Chapter 607
SENATOR JAMESON'S OFFICE
PARIS, EARTH
"Mr. Welch is on the com for you, Senator." Jameson's secretary reported.
Jameson smiled as he pushed the com button. "Oswald, how have you been doing my friend?"
"What have you been doing to me Jameson?" Welch's voice angrily snapped.
Jameson was surprised. "What do you mean?"
"I just got word that Starbase 5 received a substantial shipment of nanotube from Zur mining. You assured me that all of Starfleet's nanotube would come through me! I paid you heavily for that contract!" Welch sounded so angry he could spit.
"Oswald, I have no knowledge of that transaction!" Jameson said defensively.
"Listen Jameson! I paid you dearly for that contract! Our break-even point is still over a year away. I don't know what you're pulling on me but I don't like it. I want it stopped now!" Welch stated.
"Just wait a minute, cool your thrusters Oswald. Are you sure it is the Starfleet facility that wants the nanotube or a civilian facility? I know mining companies use a lot of nanotube." Jameson said.
"I got it on good report that a couple of weeks ago the Starfleet facility on Starbase 5 received a very substantial shipment of nanotube that had Zur mining stamped all over it. Zur mining is the biggest user of nanotube in the system and they manufacture their own material. If this is a move to undercut me…." Welch described.
Jameson said, "No, it's not a move to undercut you. I don't know what this is about but I'll find out. I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
"Make it snappy. I don't have the patience for this." Welch said, cutting the line off.
Jameson pushed the com button and yelled "ELI!"
Gold came trotting in from his office. "Yes Senator?"
"I just got a call from Oswald Welch of Titan Nanotube. He said that Starbase 5 got some nanotube from Zur mining, not contract tube through normal Starfleet channels. What do you know about this?" Jameson angrily said.
Gold's brows furrowed. "I don't know much. Starbase 5 has been running a shortage on many items lately."
"Why?"
"Normal frontier problems I would assume. Starbases typically claim shortages in material. I think it's Admirals just getting nervous when their stockpiles aren't full." Gold said. He tapped a few buttons on his datapad. "Admiral Adama has tried to get many of the supplies filled locally but has had a problem getting the locals to sell to him."
Jameson raised an eyebrow. "I thought our people sold to him."
Gold nodded, "Yes, but our… friends are typically middlemen. Adama has tried to cut out the middlemen and go directly to local suppliers. He's been left little choice because the locals won't deal with him."
Jameson asked, "I don't get what you mean."
Gold looked at his pad. "For instance, Starbase 5 has a shortage of various alloys. They could buy directly from the system's largest mining and refining company, Zur mining. We approached Zur about guaranteeing a contract that would have been extremely lucrative, but they turned us down."
"I seem to remember that. It would have been extremely profitable for everybody." Jameson said. "Why didn't they accept us?"
Gold shrugged his head looking at his notes. "The Chief Operating Officer is a former Starfleet officer by the name of Shoor, Andorian. He seemed to take great offense as to the prospect of kickbacks. Our operative dropped the subject and left. We got a contract with High Desert Mining, who deals with Starbase 5."
Jameson asked, "Nothing from Zur?"
Gold shook his head, "No. Funny thing is High Desert Mining is making a mint off the deal, which is good for us. They do not own any mines or refineries but simply buy material from Zur mining and then sell it to Starbase 5."
Jameson mused. "Are they connected to Zur mining in any other way? Could there be under-table dealings between Zur and High Desert?"
Gold shook his head, "You mean like our deal with High Desert? Not likely. High Desert gets some material from other in-system mining companies."
Jameson said, "So Zur is trying to push out competition?"
Gold shook his head again. "No, actually they have helped some of the other mining companies."
"Helped? How?" Jameson said.
"They have come to rescue some miners in the belt. They have sold some used equipment to other firms and even private individuals. The equipment has had a reputation of being in extremely good condition. They have done repairs to equipment, particularly in-space equipment. They claim it is being a 'good neighbor'." Gold said.
