Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in FPT-LS: Andromeda’s Curse - Profits - Cobb vs Olash

Posted by Captain Zachariah Cobb (Commanding Officer) in FPT-LS: Andromeda’s Curse - Profits - Cobb vs Olash

Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in FPT-LS: Andromeda’s Curse - Profits - Cobb vs Olash
OOC: Copying from another thread
IC: Olash watched and wasn’t convinced that it wasn’t mocked up for his benefit, until he saw the shaking of Cobb’s hand as he reached for tea. Olash sat back staring in a horror at the screen where the image of the officers dying horribly grotesquely pulled at sense of self preservation. The young officer burning to death by ice making him swallow. Olash was shrewd and knew if he died in this venture there would be no more profit. “Perhaps your security chief could keep Borrick out of trouble, and we might negotiate in private.” Zanic could be trusted, Borrick obviously could not. He’d been too busy drinking and stuffing his face to watch the video. Good thing too, the slug was taken to hysterics apparently.
DaiMon Olash

Zachariah granted the DaiMon’s request without question. He had seen the fear in the Ferengi’s eyes and knew they were closing in on a home run.
“Lt Stone, Lt Kastil, please continue to guard our guests. You have both done an admirable job so far in terms of securing their safety and I would hate for that to change now,” he nodded towards his officers, confident that they would continue to engage Borrick and Zanic in conversation and perhaps even secure a few additional trinkets for their trouble.

Then, moving towards the door, he beckoned for Olash to follow him. “Let us step once more outside and speak in private,” he suggested, before adding, “I am fully armed, Mr Olash, and will do all that I can to maintain your own wellbeing.”

Captain Zachariah Cobb

Looked at the phaser and pulled himself to his full minimal height, which made him look tiny compared to Cobb. “I will not give you reason to use that, Hooman.” Olash stated offended. “Profit over pride after all.”

“The phaser is not for you, Mr Olash,” Cobb cautioned him, “but for them.” And here he gestured out vaguely in the direction of the contained anomalies. “I am merely trying with every resource at my disposal, to keep you safe.”

He followed Cobb and then made his counter offer. “I can’t simply give up the profits that artifact would bring. Though I have no wish to die. And delivering it may bring more trouble than is profitable for me.” Olash wanted NOTHING to do with that thing. “A ship such as this....” he waved around to all he had seen. “Dealing with such delicate…cargo,” Olash worded it carefully, “Must have a need for…items hard to get. My ships travel far and fast captain. A good customer is worth their weight in latinum. To be your exclusive supplier I would be willing to ‘lose’ the artifact.”
DaiMon Olash

Cobb’s eyebrows were almost lost in his hairline as he absorbed the Ferengi’s offer. In truth this could not have concluded in a more perfect manner.
“Why, that is a most generous, and courageous, offer, Mr Olash. For surely by now you have seen enough to understand that nothing we deal in can be obtained without a fight.”

He turned away from the DaiMon and cast eyes out over the containment deck. Down there, hidden away in their nondescript containment vessels, were beings that could destroy existence itself on the toss of a coin. And while he doubted there was anything physical the Ferengi could offer him to compete with the vast resources of the ARU, still Lt Stone’s earlier words rang through his ears. Information held a value all of its own.

“Mine is not a position to be envied, Mr Olash,” he continued, returning his gaze to his companion. “These things we face, these things we fight, come to our attention on ripples of chaos. A man such as myself would give anything for information that could allow us to stop them before they land their first blow. Stories, myths, rumours, my intelligence team would welcome anything a widely-travelled crew such as yourselves could pass on. And I, I would be willing to pay very handsomely for it.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

Olash’s finger traced his lobe deep in thought, a gleam coming to his eye. Information was a valuable commodity. If that is what Cobb wanted and would pay for it. “We Ferengi have large ears for hearing what others miss, Cobb. Rule 7: Keep your ears open. Rule 30 insures that “Confidentiality equals profit.” But Rule 8: Small print leads to large risk. So other than complete discretion what small print will this deal require?”

While they were contemplating NE Hudson wrapped on the window at the end of the corridor motioning to Cobb. When he stepped over Hudson whispered quietly to him. “CIC just got word Captain. Away Team 1 and the counselor have been beamed to sickbay.” Hudson didn’t know anything else at that moment, but thought the captain would want to know.” All comms went through Hudson’s desk outside the containment area. He usually thought it was overly precautious but today he was glad since the Ferengi were in there.
DaiMon Olash
NE Hudson

Cobb nodded a silent thank you to Hudson, his relief at hearing the away team were back onboard almost palpable…but not quite. Turning back to DaiMon Olash, he affected an alarmed expression as he whispered in mock-confidentiality, “This artifact is proving a challenge, even for such skilled men and women as my own crew. I don’t know how many more I can afford to lose against this thing. Perhaps you and your men, as the artifact’s previous owners, could offer some physical assistance?”

After everything they had seen and heard on the Leviathan, Cobb figured that if the suggestion of throwing their Ferengi guests onto the Einstein didn’t send them running for the hills, then they were far tougher than even he had imagined.

• Captain Zachariah Cobb