Levels of Sin

 Episode Name:  Levels of Sin

   Written By:  Larissa

         Cast:  Adansae, Artemisia, Larissa, Nabrun, Park and Shamash.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Artemisia

     Aired On:  Sat Nov 26 05:12:06 2005

     Stardate:  55437.7

Time: Thu Oct 27 21:56:42 2005

Stardate: 55367.3

Shamash inhales the coffee aroma, grabbing a mug, he mentions. "Anything wrong? We are squinting around Riegel and you ask if anything is wrong... What if we get raided? Where is the profit then? Its a risky route we take.. /if/ it works out.. its okay /if/ we get there on time..." pause "Not that there is anything wrong in having /Orion/ as a destination." He puts up a knowing smile, trying to sound the convincing womanizer.

Scene One, Chapter Three. In the mess room of the SS Honeywell. Characters/Cast: Captain Andrew Doran played by Park. 1st Officer Terrence Laramour, played by Shamash. Engineer Jamie Kraft, played by Adansae. Medical Officer Carolyn Kraft played by Nabrun. Helm officer Tevek played by Larissa.

Park steps through the doors and immediately the smile drops off his face and he makes his way toward the buffet. Grabbing up a tray, he makes his way along it, taking a generous helping of eggs, bacon and potatoes, along with a cup of coffee. Moving over to a table, he sits down and begins to eat. A glance up. "Anything going wrong that I need to know about?" Apparently, the question is asked of the entire room.

The woman playing Jamie Kraft is already seated at the table, drinking a cup of coffee and ignoring the tray of congealed breakfast-food that sits in front of her. Perhaps that's on account of her hands being none-too-clean; she appears to have come here directly from the fixing of something-or-another. "A shortage of duct tape and pin screws," she notes with a terse frown. "I don't think those orbital coolant coils are gonna hold out for another cycle, and don't even get me started on the mess that is the chrono-modal flux interociter."

Larissa, playing the part of the Vulcan Tevek, does her best to look unemotional and logical. Taking a seat at the table, she folds her hands primly on its surface. "The helm is...sluggish, Andrew. It would have been beneficial to replace the navigational computer first at least."

Nabrun, as Carolyn Kraft, saunters in in her civvies, looking clean and put together, in direct contrast to her older sister, Jamie. Her hair's pulled up and back, giving her an almost youthful appearance. "Eat," she tells Jamie, passing the other woman. "And you can make just about anything, Jamie, with a little know-how and some ingenuity." A grin splits her face. "Or so you always told me." Ahhh, siblings at their best.

Adansae makes a little face at Carolyn -- a sour, yeah-yeah-yeah face -- but then smiles and picks up her fork. She uses it to punctuate her words. "Far be it for me to spend the morning with the bitching," she retorts. "I'm just saying it'd be nice if we could do some shopping for *new* materials every once in a while. "Replacing the positron auxiliary grid might just seem like one of my whims right now, but just wait until you want this thing to move in a hurry. You think we might need to move in a hurry, Captain?"

Jamike makes a little face at Carolyn -- a sour, yeah-yeah-yeah face -- but then smiles and picks up her fork. She uses it to punctuate her words. "Far be it for me to spend the morning with the bitching," she retorts. "I'm just saying it'd be nice if we could do some shopping for *new* materials every once in a while. "Replacing the positron auxiliary grid might just seem like one of my whims right now, but just wait until you want this thing to move in a hurry. You think we might need to move in a hurry, Captain?"

Terrence Laramour (Shamash) listens to the bits of gripe and information the fellow crew has, Jamie receives a small smile "Never run out of ways to use duct tape even in this age." He peers over to his Captain, "And anything we need to know, Captain?"

Park(Doran) glances over as the sister's come in. "Jaime, I need you to take a look at the Navigational computer again.", he says, stabbing at a bit of egg on his plate. "If we get jumped, we're going to have to be able to maneuver. Other than that, it sounds like everything is about normal."

Carolyn gathers her breakfast, which appears to be something rather healthy looking made of fruits and grains, as well as a glass of juice, and heads for a seat. A second look at Jamie's breakfast has her nose crinkling. "Shame the auto-suture won't work," she replies to no one in particular, then pauses. "Oh, wait. Maybe if we -had- a working one, one that Jamie didn't jury-rig..." She's grumbling, but it appears to be good naturedly. "Morning, all.

Tevek lifts an eyebrow. "Normal, Captain? We're heading into the heart of the Orion Syndicate's territory. I trust you have a plan B if plan A doesn't work...jury rig, Doctor?"

Park(Doran) nods. "Yeah. Normal. We're running into a dangerous part of space and the ship is falling apart at the seams." A sip of his coffee.

Jamie widens her eyes at her sister, her expression settling into one of horror. "Next time, I just won't fuss with your auto-stitcher," she retorts. "After all, my first responsibility is to keep this ship in motion, and that's enough for a team'a six'a me." She settles down over her breakfast, looking more cheerful and more awake.

Laramour (Shamash) frowns. "Not to mention that when we get a limp to the drive, we can write off one fifth of the cargo, as it is a timed delivery. That loss alone will cut my ...our.. margin by 35."

"Then I guess we'd better make it on time.", Park(Doran) comments.

Carolyn tries, and fails, to hide the grin. "Jury rig," she tells Tevek quietly, "Is a manner of fixing something that's so bass-ackwards as to be good. In other words, it's a temporary fix to a problem, and a fix that probably shouldn't work, but does. And plans, plans are good..." She trails off and quirks a brow at Laramour. "That's a bit of a cut."

"You and your margins," Jamie replies to Laramour, expression and tone both cooling as rapidly as her greasy mess of eggs. "There's bigger concerns, you know."

Larissa (Tevek)'s head dips in a nod, then a shake. "Illogical as always, Doctor. But charming, none the less." He looks across the table to the Captain. "You are certain you want to make this gamble, Captain?"

Park (Doran) takes another bite of his eggs. "Don't have much choice in the matter. It was either this or lose the ship. That's not an option, so here we are."