"How is that so? Wouldn't they want to drive out competition, rather than help it?" Jameson asked unbelievingly.
"Mr. Shoor said that there is enough business for everybody. He said the owner believed that it was good to have other companies around, monopolies would not be good for the system." Gold said.
Jameson shrugged. "How is the stock of Zur doing? Financial reports?"
"We do not know. It's a private company. We don't even know who the owners are." Gold said.
Jameson raised an eyebrow. Gold continued, "And that's the one common thread between all the companies that refuse to do business with Starbase 5. They are all privately owned."
Jameson thought a bit. "And none of them are touchable?"
"Not by us. We did get some interests in some of the middlemen. There is a food wholesaler that got a contract through us. They get most of the food from New Haven Ranch but there are other farming communities on the planet that supply food. For the middlemen, it would be far easier to get a contract with Zur mining, or New Haven Ranch, or the local large shipping company- I can't remember who that is, but those companies won't sign contracts to be sole suppliers." Gold said.
"But we are well represented there." Jameson said.
"Ironic thing is that we may be making more money with the strange arrangement that is in Starbase 5. The only losers are those companies that will not deal with the Starbase. To be sure, they are not losers by definition, they run extremely profitable enterprises, but could be making more money." Gold said.
Jameson shook his head. "But Starbase 5 has to get its material from our middlemen?"
"Yes, unless there is a demonstrable shortage, which there always is out there. They first must be supplied through our middlemen, then can make up whatever shortage through anybody else. That is what Adama has been doing, trying to fill his stores."
Jameson waived that off, "Ok, there are too many other irons in the fire. Let's focus on the nanotube. Was there a shortage?"
Gold typed a few buttons. "Yes, Starbase 5 had a sudden need for a very large amount for some reason. Titan Nanotube is based here in the Earth system around Saturn and simply couldn't get nanotube out to Starbase 5 quickly enough. According to reports, Starbase 5 took a shipment from Zur immediately, then took the shipment from Titan and gave that to Zur."
"For how much?"
Gold typed a few buttons. "An even swap."
"Zur could have made out like a bandit. They simply swapped? There was not any profit in that." Jameson said.
"That's an example of what I was saying. Zur did not make anything, but our kickback deal we will eventually get paid by Titan for that shipment. Oswald Welch is being OCD on this instance." Gold said.
Jameson sat thinking a bit. "Ok, write that part up for me to give Oswald. I want to cool him off. I also want you to quietly start investigating these companies that will not do business with Starbase 5. I'm heading home for the day." Gold nodded and left the room. Jameson was thinking about the puzzle of Starbase 5. Why would somebody pass up a chance to get a lucrative contract? He just could not see that somebody would pass an opportunity even if they had to give a kickback for it. Nobody is that honest.
JAMESON'S PRIVATE RESIDENCE
SWISS ALPS
Jameson's shuttle landed on the landing pad. Just two hundred years ago, it would have been enormously expensive to build a building near the top of one of the Swiss Alps. Anti-gravity made it cheap to lift material and equipment to properly build a building near the top of one of the peaks. The view was impressive. Many miles of rock, snow, and clear sky. Jameson walked in and had a light dinner before retiring to his room. The servants were in the far part of the house closing down for the night.
Jameson walked into his dark bedroom and said, "Lights." Nothing happened. That is when he noticed the smell. It was an old and rarely smelled odor, but it was strongly there. That of an old-fashioned cigarette. It also was of one particular make that signified the user of the cigarette.
The Orion Syndicate. The man stepped from the shadows into the dim light coming from the window. "You should get that fixed."
Jameson felt a sudden chill. "How did you get in here? My security…"
"Is insufficient. This is just to remind you that we can still get to you when we need. Transporter jammers will not stop us." The man said.
Jameson said, "What is the meaning of this?"
The man said, "Simple. We have lost contact with the Lambda Beta system."
Jameson knew exactly what went on there. "Communications with that system can be iffy."
"Not for this long. It was sudden, and complete. Subspace telescopes do not show unusual solar activity. We do have information that a Federation Starship was in the system." The man stated. "That is a breach of our agreement."
