The Price of Power

[Isolde]

Marra

Marra's jaw tightened as she saw Proteus writhing on the ground and her fists clenched by her side. She hated being under this Empire lackey's power. Especially since he was sure to get them all killed.

Looking at him, she said in a controled voice,"Our one advantage in this whole thing is that we fit into the Neutral Zone. Pirates dont fire on ships bigger than them unless they are after something and then, not an all out assault but a sneak attack. And, if they were to attack, they would leave the ship intact so they could raid it."

"I think what the captain was trying to say it that, if anyone is around, you just blew our cover."

Helping Proteus to his feet, she added,"However, if you will leave it to us, we will try to find someway to cover. I propose we let people believe that we recently liberated some rather dangerous and unstable but valuable weapons from the Empire upon our escape from them. Anyone who knows Proteus would buy that."

 

[MrSand]

Operative M

"Hmph," Muttered the Operative. He regarded the Second-in-Command for a bit before answering. "I doubt that anyone has seen us; this ship has the best sensors in the quadrant, and Mr. Nils detected no other vessels in the vicinity." He then shrugged. "But, if it makes you feel better to run around and be stealthy, well then, by all means be my guest."

 

[kitsuke]

Nils Galanti

"Hey, as my grandfather used to say, 'A fight avoided is a fight won.' Too bad the old man couldn't take his own advice. Captain Proteus is here now and Marra can run these sensors almost as well as I can," he winked at her, "so I am gonna go get some unconsciousness done."

Nils casually saluted Proteus and Marra, then made his way belowdecks to his quarters.

 

[Neale]

Proteus

Proteus' fury had ebbed somewhat, but he was still looking to lash out. "Operative, just how many of those new toys do you have on board my ship? Enough to fight your way through the entire Neutral Zone? If you keep on going the way you are, that is exactly what you will do. Your masters have us working for them because of our experience here. What is the bloody point of that, if you do whatever you think is best? If they'd wanted your thoughts running the show, they'd have just hung us!"

Not waiting for a response, Proteus flung himself into his seat, and carefully studied the sensor readings, hoping that the Empire man was right, and that they'd escaped attention.

 

[kitsuke]

Nils Galanti

Nils made his way down, 'I wish Chock were still here.. I don't know what the names of half those drinks are so I'm going to have to wait for a replicated ale.' He shuddered as he pondered what sort of sludge the computer would spit out this time.

Turning into his quarters he got that ale, drank, and caught a few hours of shuteye.

 

[Isolde]

Marra

Marra sat down at the controls and fixed her gaze on the long range scanners. If anyone were out there, they had just blown their cover. Time passed and nothing moved. That didnt neccessarily mean they had escaped detection as those in the neutral zone were well known for stealing and mofifying parts of ships they had raided but it did ease her mind somewhat.

Then something appeared on the screen. Tapping her fingers lightly over the console, she brought it into view.

The ship was small and very familiar. She and Proteus knew the size hide a wealth of modified weapons as well as sensors and they knew who captained the vessel. This could be good or it could be very, very bad.

Turning to Proteus, she told him what he already knew. "It's the Nemisis. Gar is on patrol today."

Gar was a pirate and one of the more well known as well as one of the best in the neutral zone. He was also one of those that had gathered the rag tag reminants of thieves, pirates and other undesirables and had semi organized them, at least enough to get a patrol of the Neutral Zone going...thus insuring that the law on either side could not sneak in and break up the profitable trade and other activities that went on here.

Marra and Proteus knew him well as they had worked with him on numerous occasion and was as close to what their kind would call a friend as he could be. He was also one of the ones that it would be hardest to pull something over on. If anyone could smell out the scam it was him.

 

[Neale]

Proteus

The shapeshifter captain was delighted at the news, but his his feelings behind a carefully controlled mask. "So, M... if we don't hail Gar, he is going to wonder why. He knows our ship, and is going to be VERY curious as to how it is that we aren't all VERY dead." Proteus smiled evilly. "How do we handle it?"

 

[kitsuke]

Nil Galanti

Nil snored... then turned over.


(aka Bump)

 

[MrSand]

Operative M

M raised an eyebrow. "Asking for my advice? Hmph." The Operative shrugged and began to walk away. "I am sure that since you two are now on the bridge attending to your duties that you will find a solution to the dillemma at hand. Just do what you pirates do best, and weasel your way out of this situation. As for me, I need a nap."

M stopped at the door before adding, "And if you think he suspects us, then simply destroy him." The Operative walked out.