The Price of Power

[Shawn18]

Chock pulls one over on the empire

[Chock sat silently in his bar. Business had never been this bad. Surely someone would be thirsty. He had a various collection of foods and drinks (both synthehol and true alcohol) from many planets of both the Empire and the Alliance. Even if he didn't have what someone wanted the ship's replicator could easily produce a decent substitute that looks and tastes similar given a good description. Yet, no one enter the doors. Chock knew this wasn't going to be as profitable of a mission as he'd earlier thought. He remembered Rule of Acquistion #62 "The riskier the road the greater the profit" however he also remembered Rule of Acquisition #9 "Opportunity + instinct = profit" and every instict was telling him that this whole mission is a bad idea, for him anyway. The Unwritten Rule of Acquisition states "When no appropriate Rule applies, make one up." He decided it was time to do just that.]

Chock: Rule of Acquisition #306 "A business opportunity which involves a considerable risk of death is no opportunity at all, a wise man lives to seek his fortune another day."

[With that Chock knew what he had to do. He packed everything he could take with him in his bag and removed his com-badge. He knew that Operative M was the one he should worry about. But he also knew that the Operative was busy on the command deck, not to mention distracted by the sounds of the captain's sexcapades. He slowly made his way to Shuttle Bay 3. He attempted to access the ship's computer. He pressed a few pads on the control panel.]

Computer: Access denied. This function restricted to authorized personnel only.

Chock: Damn. Computer, who is authorized for this function?

Computer: Command level clearance is restricted to Operative M and Captain Marra.

Chock: We'll see about that.

[Chock works for a few minutes to access a backdoor to the ship's root programming line. It isn't easy. The Empire has made it practically impossible. Luckily Chock had been trained for such situations. After all what weapon salesman didn't know his machines. He worked tediously, nervous that someone would discover his location or attempts to gain clearance. After what must've been 45 minutes to an hour Chock got lucky and found a backdoor. He gave himself full command level clearance. But there was a problem. How would Chock get away, the ship can travel at warp but a shuttle craft can only get maximum impulse which is barely the speed of light, not even warp 1. Then it dawned on him! He had programmed all the components of a cloaking device into the ship's replicator and encoded it and hidden it in so many sub-directories the Empire probably didn't remove it. He hoped it was still there. The nearest replicator unit was down the hall from Shuttle Bay 3 so he made his way there.]

 

[Shawn18]

Chock escapes....

[Chock hurriedly replicated the components he needed and transported them to Shuttle Bay 3. He quickly installed the components. Cloaking devices on small vessles such as shuttle crafts were seldom used due to the dampening field necessary sometimes causes problems with the computer aboard the small vessle. But it was a risk Chock was willing to take. He had no intention of staying on to help the Empire. He decided he had better take extra precautions to avoid capture.]

Chock: Computer, disable tractor beam and force field commands for 5 trillion ticks.

[Chock boarded the shuttle and opened shuttle bay doors and pulled the shuttle into space, leaving the ship.]

Chock: (*speaking to shuttle computer not ship computer*) Computer, engage cloaking device and set a course for the Neutral Zone, maximum impulse. Engage.

[The shuttle bay doors closed and Chock was gone. He had made it. Free from being the Empire's slave. It would probably be several minutes, possibly even a couple hours before they realized he was gone, and by then it would be too late. Since shuttles have no warp drives there's no warp signature trail to follow, and impulse trails disperse in a matter much faster since it isn't sub-space travel. Chock was free.]

 

[Shawn18]

OOC

OOC: I quickly got bored with this thread for several reasons, my character doesn't fit in well, no one was interacting with me, I know the focus of the thread isn't sexual and I actually prefer threads that focus more on the story but I'd rather not be the only one who doesn't get laid. I might create another character later who was a "stowaway" aboard the ship and a spy for the Alliance or something but I'm done with this thread for now.

 

[kitsuke]

Nil Galanti

"We've got an unauthorized shuttle bay opening, Captain Proteus." Nil said as he hit his comm badge. "Shuttle Aleph Ran is no longer in it's docking bay. There are some scattered signatures that suggest cloaking, but they are impossible to track accurately. I have done a shipboard scan and it seems that Chock the Ferengi is gone."

