The Kobayashi Maru is a training exercise in the Starfleet Academy from the Star Trek universe. It is designed to test the decision-making abilities of cadets in a no-win scenario, where they must choose how to respond to a distress call from a civilian ship under attack by hostile forces. The exercise emphasizes the importance of leadership and moral choices in dire situations. In the simulation, cadets face overwhelming odds, and the outcome is predetermined to be unsuccessful. Notably, James T. Kirk famously reprogrammed the simulation to win, showcasing his unconventional thinking and ability to challenge established norms.