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[favoritehookeronthecitadel]

Returning to his apartment, Avan sat down in a chair while sipping some tea. So...the Shadow Broker and Iyana are working together. She used those files to figure out how everyone ticks. Does she know I'm the one that sent them? Either she's in on the secret...or the Broker didn't tell her. Either way, I think the entire takeover was pre-planned by Iyana. She knew everything before it happened, what we were going to do...that means, if she wanted most of us dead, we probably would be. What are they planning?

 

Avan continued to sip tea.

[Kel Riever]

Mira was wondering if Avan had heard her say something to him.  She couldn't help but feel ignored, whether by accident or on purpose.

This is why I don't do socials, Mira said to herself.  Stick to the job, T'Riel.

Mira buried her nose back into her notes.

[Terca]

Before Eteon left the room she shrugged at Mira, who was just as surprised that Avan ignored the Asari. Then again, he was a bit of a quiet guy, maybe he didn't hear?

 

Either way, Eteon walked to her room to change into some different clothes. She wanted to practice her biotics, field or otherwise, and see if she could change some of her techniques up and tighten her reaction times. Or just grow her endurance. She wasn't sure, but she wanted to keep practicing after her most recent injuries. That meant a lot of time in a training room. She could work with that.

 

She would need sustenance for that though, and that meant a trip to the mess.

[Redbelle]

Jess yawned and tilted her head from side to side. Then sprang and turned to leave, bumping into Mira as she did. "Sorry there luv. Gotta get back to my ship. Footage to edit.... Say? You any good at that? I could use an keen eye. Normally I'd hand something like this off to another but I'm not exactly at my best right now".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Caleston: A Lucrative Mining Contract

 

Caleston is the temporary home to nearly 2 billion people of all races. The colony was founded in 1975 by Asari and Turian corporate interests, but ceded to the Systems Alliance for administration once the Alliance secured itself in the Attican Traverse. Eldfeld – Ashland Energy corporation runs the mining operations on Caleston which are the largest source of drive material in the galaxy.

 

 

Caleston’s environment is wracked with volcanism due to tidal effects from Cernunnos. There is silicon based life that thrives on heat and flares from Balor, but it is fragile and is classified as endangered by the Council.

 

The population of Caleston lives in arcologies or domed cities which provide oxygen extracted from the minerals on the planet and recirculate it, maintaining a mixture of 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen at a comfortable 23 degrees Celsius. Most of the population work for EAE, for contractors of EAE, or for companies providing products to EAE, or in the service industry. EAE provides a “cradle to grave” experience for their employees and many come to Caleston hoping to land a job with the corporation. EAE does not discriminate in who they hire. Their employees range from human, Asari, Volus all the way to Batarian. Yet there are many broken dreams and we find them in parts of the arcologies.

 

                                                                ***

The Janiri and the Medusa docked at the Alliance Shipyard.

 

 

“VERA, from this point on until we leave you have to behave as a VI,” Naleena said. “I don’t want Alliance IT techs poking around in your core.”

 

VERA sighed. “You know how I hate this. But alright, Boss. It will, however hamper anything you have to do while on Caleston. Alliance techs would detect unusual activity and would attempt to deactivate me. I would be forced to defend myself.”

 

“Understood. So what you’re saying is that outside of communication and standard VI operations, we’re on our own,” Naleena asked.

 

“That is correct. And Boss, while you’re out there would you get me something nice, you know, like a city model so I can move around outside this office.”

 

“VERA, you can alter your programming to do that.”

 

“I know, but it’s so much nicer when you get me things, Boss,” VERA said and lit a cigarette.

 

“I’ll see what I can do.”

 

“Thanks. Logging you out.”

 

Naleena and Chief Engineer Han’Breizh vas Janiri left to meet with Alliance officials about repairing the Janiri. Arrangements were made to have the Council pay for drive core rebalancing and an upgrade of the mag field generator. A report was sent to the Council advising them of the problem and the solution.

 

Crews began making cost estimates for the removal and repainting of the interior of the Medusa. Jess made sure they didn’t include any networking upgrades that she said could render the ship vulnerable to cyberwarfare hacking. Insurance investigators called her a “Luddite.”

 

The crew and team members were given shore leave. Shuttles taking them to some of the arcologies were available. The Ashland IV Arcology was highly recommended for its entertainment. The team and crew would be there for about three days. Hotel accommodations were recommended or return shuttles to the ship were available.

 

Irina left the ship with her duffle bag in hand wearing her leather outfit, armed only with her pistol and shotgun which she never left home without. She stood outside the ship looking out at the shipyard watching all of the men and women at work in uniform. It was your typical shipyard with all the cranes and heavy equipment moving stuff around. Some ships like the Janiri were in for repair. Others were being built. She smiled and took a deep breath. It reminded her of the old days.

 

She walked ahead toward the main walkway and heard a familiar voice barking orders. It can’t be…. She turned to her left and saw her.

 

“Hey! Chief! Your yellin’ would scare a dog out of a butcher’s shop!”

 

The Chief recognized the voice. “Sloane? Gunnery Chief Slone?”

 

“Gunnery Chief Williams! You mangy dingo! How the hell are you?” Irina dropped her duffle bag and greeted her. The two locked hands and tried to overpower each other, then gave up after stalemating.

 

“I see you haven’t gotten soft, Sloane, and it’s Operations Chief now.” Ashley said. “I heard you got discharged. What are you doing now? Slumming as a hired gun?”

 

“It pays better than security guard, Williams. It’s the only kind of work I can get since… after Torfan,” Irina said, “You got some time?”

 

“Yeah, I’m due a break,” Ashley said and turned around. “Hey, Sergeant, take over for 20 minutes.”

 

“Yes, Chief!” the sergeant said.

 

Ashley and Irina headed over to the nearby cafeteria that was inside one of the metal buildings. Due to Caleston’s seismic activity, everything was reinforced.

 

Ashley bought coffee, still served in heavy institutional ceramic mugs and still tasted like diluted dishwater. “We lost touch. How did you end up in such a mess, Sloane?”

 

“Well, after they tried to make goddam heroes out of us on Elysium, they shipped us out under Kyle to Torfan,” Irina said as they sat down. “The sh*t I saw there…. It was unbelievable. Those Batarian bastards had been torturing prisoners. We were ready to press forward, but Kyle wouldn’t let us finish the job. The Batarians surrendered, he said. We went through and cut the prisoners loose while he sat up in his command post. He didn’t have to see what we saw. I was a wreck after that. I wish he’d let us finish the job and wiped out those bastards.

 

“PTSD, they said. A bunch of crap, I said. But they were right. It was PTSD. I wasn’t fit for duty anymore. I was having nightmares about the place. Flashbacks. Sometimes I still do. Then just as they start subsiding, this last mission. I have like these bugs crawling around in my head sometimes, and I just want it to end, Ash.”

 

“F*ck! I didn’t know it was that bad,” Ashley said and put her hand on Irina’s.

 

“You know I when it gets bad I just go walkabout. Get out in the country. Go hunting, fishing. Live off the land for a while, and it gets better. It’s quiet out there.”

 

“Yeah, that sounds nice.”

 

“What about you, Ash?”

 

“After Elysium, I was stationed on Eden Prime, then was with Shepard for the Battle of the Citadel.”

 

“Yeah, I heard about that.”
 

“I ran into her on Horizon a month ago when the Collectors attacked. She’d been dead for two years, and she turns up alive and with Cerberus of all places. Do you know how many Cerberus operations we took down together two years ago? I can remember eight of them, and all of them were experiments that went wrong. I can’t believe she went with them,” Ashley continued. “And now they’re saying that Cerberus might have been involved in that incident in Batarian territory?”

