GTS: Grand Theft Starship

Posted on Sun Jan 19th, 2025 @ 5:03pm by Commander Rhupert Tyree & Lieutenant Katya Davi & Lieutenant Amy Gordon

2,068 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: The Foragers
Location: Wolf's World
Timeline: Two weeks after Get the Party Started.

Rhu entered the bar and glanced around, purposefully avoiding both Katya’s and Amy’s presence in the place for now. They were on Wolf’s World, having arrived independently in a cover identity or NOC. For this bit, he was known simply as Logan Wright, a down on his luck pilot who’d done a little bit of time in a Federal Penal colony several years back and constantly jumped between jobs.

The place was fairly typical. Three levels spread around a central bar shaped like a horseshoe where three bartenders kept themselves busy. The bouncers were patrolling, making sure that both the workers and the crowd more or less behaved themselves.

Wolf’s World was a sideshow. A wayside rest stop where tramp freighters and small companies could refuel, take a break and get away from any specific government keeping an eye on them as it was in the verge of the Badlands. Officially, the Cardassians might have jurisdiction here, but they tended to let business flow as long as the Gull’s got their kickbacks.

Plus, it was a handy spot for information to pass. And for criminals to feel kinda safe. That meant there were informers everywhere.

As his eyes adjusted to the gloom, Rhu moved toward the bar, leaned on it and flagged a bartender over, ordering the day’s special which happened to be purple and was called a Nettle. He was dressed in a brown, oil stained ship suit and was shod in laced, beat up boots. With sleeves rolled up and collar open, he hoped he was giving off the look of a down on his luck spacer.

Their quarry, as could be expected, was on the third level, holding court around a low table. Captain Drulg Nob of the Gasser Plug and four of his crew were enjoying themselves and conducting business. Federation Intelligence had picked up that Drulg was looking for a throw away crew to help in a heist.

Rhu was hoping he and his Valiants could be part of that crew…but for their own reasons.

Katya, now Kimi Drake, sat at a small table where she could watch the room and sipped her drink. She wore a pair of slim-fitting distressed pants of black hemp and a long-sleeved blouse in deep purple, unbuttoned just enough to show her cleavage. Kimi knew you sometimes had to get their attention before you could get a job. But because she didn't trust people, she kept a small knife in her right boot. Her violet eyes scanned the room with pretend disinterest.

Her alter ego was former Starfleet, having been accused of hacking into the ship's communications to record private conversations. No one discovered the copied documents. She was brought up on charges, but they didn't stick, due to lack of evidence--she'd seen to that. But she was busted down to ensign and given a tedious job moving cargo on a dismal space station. It wasn't for her, so she turned in her miserable pip and went in search of work that better suited her skills--and promised more latinum that the pittance she got from Starfleet.

Kimi finished her drink and sighed. Then she tucked a strand of short blonde hair behind her ear and sauntered over to the bar to get a refill. She pretended not to notice Rhu. "Can I have another of the same?" she asked the bartender in a husky voice.

Mudfoot stumped his way down the bar, giving the human woman a second glance as he reached for a bottle labeled "Not" and poured. "Sure thing. You're new round here." It was a statement not a question as the broad chested Xindi-Arboreal wiped at the bar with a surprisingly clean rag.

"Yes." There was no reason to deny it, nor was there any reason to expound on the one word answer. When he finished pouring her drink she nodded once and said thanks.

"Thought so," Mudfoot confirmed, pleased with himself. "You must be looking for something. Maybe I can point you the right way. For a price."

She took a sip of her drink while looking him over, not sure how far to trust him. But she might not get a better chance than this. "Looking for work--but not asking for pointers until I know the price." The last thing she wanted was to get mugged--or worse--because she asked the wrong person the wrong question.

Mudfoot gave her a half leer and shrugged his shoulders. "Price depends on the type of work you're looking for. And can pay. I never ask for more than you can afford..."

"I'll bet," she thought. With that leer, she had a good idea what he might ask if she didn't have the latinum. "I'm looking for a job on a ship."

"A ship, hey? Well, there's jobs to be had off and on, Mudfoot considered. "Depends on your skills and what you're willing to do."

Mudfoot eyed her speculatively and said, "Are you a desperate, willing, spacer that doesn't mind getting dirty?"

She chuckled softly. "That depends on your definition of getting dirty." Kimi took a swallow of her drink, set the glass on the bar and looked him over. "I'm a willing spacer who doesn't mind hard work or getting dirty--as long as there's a bath in my future." She tucked a hair behind her ear. "Why? What have you heard?"

Shrugging, Mudfoot kept his gaze to the bar, only flicking his eyes toward the table on the third level. "Ol Nob was making noises about finding a crew for his fleet. He's put the word out in certain places."

So, this Nob was currently on the third level. Kimi took a mental note of where Mudfoot looked in case she needed to find the table on her own. "What sort of crew and what sort of fleet? Yeah, I need a job, and I can't afford to be too picky, but I wanna come out of this alive and intact--if you get what I mean." A girl had to be careful in a place like this, even one who couldn't be too picky. At least, that was what she told herself. Kat was very careful about what she projected mentally, in case there were telepaths in the area. At least she was very good at shielding her thoughts.

