Star Trek:
The Nara-Maru Files
Chapter Two
Captain's Log, Stardate 46813.6
For several days we have been at High Warp as we leave Federation Space for a set of Coordinates fourteen hours away from a facility known as the Rempak Anchorage. A heaven for businessmen, wanderers, smugglers and those who wish to avoid Federation Space. Much to our surprise, the former Starfleet Vessel now known as 'Nara-Maru' has fit in our main shuttle bay. It appears as if the warp nacelles of the vessel had been designed too slide forwards in the event of hiding in such a confined space, I have taken the liberty of examining the vessel for myself under the ever watchful eye of the very beautiful yet stern Miss Teela.
"A most impressive Miss Teela" Picard said as he exited the portside airlock. "Thank you for the tour"
"Anytime Captain Picard. As you can see sir, this ship is more then capable of defending herself against any ship more then twice her size…"
"… Yes, and you can tell my mother that her little… distraction won't work Captain Picard" Asami said as she walked towards him.
"Distraction Captain?" Picard replied politely.
"I maybe only young in comparison to both yourself and Teela here. Although I am 26 years old, I'm smart enough to see what I'm being played Captain Picard. Once this is over, I will not be returning to the Federation with you as my mother wishes, I have my own life out here"
"As you wish, what did you mean you said… you are young compared with Teela"
"Ohh Captain Picard, is it not impolite too ask a woman her age on your world?" Teela said with a smile. "I'm older then the both of you, combined… and leave it that shall we?" She said with a soft smile.
"Of course" Picard said quickly. "Are you sure that you do not wish for any additional security Miss Hirayama?"
"Just Mister Worf will do fine and Geordie has expressed a desire of seeing this ship in action, if you can spare him. We could actually use an engineer if this goes south real fast!"
"I do not understand what you mean Miss Hirayama, but I will speak with Mister La Forge. How long before this vessel is ready to launch?"
"We can have her ready in three hours Captain, and please… don't ask us to file a flight plan… our route will be somewhat erratic to say the least as we will have to cut across a small corner of Romulan Territory about five light years across, we'll be in and out before they even know where around"
"You sound very sure of yourself Miss Hirayama. The Romulans are not very fond of vessels cutting across their boarders" Picard replied with concern.
"We've done it a few times Captain… their boarder patrol ships are slow and sluggish, trust me. We'll be fine. You just hold up your end of the bargain and make sure that you are ready when get back, we may have a few uninvited guests at the welcome home party"
Captain's Log, Supplemental
With the launch of the freighter along with two members of my own crew, although I do not appreciate being this close to Romulan Space, I can almost feel their eyes watching the Enterprise as I speak. As a part of the cover, we have begun a survey of this system while we await contact from out… rather unusual team.
Almost the instant they cleared the winding corridors of Romulan Space, Lieutenant Worf let out a deep sigh as let go of the handles he was holding onto so hard he could have crushed them due to the seemingly terrifying manoeuvres performed by the pilot, Asami Hirayama. Seemingly turning on it's axis while spinning around in barrel roles before nosing upwards before sharp turns to the port and then starboard as if following some invisible path while avoiding Romulan sensor drones and patrol ships before they darted through a short section of Romulan Space at warp three. It almost seemed as if she was piloting the vessel erratically to punish him for something, however her earlier warnings did alert him, something which he ignored.
"We're out of Romulan Space, best stay on those Sensors Teela, it's known for a few more… Romulan Patrols out this way. You look a little shook up Worf, you okay?" Asami said with a large smile.
"I, will be fine" He said slowly.
"Good! Come with me, you should both change out of those Starfleet Uniforms, Worf, you're going to need a good disguise. Worf, Son of Mogh is very… well known out here"
"Ohh?" Worf said with a large smile.
"Come with me guys, I'll get you fixed up. Mister Worf, perhaps something in black and red leather for you. How about a nice long scar down the right side of your face?" Asami laughed as she left the tiny bridge of the unusual designed vessel.
It took only twenty minutes to hide the features on the large Klingon as a large scar now ran down the right side of his face and forcing the right eye closed. Standing back slightly, Geordie pulled on a small black jacket as he nodded with a smile on his face.
