Chapter Four: Exchange
"The alien ships are hailing us," Fleba's first officer reported. "Shall we respond?"
"Of course," Fleba managed to reply. The power readings from the alien ships were far higher than their size suggested. And their energy shielding was astounding. He had never seen anything like it. The comm. system activated and a proud and slightly deep voice came over the speakers.
"Brakiri vessel. I am Captain Kogh of the Klingon vessel Qu'van."
"I am Captain Fleba of the Brakiri vessel Ignosha. Please allow me to express my most sincere gratitude for your assistance. How can we possibly repay you?"
"I would like to meet you in person. Would you consent to coming aboard my vessel?" Kogh asked
"Of course, I will shuttle over in ten minutes." Fleba replied.
"We have a much faster way if you are willing," Kogh's voice answered back.
"Very well," Fleba said in slight confusion. A moment later he felt a tingling sensation and his vision dissolved into red light. It faded after a few seconds and Fleba found himself standing on the deck of what he assumed to be the Qu'van. He immediately fell to the floor because he had been strapped into his chair a moment before. The three aliens around him laughed as he got to his feet. "What just happened?" Then he realized he was standing, this ship had artificial gravity!
"We beamed you aboard," one of the aliens replied. He and the others were all slightly taller than Fleba and had dark skin with ridges on their foreheads.
"You mean teleported? And you have artificial gravity!"
"Yes. Come with me Captain." Vogh led Fleba to a conference room with a view of the Brakiri convoy. "We disabled the Raider's ship and took several of them into custody. They have provided us with a great deal of information. However we were surprised to find they were human." Kogh stated to the Brakiri captain
"Why is that?" Fleba asked.
"We were unaware they had spread this far. The humans we are familiar with live many light years away. As for the raiders, we are prepared to turn them over to you if you wish." Kogh further stated.
"Thank you Captain. They will be taken back to my world for trial. However I was wondering if you would be willing to make a trade?" Fleba asked.
"What sort of a trade?" Kogh asked cautiously.
"My people are merchants and traders, and we are always on the lookout for new trading partners. Your technology appears to be highly advanced; perhaps you would consider trading for your gravity technology or your teleporters?" Fleba proposed
"What are you offering in return?" Kogh asked.
"Since you seem to be unfamiliar with this part of space, I could offer you detailed stellar maps and what information we have on various races in this region." Fleba further explained.
"We would also like any information you have on Red Space." Kogh added.
"Red Space? Oh, you must mean Hyperspace. That can be easily arranged as well. My ships were on their way to the local jump gate when we were attacked. We normally would have jumped ourselves, but our employer has recently hit hard times and couldn't afford enough Quantium 40." Fleba saw a brief look of surprise cross Captain Kogh's face.
"Your ships can enter Red Space without a gate?" Kogh asked intently. This information was indeed surprising.
"Of course. The process uses a significant amount of energy and Quantium 40 and as such is expensive to operate. Do your ships not possess jump engines?" Fleba was thinking that perhaps these Klingons, despite their advanced technology, had only recently discovered hyperspace, though that still didn't explain how they had appeared so suddenly. Perhaps they used a method of Hyperspace travel never before seen.
"I will speak to my Commander about your wish to trade. We will beam you back to your vessel and contact you shortly." Kogh stated.
"Very well, and thank you," Fleba replied.
"Kogh to transporter room, beam the Brakiri Captain back to his ship." Fleba again felt the tingling and saw red for a few seconds. When he materialized back aboard the Ignosha he grabbed a nearby bar and eased himself into his chair.
"Was your trip productive?" Fleba's first officer asked. Fleba smiled.
"If we can get our hands on even their most basic technology we will all be very rich men," Fleba replied. "We will know soon enough."
…
"Captain Kogh, what do you have to report?" Commander Mel'ok asked.
"We have located a convoy of merchant ships from a race known as the Brakiri. They were under attack by pirates and I gave the order to defend them. However, the raiders turned out to be human." Kogh reported.
"Human? How is that possible?" Mel'ok questioned.
"I am unsure, however their ships posses what they call a Jump Engine, which allows them to enter and exit Red Space without the aid of a gate. They are also offering maps of this space as well as information on races we have yet to encounter. They wish to trade with us; however I was unsure what they should be allowed to obtain." Kogh explained to his superior.
"Offer them older technology that would not pose a threat if they used it. Give them gravity plating or inertial dampeners, but under no conditions trade them our weapons or cloaking technology." Mel'ok stated.
"I understand. I also believe the vortex mineral, which the Brakiri call Quantium 40, is necessary for independent jumps." Kogh said, agreeing with Mel'ok's statement.
"I will inform Chancellor Martok of your discoveries. Inform me when your trading is complete. Mel'ok out."
…
Fleba had been waiting nearly an hour when the Klingon ship hailed him again.
"Captain Fleba, I have spoken to my Commander, and we are ready to trade. Stand by for transport." This time Fleba had enough sense to undo his restraints and stand while gripping a nearby handhold. When he materialized on board the Qu'van he was able to keep his footing.
"I am pleased you agreed to trade. What are you prepared to barter with?" Fleba asked his new trading partner.
"We have several gravity generators in storage which could easily be adapted to your vessels. They would allow you to generate between one half and three times the gravity of a planet. Also, we are prepared to supply you with inertial dampeners which would eliminate the inertia from sudden accelerations and weapon impacts. In return we desire the information you offered before as well as one of your jump engines." Kogh stated confidently.
"That may be difficult. Our jump engines are integrated into our ships. We could offer you some of the spare parts for the engine we posses, as well as a complete set of schematics," Captain Fleba offered.
"Very well," Kogh replied. "I will accompany you back to your vessel. Once I have downloaded the data and inspected the jump engine components we will beam the parts we agreed upon into your cargo bay."
"Very well," Fleba said, and soon the two men were in the main cargo hold of the Brakiri vessel. Kogh had a bit of trouble until Fleba showed him how to use grab bars and hand grips to propel himself. He hid a smile when the Klingon crashed into one of the cargo containers. After recovering, Kogh then used a portable scanner to inspect the jump engine components and download the data from the Ignosha's computer. The gravity generators and inertial dampeners were beamed in a few moments later. The two other Brakiri in the cargo bay gasped when they saw the transport.
"It has been a pleasure doing business with you," Fleba said, offering his hand to Kogh, who took it in a slightly crushing grip.
"Indeed. We will likely contact you again soon."
"I look forward to it." Kogh tapped a device on his waist and vanished.
…
"These Brakiri are very similar to the Ferangi," Kogh told M'ret as he sat back in his chair. "Though much more pleasant to speak with. Cloak and set course for the vortex generator, warp seven." Once he arrived back at the Klingon forward base he would hand the data he had collected over to Mel'ok, and soon the Klingons would have a much better idea of what their next series of actions should be.
So, how is the story progressing?