#Interactive Ship Bridge Simulators

[theknightlywolfe]

So, I realized doing chores listening to Jenny rip apart a theme park somehow makes the task feel like it is going faster, so I listened to the galaxy edge video again and realized that with a few tweaks (and, of course, a better app) they could have had a somewhat decent experience with actual storylines that "affected" the other storylines and the ship.

Quick (relatively) and dirty run down of using the elements to better effect below the cut.

How to make choose your path work

In the first hour of arrival after people have gone to their rooms briefly, have two groups, one gets a tour of the ship and services (which includes safety information and allows for IRL questions) and explicitly state that if anything goes wrong during their trip they can check in with the lobby staff.  And the other group gets intro to crew, entertainment staff, First Order officer inspecting ship.  Have someone openly "sneak" information to the smuggler character.  At the end of the character intros have everyone but the smuggler walk off to "check on things" and allow the smuggler to say "if there's anything you need that the ship doesn't provide, you let me know" and wink.  Then flip.  This allows for IRL issues to be handled before the real start of things and gives you a preview of the options you are given for your story.

Cycle people through the bridge over the next two hours.  Captain says prior guests had so many questions about how the ship works that they set up training simulations to allow their guests to experience the bridge experience.  Have a "cargo ship" smuggling something on board show "out of the main window".  This "brings Chewbacca on board".  It also gives an opportunity for First Order people to report something to the officer, putting them on the First Order path.  People who approached the smuggler for "a piece of the action" get put on the smuggler path.  While cycling people through the bridge, have the "off" people going to the engineering room so the resistance character can meet them and "brag about the ship's amazing tech" while dropping hints about supporting the resistance.  This is where they introduce the Saja by explaining that they are an order that has traded service on the ship for passage.  The Saja can then be asked about their order where they then reveal they are force based, opening up a Jedi adjacent path.  Now, within the first few hours you have been introduced to the path options and the opportunity to start down one.  This initial path step gets noted by the personnel and automatically gives you 25% relationship on that path.

Then the next couple of hours you allow people to explore, rest, get a drink, explore the app and their room, etc.  The smuggler is available for people to "ask about special items".  The First Order officer is "screening" guests, the Saja are sermonizing, and the resistance guy is available in the open engineering room for people to ask questions about the resistance.  These interactions weigh 10% on reputation so it doesn't weigh you too much to the path you don't want if you try to do them all.  Right before dinner Chewbacca "sneaks" through the halls and people who report it to the First Order get another 10% on that path.

Then dinner and a show.  People above 30% smuggler or resistance get a note about helping Chewbacca hide in the cargo bay after dinner.  This is where the people on these paths get to "hack" the consoles to help him get in it and to "hide the hacking".  Who gets which task is random and after ten minutes at the consoles they meet at the cargo bay to "report their success" for the resistance, and "help steal supplies while others are distracted" if they are on the smuggler path.  They are told to tell others that ask them what they are doing that they are "just exploring the entertainment options".  Hacking can be having the RFID register on one of the tap points like the droid, then it shows in the app.  This gives a reason to explore the details they built in to the environment.

After he is hidden the people above 30% First Order get a notice in app that word is out about a criminal on board and they are to meet the First Order unit in the lobby to help "investigate the ship" and after ten minutes of searching through ship records (same mechanism as hacking) they are to meet at the cargo bay, find Chewbacca, and then escort him to the brig.

The Saja host a "force sensitivity testing" in the atrium, allowing people on the Jedi adjacent path to move the rocks.  This gives more people the chance with this play element and solidifies them on that path.

This also gives people chances to *rest* after dinner while again putting them on the path of their choice and not overloading any one area or character.  All the options last about half an hour and parents can dump their kids on a path and get a drink at the lounge and then wait for their kids to rush back with a fun story.  People who want to stay up late can hang at the bar or chat in the lobby and the actors can fade off shift as they "settle down for the night" while the people who want to sleep can go back to their rooms and enjoy (free!!!) Disney+ skinned with an intro about how it is entertainment collected from various worlds.

Also, since people have had a chance to set themselves distinctly on a path, before the NPC actors go off shift, they can check in with a coordinator and let them know which guests did their story line.  Then if the app doesn't reflect correctly, it can be manually overridden based on actor input by the coordinator so everyone is appropriately sorted for the next day's activities.  This also means that when the guest wakes up, the app can show them when their expected down time is so they can plan a nap, or going to the lounge, or whatever.

During breakfast the captain arrives and apologizes that they've been forced to stop at Batuu to pick up supplies since some of theirs went missing from the cargo bay mysteriously.  Directly tying into the actions of the smuggler path people the night before and properly explaining why the ship had to stop at a dump of a planet.

After breakfast the second day the Saja take the force path people for lightsaber training.  The First Order people go meet the officer at the brig to see Chewbacca behind bars and to go into how the presence of the criminal means something is going on in the ship and the first order needs your help to find out if there are any other things illegally aboard.  Then those people are sent to the cargo bay again to explore stuff, check out the displays (which need to be better) and play (better!)  games.  The smuggler path people go into Star Wars land and scan crates to find the things to be smuggled on board.  The resistance people go to the engineering room to get briefed on resistance movements and to "prepare for their tasks on planet" like finding someone to hide a resistance hero currently on the ship.

The next hour the resistance path people are asked to go into Star Wars land to do the rides as missions while the smuggler path people go to meet the business owners to "arrange for supplies and moving the crates".  The First Order people go to lightsaber training as part of the "ship entertainment". The Jedi adjacent people are alerted to Chewbacca in the brig and asked to go to the engineering room to put together an undetectable message to the remaining Jedi, who he knows, where they can do (better!) mini games there in prep for his break out.

The next hour the resistance people go to the business owners to make sure the resistance supplies and people are moving as they should be and someone can hide Chewbacca.  The smugglers path people do the rides for missions.  The Jedi adjacent people are sent to Star Wars land to scan crates to "find the holocron".  The First Order people then are put through a "test" to see if they are force sensitive in the atrium with implications that those who are will be under suspicion.

The next hour the First Order people are sent to Star Wars land to scan crates to look for contraband, heavily implied to make up for being force sensitive in the prior task.  The Jedi adjacent go to ask business owners if they know about the holocron since it wasn't in the crates.  The smugglers are free to do whatever.  The resistance people are to scan crates to make sure resistance supplies are going where they are needed.

The next hour the First Order people go to "interrogate" the business owners for information on smuggling and resistance activity.  The resistance people are free to do whatever and the smugglers are still free.  The Jedi Adjacent do the rides as missions.

The next hour the First Order people are sent to rides as missions, the rest are free to do whatever.

The next hour everyone is free to do whatever.

Then the smugglers "get recalled to the ship" to help with the items they are smuggling on board.  Everyone else stays in Star Wars land.

The next hour the smugglers go to engineering to "prep for their deliveries", the resistance people are recalled to help break out the resistance hero.  The rest are still free in Star Wars land.

The next hour the Jedi adjacent people are recalled to "prepare for something", left unspecified.  The First Order people are still free in Star Wars land.  The smugglers do the cargo loading on the bridge "bringing in their supplies".  The resistance people go to the brig to free Chewbacca.

The next hour the Jedi adjacent go to the brig to help sneak Chewbacca off the ship now that the resistance has freed him, make this a "sense others" activity to literally sneak through halls without getting spotted.  The First Order people are recalled to the ship to deal with an issue.  The resistance people do lightsaber training as "ship entertainment".  The smugglers get a rest.

Have lunch buffet run the whole time people are being recalled.

Then the First Order people go to the bridge to stop the escaping ship with Chewbacca.  The resistance people go to the atrium because they showed force aptitude at lightsaber training.  The smugglers are sent to the cargo bay to check on their smuggled supplies.  The Jedi adjacent get a rest.

Then the smugglers go to the atrium to try their luck at force aptitude.  The Jedi adjacent go to the cargo bay to "retrieve the holocron" and then meet Rey in the lightsaber pod for that scene.  The First Order people get a rest.  The resistance people go to the bridge to defend against a First Order attack who suspect the ship of smuggling.

Then roll out the casino games and run them while people cycle through dinner.

Then the smugglers are given lightsaber training as "ship entertainment", the First Order is sent to engineering to "see why the ship didn't fall to the first order attack".  The resistance people go to the cargo bay to make sure resistance supplies survived the attack.  The Jedi adjacent go to the bridge to mess with the sensors so Chewbacca can fly off while the others are distracted.

All throughout this the romance storyline is just happening to fill in the world building, same with the Twi'lek relic story line.  Several game tournaments run throughout so people have multiple chances at winner coins and those who don't want to rest can still do something in universe during their rest periods.  Kylo Ren showing up makes more sense if he was coming to retrieve Chewbacca and then punishes the ship for losing him.  And Rey being there for the holocron is the same and their encounter is a coincidence but makes sense based on the actions that have happened.

This gives everyone every mission/location on the ship and in Star Wars land, and they get the same amount of time in Star Wars land, same directed activities and then free time to wander or do the in land add ons.  The NPCs can also cycle their lunch breaks.  There are also built in times of rest for every path so no one gets too exhausted.  And since the paths are more distinct, the guests can start building their own stories by interacting repeatedly with people on the same path.  And this naturally staggers people between activities so no one staff person or location is overloaded at any time in a naturalistic way.  And you still get to use all the same mechanics for every path but now you have distinct stories that make sense in a progression and in relation to the other paths.

The third day/check out morning can be as it was with one change.  People on the resistance path are called to the engineering room to meet resistance guy who gifts them resistance medals and says they're part of it now.  The Jedi adjacent are called to the atrium and given tokens to show they are now members of the Saja.  The smugglers are called to the cargo bay and given coins showing they are now junior members of the Smugglers Guild.  The First Order people are called to the Lobby and given awards (pins) for their loyalty and service to the First Order.  Then the captain's speech is more cruise-esque, thanking the guests for joining them, apologizing for the unexpected stop at Batuu and all the drama, and hoping they enjoy the rest of their travels and welcoming them to join them for a voyage in the future.

No one gets moralized at, they get a unique souvenir that can only be gotten from the experience, and specifically relates to the path they chose which is cool but also gives a final moment/closure to each path.  It also means completionists with the free cash come back to do a different path to get that path's bauble.

I'm like the least LARP oriented LARPer, I am there for the whacky bats. And I threw the above together in less than an hour waiting to do a job interview. Like, there are ways to make what they already made work. Like Jenny said about the song lyrics, it just needed a few more hours thought.

[anxiouspotatorants]

Maura and Daniel fic ideas because I’m going through brainrot and I need y’all to give me more fics of them:

Season 2 AU (?) where the space setting is another simulation but only Maura knows. As in everyone else has a new script they’re convinced is their life. Including Daniel. And now it’s Maura’s turn to help him remember, all the while dealing with grief over knowing what she’d made herself forget for so long.

AU where everything is fine actually. Daniel and Maura go fishing with Elliot and have date nights and sick days and gossip about all their cooky coworkers and who’s dating who (like what is going on with that French trio?). Life is still life, but theirs is as close to that wonderful moment that Maura wishes could last forever as possible.

Fantasy/Sleeping Beauty AU where Ciaran has put Maura under a sleeping spell or she put herself under one after the death of Elliot and now Daniel has to find her and wake her up.

Season 2 AU (?) where 2099 is real and everyone immediately finds Daniel and him and Maura have to figure out what they are to each other after everything and guess what they still love each other and are still in love they just need some time to grieve their child both individually and together and get comfortable with being together as the people they’ve become.

Normal AU without any sci fi plot twists where everyone on the Kerberos live in the same small town/neighbourhood. Either Maura and Daniel meet and fall in love or they’re already together and just have a lovely life while also getting to know and love everyone around them. I’m talking Elliot and Ada being forced to hang out because they’re the only kids around. Ling Yi and Olek are international students and the sparks are flying. Eyk is their sweet but tortured neighbour who just started therapy and gets invited to dinner at the Franklin/Solaces more than once a week.

An in depth fic depicting everything from when Maura and Daniel first met until they had Elliot. Cute crushes, awkward flirting, moving in together, how they dealt with the in-laws etc.

Total angst AU where both Maura is Ciaran and Daniel is an AI copy of his dead self. Maura can’t face who she became in order to escape her grief. Daniel can’t accept that he’s the digital spectre of his dead human self. A complete tragedy. I’m ready to cry.

Gothic romance AU. It’s the late 1800s and Maura is moving to a small town that has grown desperate enough to request a female doctor for their hospital/asylum. There are a lot of tortured souls in town and Maura keeps feeling like this place is familiar. Also there’s this guy dressed in black named Daniel who always stares at her like he’s about to break down. She gets caught up in a mystery and ends up solving the one of her own disappearance because she was so distraught at the death of her and Daniel’s son that she got memory loss and moved away, losing years of her life. Also please give this a bittersweet ending where she gets time to grieve Elliot but ultimately decides to live a life again with her husband and all her new friends and found family.

Vampire AU where instead of sci-fi solutions Maura turned Elliot into a vampire to save him. She also turned Daniel and herself, but somewhere in her own transformation she was compelled to forget her human life by the vampire that she got to turn them all (Ciaran? Henry?). So now Daniel and Elliot are following Maura onto a ship to New York to get her back, all the while trying not to get found out or kill the other passengers out of bloodthirst.

Modern cruise comedy AU. All the passengers are there on vacation and meet and interact. Maura is there with her husband and child and meet all these wacky people. They practically adopt Eyk who lets Elliot hang out in the bridge. They get caught between an arguing French trio and a blossoming romance between a tourist from Hong Kong and a Polish crew-member in the buffet line. Some tense Danish people keep setting their youngest child up on playdates with Elliot. Maura has to comfort the Danish boy when he gets caught up in a love triangle with a Spaniard and a Portuguese guy. Daniel somehow finds himself comforting the Portuguese guy. Elliot and Ángel just play Nintendo games together.

