The Serene Sougaq
Posted on Thu Jul 10th, 2014 @ 7:31am by Venin & Karx
Mission:
Vagrants, Vagabonds, and Thieves
Location: Docking Bay 47B
[ON]
Docking Bay 47B was buzzing with activity as a seemingly endless procession of cargo containers was being unloaded from a recently docked merchantman. The stevedores were shouting instructions here and there, the freighter’s crew were shouting back and dozens of interested onlookers were watching.
Most of those watching the proceedings were awaiting the arrival of some piece of cargo or another. This ship, the Serene Sougaq, was a Pakled trader that carried small to medium loads in a wide arc spanning Federation, Ritorian, Gorn and Metron space and anywhere in between. Prior to docking at Starbase 332, the Serene Sougaq had diverted to the backwater world of Hesperia. Exactly why she diverted there wasn’t known, but the fact that she did was why two Ferengi were lurking around waiting to see the ship’s captain.
It would also be a reason for Starfleet Security to take an interest in the Serene Sougaq and if that happened, Karx and Venin might just miss their opportunity. The ship’s captain must have known he was a potential target for questions from the authorities, which was why he was in a rush to unload and get underway.
“There!” Karx said, frantically tapping his brother on the shoulder and pointing to a large Pakled lumbering slowly out of the personnel airlock next to the main cargo door. “That’s him. Gygol Soogledeg.”
"Gygol Soogledeg?" Venin snorted, "What kind of a name is Gygol Soog-" His voice cut off when he saw the sheer size of the figure they were moving toward. He looked like he could crush the brothers' heads with one hand. "A-a-a-are you sure this is the one we need to speak to?"
Karx couldn't help but be amused by his brother's obvious anxiety at having to deal with the massive Pakled. He patted him on the back and then, with the same hand, started guiding him forward. "Don't worry, brother," he said. "You can move a lot faster than he can. But we won't have to worry about that." He pulled a PADD out of his breast pocket and waved it around with a knowing grin, "I happen to have something he needs right here. Courtesy of some careless customers in the bar yesterday."
"What does it say?" He asked with desperation in his voice. "Karx! What does it s-?!"
"Just follow my lead, brother," Karx said with a confident smirk before starting off toward the giant Pakled.
The captain noticed the two Ferengi approaching and immediately reached into a pocket in his pants. For a moment, Karx thought he was reaching for a weapon, but he was relieved when the man's meaty fist emerged not holding a phaser, but rather a purple fruit that he did not recognise.
Karx smiled and bowed before the captain as the imposing Pakled began digging his fingers into the fruit and tearing the skin away. "Captain Soogledeg," he said with grandiose inflection, "may I introduce myself and -"
"It's pronounced Soy-Gley-Deg," the captain interrupted, though he seemed to be showing more interest in his fruit than in the two Ferengi. He sighed heavily and then continued in a disinterested tone. "But that couldn't matter less. What do you want, Ferengi?"
"Forgive my carelessness, Captain Soogledeg," Karx continued, getting the pronunciation right second time around. "My brother and I have some information that we believe you will find ... most interesting."
Soogledeg had finished peeling the fruit by this time and was taking a large bite out of the side, devouring about a third of it in one go. He chewed with his mouth open, juice dribbling out the corners of his mouth while he looked Karx and Venin up and down with cold eyes. After a moment of loud chewing and quiet contemplation, he wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve and leaned forward. "Do you have any idea what I do with Ferengi who dangle vague promises of interesting information in front of me?"
Venin's eyes were like saucers at the mere thought of what the Captain 'did with Ferengi'. Watching the ease with which his fingers tore through the flesh of the fruit, he shuddered at the thought of what he might do to him. He had sensitive lobes!
Karx was unperturbed, maintaining his genial grin and unwavering eye contact with the giant Pakled. He continued, "You're meeting with a woman named Ora Gallin while you're here, aren't you?"
That seemed to pique the Pakled's interest and he hesitated before taking a second bite of his fruit. The hesitation didn't last, though, and he chomped away again, repeating the loud chewing exercise from a moment before.
While he was chewing, Karx produced the PADD from his breast pocket and waved it in the air. "Ms Gallin met with a certain Inspector Drovax in a local bar on the Starbase just yesterday."
The chewing paused for a moment before starting up again, slower than before.
"Now, my brother and I just happen to have a recording of their conversation," Karx continued, with a bow in the direction of Venin. "And we would be happy to share it with you. If you can assist us with something, that is."
Venin winced at how upfront his brother was being with this meandering leviathan. What was to stop him rending them limb from limb and taking the PADD?
The Pakled swallowed his mouthful and tossed away what was left. His whole demeanour suddenly changed and he actually smiled before saying, "How can a humble freighter captain like me help you, gentlemen?"
Karx smiled at his brother. "We have some information to sell."
[OFF]
Karx & Venin
Ferengi Traders
Captain Gygol Soogledeg [NPC played by Lieutenant Augustus Deakin]
Commanding Officer, The Serene Sougaq
