If It Was Too Easy, Everyone Would Do It

Posted on Mon Oct 30th, 2023 @ 3:37pm by Commander N'Garzi Zora & Lieutenant Commander Savin

Mission: Character Development
Location: USS Athena, Holodeck 2
1764 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Zora waited outside of the holodeck and studied the PADD in her hand. She was studying Savin's aptitude test results and she had to admit she was mildly impressed. Over the past few months, she had been guiding the Counsellor through the Starfleet command program. He had completed a number of written and theory-based tests, but today was to be his first practical one. She wondered how he would fare on the simulation she had selected for him. Her days as an academy instructor had taught her that most students either favoured the theory or the practical, but rarely both. The skills taught in a classroom felt a million lightyears away when faced with a life and death situation, and vice versa.

She wouldn't have too long to wait as the turbolift doors opened and the Romulan stepped out. His mood was unreadable, at least to her. Either he very prepared or he had a great poker face. "Thank you for joining me Savin," she said, her tone friendly and light, why add to the pressure? "Are you ready?"

"How hard can it be, after being thrown into a command situation during the pirate attack?" Savin asked, almost smirking as he spoke. "I did the best I could then, there is nothing more than I would do now. I am ready commander." He turned his head as a greeting reached him. "Now that Jerant is here I am definitely ready."

Of course Jerant would be necessary, especially since he couldn't get an emotional feel off of a hologram. Jerant would need to relay things to him even more accurately now..

"Then let's begin," Zora said, nodding at both of them in turn. "Computer begin program."

The computer beeped for a few seconds and then the doors parted. Enter when ready.

Zora led the way into the holodeck which had been replaced by the bridge of a galaxy-class starship. They were standing towards the bottom end, where the viewscreen would normally be and will be once the doors close. The bridge was staffed by familiar faces of the Athena's crew, though they were frozen in place until the program started.

"Welcome to the USS Yibambe," Zora said turning to face the two men. "The Stardate is 51720.1, right in the middle of the Dominion war, before the Romulans joined the conflict. You're the commanding officer, patrolling near Betazed. The crew will follow your orders," she gestured towards the captain's chair in the middle of the bridge. "Start the program whenever you're ready."

A Romulan in 'command' of a Starfleet vessel, at time where Romulans in general wanted preferably nothing to do with the Federation. Savin couldn't help but chuckle at the very irony of it. Slowly he eased himself down in the the center chair, then told the computer to start the program. He gave everyone a quick glance over to note their position, before all started moving from their frozen state. He motioned for Jerant to move to such a location where he would have overview, and could alert him in an instant. "What is our current status?" he asked quietly, needing to get a feel of what they were heading into first.

"Nothing on sensors," Leiko reported from the Ops station. "The tenth fleet is still engaged in their wargame exercise on the far end of the sector. They report no unusual readings."

"Sir, Xantha Prime, one of the outlying colonies, has reported Dominion activity," Ryan said from the rear science station.

"Confirmed," Zade said from the tactical console behind the command seats. "Tactical sensors are picking up three Jem'Hadar attack fighters heading straight for Betazed."

Jerant dutifully relayed the unheard and unseen message, without drawing attention to himself.

Savin gave a minute nod, then leaned forward, considering his options. Not responding just wasn't an option but what match was this vessel to three enemy vessels? "What other vessels are nearby?" He asked quietly, before making a decision. "Helm, set a course for Betazed, maximum speed. OPS, put out a call for assistance. We will require backup." He brief pause. "Red alert," he then ordered, not wanting the ship to be vulnerable as they headed in.

"We should reach Betazed in forty-eight seconds," Brewster replied as the klaxon wailed around the bridge.

"No ships within range," Xavier reported. "I've signalled the tenth fleet but they won't reach us anytime soon."

"I have alerted Betazed," Zade chimed in. "They are activating their planetary defence systems, but in truth, they are old and outdated."

"Old and outdated is probably better than no defense at all," Savin mused then looked up. "Ready our torpedoes and target those enemy vessels as soon as we are in range. We need to deter or destroy them before any harm comes to those on the planet." While killing an enemy didn't have his preference, he knew there wouldn't be much choice here. Destroying them probably was their only chance.

"Firing aft torpedoes, full spread," Zade reported. "Direct hit, the lead ship is destroyed and the other two are damaged but still in pursuit."

"Coming up on Betazed now," Brewster said as the familiar sound of the ship dropping out of warp echoed his words.

