Title: The Field Trip
Author: Stephen Ratliff (sratliff@runet.edu)
Series: TNG, Marrissa Stories
Part: REP 1/1

Version: 1.40

Revision Status:  
Complete: Prologue, Chapters 1-2

This is a work of fiction, any relation to real people, events, or places are a 
product of the author's imagination.  

Disclaimer:
Star Trek and its environment, and inhabitants are property of the great and 
powerful Paramount.  The lowly author is merely borrowing them between episodes 
an seasons.  He hopes to return them all the better for their journey.  The 
story is his.

Prologue

Personal Log
Marrissa A. Flores
STARDATE 45924

	My mom suggested that I start keeping this log as a way to express my 
hopes and dreams and to record my day like I use to tell her.  Mom’s been too 
busy since Lieutenant Worf put her in charge of new officer orientation. 
	I think I should begin with who I am.  I’m ten years old and I live on the 
starship Enterprise.  I’m an A-B student for the most part.  My only problem in 
school is Alien Language.  I just can’t grasp them.  I like school on the 
Enterprise, with one exception.  It’s not the subject matter, nor the teacher 
(although my classmates say that Lieutenant Allen was Dead on Arrival), but the 
other students in Computing Fundamentals.  Comp Fun is generally taught on an 
interest basis to eight year olds, but their wasn’t enough interest in the past 
two years, so I had to wait.
	My problem with my classmates is they don’t seem to want to learn.  Jay 
and Alexander are always getting caught playing video games in class.  Shayna 
plays practical jokes on everyone.  At least Clara appears to be studying in 
class ... although I don’t think it’s always Comp Fun.
	Tomorrow we’re going on a Field Trip to the Daystorm Institute for 
Computer Science.   It’s nothing we can’t see on the Holo-deck, but Clara at 
least thinks it will be interesting. 

Close Personal Log.


Chapter One
 
	Marrissa was the last to arrive for the field trip.  Lieutenant Allen was 
standing by the shuttle’s rear door.  "Glad you could make it, Marrissa," he 
said.  "Please take a seat."
Marrissa took the remaining seat.  As she sat down, a whoopee cushion made 
it's incriminating sound.  Everyone laughed, and Marrissa glared at Shayna and 
handed the whoopee cushion to Lt. Allen as he passed by.
        As he reached the cockpit he turned and said, "Behave on this trip or 
there won't be any more."  He turned back into the cockpit and sat down in the 
Co-Pilot seat ... on a whoopee cushion.  The Lieutenant looked up at the ceiling 
and shook his head, while removing the offending item.
        Ensign Throwaway entered the shuttle and sat down.  The rear of the 
shuttle closed and Lt. Allen said, "Shuttle April to bridge, Request permission 
depart for Archer IV from Shuttle bay Two."
        "Bridge to Shuttle April," Commander Riker's voice said.
"Permission granted, now relaying departure coordinates."
        "Coordinates received," Ensign Throwaway announced. "Shuttle bay doors 
opening." 
        "Depart when ready, Bridge out."
        "Leaving shuttle bay 2 now, April out," Lt. Allen said.
        The shuttle moved out of the shuttle bay, between the warp engines.  It 
turned right and slightly up and went in to warp.

Personal Log
Marrissa Flores
In route to Archer IV
	I really wish Shayna would stop those practical jokes.  I really hate 
them.  It will probably only happen in my dreams.
	I think my hopes and dreams were the next things I was planing to write 
about.  When I was little, I use to want to be a Princess.  It is my Dad's 
nickname for me.  Of course you have to be born a Princess, and eventhough my 
Mom calls Dad her "Prince Charming," I don't think Dad's a Prince.  He's too 
much of a rough and ready man for that.  Princes are supposed to be handsome, 
always dashing to the fair maiden's defense.  They're supposed to dress well, 
talk well, and be above petty squabbles.  Dad isn't.
	My teachers think I'd be a good Scientist.  I probably could be, if I gave 
up my other activities and devoted a lifetime of study too it.  I'm not ready to 
do that yet.  I have too much fun going camping, riding horses, and playing the 
piano.
	Not that science isn't fun, and I've done some fun things as a result of 
my interest in it.  Like the tour with the Captain.  I know a tour given by 
Captain Picard is not exactly known as a fun event.  He is known for being 
uncomfortable around children.  And the first try at the tour wasn't exactly a 
success.  He was obviously unsure about how to deal with us, but after my 
science project hit, he got the idea to make us officers.  This gave him a role 
that he knew how to deal with us though.
	I'd say that he learnt quite a bit by the time the second time the tour 
was attempted.  We visited the Battle Bridge, the Torpedo Bay, and he even had 
Commander La Forge show us the dilithium crystals.  But for me the highlight was 
the visit to Stellar Cartography.  While working on my science project, 
"Distribution and Movement of Quantum Filaments," I had used many 3-D 
projections of the location of the known Filaments.  However none of them where 
like Stellar Cartography.  That display made mine look like preschool scribble. 

