====== Corridor in front of MGen. Sharpe's office ======
Would Mumacik have emotions, he would be enraged. He was busy like never
before and it dated back from the time when the MEF arrived. MEF consisted
of marines mostly and marines had the bad habit to walk around all armed
and handling their weapons like pets. Almost a quarter of them tried to
smuggle unregistered weapons on UNITY with the excuse that those are their
personal weapons and they never part with them. Since there was QUITE a
number of marines coming, Mumacik needed almost the entire fleet level
security force to contain the situation. Wouldn't all be SSF trained
professionals, such a situation could easily end in a firefight.
This accident was the reason why some isolated cases of illegal smuggled
weapons passed the security network. They did not go unnoticed, but there
was just none who could investigate the matter. Until now.
Internal sensors located the person carrying a long bladed weapon to Major
General Sharpe's office. Normally, he would contact the General and ask
about the whereabouts, but with contacting the General he could alert the
unknown, so he decided to head straight there with two ODA units. Each ODA
unit consisted of 6 highly trained marines and a power of 13:1 seemed
enough to the Chief of fleet level security.
Just arriving in the corridor leading to Sharpe's office, Mumaick spotted
someone leaving the office. It was not the General, so it must have been
the unknown. Gesturing his team to take fire position, he shouted: "This
is Starbase UNITY security. Stand down and prepare to identify yourself!"
Dare spotted the teams and all 6'7" of lean Ka`Leigh went on the defense.
There were twelve, thirteen if she counted what she assumed was the
leader, strange people pointing weapons at her.
Part of her found it amusing, but the larger part was strategizing how to
take them down before they took her down. She could of course just cloak
or 'dart' past them, but she'd used her native abilities a bit too much
while traveling through Ahith space and her body was still recovering from
that. She couldn't push it too hard.
Instead, she adopted a relaxed stance, leaning against the wall with a
hand on her hip. "I'll tell you my name if you'll tell me yours," she
called back in a sing song voice that belied just how much pain she was
considering inflicting upon these men.
It was a knee-jerk reaction, but her entire 151 years of life had been
spent fighting for survival in some way, shape or form. For her, it was
defend first, take them down before they could take her down.
"I am Lieutenant Mumacik, Chief of fleet level security" he introduced
himself. The woman did not seem very dangerous, but following strict the
rules, he did not ordered his fellow security guys to lower their weapons.
"Our sensors indicate that you carry an unregistered bladed weapon. Such
an action is a violation of SSF Wartime rules and cannot be tolerated.
Now, please, identify yourself and prepare to be searched for the weapon."
Well, these guys did seem to have some skill after all. "Any weapon,
unregistered or otherwise, that I may have on me are for defensive
purposes. I will not be defenseless in this place."
She eyed the group ahead of her shrewdly, considering. After near on a
hundred years away from her home world of New Eden, she'd returned there
and claimed her rightful place amongst the New Eden Elite Guard. It
accorded her the right to carry any weapon without a warrant. It was a
enormous cause of honor and pride for any Ka`Leigh.
Whether it applied to the Federation was an entirely different manner. "I
am Dare Shao, MEF Platoon Leader." It was worth a try though. "I also
serve as a member of the New Eden Elite." As she spoke, she stood up
straight and crossed her arms over her chest.
Mumacik nodded and pulled out a PADD. He connected to the UNITY's main
computer and validated Dare's words. Within a few seconds he looked up and
said: "I am sorry Mrs. Dare Shao. I have no records of any Dare Shao in
the MEF roster, nor any platoon leaders are called that name. Carrying a
weapon on board Starbase UNITY is allowed only for UNITY's security
forces, federation or allied forces members while in duty and bodyguards
of accredited diplomatic staff. Exceptions to this rule can be used on
behalf of direct orders from UNITY's CO, XO or officer in charge as well
as SSF 1st Task Force Command staff. Can you present any such orders,
please?"