Laramour (Shamash) turns to Jamie, "Yes.. like.. when you will go out with me? I know this nice restaurant on Risa, overlooking the waterfall and the scenery is just perfect." beat "Not to mention a resort hotel very near by."

Carolyn (Nabrun) flashes a grin at Tevek, eyes twinkling. "Logic's overrated," she begins to tease, then blinks at Laramour again, looking between the man and Jamie. Yes, someone appears to be watching the ball in the tennis match. At Laramour's comment, she inches sideways on her seat slightly, moving toward Doran, protectively taking her bowl with her.

Jamie pulls another face from her repertoire to fix Laramour with. "Dinner? Waterfall? Scenery? She all but chokes. "I've got a ship ready to come apart at the seams to worry about, and you're..." She cuts herself off with a final glower to the man seated across the table, then rises to refill her coffee cup.

Park (Doran) glances over at Carolyn as she slides over toward him a bit, but doesn't say anything.

Larissa(Tevek) simply sits back and watches. He does place a hand over his coffee mug.

As timing would go, it is now that a soft bell dings, and a the female voice of a computer announces, "Now entering Orion system. Auto pilot disengaging."

"Yes. Dinner.. the last meal at the evening before adults on R&R go to have some.. well.. R&R" Laramour (Shamash) replies to Jamie with a bright smile, going for his coffee next, giving her a toast. "And i am not saying just right now.. though i think you could find a few minutes here and there when you are not trying to keep this proud ship flying to relax, hm?" He does not give up.. well.. he has not been giving up for some time now. He sighs as the computer voice comes "Ah well.. looks like now is not one of those moments."

Nabrun(Carolyn) looks to Tevek then points between her sister and Laramour. "Now THAT'S illogi..." She pauses as the bell dings, then sighs quietly, shoulders tensing a bit.

"We're here," Jamie (Adansae) notes unnecessarily as the warning bell sounds, her irritated expression transforming into a faintly worried one. To Laramour, she raises her cup on a half-hearted toast, but doesn't seem to have the heart to keep up the familiar argument.

Park pushes up out of his chair, food and drink forgotten. "OK, people, let's move.", he says, moving out the door.

Larissa (Tevek) stands up from the table as well, following behind the captain. Once on the bridge, he slides into his customary seat at the helm.

Jamie (Adansae) heads to the bridge behind the captain, her stance and expression all business now. She passes both hands back through her hair, causing it to stand up wildly across her head. Meanwhile, she mutters beneath her breath the entire time, most likely reviewing things that she's fixed and things that might fall to pieces.

Laramour (Shamash) leaves the mess room and tags along with the others, moving to his own small station, for the moment all teasing to Jamie forgotten. He can be professional. ...at times.

Nabrun(Carolyn) finds herself a quiet, out of the way seat, after storing her bowl, and straps in. Yes, her medkit is between her knees, clamped tightly.

Park (Doran) heads right to the Captain's chair and slides into it. "Give me some scans of the area and find some good hiding places in case we fly into a hornet's nest. Make sure we've got our flight authorization on hand as well, just in case someone feels the need to snoop."

Jamie (Adansae) slips into her terminal and immediately gets to work, pushing buttons and typing in sequences and looking very, very serious.

Tevek (Larissa) handles the ageing freighter with expertise, bringing it out of warp with only a little bump. He initiates a sector scan almost immediately. "There is an asteroid field..." The 'Vulcan''s voice is interupted by the sound of a proximity alarm, and he turns to look back at Park. "Captain, four Orion marauders just dropped out of warp and are moving to surround us."

Carolyn (Nabrun) grips the medkit between her knees like it's a lifeline. While her expression is calm, serene, the fingers of her right hand finger the wedding band on her left, twisting it clockwise.

"Get us into that asteriod field!", Park (Doran) shouts. "Get the shields up and start broadcasting our authorization and a distress call."

Jamie (Adansae) unspools a string of profanity muttered beneath her breath, her fingers now working double-time against her terminal. "We'll be fine," she assures her sister, sparing Carolyn a tense but reassuring glance before getting back to work. The alert siren sounds in chirping blasts in the background. "Diverting power to the shields, Captain."

Laramour (Shamash) mutters something under his breath, even here does he have the time to voice his concern about 'percentages' though he reads from an old gauge console "Shields comming up", watching the figures raise.

Tevek (Larissa) sets his hands to flying across the console. "Shields up," he confirms. "Full power. Authorization has been broadcast, sending distress..." He pauses, then looks back again. "Captain..the lead ship..claims to be our escort. It should be noted that all four ships have weapons charged."

"Two ships might be an escort, but not four.", Park (Doran) says. "Ask them who they were sent by, but keep maneuvering to keep them from surrounding us."

Carolyn (Barana) twists her ring a bit more. "Come aboard," she mutters under her breath. "Nothing will happen. We just need a medical officer. No fighting, no tension, just a few quiet jaunts. Family time, she told me. Just us and the rest of the family."

Jamie (Adansae) continues to frown and work silently, looking pensive and rather pale. "Weapons could be charged for any number of reasons," she mutters as she presses buttons. "Maybe they're broken, and stuck in the 'on' position. It's happened to us."

Tevek (Larissa) sends the message with one hand, manuvering the ship with the other. "No good Captain," he says quietly and calmly. "They outmanuver us easily." He pauses. "From the lead ship: Escort is provided by Raidon Drake, of Rigel Eight. We are..requested to pay him a visit to bargain on our cargo."

Laramour (Shamash) says: "Mighty tonnage for an escort.. we could easily transfer our cargo to them and be gone with it. No need for an escort after all when they provide so many ships." he twitches as well. "We don't have much of an alternative as it is, hm? Does their ID code check out with the one we got?"

Park (Doran) looks at the readouts and looks at the scans of the other ships, quiet in his consideration for a moment or two. Finally, he says, "Set course for Rigel Eight." The tone, though, says he's none too happy about this.

"Requested, huh?" Jamie looks up from her terminal to watch Doran's expression as he considers this, then makes his decision. Not that there was much of a decision to be made.

Tevek (Larissa) nods, making the course adjustment. "Course laid in. And no, Terrence, the code does not check out. I suspect this is /not/ our buyer from Rigel Seven. Interesting. They could have taken the cargo, yet they do not." She looks back at Park. "What do you think?"

