LT Tamio K'Wara - Just a Family-Friendly Game of Ruthless Economic Conquest

[LT Tamio K'Wara]

(( Main Mess Hall - Deck 3, USS Artemis-A ))

((( OOC: Apologies for the wait. It's been ROUGH starting school this year. I’ve done some light reordering of things to retain the unaltered version of Natasha’s final tag, but fantastic job thus far, everyone! Big group scenes are real difficult to keep organized XD )))

Tamio clapped their hands excitedly at the veritable gaggle of Ensigns that had gathered in the Mess Hall that evening. They knew two of them personally - having sat their final exams as a Proctor - and the other two were new acquaintances, which were Tamio’s favorite kind of acquaintances. Once they’d overcome that initial compulsive thought of oO Oh no, he’s cute Oo when introduced to the young Doctor Bancroft - a bit too young for their taste, but a very fetching moustache - Tamio turned their attention towards the game that Bancroft was inviting the group to partake in.

Bancroft: You ever played that one? It’s the galaxy’s longest-running war of attrition disguised as a board game. The Grok Brothers bought the rights from some ancient Earth company and made it “more engaging.” Which is to say, less about property and more about economic conquest and the occasional hostile takeover.

Tamio couldn’t resist to observe the hilarity of an ancient Human boardgame being appropriated and adapted by Ferengi. They had met plenty of humans in their time who disliked the Ferengi’s capitalistic culture, and the more Tamio learned of old Earth, the more they realized it was because it maybe hit a bit too close to home for the reformed capitalist species.

Tho'Bi: ::resigned to his fate:: Yeah, why not.

K’Wara: Come now, Tho’Bi, it’ll be fun.

Bancroft: ::gesturing to the table:: It’s a perfect way to spend three hours and end up friendless and bankrupt.

Meris: ::openly frowning:: That does not sound like an enjoyable way to spend three hours.

Tho'Bi: ::to Meris:: Rule of Acquisition number Fifty Five ::beat:: take joy from profit and profit from joy.

Tamio raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this Andorian who seemed to know a lot of the Rules of Acquisition by heart - he had to have an interesting background to tell some day.

K’Wara: We’re all adults here! ::half-joking tone:: I promise to make no threats of disciplinary duty as the consequence of economic ruin.

For now, Tamio watched as Natasha took a seat at the table with all the focused attention and gung-ho attitude that they remembered her for. It was an odd stroke of luck that they ended up serving on the same Ship as both her and Meris, but it wasn’t unwelcome. It would be interesting to see how these fresh Ensigns acclimatized to Starfleet service.

Cole: ::sitting down:: So what is the game plan?

Bancroft: Don’t worry – the only real skill you need is the ability to crush hope without blinking. Flipping tables is a bonus.

Tamio sat down at the table as well, following the natural flow of the conversation.

Meris: Aren't there any nicer games? Ones that help us make friends, rather than lose them?

Tho'Bi: Rule of Acquisition number six ::beat:: Never allow family to stand in the way of profit.

Tho’Bi also sat down, choosing a refit version of the original Enterprise as his playing piece. Ah, a nostalgia nerd. There were a few of those on any given Ships - usually the ones that exited the Holodeck dressed in vintage uniforms or a good Harry Mudd-cosplay - and his choice to throw an NX-era playing piece towards Natasha only cemented that.

Tho’Bi: ::to Cole:: Your weapon of choice!

Cole: Response

Without a word, Tamio picked up the playing piece identified as the Recently Returned USS Voyager. A wistful moment of nostalgia passed through their mind, wondering where the crew of the Arthur Royale were right now, before returning to the scene before them. They looked at Bancroft and Meris with an expectant expression.

K’Wara: You joining us?

Bancroft/Meris: Response

Holo-Ferengi: ::sneering:: No profit to be won in a solo game!

Aggressive hawking techniques right there.

Tho’Bi: ::to the Holo-Ferengi and shrugs:: Rule of Acquisition number one hundred and sixty two ::beat:: even in the worst of times, someone turns a profit.

Tamio wondered how many Rules of Acquisition were contained within that blue head. Was Tho’Bi in reality a new kind of android with multiple computer memory banks housed inside a plastic skull? Regardless of what the answer was, they had no doubt that they would be hearing more Rules of Acquisition during this one game of Galaxy-opoly than they’d ever heard in any one actual conversation with a Ferengi.

Cole/Bancroft/Meris: Responses

Nodding to the fellow players, Tamio looked at the Holo-Ferengi, crossing their legs at the knees with an amused expression on their face.

K'Wara: All right, Holo-Grok, set the scene.

Holo-Ferengi: Any likeness to real people, including the illustrious Grok Brothers, is purely coincidental and in no way representative of the Grok Brothers’ approach to legal requirements associated with the hologame industry. If you find yourself recognizing someone, congratulations! You’ve either discovered a lucrative business opportunity or a very expensive lawsuit. Proceed with caution, and remember: profit is the only true reality, everything else is just a cheap holo-illusion.

Tamio laughed out loud at the mandatory disclaimer, before the Holo-NOT-Grok continued its rule explanations.

Holo-NOT-Grok: The goal of this family-friendly game of commerce is to outwit, outmaneuver and outbid your rivals through cunning trades, ruthless economic conquest and strategic bribery until you control the majority of the galaxy’s wealth, and preferably some starbases for good measure. Each businessman starts with 1000 bars of gold-pressed latinum, the true currency of power, and using the Starships you’ve generously taken off of Starfleet’s hands for a not-insignificant-sum, you must travel across the Quadrants to purchase trade stations and starbases.

Tho’Bi/Cole/Bancroft/Meris: Responses

K’Wara: I’m sure it was a ‘not-significant-sum’, though I’ve never known a Ferengi to call any sum of latinum ‘insignificant’.

Holo-NOT-Grok: The starting player is decided by an opening bribe to the bank. Which is me. ::Ferengi smirk::

K’Wara: Of course it is. ::interacts with their player-station:: I’ll make the opening bid. 10 bars of gold-pressed latinum!

Tho’Bi/Cole/Bancroft/Meris: Responses

K’Wara: I have no clue. ::laughs:: I grew up in the Cammus System, near Gorn Space, and didn’t leave home until joining Starfleet. I’ve been accosted by very few Ferengi.

Tho’Bi/Cole/Bancroft/Meris: Responses

TAG/TBC

LT Tamio K’Wara

Operations Officer

USS Artemis-A
A240006GS1