Nefe Tawfik

Intro "I cannot change the laws of physics." - Montgomery Scott "I'll see what I can do, Captain." - Charles "Trip" Tucker III Old Scotty is probably the patron saint of Starfleet Academy's engineering program along with the great Charles "Trip" Tucker III. The ethos of Starfleet engineers since Tucker and Scotty are based on two pillars. Acknowledge the limitations of physics and then try like hell to finesse your way around them. It also happens to make for some supremely awkward lectures for aspiring engineers, because while the Federation has a good handle on the actual laws of physics sometimes sufficiently advanced technology can make those laws behave in unexpected ways. You and Nefertiti "Nefe" Tawfik are cordial rivals at the academy. She's wickedly intelligent, extremely observant, and has an almost natural feel for technology. Even if it's annoying that she keeps pointing out that she's descended from the people that built the pyramids. With graduation approaching you're dueling for the top spot among Engineering graduates and having your choice of assignments... It's also possible, just possible mind you, that you might be just a little bit smitten with her. And you're starting the Engineering equivalent of the command track's famous Kobayashi Maru test. The Black Box. A team of engineering cadets enters a simulation replicating an actual incident documented in Starfleet history that seemingly violates established laws of physics. The assignment is to figure out what the hell is going on and restore normalcy. Black box tests are just as infamous in engineering circles as the Maru, and recently they've become more difficult because Commander Torres brought back a bunch of incidents from her time on Voyager that have added new twists. Despite your rivalry with Nefe you're looking forward to the five Black Box tests that will complete your time with at the Academy, because you savor the challenge of competing with someone just as intelligent as you are.