*Actionette* - "Spoils of 'war'"

Who: Captain Jed Calvert, Mike Gostuk, Efof Yuwan'Kar and Seymour Niples
Where: Drive room, BD, orbiting New Wales
When: As the fighting was going on down on the planet
Seymour burst into the drive room past the security guard outside, and
pointed a finger straight at Captain Calvert.
"You have to stop this right now!" Seymour demanded. "People down
there are dying! We're making a mess of the entire planet, it was only
a small group of terrorists to blame!"
Jed was taken aback slightly by the weasily little man attempting to
give him orders. Instead he turned his back to Seymour and looked at Efof.
"Is that fella always this annoying?"
Efof felt a cold chill come down on him, he wanted to say `yes' but
feared Seymour's reaction. Then he saw deep into the Captain's eyes
and realised he feared a psychotic armed Cowboy even more.
"He used to be Captain sir. So I guess he still feels comfortable
bossing people around."
"Is thut so?" Calvert said in his Texan drawl. He turned back to
Seymour. "So you're think you're a better Captain than me is that it?"
Seymour thought about this for a moment, then said "Yes. Yes I do"
Calvert pulled his pistol on Seymour and aimed straight for his head.
"Say that again." He beckoned.
Seymour cracked like the small spineless worm he was. "Oh erm… no. Of
course you're a better Captain that I'll ever be!"
Jed grinned and put the pistol back in its holster. "Mister Nipples,
you're such a pushover."
"Actually it's Nip-" Seymour started but noticed Jed reaching for his
gun again. "…nevermind."
"Just so there's no hard feelings, here's a bottle of the very best
Welsh wine, a shipment came up from the planet `bout hour ago. I've
already tried their moonshine and it `aint half bad!"
Jed offered Seymour the wine.
"What? What is this? You STOLE wine from them? Isn't that pilliaging?"
"Spoils of war." Jed shrugged.
"That's barbaric!" Seymour shouted. "This is an outrage! We only
wanted to free our hostages from a terrorist organisation; we're not
at war with the entire planet! This MUST stop!"
"Wel lI would pull my gun on ya again just' for you're tone of voice
fella' but I'm kinda with you on this one, I'm getting quickly bored
of this whole shindig."
He turned to Mike Gostuk at the communications computer. "Tell all the
away teams to git back up here right now."
"Aye sir" said Mike, then after a pause he said "Mr Chrysler on the
phone for you sir."
"Put the fella through." Calvert said, and Jay appeared on the
monitor. He nodded to everyone in the room.
Efof did a camp little wave back to him.
"Captain, we've got a situation down here. We're rescued the hostages
but the terrorists have taken two more."
"Ah, doncha worry about that Jay, we'll leave them behind. Casualties
of war an' all that."
Seymour stepped in. "No we can't do that! We must do the honourable
thing and never leave a man behind! Who are missing anyway?"
"Jack Febuggure and Chris Harris." Said Jay.
"Oh never mind, we can leave THEM behind." Said Seymour, suddenly
changing his tune.
Jay ignored Seymour and addressed the Captain directly. "With all due
respect Captain, I think we can rescue them without too much fuss, and
they're …fairly good men. It's best not to leave anyone behind."
"Okay Chrysler take a small squad and get everyone else back up here."
Jay nodded and the screen returned to a view of the planet.
There was silence in the Drive room and a silent thanks passed between
Jed and Seymour.
"So… you won't be wanting this Welsh wine then?" Calvert said.
"Well… wouldn't want to waste it." Seymour said, taking the wine and
leaving the drive room.