The deal- daydream part two

“All right, people,” Badger said as soon as they were gone. “While we’re waiting, I would welcome any suggestions you may have in case we have to get out of here fast. Lieutenant S. Reed, keep an eye on those ships around us. Ensign Hills, prepare a coded message to Starfleet Command relaying our position and a request for assistance. We’ll send it if we end up having to fight. The USS Voyager should be in the Gamma Quadrant somewhere nearby.”

“Yes, Commander.” Hills immediately got to work.

“Lieutenant J. Reed,” Badger continued, giving orders as they occurred to her. “See what you can find out about the make of the pirate vessels. Look for weaknesses we can exploit. Lieutenant Duenas, load torpedoes and be ready to raise shields.”

Duenas and J. Reed set about their tasks.

Badger paced the bridge, too restless to sit. She noticed her nervousness spreading around the room and forced herself to sit in her chair, going over the controls for the USS Ranger, the Magellan’s remote-controlled starship. The Ranger was equipped with light weaponry only; it was intended for use more as a science vessel. But it could still be of some use in a fight.

“Commander, if the negotiations fail, how will we recover Captain Springer and Admiral Djurich?” Lieutenant J.G. Garner asked.

Badger hesitated. “If we’re lucky, we’ll be able to beam them back to the Magellan, or Mad Dog will do the honorable thing and return them to us.”

“And if the pirate keeps them prisoner and raises his shields to block the transporters?”

“Then we may have to leave them behind.”

There was a stir in the crew. Badger stood to address them.

“I don’t like that idea any more than you do,” she said firmly. “We’ll do our best to recover them from Mad Dog, but if all five of his ships attack at once, we can’t hang around hoping to rescue our people.”

“Suggestion, Commander!” Lieutenant J. Reed called from the counterintelligence station. “I could program a sensor probe to follow the Dragon. Then we’ll be able to track the flagship and hopefully rescue them later.”

“Good idea, but I doubt Mad Dog would miss something as large as a probe following him,” Badger said. “However, the Ranger has small trackers for keeping tabs on interesting phenomenon. Lieutenant A. Springer, would it be possible to boost the tracker’s transmitting range?”

Springer looked up from the duty engineer station. “Probably.”

“Go to the hangar on Deck 3 and do what you can with a tracker. If you are able to boost more than one, do so and let me know the final count.”

“On my way, Commander.” Springer saluted and left his station for the turbolift. Lieutenant W. Springer, the Magellan’s structural damage control officer, moved to fill in at his station, monitoring and adjusting the ship’s power.

Badger turned her attention to the other damage control officer. “Lieutenant Henrie, is warp drive back online yet?” The pirates had damaged the Magellan’s engines prior to surrounding the station with ships.

“We’re working on it, Commander,” Henrie said calmly. “It should come online in a few more minutes.”

“And the shields?”

“Second priority after warp. Right now they’re at 40 percent, but we’ll work on them next.”

“Good,” Badger said. “Let me know when both systems are operational.”

“Of course, sir.”
--
Mad Dog greeted the negotiation team personally, accompanied by three burly humanoid guards. He was less intimidating in person, partly because he stood barely five feet, seven inches tall. His appearance was balanced by his worn leather eye patch and the two gun holsters strapped across his chest. Lieutenant Commander Springer stiffened, but Admiral Djurich merely held out her hand to the pirate captain.

“I am Admiral Djurich. Thank you for welcoming us aboard your ship, Captain.”
He ignored her hand, turning to walk away instead. “We’ll talk in the conference room.”

Captain Springer and Djurich exchanged an uneasy glance before following. Mad Dog’s guards went too, surrounding the group. The lieutenant commander walked a pace behind the admiral and captain, keeping an eye on the guards even as they eyed her.

They walked a short way down one of the hallways. Mad Dog stopped short outside one of the doors and turned to face Djurich.

“We will speak alone.”

“She requires a guard,” Captain Springer said instantly. “Both of us.” He indicated himself and K. Springer.

Mad Dog glanced at the insignia on his collar and then looked him in the eye.

