Save'ena - Speed Run Best Time Ever Pt 1 of 2

Posted on Monday 14 January 2019 @ 13:09 by Commander Save'ena (Sav) Tillatix & Lieutenant Colonel Kachiko Bayushi

Mission: Academy Days
Location: San Francisco Star Fleet Academy Hanger
Timeline: 2391, Wednesday, November 13th, 11:42 am
2749 words - 5.5 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Sav was patiently waiting in a small room just off of the hanger bay for the cadet runabouts and fighters. She was in trouble, again, even though she was not sure why. The engineers and flight mechanics verified the runabout's black box data, the cadet event recorder, the computer system, and the propulsion system. Everything was on the up and up. But, she had not even gotten a word in edgewise as she was met by the class Teacher, that counselor who hated her, and two MPs and then marched to this room saying she would be proven a cheat. Why couldn't they just accept she beat the record time by ten minutes and let her have her moment of glory? She even came in second in her damage control class as another student deserved first place more than her, even though she could have been first. Hell, she would even do the course again with a passenger and show them it was her time.

What she didn't know was the record that used to be held by Cadet Joseph A. Kennedy, hot shot pilot with a nickname of 'Jak', had set the record with a small cheat program that would intercept his piloting at certain junction points on the course to speed up his time, and that program erased itself as it performed each of the fifteen maneuvers. Of course, it also helped that the Academy just accepted his speed run and no diagnostics were done or events matched with the recorder, and that record log was lost so no one would do a frame by frame analysis and realize his actions were behind what actually occurred when the program took over. That program was a present from his Dad's club to make sure that the name of Kennedy would always hold the record for the obstacle course as there was no way any pilot without a cheat aid would ever break that record. Except, now, that which was never supposed to happen, happened.

Outside, in the Heraclitus docking bay, certified independent Flight Analyst Engineers had locked down the runabout and all evidence, with full recordings and backups logged and sorted. The only thing not on hand was the runabout black box and the course run dump. Those were missing when the Analysts got to the runabout after hearing about the new speed run.

Unknown to all, Sav had a backup of the black box and course run, besides her own recording by her L'Tandrey wrist computer that had been on the read only feed used by instructors to monitor their charges actions in flying the craft. All were sealed and could only be opened by Captain Bayushi or Admiral Chen.

Just down the hall, in a secure meeting room, several officers and Chief Petty officers were pouring over the data, even as the Heraclitus was undergoing extensive scans and fourth tier diagnostics. Egging them on, and generally getting in the way, was a Bajoran counselor by the name of Lt. Rebecca Stilstein. She looked at them exasperated, saying, "Common, you have to have found something by now. Cadet Tillatix had to have cheated to beat Jak's run, no way could it be natural. Vice Admiral Kennedy wants answers, now."

The Field Judge, Warrant Officer 4 Reynard, kept his annoyance and thoughts to himself and kept focused on the task at hand. None of the Analysts or specialty programmers had found anything amiss, even on this third scan of the data and black box. The pilot, Cadet Tillatix, had just reacted with precision and timing, as well as some interesting tricks with maneuvering thrusters and z-controls that his group had never seen done by a cadet before. She was able to get the absolute best time possible for the obstacle course and its always changing asteroid fields that were part of the course. Senior Chief Petty Officer Osiran whistled lightly and showed off some of the flying maneuvers to the others, remarking under his breath this pilot would make one heck of a helmsman, if ever giving full leeway over a vessel.

Rebecca glanced at the door, then back to the crew, wondering when the signs of cheating would be found. Admiral Kennedy had said they would be there, just find them. She could not believe some of the remarks she overheard about this fake pilot, as though the speed run was real and not the result of cheating.

Unknown to Rebecca, Robert T. Kennedy was having some favors done up at his club to hack into the runabout. Just the fact of finding a hack would be enough to expel Cadet Tillatix. However, what he didn't know was since it was Cadet Tillatix, special security measures were in place by Vice Admiral Chen and the special deep intel ops A.I. was makings sure everything about the Heraclitus was remaining pristine and as is. The Hackers on the outside of the Academy found a 'honey pot', a fake Heraclitus to mess with, not realizing it wasn't the real thing. Of course, while the hacking was being done over multiple world net hops and disappeared behind ever changing address locations, the style of hacking was known to be from a group that always seemed to help out the club in question.

After several more minutes, Rebecca glanced again at the doorway, wondering how much more time they had before that annoying Advisor of the Cadet's would show up.

