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[Kel Riever]

"Well, Jenus can't be replaced," Mira joked with Arian, "At least that's what she'd tell you, and until she was sure you'd stop arguing with her about it."

Mira's eyes smiled at Arian, though her face was placid.  The message for the conference room meeting came in.  "Looks like we won't have to move, and will be joined shortly.  I'm glad we talked, Arian."

Arian couldn't tell if Mira was joking or not with the last comment.  She gave no clear sign, burying her in a computer display as she worked with some notes.

[Cknarf]

Aboard the Vepr...

 

"I feel like there was something I was supposed to do..." Daliax scratched at her mandible, as she admired herself in the monitor. "Something... important."

 

"Weren't you given an assignment before we came here?" Marius asked.

 

Daliax more or less ignored him. She threw her hip out a little bit, as if she had just reached the end of a runway at a fashion show. "Ooh, she fine tho." She said under her breath, before assuming a different pose.

 

"Don't you think you should use that shiny new QEC for something?" Marius suggested.

 

"Ha! You're funny."

 

"Yeah, call Sao. Ask him how his daughter's doin'."

 

"I'm serious, Dax.  I know these modifications weren't cheap... the council will be expecting a return on their investment. They're really going to be up your ass now."

 

"That's it! I remember now!" Daliax straightened out a bit. "I need to get laid."

 

"Ayyyy."

 

"Spirits..." Marius put a hand over his face.

 

"What, spectres ain't allowed to get any action?" Daliax made a faint thrusting motion. "Guess nobody ever told Mr. Kryik..."

 

"Oh, here we go..."

 

"Rest in peace, Nihlus. You stud, you." Daliax shook her head. "Did I ever tell you about that one assignment we had together? I had no idea things could get so... steamy on a planet made entirely of sand..."

 

"Nopenopenope." Marius had covered both sides of his head. Frank had turned in his chair, and was listening closely. His omni-tool was open, and he was prepared to take notes.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

It Will End In Blood - 3 - Briefing

 

As she waited for the elevator, Naleena thought about what VERA said. VERA didn’t dance around when she spoke. She was direct. Of course she was concerned for everyone’s survival otherwise she wouldn’t have recommended the armor upgrade for the Commandos. But her primary concern was her own survival. While it caused Naleena to raise a brow, it was in reality no different than anyone else on board.

 

Naleena’s first stop was the CIC where she spoke with Commander Selani, alerting her to prepare the ship for immediate departure, and advising her that she might want to attend the meeting.

 

Mira arrived with a stack of data pads and passed them around the table. They would be where VERA would download mission data for each team member.

 

Upon entering the room, Naleena walked around the table to the head of the table. She set her data pad and cup of coffee on the table, and tapped VERA’s terminal. Mira sat closest to her on her right with the other four members of the Commando fire team, and Essul was on the left with the team of specialists: Vayne, Irina, Johnny, Faed, and Arian. She had a video feed to med-bay for Anika. Morgan was still at the hotel with Jess trying to get her, Priss and Babe to leave. VERA set up a secure channel to the hotel. It was easy to do with 1024 bit encryption it would take a VI about two years to decrypt an intercepted signal.

 

Naleena tested the connection. “Can you hear me, Morgan?”

 

The com light flashed affirmative.

 

Naleena stood with full authority and addressed those in the room. “Good morning. I asked you here because we have a mission. I have two warrants that require execution. Over that past few months the situation on Garvug has deteriorated further. As you know when we first arrived, there was an elected coalition government run by the Vorcha and Turian population on the planet. Elected because the Krogan boycotted the election. A civil war broke out between the forces of Warlord Hailot Wrund, the Coalition Government and three Corporations: Guanghui, Sonax, and Binary Helix. An organization backed by Cerberus was keeping peace for whatever reason, I suspect buying time so that The Illusive Man would be able to grab the Prothean Artifact. Cerberus is a non-factor on the planet at this time.”

