LtCmdr. Talos Dakora - No Witnesses, No Problems
Travis
((OOC: Back in the saddle. Ready to see this thing through! Thanks for bearing with me!)) ((Crew Decks - Nova Gamma Borealis))
Standing in the strange room that seemed to be half tool storage and half-holo projector, he eyed the odd piece of equipment, feeling an idea brewing in his mind.
It was a long shot– one which relied heavily on luck and was fraught with inherent danger.-- but that had seemed to be par for the course lately.
Dakora: Ensign Gnai, I need you. ::He waited for the exo-suited Ensign to approach and pointed to the projector.:: How are you at holo-programming?
As Gila and Savel worked to restrain the downed pirate, Gnai approached and began to survey the equipment.
Gnai: Reasonably decent, sir. There was a class on it at the Academy…
Talos nodded his approval. He too had taken a class on it, but his Academy days were decidedly less recent than Gnai’s.
Savel rejoined them with a helpful suggestion.
Savel: We could use the projectors to create an illusion, or diversion, against the other pirates.
He shifted his gaze to Savel and let a hint of a grin show.
Dakora: Like… say… the Artemis, dropping out of warp and urging the Pirates to leave this system or get wrecked? ::He pointed to himself:: If we can rig up a fake hail, we can try and bluff our way out of this.
If the others thought his idea was as crazy as he did, they kept their opinions to themselves.
Gnai: Certainly, sir. One Luna-class projection coming up.
Talos felt a wave of uncertainty precede a question from their dear Doctor.
Sadar: If the NIC don’t do the reasonable thing and take off in the face of a Federation Starship, what do we do?
Savel: We may have to consider retaking the ship by force.
Talos turned to Gila, considering her question.
Dakora: If they fall for it and warp away then we’re home free. ::He shrugged.:: And If they don’t buy it, then we aren’t really any worse off than we are now.
He paused, letting his gaze find each of his crewmates.
Dakora: That said, suggestions are always welcome…
Sadar: Ensign Gnai did find the pirate’s communicator?
Savel: I doubt they would be receptive to our attempts to speak with them.
Even if they couldn’t use it to negotiate, any comms they intercepted with the device would be useful.
Dakora: They don’t seem to know about us right now and we should keep it that way. ::He pointed to the device.:: But listen for any transmissions. They might send someone looking for our sleepy friend over there before too long.
Talos felt like he was being pulled in a hundred different directions as Gnai’s suit speaker was the next to speak to him.
Gnai: Sir, it might take a prohibitively long time to make a recreation of the Artemis... But there’s another ship in here that could be used.
Talos gazed past Gnai’s chassis and saw what it was suggesting. A holographic representation of the USS Defiant rotated lazily on the display. Its small size wouldn’t be as imposing as the Artemis’ but the little warship was capable of punching well outside its weight class.
Sadar: ::brief pause:: This could work.
Savel: We will have to hope the sight of a heavily armed ship will be enough on its own to deter the pirates here.
Stroking his chin as he considered the options, he gave a single nod.
Dakora: Let’s do it. ::He pointed to the nameplate.:: Just edit the name if you can… what’s the name of that Defiant Class they’ve got over on Amity? ::He snapped his fingers as he tried to recall it.:: Independence. USS Independence-B. Use that name.
Before it could reply, a crackly voice broke the silence and Talos thought he saw Gnai startle slightly within it’s containment tank. It would’ve almost been funny, if the situation weren’t so precarious.
Communicator: =/\= Shazaak, come in. You’ve missed your check-in. Report now. =/\=
Not good. It seemed they were just about out of time.
Savel: I imagine any attempts at a response would immediately clue-in the rest of the pirates of this one’s fate.
Gnai: But would no response be worse...?
Talos frowned, shaking his head. He eyed the unconscious pirate tied up in the corner.
Dakora: Unless one of you can convincingly speak scaly-pirate, then I think we stay quiet.
Sadar: Responses
With seemingly no one feeling confident in their pirate impression, the communicator buzzed again.
Communicator: =/\= I’m sending someone to your last position. He better not come back with news you let that oversized blueberry take you down. =/\=
The Bolian, gravely offended by this slight, lunged for the comm device. Gnai managed to snatch it away just in time, and Talos grabbed the surly Bolian by the back of his tour guide uniform and yanked him back away from the device.
