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3 of 11 waited for her debriefing from her last command test… The Kobyashi Maru…

3 thought re-assimilating to humanity was tough enough… her re-matriculation into star fleet in an accelerated command course left her with no idea she would get a surprise command performance on the Kobyashi Maru test. It had changed drastically since the 40 years she had taken it last… With Holo Projectors and Transporters you do not even know it's a simulation until it's over.

While the test itself is called the Kobyashi Maru the ship you are sent after changes. She had heard that more cadets flunked out of Command school than ever as a result.. She was not sure that her actions during the test would be called to question but it was what happened after the test, that was the question she was dreading.

Every command cadet knew it was coming just never when. You went out on patrols on ships. Some were real patrols and others were holo-deck simulations. You never knew which was real and which was fake till after the fact - but every cadet dreaded the Kobyashi Maru test.
A Lieutenant. in dress uniform came out. Followed by another Lieutenant. with a bruised face who took one look look at 3 of 11 and walked out of the waiting room with a harrumph of disgust. "He's ready for your Cadet." The first Lieutenant said.

3 of 11 stood and walked through the entryway to the Commandant of Starfleet Academy's office. She walked right up to his desk and thrust her chest out and after saluting said "Cadet 3 of 11 reporting as ordered Admiral.

The Admiral looked at her. "At ease Cadet, Sit down. Let's take a look at your performance. Computer: access visual and audio logs: Kobyashi Maru test for Cadet 3 of 11 time index 19:31 hours."

The admiral got up from his chair and walked behind 3 as the room transformed to the bridge of the U.S.S. Newton. 3 saw herself at the captain's chair recording a log entry into the arm rest. The Newton is an old style Oberth class vessel. Maneuverable, but not very well armed, but very serviceable as a reconnaissance and scientific survey vessel. For 3's final Project she and another Liberated Borg she had sponsored to the Starfleet Core of engineers worked on upgrade process for pulling many of the old Oberths out of Mothball. The Newton was one of the first done with her specs that she had no idea about until this mission. They were less than a parsec from the Neutral zone at this point.

"This is your second time taking this test?" The admiral asked.

"Indeed admiral, I took it once before under Admiral James Akar's instruction 40 years ago… The test was much more different back then." She stated.

"Cadet you must tell me your anti aging secret." The admiral said with a smirk.

3 gave the admiral a sidelong glance. "Being a drone for over 40 years being assimilated 2 weeks out of the Academy is not a recommended way to preserve your youth sir. A side effect of my reliance on the nano-probes in my bloodstream." She said sadly.

"When did you figure out this was a test?" The admiral asked, ignoring her discomfort.

"Actually the realism and duration of the test gave no clues until the second wave of klingon's. Since It appears I spent 2 days on patrol on board the Newton I had no idea it was a holographic simulation until the end." She replied
It was at this point the environmental consoles at the auxiliary ops console blew out. While they had been talking the Newton had answered a distress call and had fell into the Klingon trap. It seems the S.S. Yamato was in fact a trap to get the Newton into the Neutral zone.

"All hands brace for impact!" she could hear herself yell into the com. As the bridge shook as it's shield took much of the impact of the first Torpedo volley.
She then watched her next actions with the admiral:

"Con, Cut power to attitude thrusters and shields! Kill lights and vent plasma from the port side! We will draw them in."

"Aye captain!" the Lt. complied and then watched as the Klingons regrouped for their next pass at the Newton on the tactical display.

"Tactical, when they come at us and they are at 2000 kilometers away I want you to re-raise shields and fire a photon spread and phasers on the lead ship. Con, You will lay in a course of 319 mark 8 at warp 2. Once on course increase to maximum warp"

"But Mam, that will make us follow the other 2 and bring us away from the Yamato." The Lt. stated.

"Lieutenant, if you think anyone on that ship is still alive you are as naive as you are young. That course will cause us to pivot at Warp 2 so boost power to the structural integrity field as soon as you cut the power back on." 3 said in her normal matter of fact tone, ignoring the glare coming from other crew members.

"You're going to abandon the Yamato Mam?" the Lieutenant replied.

"Yes, we have found a new strategy, correction, perhaps an old strategy, being employed by the Klingons: using freighters as bait to lure in Starfleet vessels. Since we cannot ascertain if the crew is alive or dead we have a duty and obligation to report our findings to Starfleet Command. Therefore, please be sure to record all our findings into our next log buoy."

"Here they come!" The Lieutenant shouted

As the distance counted down 3 saw herself watching the numbers intently. "Now! full power to Structural integrity, fire photons and phasers! Execute course now!"

On the Tactical and front split screen they watched as the phasers sliced right through the lead bird of prey's shields and the photons finished it off. This caused the other 2 ships to veer off and their vollies of torpedoes and disruptors just missed the Milford's Starboard Warp emitter.

"Target second Vessel and Fire!" 3 yelled as she struggled to fight the forces of the ship pivoting faster than the SDF could compensate for while tactical executed her order and they watched as the second Klingon ship exploded in front of them.

"Captain! The 3rd vessel is breaking off and regrouping with 3 more bird of prey and a fleet of 3 K'tenga class vessels are hot on their tail as well!"

