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[Cainhurst Crow]

Vayne put the pill bottle in one of his bandoliers and drew his N7 eagle and pointed it at the screaming "king", "That's my friend your talking about, your majesty..." He growled with venomous sarcasm at the word majesty, the pistol unfolding as it showed everyone it was armed and ready to fire. He grabbed eli by the arm with his freehand, dragging him along as he kept his gun trained on the others. "Don't even think of following..." He warned as he went through the exit, frank in his grasp as he did so.

 

"What the **** was that? Honestly, what the hell was up with that?" He demanded as he moved with the others, working to get as far away from that music. No wiat, that wasn't right. He was getting away from the quickly degenerating situation there, the music was just a headache on top of that.

 

The krogan shock his head as he moved towards the skycar, still with his gun drawn as he looked to make sure everyone had come with them.

[Kel Riever]

Molly had just finished removing the barrel extension from her pistol, and put away both while she was watching the club.  They stored better that way, and it wasn’t every situation she found herself in that demanded maximum firepower.

The doors to The Spoiled Princess flew open.  The tall woman, the krogan (now with a gun), the other relatively tall woman, and a blitzed Frank Eli came stumbling out, like they had been chased out.  And they were heading towards their skycar.

“Seriously?”

Molly built up more steam than a hot kettle in a blazing fire.

[Kel Riever]

Morgan was concerned about a fight.  He wanted to ask Jess if they were ready for one, but she was the captain, on the bridge, of her ship.

“If we need to be ready for a fight, I’ll say we’re a bit short handed.  I can get down there, to the guns, if you need me to.  Maybe there are some others who can fire.  But I think if we don’t put some people on those guns, we’re not good for anything but defense.  If they won’t talk, that cuts out the communication option.”

Pressing on the station board in front of him, Morgan returned to his prior thought.  “If we don’t want to pose a threat, and hope they get the right idea, we may want to turn a flank to them and approach the comet avoiding an intercept path with another ship.  Before we get into range.  That way if gives them a chance to respond in kind, and stand down.

“But if they’re going to try and trick us, we need to be ready.”

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

On the way back to the sky car, Irina noticed a food distribution center they hadn't passed before since they were taking a different route. The center was run by "The Mission", but what was the mission? She wondered. Was it the run by the same people who ran what they just witnessed? Hopefully the other team would have that answer.

(From my cell phone so pardon the quality.)

[Cknarf]

While heading for the skycar, Frank tripped on the dead bum from earlier. Normally, he would have fallen flat on his face, but at this stage of oh-so-magical intoxication, he managed to recover, rolling like a boss without missing a beat.

 

Unfortunately, the bottle of beer he snagged on the way out of the club shattered, and his unsecured helmet rolled off somewhere.  

 

"Ain't nobody got time for that."

[Cainhurst Crow]

"The hell did you take in there!?" Vayne asked as he looked to frank, curious to what was making him act so much more...frankish then normal. He checked behind to see if they were followed, and not seeing anyone from the bar, holstered his gun with a look of paranoid dread.

 

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

 

'If this isn't some kind of suicide cult, they're damn well getting close to one...' Essul thought with a hidden scowl as he looked around, the change from pitch black and thrumming music to normal lights and relative silence made his head hurt. Oddly, his neck also ached a bit, a tingle running through it as he shock his head to clear the thought.

 

He'd already taken his medication, there was no way it'd run out that quickly. He looked to the others, going to his omnitool to send a message to them as he noticed there was a noticeable interference going on as he closed it quickly. If they were jamming their omnitools, they were more then likely wanting to isolate them all.

 

It was clear this preacher was using some method of control, in combination with these drugs, to get his members into this trite. Or perhaps the drugs were a ploy at the substance was in the drink instead? Either way, essul wanted to make sure he'd save both, so that either could be thoroughly studied, hopefully with the lot of them unharmed and hearing the results.

[Cknarf]

"The royal special is fine."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena walked past the throngs of people outside of Afterlife and entered the club. A meek protest erupted from one of the hopeful patrons when Aria's men waved her inside.

 

"Hey! We've been waiting for hours!" a man shouted.

 

"Sternly, wait your turn," the Elcor doorman replied.