"Impossible. I have Starfleet sufficiently distracted from that system. I would have known of an operation there." Jameson retorted.
"Yet we have a freighter Captain that clearly states a ship was there." The man said.
"Which one?" Jameson asked.
"The Wisconsin." The man said. Jameson made a choking sound. "You know it?"
"Yes. I've had the displeasure. They have been a thorn in my side this past year. What have they done?" Jameson asked.
"The Wisconsin stormed into the system, detonated some device to block subspace transmissions, and blockaded the system. They searched my client and then let him go. They claimed they were looking for their Captain." The man said.
Jameson asked, "Really? That would be good news. Did the Wisconsin confiscate anything?"
"No. They said they would let everything go; all they were interested in is the Captain. One more thing to note." The man said. Jameson raised an eyebrow. The man continued, "This is your responsibility. We have paid you well for keeping Starfleet out of the Lambda Beta system along with all our other dealings. The Orion Syndicate does not like failures. According to the Captain, the Wisconsin has blown up a ship and irreparably damaged another. Fortunately for you, neither of these had Syndicate interests on board. Whatever damage the Wisconsin does we will get payback from you." Jameson turned pale. The man finished. "Personally."
Jameson was trying to regain some high ground. "What if they kill a Syndicate Operative?"
The man took a long drag on his cigarette. "That would be most unfortunate for you."
"You wouldn't kill me, I'm a Senator." Jameson said with just a touch of panic.
The man walked over and grabbed a pillow from Jameson's bed. Soft pillow, high thread count linen. Expensive. The man said quietly, "We have done Senators before. Even one of your presidents." Jameson paled even further. "If an operative dies, at the bare minimum you will be financially responsible for the well-being of his family. Your contribution will be evaluated against any that we lose at Lambda Beta. If your contribution does not measure up to what was lost…" The man snuffed the cigarette out on the pillow, ruining it. The man turned and started walking to the door. "Get Starfleet out of the system. That was what you were responsible for, what you continue to be responsible for."
"Wait! You need me! I cannot be responsible for what that ship does! They wreak havoc! They almost destroyed a Norsican Base!" Jameson said.
The man stopped and half turned, "Which is fortunate for you that was not a Syndicate Interest. I hope for all our sakes they do not do much more damage at Ghut's station. We have many interests there, not everything, but many. It does not look good for you, Chuck."
Jameson hated being called that. The man turned and walked out the bedroom door. Jameson ran from around the bed and through the door. The man was gone. No running sounds, no transporter sound. How did this guy leave? How did he get into Jameson's residence? Jameson walked to his bed and picked up his communicator. "Jameson to Gold."
"Eli Gold?"
"Eli, when is that meeting with Nogura?" Jameson asked.
"Day after tomorrow sir."
Jameson fretted. "Contact Nogura, reschedule that meeting for tomorrow at 10AM. We already have a committee meeting tomorrow at that time. Make the necessary notifications for an agenda change."
"What is it sir?"
"Not over a com line. I'll see you at the office at 6AM." Jameson said.
"Good night, Senator." Gold said
Jameson just flipped his communicator closed and sat it on his table. He pushed the house intercom, "George, we need to run a security sweep right now."
"Yes sir, immediately." His head of security reported. Jameson sat down on his bed. The lights suddenly came on. Jameson looked around the room that was now well lit. How far was the Orion Syndicate's control? Farther than he originally thought.
CORRIDOR 15C
GHUT'S STATION
The Norsican and The Romulan checked around the corner and made sure it was clear. All clear. The two walked down with weapons drawn and were very wary. They got to an intersection and saw the instrument on the ceiling. The Norsican asked, "Is this how they are keeping in communication?"
The Romulan used a tricorder. "Undoubtedly. It's also a scanning device. The more we find the more we can cut them off."
"Not just this one?"
The Romulan put the tricorder away. "No, they are leaving a string behind them. I highly doubt removing just one will break the string. If I were leaving the string I would make sure that if one is destroyed, others are close enough to re-establish the link. Place the charge."
