((Bridge, Slivin))

“Lock down and isolate all connections and power feeds to and from the starboard power coupling. Shunt all auxiliary and back-up power to the shields and weapons.”

“Sir, a few of the Blythes shuttles are now engaging the Ferengi shuttle that attacked them. I’m also picking up 2 small debris fields that are consistent with Starfleet escape pods in the same area.”

“Bamet set an intercept course, target the Ferengi shuttle with disruptors and our forward torpedoes Mereg.”

“Cha’vey!” Was the response.

The Slivin darted back up towards the dogfight that was quickly filling the viewscreen. A third Starfleet shuttle had joined the fray with the smaller vessels from the Blythe darting around the slower and more ponderous Ferengi shuttle. There was a furious exchange of orange and green beams as the Slivin engaged. The Ferengi ship took a full salvo from the Klingons on her port side, the Bird of Prey dropping her shields with her disruptors and landing a well placed torpedo that disabled its engines.

A few more phaser blasts from the Blythes shuttles and a second pass from the Slivin was all that was needed to finish the Ferengi off.

As the ship disintegrated into several flaming chunks of debris, Kerak shouted.

“Find us more targets Mereg.”

Before the XO could report on the result of his sensor sweep a comment came in from one of the shuttles.

“Incoming hailed Captain, its Captain Tyler on one of the shuttles.”

“Onscreen.”

“Thank you for the assistance Captain, the Ferengi were targeting our escape pods, they’d already destroyed 2…I…its…we…” Tyler was clearly in shock over what had just occurred.

“We will avenge your fallen crew Captain, rest assured.”

“Sir, this is strange. None of the other Ferengi ships are moving to engage us. Even the Ferengi Station in orbit with us doesn’t have its shields up or weapons charged.” Wong said to Tyler’s from offscreen. The XO and helmsman Lasage having been the last 2 crew to leave the Blythe as Tyler had waited until they had arrived before launching.

“All the easier to destroy them then.”

“Indeed. But why?” Tyler asked. The answer would be provided in short order.

Kerak sat and waited for an order to destroy the kitbashed Ferengi station and the 2 other shuttles docked there.

“I picking up power fluctuations on the Slivin, do you need any assistance?” Tyler asked.

“We overloaded a power coupling, but we are still combat ready.”

“I’ll have my Chief Engineer send a team over after we survey the damage to the Blythe. For now, I’d be grateful if you could cover us as we land our escape pods and shuttles.

Of the next half hour Tyler made calls to Fleet Command, the Soval, and the Dergan President, and surveyed the Blythe from the air. The Dergans offered Tyler and Blythe crew the use of the large park near where the ship had ‘landed’. The President also seemed distant, sullen, and extremely rushed. His reasons for this too would be layed bare in quick succession

((Slivin, Bridge))

“HoD, we are recieving a signal from the surface. It’s from the Dergans, and being broadcasts on an open channel.” Mereg reported from the tactical console.

“Patch it through.” Kerak said, curious as to what would come next in this comedy of horrors.

“This is President Hasdrub of the Dergan Unified State. This message is to any and all members of the Ferengi species on or near the planet of Derganix. In response to the years of oppression and exploitation, and the recent unprovoked attack against our guests, we are unilaterally declaring a cessation of all contact and business arrangements between your people and ours. We have detained and interned a total of 87 Ferengi persons…we hereby, uh, demand, that you abandon the orbital station above our capital and withdraw all of your vessels and uninterned persons atleast 20 million kilometers away from our planet, we will allow you 1 hour to accept and carry out our request. Failure to meet our demands will result in the public execution of 1 Ferengi every 30 of your minutes. 

Tyler had thought he had a busy few days when they first arrived. But the first few hours after the downing of the Blythe tested him nearly to the limits of his sanity. After the Dergans announcement he had got a call from Doc Lady reporting that one of her medical teams was missing and presumed to be caught up the impromptu Dergan rebellion.

He quickly landed the shuttle on the large plaza infront of the Government Complex after speaking with the President and agreeing to meet there.

“Thank you for all of your help so far Captain. With luck, by the end of the day we will be a free people once again.” Hasdrub said as Tyler and Wong emerged from the back of the shuttle.

Tyler hadn’t realized that Dergans percieved the light show of the battle in orbit as the result of the Blythe attacking the Ferengi on their behalf and not the other way around.

“Well the Blythe won’t be able to help any more I fear. We were attacked out of nowhere.”

“Wait, the Big Ears attacked you?” Barka asked from behind the President as a look of concern came across his face.

“Sir, what the fuck is going on. I beam down and a half hour later the ship crashed and now one of medical teams is missing and there’s a bunch of lunch mobs rounding up Ferengi. I mean don’t get wrong I’m always up for good old fashion war of independence, but shit.”  Lady came hovering over from the Miniatry of Healing Complex which was only down the block.

“Yes, they hit us with some sort of Energy dissapating weapon. We lost all power and that forced us to evacuate.” Tyler looked around as a large gaggle of Dergans began to form around them, mostly bureaucrats and security personnel.

Barka then stepped up behind the President and whispered something in his ear.

“What? Unacceptable, our friends have just lost their ship defending us. Take the Doctor to retrieve her people.” The President replied sternly.

Tyler was going to correct the President, as they didnt know why the Ferengi shuttle had attacked, but thought better of it.

“Thank you President Hasdrub. And Thank you for allowing us to use the park as a collection point.”

“It’s the least we could.” He patted Tyler on the back ans guided him away from the large gaggle, a sharp look over his shoulder dissuade anyone else from following them. Hasdrub realized he had taken a giant leap of faith based on a false assumption and needed to cover his and his people asses before any further moves were made.

After a few minutes Tyler and Hasdrub walked back over to the group.

“We will continue our campaign to liberate ourselves.” The President said, arms spread wide to his people. Cheers and shouted of “Freedom” erupted.

“Sir, SIR! Subspace comms coming in from the Soval and Command! And the Irrawaddy is 2 minutes out.” Lasage said from ramp of the shuttle.

“Can I leave you to coordinate things down here Danny? See if you can get some replicators and see whats salvageable from the Blythe. I’ll heading things uo from the Irrawaddy until the Soval arrives.” Tyler said to his XO.

“Roger that sir. You think that it mighta been a rogue Ferengi sir.” Wong replied.

“It’s the only thing that fits the variables at this point. We’ll see what command has to say though.” Tyler rushed over to the shuttle.