Star Trek Hunter Episode 16: Slavers

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode: 16: Slavers
Scene 6: The Battle of the Coridan Corridor

16.6
The Battle of the Coridan Corridor​

“All Star Fleet personnel and other authorized parties, this is Fleet Admiral Miriam Stewart, Director of Star Fleet Operations. At 4 hours, 9 minutes Star Fleet standard time this morning, a flight of 18 orion light interceptors engaged the U.S.S. Intrepid in the Coridan Corridor, inside Federation space. As you may be aware, the Orion Syndicate has become increasingly aggressive with slaving operations targeting pre-warp civilizations within Federation space, and has conducted particularly egregious raids against two such worlds located near the Coridan Corridor, farming these worlds for slaves in open abrogation of the Babel Treaties and the Khitomer Accords.

“This orion strike force was only the vanguard of what turned out to be a much larger group of orion marauders and a previously unknown new class of orion heavy destroyers. With great courage and discipline, the crews of the U.S.S. Intrepid and the U.S.S. Victory worked together with our heroic klingon allies aboard the I.K.V. Nome under Commander Koraj, and the I.K.V. kHov Bome under Captain Warg, to draw out this large force of orion ships.

“In what was, in my opinion, the most flawlessly conducted Star Fleet combined operation in the past century, Captain Serge Mykel Chekov set a trap for the orion slavers and led a large task force of our ships, with the addition of the Andorian Imperial Guard Vessel, the I.G.V. Ravonnelle, along with two full squadrons of our new long-range interceptors, into battle and destroyed 18 orion marauders, 42 orion light interceptors and four of their new heavy destroyers. Not one orion ship or interceptor survived the Battle of Coridan Corridor. And all Star Fleet ships and the two klingon ships are coming home.

“But we paid a heavy price for this victory. I regret to inform you that we lost 13 of our long-range interceptors in this battle and only 4 of those interceptor pilots survived. The I.K.V. kHov Bome and the U.S.S. Intrepid in particular suffered heavy damage and heavy casualties, including the loss of Captain Warg and Captain Sullivan Parker Cruz, both on their first tour of duty in command. The U.S.S. Victory also suffered heavy damage and considerable casualties. A comprehensive list will be published once their families have been notified. In all, 19 klingon warriors and 117 Star Fleet crew members, along with 8 associated civilians serving on the Victory, gave their lives to this effort.

“On behalf of a grateful Federation, I want to express our profound gratitude toward and pride in our valiant klingon allies, who risked and gave their lives with great honor, and thank Chancellor Martok for allowing these courageous crews to join us in this effort to protect the innocent from slavery. I also want to thank Emperor Sin IV for contributing the I.G.V. Ravonnelle and its crew and heavy interceptors to this effort. Their courage, honor, and above all, their discipline made this complete victory possible.”


“Additionally, Admiral Jamaal El Fadil, Star Fleet Chief of Staff, has authorized me to announce at this time the promotion of Serge Chekov to Rear Admiral. And Rear Admiral Chekov has chosen the U.S.S. Milky Way as his flagship.”


“I want to make it clear that a large number of orions are members of Star Fleet and 9 of our casualties in this action were orion or had orion heritage, including Captain Cruz. We have not yet heard from any members of the Orion Allied Governments and at this point we do not have a full picture of how the alliance will react. In spite of the actions of the slavers and the Orion Syndicate, the majority of orions living and working in Federation space are peaceful and lawful members of our society and respect the rights of pre-warp civilizations to privacy and insulation from influence by advanced races. Please allow me to emphasize that orions are not, generally speaking, our enemies. Do not allow your opinion of a great people to be colored by the acts of an outlaw minority.”


“Detailed briefings for all Star Fleet commanding officers and government officials will be provided by Star Fleet Intelligence along appropriate communication channels. Please direct any questions you have to your commanding officers. We do not yet know whether to expect additional incursions along our border with the Orion Alliance, but I can assure you that we are prepared for them if they come.”


“To all Star Fleet and associated personnel: Thank you for your service. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your forbearance. Thank you for your discipline. This is Fleet Admiral Miriam Stewart, signing out.”

16.6 (of 19)​

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode: 16: Slavers
Scene 7: And Then There Were Three

16.7
And Then There Were Three​

“So… Rear Admiral Possum?” Dr. Tali Shae asked.

“He has his admirers, Tali, and they call him Possum-Chicken,” Justice Minerva Irons responded. “I don’t like the man much, but I admire his tendency to bring people home alive.”

“I have already heard grumbling that he held the Milky Way and the Ravonnelle back for three hours while orion forces burned down his former first officer. The Intrepid is coming home, but they’re having to tow it. It and the Victory,” Tali observed.

“You remain wisely silent, Kenneth, any observations?” Irons asked.


Lt. Cmdr. Kenneth Dolphin and Cmdr. Tali Shae were seated on the couch in the captain’s stateroom. A bottle of pineapple cider and tumblers were set on the table before them. Justice Minerva Irons, wrapped in a black and scarlet kimono, was in her lounge chair, her legs folded under her, a tumbler of the sparkling beverage in her hand.


“I don’t envy Chekov and I would not want to wear that much platinum on my collar,” Dolphin observed. “It comes with the requirement to occasionally send your friends to their deaths. I understand he dribbled ships into the fray specifically to lure out all of the orion forces so that he could destroy them all in one action. Do you know why the Ravonnelle was assigned to that action?”

“Redemption, Lieutenant Commander,” Irons replied, “In return for the destruction of two Star Fleet interceptors and killing one of our pilots in the Battle over Rings. The Emperor Sin IV has assigned the Ravonnelle to Rear Admiral Chekov for the next three years and requested that they be put first in battle as often as possible. They are to put their lives on the line for the Federation and return with their shields or on them.”

“Our new emperor is quite the mercurial soul,” said Tali. “I hear he has pulled our delegation to the Federation Council out of the Moderate coalition.”

“I can’t see Andoria joining the Homeworld coalition,” Dolphin said.

“Not the Homeworld coalition,” Irons responded. “The Federal coalition. A few bolians and humans left the Moderates as well, so Ushi no longer has a majority. Your friend has been busy.” She took a drink of her cider.

Kenny Dolphin coughed on his drink. It took a moment for him to recover. “You think this is Ivonovic’s doing?”

“Emory Ivonovic has made some very astute alliances,” Irons replied, “The most surprising of them with Emperor Sin IV. I still agree with you that it would have been a disaster if Ivonovic had surrendered to the Tribunal. But why was he so ready to do so? Do you think he was angling to get a seat on the Federation Council?”