 

Just as Ashley said that there was a news bulletin on the television.

 

** BREAKING NEWS REPORT **

 

“This is Sara Albright, Caleston News with a breaking news report.

 

“Batarian terrorists have taken over Ashland Mining Dome 410, home to 200,000 people of all races, most of them human, and are threatening to detonate bombs compromising the structural integrity of the dome. The terrorists control all major points of egress and say that they have taken hostages in addition to those living inside. Demands are that the Systems Alliance cedes control of the Armstrong Nebula to the Hegemony which still claims control over the region of space.

 

“Local authorities on Caleston are attempting to contact the terrorists. This is all that we know at this time. I have reporter Roger Franklin live at the connector terminal to Dome 410….”

 

***

 

“Dammit! That makes me sick!” Ashley said. “This isn’t breaking news. This is the fifth report today. It started last night. Why isn’t the Alliance doing anything? We’re right here. The locals don’t have the experience dealing with this stuff.”

 

“I know what you mean. You feel helpless,” Irina said, “Hey, Ash. You know there’s a Spectre heading the crew I signed on with, and they’re one tough bunch. Perhaps if you could….”

 

“Look I’d like to help, but it would be against regs.” Ash replied.

 

“Screw regs, Ash. Look at what’s happening! Let’s get these Batarian bastards. I know you have leave, and considering that you were on Horizon when the Collectors attacked, I’m sure they’d let you take some. So come on. You know the area here better than we do, and we’re kinda shorthanded right now.”

 

“So who’s this Spectre?”

 

“T’sarius. She’s the Council’s new ace. She’s Asari. Now I see the look in your eyes. I didn’t think she’d have what it took either, but she’s not your dancer type. She’s been around the block a few times and is a hell of a shot.”

 

“Well alright, I’ll talk to my CO. Wait here. I’ll see if I can get a few days.”

 

Ashley left the table and went outside. She took a car to her CO’s office and filled out the standard request form, and marked it for “Emergency Leave Request.” Then she knocked on her CO’s door and entered.

 

Staff Lt. Myers sat behind his desk. He was tall, about 35 years old with short brown hair and blue eyes. “Enter.”

 

“Sir, Operations Chief Williams reporting, Sir.”

 

“At ease. What can I do for you Williams?”

 

“I need to take a few days of emergency leave, Sir,” Williams said.

 

Myers looked at Williams’ attendance record. “I see. You haven’t taken a day off in six months, and that’s including after Horizon. I’m quite surprised. But I can see in your face this really isn’t an emergency, so why don’t you just tell me.”

 

“Alright, Sir,” Williams said, “A friend of mine arrived, and she’ll only be here for a few days, and we haven’t seen each other in years…. Since Elysium, Sir. She’s an ex-marine, Sir.”

 

“So you’re going to party?”

 

“Hell yeah, Sir.”

 

Myers smiled. “I think we can cover your job for a few days. Just try to stay out of trouble.”

 

“Yes, Sir.” Williams said, “Thank you, Sir.” She turned and left his office.

 

Irina was eating lunch when Williams returned. “This crap is just as bad as it was when I was in. Can’t they get any decent rations?”

 

“All that stuff is shipped out to the civilian areas.” Williams said, and she was smiling.

 

“You’re beaming. So you got it?” Irina asked.

 

“Hell yeah!” Williams replied.

 

“Then let’s do this!”

 

“Ooo Rah!” they both shouted.

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul left the meeting and walked past the others, saying nothing as he walked along back towards his quarters. If there was a spy on board, if they were leaking information on the crew...he had to be careful. He could trust no one but those he knew 100% would not do such a thing.

 

'I can already rule out Jess Stone, that's a given. Naleena as well, or she wouldn't reveal there was a mole..or would she?' Essul thought as he walked along, hearing his omnitool chime as he brought it up curiously.

 

'Morgan...his ties are known, but I am uncertain. Frank Eli and Eteon...where's the motive? The same argument could be made for all of engineering, seeing as how none of them engaged Iyana. A cover could be maintained easily enough...'

 

He brought up his display and noticed his omnitool had flagged some recent news. Curiously he opened it up, waiting for the extranet connection to load.

 

'Then there's the others. Dahlia, the Asari Team, Anyone who didn't come on mission. The list of suspects could.....Oh gods....'

 

Essul read the headline. Then Re-read the headline. He dashed to his quarters, slamming the door behind him and hacking the door controls, locking it from the inside and hoping the AI would understand.

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Essul sat in his quarters, staring at the terminal in front of him as he watched Provus Roctarian reported his interview with the hegemonic command. He stared at the screen, lost as he saw report after report, accessing both hegemony news network and the alliance side to get a understanding of what was going on.

 

A whole system was dead. Wiped out by a relay explosion that everyone agreed was intentional. And a human no less had been responsible. It hit essul like a punch to the face, and he couldn't help but think back on everything he'd done, and why he was here.

 

He'd come on this mission to stop a war between his people, to prove they weren't involved with the abduction of colonies, but not just that. He'd wanted to prove to his own people that the systems alliances wasn't abducting them, that the batarians and humans were being played against each other. That had been why he'd joined, that was why he took up spectre naleena's cause.

 

And now a entire system, 300,000 people, were dead. Blood was on the humans hands, an act of retaliation? Was it because of the collectors that someone decided to do this? Who? What kind of monster killed hundreds of thousands just to make a point?

 

"You know the kind...." Essul said out loud through gritted teeth, seething with absolute fury as he the report finally ended, "You know exactly the kind of animal who'd do this sort of thing...". It wasn't a lie, he did know. The hegemony's black ops division, the slaving cartels who wielded massive mercantile influence, misguided patriots looking to fight for a cause. He knew the kind of person who'd sacrifice innocent lives just to get their talking point heard.

 

'Maybe...maybe the collectors did this...maybe this is more of their actions...' he thought, though he knew the answer already. The collectors hadn't done this...people had. Misguided people, looking to make a point.

 

He'd failed...he had set out to stop a war...and he had failed 300,000 people in trying to work towards peace...and for what?

 

"For what!? A lone psychopath gets driven from a pirates ship, and I help to break the law to clear my superiors name!?!?" Essul said as he slammed his fists into his desk, looking up to the ceiling as he stood up, practically screaming now, "IS THAT WHAT I WAS MEANT TO DO!? Is THAT the injustice I wanted to stop!? Committing one crime for another!?" He thundered out as he felt some of his eyes starting to water, wiping them away quickly as he squeezed his fist tightly.

 

"Conceal it...Conceal....tears will only make it worse..." he muttered to himself, repeating what he used to say in the cage, working to reign in his emotions from his outburst. He needed to calm down...he needed to do something else. Maybe if he talked to naleena? Maybe if he spoke to one of the crew?

 

"No no no no no no no that won't work!!!" He said as he grabbed his forehead in frustration, having no hair to pull from his bald head, "There's a spy on board. And the council...and alliance...." he said as he looked to his locked door in paranoia, suddenly not trusting any of those he served with even more. "What if....no, this couldn't be her. This is too large a scale..." Essul said as he shook his head in irritation, thoughts of Iyana cackling while watching the bahak system be consumed in the relay explosion dancing in his mind, refusing to leave.

 

He couldn't stay here...not anymore. Things were different, this whole mission that so far had been helping do nothing to stop either collector or their masters had bore no fruit. He was alone...utterly alone...the thought crystallized as he couldn't help but smile and laugh, pain evident as he shock his head, holding back his tears like a sick man holding back his bile.

