[sb118-ops] Ensign S'zurak - Steel Forest
Alex Leatherman
((Streets of Capricalia, Capricalia))
S’zurak stepped back out onto the busy street, the flow of pedestrians streaming past him in a steady, directionless current. Capricalians moved with a quiet haste; heads down, conversations kept close. Narrow alleyways branched away from the main road, each one a vein that fed deeper into the city’s underbelly. An ideal place for someone to disappear.
But not S’zurak.
He would always stand out, like a Ferengi in a Klingon House. Even on Gornar he was no longer certain he would vanish into the crowd; too much of Starfleet had already shaped him. Too much of the Federation had left its mark.
He exhaled slowly, a low rumble forming in his throat. The hunt continued.
S’zurak: =/\= ::He pushed his commbadge:: Ss’zurak to Rosss. =/\=
He angled himself toward the side of a weathered building, reducing the chance that anyone nearby could overhear. The Capricalians had been on edge since their arrival. Someone out here was watching. Someone always was.
Ross: =/\= ?
S’zurak: =/\= Lieutenant. Is now a good time? =/\=
He hoped he wasn’t broadcasting in a moment when Ross needed silence. If Ross was in danger, the Gorn would be on his way in seconds. His claws flexed unconsciously at the thought.
Ross: =/\= ?
S’zurak: =/\= I got an additional lead to the freight yardsss. It’ss at leasst worth checking out. Do you have any updates? =/\=
Ross: =/\= ?
Something in the Lieutenant’s tone spoke of caution.
S’zurak: =/\= That is… wise, there could be lurkersss around. I’ll meet you there. Ss’zurak out. =/\=
He closed the channel.
Lurkers. He could feel them. Romulan agents? Pirates? Someone working for the impersonator? There were plenty of places for predators to stalk their prey. Or for prey to hide from predators like him.
S’zurak followed the flow of traffic down the main road until the skyline shifted. Glass and commerce gave way to steel and grime. An industrial complex stretched ahead of him, sprawling across several blocks.
Stacked cargo containers rose in towers with paint peeling from years of use. Mag-lifts shuttled pallets across open lanes. Massive cranes moved slowly overhead, lowering crates onto freight skiffs.
This place was alive, loud, and restless. And perfect for someone trying not to be found.
He scanned the rows. Every container, every alley between them, was a potential hiding place. A maze of steel and shadows.
oO Satisfactory Oo
A good place for a confrontation. An even better place for an ambush.
Ensign S'zurak
Tactical Officer
Starbase 118 Ops
O240205S13