“Ivonovic is far more subtle than he appears,” said Kenny. “But I think that was just a stroke of luck for him. He was afraid of a romulan intelligence operative. He seemed to think she answers directly to the Romulan Senate. Apparently she is in command of that cardassian cruiser that attacked us last year.** So what happens to Ushi? Does he lose power?”


Irons laughed. “Ushi has been setting the agenda for the Federation Council for more than 40 years now. Most of that time without any coalition having a functional majority. There is no such thing as a prime minister or a ‘no confidence’ vote. Whoever can put together the most votes sets the agenda and names the committees.”

“I had a hard time at first believing he was your son,” said Dolphin. “And no idea how he keeps getting elected.”

“I keep forgetting that Earth representatives are popularly elected by district,” said Tali. “Most Federation Council members are appointed by their homeworld governments. How does that strange child of yours keep winning elections?”

Irons took a sip of her pineapple cider, smiled. “Ushi’s opponents have always withdrawn before their names could be registered on a ballot. He is a very secretive man – he keeps his secrets and he knows everyone else’s secrets. He is by far the strangest of my children. And the most prolific – he has given me 31 grandchildren.”

“I heard he is the master of some ancient form of martial arts,” said Dolphin.

“I honestly don’t know,” Irons responded. “His father taught him Ba Gua Zhang and Jujitsu when he was young, but he started studying on his own before he was a teenager and would quit the moment he realized he was being observed. If he is a master of any form, it is most likely one he developed himself. And it seems he has sired a race just as strange and secretive as he is.”

“Ushi may have met his match in Sin IV,” Tali Shae observed. “You have had more dealings with him than me, but he has always had a reputation for secrecy and unpredictability. Why do you think he instructed his delegation to shift over to the Federal coalition?”

“By withdrawing from the Moderate coalition, the andorians have become the swing vote,” Irons replied, “so Ushi has to specially court them. But that only worked because Ivonovic was able to convince enough other members to leave the Moderates so they no longer have a majority.” Irons drained her glass.

“Which makes your friend another unique power player that Ushi also has to deal with,” said Tali.

“You keep calling him ‘my friend’,” Dolphin objected.

“He cultivated you because he realized you could be useful to him,” Irons observed. She stood up, stretched her legs, grunted in discomfort. ”I can no longer sit in that position for very long…” Irons sat back down, stretched her legs in front of her, sighed heavily. “That interview with you allowed Ivonovic to broaden his appeal not only to nearly all the various naturalborn groups and their sympathizers, but also to a much broader audience who seem to be growing more receptive to your writings. He’s capitalizing on your notoriety. Not only as a philosopher, but also your notoriety within Star Fleet as a pilot. All of that gives you some clout with him. You should cultivate that relationship – if not for your sake, for all of ours.” Irons set her empty tumbler on the table, then placed three fingers from her left hand on the table and very briefly held up the index finger of her right hand.


Kenny Dolphin and Tali Shae looked at each other in surprise.

“There were four of us,” said Irons. She refilled her tumbler, settled back into her lounge chair. Lifted her glass. “The late Lynhart Shran.”

Dolphin and Tali Shae lifted their glasses. Until that moment, neither had been aware that Investigator Shran - or that each the other - was a member of the federation’s top secret organization, Section 31. An organization so secret, they avoided speaking the name openly even in the privacy of the captain’s quarters.


“We have a serious problem,” Irons continued after a long drink. “For the moment our assignments align. But if you receive instructions that seem strange to you, trust your own judgement over the organization. I hardly need say it, but trust me before you trust them.”

Tali Shae’s antennae were standing at attention now.

Dolphin glanced at the doctor. “They’re compromised,” he said.

Tali looked questioningly at Irons. “How did he…”

“Quadropseudoprozadiazomine,” Irons responded with a gesture toward Dolphin. “It allowed him to go through a mind-meld with a contaminated vulcan without becoming compromised too. That’s how the organization is being infiltrated. It’s being passed along by vulcans through mind-melds. I recommend you keep some quadropseudoprozadiazomine – if you get into a situation that might involve a mind-meld, inject it as a prophylactic.”


Irons stood up, began pacing. “I have an assignment for you, Tali. We will be meeting with Damon Trock of the Ferengi Merchant Ship Usotro. You are to pose as your cousin, Autti Shae, and travel with him to an orion slave auction. You will take Reeves and his team for security.”

“Just the vacation I needed,” Tali quipped. “I assume my cover is because Autti is now the Emperor’s physician?”

“And the two of you are reasonably close in looks,” Irons replied. “Arrangements have been made with the andorian government. Unless someone is there who actually knows Autti, your cover should be secure. All of the computers will identify you as her.”

“I don’t think she is all that well known in either ferengi or orion circles. Who is the slave?” Tali asked.

“My grandson-in-law,” said Irons. “Pomm.” She drained her glass.

“Poor kid,” Tali said. “He’s probably sweating his massive, flabby buns off.”

“Pomm has a talent for being underestimated.” Irons smiled. “My granddaughter chose well when she married him. There’s the heart of an Irons under all that blubber. You need to find out what has happened to Oarama and, more critically, Pivin. More hinges on that little old romulan woman than I care to admit…”

16.7 (of 19)
​

-- In Episode 5, Ivonovic was captured by Remma - the same romulan operative seen in 16.4 being conditioned by Scrivax on behalf of Section 31. Remma (and her cardassian cruiser with its romulan cloaking device) will re-emerge in a much later episode.​

 

[Galen4]

There's a lot going on here. Orion attacks and Vulcan infiltrators, hell!

I appreciate the call backs to previous stories since I'm not up to speed on everything you've done.
Meant to say this before, but your crew manifests are very helpful, too. I have to admit, I've read fan fics in which I lose track of what character has what position.

Great stuff, here. I'll keep reading!

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

...I appreciate the call backs to previous stories since I'm not up to speed on everything you've done....Great stuff, here. I'll keep reading!

Noted for future reference - I'll keep the liner notes going. With all the stories we all keep up with, it's really easy to lose the thread - especially details posted in an episode a year ago even if you did read it way back then. Thanks again for the kind words!! rbs

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode: 16: Slavers
Scene 8: Tolon’s Women

16.8
Tolon’s Women​

“Oh… my… goddess…” Ensign Tolon Reeves was almost speechless as he joined his tactical squad in the transporter room.


