6315 réponses à ce sujet

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"Specialist, can I speak with you in private?" Naleena asked.

 

"Sure, Ma'am," Ereba replied, and the two walked outside the locker room and off to the side out of earshot of everyone.

 

"Specialist Danri, you're new here and we haven't had a chance to talk, but what was that in there?" Naleena asked. "The Asari military is a bit looser on their usual weapons like the Disciple and Acolyte, but the heavy weapons are not sold to the public or merc groups to the best of my knowledge."

 

"That's correct, Ma'am."

 

"And there is no ancient goddess Hellia either."

 

"You and I know these things, but he doesn't know them, and I'll bet half of the others don't know either unless Vayne is telling them it's a bunch of bullsh*t. But if I know Vayne, he's probably good for putting one over on a Turian, Ma'am," Ereba said. "But VERA probably let the varren out of the cage."

 

"I don't think so. VERA has quite a sense of humor," Naleena said. "But...."

 

"Come on. It's all in good fun."

 

"This is Arian. Arian is serious and violent."

 

"But maybe he has a sense of humor he just hasn't shown."

 

"I doubt it.... Just be careful," Naleena said. "Let's go back in."

 

The two headed back into the locker room, and Ereba was talking. ".... so Tallis and I? Yeah, I think we work well together. The two of us in the rear providing long range support with VERA should work well."

[Redbelle]

Franks Shuttle

 

Anika blanched at the mention of customs. "Customs? Do we..... I mean, aren't we going direct.....? Between K&Q and Spectre......". She cleared her throat. "Jess was gracious enough to file a flight plan to help us avoid some red tape..... It should be in the navigation computer? I hope.....". She opened the pad containing Jess's message and scrolled through quickly. It mentioned a flight plan but no mention of where it was until she quickly scrolled to the end and found several attachments. One of which included the flight plan mentioned above. "Ah".

 

Anika got up and moved to the cockpit. "Frank.... Sorry but, I may have goofed. Jess gave me a flight plan that gives us access to a private hanger. Cuts through customs and avoids some red tape. She..... ah.... filled your cargo hold with goods she wants getting rid of and..... well the buyer pulled some strings to get them. I'll download the plan now but.... could we maybe not antagonize the border patrols"?

 

Flicking to the relevant information she came across what she wanted to know. "Just tell them we're making a delivery to the Yakuza.....". She paused as she read the rest of the message. "...... Do not tell anyone your delivering to the..... Yakuza..... The dock is under.... Freds Fast Food..... Do not dump the cargo if you value your hands...... DAMN IT JESS"!!!

[Kel Riever]

Morgan looked over to Anika and put his face in his hands.

Molly was looking back at Anika and as the words sank in, she used the bucking of the shuttle re-entry to distract her and make herself stare forward.  Not really knowing what else to do to keep her mind off exactly how not right whatever it was that Jess had packed aboard was, she typed a note.  At first, she didn't know who to type to, not really having anyone, then she defaulted to the person she'd worked with most, recently.

To:  VERA
From:  Molly Hagen

So...sometimes it's a good idea not to be downloaded into everything.  Have an incident right here of me not wanting to know too much information...  Seriously, TMI can get you into trouble.  Keep that in mind when you're busy snooping around, investingating what it's like to have a bunch of slowly deteriorating biological cells rather than easily replacable upgrades.   I don't care what you tell me, medical technology has not given anyone longer enough lifespans to keep them happy.

Anyway, I can't believe I'm talking to a robot.  And, okay, that probably doesn't come across the right way.  But I mean here I am, writing you a message, on my way to Earth, because I have no one else to talk to.  At least we share the same workaholic ethic.  I have a strange comfort in Frank's ability to fly when rightly I shouldn't.  Call it my intuition.  No I can't explain it so don't ask.  But my intuition, I guess, is also why I'm bothering to go ahead and say these things to you in a message.

Good luck with everything you are about to do in your new, crazy Geth outfit.  Don't get yourself into any situations where you'll be permanently damaged, I know it can happen so one thing you don't necessarily have to learn about organics yet is all the dumb things we do because of bad internal chemical reactions.  Don't take unnecessary risks, at least not yet.  Keep safe...I can't believe I'm telling an electric brain sitting inside a warship to keep safe but I suppose everything is relative.  Maybe when I get back we can talk more.  In your holographic form though, please. 

