Star Trek: Bendross
Uprising
By
Jay P. Hailey
And
The Bendross Players
Hamilton led the way out of the cramped access tunnel into the ante room just in front of the computer chamber.
It was barely big enough for Hamilton to fit into. Jon Dou fit better but let Hamilton lead the way incase the guards were armed.
Being as quiet as possible, Hamilton oozed out of the hatch and onto the deck, ending up prone on his back.
Then silently rolling to his feet, he crept over to the hatchway leading into the bridge. Fearing that his own heartbeat was thundering loud enough to give him away, Hamilton slipped up to the doorway and slapped the "emergency close" button. The purpose of the hatch was to save the computer in case the Bridge suffered fatal damage or a hull breach.
The hatch groaned and rolled shut.
Hamilton had just enough time to hear the frighteningly large and fit Bendross Security man turn and yell "Oh, SHIT!" Before the sturdy hatch was closed and locked.
Hamilton turned to wave Jon Dou into the Computer control room, but she was already there.
Hamilton bombed around the corner to see Jon Dou injecting Mai Zhou. Mai Zhou was plugged into the neural interface, controlling the Bendross III's computer utterly.
Hamilton heard Chinese curse rolling swiftly out of the speakers. Zhou could see what was happening, but couldn't move her body and had no tools to fight them with.
Hamilton reached under the interface chair and unplugged the thick cable that was transferring signals from Zhu's brain to the computer.
The Interface plug retracted automatically and Zhu flopped on the chair, making incoherent noises.
Hamilton winced. The Chinese hacker curled into a fetal ball and mewed, rolling off the chair. Being dumped involuntarily out of cyberspace was never fun. The sudden changes in stimuli felt like being car sick during a long car trip with your family for several hours, but compressed into seconds.
Mai cursed at them in Chinese. Hamilton nodded. "I'm sorry, honey."
"Fucker, what are you doing!?" Mai demanded.
Jon Dou waved her gauss gun idly "Don't Move."
"Bitch!" Mai said, but she didn't move
"What were you doing to the computer?" Hamilton asked
"Safe Guarding against a mutiny, you fucker." Mai said
"We're not the ones carrying out the mutiny here, here. You are," Hamiltoin said as he slid into the chair.
"You bastards on team two have been traipsing all over our new world like you owned the fucking thing and not listening to those of us stuck back here working for a living." Zhu said accusingly.
"Is that why you have Captain Olson locked up?" Hamilton asked. He logged Zhu off the computer and entered his own log in code.
"That's not your business, Ashby." Zhu hissed.
The log in failed. They'd changed his password. Hamilton tried another log in and password that he'd added as a back door.
"Well, I guess you sure told me." Hamilton grinned at Zhu.
"You're going to wind up digging latrines you fucker and I am going to enjoy watching you do it." Zhu hissed.
Hamilton tried another backdoor account. That one worked and he was logged in.
-*-
Flying through the Bendross III Data construct, Hamilton saw hundreds of E-mails aimed at himself and his team. These e-mails were written in the careful corporate speak-to-underlings which was meant to assume superiority without causing offense, to be definite without provoking a law suit.
Apparently Brennan Antony didn't like the way Expedition Team Two handled themselves, He didn't like them pre-emptively reawaking the Bendross I crew, making contact with the natives, or much of anything else they did.
Hamilton ignored them and went right for the heart of the matter. Who had access to the Bendross III main computers. The access levels were dialed way down. Several accounts were suspended, including his own and that of Captain Olson.
Hamilton looked through the eye of the ship - Cameras placed in the corridors and critical system rooms.
He spotted a security team doing something to the main hatcwayt between the computer room and the Bridge. That door wasn't going to last long.
Hamilton spotted Captain Olson in sickbay, restrained and sedated.
Hamilton spotted Martin Kerensky and Linda Vasquez moving through the ship.
He called up the intercom near them and sent the message "Olson is in Sickbay under guard and drugged."
It would be replayed in his normal voice through the intercom speakers.