	The shuttlecraft shook, jolting Marrissa out of her writing.  Over the 
speaker came the announcement, "Heave to and prepare to be boarded."  The 
recording was filled with static and sounded old, almost as if the broadcaster 
had recorded it from an old Earth pirate movie.
	Lieutenant Allen took the shuttle out of warp, diving into a nearby 
planetary system.  There was no time to send a distress signal, as the red 
stylized batwing vessel pursued.  His co-pilot struggled to keep the necessary 
systems working as the enemy pounded on the small craft.  It dodged left and 
right the purple phaser bolts of the enemy vessel.  As it neared the planet the 
enemy scored an glancing shot on the impulse engine. 
"Lieutenant, I've lost helm control," Ensign Throwaway announced.  "We are 
going to crash land."
Back in the cabin panic reigned.  Then into the chaos the shy Marrissa's 
voice rang out.  "Take your seats.  If you sit down, turn around and shut up 
then we will get though this."
Meanwhile in the cockpit things were improving.  "We are regaining helm 
control," Ensign Throwaway announced.  Then all the sudden things got much 
worse.  A purple bolt hit the shuttle sending a pulse of electricity shot 
thought the hull hitting the Starfleet officers.  They slumped over the console, 
dead. 


Chapter Two

In the Cabin of the Shuttle April, Shayna noticed the crew's death and 
sweared.  Clara fainted. The boys were silent, their eyes staring blankly at the 
two officers slumped over the console.
        "We are going to die," Jay moaned.
        "No, you are not," Marrissa said, calmly yet loudly.  "Jay what was the 
name of the game that the teacher took from you last week?"
        "Shuttle Disasters, Why?" Jay replied.
        "Take the helm," Marrissa said.  "I saw your high score, and I know you 
can land us safely.  Alexander from what I have over heard you discussing with 
Jay, I think you would make a good copilot for him.  Now snap to it." Jay and 
Alex took off for the cockpit.  "Shayna stop swearing, it's unladylike.  Try to 
revive Clara."

In the cockpit, Jay and Alexander pushed the dead bodies aside and took 
the controls.  "Alex try to level us off," Jay ordered.  "I'll try to steer us 
down safely."
"Angle of decent, cut to 60 degrees," Alexander said.  "6 thousand 
meters."
"Try to cut it to 30 by 3 thousand," Jay said as Marrissa and Shayna 
entered the cockpit and removed Lt. Allen. 
"3 thousand meters, angle of decent 28 degrees," Alexander said.
"Level us off at 15 hundred and begin looking for a landing site," Jay 
said.  Marrissa and Shayna returned to the cockpit to remove Ensign Throwaway.  
"Any suggestions for a landing site, Captain?"
"Some place with a water source and burn-able vegetation nearby," Marrissa 
said.  "Shayna you take the feet this time."  As they began moving the Ensign 
back into the cabin she continued.  "By the way Jay, when did I become Captain 
to you?"
"When you took command a few moments ago." Jay replied.
"That makes me captain?" Marrissa asked.
"The commander of any vessel has the right to be called Captain," Jay 
replied.  "Alex height and angle of decent?"
"1613, 10 degrees," Alexander replied.
"I will have to take command more often.  That's one title I like," 
Marrissa said.  "Please land us as so as you find a spot.  It's easier to spot 
an moving shuttle than a hunk of metal on a planet."
"Now changing coarse, bearing 256," Jay said.  "I'm bringing us down."

	The shuttle did not have a good landing.  It was controlled, somewhat, but 
that was all that could be said about it.  Jay bounced the shuttle, once, twice, 
before making a long slide on the beach.  The Shuttle came to rest with it's 
front end slightly tipped into a shallow stream.  A splash of water came up, as 
they stopped.