The Norsican set the charge. "It would have been easier to coordinate if Ghut did not abandon ship. Timer is set for five minutes."
The Romulan nodded, "Indeed. Still, the word is getting around. It is better if we can cut off these Starfleet teams and take their advantage away. Let us follow the trail. Three down, let us try to get another before the first blows."
BADGER TEAM 1
SOMEWHERE IN GHUT'S STATION
The fire was withering. Bauer said, "GRENADES! Two Badgers grabbed theirs and timed the throw. They tossed the grenades down the corridor and they blew up. Moans came from the smoke left behind. Bauer continued, "FLASHBANGS!" Another two devices clattered on the floor. Just as they detonated the Badgers moved forward and yelled, "CLEAR"
Bauer looked at the carnage. Five beings killed. Five less to worry about. "Mr. Tadao!"
Tadao trotted up, "Yes sir!"
"Is this spot about right?" Bauer asked.
"Yes sir."
Bauer said, "Set the relay." Tadao started working on setting the instrument.
The com beeped. Bauer touched his earpiece. "Bauer here."
"Commander Leonaidas. Report."
"It has been a continual fight. Station personnel are putting up resistance, but it is not organized. Internal scans show that we might be able to link up with Team two ahead." Bauer said.
"Any progress on finding the Captain?" Leonaidas asked.
"None. Station personnel are very defiant. We've come across a few cargo holds full of shops I guess you would say and no sign of the Captain. We are trying to get to Slimey's but that will take a bit of time to get there." Bauer said
"How long?"
"It is two hundred meters ahead. There is one cargo hold along with many corridors. Probably an hour sir." Bauer estimated.
"I understand. How is the kid doing?" Leonaidas asked.
"So far so good. We didn't plan on being cut off like this, but we've kept in contact and he is working his team well." Bauer answered.
"Very good. Support Mr. Kenn as you can. Leonaidas out."
Bauer looked at Tadao. He was almost done. Bauer touched the earpiece, "Bauer to Kenn."
BADGER TEAM 2
SOMEWHERE ELSE IN GHUT'S STATION
Kenn's earpiece went beep. Kenn motioned to Chief Muldoon, who stepped in for coordinating the team. Kenn touched his earpiece, "Kenn here."
"Bauer, what's your status?"
"We are in a large cargo hold. We've disarmed about two hundred people and are searching the room. Tricorders do not pick up anything but I'm making a physical search too." Kenn said.
"Good idea. We are still proceeding to Slimey's. I show us about two decks above you and…." Static came through the earpiece.
Kenn pushed the com button on his earpiece. "Kenn to Bauer, say again. The earpiece gave a cutout beep. Kenn touched his earpiece again and said, "Kenn to Wisconsin." The earpiece responded with an out-of-signal beep.
Kenn yelled, "Muldoon!"
Muldoon walked up and said, "Yessir?"
"Do you have contact with the outside world?" Kenn asked. Muldoon worked his earpiece and shook his head.
Kenn looked at Denozzo. "What does the scanner show?"
Denozzo said, "I've lost contact back towards the docking port. I only have two relays upstream online."
Muldoon said, "We should have been able to handle any one failure."
Denozzo observed, "I think somebody's got them."
Kenn nodded and touched his earpiece, "Kenn to Team 2." He looked and saw that team members could hear him. "We have lost contact back toward the ship and with Team 1. Plan is still to link up with them at Slimey's. Exercise caution."
All Team 2 acknowledged the order. Kenn said to Muldoon, "Mr. Muldoon, suggestions?"
Muldoon looked around. "Let's make this quick. We are seriously outnumbered sir and its only time before one of these degenerates takes advantage of a moment and then, we're on the defensive. I'd feel better once we get into the corridors again."
"Close Quarters Combat?" Kenn asked.
"Exactly. They may have the numbers, but we can nullify that with passageways." Muldoon looked around assessing the area. "Too bad we cannot create a little mayhem here. There is enough narcotics going around that we could probably seriously affect the amount that comes into the Federation."