Hamilton back at himself and saw movement out of the doorway to the computer room. Switching views quickly, he saw that a security team followed the route he and Jon Dou took to get into computers, through the narrow access passage.
Hamilton sent a message to the speakers in the room "Doctor! Duck!"
As it started to play, Hamilton saw a hand slide around the corner with a weapon. It fired and two taser darts lobbed casually across the room to lodge in Dr Jon Dou.
Hamilton began to log out process. It would take a few moments.
Hamilton saw another hand snake around the door jamb
"No! Don't! I'm Still plugged in!" Hamilton sent each word to the speakers "You'll cross circuit the whole input assembly! You could kill me and wipe out the computer!"
Hamilton sent the messages quickly, hoping that he'd get logged out in time.
As the Speakers began to shout "NO", the Taser darts lobbed across the room. Hamilton felt the bite of them faintly. It would start to really hurt when he was jacked out. As the Speakers yelled "DON'T!" in Hamilton's voice, current was applied and that was the last think Hamilton knew for a while.
-*-
Martin jogged along the hallway with his weapon in front of him. He didn't like that. He wished he could find a taser or something non-lethal. But that wasn't an option right now.
They turned the last corner to the sickbay, and saw two guards waiting at the entrance. Martin hi at the corner for a moment looked at the scene. A lot of guards for a sedated old man.
Martin made his decision and put his weapon down. On Cats feet he crept around the corner. He made it a few feet when one of the guards turned towards him
Martin shuffled into the guard closest to him and disabled him with a series of short but powerful blows to the body. The second guard turned and covered them both but couldn't take the shot for fear of hurting his fellow guard.
Martin turned the disabled first guard around and hurled him body at the second guard. The second guard wisely didn't try to catch his friend but stepped out of the way to avoid him and get a clear shot at Martin. He was met mid step by a spin kick from Martin. The second guard made a harsh barking scream and then lost all breath. He fell backwards clutched around himself.
Martin gathered up their weapons and unloaded them before opening to the door to the sick bay.
-*-
After barricading himself and Linda Vasquez in with Captain Olson, Martin carefully administered a stimulant to Olson and untied him. Dr. Jon Dou wasn't answering the comm. Not good. All he could do now was hope to hold Captain Olson away from Antony and hios thugs long enough for the chain of command to get worked out.
An Orange spot began to glow around the door. Within moments it came through with a shower of sparks. They were cutting through the door.
Martin took Olson's hand. "Sir? Sir, can you hear me?"
Linda Vasquez said "Step away from the man."
Martin heard an unpleasant flatness to Vasquez' voice. He turned to look and saw that she was holding her weapon on him.
"What are you doing?" Martin asked.
"This ain't the military." Vasquez said, chewing her gum absently. Martin knew he was within a few ounces of pressure from her trigger finger from dying.
"What?" Martin raised his hands
"This ain't the military. You don't outrank me because you used to be an officer and I used to be a sergeant. This is a Bendross operation and that's where the orders come from." She explained.
Martin shook his head. "A ship needs her captain, especially in a crises."
Linda nodded at Olson, who'd begun to moan. "He ain't a Captain. He's a ship pusher hired by Bendross to push the ship here. The ships here, his job is done."
Martin's expression grew faintly sour. He skin tone deepened to red. "You think that moron Antony's going to get us down safely?"
Vasquez shugged faintly, he weapon never waivered. "Don't care. He's the Moron who signs my check. He calls the shots."
Martin looked at the deck and breathed deeply.
Before long the Door to sickbay gave way and Maetin found himself facing the two guards he'd attacked, plus four others and Vasquez, all holding him at gun point.
-*-
"How is he?" Martin asked, meaning Hamilton.
Jon Dou looked carefully. "From what I can see of his respiration and pulse his vitals are steady. That's a good sign."
Olson said "Thank you, people. I appreciate you efforts."
They were all handcuffed to pipes in a half full cargo bay.
The door opened and several Bendross Security people came into the Cargo bay with weapons pointed at the prisoners. As soon as they saw all was clear they slung their weapons and took out billy clubs.
Brenan Antony came in after them.
