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Posted by Lieutenant Andrea Stone (Chief of Security) in FPT-LS: Andromeda’s Curse - Negotiation - Ferengi onboard

Posted by Captain Zachariah Cobb (Commanding Officer) in FPT-LS: Andromeda’s Curse - Negotiation - Ferengi onboard

Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in FPT-LS: Andromeda’s Curse - Negotiation - Ferengi onboard

Fey laughed and dropped her hands into her pockets to pull out a set of containers. “I like you, we’re going to have some wonderful deals after the meal. Consider this a gift for our first successful banter. Rule of Acquisition 65: Win or lose, there’s always Hupyrian beetle snuff. You never know when you’ll encounter some respectable Ferengi, so I always make sure to carry some fresh just in case.” The doctor reaches back to offer small cases to the Ferengi guests. “Let it never be said that Captain Cobb is a poor host.”

• Doctor Fey Kastil

Zanic rubbed his hands together in delight. He took the tin and opened it inhailing the aromatic scent that would smell rather pungent to everyone else in the room. “I look forward to our negotiations Doctor.” Olash and Borrick each took a tin expressing their appreciation of the offering. Olash smiled in greedy anticipation at Cobb. “You have a fine set of negotiators at your command Captain.”

The captain maintained an intimidating silence as he led the group into a turbolift and barked out the command for deck 13, the location of the yellow and abell-level containment units. He was not, however, oblivious to the conversation around him and displayed an amused smile at Kastil’s unexpected flair for negotiations. Perhaps he should let her loose on Roebuck and the ARU Central Command some time, who knew what she’d walk away with for the Leviathan if he did!

An uncharacteristic jolt signified the end of their journey, the doors sliding gracefully open to reveal a surprisingly dim corridor beyond. Taking the lead out of the turbolift, Cobb allowed himself to indulge in some amateur dramatics as, signalling for the group to move in close, he spoke in hushed, secretive tones.

“This area is usually off-limits to visitors, due to the highly classified, and also highly dangerous, nature of the creatures contained here. But the need for me to demonstrate to you exactly what you are dealing with forces me to ignore standard protocol. Now, once we have passed through the security checkpoint and into the main containment area, I must ask you to keep your hands to your sides and your ears to your head. Lt Kastil here might be an excellent doctor, but she has far better things to do than go hunting for severed Ferengi lobes.”

With a flourish, he turned away and cleared a corner to their right, then came almost immediately to a halt before the already prepared, and definitely enjoying playing along, Ensign Hudson.
“Captain Cobb!” the Ensign leaped to his feet and offered a sharp salute with his right hand, the phaser rifle still clutched in his left. “Sir. I can not allow your guests to proceed any further.”

Leaning in close, Zachariah replied in a stage-whisper. “I understand, Ensign. But they are here to view The Footage.”

In a performance worthy of the great Reginald Barclay himself, Hudson’s own eyes grew wide. “The Footage? Oh, of course, Sir. Go right ahead.”

3-inch thick, triple-welded tritanium doors were cleared via a dual voice and fingerprint recognition system, Cobb continuing to lead the way and trusting that Stone would shepherd in any stragglers. Then finally and with a loud, punctuating hiss, the doors slid shut and the team were inside yellow-level containment.

It was only Zachariah’s third time inside this area and his first without a Researcher by his side, but he made every attempt to hide his own nervousness from the Ferengi. Marching with determination onto the high metal gantry that traversed the full length of the room, the captain pretended to ignore the distinct, widely spaced containment units fifteen feet below, as if such marvels were already commonplace to him. The same indifference was not matched, however, by the Novel Researchers posted on watch outside each unit, as several faces turned upwards in amazement and alarm at the sight of their captain and a group of Ferengi nonchalantly passing by.

Only when several loud and anxious yells began to emanate from the upper-left corner of the room, did Cobb halt his travels and focus attention below. There, surrounded by several Researchers of different levels, hovered a small, white cloud raining large particles onto the deck. Beside it, and screaming in horror and pain, a Novel Researcher was attempting to shield their face, the right cheek already turning porcelain and grey from frostbite.

