No Win Scenario

Posted on Wed Aug 28th, 2024 @ 8:22am by Lieutenant Michael Amato & Ensign Tobias "Toby" Dienstag & Lieutenant Commander Marc Kitchner M.D.
Edited on on Mon Dec 2nd, 2024 @ 11:41am

946 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Mission 5: The Price of Paradise
Location: Deck 7: Medical Division
Timeline: M5 MD10 (2268.08.2) 1200-1215

"Captain's log. Stardate 7122.3, Starship Midway on training mission to Gamma Hydra. Sector 14, coordinates 22/87/4," recited the youthful voice of Toby Dienstag. The young officer was occupying the characteristic command chair of the iconic and venerable Constitution class starship. "Ship and crew have responded perfectly," he said. He held his breath before continuing and glaced down at his gold command uniform.

"Leaving section fourteen, for section fifteen Captain," came the melodic voice of Ensign Sarai, the young Deltan helmsman.

"Mr. Soto, plot a parabolic course to avoid entering neutral zone," Captain Dienstag said to navigator before he crossed his right leg over his left.

"Ensign Parker, any contact along the neutral zone?" Toby asked, giving a look towards the slight young woman manning the science console."

"Nothing Captain," she responded.

"Hmm..." Toby responded, "Raise shields anyway..."

"Aye aye sir," Carter Page responded from the engineering console.

"Sir, I am picking up a signal," Brooke said, "Faint..."

"On speakers Ensign," Toby said.

Imperative! Imperative! This is the Kobayashi Maru – nineteen periods out of Altair Six. We have struck a gravitic mine and have lost all power…our hull is penetrated… we have casualties...

"Ensign, information on the Kobayashi Maru," Toby said.

"The ship is a class III neutronic fuel carrier," Brooke responded.

Toby thought for a moment, "Kobayashi Maru what is your current location?" He asked.

"Midway, our location is Gamma Hydra Section 10," the voice came over the loudspeaker.

"Red alert, arm torpedoes," Captain Dienstag said from the command chair, "Science demodulate sensors to check for heightened neutrino emissions... Mr. Soto, set course for Gamma Hydra Section 10."

The ship changed course for the neutral zone veering hard to port before going to warp.

"Now entering neutral zone," Ensign Sarai responded from the helm console.

"Alert we have entered neutral zone," the computer's narration described the scene.

"We are now in violation of treaty Captain," Ensign Parker announced.

"Reading on neutrinos?" Toby asked. He felt the euphoria of the moment surging through him, knowing what would happen.

"Dead ahead Captain... Something becoming visible," Brooke announced.

The shape of a Klingon D-7 class attack cruiser was starting to become visible.

"Klingon D-7, disruptors are hot," Brooke announced.

"Torpedoes full speed," Toby ordered as both ships fired at each other as two more D-7's decloaked and powered up.

The second D-7 fired disruptors. "Full power to the deflector dish," Toby ordered as the disruptors bounced backwards towards the first D-7.

"Good shooting," Toby responded, grinning ear to ear.

"More disruptor fire," Brooke responded as the bridge began to shake.

"Reverse the bussard collectors, vent drive plasma," Toby said and fire phasers. Before the Klingons could fire a second barrage they were covered in burning drive plasma.

"Continue onto the Kobayashi Maru," the Captain ordered before noticing a second flotilla of Klingon D-7's. They opened fire on the Kobayashi Maru. The damaged fuel carrier exploded in violent fashion.

"Get us out of here Ensign," the Captain ordered as the ship began to veer away right into another task group of Klingon D-7's.

There was nowhere to run...

Toby's mind raced from possibility to possibility in quick fashion. The probabilities made no sense and each trick he could think of continued less and less time. He froze as the bridge crew stared helplessly at him, the bridge was rocking with explosions. Toby covered his head as the ship exploded around them.

The white light was blinding above. His blurred vision was beginning to return. Toby wasn't sure where he was, but it wasn't... Wasn't where he was, but someone was holding his hand. He eyes looked down and recognized it immediately.

Mike was sitting in the chair next to the bed, sitting vigil... Although he was passed out completely.

The place was definitely sickbay, somehow he managed to survive the ordeal... Had beaten the no win scenario by a whim and a prayer.

Marc was sitting on the far side of the room sorting through a backlog of paperwork on a bed table. He glanced up catching some movement from the corner of his eye. Marc stepped over pulling a pen light from his pocket. He flashed the light in Toby's left eye and then his right once and then again. He checked Toby's pulse and pressed a hand on the boys chest where the knife had entered. Toby let out a slight groan. "That's the best sound I've heard in 24 hours. Toby if you can hear me squeeze my fingers." Toby still weak but he closed his hand around Kitchner's. "That's a boy. Michael, I think he'll be alright."

"Hmm, what?" Mike asked as Kirchner woke him up. The young man sat up in the chair. He looked down and saw Toby's eyes were open.

"Surprised to see this place again," Toby said in a soft voice and gave a smile.

"Thought I wouldn't see that smile again," Mike commented with a bigger smile.

Marc had pulled a stethoscope from his pocket. "Take a deep breath in for me." Toby inhaled. "Hold it." A few seconds passed. "Out .. out .. all the way out." There was a slight wheeze. "That lung has reinflated nicely."

Marc could clearly see the relief in Michaels face. "I'm going to let you rest son." He put a hand on the boys arm. As he stepped around the foot of the bed he set a hand of Michaels shoulder giving him a squeeze. "Rest easy son."

Marc waited for the door to close behind him, the three or four staff on duty looked at him asking the questions with their eyes. "He's awake. He'll be fine."

 

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