"I'm annoying, am I?" came the soft voice from immediately next to Rebecca's left ear. When she turned to look, there was no one there. When she turned back to her work, the voice returned, but next to her right ear, "I'm not over here, either."

WO4 Reynard saw Rebecca seeming to start to lose it, but then saw the quick message that came across the message terminal in front of the group. He discreetly pointed to it so the group would remain focused on the task and not what was going to happen next.

Still, Rebecca reflexively turned to look, again finding no one. Now she turned in a complete circle. Coming back to the fore, she was given a fright by the sudden appearance of a petite helmeted figure, whom shoved her back into the chair. Rebecca let out a small scream as the chair caught her from continuing onto the floor, where she was sure she was going to end up. She looked upon the helmeted figure before her with confusion. 'What in the Hell...?'

A few seconds later, the door opened and a stern-looking Vulcan woman with Chinese facial features stepped in wearing a heavy winter parka.

Rebecca looked aghast at the door having opened, when supposedly it was on full lockdown until WO4 Reynard gave the thumbs up, or down, to the flight, and it was to be a thumbs down, according to Admiral Kennedy. So, who the heck?!?

The helmeted figure spoke, "I have the data we need, Admiral."

"Very good, Captain," the Vulcanian woman replied in a flat tone,before she stopped in front of the seated Lieutenant. A dark eyebrow arched precipitously before the woman shook her head disapprovingly, "Lieutenant Stilstein, I'm afraid that you have been working on a lie."

"Do you know who I am, Lieutenant?"

Rebecca scrunched her features as her mind first turned thought, 'Who the hell are you and how did you get through those doors...', before remembering a briefing about Tillatix's Advisor being attached as a special guard for Vice Admiral Yu Xsin Chen.. and it dawned on her. She now said, "Vice Admiral Yu Xsin Chen? But, how did you get through the lockdown of the door? And, lie? You do realize that Cadet Joseph A. Kennedy has held that course record for over a decade, and analysts have concluded it could never be beat, not without cheating. So, Cadet Tillatix must have cheated, to get back at the Kennedy's for what happened at the campout, just like her false stories against Starfleet on her home world, she is a menace and should not be here."

"Are you accusing myself as to being party to cheating, Lieutenant?" The Vice Admiral deadpanned."I personally inspected the ship to ensure that there was no tampering. Perhaps we should bring in the field judge? Warrant Reynard?"

Rebecca opened her mouth to speak, but then shut it upon having the Field Judge called over. She didn't realize the Vice Admiral had inspected the ship as well, but... still, no way could any Cadet break the record without cheating, Admiral Kennedy had sworn by it. Her confident, her fast track to higher ranks, her lover, had swore by it. She looked over at WO4 Reynard and his squad of specialists.

Upon hearing his title called, Field Judge WO4 Reynard came over to the three. He politely said, "Admiral, Captain, glad to meet you two. Lt. Stilstein didn't like our findings and had us run another diagnostic on top of the first required two. Now, as far as any cheating goes, none happened. Cadet Tillatix just happened to make full use of the maneuverability of the runabout along with several flying tricks my boys and I have never seen done before, well, not by cadets, that is for sure. It's all on the up and up."

Rebecca snarled out, "That can't be. Admiral Kennedy assured me she had to have cheated as no one could have beaten his eldest son's record, no one."

"The Admiral is operating on pride, Lieutenant," Kachiko remarked."He doesn't believe it possible as it was his son whom had the previous course record."

WO4 Reynard looked over at his crew and said, "Bring up the simulation." On the holoviewer, a 3d representation of the course and runabout appeared. The top three speedrun times were shown on the right. Upon the mark by flight control, the runabout surged forward and reached top speed ahead of three other records running. Around the first turn, the runabout entered faster than it should, tumbled and shifted, and then was oriented and out of the turn at a high rate of speed. It entered the first leg of the asteroid belt, weaving and bobbing in ways usually only seen with veteran pilots. It even 'shift bounced' onto and off of an asteroid to remove more time off its own run. Next were the tight turns around Mar's moons, which were handled with the ship almost nose to the moons and extremely close in, missing the surface by centimeters. Out to the lagrangian point between the asteroid field and Mars. Here is where it got interesting as the flag to be planted there was launched from the ship only slowed down as it performed a seemingly random tumble, but yet the flag gently went to the point, being slowed by gravity, and coming to rest right at the null gravity point with equal pulls now onto it. The ship sped up again, more time gained as it did not have to stop to do its marker placement. The third leg, back through the asteroid belt, was again a marvel of flying, and then the race back to the starting point around the sharp turn once again. At the end point, the ship came across full speed, then time run showing a full 10 minutes faster than JAK's speedrun. The runabout now performed an up and around cutting speed, then did a 540 degree spin around with left/right barrel rolls, then landing right where it started with a waggle.