Carolyn (Nabrun) is very quiet as the others work and she keeps her medkit safe. Around and around the ring goes as her eyes bounce from person to person.

Park (Doran) gives his head a little shake. "I think that they didn't want to risk destroying the ship and the cargo along with it.", he replies to Tevek, leaning back in his chair and tapping at the arm. "At this point, though, we'll just have to see what this guy wants and go from there. We can't out run those ships and we sure as hell can't outgun them."

Laramour (Shamash) mumbles "While i love to be right.. i hate to be right about /such/ assumptions", meaning the cargo capacity of the four Orion vessels. He sighs, nods to Park "Allright, so we play for time and follow the ...invitation, eh?"

With nothing in immediate need of fixing at the moment, Jamie is forced to simply sit still and wait -- a situation torturous to her, especially in situations like this one. At Laramour's words, she gives a tight, terse little nod.

Two of the marauders can be seen on the ships small forward viewscreen. In the distance, the planet Rigel VIII can also be seen, along with a surprising amount of traffic and orbital stations. The marauders break off, leading the Honeywell to what appears to be one such orbital..except that it isnt a station. It is a very large ship, heavily armed, and of unknown design. A docking arm has been extended from the port aft section.

Carolyn (Nabrun) mutters quietly as she watches the viewscreen closely. "Welcome home. I hope they have a restroom."

Tevek (Larissa) speaks up again. "We have been directed to dock at the aft docking arm and disembark to meet Raidon Drake."

Park motions toward the screen vaguelly. "Well we've gotten the invite, lets go see who the mysterious Raidon Drake is."

Jamie (Adansae) glances around the bridge, her gaze lingering on each face in turn. Almost as if she's memorizing their features for posterity.

Carolyn (Nabrun) unhooks herself and moves to stand. "And me without a bit of chocolate to take as a gift," she says in a voice laced with sarcasm. "But wait, since they kidnapped us, aren't we supposed to be getting the hostess gift?"

Laramour (Shamash) asks Tevek: "Do we have any data of him?" As he sees Jamies gaze on him, he falls back into a more joyous behaviour for a second, winking at Jamie and blowing her a kiss. Carolyn gets a chortled laugh. "We are guests, Carolyn.. probably honored guests. ..which is basically the same but still."

Jamie (Adansae) gives a grateful little laugh to her sister's joke as she passes her hands through her hair again and again. "I hope it's that positron auxiliary grid I've been wanting," she replies in a much lower voice than usual. "I've even forgive them for not wrapping it."

"You're on /my/ time now, Terrance.", Park (Doran) snaps at the display. "Keep the little astronaut in his space suit and focus on what you're supposed to."

Tevek (Larissa) docks the ship easily and locks down the console. As he stands, he looks over to Laramour. "I'm afraid our link any available databanks hasn't worked for some time. I would assume he is a member of the Syndicate." It's a bit of a joke there, deadpan as it is.

. o O Park thinks, "And if I see it, I'm gonna cut if off."

Shamash falls out of the role with a snicker at Parks words. He can not keep his lips from curling into a lopsided smile even as he tries to look serious once more.

Laramour appears more serious again, "I assure you, Captain, i have not even thought about what profit we could make from traiding Orion women."

For whatever reason, Laramour's comment earns him a wry little smile from the tense-and-worried Jamie rather than the backhanded-smack it would usually provoke. Perhaps she's just grateful for anything that distracts her from their current position.

Park (Doran) rolls his eyes and replies, "You wish."

Tevek simply stares at Laramour. "I don't believe we're here to start a business trading slave women." He moves to follow Doran and the others from the bridge.

Park pushes up out of the chair and strides toward the airlock. "Lock down the computer, for all the good it will do us, and let's go see what's what."

Larissa speaks up, to the computer. "Computer, load scene two, Chapter Six."

The scene of the Honeywell's bridge fades, replaced by the interior of yet another ship. Metal bulkheads outline a spacious hall, the inside of the docking arm. Standing outside the airlock, is a large hulking male humanoid with green skin. He is surrounded by four armed men, two of them Orion, the other two human. He himself is not armed, but is dressed in silks and beads, obviously determined to flaunt his wealth. As the Honeywell crew disembarks, he speaks up in a gravely voice. "Aaah, Captain Doran and crew." He smiles, full of charm. "Welcome aboard the Drugath. As my guests." And he gestures down the corridor. "Shall we? I have had a meal prepared in your honor."

Park (Doran) certainly doesn't smile at the man, but isn't rude either. "Well, really, how could we possibly refuse such an offer, Mister Drake?", he says evenly, but does go down the hallway the man indicates.

Jamie (Adansae) eyes the man with ill-concealed suspicion, her hands firmly planted on her hips and her lips presses together to prevent anything unpleasant from sneaking out. Following the captain's lead, she gives Drake a terse smile before falling in step behind Doran.

Laramour smiles at Jamie "See, like i said.. we are guests." not a twitch indicates the refrence to the earlier conversation onboard the ship. The smile stays on his face almost a bit forced and grows smaller as he falls in behind his captain.

Drake obviously sizes up the women as they exit the airlock, but then finds himself staring into the emotionless face of the Vulcan. "Hmf," he snorts, and together with his guard, fall into step behind the Honeywell crew.

Carolyn (Nabrun) offers Drake a small smile. "Thank you for inviting us," she says in what sounds suspiciously like a sincere tone. Someone's attempting to be polite, yet she still holds to her medkit.

Park walks along quietly, glancing around as he goes.

The crew is escorted into a large circular room, full of plush pillows of varying color. A low banquet table has been set out, loaded with food and a small stack of plates. There is no one else present in the room. It appears that only the crew and Drake will be feasting this day.

Jamie (Adansae) is immediately and unsurprisingly suspicious, and begins scanning the room for possible escape routes should this dinner turn unpleasant. Or the crews turns out to be the main course.

Park (Doran) moves into the room and takes a seat at the table, looking around briefly at the room, as well. "So to what do we owe the honor, Mister Drake?", he asks, jumping right into the matter at hand.

