Stаr Trek Settles tһe Debаte Onсe аnd For All: Yes, tһe Kobаyаsһі Mаru Is Neсessаry

Star Trek has settled the debate: the Kobayashi Maru test is absolutely critical for cadets. While at Starfleet Academy, cadets are put through their paces, physically and mentally. One of the most nerve-wracking tests cadets take at the Academy is the Kobayashi Maru. Psychologically grueling, the Kobayashi Maru is nonetheless an important component of an Academy education, and this is seemingly confirmed in Star Trek: Lower Decks #4.

Star Trek: Lower Decks #4 is written by Ryan North and drawn by Jack Lawrence. Non-corporeal aliens, angered by the Cerritos accidentally destroying some of their reality, take possession of Tendi and Rutherford. The aliens’ universe is expanding into ours, and will destroy it. However, any action the crew takes will destroy the aliens’ realm. It is a “no-win” scenario for everyone involved, and in the end, the two aliens die, along with their universe. Mariner and company are clearly shaken by this, but they take solace in their friendship.

Star Trek's Dreaded Kobayashi Maru, Explained

Only One Starfleet Cadet Ever Beat the Kobayashi Maru--And He Cheated

While the Kobayashi Maru is not mentioned in Star Trek: Lower Decks #4, the invocation of a “no-win scenario” brings it to mind for many fans. Introduced in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, the Kobayashi Maru is a simulation all cadets go through. As seen in Wrath of Khan, the test involves the cadet attempting a rescue in Klingon space, right as three Birds of Prey attack. The Kobayashi Maru cannot be beaten under normal circumstances, nor was it designed to be. Instead, it tests a cadet’s resolve and command skills.

In the annals of Starfleet history, there is only one person to beat the Kobayashi Maru: Captain Kirk, and Star Trek: Lower Decks #4 alludes to this as well. In Star Trek lore, Kirk reprogrammed the test behind the scenes, altering it so he could complete the rescue and elude the Klingons. In essence, he cheated, a fact Saavik pointed out in Wrath of Khan. Kirk bragged to Saavik that he did not believe in a “no-win scenario,” but faced one in Wrath of Khan. Kirk abandons that belief, and Mariner references that in this issue.

On the surface, the Kobayashi Maru test may seem harsh. Cadets at the Academy dread it, and it inspired Kirk to do something tantamount to cheating, which would seem to fly in the face of his character. The test’s situation is every Starfleet captain’s worst nightmare: facing having to save innocent lives versus saving yourself. The Kobayashi Maru is a test of character, and it can reveal aspects of a cadet’s personality that may be uncomfortable. Saavik was psychologically wrecked by the test in Wrath of Khan. 2009’s Star Trek reinforced how cadets dread the Kobayashi Maru.

Star Trek Just Reinforced the Importance of the Kobayashi Maru

The Cerritos Crew Made the Most Out of a Bad Mission Thanks to the Kobayashi Maru

Yet the Kobayashi Maru is absolutely critical to Starfleet. Even though the Kobayashi Maru is an ordeal that is dreaded, its purpose is sound. In the unforgiving cold of space, Starfleet personnel will face no-win scenarios–they are a fact of life. In The Wrath of Khan, Kirk faced one, and his beliefs and attitudes were profoundly changed as a result. Taking the test prepares a cadet for the realities of space exploration and diplomacy. Countless situations encountered by Star Trek’s various crews also reinforce the importance of the Kobayashi Maru.

And in Star Trek: Lower Decks #4, Mariner and the rest of the gang get a lesson about why the Kobayashi Maru still matters. The universe the non-corporeal aliens hailed from was annihilated by the actions of the Cerritos. This was an unintentional action, and the Cerritos crew gave it their all in finding a solution. It was a classic scenario worthy of the Kobayashi Maru. And thanks to the test, the crew of the Cerritos was able to process their grief over what turned out to be an overall horrible situation.