captain's log | video

[goldshirt]

[the video clicks on to Kirk standing in the armory, communicator held level with his face. his expression, though not hostile, certainly holds something unyielding in it. right now, Jim is every bit a starship captain, ready to go to bat for his ship. even if this ship wasn't theirs, as the pirates have been so quick to declare, it was the place they were forced to call home. they have enough trouble as it is without these guys coming in and thinking they can take whatever the want, and to Kirk- the people on this ship might as well be his own. they haven't heard from Ward or Resnik, last they'd heard they were missing. The pirates have said otherwise, but considering their line of work Jim isn't inclined to believe much of what they say.]

Captain Laurens, my name is Jim Kirk.

I'm sure you've noticed the people of this ship don't take being boarded and threatened lightly. We know why you're here, but we can't allow you to clear out our stores when we need them ourselves. I think we both want to avoid as much bloodshed as possible. I'm inviting you to come forward for negotiations.

[he's aware it's a long shot, that these guys aren't going to want to negotiate, but half of this is for Kirk to find out first hand out how they'll respond and where their movements might take them. They need to take back the ship and to do that, they need to find out where those pirates are. The pings he sends out don't ask for a response, but their meaning is clear: report in, we're going to move out.]

PING :: ENTERPRISE ENCRYPTION :: ALERT

PING :: GUNNERY ENCRYPTION :: ALERT

Comments

[forcing]

No. Negotiating with you would be a waste of my time.

[goldshirt]

I fail to see how. We know this ship better than you do.

[forcing]

That isn't how your people are talking. But seeing as you seem to have a surplus of captains, lack of control isn't surprising.

[goldshirt]

I think you're confusing anger with lack of control.

[forcing]

You're contradicting statements from multiple people on your crew. Means either you can't keep a cohesive story in place, or you're trying to bullshit me. Sloppy.

[goldshirt]

We have civilians on board, I'm sure you can understand.

[it sounds like he has the utmost confidence that Laurens would, even though he really, really doubts that.]

[forcing]

[That gets a disdainful look.]

As I said. Lack of control.

[goldshirt]

We're diverging from the point here.

[forcing]

This is the point. You have no control. Means your people don't listen to you, means you're not worth me listening to. Even if I felt like negotiating.

Done?

[goldshirt]

I'm sorry to hear that, Captain. I expected more reason from a man of your stature.

[forcing]

[The look he gives the camera is something between disdain and complete boredom.]

Do you think this is my first job, Jim Kirk? I've been in this business since I could walk. Save your clumsy tries at manipulation for someone your own age. And the genius plan you're trying to cover over with this failed parley...

[That sentence would ordinarily go into a warning, but he reconsiders. Decides he's too disinterested for even that.]

Play toy heroes if you want. Doesn't matter to me.

[He cuts the connection.]