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[Kel Riever]

...on the Medusa

"Haven't seen Miss Priss in a <Hiss> bit.  You catch her anywhere around Mister Charles?"

The delicate, fine featured young man with the light blue hair answered, "Saw her running for the bridge, all in a huff.  Suppose after she was to meet with that last woman to train.  I was thinking from the looks of that Chief Gunner, if it led Priss to some other sort of business."

"Business would be nice. <Hiss>  But I have been missing her lately.  Well, since <Hiss> our little catchup there in the kitchen."

"She's probably with the good ol' Captain, keeping her happy in one way or another.  It helps us all."

"Perhaps.  I still find her being a bit adventuresome lately. <Hiss>  Adventuresome, without us."

"You worry yourself none, Miss Dila.  I am sure she can take care of herself.  If not, I bet she'll let us know."

~ ~ ~ ~

Babe updated the information on the carrier once she'd gotten a closer look at the sensor readout on it from the GARDIAN control room.  She shied away from talking, sending the data by text up to Jess, and relayed to the rest of the bridge crew.  Then, when she was done, she found herself with time on her hands to think.  Exactly what she didn't want to do.  

The reaction Babe had on the bridge was like a pebble in a pond, and she was trying to get rid of the ripples.

The discomfort of her mind caused Babe to get up and head towards the door.  She wasn't supposed to lock it, absolutely not, but Babe felt the need.  She was about to reach to the door control when she heard a knock at it.  

"Gun control is busy right now," Babe said, her voice as stern as she could muster.  "We're on alert."  She reached for the door control again.

There was a voice from the other side of the door.  Babe couldn't make it out, but it was sweet.

"Not now," Babe said, but her hand hesitated again from locking the door.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Garvug - Twin Spirals Compound - Private Office. (JB &SJ)

 

“Wrund will not turn over that relic until he has what he wants: to be reinstalled as undisputed ruler of Garvug.” Naleena said. “Wrund’s plan is to go to the peace talks. He’ll make a gesture of good faith to Binary Helix. He’ll appear ‘reasonable.’ But soon, he’ll make his demand and not everyone will acquiesce.”

 

She took a drag from her cigarette. “If Kyll has as much support among the Vorcha as Rows says he does, he’ll threaten civil war if that happens,” Naleena said as she paced near Arian. “Now Wrund plays his ace: the artifact. He thinks it will get him back in power. It won’t. The corporations will want it. They’ll fight him to get it. He doesn’t have the firepower to hold them off.”

 

“So it'll turn into a cluster-f***, and probably before we actually get the relic...” Vayne said with a nod, seeing the situation playing out in his head, “We lose our chance if we just follow Wrund's plans. So...we have to get the relic, without following his plan.” he said, realization on his face.

 

“You’re saying that peace isn’t possible. So what’s the plan?” Irina asked. “We just waltz in and take it?”

 

Naleena smirked. “Not exactly. We throw the lot of them under the Mako. This is paramilitary strength corporations versus local politics. The corporations will win and install someone as a puppet, and I don’t want us here any longer than necessary. The situation is very dangerous and all of us could end up dead.”

 

“We use Wrund. We tell the corporations he wants to talk. They’ll agree to meet. Then we go back to Wrund and tell him the meeting is on especially if they prefer to deal with Kyll. Wrund will want us there. We’ll agree. I’ll make up some lame excuse that I’ll meet him there. He might want to pull some Krogan honor thing on me to make sure I show up. I’ll swear an oath and flash my aura to look impressive. I remember the Justicar Oath from my childhood books, so I’ll make up something.

 

“Vayne, you’ll need to be wearing Hailot Clan markings for this part. I’ll have VERA pinpoint the exact location of the artifact and entrance. You’ll lead us there like you’re one of Hailot’s guards under orders of the Clan Leader. The guard at the tomb lets us in and we grab the artifact and leave.”

 

“So we break our oaths to them, and take what we want by force?” Essul asked, a scowl on his face as he heard this plan. It was not something he would support. He felt it was underhanded, the type of thing he'd left behind with his defection, “Can we not try something else? Ask for the relic before the meeting, and keep our word?”

 

“When we return to Wrund with the meeting arrangement, if he is true to his word, he’ll give us the artifact,” Naleena replied. “But I think he’ll hang onto it a little longer as leverage.”

 

“Wrund's not one for honor, and he's not one to usually part with what’s his. This might just be the only smart thing to do...” Vayne said as he looked to Naleena curiously, “I think I can get the markings, but pretending to be a guard, could be tough. Although...there's one option I could try.” He said simply, thinking up an idea before he glanced back up towards Naleena, “When we go back to the compound, if I can get quill to help us one more time, we could pull this off. We'd need to take him with us though, I don't want that kid here to face Wrund’s wrath...” He said.

 

“There is...honor, in that at least.” Essul said with his arms crossed, sounding reluctant in his agreement of that plan at least.

 

“My only question is...how do we get Wrund to lower his guard with us? Won't he get suspicious if none of us show up for this meeting?” Vayne asked, thinking of what they might face, “He could try to turn on us if he thinks we'll double cross him.”

 

Naleena tapped her omni-tool and opened an encrypted channel to VERA-Geth. “VERA, can you pinpoint the location of the artifact and any access to it?”

