ENTERPRISE
"THE GAMBLE"
by J. B. Tilton
Jonathon Archer looked at his opponent intently. The air was thick with tension on the Enterprise.
It had been a desperate move on his part. Now, everything had come down to these few final seconds.
His last maneuver had been an obvious ploy. Too obvious, he hoped. If his opponent thought the
maneuver was too obvious, they might not consider it a serious threat. This was the gamble which the
Captain of the Enterprise was taking.
It had started out as a game at first. Each being very careful. Trying to judge the strengths and
weaknesses of the other. As the minutes ticked by, each sought an advantage. It soon became evident,
however, that neither Archer nor his opponent was willing to admit defeat. Or surrender.
It had been a long confrontation. According to Trip, the two had been matching wits for more than
an hour. Move, countermove, changes in strategy; Archer was quickly running out of ideas.
There had been casualties. Archer had already lost six men. Many of the others were trapped with
no way out. If he faltered even slightly, he would loose everything.
Then he had remembered what one of his academy instructors had once said. Sometimes, the most
unexpected thing you can do is to do the obvious. So Archer had changed his tactics. Now, it all came down
to one instant.
He waited patiently, almost not daring to breath. He had delivered his ultimatum. It was an obvious
ploy; so much so that, he hoped, his opponent would simply overlook it.
But his opponent was clever. Each time Archer had thought the confrontation was all but over, his
opponent had pulled off what seemed a miraculous maneuver. Now, the next few seconds would determine if
Archer had gambled correctly.
After several seconds, his opponent closed in for the kill. Archers' ploy had worked. Leaving a
critical flank exposed it had appeared that the confrontation would end quickly. His opponent imagined an
easy victory within seconds.
Archer reached up and moved his rook from the second platform to the top platform.
"Checkmate," he announced victoriously.
T'Pol simply raised an eyebrow while she surveyed the board, wondering how a human had beaten her as
the crew gathered around congratulating Captain Archer.
THE END
"THE GAMBLE"
by J. B. Tilton
Jonathon Archer looked at his opponent intently. The air was thick with tension on the Enterprise.
It had been a desperate move on his part. Now, everything had come down to these few final seconds.
His last maneuver had been an obvious ploy. Too obvious, he hoped. If his opponent thought the
maneuver was too obvious, they might not consider it a serious threat. This was the gamble which the
Captain of the Enterprise was taking.
It had started out as a game at first. Each being very careful. Trying to judge the strengths and
weaknesses of the other. As the minutes ticked by, each sought an advantage. It soon became evident,
however, that neither Archer nor his opponent was willing to admit defeat. Or surrender.
It had been a long confrontation. According to Trip, the two had been matching wits for more than
an hour. Move, countermove, changes in strategy; Archer was quickly running out of ideas.
There had been casualties. Archer had already lost six men. Many of the others were trapped with
no way out. If he faltered even slightly, he would loose everything.
Then he had remembered what one of his academy instructors had once said. Sometimes, the most
unexpected thing you can do is to do the obvious. So Archer had changed his tactics. Now, it all came down
to one instant.
He waited patiently, almost not daring to breath. He had delivered his ultimatum. It was an obvious
ploy; so much so that, he hoped, his opponent would simply overlook it.
But his opponent was clever. Each time Archer had thought the confrontation was all but over, his
opponent had pulled off what seemed a miraculous maneuver. Now, the next few seconds would determine if
Archer had gambled correctly.
After several seconds, his opponent closed in for the kill. Archers' ploy had worked. Leaving a
critical flank exposed it had appeared that the confrontation would end quickly. His opponent imagined an
easy victory within seconds.
Archer reached up and moved his rook from the second platform to the top platform.
"Checkmate," he announced victoriously.
T'Pol simply raised an eyebrow while she surveyed the board, wondering how a human had beaten her as
the crew gathered around congratulating Captain Archer.
THE END