Posted by Civilian T’Pris (Scientist) in Melania IV- Arrivals and parting of ways

Posted by Lieutenant Darklis Castle (Chief Science Officer) in Melania IV- Arrivals and parting of ways

Posted by Gamemaster Budgie (Gamemaster) in Melania IV- Arrivals and parting of ways
Posted by… suppressed (20) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Xekeer had been on the bridge since leaving the Brig. He smiled to himself, things were going oh so well. He had been surprised to discovered that Suta and T’Bob had inadvertently captured a runaway slave. Yes, this day was turning out very well indeed. He almost chuckled with how easy it had been to captured the crew and get away unscathed. Starfleet fools, always far too trusting. He thought to himself as he prepared for the arrival of the ship. He turned and saw T’Bob and Suta grinning to each other almost celebrating.
“Calm. There will be time for celebration later. We’re almost back to base. T’Bob send a comm to the Admiral, tell him we’ve got the incentives he asked for. Suta, send an urgent message to my friends, tell them I’ve got a...... gift. One that they will want to receive urgently. They have operatives nearby, tell them to meet us when we arrive in an hour.” Xekeer ordered with a sly smirk. T’Bob and Suta nodded and carried out the orders. Things were looking up indeed. He steepled his fingers as he sat and waited patiently for their arrival.

An hour later the ship arrived at Melania IV. Xekeer had past the time almost daydreaming about the next phase of their plan. He looked out of the viewer and smiled. The cargo ship was waiting. He clapped his hands together and tyring not smile he stood. He took a moment to compose himself. He turned to Suta.
“Hail the cargo ship.” Suta obeyed.
“Xekeer to Cargo vessel. Please respond.” The Cargo vessel responded and a burly Orion man popped up on the screen. He had a scar going down from the corner of his bottom lip diagonally to his jaw line giving him a menacing appearance. He was bald but had a close cropped beard. He was broad shouldered and thickset. He was muscular and chose to go bare chested. He had scars all across his torso.
“This is Lokhar.” He responded in a deep voice. Xekeer smiled.
“Thank you for coming so quickly. I have someone of interest. Someone you’ve been searching for, for a very long time.” Lokhar, looking bored up until that suddenly leant forward.
“You mean you’ve......You’ve found her” He replied. “Give her to me now. She’s mine.”
Xekeer smiled “And you shall have her. I gather you have payment?” Lokhar nodded in response.
“Well then. Lets get this sorted. Have your crew beam over and we’ll deal with transfer.” Xekeer replied. Lokhar nodded again and disconnected the comm. Xekeer and and 5 other soldiers left the bridge and headed for the brig.

5 Minutes later they arrived. The 6 of them. Xekeer strode towards Dradvia’s cell.

T’Pris knew as soon as Xekeer entered with his guards that it was not good. She could tell by the set of his shoulders and his walk that he was going to do something bad. Logical really, he was acting like a stereotypical Romulan. But he gloated, that made it worse.

“Don’t defend me Conway. Stay out of the way, and stay alive.” Dradvia told him.

“You.” He pointed at her. “Get up. We’ve arrived at our destination.” Without waiting for a response the forcefield was shut off and 2 soldiers stepped in hauling Dradvia to her feet. The remaining soldiers pointed rifles at Conway to keep him in line. The forcefield returned the instant Dradvia crossed the threshold.

Dradvia got off a few solid attempts at fighting back as they grabbed for her. She didn’t care if they shot her. It was preferable. She struggled until she was yanked off her feet and dragged out of the cell. She didn’t bother screaming.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back for the rest of you shortly. I have a deal to uphold.” Xekeer stated as Dradvia was hauled out of the Brig.

T’Pris ground her teeth in frustration, there was nothing any of them could do.

Darklis was sitting on the end of the hard cot when they came in. She watched and slowly shook her head as Dradvia fought. Seeing how they outnumbered her she knew it was futile and sighed. That was, perhaps, the route not to take. It was certainly not her relatives who had wrestled with her for fun not that many years ago. Seeing this added a new dimension to her thinking. Sighing she rubbed her face with her hands. “We’re not in Kansas anymore Toto,” she said quietly, more to herself but sure that T’Pris could still pick that up.

Indeed T’Pris could and glanced at Darklis, eyebrow quirking a moment before she turned back to the scene before them.

~Dr. T’Pris
Dradvia was practically dragged through corridor after corridor of the ship towards the transporter room (OOC: assuming Romulan ships have one- correct me if I’m wrong). Where 5 Orion Syndicate pirates stood, all armed to the teeth. They all looked at Dradvia and she was bustled in. They stepped forward as one and dropped a sack of gold latinum on the floor and grabbed Dradvia heavy handidly.

