TRTSS7: The Hidden Trek Voyage! – By DS Wynne

Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.

Note: This is a multi-genre story.

Special Note: SPOILER ALERT! This chapter begins the direct tie-in to the movie "Star Trek". Although the movie has been out for a while, this announcement is courtesy to those readers who have not seen the film. C&C are welcomed.

Part 37

Three years later…

Captain's Log, Stardate: 2251.5. With the SS "Kobayashi Maru" straying into Klingon territory, only a capable crew can pull off a successful rescue attempt. They say that such an attempt cannot be done. However, I believe that I may have found a rather, shall we say, unique method to rescue the crew of the Kobayashi Maru. After, as the saying goes, "Fortune favors the bold." So hopefully, my "gamble" will pay off.

"Status, Cadet Uhura," Kirk said, as he sat in the center seat while chewing an apple.

"No further communiqués are possible," said Cadet Uhura with a slight growl. The night before, she caught Kirk in the throes of passion with one of her dorm-mates…

"'Sir'," Kirk said with a smirk.

"What?"

"That should be 'No further communiqués are possible, SIR."

"Sorry. No further communiqués are possible, SIR."

"Thank you, cadet."

"ETA to the Klingon Neutral Zone in three minutes, Captain," Cadet Mitchell said with a slight growl. Since joining Starfleet Academy, his buddy 'Jimbo' had managed to skip a year of study, and was now on the fast track towards early graduation.

"Excellent."

"Shall I raise the shields NOW, Captain?" Cadet McCoy growled. He was annoyed by the fact that he was asked by Kirk to participate on this so-called "mission" for the third time…

"Naw," Kirk said with confidence. "We do not want to give hostile intentions-"

BLURGH! BLURGH! BLURGH!

"Well, we certainly have hostile intentions coming from the Klingons!" McCoy said sarcastically.

"We just entered the Neutral Zone, Captain," Mitchell said.

"Captain, we have violated the Neutral Zone treaty," Uhura said.

"Sensors indicate hostile activity on the Klingon side of the Neutral Zone." McCoy said sarcastically. "Shall I raise shields NOW?"

"Sure, why not?" Kirk said. "And arm the weapons system while you're at it."

"Well, I'm glad that you're finally taking this more seriously…"

"The Klingon attack fleet are in range," Mitchell said. "Recommend we take evasive actions."

"I don't think so."

Mitchell turns to face his best friend.

"I take it that you have a plan to beat a 'no-win' scenario, Jimbo?" Mitchell asked.

"Certainly. Just watch and wait…"

As the Klingon attack fleet maneuvers into position, the main view screen begins to flicker…"

"What is going on?" Uhura said, as she performed a systems check at her station.

"Cadet McCoy, what does your sensors say?" Kirk asked.

"Checking," McCoy said. "Huh, it appears that the Klingon fleet…is defenseless."

"Exactly. Target their weapons and shield generators. Cadet Mitchell, maneuver us to closer to Kobayashi Maru for transport. Cadet Uhura, inform the crew of said ship to prepare for transport."

"Yes, sir," said McCoy, Mitchell and Uhura in unison, as they executed their individual orders.

"Excellent," Kirk said, as he leans back to finish his apple.

Meanwhile, observing this was Lt. Usagi Tsukino, one of the proctors of the Kobayashi Maru examination, which tests a cadet's ability to face a 'no win' scenario…

"Huh," Usagi said, as she jotted down her notes. Like all commissioned officers in Starfleet, Usagi wore her black, dress uniforms planet side in the capacity of "non-missions". For field duty, the form-fitting jacket is replaced by a colored "over shirt" or single piece skirt, with the black undershirt's collar exposed. The over shirt's color would depend upon the division Starfleet personnel was assigned to, such as "blue" for "science and medicine", "red" for "operations" (which includes engineering, security, tactical, communications, yeoman, quarter masters and port masters) and "gold" for "command" (which includes non-commissioned chief officers, line officers, and flag officers, helm control and navigation, ordinance crews, adjutants, pilot and flight controller). To be sure, sometimes, there are those qualified Starfleet members who are skilled in a number of disciplines, which can be in other divisions. So, in this case, the primary specialty will determine which division a person can wind up in.

Thus, in the case of Usagi Tsukino, her primary specialty was in Botany, while her secondary specialty was in Engineering Science. This was the case because her research was on creating containment structures that could be used to ferry delicate plant specimens between worlds. Since then, Usagi has acquired a variety of skills. As a result, Usagi has been placed in the operations division as a "yeoman". Yeoman, in this context, are the personnel or "human resources" within an organization. Their job is primarily clerical, but they can also perform other administrative functions, depending upon their rank. Yeomen who are line officers can teach at Starfleet Academy…or become proctors. Usagi's "status" could change in the future, depending upon the needs of the mission, and the needs of Starfleet Command…

"It appears that someone beat your test, Spock," Usagi said, as she turns towards her former classmate.

LtC. Spock looks up from his work with the other proctors and frowns…before

"That is not possible," replied Spock, as he goes over to look at Usagi's notes. He then looks down at the simulation.

"The Kobayashi Maru Test is designed to induce a no-win scenario," Spock said. "What is taking place is not logical."

"Well, it is," Usagi said. "How should I write this one up?"

Spock squints his eyes.

"There is only one logical explanation to this new development, and I will investigate."

"I'm sure. In the meantime, let's make sure that the purpose of this test becomes a reality."

"Oh?"

"Watch, while I reboot the system," Usagi said, as she initiate the back-up program that ran the simulator…

"Almost all crewmembers of the Kobayashi Maru have been accounted for, Captain," Uhura said.