 

/////

 

"It will take me a few moments..." VERA-Geth said, before her head dipped down a bit, front-light seemed to flicker and dim for a few seconds as she stood in silence. Finally, she looked back up towards the others, "I've located the signal that should belong to the relic. It appears to be moving..." She said, getting an exact fix on the signal, "The signal is currently en route through an underground passageway towards Shiagur Hospital. I have access Garvug’s construction archives, and there appears to be a network of underground tunnels connecting multiple portions of the city. The latest tunnel ends at the burial site, where construction appears to have stopped abruptly."

 

/////

 

Naleena rubbed the back of her neck. “Hmm…. It seems like I was wrong. Wrund might be living up to his end of the agreement. I need to talk to Kyll, and to the corporations. We should meet in neutral territory. This compound seems to be pretty neutral. Thoughts?”

[Cainhurst Crow]

((OOC: I am really, really sorry for how late this post was. I ended up taking a day off from the computer and forgot to reply to this.))

 

"Neutral only between the corporations and hailots forces. Though I suppose, that might be enough..." Essul commented, relieved that it seemed their plan to double cross hailot would not be needed.

 

"Yeah, its on the boarder, so it should be far enough that neither side has any advantages. Still, can't believe he just up and moved it..." Vayne commented, surprised wholely by the turn of events, "We should at least plan a snatch and grab. Just in case he tries to pull something."

[Redbelle]

Sherie stood a little straighter as her voice took on a slightly huffier tone. "Young lady. You will open this door right now and eat this meal I brought for you before it get's cold. I haven't seen you at my tables so I imagine you must be quite famished, unless you've been eating those appalling ration packs I caught some others eating".

 

Her tone implied disapproval of such a thing and she waited outside the door, carrying a tray in her hands.

[Cknarf]

"Police. Backup. Now."

 

You gotta be f***in' kiddin' me...

 

Looking back to his omni-tool, Frank began tampering with the the police cruiser's systems. The lights began to flash, and music blared in place of sirens.

 

"Heh."

[Kel Riever]

...on the Medusa

The door to the GARDIAN control room opened and there stood Babe - Dark red leather, high black boots, choker, golden coifs of hair- the definition of a bombshell.  She leaned against the doorway with her shoulder, looking like she leapt right out of a certain kind of screen saver.  But Sherie also saw something timid about her, vulnerable, hidden within the bombshell.  It practically begged Sherie to reach out and take care of the poor darling in front of her.

"I don't tend to eat much," Babe said to Sherie.  She was likely the only other persons she hadn't formally met one on one besides the woman in pink, but that was because the motherly lady with the tray was put as an exception on the list of people to train.  Dogger had made the entry himself.  Babe had spied the mess hall in passing, getting a good look at it after being decorated, though that was before the reported fire.  Her thoughts were interrupted by a tight feeling in her stomach.  "It's true, though, I haven't taken a bite of much in a while.  I...haven't really been in the mood, if you'll pardon me."

Babe didn't quite know what she was being apologetic for, but she wasn't driving away the mother type in front of her, as much as she thought she would be when she opened the door. 

[Redbelle]

Sherie breezed by Babe after giving her a once over. "Well now. You have a nice meal right here that should sort you out". Finding a flat surface that seemed to be free of hazard symbols she out down the tray and turned around, her skirt swishing slightly as she did and smiled as she lightly held her hands by their finger tips. "I am Sherie by the way. My husband and I came along at your captains request. Though really, I did rather cheekily invite myself I must admit. Still, I am enjoying my time here. All these people, it's almost like taking care of my children again". She beamed.

 

"Your captain put me in charge of the kitchen and rest assured. If you feel hungry I'll have something ready for you at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dining hours are just that. An hour. I'm told that it's not effective but I simply cannot abide watching you poor people eating in such small groups. I may have the odd.....". Her smile strained a little as she spoke the word. ".....Snack..... But keep to the schedule and I'm sure we'll all get through. Your captain however felt that you were needed at this..... station she called it?" Sherie looked around and with a frown mixed with a quizzical look. "Where is everyone else"?

[Kel Riever]

...New York City

Molly didn't understand Richards.  "I am a good cop.  I have the clearance of a Spectre."  She was confused by the hard look she was getting from the partner who worked with her.

"Molly, I know."

The distant sound of an approaching siren reached the ears of everyone outside on the penthouse roof landing deck.  There was movement out of the corner of the eyes of Anika and Molly causing them to glance to their right.  Cue Ball was going for the Shuriken at his side.  That's when Molly understood.

But it was Frank who got the drop on everyone.

The first lyric of Eli's music blared across the roof, accompanied by flashing lights.  Hagen was spinning back to Richards and he was fast, so very fast, that his heavy pistol was out and being leveled.  It was the shock of the music that caused him the second of a fraction pause that Molly needed.  She leapt at Pete, shouting "The guard!" to Anika.  Norman was behind and with her focus on Richards, she didn't know what the other policeman or Cue Ball were doing, but Molly knew they were all in on it.  She almost completely blocked the line of sight to Anika, but the bodyguard still was able to clip Richards in a shoulder with a shot.  It was another precious moment that let the detective close, and she hit Pete full force with her body.

"Morgan," Molly screamed into her com, "Protect your family!"  Hagen brought Pete down with her momentum, even though the man was much larger.  She had to buy Anika time to deal with the rest of the guards, even if it meant...

