The Reason Why

Posted on Wed Sep 2nd, 2020 @ 2:27am by Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Captain Rhenora Kaylen

Mission: Welcome Aboard!
Location: Ready Room

Captain Kaylen Rhenora refused to make eye contact with their captures as they were bodily pushed into her ready room, the Orion's leader making himself comfortable in her chair, mocking her with his every move. She wouldn't look at him, she wouldn't give him the pleasure of a reaction to his bait. She did however give a sidewards glance towards Savar. The Vulcan it seemed was a cool and calm as ever.

The Orion's eyes flicked from Kaylen to Savar and back again. He gave them a mocking smile which brought no reaction from Savar and Kaylen did not see as she looked everywhere but at her captor.

"Just a few questions Captain." He said mockingly and waited for a reaction.

Kaylen remained silent, her eyes averted and her body tensed and ready to fight or escape. It was her duty to escape, it was also her duty to save the lives of her crew. Sometimes those duties directly conflicted with each other. She could however buy them time. Taking a deep breath she composed herself for what was to come.

The Orion chuckled at her reaction. "First are you comfy? Shackles aren't too tight." He taunted. Then he grew serious. "Where are the schematics we want Captain?"

" I have no idea what you're talking about" the Captain replied automatically. There was no way she was going to give up the Liberty's secrets without a fight. If the Orions got hold of the schematics - their power would increase exponentially. Thankfully the schematics they were after were only available to high clearance levels. Only a handful of people on the Liberty would be able to access them.

The Orion sighed, got up and moved in front of the desk, then in one single fluid motion slapped Kaylen's face. Not enough to knock her out, no this was an attention getter. "Again Captain, where are the schematics?"

" Do you think physical abuse is going to force my hand into giving you classified Starfleet weaponry? You underestimate your opponent" The Bajoran's words were ice. She had survived the Bajoran occupation, she would survive a power hungry arrogant Orion.

"To you? Of course not Captain. If I abuse you, you can't tell me what I want to know. However...." His eyes shifted to Savar. "The Vulcan is different now isn't he?"

" You lay a hand on him and you'll never hold anything with it again" There was dark threat that was rarely heard in the Captain's voice. Her crew was her strength, and her weakness.

"Captain." Savar's voice was even like he was reciting the weather. "Do not trouble yourself. I will cope with whatever they do."

"Vulcan. You talk big. Lets see if there is anything to those words." With that the Orion backhanded Savar so hard it knocked him to the floor. Savar never changed expression or uttered a sound.

"Hmm. Impressive." The Orion commented and kicked Savar in the side. Again nothing. No reaction.

" He will tell you nothing, he doesn't even have access to the files you are after" Rhenora implored, wincing as the sound of each impact reached her ears. The dull thud of flesh striking flesh could never be forgotten.

The Orion kicked Savar in the side again. "I don't believe you Captain." He replied darkly but before he could strike Savar again, he was called away by a member of his crew. "When I return we will continue Vulcan."

For a few minutes they had peace, Kaylen wished she could have prevented the injuries Savar was no doubt dealing with at the moment, or at the very least heal them. Sadly she could do neither and it was eating her up inside.

" I'm so sorry" She whispered so that only he could hear her.

Savar turned his head to look at her, his eyes unreadable. His lips blooded, the side of his face bruised. "Captain, you must not let your emotions get the better of you. I can manage this." He took a breath and continued. "The Orions are pressed for time. They know Starfleet will soon wonder about our silence and send a ship or ships to investigate. We must stall them. Force them to become impatient."

" At what cost?" Rhenora's words were full of shame. How could she have allowed this to happen? " I can't have any more blood on my hands, too many will have died already today." There were wounds from her youth that only appeared in situations such as this - where she ordered people on raids and they either died or were captured and tortured.

"Captain at the cost of your career. Those that died knew the risk and you must not soil their sacrifice by giving in to the demands of the Orion. You must rely on the inner strength that enabled you to become a Captain. Trust your gut Captain. We will survive this and be stronger from it."

"If only it were that simple" Rhenora mused to herself, looking around at their captures. They were edgy, Savar was right, they were on a time limit. Every minute she stalled gave the crew more of a chance to fight back or to escape.

"Captain. Trust in yourself and in your crew. Those that escaped are even now formulating plans to retake the ship. We must do our part by stalling the Orions without them knowing it." Savar pointed out.

"You're right..." She was about to say more when the Orion leader stormed back into the Ready Room, seeming a little more cranky than when he had left previously.

"Captain give them what they need not what they want."Savar
replied just before the Orion walked in. He looked up at the Orion. "You seem stressed. Whatever could be the reason?"

"Listen Vulcan I want those schematics now!"

"I am unable to comply with your request." Savar replied calmly.


" He doesn't have the authority to even locate the files, let alone view them" Rhenora retorted "You're barking up the wrong tree there" Her look started to border on contempt "But then again, you don't seem to be listening to anything we say"

The Orion leader turned to face Rhenora. His face flush with anger. He grabbed her face with one hand, her chin between his fingers. With the other he checked her cuffs making sure they were still secure in fact he made them tighter. Satisfied he leaned back and spoke in a conservationist tone " Can't have you getting free now can I? Then in the next breath he continued on, "Then you tell me what I want to know Captain." As he squeezed her face tighter before letting go. "I'm waiting."

