Star Trek: Starbase 777 - local-businesses

A few minutes after the PA announcement went off, all civilians on station, or at least most of them, provided they weren't like, actual children, received a message to their PADDs, or similar devices.

 Hello, residents of Starbase 777. This is an urgent call to action; the Marked Resolve are a terrorist organisation, and control of the station needs to be returned to Starfleet. Please, provided it is within your means and power, create an opportunity for Starfleet to retake the station. Many thanks in advance, Lieutenant Sovek Pral, communications.

10

Maggie was happily chatting away at Authentic Romulan Affairs when the PA announcement rang overhead, followed by the little ping to their PADD. "Can't have shit on Starbase 777," they said out loud, clearly joking. Initially, they assumed it was some prank in incredibly poor taste, but looking around they soon realized that there was no flash of security yellow patrolling, nor any officers around on their lunch break.. "Oh. Fuck."

3

"Oh shit, it's real?" Verelan looked at her own PADD, then outside, following Maggie's gaze. It really did seem like the promenade was a lot more deserted than usual. "Feels like half the civilians fled to their quarters, too. Must've taken the word "terrorist" pretty seriously." She would have, too, if she didn't have a business to run. Besides, they said they'd leave civvies alone. Nothing to be concerned about yet.

Fucking. Jesus, of course. Of course something like this would happen now. Of course. Maggie shifted their weight on their cane with a small huff. "I don't know, shouldn't we.. do something? I mean, how many times have they dragged us—" Maggie, specifically, honestly— "out of some shitfuckery? I don't want to just stand here."

The bakery was empty, leaving Melody to just do some cleanup as she was working. The tables were sparkling, the display case was full, and she was ready for her next batch of customers until... The announcement on the PA system echoed throughout the bakery. "Wha--- what the fuck?!" Melody said. Then, the ping on her PADD popped up. As soon as she saw the word 'terrorist,' she knew the station was fucked unless she and the other civilians could do something about it. Spontaneously, in a panic, Melody picked up her Phantom mask and PADD and dashed out of the bakery, running like mad for the Rocket 'n' Roll Comfort Diner, and arriving there in what felt like less than a minute, stationed in the #food-court. (edited)

To be fair, there were a fair few civilians around still, but... the ones who noticed Melody's excitement didn't seem very inclined to follow her to glory.

2

Acul was having a no good, very bad, terrible, first day on the station. Her shuttle had just landed a few hours ago (she wondered if she seat near any terrorists). The large Gorn sighed as she looked around, she was shopping for things for her room but now she had to fight terrorists. Better than some classes she’s taught, she supposed. “Okay now, what to do. What to do….”

Bix was already wandering between businesses, clearly (and not unreasonably) agitated by the present situation. There wasn't much they could do at the moment, of course, and they lamented the misfortunate that had befallen the station - they'd just got here, why now?! They kept their eyes open for anyone who seemed unafraid enough to help with... this. This was bad, this was bad.

"Think you can make it with your leg? I'm not opposed to sitting here and making some tea, you know. If you need to be kept company." Verelan was sort of keen to see what was up, but she wouldn't leave Maggie alone while "shitfuckery" was going on.

He'd come here to terrorise Verelan again, only to discover someone else was doing the terrorising today. Boo. It seemed the civs were safe, though, so he was milling around wondering if his approximate knowledge of many things could be helpful. Sure, he may not be a scientist, or a doctor, or an engineer, or a security guard, or any good with weapons, or... Where was he going with this again? Anyway, he was here. At the very least, he was very unafraid about all this, so it was probably good that he approached Bix. "What's up, fellow civ? Ever busted some terrorists?"

3

"I think.." Maggie took a moment to think about it. The last time something like this happened, they'd had a phaser to their head in the middle of the promenade, and they'd spent at least a week locked in their room after that. They thought of Timi, and Eshen, all the officers who'd fought so hard to save them.. "I think we should go," they finally finished, briefly squeezing one of Verelan's hands between both of theirs. "I feel like we at least owe them something, y'know?"

1

She hummed as she stepped into Authentic Romulan Affairs. “Hello? Anyone in here- Oh my! I’m sorry, I can step out if you too need a moment.” She said, getting the vibes of…whatever these two were pretty instantly.

Bix peered up at N01D, baring their teeth in a grimace. "I've busted some looters on a dig site, that count?" No, they weren't kidding in chat about running them over with the geophys. They'd do it again. "...Probably not, but I could throw down anyway. Kick some shins." For such a... frankly unintimidating figure, they said this with such confidence, one almost had to take them seriously.

"Yep. Me too. Kick some shins. Although, hey, if trouble happens, you should probably stay behind me. I can't really die." Because he was an android. It kind of sounded like he just thought he was immortal, though.

As Maggie squeezed her hand, Verelan found herself nodding. "Alright, if you say so. Let's go find some other people then, we probably should go off doing our own thing. Others will have the same taste for heroics," she added cheekily, pulling Maggie to their feet with the hand they were holding. She turned to the Gorn in the doorway. "No worries, we'll follow you out! Let's go save a station or something. Or maybe break out a security officer instead so they can do the saving. Hey, there's Plan D, or something."

She nodded. “Hm, this was certainly not how I was expecting my first day to go. I am Acul, I teach social studies, that’s all the important information you need.” She said with a polite bow.

