Compile July 01 - 31 ------------------------------------------------------------- Mission: Letters of the Marques Day 6 Stardate: 2408.02.21 (USS Rosenante – Corridor– CO- Capt. Ahmed Ibn Salid- 0057.5) <-- .5+ To the Time. (USS Rosenante - Deck 10, Corridor – Engineer Ensign T'Kron - 0058) (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - ACEO- Lt. Steven Matrix - 0058.5) <-- .5+ To the Time. (USS Rosenante- Deck 10, Corridor- ACSO Ensign jg Dorian Weaver - Day 6- 0059) (USS Rosenante- Deck 10, Corridor- PFC- Marta 'Nun' Nunez - Day 6- 0100) (USS Rosenante- Sickbay- CMO Lt (sg) Josh Caskie - Day 6- 0102) (USS Rosenante – Personal Quarters – Sec.O Lt. Ro'Dal - 0136) (USS Rosenante – Personal Quarters – Nodel- 0139) (Torvan III, Xanadu Gothos – Personal Quarters – Captain Dogface Doyle O'Banyan - 0145) (USS Rosenante – Personal Quarters – Sec.O Lt. Ro'Dal - 0205) (USS Rosenante – Personal Quarters – Nodel - 0208) (Torvan III, Xanadu Gothos – Personal quarters – Master Trader Doyle O'Banyan – 0300) (USS Rosenante – Sickbay – CMO Lt (sg) Josh Caskie – 0305) (Torven III – Xanadu Gothos, Personal Quarters – Doyle Dogface O'Banyan – 0345) (USS Rosenante- Personal Quarters - CMO Lt (sg) Josh Caskie - 0530) (In Torvan III Space – The Feldspar – Ms. Judith Wilson – 0717) (Unknown location- Audience Room-Pirate Queen Morella- 0900) (USS Rosenante- Ready Room- CO- Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid- 1100) (USS Rosenante- Observation Lounge- CO-Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid- 1230) (USS Rosenante- Observation Lounge- ACSO-Ensign jg Dorian Weaver - 1231) (USS Rosenante- Observation Lounge- CO-Capt. Ahmed Ibn Salid - 1233) ------------------------------------------------------------- Begin Compile ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante – Corridor– CO- Capt. Ahmed Ibn Salid- 0057.5) "Only one at this time Sir. Given we'll have two ACEOs in engineering until further notice and that I came aboard into a provisional position, will T'Kron be the officer in charge?" asked Matrix. Ahmed regarded the man carefully. ~Was he vying for the authority?~ he asked himself. "The Positions of ACEO is equal, but in the end you have a higher grade than Ensign T'Kron, Mister Matrix, that means you'll have the final say and the final responsibility. However, I caution you to keep in mind that I'd like to see a working relationship between equals rather than one officer commanding the other." "Understood Captain. I will do my best not to disappoint you. I don't see this as a competition, simply a logistical necessity and an opportunity to continue my service where needed." replied Matrix. Ahmed smiled, "Very good Lieutenant, if you've no other questions you are dismissed until your duty shift tomorrow. I held a morning meeting every morning at 1000 hours with Lieutenant bird to discus engineering concerns. Please see to it that either yourself or Ensign T'Kron attend these meetings until further notice." (posted by Daniel) ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Deck 10, Corridor – Engineer Ensign T'Kron - 0058) "I was only saying these things to keep up the front of our characters, and in normal circumstances would never pretend to proprietorship over your body or heart." He paused a second. "You are a coworker, and I respect you as such. I myself would never hold such a discourse towards you, or anyone else in Starfleet." Ensign Weaver's shoulders slumped. T'Kron recognized it as an expression of misery. Private Nunez smiled, and then reassured the Science officer. She even teased Ensign Weaver about the new slave he was now responsible for that he had purchased. She had apparently accepted what was said during their time in among the slave pens in the light of the mission and had already dismissed it in her own mind. "We were playing a part, like actors in a play," said T'Kron pragmatically. "If we had not kept up the appearance of slavers with less military training, those around us in the slave pens would have suspected that we were disguised. We would have been killed or enslaved ourselves. Ensign Weaver, do not be too preoccupied about this. I think that with this mission you will find that there are other things to focus on." (Posted by Sheila Mayer) ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - ACEO- Lt. Steven Matrix - 0058.5) Ahmed smiled, "Very good Lieutenant, if you've no other questions you are dismissed until your duty shift tomorrow. I held a morning meeting every morning at 1000 hours with Lieutenant bird to discus engineering concerns. Please see to it that either yourself or Ensign T'Kron attend these meetings until further notice." Matrix smiled, now excited for the assignment and an official part of the Rosenante crew. "Aye Sir. Thank you." (Reply Salid, IYW) Matrix straightened his duty bag and left the Captain's ready room. (Posted by Steve) ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante- Deck 10, Corridor- ACSO Ensign jg Dorian Weaver - Day 6- 0059) "Assuming you're not too preoccupied by your new slave girl that is?" she added then gave him a wink. Her about face and easy dismissal of his concern threw Dorian completely off. It must have showed as his eyes widened and his face flushed a little bit again. He fought hard to fight the smile creeping up on his lips. "Preoccupied, barely, distracted, not at all. I just hope her debriefing pans out." He had to tread carefully. The last thing he could afford right now was entanglement. "We were playing a part, like actors in a play," said T'Kron pragmatically. "If we had not kept up the appearance of slavers with less military training, those around us in the slave pens would have suspected that we were disguised. We would have been killed or enslaved ourselves. Ensign Weaver, do not be too preoccupied about this. I think that with this mission you will find that there are other things to focus on." "You're right, both of you. As for your offer, I accept. I will bring the wine, however. Once this mission is over." He straightened a little bit.. "Now, I'll let you catch some zee's before we have another briefing. Good night, private, ensign." He offered her his hand, to close the matter. (Posted by Mattieu Raymond) ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante- Deck 10, Corridor- PFC- Marta 'Nun' Nunez - Day 6- 0100) "You're right, both of you. As for your offer, I accept. I will bring the wine, however. Once this mission is over." He straightened a little bit.. "Now, I'll let you catch some zee's before we have another briefing. Good night, private, ensign." Marta watched as Weaver offered to shake her hand. She smiled at the gesture a little as the evil side of her mind went into gear. She suppressed the urge to just give him a quick peck on the cheek for being so darned cute, so instead she settled for the hand shake. The thought of catching a few hours of sleep was very appealing to Marta and once they had all