There for the Taking

 Episode Name:  There for the Taking

   Written By:  Grey

         Cast:  Bardos, Goodwin, Grey, Halena, Hertzler, Laco, Nicolo Trebar, O'Rielly, Ohlstorm and Vedano.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Grey

     Aired On:  Sat Nov 12 15:02:55 2005

     Stardate:  55405.1

Time: Sat Nov 05 18:41:07 2005

Stardate: 55388.7

The camera fades in, the transporter room of the USS Shadowfax coming into view. Inside of the room stand a crewman and a short man with Captain's pips at his collar. "Last time we ran black operations on Torda the team got stung and a member killed. Make sure you keep your eyes on the readings and are ready for emergency beamout at any time." Clearly the Captain is giving some strict orders to the transporter chief. "Let's get ready to move. The team should be arriving in a moment and we've received the coordinates and green light from the contact on planet."

Enter Goodwin, tapping with some annoyance at a beat-up Bajoran tricorder. "One hundred fifty four sensor arrays and only the Prophets know how many of them are working." He's overhauled his appearance a bit - brown hair has been dyed black, he hasn't shaved during the two day ride and some stubble is on his otherwise boyish face. Contacts make eyes green. He's wearing a white 'poet's blouse' sort of top, with brown trousers and boots. "Captain." A nod.

Laco enters the transporter room. He is dressed in standard, terran clothing. A pair of denim pants, and a heavy black jacket with a large hood. He probably won't fit in with the native population, but would on Earth or any of its colonies. He looks at the Captain. He says nothing.

O'Rielly steps into the transporter room quickly following behind Laco. Unlike last time when he just had a shaved head, this time he has hair and looks definitively Bajoran. Black hair, customary ear-ring, slightly puffed out cheeks and the ridged nose, and of course typical Bajoran garb, this time in green. He doesn't even make a look towards the Captain

The captain turns from the chief to the entering officers and nods. "We're ready whenever you are. The mission is a go." A slight pause to look over the three. "Good luck down there, gentlemen. Let's get a little back from Leyton."

. o O Bardos thinks, "Hell, let's flush him out. I'd like to see his precious Corso go toe to toe with my ship. We'd bury him."

Goodwin nods his head in reply, going to step up onto the transporter pad. "Thanks, Captain," replies the Commander, waiting for the other two to join him.

O'Rielly just moves to step up on the transporter pad, still remaining quiet.

Laco glances at the captain one more time, then steps up onto the transporter pad. "There is no such thing as luck."

Captain Bardos nods to the three, then turns to the chief. "Send them down, Mister Heldman," he says, before turning and heading for the transporter room exit.

Once the transporter beam has finished depositing the three men on Torda's surface, they see they're in a darkened alleyway. A quick look each way will show that the alley is empty, at least with the exception of a small cat like animal that's gnawing on some leftover rubbish. Light spills from under a nearby doorway, and along with the sounds of partying coming from the room beyond the door, the light casts an sickly glow on the alleyway.

. o O O'Rielly thinks, "If this were the last time I beam down to this godforsaken planet I couldn't be happier."

Laco says, "Bristol, Technological signatures." Laco says as soon as the transporter cycle ends. "This place is practically a Prime Directive world. I want to know about emissions from devices that could only have been made in the last fifty years." A slight inclination of his head towards Goodwin, "Joshua, scan for threats. Both of you, five minutes.""

GAME: Goodwin spends a courage point.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: O'Rielly spends a courage point.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

"We've got one human signature, approaching east end. Two minutes e-t-a," responds 'Joshua,' after consulting his busted Bajoran tricorder. He glances that way, trying to focus through the dim light.

O'Rielly shakes his head and pulls out his newer Rynkan tricorder and looks it over for a moment. After a scan he says, "I've got nothing out of the ordinary."

Laco begins to head for the alley's exit. "Very well. Put them away."

Goodwin pockets his tricorder and nods his head, going to fall in step behind and slightly to the left of Laco. "Moving," he says, simply, glancing behind, occasionally.

O'Rielly takes up the back behind both Laco and Goodwin and follows, observing

Hertzler steps up to the end of the alley, clearly palming something in one hand while he glances to the team. After looking over the three he slides whatever it was back into his pocket and nods. "Let's get moving gentlemen. I hate wondering around out here."

. o O O'Rielly thinks, "great, him"

Laco falls into step with Hertzler without pause or comment.

"Kris, always a pleasure," says Josh wryly, shaking his head as he falls into step with the two Starfleet intelligence men.

O'Rielly just remains in the back now

Hertzler glances to Goodwin and scowls. A real, deep scowl. "Don't use names. You're not a friend, and I have no desire for you to say something stupid and cause trouble for this mission or for me." That said he shakes his head and turns back the way he came and sets a firm, quick pace along the edge of the street.

Laco ignores the interchange between Hertzler and Goodwin. "Tell us who we will be meeting with."

