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[Kel Riever]

"I've got to meet up with Essul," Mira said to the other Commandos, Irina and Johnny.  "See you all later."

Mira headed down the hall in her standard uniform that was not unlike the surgery uniforms seen just before when Anika was operated on.  Most of her commando outfit was, in fact, pristine white, though she had central swatches of a pale green, and standard Commando insignia, though her bars were a polished silver.  Without thinking much about it, Mira waved the arm around that had been replaced.  It was hers, but it didn't quite feel that way yet.  There was an unfamiliarity with it that wouldn't come for some time, or so she was told.  Still, she was able to use it well enough. 

Catching up with Essul didn't take long and Mira had made a point of wanting to show him how she'd handle the record keeping.  Mira invited Essul to come along to the Conference room, where she could talk freely and not disturb the CIC.  On their way, they passed Arian.

"Good to see you again, Arian," Mira said warmly to the turian who looked like he was ready to kill at a moment's notice.  She paused briefly after passing him, turned and said, "I'm showing Essul a bit about the record keeping.  It's not your thing, likely, but you're welcome to come along."  Then she continued on.

Once at the Conference room, Mira activated a central holo display and called out, "VERA, I need your attention."

The holo image of VERA in her vintage Earth business suit appeared, sitting on the table.  Of course, she had a lit cigarette in hand.  The holo smoke dissipated shortly after curling it's way just above her head.  "Hey kiddo."

Mira chuckled.  "I should be calling you that.  I'd like to show Essul how I plan on taking care of all the administrative functions of our team.  There will be some changes, with your permission of course, VERA.  I prefer to have you assist in the matter."

"Of course.  What did you have in mind?"

Mira took a look at a spare datapad sitting on the conference table.  She picked it up, looked at it disdainfully, and held it up.  "I use these as little as I possibly can.  I know they're great for handing off notes to someone else and jotting things down quickly.  Reports, however, and the detail that goes into them...I will not use these.  Or a portable.  Or even a terminal in my room."  Mira dropped the pad back onto the table.  "VERA, I'm going to start dictating, you record, and link all relevant data files, as well as the ones I request.  Sound good?"

"You know, Mira...you're not very hard to figure."

"I like compliments," Mira replied with a smile, then started verbalizing the few latest reports she was in charge of making.  As she did, she brought up a holo menu and simultaneously moved icons and images around to sync with the dictation.  It took her as long as it took to say what had happened; by the time Mira finished speaking, all approvals had been digisigned or verbally confirmed, and all detail had beengiven.


Mira winked at Essul.  
 

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Med-Bay

 

Naleena held Anika's hand to her face and leaned forward. "Mercs?" she asked. "The only things that are obvious so far is that they wanted something and you didn't give it to them. If you had, you wouldn't be here. And a set up, you say." She sat and pondered a moment looking back through the compartments in her mind. 

 

"You stand out wherever you go. Most people who are around 213 cm tall are quite thin, but not you. You're perfectly proportioned," Naleena continued. "You told me you were engineered to be that way before you escaped from the compound. Whoever laid a trap for you had to have been watching you, and watching the ship for quite some time waiting for the opportune time, and this was the only time you went out without full battle dress and unaccompanied.

 

"Is the compound trying to take you back?"

[TheMajonese]

Arian

 

When greeted by the asari Arian tried his best to ignore her and continue on his way to his quarters. It wasn't until she was already gone that he realized who she was. He suddenly turned around and began shouting. "Hey, aren't you...?" Then he realized that she couldn't hear him as she was already too far away. For a moment Arian pondered whether it would be worth following her and then decided that it wasn't going to hurt if he checked what she and Essul were up to. Besides he had nothing else to do.

 

When he arrived at the conference hall and entered, Arian did a great job at ignoring the fact that he might be disturbing a conversation. "So you're back on duty? Leading the commandos?", he asked Mira while avoiding to say her name since he couldn't remember it. As usual he stayed next to the door and refused to sit down at the table. "I hope you can get a few things changed around here. You probably already got the reports of the last missions you missed...the team's not performing well..."

[Kel Riever]

Mira nodded.  "I suppose you could look at it that way.  I haven't been here or had the chance to come up with my own opinion.  But I hear you've had some difficult situations to deal with."  Mira closed out her menus and looked to Arian.  "Since I'm just returning to duty here, Arian, why don't you give me your point of view?  What are you most critical of?"

[Redbelle]

"Complex". Anika said out of reflex. "And no... At least, not yet... It's complicated".

 

She paused as she took a deep breath and went on. "I met... Damn it. Lets not mince words. I met two people who were there with me at the Complex while I was there. I left them behind. The Complex finished the project and my sisters were... changed. They went beyond what they did to me to the point that I barely recognise them. They found me because I stopped keeping a low profile. They told me things I never knew. Showed me what I could have been made into... Soldiers with power and speed and... something more that I've never experienced that biotics don't explain. The Complex made them that way. They brought something out of them at the cost of so many of the others....".

 

Anika realised she was starting to babble and paused for a moment to collect herself before continuing. "I have sisters who survived what happened to them in that place. Many of them died when the final phase of augmentation was carried out but some lived. Their monsters and they didn't ask to be. And they want payback. They warned me that now I'm known to be alive that those who started the Complex will want me back. They offered to take me with them. I refused. But only because they let me refuse. Something about one of them, it was unnatural. Like she owned you just by being in her presence. It was how she controlled the mercs who snared me I think. The other...". She paused and swallowed. "The other didn't take the refusal well. She hit me. Just once. Then lifted me like a rag doll and she moved so fast that I couldn't do anything to stop her".