gone their separate ways, she headed for her bunk and crashed out. She was very pleased to have a moment or two to get some rest. (posted by Daniel Greene) ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante- Sickbay- CMO Lt (sg) Josh Caskie - Day 6- 0102) As soon as the Captain had dismissed her Josh rounded up all the so called slaves and ushered them out of the Transporter Room. The Tarkarans had already realised that they had been transported to a Federation ship and, although, still in need of medical attention, had immediately began to at least look a lot happier. Two of them immediately began supporting the sickest one so that they could follow Josh. Not knowing much about the other slave that had been bought, Josh decided that leading her to Sickbay would probably be a whole lot safer than simply asking her to follow and picking up her leash Josh lead the way out of the Transporter Room. As soon as she found a communications panel Josh contacted Sickbay and asked for a stretcher and some help to meet her group and thankfully, just as they exited the turbolift. they were met by a medical team. Handing over the leash to one of her nurses Josh filled him in. "I want her put in a private room please. I want a full health check run on her, but she is not allowed to speak to anyone else other than medical personal except the Command Staff and Ensign Weaver. She should be confined to her room until a member of the Command Staff says otherwise and hopefully someone from security will be stationed here soon." Josh then began running the physical checks on the Tarkarans, starting with the one who seemed the worst. Rather than split them up she left them in adjoining beds in the hope that being able to see each other would reassure them and help them recuperate better. Once that was done Josh hoped that she could simply go back to her quarters and relax, unfortunately that was not to be. One of the nurses, realising that she was finished with her patients finally informed her about Lt Bird and Josh immediately went to the autopsy suite and sat down in the chair that she had placed there for visitors. Gazing at Chicky and reading the report Josh sighed. "I am so sorry not to have been there for you, and I know that we really did not have much to do with each other, but I will miss you. I hate losing anyone, but I hate losing crew even more. I guess all I can do for you know is to make sure that your autopsy is done to the best of my abilities, and it will be. Although that is of little help to you now, it is all I can do for you. May your God go with you on your journey, and may you always walk in the light wherever you walk. (Posted by Marilyn) ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante – Personal Quarters – Sec.O Lt. Ro'Dal - 0136) It was an extremely weary Takaran who walked in to her quarters with Nodel following right behind her dragging footsteps, but as tired as Ro' was, she was even hungrier, so she walked straight over to the replicator. "Are you hungry, Nodel?" She asked the smaller being. (reply Nodel iyw, going to assume yes, can also repost if necessary) Ro' nodded and called on the replicator to provide Nodel's choices before ordering a plate of rare steak, over easy eggs and a side of mushrooms, with a large mug of black tea, sugar and milk. She felt a little sorry for Doctor Caskie who had still been hard at work in Sickbay when Nodel's check up was over and the two of them had left, but then she thought that could be the doctor's own choice, for Ro' was sure that Josh could have just given her orders to her competent staff and then gone to get some sleep, but perhaps the doctor was one who felt that things were only done right if she did them personally or was there to oversee. There were plenty like that aboard the Rosenante and they could be both a blessing or a curse to their peers. Setting everything at the small table, she sat down, waited for her new roommate to get settled and was soon tucking in to her meal heartily, she hadn't realized just how hungry she had been until she started eating. While she ate she watched the Amthopoid enjoying his food, it was probably the best meal he had eaten for a very long time, if those undernourished slaves were anything to judge by. "How long were you stuck there on Barakos, Nodel?" She asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. (reply Nodel) "Didn't you find anyone to be your provider before? You are a unique and I must say, a cute little fellow I would have thought there would be many people willing to provide for you." (reply Nodel) Nodding, Ro' munched a mouthful and washed it down with a swig of the hot, sweet tea. "I feel that you are of the male gender, Nodel, please correct me if I am mistaken." (reply Nodel) With another nod, Ro' let the little fellow finish his meal while she did the same, and when the plates were clear of food and drinks finished, she gathered up the utensils and put them in the recycler. Smiling warmly to Nodel, Ro'Dal stated that the next job on the agenda was to make him a bed on the couch for the night, and when they'd both had a good rest, she would have a request a real bed for him. "Do you have a preferred type of bed?" She asked him, knowing that some creatures liked to make nests or to sleep in little caves, or up in the boughs of trees. (posted by Sal) ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante – Personal Quarters – Nodel- 0139) Nodel followed Ro into her habitat. It was a curious dwelling with very few things that Nodel could remember the names of. The small creature dutifully sniffed around and found a soft looking piece of furniture and settled in. "Are you hungry, Nodel?" She asked him. "Nodel very hungry, Ro." He responded. "He had been told that there wasn't going to be a great number of available meal combinations at first, at least not until the cellular allergy tests had been completed, and so Nodel didn't really have much of a choice in meal selections. He watched with interest as Ro, used a machine to create food, and then followed her to the table where she sat down. Nodel climbed up into a chair and picked up one of the protein bars that Ro had replicated for his meal. He bit into it and made a face. It tasted horrible, but it was the most food he'd seen in a very long time and so he decided that he wouldn't waste even this horrible tasting bar. He didn't really care for the food in question, but he consumed it with a fanatical devotion reserved by the near starving. He rapidly consumed the first two bars he was trying to decide if he wanted to eat the third one or hide it away for later when Ro spoke to him again. "How long were you stuck there on Barakos, Nodel?" She asked. Nodel decided to abandon his thoughts on the last protein bar and answered Ro directly instead, "Three standards I believe, maybe longer, Nodel not know for certain." "Didn't you find anyone to be your provider before? You are a