. o O Hertzler is in a rather foul mood. "What were you thinking bringing this guy along? He's got three left feet."

Goodwin shakes his head and keeps moving, unperturbed, apparently. He waits to hear what awaits them as well.

Hertzler waves Laco off with a little hand movement. "We'll talk in a couple of minutes," he replies, continuing on in the same direction.

Laco walks on in silence, in that case.

. o O Laco feels himself preparing to strike.

O'Rielly continues on in silence as well.

And Goodwin makes three, allowing the time to pass.

The four men make their way through the streets, walking for about fifteen minutes in silence. Finally Hertzler reaches a building that was his apparent target. He leans up against the wall near the door, covering his movements from the street and withdraws a tricorder. After scanning for a moment he slips the tricorder away, punches in the access code and then opens the door. He ducks inside and turns back, waiting on the others to enter before saying, "Let's see all your equipment."

Laco steps into the building and throws back his hood. He pulls a PADD of Ferengi construction out of his coat and tosses it to Hertzler.

Goodwin dutifully proffers his own Bajoran beat-up tricorder and Federation PADD. "Best we could do on short notice," he mutters, by way of explanation.

Hertzler looks over the assorted gear, before he turns and moves to a wall in the small room. A second later the wall turns into a door and some sort of shielded locker is exposed. Inside is a collection of tricorders, phasers, disruptors, knives, padds and even Torda clothing. "Feel free to equip yourselves. I'll give you the meet details in a moment."

Laco steps towards the locker and glances over the contents. After a moment, he begins to select items from the horde quickly, sliding them away into his pockets. A disruptor, PADD, tricorder, and knife all disappear into various places inside.

O'Rielly pulls out his equipment and shows it to Hertzler, it's pretty common stuff. He looks impressed. "I'll take some of those." No knife for Bristol, but a phaser, PADD, Tricorder all quickly are into his posession.

"And here I went on a last-minute shopping spree for nothing." Goodwin selects a Type I phaser look-alike for himself, for better pocketing, and gets rid of his junkers for a better PADD and tricorder. Clothing is swapped out for similar, yet differently cut Tordan outfits.

. o O Goodwin thinks, "Figures Laco would take a disruptor rather than a phaser. Why stun when you can kill?"

"Now, I can't go to the meet," starts Hertzler, moving to take a seat at the small table. "The thug you're meeting, a guy who goes by the name of Porcos,knows me, and ain't all that fond of me after I cut him out previous deals. I set up the meet through a contact, so you three will need to meet Porcos on your own. He's the front man for Leyton's right hand man. I'm not sure of his name, but he's operated here for some time now."

Goodwin slips his phaser into his trouser pocket, nodding his head at Hertlzer as he comes to seat. "Well, we got the real thing for him," remarks Josh, looking at Laco, and then O'Rielly - bearer of the gel.

Laco takes a seat on the edge of the table. "So. Why is Torda so important to Leyton?" He glances over his shoulder at O'Rielly. "Bristol, make a note to search the records for missing officers close to Leyton, whom this could be. Assuming we don't find out here."

O'Rielly nods, "I will do so. I might be able to determine who it is if it's someone I recognize from my days..."

Hertzler rolls his shoulders to Laco. "I can't say for sure. He seems to want to cause trouble the Klingon, Romulan and Federation governments, so the Mandel and Dulcais Sectors sit right on the borders of all three and Torda is unaligned. Beyond, that, your guess is as good as mine."

"All right. Where are we meeting our contact, and when has it been arranged for?" asks Goodwin, seeming content, for now, with those answers from Hertzler.

Laco nods once, then pulls the knife back out of his jacket and begins to play with its edge.

O'Rielly examines his now phaser and trying to make sure he's familiar with it.

. o O Goodwin thinks, "Why don't we make Phil go to Counseling again?"

Hertzler reaches into his pocket and tosses a chip on the table. "The map is there to the meet. Its a bar on the third floor of some inn in the center of town. One of you take a seat at the end of the bar. A server will stop to talk with you and say, 'That seat is reserved for me, gent.' Your response is, 'I think enough forso will buy anything, including this seat.'" Hertzler looks to the three. "You have that word for word?"

"Enough forso," Goodwin repeats to himself, familiarizing himself with the unfamiliar world. "Sure," he says, thoughtful.

Laco nods again, and slips the knife back into his jacket. He points at O'Rielly. "You're in the Big Chair." To Goodwin. "You take a seat near the exit. If things go sour, return here. I'll be deeper in the room, somewhere between the two of you."

. o O Goodwin thinks, "Playing with your knife, perhaps."

"One last thing," adds Hertzler. "This place is a dive. Its full of thugs and criminals. Watch your backs." The man looks between the three. "Anything else you need?"

"I spent six weeks in a Klingon dilitium mine. I think I'll be alright." Laco adds, dryly. He pushes off of the table. "Lets go."

O'Rielly nods, "Aye sir." He looks to Hertzler, "You can say that again."