The pistol went off beneath Molly.  She felt the projectile exit through her back.

Anika was hit by a splash of blood across her visor and in her aware state, able to take everything in, she saw Molly's back blossom red through her raincoat as Richards' shot ripped through the detective.

 

[Redbelle]

Anika was moving almost before she saw CueBall going for his weapon. Years of training and experience had honed her to the point that while she'd been talking to Richards, she'd been calculating how she could take down the strangers if the need arose. It was already planned out in her mind and the situation relatively unchanged that her body carried her last plan of attack.

 

Anika's hand came forward and up, sliding into the released grip of her pistol and the weapon cleanly detached from her hard point and the weapon was sailing up and to the side. Held in a lateral grip so the side of the gun faced the rained slicked roof.

 

Something she hadn't expected happened. She heard the sound of a gunshot and her visor went red as her head turned inline with one of the guards. Her hud detected the obstructed view from the blood and immediately outlined two people in her view with another in her periphery sliding to the ground atop another and knew it was Molly.

 

As her training and experience kept her focused on her goal, her gun sights neatly bracketed the first red outline to cross her sights and she bracketed it's head. She fired and drilled a round through where she hoped the outlines left eye socket was. Anika's heart, strong as it was, was pumping hard as the recoil from the weapon caused it's muzzle to jump up. Up being to the side as the lateral grip allowed Anika to use the jump to aid her bringing her weapon around to the next outline as the rain began washing away the blood on her visor.

 

The sound of a second discharge rang out when her gun bracketed the second outline whose features were almost apparent. Time seemed to crawl to Anika and her body seemed to be moving to slowly. but she still saw a hole appear and a gout of red mist emerge out of the back of the guards head.

 

The other one was standing on the opposite side side of her she knew. Almost opposite where the first man she'd shot had been and she shifted her weight onto the ball of her foot as the recoil carried her, just not far enough and she had to step and twist, swinging her gun down as she turned and then up as she spotted the last one. The blood was gone as she completed her turn but her weapon was a heartbeat slow coming up and she found herself facing the other cop. His shuriken was up and pointed and he pulled the trigger.

 

Shots impacted Anika's shield and almost immediately collapsed it. Anika didn't have time to think he was using a barrier modded weapon when she felt shots impact her armour and without a proper aim she fired twice, scoring a miss and a hit that creased the cops ribs that had him fall back and behind the cop car.

 

The moment came and went and the takedown plan, likewise came to the end of it's usefulness. Anika's armour readouts reported hits but she ignored them as she turned. She had a moment. The other cop was hit and would be taking a moment to figure out how bad it was. Striding forward to where Pete and Molly was she grabbed Richards gun hand with her own. Forcing it down to the ground where she held it firmly and drew a hand back, delivering a punch that caused a wet snap to echo out as if another gun had gone off. His gun hand flexed as Pete's msucle deformed under the blow causing an involuntary finger spasm and Anika tore his gun from his hand. Sending it scattering towards the limo. Anika's gun flew back to her hardpoint, freeing her hands to grab both and Anika dragged them behind the Limo. There, Anika dropped Richards whose eye's were rolling back from the pain and Anika dropped her knee onto his chest while pulling her gun once more and pressed the muzzle to his eye.

 

"Frank"! She shouted. "Open up! Take Molly! Back Seat! Pull it out and get her in the crash compartment"!

[Kel Riever]

Morgan was in the living room, waiting for his family members who'd just gone to get the things they needed, when he caught the distant, familiar red and blue flash of police car lights out the window.  It was a cruiser, still, far, but heading out of the traffic pattern and directly towards the penthouse.

Then he heard the thump of a music beat, followed by a shot from the roof one level above.  The sounds were muffled through the ceiling, but unmistakable.

"Morgan!  Protect your family!"

"What was that sound?" Keith called out from his room.

The world slowed for Morgan as he went into his overdrive mode.  He ran for his mother and Jen while shouting, "Get to the elevator, everyone!"  It was maybe a few seconds as he came into Jen's room where she'd just picked up her treatment kit with her mom.  Morgan grabbed his diminutive Mother by the waist, picked her up, and took Jen's hand with his free grip.  The sound of three shots in timed procession came from above, and then a fourth, slightly out of the rhythm.  Morgan then pulled Jen and his mother out of the room, racing for the elevator.  Fortunately, Jen was sharp enough to tighten her grip on her kit and didn't lose it with the sudden rush.

Keith spilled out of his room, and would have looked more ridiculous if it wasn't for the crisis at hand.  Crisscrossed on his back were two rifles with old fashion straps holding them on, one in a camo green and assault rifle looking, the other long and a sheer matte black.  It was the weapon in his hand, however, that went way over the top.  Keith was hoisting an M-76 Revenant, shining chrome plating its outside.  There was something written in green lettering stamped on the outside of the receiver too, in big cartoon like block letters.

"What the f**k?!" Keith shouted.  There was fear on his face but you couldn't tell from Keith's eyes because now he was wearing sunglasses. "Shouldn't we use the stairs?"

"No! They go outside!"  Morgan passed by Keith, and his younger brother hauled after him, heading to the elevator door.

