S:5 E:11 - He Who Dies Pays All Debts

[Kina Nural]

"At the risk of brandin' you with a stereotype Ensign, Cardassians, as a species, are well known for their skills in subterfuge and intelligence. Even if'n you do not have specific experience in such things, they are encoded in your DNA and will likely be very useful and as the good doctor says, tis always good ta have a healer about.

"As for dress code, we are goin' in as bidders for a dossier of secrets. We're goin' ta have ta be over the top as we're ta be seen as successful and more than a wee bit amoral. I won't ask if'n you have summat that fits that bill in your wardrobe already, I'm just goin' ta assume we'll have ta get the replicators hummin' ta whip up a few suitable outfits. We meet in shuttlebay one in 45 minutes. I suggest you get ta movin' as I about ta."

Most other species would have been offended by the captains words when regarding their race. Kina would have been taken aback, but she had a sense that there was more observation than malevolence ,in the captains words. Cardassians were known to have some of the best education systems in the quadrant. Kina remembered being in the educational facilities on Cardassia. In a way, they made Starfleet Academy appear a little on the slow side.

Nonetheless, she was a loyal daughter of Cardassia, and she swore an oath to Starfleet when she joined. Her loyalty would be to her captain just as much as her people. "Understood, Captain. I'll......get ready." She turned and took the turbolift to her quarters she was assigned to change. She wished she had some time to meet everyone and see the rest of the ship. But now she had to prepare for an away mission. Her very first away mission.

She started out by looking through the few civilian clothes that she did have. The captain said that it was to be over the top. As it happened, she pulled out and put on a very elegant and fitting dress her father gave her as a graduation present. It was a beautiful blue made from Tholian silk, which must have costed her father more than a few favors. She adjusted the dress and started to put up her hair. Normally, she preferred to keep her hair loose and down. However, she needed to look more together. She put her hair in a way she remembered seeing her mother wear in pictures, a low ponytail with a elegant style on top.

Once her hair was just right, she started to but her things away when she noticed a badge. It was another gift from her father, something he said would help her if she ever needed it. It was a badge for the Cardassian Intelligence Bureau, formally the Obsidian Order. She fiddled with the badge for a moment, thinking that maybe it would help add a nice little touch to the disguise. Attaching it onto the dress, she left her quarters and made her way straight to the shuttle, arriving just in time to find the captain and Lahr. "I'm here Captain. I.....I hope this is alright."

[Nira Said]

[Conference Room - USS Challenger]

Ian thought over the options and replied after a moment.

"I have ta concur with Liquidator Bock, less is more. I'm okay with you joining Lahr and Zhuk, but nae more than that. Too many cooks in that pot would spoil more than the broth.

"As for the biddin' team, I have ta admit, I rather like the idea of myself in the role of Robber Baron. Doctor Buehler, Lieutenant McNair, Commander T'Kel, and a Cardassian is a natural fit for anything underhanded, so I'll add Ensign Nural. Small teams will be far better than a large entourage. Commander CatalÁ¡n will have the bridge while we are gone. We'll need a bit ta make one of our shuttles less conspicuous Liquidator, so we take you up on the offer of a landin' pad and be down in an hour. Good day Gentlemen."

As the Ferengi left, Ian rose and headed for the bridge. There, he found every member he'd planned to take on the away teams.

"Bloody convenient."

He muttered before saying.

"Seems serendipity has given us her blessin's ta our endeavor. Chief ch'Verret, Lieutenant Mrekrerhas, Doctor Buehler, Lieutenant McNair, Commander T'Kel, and Doctor Nural. You are ta prepare for an away team. You will be in civilian clothes and will nae carry any Starfleet equipment as you will joinin' Commander Said and myself on an undercover operation.

"Lahr and Zhuk, you are now hard on your luck mercenaries lookin' for work, no questions asked and will be infiltratin' the Ferengi Thieves Quarter. The rest of us will be very respectable lookin', but of questionable morality bidders goin' after a cache of Romulan secrets up for auction soon.

"Seems there is a Romulan defector with a confirmed dossier of things some of the factions of the remnants of the Empire either want or want ta keep secret for sale. Our job is ta locate this defector, get the information, and find out what lies beneath this hold plot because it bloody isn't latinum. Questions?"

CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger-A - Deck One - Bridge]

Lahr grinned in amusement having caught the 'tail-end' of Zhuk's reaction to his sneeze.  The Andorian couldn't help but chuckle slightly to himself.  Even the patches that had just begun to grow back in had puffed up.  Lahr might have commented on it but others spoke up offering their blesses or other and as that was wrapping up, suddenly there were visitors and even the jokester in him knew that wasn't an appropriate time to ruffle the Caitian with his comments.  Besides which his attention was drawn to the Doc and his wholly unfair assessment of Lahr and how often he frequented Sickbay.

Again, Lahr would have liked to comment back - to both the Doc and the new Cardassian medical officer, but it was then that the Captain returned to the Bridge.  Lahr flicked his antennae toward the senior officer but didn't rise from his station.

Lahr blinked as he got called on to go on an away mission in civilian clothes.   What?!  The Andorian's antenna shot straight up in surprise as he swiveled his seat to face the Captain as the human went on to explain what Lahr's role would be.   A mercenary huh? Well, at least this time he wasn't a drug-dealer...  and his persona as a mercenary would at least give him the option of fighting back if anyone tried to use him as a punching bag.

For a moment, he wondered at the Captain's reasoning for assigning him, an engineer, to the task, but then figured that his successful undercover mission to root out intel on the Romulan smuggler Hecate was probably in his file.

In answer to the Captain's orders, Lahr gave a single nod.  "Aye sir."

He glanced then to the German doctor as he whispered to Lahr in a language the Andorian didn't know but recognized immediately.  Vulcan.   Lahr knew a phrase or two in Vulcan - the basics...  "Hello."  "My name is.."  stuff like that.   That phrase however he didn't know.  Thankfully the Universal Translator program was part and parcel of the Starfleet commbadge so he go the gist of the man's comment and nodded his agreement.  Yeah, they would certainly look outwardly suspicious despite being noble of reason.  That was just part of being undercover.

When asked for questions, Lahr listened as both Ensign Nural and Lieutenant McNair spoke up.  Lahr had his own question but rather than address it to the Captain, Lahr looked to Commander Said since she was going to be the lead of his 'mercenary' away team.   "Commander, are we going undercover individually or as a group? Also, I might suggest going two or more shuttles, arriving at different times and landing in different ports.   There will be a lot of people looking at the comings and goings of ships looking for said Romulan.  Don't want us all arriving together - would look suspicious the mercs arriving with the bidders.  Also ma'am, given the potential for aggression, I'm assuming we'll be given permission to replicate non-Starfleet issue weapons. Yes?"

After the on the bridge meeting, the Andorian engineer called his superior to arrange for a replacement officer for on the Bridge then hurried off to develop his costume as it were.  Lahr's antennae surprisingly alert and upright in anticipation for this mission.  He would thought the idea of the away, since it was dangerous, would have sent him into panic-mode but it hadn't... at least not yet.   He was actually looking forward to this.

In his shared quarters with Grelek, (he hadn't yet moved out to his new accomodations that were assigned him when he got promoted because honestly he spent most of his nights in Ruth's quarters when she wasn't working late), Lahr picked out an outfit of his own. Nothing too rough-looking  - that would just draw additional attention from the other mercs tagging him as a threat to their profits.  Casual was what Lahr was going for so that the others underestimated him.

Lahr then dug through this footlocker and retrieved his Andorian dagger.  It wasn't a permissable weapon for him to carry on him during his day-to-day duties on a Starship and he'd gotten used to that, but he'd be looked at suspiciouslly if as a mercenary he didn't carry it openly.   Given it's cultural significance, most Customs would permit the weapon to be carried but with a tracker to be certain it wasn't used in any criminal activity; however wasn't concerned about that, he knew of ways to circumvent the tracker easily if needed.

Once dressed and geared up - the Andorian had even packed a small toolbag (Roozh! He really was becoming an engineer to think of bringing such!), Lahr headed to the shuttlebay one to meet up with Zhuk and Nira.

There he found the Captain already in one shuttle renamed the USS Harmsway.  The Andorian chuckled, then looked about to see if another of the shuttles had been prepared for the mercenary team.

Kina smiled, happy to see that Lahr was alright. When he offered his hand to her, she took it with the same enthusiasm as she did Buehler. "œVery nice to meet you. I'm happy to be on the ship   I look forward to getting to know all of you." She was excited. This was her first assignment and she was eager to prove to everyone she had what it took to be in Starfleet.

Just as she was getting used to meeting people, she watched some Ferengi leave for the turbolift. That was very odd. Why would Ferengi be on this ship? What exactly was going on? Her questions were answered when the captain came out and addressed them. He even included her, a freshly minted ensign to prepare for an away mission.

Her? Civilian clothes? No Starfleet equipment? Romulan defector? This was all so fast. Could she really do this? When he asked if there were questions, she raised her hand out of habit. "œUm"¦.Captain"¦.sir"¦.I"¦.I don't want to sound disrespectful or insubordinate. But"¦.why me? I"¦.I'm a doctor, not a spy. If I may ask"¦..what use could I be for?"

[Bridge]

The young ensign seemed to relax a bit once Evan confirmed he was just the person she was looking for. Evan was impressed with the concern she expressed for Lahr when he sneezed and couldn't help but chuckle at her comment about Andorian anatomy. "œYou may want to brush up on that, Ensign," he joked. "œThis guy has a propensity for getting into trouble. I'd rather you not have to scramble for that kind of data like I did when he decided to get himself electrocuted."

"œÁ,,hmmmmm, I think you mean "˜Gesundheit'?" Evan replied, figuring that's what the Andorian was getting at.

As doors once again parted, Evan turned his head in the direction of the sound; this time it was the conference room. And while he had learned to expect the unexpected with this captain, he still wouldn't have imagined the words about to come out of the Scotsman's mouth.

"œShiyau thol'es k'thorai ri k'ahm, as my wife would say," he whispered to Lahr. "œMy Vulcan isn't as robust as it should be, but the phrase seems apt."
"If nothing else," Evan told the young doctor, "we'll be on hand should things get out of hand. It would be good to have medics present if someone gets hurt."

[Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas | Bridge | Deck One | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Once the three Ferengi had been successfully escorted to the Briefing Room, Zhukdra'shar returned with Lieutenant Commander T'Kel to the Tactical Console, in order to monitor the current situation with the amassed ships. In the meanwhile, he made sure to remain attentive to any piece of interesting information within the bridge, his ears sharp and sensitive as always. Fortunately, not much transpired when it came to the Security of the USS Challenger, or the general blockade, except perhaps the fact that one of the smaller mercantile vessels, apparently had lost slight control, almost crashing towards one of the D'Kora class ships.

An almost regrettable circumstance, but thankfully, Zhuk could breathe safe knowing that it just had been a scare.

While Zhuk waited on new orders, he overheard Lahr ask Buck about the reason the blockade was here, wondering if he should respond about what he knew about, based on the scans. He decided against it, considering that he couldn't give him a straight answer, though. What had been more interesting, however, had been the new arrival of what looked to be a female medical ensign to the bridge, who introduced herself as Ensign Nural, to Lieutenant Evan Buehler, a Medical Officer he hadn't interacted that much with before.

Something seemed peculiar about her voice, and so he lightly turned to glance at her. He was quite surprised to notice that she was a Cardassian. His previous history, being close to one in his captivity, almost being raised by her, had made him appreciate them to an extent. Still, he made sure to keep his feelings in check to instead focus back on the console. Maybe there would be a time to introduce himself later. _{It didn't help that she was quite pretty, either.}

At Lahr's sneeze, Zhuk jumped up, his fur straightening up for a moment, tail puffing up. After a moment, though, he regained his neutral stance, brushing his uniform. "Bless you, ShranLahr" He commented, after he overheard Evan ask if he was alright after the sneeze.