Ugh, the Federation were such sticklers for perfect accuracy, she'd
forgotten about that. Considering that most Ka`Leigh were extremely
xenophobic and she was one of maybe ten, if that, in Starfleet she wasn't
surprised that the New Eden Guard was unknown.
"Try looking for Ellesandara Shao, or alternatively Garret." Who knew
what Starfleet had done to her name by now. "I have just been appointed
as MEF Platoon Leader under the command of General Sharpe, my rank is
Lieutenant Major." She rolled her eyes and affected a bored expression.
Mumacik shook his head after another several seconds: "There are no such
records listed. I assume that your appointment is not yet officially
recorded." He looked at the woman
with expressionless face like always: "There are just 2 possible ways now,
Mrs. Shao, we need Major General Sharpe confirming your words in person or
you surrender yourself. You will be taken into custody until your
statements can be confirmed."
Dare shook her head. "It's Lieutenant Major. If you call me Mrs again,
the blade you suspect me of carrying is going to go through your heart."
She stared down the corridor at them.
"It's not my problem that you people are slow. I will not sit around in a
cell while you work it out. I was invited to attend this starbase for the
express reason of being recruited into the MEF."
Granted, it would be easier if she just gave them the blade. But she'd
sacrificed a lot and undergone numerous painful procedures in order to
procure it. She also wanted to see how far they'd go, test them. Check
just how good they were.
Mumacik shook his head the same: "I apologize, but until your statement is
confirmed, you hold no authority on this base. As far you cannot confirm
your identity, I must ask you for the last time to surrender your weapon.
Refusal will result in immediate arrest". All ODA marines were following
the conversation with tense, since one could never know what will happen
next. Six of them were aiming at the enemy woman, four were ready for body
combat and two were somewhere behind the crowd, in reserve.
There was no dilemma for Mumacik present. There was someone breaking a
rule and he was the security officer in charge. SSF regulations were very
clear for such cases and if Shao would refuse disarming and escorting to
brig, he would use all available force to force her. He felt no emotions,
no fear … he knew he cold be hurt, even killed, but he was just doing his
duty … not speaking about the fact that he was skilled in martial arts
himself.
"Lieutenant Mumacik, you will not take a Lieutenant Major into custody,
nor will I surrender my weapon." She read the body language. Oh yes,
they were wary of her and probably about to open fire. "If you want it
registered, give me the paperwork. But try to take it from me, and I will
defend myself. I am a MEF Platoon leader, I will not be weaponless."
Harming them would be a last option, so she'd just dart through them and
return to her shuttle while the paperwork got sorted.
She had to hand it to Mumacik though, it was very dedicated to his duty.
Perhaps these people were worthy of respect.
Considering the situation only a moment, Mumacik said: "One ODA team will
escort you and stay with you until I get the confirmation I need. I shall
contact General Major Sharpe immediately. Until then you stay in your
quarters or vessel if you have no quarters assigned yet. Leaving your
quarters or vessel will be taken as an enemy action and you will be
arrested immediately."
He waited for her decision, his hand ready to give the marines order to
shoot. All weapons wee set to stun of course, but none ever said that a
stun beam was painless.
She flickered, deciding whether or not to just cloak and return to her
vessel and son and spend the time in peace. Already she could feel the
burning in her lower back. Honestly, she couldn't be bothered with all of
this.
Dare shrugged. "Your terms are agreeable. Your ODA team will keep their
distance from me. I know my way back to my vessel." She dropped her
hands to her sides, holding them palms forward and stepped forward, still
flickering. "The weapon remains with me. There is also an adolescent
onboard my vessel, you will grant him access to the starbase."
Her tone made it obvious she wouldn't take no for an answer, despite her
situation. She stood closer to them now, almost a metre away, her
appearance finally stabilizing. Her lower back throbbed. "Come on then,
I don't have all day just to stand around waiting. Are you escorting me
or what?"
=/\=
Lieutenant Major Dare Shao
Platoon Leader
Marine Expeditionary Force
&
Lieutenant Mumacik
Chief Fleet Level Security
SB 234 UNITY
NPC abp Mumacik