~ ~ ~ ~

On the Roof, Richards was staring down the barrel of Anika's pistol, and he was hurt, not to mention being pinned by the weight of an extremely tall woman in destroyer armor.  There was something in his look though, Anika saw, that was fear, but fear overcome by a greater motivation.  Richards himself was a tall man, and physically fit, but moreover he seemed driven, and in a rush of adrenaline he ignored the gun at his eye.  Pete reached up to grab Anika's throat with his unwounded hand, despite it being at the end of an arm with a shot shoulder.  The collar on her armor prevented Anika from being choked except by a great force, but Richars' strength was yet moving her to the side slowly, a feat that was either impossible or that only could be performed by someone with determination never seen before.

"You couldn't fool me!" Richards spat at Anika.  "Your going to die; you can't stop her!"

 

[Cknarf]

Frank, still halfway through the privacy window when the shooting stopped, didn't know what the f*** just happened. He moved to the back door, and flung it open. Exiting the car, he looked absolutely ridiculous, wearing nothing but boxer shorts, and wielding a gaudy chrome Tempest.

 

"Take who to the what?"

 

Oh no...

 

Frank moved to Molly. Dropping quickly to his knees, he began thinking of the best way for his scrawny ass to get her into the car. Then that a**hole Richards started talkin' some more sh*t. Without hesitation, he raised the Tempest and fired a single shot, splattering the landing pad, and Anika, with blood and a little bit of brain tissue. He tossed the gun away.

 

"I got you, Mols." Frank put his arms under hers, and more or less dragged her into the back of the limo, getting blood all over himself in the process. Once inside, he pulled off her raincoat, and laid her on the couch in the back. The VI appeared and began asking questions in Japanese. Frank shrugged, and began talking.

 

"Gunshot wound. Fix it!"

[Kel Riever]

When Frank picked up Molly, she groaned.  He didn't see exactly what had happened to her until she was in the limo, lying in the back with her raincoat off.  There was a grapefruit sized cavity where her intestines should have been.  And that was the entry point.

Frank knew it was no ordinary block shaving that had been fired into Molly.  It was an explosive round, and it had gotten past her plating.

Eyes half rolled upwards, her scuffes white armor splatterd in gore, Molly's breath, what was left of it, came rapidly.  She rasped, with what few words she could muster.

"It's okay, Frank.  You're going to get them out.  It's okay.  I did my job."

[Redbelle]

"Konbanwa"! A miniature VI materialized in the back seat of the limo and listened to Franks request. "Omachikudasai...... Omachikudasai..... Language set! Hello! I am Nobunaga Industries Nurse Fixit 500! Thank you for buying Nobunaga! We hope you enjoy your emergency care! Please recommend us to your friends and family if you like our emergency first aid service! You have purchased..... Emergency Trauma and gunshot package..... Burns Treatment..... Hot Suzie avatar..... Voice Interaction and emergency call to your location....... Package".

 

Nurse Fixit seemed to flicker for a moment before saying. "I thought you said..... Gunshot wound treatment! Is that correct"?

[Kel Riever]

The elevator doors to the roof opened in what seemed like suspended time.  Morgan's family exited, with Morgan first, aiming his Phalanx.  When he saw it was clear, he waived his family to move past while he covered them.  Jen and Rosanne came next, holding each other's hands, running to the limo as fast as they could.  Keith was last, though passed Morgan, hauling his small arsenal.  "Going, going, going!" Keith shouted as he scrambled, his slippers flapping on the wet deck.

"Mom!" Jen yelled as her mother stumbled briefly.

"I'm okay," Rosanne assured her daughter.  "Keep going."

There was a scream of agony louder than the music from where the officer has fallen behind the cruiser.  Morgan aimed that direction, but no one was in view.  "Anika!" he called out to her, while covering every angle he could.  "Cops on the way!"

Molly smilled at Frank when she heard the shouts of Morgan's family, just before her eyes closed.

[Redbelle]

Anika's armour received another splattering of blood as Richards head received a new airway and she pulled him up before deciding that being able to see through to the ground through his cranium put him in the 'definitely dead' category. Shaking her head she opened her hand and his body hit the ground with a thud as she opened her comm to Morgan.

 

"XO. It's an ambush. Don't come to us. We're coming to you. Hunker down or get somewhere safe. I'm sending Frank to pick you up.....". And then she saw them emerge from the lift. Morgan and his family. "....Never mind".

 

Pulling out her Typhoon she leaned around the limo and opened up on the engine compartment of the cop car. The armor piercing rounds tore through the compartment and then walked along the base of the vehicle. Anika dearly wanted to confirm the cop was dead but time was pressing.....

 

And then the cop popped out and fired off a stream of shots at the limo. One round became a hundred as Anika's Typhoon roared out loud and when she was done, nothing was moving.

 

Cursing Anika dropped back and popped the slagged Heat Sink while slapping another into the chamber. "Frank! Get ready to go!  Let the VI take care of Molly! We need to go as soon as their aboard"!

[Cknarf]

"Right! On it!"  Frank released his grip on Molly's hand that he had apparently taken at some point. "Hang in there, Mols."

 

Frank climbed out of the limo, and left the door open for the approaching Severns. "Sorry 'bout the mess." Was all he said, before scooping up his old Raikou and climbing into the driver's seat. After starting the car, he reached over and shoved open the front passenger door.