"We can't have this." He said. "We just can't have this."
Martin looked at him.
Rudy sighed. "Okay, so write us up or whatever let's get this over with."
Antony looked at Olson. "Olson. I need you to acknowledge that I am in charge of this ship and this mission."
"That was not my information, Sir." Olson said. "Arthur Bendross himself agave me command authority over this mission."
Antony shook his head. "If you were telling the truth then your title would be vice-president in charge of colonial operations. It's not. It's not because that’s my title. You were brought aboard for astronautical derring do. Now it's derring done and it's my job to make sure this mission turns a profit for the Company."
Olson grinned but his voice was grim. "This won't be a money making operation for another generation. Antony, you were peter principled on to this mission the get you out of the way on Earth."
Antony snarled "That is ENOUGH! Damnit, that's old school hogwash. The Bendross Corp doesn't peter principle anyone - if they're not competent they get fired!"
Olson sighed "Unless they are from families that hold a lot of Bendross Stock."
"All that my stock and stock options mean is that I am the senior stock holder in the area and that still means I am your boss!" Antony said.
"It means you're going to get us killed." Olson said.
"Someone has to make decisions!" Antony grated.
"It would help if that person had two brain cells to rub together, Brenan." Jon Dou said.
"Arthur Bendross gave me a job to do. Get out of my way and let me do it." Olson said.
"That position is no longer yours." Antony said coldly. "You and your buddies can rot down here."
He turned and left.
"I apologize." Martin said. He was busy flipping through ways he could have handled things better.
"That's My line, Martin." Olson said.
"Oh, no, no no. I'm the one who should apologize." Rudy snapped.
Martin and Olson looked at him "How do you figure Rudy?"
Rudy rolled his eyes. "Shorter words. Shut up and work on escape."
Martin smiled at Rudy.
-*-
The door to the Cargo hold opened. The captive Bendross III crew people found themselves looking up into the face of Alicia Bendross.
"What in the hell is going on here?" She demanded of the prisoners.
Martin looked at her amused. "We've been imprisoned for crimes against Brenan Antony."
"What?"
Olson explained. "Antony and I had a disagreement over who was running the ship. Antony imprisoned us to make sure we wouldn't cause him any trouble."
"Surely, there were better ways to handle this than assaulting people and chaining them up in places." Alicia said.
"Don't call me Shirley." Rudy said.
Alicia shot him an irritated look.
Two Guards came in and pointed their weapons at everyone but Alicia. Once satisfied that the prisoners were helpless, one guard turned to Alicia. "Mister Antony would like to speak with you. Ma'am."
"Lovely. Would you ask him to come down here and meet me, please?" Alicia said to the guard. Her voice was perky but her eyes flashed.
"Uh… Ma'am."
Alicia smiled dazzingly at the guard. "Just ask him to come down here please." She turned away secure in her assumption that her will would be carried out.
The Guard stood for a moment and then rolled his eyes and left the compartment. He came back in immediately.
"He's on his way, miss Bendross."
"Thank you." Alicia perked.
The minutes passed slowly.
"What's wrong with Ashby?" Alicia asked
"He was hooked into the computer when they tasered him, I think." Jon Dou said. "His brain might be even more damaged."
Alicia looked at Hamilton and then turned to the guard "Make a note for me would you? No more tasering people when they're interfacing with the computer. Un hook them and beat them instead. Okay?"
The Guard cocked an eyebrow at her for a full five seconds and then nodded slowly. "Yes, ma'am."
Alicia wrinkled her nose at him cutely. "Saves damage to the computer that way."
He nodded.
Breanan Antony stepped into the cargo bay. "Alicia, honey, what are you doing here?"
"Can it. What the hell are you thinking?" Alicia voice wasn't cute at all. It was stern and demanding.
Antony smiled his best Charming smile "Now, Look, we have to maintain discipline here, Alicia. One guy has to be in charge, and that's me. Captain Olson and I couldn't see eye to eye about this."
"Who the hell said you could throw an armed coup, Brenan? This isn't Mexico City."
