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[Terca]

Deidrus was somewhat interested in what ties the Asari would have to each other. He wasn't too intrigued though, Asari were old and their memories tended to be sharp, Naleena and Aria could have met long before he was born not spoken since. It wasn't his business, as long as it didn't get in the way. While he waited he leaned back against the panel that ran along and up the stairs. There was a message on his omni-tool that he had been ignoring for a rather long time now and knew that some people were somewhat impatient.

 

The message was in text but scrambled for optical misdirection, a method of illusion where specific bands of visual capture only catch a certain organization of number, letters, etc. Not uncommon, quite annoying in fact because it makes processing power all but useless when the optical sensor cannot see what it is looking for in the first place. At times the faults of the organic brain were useful.

 

Ronin,

 

A member of my tasks unit is stationed on Omega and is currently involved in gathering information for me. You've met, Noveria, the Lon incident. Meet with him while you are on the station and bring him with you. I require operational information about the workings of the Audron.

 

Monetary compensation will be placed as always within your account.

 

Deidrus let out a long breath through his nose when he finished reading as he tried to think of who was around during the Lon incident. There were a number of people, a lot of them were probably dead by now though. That narrowed things down but the images in his head had no names, and most had no faces because they always wore armor. He dropped his arm again.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena smiled, turned and motioned to Dahlia that they were going shopping. They left down the stairs to their left, and ran into Deidrus.

 

"Captain Androkan, I'd like you to meet Dahlia. I hope you don't mind, but she'll be travelling with us for a while as my guest," Naleena said, then turned to Dahlia, "Captain Androkan is a Council Spectre," and then she turned her attention back to Deidrus. "She's a talented biotic and has been under the tutelage of Aria for the past few years. I think she'll be an asset to the team, and she'll treat everyone on the ship with the utmost respect, won't you Dahlia?"

 

Dahlia sighed. "Yes, Naleena."

 

"Very good, see Deidrus?" Naleena asked.

 

An unplanned crewmember... The first of how many... Deidrus pondered to himself since he knew from what the crew of Audrion had told him that some of his new crew members were taking particular... Liberties. He understood to an extent why they would do such things since he recognized that Turian minimalism was somewhat under-appreciated by most other species. Only Salarians who liked to keep their labs regimented tended to enjoy Turian company, though he would guess that with Naleena's past with that particular species wouldn't make that a reality on his ship. They can have their comforts, they will need them and I would rather they be spoiled in adversity because of their situation they have made for themselves and remain combat-ready than be at a Turian's comfort level and be ineffective.

 

Keeping that in mind, but still somewhat reluctant to take on a new crew member somewhat out of the blue he inclined his head to Dahlia. "As this case is somewhat different than the traditional cascade of Turian responsibilities on my ship Dahlia will remain under your direct subordination... Ranking members technically above your own will not have right to order Dahlia. As she will reside on my ship I do ask that if you are not present she falls under my direction." He looked to Naleena. "You are responsible for her Ad Virus Kahn. The Turian way. Her actions reflect on you." He tilted his head somewhat. "In my eyes and the eyes of the Crew."

 

"What? Under his direction? **** this! That wasn't part of the deal!" Dahlia pleaded.

 

"Dahlia!" Naleena said with a low warning.

 

Dahlia backed down.

 

"For the sake of the Goddess, Deidrus, pull the stick out of your ass. It seems we need to get something clear. I'm on this mission of yours because the Council wanted me. I report to you, a Council Spectre, directly and no member of your crew is technically above me in any capacity. I am outside of the Turian chain of command. Aria assigned Dahlia to my command. However, due to the nature of the mission, if I am absent from the ship or mission area without Dahlia, she will fall under your command as a Spectre first, and if you are not present she will fall under the command of Captain Stone."

 

"Who is Captain Stone?" Dahlia asked.

 

"Don't worry, I won't throw you to varren," Naleena said. "And Deidrus, if there is no objection, we'll be on our way. Dahlia needs proper equipment. If you're going to speak with Aria, understand this. While you may be a Council Spectre and a Turian Naval Captain, be advised those titles hold no meaning here except to gain you an audience with the Pirate Queen. She is the ruler of this rock."

 

"I have lived with the council's command before, I understand that your type of hierarchy is not our own, I'm telling you this so that the members of my ship that have never set foot into any other style of command. This way when someone questions you there is a direct quotation you can use, instead of stating for me what I can and cannot do or have or have not said." The Turian replied evenly. He trusted Naleena well enough to handle some scamp from Omega but he was obligated by tradition to state where in the ladder she fell. The aliens on his ship might not like it but they were outnumbered and they had taken on the mission. Older Turians wouldn't like having people exist outside their reach.

 

"That is all I have to say. Be on your way as you will. I have not spent as much time in the Terminus as I have without learning some things." A pause. "Aria's repute precedes her."

[Redbelle]

Griff cracked open his pack of e-stim sticks and popped one in his mouth before lighting it. The naked flame of his lighter illuminating his face in the gloomy Omegian streets. He was  across the street from the Captains Table. The street's were clear. People knew that enforcer's were in the establishment and no one wanted to be near an enforcer when he was working.

 

A shot rang out from inside and Griff smiled, puff's of vapour blowing out of his nostrils as he laughed a deep, rich laugh.

 

Moment's later an enforcer walked out with two other's in tow. Between the two they dragged a large tied sack that kicked and bucked, giving off muffled screams from within as the occupant tried vainly to fight back. "We got her. She resisted. But a shocker round usually takes the fight out of them".

 

Griff nodded, then picking the stick from between his teeth, walked over to the sack and stopped just a foot away. "You think you can waltz into Omega, walk amoung us, then just get up and get without Aria noticing Stone? She see's everything. And when she see's you in the flesh, you'll get your's for taking my eye's". Drawing back a foot he kicked the bag, then kicked again, and again. The enforcer's stood by watching until Griff felt satiated and turned to them. "Get her up to Aria. Give me a minute. I want to let her majesty know who's coming".

[Cainhurst Crow]

Vayne was quiet for a while as he contemplated what they could do. To be honest vayne hadn't thought out his plan as strongly as he should have, hindsight was always a ****** right when it was too late to fix things. He cursed under his breath as he looked about at the docks as they were being filled with victims, clear to see that the two of them wouldn't have an easy time taking on this many blue suns, even if they had heavy weaponry at their disposal. But they needed to act, especially if it was the collectors involved in this. Otherwise, there would be no saving these humans. They'd disappear beyond the omega 4 relay, and at that point, they would never be seen again, just like all their other victims.

 

The older krogan looked around the large mines docks, looking for something that might help them in this. People often overlooked the important of terrain during combat, a mistake that could cost them dearly if your opponent could take advantage of their surroundings better. But it wasn't like they're were many options avaliable, this wasn't some natural planet they were on, it was a space station. There wouldn't be any sort of natural anomalies or formations to take advantage of-

 

'Wait. We're on a space station...' Vayne thought as his eye shot open, looking slowly from the docks towards the vast space ahead of them, only separated by the barrier keeping the atmosphere in the mine habitable. Vayne looked again at the crates, each one was being magnetically set down to prevent any sort of tipping from occurring. Magnetically set, which didn't require a gaseous surrounding in order to still work.

