Thank you to everybody who read or review the last conversation. You are so absolutely fantastic. Thank you for all your encouraging words.
Day 287: Elizabeth Chen: Kobayashi Maru slayer
From: Elizabeth_Chen
To: Spock's_cuddlebunny
Time arrived: 12/5/2260 00:00:01
Subject: You are now only one of two to beat the Kobayashi Maru
I know you probably got some strange pictures a few days ago from Nyota's mom if the Starfleet email servers keep doing their thing. All of you are desperately in need of some context at this point. So I survived the Kobayashi Maru. Even though I'm the second person in my class to take it, I am the 82nd person in all of Starfleet to take the new 'you have one chance in hell of beating this' version. I am the first person to not lose their entire crew and successfully save the ship. In other words, I found the one chance in hell. More importantly, I did it all with a one-and-a-half-year-old strapped to my chest.
So we thought it would be cool for Desi to watch Aunt Liz and Uncle Kevin command a Starship together, even if it's just a simulation. Especially because she was such a good girl during practice. Mom was going to be there, so she would watch Desi during the actual exam. Except mom got pulled into an "emergency meeting" last minute. Which was fine because Ben was coming too, except Ben got delayed by the evil former father-in-law. I'll explain why that happened later.
Nyota's mom offered to watch baby D or take her down to daycare. However, Little Miss Cranky Pants was not having any of it. So what did I do? Strapped my fussy niece to my chest and command a starship during the middle of a crisis.
They'll be a video of it once everybody else has finished, so that might not arrive until Christmas. Unless mom can pull some strings. I can tell you the secret to the new version since you already took the old one. Basically, you need to take the option that looks absolutely nuts and make it work anyway. I like to blame surviving Tarsus for making survival mode my default setting for life. Also, if you survive something like Tarsus, you don't believe in no-win scenarios. That mindset helps.
I probably should mention that the meeting that mom was dragged into was to tell her that she couldn't be at my test. Of course, she didn't know that in time to tell me to get another babysitter. Well, another option than Ben. He would've been there if his first father-in-law wasn't just evil.
That's a long dysfunctional story. I feel like you should be the one to tell Sulu instead of me writing him an email or CCing him on this email. Before coming to the test Ben and baby K had to go to a farewell lunch with the mother-in-law and a bunch of her friends. Said lunch was interrupted by the former father-in-law breaking his restraining order again with a phaser pointed at his soon-to-be ex-wife. He was quickly subdued because this luncheon was hosted at a restaurant with excellent security. This is because it's popular with the ambassadorial set.
Ben and the baby are OK. No one got hurt except for the former father-in-law. Somehow his arm got broken during the fight. Thankfully, the former father-in-law was knocked out before he could do anything stupid. Seriously how does he keep getting out on bail? Despite no one getting hurt, a lot of paperwork had to be filled out. Then there was an emergency meeting with the legal team. Obviously, Ben missed the test. I'm only blaming the former father-in-law for that.
I think Ben is going to write Sulu eventually but maybe not right away. He might even be an idiot and wait for the next letter even though I know he just wrote Sue and Sulu last week. Despite the fact, my mom is giving him rapid messaging privileges. If they don't know, could you please tell Sue and Sulu what happened? Sulu needs to know because it's his fiancée, and I think Sue needs to know that her BFF is fine.
I probably should send a letter to Sue even though I still haven't got her promised letter to baby D yet. You know she's going to want to know I survived the Kobayashi Maru. Not just survived but thrived. You and I are now officially the only two people to have beat the Kobayashi Maru. Kevin joked that once we're married, everybody is going to say that only Kirks pass the test.
Kevin doesn't have to take it for his track. He only has to be an assistant, which he's satisfied this semester by being my First officer. He is annoyed I couldn't have an ambassador during the simulation. Kevin actually made that suggestion to mom during the celebratory dinner. She thinks it's a good idea. It makes sense after what Garber did. She kept the Hamilton situation from being even worse.
Mom also wants Kevin to take the Kobayashi Maru class even though it's not a requirement for his track. I think she wants to confirm the only Kirks can pass the Kobayashi Maru theory. But then, to really prove that, we need Spock and Winona to take it. I don't think Spock could because he designed a good portion of it.
We will see if I'm the only person who manages to beat the thing this time. I think Kristin may do it, but I, unfortunately, won't be there. Her slot is the same day I have to leave for New Vulcan. I hate that I won't get to see it.
I'm not going to be sad about that because that means we will be together as a family soon. We are bringing so many goodies and presents. I can't wait to see everyone—especially my new nephew and my sister. I miss you guys so much.
PS: Let Josephine know that I passed the Kobayashi Maru. In my last letter to her a couple of days ago, I told her I was still prepping. I know she wants to know what happened.