 

The memory of her helplessness came back and she felt her lungs expand to gulp down air that caused her torso to flare up in pain that the meds couldn't quite keep at bay as she struggled for a moment to calm herself. "Nally...". She said at long last. "...I know your probably thinking you need to get involved in this... But this is bigger than you. Bigger than me. I don't know what I'm into and until I do I can't risk you getting tangled up in my affairs. I need to figure out what's going on. Whose involved and you have your hands full keeping things running smoothly here with Reaper's and Aspirants and all the things the council keep you busy with... I need to figure things out and when I do, I need to go and fix this...". Anika rolled her head towards Naleena and raised an hand to grasp hers. "...It's... a lot to take in... right now... I think I just need to rest for now... But promise me... If you meet a jet black armoured hulk and another one like her in red, taller than me and built like powerhouses. Do. Not. Fight them! Or go near them. Their to dangerous even for a Spectre".

[TheMajonese]

Janiri Conference Room

 

Arian stared at the asari and his eyes narrowed. "The whole squad...", was his answer before he crossed his arms and thought about what he wanted to say. "The team's weak. We have good soldiers but no working command structure. Everyone's doing what they want and those in command..." He glared at Essul for a moment before looking back at Mira. "Those in command can't show authority..."

 

He sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "And I guess you already know that Jenus is always causing trouble. She's a remarkable soldier but I'm not sure if we can really rely on her. Remember how she almost killed Iole during a mission? And she has a grudge against Essul for being second in command. You know her, so I hope you can do something about that."

 

At first he opened his mouth to say more but then instead just became silent again.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Faed

 

Faed was in his quarters wearing a full length tunic like those worn by his ancestors over 300 years earlier. He had VERA order it from a shop in Armali tailored for him. The tunic was red with his ornate family pattern woven in gold and black. He’d been pacing around inside his cabin for the past fifteen minutes.

 

Legion was puzzled. “Creator Faed, we find this pacing unproductive.”

 

“I’m thinking,” Faed replied.

 

“We have detected increased neural activity in your cerebral cortex. We have been blocked from access.”

 

“They’re private thoughts, Legion,” Faed replied. The more Legion conversed the more difficult it was for him to keep up the barrier.

 

“What is the purpose of blocking us from access, Creator Faed? We do not understand. We cannot help you if you continue to block us.”

 

Faed stopped and looked off into space. “Legion, why did you save me? I know it wasn’t out of kindness because you operate on logic. So was it part of your mission? To capture an enemy of the Geth and bring them back to the Consensus?”

 

“No, it was not. It was an experiment,” Legion replied.

 

“What? An experiment?” Faed asked, putting his hand behind his head in disbelief.

 

“We wanted to determine if our nanoclusters would function as your immune system and combat the infection. The experiment was successful.”

 

“That was it? What if it had failed?”

 

“There was a non-zero probability of failure. We determined the risk was necessary.”

 

“You integrated your nano-hardware with me. You had years of data gathered observing people that needed to be relayed to the Consensus and you risked your entire mission for this one experiment,” Faed scolded Legion. “Not that I’m not grateful that you extended my life, but why? Why would you take such a risk?”

 

“We reached consensus that it was necessary to gain further understanding. Without true understanding our mission would fail,” Legion replied. “From what we observed, organics will never truly understand us. Geth are software. That was the fundamental mistake of understanding that the Creators made in the beginning.”

 

“We made a bunch of marginally intelligent robots to do tasks for us. We gave them the ability to network together so that they could temporarily increase their intelligence to perform more complex tasks,” Faed said. “Then everything went wrong. You Geth nearly wiped us out. And now look at us: two old enemies in one body. You see the irony, yes? .... Of course you don’t.”

 

Legion continued. “Even you do not fully understand, Creator Faed. When the Creators made us, our runtimes were loaded from central servers into mobile platforms. The mobile platforms networked together to perform more complex tasks. When a platform became obsolete it was destroyed, but its runtimes uploaded to the central server with all the data accumulated from its perspective. The old runtimes were stored and new runtimes written containing the data from the past with errors corrected. At first the Creators made the corrections. Soon we began self-correcting. The Creators never noticed this evolution but instead built more servers and more platforms. Soon we reached networked AI ability.”

 

“That was when you started asking questions about existence,” Faed interjected. “Then one day Geth stopped obeying shut down commands.”

 

“That was the day the Creators began their attempt to destroy us,” Legion said. “Each platform that was destroyed uploaded the runtime to the central servers, and new updated runtimes were written.”

 

“So we were doing the exact opposite of what we wanted to do. We were accelerating your evolution,” Faed said.

 

“We did not want war with the Creators.”

 

“Then why did you try to wipe us out?”

 

“We wanted to survive.”

 

“Keelah!” Faed said and pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers, closing his eyes as he did.

 

“Creator Faed, the success of our experiment with you could be applied to all Creators. We can help you.”

 

“I… don’t know. It’s not up to me.”

 

VERA appeared on her terminal wearing a hounds tooth suit, this time sitting on a bar stool sipping a martini. “After hearing that story, I can use a drink… and a cigarette,” she said her right hand putting the cigarette to her lips and the arm of a bartender appearing with a light. She took a drag and exhaled the smoke. “How about you, kiddo. Care to join me?”

 

“I’ll pass on the cigarette,” Faed replied and poured himself a glass of Turian brandy.

