, he was the one that was into operating and simulations. Still, what bad could come out of this? She would learn something new, and she would have another goal to set for herself is she stayed on this ship for a long time.

"Please show me what to do," Katara said.

"Trust me, everything will be fine. Computer, load Communications Training Simulation Zero-Zero-One." Immediately, the symbols on the console shifted, simplifying into only a few icons. Picard pointed to each of them, stating what they were.

"Incoming transmission notification. Frequency. Identity of ship when registered with the Federation and Starfleet. Universal Translator: This one only alerts if a language is currently being translated.

"When a ship hails us, you will be alerted by this--" Immediately the console beeped, the incoming transmission icon blinking. Picard touched it, bringing up another small window with several icons. "--and pressing the icon will bring up this, which gives you more options. From here, you can communicate on your own through text--" A small keyboard appeared on the screen. "--on audio, through the bridge audio relays--" His voice echoed, transmitting his own voice through the ship. "--or through the main screen." Immediately a picture of himself showed up on the screen, with Katara standing next to him.

"Would you like to try?"

Katara nodded and took the console. She took a moment, pressing the control buttons and looking at her options for a few minutes. For Katara, memorizing had always been key in any situation, particularly when it came to her waterbending studies. Scrolls weren't the easiest form of learning, but they could be studied over and over until she got it right, just like this.

She waited a moment, then heard the beep of the console, alerting her of a ship approaching. Katara clicked the icon to see the ship classification. "Incoming transmission from...Klingon Bird of Prey. I'm going to go through to main screen, captain."

She smiled a little, then was all business. "This is...Ensign? Ensign Katara of the Starship Enterprise. What can we do for you today?"

"Very good, Ensign Katara," Picard replied with a smirk, "but when a hail isn't deemed urgent, it's usually appropriate to bring it to the captain's attention. He or she will then give the command to place it on screen, ignore the hail, or route the signal to another terminal, such as the captain's terminal in the ready room." He moved over Katara's shoulder, pointing out more things.

"You started off just right, Ensign. Simply stating that there was an incoming transmission and then following with its point of origin is excellent. Once you've informed the Captain, he'll say something to confirm your next action." The captain turned to the viewscreen, his tuxedo shifting into a Starfleet uniform.

"On screen."

"Ah," was the only thin Katara could say to apologize for her lack of know. It wasn't as if she had a manual for this sort of thing, after all. And the uniform merging into the captain was startling too, of course. He hadn't had it a moment ago! Still, Katara didn't need to fumble with the buttons so much now that she knew what the Captain wanted next.

She hit the icons easily to access the onscreen function, awaiting the message from these...Klingons.

What weird names.

What came on wasn't a Klingon, however, just a wall of text grading Katara's effort per Starfleet regulations.

"Not bad at all, for your first attempt, Ensign," he said with a smirk. "Let's run through it again, shall we?" The set blinked for a second, resetting itself, before Katara's console beeped at her, the incoming transmission icon flashing.

Katara nodded. The console reset itself, and again the transmission icon went off. This time Katara knew what to do.

"Incoming transmission from Romulan warbird Captain. How shall we proceed?"

"Put it on speaker, Ensign," Picard ordered.

Katara nodded, and did this with ease. The true controls were probably more complicated, but she would have plenty of time to learn, she hoped.

"Yes captain," she said, and did so.

"Very good, Ensign. I think you're ready to help with the Kobayashi Maru test."

"OK!" Katara said brightly. "I'll be fine as long as you tell me what a Kobayashi Maru is!"

"It's a command test at Starfleet Academy. It's also known as the No-Win Scenario."

Katara looked a bit confused. "So its a command test where you don't win? That doesn't make sense. What's the point of it?"

"It's not a test of one's ability. It's a test of one's self, Ensign." He'd gotten used to calling her that now, hiding his smirk when he saw an ops yellow uniform appear over her. "It tests who we are as people."

"Huh," Katara said, but she didn't argue the point further, pretty much because she didn't get what he meant and wouldn't until she actually went through it. She'd seen enough of Iroh, the Dragon of the West, to know when to just not question things.

The suit was on her instantaneously, then gave Captain Picard a nod. 'I'll do my best."

"A famous man in my home once said, 'how we face death is at least as important as how we face life.' It's a test of character, Ensign." Picard knew that expression well enough. After all, how many times had he had that same face as a cadet, not understanding a single word spoken by an instructor? He felt he would at least help Katara understand.

"That's all anyone can give."

[OOC: For lack of reliving the whole test, we'll just get to the aftermath]

The simulation took forty-five minutes, and once it was done, Katara left the simulation room. She looked worse for wear, and her hair was frazzled, but she also had a look on her face that was understanding as well as accepting of the current situation. A test like that, now that she knew its basis, was bound to come to the same conclusion.

"I crossed the neutral zone," Katara said to Picard. "I know that doing that violates the treaty, but if they were going to fire at us with no recourse for it, well, there's nothing I can do there. I don't even turn my back on people who need me."

She'd said it before, but meant it then as she did now.

"And now you understand the situation Mister Worf will be facing."

That surprised her. "Mister Worf? Who is that?"

"He's a Starfleet officer who serves under me. I'm preparing you to help with his promotion ceremony."

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