His four tall, athletic, tactical specialists had received surgical pigmentation and hair implants. Their once bronze skin was now a uniform dark green and their short, blonde hair had been replaced by cascades of thick, wavy, coal black curls. Their lips, fingernails and toenails were painted a deep, vibrant scarlet. At just over 6’, the four betazoids were considerably taller than average for orion women. But it was the scant clothing that had rendered Reeves dumbfounded. Skin-tight midnight blue straps barely held their ample breasts in place and their matching bikini bottoms might as well have been spray-painted on. Each woman was also draped in diaphanous violet and red scarves that neither covered nor concealed their sleek, muscular bodies.


“You have no need for orion pheromones. Your victims will succumb to their own hormones just from looking at you,” Reeves said. Although not surgically altered himself, Reeves was out of uniform. He was wearing loose, baggy pants, shirt and vest, all made of beautifully colored, carefully detailed and far-too-comfortable silks. He had left his own family earring behind and was wearing the earring of an enormous and famously wealthy bajoran family.

Chief Tactical Specialist Rume Grace smiled wickedly. “I’m afraid sir, for us to play our roles properly, that you must be our victim…”

“Hey… I have a girlfriend you know,” Reeves objected. “A really cute one that I’d like to keep…”

“And she is in love with a Star Fleet officer who has an obligation to duty,” simpered Tactical Specialist Ranni Neivi, trailing her fingers over Ensign Tolon’s mostly bald head and toying with his comb-over.

Tactical Specialist Dasare Eba pressed her nearly naked body tightly against Reeve’s back and ran her hands firmly over his belly and chest.


Dr. Tali Shae, clad in tight leathers in the latest andorian civilian fashion, strode into the transporter room and viewed this risqué spectacle on the transporter pad. Her antennae bristled. “Stop that! Can’t this wait until we arrive at the slave market? Or at least until we’re aboard the Usotro?”

Dasare Eba rested her chin on the top of Reeves’ head and pouted. “I’m afraid it cannot be delayed.”

“We all need to settle into our roles well before we are seen by anyone else,” said Chief Grace, stepping up behind Tali Shae as she took her place on the transporter pad and twining her long body around the andorian doctor’s back, causing the curvy andorian woman’s right antenna to spasm spontaneously - like the leg of a small dog being mercilessly tickled.

“We can’t help it,” added Tactical Specialist Veri Geki. She nuzzled Reeves’ ear, then looked up at Dr. Tali Shae:



“We’re method actors.”



Tali sighed and gave Midshipman Tammy Brazil a pained look, her right antenna still spasming helplessly. “Energize… Please?”

16.8 (of 19)​

 

[Galen4]

If Reeves isn't up to this assignment, I'd be happy to fill in for him!

All fun and games aside, inserting a team into an Orion slave market is no laughing matter. We've seen from Enterprise that these people aren't to be trifled with. And I doubt that's changed much by this point in the future. If anything, they're probably even more dangerous now.

I smell a set up here... our heroic gals seem just a tad overconfident. It would behoove them to remember that Orions aren't stupid. They've been operating successfully for several hundred years and haven't made it this far by being careless.

Can't wait to see how this plays out.

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

If Reeves isn't up to this assignment, I'd be happy to fill in for him!
All fun and games aside, inserting a team into an Orion slave market is no laughing matter...Can't wait to see how this plays out.

Glad you got a kick out of this little scene! Best laid plans and contact with the enemy coming up relatively soon...

Thanks!! rbs

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode: 16: Slavers
Scene 9: Vengeons-Roux

16.9
Vengeons-Roux​

From the landing site to the supply and survival station that Pomm Irons and his wife, Oarama, had built several years ago, was a six hour walk through old growth forest with little underbrush. Oarama Irons and Pivin the Betrayer could see that they were being tracked at a distance by the wolf-like animals they had observed on their arrival. Both women carried Andorian Imperial Guard issue phaser rifles slung on their backs and each had a hand phaser concealed in her clothing. But the women wanted to avoid using their phasers unless absolutely necessary. The heavy plastic skids from their flight suits made fine walking sticks, each with a shepherd’s crook at the top. As the women walked, they would occasionally gouge the bare, forest floor with their walking sticks.

As they got within a few hundred meters of the supply station, their lupine escort melted away and both women unslung their phaser rifles under the assumption the quadrupeds were shy of the area because it was occupied. Pivin’s superior hearing picked up the sound of voices at almost the same moment that Oarama was able to detect wraiths of heat moving near the mouth of the cave which she and Pomm had stocked so many years ago. Both women stopped and observed.

A fire had been started in the cave - Oarama could not see the flames or a trail of smoke, but she could smell it. Evidently the inhabitants were using the stove that she and Pomm had hidden in the cave, along with a chimney system to route the smoke away from the cave. She and Pivin crept closer and were soon able to observe a small number of people tending the plants outside the cave.

The two women noticed the watchers at the same moment and stopped their movement. The watchers at the edge of the tree line appeared to be children, but serious, alert children. They were now close enough to hear the people talking quietly, but Oarama could not pick out any words.

Two individuals, appearing to be young boys by their size, emerged from the tree line into the camp, carrying what could only be firewood. The larger of these spoke in a loud voice, causing some of the adults in the camp to move away from him and others to come and relieve him of the firewood he was carrying. Others came more eagerly to the smaller boy and relieved him of firewood.

Oarama did not need to understand the language to gather that the larger boy was throwing his weight around. The children who had been watching at the edge of the forest had turned their attention back in to the camp, giving Pivin and Oarama the opportunity to move much closer. Oarama could tell by Pivin’s expression that the older romulan woman was outraged. As they got closer to the camp and could observe its denizens more closely, Oarama began to understand why.


Romulans. Elderly romulans. Very elderly romulans and a small number of young romulan children. Oarama checked her communicator. The universal translator should have translated romulan, but the communicator had no power. Oarama did not know whether Pivin’s communicator was working, but it didn’t matter - these people were speaking her language. Pivin walked straight into the camp. Oarama held back, covering the elderly romulan with her phaser rifle. These romulans did not appear to be armed. Both the elderly and the children huddled back as Pivin emerged from the trees, but the older boy challenged her loudly. He pulled out a homemade bow, but before he could fit an arrow to it, Pivin neatly cut it in half with her phaser.

Oarama checked her own phaser - still set on stun. Pivin must have changed the setting in the moment she lifted and used the weapon - with tremendous accuracy and confidence. If her pencil-thin beam had encountered one of the romulans it would have sliced effortlessly through flesh and bone. Oarama was suddenly reminded of Pivin’s decades of service in the Romulan Imperial Ground Forces. Of course she was expert with a phaser. As quickly as she had raised and used the weapon, she had returned it to her back.

