Post 379: Release the Hounds

Stardate:70811:2330
Title: Release the Hounds
Author: =/\= Zanh Liis
Scene: Bridge, USS Independence
Time: Following "Jariel Camen, Interplanetary Man of Mystery"
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Zanh Liis sat in silence in the captain's chair, staring straight ahead. She thought about what Jariel had said and wondered why she hadn't heard anything more from the Callisto's flight deck since Salvek said they were beginning docking procedures. A thought occurred to her. . .

She jumped up and approached N'Dura. "I want to be sure the files Jariel brought back with him get to Starfleet. Encrypt and send them to headquarters immediately."

N'Dura nodded and began working. A moment later she was finished. "Transmission complete."

"Captain Zanh," Maak growled from tactical, "there are two ships approaching."

"Class?"

Maak stared at the scans before him incredulously. "Unknown."

Zanh paced the bridge, hands on her hips. "Colors?"

"They're not flying any."

"Show me." The main viewscreen displayed a nasty looking pair of ships. Shining, sleek, and almost insect-shaped.

They moved in closer, blocking Indy's path and forcing Zanh to halt their progress. "Red alert! All stop."

"Answering all stop," Ellison responded.

"They're big," Micah Samson whispered, looking up from the science station. "Really, ugly big."

"Keep scanning," Liis replied, "get me everything you can on them." She addressed Delgotta next. "Erma, get me Admiral Kelly at Starfleet Command and also- hell, who is in charge of fleet operations on Trill?"

"That would be Admiral Trenton George, Sir," Fox Margolis replied from ops.

"Then get me Admiral George, too. Separate channels."

"Aye, sir." Erma replied, while noting that they were receiving a call themselves. "Captain, incoming message from the lead ship. Audio only."

"Play it."

[USS Independence, you have aided and are harboring several people responsible for the theft and destruction of property belonging to the government of Trill. They have also kidnapped one of our citizens.]

"They mentioned the property first. It's comforting to know they have their priorities in order." Zanh's words were heavy with sarcasm.

[We demand that you turn over the guilty parties immediately, as well as our stolen property and missing citizen. You have ten minutes to comply or further action will be taken.] The transmission ended abruptly without any further explanation.

"He hung up on me and I don't like that. Erma, were you able to get Admiral Kelly on the line?"

"I'm on hold,"

The doors to the turbolift opened and Zanh saw Salvek. She was surprised; she was expecting someone else. "Captain Gilmore?"

"He was not well upon our return." Salvek lowered his voice so the others would not hear. "He's being examined in Sickbay. Dr. Trind hopes that he has simply over-exerted himself."

"Damn. These your friends?" She indicated the ships, which had changed position and now sat with one directly ahead of Indy, the other directly behind her."They are associated with the Symbiosis Commission."

"They have their own ships now?"

"Apparently so, and they are well armed. If you had not extended shields around us when you did, we may not be having this conversation now."

"They threatened to FIRE on you?" Zanh's voice rose in pitch and volume.

"You bet they did!" A voice shouted back from the turbolift. Zanh was startled to see Dabin Reece standing behind her.

"I thought we got rid of him," she whispered to Salvek, who shrugged.

"They tried to stop us from leaving with February and it is my belief they wanted her to die," Reece exclaimed."To hide the truth of what they had done to her symbiont."

"Salvek?" Liis could barely believe it.

"Based upon what I was told by the rest of the away team, that would also be my conclusion," the acting XO answered.

"Game over!" Zanh snarled through gritted teeth. "Erma, open that channel right now."

"Channel open Captain."

"Unknown Trill vessel, this is Zanh Liis commanding the USS Independence. You will break off pursuit and get the hell out of my way!"

[We will gladly allow Independence to leave orbit of Trill as soon as we are in possession of all that is rightfully ours. You now have eight minutes to comply, or we will be forced to fire on you.]

Zanh hurried over to Maak and spoke softly to him. "Could they really do any damage or are they bluffing?"

"I am having a hard time getting complete readings on the second ship, but regrettably, the first one alone could definitely cause us harm."

Zanh addressed their roadblock once again.

"Look, I don't know who you are, but since you insist on hiding in the shadows that tells me that your intentions toward Grace aren't good. If you think I'm going to just hand her over to you, you can forget it. Why don't we bring our ambassador into this or perhaps Admiral George. . ."

She paused to see if there would be a reply, but no one responded. She ran her hand across her throat and Delgotta muted the com.

"Do you have Admiral Kelly for me Erma?"

"Yes, he's waiting Captain."

"Put him on main viewer."

[I've just received some strange data files from your ship, Zanh Liis.] Admiral Kelly informed her. [Trill Symbiosis Commission? What is the meaning of all this?]

"Admiral Kelly, we're in a bit of a jam. I need to keep you on this channel so you can listen in on an audio transmission. Please stand by."

[Acknowledged, Independence. Standing by.] The screen winked out.

"Okay Erma, keep the Admiral on audio only. Now, get me George at command on Trill."

"I've been trying, they say he's unavailable, Sir."

"Like hell he is! You tell them to go into the head and pull him out if they have to, I want to talk to him right now!"

Erma quickly changed the words, but communicated the sentiment of Zanh's request to the Admiral's assistant. "Now they're saying he's gone for the day."

"Tell them that unless he wants to watch a very interesting story about February Grace on tonight's worldwide evening news broadcast, he'd better take my damned call!"

"Yes, Sir."

A moment later, the view screen blinked and Admiral George was glaring at Zanh.

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

"I am Zanh Liis, acting Captain of the USS Independence," Liis replied, "And I want you to call off the dogs."

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=/\= Zanh Liis
Acting Captain
USS Independence NCC-90791