"Put is between them and Betazed," Savin ordered, "under no circumstance are they to reach the planet." He hated the fact that the lead ship had been destroyed but it seemed unavoidable. "Hail them," he then added. "They will have a choice, leave and survive, or risk destruction."

"Aye Sir," Zade said tentatively. "So far no response."

"I'm reading an energy buildup in their forward weapon's array," Ryan reported.

"Confirmed," Xavier said. "They're firing."

The ship rocked heavily. "Direct hit," Zade said. "Forward shields down to 87%."

To 87.... Savin knew he didn't have much time to consider his options. "Return fire, and target their weapons and engines," he finally ordered, "keep moving, that may make targeting more difficult for them if we are unpredictable." It had to do, since he wasn't yet prepared to destroy them. He looked up at Zora, hoping she had any advice to offer even if this was a test. It was frustrating that he couldn't read those around him, barring Zora and Jerant. If this were real, he would sense their emotions and it could help guide him, like it had when Lance had fainted. "Status," he asked as he watched their torpedoes fly off.

Zora could feel, or sense, Savin's eyes on her. Pleading for help maybe, or just confirming the orders he was making. She would never know, she kept her eyes firmly on the viewscreen, shielding her thoughts and occasionally tapping notes into her PADD.

"Direct hit," Zade said, as Brewster started his fancy manoeuvring. "Their weapons and warp drives are offline."

"Sir!" Xavier said urgently from the Ops console. "Both ships have engaged their impulse engine, both on a trajectory for the Yibambe."

"Confirmed," Ryan said. "Impact in 7 seconds."

That didn't give him much time. Gritting his teeth, he all but glared at the screen as there was no evading them. "Destroy them," he ordered, a firmness yet also a hint of regret in his voice. Destruction of life was a last resort and thanks to his upbringing, always regrettable. Their current erratic flight pattern might buy them a second or two and he hoped it would be enough. The safety of his crew outweighed the lives of their enemy.

The sound of phasers firing filled the bridge as Brewster also tried his best to avoid the incoming ships. "YES!" Zade said from behind the command chairs, clearly hitting one of the two ships, right before taking a sharp intake of breath. The ship shook violently, sparks flying out of the aft stations.

"Ventral shields offline," Xavier reported over the sound of the fire suppression systems. "Hull breach on decks 38 to 41, sections 8 through 15."

"Two Jem'Hadar Cruisers on an intercept course, they will be in weapons range in one minute," Zade said.

Savin sat frozen as he 'listened' to the incoming reports as Jerant relayed them to him. Slender fingers folded around the armrests as he pushed himself to his feet, turning to face Zora. "Signal Betazed to fire everything they have got. Give the order to abandon ship. I will destroy her as they come close hopefully taking the enemy out as well." Was this the right decision? He didn't know but he wasn't going to sacrifice the crew, they had to leave the ship before he'd set the self destruct.

The lights on the bridge changed and a new klaxon sounded. All hands abandon ship, this is not a drill the main computer shrilled on all decks. On the viewscreen, tiny white escape pods jettisoned themselves from the ship and began moving in swarms towards the lush green-blue surface below. Zora watched on intently, occasionally making more notes on her PADD and completely ignoring the pleading eyes of the Romulan Commander.

"Message sent and received," Ryan said. She, like the other bridge officers, hadn't budged an inch.

"25 seconds," Zade counted down.

"Computer, initiate self destruct in twenty seconds," Savin ordered without pause, "helm move us towards the enemy vessels, divert all available power to forward shields." He did notice the bridge crew failing to evacuate and knew they probably would defy an order to go still, he had to try. "Lock in course, then transport to an escape pod," he ordered, his eyes remaining on the main view screen. He dearly hoped the timing was right and they'd take out both vessels.

Activated.

Brewster's fingers flew over the controls and the ship came about and moved towards the incoming Jem'Hadar ships.

15 Seconds.

The rest of the crew remained at their positions; out of loyalty or because there physically wasn't enough time to get to an escape pod, no one would know.

10 Seconds.

Zade fired everything the ship had at the enemy ships, hoping to cause as much damage before the ship pulled off the showstopper.

5 Seconds.

The final escape pods ejected themselves from the hull of the ship, hoping they had enough thrust to get themselves to a safe distance from the soon-to-be exploding starship.

4...3...2...1...

There was a flash of white light and the bridge was replaced with the familiar grids of the Athena's holodeck. Everyone was gone except for Zora, Savin, and Jerant. Zora looked at the final readings from her PADD and then smiled at Savin. "It's over, you can breathe now."