FADE IN:

27. INT.  CHARLIE ONE DELTA - DOUBLE ROOM (T’RESS & JENNIFER’S ROOM) - LATE NIGHT

It’s fairly dark inside, as someone tries to open the door as quietly as possible.

A female Vulcan 2nd class cadet sits at her desk with the back to the door.  This is T’RESS.

T’RESS
You may enter freely, Cadet Decker.

A female human 2nd class cadet, JENNIFER DECKER pokes her head in sheepishly, then enters normally.

JENNIFER
I didn’t think you’d be awake.

T’Ress turns and rises to greet her.

T’RESS
A logical assumption.  However, I am what I believe is termed a “night owl.”

JENNIFER
Good, so am I.  Jennifer Decker.

She offers her hand, then withdraws it.  T’Ress responds with arched eyebrow as Jennifer attempts her best Vulcan salute.

JENNIFER (CONT’D)
Peace and long life.  I think that’s the right greeting.

T’RESS
(impressed)
It is indeed.
(returning the salute)
Live long and prosper.  I am T’Ress.

JENNIFER
(concentrating)
T’Ress of Vulcan.  Major field of study is stellar plasma dynamics, but you spent a summer internship at the Daystrom Institute working on… subspace transmissions.

T’RESS
Most impressive.  Do you do this much research on all of your roommates?

JENNIFER
No.  I read the files on the entire team.
(modestly tapping her temple)
Eidetic memory.  If it’s in your file, I can probably quote you your favorite color.
(beat)
Blue?

T’RESS
Actually, I prefer green.

Jennifer lets out a short laugh, then stops herself.

JENNIFER
That wasn’t a joke, was it?

T’RESS
Vulcans do not joke, so it was not.
(beat)
However, I believe I understand how it could be taken as one.

JENNIFER
(smiling)
We’re going to get along just fine.

T’RESS
That would be desirable.
(beat)
May I ask what it was that kept you out until now?  It is after typical curfew.

JENNIFER
Practically my entire family was here for the ceremonies.  I had to say goodbye to everyone at the shuttle facility.
(beat)
And when I say my entire family, I’m talking about somewhere between twenty-five and thirty Deckers to deal with.

T’RESS
Ah.  I see.
(beat, thinking)
Decker?  Would that be–?

JENNIFER
(less than enthused)
Yes, it would be.  Commodore Decker, Captain Decker, Admiral Decker…  More brass than the Starfleet Academy marching band, as my Mom likes to say.
(beat)
Mom– that’s Lt. Cdr. Elaine Decker, First Officer on board the Akira.

T’RESS
You do not seem particularly excited about your… well-decorated lineage.

Jennifer gets up heads for the replicator.

JENNIFER
Oh, I’m very proud.  Of each and every one of them.
(re: the replicator)
Water?

T’RESS
Yes, please.  Then what, may I ask, is the problem?

JENNIFER
The problem is that of those dozens of Deckers to serve in Starfleet, not to mention all the ones in military service before that, were virtually all in command.  Sure, an engineer here and there, but for everyone else, it was the center chair or the pretty braiding on the uniform for them.

T’RESS
And yet, you decided to become a doctor.

JENNIFER
That’s right.  I wanted to make a difference, too, but I wanted to do it with my own two hands– with people right in front of me.
(beat)
Dad was not the happiest person when I told him.  But, they’ve gotten used to the idea.
(beat)
On a lighter note, do you have any idea when our first team meeting will be?

T’RESS
No, but I am somewhat familiar with our commanding officers.  They seem to be most effective.  I would expect they will contact us sometime tomorrow.

JENNIFER
You’re probably right.  I should get some sleep.  Good night, T’Ress.

T’RESS
Good night, Jennifer.

Both TURN IN behind their respective PRIVACY SCREENS.

CUT TO:

28. INT.  CHARLIE TWO ALPHA - JAREDAN’S DORM ROOM  - MORNING

The exact SAME SHOT as before, but now with early DAYLIGHT coming in the window.  The TERMINAL BEEPS insistently.  After a few BEEPS, Jaredan ENTERS out of the screen, in uniform.  He SITS DOWN on the sofa, and taps the terminal.

JAREDAN
Yes?

INSERT: TERMINAL SCREEN

Kara is there, looking worried.