The cabin was quiet after the landing.  The children looked unharmed, if a 
little shaken.  "Clara, hand me my tricorder," Marrissa said.  Clara handed 
Marrissa the instrument and Marrissa scanned though the wall of the shuttle.  
"The atmosphere is breathable in fact it's almost perfect outside. Open the 
door."
Shayna hit the code and the rear of the shuttle opened up. Outside the sky 
was a clear blue.  The beach was of yellow sand.  Off the beach there a lot of 
purple leafed trees.  In fact it was a regular forest of purple.  The ground 
cover was as thin bladed grass greenish blue in color.  Beyond the clear blue 
lake were purple tree covered mountains.  Clara and Shayna stood admiring the 
view.
"I hate to interrupt you, but we better get ready to move away from here," 
Marrissa said.  "Unless you want to be captured.  Jay, find the communicators 
and distribute them.  Alexander the phasers.  Clara, I want 3 days meals for 
each of us in backpacks.  Shayna ready all the booby trapping material you can 
find.  I want the shuttle trapped to annoy the guys who fired on us but with 
stuff we can remove without harming ourselves."
"What will you be doing Captain?" Jay asked.
"Getting out the survival gear," Marrissa replied.  "You'll want something 
to sleep on tonight."
"What about Lt. Allen and the co-pilot?" Jay asked.
      "Put them in body bags and hide them in the woods," Marrissa said.  "That 
is yours and Alex's next job.  Thank you for volunteering, Jay."

        A half-a-hour later, the children gathered in front of the shuttle.  
During their preparations they discovered a stream in front of the shuttle.
        "In order to avoid capture we will be finding a new shelter," Marrissa 
began.  The detailed survey of this planet tells me that this stream's source is 
a cave about a half a mile from here.  We will shelter there."
        The five children then picked up their bags and headed upstream into the 
forest.



Chapter Three
 
"What a beautiful day," Marrissa said.
        "If you like hiking though woods, in a stream, with heavy loads on your 
back," Clara replied bitingly.  "Why you have us carrying these rolls of foam 
and blankets is beyond me."
        "You will thank me for them tonight," Marrissa said.  "Cave floors are 
hard."
        "How much farther?" Shayna asked.
        "Not much farther," Marrissa replied.
        "You are enjoying this, Marrissa, aren't you," Jay observed.
        "My parents like to take camping trips when on leave," Marrissa said.  
"I recommend Yellowstone and Yosemite on Earth for camping. Excellent views, 
hiking trails and camping sites."
        "You expect up to stay overnight?" Jay asked.
        "Yes, the Enterprise is a good couple hours away, minimum," Marrissa 
replied.  "It will be dark in an hour."
        "How much farther?" Shayna asked.
        "Would 10 meters do?" Alexander, who had been leading the way said.
        Alexander was standing between two trees.  Past those trees a clearing 
opened up.  A small stream meandered thought the blue-green turf from a large 
rock.  About 30 degrees from the stream's intersection with the rock a cave 
opened up to the air.
        "Let's put our stuff in the cave and start trapping the clearing," 
Marrissa ordered. "Dinner will be at sunset."
[Add description of cave]
        Meanwhile the alien vessel had launched a shuttle.  It was all black 
with a rounded cylinder for a main body and bat-like wings.  Near the outer edge 
of the wings were yellow spikes which appeared to be its means of propulsion

[Enhance discussion, adding additional description]
        Back on the planet, descending shuttle's trail was seen in the sunset.  
The sunset was beautiful.  The sun was red on the horizon sending red lines 
along the purple mountains tops.  The sky was a beautiful shade of orange.  Even 
the bright yellow path of the enemy shuttle harmonized with the scene.
        "Looks like we are about to have company," Alexander said finishing a 
trap.
        "It's too early for the Enterprise to have arrived," Jay replied joining 
Alex.  "Marrissa says dinner is ready."
        "Good, I'm starved," Alexander said as they retreated to the cave.  "I 
just hope they don't attack during dinner."
        "You really think that they can walk here in a half an hour, in the 
dark, though all the traps we left behind," Jay asked.
        "No," Alexander said, "but we must be ready."
        "Marrissa has that taken care of," Jay replied.

