Encounters of the Cardassian Kind

Posted on Mon May 23rd, 2016 @ 4:22am by Lieutenant Mickey McClane & Captain Elijah Michaels & Commander Bertrand Cuprum & Lieutenant Valeria Mordin

Mission: Vipers and Scoundrels
Location: Bridge, USS Victory

"Captain, Yacht Trafalgar has left the Ship and set a course for Nomad Station." The Officer at Tactical reported to the Catain.

"Thank you Lieutenant." Elijah said with a nod towsrds the Console and then looked back around the Bridge, his Bridge Crew had been shuffled around with so many Senior Staff going on the Away Team. "Helm, set a course for the rendezvous with the Cardassians, Warp six."

"Aye Sir," the Ensign commented.

Elijah walked down to Mickey. "What does your gut tell you about this Mickey?"

"My gut is telling me we should go to Yellow Alert, and raise the shields. I don't like this feeling at all. With Money involved and that crap load of Latinum always prepared for the worst. What do you think, Val?" Mickey asked the junior grade officer.

"To use the term... When a Ts'usugi gut speaks, the results usually aren't very pretty. Though, I've learned to prepare for the worst in any situation thus far," she replied with a shake of her head, "Raising shields may be a bit premature, but a heightened state of readiness would never hurt."

"I know it sounds premature. But, if we keep the shields down we would be vulnerable to surprise attack. Val, remember the incident in the year 2285? The Genesis Incident report."

"Genesis... Genesis... No, I can't say I've heard of such an incident," Valeria said with a smirk.

Mickey gave the Lieutenant Junior Grade a serious look then gave her a history lesson on never leave the shields down. "In 2285, Khan Noonien Singh, who was a tyrant in the 1990's was Exiled on Ceti Alpha V after an attempt to Commandeer the Old Enterprise. But, during that year he escaped his prison and stole the Miranda Class Vessel, U.S.S. Reliant, Captain Clark Terell's ship. They Ambushed the Refitted Enterprise that year after feigning Communications trouble and launched a surprise attack on the ship. Like a Trojan horse, during the time of Agamemnon. He was after a device called Genesis, design to bring new life to old planets but it could also be used as a weapon. That's why, i always stay pre-cautious." Mickey then took a breath. "Thank you, I am Mickey!" He bowed to the bridge staff after when they started to applause and he sat down.

Valeria gave Mickey a soft smile, "That was quite entertaining, but you truly must learn to recognize sarcasm... or perhaps I must learn to convey it with a little more sincerity."

"Sorry, if i had to do that. But, if Kirk had ignored Regulations. Enterprise, would probably be in a museum. Instead of supposed spacedust in the Mutara Sector" Mickey said to himself.

"You and that stupid obsession with the Enterprise," Aladdin rest his head on Mickeys leg.

"Be gentle, Aladdin. There are such things as dangerous obsessions, but someone's passion should never be called stupid. It discourages the heart." Valeria said in defense. "Though, one must be cautious to not allow a obsession to dominate one's world view. Dreams are marvelous things, but to live in a waking dream forever?" the rabbitess shook her head, "There are plays written about the tragedy of such."

"I agree, but if he act's on those impulses it's going to get him in deep trouble one of those days. I mean, he would be gone just like that if he were to act on them. Because logically Even if Enterprise somehow though illogical managed to not burn up or crash at Genesis the return trip home due to the age of the hulk would make it impossible she would break up. Mickey, I'm sorry but, as your friend, I am asking you to let go of the waking dream. Because if you don't and you somehow decide to rebel and look for that ship. It will destroy you. You will lose your friends as well. I don't want to lose my friend," Aladdin said to Mickey

The rabbitess actually smiled, "That will be a choice that Mr. McClane must make." A pause, "When my youngest sister, Andrama, was younger she was captivated by fire. Even a single candle could keep her rapt attention for well... a little too long if you were to ask me. She was enamored by the lure of the flame, despite all our warnings that it was dangerous. One day she wanted to touch it. And she did."

"She grabbed it like one would grab a ... I believe you call them fireflies, and wound up burning her entire palm." a pause in the story. "She cried, and mother helped cool the burn until the village doctor could arrive, but in the end she achieved her dream. Despite what it cost her."

"When the time comes, only he can choose to grab the flame. Though he won't know how bad the burn will be before he does." she pointed out, "Be careful, Mr. McClane."

"Captain," Tactical broke in. "I am picking up a Cardasian Galor class on long range sensors. It has changed course and is moving to intercept. We are currently in Cardasian Space, sir."

