Test Pilot Wanted

Posted on Tue Sep 22nd, 2020 @ 5:35am by Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani & Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar

Mission: Season 3: Episode 5: Shoreleave
Location: Holodeck 4
Timeline: Current
789 words - 1.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Arrianna worked on a PADD containing data. She had sent for one of the flight control officers for a project. These simulations were for a project she intended to pitch to some engineers. Within the holodeck was a simulator for something Miraj had not seen before.

Unsure what the summons was for, Miraj turned up at the holodeck burning with curiosity. Scientists could have anything up their sleeves. Though hopefully nothing explosive. Though you could never tell. Only one way to find out, so she headed in. "You asked to see me, ma'am?"

"Ah good, Ensign. Nice to see you." Arrianna mentioned. "I'm in need of a respectable pilot for this simulator, and I've worked on a combat simulation for you. Can you step into this simulator?" Arri noted.

"Combat simulation, ma'am? Are we expecting trouble?" Miraj looked at the strange device. It didn't look like a normal cockpit. It was mostly empty for a start. Holographic generator then. She stepped inside and waited for whatever set of controls she was going to get to come up.

A very intuitive interface appeared in this simulated cockpit. If Miraj looked around, she'd notice she was flying a very small ship that looked like it couldn't even fit a human. "Ensign" Arrianna spoke. "I'm creating your first opponent." A Borg Probe appeared.

"Try attacking this vessel, your ship's weapons controls should be quite straight-forward."

Miraj twisted the stick, and the tiny vessell tumbled away from the cube's strobing phasers. Miraj chortled. In moments she was ducking and spinning around photon torpedos and flashing phasers with a giddy grin.

There was just one problem. "I don't attack ships Ma'am. I can't shoot for shit." It was true. She'd spent two weeks in the fighter shchool. She'd flown rings around students and instructors alike, and no-one could touch her. But she couldn't pull the trigger. She'd had the killer instinct of a sleepy bunny.

Arrianna typed on a PADD. "I'll need to get a tac officer in here so I can get data on weapons performance, but the performance of a drone ship against a borg ships is spectacular. With out the capability of individual creativity, a collective mind suffers from, how should I put it, the inability to contemplate the unpredictable. They consider it irrelevant. This is valuable ensign. A collective mind of billions is worthless when it only grasps cold, emotionless logic, they cannot grow because emotion, creativity, initiative, and ambition has been denied to them." Arrianna disengaged the test.

"Intriguing, this data is indeed valuable. And it supports the idea we can out-think the Borg in ways they cannot grasp, Ensign." Arri noted. "You may be exactly what I need for this. I have a proposition for you, Ensign. And it would supplement your career in starfleet a great deal."

"I need four thousand hours at helm to qualify for the test pilots program at Planetia Utopia. Will this count?" Miraj had been aiming for that ever since she heard it existed. To fly Starfleets newest ships and most experimental engines. It would be being paid to breath.

Arrianna brought up a viewscreen in the Holodeck. "When my people were driven from our homeworld by the Borg. Empress Anara gathered the best of our scientists, engineers, and soldiers and created an initiative to learn all we can about the Borg, develop new technologies and strategies that could defeat them, and negotiate new alliances that could turn the tide against them. And for two hundred years, we've done just that. It's only been recently we've began to recruit and share our knowledge with the Federation." Arri explained. "And we've already had many people sign on for this. Interest from Scientists and Officers across the Federation."

"I'm probably not the best for fighting borg." Miraj admitted "But if its got engines, I can fly it. And to be honest, engines are usually optional. I'm used to flying ships that are barely functional."

Arri spoke. "Anyone can contribute to this effort. Our goal is what is irrelevant because our victory lies within the irrelelvant." She noted. "We'll need more tests and trials, of course, but this initial simulation seems promising. Do you want to assist in this effort?"

"I'm always ready to fly something new." Miraj agreed. "Just don't expect to try and shoot anything. I'm more likely to get other people killed rather than the enemy."

Arri responded. "It's not the kill count when it comes to the Borg, Miraj. We have to use what they consider irrelevant against them. And you may have skill in this area. Welcome to the Initiative." The Alindari smiled.

[OFF]

Ens. Miraj Derani
ACFCO
USS Elysium

Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar
Chief Science Officer
USS Elysium