Meeting Captain Xaviar
Posted on Sun Jun 9, 2013 @ 10:01pm by Fleet Captain Rhea Kennit & Sebastian Xaviar & Lieutenant Commander Miguel Torres
4,521 words; about a 23 minute read
Mission:
Refit and Reorganization
Location: USS Victory
Timeline: 62495.253 {Mon, 19 Nov 2384 14:27}
Entering the Transporter Room with Lt. Deveraux, the Captain gave a quick nod in greeting to the transporter tech and asked, "Is our guest ready to come aboard?"
From behind the control console, the tech answered "Aye Captain, we just received confirmation. Captain Sebastian Xaviar, commanding the MV Nevada is awaiting our transport."
"Well then by all means," Kennit replied. "Lets not keep Captain Xaviar waiting any longer. Energize.."
A moment passed, then the familiar humm of the transporter filled the room accompanied by a blue/white sparkle which coalesed into the tall, lean figure of a man. Dressed in neat, and expensive civilian clothing, dark skinned with a clean shaven head Captain Sebastian Xaviar turned and looked at the two officer's awaiting his arrival.
Stepping forward, Kennit said "Captain Xaviar. I am Captain Kennit, commanding officer of the U.S.S. Victory. Welcome aboard.."
"I don't seem to have had much choice.." Xaviar answered as he stepped down from the transporter pad, his eyes sweeping over the female Starfleet officer in an appreciative, if somewhat decidedly inappropriate manner.
"You always have a choice Captain," Kennit replied. "You simply made the wise one in this case.. please.. if you'll come with me and my Intelligence Officer, Lieutenant Valen Devereaux to a conference room just down the passageway where we can all sit down and discuss why you've been brought aboard."
Xaviar nodded once, with a little bow as he said (with a definite sly smile), "By all means Captain.. lead the way.."
Feeling the man's eyes on her as she walked ahead of him, allowing Valen to follow up and make sure that their 'guest' stayed on course, she reached the conference room and entered, walking to take a seat at the table where a tray with coffee and tea had been set out by a yeoman only moments earlier. Before taking her seat, she said "If you'd like come coffee, or perhaps a cup of tea.. help yourself." Then proceeded to pour herself a cup of coffee and then took a seat.
"Don't mind if I do.." Xaviar replied, pouring himself a cup of coffee then picking a seat, dropping down into it and leaning back with the air of a man who was enjoying himself. Taking a sip, he said "Good brew.. Starfleet pampers it's crews I see.."
"The best.. for the best.." Kennit responded.
"They certainly pick beautiful women to command their ships.." Xaviar replied smoothly. "Keep the crew happy in all respects.. I know I would be a happy boy under you.."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't rise to his obvious attempts to fluster her with inappropriate remarks.
"It's intriguing. The last time a Federation ship checked this system, it's inhabitants were still a pre-warp capable society. Two years later, and they have suddenly acquired warp capable starships which are alarmingly similar to the first warp capable ships used by the Federation. Alarmingly similar.." she said again. "SO much so that our computer systems initially identified them as being NX Class ships, only upon a much more detailed scan were differences attributed to the Ithurian civilization identified. A somewhat troubling discovery, as Federation law is quite clear on the matter of non-interference with pre-warp societies... Yet somehow they have obtained obsolete but still quite viable Federation technology.."
"A travesty.." Xaviar answered. "Which is why I'm here. From what I understand, since obtaining those ships by.. however means.. the resulting war between the major powers on the planet has left civilian populations in dire need of medical supplies, food.. When the Ithurians encountered one of my other shipping vessels and asked for help.. well there was no reason not to arrange for a business transaction. After all.. they aren't pre-warp anymore.. I've broken no laws.."
"I didn't say you had.." Kennit answered with a little smile. "However, since you bring it up. You have to admit.. it is somewhat curious that your ship arrives carrying supplies, to a star system which is legally still off-limits for contact and readily admit to having arranged for a business transaction with the Ithuiran governments here and yet, you neglected to follow the law and report to the Federation that the civilization here has acquired warp capability and that they contacted you.. Why didn't you report it?"