At this moment, the Liquidator and the two DaiMons of the Ferengi exited the briefing room, causing T'kel to petition Zhuk to accompany them. He nodded. "Of course, Lieutenant Commander." Taking a pause to catch up with the Ferengi, he graciously offered a soft bow towards them, "Please, accompany me. I'll be glad to escort you fine gentlemen back to your shuttle."

As he was about to take his leave, he noticed Lahr's nod, causing him to reply with a thumbs up and a small side smile, before regaining a more proper stance, hands behind his back, leaving the bridge.

"By the by... I must admit, I cannot hold myself back from inquiring... what are the tasks a Liquidator must carry forth? If you do not mind my questioning, that is."

CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger-A - Deck One - Bridge]

Lahr grinned in amusement having caught the 'tail-end' of Zhuk's reaction to his sneeze.  The Andorian couldn't help but chuckle slightly to himself.  Even the patches that had just begun to grow back in had puffed up.  Lahr might have commented on it but others spoke up offering their blesses or other and as that was wrapping up, suddenly there were visitors and even the jokester in him knew that wasn't an appropriate time to ruffle the Caitian with his comments.  Besides which his attention was drawn to the Doc and his wholly unfair assessment of Lahr and how often he frequented Sickbay.

Again, Lahr would have liked to comment back - to both the Doc and the new Cardassian medical officer, but it was then that the Captain returned to the Bridge.  Lahr flicked his antennae toward the senior officer but didn't rise from his station.

Lahr blinked as he got called on to go on an away mission in civilian clothes.   What?!  The Andorian's antenna shot straight up in surprise as he swiveled his seat to face the Captain as the human went on to explain what Lahr's role would be.   A mercenary huh? Well, at least this time he wasn't a drug-dealer...  and his persona as a mercenary would at least give him the option of fighting back if anyone tried to use him as a punching bag.

For a moment, he wondered at the Captain's reasoning for assigning him, an engineer, to the task, but then figured that his successful undercover mission to root out intel on the Romulan smuggler Hecate was probably in his file.

In answer to the Captain's orders, Lahr gave a single nod.  "Aye sir."

He glanced then to the German doctor as he whispered to Lahr in a language the Andorian didn't know but recognized immediately.  Vulcan.   Lahr knew a phrase or two in Vulcan - the basics...  "Hello."  "My name is.."  stuff like that.   That phrase however he didn't know.  Thankfully the Universal Translator program was part and parcel of the Starfleet commbadge so he go the gist of the man's comment and nodded his agreement.  Yeah, they would certainly look outwardly suspicious despite being noble of reason.  That was just part of being undercover.

When asked for questions, Lahr listened as both Ensign Nural and Lieutenant McNair spoke up.  Lahr had his own question but rather than address it to the Captain, Lahr looked to Commander Said since she was going to be the lead of his 'mercenary' away team.   "Commander, are we going undercover individually or as a group? Also, I might suggest going two or more shuttles, arriving at different times and landing in different ports.   There will be a lot of people looking at the comings and goings of ships looking for said Romulan.  Don't want us all arriving together - would look suspicious the mercs arriving with the bidders.  Also ma'am, given the potential for aggression, I'm assuming we'll be given permission to replicate non-Starfleet issue weapons. Yes?"

After the on the bridge meeting, the Andorian engineer called his superior to arrange for a replacement officer for on the Bridge then hurried off to develop his costume as it were.  Lahr's antennae surprisingly alert and upright in anticipation for this mission.  He would thought the idea of the away, since it was dangerous, would have sent him into panic-mode but it hadn't... at least not yet.   He was actually looking forward to this.

In his shared quarters with Grelek, (he hadn't yet moved out to his new accomodations that were assigned him when he got promoted because honestly he spent most of his nights in Ruth's quarters when she wasn't working late), Lahr picked out an outfit of his own. Nothing too rough-looking  - that would just draw additional attention from the other mercs tagging him as a threat to their profits.  Casual was what Lahr was going for so that the others underestimated him.

Lahr then dug through this footlocker and retrieved his Andorian dagger.  It wasn't a permissable weapon for him to carry on him during his day-to-day duties on a Starship and he'd gotten used to that, but he'd be looked at suspiciouslly if as a mercenary he didn't carry it openly.   Given it's cultural significance, most Customs would permit the weapon to be carried but with a tracker to be certain it wasn't used in any criminal activity; however wasn't concerned about that, he knew of ways to circumvent the tracker easily if needed.

Once dressed and geared up - the Andorian had even packed a small toolbag (Roozh! He really was becoming an engineer to think of bringing such!), Lahr headed to the shuttlebay one to meet up with Zhuk and Nira.

There he found the Captain already in one shuttle renamed the USS Harmsway.  The Andorian chuckled, then looked about to see if another of the shuttles had been prepared for the mercenary team.

[Bridge --> Captain's Quarters --> Shuttlebay - USS Challenger]

Ian smiled at the questions as he could well imagine how he'd have felt if he'd been asked to join such a mission when he first reported aboard the USS Tempest forever ago.

"At the risk of brandin' you with a stereotype Ensign, Cardassians, as a species, are well known for their skills in subterfuge and intelligence. Even if'n you do not have specific experience in such things, they are encoded in your DNA and will likely be very useful and as the good doctor says, tis always good ta have a healer about.

"As for dress code, we are goin' in as bidders for a dossier of secrets. We're goin' ta have ta be over the top as we're ta be seen as successful and more than a wee bit amoral. I won't ask if'n you have summat that fits that bill in your wardrobe already, I'm just goin' ta assume we'll have ta get the replicators hummin' ta whip up a few suitable outfits. We meet in shuttlebay one in 45 minutes. I suggest you get ta movin' as I about ta."

Ian then turned and added.

"Commander CatalÁ¡n, you have the bridge."

He then headed to the turbolift and to his quarters. There he quickly ordered the replicator to begin making the wardrobe he would need as he changed out of his uniform. He packed quickly and as a final touch, he replicated a gaudy staff of two meters in length. He figured that the FCA would have a tight fist on weapons during the run up to the auction, but no one would keep a merchant prince from carrying his symbol of office to such a prestigious event.

He grabbed his travel case and headed for the shuttlebay, arriving with eight minutes to spare. Out of sheer habit, since he had the time, he began his pre-flight checks of the Mjolnir, which had been cosmetically altered to disguise her Starfleet roots. Fortunately, The Delta-Flyer was now an old design that had long since entered the civilian market, so it wouldn't stand out in a crowd. When he boarded and after stowing his kit, he found the wags in Engineering had changed the shuttle's registration to SS Harmsway which made him roll his eyes at the pun.

"For Maker's sake, Harmsway? As if'n we're goin' into 'harm's way'. Droll, very droll."

He began powering up the shuttle and made a note to himself to figure out who the joker was when he got back.

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Bridge | Deck One | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Nira had to agree. She, Lahr and Zhuk will definitely suffice. And it was definitely convenient that all the elected members for the away team were all on the bridge, including the new medical officer Nural. Nira was certainly surprised at how beautiful-looking Nural was, given how she had never been able to meet her.

And with the assigned forty-five minutes, she had time to get her things together and make her momentary farewell to Savar before she left.

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Shuttle "Harmsway" | Shuttlebay One >- Private Landing Pad | Deck Nineteen >- Tower of Commerce | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A >- Ferenginar]

Nira had a bag and had changed into some robes, posing as a rich-looking (if not rich) scammer. True, she may likely cause heads to turn with both her clothes and her beauty or either one. Indeed, that's what she had in mind: She certainly looked like a girlish Aladdin who scams rich nobles, and with luck, Lahr would look like the computer-smart-genius best friend and cohort who helps with the scams, and Zhuk being their bodyguard. Of course, with her knives, she'd look like she could fool the rich nobles with her looks before scamming them at knifepoint.

She didn't bring her phaser but kept her daggers on her. Her change of underwear under her uniform was changed into her dancer's attire, just in case she had to...entertain some unsavory people and soften them up. She still had her uniformed packed into her bag, just in case she had to join a Federation negotiating party.

Nira had to raise an eyebrow at the sight of the Mjolnir getting changed into civilian craft named the "Harmsway." It sounded like something from a Hemingway or Fitzgerald book where you never know, at any moment, that some Roaring Twenties dumped girl with a broken heart would jump ship. Or maybe the name of a launch from the Titanic occupied only by a gaggle of shocked lovebirds.

Still, looking at it made her think of when she and T'Lara infiltrated a Romulan underground movement, using Don Addam's own old vessel, the Martha. They certainly did a good job with trying to make this ship look like the Martha, Nira thought wryly, yet smiling with nostalgia.

They waited for the away teams to assemble before taking off. Nira wasn't surprised that Captain Galloway was at them helm; this was one of the best pilots she knew. It wasn't long before the "Harmsway" went into some clouds shortly after entering the atmosphere, and once they broke through the clouds, they got a good look at the planet below.

If there could be a word to sum up Ferenginar in a nutshell, the word would be: "Murky." That's the word that escaped Nira's lips the moment she saw the planet below.

Even from high up, Nira could tell the landscape was all swamp, even with the bare amount of sunlight seen through the constant rainclouds. In spite of the daytime, it looked slightly dark, more of a twilight lighting, albeit without the colors of a sun.

Then, all at once, like instantly coming across grassy farmland after a desert, or like finding desert when wet farmlands ended, the capital city loomed above. Nira was a little in awe. There were plenty of tall structures dominating the horizon, but it was the tallest that took Nira's breath away. She remembered when Aunty Parisa took her to Ankor Wat when she was little, and the central complex certainly had an Ankor Wat look, except for the center structure which looked like a series of Ankor domes stacked on top of each other until it got as high as the Burj Khalifa, Nira's favorite building.

"That must be the Tower of Commerce over there," Nira said. "Well, now that we're close...Lahr, Zhuk, come along."

When the Liquidator and his Daimon escorts were accompanied to their shuttles with Zhuk, the Liquidator, amidst his conversing with him, starting with his explanation of a Liquidator (backed up by his Daimons considering his accent), the Liquidator gave Zhuk a Ferengi PADD giving instructions to him, Nira and Lahr:

"It won't be a good idea for the two teams to meet with me both at the same time. Therefore, infiltrators, from your shuttle, beam down to the train station at the Thieves Quarter, coinciding with the arrival of a train. Once you get there, find the casino labeled 'Multi-Chance' and look for the Eliminator keeping an eye on the security, Bink. He may take bribes from the casino, but he answers directly to the Tower of Commerce, and he's one of our eyes on the accumulating thugs and assassins in the Quarter. He'll fill you in on the situation and on the most dangerous players there."

As the "Harmsway" landed at the dock recommended by Bock, the sensors, scanning the train traffic, detected a train heading into the Thieves Quarter, and McNair was ready to beam the three down.

"Energize," ordered Nira, ready for beam-in after switching her bag with her uniform with her purse, as well as a smaller bag that the Liquidator gave to Zhuk along with the PADD.

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Train Platform | Thieves Quarter | Fereng | Ferenginar]

Nira, Lahr and Zhuk were beamed the platform, away from the crowds. Good space, and so close to the platform, so they can step out and blend with the crowd. Naturally, it had to smell and it had to be crowded. As Nira gestured for Lahr and Zhuk to follow, they joined the crowds heading out of the train. There were plenty of people ready to pick pockets, whether they were dead or alive.

Suddenly, Nira stopped in surprise just as she almost stepped into a man in the crowd. She didn't recognize the man by his face, but she was surprised by his choice of attire, and that could mean...

"How very unexpected," said a cool voice as the uniformed Romulan turned around. Nira flinched and blinked in surprise.

While his uniform a little darker-looking, but his eyes particularly steely. Naturally, Nira's surprise only increased the more she looked at him. For certain, this had to be him. She was especially surprised that he was even on a train heading toward the Thieves Quarter, the last place she'd expect somebody who might as well be painted in bullseyes to head to, let alone intending to get off.

