Andy was outside the appointed holosuite at 7:30am. Rex joined her 10 minutes later. They nodded in acknowledgment of each other's presence but made no pretense at small talk. The Admirals arrived 15 minutes later. Andy and Rex came to attention upon their entrance.

"As you were," Admiral Powell responded. "The simulation you're about to enter is not unlike the Kobayashi Maru that you attempted at the Academy. This is a war type game designed by Admiral Chen, only you will be on unknown terrain with combatants. The goal is to make it to the safe zone, in the quickest time, AND take out your opponent."

Luger and Thoreau listened intently as the Admiral continued her explanation, "If, at the end of 30 minutes, neither of you have reached the safe zone nor taken out your opponent, it will be considered a draw. We will then make our determination from the data that is obtained during the simulation."

Two ensigns appeared from the holosuite, each carrying a vest and a weapon. Andy and Rex were dressed by the ensigns in the monitoring devices. "These vests will secure data about your physical and mental response to the stimuli around you. They will also indicate if you have been hit by either the combatants in the simulation or your opponent. You cannot remove them, as they will sound, indicating your loss in this test." Admiral Chen explained. The ensigns then handed them the simulator weapons.

"Do you understand the rules?" Admiral Powell queried.

In unison, Andy and Rex replied in the affirmative.

"Good. We will take our places in observation and signal the ensigns. You will be led in, blindfolded. Once in place your blindfolds will be removed and the simulation will begin. You will have three minutes of observation time before the combatants open fire on you. One more thing, if your opponent is inside the safety zone, you may not shoot. A hit on your opponent must come outside that circle. Again, do you understand the rules?" Admiral Powell asked again.

Andy and Rex both nodded.

"Good," Admiral Yaht finally spoke, "Let the simulation begin."

The Admirals turned and left Andy and Luger standing with the two ensigns outside the holosuite. Still neither spoke to the other. Andy's ensign responded with a nod and turned to his counterpart who nodded in response. Luger and Thoreau were both blindfolded. Andy heard the door to the holosuite slide open and was then led in, slightly to the left of the entrance. Rex was led to the right, farther away from the door. Both candidates were then faced back the way they came, presumably away from the game area itself. Once the blindfold was removed, Andy and Rex found themselves staring at a map and guide for the game. The three minutes passed quickly. The map faded. The room dimmed. The game began.

Andy ducked just in time as a phase shot came from her left. She ducked behind an outcropping to observe. She knew the safety zone was toward what would be the back of the chamber and slightly right. She also knew the direct path indicated in the game would be fraught with obstacles. The best option was to work her way back toward the vicinity of the door – the virtual center of the wall – and then proceed through the dense forest around her. She could see the game combatants beginning to fan out. She assumed that Rex was making a move and they would follow him. She gave him a 30 second head start and began tracking, what she hoped, was behind her opponent.

The center provided excellent hiding places – rocks, large trees, small outcroppings once could duck under. Andy also began to notice something interesting about the combatants. They would turn at the sound of oncoming bodies. Once they read it was their own type, they never fired. Andy began to think she could use this to her advantage.

Rex, in the meantime, had already killed several of the combatants. The safety zone was to his right and back from where the ensign had placed him. Like Andy, he knew that the prescribed path shown on the guide would be a fool's gambit. He chose to circle around the outside of the dense undergrowth, actually passing by Andy's starting point and not knowing it.

Both candidates worked their way to the supposed safety zone. Andy was just outside of the area when she saw Rex step into the clearing. The safety zone itself was still around 30 meters from the edge of the clearing. Andy was on the backside, shooting across the clearing. She felt the combatant close in behind her and held her breath. She would know shortly if her assumptions were correct. The combatant aimed at Rex and fired, even though she stood directly by its side. Rex saw the phase flash and responded, killing the combatant. Andy lifted her phaser and fired.

Rex felt the shot the moment it struck the vest. He looked up just in time to see Andy walk to the center of the safety ring. The lights came on as the simulation ended. He charged her, in fury.

"You bitch! You cheated!" As he swung his arm and knocked her down.

Andy looked up at the angry commander, "Then tell the Admirals. They can hear you. Let them decide."

A window in the holosuite wall opened to reveal the tribunal. "What is your accusation, Commander Luger?" The imperious tones of Admiral Powell broadcast.

"She's a cheat, Admiral." And Rex reached down and grabbed the mask out of Andy's hand.

"Stand up Commander Thoreau. What is your response?" Admiral Yaht ordered.

Andy stood and smiled. She was wearing the robe of the combatants over her uniform and vest. "I don't call it cheating, sir. I call it adapting to the situation."

"I call it semantics, Andrea!" The furious Luger continued throwing the mask at her. Andy caught the mask and turned to face the tribunal again.

"Explain, please." Admiral Chen asked simply.

Andy stepped in front of Rex, "Admiral Chen I noticed a…"Andy hesitated. She didn't really want to tell the game's designer it was flawed but there was no other way to defend her position. "Admiral, I noticed an abnormality. The combatants don't fire on each other, only on the contestants. It had to be something in the costuming and I assumed it was the mask." Yaht and Powell looked over at Chen. Andy continued quickly, "There was nothing in your rules at the beginning about placing anything over the vests. Only that we couldn't remove them. It was a hypothesis. It turned out correct."

Rex had been watching the Admirals as Andy spoke. He knew he had lost the battle and was quickly losing the war. He interrupted, "There was nothing in your instructions about making up the rules as you go either, Admiral Powell."

The Admiral flinched at the venom in Commander Luger's tone, "Commander, did you have the same amount of time to analyze the game as Lt. Commander Thoreau?"

"Well," he stammered, "I …"

"It is a yes or no question, commander. It does not require explanation."

"Yes, Admiral Powell, I had the same amount of time as Andrea."

"She found a flaw and used it to her advantage. She followed all of the given rules. The bottom line, Commander Luger, is you are beaten." Admiral Powell's tone sounded like a death knell.

Before Rex could speak, Admiral Yaht interrupted. "We are through here. We will reconvene in the Tribunal chambers at fourteen hundred hours. Commander Luger. Lt. Commander Thoreau. You are dismissed."

"Aye, sir." They answered in unison and turned to leave the holosuite.

As the door opened, Rex turned to Andy, "This is not over, Thoreau. Not by a long shot." And stomped out ahead of Andy.