The Kodiak was dropping below the cloud cover over New York City when Morgan finally said to Anika.  "I suppose Jess does really miss you, if you know, she's still giving you jobs like this."

[Redbelle]

Anika clenched her teeth as they ground together before she made a very conscious effort to relax. "It's fine..... Really it's fine..... Jess is on good terms with the Yakuza. She does odd jobs for them now and then. She makes it plain she's free to turn down work and they appreciate K&Q discretion..... I mean, they really are nice people when you get to know them. Very big on family".

 

Anika considered. "This is probably Jess's way of giving us a fall back in case we need it. Make a delivery, remind the district leader that we still value them, put in some face time then if we need to call in a favor..... whatever, if ever we need..... It's not a bad plan..... Jess just didn't bother to mention everything I needed to know was on the pad because......". She stopped and closed her eye's, exasperated. "..... Because I was busy messaging Naleena and didn't read the whole thing".

 

Turning to look out the front view port her mouth took on a flat line. "It's not to late. We send the codes, apoligise for divating from our flight plan, human error which works because it's true in this case. The we fly to the warehouse. Drop off the Moo..... cargo. Drop off the cargo. Then we go pick up Morgan's family. The Yakuza's big on family..... huh.... Jess you sly underhanded dog".

[Cknarf]

"I didn't think it would be such a pain in the ass to land on a planet." Frank threw up his hands. "Didn't have to f*** with any of this on Duellos.  It was just: [Whistle, explosion sound.] ya know?" He shook his head.

 

"Control, this is eight-zero-zero-eight-one-three-five dash one-zero-one. Do you read?" He looked at the others. "I don't really know how to talk to these guys."

 

"Go ahead, 101."

 

"I'm landing somewhere else, or something."

 

"Stand by."

 

"Uh... standing by?"

 

"Authorization?"

 

"Yeah... it's uh... G O, F U, C K Y--" Frank felt a punch in the shoulder. He grabbed the datapad that had been handed to him. "Wait, scratch that. I've got an actual number."

[Kel Riever]

"Kodiak 101, come around to pattern epsilon, we're uploading your settings, sending you into the feed, engage your autopilot.  Relax, we'll take it from here."

New York opened up beneath them, a sprawling city, third largest in the world and with no end to growth in sight.  Air traffic crisscrossed the sky in a three-dimensional grid pattern and the pattern Frank's shuttle was being put into was straight up the Hudson River, between Manhattan and the eastern shore of New Jersey.  Skyscrapers lined both sides of the river, boat traffic hurried its way along the surface and as the shuttle headed north, the span of the venerable George Washington Bridge could be seen in the distance. 

Vehicles, small craft and vessels could be seen everywhere.  Falling into line behind Frank's shuttle was a small, atmosphere freighter.  Ahead were three skycars, two of which were yellow cabs.  Several animated, holographic bulletin boards were projected upwards so that only eyes from above could see their content.  One was for a Broadway play.  Another had the face of a supermodel selling makeup.

"That's home," Morgan said, "Though where we're putting down is nowhere near the place I used to live."

Some of the vehicles in the pattern came to an abrupt stop, and started descending vertically.  Frank's shuttle was on the same course, a steady if perhaps a bit direct fall where all craft with hover capability in the pattern were being sent.  Once the descent halted, the Kodiak was much lower over the city, below the tops of many of the skyscrapers, and began to move towards the lanes between the buildings on the Manhattan side.  Here, the architecture took on its full life.  Some buildings still maintained their twentieth century facades.  Some were much more modern, like steel razors with windows so well camouflaged in the surface it seemed as if they didn't exist.  A white and medium blue patrol car broke the standard flight paths, racing at a high speed with lights flashing.  The streets could be seen below, with enough people so that the movements of crowds were obvious. 