Nil looked at his instruments again. "Also Captain, I see what could be an Allied Kingdoms Serenchei Military Scout in the outer ranges of long range sensors. I think we may have a situation."

 

[Neale]

Proteus

As Marra writhed under his touch in a convincing display of arousal, he pondered her words. "Excellent. I profer my most heartfelt apologies for most of the things I called you when you rigged it like that." As a physical show of his thankfulness, he began to savagely tease her nipples with his teeth. "Remind me to give you a raise!"

 

[MrSand]

Operative M

"Damn," cursed the Operative as he heard about the Alliance scout ship. He made his way over to Nil and said, "Forget about the Ferengi, he's as good as dead. The Empire is tracking our movements, and when they see that fool making an escape, they'll vaporize him before he makes it to the nearest system."

The Operative glanced at the sensor readings. "As for the Alliance scout... I want it destroyed. They must not learn of our location, or our existence for that matter. So, do me a favor, Mr. Nil. Eliminate them..."

 

[Shawn18]

I think I'll run with it.

OOC: I think I'll keep going this makes for an interesting plot twist. You know betrayal and plot complication. Its GREAT STORYTELLING! lol Oh and vaporize me? We'll see heheh.

[Chock had cheated death.... twice. He escaped the Imperial vaporization chambers and the suicide mission the Empire was forcing him to take. He couldn't have been more pleased. "I'm such a genius." he thought to himself. Just then he looked down at the ship's sensor array. An Alliance vessle on long range sensors, approximately 5 parcecs from his current location.]

Chock: Computer, open hailing frequencies, send the following inaudible message to the Alliance scout ship. "I am Chock T'rel, I've done business with the Alliance on many occassions, usually weapons but this time I have some valuable information. Meet me at the following coordinates *punches a few keys on the control panel* to discuss the price. If you haven't detected it yet there is a vessle you should be weary of. It is not an Imperial ship but it is under the control of the Empire. They've more than likely detected you on long range sensors, so stay out of its short range sensors and weapons range. Being an Alliance ship I'm sure you have a cloaking device. Use it. End transmission.

[[Chock had no intention of selling them the information. He merely wanted to use them for a ride to the Neutral Zone and eventually back to Ferenginar. He wanted to leave this whole situation behind him.]

 

[kitsuke]

Nil Galanti

"Aye, uh, Operative.", Nil said lamely as he almost said 'Aye, Captain.'

"Computer, plot intercept course for Allied Scout ship. Maximum impulse. What is ETI?", Nil turned his attention to this ship's computer.

"Estimated Time to Intercept is two minutes Ensign Galanti."

"Hey, you didn't have to make our computer talk Empire, too. Sheesh... haven't been an ensign for eighteen years...", Nil held on to his console as the ship lurched into full thrust. The scout had no chance to survive.

Years ago the Alliance had gambled nearly everything they had on a surprise attack on the Empire's fleet. Equipping an entire battle train with cloaking devices they had jumped on the trail of a war convoy the empire had going to resupply the Eighth Fleet. The convoy masked the odd signatures given off by cloaking technology and they launched a full array of missiles on a completely unshielded fleet of battlecruisers. The Empire's fighting capability was crippled, and it did not take ong for the uninjured Alliance boats to finish them off. To this day Empire soldiers still say "He joined the Eighth Fleet." as a euphemism for a comrade killed in action.

This battle also created a belief that all Alliance ships had cloaking devices, and Empire captains and crew lived in fear of it for some time. This was the portion of the war that went the best for the Alliance, since no Empire ship wanted to engage spotted Allies for fear of cloaked ambushers. When intelligence had been released that the supply of cloakers was extremely limited to everyone but the Klingons a vast wave of relief and renewed fighting enthusiasm hit the Empire forces and the war was once again forced to a stalemate.