Carolyn (Nabrun) looks around, eyes widening a bit. Ok, so she's not really doing the suspicious thing. She seems to be the wide-eyed innocent of the group, and apparently the pillows meet with her approval.

Laramour the glutton smiles at seeing the feast, problems can wait, can't they? There is food to consumed. "Ah... how wonderful." he comments, he goes around the table if invited to sit, he will do so. He looks at the Captain with a ~see, its not so bad after all~ look.

Drake plops down at the head of the table, his bulk hitting the deck with a quiet thud. He waves at the table. "Sit, sit and enjoy." Plucking fruit from a bowl for his plate, he glances in the Captain's direction. "I want to buy your cargo, Captain." Drake smiles. "I think you'll find my offer quite generous." A padd is also laying on the table, and this he picks up and sets before Park.

Jamie takes a seat uneasily, perched in a way that will allow her to instantly spring to her feet should situation require instant action. It doesn't look entirely comfortable, but it suits her rumpled, tomboy persona. She eyes the PADD as if Drake had offered the captain a coiled snake.

Carolyn settles down, sitting back on her heels, medkit between her knees. There's only a brief touch of her wedding ring, but she remains quiet.

Park (Doran) picks up the PADD and looks at it carefully, face a complete mask. "That's a pretty generous offer, Mister Drake.", he says, though doesn't touch any of the food. "Does make one wonder why you're willing to pay so much, though, and if there's going to be some additional invitations coming my way."

Drake lets out a hearty laugh, and with a big hand, claps Park loudly on the back. "See, I told my boys you were a smart one! Yes indeed," he says, nodding his head. And he leans over to speak in a conspirital voice. "It is to show my sincerity in recruiting you for some very important business, Captain. Very important, to the protection of the Alpha Quadrant from this..Dominion threat, you see." He nods again. "I have a very lucrative and honorable offer for you."

Jamie places a few pieces of fruit and cheese on her plate, but doesn't eat any of it. She casts Carolyn a warning glance, a fleeting meeting of eyes that conveys plenty without drawing notice to the sisters. She then returns her attention to the conversation between Drake and the captain.

Carolyn still has the wide-eyed ingenue thing going for her. She's quiet, settled back on her heels, looking comfortable amidst the opulence. Well, mostly comfortable. There are a few sidelong glances at her team mates. Lowered lashes are her acknowledgement of Jamie's warning.

Laramour heard one word that is more important than food. Well. two words actually, but Jamie isn't interested so that leaves 'profit'. When the lucrative option is mentioned, he starts to smile, edging closer to Darke.

Park (Doran) still doesn't touch the food. "I'm listening."

Drake smiles at Doran. "I have contacts on some minor worlds and outposts who are worried about a Dominion invasion. I need someone to transport weapons to them." He pauses to take a bite out of a juicy fruit. "You would be well paid, with bonuses. And.." He leans in again. "I'll fix your ship. Upgrade it. Replace old parts, and fix it up so that you can defend yourself. And provide an armed escort through most areas."

She just can't seem to help herself -- at the mention of the ship being fixed and upgraded, Jamie's eyes light up faster than she can look away from the conversation. A beat later, she's firmly affixed a scowl into place. "I keep our ship running," she replies to Drake. "Do a good-enough job of it, too."

Park (Doran) finally reaches out and picks up a piece of blue bread, taking a small bite of it. "How well paid are we talking?", he asks of the Orion. "Because it sounds like you're going to put my ship into a hell of a tight spot if you're willing to upgrade her on top of paying me."

Drake taps a key on the PADD, displaying figures. "In latinum, if you choose." He glances over at Jamie, and sends a charming smile her way. "I'm sure you do, little lady. But think of what you could do with new equipment. Parts for a complete engine overhaul and some redesign to allow for more cargo space and some weaponry. We can upgrade your sheilding too. Considering how old that ship is..and she's in very good condition considering..she could use some upgrades." Back to Park, he shrugs. "You'd be dodging the Dominion maybe. My interest is to see that the cargo gets there, without the ship breaking down or being taken out with one puny shot to ancient shields."

Little lady? Jamie (Adansae) looks ready to choke, but she manages to keep her mouth shut and merely nods, allowing the captain to do his job. And the talking.

Carolyn (Nabrun) cocks her head to the side, attentive to Drake, studying him for the time being. The only time she takes her eyes off him is to make sure Jamie doesn't bite.

"May I?", Laramour asks, asking to take hold of the PADD, studying the figures and making apparently estimates in his head. the smile widens as it seems to check out okay, at least from the profit side.. which makes even him suspicious as to what might hang in on the debit part.

Park (Doran) takes another bite of the bread, silently considering the offer. "I'd be hard pressed to turn down such an offer, Mister Drake.", he says finally. "You have yourself a ship."

Drake booms a laugh and claps Park on the back again. "Ah, well done, Captain, well done!" He waves at the table. "Come now, no more business. Eat well, enjoy my hospitality while we work on your ship." He sends a smile down the table to Jamie. "With your direction, of course, miss. You are the ship's engineer?"

Jamie doesn't look nearly as upset by Doran's decision as she likely would have if repairs and upgrades to the ship weren't part of the package -- in fact, one can almost see her making a tally of everything that needs doing before Drake addresses her. "I am," she replies proudly. "And I'll have an assessment ready for you tomorrow morning."

Park (Doran) finally leans back and begins to relax a little bit, taking a bit of wine and some other delicacies to much on. A little smile blossoms on his face. "Might want to have a second PADD on hand for that.", he suggests.

Carolyn (Nabrun) asides, quietly, in Jamie's direction, "Medical equipment. Doctors need love too, you know. Mobile surgical and a biobed capable of diagnosing more than a hangnail.

Jamie (Adansae) makes a little face for the captain, but she's smiling and relaxed now too. In fact, she even takes a bite from a piece of fruit as she nods to her sister. "Medical supplies," she agrees. "If we're gonna be heading into Dominion space -- well, you know how it is."

"I'm sure once you're done getting all the goodies you want for her, that ship will be the fastest in the quadrant.", Park (Doran) comments around whatever he's eating.

