Physical Training

Posted on Sun May 11th, 2025 @ 6:34pm by Crewman Michał Lipinski & Kenneth Hunt

1,305 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Resistance is Necessary
Location: Holodeck

It had been day three of Michal's training. After breakfast consisted of classroom instruction of Starfleet policies and formations. But in the mornings early before breakfast was the physical training portion of basic training. The physical training portion took place in the holodeck which consisted of a standard basic training unit that was in PT gear doing physical activities. A Starfleet Enlisted Drill Instructor ran things. Lieutenant Commander Reeves thought it would be a great idea to include the Cadets on the ship in the morning before having to attend their duties for the day.

The group had just concluded a three-mile run, when the drill instructor had ordered the group to take a break. Cadet Hunt looked over to Michal who was primarily the focus of the training program. "How are you adjusting to all of this?"

Michał let out a heavy sigh. "Where do I even begin, Sir?" replied the soon to be Yeoman. He didn't carry a rank insignia and he understood the cadets were to be officers out of the academy. They out ranked him. "This Borg attack on the Sol system has me shaken. I know that goes for all of us."

He looked at Cadet Hunt realizing it was probably a question more about training. "Training isn't so bad. I've always kept myself in good physical shape and I did track and field at the University of Betazed, but it doesn't prepare you for all of this. It is going to be the zero grav training that will get me. I'm not looking forward to that."

Thinking back to his first time doing zero grav training, the cadet couldn't help but to smile. "If it means anything I will be calling you Sir by the end of the week," Kenneth joked. "But zero G is disturbing at first, but you'll adjust will no problems."

"Eventually," Michał replied. "For the time being, I'm just trying to get all this Starfleet stuff correctly. It's a whole different life just being an ordinary Federation citizen. Starcruisers were nothing like this."

The Cadet nodded in agreement. "I admit that this is a very different life. Grew up outside of Starfleet myself. My grandparents were in Starfleet, but my father didn't want a life in Starfleet and neither did my uncles. But I always found my grandparents lives to be exciting. But you seem to be grasping everything better than you think you are."

"I like adventure and new challenges," replied Michał. "I'm finding some of the skills I had are applicable to this, but I'm also trying to do this for my colleagues that I've lost, my friends."

"So why did you Captain decide to face the Borg?" Hunt inquired. "The weapons on a starcruiser can't take on a Starfleet vessel, let alone what we saw from the Borg."

Michał didn't enjoy discussing what he really did not know. "We engaged. I know, we were no match and he quickly ordered us all to abandon ship. I don't think he was going to just stand by and retreat."

"Well, I'm sorry about the loss of your people."

"I've lost a lot less than others aboard have. It doesn't diminish what I feel or those that I've lost, but it does make me appreciate what I still have, and understand there are people here that have endured a lot more."

Kenneth briefly thought about his own parents, cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents back on Earth. No word or sign regarding them making it out of there. "I can relate to that statement."

"Any idea what is in store for us today with training?" Lipinski asked curiously.

"Running, push-ups, sit ups and a serious obstacle course." Kenneth answered.

Michał Lipinski nodded. "Alright, not terrible. I can run. Jumping isn't too bad. Just need to work on my phaser accuracy for when that comes around."

"Have you fired a phaser before?"

"Yes," Michał quipped. "Fired one, sure. I never had to set one to kill before. I've never had to do anything like that, stun someone once or twice, but that's different." He knew it was different. His phaser experience was mostly a type-I that he used to shoot targets with and he was not that good at it. The only person he had to stun were pirates that had boarded a ship he was on once. He was hiding of course.

Kenneth couldn't help but to chuckle. "I believe even most experienced Starfleet personal have never fired to kill before. They actually encourage us to keep the phaser on the stun setting. But from what I'm hearing the stun setting doesn't exactly work on these Borg."

"I don't know anything about these Borg other than if there's anyone I hate right now, it's them" he said bitterly. "Klingons. I'm terrified of them too. Have you ever dealt with a drunk Klingon? I'm not even sure a stun setting will knock them down initially...heaviest stun maybe."

"Hold up. Klingons actually take cruises?"

"Generally, no," Michał stated. "Though we occasionally had some overlap at certain ports. That's where the problems tend to occur." He shuddered at the memories.

"Leave it to Klingons to ruin a good time," he sighed. In the back of his mind, he couldn't help but to think about the issues his own family had with certain members of the Klingon Empire. Issues that his cousins and himself had inherited from birth.

Michał placed a hand on Cadet Hunt's arm. "You sound like you're speaking from personal experience" Lipinski said and smiled softly and subtly. "Care to tell me a little about it?"

Kenneth looked over and sighed. "My family has been involved in blood feud with this particular Klingon House going back to the early 2240s. For the most part we have killed them, before they kill us. But its the thought of having that in the back of your mind. For all I know, I may never encounter that House. But just when you let your guard down, they might strike. Believe that's that's why my father and uncles never joined Starfleet and opted to stay close to home. Prior to that my family has always been in Starfleet."

Lipinski sighed. "Klingons" he said. "I don't think I'll ever be a fan of them."

"I do wonder if there is a way to coexist with them?" the Cadet inquired. "Relations at the moment has been good for a while."

"For now at least," replied Lipinski. "All it takes it one knife in a back or through the chest, a scowl to the wrong member of council, and everything changes."

"I can see that you're going to be a joy to have around," Kenneth joked as he began laughing.

"I prefer entertaining," replied Lipinski with s chuckle. "But you know it's true. They are fickle."

"Extremely fickle. But what brought on your love for entertaining?"

Lipinski smiled. "People need distractions sometimes. I am good at listening and very good at distracting. That came in handy in my line of work. Entertaining people is just my calling I suppose."

Hunt nodded in agreement. "After doing the Yeoman thing. You could possibly consider Morale Officer."

"Who knows" replied Lipinski with a shrug. "I might be able to do that in an unofficial capacity. Sometimes, you just have to do different things when understaffed. I know that well."

"I knew you were the best person for the job."

Kenneth simply shook his head. "Honestly I am a Cadet who clearly doesn't know much. I have a good feeling about you, but feeling a tad bit useless. Your skills and talents are being put to good use. But are you ready to back to it?"

"As ready as I'll ever be" replied Lipinski.

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Cadet II Kenneth Hunt
Security/Tactical Cadet

Michał Lipinski
Captain's Yeoman in training

 

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