unique and I must say, a cute little fellow I would have thought there would be many people willing to provide for you." "Nodel had Kamana. Kamana was provider for Nodel, but Kamana grow weak and die from injury and sickness. No other provider would take Nodel, and none would buy, so Nodel thrown out of slave pens because no profit. Nodel not find one of right thinking to be provider, others are bad peoples." he explained. Nodel decided to eat his last protein bar, since he could not be certain that the master slaver would allow Ro to keep him on the ship. He was gnawing on the first half of the bar when Ro spoke to him again. "I feel that you are of the male gender, Nodel, please correct me if I am mistaken." "Nodel is male now, it is some cycles yet before Nodel is female and becomes an other." he answered, then resumed chewing on his protein bar. Nodel finished his meal about the same time that Ro did and they then set about making him a place to sleep. Ro must have picked up on his confusion, because she asked him a short while later about his preferred sleeping arrangements. "Nodel likes to sleep in flowers or soft places." he answered. "Or in trees or up high." he added, not seeing any flowers nearby. (posted by Daniel Greene) ------------------------------------------------------------- (Torvan III, Xanadu Gothos – Personal Quarters – Captain Dogface Doyle O'Banyan - 0145) The rave he had arranged for all the recently arrived Captains slavers smugglers and dealers had been an outstanding success. There were lots of food drink, drugs and slaves galore for all of O'Banyan's attending subordinates. O'Banyan had encouraged all of his subordinates to take their fill of all the treats he had offered to excess, which they had all done. The rave itself had even been relatively inexpensive, given Trader O'Banyan's ready access to illegal drugs and drink, with plenty of his own slaves. The party had given O'Banyan a lot of information about his subordinates, their seedy criminal experience and intelligence. This intel he received from them had parameters both in and outside of Orion space. The most important thing O'Banyan had learned was that there was an actual kidnapping of some highly important diplomatic personage outside of Orion space. Unfortunately he did not learn who that person was, nor who the identity of the kidnapper. O'Banyan found this encouraging. Having heard the existence of an actual interstellar kidnapping, the Master Trader had put all the rave's attendees on notice. He offered to pay a generous bounty to any captain, smuggler or free trader that provided him with further information about this incident. As much as Trader O'Banyan trusted Ms Wilson's intelligence skills and acumen, only a fool or a dead man drew on just one source of information while in crime ridden Orion Trading Space. Yes, the rave had been an outstanding stellar success but why couldn't he sleep now? Why couldn't the even the pleading entreaties of his pillow thrall S'Tral entice him into even the most decadent pleasures? The ancient German philosopher Nietzsche said, "If a man kills dragons long enough, he becomes one himself." He also said, "As a man looks into the abyss, the abyss looks back into him." Sitting in the dark with only his flesh thrall for company O'Banyan had the uncomfortable feeling that was what was happening to him now. He was staring into the abyss of his own being. He didn't like what he saw. Originally O'Banyan had infiltrated the Orion slaver organization to find his lost wife Marie and his young daughter Jackie. He had found neither owing to the millions of slaves that were processed on a weekly basis in Orion space. There were literally of hundreds of slavers and their organizations operated simultaneously there daily. He could not track where they had gone or to whom they had been sold. In the end O'Banyan's quest to find his family had been for naught, and because of his natural success in the business, he found himself handsomely rewarded with his ill gotten gains. ~I have gone native. I have lived in the abyss for over 15 years and now the abyss is living in me. That's why I can't sleep tonight. That's why I couldn't get involved with S'Tral tonight. Lately my raves have become shallow and unfulfilling.~ (Posted by Jim McCrary) ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante – Personal Quarters – Sec.O Lt. Ro'Dal - 0205) Nodel was fascinating to Ro', especially when he told her that he was male now, which had her wondering what he meant by that and then he'd explained that some cycles he'd be female and others he'd be another, which made her wonder if the third gender was one that helped the other two with procreation, she'd heard of species that did that. Well it really didn't matter what gender he was at any given time, as long as he told her so she would know, but that request could wait as could the question about how long the cycles lasted. Munching on her simple meal she couldn't help but feel sorry for Nodel, the protein bars he was eating looked inedible and from the face he was pulling, they must have tasted horrid to him. Nodel finished his meal about the same time that Ro did and they then set about making him a place to sleep. Ro' asked him about his preferred sleeping arrangements. "Nodel likes to sleep in flowers or soft places." he answered. "Or in trees or up high." he added. Well, there were no flowers in her quarters, but it wouldn't take much to get some for him, and the Takaran determined that they would go to visit the hydroponics or the 'garden' and get a potted plant or two. ~As for sleeping up high,~ she thought, mulling over how she could accomplish that for a few seconds, an idea came to her and she grinned at him. "I know just the place for your sleeping needs." She told him and walked in to her bedroom and over to what looked like a plain wall with several touch keys in it. Pressing a button, a partition slid open about three meters off the deck to reveal a storage place that Ro' never used as she hardly had anything to store away. "This should do, what do you think? I can replicate a flat pet bed and a blanket for you and put it up here, if it suits you, Nodel." She started walking out again, "I'll replicate those anyway while you try it out, see if you can get up there easily." (reply Nodel) Soon, Ro' returned with a pad that would fit the space perfectly and a neatly folded thermal blanket which she slid into the storage unit. "Well, do you like it? If not just use it for tonight and we'll sort something better out later on when we've rested." (posted by Sal) ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante – Personal Quarters – Nodel - 0208) Ro must have been pleased with something that Nodel had said, because she beamed at him a smile that made him very happy. "I know just the place for your sleeping needs." She told him and walked in to her bedroom and over to what looked like a plain wall