6315 réponses à ce sujet

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Dahlia smirked at Morgan. "Well, I kind of like it. Nice high grade leather. But, I'll set in the course. Vular system. Erszbat. Estimated travel time 16 hours. FTL ready to engage, helmsman."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

The Janiri

 

Commander Selani prepared to make the final jump to the Vular System. It would take them 16 hours to reach the system where they would emerge dark and on high alert.

 

Naleena called the team together in conference room one last time before the jump. After everyone arrived she stood at the head of the table.

 

"Thank you for coming. I won't lie to you; this mission will be dangerous. We're infiltrating a top secret Batarian military base. If we are caught or killed, the Council will deny any knowledge of our actions. Team Boom and everyone, this means plain outfits. We'll take my shuttle, and Sergeant Ferro will monitor our frequencies at her LZ and she will keep the craft's active cloak engaged.

 

"We've gone over the mission in simulation over two dozen times and some of you know it in your sleep. You're sharp, and everyone knows what they need to do. I hope Captain Stone has been successful at planting the defective omni-tools. We only get one chance at this, and I don't expect that the Batarians will have thing set up like the simulator, and neither should you, even though VERA did her best to randomize things. Stay frosty and be on the look out for anything suspicious.

 

"What we're interested in is that ancient dreadnought they're analyzing: the Leviathan of Dis. A myth, but sources have confirmed it is, in fact, real and inside this facility. We need to find out what the Batarians are doing with it, take pictures, steal intel, get out and report back to the Council. Stealth is paramount.

 

"ROE are non-lethal take downs and these sample sized gas cylinders filled with a fentanyl-based gas. It's fast acting and they won't have time to sound the alarm or lock out the terminals. Team Boom, your armor has emergency breathers. Everyone else will have rebreathers. But this has to be coordinated. We'll use these grenades when we take the computer center. VERA?"

 

VERA pulled up a drawing from the intelligence they had obtained about the inside of the compound and showed the corridors and air vents leading to the computer room. "I suggest that the most stealthy of you use the air vents and release the gas into the room that way. It will make the room occupants quite drowsy, and time your entrance on their signal. I also suggest someone use a fiber optic snake under the doors to check the status of the occupants."

 

"Any questions?"

[Cainhurst Crow]

"Can it be assumed that acts of sabotage or tampering with enemy equipment after we've collected any relevant data will be discouraged?" Essul asked, knowing that if they wanted this to be a stealthy mission, then messing with anything inside would be a dicey issue.

 

"I take It I'll be on back up. I'm more a breach and rush type, then a sneak and secure." Vayne pointed out, not minding it for this one, but worried about the others none the less.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"I can guarantee they'll know someone has been there," Naleena said. "Getting in is the easy part. We'll have to work fast. Getting out is another thing. On the way out, the ROEs change to any means necessary. If we can get out without being seen, that's great. Mark one down for the good guys. But I don't think we will. They might even be waiting for us to exit the room, so be ready to terminate with extreme prejudice.

 

"There was little time to study the Leviathan of Dis before it mysteriously disappeared, but the Salarians did manage to get some interesting partial images. It is theorized that it is similar to the giant reaper ship that attacked the Citadel in 2183. If this is true, I'm really not concerned about not sabotaging anything. In fact, we may need a diversion during our escape, though given the time period I fear it will be too late to have any effect on the actual data recovered.

 

"Iole, while Johnny is extracting the data from the main frame, I want you to plant Semtex charges on various parts of the computer itself," Naleena continued.

 

Iole nodded and Jenus folded her arms and smirked.

 

"Any extra charges get stuck on walls, support columns, anywhere on our escape route. Iole will have the main detonator, and Jenus will have the backup detonator," Naleena said. "The backup detonator uses VERA's tight beam and cannot be jammed by the Batarians, but  it will give away the position of the ship. We'll call for extraction, and when we're clear of  the facility and approaching our EZ, hit those detonators. That should set them back at least a couple of months.

 

"I'm changing things around a little on this one. Jenus, as usual, you're in charge of Team Boom. You'll have an additional temporary member. Johnny. Johnny's a tech expert and he's been working on stealth and disarming the traps with Iole and me. I'll leave Irina with you because I've read her file and she can improvise, and she can be stealthy. Stealth is Commando stuff. You were trained for this. There's no way that Anika can be stealthy, so she'll be on the muscle team with Vayne, Arian, and Essul. You're Team Alpha. Essul, you'll take point on that team. I'll be with Team Boom. We'll find a utility room and I'll become a duct rat, set off the gas over the computer room and signal Team Boom."

 

VERA highlighted the main escape route and two alternate routes and Naleena continued. "These are the escape routes. Load them into your omni-tools."

 

Ereba raised her hand.

 

"What is it, Specialist."

