Posted by Lieutenant Ka’Lissi Rosh (Chief Engineer) in Outskirts of the market

Posted by Lieutenant Kate O’Neill (Chief of Security) in Outskirts of the market
SNIP

Wiz turned to the rest of the officers. “I am the one who repairs and matches different parts and gets them working again. I have some of them in my satchel here. Don’t tell me you’re not going to do anything. I know that Starfleet doesn’t like their equipment modified. It’s against Federation Law but I am now not in Federation Space …”

GM

“Hell no, we don’t like it modified. It’s a good way to get shot or killed if you don’t know what a weapon does or even if it is a weapon because it has been modified so much,” Kate admitted freely. “That being said there are all kinds of levels of dislike when it comes to having stolen goods. If you are the one ripping them off it is grand or petty larceny. If you are selling them for profit you are either a fence or arms dealer.” Kate shrugged it off nonplussed. Her job was taking in people not judging them for what or why they did something. What did always bother her was her conscious. Stealing was wrong, however, her parents had shown her that while it was wrong, sometimes people had no options. The guy didn’t look that much younger than her. Maybe he was here not by his choice but from the hand life dealt him. The other option was that he completely chose to be here and on the other side of the law. Kate needed to find out the answer to this which would help her decide if she would lose sleep over this mission or not give this kid another thought. “So what’s your story. We are here because we were following a ship that was attacked. We met some folks from your planet and walking around the market found our refurbished stuff. What are you doing here besides the obvious.” Kate was careful not to say steal.

Lt. Kate O’Neill COS

On hearing about the ship that was being pursued, Wiz looked visibly paler. “I’m sure I don’t know anything about the ship you were chasing… “

GM

Lissi smiled. “We aren’t worried about the ship. Others are looking into that. We’re wondering how you came by the parts you are refitting for use down here. That’s all.” She smiled and took a step forward. “Look, if there is a crashed ship here, or something like that, we need to know. I’m sure there are families and officials who would be looking for it. If someone you cared about was missing, you’d want to know. Wouldn’t you?” She wasn’t sure why the crashed ship idea popped into her head. But it made sense.

Lissi
CE

Wiz was still as pale when he said, “I can’t tell you. I will be killed!”

GM

“Okay, this is where we can now step in all official-like,” Kate’s semi southern drawl was a bit more pronounced than normal. “I can personally guarantee that you will not be killed. See there is this thing called amnesty. If you ask for it, we can take you on our ship with us. We usually say no questions asked but as Lissi said, if you can give us any help to find what we are looking for it will be appreciated. It will also let us get anyone else away from who you are scared of. If you would rather stay here instead of going with us, I can promise you, Captian Calin is not going to just toss this place over his shoulder like an empty beer can when he has finished his mission. He’s a good man who believes in the principles of the Federation. Regardless of what you might have heard to the contrary, we do believe in sentient freedom and the right for people to not live in fear or oppression. I know it sounds naive and preachy but if any of us didn’t believe in it, we wouldn’t be standing here. So,” Kate asked but made sure it didn’t sound like a demand, “can you help us and we will do what we can to help you? Who are we looking for Will,” she asked gently.

Lt. Kate O’Neill COS

“What happens to me after you do your work? I have a skill which I earn my living. After I help you, no one would want to deal with me. Can you see how I am killing off my own life if I help you?” asked Wiz. He was young but he was really thinking about how he was to continue his life.

GM

Kate raised her eyebrow and nodded her agreement. Wiz was correct and bringing up something few in the Federation ever thought about. What happens when they left? The politicians wanted the populace to think it was all hunky dory roses and glory but more times than not this was not the case.

“Where’s the bar,” Kate asked the Wiz. “Most town business occurs in bar or the local watering hole instead of a town hall. Can you give me a description of the guy? We can give you a twenty minute head start. Find some reason to make contact with him. Tell him a nosy blonde is asking questions. It’s not like our arrival has been undercover but shows your loyalty to him vs us. hell tell him my name. When we enter one of two things will happen. He will bolt which gives him away or I am ask the bartender and put myself on his radar. Either way the focus is on us and not you.” Kate offered a plan that had the best possible chance of success. The fact the Wiz was even talking to them meant he had no real loyalty to his employer

“Oh and for the record, regardless of how this goes. You can still choose the amnesty route if you want. You and whoever you might not want to leave here. I give you my word. If you want on our boat we won’t shove off before you get on.”

Lt Kate O’Neill. COS

Lissi listened to Kate and smiled. The woman aught to consider being a diplomat. She wasn’t sure she would have been so nice or precise. “We both give you our word. You can either make it seem you are completely loyal to whoever it is you fear, or ask for protection and we will grant it. Either way, we can help you and those others who wasn’t to get away.” She nodded and moved up beside Kate to show her support as she wondered which way this kid would go.

Lissi
CE

“Actually,” said Wiz hesitantly, “the ship is docked several docks beside your ship.”

GM

=/\=Sir=/\= Kate’s hand immediately went to her comm badge. =/\= We have a location on the target. The ship is docked several slips beside us.=/\= Pausing for second Kate looked at Wiz. =/\=We have an informant that will require compensation of some sort for the information.=/\=Kate grimaced slightly as she spoke. Calin was a good man however a random ‘I gotta cash a check from your account but I have no idea for how much’ might involve an old fashioned sit down later. Kate gave the Wiz a thumbs up sign and Lissi a small side glance. The other officer would know Kate was not as confident felt a slight hestitancy about Calin’s reply but that was only because Liss knew her well.

Kate O’Neill

Lissi gave Kate a reassuring smile and wink. Things would work out, they always did. Lissi took a step towards their informant. “We’ll let you decide. You can go, and make up whatever story you want to maintain your ability to remain safe here, or we can take you with us. You have skills that would be useful.” She smiled and nodded to let him know she was impressed and sincere. “I’m the Chief Engineer and I mean it when I say, you would be an amazing asset to us if you wanted to be.”

She knew she was probably out of line making the offer. But in all honesty, folks asked asylum of the Federation all the time. This could simply begin as that single step and move on from there. Between training on the ship and eventually the Academy once they were close enough to Earth to offer it, this guy could make some of her already graduated Cadets and Ensigns seem like children with tinkering toys. She offered her hand and smiled, “Care to see what you can do when you aren’t scavenging?”

Lissi
CE

Wiz’s eyes lit up. He opened his bag and showed her a modified tricorder that was as sensitive as a medical tricorder but did not need an additional hand held scanner.

GM