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[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul went off on his own after the meeting adjourned, watching Naleena as she left before he stood and departed as well. Vayne, still grinding his teeth in frustration, stood quickly to try and follow the man, but as he left the room and looked around, the batarian was no where to be found.

 

"What the...where did he go?" He asked aloud, not exactly sure how sure how a man as tall and in that armor could slip away from him so easily. "Damned spy...warrior...spyzerker-thing." he said, not really sure what to call essul since he seemed so odd. A stealth operative with heavy armor and biotics, seemed unfair to have all those advantages in one.

 

"I need some bloody meat..." He said, meaning it literally as he stroll stomped his way towards the dining hall, figuring he'd have some time to get something in his stomach before the mission.

 

Essul meanwhile watched the krogan pass him as he stayed still, his tactical cloak active as he craned his head to see him round the corner and disappear towards the elevators. Essul turned to look at the direction naleena had went, frown forming behind his helmet as his cloak deactivated. He was a man who respected those who held authority, but he was not blind. If anything, he was painfully aware of one thing.

 

Their boss was letting this get to her.

 

======================================================================

 

In the mess hall area, vayne walked in as he looked around for the krogan who worked there. Spotting him as he approached, forgetting his name in his single minded mission.

 

"Oiy, you got anything red and bleeding I can eat? I could use some old school food for the day I'm about to have..." He asked the chef as he approached, wondering if he'd even have anything for him to scarff down on such short notice. Eating helped to calm his nerves and center his mind on something other than fighting. And that was exactly what he needed right now.

 

====================================================================

 

Essul stood outside of the room Naleena was in, taking in a breath before he raised up a hand and tapped on the door. It was an old gesture, one he'd grown familiar with using to signal that someone was visiting.

 

He wondered if the commander would be willing to talk at all, given what he could only assume were disappointing news from the council. He'd wait until she gave an answer, and respect it, whatever it be.

[Cknarf]

Frank smirked, while rubbing lightly at where the kiss had landed. He looked back from the pilot's seat, just as Iole stepped outside.

 

"Hey, wait!" Snatching up his helmet, he rolled out of the seat, and towards the exit after Iole.  "I still have a few questions!"

 

He slipped on his way out, tumbling out of the shuttle and onto the bay floor.  His helmet thunked on the ground, and rolled around. Still prone, he reached out, and slammed a hand on it. 

 

"Gotcha!"

 

His omni-tool still flashed with a notification.  Using his other hand, he slapped it, opening up the message. After reading it, he relaxed, letting his forehead rest against the floor.

 

"Dammit..." Frank sighed. He sat up, and put his helmet on.

[Redbelle]

Anika listened to the plan.

 

Kill.

 

That was what it amounted to. Killing she was fine with. And if you could kill then the scale only mattered when someone made noise on the issue. But still......

 

This was about as far gone a situtation as she could imagine. Killing was meant to be a final resort when all other options had failed. Cracking open a station however..... She would be fine in her armour if anyone was required to be aboard at the time she knew. The station, likewise, had a  hive of easily sealable compartments left over from the days when Omega had only been a mining operation with minimal atmosphere and heat production equipment. The death toll could be curtailed, on both sides.

 

Anika rubbed her eye's. It sounded like the decision had been reached and nothing could change that now. Unless someone came up with another plan to keep things from going to hell. Her mind turned to Duellos. Memories of an Aspirant army bursting forth causing their group to flee for their lives and evacuate the town. How not everyone had gotten off before Aspirant's had ripped them to shreds. No one had known and no one had been accountable back then, but here?

 

Nally would be accountable. She was a Spectre after all. Supposed to held unaccountable to any except the council. Except if enough people knew what Spectres did and enough complained, and enough protest was raised that affected the councils standing, that Spectre could be disavowed and council deny all knowledge of that persons actions.

 

'Okay Annie. Back up a step. There's a rot in Omega that needs uprooting. Where is the core? Can we lance it out? Would dealing with it prevent more victims of mind control'? She sat back and pondered that last one. 'How are they controlled? What's the lever that moves them? The group after me were..... uggggh. were..... not hostile, till the preacher came on. Maybe, if they are slaved to obey him we can get him to call them off. Buuut if they are slaved to carry out a function, like a fire and forget missle, grabbing him won't acheive anything.....".

 

She spent so much time in thought that she hadn't noticed everyone filing out till she was alone. Looking up she saw no one, and sighed. "First rule of war". She said to empty air as she recited a lesson taught to her by one of her old, complex intructors. "Never get into a situation where all your options are bad".

 

But at that moment, Anika couldn't figure out how to make it better.

 

'Wish you were here Jess'. She thought, standing and moving out of the briefing room after the others. Something bad was coming, she felt it approaching. And she had no idea how to make it better.

[Kel Riever]

Mira was out in the hall with Jenus.  She turned towards the vanguard and said, “You’re right.”

Jenus snorted slightly and lifted her chin.  “Glad you agree, Textbrain.  We’ve got to keep it together.  Hard core.”

There was silence between the two.  Mira studied her companion, surrendering nothing with a cold gaze. 

Under the scrutiny of her senior, Jenus lowered her chin and shifted uncomfortably.  “Hanger deck in 20?  Ready to go?”