 

"I know this will probably get me into trouble, but I have a problem," Ereba said in her gravelly voice. "You're putting an awful lot of faith in these plans, Ma'am. We're risking our lives on intelligence you got from the Shadow Broker, and from what I understand you guys haven't exactly been on the best terms with one another."

 

Naleena started to speak, but Ereba raised her hand and continued. "Sorry, Ma'am, with all due respect I'm not finished. I'll do whatever you and my sergeant tell me. It's my job to follow orders and do the best I can. I gave an oath and I'll die for the Republics and the Council if necessary. But are you sure about this? Once we're down there we're committed, and we'd better have enough firepower to get out. I guess what I'm saying is that maybe you should look at the files a little more closely, Ma'am, and add some more Semtex and detonators, and perhaps some heavy weapons like grenade launchers, because a certain Commando newly assigned to this unit is qualified in that department... Ma'am." Ereba winked at Iole.

 

"So you're saying you're a demolitions expert and an infiltrator?"

 

"Yes, Ma'am."

 

"Fine, you'll carry an extra 2 lbs of Semtex, detonators, and the M-100 Grenade Launcher," Naleena said.

 

Ereba grinned.

 

"Now if there are no further questions or comments, we're done. Get some rest, and good hunting when we get there."

 

*****

 

The time passed and the ship dropped out of FTL into the Vular system with its stealth drive engaged.

[Redbelle]

Jess clapped her hands together and rubbed them eagerly. "That was a good job all round all! Looks like we're getting this done nice, quick and easy.... Which means trap. Let's make sure if the Batarian's decide to get a better price at gun point we'll be ready to repel borders. That means no distracting the crew Miss Priss! I need you drilling them on fire arms while we sail deeper into Batarian space". She turned to look at the now closing hanger bay doors. "We're sailing into dangerous waters... so to speak. Until we're back in council space we're cut off and on our own. Not a bad place to be if you want to establish new trade partners but governments tend to be a little..... iffy. Just stay on top of your departments. Fix problems as they happen. Not later the next day. And let's get a big pay day so everyone gets a nice fat bonus".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Kite's Nest/Vular System/Erszbat

 

With stealth systems engaged, Quintus Jorril positioned the ship in synchronous orbit over the facility. VERA would be in tight beam range of the facility.

 

Naleena prepared for the mission in her quarters.

 

VERA popped up on her terminal. "Boss, I have a question."

 

Naleena sat at her table assembling her SIG. "Go ahead, VERA."

 

"Essul mentioned something about this being a stealth mission and asked about avoiding sabotage, yet you approved the use of Semtex to blow up the computer system," VERA mentioned. "Did the Council not want this to be a simple reconnaissance mission?"

 

"VERA, I'd plant a nuke in that facility if I could get away with it, but that would be considered an act of war," she replied. "Do you honestly think that if this truly is a reaper like the one that attacked the Citadel that sanctions are going to make a bit of difference?"

 

VERA hesitated for a brief second. "Given the historical evidence against rogue powers, there are two outcomes. Against the smaller powers, sanctions have an impact. If the Batarians were confined to a single world they would be quite effective. However, they are spread out and control several systems, and are not exactly weak," she said. "In my analysis, the sanctions will have little impact on them."

 

"Exactly my point," Naleena said. "And now after the destruction of the Bahak System, I would expect that sanctions would have no effect on this research. But I won't plant an anti-matter bomb because it is not my place to set Council policy or to cause the Council to declare war. I can, however, try to set the Batarians back a couple months and buy us some time. As soon as the Council presents the evidence, the Batarians will know it was a Council spy anyway, so why not do a little sabotage while we're there? And by having the fire teams running around trying to evacuate the place and remove corpses it will improve our chances of escape.

 

"Besides, the Council will be pleased with the end results. And I didn't hear Essul object."

 

VERA lit a cigarette and casually blew out the smoke. "That doesn't mean he does not object."

 

"No, it does not," Naleena sighed.

 

"Boss, you seem to be somewhat agitated," VERA said. "My bioscans indicate heightened levels of adrenaline even higher than normal before you go on a mission. Is something wrong?"

 

Naleena looked up at her. "This one, more than the others, is one I am worried about not coming back. On the others we were outside, and there was always a way out. This one, we're inside, confined, trapped," she said. "If anything happens to us, do not let this ship fall into Batarian hands, regardless of our Commander's decision. You can control all systems on the ship if you need to. Take whatever action is necessary. That is a direct order."

 

"Understood, Boss."

 

************************

 

Donning her black armor, and black coat, Naleena went into her bathroom and applied black camo markings to her face and pulled an asari made black balaclava over her head to cover her head that left her face exposed so she'd be able to use her breather mask. She left her quarters and headed down to the team locker room where Team Boom and the others were getting ready, and handed out balaclavas to the team.