 

The pounding beat of Aria's music selections filled Naleena's senses. They were sensual and uplifting. She stopped under one of the dancers and watched for a while, recalling her days between her jobs dancing in clubs for recreation and freedom of expression. Part of her missed that life. She was a Spectre now and people: a lot of people depended on her; but then her heart filled with sorrow as she recalled Illium and her friend Jenira being killed by STG agents. She smiled at the dancer and gave her a tip, then moved on to Aria's private section.

 

Aria noticed her and waved her up to her couch. "I assume you have news for me, or is this a social visit?"

 

"A little of both, I hope," Naleena replied. "First the business. The reactor is down for the time being. Here is the list of parts you need to order. My chief engineer informs me that the manufacturer will install the parts, calibrate, and perform a start up."

 

Aria sighed. "So I have to deal with these vagrants even longer, then?"

 

"No, you get to be the guardian of the people of Omega," Naleena replied, "Come on, Aria, even a hard assed pirate queen needs a little good PR every now and then."

 

"You're the only one I know who can make doing a good deed sound selfish," Aria said and smiled. "It's why we get along. Any news from your other assignments?"

 

Naleena shook her head. "No, not yet. I hope I hear something soon. You had two teams disappear. I hope they didn't run into any trouble."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

The Warehouse -

 

Nyreen put her talon on the nape of her neck. "I'm glad that's over. Come on, follow me. Just remember to smile at everyone here. We're cult members."

 

She led them toward the door and out onto the street. There were food lines forming where people were being fed by "The Mission" and posters of the prophet were hanging on the awning over the serving tables.

 

"I see he feeds the poor, too," Nyreen commented.

[Kel Riever]

The Citadel, Asari Embassy suite

“The Council hereby reinstates you as a Spectre with full authority, Xanthe Remi,” Tevos said within the asari embassy suite on the Citadel.

Xanthe, wearing her full suit of evergreen justicar armor, nodded to the Council representative. Then she nodded to the two other asari standing on either side of the Council representative. “You have my thanks, Tevos. I also thank you Irissa, and Matriarch Syra, for the responsibility the Republics have placed upon me in our future endeavors.”

Irissa, her voice cold, warned, “This is not the Janiri we are talking about here. Your failure at the base and the subsequent exposure it has received has brought unwanted attention upon us.”

The matriarch, in scarlet robes and golden bandore that represented her political station, protested, “I do not like the idea of forwarding our Republics position at the risk of our alliances. How many vessels with superior firepower and armament are we to put to the stars using excuses such as secret programs? Pride and ego is what this is a result of. An insecurity of the roles the salarians and turians play in keeping us all safe. This is why I do my best to stay out of this foreign policy nonsense. None of you have a spine.”

Irissa was on the verge of a retort when Tevos held out a hand to stop her. “Syra always speaks with her experience, as uncomfortable her boldness is to some. Nevertheless, she too understands that we, as asari, shall be united in our ultimate decisions, if not in the way we have arrived at them.”

“I do,” Syra answered, waving her arm in the air in a faux dismissal, the long robed sleeve adding emphasis to the flourish, “And I give you my words: All nations of the galaxy recognize that unity is beautiful, but as precious as glass. And if the process of forming that unity is flawed, it is easily shattered. Heed my caution. There may be a cost to this yet unforeseen. Such is the wisdom that comes with age, and I certainly am older than either of you, perhaps both of you combined!”

“The Republics are first,” Irissa insisted, “It has never been different.”

Syra’s eyes narrowed and closed on Tevos. “Do you agree? How would you have fared in the attack on the Citadel if the humans had thought in such a way when the Destiny Ascension was in her time of need? With you aboard?”

Tevos sighed, “Balance is what we must have. But in this case, our Spectre is a proven ally to the Republics and agent of the Council.” She nodded to Xanthe. “The Kurinth is now under your command. Use her wisely for all our benefit.”

Xanthe’s chin rose slightly and the gold trim of her armor flickered in the light. “You have my word.”

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul tucked the pills and sealed bottle of water into one of his belts pockets for later. His head looked up as he saw the food, eyes narrowing as he spotted the whole set up before he remembered he needed to hide his expression. This was much harder without his helmet.

 

Still, his eyes looked around as he went to look at some way to take some of that food. There was no way he was going to walk up and wait for some, since for one the line was long and he didn't think waiting would be a good idea. And for another, he doubted he wouldn't be able to get away without eating any, since there were people watching the people attending.

