SIM:A Rogue Amongst the Stars/Chapter 9
 A Rogue Amongst the Stars |
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Chapter 9
((Cargo Hold, Starfleet Supply Ship USS Stevenson))
Teller: Listen Ensign...We’ll be on our way in just a few minutes, no reason for anybody to get hurt. Especially you. Now why don’t you leave...quickly.
Ensign Z’brah returned a look of disgust at the pirate as he kept his aim.
Z’brah: I don’t know who you usually deal with, but Starfleet doesn’t walk away. Now get on your knees and put your hands behind your--
The Starfleet officer was struck with an audible thunk across the back of his head. Z’brah fell face-first to the deck plating, unconscious. Behind him, the much shorter woman with orange spots could be seen standing with a stolen phaser rifle, a guilty look of uncertainty across her eyes.
Kinan: You and I are going to have a serious talk about piracy laws when we get back to Cait.
Teller: ::Teller looked down regretfully at the unconscious Ensign:: I’d rather not know how many I’ve broken at this point.
Li soon found them, still holding his rifle, before taking a glance down at the unconscious ensign.
Li: ::glancing back up at Kinan:: Geez, lady. I was just gonna shoot ‘em. Remind me never to get on your bad side.
She only responded with a glare in his direction.
Teller: We can congratulate one another back on the Fang. Our job here is done.
The small celebration was interrupted though by the sound of the ship’s red alert alarms going off. The compartment was quickly bathed in red light, and Finley’s combadge went off.
Crawford: =/\= Finley, what’s going on? Their shields just came online. =/\=
Teller squeezed his eyes closed in frustration. Even a ship this small had shields that could easily hold off the raiders minimal armaments and enough phaser power to give them a serious lashing. Without knowing it, they could easily kill Captain Rahman in the course of defending their ship. Teller realized there was only one way to prevent more carnage and his voice reflected his manic confidence.
Teller: =/\= Yes, I’m aware. In fact, I believe this will be quite an excellent opportunity. =/\=
Crawford: =/\= You’ve got five minutes to get those shields down so we can beam you and whatever else left back to the Fang. After that, we’re heading out before the marshals and Starfleet can pick up on our trail. =/\=
Teller: =/\= We’ll call you in four. From the bridge. =/\=
Li ran back to check on Douglas. Thankfully, Starfleet could always be counted on to fire on stun at first. Still, the man was out cold and wouldn’t be of any help now. Li slapped a transporter tag on the man’s chest before returning back to Finley.
Li: What are we going to do? Can you get these shields down?
Teller: oO This is crazy. Oo
Teller: ::outwardly, Teller radiated a manic calm:: Yes, it’ll be quite simple, once I seize the bridge.
Kinan: I’m sorry, what?
Li: By ourselves?! Are you crazy?
Teller: A ship this size has a very small command crew. We’ve already neutralized one of them and I have access to the ships computer. They’ll all be dug in up on the bridge right now, trying to call in reinforcements from Starfleet. And that’s how we’ll kill them.
Kinan glanced back at Teller.
(DID HE JUST SAY HE WAS GOING TO KILL THEM!?)
The anxiety felt by her symbiont was shoved away. Yes he *did* say he was going to kill Starfleet officers on their bridge. The Trill woman responded only with an incredulous look at the man, chin tilted down as she considered whether or not Teller was insane.
Teller: oO This is crazy. Oo
Kinan: That’s a great plan and all, *captain*, but that’s still a whole command crew against the three of us. *And* we’d be outnumbered.
Teller: I’ll reconfigure their life support systems from here and flood the space with carbon dioxide. Within a few minutes they’ll be unconscious. A few minutes after that, they’ll be dead and the ship will be ours.
Li nodded. Ruthless but efficient. It was a big gamble, but if anyone could pull it off, surely it would be Silas Finley.
Teller nodded to Kinan, desperate to make sure she understood what he was proposing. She seemed to mull it all over for a moment before responding.
Kinan: ...I don’t have any alternative suggestions.
Li: What do you need me to do, Boss?
Teller: I need you to take Mr. Douglas back to the Fang. I should be able to create a small disruption in their shields long enough to get you back aboard. Once you’re there, just….wait for my signal. ::Teller had no clue what that’d be:: You’ll know it when you see it.
Li: Got it.
The pirate gave a salute to the infamous captain.
Li: It’s been a good time, mate! If you’re ever looking for some good… well, decent men, don’t forget about us.
Teller: Silas Finley never forgets a friend, Mr Li. Now, on your way.
Teller walked over to the hijacked computer controls and began furiously tapping at keys. Within a few moments, the transporter shimmered around the forms of Li and Douglas.
Once the two pirates were beamed off the ship, the two Starfleet officers had a brief second to relax, the charade now over. From outside the cargo hold, the sound of a security team taking positions to breach the door could be heard. Orders were barked to get their phasers ready.
Kinan: You realize we’re now down two men.
Teller: We still need to get the Captain back. Any idea how we keep these guys from shooting us on sight?
Kinan frowned, thinking back on what she knew about the Stevenson. As the region’s personnel officer, she’d been responsible for assigning crew members to the ships and outposts of this region--though the fact was, she didn’t remember everyone, and she certainly didn’t have access to the ship’s command codes.
(Doesn’t help that you’re not in uniform and those officers believe you to be pirates. And you knocked one of them out with brute force!)
Ettan, one of her previous hosts and also a security officer who had been killed aboard a ship attacked by pirates many moons ago, would have been less than pleased with the situation Kinan Venroe found herself in today. But he provided some good, valuable insights.
Kinan: Drop everything you’ve got. Surrender. I’ll do the talking.
Teller: Be convincing. Be very convincing.
There was a loud crash as the heavy cargo door was blasted open and a team of security officers swarmed in, their phaser rifles drawn only to find the two “pirates” standing wide-eyed with their hands out in a very clear surrender.
In a motion that Ettan would have sighed at, the usually prim and proper member of Starfleet administration gave a unique and hesitant shrug to their new captors.
Kinan: ...parley?
Continue to Chapter 10