 

Jenus knew what these were for. This was a planet side commando op and they didn't want helmets banging the inside of ventilation ducts or anywhere they had to go, and they didn't want to be readily identified. Team Boom's were more concealing on the face. Unfortunately this meant some discomfort. Irina had been in Spec Ops so this was nothing new. The Asari made model allowed more room for her hair. Tallis sighed at the black color, but understood she couldn't wear her magenta armor today.

 

Ferro was the only one not in full camo. She'd stay with the shuttle and keep the rear door shut until she received a communication from the team to move to the Extraction Zone.

 

***

 

Naleena walked to the Shuttle Bay where she found Essul waiting. She approached him. "You understand why the sabotage, right? They probably have back up files stored off site, but this is their primary analytical system. They'll have to replace it. It will slow them down. Besides, as soon as the Council shows them the evidence, the Hegemony will know it was us anyway. Anything more than this would be an act of war. Anything less would be a waste of an opportunity," she said. "Are we good?"

[Redbelle]

Anika stood in her armour. This time however, instead of the usual white, she was clad from head to foot in black that seemed in line with their mission until you looked at her helm and saw white markings of the outer shell peeking through.

 

Clad in an over-layer of matt black fabric, Anika shrugged. "Get in. Do the job. Get out with as little presence as possible. I sat with your comm officer and we found mention of new equipment. Omnitools, having been distributed. Looks like Jess got her side done. We couldn't find out where she is now however. If she followed the plan the Medusa is heading out, or gone. That leaves us free to do our job".

 

Anika took a breath and went on. "The extra speed we poured on means we're here in line with our original schedule so the trojans ought to taking down the networks in this system soon. That will be our window to move in while their comms are compromised. We can move in beforehand and use the comm blackout to cover us during or after we're done. We have to assume that as soon as the system goes down, people will be working on getting it back up. It's your decision how we move in. But we should have options we can use depending on what you think is best".

[Kel Riever]

Somewhere in the Terminus Systems, aboard the Kurinth

Iyana looked around the CIC of the Kurinth for the first time since she had come aboard.

"How many did you lose?" Iyana asked Kheres.

"Four in total.  Three dead, one soon to be.  The rest are combat ready."

"And are any left alive of the enemy?"

Kheres talked as if she were simply talking about objects.  "None, save the Spectre, who you asked to be kept alive in the state we left her."

Iyana let her gaze scan from one side of the CIC to the other, stopping only for a few seconds on the corpses she saw of the predominantly asari crew.  

"I must say your reputation preceeds you," Iyana gloated, "Xhuan's mark is upon you."

Kheres lifted her chin.  "It is the mark of our art, though Xhuan is without equal."

"How long do we estimate before suspicion arises?"

"With a ship like this?"  Kheres twisted her mouth "Almost immediately.  But they will be left to wonder what exactly happened to their missing ship.  And in that uncertainty, you will be able to accomplish your exploits."

Iyana tilted her head in contemplation.  "Well, then, let us bring our trophy to its destination."

[Redbelle]

For all Jess's worries the transfer of the infected Omnitools came and went without a hitch. Jess wondered if this might be the start of something as she watched crates of the tools depart her cargo hold to a freighter that had come to take delivery of them. That said, she'd told her crew to stay watchful and call her up. Even if they only suspected something was going on. As much as she appeared to play fast and loose, she hadn't come all this way in her business by being careless.

 

Dragonrise had been moved to the aft section of the ship. His job done, all she had to do was drop him off at some spaceport so he could find a way home. The money he'd earned from this job apparently enough to post his father bail. Whereupon Jess intended to send him a message about his sons antics so he could beat the living tar out of him for taking such a dumb risk.

 

She'd tipped the boy a bonus though. If only that when he grew up he'd remember that Jess was a good customer. The fact he'd done what he had, with a little help from her and her crew made Jess suspect he'd be a great hacker if he stayed out of trouble.

 

The funds she'd been promised where being transferred and Jess eye'd her Omnitool with a greedy eye as she saw the credits pouring in. Already she had earmarked the majority of it to ship maintenance and repair. Another vast sum to buy in more goods for sale. The amount left over for the crew wasn't what she'd hoped but given what her past crew usually raked in she had to admit, for a first time group of haulers who were sneaking infected, unnoticeable goods in a place that was typically dangerous for humans, the new crew had performed as well as she could have hoped.

 

Earlier during the transit she had gone to meet the Asari for the meeting they had requested. Jess's mind flashed back to those hours after the Batarian delegates had left the ship. Jess had entered the meeting room where Morgan had spoken to the Batarian delegate and sent a message to the Asari that she was ready to revive them as she sat and went over the crew ready reports.

