A Simple Start

Starfleet Academy, 2405 …

The four cadets hunched over the digital map displayed on the table.  Each also had a PADD detailing the scenario: they were to portray a diplomatic effort to settle a city-wide dispute over where to construct a public transit system.  Each of the twenty districts had their own interests which either supported or contrasted to an adjacent district.  Paramount considerations were environmental impact and cost to the local government, yet other factors to the proposal were needed such as jobs and public safety.  Ultimately, the circuit needed to satisfy the population’s many needs and interests … or at least try.  The four groups in the class only had seven hours to analyze the situation and draft a proposal that revealed the most equitable solution.

+++
After the first hour …

Jebal stood straight and crossed his arms.  “This is impossible!  There are too many variables to consider.  No one would be happy with any proposal.”  His Bajoran ear loop swung vigorously as he shook his head with frustration.

“That’s the point,” replied the Bolian, Hurte.  She waved a hand over the board.  “We are not meant to please everyone, just most of the population.  The goal is to develop a cost-effective and efficient transit plan.  This is not the Kobayashi Maru, so there is a winning solution.  We just need to have a better plan the rest of the class.”  She looked over her shoulder to the other groups similarly hunched over tables, tapping furiously on PADDs and having muted discussions.

Kathryn watched the exchange and then continued entering calculations on her PADD.

Steve waved a hand to get the others attention while also tapping on his PADD.  “Guys, we need to start somewhere.  Seven hours can go by quick, so I’ll throw something at the wall first, so to speak.”  After tapping a few more keys, the city image added a golden-colored line that weaved around structures or ran parallel to roads.  “Obviously, we can’t use flying transportation: the safety risks are too great for transport capacity desired.  Ground vehicle transportation would require maintaining a fleet and scheduling which makes it inefficient.  That leaves electro-magnetic rail.  It’s faster, easier to maintain and schedule.  Frankly, it’s the simplest solution.”

He looked over each shoulder as if to make sure no one was spying on them.  “The other teams are likely to have the same consideration, so we just need to have a better route than they do.”

+++
After two hours, outside the classroom …

Hurte raised the cool cup to her forehead and patted a few times.  She looked to her group partner.  “You’ve been pretty quiet through this project, everything okay?”

Kathryn took a sip from her own cup and shrugged nonchalantly.  “I don’t want to come across as disinterested.  Really, I’m just listening to ideas and crunching numbers.”

“Well, Steve has grumbled about your lack of input a few times.”

“Oh, really?  Why didn’t he say anything to me?”

Hurte rolled her eyes.  “You know him; he’s a nest-poker.”

Kathryn looked confused, “a … what?”

The Bolian looked over Kathryn's shoulder toward the classroom.  “A nest-poker.  You know, he likes to cause trouble without being obvious.”

Realization came to Kathryn and she giggled.  “Oh!  Right, yes.  I suppose so.  If he says something again, please tell him to talk to me and I’ll settle it.”

“Of course, I apologize for not saying something earlier.”

Kathryn smiled and the two took sips from their drink.

+++
After three hours …

The Bajoran stood strait and stretched.  Jebal spoke through clenched teeth as bones cracked from changing position.  “Team, I think we are going to lose this round.”

Steve wore a frown as he rubbed weary eyes, “Only if we give up.  We’re not even halfway through the time limit.”

Hurte kept staring at the map.  “There are just a few districts where the simulations seem to falter.”  She looked up to the other groups and saw a Rigelian cadet suddenly tap at his PADD forcefully before throwing it to the ground with a growl.  It shattered, surprising everyone.  He apologized before exiting the room in a huff.  “At least we are not alone feeling frustrated.”

“I’ve got an idea.”  Kathryn placed her PADD on the table.

“Oh, now she has idea?”  Steve’s mood darkened quickly.

Kathryn sternly glanced at Steve acknowledging the barbed comment before turning to the others and calmly replied, “I know I’ve not contributed much except to support suggestions –“.