with several touch keys in it. Pressing a button, a partition slid open about three meters off the deck to reveal a storage place that despite it's size was fairly empty. "This should do, what do you think? I can replicate a flat pet bed and a blanket for you and put it up here, if it suits you, Nodel." She started walking out again, "I'll replicate those anyway while you try it out, see if you can get up there easily." Nodel bobbed his body in agreement then moved to survey the area and figure out the best way to reach it. The Amthopoid hopped off the floor onto the bed and using the mattress as a springboard of sorts, launched itself across the span of floor between the end of the bed and the open door to the sleeping area. He landed on a shelf about two-thirds up from the floor, then using a combination of climbing skills and sheer will power he climbed the remainder of the distance to reach the indicated sleeping shelf. Soon, Ro' returned with a pad that would fit the space perfectly and a neatly folded thermal blanket which she slid into the storage unit. Nodel shifted his position a few times so that Ro could spread out the soft mattress for him. "Well, do you like it?" She asked, "If not just use it for tonight and we'll sort something better out later on when we've rested." Nodel sniffed at the strange material that made up the bedding. It wasn't the smell of fresh flowers, but it would suffice. At least he would be protected from any small predators that showed up looking for a meal. "Nodel happy." he said, "but no room for Ro." (posted by Daniel Greene) ------------------------------------------------------------- (Torvan III, Xanadu Gothos – Personal quarters – Master Trader Doyle O'Banyan – 0300) In the darkness of his personal quarters, O'Banyan's weary mind replayed the litany of failed attempts to find his lost family, and how those dismal failures led him to fall into the criminal abyss of Orion Space. No matter how rich and well connected he was, his wife, the beautiful Marie, was for ever lost to him. The ex-patriot space marine knew that female slaves longevity was usually short. Bordello life for a thrall was better than the life of a street prostitute, but not by very much. There was no mercy in Orion Space when a given slave's youth and beauty were 'used up'. Personality meant nothing when youth, beauty and personality were bought and sold like slabs of meat, treated like trash and were immediately replaceable on a daily basis. His lost family's best hope was to have been sold to rich off-worlders and thus were out of the main stream loop of day to day flesh peddling business in Orion Space. In Ferengi Space, the main currency was latinum, in Orion Space it was slaves. I should know, as I am one of it's best traders,~ O'Banyan realized. ~I'm only surpassed that low life scum Morella. I hate that green-skinned sadistic witch. She's mercilessly tortured three of my operatives to death that I sent in to infiltrate her organization. Her physical excesses make me look like a young Catian kitten.~ ~By this time my daughter would be 19 years old, the same age as Judith Wilson appears. I only hope by some incredible miracle that Jackie doesn't turn out to be as hard as Judith. It was the only alternative I had for Judith. If I hadn't mentored her she would have had a much more miserable life as a slave.~ It was for that same reason he had bought Judith Wilson twice out slavery after she had been captured. It was his way of saving Jackie. Of course he hadn't told any of this to Judith. O'Banyan didn't like letting anybody have insight into his personality that deeply. O'Banyan found himself keeping Judith at a distance because she was beginning to become aware of some physical attraction between them. He didn't want to take advantage of a protιgι. With Judith it would be tantamount to bedding his daughter. He found himself unwilling to do such a thing. ~Loyalty is the first commodity that is often sold in on the slave auction block.~ Other than paying the appropriate protection money to the powers that be there was little that was forbidden including the UPF laws against cloning. So he had tried cloning as a way to replace his family. Since he had no genetic material left from his wife, cloning her was impossible. For romantic reasons he didn't want to make some slave look like her. Getting Jackie cloned seemed like a reasonable option at first. He was a donor for part of her genetic material. All he had to do was produce the clone and change the gender and make a few other phenotypical changes. Over the long years O'Banyan had used state of the art cloning technology to grow a daughter. It had failed four times. Once he got into Orion Space he had his body genetically resequenced several times for survival and business purposes. These genetic changes couldn't be teased out and prevented each clone from being viable. They all had been destroyed. So now Jackie was lost to him too. It was at the failure of the last Jackie clone attempt that he lost all interest in returning to a normal moral economic society. It was then that he had looked into the abyss the first time. (Posted by Jim McCrary) ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante – Sickbay – CMO Lt (sg) Josh Caskie – 0305) Josh, tired as she was, had never been one to let that get in the way of what had to be done. After sitting with Lt Bird for a few minutes she had returned to her office, grabbed herself a sandwich and a cup of tea and almost wolfed both of them down. Starting a report to the Captain and FO she updated them on everything that she had done medically to their guests and mentioned that whilst she thought that all the Meldovians would do better being kept together overnight it Sickbay with security keeping an eye on them, she had decided that it might be prudent to isolate their other guest in a private room with it's own security, simply for prudence sake. Closing down her report at present Josh, took a deep breath. ~Time to do what you have been avoiding.