The efficient pattern had the shuttle on through to the other side of Manhattan fairly quickly, putting the Kodiak over the East River.  Another descent and full turn brought Frank's shuttle around to face westward and head back into the city again.  This time, it was evident that the buildings they were headed to were in descent shape, but more industrial.  The intrepid, an old aircraft carrier museum, was at anchor to the south, still with its planes and even an old space shuttle rest upon its deck.  Several passenger liners, for cruises both at sea and into space, were northward, their hulls white and gleaming.  But where the Kodiak was heading was following the general direction more of working vehicles now.  Big lumbering shuttles, trucks that were small, large and downright humongous, the occasional mobile repair vehicle.  It wasn't until they were nearly at their destination that Frank's shuttle split from everything else with its directions, heading to a mid level on a twenty-ish story building with a clean, brick front.  There were several arched bays on the level with sliding alloy doors, and one opened ahead, to reveal a clean, modern bay for the Kodiak to land in.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Across the Galaxy in orbit above the cesspit called Garvug

 

VERA’s voice was heard over the intercom. “Attention. We are approaching Janiri Nav Point Omega and will arrive in 5 minutes.”

 

“Alright, grab your gear and saddle up, people,” Naleena said as she put on her coat, grabbed her modified Mattock, Locust, Carnifex, and SIG P226. “There’s a central rack where you can secure your weapons for the trip. She turned and headed to the shuttle.

 

She opened the shuttle hatch, climbed up, and stood on the top step as the team entered. As the team entered she slapped each of them on the shoulder, and after the last person entered climbed in she ducked inside, secured the hatch and took her place in the pilot’s chair. VERA-Geth sat in the co-pilot’s chair. Other than VERA, Vayne was seated closest to Naleena.

 

Naleena entered their flight plan into the VI. An unapproved maneuver warning appeared on her main screen, and she entered an override code.

 

“Everyone, make sure your harnesses are securely fastened. This is going to be a rough ride,” Naleena said, and then contacted shuttle bay control. “Open shuttle hanger door, and prepare to launch.”

 

The technician responded. “Door opening. Preparing to launch shuttle in 5…, 4…, 3…, 2…, 1…, launching shuttle.”

 

“Main engines engaged. Speed increasing to 100 kph, 150, 200, 250, 300,

 

“This is the SSV Milgrom to unidentified craft….”

 

“Engaging FTL…. Now.”

 

**

 

Aboard the Sonax Corp Cruiser SSV Milgrom

 

“I lost it. It’s gone off our sensors. It must have jumped,” Ens. Chen said.

 

Captain Lin studied his tactical map.  “Any idea where it came from?”

 

“There’s a merchant ship in the area, but if they sent out a shuttle, I would have picked it up,” Chen replied. “There is a possibility it was here for a drop, but when they saw us they panicked and left.”

 

“Possible, but keep an eye out for anything unusual.”

 

“Yes, Sir.”

 

**

 

Naleena’s shuttle reached 1 km altitude within Garvug’s atmosphere and entered normal space. She immediately engaged the visual cloak and guided the ship on a steep angle pulling up at an altitude 100 meters above  the ground to begin their approach on the vector Vayne had given her.

 

“Everyone alright back there?” she asked.

[Cainhurst Crow]

"Uggghhh...I'll be fine..." Vayne said with a hand covering his mouth, having been foolish enough to look out the window as they made the jump. Fast motion all at once, even with the stablizers on, wasn't something he liked. "Should be an easy glide from here, nobodys usually around on the surface."

 

But there were people on the surface, more then a few in fact.

 

Below the cloaked vessel, an unusual scene appeared to be playing out, as they flew closer towards their destination along the boarder of Halliot and Corporate territories, there appeared to be a rather sizable gathering of people, just on the very edge and taking up multiple streets of the snow covered and mostly abandoned buildings. It was a large crowd, mostly non-krogan, with a lot of humans, asari, a few turians and salarians, and even a rather large Elcor standing at the front of the crowd, with many holding a variety of objects, mostly signs or pictures of the various logos of the companies that had been defamed in numerous ways. A semi-circle had formed right at the boarders edge, where a human and a few other demonstrators appeared to be shouting at the crowd and rallying them up, while at the very center of what appeared to be their impromptu made stage, a large human-shaped effigy with the various logos stood tall.

 

The crowd was thick, tightly packed, and close to where the landing zone was supposed to be, the edges of their protest a block away from the abandoned air field where they'd be touching down. And in the skys, hovering low were 4 Mantis gunships, staying behind the corporate lines, but ever present. At the boarder, a line of soliders in black armor stood, no logos or markings identifying them to any 1 corporation as they stood with their guns ready, none of them aimed, but all of them present. Behind them, were 6 M-080 infantry fighting vehicles, lined up in 2 rows and apparently just waiting for something to shoot.