 

'Still. If they give you drugs right off the bat. Whose to say the food isn't laced either? I need to get a hold of some for testing later...' He thought as some of the people who were finished with their meals began to walk off. Two asari were talking to one another with what looked to be leftovers from their meals, talking as one of them accidently stumbled and dropped what she was eating.

 

"Damn it..." she cursed as her friend gave a laugh, "It's alright, you can have half of mine..." She said as the two walked off together, essul walking over after a bit and picking up what looked like a small roll of bread. He put it in his pouch pocket, thanking his luck in the find.

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul made it back towards the others as he looked around, coming towards nyreens right as he tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention.

 

"Any place we could talk that's a bit private? There's some stuff I'd like to talk without a bunch of prying eyes on me." He said jokingly, though the look in his eyes said it all. This was serious, and they needed to start actually talking and getting their heads together on this.

 

This cult, the missing drugs, the whole situation with this isolated area of omega, it all seemed to get worse the more he thought on it. And he needed to get a plan going with the others, as soon as possible.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Nyreen looked straight ahead. "Of course. Do you see those dumpsters? I'll be on the other side of them. Wait 15 seconds and follow me there."

[Cainhurst Crow]

((Collaboration between Myself ((JB)) and SJ))

 

Nyreen saw Essul approach, and she noticed that his approach wasn't obvious like others. He was trained somewhere. She grabbed his arm and pulled him around behind the dumpster. "This is dangerous. You wanted to speak with me."

 

Essul looked Nyreen in the eyes, a scowl on his face as he spoke, "I wanted to know anything you knew about this cult. Your a local who isnt on arias payroll, so you'd have a better idea of the situation and less intensive to lie to save face." Essul said matter-of-factly as he kept his expression blank.

 

"These sermons. The strange music. And now supplying food to the people here...I want to know what you know about how this got started. More importantly, how far its spread..." He said as he looked out of the alleyway towards the street, "Though I guess more importantly then that...is if you know how this mission got its hands on food, vast amounts of power, and drugs when this part of omega has been isolated for a good month now with minimal power to it..."

 

Nyreen had a worried look on her face. "I understand your concern. I'm not a local, but I came here after I heard rumors. I wanted to investigate. Due to differences in physiology and my own tastes, I brought my own food supplies, enough for two weeks.

 

"It seems that 'The Mission' began by distributing food to the poor, then inviting them to hear the sermons. Then the drugs started. People living here are desperate, looking for hope anywhere. But this?" She sighed.

 

"You asked about power? The power has always been here, but its distribution system has been out. Aria has never had the resources to restore it. It's been in decay for centuries from what I understand from the Asari locals. Tapping into the mains is easy for someone who knows what they're doing. Fixing Omega is beyond Aria's capability. It would require massive business investment but that requires law and order. Meanwhile Aria exploits it for what she can.

 

"As to how far this has spread? I am worried. I haven't been able to explore much beyond where we are. Vandals trashed my vehicle. I've been stuck here awaiting arrival of my mercs. Perhaps we should make a run to the tip of the station and see for ourselves?"

 

"These vandals who trashed your car. Any idea if they did it on order from the mission?" Essul asked, having a bad feeling about the answer, "Regardless, I think things here are clearly larger then any of us anticipated...A tactical retreat may be best." He said, knowing that he needed more answers then questions.

 

They needed to get back, get this stuff analyzed to see what exactly was being given to these people, and how to perhaps counter-act it. Still, one question bothered him as he thought on it.

 

"Still doesn't explain where they got their supplies from. No way could one random preacher have had enough provisions to feed the poor out of pocket this whole time. That requires supply lines and time to build up a stock...someone must be backing these efforts. The only question is who...and why?"

 

"The vandals were probably just street kids looking for a joy ride and couldn't get past the security system," Nyreen said, "And you'd be surprised how resourceful people can be. It's quite easy to illegally tap into the power mains if one has the know how. Food is another matter. It must be brought in from outside. Someone must have cut a deal with one of Aria's competitors to have it smuggled in.