[Kel Riever]

Somewhere in the Terminus Systems

The crewmembers of the Khukuri meant to take over the Kurinth had been transported over.  They had gotten to work with relative ease in taking over the control of the vessel that served Xanthe, even though their small number would equate to a skeleton crew.  Kheres was bold enough, and in a powerful enough position to earn Iyana's ear, and so said, "My superior, I thought the protections in place would make putting the Kurinth under our authority more difficult."

By this time, Iyana stood on the frigate's course command platform, and was working with the holographic display of the galaxy.  She had removed her helmet, but was otherwise clad in her silver armor.  "Never underestimate the ego of a brilliant scientist appointed to an important position.  Doctor Foteni may have been in charge of the Silaris armor production on Duellos and its preparation for fitting to the Kurinth, but her relations with the ship went far beyond that.  She had to interface with the other members of the Kurinth's construction team, including, of course, technology and data.  And it seems Doctor Foteni was quite able to recall certain little favors given back and forth between her and the members of those teams, once she was given enough incentive to recall them.  Those little prodigies working on the Kurinth and other ships for the Spectres had little codes installed that they thought no one else would ever find, so they could make their lives easier.  Bypass codes, simply one word, or line and into the systems they'd go, without all the typical checks and security measures.  Now, of course, we have those codes and in we are.  Thanks to their desire for convenience and a healthy does of overconfidence."

The long explanation wasn't something Kheres was typically fond of, but she found the human with the white hair had a certain presence about her that had her listening.  She couldn't quite place it but there was something about her that she liked, even if she found a degree of fear went with her appeal.

The Citadel, The Asari Embassy

"Well, isn't that something I had warned you about, Counselor Tevos?"  Matriarch Syra said with knives in her voice over the Quantum Entanglement Communicator.  She was on Thessia but had gotten the direct line to the asari counselor the moment the news had hit.

Next to Tevos, Irissa shifted uncomfortably, and her angered voice had the undertone of guilt. "No one could have predicted losing that ship!  Besides, we do not know what happened to it.  A galactic anomaly, Xanthe Remi could simply have a communications malfunction."

"Yes," Matriarch Syra said sarcastically, "That is what we all thought of when the distress beacon of the Kurinth was picked up before it winked out of existence only minutes later, with no other data sent or pending.  But I'll go ahead and pin my hopes on this is not worse, with you, Irissa."

Counselor Tevos did not do well hiding her frustration, despite being typically masterful at it.  "This is behind us now.  We must find the ship."

"Inform the navy," Irissa said, "We will send scout ships, too quick to be caught and they will scatter across the Systems.  Nothing will be left to chance and they will find the Kurinth."

"Nothing left to chance, including a war," Syra scoffed.  "Do you think that moving a large volume of Council vessels into the Terminus Systems will be seen as anything but a precursor to an invasion?  No.  We inform the Spectres.  They are the ones who must find what happened to one of their own.  And if something terrible has happened to the Kurinth, that will be on your head Tevos.  So I suggest you get the best Spectres on it."

"We should not inform the other Councelors, Tevos," Irissa said with concern in her voice.

"Have you lost everything under your crest?!" Syra said to Irissa, her face furious under her ceremonial headdress.  "This is top secret, but you shall not withhold the fate of a Council ship from the rest of the Counselors!  The Republics are not above the Council which we are responsible for forming!"

Irissa turned a deep shade of purple and said nothing more.

Counselor Tevos looked at Irissa, clear disappointment in her eyes.  Then she turned to Matriarch Syra.  "Your advice is sound.  The Spectres will be informed as soon as I have met with the other Counselors.  I hope that I do not need to remind you both that this is to be discussed with no one else."
 

[Kel Riever]

To:  All Spectres

From:  The Council

A Spectre and her vessel have been lost somewhere in the Terminus Systems on assignment.  Xanthe Remi and her recently assigned vessel, the Kurinth, were last investigating the increase in Warlord activity amongst the Systems.  Enclosed are the last known locations and course settings for the Kurinth, though many of the ship's operations were considered covert, and destinations unrecorded.  If any information is discovered as to the whereabouts of the ship or the Spectre, you are to contact the Council immediately and report. 

[Cknarf]

"Yeah, sure. I'll get right on that." Daliax kicked her feet up on the coffee table and changed the channel to the news.

 

"Perhaps you should." A familiar voice boomed over her sound system.

 

Startled, Daliax sat up straight, and looked around.

 

"Sao, you son of a b*tch! Get out of my... home entertainment system!"

 

"Have you acquired a ship yet, Gavian?"

 

"I'm workin' on it..." She kicked back again, totally not working on it.

[Kel Riever]

Morgan

Morgan had to get cracking on a few things.  For one, he checked in on how his mother was doing, and she said she was fine, though Sherie had been doing a bit of complaining lately.  And when Morgan checked in with Keith, he seemed blissfully oblivious, though he asked when Anika would be back for a visit. 

