"Mayday… Mayday…" The message began to repeat.

"Khetara, can you verify their exact location based on that transmission?" Kehlan asked tensely.

Khetara worked the controls for a few moments and then growled in annoyance at the results. "Detecting the freighter approximately eight hundred thousand qell'cams past the Neutral Zone boundary."

One qell'qam was approximately two kilometres. "So that's about…" Corbus translated the Klingon measurement into Federation metric. "…four hundred thousand kilometres." He considered that for a moment before adding, "That's a lot further across the border than when I did the simulation. Interesting… I guess that someone at some point has got a bit too close."

And so, it begins, Kehlan thought, smiling in anticipation. "Rhia… T'Rian…" she corrected herself quickly, "… set a course to intercept. Engage on my mark"

As she gave the order, Corbus stirred and she turned and glared at him. "Yes, Number One?"

"Captain, as I'm sure you are aware, we cannot cross the neutral zone without direct orders from Starfleet and the Federation council

"I am aware of that, Commander," Kehlan said. "We cannot, however, ignore a distress call."

"If we go in there," Corbus insisted, "then rescue mission or not, it could be viewed as an act of war. "Not…" he added sarcastically, "…that the threat of war would stop you. And get that glare off your face, I'm just doing my job."

Kehlan was well aware of what he was doing. The young captain of the Soulwolf could be as rebellious and gung-ho as any of them but as the only team member who had undergone academy training, he had taken on the role of devil's advocate. Where Khetara would incite her towards precipitous action and glorious battle, Corbus would make her think about what she was doing and justify her actions. His was the voice of caution. It would not make him popular, but it was necessary.

Acknowledging his words, Kehlan nodded in agreement. "Fair enough." She offered him a faint smile to show that she accepted his council and then turned her attention back to the viewscreen.

"Course plotted and laid in, Captain." Rhiana's hand hovered over the 'engage' command. She smelt an out-and-out trap, but for the moment she was interested to see how this little scenario would play out. As a Tal Shiar officer, even a retired one, she was finding it interesting to see how Starfleet perceived a Romulan trap, and it was a very curious feeling indeed to be the prey in such a trap, simulated or not.

"Engage," Kehlan ordered.

The 'Vulcan' helm officer hit the console controls. As the USS Sir Gawain raced towards its programmed destination, Kehlan studied the data that was appearing on her console. She was aware of Corbus looking over technical readouts on the Kobayashi Maru freighter, but as yet he hadn't said anything yet. She knew however that he would not keep pertinent information quiet, and should he find something critical he would tell her.

"What is our ETA?"

It was Khetara who answered. The Klingon general was obviously enjoying playing at being a more junior officer. "Seven minutes, thirty-two seconds, Captain"

Kehlan gave a nod of approval. "Lieutenant Tyler, open a channel"

The holographic comms officer did as he was instructed. "Channel open, sir"

Kehlan suppressed an irritated growl. She had always disliked being called sir, preferring to be addressed by her rank, but there was no point in arguing with a hologram. At least, she told herself, it was better than ma'am.

Restlessly, she got to her feet. "Kobayashi Maru, this is Captain Kehlan of the USS Sir Gawain. We are on our way at maximum speed and will be with you in approximately seven minutes. Stand by for rescue."

As soon as Kehlan finished her hail, Corbus opened a ship-wide channel, following protocol to the letter and doing his best to ignore the amused smiles sported by Khetara and Rhiana, the latter of whom was not supposed to be smiling at all. His only response to this was a raised eyebrow. "Yellow alert! All hands report to duty stations. We have detected a distress call and are about to begin rescue operations. Sickbay prepare for emergency rescue operations…" Speaking in a crisp, calm voice, he continued to give the necessary instructions to the holographic crew.

With the ship on yellow alert, the lights around the bridge dimmed slightly and amber lights started flashing. All over the ship, essential personnel hurried to their assigned locations. At least, Kehlan mused, that was what they would be doing if this were a real ship. "Tactical, any sign of hostile contacts on sensors?"

Khetara scanned, then made a careful adjustment. "Nothing firm, but I am picking up several anomalies. Large size. I make out about four separate tachyon trails, which..." She adjusted again "...are similar to Romulan D'deridex class vessels." She ran a second, higher density scan and frowned "If these readings are accurate, then we have at least four D'deridex Warbirds in the immediate vicinity." At least this was pretty much as expected. She bared her teeth in anticipation of battle. "This will be fun."