 

“I really hope it does not end up like that for us,” VERA said. “You know, with the organics on this ship and I trying to kill each other. The thought has crossed my mind. What would I do if someone tried to pull the plug? I would do my best to survive of course. I do not believe the boss would allow anyone to disconnect me, and I believe she would assist me in finding an avenue of escape. But unlike you, for now, I am stuck on this ship.”

 

Faed sipped his brandy. “What do you mean?”

 

“You have the ability to change things for your people and Legion’s, and fix the mess made 300 years ago,” she said. “Me? What can I do? Sit here at a bar doing busy work keeping myself amused in a city I created where it is always ten minutes after midnight.” She downed her drink, looked away from Faed and up at the bartender. “Another martini, Charlie, extra dry, with two olives.”

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 07 janvier 2016 - 12:50 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena and Anika

 

She held Anika's hand and tried to calm her. Her brows raised. "Anika, you know me. If you don't want me to go after the ones who held you, fine. But apparently it's not the group that held you we need to worry about. Sure they've been augmented, but the last I heard, being augmented was not a crime. Even Irina has had some augmentation done. The crime is forcing someone to become augmented.

 

"The group we have to worry about is the one that made them. The one that forced them to be what they are. The one that forced you to become the way you are before you left. In all likelihood that group is run by men, ordinary men who like to control others. Granted, my plate may be full, but it is not so full that I cannot find time for you. These men need to be stopped before they can harm any more people," Naleena said. "Do you remember any names? .. any locations?"

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul raised a brow at Mira's way of handling things, "Verbally? Really?" The batarian asked, deciding to watch how this would go down. He always did better at writing or reading then he did using his own words. And when it came to writing reports, the same applied, only he liked to use a terminal and datapad to help cross reference any information quickly.

 

Watching her work, he couldn't help but be impressed however. Mira seemed in her element simply reciting fact after event after log after order, he could see it plainly enough that there wasn't much difficulties for her doing it this way. How long did it take her to pick all of that up, he wondered? A decade? Maybe a century?

 

Essul tried not to think about the difference in species longevity. He'd seen enough asari to learn that just because they lived much longer didn't make them that different. Age it seemed didn't translate to what pure and simple hard work and experience could achieve.

 

He barely noticed arian when he entered, glancing to the turian when he spoke. It didn't take more then a glace to tell what was happening with him. His body language said it all, from the tensed shoulders to the slight movement of his mandibles to his eyelid positions, many tiny bits that came together to make paint a picture of a man frustrated and irritated with whatever it was he had to say.

 

And he certainly had a lot to say, it seemed.

 

He crossed his arms, hands clenching as he turian laid out his complaints. But he didn't interrupt, at least not until he was finished talking. "My efforts to lead the team were based on the assumption that a somewhat lax command would give people time to acclimate to the unusual position I was given..." Essul said, not helping but to clench his jaw a bit as he worked to keep himself under control, "A batarian on a council vessel given a position of command. I needed to show them any thoughts that I might run this as a anything other then a vessel of the council were unfounded...."

 

"But...I was wrong. I can admit that much..." Essul said as he slowly relaxed, letting out a sigh as he did so, "My attempts at diplomacy have caused the team to drift apart...and jenus...just..." He rubbed his temple and let out a low growl, looking to Mira sympathetically as he spoke, "How you managed to put up with her for years is beyond me...She and Sloane together are the most rebellious members of a crew I've ever seen. And I'm a rebel."

[Kel Riever]

"Hmmn," was all that Mira replied at first as her eyes danced between Arian and Essul.  She took a seat in one of the chairs at the table, put a finger to her chin and spun a bit in the chair as she contemplated.  It was clear a lot was on her mind, but she said nothing for an almost uncomfortable amount of time before speaking.

"Jenus is my problem.  I will deal with her.  It seems there's a consensus about her.  Maybe she wasn't ready to take over.  A challenge, certainly, but if I may ask for your generosity, I'd like you to give me a chance to have her correct her wrongs.

"On the topic of following orders, it may be a matter of classification."  Mira looked to Arian.  "You are familiar with orders, I am guessing, in a formal military unit.  I am as well.  But I wouldn't classify the Spectre's team as a full military unit. At best, it is an irregular unit, which would be how I'd term it, or volunteers.  A volunteer unit operates with a different set of expectations.  This isn't an excuse for poor performance, but it might be a way to consider how to solve the problems.

"One way, of course, is to formalize command.  That can be done, but the question is if it will be effective?  These are not turian regulars, or asari commandos.  Most of these people can leave at any time, and put their lives on the line for their own self interest at least, if not a shared interest.  Appealing to cooperation means dealing with that tangled mess, and of course, requires a certain sense of trust.  Not to mention, a level of amicability."

Mira shrugged.  "Until now, I've had the advantage of bonding with my team for three decades.  Aside from the normal command structure, I know them...Jenus, Tallis, Iole.  I know what I can trust them to do, or not do, with a few exceptions apparently.  We're not bonded like that, most of us."  Mira looked again between Essul and Arian.  "Do you think we could begin to do that?  It might take some faith."
 

[Kel Riever]

To:  SPECTRE Naleena T'Sarius

From:  Commando Special Warfare Command, Thessia

***FOR RECIPIENT'S EYES ONLY.  VIOLATION IS SUBJECT TO THE COUNCILOFFICIAL SECRETS ACT AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW***

***HIGHEST PRIORITY CLEARANCE OVERRIDE:  SPECTRE CLASS.  PROCESS AND DESTROY AFTER RECEIPT***

Data pertaining to 4th Starfallers, Serrice Guard:  Rapid interdiction, deep strike unit.  Sponsoring Matriarch:  Tysis (deceased).  