Kenn nodded in disgust. "There's contraband here that I have never dreamed of. One thing that bothers me though…"
Muldoon looked at the Ensign. "What is it sir?"
"Where are the slaves? Slave trafficking would be a logical place for this station. We have not seen anything at all." Kenn mused.
"Having flashbacks sir?" Muldoon asked. He looked at his officer with a little bit of concern.
Kenn looked around once again. "Nothing to worry about. That time I was prisoner by the Norsicans has been on my mind Chief. It's been more like an insight. We've been by several places of 'commerce' but nothing in slave trafficking. I find myself looking for slave sites."
Muldoon thought about that for a bit watching the Badgers work on searching shops. "Maybe we have been going at this wrong. We've been searching for where 'they' hid the Captain based on his being kidnapped as part of an operation. What if the target was simple slavery? Do we know what the original op was?"
Kenn shook his head. "No, that was not on a 'need to know'."
"Ok, sir, let us assume it was them nabbing a convenient human for slavery. Let's concentrate on where are slaves hidden. So, Ensign, where would they hide slaves?" Muldoon asked.
Kenn looked around and blinked with realization. "Not here. There is no room to show the slaves off. They would have a place like where they herd cattle."
Denozzo was overhearing the exchange. "Excuse me sir." Then he looked at Muldoon. "Sirs… Scanners are picking up another area about fifty meters down that corridor that is as large as this one. It's along the way we think to Slimey's. Not directly but along the way, sort of."
Muldoon had a stern look that bordered on irritation. Kenn said, "Let's finish here and start on our way there. When we need to come back, do we have to go through this cargo hold?"
Denozzo shook his head, "No sir, the mule is showing a good bypass route."
Kenn nodded. "Chief Muldoon, get Mr. Black and let's think of a way of sealing this section off behind us once we leave. I'd rather not have 200 angry 'patrons' following us."
"Excellent, sir." Muldoon smiled. "Any restrictions?"
Kenn thought for a minute. "Yes Chief, don't get us killed."
Muldoon's smile got larger, "Aye aye, sir." Muldoon turned toward Jacob Black in the distance, "BLACK! Get over here PRONTO!"
Petty Officer Black trotted up, "Yes sir!"
"I got a challenge for your engineering background…." Muldoon started.
BRIDGE
USS WISCONSIN
Lt Jareau turned around, "Sir, I've lost contact with team 2."
Leonaidas looked at Magnum. Lt. Magnum said, "Confirmed. I was getting telemetry from the team's Mule up until just a minute ago."
"Where are they?" Leonaidas said.
"In a cargo hold fairly close to team 1." Magnum reported.
Leonaidas pushed the com button. "Leonaidas to Bauer."
Bauer's voice came through the speaker. "Bauer."
"We've lost contact with team 2. Can you assist them?" Leonaidas asked.
"Negative, unless we remove Slimey's as a mission objective. There is too much between us and Team 2." Bauer said.
Magnum looked at Leonaidas. Leonaidas was thinking hard on what should be the correct strategy. The teams were supposed to be linked up from the beginning, but were separated on landing on the station. Divide and conquer, prevent from being divided. Leonaidas thought about the training the Badgers have, the experience level of Team 1 supporting Ensign Kenn. Why did they put him there? Of all teams to get cut off, why Kenn's? Of course, the plan was not for him to be separated from Bauer in the first place, but the plan frequently changes. Leonaidas said a quick prayer, "Help me, Lord."
Leonaidas looked at Magnum. He saw a Badger. He remembered the program that he and Bauer came up on training. To make the baddest, toughest group of commandos that Starfleet has not seen in a hundred years. To accomplish impossible tasks. Kenn was the first to be a fully qualified Badger through a shipboard training course, Magnum was one of the trainers. The idea that came was that this scenario was specifically one that every Badger went through, to operate when cut off from external help. The primary mission was to find the Captain, that couldn't be accomplished if Team 1 went to find Team 2. Team 2 are Badgers, not typical Starfleet security. Trust the training.