~ Finishing her meal she sighed. It wasn't that Josh disliked doing autopsies. It was her speciality and she had been not only the coroner in her time on Orkney but the nearest thing they had to a forensic scientist as well. It just seemed to Josh to doing it to someone you knew made it all the more personal. Standing up from her desk and gearing herself up she walked back in and did what needed to be done with the Lieutenant. To be honest she could have done with some help, but since Kitty had been transferred Josh had never found anyone that she could get on with enough. Finally back in her office she added her findings on to the end of her report, signed it and sent it off. She was extremely tired and exiting her office she hijack the first person she came across. "I am extremely tired and am heading off to get some rest. Please do not wake me before 6am unless it is an extreme emergency." (USS Rosenante – Personal Quarters - Lt (sg) Josh Caskie - (Not even caring about the time) Josh stumbled into her quarters and it was only then that she realised that she still had her autopsy gown on. Hauling it off and divesting the rest of her clothes on the floor she almost tottered across the room to her bed. Collapsing into a heap on the top of the bed Josh suddenly found herself almost being smothered by a warm furry weight who was just as determined to sit on top of her as Josh was determined to move him. Using the last of her strength Josh shoved Bruizer over to the side and told him in no uncertain terms to stay there or else. Just as Josh was drifting off to sleep something woke her up. She had a meal to go to with that cute security guy. What day was it. Yesterday, today, tomorrow? Josh tried her best to figure out what day it was, but gave up eventually and fell asleep dead to the world. Five minutes later Bruizer crept up onto her chest, and giving the room a once over and deciding it was safe, stretched himself out across Josh, tucked his head under her chin, with his face to the door, just to be safe and drifted off to sleep too. (Posted by Marilyn) ------------------------------------------------------------- (Torven III – Xanadu Gothos, Personal Quarters – Doyle Dogface O'Banyan – 0345) Doyle was still involved in a dark destructive reverie over his lost past and family when the keep's comm center alerted him to an incoming subspace message. The message originated from Barakos IV on the fringes of Orion Space. For a brief instant O'Banyan thought the message might be from Judith Wilson. ~She must have worked more quickly that I thought she would.~ But then he realized the message was from someone else. It was from Derka Cardarsa, owner and operator of a quarter portion of the Treasure Chest Complex. Operator Cardarsa was O'Banyan's professional friend, often a frequent accomplice on Barakos IV, for the right price of course. Cardarsa was a green, toothy, almost handsome, burly Orion male. He was somewhat jovial unless you double crossed him, backed down on a deal or ticked him off in some obscure manner. Under any of these circumstances Cardarsa was harder than forged neutronium, as implacable as a graviton grenade, and would happily rip out your heart bare handed and make you eat all or part of it before you expired. On the positive side, he was the best source of intel on Barakos IV with the exception of Judith Wilson. ~Acknowledged. Open up a comm channel to the source.~ Obanyan thought through his cyberware. A large holoscreens opened up in front of O'Banyan revealing the evil smiling face of Cardarsa. Owner Cardarsa did not wait for O'Banyan to speak. This meant that he had something hot heavy and expensive to convey. "Master O'Banyan, I missed your last rave. Please accept my apologies. It's good to see you anyway." "The same to you Operator Cardarsa," replied O'Banyan with a smile as scathing as his Orion counterpart. ~Let's get to business.~ thought O'Banyan. "To what do I owe you the pleasure of your company? I was beginning to think you didn't like me," O'Banyan quipped, in their ritual repartee. "Nonsense, nonsense," laughed Cardarsa. "Anyway, I have something to tell you that I think you will be very interested to know." O'Banyan's eyes lit up. "Enlighten me." Cardarsa nodded. With a slightly bowed head and hooded eyes, Cardarsa said, "It has come to my attention that of late you have been interested in finding out about a recent abduction of some importance outside of Orion Space. "Yes, that's true what have you learned?" asked O'Banyan. "Yesterday several of my staff and customers at the Slime Pit overheard some indiscreet inquiries about such an event. From the conversation and a little surveillance afterward there were strong indications that the three or four of those speaking could be Starfleet operatives in disguise. In the conversation your name and location was referenced." "How so?" questioned O'Banyan. "The conversation reported by my staff indicated that there were some allusions made that you were one of the few criminals big and bad enough to pull off such a high profile crime. My staff informed me that there were plans made by these individuals to come and visit you." "Did your servers overhear the identity of who the victim was?" asked O'Banyan. Cardarsa laughed, a little too spitefully for O'Banyan's taste. "I could really stick it to you Master O'Banyan and say that I did hear a name, but I won't for professional reasons. Honor among thieves you know. My word is a valuable commodity. The name was never discussed in the presence of my servers. I have nothing to tell you about that." O'Banyan was silent. "From your silence, Master O'Banyan, I don't think you are directly involved with the crime that they want to talk to you about. But they think you are and they are on their way. The fact that Starfleet is involved makes the crime whoever the victim was, more profitable than ever. So if you can help them, it will make you a lot of latinum, some of which I hope will find its way to me, in the 25% range for the heads up." O'Banyan finally found his voice. Through gritted teeth he said, "You are most kind Operator Cardarsa. If you find anything else, I might be willing to kick in another percentage or two, out of professional courtesy, of course. Cardarsa grinned, like the predator he was. "Thank you!" "Think nothing of it." Through the Video screen O'Banyan could see that Cardarsa was looking at the unconscious S'Tral with greedy eyes. Cardasa said, "If you ever get tired of your pointy eared slave, sell her to me. I'll give you a good deal for a serious upgrade for her. I'd even be willing to throw in a half years free credit at any of my establishments on Barakos IV. "I'll think about it," said O'Banyan, silently seething. He allowed none of that to show. "O'Banyan out." O'Banyan nodded sharply once and then turned off the holoscreen. (Posted by Jim McCrary) ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante- Personal Quarters - CMO Lt (sg) Josh Caskie - 0530) It had been a late night for Josh and it hadn't helped that she had forgotten to cancel her 5am wake up call, so when the computer's ever increasing volume began to puncture her sleep she had said some very unladylike words, cancelled it and turn straight back over again. Unfortunately, as her mother always used to say, 'There is no snooze button on a cat that wants breakfast'. The weight lying across her chest shifted slightly as Bruiser stretched his, not inconsiderable length, yawned, meowed quietly to see if she would wake, and when Josh didn't, began to walk back and forward across her chest just to make sure. Josh turned over onto her stomach in the hope that she could squeeze out at least another hour of sleep, but unfortunately Bruiser had other ideas. Leaping of the bed and padding across to the replicator his meows became all the more pitiful the longer Josh