" ... Previous Hacking Experience Necessary ... "

[Guest Vulcan3324]

(Note - this log contains two instances of mild profanity.)

 

"... Previous Hacking Experience Necessary ..."

Lieutenant j.g. T'Parek

Personal Log

February 15, 2156

 

Ten years ago...

 

"Unknown, Captain." The Val'Tryahr's chief science officer, Sub-Commander Mr'shel, announced.

 

Commander V'Tam, commanding officer of the Vulcan ship, turned to his tactical assessment officer. "Has the Val'Tryahr been barraged by any form of sensor scan?"

 

She glanced at a console and shook her head. "It appears not. Judging by what we have managed to detect on the moon's surface, I highly doubt that they have that level of scanning capability." She paused for a moment. "Additionally, we have maintained a relatively great distance for our ship to be detected."

 

"We are also not this planet's only visitors," the helmsman announced. "I'm detecting at least seven more vessels in orbit. Perhaps more, but we are too far away to run higher detailed scans."

 

V'Tam looked at the viewscreen. "Enlarge the image of the third moon." The planetoid instantaneously grew large, revealing the orbiting ships. "Can we determine who they are?"

 

Again, the helmsman shook his head. "Not at this range," he repeated.

 

"I believe that the settlement is initiating another transmission." V'Tam looked over at the exolinguistics-scientifical studies officer at a station to his left. She'd only been assigned to the Val'Tryahr several months prior, and was normally a third-shift officer.

 

"It has been encoded," she added. "My success at breaking the encryption has been limited thus far."

 

V'Tam raised an eyebrow, about to inquire why the chief communications officer was not on shift. As far as the captain was aware, the alpha-shift comm specialist had more experience with these types of matters.

 

A quiet beeping originating at the comm station interrupted his train of thought, and the communications officer spoke again. "The frequency pattern that the lifeforms are using doesn't match anything in the High Command database." The woman's eyes unfocused for a moment, concentrating on the sounds coming from her earpiece. "Rather primitive, I might add."

 

He nodded, still wondering why this junior officer was on the Bridge. "Why is Lieutenant Sarrin not on shift, Sub-Lieutenant...?" He couldn't place her name. Apparently her personnel file had been approved by his second-in-command, for he didn't remember personally reading her application.

 

"T'Parek, Sir. Lieutenant Sarrin was taken ill with a minor virus and is in the medical bay. However, if you would prefer, he can be returned to duty status."

 

The elder Vulcan officer considered his options for a moment before replying. It was no emergency situation, and if indeed any developments arose, he would need Sarrin in prime condition. This 'T'Parek' would be acceptable for the time being. "No, Sub-Lieutenant. I am certain that you are reasonably competent to man this post for the time being,

 

T'Parek inclined her head slightly. "As you wish."

 

The tactician, an older Vulcan woman called T'Pran, spoke suddenly. "I've found a match in the database for the alloys being used in this outpost's construction." Her eyes narrowed as she all but spat her next statement, conveying as much disdain as was appropriate. "And we've dealt with this species before."

 

* * *

 

The air was filled with the exotic scents that permeate the air of every bazaar, be it located on any planet in the galaxy. The smells of the various foods being displayed and sampled; the body odor clinging to the more dubious of the market's visitors, and the animals being bartered over.

 

Raleni hated it. Hissing with fury, she slammed her fist into the electrified bars of the cage she and five other women shared, causing the reverberation of just enough volts to cause intense pain to echo through her body.

 

"Spirits damn you all!", she screamed at the burly, chortling guards outside. They didn't bother activating the pain-inducing collar. The shock she'd received was enough, she assumed they thought.

 

Glaring at the other women cowering in the corner, she spoke through clenched teeth. "Do you want to spend the rest of your lives being sold from man from man? Bartered to sweeten a deal over warp supplies? "

 

They didn't respond, shaking, dumb things that they were. Raleni submerged the tempests of her temper for the moment, gently speaking in soothing regional dialects to the other females.

 

"I can get us out of here," she stated confidently, tossing her long jet-black hair over her emerald-toned shoulders. "I'm just going to need a little help to do it.

