The four members of the away team passed through the damaged hallways, avoiding some panels that occasionally sparked from damage. They came to one section of corridor where the lights had gone out. Immediately, Jon flipped on the light affixed to the top of his Type IIIB phaser rifle. Wok'Tal did the same. Oakenshield and Rashad both flipped on their wrist lamps. The four moved cautiously down the corridor until they arrived at the cargo bay.

Rashad walked over to the control panel in front of the cargo-bay door. She punched in a few commands and eventually cracked it, allowing the outer bay door to open. The inner door to the airlocked cargo bay was still shut. The four stepped in, with the door closing behind them. The airlock pressurised, and an atmosphere was established in the airlock. As the inner door opened, they were greeted with a volley of phaser fire.

"Grab the wall!" Jon yelled out to the other three. They immediately moved into the slight cover provided by the bulkhead.

[Apparently someone is still alive,] Wok'Tal stated 'matter of factly'. He quickly peered around the corner, and ducked back again before more phaser fire filled the space where his head was. [I only see one Ferengi. He has a light repeating phaser cannon for defence.]

Jon nodded. That presented two problems.

A: the Ferengi had a weapon more heavily powered then anything they had on them at the time.

B: He was guarding something of major value to have that type of weapon with him, and he would most likely fight to the death. This was not going to be easy.

"Alright, phasers to stun everyone." Jon took a quick peek around the corner before he was quickly greeted by phaser fire. He ducked away, and began checking his rifle.

"Alright there's three crates about a metre to the right of the doorway. Another is to the left of the doorway about two meters away. The last is about three metres in front of the three to the right of the door. Rashad, Oakenshield, set yourselves up behind the crates to the right. Wok'Tal and I will lay down suppressive fire. Once you're in position, lay down suppressive fire so Wok'Tal can move into position. Wok'Tal, once you're in position, I'm going to leap frog behind Oakenshield's and Rashad's position to the crate infront of them at 2 o'clock."

Wok'Tal looked through the doorway to see the crate that Jon was referring to.

[Agreed.] Wok'Tal gave a nod. [Whenever you are ready Major.]

Jon nodded. He checked the charge in energy pack for his rifle. "Suppressive fire!"

Wok'Tal and Jon leaned slightly around the corner and began firing. Oakenshield and Rashad moved forward quickly, ducking to avoid phaser fire. They took up position behind the first set of crates. They then began opening fire. Wok'Tal was the next to go, sprinting at full speed. He dropped, sliding feet first behind the crate to the left. While sliding, he got himself up into firing position on one knee, and began opening fire with his rifle. Jon was last, moving forward into position behind Oakenshield and Rashad. He then moved forward again, sliding in to position behind his last crate. He got up into firing position and began to lay down fire.

He quickly began to assess the situation. The Ferengi had put together a small enclosure much like a pillbox of crates. He had thought this through. Jon tapped a button on his forearm control panel. A small pinging was heard in Wok'Tal's headset to get his attention. Wok'Tal looked over to Jon. Jon made the motion indicating to toss a flashbang grenade into the Ferengi's little bunker. Wok'Tal nodded and ducked behind his crate. He reached down to his belt, and detached a small disk like object. He then flung the disk forward. It bounced off the wall behind the Ferengi pillbox, and bounced into the box.

"Everyone look away!" Jon yelled quickly. A bright flash followed. Jon and Wok'Tal sprinted forward quickly, running behind the pillbox to find the Ferengi slightly incapacitated. He was rubbing his eyes, trying desperately to get his sight back. The flashbang grenade temporarily blinded the Ferengi, allowing Jon and Wok'Tal to move forward. Wok'Tal grabbed the Ferengi's hands, and put them behind his back. Jon reached in to Wok'Tal's pack and pulled out a pair of restraints which he handed to Wok'Tal. Wok'Tal put them on the Ferengi.

[Good work Major,] Rashad said, approaching the two Marines.

"Thank you Commander," Jon replied. "My suit is detecting some rather high levels of a type of Ferengi nerve toxin, so leave your EVA suit on." Jon looked down at the Ferengi who was already wearing his. "I hope our friend here will be of use." He gave the Ferengi a tap with his boot to the side.

[I would hope so. I would like to know what's he's guarding.] Gibs remarked.

[Probably this,] Oakenshield added.

She walked out from behind the pillbox carrying a cylindrical carrying case about a metre long and half a metre in diameter. [This was back there, including some power packs, some emergency rations, a long-range communications array, apparently non-functional, and some small miscellaneous items.]

[We will have to give this a look when we get back to the Leviathan,] Rashad stated, taking the cylinder off Oakenshield.

[There's also several large crates of what look like unprocessed Dilithium ore, I'd say there's about an isotonne in all.] Julia remarked.

"Wok'Tal, can you handle our new guest." The Major ordered.

Wok'Tal grunted with amusement. [Are you kidding, sir ?]

Wok'Tal like most Klingon's had a healthy disliking of the Ferengi, but for him there appeared to be something more. Jon grinned. He then tapped another key on his forearm control panel. "Major Phanan to Gibs."

[Gibs here Major. We have secured the information and are ready to return to the Hellcat.] Gibs replied.

"Understood. We're heading back to the Hellcat ourselves and have taken one prisoner." The Major reported. He closed the channel and looked around the room once more. The Ferengi was now sat upright on the floor, obviously a little annoyed at being captured so easily. Then he noticed that Oakenshield had moved out of sight.

[Phanan to Oakenshield. Where are you ?] Julia heard over the intercom. She looked up from behind a set of cargo crates where she had been examining the larger crates of Dilithium more closely.

"I'll be along in a minute Major, I think we should take one of these crates back to the Leviathan." Julia replied. "If these readings are correct, then I think Taline and Barker would be interested in this ore, as would most of Starfleet Engineering."

Oakenshield appeared from behind the stack of crates with one of the crates on an anti-grav sled.

"How do you intend to get that down to the Hellcat ?." The Major asked.

"There's a cargo lift towards the rear of the cargo bay and it's operations." Julia replied. "I think I can rig the brakes to allow us to use it to reach the shuttlebay level."

"OK." The Major replied. "Let's hope that you can get it to work, because I'm not going to be the one to carry it down if you can't. Wok'Tal, let's move the prisoner towards the lift."

[Yes sir,] Wok'Tal replied. He pulled the Ferengi to his feet and led him at phaser point behind the pillbox and towards the lift.

Commander Rashad followed Wok'Tal, her own rifle raised followed by the Major bringing up the rear. Oakenshield managed to get the lift to make a slow descent to the shuttlebay level as she'd hoped. It wasn't a smooth ride, but it got the group back to the shuttlebay fast.

Once back in the shuttlebay, Oakenshield pushed the grav sled towards the cargo hold of the Hellcat and loaded the cargo.

"Wok'Tal, you go first." The Major ordered. "Then I'll send out 'friend' here through. Secure him in the mess hall, we'll join you once the cargo is loaded."