"Food and faith to win the hearts and minds of the people. Perhaps someone wants to overthrow Aria. As corrupt as she is she does maintain a modicum of stability on Omega, and this station is a major hub in the galactic relay system. Aria once told me there are secrets about Omega that only she knows. Perhaps she's not the only one?" Nyreen said, and looked up at the Batarian inquisitively. "We should get back to the others before we're missed. Let's get to your car and go to another area."

 

"Agreed..." Essul nodded as he began to walk out of the alleyway, spotting the others as he made his way towards them. They began to make their way towards the skycar they'd come in, essul being eager to leave.

[Kel Riever]

Previously...( http://forum.bioware...res/?p=18323259 )

Somewhere in the Teruminus Systems

Xhuan had been charged with organizing the conquered colonists into a productive workforce.  While on call for Iyana, her superior was busy working alone in the depths of the Prothean ruins with a handful of crew from the ship who could be trusted, there to do the labor.  Xhuan herself preferred to be on the bridge of the Khukuri, but the frigate was being used to make a supply run and deliver messages. 

The veteran asari knew that Iyana had assigned her task because Xhuan would be the only one besides her who could get the colony in line.

“You have come to me with the reason for the discrepancy between the list of colonists we have obtained and our head count?”  Xhuan reviewed a datapad while she stood next to a human mercenary under her command. 

“Yes,” the low voiced man answered, “Of course, we needed to…convince…some of the people in answering.  One hundred ninety eight colonists in total from their data banks.  Seventeen were unaccounted for, until now.  We have reason to believe they have made an attempt to flee into the wilderness.  Panic, really, as there is no communication equipment or method of travel off world.  A preliminary inventory of supplies indicates that most ran without preparation, either.  Of course, teams are already hunting them and there is no reason for lack of backup.  Our two fighters are on standby if, for some reason, they are able to pull a starship out of a hat.”

Xhuan took in the buildings of the colony and the location that had been picked for it.  Most of the planet was less than ideal for habitation.  They were near the equator, where a cooler temperate zone was more accommodating.  It was a pleasing scene, as the colony was placed upon a high plateau with steep cliff, overlooking a waterfall.  The area was wooded, with foliage predominantly orange in color, shifting somewhat from yellows to reds.  One of the talkative colonists made mention that it had little to do with the season, and was more of a unique phenomenon to the planet.  Colony buildings themselves were of the standard variety; long, box-like objects meant to provide every basic amenity. 

That will change, Xhuan thought to herself. 

Few colonists themselves were out of their dwellings.  Fearing their new visitors, it was likely they were speculating amongst themselves, trying to figure out what would happen to them.  Guards had been posted outside the buildings, keeping an eye on them and directing anyone outside or questioning them.

“Work will begin for these people, soon,” Xhuan told the patiently waiting mercenary.  “In the meantime, the penalty for violation of rules must be made abundantly certain to all.  I will find those who fled myself.  While I am gone, I want this list reviewed.  Make a note of which colonists are related to each other.  I want all family relationships to be identified when I return.”

The merc acknowledged his instructions with a nod.

“Excellent,” Xhuan said as she breathed in the cool air, “I haven’t had a decent hunt in a long time.”

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Group 1 - the drugs

 

Irina made some notes of things she saw on the way back to the skycar: the food lines being taken care of by "The Mission" was the most prominent.

 

"There's other clubs in the area, but the fat's in the fire if they saw the same show we did," Irina said as they walked on. "Best we just give it a miss and head back. We got the goods we came for anyway.

 

"By the way, Anika, you look great in that armor. I'm sure that's why your mate got it for you. Probably easier to move in, too. You should wear it more often."

[Kel Riever]

Frank, the tall bombshell in Commando leathers, the other fairly tall woman, and the krogan were on their way back to their skycar.  After running the block, Molly was happy to at least have learned that this area of Omega was somewhat of a grid system, though spoke streets narrowed towards the center.  It meant cutting ahead of the Spectre’s group to get to her own vehicle wasn’t going to be a problem.  She ducked back through the grimy alley she’d staked the club out in, ran up a parallel street, and came out of another alley to her skycar.

Two salarians were bent low over the rear left thruster.  The main sensor antenna had been removed and was lying on the ground next to them.

Molly drew her gun and moved up without being noticed until she was directly behind them.  “I hope you aren’t trying to remove my skycar’s thruster, because I am really, really looking for an excuse to shoot someone today.”