Getting around the ship could be tiring work, not that it didn't have its own great rewards.  Morgan, in fact, looked forward to more work on the Medusa.  He was pretty sure the crew also seemed pleased despite what might not be the best payday ever, though he had a good guess it was the atmosphere of the ship.  Somewhere along the way, Morgan had to come up with an idea where his family members might end up safely, and so he put part of himself to contemplate on that. 

Morgan would also have to catch up with Jess about Amy Babylon, who seemed to be coming up with her own plans, and making more than a few requests he wasn't sure how were going to work with what was in store for the ship. 

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Aboard the Janiri

 

Despite being in Batarian space, communications buoys were present, and the Council's message received over encrypted channels.

 

VERA alerted Naleena just prior to shuttle departure. "An urgent message from the Council has just arrived, Boss. Sending it to your omni-tool."

 

Naleena read the message. Xanthe went missing, and she'd been following the lead Naleena had given her, and she had Serrice Guard! She used her biotics to lift a crate and fling it across the shuttle bay. Her aura flared blue and she turned to Anika.

 

"A colleague has vanished without a trace in the Terminus," she said with anger. "She was following a lead I had given her. We will meet with Jess and Morgan after this mission."

 

Naleena climbed up on the shuttle and hung on the hatch. "Alright, everyone aboard! Move like we have a purpose! Let's get this done!"

 

With everyone strapped in, Sgt. Ferro went through the pre-launch sequence. Naleena’s shuttle launched with flight plan entered into the VI, stealth systems engaged. The plan was a repeat of the Garvug drop: FTL to within atmosphere at 1000 ft and engage camo and fly under sensor height to the LZ. Ferro guided the ship to its destination.

 

The temperate planet was used by the Batarians for heavy manufacturing and farming. This was in an agricultural zone nearby. The sun was going down as well, so there would be a shift change at the base. Erszbat had 29.5 hours of night, but that didn’t mean that the team could take their time. There would be fatigue issues.

 

The Commandos had point leading the team down the bank of the stream recommended by Naleena’s contacts. The one large drainage pipe they were looking for appeared almost concealed by grasses. The footing around it was slick with algae and muddy, and there were vertical steel bars blocking the entrance, however these were not unexpected.

 

After inspecting for alarms, Naleena called for the cutting torch. Irina stepped forward and cut the base of four of the bars, and Vayne and Anika bent them up and out of the way. The team entered the storm sewer with Iole and Johnny and Naleena at the front.

[Cknarf]

Previously

 

Thessia

 

The shooter stumbled through the park, blood seeping through her fingers as she attempted to apply pressure to the wound in her stomach. Eventually, she came to a circular area with a large statue of Athame at the center. Exhausted, she backed against the statue’s base, and slid to the ground. It wasn’t an ideal location to perform first aid, but it was going to have to do.

 

“Ya know, I'm gettin' reeeeal tired of all this assassin sh*t.”

 

She looked up at the young man who stood before her, instantly recognizing him as the one she had shot earlier. His blood-covered hand was wrapped tightly around the grip of a revolver, that he held parallel with his body. She glanced over at her gun on the ground next to her.

 

“So, if you could tell me who sent ya, so I can, well, shoot them too, that'd be great.” He smiled. "Do it and I let you live. Deal?"

 

She went for the weapon, and raised it. She frantically pulled the trigger, but the overheated weapon was now useless.

 

“Really?”

 

The pistol was kicked hard from her hand, and she watched as it landed with a clunk on the concrete. When she looked back, the revolver was pointing at her face. Her eyes locked on the barrel, as it traveled elsewhere.

 

“Look, lady. I ain't all day, here. Tell me what’s up so I can get outta here before the cops show up and give me a hard time.”

 

She didn’t offer a response, and that was met with a round to the shoulder.

 

“How ‘bout now? No?”

 

Then one to the other.

 

“G-go…” She muttered, through grit teeth.

 

“Go…” The man gestured for her to continue.

 

“Go f*ck your--” Was all she managed to get out before several more shots were fired into her chest.

[Cainhurst Crow]

- Previously, On the Janiri -

 

Essul had prepared his armor and weapons for this mission, a frown affixed on his face as he looked down the sights of the Argus Rifle. He didn't know if the team was ready, and that bothered him. A crash course in disabling the security measures, and the plant to destroy the bases computer systems, was sound. The execution would need to be precise however, they could not afford any distraction or delay.

 

As he waited for the others, eager to get this done, he noticed Naleena approach him. He stood at attention and gave his salute, listening to her position as he spoke up.

 

"Captain...I understand what needs to be done on this mission. Collecting intelligence and delaying research are classic examples of covert missions. I am an employee of the council now...this may be my home system, and my people, but I am a member of this crew. And that comes first..." He said simply, knowing in his own heart that this was the case. The janiri was his home now, for better or worse. And he would do his part as a member of its crew, even now. "If I had any reservations, it is that we can't go out as non-lethally as we are going in. But that is a reality I can accept. Don't worry, Naleena...I'm on your side."