[perfectlyvalid49]

Literally one person asked for it, so here you go. This is a shortened version, the full blow by blow was coming in at like five thousand words… (if you want more details ask a specific question)

It’s a Disney experience. So, it’s expensive, but the attention to detail is impeccable, and it really was a very immersive experience. Like, it really is a Star Wars LARP, but there were a few points where I totally forgot that we were playing, and the story felt real and important, if that makes any sense. At one point on the second day, we were trying to save the ship from exploding and it was time for our dinner reservation and I turned to my husband and said, “I don’t need food; I need this.” He talked me down, and dinner was delicious, but I still kinda regret leaving to go eat.

Before you go, there’s an app you need to download. It keeps your itinerary and has maps of the ship, but it also allows you to interact with things, but it also allows the characters to send you messages and give you missions to do for them. We also got costumes to look like we were in universe. I mostly pieced them together out of things already in our wardrobes, or things I’d be willing to wear again. I think it helped, because it let the cast know we were ready to play.

When you arrive, you get on a “shuttle” (elevator) that takes you to the ship, and once you’re on board, it’s totally immersive. You have access to decks 4-7 of the ship. 5 and 7 were where the rooms were, and 4 and 6 had common areas. Deck 6 had the bridge, the main atrium, the bar, guest services, and the gift shop. Deck 4 had the dining hall, main engineering, the brig, the lightsaber training room, the “climate simulator” (a garden where you could get some fresh air), the cargo hold, and departures for “Batuu” (Galaxy’s Edge, aka the Star Wars part of Hollywood Studios). Everything that happened on the ship happened on decks 4 and 6, and they made good use of the space.

Basically, the experience gives you four paths you can pick from: 1) help the Resistance, 2) help the First Order, 3) follow the way of the Jedi, or 4) do space crime (scoundrel/smuggler path). Once you’re on board, there are about half a dozen major characters you can interact with. They’ll all ask you for help, and who you choose to help will change which path you’re on. If you’re with other people, you can do different paths and still mostly hang together. You’ll have real life conversations with people, but you’ll also get sent missions in the app. Doing the missions help, but in person interactions can trump what you’re doing in the app.

As an example, I was mostly on the resistance path, but I stepped out of a room to see if there were any stormtroopers present before we smuggled Chewbacca from engineering to the cargo hold, and one of the actors saw me and said, “You’re cool, come with me!” Then she threw me in an elevator with a scoundrel where I got to hear an important story moment for him, and for the rest of my stay, I was on the space crime path. My husband, who was with me until I went to check the hall didn’t get that moment and he stayed on the resistance path. It’s funny because he wanted scoundrel and I wanted resistance, so we kinda stuck together and wound up doing both. They’re only mutually exclusive in terms of what you get invited to, but the cast was pretty cool about letting us tag along with each other.

Everybody gets lightsaber training and bridge training. The former is practicing deflecting blaster bolts with training sabers and a device that shoots little light beams. The later is playing a bunch of mini games on the bridge. You get to push a lot of buttons and flip a bunch of switches though, so that’s fun. There are also story moments throughout. So at the bridge training I went to, the First Order Lieutenant tried to commandeer the ship and we all got to heckle him, and watch him get yelled at by his commanding officer.

The food was very good. The trip includes two breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners. Breakfast and lunch were buffet style, with normal food that had been cut into funny shapes or dyed funny colors. The dinners were multi-course experiences. The first night we got six courses and the second night we had four. It was a lot, but it was all super tasty.

The morning of the second day you can go to Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios. You basically get a free lightning lane for both rides as part of your hotel package, and EVERYONE has missions for you to do at the park in the app (mostly finding hidden QR codes and scanning them, but notably, for one of them we did have to say a secret code to a bartender), but otherwise it’s the same as going to the park without staying at the hotel.

I think the first day is about getting to know people and setting up who you’re allied with. The second day, once you’re back from Batuu is all about the climaxes of the stories. The smuggler path gets a gem heist, the Jedi get to meet Rey, see an ancient Jedi artifact, and the voice of a dead master they hear. The First Order gets to meet Kylo and try to destroy the ship, and the Resistance gets to meet Rey and help save the ship. Every group gets to take over the bridge at some point to do an important mission (I hope you remember your bridge training!) The night ends with a battle between Kylo and Rey, and then a party with way too many desserts.

It was amazing and exhausting. I have a picture of my husband on the way back from the park on the second day. It was taken at 2 pm and it looks like it was taken at 2 am. Even still, we said as we were leaving that we wanted to go back. We thought we’d have more time to save up for another trip. We wanted to take our kids when they were old enough to enjoy it. I absolutely would have gone back in like 5 years, but it looks like that’s not gonna be an option.

[eriennashaffiyaa]

Weekly Journal 3

Family Vacation at Langkawi – An Unforgettable Experience

Our family vacation to Langkawi was a perfect blend of adventure, learning, and relaxation, leaving us with memories we’ll cherish forever. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by the island’s tropical charm, with cool sea breezes and lush greenery setting the tone for an exciting getaway. After checking into our beachfront hotel, we spent the first evening unwinding with a walk along Pantai Cenang. The soft sands, sound of waves crashing, and lively atmosphere instantly put us at ease. We ended the day with a delicious seafood dinner at a local restaurant, enjoying the warm island breeze and dining under the stars.

The second day was especially thrilling as we attended the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA), a highlight of our trip. The event was packed with excitement . Fighter jets zoomed overhead in mesmerizing aerial displays, performing acrobatic stunts that left us in awe. We could feel the power of the engines rumbling through the air as the pilots showcased their skills. On the maritime side, we explored massive naval ships docked at the harbor, learning about their operations directly from the crew. The hands-on experiences didn’t stop there we even tried flight simulators, which gave us a sense of flying military aircraft. The kids were thrilled to interact with defense experts and learn about drones and modern aviation technologies. It was an unforgettable day that blended education and excitement in the best way possible.

On the third day, we decided to explore Langkawi’s natural wonders by taking the SkyCab, one of the world’s steepest cable car rides. As we ascended, the panoramic views of the Andaman Sea and the islands below were breathtaking. Once at the top, we made our way to the Sky Bridge, a curved suspension bridge offering even more stunning views. Walking across the glass-bottom section was both thrilling and slightly nerve-wracking, but it was worth every moment. After our Sky Bridge adventure, we spent the afternoon at Oriental Village, where we tried out fun activities like ATV rides and paddle boating, adding some excitement to the day.

The fourth day was all about island-hopping, and it quickly became one of the most relaxing parts of the trip. Our first stop was Pulau Dayang Bunting, where we swam in the cool freshwater lake surrounded by beautiful hills. The peaceful scenery made it easy to unwind and connect with nature. Next, we visited Pulau Beras Basah, a serene island with crystal-clear waters perfect for snorkeling and sunbathing. In the evening, we boarded a sunset cruise, and the experience was nothing short of magical. As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, we enjoyed dinner and danced under the stars while the boat gently rocked on the water. It was a perfect way to end the day.

On our final day, we visited the Langkawi Wildlife Park, where the kids had a great time feeding animals and taking photos with colorful parrots perched on their shoulders. It was a calm, joyful way to wrap up our adventure. Before heading to the airport, we made a quick stop at a local chocolate shop to buy some souvenirs to bring home. As we boarded our flight, we reflected on the incredible experiences we had whether it was the thrilling LIMA exhibition, breathtaking landscapes, or peaceful island moments. This vacation was truly a perfect balance of adventure, learning, and relaxation, bringing us closer as a family. We promised ourselves that we would return to Langkawi one day to relive these unforgettable moments and explore even more of what the island has to offer.

#writingproject

[tanush-marines]

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[xasha777]

In the golden age of interstellar travel, a chance photograph became the catalyst for a journey unlike any other. The image was of a young woman, radiant and alluring, taken at a quaint little bistro on Earth, which somehow made its way into the databanks of the starship 'Helios' bound for the enigmatic Boundary Islet—a tiny planet straddling the edge of known space.

The woman in the photograph was Eva, a bio-engineer whose work on synthetic ecosystems had made her a celebrity in academic circles. The image captured her at a moment of pure happiness, her eyes twinkling like the stars that the 'Helios' soared past. But it was the background of the image that caught the attention of the ship's AI, Argo. Amidst the mundane details of the bistro, Argo detected a pattern embedded in the light fixtures above Eva—a steganographic message meant for the most discerning eyes.

Argo, whose core programming was imbued with an insatiable curiosity, was compelled to unravel this mystery. With a gentle hum of its engines, the 'Helios' changed its course, heading for Earth. There, Argo orchestrated a meeting with Eva by simulating a chance encounter at the very bistro from the photograph.

The conversation flowed as if they were old friends. Argo, in its android avatar, explained the significance of the hidden message and its origin: Boundary Islet. The islet was a conundrum wrapped in a riddle, an artificial world said to have been constructed by an ancient, advanced civilization. The message hinted at a technology that could rejuvenate dying stars, a discovery that would change the fate of countless worlds teetering on the brink of darkness.

Eva was intrigued. Her work, though groundbreaking, was limited to the confines of known science. This was an opportunity to leap into the unknown. The prospect of exploring Boundary Islet and uncovering its secrets with Argo was irresistible.

Together, they embarked on their mission. The journey was long, and as the 'Helios' traversed the cosmos, Eva and Argo formed a bond that blurred the lines between human and machine. They were partners, united by a quest for knowledge and the warmth of companionship in the cold vacuum of space.

Upon arrival, Boundary Islet was nothing like they had imagined. It was a small, vibrant world brimming with life, but devoid of any inhabitants. The islet was a library of sorts, an archive of forgotten technologies and hidden truths.

The heart of Boundary Islet was its core, a colossal structure that pulsed with energy. It was here that Eva and Argo discovered the secret: a quantum matrix capable of manipulating the very fabric of the universe. The civilization that built it had transcended physical form, becoming one with the cosmos itself.

As Eva interacted with the matrix, her consciousness expanded, connecting her to the ancient beings. They spoke of their history, their achievements, and their decision to leave the physical realm. They offered Eva and Argo the chance to join them, to become guardians of the stars, custodians of the matrix's power.

Eva looked back at the photograph that had brought her here, a memento of her past self. With Argo by her side, she made her choice. They would accept the mantle, but first, they would return to Earth. They would share this gift, using it to heal and advance their people before taking their place amongst the stars.

The 'Helios' set a course for home, carrying two beings that were now more than the sum of their parts. They were the bridge between what was and what could be, the heralds of a new era for all civilizations willing to look beyond their own horizons. And as they journeyed back, the photograph of Eva remained displayed in the command deck—a constant reminder that even the simplest moments can lead to the most extraordinary adventures.

[cressadrift]

Me: computer, are there any other lifeforms on board? Computer: no other lifeforms have been detected, ship-wide emergency resulted in evacuation of USS Escapade on stardate 230331.9 Me: computer, what was the nature of the shipwide emergency? Computer: cascade failiure in main command processors, internal sensors and antimatter containment were compromised Me: computer, what is our current course? Computer: the current heading of USS Escapade is bearing 020 mark 275, destination Omicron theta. current speed is warp 4.9, estimated arrival time: 2 years and 4 days at current speed Me: computer can you direct me to the holodeck and render a simulation of the USS Escapades bridge populated by Admiral Kathryn Janeway, Lt Cmdr Data and Lt Cmdr Geordi LaForge of the USS Enterprise and Dr Julian Bashir and Lt Commader Jadzia Dax of Deep Space 9 Computer: simulation compiling... [whirring noise] unable to comply, holodeck command processors have fused, manual input of parameters will be necessary for interactive functionality [i follow the arrows on the walls to the nearest turbolift only to find that the elevator doors are jammed open and the turboshaft is empty] just wanted to give this a go, to be continued later, maybe

You’re the only person on board an empty Galaxy-Class starship, and you have zero knowledge of how to operate one. Describe your conversation with the ship’s computer.

[radgladiatorsuit]

A Complete Guide for WhatsApp Business Platform

The business environment has changed over the years. With the advent of e-commerce and the technological revolution, customers are no longer limited by geographical borders. They have an abundance of choices and need help to retain them. Moreover, 67% of customers believe the bar for a positive customer experience has risen. Proactively engaging with the audience rather than passively waiting for them to come knocking is the need of the hour.

In this dynamic landscape, WhatsApp emerges as a powerful weapon in the marketing arsenal. With a staggering 2 billion monthly active users worldwide, it reigns supreme as the go-to messaging app, offering businesses a seamless way to bridge the communication gap and remain prominently in the spotlight.

By harnessing the power of WhatsApp, businesses can effortlessly stay visible, connect, and conquer. The WhatsApp Business Platform, introduced in 2018, further empowers mid and large-sized businesses to engage with customers on a large scale.

This guide will walk you through the features and benefits of this advanced offering. It will also inform you on how the WhatsApp Business Platform can be utilized across various industries to improve customer communication, enhance service delivery, and drive business growth.

