Old Business, New Location

Posted on Tue Feb 3rd, 2026 @ 4:30pm by Captain Cassandra Hawk & Talnera Vesk

940 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 1: A New Sheriff in Town
Location: Docking Lanes, Starbase Mojave

The Vole of Fortune was vibrating and rattling like an old animal that was clinging onto its last months, refusing to die quietly. Ferengi piece sh-"< muttered Talnera Vesk as she moved around the cockpit, console to console just to keep her second-hand shuttle from claiming her life before reaching her destination. The bulkheads continued to creak as the Ferengi Na’Far class shuttle dropped out of warp, its engines cycling down with an unsettling sound that was more of a complaint than compliance from the old shuttlecraft. Warning lights of course flickered like a Bajoran festival, and settled into no discernable pattern. Vesk no longer bothered to acknowledge them. They had been doing that for months and she had not died yet. The shuttle still flew. That was enough for her.

Talnera stood from the pilot’s chair and moved with practiced balance as the deck shuddered once more. She braced herself with a hand against a support strut. Steady she thought to herself and tried to compose herself. Her expression returned to its natural unreadable state. The shuttle had a subtle odor, faintly of recycled air, burnt circuitry, and modifications layered clumsily atop sensibilities, compliments of Pakled cheap labor. She had won the shuttle in a tongo game that should have bankrupted her opponent twice over. The Ferengi businessman had laughed it off, right up until the moment she claimed the deed. Luck, she believed, favored preparation.

Vesk glanced around the cramped interior of the Ferengi shuttle. Scuffed panels, and rusted bulkheads with replaced components that didn’t quite fit. Her navigation console occasionally required persuasion. The Vole of Fortune had seen better decades, but it had also never betrayed her. That counted for something with Talnera Vesk.

Through the forward viewport, Federation Starbase Mojave came into view. It was a frontier station, crossroads. Exactly the sort of place where people arrived carrying secrets, desperation, and ambition. Talnera felt a familiar tightening in her chest that was neither fear nor nerves, but anticipation.

She smoothed the front of her dark attire and adjusted her posture, the habit of command returning instinctively. This was not Cardassia nor was it within the Ferengi Alliance. This was a Federation space station which meant different rules. A different mask was needed here and she had brought the right one,

Talnera returned to the pilot’s chair and activated the comm. The console hesitated, then finally complied after a slight lagging. She rolled her eyes and gave the console some much deserved side-eye.

“Federation Starbase Mojave,” called Talnera once the channel opened. Her voice was calm and perfectly modulated. “This is the Ferengi shuttle Vole of Fortune, requesting permission to dock. I am civilian vessel with independent registry.” She of course left out the part of being a Cardassian. Why ruin a good reveal? she thought to herself. Though it was unlikely station operations didn't do a quick scan of the shuttle. They likely knew her biosignature was Cardassian, leaving more questions she'd undoubtedly need to answer.

The voice of the on duty traffic officer aboard Mohave emitted from the speakers on Vesk’s dashboard. It was the voice of a younger officer, likely due to the time on station. “Shuttlecraft Vole of Fortune , this is Starbase Mojave. We have you on approach. Please state the nature of your visit.”

"Residency," corrected Talnera. "I am a merchant, a proprietor, and an adventurous opportunist. I request coordinates for docking, and a meeting with administration when they have time. I have a cargo holds packed to the brim with wines, spirits, trinkets, and textiles."

There was a brief sound of rustling from the other end, exactly what it was caused by wasn’t immediately clear. But it became a bit more discernible when the young Officer, clearly reading from a list of instructions for the various types of visits, spoke once more. “Understood, Vole of Fortune. Please adjust heading to…” There was a pause, likely longer than intended. “Heading zero-one-two by two-seven-zero to follow the trajectory I’ve just sent. You will join traffic for Docking Ring…6, boarding screenings and housing. Someone will be in touch shortly about meeting with Admin about a permanent venue.”

"Thank you," replied Talnera Vesk. She followed the instructions provided. "My navigational systems have been malfunctioning lately, feel free to tractor me upon approach" explained Vesk. She would be happy to be off the Vole of Fortune and onto something a bit more stable.

The officer’s voice came back feeling slightly more confident. Perhaps the actual functions of the job came easier than the communications bit. “Affirmative. Your readings do a look a bit choppy. Initiating a tractor beam with structural integrity fortification now. Please stand by.”

Vesk settled in her seat and monitored readings from the console. "Much obliged, Mojave. This shuttlecraft has seen better days" commented the woman. "Don't worry about scrapping any of the paint off. She needs a good new rust treatment and a fresh coat anyways."

"Acknowledged. We'll bring you in as gently as we can," the officer replied. A moment later, a substantial, though somewhat muted, tug rocked the small vessel as the hum of the station's tractor's began to pull the shuttle in to dock. "Alright, Vole of Fortune. You are officially on an entry vector. Sit tight and we'll have you at the airlock momentarily."

"Such a gentleman," Vesk replied and let the starbase do the 'heavy lifting' as she prepared to set foot on this strange new place. "Thank you. Vole of Fortune out."

 

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