“Because you are captain of the DSS Magellan, I will allow you to accompany the admiral. But your chief of security is neither needed nor welcome.”

“Will you guarantee her safety if we leave her here?” Djurich demanded.

“She is your chief of security. I doubt she needs my guarantee of safety.”

“I need it.”

Mad Dog’s calm exterior faltered to reveal his irritation. “As you wish. She may remain outside the door, and I guarantee none of my people will attempt her harm.”

Djurich relaxed a little. “Then lead on.”

Captain Springer briefly squeezed his cousin’s shoulder before following Djurich and Mad Dog into the conference room. Lieutenant Commander Springer changed her position so her back was to the wall and stood at attention as the door closed. Mad Dog’s guards stayed with her. They remained silent.

Inside the room, Mad Dog and Admiral Djurich sat across from each other at a heavy oak table. Captain Springer took up a standing position just behind Djurich.

“I’m glad we ran into one another, Admiral,” Mad Dog said without preamble. His casual manner was back. “You have something I want.”

The dilithium, Djurich thought. But how can he possibly know we have it? “And what is that?” she asked aloud, keeping her tone light.

Mad Dog leaned across the table. “Don’t play the fool with me. I want your warp cores. All of them.”

Djurich had to bite the inside of her cheek to hold in her surprise. “Warp cores?” she repeated.

“This ship runs warp drive, same as yours,” Mad Dog said impatiently. “Yes. Warp cores. A deep space station must carry such cargo.”

“What would you do with them if we gave them to you?” Djurich asked, curious.

“That is not your concern.”

“What would you trade for them?”

“The lives of your crew and the safety of your vessel.” Mad Dog sat back with a smug expression on his disfigured face.

“And if we refuse?”

“I will take them by force.”

There was a pointed silence. Then the admiral said, “Why?”

Mad Dog almost choked on his own smile. “What?”

“Why do you want our warp cores?”

The pirate glared at her. “That’s my business. All you need to know is, if we don’t get them, your entire station will be destroyed.”

Admiral Djurich wished she could turn to exchange a glance with Captain Springer, but her eyes held the other captain’s as she leaned forward. “I’m sorry, Captain, but we can’t deliver the cores without some kind of assurance that you won’t use them to harm the Federation.”

Mad Dog laughed. “Then I’ll track down some other ship that will give me what I want after I’ve destroyed you. Surely the Federation would send vessels to investigate the Magellan’s destruction. Even your deaths would serve my purpose.”

Djurich studied him, gauging his sincerity, and then heaved a deep sigh. “Fine,” she said, putting some reluctance into the word. “My party and I will now return to the Magellan and give the order to prepare the cores for transport.” She stood up.

Captain Springer stepped beside her, giving her a sidelong glance that said, I hope you know what you’re doing, before refocusing on Mad Dog.

The pirate captain also got to his feet and swept his arm toward the door, inviting them to exit the conference room. Admiral Djurich swept past him with dignity. The atmosphere outside seemed tense. Lieutenant Commander K. Springer, surrounded by Mad Dog’s guards on either side, was unharmed but relieved to see them exit the negotiations.

“We’re going back to the Magellan,” Djurich told her as they stepped into the hallway. “We need to prepare some warp cores for transport to the Dragon.”

“Warp cores?” Springer echoed, but she didn’t voice the question that was in her eyes.

“On to the transporter room,” Mad Dog said impatiently. “Security, come with us.” He pushed ahead, leaving his guests and guards to follow.

Captain Springer touched his comm badge. “Magellan, this is Captain Springer. We are returning to the station shortly.”

Commander Badger responded immediately. “Copy, Captain. We look forward to having you back.”

Daydream

“I won’t talk over intercom. We will talk in person or not at all!” Mad Dog snapped.

Admiral Djurich frowned at the pirate warlord. The DSS Magellan was in a dangerous position. Mad Dog had five warships surrounding the station, including his flagship, the Dragon. It was an imperial-class Romulan warbird, and Romulans didn’t skimp on their weapons.

“Admiral,” Captain Springer said, a warning note in his tone.