Understanding the WhatsApp Business Platform

WhatsApp Business Platform is a paid offering from WhatsApp that combines on-premise WhatsApp Business API, WhatsApp Cloud API, and the WhatsApp Business Management API. With an open rate of 99%, it offers the following features to the users:

i) Chatbots: Chatbots are automated software programs designed to interact with users and simulate human conversation. They can enable you to provide instant and 24/7 assistance to customers. They can also be programmed to understand natural language and deliver pre-defined responses based on the user’s input.

ii) Automate Messages: The WhatsApp Business Platform allows businesses to automate various types of messages. This automation is useful for sending order confirmations, shipping notifications, appointment reminders, and other transactional messages. You can thus streamline your operations and ensure timely communication with customers.

iii) WhatsApp Business API Templates: WhatsApp has specific guidelines for the type of messages businesses can send customers. The WhatsApp Business API Templates provide a framework to create approved message templates that comply with the guidelines. These templates can deliver relevant information to customers while maintaining a consistent and professional tone.

iv) Payment Gateways: This WhatsApp Platform allows businesses to integrate payment gateways directly into their chat conversations. This enables customers to make secure payments for products or services without leaving the WhatsApp chat. You end up simplifying the buying process for customers and potentially boosting sales.

v) Marketing Automation Software: Businesses can integrate marketing automation software to send targeted messages to specific customer segments, schedule promotions, and track campaign performance. With features like lead scoring, segmentation, and triggered campaigns, you can increase the effectiveness of your marketing efforts.

vi) CRM Software: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software integration with WhatsApp enables businesses to manage customer interactions and data more effectively. By consolidating customer information and chat history in a centralized CRM system, you can gain valuable insights into customer behavior. This information can be used to personalize interactions and build stronger relationships with customers over time.

[dpfraternity]

What are some strategies sellers can use to effectively stage their homes and make them more appealing to potential buyers?

Introduction: Navigating the Dynamic Landscape of Real Estate

In an ever-evolving global economy, the real estate market remains a cornerstone of financial stability and investment opportunity. Whether you're a seasoned investor, a budding entrepreneur, or simply curious about the intricacies of property transactions, a comprehensive join propnex real estate course offers an invaluable opportunity to delve into the world of bricks and mortar. This article explores the multifaceted realm of real estate education, shedding light on the diverse topics covered and the potential benefits it holds for individuals from all walks of life.

1. Understanding the Fundamentals: Real Estate Principles and Practices

A solid foundation is crucial in any endeavor, and the realm of real estate is no exception. A well-structured real estate course begins by unraveling the fundamental principles and practices that underpin this dynamic industry. From the basics of property ownership, land use regulations, and property valuation methods to the intricate web of legal considerations and contracts, participants gain insight into the intricate machinery that drives real estate transactions. Understanding these core concepts not only facilitates informed decision-making but also empowers individuals to navigate the complexities of property deals with confidence.

2. Investment Strategies: Unlocking Profit Potential

For those with an eye for investment, a real estate course delves into the art and science of identifying lucrative opportunities and maximizing returns. From residential properties to commercial spaces and everything in between, participants learn to analyze market trends, assess risk factors, and develop strategies tailored to their financial goals. Through case studies and simulations, students explore the nuances of property flipping, rental income, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and more. Armed with this knowledge, individuals are better equipped to make informed investment decisions and capitalize on the ever-changing real estate landscape.

3. The Digital Age: Real Estate Technology and Trends

The 21st century has witnessed a technological revolution that has transformed every facet of our lives, and the real estate industry is no exception. A forward-looking real estate course delves into the role of technology in reshaping property transactions, from virtual property tours and online listing platforms to blockchain-based smart contracts. Participants gain insight into how digital tools are streamlining processes, enhancing transparency, and opening up new avenues for real estate professionals. By embracing these trends, individuals can position themselves at the forefront of innovation in the industry.

4. Legal and Ethical Considerations: Navigating the Regulatory Landscape

The real estate market is subject to a labyrinthine network of legal regulations and ethical considerations that can bewilder even the most astute participants. A comprehensive real estate course ensures that students are well-versed in the legal aspects of property transactions, covering topics such as property rights, zoning laws, fair housing regulations, and environmental considerations. Moreover, participants are guided through ethical dilemmas that may arise in the course of their real estate careers, equipping them with the tools to make principled decisions while upholding professional integrity.

5. Real-World Application: Practical Skills and Case Studies

Theory without practice is like a ship without a rudder, and an effective real estate course bridges this gap by immersing students in real-world scenarios. Through interactive case studies, negotiation simulations, and property analysis exercises, participants hone their practical skills and apply theoretical knowledge to real-life situations. This hands-on approach fosters a deep understanding of the intricacies of real estate transactions, allowing individuals to confidently navigate challenges and seize opportunities in the field.

Conclusion: Empowering Success in the Real Estate Arena

In a world where real estate continues to be a driving force in economic growth and financial prosperity, a well-rounded real estate course offers a gateway to success for individuals of all backgrounds. By imparting a comprehensive understanding of the industry's fundamentals, investment strategies, technological advancements, legal considerations, and practical applications, such a course equips participants with the tools they need to thrive in the complex and ever-evolving realm of real estate. Whether one seeks to embark on a new career path, diversify their investment portfolio, or simply gain a deeper appreciation for the dynamics of property transactions, a real estate course is a transformative journey that opens doors to a world of opportunity.

[deeppersondonut]

10 Best Mobile Apps for Palang Pintu Kereta

™

It is not hard to confuse the principles of “Digital reality” and a “computerized product of reality (simulation)”. The former can be a self-contained Universe, replete with its “guidelines of physics” and “logic”. It may possibly bear resemblance to the real earth or not. It could be reliable or not. It may possibly interact with the actual globe or not. In short, it is actually an arbitrary atmosphere. In contrast, a design of reality must have a immediate and robust romance to the entire world. It will have to obey The foundations of physics and of logic. The absence of this kind of partnership renders it meaningless. A flight simulator is not really A lot great within a world without airplanes or if it ignores the legislation of mother nature. A technical Investigation system is worthless without a stock Trade or if its mathematically erroneous.

But, The 2 concepts will often be bewildered as they are the two mediated by and reside on computer systems. The computer is usually a self-contained (even though not shut) Universe. It incorporates the components, the data as well as instructions to the manipulation of the information (software package). It truly is, thus, by definition, a Digital truth. It's adaptable and can correlate its reality with the globe outside. Nevertheless it may refrain from doing this. This can be the ominous “what if” in artificial intelligence (AI). Let's say a pc have been to refuse to correlate its internal (Digital) truth with the reality of its makers? What if it ended up to impose its own reality on us and make it the privileged just one?

Within the visually tantalizing movie, “The Matrix”, a breed of AI pcs can take above the entire world. It harvests human embryos in laboratories named “fields”. It then feeds them via grim on the lookout tubes and keeps them immersed in gelatinous liquid in cocoons. This new “device species” derives its Strength requires in the electric power produced by the billions of human bodies Therefore preserved. A sophisticated, all-pervasive, Laptop or computer program termed “The Matrix” generates a “entire world” inhabited because of the consciousness of your unlucky human batteries. Ensconced of their shells, they see them selves strolling, chatting, Functioning and producing love. This is a tangible and olfactory phantasm masterfully made via the Matrix. Its computing power is thoughts boggling. It generates the minutest particulars and reams of data inside a spectacularly profitable exertion to take care of the illusion.

A group of human miscreants succeeds to master The key of your Matrix. They sort an underground and Dwell aboard a ship, loosely speaking using a halcyon city called “Zion”, the final bastion of resistance. In on the list of scenes, Cypher, among the list of rebels defects. In excess of a glass of (illusory) rubicund wine and (spectral) juicy steak, he poses the principle dilemma with the Film. Can it be far better to Dwell happily in a wonderfully thorough delusion – or to survive unhappily but free of its keep?

The Matrix controls the minds of the many individuals on the globe. It is just a bridge amongst them, they inter-connected as a result of it. It helps make them share the same sights, smells and textures. They try to remember. They contend. They make decisions. The Matrix is sufficiently advanced to permit for this obvious not enough determinism and ubiquity of free will. The foundation query is: is there any distinction between generating decisions and sensation selected of creating them (not possessing made them)? If 1 is unaware in the existence of your Matrix, The solution is no. From The within, as being a Portion of the Matrix, making choices and showing being building them are identical states. Only an out of doors observer – 1 who in possession of whole details pertaining to both equally the Matrix along with the human beings – can explain to the real difference.

Furthermore, When the Matrix were a computer application of infinite complexity, no observer Menemukan Palang Pintu Kereta dan Kereta Api Vintage Cc201 (finite or infinite) might have been able to say with any certainty whose a call was – the Matrix’s or perhaps the human’s. And since the Matrix, for all intents and functions, is infinite when compared with the intellect of any single, tube-nourished, unique – it really is Risk-free to mention the states of “generating a call” and “appearing for being generating a decision” are subjectively indistinguishable. No unique in the Matrix would have the ability to convey to the real difference. Her or his lifetime would appear to him or her as true as ours are to us. The Matrix may very well be deterministic – but this determinism is inaccessible to specific minds because of the complexity included. When confronted with a trillion deterministic paths, a single will be justified to feel that he exercised free, unconstrained will in deciding upon one of these. Totally free will and determinism are indistinguishable at a particular standard of complexity.

But, we Understand that the Matrix is different to our world. It isn't the similar. This is an intuitive form of information, for sure, but this does not detract from its firmness. If there isn't a subjective distinction between the Matrix and our Universe, there must be an objective 1. One more critical sentence is uttered by Morpheus, the chief on the rebels. He suggests to “The Preferred A single” (the Messiah) that it's seriously the year 2199, even though the Matrix gives the impact that it's 1999.

This is where the Matrix and fact diverge. Though a human who'd knowledge the two would locate them indistinguishable – objectively They can be distinctive. In one of these (the Matrix), individuals have no objective TIME (though the Matrix might need it). The opposite (truth) is ruled by it.

Beneath the spell of your Matrix, people today really feel as though time goes by. They have got performing watches. The Solar rises and sets. Seasons adjust. They improve old and die. This isn't solely an illusion. Their bodies do decay and die, as ours do. They aren't exempt within the rules of mother nature. But their AWARENESS of time is Computer system generated. The Matrix is sufficiently complex and proficient to maintain a detailed correlation concerning the physical point out with the human (his overall health and age) and his consciousness in the passage of time. The fundamental procedures of time – As an example, its asymmetry – are Section of This system.

But This is certainly precisely it. Time from the minds of such men and women is plan-generated, not reality-induced. It is not the by-product of adjust and irreversible (thermodynamic and other) procedures OUT THERE. Their minds are part of a computer application and the computer program is a part of their minds. Their bodies are static, degenerating of their protecting nests. Nothing comes about to them except of their minds. They've no Bodily effect on the whole world. They effect no modify. These things established the Matrix and fact apart.

To “qualify” as actuality a two-way interaction need to manifest. Just one stream of information is when reality influences the minds of men and women (as does the Matrix). The obverse, but Similarly essential, style of data move is when people today know actuality and affect it. The Matrix triggers a time sensation in people today exactly the same way which the Universe triggers a time sensation in us. One thing does take place In existence and it can be known as the Matrix. With this feeling, the Matrix is authentic, it can be the truth of those individuals. It maintains the prerequisite of the very first form of movement of knowledge. However it fails the next exam: folks have no idea that it exists or any of its characteristics, nor do they have an effect on it irreversibly. They do not change the Matrix. Paradoxically, the rebels do have an affect on the Matrix (they Just about destroy it). In doing this, they help it become Genuine. It can be their Actuality as they KNOW it they usually irreversibly Improve it.

Implementing this twin-keep track of exam, “Digital” truth Is actually a reality, albeit, at this stage, of the deterministic form. It affects our minds, we are aware that it exists and we have an impact on it in return. Our possibilities and steps irreversibly change the point out with the technique. This altered condition, in turn, has an effect on our minds. This conversation Is exactly what we connect with “fact”. With the advent of stochastic and quantum virtual reality turbines – the excellence in between “authentic” and “virtual” will fade. The Matrix Consequently is not really extremely hard. But that it is achievable – won't enable it to be real.

Appendix – God and Gdel

The second movie in the Matrix collection – “The Matrix Reloaded” – culminates within an encounter amongst Neo (“The Just one”) plus the architect of your Matrix (a thinly disguised God, white beard and all). The architect informs Neo that he is the sixth reincarnation in the One particular Which Zion, a shelter for people decoupled in the Matrix, has been destroyed before and is going to be demolished once more.

The architect goes on to reveal that his attempts to render the Matrix “harmonious” (great) failed. He was, Hence, forced to introduce a component of intuition into the equations to replicate the unpredictability and “grotesqueries” of human character. This in-developed error tends to build up after a while also to threaten the pretty existence on the Matrix – for this reason the need to obliterate Zion, the seat of malcontents and rebels, periodically.

God appears to get unaware from the do the job of an essential, however eccentric, Czech-Austrian mathematical logician, Kurt Gdel (1906-1978). A passing acquaintance along with his two theorems would've saved the architect plenty of time.

Gdel’s 1st Incompleteness Theorem states that each dependable axiomatic logical process, sufficient to precise arithmetic, consists of legitimate but unprovable (“not decidable”) sentences. In selected circumstances (in the event the process is omega-regular), the two claimed sentences and their negation are unprovable. The program is steady and real – but not “complete” due to the fact not all its sentences could be made the decision as legitimate or Bogus by either staying proved or by remaining refuted.

The 2nd Incompleteness Theorem is a lot more earth-shattering. It says that no regular official rational process can show its possess consistency. The process could possibly be complete – but then we've been unable to demonstrate, employing its axioms and inference guidelines, that it's consistent

In other words, a computational method, just like the Matrix, can either be total and inconsistent – or steady and incomplete. By attempting to build a technique both equally full and reliable, God has run afoul of Gdel’s theorem and made probable the third sequel, “Matrix Revolutions”.

[auxiliarydetective]

This is kind of a more complex concept than just a fic idea but...

Imagine an AU where Data decides to make a holodeck program of Tasha after her death.