Leaning back in his seat, Xaviar just gazed at both officers with a bored look on his face. "Last time I looked, it wasn't my job to determine when, where or how a civilization obtained it's ships. I don't really care where they got them, I did notice that the ships look like something out of an old historical vid but that's not my concern. I'm a simple, civilian merchant trying to make a living. They wanted to do business.. that's all I cared about. The rest is more for the Boy and Girl Scouts of Starfleet to worry about.."
For her part, Kennit laughed at Xaviar's comment which prompted the man to turn his gaze on her curiously. "Did I say something funny?" he asked.
"I've been called many things in my career Captain Xaviar," she answered. "But never have I been compared to or accused of being a Girl Scout. That one is a first.."
The Captain shook her head almost woefully as she spoke her next words, "But, be that as it may. Due to the situation unfolding here in this system, I am afraid that before I can allow your ship to continue further I am going to have to send a security detail over to search your ship for any indication that you are selling or trading Federation technology to the Ithurian people."
"The hell you are!" Xaviar snapped, rising from his seat with enough force to send the chair skittering back with a clatter. "I've done nothing wrong here and have broken no laws.."
Kennit's voice was only slightly stronger than her words of just a moment prior, however the tone of her voice was unyielding as she said, "Sit DOWN Captain Xaviar.. now. Do not force me to call for security .. I would much prefer to keep our meeting on calm, professional terms but I am quite willing to change the situation if you so desire.."
Xaviar remained standing for a long moment, the anger in his expression plain to see. Slowly he sat down, contempt in his reply "With a ship like this.. I don't have much choice.. do I?"
She almost smiled, "No Captain Xaviar.. you do not."
She looked at Deveraux, "Mr. Deveraux, if you would be so kind as to arrange for the galley to bring our guest something to eat. I would prefer that he remain here while the security team conducts their sweep of his vessel."
"Sit back, relax and enjoy the break." Kennit advised a furious Xaviar. "As soon as the security sweep is completed, so long as no contraband or illegal items are found you will be free to go."
A security officer was outside waiting, and at the Captain's nod as she prepared to exit, moved into the room to stand silent watch by the door to insure their guest stayed put.
Tapping her comm badge once she had left the small briefing room behind, Kennit tapped her combadge as she walked and said "Kennit to Bridge."
"Bridge here Captain."
"I want a security team in the transporter room in 15 minutes. We're going to conduct a sweep of that freighter out there to look for illegal contraband." she ordered.
"Aye Captain, I'll inform Lt. Cmdr. Bishop.." came the quick response.
Transporter Room
Within five minutes, plus a few seconds, an armed VBSS (Visit, Board, Search & Seizure) stood armed and ready in the transporter room. Bishop soon joined them in his gear and gave the nod to the transporter chief, telling him to beam the first search unit aboard the frieighter.
"Chalk Two," Bishop says into his Comm, "you guys ready in the shuttle in case they pop a pod?"
"Yes sir, we're spun up and ready," responds Warrant Officer Trask.
Bridge
"Any word from the XO?" she asked then.
"None yet Captain," she was told.
"Very well.. continue to monitor the system and advise me immediately if anything changes.. Kennit out."
Torres activated the comm from the center seat since he had been placed in command by the Captain before she went for her meating. "Captain by any chance would you be requiring the services of your Chief Engineer on this inspection?" He had been bored out of his mind sitting on the bridge waiting for something to happen. But as always he had no fun when he was up here.
Hearing him, she paused a moment as she waited for the 'lift and then answered, "That depends Chief.. what do you think you can do to help search that ship if you join the away team?"
"You mean besides boundless enthusiasm for the goal of the search? I can add my experience not just as an engineer but also my experience of working on several freighters for the past few years. And some of them weren't exactly sticklers for following the law if you know what I mean."
"Is that a fact.." she responded with a drawl. "All right Chief. . since I know from that tone in your voice if I don't let you go along you'll find a way to exact revenge and do something like.. shut off the hot water to my shower... Be in the transporter room with your gear and do not be late.."
Miguel smiled since he knew he'd never shut off the hot water in her shower. Maybe he'd change it to spray her with BBQ sauce, but he wouldn't shut it off. He put the Lieutenant at helm in command as he got up and made his way to the turbolift. The away team was to gather in just under 13 minutes now in the transporter room. He had just enough time to get his gear and report in the transporter room.
Transporter Room
As Miguel entered the transporter room he couldn't help but feel a few goose bumps forming on his arms. It had been more than several years since he had been on an away mission. And even though he was just heading over to another ship it would be good to get off of the Victory for awhile.