"I had to enforce my authority, Alicia. We don't have a lot of recourse here." Antony sounded very reasonable.
"What authority is this, Brenan?"
"I am Vice President of Colonial Operations, and frankly the senior Stockholder present." Brenan said. His charming attitude slipped a little bit. He was the boss and being questioned was beginning to annoy him.
"The senior stock holder, Brenan? Really?" Alicia looked at him carefully.
"Yes, Alicia. I own one million seven hundred thousand eight hundred and forty-two pieces of class A stock." Brenen's voice was filld with more steel and confidence now. There. It was out in the open. They were comparing sizes and he was ahead of that game.
Alicia turned towards one of the guards. "Would you go get me a Tablet please?"
The guard looked at Antony. Antony nodded. The guard left.
As he left Alicia asked Brenan sweetly. "Would say our current situation is a crises, Brenan?"
"Well…" Brenan said. "That's an awfully strong word, Alicia."
She looked at him surprised. "We're looking at somewhere in the vicinity of thirty casualties between the Bendross III and the Bendross I, the Bendross I has been damaged in a terrorist attack and is conducting urgent landings even now. Not a crises?"
"Everything is under control, Alicia." Brenan said placatingly. "We don't need Donovan Olson to tell us how to blow our noses."
Alicia smirked. "Alright. I'll point out that in the Charter of the Bendross Corporation, section two paragraphs 18 through twenty four, it specifies that deaths of employees during the pursuit of their duties, as well as a terrorist attack on Bendross Property are both to be considered crises conditions with appropriate crises management plans put into effect."
Antony looked at Alicia stunned. "Now Alicia, there's no need to go to such ridiculous extremes…"
The Guard returned with a tablet Computer for Alicia. She called up something. "Oh Dear. It says here that I only have one million one hundred two hundred and ninety two thousand four and twelve pieces of stock."
Brenan nodded "Well that's an awful lot Alicia, but not enough.
"But oh, Wait. Here's Chandless incorporated. They own another two hundred thousand eight hundred and forty two pieces." Alicia said.
"I… I don't think I see where you're heading…" Antony said
"As it happens, Chandless Incorporated is mine. Wholly owned and operated." Alicia said. "Oops! I just voted myself proxy for all of Chandless Incorporated stock!" She giggled
Antony looked stunned.
Alicia played with the Tablet computer a bit. "Really Brenan. If I started buying up Bendross Stock out of pocket don't you think my Uncle would have noticed? My ratty greedy thieving cousins and siblings god bless them?"
Brenan looked ill "Uh, uh."
"We have to buy stock through front organizations or we could easily start bidding wars. I was almost ruined that way by my little cousin Arthur Bendross the III, the little weasel. It was his first hostile take over. He was fifteen years old." Alicia explained.
She turned the Tablet around to show Antony. "I actually control over two million piece of type A and Type F outstanding Bendross Corporation Stock."
Antony choked back an outraged noise.
He recover himself. "I am still the Vice-President of Colonial Operations." He said weakly.
"Brenan, let me break this to you gently. You're an idiot."
Brenan choked and became red in the face.
Alicia looked at the guards. "That means I am signing your paychecks, gentlemen, Not Brenan."
The Guards looked at her stunned.
"Since we are in a crises situation, that means crises management rules are in effect. That means, Brenan that you shut up and we all do what Captain Olson tells us to do." Alicia said sweetly.
Brenan was almost in tears.
"Once we're not in danger of being killed by whatever insanity was left for us by the cute little furry people, then you and I will start working on setting up a viable economy here." Alicia said. "Until then, you're the book keeper. Shoo."
Without waiting to see if he obeyed her, Alicia turned to the guard and said "Let them all go."
The Guard, flummoxed, hesitated three beats and then bent to release the prisoners.
"I am truly sorry for the misunderstanding, Captain Olson. Please forgive my exuberant and zealous assistant."
Walking out of the cargo compartment, Brenan tripped and fell over the hatch sill.
"As for the rest of you. Let's see if we can handle things more like adults next time, Shall we?"
Rudy started laughing and didn't stop for ten minutes.
-end-