Lt JG Taj'el - Fail?
Taj'el
((Holosuite #2, Deck Five, USS Thor))
((Bridge, Deck 1, Simulated USS Thor))
Taj’el: Yes, ma’am. I am confident in my ability to provide the necessary calculations; however, I am incapable of executing the adjustments and control inputs myself. The process would require more time than is available.
Tam: As I said, I will be there to help you. This will be done better with both of us. You will fly the ship, and I will navigate. I'll be right to take the controls if needed.
Taj’el looked up at the taller woman and experienced a brief, unspoken inclination to exchange positions. However, such a course was neither offered within the present circumstances. Their only viable option was to place their trust in the Commander and adhere to her guidance. It was possible that minimizing hesitation, reducing the tendency toward overanalysis, would be sufficient to carry them through the maneuver.
Saa: One minute and twenty five seconds until the storm is fully formed.
Tam: Time to detonation?
Saa: Fourty five seconds, Captain :::she looks up:: The Klingons are turning their ship15 degrees port bow, shields are at 89% and their engines have increased power.
Taj’el tensed slightly; they would have preferred to be in sickbay. Instead, they leaned subtly toward Commander Tam, seeking physical stability against the surge of internal unease. They could not immediately determine whether the source was fear of failure or the prospect of piloting the Thor itself.
They used the intervening seconds to examine this response. The presence of fear was acknowledged, yet it did not alter the requirements of the situation. It would be necessary to quiet their thoughts and rely upon the Barzan Commander’s direction, an approach they did not find entirely comfortable, but one that remained, under the circumstances, the most logical course of action.
Taj’el: Their shields are raised. ::they stated, steadying themselves:: As they were now confirmed stable, would it be advisable to warp to a safer position?
It represented a final attempt to propose a safer alternative. Presenting all available options remained prudent, if only to ensure that no viable course of action had been overlooked.
Tam: I don't want to warp out because I don't want to drag the subspace explosion and change its shape. At the very least, it would effectively invalidate the Klingon's calculations. That leaves us with riding the wave of the explosion just like they will. What we can do is make sure we are not in the bird-of-prey's path and get a head start. They need to take the most direct path out of the Badlands, but we don't because our shields are in better shape. Taj'el, point us out of the Badlands at an angle sufficient to avoid the other ship.
It appeared the moment to proceed had arrived. Taj’el sat forward in their chair, regulating their breathing to a controlled, steady rhythm. The trajectory was direct, at least, in theory.
Saa: Twenty seconds until detonation.
Taj’el: Yes, ma’am. ::pause:: I am ready.
Tam: Angle the ship 18.7 degrees starboard and increase speed to three-quarter impulse.
It felt as though time itself had begun to slow as Saa continued the countdown.
Saa: Ten seconds…
Taj’el: Adjusted and ready…
A subtle trace of uncertainty was present in their voice.
Saa: Five seconds…
Everything appeared to slow to a crawl as the warp core descended, the brief ignition illuminating the surrounding expanse before the wave of force reached their shields, driving the vessel, and its occupants, forward. Taj’el emitted a restrained sound as they gripped the console more firmly. It was precisely this sensation that they found most disconcerting about the bridge: the ship’s movements were not only visible, but physically perceptible. The swirling storms and distant stars filled the viewscreen with constant motion.
They moved to adjust the controls, only to find the console abruptly vanished from view. For a fleeting moment, an expression of alarm crossed the Vulcan’s face. Had they caused a fatal error? Had their momentary disorientation resulted in failure?
The program had ceased unexpectedly. The cause was unclear. Standing in Holodeck Two, Taj’el remained still, their expression marked by confusion. They then turned toward Saa, seeking clarification. Had the simulation malfunctioned?
Taj’el: What happened? Did we fail?
Tam: Response
Saa: Sometimes, we do not get to see the result of our actions and interventions. ::She scooped up her PADD and folded it up against her chest:: We just have to trust that we gave them more of a chance than they previously had and hope it made a difference.
Taj’el did not find the response entirely satisfactory, though it did provide a measure of reassurance, suggesting that their actions had not been the cause of failure. They glanced up at the taller woman beside them, observing her reaction for additional perspective. It was, in an unexpected way, a comfort to have another individual present during moments of disorientation. The simulation, as a whole, had been a succession of abrupt and chaotic developments, each one compounding the last.
Tam: Response
Taj’el: What… an unusual conclusion to an already unusual simulation.
Watching as Saa moved to inspect the control panels and exposed wiring, Taj’el was reminded that Commander Tam had previously removed one from the wall. The thought raised a question of whether engineering should be informed; however, Saa’s inspection yielded no anomalies.
Taj’el then located the small access panel they had used earlier, only to find it sealed once more. This prompted further uncertainty. If all interfaces remained closed, then the holodeck’s core systems should have remained integrated within the simulation. The implications of that conclusion were not satisfactory.
Finding no clear answers, Taj’el turned back toward the other officer, rubbing the back of their neck before taking a measured breath. It seemed most logical to treat the experience as a learning opportunity. Reviewing the system logs and their own notes at a later time might provide additional clarity. For the present, however, the situation remained unresolved and somewhat perplexing.
They composed themselves, offering a small nod to the others as they gathered near the holodeck doors, prepared to depart together.