The older boy had a sly expression. He was wise enough to realize that Pivin had no intention of killing him, so he moved forward to challenge her hand to hand. Pivin was ignoring the boy and speaking to the elders - who were apparently trying to warn her about the boy’s impending attack. This boy had a lot of lessons to learn. Oarama had the opportunity to deliver one of those lessons - she could stun the boy, letting him know that people like Pivin more often than not had backup.

But that was a lesson for another time. The first thing the boy needed to learn was his place - and that was a lesson for Pivin to teach. Before the young romulan realized he had stepped into range, without turning to look at him, Pivin caught his leg with the crook of her walking stick and swept his legs out from under him. The boy sprang back up in a rage and attacked - only to receive the other end of the walking stick to his sternum, robbing him of his breath.


Oarama was gratified that the boy continued his aggression unabated - like any good romulan or cardassian should. Best for him to burn out his dream of dominance and learn his lesson thoroughly than to seethe in humiliation and nurse vengeful fantasies as a human or a bajoran child might. Oarama smiled, thinking that it was exactly that duplicity of false humility and hidden strength that she loved so much about Pomm - there was always another hidden strength or ability that she had never known about - even after 15 years of marriage spending nearly every hour together. She missed him terribly.


Pivin had transferred the walking stick to her right hand and was leaning on it. She was blocking the boy’s continued aggressions with a variety of jabs and blocks using only her left arm - all the while never looking at him and continuing to ask questions of the elders and draw them into conversation. The boy’s aggression had gradually been replaced with curiosity. His wild, angry attacks were replaced with more clever, probing ones - learning more now about Pivin’s art of self-defense, well aware that he was completely outmatched.


After reviewing her environment carefully, Oarama stepped quietly into the encampment and waited, just inside the tree line to be noticed. The elders were clearly both fascinated with and frightened of Pivin. When they finally noticed a cardassian in their midst, they were clearly terrified. The boy was startled out of his wits, never having thought that his antagonist might have an accomplice. He ceased his attacks and remained very still. Since she could not understand a word any of them were saying, Oarama also remained still and waited until it was clear that Pivin had calmed the other romulans sufficiently that they could accept their visitors.

With a few moments now to let down her guard, Oarama squatted down to her haunches and worked on her communicator. She was able to bring the universal translator online, but none of the communicator’s other functions were working.

“I see you have cultivated my garden,” Oarama finally said to her involuntary hosts. “You are refugees.”

“From romulans, cardassians, humans, bajorans, the jem’hadar, and now those green slavers,” said an elderly romulan male. “They were the ones who took our children and our grandchildren and left us only with babies, and only these four of the babies have survived.”

“I am Oarama Irons. I am free. My husband and I are Federation citizens. He is bajoran.”

“I am Dibos. So a bajoran married a cardassian…” the elderly romulan mused, not certain what to make of this information.

“My father was cardassian. My mother is part cardassian, bajoran and human - and just a little bit vulcan, trill and betazoid,” Oarama Irons replied. “I take it you have been able to eat the gogo root that my husband and I planted here. And the callolope?”

“We did not know your names for these plants, but our palates have grown accustomed to them. But we cannot digest the goo of these plants…” He indicated a large plant with stiff, thick fronds.

“That’s Aloe Vera. The goo is medicinal. You seal your wounds and rashes with it,” Oarama replied.

“I think that may only work on people with red blood,” Dibos responded.

“Unless you have an allergic or toxic reaction to it, it should at the least seal and protect the wound and it has some antibacterial properties,” Oarama said.

16.9 (of 19)



​

Flashback: Pomm and Oarama Irons and Pivin the Betrayer were introduced in Episode 11, at which time Pivin had valuable information about romulan history for Justice Irons. Irons' granddaughter (and grandson-in-law) have been running spy operations with Pivin for 9 years and are experienced at clandestine operations against both the Romulan and Cardassian empires. While never introduced in the series, the Federation's civilian intelligence agency, the Federation Intelligence and Security Agency, is the largest intelligence operation in the Alpha Quadrant. Pomm and Oarama are FISA agents and Pivin is a FISA asset.

Oarama's grandfather was Minerva Irons' 3rd husband (part cadassian, part bajoran). Minerva Irons' marriages are, by contract, for no more than 10 years. Her 3rd husband was killed before their 4th child was born. These marriage contracts also stipulate that her husbands are to take her name and her children are to retain the name Irons. Marry an Irons - change your name to Irons - gender doesn't matter. It's just one of many Ironsclan rules.​

 

[Gibraltar]

Review 16.1 - Ah, I love a good escape, but a good escape to a pre-preprepared hide-out in the Badlands elevates it to a Great Escape™.

A terrific opener!

 

[Gibraltar]

Review 16.2 - It's no small thing to give a reader a clear, three-dimensional picture of a new character in the space of a few paragraphs, but you've somehow managed that with Captain Chekov. The man fairly oozes personality... acerbic, fearless and witty. I'd love to see this man have a drink with my own Lucian Ebnal. I think they might just get along.

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Review 16.1 - Ah, I love a good escape,...A terrific opener!

Thanks for the kind words!!

Review 16.2 - ...Captain Chekov.... fairly oozes personality... acerbic, fearless and witty. I'd love to see this man have a drink with my own Lucian Ebnal....

Ebnal is way at the top of my favorite UT characters. Ebnal and Chekov together would either be an epic wrestling match or an epic bromance - probably both, well lubricated with high quality vodka... Thanks!! rbs

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode: 16: Slavers
Scene 10: TPD Unit 1 ADM 12

16.10
TPD Unit 1 ADM 12​

“We have a small ship coming in at high warp,” said 2nd Lt. T’Lon, currently standing watch at the tactical/communication station. “They are requesting permission to dock.”

“On screen,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mlady. The U.S.S. Hunter had just stopped for supplies at Starbase 91 and was preparing to go to warp.

“They’re hailing us,” T’Lon said.

Mlady gestured with her thumb and T’Lon activated the link.

“Unidentified ship, this is the U.S.S. Hunter, Mlady commanding. Please identify yourself and your intention.”

A familiar, smiling face appeared on the viewer. “Hello Mlady commanding. Is Justice Irons home? Oh - this is the Trantor Police Department Administrative District Monitor, Unit 1 ADM 12.”

The door to the captain’s office opened and Justice Irons emerged and turned toward the viewer. “Please dock on our port side, Special Agent Canada. We were just about to go to warp and we are in a hurry.”