XXXXX
From: Elizabeth_Chen
To: Mommy_Susan
Time arrived: 12/05/2260 00:00:01
subject: Your sister slayed the Kobayashi Maru
Hey, big sister, guess who successfully beat the Kobayashi Maru? Unlike a certain captain we know, I didn't end up going up against judiciaries. Although in hindsight, it was a great meet-cute. I can't wait to hear how they explain their first meeting to Peter and all their other kids. It's going to be fabulous. Better than the story of me and Kevin meeting on the planet of the damned.
Also, I'm sure you saw the pictures of your daughter being a participant. Mom is going to make her a T-shirt that says 'I survived my first Kobayashi Maru.' She's the youngest participant ever. Baby D was an excellent helper even though it happened by accident. Mom was pulled into a meeting where they essentially told her that she wasn't allowed to be there. It wasn't even the head of Starfleet Academy, a.k.a. Nyota's mom who made the decision but some higher-ups, which is just annoying.
Despite being in charge of Starfleet, mom still has bosses, and they don't want the appearance of special treatment for either of us. Although I feel like their definition of special treatment is us being treated like everybody else. When Kristin gets to do her simulation, they're going to allow Carol to stream it from London. If she was actually in San Francisco, she would be allowed to watch in person. That's not fair, but whatever. I did arrange for you guys to get a video of it as soon everybody from this cycle gets through the simulation. Which will probably mean we will be on New Vulcan by that time.
Ben was also supposed to be there, but his ex-father-in-law crashed the lunch. Ask Jim for details. I'm not typing all of that stuff out again. Especially 'cause your kid is cranky and extra hyper. Grandma gave her cake to celebrate my beating the test. I should make grandma watch her tonight.
Anyway, I love and miss you. I can't wait to see you soon.
XXXX
From: Spock's_cuddlebunny
To: Elizabeth_Chen
Time arrived: 12/5/2260 23:02:01
Subject: Kirks are better at everything, and you are a Kirk
Congratulations, I'm perfectly OK with it becoming school legend that only Kirks pass the Kobayashi Maru. Kevin should take the class just to prove the theory. I also believe Winona could beat it. Technically, Spock actually did beat the Kobayashi Maru during the testing phase. Which is why they went back and made it even harder. So that version might be the one they went back to now that they're giving everybody a chance in hell of passing. Although Spock's victory doesn't count towards the official number. I do believe he does count towards the only Kirks can beat the Kobayashi Maru statistic.
You'll have that last name soon enough, just like Spock. Or are you going to hyphenate when you get married? Sue may have spilled the content of a particular letter to Sulu. I would say hyphenate, although I really shouldn't have the way Vulcan naming conventions are, or I should have taken Grayson. I may still do that. James Tiberius Kirk-Grayson-Spock sounds interesting. Although Grayson might be on Spock's baby name wish list.
Yes, he has a list. He says it's for Nhi, but I don't believe him. It's OK. We will have more kids eventually, by some means, once we're done with Starfleet. Raising Peter is enough for now. Besides, we are on Spock's Clock, not mine, because I no longer have a clock. Vulcans have kids into the mid 100s. I'm hoping to talk Spock into having kids no later than his mid-50s. I can deal with that.
I was wondering why baby D was with you during the Kobayashi Maru. I knew it wasn't your practice run because you were wearing your uniform instead of street clothes. The video was also spectacular. Your mom sent it to us, or rather Spock. Because he's still the developer of record for the current version, he's allowed to see videos of students going through the test before the cycle finishes. Your mom loves loophole abuse.
Although the video did contain a short note that Spock could only show it to me, your sister, and Sulu. Apparently, it still close hold at the moment. Testing is still going on for at least another two weeks. Also, I heard there is a new section where you have to go through the videos and critique what went wrong afterward. Did you have to do that even though you didn't kill your entire crew, or are you allowed to skip that?
I know you're annoyed that they didn't want your mom there. But if you had succeeded like you did and your mom was there, many people would have blamed it on her presence. Which wouldn't have been fair to you. Also, they would have tried to bring you up against judiciaries. Actually, from the background sounds of your video, Loki wanted to anyway. She was angry, but Nyota's mom put her in her place.
Instead, you beat the test with a year and ½-year-old strapped to your chest entirely on your own merits. I saw that you tried to have Kevin watch her first, but she was just extra cranky. Therefore you switched right before the start of the exam. Yes, that made the video.
Also, I enjoyed you and Kevin kissing after you successfully save the crew. That's going to be my new lock screen. You two are so cute despite Loki's angry comments. Keep an eye on that girl.
