Redecorating Starbase 400

Posted on Sat Dec 19th, 2020 @ 2:54am by Lieutenant Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi & Lieutenant Alekela illm Meaho'ōla & Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri

1,350 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 108 – Tragedies, Fortunes, and an Endgame
Location: Starbase 400
Timeline: BACKPOOST. Set during Re-taking the Mountain - Parts One and Two

[ON:]

STARBASE 400 – LEVEL 1

This office no longer looked like the former office of Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer. The door, which had been defaced with graffiti clearly marked “LEVEL 1 – A1” was no longer able to fully close. On one of the walls, pictures had been setup for the senior staff. Each of those pictures had been used for target practice and scorch marks were clearly visible on the transparent aluminum frames. The office was filled with a wretched kind of smoke. The office had become a “stoner’s cave” and a flophouse. The Typhon Pact had setup residence and very thoroughly trashed the Commanding Officer’s office. In one corner of the room, it looked like they had roasted a goat over a spitfire. In another corner sat two empty kegs of Typhon Ale.

Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer’s aquarium had been smashed open and the water drained out. The fishy’s that were therein were nowhere to be found. The Klingon and Romulan insignia had been defaced. They were covered over with Typhon Pact insignia.

The replicator was out of order and was sputtering smoke. The remaining lights that worked had a dingy urine yellow look to them. There was no sign of the standard Starfleet furniture. Instead, obscene ‘thrones’ had been setup around a skull and bones table. On that table, in the center was a censor filled with some aromatic herbs that was the source of the smoke in here. And sat around the table were four person that represented the members of the Typhon Pact.

A rather nasty looking Naussican named Koveer was dealing cards to the others. He was built like a tank. Standing at almost nine feet tall he had the bad habit of having a short fuse and a short temper. He wasn’t winning this card game either. He deals the cards to the fellow players. It was a game of C’Halikan Manjaro. Koveer looked at his hand and smiled, maybe his luck was about to turn to his favor?

Koveer said, “Come on, are you going to play or what? What’s wrong with you tonight anyway? Something on your mind?” he said in an accusing fashion to the person seated across from him.

The human-looking dark-skinned bald person only grinned back. "Oh sit down and relax, will ya?" he addressed Koveer. "This is victory... I mean look at this place... The ale was good..." he rumbled, completely unintimidated in the slightest with the massive being making a nuisance before him. Gideon slowly smiled. "There is always something on my plate, big man... Now, how about you shut up..." he turned to his rivals at the table. "I'm in for ten."

Ador slightly fanned his wings showing the tattoos on them. There was no chair for him, he stood on his four clawed feet with his two taloned hands holding his cards. He made a guttural sound to the bald one and then the translator spoke.

"Koveer there is afraid he is going to loose again and have to scrub your latrine for a week!" There was a bit of something that could almost pass as a chuckle if you ever heard a raven chortle. "See your ten." Ador turned to face the big Naussican and asked with that rasp, "You in or are you out?" Ador was from the Holy Order of the Kinshaya but was only deacon within its ranks. As such, when the Typhon Pact had been made it was the lower ranks that ended up having to deal with outsiders.

Koveeer had three gallwups and two derwons, "I see the ten. In for ten and raise you..twenty." He took a drag from what might have been one of them ceegars. A bottle of Klingon Blood Wine Koveer opened with his teeth and took a long gulp. Setting the bottle down he eyes Gideon. He didn't like him. Too calm. Too smug and smart for his own good. No matter, he thought, he'll be dead soon. Next time he tries to start his ship that is. And as for Ador - he would rather enjoy shoving that bug out the airlock.

"You think you're so smart. You think that we haven't heard the news? You think that our battlegroup is...expendable? The Federation armada has already left. They think...they are planning to engage us and retake the station. And I cannot help but notice that your battlelines have been redrawn to a fallback position? That leaves us...more glory" Koveer said with a sneer and a smile.

Gideon chuckled softly. "Stop worrying about details... We're where to play cards, not talk shop... If you want to go and fight... then please, depart now..." he slowly grinned at his rival. "I came to enjoy cards and have a little downtime..." and with that, he tossed in his coins. "I'll see your forty... and raise you three hundred more."

Ador tossed his cards. "I fold," he said grumpily. "Either a really good hand or bluffing like heck and I can't read a thing on that ugly mug of his. A phaser blast might just make it look prettier!"

Gideon regarded his opponent. "Aww... I'm devastated that you should feel like that." he answered. "You wouldn't shoot me... would you... and stop rubbing my mind will ya... Its really distracting and you are sloppy in your control, my youngest had more control then you do." as his tone went from gentle and chiding to downright condescending while he addressed the man as if he had neither his trust or his respect. "I'm trying to play here and... you are cheating."

Koveer put the bottle down hard and made the table thump, "The only cheat here is you! It has been months since my clans have been paid and it is far less than what was promised. I play cards with you because anything else - would be too dangerous - for you." Koveer antied up, tossing the coins in and then laid his cards on the table, "An open kill hand if ever there was one."

Ador just snorted. He would like nothing more than to rip a few throats out and it did not matter which. He pretty much thought that this whole taking of a Federation base was a fool's errand. Everyone knew the Fleeter's would be back and in strength. This Pact was at most a loosely held confederation of beings that only disliked the Federation a bit more than they disliked each other. The will to hold together was tenuous at best.

Gideon's grin only widened. "Oh sit down already will ya..." he commented in a rather dry tone of voice. "The next time you accuse me of cheating... I'll tear out your heart... I came to play cards... Not listen to you run your mouth..."
As he gently hefted the rather large bottle next to him with his left hand as if he went to take a drink but he opted not to instead. "You are ruining the game... Now..." Gideon's smile did not fade. "Sit... your... ugly... ass... down..." as he growled out what he said as he glared at his opponent. "I won't tell you again son," he commented. "Anyway... Your hand beats my Yolardan Rush..."

Gideon regarded Koveer in silence a moment. "You still with us...?" he added after a moment.

Gideon picked up his credits. "I came to play cards... Not get into loud arguments with ugly goons like you. I wanted peace and quiet. Not deal with the likes of you." as he looked around. "Thanks for the game..."

Ador snorted through his beak and the translator squeaked out, "Fine... let's play."

Gideon raised an eyebrow. "Sure... Deal us then..." as he addressed the large being across from him. "Koveer..." he addressed the man. He suddenly changed his mind as he rose to his feet. "Oh nevermind. Forget it... Deal me out... I got no time for guys like you." and with that. Gideon departed the room in silence.

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