You have the right to remain filthy

Posted on Mon Mar 4th, 2013 @ 3:57pm by Lieutenant JG Marcus Augusta PHD & Lieutenant Jimmy Cooper & Lieutenant JG Fer

1,072 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Sowing the Seeds
Location: Various
Timeline: Shortly after the explosion in Sickbay

On:

The lighting in the security offices seemed darker than usual. Marc knew it wasn't, having checked with the computer only half an hour earlier. But regardless he was convinced of it. Given the current state of the crew, Marc was taking some extra precautions to ensure the security of the vessel and most importantly, its captain. Marc's modifications were small but effective. A security lockout requiring level 7 clearance for the armory, access only to department heads or above. So in the event of any unauthorized withdrawal of weapons, he would know immediately who to apprehend. Voice printed containment fields to stall any kind of mutiny, regardless of where, or who, it originated.

His traval's through the rangers systems brought him across some rather interesting mutterings that had been recorded in the cadet quarters. While most starfleet officers knew that starfleet vessels were equiped with dormant listening devices that would become active in the event that hostilities broke out within the federation, none of them knew he held sufficient intelligence clearance to activate them at will. It was a step Marc had not taken lightly but he felt he had no choice to bend the rules to garentee security in the face of what he was convinced was the risk of open mutiny, particularly given the recent explosion in sick bay. His Gamble seemed to have paid off.

A certain cadet Arixen seemed to be having coy conversations with other cadets, pointing them in the direction of there new resident ferengi.

With little time for due process where Fer was concerned Marc stood to his feet and moved hastily from his officer.

"You two, with me." Marc pointed ferociously at two seated ensigns outside his office who he felt he could trust and made his out of the security offices. Heading for Fer's interim quarters.

A short walk later Marc was stood outside fer's quarters feeling an inexplicable rage building within him. Failing to regain his inward composure against the excushating headache he had been enduing for what seemed like days, he pressed the room chime.

Fer's home looked more like a nest than a home. In fact, a bed was nowhere to be found, instead a corner of the room was filled with clothlike materials, held together with something which looked a bit like earwax.

Fer himself was hanging upside down a rung hung from the ceiling, though with what wasn't entirely clear either. He was poking in his ear with a stick, which, aside from the more obvious icky side-effects, also diminished his hearing. As such, he simply failed to hear the chime.

Marc pressed again after getting no answer. He new the Ferengi was in his quarters as he had been monitering his biosigns enroute but he was clearly biding his time....for whatever reason.

Muttering to the flanking security officers, the nominally unarmed assistant chief began entering commands into the nearby control panal to dampen internal sensors in their area of the ship with a high grade intelligence override.

"Weapons ready. Computer! Unlock this door security override Augusta Delta 38"
With an elegant swoosh of the doors, All three men burst into the suspected traitors room.

Fer raised an earlobe at the intrusion, which looked all the more rediculous as he was, still, suspended upside-down. He pulled the stick out of his ear, threw it on the ground, and then looked at the Lieutenant whom, evidently, was in the lead. "You know, normal people would've rang or knocked. Or at least had the common courtesy not to keep me at phaser-point in my own chambers. To what do I owe this pleasure? Hee hee hee!"

Marc gestured to his officers to search the room, not finding the situation even remotely funny.
"I have reason to believe you are involved in an attempt to circumvent the chain of command on this vessel. I'm taking you into custody Ferengi." Marc spat the final word with poorly concealed hatred.

"You have reason to believe? I would like to hear what kind of evidence you have for this ridiculously amusing accusation." Grinning, Fer jumped down from the ceiling, landing on his feet on one of the constructs which apparently served as chair. "Also, on whose authority are you doing this? As far as I'm aware I'm a guest of your ship, and you wouldn't break the rules of guest courtesy, now would you?"

Marc didn't have concrete evidence. He had a hunch, and a hunch backed up by circumstantial evidence at best. But he was a good judge of character and an expert investigator. That was good enough for him, and after a few modifications to the internal sensor records, it would be good enough for the captain as well.

Moving forward menacingly he stood opposite the Ferengi, with some pushing the dim witted creature would no doubt incriminate himself.
"I have all the evidence I need." Marc raised his gloved right hand and pointed it at the suspect.

Only very close examination revealed a type II phaser that was identical in colour to his gloves. Type IIs were tiny, capable of being operated by using the thumb and index finger alone, they only held enough charge for 6 shots, but that was all Marc had ever needed. It was only at this moment that the look on Fers face changed to reveal anything other stand consternation.

Marc's frustration boiled over. Without a moments hesitation or remorse he fired. The phaser shot hit the ferengi at close range and knocked him back a few feet before his motionless body crumpled in an undignified heap on the floor. The silence that filled the air was all consuming until Marc gently lowered his weapon and moved toward the ferengi.

"His vitals are fine, take him to the brig and eliminate all illumination. No one is to have access to him without informing me. Understood?"

The murmurs of "yes Lieutenant" Rumbled from the security officers who proceeded to drag the unconscious form from the squalid quarters. Left alone for the first time since this ordeal had began Marc took a deep breath. His head was far worse than it had been before, he knew he was unwell and should probably see a docter. Regardless of how angry or petulant the suspect had been Marc couldn't get one very worrying thing from his mind.

He had no idea what setting his phaser was on when he fired.

OFF:

 

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