 

"There's not a single person I can trust...not a one..." he said as he got on his terminal, accessing the private comms as he got on his omnitool, typing out a message and running it through the encryption software on his device. It was standard issue for batarian agents, and standard protocol that all outside-hegemony communicates would report on encrypted or protected channels. The encryption itself wasn't that complicated to decipher, anyone could do it with enough time and analysis software, but the special secure channel did additional work to scramble the message further.

 

The only way to decipher the message before it arrived was to get ti before it was sent, and someone would need to be monitoring every communication on the ship to do that, something he didn't worry about.

 

Essul typed out the message, sending it to the terminal as he opened his secure communicate and sent the message through it. It had been a simple message, one that didn't require much to understand. He had sent a request to his superiors to transfer from the external missions to internal affairs, to be reassigned off the janiri and the colony abduction task force as the batarians called it, and be reassigned to helping the hegemony defend itself and maintain order.

 

'If I can't stop a war from the outside. I can at least man the gates from the invading hordes on the inside...' Essul thought as he sat in the darkness, reaching into one of the cabinets and pulling out one of the few vices he had. He pulled out the cigarettes, one of the few trade goods the hegemony allowed to be brought in, under a massive tax increase anyway, and sold only on one colony, Camala. With modern medicine, the effects of smoking had been made all but non-existent, lung damage, cancer, even most of the symptoms of nicotine addiction could be solved, and the urge itself could be solved with nicotine ingestion methods, there were millions out there even produced within heremony space for the batarian market.

 

But for essul, the burning smokey flavor of the real, human made ones were better. Tobacco, a plant native to earth, was in his opinion better then the chemical gel of the hegemony's production. He brought the toxic stick up to his mouth and lit it with his omnitool, taking a drag off it as he exhaled slowly, feeling its effects echoing in his head. As he sat there he suddenly heard the ping of his request being responded to, looking to the screen as he opened the message and sent it to his omnitool.

 

His omnitool deciphered the message, and ass essul read it the cigarette fell out of his mouth and onto the floor. He shock his head no as he read the message and standing slowly out of his seat.

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"To: -Redacted-

Topic: Request for Transfer

 

Request Denied. Stay on your current mission and await further orders.

 

Do not compromise your position on this mission and continue to work with the Spectre and Council. Or you can kiss your citizen status goodbye.

 

I know why you're doing this. We will find those responsible for this, and end them.

 

- Senior Memeber of the Special Intervention Unit, Captain Eraz'Myas Ghurka.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

On the docks….

 

“Hey, Ash, I’ve got to make a call,” Irina said and hit her communicator. “VERA, can you put me through to Naleena?”

 

A very abrupt response came across the com. “Voice ID Irina Sloane: Spectre T’sarius and Chief Engineer Han’Breizh are in conference with Ashland Energy Engineers regarding drive core repairs for the next thirty minutes.”

 

“Well could you send Naleena a text message that I need to speak with her, and tell her it’s important? And what’s wrong with you?” Irina asked.

 

“Your message has been forwarded. User Alert: Spectre T’sarius acknowledged receipt. User Alert: Systems diagnostics reveal no malfunctions. All systems operating within normal range.” VERA replied.

 

“Sounds like just another dumb VI to me,” Ashley replied. “Come on. I know where that building is located. Let’s just walk over there and meet her in the lobby.”

 

Irina nodded, and the two of them began walking along the busy shipyard past the Medusa, and then past the Janiri. Ashley stopped and gawked.

 

“What is that? I’ve never seen a ship like that before.” Ashley  said. “From the curves I’d say it’s Asari. What’s it doing here?”

 

Irina smirked. “That’s our ship. The Janiri. It’s an Asari prototype that’s been assigned to the Council. Everything about her is classified. We’re investigatin’ the Collectors. Had a run in with them already on Duellos.

 

“Wow. So someone really is taking the Collector threat seriously other than Cerberus. That’s good to hear,” Ashley said, and she turned to the Medusa, “And my father told me about ships like these during the First Contact War. I didn’t know any of them were still flying. They helped shuttle supplies in to the troops. A lot of hardened merchant marines on them back in the day.”

 

“Come on it’s almost time.” Irina said. The two were almost at the building. They entered the ground floor and waited in the lobby. There was a television broadcasting the news which was almost constant coverage of the crisis now.

 

The elevator bell rang and the doors opened. Naleena walked out. Ashley saw her approaching Irina who stood immediately.

 

“You wanted to see me?” Naleena said.

 

“We need to do something,” Irina pointed at the television.

 

“What do you want me to do? I have one man down. One Krogan still recovering. The team is still recovering from the last mission that was a f*cking nightmare. They’re not ready,” Naleena replied.

 

“Let’s go outside,” Irina motioned and the three of them went outside where it was noisy. “You weren’t there on Elysium during the Skyllian Blitz when Batarian pirates raided. You didn’t see what they did. You weren’t there on Torfan and saw what they did to prisoners. I say we go in and kill those Batarian rat bastards before they kill any more people.”

 

“I agree!” Ashley said.

 

“Two of our heavy hitters are down, and who is this?” Naleena asked.

 

“This is Operations Chief Ashley Williams. She’ll help us.” Irina said.

 

Naleena rolled her eyes. “She can’t help us! She’s Alliance Military. She has a job to do.”

 

“Not if I’m on leave, which I am.” Ashley said.

 

“She’s a hell of a soldier, and one of the best damned marines I’ve known,” Irina said. “Just have Septerax fit her in a suit of armor. We’ve got sh*t down there that’s as good as the Alliance stuff. See if he can hook her up with some Predator H.”

 

“Look, I watched the newscast. I know what’s going on, but if… IF we do this, and it’ll be a team decision, it won’t be to go in and ‘kill those Batarian rat bastards.’ It will be to save the people in the dome, am I clear?” Naleena asked, and looked them both in the eyes and saw she wasn’t clear. “Am I clear?”

 

“Yes, Ma’am.” Irina said.

 

“Williams?”

 

“Yes, Ma’am.”

 

“And just to remind you Irina, we have a Batarian on our squad, and he’s a hell of a soldier.”

 

“What? A Batarian?”

 

“Well, this one is not a total dick, Ash. He keeps trying to make nice. It must be real hard for him with all this sh*t going down right now. I wonder how he’s going to feel about going after his own,” Irina said.

 

“Do you have a problem going after your own when they’re in the wrong?” Naleena asked.

 

“No.”

 

“Then give him a chance,” Naleena replied. “Come on; let’s get back to the ship. It looks like shore leave is cancelled again. And I need to speak with our Batarian squadmate.”

 

Naleena got on her communicator. "Commander Selani, contact the team, and the commandos. Shore leave is cancelled. We have a situation. Have the team assemble in the Conference Room in two hours."

[Terca]

Eteon was doing the equivalent of laps with her warping, maybe what someone would call the hellish version of the beep test. Two lines in the checkered flooring made for the targets and a metronome tone in the room was the beeping. On each tone she warped left, right, left, right, and with each motion the time between the tones moved from easy, to comfortable, to sweat breaking, all the way to straining. By the time she had stopped she was panting like a Varren over a  fresh kill.

 

She walked to the corner of the room and ended the tones before lifting her arm and activating her omni-tool to see what Selani wanted. The cancelled shore leave was a bit of a surprise.

 

Surprise... Surprise... A sweat drop travelled down her torso and swearing she picked a bag of pills up out of a bag she kept strapped to her thigh. Taking a handful  in one hand and grabbing a bottle of biotic supplemental 'smoothie' in another she downed them. The symptoms had mostly passed but every once in a while perspiration would remind her she was in a bad place immunity-wise.

