Personal Log - Dani Atarah - To The Rogue Planet - Pt I

Posted on Sun Aug 24th, 2014 @ 6:56am by Danielle Atarah
Edited on on Sun Aug 24th, 2014 @ 7:10am

909 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: In the Dark

Despite some initial surprises, everything else went as planned for Dani Atarah's criminal endeavor. She, of course, considered it a mission. A personal, highly moral mission. One she knew she is going to pay dearly for, and not just because of Starfleet or the Federation.

She's been in contact with Earth for several weeks now through means that both sides would frown upon, if they were ever discovered. But going under the radar was her talent. And so was getting into trouble, and, for the most part, getting out of trouble.

For the most part.

The navigation module in the small shuttle blinked twice and beeped. Dani tapped the console and activated the orbital engines, steering the small vessel into orbit. This will be her first stop in a journey that -- if all goes well and her contacts keep their words -- will end up delivering her to Earth safely.

The shuttle maneuvered into orbit, and Dani got up from the pilot's seat and bent to take her shoes off. She'll swap her uniforms for much less obvious civilian clothing, and leave anything Starfleet behind, locking the shuttle. If all goes well, Pond will find the message Dani left her in the comic book, and with it, the Shuttle's coordinates. The Vindicator will get its shuttle back, minus one small engineer.

The console beeped again and Dani walked over, naked, to tap the buttons that will search for her beacon. She turned back and opened her duffel bag, taking out civilian outfit, a small knife and a nondescript civilian PADD she's preprogrammed. The shuttle lurched, flipping its axis to reveal the planet on the viewscreen, and then the computer blared a warning.

"Requested beacon has been found."

"Shift to geosynchronous orbit above the beacon coordinates," Dani called back, buttoning her pants, "enter grey mode." The lights dimmed, the console all but shut down, and the shuttle shifted slowly, fixing the planet's surface on top.

Dani stretched and checked herself, then checked her duffel bag. She left the uniforms, folded, on the pilots seat, and Pond's PADD, whose contents she copied, on top.

Then, picking up the duffel and stopping only for a second to say a mental goodbye, she activated the transporter.

* * *

"Ye'r going to have to ride in dis. No complaining, either. We don't want inspection."

Dani shook her head at the container. "That wasn't the plan. You were supposed to give me new papers and access to the Denmark."

"No, no no." The small intermixed alien in front of her spat. "The Denmark is under Federation control now. They check everyone. No Denmark. Bristol. We take you to Bristol. Papers are inside there," he pointed at the container again. Dani grunted.

"That's not what he told me."

"We do what he said," the man stared at Dani, though his voice quivered. Well, it was good to know that type of fear still remained from the only person Dani actually trusted. The only person she knew could get her down to Earth safely. The only person outside the Orion Syndicate, that could order a kill order on almost anyone -- including her -- without batting an eye, and have it done within the hour. That type of person inspires the strongest of fear-of-death loyalties.

"I need to get to Earth. Cardello would be very disappointed if I don't show up." She stared back at the man, who seemed to shrink further from the actual mention of the man he feared.

"Yes. Yes, that's why we go to the Bristol. Your papers are here," he pointed again, "we go. You don't worry, and don't complain. We meet the Bristol in 5 hours."

Dani stared at him for a moment. She had little choice; the plan was set in motion, and her instructions, while clear, did allow for some leeway, especially in the precarious situation the entire Federation space was in right now. The Denmark was a class 4 supply ship; it wasn't completely illogical to think it would be taken over by the Federation in their own space.

And she knew the Bristol. She knew it well, though not very fondly.

"Alright. It's your head. If I don't get to the meeting on time, you can bet your purple little ass there will be hell to pay."

The man let out a shriek mixed with annoyance and fear. "I bring you safe. No worries. Get in."

And so, she did. Five hours, she told herself, squirming inside the tight space with her duffel bag in her lap, inspecting the new PADD with her new identity for the ride. The lid was closed above her, sealing the box with thick darkness that was only broken by thin ray of light from two breathing holes above.

"Hiding in a damn supply container," Dani thought miserably. "I'm going old-school."

She wasn't worried about coming out alive. The deals she made with her "friends" on Earth made her incredibly valuable. What she was worried about was who she will have to deal with on her next stop -- and how soon she can get to Earth to make sure her friends were alive and well.

She took a last look at her new papers, tucked them into her jacket pocket and leaned her head backwards, trying to get some rest. She's going to need it, and very very soon.

* * *

Danielle Atarah
Ex-Engineer
Supply Container, Middle of Nowhere
On the way to Earth

 

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