USS Dark Fire (IC)

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870607.1040

“You’re ring will be fabulous.” Reeves replied with a quick glance to make sure everyone was following, losing the ensign now would be bad.

The four were now in a standoff with the one, and it’s target. Quickly shackled and collared the Target stopped fighting as the five faced off with weapons drawn.

“I have a guild contract, you cannot interfere.”the one said as Reeves and company passed out the door and into the light.

“Sorry Hora, you’re not my favorite, you’re fourth.” Reeves replied.

Glancing around Yito quipped, “I like guys and girls but not him or you. Sorry. Plus you’re both my senior officers so it wouldn’t be acceptable for a relationship. Even if it was solely physical.”

***

Pointing at the blueprints on the monitor Kavela indicated the information in the corner. Starfleet Command – Security Division – Admiral M. Okrand.

“As I have clearance to access the file, and you don’t. That mean’s I have authority to construct, or direct it’s construction. And that’s the best you’re going to get.”​

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora
Hora sighed. She had been hoping—Commander Reeves and Ensign Yito to volley back with something witty. Something like, “Captain Hora, you’re not my favorite wife… you’re my favorite mistress, or angel, or captain, or marshmallow roaster.” Or maybe a more diplomatic dodge like, “How can I choose a favorite when all my wives are so spectacularly exhausting?”

And when she’d teased about husband duties, she’d imagined a snarky retort along the lines of, “I’m sorry, are you referring to changing a blown nacelle on the scuttlecraft? Because that’s the only kind of maintenance I’m certified for.”

“I’m sorry I said anything,” Hora muttered, half to herself, half to the void.

As they approached the shuttlecraft, Lt. McLeo was already standing at the open hatch, arms crossed—though Hora swore she saw the faintest twitch of a smirk.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870607.1045

“Mr. McLeo, prepare for departure. Captain,” Reeves said stepping out for the way so she could board with speed. “I believe we should depart this planet with speed. The Imperial Guard seem hostile from the reactions of the locals.”

“We should scan and upload the data as soon as possible,” Yito commented as she boarded the shuttle. It was an obvious and logical assessment, and she knew the Officers had probably automatically considered that as well, but she still said it.

Taking a seat she made sure the counselor had space next to her, if they launched quickly enough they might not have to get into a dogfight in space.

“Are we having fun yet?” She asked the room with fake glee.

“Vulcan’s don’t participate in.. fun.” L’Sa commented as she sat on the other side of the Counselor. She knew full well it didn’t matter where she sat as Jordan would enter the cockpit and assist in flight duties. But the Counselor may need a familiar presence to help calm her down.

And the Captain seemed, irritated.​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

Once their safety was assured and they could withdraw from each other, Xiana cultivated more wonders. Who exactly did those people answer to? What was the reason for restraining that fellow?

“Their use of a collar was rather cruel,” she noted as they entered. She was inclined to ask about the charts and what they had retrieved at the docks, but her lack of knowledge on the two likely would limit understanding the answer. Instead, she asked, “What is a guild contract?”

To fuel her disquietude, the tension in the room was unavoidable. She didn’t quite care where it came from at the moment, though she knew it wasn’t the time or place to find out. Her initial proposal on simulations was meant to assist in such cases—to prevent emotions from interjecting on a mission, even if slight, and especially if approachable.

However, it wasn’t the time to undo that knot. “This is a concern for later, but I want to speak with all of you as soon as our duties are settled upon returning to the ship. Concurrently and then individually,” she announced before taking her seat, a deep breath following.

◅ ALFREDO ARAIZA ▻​

Okrand, huh? Maybe that was the best he was going to get from her, but he was set on knowing. If Kavela couldn’t find him the information, then he’d find someone who could. He just had to figure out how to do so without having her reprimanded.

Araiza shrugged. “Fine. Just to be clear, I do have the next…” he glanced at a nearby clock, “…thirty minutes before I have to go turn in some forms for my hearing before the deadline. Will I get another shot at hooking up with you, or has that ship sailed completely? Clearly romantic build ups aren’t my thing but dissatisfied customers will only wreck my reputation.”

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora

Hora turned to her worm companion, Boohaul, who shimmered faintly under the shuttle’s lights. “Listen,” she said, voice low but urgent. “I may have accidentally pissed off the imperial troops. Don’t ask how—I’m still piecing it together myself. But we need a translator, and you’re the best squiggly linguist I know. I’m offering you a choice: come with us, get paid in whatever credits your species accepts, and we’ll do our damnedest to return you to this planet when it’s over. No promises. You in?”

Boohaul slithered forward and coiled around Captain Hora in a gesture that looked like a boa constrictor preparing to crush—but instead, it was a tender, full-body embrace. His voice vibrated through her ribcage.

“Apologies, Captain. Mkoosi don’t do long-term entanglements. We mate. We move on. But I’ll never forget our sex together. WOW! Best ever. The way I detonated my load in your ears and eyes? Truly erotic. Goodbye, Hora.”

He uncoiled with a flourish, leaving behind a faint scent of worm.

Hora blinked. “Goodbye, Boohaul. I loved learning about your species,” she said, trying to sound academic rather than flustered. She hadn’t exactly wanted the entire shuttle crew to hear about their interspecies rendezvous, but the damage was done. The silence that followed was thick enough to chew.

Lt. Shino Mcleo

Lieutenant Shino Mcleo, oblivious to the tension hanging in the air, turn around to everyone with the confidence of a man who’d never read a room in his life.