        Meanwhile the enemy shuttle was landing on the beach by the shuttle 
April.  Making a joke as to the qualifications of the April's pilot, which had 
Jay heard and understood would have resulted in serious harm to the pilot, the 
enemy pilot exited the front of the ship.
        He like the rest of his comrades were flat black in color about seven 
feet tall.  The entire group had mustard yellow hair braided with ribbons. They 
wore black body armor, which accented their over muscled body.
        The ribbons in the pilot's hair were black and green.  Another alien's 
ribbons were black, red, and purple.  The remaining three had black and gray 
ribbons.
        The five fell out in a formation protecting the enemy with the black, 
red, and purple in a protected position.  They rounded of the April to it's open 
rear.
        The black, red, and purple one motioned for a gray ribboned alien to 
enter the shuttle.  As he entered a puff of red dust shot out at him.  He began 
to sneeze.  Soon, however the sneezing turned into a seizure and he fell to the 
ground twitching and died.
        The leader sent a seconded gray ribboned into the shuttle, vaporizing 
the first.  This one made it into the cockpit were a foul smelling mist 
descended on him.  His black face began to lighten.  He left the shuttle and 
informed the leader that the shuttle was empty.
        Then the leader sent the pilot in.  The pilot sat down in the CO-pilot 
seat and tried to access the computer.  The computer remained blank and the 
pilot's hands began to itch.
        Both the leader and the pilot being frustrated they spied a path though 
the sand into the forest.  The leader ordered his men (or maybe women) into the 
forest.  The third gray ribboned took the lead.  The pilot was second and the 
leader third.  The second gray ribboned was last, his face now a pale gray.

Chapter Four

Personal Log
Marrissa Flores
First Day on the Planet
	We've set up in the cave, and got most of the material we need to survive 
from the shuttle.  Jay and Clara have rigged up a network of listening and 
observation points so we can safely follow to movements of the enemy.  
They visited the shuttle earlier today.  They are brutes.  They stand over 
two meters in height and have an over-muscled bodies black in color.  As far as 
I can tell, they seem to be nearly identical.  The only differing feature they 
have is the colored ribbons in their hair.

        Mean while on the planet, Marrissa and the other children were watching, 
via the sensors from a half dozen medical tricorders, the enemy soldiers' 
attempts to follow their trail.  So far they had hit two dozen trip-wires (made 
of vines).  This caused both gray ribboned men to be hung by their legs an 
average of four times and all of them had received a mushy bioluminescent red 
fruit in their face, chest, or back at least three times.
        At this time the enemy decided to stop for the night.  They pitched some 
tents and cut down some limbs to start a fire. 
        Back in the cave Marrissa asked Jay, "That's near communicator number 
three, isn't it?"
        "Pretty close, number two should also be within range," Jay replied.
        "Clara, would you get your flute?" Marrissa said.  "I think a little 
lullaby would do our friends some good.  Open a channel to communicator number 
three and play some music until you get them to react, every hour, on the hour."

[Revise slightly]
        Back in the enemy camp, the enemy began to hear strains of such tunes 
such as 'The Yellow Rose of Texas", "When the Saints Go Marching In", and "March 
of the Tin Soldiers."  However when Clara began playing "Joy to the World" they 
began to look quite scared.  As Clara switched to "March Slav" they began to 
pray to whatever god or gods they believed in.
        After a half-a-hour Marrissa closed the channel.  "Let them worry about 
that for a while," Marrissa said, putting here hand to her head.
        "What's wrong Marrissa?" Clara asked, concerned.
        "I'm getting a splitting headache," Marrissa said.  "Too much stress, I 
guess."
        "I think you need some rest," Clara said.  "Go to bed, Jay, Alex, and 
Shayna are alternating watches 'till dawn.  I'll make sure the enemy can't 
sleep, but you better.  We can't have a tried and sick leader, tomorrow."
        "OK, Clara, I'll get some rest," Marrissa said.  She picked up her bed 
roll and spread out the foam pad and blank.  Crawling between them she 
continued, "Play your flute once in awhile to our enemy.  I want them tried and 
scared tomorrow morning."

        Though out the night at the beginning and midpoint of each watch Clara 
blessed the enemy soldiers with her beautiful rendition of "March Slav."  
However, the enemy didn't appreciate the piece.  They became more and more 
scared.  In addition during Shayna's watch she provided a constant version of 
the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" on her harmonica.