 

It seemed they'd inadvertently flew in during a demonstration. And judging by where the crowd was, it was against the Corporate Forces.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

“That looks interesting,” Naleena commented as she guided the ship to the airfield. “I think I’ll touch down on the other side of that far hanger. VERA, can you establish a remote connection with the VI?”

 

Her main light dimmed momentarily. “Affirmative, Boss. You should know that the Sonax Cruiser Milgrom is looking for us. Commander Selani has kept the stealth drive engaged, but if they approach the south pole of the planet, they may get the ship on visual.”

 

“They won’t fire on a Council ship,” Naleena said. “Commander Selani is under instructions to reply that we are observing the situation, nothing more at this time. She won’t acknowledge the existence of the ground team.”

 

Ereba unfastened her safety harness, stood, and began grabbing her weapons from the rack along with everyone else. “That’s a relief. I thought for a minute that we’d have everything in the void raining down on us. Not that there isn’t enough going on here with gunships and a couple of platoons of mercenaries all in black with guns to worry about.”

 

Naleena glared at her.

 

“What?”

 

“Just stow it, Specialist,” Naleena said in a firm tone.

 

Tallis turned away having difficulty not laughing.

 

“Vayne, can you get in touch with your contact? Can we meet?” Naleena asked.

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul didn't like this situation, not one bit. Essul was familiar with crowd control, his former position made him more then familiar with dealing with angry citizens. But this crowd didn't seem like angry locals, there were too many given what they'd been told, and they were acting too wrecklessly and too close to the battle lines. He was silent as he stepped out of the shuttle and looked around the airfield, seeing many abandoned ships left to rot, some he recognized from historical records centuries old.

 

Many of them sported battle damage that had long since rusted due to constant freeze and thaw, and apparently these old ships had simply been left to decay into nothing. It was like standing in a graveyard for old vehicles, which he supposed made a good place to hide their shuttle.

 

Vayne meanwhile nodded, getting onto his omnitool as he got quills number, "Here goes nothing..." he said as he dialed him up, waiting for a couple seconds. After the fourth ring, someone answered.

 

"Vayne? That really you?" The gruff voice on the other end made vayne sigh in relief, "Yeah Quill...it's me. I'm on planet right now, got myself some good back up, spectre grade back up. We need a place we can hook up and debrief about that relic and the **** going on here. You got one?"

 

"Y-yeah...hang on a sec..." Quill sounded a bit nervous as he spoke, yet after a few seconds came back on, "I can meet you and your team at Shiagur Hospital...Vayne, I don;t know who you brought...but I hope they're good."

 

"Trust me Quill...they're the best." Vayne said as he closed down the comms, looking towards Naleena. "Have to admit, wasn't expecting Quill to be alive. Glad he is though...kids got a lot of guts, even for a krogan..." He said with a nod.

 

"Shiagur Hospital is a couple blocks east of here. With so much attention on the protesters, shouldn't be too hard to sneak over there..." Vayne said as he looked towards the direction of the crowd, view blocked by some of the tall pre-enviromental **** up buildings. "Where'd they all come from I wonder. Don't remember there being asari or an elcor on this planet before..."

 

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

 

Vallhallan Threshold -- Raheel-Leyya

 

The 3 Malleus Frigates arrived from Sigurd's Cradel, coming to a slow stop near the fuel depot in orbit of the duel blue suns that composed the star system.

 

"Raheel-Leyya reached. Shifting into standby mode..." the pilots said as they brought the vessels into a light powered orbit to conserve power. Machaera stood next to Captain Vaith, ,who looked intently towards the map display of their current location within the Valhallen threshold. Next to Machaera, was Ren'Danna, who let out a sigh as she looked towards the map as well.

 

"Looks like the fleets moved on...what a shame." She commented as vaith gave an audible scoff, "Good. The last thing we need are those vagabonds complicating matters. Are you certain we'll have what we need? That they'll show up?"

 

"Oh they will, Captain Vaith. All it'll take is some time..." Machaera said with a devious grin on his face, "I have my sources on the planet. Things are at a stand still at the moment. That'll change soon, though..." he said as he closed his eyes, chuckling with anticipation, "And when it does...We'll be ready to slip in, and make our kill..."

