MAQUIS - Act 6
Scene 1
Kathryn rolled her eyes and instinctively moved in front of Ann, they hadn't predicted this level of stupidity. Farraz must know that although the ship and crew were small, it was well armed.
"I can't believe your Captain risked one of his own crew to protect a Numiri peasant girl, especially one with your skills, my dear."
"She had to make Farraz believe that this was the plan, which should help her to manipulate him into lowering the force field or facilitate their escape.
"My Captain has complete faith in my ability to look after myself and the crew's interests, you have made a big mistake in trying to double cross him, his retaliation will be brutal."
"I think the price I could achieve for you might be worth angering your Captain, he does have an extremely small ship and crew."
"You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, our crew is comprised of highly trained soldiers, skilled in combat."
"I will consult my partners in this venture, as you wisely point out, you may be more trouble than you're worth my dear."
He ordered his henchman to search Kathryn for weapons, he didn't bother frisking Ann because the Numiri were considered to be too stupid to operate weapons.
"Lock them up after you've disarmed her and do not try the merchandise or damage it."
After Farraz left, the guards seemed to relax, which wasn't good for Ann or Kathryn. The Banean who was frisking Kathryn started to take some liberties.
"I think you've already searched that part of me twice, I thought your boss told you not to touch."
"He's not here, so he won't know!"
The other guard walked over to Ann, "I don't suppose you'll mind someone being nice to you. There won't be many gentlemen where you'll be working."
Ann waited until he got closer, then she took her stiletto blade which she'd concealed in her sleeve and stabbed him in the neck. His bellowing attracted his friend, who had been giving Kathryn a hard time. "You little bitch, I'll kill you then give what's left back to the boss,"
He turned his back on Kathryn, which allowed her to pull out the small phaser that she was carrying under her arm, attached to her underwear. She pointed it straight at him,
"I'm not in a good mood, your boss is trying to double cross me, I've been groped, now you harass my only friend, what am I going to do with you?"
He was watching her intently looking for a chance to overpower her, "When the boss comes back, he'll probably hand you over to me, to teach you a lesson."
"Ann, give him something to put against the hole in his neck, it should stop that horrendous noise."
The thug, with the hole in his neck, lay down on the floor moaning with a cloth pressed against his wound.
"If you want to save your friend and your own miserable existence, I suggest you listen very carefully. Take me to the place where Farraz keeps his food supplies."
"Why, are you going to steal everything? You're nothing else but thieves and criminals, working at the whore house would have been too good for you."
Kathryn shot him in the arm, "Now you've made me angry, the next time you insult me, it will be a headshot, now where was I?"
She knew she had to be quick; Ann looked to be going into shock and she couldn't risk Farraz returning too soon."
"Take me to your supply store now!" she ordered.
Kathryn draped her arm around his neck and palmed the phaser, so he could still feel it pressing against his skin.
Don't do anything stupid and you may live through this," she whispered, as they walked out of the door.
Scene 2
They walked across a small complex to another warehouse, Kathryn left Ann at the door as a look-out, while she went to collect some supplies. She made her pet thug collect the boxes and pile them up in a central area. When everything was ready, she gave him the last instruction,
"Lower the forcefield around the compound and allow me to contact my Captain to give him our location."
"Okay you crazy bitch but you'll never escape from Farraz, he won't let you get away with robbing him, it would destroy his reputation."
"I'll take my chances, lower the forcefield."
Kathryn guided him over to the control panel where he reluctantly dropped the forcefield. Chakotay, Ayala, B'Elanna and Suder arrived straight away.
"Kathryn, report!" said Chakotay, who had been worried sick since they lost contact.
She filled him in on everything that had happened since they transported down to meet Farraz.
He walked over and backhanded the henchman, "That is a reminder not to force yourself on helpless women."
He was defiant, "That she-wolf isn't helpless, I need protection from her."
Katherine pulled Chakotay aside for a private word, "Ann stabbed a guard who tried to molest her, I think she's in shock."
Chakotay asked B'Elanna to take Smithee back to the ship, straight to the E.M.H..
The arrangement for the transport of the supplies were concluded next. Which left Chakotay with the thorny problem of what to do with Kathryn's pet thug and Farraz. He had already checked on the other guard, who had unfortunately died due to blood loss.
"Tell your boss that we could have stolen all of his supplies but we chose to take only what we were owed. The death of your colleague was unfortunate but he was trying to molest one of my female crewmembers so he got what he deserved. If I see him again, I will use any means to end his life and activities. Then he stunned the Banean and left him propped up against the door of the warehouse.
Scene 3
After Chakotay had organised the unpacking of the food supplies onboard he went to visit Ann in sickbay. The Doctor had confined her to bed rest for twenty four hours so he could keep an eye on her. Kathryn was sitting by her bed holding one of her hands, she put her finger to her lips and pointed outside.
Kathryn explained, "She has just fallen asleep after we talked at full length about what happened, I told her that she was entitled to defend herself and it didn't mean that she was a murderer or violent."
"She'll get over it eventually, the first one is always the worst, she'll have to learn to distance herself from these incidents."
"Do you really think it gets easier?" asked Kathryn.
Chakotay shook his head, "No, but I want her to keep her peace of mind, for a little longer."
Their conversation was interrupted by a loud alarm, which they both responded automatically by heading straight to the bridge.
"Chell, report!" ordered Chakotay.
"Three Numiri patrol vessels are on an intercept course, Captain."
Chakotay turned to Kathryn, "Suggestions?"
"Well their weapons are comparable to ours and there are three of them so I'd suggest a strategic retreat."
"Agreed, Chell, evasive maneuvers, pattern delta."
The ship started to rock as they tried to lose the Numiri patrol vessels.
"B'Elanna, we need more speed, we need to outrun the Numiri as we don't seem to be able to shake them off.
"I'll give you everything possible Chakotay, give me a few minutes."
"Captain, they're gaining on us, orders?" shouted Chell"
"Load torpedoes, wait for them to get closer as we don't want to waste them!"
"Fire!" ordered Chakotay.
"Target destroyed Captain," shouted Chell with a whoop.
"One down, two to go." remarked Chakotay.
He knew that he couldn't afford to waste any more torpedoes. He wondered whether they would fall for the old Maquis trick of playing dead but they would have to find a place to hide.
"Kathryn, look for a suitable hiding place for the ship which will mask our warp signature."
She sat down at a workstation, where she scanned the surrounding area."
"Chakotay, there is a debris field around an uninhabited planet, in the next star system, it appears to have been used as a graveyard."
"Perfect, pass the coordinates to Chell."
He continued, "Chell proceed to these coordinates but slow down before you reach there, try to make it look as though we're in trouble."
"B'Elanna report to the bridge, we need you to play the old Maquis trick."
"Aye Captain, on my way." replied B'Elanna.
When she arrived Katherine gave up her station and stood close by so she could watch and learn.
As soon as they were near enough to the debris field, "Blowing the dorsal phase emitters," stated B'Elanna
"Wait for a it." cautioned Chakotay
B'Elanna smiled, "Venting exhaust conduits."
Chakotay finished the sequence with, "Engines off line."
To the Numiri they appeared to be dead in the water.
"What now?" asked Kathryn.
"Before they realise they've been tricked, We arrange two boarding parties, who will take control of their ships and take anything we can make use of.
Kathryn was shocked, "What do you do with the other crew?"
"We leave the crew confined in their cargo bay, after telling them that we will destroy their ship if they don't allow us a reasonable time to escape."
"That's fantastic, I've gone from a Starfleet Captain to a pirate ship, should we display the skull and crossbones in all our communications."
"We can't afford Starfleet morals, we are in a hostile quadrant, lacking firepower, supplies and influence. When it is necessary we have to take what we need your highness. If you can't deal with that stay in your bunk while we complete our criminal activities."
Kathryn knew that he was right, she felt embarrassed that she had belittled the other members of the crew. As part of that crew, in very difficult circumstances, she had to learn to operate according to a different moral code now.
"I volunteer to lead one of the boarding crews Captain," said a very chastened Kathryn Janeway.
Chakotay knew that she would adapt quickly, "You take Bendara, Gerron, Suder and Carlson onto the lead ship and Ayala can pick his own crew to board the other ship."
"Wait until the ships are within transporter range then you're good to go," advised Ayala, as he went to the mess to choose the lucky members of the crew who would accompany him.
Kathryn was standing with the rest of the boarding crew waiting for the signal to transport. Suder stood right next to her talking to himself quietly. She was used to rituals conducted before a battle, people adopted all sorts of methods to calm their nerves. However Suder was too excited, trying to contain his enthusiasm so he didn't look too over eager. As a Starfleet officer she had learnt to rely on her intuition and there was definitely something wrong with Suder.
"Good to go Kathryn, be careful," advised Chakotay, giving her permission to transport, "Stay safe!"
Scene 4
When the transport concluded, they all had phasers drawn ready to fire.
"Suder and Gerron, secure the forward sections, Bendarra and Carlson you're with me, we will be searching the aft sections for anything we can use."
As professional soldiers, they had their orders and carried them out efficiently. Their first surprise was that the ship's crew was comprised of Baneans not Numirians. Bendarra and Carlson worked through the ship securing the prisoners and transporting their plunder back to the ship. Kathryn realised that she recognised some of the crew, they worked for Farraz. She pressed her communicator,
"Chakotay, these ships are crewed by Baneans who work for Farraz."
"We will scan the area continually for other vessels, otherwise continue with your original orders, be careful!"
They were interrupted by the sound of a loud scream. All three crewmen ran as fast as they could towards the sound, which stopped just before they reached the bridge.
Kathryn's first conscious thought was that it looked like an abattoir. Apart from Suder and Gerron everyone else was dead but they didn't die quietly. Nearby Gerron was slumped on the floor shaking and murmuring. There were blood splatters across every wall. Most of the Baneans were lying on their workstations in a pool of blood with wide gashes across their throats. A few were lying on the floor with fatal wounds to their backs. There was evidence of inhuman savagery everywhere they looked. The most disturbing aspect of the scene was Suder sitting in the middle of this carnage, calmly wiping his knife on the sleeve of one of his victims, Kathryn shuddered with revulsion.
He looked up at her, eyes shining, "They shouldn't have touched you!"
Kathryn contacted the Val Jean, "I think we have a problem!"
When she finished her report, Chakotay transported over straight away, he looked around him and shuddered.
"Take Gerron back to the ship and straight to sickbay, tell the Doctor to start treating him for shock." ordered Chakotay.
He walked over to Ayala who had just sent the other members of the crew back to the Val Jean, they started to talk quietly. Kathryn helped Gerron to stand up and asked for a transport to sickbay.
When there was only three of them left, Chakotay and Ayala moved towards Suder, He became wary when he saw them approach.
"I'm sorry Captain, I got a little carried away but they shouldn't have touched her, I recognised one of them from the planet."
"I'm sorry Lon, I think you know what I have to do, we can't afford any more mistakes like this one."
"Make it quick Chakotay and tell Kathryn that I love her."
Chakotay and Ayala fired together and killed him. Chakotay knew that was one message he'd never pass on.
When Chakotay and Ayala were the only ones to return to the ship, nobody questioned what had happened to Lon Suder. Chakotay had set off one of the distress beacons on the Numiri ship. They left the Numiri girl on the other ship to explain what had happened to her to the salvage crew.
"Let's get as far away from this planet as we can!" ordered Chakotay.