Cargo Emptor
Contents
Captain's Log, Stardate 40330.7
Mission Complete
After assisting Lieutenant Commander Lee in getting DSR3 back in order after the experimental transporter incident, it took the Niven three days to get trough Stevens Nebula and out into The Triangle. It took an additional seven days to Baker's World where we bid our guests from the Affiliation of Outer Free Worlds goodbye.
We made a brief stop in orbit of Baker's World where Lieutenant Commander Hazor requested a short shore leave which I allowed. Dr. O'Grady reported that some of the junior staff members were a little on edge due to being in The Triangle and serendipitously, Commander Hazor came back from Baker's World with an authentic bottle of Vat 69 Scotch whiskey as a gift. He said we may need it for a celebratory morale boost, so I intend to keep it for such an occasion.
Disaster Stricken Civilians
A short while later, Lieutenant Commander Akoval stated that we intercepted a distress call from a non-aligned ship, the OMS Kamerain. I had Lieutenant Maniersi lay in a course and we engaged at warp 8. We arrived on site in three hours. As soon as we dropped out of warp, visual sensors picked up a homely looking freighter adrift in space and scanners showed 24 life signs. An immediate hail from them displayed an Orion man dressed in sharp black suit on screen and introduced himself as Smüg. He said that there had been an accident where the photon injection failed causing a plasma burst and their engineer was dying in their sick bay. We sent over a medical and engineering team to assist them.
Dr. O'Grady reported that due to the plasma burst, radiation levels were quite high on the ship and formulated an inoculation that would last for about four hours. We administered the medicine to everyone on board the Orion ship. While the crew was working, we kept them on visual sensors and noticed when it jolted sharply to the side. Maniersi reported that anyone aboard the Kamerain would be in grave danger if they lose flight control causing the hip to go into a spin. Hazor estimated that it would take about five days to fix the ship which did not sit well with the Orion captain. Smüg stated that they were carrying medical supplies to Psellus 3 and due to the Psellian Pox outbreak, it was absolutely imperative that they arrive within the next three days. Maniersi came up with a brilliant plan to tow the Orion ship with a tractor beam while the Niven goes into warp to Psellus 3. This was workable for Smüg and I suggested we beam over nonessential crew to the Niven to prevent further radiation sickness. He stated that his crew complement was 23 and requested that the cargo also be beamed over to prevent potential damage.
Suspicious Activities
Exchanging glances with Akoval due to the discrepancy of Smüg's crew manifest and what our scanners indicated, he sent over a security team to keep an eye on things while repairs were being made. While preparations were being made for the towing and settling in our Orion guests, Smüg paid me a visit to my ready room expressing his gratitude for our assistance. He presented me with a gift he acquired during his travels: a small plate that displayed a holograph of a little dancing cat lady.
When we were underway, the Orions set up a carnival in 11 Aftward ((lounge)) saying it was the least they could do in thanks for our help. I was glad for the entertainment for it was sure to raise the spirits of the crew. Everything was going without incident until Maniersi noticed the containment field on one of the containers in the cargo hold had gone down. Given that this was unauthorized, a security team and Chief Lysander went down to cargo bay 4 to check it out.
A report from Lieutenant Donatacci said that Smüg was seen in the cargo bay near the container without the shield. It was also reported that he had a hypospray on his person and when questioned about it, he said that it was what was used on him and he simply forgot to give it back. The statement was suspicious so I had Dr. O'Grady run a scan of it, but it was nothing out of the ordinary. The security team set up visual surveillance of the cargo hold.
Maniersi, working with Dr. O'Grady was able to scan the contents of the cargo and detected our missing life sign. I gave orders to continue on to Psellus 3 at normal speed to not alert Smüg that we were onto the fact they were hiding something. When we arrived in orbit of the planet, Smüg and I got into an argument about inspecting the cargo. Given that Starfleet was now involved in the transport of the cargo, I could not let it arrive on the planet without verifying its contents, especially given the fact that there was a psionic life form within the cargo. Smüg argued that there was no way the Psellian government would consent to opening the cargo before delivery due to possibility of sabotage and he would not get paid for the job.
Runaway Stowaway
While we were debating back and forth, Maniersi privately suggested to transport the life form out of the cargo and Chief Lysander was given the order. After the attempt, Maniersi tried to raise the transporter chief on the communicator, but could not get a response. Akoval sent a team to investigate. Just as things were getting heated, Commander West communicated in saying that the captain's yacht was moving away from the Niven at impulse speed and a Klingon Vor'cha was decloaking on our starboard bow. The ship was from the Chang family, aligned with Duras, and the captain was requesting to speak to me. Smüg was heading to his shuttle so I shouted to him that I would have to continue the conversation later. The security team was placed under orders to monitor the shuttle bay and that the bay doors were, under no circumstance, to be opened. I ordered red alert on my way up the turbolift to the bridge.
