Local Airport, Tiaita Capital City
5:49 hours until departure
“Watch it!”
“Coming Through!
“Make a hole!”
“Careful, precious cargo!”
“Outta the way!”
Zolwat sighed with frustration. They had been searching the local airport for the better part of an hour and wherever they turned, all they achieved was to be in the way of the many workers trying to load the constantly arriving supplies onto their vehicles. Just like Zolwat and Valdemar, they too were on the clock as once the deadline had arrived, the supplies would stop coming as Eagle and the freighter convoy in orbit would leave for good, no matter if everything had been delivered or not.
“I’m telling you, this is a waste of time,” said Valdemar Horowitz. “All we’re doing is hindering these people to get their much needed supplies. I say we return to Eagle and advise that the weapons have been lost.”
“But the Prime-”
“Look around, Zol,” he said. “You don’t think we’re already plenty involved with these people. Two phaser rifles won’t make much of a difference.”
The Bolian shook his head. “They could make a world of a difference.”
“I really don’t see how. Besides”?” the tall human stopped himself when he noticed the Tiaitan man standing close by. Differently to most others around them, this one was not working on loading a shipment, instead he appeared to be trying to eavesdrop on the two Starfleet ratings. “Can we help you?” he said with that low, annoyed grumble.
“I “? I couldn’t help overhear that you are looking for something,” the rail thin man said.
“What of it?” said Val.
“I might be able to help.”
Zolwat was immediately interested. “You’ve seen the missing weapons?”
“I “? I think I know who took them.”
When he didn’t go on, Val aimed an impatience look at the man. “Go on.”
“Well, see there is this man, named Tigus-Ait, a nasty character and well, he was here earlier and he took something and afterwards he practically dashed out of here as fast as he could, not interested in any of the supplies or anything else.”
“And do you know where he went?” Zol asked.
The man nodded. “He operates from Ait Gardens. It’s not too far from here.”
The Bolian’s face lit up as he looked at his partner. “A lead. We’ve got a lead.”
“So it would seem,” he said with much less enthusiasm.
Zolwat had a tricorder out in a flash and brought up a map of the city. “Can you show us where these Ait Gardens are?”
The man considered the alien device for a moment and then pointed at a location on the displayed map.
The Bolian’s face lit up. “Thank you. Thank you very much. You’ve been extremely helpful,” he said and was already rushing back towards the Cyrus.
Val followed a lot more hesitantly.
It didn’t take Zolwat long to find Srena who was arguing with the local supervisor, Orgun-Tia.
“We really do not have the time to be picky about this,” the short Andorian told the supervisor. “If you want all these supplies you should make all vehicles available.”
The man shook his head. “I have no intention of making my personal vehicle available to feed Ait scum,” he said, barely paying attention to the conversation with the Starfleet officer.
“Ensign,” Zolwat called out. “We have a good lead on those weapons. We need a ride to a nearby settlement.”
Orgun used the distraction to slip away and Srena turned to Zolwat and sighed.
“It shouldn’t be far,” said the Bolian. “Maybe a five minute trip at the most.”
But the ensign shook her head. “Sorry but I can’t. I need to take the shuttle back to Eagle for another run. We’re already way behind schedule,” she said and then headed back into Cyrus to prep her for take-off.
“But “? but we have a lead,” he called after her to no avail.
“Maybe I can help.”
Zolwat turned to find that the man who had given them the tip had followed them to the shuttle. “How?”
“Well, see, I have a vehicle here. I could take you there if you wish?”
The Bolian smiled and looked at Val who once again seemed little enthused by this development. “This is excellent.”
“There’s just one thing,” the man said.
“Why am I not surprised,” Val said.
“You see,” the Tiaitan said. “I’m a worker here and I’m lucky that I got this job. They pay good coin to get all these supplies loaded. I can’t afford not getting paid today.”
“You want money?” said Val.
“Just enough to cover my lost income for the day,” he responded with a meek smile.
“That’s reasonable,” Zolwat said and then looked back at Val. “Don’t you think that’s reasonable?”
“How do you suppose we pay the man?”
Zolwat considered this for a moment. “How much do you need?”
The questioned seemed to startle him. “Uh, well, a hundred “? I mean, two hundred, yeah two hundred credits would “? uh “? that would be fine.”
Behind them, Cyrus was powering-up again, ready for lift-off.
“Ensign,” Zolwat shouted after he’d appeared to have had a breakthrough. “Wait just one more minute. Just one minute,” he said and rushed into the shuttle.
He was back out in less than a minute and holding a thick wad of paper money. “Here you go,” he said and held it out for the startled Tiaitan man. “Two hundred credits of your local currency.”
The man looked at it for a moment, his eyes lightening up at seeing all that cash.
Val was looking on with disbelieve himself as the man quickly took it off Zolwat’s hand and stuffed it into his pockets.
“Replicator,” said the Bolian, shooting his partner a large smirk.
“I’m sure there is a regulation somewhere about using the replicator to procure alien currency and handing it out to the local populace.”
“It’s for the mission.”
“Name’s Litus-Ait, by the way,” said the man. “My vehicle is just around the corner,” he added and led the two Starfleet men away from the loading area.
Not a moment later the Cyrus took off and shot back into the skies.