Space: The Final Frontier | Star Trek

"This session has been called to resolve a troubling matter." the council before us all announced as we sat in our red cadet uniforms, awaiting whatever it was that was so important that we all needed to be in the same room. "James T. Kirk, step forward."

Turning to Jim, who was sitting between Bones and me, I shot him a look. I suspected it had something to do with whatever he had pulled during his test the other day, but never did I imagine he would have done something bad enough to warrant a council meeting like this. 

"Cadet Kirk, evidence has been submitted to this council, suggesting that you violated the ethical code of conduct pursuing to regulation 17.43 of the Starfleet code." the council member explained as Jim stood from his seat and made his way down to the front of the room. "Is there anything you care to say before we begin, sir?"

"Yes. I believe I have the right to face my accuser directly?" Jim requested.

Just then, a man from the other side of the room, who was wearing a black uniform instead of a red one, stepped down to join Jim at the front. "This is Commander Spock." the council member introduced the new face to Jim. "He is one of our most distinguished graduates. He's programmed the Kobayashi Maru exam for the last four years. Commander."

Turning to Jim, the man with noticeably pointy ears, meaning he was most likely Vulcan, placed his hands calmly behind his back. "Cadet Kirk, you somehow managed to install and activate a subroutine in the programming code, thereby changing the conditions of the test."

Jim only shrugged. "Your point being?"

"In academic vernacular, you cheated." the council member dumbed it down for Jim. 

"Let me ask you something I think we all know the answer to." Jim turned to Commander Spock. "The test itself is a cheat, isn't it? You programmed it to be unwinnable."

"Your argument precludes the ability of a no-win scenario?" Commander Spock retorted, his confident expression and calm body language never faltering for a second. 

Jim practically laughed at that. "I don't believe in no-win scenarios."

"Then not only did you violate the rules, you also failed to understand the principle lesson."

"Please, enlighten me." Jim requested.

"You of all people should know, Cadet Kirk, a captain cannot cheat death."

The room suddenly filled with chatter at the blatant jab at Jim's father who had been killed in combat during a Starfleet exploration mission. Jim didn't like talking about it, and he certainly didn't like other people talking about it.

"I of all people?" Jim lowered his head in what I could only detect as embarrassment and sadness. 

"Your father, Lieutenant George Kirk assumed command of his vessel before being killed in action, did he not?" Commander Spock continued to make backhanded remarks about Jim's father.

Jim, in an attempt to deflect the criticism, simply responded with, "I don't think you like the fact that I beat your test."

"Furthermore, you have failed to define the purpose of the test ."

"Enlighten me again."

"The purpose is to experience fear." Commander Spock explained for not only Jim but the entire room. "Fear in the face of certain death. To accept that fear and maintain control of oneself and one's crew. This is a quality expected in every Starfleet captain."

With the sound of one of the doors sliding open, the room broke into small side conversations once more as a man walked in and approached the council. The two men spoke briefly before the council member looked up at all of us. "We've received a distress call from Vulcan. With our primary fleet engaged in the Laurentian system, I hereby order all cadets to report to hangar one immediately. Dismissed."