Rule 48: The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife.
„Tohl gave us the portfolio of our mediator." Ghan looked up from his padd when Thren entered the room. „Deals with independant worlds a lot, no Federation business. Plans to apply for citizenship on Breen after the legal reformations." Thren took a seat and glanced over at the padd; Ghan handed it to him. „Very informative survey", he said, reading through the data. „Frequently deals with the Syndicate. Someone who can deal with them can deal with everyone." Ghan nodded. „And someone who deals with them 'frequently' can also survive everything." „Oh please." Thren slightly shook his helm. „Orion hasn't fought a real war in centuries. They're overrated if you ask me." „Agreed", Ghan said. „But they still eliminate suppliers on a regular basis. So it is still a good business reference to deal with them and be alive." „True."
Thren continued to scroll through the data. „Ferengi Alliance", he read out loud. „That is also a good reference." Ghan nodded. „If they were not so annoying, I'd deal with them myself. But that shouldn't concern us", Thren added. „According to Tohl, our mediator gets along with the Ferengi. It is likely our artifacts will end up with them", Ghan said. „And I like that. The Ferengi usually don't start any trouble. No rushed declarations of war, no questions, but a lot of latinum." „And that is what matters. I only accept these pesky invitations to participate in the Federation's silly shuttle races to get bribed by the Ferengi pilot", Thren nodded. „Understandable", Ghan replied. „What else would be appealing about a competition without prize money? Those peace mongers can hardly provide a real challenge." „Exactly. You can imagine my anger when the Ferengi was banned from the race last year because of attempted bribery."
Thren got up and began pacing along the windows; obviously said anger was still present. „Did you at least get the latinum before he had to leave?" Ghan asked. „No! He was caught long before our meeting, when he tried to get the Romulan pilot into the deal." Thren stopped and leaned against the wall next to the window. „It was very frustrating! I really don't know if I will take the next invitation. If I get one." „Hm", Ghan began. „Why wouldn't they invite you? It's not like they have that many Breen to choose from. And you were not involved in the bribery, officially." „Let's say the relations with Romulus suffered slightly from this incident", Thren explained. „I took the liberty of sabotaging the plasma converter of that idiot Romulan. His shuttle exploded when he passed the finish line." Ghan nodded, understandingly, Thren continued: „When that came out, the Ferengi sent me a Tholian driller, to thank me for my loyalty. I sent him Flaxian Urena fruit in return." „Aren't those poisonous for species with a blood circulation?" Ghan asked. Thren nodded. „Deadly within seconds." „And the Federation says Breen have no sense of humor." Amused, Ghan shook his head.
Deep Space Nine, Promenade, Quark's
„Rom?" Quark looked around, trying to spot his brother in the holosuite. There was no program running, but Rom's maintenance check had produced a chaos that even the most sophisticated programmer hadn't been able to create. „Rom, where are you?" Quark stepped over a toolbox and finally found his brother between an open panel, several cables and more tools. „When will you be done with this nonsense?" Quark demanded. Rom looked up from his work. „It takes as long as it takes!" he quoted his superior officer, with little resemblance. „This suite has been out of order for hours now!" his brother sighed. „If you would let me check it more often... It wouldn't... er, take so long", Rom explained and searched for a phase modulator in his chaos. „There was nothing broken! Everything worked fine, why would I want you to check it?" Quark pushed the toolbox closer to Rom with his foot, and Rom found what he was looking for. „I didn't make the regulations", he replied and continued his work inside the wall panel.
Quark crossed his arms and leaned against a wall. „Of course you had to come up with that excuse. You would rather let others do the thinking and just follow orders you don't even understand", he muttered. „Did you at least find out why Brunt has these security systems on his door?" Rom shrugged. „Why would I know that?" He put the phase modulator down and grabbed an EPS coupler from his toolbox. „Why don't you ask, er, Brunt? He will know!" „You idiot!" Quark moaned. „Then he would know that I know that he has them!" „And, er, that is... a secret?" Rom asked confused. „People that install extra security systems on their quarters always have secrets", his brother explained. „Otherwise they wouldn't need extra security systems, would they?" „Maybe..." Rom slowly began and turned back to a console. „Maybe he has... secret orders from the Grand Nagus?" „Yes! That has to be the reason!" Quark's anger made room for a smile.
„Of course! And he knows if I find out about his plans, I'll do anything I can to cross them!" Rom stopped and looked up. „You will?" Quark grinned at him. „Of course I will." „But, er, how do you want to find out what his plans are? He has extra security systems on his door!" Rom pointed out. Quark stared at him in disbelief. „You already cracked them!" „But I don't know what his plans are!" Rom shrugged, Quark rolled his eyes. „You're really beyond hope", he sighed. „After your shift, I'll go distract Brunt, and you go search his quarters."
Plun V-II, Breen Storage Facility
Ghan and Thren stood next to the door, waiting patiently for their mediator to return from the inspection of their goods. Tohl had introduced the pirate kaghan to them earlier in his office and all parties were confident that this business was going to pay out. „We were really lucky", Thren said. „She seems to have an eye for these things." Ghan nodded. „That, and good business references." He thought for a moment, then added: „And she gets along with Ferengi. Still our best option."
„For 20 percent of this profit, you can have all the options you want."
The pirate returned from a hallway of storage boxes to the door. „Really, all of the options", she added with a grin when she had reached Ghan and Thren. „Then we have a deal?" Ghan asked rethorically. The pirate nodded. „Absolutely. The Ferengi will make this into a damn lot of latinum." „Very good." Thren activated a panel next to the door to open it. „You'll get underway tomorrow then?" The pirate nodded again and stepped out to the snow covered yard. „I'll take my Nausicaan raider. No-one will suspect who really found the artifacts." She shuddered and pulled her leather coat tighter together. „As much as I look foreward to my citizenship, I will really have to get used to your weather."
Ghan follwed her, Thren closed and locked the door of the storage building. „Understandable, considering your heritage", Ghan said when they walked across the yard. „The few Cardassians we see here always complain about the cold. And Klingons aren't too fond of snow either, as far as I know." „Neither are Nausicaans", she added. „But then, I should be glad my father wasn't Andorian. I'd rather have some scales than antennae." Thren unlocked the door of the office building, then stuffed the ID card and inventory padd into his uniform jacket. „I must admit I'm surprised you get along better with Ferengi than Orions", he said when they stepped inside the corridor. „Ferengi are arrogant cowards and tend to make a lot enemies", the pirate explained. „Combined with a damn lot of latinum, that results in a damn lot of demand for protection." She grinned, exposing the side tusks hinting her Nausicaan ancestors. „Before the Confederacy made piracy so much easier, there were always times when we had to keep a low profile. Make compromises to get through. In such times, many of my kind worked for the Ferengi, as bodyguards or to collect on debts; whatever was in demand. It's an easy job and it pays very well." Thren nodded, understandingly. „I see. Ferengi hire people they think their peers will be afraid of. And in return, they are afraid of them themselves." The pirate nodded. „And that makes it a lot easier to collect my own money. You really get used to Ferengi over time, if you know how to handle them."