Episode I: Reconstruction

[OOC] Various comments

C5: I think you can pretty much plant your character on a starship and wing it into the Pheben system any time you like. Matt has been giving us carte blanche to establish details and move this "prologue" along. We've not even passed the first full commercial break, at this juncture.

David: I don't want to steal your thunder, as I'm only the XO on this boat, but I can advance the story in your absence if you want to send me a "briefing". I'll keep things from bogging down. :)

Gandalf, simkn: I got the CO and XO to the brig, so you can feel free to jump into the dialogue at any time. Just because there is a forcefield between our characters doesn't mean we can't interact.

"Is this how you greet all your new shop owners captain? By plucking them out of thin air by transporters and depositing them in holding cells? Its amazing you hu-mons have made any friends out here with those manners."

O'Riley looks at his first officer after the Ferengi spoke and asked her " Were we expecting company so soon, number one?"

O.O.C.: Guys I want to appoligize (sorry if the spelling is wrong) for not posting for awhile... I've been in kind of a bummer mood lately and haven't fealt like posting. But I'm ok now since I just got a new drafting job.. they're giving me a week trial to see how I do, so hopefully I'll do well.

"No sir," Meredith said with a stern grin. "It was my understanding that seasonal tourism was not expected to resume for at least another year or two."

Meredith stepped to the very edge of the forcefield perimeter, her voice taking a more menacing tone as her eyes locked onto the Ferengi's. "Odd that a Ferengi would fail to take local market conditions into consideration before setting up shop, is it not? If shop-keeping is indeed your business here."

"Being the first with his foot in the door, regardless of conditions, makes much more business sense. As I was in this region and heard of the opportunity, I booked myself a one-way ticket and took the chance that I'd be the first one here."

Meredith scowled. "Of precisely what sort of 'opportunity' did hope to avail yourself, Mister...? And from whom did you hear of it?"

"I'm a Ferengi, where do you think I heard it? The opportunity for profit; buying and selling of wares, the usual way of earning a living. Besides, with barely having anything aboard the station, you may need someone who can get things... for a small finder's fee, of course," Lumok says with a toothy smile.

"Yes, you are indeed a Ferengi," Meredith growled, "which is why I trust neither your motives nor your explanation." She strode back to where Cmdr. O'Riley stood and whispered. "Sir, I recommend we hold this so-called 'entrepreneur' until the Klingons arrive. I think the threat of Klingon interrogation techniques may loosen his tongue."

Commander O'Riley looked at Lt. Cmdr. Davies and motioned for her to come to the side of the brig. "I think we need to be careful here Merideth, so we don't cross that thin red line of violating their civil rights.... " Corbin says at a whisper. "We must stay within regulations for so if there is a case to be made against them it will stick in court."

"Sir, I was not suggesting anything of the sort. I merely thought our 'guest' may be more communicative were the Klingons here and he understood that it is they who are handling Security. I am certain the Klingons will insist we hand him over, and be equally insistant that no Ferengi has withstood interrogation by a Klingon. I am also certain that, given the choice, our 'guest' would rather cooperate with us than face someone whose precision with a knife borders on the surgical. The Klingons appreciate stratagem; they will gladly follow our lead, if only to watch the Ferengi squirm. And if he still refuses to come clean," A sly grin crossed Meredith's face. "we can always actually hand him over to the Klingons."

"Clearly since no one is willing to come to my defense, I will give you two things to consider before you arbitrarily decide my fate... First, where is your famous compassion and capacity for understanding? As I believe your laws are 'Innocent Until Proven Guilty'."

"Second, I fear no Klingon p'tahk," Lumoks says with ire raised, spitting the epithet of his enemy with ease. "One has already claimed the life of my father and nearly my own in a cheap show of treachery. Your idle threats do not concern me in the least. And if you require proof of that, I can readily give it to you."

"We have an old saying, back on Earth where I come from: 'You are more likely to meet a faerie than an innocent Ferengi.' At the least, you can expect to remain incarcerated while we investigate the veracity of your claims."

Meredith turned away from the Ferengi and stepped before the cell in which the Andorian was held. "And what is your story?"

Utterly outraged at the disrespect, Lumok seethes. With a deft hand, he pulls out the d'k tahg that killed his father, clicked the blades open, and jammed it into the floor of the holding cell. "Is that proof enough for you??!"

Meredith glared over her shoulder in disgust at the Ferengi's tantrum. "Thank you. You have just given me probable cause to warrant placing you under arrest as a potential threat to the Klingon members of this station's complement. In light of your outburst, your presence here is even more suspect than before." She turned, gestured to Lt. Moreau. "Retrieve the weapon and have a full spectrum of forensic exams run on it. Have the report on my desk by 0800 tomorrow. Do the same for the disruptor, and have the contents of his PADD decrypted."

[OOC] Farewell...

Four and five-day gaps between posts do not make for much of a game and, as no one other than GandalfOfBorg and I has posted much (despite taking roles that in theory should require frequent posting), I am going to formally bow out. 'Twas fun while it lasted...