Mira held Jenus with her eyes for a moment longer, until a sliver of warmth entered her voice and she answered, “Affirmative.  Sort yourself out.  You’re with me if we break into pairs.”  Turning on her heal, Mira marched away.

“You got it,” Jenus called after her, the words empty in the slow curving hall.  The sides of her mouth twitched, then she left to do what she’d been told.  Alone.

~ ~ ~ ~

A few minutes later, Mira was in the cabin that the four Commandos shared.  Tallis was there, doing a check on her magenta commando leathers.  Mira kept quiet, headed to a cleared section of floor towards the back, faced the wall and sat down in a lotus position.  She closed her eyes and tried to relax.

Fingers landed on Mira’s shoulders.  She opened her eyes and glanced up to see Tallis above her, smiling gently.

“Me, too.  Me, too.”

Mira nodded, and turned to face Tallis while Tallis sat across from her, mimicking her lotus position.  Both smiled once more at each other, closed their eyes, and prayed together in the Siarist way.

~ ~ ~ ~

A shadow appeared over Frank.

“Sometimes, I wonder what’s in that helmet besides you.”

Iole was standing behind and above Eli with one hand on her hip.  With the other, she offered him some help up.

“If you’ve got questions, better ask them now.  Time’s short, Beans.”

[Cknarf]

Frank grabbed hold of her hand, and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet.  

 

"Questions?" An eyebrow raised under the helmet.

 

Questions, questions, questions...

 

"Right! Questions! I meant to ask, how do the weapons work on that thing?" He pointed a thumb over his shoulder at the shuttle. "You know, just in case we gotta... F***."

 

He brought a hand to his visor, remembering the message he had just read.

 

"Never mind. It doesn't matter anymore." He shook his head.

 

"This sucks, commando."

[TheMajonese]

Aimlessly, Arian wandered around thinking of Naleena's plan to cut off a part of Omega. Right now the spectre was probably contacting the council but Arian doubted that the politicians had a solution that was any better. He had no idea what he wanted to do and somehow ended up in front of the briefing room again. Hoping that it was empty he entered.

 

After he had made sure that he was alone Arian dropped his Phaeston on the table and sat down. He put his head back and crossed his arms. With his gaze focused on the ceiling lightning he was thinking of the the coming events. It was weird to see how the mood of the rest of the crew had changed after Naleena had told them of her plan. Arian was almost able to feel their tension and he knew that they didn't feel comfortable about killing 80000 people. Even if most of those people had already been indoctrinated there were still people who weren't controlled by this preacher.

 

But since there was no other option to eliminate this threat until it was able to just overrun Omega, Arian saw no reason to feel bad about this...

 

Coldhearted... More than once, people around him had called Arian cold or cruel, often with an expression of disgust on their faces. The situation now would be no different. If anyone had asked Arian about his feelings he would have told them the truth. He remembered Vayne's and Essul's argument about the plan and what Jenus had said during his assessment; Just another murderer? Maybe that was the only thing he was good at, doing the things that others didn't want to do and living with the consequences. For years now that was exactly what he had been doing.

 

His value for the Blue Suns had been his ability to get the jobs done, no matter the costs. Officially he had not been a member of them to make sure that they weren't involved in anything and Arian took all of the responsibility of his actions. He had not cared much about this, working for the Blue Suns had given him a purpose. And of course, in Sivia he had found someone who could unterstand him, who knew how he was feeling.

 

Now I'm thinking of her again... 

 

What kind of man kills his own wife? The most important person in his entire life, the only one who is able to calm him down, to care for him, to make him feel more than just a murderer. But he probably wasn't more than that. Just another murderer, maybe even a psychopath...

 

A few seconds Arian just sat there, frozen and without any emotion in his face. Then, with a desperated and infuriated yell, he jumped up and flung the chair against the opposite wall. Grabbing his gun he stormed out of the conference room. After a few steps he stopped and leaned against the wall. Blind with rage and pain he didn't even realise that he was shivering all over his body and gasping as if he had run for the past minutes.

 

It was the incoming message on his omni-tool that distracted him enough to realise where he was.

[Kel Riever]

Dahlia smirked at Amy's question, stood and glided over to where she was seated. She grabbed hold of a metal fastener holding the two sides of the seat harness together. "It's simple, Doctor. You see this button? Put your finger on it and press. But really, I think you might want to remain seated a while longer."

Amy watched the asari with the violet eyes come over and point out the harness fastener.

Incredible.

Then Hayashi listened to her advice until the asari went back over and sat in the command chair to attend to another matter.  Amy looked down at the fastener and pushed the release button.

The doctor got out of the harness and stood, half her hair in her face, light blue T-shirt, tight white pants and light blue socks...all shiny.  She looked around as if someone was going to stop her.  Nobody did.  Amy popped up on her toes, and briskly trotted to the elevator.  Still no one bothered her.  Amy pushed the button for the elevator, got in when it arrived, and looked at the control panel.  It all didn't make sense to her, which was confusing, because elevators should be simple.  She opened her mouth to speak, then remembered on the Medusa, there were no voice activation controls.  So Amy did what seemed to make the next best sense.

Amy pushed one of the buttons on the panel at random.

~ ~ ~ ~

Iole nodded slightly in response to Frank's comment.  She waited a minute to think of a reply, and making sure her harness for the Hellbringer was fastened snugly.   Nothing immediately came to mind.