Leonaidas said, "Stay on the Primary Mission. Advise if you gain contact with Team 2."
"Roger that, stay on primary mission. Will advise if we come across team 2." Bauer read back the order.
Lt Magnum motioned to Leonaidas. Leonaidas nodded. Magnum spoke up, "Commander Bauer, Lt Magnum. Sir, virtually at the same time we lost contact with Team 2, we also lost contact with one of your relays."
"How does our string look?" Bauer asked.
Magnum reported. "Good enough, if we lose another relay close to the one we already lost, the string will go down."
"Does it look like the same people are responsible?" Bauer asked.
"Impossible to say for sure. If so, they know the layout of the station better than we do, which really isn't saying much." Magnum replied. "My guess is yes. The inoperative relays are in relatively proximity to each other."
"How far back? Maybe we can replace the relay." Bauer asked.
"It was the third you placed." Magnum said.
Bauer's disappointed voice came through. "No, we can't do that. We'll lose an hour easily. Team 1 will press on. Bauer out."
Leonaidas nodded. "So be it."
Magnum offered, "Commander, if I may."
Leonaidas raised and eyebrow. "What is it?"
"Maybe Engineering can make some kind of ROV. We can position it at the lost relay. Maybe it can even defend itself too." Magnum asked.
Leonaidas shrugged and pushed the com button. "Leonaidas to Engineering."
Santini's voice came through. "Engineering, Dom here."
"Dom, can you adapt a couple of our ROV's for operating inside that station? We need to replace a communications relay." Leonaidas asked.
"It will be tight quarters for it to operate." Santini said.
"I don't mind if it scratches the paint. I need to get in contact with a Badger team again. We may need some defensive capabilities too." Leonaidas asked.
"We can handle that, just let me know what you want." Santini said.
Leonaidas looked at Magnum. He was the only one on the ship. All others were either on the station or clearing ships in the blockade line. Magnum had to stay put. An idea came to mind. "Go ahead and install phasers. If I can find someone who can supervise installation of anything else I'll let you know. How long?"
"Give me an hour for the first one. The ROV out of the box will do the communications relay just fine for you. I think we may need some time to install some armor plating and defensive phasers. We'll need a shuttle to get it there." Santini said.
"Very good, start the work. Let me know when you are ready for ROV 1." Leonaidas pushed the com button.
Magnum asked, "What are you thinking sir?"
Leonaidas smirked, "We do have one person left on the ship that has combat Marine experience, and is versed in current tactics and equipment."
"And one who would love the chance to do a little part in this operation." Magnum said.
"He has a big part; he is leading prayer cover for us." Leonaidas pushed the com button. "Leonaidas to Commander Octavian."
ENGINEERING
USS WISCONSIN
Santini was working with one of the engineers on installing some phasers on the ROV. The ROV that they chose was roughly the size of a photon torpedo, which to say is roughly coffin size. The blast doors to Engineering slid open and Pastor Octavian stepped through. Santini looked up and said, "Pastor, we are kind of busy right now."
"That's ok, I'm here to help." Octavian replied in his British accent.
"Pastor…"
"You forget that my first time with Starfleet was with the Marines. I have also kept up with the Badger program. I know what you need to install." Octavian said. He stepped over and looked at the ROV. "I see you are installing phasers for front, back, left and right directions."
Santini nodded. "No problem on that. They are basically the guts of phaser pistols, which pack a good punch, mated to camera turrets. The guys on the bridge can target and fire no problem at all. Power will be totally separate with rechargeable phaser packs. It will be minimal drain on the ROV system."
Octavian looked over and nodded. "I'd love to have one of these things thirty years ago. What about a dorsal mounted phaser?"
Santini blinked. "We didn't think of that. The turrets will be able to shoot mostly up."
Octavian nodded. "Yes, but not entirely. If they can point 80 degrees up that still leaves a more than six-foot gap in coverage directly above the ROV. That is huge inside close quarters. Something can jump on top with no warning, and the only way to get it off is a top-mounted weapon."
