Job Satisfaction...

Posted on Mon Aug 3rd, 2009 @ 12:17am by Tyl'varas Shrive & Brian Mallory & Walter Jones

1,631 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Session One - Jailhouse Rock
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: current

The mess hall was unusually quiet, though this was to be expected given the timing. The Andorian had sent off a message to both Jones, and the pilot Mallory, to meet him here. While he was going to enjoy the look on Mallory's face when he told him the true nature of this mission, he knew that Jones wasn't going to like this. He had spoken to Walter previously, but not in detail.

He walked to the replicator, and keyed up some tuber root, and grabbed a bottle of Andorian ale, and 3 glasses. The Andorian walked over to a table, poured himself a glass of ale, and proceeded to wait for Walter and Brian.

Jones walked in and went to the replicator. "I can only imagine what it is that you are going to talk to me about.. especially when you bring out the ale.. it usually isn't good." Walter grabbed a burger then sat down at the table. "Pour me a glass.. whatever is coming I'm probably going to need a drink for it."

Reaching for the bottle, Tyl'varas poured ale into the captain's glass, and glanced up at Walter. "Apparently, I'm getting soft. It would probably be a bad time to mention that I have 2 more bottles waiting."

A moment later, Mallory came sauntering into the mess hall. He saw the two men seated at the table, saw the open bottle of ale between them. Mal nodded to the captain and warily eyed the Andorian. Then he walked to the counter, poured himself a mug of real coffee, and sat at the table. He looked at the third glass, and turned it upside down, pushing it away from him slightly. "What's this all about, Shrive?"

"You may end up turning that glass back up once you've heard what I have to say." Shrive took a swig of his glass, paused, then polished off the remainder of the glass, reaching for the bottle again to pour another one. "So, I'm going to assume that you would like to know the true nature of this mission, correct?"

Walter took a sip of the drink. "Yeah, it would be nice to actually hear what it is we are getting into. You've been a slightly more irritable then usual."

Shrive took another drink, then placed the glass down, and put his hands together. "We are picking up one prisoner. His name is Park Stamir. I served with him during my stint with Starfleet. He is being transported by a local authority to a Federation prison. We are picking him up from the locals. Without their consent. Martok and Ashcroft are being assigned under my supervision for this extraction. The rest of the crew is being kept busy to avoid more issues than there will be already. We will be disabling the prison ship, boarding, and extracting the prisoner. The Warden is being kept away from the engagement area, and we will be using one of our new shuttles to execute this plan."

"Bloody hell," Mallory said. "Of all the hare-brained schemes I've come across, this ranks at the top. Do you have any idea what you're getting us, the whole crew, into?"

The Andorian looked first at Jones, then to Mallory. "We've taken every precaution that we can come up with, and now the rest depends on the mortal factor. I want the best pilot available. You're it. I will say this, however." Staring directly at Mallory, he began again, "I will not force you to do this, and will not take it negatively if you refuse. This is potentially dangerous, obviously. I will give you half of my cut if you choose to accept this."

"Stuff your cut, you bloody blue git. And I'd just like to see you try to force me. This isn't what I signed on for. I joined a freighter crew, not some sodding commando team. Or so I thought. And now you've drawn us all into your sordid past, leaving us with a rather bleak future."

Shrive started again. "I will not lie to you. This mission was taken as a personal favor to the interested parties. I unfortunately owe Stamir my life. Once this is done, he and I are even. What we do from there is of no consequence. If we do not do this right, we will be running afoul of the Federation even more so than before. Do either of you have any further questions about this?"

Walter sat back quiet the entire time Tyl was going over this all. He figured something like this was up. "Well, I'm not thrilled about this at all.. but debts, honor and promises sometimes are the only things we can count on some times. Once we get him, we could probably either drop him off at pirates haven or something along those lines, on our 'legit' job we are going to be taking on some less then legit cargo as well.. so the quicker we can him and the other stuff out of our hair the better. I want him gone.."

Mallory threw up his hands, and leveled a withering gaze at Jones. "I can't believe what I'm hearing...Captain. Or maybe should I be calling him that? Last I checked, I worked for you, and so does he."

Walter took a sip of his ale and looked at the two men. "My calmness right now is actually hiding the want to grab a phaser and put one between your eyes, Ty." Jones looked over at Mallory. "You do work for me, and so does he, but we took on this job and already been paid half up front. I doubt these are the type of men that are willing to be trifled with after we've already taken their money. I'd rather have the Federation on our heals then someone like the Syndicate or the pirates, at least the Federation takes prisoners." Jones stood up and walked back over one of the pantries and grabbed an apple. "Look... I know this isn't exactly the best of ways to start the first job.. but I think given the cards that we have been dealt, we have to go through with this. For the sake of the crew, for all our hides, if we don't deliver this guy... we'll probably all be next."

Mallory leaned back in his chair, swinging his gaze from Jones to Shrive, and back again. He sipped his coffee and was silent for a long moment. Meeting Jones' steady gaze, he said, "In the interests of saving all our asses, I'll go along with this insanity. Just this once." He eyed them both. "And assuming we all live through this, you had better decide who is in charge of this bloody crew once and for all, or you can find yourselves another pilot."

"Trust me, this is the last time this kind of shenanigans are going to go on." Jones took a bite of the apple and watched the other two intently, making sure he didn't have to break up a fight.

Mal looked at Shrive sharply, and leveled a finger at the Andorian. "This may clear your life debt with your 'old friend', but you owe me now."

"I would rather leave the bastard pinkskin to die, but this is a matter of honor at this point for myself. The simple fact that you are coming is reason enough to make sure that your youngling will always have a father to come home to. Regardless of cost." Shrive walked over to the bar, and picked up another bottle of ale. He opened it, took a drink, and said, "I am going to get prepared. I am truly sorry that you are being dragged into this..." The andorian turned, and walked back towards the quarters, bottle still in hand.

Jones sat back down at the table and looked at his unfinished burger, then looked up at Brian. "Tyl is really a good guy, and the type of friend you want to have when the chips are down. Just sometimes the Andorian side comes out in him a lot..." Jones took a bite of his burger. "I've known him for years, and this is the first time something like this has happened, I know that isn't a lot but... we'll be fine... if worse comes to worse, I've got some contacts in Starfleet."

"Great," Mallory replied. "If we need the cavalry, let's hope they realize we're the wagon train, and won't mistake us for the angry natives. Either way, we'll be lucky to get out of this."

Standing, he drained the last of his coffee and placed the mug in the sink. He looked back at Jones. "You trust him," he said. "I wouldn't be on board if I didn't trust you. It'll have to do, for now."

"I don't think your trust is going to be misplaced." Jones stood up and threw the rest of his burger in the recycler. "I am certainly glad to have you aboard though. I've got a few things I need to take care of before we get to the drop off. Try and get some rest, it sounds like you are going to need to be on the top of your game."

"Yeah," Mal said. He looked at the bottle of ale still sitting on the table. "When this is all over, drinks are on me. I've got a lot better than that Andorian swill." He gave Jones a wan smile, and walked out of the mess hall.

Jones leaned up against the bulkhead and thought about how the recent events had played out and how he was going to tell the rest of the crew.

 

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