Unfortunately, due to the disproportionate engine size no Allied Scout had ever been equipped with a cloaking device, they relied on their sleek, unobtrusive design and extremely low impulse signature for their missions. Also unfortunately for the scout, Nil had access to the best sensors in the quadrant. One thing for sure, he never would have picked up that scout at that range before the ship had been 'touched up' by the Empire techs.

"Firing resolution in 30 seconds Operative M, fire control is yours, I would suggest no ballistic explosives to lessen the chance of any nearby Allied warships registering a battle before we are gone. Phasers is what I would stick with.", Nil faced his console again. "Fifteen seconds, sir."

 

[Shawn18]

Chock

[Chock was well aware of the goings-on. He was not about to let Operative M screw up his plans. He received a response from the scout ship. They did not have a cloaking device. This was not good. He decided it would be best to stay out of the battle. As long as he remained cloaked and did not move while in range of the Stacked Deck's short range sensors they had no way of knowing he was even there. He would simply wait it out to see who won the battle. If the scout ship won or retreats without being destroyed he would beam himself aboard. Ordinarily it would be impossible to transport onto a ship with the shields up, however he knew the shield harmonics frequency of the scout ship and the SHF of the shuttle he had commandeered. It would be a matter of simply recalibrating the transporter subroutine details. He could only hope that the scout ship would not be destroyed, because if it is destroyed its a long way back to the Neutral Zone travelling at maximum impulse. Chock made sure he had alternate plans, he discovered a nearby M Class planet with an industrial civilization. However due to the Prime Directive of the Federation it had never been explored in detail, and will not until they develop warp technology on their own. They would have no knowledge of the Empire. He would land there if necessary and set up shop. He could wait it out there until he could find a ride back the Neutral Zone. Rule of Acquisition #311 (made up by Chock), "Always have a backup plan." Chock could only hope for the best.]

 

[kitsuke]

Nil Galanti

OOC: Yes Shawn, please do have Chock get out alive, I think he will add a great dynamic to the thread. Just wanted to kill SOMETHING. Sorry if I made it harder for you.

 

[Shawn18]

Kitsuke

OOC: Short of blowing up the entire solar system you're not gonna kill me lol. When it comes to things like this I can be very creative, very sneaky, and can come up with an explanation for anything. I could even give you a dead body that could be positively identified as mine (and technically it would be mine so there's no way you wouldn't consider me dead) and I'd be alive and well in another location. I plan on doing that and seeing if you can figure out how I did it lol. I'll give you one hint Thomas Riker. No not Commander William Riker, THOMAS Riker.

 

[MrSand]

Operative M

OOc: Remember though, the current technology is not as advanced as even the Next Generation; I believe Neale said the tech was somewhat at the level of the original series.

IC:

The Operative walked over to the Tactical Console and began typing. His hands and fingers blurred over the console, inputting instructions to the computer the old fashioned way. He then gave a smile as he pressed the firing button.

The Stacked Deck gave a slight shudder as something shot out of what was previously a second shuttle hangar. The device rocketed towards the fleeing scout ship, its sleek black surface glowing with red energy. The scout tried to shake its persuer, but the surprised crew of the Alliance vessel could not act quickly enough to avert disaster. The weapon impacted the scout's aft shields, erupting with an enormous explosion. The Stacked Deck's phasers then opened fire on the impact point, shattering the shields and hitting the ship's engines. The scout was consumed in unholy flame before it to exploded.

The crew was silent for a moment before Nil spoke up. "What the hell was that?"

The Operative only shrugged. "A weapon. Something the Alliance, or you pirate rabble do not have. It was called a photon torpedo, though the Empire technicians who discovered it named them Vallek Caskets. Interesting story there..." M chuckled for a bit before turning around and walking towards the exit. "We only have eight of those things left, so be careful with them."

He then exited the bridge and went in search of the Captain.

 

[Shawn18]

OOC

OOC: The technology featured in the original series is enough for what I have planned.

 

[kitsuke]

Nil Galanti

"What the hell?!" Nil nearly shouted as the evil red dot rocked the scout and allowed the phasers to obliterate it in a ridiculously short amount of time. "Photon? That didn't even register on the sensors as more than a energy surge!" This was true, he just didn't know that when the Federation was around they knew it was a very specific type of energy and could pinpoint it's use from parsecs away.