“Good day, ladies and gentlemen,” he began, voice chipper. “On behalf of Federation Airlines, it is my pleasure to welcome you aboard Flight 01, with nonstop service to the Andromeda Galaxy. Federal regulations require—”

“Just take off!” Hora snapped.

Shino paused, saluted the air, and hit the thrusters.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870607.1045

“Bounty Hunters use them for hunting down criminals that have left certain jurisdictions. The federation has them, but it’s.. overlooked as a necessary evil.” Dr. L’Sa commented. “There are even Vulcan’s that partake of this trade. Although they focus more on the tracking and investigation than the apprehension of the criminal.”

“And the Collar looked more.. techie than just a collar. Maybe an immobilizer or a shock collar? In case the subject tried to run? Or a tracker.”

“I believe certain countries on earth used a similar device in the late 20th/early 21st centuries.” Ensign Yito offered. “Though I think that was on the leg..”

“Of course Counselor,” L’Sa replied in response to the requirement of a session.

“Just tell me when, and were.” Yito said shrugging as she agreed.

“Captain if I understand properly the conversation between you and the alien, you need a full and complete physical.”

***

“The ship is still docked. The question is will you actually unload your cargo before setting sail again?” Turning she looked at him in the eyes. “If you do it again… I’ll put you in the medical ward.”

“We can meet after your paperwork is complete. Your quarters noon. That will give you time for paperwork and cleaning up. You smell.” Kavela told him. “And if you finish that device quickly enough I’ll make sure you’re pleased as well.”​

 

[milkmaiden38]

Return to USS Dark Fire
Lt. McLeo guided the shuttle into orbit with practiced ease, his cat paws dancing across the controls. As the stars shifted around them, a massive, unfamiliar vessel loomed into view— ominous, and definitely new in orbit.

“Imperial Bros,” he muttered.

Rather than engage, McLeo veered off, angling toward a nearby moonlet—a jagged, tumbling rock barely larger than the USS Dark Fire itself. Calling it a moon was generous; it looked more like a rogue meteor that had gotten shuck in orbit.

Captain Hora leaned forward. “What exactly are you doing?”

“Executing a chill move to shake off any sketchy tagalongs,” McLeo replied, grinning as he tucked the shuttle behind the moonlet’s shadow. With a flick of his wrist, the cloaking system engaged. To any outside observer, it would appear the shuttle had vanished straight into the rock.

“Gnarly,” he added, with the enthusiasm of a surfer catching the perfect wave.

The shuttle shot forward, cloaked and silent, toward the rendezvous point with the USS Dark Fire. Major K’alena was already stationed there, waiting with Klingon discapline.

As the shuttle approached, Bay 3’s doors slid open. McLeo brought the craft in for a smoothlanding.

Hora stepped out, stretching slightly, showing off her great chest. “Feels good to be back aboard,” she said, addressing the away team. “Nice work, everyone. Dr. Marlowe, please coordinate your debrief sessions when time allows. I’ll be in astrometrics reviewing the star charts and intel.”

She turned to Commander Reeves with a raised brow. “Care to join me? We can look at the stars together.”

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

‘Necessary evil’ felt like an understatement. Xiana considered it inhumane, no matter the use. “With too many places in a creature’s body, placing it on their neck seems symbolically and physically barbarous. May they outgrow that practice.”

The rest of their travel went smoothly—clever adaptations aside—contributing to Xiana’s peace of mind as soon as they returned to the ship.

She listened to the captain’s instructions. “I’d like to meet with everybody here this evening at twenty hours. I’ll reserve a boardroom.” Xiana contemplated doing it right away but figured everyone must be too tired for such a thing. She didn’t want to put it off for the next morning and risk forgetting key topics.

“I will be in my office if you need anything in the meantime. I will be freshening up for the next hour, so kindly don’t contact me unless it is an emergency.” With that, the counselor departed, a bit of urgency in her walk. She appreciated the fashion of the location they had been at but ultimately preferred her clothes during work hours.

◅ ALFREDO ARAIZA ▻​

“Fair enough.” Araiza had been expecting a different answer, but he was content with her agreement. “Cool, sounds good,” he replied, furrowing his brows and lifting the neck of his shirt to his nose. He was typically on top of his hygiene. “There’s other ways to tell me I need to get a new cologne.”

The device gave his mood a turn. “No, ma’am. I’m not finishing this thing that I’m not one hundred percent sure of its purpose. They’re gonna be able to tell it’s me, and I could kiss my career goodbye.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870607.1045

“Your flight skills were acceptable Mr. McLeo. However the next time a ‘chill move’ is required, prior warning would be appreciated.” Reeves commented as he left the shuttle.

“Of course Captain, it shouldn’t take long for Dark Fire to compile the Linguists into the translator units. We can review the Data while that’s occurring.”

***

“I apologize, my species shares that with Vulcans, females have a more sensitive olfactory system for detecting possible mates, and danger.”

“As for the Device it’s a weapon. And if you won’t work on it. I will. My career is safe from termination or disruption.”

“However if you’d like I can log your reluctance to construct the device, and thereby save your career.”

***

Stardate 29870607.1300

The counselor had had two hours and fifteen minutes to deal with her personal affairs before the first showed up.

Tapping the control to the Door Ensign Yito Seja waited to be authorized entry. She was curious what this would be about. A standard debriefing from a psychological view point? She’d already finished and sent her report to the Commander and the Captain.​