The look on her face pushes the sleepiness from Jaredan’s.

KARA
We’ve got a problem.

JAREDAN
What is it?

KARA
I just got the latest simulator lineup.  Gamma Team is scheduled for a mission at thirteen hundred hours!

JAREDAN
A mission!?  But we haven’t even met yet!

KARA
The Sim Manager doesn’t care.
(beat)
You take the top half of the list, I’ll take the bottom.

JAREDAN
Got it.

The terminal winks out.  Jaredan grabs the PADD on the desk, and starts tapping.

CUT TO:

27. INT. ALPHA HOTEL - DAY

An ESTABLISHING SHOT of the area marked “TEAM CONFERENCE FACILITIES”.

28. INT. ALPHA HOTEL - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

The room is obviously meant to resemble a starship’s main conference room.  Seated around the table are Hikaru, Ki, Paran, Elena, T’Ress and Jennifer.  All are conversing in slightly nervous tones.  The door opens.  Jaredan and Kara ENTER, carrying PADDs.

JAREDAN
Great, everybody’s here early.

Jaredan and Kara sit, he at the head.

JAREDAN
Computer, begin conference log: Stardate 51155.32, 1045 hours– first official meeting of Cadet Team Gamma.

PARAN
(sotto voce)
First ever meeting.

Everyone laughs lightly.  It’s a good tension breaker.

JAREDAN
Everybody’s been introduced?
 (gets nods from team)
Good.  Okay, before we do anything else, let’s get to the important stuff.  Cadet Lionetti and I have been trying to beg, plead or cajole the Simulator Manager into giving us another time slot for our first mission…

KARA
(picking up)
All to no avail.  We have to report to Sierra Charlie, sim facility four at 1300 today.

A general grumble.

KARA (CONT’D)
However, we were able to get some information on the mission.

She raises her PADD as the rest of the team leans in.

KARA (CONT’D)
We’ll be crewing the bridge of the Excelsior-class starship Agincourt.

HIKARU
Agincourt?  Where have I heard that name?

JAREDAN
(quickly)
It’s the site of a medieval Terran battle.  Go on, Kara.

KARA
Our mission, ostensibly, is stellar cartography, but we all know that they’ll be throwing something much more interesting at us.
(beat, checking PADD)
According to the sim manager, it’s usually a first contact situation or a rescue operation.

She stops and turns to Jaredan.

JAREDAN
Thank you, Kara.
(beat)
Okay, we’ll work off of those two scenarios, then think about contingency plans.

Everyone starts tapping PADDs.

JAREDAN (CONT’D)
Anyone at the table with an A on the first contact procedures exam?

Jennifer raises her hand.

JAREDAN
(to Jennifer)
Cadet Decker, right?

JENNIFER
(nodding)
Jennifer Decker, that’s right.  First step in procedure is to maintain absolute communications silence until it’s confirmed that there is no reason to invoke the Prime Directive.

KARA
Good.  Let’s start the decisions tree from there.

The discussion trails off.

CUT TO:

31. VARIOUS EXT. SHOTS OF THE CAMPUS - EXT. BUILDING SIERRA CHARLIE - DAY

Making both the similarities and differences from a 20th-century institution sharp, we see Cadets milling around, sitting on benches and walking, as well as playing futuristic sports and hear them discussing warp physics and xenobiology, while shuttlecraft fly overhead.

32. INT. SIERRA CHARLIE - OUTSIDE SIM FACILITY FOUR - DAY

Gamma Team is assembled outside a door (turbolift-style) marked “MISSION SIMULATOR FACILITY FOUR”.  The SIMULATOR MANAGER (a CPO) is checking his PADD.

SIM MANAGER
Is your team ready, Cadet Aquino?

JAREDAN
Ready, sir.

SIM MANAGER
Then it’s time.

He presses a control beside the door, and it opens.  Blocking our view, Gamma Team ENTERS.  Once they’re all through, the Sim Manager closes the doors.

33. INT. SIM FACILITY FOUR - AGINCOURT BRIDGE - DAY

Gamma Team steps onto a mockup of an EXCELSIOR-CLASS BRIDGE.  Without hesitation, the team takes its positions. Conn (Hikaru) and Ops (Elena) stations are forward, Tactical (Paran) and Engineering (Ki) are portside, Science (T’Ress) and Medical (Jennifer) are starboard, Kara is in a central starboard station, right beside Jaredan in the Captain’s Chair (center seat).  Dialogue becomes terse and efficient.