Santini started his wide smile to where you can see the gap in his teeth. "I see. What else?"
Octavian asked, "What is the maximum payload we can carry?"
Santini said, "You know that Leo wants this inside an hour."
Octavian nodded, grinning, "What I have in mind is simple to attach, but heavy."
BADGER TEAM 2
EXITING CARGO AREA
GHUT'S STATION
Petty Officer Second Class Black said to Kenn, "Ok sir, just to make it clear, we do this and we won't get reconnected with our communications string."
Kenn nodded. "That's fine. We are going to take an alternate way back. Eventually we will get reconnected but not for a long time. I believe this is our best chance at survival. Let's do this."
The crowd in the cargo bay was in an uproar. All the collected weapons were in some bags that the Badgers drug through the blast door. They wanted their weapons back, but Kenn was not about to give fuel to a fire. They got the last Badger through and closed the blast door. Immediately, two Badgers had portable welders and started welding the door closed. Chief Bodie walked over to a series of pipes and asked, "Which one of these is the pipe Mr. Black?"
"The Orange one." Black was getting his piece of scrap metal in place a little way down the hall. Bodie fixed a small charge on the pipe. Once the welding was done, all Badgers removed themselves from the makeshift chamber and Black started manhandling the large metal sheet into place. Bodie came up and asked, "Do you need any help?"
"Yes Chief, please." Black asked. Bodie started helping move the large metal piece across the hallway. The opposite size of the two was humorous, Bodie being 6'6" and Black a good foot less than that. Once they wedged it in place Black said, "Now."
The two Badgers with portable welders started tacking the metal into place. Kenn walked up and asked, "Will this work, Mr. Black?"
"It should sir." Black pointed with his free hand. "That pipe is carrying coolant. I scanned it with my tricorder, it is an outdated version of coolant, but will be good for our purposes."
"How so?" Kenn said.
"At temperatures for nuclear cores, the coolant will be gaseous and literally melt flesh off of bones." Black said.
"How hot is it now?"
Black checked the plate for sturdiness. It held fast. He went and grabbed the gooey foam he used earlier on sealing the breach in the cargo bay and started sealing the edges. "Tricorder reads about 400C. When Chief Bodie detonates the charge, that makeshift chamber will be filled with 400C coolant that will feel like hot acid. That should be enough to deter them on pursuing us."
"Nice." Kenn smiled. "When will you be ready?"
Black finished sealing the new wall in the hallway. "Anytime sir."
Kenn nodded and Chief Bodie pushed a detonator. There was a small, low thud. Then nothing. Kenn asked, "That's it?"
Black smiled, "That's it. They will not be following us. They will not get hurt until they breach the blast door, then things for them are going to get dicey."
Kenn nodded, "Ok, dump those bags of weapons and destroy them. Let's get to that chamber ahead."
CHAMBER OBJECTIVE
GHUT'S STATION
Kenn walked in and said, "This is it. This is a slave market." Around the walls were stalls with various vendors. By the looks of it, everyone had already evacuated. The center was a raised platform, a stage of sorts. Kenn jumped up and walked around the platform. "Ok, the slaves are paraded here, patrons looking around down there. Slaves stored over off this side." Kenn found steps and walked down them to the floor.
Muldoon was looking around, "Where did they come from? Nothing but more stalls."
Kenn was standing on the floor. He looked around. This section of the floor was cleaner than the rest, it was totally clean. "This section of floor…."
Bodie knelt. "It's a trapdoor."
Kenn felt a certain earnestness. "Open it." He walked off the trapdoor. A couple of Badgers used their phasers as cutters and cut a hole in the door. The piece of door fell downward and clattered to a stop revealing steps.
Kenn started to go down but Muldoon stopped him. "Sir, you are in command. Let one of us."
Kenn nodded and Muldoon took a flashlight and pointed it in. "Denozzo, what are you reading?"
Denozzo worked the mule. "A series of small chambers lining a hallway. I'm getting life signs."
Muldoon asked, "Barracks?"
