Chapter 68: Bargaining
May 2415
“Two bricks.”
“Bricks? Do we look like a latinum transport?” the young Lieutenant in his neatly pressed Imperial Romulan uniform spoke to the Ferengi on the viewscreen.
“My dear Romulan,” the Ferengi replied with a wicked grin, “you look like someone very far from home, with very specific needs.”
He was right. The rather dated little T’Varo warbird drifted along, largely disabled. The battle in which she received her damage was weeks behind, and her fleet violently disbanded.
To the crew of the IRW Liefvi, the promises of hope and a better future that they’d wagered their very lives on seemed little more than a distant memory, largely replaced by more practical concerns of survival.
“Give it to him.” The third, quiet voice came from the Commander’s chair. Previously eerily still and silent, the source of the instruction was easily distinguished from the rest of the bridge crew by her relaxed civilian attire and faded red hair. The Lieutenant quickly nodded, before moving back to his station and arranging the payment for the vitally needed replacement components.
Once the viewscreen was clear of the smug Ferengi face, and once the ship’s engineering teams were hard at work making repairs, the woman slid down from the command chair and headed off into the ready room without so much as another word. A scowling Centurion, likely Liefvi’s ranking officer, quickly followed.
“Subcommander,” he barked as soon as the door slid shut.
“Not anymore,” she replied immediately as she eased herself down onto the sparsely decorated room’s small couch.
The Centurion’s scowl only intensified, “Regardless. Kirina. We are going to need supplies and latinum if we are to complete the mission. It would not be difficult. My team can have that ship secured and the cargo brought aboard before the drive repairs are complete.”
“No. There’ll be no more death.”
“But for the mission we’ll be re-…”
“There is no mission, Centurion.” The man simply stared as Kirina continued, “Commander Mandukar is going to spend the rest of her life in a Republic prison, and that’s probably a blessing. Once we reach the next sector, you and your crew will use the shuttles to return home. You may tell your superiors that you were forced to abandon your ship and it will be the truth.”
Apparently appalled at the notion, the Centurion scoffed, “We will do no such thing! We stand by our decision to join the cause. Besides. I doubt you could operate the ship alone.”
Kirina smiled at the man’s determination, but shook her head, “No. The cause is not worth all your lives.” She paused, though the Centurion seemed determined not to accept this answer. She milled about the room a bit before formulating her response, “If there are volunteers to stay, I will allow the minimum needed to operate the ship. But you will take the majority back to their homes. And you will see to it that they resume their lives without penalty.”
The Centurion stood for a moment, considering, before bowing his head in acceptance.