 

VERA displayed a picture of Hailot Wrund on the screen. The picture of him was taken when his forces retook the communications tower in Dhazil. He was missing part of his left arm.

 

“Since then Guanghui was bought by Sonax Corporation’s parent conglomerate. Binary Helix still maintains a small presence, but since the Council slapped trade sanctions against Sonax they have been withdrawing their forces from the planet, apparently deciding that the market price of Iridium wasn’t worth the cost of mining it.  The main force behind Wrund’s re-emergence seems to be Bloodpack Mercenaries that to help him take back the planet and bring it under his control.”

 

VERA now displayed an image of Ganar Slayt.

 

Naleena took a sip of water, paused, and looked over at Vayne before resuming the briefing. “Here’s where it gets complicated. The head of the Bloodpack, Ganar Slayt, is on Garvug leading the elite Blackguard Company. Slayt issued an illegal blood oath against Vayne for killing one of his sons. For those of you not familiar with a blood oath, when Shiagur was killed during the Krogan Rebellions, the Krogan issued a blood oath against the few Turians responsible. The result was 7000 Turians lost their lives.

 

“As a result of the blood oath on Vayne, innocent civilians were killed on the Citadel. There are rules to the hunt. Vayne essentially cannot leave the ship without endangering everyone around him. The only way to stop the hunt is to convince the one who called the hunt or the one who inherits that right to call it off.

 

“I have an outstanding warrant for Hailot Wrund, and now I have another warrant for Ganar Slayt. I don’t expect to take either of them alive. Make no mistake. This will be a meat grinder. The last time we were here it was for a Prothean Artifact. I have no intel regarding its location, and I don’t care about it.  

 

“Our mission is twofold: find and kill Hailot Wrund; find and convince Ganar Slayt to call of the hunt. Considering the second part is unlikely, VERA suggested another avenue: find another more reasonable member of the Ganar clan and use them to undermine Slayt. We’ll be dropping in the capital city Dhazil again, here, inside one of the last pockets held by the coalition government.

 

“The Vorcha have been using the sewers to ferry troops behind enemy lines for quick assaults. We’ll use those to infiltrate. Once we’re in, we’re in. When we’re done, we’ll contact Ferro with dust off instructions,” she said, leaned on the table. “Are there any questions?”

[Kel Riever]

"I like this," Jenus said first, "But if we're talking about ending this hunt, fighting an elite group of krogan mercs notwithstanding, why don't we just slit Slayt from ear to ear and put this hunt to an end?  The krogan I know listen to force.  Rip his face off, or blow his head up, should get this over with, right?"

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"If it were that simple, I'd hit their compound with our main gun from orbit and save us the trouble," Naleena replied. "But Vayne told me these hunts are passed on from one generation to the next until they're satisfied.

 

"Call this a gut feeling, but something isn't right. I was in negotiations with the faction leaders. The corporations had enough forces there to overrun the place but didn't at the time because of the coalition government. I don't care what the news reports say. No corporation walks away from that much iridium. The Hailot Clan had been sitting on it for centuries and did nothing to better their lot on the planet. Now they want the power for themselves again and they brought in the Blackguard. Sonax simply leaves. It doesn't wash. Sonax is up to something. 

 

"We need to find out what that is and trade that information for Vayne's life. From what Vayne tells me, Slayt's crazy angry about losing his son and while he won't negotiate there may be other members of his clan there who may see wisdom in such an exchange.  Wrund deserves to die for what he did. The bullet in my chest was from a Sonax weapon. So if this sounds personal it is. As far as Slayt goes, if he gets in the way of one of our bullets or blades, the galaxy is better off."

 

VERA cleared her throat. "This may be a little off topic at the moment, but it is important. The boss and I discussed upgrades to her armor. It was logical that since she wears Commando armor to extend these upgrades to the Commando unit. I have completed simulations with these upgrades. They have been successful," she said. "The upgrade is a flexible micro-mesh within the existing armor that gives the it near hard suit protective qualities without sacrificing mobility. I recommend that the Commando unit fabricate prototypes for testing."

