The signal came through loud and clear, certainly enough to betray the anxiety behind the woman's voice. "Attention Orion vessels! This is Captain Naomi Li of the Independence of the Stars! I am ordering you to cease your attack on this vessel immediately! You are in violation of Federation Law!"
From his seat on the bridge of the slaver ship supervising the raid, Thasrurc stopped gnawing on the succulent roasted Saurian duck perched in his stubby green fingers long enough to croon, to no one in particular, "Ooooh, I'm *sooo* scared!"
Around him, his crew laughed - except for Uncle Vakkem, of course. The old Orion sat in a spare chair, alternating between drinking from a bottle of Altarian rum and making contemptuous noises at his nephew, his displeasure at nearly everything Thasrurc said or did evident.
Vakkem was a crotchety old bastard; drop a sack of gold-pressed latinum in his lap, and he'd complain about the weight of it. Since inheriting the title of Kahnari and the business from his father - with Vakkem being intentionally passed over - Thasrurc had sought to make a name for himself outside of his father's shadow.
And this raid into Federation space was just what he needed. He watched with satisfaction as five smaller Orion raiders, all commanded by loyal cousins, continued to swarm around the Independence like angry wasps, firing their disruptors, slowly but surely wearing down the liner's shields, after which Thasrurc's ship would sweep in, kill the crew, beam away as many young passengers as it could grab, and then return home again with a full hold.
And everyone was basking in the success - except Uncle Vakkem. "Don't be so cocky, boy. You're not home with the prize yet."
"Sit there and get drunk in silence, old man. When I bring back a hold full of prime meat for the markets-"
"You won't. He won't let you."
"Who won't?"
"The Fat Cat."
And Thasrurc rolled his eyes: not *him* again. Starfleet Captains had a reputation for being civilised, honour bound... soft. But the Fat Cat was different, they warned. For years Thasrurc had heard horror stories about him, a Caitian who was once a slave in their very system and had somehow escaped, since then showing no mercy to businessmen like themselves. They said he was formidable, ruthless.
Then Thasrurc saw a picture of him, standing with some cadets he was training - and was not impressed. He looked like a clown, smiling inanely for the camera. He looked like a child's toy. He looked like a pet. This was no commander, no warrior. He was a joke! And all the talk from Vakkem and all the other sad old men about him was just piss and wind.
Certainly Thasrurc proved this, by easily diverting the Fat Cat to a neighbouring system with a false distress signal, leaving the Independence to their tender mercies.
"Orion vessels!" Captain Li continued over the open channel. "Cease your attack at once!"
Thasrurc wondered if the woman was pretty, and young; he liked them like that. Well, her ship's shields were almost depleted, so he guessed he would know soon enough. He threw the remains of the duck to the floor and licked his fingers. "Cheer up, Uncle. I'll give you one of the human women to play with. You might be too old for her to raise your staff, but she might still put a smile on that ugly face of yours." He chuckled.
But the gaunt, wrinkled old bastard just snarled, "The Fat Cat is going to chew you up and spit you out. Idiot."
Thasrurc glared, aware that his crew could hear the open contempt. "Have a care, old one. You may be my uncle, but I'm still your Kahnari."
Vakkem chuckled, raising his bottle in salute. "And you will be. For the rest of our lives."
Suddenly, Li's voice returned, full of desperation, her prior attempt at remaining strong now eroded. "For pity's sake, *stop*! We have children onboard!"
Thasrurc smiled now, and finally opened a channel to respond to the woman. "That's good to hear, Naomi, very good; children fetch a premium price in our markets. But I might keep you for myself. I like how you plead." He closed the channel and laughed, declaring broadly, "We're going home with a full hold, boys!"
The bridge crew cheered - except for Vakkem, of course - but then the voice of the Tactical Officer cut through. "Kahnari! There's a vessel coming in at high warp on an intercept course! It has a Starfleet energy signature!"
Thasrurc started, but then spat, "Bah! A patrol runabout, some toothless scout that picked up the distress signal! A flyspeck, that's all! With the Fat Cat and his Surefoot diverted to the Mintaka System, no other vessel can-"
"It *is* the Surefoot!"
The bridge went silent again.
