On the Hunt - Part II
Posted on Tue Oct 14, 2025 @ 6:25am by Commodore T'mpest Michaels & Bastille LeGrange & Colonel Nicholas Means III & Lieutenant Commander Jason Haines & Lieutenant T'Lul & Lieutenant Liam Blackwood & Lieutenant JG Anson Lee & Lieutenant JG Hannah Reeves
Edited on on Sun Oct 19, 2025 @ 6:44am
1,570 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Chicken Run
Location: Deep Space 5
Timeline: MD01
{CONTINUED]
After the emergency meeting, T'mpest headed to the promenade to grab a meal at Lasuma's and possibly find one or more of the animals on her way. She was almost there when she heard an animal bleating down one of the side passages. When she went to investigate, she saw a small goat trying to eat part of a string that was holding up a temporary banner.
"No, little one," she said, going over to it. "I know a place where you can get some food and shelter." It didn't have any sort of harness, so she tried to grab it around the middle, but it head-butted her and ran off. Feeling a little silly, she went in pursuit, keeping just far enough back to not make it panic, but keeping close enough to grab it when she had a chance. They passed a stall selling fruit in baskets that, fortunately, contained straw. She grabbed a handful and called to the goat.
She was surprised when it worked and the little goat stopped. She set the hay on the ground and backed up to let it come look at the food. When it began to eat, she grabbed it and picked it up, careful to hold its legs so it wouldn't kick her. She also took the grass so it could keep eating as she headed for the nearest security station.
Liam was reviewing a set of stellar cartography scans when the announcement broke through. He blinked, started at the screen as if he misheard the announcement. But then the text scrolled across the console, confirming it.
He leaned back in his chair. He ran a hand down his face and laughed. Of all the emergencies that could happen…stray animals hadn’t been on his list.
He stood up and looked toward the corridor beyond his office. He half expected a goat or a chicken to run past. He grabbed his tricorder and stepped out into the corridor
Liam found himself on one of the promenade decks. From the railing above, he watched as a pair of security officers attempted to capture three goats. The goats had discovered a planter full of greenery.
The animals were unbothered, munching happily while the security officers attempted to capture them, however that made the goats scatter. Liam folded his arms and tilted his head. He noted the way the animals adapt so quickly to their new surroundings.
“Efficient survival behavior.” He said quietly.
As he stood there, the rest of the promenade began to echo with farmyard sounds. He told himself that this was a case study in unintended ecological disruption. The closed ecosystem of the station just received a sudden injection of terrestrial fauna. He couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take for the station’s systems to restore balance.
He made a mental note to check environmental sciences but for now he lingered and watched the chaos unfold.
Here, kitty, kitty, kitty.” The orange tabby hissed as Anson reached for it where it perched atop the equipment rack. It lashed out, striking the back of his hand with its claws. Blood welled up in the scratches. Anson gave his own hiss of pain and put his mouth to the scratches to soothe the pain. “Damn it. What was that for? I didn’t do anything to you.”
He pulled his hand away from his mouth. The scratches were red, blood caught in the ragged tissue, but not actively bleeding. It wouldn’t kill him. It just stung like hell. He glared at the cat, who glared right back. “Ok, so you’re not going to be reasonable? Fine. I am the superior intellect. I have many tools at my disposal that you don’t.”
Like bribery. The closest replicator provided what he needed. “I have tuna, kitty. Stinky, stinky tuna. Come and get it.”
A squad of Marines moved through the promenade heeding a small flock of docks trying to move them along as best they could, once they got them to the check point the security field could be set and they'd have this batch taken care of.
"There! We're almost there."
"About time"
From behind them someone shouted. "LOOK OUT!"
As they turned a pony came running towards them. Standing his ground One of the Marines drew his phaser and fired. The pony dropped as it was stunned but the damage was done the commotion had spooked the ducks and they had all scattered half of them flying away to other decks of the promenade.
A Lance Corporal stared up as they flew away. "Son of bitch..."