" Or what? Kill me and you'll never find the information you want. You can tear apart the Liberty but you need my authorisation to access the file. I don't know how you'll going trying to decrypt a level 10 file. Although I'm happy to provide pointers as you go" There was a sense of calmness in her voice now. Stalling for time and drawing strength from Savar's pervasive serenity. Plus she knew it would piss off the Orion to no end.

Rhenora got her wish, the Orion was livid! He slammed his hand down on her desk sounding like a thunder burst. "Very cute Captain. No I won't kill you, I'll do worse. I'll take your crew."

Savar decided to get into the act. "You are reckless and disorganized . Taking the crew requires time you do not have. However you can achieve a goal of sorts by taking classified file thirteen." He looked at Rhenora and gave her the tiniest of winks. I am sorry Captain I am thinking of the crew."

" Savar!" Kaylen's features were cleverly schooled into a look of disbelief "You can't! I'll have you court-marshalled and thrown into the brig for aiding the enemy"

Savar's features were impassive as he replied, "I am only looking out for the welfare of the crew Captain." He looked at the Orion. "If you take the file you will have access to the newest in Federation technology. Like the power head."

"I swear you will be scrubbing the deckplating with a toothbrush Savar, I order you to be quiet!" Rhenora's words were commanding and almost bordered on desperate.

Savar tried to shrug his shoulders but with his hands cuffed behind him it was awkward. He ignored Rhenora's order and continued to talk to the Orion. "It is even newer than the targeting scanners. It is compact and powered by an immensely powerful engine."

The Captain continued to blustered and throw threats at the conversing Vulcan. She had only known him for a short period of time and wasn't sure if he was capable of such deception - being Vulcan and all. There would be the need for some serious discussions after this but for now all she could do was play along and hoped to stall the Orions.

"And where do I find this file?"The Orion asked, raising an eyebrow. "I would like to see it for myself"

"It is in the menu Hidden under the heading of general knowledge. You will be unable to see images but the complete specifications will be there for you." Savar replied.

"Then come over here and prove it to me" The Orion sneered, as his companion came closer and pulled a weapon out aiming it at t he Captain's head.

"There is no need for threats. I will gladly show you. "Savar replied as he got to his feet and moved to the computer on the Rhenora's desk. "Type my authorization Alpha-2 Omega-2 Gamma-2." As the Orion did so. the menu came up. "Now go to general files." Savar said. Again the files appeared including one titled. Power head.

The Orion did as he was instructed, the Starfleet computer system foreign to him and he stumbled several times trying to navigate the menus.
"Is this it?" He asked gruffly as he finally found the file Savar was referring to.

Savar looked at Rhenora sitting bound, her hands fastened behind her back. A weapon at her head. "Remove the weapon from the Captain's head and I will tell you."

The Orion waved his hand at his associate and the weapon was lowered. Only now did Savar look at the file. "Yes. that is it. Have you a PaDD you can download the file to?"

The Orion fumbled again, rummaging around in the small bag over one shoulder.

"What.... you tried to commandeer my ship and you didn't bring a device to take the information you wanted to steal?"Rhenora laughed at the ridiculousness.

The Orion mumbled under his breath. "At least I am not bound." As he finally found a PaDD. "Will this do?" He asked Savar. "It will suffice." Savar replied. "Connect the PaDD and hit download.'

The Orion did as he was told, Rhenora however was trying to see exactly what Savar was up to. She knew it was a rouse but wasn't sure how he planned on stalling. She moved closer to her desk to try and see, wriggling her hands in vain to try and free them.
"Deckplates Savar - with YOUR toothbrush.."

The Orion laughed at Rhenora's threat. "What next?" He asked.

"The file in encrypted so you must have a cryptologist on your ship to read the file." Savar explained patiently.


The Orion's eyes filled with rage. He was a pirate not a computer programmer!
"YOU! YOU will decrypt it.. right now!" Spittle left his lips as he shouted the words into Savar's face.

Unfazed by the Orion's anger, Savar replied. "To decrypt the file takes time. Time you do not have. Unless......"

"It is useless to me without decryption - start your work or your Captain dies!" The Orion jerked his head and the weapon reappeared at Rhenora's temple. Now it was time to call the bluff.

"Savar, do NOT decrypt that file. Starfleet's most powerful weapons rest in your hands. My life if not worth all the knowledge that is contained there"

Savar looked at the Orion leader. "If you kill the Captain I will not decrypt that file and you have nothing. Threatening me does not help your argument."

"If I kill the Captain the crew will obey my orders. A snake without its head withers and dies. All we need is a computer specialist...I'm sure you've got a few of those handy on this tub" The Orion spat, his anger evident in his words. "Leave those two rats here, lets see what Engineering has to offer"

"Unlikely among a federation crew." Savar replied. "You will only increase their rage against you. As for a computer specialist. You are welcome to try. You need a level ten Alpha Omega Prime." He said as the Orions went out the door leaving he and Rhenora alone.

TBC...