3 parted with Grolka on the turbo-lift and she went back to her quarters. As the doors closed behind her she went to her replicator station. "Computer sausage and cheese omelet hot with an orange juice cold." The replicator created her meal in a swirl and she removed her food and sat at her workstation. "Computer begin Log mode." the computer gave acknowledgement:
"Captains log, Stardate 83334.97 .. I have met my senior staff and it was enjoyable to meet them in the flesh. While some were assigned to me I was able to hand pick a few. Mr. Tolek seems efficient and I look forward to working with him. I was lucky to get my engineer and - it was just nice meeting them in the flesh after hand picking some of them solely based on recommendations and reading their bios.
At 14 hundred hours we leave spacedock at Starbase 31. We test out the systems on the Milford and then my final ship will be assigned to me. I look forward to finding out which ship that will be... But I do have my hopes... Computer end log entry."
As the computer filed her log entry she decided that before she went to the bridge she should go back to the Tavern and make sure things were back to normal. She contemplated her reaction to Grolka's situation and realized she was going to have to reign in her emotionalism. But then again... Sometimes you need let it out in order to make it better.. She just needed to watch it.
3 finished her meal put her dishes in the replicator to be reclaimed. Walked over to the mirror and fixed her hair and said out loud. "For an 82 year old broad you still got it." while her Borg enhancements were often a topic of discussion what many did not really know right away was 3's true age. She reminisced about how she came to be here: 3 was in Starfleet for over 15 years and at the age of 35 it was recommended she join the command track.
She had enjoyed her midshipmen years had worked on Starfleet freighters and support ships. She was working on a freighter that was being captained by an old gristle worn Starfleet captain. She was not a very motivated crewman. Just putting in her time for retirement but enjoying the sites and different worlds she visited. They were granted shore leave at Deep space 9 and she booked a holo-suite for herself and immersed herself in a adaptation of a an ancient earth movie about a submarine that was part of old Russian regime trying to defect itself to old earth's America's
She was playing the part of the captain... They had just made contact with the Americans and she looked over and realized her captain had pushed himself in as the chief engineer of the boat. He walked up to her. Soluted... Smiled and said "I went to Leeta and asked for this Data Rod and she told me someone had taken it already." He winked and said "I've known Leeta a long time and she sneaked me in. I hope you do not mind Ms. Chappell. Have you ever done this story before?
"Well -"3 said nervously, I read the book many times. So I know what I am supposed to do." It was then a high pitched whine of a torpedo went by them just narrowly missing them.
3 turned to the helm officers and barked "19 degrees down bubble all ahead flank speed!" Her captain then said "Computer observation mode for me now." The captain split as his character that he was playing left the bridge to move to the engine room. He then added: "And increase difficulty of scenario to 75%" The computer answered back "Difficulty level is already at 85%" The captain looked at 3 with surprise
3 just shrugged her shoulders "I like the story – so - at anything over 90% the story deviates."
The captain regarded her for a second and said "Computer, set difficulty level to 98%" He smiled at her and said: I ended up sinking the boat at this level so lets see what you can do."
The scene changed just a bit. Another high pitched whine was coming in and it bounced of the side of the hull she looked at her American guests and assigned them stations. She asked for a position report and her exec gave it to her "I want all contacts reported." She yelled to the young Sonarman.
"You got one of our American destroyers making a turn to come back for us, the Konovalov is making another turn to sink us and I believe there is The Aircraft carrier Enterprise less than a mile out to starboard, running at full speed."
"make for that target! quick as you can!" 3 barked.
3 looked over at her captain who was looking at her very confused. 3 quickly said: "In the story you always hear about the American carrier but we never really knew where it was...Nobody ever thinks about them except for them just monitoring from afar."
"So what?" her captain asked "are you going to get the Americans to shoot back at the Konovalov?"
"No! That would start World War III... The Captain of the Konovolof is tuning his torpedoes to go after Russian screw signatures and removing safety locks. I can't out run him. and after 90% difficulty, the maneuver originally used in the story does not work. But I have a little bit of speed and even though I'm big I'm still a sub so I can maneuver a bit."
"Oh Crewman this is going to be rich." The captain laughed "Good thing we have safety parameters on otherwise if this was real we would find out how long you can hold your breath."
"We are less then 1500 meters from the Enterprise what do we do captain?"
She turned to her two helm officers. And very calmly said make your depth 20 meters 15 degree down bubble. Come in behind the Enterprise." She looked over to her captain "I'd hold on to something sir it's about to get rough."
Her sonar man took off his headset on one ear and said: "cavitation from the carrier is to close I'm losing contacts But I think I hear a fish in the water! Yes sir we have an incoming torpedo!"
The Sub began to shimmy and shake and began to get worse. A pipe fitting near her exec blew out and steam and water began pouring out.
"Look sharp everyone!" 3 said
"The controls are getting sluggish captain I'm having a hard time holding course!" shouted one of her helm officers."
"Hold the course no matter what!" 3 shouted over the rumbling.. She winked at her captain as he was holding on to a railing.
The Sonarman said Torpedo incoming in 5, 4, 3," he lifted his headset off of his head "2, 1" and they heard nothing... The sonar man quickly put on his phones "I'm not sure captain but I think the Torpedo missed us because of the cavitation.. it's passed around and heading back the way it came!"
"Computer freeze program!" and then silence.
3 looked at her captain he had a look of sheer awe. "Computer clear all characters and dry this place out." a brief shimmer and all characters were gone and it was if they were on an empty boat sitting in port.
"Crewman Chappell, I have played this simulation story a number of times." he sat down at the Sonar man's seat and just looked at 3... "How many times have you done this maneuver?"