 

"Thank you, VERA," Naleena said. "Does anyone have any comments or questions?"

[Kel Riever]

Jenus frowned. "No armor can slow me down.  What I don't want is it to interfere with my biotics.  I'll take a look but somebody handed me a Claymore last time and it was purple S**t over my Disciple."

"Seriously?  Seriously?"  Tallis looked at Jenus in disbelief.  

"Hey, you want to keep lugging that deadweight, one shot and die gun around, you go ahead," Jenus scoffed.  "Nothing hits harder than me, myself and I, anyway, Claymore included.  I'll stick to the Republics weapon, given it's only the result of a few millenia of thought on it for our people."

"All right," Mira stepped in, "We'll try it."

"...I reserve the right..."

"We'll try it," Mira emphasized.  Jenus' eyes wandered uncertainly, then having lost the momentum of her argument, she nodded and sat back."

Mira turned to Naleena.  "Not many more questions from us. Just the comment that contacting a sympathetic ear inside the clan to take down Slayt, and having information worth influencing the takeover, are two fairly important objectives requiring different resources.  One is a bit of krogan diplomacy.  The other, well, seems investigative and in the realm of an infiltrator.  Where and how do we find out what Sonax is up to, providing they are up to something?  I'm not questioning they are, but we need an objective location.  Someplace, or a target, we can get this information out of, for this trade."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"Krogan diplomacy? Now there's an oxymoron," Ereba scoffed. "My dad just head butted and carried a big gun."

 

Naleena wanted to laugh but held it in check. She'd had her fill of Krogan diplomacy and was going to give Hailot Wrund a taste of Cyone diplomacy.

[Cainhurst Crow]

"When the first of Shiagur's mate's tried to rally against the turians, the hierarchy wiped them out with the ships. Almost every one of them died, and the ones left alive lost more then 1 body part. But even then, the other krogan just swore to avenge them as well..." Vayne chimmed in, looking to the image of ganar slayt with a scowl.

 

The krogan displayed was striking in appearance. Many krogan came in a variety of colors, but contrast to them Ganar appeared to be white. His skin was pale, and his crest was the color of bone. His face was littered with small nicks and scars, and he had two greenish yellow eyes. He wore black armor, a red fist on his humps armored layers as he appeared to be holding a long rifle of some kind, with what could be described as a chainsaw built in as a bayonet.

 

What was more striking though, was his size. A turian and another krogan stood in full armor next to him. Yet, Ganar Slayt was a full head and a half taller then the two, his hump extending up ever further. Which meant either those were particularly short people, or the pale krogan was indeed, very tall.

 

"It was a viscous cycle. Thousands dead on both sides before the krogan decided the debt was paid, or they just ran out of people to send. A blood oath like this, the hunt; It's never supposed to be used like this. It's something only done for an unforgivable crime. And he knew his kid, he'd know wasting that drug filled little **** was more then deserved..." Vayne continued to explain, looking away from the hologram to look to the others.

 

"Luckily, space ports and open space is considered neutral enough grounds to be safe. Ships are in short supply for our people, no sense in damaging them trying to do what you could on foot...if we're going to use diplomacy, getting them there could be a good way to make sure they don't try to take us out...The bloodpack here are brutal in war, but they hold some respect for the old ways..."

 

Vayne frowned as he looked back to the hologram, "Wrund is the main issue here. Paying for all this merc military isn't cheap, and if Wrund acted the way he did when we were here around Ganar, I'm pretty sure he'd end up bisected....something more is going on here. Even if it puts me in the line of fire, I'd like to help find out what."