[New scene, the Enterprise begins its search]

[Push scene back]
        Just before dawn Marrissa woke up.  After consuming a couple of ancient 
Earth delicacies known as strawberry poptarts, she woke up the others.  As they 
ate their breakfast, Marrissa consulted the hidden sensors from the medical 
tricorders.
        The enemy soldiers were beginning to move toward the cave again, so 
Marrissa began to quietly hand out the phasers.
        "They're moving?" Jay asked.
        Marrissa nodded.
        "How far?" Alexander asked.
        "Scanner Five," Marrissa replied.  "Alex and Jay, left side of the 
entrance, us girls will be on the right."
        "As usual, the girls are always right," Jay commented.
        "And don't you forget it," Clara returned.
        Then the four enemies appeared on the edge of the clearing. First to 
enter was the pale-faced gray ribboned followed by his dark-faced fellow gray 
ribboned.  Next was the pilot who was having trouble holding his weapon.  
Finally the leader entered.  Spying the children, he ordered his men to open 
fire.
        They narrowly missed.  Marrissa and the other children returned fire.  
They stunned the dark-faced gray ribboned.  The pale-faced one collapsed without 
a shot hitting him.  The pilot was having so much trouble holding on to his 
weapon that he couldn't hit the broadside of a barn.
        Seeing his men down and his pilot's lack of accuracy, the leader 
adjusted his weapon's setting and fired at the gray ribbons and vaporized them.  
Ordering a retreat, he readjusted his weapon and fled into the forest, the pilot 
following.
        After the aliens had left the clearing Marrissa spoke up, "Now that we 
have them on the run, lets keep them that way."
        "That sounds like a good idea," Alexander said.
        "Jay, Clara, take the left side of the path," Marrissa ordered. "Alex, 
Shayna, the right.  Get ahead, take a pot shot and run."
        "Where did you get that idea?" Jay asked.  "It sounds familiar."
       "Earth History, American Revolution, Battle of Lexington and Concord," 
Marrissa replied.  "Now get going.  As soon as they take off we will meet back 
here, get our stuff and return to the shuttle."

        The enemy commander's week was getting worse and worse.  First he 
couldn't capture an unarmed shuttle.  Then he lost a man checking out the empty 
shuttle.  Finally he lost two more men from what appeared to be the young of the 
species controlling the shuttle.  He didn't know what else could go wrong.
        He found out when a phaser beam shot past his nose.  Off in the bushes 
someone ran off and the enemy commander's shot missed.  So much for capturing a 
young member of the species to use to control their next conquered nation, 
namely the Federation.

Chapter Five

        On the planet, the enemy shuttle was having a great deal of trouble 
taking off.  Not only was the pilot's hands becoming useless rapidly, but 
occasional pot shots from the forest were damaging the shuttle. The Commander 
pushed the pilot aside and took over the controls himself.  The shuttle then 
left as quickly as it could, leaving the children to begin reactivating the 
shuttle for their return to the Enterprise.