Well. That had been wholly unexpected…

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

Stone kept her attention on their guests at all times. She didn’t quite agree with the captain that it was wise to show their guests what secrets they were trying to unlock. Most of this was confidential even to ST members and people. The Ferengi only showed interest in things they could profit in.
She tried to think and understand why captain was showing them all these. Perhaps he would try to convince them, they can deal with the anomaly better then they can, and later share the findings? As far as she understood, they didn’t know much about the anomaly and what it does as well.

Lt. Andrea Stone, COS

Borrick hissed and yelled in that classic barbarian Ferengi way when something whole strange and mystical happens in front of them. Olash glared at him, but his own face was rather pale at the sight of this cloud that was burning the flesh off the humanoid below using ice. Olash and Zanic both feeling quite a bit of unease wondering if Cobb had brought them on board to torture them. Zanic whispered to the DaiMon, “Rule 15. Dead men make no deals.”

All Olash could think was that he must not give his thoughts away. Rule of Acquisition 85: Never let the competition know what yo are thinking, “An interesting way to keep your crew in line, Captain.”
DaiMon Olash
Negotiator Zanic

Zachariah’s face registered no outward emotion, although internally, he was delighted that his plan was working. Borrick and Zanic appeared sufficiently spooked and, while Olash was taking care to maintain a poker face, Cobb wasn’t buying it for a second.
“I have no need to keep ‘em in line, Mr Olash,” he replied, solemnly. “Fear does that job for me. Fear of these things we are ordered to fight. Like your artifact.”

The Ferengi had already seen far more than he intended. It was time to change tack for a while, allow Dr Kastil and her sister’s baked delights play good cop to the ARU’s bad. Marching ahead once again, Cobb led the way to the end of the walkway and into a small office, usually the domain of the Containment Shift Leader but currently vacant due to the accident below them.

“Please,” the captain gestured to several chairs dotted around the room, “make yourselves comfortable and we shall organise some refreshments. Never let mortal danger get in the way of a good cup of tea and some cake, eh?”

Then, leaving Kastil to settle their guests for a moment, he beckoned Stone to one side. Cobb had caught a flash of doubt in the Security Chief’s eyes and he needed to be sure she was on board with his plan. This was a house of cards so precarious that it could collapse at any moment and he had no chance of maintaining it without her help.
“I have nothing to barter with except fear,” he whispered. “I need for those Ferengi to hand over the artifact and run back to the Alliance with their tails between their legs. And the only way I can think of to do that is by showing them the bare, unfiltered truth. There are things in this universe far more treacherous than a missed opportunity for profit, Miss Stone. I just hope I can convince our guests to agree.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

She nodded, as she thought she knew what captain was planning to do. Perhaps she didn’t like how the captain was handling things, but she trusted him completely. He fought in wars and came out alive, so what he did must be right. Her way would probably involve showcasing the firepower they had which might end up bloodier.

“Sir, if we manage to convince them, that we know what we are doing when it comes to artefacts without revealing too much information… well they don’t look like someone willing to get their hands dirty to get the job done. Specially when there might be someone else willing to do the job for them. If we share the information about our findings, it could be enough for them to think they made profit. I wouldn’t disclose something that might get weaponized. But I guess we can deal with that later. Getting Einstein out of here and well ourselves and away teams should be top priority.”

Lt. Andrea Stone, COS

“Aye,” Cobb nodded his appreciation for Stone’s suggestion. “Aye. Information is a valuable resource, Miss Stone. You are absolutely right about that! And our guests are no fools. The question now,” he continued, beginning to lead his Security Chief back towards the office, “is, what words do we offer that glitter like latinum, but in daylight prove only to be fool’s gold?”

Then, joining with their Ferengi visitors once again, the captain turned his attention to Kastil. “Now then, Doctor, how are those refreshments coming along, eh? It’s small comfort against this information I have no choice but to share,” and here he threw an apologetic expression at Olash and his men, “but even the smallest of comforts can be a blessing when it matters.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb