PUBLISHED ON Monday 7 November 2022

Chapter 11: A Bold New Venture

A/N: So remember when I said I was working on a canon side story? I lied. Here's the next full chapter. I hope it's satisfactory to you folks, even if it's just a bunch of talking, but I'm hoping it's better than last time given it's the Ferengi and all this. Special thanks to knolden for beta reading and helping improve this monster that got away from me. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get in contact with Starfleet Medical and see if they can grow me some new hands.

Chapter 11: A Bold New Venture

Ferenginar
Tower of Commerce
1330 Local Time
Novar

Three days, three days since he'd returned to Ferenginar, and most of it had been spent waiting for a meeting with the Grand Nagus. Of course, that had been the whole point since the moment he set for home from that Zerg planet, but the wait had been murderous on his nerves. Even a veteran DaiMon knew that calling upon the Grand Nagus was no small thing. 'One does not glibly call upon the captain of the Ferengi ship of commerce and state,' he repeated to himself over and over again as he paced. 'Funny, dealing with Lunash was less nerve wracking than this wait. Maybe the threat of death added some sort of clarity to the whole situation. I would just have been dead then should things have gone wrong. If the Nagus doesn't like what I have to say, he may strip me of my right to do business entirely.'

Several other petitioners had gone before him, seeking advice from the Nagus or his authority in some other matter. Novar could tell from some that passed by that not all of them had succeeded. Zek's shrewdness was legendary, even among the vaunted ranks of his position as head of state, and his wit and cutting tongue were no less legendary, and hadn't seemed to dull with age at all. Everything hinged on Novar being able to convince Zek that a trade agreement with the Zerg would be a historical opportunity for the whole Ferengi Alliance, and making a case like that wasn't an easy one.

He patted the cases of minerals and vespene gas on hover units, minded by some of the most trusted members of his crew. He also had a holoprojecter, for when he inevitably had to answer questions about the Zerg. 'It won't just be Zek I have to deal with,' a grim pall overtook his features, a hand tightening into a fist, 'but the sycophants who constantly hang around him. There are always a few, DaiMons and Liquidators and others looking to advance their position by hinging on the Nagus's every word.' He shook his head in disgust. 'They've probably never earned a single slip of latinum through hard work in their entire lives.'

More than perhaps any pushback from Zek, these Ferengi would be his primary enemies in this meeting. He hesitated to call them "conservative" in any capacity, because that would imply they cared about Ferengi tradition in some way that mattered beyond their own self-interest. They would certainly try and use it as a weapon against him, and tradition was always a powerful force. Even the Grand Nagus had to respect tradition, and when something conflicted with tradition, even the Grand Nagus had to navigate those particular financial and political waters with great care.

Another hour ticked by, and more petitioners exited the Nagus's chamber, few of them looking happy as they left the Tower of Commerce. Novar tried to ignore the lump growing in his throat. 'Zek must be in a bad mood, or maybe the vultures are just particularly eager for blood today.'

A huff off to his side drew his attention. His lieutenant and right hand, Frin, was nervously drumming his fingers against one of the mineral cases. Frin was young to be holding the rank by Ferengi standards, but Novar had seen something in the younger male, if his impulsiveness could be controlled that was. Besides, he was a shrewd organizer and Novar's ship had never run more efficiently before Frin's arrival and promotion. That and Novar had owed Frin's father a favor. Looking after his late friend's son was the least he could do.

"I hate this," Frin hissed, grimacing all the while. "Why are we forced to wait behind feckless idiots who don't even have the lobes for business? Anyone looking at us can tell we've got something valuable," he glared at some passing petitioners, patting the disruptor pistol on his hip as he did so to get them to move along faster. They'd probably been trying to listen into the conversation anyway. The boy had a bit of an aggressive streak in him. Novar appreciated that, but unchecked it would just cause trouble. Frin soon let go of a breath he'd been holding once the interlopers were gone. "So why make us wait and listen to the drivel of these idiots when clearly we have something of physical substance to show the Grand Nagus?"

Novar set his lips in a firm line. "Were we not dealing with the realm of politics, my boy, you might be right. But there's more to having the lobes for business than just being able to come up with a product and find or create demand for it. You have to be savvy in the one arena more cutthroat than any meeting of a board of directors. Even if you try to remain apolitical, you need to be kept abreast of the nuances and shifts going on, and know when to swallow your pride, sometimes even your good sense, and wait and hold your tongue.

Remember, we do business with the authority of the Grand Nagus and the FCA. Either could revoke our right to conduct business if they saw fit." Frin huffed again, his grimace turning into a pronounced frown. "And that is why we wait behind the debtors, those who are simply seeking the Nagus's counsel, and the many, many leeches. By following due process, we show respect for the Nagus's authority and the rule of law. If we didn't, no one would get anything done, and no one would earn any profit," he chuckled, and leaned closer to Frin. "And the funny thing is, something plenty of Ferengi forget, is that this applies to non-Ferengi as well. Sure, go ahead and mock and heckle the Hu-mons or the Andorians or any others all you want, barge into their offices and demand an audience, if you're lucky you'll get laughed at and tossed out on your face. Do it to the Klingons and the only one making a profit will be your dentist, who might I add, will be very happy. Check your bottom line afterwards, and you'll see what that earned you." Frin simply drummed his fingers on the mineral canisters again for a moment.

"Maybe so," the younger male glanced around furtively, almost as if he was expecting a knife in the back, even in the very seat of the Nagus's power, "but that doesn't explain why you look so worried. We have the materials to make our case on hand, you have everything you could document, documented, and you're a proven DaiMon. And if somehow that doesn't work, there's always…" He trailed off, biting his tongue as he did so. They both knew what he was talking about, the special surprise Novar had just in case, but to speak of it aloud now would have been dangerous. "What do you have to worry about from the Nagus? He'd be a fool to reject what you're going to propose, and Zek is not a fool."

Novar couldn't help but laugh. "Ah, Frin my boy, aggressive and astute you may be, but you still have much to learn. When we go in there, I won't just be dealing with Zek, that would be too easy. I'll be dealing with all the leeches to, Ferengi, powerful ones at that, who lean on Zek's every word like a newborn does its mother's tit. They'll try to influence his thinking, his decisions and so much more, all for their own benefit. They'll be smart enough to quickly realize that what we've brought back could threaten their own interests across the whole of the Alliance." Frin made to protest, but Novar simply held up a finger to forestall him.

"Do not get me wrong. Zek is many things, but weak isn't one of them. But even as the head of state, Zek has powerful enemies, and those leeches are always switching sides, trying to get the best deal for themselves without any forethought for the future. They're so used to being on top, even though half of them inherited their wealth rather than worked for it, that they'll self-sabotage just to have the illusion that their position is safe. That is what I am up against. Not Zek, not even Ferengi tradition, as some may argue it. I'm up against Ferengi who some call paragons of Ferengi virtue second only to Zek himself. What they all lack though is vision, the ability to think long-term. And that's why what I have will frighten them. They can't control it; they can't predict how it will change things for them. And that's why they'll need Zek to kill my proposed trade agreement and discoveries here and now. My one edge will be Zek's own foresight. If I can overcome their screams and howls and convince the Nagus of the profits that could be reaped, in both the long and short term, then I will have won. I'll have made powerful enemies along the way, but the Nagus rewards those who impress him graciously."

Frin's jaw hung low, everything Novar had detailed to him steadily sinking in, and to the younger Ferengi, the true gravity of their situation became apparent. Novar could already guess what was running through Frin's head. Did they have a chance at all? If these powerful, corrupt, and possibly worst of all, incompetent Ferengi truly did wield such power, was their venture doomed before they even arrived at the Tower? The door's to the chamber of the Grand Nagus opened, a speaker emerging from behind several more defeated looking supplicants, escorted by two guards.

"DaiMon Novar," the other male's voice echoed outwards, "the Nagus will see you now. Do not waste his time."

'Well,' Novar thought as he straightened his collar, 'only one way to find out. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.' Having been properly summoned, he whipped his crew into motion with but a word, and soon he was leading the procession before the Nagal throne. Behind him, there was the slightest hint of movement now and then. Maihar'du, the Nagus's bodyguard, and the only other person who would have been allowed up there with Zek.

Zek sat upon it in all its gilded and opulent glory, on a raised platform of immaculately carved stone, flanked by a pair of long tables made of some of the rarest woods in the galaxy. Around the tables, in chairs less opulent than the throne itself, were the leeches who were in attendance today, some of them the greatest magnates of their generations. Aside from Zek, Novar was not impressed by any others in attendance.

He paid his dues, as was customary for one approaching the Grand Nagus, gave the proper greeting, approached with all due deference and placed a kiss upon the Nagal staff. From there, Novar stepped back and rejoined his procession. "I am DaiMon Novar, son of Argatek," he spoke loudly and clearly, putting all the power his lung had behind his words. "I bring great riches from beyond the Alliance, Grand Nagus, and the offer of a truly lucrative trade agreement from a newly discovered power in the regions near to the Federation and the Cardassians."