11 people all bigger and stronger and armed. There was no point in fighting. Not here.

“There’s your payment. Lokhar is most pleased. We won’t be forgetting this.” One of the Orions replied with a smile. With that they dragged her to the transporter pad and beamed over to the cargo ship. Dradvia was gone.

Ice chased down from her head and time slowed. Lokhar? She recognized the insignia the guards wore. No. No he was dead! As they reached for her she rought like a wild animal. “NO! NO!” She was backhanded by a guard and she collapsed as another caught her and hauled her onto the pad.

Stars danced before her eyes and she tasted blood in her mouth. Sisnil, save me.

Xekeer then turned on his heels as a soldier picked up the sack and he headed back to the brig. He entered with the 5 soldiers, Dradvia wasn’t with them.
“Ah my friends, its good to see you all again. I apologise for that little interruption. Romulan business you see. Very important.” He explained almost jovially.

GM Budgie

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“None of my crew, including Ensign Dradvia,” David stated, coldly furious, “shall come to harm.” He looked up into the Romulan’s eyes. “If you want me remotely cooperative. You know you cannot break me, cannot use me as leverage, unless I allow it.”

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

T’Pris watched the Commander speaking with the Romulan. Her eyes were mainly on Xekeer though, wondering if he’d let the Commander’s defiance push him. What did Xejeer want, she wondered to herself, eyes narrowed as she waited to see the Romulan Commander’s reaction.

~Dr. T’Pris

Xekeer raised an eyebrow as he looked at David.
“Ensign Drodovia.... is that her name? Drodovia?” He never really paid much attention to the names of lesser species. “Its not important. She was never free. Once a slave always a slave. The owner never released her so she was never free. A wrong has been put right.” He replied matter-of-factly, turning to each of them and glaring at T’Pris with disgust, he hated Vulcans.
“As for the rest of you. I don’t require your co-operation. I just require you. Funny isn’t it? You all think you’re so important. So valuable.” He almost spat the word with distaste. “Well, I can assure you, you’re not. Now, you all have a choice. You can come with me willingly to the transporter room. Or I can flood the cells with more of the substance my heroic comrades used on you to bring you over to the ship. What, will it be?” He asked, silently hoping that they chose the latter, he didn’t think he could cope listening to their complaining.

GM Budgie

T’Pris looked toward the Commander, waiting for orders.

~Dr. T’Pris

Ship change. Not unexpected. Standing she glanced to T’Pris who was looking outward and listening for the Commander’s response. He had been bold and surely it was more for their sakes than any sense of reality. Still, she appreciated it. Not valuable? Then what was the point? No, he was wrong, or blustering again. They’d not provoke the Federation like this with them were it not that they had value. Still, Darklis was unsure what that value is not knowing the situation. But they seemed another step closer to finding out. Or, perhaps, one transport away.
- Darklis, CSO

“We shall come with you. But I expect Dradvia returned,” David said. Staying alert and able was better than making a statement, at the moment.

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

Xekeer nodded and took a breath exhaling with a sigh, it almost seemed like he was disappointed. He nodded to one of the guards who let the forcefields down to the cells.
“Now, no funny business. I don’t want any nonsense. My men will cause harm to any who try anything stupid. Understood?” He warned, all seriousness and gave everyone a look that said he would act on his threats.
“Dradiva is none of your concern anymore. Commander. Best to let that lie. She’s long gone and moved on and so should you. It’ll just cause undue stress and we don’t want you to be stressed.” He added gesturing towards the exit of the brig. His men held disruptors at the ready.

GM

Funny business? Nonsense? That reminded her of old vids from the early 20th century with the crime families and cops and their odd use of phrases. This Xekeer seemed a throwback but add a trenchcoat and a dark alley to cover up his features and he would fit in. What constituted a stupid move? she wondered? DC was sure that that was relative. Glancing to T’Pris, Darklis stepped out of the cell, taking the lead and showing more bravery in that than she was feeling at the moment. She felt good on one score - that there would be one question answered that was eluding them - why them?
- Darklis, CSO

T’Pris nodded to Darklis to tell her to go ahead when the other woman glanced at her. Then she made her own way out of the cell behind her. One good thing about being moved, they wouldn’t be tortured at the moment. That did not mean they wouldn’t be when they reached their destination but it was a reprieve. She glanced toward the only doctor they had left to see how he was doing.

