From: "Trevin H. Sandlin" <trevins@topeka.cjnetworks.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 1997 20:50:10 -0500
Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: ShipOres Arrives
Scene: ShipOres licensed freighter SS STERLING
MD: 13.1350
"I'm reading two starships at the specified rendezvous point.
Looks like one's a Hood-class, Captain," the helmsman said, turning
around to where the bearded man sat at in what passed for the conn.
"The other is definitely Corellian."
"Right," the Captain of the STERLING replied. "Slow to 1/4
speed. Bring us to the coordinates nice and slow."
"Sure thing, boss," came the young man's immediate reply.
Taylor Meredith shook his head. It wasn't as if this ship had
much of a choice in that matter. The damn thing was slow even when
it was moving at full speed. To make matters worse, the piece of
junk felt as if it was going to fall apart at any minute. Horrible
creaking sounds were coming from everywhere on board, which no one
seemed to be able to determine the exact cause of.
Meredith turned to Yoshida, who made neither a sound, nor looked
back at him. Instead, he stared silently at the viewscreen, focused
on the shapes of the two starships they were approaching.
"Are you sure this is the correct kind of entrance we want to
make, Mister Meredith?" came a feminine voice from behind. The
ShipOres administrator turned around to the voice, finding that
Manisha Dixit, the corporate lawyer, had assumed a position
immediately behind Yoshida and himself.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Using a rusty, creaking, broken down freighter to arrive at
negotiations does not seem to me to be in our best interests, sir,"
she answered. "After all, this is hardly a normal ShipOres vessel.
What must they think of us, looking at this?"
Meredith shrugged. "I'm afraid we did not have much choice, Ms.
Dixit. We had only one other company ship available, which
developed a problem with it's deflector dish. There were no private
freighters available, since we have no shipments coming in or going
out today. The next company ship isn't scheduled to arrive until
tomorrow at the earliest. It was this, or nothing."
"Administrator, I have already apologized for this, sir," came
the Captain's voice, turning his attention to the three standing
figures. "I could not very well risk your lives on the HASKELL.
She needs an overhaul, and..."
"It is of no concern," Yoshida spoke up, raising a hand which
silenced the Captain of the STERLING. "This will work to our
advantage. The Corellians will see this ship, and underestimate
us as a result. We could not have asked for a better opportunity."
Yoshida's comment silenced everyone, though Meredith turned to
him for a moment before returning his gaze to the viewscreen.
Taylor Meredith was not liking this situation already. It was bad
enough that he had to negotiate with those damned Corellians.
But...to be placed in -this- kind of situation...
"Coming within transporter range, boss," the helmsman spoke up
again. "The Federation ship and the Corellian ships are both
scanning us."
"Let them," Yoshida said. "We have nothing to hide. Do not
scan either ship."
The Captain of the vessel shot an angry look at Meredith, who
raised a hand in an attempt to placate the man. Captain Woods
did not like this any more than he did, Meredith thought. Trouble
is, Woods doesn't know why....I do....
"Hail the Federation ship please, Captain. Please inform them
that we are ready to transport over as soon as they are," Meredith
said, giving Woods a nod. The Captain of the STERLING shot an
icy glare at Yoshida for another moment, then looked at the
helmsman and nodded.
A moment later, the helmsman turned to Meredith and said:
"CHESAPEAKE acknowledges, Administrator. They report that they
are ready to receive as soon as we are."
Meredith nodded. He turned to Yoshida and Dixit next, saying,
"Get your things. Meet in the transporter room in five minutes."
Dixit nodded in return. Yoshida did not, however, both of them
left the bridge wordlessly. Meredith stifled back a sigh, then
turned back to Captain Woods.
"As soon as we're aboard, Captain," he instructed, "set course
back to the colony--best possible speed. Get the HASKELL back
up and running. I will send a signal when we are ready for the
pickup."
"Gotcha, Mister Meredith," he replied. "Anything else?"
"Keep me posted if anything develops."
"I understand, sir. Good luck."
"Thanks, Woodie," he said, patting the man on the shoulder.
"Thanks."
*** *** ***
Scene: Transporter Room One, USS CHESAPEAKE
MD: 13.1405
There was a faint hum, and the typical blue light, as they
slowly materialized aboard the Federation starship. Meredith
had always found transporting a bit uncomfortable. Something
about having one's molecules scrambled, and then reformed across
a distance simply felt wrong to him...
