Raiding the Food Bank, Pt.2

Posted on Thu Oct 30th, 2025 @ 1:05pm by Ensign Ian Milkovich & Petty Officer 3rd Class Raven Mattel & Commander Mindo & Lieutenant Commander Caradan Eunidas & Lieutenant Daniel Keith & Lieutenant Krysia Kaleri-Smith & Lieutenant JG Olivia Keith & Lieutenant JG Aeryn Jameson & Ensign Aenardha Sh'vastarth

Mission: Outside the Box
Location: MSS Qaraq: Conference Room
Timeline: Current

Caradan strode back into the conference room, everyone remained where they had been when she left.

"Frago," was what she said. "It seems someone beat us to the Ferd. His name is Nokron. He is a Romulan warlord...was a warlord...arms dealer, trafficker, you name it. He is a bit rough around the edges now. His enterprise was shut down many years ago and he was exiled, shamed. It seems he is attempting to revive his prior untertakings. His ship is about the same condition as ours. He does employ other Romulans, some Klingons, Breen, perhaps some humans...anyone really who is on the run; outlaws. But scans show his people are suffering from a bit of malnourishment. That may give us the advantage."

Caradan plotted ever so briefly. "Our mission is still the same. We collect everything we need and can carry. Nokron and his crew beat us here so I promised them claim to whatever they want and can carry. This Ferd contains way more than both of our ships can hope to carry. So, there is no issue there. Seeing that they beat us here, they are nearly fully loaded, so I hope Nokron sees fit to leave soon. With any luck, that is exactly what will happen. It is a fair bet that he does NOT know of the weapons cache. In the off chance that he does, he will find a way to stick around until we leave. In that event...there may be a struggle. Each team," she pointed about her crew, "that goes on collection runs needs to have at least one with them who is experienced in hand-to-hand combat. Keep your wits about you and wait for a cue to engage. I will give the command or...if Nokron orders his crew to engage, that will be your cue to retaliate. I do not want it to come to that. He has agreed to let us also collect what we want from the depot. When he leaves, then we go for the weapons."

She knew there would be questions as well as concerns. Caradan waited for those to be voiced.

Raven felt her stomach churn but she put on a brave face. "We've got this, gang." She tried to sound enthusiastic. "They don't know you're all trained Starfleet officers, either. You have that advantage, too." She smiled to Lieutenant Keith, "And I've been working on my body throwing skills."

Olivia nodded. “Don’t worry we’re used to dealing with risky situations” she gave Daniel a smile as she looked in his direction.

Daniel gave Olivia a bright smile in return and said, "I am confidant that we will be successful in this and yes Raven has gotten quite adept in her body throwing abilities."

"This is all good news," Caradan said. "Feel free to criticize the Federation and Starfleet some. Vent some frustrations. Just don't go overboard with it. Nokron is also...has been...a trafficker of information. He made it a point to keep track of Starfleet captains and commanders. Captain Mindo will stay aboard the Qaraq and out of sight."

Raven had busied herself tying her hair up into a ponytail. "Sounds good to me." She nodded.

“We’ve all been there and done that and have the proverbial t-shirt to show for it” Krysia grinned.

Ian came over the comms as the crew could feel the ship gently slow from warp speed. "We're approaching the Ferd now. I'm maneuvering into position to dock." The channel closed, but then just as quickly opened again. "OH! I had a thought, Lieutenant Commander. The Qaraq and the Ferd may be long-obsolete ships, but they should still speak the same language. Maybe the Engineering crew can work out a way to take control of the Ferd's systems? If Nokron tries something stupid, well, maybe he finds himself on the other side of an open airlock? Or... we could try to establish force fields around our crew to make their journey safer?"

"Captain Mindo," Caradan said as Milkovich finished, "looks like your engineering expertise will give us an advantage."

It didn't take the Qaraq long to sidle up to the old Federation hull, though Ian took a few attempts at docking before they were safely connected to the FERD. He deeply missed the automation of a bigger, newer craft, and gave a relieved sigh when sensors indicated a clean alignment. "Airlock connected." His voice came over the comms again. "We'll have access in sixty seconds."

Gathered in the corridor in front of the airlock, the boarding party was already waiting. As per Caradan's orders, they had split into two teams with a trained Security officer leading a team each. Daniel Keith, Kaleri, and Jameson were in charge of retrieving the medical supplies and engineering equipment, while Caradan, Mattel, and Olivia Keith were on food and energy supplies. Ian was staying at the ready on helm, while Mindo and the Engineering team would be working to connect the Qaraq to the FERD in case of trouble.

There was a slight hiss and a chime once the airlock was ready to be opened.

"I will deal with Nokron myself," Caradan said. "Everyone else, perform your duties as they have been laid out. I will join and provide aid as I can, but will also try to keep as close an eye on Nokron as I can."

Moving into the hull would have been a strange experience for the crew. They were used to seeing the inside of fully operational ships, with full lighting and monitors working, a sense of security from its functionality - the FERD was completely different. Illumination was minimal, most of the screens and panels that would usually show ship functions were just dead screens. There wasn't the usual hum of engines and familiarity of sounds around them. It was like walking through a display ship, a frozen facade from the past. Everything usually there had been removed, as too was their sense of security.

The two groups split as they approached the first fork in the road - Caradan and her team going port-side towards the food supplies, while Keith and his team headed starboard for medical.