"Amazing" Geordie said quickly.
"Almost done Worf, I've stimulated your hair follicles giving you a much longer hairstyle now as well as a full beard. The covering over your right eye should allow you to see through it with no loss, can you see me?" Asami said quickly.
"Yes!"
"Alright. Geordie will remain here with Teela while Worf and I board Rempak Anchorage, I have a good idea where the subject will be. I just… don't know how happy Grilk will be to see me after my last visit" She said as she finished up his disguise and stepped back. "Perfect…"
"Your… last visit?" Worf said slowly as he looked into a mirror. "Impressive"
"Yes… last time we where here, we got into a fight with two Nauscicaans and almost tore up one of the bars in the Zocalo…"
"More then one bar…" Teela said as she entered. "… We also destroyed a small store if I remember rightly. Wow, Worf… very ugly. I thought you should know, we're approaching Rempak, we've been scanned and Mister Grilk wishes to speak with you…"
"Shit!" Asami said quickly. "Alright… let's get this underway so we can all return to our lives"
Stepping out of the small medical quarters, the crew of four walked the short distance towards the bridge which was located at the forward of the saucer section of the ship above the small navigational deflector array which had been sunken into the ship itself reminiscent of an Akira Class Starship . No matter how many times he stepped onto the bridge, he could not imagine this ship being manned by a crew of small viewscreen before a small combined station displaying helm and Navigation, sensors and communications consoles as to the left of the helm was a similar station which displayed Engineering, sensors and weapons consoles of which both consoles where used by the two crewman themselves. In the centre of the bridge, stood an old fashioned Command Chair of Klingon Design. Lining the walls of the small bridge which could barely contain the four of them where blackened out consoles possibly due to the many systems being rerouted into the helm station before the viewscreen.
On the main viewscreen itself, a large Spacestation had appeared into view before them as La Forge leaned forwards to gain a closer look at the old station before him.
"Oh my god! That looks an awful lot like…"
"An old Federation Outpost? That's because it is! In 2275, the old K-Class Space Stations had passed their service life and Starfleet begun to decommission them and during that time, a group of business men saved two from the scrappers yards. They bought K-5 and K-9, moved them here and rebuilt them as one unit… if you look, you can still see the old Starfleet markings. Over time, it became a Mecca for travellers and wanderers, eventually it became a place of business for people like us and as more freighters arrived so did other businesses, but be aware Mister Worf…as with any place like this, it has it's criminal element and people who would think nothing you without a second thought"
"I shall keep that in mind" Worf said as she sat at the Helm station.
"Alright, let's see what Mister Grilk wants shall we? Teela?"
"On screen!" Teela said with a gentle smile on her face as she spoke. "Grilk, what can we do for you this time?"
"I was hoping that the two of you would return soon, you have yet to pay your fees" Called out the angry looking Ferengi on the screen before them.
"What fees? All of our docking fees are paid in full Grilk and you know that" Teela said harshly.
"You still owe me for the damage done to this facility during your last visit here. Now, payment in full today or I shall have to take your vessel as payment"
"Over my Dead body!" Asami said harshly. "We're working on something that's worth a lot more then the damage to one bar and a shop Grilk. You'll have enough Latinum to repair that facilities and keep some back for yourself to live comfortably off…"
"Normal docking fees apply here Miss Hirayama, although I am very fond of the both of you, I will take it down to… 35% of your earnings" He said with a large smile.
"Nope, this is the deal on the table Grilk. 15% of the profits, more then enough for you to live comfortably on, I will tell you how people are getting Liquid Blue into your facility without your knowledge and I won't inform the Ferengi Commerce Authority of the kickbacks you're receiving from your little unauthorised Dilithium trade or Starfleet Command about the weapons you're stockpiling…"
"Liquidator Brunt is a friend of your's, isn't he Sami?" Teela said quickly.
"Yes, he owes me a few favours… and I think he'd love… to take a look at your books Grilk…"
"You are an… EVIL Human Female Asami, 20%" He said quickly.