Laramour grins wide as the Captain agrees to the proposal "Well done", he agrees with Drake, the joy at eating redoubled. He even smiles over to Jamie and Carolyn to check her reaction.

A year or more has passed, and Doran and crew have been running illegal weapons for Radon Drake. The rewards have been great: The ship has been overhauled and upgraded (matches the holo desc now); profits have been VERY good. Their cargo runs have been mostly outside of Federation space, and escorted by Drake's marauders; the ship has met with no patrols or bandits willing to battle the Orion guard. Doran and crew have been paid handsomely and Drake has treated them well. One drawback: The addition of Lortimer Haynes, a computer crackpot, to the crew, at the insistance of Drake. So far, things have gone quite well, though the crew doesn't /quite/ trust Lortimer. But now, Drake wants more from the Honeywell.

The crew has just docked with Drake's mothership, at the conclusion of a tightly encrypted recorded message. Drake has orders for the Honeywell. Take this load of cargo to Risa.

Doran's reputation in the Federation is Stellar. The Company has always engaged in legitimate cargo runs, including shipping supplies for the Federation on occasion. With the Honeywell's recent activities being outside the Federation, Drake figures that reputation remains intact. He now wants to run illegal cargo inside the Federation, hiding the cargo in with legitimate cargo to evade cursory scans.

Larissa finishes her short narrative, bringing the holonovel actors up to date, and then calls to the computer. "Computer, begin program."

Park (Doran) sits in the captain's chair on the bridge, tapping idly at the arm and, apparently, lost in thought.

Larissa(Tevek) sits at the helm. He too is lost in thought. His chair has been turned, now that the ship is docked, to face Doran and the crew. The Vulcan..scowls.

Adansae steps into character and immediately relaxes -- her tense posture gives way to Jamie's comfortable slouth, and some color returns to her cheeks. She enters the bridge with a smile and takes her seat, where she pushes various buttons and hmmms over various readings.

Nabrun(Carolyn) settles into her chair, back away from everyone else. The year has been fairly kind to her and she looks comfortable, relaxed.

Park pushes up from the chair. "We need to talk this over.", he says, then moves into the mess hall.

Adansae is immediately on her feet and heading after the captain. "Let's talk, then," she agrees, right on his heals.

Leaving her seat as well, Larissa, as Tevek, nods to the Captain. "Agreed." Tevek makes a pass by Lortimer's station, handing the man a padd. "These are encryption codes I downloaded from that Federation ship we passed enroute. We will need them decoded before we depart." And with the newest member of the crew thus occupied, he follows the Captain into the mess room.

Nabrun sighs quietly and stands, moving to follow the others. The Medical officer is rather quiet tonight, it would appear.

Park (Doran) waits until the everyone is inside before he speaks. "Sweep the room for surveillance devices.", he says, then locks the door and puts the mechanism on a self test cycle. The noise from it enough to mask anyone using a device to listen from the other side.

Jamie (Adansae) performs the sweep with her sweep-performing instrument, then returns to Doran's side with a nod. "We'll all clear," she reports.

Park (Doran) moves over to get a cup of coffee. "I don't like this.", he admits before turning around and heading to a table.

Tevek (Larissa) settles into a chair to the right of the Captain's. The Vulcan doesn't look happy. Not that Vulcan's generally do, but to those who know /this/ Vulcan, he's downright disturbed. "Indeed, Captain." He pours a glass of water from the pitcher on the table. "It was bound to happen eventually. The question is whether we're willing to break Federation Law and face the consequences."

"We're in a little deep to decide that we don't like this *now*," Jamie (Adansae) points out with a twisting quirk of a smile. "I don't think that telling the big man that we've changed our minds is an option, so I vote we focus on the not-getting-caught part."

Nabrun settles in and shakes her head. "Maybe, but this is the Federation we're talking about, Jame...It's not a matter of like or dislike, it's a matter of reputation and survival."

"Exactly.", Park (Doran) comments as he sits down. "My business is based in the Federation and that's where my family lives. If we get cracked doing this, that'll be it for me, my family and the company. I just don't if I can take that kind of a risk. Running these shipments where we have been is one thing, but going into Federation space?"

Jamie responds with a loose shrug. "We've been eating fruit from the poisoned tree for all this time," she points out. "The big guy isn't likely to let us say no. If you don't wanna chance it, we'll have to run and hide."

Carolyn (Nabrun) just eyes Jamie for a moment. "And when did you develop Drake's scruples, big sis?" she asks with a quirked brow. "He knew that your rep was good with the Federation, Captain, which means that he may have been planning this all along. Where are your loyalties? Drake or the Federation? Have we worked off the cost of the ship upgrades? He didn't buy us forever.

Tevek listens to the discussion, the frown deepening. "Drake will not let us leave his organization. Not willingly." He focuses a level look on the Captain. "Andrew, I know where your loyalties lie, as do mine. I believe that denying him openly will result in this ship never leaving here in one piece...you would have to..fake it."

Jamie shakes her head at her sister, frowning. "It's not that I've latched onto his scruples," she protests. "It's like Trevek says. He's not going to let us walk away -- especially not after all of this time." She looks to the captain and waits.

Park (Doran) nods as he considers the situation, sipping at his cup. "OK, we're going to go along with this for now. Jaime, I need you to do a complete sweep of the computer system for /anything/ out of the ordinary. I wouldn't put it past Lortimer to have put some kind of fail safe into the ship. Tevek, find the nearest rock along the route we're going to be travelling. We'll drop the cargo there once we're close to the Federation border and send a message back to Drake so that he can pick up his toys. I'm not going to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire."

Carolyn sits quietly, considering. "I wonder," she begins, tone musing. "Drake wanted by the Federation, anyone know?"

"Right away, captain," Jamie agrees, bouncing up to her feet and heading out, preseumably to get straight to her work.

Tevek (Larissa) lifts the token eyebrow, but nods to the Captain. "We should assume that the escort will be within sensor range. The closer to Federation space this..rock..is, the better off we will be. Or..we could simply transport the goods into space." Another pause. "I would suggest a coded distress message to Starfleet when we get close enough, if possible. Lortimer may become an issue though."

