Saitek had been posing as the engineer for over a week and had done well in that pose. The ship's skipper was a Ferengi trader, of unscrupulous reputation. He had once been a daimon but had met with unfortunate losses and had been kicked out of the Ferengi Alliance.
As the craft neared the Patch the ship's sensors began detecting the approach of a large alien ship on approach.
"Raise the shields!" shouted the skipper.
"Shields at 78% and climbing," replied Saitek.
"I thought I told you to fix that. Helmsman, arm photon torpedoes."
"Weapons armed," replied the female Klingon helmsman.
The craft got closer and soon realized whom their enemy was.
"That vessel is a Breen Marauder. The markings on their hull reflect that of a warship," replied the Klingon officer.
"The Breen have no trading scruples. They take, take and take. They have no jurisdiction in the Patch," replied the Skipper.
"If I may interject, the Breen are not one to trifle with," replied Saitek.
"What do you know about them, Vulcan?" asked Skipper.
"I entered into their system during the Dominion War. Let's just say it was not a clean escape," replied Saitek.
The Klingon then added, "We are being scanned."
"Oh Nagus! Here we go."
Seconds later the freighter became under attack.
Starfleet Command had been monitoring the traffic into the Briar Patch, and also the air traffic, especially the moment when the Ferengi freighter began transmitting its S.O.S. Lieutenant (j.g.) Tyvek, recently assigned to the Marine base as Scientific Officer was acting in the capacity as duty officer when he immediately recognized the voice on the other side of the speaker.
"Freighter... what is your status?" he asked.
[Starfleet, this is Captain Saitek. We have been attacked by a Breen warship. They appear to be blocking the Briar.....] the voice replied before the signal died.
Suddenly Commodore Hunter entered the room.
"Sir, there is a situation in the Briar Patch. And somehow my father's involved," replied Tyvek
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