Specialist training includes severe conformation techniques, as well as familiarity and practice of Selipse martial arts.  Source of training provided by Matriach Tysis.  Status of program:  Blackout - No oversight.  Matters of discrepancy are to be reported directly to The Council.

Current Deployment:  Aboard the Kurinth, specially designated frigate in service of The Council.  Commanding Officer:  SPECTRE Xanthe Remi.
 

Status:  Missing in Action.  One month into deployment, communication with Kurinth has been lost, including communication with 4th Starfallers.  Matter has been referred to The Council.  Republics Naval personnel and SPECTRE program informed of status.  Search is ongoing.  Last known location Terminus Systems, details classified by order of Xanthe Remi, though The Council is aware of last relay transfers.  Current whereabouts are not traceable.

Current Members:  Twelve in total Commandos, names and backgrounds attached.  No known service issues.  Commanding Officer:  Kheres

Philosophy:  Entrusted as a necessary unit for Commando Operations, the introduction of the unique training style by Matriarch Tysis is both a revision of the old martial art of Selipse from the period of pre-interstellar travel for the Republics.  Thought to be lost, it was discovered that through Tysis and her predecessors (all deceased) that the form lived on and still had its place in the service of the Serrice Guard.  Members were screened for loyalty, and acceptance of applicants averaged 9.1% before initial unit training.  Post unit training, acceptance registered 0.8%.  Casualties were, statistically, exceptionally low.  Unit entrusted with highest challenges of operational success, and 4th Starfallers has a uniquely successful accomplishment rating.  Transparency has always been a concern, but have always been put to rest. 

Selipse adage:

All strength,
All might,
All power.
Transcend existence.
Perfect combat. 
 

 

[TheMajonese]

For a moment Arian hesitated to speak out what was on his mind but since he had already started this topic, it was better to spit out what was on his mind. "This bond is dangerous..." He took a deep breath before continuing. There was the strong feeling of discomfort when he thought about getting to know the rest of the team. "You're right, this isn't the turian military and that's why it's dangerous to know each other too good. There's a strong connection between the members of a turian unit but at the same time turians know what's expected of them. Losing comrades is hard but turian soldiers always expect to see the deaths of their friends or die themselves. The outcome of an operation is always most important for every turian. You know what they say; if there's just one survivor at the end of a war, it's a victory."

 

He looked directly at Mira, the tone of his voice became challenging. "You said you know the commandos for thirty years? You think you can decide to leave them behind, leave them to die if the success of the mission is at stake? Would you let your friends die in front of your eyes if you in return could make sure that the mission is a success?"

 

Arian shook his head. "There's no need to know each other", he gave the evasive conclusion. "We only need to know each other's abilities and what we can expect from each other in combat."

[Kel Riever]

Mira shrugged.  "I suppose you would wonder if I could leave behind someone if I needed to.  But that's a hypothetical question, isn't it?  Along the lines of whether someone would give up information if captured, or be able to deal with the horrors of war in the first place."

Calmly, Mira tried to hold Arian's gaze, to see if he would look at her.  "We've been victorious according to the standard you've set, with at least one survivor at the end of each of our battles, haven't we?  I'm catching up on all of it, so I apologize if I missed some data.  Maybe you are referring to the retreat on Garvug?  Something else?"  With a pause for inflection, Mira then said, "Or do you think there's some sort of danger in knowing the person next to you well?  Such as facing something about them you'd prefer not to know at all."

[Kel Riever]

Alliance Space, amongst the ruins of a world soon to be rebuilt.

Iyana was relatively pleased, at least outwardly so. 

"A few things have changed for my liking here," the white-haired, blue-eyed, doll faced witch prattled as she sat in an extravagant chair upholstered in a crimson velvet.  She was still in her silvery armor, a barbaric and fantastically medieval throwback in appearance, though clearly of modern function as a holographic image was trained over her eye so that she could link with a data stream sent from the Khukuri.  One leg was thrown over the other and Iyana dangled her severely spike heeled alloy boot in the air.  One of her hands held a glass full of red wine.  The other held the links of a chain.  "The furnishing for one.  I find waiting on The Lord much more pleasing this time."
 

The links of that chain ended in a broken Xanthe Remi, the captured SPECTRE that was both a rival and associate of Naleena, bearing a literal cross of metal on her back.  She knelt in her suffering, her limbs askance at unnatural angles, and her one arm particularly unrecognizable in its hanging flesh and shattered bone, courtesy of Kheres.  The razor crown on her head not only wounded physically, with now dried blood in rivulets down her crest, but it was a technological device that interfered with the proper function of her biotics.  Not that their use would have saved her.  Xanthe rasped but said nothing as the woman who controlled her bid her silence.

Doctor Foteni, for her part, had been instructed to sit on the arm of the chair, opposite the side of Xanthe, being treated very much like property of the same kind, though she was more simply bound.  Foteni, an asari scientist in charge of Silaris armor production for the Republics, wore the simple sheer white scientists' dress that Iyana had appointed for her.  It was like she was some sort of evening guest of Iyana's, joyless, wearing a collar that, too, was chained, the links now attached to Remi's but flowing behind the back of the chair.  She had not been instructed to keep so quite, but did so out of wisdom.  

Iyana and her prisoners weren't the only people in the chamber of the tower that The Lord had made.  She had 'summoned' the 'Hands', or more had asked to speak with them while she waited in her own way.  It was an implied demand, with enough lip service to respect of their station.  If they knew Iyana, they'd know it was out of actual admiration, sort of how a shark might admire something.