"I could say the same about you," Nira said curtly, getting in character. "Now why would a Romulan like you be looking for trouble in this corner of the galaxy?"

"Maybe you'd like to see if you can sneak into my auction," said the defector in a neutrally challenging way.

"Your auction?" scoffed Nira. "Now that's a first, a Romulan with an interest in profit."

"Oh, just acclimating to Ferenginar's atmosphere," the defector replied with a shrug. "Getting used to the culture. Besides, I think things will be interesting in Ferenginar in the coming days. Maybe there may be plenty of my people who want what I have to sell."

"And what's your merchandise?" asked Nira. "Weapons? Ships? Drugs?"

"Secrets," the defector said teasingly.

"A Romulan dealing in secrets?" said Nira. "So there's some kind of confession booth somewhere?"

"I'm not going to detain you any longer, little girl," the defector retorted. "You must have a busy day ahead of you with your bodyguards before you have to...seduce your customers."

"And I won't detain you, either, Mister...?"

"Dokan," the defector said. "And you, miss..."

"Sahmed. Najwa Sahmed," said Nira, giving her prepared cover name.

"I do hope you enjoy the atmosphere of profit long dormant on your homeworld, Miss Sahmed," Dokan said. "Jolan tru."

Nira stood still a moment as she watched Dokan disappear into the crowd, then she whispered to Lahr and Zhuk: "That has to be the most Vulcanlike Romulan I've ever seen. Despite his tones of voice, not one shred of emotion."

She had to admit, also, she couldn't feel so much as a shred of emotion from this Dokan at all. In fact, she was strongly reminded of the T'hunga, back when she was on Discovery when it accidentally went back in time. Except she could just feel plain nothing, like with the Ferengi she had met earlier in the briefing room.

The three followed the crowd and they got their first full view of the Thieves Quarter. Nira gasped; she couldn't help it, but she was surprised by what she saw:

This place was practically one big medina. It was a small city-within-a-city, walled off from the rest of the modernized city. A famous example was the city of Fez, in Earth's Morocco, where its medina was similarly cut off from the rest of the world. By strong cultural terms, it could not allow the outside world inside, and people allowed to go in weren't allowed to stay for a certain length of time. Even well into the twenty-fourth century, as far as Nira could see when she last visited the place when she was twelve, it continued to look the same as it has for a thousand years. In medinas like in Fez was the unique phenomenon of the cultural stagnation of time. Only the tourists, even if they weren't from Earth, kept it from making it seem like stepping back in time.

The Thieves Quarter was pretty much like a big medina, only they didn't seem to have a problem accommodating all kinds of technology to be modernized, and at the same time have it feel like they stepped into a city obviously designed to be a big slum haven for people anxious to rob people blind. Some of it seemed like buildings were built from landfills. Apartment-like buildings seemed to tower mostly by being stacked on top of each other, like the Tower of Commerce that dominated the nearby cityscape beyond the Ferengi medina.

Nira could see a variety of races, not just Ferengi, wandering about, conducting their illicit businesses and often picking pockets.

"I guess we're never going to find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy this side of the quadrant," said Nira. "Let's go find our contact."

[Nira Said]

[Liquidator Bock | Bock's Office | Ferengi Commerce Authority Offices | Tower of Commerce | Ferenginar]

As Liquidator Bock awaited the arrival of one of the away teams, he thought of the Caitian who expressed curiosity about Liquidators.

"Curioush, are you not?" he asked with interest. "I guessh it'sh undershtandable if you don't know much about ush. Liquidatorsh are bashically agentsh of the Ferengi Commersh Authority, which enshuresh how the Ferengi do bushinessh. We're important to the Ferengi government, particularly in economic mattersh."

He continued to explain how Liquidators work before he realized something. He began typing on a PADD and wrote up something.

"Here, take thish to your fee-male firsth offisher," he said. "A messhage, instructionsh. Take thish, too," he said, handing over a small bag, small but a little heavy.

"You'll need thish when you get into the Thievesh Quarter," he added. "Two hundred shtripsh of gold-presshed latinum. You'll likely need them to get your contact to talk."

He looked up as the party he was expected entered. "Ladiesh, gentlemen," he said. "Welcome to the Tower of Commersh! Welcome to Ferenginar!"

[T’prith]

[USS Challenger-bridge]

T'Prith  wished the away team good luck as she hoped that nothing went wrong as they went and accomplished their objective. She was going to keep things running smoothly at the operations station on the bridge. She was sure that the ones on the ship were going to be in good hands. She feared that things would go wrong or the away team got caught.

[Buehler]

[Bridge --> Captain's Quarters --> Shuttlebay - USS Challenger]

Ian smiled at the questions as he could well imagine how he'd have felt if he'd been asked to join such a mission when he first reported aboard the USS Tempest forever ago.

"At the risk of brandin' you with a stereotype Ensign, Cardassians, as a species, are well known for their skills in subterfuge and intelligence. Even if'n you do not have specific experience in such things, they are encoded in your DNA and will likely be very useful and as the good doctor says, tis always good ta have a healer about.

"As for dress code, we are goin' in as bidders for a dossier of secrets. We're goin' ta have ta be over the top as we're ta be seen as successful and more than a wee bit amoral. I won't ask if'n you have summat that fits that bill in your wardrobe already, I'm just goin' ta assume we'll have ta get the replicators hummin' ta whip up a few suitable outfits. We meet in shuttlebay one in 45 minutes. I suggest you get ta movin' as I about ta."

Ian then turned and added.

"Commander CatalÁ¡n, you have the bridge."

He then headed to the turbolift and to his quarters. There he quickly ordered the replicator to begin making the wardrobe he would need as he changed out of his uniform. He packed quickly and as a final touch, he replicated a gaudy staff of two meters in length. He figured that the FCA would have a tight fist on weapons during the run up to the auction, but no one would keep a merchant prince from carrying his symbol of office to such a prestigious event.

He grabbed his travel case and headed for the shuttlebay, arriving with eight minutes to spare. Out of sheer habit, since he had the time, he began his pre-flight checks of the Mjolnir, which had been cosmetically altered to disguise her Starfleet roots. Fortunately, The Delta-Flyer was now an old design that had long since entered the civilian market, so it wouldn't stand out in a crowd. When he boarded and after stowing his kit, he found the wags in Engineering had changed the shuttle's registration to SS Harmsway which made him roll his eyes at the pun.

"For Maker's sake, Harmsway? As if'n we're goin' into 'harm's way'. Droll, very droll."

He began powering up the shuttle and made a note to himself to figure out who the joker was when he got back.

[Personal Quarters ---> Shuttlebay]

With their dismissal, Evan quickly made his way back to his quarters to change into the appropriate garb. He had absolutely no idea what a robber baron wore; he was a doctor, not a stylist. But he was confident the specs would be in the computer, ready and waiting. Shrugging off his uniform, he discarded the clothing in an messy pile by the bed, to be dealt with whenever they returned, and dawned an ensemble that was loose fitting: a sleeveless tunic paired with long breeches and dark boots that went halfway up his calves. While it wasn't something he would have picked out for himself, he was quite pleased with the results. If only T'Ra could see him now.

The captain had said they couldn't bring any starfleet equipment, but Evan didn't want to go completely empty handed, so he shoved a few random bits into his pockets that could double as medical equipment in a pinch. And with that, he touched his fingers to the photo of his young family before heading out of his quarters and towards the shuttlebay.

[Buck McNair]

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

With the allocated forty-five minutes given, McNair dismissed himself from the bridge, checking that he did not have anything else left outstanding from Commander Catalan before simply getting ready with his latest assignment. They had a vague outline of what they were to wear during the undercover mission. He had his wardrobe, throwing on what looked to be an Earth vintage black leather jacket, boots and jeans. Whilst it was not the most outstanding costume in the universe, Buck knew it to match his personality or at least someone with ill intentions behind their actions accompanying Commander Said and the away party.

None of it looked Starfleet.

And he presumed it to be the point.

[Shuttle "Harmsway" | Shuttlebay One > Ferenginar]

On board the Shuttle among his other colleagues, Buck sat quietly observing everything that was going on as they traveled to the surface of Ferenginar and docked. Everything had been set up and ready for the Nira, Zhuk and Lahr to be beamed down. Buck gave them a thumbs up and a nod.

"Best of luck."

He then watched as they energised themselves away from the shuttle and towards the Thieves Guild.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Shuttle 'Harmsway']

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Shuttle "Harmsway" | Shuttlebay One >- Private Landing Pad | Deck Nineteen >- Tower of Commerce | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A >- Ferenginar]

Nira had to raise an eyebrow at the sight of the Mjolnir getting changed into civilian craft named the "Harmsway." It sounded like something from a Hemingway or Fitzgerald book where you never know, at any moment, that some Roaring Twenties dumped girl with a broken heart would jump ship. Or maybe the name of a launch from the Titanic occupied only by a gaggle of shocked lovebirds.
.
They waited for the away teams to assemble before taking off. Nira wasn't surprised that Captain Galloway was at them helm; this was one of the best pilots she knew. It wasn't long before the "Harmsway" went into some clouds shortly after entering the atmosphere, and once they broke through the clouds, they got a good look at the planet below.

.
"That must be the Tower of Commerce over there," Nira said. "Well, now that we're close...Lahr, Zhuk, come along."

When the Liquidator and his Daimon escorts were accompanied to their shuttles with Zhuk, the Liquidator, amidst his conversing with him, starting with his explanation of a Liquidator (backed up by his Daimons considering his accent), the Liquidator gave Zhuk a Ferengi PADD giving instructions to him, Nira and Lahr:

"It won't be a good idea for the two teams to meet with me both at the same time. Therefore, infiltrators, from your shuttle, beam down to the train station at the Thieves Quarter, coinciding with the arrival of a train. Once you get there, find the casino labeled 'Multi-Chance' and look for the Eliminator keeping an eye on the security, Bink. He may take bribes from the casino, but he answers directly to the Tower of Commerce, and he's one of our eyes on the accumulating thugs and assassins in the Quarter. He'll fill you in on the situation and on the most dangerous players there."

As the "Harmsway" landed at the dock recommended by Bock, the sensors, scanning the train traffic, detected a train heading into the Thieves Quarter, and McNair was ready to beam the three down.

"Energize," ordered Nira, ready for beam-in after switching her bag with her uniform with her purse, as well as a smaller bag that the Liquidator gave to Zhuk along with the PADD.

[Shuttle "Harmsway" | Shuttlebay One > Ferenginar]

On board the Shuttle among his other colleagues, Buck sat quietly observing everything that was going on as they traveled to the surface of Ferenginar and docked. Everything had been set up and ready for the Nira, Zhuk and Lahr to be beamed down. Buck gave them a thumbs up and a nod.

"Best of luck."

He then watched as they energised themselves away from the shuttle and towards the Thieves Guild.

Lahr was disappointed to learn that for this undercover mission he would just be playing second fiddle to Commander Said.  Not at all like his previous undercover mission, when he played a discontent drugdealer.   He'd been given carte blanche for that mission; but he supposed that was likely cause Ruth, Captain at the time, trusted him far more than anyone else nowadays did.

The shuttle ride down in the Harmsway - Lahr had to chuckle at that tongue-in-cheek name - had been uneventful.  As the ship was prepping to land, he wondered how they expected to explain to Customs here why three ne'er-do-wells were arriving in the same shuttle as the rich bidders.  Fortunately, Commander Said had a means of circumventing Customs entirely; and she, Zhuk and he were beamed to a train station instead of disembarking the shuttle.

At Buck's parting words, Lahr gave the Ops officer an up-nod in appreciation.  "You too and don't let the Captain get into too much trouble."  He gave a slight wave as the transporter effect took over.

[Ferenginar - Train Station]

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Train Platform | Thieves Quarter | Fereng | Ferenginar]

Nira, Lahr and Zhuk were beamed the platform, away from the crowds. Good space, and so close to the platform, so they can step out and blend with the crowd. Naturally, it had to smell and it had to be crowded. As Nira gestured for Lahr and Zhuk to follow, they joined the crowds heading out of the train. There were plenty of people ready to pick pockets, whether they were dead or alive.