“I am well aware of that, your honor. I think you’ll consider this brief delay worth your while.”


A few moments later, the Trantor Police monitor was docked with the Hunter and Special Agents Johnny Canada and Anana Lynarr had joined Justice Minerva Irons, Commander David Pepper, Lt. Tauk and Investigator Buttans Ngumbo in the executive conference room.

“We’ve been getting a lot of conflicting information from Star Fleet Intelligence and from our Federation Council members,” said Canada. “That’s why the Blue Wraith were commissioned. With three billion people to look after, the City of Trantor has to track every threat separately. We can’t afford to rely on Star Fleet or anybody else.”

“Recently, we’ve been picking up so many threats, we’ve been feeding more information to SFI than we’ve been getting from them,” Canada continued. “There are several different threats that we are tracking. Our analysis indicates the andorian rebellion is picking up energy and while Andoria itself is probably secure, the colonies are at threat and especially of concern to us, the andorian community in Trantor, and three other cities on Cun Ling. We’re also tracking what I think are continuing threats from the orion slavers. I don’t think their power is destroyed even with the loss of all those ships. We’re also tracking rumors that the nausicaans are going to make another play for Pillo - especially now that Captain - um - rather Rear Admiral Chekov pulled the Victory away - leaving only a couple of Prowler class ships in orbit. But my biggest worry is Vulcan.”

“What makes you think Vulcan might come under attack?” asked Tauk.

“We’ve been picking up chatter all over Vulcan and on a few of their nearby colonies from the separatist movement for the past two years. Recently, we have monitored an increase in the chatter. We think the vulcan separatists are trying to coordinate a romulan assault to take the system over - but under the cover of several simultaneous attacks. Star Fleet’s victory at Coridan Corridor may have set their plans back, but not by much. I have already informed Star Fleet Intelligence and if that division has earned its name, they will increase security around the Vulcan system.” Johnny Canada turned toward Irons. “As I understand it, you are trying to locate Pivin the Betrayer?”

“I’m not sure how you know that, Special Agent Canada,” said Irons. “But the fact you can know something like that when even Star Fleet Operations doesn’t is quite disturbing to me.”

“Lynhart Shran became a bit of a hero to me,” Canada admitted. “It seemed like he was in the middle of everything and I think you, personally, are the reason why. I’ve been keeping tabs. I don’t know what you’re hoping to learn from the Betrayer that you don’t already know, but whatever it is, I strongly believe it will affect Trantor’s security, which means I need to be involved.” Canada turned to address Buttans Ngumbo: “I understand you have not replaced Investigator Shran yet?”

“I really have no idea how to replace him,” the half bajoran, half Maasai investigator responded. “Since the contract was with our agency, it’s my responsibility to find another investigator, but I just can’t imagine anyone replacing him.”

“Until you find another business partner, what would you think about subcontracting with the Trantor Police Intelligence Division?” Canada asked. “As Special Agent In Charge, I am responsible for assigning field agents to deep cover. I would like to embed Special Agent Anana Lynarr with you. This would give you the full support of the Blue Wraith and would help keep me more informed of things I need to know to identify potential threats to my city. Believe me, if either Pillo or Vulcan were to fall, that would be an enormous threat to Trantor’s security. Maybe TPDID could help you prevent those things from coming to pass.”

“I would have to go through channels…” Justice Irons started.

“Ah, but Anana has quit the Blue Wraith - bad quarterly reviews. And while you have ultimate approval over whom Mr. Buttans here employs, your contract does not require you to scrutinize his candidates if you choose not to…”

“You know, Mr. Canada, I do believe Lynhart secretly liked you…” Irons observed. “You will give with both hands?”

“May we have the room, your honor?”

Irons looked at Pep. “David?”

“Alright you lot, shuffle off to the kiddie table. Let’s let the adults talk,” Pep said, clearing the room, and squeezing out of the door after them.




The ferengi director of ground operations ushered Investigator Buttans and the young bolian agent to the ground operations center at the back of deck 8. “We work in rather close quarters,” Lt. Tauk said.

“It is starting to look as though you will be working for me,” Buttans Ngumbo said to Anana Lynarr.

“I was a Blue Helmet for two years before transferring from the Uniform Division to Intelligence,” said Lynarr. “Johnny recruited me for the Blue Wraith. He never told me why.”

“Either that or you’re not ready to tell me,” Ngumbo replied. “We have a lot of down time between assignments.” He ushered her to the workstation that Investigator Shran had previously occupied. “We know the orions took Pomm Irons from the Prophet Motive. They sold what was left of the ship to the ferengi, who, in turn, sold it to an agent of the Irons family. We haven’t had any word about Pomm Irons’ wife, Oarama, or Pivin the Betrayer. We are working on the assumption that they were abandoned in the Badlands. The Maquis built four stations there, but those were all destroyed by the Dominion. That leaves eight planets or moons with breathable atmospheres and about 20 or 30 other rocks large enough to build a pressurized shelter on.”




After Commander Pepper left the conference room, Johnny Canada turned to watch him, scratching the back of his head with three fingers of his left hand. He turned, resumed his seat and picked up a glass of water with his right hand, took a drink, his little finger extended.

Irons was not surprised that Canada was a member of Section 31. Given his position of leadership in the Trantor Police Department Intelligence Division, he had to be a prime candidate for recruitment and was no doubt a valuable asset.

“Investigator Shran showed me the knots,” Canada said. “I have no idea how he knew. But he also knew I was getting strange instructions. Now the whole organization has fallen silent. I’ve known months to go by without any communication, but never in the face of threats – especially not threats like what we’re facing now. I think a big operation is underway. A really big operation. I can’t think of any other reason for all this silence they’ve been feeding us.”

“Lynhart told me you were one of us, Special Agent Canada,” Irons replied. “In these times it appears we cannot trust our own and especially not our leadership. But Lynhart seemed to think of you as one of the good guys.”

“Then you’ll take Anana? I have more than one reason for wanting to her in your operation. She’s a superb analyst and a keen observer of behavior. And she has a gift for decrypting signals. But she isn’t a strong fighter and I fear the Blue Wraith are going to be on the front line, facing increasing danger at every turn. Your boat isn’t the safest place in the universe, but I would sleep just a little better if she were on it.”

“That sounds like a very temporary solution, Mr. Canada.”

