To The Bare Metal, Part II

 Episode Name:  To The Bare Metal, Part II

   Written By:  Eidolon

         Cast:  Caeli, Donavon, Eidolon, Goodwin, Harris, Hurley, Mugato, Takamura, Turtledove and Vimes.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Eidolon

     Aired On:  Mon May 16 00:24:34 2005

     Stardate:  54971.5

Time: Sun May 15 17:07:31 2005

Stardate: 54970.8

The freighter Sixty-Second Rule wheezes its way into orbit of Korolev Station, bearing a group of renegades, misfits, and rogues to participate in the final round of the Dulcais Death Duels -- either for fighting or betting. It's a broken, battered ship, the likes of which should have been decommissioned thirty years ago, and probably was then past its prime. It's dirty, dingy, and funny smelling.

Of course, the fighting and betting are all just a massive sham on the part of the six-person team that plans to infiltrate the event. Dressed in civilian clothes, and looking generally shifty, are Starfleet's finest -- here to bring the book down on the nest of scum and villainy that's squatting on Starfleet property.

On the way to the station, first aboard USS Thomas Paine and now on the freighter, Robert Harris has given the team a rundown on 23rd century Starfleet technology -- including the phasers and communicators that the team carries.

"The communicator has two buttons that I want you all to be aware of. The first is this one, here," Harris mentions as he holds up his example. "It's a communications alert signal. Under no circumstances, unless we're all about to die, should you press this button, because it will signal every device and communications relay within 40,000 kilometers. The second is the one that's a very pretty red color. If you use it, it will signal a code red to our comm relay, which will then be relayed to the Thomas Paine, which will then come in and pull us out. Same thing, though -- do not press that button unless you absolutely need to and our cover is blown."

"This is a Starfleet Type II phaser pistol, circa 2293," Robert adds after a moment, holding up an old-style phaser pistol. "Highly versatile, a bit heavier and definitely different to aim than the examples you're used to. It has settings one through ten, which is a minus, but the removeable power pack --" he quickly demonstrates the removal and reinsertion of the phaser's clip, so to speak, "-- allows you to quickly reload if you deplete the charge. For convenience, each team member has been equipped with two packs. You've also all been issued 21 strips and 70 slips of gold-pressed latinum; that should be sufficient to place any bets that may be required as a component of your cover." He pauses, then adds, "I'll turn the briefing over to Lieutenant Caeli now, since he's the guy actually running the show."

Caeli stands among the rest of the crew, looking about those assembled and nodding once. He starts without much pretense in on his briefing.

"

Caeli stands among the rest of the crew, looking about those assembled and nodding once. He starts without much pretense in on his briefing.

"This mission, as most of you know, is an undercover operation for the purposes of apprehending the architects of an illegal underground fighting ring that cropped up on our station. Our primary targets are Tom and Jaron Krathe, the father-and-son duo in charge of the conspiracy. Secondary goals are to shut down the event and to conduct all operations with a minimum of violence.

"Myself, Meg, John, and Christine will form Alpha team. We have effective mission control, and we are responsible for both apprehending the Krathes and shutting down the event. To facilitate this outcome, Bravo team, comprised of Tera, Hiroshi, and Rob, is tasked with taking down the systems onboard Korolev station, the abandoned installation that the Krathes have set up the event at. This is basically just to make it easier to shut down the event, and after their objective is complete Bravo team will rejoin Alpha and assist.

"Remember that we are undercover as spectators, not competitors - no one is to go jumping in the ring, and try to stay low-key. The Thomas Paine, if we're lucky and our transport goes along with our comm relay plan, will be on-station to provide assistance if necessary. Any questions?"

Takamura stands with his hands behind his back, listening to the briefing.

After a quick glance to Harris and Donavon, Hurley turns her gaze to Caeli and slowly shakes her head.

Turtledove straightens her credibility-guaranteeing heavy-leatheresque wristbands. Then rethinks, moving them slightly askew. As she moves, her hair dangles past the apples of her cheeks, making her look very seditious indeed. "I wouldn't mind spreading the latinum around a little unevenly, just in case the door is being watched by organized criminals." She grins mischevously, from Harris, to Caeli.

Donavon nods in favor of Turtledove. "One of us could be riding on his last bit of latinum. Desperation tends to lure out the sharks." She wryly smirks.

After going through a few practice runs of quickly popping out the older phaser's power pack and putting it back in, Vimes nods once to Caeli's mission briefing before making a visible effort to not make his civilian attire more presentable. "None of you will mind if I just...keep my mouth shut while we're dealing with this Frak character? I think it'd be for the best if I had no part in additional negociations with him."

Harris leans up against the wall, crossing his arms and looking rather nonchalant.

GAME: ====================| Vimes shows Bridge this explanation |====================

Stat: Intolerant
Value: -1

Explanation: Ferengi

Rule: The character must spend a courage point, or else their prejudices shine through.

. o O Turtledove thinks, "...Additional negotiations?"

Caeli shakes his head. "I think that should fall on Tera or Meg, based on what I dug up about him. And I'll give up some of my share if someone wants."

Takamura flips his long hair out of the way as he checks the placement of his phaser and extra power packs. When Caeli offers to give up some loot, he motions his head towards Turtledove. "I think that you should let Miss Highroller have it."

Only slightly nervous, Hurley does her best to hide it. And, in one of her attempts to hide it, she fidgets slightly with the black-jacket sleeves pushed away from her wrists and glances down to the high heels on her boots. The conversation is taken in, and once in awhile, she glances up to the speaker, but she's seemingly focused on how scuffed her poor boots look at the moment.

Turtledove regards Vimes curiously for a moment then looks at Tak, one eyebrow mildly higher than the other. She looks to Caeli. "I have negotiated successfully with him before. However..." She grins slightly to Donavon. "We might double our spread, so to speak, of we double-team him. Are you up for that, partner?"

Donavon starts to crack a charitable smile at Turtledove. "Latinum and women. Two things they can't ignore." She nods while brushing up her sleeves. "I'll follow your lead."

Vimes hands over six strips and a dozen slips of latinum to Turtledove, "It'll be more useful to you than to me."

The intercom sounds. "We're here!" comes a squeaky voice from the wall panel. "We'll be landing shortly. Perhaps you could send one -- or perhaps -more- -- of your hewmon feemales to oversee the landing cycle?" Ah, Frak the Ferengi, the illustrious captain of the Sixty-Second Rule, of late a sore loser in a poker match on Dulcais Prime. He's a prime example of the maxim that hope springs eternal.

Caeli reaches into his pocket, withdrawing the vast majority of his latinum and handing it over to the Armory officer. "All yours. Work your magic."

Takamura glances up at the intercom when the Ferengi's voice comes over it. Glancing over to Tera and Meg, a grin forms on his face. "Hear that? He's practically begging you two to con him. Good luck."

Hurley turns a quick smile to Turtledove and Donavon as well, but doesn't say anything.

. o O Turtledove thinks, "Poor Rob. Don't worry, friend, wherever I lead your wife, I swear it will be tasteful."