Suddenly, Nira stopped in surprise just as she almost stepped into a man in the crowd. She didn't recognize the man by his face, but she was surprised by his choice of attire, and that could mean...

"How very unexpected," said a cool voice as the uniformed Romulan turned around. Nira flinched and blinked in surprise.

While his uniform a little darker-looking, but his eyes particularly steely. Naturally, Nira's surprise only increased the more she looked at him. For certain, this had to be him. She was especially surprised that he was even on a train heading toward the Thieves Quarter, the last place she'd expect somebody who might as well be painted in bullseyes to head to, let alone intending to get off.

"I could say the same about you," Nira said curtly, getting in character. "Now why would a Romulan like you be looking for trouble in this corner of the galaxy?"

"Maybe you'd like to see if you can sneak into my auction," said the defector in a neutrally challenging way.

"Your auction?" scoffed Nira. "Now that's a first, a Romulan with an interest in profit."

"Oh, just acclimating to Ferenginar's atmosphere," the defector replied with a shrug. "Getting used to the culture. Besides, I think things will be interesting in Ferenginar in the coming days. Maybe there may be plenty of my people who want what I have to sell."

"And what's your merchandise?" asked Nira. "Weapons? Ships? Drugs?"

"Secrets," the defector said teasingly.

"A Romulan dealing in secrets?" said Nira. "So there's some kind of confession booth somewhere?"

"I'm not going to detain you any longer, little girl," the defector retorted. "You must have a busy day ahead of you with your bodyguards before you have to...seduce your customers."

"And I won't detain you, either, Mister...?"

"Dokan," the defector said. "And you, miss..."

"Sahmed. Najwa Sahmed," said Nira, giving her prepared cover name.

"I do hope you enjoy the atmosphere of profit long dormant on your homeworld, Miss Sahmed," Dokan said. "Jolan tru."

Nira stood still a moment as she watched Dokan disappear into the crowd, then she whispered to Lahr and Zhuk: "That has to be the most Vulcanlike Romulan I've ever seen. Despite his tones of voice, not one shred of emotion."

She had to admit, also, she couldn't feel so much as a shred of emotion from this Dokan at all. In fact, she was strongly reminded of the T'hunga, back when she was on Discovery when it accidentally went back in time. Except she could just feel plain nothing, like with the Ferengi she had met earlier in the briefing room.

Lahr was not impressed with the congestion of the train station... but he supposed that was why it was the ideal place to get beamed down to.   When motioned to follow Commander Said, the Andorian did so while keeping a hand on his wallet.  Lahr doubted a place known as the Thieves Quarter was all that honest and legit, so it was his job to keep an eye on the Commander.

The Andorian was following from a few paces back when the Commander suddenly came to a halt, her path blocked by a Romulan of all things.

Wait, Romulan?!  His antennae swiveled towards the potential target alertly and he tensed waiting for the Commander's signal to take the target down... but no signal was forthcoming, even though from the man's comments he was the Romulan they'd been told to apprehend.

As the Romulan walked off,  Lahr looked towards the Commander in confusion, something she didn't seem to notice because she was watching the Romulan walk away.  Maybe there was more to this mission than he'd been told?  Not that he or the others were told much of anything but to get the Romulan and his cache of secrets.  Yet there walked away the Romulan and their chance of getting him to tell them where his stash of secrets were hid.

Yeah, Lahr felt like he wasn't in the loop on this mission.  Even when the Commander did lean in to whisper to them, the Andorian didn't see the relevance of her whispered comment.  The man's lack of emotion wasn't their mission.  The Romulan and his secrets was; and yet she'd let him walk off.  Lahr was baffled at her action.

Lahr had no comment to her 'revelation'.  The Andorian figured it was best not saying anything at all than questioning her leadership.

However, a bit later when following the Commander (again at a bit of distance), Lahr whispered in an aside to Zhuk. "Was the Romulan not the target?  Why'd she let him walk?"

[Ferenginar - Theives' Quarter]

The three followed the crowd and they got their first full view of the Thieves Quarter. Nira gasped; she couldn't help it, but she was surprised by what she saw:

This place was practically one big medina. It was a small city-within-a-city, walled off from the rest of the modernized city. A famous example was the city of Fez, in Earth's Morocco, where its medina was similarly cut off from the rest of the world. By strong cultural terms, it could not allow the outside world inside, and people allowed to go in weren't allowed to stay for a certain length of time. Even well into the twenty-fourth century, as far as Nira could see when she last visited the place when she was twelve, it continued to look the same as it has for a thousand years. In medinas like in Fez was the unique phenomenon of the cultural stagnation of time. Only the tourists, even if they weren't from Earth, kept it from making it seem like stepping back in time.

The Thieves Quarter was pretty much like a big medina, only they didn't seem to have a problem accommodating all kinds of technology to be modernized, and at the same time have it feel like they stepped into a city obviously designed to be a big slum haven for people anxious to rob people blind. Some of it seemed like buildings were built from landfills. Apartment-like buildings seemed to tower mostly by being stacked on top of each other, like the Tower of Commerce that dominated the nearby cityscape beyond the Ferengi medina.

Nira could see a variety of races, not just Ferengi, wandering about, conducting their illicit businesses and often picking pockets.

"I guess we're never going to find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy this side of the quadrant," said Nira. "Let's go find our contact."

From the train station, Lahr continued to follow the Commander.  He was still in a sour mood at having missed their opportunity to deal with the Romulan so when the Commander commented on the quality of their location, Lahr thought it was rather narrow-minded of her.
Not everyone had the ideal life like she had... good-looks... amazing career...  skilled at everything she did.   Some people struggled to make ends meet and this is what that looked like.  People did things to survive that they might otherwise never have considered doing.

Since he hadn't been told where they were to meet their contact, or even who their contact was, Lahr motioned for the Commander to lead the way.  He was just there to be her back-up anyways. 

[Zhukdrashar Mrekrerhas]

[Bridge --> Captain's Quarters --> Shuttlebay - USS Challenger]

Ian smiled at the questions as he could well imagine how he'd have felt if he'd been asked to join such a mission when he first reported aboard the USS Tempest forever ago.

"At the risk of brandin' you with a stereotype Ensign, Cardassians, as a species, are well known for their skills in subterfuge and intelligence. Even if'n you do not have specific experience in such things, they are encoded in your DNA and will likely be very useful and as the good doctor says, tis always good ta have a healer about.

"As for dress code, we are goin' in as bidders for a dossier of secrets. We're goin' ta have ta be over the top as we're ta be seen as successful and more than a wee bit amoral. I won't ask if'n you have summat that fits that bill in your wardrobe already, I'm just goin' ta assume we'll have ta get the replicators hummin' ta whip up a few suitable outfits. We meet in shuttlebay one in 45 minutes. I suggest you get ta movin' as I about ta."

Ian then turned and added.

"Commander CatalÁ¡n, you have the bridge."

He then headed to the turbolift and to his quarters. There he quickly ordered the replicator to begin making the wardrobe he would need as he changed out of his uniform. He packed quickly and as a final touch, he replicated a gaudy staff of two meters in length. He figured that the FCA would have a tight fist on weapons during the run up to the auction, but no one would keep a merchant prince from carrying his symbol of office to such a prestigious event.

He grabbed his travel case and headed for the shuttlebay, arriving with eight minutes to spare. Out of sheer habit, since he had the time, he began his pre-flight checks of the Mjolnir, which had been cosmetically altered to disguise her Starfleet roots. Fortunately, The Delta-Flyer was now an old design that had long since entered the civilian market, so it wouldn't stand out in a crowd. When he boarded and after stowing his kit, he found the wags in Engineering had changed the shuttle's registration to SS Harmsway which made him roll his eyes at the pun.

"For Maker's sake, Harmsway? As if'n we're goin' into 'harm's way'. Droll, very droll."

He began powering up the shuttle and made a note to himself to figure out who the joker was when he got back.

[Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas | Bridge | Deck One | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Once Zhukdra'shar came back from escorting the three Ferengi to their shuttle, he was met with instructions that petitioned for his participation on an undercover operation. He was to apparently take the role of a tough hombre mercenary, down on his luck, escorting both the Captain and Lieutenant Commander Nira down to the planet. After knowing this, he couldn't help but smile wide, his tail swishing from side to side, excited. Though he hadn't arrived in time for the questions, he figured out that he could most likely figure things out as they went down the shuttle.

Heading to change his outfit back at his new, cooler room, he took a moment to browse through his closet to try and find the perfect outfit. After a minute or so of browsing, however, he realized that most of what he wore was too elegant. Sure, it could have fit him if he was meant to play a robber baron, but as a mercenary, it just looked out of place. After humming and pondering it for a moment, using his literary knowledge to come up with an outfit that he felt could work nicely for him. First, he proceeded to replicate an ocular sensor, and a black eye patch, which he proceeded to install and then place upon his right eye.

After taking a moment to get accustomed to the change in his vision, he proceeded to ask the Replicator for a blue vest, and a set of black pants, an inverness cape, alongside an accompanying beret. After making sure that it properly fit him, he proceeded to ask for a Cardassian phase-disruptor pistol, which was concealed in one of his pockets. He knew he had his claws in close-quarters combat, but he still wanted to be ready for eventualities.

(An outfit such as this one, but with an eyepatch)

He would have preferred a rifle, but that would have been too conspicuous.

While he headed towards Shuttlebay One, he made sure to think on a good story for his character, and the reasons as to why he would be serving in such a position. He was satisfied enough with what he came up with when he finally arrived.

"You know," He quipped, as he arrived last to the shuttle "I wanna buy a moon~"

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Bridge | Deck One | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Nira had to agree. She, Lahr and Zhuk will definitely suffice. And it was definitely convenient that all the elected members for the away team were all on the bridge, including the new medical officer Nural. Nira was certainly surprised at how beautiful-looking Nural was, given how she had never been able to meet her.

And with the assigned forty-five minutes, she had time to get her things together and make her momentary farewell to Savar before she left.

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Shuttle "Harmsway" | Shuttlebay One >- Private Landing Pad | Deck Nineteen >- Tower of Commerce | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A >- Ferenginar]

Nira had a bag and had changed into some robes, posing as a rich-looking (if not rich) scammer. True, she may likely cause heads to turn with both her clothes and her beauty or either one. Indeed, that's what she had in mind: She certainly looked like a girlish Aladdin who scams rich nobles, and with luck, Lahr would look like the computer-smart-genius best friend and cohort who helps with the scams, and Zhuk being their bodyguard. Of course, with her knives, she'd look like she could fool the rich nobles with her looks before scamming them at knifepoint.

She didn't bring her phaser but kept her daggers on her. Her change of underwear under her uniform was changed into her dancer's attire, just in case she had to...entertain some unsavory people and soften them up. She still had her uniformed packed into her bag, just in case she had to join a Federation negotiating party.

Nira had to raise an eyebrow at the sight of the Mjolnir getting changed into civilian craft named the "Harmsway." It sounded like something from a Hemingway or Fitzgerald book where you never know, at any moment, that some Roaring Twenties dumped girl with a broken heart would jump ship. Or maybe the name of a launch from the Titanic occupied only by a gaggle of shocked lovebirds.

Still, looking at it made her think of when she and T'Lara infiltrated a Romulan underground movement, using Don Addam's own old vessel, the Martha. They certainly did a good job with trying to make this ship look like the Martha, Nira thought wryly, yet smiling with nostalgia.

They waited for the away teams to assemble before taking off. Nira wasn't surprised that Captain Galloway was at them helm; this was one of the best pilots she knew. It wasn't long before the "Harmsway" went into some clouds shortly after entering the atmosphere, and once they broke through the clouds, they got a good look at the planet below.

If there could be a word to sum up Ferenginar in a nutshell, the word would be: "Murky." That's the word that escaped Nira's lips the moment she saw the planet below.