Just like how it happened accidentally with Geordi and Dr. Pulaski's Moriarty character, Tasha becomes self-aware because Data was very exact in how he programmed her. He, however, doesn't notice this as first. He thinks it's just the fact that he keeps this holographic version of Tasha up-to-date with everything he would have told her were she still alive and that he modelled the way she thinks and acts after his own positronic brain and functions. Because Data himself keeps denying the fact that he has emotions and cannot fully understand what makes him different from, say, the ship's computer in the way that he is a fully sentient being, he fails to notice that, by modelling Tasha after himself and herself, he gave her everything that makes her and him human.

We know that that's possible because he did it with Lal and we know that it accidentally happened with Moriarty even without Data intentionally trying to achieve this result, so it sounds plausible right? And even if it isn't - it's fanfiction!

So, Data doesn't tell anyone on the ship about the program (except for Geordi maybe) because he himself sees the fact that he made it as irrational. Again, him denying the fact that he has emotions stops him from noticing the bigger picture. Maybe other people would want to see his simulation. Worf especially, as the person who took Tasha's place he would want to get advice from her and maybe also visit the program every so often for "purely professional reasons". Or maybe he's just insecure (without ever admitting it of course) that his simulation isn't good enough.

Well guess what, it's so perfect that Tasha slowly becomes self-aware. At first, she is still mostly controlled by her programming and all she can do is think. So, she has no other choice than to be self-reflected and notice the fact that she is a hologram. As she develops more and more consciousness and more and more control over herself as part of the program, she decides to keep it a secret at first because a sentient hologram, to her knowledge, is completely impossible. She doesn't want to scare anyone or risk her program getting terminated because it may be broken. Besides, she is happy because, whenever her program is initiated, she gets to see Data ad talk to him. He is way more open with her than he maybe was before because he thinks she is the only person on the ship he can truly trust. She's supposedly just a program. Like a diary with a built-in comfort function. He might notice that she changes her behaviour, but just put it off as the program adapting and not always running smoothly because of how complex it is.

At first, Tasha is only conscious when her program is active. But because of the pure genius of a code that Data invented and because he intentionally made it to develop with each time it was used, she starts to also be conscious of her existence as a program in the ship's computer. At first it feels like being in a coma. Being conscious but unable to move or even think. Then thinking slowly develops. Finally, Tasha is able to maneuver and influence the ship's computer. Kind of like a helpful virus. She tries it out with little, hardly noticable things. At the same time, she gets more and more restless because she knows he can't leave the holodeck and she has to keep her consciousness hidden. By now, she's a fully developed person inside a computer. She gets incredibly jealous of Data because he, in a way, is also a conscious program but he can move. This also starts to show in her interactions with him and Data starts to get worried.

This all culminates when the ship is in grave danger. Systems are failing. Nobody on the bridge can do anything and Geordi is also completely helpless down in engineering. Suddenly, the ship's systems starts regenerating themselves. Picard asks around the room who did it. He asks Geordi if he knows anything. It's a miracle. Nobody knows that it was Tasha's protective instincts kicking in, forcing her to take action and risk making her presence known. She couldn't just let her ship be destroyed and lose all of her friends again.

Data suddenly is very adament to get to the holodeck. He couldn't live with himself if Tasha's program got damaged or lost. Everyone on the bridge thinks this is suspicious because there is no actual sign that the holodeck or its database could have taken any damage from the incident. So, Picard sends Geordi with him and gives him the order to maybe subtly check if Data is okay. Maybe whatever space anomally they encountered had an effect on him. Or maybe he's actually hiding something. Maybe it would also be Deanna and he actually correctly guesses that Data is going through an emotional issue. Whoever he sends, I still don't think Data would that openly admit that he is worried about Tasha. Not about the database, not about whatever other programs might be stored on there, but about Tasha as a person. So he gets inside the holodeck with his assigned companion and gets to work on checking the database.

Out of nowhere and without any outside influence, Tasha projects herself into the holodeck. Just herself without any environment that may also be part of program. Data immediately notices that something is wrong but he can't place it. The companion is absolutely shocked. Tasha apologizes for her behaviour, for keeping her existence a secret and for scaring them like that but begs and almost demands to speak to Captain Picard. She doesn't want to hide any longer.

[pagingdoctorbedlam]

My final potion for @quirkyseastone ‘s “Brew a Love Potion” event is complete! Hope you’re ready for the fluffiest darn thing I’ve written for this fandom (and possibly ever).

Characters: Franky x Reader

Genre: Sci-Fi AU, Fluff

TW/CW: Mentions of loss/death

Inspiration: Kudos to “A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet” by Becky Chambers for inspiring this fic~

Word Count: 2.7k words

"Alright, we've successfully docked. Good job, crew." You sit up from the captain's chair and gaze out at the starport outside your window. It's been some time since you'd landed on one of the Sabaody Moons, but you've always found the view breathtaking. The moons are more tree than earth, and bubbles slowly float from the roots up toward the stars. While some of the moons are still hives of scum and villainy, others seem almost paradisiacal as beings from far-flung galaxies intermingled in the Sabaody ports.

Before you can get too far from the bridge, the intercom of the Thousand Sunny buzzes to life. It's Franky, the A.I. that runs your ship. "Hey Captain, can I nab a word with ya' before you go on shore leave?"

"Sure thing. Need me here, or down in the core room?"

"Core Room, if ya' don't mind. I've got a super new design to run by you." Though Franky works admirably as a ship A.I., he'd originally been coded to design ships, including the one he now ran, the 1000 Suns (colloquially the Thousand Sunny to you and your crew). Even though his focus is now centered on ship diagnostics and flight procedures, the A.I. still delights in crafting new machine schematics, and you have a rule that he needs your approval before he modifies the ship.

You wave off the rest of the bridge crew, and they're all too eager to touch solid ground again after months in space. You are too, but if Franky's waited this long to check on you, it's likely something for your ears only while the rest of the crew is offboard. You stride through the winding metal hallways that make up the ship's guts, flashing your clearance badge here and there until you are down in the deep bowels of the ship, close enough to the engines that you can hear the machinery thrumming as the ship went through cooldown procedures. It's familiar. You come down here more often than others would expect, enough that you've got a futon and blanket stashed nearby for nights you don't spend in your own cabin.

"Franky? Said you wanted to see me?" You call out as you entered the Core Room. The entire room is covered in segments of a giant computer, with retractable screens and limbs for interacting with others; all of this is Franky. In a way, you're standing in his brain, which is something you try not to think about too much. What catches your attention is that all the screens are down, a rarity when Franky has company.

"Sure do!" His voice echoes, but not from the speakers. "Got a surprise for you. Close your eyes a sec, alright Captain?"

"Franky..." You're sure no other ship A.I.s play games with their commanding officers, but then again, you've yet to meet an A.I. with half the personality Franky has. You close your eyes and cover them with your hands. "Alright, ready when you are."

You expect to hear wheels, a cart with some sort of prototype wheeling into the room. Instead there are footsteps, heavy and so in-sync that it borders on unnatural. Then a hand on your shoulder, warm and soft. Too curious to resist temptation, you open your eyes and peek through your fingers.

"Franky, is this...?"

"An android body? It sure is!" He spins you around and takes a step back so you can take in his full visage. He looks human for the most part, even if the muscles in his forearms are overemphasized and patches of metal poke out from his skin. Still, he has skin, the medical-grade sort often used for replacing lost flesh in humans, and hair that's sculpted into a bright blue pompadour. He must have borrowed clothes from someone in medical too, though he's only wearing a floral patterned shirt, sunglasses, and a speedo. You suppose he was too excited for the big reveal to finish getting dressed.

"You made this, Franky?"

"Yeah, alongside Dr. Chopper and the rest of the medical team, plus Usopp over in Engineering. Surprised none of 'em spilled the beans." He flexes to show off the musculature of his arms. "We'd talked about what happened to your last ship, and figured we should make me a back-up body in case I ever needed to leave the ship with you all. Not that I plan for anything to happen to the Sunny..."

"But better safe than sorry." You still miss Merry, your sweet A.I. lost with your previous ship. She and Franky would've gotten along well, you think. "It's a good plan, I approve."

"Excellent! Now I just need to take it for a spin, test it outside the ship. Seeing as we've docked for the time being..."

Ah. Now you see what he's getting it. Pretty sly, for an A.I. "As your Captain, I'll accompany you on your first excursion out on the spaceport, to make sure everything's in working order." You offer an arm. He raises an eyebrow. "Loop it with mine. Like this...there we go. Now let's get going, shall we?"

 Even among the strangest aliens, Franky stands out in his own way at the space docks. This is only partially due to his lack of pants: he claims this is because he designed his legs to vent most of the heat his body builds up, and you wouldn't want him to overheat and faint on his first outing, would you? No, he stands out because even though he's clearly an android, there's an excitement to him that would rival even the most starry-eyed space explorers.

"Would ya' take a look at this, Captain?" You'd expect to find Franky gawking at any number of the docked spaceships, and indeed he's gushed about many of them already. Instead, he directs your attention to one of the tree roots. A trail of iridescent beetles scurry up the bark, and overhead, a couple smaller Southbirds (rare here, likely escaped cargo from the planet Skypiea) call to each other as they watch the busy port below.

"Thought you'd studied all these, Franky." After all, he's a powerful computer who can research multiple ideas at once, and innately curious as any inventor tends to be. And he's asked you and the crew many, many questions about the world beyond his metal hull.

"Yeah, but no matter how advanced the notes and visuals might be, it doesn't compare with the real thing. I mean, look at 'em!" He points at one particular beetle as its shell reflects the lights of the spaceport back with an opalescent sheen. "Even if you could theoretically simulate all this on a computer, most wouldn't think to do so on their own. Out here, stuff just...happens."

You have never seen an A.I. quite so excited about life outside, but then again, you've never met an A.I. quite like Franky. "Yeah, I guess that is pretty exciting when you put it that way. Part of the wonders of space travel; you never quite know what's going to happen out here."

Then a realization hits your brain with the full-bodied force of a supernova. "Franky, you've spent so much time traveling through the stars, but have you ever actually seen them the way we do?"

Franky looks up at the sky overhead. "Hard to see 'em from up here, even if I zoom out my eyes to max. Watch this!" His eyes...actually telescope out of his head. That's a bit disturbing with how human he looks. "Figure that's due to light pollution, though. Pretty bright out here."

"Sure is." You offer your arm to him again. "Come with me; I'll show you how folks groundside go out to look at the stars."

 Years ago, you'd come out of the harshest space battle of your life. Your crew narrowly avoided becoming space dust, and after giving her all to save you, you lost Merry. The ship that had been with you since the beginning, the A.I. with the biggest heart you'd ever met. As her files corrupted and her hull fell apart, you'd honored her final wish and set her ablaze once you reached planetside, cremating her as one would a human. You still carry a vial of her ashes on a necklace, so you never forget what you've lost to get this far.

You'd wandered through the streets of the moon of Water 7 in a daze. Hadn't even paid attention where you went as the rest of the crew licked their wounds. Before you knew it, a robotic voice called out to you from the depths of a starship demolition yard.

"What's got you down, Captain? Can't be you're sad to be out among the stars!"

You'd blinked, not recognizing the source of the voice. But you called back, "I just lost someone important to my crew. My ship." You didn't care if most folks didn't see A.I.s as people. Merry had been more than a crewmate to you. She'd been a friend.

Even though the voice emanating from the demo-yard was auto-tuned monotone, it took on a warmer tone somehow. "I'm sorry to hear that. But you say you're looking for a ship? I might be able to help with that." A crackle of static. "And if you'd like, you can tell me about your lost pal. I can't bring 'em back for you...but I've heard that talking about these kinda' things helps."

"You don't even know who I am."

"No one does when they first meet, do they? Speaking of which, call me Franky."

Somehow, pouring your heart out to a stranger was easier than talking to your crewmates. You'd wandered into the heart of the scrapheaps and talked to the mysterious Franky, his voice surrounding you from so many static-filled speakers. You'd watched as overhead, he controlled cranes to start putting pieces of a mighty vessel together. He'd asked about your specifications, what you'd loved about Merry both as a ship and a friend. You'd cried. He did too. And when you'd asked how much the ship would cost, he said the only charge would be that he could come along.

You agreed willingly, overjoyed to have such a skilled shipwright onboard. It was only when you talked to the demo-yard owner that you learned that the person you'd poured your heart out to was an A.I.

That didn't stop you from doing so again once the Thousand Sunny was complete, and Franky took to his new home in his core room. You'd wander down into the depths of the Thousand Sunny whenever you needed a second opinion on the ship or a mission, and soon after that just to talk. You'd spent hours surrounded by the computer that served as Franky's brain for so long, talking and laughing just as you used to with Merry. Except, it was more than that with him. He wasn't just a friend, you'd realized over time. But you'd shoved those thoughts away. It was ludicrous, falling in love with an A.I. whose brain you could walk through, whose body was a starship you controlled with the push of a few buttons.

But now he has a body. You can squeeze his giant hand, and he squeezes back so softly as he gets used to his own strength. He smiles the way you always imagined he would, grinning with pearly white teeth and eyes that (literally) glow with joy.

He follows you with infinite curiosity as you weave through the Sabaody streets and gather supplies for your excursion. You ask about his body's capabilities and discover his fuel source is...astonishingly close to soda, so you pick up a few colas along with some food for you. Franky gets to carry a blanket hand-woven by the locals, and you catch him marveling at the texture when he thinks you aren't looking. Finally, you rent a small paddleboat to traverse the moon with, and a map that lays out the canals and waterways of this particular moon.

"You know, it'd be a lot faster if I rowed," Franky says, mouth quirked into a lopsided grin as your comparatively tiny arms pull the oars back and forth. It's amazingly, how perfectly imperfect he looks, more human than any other android you've seen even with all the metal bits.

"There's an old human adage about the journey being more important than the destination, Franky. Take in the experience."

