[Artifact] Lieutenant Falt: Knowledge equals... profit?
Tom Cholewa
OOC1: There is a tag for the rescue team at the end of this sim.
OOC2: I checked memory alpha and apparently a suit from Garak’s goes for 17 to 20 strips of latinum – so 15 for the information Falt sold seems reasonable.
((Market, Pirate Installation))
Falt: Our friend here is going to help us carry our purchase.
Kingsley: If you say so...Falt.
The Gorn picked up the crate singlehandedly and, without any outward sign of effort. This was the first time Tomas had seen of the species up close, and their strength was indeed impressive.
oO Best make sure we find a way to pay this one Oo
He pointed in the direction of the shuttle.
Falt: That way, please.
As the Gorn strode off he fell in behind him with the rest of the team.
Kingsley: ::quietly:: Do you know what you're doing, sir?
Dekas: I assume this is a good idea
Falt: ::keeping his voice low:: I’m not sure it’s a good idea at all, but I do know anyone watching on surveillance is unlikely to worry if they see Market Security carrying a crate. Hopefully we’ll get back to the ship now without a problem. ::short pause:: Although once we get there we might have an issue though, I promised him 10 strips of latinum… which I don’t have. Do either of you have any suggestions about how we pay him? ::brief pause:: Or trick him? This is a heist after all.
Kingsley: I don't have any latinum, and I don't relish giving away the shuttle, sir.
Falt: Not to worry, I’ll think of something.
oO I hope. Otherwise this will be one of the least successful away missions in a while Oo
Kingsley: We are running up quite the bill, between the hanger guards and our assistant ....
Tomas was surprised to hear a stifled laugh follow that comment. He was even more surprised to see it coming from Dekas.
Dekas: ::quietly, but clearly struggling not to laugh:: Tomas.
Falt: Everything okay, Mister Dekas.
Kingsley: Response
Dekas: ::very quietly whispered:: Th-This is so Murphed.
Tomas watched the Aurelian try, and fail, to disguise his amusement. He assumed the laughter was, in part at least, a stress reaction. Dekas had been under quite a lot of stress recently, and he was aware his decision to involve the Gorn could have been one stress too many. That said, he had no idea what “Murphed” meant.
Falt: What do you mean, Dekas?
Dekas: Do you think he’d accept an IOU?
Falt: ::looking at the Gorn:: No, I don’t think he would.
Perhaps this hadn’t been a good idea after all. He needed to come up of a way to get Latinum, and quickly. He wracked his brains, trying to think of something they had of value to sell. He doubted they could persuade the Gorn to let some of them onto the shuttle and replicate something to trade for the Latinum. The Gorn was passive at the moment, but would probably get angry fast if his payment was delayed.
Kingsley: Response
He looked around for inspiration. They were in the middle of the market, about half way back to the shuttle. What did he have of value to someone in the market, something worth 10 strips of latinum? He spotted the Ferengi trader they had dealt with earlier. He was going to be in for a shock when the theft was discovered and station security started asking questions. If only he knew…
oO That’s it! Oo
Dekas: ::breathlessly, with a moment to clear a quiet, excess chuckle:: Then I suggest we figure out what a Gorn values and learn to be convincing enough that something we have is worth the same or more than what you offered him.
Tomas felt calm and in control again. He had a plan in mind now, he just needed to execute it.
Falt: Mister Dekas, compose yourself. I know how to get the Latinum.
Kingsley: Response
Falt: That Ferengi from before is going to give it to us, in exchange for information that might just save his skin.
Dekas: Response
Falt: I’ll be back in a minute.
He knew he sounded more confident than he felt. But as he stepped away from his shipmates he pushed any doubt from his mind. He had to succeed, otherwise he just left Dekas and Kingsley to deal with an angry Gorn on their own.
He strode purposely toward the Ferengi, who spotted him as he neared his stall.
Ferengi: What do you want hew-mon? No returns, no refunds.
Tomas got straight to it.
Falt: I have information to sell, for a price.
Ferengi: I have no use for information, I only sell legally obtained goods.
Falt: You’ll like this information, it will give you an advantage over all your… rivals here.
He paused, hoping the Ferengi would take the bait.
Ferengi: Interesting. And what would this information cost me.
He went in high, knowing the Ferengi would haggle him down.
Tomas: One bar of gold pressed latinum.
The Ferengi laughed.
Ferengi: One bar? For information that might be useless.
Falt: What if I was to tell you I know when the next inspection is going to happen? Give you time to close for the day and make sure your... legally obtained wares aren’t damaged by any over enthusiastic Nausicaan’s?
Tomas smiled his best smile. The Ferengi returned it with a slightly nervous one.
Ferengi: An inspection? When?
Falt: ::firmly:: Payment first.
Ferengi: I’m not paying you a bar. I’ll give you ten strips of Latinum for it.
Falt: Ten? I guess you’ll find out about the inspection when it happens.
Ferengi: Twelve then…
Falt: Fifteen and we have a deal.
The Ferengi hesitated for a moment. Tomas could tell it knew it was getting a good deal, an inspection would probably cost him a lot more than fifteen strips of Latinum, but its natural instinct was to try and get the information as cheaply as possible.
The pause seemed to last slightly too long for Tomas, so he began to tun to walk away.
Ferengi: ::hurriedly:: Okay, fifteen strips it is.
Tomas smiled.
Falt: Then we have a deal. ::leaning in to whisper:: see that Gorn over there? He’s security. We paid him to help us move our goods and he told us that things have been going missing in the labs and that there will be an inspection today.
Ferengi: Today? When.
Falt: ::Very soon. Security will be everywhere. We’re leaving now to get out of the way. I suggest you do the same.
Ferengi: ::looking nervous:: Thank you hew-mon, I’ll consider it.
Tomas stood up straight and held out a hand.
Falt: I believe we had a deal.
Ferengi: Well I have a lot to think about now… why don’t…
Falt: We had a deal, or should I tell my Gorn friend he should start his inspection now; with your stall.
Ferengi: Okay Hew-mon, here.
Tomas took the offered Latinum. He quickly counted fourteen strips, but he had all he needed so he let the Ferengi win that round. He turned and hurried back to catch up with Dekas and Kingsley.
((short time skip))
With their unsuspecting escort from Market Security, they reached the shuttle without incident. The two Nausicaan’s that had accosted them on arrival were still loitering, but seeing them with the Gorn they didn’t approach.
With the Latinum from the Ferengi Tomas had paid the Gorn the ten strips as promised, plus two more as a tip. The huge creature had pocketed the Latinum and left without a word. As soon as Tomas was sure he was out of earshot he turned to the team.
Falt: That was closer than I’d have liked.
Kingsley/Dekas: Response.
Falt: Apologies if I was a little impulsive, thank you both for trusting me. ::he turned to Kingsley:: can you start the take-off sequence whilst Dekas and I load the crate?
Kingsley/Dekas: Response.
It only took a minute for them to heave the crate on board. Tomas breathed an audible sigh of relief as the shuttle door closed behind them. They’d done it, all they had to do now was get back to the Juneau. Which they could do, as soon as they’d checked in with the other team.
Falt: =/\= Falt to Qinn =/\=
He knew she wouldn’t respond if it wasn’t safe to do so.
Qinn/Rescue Team: =/\= Response =/\=
Falt: =/\= We’ve made it back to the shuttle with our goods. Do you require any assistance before we leave? =/\=
Qinn/Rescue Team: =/\= Response =/\=
Any: Response
TAG/TBC
Lieutenant Tomas Falt
Science Officer
USS Juneau, NX-99801
J239807TF2
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