Even from high up, Nira could tell the landscape was all swamp, even with the bare amount of sunlight seen through the constant rainclouds. In spite of the daytime, it looked slightly dark, more of a twilight lighting, albeit without the colors of a sun.

Then, all at once, like instantly coming across grassy farmland after a desert, or like finding desert when wet farmlands ended, the capital city loomed above. Nira was a little in awe. There were plenty of tall structures dominating the horizon, but it was the tallest that took Nira's breath away. She remembered when Aunty Parisa took her to Ankor Wat when she was little, and the central complex certainly had an Ankor Wat look, except for the center structure which looked like a series of Ankor domes stacked on top of each other until it got as high as the Burj Khalifa, Nira's favorite building.

"That must be the Tower of Commerce over there," Nira said. "Well, now that we're close...Lahr, Zhuk, come along."

When the Liquidator and his Daimon escorts were accompanied to their shuttles with Zhuk, the Liquidator, amidst his conversing with him, starting with his explanation of a Liquidator (backed up by his Daimons considering his accent), the Liquidator gave Zhuk a Ferengi PADD giving instructions to him, Nira and Lahr:

"It won't be a good idea for the two teams to meet with me both at the same time. Therefore, infiltrators, from your shuttle, beam down to the train station at the Thieves Quarter, coinciding with the arrival of a train. Once you get there, find the casino labeled 'Multi-Chance' and look for the Eliminator keeping an eye on the security, Bink. He may take bribes from the casino, but he answers directly to the Tower of Commerce, and he's one of our eyes on the accumulating thugs and assassins in the Quarter. He'll fill you in on the situation and on the most dangerous players there."

As the "Harmsway" landed at the dock recommended by Bock, the sensors, scanning the train traffic, detected a train heading into the Thieves Quarter, and McNair was ready to beam the three down.

"Energize," ordered Nira, ready for beam-in after switching her bag with her uniform with her purse, as well as a smaller bag that the Liquidator gave to Zhuk along with the PADD.

[Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas, posing as Mercenary T'Riss | Shuttle "Harmsway" | Suttlebay One >- Private Landing Pad| Deck Nineteen >- Tower of Commerce | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A >- Ferenginar]

As Zhuk, posing as 'T'Riss' glanced over at the disguised Nira within the ship, nodding towards her as he took a moment to appreciate how her outfit certainly was eye-catching. His attention, however, soon enough got shifted towards their descent, as he felt the rocking motions signal their crossing of the outer atmosphere. Curious as to how the planet would be, he made sure to gaze through the window at the muddy, swampy terrain and thick clouds that constantly seemed to drizzle, leaving much of the land mostly obscured, as the sun could not penetrate past the canopy.

It seemed, too, that he would get quite wet. Oh, well. Part of the job, he supposed.

His musings turned quickly into awe, however, as he gazed at the many buildings, some of them utterly gargantuan, that dominated the capital city. The most impressive, certainly, was that one which Nira referred to as 'The Tower of Commerce'.

His ears flicked as he overheard Nira's call to accompany her, something that he almost immediately did, heading towards the teleporter pad. Taking his spot, he felt as his molecules were transported away, into the planet.

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Bridge | Deck One | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Train Platform | Thieves Quarter | Fereng | Ferenginar]

Nira, Lahr and Zhuk were beamed the platform, away from the crowds. Good space, and so close to the platform, so they can step out and blend with the crowd. Naturally, it had to smell and it had to be crowded. As Nira gestured for Lahr and Zhuk to follow, they joined the crowds heading out of the train. There were plenty of people ready to pick pockets, whether they were dead or alive.

Suddenly, Nira stopped in surprise just as she almost stepped into a man in the crowd. She didn't recognize the man by his face, but she was surprised by his choice of attire, and that could mean...

"How very unexpected," said a cool voice as the uniformed Romulan turned around. Nira flinched and blinked in surprise.

While his uniform a little darker-looking, but his eyes particularly steely. Naturally, Nira's surprise only increased the more she looked at him. For certain, this had to be him. She was especially surprised that he was even on a train heading toward the Thieves Quarter, the last place she'd expect somebody who might as well be painted in bullseyes to head to, let alone intending to get off.

"I could say the same about you," Nira said curtly, getting in character. "Now why would a Romulan like you be looking for trouble in this corner of the galaxy?"

"Maybe you'd like to see if you can sneak into my auction," said the defector in a neutrally challenging way.

"Your auction?" scoffed Nira. "Now that's a first, a Romulan with an interest in profit."

"Oh, just acclimating to Ferenginar's atmosphere," the defector replied with a shrug. "Getting used to the culture. Besides, I think things will be interesting in Ferenginar in the coming days. Maybe there may be plenty of my people who want what I have to sell."

"And what's your merchandise?" asked Nira. "Weapons? Ships? Drugs?"

"Secrets," the defector said teasingly.

"A Romulan dealing in secrets?" said Nira. "So there's some kind of confession booth somewhere?"

"I'm not going to detain you any longer, little girl," the defector retorted. "You must have a busy day ahead of you with your bodyguards before you have to...seduce your customers."

"And I won't detain you, either, Mister...?"

"Dokan," the defector said. "And you, miss..."

"Sahmed. Najwa Sahmed," said Nira, giving her prepared cover name.

"I do hope you enjoy the atmosphere of profit long dormant on your homeworld, Miss Sahmed," Dokan said. "Jolan tru."

Nira stood still a moment as she watched Dokan disappear into the crowd, then she whispered to Lahr and Zhuk: "That has to be the most Vulcanlike Romulan I've ever seen. Despite his tones of voice, not one shred of emotion."

She had to admit, also, she couldn't feel so much as a shred of emotion from this Dokan at all. In fact, she was strongly reminded of the T'hunga, back when she was on Discovery when it accidentally went back in time. Except she could just feel plain nothing, like with the Ferengi she had met earlier in the briefing room.

The three followed the crowd and they got their first full view of the Thieves Quarter. Nira gasped; she couldn't help it, but she was surprised by what she saw:

This place was practically one big medina. It was a small city-within-a-city, walled off from the rest of the modernized city. A famous example was the city of Fez, in Earth's Morocco, where its medina was similarly cut off from the rest of the world. By strong cultural terms, it could not allow the outside world inside, and people allowed to go in weren't allowed to stay for a certain length of time. Even well into the twenty-fourth century, as far as Nira could see when she last visited the place when she was twelve, it continued to look the same as it has for a thousand years. In medinas like in Fez was the unique phenomenon of the cultural stagnation of time. Only the tourists, even if they weren't from Earth, kept it from making it seem like stepping back in time.

The Thieves Quarter was pretty much like a big medina, only they didn't seem to have a problem accommodating all kinds of technology to be modernized, and at the same time have it feel like they stepped into a city obviously designed to be a big slum haven for people anxious to rob people blind. Some of it seemed like buildings were built from landfills. Apartment-like buildings seemed to tower mostly by being stacked on top of each other, like the Tower of Commerce that dominated the nearby cityscape beyond the Ferengi medina.

Nira could see a variety of races, not just Ferengi, wandering about, conducting their illicit businesses and often picking pockets.

"I guess we're never going to find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy this side of the quadrant," said Nira. "Let's go find our contact."

CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret

[Ferenginar - Train Station]

Lahr was not impressed with the congestion of the train station... but he supposed that was why it was the ideal place to get beamed down to.   When motioned to follow Commander Said, the Andorian did so while keeping a hand on his wallet.  Lahr doubted a place known as the Thieves Quarter was all that honest and legit, so it was his job to keep an eye on the Commander.

The Andorian was following from a few paces back when the Commander suddenly came to a halt, her path blocked by a Romulan of all things.

Wait, Romulan?!  His antennae swiveled towards the potential target alertly and he tensed waiting for the Commander's signal to take the target down... but no signal was forthcoming, even though from the man's comments he was the Romulan they'd been told to apprehend.

As the Romulan walked off,  Lahr looked towards the Commander in confusion, something she didn't seem to notice because she was watching the Romulan walk away.  Maybe there was more to this mission than he'd been told?  Not that he or the others were told much of anything but to get the Romulan and his cache of secrets.  Yet there walked away the Romulan and their chance of getting him to tell them where his stash of secrets were hid.

Yeah, Lahr felt like he wasn't in the loop on this mission.  Even when the Commander did lean in to whisper to them, the Andorian didn't see the relevance of her whispered comment.  The man's lack of emotion wasn't their mission.  The Romulan and his secrets was; and yet she'd let him walk off.  Lahr was baffled at her action.

Lahr had no comment to her 'revelation'.  The Andorian figured it was best not saying anything at all than questioning her leadership.

However, a bit later when following the Commander (again at a bit of distance), Lahr whispered in an aside to Zhuk. "Was the Romulan not the target?  Why'd she let him walk?"

[Ferenginar - Theives' Quarter]

From the train station, Lahr continued to follow the Commander.  He was still in a sour mood at having missed their opportunity to deal with the Romulan so when the Commander commented on the quality of their location, Lahr thought it was rather narrow-minded of her.
Not everyone had the ideal life like she had... good-looks... amazing career...  skilled at everything she did.   Some people struggled to make ends meet and this is what that looked like.  People did things to survive that they might otherwise never have considered doing.

Since he hadn't been told where they were to meet their contact, or even who their contact was, Lahr motioned for the Commander to lead the way.  He was just there to be her back-up anyways.

[Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas / Mercenary T'Riss | Train Platform| Thieves Quarter | Ferenginar]

As soon as he re-materialized upon the platform, he reminded himself to get in character, adopting an unfriendly, alert pose with a scowl on his face. As he walked into the crowd he was glad he had chosen such an expression, as he noticed that many were quite willing to attempt to pick his pocket. He hoped that he would be able to disuade them from doing so.

Nira's sudden stop surprised 'T'Riss' as he glanced over at her direction, trying to determine what had stopped her. A Romulan, it seemed. His paws wandered over to his disruptor, more than happy to threaten or use it if it was required, his ears pivoted towards the man to pick up his conversation.

Things turned out to be not so violent as this 'Dokan' individual took off after a moment, following him with his gaze for a moment. "Peculiar, missus. Think he'll be trouble?" He asked, in an attempt at a British accent, muttered to avoid drawing attention.

As they continued, he took a moment to respond towards Lahr's observation, shrugging just slightly, then whispering back "I do not know. I assume that maybe taking him along with us could bring undesirable attention towards us." He suggested, though Lahr's comment did make him ponder as to if it had been a good idea to let him loose. Too late now, he supposed.

When 'T'Riss' walked within the Thieves' Quarters, he only inspected the sheer size and scale of this contained city for a few seconds. His attention soon went back to keeping an eye out for danger, though he made sure to flash a few seductive smiles to anyone that he found attractive, hoping to earn a few points for him later on.

[Ian Galloway]

[Liquidator Bock | Bock's Office | Ferengi Commerce Authority Offices | Tower of Commerce | Ferenginar]

As Liquidator Bock awaited the arrival of one of the away teams, he thought of the Caitian who expressed curiosity about Liquidators.

"Curioush, are you not?" he asked with interest. "I guessh it'sh undershtandable if you don't know much about ush. Liquidatorsh are bashically agentsh of the Ferengi Commersh Authority, which enshuresh how the Ferengi do bushinessh. We're important to the Ferengi government, particularly in economic mattersh."

He continued to explain how Liquidators work before he realized something. He began typing on a PADD and wrote up something.

"Here, take thish to your fee-male firsth offisher," he said. "A messhage, instructionsh. Take thish, too," he said, handing over a small bag, small but a little heavy.

"You'll need thish when you get into the Thievesh Quarter," he added. "Two hundred shtripsh of gold-presshed latinum. You'll likely need them to get your contact to talk."

He looked up as the party he was expected entered. "Ladiesh, gentlemen," he said. "Welcome to the Tower of Commersh! Welcome to Ferenginar!"