Hannah had been alerted to an animal sighting in the Jefferies Tubes on Level 103. After an exhaustive search all she found were 4 chicken eggs, and some waste.
=^="Reeves to Security."=^=
=^="Security here."=^=
=^="I've found evidence of at least one chicken in the Jefferies Tubes on Level 103, but they've moved on, heading to Level 104 now."=^=
=^="Acknowledged, Lieutenant. Keep us informed. Security."=^=
If I wanted to look after chickens, I would have stayed home. She thought to herself.
Jason caught up with Philips as the turbolift door was just closing.
"Welcome to DS5", Jason said with a smile. "Not exactly what I was planning on for your first day of duty."
"That's ok sir", the Chief Petty Officer replied. "I am sure farm animals won't cause too many issues for us in protecting the Commodore."
Jason laughed, "One might think that would be the case, but between diseases, temperament, sharp teeth and claws, hard hooves, and the panic they will be exposed to, this could be quite the show. And that's assuming this is all just an accident.
The turbolift came to a halt and opened. The scene on the promenade was chaos. Some people were running and screaming, some children were trying to catch some of the animals for fun, and one enterprising Ferengi had somehow gotten a rope around a larger goat, settled it down somehow, and was now trying to sell it.
Jason beckoned Philips to follow. The Ferengi stepped up to Jason, "Commander, Commander. May I have a deal for you. Just today I acquired a, uhm, ah..."
"It's called a goat and I'll take it", Jason said, taking the rope with a smile.
"Of course, you didn't let me finish, my sales presentation, but seeming how you are eager to buy it, I can give it up for three bars of gold pressed latinum", the Ferengi said with a bit of false confidence in his sale.
"Send the Commodore the bill", Jason said. Between he and Philips they were getting the goat to move.
Jason tapped his combadge, "Commander Haines to Commodore Michaels. What is your current location?"
"Promenade. I am currently giving a pygmy goat a ride to security."
[The Evil Librarian]
Bastille closed her door, but left the shop open in case anyone needed to escape the chaos on the promenade. She wasn't sure why the animals seemed to feel this was the best place for them, but it was entertaining to watch through the plate glass front window. People of all races were either chasing animals, running from them, or trying to avoid them. There had to be hundreds of them.
And then she heard a tiny mew from the storage room. "No. It can't be," she muttered. How could a cat get in? She checked that the front door was properly secured and went into the back...where the door was ajar. She didn't know how it happened, but clearly, someone had come in or left from the back. She'd have to check the computer footage later. After she found and returned the cat.
But that was easier said than done. Every time she thought she came close, the cat moved. Finally, she replicated some cat food and set the bowl in the middle of the floor. "Here you go, kitty. Come get your food." And then she waited.
It took several minutes before a small black kitten with a white spot on its nose slipped out from behind a stack of boxes and carefully approached the food. B
Bastille said nothing. She didn't dare move. Only when the kitten had eaten its fill and was bathing itself did she choose to speak. "Hi there. I'm Bastille. I think it's a little too chaotic out there for you, so why don't you just hang out here with me until things settle down. Then we can get you back to your owner." Maybe. Or maybe she'd see if she could buy the cat--or buy another cat to replace it. This one was so tiny she just wanted to cuddle and protect it.
Sensing a conquest, the kitten came over to her and began to purr as it rubbed around her legs. She picked it up and cuddled it. "You win. Come on. We'll go sit in a chair and watch everyone outside. Okay?"
The kitten just purred louder.
(To be continued...)
Commodore T'mpest Michaels
Commander
Deep Space 5
Lieutenant Liam Blackwood
Chief Science Officer
Deep Space 5
Lieutenant JG Anson Lee
Assistant Chief Security Officer
Deep Space 5
Various Marines
Lieutenant JG Hannah Reeves
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
Deep Space 5
Lieutenant Commander Jason Haines
Bodyguard
Deep Space 5
Chief Petty Officer Phillips
Security
Deep Space 5
Bastille LeGrange
The Evil Librarian
Deep Space 5
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