"Whoah, whoah, whoah, there spinach chin." Ashton Liteboughlt quieted down a Bajoran with an excessively long, scraggly beard. "Lemme get this straight. You didn't receive your cargo of this cooking spice, and all of a sudden it's my fault?"
"Are you not the captain of the Remmington?" the Bajoran asked with a strong sense of anger in his voice.
"Yeah," Ash replied. "I didn't run any cargo of spice though. I've been busy running supplies for the station."
The Bajoran gave him an angry look. "Why was I told that your ship was carring this cargo then?"
"Maybe someone just doens't like you." The Bajoran grunted and walked off. "Sheesh," Ash said to himself. He looked back at his heavily modified light frieghter through the docking bay windows. The cargo in the hold was being offloaded by transporter and workbee.
"Mr. Liteboughlt," a familiar voice called from behind him.
Ash turned around. "Colonel Tarik," Ash replied.
"I hope you didn't have too many problems on the little assignment I sent you on."
Ash grinned. "I just hope you have enough credits to pay the bar tab." Ash handed over the PADD he was holding in his mechanical hand to the Marine CO. "Latest ship movements of the Mulluran Empire." Tarik accepted the PADD and began to quickly look over the information.
"Hmm," he said to himself quietly. "This information is dependable?"
"Of course. Most of it I observed myself. Some of it was from Jacen Klevin's information ring, some from the G'Kar military, and some when I was able to crack into the Mulluran Fleetyard's database."
After a few quiet moments, Tarik looked up from the PADD and then finally spoke again. "Well, as promised, here's your payment." He handed Ash an isolinear chip. "All of the drink mix is in Cargo Bay 22."
Ash grinned. "Always a pleasure doing business with you Colonel." Ash placed the isolinear chip in his boot, and made his way to the nearest turbolift to head up to the promenade.
Promenade...
The promenade was bustling as always. Ash manuevered his way down the hallways, avoiding Starfleet and Marine uniforms, and of course the assorted Klingon, Ferengi, and assorted other clothing. Finally, he reached his destination, "The Royal Dutchess." He stepped inside, his boots creaking on the newly installed wooden floors. "J'nala? You here?"
The Orion female appeared from the back near the store rooms. "Ash, good. I didn't think you'd be here yet." She dropped a few boxes she was carrying on the counter top and made her way over to him. "Do you have the cargo."
"Maybe," Ash replied, with a cocky grin. "Do you have what I need."
She grinned. "Maybe." J'nala went behind the counter and reached underneath producing a bottle of a dark brown liquid. "Do you know the trouble I went through to find this?"
"About as much trouble as I went through to get your crates of Earl Grey tea, capuccino, and your fancy flour for biscuits or whatever." He pulled the chip out of his boot, and held it in his left, normal hand.
"Scones," she corrected. She made her way back over to Ash, and handed him the bottle. Ash handed her the chip, and looked over the bottle.
Jack Daniels No. 7 Whiskey. 2015. Ash smiled. This would work perfectly. He placed the bottle in his satchel and put it over his shoulder. The next person wold either be really easy, or really difficult to deal with.
Marine Decks...
"Mama, mama, can't you see?!"
"Mama, mama, can't you see?!" the group responded in unison.
"The Marine Corps made a man of me."
"The Marine Corps made a man of me."
The jodie continued as the platoon of Marine marched in formation down the hallway. Walking to the left of the platoon, two thirds back was Sergeant Hartman. Ash was a stranger in a strange place as he walked in between platoons of Marines in formation, and ones that were off duty. Most were dressed in their camoflauge, while a few officers were wearing standard duty uniforms. As he continued at a slightly faster pace, he finally caught up with Hartman who was marching a group of new Marines. "Seargeant Hartman?" Ash called out over the Jodie.
"Platoon.... hault!" Hartman called in step. The platoon took one step, and stopped, coming to attention. "Mr. Liteboughlt?"
"Yeah," Ash said dryly. "I have what you've been looking for. Do you have what I've been looking for."
Hartman's eyes narrowed. "I'll let you know after I see it."
Ash, not breaking the slight staring competition between the two, slid the satchel off his shoulder, and opened it, pulling out the bottle of liquor. He handed over the bottle to Hartman to took it and gave the label a glance over. Seemingly satisfied, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. He handed it over to Ash. He then leaned in close and whispered with purpose to him, "This information DID NOT come from me. Is that understood?"
"Of course," Ash whispered back. "Don't worry Sergeant, secret is safe with me."
Hartman nodded. "All right maggots! Forward.... Harch!" The group stepped off on their left foot and continued forward.
Ash opened the piece of folded paper and began to read the information to himself. How Hartman came up with this, he had no idea, but it should get him what he needed.
Operations Center...
The turbolift doors opened to the operations center of Starbase 901. Ash was escorted across the ops center to Captain Mallory's ready room.
"Enter," Captain Mallory said as the doors opened. "Mr. Liteboughlt. What can I do for you?"
"I have some certain information that you've been trying to attain," Ash replied with a cocky grin. He pulled the piece of paper out of his pocket. "I've had to go through quite a few different sources to find this, but here it is." He handed the paper over to the Captain. She put down the PADD she was reading from and began to read the information out loud.
"Half cup of butter, Half cup cinnamon, quarter cup nutmeg, three quarter cup flour, one cup sugar, quarter cup orange juice, four cups of sliced pared tart apples. How did you come up with this Apple Brown Betty recipie? I've been looking for something like this for weeks."
"I could tell you ma'am, but I'd be selling out one of my clients. I couldn't do that." Ash grinned. "I hope this suffices."
"Of course it does," Kitara replied. She continued reading the instructions on the piece of paper. "Well, as for our agreement, I guess I owe you something." She reached into a drawer in her desk and pulled out another isolinear chip. "Here is the information you requested from our long range astrometrics scans. I hope you find what you're looking for."
"I hope so too." Ash accepted the chip and placed it one of his shirt pockets. "Unless you have anything else Captain, I think I'm gonna hit the road."
"By all means," Kitara said, waving.
Ash nodded, and left the ready room and the operations center. He moved back down past the promenade and entered the docking area. He boarded the Remmington and plugged in the isolinear chip to the ship's computer. He then began to look through the information from the station's long range scans. As he went through the different charts, he came upon one oddity. He was studying the planets of Crassus, Pompey, and Nero, and was noticing something peculiar. There was increased carbon dioxide and other gass levels in the atmosphere. They were too quick to be a natural occurance which meant something was going on. From what he could guess, it was mostly industrial production. Who it was, though, was something he would need to find out. Especially if it were the Mullurans. He entered the data into the Remmington's computers and looked at the information again. Something was definitely happening, and he wasn't sure if anyone else knew. He gathered the information, and headed back towards the Operations Center.