3/15/2260
Saratoga Bridge
2:25 PM

"What's our status, Arex?" Kirk asked his Chief Navigator.

"All systems are optimal, Captain," the Edosian replied. "We should be arriving in approximately
twelve hours."

"Good."

Following their completion of the survey of the binary Kolat System, the Saratoga had been ordered to Starbase 3,
where she and several other ships, would be participating in a series of military exercises.

War Games, Kirk thought. As if war was a game.

There was a time when part of him had thought so. And a time when he would have jumped at the chance
to show off his tactical skills.

But both times and he had changed.

*Flashback*

1/28/2259
Saratoga Gym

When they had entered the gym the two quietly knelt before each other before Akari spoke.
"How did you first meet Admiral Pike?" he asked.

Kirk knew that Akari knew perfectly well how he and Pike had met; the story was well known.
Nevertheless he recounted the incident in the bar in Riverside and the brawl he had had with four cadets.
He couldn't help a chuckle as he remembered. "That was a good fight."

Akari raised an eyebrow. "A good fight?"

Kirk stopped chuckling at once.

Akari asked another question. "When you decided that you wanted to learn how to handle a sword,
what were some of the things that you envisioned? Did you picture yourself as a mighty warrior?
 Sword in hand?"

Kirk hesitated then nodded silently.

Akari reached out and picked up the Kōtō ryū, which he had brought with him today."There is a saying:
'The finest blades remain in their sheaths."

His eyes met Kirk's "Do you know what that means?"

Kirk thought for a moment. "That a weapon doesn't need to be used to be effective. That just having
it and the skill to use it may preclude the need to do so."

Akari nodded. "That is one meaning, but there are others." He slowly drew the ancient blade from its
sheath. "A sword that remains in its sheath does not dull or nick. Although the sheath may wear with
the passage of time, the blade itself remains untarnished. A sword that is constantly used, no matter
how well cared for, inevitably wears. No sword, however fine, can survive constant use." He paused.
"To say nothing of the ones against whom they are drawn."

His eyes once again met Kirk's. "And that is the most important reason why the best swords remain
sheathed. A sword is a weapon and to learn how to use one is to learn how to kill. A sword can slice
a man in half, but as long as it remains sheathed it does no harm. An unsheathed sword will inevitably
become bloodstained but as long as it remains sheathed it remains clean. An unsheathed sword is
an instrument of death. But as long as it remains sheathed it is nothing more than a smooth piece of metal.
Someone who knows the qualities of a sword does not play with it.

"There is a final reason why the best blades remain in their sheaths." Akari slowly sheathed the blade.
"It is very hard to sheath a sword once it is drawn. And it can be easier to move a mountain than it is
to stop violence once it has been unleashed."

His eyes once again met Kirk's "The finest swords, Jim-san, do not leave their sheaths. The finest
swordsmen leave their swords in their sheaths. And the ultimate aim of martial arts is not having
to use them."

*End Flashback*

3/16/2260
Starbase 3 Briefing Room
9:35 AM

"Altogether there will be six ships participating in these exercises," Admiral Pike explained.
"The Bradford, the Hamilcar, the Heron, the Saratoga, the Paladin and the Triumph, which will
be arriving later today.

"The simulations will take place over a three day period beginning tomorrow. During the first two
days the ships will be split into two teams and each team will attempt to defeat the other.
This will demonstrate both tactical skills and the ability to coordinate with others. On the third day
each ship will be paired off against a single ship and will fight one on one.

Kirk silently nodded as he looked down at his PADD.

Jim," Pike's voice was kind but a little concerned. "You got very quiet when you first received the
orders for this. The brass is excited about these simulations; it took a lot of effort to put them together.
The ships chosen for this are some of the best tactical minds in the Fleet. I've spoken to the Captains
and quite a few of them, particularly, of the Triumph, are looking forward to these exercises. They see
this as a chance to both demonstrate and hone their skills. As competitive as you normally are I would
have thought you'd be much more enthused."

Kirk put down his PADD and sighed. "Starfleet isn't a military organization, Admiral. Our purpose
is to explore."

"You're right, Jim. Starfleet's priorities are exploration as well as humanitarian and peacekeeping
endeavors. Unfortunately 'humanitarian' and 'peacekeeping' are pleasant words for often unpleasant
realities. Starfleet has had to adjust to this truth in the wake of Nero. And he was by no means the
only threat; there's the Klingons, the Romulans, the Breen and the Tholians, and those are just the
threats that we know about.

"There are those who would like to see Starfleet become militarized. And even those, like myself,
who don't want it to go that far, feel that it wouldn't hurt for our officers to hone their tactical skills.
In a crisis situation it's prudent to have different options. The simple truth is that the universe is
often harsh, there are a lot dangers and we need to be prepared for those dangers."

"I know Admiral and you're right; it is best to be prepared in all areas. I have both civilians and children
on my ship and I am well aware of the need to be ever vigilant and ready to protect them. And you don't
have to worry, my crew and I will perform at our best as we always do. Just as we will in the event that
we ever are attacked."

He paused. "But that doesn't mean that I have to like it. Or act like this is a sporting event."

He paused before continuing quietly. "After all, the finest swords are those that stay in their sheaths."