SMST: Deep Space Moon! – By DS Wynne

Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.

Note: This is a multi-genre story.

Special Note: This story takes place during Seasons 1 through 3 of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". "The Ranma Trek Chronicles" takes place during Seasons 4 through 7.

Author's Note: This story is designed to be short, and will focus mostly on Sailor Moon, though Ranma Saotome (of "Ranma ½") will make a cameo from time-to-time. As always, C&C are welcomed.

Part 14

Later, Usagi returns to her quarters feeling a bit perplexed by the Nagus offer of providing material support should Usagi wanted to have her "position" within Romulan circles, and even would approve of Nog's attendance at the local school, if she determine who was trying to kill him. The Starfleet counselor was not about to reopen "old wounds", where the Romulans were concern except in one regard: her daughter T'Suki. Usagi knew that T'Suki was the legitimate heir to the Romulan imperial throne, and had to employ drastic measures to keep her safe from the Tal Shiar, the Romulan clandestine service. But when T'Suki comes out of hiding to claim her father's throne, Usagi wanted to make sure that her daughter did have the resources to succeed in her endeavors. Thus, she agreed to help the Nagus choose a successor.

"I got to do something about my stomach," Usagi grimaced, as she clutched her stomach. "Eating worms is NOT my cup of tea…"

And with Usagi enters her quarters, only to find a Ferengi sitting on her couch.

"Okay, I'll bite," Usagi said, as she stood and faced the would-be intruder. "This is about my private meeting with the Nagus, huh Krax?"

"Most perceptive of you Counselor Tsukino," said the Ferengi, as he stepped forward. "As the son of Grand Nagus Zek, I am entitled to be his successor."

"No, only the best should be the next Grand Nagus," Usagi said, as she folds her arms. "So, what brings you here?"

"Rule of Acquisition Number One-Hundred and Twenty-Five: 'Always bribe the arbitrator'," Krax said, as he clapped his hands.

A male and female green-skinned Orion, dressed in traditional harem clothes come out of Usagi's bedroom while escorting a hovering, large treasure chest.

"Behold, your bribe," Drax said proudly. "You have these slaves to do as you wish, plus this chest full of gold-pressed latinum."

"Huh," Usagi said. "Look, as touching as this is, you know I can't take this bribe."

"Well, you can take it," Krax said. "After all, as you hu-mons would say: 'The squeaky wheel gets the grease'."

"Um, I think that refers to something else, but I get it," Usagi said. "But I can't take bribes."

"Well, I will let you enjoy my 'gift' then," Krax said, as he walks past the station's counselor. "Be seeing you…"

And with that, the Ferengi leaves Usagi's quarters, just as Science Officer Counselor Dax walks into the room.

"Usagi, I have some tickets to the Bajoran Philharmonic Band's show this evening, and wanted to know if you wanted to come and see it with me," Dax said, as she notices something. "Did I miss a party or something?"

"Or something," Usagi said, as she eyes the lovely Orions. She begins to think of the possibilities of having them in her room, before mentally slapping herself.

"Bad, Usagi," Usagi said with a sigh. "You're a professional, now…"

"So, what are you going to do?" Dax said. "Benjamin will want to know about this, especially the slaves."

"We offer ourselves freely, mistress," said the female Orion, as she saunters closer to Usagi. "My brother and I are well-versed in the arts of pleasure."

"I don't need…that," Usagi replied. "Besides, I can get Dax for THAT."

"Don't rope me in your demented fantasy," Dax replied.

"If you do not want pleasure servants, then we can assist you in other ways," said the male. "I am a botanist by profession, while my sister is a linguist."

"Then why are you two doing this?" Usagi said.

"Because, being a part of a harem is a more fun?" the female replied.

"Well, you have a point there…"

Usagi then turns towards Dax.

"How about we put on our own show for a change?" Usagi said.

"You're not going to take 'no' for an answer, huh?" Dax said.

"Hey, I got to 'break' these two in somehow, and I will need help in doing so."

"Humph."

As the day wore on, various Ferengi of importance come to Usagi to bribe her, with a few subtle threats thrown in for good measure. This, of course, attracts the attention of her commanding officer…

"You should know that I don't approve any of this," Commander Sisko said, as one of Usagi's serving wenches fed her grapes, while Usagi lounged on a recliner as another servant fanned her.

"I know that sir," Usagi said. "But I can't simply give these gifts back."

"You mean bribes."

"Yes."

"As a Starfleet officer, you are NOT allowed to take bribes."

"I know that sir."

"Then all this…?"

