LtCol Wes Greaves – Knife in the Back

[Jacob Rittenhouse]

LtCol Wes Greaves – Knife in the Back

 

((The Bilge, Hadvin Row, Argrathi V ))

 

They had made far more progress than Wes had anticipated in such a short period of time. The trio of Starfleet officers were sitting in a hidden back room of a shady dive bar, talking to the person whom Sonn was supposed to meet.

 

JN: Well, my intrepid Starfleet guests. Let's say I was hypothetically in the business of knowing things. What things would you be looking to know?

 

Varik: The kind of things that do not appear in port logs. (beat) Hypothetically, of course.

The Argrathi tapped his chin and presumably thought about this for a moment before responding.

 

Wes resisted the urge to look at Varik while the officer spoke. It was a bold statement, but they were in a situation that required boldness. It was also a situation that required them to perfectly navigate boldness and recklessness.

 

JN: Hmm... Do I look like the type to know about port logs?

 

Varik: If not you, then who? Sonn?

 

The Marine scoffed, as if to say “that’s a dead end” without actually saying it out loud.

 

JN: (shaking his head) Sonn will be of little use to anybody now. Forget about him. He is probably five systems away by now.

 

So that was what KN meant when he referred to Sonn in the past tense. The man thought Sonn had fled the planet, which to be fair, was clearly what he’d been trying to do.

 

Varik quickly dashed that misconception.

 

Varik: Sonn is dead.

 

JN: (alarmed) What?!

 

Greaves: Didn’t stand a chance.

 

Wes made the statement casually, offering it to the clearly shocked and angry JN in a vague enough way to suck the man in.

 

JN: Choose your next word very carefully.

 

Wes raised a hand just above the table, palm down and facing JN. A gesture that implied he shouldn’t jump to conclusions.

 

Varik: We watched it happen. He made it to the gangway of a small freighter. They shot him where he stood.

 

Wes nodded in agreement in the statement. Thus far, they’d spun quite the tale without hardly lying at all.

 

The Argrathi slammed his fist on the table, rage burning behind his eyes.

 

JN: Those treacherous sons of... (standing abruptly) Brelak was mine to protect. He trusted me. (through his teeth) Those double-crossing smugglers are going to answer for this.

 

JN’s reaction was not what Wes was expecting. Not by a long shot. Moreso, JN was either a phenomenal actor, or was having a genuine reaction to the news.

 

Greaves: Sorry to break the news to you. We assumed you knew already.

 

Varik: Response

 

Wes turned his attention back to the Lieutenant Commander Peters who had suddenly leaned forward to take the lead on the conversation.

 

Peters: What can you tell us about the smuggling ring?

 

JN: What’s it to you anyway? Starfleet don’t give a rat’s ass about some low level smugglers or some port official who accepts a bribe or two. I wasn’t born yesterday.

 

The quick retort was clearly one made in pain and anger, lashing out from feelings deeper than JN likely intended to show.

 

Greaves: Look, way I see it, we’ve got a mutual interest in this now. These guys killed your man, Sonn. Don’t know who he was to you, don’t much care right now. I’ve also got a bone to pick with them. You helping me, might just result in some revenge for Sonn’s death.

 

Varik: Response

 

Wes listed to Varik speak without breaking eye contact with JN. The Agrathi

looked anxious, hurt, and angry all at once. It was clear he was debating whether to trust them or not.  

 

JN: All the smaller ships and crews work with some freighter captain named Mad Dog. More pirate and smuggler than freighter captain really. None of them really owe much allegiance to anyone, and it’s all loose control.

 

The Marine nodded. That was something at least. A name, if not a ring leader.

 

Varik: Response

 

JN: If you’re thinking about trying to go after Mad Dog I really wouldn’t.

 

Peters: Nah. We were just curious.

 

JN: Woman is slippery. You’ll likely end up with a knife in your back. Or more likely, a torpedo. Rumor is her boat has got a mean cloaking device.

 

Varik: Response

 

Greaves: Know where she’s based out of?

 

JN: Response

 

Varik/Peters: Response

 

Greaves: What about when she’s not local. Theres gotta be some organization to move all the contraband they bring it.

 

JN: Response

 

 

Varik/Peters: Response

 

 

 

 

Tags/TBC

 

 

 

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Lieutenant Colonel Wes Greaves

Commanding Officer

64th Marine Expeditionary Brigade

USS Octavia E. Butler NCC-82850

E239702WG0

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