ignored him. Finally deciding that he would wait no longer he leapt back onto the bed and began to butt her with his head. Realising the futility of ignoring him Josh finally rose and padding to the replicator requested a bowl of tuna in the futile hope that it might keep him quiet long enough for her to have a coffee. No such luck there unfortunately. Bruiser seemed not so much eat the tuna as to inhale the entire bowl in one go and then began to weave in and out of her legs, butting his head against her and purring. As she sat down at the computer and pulled up her messages and her schedule for the day a highlighted notation for the evening made her smile and the smile stayed with her as she showered dressed and filling Bruisers water bowl, told him to behave himself until she came back. Josh was too busy thinking about this evening to see the distainful look that Bruiser shot her way as she left. (Posted by Marilyn) ------------------------------------------------------------- (In Torvan III Space – The Feldspar – Ms. Judith Wilson – 0717) The sleek red Feldspar left Master O'Banyan's Xanadu Keep at max impulse power. Judith was glad to leave the company of rowdy brutal debauched slavers. She was also sorry to leave the charismatic presence of Dogface O'Banyan, who had been her savior, trainer, and mentor over the last eight years or so. As she sped away, from Torvan III It was comforting to see the keep's automated defense weapons disengage from the Spar's tactical screens. Judith had to hand it to O'Banyan; he had a very necessary and healthy sense of Orion space paranoia. Most slavers and crime lords that didn't have that paranoia were usually long time dead. Judith took special pride in the fact that she was partially responsible for why Master O'Banyan was not long time dead. Even as she had thought of that, her body trembled with a bit of repressed desire. At the same time, Judith purged the information about both of the Preserver colonies from the ship's computer net. However she did keep the coordinate to the Bedouin colony in her eidetic memory. After all master O'Banyan had requested her to determine whether or not the people living there were already practicing slavery. She could see the logic that was going through the master Trader's mind. Despite Dogface's state of befallen charismatic grace, Ms Wilson was glad and grateful that O'Banyan was alive, kicking and paying well. For Judith it was not just a matter of high pay. It was a matter of extreme loyalty as well. Doyle O'Banyan had rescued Judith from a doomed life of slavery, prostitution and violent crime on New Paris. She had been harvested as a slave by a crime lord on New Paris and sold to a passing Orion slaver. O'Banyan had spotted her quick intelligence in the slave pens on Barakos IV and purchased her, teaching her all about computers and how to function in a criminal society as something other than a slave. Over the years, Judith became O'Banyan's top intelligence agent. During those years, O'Banyan had bought her twice from those who had captured her as a slave. The first time had been when O'Banyan purchased her at a slave auction from one of the greater Orion crime households and the other had been Starfleet's Section 31. ~Strange how he has never asked me to pay him back or even taken sexual liberties with me. Those outside of Orion crime space viewed it as a place of never ending criminal violence, drug addiction, prostitution, smuggling, extortion and thievery. Though true, only those inside knew that there was a larger more profitable black market for intelligence, scientific piracy, and currency manipulation that spanned the Alpha and Beta quadrants. It was in these areas where Judith applied her computer skills. Now that she was in deep space, Judith turned her attention to the task at hand. She set course to go deeper into the heart of Orion space. ~It would be unlikely that slavers would take an important captive and hide them on the fringes of their territory. Their security would be better at the center of pirate space, with less chance of rescue.~ (Posted by Jim McCrary) ------------------------------------------------------------- (Unknown location- Audience Room-Pirate Queen Morella- 0900) Morella paced back and forth in front of her throne. the click of her heels on the hard marble floor giving a good indication of her irritation. The word had only just reached her from her spy, that the federation had dispatched a Starship named the Rosenante into Orion Space to locate and recover the Prince before the treaty lapsed. Apparently the ship was or had been at Barakos IV, and had discovered a few of the Meldovian prisoners there. She wasn't concerned that the slaves had been rescued by the federation starship. She was however concerned that a ship from the UFP could penetrate so deeply right into the heart of Orion Space without being detected. Her royal guard stood stock still, worried that any movement might catch the queen's attention and result in unsavory consequences. Still it seemed that their tensions made them ever more vigilant to her mood as she stormed back and forth across the room. The doors at the far end of the immense chamber opened and a pair of slaves appeared leading in one of Morella's captains. Captain Orin Freeman, formerly Lieutenant Freeman of the Doenitz regime, strode in confidently following the slaves. The man was a stone cold, died in the wool killer and was one of Morella's best captains. He was once a First Officer aboard the USS Tomahawk, a defiant class starship, who served in Doenitz's 1st fleet. He was what the current government would classify as a sociopathic homicidal personality with delusions of grandeur. In other words, he was perfect for Morella's needs. The man had murdered his captain and a good portion of his crew when they had tried to switch sides during the battle for sector 001. He was no fool and quickly realized that once the battle ended, there was no future for him in the Federation, and so he had made his way, along with the few remaining members of his crew to Orion Space. Morella had met with him, and had assisted him in his desires to become a pirate. She had provided good crew for his ship and a base of operations- in return she was able to add a defiant class vessel to her fleet. "You wanted to see me my queen?" he asked then bowed slightly. "What took you so long?" she snapped at him." I summoned you over an hour ago." "We were in the middle of something important, your highness, it was a bit....volatile and I could not get away any sooner." he replied, looking her squarely in the eyes. She snarled at him, "I don't need excuses. I need results." "Of course." he replied. "How may I be of service to you?" Morella stalked up to the man, he was handsome, except for the pox marks on his face caused by plasma burns and poor medical treatment. She placed her hand on his chin and kept his eyes level with hers. "A