The Captain turned as the doors to the transporter room entered, making a show of leaning over the transporter console to take a look at the current time for a moment then, after determining that he had indeed arrived within the proscribed time limit she turned back and just smiled a little at him.
"Well alright then, now that we're all present and accounted for.." Kennit said, walking towards the transporter pad where she took position. "As soon as the rest of you fine gentlemen take your places we can get going.."
As the other members of the away team took position on the transporter pad, the Captain said "All right, now remember... we're searching for indications that the crew of that freighter are carrying illegal technology and information to the Ithurian governments allowing the substantial jump in technological advancements which we've discovered here. It won't be just out in the open.. so keep your eyes open." she said. "Ensign Yarin," the Captain added. "I want you to quietly scan that ship as we perform the search. Check for hidden cargo spaces tucked into the bulkheads or floor panels.. the odds are if they are trafficking in illegal information they've got it on small data chips which have been secreted away and will be hard to find. Mr. Torres, your expertise with freighters will come in handy to help identify anything unusual as well..."
Miguel nodded and took out his tricorder. He had learned much from some of the freighter captains while he was on extended leave in the Bajoran system. Many of them would have special compartments in order to hide things of questionable legality. But then there were few that had the resources and would use certain types of radiation that would block scans which would force inspection teams to look with their eyes and that’s usually when things got missed. But what made this one even harder was that it didn’t necessarily need to be an item it could just be information.
Yarin transported to the freighter with the rest of the Away Team. once there, he quietly began to scan the minds of its crew searching for anything that was not on the official schematics. Once that was done he used his tricorder to find the items in question. They were a series of small data chips just like the Captain had suggested. He quickly walked over to Torres, "I believe I have found something Lt. Cmdr," he said showing him the chips.
“Alright let’s see what you have there.” Miguel said as he looked at the chips the new officer had brought him. He didn’t detect anything unusual from the chips themselves, that is except for the fact that they were high capacity chips. Chips that usually isn’t needed by a freighter crew. “Have you had a chance to look and see what was on them?” Miguel asked the Nyac.
Yarin stared at the chips in his six fingered hand for a brief period, "I am not detecting anything odd about the heat signatures nor is there any sort of harmful radiation present. He said as his skin turned a contemplative shade of purple. "However I believe the most prudent course of action would be for me to return to the Victory where I can analyze the content of these chips more thoroughly."
Miguel tapped his combadge. "Captain this is Torres. Mr. Yarin might have found something and is requesting to return to the Victory for further analysis."
"Granted.." she answered. "What have you got.. give me a quick report.."
Miguel looked up at the alien officer and nodded to him indicating that he could go about what he needed to do. He then went on to report what he had thus far uncovered which was really a whole lot of nothing and that Yarin's discovery was probably the best lead they had. Miguel was already thinking that if this Captain Xavier was hiding something he had hidden it extremely well.
While listening, she didn't notice that the crew of the freighter were shifting position, cutting her off from the door to the passageway..and the other members of the away team...
"Sure will as soon as you do Captain. Not leaving anyone behind, the data I have isn't going anywhere." Alec answered, all traces of bantering gone.
"XO the sooner that data is aboard the sooner we get some answers.. I'm going to be here a bit longer to complete the search." the Captain answered.
Victory
Yarin stepped off the transporter pad walking quickly to Science Station 1 nearly toppling into a dark skinned female human Lieutenant. "Forgiveness please," he yelled as he ran past. After arriving at the station Yarin took the computer chips he found and plugged them into the computer terminal and as the data appeared on the screen his six eyes widened in surprise, he taped his combage with one of his four arms. "Commander Kennit I have something I think you'll want to see."
"I'm fine!" Aliyani Kalikona'i shouted after the...her thoughts stopped and she blinked. "Did that er man have four arms?" Shaking her head she continued on her way. She'd yet to meet any of the crew but she'd only managed to go through a part of the crew's manifest to date. "Note to self--go over manifest asap."
Frieghter
Answering his hail, she replied "Kennit here.. go ahead Ensign."
Victory
"The data on the chips I recovered they are planetary coordinates leading to the planet Mag'Rothia in the Fraxus system. What are your orders Commander?" Yarin asked.