"Good," Kirk said with a smile. "Inform Starfleet Command that are mission has been a success-"

CHIRP!

"Captain, I'm detecting an armada of Klingon warships all around us!" McCoy said.

"WHAT?" Kirk said. "But…how?"

"We're being boxed in, Jimbo!" Gary yells. "Suggest we beat a retreat!"

"Aw, hell-!"

Above, Usagi turns towards Spock.

"See? All's well that ends well, I think."

"Perhaps. But I still want you to write up a report on this matter, as a part of my findings to the board of inquiry."

"So you think someone has cheated?"

"I will make a determination of this possibility."

"Well, don't be too harsh in your reporting."

"Oh? And why would should I entertain the act of leniency in this case?"

"Because the parameters of the test had been rectified. And besides, this will help us improve the security protocols in the future, where this simulation is concerned."

"Hmmm…I will take that under advisement."

"Thank you, Spock," Usagi said. "I really appreciate this favor."

"Do not concern yourself with such a trivial matter," Spock said. "You and I have…a special connection, so I value our friendship."

"Humph," Usagi said, as she turns away suddenly.

"Is there a problem, Usagi?"

"I would LIKE to think that we have more than JUST a friendship, Spock."

"Ah. Usagi, I will always be obligated to you, because of what we have shared and produced together, but you and I know that we have to maintain certain boundaries. Certainly, you can understand that."

"YOU want to maintain certain boundaries? That's funny, considering what I heard from Ranma."

"I see. I had forgotten that Lt. Saotome and Cadet Uhura had briefly dated, shortly before Lt. Saotome had graduated from Starfleet Academy, and continue to maintain a close relationship ever since-"

"Hey, the Bridge is on fire!" Kirk yells into the intercom. "A little help, here?"

Spock turns towards Usagi.

"Maybe I went overboard a bit?" Usagi said with a hint of embarrassment.

"So it appears…"

Later that day…

"I don't think it was THAT funny, Ranma," Kirk said, as he and Ranma were practicing martial arts at the Academy's gymnasium. Ranma, who taught martial arts at the school as a part of the core curriculum, but typically gives one-on-one sessions for those cadets who want special instruction. Usually, this gives the female cadets the excuse to be alone with him…

"I'm sorry," Ranma said, as he wipes away his tears from laughing real hard. "But what you said was funny on two levels."

"How is that?" Kirk frowns.

"One, you thought you could get away with it, and, two, Usagi was involved."

"Hey, you're the one who told me to improvise."

"Yeah, in real life. The Kobayashi Maru Test is designed to fail the cadets. Starfleet Command wants to know how well you take failure on the psychological level. Remember, they are going to entrust you one their ships, if you are reckless."

"Okay, so, how did you deal with it? You know, failing the test?"

"Nothing, because I knew that it was a dumb test."

"Oh."

"Look, Jim, you know that your father asked me to look after you as much as possible. I'm glad you had stopped your 'prank wars' with Finnegan, after he graduated from the Academy, since you're a lot more calmer these days."

"What?" Kirk said with a mischievous grin. "Getting a bit seasoned, are you?"

"No, I just want you to succeed at your goal of becoming a starship captain in record time, that's all."

"Humph."

Just then, a green skinned, beautiful woman enters the gym.

"Hey," said the woman, as she goes up to Ranma, and kisses him on the cheek.

"Hey, Gaila," Ranma said gently. Gaila was one of the few cadets to hail from the Orion Star System, mainly because of their reputations as "sexual beings".

"I didn't know you would be done in the computer lab so late."

"Well, Lt/Commander Spock had us 'techies' do an entire systems overhaul, due to what James and Proctor Tsukino had done," Gaila said, as she turns to look at Kirk.

"Heh," Kirk said with embarrassment.

"'Heh', is right," Gaila said. She then turns back towards Ranma.

"Can we have dinner instead? I want to get some rest first."

"Sure."

"Thanks, Great-grandfather," Gaila said, as she hugged Ranma. "See you in a bit."

And, with that, Gaila turns to leave.

"To think I had to teach her the Terran custom of eating in public, when she arrived on Earth…"

"Wait," Kirk said. "Cadet Gaila is your GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Well, when you said that you didn't want me to…sleep with anyone of your daughters at the Academy, thought you were referring to Aiko."

"Yes, I did."

"Oh, I see…"

"Let me guess: you slept with Gaila, didn't you?"

"Well, um…"

"And that's how you got the cheat codes to the test, huh?"

"Well, um…"

"Um, nothing!" Ranma yells, as he pulls out his whistle from under his shirt. "We're running."

"But I didn't know-"

"But nothing. Ignorance is NO excuse. And maybe you'll be a bit more disciplined."

Ranma blew into his whistle.

TWEET!

"Move it, move it!"

"Aw, come on!" Kirk said, as he begins to run. "Where's all the love?"

"Probably with Gaila. MOVE."

With a tired sigh, Kirk began running laps around the main campus of Starfleet Academy, with Ranma close behind. In reality, Ranma wasn't mad at Kirk for sleeping with Gaila. In fact, Gaila had told Ranma that she gave Kirk the cheat codes in order to thwart the Kobayashi Maru Test, in order to lessen any possible punishment that she might get for her role. From there, Ranma had told Usagi what had happened, so she had a backup measure to teach Kirk a lesson in "Expect the Un-expectant". If anything, Kirk was saved from major disciplinary action in the long run.

"When can we stop?" Kirk asked.

"When I say so," Ranma said. "After all, a person got to be prepared for ANYTHING."

How right those words are…in spades!

Tbc.