“Ensign Hills, turn off the audio feed for a moment,” Djurich ordered.

“Yes, Admiral.”

She turned to Captain Springer, who looked intense and serious in his red captain’s uniform. “Admiral, you can’t go over there,” he said immediately.

“I agree.” Lieutenant Badger, the executive officer, took a step forward to join the conversation. “Mad Dog will only use you to get the dilithium shipment.”

“Mad Dog shouldn’t know about the dilithium.”

“That doesn’t mean he doesn’t,” Springer said. “Lieutenant Badger is right. If Mad Dog wants to talk, he’ll have to come to us.”

“That will give him an opportunity to discover what we’re carrying,” Djurich argued. “Captain, those crystals have to make it to Earth. You have standing orders to fight your way out of here and leave me if the negotiations fail.”

Captain Springer was silent for a moment. “Lieutenant Commander K. Springer and I will accompany you if you insist on going over to the Dragon.”

“I will not allow-”

“I am the captain of this station, and I have a duty to protect you,” the captain interrupted smoothly. “That is final.”

Djurich was quiet for a moment. “We are surrounded by five ships. The only way out of this is to negotiate.”

“Agreed,” Captain Springer said. He raised his voice. “Ensign Hills, restore audio!”

“Wait-” Djurich broke off as Mad Dog’s impatient voice resounded through the ship’s speakers.

“Enough stalling, Admiral. Are you prepared to negotiate?”

Djurich opened her mouth to reply.

“We are,” said Captain Springer. “But the negotiations must take place on our vessel.”

“Impossible,” Mad Dog growled. “The admiral will come over here or I will order my ships to attack."

Djurich shot Springer a dirty look before addressing the pirate. “I require an honor guard to accompany me to your ship.”

“Naturally,” Mad Dog said. “You may bring one guard.”

“Two."

The pirate blew out a long-suffering sigh. “Fine. Two. Prepare to beam aboard. Dragon out.”

Djurich took a deep breath as Mad Dog’s face was replaced by an array of stars and two enemy ships. “Let’s go."

“Commander Badger, you have the bridge,” Captain Springer said. “Lieutenant Commander Springer! Let’s go.”

“Stay on your toes, Junior Grade Lieutenant Garner,” the deep space station’s chief of security warned her deputy. Then she fell into step behind the admiral and captain.

“Three to beam to the Dragon, Lieutenant Colledge,” Djurich said when they were in the transporters. She gave the next order quickly, before she lost her nerve and jumped out. “Energize.”

From enthusiasm to obsession

I was in fifth grade, Mrs. Holbrook's class, at Sego Lily Elementary.

It was the day before what I had heard would be the best field trip of the year- maybe even the best field trip of my life.

The same field trip my friend Alisa (since she was in a different class) was just about to return from that day.

It was afternoon. I was walking down the main hall with my classmates on our way to music class when the school buses pulled in and kids began streaming off. Alisa, red-faced and excited, with adrenaline still pumping through her veins, spotted me near the edge of my group and ran towards me at full speed. The flat-out charge ended in an enthusiastic bear hug that lifted me off my feet.

"Jessica! IT'S SO FUN!" Alisa shouted. She was bouncy and all smiles. Her wild-eyed euphoria was contagious. I started bouncing too.

"I can't wait until your class goes," Alisa said. "You'll love it!"

And I did. I loved it from the moment I stepped onto the bridge of the U.S.S. Voyager. I loved it more when I went back the next year with my sixth grade class. I love it more and more every time I go.

Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever grow out of it. I used to be afraid I would grow out of it.

But I've finally decided: I'm never going to grow up.

It's like we're students or something

It's that time again: the biannual stay-up-all-night-so-you-can-do-the-assignments-you've-procrastinated-all-semester party week!

I'm not as busy as I was during winter semester, but that doesn't mean I don't have a list of things to do before finals. Everyone has a list of things to do before finals. On my way to work this morning, I overheard a guy joke to a girl, "It's like we're students or something!" One can only assume they were talking about red-rimmed eyes and burned out brains.

It made me smile to hear the joke. And as I passed them, I muttered, "Or something."