Park (Doran) shrugs at the comment from the medical officer. "I have no idea, but I'm not going to double cross him. He's paid us fairly for the work that we've done. The way I'm tendering our resignation is bad enough without trying to entrap him on top of it. Lortimer will to be sedated once we get close and then we'll drop him off at the first stop with enough latinum to get back here."

Nabrun falls silent, jaw snapping shut as she simply studies the captain and the others.

Tevek (Larissa) pushes up from the table. "I will..endeavor to find us a rock while our cargo is being loaded. Lortimer should be intent on those dispatches for a bit longer."

Park (Doran) pushes up from his chair. "OK, then let's make it happen."

Tevek departs for the bridge, casting a look in Lortimer's direction as he passes. As soon as he slides into his seat, he starts plotting a course, taking a great deal of time with it. Lortimer's attention is requested breifly as well, as the Vulcan makes a great show of plotting a course to Risa that avoids as many Starfleet and Federation checkpoints as possible.

. o O Larissa thinks, "He makes such a /good/ Captain.."

Park moves onto the bridge and retakes his seat, but just taking care of the day to day issues that require his attention.

It isn't long before Jamie returns to the bridge, her face creased with worry. "Captain," she calls as she strides forward. "I found what you had me looking for. I'm not sure I can get rid of it, either. A complete shutdown on the computers might do it, but if it doesn't, I don't know what would."

Park (Doran) nods as he listens to the report. "Ok, go ahead and give it a shot during the next maintenance cycle.", he says, then hands over a PADD with some other engineering work on it.

Lortimer glances over at the Engineer breifly. "Is there a problem with the computers?" He looks between the Captain and Jamie. "Need some help with that?"

"The glitch that's interfering with our posi-electrostatic auxillary deflector," Jamie explains to Lortimer while reading over the PADD instructions. "It's not a big deal -- just one of those nagging problems."

Park (Doran) doesn't respond since Jaime is handling it, but instead goes back to what he was doing.

Lortimer nods, watching them under hooded lids. Tevek pipes up then, with an announcement. "Captain, we have been refueled and loaded with our cargo. We can depart when you are ready." He turns in his seat, looking back. "Lortimer. I need those codes before we get near the Federation checkpoint. Are they ready?" To which Lortimer shakes his head, sighs, and goes back to work.

Jamie also returns to her work, ducking off the bridge as quickly as she's able.

Park (Doran) nods and says, "As soon we Jaime's finished getting that issue locked down, we'll be on our way."

Shortly after Jamie leaves the bridge, the bridge goes completely dark. All lights, computer consoles, and even artificial gravity goes out.

Park (Doran) shifts his feet to hook them under his foot rest and holds tight to the arms of his seat. "God, I hate this feeling."

"Caaaaaaptain," comes the unmistakable sound of Jamie's voice from the hallway. "I'm floating, and it's dark, and, help!"

Park (Doran) releases his foot-lock and shifts so that he can reach hand over hand to get to the hallway, a grin on his face. "Hand on. I'll be there in a sec."

Lortimer blinks in surprise. He hadn't quite made it to his seat yet. Tevek, never one to pass up an opportunity, launches from his seat into the air, grabbing hold of Lortimer with an arm hook around the neck. One nerve pinch later, and the spy is dispatched.

Jamie floats around in the hallway until Park's hand appears in the darkness -- after groping around for awhile, she manages to secure herself and be pulled back into the bridge.

"Can you do the restart from here.", Park (Doran) asks once he gets a hand onto Jaime. "We need to get moving pretty quick."

Tevek (Larissa) pushes the floating Lortimer in the doctor's direction. "He should be easy to sedate now, Doctor," he comments unneccesarily. He turns back to his seat, not caring that Lortimer bounces into the bulkhead over Carolyn's head.

Once inside the bridge again, Jamie (Adansae) makes short work of restarting the system, pausing briefly only to push Lortimer away when he drifts in her direction.

Park (Doran) tries to get himself at least closer to the deck before the gravity comes back online. "OK, bring all systems back online and signal the escorts that we're ready to depart."

Power, gravity, and lights are restored within minutes. As she sinks back into her seat, Jamie (Adansae) turns to grin at Doran. "There we are," she announces. "All systems functional."

Tevek (Lorissa) tucks himself into his seat as soon as gravity comes back up. He runs his console through its usual diagnostics as soon as power is restored. "The mothership noticed our power outage. I have reported we had a ..glitch.. we are clear to undock." Poor Lortimer fell to the deck with a loud thump.

"Make sure that whatever was in our computer system is gone, Jaime." Park (Doran) orders. "Doc, get him down to sickbay and keep him sedated. Tevek, let's go."

Jamie performs a quick check on her terminal, then nods to the captain. "It's gone," she confirms.

On the forward viewscreen (a much enhanced version over the previous), the mothership can be seen as the freighter backs away on manuvering thrusters, then panning to the left as the ship turns to depart. "Escort is powering up to follow, Captain. They will be some distance behind us at least," Tevek reports.

Park (Doran) settles back into his seat. "Did you find us a nice place to make our deposit, Tevek?", he asks. "Preferably one that we can use for a little bit of cover to put distance between us and our friends that will lead toward a Starfleet patrol."

Nabrun (Carolyn)manages to keep poor Lortie from taking a dive once the systems are under way once again and just looks at Doran. "Gee, thanks," she murmurs. "Let me guess, the cabana boys will help me carry him?" A hypo comes out of her pocket and the sedation is taken care of. The tricorder is next. "He's not a beach ball, Cap'n. You know that, right?" This, of course, is said mostly under her breath, but still audible.

"Just kick him down the hallway," Jamie (Adansae) replies with a convincing smile. "It's the fastest way."

Tevek (Lorissa) glances back to Doran. "I found a rock, yes. Not a big enough one to hide behind, unfortunately. However, it has the advantage of being just outside of Federation space. If we transmit those coordinates to Starfleet, we may be able to gain their assistance before the escort catches us."