"Sound Red Alert, man battle stations Arm Photon Torpedoes" Mickey said as his thought just came out with out thinking

Elijah got up from his seat. "Belay those orders." He turned around to Tactical. "We are in their space and we need their help, hail them." The Captain said not exactly thrilled by the actions of Mickey but he shrugged it off for now.

"Channel open." The Tactical Officer said.

"On Screen." Elijah said getting up and adjusting his Uniform.

Mickey sighed in relief his orders were not to be obeyed as he wasn't thinking at least he got to say it. Mickey then made Aladdin hide under neath the station.

He kept a close eye on the Cardassian not taking his eyes off

The view screen filled with a Cardassian in military uniform. The man's face was hard and carried the usual self assured arogance of his people, "This is Gul Avant of the Pretex. You are in violation of Cardassian space, according the the Alliance agreement. Identify your self and explain why you are here."

"I am Captain Elijah Michaels of the USS Victory," Elijah said as he looked at the Cardassian on the Screen. "We seek an audience with the Cardassian authorities on a matter of urgent security."

Avant sat back in his chair, "Indeed? I am sorry to hear that the Federation has suffered such a widespread communications failure that you were forced to come in person and unannounced. Would this security matter have anything to do with the crippled Cardassian freighter we found adrift near here?"

Valeria remained cool and still. This was the Captain's territory, and her silence and calm under fire would support him as someone in authority. At least to the Cardassians, hopefully. So to that, she remained calm and still... and she prayed to whoever was listening that Mickey would follow the same.

Aladdin walked up to Val brushing up on her leg but looked at her giving her some indication that the Cardassian knows something without even saying anything he hoped she knew

She didn't look, she didn't move. She hardly twitched a whisker. The consummate professional. If she knew, she kept it quiet.

"The freighter, Captain?" Avant prompted.

Elijah nodded. "It may have, though of course the presence of a Federation Citizen in distress on a Cardassian Freighter required us to take action." Elijah looked at the Cardassian. "My understanding being that they had requested aid from the Central Command, to no avail."

Mickey sent a text message to val. The message said (They know something) without flinching and making any sudden movements

Of course they knew. This back and forth was a ploy to find out how much each side knew without giving too much away. It was like any good 'Go' game. Valeria watched both sides of the conversation, but she only gave Mickey's 'subtle' message the fleeting glance it needed. There was no reply.

Well, no reply she didn't keep in her head, at least.

Michelle observed as the Captain spoke, wondering what was going on. She too suspected there was something up with this Cardassian... Never a dull moment it appeared.

"The Central command has limitations on the response it can send; limitations imposed by the Federation treaty," the Gul countered. "I am charged to investigate the report, and so far all I have found is a crippled freighter, a missing diplomat and a Federation warship which is well out of it's territory and claiming to want to discuss 'Security'. I would suggest, Captain, that you say what you need to say, and quickly, lest I suspect you of deliberate prevarication and intervening in the proper functioning of Cardassian interests."

Elijah nodded. "Very well, Setak Nor as it was once known is home to a Den of Pirates, Mercenaries and all manner of illicit activity." Elijah said to him. "The daughters of 3 Diplomats are being held hostage at the Station, a Romulan, Cardassian and a Human. The Freighter was originally ferrying the ransom until it encountered troubles and one of them panicked and sent out a distress call which we intercepted."

The Captain looked at the Gul, "Gul Avant, I do not want bloodshed nor do I want to anger your people. I just want to see three children reunited with their families, and those responsible brought to Justice."

Avant seemed taken aback, "Setak Nor? Are you certain of your intelligence. that area has been marked as off limits due to unstable anomalies by our central command. But if what your saying is true, that a Cardassian official was compromised..."

He stepled his fingers in thought, "All right, Captain. I will accept that you, at least, believe this to be true. I recommend I escort your ship to Setak Nor, for your own protection. If it proves to be nothing but sensor ghosts and rumors you will then be escorted out of our space. If, however, what you say is true, you will help us eradicate this threat permanently. Agreed?"

"Agreed. I suggest you beam aboard my Ship and we discuss a suitable plan of action." Elijah commented to the Gul on the Screen.

"Oh, I don't think that will be necessary, Captain," Gul Avant purred. "If there are pirates there our strategy will be fairly straight forward; attack and destroy the base. If however, your accusations are unfounded, I would rather not find myself a hostage on your vessel. I will see you at Setak Nor."

The screen went dead.

"They went to warp. Setting course to Setak Nor on a course to match with them side by side and engaging at maximum warp" Mickey said as he the victory went to warp following the cardassian ship.