Dead Drop (audio story)

Dead Drop is the first episode in Vienna: Series One, produced by Big Finish Productions. It starred Chase Masterson as Vienna Salvatori.

Synopsis
Dwarfed by the burning star of the Hyspero system, two devastating battle fleets face each other across the stars. On one side, the Dyarid Primary Vanguard, commanded by Admiral Salaron aboard the starship Custodian. On the other, a Chtzin battle cluster.

Bounty hunter Vienna Salvatori's latest assignment brings her aboard the Custodian – but completing her mission and earning some poldaks is the easy bit. When all hell breaks loose with the Chtzin and the Custodian is left crippled and plunging towards the sun, a simple assignment turns into a battle for survival for the galaxy's deadliest assassin.

Plot
Lieutenant Paley gives the all clear for fleet perimeter regarding a reconnaissance mission. Ensign Roaig hails Admiral Salaron from the docking bay. Roaig is then told that Salaron is in conference with Supreme Commander Jamela K'lynn and is not to be disturbed. Roaig tells his colleague that there is a signal from transport frigit alpha nineteen, who has their new executive officer aboard. Roaig is feeling uneasy about their new arrival.

Jamela K'lynn states that Salaron has failed her for the last time, to which Salaron is highly apologetic. Salaron recalls to her that during a patrol of the Chtzin borderland, Captain Galazar ordered three fighter squadrons into enemy territory without authorisation from the Supreme Commander. This caused the Chtzin to retaliate, thus causing the fighter squadrons to be lost. K'lynn then turns to Galazar and uses her powers to explode his brain. She then orders Salaron to get the carcass cleared.

Salaron informs K'lynn that they are in shrouded orbit of Hyspero's star, in between Hyspero Major and Minor. K'lynn warns Salaron to never underestimate the Chtzin, stating that the Chtzin must not be allowed to enter the Dyarid Protectorate. K'lynn releases Salaron from conference to perform his other duties. Salaron receives Roaig's message and the frigit is allowed to descend,

A lady by the name of Commander Arcadia Corinth requests exits the frigit and requests permissing to board. She is welcomed aboard the Custodian by Salaron. To ensure Corinth is not a Chtzin spy, he performs a memory scan on her, which confirms her identity. He offers her a tour before showing her her quarters. He informs her that since the fall of the Wrath Empire, the Chtzin are approaching their territory in the remaining power vacuum. Salaron explains that the Dyriad Protectorate is a peaceful mission, whereas the Chtzin is a brutal, warrior race. He explains that Chtzin are an arachnid species with a hive mind, enabling them to get inside your head and influence you. Corinth is also warned to be weary of speaking about K'lynn so flippantly.

Cast

 * Vienna Salvatori - Chase Masterson
 * James Hayward - Ensign Roaig
 * Alisdair Simpson - Admiral Salaron
 * Alison Thea-Skot - Lt. Paley / Jamela K'lynn

Individuals

 * Under the guise of Corinth, Vienna states that she is from Webster's World, formally of the Samaritan.
 * Jamela K'lynn is the Supreme Commander of the Primary Vanguard, installed at the behest of the Premier.

Technology

 * The Custodian is a hyperdreadnought, is thirty clics end-to-end, has thirty decks and warp propulsion.

Species

 * The Chtzin are arachnids with a hive mind.

Continuity

 * The Wrath Empire has since fallen, leaving a power vacuum, which the Chtzin and Dyriad Protectorate both wish to fill. (AUDIO: The Acheron Pulse et al)