Part 7 (1/2)

All right. If they expected him to break under the pressure, to falter and whimper, they'd picked on the wrong cadet. He would stand tall and answer straight, bolstered by the certainty that he had done nothing wrong. Let the whole council have at him, if that was their wish. And he knew exactly how to begin.

”Yes, sir, I do. I believe I have the right under the same code of conduct to face my accuser directly.”

The commandant conferred briefly with the administrator on his right, then looked back. Not at Kirk but toward someone in the audience. A figure rose. It was humanoid but not human. At least, not entirely human. Kirk gazed venomously at his accuser. His accuser gazed right back. They had never met before.

The admiral continued. ”Cadet Kirk, this is Commander Spock, one of our most distinguished graduates. He's programmed the Kobayas.h.i.+ Maru Kobayas.h.i.+ Maru test for the last four years. And improved it considerably in the process. At least, it was regarded as improved until your last run-through threw many of the modifications into question.” test for the last four years. And improved it considerably in the process. At least, it was regarded as improved until your last run-through threw many of the modifications into question.”

”Cadet Kirk.” The Vulcan's voice was deceptively controlled. ”Much time was spent a.s.sessing relevant information following your recent taking of the test in question. Upon careful review it became clear that you activated a subroutine that had been embedded in the programming code, an insertion that somehow succeeded in evading all protective firewalls and resets, thereby changing the conditions of the test.”

Kirk forced himself not to sneer, knowing that was one stance that would not go down at all well with the council. ”Your point being?” he responded austerely.

”In academic vernacular,” Admiral Barnett elucidated coolly, ”you cheated.”

At such moments there are two kinds of silence: dead quiet, and quieter than dead. The latter now gripped the entire a.s.sembly hall.

”Respectfully,” Kirk shot back, not the least intimidated by his accuser's serene confidence, ”you wouldn't accuse me of cheating unless you knew something I don't. The test's rigged, isn't it? I pretty much figured that out after I failed it the second time. Follow-up research into four years of preceding failures that I carried out on my own time only confirmed what I already suspected. You programmed it to be unwinnable. Given the available parameters, there's no way of saving the Kirk shot back, not the least intimidated by his accuser's serene confidence, ”you wouldn't accuse me of cheating unless you knew something I don't. The test's rigged, isn't it? I pretty much figured that out after I failed it the second time. Follow-up research into four years of preceding failures that I carried out on my own time only confirmed what I already suspected. You programmed it to be unwinnable. Given the available parameters, there's no way of saving the Kobayas.h.i.+ Maru Kobayas.h.i.+ Maru and its crew and pa.s.sengers. So the only way to win is to alter the parameters.” and its crew and pa.s.sengers. So the only way to win is to alter the parameters.”

The Vulcan's stare had not s.h.i.+fted, nor had his equanimity. ”I fail to see how that is relevant to these proceedings.”

”Don't you? Allow me to enlighten you, Commander. If I'm right, if my a.s.sumptions and research are correct, then the test itself itself is a cheat.” is a cheat.”

”Your argument precludes the possibility of a no-win scenario.”

Kirk bridled. He wanted to throw more than just words at the Vulcan. But he could not do so here, now, in this place. Another time and place, however...

”I don't believe believe in no-win scenarios.” in no-win scenarios.”

”Then not only have you violated the rules,” the commander informed him calmly, ”you have failed to understand the princ.i.p.al lesson that is embodied in the test.”

Kirk almost bowed. ”I abase myself before your superior knowledge. Please, enlighten me.”

”Gladly. A captain cannot cheat death. The inevitable must be met with as much skill and resolution as possible. When 'winning' is self-evidently not an attainable goal, the objective must be to preserve and protect as much as one can. That is a captain's task. That is the task of whoever is forced to take the Kobayas.h.i.+ Maru Kobayas.h.i.+ Maru test. To achieve what can be achieved when survivability is no longer an option. To achieve-not to evade.” test. To achieve what can be achieved when survivability is no longer an option. To achieve-not to evade.”

Kirk replied hastily, but he couldn't help himself. As it was, it was all he could do to keep from charging across the aisle and slamming his fist into that smug Vulcan face.

