MSNPC Ergaholz: I'm With Torpid

[Quinn Friedl]

((Deck 2, Shuttlecraft, USS Arrow)) 

 

Shayne: I suppose we have no choice. 

 

Now he was talking like a Sheliak. No, that wasn’t quite fair. The Sheliak were very accommodating, and generally worked to ensure that at least two options remained in any dispute. Either conform to the agreement originally enshrined in whatever document bound two parties together, or die immediately. This was a singular need, and as such, featured a singular completion protocol. If Shayne had said no, or indeed anything besides yes, it would have been a disaster. It might yet be. 

 

Ergaholz: Correct. 

 

The contempt in his voice was genuine, but multi-faceted. He hated these ridiculous sacks of meat in cloth, he hated the searing light that scorched his flesh and bounded about the bay, and most of all, this position- exposing himself to what was inherently the enemy without the grace of even knowing that it would mean anything. 

 

Shayne: But first, I want some answers. Why did you ship attack the planet, and what are you even doing here? 

 

Ergaholz: The ship fired because I instructed it to. A necessary evil, considering doing anything less would invite our doom. 

 

Shayne: ...you fired without authorization? You?

 

Why did the humans repeat themselves? He heard them perfectly well the first time, their guttural larynx scraping quite audible to him. 

 

Ergaholz: Yes. 

 

Ander: How can you say this without any hint of regret?!? 

 

Ergaholz had barely noticed the officer standing at the commander’s side, and his synthetic, mucous-cloth covering slowly turned to face the source of the outburst. 

Shayne: We have a team on the surface, and thousands of other people. What is it that you are looking for?

Ergaholz: I do not regret. It is counterproductive. However, considering my actions probably saved your life, there may yet be room for remorse. You do not understand. You cannot understand. Know only this- whatever is at the core of this world, or within it, or around it, is powerful. Immensely, incontrovertibly powerful. It is my goal to ascertain what it is, why it is, how to contain it, and how to assess its relative threat for the good of the Corporate. 

 

He would never cease to be dismayed by the lengths he was going to in order to avoid sharing this information with his right, authorized superiors. The consequences of capitulating to his instincts, however, could not be calculated. His orders had been provided in shadow and secret, a rare thing for internal Sheliak matters. Above all else, no one within the Corporate could be trusted. His own mind had reeled at this knowledge, and had left him with a few large straws to grasp at. The connection between their recent advances into previously neutral or enemy territory, mixed with their unusual aggression, and combined with their relentless vigilance of Theta 122, all pointed at something… dangerous. Evocative. Secret. 

 

Serinus: Response

 

In human terms, the back of Ergaholz’s neck suddenly tingled, and he slowly sloshed around, so that his “head” was facing the enormous force field that blocked the bay from venting into space. If he had a heart, it would have dropped as he saw another craft, eminently familiar to Ergaholz, move toward the Federation craft’s other docking port. For the first time in his life, he was legitimately speechless. There could only be one other comrade on that craft, meeting with the Arrow now. Were the Starfleeters playing both sides against the middle? Was this a trap? And if so, who was it set by? Were the Federation officers and Gretzze in the same league? One thing was certain- Gretzze was onto him; whether he knew of Ergaholz’s mission or not was of no consequence. If Gretzze was allowing himself to board a potentially hostile vessel, without giving Ergaholz any warning, it meant that the gig was up. His only hope was to dive fully into duplicity, even with his new allies. 

 

Ander: ::Presenting the Tricorder to Serinus:: Sir, can you take a look at this please.

 

Serinus: Response

 

Ergaholz turned back around to find two of the fleeters looking at something on a tricorder, while the third, the commander, was evidently trying to not appear dismayed at the same thing that Ergaholz had just seen. 

 

Ergaholz: In the interests of interstellar amnesty, and, incidentally, saving our lives and the existence of the Corporate as we know it, I respectfully request asylum aboard your ship, commander. 

 

Shayne/Ander/Serinus: Response 

 

Asylum. From his own ship. From his own world. He hoped it would be worth it. 

 

Ergaholz: In exchange, I will give you exclusive access to the information I gather on the phenomena brewing on the planet below. You will receive no such generous offer from my superior. 

 

Ander/Serinus/Shayne: Response 

 

Tag/TBC…

 

Commander Randal Shayne
Commanding Officer

USS Arrow
NCC 69829
G239202RS0