 

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

 

"Alright...almost got it...and Here We Go." Vayne grunted as he helped to heave the thick metal grate off the drainage tunnel, setting it aside with a huff as he looked to Anika with a smirk, "Thanks for the help." He said with a nod, stepping back as essul chimed in over the coms.

 

"Keep the chatter to a minimum." Essul ordered with a stern voice as he watched the infiltration team make their way into the facility. "Use your comms for status updates. We're on a mission, so lets stow it and do our jobs." Essul said as he took charge quickly, leaving little time to rebuke as he signaled with his hand for the others to follow, leading them to begin their own mission maneuvers.

 

They just had to keep their cool, that was it. Surely they could manage that. "Just have to have some faith..it'll work out." Essul said to himself, hoping that if he said it enough times, it'd come true.

 

 

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

 

Machaera smirked as the cell doors opened, the asari stepping forth and looking down cautiously. None of them dared to run for it, none of them really made a move outside of staring. The cell doors had imprisoned them, but it had given them a bit of confidence that they couldn't be harmed as well. Now there was no wall to seperate them, from him.

 

As the bottom cells opened and the cuffs were removed, Ezkra reached up and activated her visor, her eyes coming back to life as she rose from her seat, walking towards the batarian slowly, her face as cold as ever as his men leveled their weapons. Machaera held out a hand for them to hold, glancing back to Ezkra as she approached.

 

"Do you mean what you've said this day?" She asked in a cold voice, staring into Machaera's eyes, holographic and cybernetic, as the batarian smirked.

 

"I meant every word." He said simply, and after a few moments, Ezkra went down on one knee to kneel before the man.

 

"Then from this day forward, I swear my service to your cause...." She said, the other asari looking to one another with caution as machaera began to laugh. He looked around at the room, at the other asari, as he held open his arms.

 

"This is your chance for freedom. For justice...don't let it slip away now..." He said firmly as the final security measures for this wing ceased, allowing them to travel down to the bottom floor from the stairs, "Come now...you know what choice you'll make..."

 

The asari began to file down, gathering before the group as Machaera turned to look to his guards, "Escort them to the ship, have the other two drop off for pick up." he ordered, knowing he'd have enough for his new forces as the soliders saluted and carried out their orders. The cell block began to fill out, as yron left with the others to keep an eye on them.

 

Soon, it was only Macahera, Leaf, Tyrius, and Yudas. Machaera nodded to Falling Leaf as he spoke, "It's time we departed from this place. We have everything useful we came here for..." he began, before looking to Tyrius, "He's all yours. Payment, as promised..."

 

With that, he turned to walk away, leaving a shaking Yudas who clutched his wounded hand, and looked from the departing batarian, to the turian now before him.

[Kel Riever]

"I'll need, I'd say...seven minutes and I'll be along," Tyrius said to Machaera as he pulled out a dose of medigel in a disposable applicator and handed it to Yudas. 

Tyrius then put his taloned hand on Yudas shoulder, guiding him as he moved to exit the prison, several strides behind the others.  Yudas felt a disturbing presence in the amicable but tense tone of the turian.  "Go ahead, use the gel," Tyrius told Yudas, "I think you don't realize you are being given a great opportunity here."

The mention of opportunity begged the question of what, but it was Evident to Yudas that the turian in the Armiger suit spoke with a far away look in his eyes.  There was little that could be done though as Yudas no longer had any weapons and he was next to a clearly dangerous and armed captor.  But the thoughts of how he could get away began flowing through Yudas' mind.

As they stepped through the last doorway to pass outside, Tyrius said, "Excellent.  I can feel you becoming creative already.  Now, I have a suspicion that your superiors may deal with you harshly, yes?  So I am going to give you a chance to get away.  To leave here and live.  Perhaps you'll become something, a mercenary for hire, free to roam the galaxy for pay, maybe you and I will work together again one day.  Wouldn't that be a strange turn of events?"

Yudas did not like the undertone of Tyrius' words.  He began to feel the bottom of his stomach drop out.

Tyrius turned with a gleam in his eyes to stare at Yudas, "Ah, yes, I see you understand.  I will give you thirty seconds ahead of me, and you have my solemn promise that I will use no firearms.  I also plan on..."

Yudas took off running.

With a loud enough voice so Yudas could hear as he ran, Tyrius shouted, "I do plan being on time for my employers, so who knows?  You might just last long enough!"  Tyrius then hummed to himself as he watched the chronometer on his Omni-tool.  After the half minute mark, Tyrius took off in pursuit.

It took a keen ear, but for those who had them, they might have heard a scream.  If they were listening particularly well, it was followed by a wet snapping sound.  Tyrius showed up about a minute before he predicted, joining Machaera's ground again, his talons covered in blood. 
 