===TEAM Caradan/Raven/Olivia===

The trio went about their business, finding the provisions they needed. They were ignored by Nokron's people as the similarly ignored Nokron's people. Though everyone kept close eyes on each other.

It took a few trips to and from the Qaraq before they came across their first altercation.

"Wrong way, shapeshifter," said a Klingon blocking the way into another room. He sported a massive scar up his face and was missing about half his teeth. The man appeared sizeable enough to give anyone a grand display in the fighting ring, but he was clearly malnourished. A bit unsteady on his feet, Caradan regarded him as only taking a few blows before falling to the floor.

"Let us pass," she said to him. "We have assurances from Norkon we can get what we need and..."

"Not in here you are not. We have first claim. Remember?"

Olivia looked at Caradan, it seemed their competition wasn’t planning on playing fair.

Caradan nodded. "Yes. We will move on."

"See that you do," the Klingon hissed.

Caradan motioned for her team to follow to the next area for the provisions they wanted.

A scrawny Nausican was the next to encounter them. "Nokron wants to see you," he said as they were gathering another load to take to the Qaraq.

"Later," Caradan said. "We are busy. If he wants to talk so bad, he can come to us."

Olivia kept working she wasn't planning on letting anyone else get the supplies that were needed.

=====

“So do you think our competitors are going to let us get to anything?” Krysia looked towards Aeryn and Daniel.

“We have as much right here as they do.” Aeryn responded.

"They may try Krysia but I think, well I hope they know better and as Aeryn said we have as much right to these supplies as they do. So, let's concentrate on getting what we need as well as anything we think we might need." Daniel answered.

Krys nodded. "Agreed, the sooner we have what we need the sooner we can leave this area."

"No argument from me Krysia, Let's make sure we get everything and I mean everything we might remotely need. I don't want to be caught not having something we could have gotten while we were here." Daniel replied as picked up several cases of supplies.

===TEAM Caradan/Raven/Olivia===

A set of footfalls could be heard in the corridor; three sets. One possessed two heavy feet. Correction: one heavy foot, as though favoring it in a limp, and a metallic foot.

"Clearly someone could not afford proper prosthetics," Caradan said. She looked to Raven and Olivia. "Keep your wits about you. This could turn into a fight. Nokron's command for his people to fight is your cue to resist. Understood?"

“Loud and clear” Olivia nodded.

The footfalls approached and a small team of three appeared in the doorway. The first was Nokron, a bit unshaven and unkempt and not in his top shape. He had two Nausicaans with him. Both buffed themselves as best as they could. Caradan could see, however, in their hair, their faces, the complexion of their skin, that they were nearly desicated, clearly malnourished. Therefore, they were a bit weakened. This would be an even fight. More even if Caradan was not a Changeling. Her race, however, tilted the balance into her team's favor. She hoped the other team had, at least, an even fight as well.

"Nokron," Caradan said as though announcing him.

"Let me guess," the Romulan said, "my reputation precedes me?"

"And your history," she replied. "Seems you have fallen on hard times."

"You know of the betrayal against me."

Caradan nodded. "I do. And it makes sense for you to be here, to gather what you can."

"Well we are done with our gathering."

"Then you should be departing soon I take it," said Caradan, hopeful. "If you need help finishing up and departing, I will certainly..."

"I will be back on top, where I was, where I belong."

"Empires fall Nokron. They can also be rebuilt."

"And for which are you here, Changeling? To make an empire fall? Or to rebuild one?"

"Just trying to make our way. Look at my crew," she said and motioned to Olivia and Raven. "Human. That means Federation. At least, former Federation, ex-Starfleet. Renegades. We are on the run, and need supplies to barter once we cross the old Neutral Zone." She could see it in his face that Nokron was not buying that story, but weighing his options, calculating to see if he could win the fight to come.

"I heard a tale of a Changeling infiltrating a rebel Klingon force during their civil war. Caused quite the chaos when it outed itself. The rebels lost that war," Nokron gave that brief history lesson.

"You know us Changelings all too well. We love to cause calamity."

"Word has it, that Changeling was Starfleet, and the rebels losing that war helped the Federation."

"Nokron, honestly, do you think Starfleet would allow a Changeling into their ranks? The first thing they would do is captivity. You are a man of information. Look up Project Proteus, if you can find it."

"I honestly think Starfleet would stoop to any level for its benefit."

"Like sending a team here to gather rations? Nokron, these rations are for anyone, everyone, that can find them."

"I am speaking of the weapons stockpiled here."

"Weapons?" Caradan stopped what she was gathering and gave him her attention. "I do not know what you are talking about. It does makes sense for Starfleet to do that. Our scans show no sign of weapons however."

"They are here," he said. "They are hidden."

"And I am sure they are secured with an authorization code. Just as I am sure any attempt to bypass will ring some alarms back at Starfleet."

"And that is why you are going to give me your authorization code," Nokron commanded.

"Nokron, really...I haven't the time for this. Nor do I..."

And before she could get in another syllable, Nokron brought his hand up to his mouth. A communicator was stuck on the bak of his hand and he shouted something in ancient Romulan, something not even the universal translation would pick up. Still it was commanding and said with enough umph that Caradan knew the meaning of his ancient words. It was their cue to leave.

It was a scramble for both crews to gather whatever they could in their hands and get back to their respective ships.

OFF