Goodwin nods his head and pushes himself back from the table to stand up, checking his phaser. "Got it," he says, simply.

Hertzler nods to the men as they prepare to leave, remaining seated.

O'Rielly turns to head out as wellwith everyone

Laco moves out of the safehouse, or whatever it is. He says to his companions, quietly, "Set your phasers to at least setting four. Stun settings will not be credible."

"As opposed to incredible power that is three?" asks Goodwin as he reaches for his phaser to attune it. "Because we're not real ne'do'wells unless we're willing to blow away the opposition?"

Laco continues to walk. "You can aim for the shoulder or leg, Joshua. Unless you don't trust your hand to stay steady enough in a firefight."

Goodwin seems not at all pleased with the idea of setting his phaser to a thermal setting. "Or I can set it to heavy stun. Because in the middle of a firefight, is someone going to check for stun versus thermal? I'm just saying." But he is fiddling with his unit behind Laco.

Laco stops, and moves into as shadowy a place as he can find. He looks around for observers, then holds out his hand. "Weapon."

"Scalpel?" replies Goodwin, perhaps somewhat intentionally playing dumb at this point. He is, however, reaching for the Type I in his pocket.

Laco waits, continuing to hold his hand out.

Goodwin flicks a setting on it and rolls his eyes, shaking his head in continued disbelief at Laco.

Laco nods at Goodwin. His hand is still held out.

The phaser is handed over in due time, but not without some muttering. "It's set," Josh finally says. "Now can we get to this meeting, credibility intact, or what?" He waits for it back.

Laco accepts the weapon and turns to face away from the street. With the tinkle of blade on zipper, Laco draws his knife and jams it down into the setting toggle. With another stab for good measure, he returns the stabbing-iron to its hiding place, and holds the weapon back out to Goodwin. "That's better. Here you go."

"I'm certain that's not in the field manuals about repair for this device," mutters Goodwin, looking down at the phaser and shaking his head. He slips the phaser back in his pocket, moving, once more, for the place of The Meeting.

. o O Laco feels amusement.

Laco shoves his hands in his pockets, and continues on his way as well.

. o O Goodwin has some choice words for Laco, beginning at 'Crazy' and just trailing off into a stream of expletives.

O'Rielly just grins as he sets his device for the required setting. "Let's just get this over with shall we?" he says after rolling his eyes. "There's a lot of unique field modifications that you don't know about I'm sure."

It takes about ten minutes for the team to work their way towards the center of the city. As they move the streets grow busier with evening traffic. Vehicles hover past while Tordans out for the evening walk past laughing, joking or even just striding quietly.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Intellect/Perception vs Difficult and Fails.

Laco inquires, "Any final questions?"

GAME: O'Rielly spends a courage point.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Intellect/Perception+A vs Difficult and Fails.

Goodwin shakes his head. "Nothing here," he says, though he goes glance towards his pocket briefly.

O'Rielly shakes his head, "Be on your guard. I wouldn't be surprised if we're already being watched, but if we are, I don't know...

Ahead the building which is their target becomes visible down the street. Over a door, which through the windows clearly leads to a dimly lit stairwell, hangs a sign which is nothing more then a slightly warped triangle. As the three approach a drunken patron stumbles out and starts down the street.

Goodwin tosses a look towards the drunk, but shakes his head, waving it off as just nerves. "Yeah, well, I wouldn't be surprised," says Josh, making for the door.

O'Rielly responds, "Then don't be," he says as he reaches the door and pushes in, not even waiting for the other two.

Laco pauses, letting O'Rielly climb the staircase. He holds a hand out to stop all but the most headstrong of Goodwins. "Enter at intervals." After a moment, he himself heads up the stairs.

After a ten-one-hundred count, Goodwin makes his way up after as well, bringing on up the rear.

. o O Goodwin thinks, "So if I was the face for this, why is O'Rielly going to be the one to make contact?"

The bar is indeed on the third floor, and it is indeed a dive. Half the lights seem to be broken. Half the tables empty and the other half occupied by a single person drinking in silence. There is no laughing, only quiet music and really nothing welcoming about the place.

Laco seats himself at a table near the bar.

O'Rielly eyes the bar area as he looks around. He finds the seat at the end of the bar that was mentioned, and heads to his newfound seat, but not without surveying everything and everyone before him.

GAME: O'Rielly has the merit of Sense Of Character at 2.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Intellect/Perception+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Intellect/Perception vs Challenging and Marginally Succeeds.

Goodwin chooses himself a table near the door. Since most, it seems, are drinking alone, it is a natural choice for Goodwin to do the same. His fingers drum lightly on the table, tapping out a nothing rhythm.

GAME: Laco contests his Intellect/Perception vs Challenging and Succeeds.

O'Rielly looks around the bar a little bit, just waiting for the server to get over here

Laco rests his elbows on the table, and his chin his hands. Laco hates the waiting part.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Personal Equipment vs Moderate and Fails.