 

"Good to go!" He shouted from the front, giving a bloody thumbs up out the window before lifting the car several inches off the ground.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Garvug - Twin Spirals Compound

 

(Vayne had suggested that we plan a snatch and grab)

 

“Agreed,” Naleena said. “We’ll still need Quill’s assistance, Vayne, and we’ll get him off the planet if possible. What is troubling me is that this thing is putting out a signal. This means the Krogan have somehow activated it, and if we can track it, the others have been tracking it. We need to be ready for anything.

 

“I’ll go to the peace conference with Wrund. I’ll leave the four of you at the hospital. If anything happens at the conference, I’ll get out. I have the sniper team covering me. You grab the artifact and have VERA remote pilot the shuttle to your location. I’ll meet you at the airfield. Now I have to get this meeting organized.”

 

Naleena left the office, saw Isaac speaking with Natalie and a group of his people, and approached. “Is there a means of contacting the corporations available?”

 

“Sonax has control of the comm tower and is blocking our access,” Isaac replied.

 

“Can we use this building for the meeting? It seems to be neutral territory in that it’s in the middle of everything,” she asked.

 

“Why… yes, but I don’t want any weapons inside the compound,” Isaac said adding that condition.

 

“I don’t think that will be likely. I expect each side will bring their entourage with them, and that they will be armed,” Naleena said. “Trust seems to be in short supply. At least if it will be a polite meeting. Now to meet with Kyll.”

 

After some haggling, the Vorcha agreed to the meeting, and Naleena and her team left the building and went to speak with the guard at the gate.

 

“You were in there a while,” the guard said. “Now on your way and there will be no trouble.”

 

“I need to speak with your commander; can you patch me through?” Naleena asked.

 

The guard grumbled and motioned her over to the nearby trailer. “Talk to Charlie. He has the big radio.”

 

“Thank you,” Naleena replied and went into the trailer. Her team remained outside.

 

“Hey, you’re not supposed to be in here,” said a sergeant sitting in front of a command center module. There were two other corporate mercs in the trailer, both had their weapons drawn and aimed at Naleena.

 

Naleena put both her hands where they could see them. “And here I walked in being friendly. I’m supposed to speak with Charlie?”

 

“That’s me,” the sergeant said in a Southern American accent and waved the others to stand down. “What do you want?”

 

“I’m Naleena T’sarius. I’m a Council Spectre; here’s my identification,” she said. “I need you to contact the offices of Sonax, Guanghui, and Binary Helix. I’m arranging peace talks. Three parties have agreed to them. Now if I can get these others to agree to a sit down, and it all works out, we can all go home.”

 

“If it gets me off this ice ball sooner, you got my vote. I’ll be a minute,” Charlie said and flipped a couple of switches. “This is Red Dog to Sonax Leader over.”

 

“This is Sonax Leader, go ahead.”

 

“I have a Spectre here who is arranging peace talks between parties.”

 

“A what? How did… never mind. Put him on.”

 

“She’s Asari, Ma'am,” Charlie said.

 

Naleena took the headset. “This is Spectre T’sarius.”

 

“I’m Lieutenant Commander Speight. What do you want?”

 

“I need to speak with Cervus Venator. I’m setting up peace negotiations between the six different factions on this planet before the situation blows up and a lot of people get needlessly killed,” Naleena said.

 

“Peace negotiations? Really? All we have to do is wait for the situation to drop off the top of the news hour and this is over,” Speight replied.

 

“I’m not asking. You will put me through to Venator, Lt. Commander. Your corporation does business in Council space, does it not? You do not want it mentioned unfavorably with your name on top on my report to The Council. I can make things a bureaucratic hell.” Naleena said, lighting a cigarette, and then winked at Charlie. “And while I have you here, give your sergeant permission to contact Guanghui and Binary Helix.”

 

Speight’s sigh could be heard over the comm. “Yes, Spectre. Is there anything else?”

 

“No, that will be all,” Naleena replied.

 

Speight put Naleena through to Venator and the two discussed arrangements. As suspected, Venator would only agree to come with a small guard attached. The same went for Byron Gasgcoigne of Guangui and Payatpri of Binary Helix. Naleena thanked Charlie.

 

Vayne and the others had waited outside in the cold talking among themselves. Naleena emerged from the trailer. “Well, that’s set up. They’ve agreed to the meeting. Unfortunately everyone will be armed. Let’s head back to Wrund and inform him. Any thoughts you have, let me know along the way.”

 

They left the camp and began the hike back to the hospital.

[Redbelle]

"Okay! Let's see what the problem is"! Nurse Fixit raised and fist into the air. "Leeeeet's Goooooo"! The seat under Molly abruptly shifted as tubes and flat padals emerged from the leather lining and started poking her while noises emerged from the back of the seat she was resting against. Nurse Fixit tilted her head. "Oh dear! You had a bad accident it seems! You have..... internal injuries resulting from Ballistic Trauma..... Possible organ damage.... Blood loss.....". The sounds from the seat returned as something in the back caused Molly's lower back to rise a little. "....Let's try and fix that shall we"?

 

From behind her tubes emerged with blunted ends that, as they neared her skin, grew long needle's that plugged themselves under her skin as fluid from the behind the seat started flowing through them.