“You think?”  Steve interrupted.

Hurte put a hand out as if to lower the tension.

Kathryn leaned on the table toward Steve and whispered, “We can either take it outside, or you can give me a minute.  After three hours, that shouldn’t be too hard for anyone on the planet.  Wouldn’t you agree?”

Jebal and Hurte looked to each other and silently agreed not to take sides.

After a few seconds without a response, Kathryn tapped a few keys on the table console and the map adjusted.  The proposed transit line the team had developed shifted and symbols appeared under the line.

The group looked at the transforming image and the tension seemed to dissipate.  Steve pointed at the table, “is that … do you mean to have an elevated railway?”

Kathryn smiled.  “Why not?  Instead of building a rail system through neighborhoods, how about over them?”

The other three looked to one another and then quickly grabbed their PADDS to key information as if to verify a new discovery.

Jebal looked up first.  “But that’s not a part of the project rules.”

Grinning, Kathryn asked, “are there any restrictions to the solution?”

Hurte answered, “No.  The only guide is for the districts and that we must negotiate an equitable solution to maximize benefit to the population.”

Jebal seemed to be stunned.  He looked to the other groups.  “So … we all assumed the mass transit system had to be built in the communities because we were given details to negotiate around them?”

Kathyn nodded.  “Consider this scenario.”  She tapped on her PADD, sending data to the table which started to run the simulation again.  Numbers crawled along the four corner edges for each participant to see.  Meanwhile, the image rotated and moved following design patterns from the data.

Steve’s eyes widened when the simulation ended.  “That’s … too easy.  There must be a problem with it.”

Kathryn shrugged.  “Maybe.  I’m not saying this is the best idea though.  Let’s take a break for fifteen minutes.  When we get back, let’s run some more numbers.  We’ve got the time, right?”

+++
The next day …

The instructor was reviewing the class project results.  Kathryn sat in a chair facing the grizzled veteran-turned-instructor and was naturally curious why she was called to his office.  Again.

He nodded without further inflection and lowered the PADD to the table.  “Let me get to the point, Cadet.  Your team’s solution to the problem, although not innovative, was also not expected, given the parameters.  I’m curious how your team came to that idea.”

Shrugging slightly, Kathryn answered, “It was a team effort, sir.  We brainstormed ideas and tested them until we found a solution that best fit within the goals of the project.”  She smiled demurely.

The instructor copied her smile and then countered, “According to your classmates, you were the one to propose the solution and developed the base code while also working with their ideas.”

“They give me too much credit, sir.”

“Maybe so, but when three other Cadets tell the same story, then I wouldn’t call that a coincidence.”

Kathryn sat silently, unsure how to respond or if she even should to that comment.

The instructor continued.  “Regardless, it was a good idea and resulted to the highest score for this project in three years.  Your leadership is a testament to that fact.  Well done, Cadet.  Dismissed.”

---
Cast for crew:
Kathryn – Katheryn Winnick
Steve – K.J. Apa
Jebal – Cole Sprouse
Hurte – Lili Reinhart
Instructor – Bill Murray
Rigelian cadet – Male street extra 1

Kathryn's Maru

Unofficial Literary Challenge 1 - The Kobayashi Maru

---

Kathryn glanced at the operations display over her left shoulder. The image of the Constitution-class ship was dotted with red flashing lights, signifying damage. It was not a pretty picture. 

The simulation was putting her through the paces though and sweat dripped from the stress and from the heat of the controlled fires on the bridge. Her bridge crew was also in various states of smudge and sweat. One even played dead on the bridge after his console erupted in sparks, signifying a catastrophic EPS conduit failure.

"Target status report!" Kathryn refocused her attention to the task at hand. The Kobayashi Maru had taken damage from the Klingon attack and her crew was able to destroy one Klingon ship and cripple a second one, but the third was being particularly elusive, especially for a K'Tinga-class cruiser. Although Kathryn decided on the oft-used tactic of head-on combat, she was proud her flying orders had kept her ship alive and firing.

