Starfleet battle simulation In the Federation Starfleet , the practice of conducting battle simulations ( also known as war games or battle drills ) was a common method of honing the tactical and combat skills of starship personnel . Starfleet Academy routinely used battle simulations to train its cadet s , such as the Kobayashi Maru scenario , which detailed a no - win scenario . It was in existence in one form or another since before the 2250s . ( ; ) Performance in battle simulations were a factor in starship crew evaluation s , including promotion decisions . Simulations could be scheduled in conjunction with duty shift schedules . ( ) M - 5 drill . In 2268 , Starfleet conducted an elaborate simulation involving Doctor Richard Daystrom ' s experimental M - 5 multitronic unit , designed to autonomously operate all starship functions without the input of a ship ' s crew . The was equipped with the M - 5 unit to test it ' s function - ability in several areas . As a test of the M - 5 ' s tactical and strategic capabilities four other starships were assembled to launch a coordinated attack against the " Enterprise " . Commodore Robert Wesley commanding the led the attack force which also included the , the , and the . However , the M - 5 malfunctioned during the simulated attack ; rather than firing with minimum - powered phaser s , the M - 5 attacked the battle group with full - powered phasers and photon torpedo es , causing substantial death and damage to the fleet as well as completely crippling the " Excalibur " and killing everyone on board . " Enterprise " Captain James T . Kirk managed to force the M - 5 to deactivate before the remaining starships launched a final attack to destroy the " Enterprise " . ( ) " Operation Lovely Angel " . In 2365 , the crew of the participated in a battle simulation in the Braslota system , overseen by Zakdorn strategist Sirna Kolrami , known as Operation Lovely Angel . " Enterprise " captain Jean - Luc Picard was originally against participating in the simulation , but with the recent discovery of the threat from the Borg , he recognized the need for his crew to practice their combat skills . An away team of forty crewmen from the " Enterprise " , led by Commander William T . Riker , boarded the obsolete and deactivated cruiser and reactivated its systems in the space of 48 hours . However , the " Hathaway " was no match for the top - of - the - line starship , and so Riker ' s team prepared a few surprises . Riker ' s temporary first officer , Lieutenant Worf , hacked into the " Enterprise " s tactical systems and projected the appearance of a Romulan Warbird , creating a diversion that allowed the " Hathaway " to score multiple hits against the " Enterprise " . However , the simulation was interrupted by the appearance of a Ferengi Marauder , whose DaiMon believed that the two Starfleet ships were engaged in some sort of internal struggle over advanced technology . The " Kreechta " attacked the " Enterprise " ( whose crew had originally thought that the Marauder ' s appearance was another trick programmed by Lieutenant Worf ) and disabled the larger ship , leaving it powerless to defend the smaller Starfleet vessel . Bractor demanded that the " Hathaway " be turned over to him . Fortunately , an act of subterfuge by Wesley Crusher had provided the " Hathaway " with a small amount of antimatter to power the ship ' s warp drive . Riker and Picard devised an elaborate illusion in which the " Enterprise " appeared to destroy the " Hathaway " with torpedoes , but in actuality the " Hathaway " escaped in a brief two - second warp jump to the far side of a nearby planet , where it was able to hide . Worf then programmed a sensor shadow into the Ferengi ship ' s computer , making it appear that Starfleet reinforcements were approaching the system . Apparently outnumbered and with its potential booty seemingly destroyed , the Ferengi ship retreated . ( )