Spreading his hands, Mudfoot shrugged. "Is all I know. Nob's got something in mind and it's probably on the shady side. You should go ask him."

"I'll do that. Thanks." She paid for her drinks and headed for the stairs to the third level. Once she got there, she looked around for Nob and his cronies. She'd noticed Rhu and Amy when she first entered, but wasn't sure when she'd see them next. She assumed they'd all end up together and trusted Rhu to make it happen. But for now, she had to convince this Nob that she was worth hiring.

====

Amy's look, Flame red hair, her hair done in a French braid. Her attire is a burgundy tank top, black bomber jacket that has seen a lot of usage, worn at the elbow. Black cargo pants, web belt with pouches and shin high black combat boots.

Her name is Natasha Scott, a space rat, a scrounger drifting from one job to the next, in her own perception she is an entrepreneur. What can she bring to the table skill wise? She's not one to shun dirty work, in moving cargo or acquiring hard to find items. She also loved to play cards. Sometimes her luck went well, other times it seemed to fail her. In the corner of the bar, Natasha having the time of her life, playing cards. Tonight, it was looking to be an even match with her luck, as the pot was climbing higher and higher! Natasha felt her heart pounding, she was going to win the large pot of money. With a gleam in her eyes, Natasha proudly laid down the cards she had, a full house getting ready to scoop in the winnings. However, her opponent waggled his index finger, then slowly and deliberately placed his cards on the table, a straight flush.

"Well played Daniel, well played." Natasha rising up from her chair and scooping up her bomber jacket to put it on.

"Care to go another round." Daniel giving a dazzling smile towards the fetching redhead.

"No thanks, you've cleaned me out." Natasha giving a shrug.

"Well, we could bet something else, you win, you will get your money back. I win, I get you." A look of interest and desire showing in Daniel's eyes.

"Not interested, it was fun but I'm going to move on." Giving a disarming smile towards Daniel, Natasha turned to go to the bar to get a drink. She wasn't entirely cleaned out, but had the habit of keeping a few bits of credits to get a meal and a drink.

Natasha slid onto the stool, took a leisurely look around the place noting where Katya and Rhu were, turned her attention back to the barkeep. "Mudroot, can I get some Not, Please? And something to eat?"

Straightening at the request, Mudfoot peered at the spacer and stumped over, "That's Mudfoot, not root. Mudroot was my cousin." He told Natasha as he glanced her over. He splashed some of the special into a tumbler, the caramel colored liquid sizzling slightly as it hit the copper of the glass. The copper would neutralize the acids, though he had to be quick with his bar rag to keep a drop from burning through the bar top. "Food can be arranged. There's Skell rats on the grill, fresh meat and some veg that isn't too far gone. Or there's What's Left stew and bread."

"Ah forgive me, Mudfoot." Natasha was watching with great interest, the pouring of the drink. "I'll take the fresh meat and the veg. " she responded, "And also do you know of any ship looking for crew? I've got enough to pay for my meal but I'd like to find my next paying job, and a chance to move on."

Mudfoot wiped at the bar and said, "Depends on the skill set. I have dishes in the back, or my quarters could use a clean-up." He gave Natasha a wolfish grin and said, "How dirty do you like to get? You kinda got cleaned up at the table," he joked, gesturing toward the card players.

Natasha gave a laugh at Mudfoot's joke, “I’ve been a maid, a dishwasher, toilet scrubber. Not all ships have an auto-cleaner, like some ships I've heard, do have. That is more for the elite star ships out there. If in a kitchen I can even whip up a tasty treat when I am of the mind to." Natasha picked up her drink, taking an exploratory sip. It had a flavor of the copper that it was poured in, plus there was a faint taste of moss, fertile earth and possibly mushrooms. She didn't mind the taste at all. Once she swallowed it, Natasha could feel the burn all the way to her stomach. "This is good Mudfoot" she managed to say, having a slight wince as that stuff seemed strong going down the hatch. Clearing her throat, before she added, "Moving cargo, being a guard, are some other things I've done. "

Nodding, Mudfoot continued cleaning glassware and gestured toward the upper tier where Nob was holding court. "Best talk to Nob then. Go careful. If it doesn't work, check back. I keep my ear to the ground. Kinda sorta."

"Thank you, Mudfoot, much obliged." Natasha grabbing the skewers of meat that had been given to her and headed towards where Nob was at. Let’s hope this works. It’s got to work don't want this to end up being a flop then again why should it? We've got a good team.

Rhu kept tabs on Kat and Amy out of the corner of his eye. They were getting up to speed with Mudfoot. He mopped the last of the What's Left stew with a hunk of the bread, finished off the last of the Nettle. He chewed both as he turned toward the bar, he subvocalized, "Right. I'm going to approach Nob."

 

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