Guide: The nerve! Give me that! I’ll have that brute know this isn’t the first set of pirates I’ve faced down and he won’t be the last! In fact he’s not even the first of his kind that I–
Talos froze at the guide’s words, just as the fast-talking Bolian realized that he’d said too much.
Savel: You have dealt with these pirates before? Yet you have not only withheld this information from us but have continued to operate your tours in this sector?
With the guide separated from Gnai, Talos released him. He felt his fists clenching tightly as the intrusive thought of decking the overly smug tour guide danced into and out of his mind.
Guide: Well n-not exactly. That’s not what I meant. I of course make it my business to know everything about any area of space I intend to sell a tour to. But– ::suddenly turning deviant:: But I won’t say anything else about it! I have to protect the integrity of my business, and I can’t do that going around giving up secrets!
Talos’ eyes threatened to roll out of his head.
Savel: Regardless of this information, our time here is limited before another pirate arrives. We must engage that holographic image and move if we do not want to risk another fight. ::to Talos:: Commander, I think it would be wise for the Bolian to remain with us. He is a valuable source of information. To both us and the pirates, it would seem.
Gnai: Aye, agreed.
Dakora: Gnai, set the holoprogram to execute in five minutes. ::He grasped the Bolian’s shoulder firmly.:: You, are going to take us to your communications room.
Sadar: Response
Guide: Are you taking me prisoner? On my own ship?? ::sputtering:: I'm going to have a very stern word with your superiors, and you're going to be court-martialed so hard... so hard... ::yell of frustration:: I don't even know what! But you'll regret this!
They collectively brushed off the guards' sputtering threats as they prepared to move.
Dakora: Great. You can take it up with my Commanding Officer. A nice lady, you’ll love her. ::He jabbed a finger forcefully at the corridor beyond.:: Comm room, now.
Sadar/Savel: Response
Guide: You know what, I refuse! I'll take my chances with the New Idrans. ::turning his nose up to the rest of the Starfleet officers, then sitting down on the floor, arms crossed:: At least they're honest about when they take a man prisoner.
Talos pinched the bridge of his nose, willing away the headache that had been threatening to form since the start of this mess.
Dakora: You heard them on the radio, right? They think you roughed up our friend over there. ::He pointed to the downed pirate.:: You think they’re going to listen to your crazy story about a bunch of Starfleet Officers loose on the ship or do you think they’ll just shoot first and make an example out of you? ::He shifted his gaze to the Vulcan.:: Savel, what d’you think?
Savel: Response
Sadar: Response
The look of defiance on the Bolian’s blue face softened at first, then it looked almost like he was going to be sick. After a moment he sprang to his feet.
Guide: You… uh… you make some good points. ::He waved a pointer finger.:: You’ll all be hearing from my union representatives, b…but I’ll cooperate.
Gnai: Timer set... It would be prudent to leave, would it not?
Distantly, he heard a door cycle somewhere further down the deck– the pirate coming to check on his missing friend, no doubt– and he whispered.
Dakora: ::Quietly:: The Comm Room, Mister Blueberry.
The guide huffed, but didn’t say anything. He began walking down the corridor they had come from, thankfully in the opposite direction the pirate seemed most likely to come from.
Sadar/Savel: Response
Slipping into a rear guard position, Talos held his stolen phase-pistol at a low-ready position.
Encountering an enemy in these close quarters wouldn’t be pleasant in any circumstances, but the added complication of any threat not immediately dealt with calling in the cavalry didn’t make the scenario any more enticing.
Dakora::Still whispering:: Stay frosty, Savel. Can’t have them calling us in.
Savel:
Gnai/Sadar: Response
As they approached a T-intersection in the narrow walkway, the Bolian guide pointed to a door on the right, which seemed to be the comm room.
Any sense of relief at their arrival was immediately negated by the appearance of another of the scaly-pirates from the left branch,
At first, his eyes narrowed on their Bolian Guide, then as he noticed the rest of them the muzzle of his weapon began to rise.
Dakora: Fire!
Savel: Response
Gnai/Sadar: Response
Tags/TBC
LtCmdr. Talos Dakora
First Officer
USS Artemis-A
O238811CD0