Bushwacked

Posted on Tue Mar 17th, 2026 @ 6:36pm by Lieutenant Commander Deanna Celes & Lieutenant Imik S'Niohun & Ensign Janelle Barett & Chief Petty Officer Aaron Geiger

1,988 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Not All Orders Are Easy
Location: Planet, Anthropology Blind

Deanna and Janelle materialized in the anthropology blind. Everything seemed to be active now; different than how it was before they had gone down to the settlement. She looked around but didn't see the Chief or anyone else. Suddenly the sound of fire could be heard echoing. Deanna looked to Janelle, "It's coming from that tunnel. It would seem that we have returned to an ambush. Let's move."

In the cavern the firefight continued. The Ferengi remained concealed as they fired at Imik and the Chief, the disruptor blasts striking at the cavern wall behind them and the outcropping they had managed to find cover behind.

"They're moving from 1 to 2 o'clock L.T.! 30 meters and closing!" Aaron identified for Imik, he never carried a phaser anymore. Not since... well that wasn't something he could think about right now. Popping up during a break in fire, Aaron grabbed a medium sized crescent wrench from his tool belt and threw it end over end until it smacked a Ferengi right on the forehead with a loud THWOK .

"I am going to want that back!" Aaron yelled across the field of fire before ducking back under their cover.

"Chief, your conduct is unbecoming a Starfleet Officer. one does not reclaim a gift once one gives it away." A grin showed on Imik's face as she spoke, "Use this, I have a Ojnas weapon as well as this Federation phaser." She tossed him her phaser and drew her Ojnas blaster, the difference in fire power was noticeable straight away. The blaster was designed to engage structure as well as flesh, Imik had it set to maximum in the settings so now large bits of ground and concrete flew about the heads of the Ferengi.

She now turned towards the Chief, "Watch for movement and stun anything which resembles a Ferengi, nasty creatures one cannot trust them even when stunned or dead."

The Ferengi continued to fire frantically. One Ferengi was on the ground with a large welt forming on his head, a wrench next to him that had struck him. The Ferengi were getting frazzled by the sudden increased firepower.

Deanna and Janelle moved through the tunnel in a cautious haste. Deanna hated dealing with Ferengi. Betazoids had an inherent distrust of any species they couldn't read telepathically, and Ferengi were one of those races. She knew they were close to Jon and the others though. As they came around a rounded corner she spotted the Chief and Imik behind cover firing at the Ferengi, and she noted that Jon was on the ground unconscious. She took aim and fired into the shadows as she made her approach over. "Lieutenant, Chief, I see you have a Ferengi problem."

Janelle took position beside the Chief’s cover. Her eyes flicked briefly to the wrench lying several meters away near the stunned Ferengi. “Effective opening move, Chief,” she said evenly before firing into the shadows.

"Well, you fight with the tools you have." Aaron shrugged. "Now that the cavalry's here what's the plan? Half of us support by fire while the other maneuver? Or do we wait them out until they try to push or flee?"

A quick glance at Deanna and returning fire at the same time Imik replied, "We appear to have a Ferengi infestation Commander, nasty little bugs which I wish to remove." She also caught the end of Aarons question, "The plan Chief is simple, capture and remove the infestation, I have no doubt that the Commander will have some idea's on how that will be achieved." Imik's distaste of the Ferengi was now openly on display, she now adjusted her blaster settings and fired. One of the three Ferengi now fell stunned, "That is one of our bugs down, now we simply get the other two."

"First things first, transport Cmdr Grayson to sickbay. Beyond that, these Ferengi have no business being here, but as this isn't a Federation world, we technically can't force them to leave. But since they were unwise enough to invade a StarFleet outpost and attack you, we are going on the offensive. Chief, you and Ensign Barett will provide suppression fire. Lt Imik will move to flank them on the left and I will go right. We'll subdue these buggers quickly. Everyone clear?"

Deanna hit her comm badge and requested immediate transport for Jon to sickbay. He dematerialized a moment later, taking care of that particular matter. Now it was time to put the plan into effect.

Janelle nodded once in acknowledgment, shifting her stance behind the rock outcropping beside the Chief. She leaned out just enough to sight down the cavern and fired a controlled burst of stun toward the shadows where the Ferengi fire had originated. The phaser beam splashed against the stone just above the position, forcing the remaining Ferengi to keep their heads down.

“Suppressing,” she said calmly, adjusting her angle to maintain pressure while the others maneuvered.

Dipping slightly, Imik moved out. Her blaster had been returned to its holster for now, but her hand hovered over her knife not that she wanted to use it to kill but simply put it would used to defend. A quick glance over to her right showed Deanna moving forwards, looking to her front again she noticed a head bobbing about. Imik now drew her blaster and approached the bobbing head slowly, A Ferengi head now came fully into view, at this point Imik slowly put her blaster against the Ferengi's temple, "Unless you wish to depart this world and universe, cease and desist now, and yes I am Ojnas the worst enemy your people have ever known."

