Building 62 (Part 1)

Posted on Tue May 4th, 2021 @ 3:46pm by Commander Grace Vetur & Captain Elijah Michaels & Lieutenant Amanda Rose

1,319 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The Lonesome Road
Location: Building 62

ON

Grace stopped a few feet away from the main door to building 62. It was modern and relatively new, as were many of the buildings around it. At least it was clearly marked and easy to find. The large logo with the words Halcion Trade Authority helped, too.

She straightened her blouse and turned to Amanda. "Still want to come with me? You're welcome to wait out here."

Amanda was uncomfortable. Grace had made the decision to go to this building to investigate. However, at least the Captain had now OKed everything. But there was something about this single-minded behavior of Grace's that gave her reason for concern. But, Starfleet protocol was clear, nobody goes alone. Amanda had been on undercover missions before, so why in the world did this feel different and problematic. "No, I'll come. After all, I'm the entrepreneur, right? Trying to investigate for my boss."

"And I want to open a business." She smiled. "There's something about this group that reminds me of a history book I read...perhaps from Earth." She shook her head. "It may come to me later. Either way, they seem to be in control here, and I would like to know why."

She walked up to the door, which opened to her approach. She wasn't sure if this was a good sign or not. Grace walked in and looked around. It was decorated in understated elegance. There were a couple of chairs and a side table with a vase on it, and a large rug over a marble floor. At the far end a man stood at a desk.

Grace walked up to him. "Hello. I just arrived and would like to talk to someone about permits and permissions."

Amanda stood slightly behind and to the side of Grace, hoping that her commander knew what she was doing. This would be a great time to have some Betazoid blood. Of course, the Commander does, doesn't she? Why am I here again? Just regulations? Or is there curiosity too, Amanda?

The Alien at the desk was wearing a black and white uniform of sorts similar to the ones that were worn on the enforcement ship. Though his trim was more of a bronze colour. The green skinned man would look at her. "Fill out this form, initial and sign appendices Qusar, Tula and Sirino." Handing her a Padd. "Return it to the desk to be stamped and processed."

"Is there anything else I need to do besides fill out the form?" Grace asked, taking the PADD. She'd picked up enough from his clear surface thoughts to have a good idea which appendices were Qusar, Tula and Sirino, but she wasn't so sure about the process as a whole.

"Just make sure to read it all, Grace," Amanda whispered in a warning voice.

"Definitely," she whispered back, finding two chairs for them to sit down. She read through the entire document once, then went back to the beginning. "All business is to be done in the name of the Halcion Trade Authority. They want thirty percent of all sales. Gross, not net. All records are to be available for review without notice. Inspections whenever the HTA chooses." She moved on to the appendices. "You lease the store from them. If you don't pay on time, they can confiscate your goods, your ship, and anything else in order to pay your debt." She let out a long, slow breath. "This is extortion. You sign this and they own you."

She went back to the beginning and adjusted her earring to scan the document as she went over it again. She pointed out the three places she was to sign to Amanda. "I even have to sign an agreement to look at a shop." She hoped there wasn't a form she needed to look at this document. She got to the end, then checked to make sure she had everything recorded. Just to be safe, she saved it and started a second recording to get the room and walked up to the desk. "I'd like to think about this for a day or two."

The alien at the desk looked up at her. "Very well, you must submit your paperwork promptly within the next 48 hours." Handing her a small square. "We need a copy of your thumbprint for our records, we also need an initial deposit of suitable currency and Ferengi Latinum is not accepted." He scrolled through the data and the information and paused momentarily then carried on. "Subject to approval from the retail bureau you will be awarded your permits and passes to trade in Halcion territory."

"A deposit for what?" Amanda asked confused. "She said she was going to think about it."

"Exactly. I may decide not to start a business here," Grace said. "I want to know what the requirements are first. I don't want to enter into any arrangement until I believe I can make a profit." She had another question. "And if you don't take latinum, what do you take for payment?"

"It's a small administrative fee." The attendant said looking at the two women who stepped foot into the building. "For payment we accept Halcion Marks of course, but also Romulan currency and Gorn also."

"There's a fee for looking at the document?" Grace asked. "How much of a fee?" She couldn't pay him right now regardless, but she wanted to know. Maybe she could exchange latinum somewhere.

Amanda wrinkled her nose, not liking this group. The secretiveness and controlling nature. It seemed so that if you were not at the top that you would forever be indebted, like the company store in Industrial Age America.

"The fee is five marks or its exchanged equivalent." The attendant commented. "But of course as stated in the document, section Relunor, page 2, paragraph 18." He pulled up a 3 dimensional upload of the information. "Potential applicants must pay a minor admin fee for their documents to be held in processing during the 48 hour window or in this case whilst they make a decision on whether to sign up."

He then looked at the two of them curiously. "May I ask what business it is you are looking at establishing with Halcion?"

"A bookshop," Grace said, smiling. "Specifically print books. I will offer electronic ones to download to an electronic device, but I much prefer to hold a book while I read it. Now, I have Ferengi latinum and Federation credits. What is the exchange rate for a mark?"

"Ferengi Latinum is an inferior currency however you can exchange 20 slips for 10 romulan and in turn halcion marks." He commented.

"And ten Romulan for ten marks?" Grace asked. That was a bit much, but she'd pay it just to get out of this place and report what she learned to the Captain.

"Yes." He said as he handed her the thumbscanner. "Thumbprint here and and you can be on your way."

Grace glanced at Amanda. This man was hard to read. Everything he did was cool and professional, without a hint of emotion. She tucked her hair behind her ear, effectively turning off the tricorder. "Okay." She pulled out twenty slips of latinum and set them on the desk, then she took the thumbprint reader to make sure it had nothing else on it before affixing her thumbprint. "Thank you. I hope to see you within forty-eight hours."

"Oh ladies one more thing......" He commented as the side doors opened and two men in matching uniforms appeared, though these two were armed. "Halcion does not tolerate espionage of any kind and this room is outfitted to detect any forms of recording or monitoring equipment not of Halcion manufacture."

"By the will of Halcion you are under arrest." He said as he sat back in his seat.

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant Commander Grace Vetur
First Officer
USS Ontario

Lieutenant Amanda Rose
Chief Counselor
USS Ontario

 

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