Fretting Ferengi

Posted on Mon Mar 7th, 2022 @ 3:50pm by Commander Grace Vetur & Captain Elijah Michaels & Lieutenant Commander Anahera Chernova & Lieutenant Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii & Lieutenant Zero & Lieutenant Amanda Rose & Lieutenant Robin Maxwell & Ensign Rishi Chabbra & Petty Officer 2nd Class Evangeline St. Clair

1,807 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: The Bandits of Black Rain

ON

Grace went from the conference room to the bridge and took her seat. As the captain was either in his ready room or below decks, she assumed command. "Lay in coordinates for the Ferengi ship. We'll leave on my mark."

Ensign Chabbra was at one of the Ontario's science stations performing bridge duty, not an entirely unusual request as he was on rotation for it, and his department head, Lieutenant Balor was heading off on some sort of mission. Rishi was not privy to the details, but he could put two and two together from what the First Officer had just said and the message that came across his console.

Percy he thought and took a deep breath. Rishi's superior was mentally and emotionally exhausting. It was a simple note, gave nothing about the mission ahead of the Chief Science Officer, but it must have been something important because he had requested that Rishi take care of certain plants for him.

Plants were Percy's thing, not really Rishi's, but the young ensign was very responsible and methodical. His maturity beyond years had caused Percy to often place more trust in Rishi to tend to Percy's VIPs (very important plants) rather than the other botanists in the biology section. Rishi was not even in the biology section though he could handle it in a pinch.

Slinking in, Yiv took a seat at one of the aft mission consoles and snuck a look at the departing shuttle on the monitor there. Pursing his lips in frustration he wished Percy hadn't left the ship on a foolish venture.

"I should have gone with him." Anahera said aloud as she entered the Bridge and relieved the duty Security/Tactical Officer.

Petty Officer Evie St. Clair had previously been in the security department before requesting a transfer in order to become the Captain's Yeoman. She had exited the turbolift to deliver a PaDD when she heard what Anahera had said, and placed a gentle hand on the other woman's shoulder.

"Tactical report for you from the boys down below," she said passing the PaDD over to the Chief Tactical Officer. It contained information about the ship's present armament. Evie couldn't help but sweetly add her two cents softly. "No sense in sending a fourth department head. These aren't the Kirk years. I'm sure Zero will keep those two trouble makers plenty safe."

Grace also heard Anahera's comment. "I know. Part of me agrees, and part of me knows you'll be needed here. Lieutenant Stone is a former Marine."

Anahera sighed. She'd come to like eccentric Science Officer. "I hope you're right." She replied.

[Marine Country]

Maxwell had his Marines in the simulators, the hint of there being some operations; likely ship board repelling of boarders as well as retaking of a vessel. It would not be prudent to await the coming of a situation to train; there had to be some 'real life type scenarios. Maxwell had taken time to know the 'varied classes of merchant vessels that had logged time in the area via ports of call and registry by the nearest Sub-Space relays.

While one 'team went through a random vessel to rescue and retake a vessel under siege, other team had the task of repelling boarders of their own ship. These type operations were monitored by Maxwell and his Marine XO. Each of them would run the Holo-training, evaluate in a debrief and then run another. His other Marines had routine Rack Time and maintenance of weapons or craft. He even allowed them 'chow time' and special deserts for the team that scored high for that day. Maxwell personally made the deserts, the 'Cook' often allowed this to be done in his kitchen so long as Maxwell made a few for general consumption.

Routine kept the Marines sharp and from getting bored.

The shuttle was now out of range. "Helm, engage. Warp 7," Grace said. "Operations, monitor all communications. I want to know if anyone else goes to help them, or if the situation deteriorates."

Ensign Reed tapped on the console, bringing up the display showing the communications bandwidths. "Yes, Ma'am. Monitoring Coms."

Grace nodded. "Mr. Ra-Gruvloveii, find out as much as you can about the Ferengi. I want to know where they're going and how often they come to this sector."

The doors of the Ready Room opened up, as Elijah stepped out. "Report." Instantly making a Beeline for his chair. The Bridge was bustling with activity since the news filtered through about the attacks, it was a little tense to any the least.

"Lieutenants Bálor, Stone, and Zero are going to investigate an attack. We're en route to answer the Ferengi distress call," Grace said from her own seat. "Operations is scanning and Commander Ra-Gruvloveii is looking for information on the Ferengi ship."

Nodding Yiv looked up from the mission console he had commandeered, 'according to the sensors sweeps, the Ferengi vessel passes through this sector quite often - looks like this is their regular route for passage to a trading depot the other side of the sector.' As he looked over at the Executive Officer, he flicked another glance at the departing shuttle. 'There's nothing unusual in their using this route as far as we can determine at the moment. I'll have some staff compile a more in-depth study.