~Dr. T’Pris

David took a step to move between the disruptors and his crew. “I’m afraid I must disagree, Commander. Stress would be caused by dereliction of duty and abandonment of moral centers. I’m sure your counselor could explain it to you.” He smiled. “Please reunite her with us at your earliest convenience.”

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

Xekeer frowned as David moved in front of the crew but his frown deepened when he saw movement and heard a yell. Conway rushed forwards towards one of the soldiers who had his weapon trained on the prisoners. The soldier panicked and fired his disruptor. Fortunately for Conway he was only hit in the shoulder but it would be enough for him to lose momentum under extreme pain. Xekeer rounded on the soldier who had rushed forwards and began beating Conway with his rifle, ramming it in his face.

Darklis was focused on the Romulans and the Commander in what, to her, seemed a futile showdown. Right now the Romulans held all the cards, or at least all the cards that mattered. There was an awfully large security detail for science and medical to cover. Then there was .. she started as she heard a yell and a movement that went past her. She could feel the wind from his - Conway’s! - passing. Then at the whine of the disruptor and seeing Conway spinning to the deck she heard a scream and only then realized it had come from her. That too was cut off as Xekeer boomed.

“Enough!” Xekeer boomed, rage clear on his face. The soldier stopped immediately and his weapon went to the side.
“Get out of my sight, I’ll deal with you later.” He pointed to T’Priss.
“You, Vulcan.” He said the word with disgust. “Help him. Everyone else get a move on. I want us on the planet as soon as possible.” The soldiers ushered everyone out of the brig with weapons trained on them all, Xekeer led the way.

GM Budgie

Planet. That narrowed the field. Space was big but planets were rather few and far between in the time they had traveled. She tried to focus on that fact even as she saw T’Pris move forward. She wanted to help in some way but .. was afraid. Was this another Matrix? One of her comrades were injured. Another gone to who knew where. She shuffled on with the others feeling in no small way numb. Was she cursed? Was that why things were happening to her and those around her?

T’Pris moved over to Conway and helped him to his feet with her shoulder under his good arm. She then walked with him as they followed the others out. She wondered which planet they were heading to and what would face them down there. She would need to wait until they were down there before she could actually have a look at see how badly Conway was hurt. Good thing she had a MD with her Science doctorate. Mind you, she thought to herself, she might not be able to do much without tools.

~Dr. T’Pris
Darklis, CSO

Just bumping to keep on the boards.
~Dr. T’Pris

“I’d like to have a word with you, Commander,” David remarked, more coldly than before but still conversational, “once we’re planetside. If you don’t mind.” He shot a glance back to T’Pris. “And if you’d be so kind as to provide a basic med-kit?”

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

T’Pris nodded to the Captain, he was very intuitive to have picked up her thoughts and concerns so quickly.

~Dr. T’Pris

Xekeer looked at David with disdain.
“We’ll see. .” He replied flatly, everything seemed to suggest that Xekeer wasn’t going to honour the request to talk.
“Your man will have to manage without until we’re planetside.” He added.
“Now, the time form talking is over, for now. Let’s move.” He stated ushering them all to the transporter room.

GM Budgie

Darklis moved along. There were a great number of things running through her head. At the same time there was nothing. It felt like a background numb buzzing. She had no experience to take this in to know how to react. She had no data to formulate something with which to work with. They were going down to a planet. They were taken by Romulans for no provided reason. Were they just collateral since the medic was taken away? If she lived through this what changes would she need to do for a just in case this happens again scenario? Devices worn that were non evident were an option. She saw a lot of work at the Daystrom Institute relating to integrated devices like contact lens and nanite film on the fingertips for computer integration. Prior to this she thought they were .. unnecessary. Now they could have been valuable. Live and learn, she thought, then, learn if we live.

The transporter room was cramped and dull, utilitarian. Not so inviting for any visitors and depressing for prisoners. Well, planets offered a greater degree of options than a ship.
- Darklis, CSO

T’Pris walked behind the others with Conway as they made their way into the transporter room. She wondered what the planet would be like, probably not very comfortable. They certainly were not prepared to beam down to any planet.

~Dr. T’Pris

Darklis hated just standing there. Hated just being in the cell. Hated this situation. Her nerves were tangling with one another and battling to be the last one, or one big one. But, as her mother used to say, “When you have nothing to do, do something.” Cautiously though she looked around. The place did look like it could use a dusting. They had said for T’Pris to assist Conway but he couldn’t be light. She edged her way over to help take Conway at his other side and thus help T’Pris. Sure she knew Vulcans had strength but still, Conway was not small and she knew by experience that mostly dead weight was pretty heavy. When her younger cousins had decided to play passive aggressive in not wanting to move she found that out quite quickly.
- Darklis