"We tried.  It's out of our hands," Iole finally replied.  She shrugged her shoulders in resignation.

"All crew to their marks," the general command came from above.  "Stationbound personnel prepare to disembark."

[Redbelle]

Rather than go directly to disembark, Anika found herself outside the compartment where VERA had told her Naleena was. Taking a quick breath she pushed the door release and stepped inside. She saw Naleena standing there. A tumbler in hand and a bottle of half filled resolve in the other.

 

"That can get you through a mission I'm told". She said walking up to and placing her helmet on the counter. "Personally I like other alternatives to bad situations....". She put a hand on Naleena's shoulder and gripped it gently. "Hey.... It's okay. It doesn't start till it start. If we can't figure out another way by then..... maybe it's meant to be this way".

 

Anika released her grip took out a stool under the cabinent where both were. "I may not know what led you to come to this decision.... But I know it can't have been easy. Still, there's time to think of alternatives right? What's got everyone so spooked about the cultists that you'd blow a station in half"?

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena set the glass and bottle down. Anika was right. The answers weren't there. She had to have her wits about her. She turned around and hugged Anika for a moment. It was a moment of peace. She released her, and looked her in the eyes. "The Council bailed. I sent them the data, tried to get them to do something else, and they just bailed. 'You take on assignments, assess situations, and make decisions. It's your job. If you don't want to make the decision, don't take on the assignment.' That's what they told me. Then they wished me luck."

 

Naleena took a deep breath and sighed. "Essul ran into a former Cabal, Nyreen Kandros and obtained further intel. Between the team reports, and the data from Dr. Tolus and VERA, the course of action became singular. I wish there were an alternative, but there isn't, and that fact doesn't make this any easier.

 

"The cultists? They're indoctrinated, all of them," Naleena's look hardened as she steeled herself for action. "If they got a foothold on the lower part of Omega, where the population is most dense, they could contaminate the food supply with the prions, and then over the course of a period of a few months take over the station. Imagine 7 million sleeper agents for the enemy on this station alone. They could spread out to other hubs. That's what has everyone so spooked. But they've been discovered, and their silent takeover is finished. Now it's being armed. This makes the Drowned Aspire look like walk in the park. We need to kill this before it explodes."

[Cknarf]

Frank studied the Scythe's controls once more, as he stood quietly near the airlock, waiting for the go.  He closed his omni-tool, and shook his head. He looked past the others who had gathered nearby, back towards the way he came.

 

Nothing I can do.

 

Frank shifted his weight to the other side, and took a deep breath. He brought his arm up and paused, before dropping it back to his side.  He looked back again.

 

Nothing.

 

Frank put his back against the wall, and slid to the floor. He opened his omni-tool again.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Essul saw Anika leaving the conference room as he neared.

 

Anika's visit had given some comfort. Still, Naleena wanted to hop on her shuttle, leave, and never return, but even her closest companion for the past four years was a fixture on this ship. A result of one of her decisions. The meeting with The Council left nothing in doubt: she was alone. Trapped. It was the slap in the face that awakened her. When you're waking up the world is a blur. What was clear in a dream suddenly makes no sense. No surreal rescues. No easy, magic way out. But you're awake. Naleena was on her way out of the room, cigarette in hand. Essul approached her.

 

"Essul?"

 

Essul focused on Naleena, arms crossed as he looked her over silently. For a second he simply stood there, staring at her before he let out a sigh.

"We need to talk...or rather, you need to talk, and you need someone to listen to you doing so..." he said as he uncrossed his arms with concern in his eyes, "I can see how hard this is for you. Talking....it helps. Or at least, helps get better focus...forgive me, I'm not very good at this." He said with a sigh. He really wasn't used to doing this sort of thing with his superiors, but it didn't take someone whose species revolved around body language to tell the stress taking its toll on her.

 

"We have only one direction we can go with this, and it weighs heavily on me. The Council said that the decision is mine," Naleena said and raised her left hand, "So do I sacrifice tens of thousands to save 7 million? That it is the only course of action does not make it any easier. The quicker we get this done the better."

 

"That's quite the burden to bear. One nobody asked for..." Essul said, hint of familiarity as he talked about it, unsurprised at the councils actions to dump the burden onto someone else as quickly as possible. "I can imagine, that no choice simply makes it feel like we've made the wrong choice. That if we'd done something else, we'd not have to come to this point...Sadly, that's not true." He said as he reached up and took off his helmet, holding it in his hands as he traced a finger on the design.

 

"It's too easy to blame yourself, or blame others, for terrible things happening. And to feel like your alone in making that kind of call. But the truth is we couldn't have stopped this. Nothing we did would have gotten us here in time to stop this, nor would it have prepared Aria to act in any way different from this...ultimately, all we can truly be held accountable for, is what was allowed to be in our control by fate." He spoke like a person well versed in taking bitter pills and who had experience with this manner beyond his years. He looked up to Naleena, gazing her in the eyes as he spoke next.

 

"Something more important than that however, is knowing when your alone in doing something, and when your not," he said with a hard determination taking hold as he spoke. "You are not alone, Naleena. Just as you don't hold ownership of this blame, you also don't hold ownership of this burden either. All of us, everyone under your command, relies on you to guide them. But it's not wrong to rely on them for support every once in a while at least."

