STAR TREK
"The Garbage Scow"
Sean Brink failed his cadet cruise. But no one ever failed the Academy. The cadet had become an ensign ready to meet Declan Prince.
"Why did you do it?" inquired the dean.
"I was weighing my options," he told him. "The Kobiashi Maru is a civilian ship."
"So," he then replied, "you failed to grasp the meaning behind the test. You have violated General Order One."
Raising a finger, "Learn all that is learnable? I was trying to save lives."
"Is this guy kidding?" a student asked.
"It was a civilian ship within Klingon space," the cadet said with desperation. "It was practically a garbage scow!"
"With life aboard, sir."
"Violating the zone means war!"
"Then you've failed the test. But I'm putting you on the U.S.S. Delta none the less."
"Of the Masterson-class?" replied Sean. "It's a class of ship which is nimble."
"Yes, and you'll repeat your cadet cruise," he quickly responded.
With a smile, "Sure, why not."
"Something else," he returned with his head in some papers. "You must control your temper."
"Control my temper, sir?"
"Yes," commanded the dean.
"I thought I did," the cadet said headed for the door to perform his mission.
Students in the classroom spoke, "Why do you think he failed to act?"
"If the Kobiashi Maru was real, we would all be dead," one stated.
"Let's hope that day never comes," another responded.
"I thought this was combat training," smiled the young officer.
"Nice joke, Ensign. It is."
Klaxons sounded, "Red alert!"
The ensign looked up to state, "Are we under attack already?"
"Lock yourselves in your quarters," the captain ordered of everyone. "This is not a drill. An unknown threat is coming our way."
Always with the jokes, the ensign said, "What's an unknown?"
"Ha!"
"Seriously?" he joked further. "Bunks for four?"
One said, "You know, when I get out of this, I'm going to Rigley's Pleasure Planet."
As they floated, Sean responded, "I'm going to Cignet Fourteen."
"Just pass the air," an officer told them.
By the time it was done, they had lost power to replicators. Also, gravity was not working. They were attacked by a space monster.
"Captain Declan Prince here," he stressed in the desperate attempt to save his crew.
"Star Fleet responding."
Under duress, the captain stated, "U.S.S. Delta was on a cadet cruise when, all of a sudden, a cosmic eel attacked us as we patrolled space."
"Can we make a visual?"
"Yes, Star Fleet."
A two-way image was established. Everyone began to laugh. Wiping the sweat from his brow, the captain said, "This is not funny."
"I've got an idea," Sean Brink expressed after some thought.
"What are you doing?" asked his superior.
"I know where we can get power," the ensign replied. "I need a spacesuit."
The chief engineer, Dustin Fields, asked an officer, "Daniel Swanson, what's our status?"
"I'm sorry," he mournfully said. "These children are going to die."
"Check the power levels again," he forced as they floated.
"That takes power," the bridge answered. "Sir, I don't think we can make it."
Equally as mournful, "Then tell everyone it's time to say goodbye to their loved ones."
Everyone moved to get the order out. Then the cadet appeared in a spacesuit.
"Cadet," it was said, "identify yourself."
"Sean Brink, sir," he replied. "From security."
"Take the helmet off," Dustin Fields said with a look of contempt and arms crossed.
"Oh," he replied. "I have a plan."
"A…plan," someone spoke.
He started, "Well, more like a suggestion. If we dump the warp core, the engines might still work."
For the sake of the crew, and his engines, the chief engineer asked, "Dump the warp core?"
"It could work," an ensign stated. "We have a navigational deflector. If we entered full impulse with it on, we could get back home."
"Daniel Swanson," he would order.
"Yes, sir?"
He told him with a smile, "You have permission to save the ship."
"Yes, sir!" he responded with a salute.
"This is the shortest cadet cruise I've ever been on," the cadet responded.
"Plan on being assigned here," the response became.
"Star Fleet wants him back," said the dean.
"Why?" the captain inquired.
"He saved your ship," he smiled. "We're giving him a party whether he likes it, or not."
Declan Prince coldly turned off the viewer.
"I don't think you can force him to stay," his yeoman told him.
"Why?" he replied.
"Because he's standing right behind you," she directed with a pen.
After a thought, "Then put him in the brig. I will not tolerate descent in my command."
"What the hell are you doing?" a cadet spoke. "Hey, I'm talking to you, soldier!"
He would be pistol-whipped. The cadet hit the floor and fell unconscious.
"You're mad!" another cadet on the bridge cried. "You're responsible for this. Our great Captain Declan Prince thinks he can kill his own."
