The journey home was another twelve hours. Ming was tired from the effort expended in attacking the pirate base. It was much harder work than he'd expected!
Still, however, he could not rest. So he put himself to work reviewing the data from the Nausicaan computers. Most of it was routine accounting data, but there was one strange entry. Someone had apparently booked passage on the pirate cutter!
Ming pulled up the entry and looked at it closer. Then he alerted Tarik.
"Dr. Bakar Mikori. Why is that name significant?" Tarik asked.
"He's believed responsible for illegal genetic experimentation. It was his files that I asked your help in translating," Ming said. "I'm working with three of his subjects, and there are no doubt more. Every time someone has gotten close to the truth about these projects, they've died under questionable circumstances."
Johnny joined them and heard Ming's explanation. He ran a query of his own. "Yes, there are several warrants out on Mikori for illegal genetic experimentation, medical malpractice, fraud, you name it. But it's been nearly 20 years since anyone's heard from him, until now."
"Apparently he's working with either the Nausicaans or the Mullurans. More likely the Mullurans, since they have a better tech base for this sort of thing," Ming said.
"Given what's been happening, I'd venture that Section 31 is also tied up in this," Johnny added. "This sounds exactly like the sort of black box project they'd be interested in."
Ming recounted the deaths he knew about -- all of Benson's previous commanding officers, Lieutenant Flynn, the laboratory where Karissa had been found. "Someone's covering something up. This is not good!"
"You bet your ass it isn't!" Johnny exclaimed. "I'm going to have to report this to Commodore Wallace."
"Can he be trusted?" Ming asked nervously.
"Implicitly," Tarik said. "Both Johnny and I have known him for some time. Wallace is the very soul of integrity, and he's high-profile enough such that not even Section 31 would try anything with him. And he hates Section 31 with a passion. I'll report this to Captain Mallory as well. If enough people in prominent places start asking questions, somebody's bound to slip. If nothing else, we know where to look for Mikori."
"Contact with unidentified vessel off to port!" Jarrod announced. "It looks like a Mulluran planetary assault craft. They're hailing us -- and they're asking for you, Colonel!"
"What's up with that?" Johnny asked.
"Our back-up plan," Tarik said as he went forward.
[I trust all went well with your expedition?] Commandant Mer'an asked from the Mulluran craft being used by the volunteer forces.
"As well as could be expected. We had some unexpected help," Tarik said, explaining the contact with the Ferengi. "The Ferengi have shown an interest in antipiracy operations in this sector. Give them a wide berth. We're on the same side as far as the pirates go, but where the Ferengi stand vis a vis the Mullurans is another matter entirely."
[Understood. My people also will be interested in antipiracy patrols. I am authorized to inform you that my government has signed a contract with the Klingon Empire for procurement of sixteen Vor'cha-class cruisers, plus technical advisors. This plus the craft the Federation have generously agreed to supply to us should allow the G'kar to become equal partners in this sector.]
And where Klingon advisors go, Klingon regular forces usually follow. This could get interesting, Tarik thought. "This is indeed bad news for the Mullurans!" he said, not indicating that he wasn't sure that a Klingon presence in the Briar Patch was a good idea.
Mer'an laughed. [Francona will rue the day he was hatched! Farewell, my friend!]
"Actually, we may need your help," Johnny said. "It's come to the attention of Starfleet Security that there may be important forensic evidence aboard the pirate vessel regarding an important fugitive."
[We are at your service.]
"What's going on, Johnny?" Tarik asked.
"If the Nausicaans smuggled Bakar Mikori, there may be navigation records aboard the cutter. If nothing else, we can pinpoint exactly where in the Briar Patch that vessel has been by the effects of radiation on the hull and systems."
"So why do we need the irregulars? The pirates are dealt with."
"The pirates may be, but the Ferengi haven't been. And they don't part with their booty easily."
The two vessels continued back to the Hygar system.
"Are you sure this idea of yours will work?" K'Tag asked severely.
"Trust me. I've a lot of experience dealing with the Ferengi. One of my first postings as a Marine officer was as part of the Federation embassy security team on Ferenginar. I learned every hustle in their book," Johnny said as he opened a hail to the Ferengi ship Leverage.
"Greetings, DaiMon Vex. This is Lieutenant Commander Chee. We spoke earlier. I have a business proposition for you."
[Go ahead, I'm listening,] Vex replied in a raspy voice.
"I need the pirate cutter for some important research, and I'm willing to offer a considerable amount of money for it."
[Hmmm... I was about to have it sent back to Ferenginar under a prize crew. It was to become my private yacht. You would have to have a very considerable amount of latinum to compensate me, hew-mon!]
I hope this figure is correct, Johnny thought. "I am prepared to offer you up to 150,000 bars of gold-pressed latinum."