 

Was her stress this obvious? She thought she was hiding it a lot better than this. She put her hand on Essul's shoulder and smiled. "Thank you, now keep your head down out there, friend. I'll see you on the flip side."

 

She left for the CIC.

[Kel Riever]

“Stationbound personnel prepare to disembark”

Jenus forced herself through the last pull-up on the bar.  Then, straining, she went up, over the bar and with every muscle threatening to collapse, she drove her body into a handstand, above the bar.  Still bent at the elbows, she had to do a split with her legs to avoid hitting the ceiling as she extended her arms fully.

No one else was in the Janiri’s gym.  Everyone else was mission ready, at their stations.

Jenus’ arms shook.

Letting gravity take its course, Jenus let her body fall, rotate once completely around the bar, then she forward somersaulted in the air and spiked her landing.

F**k them all.  I don’t need them!

It was a lie and Jenus knew it.

“I could have used Red, wherever the void she is.”

Jenus grabbed her gear and headed to meet her team.

When Jenus arrived at the hangar, the other three were there, waiting for her and watching her all the way from the elevator.  Iole had equipped her Hellbringer, positioning it vertically in its carry position.  Mira and Tallis stood with their hands loose at their sides.  None of them said anything.

“All is one, right?”  Jenus said as she got to the three, shaking her arms and legs to keep limber.  There wasn’t an immediate answer and Jenus became inwardly nervous for a moment.

“All is one,” Mira answered.

Iole and Tallis nodded.

A familiar flare ignited in Jenus’ eyes again.  “Let’s wreck them.”

~ ~ ~ ~

In the CIC of the Janiri, Commander Selani stood by the navigational hologram, which was closed in on Omega.  Vector lines showed the path of the Zorya, and where the Janiri would head once she left the station.  Tollan Linra was at her side.

“Commander, the captain of the Zorya has confirmed that they are ready,” Tollus informed Selani.

“It’s up to us now.  Where is the Spectre?”

“On her way.”

Selani looked around the CIC.  The crew were set for their task, stone-faced, and calm.

“Bring us to high alert,” the Commander ordered.  Condition lights basked the Janiri’s CIC in their glow.  “I’ll take the bridge after Naleena gets here and gives us the go ahead.”

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Irina trotted into the hangar and fell in next to Jenus. “Sorry I’m late. You’re shaking. You doing alright?”

 

“Just a little muscle fatigue. I’ll recover,” Jenus said, “Where the f*** were you?”

 

“Checking on Zenon. I always check in with her before a mission. Say goodbye and all that. You never know.” Irina replied.

 

“Yeah, whatever. You ready?” Jenus asked.

 

“Locked and loaded.”

 

“That’s my girl!”

 

“Hey, you two! Focus!” Mira shouted.

 

“Yeah, yeah! Textbrain.” Irina said. “We’re ready. Are you? Tallis? Ever do crowd control? Keep your tempers in check, or else it could get ugly. And make sure Aria’s mercs keep their tempers in check. One shot could start a riot. And Iole, be careful with that thing.”

 

“What the hell? Mira! Tell her to shut her little punk mouth up! We know what we’re doing.” Iole said. “If anyone here will go nutso it’s her.”

 

Mira addressed everyone including the team. “Alright people, we have our orders from the Spectre. We’re to report to Aria in Afterlife. Let’s move out.”

 

The team disembarked the ship on their way to Afterlife.

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 06 février 2015 - 06:35 .

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul was nervous as he moved out towards afterlife with the others, not simply because of the operation they were going to undertake, but because of who was leading it. The Special Intervention Unit handled many situations, putting down riots or insurrection movements being one of them. He'd seen with his own eyes, how quickly a crowd could turn from demonstrators to dissentors to full blow mobs with just the wrong words and the wrong orders given.

 

He hoped that whoever aria had in mind to head this operation had some idea what they were doing.

 

Vayne meanwhile walked with the others, his mind still on those who were about to get spaced, wondering how the hell this wasn't suppose to cause an uproar. Aria wasn't to be fucked with, he knew, but getting ride of whole districts at once was a ballsy move, even for the pirate queen. As the crew left the ship and crossed the docking tunnels, they entered omega proper, and saw exactly what a bunch of evacuated people looked like.

 

The steps to afterlife weren't crowded, but one look at the skyline above or walkways below painted a clear picture where people were going, or rather, where some people couldn't go. They were packed with people on the lower areas, many holding belongings or huddled with family or friends as they seemed to go about aimlessly, no real place for them aside from the rest of the refugees already here. Above seemed to be abuzz with skycar traffic, all of it going mostly one direction. Away from the deadzone area, as quickly as possible.

 

On their level, there seemed to be an unusually high amount of mercs milling about, some wearing the usual blue or yellow or red armor, others without markings, but all of them were milling about, seemingly on standby. It seemed the scavengers could sense something was about to happen, and so the bigger predators had come to pick off the scavengers, or perhaps beat them to the punch.

 

As vayne looked around, one thing caught his attention. It was a pack of Vorcha, talking amongst themselves, when one of them looked over towards him. He stopped and turned to his friends, pointing as he did, and soon all three were scurrying off, seemingly lost in the crowd.