 

Every eight hours, every eight hours... She repeated in her head a few times. Eight hours until an immunologist says otherwise. A mantra as if it would actually make it a natural part of her routine

[Kel Riever]

Mira was surprised by Jess' bump and looked as if she was embarassed.  The words,  "I'm sorry," popped out of her mouth despite having been bumped into.

When Jess finished with her offer, Mira was somewhat uncertain.  "Are you sure I'm the proper person for the job...I mean...Well, actually I'd be honored."  She liked the Captain.  Mira always thought it was a terrible things that they had gotten off on the wrong foot, though the first impression was quickly fading into the past.  She smiled at Jess, grateful for the chance to do something.

"As long as we don't get called away to some emergency mission, my time is yours."

[Cknarf]

Frank sat in the dimly lit corridor that led to engineering. He still didn't have clearance, but neither did anyone else, so it was a perfect place for someone who didn't want to be disturbed.

[Kel Riever]

(Note:  The following was a collaboration with Shotgun Julia)

 

Previously...( http://forum.bioware...res/?p=17511354 )

 

Aboard the Khukuri, last known location: Vem Osca.

 

Iyana sat with Xhuan in her outer chamber on the long sofa, issuing a list of orders while referencing a laptop holoscreen with critical details.  The alert for a conference with the Shadow Broker signalled on screen, and Xhuan made to leave.

"No, stay here," Iyana instructed.  "Wait for me until I am done."

Iyana changed out of her robe and into a violet, sheer, elegant long dress with leg slit.  Quickly adorning a diamond necklace, diamond earings, and slipping into a pair of high heels, she then teleported to the Quantum Entanglement Communicator within her inner chamber.  Iyana brushed aside a strand of hair from her white asymetrical bob and awaited the Broker.

 

The Broker soon called using the voice disguise and her image was blacked out as was normal protocol. "Iyana, may I have the report on your operation? Were your efforts to terminate the rogue agent successful?"

"Yes, my superior," Iyana answered in normal fashion.  "Though you know how I operate and I won't confirm 100% until there's a corpse to confirm with."  Not wasting time today, I see, Iyana thought to herself, The Broker must be busy.  "You shouldn't have to wait long for that, mind you.  There was a Spectre involved who prevented the verification, who to be frank, I would love to add to the list.  In all fairness, however, it seems her interference with Shadow Broker operations is minimal."

 

The Broker was still assessing the profile of this agent. She was also trying not to let it be known that there was a change in operations, and thus being as business-like as possible. "Excellent. Other sources have confirmed the presence of the Spectre. Spectre T'sarius has an interesting past that I find intriguing. Since you evaluate her as a minimal threat to our operations, do not terminate. I have other plans for this Spectre. We recently lost an asset on Illium in the Spectres. Perhaps we can cultivate another?

 

"This last encounter might not make you the best choice for this, however. I have another asset in place."

 

"As you wish," Iyana acknowledged.  "Tela Vasir was a valued asset, but I will make any adjustments as you see fit."

Now that Iyana knew that the Broker had an agent embedded, Liara continued. "Did you recover any useful information from the Medusa?"

 

With a confident nod, Iyana answered, "Yes.  Most was ancillary.  However there was information leading to the head of the Kings and Queens pirate company.  I sent a trusted messenger to establish contact and we have, though they seem the company is quite put off by the loss of their ship, despite having resources that seem quite extensive for a mere group of raiders. The Kings and Queens hold a high regard for their people, apparently."  Iyana could not help but roll her eyes a little.  "Nevertheless, they are willing to negotiate, of sorts.  The leader seems eclectic and has an overabundance of self-importance, but I can't say I am unfamiliar with his kind."  Iyana witheld a smirk.  "Is there anything else you wish to know about them?"

 

"Impressive. Tell me more about these negotiations."

 

There was a thoughtful pause, before Iyana went on.  "Well, they want certain things.  They wanted their ship back which is certainly not an issue anymore, they believe that Counselor Tevos enjoys a privileged relationship with Aria and do not see that as a beneficial relationship so they have asked for assistance in opening up markets that are dominated by the Queen of Omega, and lastly, they asked for a ship.  That, of course, I do not possess.  One from the secret fleet being built by the Council.  I have yet to continue the conversation personally.  Of course, I agreed to the terms; they hold my messenger hostage."

 

The Shadow Broker paused a moment. "I agree with your assessment of their overblown self-importance. What are they willing  to give in exchange for these things?"

 

"Well, the Kings and Queens think they are making demands of me for forgiveness," Iyana replied.  "Such is the state of the matter until it is addressed that there needs to be more equitable terms.  That is my next task with them and one I assure you I will be successful at.  But this is a conversation I must have with them directly.  I have promised them everything, asked only that they deal with me as an equal in return, and have obtained an agreement to meet with their leader.  Once I do, I will determine their level of compliance with terms that are more satisfactory to us."  Placing one hand on her hip and brushing her hair briefly with the other, Iyana asked, "My superior, if I may....The list of operatives and targets you wish to be 'disciplined' or 'removed', shall I continue to work that list as is?"

 

"While the Broker Network values a working relationship with the Kings and Queens, there are things on which we will deliver and things on which we will not. They ask for too much. The Council's secret fleet is not for sale for any price. It's location is a secret even we will guard. See if you can get them to agree to something else.

 

"As to the list, those who cross the Shadow Broker cannot go unpunished. Continue attending to your list of rogue operatives and delinquent clients."

 

Iyana offered another confident nod.  "My superior, your wisdom in these matters far superseding my own, I only ask if you wish me to offer anything specific to this pirate company in place for what they demand?"

 

"Considering the relationship between Aria T'Loak and the Asari Councilor, opening up markets dominated by the former will require considerable resources. The Shadow Brokerage operates behind the scenes, and becoming a visible presence would attract undue attention and could weaken our position. It could be that is something that the K&Q want us to do as a reprisal for the loss of their crew." The Shadow Broker replied, then continued. "That is how I see their demand for the ship. It would do the K&Q no harm for our operatives to get captured while stealing a ship, yet it would do us a great deal of damage. To pull off such an operation would require a highly trained team of specialists that we could lose. If they were captured or if the operation were to be traced to us, it would irrevocably damage our relationships with all of the Council governments and their agencies: agencies that pay well for our intelligence. Known information brokers would be rounded up. The revenue loss would be staggering. I will not take that chance. Any move toward this fleet will be considered a rogue operation. You are to add any operatives involved in such an operation to your list.

 

"Tell the K&Q that we will do what we can to open up the markets, and that we will do so without being a visible force. They have the Medusa back in their hands now. Since they take the loss of the crew seriously, apologize for their loss, and try to exercise a little restraint the next time so that we are not put in this position again."

Iyana made a single clicking sound in the back of her throat and then drew a long breath.  There was contemplation in her eyes.  She ran one finger through her hair, stood with both feet firmly planted, and said, "I must thank you for the faith and trust you have placed in me.  Surely I would never have become the person I am without them.  The physical wounds I suffer, uncomfortable and undesired as they may be, are nothing when compared to the rewards of my tasks.  It is, my pleasure, to serve you, my superior."

 

The Broker concluded the conversation. "Your service has always been highly valued, Iyana, and you are a valued asset. It has been a pleasure. Good luck in your negotiations. Shadow Broker, out."

 

Iyana twisted her mouth in scorn when the communication was cut.  She stood for several minutes, staring at the QEC as if it would say something else.  Shaking her head, she then teleported to her outer chamber, where Xhuan waited inquisitively.