Halena, after a few minutes, moves towards O'Rielly. She's an older waitress with an empty tray dangling at arm's end. Halena whispers to O'Rielly, "I think you made a mistake. That seat is reserved for me, gent."

Goodwin raises his hand slightly as a waitress passes him by. He orders himself a 'drink, whatever's cheap' so as to avoid the possibility of flubbing local beverages. Like any bored trader, he pulls out his PADD to examine its contents. A brief frown at what's on the screen and he shakes his head.

Laco makes no move to flag down a server, content to stew in his own juices at his table for the time being.

O'Rielly looks Halena over for a moment before putting on his best baby-face Bajoran smile as he says in a slightly different voice than he normally uses, "I think enough forso will buy anything, including this seat."

Halena snorts at O'Rielly, reaches out and grabs a half full glass from the counter and proceeds to toss it right in Bristol's face. "Your forso ain't buying me," she snarks before storming behind the bar and through a door there.

Goodwin glances up slightly and shakes his head in a vague reaction to what's going on at the bar. 'Sucker' says the look, but then he turns back to his PADD.

. o O Goodwin thinks, "Better he made the contact than me."

Laco shifts a little on his seat.

O'Rielly suddenly gets up, he doesn't look very happy about that as he moves to follow Halena behind the bar and right through the door.

Laco waits patiently in his seat. Leres has disconnected.

Goodwin is left at his seat as well, tapping idly at the PADD, looking through the news feeds. He looks thoughtful for a moment, glancing up, towards Laco, but then back to the PADD.

Inside the room Halena is tapping at a console near the far wall. Two men, armed with new Starfleet phaser rifles, are seated in there as well. When O'Rielly steps through the door both rifles rise up to draw a bead on him. Halena turns to face him and rolls her eyes. "Why did you need to be a fool? You knew you were meeting Porcos."

O'Rielly puts his hands up in little bit of a disarming gesture when inside the back room he has the two rifles drawn on him. "Can't a guy just have a little bit of fun?" he asks grinning mischeiviously.

Laco outside of the back-room, Laco leans back in his chair stretching. His arms extend fully, hands clenched. Then, for a moment, he extends all ten fingers, then the five on the left hand. The gesture is very fast, and followed by another. The pointer-finger and thumb gesture that many would recognize as a pistol. Done now, he leans forward again, and continues to brood.

"No, not when you're asking to get shot," Halena says, looking around and then lifting some sort of small statue. "If you walk out of this room without a mark its an invitation for any scumbag from this place to chase me in. So, bub, I'm going to deck you with this and send you reeling back into the main room. Can I trust you won't barge back in here, and you'll let me hit you?" he says, making her way towards O'Rielly.

O'Rielly rolls his eyes for a moment and says, "Just do it."

GAME: Halena contests his Primitive Weaponry vs Routine and Succeeds.

Halena grins a little, clearly enjoying this, before she hefts the statue like object and decks O'Rielly right in the face. No doubt he'll he sporting a cut or black eye from it.

O'Rielly reels out of the room and back into the main bar with a definite cut and the start of a bruise forming. He puts his hand up to his face as he moves to sit down in his seat again.

Laco almost stands when O'Rielly exits the room in such a manner, but relaxes when he simply returns to the bar.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Intellect/Perception vs Routine and Fails.

GAME: Laco contests his Intellect/Perception vs Routine and Fails.

Goodwin tries not to smile at the sight of O'Rielly with a nasty gash on his head. He fails. Despite that, he seems concerned, tossing a glance Laco-wards which is then directed sort-of-back to his PADD.

After O'Rielly is sitting again for a few minutes a man stands from a table and makes his over to the seat O'Rielly. He slides onto the seat before lowering his head to whisper to O'Rielly.

A featured man is quiet for a moment before speaking. A featured man whispers to O'Rielly, "I take it that you have the product? After that rather silly show I hope you're not wasting our time."

A dark featured man is quiet for a moment before speaking. A dark featured man whispers to O'Rielly, "I take it that you have the product? After that rather silly show I hope you're not wasting our time."

O'Rielly rolls the eye he's not hiding with his hand at the moment. O'Rielly whispers to A dark featured man, "Yeah, I got your product." He makes no reference to where it is, just sits there.

Goodwin occasionally glances up towards the bar, his hand settling around his drink when it finally arrives from one of the other servers. But he does little more than glance at his PADD, not drinking the swill.

Ohlstorm nods a little. Ohlstorm whispers to O'Rielly, "Good. Collect your partners and let's do business." As he turns from O'Rielly, Laco and Goodwin can easily identify the ex-Starfleet officer. Without waiting on O'Rielly he turns and heads for the door out, only he goes up the stairs and not down them.

O'Rielly stands up from the bar and nods his head a little in a follow gesture and starts to follow Ohlstorm

Laco stands and follows.