“All solutions are temporary,” Canada replied. “And please, I’m just Johnny. Especially on any open communication channel…”

16.10 (of 19)​

Character Spotlight: Lt. Tauk is a brilliant young ferengi who, after making an enormous fortune, was exiled from the Ferengi Alliance (and his fortune confiscated by the FCA) for blasphemy. A math genius, he had published a treatise on his business strategy based on game theory. The treatise mathematically proved that the Rules of Acquisition were counterproductive to wealth generation. Tauk's treatise earned him an honorary doctorate in Mathematics from the University of Lower Trantor, which, in turn, enabled him to join Star Fleet via Officer Candidate School. Tauk is suffering from a genetic defect that is causing his lung to consume itself and has an estimated 1-3 years left to live.

The City of Trantor is one of the 15,000 fantasy cities of the artificial planet, Cun Ling, introduced in Episode 13. The Trantor Police Department runs the 2nd largest intelligence agency in the Alpha Quadrant.​

 

[Galen4]

I really enjoyed the scene where Oarama and Pivin come upon the Romulan refugees. The bully Alpha-boy-wanna-be gets put in his place, while it's noted how his potential reactions to being defeated differ from that of a human or Bajoran child. Some good writing in there.

Gotta say, some of these characters, by both name and action, remind me of Swords and Sorcery characters. In a good way, of course. If you haven't already, I bet you'd be great at creating a fantasy novel with all the required world-building it entails.

And now something is afoot concerning Vulcan, among other planets. Section 31 planning a large operation? That's never a good thing.

Let's see what happens next...

 

[Gibraltar]

Review 16.3 - Well, Alstars sure knows how to make first impressions in Engineering! Here's hoping he knows his stuff. Though, in Alstars' defense, Gibbon was doing a half-assed job.

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

I really enjoyed the scene where Oarama and Pivin come upon the Romulan refugees.... Some good writing in there.......some of these characters, by both name and action, remind me of Swords and Sorcery characters...And now something is afoot concerning Vulcan, among other planets. Section 31 planning a large operation? That's never a good thing....

Thanks for the kind words! Well... Long ago I was a Dungeon Master and my first short stories were retellings of some of our zanier adventures... Yes, something is rotten on Vulcan - and all the brilliant schemers who think that they're players are only pieces on Julian's chess board as he plays a deadly game against the universe...

Review 16.3 - Well, Alstars sure knows how to make first impressions in Engineering!

I patterned Sir Geoffrey a little after my Calculus 3 professor - a man who was equal parts adorable and terrifying. Glad you're enjoying him!!

Thanks!! rbs

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Character Spotlight: Ensign Tolon Reeves is half bajoran, half human. He grew up in his father's hometown - Bangalore, India (as did Flight Engineer Kerry Gibbon, also half-bajoran - although the two never met until arriving on the U.S.S. Hunter.) Ensign Tolon, 47, is a M.D. and served as a forensic specialist in the Bangalore coroner's office for 20 years before attending Officer Candidate School and joining the Hunter's medical department as a forensic specialist at the rank of Midshipman. When a position in the Ground Operations Department opened, he applied, got the promotion and was put in charge of the Hunter's tactical squad, whom he trained in Greco-Roman wrestling.

In Episode 13, Tolon, and most of his squad, were captured and tortured by rebel andorians. Tolon lost his entire squad and his left arm as a result. His new squad, four intense, tall betazoid women, are expert at Krav Maga, the preferred martial arts discipline for Star Fleet. Chief Tactical Specialist Rume Grace is rated an E9 black belt and her three students are all rated E7. She is training other Hunter crew members, most notably Flight Operations Assistant Director 2nd Lt. Gaia Gamor, was was already rated E3.

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode: 16: Slavers
Scene 11: The F.M.S. Usotro

16.11
The F.M.S. Usotro​

Damon Trock was less than communicative, despite the attentions of the U.S.S. Hunter’s (currently green) tactical squad. Trock turned out to be a taciturn, highly disciplined ferengi shipmaster, highly suspicious of Star Fleet, but a reliable resource for the Irons family, which had profited him and his crew greatly. He spurned the advances of Rumi Grace and her team and would only speak to Dr. Tali Shae – and that only moments before depositing the Hunter’s task force at the orion slave auction.


“You are not the only buyers I am carrying,” Trock said. “We are currently outside of federation space. All transactions will be conducted outside of federation space and my other buyers will disembark with their purchases before this ship re-enters federation space. I am very careful to obey local laws. Our relationship will be severely damaged if you try to enforce Federation law outside of federation space. Do I make myself clear?”

“Minerva Irons’ word is my word,” Tali replied.

“Be at the beam-in site in three of your standard hours and be prepared to wait when you get there. Keep your faces clean. If you make a mess of things down there, I may have a hard time extracting you. I am being well paid to return you and your cargo safely to the Irons family, but if it comes to a choice between you and my ship, I will protect the Usotro first. Some advice – I have seen Star Fleet bungle this kind of mission before. You want a bajoran. Don’t let the orion slavers know you want a particular bajoran. Bid on every bajoran that comes up for auction and purchase a few of them. I’m sure the Irons family can figure out what to do with them and I have been assured I will be appropriately reimbursed for whatever you spend here. I’m working this job on commission, so the more you spend, the more valuable you become to me.” The ferengi captain handed the doctor a large talisman of his face fixed to a sturdy chain. Similar, but smaller talismans were provided to Ensign Tolon Reeves and each of his four tactical specialists.

“Keep these on you at all times. They are your passage back onto my ship. They are keyed to your unique biologies and have an audible alarm in case someone tries to remove them or if someone else puts them on. Only the large one authorizes any expenditures on my account. When you come to an agreement, rub the ears and speak the price and the auctioneer’s designation into the pendant. The credit will be lodged to the auctioneer’s account and the debit to mine.”


Damon Trock had kept his passengers separated, so the first time the Hunter’s task force met their fellow travelers from the F.M.S. Usotro was at the beam-in point for the slave market. The beam-in point was a rather forbidding open area on the face of an asteroid. Only an energy force field bubble stood between this pocket of breathable atmosphere and the cold of space. The only light was provided by the force field itself. The six crew members from the Hunter, and their fellow travelers, stood on an area of deck plating that provided sufficient artificial gravity to keep them on the face of the asteroid. The other buyers from the Usotro were two giant and impressively muscled orion men (both about the size of the Hunter’s part-orion first officer), four ferengi in a tight group, a tall and rather overweight older romulan woman and a young human male with unruly, dark brown hair accompanied by two gangling female nausicaans – both somewhat taller than the orion males, but less than half their mass. All of these fellow travelers were wearing the larger Trock talismans except the two nausicaan females, who, like Tolon and his group, had the smaller pendants that did not provide access to Damon Trock’s credit accounts.

