Previously…

"Do it." ASHER ordered. "Head, let's see if we can't get us some time. ISS Leviathan to unknown vessel, we are prepared to surrender what are your terms ?"

Now…

The viewscreen changed from the image of the shuttle and their attackers to an image of a Ferengi, one ASHER recognised immediately.

"Daimon Shia." ASHER stated. "I was under the impression you we're on the Marauder."

"A small deception on my part." Shia replied. "But necessary. There's someone else I'd like you to meet."

From behind the Daimon a second Ferengi appeared. Unlike Shia however this one looked like he'd been through the wars. He had several scars on his face and looked rather thin, even for a Ferengi.

"This is Sub-Daimon Floc." Shia stated introducing his colleague. "Formally of the Ferengi Marauder 'K'Tar'Pa."

ASHER was quite for a moment. Ensign Head looked down at his console, which had started to beep. ASHER was checking that the Captain was also receiving Daimon Shia's signal and also on the progress of modifications to the tractor emitters. Another minute and the modifications would be ready. ASHER continued to monitor the situation as he listened to the two Ferengi on the screen.

"It appears that you neglected to inform my courier Daimon Leggett about the minefield you and your Captain placed in the asteroid belt around Sigma Twelve." Floc stated.

"Daimon Leggett owed me a lot of money, which because of you I will not be able to recover." Shia announced. "By the time I reached Sigma Twelve in response to the distress call, the Federation was all over the place. They captured Sub-Daimon Floc and after getting nothing out of him, tried to take him back to Earth for trial. Luckily I had this ship at my disposal and it's toys. We managed to intercept the shuttle that was taking Floc to Earth and rescued him."

"What exactly do you want ?" ASHER asked firmly.

"I want restitution." Shia replied. "As I said, Leggett owed me a lot of money and I think that your remaining supply of Dilithium ore would be enough to clear his debt. You have one minute to think about it."
"I will need to talk to the Captain." ASHER remarked.

"OK." Shia allowed.

"Captain Oakenshield." ASHER started. "You've heard the Daimon's terms, do I accept or blast him out of the sky."

Whilst ASHER was talking to the Captain, he was again accessing the operations console behind him, attempting to piggy-back a second signal to the shuttle. He sent a message to prepare to be rescued.

[Lieutenant ASHER, under no circumstances will you surrender to these fools.] Julia ordered.

"Helm, now." ASHER ordered, having received a message back from the shuttle.

The ISS Leviathan moved forward towards the shuttle, stopping just a few metres away. Tractor beams locked onto the small vessel and pulled it inside the main bay. Within seconds, the Leviathan was away and gone.

Cardassian Vessel

Daimon Shia looked on at the screen as the Leviathan appeared to be in two places at once, grab the disabled shuttle and disappear.

"Helm follow them." He ordered.

"Daimon, we have another problem." The young Ferengi at the operations console reported. "Romulan warbird decloaking. They're…."

The Operations officer didn't have time to complete his sentence before the Cardassian vessel was rocked heavily by fire from the Romulan vessel.

"Return fire." Shia ordered.

The Ferengi vessel joined in the firefight, attacking the Romulan vessel from two sides.