 

"Arrin...I have a plan." Vayne said to the quarian as he pointed towards the barrier that was keeping the hanger pressurized with an atmosphere, "You've been pretty good with computers lately. How hard would it be for you to access this docks atmospheric and barrier systems?" he asked, a glint in his eyes as he thought this through. If it worked, they could potentially cut down the enemies they had to deal with to zero.

 

All he needed to know was how quickly his quarian friend could drop the field and vent the hanger, and how quickly he could turn them back on.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena raised a brow at the Turian, turned, smiled at Grizz and escorted Dahlia over to the bar.  <<---Click on this link

 

"I don't know about you, but we're going to be stuck on a Turian ship for a while and I'd like to have a couple of drinks and enjoy the pole dancing for a while," Naleena said as they approached the bar.

 

"You enjoy it?"

 

They got to the bar. Naleena ordered two ice brandies, the good stuff, and lit a cigarette. "Very much. It's how I met Aria."

 

"You were a dancer?"

 

Naleena laughed. "Not exactly."

 

Dahlia looked a bit puzzled. "What do you mean, 'not exactly?'"

 

The bartender poured two glasses. Naleena picked up hers and leaned against the bar. "Nice. I love the smooth taste of this. Aria always has the best. Well, I was here on a job to take out a real low life."

 

"That's half of Omega," Dahlia said.

 

"True, but this one was a real low life. I was chasing him across half of the galaxy. He was a Turian. He'd run afoul of his boss. His kind always end up on Omega," Naleena said and sipped her drink. "I'd put out false leads that I was in other systems to herd him to Omega just in case, and came to Afterlife and auditioned for a job as a dancer."

 

Dahlia laughed.

 

"Don't laugh. Dancing is good for you. It keeps you in shape, and it's fun," Naleena smiled, "Anyway he eventually showed up and wanted a private dance at his table. So I gave him one. I was pulling myself up on the pole and doing all sorts of erotic moves, and when no one was looking I wrapped my legs around his head and snapped his neck."

 

"I can't imagine Aria was too happy." 

 

"I went back to my position on the main stage and acted like nothing happened, but you're right Aria doesn't like dead customers in her club. I was young and a bit sloppy then, too. On my way back to the stage I sent a short transmission 'it's done' to my contact. I was 50,000 CR richer. But five minutes later, Aria's bodyguards hauled me before the queen. Apparently one of them picked up my transmission. Aria's security is tighter than it looks."

 

"And that's how you met Aria?"

 

"Yes. She had her guard rough me up a little. 'A dancer, and you were a good one, too. A pity. I don't like being deceived by assassins especially those who kill in my club without my knowledge.' I tried playing innocent with her. 'Don't even.' I thought I was dead. I could take her guards, but not Aria."

 

"So what did you do?"

 

"What do you think? I worked out a deal. I asked her if there was anything I could do for her. If there was anyone who needed eliminating on her station. I told her to consider it an act of contrition. She paused for a moment, smiled, and gave me an assignment. When I completed that she had nine more. There were some very nasty people who disappeared from Omega. People who if they organized together could pose a threat to her. They needed to be eliminated. She asked me what I wanted for the last nine. I told her I wanted her friendship. And here we are. Old friends." Naleena looked down at her drink. "That's something that is in short supply for me."

 

"And that's why she assigned me to you? Goddess, I might have been killed."

 

"You're probably right. Just behave yourself on the ship, and I assure you we'll have our fun. I'm no stick in the sand." Naleena finished her drink and ordered another one.

[Kel Riever]

For a while, Vayne and Arrin seemed to be conferring with each other.  The balcony they were on was not devoid of its own cover; the occasional small crate or stack gave Morgan the chance to move to the edge and safely observe the Blue Suns’ work.  Morgan didn’t know what they were moving, but it was a lot, and there were more than enough Suns to put an end to anyone giving them grief.

 

Morgan couldn’t wait any longer.  He needed that information before it was in the hands of a bunch of Mercs who he couldn’t contend with.  Whether Vayne and Arrin were willing to cooperate was something Morgan would have to risk, and he’d have to approach them in a way that didn’t cause panic. 

 

With the discussion the krogan and quarian were having, and the noise of the dock work, Morgan found himself to be lucky.  He slid closer from one piece of light cover to another, until he was about 5 meters away from Arrin and Vayne.  Breathing a quiet sigh of relief for getting as close as he had wanted, Morgan prepared himself, gun out, but not pointed at anyone.

 

Morgan let the barrel of his Kovalyov poke out sideways from the crate he was behind.  He then barely put his face around the cover and whistled just loudly enough for Vayne and Arrin to hear.  With a terse whisper, Morgan asked, “Are you two trying to get yourselves killed?”

[Gabi_MuadDiB]

"Well, that's actually easier than you think..." he had done it sometimes before just to get a direct glance at the stars, looking at them through the blueish field wasn't the same as staring directly in to the cosmos from a space station 'So, here I'm again... If a do this probably this Mercs will die aswell withouth a fighting chance' Arrin knew he was on a moral conundrum again, but if they din't dispose of the threat without direct combat they wouldn't habe a chance and the humans will be lost 'I guess the exchange of the life of 20 a***holes mercs for the life hundreds of inocent humans is a good exchange... and anyway, with their combats suits they still have a chance to survive in space... at least for a while...' he went straight to the control terminal and started the cracking process, he open the atmospheric control system, it think that there was some poisonous gas leaking into the artificial atmosphere and a cleansing was needed ... the system now would check the hangar for life forms before opening the field that holded all together... Arrin overrided the system and sended a fake feedback... there wasn't any life forms on the docks...

 

Just before the field got open Arrin overheard from behind a crate

 

“Are you two trying to get yourselves killed?”

 

He saw a human aiming at them with a Koliakov...

 

"Hold to something mate!!!"

 

Sudendly the atmospheric field collapse and the void started making is work... everything and everyone that wasn't magnetically anchored to soemthing started flying away at incredible speed.... there was a couple of mercs hitting crates or pieces of machinery in his way out suffering death in an instant... some holded to the trucks with all their strength, and some had the cold mind to activate the magnetic anchors in their boths... after a minute the atmospheric system readed that all the gas content in the chamber was changed was dumpted and closed the field again.

 

"You see... piece of cake!... told you I will be usefull!!!" Arrin was again feeling proud of himself, at the end it was much better to end your enemy with wits than with brute force... "But look! There are still some Mercs down there, and they look p**** off! What should we do now?..." Arrin started feeling that now they didn't had any other choice but to fight the remaining Mercs, and in this kind of warfare Vayne was the expert... "by the way... remember that human that had just sneaked at us?... HEY HUMAN? ARE YOU STILL THERE?"

[Kel Riever]

Morgan's eyes went wide as he suddenly realized the dock was venting into space.  He was pulled in the direction of the balcony wall, which was fortunate, as it gave him enough time to activate the magnetic anchors within his predator armor.  Most of the Blue Suns didn't seem nearly as lucky, as they were flung into space, and a good number of them weren't wearing sealed suits.  The surprise left Morgan wondering what had happened, and then he pieced it together;  the quarian was working some sort of small control panel, last that he saw, and he had somehow caused the dock's atmospheric shield to drop.  While Morgan quickly fastened his rebreather to his face, hoping Arrin wouldn't vent to the point of cycling the dock completely to vacuum, he had an oddly aloof thought pass through his mind:

 

That was a bit extreme.

 

The field closed, and oxygen was pumped back onto the docks quickly enough for anyone left to be able to breathe again.  Morgan released his magnetic clamps and could barely think of anything to answer Arrin with, given the insanity of the moment.  Exasperated, he finally blurted, "Don't do that again!"