A Bolian from the tactical station replied, "shields down to twenty-five percent, port nacelle venting plasma, but he's still flying sharp."

"Thank you Nebar. Weapons, keep putting pressure, to stop that ship from getting closer to the Maru. I don't care for hits, just keep them away." Krysta'alin nodded as she waved off a puff of smoke from behind her. "Ops, status of theMaru."

Carranza quickly replied, "heavy structural damage, shields down, they are requesting emergency transport."

"Tell them we are on our -"

"New warp signature inbound!" Nebar’s interruption caught everyone on the bridge off-guard. Even the 'dead' crewman turned his head toward the viewscreen. 

The Kobayshi Maru was joined by a Brigand Cruiser. Carranza reported, "reading multiple transporter signals!"

Kathryn response was immediate, "Helm, take us to the Maru. Weapons, concentrate firepower to the engines, that ship is not going anywhere!"

"Captain, bogey three is turning for an intercept course to the Maru."

"Thank you, Nebar, but I'm sure we'll get there first."

---

The training commander tossed the PADD onto the desk. It slapped the surface without bouncing and slid toward Kathryn, resting for her to see the small script. She glanced at it to be formal but she knew what it read, then looked back to the wall behind the commander.

"I'm curious what you think of the results."

Kathryn swallowed a little before responding. "The test was unfair."

The commander rolled his eyes. "Please humor me, by telling me something original."

Clearing her throat and sitting up straighter, Kathryn said, "what I mean is a variable was introduced not typical for the test."

"Ah, yes. The Orions. Your tactic was to intercept their ship, disable the engines ... and then what?"

"Once the Brigand was immobilized, then we would attempt to finish off the K'Tinga. If that was done, then a MACO team would be sent to the Brigand to rescue the Maru crew.

The commander reclined in his chair "Attempt. If. You were taking chances on chance, wouldn't you say?"

Kathryn shrugged her shoulders. "Given the situation, those are all I had."

"I see. If you plan to sit in the command chair of a vessel in Starfleet, then I recommend not getting used to shrugging shoulders."

"I -," Kathryn cut herself short when she noticed the commander's raised eyebrows. "Yes, sir."

There was a moment of silence before the commander spoke again. "Cadet Beringer, I've read your dossier from Counselor A'Mand. Consider this experience a warning to you: don’t let your personal feelings get in the way of your duties. Duty to Starfleet before duty to self, do you understand?"

---

Cast:

Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols
Training Commander - Bill Murray
Bridge crew - random street extras
Mentioned but not seen - Counselor A'Mand - Lynn Collins

Passing Grades

Literary Challenge 4 - Passing Grades

+++

The alarms shut off and the pair of female cadets took a step back from the console.  A male voice boomed into the room.  "Cadets, the ship has been destroyed.  Test will resume in five minutes."  The Andorian wearing a red striped Cadet uniform pounded the table with both fists and growled in frustration.  Looking up at the woman with a blue-striped uniform in front of her, she regretted the outburst.  "I'm sorry, I'm not seeing a way out of this mess."

Kathryn grinned.  "It's okay, that's a part of the test, remember?  We are standing in Engineering because that's not our specialty."

Looking down at the schematics on the table , the Andorian female sighed to relax.  "Fine.  Let's review the situation again."  She pulled the tie out of her hair and wrapped it back into a ponytail.  

"Anthi, did I ever tell you that you are a beautiful when you concentrate?"

The look on Anthi's face told Kathryn that brevity was not allowed and she quickly looked to concentrate on the diagram as well.  "The schematics for the FWF-1 warp engines of the Miranda-class should be re-classified as ancient.  I hope my first deployment is not on one of these."

The Andorian smirked, "Now you said it, so you can bet on it."