Turtledove takes Caeli's latinum with a surprised look, but she pockets it, anyway, and smiles, then offers a grin to both Tak and Hurley, before shifting a look to Harris. Her smile relaxes, consideringly. "Don't worry, Rob." Her eyes twinkle, mildly. "Do you have the loot?"

Donavon alternates looks between the officers, slightly distant and emotionally removed. A nod to Hurley, Tak, and Caeli as she tightens a strap to her glove. Slightly ignoring Turtledove's statement Donavon alters her direction for the bridge.

Vimes rubs his hands together as he hears the Ferengi's announcement, "Looks like they have their work cut out for them. Anyone for a quick game of Go Fish while we wait?"

A tap of a toe on a crate on the floor is Harris' answer. "Here's everything for him. If you can get away without spending it all, that'd be great."

Takamura slips his hands into the pockets of his vest and leaning against a wall. He chuckles wryly at Vimes' question, shaking his head in reply. "No thanks, I'll pass. I leave the card games to Tera."

"Let me get this straight," Hurley finally speaks up, though her voice just above a mild murmur, offering a rather rueful grin towards Vimes as Meg passes. "We're on our way to "play with" a highly dangerous and particularly vicious gambling ring led by rather seedy characters. And you.." she pauses, canting her head just slightly as her eyes shine with amusement, "...want to play Go Fish?"

Turtledove smiles and then follows Donavon out.

Vimes shrugs, "Sure. Why not? We did the same before we went down to Fimdari, and we ended up stranded there for almost a week after falling down that ice cliff." and then purses his lips, "Come to think of it, maybe this isn't such a good tradition to keep up after all."

On the bridge, Frak looks up with obvious glee as the women enter. "We're just about to land -- I trust you have everything in hand?" He pauses, and adds, with a bit of a leer, "I could certainly give you more, if you'd like." To top off the outrage, he gestures at his rather generous lobes.

In the meantime, the ship settles to the deck. "Airlock opening," announces the computer's voice in Ferengi. "Thank you for your travels aboard the luxury liner Sixty-Second Rule. Remember, there will be a fifteen percent restock fee for any consumables used during your flight."

Harris straightens up. "I guess that's our cue?" he asks Caeli as he adjusts his jacket.

Caeli nods, straightening his puffy-shouldered vest and adjusting his weapon. "Indeed it is. In character, everyone. Game faces." The Bolian leads the way towards the Ferengi ship's airlock, crinking his neck as he does so.

Takamura pushes off the bulkhead with a slight grin on his face. It might not be his usual game face, since he doesn't think that would help him blend in here. His hands come out of the pockets to fall loosely at his sides while he traverses over to the airlock.

Hurley eyes Vimes for a moment, then shakes her head. Caeli's comment, though, causes the smile to dissipate before she follows the Bolian and Tak off towards the airlock.

On the bridge, Turtledove regards Donavon with a slight half-grin, then looks at the Ferengi. "No dice, Frak. At the very least, not until you've made good on your half of the deal."

"Show your half, we'll give ours," coyly says Donavon, Irish tones musically drawled, with her lips stretched into a lopsided grin. Simmered eyes glance to Turtledove though observe Frak considerably.

. o O Turtledove thinks, "Sizzle, Meg. Yow."

. o O Donavon thinks, "I blame Shoes for all that transpires. Can't believe I read those smoochy-smoochy novels."

Immediately outside the airlock, a man in a neatly pressed business suit stands, a patently false smile plastered on his face. "Welcome to Korolev Station," he offers softly. "I take it you're our delegation from Station 419-Upsilon?" His voice is ingratiating and sweet, like honey, but carries just a hint of malice with it.

Frak, in the meantime, smiles extremely toothily at the merest possibility of oomox from these two lovely ladies on his bridge. "For you fine specimens of... feemale companionship, anything. We'll be right here when you're ready to go home -- of course, with a detour for your male friends." To Donavon, he adds, "Not on the bridge! That would be lewd in front of the crew!"

Caeli matches the smile with a half-smirk of his own, nodding to the suited man. "Good to be here," he responds, in a voice just as businesslike, with a side of that ever-present Bolian efficiency. "How long do we have before betting closes?"

Eidolon glances around the inside of the bay as he exits the airlock, looking singularly unimpressed. For the moment, he remains silent.

Harris glances around the inside of the bay as he exits the airlock, looking singularly unimpressed. For the moment, he remains silent.

. o O Harris thinks, "It looks better-kept whan when we were here last..."

Takamura steps off the ship, moving to the side to allow the others some space. Like Caeli, he nods to the greeter with a grin. Casually, he glances about the landing bay, taking in the surroundings.

Arms crossing just under her bosom, Hurley regards the suited man with a half-smirk and lifts her eyes just over his shoulder to get a peek at what's ahead of them. Maybe it was the sweet tone of his voice, perhaps it's the pleasant smile he offers the 'delegation', but the man again gets her attention after her curiosity has been quelled.

. o O Hurley thinks, "I can do this. If I learned /anything/ spending a few months as a concubine, it was how to respond to men like that... and still walk away."

Turtledove tilts her head slightly, and gives the Ferengi a (mildly bemused) wink. "With such service as yours, Frak, it will be our pleasure, I'm sure."

Turtledove waves, then, and with a glance to Meg, heads out of the bridge.

Donavon waggles her fingers in a tootle wave. "See you soon," she says as she follows behind Turtledove.

Before the airlock opened, Vimes took a few moments to take some deep breaths, rolling his shoulders and head to get loosened up. As the lock opens, he goes through his transformation. Stepping up alongside Hurley, his arm goes around her shoulders while his other hand points a finger gun at the man greeting them. A quick wink as he makes a double-clicking sound with his tongue, "Thanks, chief. Just point us to where we can get some drinks.", and then, the true piece de resistance for his act: A quick slap on Hurley's back-side before saying, "Smile, sweet-cheeks. We're here for a good time!"

The docking bay is large and well-lit, surprisingly, filled with a variety of smaller craft, with Frak's ship being the largest of all. "Betting doesn't close for our esteemed guests," the man replies softly, his voice still carrying just that little hint of malice. "Follow me -- the fights should just be getting underway." Without further ado, he moves toward the corridor -- and the turbolifts beyond.

Frak continues to smile toothily as he watches Turtledove depart. "I -knew- you'd see it my way, one way or another," he whispers in a low tone before turning back to his work and pressing a small set of buttons as he works on securing the ship.

. o O Hurley thinks, "Would our cover be blown if I dropped him right here before Grandfather gets the chance?"

Caeli follows along, nodding once, and closing the exchange with a satisfied, "Most excellent."

Harris turns back at the sound of posterior-swatting, his eyes taking in the position of Vimes' hand and its proximity to Hurley's backside before he raises an eyebrow and just looks at Vimes. This lasts for a moment or two, and then he starts to move forward again. "Better be one hell of a party," he offers as an aside.

. o O Harris thinks, "Someone's going to have a talking-to when this is all over, in 1001 reasons why you do not touch my granddaughter. Number 1001: You like your ability to have children in the future, right?"