 

From below, there was an understandable panic and rage forming from the Blue Suns that were left.  Their words were loud enough to be heard on the balcony.

 

"Holy s**t!  Who just cylced the atmosphere!"

 

"Motherf**ker! Someone's going to pay for that!"

 

The sound of several guns being drawn and expanded from their holsters came next.

 

"Did you do that, Hector?  I swear I will rip the flesh off your back right now!"

 

"I'm standing right next to you!  Do I look like I'm by any of the control panels around here for the field? Do I even have my omni-tool activated?"

 

"Shut the hell up!  I see the panel down here fine.  What about the one in the balcony?"

 

"Nobody's up there."

 

"Well, clearly, somebody may be!  Keep your s**t together and move!  I want this place swept and cleared, unless all of you want to end up like the people in these boxes."

 

Morgan cursed under his breath.  There was no way to avoid bloodshed, though at least the chances were better.  Hoping he wouldn't consequently be shot in the back by either Arrin or Vayne, Morgan turned and popped up over the balcony edge, using it for cover.  He shot down on the Blue Suns with his Kovalyov, placing a burst into the closest merc below him.  The turian Blue Sun took the phasic rounds through his shields and dropped.  There were shouts from several Suns and Morgan ducked to avoid the return fire.  He changed his position slightly, and popped up once more to shoot.  Another Sun was wounded, before Morgan ducked again.

 

This is a mess, was all Morgan could think of as the firefight escalated.

[Gabi_MuadDiB]

As Arrin saw the human starting the gun fight he realized now there really was no toher option, they had to fight... 'Is this bosh'tet crazy? First he points his gun at us after comming out of the Blue and then he starts shooting like a lunatic! Ok, we are at higher ground... we have strategical advantage... at least theoretically' He took cover as fast as he could behind a box in the balcony, hiding from both the human and the Mercs at the same time...

 

"What'da h*** are you doing here human!? are you friend or foe!?"

 

The Blue Suns now knew exactly where they where. They got behind cover while exchanging fire with the unknow human... The Mercs started using covering fire to cover their advance towards the ladder that leaded to the control room... "They are comming this way! We should do something!" Arrin screamed to Vayne.

 

"Bring me those bastards corpses! They would pay dearly for what they had done!!! move move move!" Screamed a big merc in Vanguard armor, it seemed like the leader of the Mercs rallying his forces to storm the control room... Now Arrin knew, it was kill or be killed.

[Kel Riever]

Morgan popped up to shoot at another Blue Sun merc.  "If I were a foe, I'd have shot you while you were talking."  He ducked again as projectiles passed through the air where he'd once been. "Or I definitely would have shot you after I almost became a space balloon."

 

A quick exchange of shouts came from the Blue Suns below:

 

"Where's Haley?  Did she get vented?"

 

"Negative, you batarian mongrel.  I'm right here!"

 

"Well, put that rocket launcher to use instead of your mouth!"

 

Morgan peered over the edge, searching as fast as he could for any mercs with heavy weapons.  A woman was moving up, shoulder fired launcher at the ready.  He sprayed at her with his Kovalyov, forcing her to take cover behind a large crate.

 

"They're pinned," Morgan called over to Arrin and Vayne.  "with that one entrance up here, if they get much further, they'll trap us.  If you have to get out, do it now.  I'll keep their heads down."  Morgan fired over the edge again, and took a round, though his armor absorbed the errant hit.

[Redbelle]

Griff entered Omega. Actually not so much as entered as sauntered in as if he owned the place. The bouncer at the front had been told by the enforcers he was with them, and after a predictably bland remark, the Elcor had stepped aside.

 

Griff had a grin splitting his face from ear to ear. E-stim stick in mouth he casually strode across the floor as two of the enforcers, dragging the sack, appeared behind him.

 

Stone had come to Omega. The little punk human had actually come back after that business between her and Aria had gone sour. Admittedly he'd been the cause. He'd been hired to steal the shipment. Hired by Aria as a matter of important note. The reason? Simple. Stone belonged to a group who called themselves the Kings and Queens. Aria wanted what they had, Stone had turned her down flat. So Aria had offered her an Eezo contract and then hired him to take the Eezo back after killing Stone. Everything would have pointed to pirates. An ironic touch on Aria's part. And the Kings and Queens would have received an important message about turning down Aria's offers.

 

Only Stone's ship had been more ready for a fight than anything that big and cumbersome had any right to be. Flak had killed half of his men while the other half had turned to run with dozens of missles chasing them across the solar system. Naturally he and his best fighter pilots had outmaneuvered them returned to press the attack. But Stone had dropped her cargo's. Making her ship lighter in mass and allowing her ships engines to push them into a tighter turn. When he got back he was facing down a weapons array that turned his wingman to slag. He'd narrowly missed the same fate and managed to get several shot off before even he'd been forced to turn.

 

Only one of his shots slammed into a cargo container. The explosive had detonated, blowing open the container and pushing further down into the orbit of the planet Stones ship had made it's stand. The atmosphere of the planet perventing him from using his fighters to the fullest extent.

 

It was his shot that scattered the Eezo into space and his shot that had put the container with the majority of it inside into an irretreivable plunge through the planets atmoshere. Scattering the Eezo to the four winds of what ever mudball it had been.

 

And so he'd been chased by Stone's ship out of the system, with no fewer than two surviving pilots out of what had been twenty-four, without killing Stone and having lost the cargo Aria expected back.

 

Suffice to say Aria made sure he never flew again. His craft was seized, his surivors absorbed into Aria's Omegian defence force.

 

All because Stone hadn't died that day.

 

Well, today was the day he set that mistake straight. And Aria would get to watch. He arrived by the steps to Aria's lounge and jerked his head up the stairs. "Got business with Aria".

 

"So's alot of people today". The other Batarian responded gruffly. "Wait your turn".

 

"I got something she's been wanting for a long time". Griff said, nodding sideways to the bag and the two enforcers. "You delay, and I'll make sure Aria knows it".

 

He paused. "She's meeting a Spectre now".

 

"Spectre? I've shot down my fair share. Lemme through and I'll take responsibility".

 

Looking as if he'd heard that line before, the guard atepped to one side. "Your funeral pal".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Click this link --->>>> Dahlia sipped her drink and observed the older Asari. So she wasn't always the cool operator she is now, but she found a way. Look at her. The way she watches everyone, even glancing occasionally at Aria talking to that Turian. And she watches the dancers. She WAS a dancer! And she's a heartless killer. What does Aria expect her to do with me? How does she know what is fun to me? 

 

"So tell me about yourself," Naleena said, "How did you fall in with Aria?"

 

And there it is. The 100000 CR question. "As usual, my father died of old age. He was Salarian," She saw Naleena close her eyes and like she was fighting to control her emotions. "Hey, do you have anything against Salarians?"

 

"For civilians, no. For the toads in their government, yes."

 

"Toads?"

 

"Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. It's probably best we don't discuss Salarians. They've caused me a lot of pain in my life."

 

"Well, he didn't stick around long after I was born, but he visited periodically. He was a merchant, worked with a Volus. He made the money but hardly sent any of it to my mother, so you didn't offend me. Then my mother was killed by a stray bullet in a gang war. I was left homeless at the age of 20. I scrounged the streets. I was used by the gangs, then my biotics started to manifest, and they used me for those. I was about 30, and was some toy for a minor gang, and Aria wanted them out of action, so she moved in with her enforcers and found me."

