A Hardy Cardy Crew (Part 2)

Posted on Fri Nov 1st, 2024 @ 7:34pm by Captain Mikoto Misaka & Lieutenant Commander Lurath, Son of Grogori
Edited on on Fri Nov 1st, 2024 @ 7:35pm

1,614 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: The Search
Location: Cargo Bay 1 - USS Bismarck
Timeline: After: Line in the Sand

Previoudly on Star Trek Ermiana:

Dorvon grumbled something under his breath. "I trust that you'll be reporting this to command then?" He asked in a rather displeased tone. "It would seem that you have command, even if it displeases me." He ignored Banri and spoke to Zodrac. "What do we do now? Use this ship and go after our own?"

Zodrac looked over to Banri, raising a brow, before looking back to Dorvon. "They abandoned this ship for a reason, Dorvon. It's no longer fit and would provide them with a disadvantage in a fight with a Cardassian Ship." He looked around at the crew before focusing on Banri again. "The Captain here is willing to allow you and some of your crew access to areas that need repair to get us underway again. She does have... concerns and has made some requests in order for all of this to go a lot smoother." He looked Dorvon in the eyes and took a step back. "The floor is yours, Captain."

And now the continuation...

"I need capable engineers and bridge officers. This ship is an older design, she can't be flown with less than twenty people." Banri said. "I can grant provisional access to our systems. But everything classified will be locked out." She explained. "And you'll be following my orders. This is still my ship and if you disagree I have no problem with sitting here and waiting for a Starfleet ship to rescue us." She paused. "And that will take a while, maybe even weeks depending how far away we are from Federation space."

Zodrac added calmly. "The good Captain seems to be under the impression you all can't be trusted. I assured her that you could be, but then the conversation drifted to the whole Occupation and you all know how that conversation usually goes." He let out a slight laugh, keeping an eye on the Cardassian crew to see who laughed with him. A small sign he was gaining their favor. "And, Dorvon, if you are thinking of taking this ship for yourself the Captain brought up a good point. This ship is currently marked as a combatant to the Cardassian Military and, any Cardassian ship that encounters it, have orders to shoot on sight. Unless you want one of your men to grab an EVA and step out onto the hull holding a white flag, I doubt you'll get very far."

Dorvon scowled. Then he turned away for a few moments to consider the request. After a short time. "Fine. We will help you in getting this ship back in order. For the price of returning us to the nearest Cardassian ship." He said. "I will select my best men."

Banri nodded. "Make it quick. The longer we stay here, the more likely it is that the Maquis will be back." She told him. She glanced over at Zodrac with a look of 'I can't believe that worked'.

"They have a Cardassian ship of their own, Gul. Your Cardassian ship. I don't think they are coming back." Zodrac took a step toward Dorvon and added firmly. "With that ship they can fly right pass any other Cardassian ship hunting them and make it all the way to Cardassia Prime. Perhaps, instead of concerning yourself with making it onto a more hospitable ship, you should be more concerned about explaining to the home world how the Maqui got a hold of your ship. Somehow, this situation, has gone from bad to worse." He shook his head slightly before leaning forward to whisper. "If I were you I would find myself a scapegoat because, High Command, will certainly use you if one can't be found."

Dorvon clenched his fists, clearly he was frustrated with the whole situation. "Fine!" He snapped. "Just let us out and we'll get this tub moving before any of those Maquis manage to get any further with my ship!"

Banri looked over at Zodrac. "Rin will be supervising your men in Engineering." She said simply. "One toe out of line from any of you and I'll put you back in here. Got that?"

Dorvon nodded in response. "Got it Captain."

Zodrac gave Dorvon a think about it look before turning around to walk away. He made it a few feet before he was stopped by a Cardassian Officer. "Gul Jalak?" The Officer said as they put a hand on his shoulder. As Zodrac turned around, an slightly annoyed look on his face, the officer continued. "My name is Corlak, the Operations Officer. I know this crew, Gul Jalak and vouch for everyone of them. None of them would betray Cardassia and side with the Maquis."