        Meanwhile, the Enterprise was entering the system.  "Captain, I am 
detecting a medium-sized vessel orbiting the fifth planet," Worf said.
        "Mr. Data analyst," Captain Picard ordered.
        "The vessel matches the configuration of the attacking vessel from the 
April's distress call," Data replied.
        "Captain, a shuttle is leaving the planet," Worf injected, "highly 
agitated.  It is not ours."
        "Scan for life signs," Picard ordered.
        "Two life signs of unknown type," Data responded.
        "Hail the larger ship," Picard said.
        "Hailing Frequencies Open," Worf replied.
        "This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Enterprise, 
Please respond."
        "Message coming in text only," Worf said. "Please stand by, Commanding 
Officer currently not available."
        "It appears that we are on hold, Mr. Worf," the Captain said amused.  
"Are we with in scanning range of the fifth planet?"
        "Yes, Captain," Data informed.
        "Scan and identify life signs."
        "Five life signs, four human, one Klingon inside the shuttle," Data 
said.
[Remove contact scene, add mystery]
        "Hail the shuttle," Picard ordered.
        "Shuttle responding," Worf replied.
        "On Screen."
        A blond haired girl appeared on the Main veiwscreen.  Behind her a long 
black haired girl and a short brown haired girl were working on the shuttle.  
"Shuttle April, Marrissa Flores speaking. How may I help you?"
        "Where is Lieutenant Allen and Ensign Throwaway?" Picard inquired.
        "Dead, I am the oldest surviving member of the passengers, all of witch 
survived." Marrissa said, somewhat sadly.  "Clara and Shayna believe the shuttle 
is spaceworthly."
        "Did you encounter the occupants of the unidentified ship?" Picard 
asked.
        "Yes, we scared them out of their wits," Marrissa smiled.  "Transmitting 
data now.  I thing that they will not allow themselves to be examined.  We 
stunned one and another collapsed, both of them were vaporized by a third."
        "Entering standard orbit, Captain," the ensign at the helm said.
       "Captain, Clara informs me that we can take off at any time now," 
Marrissa said.
        "Belay that, Transporter Room beam them directly to the Bridge," the 
Captain ordered.
        "Unable to comply, Captain, Transporters are blocked in system," the 
transporter room replied.
        "Then Marrissa, hold launch until we can do something about this ship," 
Picard said.
        "Aye, sir. April out," Marrissa replied.
        As the veiwscreen returned to the view of the planet and the other ship, 
Worf said," The unknown ship is finally responding to our hails."
        "On screen," Picard ordered.
        The black-faced alien with his yellow hair drawn back with black, red, 
and purple ribbons appeared in a plain white featureless room.  The Alien spoke 
up; "I am Ath Russell of the Graphpol.  You are invading the Trakcen Empire.  
Leave at once."
        "You might what to check your star charts," Captain Picard began.  "For 
20 parsecs around this planet in all directions there is nothing but Federation 
planets and starbases.  And I for one have never heard of the Trakcen Empire."
        "Then you are misinformed," the Ath replied.
        "Mr. Data please confirm the existence of the planets I indicated," 
Picard ordered.  "Request population and current Head of State to update our 
records on unsecured channels.  And I know you have no claim on this planet, 
Especially since the only people on it are my shuttle crew."
        "Captain, the existence of all 145 Federation bases and colonies have 
been confirmed," Data said.
        "My information has been confirmed, has yours?" Picard asked.
        The enemy commander closed the channel.
        Then Worf spoke up, "The Trakcen ship is powering its weapons and has 
raised shields."
        "RED ALERT, raise shields, ready phasers, and photon torpedoes," Riker 
commanded.
        "Analyst of Trakcen ship, Data," Picard asked.
        "The power levels are comparable to early Constitution class vessels," 
Data replied.  "However it could be more maneuverable."
        "The enemy is firing," Worf said.  "Hit on our port shield, no damage, 
shields still at 100 percent."
        "CONN Move us between them and planet," Picard directed.  "Mr. Worf take 
out their shields, only."
        Phaser beams shot out from the Enterprise toward the Graphpol. Its 
shields flared red and then collapsed.  The Trakcen ship turned and fled.  
        "CONN, follow them out of the system and then return to the planet," 
Picard commanded.  "Once they go to warp tell the April to take off to join us.

[Replace scene with Away Team finding Kids]
        After the Trakcen ship had left, the Enterprise returned to the planet 
and the waiting shuttle.  Hailing the waiting shuttle, Captain Picard said, 
"This is Captain Picard, can you bring the shuttle into the main shuttle bay or 
do you require a tractor beam."
        "Jay says he and Alexander can bring us in," Marrissa said.
        "Once you are on board, we will beam you directly to the quarantine unit 
in Sickbay per regulations," Picard said.  "After you are cleared I'd like you 
to prepare a report on your experiences on the planet and your opinion on the 
race which calls themselves the Trakce for tomorrow's staff meeting."
        "I'll be ready, April out."

Chapter Six

[Rewrite, possibly reposition]
        After being released from Sick bay Marrissa went to see Clara. When she 
entered Clara's room the younger girl was studying how the Enterprise's warp 
engines worked.
        "And you accused me of being a book worm," Marrissa kidded 
lightheartedly.
        "I just got a little curious," Clara replied taking a sip of milk.  
"This is fascinating."
        "Can you tear yourself away from that to help me with my report to the 
senior staff tomorrow?" Marrissa asked.
        "If you will join Jay, Shayna, Alexander, and myself on Holodeck Two 
tomorrow at 14 hundred hours," Clara responded.
        "Why?"
        "We had a discussion on our way home from sick bay.  We decided that we 
who like to try crewing the bridge and other parts of the Enterprise.  Since the 
Captain doesn't allow kids on the bridge this is the next best thing."
        "I'll be there.  Now about my report..."

