by Mellice Cem & Sub-Commander Antok
90829.2100
Following From One Predicament Into Another
-=Aboard the Romulan War Bird=-
90829.2100
Following From One Predicament Into Another
-=Aboard the Romulan War Bird=-
To Subcommander Antok, everything in the universe could be broken down into two categories: opportunities and hindrances. It was his goal, no, his mission, in life to see to it that the former always outweighed the latter. It was how he had achieved all that he had achieved and would continue to achieve.
Today had afforded him such an opportunity. Truth be told, he had first thought it was a hindrance, but Antok had not made it this far in the Tal Shiar without being able to turn any situation into a golden opportunity...
...including a distress call emanating on Federation channels.
Antok had no love for the Federation. Not before the Dominion War, nor during it, and certainly not after it. But the war itself had been a valuable experience. It was not everyday that one was afforded the opportunity to inspect one's enemies so closely.
That time was a lesson that Antok had remembered every day since, and from time to time, it was something he could put to use, as today when what had first appeared as a useless distress call had turned into an opportunity.
"Tamar," Antok said to his navigator, "the situation."
"The lead ship is straight ahead and approaching us on a collision course. His pursuers are close behind and will be victorious once their prey's shields have collapsed."
"Very good. You may drop the cloak."
Tamar carried out his order, and Antok watched as the other ships became aware of his warbird decloaking.
"Shields?" Tamar asked.
Antok wanted to snap, 'Do you really think those ships could harm us?'But he knew better. Such careless thoughts had gotten his predecessor killed. Or had it been the disruptor that had discharged into his belly during that battle which had done that to him? No matter. This was no time for recollection, but action.
"Open a channel to the other ship."
"Open."
"This is Subcommander Antok to the Federation-commandeered ship. Might I be of assistance?"
-=Aboard Mellice Cem's stolen raider=-
Upon seeing a D'deridex class warbird decloak in front of them, Mellice brought the stolen Raider to a halt while the pursuing Marauders advanced towards their location. Upon hearing the comm and the message from the Romulan Subcommander in charge, either he and Ms. Harris were in deeper trouble than they knew, or the Romulan commander was actually going to help them out.
If he chose to turn the ship around and face off against the Orions, both he and Admiral Harris' daughter would surely die without the shields in place. If he took the Romulan commander's offer for help, then he'd more than likely owe him a favor, one he may not be able to pay back in full, but he'd damn sure give it his best shot to do so.
With very little in the way of options left, he opened a channel to the Romulan warbird now hanging in space before his much smaller ship. "This is Lieutenant Mellice Cem of Starfleet, your assistance would be greatly appreciated Sub-Commander. Our situation isn't looking very good at the moment."
That statement alone was putting it mildly, as they were right now up the preverbal creek without a paddle to row with. Any life line thrown their way, even if by an enemy of the Federation, would be better than facing certain death at the hands of butchers, and he knew that first hand. He, like Sub-Commander Antok, knew this now turned into a game of 3-D chess. All the pieces were in place and moving smoothly, as they should.
Was Mellice making the right move by accepting help? Or was this all part of an Orion ruse to get him to drop his guard so they could finish both he and Kelly Harris off in one swift move? If this were a ruse, it was a cleverly disguised one as the ship hovering before him was indeed a Romulan D'deridex Class War Bird and as far as he knew, the Orions hadn't figured out a way to get their hands on such a prize, let alone a Klingon vessel or one of the Federation's starships. Each was too heavily guarded and that was a fight not even the Orions wanted on their hands.
[Very well,] came back the reply before the signal went dead.
-=Romulan War Bird=-
"Tamar, what weapons do we have at our disposal?" Antok asked.
"Standard Romulan disruptors. Klingon bird of prey torpedoes. Federation photons," the pilot replied.
"That will do."
"The final option?"
"Yes." Antok sat back in the command chair and let Tamar do his work. There was no need to give the Orion pirates any warning. Tamar simply programmed the computer to fire a spread of torpedoes, one per ship to finish them off completely. All in all, it took less than one minute to complete the task.
When it was over, Antok turned to his security chief, Borov. Between the officer's bald head and the vicious, puffy scar running down his right cheek from his eye socket to his jaw, Borov looked every bit the menacing security chief. And he was most decidedly good at his job. But today, he would only be needed for a small task. "Borov, is the third docking port clear of all goods?"
"Sir," came the curt reply. It was Borov's answer for almost everything, which is part of what made him so good.
"Tamar, signal the Federation officer and provide him with instructions for docking at port three."
"Yes, sir." Tamar quipped.
"Borov, meet our guests and bring them here."
"Sir." This time Borov nodded his head slightly before leaving the bridge.
Yes, Antok thought to himself, today's escapade was indeed going to be an opportunity.
-=Aboard the stolen Raider=-
[Proceed to docking port three. Once aboard, an escort will bring you to the bridge to speak to Sub-Commander Antok.]
"Acknowledged, Mellice out." Was Mellice's short reply after the pursuing Orion's had been taken care of by the Romulans. He looked beside him to Kelly, as he shrugged his left shoulder some.
"What? Did you really think I was just going to turn around and get us both killed? Though it may still happen, I believe this Sub-Commander Antok has his own agenda for us. What that is I haven't quite figured out yet, but we should see what he wants since his ship did just save our collective butts from being scattered across space." He told her while piloting the crippled Raider towards the awaiting docking port they were told to dock at.
Maneuvering the ship into position for docking procedures, Mellice carefully aligned the small ship with the docking bay doors as they began to open.
***************************
Lieutenant (jg) Mellice Cem
Assistant Security/Tactical Chief
USS Revolution NCC-71605-A
Discovered Federation Spy within the Orion Syndicate
&
Sub-Commander Antok
Tal Shiar Operative
NPC As Played by
Lieutenant (jg) Lara Valera Ryn
Lieutenant (jg) Mellice Cem
Assistant Security/Tactical Chief
USS Revolution NCC-71605-A
Discovered Federation Spy within the Orion Syndicate
&
Sub-Commander Antok
Tal Shiar Operative
NPC As Played by
Lieutenant (jg) Lara Valera Ryn