 

Vayne got a shiver at that, unsure what it meant as he kept up with the others, not wanting to bother them with something so trivial.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Commander Selani in the CIC preparing the crew for their first real mission. She was very concerned with the calibration of the main battery.

 

“It’s well within spec, Ma’am,” Chief Steiner said.

 

“Specifications have tolerances. There are lives involved. I want this as accurate as you can get it,” Selani ordered. “Navigation, plot a course to have us remain just outside of safe firing range perpendicular to the target zone.”

 

“Aye aye, Ma’am.”

 

Naleena walked onto the deck with her cigarette in hand. She approached Selani. “Any contact from Ashland?”

 

“Yes, and I have VERA coordinating efforts,” Selani replied. “There is a problem.”

 

Naleena expected this. Nothing like this would be simple. There would always be problems. “What kind of problem?”

 

“Aria’s evacuation was not 100% complete, Ma’am.”

 

VERA’s hologram appeared. “That is not entirely correct. Aria’s evacuation was nearly 80% successful. My sensors detect that approximately 40,000 people remain,” VERA said. “Historically, government ordered evacuations are rarely 100% effective. There were always a percentage of people who would remain in their homes because of emotional attachment to them, or thought they could ride out the disaster.”

 

The CIC became warm to Naleena, and she let out a sigh. “What are the casualty estimates?”

 

“I estimate between a 5% and 40% casualty rate depending upon where they are in relation to where the cut is made.” VERA replied, “That number cannot be accurately determined since I do not know the extent of the structural damage that will be caused by our weapons.”

 

“We’re making the cut as close to the infected zone as possible, right?”

 

“Affirmative, Boss,” VERA replied, “I will confirm coordinates with Ashland. Aria has scrambled her fighters and activated station defenses…. Coordinates confirmed…. Boss?”

 

“Yes, VERA?”

 

“Once we successfully cleave the station, it is highly recommended that sterilization protocols be followed for the cleaved portion,” VERA said.

 

Just once, why can’t anything be simple? Naleena sighed. “What would that involve?”

 

“The Zorya has the capacity to tow the cleaved segment away from Omega. That part of the operation will take approximately two hours for it to reach minimum safe distance from the station,” VERA said, illustrating the entire procedure in a hologram. “Prions are destroyed by gamma radiation. Completing the operation requires us to follow up with a detonation of two tactical anti-matter warheads, one on each side of the segment. They are available in the starboard cargo bay. Our shuttles are equipped with hard points that can be used to launch them. They will provide sufficient radiation to destroy any prions on that section of the station or floating in space in the surrounding area. It is highly recommended that we achieve a minimum safe distance of 10 km prior to detonation.”

 

“What about damage from the blast to the station?” Naleena asked.

 

“The station should be far enough for its inhabitants not to suffer any ill effects from the explosions,” VERA said, “However, the station could suffer some momentary power disruptions depending upon the quality of the shielding within its power grid.”

 

“Noted, VERA. Inform Mr. Ashland,” Naleena said, and then she turned to Cmdr. Selani, “Have teams load the shuttles with one anti-matter warhead each, and have shuttle pilots standing by.”

 

“Aye-aye, Ma’am.” Cmdr. Selani said, and gave the order.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Irina sidled up to Vayne as they approached Afterlife. "Looks pretty bad, doesn't it? Are you ready? Don't know if I am. I know the basic rules. Try to keep people calm. No name calling. Ma'am. Sir. I hope she has riot shields."

 

She spotted a Turian in body armor on the corner near Afterlife. He waved the group toward him. "Kadavar Vayne? I haven't seen you in a while," he said, and then introduced himself to the rest of the group. "I'm Captain Gavorn. You must be the group from the Janiri. As far as I know you'll be working with me helping my men maintain order. As you can see we're undermanned. Just try to keep everyone calm." He looked around. "There are a lot of people here and we're greatly outnumbered. Things could turn ugly fast. I hope the vorcha don't try anything stupid. Anyway report to Aria. She'll give you an armband so we can tell you're with us."

[Cainhurst Crow]

"I'm just hoping we get a bunch of angry civs. If some underbelly decides now would be a good time for a coup, this could turn ugly..." Vayne said, not wanting to even think about that. They were already doing horribly at stopping one crazy cult from storming the place and taking over, they didn't need a power hungry, less crazy fool trying to throw in their bid in the mix.

 

Essul glanced about his surrondings, noticing many of the mercs here sporting armbands, including members of the blue suns, eclipse, and blood pack. They made up a minority of the forces though, compared to the many others who he could only assume were freelance or payroll. He scowled beneath his helmet.

 

These people weren't trained for this. If even one of them got an itchy trigger finger, this whole situation would spiral. Essul also kept a leery eye on any of the yellow armor sporting individuals. Eclipse mercs were not on his list of people he liked to associate with, and he still remembered their drop ships and knack for bombing medical evacuation ships just as they would take off.

 

Vayne smirked as he saw the turian, walking up to the man with a nod and a grin, "What can I say, I've been busy with a new crew." He said as he thumbed back towards the others, giving a chuckle. He used to take jobs from Garvon in helping to clear out Vorcha, or giving a hand in looking into more than one desserter of the security force who turned out to just be high off his ass and forgotten to check in to work. A freelancers job took them all sorts of places, and tended to make you meet all sorts of people.