The two salarians, obviously young adolescents, nearly jumped out of their skins.  They flipped around to face the detective with hands raised, and one stammered, “We…were just looking at your…awesome car!”  His large eyes peered at the antennae and then back to Hagen.  “That was already off when we got here.”

Aiming her heavy pistol right at the salarian’s forehead, Molly growled, “You’re lucky I think you are two dumb and young to kill.  Beat it, before you change my mind for me.”

The two salarians sprinted away.

Molly lowered her gun and examined the skycar.  It appeared the scavengers were just getting started and the only thing gone was the antennae.  Molly wasn’t going to be able to put it back on, and she thought of the fine that would get stuck to her tab; it was Omega so it was sure not to be cheap, even if the skycar was nothing but an average dinged up hunk of alloy and ceramics.  She unlocked the door, which had a fresh set of scratch marks near its seam, got in, and noticed nothing inside appeared bothered with.  The tracker was still on the dash and Hagen snatched it up.  Her worry didn’t subside until she turned on the skycar and confirmed the systems were functioning correctly, with the computer link rerouted through the auxiliary antennae.  She wouldn’t be able to talk to anyone or play music, but the detective wanted only to be able to follow her mark.

Speaking of which, Molly reminded herself as she finally looked up through the windshield to spot the skycar the Spectre’s grouip would be piling into.  The vehicle wasn’t there, just some old wreckage.  For a moment, Molly thought the salarians might have boosted the other skycar, then she realized…

The wreckage IS their skycar!

Whoever had been intent on stripping Hagen’s car had apparently done the job completely on the vehicle for the Spectre’s group.  Their skycar was up on blocks, all its thrusters removed, doors open, seats gone, electronics gone, stabilizer fins removed, and engine compartment open.  While the core was too heavy and dangerous to take out, the scavengers had known what they could take safely, and the non-essential engine components had clearly been taken.

At that moment, the bombshell, the other fairly tall woman, the krogan and Frank spotted the wreckage their skycar had been turned into.

“Seriously!?”  Molly blew her hair up out of her face.  “Sonofa…”


 

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"F*CK! Son of a f*cking b*tch!" Irina kicked the wreck that once was their skycar. "This is just f*cking great! I guess we got ourselves a new mission. Jack a car and get the f*ck out of here. We got Frank. Frank can get us a car. I'll shoot anything that tries to stop us, and I'm sure Vayne doesn't disagree. And we need to do this in two ticks."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Griss had gone to look for Essul because it was time to head back. He saw Nyreen and him emerge from behind a dumpster.

 

He approached in a casual manner. “We should get out of here, and I think we should get back to Afterlife.”

 

“No, Griss,” Nyreen said nodding to him and acting like the others around her. “I’m convinced this has spread to other areas of the station. That power blackout was too convenient. I think we should take the car and scout.”

 

Essul turned to Griss, his medication was nearing the end of its effectiveness, but he knew he had to push onward. “I agree. Nyreen told me that the station is critical to the relay network, and if this movement has spread to other parts….”

 

“I get your point,” Griss said as they walked back toward the others. “We’ll do that.”

 

Arian and Eteon were in conversation with a cult member. It appeared like Arian was simply keeping his mouth shut for fear of just riling up the person, while Eteon was being cordial and diplomatic, trying to act like the others in the cult. When Griss and Nyreen caught up with them, Nyreen smiled in the Turian fashion at the cult member and bid them good night. Essul followed suit. Griss led them to the skycar. Fortunately it had not been touched by vandals.

[Cknarf]

Home, sweet home.

 

"Relax, guys. Everything's gonna be fiiiiiiiiine."

 

Frank took a seat upon the stripped skycar.

 

"All of the cars on this part of the station have already been stolen." He paused to yank out the cloth that was plugging his nostrils.

 

"Ew, gross."

 

He tossed the mess over his shoulder

 

"Aaaaanyways, it's pretty much 'climb in and go'."

[Cainhurst Crow]

Vayne was shaking where he stood, eye fixed on the stripped car as his pupils shrank to the size of pinpricks. His claws were clenched, he had a slowly growing snarl on his lips, teeth baring as he tried very hard to remember to breath. When other species got mad, they yelled or screamed or stomped to get their frustrations out.

 

When krogan got mad, things were going to break. And vayne was very, very, mad.

