"Reopening The Past."

[MrDrankum 0]

"Reopening The Past."

 

 

 

 

In humon terms, it had been June 13th five years ago. That had been the last time Drankum had boarded the station he was now on feeling the unprofitable things going through his mind.

 

His posting to a Federation outpost had been designed as a final stint before retirement. He would open a simple establishment on the station, make some latinum, perhaps make a few deals on the side for the Ferengi Alliance itself and then retire on Risa. But as an old friend had told him long ago, plans always seem to fall apart.

 

As Ambassador Drankum took in the view of the Starbase 405 Promenade, he found that all he could focus on were the ghosts. It was unprofitable to admit it, but the aging Ferengi had become attached to this place. He had become attached to it's people, to it's....humons. Even when he had attempted to retire over two years ago, he had expected this place to remain. Should he ever...desire it...he could return and all would be as it should. Yet, his eyes and ears clearly showed that was not the case.

 

The annoying Major whom he had somehow grown attached to, Muldoon, was not approaching him to complain. Even when Muldoon had taken up a position in the Canar Government, and Drankum was the Trade Minister, he still complained on a routine basis. Yet even after he had left, there was always the robotic contraption Renc. The Lieutenant Commander humon wannabe had always been a mystery to Drankum, but he had known him to be one of the most reliable individuals on the station. Yet now...he too was gone.

 

Even the mighty Vulcan he had somehow managed to call friend was gone. When Drankum had first come aboard, he was only a Commander and the First Officer. Before it was all over, he was a Captain and one of the few people the Ferengi trusted without question. It had taken a long time to realize, but it was indeed true. Drankum missed Captain Ears...Captain Sorehl.

 

And then there was the mystery man, the Lieutenant who was still assigned to Aegis but the Ferengi had not seen for years. Spawn had been in security when Drankum arrived and somehow, over the years, had gotten himself into enough unprofitable situations to still only old the rank of Lieutenant.

 

There was Hartle, who had come aboard after Drankum as an Ensign. By the time he left Sky Harbor Aegis, he was the Chief Engineer...and a Lieutenant Commander. Although often a pain in the rear for his inability to allow modifications to things, he had still been a familiar face.

 

More familiar had been that of Ambassador and then Colonial Governor Joseph Briel. This had been the humon that for some reason, one Drankum still did not full understand, had asked him to become the Director of Canar's Ministry of Commerce & Trade. A unique individual, even by humon standards, he too was now a ghost.

 

Of course there were more imagines that haunted the Ferengi, from giant bugs to boarding Klingons. Yet it was here that Drankum had established the Ferengi Trade Route through this area of space. Outside of what was soon to explode in orbit above Cardassia, it had been the crowning achievement of his career. Still in operation, it had served as a milestone in the Ferengi's life.

 

However, it was not that profitable venture which continued to bother the Ferengi. As he took a few steps onto the Promenade itself, he half expected to see the station's first Klingon Captain peering over at him with untrusting eyes. But even then...HoD t'sara had been gone for a long time.

 

Starbase 405 was indeed Starbase Aegis. The voices of those who had been here remained fresh in the Ferengi's mind. Yet it was clear Drankum, he was the last for a dying bread. He stood in the shell of what had once been one of the most influential Starbases in the area. Now...the building remained but the spirit was gone.

 

Shifting his cane to the other hand he shook his head and glanced at Lieutenant Hawke. "The past is not meant to be reopened like this, my dear humon. It simply is not."