Already there were hushed murmurers among the parasites, but Novar paid them no mind, for now at least. He was studying Zek's reaction as best he could; even the slight furrowing of the Grand Nagus's brow could make the difference between leaving in victory and leaving destitute. Eventually, Zek raised his hand, and the room quieted.

"DaiMon Novar, you have made an impressive claim, but have you evidence with which to back it? Why was this offer not sent back to Ferenginar via subspace? I trust you have strong answers, DaiMon." Novar had been expecting this at the very least. The first question was customary, the second entirely valid, but it wasn't unheard of for DaiMon's to squirrel away a foreign offer of trade until they were in front of the Nagus.

'I couldn't risk someone intercepting the transmission or word otherwise getting out, not yet. Once you know what I know, Zek, I can only hope you'll agree with me. The last thing we need is a panic, or impulsive action motivated by conjecture and fear.' Outwardly though, he simply gave a firm nod and turned to one of the mineral cases. Inputting the passcode, he opened it and withdrew one of the shards of blue crystal. Already the murmurs were back.

"This is but the scantest glimpse of the riches of which I speak, Grand Nagus," he walked back to stand before the throne, and held the mineral such that Zek and the parasites could get a good look at it. "These crystals are a scientific marvel. They can be found on a wide variety of worlds in this new region, and they have two truly astounding properties. First among these is their composition includes a great number of elements key to industrial processes across every conceivable industry. These minerals contain iron, silicon, copper, and elements for which Ferengi science at large does not yet even have names. However, thanks to the efforts of I and my crew, we are prepared to submit the necessary paperwork to copyright the names of these elements once these proceedings are finished.

Second, these minerals are regenerative in nature. The surface veins we saw were just the tip of vast, underground seams of wealth, wealth that can be found on verdant lowlands, in forests, on and inside mountains, even on asteroids or barren moons. The veins below ground replenish and regrow after a given period of time, although according to my new contacts, the time in which it takes to regrow the crystals varies depending on environmental factors. I will concede, we do not yet know how either of these properties are possible or function yet, but I have seen their use, or at least some of their uses, personally." The murmurs of the leeches grew, and Zek seemed to be listening to his words carefully. "But that is not all, Grand Nagus."

He snapped his fingers, and two of his crew brought forth a transparent canister with a green substance inside, drawing yet more animated discussion. Novar glibly slapped the canister, a restrained but confident smile on his face. "Inside this canister is a new gas. The locals call it Vespene. It is a highly potent and flexible hydrocarbon, which from what I have told and witnessed, can be used for everything from chemical and biological practices, to powering fusion reactors and so much more. And the best part is," he paused for dramatic effect, "it may very well be more infinite than the minerals, and that is accounting for any deep mining measures taken to extract more than just surface veins. Apparently, when the geysers collapse, it's due to a blockage, which with the right techniques can be cleared up in some cases. Others simply require a rest period, as far as I was informed. And I have every reason to believe my new contacts on this matter."

Now that set the room on fire, even Zek raised an eyebrow at the claim, and most of the magnates were in an uproar, all except for Goradac. Novar made note of this, and he felt a small pit open in his stomach. Goradac was the head of one of the largest media conglomerates in the entire Ferengi Alliance. If anyone in this room had the potential to be more informed than even the Grand Nagus, it was him.

"This is outrageous!" One of the magnates thundered, slamming their fist into the ancient table, an object that likely had more value than the magnate himself. "Grand Nagus Zek, I implore you, you cannot believe these lies! What DaiMon Novar claims is impossible! No such resources exist! This is a farce!"

Others joined, adding their howls to the magnate's own. Novar did his best to tune them out; he'd expected this, even if Goradac still worried him. What mattered was how Zek responded. For now though, the Grand Nagus let the parasites argue, he'd restore order in due time. Novar figured Zek may be letting them burn themselves out. This went on for what felt like hours, Novar keeping a calm demeanor through it all. Even Zek seemed to have tuned out the leeches and their chittering. To Novar, that was a good sign, it seemed for now; Zek was at least neutral on all that was being said.

"I believe him." The words echoed through the ancient hall, but it had not been Zek who spoke. All eyes turned to Goradac. "I believe what DaiMon Novar is telling us, to some extent at least." Novar forced down the lump that had suddenly formed in his throat, even as outwardly he did everything he could to maintain his composure, and simply fixed Goradac with a hardened stare. Behind him, he heard Frin mutter an old Ferengi curse.