Goodwin tosses out a few pieces of local currency to pay for his drink, leaving the drink itself untouched. His PADD is pocketed and he makes to follow, nodding his assent to O'Rielly.

When they reach the stairwell Ohlstorm is already exiting the door a flight up, a door appears to lead out to the roof.

Laco climbs the stairs quickly, to catch up with his fellow Intelligence Officer. He says quietly, as comes up beside him. "Remember."

O'Rielly just nods and leads the trio out the door.

Goodwin looks confused at an admonition to 'remember' but he trails behind Laco and O'Rielly, so that he's the third one through the door rather than going all through at once.

The roof is occupied now by four men. Ohlstorm is there, along with three others and Ohlstorm is the only one not armed. Another of the men would be well known to the team -- one Nicolo Trebar. Laco and O'Rielly would know him by name while Goodwin would know him as the man who had a broken leg on Bak'TUR. Trebar steps forward, phaser in held half cocked. "Its about time you showed up."

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Intellect/Perception+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Laco remains near the door, and crosses his arms. His hood is still up. He allows O'Rielly to take the fore.

O'Rielly shrugs, "Misunderstanding."

Goodwin moves himself forward slightly, so that he can stand with O'Rielly. If he's here to be a face, well, it's time to be the face. "About time we finally got down to business," he remarks, nodding at Trebar.

Nicolo Trebar raises an eyebrow slightly. "Well, let's. You're supposed to be selling something, so let's see it." The other three remain standing and watching the deal.

O'Rielly reaches behind his back where he pulls out a pack that was strapped to his back. He smiles as he reaches into the pack and pulls out the gel. "I believe this is what you're looking for?"

Goodwin waves a hand at O'Rielly and the gel. "We've got a sampler. But it's the real deal - and we've got more of it for the right price."

Laco isn't even laconic, he's utterly silent.

Nicolo Trebar flicks his head towards one of the others. "Gravos, take this and go test it." At that one of the strange men, at least strange to Laco and Goodwin, steps forward and reaches out to take the gel from O'Rielly. "Once Tranner has tested it we will talk about price," says Trebar.

Goodwin seems unconcerned by the various rifles and demands to test. "It's good stuff," he replies. "For whatever you need it for. What sort of quantities you looking to get your hands on?" He quirks a brow, slightly, making intragalactic weapons trader small-talk.

O'Rielly rolls his eyes and looks over to Goodwin, shooting daggers, klingon ones at that, recently sharpened, at the disguised commander. He does nothing in regards to his 'old friend' taking the gel.

Laco remains quiet. Perhaps he's trying to be the 'muscle' of this operation.

Tranner takes the gel and he and the other strange man move off the roof and through the door to the stairwell. Trebar turns to Goodwin. "You don't take a hint, do you?"

"Or we can stand in silence. Customer's always right." Goodwin cracks a cocky smile and plays it cool, watching Trebar and waiting for the test results to come back.

Laco steps away from the door, and a little closer to O'Rielly.

O'Rielly can't help but smirk, "He's a little slow on the uptake, always has been. Almost a pity case, you know..."

Nicolo Trebar looks to O'Rielly then turns to Goodwin. "In case you don't get it, bud, this ain't a game. Don't joke, don't ask questions. Just wai..." he pauses and pulls a device from his pocket. After looking at it, he says, "Alright, the gel is good. How many litres can you get ahold of?"

Laco speaks up, "I think we should discuss delivery, first. It'll make a difference."

O'Rielly looks back to Laco for a moment, "He's got a point. Method of delivery will affect how much we can get to you."

As Laco and O'Rielly have the matter covered, Goodwin-the-mook offers nothing more.

Nicolo Trebar smiles slightly. "Who says that we can't pick it up here? However, let's just say that price isn't an issue unless your delivery price is absurd."

"Ain't the point," cuts in Goodwin. "Depends how many Feds we need to get through to get to the delivery-site. And that's gonna depend on where we're dropping it. So where's it goin'?"

O'Rielly glances over to Goodwin again, then looks back towards Laco.

The hooded man shrugs, "And our supply isn't on planet." Laco says, "Given the fact that I doubt you plan to use it here, given the fact that the locals are a bit...lets say rustic, you might be interested to know we can deliver anywhere in the tri-sector area for a nominal fee. Your ships are freed up, and we make a few more credits."

GAME: Nicolo Trebar contests his Intellect/Perception vs Challenging and Fails.

"Let's pretend we want it delivered her," replies Trebar. "How many litres can you deliver?"

Laco shrugs. "Here? Probably more than you'd ever be able to use. Spread across multiple shipments, of course. I don't think it would be beyond our capacity to supply you with five, maybe six liters a week."

Goodwin nods slightly at that, as if agreeing with his 'colleague' in the rear.

O'Rielly looks back to Laco then nods in response.

Nicolo Trebar nods once. "And let's say you needed to run it 5 light years inside Klingon space, coreward from Bak'TUR?"