Nil whistled and looked at the space dust that used to be a first grade advance scout, normally able to oumaneuver a big boat like this long enough to get away.

"Let me guess," he stated, "they put in one of those Phiasic Multitargeting Arrays as well... the Mark VI? I think that's the new the buzz is about."

 

[Shawn18]

Chock

[Chock watched as the scout ship erupted in an explosion.]

Chock: *talking to himself* So much for Plan A. Hmm, The Empire cannot allow me to live, it would create a huge controversy if news of my survival were made public, after all I was supposedly executed. If I'm to escape, Operative M has to be satisfied that I am dead. Or better yet....

[Chock came up with a very unorthodox plan. He would give Operative M exactly what he wanted. He stepped over to the transporter room of the small shuttlecraft. "I sure hope this idea works." he thought to himself. He programmed the transporter to lock on to him with 2 separate beams, with 2 separate locations, one for each beam, both locations within the shuttle. Creating, in essence, a "clone." He stepped on to the transporter pad.]

Chock: Computer, energize.

[Chock rematerialized in front of the transporter pad and saw his "clone" in the control room. One quick punch to the back of the head rendered the clone unconscious. He then set the ship to decloak and and programmed it to fly around the Stacked Deck and fire phasers, targeting random locations. He set the phaser frequency to match the shield harmonics of the Stacked Deck, he knew the SHM because the shuttle had the same setting. The phasers would go right through their shields. He by no means thought the small shuttle could destroy the Stacked Deck. They would simply destroy it or lock onto it with a tractor beam and take "Chock" into custody. But in the mean time it would do considerable damage with the few shots it did take. Plenty of distraction. Chock set the attack subroutine and set it to erase all transporter logs. He stepped back onto the transporter pad, taking a tricorder and a hand phaser with him, and set the location for the M Class planet off his starboard bow.]

Chock: Here goes nothin'. Computer, energize.

[The shields dropped, Chock dematerialized. The shield raised and the shuttle decloaked and began the attack subroutine, firing on the Stacked Deck. It had to have been a miracle that all this had worked so far.]

 

[kitsuke]

Nil Galanti

"Report; it seems the shuttlecraft Aleph Ran may have been damaged by the blast from that 'torpedo'. It was closer than we previously thought to the scout and an energy presaged the cloak drop. Aleph Ran is turning toward the Stacked Deck and firing it's phaser. Shields at 99.772%, we could take this beating forever, but it appears the pilot has plotted a ballistic intercept course. Fire control is once again yours Operative", Nil hands flew over the controls as he made adjustments for the new information and he turned to the forward view screen to get visual confirmation.

 

[Isolde]

Marra

Marra groaned as Proteus' teeth teased her nipples. At that point the ship shuddered and the heat of the moment was lost.

Marra looked at Proteus for only a second and then was up dressing in a new outfit.

"Shit," She said dragging her communicator off of her suit,"Something is happening out there and I dont like the idea of Mr Empire being at the handles. If he so much as touches my weapons, I swear...."

Hitting the communicator, she said,"Nil, what the fuck is happening up there. The captain and I are on our way. Keep this ship together until we get there.

"It wasnt like Nil to not immediately alert her and the captian to what was happening. So either something was wrong with the communications in the room or the operative had not let him tell them. She would check the communications problem later. The operative was for later too. Much later."

 

[MrSand]

Operative M

M sighed as Nil's message reached him. "Pathetic creatures, these Ferengi..."

The Opertive reentered the bridge and saw the tiny shuttle craft on an intercept course with the main ship. "Pathetic. He is trying to kill himself... fool."

With that, M tapped a few buttons on the console and the ship's phasers locked onto the shuttle.

"So long..." smirked the Operative.

Seconds later, the shuttle was nothing but atomized debris.

