Capt. Lia Rouiancet: Captive Audience

[Tony Colella]

(( Bridge, Deck 1, USS Octavia E. Butler ))

Rouiancet: We also need to locate Toal'Dius, even if we do nothing else about him -- yet.

Lia was not particularly excited about Toal'Dius running around unchecked within an AU of the Butler -- or a light-year, or even within the same parsec. But if he was out there, if Ehths was to be believed, then better to know with some certainty.

Lahl: Aye sir, scanning for Toal’Dius as well.

Katsim: I’ve sent a digital message to Jer-Legrand and Varik.

Lahl: Well, hopefully they got some good information.

They would soon know, one way or another. But, Lia reflected, they'd been down with the mercenaries for just as long as she, Peri, and Kimonzi had been talking -- or trying to talk -- to Ehths. If the mercenaries hadn't revealed anything in that time, then they were simply excellent at stalling.

Rouiancet: What about this new mercenary ship?

Katsim: Captain, this vessel has more offensive capabilities than the other ship. 

Lahl: (a grimace) Uh…Captain…they’re hailing us. The second ship that is.

Rouiancet: (grim) Yes, I suppose they would. Alright, thoughts? How are they about to complicate our lives?

Because, she was sure, there would be an additional complication. This mercenary vessel wouldn't emerge now unless they were sure that there was some advantage they possessed that they hadn't had before. But -- what? Not their countrymen aboard the Butler, or else Jer-Legrand and Varik would have reported in. Not Toal'Dius or Ehths, either, or at least Lia presumed not. Or, at least, if there was a connection there, then it was very well hidden.

Lahl: I mean, the likeliest option, based on the make of the new ship, is that they’re on the same team and are checking in. They would call us because why are we here?

Rouiancet: But why show themselves now?

Katsim: Response

Lahl: That’s a good point. Shall we answer their hail sir?

Lia nodded. They could speculate endlessly and learn nothing more, or they could ask. Not that this group of mercenaries would necessarily be any more forthcoming, but -- they could, and would, try.

Katsim: Response

Rouiancet: Yes, open the channel.

Lahl: Aye sir.

Kimonzi established the comms, and immediately the bridge was filled with screaming.

Lia was almost out of her seat before she understood that it wasn't screaming, really, it was shouting -- someone was shouting at them. No, not shouting, advertising.

Advertisement: SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT FOREVER

ORRRR 

JUST RIGHT NOW?! 

DOESN'T MATTER 

HOW

MANY

LIMBS 

YOU 

HAVE!!!!

TIDBITTER HAS THE PERFECT LOVER FOR YOUUUUU!!!

Rouiancet: Turn it off!

Instead of the comm call going through, the Tidbitter advertisement had coopted not just the viewscreen but also their audio systems, playing itself at maximum, earsplitting volume, even as Lia tried to shout over it.

Katsim/Lahl: Response

Advertisement: CAN'T GET WHAT YOU NEED AT THE TRADING POST?!

NEED THAT SPECIAL SOMETHING BUT PESKY LAWS STAND IN YOUR WAY?!

JUST WANT THE BEST PRICE THIS SIDE OF THE OBATTA CLUSTER?!

THEN REMEMBER YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME AWAY FROM HOME, 

PORRRRT CORRRRRRAY!!

Great space, Lia was about to order the whole viewscreen ejected into space. She hammered on her chair controls, trying to close the channel, isolate the advertisements and shunt them elsewhere, even just lower the volume -- anything.

Rouiancet: I'm completely locked out!

Katsim/Lahl: Response

Rouiancet: Try it, quickly!

Katsim/Lahl: Response

Tags! and TBC!

--

Captain Lia Rouiancet

Commanding Officer 

USS Octavia E. Butler

V238208LV0
she/her/hers (this character)