Goodwin looks thoughtful. "That runs us through Seventeenth Fleet territory," he remarks, as if just ruminating aloud about the complications, but not committing to a number.

Laco inquires, "What world? Klingon space might be problematic. Quantities might have to be reduced so that they can be properly shielded from sensors. For some reason, there's been a bit of 'official' interest in this stuff lately."

O'Rielly says, "Yes, it's caused us a few problems, but nothing we haven't handled so far."

Ohlstorm for his part remains standing quietly, watching what's occuring.

"I guess you forgot about the Klingon border you'd be violating," asks Trebar, hmming softly to Goodwin. "You'd won't be delivering to a planet, but to a ship. And not a Klingon ship either."

. o O Nicolo Trebar thinks, "Let's see what you have to say about that."

Laco says, "We'd need the exact coordinates to know for sure, but it would likely take a bit longer to transit, and we might have to bring smaller quantities. I'd estimate about ten liters a week. Maybe a bit more. Like I said, I have to take a look at a starmap."

"Space is a big place, and ships are a lot smaller, especially if it's one smart enough to stay off official scanners, though," remarks Goodwin, nodding in agreement with Laco. So as if to explain the sudden jump in supplies.

Nicolo Trebar shakes his head a little. "The meet will change. The area will stay the same, but it will move each time. Like I said, five to ten light years inside of the Klingon border, between Bak'TUR and where the Klingon and Romulan borders meet. There is no planet, no outpost, nothing but space there.

"It'll take some games of 'dodge the patrol' and more time, but I think we can swing those sorts of quantities in that area," agrees Goodwin. "For our fee, of course, but you said that'd not be an issue."

Laco nods. "Well, we've told you our difficulties. So we can't promise that the schedule won't change from time to time, given that our delivery point will be moving. Anything special we should know about the pick-up? Carrying this stuff could be very dangerous. I'd hate for them to get caught, and point their fingers back at us. So if it is some low-warp shuttle, I think we'll have to arrange a different delivery location."

O'Rielly remains quiet while his associates speak

Nicolo Trebar chuckles softly. "Its not a low warp shuttle. You'd drool to get your hands on it."

. o O Nicolo Trebar thinks, "Most Starfleet Captains would drool to get command of the Corso."

O'Rielly laughs in response to that. "Drool huh? And you were telling him not to make jokes."

Laco shrugs, and shifts his arms, "If you say so. Coordinates?"

Goodwin nods his head in agreement, though he allows himself a smirk at the mention of 'drooling.'

Nicolo Trebar shakes his head to Laco and doesn't even bat an eye to O'Rielly or Goodwin. "When will you have a delivery ready?"

Laco says, simply, "Tomorrow."

O'Rielly nods, "Evening."

Nicolo Trebar raises his eyebrows slightly. "So soon? That will take about five days to arrange on our end. Will your people be able to make it into Klingon space that soon?"

Laco says, "It can leave tomorrow. How long it takes to get to its destination depends on what that destination is."

Nicolo Trebar taps on his PADD a moment, then tosses it across to Laco. "There."

Goodwin flicks his eyes towards Laco when the PADD goes flying, following its arc.

O'Rielly glances to Laco, "Want to send chuckles over there," referring to Goodwin, "to get those coordinates back to the crew?"

Laco snatches the PADD out of the air. His own PADD is pulled out of his voluminous jacket. "In a minute, let me crunch the numbers." He works between the two, looking back and forth. "I think the /Ladybird/ can make the run in about eight days. Though if it runs into trouble, it will be pasted. Though, if we send in the /I'm Flying/ a little later, and wait for that second batch to be ready, we can probably get you ten liters right away. It will take three weeks, though. This area of space can be a bit hairy. But /I'm Flying/ can probably outrun them. She's outrun everything we've encountered in that region before."

Goodwin nods his head in agreement with all of that. Quite sage, Laco. Quite sage.

"Three weeks," says Trebar, slowly. "We can wait three weeks if you can make good on at least ten litres. Double the payment if you can bring fifteen litres."

O'Rielly grins, "I like the sound of that." He looks to Goodwin, "You heard him, get that back to the ship ASAP, we got some goods to deliver."

Laco shakes his head. He also cuts O'Rielly off with a chop into the air. "We can't bring fifteen liters in one shipment. However we could perhaps set up a system whereby we run two ships at once. It'll be risky, but for double the payment...However, I'm not willing to deliver to the same location twice. And my ships would have to maintain comm silence while in Klingon space. Perhaps if you could supply us with some headings? When we're ready, we'll just meet you along your ship's current course."

Nicolo Trebar frowns slightly at that and leans in close to Ohlstorm. The two whisper for a moment before Trebar turns back to Laco and pulls an isolinear chip from his pocket and tosses that to Laco. "Five meetings coordinates."

O'Rielly nods, "Two ships are better than one."

GAME: Laco spends a courage point.