 

"In case we don't get the chance! Thank you again for using our system! We've noticed your injuries are...... Fatal without immediate medical intervention. I have a list of Hospital's we can choose fro-". At that Fixit's avatar shuddered and her voice took on a flatter quality. "Command override. Hospital selection process overridden. Yakuza protocol emergency now in effect". After which Fixit's normal jovial personality came back in full. ".... A medical representative has been alerted and is now en-route to your destination! We will maintain life functions for as long as possible but advise that resuscitation may be required at your destination! From all of us here at Nobunaga Industries, we ask that you please not cease life functions while plugged into our system as doing so will breach terms and conditions and void your money back guarantee"!

 

Anika made sure everyone was in the limo and dogged the hatch in the back shut after making sure everyone was in before climbing in the front with Frank. "Go! Go"! She said. "Get us moving! Just head back to the warehouse"! Anika reached for the passenger console and made several deft finger movements over the screen that brought up a wealth of information and options. Hitting the comm button she tried to send a message out. "Hedeki! If you get this we're burned! Cops were paid off and we're in the grinder! Heading to where we met now and we need help"!

[Cknarf]

"Seatbelts!" Frank shouted, glancing in the rear-view at his passengers as he pulled the car away from the landing pad. "Back to the warehouse? We need a fuckin' hospital. Especially by the time that thing's done..." He thumbed back at the Medical VI.

 

Once clear from the rooftop, he took the car into a gradual dive, before leveling out well below standard traffic level. He gunned it towards the warehouse.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

“Hey, VERA, can you do me a favor?” Ereba asked. “Can you get this in the queue to send out when you can? I haven’t written my girl in a while. I’ll send it to your omni-tool.”

 

VERA turned her head to Ereba and made a digital sound.

 

“Will you stop that? It’s really creepy.” Ereba said.

 

“Acknoledged.”

 

Dear Shayrana,

 

You’re not going to believe this. I’m on Garvug. Talk about cold. I’m sitting here in the sixth floor of a half demolished building on a goddess forsaken planet freezing my blue ass off on sniper duty with teamed with an awesome commando. I don’t know what it is about her. She doesn’t talk much and when she does talk she says sh*t twice. Most of the time she does charades to say stuff. It’s like something’s wrong with her, but somehow she managed to get through commando training. I get that she really misses her team leader who lost an arm in their last fight. But she’s cool and all that, and I just taught her how to head butt.

 

Also I’m sitting next to a Geth unit that’s being operated by our ship’s artificial intelligence. It’s on sniper duty with us. I was scared of it at first, but ever since it assured me that it doesn’t have a death ray, and seems to radiate some heat energy we’ve been getting along fine. It’s keeping… oh she just nudged me. Yeah, she doesn’t like being called it….. Yeah, I didn’t think you’d believe this one.

 

I’ve been getting along pretty good with the other girls and the Spectre seems to be pretty cool, too. That Krogan in the group is a real bad ass, though.

 

Anyway, I miss you and I hope to see you in a couple more months. I hope all is well with you and that they’re treating you good.

 

Love,

 

Ereba.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Valhalla Threshold - Paz System - Garvug (JB & SJ)

 

On the way back to the hospital, Naleena tapped her comm. “VERA, can you monitor any troop movements within your tight beam radius? I want to be prepared for anything.”

 

“I will do what I can, Boss.” VERA-Geth replied. Her head dropped momentarily and the light dimmed. Her light brightened. “There appears to be underground traffic, forces presumably belonging to Clan Hailot, moving towards the boarder and stopping at various exit points. There also appears to be air traffic on the opposite side, presumably the corporate forces, as well as deployment of heavy vehicles. Both are stopping within .75 miles of the boarder and maintaining position. I believe this is a maneuver known as ‘posturing.’ There appears however to be a large foot traffic heading to Hailot's Fortress, falling outside my range. I cannot confirm if the corporate forces are doing the same, but it is likely both forces are mobilizing their forces just in case.”

 

Irina overheard the conversation as they passed the building where Ereba, Tallis, and VERA were. “Ever been in a hole you’ve known you should just climb out of but you just keep digging deeper and by the time you realize it, it’s too late? That’s what I feel like right now,” she said. “What’s so bloody important about this artifact anyway?”  

 

“It’s Prothean. We’re tasked with gathering all Prothean artifacts we find,” Naleena said.

 

“Well technically we didn’t find it. The Krogan did. And besides we struck the mother lode already,” Irina said, “Let them keep it. I have a real bad feeling about this. Let’s just leave, okay?”

 

“No, I can’t. I have responsibilities, but if you want to wait by the shuttle….”

 

“Hey, I didn’t say anything about just staying by the shuttle. I meant all of us,” Irina said with a wild look in her eyes and then looked toward Vayne and back to Naleena. “I’m his bloody Krannt for Chrissake. Don’t you dare question my honor, Spectre.”

 

Naleena stopped. “Look, I don’t like it either, but this isn’t Council Space. This is the Terminus. I don’t have the authority I have normally. If I brought the Janiri in with her gun ports open it could spark open war. I can’t do anything unless we’re fired upon,” she paused considering some other options. “VERA, are there any ships that appear to be targeting the Medusa? And are there any within quick targeting range of her?

 

“One moment, Boss…. My passive scans show that the SSV Morgan has moved to with firing range. The Morgan is a carrier owned and operated by ERCS.”

