Seated around the bridge conference table, the captain and his senior staff exchanged glances, each awaiting someone to address the ongoing issue.
"Well?" Anzyl prompted, breaking the silence, directing the question to his team. "The crew is on the brink of tearing itself apart. Any insights or suggestions?"
T raised his pointer finger, his borg complexion have been gradually returning to a more humanoid appearance. "I may have a possible explanation, sir," he began. "The majority of the races involved in these 'Bar Fights' are warrior species with physically demanding roles and with physically demanding biological needs. The Jem'Hadar, for instance, were bred for combat from birth. Hirogens are born and raised for 'The Hunt'. After the Borg incident, the ship has experienced relative calm, engaging primarily in diplomatic missions. Now, in the Expanse for nearly two months with at least another two to go, the crew may be grappling with restlessness and boredom."
"And your point?" Anzyl asked bluntly.
"My point is," T continued, "that for these races, they need a safe and positive outlet to release their pent-up energy and emotions. Unfortunately, for us and the ship's furniture, that outlet tends to manifest in a violent way. It's ingrained in their biology and psychology, sir. They're quite literally 'Bored to Death.'"
Seated cross-legged on the floor, holding his head in his hand, Tey'un muttered, "Why don't they just play fighting games and chill out… that's what I do…"
Intrigued and slightly confused by Tey'un's statement, the captain perked up. "What was that, Tey'un?"
Surprised by the attention, Tey'un sat up and shook his head. "Oh, nothing, Captain, don't mind me."
"No, I heard you mention a 'Fighting Game'?" Anzyl prodded, drawing him out and putting him on the spot. "What's that?"
"Oh… it's a type of Holodeck program where you engage in combat against a holographic opponent or another person," Tey'un explained, looking around the room as he spoke. "Safety protocols are active, so no one gets hurt. However, the body doesn't know that, and you work up a sweat just as hard."
"I use a similar program for my calisthenics routines," Eroga added, "It's great for a workout, and releasing my pent up emotions."
T considered and agreed, "The release of adrenaline and similar hormones is crucial for most warrior races. It's a biological urge that steadily grows and needs satisfaction, similar to the needs of humanoids…"
"I get the reference, T," Anzyl raised his hand, "but the Holodecks have been fully booked for weeks now."
"It would also need to involve more than just a few people and last longer than a session or two," Neil chimed in.
Then an idea struck Anzyl, "What about… a Tournament?"
"Fighting game tournaments have been around for ages," Tey'un agreed, "and with opening and preliminary matches, hundreds if not thousands can be involved."
"But not everyone would be interested in a fighting holodeck game," Neil remarked.
"What if it were a Martial Arts tournament?" Anzyl pondered aloud. "With all the races and factions aboard, there must be dozens of styles aboard the Nexus."
"But most engage with pistols or melee weapons as backup," Zide'Mok added, "Hand-to-hand combat is rarely used."
Anzyl considered it. "Then how about a Melee Weapon Martial Arts tournament?" Turning to Tey'un, he asked, "You mentioned that Holodecks allow multiple players to fight without causing harm to each other, right?"
Sitting up and liking the captain's train of thought, "Yes. We can have two or more in one holodeck or tie two holodecks together and stream each other's actions, syncing up holograms. They would be fighting each other but safely in two different holodecks!"
"What about blood, gore, and severed limbs?" T asked, not liking the prospects.
"Yeah, isn't this a bit… barbaric for a Starfleet vessel?" Nolan questioned.
"Earth literally has several sports where people get in a ring and pummel the crap out of each other," Veirik added. "Boxing, wrestling, UFC, battle bots."
Neil nodded, cracking his knuckles, "Always loved a good boxing match."
"And handling the possible blood is easy. Use health bars," Tey'un explained. "Fighting games use health bars, like, from 1-100 or something. Small hits take away small numbers, and larger hits take more. When a player reaches 0, or an empty health bar, a KO is called. No deaths, no severed limbs, but all the action."
"And all the adrenaline needed to fulfill said biological needs?" Anzyl asked T, who nodded in reply. "Ok then!" Anzyl clapped his hands, liking the idea. "Tey'un, I will leave you and your team to manage the holodeck programs and the tournament." Looking around the table, "Any other roles for volunteers?"
"I always loved hosting sporting events on New Romulus!" Heluna held up her hand. "I would be happy to be the announcer!"
"I'd love to host along with you!" Keten piped up toward Heluna. "I know all about sports announcers!"
"Well, as for volunteering," Veirik slammed his hand on the table. "I'm competing!"
"As am I!" Zide'mok added.
"Me as well! Qa'Pla!" Eroga cheered with a Klingon Huzzah.
Nolan and T held their hands in dismissal, "Leave me out of this barbarism!" Nolan protested. "I have my hands full with stellar cartography."
Anzyl looked at Neil and grinned. "I will if you will."
Neil smirked back, "A chance to beat the living crap out of you without a court-martial? I'll be the first to sign up!!"
"Ow!" Anzyl said, stunned, then grinning back, "But I'm going to make you work for it!"
"Oh! And Captain!" Veirik added, pointing a finger at him jokingly, "No Mind Meld Device allowed! No cheating!"
The whole crew burst into laughter, the loudest any of them had been in months.