 

* * *

 

"The Orion syndicate," V'Tam nodded as he looked over T'Pran's shoulder. "T'Parek, get a message out to the High Command. Inform them of the Syndicate's new trading post. Get some assistance sent. This is Vulcan territory."

 

Orions. The young Vulcan woman collected what she knew of the alien culture as she collected the appropriate sensor logs to forward with the Val'Tryahr's report. Green-skinned race of smugglers and pirates. Highly contradictory society, with matriarchal 'overlords' overseeing the sale of thousands of their own females into slavery every year. Most illogical. "Transmitting message now."

 

"Scramble it." V'Tam turned to look her in the eye. "We don't need the Orions launching an assault fleet against us." He turned to the helm officer. "Lay in a course for the Andorian border. We've been assigned to investigate some 'sensor reflections' that Vulcan trading vessels have been reporting."

 

"Understood, Sir."

 

"Take us out of the system, Lieutenant F'erin."

 

The Val'Tryahr moved away from the moon, gaining speed as it went under F'erin's skillful guidance.

 

"Commander," T'Pran's voice rang out, "I'm reading several vessels in pursuit. Orion short-range fighters."

 

"Increase speed to warp four, F'erin," the captain instructed. "We are not in need of an interstellar incident."

 

T'Pran shook her head. "Matching course and speed. And gaining."

 

He remained calm, as was to be expected. "Increase to warp five."

 

The tactical officer let a tinge of warning creep into her voice. "The Orions will intercept in three ... two ... one..."

 

"Increase to warp..."

 

V'Tam was interrupted by the immistakable sound of transporter devices. Suddenly alone on the Bridge save for the linguist, he turned to her as he collected his thoughts. "Take over helm, and continue towards the Andorian border. As soon as we've lost these scavengers, I will require a full listing of all abducted personnel."

 

* * *

 

Raleni found herself being pushed towards a queue leading towards large auction block. "You'll regret this, coward." She bared her sharp teeth at him menacingly. "Afraid to meet me in a battle of wits?"

 

The not-so-jolly green giant's fist made contact with the Orion woman's jaw, sending her sprawling onto the floor.

 

Rubbing the her bruised chin, Raleni glared at him, pulling herself up. "I'm impressed," she spouted sarcastically. "Now, if only your mind could be as strong as your arm. What a man you'd be then."

 

If the comment had any effect on the burly male, it wasn't apparent. "That tongue of yours will be tamed by your first master, girl." He gave her a final shove into a line of other, scantily clad females.

 

Most of them looked dazed, although a few who'd appeared as though they'd been through this before looked resigned. Cowards... Raleni thought.

 

But as she watched the women being led onto the auction block, a change came over them almost as if, suddenly in the spotlight, they came alive. That's all they have to live for ... she thought.

 

The numbers on the bidding screen added up quickly, and Raleni found herself the next one in line. Feeling a hand pulling on her clothing, she whipped around with highly sharpened fingernails ready to rake across the face of whoever thought themselves worthy of toying with her.

 

The Orion guard found deep green blood oozing out of his face. Smiling thinly, he blinked at her. "If you want a demanding, cruel master, keep these antics up. You'll come across as a challenge to overcome. And by the way, why weren't you changed out of this clothing?"

 

Raleni glanced at what she was wearing. A simple black jumpsuit which could hardly be called alluring. "It suits my purposes. Mind your own business. I'm a married woman, and you aren't going to find me wearing the attire that the rest of your 'livestock' is wearing."

 

The oaf pointed at the auction block, barely able to resist the urge to just shoot her. "Get up there."

 

She chuckled slightly. "Don't forget to mention my two graduate degrees. Might drive up the price a bit," she advised facetiously as she stepped onto the small platform.

 

Carefully scanning the audience, she looked for the ones whose furious bidding was driving up her 'selling price' as fast as it was. A bell chimed as the high bid was cast. The Orion woman's gaze fell upon a smug-looking Bolian. Short and jowly. She smirked in his direction, but her thoughts were hardly focused on his physical appearance.

 

Like hell she'd be his slave.

 

* * *

 

"Fourteen crewmembers were transported to the Orion vessel. Those abducted include all of the personnel who were on the Bridge with the exception of myself and the captain, as well as the majority of the officers in the security division," T'Parek reported.

