Fear and Loathing

Posted on Sat Dec 29th, 2018 @ 1:40am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: Season 2: Episode 3: Determination is not always a good thing
Location: Lovell City spaceport
1191 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

A group made their way through the frightened refugees trying to book passage on whatever ships was available. The spaceport was literally in chaos with ships coming and going. Along with a Ferengi ship, with its Daimon surrounded by hagglers trying to buy a spot in his cargo holds. The cities were literally sinking into the ground and the federation government, the federation away teams. No one was doing anything.

"So, what's the plan?" One of them asked.

"Plan? We pull out our weapons, take hostages, then we shoot our way of this planet!!!" one of them stated. "I'm tired of waiting to die. And the Federation parrots in the government keeps on repeating the same words over and over again. I don't want to get sucked into the ground."

"Do we really need to take hostages."

A young woman spoke. "Do you see these freighters? A Federation Starship can destroy it with one shot. They'll have bigger concerns with the stupid and inept morons in the government. Of course they care about us; they say. No one cared about the Klingon Raids, No one cared about the god-damned Romulans or Cardassians, and the Federation is only here because the government wants an escape ticket. Yes, we do need hostages. Know who we're dealing with here Jacal!" A woman named Alisa noted.

The group suddenly puled an assortment of phasers and disruptors. Jacal walked up and grabbed the Daimon's ear and stuck a disruptor into his head. "Alright you troll, you're going take us on a little trip away from Qortic VI. The group rounded up several hostages and several spaceport guards reacted and drew their phasers.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Alisa noted. "You might hit these greedy trolls." The Daimon squealed as Jacal moved him by his ear into his small ship. The guards weren't going to take too many chances. Suddenly Alisa fired off several shots in the ceiling that caused a panic and a riot in the spaceport.

"USS Elysium, this is Lovell City Spaceport Security. We have an armed group attempting to pirate a Ferengi trading vessel, it's all gone to hell down here!!! We need backip!!" The trader lifted off and climbed into the sky.


Gary and Jessica were in their fighters doing flyovers of the planet when Gary noticed something. "That's odd." He said contacting Jess "A freighter is lifting off from the spaceport. There aren't any scheduled departures slated. "Jess your with me." He switched frequency and contacted the Elysium. "Big Bad Wolf to Elysium have a freighter making an unscheduled lift off from the spaceport. What gives?"

---

"Elysium here. Unsure" Came the reply from the captain. "Scanning that ship now. Nothing amiss from our scans though"

"I'm telling you, something isn't right. This lift off is unscheduled. Going in to investigate it further." He turned his fighter's com to the Spaceport's frequency. "Spaceport, this is Commander Gary Taylor of the USS Elysium's fighter wing. What's the story with the freighter attempting to lift off?"

Jessica began to follow the Ferengi Transport. "Big Bad, this is Valkyrie. It looks like they're trying to engage their warp drive. They're maneuvering erratically like they're trying to loose me or something."

A transmission came in from the Transport. A human woman named Alisa Vanden forced the Ferengi Daimon to look at the screen. "Listen up. We want all the Federation Ships gone. Or this sniveling, disgusting little troll gets spaced. We're not going to stay on that planet or be ignored by the scumbags in the government while they escape they problems THEY started. If you keep following us federation, we'll throw the crew out the airlock, but we won't be pawns of the Federation. Let us go, and we'll release them on a nearby planet unharmed."

"She's afraid." Jessica noted on the encrypted coms. "She doesn't want to space the crew, but she doesn't trust anyone. They've been forced into a corner." Being a Betazoid piliot had some advantages.

Gary listened to what Jess said then opened a com to the freighter, "Kill him. Then I'll kill you. just like that." Gary's voice was hard and cold. He closed the com and switched back to Jess. "Target their engines, their not leaving."

"Roger that." Jess responded and targeted the Ferengi's engines, she fired off a flurry of phaser fire into the transport's engines. they took several hits and exploded, leaving the transport adrift.

This produced an immediate reaction as the woman came back onto the channel. "Your federation is wretched. I swear when I get out of here. I'll kill you and the parrots who are leaving us to die." The leader was even more agitated. She grabbed the Ferengi's ears and let the channel be filled with screams from a Ferengi in pain as she twisted his ears.

"It looks like we have a standoff here. so what are you going to do? Kill all of us. I suppose that will get you a promotion in the wretched federation empire." The leader stated.

Gary spoke firmly but not without understanding. "I know your scared but no one, I'm not going to let you die. Let your hostages go and we'll take the ship in tow and you can all board the Elysium. You'll be confined to quarters but you'll be off the planet and safe and that's what you want isn't it? If you still want to kill me when this is over, you'll know where to find me."

"Do you think we're fools, Commander. We are tired of the governor saying the same lies over and over again to us. He thinks we're simpletons who do not notice his back-door deals." She noted. "Fine, we'll land. We'll even release the hostages. But betray us... and we'll both die together."

Jess came on the line. "Boss, I think you need to go upstairs and talk to the skipper. Something funny is going on here, and it's not just about people sinking into the ground."

Gary answered, "Agreed Jess, something is most definitely going on. I'll talk to the Captain when we finish our patrol. Maybe we can find whatever it is that as these people so rattled that they will hijack a ship to get off the planet." He switched frequencies again "Commander Taylor to Spaceport Security. The freighter is landing. The hostages are being released. Take the.... perpetrators into custody and keep them there until we come to get them."

The Spaceport acknowledged the transmission.

The Elysium however, kept an eye on the situation. "Elysium to Taylor. What is your thoughts Should we maintain position or move into orbit above the spaceport?"

Gary answered instantly. "We can maintain position. If something does occur at the Spaceport we can be there in minutes with our fighters. Plus in our current position we're in optimal position to react should anything else pop up. I'm coming in. We need to talk. There's something not right with this situation."

"Acknowledged. Return to Barn Commander." Lalor said and the connection was closed.

=/\=

Capt. P Lalor
Commanding Officer



Commander Gary Taylor
Executive Officer
USS Elysium