Axon Meps Personal Log Stardate 52926.8
Today is the day. Today is the culmination of one of my most important missions. I'll be honest, I have no idea how to feel. Kalces is experienced, but volatile. I still have no idea what her triggers are. She assaulted me twice, but she also tried to order me into bed. I don't know, maybe she's looking for some kind of control. When I'm around her, I feel like I'm navigating a minefield. One wrong step and I'll lose my leg. But at the same time, I can't think of anyone more qualified to handle this mission than her. She's smart, confident, and if I'm being honest, beautiful. For a Cardassian.
As far as the other members of our band of misfits, Zap might have the most potential of all of us. He's a whip smart tactician. He's even more observant than I am, which is saying a lot. That man is going places.
Dr. Razib is exactly what I expected. He's smart, creative under pressure, and a killer Tongo player. Seriously though, the man is brilliant. Starfleet has been foolish to waste his talents until now.
What's the old saying? Right, no plan survives contact with the enemy. Well, if I have to rely on anyone to make a new plan, I could do worse.
"Zap, are the modifications ready," Zatara said into the comm.
"Just finished," Zap said, "Razib, you can go ahead and bring the modified cloak online."
The Edosian tapped a few controls and the lights on the bridge dimmed. Zatara felt a slight wave of relief, even as she wondered at the aesthetic choice. Though, she supposed, it did make sense for species that were used to brighter lights. Dimmer lights would subconsciously suggest more subtle decision making.
"Kalces to Meps," she called, "Is it working? Do we look like a proper Cardassian freighter?"
Meps, who was in the runabout approximately five hundred kilometers away from the ship, responded.
"So far, so good," he said, "It looks like we pass visual inspection. Give me just a moment to run a full scan."
Meps ran every scan he could think of: antiproton beam, passive high-resolution scan, active high-resolution scan, magneton scan, multiphasic scan, subspace differential pulse, inverse tachyon pulse, etc.
All of them showed his ship as nothing more than a simple freighter. He shook his head as he once again marveled at the simple brilliance of Zap's solution.
"Meps to Kalces," he said, "We're in the green here."
"Good," his commander responded, "Dock the runabout, and we'll make our way to the rendezvous point."
Meps tapped the controls, doing as ordered.
The Classified dropped out of warp near Altier I, the planet around which orbited their destination. The planet itself had a red hue to its atmosphere. There was no known type of planet less hospitable to humanoid life than a Y class planet.
"I found the moon we're looking for," Meps announced, "Bearing three one eight mark one one four."
"Set course, full impulse" Zatara ordered, "Put us in geosynchronous orbit over the compound when we arrive."
"Aye," Zap said as he tapped his controls.
"And while he does that," Razib noted, "The rest of us should probably get changed."
A short time later, the three had returned. Meps wore a simple, dark gray suit with a high collar. Razib also had on a dark gray suit, but with an almost shall like cloth around his shoulders. Zatara, on the other hand, wore her favorite black dress. The outfit exuded power, bringing fear and reverence to all around her.
They arrived above the planet in short order. As soon as Zap announced that they had established orbit, a tone came from Meps' station.
At that same moment, Zap stood, nodding to his crewmates as he exited the bridge.
"Well," he said, "Looks like they're eager. Shall I put them on?"
"Audio only," Zatara ordered. Soon, a chime sounded, and Meps nodded at her.
"This is Lacil Nasik," she said, "I am here representing the Kardasi'or Corporation. With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"
"This is Sluck," came the slimy voice from the other end, "Why can't I see you."
"Our view screens are under repairs," she answered, using the lie she and Meps had concocted to save from having to build a program to disguise the bridge in the transmission, "I'm certainly not going to allow you the advantage of seeing me if I can't see you."
"Very shrewd," the voice said, "You are expected. I understand that you were to have three assistants with you."
"Actually," she replied, "Only two. One of my assistants is ill and won't be joining us."
"That is a shame," the voice said, dripping with false concern, "I wish them a speedy recovery. In the meantime, I've sent you the transport coordinates. A security detail and I will meet you there momentarily. I know you've already been briefed on this, but please no weapons of any kind. Lark has been a touch paranoid."
"This is a business transaction," Zatara responded curtly, "I have no need for weapons. Advocates are much more effective. We'll be down shortly."
Zap materialized about one and a half kilometers from the base of the cliff. Close enough to get to in a reasonable amount of time, but far enough away to avoid tripping any alarms at the compound. Instantly, he set off at a jog toward his destination.
The crew materialized in an enclosed transporter room, presumably somewhere in the compound. A Ferengi stood before them, flanked by two Nausicaans who had weapons trained on the group.
"Forgive the security measures," the Ferengi said, "I am Sluck. I just need to get a quick scan to ensure that there are, in fact, no weapons on your persons."