 

[Shawn18]

OOC

OOC: Quick science fiction lesson. On Star Trek (even on the Original Series which is where our technology is at) shield are energy force fields. Energy is on a certain frequency. The "Shield Harmonics Frequency" for those of you who aren't avid Trekkies is a certain number (for example) 132.4. Now if you set the transporter to the same frequency you could transport someone (by transport I'm referring to "Beam me up Scotty") right thru the shields. However it is very dangerous to transport someone thru shields because there is a chance that the tranporter beam (the carrier wave that carries the information to reassamble the energized person) could possibly disperse and the person would be for intents and purposes vaporized. And phasers, being that they are energy weapons, operate on a certain frequency as well. Now if that frequency is set equal to the frequency of the shield harmonics the phaser beam would go right thru the shields as well, if you don't believe me watch the Trek film "Star Trek: Generations" in this movie a Klingon Bird of Prey's crew captures Geordi LaForge (the guy with the visor over his eyes that looks like a hair band) and they plant a spying device in it. When he looks at the control panel and they can see the exact frequency of the shields. They set their phasers to match and their phaser fire goes right through the shields. Now I never intended for the shuttle craft to destroy you by any means. It could've gotten 2 maybe 3 shots off tops. But they would've went straight thru the shields. It wouldn't have caused any critical damage but it would've shook you up pretty bad and required some minor repairs. Anyway Chock is alive and well on the planet and none of you have any idea so now that I've gotten Chock away alive and you believe he is dead I'm done.

 

[Isolde]

OOC: Quick refresher course. At the beginning of the thread Neale plainly stated:

Hokay... just want to point out one tiny little detail. This really and truly isn't a Trek thread, despite the setting. I just used that to provide a framework familiar to most people. I'm playing fast and loose with whatever seems best for the story. While ripples of Omega thingies belike were stirring in the back of my brain, more credit goes to recent issues of Legion of Superheroes.

I only mention this to avoid any kind, well-meaning souls pointing out inconsistencies, or things like the relative locations of the various planets in question precluding any sane rationale for the political alignments I listed. Such well-meaning souls would be responded to by a barrage from the Type II (Dodgeable) Phaser I keep handy for just such occasions. Any bits of vapor left over would then be turned over to Isolde. And, friends, the Agonizer was patterned to duplicate the sensations she induces with her bare hands (and a few, select kitchen implements).

He stated this to keep such stickler details from ruining the thread like it is getting ruined now with all this OOC crap about what may or may not have happened on the fucking Star Trek series.

I myself am a Trekkie but not to the point of being anal retentive.

NOW! Either we go on with this thread for funs sake and drop the 'have to be exactly right with the damn details' OR I shall officially shut the thread down by pushing The Stacked Deck's self destruct button, pull Marra from the thread and label it as lost!

I apologize to anyone pissed off at this post but I lost a good thread to this kind of shit and I am not about to loose another promising one.

 

[Neale]

[i]Type II (Dodgeable) Phaser [/i] coming online

OOC: Thankfully, Isolde pretty well covered it. I understand Shawn's frustration with the lack of things for his character to do right away, but I cannot condone the degree to which he amused himself with ever-greater stretches to the internal logic of the thread.

Lad, Montgomery Scott himself couldn't have pulled off the stuff Chock did. I accept full responsibility for not asking you earlier to tone it down. By the time I became aware of the problem, you'd already said you were leaving.

Anyhow, its over. Chock is safe, sound, and bloody well out of the way. Rest well, and much profit to you.

Another potential problem I have noticed is that the opposition is not really posting much. Would it help if I added a character to post with your side? My intent was that you would kind of post your own storyline, whatever you wanted, up until you came into contact with the Empire crew, at which time the conflict would begin.

Please, anyone with any questions, suggestions, or ideas, email or PM me. I will respond ASAP.

 

[kitsuke]

Nil Galanti

"No further activity on sensors to report, plotting a course out to be executed at your command." Nil said as he turned to the station next to him. He was used to multiple duty as the Stacked Deck did not always have what you might call a full crew.