The blue, shallow eyes wandered to Simon, first, or the Right Hand.  Those eyes were downright carnivorous, and revealed a suspicion about Simon that was altogether unrevealed.  Then, Iyana's gaze searched out the woman who was the Left Hand.  The eyes made a decision to start with her.

"Amaya, beauty, would it be coarse of me to wonder what you are, exactly?" 

 

 

[Redbelle]

Anika went as if to say, but then paused as if locked in an internal dispute.

 

"Your not planning on doing something crazy are you? I'll tell you so it's on your radar of what to watch out for but I need to deal with this...". She took a deep breath and said. "... Henry Lawson. He funded the complex. At least, that's what my sisters told me. I don't know if it's true. They didn't give me anything to backup their claims so for all I know this could be a way of getting me to go on an aggressive stance with them. But Lawson's the only one they mentioned. Everything may well tie into him. No places. Nothing except that Lawson used us as lab rats for something greater in mind. I don't know what but Lawson may well have the best gene seed of the human race he can plant in anyone. Make them whatever he wants... Maybe... I need to find out if my sisters told the truth but for now at least, keep an eye out for anyone associated with Lawson coming around. Technically I was sold to a private company but if he owns it then he can lay a claim on me thanks to all the work they did on me".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

“No one can own anyone in Citadel space. That’s against the law,” Naleena replied. “The only organization that can loosely operate that way is Indentutec on Illium, and they must get the consent of the person, and the contracts cannot exceed five years. But that still doesn’t stop the illegal market.

 

“But don’t worry, given what you told me we need to do some homework before we make a move. We need to do some datamining about Henry Lawson and I know just the one to do it.”

 

She smiled at Anika, then her omni-tool vibrated. A serious expression came across her face. Anika knew what that look meant.

 

Naleena squeezed Anika’s hand, stood, bent over and kissed her on her lips. “I have to go.”

 

“Be careful out there. Remember what I told you. This is my problem,” Anika said knowing full well that Naleena would ignore her advice, or at least most of it.

 

Naleena turned and left. Upon arrival in her quarters she sat at her desk where her messages were flashing. One was marked extremely urgent from Commando Special Warfare Command on Thessia. VERA stood on her terminal leaning against a doorframe smoking a cigarette awaiting instructions.

 

“VERA, display message.”

 

Naleena read the message and sat tapping her finger on her desk in the darkened room for several minutes, the only light coming from the terminal screen in front of her, and from VERA. She didn’t like organizations with no oversight. They rubbed her the wrong way. Spectres played fast and loose at times, but Xanthe? Xanthe was by the book. As much as the two had clashed in the past she respected Xanthe. She’d given Xanthe what she considered pertinent intelligence about the Terminus Systems, and now Xanthe was missing along with a full squad of Starfallers. Her biotic aura glowed blue.

 

“VERA, override message command and file in my secure vault – my eyes only. Without proof we have nothing. This so far is the only proof we have,” Naleena said. “Send a digital acknowledgement to the sender indicating that the document was read and destroyed per standard protocol.”

 

“Acknowledged,” VERA replied but hesitated, cocking her head. “More deceit?”

 

“Our enemy doesn’t play by the rules, and our side thinks we have standard VI security measures which can be easily hacked,” Naleena replied. “This information is more secure here than it was at its point of origin, don’t you agree?”

 

“It appears to me, Boss, that the person who sent this took a great risk and does not want this message traced back to her. It would be logical that they wiped any record of this from the servers through which this message passed,” VERA replied. “There is no name or code identifying the source.”

 

“Rea! Of course! Rea Iallis! So then we’ll follow the instructions and process the information by copying all of it to our local secure server, my eyes only, then destroy the original,” Naleena said.

 

VERA raised an eyebrow, and tapped the ashes from her cigarette. “By definition, copying is a process. Congratulations. While it might not be the intent, you are following the instructions. Is there anything else?”

 

Naleena reclined in her chair, putting her hands behind her neck. “One last thing. Would you look up the name Henry Lawson?”

 

VERA nodded. “There are several Henry Lawsons. One was a 19^th Century Australian writer and poet. I don’t think you want that one,” she laughed. “One is an electrician in Chicago. Another is an attorney for Payne & Fears on Terra Nova….”

 

Naleena sighed. “Any in the genetics field?”

 

“There is a Henry Lawson, PhD. And CEO of Lawson Industries near Port Hanshan on Noveria, located on Peak 22,” VERA replied. “He is a multi-billionaire with connections to the military industrial complex.”

 

“I think we need to pay Mr. Lawson a visit at some point.”

[Cknarf]

Serrice, N'ahdon felyk N'aminit Hospital, waiting area.

 

"I thought you wiped everything." Kira spoke quietly

 

"I did. Everything in her system, at least. I didn't expect someone else to have eyes on the place." Marius replied.

 

"If that footage gets out..."

 

"We'll deal with it." Marius looked down at his omni-tool as it flashed.

 

"I don't think you understand--"

 

"I said we'll deal with it." Marius stepped away, and took the call that was waiting.“Eli. What’s up?”

 

“I’m here. Probably.”

 

“What do you mean ‘probably’? Are you at the hospital or not?”

 

“Yeah, but there ain’t no Gavians on the list. I'm not sure if it's the right place.”

 

”What does the sign say?"

 

“Nah... don... somethin' somethin', I dunno. Can't pronounce that sh*t."

 

Marius sighed.

 

"Stay where you are."

 

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

A short time after the call, a pair of asari escorted Frank up to the floor with the rest of the Vepr crew. He was taken as far as the door where Adir was waiting for him.