Not having met on the Usotro, each group appeared less than willing to get close to any of the others and the entire delegation from the ferengi merchant ship remained silent until a door opened in the deck plating on the surface of the asteroid to reveal a staircase into a lighted, warm environment inside the asteroid.

16.11 (of 19)​

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 16: Slavers
Scene 12: The Market (Part 1 of 2)

16.12
The Market (Part 1 of 2)​

Two large orion males checked each of the Usotro’s passengers to remove any weapons and verify their Trock talismans, but seemed otherwise generally uninterested in them.

Inside the asteroid, 16 large cages held a variety of slaves and there were almost as many buyers as slaves. The entire operation was run by a number of gigantic orion males and a larger number of orion females (known as slave-girls – it was generally known they controlled the orion men with their pheromones.)

The auction began with a number of humans being sold, then a large number of romulans were auctioned off. Dr. Tali Shae ignored the proceedings (or pretended to), luxuriating in the attentions of Chief Tactical Specialist Rumi Grace. While Ensign Tolon Reeves was also being toyed with, he and the other three members of his tactical squad were observing the auction. The older romulan who had landed with them bid on every able-bodied romulan that was auctioned, but passed over any that did not appear fit (a number of them appeared to be sickly and had trouble moving, including a large number of romulan children). Once all the romulans had been sold, she was able to approach the cage that held the romulan slaves and collect her purchases – 15 romulan males and 8 females.

The quartet of ferengi purchased the only three ferengi that came up for auction as well as a few humans and an elderly vulcan woman who had been kept in the same cage as the three ferengi.

Bidding went into overdrive when a number of betazoids came up for auction. There were still quite a few cardassian, andorian and a few orion males in various cages, and, in a cage by himself, one enormous klingon – considerably larger than Pep – when the bajorans came up for auction. Tali Shae purchased five of the first sixteen bajorans. Pomm Irons was the last bajoran put up for auction. The two orion males who had also arrived from the Usotro bid competitively for Pomm, driving the price up to three bars of gold-pressed latinum, before they ceded him to Tali Shae.


Tolon turned to speak to Tactical Specialist Dasare Eba and was surprised to hear her voice clearly in his mind. Don’t say it… Think it.

Get to the murder holes – you and Veri. He didn’t have to indicate which wall – only picture it in his mind.


Tolon had spotted the ports high in one of the cavern walls that provided clear lines of fire throughout the cavern. He was certain there was a stairway or a ladder somewhere behind that wall along with at least one sniper to control any incidents. No weapons were allowed inside the cavern other than control modules for the pain/compliance implants on the neck of every slave. Tactical Specialists Dasare Eba and Veri Geki telepathically confirmed their understanding and made their way toward the wall.

This is going to end very badly. Ranni, you with me. Tolon Reeves and Tactical Specialist Ranni Neivi lagged behind as Dr. Tali Shae, with Chief Rumi Grace in tow, headed up to the auction block to retrieve her purchases. Tolon wasn’t surprised when the two muscular orion males followed the doctor.

We’re being followed by orion slave-girls, real ones, came Dasare’s voice into Tolon’s mind. They have made us. This will become violent fast. Try to keep someone between you and the murder holes at all times.


Tali made it to the auction block in front of the cage with the bajorans. The cage was still closed and locked. “Line up!” called the auctioneer. The giant orion male called on bidders, verified their payment, then signaled another orion male to release the identified bajorans from the cage into the custody of their buyers. Tali was already on guard – she was called up last.

Following Damon Trock’s instructions, Tali (with only a slight feeling of disgust) gave oomachs to the talisman bearing Trock’s likeness (rubbing its ears) and spoke the amount and the auctioneer’s designation into the talisman.


“Bidder, what is your name?” The giant, green auctioneer had a warm, friendly voice, but his smile was forced.

“Doctor Autti Shae of Andoria.”

“Says here you are the personal physician to Emperor Sin IV. What are you doing so far from home?”

“Purchasing bajorans,” Tali responded.

“Your payment is approved and credited. Now tell me… Why?” asked the giant green auctioneer.

“Their noses. They can track down one bad oroin in a full warehouse by smell alone,” answered Tali.

“And why is the fat one worth 3 bars and 2 strips of gold-pressed latinum – more than twice what you paid for all the rest together?”

“Fat bajorans have better noses.”

The auctioneer’s voice became low and menacing. “You know I recognized you the moment you entered this room, Judge Tali Shae…” The green giant puffed up, emphasizing his size – which was accentuated by a large amount of blubber. “You don’t remember sending me to a prison near the south pole of Andoria, do you?”

“Oh, I do remember you… But I was only a judge for three years. Most of my career has been…”

“I’m going to enjoy putting you on the auction – HURKK!!”

The giant’s eyes opened wide and he made a sound like a really bad, loud, extremely dry hiccough. Dr. Tali Shae had thrust her left hand deep into his flab on his right side.

“…forensic medicine,” she continued, her voice equally low and menacing. “I have dissected enough of your kind to know that you have a secondary nerve cluster located just below the diaphragm on your right side. And if I twist it a little to the right, you will empty your bowls into your pants…” She twisted.

“OOOHHHHH” The giant sounded like a steam whistle. The rest of the room suddenly went silent. All eyes focused on Tali Shae and the giant in front of her writhing in discomfort.

“What a stink!” said Tali. “Okay poopy-britches, tell your friend down there to release the bajorans. They’re mine… Now or I’ll twist to the left and stop your lower heart..”

“Let the bajorans out!” the giant bawled. “NOW!!!”


Another orion male standing just in front of the caged bajorans pressed a few controls on his control module, releasing the lock to the door of the cage. Pomm Irons started running before the lock was released, shoved two other prisoners out of his way and slammed the door into his giant green liberator. He followed the door around as it swung outward, pinning the giant between the door and the cage.

Pomm was nowhere near as tall as the orion giants, but he was so immensely obese that he weighed more than most of them – that weight translated into momentum, hammering the giant so hard between the door and the cage that he lost consciousness. Pomm quickly swept up the control unit from the floor where the giant had dropped it and entered a few commands into it. The compliance implants on his neck and the necks of the other bajorans deactivated and fell to the floor.

One of the large, muscular orions from the Usotro shoved Pomm against the cage, trapping the obese bajoran between his enormous green hand and the iron bars. “You are not getting away, fat one..”