[Shuttle SS Harmsway --> Tower of Commerce]

After beaming down Nira's party, Ian headed for the capital and set the shuttle down with a flourish that spoke of a pilot with an excess of confidence. After powering down, he led his party inside to make themselves known. Dressed in a gold with a flowing robe and carrying his gaudy staff. He looked around at the first functionary he encountered, flipped him a strip of latinum and said.

"I am Trade Lord StJohn Dalrymple. Whom do I speak to regarding the upcoming auction? I know you know which auction I mean. Quickly now Lackey, before I pin your lobes under your chin!"

[Nira Said]

CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Shuttle 'Harmsway']

Lahr was disappointed to learn that for this undercover mission he would just be playing second fiddle to Commander Said.  Not at all like his previous undercover mission, when he played a discontent drugdealer.   He'd been given carte blanche for that mission; but he supposed that was likely cause Ruth, Captain at the time, trusted him far more than anyone else nowadays did.

The shuttle ride down in the Harmsway - Lahr had to chuckle at that tongue-in-cheek name - had been uneventful.  As the ship was prepping to land, he wondered how they expected to explain to Customs here why three ne'er-do-wells were arriving in the same shuttle as the rich bidders.  Fortunately, Commander Said had a means of circumventing Customs entirely; and she, Zhuk and he were beamed to a train station instead of disembarking the shuttle.

At Buck's parting words, Lahr gave the Ops officer an up-nod in appreciation.  "You too and don't let the Captain get into too much trouble."  He gave a slight wave as the transporter effect took over.

[Ferenginar - Train Station]

Lahr was not impressed with the congestion of the train station... but he supposed that was why it was the ideal place to get beamed down to.   When motioned to follow Commander Said, the Andorian did so while keeping a hand on his wallet.  Lahr doubted a place known as the Thieves Quarter was all that honest and legit, so it was his job to keep an eye on the Commander.

The Andorian was following from a few paces back when the Commander suddenly came to a halt, her path blocked by a Romulan of all things.

Wait, Romulan?!  His antennae swiveled towards the potential target alertly and he tensed waiting for the Commander's signal to take the target down... but no signal was forthcoming, even though from the man's comments he was the Romulan they'd been told to apprehend.

As the Romulan walked off,  Lahr looked towards the Commander in confusion, something she didn't seem to notice because she was watching the Romulan walk away.  Maybe there was more to this mission than he'd been told?  Not that he or the others were told much of anything but to get the Romulan and his cache of secrets.  Yet there walked away the Romulan and their chance of getting him to tell them where his stash of secrets were hid.

Yeah, Lahr felt like he wasn't in the loop on this mission.  Even when the Commander did lean in to whisper to them, the Andorian didn't see the relevance of her whispered comment.  The man's lack of emotion wasn't their mission.  The Romulan and his secrets was; and yet she'd let him walk off.  Lahr was baffled at her action.

Lahr had no comment to her 'revelation'.  The Andorian figured it was best not saying anything at all than questioning her leadership.

However, a bit later when following the Commander (again at a bit of distance), Lahr whispered in an aside to Zhuk. "Was the Romulan not the target?  Why'd she let him walk?"

[Ferenginar - Theives' Quarter]

From the train station, Lahr continued to follow the Commander.  He was still in a sour mood at having missed their opportunity to deal with the Romulan so when the Commander commented on the quality of their location, Lahr thought it was rather narrow-minded of her.

Not everyone had the ideal life like she had... good-looks... amazing career...  skilled at everything she did.   Some people struggled to make ends meet and this is what that looked like.  People did things to survive that they might otherwise never have considered doing.

Since he hadn't been told where they were to meet their contact, or even who their contact was, Lahr motioned for the Commander to lead the way.  He was just there to be her back-up anyways.

[Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas | Bridge | Deck One | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Once Zhukdra'shar came back from escorting the three Ferengi to their shuttle, he was met with instructions that petitioned for his participation on an undercover operation. He was to apparently take the role of a tough hombre mercenary, down on his luck, escorting both the Captain and Lieutenant Commander Nira down to the planet. After knowing this, he couldn't help but smile wide, his tail swishing from side to side, excited. Though he hadn't arrived in time for the questions, he figured out that he could most likely figure things out as they went down the shuttle.

Heading to change his outfit back at his new, cooler room, he took a moment to browse through his closet to try and find the perfect outfit. After a minute or so of browsing, however, he realized that most of what he wore was too elegant. Sure, it could have fit him if he was meant to play a robber baron, but as a mercenary, it just looked out of place. After humming and pondering it for a moment, using his literary knowledge to come up with an outfit that he felt could work nicely for him. First, he proceeded to replicate an ocular sensor, and a black eye patch, which he proceeded to install and then place upon his right eye.

After taking a moment to get accustomed to the change in his vision, he proceeded to ask the Replicator for a blue vest, and a set of black pants, an inverness cape, alongside an accompanying beret. After making sure that it properly fit him, he proceeded to ask for a Cardassian phase-disruptor pistol, which was concealed in one of his pockets. He knew he had his claws in close-quarters combat, but he still wanted to be ready for eventualities.

He would have preferred a rifle, but that would have been too conspicuous.

While he headed towards Shuttlebay One, he made sure to think on a good story for his character, and the reasons as to why he would be serving in such a position. He was satisfied enough with what he came up with when he finally arrived.

"You know," He quipped, as he arrived last to the shuttle "I wanna buy a moon~"

[Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas, posing as Mercenary T'Riss | Shuttle "Harmsway" | Suttlebay One >- Private Landing Pad| Deck Nineteen >- Tower of Commerce | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A >- Ferenginar]

As Zhuk, posing as 'T'Riss' glanced over at the disguised Nira within the ship, nodding towards her as he took a moment to appreciate how her outfit certainly was eye-catching. His attention, however, soon enough got shifted towards their descent, as he felt the rocking motions signal their crossing of the outer atmosphere. Curious as to how the planet would be, he made sure to gaze through the window at the muddy, swampy terrain and thick clouds that constantly seemed to drizzle, leaving much of the land mostly obscured, as the sun could not penetrate past the canopy.

It seemed, too, that he would get quite wet. Oh, well. Part of the job, he supposed.

His musings turned quickly into awe, however, as he gazed at the many buildings, some of them utterly gargantuan, that dominated the capital city. The most impressive, certainly, was that one which Nira referred to as 'The Tower of Commerce'.

His ears flicked as he overheard Nira's call to accompany her, something that he almost immediately did, heading towards the teleporter pad. Taking his spot, he felt as his molecules were transported away, into the planet.

[Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas / Mercenary T'Riss | Train Platform| Thieves Quarter | Ferenginar]

As soon as he re-materialized upon the platform, he reminded himself to get in character, adopting an unfriendly, alert pose with a scowl on his face. As he walked into the crowd he was glad he had chosen such an expression, as he noticed that many were quite willing to attempt to pick his pocket. He hoped that he would be able to disuade them from doing so.

Nira's sudden stop surprised 'T'Riss' as he glanced over at her direction, trying to determine what had stopped her. A Romulan, it seemed. His paws wandered over to his disruptor, more than happy to threaten or use it if it was required, his ears pivoted towards the man to pick up his conversation.

Things turned out to be not so violent as this 'Dokan' individual took off after a moment, following him with his gaze for a moment. "Peculiar, missus. Think he'll be trouble?" He asked, in an attempt at a British accent, muttered to avoid drawing attention.

As they continued, he took a moment to respond towards Lahr's observation, shrugging just slightly, then whispering back "I do not know. I assume that maybe taking him along with us could bring undesirable attention towards us." He suggested, though Lahr's comment did make him ponder as to if it had been a good idea to let him loose. Too late now, he supposed.

When 'T'Riss' walked within the Thieves' Quarters, he only inspected the sheer size and scale of this contained city for a few seconds. His attention soon went back to keeping an eye out for danger, though he made sure to flash a few seductive smiles to anyone that he found attractive, hoping to earn a few points for him later on.

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Streets >- Multi-Chance Casino | Thieves Quarter | Fereng | Ferenginar]

Nira felt amusement at Zhuk's line in-character: He wants to buy a moon. Really getting into character.

Still, she could feel some critical vibes from Lahr for letting Dokan go. Some part of her did want to follow him, but she remembered that he always had a tendency to disappear. Ferengi authorities have tried to tail him, but he always disappeared no matter what they did. Overall, Nira felt it was pointless to follow him.

"Oh, he's trouble alright," said Nira, and then added to a whisper to both Zhuk and Lahr, "the Ferengi authorities have tried to follow him, but he always disappeared. Much as we could follow him ourselves, it'll be pointless to try without knowing more or determining a pattern."

Then they continued on their way. It wasn't hard to find casinos; she could tell because the people outside were the only ones who looked clean, despite the dirty-looking buildings they guarded. Even the bouncers - big burly Nausicaans - looked clean, their wild hair tied back in ponytails. Finding the right casino, it definitely meant asking for directions.

As it turned out, they didn't have to ask much: The bouncers just simply gave directions. And it turned out to be easier to find, too: Not only was it built into a landfill, but seemed to be built from scraps of D'Kora Marauders and trying to emulate the style of the minarets of the Tower of Commerce. To Nira, it certainly looked more like a minaret completely made of scrap metal, though given the buglike nature of Ferengi ships and the fact that this was made out of D'Koras, the "minaret" certainly looked like a pile of scarabs cramming on top of each other to make an extremely narrow pyramid, extending their wings out often. The part that really looked like a minaret was the top, affording a 360 degree view of the quarter below and even had a view of the Tower of Commerce.

"Here it is," said Nira. "May as well try our luck."

Inside, Nira was surprised. In spite of the hodge podge of scrap metal that consisted of the establishment, the central tower certainly consisted of balcony upon balcony of gambling machines or tables. There were faint puffs of smoke around, so it certainly felt like a sauna, if the sauna blew smoke instead of steam. And Nira could distinctly see extraterrestrial hookahs dotting around, thought he liquid inside looked murky, like sewage...or rather, swamp water.

"Okay, now we need to look for an Eliminator named Bink," said Nira.

"Whoooze aahsking?"

Nira turned and saw a short but burly Ferengi. He was a short man, but not dwarf or midget short. However, he certainly made up for his height with his muscles.

Nira took out a bit of gold-pressed latinum and said, in character, "I was hoping you'd be available for a job."

The Eliminator wheezed in a snort and said, "Sweetheart, unless it's arund heere," and he gestured around the casino to drive the point home, "I'm afraid I can't help you."

Nira took out another slip of latinum and then leaned in. She pinched one of the Ferengi's ear lobes and said, "I could make it worth your while." Then she leaned in and whispered: "Liquidator Bock sent us. It's about the Romulan Dokan."

When Nira withdrew from him, Bink was looking more interested, though his eyes indicated surprise.

"My offyce, if you please," he said, indicating for her, Lahr and Zhuk to follow.

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Bink's Office | Multi-Chance Casino | Thieves Quarter | Fereng | Ferenginar]

Inside, Bink certainly became more friendlier.

"Might I offer a drink?" he asked cordially, and then brought out four bottles of what looked like cola...only...

"It's green," said Nira when the contents were poured out.

"It is," Bink said with a grin, turning from bouncer to salesman in an nanosecond. "Sluuug-o-cola, the slimiest cola in the galaxy! With forty-three percent live algae in every bottle!"

Indeed, it looked like cola, but certainly looked like carbonated pond scum, hence why it was green and fizzly. Nira, after looking around at Lahr and Zhuk, replied, "No thank you."

"Suit yoreself," said Bink with a shrug and took a swig.

Determined to change the subject and not feel disgusted, Nira said, "Alright, so my understanding from Bock is that there have been thugs and assassins waiting to get the jump on Dokan the defector?"

"Mostt definitely," Bink said. "It certainly has the locals worried. While we don't mind if even something illegal makes a profit, it depends on how badly illegal it can be. Illicitness is a two-edged sword."

"And you want to keep it contained as much as possible," said Nira with a guess. "Hence why you have this whole section walled off."