 

"Vorcha are the least of my worries, truth be told. How many of these folks just signed up for this today? Never seen so much spotless armor before..." He said, referring to a number of mercenaries with clean, brand new looking armor or weapons. A clear sign that someone was either looking to break a new set in, or were breaking into the business for the first time.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Gavorn shook his head. "Yeah, groups have been trying to replenish their numbers since the plague and since that vigilante Archangel depleted their numbers. No one knows what happened to that guy, either. He just vanished. So yeah, there are a lot of new recruits. I just hope the Suns put them through some decent training. Anyway, head inside and check in with Aria. I'll see you later."

[Kel Riever]

"Reporting to the Matriarch Queen of Thugs isn't giving me any comfort that maintaining order here is going to go over well," Iole commented softly enough so Gavorn didn't hear.  She scanned the scene from behind her HUD glasses with concern. "There's nothing being overgunned is going to do to help keep people calm."

"Relax," Jenus remarked with dismissal, "These mercs will see us, will see you with that Hellbringer, and they'll know to keep it in their pants.  Respect for bigger guns and keeping their brains in their skulls is all these dregs understand."

Mira shared Iole's caution.  "Sometimes escalating weaponry has a way of getting out of hand.  It's more important that people know who is behind the gun, so we should get those armbands immediately."

The group from the Janiri moved through the crowds until they got to the cordon that kept the entrance to Afterlife cleared.  Gavorn signalled to the guards there that they were to be let through.  Looks were cast towards everyone, and most of them were not friendly. 

At the doorway, the Elcor who usually managed the line to get into Afterlife was performing nearly the same task, though he did so now in a suit of armor and he wasn't managing a line of would-be clubbers.  More of a guard to allow only essential personnel in.  "Sternly:  Go in and get your business done quickly.  Do not waste anyone's time."

[Redbelle]

Anika's talk with Naleena had left her unsettled by the revelations that had come forth. She'd hurried to catch up with the others and found that she'd made it just in time to enter Afterlife with the group. Tagging in on the end she appeared fully suited, helmet in place, looking for all intents and purposes like a white wall of metal, ceramic and polymer cut into humanoid form with guns strapped to her in every place one could be held.

 

Anika's mind was sill turning over things. Trying to think of other ways to get around the problem. The problem still felt like taking a sledgehammer to a nail. If the people were being indoctrinated, then they had to remove what was causing the indoctrination. Cutting a station in half seemed a bit extreme but it would do the job. And as much as she wanted to go after the source of the problem, she and the others had been given their orders. Going off by herself, without backup, would be foolish, even with her enhanced physique.

 

She just didn't know enough about indoctrination, she thought. That caused her to **** her head as she remembered a lesson back from the complex.

 

'Don't try and do everything yourself cadet'! One of her instructors had barked at her during one of her practice attempts to disarm a simple bomb activation circuit that had held a backup she hadn't seen. 'If you can't see the obvious, get someone elses eye's on the problem. Or find someone you can ask on what to do. You should be smart enough to know what you know. And what you don't know. And what you don't know can kill you unless you do something about that'.

 

"VERA...". Anika called on her helmet's internal comm system. "...Can you pull all the data you have on a phenomenon called indoctrination, as it pertains to what's happening on this station please? I want to know what we'll be facing down. How it happened. Anything that could be useful".

 

"Hmmm". Came the response back. "Okay hun. But only because your the bosses special little friend".

 

"VERA"!

 

"Joking hun. Lighten up a little. If your in a bad mood the boss will be in a bad mood. And her moods been pretty black of late. Why you want this data"?

 

"Because....". Anika said in a dark tone. "....what you don't know can kill you, if you let it".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

It was quiet in Afterlife when Irina entered, the usual loud music and light show turned off. Aria stood with a small group of her people giving instructions while waiting for the Janiri team to arrive.

 

“I scrambled our fighters and activated the station’s automated defenses like you asked Aria, and input the IFFs of the ships not to target under any circumstances,” Bray said, “That would be the Janiri and the Zorya.”

 

“Good,” Aria said, “Is everyone ready, Anto?”

 

“Uh, as ready as can be expected,” Anto replied, “Aria, there are a lot of green recruits out there. Don’t expect miracles.”

 

“That’s why I brought in extra muscle,” Aria replied, turned and saw the Janiri team. “Good! You’ve arrived and not a moment too soon.  The last thing I need is a bunch of fresh recruits getting overzealous trying to control a group of frightened civilians. That can turn ugly quickly. What are you waiting for, Anto? Give them the arm bands!”

 

“Uh, yes, Aria.” Anto said and passed out the arm bands to the group.

 

Aria strutted around and looked over the group. She noticed Mira wearing an officer’s uniform. “I assume you’re in charge? Fine. You’ll report to Captain Gavorn. He’s the Turian officer near the entrance if you haven’t already met him.” Aria said. “His instructions are to maintain order but if things get out of control, you’re to fall back into Afterlife. Am I clear?”

 

Mira knew Aria’s reputation, and knew the chain of command. “Of course, Aria.”

 

“Good, I see Naleena left no doubt as to who was in charge of this operation,” Aria replied. “In that event, this place is defensible, whereas you’re vulnerable out there. In the event of chaos it would be an ideal time for someone to make a play to take over Omega. I am well prepared.