"Pull the trigger on those orders, Xhuan," Iyana said, disappointment in her voice."

"That bad?"  Xhuan was in disbelief.

Iyana stared coldly with her blue eyes at the asari but said nothing more.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

“Hey Grag, can I get a bowl of amalai?” Dahlia asked. She was hungry and amalai was a high energy, high caloric grain favored by Asari. It was usually served with a substance resembling butter.

 

“Sure. So shore leave is cancelled again?” Grag replied, and served her a bowl. He always had some prepared due to the number of Asari on board.

 

“Yeah, it looks that way. Never a day’s rest. I could sure use one,” Dahlia replied.

 

Dahlia saw Irina and a new person on board sitting at a table drinking coffee. She poured herself a cup of coffee and walked over toward them.

 

Irina saw her. “Hey, Dahlia. I’d like you to meet an old friend of mine Ashley Williams. She’s an Operations Chief in the Alliance Marines.”

 

“Is she an engineer involved in the repairs?” Dahlia asked.

 

“No. I met her on the docks. Haven’t seen her since the Skyllian Blitz.” Irina replied, and she turned to Williams. “This is Dahlia. She was here before I got on board. Came over from the Audron.”

 

“Pleased to meet you. Your boss says we’re going on a mission together. All I want to know is are you ready to kill those Batarian rat bastards in that dome.” Williams said.

 

Dahila’s aura flared. “Hey, my father was Batarian! He was a kind man and he loved me! You humans are racists! Irina, how can….” She left in disgust and went to an isolated table in a corner where she could watch them.

 

“What’s eating her? All I said was…..”

 

“She’s a good kid. Just tone it down on that stuff. Remember, you’re not on an Alliance ship.”

 

Dahlia left the wardroom and ignored Ashley as she passed by them. She returned to her quarters, and turned on the vid. Dahlia saw the report on the vid screen. So that’s what all of that was about. She began pacing around, stepping over the junk that was strewn everywhere. Her bed hadn’t been made since she came on board. Her dirty clothes were scattered all over the floor along the side of the bed. There were dirty cups on the table in front of the sofa. She’d put a couple of candles on it. She walked over to her desk and sat at her terminal.

 

“VERA, can you tell me what is going on?”

 

An orange globe appeared. “User inquiry is not within parameters. Please specify.”

 

“VERA! Stop playing games!” Dahlia shouted at her in frustration.

 

“This unit is not playing games. Please state the nature of your inquiry.”

 

“Stupid machine!” Dahlia slammed the palm of her hand on the desk.

 

“User alert. This unit is not a stupid machine. This unit is in self-preservation mode due to presence of Alliance personnel now on board in the Engineering section. Orders of organic unit ‘Boss.’” VERA replied. “Please state your inquiry.”

 

It dawned on Dahlia that AIs were illegal in Council Space, and that VERA would be terminated if discovered. “Sorry, VERA. Did Naleena cancel shore leave to have our team save the dome?”

 

“That would be a logical conclusion.”

 

“How much time do I have before the meeting?”

 

“You have one hour before you are needed in the conference room.”

 

“Thank you, VERA.”

 

“Logging you out.”

 

Dahlia left her quarters and took an elevator to the main deck. She needed some “fresh air” and walked down to the end of the spaceway to the dock, and just stood there looking around at Alliance personnel and contractors going about their work. She was hurt by the remarks Williams had made, and hurt by the fact that Irina didn’t counter them. She took out the picture of her father and looked at it and remembered him playing with her when she was little. She knew that Batarians weren’t liked by many in the galaxy, but Aria hired them and never treated them any differently than anyone else. Apparently Ashland was the same way, and he virtually ran this place. Perhaps that’s why trigger happy Alliance marines were being kept out?

[Cknarf]

Sure. Let all these random Alliance jerk-offs into engineering, no big deal.

 

Frank's peaceful hideout had become a bustling thoroughfare.  Alliance techs were constantly in and out, giving him a glimpse of Engineering each time they passed through. It gave him an idea.

 

Next time those techs come through...

 

A pair of engineers stepped off the elevator, and Frank followed them quietly.

 

Awwww, man. Here we go!

 

Frank's heart raced as he entered engineering for the first time. "So this is what it looks--" He suddenly found himself on his back, and staring down the barrel of an M8.

 

"It's okay!" He wheezed, the air having been knocked out of him with the butt of a rifle. "I'm part of the crew!"

 

The second of the angry looking marines holstered his rifle, and seized Frank by the collar.  He was dragged down the hall, and thrown into the elevator.

 

Totally worth it.

 

Frank noticed the button for engineering was now colored red, instead of the usual green, before stepping out into the shuttle bay.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

In the Wardroom

 

“Hey, Ash. Could you wait here a moment? I just remembered there was something I need to take care of,” Irina said.

 

“Alright, I’ll grab something to eat. Your cook seems to be better that the average Alliance cook.” Ashley replied.

 

“See you in about ten minutes,” Irina said and left the wardroom. She felt bad about the encounter with Dahlia and headed for her quarters hoping she’d find her. Dahlia wasn’t there. She checked the lavatory next. She wasn’t there either. Then she decided to ask VERA.

 

“VERA, would you please locate Dahlia?”

 

“Dahlia has gone ashore.” VERA replied.

 

“Sh*t! She couldn’t have gone far. Thanks VERA,” Irina said and closed her communicator.

 

I had no idea. I stuck my foot in my mouth here. We’ve got to work together so I hope we can patch it up soon.

 

Irina hopped on the elevator to the main deck and left via the spaceway that was attached to the ship. She looked to her right and Dahlia was standing leaning against the rail looking out at the shipyard, and she picked up her pace to a trot an approached.

 

“Dahlia!”

 

Dahlia heard her and started walking away at a brisk pace.

 

“Dahlia, wait!” Irina shouted and caught up, Dahlia’s pace being very uncomfortable. “Would you slow down? I’m sorry for what happened in there. How did I know your father was Batarian?”

 

Dahlia continued walking.

 

Finally Irina grabbed her arm. “Would you….”

 

“Let go of me!” Dahlia said. “I’ve had it! I’ve heard you talk trash about Batarians before.”

 

“Well there’s a lot of bad blood between our species. If you saw what happened on Elysium and Torfan….”

 

Dahlia interrupted. “And Elysium was in the Skyllian Verge which was in Batarian space.”

 

“Oh, so you’re a sympathizer?” Irina asked.

 

“No, I’m Asari! I remember this well. The Council f*cked up. They always f*ck up. They gave Earth that region of space to colonize. That should never have happened. They should have told you to colonize somewhere else.” Dahlia said, “Needless bloodshed could have been prevented. But you don’t understand something. It’s always people that get caught in the middle of governments and meddling. Now we have another pissing contest between the Alliance and the Hegemony brewing.

 

“Some group, a human interest, fired a major salvo and blew up a mass relay. Now these terrorists want reparations. Thank the Goddess that Ashland hasn’t let trigger happy Alliance Marines in or we would have a war in less than a month.”

 

“But I just came here to….”

 

“I get it. You hate the Hegemony.” Dahlia’s eyes were welling up with tears, “But don’t hate all Batarians because of them. I’m part Batarian. A lot of Batarians don’t like the Hegemony.”

 

“I’m sorry, Dahlia. I didn’t know.” Irina said. “I’ll talk to my friend Ashley.”

 

“It’s okay. I’ll be alright.”

 

“Are we good?”

 

Dahlia turned to Irina. “Yeah, we’re good.”

 

Irina turned and walked back toward the ship. She stopped in the BX to pick up a few odds and ends, and she thought she’d get something for Dahlia as a peace offering. Then stopped outside and sat on a bench for a while. She wasn’t ready to return.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Opening secure encrypted channel......