 

V'Tam nodded and looked at the lone security officer remaining on the science vessel. "You shall be leading a recovery mission, N'Sil. Retrieve our people and leave. There is no reason that we need to make an incident of this."

 

Turning to T'Parek, he raised an eyebrow. "Would you be interested in accompanying the team?"

 

She didn't necessarily want to be exposed to the Orions, no. But who was she to turn down an away mission? It would indeed prepare her for future dealings with the nefarious race. "Indeed," she affirmed.

 

V'Tam returned his attention to the security officer. "Very well. Assemble a team, and meet in the shuttlebay within ten minutes."

 

* * *

 

Forty-five minutes later, an innocuous team of Vulcans were landing their shuttlepod on the small moon.

 

T'Parek looked at her scanners. "I have successfully located the seventeen crewmen. Four of them together aboard a freighter on the surface and have apparently already been sold. I'd advise that a separate team retrieves them while the rest of us liberate those still in the main part of the complex."

 

N'Sil nodded. "You four," he motioned to four junior engineering officers. "We'll board the freighter. "Sub-Lieutenant," he addressed T'Parek, "You are to take the others and gather the others."

 

She nodded. "They're in close proximity to one another. It shouldn't be a problem." T'Parek took a deep breath. "Our ship will be returning to this area within an hour. We have until then to find our crewmen. After the Val'Tryahr enters the system, this colony will go into defense mode, and none of us will be going in or out. The Val'Tryahr does not have enough firepower to defend itself from an second attack, so they will need us to be outside the Orion compound's shields to transport us. As soon as we're aboard, they'll jump to maximum warp. Are there any questions?"

 

The team didn't have any. "Very well. We will attempt to meet back here in thirty minutes. You have a ten minute head start, Sub-Lieutenant."

 

T'Parek stepped into the icy air of the frozen moon and started walking towards the colony. Turning back to the makeshift security detail following her that mostly comprised scientists, she spoke loudly to be heard over the wind. "Whatever happens, follow my lead."

 

They made it inside the complex with relatively no incident. The guards at the gate bought their story that they were Vulcan traders. "Remain here. I'll be heading towards the Vulcan biosigns. They're apparently in holding cells at this time," T'Parek surreptitiously whispered to the team.

 

The sight of so many sentient beings being sold like animals made T'Parek slightly ill, as did the fetid odors of the tradinghouse. Spotting the distinctive brown uniforms of the High Command, she headed in that direction.

 

Raleni sat in the back of a cage of females waiting to be picked up by their new owners, placidly watching the world go by. Apparently the Orions were processing some new 'acquisitions', for the guards around her cage were limited.

 

She was surprised to see a few Vulcans being hustled into the cages. Usually the Syndicate wasn't bold enough to try their hand with kidnapping Vulcans. The unfortunate pointed-ears were most likely off a smaller scoutship.

 

She had almost resigned herself to her fate when she saw a Vulcan woman walking through the 'sold lots' area. Didn't look like a trader; had too much of an intelligent look about her to be among the likes of this center's clientele.

 

T'Parek looked about and walked over to the cage. "Have you seen any of the others?" she asked quietly.

 

"We were separated after being transported to this colony. Several of us were already sold, including us." The Vulcan looked around warily. "We were implanted with some sort of device. I believe that they contain some sort of explosive, as well as a pain center stimulator."

 

"That would be like the Orions," she agreed, poking the bars of the cage with her sleeve. "It appears that they did not electrify these cages. Confident of them." T'Parek slipped a small phaser into the cage. "I'll return in a few minutes."

 

Raleni silently watched the Vulcan walk away for a moment before launching into action. "Vulcan!" she hissed, quietly. T'Parek looked around for the source of the hail. "Over here!"

 

"Did you require something?" she inquired.

 

"Yeah. Freedom."

 

T'Parek shook her head. "We're not here to free the captives. My apologies." She started to turn away as Raleni caught her arm through the bars.

 

"The devices the Orions installed. They can't be deactivated except from the main computer."

 

Raleni had T'Parek's full attention. "Continue."

 

"Well, it just so happens that I'm a bit of an expert on computer technology."