"Con! get us out of here, launch the buoy, best possible speed!" The ship rattled with the speed and then shook as the she was hit from 3 sides. The rest of the scene had the Admiral watch as 3 executed course corrections and actions to finish of the 3rd Bird of prey and damage the the second wave and then watch as 3 called for all hands to abandon ship as the Newton was torn apart until the scene reset. And 3 looked momentarily confused as officers that were left for dead disappeared except for the Lt. at Con. He got up stared around just as confused as 3 until she sat back in her chair and whispered "Kobyashi Maru."

3 turned to the admiral expecting the simulation to end. "No Cadet, there is more."

3 Turned back as she knew what was coming and was dreading it. She looked down at the deck plate and contemplated the composition.

The young Lieutenant got up from his seat at Con and said: "So that was a simulation?" He said with incredulity.

"It appears so - we have appeared to have been in a an un-announced "No-Win-Scenario." Simulation."

"You left that ship to die! " the Lieutenant said to her.
3 Looked thoughtful for a moment "As we were unable to determine life signs and the Klingon's interrupted that pursuit we may never know."

"But you never bothered to even try! Not even after they broke away! You left them to die."

"Yes it was unfortunate, but my first priority is to my own crew and we had new intelligence to report to Starfleet?" 3 replied

"The borg really did take away your humanity…You really don't care.. We died while running away never trying to save those civilian lives! We died running away with our tails between our legs and you don't care!"

"3 got up and back handed the Lt.s sending him sprawling across his console he looked up at her in shock with blood forming on his nose and lip."

"listen to me you worthless dunsel! Don't ever tell me I don't have feelings or don't care! Ever! I spent 40 years picking hundreds of thousands of souls apart with voices in my head telling me that it would make me better! Powerlessly watching my hands and tools assimilate thousands of people as I watched!" 3 was trembling with rage.

The 3 that was listening to herself was trying to hold back the tears of agony and embarrassment.

"I made a decision to try and save my crew and report back to Starfleet, all on par with regulations! If you have a problem with that go to the commandant but don't ever tell me I do not "Feel" anything or do not care!" 3 looked up to watch herself march of to the side and look around in frustration.

"Whoever is in charge of this show get me the door out of here now!" As the holo-deck door appeared the admiral said: "Computer end playback."
The admiral walked to his desk and sat down.. Bouncing his hands nervously..

"The Lt. has filed a complaint against you Cadet. He wants to have you court-marshaled." The lips of the admirals face curled up. "But it's been a long time since I have seen any cadet kill 3 birds of prey with an Oberth class ship and then hold off some K'Tenga class ships. That was original tactical execution cadet."

"With respect sir, it was not original. Captain James T. Kirk used the same tactical "trick" that I employed on a diplomatic voyage to Babel." 3 was still unable to look up into the Admiral's eyes.

"Interesting, so indeed you learned something new at your latest go around in the academy then." The admiral said proudly.

"With respect sir, I learned about the tactic when I was in the Academy 40 years ago when Admiral Leonard McCoy guest lectured for field medicine class. He had a tendency to tell stories about his adventures with Captain Kirk." She replied flatly.

"Cadet at attention!" 3 bolted upright with the power of the admiral's voice.

"You will look at me when addressing me! I just witnessed one of the best performances on the Kobyashi Maru test in a long time! You did your duty and while you lost the ship according to simulation 60% of your crew would have made it to the escape pods." He sat back down.

"Our Lt. who was to observe you, and now wants you keel hauled for hitting him not withstanding, I'm recommending you for command… But... You will be talking to a counselor at your earliest opportunity. It's obvious you have a temper issue but what captain doesn't at times."

"You will go to counseling for no more than 3 weeks at which time you will take command of the U.S.S. Milford as it is being refitted with your real modifications as we speak. And if you do not attend Counseling and if you do not take what I have given to you, I will personally kick your kiester back to Admiral Ackar 40 years ago where I'm quite sure he would begin kicking your kiester!" He reached to the side and pulled a pad up: "He recommended you for command 40 years ago as well and by god you will command if I have force you into counseling or not! Is that understood Cadet?! Wait belay that! Captain!?"

3 looked at the admiral in confusion and blinked a few times "Admiral?"

"I said is that understood Captain!" his voice reaching a decibel level only slightly louder than the borg collective that was once inside her head.

"Yes sir Admiral sir!" she shouted

The admiral sat down. "Dismissed Captain - and Captain - Er… 3?"

3 had half turned and looked at the Admiral "Yes sir?" she inquired.

"Regardless, if you copied Kirk or not, well done. And truth be told, I should probably re-introduce some of his curriculum. Report to the graduation ceremonies tomorrow at thirteen hundred hours where you will receive your captain's pips and your official orders. Oh and one other thing." The Admiral looked sheepish for a bit. "I was amazed it took you as long as it did to backhand that Lieutenant I'll try and remember to not get on your bad side."

3 looked down in embarrassment for the umpteenth time that day. She looked up at the admiral with a half smile. "Thank you Admiral, I shall endeavor to control my temper and hope I never give you any cause to be on my "bad side.""

The Admiral smiled. "Go on Captain. go and celebrate."

As the door slid shut behind her 3 let out a long sigh. Celebration is irrelevant she thought. There was a time before, before, being "borg" she would have… As it was, she had few friends at the academy.. Very few people wanted to hang out with an "X" borg. She decided she would celebrate by watching an old earth video series called "Battle Star Galactica" And perhaps she would replicate a bottle of Chateau Picard to celebrate by herself..

As the great Ambassador Spock once said, she thought to herself: "There are always possibilities."