"You're corrrrect right there," said Bink with another shrug.

"Considering how many assassins there are," said Nira, "what should happen if Dokan happened to wander in here?"

"Ran into him, I take it?" asked Bink.

When all three nodded, Bink sighed and said, "He does that from time to time. He likes to remind the targeters that the target is virtually untouchable; he knows the Eliminators are watching them, and there are as many Eliminators accumulating here as there are as many accumulating from different criminal or murderous sections in the Galaxy.

"At the same time, he lykes to remind the Eliminators that he can disappear and cannot be catchable at all. We've tryed all the tailing methods. Even sensors aren't able to find him."

Nira looked at Lahr a moment before turning back and saying, "Well, maybe since he's expecting Ferengi sensors, we could set up one of our sensors to track him. In addition, does he have any patterns in his...constitution around the Quarter?"

"Mostt of the time," Bink answered, "he disappears to a different section of the Quarter."

"And that train station, is that the only one in the Quarter?"

When Bink nodded affirmatively, Nira sat back to ponder. "At least this means he has a starting point."

"Unfortunately, he gets off at vary random points in the day and night," said Bink.

"Really?" said Nira with further interest. "Does he have any indication that he looks tired if he's staying up late?"

"Not so muuch as a baggyyy eye. He's practically a machine in his movements, and especially in organization from what I hear back at the Towwwer of Commerce."

Nira stayed silent a moment to ponder. She remembered how emotionless Dokan had been for a Romulan. Maybe he could've been a Romulan from the Reunification Movement who finally embraced repressing emotions like a Vulcan...

"Well, maybe if there is a chance to talk to him," said Nira, "hopefully we can arrange something."

"Well, he does talk randomly to some of our Eliminators from time to time when he does pass through the Quarter," he said. "I'll be sure to let the Eliminators here in the Quarter know that you need a word with him."

"Right," said Nira. "And maybe we can set up sensors in a way that we'll be able to track him."

"You're certainly more inquisitive than usual," said Bink.

"Well, one needs information to get the facts in an investigation," said Nira. "As a fictional Earth detective put it, 'Data, data, data, I cannot make bricks without clay.'"

Bink snorted and replied, "I know that. Holmes is a favorite among some Liquidators, we enjoy a fair bit of hyoomaan literature now and again."

"Anyway, Lahr, Zhuk, what do you think?" Nira asked.

[Nira Said]

[Shuttle SS Harmsway --> Tower of Commerce]

After beaming down Nira's party, Ian headed for the capital and set the shuttle down with a flourish that spoke of a pilot with an excess of confidence. After powering down, he led his party inside to make themselves known. Dressed in a gold with a flowing robe and carrying his gaudy staff. He looked around at the first functionary he encountered, flipped him a strip of latinum and said.

"I am Trade Lord StJohn Dalrymple. Whom do I speak to regarding the upcoming auction? I know you know which auction I mean. Quickly now Lackey, before I pin your lobes under your chin!"

[Lieutenant Commander T'Kel | Reception Area | Tower of Commerce | Fereng | Ferenginar]

T'Kel had to raise an eyebrow at Captain Galloway's performance. In her Romulan attire, and having been briefly coached by Savar to express emotion from time to time to look like a Romulan - even the brief surgery to give her the "V" shape in a Romulan forehead  - she had the look of a noble, but all the same, she had to look a little baffled. But it was the Ferengi security officers who had to scoff.

"Trade Lord?" one scoffed. "Never realized there were hyoomaans like that. Never even heard of a Federation Trade Lord."

"Oh no," said T'Kel, "just a position of power in the trade section of the Orion Syndicate."

The Ferengi looked over and were even more surprised.

"Well. The first Romulan delegate. Funny to bring up the auction, one of your people is hosting it."

"That's why I'm here," said T'Kel. "I was fortunate to join with St. John after my ship was left adrift after getting ambushed by raiders from the Star Empire of Rota. I feel that, as a member of the Free State, they had it in for me."

This was her cover story as to why a Romulan delegate was traveling with, for the most part, humans.

"And why the Cardassian?" asked the other security guard, taking notice of Nural.

"Another delegate attending the auction. Another first. We're lucky to arrive first."

The security guards shrugged.

"Well, as to the matter of the auction," said the guards, "aside from the Romulan Dokan, a fair number of Liquidators and often some Eliminators are in consultation with him..."

Just then, there came a chirping and the guard answered.

"Liquidator Bock!" he said in surprise when the hologram of the Liquidator came on.

"I believe there ish a delegation of moshtly hyoomansh that have just arrived?"

"With a Cardassian and a Romulan," answered the guard.

"Shend them up to my offishe," the liquidator ordered. "I've been ecshpecting them."

The guard momentarily flinched when Bock whistled when he said "ecshpecting."

"Fine, fine, we'll bring them up."

Turning off the holgraphic communicator, the guard said, "You're quite lucky. Bock had recently joined in on the organization of the auction."

T'Kel nodded, though inwardly, she was thinking that Bock was only taking part in the organization for the sake of keeping an eye on things.

[Liquidator Bock | Bock's Office | Ferengi Commerce Authority Offices | Tower of Commerce | Ferenginar]

A moment later, the party was deposited into Bock's office just as Bock's Hupyerian butler was serving Slug-O-Cola.

"They're all yours, Liquidator," the Ferengi escort said before Bock nodded and shooed them away.

Once they're gone, Bock said, "Welcome to Ferenginar, Captain. And this must be your party. My welcome to you as well. Slug-O-Cola, anybody? The slimiest cola in the galaxy," he added with a wink.

[Kina Nural]

[Lieutenant Commander T'Kel | Reception Area | Tower of Commerce | Fereng | Ferenginar]

T'Kel had to raise an eyebrow at Captain Galloway's performance. In her Romulan attire, and having been briefly coached by Savar to express emotion from time to time to look like a Romulan - even the brief surgery to give her the "V" shape in a Romulan forehead  - she had the look of a noble, but all the same, she had to look a little baffled. But it was the Ferengi security officers who had to scoff.

"Trade Lord?" one scoffed. "Never realized there were hyoomaans like that. Never even heard of a Federation Trade Lord."

"Oh no," said T'Kel, "just a position of power in the trade section of the Orion Syndicate."

The Ferengi looked over and were even more surprised.

"Well. The first Romulan delegate. Funny to bring up the auction, one of your people is hosting it."

"That's why I'm here," said T'Kel. "I was fortunate to join with St. John after my ship was left adrift after getting ambushed by raiders from the Star Empire of Rota. I feel that, as a member of the Free State, they had it in for me."

This was her cover story as to why a Romulan delegate was traveling with, for the most part, humans.

"And why the Cardassian?" asked the other security guard, taking notice of Nural.

"Another delegate attending the auction. Another first. We're lucky to arrive first."

The security guards shrugged.

"Well, as to the matter of the auction," said the guards, "aside from the Romulan Dokan, a fair number of Liquidators and often some Eliminators are in consultation with him..."

Just then, there came a chirping and the guard answered.

"Liquidator Bock!" he said in surprise when the hologram of the Liquidator came on.

"I believe there ish a delegation of moshtly hyoomansh that have just arrived?"

"With a Cardassian and a Romulan," answered the guard.

"Shend them up to my offishe," the liquidator ordered. "I've been ecshpecting them."

The guard momentarily flinched when Bock whistled when he said "ecshpecting."

"Fine, fine, we'll bring them up."

Turning off the holgraphic communicator, the guard said, "You're quite lucky. Bock had recently joined in on the organization of the auction."

T'Kel nodded, though inwardly, she was thinking that Bock was only taking part in the organization for the sake of keeping an eye on things.

[Liquidator Bock | Bock's Office | Ferengi Commerce Authority Offices | Tower of Commerce | Ferenginar]

A moment later, the party was deposited into Bock's office just as Bock's Hupyerian butler was serving Slug-O-Cola.

"They're all yours, Liquidator," the Ferengi escort said before Bock nodded and shooed them away.

Once they're gone, Bock said, "Welcome to Ferenginar, Captain. And this must be your party. My welcome to you as well. Slug-O-Cola, anybody? The slimiest cola in the galaxy," he added with a wink.

The whole shuttle ride down, Kina was nervous. She was a doctor, trained to aid the wounded and heal the sick. Her whole life, that was what she focused on. Medicine. And now here she was, on an away mission not as a doctor, but as a imposter posing as a member of the Obsidian Order from Cardassia. How did someone like that act? She had no idea. In a desperate act, she decided to take on a mesh of one of a character from one of her Cardassian novels, Meditations on a Crimson Shadow, as well as how she portrayed her character in a holodeck program she got in the academy.

Once the doors opened, she looked straight ahead, face completely neutral, shoulders squared, and she tried to glide as she walked. Ferenginar was definitely not like other planets. Murky, damp, it was nothing like Cardassia. Being thrust into this type situation made her miss home. But now wasn't the time to become sentimental. The captain needed her.

She looked around as if she hardly cared about the architecture or decorations that the Ferengi considered good. Keep being mysterious, she told herself. After she followed the guide into Liquidator Bock's office and he welcomed the captain, she finally relaxed, letting out a soft exhale of relaxation. "I"¦"¦have never done anything like that before. And"¦..there's still more to come, right?" she looked over at Bock when he offered them some Slug-o Cola. "Um"¦.you actually wouldn't happen to have some Kanar, would you? I"¦.have a feeling I'm going to need it."

[Buehler]

[Shuttle SS Harmsway --> Tower of Commerce]

After beaming down Nira's party, Ian headed for the capital and set the shuttle down with a flourish that spoke of a pilot with an excess of confidence. After powering down, he led his party inside to make themselves known. Dressed in a gold with a flowing robe and carrying his gaudy staff. He looked around at the first functionary he encountered, flipped him a strip of latinum and said.

"I am Trade Lord StJohn Dalrymple. Whom do I speak to regarding the upcoming auction? I know you know which auction I mean. Quickly now Lackey, before I pin your lobes under your chin!"

[Liquidator Bock | Bock's Office | Ferengi Commerce Authority Offices | Tower of Commerce | Ferenginar]

A moment later, the party was deposited into Bock's office just as Bock's Hupyerian butler was serving Slug-O-Cola.

"They're all yours, Liquidator," the Ferengi escort said before Bock nodded and shooed them away.

Once they're gone, Bock said, "Welcome to Ferenginar, Captain. And this must be your party. My welcome to you as well. Slug-O-Cola, anybody? The slimiest cola in the galaxy," he added with a wink.

She looked around as if she hardly cared about the architecture or decorations that the Ferengi considered good. Keep being mysterious, she told herself. After she followed the guide into Liquidator Bock's office and he welcomed the captain, she finally relaxed, letting out a soft exhale of relaxation. "I"¦"¦have never done anything like that before. And"¦..there's still more to come, right?" she looked over at Bock when he offered them some Slug-o Cola. "Um"¦.you actually wouldn't happen to have some Kanar, would you? I"¦.have a feeling I'm going to need it."

[Bock's Office - Tower of Commerce]

Evan did what he always did upon finding himself in an unfamiliar situation, absolutely nothing, being far too busy processing everything around him. The first thing he noticed upon beaming down to the tower of commerce was the change in atmosphere. A certain dankness clung to the air, even inside. The second thing he noticed was the captain's change of accent, which in addition to the odd outfit, made the man almost unrecognizable. He found himself oddly disturbed by the sound, but not half as much as the Ferrengi, whose voice absolutely grated the ears.

"œI'll try one," Evan laughed, once he realized what Brock has said. He'd never had a slug-o-cola before. Everything was worth trying at least once, and if it was disgusting, he usually had to learn the hard way. Then his new Cardassian colleague inquired about Kanar, something else Evan had never had. "œIf we survive this," he whispered to the young ensign, "œyou'll have to let me try some." He smiled, noting her demeanor, added, "œjust keep breathing. You're in good company."