 

She raised both eyebrows. "And you are in this outpost?" The Orion nodded. "Then why didn't whatever vessel you were abducted come back for you?"

 

"I had a one-man short-range ship."

 

T'Parek looked at her for a moment and slowly turned her head from side to side. "I can hack the computer. I do have a great amount of experience in these sorts of matters."

 

"With Orion computers? Are you willing to bet your colleagues futures that you can get the devices disconnected?"

 

It wouldn't be impossible for another person to be transported to the Val'Tryahr. "Stand back," she instructed. She waved over the rest of the crewmen in her team and cautiously took aim at the door. The lock exploded in a shower of sparks as an alarm began sounding overhead.

 

"We need to get out of here." T'Parek jerked her head at the cage containing the Vulcan officers. "Get them loose. And try not to make as much of a spectacle as I did," she instructed her team. "Know where this control room is?"

 

"Should be down that corridor, if it follows traditional Orion design," Raleni pointed. "Follow me."

 

The trading post did follow the elements of Orion architecture, and the duo arrived in the command center. Most of the personnel had scattered throughout the complex and the command center was nearly empty. T'Parek stunned the three Orions on duty and walked over to a console.

 

Raleni sat at one next to her. "If you don't mind, I'll begin."

 

T'Parek squinted at Raleni. "How did an Orion female like you get interested in computers?"

 

"I wasn't raised like most Orions." She keyed a few commands into the system. "Wasn't sold into slavery a few days after I was born, for one thing."

 

"Fascinating." T'Parek started looking at a few lines of coding dancing across the screen. "It appears that we have quite a bit of infiltration to do."

 

Five minutes and many stunned Orions later, they were into the main module of the control systems. "Good work," the Vulcan noted.

 

Raleni smirked. "Thanks. I'm glad I have your approval. We've just to finish disabling those devices on your people and myself, and we can leave."

 

"I must express gratitude for your assistance. You have been of invaluable help."

 

The Orion woman continued deactivating the implants. "No, thank you for getting me out of here."

 

"It seemed the logical thing to do." Taking aim, she carefully knocked out one more Orion thug. "We'd better get out of here. Val'Tryahr will return shortly."

 

"After you," Raleni gestured.

 

Amidst the confusion, the teams somehow made it back to the beamout point in some semblance of one piece or another. The Val'Tryahr was able to get underway without being harangued by the pirates further.

 

A few days later, T'Parek found Raleni having a meal in the eating area and took a seat next to her. "Enjoying your meal?"

 

"Well, there's no meat, but, it's acceptable." Raleni smiled. "Commander V'Tam informs me that we'll be at the Andorian border within the hour."

 

"He is correct."

 

"That's a good thing. I was on my way to Andor when I was kidnapped."

 

T'Parek raised her left eyebrow a centimeter or two. "Indeed."

 

"The Imperial Guard offered me a position at their headquarters. We'll apparently be rendezvousing with one of their vessels at the border." Raleni smiled. "My husband has already been employed there for a few months."

 

"I see. I am certain that you are eager to see him again." She took a bite of the salad. "I realized this afternoon that I never was made aware of your name."

 

Raleni grinned. "Raleni. Raleni Teykier."

 

"I'm certain that you already know mine. T'Parek."

 

The Orion woman nodded. "Andorians and Vulcans aren't on the best of terms. But, I'll pass along a good word about you. Might help you out one day."

 

"It may be useful to have an ally in the Imperial Guard, that is true."

 

V'Tam's voice emanated from the intercom as the ship drew to a halt. "Mrs. Teykier, we've arrived at the Andorian border, and an Imperial Guard vessel is hailing us. I believe it's time for you to say your good-byes and report to the airlock."

 

Raleni stood. "Again, thank you, T'Parek." She made a fair approximation of the traditional Vulcan hand sign. "Live long, and prosper, T'Parek."

 

"Peace, and long life, Raleni."

 

As the Orion walked away, T'Parek continued her meal, pondering the events that had recently transpired. Raleni appeared to be a brilliant scientist, and she knew that the Imperial Guard would make good use of her.

 

Very diplomatic, she thought. Wouldn't surprise me if she or her descendants worked with Vulcans again one day...

 

END LOG