Ensign Madison Marsh - “Intercept”
Madison Marsh
((Bridge, Deck 1, USS Enterprise NCC-1701))
The Enterprise was on course to the Gamma Hydra system, near the border of the Klingon Neutral Zone, but, right on schedule, the comms officers turned to face the Centauran in the centre seat.
Comms: Captain, we are receiving a distress call from the Kobayashi Maru. ::pausing while listening:: a civilian freighter ::pausing again, a growing look of concern evident on their face:: in the Klingon Neutral Zone.
Marsh: What is the status of the freighter?
Comms: The ship has been disabled and heavily damaged ::pause:: and we are the only ship in range.
Marsh: Being in the neutral zone certainly complicates the situation. If we enter the neutral zone it would violate our treaty with the Klingon Empire.
Gogi rocked on his heels as he listened to the exchange. Of course, this was just setting the scene for the scenario, everyone knew what happened next. The question was - how would Madison handle it?
Fairhug: What are your orders, *Captain*?
Madison turned to look at Gogi.
Marsh: Number One, I need more information that you can help us find. Scan the Kobayashi Maru freighter, I need additional details. What is the actual status of the ship? What is the crew compliment? Compose the vital information on the view screen so that we can work the problem.
With a click of his heels, Gogi made his way to the helm and relieved the holographic officer that had been manning it, taking his place. With a few taps of the console, he brought up a graphic displaying the Kobayashi Maru’s statistics.
Fairhug: ::reading off the viewscreen:: Eighty-one crew, three-hundred passengers, Captain. Their engines are offline and life support is failing.
Marsh: We are pretty far out in deep space. ::Her eyes shifted to the Comms Officer:: Comms, How long would it take for a message to get to Starfleet command to get permission to enter the neutral zone?
Comms: At least ten minutes, Captain.
By this point, Madison had made her way to where Gogi was now sitting and was leaning in over his shoulder.
Marsh: And how long can that freighter hold up in its current state?
Gogi turned to make eye contact with her. Attempting to get Starfleet backing was a good idea, but this was the Kobayashi Maru. They were on their own.
Fairhug: Eight minutes at the most, Captain.
Madison sighed after receiving the verdict that she was on her own in making the call. There would be no Starfleet intervention in this simulation as that would be to simple and nothing was never easy. She definitely felt conflicted in what to do and did not want to embarrass herself in front of her mentor. However, she would have to learn from any mistakes and grow from there.
Marsh: Alright, so command is out on this call. Give me a time line for success number one.
Fairhug: Approximately three minutes to intercept, which gives us five minutes at most to evacuate those on board. It can be done, Sir, but only if we act now.
She stepped away from the helm station and took a seat in the Captain’s chair. Her gaze shifted to Commander Fairhug. After departing Velestus as a small child, Madison grew up in the well known city of Las Vegas. A place where a lot of gambling took place throughout its history on Earth. One could say that because of those roots thar she had become a betting woman. Saving the transport by entering the neutral zone was a gamble that she was willing to bet on to save the many lives aboard the Kobayashi Maru.
Marsh: Plot an intercept course for the Kobayashi Maru. We need to get in and out of the neutral zone quickly before being detected by the Klingon Empire.
Fairhug: ::turning back to his console:: Aye, Sir.
Madison pressed the ship communications button on her arm rest. She then looked at the view screen as she made additional orders.
Marsh: Engineering, prepare the transporter pads for mass transports for the evacuation of the crew of the Kobayashi Maru. Medical, have first responder teams staged and prepped at each transporter room for the injured.
Comms: Captain, we are approaching the Neutral Zone, but I am losing the Kobayashi Maru’s signal.
Madison tilted her head slightly and appeared to be caught off guard by losing the Kobayashi Maru’s signal. Did the ship implode? Were they destroyed? Were signals being jammed? There were several possible reasons and causations.
Marsh: Number one, what do the data results indicate being the cause of the signal loss?
Fairhug: Inconclusive, Captain. Should we maintain our course and speed?
She pondered in thought for a simple moment. The Kobayashi Maru’s declining state could be one reason for the signal loss. Another reason could potentially be interference from an outside source like the Klingons being a prime candidate. Madison felt the need to exercise caution to play it as safe as possible given the situation.
Marsh: Run a sensor sweep for the Kobayashi Maru. Is it still out there and in tact? They could just be losing power with their systems shutting down.
Fairhug: Response
Madison nodded in acknowledgement at least they were still in tact.
Marsh: Proceed forward to intercept, let’s get them out of there swiftly. Time is not on anyone’s side here.
Fairhug: Response
She glanced at Fairhug with an expression of curiosity evident on her face. If the Klingons were out there, they were likely cloaked. However, better to check on them than to be ignorant of that possibility.
Marsh: Are we picking up any Klingon ships in the vicinity at this point?
Fairhug: Response
TAG/TBC
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Medical Officer
Starbase 118 Ops
ID: O240006MM1