Frieghter
"Enter the information into the ship's computer and hold for now.. we're not finished here just yet.." she told him.
Freighter
"We should be back aboard inside of 20 minutes time," the Captain told him. "Once you've loaded the data give the chip to Mr. Davenport for further analysis, see what else he might be able to find for us.. There's two more cargo bays aboard this ship which need to be..." There was a short, odd sound and then the transmission cut out ..
By the time the communication from Yarin had come through Miguel and his team had entered one of the two cargo bays that still needed to be searched. He was damn disappointed that they hadn't found anything yet. His gut was still telling him that Xavier was no good, but so far they hadn't been able to prove it.
Victory
"Captain, Commander?!" Yarin asked turning a concerned shade of pinkish yellow. He tapped his communicator while simultaneously entering in the planetary coordinance into the ship's computer "Transporter room try to get a lock on the Captain and the Commander." While this was going on he telepathically sent out a message to Torres Lieutenant Commander I have lost contact with the Captain and Commander, do you see them?
Lieutenant JG Cael Maz looked over the helm station on the bridge. "Sir," he looked over to Lt. Davenport, "We are reading new data input into the navigational computer. It appears to be coming from the Science station."
Davenport nodded, "It's all right Lt. Maz. The data is being ported over at the Captain's orders from Mr. Yarin.."
Maz nodded, "Understood. Just keeping you apprised of the situation. Standing by for orders and holding position."
"Thank you Mr. Maz, it is appreciated.." Davenport replied.
The comm chimed then, "Transporter Room One to Bridge. This is Chief Rollins.. I'm unable to get a transporter lock on the away team at this time.. It looks like someone on that freighter activated a transport inhibitor in the same section of the ship.."
"Damn it.." Davenport muttered. Then, "Bridge to Commander Hunter. Sir.. we've lost contact with the Captain and the rest of the away team.. are you able to pick up their locations on the freighter? It appears our sensors are being jammed.."
Freighter
Miguel wasn't sure what he had just felt. It was as if he had been speaking to himself in his mind but not only did he know that it wasn't him, somehow he knew that it was actually Ensign Yarin. Some how the young officer was speaking to him telepathically. of course he was surprised that the new officer could do that, especially since most of the telepaths he had ever met needed to at least be in line of sight. "What was it the voice said?" he asked himself quietly. he then tapped his combadge. "Torres to Kennit?"
When the comms went out, Katrijn frowned and tapped her comm badge again, "Kennit to Bridge. Kennit to Bridge do you read?"
When no reply came back, she turned as she muttered "what the hell is go..." The Captain's surly complaint was drawn short, turning into a started yelp as she twisted to one side, trying to avoid the rather large and dirty fist heading her way.. the blow missed being a direct straight-on impact but still gave her a good ringing blow to the cheek that snapped her head back and to the right..
She staggered slightly from the surprise punch, recovering fast to come back with a fierce left-right combo punch then closed on her attacker and grabbed him by his greasy hair and pulled his head down hard, driving her right knee up to slam into his forehead with a muted 'crunch'..
As soon as Miguel didn't get an answer from the Captain he looked at his tricorder and saw that they were being jammed. The only reason to jam them was if there were something in these last two cargo bays. He motioned to one of the guards he was with and then within a few moments they had stunned the freighter crew members that were in this bay. After all what good was it to head out and rescue the Captain if you left your back open to attack. Once the stunned crew members were secured Miguel and his team moved out to the other bay. "Yarin I don't know if you can receive this, but here's hoping." He thought to himself. Since he wasn't a telepath he had no idea about range or if the young Ensign could pick up his thoughts. "Communications are blocked, unable to contact the Captain. But me and my team are heading to her last known location."
USS Victory
Yarin rushed to the bridge and relaid the message he received from Torres to Lieutenant Davenport. Listening, all Davenport could do was curse softly, "Yellow alert! Raise shields and advise the freighter's crew they have exactly two minutes before we take action to recover our Captain by force.."
"Aye sir!" the comms officer answered, relaying the message as ordered.
Aboard the Freighter
Dropping the very stunned and out of fight goon to the deck, the Captain promptly kicked the man.. HARD! Eyes rolling back in his head, the ill-fated freighter crewman passed out however, three more of his buddies thus having been inspired by the indignity of seeing their crew mate so resoundingly embarrassed by a human female decided to join the fray at this point.