[Ian Galloway]

[Lieutenant Commander T'Kel | Reception Area | Tower of Commerce | Fereng | Ferenginar]

T'Kel had to raise an eyebrow at Captain Galloway's performance. In her Romulan attire, and having been briefly coached by Savar to express emotion from time to time to look like a Romulan - even the brief surgery to give her the "V" shape in a Romulan forehead  - she had the look of a noble, but all the same, she had to look a little baffled. But it was the Ferengi security officers who had to scoff.

"Trade Lord?" one scoffed. "Never realized there were hyoomaans like that. Never even heard of a Federation Trade Lord."

"Oh no," said T'Kel, "just a position of power in the trade section of the Orion Syndicate."

The Ferengi looked over and were even more surprised.

"Well. The first Romulan delegate. Funny to bring up the auction, one of your people is hosting it."

"That's why I'm here," said T'Kel. "I was fortunate to join with St. John after my ship was left adrift after getting ambushed by raiders from the Star Empire of Rota. I feel that, as a member of the Free State, they had it in for me."

This was her cover story as to why a Romulan delegate was traveling with, for the most part, humans.

"And why the Cardassian?" asked the other security guard, taking notice of Nural.

"Another delegate attending the auction. Another first. We're lucky to arrive first."

The security guards shrugged.

"Well, as to the matter of the auction," said the guards, "aside from the Romulan Dokan, a fair number of Liquidators and often some Eliminators are in consultation with him..."

Just then, there came a chirping and the guard answered.

"Liquidator Bock!" he said in surprise when the hologram of the Liquidator came on.

"I believe there ish a delegation of moshtly hyoomansh that have just arrived?"

"With a Cardassian and a Romulan," answered the guard.

"Shend them up to my offishe," the liquidator ordered. "I've been ecshpecting them."

The guard momentarily flinched when Bock whistled when he said "ecshpecting."

"Fine, fine, we'll bring them up."

Turning off the holgraphic communicator, the guard said, "You're quite lucky. Bock had recently joined in on the organization of the auction."

T'Kel nodded, though inwardly, she was thinking that Bock was only taking part in the organization for the sake of keeping an eye on things.

[Liquidator Bock | Bock's Office | Ferengi Commerce Authority Offices | Tower of Commerce | Ferenginar]

A moment later, the party was deposited into Bock's office just as Bock's Hupyerian butler was serving Slug-O-Cola.

"They're all yours, Liquidator," the Ferengi escort said before Bock nodded and shooed them away.

Once they're gone, Bock said, "Welcome to Ferenginar, Captain. And this must be your party. My welcome to you as well. Slug-O-Cola, anybody? The slimiest cola in the galaxy," he added with a wink.

[Bock's Office - Tower of Commerce - Ferenginar]

Ian eyed the hideous green soda bottle with skepticism. He was however, even in his Orion Syndicate disguise, a representative of the Federation and he was Bock's guest, so he took one of the offered drinks. Rather than prolong the experience by smelling the soda before drinking it, he just drank. He managed not to gag...just, or vomit...just. Before setting the soda down.

"U-unique" "Well now Liquidator, we've made our entrance and I'm certain word is already spreadin' that the Syndicate is here. How can we help with your investigation?"

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Ferenginar - Thieves' Quarter]

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Streets >- Multi-Chance Casino | Thieves Quarter | Fereng | Ferenginar]

Nira felt amusement at Zhuk's line in-character: He wants to buy a moon. Really getting into character.

Still, she could feel some critical vibes from Lahr for letting Dokan go. Some part of her did want to follow him, but she remembered that he always had a tendency to disappear. Ferengi authorities have tried to tail him, but he always disappeared no matter what they did. Overall, Nira felt it was pointless to follow him.

"Oh, he's trouble alright," said Nira, and then added to a whisper to both Zhuk and Lahr, "the Ferengi authorities have tried to follow him, but he always disappeared. Much as we could follow him ourselves, it'll be pointless to try without knowing more or determining a pattern."

Lahr's antenna sank back as his whisper to Zhuk obviously was picked up by the Commander.  Ooops!  Either that or she'd been reading his mind.  That troubled him even more.   He kept forgetting she was part Betazoid.  Roozh! That was so damned annoying.  It was going to get him into real trouble one day - thinking or feeling things he shouldn't around her.   From then on, the Andorian tried to keep his attention on his surroundings and nothing else.
[Ferenginar - Thieves' Quarter - Casino]

Then they continued on their way. It wasn't hard to find casinos; she could tell because the people outside were the only ones who looked clean, despite the dirty-looking buildings they guarded. Even the bouncers - big burly Nausicaans - looked clean, their wild hair tied back in ponytails. Finding the right casino, it definitely meant asking for directions.

As it turned out, they didn't have to ask much: The bouncers just simply gave directions. And it turned out to be easier to find, too: Not only was it built into a landfill, but seemed to be built from scraps of D'Kora Marauders and trying to emulate the style of the minarets of the Tower of Commerce. To Nira, it certainly looked more like a minaret completely made of scrap metal, though given the buglike nature of Ferengi ships and the fact that this was made out of D'Koras, the "minaret" certainly looked like a pile of scarabs cramming on top of each other to make an extremely narrow pyramid, extending their wings out often. The part that really looked like a minaret was the top, affording a 360 degree view of the quarter below and even had a view of the Tower of Commerce.

"Here it is," said Nira. "May as well try our luck."

Inside, Nira was surprised. In spite of the hodge podge of scrap metal that consisted of the establishment, the central tower certainly consisted of balcony upon balcony of gambling machines or tables. There were faint puffs of smoke around, so it certainly felt like a sauna, if the sauna blew smoke instead of steam. And Nira could distinctly see extraterrestrial hookahs dotting around, thought he liquid inside looked murky, like sewage...or rather, swamp water.

"Okay, now we need to look for an Eliminator named Bink," said Nira.

"Whoooze aahsking?"

Nira turned and saw a short but burly Ferengi. He was a short man, but not dwarf or midget short. However, he certainly made up for his height with his muscles.

Nira took out a bit of gold-pressed latinum and said, in character, "I was hoping you'd be available for a job."

The Eliminator wheezed in a snort and said, "Sweetheart, unless it's arund heere," and he gestured around the casino to drive the point home, "I'm afraid I can't help you."

Nira took out another slip of latinum and then leaned in. She pinched one of the Ferengi's ear lobes and said, "I could make it worth your while." Then she leaned in and whispered: "Liquidator Bock sent us. It's about the Romulan Dokan."

When Nira withdrew from him, Bink was looking more interested, though his eyes indicated surprise.

"My offyce, if you please," he said, indicating for her, Lahr and Zhuk to follow.

Lahr followed as directed.  Despite his alertness for trouble, no one seemed willing to even try against the three of them.  He supposed that was a good sign.   When they arrived at the Casino and almost immediately 'bumped' into their contact, Lahr was a bit suspicious.  But it seemed the Commander knew how to handle the Ferengi, even if it was a bit... intimate.

[Ferenginar - Thieves' Quarter - Casino- Bink's Office]

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Bink's Office | Multi-Chance Casino | Thieves Quarter | Fereng | Ferenginar]

Inside, Bink certainly became more friendlier.

"Might I offer a drink?" he asked cordially, and then brought out four bottles of what looked like cola...only...

"It's green," said Nira when the contents were poured out.

"It is," Bink said with a grin, turning from bouncer to salesman in a nanosecond. "Sluuug-o-cola, the slimiest cola in the galaxy! With forty-three percent live algae in every bottle!"

Indeed, it looked like cola, but certainly looked like carbonated pond scum, hence why it was green and fizzly. Nira, after looking around at Lahr and Zhuk, replied, "No thank you."

"Suit yoreself," said Bink with a shrug and took a swig.

Determined to change the subject and not feel disgusted, Nira said, "Alright, so my understanding from Bock is that there have been thugs and assassins waiting to get the jump on Dokan the defector?"

"Mostt definitely," Bink said. "It certainly has the locals worried. While we don't mind if even something illegal makes a profit, it depends on how badly illegal it can be. Illicitness is a two-edged sword."

"And you want to keep it contained as much as possible," said Nira with a guess. "Hence why you have this whole section walled off."

"You're corrrrect right there," said Bink with another shrug.

"Considering how many assassins there are," said Nira, "what should happen if Dokan happened to wander in here?"

"Ran into him, I take it?" asked Bink.

When all three nodded, Bink sighed and said, "He does that from time to time. He likes to remind the targeters that the target is virtually untouchable; he knows the Eliminators are watching them, and there are as many Eliminators accumulating here as there are as many accumulating from different criminal or murderous sections in the Galaxy.

"At the same time, he lykes to remind the Eliminators that he can disappear and cannot be catchable at all. We've tryed all the tailing methods. Even sensors aren't able to find him."

Nira looked at Lahr a moment before turning back and saying, "Well, maybe since he's expecting Ferengi sensors, we could set up one of our sensors to track him. In addition, does he have any patterns in his...constitution around the Quarter?"

Lahr nodded at Bink's offer of a Slug-o-cola.  The Andorian had tried a bottle once with Lek back when the Ferengi engineer had been assigned to the USS Challenger.  His attempt to appease the Romulan Commander back on Katra Station who'd threaten his enlisted career if he didn't make nice with the Ferengi.   The texture took a little getting used to but it wasn't the worst thing he'd drank in his life.

Lahr checked the seal to be sure it hadn't been tampered with before opening the bottle and raising it in salute.  He offered up the only Aquisition Rule he remembered as a toast.  "Greed is eternal."

The Andorian then half listened to the conversation as he wandered about the room looking over the Ferengi aesthetic when it came to showing off gaudy wealth.

His wandering must have caught the Commander's attention and annoyed her because at one point she gave him a  look.   The Andorian's antennae drifted down as he stopped perusing and returned to his place beside Zhuk.   It was only when she continued speaking to Bink that Lahr realized that maybe she wasn't upset at him but that she was seeking his confirmation of her idea.   "It's possible..." he hedged, figuring she wanted him to support her idea, "There ARE slight differences in how the two sensors work."

However, Lahr didn't want her to get her hopes up.  "However, anything that could fool their sensors would probably do the same to ours... but if you wanna test it.  Sure we can do that."

"Mostt of the time," Bink answered, "he disappears to a different section of the Quarter."

"And that train station, is that the only one in the Quarter?"

When Bink nodded affirmatively, Nira sat back to ponder. "At least this means he has a starting point."

"Unfortunately, he gets off at vary random points in the day and night," said Bink.

"Really?" said Nira with further interest. "Does he have any indication that he looks tired if he's staying up late?"

"Not so muuch as a baggyyy eye. He's practically a machine in his movements, and especially in organization from what I hear back at the Towwwer of Commerce."

Nira stayed silent a moment to ponder. She remembered how emotionless Dokan had been for a Romulan. Maybe he could've been a Romulan from the Reunification Movement who finally embraced repressing emotions like a Vulcan...

"Well, maybe if there is a chance to talk to him," said Nira, "hopefully we can arrange something."

"Well, he does talk randomly to some of our Eliminators from time to time when he does pass through the Quarter," he said. "I'll be sure to let the Eliminators here in the Quarter know that you need a word with him."

"Right," said Nira. "And maybe we can set up sensors in a way that we'll be able to track him."

"You're certainly more inquisitive than usual," said Bink.

"Well, one needs information to get the facts in an investigation," said Nira. "As a fictional Earth detective put it, 'Data, data, data, I cannot make bricks without clay.'"

Bink snorted and replied, "I know that. Holmes is a favorite among some Liquidators, we enjoy a fair bit of hyoomaan literature now and again."

"Anyway, Lahr, Zhuk, what do you think?" Nira asked.

With him now involved in the conversation, Lahr paid closer attention to what was being said.  He particularly noted Bink's description of the Romulan's movements as mechanical.  Combined with the Commander's comment earlier of the man being void of emotion.  Lahr had an 'out of the box' theory.

"Has anyone considered that maybe he ain't really a Romulan?"