[Kel Riever]

Before the mission

Jenus had just finished etching a black thread on black emblem of the Republics logo over the Council logo on her balaclava.  "Right, sure, let's wear black because the Batarians who have a sophisticated trap system haven't been able to figure out how to spot thermals yet and so wearing dark colors and camoflauge matter so much."

"You never know," Iole rebutted, "There's a reason camo and dark colors are sometimes still used."

Scoffing, Jenus said, "If the Republics thought that wearing a certain color would save more lives, they wouldn't have Commandos running around in custom colors for morale purposes.  Somebody who can't pick up enemies because they are dressed in certain colors is already going to lose any fight they're in technologically anyway.  That's why it doesn't matter if I put a screaming bright red suit on from head to toe anymore."

"Half-way there.  Half-way there."  Tallis remarked, pointing to while half of Jenus' commando uniform was typically black, another good portion of it was scarlet.

"Let's just go with this one," Iole pleaded, "I've already got enough on my mind for remembering how to disarm Batarian explosive devices that are meant to maim me if I am successful anyway."

Affixing her balaclava, Jenus said, "Sure, we'll play roll over pet all the time for the Spectre who hasn't one bit of honor in her."

Iole rolled her eyes and looked at Tallis, who just shook her head as if to say, 'Not now.'

On operation

Jenus was in front for the Commandos, sweeping with her eyes.  The team said nothing, moving expertly as they had know each other for decades.  Even Ereba was fitting in at this point, getting used to the nuances of Team Boom and the way they operated.  When it was time for Iole to take point, she swapped her Hellbringer with Tallis, who was somewhat trained on the weapon as a backup.  Iole went in first with nothing more than her holdout forward, all optics active on the HUD goggles she favored.
 

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"Jenus, typically other military operations use visual to spot first then switch to thermal. Come on, you know this," Ereba said. "Using thermal vision constantly has been known to cause headaches. I don't believe the Batarians are immune."

 

Iole gritted her teeth. "Ereba!" she muttered under her breath.

 

Ereba continued as she strapped in, "And the Republics haven't been involved in any kind of military action in decades. Do you see the Turians running around in fruit-colored armor? No. How about the Salarians? Not them either. How about the Alliance? No, they don't either. Only us Asari."
 

Jenus shot her a glare. "Just shut your hole, Specialist."

 

"Alright, just sayin," Ereba replied as she saw Naleena enter the shuttle.

 

*****

 

On mission

 

It was the middle of the rainy season on Erszbat and the sewer was draining, but not a lot right now because it had been a week since the last rain. This meant the likelihood of pressure plate use was small. More likely laser trip mines would be used.

 

"Remember to look for irregularities in the walls....," Naleena said and pointed to a series of three of them. She sprayed the area and they were simple emitter and receiver types, fairly well concealed. The receiver would have to be disarmed without disrupting the beams. She noticed a single box on the wall just past the beams.

 

"Possibly the power supply and local alarm relay," she said. "This system hasn't been upgraded in decades. Check the floor for a pressure plate just to make sure. I don't think there is one. If there isn't, Johnny, I think you should try to slide under the beams, and disarm that box. You're the flattest of us in the chest department."

[Redbelle]

Anika stepped in line after her group bringing up the rear. Despite being in a tunnel she had her weapon out, unfurled and was watching their rear as the group proceeded deeper into unknown territory.

 

She half wished she was with the Boom Team. Then remembered Jenus and decided she was better off where she was. At least with this group she wasn't having to listen to her making snide assertions about Naleena or anyone she didn't like at the time. Anika ground her teeth as the image of Jenus flashed up into her mind and Anika took a long breath before banishing her from her mind and focusing on her job.

 

Jenus made her angry. She wouldn't like her when she was angry. Which was a shame since Tallis seemed a good sort, as well the others. Only Jenus seemed to carry a chip on her shoulder and made certain that everyone in her local shared her irritations.

 

A sound reverberated up the pipe and Anika came to a stop as she knealt looking back the way they come. Her helm activated it's internal scope and looking along the pipe she saw nothing. Perhaps just the pipe creaking? Thermal expansion? Even their weight in the pipe could be causing small shifts in alignment. Flicking off the scope in her helm she activated the thermal scope on her rifle and sighted down the tunnel, seeing nothing again to alert her to any presence.

 

Seeing everything was clear Anika rose slowly, then proceeded after the group again.

[Cknarf]

Johnny nodded. Instead of holstering his Hurricane, he handed it off to the nearest squadmate, and went prone. He inched along, keeping his head turned to the side to maintain a lower profile. By the time he reached his goal, his balaclava was damp from the bit of standing water that he'd just pulled himself through.