Takamura grins at Vimes' butt-swatting, shaking his head with a soft chuckle. As the group begins to move off, he follows along, taking in the sights along the way.

Who wouldn't be surprised at a slap on the behind from one's peer? Hurley, though, keeps her wits about her quite well and turns a small smile in Vimes' direction as if to please him. "Yes, we're all here for a good time," she drawls with almost a purr: that kind of purr that indicates she knows where he lives and that computers can be reprogrammed. Eyes flicker back towards their host as she follows behind, anymore possible shock and surprise likely waylayed thanks to Vimes.

Meanwhile, Turtledove walks off of the 'Sixty Second Rule' into the well-lit docking bay. She eyes the place shiftily, but it's mostly for fun. "I can't believe they didn't wait for us." Her eyes hit the corridor. She gives Meg a grin, and starts for the corridor. "This should be fun." Her tone is optimistic.

A hand wipes the unamused smirk from her face once clear from the bridge; her eyes begin to roll as the pair head for the corridor. "Ferengi males are like any male on deck," proclaims Donavon, "*clearly*," is emphasized, "thinking with their other mind." Turtledove gains a wink as Meg struggles not to react to the thought of giving Frak oomox. Lips twitch when examining the station's interior. "Shifty. Fits the theme. Who do you wager will hit the jackpot first?"

Vimes follows along with the others towards the turbolifts, doing his best to maintain his charade as they progress through Koralev station. At an opportune moment though, he leans in to Hurley and whispers.

Vimes whispers to Hurley, "I'm very sorry. I'm just doing my part to blend in. Trust me."

The corridor is clean and well-lit, much as the docking bay was -- it's obvious that the powers that be on Korolev have enough money to keep the station well-maintained. The whole group piles into a turbolift, even after Donavon and Turtledove catch up, and their host sends the car heading down to a lower cargo level.

When the doors open, the team emerges into as stately an arena as has ever been constructed. There's a large cage in the middle with high walls and a mat within, along with two people and an announcer.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WELCOME YOU TO THE THIRD ANNUAL DULCAIS DEATH DUELS!" the man with the microphone screams. "GET READY FOR YOUR LATINUM TO CHANGE HANDS! GET READY TO SEE BLOOD SPILL! GET READY TO SEE FIGHTING AS IT WAS INTENDED TO BE -- CRUEL, VICIOUS, AND QUICK! LET'S FIGHT!" With that, the announcer races for cover and the combatants -- a Nausicaan and something very large, blue, and definitely not Andorian, Bolian, or Benzite -- crash into each other with a roar.

Caeli slows his step a bit, following the human sent to greet them, and nods to Turtledove, murmuring something to the Lieutenant-turned-scoundrel and pointing to the ring. Then, to their esteemed host, "I don't know precisely about my associates, but I, for one, am eager to start seeing financial returns. Where are the bets collected?"

Caeli whispers to Turtledove, "Place your bets and break off."

Harris pushes his hands into his pockets, parting himself from the group just a bit as he releases a low whistle. "Impressive setup."

. o O Harris is actually impressed.

. o O Harris thinks, "This station was a broken-down heap in our timeline."

Takamura places his hands on his hips while he looks around at impressive arena. Nodding his head approvingly, he comments. "Not bad. Not bad at all. It must've taken a lot of latinum to get this place looking so good."

Hurley flashes another smile in Vimes' direction, accompanied with a wink. Hurley whispers to Vimes, "Don't worry about it, hotstuff. We're here to have a good time. Remember?" Attention turns up towards the cage and the cheers and roars around her as the fight breaks out.

Turtledove's eyes remain on the spectacle, narrowed slightly, absorbed. She blinks at Caeli's whisper, but it takes a couple of seconds before she registers it with a slow nod.

Donavon's attention immediately draws to the action at center ring. Fiery passion alights in her eyes, closing in on purring mode. The vicious sport certainly floats this female's boat. "Mmmm...think I'll wager on that blue fellah."

Vimes lets out a holler as the two combatants waste no time getting into it, "My money's on the blue one!" and looks to their host, "Who do I see about placing my bet, chum?"

The host nods, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "There are terminals in the crowd, and, of course, with your neighbors. We don't stand long on ceremony here." A pause. "Please excuse me?" Of course, he doesn't wait for an answer -- instead, he melts into the general mass of the cheering crowd.

In the arena, the combat continues unabated, with Big Blue gaining an early advantage over his Nausicaan opponent, driving him back against the wall -- and that's got the approval of the crowd, which roars loudly in approval.

Caeli smiles. "I think I'll do rather the same. Blue solidarity, and all that." He watches the guide walk away, and then waves Donavon, Vimes, and Hurley on with him towards one of the terminals. Among the din of the crowd, he murmurs to his squad, "Get the bets in, and we'll start combing." He goes to start laying in his wager at the terminal.

Harris puts an arm around Turtledove's shoulders, then repeats the process with Takamura. "Whaddya say we go find something interesting to do?" he asks, putting on his best lascivious voice.

Takamura turns his head to regard Harris with a mischievous grin. "Now that sounds like fun. Lead the way."

Hurley pulls away from Vimes and heads off to the terminal Caeli approaches. "Blue it is," she confirms with eyes falling on the gambling device in her path. An eyebrow lifts as she studies the terminal, but she otherwise keeps her geek tendencies to a dull roar. It's not easy, of course, but it's possible. "They sure know how to please their customers," she purrs softly. Donavon can have her fighting. Hurley's interested in the toys.

. o O Turtledove thinks, "Impressive, yes. Third annual, you say? This is great. Whatever that blue thing is, it looks like it's going to tear that Nausicaan a new understanding of pain. Can't miss that."

Turtledove's attention snaps from the ring. She quirks an eyebrow mildly to Harris, but she grins after a moment and joins in. "Call me crazy, but I think I'm betting on the long shot."

. o O Turtledove thinks, "Even if it would be nice to see him lying in agony in a pool of his own blood..."

"Don't know about you boys, but there's a spot at front row with my name on it," merrily responds Donavon with a toss of her ponytail. "I'll make do with our neighbors. Catch you later." She winks coyly before skipping, practically, down the way to the front. Eyes whirl around the ring, capturing features though feigning mild interest in the crowd, before absorbed by the fight. "Oooh baby, baby! Knock him for another," she roars. She, then regards her neighbors, passionately smiling, "What are the odds up to?" Oh yes, this one loves the fighting.

Vimes does a quick snatch at a drink from a tray being carried about by a pretty serving girl. Knocking it back in one gulp, he follows after Caeli towards the betting terminal, "Hmm. I think I'll go with ten strips large on the blue one."

The crowd roars its approval once again as the Nausicaan seems to get back into the fight and goes on the offensive, knobby fists slamming into the blue guy. It's a regular party in here, with all sorts of interesting people and things going on.

GAME: Caeli contests his Intellect/perception vs Difficult and Fails.

GAME: Harris contests his Intellect/perception vs Difficult and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Hurley contests her Intellect/perception vs Difficult and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Turtledove has the merit of Alertness at 2.

GAME: Turtledove contests her Intellect/perception +A vs Difficult and Fails.