[Redbelle]

The shuttle swung around to alight in the docking bay. The landing struts extending smoothly before the shuttle came down. Still, the shuttles forward movement had not been completely arrested and the struts scraped the floor before coming to a complete halt. Looking out the shuttles view port in the passenger compartment Anika could see a group of men with a loading trolley waiting patiently. When the shuttle stopped the men surged forward and Anika popped the door release and stepped out onto the floor.

 

"Hold on there.....". She began when a voice rang out.

 

"Anika-kun! By my ancestors..... Stone-san told me she was sending someone but she never said it was you"!

 

The voice was familiar and came from behind as Anika turned and was met by a fairly unassuming Asian man who would have blended into a crowd had it not been for the pristine white suit he wore, matched by a walking cane likewise as white as snow.

 

"Hideki"? Anika's mouth split into a wide grin as she strode forward, flinging her arms out wide. "Hideki. It's been to long"!

 

Hideki beamed in return as he returned the hug Anika gave him, a strange sight as Anika had to stoop as Hideki stood on his toes. "Anika-kun. Indeed it has been far to long for friends to not see each other. Jess-san's hand is in this reunion, no"?

 

unwrapping her arms from around him, Anika nodded. "I'm glad it's you. The others.....".

 

"The others respect my choice of ally. Even if those I choose are not as clean cut and honorable as they would prefer. But there are times when a katana is a poor weapon, and a dull blade is more appropriate to the task at hand.....". He gestured to the men who nodded and popped the shuttles cargo hold. They immediately began pulling out black crates, one of which was brought to Anika and Hideki when he gestured for one man to come forth. "Aaaaah..... Let us see". Hideki popped open the crate and chill air billowed forth as the top seperated form the body. Waving his hand he waited for the worst to clear before taking an insulated glove from the man's belt and reached inside to pull out a bottle. "Oh my.... Jess-san, where did you find such a vintage? This is more than I could have hoped for". His white pristine teeth displayed his pleasure as he turned the bottle in his hands before looking up at Anika. "You do me much honor by thinking of me with this vintage Anika-kun. My club member's will pay three times what I usually ask for a taste".

 

"In moderation I hope Hideki-sama".

 

"Of course, of course. You will find your account credited when I return to my club but the price is to low. Do I detect some ulterior motive in Stone-san's motives"?

 

"Hideki-sama. I'm wounded".

 

"In that armour, I strongly doubt. But my question stands".

 

Anika took a breath. "We have some business on planet besides delivering your goods. A matter of honor and family pertaining to the Medusa..... I'm sorry to say, Oda is dead".

 

Hideki sucked in a breath. "Hai. I saw the news. And the docu-drama Stone-san put out. The woman responsible took many good men. Oda's wife cried for three days in her grief before she begin mourning in proper".

 

"Times of late have been hard. But we must move on. I would present Morgan. The current First Officer of the Medusa. We are here to ensure the fate of the past Medusa crew is not met upon our loved ones".

 

Hideki face turned stoney as he turned and stepped away. "You insult me so"?

 

"Hideki...."!

 

"You think to buy my aid with drink? That is Stone-san's plan? Ancestors preserve me. I would have helped in anyway I could if it meant helping your crews family! Stone-san helped mine once. That is a debt I can never repay to watch my children grow into men"! He turned back to her. "When you see her tell Stone-san that I will give you aid in anyway I can, but that I will not pay a credit more for such fine booze! That will satisfy the insult". He grinned. "In return, I imagine you just journey to your destination? How you prefer to travel? Fast car? Fast airship? If they live by coast I have fast boats. You expecrt trouble? I have armored cars. If you need help I can have men ready to assist you....". Raising the bottle he placed it back into the box and the man carrying it shut the lid before running off back to the others who had finished unloading the shuttle. "Tell me what you need and it shall be yours".

[Cknarf]

"I like these Yakuzis. They seem like decent folk." Frank nodded. It wasn't often that people were just like 'yo, take the Lambo. NBD.'

 

He looked at the line of exotic skycars that lined the bay. "Ya'll should take one of those to go scoop." He pointed a thumb at a yellow one on the end. "The fam will probably get a kick out of it. I know I would, but there's no way in hell I'm flyin' anything but the '47." He shook his head. 

 

 "I don't mind ridin' solo." Frank shrugged.

[Kel Riever]

Morgan was good at maintaining his expression at eye-popping moments.  Being offered anything and everything to go get his family was, well....

...well beyond anything he imagined.