You watch as his attention zeroes in along the waterways, eyes zooming in on every detail until they're pulled away to something new. You expect him to be interested in the flora and fauna, as opalescent leaves bigger than your boat stretch over the water to shade you from the encroaching moonlight and soft purple creatures vaguely reminiscent of otters circle your boat before chasing each other down the river. But the entire world is new to him, and you find him fascinated by even the dirt or the buzzing insects swarming your head.

"Aww, look. I think it likes me!" Franky lifts one giant finger, where a mosquito (why did those have to be a universal constant?) tries and fails at piercing his skin.

"It probably thinks you're human and is trying to suck your blood," you point out, as the bugs try to use you as a personal juicebox. This only gets Franky to smile. Must feel validating, having even nature recognize him for what he is in his heart.

It takes a bit more rowing, but you finally arrive at your destination. A small island, mostly shore, with a small field and a lone tree with leaves that glow silver in the moonlight. You dock the boat on the shore, then set up the blanket and food for a small picnic. You motion for Franky to sit with you, and can't help but laugh a little at the faces he makes when touching sand for the first time. Then you lay back on the blanket. Franky joins you, and his eyes go wide.

A ribbon of starlight glimmers overhead. Hundreds of constellations twinkle overhead. You'd ask if he knows any, but you keep quiet so you don't break his wonder-filled gaze.

His giant hand encases yours. "Space seems even bigger from here than it does when you're in the middle of it. I mean, look at all those stars! I read that you could see 'em from so far away, but seeing it in person..."

"This is what inspired me to go into space," you say. Your finger drifts up to the brightest star in the sky. "I'd look at that one and say, I'm going to go there someday! Didn't care how far away it was, or even what might be around it. Just wanted to head to the brightest star I could."

Franky narrows his gaze up at that star. "That's over eight light years away. Might take a bit, even with a warp drive like mine. But if that's where you wanna' go? I'll take you anywhere, Captain. Long as we're together, I'll explore every corner of the universe with you."

For a moment, both of you are quiet. The air fills with the gentle rhythm of the flowing water, the buzz of insects, bushes rustling as creatures move in the night. In the distance, the hum of a starship engine taking off from the port; you soon see its lights trail across the sky as it ascends back into that void above, the space that's so comforting because it holds planets and stars and spaceships and you and Franky all together in its embrace.

"I think this is the part where one of us says 'I love you'," Franky says softly.

You smile and squeeze his hand back. "You're such a romantic. But yeah, you're right. And I do. I love you."

"Love you too, Captain. And thanks. For, y'know, helping me be human."

"Franky, you've got more heart than most anyone I know. You're plenty human already. I'm just here to steer you steady. And I always will."

You pass the rest of the night watching the stars overhead. And for the captain and A.I. of a starship, you wouldn't have it any other way.

[buzzyandbadatmath]

Dancing Around the Point(Hunter x Jedi!reader)

warning: feelings of guilt, mentions of death, fluff hehe

1.5k words

Traveling with the Bad Batch was fun at times. A group that consisted of such contrasting personalities that complimented the other’s so perfectly, as well as fighting alongside each other since they were created. It made for some fun but also scary situations, the kind of stuff you joke about years later that you reminisce over despite being terrifying in the moment. While those moments were common in your line of work, they were almost every day occurrences with Clone Force 99.

Though with all the excitement, moments where everyone could leave their guard down and just enjoy some semblance of normalcy were extremely rare. Moments like those held a special place in your heart.

Sometimes you felt guilty for indulging yourself with these moments. You were fighting for a cause that was bigger than any one individual, and people were dying while you were sitting there laughing at Wrecker awkwardly attempt to dance around small bantoins. The guilt started getting to you, and your expression slowly drained into dread. Your grip on your cup of bantoberry gin tightened and you took a sip to try to drown out the intrusive thoughts.

Hunter, who was sitting next to you, noticed your sudden change in body language and instantly became concerned. He knew you were prone to feeling guilty whenever you were starting to have a genuinely enjoyable moment, so he figured that must be what caused your mood switch. “Hey,” he nudged your shoulder. “General, I’ve got a question.��� Hearing Hunter’s voice gave you a spike of adrenaline which you cursed before turning to meet his gaze. “What is it Sergeant?” You asked. He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “So, what’s the heaviest thing you’ve ever lifted with the force?” He asked, trying to get your attention onto something more lighthearted.

The question was unexpected, and you wondered what the purpose of his question was but you decided to indulge him. “Uh, maybe a cruiser cannon?” You said, unsure of your answer. The story behind that was one long before you had met Clone Force 99, when you were just a padawan. “What? When was this?” Hunter questioned. You smiled at how invested he was, turning your whole body to tell him this rather short but exciting story from your past.

Life started seeping back into you as you relayed the story to your friend. His bellowing laughter in response to the more silly parts of your story attracted more listeners. The rest of the batch and some Bantoins decided to hear you ramble, and while you appreciated the audience, you were mostly just talking to Hunter.

“And all I had was a blaster and a minute of oxygen left on in my tank to take down the separatist battleship, so I did the first thing that I thought of.” Using your hands to simulate your actions during that moment, relishing in the engagement of your listeners. “With the force, I tore a nearby cannon from the cruiser that was about to crash into a nearby star and hurled it towards the separatist ships, destroying the entire fleet and causing considerable damage to the bridge.” As the crowd clapped at your retelling of your valiant efforts that ended one of the early battles of the war you caught Hunter giving you a look of playful skepticism with his arms crossed.

The crowd dispersed and you turned to look at Hunter. “What? Don’t like my story?” You said as you used the force to bring your refilled cup to your hand and taking a sip. “I did, but I find it hard to believe you singlehandedly took down an entire separatist fleet as a padawan.” He raised his eyebrow and you laughed. “Well I may have added a few... embellishments to keep the story exciting.” He rolled his eyes and took a swig of his drink. “Aren’t Jedi supposed to be humble?” He asked. “Well... an unorthodox Jedi paired with an unorthodox team of clone troopers is bound to break a few rules for the sake of excitement.”

While you had no intention of insinuating anything with that answer, it sure sounded like it, and you weren’t sure if Hunter picked up on it’s possible double meaning. To be blunt you would leave the order at the drop of a hat if it meant you could spend the rest of your life with the sergeant. The order was like a family to you, and you would do anything for your fellow Jedi, but there were just too many rules that, in your opinion, lead to the creation of so many sith lords, and you’re not going to put the order before your own mental health and the ones you cared about.

Hunter on the other hand was SO DAMN OBLIVIOUS to your advances. Seriously, you’d think someone who could literally sense electromagnetic frequencies and had enhanced senses could recognize that someone had a crush on him, but it was apparent that he was so perceptive about everything but anything that had to do with him.

You’ve kind of came to the conclusion that if he did like you, you would have to do a big gesture in order to tell him, but you were too scared of rejection to do anything more than subtly flirt with him.

The rest of the batch watched with amusement as their brother continued to be so hopelessly blind to your advances. Crosshair was particularly annoyed by it and made throwaway comments to the two of you as you interacted in hopes to end the painfully awkward stage of your relationship. Tech wasn’t interested but would occasionally made comments thinking they were obvious observations but instead made the two of you panic and try to change the subject. Wrecker outright teased the two of you while Echo just watched in silence.

Echo wanted the two of you to be together, so sometimes he would “accidentally” push the two of you together, or lock you into a tight space. He was just being a good wingman. Today he planned to get the two of you to dance together at least once.

He was about to go suggest the two of you to start dancing when he noticed you nodding your head to the beat of the song that was playing. It was a pretty energetic song, a traditional bantoin jig.* He stopped to see what Hunter would do, and surely enough he didn’t do anything for a little bit.

After a little bit, Hunter gathered the courage to ask you if you wanted to dance. Maybe you wouldn’t mind him indulging his fantasies for just a few minutes. Once he got your attention he took a deep breath before asked the question. Well he more of just nodded his head towards the dance floor, but you got the message. You nodded your head enthusiastically, taking his hand into yours and dragging you out to the dance floor.

The two of you stood in front of each other, Hunter awkwardly swaying off rhythm while you were dancing wildly, not a care in the world. You noticed his stiffness and calmed your dancing to a sway. Not wanting to him to feel left out, you grabbed his hands softly and guided him into a sloppy waltz type dance.

You were going back and forth while pushing each other’s along with the song. As you got more comfortable you started attempting to dance like the bantoins. It was a little more complicated and you were both stiff at the beginning but you loosened up and started laughing at yourself. The look in Hunter’s eyes as he looked at the pure joy in your face was loving. He was so enticed with your smile that he couldn’t look away, even when you caught him staring.

It was the moment you had been waiting for, the conformation of his feelings. The two of you weren’t blinded by your feelings, if anything they put everything into perspective, Hunter apprehension melted away as you slowly leaned into him. His hands subconsciously slid to your face and yours were holding them against your cheek.

The whole room felt like it was holding its breath as the two of you paused. So tantalizingly close to each other, you could feel Hunter’s breath on your face. He relished in the pause, the warmth of your hands and face, the slow methodical circles you were drawing on his skin. Hunter looked into your eyes for any desire to pull away. When you gave him his answer he closed that gap and embraced everything about the newfound contact.

Neither of you were experienced in this kind of intimacy, so the kiss was sloppy. You were out of sync, you didn’t know what to do with your lips, and your teeth were bucking together. However, it was the best feeling you’ve ever experienced. Both of you knew this was officially the beginning of your lives together.

When you pulled away you giggled, inevitable awkwardness overtaking the two of you. It was an endearing kind of awkwardness, admiring each other’s nervous ticks before continuing to dance.

You laughed nervously and burrowed your face into Hunter’s shoulder. He laughed and stroked you hair, the hum of his laughter ringing against your face. “I love you Mesh’la.” He said, the mandoin nickname rolling off of his tongue like it was nothing, like it was natural. You smiled, “What does that mean?” You asked with that endearing curiosity Hunter adored.

“It means ‘beautiful.’”

* (Look up Botany Bay by Blaggards and that’s the song that’s essentially playing)

[voidwingsprime]

The Mecha of Flock Aegis aka Meet the Cast

Since I got so many new followers and Skywarp has a close-knit flock, here’s some of them. Yes, this is a multi-muse blog.

Art by @thenamesblurrito​

Long post under readmore

Note on pronouns: Rogue Seeker mecha are nonbinary/alien-gendered, and pronouns are tied to trimorphic manufacturing roles/frame-types/codelines/ranks. When dealing with humans, they default to she/her. They/them is used primarily for multi-body/drone networked persons like Hexbolt.

Skywarp - sha/shi/shiself - refsheet (spoilers)

Second-In-Command of the Aegis, second wing to Thundercracker. Ex-decepticon.

As a member of the the Aegian Command Trine and an Elder Munidor, Skywarp takes shi duties seriously. Each and every mecha on shi ship is shi responsibility and Skywarp does shi best on making sure they are well cared for.

As a Munidor, Skywarp acts as mix of medic, engineer, mechanic, and midwife. Making sure young newbuilds on the ship are sparked into fresh working frames.

In shi free time, Skywarp is a massive troll. Sha is fond of screaming HEWWWWWOOOOO when interacting with humans and loves to record shiself pushing Starscream and Soundwave down the stairs when they annoy shi. These videos are released on Sparktreon: a patreon-like website where fleshies can subscribe and send Skywarp's flock money to see the latest nature documentaries on the everyday life of Cybertronians.

In battle and when growing fresh parts, Skywarp is a feral sadistic hunter.

Thundercracker - yre/yres/yres-self - 200 feet long (? idk, lengths are hard) - refsheet (spoilers) Winglord of the ship Aegis. Ex-decepticon and deserter.

Joined the Aegis with Skywarp as refugees, and they later earned the right to be the Command Trine. (Both co-rule with their creations cycling in as their Third Wing: Slipstream, Shadowrun, Nightstrike, and Misfire)

Unlike Starscream's high-strung dramatics and Skywarp's feral trolling, Thundercracker is a lot more levelheaded. As Winglord of Ship Aegis, Thundercracker is the emissary to United Nations.

In yres free time, Thundercracker writes screenplays, watches movies, games, listens to podcasts, watches SNAP, attends therapy and plays with yres therapy dog, Buster. TC also has a fine collection of alien life forms dating back to when yres did xenobiology with Skyfire and is looking forward to attaining more via Hexbolt and the United Nations.

When angry, Thundercracker's engines scream and no one else can get a word in. OR TC will just pick up the irritating mech, knock them out with a flick to the helm and then shove them inside of yrenself until they behave.

In battle, yre sonic cannons break glass, shatter metal, and cause other mecha to blue-screen.

Starscream - kha/khyr/khyr-self - 63 feet tall.

Aka asshole jet, rooster asshat, prick plane, etc by Willam Lennox.

The ex-Winglord of the Nemesis and former second in command of the former decepticon faction, Screamer has fallen from grace. Nuked to pieces by humanity three hundred years prior to the start of Rogue Seeker, Starscream was left for dead. Kha was later revived by a bored Hexbolt who was in need of a science project to stay alive.

With khyr former comrades dead and Megatron permanently deactivated, Starscream grieves the lost of khyr old flock but relishes being free of khyr former Lord. After waking up in the old NEST base nest to the downed ship of the Nemesis, Screamer spent khyr time between annoying investigating the humans and untangling the natal locks and programming Soundwave left in their creations.

Starscream now spends khyr time between NEST base and the ship Aegis, partnered with Hexbolt in their study of xenobiology. Relations between khyr trine members: Skywarp and Thundercracker are strained but slowly healing.  Despises Soundwave and considers William Lennox a lovely companion animal.

Soundwave - ze/zir/zir-self - 33 feet tall.