GAME: Laco contests his Personal Equipment+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

Laco slides the chip into the PADD given to him by the NFA goons. Again, he works between the two. "Alright. I think, given this course, I can set up five meetings for you. Given these time factors, you should have about thirty-five liters of the stuff in just about a month and a half. There is one minor problem, though..."

. o O Nicolo Trebar thinks, "After thirty litres we'll have enough and you'll be dead, you little weasel."

O'Rielly looks to Laco, very curious now, not really knowing which problem he's referring to.

Nicolo Trebar turns his attention to Laco. "Problem? I thought you could make good on this. You'd best not have wasted our time."

Goodwin tries not to screw up his brow too much. Instead he just waits for what the problem is.

Laco quirks his lips, and steps forward. Flicking back his hood, a faint smile is on his lips. "Maybe I did, but I don't think so. You see..." The smile broadens. "You see, there isn't *really* any other gel. That is all the old commander here could get from the labs. We aren't traders." Laco spreads his arms, "In fact, I don't even particularly care for capitalism. I'm Lieutenant Philip James Laco, of Starfleet. This is my associate, Bristol O'Rielly, also of Starfleet." A pause, while he considers something for a moment. "Well, perhaps formerly, now. Before that, formerly of Starfleet Intelligence." He sets his jaw. This subject seems to anger Mister Laco. With a nod to himself, he continues. "I can't supply you with your bioweapon, but I think I can make you an offer just as good, or perhaps better. I just pried the location of your ship from you. A bit convoluted, but perhaps needed to show my skill. A small taste of things to come. Except, to your benefit." He raises his eyebrows. "And all you have to do, is pretty much continue as you are doing. Leytons goals and mine are very much in line. I have a few side-requests, of course, but nothing too terrible." He flicks his head towards Goodwin. "And I suggest you disarm him. There is a phaser hidden on his person. Right now, provided he isn't too frozen with shock and panic, he is probably thinking about using it on us." Laco is sporting a full, toothy, and undeniably cruel grin now.

GAME: Goodwin has the merit of Shrewd at 1.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Intellect/Perception+A vs Difficult and Marginally Fails.

O'Rielly smiles as he reaches up, taking off the prosthetics. "You know Nicolo, when I thought I was just dealing with you, that was one thing, but when I finally figured out that the Admiral was behind it... if only I'd known, things would have turned out much differently." With that, the prosthetics are off, and he looks almost fully like Bristol O'Rielly again, though with darker hair. "I haven't met you yet Jan, but I know you know who I am," he says as well.

Ohlstorm and Trebar are quiet, though their weapons move to both settle on Goodwin. "All of you, drop your weapons now," orders Ohlstorm, his Starfleet training coming through with the order.

Laco, in a companionable enough manner, puts both of the PADDs he is holding into one hand, and slowly, every so slowly, reaches into his jacket and pulls out the disruptor. This, he slowly places on the ground at his feet.

O'Rielly reaches into his own pocket and reaches into another pocket, first pulling out a PADD, then while holding it in one hand, pulling out his phaser and setting it down on the ground as well very slowly.

Goodwin considers Laco's monologue for a long moment, reaching for his phaser in his pocket. He, obviously, is the most hesitent in his motions, seeing as he was the one just sold out by the Starfleet Intelligence operative(s). But rather than throwing the phaser at his feet, he bolts for the door, in a sprint.

GAME: Goodwin spends a courage point.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Athletics/Running+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.

GAME: Nicolo Trebar spends a courage point.

GAME: Nicolo Trebar contests his Energy Weapon/Phaser+A vs Difficult and Succeeds.

. o O Laco thinks, "Miss! Miss!"

GAME: Ohlstorm spends a courage point.

GAME: Ohlstorm contests his Energy Weapon/Phaser+A vs Difficult and Succeeds.

. o O O'Rielly thinks, "please for the love of god don't be on kill"

O'Rielly looks to Nicolo. "We better move now. A starfleet vessel is watching our locations very clearly. We don't get out of here... well, we might all be screwed."

Goodwin turns for the door and sets off at a run. He almost reaches the door when the blasts from Ohlstorm and Trebar catch him. One was on a thermal setting and the beam cuts through the flesh of his arm. The other beam seems to have been on stun as it doesn't burn flesh. It does however propel Goodwin through the door and into the stairwell. Nicolo snarls, "You two, move now. Leave your gear, leave that man, and go down the stairs. Tranner is at the bottom. Move it!"

. o O O'Rielly thinks, "Godspeed Commander Goodwin"

Laco calls out, his voice full of vitriol, "No, he's MINE!" But, after a moment, he does as he is commanded. He never set down his two PADDs. He holds up the one earlier given to him by the NFA agents. "I doubt you'd like me to leave this lying around." The other PADD, however, is chucked forcefully at the Commander as he steps over him. "I'll be back for you later, Goodwin. Count on that." The second officer probably can't hear him, and probably didn't feel the PADD, which now rests on his back.