”Maybe you just don't like that I beat your test.”

If his response was intended to elicit an emotive reaction from his accuser it did not come close to succeeding. ”I am Vulcan. 'Like' is not a verb in our vernacular. I fail to comprehend your indignation,” the Vulcan confessed. ”I've simply made the logical deduction that when considering your recent performance and your rationalization for the actions you took, that you're a liar.”

Kirk feigned astonishment. ”What an idiot I am for taking that personally.”

”At last: something on which we are agreed. Management of a crisis situation depends on a captain's certainty that the crew can and will follow orders no matter how desperate or seemingly hopeless the circ.u.mstances in which they find themselves. By artificially altering those circ.u.mstances you introduced an element that was outside the given parameters of the test. As a consequence those cadets under your 'command' had their own responses compromised. To satisfy your own base need to win at all costs, you were willing to sacrifice their performance ratings.”

A murmur rose from some among the a.s.sembled. Its tone was not complimentary. Feeling the argument slipping away from him, Kirk tried to counter the Vulcan's a.n.a.lysis.

”A crisis is by definition a surprise. And a surprise by definition has no parameters. It is whatever it is at the moment it announces itself. Consequently any action taken to counter it is self-evidently valid. Which justifies my my actions. In a real-life crisis situation it's often the actions taken outside accepted rules, regulations, and actions. In a real-life crisis situation it's often the actions taken outside accepted rules, regulations, and parameters parameters that result in success. Following the rules-going by the book, if you'll excuse the cliche-is frequently the quickest path to disaster. Surprise needs to be met with surprise-not predictability. Not by a s.h.i.+p, not by its crew, and not by its captain. Evidently we espouse different approaches to crisis management, Commander. 'Crisis management'-taken at face value, there's no rule book for that result in success. Following the rules-going by the book, if you'll excuse the cliche-is frequently the quickest path to disaster. Surprise needs to be met with surprise-not predictability. Not by a s.h.i.+p, not by its crew, and not by its captain. Evidently we espouse different approaches to crisis management, Commander. 'Crisis management'-taken at face value, there's no rule book for that.” that.”

The Vulcan did not lack for a response to the accused's diatribe. ”Given that your experience in s.p.a.ce travel is limited to the day of your birth and a modest subsequent travel interval, you lack the experience necessary to make that judgment. You advocate a methodology based on a.s.sumption and emotion, not familiarity and knowledge.”

”Have you you taken the test, Commander Spork?” taken the test, Commander Spork?”

”Spock. As a Vulcan, I require no additional training to control my narcissism when making command decisions. They are and will always be invariably based on reason, logic, and the As a Vulcan, I require no additional training to control my narcissism when making command decisions. They are and will always be invariably based on reason, logic, and the facts as they exist in reality. facts as they exist in reality. Not as we might Not as we might wish wish them to be in order to conveniently fit some private notion of how the universe is supposed to operate.” them to be in order to conveniently fit some private notion of how the universe is supposed to operate.”

Another round of murmuring drifted through the a.s.sembled cadets, and for the second time Kirk was aware that he had lost a point in the ongoing debate. At this rate he would not have to worry about being appointed valedictorian. Several additional exchanges like the most recent one and he would find himself cas.h.i.+ered right out of the Academy and on his way back to Iowa.

That scenario frightened him far more than anything the council might do to him.

Despite the Vulcan's seemingly una.s.sailable rhetorical brilliance Kirk was not lacking for a comeback. He was about to propound it when an officer unexpectedly appeared and marched smartly up to the dais. Handing a hard copy to the commandant, he leaned over and whispered something in the admiral's ear. This was followed by a short, tense exchange of words. As the intruding officer stepped back, Admiral Barnett rose from his chair. The eyes of the other council members as well as those of every cadet in the amphitheater locked on the commandant.

”This is a Red Alert-all officers are to report to duty stations. All graduating cadets, report to your barracks' officers in hangar one for immediate a.s.signment. This is not a drill. I repeat-this is not a drill.”