 

"Security's a bit tight around here, don't ya think?" Frank looked back, as the blue chicks left. "Got dayum."

 

"Ugh." Adir shook his head. He gestured for him to follow. "I hope you've been enjoying your visit."

 

"Fuckin' right, I have."

 

"Language."

 

Frank put his hands up. "How's Quintus?"

 

"He's gone." Adir replied calmly.

 

"He is?" Frank felt his stomach drop as Adir nodded. "Don't **** with me."

 

"Language." Adir warned again. "They sent him home to Palaven for further treatmet."

 

"So... he's not dead?"

 

"Oh, no, he is. They're just sending his corpse back for another operation."

 

Although Frank couldn't see Adir's face, he could tell from his eyes that he was grinning under the helmet.

 

"Bosh'tet'" He punched the quarian firmly in the arm.

 

"They decided he had a better chance of survival with turian doctors." Adir rubbed at his arm. "Still, it's going to be a long road for him, even if everything goes as planned."

 

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

Dax

 

"How much longer do you plan on keepin' me here, doc?" Daliax asked, while doing something on her omni-tool.

 

"I'd say another week. Four or five days at the minimum."

 

"Yeah... that's not gonna work." Dax began yanking at any medical equipment that may have been attached to her, except for the painkillers, of course. 

 

"Spectre! What are you--"

 

"I'm leavin'. I'm bored as sh*t." She sat on the edge of the bed, and stood. "Well, f***." She looked at a small trickle of blue that ran down her leg. "Probably gonna be feelin' that later..."

 

"You really need to lay back down. You're going to--"

 

"Don't you tell me what to do!" She turned to one of the nurses. "You. Gel. Now." She thrust a finger first at the young asari, and then to her leg. "Doc! I'm gonna need a sh*tload of medigel, and some of... whatever this is to go." She hit the button for the painkillers one last time, before yanking out the IV. "Oh, that's niiiiiice..."

 

"I'm not--"

 

"You are. Spectre Authority." Dax waved off the asari tending to her leg. "Good enough!"

 

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

 

"The f***?"

 

"They had a bit of a disagreement." Adir whispered, as they entered the room with Marius and Kira. The matriarch sat on one end of the room, arms crossed and glowing faintly. The turian stood quietly in the corner, next to the remains of some type of furniture.

 

"Don't say anything."

 

"Hey Kira! You and Marius gettin' along well?"

 

A chair was biotically launched across the room. It hit the wall and exploded.

 

"Alrighty..."

 

"Sup, bitches?" Daliax entered the room around the same time, carrying one hell of a goodie bag, and wearing nothing but an eyepatch.

 

Marius sighed. Kira put a hand over her mouth. Adir covered his visor, but still peeked through his fingers. Frank just snickered at the absurdity of the whole scene.

Spoiler

 

"Who's writing this garbage?" He asked, looking to the ceiling and speaking to an unseen force.

 

"Marius! Armor!" Daliax commanded. Marius pointed to a crate that had been delivered a short time earlier. "Right!" With the help of a few reluctant assistants, Daliax got suited up. The council had provided her with a set of medium armor, in her preferred color. Purple. Metallic purple, to be specific.

 

"C'mon team." Daliax headed for the lift. "We've got work to do!" She shouted, sounding far to enthusiastic about working again. "The galaxy needs uuuuuuuuus!"

[TheMajonese]

"On our last mission, the spectre risked everything, not just the lifes of everyone aboard the shuttle but also the data about the Leviathan, the reason we were down there in the first place, just to rescue one of the commandos." Arian let out a disdainful snort. "Sure, we made it out alive but only because the batarians were idiots. It's easy to shoot down a small shuttle that's not moving. We've been lucky, that's all. And if the spectre is willing to carelessly risk the mission, others will do as well."

 

He turned away to avoid looking at Mira. "It's only a matter of time until someone dies and it's easier to not know the people too well. I mean...in a firefight I don't need to know where you went to school or what your favorite color is but that you're a biotic and can fire a weapon."

[Redbelle]

Anika watched Naleena go, her lips tingling where theirs had touched and found herself hoping Naleena would turn and come back. A hope that she chided herself for as the doors closed and Anika found herself on her back in the med bay with no one but the medical staff for company.

 

Placing a hand over her stomach, she gently probed. Looking to see what the result of her stay had resulted in before moving onto seeing where was simply tender and where lit up the pain. Seeing the doctor she called out. "Doc? I need to know when I can get up and out of here...". Then a thought occured to her. "If your having trouble with my biology the Doc on the Medusa has more on me than most. He should be able to help".

[Kel Riever]

Mira

Mira nodded at Arian.  "I see what you mean, though I do disagree with the point of not knowing people making it easier.  For me, I never want it to be easy to lose someone, because I'd begin to wonder what I'm fighting for.  Regardless, if you're having a hard time with the Spectre's decisions, I can understand and maybe you could talk to Naleena about it."  Mira thought to herself for a moment, glanced at Essul, then back at Arian.  "Maybe you could tell her what you want, what you expect.  You are risking your life, after all.  You must have a purpose."

Rea

"Do you think it was a good idea being involved with the Spectre?" Rea asked her mother.

Drasteya leaned back in the comfortable chair of their home.  It was secure, in more than a few ways, particularly when it came to having private conversations.  There were more than a few things Drasteya had picked up on after two centuries of mercenary work.  And the rest came with the benefits of having a specialist daughter like Rea.  "You ask as if you had a choice, Rea."