So while he didn't look like he reacted in the moment, he also was speechless. 

Molly stepped up as she looked around, passed Frank and came up to Anika to stand behind and just to her side.  She was pretty sure the Yakuza could tell she was law enforcement just like she could scent their criminality, not that it was hard in this case.  There was a part of her which bristled, but she still did her best to hide it.  "I know we're not the kind of people who are part of the middle-of-the-road crowd.  And it isn't as if the Severns aren't well off, but the presence of an entire, ah let's call it a security agency, might be a bit conspicuous or even send the wrong signal."

Hagen was polite in her posturing.  "Still, I can't deny the appreciation, or the usefulness of such an offer.  Trouble isn't expected, but we should be prepared.  A nice vehicle, with that typical New York limo black look, able to comfortably hold seven or eight, could do the trick.  Especially if, well, it was a VIP vehicle, with the amenities.  Less wet bar and more bullet proof if you know what I mean.  Extra eyes couldn't hurt either, if they were hidden, right Anika?  You've got Morgan and my backs, someone get yours?"  With a quick turn to Frank, she added, "And while I don't think landing a Kodiak nearby is either legal nor inconspicuous, closest we could get to the home the better.  It's on the Upper East Side.  If our shuttle pilot decides he isn't coming with us, he could use a couple of people to help him feel nice and safe too.  Not to mention he needs refueling, and to be ready to go the moment we get back."

Morgan raised an eyebrow at Molly.

"I hope that isn't too much to ask for," Hagen said with a bit of embarrassment.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Valhallan Threshold -- Paz System -- Garvug

 

"We should head to the hospital," Naleena said as everyone disembarked.

 

"Yeah, but what about her?" Irina asked pointing at VERA-Geth. "It'll probably freak out everyone when they see a Geth platform walking around."

 

VERA-Geth tipped her head to the left. "Your concern is logical, and I do not wish to augment the ventilation already standard on this platform."

 

"What are you suggesting, VERA?" Naleena asked.

 

"According to my map, the Shiagur Hospital is located here," she said pulling up the map on her omni-tool. "We are here. It is a straight path from this hangar. The Commandos and I should remain at this hangar and provide cover for your team. When you have completed your business in the hospital we should rendezvous back at the hangar."

 

"Put an AI in a killing machine and they think they know everything," Ereba said. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

 

"I believe I have covered everything, Specialist Danri," VERA-Geth replied.

 

Ereba shook her head. "First, if we're going to work together, it's Ereba, and that's Tallis," Ereba said, and Tallis nodded in agreement. "Second, you just don't go shooting at anything that comes along. There are rules of engagement we need to know in advance. Is lethal force authorized? Or do we go non-lethal? Guns or stealth?"

 

Tallis nodded. "Important. Important."

 

Naleena looked back toward the demonstrators and corporate lines. "Yes, that situation could erupt into a bloodbath if a shot is heard. Keep it quiet and non-lethal. If you catch anyone, detain them. I'd like to interrogate them when we return."

 

"I will add these questions to my list of mission parameters. Thank you, Ereba," VERA-Geth said.

 

"You realize that five heavily armed people will cause a stir as soon as we enter the hospital," Irina said.

 

Vayne laughed. "This is a Krogan world, Irina."

 

"Vayne, Irina, Essul, Arian, let's move out." Naleena said and the five of them tried to attract as little attention as possible as they headed to the hospital.

 

*****

 

"F*** it's cold!" Ereba said.

 

"Cold! Cold!" Tallis said.

 

"VERA, can you do anything about it?"

 

"I could turn up the intensity of my central death ray if you so desire," she replied.

 

Ereba and Tallis both shook their heads in the negative. "Uh, no thanks."

 

"That was a joke. Geth platforms do not have death rays," VERA-Geth replied, "One would think that Geth would have installed integrated weapons systems on their platforms at some point during the past 290 years. I will have to put that on my to do list for this platform."

[Cknarf]

"Pffft." Frank rolled his eyes. "I think can get by without an entourage of Yakuzis, Mols. What could go wrong between here and the port?" He shrugged. "Thanks anyway, though." He nodded, before heading back to the shuttle.

[Redbelle]

Hideki raised an eyebrow. "You are sure? I have a limo shuttle parked outside that would suit your needs. Quick and with room for many passenger in comfort in the back. Good engine to haul the weight of the armor. Black, as you say. Very impressive. Just had it waxed. Drive up to destination and impress"!