The Ferengi snickered at that, but quickly returned to solemnity. "So... any idea what the hells we should be doing right now? I mean, I haven't been on the station long, so I'm not sure what, uh." They gestured vaguely, hoping N01D could infer what the point they were failing to get across.

"I'm Verelan, owner of this shop, and this is Maggie, the magician!" Verelan introduced them, following Acul out, still leading Maggie by the hand. Upon seeing Noid not too far from her shop, she deflated. "Ah, fuck. This guy? I thought he'd leave the heroics to other people."

She nodded as she looked to Verelan. “Hm, it is good to meet both of you. Don’t worry, I am not the type of Gorn to lay eggs in others bodies.” She said dryly before looking towards NO1D and Bix. “Hm yes, it is an uncommon trait for Ferengi to be heroic.” She knew Verelan was speaking of the other one, it was just funnier to think she was talking about Bix.

"Lady, what the fuck are you talking about." Laying eggs? She didn't even want to think about it.

"Fuck if I know either. Find other people?" He looked at Acul when she addressed Bix. Oh, hey, there was Verelan too. "Oh, there's people. Hey, you know, if you're into egg-laying or whatever that's cool, but I don't think now's the time to be discussing that sorta thing."

Maggie let go of Verelan's hand upon realizing what the hell they were doing. "Yeah, let's not discuss species stereotypes and shit," they said, waving dismissively. "We've got like, a whole station to save or something, right?"

She hummed. “I’m not into that. Hm, maybe a good thing to tell these terrorists, would make me chuckle at least.” She said with a small hum, “Regardless yes.”

Bix turned their attention to the others, now, unimpressed and also slightly disgusted. "Hey what the fuck. Is this always how you introduce yourself?" They twisted one of their rings around the finger, casting dubious looks about the station as if expecting terrorists to pop out at any moment. "You lot have any idea what we should be doing with this mess? Do any of you even know who these Resolve bastards are?"

Wandering along, Calliope wordlessly inserted herself into the group by standing somewhere behind Bix. She wanted to do something, but didn't know what, so eavesdropping would help, right?

"New folks, heya," Verelan offered, not wanting to know about the eggs and having checked out significantly. "We're being heroes on this fine afternoon, so if you want to join, feel free to enter the discussion! Or something. They were talking about eggs just now."

"I don't know how any of the skills on my resume are gonna help with this. You think they need any dogs walked? Dishes washed? Dicks s-" Suddenly, a miniature piano fell onto his head. Luckily, he was the android equivalent of thick-skulled, so he was fine. "Huh. Glad that happened to me and not someone else. Their cranium woulda cracked. Like an egg."

8

9

She blinked. “Hm. Do small pianos fall from the sky often?” She asked.

5

"Only when Noid's around. Maybe you can entertain some terrorists, lay pipe so good they evaluate their life choices. Otherwise, running distraction might be the most use you can be," Verelan said, fully aware she was being mean. She didn't care.

7

She sighed. “Hm. Hopefully these terrorists are wowed by your sex jokes as much as I.” She said softly.

That was a glitch in the universe for the sake of a bit. Or maybe a mischievous Q. Don't think about it too hard. It's not event-relevant. "All I'm hearing is I lay pipe good."

"Well, they had to make your mouth good for something. Anyway, since none of us seem to have any solid idea of what to do, should we look for other people? Who are smart and cool and heroic?" Verelan thought she was pretty cool, but smart and heroic had never been her categories. More like... witty and opportunistic. Something like that.

"Can you shut up about your dick game for a second so we can get this over with?" Maggie puffed, eyes briefly rolling up to the ceiling as if they were praying for a reprieve. Or perhaps a phaser shot to the head. That'd be good, they thought. "Yeah, sounds good. Let's go."

“Not that it matters, but I was under the impression that laying pipe referred to insertion, rather then sucking.” She said with a hum. “But yes, heroics.” (edited)

If the Ferengi had rolled their eyes any further, they'd have popped from their skull. "At this rate, Starfleet won't be the only ones thrown out the airlock."

1

"Maybe I'm a good plumber. Who knows." Wouldn't be a bad trade to get into, actually, considering he was immune to human diseases, so the job would be very safe for him. Something to consider in the future. Right now, plumbing was the least of their worries. "We going to the food court?"

"I'm a foreigner, language difference," Verelan shrugged, fully aware she was talking to multiple fellow foreigners right now, including the person who'd just corrected her.

"Sounds good, I'm hungry," Maggie agreed, before realizing that's... probably where everybody was. "Oh, and there's probably people there. Let's go!"

Time to get moving losses, the tall Gorn lead the group towards #food-court

Late to the party, as always, Minh had just arrived on the station and was unpacking stuff to open his shop when the PA announcement came on. So.... Starfleet doesn't have control of the station?! Minh wanted to fight the security officer who had confiscated his weapons. Fair, but how were they gonna do this unarmed? Minh needed something to defend himself so he darted next door to his bestie's shop -- Delta Delights. "Hey Ik'ala, I'm taking some stuff," Minh barged into the quiet shop and grabbed a few objects he could possibly use as weapons. Ik'ala shouted from behind the counter where he was hiding, but he could do nothing to stop Minh. With the 'weapons' in hand, Minh went back to his shop to hop onto his little hover chair and head to #food-court !