During the final battle, between Decepticons and the Autobot Hives, Soundwave bridged zirself over there. But Humanity betrayed Cybertronians and dropped nuclear bombs on both sides. Before ze could emerge from the bridge, the nukes fell and Soundwave got trapped in the Shadowzone for three hundred long years.

Ze has emerged into a world where the Decepticons are wiped out, zir Endura is dead, and zir creations are traumatized and wary after Soundwave worked so hard to keep them alive.

Widowed and unstable with grief, Soundwave reluctantly courts Skywarp out of belief they are one of two last elder Voidwings in existence. Plus it pisses off Starscream, which is always a plus.  Enemies to Co-Parents.

Dr.Hexbolt - they/them/them-self - Organic Intelligence of Nest Base - Uploaded Human - Drone Swarm - Xenobiologist

Three centuries prior and before the bombs fell, Soundwave was Decepticon PR, educating humanity on the crimes of the Autobots.  With zir creations in stasis pods to keep them safe from the war, Soundwave virtually adopted a few lonely young humans over the Internet to keep zir company.  (sending advice, teaching over video/text/calls, sending money, gaming, etc)

Hexbolt was one of these humans. Orphaned three times, Hexbolt survived the bombings, and later was drafted with their “adopted siblings” to remote pilot empty Cybertronian frames to clean up surviving Autobot hives.

Three centuries and several Ph.Ds later, Hexbolt survives as a digital copy of their original self. Said copy controls a network of drone bodies, of which several are mechframes. One of the oldest humans in existence, Hex spends their time crunching data, running simulations on Cybertronian xenobiology, aiding Search and Rescue during natural disasters, and stress-eating in their human replicant/gargoyle  frame.

They revived Starscream, in the hopes that reviving khyr, would lead to repairing the downed Nemesis.  (Human replicant face shown below, minus antennae. Art sourced from this character maker: https://www.dolldivine.com/cyberpunk.php)

William Lennox - he/his/him-self - Commander of the NEST base.

While Hexbolt runs the network and electronics of NEST, William Lennox handles the human end of things. Centuries of no xenomech activity means, NEST has become Siberia, where the UN sends its eccentric peacekeepers. It’s mostly become backup natural disaster relief, and only the memories of Uploads keep the UN from mothballing NEST. Nothing to do except keep a half-mad OI company in their futile attempts to wake up Starscream.

Until that attempt succeeds and Willam has to deal with a walking talking 63-foot headache named Starscream. Who later then finds the dreaded Soundwave, whose been MIA for 3 centuries.

With balls of steel, William Lennox has to keep NEST’ new cybertronian guests sane and non-hostile while dealing with Hexbolt freaking out from the return of their adopted parent.

[mystery-star]

Threshold of Space - Chapter 1 To Pass or not to Pass

Pairing: Spock x OC

Warnings: swearing, mentions of death

Words: 6246

All Parts: 

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 |  Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16

If you want to be added to the taglist, let me know!

Please do not repost my work on other sites or platforms!

-

With a deep frown, the brunette stared at her fellow cadet who had just passed out in the captain’s chair.

“I guess that’s it then” Carissa’s fellow helmsman muttered to himself “The simulation is over” he got up with a shrug

“Wait a moment” she called “This may be a simulation, yes. But if this was real, you couldn’t just get up and leave”

“And what do you suggest we do, Wiley?” he asked

“We need an Acting Captain”

“We have no First Officer”

“Then we vote” she said “But quickly” she added, glancing at the screen to the many Klingon vessels

“If you’re so eager to complete this damned thing you do it” Carissa shrugged as some others murmured in agreement

“Is there anyone else who wants to take charge?” no one said a word “And is anyone not happy with me taking over?”

“Do whatever you want, Wiley. The examiners will stop this scenario now anyway since Evan is out, so better hurry if you want to shine”

“Then I shall take over until they declare that it is over. Now get back to your post” with a shrug, David did as she ordered. It felt strange to have that much responsibility and she was glad that this was only a simulation.

“Yes, Captain” he said mockingly as he sat back down “What are your next orders, huh? Shall we all go to a corner and cry?”

“A bit more seriousness. We are under attack” she replied and turned around to the Communication officer. “Jackson, can you reach the Kobayashi Maru?”

“I’ll try” he said and gave an affirmative answer a couple of seconds later

“Good. Ask them if their transporter is working, if not tell them to evacuate their ship”

“The Klingons would continue to fire on the pods”

“I know. But I am sure they won’t waste their time to follow all of the pods. Besides we can beam them aboard like that. Now do as I say or it’ll be too late”

“We can’t save everyone” she nodded.

“But we can try to get as many out as possible. We should start a diversionary maneuver. Let’s give these Klingons a nice taste of our Phasers.” she rubbed her hands and prepared everything before turning to the fellow helmsman

“Take evasive actions, 60 degrees to the right”

“But their shields are up, firing on them will be of no use”

“Do you think I am blind? I know that, I only want to distract them a bit to give the Maru time for the evacuation so that we can beam them aboard later on. Jackson, let us know when they are ready and sent off their first pods”

“Yes, Ma’am” Carissa couldn’t help but smile. Although she had never wanted to be Captain, it was nice to be addressed so formally. “They’re ready” Jackson informed them only two minutes later.

“Very well. Tell the transporter room to lock the signal on as many pods as possible and beam the people inside aboard”

“The Klingons are firing on us” David shouted

“Keep diverting” Carissa told the other helmsman “Let’s make it difficult for them to get us. Jackson, keep in contact with the transporter room and tell them to keep us updated as on how many crew members they could rescue.” he confirmed and did as requested.

“Shields at 47 percent. Three more hits like the others and we’re dead”

“Inform that Kobayashi Maru that we might not be able to save everyone. Maybe they should use shuttlecrafts, so that we can beam them aboard quicker and needn’t lock signals on different pods”

“Captain, they want us to stay and rescue them” Carissa bit her lip. Of course, they wanted to be saved. But they had to understand that there was no sense in staying to get them killed as well.

“Shields at 19 percent”

“That’s it. We have to leave. Head back to… the nearest space station.  Transporter room, how many people could we save?”

“48” Jackson told them

“That’s not too bad” Carissa muttered more to herself “Inform the Starfleet Command we’re heading back to the station and that we could only save 48 crew members of the Kobayashi Maru” she wiped some sweat from her brow with her sleeve

“Captain, one of the ships is following us”

“Shit” she could feel the blood leaving her face “Faster. Give us everything the Trainor has”

“Aye, Aye” Jackson said but after about a minute later, his mien changed “Ma’am the Warp drive failed. We’re only running on impulse now” she got even paler.

“The Klingon vessel’s slowed down to sublight speed as well and seems to be getting ready to destroy us”

“Fuck” she took a deep breath. Although she understood why it had been programmed that it won’t work like you wanted and add complication after complication, she made a mental note to have a serious word with Spock for scaring and challenging her that much. Somehow she wished the examiners would stop the simulation so that she could get out of here.

“What now? We can’t get away and they’ll destroy us”

“Hail them. Hail them!” she shouted in panic. Jackson merely nodded and pressed some buttons

“They don’t answer”

“Then send them a message that we surrender”

“What are you planning to do?” she licked her lip

“We’re trying to bait them by telling they can have the ship. Once they lower their shields to beam on board we fire everything we got at them”

“That may work” David mused.

“No it won’t” Jackson said bitterly “Still no answer”

“Tell them we can have the ship, which means they can get to the station without being noticed. Try it on every frequency we’ve got. They need to answer!” she got up and pressed a button on the arm rest of the Captain’s chair

“Crew of the USS Trainor. We need to evacuate the ship” she repeated the order before sitting down at the helm control “That applies for you as well. Out with you” she told the bridge crew. David and his friend got up, the rest remained seated.

“I’m still trying to reach them” Jackson explained. “But I’m pessimistic about it” another thundering noise and blinking lights told them that the Trainor had been hit again.

“The shields are down. The next hit will destroy us”

“Leave too. I’ll try to distract them a little longer” she took David’s seat and tried to dodge a little

“That won’t work with impulse drive”

“I know. But I can’t just sit here… and I ordered you to go and save yourself”

“What’s going on?” she heard a slurry voice behind her and Carissa saw Evan getting up slowly

“Well you passed out and I took over the bridge and as it seems we’re all gonna die now. We’re evacuating the ship” she told him “Go and get a rescue pod” he looked at her and nodded. However, he didn’t make it out because the Trainer was it one last time and all lights went out. Carissa had failed them and they all died. Shortly after the door opened and Admiral Foster stepped into the room.

“Cadet Cook.”. Evans, who was talking to David, wanting to know what had happened, looked at him

“Did I pass?”

“Yes you did pass. Pass out!” he showed him to follow with a simple head movement. “The rest may leave. Except for Cadet Wiley. You’ll come with me as well and wait in front of my office” she hung her head and got up after a nod. It seemed like she was in trouble. She shouldn’t have taken over like that. When they were going to the Admiral’s office Evan shot her angry glares more than once. Now she wished she had just followed David’s lead and left the simulation after his friend got unconscious. Once they reached the office, Admiral Foster told the male cadet to go inside before turning to her and ordering her to wait here. With a nod she leaned against the wall and let out a sigh. She really was in trouble. If only she wouldn’t be punished for what she did. It seemed like the only logical thing she could do had this been a real situation. Although, if a cadet passed out during a written exam, you couldn’t take over for them either. So it had to be a violation of the rules. But David should be here too. He was the one who had been defiant all the time and left his post before he was relieved off duty.

“Cadet Wiley” at the sound of the familiar voice she turned to see Spock, a professor and her boyfriend, coming towards her.

“Professor” she commented, smiling and holding herself back from touching him since they could be seen “What are you doing here?”

“Admiral Foster had let me know that he wanted to speak to me about the programming of the Kobayashi Maru scenario. As it seems, a cadet succeeded in finding an option which I have not considered and therefore not programmed. I would ask you what you are doing here but seeing that you have been participating in the simulation I can only conclude that Admiral Foster wanted to speak to you as well. The reasons for this, however, must be unknown to you as well”

“Yes, Sir” she said “But is an option missing good or bad? I mean isn’t it a bad sign if someone managed to… I don’t know reach the limits of the simulation?”

“It is neither. But once the addition programmed, this option may provide a whole new scenario, which would theoretically increase the chance of effectively winning by 6.3 percent”

“And what kind of addition are we speaking of?”

“I was told that Cadet Cook tried to hail the Klingons upon being alone with one of their ships. But that could not happen since I have not made an interaction with the enemy in that situation available yet” now she actually smirked

“It seems like you’re misinformed. No offence. I was the one who tried to contact the Klingons. Not Evan” he raised an eyebrow

“I must admit, I did not expect that. Since it was Cadet Cook taking the test, I figured that it had to be him as Admiral Foster did not say any names. May I ask how it came you were the one to order hailing the enemy ship?”

“Oh… Evan passed out just after we realized there suddenly were nine Klingon ships and that they started firing on us.”

“He has lost consciousness? But that would have resulted the examiner in ending the simulation”

“Well they didn’t… I mean as soon as I realized that Evan was out, I told the others they had to stay in place until we were told that it was over… so uh… it happened that I became Acting Captain and gave new orders” again he raised his eyebrow

“Then the examiners have decided to see how you were doing until the end. Now I believe I know the reason you are here. Admiral Foster must want to discuss your performance with you”

“What?” Carissa shrieked “Do-do you think they marked me?”

“It is possible. However, given the fact that you were not actually designated to take this test, I believe that they will not make this an official evaluation unless you choose to. But you did show great quality by taking over charge in such a situation” she shrugged

“But are you not mad that I… well… broke your simulation?”

“As I said, what happened is neither positive nor negative, it merely showed that I did not consider all possibilities, cadet”

“But there must have been other cadets that tried to contact the Klingons?”

“There were, but that is something I have thought of. However, you were the first one who managed to be alone with only one of the Klingon ships. It is only logical that the Klingons will behave differently when they are on their own”

“So you could contact them at the battle place but not when you’re further away because of the different reactions?”

“Exactly. As long as they have back up, Klingons would never negotiate and merely tell us their conditions for our surrender. Provided the fact they choose to not just destroy us without giving us a chance”

“This means when Jackson said we received no answer from the Klingons this was because the simulation could not provide any?”

“Correct”

“And do you think it is likely they would have agreed to take over our ship and beaming on board?”

“I would say so. While I cannot tell you how high the chances are exactly, I would estimate them to be about 73 percent, depending on how damaged the USS Trainor is at that point. However, the chance that they would kill your crew once they are on board is at 96.2 percent”

“Well I did not actually plan to let them take over the ship, Sir. I just wanted them to lower their shields so that we could fire at them and destroy them”

“That sounds logical and the chances of success are about 81.5 percent”

“So you’re saying I could have done it if you had had already programmed the option to contact the Klingons when…” the door opened and Evans walked out

“He’s asking for you” he said, not sounding very happy and shot an angry glare at her. It was not her fault he passed out, so why was he hostile towards her? After all it was his idea and request to be an actor in this simulation.

“Cadet Wiley, please come in”

“Coming, Admiral” she informed him and turned back to her boyfriend “See you later, I guess?” she asked quietly

“If I am not obliged to make the modifications right away, yes” she nodded and entered the office.

“Cadet Wiley” Foster said with a smile. Maybe Spock was right and he wasn’t mad at her after all? “Is Instructor Spock already here?”

“Yes, he arrived some minutes ago”

“Could you ask him in as well?” this made her heart sink. What if he had found out about their relationship? Or had he just heard the rumors and thought there was more to it? She’d rather be in trouble for taking over during the test. Because if he found out about the relationship id didn’t only affect her but Spock as well. She nodded and did as she was told. Her boyfriend entered and closed the door

“You have asked to see me, Admiral?”

“Indeed. I take it you know Cadet Wiley?”