Again Kevin should definitely do the Maru course. This time you should be his first officer. After what happened with Ambassador Garber, I think it should be a requirement for Communications/dip track graduates. I doubt she was the first ambassador that found herself in charge of a starship during a crisis.
I'm glad things are going good for you, school-wise. I want to know the results of the essay portion of the tests. By the time you actually get this letter, I'm sure you got your grades back by then. I bet you did spectacularly, or they're going to try to bury the existence of the report. It can go one of two ways in this family, and you are definitely a member of this family. A marriage license means very little.
Thank you for writing to your sister because she was the one who told Sulu. After I gave her the details. All bad news is better coming from her. They're going to write Ben, but they are giving him until midnight to write a response, and then they are sending a rapid message. I authorized it because almost getting shot at lunch definitely falls in the "should be notified immediately" category.
However, I've been instructed to give you their congratulations. They're planning some sort of celebration for when we meet up. Josephine is making the banner. Also, as a thank you for your excellent childcare. You have totally embraced parenthood, even if it's just been temporary.
Work is going well at the moment. They sent us Vulcan Science Academy members that I don't want to punch out. Better yet, Spock doesn't want to punch these people out. It can be hit or miss sometimes. Did I tell you what happened last time Enterprise was stationed on the colony? Spock got kidnapped and lied to me about it. At that point in our relationship, he was trying to hide that we accidentally got married, Vulcan style. As well as the fact he wasn't actually dating Nyota. We had some communications issues during the early part of our marriage, mostly before I was aware we were even married.
That is definitely something I do not want to deal with again, but I've been told everybody has been vetted. Also, nobody is near that time of the cycle. I can't tell you what that phrase means, but thankfully Peter is old enough to take care of himself if Spock's biological Clock goes off early. Vulcan biological clocks can be awesome.
Anyway, we are all looking forward to seeing you on New Vulcan. Spock and I will be planetside for a week doing various meetings with various dignitaries and some actual leave time.
Unfortunately, we have to leave Nyota behind to be in charge because we lost Scotty to the Hamilton. She's OK with staying behind with Leonard to be the responsible adult because this way, she won't have to participate in a Starfleet dog and pony show in New Vulcan summer heat. Although I am fully in charge of her child.
However, in three days, my father-in-law and foster sister-in-law are coming to this ship for a few days. On paper, it's supposed to be an inspection of the VSA members on board. In reality, it is a chance for Spock to show off to his daddy.
I can read my husband's thoughts, and I'm picking up a mixture of nervousness and nausea. Although that's my husband's general mix of emotions, now that we are close to New Vulcan. Things did not go very well two years ago.
The father-in-law is also going to take the kids on a bit of a New Vulcan field trip. They're going to get to spend at least two weeks on the planet, not just my child but all of the Enterprise minors and the science track interns. Gina is going to be going along with one or two other officers. I might be sending Chekov because I think he would love to spend quality time at the Science Academy. Most of the kids will be staying in the dorms, but Peter and Josephine will be staying with grandpa.
I think this field trip was arranged because Saavik is very lonely. Vulcan kids are bigots, and she's half Romulan. They are extra nasty to her. Her bimonthly video calls to the ship that she really shouldn't be doing are the one time she's really happy, by Vulcan standards anyway.
I can understand why the kids are angry. A Romulan blew up their home planet. A lot of them lost family because of what happened. But Saavik is just a little girl. It's not her fault that she just happens to be the same species as the guy who blew up the planet. She had nothing to do with it. So I'm hoping some time with the kids will be good for her. Also, I'm looking forward to a week without teenagers or science track interns. Only Chris three is a brat, but I miss quality husband time.
It's not Peter cutting down on quality husband time but the other kids and the damn interns. I wish I could send all the interns to New Vulcan for two weeks, but I don't think your mom would authorize it. I'm still shocked I was allowed to send all the science track interns. But apparently, a cultural exchange is a good thing in this regard.
I can't wait to send them back to the Academy in January, some of them anyway. Half are actually staying through May because, if you start the Academy at 14, it might be useful for you to spend a little bit more time on a ship before graduation. Which, in theory, is a good idea if it wasn't my ship. Spock is just as annoyed with it at this point. We got interrupted during sex by another attempt to steal Vulcan headache medication from botany. Tell your mom we need to have a meeting. Spock and I are not dealing with the baby interns again.
Anyway, we look forward to seeing you very soon. I need to congratulate you in person.
PS: Bring chocolate, lots of chocolate. Spock is going to be around his dad. He's gonna need to be a little drunk just to handle it. I think a steady supply of chocolate chip cookies will be enough. Margarita might be a little upset about that, but it's a complicated relationship. Now grandkids are involved.
To be continued...