STAR TREK

"The Garbage Scow"

By: John Christen Knudsen, Junior

Dustin Fields failed his cadet cruise. But no one ever failed the Academy. The cadet became an ensign about to meet Lewis Parker.

"Why did you do it?" inquired the dean.

"I was weighing my options," he told him. "The Kobayashi 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 said.

"It was a civilian ship within Klingon space," the ensign said with desperation. "It was practically a garbage scow!"

"With life aboard, sir."

"Violating the zone means war!"

"Then you have failed the test. But I'm putting you on the USS Mars none the less."

"Of the Saladin-class?" he noted. "But that's one of the most wanted ships out there."

"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."

"My temper, sir?"

"Yes," commanded the dean.

"No problem," the ensign said headed out the door to perform his mission.

Students in the classroom spoke, "Why do you think he failed to act?"

"If the Kobayashi Maru was real, we'd all be dead," one said.

"Then let's hope that never happens," another responded.

"I thought this was combat training," smiled the young officer.

"Nice joke, Ensign. It is."

Klaxons sounded, "Red alert!"

Dustin Fields 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, Dustin responded, "I'm going to Cygnet Fourteen."

"Just pass the air," a superior told them.

By the time it was done, they had lost power to replicators. Also, gravity was not working. They were assaulted by a Doomsday Machine.

"Captain Lewis Parker here," he stated in the desperate attempt to save lives.

"Star Fleet responding."

Under duress, he explained to them, "The Mars was on a cadet cruise when a Doomsday Machine attacked us."

"Can we make a visual?"

"Yes, Star Fleet."

A two-way image appeared. Everyone began to laugh. As he wiped the sweat from his brow, the captain said, "This is not funny."

"I have an idea," Dustin Fields expressed after some consideration.

"What are you doing?" asked his superior.

"I know where we can get power," replied the ensign. "I need a spacesuit."

The chief engineer, Rush Logan, said in terror, "Daniel Swanson, what is our status."

"I apologize," he mournfully stated. "These children are going to die."

"Check the power levels again," he forced as they floated.

"That takes power," the honest man said. "Sir, I don't think we're going to make it."

Equally as mournful, "Then tell everyone that it's time to say goodbye to their loved ones."

They moved to get the order out. Then the officer appeared in a spacesuit.

"Ensign," it was said, "identify yourself."

"Dustin Fields," he replied. "From security."

"Take off the helmet," the engineer said with a look of contempt and crossed arms.

"Oh," he obeyed. "I have a plan."

"A… plan," it was said.

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 engineer asked, "Dump the warp core?"

"It could work," another stated. "We have a navigational deflector. If we entered full impulse with it on, we could get back home."

He ordered, "Swanson."

"Yes, sir?"

He said 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 ensign responded.

"Plan on being assigned here," became the response.

"Star Fleet wants him back," said the dean.

"Why?" the captain inquired.

"He saved the ship," he smiled. "We're going to throw him a party when he returns."

Lewis Parker turned off the viewer.

"I don't think you can force him to stay," his yeoman said.

"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 was pistol-whipped. The cadet hit the deck and fell unconscious.

"You're mad!" a second cadet on the bridge shouted. "You're responsible for all of this. Captain Lewis Parker here thinks he can kill us."

"Do you want to be next?" he said pointing the phaser at him.

Meanwhile, back in the brig, a woman was already there, "What are you in for?"

"I don't know," he replied in shame.

"My story is a little different," she told him.

"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."

"Okay," he said. "I believe the mistake I made 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.

"Somebody has been pistol-whipped by the captain," he answered.

"In Earth dock?" one said. "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 in which he lost one of his security men.

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, Dustin, you can serve on any ship you want."

His father was disappointed. He failed to prove Star Fleet was not the answer.

The court was surprised, "Lewis Parker, you are on extended leave for what you did."

"I would like to take the leave on my ship," he replied in anticipation.

"I wish I could serve on the Mars," Dustin said in the end. "How about that party?"

"Why are you upset, Jim?" his doctor stated.

"I've never lost a case before. The two of them must have been working together."

"How?" McCoy inquired.

"I can tell," he replied as he flipped open his communicator to speak.

"Star Fleet, repair the Mars… slowly."

"Yes, sir."

"Then give Dustin Fields another attempt at the Kobayashi Maru," Jim ordered as he closed his communicator. "I'm going to have fun."

"Come on, man," an instructor said. "How often do you come to the gym?"

"Not as much as this," Dustin Fields noted as he failed his last pushup.

"Take the ensign out of line," a female officer commanded.

She handed him papers, "You have orders from Star Fleet to redo the Kobayashi Maru."

He was ready to try the no-win scenario again and would do his best.

"Zone secure," a cadet spoke. "We are in the Neutral Zone. Ready to receive 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 with 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."

"Did you pass it?" he asked him.

"Yes, I did. Did you enjoy being referred to as captain, Ensign?" Jim asked.

"Very much so," Dustin said with a smile.

"Then the ship is in your hands. You are a junior lieutenant and a captain."

"I am honored," he told him.

Then the Enterprise captain said entering the turbolift, "Thanks for wasting my time."

It was a big achievement. Then, with a smile, he changed his old uniform.

"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 our captain, too? 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 some reason.

For the first time in his life, Dustin thought he could confront his father with force.

He hugged him instead. He was tugging on his shirt when a female voice started talking to him from his communicator, "Hello, Dustin Fields."

"You have the most beautiful voice I have ever heard," he noted. "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, Captain?"

"God loves the fleet," he was noted as saying as he made his way to the bridge.

On the bridge viewing screen, Lewis Parker was being beat down by a doctor, "I think the mission is complete. Is my ship ready?"

Syrok, the Vulcan science officer, said, "Repairs are complete. Awaiting orders."

"Good," he smiled. "Thrusters ahead."

"Thrusters ahead," the navigator informed him. "Leaving Earth dock."

"Engage," he said as he rose.

With a beauty pass, the USS Mars 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