“My wife taught me a human saying,” said Pomm, almost pleasantly. “Monkey see…” he shoved his left hand deep into the orion’s right side - the exact place he had just seen Dr. Tali Shae use… Pomm’s voice dropped an octave and his face grew angry… “Monkey do!” He twisted hard both directions and giant, muscle-bound orion collapsed.

“One of these days I’m going to have to get Oarama to tell me what a monkey is…”

16.12 (of 19)​

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 16: Slavers
Scene 13: The Market (Part 2 of 2)

16.13
The Market (Part 2 of 2)​

Tali Shae pulled hard and stepped back. The auctioneer crashed to the floor. The other muscular orion from the Usotro took two steps toward her, then found Tolon Reeves hanging onto his back, the small wrestler’s left arm wrapped tightly around the giant’s neck, choking him. The muscular orion felt around for Tolon’s hand - grasped the ensign’s little finger and pulled hard, breaking the finger.

“THAT HURT!!” Tolon shouted. He splayed the fingers of his right hand against the back of the giant’s bald head and pushed - his left arm tightening even more.

In desperation, the giant grasped Tolon’s left hand, crushing it in his enormous hand. But he still couldn’t breathe and even as Tolon screamed, his left arm kept tightening until the giant dropped to his knees, then sagged to the floor, unconscious.


As dangerous as the gigantic orion males were, orion females, no larger than average size for human females, were far more dangerous. Trained dancers, they had tremendous strength and control in their legs and their art doubled as a martial art form with impressive kicks, emphasizing the power of their legs. But even four such fighters were no match for Rumi Grace and Ranni Neivi. The betazoid tactical specialists had developed blocks specifically against this martial art form. The orion slave-girls fought with elegance, grace, control and tremendous power.

They were met with ferocious, unrelenting violent aggression. Rumi and Ranni kept close – in their opponents’ faces – striking with fists, knees and elbows, never allowing them the distance they needed for their kicking style to be effective. Following their krav maga training, they used their entire surroundings – any wall or tool was weaponized against the orion women.

Ranni grabbed a fistful of her opponent’s hair and slammed the woman’s head into a pole. From behind, another of the green-skinned slave-girls returned the favor, grabbing a fistful of Ranni’s hair, only to be amazed as the implants easily pulled free out of Ranni’s scalp. Before the orion slave-girl could recover from the shock, Ranni whirled, closed and landed more than a dozen blows at close range before driving her opponent into a wall, grabbing the orion woman’s face with both hands and smacking her head sharply against the wall. The orion slid, senseless, to the floor, still clutching a fistful of Ranni’s hair implants.


Buyers and slaves ran panicked in every direction, some encountering resistance from other orions, but most just getting in one another’s way.

Even as Tolon Reeves, Tali Shae, Ranni Neivi and Rumi Grace shook themselves free from their initial attackers, well over a dozen more of the green-skinned slavers – powerful giant orion males and disciplined orion slave-girl dancers – raced to engage the Hunter’s task force…




Into the midst of all this chaos, Pomm Irons released an enraged, giant klingon warrior.




Krull had no less than five compliance implants on his neck - and it took all of them to deliver enough pain to keep him subdued. Pomm had figured out how to disarm these and once they had fallen from Krull’s neck, Pomm got the cage door unlocked. He needn’t have bothered.


With a deafening, throaty howl of rage, Krull, considerably taller and heavier than even the giant David Pepper, ripped the cage door off its hinges and used it as a weapon, swatting giant orion males with it as if they were flies…


A few violent minutes later, the remaining orions were quickly and systematically stunned by phaser blasts from the ports Tolon had sent Dasare Eba and Veri Geki to capture. The two betazoid tactical specialists had evidently won their way to the ports and taken the phasers from the snipers hidden behind them.


Few who were not directly involved in the fighting remained to observe the aftermath. A majority of the buyers had made good their exit - some of them with the slaves they had purchased – others abandoning the slaves they had brought with them. What few orion slavers had not been felled by either Krull or the Hunter’s crew had also fled. Pomm Irons set about freeing the remaining slaves. He turned to Dr. Tali Shae.


“I hope your ship has sufficient space for all of these,” Pomm said, looking around.

“How did you know the codes?” asked Tolon, indicating the slaver’s control module in Pomm’s hand. “Enter the wrong combination and you kill yourself - or the other slaves.”

Pomm focused on Ensign Tolon’s mangled left hand: “Your hand!!”

Tolon Reeves lifted his shattered left hand, looked at it in some confusion. “It registers as pain, but it doesn’t really hurt. I suppose I need to get that fixed.”

Pomm kept staring at Tolon as if he had just met a madman.

Reeves flopped his useless left hand almost comically, spraying dark red blood. “It’s a prosthetic.”

“But… blood…”

“Hydraulic fluid. Matched to the color and appearance of my blood. Imagine if I got a small cut and you saw my hand bleeding glowing purple goo?” Tolon pointed at the control module again. “So how did you know how to work that?”

Pomm looked at the control module still in his hand. “I watched them. It was easy enough to figure out.” He pocketed the controller.


“Ahhh… Monkey see, monkey do…” said Reeves in his sing-song, Bangaloren accent.

“Yeah… That… What’s a monkey?”

Tolon lifted his left hand as if to explain: “It’s…” He got distracted by the mangled condition of his prosthetic hand… “It’s…”


Pomm had already returned his attention to Tali Shae. “So how is this going to work?” He made a vague gesture at the large number of people in the room trying to organize themselves.

“The romulan is coming with us,” Tali responded. “She keeps the romulans she purchased. I have no idea why she bought them and I don’t care. The ferengi are coming and they keep theirs. The kid with the nausicaans didn’t make any purchases. The orions that came with us stay here – they’re both unconscious...” Tali Shae looked at the motionless form of the orion who had assaulted Pomm. “Or dead… The rest of the slaves – including Krull here and those romulan children – they come with us. Damon Trock encouraged me to purchase more than just you. As far as I’m concerned, we just bought all of them. He’ll just have to find room for them until we can drop them off on Rigel IV - that’s the closest federation planet and there are Irons who live there. They can manage getting these people back to their families.”

“I have to get a message to Minerva. Is she headed to the Badlands?” Pomm asked.

“Yes. I will arrange for you to send it as soon as we board the Usotro,” said Tali.

“Wise old Damon Trock,” said Pomm. “He’s amassed far more wealth than most ferengi. He learned how to work with my family. Follows the letter of the law. Doesn’t play stupid games. Cautious.”

16.13 (of 19)​

 

[publiusr]

Great!