Writing Sample: Third-Person Prose
"Starfleet Command has received a distress signal from the USS Kobayashi Maru. The ship lost power and is stranded near the Neutral Zone. We have orders to rescue them."
Jim, perched in the captain's chair on the simulation deck, nods. "Helmsman, set a course. Best speed."
"Course set, sir."
"Engage warp. ETA?"
"Three minutes, sir."
Jim nods again, one hand gripping the arm of the chair. He's ready, this time. Last time he failed miserably but he's studied the conditions of the test and strategies others have tried, and considered all the possible tactics. He's got it this time.
He'll just ignore the roar of his blood in his ears, the pounding of his heart. He will not show the examiners how much last time's failure still stings.
"When we drop out of warp I want you to set an intercept course to the Kobayashi Maru, full impulse power--"
"Sir! The Kobayashi Maru reports two Klingon Birds of Prey have entered the Neutral Zone and have opened fire on their ship."
"--I want you to get right up close to the Kobayashi Maru, close as you can. Communications, status report of the ship?"
"They can't raise their shields, sir. Direct hit, decks 54-67. Casualty reports to follow momentarily."
Dammit. He isn't going to lose this before they even get there. "Red alert." The klaxon starts sounding. "Phasers to full."
"Phasers to full, aye, sir."
Jim swallows hard, forcing himself to inhale slowly. No sign that this is bothering him, he refuses to give anyone that satisfaction. "How much longer?"
"30 seconds until we drop out of warp, sir."
"As soon as you acquire a target you fire at will."
"Aye, Captain."
He counts down the seconds in his head. His head, he swears, not the heavy thump, thump of his heart. They drop out of warp and the two officers in front of him call out nearly in unison:
"Intercept course laid in, sir, full impulse power engaged."
"Target acquired, Captain, firing phasers."
In the half-second it takes him to untangle those reports another one is shouted. "Captain! Sensors report three additional Birds of Prey decloaking. They've locked phasers onto us."
"Evasive action, Helmsman, then resume intercept course--"
"Sir, we're being fired on--"
"Captain! The Kobayashi Maru has taken another hit! Six more decks report extensive damage--"
"Direct hit! Shields are holding but shield integrity has dropped to seventy-one percent--"
"Hold intercept course! Divert power to forward shields!"
"They have another phaser lock on us, sir--"
Jim grits his teeth a moment. "Return fire. Communications, alert Transporter Room and Shuttle Bay to prepare for transport and alert Sickbay to be prepared to receive transported crew."
"Aye, sir. Transporter Room, this is the Bridge--"
"One Bird of Prey disabled, sir, holding intercept course."
He registers pain in the tips of his fingers, forces himself to loosen his grip on the chair.
"Sickbay, this is the bridge--"
"Sensors report another phaser lock, sir, they're--"
The Communications and Science stations explode in a shower of sparks as the entire Bridge lurches. "Damage report!" Kirk barks, swiveling the chair to scan the Bridge.
"Direct hit, sir. Shields at twenty percent. We can't take another hit like that."
No. "Divert all available power to shields." No. No, no, no, I won't lose this.
"Sir, two more ships have decloaked."
No.
"They've locked phasers onto the Kobayashi Maru."
No. "Fire at will."
"They're firing, sir--"
"Direct hits--"
"...Sensors report the Kobabayashi Maru has been destroyed. Ships are replotting course to intercept us, sir."
No...
He's as stoic as can be as the simulation ends, reports are given and taken. Then he excuses himself and finds the nearest restroom.
It takes a full two minutes, six seconds for his hands to stop shaking enough for him to turn on the water. He splashes his face, studying his pale reflection in the mirror.
The afternoon sunshine bouncing off the building's white exterior seems extra harsh as he steps outside. A cleared throat and movement near one of the columns gets his attention. "Jim."
"Bones."
"I was just passing by." Like hell he was. "How'd it go?"
Jim just gives a terse shake of his head. McCoy frowns. "Look, you're supposed to fail it. We all fail it. I failed it. I just wasn't crazy enough to go back for seconds. Dunno what the hell got into you..."
Jim doesn't say anything. McCoy's expression softens, just a little. "C'mon," he drawled. "Let's go get a drink. Doctor's orders--you look like you need one."
Jim knows his friend is reading his silence as sadness, frustration, disappointment. He doesn't correct Bones, but he's feeling none of those things.
He's seething. Defeat the first time around stung--the repeat burns, devouring his insides.
There's no such thing as a situation that can't be won. He's going to beat this damn test, he decides as they set off across the quad.
Whatever it takes.