 

"Lucky for you." 

 

"Yeah. She took me back with her and put me on a pole for several decades, and would periodically give me tests. One time she smiled. I apparently showed enough biotic potential, and stealth that she felt I warranted further training. She gave me an education, and provided me with an apartment. I wasn't living in the dancers barracks."

 

"And you being young as you are began to squander the opportunity," Naleena interrupted.

 

"Apparently. She threw me in the cage in the back room. I've never been so afraid in my life."

 

"With good reason."

 

"Then you came along. I don't know what to make of you. You're friends with Aria, yet you're so different."

 

"Not so different. I'd be doing the same thing circumstances were different. I'm quite envious of her, you know. She has something I've always wanted," Naleena said.

 

"What's that?"

 

"Stability," Naleena smiled, and motioned to the exit. "Come on, we've got some shopping to do. You need a suit of commando armor, and I know just the place to get it. And you'll need some quality weapons. This mission is going to be quite dangerous. You're a good kid, and I want you to survive."

 

The matron assassin escorted Dahlia to the club exit. They entered the foyer and began their walk toward the main exit.

[Terca]

The Spectre left Aria's section of Afterlife somewhat irritated but he swallowed down the emotion well. He knew that Aria often didn't care much for things not directly within her realm of 'things which are of use' so he wasn't totally surprised when she showed relatively little interest in a passing Spectre. He'd been cut off and fairly told that he was to go about his business and not think his Spectre status would get him anywhere.

 

In short, she told him things he already knew. Not surprising that a 'council varren' couldn't use their credentials in the heart of Terminus space. At the very least she wouldn't be surprised if armored 'council' forces were moving around 'civilians'. He had for a moment or two been worried that she had realized he was the Ronin but he guessed he was more or less safe since any information probably would have been pulled into the depths of the extranet. As he walked down the steps he saw one of the bouncers stepping aside and another making his way up the steps.

 

Another person to grovel in front of a queen? He thought to himself dryly, shaking his head to try and dislodge that particular stream of thought. He was on Aria's turf, no reason to start running his mouth.

[Redbelle]

Griff walked into the lounge where Aria lay with her head rested on the back of the couch. The beat of Afterlife pulsing through her as if feeding her it's energy and the energy of those who danced to it's tune. One of the guards standing by the door cleared his throat and Aria opened her eyes to see Griff standing there.

 

"It's you". She stated.

 

"Yeah it's me". Griff drawled and getting an eyebrow raised in return. He sauntered over and pulling a bag from his jacket, pushed it over to Aria who looked at it with disdain before nodding to one of her guards. The one by the door came over and picking it up, opened it. He withdrew a dark red Executioner pistol with a skull and crossbones painted white on the side.

 

Aria looked up at Griff. "If your trying to get on my good side, you should let me never see your face around. You think this is supposed to impress me"? She said gesturing at the gun.

 

Griff's grin faltered for a moment until he saw the enforcers coming in with the sack. "It's who the gun belongs to that I think'll get your attention, Aria". He said as the enforcer's wrestled the sack onto the side section of the couch.

 

With the obvious form of a figure inside Aria favoured Griff with a glower. "I don't like surprises. Who is this"?

 

Griff nodded to the enforcer standing near and he, in turn, reached over and loosened the fastenings just, enough for a head to pop through.

 

Jess looked around blinking. A large bruise forming on the side of her face as her eye's adjusting to the harsh lights of the club, compared to the dark of the sack. Her eye's lighted on Aria and as they did her face lit up with a cheery grin.

 

"Hello luv. Sorry I haven't been to see you lately. I've been a bit tied up".

 

Griff took two steps over, drawing back his fist and clocked Jess in the side of the head with a meaty hook. He was drawing back for another when Aria lifted the hand that rested on the back of her couch. "Griff...... I choose when and what happens to my guests. You are giving her to me".

 

Griff looked up, looking for all purposes like he wanted to continue, but Aria's tone left no room for doubt what would happen to him if he disobeyed. With a lingering glare he stepped backwards, and with a nod from Aria, took his place opposite Stone on the other side of the couch.

 

Jess winced as she gave her head a shake and looked at both. "Gotta say luv. Your hospitality used to be a darn-sight more civilised back in the day".

 

Aria looked at her and leant forward to take in her appearance. "Where did you find her"? She asked Griff.

 

"Captains table. She was drinking like nothing had happened".

 

Aria grunted in response to Griff and focused her attention on Jess. "I keep close tabs on ships that come here Captain. I know the Medusa's not here, or I'd have issued a personal invite. Care to tell me why the Queen's away from her throne"?

 

Jess shrugged in the sack. "Well..... funny story that. You see a Turian lady came aboard and made me an offer to be a hero to the human race in exchange for being in the Councils good books for a change. Naturally, I was suspicious. I figured maybe they were trying to cut down on the number of disreputable people doing their hauling for them by waving a current event story in my face. But seeing as I've heard things I thought I'd come over and see what a few other captains have heard so I could put together a puzzle that happening here in the Terminus".

 

Aria's eye's narrowed. "Sounds like you might be working with the Spectre. If your really working for the council".

 

"Tch, I work for myself luv. That's not changed to say the least. My being here is about getting a job done. Nothing more. Nothing less".

 

"A job whereby you cut yourself loose from your ship. Sounds like you were worried that your past was catching up with you".

 

Jess threw a look at Griff. "Doesn't it always luv".

 

Griff made an impatient noise in the back of his throat. "I want to be the one who kills her. Her damn ship punched a hole in my canopy and cost me two good eye's".

 

Jess widened her own eye's slightly as she took in Griff's appearance. "Sorry to hear that luv. I mean those two eye's must have been the only thing going for you when you look at the rest of yer".

 

Griff snarled and his palm came down on the table picking her gun up off of it. "Just say the word Aria. This is me doing what I should have done back then".

 

Jess looked to Aria, back to Griff, then back to Aria. "You mean..... you never told him"? She laughed. "Oh, you cruel, cruel Asari witch. That's low, but considering the recipient..... I like it".

 

Griff's eye's darted between the two. "What's she saying"?

 

"I'm saying luv. That Aria hired you to test me to see what I would do if I was pushed into toing her line for the Terminus". Jess said smiling. "I represent a group of other individuals known as the Kings and Queens. You think people call me a pirate queen because I wear a silver crown? My group is one of the largest hauler organisations in the galaxy. Not the biggest by far. But one which makes a hearty dent in galactic affairs". She jerked her head towards Aria. "And she wants it".

 

Aria let out a short, sinister laugh. "There's only room for one queen in the Terminus Jess. And your ships would get better rates if you'd stop rejecting my offers".

 

"Leaving you with a larger monopoly of the movers and shaker's in this sector leaving you free to decide who gets what when. Sorry luv. Not our style to jump to someone else's tune. So naturally she wondered what would happen if she pushed me, or any one of us to get what she wanted". Jess said to Griff. "That was why she offered me the Eezo deal. To give you a target. Also so if you succeeded in blowing up my ship, she'd look like one of the victim's of the piece. And if you didn't..... She's still make a profit off the Eezo contracts". Jess narrowed her eye's. "And then you come in, all guns blazing and take out the prize".

 

Aria slowly clapped her hands together. "I'm surprised. I thought you were staying away because you were afraid I'd want reprisal for the Eezo".