[Cknarf]

Johnny sat quietly, as he usually did. While he appeared calm on the surface, he was actually quite nervous. The only time he'd ever faced krogan was in an Alliance simulator, and he didn't exactly finish with a good score. He really wasn't looking forward to meeting the real deal.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena nodded at Vayne, then turned her attention back to Mira and the others. "Vayne and I spoke at length about this," she said. " Vayne, you have authorization to use the coms to find out anything you can. Meanwhile, I'll contact the Spectre office about my hunch before we leave. This situation needs attention, and most are focused on Xanthe Remi's disappearance. If they have nothing I'll look elsewhere. Someone knows something more than the news reports. The problem is that Wrund controls the outbound com towers. When I know more details, I'll meet with you and Essul.

 

"Jess, Morgan. Your job will be to scout around space and eavesdrop on Sonax communications," Naleena said. "If Sonax corp asks any questions, I'm here on Council business and you're here providing additional medical support for my team if needed. I don't think they'll have a problem with that because they don't really want further sanctions."

[Kel Riever]

"I'm sure we can come up with something," Morgan replied over the com.

Mira offered, "We have two other teams of Commandos on board.  If this is going to be a heavy combat situation, while one would stay behind always to be with the Janiri, we could use the other.  You could take half the third team, I suppose, though that would be minimum security recommended aboard a vessel this size.  Four or six extra Commandos, either way, could be a big help."

Iole sighed, not looking thrilled about the situation herself.  "I'll set up the simulator and gear for the teams and anyone else who wants it."  

"No other questions from us," Mira finished.

[TheMajonese]

"What about this batarian that attacked us last time?", Arian's voice was heard from his usual spot leaning against the wall close to the door. "Do we know who he is and what he was doing on Garvug? Was he somehow involved in the conflict on the planet?"

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"Agreed, Mira. An extra fire team might help. Also make sure that each fire team is equipped with an M-100 Grenade Launcher. We have one M-920 Cain. A non-biotic should lug around that thing," Naleena replied. "VERA, can you regulate the power of the main gun?"

 

"Affirmative, boss. A 100% shot is the equivalent of a 15KT warhead, but a 5% shot will eliminate everything within a city block," she replied. "Unfortunately the uranium in the mixture would render it and the immediate surrounding area uninhabitable."

 

"In that case, Mira, I'd like to have your sniper's rifle equipped with an IR targeting laser that's linked to the ship just in case we need some heavy artillery as a last resort in case things go to **** down there," Naleena continued and turned to Arian. "From discussions I had with Essul, Wrund hired him to provide support. When he found out Essul was there it became a personal vendetta. VERA informed me that he left the ramp of his ship open and that she inflicted severe damage to the interior with the GARDIAN laser on the shuttle forcing him to withdraw."

 

Irina sat quiet. This was a meat grinder for certain. Sure she had her commitment to the mission, but unlike everyone else in here she had something to look forward to: a life after the the Janiri. Something other than killing. She looked over at Jenus. Jenus was what they called a lifer. She'd be a Commando for at least another 200 years, or well beyond the rest of Irina's life. And she thought of racing. Whisp was right. It did change her. Irina couldn't afford to think about these things right now. They could get her killed. She had to focus. 

 

"If there is nothing else, everyone is dismissed."

[Cknarf]

Just as everyone was getting up to leave...

 

"There's a perfectly good M-35 on board. Is there a reason we aren't using it?" Johnny asked. "Even the biggest, baddest krogan in the galaxy is no match for the one-five-five." He said, referring to the main gun.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"According to Alliance specifications, while having a cramped interior, the M-35 Mako has sufficient room for six occupants including driver and gunner," VERA said.

 

"If we take two fire teams of Commandos, all of us can't fit in one shuttle anyway," Naleena said. "And this may allow us to drop well behind enemy lines. Good call, Johnny. I'll have the techs prep it for drop."

[Terca]

Some More S’more Deidrus (Follows off that post I made… Months ago.)