"Well, I plan on donating everything to various Bajoran charities, including the bars of gold-pressed latinum."

"And these people…?"

"Well…that's a bit more complicated, sir," Usagi said sheepishly. "If I were to reject them, I would be insulting these people's cultures and traditions."

"Those are not something that the Federation endorses, counselor."

"I know, that's what I've been telling them. But, they still insist on serving me."

"Commander, we understand the regulations concerning owning servants and concubines," said the girl, as she continued to feed Usagi grapes.

"And you are…?"

"'Neela', commander, daughter of the matriarch of the First Circle of Pleasure," the girl said.

"Well, Miss Neela, I do find all of this inappropriate."

"And my brother and I do understand Mistress Usagi's predicament, so we have decided on compromise."

"Which is…?"

"Neela and her brother will visit me on my birthday and holidays," Usagi said. "I'll handle the expense on that measure."

"Which means…?"

"You'll see us again at least once a month, Commander Sisko," Neela said with a broad smile. "And, I can bring my sisters and friends to keep you and your crew 'company'."

"Oh, I can hardly wait…"

After much deliberation, Usagi made her decision, which she told to Grand Nagus Zek in front of all the Ferengi that was in contention to be Zek's replacement…

"So, my dear," said Zek. "What is your decision?"

Usagi looks around the room, seeing the looks of anticipation on the Ferengi's faces…

"Grand Nagus Zek," Usagi said, as she takes out her reading glasses, and places them onto her face, even as she takes out her personal access data device (PADD). She then clears her throat.

"I have the results of my analysis, and conclude that none of the candidates were worthy to be Zek's replacement."

"What?" said Krax. "And why not?"

"Here is why, Krax…"

And, with that, Usagi began to lecture the Ferengi candidates on why they were not chosen, ranging from being WAY too obvious with the bribes to using threats to get her approval.

"My point is that the role of Grand Nagus is all about the art of negotiations, as exemplified by Rule of Acquisition Number Three: 'Never spend more for an acquisition than you have to'," Usagi said. "Zek gave me what I wanted, even though it was a long-term prospect, in exchange for my services, but it was something that would not be costly. Certainly, he could make money on my reputation alone. As for you guys, I certainly didn't need the bribes, because I could easily make own money using my sister, and making threats would REALLY get on my bad side…DRAL."

"Humph!"

"Well, then, I want my bribe back!" Krax said.

"Ah, but you forget Rule of Acquisition Number One: 'Once you have their money, you never give it back'. So, there."

"Grrrr!"

"This has been an enlightened exercise," Zek said with a smile. "I do admit that when you and your paramour Ranma Saotome were given a seat on the Ferengi Stock Exchange, I was curious as to how my approval would be received by my people. In fact, even my own son Krax saw me as mad. But, the more I learned of you and your exploits, the more I knew that I made the right decision to entrust in you matters of state…"

Pause.

"Congratulations, Moon Princess. You have my support and my thanks. And, I might consult with you in the future from time-to-time."

"As long as you remember Rule of Acquisition Number Fifty-Nine, my doors will always be open."

"Touché…"

A week later, Constable Odo walks into Usagi's office.

"Counselor, do you have a moment?" Odo asked.

"Ah, Constable, yes," Usagi said with a gentle smile. "How can I put you at ease? Feeling stressed or something?"

"Actually, I'm here for legal counsel on a case I am working on."

"Say no more," Usagi said. "I am still registered with Starfleet Judge Advocate General, as well as with both the Federation's Legal Council and Diplomatic Corps."

"So Commander Sisko has told me," Odo said. "How can you balance so many professions?"

"Constable, I've been in the service of the Federation, both in Starfleet and its civilian component for at least two hundred years," Usagi said. "I have been in practically every position that Starfleet has to offer, and I have worked for the Federation in a variety of positions, including the time I was in the 'Fugitive Retrieval Division' within the Federation Marshal Service."

"You were a police officer."

"Surprising, isn't it?" Usagi said. "I mostly did it to be near my husband Ranma, since such assignments would mean spending months apart otherwise. So, I joined the FMS with Ranma, so that we could always be together."

"But from my research on your background, you weren't always…in synch with the policies of your superiors."

"That's because more times than not, my superiors had the luxury of giving out edicts from a comfortable position on Earth. But the only reason why neither Ranma nor I had gotten in trouble legally is because we knew the law front and back, which is why I had gotten into law later on in my career."

"And that's why I am here," Odo said, as he hands his PADD to Usagi. "I believe that my case should have a third party to review it, before I file an official report."

