Lt JG Taj'el - Is that the no win one?
Taj'el
((Holosuite #2, Deck Five, USS Thor))
Taj’el remained on the ground for several moments, not from exhaustion but simply as a consequence of the considerable amount of tomfoolery that had just occurred. The situation had involved a great deal of silliness with little discernible purpose.
When matters finally returned to normal, the change was… welcome. They allowed themselves a moment to steady their breathing and regain their composure. As they did so, their eyes closed and they centered their thoughts while darkness gradually overtook their awareness.
Taj’el: I hope this is a good thing…
Tam: Taj'el, you did it! Great work.
As they were praised, Taj’el sat up and glanced toward the other two before rising to their feet. The recent necessity for unconventional thinking had not been particularly enjoyable. It had proven… tiring, to say the least.
Saa: I am glad our distraction served its purpose.
Tam: Computer, arch.
Saa: And back to things not working…
Taj’el: I believed the program was functioning correctly. It was simply not responding to our commands as intended.
Tam: Alright, we need to find the problem before a new holoprogram starts. Check out the panel beside where the arch should be, and I will examine the box on the floor. ::glancing at Saa:: Maybe don't mention to Carras or Ral that I don’t know the name of the box control thing.
Doctor Saa raised their hand, and Taj’el simply looked between the two commanders with a faint expression of confusion.
Saa: I’ll take it out the airlock with me if you do the same.
Taj’el raised an eyebrow. From the limited interactions they had experienced, they doubted Commander Carras would be upset. Nevertheless, both officers appeared to be treating the matter with notable seriousness.
When Doctor Saa glanced toward them, Taj’el found themselves tilting their head slightly in quiet confusion.
Taj’el: I did not believe murder is necessary, Counselor.
Tam: Umm, isn't there supposed to be a computer panel here instead of this?
Once again, Taj’el observed the two commanders as they moved forward and worked together with minimal instruction between them. The coordination was fascinating. Taj’el found themselves wondering whether such efficiency simply came from extended professional familiarity, or if a deeper personal connection was involved.
After a moment, they stepped closer and began searching for the panel they assumed the others had been attempting to locate.
Saa: …There should be…
Taj’el: It appeared to have been bypassed or relocated. Therefore, it must still connect somewhere.
Saa: Last time I attempted any engineering it was a partially destroyed bridge and a medkit we stripped of all tech, and I ended up with a new body in the process.
Taj’el paused and turned to look toward Saa. It was then that…
Taj’el: Perhaps it would be logical for you not to touch anything further, Commander.
Tam: Response
The lights began to flicker, as Taj’el’s attention shifted to a loose wire in the room. From their understanding of the environment, it should not have been present. This suggested that someone, or something more tangible, had interfered with the holodeck’s systems.
Saa: Tam? Taj’el?
Taj’el: I was still present and accounted for.
Tam: Response
They observed a faint light emanating from Saa’s direction as the holodeck finally restored illumination to the room.
Computer: Loading…. Loading…. Loading…
At last, a new scene loaded on the holodeck. The bridge of the USS Thor appeared around them, though it showed clear signs of significant damage. Doctor Saa moved immediately toward their station, and Taj’el followed suit, taking their place at the science console. Something about the situation was evidently wrong; however, from a logical standpoint, they did not yet possess sufficient information to determine the cause.
Initial scans indicated they remained within the Badlands and that a vessel was positioned ahead of them. Based on this information, it was logical to proceed with the simulation.
Tactical Hologram: Sir, we have reasons to believe we may have birds-of-prey nearby, cloaked…
Taj’el did not understand what was occurring. The situation appeared inconsistent. Previously, they had been attempting to assist a Federation vessel rather than a Bird-of-Prey; yet now a Bird-of-Prey was in close proximity. The development did not align with their expectations of the simulation.
Saa: …The USS Kobayashi Maru.
Taj’el raised an eyebrow. The Kobayashi Maru, the simulation rumored to remain the final examination for those on the Command track. It was frequently discussed, though they themselves had neither experienced it nor possessed a complete understanding of its parameters. They were aware only of the widely repeated claim that Admiral Kirk had been the only individual to defeat it.
From a purely logical perspective, it would seem reasonable to replicate the method he had employed.
Saa: The wire is still here.
Taj’el: Is this the so-called no-win scenario? I had not believed it was still in use.
Tam: Response
Noting the wire now they left their station to kneel in front of it. Lifting it up the looked at Commander Tam.
Taj’el: Captain, should we follow it, disengage it, or continue with the no-win scenario?
Tam/Saa: Response
Taj’el: Logically, disengaging the wire would be the most prudent course of action. Continuing to interact with the simulation as presented would be ill-advised. However, I understand that you are expected to participate in a bridge exercise.
A brief pause
Taj’el: We could attempt to circumvent the scenario, as Admiral Kirk once did.
It felt somewhat akin to cheating to simply alter the programming. However, given that they themselves had been unexpectedly drawn into the holodeck’s chaotic malfunction, attempting to reprogram the simulation appeared to be a logical and acceptable course of action. The wire remained their only tangible clue, and it seemed probable that something was using it to generate the ongoing disruption.
Tam/Saa: Response
[[TAGS/TBC]]
