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RE: Act Two, Scene Two
Stardate: 53832.87
Just outside of the system: UIH-0351
USS Thunderchild, NCC-63549
Captain Vakath and Commander V'rol
Corridor of the Thunderchild
The seasoned Vulcan Captain nodded as he listened. The question was a logical one. He understood the importance of not making assumptions. "Yes I had my people check to see if any other modifications had been discovered. Aside from a virus which was uploaded in three parts. One part was uploaded while the Repulse was in Utopia Yards for engine refits. A second part my science and security teams have been unable to identify how it was uploaded, but our suspicions are that it came in to contact with our computer systems via a holographic recording. Though we have been unable to identify who or when the upload actually occurred. The third part of this virus was uploaded when we attempted to recover the stolen data from the USS Susquehanna. The data stream was used as a carrier for the last part of the virus. Then it infected our two sister ships before becoming active."
He paused a moment, "Its strange, we did not come to the conclusion that the two issues with the computer systems might be linked. It was in technique which was where they differ. The virus was very cleverly designed to remain hidden till it was too late. The modifications were more sloppy. No one in my staff or I consider these two issues to be from the same person. Unless you might have other information that might help our investigation."
Stardate: 53832.68
Just outside of the system: UIH-0351
USS Thunderchild, NCC-63549
Ensign Townsend, Ensign Habachi, and Lt. Jr. Noonia
Location: Holosuite 3
The battle was brutal as wave after wave of Jem'Hadar fighters made their attacks on the ship. While the fighter wings of the Thunderchild fought them back, the acting Captain, Ensign Habachi was forced to deal with a pair of Jem'Hadar attack cruisers. The battle was clearly pushing the young ensign to his limits as the damage reports keep coming in and the losses were mounting. It didn't take long for the holographic bridge of the Thunderchild to become a nightmare to any seasoned officer. For his credit Ensign Habachi held his cool much better than Lieutenant Noonia might have suspected. There were moments when the young ensign became flustered but he was able to regain his composure as the next wave of attacking Jem'Hadar fighters came in.
The young ensign was neither brilliant nor gifted. But hind sight was prefect vision. Using what he knew of the battle and how it played out, he was able to keep the ship alive. To even his own surprise, he was able to hold the lines long enough for the Thunderchild's wayward fighters to fight their way back from behind enemy lines. Keeping the fighters protected, he gave them a chance to land safely back aboard. The pounding that the Thunderchild took during the simulation was the same as of what really happened. With only a few more casualties, Ensign Habachi was able to save the five pilots before withdrawing from the battle ahead of the Breen warships' arrival.
With a smile on his face, he turned to Noonia, "See, it was possible to save the pilots" he said with that mater of fact tone in his voice. It was clear the battle had taken its toll on him. But the look in his eyes only solidified his opinion of Commander Bonham. He picked up his things and walked for the door. "It was an eye opener Noonia, I will give you that" he said pausing at the door, "The next time you are on an away mission and your life is on the line. You should pray that Commander Bonham isn't the one you have to count on to save your life."
Ensign Townsend looked to Lieutenant Noonia, "So those pilots could have been saved?"
Not wanting to let the experiment go on that, Lieutenant Noonia ran the simulation over sixteen times. For the rest of the day they watched holographic images of both Commander Bonham and Ensign Habachi. During each battle the computer played the roles of both Commander Bonham and Ensign Habachi. Each time the Thunderchild took a beating, each time the pilots' lives were on the line. Each time, Noonia had the parameters set so that the person in command would make all efforts to save the pilots. To Ensign Townsend and Lieutenant Noonia's surprise each had a equal chance of both success and failure. The only thing that the simulation proved was that the defining moment was in that choice.
Once main power was restored, the Thunderchild could flee the battle. It was a window which Commander Bonham had created in the way he positioned the ship during the battle. It was an untimely change of events which caused the fighters to become trapped behind enemy lines. A change that was completely unforeseen. The protagonist had a choice that would define the rest of the battle. To stay and continue fighting while attempting to rescue the fighters or flee and save what crew members remained. Failure in all the simulations meant the loss of the ship and all hands aboard. Success was no clear victory either. It ranged from being able to limp away with over half the crew dead or wounded to having similar out comes of what really happened. There was even a simulation where all five trapped pilots were killed before they could be rescued. Beyond that moment and choice, there was simply no way of being sure of success or failure.
Ensign Townsend looked to Lieutenant Noonia after waiting for the last of the simulations to run their course. "So what does all this mean? Were the pilots able to be saved?"
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Act Two, Scene Two