GAME: Takamura contests his Intellect/perception vs Difficult and Fails.

GAME: Donavon spends a courage point.

GAME: Donavon contests her Intellect/perception+A vs Difficult and Succeeds.

GAME: Vimes contests his Intellect/perception vs Difficult and Fails.

Caeli keys in his bets on the big blue alien quickly, and motions Vimes and Hurley to follow along as they complete the process. He takes off after Donavon, sidling his way through the crowd and shouting encouragements towards his chosen fighter at opportune moments.

Hurley casts a glance over her shoulder, eyebrows furrowed slightly and eyes lifting upwards in thought, but returns attention to the terminal. Draw of the sparkly, shiny object in front of them and all. After her bet is placed, she waits for Vimes before she heads back towards the ringside, allowing a shout of offense to slip out of her lips regarding the Nausicaan and some of his family members. Someone's been spending time around Randal lately.

Donavon bounces at front, hand slapping to the fence. "Toss 'em another one!" In the midst of rooting, she spots a figure amongst the crowd which causes the woman to pause considerably. "Must be seein' things." Attention returns to the match as she asks her neighbor, "Love a good fight. What are the odds on the Nausicaan?"

. o O Donavon thinks, "Saints. If that was you Randal, you're in an universe of trouble. Can't you stay out of it for ONCE?"

Vimes finishes placing his bet and hussles towards ringside with Caeli and Hurley, once again placing an arm around the latter's shoulders, "Daddy's gonna win it big tonight, baby!"

Grinning, Harris starts off toward a betting terminal. "Gambling. I was thinking of something that's a -lot- more fun, and takes place in dark corners," he half-whines, half-cajoles. "But, sure, you put your money on the Nausicaan, and I'll put my money on the big blue monkey, and then we'll go find better things to do with our time. Right, ol' buddy?" Takamura gets a friendly sort of slap on the shoulder.

"Right." Takamura replies with a nod. He then walks over to the terminal alongside Harris.

. o O Harris thinks, "Gee, with enthusiasm like that, I'll never hit on you again, Hiroshi Takamura."

. o O Harris is vaguely amused.

"Maybe we can resort to dark corners when the latinum runs out." Turtledove casually bets all of her latinum on the Nausicaan. She eyes Harris and Tak warmly. "I'm referring to mugging people, if that wasn't obvious." She grins, partially reluctant. "Though, I suppose there are other diversions."

"7 to 1 against, I hear!" the Grazerite calls to Donavon over the roar of the crowd.

The Nausicaan, meanwhile, continues to press his advantage over big blue, slamming his foot into its knee several times and provoking a cry of pain from his opponent -- who sinks to the mat. Of course, the Nausicaan follows up with several kicks to the head, and the resultant flow of blood ensures that Big Blue won't be getting up anytime soon.

"WINNER!" the announcer cries, racing out from wherever it was that he took cover to lift the Nausicaan's arm in the air.

It's at this moment that a man in a white suit appears out of the crowd next to the Alpha team. "I hear you've come to see us from Station 419?" he asks Caeli.

Caeli looks to Donavon at her comment, then tries to follow her gaze towards whatever she thought she saw. "What was it?" he asks of the redhead, before being approached. "Yes, as a matter of fact, and very good to be here. Though I daresay I thought that big fellow would have performed a bit more... ahhh... impressively. He's brought me down quite a bit of money. You are?" Zipok turns all of his attention on the newcomer, looking him over a good bit appraisingly.

"That was your warmup bet, honey," Hurley says to Vimes as Big Blue crumples to the mat and it's obvious Blue Pride didn't win out this round. Eyes flicker back towards the newcomer, flashes him a sly smile and looks back towards the ring, "Who's next? Come on!" Of course, she's listening intently to the conversation going on near her when she's not shouting.

Vimes furrows his brow as his favorite for this fight goes down, "Bloody hell!" and tears up the betting slip he got as proof of his wager, throwing the pieces to the floor before turning his attention to the stranger who's addressed Caeli for the moment.

Donavon whistles between her teeth, a root for the winner. To the Grazerite, she chortles a spirited laugh. "When it comes to fighting, big payoffs for underdogs. Hope you didn't bet on Mister Blue Wonder." Course her cheering and chattering causes her to miss Caeli's question. "Do you know the odds for the next round? I may be coaxed into lightening my purse," joyfully she calls to the Grazerite.

Harris shakes his head. "You two? Absolutely -no- fun," he sniffs before straightening up. "And now I'm down money, too. Hey... hey you!" That call's directed at a passing drink girl. "Which way's the can?" After recieving the appropriate directions, he tosses a wink at both Hiro and Tera and saunters off.

Takamura splays his hand across his chest, looking at Harris with a mock-hurt expression. Scoffing, he glances to Turtledove. "Do you believe that? He says that we're no fun. Obviously, he hasn't heard about all the good times we had on Dulcais Prime."

GAME: Turtledove has the flaw of Compulsion at -2.

GAME: Turtledove spends a courage point.

Turtledove grins after Harris. As she starts to follow him, alongside Takamura, she raises her ticket, admiring it as she walks. Her steps get heavier the farther she gets from the betting terminal. But, as her eyes shift to Tak and Harris, the ticket lowers, and she tucks it away. "I think we'll have to educate him. Using the empirical method." The grin that she gives Tak is playful, if somewhat mischeivous.

After the mess in the ring is cleaned up, the announcer takes up the microphone again. "NEXT MATCH -- THALEV CLANNESS VERSUS SAM CARIOTH!"

A pair of combatants enter, one an Andorian, the other a human. They face off almost immediately, and the fighting is absolutely brutal between them, with blood flying in a very short time.

The man in the white suit offers a thin sort of smile. "Beckman's my name. I work for Mister Krathe, and he's most interested in meeting all of you. The station has a special place in his heart, as I understand it, and he'd like to speak with you all in his private booth." The man gives a significant gaze to a window a deck above, dimly lit.

Caeli considers this for a moment, and looks to each of the other officers in turn. "I'm sure my associates would be as honored as I am. If you don't mind, though, I'd like to put the rest of my latinum on this fight. Heard some good things about this Claness character." Beckman is offered an amicable smile.

The gaze to the window a deck above is followed by Hurley's eyes before she turns to look back at the fight brewing. "Can it be as exciting as having the blood actually *land* on you, though?" she asks, slightly in jest towards the man in white. Donavon, of course, gets a side-glance as she asks, smirk playing at her lips.

Donavon slams a fist to her chest as her shout is interrupted by a cough. She clears her throat, to squeak out then purr, "Oh, hubba hubba. Momma's gonna put 40 slips on Thalev. Can't go wrong with the husky brutes." Eyebrows waggle at her Grazerite neighbor, though a simmering smile whirls at Hurley. "Darling, there couldn't be anything more exciting than feeling the blood, sweat, and tears. Everyone knows front row is where the heat is." Now, she actually sees the man in the suit. Her head inclines in greeting.

Vimes decides to keep the trend for this match. Looking around for a moment, he waves down a guy taking bets for those who are seated, "Eleven strips on the Andorian.", before focusing on the man in white, "I'm game."