Aaron kept up his part of the pressure. Phasers were simple, like an old glove. He hadn't operated a weapon in years but he found that the fundamentals hadn't faded from his mind. Aaron would need a drink for this later, but for now he could focus on the task at hand. Watching the other two creep along out of the corner of his eye he grumbled towards Janelle with a smirk. "Thanks for the rescue ma'am. I can't wait to tell the CHENG I ain't dead just yet."

“Let’s make sure you get the chance, Chief,” Janelle replied evenly, leaning out to send another burst of stun fire toward the shadows.

As she waited for Deanna to arrive, Imik noticed the Ferengi that the Chief had hit with his spanner was trying to reach a stolen Federation phaser. "I would advise against such reckless behaviour, or all three of you will cease to exist." To make sure the Ferengi got the message she pushed the blaster harder into her captives head, the Ferengi's eye's widened. "You are not Hueman or Federation, why are you here?" The Ojnas Officer now looked at the Ferengi, "I am Federation, but I am Ojnas. I will eradicate all of you without hesitation."

By now Deanna had closed the distance and could hear Imik, she meanwhile continued to threaten the Ferengi. "Now cease and desist or face your demise." The Ferengi could see Imik was serious and pushed the phaser away, "Federation does not kill prisoners." Her reply was simple, "I am Ojnas and have not been Federation for very long, I am still learning their rules." It was then she spotted Deanna, "Commander, I am so glad you have arrived."

Deanna said nothing, instead firing at one of the Ferengi that was in the open, hitting him in the chest. The Ferengi fell to ground stunned. "I believe you understand now we mean business. I'm not exactly a big fan of Ferengi, so any more trifling with you is going to earn you a phaser blast like you friend there."

The Ferengi had a look of shock and fear on his face, and his response reflected that. "The Federation has no dominion here. We simply are seeking materials, and this is a good location for mining."

"This may be a primitive world, but it is in Federation space, and you know it. Additionally, we know you detected our anthropology blind. You were hoping to loot it, make a profit from whatever you could steal. Drop your weapon and surrender, our I'll let the lieutenant do what she likes with you" Deanna replied.

The Chief walked towards the Ferengi in a huff. Grumbling while he holstered the lent phaser, he bent down and retrieved his crescent wrench from where it lay after striking one of the would-be thieves. "I'll be taking that thank you." He said, sliding the handle back into its designated loop on his jangling tool belt.

Janelle kept her phaser leveled for a moment longer before lowering it slightly. “They appear to be complying, Commander,” she said evenly.

Her eyes flicked to the Chief’s wrench. “And it seems all tools are accounted for.” A faint smile touched her expression.

Having returned her blaster to its holster Imik walked up to the Chief, "Very bad behavior for a Starfleet Officer Mr. Geiger, taking back a gift that you freely gave only a short while ago." With another wide grin on her face, Imik now tapped the wrench with her finger, "Gold pressed latinum is guarded with less ardor Chief, is there something you wish to inform us of?" She waited for the Chief to react, knowing that to an engineer their tools are almost sacred.

Deanna glanced over at her colleagues, "Come now Imik, you know that one does not touch a Chief's tools without permission" she said with a wry grin. She looked back at the Ferengi, "I'll make you a deal Ferengi. Collect your friends and leave this place now and never return. The alternative is I inform my captain of your intrusion, he in turn destroys your ship and informs the Nagus of this incident, which results in your family's paying restitution for your misdeeds after your death."

The Ferengi considered her words carefully but in haste and then responded, "You make an enticing offer. I accept. We'll leave." He took out a communication device and called for transport, and a moment later he and his companions dematerialized.

Deanna looked at the others, "Well, that is one crisis averted. We have a situation to resolve here still though. Chief, due to what we have discovered, or confirmed with the anthropologists, the captain wants you to activate the self-destruct on the blind. We need to leave nothing that will contaminate this culture further. Imik, I'd like for you to remain with the Chief, make sure the Ferengi don't return, and offer him some protection should he require it. Once he is ready, the two of you return to the ship. The ensign and I must return to the settlement. We still have a task to perform."

Janelle gave a short nod, already turning the next phase of the mission over in her mind. “Understood, Commander.”

"Aye Commander, I'll facilitate download of all logs to my PaDD for Command review upon our return." Aaron looked to Imik. "L.T. we'll need your authorization again for the self destruct sequence."

"As long as you refrain from throwing your wrench at me, I believe I assist you in that matter Chief." Imik turned and smiled at Deanna, "I will attend to the matter Commander, now that our infestation has been removed. Nasty things Ferengi, my people are unable to read them."

Deanna nodded at Imik's statement. "Betazoids are also unable to read them. We don't feel comfortable around any species we can't read. I've never liked the Ferengi in general, though I know a few that aren't vile trolls. Keep an eye on the Chief, Imik. He has a lot to do before he can get that self-destruct going. If he needs any additional assistance, just contact the ship." With that Deanna headed out with Janelle, back to the settlement to locate Darkwa.

 

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