Federation ship named the Rosenante has managed to visit Barakos IV. They have recovered some Meldovian slaves and are no doubt looking for the prince." she told him, still holding his jaw in her hand. "What kind of ship is this Rosenante? Another scout ship like yours? Does it pose a threat to me and my plans?" Freeman took a step back from her and spoke. "The Rosenante you say?" he asked rhetorically. "My understanding is that it was a ship designed to be a privateer packed full of state-of-the-art technology. It wasn't completed at the time of the battle, so I don't know much more. It was supposed to be the kind of ship that would help us strike at the heart of the 52nd." "Does it pose a threat?" Morella asked again. "Oh yes, but it depends on if the new government left the design intact or pulled her teeth. They obviously left a cloaking system aboard, which explains how she got to Barakos IV. So in that respect she can probably get to us, if she can find us. The level of threat may vary, but you can be certain that any 52nd fleet ship proves a threat here. Who is the ship's Captain?" "A human named Salid." Morella replied. Freeman shook his head, "I don't know anyone by that name, so he must be a fairly new CO, which means he's green. He may be an idealist though, and those types are always trouble." "Find the Rosenante." she instructed, "if the ship is as sophisticated as you claim, it will make a fine flagship for my fleet." "How do you suspect I will find it?" Freeman asked, "It could be anywhere in Orion Space." "You will wait nearby using your cloaking device, and when the Rosenante comes here, which it will do eventually, my spy will reveal it's location to you. Then you will capture it." "How will your spy know where the ship is located?" he asked. "My spy is on board that ship, even now." she replied. Freeman smiled, "If I do this, I want the crew." he said, "I can probably use some of them, and those that I can't use, I can either sell or use to entertain my crew in the pits." Morella looked at him. ~Who does he think he is dictating terms to me?~ she asked herself. "You will get what I give you and nothing more." she replied through clenched teeth, "fulfill my wishes and I will reward you, fail me and you will regret it for a very long time, Captain Freeman." Freeman nodded. "then we have an understanding." he said, "is there anything else, my queen or am I free to return to the Tomahawk and make preparations?" Morella scowled at him, "Go, before I change my mind." Freeman bowed and did a smart about-face. He then left the throne room in a brisk walk. After the doors to the throne room closed, Morella gestured to her personal attendant. "Yes my queen?" the man said as he approached her, slightly bowed and eyes averted. "Inform Dolas that once the Rosenante is captured, that Captain Freeman will have outlived his usefulness to me. Tell him to capture the Tomahawk as his own vessel and execute Freeman." "At once my Queen." She watched as the servant skittered off to carry out her wishes. "Let us see if you dictate terms to me a second time captain." she said quietly then she turned and walked back to her throne to contemplate the new information that she had acquired. (posted by Daniel Greene) ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante- Ready Room- CO- Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid- 1100) Ahmed had reviewed the after action report concerning the brawl in Tradewinds, taken into account the nature of the situation and the various reports of the events as well as the recommended course of action forwarded by his own First Officer. Sheridan had a couple of decades of service in the fleet. He'd seen some of the same horrible things that Ahmed had on Cait Prime, and yet, he suddenly had lashed out against a visiting dignitary in a manner that was excessive to the situation. The Senior Chief Petty Officer had a good record. It wasn't perfect, but it wasn't terrible either. Like most people it had it's ups and its downs. To Ahmed's untrained eye, it looked as if the down sides of the dossier always seemed to follow some sort of personal loss or tragedy. In this case Ahmed was wondering if the tragedy was the loss of the USS Nimitz, a ship that he had served on alongside Sheridan. ~Maybe he's angry at the destruction of the ship.~ With a sigh the captain remembered the fondness of his first posting. Despite the fact that he had served now on four ships; The Nimitz, Champlain, Hepatia and now the Rosenante- he still had a strong connection to the Sovereign class starship, which had been his first posting and the same ship where he had made Chief Engineer. ~Maybe Sheridan is still upset over that loss?~ Ahmed tapped his commbadge, knowing that it wasn't his specialty, and decided to pass this case on to the experts. "Salid to Ensign Trent, could you please report to the ready room, counselor?" (USS Rosenante- Ready Room- CO-Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid- 1108) The time sounded and the door slid open immediately to reveal Ensign Trent. (reply Trent) "Have a seat." Ahmed offered and waited for her to settle into her chair before continuing. "How is everything in the Counseling department?" (reply Trent) "I completely understand counselor. I can assure you that I will do everything possible to get another counselor aboard as soon as we've completed this mission and returned to federation space. Just keep doing the wonderful job that you're doing, that's all I ask." He paused. "While I can appreciate the fact that the department is significantly understaffed, there is a matter of some importance to me that I'd like to speak to you about." (reply Trent) "It's Senior chief Sheridan. recently he's been displaying signs of aggression beyond what I would consider normal. It's my belief that he may be suffering from PTSD. Possibly a result of the destruction of his last ship, the Nimitz. I've known the chief for a long while, and as he's given two decades of his life to Starfleet, I think that perhaps rather than raise charges against him for the assault on the diplomatic attachι that I'd rather we conduct some mandatory Anger and Stress Management Counseling. If you tell me afterwards that he is no longer fit for duty, then I'll see what we can do to discharge him without need of a hearing, unless you tell me that he was in complete control all along and that this action was his natural disposition or that it was meditative. I'd appreciate it if you could take the time to review his records and make time to see him as soon as possible, preferably today." (posted by Daniel Greene) ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante- Observation Lounge- CO-Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid- 1230) Ahmed had taken the time to set out a nice spread of pomegranate and orange marmalade pastries and a pot of Turkish coffee. To complement the rich full flavor of the dark roasted blend, he