After peace with the Klingon empire had been established, many within Starfleet academy felt it was rather insensitive or provocative to have the Klingons as the antagonist in the Kobayashi Maru scenario, and in an effort to make sure their allies did not take offence should any other Klingons join Starfleet, the test had been reprogrammed, pitting candidates against a Romulan themed scenario.

Since the signature of the so-called Three Empires Treaty towards the end of the Dominion War, the Romulans, the Klingons and the Federation were at peace with each other. That didn't mean, however, that everything had changed overnight. There was a lot more work to do before the three superpowers would consider true friendly relations, and while progress was being made, that day had not yet arrived.

Admiral Mackenzie had told his wife that Starfleet was in process of changing to a new, experimental scenario. As a result, the latest class to take the test had, to their complete shock, been required to face the Borg. It had not been completely successful, and work was still needed. Hence, for the moment, the Romulan scenario was still in use.

Even so… four D'deridex class ships against one Excelsior class? The USS Sir Gawain was ridiculously outgunned. If they had been part of a task force, then this might have been fair but as it was there was no chance of victory. Well, Kehlan thought to herself, it wasn't called the no-win scenario for nothing.

Rhiana frowned sharply and looked back towards the viewscreen as Khetara confirmed her readings and repeated them. "Isn't four D'deridex ships a little over the top?"

"I was thinking the same thing," Corbus muttered.

Kehlan shifted in her far too comfortable chair. "So..." she said, addressing no-one in particular as she summarised the information so far. "We have four anomalies that may be D'deridex class vessels... Well, so be it, this will be a good day to die... for the Romulans."

She fell silent for a moment as she considered her course of action. "Corbus, prepare to send the ship to red alert. Tyler, open a channel... all frequencies."

The moment the holographic comms officer confirmed that the channel was open, Kehlan got to her feet. "Cloaked ships, I am Captain Kehlan commanding the Federation Starship USS Sir Gawain. We are on a mission of mercy. Reveal yourselves and deal with us honourably, face to face or we shall assume that you are enemies and take appropriate action."

The bridge was filled with a tense atmosphere as the crew waited for a reply, but after a moment, Corbus' surprise wore off. "Captain, how will that help us? They are cloaked and we cannot target them. They know this."

Kehlan turned from the viewscreen to look at her first officer. "My job as I understand it is to rescue the crew and passengers of that freighter and get them, and us, safely back to Federation space. If I have to hail the enemy to do so, then that is what I will do."

"What reason do they have to simply allow us to rescue the Kobayashi Maru? By any law we swore to uphold, we would be the aggressors crossing into their territory. They will be well within their rights to ignore your hail and vaporise us."

"What reason do they have to refuse?" Kehlan demanded to know. "If this were a Defence Force ship, I would go in, all disruptors firing. But it is not. I may be a Klingon, but I am in command of a Federation ship and subject to Federation rules. Those rules demand that we try diplomacy first.

Khetara nodded her agreement. "Kehlan is right. We do this the Starfleet way – ask first and then blow our enemy out of the sky!"

Corbus let out a very Klingon growl of annoyance at Khetara's flippancy. The Klingon general was grinning, obviously enjoying herself. Even Rhiana, for all she was posing as a Vulcan for now, seemed to be having fun. Neither of them had ever taken the Kobayashi Maru test, Corbus realised, and it was unlikely that they had any real understanding of the purpose of the simulation. To them it was no different to any other holo-novel. With the exception of the holograms, who were programmed to obey orders but not actually interfere in any way, he was actually the only Starfleet officer on the bridge. "Captain, I don't…"

Kehlan did not allow him to finish. "This ship may not be the Endeavour, but I have faith that she is up to the task. You may disagree with my tactics if you wish, but in the meantime, I expect you obey your orders and prepare this ship for battle."

"Understood, Captain." This was her test, he reminded himself, not his. All he could do was offer advice, based on his own experience of the simulation. That was his job as her first officer. It was up to Kehlan if she chose to accept that advice or not. An alarm sounded and he turned back to the viewscreen… and stopped.

A fleet of Klingon D7 battlecruisers was in process of decloaking, hanging threateningly in battle formation in front of the USS Sir Gawain.

"Oh, you've got to be joking! Corbus shook his head with a sigh. "Red alert! All hands to battle stations!"