"An insectoid race, known as the Zin Collective used to control this sector, but they're gone now. One of their enemies wiped them out with a biological weapon." Anahera said.

Rishi spoke up from the science station. "If there Ferengi are active in this sector, they are quite a way's away from the boarders of the Ferengi Alliance. That would indicate business dealings out here...something profitable no doubt."

“As we’ve discovered over the last few decades, where there is profit to be made then trouble usually follows after it.” Elijah commented. “Romulan Forces used to use this area for training experience and testing their technology in the run up to the Dominion War.”

'Rules of Acquisition Two-Hundred-and-Ninety-Two 'only a fool passes up a business opportunity' and Twenty-Two 'a wise man can hear profit in the wind',' Yiv quoted happily as he studied the Ferengi's direction of travel over several weeks. 'Our long-range sensors can't trace their whole route of course, but it seems to skirt Federation space as they head back to the Alliance.' He shrugged, 'I would wager they're out here for cordanium. It's the most logical assumption we can make at this point - it's the only material that makes the journey profitable.'

"It does indeed," Grace replied. "It's also the most likely reason these bandits are here, too. Cordanium, and to ensure stability in the region, is the main reason we're here as well. Starfleet doesn't want the system to be controlled by our enemies."

Rishi listened to the chatter. "Dead lobes earn no profit," commented the science officer. "Not to sound grim. It seems reckless to be out here trying to make profit."

Yiv looked up briefly from his console, a wave of irritation washing over him. 'The Ferengi value profit over everything except their own lives. Their ships are well armed, and well shielded,' he replied levelly. 'Likely the Ferengi judged the reward to be worth the risk.' And humans should stop judging others in such a species-centric manner. He returned to his work, thought unspoken.

Though the Efrosian had a point, Rishi's background was in Anthropology. He was by no means an expert in the Ferengi, but he had memorized a few of their rules. "Sixty-Two, Sir," he said looking at Yiv. "The riskier the road, the greater the profit, but as the forty third rule states 'Feed your greed, but not enough to choke it'" the science officer quipped.

"The reason the Ferengi find profit dealing in cordanium is not at question," Grace reminded them. "Our purpose is to find out why they were attacked and by whom."

"Of course, Commander," the young science officer said, turning his chair back to a forward-facing position and minding his own business. He could not be much help as to why they were attacked, but he could sort through the plants, moons, and asteroids.

Briefly frowning, Yiv merely mutely nodded, bit back the retort that they were likely attacked for carrying cordanium and went about compiling the data from the Ferengi. 'Mister Chabbra,' he called out, could you provide data on any other vessel's warp signature that's passed by in relatively close proximity to the Ferengi in the last day or two? It might assist in determining the who and why of the attack.'

Rishi turned slightly in his seat in the direction of the Chief Intelligence Officer. "Sure, Commander. I will get right on that. I have already noticed some activity from what appears to be Romulan warp signature, but given where we are that is not entirely uncommon. I'll continue digging deeper."

Tugging at a whisker, Yiv thought for a moment, then grinned, 'include them too.' He shrugged, 'we can't be too careful at this point.'

Working at the science console on what Yiv had tasked him with, Rishi had been quiet for a few moments before clearing his throat. "Not to sound too pessimistic, but this is not exactly an easy task. There are a lot of warp signatures and ion trails through here. You are looking at a contemporary silk road."

'Can you filter out for engine power output? We might be able to determine then if a ship had the speed to chase down the Ferengi vessel at either warp or sublight, and then get away at a faster warp factor if the Ferengi engines weren't disabled,' Yiv suggested.

"Right...taking Pakleds off the list," Rishi replied with a small chuckle. "You are still looking at several suspects. Romulans being obvious. So far, I've also been able to identify Nausicaan and Orion signatures. There are more, but this going to take some time."

Grace listened to the conversation without comment. While she agreed it was most likely the pirates were after cordanium, she wanted the others to think beyond the obvious, just in case.

Yiv nodded in satisfaction, 'thank you Ensign, let me know when you're done.'

The ensign nodded. "Of course, Sir" he added.

____
OFF

Lieutenant Commander Grace Vetur
Executive Officer
USS Ontario

Lieutenant Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Ontario

Ensign Rishi Chabbra
Science Officer
USS Ontario

Lieutenant Commander Anahera Chernova
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Ontario

Lieutenant Amanda Rose
Chief Counselor
USS Ontario

Captain Elijah Michaels
Commanding Officer
USS Ontario

PO2 Evangeline St. Clair
Yeoman
USS Ontario

Captain Robin Maxwell
Marine CO
USS Ontario

Ensign Reed
Operations
USS Ontario

 

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