Zatara raised her chin, glaring haughtily down at the man, "You dare greet me with weapons drawn? Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?"
Meps leaned forward and whispered into her ear, "Madam, this is just a formality. We should get through this quickly so as to finish negotiations."
Zatara nodded knowingly. The two had rehearsed this bit of dialogue, knowing they wouldn't be able to fake it around Ferengi.
"Very well," she said, "Conduct your scans."
Sluck nodded and stepped forward, a scanning device in his hand. He waved it quickly over each of the three, then turned and nodded at the guards. They both holstered their weapons.
"Well, now that is out of the way," Sluck said, "Please follow me, I'll take you to the meeting room."
Zatara felt sudden alarm, but kept it off of her face. She looked to Razib, who nodded.
Razib tapped his wrist where he had hidden his comm badge, "Dr. Zalith to Zap."
Sluck stopped and turned around, "What are you doing?"
"He is the personal physician of my team," Zatara answered, "He's checking in on his patient."
"Of course," Sluck said through a smile, turning to continue leading the party, "You said one of your party was ill."
"Zap here," came the response. His voice was appropriately gravelly for someone who was supposed to be ill.
"How are you doing?" Razib asked.
"I'm resting like you told me to," he responded.
"Good," Razib said curtly, "We're being led to the meeting room right now. Once negotiations are finished and I'm back on the ship, I'll administer a small dose of caffeine to help you sleep."
Razib closed the channel.
"Caffeine to help one sleep?" Sluck asked, "That seems counterproductive."
"Zap is Auroran," Razib said, "Caffeine acts as a sedative for his race."
Zap sighed. If they were going anywhere other than to Lark's office, Zap was going to have to climb higher to get within fifteen hundred meters. He brought up a map of the compound on his sensor. Fortunately, the meeting room wasn't very far from the office, but the office was more than fifteen meters long.
"I guess I'd better pick up the pace," Zap said to himself, and resumed climbing.
Sluck guided the group into a large room with various gaudy decorations that Zatara was certain were illegal in much of the quadrant. A long table with a dozen chairs dominated the center of the room.
"Would you care for refreshments," Sluck asked, "We have the finest Kanar, imported directly from Cardassia Prime."
"That would be lovely," Zatara said.
Sluck snapped his fingers and an Orion woman, wearing nothing but a practiced smile, walked into the room with a tray with three glasses on it. Zatara, Meps, and Razib each took one. Zatara noted to herself how long Meps' gaze lingered on the servant as she walked out of the room.
Zatara strolled around the room, taking in the various works of art. She stopped at a statue that depicted a nude Cardassian woman standing over a kneeling Bajoran woman who was also nude. The Cardassian, hands on her hips, sneered down at the other woman, while the other's face held a pleading expression, her hands clasped in supplication. It appeared to be made of bone.
"Woe to the Conquered," came a voice from the other side of the room. Everyone turned to see a Ferengi in very fine Andoran silk robes standing on the other side of the room. Zatara's eyes scanned the wall behind him. Whatever door he had entered the room through was now concealed.
"It's the finest work by the great Cardassian artist Nadil Rusot," the Ferengi continued, "Supposedly it's made from the femur of a Bajoran who died processing ore on Terok Nor."
"How unfortunate," she replied, her smirk only just visible over the rim over her glass as she raised it to her lips.
Lark smirked, "Indeed. Shall we have a seat?"
He moved to the seat at the head of the table. He flared out his robes as he sat. As someone who regularly wore dresses, Zatara understood the move. She performed a similar move as she sat in the chair closest to her target. Her crew lined up dutifully behind her.
"Tell me," Lark said, "Why do you need so much pergium?"
"Is that an actual question?" Zatara asked.
Zap took a deep breath as he paused. He brought up his map of the compound. If his calculations were correct, then he should be well within range of the meeting rooms. He touched the control on his belt and the rifle appeared in his hand, transported out of the buffer. Nobody appreciated how heavy Federation rifles were, and not having to carry one this entire time had certainly allowed him to move quicker.
He moved the control on the rifle, moving the scanner through the facility. First he saw Lark's office, then a hallway. He swept to each side slightly, coming across a few bedrooms and what looked like a kitchen. The kitchen had several nude women of various species standing around and talking, as well as a Ferengi chef openly leering at them.
He zoomed in slightly more and saw the meeting room Razib had mentioned. Kalces sat at a long table, a few seats away from what he had to assume was their target. He matched the picture, but his fine robes and place at the head of the table made that even more obvious. Zap could see Meps, Razib, and an unknown Ferengi also in the room, as well as two Nausicaans.
Deciding that sooner was better than later, Zap zoomed into Lark's chest. The medical scanner took over immediately, showing where in Lark's body he was looking. Once he was in the heart, he took a breath and released it. At the end of his release, he squeezed the trigger.