 

“Bray, take Patriarch, Griss, and Anto and secure the lower entrance. I’ll wait here.”

 

Aria received a communication. It was Naleena. “This is Aria, go ahead.”

 

“Aria, there is a complication,” Naleena informed her. “We’re detecting approximately 40,000 residents remaining in the evacuation zone.”

 

“I issued a warning, and sent in mercs to warning people,” Aria replied, “They're large districts. I don’t have the manpower to go door to door dragging people out of their homes. They had opportunity to leave and didn’t. We can’t delay. This district is packed like skaldfish. Just do the job you agreed to do.”

 

Aria disconnected, growing impatient with the overcrowding wanted things to get back to normal. It wouldn’t for quite a while and she’d have to get used to it.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

VERA prepared the file for Anika, attempting to put it in 'layman's' terms for her. "I am ready to transmit an abridged version of the document you requested. It should be sufficient so that you may make informed decisions. I hope you do not attempt anything foolish, Hon. I have grown to like you. The data contains information recovered from Virmire, and from Dr. Tolus' studies."

 

 

 

 

Dr. Rana Thanoptis, PhD. - summary

 

I subjected the Salarian prisoners in Group A to the subsonic and electromagnetic frequencies provided to me by Saren for a period of three weeks and introduced subliminal messages with them. In one group I noticed extreme degradation to where the subjects became like mindless husks. I think I may have overdone it there. I did the same to Group B but not to the same degree as Group A, but they became increasingly paranoid. They did accept Sovereign’s message, however they would not be accepted into any society. The control group, of course remained normal. I can only conclude that Sovereign's signal did not fortunately have any effect on me or my technicians despite being on the ship for nearly two months. The only conclusion I can draw is that Asari have a natural immunity to this indoctrination process.

 

We should note that Dr. Thanoptis appeared quite normal according to Commander Shepard's files. She let her go. Thanoptis very dangerous person. Would have killed her myself. Others who were part of Saren’s team appeared to act normal as well. On Noveria, Lady Benezia ranted and fought mind control apparently triggered by something. This suggests a third component. – J Tolus

 

 

Dr. Jarrels Tolus, MD PhD – summary

 

I discovered the third component. There is a more organic form of indoctrination, and it appears that this form stabilizes the victim so as to make them virtually indistinguishable from a non-indoctrinated person until something triggers them. This is done through the introduction of prions into the limbic system of an organic species that is advanced enough for them to use for their food source. Introduction into the food supply is the most obvious method. The source of these prions is unknown. All organic life is based on sugars and proteins. These proteins respond to certain frequencies that can be hidden in music or presented in a raw form. Also the introduction of electromagnetic frequencies have been reported. When certain combinations of frequencies are produced the prions are activated within the host, and the host becomes receptive to the reaper signal. Once indoctrinated this way, the host will do the reapers’ bidding, and there is no known way of curing them yet without destroying the prion. Prion is only susceptible to gamma radiation, and that would kill the patient. Isolating the patient from the signal may cause them to experience increasing paranoia and anxiety. Thus I must conclude that reaper indoctrination is irreversible. We do not yet know the origin of that signal. Present on Omega. Very unfortunate.

[Kel Riever]

Mira raised a brow at Aria’s declaration that she was in command.  Perhaps the matriarch preferred to interact with a known factor, in this case a Commando, rather than concern herself with whoever Naleena might pick instead.  Certainly, there were members of the group who were qualified, Anika coming immediately to mind, but Vayne, Essul, even Eteon…there were others who were qualified. 

It was clearly not a place to question, though, as she witnessed Aria sever the connection to Naleena.  There was no turning back.  Mira gave a tentative nod to everyone and hoped they would at least trust her ability.

“There are a number of parameters for this operation,” Mira started, “But there are some that are not our mission, so let’s get those out of the way.  First, we are not the evacuation team, and that means though civilians may be directed to the corridors leading away from Afterlife, Aria has others to guide them.  The paths are obvious, so if there is a civilian approaching who is not a threat, you are to direct them to someone else, not try to take care of them yourself.  And certainly not allow them inside the perimeter.”

The flow of Mira’s speech began to smooth.  “Second, we are not riot police.  When the Zorya and Janiri fire upon the station, it will be felt and there are those likely to panic.  We are not here to break up fights, or talk people down.  This will be one of our most difficult tasks, should the feelings of worry and fear escalate.  Our demeanor is crucial here, as representatives of the leader of Omega.  Those whose eyes seek us out must see professionals, people under control, who have the situation in hand and know what is going on.  You may be challenged.  Do not give in.  We are a wall of calm, and of strength.  Those we face are inhabitants and civilians, even the mercenaries of this station, and so we shall not open fire, not even with non-lethal force unless fired upon.”

Mira paused for a moment to study those around her and see if anything she said did not sit well, before going on.  Those around her seemed intent on listening so she continued, activating her omni-tool as she did.  “Lastly, we must be prepared for anything.  If Aria has even the smallest concern that someone may try to take advantage of the situation, then we must account for that.  If we think some of the people we are trying to stop have gotten out with the evacuees and will make some sort of attempt at Aria or Afterlife, so we too must be ready.  Here is what I recommend.”

