The Fires of Liberation

Posted on Thu Nov 16th, 2023 @ 6:07pm by Commodore Jacob Kane & Darius Wulfe

Mission: The Trojan Horse
Location: Podreia Sigma, Naghel IV Star System
Timeline: Prologue
618 words - 1.2 OF Standard Post Measure

"To think...they call me a terrorist." The green skinned Orion snorted as he watched the holographic monitors. A line of eleven humanoids were marched slowly along a dilapidated corridor, one-by-one. Then they were split up into pairs and pushed into cramped cells.

The Orion turned away from the monitors, the light slowly shining onto the right side of his face. Burns and scars stretched from his neck up to the shaven undercut of his hair. More than a dozen piercing littered the scar tissue, almost drawing attention to it; highlighting the pain his must have endured to re-rend his own flesh in such a way.

"I'm not a terrorist," he continued. "I am a liberator; I free the oppressed from the yoke of the bureaucracy that chains them. My people play pirate...when they should be conquerors..." He crunched a hand on the nearby table, stirring grunts of approval from the various compatriots he had gathered there.

"And you..." He motioned to the holo-emitter in the semi-darkness in front of him. "You are the visionary that helps light our way..."

A chuckled 'hm' came from the holographic representation of their contact. The projection had appeared only moments ago, a condition of their business arrangement once they acquired their merchandise. The projection resembled a humanoid in a dark shirt and slacks, dark brown hair brushed back for the formality. One of his arms was across his chest, providing a resting spot for his other arm as he gently tapped on his chin. At being called a visionary, the hand left the hologram's chin in humble dismissal. "You flatter me, Ta'ang, but I'm just a merchant with a similar goal."

Ta'ang grinned, revealing a mess of silvered teeth. "You may call yourself what you will, but our business venture has already borne fruits." He motioned back to the monitor. "Eleven captives. The Gorn and the Federation will blame each other. The fires of liberation will be stoked again!" His call drew another cry of approval from his gathered crew.

The contentment of the hired help succeeding was replaced by a frown on the holographic projection's features, arms crossing over his chest. Eleven was way more than arranged during their negotiations. It was more attention-grabbing, more likely to be noticed. "That wasn't the arrangement," the hologram said, eyeing the monitor. "Obtaining just the two would have given you more time to deliver. You will surely have caught their attention with the extra captives. I've dealt with the Federation for years, they will come after you."

"You worry far too much. Even if they were to find us here, their hope of recovering the captives is next to impossible. And we would rather die than surrender!" Ta'ang snarled, stalking the room. "Our business may be concluded...for now, but I expect even more lucrative opportunities to present themselves very soon, my friend..."

There was a reason why people rarely hired pirates. They tended to get caught up in the adrenaline rush, which made them act impulsively. The man represented by the hologram didn't really care what they did with the extra captives, as long as he got what he was paying for. The risk of the Federation and possibly the Gorn disrupting his business complicated things, however, and he hated unnecessary complication. "You will stay alive long enough to deliver what you have acquired for me," the holographic projection corrected, his tone calmer than Ta'ang's but still stern. "I will send you an updated delivery schedule to account for your... spontaneity."

As the holographic image winked out, Ta'ang returned to the monitors, still smirking as he roused his comrades. "The fires of liberation...shall burn them all..."