 

Anika turned to Frank, then to Morgan. "If we switch vehicles now, it would stop anyone from tracing the shuttle to where we're going".

 

"Hai! Exactly"! Hideki agreed. "Not know what your deal is exactly but..... If you are worried someone following you, is prudent to muddy the trail, yes? You can take your pilot and go. I have a spare vehicle waiting for me. Also, should you find it necessary, my comm ID". He held up his Omnitool and sent his ID to those in the party. "Always good to have friends, even when not needed. Now..... you go. Enough dawdling! You! Pilot! I want that limo back! Noooo scratches"!

[Kel Riever]

"We'll take the limo," Morgan said.  "You can trust Jess, Frank.  Her word is good with people."  He asked Hideki,  "Can we have the shuttle prepped to go by the time we get back?"

The man seemed agreeable.

"Come on, Eli," Molly said to Frank, patting him on the shoulder.  "Nobody will fly that limo better than you.  We need you.  Hop in and let's get going."

[Cknarf]

Frank sighed. "Goddammit." He looked to the Kodiak, then back to Molly.

 

"Alright. Fine. Give me a minute." Frank climbed back into the shuttle, and closed the door. He emerged several minutes later, dressed in his absurd tux, minus the top hat.

 

---------------------------------------------------

 

To the limo!

 

"Not. A. Scratch." Frank wagged a finger out the window, at what he assumed was the lead Yakuzi. He was of course, referring to his Kodiak.

[Redbelle]

Hideki drew back slightly, unaccustomed to being treated in such a manner by a pilot. "You talking about that shuttle you came in on? It'll be fine. Not worth much. My shuttle? Worth a hundred of your's! Bowsen limo deluxe model. No thief would look twice at your piece of junk"!

 

Anika appeared next to Frank and cast a look of disapproval. "Hideki-sama, if Jess were here she'd ask what you think of the Medusa".

 

Hideki's look of superiority fell for a moment. "That's different. That's a classic. To still be working after all this time? It's a good design".

 

"And Jess would never work on a bad design if she thought it didn't have value". Anika nodded to Franks shuttle. "She put in alot of work to restore Franks after it crashed. She said anything that could keep it's occupant's alive deserved another chance at life.....".

 

"Stone-san think's that piece of junk has a soul"? He scoffed. "I doubt..... But very well.... Not a scratch. This is our facility. It will be safe here".

[TheMajonese]

Arian tried hard to concentrate on the mission but while they moved towards the hospital, he couldn't think of anything else but the message that Ruyak had sent him. Even though he was sure that he understood what the krogan had tried to tell him with his cryptic words, he still didn't want to accept it. Or he couldn't. And if it was true then someone had tried to kill him which meant...

 

Focus... Arian shook his head and turned to Vayne. "Your contact here, Quill..." He thought of something to ask Vayne, just to distract himself from his own confused thoughts. "Is he a friend of yours? Can we trust him?"

[Cknarf]

"A'ight den." Frank adjusted his gloriously orange bow tie, and rolled up the pitch dark window. He buckled himself in.

 

"Let's see this piece a sh*t survive a..." Frank began, stopping as he looked into the back. "Daaaaaaaaamn, son!"

 

"We gotta hit the club before we bring this thing back. We'll take the whole fam! It'll be great! Let's gooooooooo!"

[Kel Riever]

Molly got in the passenger side, next to Frank. While Morgan and Anika entered the luxurious passenger compartment of the limousine, Molly adjusted a control on her omni-tool, lowered the window on her side, leaned her head out and spoke, her universal translator covering her words with its volume:

"あなたの寛大さをありがとうございました。パイロットはお邪魔させてはいけません。彼は子供であり、我々は、後で彼を訓練します。" ¹

She then raised the window, deactivated her Omni-tool and said, "I know you all haven't spend a lot of time on Earth, but if you ever plan on coming back, invest in some software to update your translator. In the meantime not one more word out of you before we leave this garage, Frank. Not. One. Word."

Molly exhaled heavily. She was wondering if Frank would really listen, and half expected one of the Yakuza to give him double raised fingers on the way out of the garage.

