LtJG Gila Sadar - The Boo Gambit
Gila Sadar
((Crew Decks - Nova Gamma Borealis))
It was said that ‘people’ performed better under stress. Indeed, some would say that a deadline or the presence of ‘crunch hour’ improved efficiency or some such nonsense… Who exactly had exposed the Galadoran Ensign to such a mentality deserved some kind of reprimand, to be sure, as the Ensign revealed that they had but a few moments before the hologram was ready to begin, and this was before the group had even gotten access to the communications system, much less planned any sort of ruse for their upcoming bluff.
Sadar: I guess we’re in a hurry then…
Dakora: This just might work. Need to see if we can tap into the comm system and fake a hail from the Independence.
Compared to pulling up a city-wide map of Ki Baratan from a Romulan computer console, this was entirely doable, and Gila got to work. The more time she spent in Starfleet, the more she felt that she’d missed a greater purpose as an Engineer. No one ever needed stitches or medicine… No no, everyone needed a computer terminal hacked or a holosuite program analyzed.
Though, that did remind her, she definitely needed to address that nauseating scent of burnt flesh coming from the Commander’s arm.
Savel: We will also need to ensure the signal appears as if it is coming from the approximate position of the Independence, and not this vessel.
Maybe not now though...
Sadar: Commander, we have access to communications.
The Commander nodded with approval, and Gila shuffled a bit in place, unsure how to react.
Dakora: Outstanding. Now I just have to convince them that I'm a Starfleet Command Officer who is ready to kick their ass if they don't leave. Get ready to route the hail through my badge.
Gnai: ::haltingly:: Good luck sir.
Savel: We must hope that their response is not to immediately resort to violence.
A hope that - thus far - did not have a lot of foundation in reality, considering their rather visceral reaction to the freighter captain’s attempt at parlay. But it wasn’t like they had an abundance of alternative options, especially this close to showtime…
So instead, Gila’s fingers carefully fluttered across the console, rerouting the signal through the Commander’s combadge as instructed. To any rudimentary scans, the signal would register as Starfleet, rather than as originating from the Nova Gamma Borealis.
And just in time, as the Defiant-class appeared on their screens, seemingly dropping out of warp, and slowly moving in the direction of the pirate vessel. As someone who came from a culture where holosuites and such were still a foreign extravagance, Gila couldn’t really tell the difference between the hologram and reality, and she only hoped that these pirates shared her utter lack of competence.
Sadar: Opening Comms, Sir.
The game was afoot.
Dakora: =/\= Unknown vessel, this is Commander Talos Dakora of the Starship USS Independence. You are in violation of Gamma-Bajoran Anti-Piracy Accords. Vacate this system immediately or you will be fired upon. =/\=
The seconds ticked by in a tense silence, with Gila keeping her eyes peeled on the receptor scans.
Gnai: ::looking at its chronometer:: Half-way through the program, sir.
Not what she wanted to hear.
Savel: Have we received any response from them yet?
Sadar: None as of yet… Maybe they- oO Called our bluff Oo
No, she couldn’t say that out loud. Even if she didn’t feel like, even if she still struggled with every single aspect of it, she was - in practice - the second-highest ranked officer on board. She shouldn’t let pessimism and fear color her observations.
At least, not yet.
Pirate Vessel: =/\= We are the New Idran Confederacy, not pirates. We have a sovereign claim to this system and any vessels that trespass– =/\=
Gila released a breath she didn’t realize she’d kept pent up, when she realized that the ruse had held up to scrutiny. At least for now.
Dakora: =/\= Unknown Vessel, this is your final warning. Vacate the system now or be destroyed. =/\=
Lieutenant Commander Dakora signaled for the comms to be cut, and Gila readily did as ordered, eyeing the holographic Independence with concern.
Sadar: Ensign Gnai, how long until-
She didn’t get further than that, as peculiar flash suddenly streaked across the viewscreen. It took Gila a few moments to realize that the pirates were firing at the hologram, and her heart plummeted to the soles of her feet. The jig was up, surely. There was no way that this would go unnoticed.
Gnai: Oh no. Oh no no no.
Savel: It is unlikely that they will believe the Independence is actually there now.
And yet, once more the pirates fired and again it passed straight through the holographic ship. Then they heard the communications come back to life as they sent another message through.
Pirate Vessel: =/\= ::worried:: We refuse to acknowledge the sovereignty of the Federation, or Bajor. The wormhole doesn’t give you claim to our space in the Gamma Quadrant! =/\=
Wait, what?