 

"If you'd wanted that you could have stuck a bounty on my head. The fact you didn't meant you wanted to continue a business relationship". Jess sucked in a breath. "But I don't do business with people who throw meat into the grinder just to see how I'd respond. I'm not here to talk about you and me Aria. I'm here because colonies are going missing. And......".

 

"Enough"! Griff shouted. The executioner in his hand and pointed somewhere between Aria and Jess. "You mean..... all this time.....".

 

Jess shrugged. "You were the one Aria blamed and punished? Yep! I'll wager she took your craft. She took your squadron to pieces too I'll bet. Left you scraping a living as her lackey knowing that if I showed up you'd be all over me...... and here we are". Jess looked at Aria. "Like I said..... wicked".

 

"I LOST NEARLY ALL MY MEN"! Griff bellowed standing up and pointing the gun straight at Jess. The guard went to make a move but Aria raised a forestalling hand. "THEY DIED UNDER YOUR GUNS! AND YOUR GOING TO DIE BY YOUR OWN GUN"! His hands clamped around the butt of the executioner as he aimed it between Stones eyes, his own remaining two wide and frantic. "Your next Aria. I don't care though. This is the one I swore vengeance on but I'll kill you all. I've been wanting this for a long time and now it's here. I want to savour this".

 

Jess sighed. "Gonna be disa.....". As she spoke there was a sound, as if something was charging. It took under a second if that and the next thing everyone saw was a hole erupt from Jess's sack where she remained tied in from the neck down. Griff saw her as an easy target. Saw something coming for him before he could react. Then he saw nothing else as a spike, about the length of a forearm, rammed itself into the lower of his remaining eye's, protruding there, knocking his head backwards as his body followed. He keeled over, Jess's gun falling to the floor as one of the guards ran forward and caught the body.

 

".....pointed". Jess finished

 

Aria nodded approvingly to the guard. "Make sure he doesn't bleed on the rug". She told them before waving them away and turning to Jess. "I decide who lives and dies on this station Stone".

 

Jess reached up through the hole in the sack and pulled the fastener free and stood. The sack slipping from her body and crumpling to the floor. She rubbed her right arm as if sore. "You killed him long ago luv. I just made it official".

 

"By shooting first".

 

"Best warning shot is the first shot luv. And anyways....". She leaned over and picked her gun off the floor. "Bernard doesn't like it when someone points him at his owner".

 

"You still call that thing Bernard".

 

"You still have that number one rule on Omega? We all have our foibles luv". Jess said as she sat back down and turned to Aria. "Now, if the reigning queen of Omega should care to entertain. Let's discuss our mutual interests. I think we're long overdue".

 

Aria smirked. "A Queen's only a queen when she has throne Stone. And your a long way from yours".

 

"The Medusa? What about her"?

 

"Oh". Said Aria as she waved for drinks. "You'll find out".

[Cainhurst Crow]

-1 minute earlier-

 

"Okay, then I want you to...yeah, just like that." Vayne said to the quarian as he already got to work accessing the atmospheric controls. The quarian was a good egg, it seemed. Caught on quick with what it was vayne was talking about without needing to be coached through it.

 

'Hard to find folks with that kind of instinct. Wonder if he's really all that green?' He pondered to himself as he stood near the control paneled room. It stood on the balcony, a simple roofed area that could be sealed and used to operate some of the larger hangers functions. A glorified hallway if vayne ever actually saw, but it was located near the other entrances vayne noted, a ladder that could easily be dealt with, the elevators which might be problem, and the stairs, which could easily become a funnel to make mowing down their adversaries easier. Vaynes finger tapped on his gun as he waited for arrin to finish, scratching a bit of the scaly skin from his non-helmeted head. He wasn't too worried though, he'd have arrin seal off the control room to make sure they didn't have to deal with this venting before they actually triggered it.

 

Remembering such, he looked back to arrin as he cleared his throat. "Say, give me a heads up when you're just about ready. It'll give me a chance ta-" Vayne stopped midsentence as he heard someone behind them, eyes going wide as he turned around, chakram launcher starting up as a disk began to spin rapidly as it was formed, producing a high pitched whine, "Arrin, get back!" Vayne said as he leveled his rifle to the crates their new opponent was hiding under. Even with that cover, a charged shot would be more then enough to tear through the cover and right into his-

 

"Hold to something mate!!!"

 

"Wait Arrin Don't-"

 

Too late.

 

The horror vayne felt as he saw the slightly shimmering barrier separating them from the black void before them drop made his entire body quiver, his non-protected against the elements eye widened to the size of a dinner plate in his helmetless head as he began to feel the sensation that still haunted his dreams on occasion, the sensation of a strong breeze and a unearthly cold and slow lessening weight as the atmospheric pressure began to **** with the gravity within the hanger. A flashback to a time long since past of vayne, bleeding and battered, inside a tiny cell as he looked out into the gaping hole of his former vessel as all things were sucked out of it, all except vayne, shackled to the seat of his cell, holding on for dear life and praying to his ancestors the emergency seals would kick in. Vayne was dragged forward, his feet scratching the floor as he was sucked out from within the control rooms unsealed doors into the exposed balcony, his rifle discharging its shot into a nearby wall as the krogan let out a terrified yelp.

 

His free hand went to his omnitool as he activated the magnetic locks in his armor, skidding to a halt and jerkin to a stop as his feet found solid planting 15 feet away from where he was standing before. He bent over as the magnet in his free hand contacted with the metal floor, helping to further anchor him as his other hand magnetically locked to his gun, to make sure the thing didn't fly out from his grasp. Vayne closed his eye tight as he focused on slowing his breath as much as possible, stamping down the fear building as he waited for arrin to get the barriers back up, the air getting harder and harder to breath in, even as vayne took more controlled and shallow breaths. Eventually vayne closed his mouth shut, hearing nothing but the sound of air sucking out into the void as he knew any breathing now would simply be stealing air instead of returning it, his lungs screaming before the blowing wind stopped. The barrier coming on just in time as the sound of the massive air vents pumping back in life sustaining gases filled the room.

 

Vayne gasped, gagged, and coughed as his omnitool turned off his magnetic locks, slumping down to his knees as he stood hunched over and trying to catch his breath, hearts pumping as he worked to get himself refocused and his vision from blurring so much. He shook his head, working to get the now intense ringing to quiet down as he stood back up tall, looking to see the guy who had been ready to shoot them engaged with the blue suns.

 

'So someone else decided to join the party huh?' He thought to himself as he held down the trigger to his rifle, looking around. The elevator system had been wrecked, the door was ajar and judging by the light, the elevator room itself was now stuck halfway between this floor and a solid wall. The stairs seemed more or less okay, but he could see cracks forming one the edges around it, hinting it might be more damaged then he thought. He looked back to the human who was shooting over the ledge more, vayne walking towards it himself.  'More the merrier then...'

 

Vayne peaked over the edge as he aimed his rifle, lining up his sights with his eye to pick out a more exposed target. He found one behind some of the creates, and vayne leaned over a bit to get a better angle before he fired. His chakram sailed towards the merc, hitting the corner of the container and cutting into it, sending a stream of white gas out as the chakram hit the blue suns shoulder. He went down, some ice forming on his wound before a few seconds passed, and he saw a red splatter shoot up for a moment as he chakrams explosives triggered.