Turning to face them, the Captain didn't flinch.. charging forward and decking the smaller of the three by grabbing hold of his shoulder and using the momentum of her rush to slam him into the bulkhead however, this gave the other two a chance to get behind her.. one of them wrapping his beefy arms around her from behind and lifting her smaller and lighter frame bodily up off her feet..
The door that separated her from the corridor opened and Miguel and his team came in phasers pointed. They didn't ask any questions and came in firing. Of course this caused the large man holding his Captain to drop her instantly. However instead of the good Captain of the Victory hitting the steel deck and bruising lord knows what she landed safely into the arms of Torres who had slid across the deck and caught her. "I guess you needed our help after all."
Over his shoulder she spied the last remaining member of the trio of attackers coming at them with a large, heavy looking tool of some sort in his hand.. "Look out!"
Pushing Torres to her left, she ducked to the right and narrowly missed having her bell rung by a rather impressively sized torque wrench which sailed past her left ear with enough speed to generate a quick hiss as it slashed through the space where her skull had been just milliseconds before. She twisted to one side, lashing out with a booted foot and swept his legs out from beneath him sending the freighter crewman to the deck however, even as he feel he reached out with a hand and grabbed her by the ankle as she kicked him and in so doing, brought her crashing to the deck. Pain exploded in her nose as a consequence of a face-first dive to the deck plates.. for an instant she saw stars but instinct still worked, her free leg kicking hard to catch her would-be captor in the face with two, three..four hard kicks until she felt his hold on her drop away at which point the Captain scrambled back fast, broken nose bleeding freely while shouting "Don't just stand there STUN HIM!"
Miguel looked at the man who was practically unconscious as it was after the beating the Captain had just given him. He shrugged his shoulders and fired his phaser at the man stunning him. He then looked back up at the Captain. "Are you alright?"
"What do you think.." she snapped in response to his query regarding her health, "My nose is broken!"
Though it sounded more like "Wud do you thig? 'By node id brok'n!"
Miguel did his best to restrain the laugh that wanted to come out as he looked at her nose without touching it. "Yep it's broken alright."
The look in her eyes (which were starting to bruise from the broken nose) left no doubt she was fully aware that he was holding back a laugh. "Gid secu'ty t'roun' up these gorillas and lock 'em in th'brig.." (Get security to round up these gorillas and lock them in the brig)." she ordered. "My whole face hurts.."
Torres simply motioned to the men and watched them begin to do as the Captain had stated.
Elsewhere:
Sitting in his fighter, it was all Alec could do to keep from going through the cockpit canopy. "WHAT!? Let me see if I can raise the Captain." Switching frequencies to match Rhea's com badge, "Hunter to Kennit, come in please Captain." Silence was his answer, he repeated his request and again got no reply. So he addressed the freighter. "This is Commander Alec Hunter. Let me speak to Captain Kennit NOW!"
No reply came for several moments, finally over the general comm came the Captain's somewhat.. muffled and oddly muffled sounding voice. "Kennit to Victory.. We need immediate transport .. I need security standing by to take three prisoners into custody.."
Hearing Rhea's voice even muffled but Hunter somewhat at ease. He was still tempted to blast the freighter into space dust and would do at the slightest provocation but for now it continued to exist.
"Hunter to Captain, are you alright? Do you require assistance?"
Freighter
Grimacing at the way her face was throbbing, between the punch and the nose the adrenaline rush was fading and her legs were starting to feel rubbery as she held a cloth which had been handed to her from someone against her face gingerly, trying to at least semi-control the blood currently streaming from her face she touched her comm badge and finally answered her XO who, she knew, was likely not waiting too patiently for a reply.. "Kennit t' Hunter. Headin' back t' Victory in just a momen'.. gonna need a stop in sickbay .. got my node broken.."
"Good to he..... WHAT!? You got your node broken?" His voice full of concern for her. He would pamper her later when they were alone. Give her some extra special TLC.
"I'll see you in sickbay Captain."
"Rog'r th't.." she muttered through the cloth at her nose, "Kennit out."
Then, nodding at Torres she said "Time to go.."
Miguel nodded and then tapped his combadge. "Torres to Victory bring me and the Captain back." he ordered.
A momentary pause, then "Roger that. Initiating transport.."
RSS Feed