"The offer is now 10% Grilk… take my first offer… and myself and my employer will come onboard and discuss the situation with you… after which, you will accept our offer of… 20 Bricks of Latinum and be happy with it, am I clear?" Asami said firmly.
"Twenty Bricks?" Grilk said with a large grin. "You have a deal, is this job really worth that much? What is it, weapons, explosives, bio or chemical weapons?"
"None of the above my friend… see you in fifteen minutes. Ohh, have Nino send over a dozen of his best stakes and prepare two for myself and my employer…"
"As you wish. I look forward to seeing the great big bricks money you promise me" He grinned with greed.
"Payment upon completion, if you do not accept this, you may talk to my employer… Karis…"
Slowly she stood from the console as the disguised Worf sat in the chair with a large dark grin upon his face as he looked up at the Ferengi before him and nodded slowly as he spoke.
"You will accept the offer, or we will simply board your station and take what we need…"
"Um-um-um-um… of course, mister… Karis was it?" The Ferengi stammered.
"We shall be onboard with… thirty minutes, I suggest you be ready" Worf growled deeply.
"Yes, be ready!" Teela smiled. "Close Channel"
Laughing wildly as the screen returned to the view of the station, she looked at Worf and nodded before her eyes drifted to the screen once more and she slowly stood with shock on her face.
"Sami, top left… it's just come into view"
"Ohh hell!" Asami said quickly. "What the hell is HE doing here?"
"Who is he?" Geordie replied.
"Paul West, constant thorn in our side and general pain in the ass. Three and a half years ago, I arrived here for re-supply after a run when a new and… very cushy job came up, simply taking a small item to a planet out on the rim. I put in the lowest bid and won the contract, which was great considering that I had three stops along the way anyway. When I arrived here, I heard that someone else had put in a bid to do it for free…" Sami said slowly.
"Paul West?" Worf grunted as he stood.
"No, Teela here. You see back then, she ran her own ship and the artefact was going to her homeworld. Unfortunately, she had a rather large… outstanding bill to pay with Grilk…" Sami said with a smile.
"He took my ship as collateral and I had to pay to get her back. Well, I had to go home and since I had no ship to speak of, I hired Sami here… she took me home. When we got back, I saw that Grilk had sold my ship and everything inside to Paul West, a real bottom feeder…" Teela said quickly.
"He'd been trying to undercut me for months when I first started, stealing cargo, stealing jobs and so on. Now he took her ship, we managed to get onboard and he gave her back her personal belongings but then she was stuck with no home, no ship. We got on well enough, my ship had the speed and she had the contacts, so we went into business together… since then, West has been trying to steal any job he can from us" Sami continued. "If he is here, then it is a good bet he knows we are and… probably by now why… SHIT!" She yelled.
"I have… an idea!" Worf said with a smile.
After meeting with the administrator of the facility, the Ferengi named Grilk, they moved through the large and every growing facility until they reached what appeared to be a large bar and grill area in the what appeared to be the portside of the two original former Starfleet Facilities. Stepping into the crowded room, they where instantly met by the owner of the facility as he looked at Asami as he shook his head quickly while he spoke.
"No-no-no, you no come in here… you till owe me lot of credits for last time!" He called out in a strange alien accent.
"Nino, all debts are being paid in full as we speak. I trust you got my order?" Asami said with a gentle smile.
"Your order? Ohh yes! Being delivered it is to your ship, this way… this way you come…"
Being led through the crowded bar by the unusual looking alien named Nino, he eventually led the two of them towards a table before moving two Ferengi who where sat there, they where almost about to complain about being moved and even offer the strange alien a bribe until they saw Worf stood over them with a large growl on face and a frown in his eye. Instantly they moved as Worf and Asami sat down with a smile as Nino spoke once more with his unusual accent.
"This is the best table in the whole place, your food will brought in moments…"
"Thank you Nino, and once again… sorry about last time" Asami said with a delicate smile once more.
As Nino walked away with a slight limp on his left leg, her eyes instantly scanned the large room as Worf spoke.
"What Species is he?"