 

Kwa-Pow! And Deidrus punched the guy in the nuts.

 

Alright maybe he didn’t.

 

Reaching up with his left hand the Spectre gripped onto the man’s hand like a vice before heaving him overhead. Mid-arc the Turian ejected his omni-blade from his right hand, jabbing out and piercing the man’s chest mid-flip.

 

Screaming in pain as a lethal dose of electricity was quite literally shot into his heart, he wasn’t given much time to contemplate mortality as he was knocked out. Head colliding with the floor in a heavy thud, the man was out cold and would be dead of cardiac arrest or a brain hemorrhage soon enough.

 

Deidrus now had a choice. Either he could hope that the other gentlemen in the fight would realize that trying to attack a heavily armed Turian was a really bad idea and walk away, or—

 

A warp bubble colliding with the Spectre’s back and his shield generator kicking into high gear sorted that decision out. Whipping around he saw an Asari readying a second biotic attack and grumbled to himself. With his shield fully charged he counted seven people who were standing and ready to grind faces into dirt.

 

The three closest to him were the Asari, another human, and a Turian. Each of them looked like they belonged to some group of gang-bangers. Each had tattoos which could be called at best inspired and at worst ‘pretty terrible’. All three had roughly the same word on their forehead, not anything that Deidrus could read.

 

Actually, if you looked hard at it all three were pretty different. Different enough, in fact, that the only reason those three realized they had effectively very different tats was the fact that any one of them could only see the others. To them it didn’t look that bad, and those who pointed it out didn’t tend to last long enough to actually prove that the three of them had effectively different ink.

 

The four on the left at a glance looked quite a bit more dangerous, so before turning to deal with them Deidrus overloaded the Turian nearest to him. The spark of electricity caused him to buckle before the reduced impulse jumped over to his gang-bang-mateys. All of them collapsed to the ground, one of them vomiting on the ground as they shook.

 

“Who the **** are yo-” Was about all the Krogran got to say before a well-placed Paladin round on the bridge of his nose caused him to keel over as well. To prevent any further complications, the Turian launched a proximity mine at him and remotely detonated it, the explosion reducing the Krogan’s torso to little more than a bloody mist.

 

About this time one might expect the bar to notice that there were people dying. This was not a normal bar however, and the fact that people died wasn’t a surprise or an inconvenience. There weren’t many places that had incinerators in the back for corpses, and this one was actually used to power the building. They didn’t expect death, they relied on it because nobody supplied power to the entire block.

 

The fact he was a fully armored Turian in polished armor was strange however, and some people closer to the carnage paid attention when they heard an explosion.

When the Krogan’s mates leapt at him Deidrus dispatched them with the same casual ease most people brush their teeth with. And Deidrus did this more regularly. He shot both of the assailants dead on the spot, their armor nothing against a high-powered handgun. The grains actually pierced all the way through them and

clipping a vorcha sitting in the corner who yelped out in pain.

 

Deidrus now had an option. Three dead people, a couple of passed out thugs, a mark in the building, and not feeling very welcome.

 

“Oi ain’t that some Council tart?” Called one of the humans, referring to the council sigil on Deidrus’ chest. “Why the **** is he here.”

 

**** off. Deidrus thought as he glared at him. Glancing past him he saw the mark starting to move about with suspicion in his eyes. And **** him.

 

Just as he was about to shoot the man the Vorcha from earlier tackled him from the side, or at least tried to. The Armiger armor is heavy, making the average Turian about as heavy as a Krogan without any Mass Effect buffering. When the Vorcha collided with him it was somewhat like watching a dog walk into a glass door, if the door was heavily armored and had a knack for killing people.

 

The Turian staggered for a moment as the Vorcha screamed in his face, spittle and spirits-know-what splattering against him. He paused for a moment before grabbing the vermin by the neck and shoving one hand down into its mouth and against its teeth, locking the hand there. The other hand grabbed the jaw, and wrenching with the combined force of his muscles and the servos in his armor her tore the alien’s skull in twain.