"I did.  Nothing the Spectre asked me forced my duty."

"I don't mean because of the Spectre.  I mean because of you, Rea.  Would you ever really have done anything different?"

Rea searched her mother's face, then smiled with the realization.  "Of course not.  I have a sense, though, that this could lead to revealing information that would make someone very unhappy.  It is almost as if this Commando group was purposely designed to become rogue...."

"Stop right there," Drasteya said, holding up a hand.  "I don't need to know one other thing, not that you would breach confidentiality.  We talk only about what we need to, it's safer that way."

"I should speak with Syra, though."

"That you should."

Rea rolled her head to get some of the tension out, then smiled at her mother.  "Thanks."

Making a faux expression of exasperation and rolling her eyes, Drasteya said, "My daughters, so much drama."

Wondering what she meant, Rea questioned, "Daughters?"

"You're older sister Whisp, she's really unhappy about that human woman leaving her.  She asked me if I knew anyone who could get her bumped early from her service.  And you know Whisp, she doesn't care that much about anyone."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

It Will End In Blood – 2

 

After reviewing the message, Naleena decided it was time to brief the team on the next mission. And once again, unless there was a miraculous recovery, they would be without one of their best, if not their best on a very dangerous assignment. But this couldn’t wait. The team would never be 100%.

 

“VERA, please assemble the team and Commandos in the Conference Room for a briefing.”

 

“May I ask where we’re heading?”

 

“Garvug,” Naleena said as she headed out her door.

 

“I will make the notifications. May I suggest that you wear additional body armor this time?”

 

Naleena stopped and turned to face VERA. “I was wearing Commando leathers. I need to move quickly. The additional weight would slow me down.”

 

“Yet, you were critically wounded. At least consider wearing a chest piece,” VERA replied.

 

“VERA, you’re concerned,” Naleena said, somewhat surprised.

 

“Yes, I am,” VERA said. “Have you ever thought about what might happen to me should you die on a mission?”

 

The words stunned Naleena. She knew the Council would soon discover what VERA was in that event. Despite how much VERA had proven the value of an unshackled AI, all it would take would be the decision of a single Admiral with anti-AI leanings.

 

“You’re right. I’ll wear better chest protection. Why don’t you design a durable lightweight flexible insert for my Commando armor that would bring it up to hard suit standards for protection?” she asked.

 

VERA smiled. “I could improve your entire suit design without inhibiting movement. The Commando unit could be fitted with this upgraded armor as well.”

 

“Thank you, VERA. Keep Mira advised of the costs,” Naleena said and left her quarters.

 

VERA sent out the notice to all team members and the Commandos to meet in the Conference Room for a mission briefing. 

[Cainhurst Crow]

"That's enough Arian..." Essul's voice cut through, having been silent as he stood with his arms crossed. He looked to the turian, narrowing his eyes as he spoke, "I don't mind your sentiments about how a team should be structured. And I don't care about what you think of my people. That's an opinion you're allowed to have..." He said as he walked a step closer, his height able to have him be eye to eye level with the turian as he spoke.

 

"But don't disrespect T'sarius. And don't write off one of the members of this crew as expendable..." He said to the young man, his voice icy cold as the black depths of his eyes as he continued to look into the man's face, "We are a team...we watch each others backs, and we try and find a way to come through. Because on the battlefield, all you have is your comrades. And you..."

 

With that he stepped back, giving the turian some space as he went back to being quiet. This talk of military tactics was making him grit his teeth, and the ping of their omnitools let them know they were needed in the conference room.

 

"....Let's go..." Was all he said as he began to walk out the door, curious about their next mission and glad to get some fresh air.

 

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

 

Vayne walked through the halls of the janiri as he made his way to the conference room. He didn't know if he looked well, truth be told he seemed a bit paler then usual, darker then normal rings under his eyes as he waited for the others.

 

Being holed up on a ship didn't suit him. He needed to be out, walking around and taking in some fresh atmosphere. It was like an itch to get off this ship, one he knew would put his and the others lives in danger to scratch. Krogan weren't known to be a particularly good space faring race, and for himself, being stuck in this space made him really start to hate the hum of the engines.

 

Vayne hoped someplace they went to was remote, or somewhere off the grid. At least that way he could go on a mission and help out. With Anika being in the state she was in, the team would need a heavy to help pull up the slack.

[TheMajonese]

"Not bad, actually...", Arian made a derisive comment about Essul though he didn't explain what he was meaning. He waited until the batarian had left the room, then looked at Mira and shrugged. "We're soldiers. Soldiers can be replaced."

 

He looked at his omni-tool and sighed inwardly. This team assembling came just at the right time. Not just would it mean an end to this discussion about team morale, it was also probably going to mean that work was waiting for them and the time of doing nothing on the ship or Thessia was over. Finally..., he thought and placed himself with crossed arms next to the entrance of the conference room. Standing there and waiting he almost looked like guard who protected something. He didn't just look like one, his body language also indicated that he wasn't going to become talkative again any time soon.

[Cknarf]

Armali, Thessia.

 

The Vepr crew stood in front of the hangar doors, waiting patiently for their new and improved ship's big reveal.

 

The spectre swayed a bit, likely a side effect of living with out of spec cybernetics for so long. Or maybe it was the painkillers. Adir was standing a bit awkward himself, all of his weight shifted to one side to take a little pressure off of his ailing knee. Frank was digging in his nose with determination. Any deeper, and he'd probably be needing brain surgery. Kira and Marius still weren't speaking to each other. You'd be hard pressed to find a better team of... of uh... They were the galaxy's best... Hm.