All during the run, Rebecca was open mouthed and muttering, "how did, what in the, how the heck, WTF, That's not possible, no effing way, huh?" etc.

WO4 Reynold did NOT show the actual flight data to Rebecca, but he did show it to Kachiko and Chen as the simulation ran. The use of the runabout flight systems during the run would be locked away later so others could not use the info to gain insight, or create cheat programs to try and win that way. He whistled slightly, saying, "The Cadet is flying like a veteran pro, and is very creatively flying to boot."

At the end, Rebecca turned to the three before her, a triumphant look on her face, and said, "I told you she cheated. No cadet can fly like that, never, it takes years to learn to do that. She must have had a program, HAH, I got you." What was unknown by Rebecca was the Kachiko had flown with Sav several times and Sav could do that flying, and more, and had been flying since age of 5, a natural.

"I can guarantee you that the Cadet is suitably capable, having flown second with her aboard my personal craft," the diminutive Marine Captain said after she finished removing the helmet. "Her flying skills are what initially drew Starfleet's attention and prompted the invitation to test for the Academy."

"Besides, I know a pilot whom is more than capable of flying very close to Miss Tillatix's ability and could while in the Academy. Dual-Ace fighter pilot Lieutenant Commander Karsel'lyn Lylyl-Llytherraias," Kachiko grinned at the Lieutenant.

Rebecca frowned at the name. It sounded so familiar. But, she had never seen a Cadet by that name come through. Of course, the Commander went through the academy before Rebecca came on board. Heck, Rebecca had only been there 18 months, and that thanks to Admiral Kennedy helping her get a posting with the Counseling Department. Then it hit her, that was the name of the Federation's Lead Pilot for their Blue Angels fighter group that showed off flying prowess of the best of the best at political and social events around the Federation and at neutral empires.

Rebecca now said, "She is very skillful now, but what about while in the academy? Why isn't her name on the ranking list?"

PO4 Reynard answered, "Miss Lylyl-Llytherraias," the Warrant Officer spoke her name slowly and haltingly. "Was not interested in competition."

"She also graduated the Academy well prior to the Dominion War, back before the competition grew so heated. Commander Lylyl-Llytherraias is the Aerospace Group Commander on the Shanghai, now," the Marine chimed in. "Also, the Warrant is right. Lyn is very much not interested in fame."

Rebecca's mouth dropped with an "Oh" as her mind caught up with the information. She took in a breath, then let it out. She looked at the three, then said, "So.. the data is up and up, the ship and black box checks out, and Cadet Tillatix is actually that good." She shook her head, frowning, then looked up at the three once more, a pleading look on her face, as she asked, "But... but.. how come Gerald, umm, Admiral Kennedy was adamant that she cheated and we would find proof... and..." She swallowed, then finished with, "and.. you said.. I been working on a lie?"

"I cannot disclose the reason for this discussion, young lady," the Vulcan Vice Admiral stated. "However, for your own sake, I recommend putting some space between yourself and the Admiral."

===== Debriefing Room 13 =====

Back at room Cadet Tillatix was in, the class instructer, Lt. Cmdr. David McCampbell, fighter ace, just like his far distant relative in WWII for the Allied Forces, waited for the results. David could not believe what was happening. He and his assistants had been out with Cadet Tillatix, and she was a natural and just plain silly good in a cockpit. She was always reserved, and it was he who told her to just be herself and get a record for a change. She did, and now this was happening with her.

Another MP showed up and let him know he was needed in the Consultation room and he would watch Tillatix. When David left, he informed the other two MP's he was going to check on Miss Tillatix, and to keep the door shut, just in case. He went in.

Sav was patiently waiting on a chair turned sideways. She looked up at the entering MP with a questioning look and a Churr. The MP smiled to her and told her he needed to ask some questions about her flight. Sav smiled and told him gladly. At first, the questions were light, and then the MP placed a small magnetic device on the wall.

TBC:

OFF

Cadet Save'ena Amilia Tillatix
Apollonia Sponsored Cadet
San Fransisco StarFleet Academy

(Marine) Captain Bayushi Kachiko
Academic and Student Life Advisor
Starfleet Academy, Earth