Post 554: Quicksand, Part Two

Stardate 71115: 1500
Title: Quicksand Part Two
Authors Simon Biggs and Zanh Liis
Scene: Main Observation Lounge
Time: Following Part One
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Zanh looked at Simon compassionately. He was still standing, fists clenched. "Lieutenant, sit down. Please."

Simon complied, slumping back down into his chair. Sheila then explained about the Klingon ship's sensor scans and showed the transporter signature present on the station before it exploded.

"Those sensor scans could have been altered," N'Dura warned, "We have not yet had a chance to run every piece of this so-called 'evidence' through our systems to authenticate it."

"I don't think so, it took a lot of effort to get these scans and the Klingons are always a bit suspicious about things like this. They say that they checked them thoroughly as well before we saw them. I also thought that they say a Klingon warrior never lies," Sheila responded carefully.

"A true Klingon warrior never lies." N'Dura replied succinctly.

"So, now is when I ask the obvious question," Zanh began slowly. "I know you would like Starfleet's help to undertake a rescue operation. I'm not certain that we can help. What precisely are you asking of us?"

Vely interrupted and said "With the Trikz forces occupying the Ikiian sector, this has become a very hostile area of the Alpha Quadrant."

*Ah,* Zanh thought. *Now is when we finally find out why this man has been so interested in the plight of two humans when his entire homeworld is being occupied by an enemy force.*

"We don't know a whole lot about the Ikiians," TC Blane said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Care to enlighten us a bit?"

"My planet is located, as you know, between Breen and Ferenginar. A little, out of the way place. There are not many out of the way places left in the Alpha Quadrant at this point in history, but the Trikz have done all they can to try to keep a stranglehold on our people, for years now this struggle has been going on." Vely elaborated. "The Trikz have powerful friends, and so our hold on our territories has been slipping. Other neighboring worlds have looked the other way."

"Well, I know that the Ferengi aren't in a big hurry to help the Ikiians, seeing how the Trikz are smugglers," Zanh replied. "Their piracy has been a source of highly valuable materials and technology for the Ferengi to sell for generations now."

"I've also heard that the Trikz may be involved with the Orion Syndicate," TC Blane cautioned.

"They'll get into bed with anyone who will pay the right price," Zanh confirmed. "They are arms dealers, but in recent years they've taken on larger projects than just distribution. They are at the forefront of illegal weapons development and they are not a threat to be taken lightly."

"Why hasn't the Federation dealt with the Trikz and put a stop to their weapons manufacturing?" Reece asked. "I mean, I know the question sounds stupidly simple but I have to ask it."

"It's. . .complicated." Zanh replied.

"Isn't it always?" Grace said with a shake of her head.

"The Trikz are now using our planet as a chief location for their underground weapons market," Vely informed the crew. "But this isn't the only problem. Still, there is hope. We have recently made an alliance with a close neighbor of ours. The Lexim."

"The Lexim have kept a very low profile in that sector," Zanh said, furrowing her brow. "They have never wanted to get involved in anyone elses conflicts."

"Has anyone here even seen a Lexim before?" Lair Kellyn asked, "I know I haven't."

"The are a pleasing enough people to look at," Vely replied, "Even if they are reclusive in nature. May I?" He handed Zanh a data chip, and she placed it into the panel before her. An image of a Lexim male appeared. He almost looked similar to the human species, only his ears were bigger.

"They are a peaceful people, and yes, they have preferred to remain neutral in the goings on around them. But now they have finally realized that the Trikz are not going to leave them alone much longer, if left unchallenged. Eventually they too will fall. They've realized that perhaps by forming an alliance with the Ikiians they might stand a chance to prevent the Trikz from taking over their world as well." Vely continued.

"S'cuse me, Sir, but how is that a good deal for the Lexim? If the Ikiians have already basically fallen to the Trikz, how can they prevent the same thing from happening to the Lexim?" Grace asked.

"Safety in numbers?" James Biggs offered, having been quietly listening up until this point. "They don't have the forces on their own to withstand the Trikz but with the forces from Ikiia that have managed to regroup off planet, forming a revolutionary force of sorts. . ."

"I'm sorry," Zanh Liis interrupted, "But this all sounds like a lot of local politics to me, and you know that the Federation will not allow Starfleet to become entangled in the local affairs of non-member planets. I don't see, unfortunately, Mr. Vely, what in the worlds the capture of the Biggs' relatives has to do with the war that your home world is unfortunately caught up in."

"What if I told you that Keith Biggs was being used by the Trikz solely because of his history with Starfleet weapons design and that your technology was being used in this war?" Vely countered.