"You can't be serious!" Another magnate hooted, with an odd mixture of mirth and horror. "Goradac, you of all people can't possibly be supporting this nonsense! It's clearly all blatant lies!" Goradac simply turned his gaze upon the other Ferengi, his eyes as intense as any disruptor beam. The magnate who dared to criticize him shrunk in response.

"I do, in fact, believe DaiMon Novar. As I said, to an extent." The room fell silent, even Zek was giving Goradac his full attention. "My contacts in and around Federation space and elsewhere have delivered to me news of crystal and geyser formations matching what DaiMon Novar has told us suddenly popping up along the frontier territories and a few inner points of the Federation alone. Many other planets and systems have been affected, I have heard rumor that even Bajor has seen the sudden appearance of these new and intriguing resources. Other rumors even said the Beta Quadrant was affected as well. This seems to have happened in the wake of the…" Goradac paused, looking for the words, "…recent cosmological event."

"You mean the energy wave that seemed to have swept over known space just weeks ago," Zek suddenly spoke for the first time, his brow furrowed in heavy contemplation. Goradac simply nodded, and paused to take a drink of water, and likely intentionally left them all in suspense, even for just a moment.

"However," he continued, his expression never once wavering, "so far no one has any idea how to effectively harvest or properly utilize these resources, according to my sources at least. And now we have DaiMon Novar, come to us from the void between powers, in the unexplored reaches of the Alpha Quadrant, claiming to have found a new power that has been gathering and utilizing these resources for some time." He returned his gaze to Novar, and he realized that he may have severely underestimated Goradac. Compared to all the other magnates, this was startlingly rational.

"So, DaiMon Novar," Goradac's tone was only slightly less malicious than how he'd spoken to the other magnates in the room, "perhaps you could enlighten us as to how you came by these resources and information. That the resources exist is, to me, not in doubt. The rest of what you claim, however, is. So, either enlighten us, or stop wasting our time with this half-farce."

Novar's jaw clenched. It was a challenge in every regard, but this was not how he'd expected things to go in the slightest, and there was something to Goradac's words that seemed off, as though there was a subtext to them he was missing. Even Zek seemed to nod in agreement with the media mogul, and that just muddied things still.

'Are you giving me enough rope to hang myself with, Goradac, or are you making a show of things for the other leeches? Maybe both? Why would you care about any of this? You're a mass media leader, not an industrial sort,' Novar's teeth ground together for a moment before he reined himself in. 'No, no nervous ticks. Not now.'

He looked towards Zek, and steeled himself. "If it pleases the Grand Nagus, I can answer all of Goradac's questions and more. I've had a great deal of information prepared well in advance. If it pleases the Grand Nagus, I've even brought a holoprojector so he and his esteemed colleagues may better understand those who wish to be our future trade partners."

Zek simply nodded, and so Novar snapped his fingers, his crew bringing forth the holoprojector. He activated it, and a holographic image of Lunash and several members of her brood appeared in the air above. Multiple magnates quailed in audible terror, and Novar allowed a smug smile to grow upon his face.

"They call themselves the Zerg" he allowed just a bit of satisfied malice for these feckless inbreeds to slip into his voice, "I found Broodmother Lunash a most gracious host, and as she informed me, their Overqueen is quite interested in what the Alliance could offer her people."

Oh, how they quailed and sputtered and tried to shout him down as he delivered his presentation. It was amusing really, how desperate and fearful they were that this no-name DaiMon was quite possibly on the path to upending the course and operation of Ferengi. He simply talked more loudly than they could screech, as clearly as possible for the benefit of Zek and Zek alone. He ignored how they maligned his character, how they sputtered out threats, empty or not, it didn't matter. If the Grand Nagus ruled in his favor, he would be inviolate for the time being. Not even the magnates present would dare to defy Zek on something this monumental.

He went over every detail he had garnered from Lunash, on the Zerg, their history, past and recent, their methods of extracting the minerals and vespene, and so much more. She had even been kind enough to give him information on the other powers of this new Koprulu Sector, and it was astoundingly unbiased for one such as her. He would have almost described it as naive, if her status as a youth by the standards of broodmothers was anything to go by. Regardless of any of that, he told it all to Zek, of the Zerg, of these strange new Hu-Mons and their nations great and small, and of these mysterious and powerful Protoss.

Throughout his hours long presentation, Zek stayed firmly attentive to what he was saying, from the brief history of the wars as Novar knew of them, to the great rebuilding efforts and economic growth that were ripe soil for Ferengi merchants to make their mark and so much more once proper contact had been established. He went over every minute detail of the proposed trade agreement between the Alliance and the Swarm, and now and then Zek would nod, seemingly in approval, much to the horror of the magnates. Everything had, as far as Ferengi law was concerned, been legal up to this point, even if the Grand Nagus and the FCA had the final say on matters.

Even Goradac seemed taken aback, something that filled Novar with delight. The media mogul may have played a surprising hand earlier, regardless of what his stake in all this was. Even he seemed to be realizing how much he had underestimated the magnitude of Novar's discovery. Eventually though, Novar wound down on his presentation, on the greatest sales pitch of his entire life. It was a heady feeling, one that filled him with tension and yet levity. He felt confident, not assured in his success, but confident that he would win in the end.

"Now then," his smile was as sharp as a Klingon bat'leth, "I will open the floor to questions for a brief time. I am sure there are plenty, but I'm sure the Grand Nagus will have words for us all soon enough, so please, keep your questions reasonable."
Clearing his throat, Goradac stood from where he'd been seated. "You make a strong case, DaiMon Novar, but by your own admission, we currently do not have the means or expertise to exploit these new resources. I fail to see the value in any of what you have proposed." Novar chuckled, in the face of one such as Goradac, that may have been insane, but in the moment, he just didn't care.

"Ah, but you see, Goradac, that won't be an issue. As part of the offer, the Zerg were willing to exchange some knowledge of how to exploit these new minerals and the vesepene as best they could. Certainly, due to being reliant on…organic technology, their processes are different from our own, but there are similarities. Besides, I am sure the moguls of Ferengi industry could find a way to overcome any shortcomings, and if they can't…" he shrugged, smile growing, "…I'm sure some up and coming competitor could enter the market with some new and revolutionary methods and applications. The free market will provide after all. What's more, I am confident that Lunash's superior, the Overqueen Zagara, will be more than willing to assist us in contacting this new breed of Hu-mon with whom the Zerg share borders, once relations have normalized of course. I am sure that, one way or another, we could learn a great deal from their own industrial methods. Personally though, I would prefer it be done as legally as possible.

I can't speak for any of you, especially the Grand Nagus, but I am not inclined to risk angering the people who spent the better part of two decades fighting back-to-back total wars. Sure, they and the Zerg may claim things are peaceful now and they're trying to keep it that way, but I would like to remind you all that Rule Forty-Eight exists for a vast multitude of reasons, and not all of them relate to being stabbed in the back. It is my firm belief that, even if immediate use of these new resources is not possible, the whole of the Alliance will benefit from being among the first to trade in them. What we buy from the Zerg, we can resell for even greater profit, and once Ferengi industry has been properly prepped, we may draw interest from even the Federation, or perhaps even great powers in this Koprulu Sector. Conquerors we may not be, but Ferengi industry is widely respected for a reason. Imagine then, the economic rewards of being able to so readily sell a new variety of products to our newest and oldest neighbors both."

Silence descended on the hall for a moment, each Ferengi processing Novar's words.

"This goes against all precepts of Ferengi tradition!" One of the other magnates thundered. "Not only have you done business with a…female of an unknown species, but by your admission, these Zerg are matriarchal and ruled by a queen! You would ask us to treat them as equals for the purpose of your own advancement!"

Novar made a show of thinking on the magnate's words, a hum of sorts escaping his throat as he wobbled a hand back and forth. "If you want to be technical about it, Zerg broodmothers and their Overqueen are actually hermaphroditic regardless of presenting themselves as female, given they can apparently fertilize their own eggs. But as I said, that's a technicality and a pretty meaningless one at that in the here and now."

To the surprise of everyone, a snort echoed from the throne. "And it is likely safe to say that our definition of 'female' does not apply here, given what DaiMon Novar has shared with us." There was an odd mirth to Zek's voice. Was he enjoying this?

"Females and business do not mix!" Another magnate added to the bluster, and this time, Zek laughed.

"And you are free to say that with one of those females in the room. I'll be sure to bid high on whatever remains are left of you as a memento." Zek cackled, and the faces of multiple of the magnates dropped. Even as he cackled, they argued louder and louder, trying to sway the Grand Nagus, all except for Goradac, who looked oddly pleased.

Zek cackled a bit longer, and then Novar cleared his throat. "If it pleases the Grand Nagus, I can perhaps bring one more thing to the discussion. A guest I brought back with me from the fringes of Koprulu, although they'll need some time to arrive from the starport, and I would kindly request that security allow them through." Again the magnates blustered and tried to shout him down, even as his smile only grew at Zek's nod as the Nagus pressed a button on his throne, a slight smile evident on the Nagus's face even if none of the others noticed.

Novar snapped his fingers, Frin spoke into his communicator, and Novar let himself relax for a moment, the words of the magnates rushing over him to no effect. 'Perhaps it is too early still to declare victory, but I can already taste it. If nothing else, I will always be able to draw happiness and warmth from the looks on their faces soon enough…'

"Oh, and one thing I forgot to mention, something to consider as we await the arrival of my guest," he chuckled, their attention firmly on him again, "the crystal lattices I brought back with me have a 0.000234% concentration of pure Latinum as part of their makeup. I do not know how this is possible, given the usual and natural state of Latinum, but these are lattices from a barren world that the Zerg were working to form into something more habitable. Imagine what the lattices from a less desolate; more resource rich world may be like." He had to hold back a belly laugh at how many eyebrows shut up to be level with lobes. 'Never underestimate the greed of the incompetent. It can open many doors.'

Some time passed, and eventually from outside the hall, the sounds of abject panic and terror could be heard. One of the guards burst into the room and slammed the doors behind him, the magnates turning to Zek expectantly.

"G-Grand Nagus!" The guard stammered, trembling, "there is a huge, horrible thing out there! It's like one of the swamp insects but so, so much worse!"

Zek turned to Novar, a questioning look on his face. Novar simply turned his smile to the Grand Nagus. "Ah, that would be my guest. There's a reason I asked for security to allow them through. I didn't want any trouble, and neither do they. You have my word, they will be on their best behavior."

Zek nodded at the guard. "Let them in. I would speak with Novar's guest." The guard hesitated, not comprehending the Nagus's words, the magnates sharing in his stupor. Zek rolled his eyes in frustration and slammed the Nagal staff into the floor, the sound reverberating through the hall. That got the guard moving, and he was gone.

The doors opened again soon after, and throughout the hall, primal sounds of terror echoed from without and within. Through the ancient and vaunted doors of the chamber strode the spitting image of the large broodmother creature Novar had shown via the projector. Its pace was restrained, even polite if one could call it that.

Novar and his procession made space for it as it took its place between the tables, stopping a respectful distance from the Nagal throne. Even Goradac clearly had to fight the urge to tremble. All but Novar, some of his crew, and Zek himself seemed ready to run there and then. He suspected that Maihar'du had been sizing up Lunash from the moment she entered the room, perhaps from the moment Novar had shown the holograms earlier even.

The creature spread its arms and bowed. "Greetings, Grand Nagus Zek. I am Broodmother Lunash, and I extend an offer of peace and friendship from the Swarm to the Ferengi, on behalf of the Overqueen."

To the shock of many in the room, Zek stood from his throne and walked down the steps so that he was at eye level with Lunash, the Nagal staff clutched tightly in one hand. "And I extend an offer of peace, friendship and profit from the Ferengi to the Zerg, on behalf of the Alliance, Broodmother Lunash." Zek's voice was even. If there was any fear present in even an iota of his being, nothing betrayed it.

Lunash nodded, and let out a chittering noise. "DaiMon Novar has told me much about your people, and your mercantile practices. Although the Overqueen and many older Broodmothers have their doubts, the Kel-Morians have tried to deceive us in the past with means such as yours; I am prepared to show the first sign of trust. I have a list of animals whose essence is of interest to the Swarm. I am prepared to pay whoever can procure the specimens for us quite well in Minerals, Vespene or Latinum."

"And how did an alien female such as you manage to acquire Latinum?" One of the magnates demanded, and by the Great Dispensary, Novar couldn't help but roll his eyes at the needlessly overwrought facial hair this one had.

Lunash simply made a rumbling sound that may have been a chuckle. "As a sign of trust in turn, DaiMon Novar paid for the minerals and vespene you see before you. Something about ensuring both an equitable trade and that I had adequate starting capital."

Another magnate slammed their fist into one of the ancient tables, apoplectic fury written across his face. "Novar! You damned race traitor!" At this, Novar lost it, laughing merrily as he tried to compose himself.

"Oh, I am a traitor now am I? Is it perhaps because you are afraid of what my discovery means for you?" His grin could not have been more malicious. "You are a feckless, lobeless idiot if you cannot see the opportunity before you. It is not my fault you lack vision."

Again the hall erupted into howls, some of the magnates looked like they were about to try and tear Novar limb from limb themselves.

The Nagal staff slammed into the stonework, once, twice, three times. Zek did not look at all amused. "That is enough!" The Grand Nagus's words put to rest any hope of dissent. "I wish to speak with DaiMon Novar and Broodmother Lunash in private. All of you save for Novar's crew and Goradac, leave. Your presence is no longer required or wanted."

"B-But Grand Nagus-!" One of them started and he silenced them with but the slightest glance.

"Did I stutter? Out! Now! All of you! Get out of my sight! Paragons of Ferengi virtue indeed! I don't want any of you showing your faces in the tower until you grow some sense!" Zek slammed down his staff one more time, and the many magnates practically fled in terror, more afraid of Zek than of Lunash in the heat of the moment.

As the doors to the hall closed, Zek began to chuckle, then laugh, then cackle madly. "Did you see the looks on their faces throughout all of this?" If Zek's grin had been any wider, it would have split his face in two. "And when you brought in Lunash, did you see how they squirmed about? I've not seen those leeches so out of their element and terrified in my entire time as the Grand Nagus!" Zek chuckled for many minutes more, Lunash cocking her head.

"It would seem that the nuances of humor still escape me," she grumbled.

"Don't worry about it," Novar patted one of her spiked legs. "It takes a lot of practice."

Zek kept on cackling for a while longer, but eventually he calmed down, wiping a tear from his eye as he did so. "I must say, Novar…very well done, very well done indeed! Although I personally think you had them the moment you pulled out that shard of crystal. Still, very nicely played, wouldn't you say, Goradac?"

The one remaining magnate cleared his throat, trying to remain composed. "I suppose so, Grand Nagus. It was…interesting, if nothing else, even though I still have doubts about all of this."

Novar took a moment to process this, he'd been confused as to why Goradac had been allowed to stay, and as he looked between the magnate and Zek, it suddenly began to make sense. "You knew already," Novar's jaw was near slack as he looked Zek in the eye, "you knew about the crystals and the gas before I ever set foot back on Ferenginar. You just had Goradac speak for you so you wouldn't draw any suspicion." Zek chuckled again, his smile wide.

"Of course! Goradac may be the greatest mass media mogul in the whole of the Ferengi Alliance, but I'm still the Grand Nagus for a reason! Everything he knows, I know. And he knows to keep on my good side if he wants to keep it that way." Goradac just shrank into his chair a little at that, looking quite fatigued and generally done with everything.

Zek turned to Lunash again, still smiling like a child who had earned their first profit. "I'll need to convene with the FCA to fully ratify any agreement, but I see no reason it shouldn't pass now. Mark my words, your people will get all the essence you speak of and whatever else it is they want, and mine will reap a whirlwind of profits not seen in a generation!" Even for his advanced age, Zek was animated. Novar suspected it was only a lifetime of business acumen and discipline that kept him from dancing on the spot.

"I am glad to hear that, Grand Nagus. I will relay this to the Overqueen, and the Swarm will begin making whatever preparations are necessary to uphold its end of the bargain. I hope this will be a fruitful partnership for both of our peoples." Novar still struggled to read Lunash's mood and tone even after weeks of having her aboard ship, but he could read optimism plainly enough even from her.

"Excellent, excellent! I do as well! War may be good for business, but I've always been one to think peace is always more profitable, especially in the long-term! Peace means there's more people to spend money after all!" He laughed again, even though the nuances of Ferengi humor were likely lost on Lunash. "Although…" Zek trailed off, portents of trouble now on his mind. "What Novar said about these…Kel-Morians is quite worrying. I'm no stranger to people trying to cheat others in deals or the like, but these people sound like something else."

"Indeed, Grand Nagus," Lunash bowed her head, "out of the great powers of the sector, the Kel-Morians are among the most hated. Their military capacity is lacking compared to their peers, but enough to make any conflict a drawn out and bloody thing if they so desired. They've simply not done anything overt enough to warrant the other great powers coming down on them."

Novar nodded in agreement. Even to him, the Kel-Morians were insane. Profit was all well and good, but leave it to Hu-mons to go to lengths most sane Ferengi would never consider. "From what Lunash told me, they also fund a great many pirate operations that pay tribute to them. Some of them are pirates in name only really by the sounds of it, more private mercenaries doing a bit of pillaging and raiding in their off time. They could be trouble."

Zek tapped his chin, considering things carefully as he did. "More than trouble. They won't like us muscling in on their territory, and I'll be the first to admit that what amounts to the Ferengi defense forces aren't up to fighting a protracted conflict of any sort, or performing anti-piracy operations so far from home. Or worse. I don't know how incompetent you have to be that the thought of crushing a worker's revolt with lines of tanks is somehow more profitable than other measures, but clearly these Kel-Morians think that. What a waste. There's no profit to be had if you have to keep people in line with guns."

