SIM:A Rogue Amongst the Stars/Chapter 7
 A Rogue Amongst the Stars |
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Chapter 7
((The Broken Fang, Pirate Raider, somewhere in the Shoals))
On the bridge of the raider, Teller tried not to pace as the sensors continued to show absolutely nothing beyond the asteroid field they were hiding in. The pirates had greedily snapped at the prize offered by ‘Kara,’ a Starfleet resupply vessel that would make a stop for navigational realignment in the area before proceeding deeper into the Shoals. The location of the stopover was a closely guarded secret and provided a narrow window during which the pirates could mount an attack against the lightly armed and unprepared supply vessel. Beside him, the leader of the small band continued grousing as he had for the last several hours.
Captain Madrid’s first mate grumbled as he stared out at the view of floating rocks in front of them.
Crawford: This is pointless.
The Trill quirked an eyebrow, crossing her arms in her place next to the man.
Kinan: This is organised piracy.
Crawford: How do we even know the information you have is genuine? Starfleet changes their schedules on a randomized timetable--precisely to avoid what we’re trying to do now.
Kinan: That’s . . . ::(definitely not true):: Well, good news is one of my hosts was in Starfleet.
The symbiont in her pouch tensed. All three hosts are or were part of Starfleet--and not one of them were really pleased with being in this particular situation.
Roshanara coughed at the explicit mention of Kinan sharing any sort of past with Starfleet. She didn’t want to give Crawford or the other pirates any reason to suspect that this was some sort of undercover operation.
Teller caught the look between Rahman and Kinan and tried to redirect the pirates attention back on himself.
Teller: Have you considered why I’d debase myself with these two C grade tarts? They work as….physical therapists...near the loading docks on Esperance. As women of their sort do, they happen to hear quite a lot of gossip from their...relaxed….clientele. For example, when a ship might be heading out and where it might stop along the way.
Crawford returned a grumble as he crossed his arms, but one of the pirates, Li, looked back at “Finley” and nodded. It all made sense to him. They’d certainly gone off on other jobs with even flimsier evidence before.
Crawford: Whatever.
Li stepped up near Finley, staring out at the asteroid field before turning towards the fearsome pirate captain.
Li: So once the ship does arrive, what’s the plan again?
Teller rolled his eyes in annoyance in an attempt to play up the ‘obvious’ nature of the plan Teller, Rahman, and Kinan had hastily thrown together with very little knowledge of actual piracy.
Teller: Simplicity and surprise are our weapons. A vessel like this has a skeleton crew because Starfleet is as foolish as it is egotistical. They’d never consider someone would dare attack one of their precious little ships.
Teller could feel Rahman’s eyes burning a hole in the back of his head and continued.
Teller: When the ship stops ::Teller shot a pointed gaze towards Crawford:: they will spend several minutes taking navigational readings and recalibrating their sensors before moving off. We have saturated the area with enough ionizing radiation to make that process very difficult for them, so they’ll be too busy trying to make sense of their readings to notice us until we’re within transporter range. Are you keeping up, Mr. Crawford?
Crawford: I’m not the one you should be worried about, Finley. It’s these two idiots going with you.
Kinan:::muttering:: You can say that again…
Teller: So far, these two have at least had the sense to do as they’re told. I am less concerned about their performance than I am in your ability to follow simple instructions. Shall I continue? ::Teller sneared, showing his teeth:: Perhaps I should draw a picture for you?
The sensors chirped an alarm and Douglas spoke in shocked tones.
Douglas: Son of a…. sensors show a ship just came out of warp. It’s a class 3 Starfleet supply vessel….right where Finley said it would be.
Li went over to the tactical station and grinned, licking his lips.
Li: And their shields are still down. They don’t suspect a thing. We’ll be in transporter range within two minutes.
Teller’s heart skipped a beat. The longer they had lingered here, the more sure he was the plan wouldn’t work. He silently offered thanks to whatever deities or demons happened to be listening this week.
Teller: Did you expect anything less? Bring us in on the course I plotted earlier and do not deviate from it in the slightest.
As the blind supply ship sat by the asteroid field, recalibrating their sensors, the pirate raider crept up from below, ready to transport the party of boarders.
Teller: Mr. Li, Mr. Douglas, you will accompany me and the ladies as we go to retrieve what is ours. Mr. Crawford, you will stay here and do nothing and be thankful I am in a good mood.
Li: I’m on it, Boss. ::The man suddenly caught himself, looking back at Crawford.:: I mean, uh, Finley. Sorry, Boss.
As the pirates, led by Finley, began walking off towards the transporter room, Crawford reached out and grabbed the dark-skinned and scarred Trill woman by the arm, keeping her from joining.
Crawford: Wait. This one stays here.
The woman looked back at the pirate, uncertain.
Rahman: Excuse me?
Kinan: You wouldn’t dare.
Teller felt a very real anger flare in his chest. The line between acting like Finley and simply reacting was becoming dangerously blurred.
Teller: Do you have a deathwish, Mr. Crawford, or is stupidity a proud family heirloom of yours?
Crawford looked back at Teller and put his other hand on his disruptor, still holstered.
Crawford: Consider it collateral. You do your job and beam that cargo over, and you’ve got nothing to worry about. We’ll all be home to enjoy the spoils.
Teller’s expression turned to a snarl.
Teller: It’s clear being left alone to do nothing was beyond your capabilities anyway. Rosie, keep him from doing anything especially stupid, would you?
Roshanara nodded to Teller.
Rahman: ...I’ll be alright.
At this, Crawford looked over at the woman and smiled.
Crawford: Of course, why wouldn’t she? As I hope I’ve made clear with my hospitality, I’m a man of my word. The question now is if you are, too, Finley.
Teller turned on Crawford and Rahman, gnashing his teeth at this latest speed bump. They had been so close to getting back to safety. Now the deception would have to enter its most complex and dangerous phase.
Teller: Kara, Mr. Li, Mr. Douglas, you’re about to see how a real pirate operates.
Continue to Chapter 8