"Do you want to be next?" he said pointing his sidearm at him.
Meanwhile, back in the brig, someone was already there. She said, "What are you in for?"
"I don't know," he replied holding his head in shame. Then he sat down.
"My story is a little different," she replied.
"I would love to hear it," he said with wonder.
"I am the captain's yeoman," she started. "Or, at least, I was before this cadet cruise."
"I think my mistake was listening to my father when he suggested I join Star Fleet Academy."
"Release him and put him in munitions," the captain stressed. "This never happened."
McCoy, at Earth dock, spoke, "We have to gas the bridge."
"How do you know?" the question was.
"The captain pistol-whipped someone on its cadet cruise," he answered.
"In Earth dock?" one asked. "Go."
Another shouted, "Sir, there are cadets on the bridge!"
"Just trying to save lives."
Later, in a Star Fleet courtroom, Captain Kirk was there fresh from a classified battle where he lost one of his crew.
Records exposed the truth to the court. He demanded, "Is that what happened?"
"Yes, sir."
"This is not a game, Ensign," he told him. "Five cadets are mortally wounded."
"I know. I was there," the response was.
Throwing up his hands, he cried, "I give up."
The judge stated, "For all I care, Sean, you can serve on any ship you want."
His father was disappointed. He failed to prove that Star Fleet was a bad idea.
The court was surprised, "Declan Prince, you are on extended leave because of what you did."
"I choose to take the leave on my ship," he answered with anticipation.
"I would like to serve on the Delta," Sean said in the end. "How about that party?"
"Why are you upset, Jim?" his doctor stated.
"I have never lost a fight in my entire life – both of them must have been related."
"How?" McCoy inquired.
"I can tell," he replied as he flipped open his communicator to speak.
"Star Fleet, repair the Delta, slowly."
"Yes, sir."
"Then give Sean Brink another attempt at the Kobiashi Maru," Jim ordered with his communicator closing. "I'm gonna have some fun."
"Come on, man," an instructor said. "How often do you go to the gym?"
"Not as much as this," the ensign noted as he failed his last pushup.
"Take Sean Brink out of line," a female officer commanded.
She handed him papers, "You have orders from Star Fleet to redo the Kobiashi Maru."
He was ready to try the no-win scenario again and would do his best.
"Zone secure," a cadet spoke. "We're in the neutral zone. We are ready for your orders."
"Prepare to beam them out."
"Captain," one cried, "it's a fake signal."
"I was ready for this," spoke the acting captain. "Signal our surrender."
"Captain Kirk," he added as the captain came onto the bridge snacking on an apple.
Then it got real, "As to be expected, you have galactically failed this test. It's a combat test, not a test of logic."
"You passed it," he told him.
"Yes, I did. Did you enjoy being referred to as a captain, Ensign?" Jim asked.
"Very much so," Sean Brink said with a smile.
"I don't see it in your future. But you may act as a munitions officer on this ship."
"I am honored," he told him.
The Enterprise captain said as he entered the turbolift, "Thanks for wasting my time."
It was a big achievement. And, with a smile, he changed out of his spacesuit.
"McCoy, sir?" a cadet inquired of the doctor.
"Yes. Just lay still," he returned.
"You are the best doctor in the galaxy," he replied. "To what do I owe this honor?"
"None deserve to die like this," Lenard said as he treated him.
Another victim asked, "Are you going to save the captain? What about him?"
"I will meet him on the streets," he said leaving the room. They realized the doctor was upset at the captain for running off the bridge.
For the first time in his life, Sean Brink felt like he could confront his father. He walked to him.
He hugged him instead. He was tugging on his uniform when a female coming from behind the officer said, "Hello, Sean Brink."
"You have the most beautiful voice I've ever heard," he started. "I mean, what's your name?"
"Gloria Dawson," the voice said. "I have been assigned to your command."
"I have been to Germany," he began. "I have been to France. I have been to the Benelux. I dream of New York. But you are my new favorite place."
With a smile, "Is that an order, sir?"
"God loves the fleet," he was quoted as saying as he embraced her.
Declan Prince, from the bridge, nursed a bruise on his face, "Well, I think we have accomplished our mission. Is my ship ready?"
"Yes, Captain," Commander Tarok said onto him. "Repairs are complete."
"Good," he smiled. "Thrusters ahead."
"Thrusters ahead," the navigator informed him. "Leaving Earth dock."
"Engage," he said as he rose.
With a beauty pass, U.S.S. Delta launched into warp speed. Its mission would invariably continue. For king and country, the United States Starship had a mission to perform in the depths of space.
The End