"His father was Cardassian and his mother was half Ferengi and half another species I've never seen before. He maybe an unusual little creature, but nothing goes on around here that Nino doesn't know about…"
"Indeed!" Worf said as her eyes stopped at a human male near the bar.
"Shit! I was hoping that HE wouldn't be here… this changes things" She said with a deep sigh.
"Who?" Worf said, following her gaze.
"The Human male at the bar, that's Paul West… the one dressed like an old Earth Cowboy. I see our target Karis, but first… we'll have to deal with West and his people"
"Very well, Follow my lead" Worf said with a large frown on his face as he begun to stand.
"No! he has to many people in here… I have another idea"
Smiling widely from ear-to-ear, Nino returned with two large trays holding large Steak-like meat and placed them before his two costumers as Worf's eyes opened wide at the sight of the meal placed before him.
"Try it Karis, you will not find a better steak in the quadrant then right here at Nino's" Asami said as she nodded to the unusual hybrid alien before her.
As Nino left, Worf cut a large piece of the meat before him and took a large bite out of the meat and nodded with a large smile at the taste as it filled his senses. Seemingly cooked to perfection for the Klingon he begun to slice the large steak as he enjoyed the meal placed before him while footsteps walked up to the table and stopped between them as a human voice called out to them both.
"Well, well… Asami, you are the last person I expected to see in here after last time"
"Hello West…" She said as she took a sip of the beer at the side of her plate. "… News travels fast in these parts. Come to gloat?"
"No! but I hear off of the Grapevine that you have a rather… Large contract to fulfil" He said as he sat down between them. "Who's the tree trunk? And where is the delicious Teela? Don't tell me that you fired her, I always thought that you two where joined at the lips"
"Funny!" She said as Worf growled deeply. "This is Mister Karis, he's my… employer from the Klingon Empire. Things have changed slightly, actually West we could use your help. Over your shoulder, upper-platform on the left. See that Andorian?"
"Yes, I noticed him" West said with a deep smile.
"He's wanted in the Empire on Twelve charges, Karis hired us to help him bring him in. unfortunately… he has a few… helpers with him. Upper right next to the entrance, two Nausicaans and a Tellerite… I can't get too the Andorian, but I'm betting that you can" Asami said as she took another sip of her drink.
"For a price!" West said with a smile.
"15% of the bounty is yours" Worf said with a growl.
"For this problem, 50%" West replied.
"20% West, and that's our final offer. I'll distract his guards and you grab him, take him directly to Chancellor Gowron in the Council Chambers, I'll inform him that you are with us. He'll know what to do"
"And what about you?" He said with a smug grin. "I do all of the work and you get all of the pay?"
"No my old friend. After expenses, I'll be lucky to break even on this… much of my pay went into debts owed to Grilk and Nino. But I think that ten bricks of Latinum are enough for you?"
"Ten Bricks?" He yelled.
"Silence!" Worf barked. "Do you wish to assist or not?"
"I do-I Do!" He said quickly.
"The return to your people and await our signal. You will know what it is and when to act. Leave us!"
Standing quickly, West left the table as Worf watched him leave before he turned back to Asami with a thousand questions in his as she nodded slightly before she spoke.
"I know Worf, the Andorian is not what he seems, he's a former Klingon Agent surgically altered to appear Andorian. Two years ago he… went off the grid and began selling secrets to anyone, I'm Half-Betazoid… Remember? Once West is out of the way, we'll make our move on our target. How's your steak?"
"Delicious!" He said with a half-smile. "When he said that you and Teela where…"
"None of your concern Worf. Rumours have spread around here, Teela is basically helping me expand my mental abilities, too some people that may seem as intimate. Are you ready?" She said with a smile.
"For what?" Worf replied with a slight nod.
"I want you to laugh, loudly… NOW!"
Letting out a full-hearted belly-laugh, everyone in the bar turned as Asami nodded while West began to move up onto the upper level with three of his men at his side as Asami broke into laughter herself as she spoke.
"I know right! Those bastards hit the floor like a bag of lead! Who knew that a Nausicaan had a glass jaw?" Slapping the table with her laughter, she continued. "… I've never seen anything so pathetic in my life!"