"Course plotted, ETA to Neutral Zone destination is 73 hours plus or minus ten minutes. The course is variable depending on what sensors pick up along the way.", Nil yawned and tried to cover it with his hand. "If you don't mind I am gonna go catch some sleep, just have someone watch the sensors and buzz me if anything comes up."

Nil waited for apporval before leaving his station, he'd be damned if he'd let captain alphabet (operative m)have something to complain about.

 

[Neale]

Proteus

Proteus burst onto the bridge, narrowly avoiding knocking Nils on his ass. "Empire lackey, have you LOST YOUR MIND?!!" He was plainly furious, and Marra, just behind him, was no less angry. At a glance, he deduced what had happened. "You fired on, and destroyed an Allied ship... You IDIOT!"

Proteus moved closer to M, shapeshifting slightly to loom over him. "If we had just continued on, like we always do, we would have been noticed... as a junky little ship, no threat to anyone. Now, thanks to your foolishness, they know damn well that something dangerous has come to the sector. How many of those fancy weapons did you stash aboard my ship? A dozen, two dozen? I've seen the Allies send a dozen dozen ships after a friend of mine who had the monumentally bad judgement to blow up one of theirs."

 

[MrSand]

Operative M

The Operative merely stared at the Captain during his rage, with a look akin to boredom on his face. With a sigh, the Operative made a gesture, and soon the Captain fell to his knees as agonizing pain erupted in every part of his body. He writhed on the floor of the bridge in pure agony, his form shifting and flexing. After what seemed like an eternity, the pain subsided, and Proteus was left gasping on his back.

"I shall now answer your questions in the order presented to me," spoke the Operative as the Captain recovered. "No, I have not lost my mind. I am perfectly aware that I destroyed an Alliance vessel; believe it or not, I have my reasons for doing so. Firstly, like all Imperial Vessels in this area, they were most likely ordered to keep an eye out for any ships entering or leaving the neutral zone. They will most definately be expecting a disguised Imperial expedition into the area, since they recieved the information about he lost ship from us. They are expecting us, Captain, and I can not allow any intelligence on our location or existance to be reported.

"Besides, did you forget that there is an Alliance ship headed to the same location we are? High Command has ordered that any ship we encounter in that area of the neutral zone is to be considered hostile and destroyed." The Operative then glanced over at the Tactical Station. "As for your second question, I had only brought aboard nine Vallek Caskets. We originally intended to consign twelve to this mission, but the hold on this scrap pile wasn't large enough to occupy them. So alas... we are left with nine. Well, eight, now..."

 

[BadForm]

Hator "Hate" M'lisse

Hate climber back out through the grill and began following the hollographic boarders. Something had briefly shook the ship, and did not feel like part of the program. That was something for later though, right now she wanted her fun. The three boarders were following the corridor cautiously, obviously on the lookout for their enemies. The two at the front were checking side corridors and doors for danger, the one at the back constantly checking behind them. She would not have time to sneak up behind him and take him down without being seen. She would have to fight all three armed men at once. That was fine. They would kill her if she did not kill them.

Hate sneaked as close as she could then, as the rear guard was turning again, launched herself at the group with an animalistic shriek. Noise always took the foe by surprise. That was why the first burst of phaser fire took out a control panel and not her head. She lept over the first man, wrapping her legs around his neck to take huim down as she grabbed the other two men's heads and smashed them together with all her strength. As her weight bore them to the ground a random phaser burst slammed against her right shoulder. She howled as she felt the skin and muscle sear, but the adrenalin rush of her Klingon ancestry kept her going. Her hands twisted to clutch the front guards' windpipes as they fell, her crushing weight killing snapping their necks. Then she was spinning onto the man at the back. He fumbled for his phaser as she span on top of him and fired. The shot took away a small section of her side, but the agony only drove her further. She smashed her fist down into the man's nose, driving the cartilege back into his head, then fell on him, feasting on his flesh and blood. He screamed as the life was eated from him.

Hate lifted herself from the dead body and wiped her left hand across her blood-covered mouth. Her right arm was useless now, and her side burned fiercely. She needed sick bay, but had no idea where it was.

"Ending program computer be," she said, and dragged herself out of the holosuite.