With a raised brow, Zodrac placed his hands behind his back, as his face shifted from annoyed to curious. "Can you explain how the Maquis was able to steal a Cardassian Galor Class ship?"

"I believe I can." Corlak replied. "I was at the Ops station when they gained access to our systems. As they were shutting down our systems and gaining control of the transporters, I was trying to keep them out. The codes they were using were Cardassian codes, Sir."

Zodrac smirked slightly. "Doesn't that prove me theory? Are you sure you want to vouch for your crewmates with evidence like that?"

"Yes... because it wasn't standard Cardassian Codes." Corlak answered as he took a step forward to Zodrac and began to speak softly. "My father was a Prefect for station in Cardassian Territory. One day, an Obsidian Order ship came to the station for repairs and to restock. My Father told them we were at compacity and they would have to wait for a slot to open. The Ship's Captain ordered him to release a ship and allow them to take their position, but my father refused. When my father assumed he heard the end of it, the stations systems suddenly released a ship on its own, causing systems to react the same way they did when we were taken over. The ship than forced a channel to open to my fathers office and said a slot was now opened. I think the Maquis got a hold of a Obsidian Order code that allows them to access our systems freely."

Zodrac's eyes narrowed slightly and looked up from his position. He glanced around at the other officers, before focusing back on Corlak. "If what you say is true, Officer Corlak, not only is the Obsidian Order going around with a code that can take over any Cardassian system, but the Maquis somehow got a hold of this code and that makes this situation much worse." He replied softly back.

"I stake my career on it, Sir." Corlak replied firmly.

Zodrac eased forward and replied back in a stern tone. "At least we agree on that." He leaned back and stared firmly at Corlak before walking off. As he walked by Banri, he whispered softly. "We have a problem." before walking out the cargo bay doors.

"What's that?" Banri asked.

As soon as the cargo bay doors closed, so that no one else could hear them, Zodrac replied quickly as he turned to Banri. "It appears the Operations Officer on the crew, Corlak, is aware of the Obsidian Order's code I used. Evidently, his father, was a Prefect of a station and encountered a rather impressionable ships captain. When he didn't get his way, the ships captain, proceeded to use the code and Corlak saw some similarities between the two events."

"That could be a rather larger problem than we anticipated..." Banri said as she pondered for an idea.

"I remember reading something about that when I got the code myself. Needless to say, the higher ups were not pleased of the reveal of the code, so they dealt with the Captain appropriately. I was encouraged not to look into things further, which only means the Captain has gone missing and won't ever be found."

"However, we do have an advantage." Banri said. "The Maquis could have got the code. There's no evidence of us using it. Plus, with their ship now gone, he can't prove the code was used."

Zodrac remained silent before replying. "You'd be right, if it wasn't for that arrogant Captain. You see, due to his use of it, the Obsidian Order decided that those who received said code would be given a code that was unique. The codes now had slight alterations to identify whose code was used. If our Operations friend remembers the code he saw, it may be used to identify me. We might be lucky and he may not remember it, but there is still a chance he may. It's best we keep an eye on him."

"Make sure to wipe it from this ships databanks," Banri advised. "You should know how to do that. Then, keep a close eye on him." she told him. "I think it would be best if he was under your watch in Engineering. You'll know what to look out for."

"I have to ask. Should he find something, how do you want me to deal with it?" Zodrac asked.

"Play ignorant." Banri said. "Tell him we have no idea what the code is. Make it look like you don't know what it is at all." She crossed her arms. "If I know anything about the Obsidian Order its that they can keep secrets."

Posting by:

Captain Banri Edasaki
Commanding Officer
USS Bismarck

Gul Jalak Rin/Lieutenant Zodrac Kosh [Lurath NPC]
Undercover Starfleet Intelligence Officer

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