Park (Doran) nods. "OK. Make it happen, but get us as much distance as you can before you transmit. If they catch the signal, I want at least a little headstart before the footrace begins."

Jamie (Adansae) tap-tap-taps at her terminal as she diverts bits of power from various parts of the ship into propulsion.

Nabrun (Nabrun) sticks her tongue out at Jamie and starts trying to muscle the man out into the hallway and to the sick bay, muttering under her breath like a grumpy little old man. As she clears the door, it sounds, suspiciously, like she's threating to put Lortimer on a diet.

Tevek (Larissa) stays busy at his console. Moments later, he says over his shoulder, "Message is away, Captain. I tagged it with a Federation priority signal. Somewhat illegal, but I will..pay the fine if it works."

"How long until we reach the drop point?", Park (Doran) asks.

Jamie (Adansae) continues to work silently, frowning at her console all the while.

"Three hours, Captain," Tevek answers, rather quickly. He had apparently already calculated it. "I suggest we make our stop at the drop point a minimal one. The mauraders will only be minutes behind us."

Carolyn (Nabrun) is gone for a few minutes, and there's quite a bit of shuffling, thumping, thudding and other odd noises, mingled with quite a few inventive swear words, before things are silent. Then she's on her way back, dusting herself off with a disdainful sniff. "He's been taken care of," she says ominously, in the same tone one might use to describe an unfortunate defenestration misshap.

Park (Doran) allows a slow breath to escape his lips. "OK. Well keep an eye on the maurauders just in case they caught wind of the signal. I don't want to get caught with our pants down thinking they don't know what we're up to."

Jamie (Adansae) glances up from her work at Carolyn's words, blinking, but almost immediately returns to what she was doing before the doctor returned. It is, after all, Carolyn. "We'll be ready," she assures the captain.

Larissa ponders in her seat for a moment, dropping out of character to become the author, once again. "Computer..skip to the beginning of the next chapter." "Acknowledged," comes the chirp of the computer. The scene itself doesn't change, but the time and location on the instrumentation does. Larissa resumes her character then, as Tevek reports to the Captain. "The drop point is ahead, five minutes away. Still no response to our distress message, although if they read it correctly, they will not try to contact us. And the escort is another seven minutes behind us."

Carolyn (Nabrun) has, by this point, settled comfortably into a seat, looking something like the cat who tipped over the cream jar. She waits and watches, only slightly tense.

Park (Doran) allows a smile to spread across his lips. "Start slowly increasing our speed. Not anything dramatic, but see if we can get a little bit more of a lead on them. Once we hit the drop point, plot and execute the shortest point to Federation space."

"We'll just have to proceed on faith," Jamie notes from her station, looking up to glance from Carolyn to Tevek to the captain. On his command, the ship's speed increases by incremental degrees.

Tevek (Larissa) nods. "Course already plotted, Captain." His hand is poised over the controls. "In 3 minutes, we will drop out of warp, drop the cargo, and jump again to warp for Federation space." He glances behind him. "If you believe in luck, now would be a good time to .. cross your fingers? The marauders will be able to catch us before the border if they increase their speed when we drop out of warp."

Carolyn (Nabrun) offers Jamie a trademark grin and then settles back in her seat. Why yes, that IS a medkit tucked behind her feet, against the bottom of her chair.

"I guess we'll see if our luck holds on this trip.", Park (Doran) comments, leaning back in his chair and watching the viewscreen.

Despite her apparent confidence, lines of worry have appeared around Jamie's eyes as she continues to peck away at the ship's various systems, giving their speed every little boost that she can muster.

Tevek (Larissa), fingers splayed over his controls, waits. Another minute goes by. And then.."Now!" he barks out, slicing his fingers down the panel. The ship lurches a bit at the sudden drop from warp. He looks over to Jamie. "Transport now!"

With a few taps of her fingers, Jamie (Adansae) carries out the order. "Done," she calls back a beat later.

"OK, let's go!", Park (Doran) says, a bit more loudly than really necessary, but it's a tense situation.

Carolyn (Nabrun) closes her eyes and, for all the world, looks like she's praying. Her lips are moving, but no sound comes out for a moment - not until she pauses and murmurs, "Crud. I hope I closed the clamshell."

Tevek (Larissa) hits the console again, this time jumping the ship into maximum warp. What wasn't fastened down goes flying before the inertial dampers can take affect. An alarm goes off on Jamie's board, and another lights up on Tevek's. The Vulcan ignores all, concentrating on the sensor readings. A beat passes, followed by a colorful curse. "They noticed, Captain. And we're losing speed! Three minutes to interception."

Park (Doran) sits up a little in his chair. "What the hell is going on, Jaime!?"

. o O Larissa thinks, "It's close. Very close to the novel. How fascinating."

At Tevek's report, Jamie (Adansae) utters a string of expellatives while frantically typing away at her station. "I must have missed something he left behind," she agonizes. "I'm working on it!"

From Carolyn, a quietly murmured, "You can do it, Jamie," is heard. The doctor's eyes are focused on her sister, as if she can help by sheer force of will.

"We blew a power conduit to the warp core," the engineer announces a moment later, leaping her feet. "I'll go fix it." Racing as fast as she can, she heads to Engineering.

"We blew a power conduit to the warp core," the engineer announces a moment later, leaping her feet. "I'll go fix it." Racing as fast as she can, she heads to Engineering.

Tevek (Larissa) begins a countdown. "Marauders will be within firing range in 60 seconds...50...Federation space is three minutes away Captain."

Carolyn (Nabrun)'s jaw tightens as she watches and listens. "Can't we just, I don't know, throw something at them?" Hands are clenched on the arm of the chair. "C'mon...we're almost there..."

Park jumps up out of his chair. "Broadcast a distress signal.", he says as he moves over toward Jaime's now vacant station. "Let's hope that Starfleet got our little greeting and can come pull our fat out of the fire."

"Transmitting," Tevek intones. "Initiating defensive manuvers. Shields up at maximum strength." He pauses. "They're firing phasers. Hold on!" Moments later the Freighter rocks as the firepower from two of the marauders pounds it's aft shields.