. o O Donavon thinks, "Thank God, Doc isn't here. I'm not sure how'd he face seeing his husband like this."

"Oh, ha," Harris calls over his shoulder before he passes through the doorway leading into the corridors toward the restroom to wait for his compatriots to catch up. "Educate me? That's a laugh." As soon as they're near him, he lowers his voice for only them to hear. "We should find the nearest Jeffries Tube and get started."

Takamura follows Harris down the corridor, grinning broadly. "Maybe /that/ was the fun he was referring to: His education." He then teases Harris before disappearing through the doorway. "What's the matter? Are you saying that old dogs can't learn new tricks?" Once secluded from the rest of the crowd, he nods once to Harris and starts looking for a access hatch.

"What's the plan? Splitting up? First person to win a round tries to bring everyone else in, so to speak?" Turtledove smiles wryly at the joking. "Or sticking together?"

GAME: Takamura contests his Intellect/perception & Search vs Challenging and Dramatically Succeeds.

"I'm certain it's quite invigorating," Beckman replies with a note of distaste in his voice. "I'm afraid that I prefer to keep the bodily fluid of others off of me, so I will never be able to enjoy the experience. My loss, I'm sure." He remains standing next to Caeli, though.

The fight, meanwhile, continues to get more ugly by the moment. Clanness slams Carioth's face up against the cage wall, roaring with anger -- at least until Carioth slams an elbow into the Andorian's stomach and earns some breathing room.

In the corridor, meanwhile, a few people pass by Bravo team, offering grins to the Starfleet trio as they stick together.

Caeli puts up sort of a frown as Claness gets hit. "Come on, then!" he shouts to the Andorian. "Tear off his Bird-damned arm!" The Bolian clearly isn't keen on losing the rest of his latinum on the second match. To the other officers from 419, though, he speaks in a less angered voice. "Come on, then. We've been extended a highly courteous invitation and I think we'd do well to take it."

Hurley's smile is slightly on the flirty side when she offers the man in white a wink. "I think we could get along just fine." To Caeli, she nods. "We'll likely get a better view of the fight from up there. I'm sure Blue over there will be in the fight long enough for us to meet our host."

. o O Hurley thinks, "Come on, get us out of this filthy.. ugh. Meg, *how* can you like this?"

Donavon applauds and cheers the combatants. "Knock him in the head!" Languishing a shameless smile, her eyebrow tics at Caeli. "Can't be rude to the host and I must thank him for the invite." She whistles once more as the action picks up. "Reminds me of home. All the pub fights we wagered on."

Vimes grabs a second and third drink from another passing girl's tray, "Lead the way, Mr. Beckman." before gesturing towards the aisle, both drinks still in hand.

"Stick together," Harris replies, his voice low as he speaks to Turtledove. "There's a lot more of them than there are the three of us."

Takamura folds his arms across his chest, leaning against a bulhead. Softly, he speaks so that only Harris and Turtledove can hear him. "I've found the entrance. It's about three meters that way." He says, tilting his head slightly to indicate the direction. "However, there's also a security camera directed right at it."

Turtledove looks thoughtful. She crosses her arms, considering options. Her voice is likewise quie. "Well, I guess we have to take that sucker out. If we do it discreetly, we could always play 'You lousy scumbag! I miss you with my phaser!'." She grins, mildly. "Bonus points if you hit one of the miscreants in the hall."

"Most obliged, sir. This way." As Beckman leads them toward a set of doors, there's another cry on the air -- and Clanness spits out a piece of Carioth's ear before he headbutts the bleeding human, sending him reeling again.

In the corridor, meanwhile, the security camera mentioned by Takamura makes a soft chirping noise, indicating that it's shutting down. That's propitious, really -- seeing as how they would have had to disable it to proceed.

Come to think of it, it's probably a bit odd, too.

. o O Turtledove has a... bad feeling about this.

"That's right, take him down. Win me back what that last one lost." After his last shout of encouragement, Caeli follows Beckman, tapping Vimes once as he passes the human and motioning ever so slightly towards their rear.

Hurley walks briskly and brushes the blood drips from her slacks, or at least trying to, as soon as Caeli moves after Beckman, eyes glancing around the crowd with a small smirk playing on her lips.

Donavon reluctantly removes herself from the front row to glide in with the group. Special seats here they come.

Vimes falls back towards the rear of their group's procession, both drinks still in hand as he gives one last look towards the cage, but actually, it's to see if anyone will be following after them.

"My dad always used to say 'never look a gift horse in the mouth'," Harris murmurs as the camera shuts down. "Into the chute, kids. I've got the rear. Hiro, we'll be looking for a security center or some kind of auxiliary control room."

Takamura raises a brow at the shutdown of the camera, but wastes no time moving to open the hatch and proceed inside. "No problem. I'm on it."

Turtledove follows, likewise quickly. She gives the camera a close-up look in passing, though, smiling slightly, eyes inviting. You never know.

The little group headed by Beckman passes into a corridor, then takes a short turbolift ride to another corridor that only leads to one set of doors. "Mister Krathe is within; I imagine that your conversation will be most interesting and enlightening." He makes no move to follow the group past the doors, however.

In the Jeffries Tubes, the climbing begins in earnest -- the schematics provided before the mission showed that auxilary control was approximately five levels upward from the cargo levels, and so up Bravo Team goes.

. o O Hurley is beginning to get nervous. That was *way* too easy.

GAME: Turtledove contests her Fitness/vitality & Athletics/climbing vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Harris contests his Fitness/vitality & Athletics/climbing vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Takamura has the merit of Athletic Ability at 2.

GAME: Takamura contests his Fitness/vitality & Athletics/climbing+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Caeli motions ahead of him towards the door. "After you? Or perhaps we don't merit an introduction, eh?" He grins, as if to offset the prod, and jokingly elbows Beckman lightly in the side. Such a kidder.

"Mister Krathe didn't ask for me, sir," Beckman replies, gesturing at a pair of security cameras above the doors. "He knows you're here and that you were coming."

Caeli looks to the cameras, nods appraisingly. "Good to know we're so secure. Good meeting you, Mr. Beckman. And thanks for the invite." Both arms drift to his sides, one of them brushing the phaser under his jacket as he heads for the door. Just to make sure it's still there.

Hurley casts a glance up to Caeli, then back towards Vimes and Donavon. She's still smiling. Somehow. And right behind Caeli, she steps, full of trust for now.

Donavon feints noting the location of the cameras by glancing round the corridor in slight apparent awe. Low whistle. "Rolling in the latinum."

Vimes hands a drink towards Donavon, muttering as he does, "To throw in someone's face in case they decide to get funny in there." and then pastes his earlier smile back onto his face before going through the doors.

. o O Donavon thinks, "And waste the liquor? Are you mad, Vimes?"

Takamura climbs up the ladder in the Jeffires Tube at a brisk pace. When he gets to the appropriate level, he steps off to the side to wait for the others. While he waits, he searches for any more cameras or any booby traps that might be lying in wait.

Turtledove takes the other side, with a wistful expression. "I miss my tricorder."

