Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in Surprising Surprises

Posted by Lazol (Chief Science Officer) in Surprising Surprises

Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in Surprising Surprises
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻
(snip)
The familiar scene of the bridge of the Opaka came into view. It wasn’t her Valkyrja but she loved that ship. And the sight of Ch’otok in his armor never failed to create a feeling of awe. He always considered himself a simple warrior and now a simple farmer. But Ch’otok may not have been high ranking, but he was elite, and the way he carried himself when he wore his armor showed that. Casela tamped down her hot headed temper and listened, very quietly. She also knew that Ch’otok wouldn’t put up with her flying off at the mouth. She’d called him so she’d better have the patience to listen. “Lazol has somehow been placed as the Chief Science Officer on the ship I’m assigned to,” she answered his question. She sent a quelling glance to Lazol. Obviously he knew her, she had the security code to contact his ship. A more appropriate question would be ‘did he trust her.’ But then she’d asked Ch’otok the same thing about him.

Ch’otok stood up and processed that he had heard Kazakor mentioned and he sighed. “Is this about Pied Piper? In the words of the Prophets you two....” He walked closer to the screen, filling more of the screen, “Casela. Lazol is the one businessman I could trust back during the time of the governor. He risked his ship and crew to help keep the village supplied and has kept working with us to this day. He has his reasons, but he donates large sums directly to the orphanage and makes sure that it’s not tracable because he doesn’t want any appreciation, he just wants the kids to have it better than he… they have it.” Ch’otok said slipping a little before he continued, “And Lazol. Casela is the closest to a patron saint of that orphanage that they have. She is their benefactor, is a primary funding source as well, and was there on the ground when the governor fell and set up the stage for a better life for those kids. She is the reason that place exists and devotes herself to keeping it safe and secure. I love and respect both of you in your own way, now get over whatever the hell is going on and work together. Whether you see it or not your missions have a very similar goal. Now if you’ll excuse me I need to not get shot out of the sky and every minute I’m on this channel the more likely they will find me through my cloak. I will let you know when I can bangwl’“

Ch’otok

There was no one she trusted more than Ch’otok when it came to Pied Piper and Caspian. If Ch’otok trusted Lazol to have their best interest at his Ferengi heart then that was good enough for her. The knife disappeared from where ever she had pulled it from. She stared at the black screen. So many questions, but ones she didn’t need answered. What she wanted to know was why he wasn’t back on Delotha by now and who was trying to shoot him out of the sky. She should never had let him go.

She turned and leaned back against her desk reappraising the DaiMon in front of her. “So you are the anonymous donor, Karra told me about.” She reached behind her for the box with the knife she’d had him acquire. She walked over and placed it on the table, reaching just far enough to hint at a bow of respect. “I was going to have Karra sell that for the orphanage. You’ll get a better price.”
Lt. Synthi-er

Lazol, though still fuming, was relieved to know that Ch’otok approved of Casela and he took a gulp as he nodded in understanding at her slight bow and upon grabbing the box he returned the bow before sitting back down. “Karra would have gotten a fine price herself. She is one of the best negotiators I have ever met.” Casela would note that he didn’t say female negotiators, but that he gave no regard to gender when it came to business. A sharp mind was just that and Lazol knew well enough not to downplay someone because of what is in their pants. He took another breath and cleared his throat as he exhaled and said, “You know this changes everything now” He said with a chuckle. “I suppose I can soften how I come across because you now know that I’m not just the heartless businessman that I want everyone to think of me as. And as for you? Well I still have no idea if anything you told me about position or desire to do business was true but I can say that I have never heard Ch’otok speak so highly of anyone before and that means a great deal more to me than I can describe.” He held out his hand and said, “I suppose this new found understanding stays within these walls? As it probably should. Please feel free to ask me any question. I will answer as best as I can for you. I owe a friend of Ch’otok at least that much.”

Lazol, CSO

Casela had no use for alcohol but she did keep some for certain occasions. She unlocked another of those hidden lockers in her office, pulled out a bottle of very good and very old Romulan brandy and poured a glass for Lazol and herself. She didn’t drink, but this situation called for a mutual acknowledgement of what they had just stumbled into. She handed him a glass and then took a drink of hers and set it down. His appraisal of Karra and his obvious respect endeared him to Casela and earned another notch of respect from her as well. She was also not so full of herself to admit when she was wrong. “You have my deepest apologies, Lazol. Am I interested in power? No not really. Not that kind of power anyway. Influence, information, the power to improve the situation of those that deserve it? Yes.” She paused. Ch’otok trusted him, as much as he trusted her, maybe not for the same situations. She didn’t see Lazol as a fighter, but trust Lazol he did. And that was enough for her. “As you have built a reputation as a ruthless businessman, I have my reputation that ARU has fed you. My involvement with the orphanage on Delotha is a deeply guarded secret. That until I came to Leviathan, only Ch’otok knew. We recently retrieved an anomaly from there. I was forced to bring others and the secret spread. I come to the incorrect conclusion that someone had betrayed them and that you were here for less than honest means.” She’d already apologized and wouldn’t repeat it. He’d accept it or not.

Lazol grabbed the glass and took a drink after Casela had, a show of respect as he placed the box on the table between them. He leaned to one side after putting his glass down and leaned on his left arm, rubbing his chin with his hand as he was about to make a claim that would set him apart from other Ferengi, especially anyone that Casela would have worked with. “I thank you for your apology, and do know that I have the utmost understanding of why you would think that. Often when it comes to business it is the simplest answer that is most often true and you saw me as a ruthless businessman who wants nothing more than profit and uses anomalies to do that. It is logical that, should one of your team be open to a bribe or two it is most understandable as to how I would have gotten that information. I will trust the reputation that has been fed to me unless you wish to change that.”

“Now as for your reputation on board. That is up to you. I have no desire to ruin any covers you might require. It will stay within this office. And it is highly secured. No record was taken and no one can listen in. As for questions, I would not dishonor Ch’otok by asking them. Am I curious? Most assuredly. Will I ask? No, that is your business, just as I have mine. Should you find the desire to divulge I am here and will not break that confidence. Should, at any time, you require help concerning whatever it is, I will stand in Ch’otok’s stead if you need it. You are welcome to ask questions, I can not promise to answer them all. I have orders that even my CO in S31 doesn’t know about, but I will not lie to you even if I can not answer. Now as for the business end of things I suggested, that is very much true. We have found that others are more than willing to pay us to remove anomalies. And Leviathan, even as the flag ship of ARU has to find it’s own means of getting materials.”
Lt. Synthi-er, removing foot from mouth

Lazol sat back upright and exhaled through pursed lips. He cleared his throat and said, “I appreciate your, shall we say, discretion. Perhaps at a later date once the dust of these revelations have settled I will share with you the exact reason why I hunt these anomalies and how Ch’otok plays into that. As will I not ask because I too want to uphold his honor. Perhaps in the future I can be of a similar role to you should you find the desire. My confidence too is secure.” He said as he had worked with S-31 operatives in the past, knowing them to be of a looser moral code than most humans would like to admit but he didn’t find any issue with it at all. “Now I am a Ferengi after all and mentioning that idea of being paid to remove anomalies? As well as selling the research and more benign ones perhaps? Oh you know how to make my lobes tingle. While I am a wealthy man I do have to say I have less than free access than I did on my ship. I think that we will need to be careful how we go about it, I’m not sure your Captain Cobb fully approves of my methods quite yet.”

Lazol, CSO