Chapter III: Reunited

Cass takes a deep breath. "Okay, just be aware that we could have action from the spectators once they see use of the transporters. That will probably be a tip-off that slugs aren't running the show. Stand by to beam over security teams to the bridge of the pirate ship the instant their shields are down. The priority is maintaining control of the ship."

Unmuting her comm to the pirate ship, she starts speaking very quickly. "Okay, enough cuteness already. Zephyr, it's me, in case you really are that clueless and didn't recognize my voice. If not, then it's too bad you can't bluff like that on poker night, because you'd still have that vintage Magic 8 Ball I won from you last week.

"Here's the deal: you need to lower the shields right now so I can beam over reinforcements from the Potential to mop up the rest of the parasite people and maintain control of that ship. There are other ships watching from a distance that I believe will become very involved once it's clear that I'm not actually one of them. And I don't know whether they can actually hear the content of this communication, so those shields need to come down sooner rather than later. Questions? No? Good. Drop the shields."

Yay for plain speech. I think we should drop the shields and get some backup. I don'tlike our odds here.

Kendall is fired up. She cracks her neck, then remembering that she’s leading a group, says, "Stay frosty, peeps! Remember what I taught you."

She grips her phaser in her hand, ready to assault.

"Commander Darcy, I need you to send photos of anyone that I shouldn’t kill."

Ah, Lass, why don’t I go with’cheh? If tha Lieutenant Commander’ll have it.

"I'm still not sure if its her. Hmm, let me consult my magic 8 ball."

Zephyr shakes it furiously for a moment.


"Ok that's definitely Commander Cassano. I agree with Lorq."

Is that some form of a captive psychic lifeform?

Alex's eyebrows disappear into her hairline. Without looking at Zephyr, Alex says blandly, "She seems like quite a woman, your captain. This ought to be interesting. Hope she's really ready."

She opens the comm again and looks at Lorq while she counts. "Shields to go down in 10... 9... 8..."

When she reaches the end of her countdown, she points at Lorq to lower the shields.

The instant Mezron indicates the shields are down, Cass says, "Darcy, beam over the security teams now."

Here goes something.

Lorq mutters under his breath.

Merengi rule of acquisition number 288 says...never ger into anything you can't get out of. I hope I am not breaking that.

Kendall, once materialized, steps up to the one in the captain’s chair, phaser not drawn, clutching her "pen" in one hand and the back of the neck of the skipper in the other. She doesn’t squeeze, but holds it firmly as she says, "Now, no funny business. Everyone take a step away from your consoles slowly, and no one will get hurt."

Moira smiles.

Ah'll be yer eyes an' ears around tha Kendall Lass. How's that?

She leaves her comm link open, but set to record and output a written transcript to her datapad for Darcy and Cassano.She remembers.....well, honestly, she remembers more about the bar fights in her youth than she does about her formal security training. Part of her is too stressed to not want to see the away team alive and well firsthand. Part of her wants to punch a slug in the disgusting mouth. So she goes willingly, breathing a deep sigh of relief when she sees the uniformed Spacefleet officers on the Bridge.

And, of course, tenses up again immediately when Kendall goes into "attack mode."