Harris furrows his brows as he arrives, pulling his phaser free of its holster. "Black operations are fun," he murmurs with just a touch of bitterness in his tone. "Onward, eh?" And then he's moving forward cautiously.

As the doors part, the room that Alpha Team enters is rather dimly illuminated, but there is a figure in a chair before the window. "Welcome, honored guests," says a deep, male voice. "Welcome to Korolev Station. I'm -so pleased- that our associates from Station 419 could join us for this little spectacle." On a viewscreen off to the side, there's a view of the action -- Carioth's being carted off the mat, having apparently lost to the Andorian.

For Bravo Team, the way is easy, rather than hard -- no booby traps, no bad guys, no snarling slime devils to ruin their day. Just a leisurely crawl to the doors for the auxiliary control room.

Caeli applauds, entirely pleased with the outcome of the fight. "Excellent! Most excellent. I daresay I've just about broken even." Caeli looks away from the viewscreen to the seated man, then. "I must compliment you on what you've done with this station. My compatriots and I are most impressed. And of course, thank you for the honor of our invitation. Certainly better - for me anyway, my friends prefer the... savagrey of the moment - than the general floor."

"Ah, no, not all of us," Christine coos from behind Caeli, stepping forward to don a smile for the new host and trying to get a better look at him. "So, yes, thank you for the invitation."

Donavon thrusts a fist into the air then starts to applaud. "There's money in my bank," is said in an aside as her sights draws from the screen and over to the figure. "Great fighter you have there," thumb jerk at the Andorian, "And thank you for the invite. I concur with him. What a fantastic venue."

Vimes raises his drink at the developments on the viewscreen, "I just won back my losses. Excellent." and nods to the man greeting them, "I must say, Mr. Krathe, I am deeply impressed with what you've done here. Truly."

Harris pauses at the door, elsewhere on the station. "Okay, so, here's my brilliant plan," he offers to Takamura and Turtledove. "I'm gonna jump through this door after I open it, and you're going to shoot at anyone who shoots at me. With any luck, we'll get the drop on them and win."

Takamura quirks a brow at Harris' plan, but not having a better one at the moment, he just nods his head. Drawing his phaser, he sets it to heavy stun, then glances to Turtledove. "I guess he's going to teach us how they used to do things in the 'Good Ole Days'."

Turtledove raises her phaser. "I'm not going to go into the egocentricity of what you are about to do, Rob. But only because, if I were you, I'd be doing the same thing." She grins widely at Harris, goodnaturedly, but also with vague flecks of concern, of all things. She smiles a bit wider. "Good luck."

GAME: Harris spends a courage point.

GAME: Harris contests his Fitness/vitality & Athletics/jumping+A vs Challenging and Fails.

"I can imagine," the voice replies to Caeli and company. "Of course, I do feel that it is my right to inform you that I don't appreciate interlopers on my station." There's a brief click as the door locks. "I'm not certain what you're paying the Ferengi, but I know that it's far less than I pay him, and that, like any good employee, he knows where his loyalties belong." There's a pause. "But, it seems that your whole little band of adventurers isn't here, and that leads me to question where your friends are."

Meanwhile, upstairs, Harris leaps out of the Jeffries Tube... rather anticlimatically, it seems, directly into a console with a very loud kerTHWANG. Oops. The saving grace, though, is that he lands directly on top of an already stunned body.

. o O Hurley thinks, "Ferengi betrayed us. Why am I not surprised?"

That's about all Caeli needs, and his hand immediately darts inside his jacket to retrieve his phaser. It's leveled squarely at Krathe. "Krathe - whichever one you are - you're under arrest for aiding and abetting murder, racketeering, and whatever else we wind up charging you with. And this business right here is over. Stand up, please."

Hurley's head turns back towards the door as the locks fall in place and an eyebrow lifts slightly. Now the nervousness starts to show as it would for any paperpusher wielding a concealed phaser. Eyes lift upwards as she *tries* to spot cameras, security devices, weapons, concealed people, another exit - ANYTHING - that wasn't caught when the group entered the booth. What sweet little Christine wouldn't give right now for a tricorder. "He can't be alone," she murmurs softly, taking a step away from the group to try to adjust her eyes to the light better. "It's not possible that he's alone in here..."

. o O Hurley thinks, "Where /are/ his thugs? Can't be him. We've been set-up."

Donavon doesn't draw her weapon. "Invested much in security systems?" she murmurs while taking a security walk around the room. "How long is it until the goons arrive?"

GAME: Hurley spends a courage point.

GAME: Hurley contests her Intellect/perception & Search+A vs Impossible and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Donavon spends a courage point.

GAME: Donavon contests her Intellect/perception & Search+A vs Impossible and Fails.

Vimes draws his own phaser as well, tossing the drink in his other hand at the window overlooking the arena below. His facade fades as well, being replaced with his more customary matter-of-fact expression while moving towards said window to get a look at the action below, still keeping his weapon aimed at the man who greeted them.

Harris grunts, just laying still for a moment. "Am I already dead?" he asks of the folks behind him in the tube, sounding like, well, that hurt.

Takamura covers Harris as planned. However, when there is no incoming fire, he scurries out of the Jeffries Tube. "Are you alright, Rob?" He asks as he scans the room for hostiles.

Turtledove pulls herself out of the tube, feet first. She eyes the stunned body, then quirks an eyebrow at the room at large. "You know, I wasn't going to say anything before. But this is really weird."

In her search, Hurley pauses, looks back to the host and lifts her nose slightly in the air, taking a couple of quick inhales, then a deeper one. Eyebrows furrow together and she looks towards Caeli first, then Donavon and Vimes in turn. "Do you guys... smell.. that?"

"I think that I will have to respectfully decline," Krathe replies as he leans back in his chair, cool times ten. A forcefield sizzles into life around the perimeter of the room. "I do wish to thank you, however, for your profound interest in our event. It has been most entertaining -- and it's about to be moreso, wouldn't you agree?" There's a laugh from the seated figure, and then there's a hissing noise.

Gas. It has to be gas.

In the auxilary control center, Turtledove's words couldn't be truer. Everyone there has been stunned by forces unknown, leaving five men (six if you count Harris) sprawled across the deck.

Someone else is on the station, taking out bad guys, but why? What's their motive?

Caeli wastes just as little time reacting to this turn of events. "Computer, lights to full. Christine, John, get the door. Set to ten if you have to." He keys up his phaser to a higher setting and does much the same thing.

The computer gives the equivalent of a zerbert. "Access restricted," it states in the cool, feminine voice.

Frantically, Hurley calls into air, reaching for her shirt to tug it up over her nose and mouth while getting as low to the ground as possible, "Computer! Lights!" with Caeli and rolls to face the door, reaching for her concealed phaser. Fiddling with the settings to full, she lets the burst out before Vimes confirms the order. "Someone hit the communicator," she shouts above the hissing of the gas seeping into the room.

Donavon whips out her phaser, quick on the draw, and sets her phaser to the highest setting as well. "Our best chance is to direct our beams in the same location." And she fires towards the door while she taps the pretty red button to notify Beta.