 

Down below he could hear some of the suns, apparently close enough to have seen what happened.

 

"The hell was that?

 

"Karims bleeding here, I need some medigel now!"

 

"They got explosive rounds. Someone get the a ****** rocket on them now."

 

"Nobody leave cover!"

 

"The next person to shout an order who isn't me gets shot, understood!"

 

Vayne was smiling a bit as he heard this, glad to see some disorganization being sewn into the ransk. He glanced towards his comrades as arrin and the new comer exchanged yells, "Formalities can wait until after we kill these guys..." Vayne said as he looked to the new comer and his warning, "We go down there and the suns will tear us apart. Here, we have the high ground..." vayne said as he activated his omnitool, cycling through its attack options as he readied it for use, "and they...only have one way in here. For now..."

 

With that he strode over towards the ladder where suns were starting to climb up, waiting a moment as he pulled out an inferno grenade from his grenade belt. He held it down as it began to flash red, then tossed it over the side while still keeping away from the open ledge of the balcony, hearing it clang once as it hit one of the rungs, then came the screaming.

 

"GRENADE! Clear the ladder now!"

 

"Oh shi-"

 

"Climb faster! Climb faster dammit!"

 

He heard it go off, followed by a few other booms as the inferno grenade coated the area below in a burning residue. Vayne peaked his head over the ledge after a little while, aiming his omnitool down as he saw one blue sun member still climbing up the ladder, looking up at vayne through his helmet as vayne used his flamer. The jet of fire almost covered the mercenaries scream as he saw suddenly blasted with fire, and he fell from the ladders rungs down to the fizzling out floor below, a loud crash as he collided with the floor, apparently the only other victim of his attacks as he saw a few more guys now ducking behind cover nearby, apparently having run away in time to do so.

 

Vayne winced a bit as he backed away from the ladders quickly, just in time as a barrage of gunfire peppered the balconies rails, and the walls high above them, looking towards the new guy.

 

"Like I said. Only one way in here for now. Which means, we can hold this line for a while before they get another plan for coming up here."

[Kel Riever]

Between firing bursts, and after the incendiary demise of the Blue Suns accessing the balcony ladder, Morgan heard the krogan.  He nodded, and called back, “Stay here, got it.”  Morgan activated his tech armor, and popped up, looking for the rocket merc.  Instead, he found a batarian aiming a vindicator assault rifle at him.  Morgan adjusted his aim and placed an expertly aimed series of shots into the batarians upper body.  The change of target, however, cost him the critical second he needed to find his original target.  The Blue Suns woman with the rocket slid out from behind her cover and lifted her launcher. 

 

“Incoming!” Morgan barely had time to shout.

 

Time seemed to slow for Morgan as adrenaline, instinct and training overrode his actions.  He dove sideways as he watched the rocket leave the launcher.  Morgan was still in mid-air when the rocket impacted the balcony’s edge where he had been.  Blown further from by the blast, Morgan headed over the side, and saw one of the trucks below him.  He had only a moment to make sure he fell correctly, before he hit the top of the truck cab with a loud smack.  Morgan rolled off unceremoniously, landed on the ground behind one of the cargo containers, and covered his head with one hand as the balcony section that was damaged by the rocket collapsed.

 

When Morgan got his baring, he saw a turian charging him. The turian’s armor was enhanced with blue, hard light plates, and in his hands he held a massive shotgun which Morgan recognized immediately as a Claymore.  Crosshair readouts from Morgan’s Kuwashii visor placed themselves directly on the turian’s head.  Morgan braced the Kovalyov assault rifle, lined up the shot, and fired. 

 

The turian’s head snapped backwards and he went down.  But Morgan saw that the hard light protection had caught his round, saving the turian’s life.  Morgan used the precious seconds to get himself up.  As he did, however, movement came from the corner of his eye and he turned just in time to see another batarian taking aim.  Morgan dove forward, lucky enough to dodge the batarian’s barrage. 

 

Morgan fired at the batarian from the ground.  The Kovalyov’s phasic projectiles ripped open the batarian’s legs, causing him to scream, drop his weapon, and fall.  By then, the turian was getting up and readying his shotgun once more.  Morgan rolled behind another crate, which caught the devastating blast of the Claymore.  He then rolled out from the cover and took advantage of the Claymore’s biggest weakness; before the turian could reload the shotgun’s one shell chamber, Morgan dispatched the Blue Suns merc with the Kovalyov.

 

As Morgan searched for the woman who fired a rocket, he heard a loud hiss pass by, followed by an explosion from further down the dock and then screaming from Blue Suns mercs.  Morgan turned to see the rocket merc standing only a few meters away, holding an empty launcher leveled at him.  She had fired straight at Morgan, unable to target the ground nearby him out of fear she might get caught in her own ordinance’s blast.  The rocket had missed him, but didn’t miss a number of other Blue Suns

 

With a glance to the rocket merc’s hip, where a pistol was holstered, Morgan quipped, “You couldn’t go with that?”

 

The woman, her helm painted in the typical skull motif of the mercenaries who wore one, looked down at the holster, up at Morgan, dropped her launcher, then reached to draw her pistol.

 

Morgan blasted her with the Kovalyov.

 

Unable to see any other enemies nearby, Morgan wondered if the Suns had retreated.  The overly optimistic hope was dashed when he heard a heavy clanging footstep.  Morgan looked to the source of the sound, to find that the main gates to the docks had been opened, more Blue Suns were coming through, and a Ymir mech was backing them up.

 

“This just keeps getting better,” Morgan grumbled.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

As the two were walking out of the foyer, a Batarian was hauling a body bag toward the main area of Afterlife. She recognized the Batarian but didn’t even acknowledge him.

 

“That’s not going to end well for someone,” Naleena commented.

 

Dahlia looked a bit puzzled. “It looks like it already ended badly.”

 

“Perhaps, but the body in the bag is not dead, yet. And our Turian friend is in a hurry, as well. Hmmm,” Naleena said.

 

“Maybe he just wanted to get out of there. Aria does make some people very uncomfortable.” Dahlia said.

 

“Especially people used to being in charge.”

 

“So where are we going?”

 

“Harrot’s. Aria tells me he’s got some commando armor in his private stock. You need to get properly fitted. I hope he has a suit in your size. If not, maybe the doctor on the ship. She’s out grown hers and you might fit into it,” Naleena said, “Problem is she wears this awful perfume.”

 

“I like going natural.”

 

Naleena smiled. She liked the natural Asari scent. They headed toward Harrots, and they walked past a Batarian preacher…

 

“Repent! The end is nigh! Humans are a blight on the galaxy…. You sir, are a blight. And you. And you!”

 

“Hey, Naleena, check this guy out. He’s crazy,” Dahlia grabbed Naleena’s arm and stopped.

 

The preacher continued. “The Protheans cast off the lesser races: the Krogan, the Vorcha, and the Humans. And so they dwelled in filth on worlds made of dirt, and feces, and there they lay until they stumbled into the skies. The lesser races will be our downfall! The Word is clear! ‘Let none in my sight continue to live, lest their impurity displease me.’ The word is clear on this, friends. Humans are the hands of the Reapers, here to commit the galaxy to ruin!”

 

“You’re crazy!” a man in the audience said.

 

“Begone! Sinner, I cast you out in the cold black. I name you unclean. ‘Bring unto me the children, that I may watch them grow into soldiers for the cause.’ The Way is clear my friends. Draw your weapons for the Word or face its terrible wrath. The end times will come not with a bang, but with a sigh.

