[Automat]
Whatever the case may be, the captain had asked her to accompany him in another matter first. She put down her drink and stood to join him. "I'm ready when you are."
[Docking Ring]
When the captain made his entrance he was struck, as he always was, by how such a cavernous area could be so crowded. Deck officers walked about with PADDs as the civilians unloaded or loaded their freighters with cargo. Their goods were either stacked neatly and sorted, but more often than not the shipments were sprawled out haphazardly on the deck. It was a well known regulation to keep cargo neat, but Stafford wasn't about to cut off vital trade with red tape. So long as the food, equipment, and other goods were distributed in a timely manner he wasn't going to raise a stink about it.
He saw Vem standing and chatting with a bunch of Ferengi at the far end of the ring. Laboriously, he limped closer. So the chaplain hadn't been hallucinating. Stafford felt his concern deepen.
"Gentlemen," The captain said when he was close enough. "I see you've met Chaplain Vem. Please say hello to Lieutenant Naira, our new doctor. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
In response, the oldest Ferengi gestured at his cohorts, one of whom slithered forward and handed his leader a long, old fashioned scroll.
"You have the honor of addressing sub-nagus Drega of the Ferengi Commerice Authority." The underling said before scuttling way.
"Sub-nagus, might I know--"
"Captain Luke Stafford," Drega interrupted, unfurling the scroll. "The Ferengi Commerice Authority is hereby calling in its debit taken on by the Federation in the Treaty of Clarus, stardate 56259. The Ferengi Alliance hereby acquires the Starbase Columbus effective immediately. You have a three weeks to hand over operations to myself, including staff."
When Drega was talking Stafford found himself stifling a grin, struggling to keep a professional demeanor. The whole thing was just too ridiculous. The way the other Ferengi were chortling and rubbing their hands together only made his struggle harder. What manner of practical joke had Vem pulled now?
"I would have liked to immediately take up residence in my personal quarters, the Federation Gardens. But it seems you have not seen fit to grant them to me, so we'll begin in your personal office and go from there. I'll be moving my people in--"
"Wait a moment, Drega," Stafford said, holding up a hand. "You can't really expect me to take your word that the Federation owes your people a starbase? My starbase?"
"You want to see the contract. That's the mark of a good businessman. Perhaps we'll keep him on," Drega said to his subordinate, who nodded eagerly and tapped away at a PADD. "Very well. Let us repair to your office. I presume you'll have suitable refreshment on standby?"
"And entertainment!" Rodent-like, another Ferengi was nearly stroking his lobes and eyeing up Naira. "This one will do just fine, captain. You're wise to show off the goods right away!"