"Keep us heading toward the border, Tevek.", Park (Doran) orders from his station, holding onto the rails as the ship rocks. "Come on, Jaime, we need that extra juice."

Needed or not, the extra juice doesn't materialize... if anything, the ships propulsion slows even further.

In Engineering, Terrence Laramour (the computerized version, anyway) attempts to aid Jamie in repairing the power conduit. As he holds the conduit for her to fuse it, a surge from the phaser hit charges through the conduit, blasting the first officer into the nearest bulkhead, where he slides down to the deck like a limp rag.

Carolyn (Nabrun) blinks and looks down at the deck plating. Apparently, she's a slight bit of comic relief. "No. FASTER. Didn't you get the message? Not slower. Faster. I swear, you're acting just like Jamie's last boyfriend." One heel stops the plate in frustration. "FOREWARD. Warp. Fast. What, do we have to row?"

. o O Larissa barely controls a laugh.

. o O Nabrun projects, "We doctors need to have SOME redeeming qualities at times like this."

In Engineering, Jamie (Adansae) seems to realize that her tasks is fruitless -- there's just not enough time for her to make the repairs, and certainly not alone. She races back to the bridge to report the failure.

Tevek (Larissa) is intent on his sensor readings. "All four marauders are in range. They are ordering us to stand down or be destroyed." He pauses. "Federation space is two minutes ahead, Captain. I cannot get a sensor reading from the border. There may be a ship there, there may not be. Long range sensors are down."

Park slams a fist against the console and moves down to take his chair once again. "Don't change our heading. Inform the lead Maurader that we dropped Drake's cargo onto that asteriod we passed, along with an explosive device on a timer that is getting dangerously close to detonating."

Carolyn grips the arms of her seat. "Come on..." she murmurs, then looks a little concerned as Jamie comes flying back in.

"There's not much I can do," Jamie reports, panting, and she crouches on the floor beside the captain who claimed her seat. "But if we can just hang on for a few more minutes..."

Tevek (Larissa) nods grimly. "Transmitting..." The reply is quick. "One marauder has broken off...incoming!" The ship rocks again, another volley from the remaining three attackers pounding the ships shields. "Aft shields down to 20 percent!" Bang! Another volley hits the ship, shaking it as if a great hand had picked it up and rattled it. Hard. The forward console explodes, sending a shower of sparks, and the Vulcan, into the air.

. o O Larissa thinks, "Wheeeeeeee"

Park curses and moves immediately to the Vulcan. "We don't have a few minutes, Jaime! Carolyn, get down there and help her. Computer, transfer helm functions to the command station!"

. o O Nabrun thinks, "But...but...They just blew up my Vulcan!"

Adansae is also knocked over backwards by the impact -- oh, the perils of not being properly seated while another ship is attempting to blow you to smithereens.

Carolyn is already working on unstrapping, grabbing the medkit to make a dive for the Vulcan on the floor. The tricorder comes out as she goes.

The computer chirps as it complies. The Vulcan lays still, Larissa playing the part. The holodeck tools in the doctor's hands show no lifesigns. Again, the ship rocks as it's hit by another phaser blast, and steam erupts from an aft station on the bridge. Ahead, on the viewscreen, one of the marauders scoops down in front of the freighter, and lines up for a forward attack....

Park (Doran) leaps up from his place on the floor and stabs at the controls, trying to maneuver the freighter out of the way and getting off a shot on the marauder at point blank range.

Carolyn continues her work. "C'mon," she murmurs. "You can't be dead. I haven't hit you enough." Her voice raises slightly. "Yes, hi, anyone listening? We ordered a miracle, and it hasn't arrived yet. We paid for rush delivery. Can you get it here in the next, oh, 30 seconds? Please?" She never stops working.

Jamie also continues working frantically, first over Doran's shoulder, then at another terminal.

The Honeywell veers to the side and down in an evasive manuver, and on the viewscreen, the phaser shot from its hidden weapons array goes wild. A proximity alert clangs, as the two rear marauders scoop in close. It looks like certain death for the SS Honeywell, when suddenly the marauder out front explodes. Through the debris, the gleaming hull of a Starfleet cruiser flies, spitting blue fire from it's forward phaser banks. The freighter rocks a bit from the close impact of the two remaining attackers being slammed by Federation phasers.

Park (Doran) shouts at the viewscreen, "Could you have waited any longer? We haven't been /completely/ destroyed yet!" Of course, he does maneuver the Honeywell to keep the cruiser between his ship and the marauders.

Carolyn looks at the viewscreen with a faintly bemused and smug smile. "Took you long enough, though I have to give you props on the customer service." And she returns to trying to bring the Vulcan back to life.

The last two marauders explode, courtesy of the rescuing starship. A moment later, the communications panel crackles to life. "Civilian vessel, this is the USS Potemkin. Welcome to Federation space. We recieved a coded distress signal from the SS Honeywell. We didn't think we would make it on time. Do you have casualties?"

Park (Doran) pushes the com button. "This is Captain Doran, I have a man down on the bridge who's non-responsive and another in engineering who took a good knock to the head."

Carolyn (Nabrun) sits back on her heels and looks up at Doran, expression bleak. She shakes her head, once. "He's gone," she says quietly."

"Acknowledged," responds the disembodied voice of the com panel. "We will bring your casualties aboard. We can tow you to the nearest starbase, Captain. There are some questions you will need to answer."

"I'm sure there will be. Honeywell out.", Park (Doran) says with the push of the button, cuts off the signal. He just slides into his chair, staring at the dead Vulcan on the deck.

In all, there were three casualties aboard the SS Honeywell. Tevek, Terrence Laramour, who died in Engineering, and Lortimer, a victim of anti-gravity. The freighter was towed safely to Starbase 11, and the captain and crew debriefed fully by Starfleet staff. Because of the nature of their distress, and in return for valuable information on one of the Syndicate's most prolific members, the charges relating to the use of the priority Starfleet signal were dropped. Doran's company was safe, though the ship was beyond repair. The company could afford another one however. But always, as long as Drake remained at large, would loom the shadow of reprisal for breaking away from a Syndicate leader.

The holodeck bridge wavers and then dissapears, replaced by the holodeck grid.