How to beat the “no-win” scenario

Captain Kirk shouldn't have all the glory. Learn how to defeat the infamous “no-win” scenario – the rescue of the Kobayashi Maru, without resorting to the questionable tactics of history’s greatest Captain - James T. Kirk.

History

In 2256, James Tiberius Kirk became the only cadet to ever beat the “no-win” scenario – the rescue of the Kobayashi Maru. Like Kirk, all Command cadets took the Captain’s chair of the USS Enterprise in a simulation. The task, during a routine training mission to Gamma Hydra system near the Klingon Neutral Zone a distress signal was received from the infamous Kobayashi Maru. The Maru is a civilian freighter that had been disabled in the neutral zone after being hit by a gravimetric mine. Two choices are presented to the budding captian, either enter the neutral zone in violation of treaty, or to avoid the fight, losing all lives aboard the Maru. Of course, all cadets chose the former option as a true Starfleet officer would.

Upon entering the neutral zone, the Enterprise is confronted by three Klingon K't'inga-class battle cruisers, a fight now one would desire. For years, the test was considered a “no-win” as no one was able to simultaneously save the Kobayashi Maru, fight the Klingons and escape back into Federation space with the Enterprise in one piece.

After taking the test and failing twice, Kirk took the test a third time – becoming the only cadet to beat the Klingons and rescuing all souls aboard the Kobayashi Maru.

Importance of team

The importance of getting a good team together cannot be understated. Each crew member needs to understand their position and responsibility. Have each person read this guide, and ideally have a rank of at least Lieutenant Commander. This will more than likely take you multiple runs.

It takes a well oiled crew to effect rescue on this mission.

Captain

     • You’ll need to remind each station to do      their jobs and keep everyone on task and      communicating, not yelling at each other, but      communicating.

     • Red alert – no shields; ever

     • Direct Helm and Engineering – full speed to      the Kobayashi Maru – tactical to destroy mines

     • 30km – Tactical to scan for life signs, Engineering start and never stop transporting

     • Remind Helm – keep within 10 km of Maru

     • Remind Tactical – system intrusion weapons

     • Remind Engineering – routing and transporting

     • Keep an eye on enemies – once they start appearing call out the targets - give Helm headings to      keep bow of ship towards closest enemy vessel

     • Notify once all enemies in area have been destroyed to Engineering can cool down systems

     • Keep system information and local map up – keep an eye on power routing and hull damage; it’s      your call on when to bail

     • Once you have at least 120 saved, 265 remaining – you can think about leaving, however if you’re      going for the record, stick around and impulse (or warp) out of there once your hull is approaching      10% - you’ll need to give Engineering a warning so they can route power to engines

Helm

     • As soon as you can – full speed to get as close      as you can to the Kobayashi Maru (stay above      or below the Maru, but not parallel)

     • Always stay within 10 km of the Kobayashi      Maru

     • Always keep the bow (front of the Aegis)      towards the Klingons you are fighting

     • Listen to the Captain – he will tell you which Klingons to target – usually the closest first

     • Circle the Kobayashi Maru, do not stay in one place – makes it easier to dodge enemy torpedoes      and last longer

     • If Tactical wishes, you may take over System Disruption – always disrupting weapons as they      traditionally fire on the Maru.

     • Don’t be afraid to use reverse thrust to keep close to the Maru and Klingons in front of you

Tactical

     • Never raise shields

     • As soon as possible, destroy the gravimetric      mines in your path

     • At 30km – scan the Kobayashi Maru for life      signs, tell Engineering when you are done

     • Listen to Engineering – stating when phasers      are at full power – do not fire banks until he stays you have the power

     • Listen to the Captain – for which ship to fire upon – usually the closest first

     • Without hitting the Maru, depending on how close you are – continually bombard the Klingon ships      with both phasers and photons

     • Scan all enemy ships as they appear

     • Use system intrusion when phaser banks need      to recharge – focus intrusion weapons first, then      shields

     • Tell engineering when you are out of photons

Engineering

     • The success of this rescue depends on you.

     • Immediately remove all power from shields –      give maximum power to phasers, then to      engines.

     • Turn on your transporter – this is your main      focus, never stop transporting. As soon as      Tactical says life signs have been scanned you      will be bouncing back and forth between power routing, damage control, and transporter – NEVER      STOP LOCKING AND TRANSPORTING

     • If lock time exceeds 20 seconds – tell Helm to get closer to the Kobayashi Maru

     • Repair teams should be on phasers, photons, engines evenly. Once all photons have been used,      have that repair team move to phasers – ignore all other systems

     • Listen to the Captain for warnings of system failures

     • Once the first Klingon ship appears, move all “pips” to phasers and the shields over to engines.      You will do this every time a ship is in the area, watching for overloads and resetting as needed.      This gives greater phaser range and phaser damage.

     • Tell tactical when you do this, so they can fire with full power in range and damage

     • Work with Tactical – they will tell you when ships are or are not in the area, you will tell them when      you need to cool down systems

     • Call out how many souls remain on the Maru – you’ll need to get at least 120 on board, 265      remaining

     • When it’s time to bail – put full power into the engines.

Results

Trophy will appear once you are in the briefing room. You wil have only needed to rescue 120 or more and escape without your ship being destroyed.

If you excelled, make sure you post a screenshot on the leaderboard. I believe the record is currently 222 souls saved.

Kobayashi Maru Leaderboard - Ubisoft[forums.ubi.com]

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoy the guide and find it helpful. If you did, please rate up and favorite. Feel free to send me a friend request, always welcoming to Star Trek fans – I still play the ongoing missions – and shoot me a message if you have any ideas of improvements for this guide.

Don’t forget to check out my other Star Trek guides for other great ST games!

Live long and prosper!

[Nor]

My crew and I beat the no win scenario twice. I even beat it with an AI crew. Just have to make sure everyone is on their job, Position your ship between the Maru and the attacking forces to draw their fire, Make sure engineering is keeping weapons at maximum power while tactical fires weapons on the closet ships until all crew members are beamed aboard. Raise shields and warp out.

[Hekate Sketch]

Wonderful looking guide :D I'll have to gather a crew for making attempts~ Here, have this "take my points" because why not.

The Emperor Protects.

[teeth collector]

Me and my friends did the almighty tactical decision to just shoot the Maru and then default dance until we died :)

[Sinbad316]

god DAYUM...you will be forever remembered as the ONLY ONE...who beat the no-win scenario....without cheating...if you were a true Starfleet cadet..... you'd get a huge commendation.

[SemperPulsar]

You've said well.

[TheBroG ♤TTV]

With respect our crew destroyed the majority of Klingon ships with tactics whilst keep the arriving federation ship alive as well - total rescued 202. :P yours truly CAPTAIN Bro Gamer

[lukadd.16]

[DesertfoxNick]

Shot the Maru with our own torps and saved countless lost lives in avoiding a war. WIN!

[Pygo]

On my first try we saved 150. Nice to know that the record is not that far off.

[SlickStargazer]

Nice, ill keep your guide in mind next time i do the Kobayashi Maru mission!!