also had raw sugar crystals and goat's milk. He wanted to make certain that the meetings that were to come would be perceived as more of a discussion rather than an interrogation. While he was confident that the Meldovians would be more than willing to assist him in his quest to find and return their Prince, he was less certain about the motives of the Slave girl, Sodra. He had therefore requested Ensign Weaver, who was responsible for her purchase to a short meeting prior to her questioning session. The half-hour before she was scheduled to arrive would be used in discussing her situation, and gathering any information about her possible motives that Ahmed could determine from his conversation with Weaver. As he sat waiting for Weaver to arrive, he flipped through the medical reports that Doctor Caskie had forwarded for his review. It was apparent that the woman was undernourished and had apparently been treated poorly during her lifetime. Her biological age was roughly that of a twenty-two year old, and judging by the fact that a genetic search located a report of a woman, presumably her mother, kidnapped by pirates twenty-five years prior indicated that she was born a slave and had been one her entire life. Her heritage was half-Betazoid and half-Orion. there were indications that she produced some elevated pheromone levels, but not enough to be a significant risk. There were also indications that she had inherited some of her mothers mental abilities, Although Ahmed found it likely that she was untrained. There was a chime at the door and it slid open to reveal Ensign Weaver. "Come in Ensign, and have a seat. It seems we have a great deal to talk about. Care for some coffee?" (posted by Daniel Greene) ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante- Observation Lounge- ACSO-Ensign jg Dorian Weaver - 1231) Dorian had slept late, in light of the time they'd come back from the mission. He had made sure, before leaving, that no experiment, no critical task had been left unattended. Around 0800, unable to keep his eyes closed anymore, he had snuck from bed with his heavy coverlet, drank a glass of water from the sealed bottle he kept in his room, and checked the gym schedule. Gloriously, a spot was available at 1000, until 1130. He had rushed into an off-duty track suit, grabbed his gear and a PADD, and headed for the mess hall. His report was filled by the time his breakfast was done. He pushed the key to submit it to the central computer core, addressed to the the CO as requested. He showed up at 1000 to an empty gym, then launched into his callisthenics. He prefered to have as few observers as possible, because he realized that his leg often attracted weird looks. ~I'll have to improvise a few holds, but it ought to work out.~ When they stopped runing on stealth, he'd ask the person in charge to have a finger training-board installed. If only he could have used the holodeck... By the time his meeting with the Captain was due, he had time to go back to his quarters, groom as perfectly as possible, and review Sodra's case as well as he could. He had also reviewed his own report, just in case. He stepped into the Observation Lounge fresh, ready, alert yet relaxed. "Come in Ensign, and have a seat. It seems we have a great deal to talk about. Care for some coffee?" "Absolutely, sir. Black, if you don't mind. I've always thought it was about enjoying the quality, not the quantity." He took the proferred cup. "Thank you." He sipped it carefully, slowly, then placed the cup back on its saucer. "This is perfect, sir. Where shall we being?" (Posted by Mathieu Raymond) ------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante- Observation Lounge- CO-Capt. Ahmed Ibn Salid - 1233) "Absolutely, sir. Black, if you don't mind. I've always thought it was about enjoying the quality, not the quantity." He took the preferred cup. "Thank you." He sipped it carefully, slowly, then placed the cup back on its saucer. "This is perfect, sir. Where shall we begin?" "Well we have a lot to discuss, where Sodra is concerned. I've been overlooking her medical records and it appears that her genetic disposition is that of a mixed Heritage, equal parts Betazoid and Orion. Doctor Caskie conducted a Genetic sample search, in the hopes of locating her family on Betazed. We have identified her mother, who was reported kidnapped by Pirates twenty-five years ago. Thus far we have not managed to locate any other members of her family, and with the state of things as they are there after the war, it may be some time before we can do so." "That said, I want to remind you of something I mentioned during the initial mission briefing, concerning the acquisition of slaves. That specifically being that once you have purchased such and individual they would not be your slave, but that you would be responsible for them. As this woman has no immediate family to act on her behalf, and until we can file for Federation Citizenship and said request is fulfilled, you will be acting as her legal guardian." "Now that also means that I am holding you responsible for her well-being and to make certain that she receives any special care that she may need." (reply Weaver) "I suggest that you start by discussing with Doctor Caskie any specialized dietary needs that she may have due to her current state of malnourishment. there will also need to be counseling sessions scheduled and educational classes enrolled in. I leave it to you to decide if she is to maintain her own quarters or if you and she will require quarters which you can co-habitate as a family unit. Currently she is in quarantine in Sickbay due to security concerns, you are authorized to visit her and on my authority you may affect her release with Doctor Caskie provided that you are certain that she is not a threat to this ship or her crew." (reply Weaver) "Aside from these things we now need to discuss some mission related concerns. I've read your after-action report, so since I still have questions we will need to question her about a few things. Because she is not familiar with our legal system, and because there is no telling what motives, if any, she may harbor beyond the desire to get herself out of the slave market, I will need you to meet with her before the 1300 meeting and explain to her, that she is no longer a slave, and explain the entire situation so that she is capable of making solid choices when she is called on to answer questions here with you and I later. I want you to make certain that she understands her legal rights. Our meeting will be an informal series of questions and is not an official inquiry for any sort of misconduct. At 1300, you and she shall return here and I will ask her a few questions in your presence. Do you have any questions about this?" (posted by Daniel Greene) ------------------------------------------------------------- End Compile -------------------------------------------------------------