Star Trek Oswald
The Battle For Akhaten
Chapter 1
A No Win Scenario
Clara Oswin Oswald sat in the Captain's chair and listen to every sound around her. Her eyes scanned the simple bridge design, a design that made things a little too easy for Clara's liking. In front of her were two cadets that she had only met a few hours ago. One was a young woman slightly younger than Clara but human. The other was a male Vulcan whose talent at navigation was unmatched.
To the left of Clara was her personal friend April Chambers. The two had joined the Academy at the same time, and both had shared living quarters with each other. However April now had her own place and was looking ahead to her first deep space posting.
"Captain"
The voice of the young Vulcan broke Clara's train of thought.
"I am picking up a distress signal in the Gamma Hydra sector".
Clara sat forward and bit her bottom lip. Of course she knew what was going on. Every Cadet at the Academy knew of this very test. Many of them in fact feared it. However some Cadets like Clara knew how to put aside the fear.
"Can you ID the ship?" she asked in a calm tone.
The Vulcan's hands dashed over the console. He then looked at his readings and reported back.
"It's the Kobayashi Maru sir. She has hit a mine and is unable to move under her own power".
"Gamma Hydra is just within the natural zone" said Clara as she rubbed her top teeth over her bottom lip. "Meaning the Klingons will have spotted her too".
"Captain we can't just..." April started.
"We can and we will" said Clara getting to her feet. "Put the ship on Red Alert and Arm all weapons. Have Medical standing by".
And that was that. Clara had now just crossed a line that she couldn't every cross again. She now had to carry out her plan. The lives of the Kobayashi Maru and her own crew were now in her hands.
"Captain we are coming up on the Kobayashi Maru" said the young female helmsman. She turned to face Clara and her long blond hair flew about. "She isn't alone".
Before Clara could ask for it. The image on the view screen changed to show the damaged transport ship being attacked by two D7 Klingon cruisers. The mine had already destroyed the Maru's port nacelle and now the Klingons had taken out the starboard one.
"Give me an army of Cybermen any day" muttered Clara as she began to put her action in motion. "Helm move us so we have our port side to the Kobayashi Maru and make sure our starboard side is facing the Klingons".
"Aye sir" said the young woman and got to work carrying out the orders.
"April" said Clara turning the chair around to face her tactical officer "I need all the power we have dumped into the starboard and aft shields. However I still going to need some hot phasers".
"You will have them" said April with a grin.
"Ok people. Let's go and give them hell".
The deck shock as the Klingons fired at Clara's ships. So far everything was going just the way Clara wanted it to go. Her plan was to move her ship in between the Kobayashi Maru and the Klingons. So she could drop her shields on one side and start beaming off the survivors. Then she would have her Ship turn about and do it all again this time with other side's shields down. But even as the one hundredth survivor was reported to be on board. Clara was noticing that The Klingons were getting wind of her idea.
"Full shields" snapped Clara as she noticed that the second Klingon ship had stop attacking and was moving around to come in from the port side.
April had just got the port shields up in time. But then an alarm sounded on her console.
"Starboard shields are down to 10%".
Clara turned and looked at April. The girl with long brown hair was looking pretty worried at the readout she had on her display board.
"I said full power to them" snapped Clara.
"I did but we had two Klingon ships firing apron that side. I am shocked we lasted that long in the first place Captain".
Clara nodded her understanding. She now had to go to plan B. A plan that would she used back when she was nine.
"Cadet Kim"
Jasmine Kim turned from the helm at the sound of her name. Something Clara hadn't used since taking the command chair.
"Yes Captain?"
"Ever heard of knock down ginger?" asked Clara with a smile on her face.
"No sir".
Clara smiled "This system has a Pulse Star in it, correct?"
"Yes sir"
Clara clapped her hands "Prefect. Right this is the plan".
Seconds later the bridge crew were ready. Clara had once again taken her place in the command chair and given her first order.
"Take the warp core offline. Let's make it look like we have a limp".
"Core offline Captain" said April.
"Ready phasers"
"Ready".
"Ok everyone. Let's ring the door bell" said Clara who was now just hoping the Klingons would fall for it. "Fire!"
On the viewscreen the two Klingon ships took a direct hit from phaser fire. Now the bell had been rung. Now it was time to run.
"Helm hard to port. Full impulse to that pulse star, full power to shields as well"
On the screen a small bright white ball of light was becoming larger and larger. The deck under Clara began to shake as her Ship got closer to the star.
"Forward shields are becoming weak Captain" said April.
"Understood" muttered Clara as she bit down hard on her bottom lip. "Just hold it for a little longer".
The white light now was very bright and viewscreen had tinted itself. But even with the tint the bridge was filling with bright light.
"Hold it".
"CAPTAIN!"
"NOW! Break off and come about"
The star slid to the lift then off the screen. The blinding light was not directed at the Klingon ships.
"Take us back to the Kobayashi Maru" said Clara getting to her feet. "Shields down and begin emergency beam outs as soon as we are in range"
"Captain" said April beaming at her read outs. "We have blinded the Klingons. They are still on course for the star"
"Breaks my heart to hear that Cadet" said Clara as she walked over to Kim and patted her on the back. "Well done".
For a second the image on the viewscreen of the Kobayashi Maru froze then the screen went blank. From the port access turbolift came three men all dress in black suits. White shirts with red and gold ties. On the breast pocket of the blazer was a logo and under that in white letters was the number 31.
"Well done Cadet Oswald" said the man in the middle who had short grey hair and a beard that reminded Clara of Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter Films.
"Thank you Admiral" she said with grin.
The Admiral nodded then looked at the rest of the cadets who had all moved away from their pretend stations.
"Oh you all may take the week off" he said. "After all you're the only group in the whole of Starfleet to beat the Kobayashi Maru".
However just as Clara and April were about to leave the simulator. Clara heard the Admiral call to her.
"One moment please Miss Oswald. The head of 31 wants a word with you".
"What have you done?" whispered April.
"Just cracked their test" whispered Clara. "Bet I pissed off the section chief"
"I will keep your bar stool warm" said April.
Clara nodded and walked back across the simulator and joined the three men who took her through the port side turbolift.