Old Ways vs. The New - Part 4

Posted on Sun Mar 22nd, 2026 @ 9:31am by Captain Daegan Baas & Lieutenant Darius Korveth & Lieutenant Ayumu Tanaka & Lieutenant JG Ryan Kellerman
Edited on on Mon Mar 30th, 2026 @ 10:00pm

1,330 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: What was Lost is Found
Timeline: MD 7 - 0950

[Inside the Council Chamber]

Addressing the Captain once again, "When your ship arrived," Dareem said, "you believed you had discovered something unfinished--perhaps a lost colony just waiting to become the next Federation outpost."

Dareem turned and scanned the hostages, taking note of each one's expression. Some were steely-faced, some were angry, and some were exceptionally frightened.

"That assumption was understandable," he continued. "But mistaken. We are not a lost people, Captain Baas. We are a patient one. And patience has allowed us to consider the opportunity your arrival represents."

He paused again, signaling for Sokah to approach.

"Our intentions are simple. You will begin transporting your crew from the Valkyrie to a set of coordinates we will provide--a location not far from here. All crew must leave--no exceptions. Once your ship is empty, your crew will remain at those coordinates until our departure is complete." He halted for another moment.

"You will of course ask what prevents you from refusing..."

Hearing everything over the open channel, Baas replied. == Wrong again, we didn't see a planet to be exploited. We saw two enemies that had come together to survive and build a new world. ==

He had already lost too many people since they had left Utopia Planitia, but he was not going to hand over his ship to some out of time Romulans. == As for the Valkyrie, that's not going to happen. ==

Leaning in so only Sokah could hear, Dareem whispered two words: "Choose two."

Sokah looked at Dareem for a long moment. He wanted to shake his head no but that would weaken them and give the humans the idea there was a fracturing within those holding them. Kurul had insisted, ordered, that no one be harmed so he assumed Dareem was bluffing. He scanned the group of hostages finally indicating a red head man and the woman next to him, both in gold uniforms.

Dareem followed Sokah's gaze and nodded once to the young Romulan standing nearby. He nodded once at Sokah, indicating he wanted the red-headed man and the woman brought forward.

He fell into quiet thought for a moment.

"Posrun," he said to the young Romulan male nearby. "Bring me the doctor."

The young Romulan stepped forward immediately, bringing his century-old disruptor in front of him. He approached where Ayumu was seated and pointed his weapon.

"On your feet," Posrun said.

Ayumu furrowed his brow.

"If you're planning on using me for bartering, I think you underestimate how we operate," he muttered as he staggered to his feet. "We know full well the risks of our job; killing me's not going to do you much more than put a bounty on your head."

Posrun jabbed the disruptor into the small of Doctor Tanaka's back, guiding the Trill to where Dareem was standing.

"Move," he said menacingly.

Dareem cocked his head slightly at Ayumu's reasoning. "You are not to be bartered nor do I plan to kill you, doctor."

Liam turned his back slightly to Stevie while those in the room focused on the Doc. Stevie had had her hands bound in front of her, and if she could free him, he hoped to be able to do something. One of the men had turned slightly; if he could get behind him, he could take the knife from his belt and perhaps turn the tables.

Stevie worked at the knots reluctantly, whispering, "Be careful."

Darius cursed under his breath in Orion. "You're cowards," he said, his face turning a darker green. "And you are honorless. You're trying to kill two people, one of them a woman and a doctor, to get your way. It isn't going to work. Captain Baas is a practical man; he's not going to give his ship to you. Or anyone. No matter how many hostages you sacrifice."

"I challenge you to a duel. You and me. If I win, you'll let us go, and we'll forget this happened. If you win, you pick me to prove your point."

"Unless I am right and you're too much of a coward."

Dareem turned toward the outburst from the Orion, his expression a mixture of surprise and sudden renewed respect. For several long seconds, it almost appeared that he might oblige him.

He regarded Darius for a moment before nodding slowly, a slight smile beginning to form.

"I respect it."

He paused, and the smile disappeared entirely.

"But I decline."

Stepping toward Sokah, he added: "If he interrupts again, gag him."

Sokah grinned, "With pleasure."

Darius scowled at him, but didn't open his mouth. Instead, he started surreptitiously working to try to free himself from his bonds. He had no plans to go quietly into the good night, or cooperate in any way with their captors.


[Back on the Bridge]

Baas had smirked at Darius's bravado. == Stand down Lieutenant.==

The half Orion muttered something under his breath, an Orion curse he hadn't used for some time. There was a hint more than a hint of anger in it, though it was unclear where that anger might be targeted.

"Aye, sir," he replied, his voice calm. Then, turning to look fully up at the chief captor. "I'm standing down because I follow orders. Just don't push things too far. It won't end well."

At the Intelligence station, Ryan could only shake his head in disbelief. On the one hand, his ex knew that stalling might give the Valkyrie just that extra bit of time needed to make a plan. However, it was just like Ari want to put himself in harm's way before letting a fellow officer.

Ryan could only hope Ari would keep himself safe.

Kurul watched everything unfold and didn't expect Dareem to accept the challenge, but it was just another example to counter his protests of weakness. Taking a step, == Dareem, you see... none of them are as weak as you thought. They never were. Don't you remember that day? We had the firepower, the cloaking device...there was no way we could lose. Or so we thought. We believed we had the advantage, that we were superior, and yet the Ulysses nearly destroyed us. They shot us out of the sky, and we were lucky to survive. ==

He paused momentarily, == They are also right...We have no idea what the Empire is like today. End this. ==

Akir looked at the back of Kurul. Dareem had warned him of this, and as his anger rose, his hand reached ever so slowly into his robes.

"We must remain resolute, my old friend," Dareem responded.


[Inside the Council Chamber]

Liam's hands were free, glancing at those around him, he looked at how he could make a move. He wasn't in the best of positions, but perhaps if he could manage to take a hostage of his own. Lifting himself to get his feel underneath him he froze, closing his eye as he felt an edge on his shoulder and he heard Stevie gasp.

A makeshift farming tool with a razor-sharp edge pressed against Liam's upper back.

"Make a move and I will skewer you," came the deep voice of a Romulan farmer.

Liam coiled, if he was fast enough he could reach that blow-hard Romulan before whoever was behind him could stop him. If he could turn the Romulan perhaps he would be the one skewered and all this would be over. But...

Dareem and Sokah turned to the sound of a minor commotion to see Arim, a young and burly Romulan farmhand with the blade-edge of his s'rota against one of the Starfleet officers. The officer appeared unbound.

His target had turned! Liam almost leaped anyway but Stevie's bound hands were on his shoulder. Tears welling, as she spoke to him, "Please don't!"

Unfortunately, Arim had a reaction time of a boulder.

"Don't!" came the strained shout from the burly Romulan.

Within half a second, Dareem had his disruptor unholstered and pointed at Liam.


TBC...

 

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