Kobayashi Maru

Posted on Mon Feb 28th, 2022 @ 4:11am by Lieutenant Zomuul jav Ghul & Galatea & Commander Nathan Hawkins & Commander Ash Randall & Lieutenant Dylan Blake & Zoey Parker & Captain Nathan Bishop & Lieutenant Commander T'Lisha "Hawkeye" Bishara

1,093 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Short Treks
Location: Bridge, Starfleet One
Timeline: 2430-09-09, 12:15

A series of rapid beeps erupted from the Science Station at the back of the bridge of Starfleet One. Lieutenant Zomuul jav Ghul, the relief Science Officer, typed furiously on the keyboard as the holographic interface appeared above the workstation. The Tellarite Officer sighed as Galatea approached.

"Report?" The Hologram asked as she crossed her arms.

The Science Officer turned from the console, "The Galileo has come under attack from the unidentified vessel."

Hawkins grimaced at the news. They were under strict instructions to withhold from engaging the alien ship despite the mounting evidence they'd caused mass destruction on Talos IV trapping the Admiral and away team on the surface. Now the attempt to recover them was coming undone putting further lives at risk.

"We need to help them," Lieutenant Blake blurted out beside Nathan causing him to flinch.

That was the young man's downfall: allowing his emotions to steer him rather than reining them in to assess each situation as they were played out. "We can't just sit back and watch the Galileo burn."

"Easy Dylan," Hawkins warned the junior officer to pipe down before he landed himself in hot water again. "That's not your decision to make."

Zoey listened in. She happened to agree with Dylan. They could not watch the crew of the Galileo be destroyed and not do anything. She understood Hawkins point though, there hands were tied. "What options do we have available to us?" She asked, hoping someone had something.

"Admiral Luzol has given strict orders that this ship is to remain outside of the combat zone," Galatea answered succinctly. "If we were to breach her orders the consequences would be dire for all of us. It would be insurrection. I cannot order you all to be party to it. If I were to do so I would be violating my basic laws to protect each of you," she was being honest with what she said. As the ship's AI she was responsible for them, she had to keep them all safe. If she ordered the Enterprise to engage the enemy craft they would all face the Fleet Admiral's wrath as a consequence.

"We're already treading a thin line by sending the Galileo in the first place," Blake injected before Hawkins could shut him down again. "Wouldn't she be relieved we rescued her Husband?"

"At what price?" Nathan counted his argument.

"Are we certain that what we're picking up on sensors is real?" Commander Randall asked, quietly.

"I wish that were the case." Galatea announced with a sigh, "Starfleet placed me in command of this mission as my sensors are immune to the illusionary powers of the Talosians, Commander. The attack upon the planet from this alien warship is genuine."

The holographic woman crossed her arms as she looked around the Bridge of the ship, considering the variables of the entire scenario and the risks to the crew. Their orders were clear. The Admiral was insistent that the Enterprise not travel to Talos for any reason. If the ship were to be lost in the engagement the damage to the morale of the Federation would be too great. Nonetheless, she had to take into consideration the morale of the crew. If they continued to leave the away team and they were to be lost the crew would never recover. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

She looked around the Bridge, "I believe I am experiencing a system malfunction and may not be aware of the full extent of Admiral Luzol's directives. Red Alert," Galatea announced as she approached the upper level. "Set course for Talos and engage at Maximum Warp. Bring weapons and defensive systems to full readiness. Standby to engage."

Blake's smiled curled into a smile as he leapt into action. Crossing behind Galatea he whispered a hurried: "Thank you," before taking up his station.

"Bringing defences and weapons online," Hawkins acknowledged hoping they wouldn't regret this decision to cross Luzol.

"I want whatever power we can muster," Galatea ordered from the Chair, "and full scans of that alien ship. Helm, be ready to do whatever evasive maneuvers we need to keep the ship out of harms way."

"Already on it," T'Lisha said as she began to put in escape vectors and corresponding velocities.

"Emergency power is ready and available when needed." Ash responded.

The holographic Commander watched as the Tactical Plot showed their rapid closure upon the Talosian homeworld. "Enterprise to Galileo."

Bishop's voice came back through the com. "Galileo here Enterprise, go ahead."

"We are on approach to your location and will attempt to screen you from enemy fire. Your objective is to recover the away team as quickly as possible. We only have a few minutes available before Starfleet is made aware of Enterprise having crossed the border. I am going to have to disable our communications so we will be unable to communicate further."

"Understood Enterprise, we'll scoop up the away team as quickly as possible and Galatea? Thanks for providing us with cover." Bishop answered and went silent.

"Disengage our transceiver assembly," Galatea ordered Commander Hawkins.

Nathan hesitated momentarily considering to voice an objection at the command. Without communications they wouldn't know if Bishop had been successful in retrieving the away party or not, nor would the Enterprise be able to negotiate with then unknown vessel. Though, it's aggressive actions were doing a majority of the talking they had not yet found the root cause of why it was here in the first place. Disabling the transceiver would prevent them finding a more peaceful resolve: "Captain?" he looked toward Galatea questioning her decision to sever the array.

Galatea smiled at the comment, "The transceiver assembly is used by Starfleet to enforce the quarantine of the Talos Star Group. They have a tunneling cypher that is deployed from the nearby satellites when the quarantine zone is penetrated. It overloads the computer systems, triggering a core breach."

"Oh that's nasty," Lieutenant Blake muttered. "What's wrong with a simple keep off the grass sign?"

"They were back at the boundary if you remember," Hawkins replied disabling the transceiver. "The cypher I assume would be a very last resort to stop contact being made should anyone be foolish enough to ignore the warnings."

"Sensors show that the alien vessel has locked on to us," the Tellarite Science Officer announced. "They're inbound."

"All hands to battle stations," Galatea commanded.

T'Lisha already had her escape route and escape vectors done. Now she was ready for some fancy maneuvers in flying and avoiding being targeted.

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