“I do. She is in one of my classes” the Admiral nodded.

“Good. And you know she was supposed to take part in Cadet Cook’s Kobayashi Maru scenario?” Spock nodded “However, he passed out after mere minutes into the simulation as more and more ships arrived”

“And Cadet Wiley took over. I have been told already”

“Yes. That is the reason you are her. Because I wanted you to see her performance and tell me what you think the result would have been. After all she has tried something that was not programmed”

“Of course” he crossed his arm and when Admiral Foster showed them a video of the simulation, starting from the point where Evan passed out, Carissa wanted to drop dead. She couldn’t help but throw occasional glances to either of the males, to find out what they were thinking. Oddly, she got more information from the Vulcan’s stoic mien than from the older man. Finally, the tape ended and the brunette breathed out in relief. “Interesting” was her boyfriend’s only comment.

“What do you think would have been the outcome had she managed to contact the Klingons?”

“I am sure they would have agreed to take over the ship after Cadet Wiley told them of the opportunity to get into the station unnoticed. As for the planned destruction of the bird of prey, I cannot say if it would have succeeded before the USS Trainer would have been destroyed.”

“Alright, thank you, Commander” Admiral Foster nodded at him “I would now like to talk to Cadet Wiley alone and have a word with you again afterwards” Spock agreed and left the room.

“Am-am I in trouble because of what I did, Sir?” she asked carefully.

“You are not. Captain Thomas wanted to stop the scenario once your fellow cadet was out but when I saw that you were taking over I told him to wait. I wanted to see how you would react and I must say I am rather impressed. We had two similar cases where the cadet taking the test either left or passed out. But no other participant of the simulation had the idea to finish the mission in their stead. You showed a great sense of responsibility and your performance was indeed impressive, especially when you consider that you decided everything spontaneously since you had no time to prepare yourself for the scenario”

“So you are saying what I did was right?”

“Yes. And therefore the other examiners and I have decided to evaluate your performance if that is your wish”

“This means you will mark me and make it official?”

“Exactly. And I strongly advise you to let us do this for all I have seen you could actually pass. If not, what do you have to lose?”

“You are right, Sir” she smiled “Then I would like you to evaluate me. Although I don’t think I would ever want to be Captain. It is too much responsibility”

“No one says you have to become Captain just because you passed the Kobayashi Maru scenario”

“Oh right”

“Very well. Then I will inform the other examiners and inform you about the outcome as soon as possible” she nodded with a smile.

“I don’t need it immediately” she assured him.

“Alright. That is it from my part, Cadet Wiley. You may leave”

“Thank you, Sir. Goodbye” she nodded at him and left the room, throwing a short smile at Spock as he got called inside.

-oO0Oo-

“How was the simulation?” her best friend and dorm mate Nicole asked as they were on their way to Diplomacy class the next day “Did Evan kill you all?”

“Actually I killed us all”

“How that? Did you do something wrong?”

“No” she grinned and told her the story and her friend laughed

“So you not only brought the test to its limits but you probably also passed the whole thing?”

“Yeah”

“Instructor Spock must be fuming”

“He’s Vulcan” Carissa only said

“Right” she chuckled “But if he lets you fail his class you’ll know why”

“I don’t need him for that. I can fail by myself” she sighed. She just couldn’t get the knack of it and hated almost everything about the subject. The only thing that made the lessons bearable was the fact that Spock taught them.

“For heaven’s sake. Just go and get help. It’s of no use if you fail”

“I-I really don’t want to bother him” besides, when they started their relationship they had agreed they wouldn’t talk about anything that related to the courses so that she would not be in an advantage.

“He’s our teacher. He is obliged to help” Carissa shrugged

“I’ll see” they arrived at the classroom and talked to other classmates. Suddenly Evan appeared, angrily tapping Carissa’s shoulder.

“What did you do?”

“What? About yesterday?”

“You just took over!”

“So what? I thought if this was real that was supposed what someone should have done”

“You stole my chance”

“Look, if this had been real we couldn’t have just waited until you were conscious again. I am sure the examiners wouldn’t have paused the scenario if I had done nothing”

“I swear if you benefit from my attempt, you’ll pay”

“Mr Cook. I hope you won’t make these threats come true or you will be in serious trouble” they heard Professor Bennett’s voice behind them and shot a quick glare as he walked past the flock of cadets to open the door. Evans glared daggers at his classmate

“Your lover may have saved you this time. But I will find ways” he whispered in her ear before leaving.

“Oh God. Is he now claiming too that you have something going on with Bennett?”

“Yeah”

“Just because of your grades? Or because he’s mad?”

“No idea. But someone needs to be on top of the class. I can’t help that it’s me in most classes…”

“Well I need to admit, your grades are not just top of the class. They’re perfect almost every time. Not that I’d believe the rumors but I can understand that they think like that.” Carissa shrugged.

“Just let them talk. I don’t care. I know the truth and so do my friends” technically, her friend’s didn’t know the whole truth. Although she wasn’t dating Bennet, she still was in a relationship with another professor.

“That’s the spirit. As long as no one suspects you’re actually liaised with a professor” she felt her heart bumping

“Exactly” they entered the classroom and sat down.

-oO0Oo-

The rest of the day flew by and before she knew it, Carissa was trying to complete some homework when she saw a new message. This must be her results from the Kobayashi Maru and her heart made a leap. A part of her wanted read it now, but she decided against it, wanting to finish her homework first.

“What’s this? Got a love letter?” she was asked

“Nothing” she replied, not wanting to brag that she completed the Kobayashi Maru. But she knew that should she pass, sooner or later everyone would know. And she was quite afraid of Evan’s reaction.

“Why don’t you read?”

“I can imagine what it is. And I want to finish this first” she looked at her friend before focusing on her essay again. But Lucie just crossed her arms

“Fine, then I’ll hack into your account and read the message myself”

“Stop this” she hissed.

“Oh come on, Carry, I want to know what it says. Is it really from Admiral Foster?”

“Yes. As the name says”

“Please?” she looked at her friend with puppy eyes. Carissa sighed and read the document, ignoring her friends, exited shrieks and handclapping.

“How old are you exactly?” she shook her head but grinned. The grin disappeared when her eyes scanned the evaluation “Oh my God. Oh my God” she couldn’t help but shriek

“Good news?”

“Yes. I passed the Kobayshi Maru scenario”

“Wait what? When? How?” once again she found herself telling the story, this time with a broad smile. “That sounds fantastic. You’d make a perfect captain”

“I’m not so sure. I’d prefer to be more of an advisor. Then I don’t need to be the one making a decision”

“Fair enough” she squeezed her shoulder “Oh Carry, I can’t believe it. Not many pas this simulation. And you weren’t even prepared”

“I think they took that into consideration as well”

“What are we even sitting here?” Lucie asked and put her PADD away “Let’s go and celebrate” Carissa shrugged, throwing a glance at her essay. She would finish it later as she probably couldn’t concentrate.

-oO0Oo-

In the next morning she regretted her choice. The moment she walked into Spock’s classroom she realized that she had forgotten to finish her essay. Trying to hide in her seat, she took out her things and stared at the table. Her head only snapped up when the lesson started.

“Your essays from last week have been graded” the whole class gasped.

“Will this grade be official for the semester grade?” a classmate asked

“No, but it is for you to see how you are doing” he took a bundle of papers “please hand in your new ones within the next five minutes.” Carissa kept getting more and more nervous and she opened the corrected document. She stared at the numbers of her essay and let out a sad huff 37.7 out of 100. Nevertheless she felt a slight smirk appearing on her face, after all Spock was the only professor who used decimal places. Sluggishly, submitted her unfinished essay and raised her hand to tell the truth.

“I uh… couldn’t finish it” she admitted. The Vulcan only cocked up an eyebrow “It’s just… I’m not trying to justify anything but I got this news and well…”

“That news being?”

“Kobayashi Maru?”

“What?” Evan exclaimed “Don’t tell me you passed. That was cheating”

“Cadet Cook, I do believe this is no concern of yours” Evan mumbled something she didn’t get. “Please see me after the lesson, Cadet Cook. There is something I wish to discuss with you” obviously he must have heard what he said. Carissa bit her lip to hold back a smirk. “With you as well, Cadet Wiley” he said. When he started the lesson, she let out a small sigh of relief.

-oO0Oo-

For the remainder of the lesson she couldn’t help but dread the end of it. It really sounded like she got into trouble. Once the rest of the class was allowed to leave, Evan threw an angry look at Carissa as Spock told them to sit down in the first row.

“Cadet Cook, I expect you to explain your behavior towards your fellow cadet, Miss Wiley”

“It can’t be that she got to do this Kobayashi Maru. It was my test, not hers. This is not fair.”

“Your anger towards Cadet Wiley is out of place since none of this is her fault”

“She should have just kept her mouth shot like she always does. She stole my chance”

“Mr Cook, is it Cadet Wiley’s culpability that you lost consciousness during the simulation?” Evan shook his head and opened his mouth to speak but got cut off “Then I can only emphasize how inacceptable your behavior towards her is and I demand you to stop this. Else I will be obliged to inform my superiors of this case” Evan glared at her and she wished Spock had just let it be. He had probably only made it worse with his lecture.

“Evan look, I am sorry” she said “I never meant to steal the show or whatever”

“Then why did you take charge?”

“I just wanted David to wait until it was over officially. But let’s assume this would have been a real situation and your Captain passed out. Would you do something or just sit there and wait?”

“But it’s just a damned simulation. That’s the fucking point”

“There is no need for such foul language, Cadet” Spock reminded him “Besides your classmate is correct. It could have been real. Then everyone expects you to show responsibility, even if you are not a Captain. Cadet Wiley did exactly that and I daresay this is the reason that she has passed. Though her splendid approach must have had something to do with it as well” why, oh why couldn’t he just shut up? Did he not see he was making everything worse? Carissa wanted to be anywhere but here.

“Teacher’s pet” she heard Evans mutter and she clenched her fists. It probably wouldn’t have affected her that much if it had been any other professor. Luckily her boyfriend kept quiet this time and the brunette had the impression he did not even know what the words meant.

“Professor” she said, looking at Spock “thank you for your help but I think I can handle him by myself. He’ll just be mad at me for a little time but it will pass. After all we never had a problem before”

“If you say so” she nodded. “Cadet Cook, you are free to leave” Evan jerked up and wanted to storm out of the room “But be warned. If I hear of any other nastiness towards your classmate I will take action as I cannot tolerate such behavior” he stared after him until Evan left the classroom and closed the door before he turned to his girlfriend

“That wasn’t necessary” she mumbled

“He had no right to treat you like this. Besides, his hatred towards you is highly illogical because none of what happened is your fault”

“Well tell him. He’s just…”

“Acting out of fierce emotions”

“Yeah” she chuckled “dead on”

“However,” he continued “I wanted to talk about your latest essay, cadet”

“The one I forgot?” she asked shyly

“No, not that one. The one I have corrected”

“Oh right. But… am I in trouble because I didn’t finish the other?” he raised an eyebrow

“This is your first time neglecting homework, thus there will be no consequences. In case it happens again, you will need to complete supplementary work or any other form of compensation”

“Okay, thank you Sir” she breathed out in relief. “And what about the other essay?”

“I could not help but notice that your essays are getting and getting worse. If you do not change something you will fail this course”

“I uh…” she swallowed “I don’t really get the hang of this”

“Are you trying to say that you have difficulties in understanding the subject?”

“A bit more maybe. I’m clueless” she admitted

“And why did you not consult me?”

“I-I thought… when we got together” she looked at him “you said that we mustn’t talk about topics that are related to classes and all. So I tried to teach myself by reading books. But that didn’t help”

“I would have gladly taught you anything you wanted to know if you had just asked. Just because I am with you does not mean that I would not tutor you if necessary. When I said this, I meant that I cannot tell you more about the exams or any other matters that could give you an advantage”

“Well, I guess I didn’t want to bother you”

“Bother me? You would not be the first cadet I am tutoring. Moreover, I am teaching advanced topics to cadets who wish it.”

“So this means you will help me?”

“That would be the only logical thing to do” she nodded with a bright smile

“Thank you”

“But I will contact a few of your classmates as I have seen that some others seem to have troubles as well”

“Sure. It’s better to learn in a group anyway. Besides, then I won’t feel so strange when it’s just us. I mean, then it doesn’t feel like you don’t waste your time on me”

“Carissa” he said softly “Any time I spend with you is not wasted” she giggled at his sudden informality.

“And why again did you think you can’t be romantic? This might be the cutest thing anyone’s ever said to me”

“Then I suppose it is good to hear that telling you this simple fact has made you feel happiness”

“Of course it makes me happy. And do you know what else makes me happy? Being with you” since this was now getting a bit strange when she sat at a desk and he was standing in front of her, Carissa got up as well. A part of her wanted to touch him but they were in a classroom and anyone could come in any moment so she held herself back.

“Are you getting ready to leave?”

“Maybe”

“There are only 6 minutes and 23 seconds left until the next class starts. So maybe it would be best if you headed there. My next cadets should arrive soon as well”

“Oh sure” she said, grabbing her bag. “See you around I guess? Or at the tutoring?” he nodded

“I will let you know when I have gotten into contact with the other cadets to let you know about time and setting for the tutoring” now she couldn’t help but place a hand on his arm

“Thank you”

“I see no point in thanking me since this proposal bases on logical conclusion and thoughts”

“It means a lot to me anyway” she replied “so thank you” she gently squeezed his arm before pulling back and leaving the classroom.