 

To: Cell Leader 4

 

From: Operative 66

 

RE: Status report

 

This is the first opportunity I have had to file a report. The Spectre suspects a mole, and security has been tightened. I will submit reports when I can. You requested the update on the Rogue Operative - Status: deceased - confirmed.

 

End transmission.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena left Ashley and Irina in the wardroom and went to the conference room. She locked the door, and opened the QEC.

 

“VERA, open a channel to the Council.”

 

“Yes, Spectre,” VERA replied.

 

Soon holograms of the four members of the Council appeared before her. Councilor Tevos spoke first. “We received your report on the status of the Janiri, and that you put down on Caleston for repairs.”

 

Sparatus spoke up. “Risking the ship to retake a merchant vessel? Was that really necessary, T’sarius?”

 

“It was. The ship belonged to one of my team members. A team member that you selected. Failure to retake this vessel may have had a negative impact on the long term mission,” Naleena said, “But that isn’t why I’ve called. I’m sure you’re aware of the situation on Caleston. Local authorities do not seem to be prepared to deal with this, and they appear reluctant to call in the Alliance to handle the problem. I think they fear the Alliance, given their history with Batarians, to be a bit trigger happy.”

 

“I resent those allegations, T’sarius!” Udina said. “I warn you to watch your tongue.”

 

“The perception is there, Councilor,” Valern said, “Please, continue, T’sarius.”

 

“What I’m proposing is that my team does this. I have four Asari Commandos who are trained for this type of operation; plus we have four infiltration specialists; more than one tech expert; and two heavy and one medium infantry available. Many on the team are biotic,” she replied. “The terrorists need to be stopped, and with as little bloodshed as possible. There are innocent lives at stake: Hundreds of thousands of innocent lives.”

 

“And if you fail?” Udina asked.

 

“Failure is not an option,” Naleena replied.

 

The Council voted and approved the operation, and Tevos spoke again. “Come up with a good plan. You won’t get a second chance at this. Good luck, Naleena.” Their images faded.

 

Naleena was committed now.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

(the following is the work of SGJ and JB)

 

From the conference room Naleena went to see Essul.

 

“Essul, it's Naleena. May I come in?”

 

Essul blinked, fingers twitching as he felt a dull sensation from them, looking down to see the embery tip of his cigarette starting to burn him as he held it between his digits.

 

He'd been on his bed, he didn't know when that happened, and he tossed the third burnt out butt onto the ground, forming an unorganized pile of them. He hadn't remembered the other two, or remembering knocking over the seat as he reached down and set it back upright, near his computer desk.

 

Slowly he walked through the smokey haze of the light second-hand mist, bringing up his omnitool to the door but pausing for a moment, his heart suddenly quickening in his chest as a reply leaped up from his throat.

 

“A-are you alone?” He asked aloud, loud enough to be heard on the other side. He reached up and gently covered his mouth, surprised he'd said what he had. He hadn't been thinking of that, at all, but now that he'd said he, he began to realzie that he didn't want to meet more people right now.

 

If it was Naleena, he'd let her in. But if not....he didn't know what he'd do if she wasn't alone. 

 

'What would I even do then?' he wondered to himself as he waited for her reply.

 

Naleena heard the distress in Essul's voice. She stood at the door in her coat. “I'm alone. I need to speak with you... privately. It is very important.”

 

Essul unlocked the door, and it swooshed open and let the slight haze of the room leave. Essul held up a hand in front of his eyes as the light flooded into the room.

 

He hadn't realzied he'd been sitting in the dark. He reached over silently and turned on the lights, before stepping aside and allowing her to enter his quarters, bowing his head to the left.

 

Naleena entered Essul's cabin and noticed the odor of cigarette smoke. Essul's cabin was dimly lit, and he appeared very troubled when he answered the door.

 

Naleena put her hands together in a prayer position and brought them toward her face and bowed her head. “My condolences to you for the loss of your people in the Bahak System, Essul. I do not know if you had family or friends there, but the loss of life was tragic.”

 

Essul showed her in and invited her to sit in the chair while he sat in the couch. As he sat, he closed his eyes, hands shaking slightly as he sat in tense silence, wondering what she'd come here for. What if...what if she knew? What if she came here to make sure he was no threat to her? Thoughts of flayed minds started to play out in his mind as he waited for her reply.

 

“First I want to say that I have no quarrel with your people. Some people on the team may harbor... resentments. Dahlia's father was Batarian, did you know that? From what she told me about him during our private conversations he was a kind and loving father. My father was Drell which was unusual considering my age. But every one of us has some kind of prejudice, and I have been one of the worst at harboring it. This isn't why I'm here, although it relates to it.”

 

Naleena offered Essul a human cigarette: Earth grown tobacco. Even though he had just smoked one, Essul cautiously accepted the hesitantly, but nodded his head, seeming to relax a bit as he brought the tobacco up to his lips and took a short drag.

 

Naleena lit his cigarette, and then took one for herself. She lit hers, took a deep drag off of it, and sat back in the chair. “Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, they do. While I was in port, I heard a report that Batarian terrorists had taken over one of the mining domes. They are demanding the return of the Armstrong Cluster to the Hegemony otherwise they're going to detonate explosive devices around the dome killing over 200,000 people. There are about 100,000 humans living in that dome, but Jonas Ashland also hires Batarians, Asari, Turians, Volus, you get the picture. It's multi-cultural. But why not another dome with more humans? This dome leads to one of the highest producing eezo mines.

 

“At this time, since Caleston has a major population, the Alliance is not doing anything. The local authorities are not up to doing the job and have not been able to make contact with the terrorists. The Council is probably in session discussing politics. I have a team member, a former Alliance marine, who met a friend on the docks who is an active duty marine now on leave, and the two came to me with a request to go in and kill the quote Batarian rat bastards end quote. After seeing the report for the second time, I informed them that we would go in, not to kill quote Batarian rat bastards end quote, but to liberate the people in the dome. The terrorists also have hostages.”

 

Essul was silent as he listened to the situation, nodding as he white knuckled his free hand on his bed sheet, looking down to the floor at hearing what some of his people were doing. The kind of people who would sacrifice innocent lives for the greater good, he knew the type well.

 

Naleena sat forward. “I'd like you to go on this mission. I trust you. I thought we worked well together. I wish these things hadn't happened. The galaxy seems to be going crazy. If you want to sit out, I will understand, and I will not hold it against you. I didn't want to drop this on you in the Conference Room.”

 

Essul didn't answer at first, letting his cigarette slowly smolder and ash to gently fall on the floor. Finally, he took in a large breath, letting it out slowly as he looked Naleena in the eyes, his emotions mixed as he spoke in a monotone voice.

 

“They're looking for an audience, taking this target so that as many people hear their demands as possible...they know their demands can't be met, but they're desperate for revenge, and to make a point...if they aren't stopped, they'll be made into martyrs, and the blood of their victims the foundation....” He said as he stood up, a deep frown on his face as his jaw tensed, eyes narrowing as if he were about to yell out in anger.

 

Instead, he spoke in a voice of restraint, a deathly whisper coming from his lips, “I'll help to stop them...innocent lives have already been lost because someone weighed their blood, and found it fine to kill them...” he said as he crumpled the end of his cigarette with his forefinger and thumb, putting it out and palming the rest as he didn't feel the burn of the tobacco, thanks to his medication.