 

He pulled the door from the box, and set it carefully at his feet. Using his omni as a light source, he got to work. In less time than it took him to crawl over, he had successfully disabled the beams. He looked back to the others, and gave a thumbs up.

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul held out his arm to halt the group as he heard the sound of the pipe creaking. "Rear Guard. Check behind us for any movement." He chimmed to Anika, his eyes forward as he reached and drew his argus rifle. His own emblems for this mission had been dealt with in a rather interesting way, since the armor he wore was technically modular. He sported a black chest-piece over his right breast, his shoulder pauldons replaced with a black medium grade ones for higher mobility, looking off on the moss green armor but leaving no real markings on his armor say that it was made and purchased outside of batarian space.

 

"Patrols won't be around for an hour, but we need to be certain we aren't followed..." He said as he looked around, not spotting any targets up ahead as he let out a sigh. He looked the walls and damp floor for any odd colored or shaped pieces, having to trust the stealth team to clear the way. It wasn't that he didn't trust them, but this was one situation he didn't want to take any chances in.

 

Vayne looked around the area they were in, looking to the damp floor as he glanced up to essul, "No offense, but we'd probably hear someone in this place. All these puddles and damp stoneway don't do much for stealth." Vayne commented as he crossed his arm, waiting for them to move on.

 

"...Just keep vigilant." Essul said, motioning them to continue to follow at a distance.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena smiled at Johnny, and signaled to move forward. They did  and  came to a junction. She checked her omni-tool and indicated to continue to move straight ahead. They ran into two more similar laser trip mines which had to be disarmed in the same manner. Then  they were inside  the perimeter. The next task was to find a ladder up to the surface.

 

At the first ladder Naleena climbed up and used a fiber optic snake through one of the manhole cover holes to peer around. She flipped to night vision, looked around and quietly stepped off the ladder and motioned forward. An occasional truck could be heard rolling on the road overhead, probably hauling materials in and of the facility. Drawings indicated there was a train running to the facility from a parking garage outside. All access monitored through a security check point. Less chance of security breach. This also  meant that security inside could be overconfident. Naleena needed another look around outside where it wasn't so bright. At the next ladder she found one.

 

Drones. The exterior was patrolled by aerial drones, probably armed with missiles, and using tomographic sensors.

 

"Everyone, communicators off," Naleena said after she dropped down. "At least until we're inside. These drones monitor radio communications for triangulation plus use active microwaves to detect movement. The microwave emissions will give us an advantage. Link your omni-tools to your night vision and program for microwaves. You'll see the cone shaped scanning pattern of the drones. We have to avoid the cones. They're moving around. If you happen find yourself trapped where you can't avoid a cone, hit the dirt and remain motionless until it passes. Stay off the comms until we're out of the facility.

 

"The utility building we need to get into is about 300 meters ahead. Once we're inside, Team Boom and Johnny and I will enter the utility tunnels into the facility. The  rest of you get to the rendezvous. We'll need you there to cover our exit. If we fail to arrive two hours before dawn head to the extraction zone and contact Ferro. The mission will be FUBR. Get out of here."

 

Naleena looked around to see if everyone understood the situation.

[Kel Riever]

There was a split second of silence before Jenus said, "Come on, amatures," and she linked her omni-tool as instructed.  "Boom's on point, follow me."

This was where the asari Commandos excelled.  With decades of experience at moving without notice, without even the modern assistance of things like cloaking devices, they were moving across the distance like water flowing.  It wasn't any kind of overconfidence, but pure experience and knowledge that had them not only move, but move out in a way that left a clear path for those who would follow along their way.  Timing often had to be perfect, and it was, as the Commandos seemed to outguess whatever the Batarians had planned, at least on this run.  Jenus was poetry in motion, leaving no risk unassessed, and sending her clear communications with hand motions, to Boom, to the others on the team, and even Naleena and Anika, as if there was nothing ever between them.  Almost making it hard to remember why anyone would ever hate her.  

Jenus was across first, slipping into an alcove by the entrance, folding her body into what could have been a small box, she was so immobile and unnoticeable.  The only indication that it was her is she specifically left one finger visible in the crevasse formed between her thigh and her abdomen, which beckoned the others to come on.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

When they arrived at the utility out building, Naleena smiled at Jenus, then slipped her fiber optic snake under the door for a look.  She pulled her SIG 9mm and attached the suppressor, and made a sign two individuals sitting at a desk drinking a tea of some sort. Jenus open the door on my mark. And nodded 1, 2, 3.... Jenus opened and Naleena leveled her pistol and fired one shot in each head, dropping both soldiers.

 

"I thought you said non-lethal if possible," Ereba said.

 

"No half measures," Naleena replied. "Quick! Drop these two down the utility manhole before there's blood  everywhere."

 

"That's where you're going?" Irina asked.

 

Naleena nodded. "See you at the rendezvous," she said and turned to Jenus. "Let's do this."