They materialized in a transporter room--typical one, from what
little experience Taylor Meredith had aboard Federation starships
in his years taught him. There were five people in the room, that
he could see. One man, in a gold uniform, was operating the
transporter console. Probably an engineer of some kind, Meredith
thought.
The other four were assembled in a straight line directly in
front of the transporter pad, all wearing standard Starfleet
uniforms. First in line was a rather nondescript woman in a red
uniform, whom Meredith instantly judged to be the Captain. Before
he could speculate anything further on her, however, she spoke up.
"Welcome aboard the USS CHESAPEAKE. I'm Captain Amanda Bell,"
she said, extending her hand.
Meredith strode off the transporter pad eagerly, meeting her
hand. "Taylor Meredith, Captain," he said shaking her hand.
"Administrator, Delta-Corellis Sector, ShipOres Ltd."
"Pleased to meet you, Administrator," she replied with a smile
that Meredith found forced. "Allow me to..."
"Please, Captain," Meredith interrupted with a smile. "Mister
Meredith will do. I'm not one for titles."
"Of course, Mister Meredith," she corrected herself, turning to
the other three officers that were standing next to her. "Allow
me to introduce a few of my staff members. This is Commander
Daniel Brennan, my Executive Officer."
Meredith shook the man's hand. He seemed to have more of a
quiet assuredness about him than Bell did--much more of the
'standard issue' look that he was used to seeing on FedNet's
Starfleet stories. "Mister Meredith," he said.
Bell next indicated the woman standing next to Brennan. "This
is my Chief of Security, Ensign Aelyria Keyrin." Meredith shook
the woman's hand, who seemed to be not only a bit nervous, but
also suspicious. She would need looking out for.
"And finally, our ship's Counselor, Lieutenant Stavay
Tats-Marush," she said, indicating the Orion fellow at the end.
Meredith shook his hand as well.
That was a first, he thought to himself. Who ever thought
of an Orion -counselor-? Thief, certainly. Pirate, perhaps.
But not a counselor...
Meredith quickly realized that he had neglected Yoshida and
Dixit. He took a step back and turned to them, finding that they
had also stepped down from the transporter pad, leaving their
baggage on it. Meredith supposed that someone would have it
transferred to the proper place.
"My apologies, Captain," he said with a quick and disarming
smile. "Allow me to introduce Mister Yoshida, my assistant, and
Ms. Manisha Dixit, one of our corporate attorneys. Her job is
to make certain that every 'i' is dotted, and every 't' crossed."
Both of them silently nodded.
"Now, Captain, perhaps someone could show us to our quarters,
and then perhaps give us a tour of your ship before the negotiations
get started tomorrow..."
"Of course," Bell replied. "Mister Tats-Marush, could you
show them the way?"
The Orion nodded silently, and beckoned them out of the
transporter room.
Respectfully,
Trevin H. Sandlin
ShipOres NPCs
<trevins@cjnetworks.com>
NRPG:
Okay...ShipOres people are aboard. <G> More to come soon. <EG>
The following are the three ShipOres negotiators:
Taylor Meredith: Chief Negotiator and SO's administrator for all
company operations in this sector. Early 40's.
Rather non-descript look to him. Very friendly
and outgoing.
Mister Yoshida: Meredith's assistant. Japanese...early 30's.
Will not talk to anyone except Meredith. He
will seem very menacing...think: "corporate
goon." ;) <EG> He has a first name, but you
don't get to know it. :P <G>
Manisha Dixit: Corporate lawyer from SO's legal dept. Late
20's...Indian (subcontinent) descent, strikingly
beautiful. She will converse, but, she is only
there to make certain everything is nice and
legal. <G>
All three will be impeccably dressed. Buisness formal. (For 2409.)
Fabian: I am sorry, however, ShipOres would most certainly -NOT-
have had it's people arrive in a rusty, broken down, old
freighter. Their annual revenue is well over 500 billion
UFP Credits...that just isn't their style. I ran with
what you had, because I found a way to incorporate it,
however, I thought I would explain why.
Everyone: This company is not a two-bit mining operation. The
intent is to have them seem extremely wealthy and
powerful. They are a true megacorporation, with many
different interests and operations. Please keep this
in mind. <EG>
...trevin...
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