"Okay, let me take a look at this," Usagi said, as she begins to read the document. According to the case, a fugitive from the Gamma Quadrant named Crodan had gotten into a brawl with a pair of twins from his home planet. Further complicating the matter was the fact that Crodan insist that the twins were trying to sell a priceless artifact to Quark, and that the artifact was stolen from him. Sisko, learning this, and wanting to establish relations to Crodan's homeworld, has given the approval, with the backing of the Bajoran Provisional Government, to send Crodan back home, even though doing so would mean certain death for Crodan. Complicating things even further was the fact that not only was Crodan innocent of the charges back home, was that the artifact belonged to Odo's people, the mysterious "Changelings".

"So, you see my dilemma counselor," Odo said. "Crodan may have the answers that I seek about my species."

"I see," Usagi said, as she takes off her reading glasses. She didn't need them, but she wore them for "affect".

"So, you want me to figure out a way to help you without breaking the law?"

"I want a legal reason to not send Crodan back to his homeworld," Odo said.

"And you trust this man to be honest with you?"

"He is the only link to my past that I have got."

"I see. Okay. I'll help you, but you have to promise me that you will see me next week about your medical needs."

"I am not sick, Counselor."

"You need therapy on how to cope with a sense of loss, Constable."

"Fine, I'll make the appointment."

"Good. Now, I want to talk to Crodan. Where is he…?"

After speaking with Crodan, Usagi uses her contacts and resources to come up with a case for overriding Sisko's directive…

"What?" Sisko said in surprise.

"Yes, sir," Usagi said, as she hands Sisko her PADD. "You do not have any jurisdiction to hold Crodan of Miradorn in your custody, pursuant to blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yah."

"I see. And so you are representing Crodan's interests now?"

"Until a full hearing gets underway while Constable Odo investigates Crodan's claims."

"What about the fact that Crodan killed one of the twins?" Major Kira asked.

"It's a classic case of self-defense, sir. At very least, Crodan could make bail until the hearing occurs. And there is one more thing. Thanks to Quark's contacts within the Gamma Quadrant, Miradorn is under an authoritarian regime. Crodan's crimes could be seen as political in nature."

"See, I told you, sir," Kira said.

"Then why did the provisional government gave its permission release Crodan into Miradorn's custody?" Usagi asked.

"The fact of the matter is that Bajor has very few friends," Sisko said. "With the discovery of the Bajoran Wormhole, the provisional government seeks to expand into new territory unmolested."

"And yet you would allow Crodan to be sent to his death?"

"It was already determined that the matter on Miradorn was an internal affair by Starfleet Command," Sisko said. "There is nothing that I could do to change their minds-"

Just then, a hail is patched through to Sisko's office.

"Benjamin, we have an incoming from Starfleet Command," said Dax over the com-link.

"I wonder who that is?" Usagi said innocently.

"I wonder indeed," Sisko said with a grumble. "Patch it through, Dax…"

As it turned out, Usagi was able to use her knowledge of the legal system, along with her contacts within both the Federation and Starfleet Command to get Crodan a reprieve. Sisko was annoyed by Usagi's actions, but she did play within the chain-of-command where her position within Starfleet was concerned. After all, she was working as Odo's legal counsel. As for Cordan, it turned out that the artifact that belonged to him was a shape-shifting key that uses technology from the Changelings, and that the key was to a stasis chamber where Cordan stashed his daughter in, on an asteroid far from Miradorn space. The key had been taken along with a large cache of property that had been confiscated by the Miradorn authorities, and it took years for Crodan to retrieve it. With Crodan's asylum approved, Crodan could get his daughter out of stasis. Later, he and his daughter would be granted official asylum to the planet Vulcan, thanks to Usagi's daughter T'Sara, the present Vulcan ambassador.

Later, the next day…

"I'm sorry that you didn't find more clues to what happened to your people, Odo," Usagi said, as she and Odo sat at "Quark's", much to Quark's annoyance.

"It was…a start," Odo said. "But I wanted to treat you to some chocolate sundae, as a way of thanking you for your help, if you do not mind."

"Hey, I never say 'no' where free food is concerned," Usagi said.

"Oh, and, if you do not mind, I would love to hear stories about your days as a police officer."

"Really?"

"Really. Perhaps we can even trade 'cop stories'?"

"You're on."

Tbc.

Next Time: Usagi must end a war where lives hang in the balance (DS9: "Battlelines"). Later, Usagi must save the Bajoran people from themselves, with the help of Chief O'Brien, Dr. Bashir, Jake Sisko and Nog (DS9: "The Storyteller"). See you then…