O'Rielly starts to follow and head down the stairs, he looks at the slumped body of Goodwin. "I hope you realize we never were your own private fiefdom," he says before he spits on the Commander's unconcious body and heads out.

Down the stairs go Laco, O'Rielly, Trebar and Ohlstorm. The camera remains on the top landing, following the four as they descend out of site. Then the camera pans to show Goodwin slumped on the landing, his chest rising and following slowly, before zooming in. A list of files can be seen on the PADD, the bottom named 'Apologies. As moment later and a transporter beam energizes and Goodwin fades from view.

Time: Thu Nov 10 01:00:50 2005

Stardate: 55398.9

The infirmary of a Starfleet vessel slowly fades, the camera sitting near floor level and looking up into the room. Someone is laying on a biobed nearby, the surgical support frame down, and the edge of the bed obscuring the view. A doctor is reviewing the data on the screen at the foot of the bed, occasionally tapping the console for some reason.

Into the infirmary strides the ship's captain, Captain Bardos, and right up to the biobed. "How's our patient, Mikael? You ready to wake him up yet?"

Vedano glances up to the Captain and nods. "Aye, sir. Give me a moment," he replies, before shifting to the side of the bad and tapping on the the surgical support frame for a moment. "A little injection here, another here, and he'll be awake in sixty seconds or so." That said, he flips up the clamshell even as the camera moves and shows an unconscious Lieutenant Commander Goodwin on the bed.

Bardos nods to the doctor, wordlessly, and remains standing beside the bed. He clasps a PADD with both hands before himself and waits on Goodwin.

Fifty-nine. Sixty. Eyes flutter open, and Josh Goodwin looks like he was, well, just operated on. Which is to say he looks like hell. "Laco and O'Rielly -- made a break -- should have known throwing out the dart board was just an act." Dartboard?

Bardos nods solemnly to Goodwin. "I'll get the details from the report, Commander, but what in seven hells happened down there?"

"We made the contact," says Goodwin. "It was going fine, Laco got the coordinates for the delivery. Then he and O'Rielly drew on me, revealed themselves, and sold me up the river." He's still fuzzy-headed, words sort of stumbling out. "They apparently made a break for it with Ohlstrom and his friends."

Bardos blinks a little, leaning forward slightly. "Ohlstorm? You mean Lieutenant Jan Ohlstorm, the one you recently filed a warrant for? That's who you met down there?"

"That's the fella," agrees Goodwin, rubbing at the bridge of his nose, then glancing at the arm. "What the --" He trails off, stowing his questions on his health for now. "And he had three friends of his, too. We figured he was involved in the New Federation weapons smuggling, since he was involved in the murder of that Klingons weapon trader. This just confirms it."

Bardos reaches down with one hand to still him. "Just relax, Commander. You're all patched up. That wound on your arm was pretty nasty, if you hadn't been treated, but you're fine now. Give it a couple of days rest on the return trip and you should be fine." A little pause. "We did recover something from Lieutenant Laco that I think you should see."

"What is it? A picture of my face with some darts on it? It sounds ironically appropriate for Laco," mutters Goodwin, sounding less than happy with the erstwhile Intelligence officer. He tilts his head slightly to regard the captain.

Bardos clears his throat sligtly, eyebrows raising. "No. Its more like a love letter, actually."

Goodwin takes a deep breath and sounds hesitant. "All right. Lay it on me," says Goodwin, reaching out for it with one arm. He then realizes that's his bad arm, and switches for his good one.

Bardos doesn't offer up anything. "The letter was inside a file titled 'apologies' and read, and I quote, 'Hugs and Kisses, LT L.' The letter aside, the file contained some very interesting information." Now the Captain proffers the PADD. "These are the coordinates for potential meeting sites. We can assume that Leyton's base of power is somewhere close given the coordinates are all within four light years of each other. I figure if we act immediately and the Klingons respond, we might have a good chance shaking up their nest and catching a few."

Goodwin takes a deep breath and nods his head. "All right," he says, taking the PADD and looking it over. "When we're in range of the Station, I'll need a comm to the Commander. We should start getting together a fleet and activate a mission team under the Rapid Response rubric for a possible boarding of the Corso, if it comes to that."

Bardos nods to Goodwin. "Its your station, so I will leave the arrangements to yourself. You have access to communications, if you need them. Let me know if there is anything else." A little pause. "We're already halfway home to the station."

"Yeah, I'm just thinking aloud," mutters Goodwin to Bardos, nodding his head. "All right. Thank you Captain, Doctor." A nod to the medical officer that's patched him up. "Now, Mister Laco, I have no idea what you're up to, but I hope you know what you're doing..."

Bardos nods to Goodwin. "Very good, Commander. I need to get back to the bridge," says the captain, before turning on his heel and heading out.

Goodwin sighs and sinks back into the biobed, glancing at his wounded and patched arm. "Wonder if I can get the Combat Medal for this," he reflects, ironically, then turning back to the PADD. "At least could have told me, Laco..."