[No good! Much too low for such a fine ship!]
"This is a pirate ship with a forged registration. And the Nausicaans no doubt want it back as well. You try to use this ship and you'll have half the star systems in this sector -- and the Federation -- shooting at you no sooner than you left Ferengi space. For that matter, I'm sure there are a few Ferengi who wouldn't mind taking a few shots at your ship," Johnny said forcefully.
[I can buy a new registration on Ferenginar. Or in the Federation for that matter. Money talks!]
"And it would cost you nearly as much as the ship is worth to refit it to your standards. I'm sure pirate accomodations are much too spartan for a distinguished Ferengi DaiMon. And even chains in the hold are too extreme for the way you no doubt treat your wives."
[400,000 bars of latinum, or no deal.]
I've hit a nerve, Johnny thought. "250,000 bars, or we take the cutter by force." With that, the Mulluran transport carrying the G'kar irregulars appeared from behind Hygar's moon.
[Your negotiation tactics are very polished for a hew-mon. 300,000, and that's my final offer,] Vex said, suddenly a little nervous.
"Sold," Johnny said triumphantly. "See a friend of mine by the name of Stanislaus Szymanski aboard Starbase 901 about payment."
The screen cut out.
"How the hell did you manage that?" Tarik asked.
"The insurance policy on the ship I towed in. As soon as I've finished the forensics and demilitarized it I'm just going to turn it over to those colonists anyway. The policy's worth 500,000 bars of gold-pressed latinum, so they're getting money back on the deal. Everybody wins," Johnny explained.
K'Tag laughed. "Never hustle a hustler!"
Under the guidance of the irregulars, the transport landed in the cutter's docking bay without trouble. Which was yet another problem.
"There should be a shuttlecraft here," K'Tag said.
"Mallory. He got away, and left his pirate friends to take the rap," Tarik said. "He probably escaped as soon as the Ferengi showed up. They don't have a record of him as a captive."
"That, or he bribed his way out," Ming said.
"I wouldn't count on that. The Ferengi take piracy very seriously, whether they're commiting it or prosecuting it," Johnny replied. "If Mallory's vessel committed piracy on a Ferengi ship, he'd be dead by now if they got their hands on him.
"Well, we got the captives back, and that's the important thing for now," Tarik said. "We're just going to have to keep an eye out for Mallory."
"I'll notify Commodore Wallace that there are now two Federation fugitives in this sector," Johnny said. "Looks like Security work's getting more exciting every day."
The cutter made much better time back to the station than the transport could have managed. The Leverage followed, hot on its heels.
Johnny, Szymanski, and Vex sat at a table at Soma negotiating the final details. Before long, Vex walked away with a credit chit for 300,000 bars of gold-pressed latinum and Szymanski owned a new ship (registered properly with Federation authorities).
"Thank you for your services, Commander. I was afraid we'd be stuck on this station for months!"
"Starfleet's here to serve, sir. The cutter was easily worth a million bars of latinum, and that son of a bitch thinks he got a deal at 300,000! I do have one small favor to ask, however."
"What might that be?"
"On your way to New Argentina, rendezvous with the USS Hornet in the Nipron system so I can rejoin my ship. At the rate things are going with my shuttle I could have built my own by now!"
Szymanski laughed. "Of course, my friend!"
K'Tag and Tarik, meanwhile, escorted Zac back to his mother. Kitty immediately grabbed Zac and embraced him, smothering him with tears and kisses.
"Do not corrupt the heart of a warrior thus, Captain," K'Tag said sternly. "Young Zachary commended himself quite well against the pirates. He could have been a Klingon child." N'Garen rolled her eyes. "And as for you, my Klingon child, you have done quite well yourself. I will never doubt your heart again!"
"Captain, Colonel, could you do me a favor?" N'Garen asked.
"What might that be?" Tarik asked as Kitty looked on expectantly.
"If he ever doubts me again, remind him of this!" she said as she hung a jingle bell given to her by one of the docking crew around her neck.
K'Tag groaned as the other two officers shared a laugh at his expense.
Ming returned eagerly to Sickbay. Ciara was awake and eating. "Why do hospitals and sickbays always have to serve Jell-O?" she asked rhetorically. "Ming! You're back!" she almost shouted.
Ming couldn't help himself. He rushed to Ciara and hugged her close. "Yes, I'm back. And the pirates won't be," he said.
She looked him over. He was still dressed in his tactical gear. "You know, that's how you looked when we first met?" she said.
They laughed. "Well, if you'll let me change, we can go to the Christmas bazaar they're holding on the Promenade tonight."
"What about me?" she asked. "Shouldn't I change too?"
"If that hospital gown is one of those that's open in the back, I have no objections," Ming said with a leer as Ciara threw her pillow at him.