 

“Passively target the Morgan. If she fires on the Medusa hit her with the main gun.”

 

“You want me to ‘eyeball it,’ Boss?”

 

“For the time being. If there is an actual attack I expect an instrument lock. Hit her main weapon. The Medusa can handle the fighters. Tell Commander Selani to inform Captain Stone by QEC that we have their back. Any ship attacking the Medusa will feel the main gun of the Janiri. Also inform her that the emergency FTL rendezvous point is in Raheel-Leyya.”

 

“Affirmative.”

 

“What about the cruisers?” Irina asked.

 

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to either a space battle or a ground battle.” Naleena replied and continued onward.

 

They entered the Shiagur Hospital and walked upstairs to the third floor. Hailot Wrund sat on his throne addressing his commanders.

 

“T'sarius! You're back in one piece.”

 

“They agreed to parley: all of them. Everyone will meet at the Twin Spirals compound in galactic standard hours,” Naleena said.

 

Wrund looked surprised.

 

“Why the surprised look? You know setting up negotiations are an Asari strong suit,” she replied. “I've kept my part of the deal, and have given you an opportunity. However you should know that each will have an entourage of bodyguards just to keep the meeting polite. Now about the artifact.”

 

“I figured they'd do something like this...I suppose they can't be completely inept at these things, now can they?” Hailot wrund said calmly as he got up from his throne, walking towards some of the communication area, “Send out a message via the spire. The peace meetings are on, so I want everyone on their best behavior. Keep twin spirals little crowd happy,  and don't do anything to disrupt the meetings. And get me my heavies to drive out here. Look out for my tomkah, and you'll find me...” He said, the operator nodding as he got to work.

 

Wrund turned around to the group assembled with a grin on his face, “You did better than I thought you would Spectre. But you're gonna need to do one more thing. We need a mediator for this little meeting, and I'd like you to help out with that...” He said, bringing up his hand to give his fingers a snap. A very loud rumble emanated up beneath the group as a very large set of doors opened up nearby, the door slowly opening to reveal a ramp, in which a rather heavily armored looking Tomkah tank drove up from and onto the floor of the hospital.

 

“This is about the only thing we could use to transport the thing...” Wrund commented, as on the back of the tomkah, which had been stripped of its main guns and entire back section to turn it into a flatbed, was a large platform, on in the center of that platform, was a sphere. It was metallic, smooth like a mirror, and about the size of a beach ball. Strangest of all, was that the orb itself appeared to have a dull, greenish glow to it, as if it were emanating with biotic energy.

 

“It was a lot bigger, before one of the miners touched it. Killed him, drove his friends to kill themselves, then shrunk to this size. Started glowing after that...” Wrund explained, looking at that object with quite a bit of unease. “Nobody’s touched it since, only the platform keeping it hovering. You're free to have it, once negotiations finish....” He said as he looked to the Spectre.

 

“After all, It'll be coming with us. Disguised, of course...” As he spoke a group of Vorcha and Krogan began to approach the tomkah, bringing with them what looked like paneling for the back part of the large tank. A false body, to hide what was inside the thing. “Hell, you can take the whole damn tank after. My treat.”

 

Naleena threw her hands in the air. “Wait. You’re bringing it to the compound? It’s putting out a unique signature, Wrund. I was able to track the damned thing moving from the burial grounds to here. If I could track it, they can track it. I had hoped we could load it into my shuttle here, at the hospital. It’s a fairly defensible position, but that compound is a kill zone, and they have gunships.”

 

Spirits, that was brutal. Arian thought and laughed to himself at the Krogan's expense. For the first time in months he thought something was funny.

 

Wrund opened his mouth as if to say something, smirking at Naleena before he stopped. He brought a hand up instead go lightly cough, a neutral expression on his face as he spoke. “I suppose...you have a point, Spectre.” He said, not calling his guards to stop their disguising of the vehicle. “It'll remain here then. You'll be able to radio your crew for it, once the peace talks are over.” He said as he gave a nod, giving in surprisingly quickly.

 

“My personal tomkah should be good enough, however, for both of us to take. Decide who you'll take with you Spectre. After all...everyone's bringing someone they know can fight.” Hailot said, his smirk returning back.

 

“Essul you’re with me,” Naleena said, scratched her jaw and looked directly at Irina. “VERA, keep watch for hostiles, we’re moving out,” and she scratched it again before VERA could reply.

 

Irina stared at her with a creased brow for a brief moment, then nodded.

[Kel Riever]

…on the Medusa

“Where is everyone else?” Babe repeated Sherie’s question.  With a guilty expression, Babe glanced back into the GARDIAN laser control room.  “There’s no one here but me.”

Still leaning against the door, Babe turned back to Sherie but avoided looking at her directly.  “I’m not very good around people, I’m afraid.  I try, I do, and sometimes I have to be.  But it tends to go badly.  Too often for me to want to, well, make dinner hour.  I know that may sound terribly personal, but I don’t mean it that way.”

[Kel Riever]

Earth, New York City

“This is Dotzler, M.O.S.¹ down.  Penthouse, twenty east eighty one.  Repeat, Richards is down.  I’m hit!”  Over the com came the sound of steady fire.  “I’m wounded, bad.  All patrols respond.  Suspects are heavily armed and extremely dangerous.  They’re going to kill me anyway.  I’m going to try…”  There was the sound of a quick, submachine gun burst, then the streaming fusillade of a much larger weapon.  The line went dead.