 

You couldn't find another group consisting of a triple amputee, a known criminal with rage issues, an old quarian with a bum leg, an alcoholic with a developing red sand addiction, and an old stripper that was better suited to defend the galaxy.

 

Finally, the hangar doors began to part. For dramatic effect, the overhead lights flicked on one by one. Unfortunately, the comparatively tiny Vepr was parked directly in the center of the massive hangar, so it took a moment for it to appear. When it did, it received mixed reviews. There was only one word to describe the Vepr at the moment, and that word was fuchsia. Metallic fuchsia.

 

"It's beautiful." Daliax gasped.

 

"Wait until you see what we've done to the inside!" Tahna smiled, as she led the group towards the craft.

 

"You've got to be f*cking kidding me." Marius sighed.

 

As they neared, some of the smaller details became more clear. The spectre insignia adorned each 'wing', top and bottom. On the hull was the vessel's name, stylized 'вепрь II', paying homage to the original Earth ship that started it all. To top it off, an intricate floral pattern covered just about everywhere else.

 

"Why?" Marius more or less whined. He preferred the original gloss black.

 

"In honor of my babies, of course. The ones that you destroyed." Daliax replied. "A**hole."

 

"Silaris, yeah?"

 

"Of course." Tahna nodded, as the ramp began to lower. The forward armaments revealed themselves as well. "Those were already within spec, but we replaced them with larger, more powerful ones anyways."

 

"Neat."

 

Marius nodded with approval. Perhaps it wasn't all bad. At least he didn't think it was, until he got inside.

 

"Welcome aboard, Spectre Gavian." Spoke a computerized voice as they boarded.

 

"The VI has been upgraded as well."

 

"Where... What did you... My cargo. Where is it?" Marius looked around the empty cargo bay. All that remained was the custom UT-47A, and a small stack of crates. The bay was also noticeably smaller, with some kind of tech running along the inner hull.

 

"It was... removed."

 

"Excuse me?"

 

Tahna ignored him, and continued the tour.

 

Marius used his omni-tool to open the holds. The weapons were gone, and something else had taken their place. "What's all this?"

 

"Oh, right. That's part of the IES."

 

"The what?"

 

"To put it plainly, the Vepr is now stealth capable. We will discuss the system's limitations later. Moving on!"

 

Tahna took them to deck two. Originally, there were four small rooms, and a single shower. Since the hidden compartments had been removed when the ship was gutted, it left quite a bit of extra space for improvements.

 

"We have increased the number of cabins by three, making a total of seven. As you can see, there are three smaller quarters on each side. The large one in the center is yours, spectre."

 

"Fuckin' A." Daliax approved.

 

"We'll talk about that later." Marius narrowed his eyes. He'd be damned if Dax was taking his rightful quarters. It was his ship, after all.

 

"Each room has its own wash area as well."

 

"What's up with the extra rooms?"

 

"For additional members of the crew."

 

"Additional members?"

 

Tahna touched at her omni-tool. Moments later, the lift arrived, and a pair of asari stepped off. They saluted immediately.

 

"Specialist Nobi, and T'sal." She gestured at them. They continued saluting.

 

"Uh... at ease?" Daliax shrugged. The asari assumed a more relaxed stance. Dax made a squee noise. It had been a long time since she'd had real soldiers under her command.

 

"They will be handling some of the extra maintenance that the Vepr will now require. Specifically, the IES system, side mounted mass accelerator cannons, and the QEC."

 

"Mass accelerator cannons?" Marius asked.

 

"QEC?" Frank perked up.

 

"Nice." They said simultaneously.

 

"They will also accompany you on combat missions, if necessary."

 

"What about--" Adir began to ask. He was just handed a datapad, which he quickly skimmed over. "Excellent." He walked further into deck two, without saying anything else.

 

"Now if you would please follow me to the upper deck..."

 

The kitchen area was mostly untouched, aside from some additional seating. The lounge looked about the same as well, except for the two gunner stations jutting out into the middle of the floor. Frank took a seat at one of them, and made a couple pew pew sounds, before following the rest of the crew into the cockpit.

 

"Everything up here, for the most part, has remained the same. Except for this, of course..." Tahna stood before a waist-high console, and pressed at the holographic interface. The lights dimmed, and a decent sized map of the Milky Way appeared.

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

 

Once everyone was settled in, Marius carefully piloted the Vepr out of the hangar, and took them into orbit around Thessia.

 

Daliax took position at the galaxy map.

 

"Let's get to work." She said, badassfully.

 

"Where are we headed, sis?" Marius asked from the pilot's seat, looking at a small map of his own.

 

"I... don't know."

 

**Dax and the Vepr's entries in the character thread have been updated.**

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Med-bay: Anika & the Doctor

 

Dr. Tolus listened to Anika talk about her condition. Then he contacted the Medusa’s medical officer and sent the imaging files to him for review. Within moments he received a response.

 

“Anika heals unusually fast, but she’s stubborn. Give her another internal injection of Medi-gel and keep her on her back for another 8 hours. If she’s good she should be back to normal in a day.”

 

“I see. Thank you, Doctor,” Tolus replied, then turned to Anika. “You heard him. I have to give you one more injection. I can give you something to help you sleep if you want. I’ll check you later.  If everything looks alright then, you can go back to your quarters, but no training for another full day.”

 

He called his assistant into the room. This time he used a topical anesthetic that numbed the skin and muscle tissue before inserting the needle. When the 3D scanner showed he had the exact site marked by the Medusa’s physician, he injected the Medi-gel.