3 smiled and looked down "Well you see sir, this maneuver was actually done on a comedy movie about subs that I watched." I wasn't planning on doing it at the 85% level but when you changed the difficulty to where the default maneuvers would not work I had to improvise fast and this was the best I could come up with."
The captain just leaned forward put his hands on his knees and exhaled... He looked up to the ceiling put his hands on his eyes and blew air out like he was frustrated. and then regarded 3 with an almost angry glare. "Ms. Chappell have you ever heard about one of my biggest pet peeves?"
"I wasn't cheating captain I genuinely didn't know if that maneuver would work!" 3 pleaded.
The captain smirked and then let out a good chuckle... "Ms. Chappell, I was not talking about Cheating I was talking about Waste! Pardon my language, But what the fuck are doing as just an enlisted crewman?" 3 winced at the swear... Her father was good at swearing so she was not totally unfamiliar with the practice.
"I uh... Just never thought about it sir.." 3 could feel her cheeks reddening.
"I hate waste crewman!" the captain paused... "I despise waste... I don't know what's worse the waste of time, or the waste of talent... You are wasting your time crewman and I hope it's not too late to get at your talent... Computer exit..."
The doors opened and the captain paused at the entrance. "Report to my Quarters at 11 hundred hours tomorrow.
The next day found crewman Chappell wondering if she should signal the captain or Go AWOL.. The Door opened.. "Come in Ms. Chappell... Crewman allow me to introduce you to Admiral James Ackar." And the Com panel over his shoulder displayed the White bearded Admiral. 3 Stood at Attention and gulped.
"So tell me Bruce why am I looking at a 35 year old Crewman in your quarters?"
"Well James, as the head of Starfleet Academy command School I thought you should meet your new recruit."
Ackar put his hands on his desk and said "While not the oldest Recruit the academy has ever seen she is by far not the youngest either." He leaned further into the pickup "So why is she interested now?"
"Uhm, sir... Uhm, I'm not sure I really am... I didn't even know why I was here..." Said 3.
"Don't listen to Her James listen to me." He paused and turned around to look at Ackar's Visage. "2 words for you: Red October."
"What Level?" asked Ackar...
"98 and she lived... And killed Captain Tupolov..."
"Did she know you were testing her?"
"Leeta from Quarks Bar called me at DS 9 When Ms. Chappell pulled the Rod and entered the simulation Story. She was on Level 85 difficulty... I snuck in - overrode her - and boosted to 98 thinking we would be in deep water just like you and I. She sure as hell surprised the shit out of me."
Ackar looked at 3 and breathed out. He then asked "What did she do that you and I never thought to do."
"You - are going to love this, She asked where all contacts were. We always ignored the carrier and she ran for it."
"She attacked the Carrier?"
"No, no, no, She used the thing as cover... Masked her screw signature with it. The torpedo bounced through the cavitation and circled back to the Konovolov." The captain sat back. "Damdest thing I have ever seen... Nearly made the sub vibrate apart.
"Bruce the fact that you are making me think about taking in a 35 year old recruit because of a holo-novel that has a variable difficulty level, is borderline crazy. What's crazier than that is I can only think of 5 captains currently in the fleet that would have thought of that. I must be getting desperate."
"Wait – Uh.. Sirs – I'm not Officer material."
"No your not.. your Captain material" her Captain said he then went on "I saw you giving that crew orders. With your cocky strategy – Oh which By the way James look up an old comedy movie from Earth's 21st century called "Down Periscope" uh where was I? Oh yeah – You need to be a captain..."
3 had her jaw hanging open she took a deep breath and sat down at the chair without asking permission and looked down at the floor.
"Admiral, I'm Sponsoring her, she will be taking the entrance exam at 13 hundred hours. Based on her evaluations and aptitude batteries she took when she enlisted she will pass without even studying. Once, that is over I'm booking her passage on the Matador... The captain owes me a few bottles of Romulan Ale so he will take care of her for me.. The timing is perfect and she should be at Starbase 1 about 3 days before first day of class."
Ackar let out a prolonged sigh. "It's on your head if she fails. But then again you always did look at the enlisted personnel and know how to pick them." The admiral drummed his fingers "Fine - if she passes the entrance exam, and, if she makes it here on time, I will make room for her." The Admiral then turned to 3. "And Crewman, I look forward to addressing you as "Cadet" but know this: at 35 years of age for a human, I hope you realize you will be struggling to keep up with some of these young kids here. If memory serves the Matador has a Gym... Use it... Bruce I'll talk to you later... Ackar out"
The screen cleared and the UFP logo was in it's place before it faded to black.
2 days later, wearing a recruit's uniform the captain was walking her to the airlock of the Matador, an older freighter. She would ship her personal belongings to her friend in her home town on Earth from Starbase 1 and beam directly to the Academy grounds.
"I'm still a little stunned captain." 3 said.
"meh, wait till you get to the academy." The captain looked around "Look I know you think this is a bad idea but I think you are gonna do alright. You can contact me if you need to." He stuck out his hand and said: "Thrusters on full cadet. Give them hell."
3 shook Her captain's hand. "Thank you sir. I'll try and keep in touch... I have a feeling I'm going to be busy though."
"You have no idea kid.. You have no idea.."
The captain walked away gave a her a mock salute and it was the last time she ever saw him.
4 years at the Academy and on her 1st tour aboard the Yamaguchi as a Lt. The Battle of Wolf 359 took her into 40 years of hell. Her captain from that Old Freighter was killed in action during the Dominion War when they came through the wormhole and attacked DS 9. Fast Tracking through Command School again was strange but here she was... In command of her own ship...
3 sighed at her reflection looking back at her. "Time to get this show on the road" she said to herself and went back towards the bridge. They cleared moorings in less than 10 minutes.
