(The opening scene, set in a schoolyard on a Federation world. The playground has a number of interesting oddities for children to play on.)

(Here we the audience are introduced to two of our main characters, ERIC AND TATIANA GAINES. They are brother and sister, twins; notably, Eric fully resembles a human and Tatiana resembles a Cardassian. They're playing side and seek with some fellow kids their age. Tatiana sneaks up behind a hiding girl and tags her.)

TATIANA: You're it!

(Everyone comes out of hiding and they chatter gleefully for a few seconds. Then, some older kids approach.)

OLDER KID #1: Hey you. Eric. Wanna hang with us?

(Eric is reluctant, but he doesn't feel like he's in a position to turn them down.)

ERIC: Sure.

OLDER KID #2: Why don't you ask your sister to join us?

(Tatiana joins them.)

ERIC: What are we playing?

OLDER KID #1: Dominion War. Battle of Outpost AR-558.

ERIC: A-Alright. So are we gonna split into two teams?

OLDER KID #2: Yeah, we were just about to do that.

OLDER KID #1: Let's see. In the original battle, it was Starfleet pitted against the Jem'Hadar. But I don't see any Jem'Hadar standing around. So, for that role, why don't we pick...an ally of the Jem'Hadar?

(He points to Tatiana, who, again, is Cardassian.)

OLDER KID #1: First one to kill the Cardie wins!

(The big kids take positions. Older Kid #3 tackles Tatiana to the ground and punches her in the face.)

ERIC: HEY!

(Eric rushes to get the boy off his sister. But Older Kid #1 steps in front of him.)

OLDER KID #1: What's wrong, Eric? This is how we're supposed to play the game. It's survival of the fittest, us against them. Are you on our side? Or theirs?

(The big kids menacingly swarm Eric, while the one on top of Tatiana is pinning her down. Eric is distraught, but realizes that he has to give an answer or else he'll get beat up too.)

ERIC: Yours. I'm on your side.

(Tatiana gives him a look which indicates he has betrayed her. After this, Eric stands back and watches in shame as his sister is roughed up by some older boys. In the background, somebody runs to call the teachers.)

TRANSITION

TWENTY YEARS LATER

(Eric Gaines, 31 years old, is on the bridge of an unnamed Starfleet ship with an unnamed Starfleet crew. He is sitting in the Captain's chair.)

BRIDGE OFFICER #1: Captain, we are 400 kilometers from the Kobayashi Maru and closing.

ERIC: Any hostile ships in the area?

BRIDGE OFFICER #1: None that our scans can...hold on. Sir, three Klingon birds-of-prey are decloaking off our starboard bow.

(The look on Eric's face indicates that he knew this was coming.)

ERIC: Starboard, huh. I'm inputting the instructions for Attack Pattern...Gaines.

(The Starfleet ship skillfully outmaneuvers the Klingon vessels and evades their fire...until the Klingons suddenly do something unexpected.)

BRIDGE OFFICER #2: Sir, they've broken formation and are now approaching from different angles of attack.

(Eric mutters something under his breath.)

ERIC: Let's focus on picking them off one at a time. How are the shields?

BRIDGE OFFICER #3: Shields are at 51 percent.

ERIC: Wait...what?! 51 percent?!

(He shakes his head.)

ERIC: Target the ship in front of us and fire!

(The Klingon ship takes critical damage and is unable to participate in the battle further. But Eric's victory is cut short when a massive hit from behind sends explosions throughout the bridge, killing at least one bridge officer.)

BRIDGE OFFICER #3: Sir, engines are down. We're dead in the water. Do we abandon ship?

(Eric pauses.)

ERIC: Computer, freeze program!

(The simulated exercise immediately comes to a halt. Eric is left sitting there in thought, frustrated at his inability to defeat the test. But he doesn't have long to ruminate in silence, because ADMIRAL BARTHOLOMEW GAINES enters the holodeck.)

ADM. GAINES: Trying again?

(Eric, upon seeing him, stands at attention in military fashion.)

ADM. GAINES: As you were. Also, you have my permission to speak freely.

ERIC: I had it all mapped out in my head. Those birds were supposed to fly in tight formation. All I had to do was get the drop on them and fire three volleys. Three volleys! Then I'd make rendezvous with the Kobayashi Maru and be out of there before the Klingons could make repairs.

ADM. GAINES: Unfortunately, our enemies aren't so courteous as to do whatever is most convenient for us. There's a quick-witted soul behind the chair of whatever vessel you're engaging. It's important that you always keep that in mind going forward.

(Eric shakes his head despondently.)

ERIC: I thought I could beat it this time. I spent the last 13 years going over what I did wrong the first time, and honing my navigation and tactical skills. I mean, come on! James T. Kirk beat the test! It has to be doable, yet it's still beyond my ability after all this time. If that were real, my entire crew would be dead because of me.

ADM. GAINES: James T. Kirk cheated. And of course, those were very different times; had you attempted the same, you would've had your ass hauled in front of a court martial and that'd be the end of your career most likely. Listen here, the Kobayashi Maru is unwinnable by design; had you knocked out those three birds, three more would've decloaked behind you. And as I'm sure you've noticed, the simulation imposes a steep handicap when it comes to integrity of your shields. The whole point is not to win but to manage yourself and the situation well under pressure.

ERIC: In that case I am not ready for a command.

ADM. GAINES: You're gonna have to be ready, because you have a command. Starting in a few days.

(Eric is astonished to hear this.)

ERIC: Sir?

ADM. GAINES: I didn't just come here to congratulate my son on making captain. I came here to brief you ahead of your new posting.

ERIC: Sir...dad, I thought we agreed that my career is my own. I don't want anyone saying that I-

ADM. GAINES: There wasn't any nepotism behind this, I promise you. From your first day at the academy your service record has been commendable. You have experience serving aboard three starships, including five years as First Officer on the Seneca Falls. I know you've spent your adult life afraid that you wouldn't live up to my expectations, but I'm here to tell you that you already have. I am proud of you.

ADM. GAINES: But I will say this: were it up to me, your first mission wouldn't be so dangerous.

ERIC: Dangerous? Where am I going?

ADM. GAINES: We'll go into that later. How about we discuss it over dinner in my office? For now, you can call your mother and tell her the news. That's an order. Oh, and say goodbye to your captain.

ERIC: Is that an order too, sir?

ADM. GAINES: Nah. Just a professional courtesy. You don't have to.

(The admiral winks at him, knowing how much Eric dislikes his now-former captain. The admiral leaves; Eric kills the holodeck program and leaves as well. It's revealed that they're currently in San Francisco, Earth, the capital of the United Federation of Planets.)