There was doubtless more, a lot more, but it was forestalled by the Academy commandant as he rose to his feet. His gaze swept quickly over the a.s.sembled anxious faces-all of which, he reflected, were far too young for what he was about to tell them.

”This hearing is at recess until further notice. a.s.sembly dismissed, attendees to comply with all applicable alert regulations.” Turning and moving fast, he exited out the back of the amphitheater. The rest of the council was close on his heels, talking animatedly among themselves.

A sea of brightly colored uniforms was set in motion as cadets hurried, under control but moving fast, toward the exits. Some conversed loudly and excitedly with friends. Others broke into a run to beat the rush. No one lingered, wanting to be the last out.

Except Kirk. The center of attention a moment earlier, he had been completely forgotten. Abandoned to himself between a.s.sembly and council dais, he gazed as if paralyzed at his rapidly emptying surroundings. As he stood there, a familiar figure pa.s.sed quickly. Unlike during some of their previous encounters, this time Captain Christopher Pike was all business. He spoke tersely in pa.s.sing.

”Cheating isn't winning.”

Left alone with that, Kirk stood in silent contemplation of what had so unexpectedly and shockingly befallen him. A hand on his shoulder brought him out of his reverie.

”Come on, Jim. You heard the order.”

He shook himself. ”Yes. But the accusation?”

McCoy smiled. ”Didn't you hear the commandant? Recessed. School recess, but not the kind you remember. Let's move.”

Nodding, Kirk followed his friend out into the corridor. There they quickly found themselves caught up in the flow of uniforms. The atmosphere was thick with excitement and tension. Not with fear; not yet. No one knew why the alarm had been sounded. ”This is not a drill.” Which was not conclusive proof they were not not embarked on a drill. Starfleet could be infuriatingly fickle about such matters, particularly when a graduating cla.s.s was involved. Still, they had no choice but to proceed as if the announcement had been based on an unknown reality instead of some bureaucrat's idea of a clever test. Any cadet who reacted by treating the broadcast as fake would likely wind up a candidate for quick dismissal from the service. embarked on a drill. Starfleet could be infuriatingly fickle about such matters, particularly when a graduating cla.s.s was involved. Still, they had no choice but to proceed as if the announcement had been based on an unknown reality instead of some bureaucrat's idea of a clever test. Any cadet who reacted by treating the broadcast as fake would likely wind up a candidate for quick dismissal from the service.

Just as Kirk had been on the verge of becoming. Talk about the hand of Fate. First it had smacked him across the face and knocked him for a loop. Now it was dusting him off and sending him on his way. At least, it was for as long as his trial was in recess, he reminded himself. His trial. His trial. His expression darkened as he glanced over at McCoy. His expression darkened as he glanced over at McCoy.

”Who was was that pointy-eared b.a.s.t.a.r.d?” that pointy-eared b.a.s.t.a.r.d?”

McCoy shook his head. ”I don't know-but I like him.”

To a visitor it might have looked as if the main hangar was consumed by panic. What an outsider took for chaos was in fact organized frenzy. Everyone was in motion, no one was standing still. Cadets and other personnel were reporting to stations as their a.s.signments were delivered and occasional conflicts sorted out. Maintenance personnel ignored them all as they proceeded with preparations for launching several dozen shuttles. Support teams checked out s.h.i.+ps and loaded equipment. Everyone knew their job, everyone knew where they were supposed to go-if only, in the case of the anxious cadets, to learn their eventual destination.

The commandant's voice boomed over the swirling ma.s.s of Starfleet personnel, not all of whom were human or even humanoid.

”We have a crisis situation. We have received a distress call from Vulcan. Further details will be forthcoming, but as of this moment you are no longer cadets, you are Starfleet officers. I'm afraid that for this year's cla.s.s the usual graduation ceremonies will have to be postponed. Your official certifications will be placed in your files, which may be inspected at your leisure-once you are in s.p.a.ce. I apologize in advance for any omissions. All complaints due to oversights will be duly reviewed. In any event, you will not have time to monitor their progress. Listen for your a.s.signments. If you do not hear your name called, check with the nearest senior officer.”