        The next day Marrissa arrived at the observation lounge early. Being the 
first to arrive she began pacing, back and forth in front of the windows.
        Counselor Troi was the next person to arrive.  Sensing Marrissa's 
nervousness she set out to calm Marrissa down, and if possible remove her fear.  
"Nervous," she asked.
        Marrissa nodded.
        "I'm sure you will do fine," Troi said.  "Worf doesn't bite and I think 
the Captain likes you."
        "That's not what I'm worried about," Marrissa said.
        "What then?"
        "I'm not good at oral presentations.  I clam up.  I can never answer 
questions no matter how well I prepare.  I usually get C's."
        "A C is not bad."
        "It is when you are an A-B student.  May be you should talk to my Dad."
        "Perhaps I will," Troi said.  "Meanwhile you might want to think of the 
command staff's uniforms as pajamas.  It worked for me."
        "They do look like that," Marrissa laughed and Troi joined in.

[Consider removing Replace with scence with the children]
        When the whole staff had arrived, the Captain introduced Marrissa and 
asked her to present her report.  She began nervously but soon gained 
confidence.  First she outlined the circumstances of her encounter.  Then she 
told of her preparations.  Thirdly she gave her analyst of the Trakce.  Finally 
she asked for questions.
        "Is it possible that the Trakce wanted to help you?" the Doctor asked.  
"They could have been a medical team."
        "I doubt it doctor," Marrissa replied.  "You don't beam down on a 
mission of mercy after shooting down an unarmed shuttle which was doing nothing 
to you."
        "I agree," Worf said.
        "The chances of the Trakce shuttle doing having no hostile intentions to 
you were 5 billion to 1," Data responded.
        "You said that you don't believe they allow themselves to be captured," 
Riker asked.  "What makes you think that?"
        "I believe that because every time a Trakce fell unconscience the leader 
vaporized him," Marrissa replied.
        "Makes sense to me," La Forge responded.

        Soon afterward, the meeting ended.  Before Commander Riker could leave, 
Marrissa called out," Commander Riker."
        "Yes, Marrissa," Riker responded.
        "I was wondering if you would be willing to evaluate some Kobayashi 
Marus tomorrow?" Marrissa asked.
        "Testing yourself for command potential," Riker guessed.
        "Yes, some others, and myself" Marrissa replied.
        "You can't start with a harder test," Riker said.  "I would be glad to, 
but I can only do one a week."
        "That's fine with me," Marrissa said.

[Question: Do I need this if I split out the story?]
        Later in Holodeck 2, Marrissa was in command of the Enterprise-D doing 
the Kobayashi Maru.  "CONN hard to starboard, Alex fire phasers and photon 
torpedoes," Marrissa ordered.
        "Firing phasers, the warbird's shields are down to 95 %," Alexander 
said.
        "Jay find that shield frequency," Marrissa said as a round hit her 
ship."Shields at 75 %," Alexander said.
        "CONN evasive pattern Zeta Four," Marrissa ordered.  "Increase speed to 
full impulse.  Head away from them."  Marrissa was enjoying the simulation 
immensely.  The Romulans were providing her with a fresh challenge for her 
active mind.
        The Warbird followed the retreating Galaxy Class vessel closely. "Stupid 
move," Marrissa muttered.  "Alex the locks on the forward phasers and photon 
torpedoes directly ahead.  Fire rear phasers and photon torpedoes.  CONN on my 
mark take us down 80 meters and bring us to full stop."
        The Enterprise spat out torpedoes blinding the Romulan warbird and 
draining it's shields.   "Now CONN," Marrissa ordered.  The Romulan warbird shot 
over the Enterprise and in front of the ship.  "Fire at will, Alex."
        The Romulan's shields collapsed. "Destroy them, Alex.  CONN coarse 180 
degrees mark 4 relative heading," Marrissa ordered.  "That was too easy."
        "Don't say that, Marrissa," Jay responded.  "Its bad luck."
        "Three warbirds decloaking," Alexander announced.
        "Noted," Marrissa replied.  "Course one eighty mark forty, half 
impluse."