Speak Softly, and carry a pulse compression rifle

[Dumbass 0]

Our next mission was simple.  Beam down to the planet, go into negotiations, and return with what we went down there for.  Not unlike our previous mission where the away team was jumped.  That had been our flaw.  We had forgotten the first two rules of negotiating:  Negotiate from a position of strength, and know what the other party holds in his hand - or behind his back.

 

This time we would not fail.  We were all armed, myself with a repeating pulse compression rifle - Starfleet manufactured, but not exactly standard issue - and the others with phasers of various types and strengths.  None of the team were out for blood, but this was a dangerous situation.  It would have been naive to not be prepared, and I have to admit the familiar weight of the rifle in my hands was reassuring.  This time our negotiations would be more...  aggressive.

 

We beamed down and headed to the last known location of Kresnic's Trade Ambassador.  It took some careful negotiating, and more than a few threats, to convince him to listen to us - and I sensed he never did believe us.  We sent in Garnoopy to do our trading, but not before I discretely slapped a homing patch on his back, just in case.  I kept my rifle trained on the Ambassador the whole time. When he moved, I moved.  Random made it known she didn't approve of my methods, but outside of a direct order to stand down I was not about to drop my guard.

 

Then the Ambassador's daughter made herself known to us.  She eyed the three male members of the away team - Garnoopy, Koralev, and myself - all single and in our physical prime.  There was something about this woman's gaze that gave me a funny feeling in my stomach - and I don't mean that in a good way.  I suddenly felt that a Pon Farr every 7 years was entirely too often. Vulcans can recognize beauty, and I can tell you there was none there that day.  But one of us would have to make the ultimate sacrifice for the good of the team, and I was fortunate we brought the Ensign along.

 

Once the negotiations were complete and we had what we needed we returned to the ship, but not before the Ambassador showed his displeasure at our team by attempting to stab Lt. Perfect while we were in the transporter beam.  I saw it happen, but space was too limited to bring my phaser to bear on the Ambassador. Fortunately the transporter cycle was in it's advanced stages and Random escaped injury.  Perhaps now she will learn the value of peace through strength.