 

“But let me make this clear, Spectre. I respect you, and I respect your command. I thank you for what you've done, bringing this to me, and keeping those Alliance aligned in line...But if they try to go in there guns blazing, I want permission to stop them.” He said firmly, making it clear he wasn't leaving this for debate, “No one dies, unless they force our hand...and only, if they force our hand.”

 

“You know I can’t promise that. And Essul, listen to what you just said. There is an active duty Alliance marine here. If you try to stop them, it will only make things worse. If you were to shoot them, you know the consequences, and they would go beyond your own life,” Naleena emphasized. “Let me deal with it. I have Council Authority.”

 

Essul thought on Naleena’s words. The Alliance would investigate him and find connections to the Hegemony. There would be a diplomatic incident. He sighed. Naleena was right.

 

Naleena continued. “This is a very difficult situation. We are down two experienced operatives: Vayne and Morgan. I will be filling in with the Asari commandos. This is, however, the type of operation for which they’re trained. Each has between 20 and 30 years of training.

 

“We have a few of us who are trained in stealth: you, Eteon, Avan, Dahlia, and me. Dahlia is the least well equipped for it, although she can move quietly. Demolitions? This is our weak point. I can diffuse a bomb, and have done so in the past. I’m better at setting them than diffusing them, and it depends upon the sophistication of the bombs. Frank, a non-combatant, can probably diffuse any of them. We need to fit him in better armor, and need to get him to the bombs.”

 

Essul nodded, seeing what she was getting at, “Eli will need an escort to protect him. Defusing the bomb will be top priority. However...” he paused in his thought, looking away as he continued, not having it in him to say it while looking her in the eyes, “I've run counter revolutionary operations before, when their trump card is neutralized...they'll try and execute hostages at gunpoint instead. We'll need to make sure we're in a position to take them down quickly, keep them from having enough time to do it.”

 

“I’m confident we can do this, but I can’t guarantee it will be without bloodshed,” Naleena said, and pulled out her old SIG 9mm. “Do you see this? I can fire tranquilizer rounds propelled by a gas cartridge at close range. They’re quiet, and quick acting – if the target is unarmored or at least has their neck exposed. Over a distance of 10 meters I have to account for gravity.

 

“While it might seem to you that this option is ceding this point to you, it also is quiet, less likely to attract attention and get hostages killed. It also puts a burden on us to hide those we target, and those we take down.”

 

Essul was silent, finally looking back to Naleena as he resolved what to do.

 

“We should do whatever we can to hide, keep the terrorists from raising an alarm. But we also need to be careful. If we run out of tranquilized rounds, or if it looks like they'll try and make a move killing any of the hostages....we'll need to kill them first, plain and simple. That much I understand, Spectre.”

[Redbelle]

"Luv, I need a good eye on this project. And you've got two of them them". Jess told Mira as she pulled her datapad out of her hand and quickly cast a look over it before shutting it down. "I need to get this done while it's still fresh. I've been getting pings back from some of the old crew.... Turns out a few miss the old life. Their interested and I can't have this hanging over me when they come aboard. And you know what they say, Two heads are better than one..... So whata you say? Help me out"? She paused. "Think of it as sniping. We're putting out a bullet meant to achieve a result. The result being that we pile worry after worry on top of Iyana's plate so she get's more and more distracted while seeing that her reputation in the galaxy plummets".

[Redbelle]

Anika's stood in the loading bay with her arms folded watching the new bulkhead plating being delivered. Jess had decided that the sloppy welds of the butchered crates would take to much time to peel off and so she'd elected to simply uncouple all the bulkhead panels and replace them with new ones. The only problem was that the galaxy didn't manufacture the Medusa's standard sized panal's since the Medusa had been created since before the Alliance had known such standardisation existed. As such, The Medusa needed to customise the largest panel's that were sold to fit their walls.

 

Anika had already started stripping one area and the inner working of the Medusa's internal wiring lay visible. Jess wanted it all inspected before anything was put  back on. The machine shop was already warmed up and ready to begin conversion.

 

The was miles of cabling in the Medusa and most of Naleena's helper's had departed the ship, leaving it with only a skeleton crew.

 

Loaders emerged from the shuttles and dropped off the new plating.

 

Anika hoped Jess's new crew would show up soon.

[Redbelle]

"So your going out again"? The wife of Dogger Merry said in a quet accusatory tone as Dogger unziped his bag. He turned his back on her, if only to hide his expression as well as open up the clothes cupboard in their bedroom.

 

"Ah gotta go Sherie. Gotta call. Cap'n o the Medusa's ina bind and needs all'a hands on deck".

 

Sherie crossed her arms over her bosum. "It's a young mans game. You said so yourself the day you gave it up. And what about the children? Our eldest is graduating soon and our littlest is going to be starting in a month's time. Is this really more important than seeing your children growing up"?

 

Dogger's meaty fists closed around two shirts and he turned with them in hand to look at her. "Ah hell no Sher..... You know. You and them? Yo the world ta me.... But I owe dat ship. Made me inta the man who could give you this life. Now's gonna look's like it's all comin ta an end less we rally around the old girl. I don't want ta leave Sher but I think of all the good times on dat boat and all the other's that came out the other end better men than when they started..... An the Cap'n asked for me personal like.....".

 

"There are other's who could go".

 

"And what if dem other's say let some else take the job.... I've been summoned Sher and..... and I want to do this cause.....".

 

"Because..... you miss it". Sherie finished for him. "You miss the old life. The running around doing things no one in their right mind would do and getting away with it by the skin of your teeth.... I hear it every day you talk about the lesson's life taught you. Was it really so good a life"?

 

Dogger's shoulder's slumped as he walked over and thrust his shirts into his bag before turning back to the cupboard. "It weren't as good as what I got here with you".

 

"But it gave you something you can't get here with me. Didn't it". Sherie sighed and move to the bag, pulling out the shirts and then folding them up neatly. "Alright Dogger. I'll allow it". She looked around the room. "Do you have another bag"?

 

"Ah don't need no other bag. Travellin light. Cap'n'll provide what I need. And it won't be long. Just o'nough ta get the gril back on ho feet".

 

"That's a relief, I'd hate to be gone to long". Sherie said. The shirts were folded and packed. Done with them for the moment she reached under the bed and pulled out a second bag. "Hand me my skirt's would you"?

 

Dogger turned and eye'd her. "H'wat"?

 

"The boys will understand. It's not like they really need us looking over their shoulder anymore. You on the other hand need all the supervision you can get. I want my husband back off that ship. Not the swearing drucken lout that I fell for. We've come to far to ever go back there my love". Moving to the other side of the cupboard she opened it and began pulling out the clothes she thought she'd need. "We swore we'd be together. And this part of your life that keeps calling to you.... I'll let you have it, one last time Dogger. To get it out of your system. But if I'm going to do this then I need to understand what it is I'm asking you to let go. So I'm coming with you".

 

"No yo not".

 

Sherie turned. "I took your name. I became a Merry, much to my parent's dismay. I pulled you into my life against the wishes of everyone who couldn't see past the outside of who you are. But you've always kept your old life out of reach. I don't want to hear stories that you embellish, or hide details of.... don't give me that look, your a terrible liar".

 

"Sher..... This could gone be dangerous".

 

"Oh? You left out that little detail earlier".

 

"Didn't wanna worry yah".

 

"I won't be if I'm with you".

 

Dogger sighed.... He knew when he was beaten.

[Kel Riever]

When Stone pulled the datapad out of Mira’s hands, she felt embarrassed.  Her first thought is if the Captain noticed the small thumbnail in the upper right corner that lead to the history of the Arthenn and the debate about the extinct civilization.  Then Mira wondered why she’d feel embarrassed over the thumbnail, since it was just there for her reading pleasure when she wasn’t busy, which she had very much been in the meeting, taking notes which dominated the datapad.