Savel: It seems they do not care whether we are Starfleet or not, we will have to think of something else.
Sadar: But… I don’t understand. Are they- Are they still-? ::blinks:: Did they think the Independence’s shields threw off the phaser blasts?
Dakora: Response
Then the Independence literally started to waver. With the time up on the holographic program, the edges of the image started to wobble. Gila’s face grew pale, as she realized what was happening. The program was coming to an end. Their bluff had run its course, and now, they would once more be left without the current on their backs…
But, as fate would have it, these particular pirates were dumber than the brainless yan shosya, migratory long-limbed amoeba-like creatures, that existed on spinal reflexes alone.
Pirate Vessel (Voice 1): =/\= ::stunned:: What? I thought the Federation didn’t have cloaking vessels? =/\=
Pirate Vessel (Voice 2): =/\= ::fainter:: They don’t! =/\=
Pirate Vessel (Voice 3): =/\= ::fainter still, far to the side:: Are you certain that this is the Federation? They could be lying just as- =/\=
Pirate Vessel (Voice 1): =/\= Shut it! We’re still broadcast– ::crackling comms end:: =/\=
Gila blinked as their communications were cut.
Gnai: What’s going on?
Savel: I am... unsure.
Sadar: W-We’re… In the clear? ::looks confused at the Lieutenant Commander::
Dakora: Response
Gnai: The timer has restarted, there are only a few minutes before the decoy ship warps in again!
Savel: Perhaps that could be to our benefit.
Gila turned back towards the console, trying to get better acquainted. Beyond just talking at the pirates and hoping beyond reason that their stupidity would amount to some logical flight-responses just about now, was there anything at all Gila could do from there to augment their chances? Not a lot - this was, after all, the communications room - but it was the communications room of a less-than-honest tour guide who frequently used the very holographic equipment they were currently utilizing to ‘augment’ tours for his guests...
Dakora: Response
Gnai: Commander, they seem afraid of the fact that the ship appeared to have warped out. That the USS Independence is not what it claims to be. Could that be used to scare them off?
Dakora: Response
Savel: I would suggest that we capitalize on what appears to be a mixture of confusion on fear from the other vessel.
Sadar: Agreed. Perhaps- Ah! Commander, the pirates have opened comms again.
Pirate Vessel: =/\= Perhaps we were too hasty in firing on your ship. We're not interested in making an enemy out of the Federation today. I think there's some room for conversation. One condition though, I won't negotiate with someone that I can't see. =/\=
Negotiations were definitely preferable to a firefight, but negotiations typically took a while… And considering that the holographic Independence only functioned during limited time frames, drawn-out conversation wouldn’t really be in their best interest. Even these pirates would eventually wizen up, surely?
Savel: I will admit I am hesitant to believe they are now ready to find a peaceful solution, but as long as their efforts are focused on what they believe to be a real Starfleet vessel we should be safe.
Sadar: Agreed. ::accesses a different part of the console:: Ensign, I think this console allows for some limited interactions with the holographic equipment down in the cargo bay. Can you confirm?
Dakora/Gnai: Response
Gila felt an idea forming, slowly, and actually seemed annoyed when the pirate captain decided to interrupt her during this very important brainstorming.
Pirate Vessel: =/\= I will instruct my weapons officer to power down if you agree to talk. As a gesture of peace. In case you don't believe in my intentions. I look forward to hearing your response soon. Please. =/\=
Oh, now they had manners!
Savel: Our negotiations would need to be swift, so that we did not seem to disappear once more in the middle of our conversation.
Sadar: Ideally, we want them to realize that a cloaked Starfleet vessel can do far more damage than this cruiser is worth. ::considers:: If we can use these controls to move the arrival point for the Independence to their aft side, make it seem like we’ve circled behind them undetected?
Dakora/Gnai/Savel: Response
Sadar: I was thinking, in the spirit of horror stories… ::embarrassed shuffling:: An, uhh, ‘Boo’-scenario?
Dakora/Gnai/Savel: Response
Gila nodded dutifully, setting to the task that was given in cooperation with the Galadoran Ensign - who was currently the hologram-authority of their team - and hoping beyond hope that the ploy would have the desired effect. If they had to make a logical analysis, the genuine fear and concern displayed at the possibility of a Starship with a cloak could be capitalized on… Right?
Sadar: Independence coming back online in 5, Sir.
Dakora/Gnai/Savel: Response
LtJG Gila Sadar
Medical Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240006GS1