Vimes raises the beam of his weapon to its highest setting and fires a blast at the door, hoping to breach it, while covering his mouth and nose with his coat's sleeve.

. o O Hurley thinks, "*How* did we walk into this? Prophets help us. Prophets guide us. Ooooh, Grandfather is going to be -so- -mad-."

Donavon whips out her phaser, quick on the draw, and sets her phaser to the highest setting as well. "Our best chance is to direct our beams in the same location." And she fires towards the door.

GAME: Caeli contests his Coordination/dexterity & Energy Weapon/phaser vs Routine and Succeeds.

Harris pushes to his feet, looking displeased. "Yeah, I'm fine. Nice shooting." He pauses for a moment, looking about. "Let's shut them down. Defensive systems first."

GAME: Vimes contests his Coordination/dexterity & Energy Weapon/phaser vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Vimes spends a courage point.

GAME: Caeli spends a courage point.

Takamura nods once, heading towards the security console to work his magic. "Thanks, but they were already stunned when we got here. Honestly? I don't like the feel of this at all. It's been /too/ easy."

Turtledove steps over various bodies, finally toeing an arm out of the way on her final approach to a console. "Defensive it is." She smiles, and lifts her hand to initiate relations with the Korolev ODN. She pauses mildly at the arcane console, but... then she gets a curious gleam in her eye, and she proceeds. "You know, you guys had more buttons." That was directed to Harris.

GAME: Hurley contests her Coordination/dexterity & Energy Weapon/phaser vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Donavon contests her Coordination/dexterity & Energy Weapon/phaser vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Hurley spends a courage point.

GAME: Donavon has the merit of Excellent Metabolism at 1.

GAME: Hurley contests her Fitness/vitality+A vs Impossible and Fails.

GAME: Caeli contests his Fitness/vitality +A vs Impossible and Fails.

GAME: Donavon contests her Fitness/vitality+A vs Impossible and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Takamura contests his Intellect/perception & Security/security systems vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Vimes contests his Fitness/vitality+A vs Impossible and Fails.

GAME: Turtledove contests her Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/tactical vs Moderate and Succeeds.

The gas fills the room, cloying, filling each member of the away team's lungs and bringing about the blissful grasp of unconsciousness. Donavon, being the last to fade, faintly hears the sound of the door being blasted away, and over that, Krathe's raucous laughter, but by then, it's too late.

The darkness closes in.

Meanwhile, elsewhere aboard the station, Takamura and Turtledove's work elicits mixed responses, with Turtledove's work lowering the shields and shutting off the weapons systems, while Tak's works makes some alarms wail.

Harris straightens up from his examination of the bodies. "That's not good. That's not good at all," he remarks to the other two folks in the room, pulling out his phaser again. "Let's get ready to get out of here, eh? Shut down anything that you can, and then it's back into the tubes."

Takamura mutters under his breath when the alarms begin to sound. Complying with Harris' orders, he begins to tap away to shut down all the security measures he can find. "I suppose that we can expect company any time now."

GAME: Takamura contests his Intellect/perception & Security/security systems vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Turtledove starts to back Takamura up on Security, but it turns out to be unnecessary. So she stands by her terminal, and switches to Sensors. "We're not going to get much farther in the tubes with sensors online..."

GAME: Turtledove spends a courage point.

GAME: Turtledove contests her Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/sensors +A vs Challenging and Succeeds.

As consciousness returns for Alpha Team, it comes with the raucuous noise of cheering -- and a remarkably soft surface which they lay on. The cheering gets louder with each passing second, and then there's something new in the background -- something that cuts through the haze of unconsciousness like a hot knife cuts butter.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, A SPECIAL EVENT FOR YOU NOW! FOUR OF STARFLEET'S BRAVEST AND FINEST OFFICERS IN A VERY SPECIAL MATCH, BROUGHT TO YOU BY MISTER THOMAS KRATHE HIMSELF! THESE FOUR YOU SEE HERE, FIGHTING THE VICIOUS MUGATO OF NEURAL!" There's a pause. "IF THEY MANAGE TO WAKE UP BEFORE IT EATS THEM, THAT IS!"

The crowd erupts in laughter and cheers, and then there's a roar from the medium distance -- then concerned yells.

"THE CAGE WALLS ARE LOWERING! THE FORCEFIELD IS DOWNAAAAAAAGHRRRR!"

Wakey wakey, Alpha Team -- the mugato is hungry, Mister Announcer Man can attest to that!

Of course, since the Dulcais Death Duels are something that the whole station is interested in watching, the announcer's voice reverberates through the entire station's intercom system, including in auxiliary control, where Bravo Team is at the moment -- where Hiroshi Takamura's work just released the mugato -- and the sensors to track it just went offline.

Caeli wakes to the decidedly unpleasant sight of the Mugato consuming its hors d'oeuvres, and rolls to one side of the newly removed cage. "Scatter!" he calls to the other three. "Blend! It doesn't care who we are." And he attempts to do just that, rather than get anyone killed in a mugato battle royale.

Wakey wakey indeed. Hurley's eyes flutter open a few times at the announcement, but she doesn't move at first. It's the announcer's last cry that brings her back to consciousness. Eyes wide open, she's on her feet in a practiced leap, gawking at the beast in front of the group and grasping for her phaser that's no longer at her side. "Ok," she murmurs to herself, "don't panic. This.. this is.. um.." Eyes glance around furiously. "The cage is missing," she notes calmly and monotonously. Caeli's command is enough for her, with one hand balancing on the cage mat, she hops to the floor and disappears into the crowd, "Shouldn't we, like, try to protect them here?" she calls out, hoping one of her teammates will hear her.

. o O Hurley thinks, "/PROPHETS/. What kind of show are they running? This is no way to get repeat customers. Being devoured and digested is certainly a bad experience for *anyone*."

GAME: Donavon contests her Intellect/perception & Search+A vs Impossible and Fails.

Donavon shoves up to her feet, letting the fear of death wash over her. Quick movements and glances weigh the situation. "We can't let it attack the crowd," she shouts to hear teammates. "Someone's bound to be armed!" Feet lead her towards the corner of the ring.

Vimes blinks a few times as he comes to, hearing the scream of the mugato's first victim followed by Caeli's warning. Rolling towards the edge of the ring, he jumps down to the floor and waves at Hurley, "Stick with me, Christine!", before he picks up one of the empty chairs that have been scattered and toppled over in the mass rush for escape by the crowd.

Meanwhile, in auxiliary control, Harris' mouth sets into a grim line. "Can't leave anyone alone for five seconds," he grumbles as he heads back to the console. "Somebody hit the red button. I'm gonna set up a site-to-site transport for us."

Takamura bangs the console with his fist. "Damn. Well, so much for our cover." He says as he fishes out his communicator to hit the red button. "I hope the Paine gets the message."

. o O Harris thinks, "If someone hurts Meg or Christine, I'm going to kill them."

Turtledove's eyebrows knit mildly. She gives the control room a thoughtful glance. "Console yourself with the fact that we're probably raining nicely on someone else's parade, as well." She gives Takamura a quick grin. She steps to the console to help Harris, if she can.