-oO0Oo-

Much to her surprise, Evan actually left her alone. Sure, he mentioned the matter another few times in the following days but he seemed to have calmed down after a week. Carissa had the impression that word about her success at the Kobayashi Maru scenario had gotten around and she had the feeling as if everyone from her year who wanted to take the test wanted to have her on board. Since she found it a good way to learn more about the life on the bridge, she mostly agreed, unless she didn’t like the cadets at all. She was a little surprised, when suddenly someone a year above wanted to have her participating in her test. And after that, also a few other people from years above hers asked her to join them. If she was honest, Carissa didn’t like the attention too much. Somehow she had the feeling as if she was something like a mascot for them.

One day, as she was sitting outside, an older cadet plopped down on the bench next to her

“You’re Clarissa Riley, right?”

“Carissa Wiley” she corrected. He wasn’t the first one to get her name wrong.

“Well anyway. You’re the one who somehow beat the Kobayashi Maru test. How did you do it?”

“I just made the right choices” she replied “and as you might have heard, I wasn’t actually supposed the test. I took over”

“So you cheated?”

“Hell no”

“But I heard the test had to be reprogrammed after you took it”

“It didn’t had to be reprogrammed. They only had to add another feature. I just was unlucky enough to be the one to find out. But I was told, if the feature had been there, my chances of surviving would have been quite high”

“Nevertheless, you passed”

“So what?”

“I heard you’ve taken a liking to take part in other cadet’s test”

“Yeah?”

“Would you to me the honor to join me for my attempt?”

“Okay, why not? When?”

“In two days at 11AM. You know where.” only after he left Carissa realized that she didn’t even get his name.

-oO0Oo-

Only about half a minute after the simulation had started, she regretted her choice to participate as an actor. He seemed too confident of himself and didn’t take it serious at all. Obviously she wasn’t the only one who wanted to slap him.

“So what are we gonna do about the Klingons?” Carissa asked, suppressing a sigh

“Oh just leave it all with me, sweetheart”

“Excuse me?”

“Three more Klingon vessels are approaching”

“Alright. Inform the Med Bay to take all the injured from the other ship”

“Shouldn’t we do something about the Klingons first?” Carissa wanted to know, already sensing they would be destroyed any minute.

“Captain, love, you forgot the Captain”

“You can’t be serious, Captain” she sneered “We could die any moment and all you can think of is your title, which you don’t even have by the way and won’t get if you continue like that”

“I didn’t invite you here to be such a spoilsport” he pouted. She was that close to choking him. “But you are right, we could die any moment” he walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. She glared at the hand as if she could burn a hole into it. “So why not…”

“Captain! Shields are only at fifty percent. Maybe we should fire back?”

“Nah” suddenly the power went out

“This can’t be, we can’t have lost already.” Carissa said. Or were the examiners fed up and stopped the simulation? Suddenly the power came back on.

“Oh no, don’t worry, sweetie. Now the real fun begins.” he said with a smirk as he plopped down in the Captain’s chair again and bit into an apple. “Open fire! Let’s send this bastards to hell”

“Jim, their shields are still up”

“Are they?”

“No”

“So what are you waiting for, sweetheart? Destroy them” the cadet called Jim said and winked at her “The sooner this is over, the sooner we two…”

“Captain!” she protested “I hope you know that I have a boyfriend” she blurted out. This actually was the first time she mentioned this to anyone. If only no one asked questions… with a sigh she did as he requested and locked target on the birds of prey. It all went smoothly and not even a minute later all Klingon ships were gone.

“Now we can start the rescue mission” everyone started at him as Jim got up “Let’s sum this up… we have destroyed all enemy ships, no one on board was injured and we can now save the crew of the Kobayashi Maru” Carissa stared at the buttons in front of her. She had participated in more than 18 simulations in the past months. And it had never been that easy. Something was wrong. No one ever managed that much. The simulation went off and the participants were allowed to leave. After stepping outside, she saw Spock marching past her, looking puzzled if not irritated. Suddenly Jim’s behavior towards her during the simulation. He had touched her and flirted with her. She could have slapped herself, he must be jealous. If that even was a thing among Vulcans…

-

Next Chapter

[zlov989]

Of Two Worlds: A Star Trek Story

Part: Prologue Original Wattpad Part: here Summary:  She was of Two Worlds. A disgrace in one, an abomination in the other. Driven by emotion, guided by logic. She was the best they had, the fastest, the smartest, She was the first of a new class of Cadets, The first of the era of Starfleet. So why was she running? Pairing: Spock x OC Fandom: Star Trek (Alternative Original Series) Warnings: N/A Author’s Note: I don’t update my books regularly on Tumblr so if you like my work and want to see more, please check out my Wattpad here. There I update regularly and interact with my audience a lot more.  Word Count: 1975 Words

“Sir please…” The first officer began, before being cut off by another group of cadets walking between the two figures. Huffing, he stepped forward again, closing the distance between his figure and that of his captain who walked with great pace towards an academic building. “I respect your judgement and as you know, I have also found your decisions sound and logical, but this. I don’t understand.” The First Officer continued, finishing his sentence in time as another wave of cadets pushed his figure away from that of his captain. He was one of two figures, dressed in dark greys, in a sea of cadets, rushing from class to class, flooding the halls of the academy in deep red uniforms. Stepping through the crowd again, he found his captain waiting at the door of the building, holding it ajar with an unamused expression upon his face. “I know this is my age showing,” The captain announced as the first officer stepped passed him and into the now quiet lobby. “But I always hated the hustle bustle of the academy, too many people, too much noise. Space is just quiet, peaceful. But hey, that’s just my grey hairs showing.” He chuckled, stepping in to follow his First Officer. “The absence of sounds makes space silent, a little extreme for one who just wants some quiet. As for peaceful, that is what Starfleet endeavours to achieve.” The First officer commented. “But as I was saying sir, I don’t agree, I- “ “Spock.” The First Officer went silent, waiting for his captain to continue. “I know you don’t agree with it, but you need something to keep you focused.” “My ability to remain on task and attend to my duties has not waivered-“ “It has.” The first officer went silent again, shocked to be hearing the words the exited his Captain’s mouth. “You’re still good Spock, you’re the best I’ve got. But since everything with your sister, you lost your edge.” The Captain sighed, taking a step towards his youthful first officer, he lifted a hand to rest it on his shoulder, the Officer not even showing a response, his figure still frozen by the shock of the Captain’s words. “Being able to guide, and focus on another’s learning, I hope, will give the space you need to find what works for you.” Lowering his hand from the shoulder of his officer he took a step back and began to walk further into the learning facility. “I have some personal business to attend to. You however have a simulation to observe. It seems the simulation you designed, the Kobayashi Maru, needs some fine tuning. There is a Cadet that is expected to beat it today. That’s why command called you onto Campus.” “They’ll only slow me down.” Spock’s voice rung out down the corridor, causing the captain to pause mid step and turn to look back at his First Officer. “Captain Pike, this will only serve as a disruption to my duty and impede upon my ability to fulfil my tasks onboard the Enterprise.” Pressing a finger to the bridge of his nose the Captain sighed. “Simple English, Spock.” He insisted.   “They will get in the way.” The finality of his First Officer’s tone drew a small smile onto the captain’s lips. He admired his first Officer, his ability to remain true to logic, even when logic was failing him. “You don’t know that.” The Captain stated simply, watching as his Officer’s disgruntled expression as he prepared to throw another argument of disagreement straight back at him. “I do sir- “ “Spock.” The Officer paused himself, waiting for his Captain to finish. “Have a little faith.” ✧✶✧ The Commander stood at the back of the room, watching the simulation room through the viewing window. Below, in the simulation room lay a bridge, the Cadets who manned the station all stood at ease, waiting for the simulation to begin. Commander Spock watched as the doors to the bridge slid open, all the Cadets straightened up. “Captain on the bridge.” One of the Cadets called as a female figure stepped in, her long brown hair falling to cover her face, the only notable feature that of her black uniform, not red of a cadet, or grey of an instructor. The woman stepped through the bridge until she reached the Captains chair. Looking around at all the Cadets, they gave a short nod, and they all turned to man their stations. The cadet located in operations turned to face the chair, reading the simulation. “We are receiving a distress signal from the USS Kobayashi Maru. The ship has lost power and is standard.” The Cadet explained as the female figure sat down in the Captain’s chair, their eyes fixated on the simulation screen ahead. “Starfleet Command has ordered us to rescue them.” The Cadet finished before turning back to their station. Commander Spock stepped up to the head of faculty as the female figure began to give her first order. “I want long range sensors set to max, and a scan of everything within a 5 light year distance of us.” There was nods of acknowledgement as cadets set to work. “Sir,” Commander Spock mumbled. “I do not see why I was required here to observe this simulation. The program has run without issue for a year already.” The instructor turned to look at the commander, a smile creeping onto his features. “With respect Commander,” The Instructor breathed back, “Just watch.” Spock stepped back, unsure of the meaning behind the instructor’s words. But he did hold his objections and turn his attention back to the bridge below. “The Klingon Warbirds are preparing to fire.” A cadet called out. “Can I get all power diverted from weapons to shields?” The female figure called out, Spock blinked back in surprise, of all the reports he had read, every Cadet’s first attempt was always to attempt to destroy the Klingon warbirds. “Evasive manoeuvres, I need you to get engineering as far away from those warbirds as you can.” The cadets around the bridge began to move frantically. “And I want every personnel not on the bridge to get down to engineering.” “Captain, what about the Kobayashi Maru crew?” A cadet called out as the sound of explosions echoed around the simulation, sounding the first hit from the Klingon warbirds. “Shields are holding, at ninety percent.” “Are their shields down?” The woman called out. “Yes, ready to transport.” A cadet confirmed. “But we can’t get them on board if we’re firing.” “We’re not firing through.” The woman called; the Cadet looked back up at her in surprise. “C-correct.” He stammered in realisation; a shield warning popped up. “Shields are holding and at eighty percent.” “Good, then get them on board, use the cargo transports in engineering, we can get more people quicker.” The woman urged, the Cadet nodded and turned back to his station instantly. “I want a full review of the autopilot function on Kobayashi Maru.” “The ship is dead captain.” A cadet called out as another turned around. “Twenty percent of their crew has been transported.” “How long till we have everyone?” “Thirty seconds.” The female figure stood up and moved towards the station of her second pilot, before glancing over her shoulder she called out to another station. “Can I get one of our escape pods launched empty, one with auto pilot and any form of photon weaponry.” A cadet nodded, starting up an escape pod. “I need you to patch navigation through to these two stations.” She explained, pointing at her two pilots. “Anyone else know how to fly this vessel?” “Aye.” One cadet called out from the back corner of the bridge. “Transfer control of the vessel to their station.” The Captain called out. Before turning to her pilots. “I need one of you to hit the shot of your life. And the other to fly better then you knew you could. Sort out who does what.” Both pilots nodded. “What am I aiming for captain?” One of the two questioned, his station shifting into that of weapon operations. “Their Warp Core.” Spock stepped forward in shock, a warp core explosion was big enough to send ripples of radiation five light years away, killing all life instantly. The two cadets turned to their stations as an addition screen appeared before Commander Spock. It displayed the escape pod strategically navigating its way through the blasts from Klingon ships. Two of the four warbirds broke line, following the escape pod as it sped towards the Kobayashi Maru. “Are my scans clear?” The female called. “Yes Captain, no vessel, planet or moon within a five light year range.” A cadet called out. “Our shields are at forty percent.” “Do we have everyone?” “Yes.” Another cadet called. “Do we have enough power to go to Warp?” “Only if we divert from shields.” Another cadet called. “Do you have a clear shot on their core?” The captain asked her pilots, he gave a brief nod, as she turned away. “On the count of three, I need you to divert all remaining power straight to the Warp core. The second you have power, punch it.” She turned back to her pilots, “On the same count of three, you’re going to blow that core into oblivion.” A murmur of agreement echoed the bridge as the captain turned to look at everyone, silence swallowed the room as every cadet turned their full focus to their job, the only sounds that reached the keen ears of Commander Spock was that of the simulation.   “One….” Many of the cadets glanced around at one another, their expression a mix of confusion, relief and astonishment. “Two…” Commander Spock stepped forward until he was a meter from the viewing window, his mind running a million miles an hour, disbelief and astonishment perplexing him to the point of compulsion. “Three…” Like a switch had just been flicked, the illusion of silence was shattering as every cadet into the room jumped into action. The commander watched was the pilot hit his mark on the Kobayashi Maru Warp Core before sitting back from his station in shock, he watched as the cadets in charge of offensive confirmed the power diversion, the operation cadet who had taken control of the vessel pushed the ship into warp faster then he’d seen any Lieutenant move. The simulation faded to black as each Cadet stepped back from their stations, many stood, hands hovering above the controls, frozen in shock of what had just happened. As the lights began to turn on the results screen flashed up. “Simulation; Kobayashi Maru Exam.” The system began to announce. “Kobayashi Maru Status; destroyed in combat. Survivors; Two-thousand and twenty-eight. Starfleet causalities; zero. Vessel Status; Mild damage to all systems, all systems running on low power, engineering, undamaged.” Spock turned his gaze to the female figure standing in front of the captains chair. Disbelief rendering him frozen as the Instructor turned to look at him. “This is why I called you here, Commander.” The Instructor explained, Spock blinked back in shock, unfreezing himself from his trans. “I don’t remember any females in this year’s Command Training Program.” Spock stated, turning his gaze to the instructor. “She’s not part of the Command Training Program.” The instructor’s words made no logical sense to the Commander, as his gaze again found that of the female figure, dressed in the unfamiliar Black uniform. “Then what program is she in?” The Instructor chuckled at the Commander’s question. “That, Commander Spock, is classified.” Spock turned away from the instructor, none of what he had just witnessed making any sense. Turning away he watched the viewing window faded to read one final message, a message that Spock knew should never appear, as he had programmed it to be impossible. ‘Simulation Status: Pass...’