Another report came over the police radio.  “Mancuso here, responding.  I’m closing on twenty east eighty one.  Visual shows gunfire.  We are not in range yet but we are the closest.  There is a vehicle attempting to leave, a black limousine.

The policeman listening to the report was in the driver’s seat of an NYPD patrol cruiser at street level, about five blocks away from the call.  He was already turning on his lights and accelerating, when he asked his partner next to him, “Elaine, isn’t twenty east eighty one that detail Richards asked you to help him keep an eye on?”

Anger clear on her face, the policewoman answered, “It is.  There’s a family he wanted me to help him keep an eye on.”  Elaine clenched her teeth as she got her helmet on and drew her weapon to inspect it briefly.  “This is important, trust me…”

“No s**t, officer down?”

“Trust me!  This goes beyond Richards and Dotzler.  I’m patching in.”  Elaine used her com to call the precinct.  “Dispatch 27, get this up the chain and to all patrols responding to the M.O.S. down.  There are possible hostages, a family.  They must not be harmed.  Do you copy?”

“Copy that.  Do you know what we’re dealing with here?”

“Possibly dispatch.  Send it all to respond.  Including gunships.”

~ ~ ~ ~

“Molly!”  Keith shouted in the car.  He was horrified.  He’d never seen anything like what was happening.  “Goddamnit, Molly!”

Morgan grabbed his brother hard in the shoulder.  “Keith!  I don’t need to panic right now, as bad as this is.  Look away if you have to, but stay with me!”

Keith nodded rapidly towards Morgan, a tear streaming down his face.

Sobbing, Rosanne asked her daughter.  “Is there anything you can do for her?”

Jen knelt in the limo by Molly.  “I don’t know.  I can try, I mean, I’m still in my residency and I’m not a surgeon.  This?  This…I don’t know.”

“Try, baby, do what you can.”

Jen nodded to her mom, and got in with the medical VI.  “Nurse, I have some medical training, let me know if I can assist.”

The screen which had slid open to alert Frank was now evidently changing, so that Frank, Anika and Morgan could tell a top down battle schematic was rendering.  Hostile positions were beginning to show as red blips, while data scrolled down the left side of the screen:

Hostile targets inbound

Threat:  Law enforcement, A.P.B.

“Sonofa…,” Morgan said.  “That’s a lot of heat!”  Morgan started using the interface on the screen next to him in the back of the car.  “Keith, are you still with me?”

Keith was still nodding rapidly.

“Give me this.”  Morgan took the Revenant out of Keith’s hands.  He got a glimpse up close of the green block letters now that read, ‘You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry!’  Morgan set the gun aside, within reach.  “Take that assault rifle off your back, that’s the gun you’re going to use, Keith.  Give me that black sniper rifle.  What is this, an old Spectre requisition rifle? Where did you even get this?  Never mind.  Get yourself ready with that gun and wait for my instructions, Keith.”

Morgan was scrolling through a menu on his screen, making an assessment, then saying loud enough for Frank and Anika to hear as well as Keith, “Okay!  This is what we have!  This car is armored, has a kinetic barrier, and there are gun ports build into the doors, including the two up front.  Frank, Anika, the combat software looks like it can make a standard feed into your heads up displays, if you link it with your omni-tools.”

~ ~ ~ ~

On the top of an old apartment building, two jetbike cyclists hovered in standby mode.  They and their bikes were dressed in black, a woman and a man. Their heads turned as one while they watched an NYPD patrol car with flashing lights zoom by high above, soon joined in its pursuit by another. 

Both the man and the woman turned to each other, put their visors down, and set an intercept course for the patrol cars.

¹Member Of the Service
 

[TheMajonese]

Crossing his arms Arian watched Naleena leave with Essul. "The corporations are stationing their troops, just in case", he said with a snarl, trying to keep his voice low enough for only Irina and Vayne to hear. "We should grab that artifact and leave, just in case. If something goes wrong and this turns into a warzone, we won't get out of here anyway, so we should do it as long as we still can! And I don't trust this krogan."

[Cknarf]

“F***! That’s a lotta bacon…” Frank briefly minimized the screen with the ever-growing number of red blips, and began working on something else. “Patching directly into NYPD communications…”

 

“...at gunship?”

 

“Inbound, ETA two minutes. Stay on ‘em.”

 

“Copy that.”

 

“Greaaaaaat.” He turned the volume down a bit, and opened the map back up. “Never shoulda agreed to this f***in’ trip…”

 

A second cruiser appeared in the intersection ahead. Frank banked left hard.

 

“Thought it was gonna be easy. Supposed to be In and out!” As both cars rounded the corner behind him, he took the car into another dive, and under a skyway connecting two buildings, before taking another hard left.

 

“Shoulda just complied… But nooooooooo! I just had to show him my ass.” Frank shook his head. “And now…” He glanced into the rearview. “God, I fucked up.” He hit the button for the privacy window, sealing himself off from the noise in the back.

 

“We can't go back to that warehouse with all these goddamn cops on us. See if they can get the shuttle elsewhere. I've got an idea.”