From the corner of her eye, she saw the two Nausicaans leap from the upper deck and land on the ground hard before they pushed past the customers and walked towards the two of them with their eyes blazing in anger.
"Human! Fight!" One of them said.
"No-No-No!" Nino said as he ran towards them quickly. "You no fight in here! No more fighting"
Slowly standing from his seat, Worf snarled with the bloodlust of a Klingon Warrior as Asami smiled slightly as she stood and turned to face one of the large Nausicaans as she spoke.
"Really? You want to do this, here… now?"
"Weak Humans… all of you! No Starfleet Federation here to help"
Looking at the two of them in turn, Asami smiled as she avoided a punch from the first by leaning backwards slightly as the punch was caught quickly by the hand of Worf who squeezed his fist tightly.
"Like I said, are you really wanting to do this now? I'd hate to hurt you both…" Asami said with a smile as she looked into the Nausicaan's eyes.
"Human, you fight!" Called out the second large alien.
Throwing away the fist of the Nausicaan, Worf circled around the tiny human woman as Nino tried to step in between them before he was tossed aside by the large alien as he grabbed Worf. Smiling slightly, Asami looked up into the eyes of the alien facing her as she spoke one word directly into his mind 'Pain!'. Instantly he fell onto the ground hard screaming and grabbing his head as he blackout from enormous pain which ripped through his mind before she turned and looked at the Second Nausicaan and Worf as they both stood looking at her in shock at what they had just witnessed.
"Next?" She said with a smile. "Ohh, why are you backing away… Come on, fancy your chances now?" She mocked.
Shock echoed around the room as she looked around slowly as everyone's eyes where on her, watching her and the large alien with interest in what would happen next as the remaining large alien raised his hands slightly and nodded before he picked up his unconscious companion and dragged him away as the crowd moved aside allowing him to pass before they all returned to their own business.
"Are you Okay Nino?" She said with concern.
"Very, yes! Now… you should leave" He said with fear as he shook slightly.
"Of course…"
Slowly she looked around the bar as the Andorian was being led away by West under guard as she smiled slightly before she saw her target quickly walking towards the exit of the bar. Nodding towards him, Worf instantly gave chase, pushing past those before him as Asami disappeared into the crowd. Noticing a large Klingon following him, the human male named Jerome Wilson drew a Phaser from his jacket and fired behind him as those on the Zocalo as Worf ran after him and dodged the beam of energy while he returned fire with a small cricket-Phaser he had kept up his sleeve.
It had become a running fire fight across the market-place of the station as the human ran as fast as his legs could carry him while he returned fire as he avoided the beam of energy from the weapon that Worf was carrying. Turning one more corner, he looked behind him as he ran seemingly for his life before his head whipped around too look before him as a foot connected with his jaw and sent him flipping head-over-heels and crashing down hard onto the deck-plating beneath him as Asami seemed spin head-over-heels and land on her feet before him as she drew a Cardassian Style disrupter from her waste-line and aimed it directly at him as Worf ran towards the two of them.
"Holy Shit! did you see that Karis?" She laughed.
"No, I did not" Worf said with a smile.
"Damn it! That was amazing, I ducked out the back as I knew he'd run this way… I saw him coming, weapons blasts everywhere… being shorter then him, I leapt into the air and kicked him under his jaw… BOOM! He's flipping around, I flipped over and landed on my feet…"
"Impressive!" Worf said with a smile at her energy. "Perhaps you should make a… Log Entry on this"
"Better then that Karis, I'm gonna get the Security tapes… No-one will believe this!" She said quickly.
Placing a transporter beacon on their prisoner's chest, the three instantly disappeared in a halo of transporter energy and moments later, materialised on the small shuttle. As Worf secured his prisoner, Asami sat at the helm and raised the shields of the small craft before a tractor beam attempted to lock onto them from the Rempak Anchorage. Swiftly rotating the shield frequencies, the beam had been instantly broken as the docking clamps weakened before breaking as the small shuttle spun on its axis and leapt into warp towards the safety of the Nara-Maru and two long range escort ships leapt into warp in pursuit.