Can we take it for a test ride?

Posted on Wed Jan 6th, 2021 @ 1:38am by Major Ashley Rogers & Sublieutenant Gedak K.I.A. 238702.10 & Sublieutenant Miles Lynn & Lieutenant Mila Lynn

1,770 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Chapter III: The Hunt is On
Location: Drozana Station
Timeline: 238701.16

Two human teenagers with turquoise hair, a Ferengi in an old-fashioned human suit, and, of course, Ash Rogers. The four of them made for an odd group, but nobody paid much attention to them. After all, they were on Drozana.

After some more research and exchanging a few messages with the vendor, Gedak had written up a short shopping list for their trip to the used ship lot. One Federation-standard Danube-class runabouts, and two Klingon Toron-class shuttles - although the Mogai-class was designed to hold up to six shuttlecraft and eight fighters, this initial load of three would be sufficient to the crew's needs.

So, Gedak had made an appointment to see the used ship dealer - a fat, bearded human called Fenton - and had made his way there, accompanied by Miles Lynn for his piloting expertise, Mila to keep her brother's enthusiasm in check, and he had decided to bring along Rogers as well - could never go wrong with a bit of muscle.

Finally, the four arrived at the old hangar bay that had been leased to Fenton's business. The owner, of course, was nowhere to be seen - yet the access door was open, leaving any prospective clients free to wander around and browse.

Gedak shook his head. "Of course he isn't here. Not as if I expected any different from his type." He pointed over towards the hangar bay doors, where the ships they were about to purchase were parked. "Shall we have a look at our purchases, then?"

Ash looked at the excited face of Miles and couldn't help but smile. She takes the lead and enters the hangar bay first, moving tactically and ensuring there's no threat to the group inside. After all, it is Drozana and the last time she was acquiring merchandise for the crew, it didn't exactly end peacefully. Her hand hovered cautiously over her side arm as she winked at Mila and signed One can never be too careful.

"Hello? Anyone in here?" Ash called out. "You sure our appointment was today, Gedak?"

Just as Ash finished talking, a lumpy, scruffy looking human appeared from a side door, probably some sort of office, and hurried over to the group. "Mr Gedak and his associates, I assume," the man greeted them, his voice brimming with overacted sweetness and cheer. "Jeremiah Fenton, at your most humble service."

The Ferengi, always happy to be grovelled to, responded with a toothy smile. "Indeed we are. And what a pleasure it is to make your acquaintance. And here we have Mister Miles Lynn, an exceptionally gifted young pilot, who I have brought along to examine the quality of the vessels we intend to purchase. Shall we examine the merchandise?"

The two businessmen wandered off towards the parked shuttles, with Miles following closely behind, grinning like a madman at having been called "exceptionally gifted".

As they left, seemingly forgetting about the two women, Mila rolled her eyes at Ash. Listening to this hurts my brain. I guess we'll leave them to it?

Ash rolled her eyes at Miles and shook her head with a smile at Mila who apparently felt the same way. It's not every day a young pilot gets to buy a couple vessels.

Suddenly, Mila stopped mid-sign, and stared into the back of the hangar, where a cluster of obviously near-derelict craft were lined up under a sign touting them as high-quality salvage. Her attitude suddenly transformed, she hurried over to one of the craft there.

The ship that had taken her attention was a very small, wedge-shaped thing, barely larger than a fighter. Its dark, nearly black hull was scraped and dented, and it definitely looked like it had seen better days. The design of the vessel reminded Mila of the "stealth bombers" of 20th-century earth that she had seen in a history holo - but missing the fins on the rear. She had never seen anything like it.

Ash followed Mila's gaze and looked at the ship she was looking at. Something about it looked familiar, she was unable to pinpoint why. Ash has been around the galaxy a few times, flown more than her fair share of vessels and been in firefights with even more... She signed to Mila, Something about this hunk of junk interests you? Looks like it was something top of the line at some point... emphasis on was.

Mila chuckled, and walked around the strange craft, when she noticed something. Between what was left of the decorative golden stripes on its "wings" were the remainders of the little ship's identification, painted on in silver. Carefully, she wiped off some of the dirt, revealing a large number 3, some lettering, mostly rendered illegible by scrapes dents, as well as traces of a peculiar insignia. Most of it, too, had worn away, but the outline that remained looked like an upside-down Starfleet arrowhead, impaled on some sort of sword or dagger.