 

“Those who dip their extremities in the well of sin and vice must repent with fire, oil, and gun. Let not fleshy friendships and base urges compel us to sin and neglect. The word makes its demands and it demands obedience. And on this great station, the pure shall be rejected, and the lesser races given their place in heaven. And this will be the beginning of the end. The end times are upon us. Repent and restore your souls to glory!”

 

Dahlia shook her head and laughed as they walked toward Harrot’s. “Did you notice something funny?”

 

“Yes, did you?”

 

“Most of his audience was human.”

 

“Good catch.”

 

They entered Harrot’s. Harrot was working behind the counter smoking a cigar.

 

“With guarded feeling, Dahlia. Welcome to Harrot’s. With fond memories, it has been a long time Naleena,” the Elcor said.

 

“Yes it has, Harrot. Aria told me you have some commando armor. Dahlia needs a suit,” Naleena said.

 

“With enthusiasm. I have several suits Dahlia can try on. Regretfully, only the black with dark red and black with dark purple will fit her,” Harrot said.

 

“I’ll try on the dark purple suit first.”

[Redbelle]

Jess staggered out of Afterlife with bottle in hand. Aria had proven a wealth of information about the goings and comings of Omega. The one piece that she was moving to act on was that the Drowned Aspire currently had a ship on the station. With the scuttlebutt that they had travelled through a region where a colony had gone dark, they had to have something in their sensor logs. Maybe they had stopped in orbit to investigate? Only time would tell once Jess got her hands on them.

 

Her vision swam as the alcohol in her system tugged her towards the ground. She rallied herself and managed to stay upright as she found herself leaning up against the Elcor bouncer who was looking at her with a blank expression.

 

"Hey luv".

 

The Elcor shook his head slowly. "Candid observation. You humans can't hold your liquer".

 

Jess stepped back and pointed a finger at the bouncer when a hand gripped her bicep. She spun around. "You starting something luv". She slurred, and then started. She was standing face to face with Ella from the bar earlier who wore a concerned expression.

 

"Are you alright"?

 

Jess felt herself wobble. "Fine luv.... Absolutely fine. We dealed with that guy and everythings...... peachy".

 

Ella frowned as she looked down at the bottle in Jess's hand. "More than fine I would say. I think you'd better let me walk you..... Where is your ship"?

 

"The Audron? It's down in the docks..... somewhere. I'm pretty sure it's down there still".

 

Ella reached down slowly and gently prised the bottle out of her fingers. "I think you've had enough Captain".

 

"I think your out of line there Captain". She said throwing an arm around her shoulder. "But maybe it's time to regroup with the rest..... By the way. How's the hand"?

 

Ella held it up, it was wrapped in bandages. "It'll heal".

 

Holding her up, Ella carried Jess back down to the docks.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Dahlia came out of the fitting room wearing the commando armor. “What do you think?”

 

“With unsuppressed desire. Wow. You look fabulous in that,” Harrot said.

 

“It fits you well, Dahlia. How does it feel?” Naleena asked.

 

Dahlia moved around like she was in combat. “It feels like I wish I had more protection. Like I’m not wearing anything.”

 

“Good. That’s how it should feel. Now put up a barrier. How does it feel?”

 

“Strong.”

 

“Good, with a little adjusting we can get this suit to work for you,” Naleena said. “So Harrot, how much?”

 

“Enthusiastically, 50000 CR. You won’t find a finer suit of armor on Omega.”

 

“Harrot, this is a convenience. I can fly to Illium and pick up a suit for 35000 CR, and you know it. We’re going to buy weapons, so sell it to us for 40000 CR, no more,” Naleena replied.

 

“You drive a hard bargain. Very well, 40000 CR. What weapons would you like to purchase?”

 

“I’d like a shotgun and a pistol. What have you got?” Dahlia asked.

 

Harrot displayed his inventory. He had a selection from all over the galaxy.

 

“Could I see the Disciple and the Phalanx?” (note to readers – screw the ME3 Multiplayer ratings for the Disciple. It should be as good as any of them.)

 

“Good choices,” Naleena said.

 

Harrot brought them out and Dahlia handled them. “They feel good. I like the feel of the Disciple. It feels natural. Like it belongs in my hands. And the Phalanx has a good feel as well. I’ll take them.”

 

“That will be 55000 CR for everything… less 5500 for Aria’s discount. 48500 CR. You won’t find lower prices on Omega. Sincerely, thank you for your business,” Harrot said. His computer beeped. “With urgency, I have a message for you from Aria. She wants you to report to her immediately.”

 

“Thank you, Harrot,” Naleena said.

 

Naleena and Dahlia returned to Afterlife. Anto waived them up the stairs, “Aria wants to see you.”

 

Dahlia nodded. Naleena just went up the steps. Aria motioned for Naleena and Dahlia to sit.

“I like your new look, Dahlia. Naleena, I have a job for you.”

 

“I’m listening.”

 

“There’s something strange going on in an abandoned mining hanger. My technicians have reported that it’s losing atmospheric pressure all its own. They’ve also heard gunfire in the area.”

 

“And you want us to check it out.”

 

“Exactly. I’ve given the coordinates to Bray. He’ll drive you there,” Aria said, “Bray, I want you to sit in the car and wait for them. Stay in contact with them.”
 

“Yes, Aria.”

 

“We’ll report back to you through Bray when we find out what’s going on,” Naleena said, “Dahlia, your suit has a rebreather. You might need to use it if the atmospheric pressure is too low.”

 

“Excellent, now hurry.” Aria said.

 

The three of them left Afterlife for the sky cars.

 

“Do you always get these crap details, Bray?” Naleena asked.

 

Bray shook his head and laughed.

[Gabi_MuadDiB]

Arrin heard the striding mech coming their way, the pounding and vibrations on the floor made his hearth jump in his chest... 'When will this day end!?'... He had been jumping from one trouble to another and after all he had done, he knew he could'nt stay in Omega for much longer after all this ended... 'I hope I'm still alive when it ends anyway'

 

Suddendly the sound of bullets flying over his head maked him focus again in the situation... The Mech was opening fire at them with his cannons

 

"So I guess the door guards are in!"

 

He yelled to Vayne while keeping his head down... He had read somewhere about Ymirs and their weapons, twin mass accelerator cannons, rocket launcher... 'ROCKET LAUNCHER, I don't think this room can stand anymore rocket attacks!' They had to take the Ymir down ASAP, but with his shields and armor, the mech where hard to take down... 'I have to overload his shield' He knew that by doing that their odds of taking down the mech would rise drastically...

 

"Ok guys, I'm going to take down this monstrosity shields!!! Hit him as hard as you can when the shields discharge!!!" He screamed while crawling his way to the destroyed part of the balcony... with the gunshots flying all around it wasn't the safest task, but it had to be done... He stoped when he got a visual on the Ymir, the mech was now changing is focus of attention to the human down at the dock, so Arrin seized the moment... opened his Omni-tool and executed the overload procedure...

 

The mech shield started to spark whith bursts of energy and after a intense blue light sorrounded his silhouette the shield barriers suddenly droped.

 

"Now!!! Blow him up!!!" Arrin screamed while crawling back to a proper cover.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Bray flew the sky car and landed it near the abandoned mining hangar. Naleena, Dahlia, and Bray exited the car, kept low and headed toward the gunfire. 