Zanh leaned forward. "Well, that would give me a lot more to think about."

"Because it's the truth, Captain Zanh. Keith Biggs was targeted, and taken specifically for his weapons design abilities. His past role in Starfleet Intelligence made him the perfect choice for the Trikz to abduct, and fairly easily, I might add, from the civilian sector."

"But I thought that Dad was a navigator," Simon looked at his mother curiously. She and James exchanged glances.

"There's a lot you don't know about your father, Simon." Sheila Biggs replied softly.

"I need to know everything that anyone knows about Keith Biggs, the Trikz, the Lexim, the Ikiians, and every other detail that I should be informed of before I make a decision as to what is going to happen now." Zanh replied.

"We simply cannot bring the Independence into a private war like this, no matter how badly we may want to help Simon rescue his family. And we do want to help Simon rescue his family, don't misunderstand me," Zanh concluded firmly. "But local in-fighting, we can't get involved in. So, someone better make a very good case to me for how and why we would be able to justify getting involved in any way, shape or form in this and bring me the data by the end of the day. Otherwise, I am very sorry Mrs. Biggs, Simon, but we're not going to be able to do anything from this point on."

Vely the alien seemed as if he was becoming more agitated with every word Zanh spoke.

"Captain Zanh, how can the Federation," he protested.

"I've made up my mind, Mr. Vely. I need more evidence, I need a justification for our going anywhere near Ikiian space, otherwise the Independence stays precisely where it is." Zanh concluded. "End of discussion."

"In the meantime, Sir?" Simon wanted to know what his next move should be.

"In the meantime, We set course in a general Ferenginar type direction, and see where we are at the end of the day. Mr. Blane, see to it that you and Lt. Margolis coordinate with Science, Security and Engineering. I want every piece of data checked and triple checked for authenticity. Mrs. Biggs, you may stay aboard the Independence but I would ask that Captain Biggs," Zanh locked eyes on James, who could see plainly that the Bajoran did not trust the motives of their Ikiian guest. "You and Mr. Vely should return to the Blizzard and follow us at a distance. Keep in contact, but don't make it obvious that you're keeping up with us." Zanh sighed. "I have a lot to think about. If that's all, we are adjourned."

"No, that's not all!" Vely shouted, as he lunged from his seat and pulled a hypospray from his belt. In one swift motion, he grabbed Zanh Liis by the hair and jammed it against her throat. Everyone jumped out of their chairs, but he warned them off.

"If you come one step closer," Vely announced, "Zanh Liis dies."

"And if we do not?" Salvek stood, fingers poised and ready to pinch the alien's neck nerves at his first opportunity.

"Then she goes with me. Starfleet is going to get involved in this war whether they want to or not." the Ikiian snarled.

"Salvek, don't you dare listen to him!" Zanh insisted, as she and her captor began to shimmer. Vely had activated a remote device and was beaming them out.

"Do NOT come after me! That's an ORD-!" Zanh shouted, then she was gone.

N'Dura hit her badge. "N'Dura to bridge, put a tractor beam on the Blizzard!"

But it was too late. Vely had taken Zanh, and the Biggs' ship, and vanished.

"Holy s**t! Dabin Reece exclaimed. Now what?"

The senior staff formed a tight huddle, as Simon Biggs stared blankly out the window at the empty space where the Blizzard had been, just seconds before. Then he looked back at the now empty chair at the head of the conference table.

"No," he whispered dejectedly. "No, no, no."

"Vedek Jariel to the bridge," TC Blane said sadly into his badge, as they all tried to fathom the fact that Zanh Liis was gone.

-----Aboard the Blizzard-------

"I had a feeling you were stupid, Vely," Zanh snarled, as she attempted to break free from his grasp. "But not this stupid. Do you have any idea who you're screwing with here?"

"I have no interest in you at all, Zanh Liis. You overestimate your importance."

She laughed. "Importance? I'm not important, I'm nobody. I'm just a fill-in, second-string acting captain. Starfleet will have Salvek sitting in my chair before we even get to wherever it is we're going."

She tried to maintain her air of bravado even though she was certain, to a sickening degree, that there were many people who would love to either try to extract information from her or who would want to kill her outright, to settle personal scores. "So who did you sell me out to?"

"The highest bidders." Vely replied simply.

"Oh god, no. You don't mean,"

"That's right." Vely grinned smugly as he shackled her hands and feet. "The Ferengi."

-------------------------------------------------------
Lieutenant JG Simon Biggs
Security officer
USS Independence NCC-90791

and

Zanh Liis
Acting CO
USS Independence NCC-90791