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USS Feynman MAR 1996: Difference between revisions
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Ens Krazny Oktyabr, CNS, USS FEYNMAN<br> | Ens Krazny Oktyabr, CNS, USS FEYNMAN<br> | ||
And pilot of an F-19A Ghostrider (which the pilots call a Frisbee.)<br> | And pilot of an F-19A Ghostrider (which the pilots call a Frisbee.)<br> | ||
<h3 style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','Arial'; color: royalblue; font-weight: bold;">USS FEYNMAN: The Ferengi Equation</h3> | |||
<h4 style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','Arial'; color: royalblue; font-weight: bold;">by Andrew Nugteren 3-24-1996</h4> | |||
NRPG) | |||
Third time lucky perhaps!! I keep getting a carrier dropout, so if this is | |||
in triplicate, please delete the other two and I offer my apologies :) | |||
SD: 80324.0715<br> | |||
Scene: MPI Directors Office<br> | |||
MD: 2.0000<br> | |||
CEO Rick Savage looked up as a weary looking Vice-Chancellor Brownlie | |||
came into the picture on his viewer. "Vice-Chancellor" | |||
"You have a report?" Brownlie fired at him with the utmost brevity. | |||
"Yes sir. Our strike-force units have boarded the Ferengi cargo ship and | |||
left orbit 10 minutes ago according to schedule. ETA in Furjen space is | |||
0410 hours which should coincide with the arrival of the Federation ship in | |||
the sector as well." | |||
"Good... and news from Furjen itself?" | |||
"Our political espionage staff are finalising their preperations sir. | |||
Their campaign will begin with the 0800 Furjen planetary newscast. That | |||
gives us a full day before the polling booths open; plenty of time by my | |||
assessment. I'll remind you that Jock McLebin is in charge of the | |||
planetside operation, so we should have no problems on the ground. I | |||
understand you've worked with Mr. McLebin in the past sir?" | |||
Brownlie grunted a non-commital answer. Rumor held correctly that | |||
McLebin had worked as Brownlie's personal attache engaging in smear tactics | |||
during the last Manark elections, but as always in politics, a policy of | |||
neither confirm, nor deny, seemed to work wonders. | |||
"That's all sir. I'll keep you informed. The next 24 hours will be a | |||
time of great triumph for all of Manark V. Savage out." | |||
__________<br> | |||
Scene: MPI Operations HQ<br> | |||
MD: 2.0055<br> | |||
The atmosphere in MPI's operations nerve-centre was almost electric. A | |||
beeping noise alerted one of the Communications operators to an incoming | |||
message. | |||
"Sir," her voice hastened. "We have an incoming subspace message from | |||
the Ferengi trading vessel." | |||
Savage stepped quickly toward her station. "On screen." | |||
The main OPS viewer flashed to show the face of the Ferengi captain, Par | |||
Lenor. "Commander Savage," Par smiled wickedly. "I'm so glad I got hold of | |||
you." | |||
"This had better be urgent," Rick said rather forecfully. "Your orders | |||
stipulated no subspace communication until your arrival on Furjen." | |||
"I am aware of my orders," the Ferengi stated. "However a little matter | |||
has just been brought to my attention." | |||
"Yes..." | |||
"It seems there has been a slight misunderstanding with regard to the | |||
payment for our role in the mission. My purser has informed me that only | |||
160 bars of gold-pressed latinum were delivered before we departed." | |||
"As I recall," Rick started to heat up. "160 bars was our agreement. I | |||
have a copy of the contract in my office." | |||
"I have no queries with the contract." the Ferengi continued glibly. | |||
"I'll remind you that a Ferengi's word is his honour, however it seems that | |||
at the time we were not made aware of a possible Federation presence. Our | |||
latest intelligence suggests we may come across the Federation ship FEYNMAN. | |||
To be perfectly frank Commander, we feel that it would be unfortunate for us | |||
both if we were forced to stop and the Federation *happened* to discover | |||
your troops in our cargo bay." | |||
"The mission was most thoroughly explained prior to your departure," Rick | |||
retorted. "You were made most aware of the requirements. If this is some | |||
kind of double-crossing deal, then this is the last time you trade in Manark | |||
V *or* Furjen space. Do I make myself clear?" | |||
"Perfectly Commander," Par Lenor continued cooly. "However after all, I | |||
am just an honest businessman trying to make a little money to support my | |||
family. If you ask me to take greater risks, there must be greater profit | |||
or I'm afraid we don't have a deal." | |||
"What's your price then?" Rick conceded, realising the inevitable. | |||
"1000 bars of the finest gold-pressed latinum," the Ferengi smiled. | |||
"That's insane and you know it," said Rick. "1000 bars is ten times the | |||
standard rates. We'll never agree to that much." | |||
Lenor gestured apologetically. "I'm sorry Commander, but I do have my | |||
costs as well... I'm sure both of us realise it would be most unfortunate | |||
for our passengers if we failed to reach an agreement. No fare means no | |||
ride, and space is a very cold place for passengers who don't pay their fares." | |||
Rick gestured at the communications operator to place the Ferengi on | |||
hold. He began to pace back and forth. The Ferengi had already received | |||
full payment from the original contract and t was clear that they held the | |||
ace of trumps; the troops. Par Lenor *was* probably bluffing, but this was | |||
critical to the sucess of the entire mission. Without the strike-force, | |||
Manark would have no way of enforcing their annexation once approved by a | |||
mock-government. Rick gestured to the operator and the Ferengi Captain | |||
reappeared. | |||
"I have reached a decision," Rick told him. "The way you put it, I can | |||
assure you that MPI would be delighted to accomodate your latest offer. I | |||
will see to it personally that the latinum is transferred to your account | |||
immediately." | |||
"I'm so glad you can see sense through all this Commander," Lenor said in | |||
a most sincere tone. "I'm sure this is only the beginning of a profitable | |||
business relationship... for us both." His wide smile remained on the | |||
viewer unmoving for several seconds, and then the channel terminated. | |||
Respectfully submitted<br> | |||
Ensign Jade<br> | |||
<<NRPG>><br> | |||
Just to clear up a few implications I've made in Manark V's plans:<br> | |||
Furjen elections for the Legislative Council will be taking place at MD | |||
3.0800 Once those are complete, the Legislature votes will also vote for a | |||
President, the imcumbent having served his 10 year term already. | |||
The Manark political espionage officers on Furjen are going to come up with | |||
some very nasty scare or rumour which they can substantiate with supposed | |||
evidence. Their aim to swing elections in favor of their own candidates. | |||
If they took control of the Legislature, put in their own President and took | |||
control with their strike-force, we would be obliged to step back since it's | |||
an internal matter and Furjen is not *yet* a member of the UFP. | |||
Of course, if some of us are on the planet when some of this begins to | |||
happen, we could see quite a different story... :) | |||