 

"Usually I try to avoid gunfire," Naleena said.

 

"Understandable," Bray replied.

 

They continued moving from cover to cover in the darkened corridor until they saw a few humans in cover trying to deal with an YMIR mech that was keeping them pinned. 

 

"What the **** is going on? It looks like the Blue Suns are into something, but who the hell are these guys?" Bray said.

 

Naleena took out her sniper rifle, and noticed some weird stuff in the back behind the Blue Suns. "What are those? Bray? Check behind the mercs. Those look like pods of some sort. Have you seen anything like this before?"

 

Bray took her rifle. "No. They're completely alien to anything I've ever seen. But apparently this group is trying to get to them, and the Suns are trying to keep them for something."

 

Naleena took her rifle back and zoomed on one of the pods. "There's... humans inside of them. We should find out what's going on. I don't think the Suns are going to be very cooperative.

 

"Well there's one way of finding out," Dahlia said and pulled out two lift grenades. She focused her energy on one of the Sun mercs and vanguard charged across the gap past the YMIR mech and stunned the merc. "Knock, knock." She tossed one grenade to either side and then focused on Bray and charged back across the gap. The grenades detonated and several mercs floated up in the air.

 

Naleena, meanwhile, had lined up a shot on the YMIR's targeting matrix, and fired two AP rounds with her Black Widow cracking it. The YMIR became disoriented. 

 

Bray was on the floor, stunned momentarily. "Sorry, I needed a target," Dahlia apologized, and helped Bray to his feet.

 

Morgan noticed them.

[Kel Riever]

The Blue Suns entering from the main gate laid down a sheet of fire, forcing Morgan to take full cover behind a container.  Despite the number of rounds in the air, it seemed the Suns were deliberately avoiding the crates with their shots.  Before he took cover, Morgan had seen the YMIR’s shields overloaded and heard Arrin’s shouts.  It wouldn’t be long before the YMIR recharged and Morgan’s best chance at downing the mech was gone.  He had hoped Vayne could take advantage, but it seemed the krogan was occupied.

 

A shout and a cluster of explosions caught Morgan’s attention.  Though still fully behind the crates, he saw several Blue Suns levitating upwards into his field of vision.  Morgan took the chaos of the moment as an opportunity to make a dash for the fallen body of the rocket launcher carrying merc he had shot.  He grabbed her, and yanked with all his strength to drag her behind another container.  On his run, Morgan thought he spotted an asari as she used her biotics to streak away from the cluster of Suns still left.  While working free the launcher and trying to find ammo on the rocket merc, Morgan heard the report of two high velocity rounds, and the heavy footfalls of the YMIR became unsteady.

 

“Come on,” Morgan grumbled as he searched the dead merc for ammo and couldn’t find any.  Finally, in a lower leg compartment, he discovered the only rocket left for the launcher.  Morgan focused, loaded, and aimed around the corner of the container, looking for the YMIR.  It was lurching at an odd angle, its flank towards him, leveling the arm with its own rockets towards the balcony where Arrin was.

 

Morgan fired, with a shot accurate enough to avoid the YMIR’s arm and fully impact on the flank of the large mech.  Its chest armor shell was blown off, and on all sides, the internal workings of the machine, including its CPU, were visible.  But the YMIR wasn’t down. Crippled, it rotated to respond to Morgan.

 

An auto loader on this launcher would have helped, Morgan thought to himself, and one more rocket.  He struggled to grab the assault rifle he had laid on the ground beside him, in time to save himself.

 

Morgan shouted, “Somebody shoot the mech!”

 

Another loud bang rang out, this time from the balcony.  The YMIR’s CPU took a hit, being penetrated by a round that breached its front, and passed through it fully to exit the rear.  Both of the mechs legs seemed to buckle, and the few Blue Suns left nearby started to run.  The YMIR’s automatic self destruct mechanism then activated, causing the mech to detonate.    

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena holstered her sniper rifle and drew her sidearm. Dahlia had her Disciple drawn, and Bray cradled his Vindicator as they approached climbing over the crates and debris that were scattered all over the place. The human that had last shouted stood among the twisted metal of the mech sighting the fleeing Blue Suns, and lowered his weapon. Morgan heard footsteps approaching from behind, turned and saw a Batarian known to be one of Aria's employees, and two Asari in commando armor, one wore a long black leather coat.

 

Bray was in front of the group. "Would someone tell me what's going on? Aria wants to know why the atmospheric pressure dropped in this area. We're here to investigate. You'll talk if you know what's good for you." 

[Kel Riever]

Morgan heard Bray’s threat and the mention of the name Aria.  Exactly the last thing I need, he thought to himself as he lowered his weapon.  Morgan avoided looking at Bray and the asari, instead watching the last of the mercs pass out of his effective range.  And of course, those Blue Suns will give their boss an update.  Regardless, Morgan wasn’t about to shoot them in the back.  He’d been at the wrong end of plenty of guns, and he’d always have a better chance if everything was left to business.

 

As Morgan collapsed his Kovalyov rifle and placed it on his back, he finally turned to look at what he assumed were Aria’s hirelings.  Bray’s face was familiar, even though Morgan tried to avoid Afterlife like the plague; Aria’s club was impossible to steer completely clear of when meeting important people.  Of the two asari, one looked fairly young, despite the years she had probably lived beyond Morgan’s lifetime.  Maybe it was looks, maybe it was attitude, but the younger asari had white facial markings and a scowl that showed her inexperience at finding out who she was dealing with before she acted.  It was the older asari that Morgan was most wary of.  Still young looking, though clearly an adult, the leather coat donned asari was well muscled and had a disarming, rather charming look. But Morgan always looked to the eyes, and the eyes told a different story.  Someone who had killed plenty.  Someone who knew what they were doing.  Someone to watch out for.

 

A quick glance up to where Arrin and Vayne were proved they weren’t going to be of help before Morgan would have to say something.  And who knew if they would anyway?  Without the information that Arrin had, Morgan was caught between the long arm of Aria and a pitch off the dock into space.  He could only hope that Vayne and Arrin wouldn’t make a run for it.  And he’d have to figure out a way to get the information out of their hands without Aria ending up with it.

 

This is impossible.

 

Morgan did his best, turning his attention to answer Bray. “No need for threats.  It looked like the two up on the balcony needed a hand with the Blue Suns.  They were outgunned so I did what I could.  The decompression…was to deal with the Suns, who seemed a bit trigger-happy.  It didn’t look exactly like the Suns were using this dock with Aria’s permission, were they?”

[Gabi_MuadDiB]

Arrin heared the missile explotion and he knew that the mech got a nice hit 'Did the human got the launcher? Thats good news' he started carefully crawling back to the balcony to take a look at the scene, just to check if the Mech was dealt with and how many Mercs where left... when he reached the hole leaved byt the missile impact he saw the human behind the crates and heared him scream

 

“Somebody shoot the mech!”

 

The mech was now changing his attetion to  the human, Arrin knew that in just one moment he would flank the pinned human and would make him desapear from a cannon shoot. . he had to help him and fast 'A clean shot to the mainframe would do it' he took his paladin out and took a deep breath... He stopped breading to aim so his hands would not tremble... his dad had showed him how to do it properly... he knew it would take maybe a couple of seconds, but he also knew he wouldn't miss...

 

Bang... Clean shot and the Ymir started to overload and blew sending shrapnels everywhere... 'That was a nice shot'