 

He marched towards the skycar slowly, grabbed hold of the open hood and yanked it off, tossing it away as it sailed across the street with a heavy thud. It had torn off with ease, little left to keep it in place from its stripping, as he bent down and grabbed the engine core. He yanked it out with a heave, spun on his feet once before he threw the heavy core with all of his might, sending it sailing through the air like a weight throw.

 

Two salarians happened to be running down the street, the engine core barely missed their as it crashed into the street ahead, and promptly burst into a fiery ball. From their distance, all that could be heard with a loud pop, and the slow glow of flames as vayne stood tall, still snarling as he looked back towards the others with bloodlust in his eye burning as intensly as the flames of the engine.

 

He stomped off to find another car, not saying a word as he marched up the street to hopefully find a working vehicle.

[Redbelle]

Anika saw the nearly empty shell that was their skycar, and despite the situation, chuckled. "Snafu". Looking around, she looked for another when Vayne, making inhuman angry gargles in the back of his throat, marched up to the remains of their car.

 

The engine block sailed through the air and Anika watched it go with one hand shielding her eye's from the overhead lights. "Nice arm". She called to him before her eye's lit upon another skycar.

 

It was fairly far away and overlooked their own. Anika pointed to it. "I see one". Striding over she noticed a shadow, moving inside. not breaking her stride Anika stepped up to the skycar and tapped on the window. "Hello? Can I talk to you quickly? We need a ride. Our car's been scavenged and we really need to get to where we have to be. Can we get a ride? We can pay you for the trouble". Looking down at the car she noticed scratchmarks near the lock, and signs of tampering near the primary aerial. "I guess you've had trouble too. Can you help us out"?

[Kel Riever]

Molly witnessed the reaction of the four as they discovered their ride wasn’t going to get them anywhere (well, except for Frank, who looked like he had no idea where he was).  When the krogan hurled the core, her pupils became the size of pinheads.  She didn’t see it where it landed, but she certainly saw the fiery result.

Pop!  FOOM!

The krogan started walking her direction.

No.

Then the bombshell who she chased.  She overtook the krogan and walked up to Molly’s window.

-NO.

"I see one". –There’s another car…she’s not walking up to…no!- "Hello? Can I talk to you quickly?” –No no no no no no no!- “ We need a ride. Our car's been scavenged and we really need to get to where we have to be. Can we get a ride? We can pay you for the trouble". –Seriously, I’m melting!- "I guess you've had trouble too. Can you help us out?"

Molly turned her head to watch the bombshell stare back, blue eyes, drop dead looks and all.  The same bombshell that wrecked an entire mob of would be suitors.

Hagen’s finger went to the window control.  It flicked the switch.  Slowly, and with a quiet, grinding whir, the window lowered.

Staring back at the bombshell, as if a grenade had just gone off in her face, eyelids closed halfway in grief and surrender, Molly spend almost a minute letting out her breath which had been held tight since the first step had been taken in her direction.

“Go ahead.  Get in.”

[Redbelle]

Anika smiled at the stranger who stared up at her. "Aww, thank you". Standing up and taking a step away, Anika cupped her hands over her mouth and yelled. "GUUUY'S! WE GOT A RIIIIDE! GET FRANK AND LETS GET GOING"! She half lowered her hands, and then a thought struck her and she raised them again. "BRING CREDITS! I SAID WE'D PAY HER"! Another pause as she looked at the back seat. "IT'LL BE A SQUASH"!

[Kel Riever]

Several minutes later Molly was pressed in with the people she was supposed to be shadowing like sardines in a can.  That had been smashed.  By a truck.

The detective didn't even pay attention to whoever had sat in the front seat next to her.  All she knew was one of her shoulders was mashed against them and the other was mashed against the door and window.  The skycar lifted off, very slowly at first.

Whhhrhruuuruuruuu!

Somehow the vehicle made it off the ground, and flew low through the streets of Omega.  There was the idea in Molly's mind that she could put some music on.  Her fingers had to jam between her and the passenger next to her to make it to the dashboard control.  A couple of fingerstrokes later, she turned on the sound system.

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

There was no music.  Only the hiss of low white noise.  The main antennae was gone.

Molly steamed.

Oddly, Molly didn't even remember to ask for directions.  She just naturally directed the skycar to where the Spectre had said her ship was for their meeting.