Gingerly, she traced the outline with her finger, and tried to decipher what was left of the ship's registry.

"I... S... S... D... i... s... can't make out the rest", she muttered quietly. "N... C... C... one... zero... something... G".

Mila stood, and frowned, before waving Ash over. What do you make of this?

Ash's focus immediately was drawn to the insignia on the vessel. She rubs more of the dirt off, hand tracing over the sword. One doesn't work for Section 31 as long as she had and not recognize that symbol. This ship is from another universe, she signed to Mila. Want it? Follow my lead.

Another universe?, Mila signed in disbelief, before shrugging.

"Hey!" Ash called out to Gedak, Miles, and Fenton. "Think we can get this hunk of scrap thrown into the deal? We'll even haul it out for you. While Miles gets his fancy flight worthy ships, I think Mila and I should pick up something to work on together. Nothing like getting your hands dirty to learn some useful skills," she asked, gesturing to the vessel in question.

The three men turned, and looked over at Ash. They had been examining the ships they were going to purchase, and just agreed on a price. Miles looked at his sister questioningly, who signed to him that she would explain later.

Fenton put on his widest salesman smile. "Hunk of scrap? This is some prime salvage, miss! And it won't come cheap!"

Gedak eyed the craft, and turned to Fenton. "Does that thing even work? Doesn't look worth the material value to me."

Immediately, the two began haggling once more.

Ash glared at Fenton. "Prime salvage?" she scoffed. "I didn't realize there's a classification scale for garbage. I would hate to see your run of mill salvage. We'd be doing you a favor by getting it out of here. You'd pay more to scrap it than it's worth. It's a rusted out piece of target practice that hasn't been space worthy since the last time you didn't swindle a buyer."

The twins looked on Ash in awe. They knew she was a badass, especially after how she handled taking over the Ourainavassa, but seeing her in action like this was something else. Even Gedak seemed impressed.

It took Fenton a few moments to find his words. "If it's so worthless, why are you so interested?", he growled out between clenched teeth.

Now it was Gedak's turn. With a mischievous smile, he put a hand on Fenton's shoulder. "Mr Fenton, as a merchant on Drozana, you operate under the jurisdiction of the Ferengi Commerce Authority, if I am not mistaken? I am sure the FCA would be very interested in the false advertising going on here. You say the craft is quality salvage, yet that is clearly not the case. I do not understand why my associates want to have this piece of space junk, but then they are hew-mons. And who knows what goes on in their heads. But what I do know, is that I should give my cousin at the FCA a call, it's been too long."

One could almost see the cogwheels in Fenton's head spinning, as he contemplated Gedak's thinly veiled threat. The truth of the matter was meaningless, the FCA, like any Ferengi organisation, was run on a mix of bribery and nepotism. Finally, he had to give in. "Take it. Take your shuttles, take this hunk of junk, and then get out of my sight."

Ash smiled politely at Fenton, "It was a pleasure doing business with you." She watched as he was out of ear shot before turning to Gedak, "Thank you for your negotiation prowess... we were going to leave with this ship, one way or another. I'm just glad I don't have to deal with station security again."

She then nodded at Mila, signing, We're going to need your brains to figure out how this got here...

Instead of Mila, her brother responded. This hangar looks like it has a tractor beam crane, we can shift it in position and then put it in tow with the runabout.

Mila nodded. That sounds like it should work. Let's check with the bearded blob over there.

Ash chuckled at Mila, Be nice. We got what we came for... but he really does look like a bearded blob. Be nice? Ash shook her head at herself, since when do I say that? "Miles, you want to go ask for permission to use the crane? I don't think I'm on anyone's list of favorite people to talk to...."

Fenton overheard Ash, and looked over. "You want to use the tractor crane to get the derelict out? Be my guests."

Miles shrugged. "That answers that." He looked at Ash and Gedak. "You two know how to fly a shuttle, right? So we can get our purchases out of here?"

Ash looked over at their new purchases, "Dibs on the runabout. I am not flying a used Klingon shuttle... I don't care how much it's been allegedly deep cleaned."

The young man shrugged again. "If you fly the runabout, you get to tow your little treasure, too. Enjoy the ride."

"Done. I think you'd enjoy taking a joy ride without dragging a piece of scrap metal behind you anyways," Ash smiled as she patted Miles on the shoulder. "It'll distract you from the smell..." she mumbled as she walked away.

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