JAREDAN
All stations confirm ready status.

KARA
First Officer ready.

HIKARU
Flight Control ready.

ELENA
Operations ready.

T’RESS
Science and Sensor station ready.

PARAN
Tactical and Security ready.

KI
Engineering ready.

JENNIFER
Medical and Life Support ready.

JAREDAN
(to Kara)
Signal ready status to simulator manager.

Kara nods and does so.  We then hear the Sim Manager’s VOICE.

SIM MANAGER (VO)
Ready status confirmed.  Simulation begins in thirty seconds.

The team waits silently, and you can almost hear them counting down.

3… 2… 1…  The LIGHTS BLACK OUT.

CUT TO:

34. EXT. SPACE - U.S.S. AGINCOURT AT WARP (CGI)

The long lines of the Excelsior-class starship look beautiful against the rainbow-colored warp stars.

CUT TO:

35. INT. U.S.S. AGINCOURT - BRIDGE - DAY

The LIGHTING and ATMOSPHERE have changed, and we are totally immersed in the simulated environment– we are really on a starship bridge.   The Crew (Gamma Team) is busy, but not hurried.

HIKARU
Entering Sector 312, sir.

JAREDAN
Thank you, Conn.  Lieutenant Reyes, inform Stellar Cartography to begin mapping.

ELENA
Aye, sir.
(beat)
Stellar Cartography confirms mapping begun.

Jaredan taps his armrest controls.

JAREDAN
Captain’s log, Stardate 51155.49: The Agincourt is currently in the process of mapping sector 312, and finding little of interest.

KARA
Maybe you’ll like this, captain.

JAREDAN
What is it, Commander?

KARA
Stellar Cartography is reporting something interesting.
(beat, into comm)
This is Commander Lionetti.  Transfer data to the main science station.

T’RESS
(perusing data)
Picking up a large electromagnetic pulse at bearing 203 mark 11, distance two light years.

JAREDAN
Is it a natural phenomenon?

T’RESS
Negative.  Also picking up a massive cloud of particulates and dust, some larger objects.  No further conclusions at this distance.

JAREDAN
It sounds interesting enough for me.
(to Hikaru)
Helm, lay in a course for the cloud, warp six.

HIKARU
Aye, Captain.  Course laid in.

JAREDAN
Engage.

HIKARU
Warp six.  ETA twenty-three minutes.

INSERT: FORWARD VIEWSCREEN

The STARFIELD GOES TO WARP.
CUT TO:

36. INT. SIMULATOR MONITORING STATION - DAY

The Sim Manager sits before a bank of monitors, displaying Facility 4: several views of the bridge and the viewscreen view.

SIM MANAGER
(to computer)
Come on, Gamma Team, don’t forget us…

On cue, the COMM BEEPS.  The Sim Manager acknowledges.  He is “hailed” by Kara.

KARA (VO)
(over comm)
This is the Starship Agincourt in Sector 312 to Starfleet Command.

SIM MANAGER
This is Starfleet Command, Agincourt, go ahead.

KARA (VO)
(over comm)
We have deviated from mapping duty to investigate anomalous debris and energy signatures.

SIM MANAGER
Acknowledged, Agincourt.  Report when you have made your initial assessments.

KARA (VO)
(over comm)
Understood, Command.  Agincourt out.

The Sim Manager touches a control.

SIM MANAGER
(into computer)
Gamma Team has begun section 2 of simulation.  As of this, all proper procedures have been followed.

He reaches forward, but is interrupted by the sound of DOORS OPENING.  He turns around.

Picard stands in the doorway.  Shocked, the Sim Manager snaps to attention.

SIM MANAGER
Captain Picard, sir!

PICARD
At ease, Chief.

SIM MANAGER
Can I help you, sir?

PICARD
(coming forward)
Gamma Team is currently in the simulator, correct?

SIM MANAGER
That’s right, sir.  I was just about to accelerate their time frame up to their intercept with the mission site.

Picard studies the monitors.

PICARD
Leave it be, Chief.  We’ve got wait for things out there, so they might as well learn it now.

SIM MANAGER
Yes, sir.
 

FADE OUT.

END ACT THREE