Ratings

Posted on Wed Feb 17th, 2021 @ 6:05am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen

Mission: The Jungle
Location: Game Central

The Executive were not impressed, The Game had been a ratings winner in several years past, earning them a large amount of currency and the status such an income afforded. This current season seemed to be lacklustre though. The contestants were not performing as expected and the audience was beginning to drop off, along with their sponsers and advertising signings. Something had to be done, and soon.


"Get me the Haldeman" One of them ordered, taking the bold move of cutting an episode short so they could apply some pressure to the failing host.

Former Captain Thomas Haldeman was in his suite relaxing. It was one of the several perks he was afforded for winning the game years prior. Suddenly there was a knock on his door. Opening it he found one of several lackeys he had spied around the offices and studios. "He wants you now!" The lackey announced. "Does he now? Haldeman mused, "Then I suppose I should go see him. Now shouldn't I?" As he swept past the lackey and took the express elevator to the penthouse offices and his meeting with the Executive.

The Executive sat in his high backed chair, stewing. The last episode replaying on a screen in front of them. Effectively nothing had happened in the last 30 minutes, the main team holed up in a cave out of side, several others still making their way through the jungle. There wasn't enough drama, no suspense, and certainly not enough death. They needed more death. The door opened and a cocky Haldeman strode through.

"Sit." The Executive ordered firmly.

Haldeman was never one to be cowed by raised voices, however he sat, crossed his legs and looked across the space separating them and spoke. "I understand you wanted to see me. Here I am."

" Indeed." The Executive started to pace, not meeting the former Captain's eyes. "Tell me, if ratings were dropping, our audience leaving and our sponsors going elsewhere in droves...what would you do?"

Haldeman uncrossed his legs and didn't rush an answer. "In droves? I find that hard to believe the game has been a ratings champ ever since I won it ten years ago. I admit the game hasn't been exciting as in the past but it will pick up. The Vulcan and a woman have started for the idol. However in answer to your question I would find a way to inject more excitement into the game."

The Executive switched the screen to a graph showing sponsorships and audience viewings being in sharp decline over the last time period.

" Care to explain this then? If you think the ratings are doing well?" He probed, his voice low and dangerous.

Not one to be intimated, Haldeman replied, "I didn't say the ratings were doing well, I just questioned that sponsors were leaving in droves." He countered.

" Our revenue has fallen 30 percent, if another 10% leave then it's not worth the cost of broadcasting and maintaining the timeslot" The Executive retorted, clearly irritated by the nonchalant attitude of Haldeman.

"I understand you are worried about your profit margins but they aren't going to fall another 10 percent. Groups of them are on the move, that has to stir some interest, correct?" Haldeman retorted.

" On the move yes, but is anything happening? No! The Captain and her team have been holed up in that cave for the last two episodes. Just how are you going to make things more exciting?" The Executive probed, stopping his pacing for a moment to nail Haldeman with a glare.

Haldeman wiped away invisible lint from his three piece suit. "Simple really. I'll send in the drones to harass them into making reckless moves. Then if need be I'll unleash the Manhunters." His voice calm, cool and collected.

" And what of the Captain and her team, hiding? The audience want to know what is going on? They are questioning the integrity of the game itself" The Executive challenged.

"They will move when she is able however if the audience hasn't learned the game always delivers, we'll unleash the hive to drive them from the cave." Haldeman answered his cool façade in place.

" And if all this fails? Will you PERSONALLY enter the Game and make things interesting?" The Executive had a gleam in his eye that spoke volumes of his intentions.

Haldeman's cool demeaner wavered. "You wouldn't dare! The people would never let you get away with it. They love me! I'm Their champion, Their hero!" He shouted.

"Then you will improve the ratings, or you will return to the jungle. I'm sure the audience would love to see their hero in action again" The Executive laughed at the thought. Haldeman had aged considerably in the past 10 years, he was almost past him prime.

Haldeman shook with rage, yet he managed to answer civilly. "You'll get the results you want. One of the hunters is closing in on the Vulcan and the woman."

" Oh we will - or you'll be joining that pathetic lot. The worst ratings in history this season - and it's on your shoulders Haldeman" The Executive turned and looked out the window overlooking the jungle. Nothing as usual was happening.

"And you've had winners every season with the Romulans", Cardassians even the Pakleds! So don't tell me I haven't delivered the ratings!" Haldeman snapped back.

" You told us a Starfleet crew would provide the most exciting, highly rated game yet." The Executive seethed, annoyed with Haldeman's attitude. As he spoke the was a flurry of activity on one of the cameras.

Haldeman's eyes were drawn to the screen and they widen at what he saw. The screen showed Savar rising silently behind the hunter and after a brief struggle subduing the hunter and taking his rifle.

The Executive watched on, trying to decide if the situation unfolding was a good thing or a bad thing. He watched the audience graph on a separate screen to see if there was a change with this latest development. "Clearly your Hunters need more training..."

Haldeman huffed, "They do not. That is a Vulcan they have exceptional strength, reflexes as well as highly logical minds. They are walking computers."

" So your Hunters need to be better, or shall we replace them with something that a Vulcan cannot defeat?" The Executive grimaced as Savar took off with the phaser rifle, making good time towards the Holy Idol.

"Replace them with what?" Haldeman questioned as he watched Savar and Aurora heading towards the Holy Idol. "I'm interested to hear what you think can stop a determined Vulcan."

" You can." The Exec said simply, extremely happy with himself.

Haldeman blinked "What? You want me to go back into the field against a Vulcan?"

" You are the champion or so you keep telling me" The Executive sneered, knowing he had trumped anything Haldeman could offer.

"You know I am. However it's been ten years since I've been in the game and won it." Haldeman countered.

" Are you telling me you're afraid? That you've lost your touch?" The Executive challenged. The viewer ratings hadn't changed much since the Vulcan had taken the rifle. Something had to change - and fast.

Haldeman's pride had been pricked. "I'm not afraid and I haven't lost my touch. After I take care of the the Vulcan, I want an apology."

" You get the ratings back to where they should be and you might just keep your job" The Exec retorted, making sure that Haldeman knew is place in the pecking order.

"No." Haldeman replied firmly, "I'll want a new job... yours."

"Good luck, the people love you, you are their champion." The Exec pushed Haldeman's ego buttons like a pro. "You need to be in front of the camera, not behind it"

"Blow it out your ear." Haldeman snapped. "You'll see why I won and I am the best and will always be the best."

"Get out of my office before I change my mind and fire you on the spot" The Executive spat, pointing towards the door and the lacky that was waiting outside.

"And deprive the audience of a ratings bonanza? I don't think so. When I get back I expect you gone, for this will be my office." Haldeman fired back. turned and walked to the door, opening it and telling the lackey, "We're going to wardrobe.''