GAME: Hurley contests her Intellect/perception & Search+A vs Impossible and Fails.

GAME: Donavon contests her Intellect/perception & Search+A vs Difficult and Fails.

GAME: Harris spends a courage point.

GAME: Harris contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/transporter+A vs Difficult and Fails.

Goodwin has arrived.

GAME: Turtledove spends a courage point.

GAME: Turtledove contests her Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/transporter +A vs Difficult and Marginally Succeeds.

On the Thomas Paine, just beyond the sensor range of Korolev Station, Commander Goodwin has been waiting patiently for a signal from the away team, which comes in the form of the code red alert -- calling for immediate pickup because the whole mission has just gone to hell in a handbasket.

"I have the Conn," says Goodwin, taking over for the junior officer who, the second officer had hoped, would just watch the channels for him and report all green. "Helm, lay in Intercept-Escape-Bravo. On my mark." Josh takes the Big Chair, and lets out a breath.

The helm officer nods after a moment. "Course plotted and laid in, sir."

"Mark," replies Goodwin, making a little gesture with a flick of his wrist, pointing at the view screen. He adds, under his breath, "Here we come, folks..."

. o O Goodwin thinks, "Hey. That was kinda cool. I say something and this whole big starship moves."

The Thomas Paine leaps to warp speed at Goodwin's order, accelerating to its top speed in a matter of moments.

The rampage of the mugato continues on Korolev Station, with screams being heard through the crowd -- along with the occasional tossed body. The giant monkey's gone mad with the pleasure of it all, it would seem.

In the midst of the fray, three transporter beams appear above the surface of the mat. It's difficult to be accurate without sensors, and so Harris, Turtledove, and Takamura go tumbling to the soft, yielding surface.

At least they've still got phasers, though.

Caeli emerges from his cover within the crowd as Turtledove and her team appear above the mat. "Alpha, distract it," he shouts to the other officers. "Bravo, heaviest stun you've got, take it down." Following his own orders, he makes his way towards the Mugato, snatching a highball glass and throwing it squarely towards the Mugato's head.

GAME: Caeli contests his Fitness/vitality & Athletics/throwing vs Routine and Marginally Succeeds.

Hurley turns a glance back towards Vimes, then looks off to a few fleeing passers-by. "Can't we transport the bloody thing into space?" The light bulb goes off and she answers her own question in a burst of speech that's faster than most people can even form the phonemes for the words, "Announcer's mic! If someone can get to the announcer's mic, we MIGHT be able to get the control room to listen to us!" It's like she's working with *two* brains in there, and they just don't communicate fast enough. "John, I'm going to see what's left of the.. well.. sound system. Can you distract.. erm.. it?"

Donavon slinks backwards to hop down, off the center ring. Hands wildly reach for a chair before she whips it towards the creature. "Hey! Ugly! Over here! Want some of this?" she taunts. Surely that would call the beast. "Let's try to hit it from all sides. We might be able to confuse it and stall for time!" She glances one quick look to the crowd. "For Saint's Sake, can anyone toss us a weapon?" Chair number two is taken, held in a manner as a lion tamer would to the cat beast.

Vimes moves in closer towards the beast, chair held before him in a warding manner as tries to draw the mugato's focus on himself, "Come on, you ugly son of a...come and get me. Let's go."

"Stun? Are you kidding, just kill the thing!" Harris calls over the din, kicking up his own phaser a few notches.

. o O Harris thinks, "Die, dirty damn ape!"

When Takamura hits the mat, he takes aim at the beast the best he can in the confusion. Trying to draw a bead as quickly as possible, he doesn't change his phaser's setting from heavy stun.

Turtledove takes her action to deter Harris. She attempts to get his attention with her hand on his back, as she raises her phaser. "There're too many people, Rob."

GAME: Hurley contests her Intellect/perception & Search+A vs Challenging and Fails.

GAME: Harris has the flaw of Stubborn at -1.

GAME: Harris contests his Presence/willpower/empathy (claiming Advantage) vs Turtledove's Presence/empathy & Persuasion and Fails.

GAME: Turtledove spends a courage point.

GAME: Turtledove contests her Coordination/dexterity & Energy Weapon/phaser (claiming Advantage) vs Mugato's Coordination/reaction & Dodge (given Advantage) and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Takamura contests his Coordination/dexterity & Energy Weapon/phaser vs Mugato's Coordination/reaction & Dodge (given Advantage) and Succeeds.

The mugato takes a hit from Takamura, a glancing hit from Turtledove, and hits the deck, while Harris just sits and looks like he'd like to phaser the deck. As the panic just barely starts to abate, the cool wash of the transporter beam from the Thomas Paine grabs the away team...

"We've got them, sir." the operations officer reports to Goodwin.

"Sir! Klingon Bird of Prey, decloaking portside!" the science officer calls.

"Red alert, shields up, keep weapons on stand-by," says Goodwin, his mind now racing. He wasn't supposed to even be here today! "Get me scans on that Bird of Prey. I want to know if it's hostile." Beat. "Helm. Lay in course for four-one-nine, maximum cruise, on my mark."

"Trying, sir..." the science officer replies. "Too late, she already recloaked. I... I think they beamed something off the station, but I'm not sure."

"Course plotted and laid in, sir," the helm officer reports as the ship spins around and works on getting out of Korolev space as quickly as possible.

"We don't know if it's dead," Hurley insists to Caeli as she follows the blue team commander to the bridge. "We NEED to get it out of there in the event that it's *not*. There are *people* there, and scoundrels or not, we're still responsible for their safety and protection!" She's definitely taking the officer bit very seriously.

"We don't know if it's dead," Hurley insists to Caeli before he heads for the bridge, planting herself behind the transporter console. She's -not- moving. "We NEED to get it out of there in the event that it's *not*. There are *people* there, and scoundrels or not, we're still responsible for their safety and protection!" She's definitely taking the officer bit very seriously.

Caeli dematerializes in the transporter room, taking just a moment to get his bearings before moving to a bulkhead and opening it, going for the emergency Type II contained within. He nods once to Hurley, not responding, but keys up the comm. "Caeli to bridge. Commander, permission to transport back over; we're re-armed. There's still a chance to apprehend Krathe, and there's a creature loose in the arena that will eventually wake up from its stun and start slaughtering civilians."

Turtledove looks mildly at Caeli and Hurley. She gives them an optimistic smile, before she heads out, to the bridge.

. o O Turtledove thinks, "This is good. I think we learned a lot from this mission."

Vimes goes about getting himself armed once again as well, echoing Caeli's sentiment, "Lieutenant Caeli is right, sir. Krathe knew we were coming. We have to bring him in, or take him down, before we lose him for good."

"Mark," Goodwin says, doing that wrist-flick thing again towards the viewscreen, before he even looks back towards those entreating him to go back. "We have a screen of picket ships looking to blow us to bits, and in all likelihood that Bird of Prey just beamed out your man. We're going home, gentlemen. Game over." And, indeed, it's mission over as the Paine jumps to warp, high-tailing it away from the station.