"The Swarm, as a show of good faith, will do what it can to patrol the future trade routes where possible, but we are not experienced in such things. The Terrans will likely also assist in the matter once you have made the needed arrangements with them, but their great and minor powers cannot be everywhere at once, nor can they assign escorts to every trade caravan," she raised one of her digits, and Novar smiled. She was already picking up a few mannerisms here and there. "In Koprulu are many Terran mercenary companies of all sorts and sizes, some are said to be more reputable and reliable than others, although I know little on this matter. It may be worth finding someone who is an expert on such things. If these…guns for hire can be convinced as to the benefits of safeguarding Ferengi trade with Koprulu, whatever it costs to hire them will likely be offset by the greater benefits."

Zek hummed to himself, carefully thinking over Lunash's words. "I've never liked hiring mercenaries personally; it's a double-edged blade, even if you keep them happy and seemingly loyal. Sure, some have a personal code or what have you, but there's no universal registry or board of such groups to let you know who's reliable and who's not or to enforce standards. That would actually be an interesting business idea if it could work, but I do see your point, and as much as I dislike it, it may very well be necessary. There is a mercenary company I know of, but they're from Andoria, even with a mixed species membership, and despite being mercenaries their leader is still a Federation citizen. Maybe I'll give him a call; it's hard to say which way someone like him may lean in this sort of situation. Regardless, you've given me plenty to think about there, in the meantime. I'll have accommodations made for you, and I implore to enjoy all that Ferengi hospitality has to offer, and perhaps put that newly acquired capital of yours to use." Zek winked and stretched, letting out a very satisfied groan as he did so, before his head snapped back to Novar. "Oh, and Novar…I think you should be duly rewarded for what you've done here today."

Novar wasn't sure it was possible for his grin to be any wider at this point. "I am honored with whatever you deem fit, Grand Nagus."

"Good!" Zek slammed his staff into the stonework and made his way down to Novar to personally slap him on the shoulder, Maihar'du close behind, yet silent as always. "Because you'll be placed to make incredible profit from all of this, Novar, and more! It's going to be a lot of responsibility, but given what you've already managed, I think you'll do just fine!"

"I am ready for whatever you see fit to give me, Grand Nagus," he knelt, giving the proper benediction as he did so.

"Well then, you'll get a cut of all profits from any mineral and vespene finds or sales related to the Swarm for the next decade, consider it an ongoing finder's fee!" Zek was somehow even giddier. "I'll also be putting you in contact with some associates of mine in the mining industry. As of now, you're no longer just a prospector, Novar. I want someone with sense, someone with the lobes, and someone with vision heading any Ferengi operations regarding these new resources where possible.

That someone is you, Novar. As of now, you have the authority and will soon have the credentials to stake claims on any deposits you find, provided they aren't claimed by anyone else of course. All things considered, we don't want to step on any toes. Not yet at least." Zek chuckled again, plans within plans already forming inside his mind. "But that's not all the responsibility you'll be shouldering from here on out, Novar. Oh, and you can forget about running around in that old Bronta-class of yours. For someone in your position, you'll have only the best that Ferenignar can provide! I'll have my own personal shipwrights begin construction on a new D'kora-class for you personally! They'll start as soon as you and your crew can agree on the specifics with them." Hoots of celebration went up at that from Novar's crew. To be a crew member of a D'kora was a coveted thing among most Ferengi.

Novar cocked his head, wondering what more the Grand Nagus could possibly give him. Certainly there were many things within the Nagus's power, but what could match what he'd already so generously given, especially the new vessel and the profits there were to be reaped so very soon?

"On top of your own personal operations, you'll officially be working for me." And at that, Novar's blood ran cold. It was one of the ultimate paradoxes of the Ferengi way of life. Every successful Ferengi wanted to work for the Grand Nagus, and the smarter they were, the more they also dread that outcome.

"I-uh-! Grand Nagus Zek! I am honored, but I don't really think I'm qualified for whatever it is that you have in mind. I'm just a humble prospector DaiMon!" Novar's mind was reeling. There were countless things Zek could say next, but he was sure he already knew what it was that was coming his way, even as Zek flippantly waved his hand.

"Nonsense! You got a little lucky, I'll admit, but occasionally a stroke of luck happens in the course of doing business! But more than that, it was skill and guile that brought you here now. What's more, we will have to establish diplomatic ties with these new Hu-mons where possible, and maybe these strange Protoss folk too if we have the time. I can think of no one better qualified than you! So tell me…" Zek's grin was borderline manic. "How does DaiMon Novar, Ferengi Trade Ambassador to the Koprulu Sector, sound? Do you think you could fit it on a business card?"