They were finishing their analysis of the previous trial when the diagram reset to prearranged parameters.  Signals on the console started flashing and sliding within various fields.  Alarms started blaring and a hose expelled a white vapor to simulate damage from somewhere else.  The room shook violently and both cadets gripped the table to prevent falling to the ground.

Kathryn reviewed a panel.  "Damage to the port nacelle.  Inverted plasma coupling destabilizing."

"Re-routing power to aft auxiliary conduits."  Anthi furiously tapped onto a side panel.

"What about fore conduits?"

"That would transfer warp power through the ionic grid network.  The stress would tear the nacelle off the hull."

Kathryn nodded then started tapping commands furiously on the shared keypad to her right.  "Shutting off plasma valve to port nacelle."

The warning claxon stopped abruptly and expectantly.  After a few seconds, Anthi furrowed her eyebrows as she focused onto a part of the ship schematic.  Pointing to an image toward the rear of the ship, she asked, "what's that magnetic interface disturbance?"

Looking at the signal on the table, Kathryn tried to recall her training and instantly knew the test had deviated from the three previous incarnations.  "I don't ... that's different from last time."   The feeling of the simulation faded as she became absorbed trying to solve the problem.  "Isn't that near the thermal protective manifold?"

"Checking."  Anthi's fingers darted across the keypad to her left as she also became absorbed into the simulation.  "Yes, running internal scan."  After a few moments, information scrolled on the screen.  " The disturbance is magnetic in nature but it’s also emitting tetryon radiation."

Kathryn smiled at the revelation.  "Let's see, ordering the manifold be removed would expose the interior to deadly artificial tetyrons.  Leaving the problem would cause the magnetic field of the disturbance to effectively melt the thermal shielding over time.  Damned if you do."

"That's the sum of it, so what can we do from here?"  Anthi wrung her hands together.

Kathryn looked at the blinking anomaly and bit her lower lip.  "Open the access hatch, here."  She pointed at a nearby location.  "That will freeze the manifold, minimize the magnetic disturbance and vacuum out the radiation.  We can order an evacuation of any nearby crew."

Anthi stood straight and placed a hand on her chin as she thought.  "What if the disturbance is immobile?  Sucking the radiation particles is a quick clean-up but doesn't remove the problem."

The science cadet looked around the room as if the answer would appear from somewhere, then she looked up at the tactical cadet.  "What if it does remove the problem?  Otherwise - " she looked down at the schematic, "we activate hazard shielding here, here, here ... and here below those decks to contain the source until we get a crew in Hazard Suits to inspect from outside the ship."

"I'm not so sure."

Kathryn's eyebrows came together.  "I am.  I have half a mind to release the hull plates exposing the location to the void of space for the rest of the journey."  She paused for effect.  "Open the access hatch."

Anthi's face became serious.  After a few seconds, she tapped a command on the console.  The signal faded.

Both released their breath loudly and relaxed their shoulders.

---

"That was an interesting move, Cadet."  The instructor was scrutinizing Kathryn's test results as he sat behind his desk.  He smoothed his mustache with one hand as was his habit.  "Not particularly innovative, but direct."

Kathryn stood at attention and did not look away from the spot on the wall above the instructor.  "Thank you, sir."

The instructor placed the PADD on the desk.  "At ease.  What was the motivation for the choice you made?"

Cadet Beringer relaxed visibly.  Of the options available, it was the least invasive to the ship, sir."

He nodded without looking away.  "Hindsight being 20/20, do you have any other solutions?"

Without pause, Kathryn responded, "No, sir."

"That's good.  There were none.  You made the right choice which ultimately lead to your passing the course."

Kathryn beamed a very wide smile.  "Thank you, sir!"

"No need for thanks, you did the work.  Tangentially, how would you rate your partner in the test?"

"She will have an excellent career, sir.  I would be honored to serve under her command."

 +++

Cast:
Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols
Anthi Ythysi - Katheryn Winnick
Training Coordinator - Bill Murray