Posted April 25, 2022, 11 a.m. by Lieutenant Junior Grade T'Mara Michaels (Chief Science Officer) (S. Kimmel)
Posted by Lieutenant Jahok (Chief of Security / RTF Commander) in Kahs-Wan - Holodeck Program
Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade T’Mara Michaels (Chief Science Officer) in Kahs-Wan - Holodeck Program
The reddish brown of the city of Shikahr felt intrinsically alien to T’Mara, It was so different from the cities and planets that she knew. Yet this world, Vulcan not Earth, was the home of her race. It was supposed to feel like home. Or least familiar. T’Mara took a deep breath. With enough effort and enough time in the holodeck, it would accomplish that. From where she stood, she could see the towers of the main city and the surrounding desert.“Computer. Repeat basic description of Kahs-Wan,” T’Mara said.
“Kahs-Wan is the traditional survival test of adulthood for adolescent Vulcans. The child must survive ten days without food, water, or weapons. Once the trial is complete, the individual can claim the right to be considered an adult.”
T’Mara knew without any doubt that she couldn’t spend ten days in the holodeck but at least she could get enough of a feel for the trial to… T’Mara shook her head. That line of thinking was useless.
“Computer. Disengage safety protocols,” T’Mara said as she headed into the desert.
LtJg T’Mara Michaels
The computer’s soft voice interrupted the klingon opera Jahok selected to listen to while working on reports. “Attention,” It said, “Safety Protocols disengaged in holodeck one.” Now that got his attention. Jahok asked aloud, “On whose authority?” Holodeck safety protocols weren’t some simple on or off switch. To disengage it would take the work of a hacker or a high ranking officer. After a moment the computer answered, “On the authority of Lieutenant Junior Grade T’Mara Michaels.” That. . . was unexpected. Jahok locked his personal console and PaDDs, then grabbed his phaser before striding out of his office at a quick pace.
After some time he arrived before holodock one, “Computer, open holodeck doors.” The computer complied with his request and the doors slide open to reveal and unfamiliar desert under a red sky. Jahok paused under the threshold, studying the landscape before him. “Computer, what is the name of his holodeck program?”
The answer came a moment later, “Kahs-Wan Program”.
He didn’t know what that meant so he asked next, “What is this place?”
And the answer, “The desert outside the Vulcan city of Shikahr on planet Vulcan.” So this was Vulcan, but what brought Lt Michaels here? And why had she disregarded the safety protocols? Jahok didn’t like this so he set forth, following the Lt’s footprints in the sand. He’ll just have to find the Lt and ask her himself.
Lt Jahok COS/RTF Cmdr
Although T’Mara had never been through the Kahs-Wan, it hadn’t taken her long to formulate a strategy for dealing with it. Ten days without food would be unpleasant but easily survivable. Ten days without water would be more difficult particularly if you allowed yourself to become dehydrated. Most Vulcan youths would be driven to seek out water even though they were aware of the hazards that came with water; wildlife. Only the most highly adapted species could get all their water needs from food or the air. Most needed open water and that meant that predators would know to look for prey near open water. T’Mara’s plan was to avoid dehydration and that meant seeking shelter or at a minimum shade. The work involved in walking in sand would be draining so a rocky surface would be better. Less than a half kilometer there was a promising rock formation and after only a few minutes she was walking on reddish rocks.
The other hazard T’Mara saw in the Kahs-Wan was getting lost in the desert and her plan for dealing with that was to always keep the city in sight. As soon as she found an appropriate overhang where she could find shade through most of the day, she climbed to verify that she could still see.
It wasn’t the city that caught her attention though. There was a figure walking through the desert apparently following her footprints.
“Bipedal. Either a member of the crew or a holodeck simulation character as a Vulcan. Computer. Alter the appearance of my clothing to match that of a typical female Vulcan Kahs-Wan candidate,” she said. Her clothing instantly became a red hooded robe. It felt like there was something not quite right about the outfit but T’Mara’s estimate was that the approaching figure would only need four minutes and seventeen seconds to reach her position. She sat down on the rock. “Let’s see who and or what has decided to join me here.”
LtJg T’Mara Michaels
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