The omni-tool brought up a simple display of the outside of Afterlife, in holographic form, for all to see in mid-air in front of Mira.  It was a top-down perspective, and Mira began creating circles and writing names in with the controls on the tool:



“This is a simple tiered defense.  The direction of threat is represented by the arrows, likely trajectories in black, though the orange arrows show where one could approach Afterlife’s front by skycar or other means of air travel.

“Circles and names in blue will be the outer perimeter, people who will be face to face with the civilians and the first circle of defense.  As you can see, I’d put here people of size, capable of close combat if necessary, but perhaps it will not come to that due to either your ability to intimidate a would be trouble maker or simply another way you may have of changing their minds.  You have the hard job of interacting at point blank range and spotting the threats if they are there.  Anika, you are somewhat separate from the other four, watching that far most flank corridor, but you are well armed and I have faith that you can handle it yourself with the backup we have.

“The second tier, or those who are reserves, will look for danger with the advantage of some distance.  Of course, they will deal with anyone who somehow manages to pierce the perimeter, but they will also be actively moving to reinforce any trouble spots.  I will be here, centrally located, available for any of you who need me.  The rest of those here are either quick movers, such as Eteon and Jenus, or have support capacities and abilities, such as Avan.

“Other support is in red, and that specifically refers to Iole and Frank.  Frank is a sniper, and his role will be crucial in eliminating lethal threats who make use of either the urban setting or the civilians as cover.  Iole has heavy weaponry.  Both of you will also need to be aware if any threats come from the sky, and say so if they do.  Ultimately, the hope is nothing we are involved in requires these two to take action, but they are there if it has to come to that.

“Finally, Tallis is the anchor.  Among our team and those of us who are present, she can generate the most powerful biotic barrier.  If a retreat is required into Afterlife, she will be the one who protects you while you get inside, and she herself will enter last before the door is locked.  No one, absolutely no one, who should not be in Afterlife can be allowed to get past that door before it is locked, so pay close attention and pull back if you hear the order.

“Should you need to be relieved at the front, do not hesitate to say so.  We’ll pull you out of the fray so you have time to recover, reload, whatever you need, and replace you while you do with the reserve.  Everyone here is fully capable, more than any other group of people I’ve served with.  So let’s here it if you’ve got something to say or if you are good to go with this.”

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Irina listened and shuffled her feet. "Not bad, Textbrain. Defense in depth. That's more Alliance than commando," Irina said in a sarcastic tone. "We're not exactly expecting a siege. Just trying to keep a little order."

 

"The last thing we need is to get split up," Mira replied, "Or would you rather be in charge?"

 

"I think Aria just assumed you were in charge," Irina said, "We didn't exactly pick who was in charge. Maybe I wanted Vayne to be in charge. Hell, maybe Essul?"

 

"Knock it off, Red," Eteon said. "It's a good plan. And we don't need you sowing discord."

 

"I'm not sowing discord, Eteon. Just asking a couple valid questions," Irina replied while she was loading her assault rifle.

 

The Cabal wasn't content to back down, and in this regard reminded Aria of Nyreen. She walked up to the red head. "Just let it go, Irina."

 

"You want to work off some steam before the mission? Is that it Eteon?" Irina said, and handed her rifle to Vayne. "Come on then."

 

Aria stepped in. "Enough! Save it for the rabble. But I enjoy watching a good fight, and if there was more time I'd allow it. It's Turian tradition, but we Asari can bend the rules a bit."

 

Eteon's mandibles clicked. She needed that, too. That was something that she was missing aboard the Janiri. Now that she knew Irina was up for that perhaps in the future.

 

Irina turned around to face Mira. "I'm good with the plan, Textbrain." And she took her rifle back from Vayne.

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul looked over the formation, eyes studying the map and the locations she'd laid out. They were basic, well explained and reasoned, and simple. All things that made for a solid, if somewhat vulnerable, defense. Though by how Mira had addressed Anika, it seemed she accounted for it.

 

"As an ex-member of the special intervention unit..." Essul said as he looked up to mira, giving a nod of his head, "It's a good defense plan. Your plan for dealing with potential unruly citizens is interesting. I approve of the unusually tight restrictions on weapon usage." He said, speaking from experience. When the hegemony had dissenters, they made sure they felt the full hammer of their might. Gas bombs from airships, sonic cannons mounted onto mobile weapon platforms, and of course stun rounds, were common in dispersing a crowd. And when the SIU got called in, that's usually when non-leathel rounds became nothing but lethal.

 

He liked this change of pace, preferring it over prematurely dirtying his hands with old tactics. Vayne however...

 

"I'm not sure about this. The tiered defense is good if crap goes down, but are you sure we'll be able to keep everyone helping us from screwing up?" He asked, referring to the many mercs outside, of which at least a few would be lending their aid to the operation to help sure up the gaps.

 

"If we keep an eye on the situation. And if the third tier keeps an eye on our surroundings to watch out for trouble, we should have enough eyes on the situation to keep it under control." Essul said as he looked to Mira with another nod of approval, before looking to vayne, helmet hiding his expression, "I'll keep an eye out as well, just in case an enemy comes sneaking in from the right."

 

Vayne stared at essul for a solid few seconds before his frown became a reluctant smirk pulling at his features, "Not funny..." he said, even as he chuckled. It was a good joke, especially from a batarian bastard with the stick up his ass most the time.