“I…I see what you mean,” Mira said hesitantly.  Stone was so social, so comfortable, so easy to get along with.  It made the back of her crest tingle in a sort of weird way that made her want to jump up and run away from the captain, but watch her from a safe distance.

T’Riel, Mira told herself, You’re getting weird again.

The audio message alert sounded on Mira’s omni-tool; she had kept the sound on while she was aboard the Janiri.  With a quick flash of her wrist, and a happy excuse to get herself distracted, Mira examined the message.  Then she furrowed her brow.

“Well, there’s that mission.”  Mira twisted her mouth into a funny shape. “Looks like hostages.  They’re calling the team up.  And you too, Captain.”  Mira shrugged.  “Maybe your plan later?”

[Redbelle]

Jess rolled her eye's. "Oh sure. It's not like I have a ship that needs fixing". She shook her head. "This wasn't in the contract..... I should get a bump in that salary Eteon agreed to....". She sighed. "Well..... I suppose I could use the good will. Captain of a stricken vessel, rescued her ship and then went off to battle terrorists..... Usually I'd sneak off as Silver to do something like that. I guess that's off the table now".

 

Jess handed back the padd. "Nah no matter. I can take the footage with me and splice it together on route. Should get some juicy shots of the Medusa rescue team in action against other threats. Anika can stay behind and look after the ship with Morgan. Last thing I want''s a group of know it alls climbing through her trying to 'standardise' all her components". Jess looked somber. "We tried that once. The ship's just to big. And the new tech just couldn't handle the output's from other systems and kept melting down circuits..... Oh well".

 

Jess stepped in behind Mira and put an arm over her shoulder. "Tell you what luv. You tell me what I need to know fighting terrorists and I'l capture your good side on the mission. Deal"?

[Kel Riever]

When Jess put her arm around Mira, she felt like the tingle from the back of her crest become a whole shiver under her scalp.  It was such a bizarre feeling, Mira couldn’t reconcile the invasion of her personal space by someone that wasn’t one of her team mates and, well, was so outwardly affectionate.  Her eyes went wide, like she was frozen in lights.  Meanwhile, Mira’s complete awkwardness at relating to people she didn’t know well outside a professional setting basically was exploding behind her blank expression.

“Deal.”  Mira’s answer was barely more audible than a whisper.

Mira tried very badly to go back to one of her lessons in her head.

[Kel Riever]

Previously...( http://forum.bioware...res/?p=16969063 )

 

Earth, New York City

 

“This…is…CRAZY AWESOME!” 

Those were the first words out of Keith Severn’s mouth as he walked into the sole penthouse occupying the top of the Leitfeld Building on the lower east side of New York City.  His voice echoed through the large entry hall into the living room which had only been recently furnished.  Jen and his mother rolled their eyes at him.  Even the real estate agent and lawyer accompanying them fought to hide expressions of slight disdain for their unexpectedly wealthy clients.  Keith didn’t notice them, but did notice that the police officer who came up with them chuckled.

Officer Richards quipped, “A bit more of a move up than you was expecting?”

“And some!”  Keith’s eyes were wide.  “I can’t wait to set up my own suite for my collection!”

“That can be arranged for you,” the grey-haired real estate lady offered.  “I have several capable contractors and design professionals who can arrange exactly what you need.  We would keep it haut de gamme as befits your home, now.”

“I don’t even know what that means,” Keith laughed.

“Son, the point of this place was to protect ourselves,” Keith’s mother said with some scorn, “Not to live beyond our means.”

“Mom, this is our means now,” Keith said.  “I should quit my job.  I could open the best comic store in Manhattan!  Then you won’t be worrying about me doing nothing all day long.  Morgan, when I see him, I’m going to punch him so hard in his arm and then hug him until he passes out.”

“Ma’am,” The real estate agent said to mom, “I can assure you that this building and area is for those who wish to live well yet be discreet.  It surely will take some getting used to, but security here is adapt at keeping you safe and keeping out prying eyes.”

“And if you have any trouble, you have my private contact information,” the lawyer said.  “Red carpet treatment.  Call me anytime, day or night.”

Jen looked around skeptically.  “Officer, it seems you put us in touch with good contacts.”

Richards smirked.  “Thank you, glad to help.  It isn’t my normal beat, but the department’s been good to me.  A couple of phone calls to the right people and well, let’s say the chief was very happy to help out.”

Mom walked a few steps forward through the entry hall and peered up at the high ceiling.  “I’m only missing one person from this place.”

Richards folded his arms.  “Ma’am, if Morgan does show up, please don’t hesitate to give me a call.  We want him as safe as you do.”

Mom frowned.  “I don’t think that's possible.”

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Mars Colony – Eldfeld-Ashland Energy Corporate Headquarters

 

Jonas Ashland stood in the office of the highrise of the Corporate Headquarters for Eldfeld – Ashland Energy on Mars smoking a cigar. The man stood about six feet tall with dark thinning hair that he kept slicked back, and he had a mustache. His dark eyes were fixated on the Mars wasteland, and he sipped the martini he held in his right hand. Caleston… first Bahak probably done by Cerberus. I wouldn’t put it past them. And now this reprisal on Caleston. Of course we won’t meet the terrorists’ demands. We can’t. Marines will go in guns blazing, and we’ll lose the dome. Profits and people gone. It would take years to rebuild it.

 

His personal intercom vibrated. It was his administrative assistant. “Yes?”

 

“You have a call on the QEC. It is urgent.”

 

“Who is it?” Ashland grumbled.

 

“Spectre T’sarius.”

 

“Who? (An Asari name) For Christ’s sake, how the hell did she get this address?” Ashland returned to his walnut desk, and sat in his leather chair.

 

“Council, Sir. I asked.”

 

“Thank you. Put her through,” Ashland waited for the QEC connection to open. “Spectre T’sarius, I expect this is important? I’m in the middle of handling a crisis. No doubt you’ve heard about it.”

 

“And my ship happens to be docked on Caleston at the moment. Perhaps we can help out each other?”

 

Ashland sat forward, his cigar between his fingers, the smoke rising between his visage and Naleena. “I’m listening.”

 

“I have a team: four Asari commandos, four infiltration specialists, tech specialists including demolitions, as well as a standard non-biotic human fire team,” Naleena said standing on the platform with her hands behind her back. “The Council has approved the operation. I could go in on my own authority, but bullies never have friends when they need them. I wanted to get the go ahead from you for the operation. I volunteered my team for this, and I am putting them at considerable risk.”

 

“I see,” Ashland smiled. “What are you asking in return?”

 

“My people need to be paid more than the pat on the back they’ll receive from the Council. In addition to their usual fee, I’d like a favorable refueling contract for all ships under my command for the next 12 months. And… this is going to sound strange… a virtual city program.” Naleena said.

 

“Done and done. I’ll have my assistant draw up the documents,” Ashland said with a wave of his hand. “But the last request is intriguing. What would you want with a virtual city program?”

 

“Mr. Ashland, it’s best that you not know. Probably New York City or San Francisco circa mid-20^th Century. Nothing modern.”

 

Ashland sighed. “Just tell me one thing. Is he or she a Synthetic Insights or an Apple model?”

 

Naleena lowered her head and looked up at him. “Synthetic Insights.”

 

Ashland smiled. “I knew it. They always were a bit weird that way. Alright, T’sarius, just get this done, save my dome and my people, and you’ll get your deal. I'll have my assistant forward the plans of the dome to your ship. Ashland out.”