Kenn said with a chill to his voice, "No, a brig."
Muldoon nodded. He stepped down and found a release mechanism. The trapdoor opened making the entry into the holding chambers much easier. Kenn said, "Bodie, Stickel."
The two stepped down and disappeared. Kenn pointed at the other exits, "Secure those. Nobody enters."
The Team started working on getting their spot secured. Muldoon stepped back in the light. "Captain's not here sir. But you need to see this."
Kenn stepped down into the hallway. The stench got worse, but also was more familiar. Stench of sorrow. Kenn looked at the cells in the holding area, the main difference from his time on the Norsican station was that his cell had a solid door. This place had more old-fashioned barred doors. You could see the people in the cells. Muldoon said gruffly, "The Captain is not here. But…"
Kenn looked around and said, "What do we do now? What is the count?"
Muldoon said, "Federation citizens are 24 Humans, 4 Vulcans, 1 Tellarite, 1 Denobulan, and 3 Andorians. Children included in that count. Non- Federation races are 5 Norsicans and 2 Orions."
Kenn looked around, the people in the cages were now becoming aware that these were not their captors. The prisoners started crying and moaning and reaching through the bars for help. The heartbreaking ones especially were the kids, some as young as five perhaps.
All the Badgers were quiet. Muldoon asked, "What do you want to do sir?"
Kenn thought about the mission, to rescue the Captain. The ultimatum that Commander Leonaidas broadcast was that all they were interested in was the Captain, all other contraband would be overlooked. This was to ensure cooperation, or rather minimize resistance. If they took the slaves, they would breach that ultimatium. Kenn shook his head, "There is no way a Starfleet Officer is going to leave Federation citizens behind. The Norsicans and Orions will be free to come with us but only if they are cuffed. If they come with us, we will free them later. Their choice. I cannot in good conscience leave somebody in slavery when I have the power to free them."
"Aye aye, sir."
Kenn stepped back up into the slave area. "Our mission just got tougher. We are now going to escort forty slaves out."
"What about the Captain sir?" Stickell asked.
"We gambled that he would be in a slave pit, and we did not find him. Maybe Team 1 will do better. We must take care of the immediate concern. I want you guys to start thinking on how we are going to get back. Once word gets out that we just liberated a bunch of slaves, any semblance of cooperation is going to evaporate." Kenn said.
"As though it's been a walk in the park so far." Denozzo said sarcastically.
"Stow that bilge Denozzo." Kenn snapped. "It is what it is. We are Badgers, we can do this. We will do this. We cannot leave these people behind."
The first of the slaves started coming up out of the pit. It was a human couple with a child. Kenn said to Standing Bear. "Henry, you and Stickell get scans, assign IDs to everyone. We need to keep track of who's who. Tell them all to get up on that stage. I will address them shortly."
"Aye aye, sir." The Badgers replied.
Kenn was trembling over this. He knew he was going to catch grief over this, not sure on who he was going to be in trouble, but someone is going to be mad. Probably his uncle somehow.
Once the last of the slaves was processed, Kenn said to the non-Federation slaves. "You are welcome to come with us or go on your own. This station is in chaos, no telling how long you will live outside our protection."
One Norsican said, "We won't live under your protection."
"We will do the best we can. If you stay with us, you will be handcuffed. If you go free, you go, but do not follow us, we will shoot first and ask questions later. Decide now." Kenn said.
The deliberation was short, "We leave." The Norsicans and Orions left.
Good, Kenn thought. "Ok. Chief Muldoon, set a booby trap for anyone entering the slaver's brig. I do not want them following us. Denozzo, I want a fast path back to our docking port. Weapons free guys. I do not want to lose anybody. Set phasers to kill."
"Aye aye, sir." They replied.
Kenn started shaking. Bodie walked up, "You ok sir?"
Kenn nodded, "I'm ok Cheyenne. I'm getting some unpleasant memories."
Bodie said in his slow, Western accent. "This is a good thing sir. It will work out. Watch."
Kenn smiled wanly. He sure hoped so.