¹ "Thank you for your generosity.  Do not let the pilot disturb you.  He is a child and we will discipline him later."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Valhallan Threshold -- Paz System -- Janiri

 

Commander Selani left the CIC for the conference room. The natural white markings on her face gave her the appearance of coming from the Asari upper class. Selani had graduated from the Dilinaga Naval Academy in Serrice in the top 10% of her class. The Janiri was a dream assignment for her: an advanced prototype warship for the Council on a special project. She would have rather not be under the command of a Spectre, especially one without any military training, but this wasn’t so bad since Naleena recognized her limitations and delegated authority. Still Naleena was the de facto Captain of the ship.

 

Selani was 170 cm tall but she stood tall in her navy blue fitted duty coveralls after she stepped onto the QEC platform. “VERA, would you please open a channel to the Medusa?”

 

“At once, Ma’am.” VERA replied, knowing she needed to respect Selani’s position.

 

////

 

Jess was still busy with the captain of the SSV Morgan

 

Dahlia sat at her console and noticed a light flashing for QEC. She took the call.

 

“This is the 1^st Lieutenant VERA of the CSV Janiri. Commander Selani would like to speak with Captain Stone on the QEC.”  Came the call over QEC audio.

 

“Right, VERA, I’ll let Jess know,” Dahlia said in her outdoor voice. “Hey, Jess, you have an incoming call on the QEC. I think it might be important.”

 

“Wait. VERA? 1^st Lieutenant? That’s a joke, right?” Dahlia whispered.

 

“I thought I’d make things sound more official.”  VERA replied.

[Cainhurst Crow]

Valhallan Threshold -- Paz System -- Garvug

 

Shiagur Hospital looked as ancient as the rest of Garvug's surface, though somewhat less run down looking then the rest of the area. There didn't appear to be guards at the front of the building, and occasionally they'd see a vorcha or krogan out in the distance, walk from one building to another, and give the group a leery glance.

 

Vanye looked around the area, keeping his double barrel shotgun ready, having found the weapon to be simply wonderful when it came down to fighting off enemies. "Alright. This is it..." He said as he looked around the area. "Doesn't seem to be anyone here...that's more then odd."

 

"What do you mean?" Essul asked as he looked towards the krogan curiously, his own kishock harpoon gun drawn. Vayne had advised all of them to walk with their weapons ready, if only because it would let the more criminal elements know not to mess with them. Krogan didn't really care if your weapons were drawn or not, as long as you kept them away from holy ground or graveyards.

 

"There's usually guards...or at least a couple of scavengers looking to jump people for credits..." Vayne said as he looked back towards the others, "I don't like this...Quill, you read me?" Vayne asked as he got on his comms, keeping an eye out around them for anything suspicious.

 

There was a long delay before he answered, "Vayne. I'm here...what's up?"

 

"We're close by Shiagur's now...you notice anything odd from your position?"

 

"Odd? No, nothing odd here..." Quill answered quickly, sounding somewhat rushed, "I'm inside the hospital, 3rd floor in corridor 3..."

 

"Meet us out here..." Vayne said sterenly, the response this time almost immediate.

 

"w-what? Why? Look, I'm in here. Just-"

 

"Outside, Quill. We're not going into the hospital..." Vayne said firmly as he waited for the response, finally getting one after a couple seconds of delay, "Alright! Just...hang on. I gotta make my way down..."

 

With the call disconnected, vayne looked to the others, a firmness in his voice, "Get ready for anything. Essul, line up on the right part of the wall next to the door. Irina, you take the left..." He said as he looked towards Naleena, "I think quill might be compromised, but things aren't adding up. I'm not gonna leave him here though. He comes out, you and I have to get ready to either take down anyone with quill, or get him down and talking. You with me?" he asked Naleena.

[Cknarf]

"Hmph." Frank grunted. After taking a moment to familiarize himself with the controls, he lifted the limo off of the ground, and pulled out of the bay.

 

"And here I thought those Yakuzis were nice guys." He shook his head, while easing (read: forcing) his way into the line of traffic.

 

"Yeah, f*** you too, buddy!" He shouted at one particularly upset motorist, who flew by honking.

 

"Jeez. What happened to big on family? Dude more or less just took a verbal sh*t all over my home, which is like, basically family, or somethin'. Whatever. F*** it, I don't care. We gotta job to do." Frank shrugged it off.

 

"Where are we goin' again? East Side, somethin' or the other?"