 

Dropping one half to the ground and crushing it underfoot he looked up to see a couple more Vorcha stalking forwards. Grinning to himself he placed another mine down the stalk of the alien’s chest before hurling him at his comrades.

 

The group moved to catch the body only to get caught in the blast when the explosives on the inside lit. Suddenly the second shower of gore for the day tore across the room, three Vorchas worth being spread across the people unfortunate to be standing in the blast radius. Deidrus had to hold up his arm and turn as an eyeball and part of a foot collided with his armor.

 

“That’s why Eteon always complained about that.” He said to himself, wiping some blood off of his face.

[Kel Riever]

Team Boom

What was used for a practice room and range on the Janiri had the assembled team and perhaps a few other bystanders in it.  If someone was standing facing the observers, they'd see some interesting expressions.  Mira's was non-plussed.  On the other hand, Iole, Tallis and most of the other onlookers were wide eyed. 

There was the sound of a heavy report. 

Then there were the sounds of autofire.  Controlled bursts at first, then someone held the trigger down.

"More!" the shout came from the person firing the guns.  Then the sound of more weapon fire.  Somewhere in there, someone was using the Hellbringer.  And after that...a heavier machine gun.  And after that?  Explosions.  From all kinds of explosives.

"Flamethrower!"  There were a few beeps as an Omni-tool was reprogrammed, and then the whooshing sound of shooting flame.  Smoke poured back towards the observers before it was sucked away by high powered ventilation.
 

Jenus came striding back towards the observers and past them.  On her way, she said, "Don't you move.  You keep watching!  I'll show you what I'm talking about..."  She left the range and a few seconds of silence followed before Iole talked to Mira.

"What more is she going to do, exactly?  Go find the Cain and?..."

Mira patiently breathed out and leaned on a console.  "Just let her do her thing."

Jenus came back a few minutes later.  In her hands was the spear she'd been given by the Yautja.  She strode right past the observers again.  There was then a lot of stabbing, cutting, and screaming in anger.

When Jenus came back to the observers, she held up what was left (and hadn't turned to ash) of the insert Naleena had recommended for the Commandos and that VERA had processed through the fabricator.  It really didn't resemble what it once was, looking now more like a bunch of ragged pieces of black construction paper loosely held together by shreds and covered in charcoal.

"See?  I told you it wasn't worth wearing."  Jenus dropped the pile of the ex-insert on a nearby weapons table where it crumpled with a sad sound.  "This is hardly worth the extra weight we'll be carrying."

Mira raised a brow, then calmly said, "Jenus, you're wearing it."

"Let me knock out a few holes for some extra mobility in the plates..."

"I don't care, you are wearing it."

"Fine!"  Jenus huffed.  "Fine..."
 

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena

 

After the meeting Naleena went back to her quarters. Mira was right about needing information on Garvug and she knew it. Going in blind would be a mistake. Sao might have some information, or at least know some back channels, perhaps another Spectre.

 

She sat in the recliner in front of her fish tank with the chair rotated facing away from it, then lit a cigarette and pulled up the capital city, Dhazil on the terminal next to her. “VERA, please contact Yalson Sao on the QEC.”

 

**

 

Sao was in his office working late reviewing reports from his agents attempting to locate Xanthe Remi. He wiped the sweat off his forehead when the com flashed.

 

A QEC call from T’sarius? Isn’t anything from her normal channel? He grumbled, then rolled his desk chair into position and opened the connection. “Yes, T’sarius, what is it?”

 

“What’s the matter, Sao?” Naleena asked.

 

“You know what’s the matter. Over half my agents are trying to track down Remi. Tell me you have something useful,” Sao said.

 

Naleena took a drag off her cigarette. “Actually I was calling you about something else.”

 

“Of course you were.”

 

“You recently issued that warrant on Ganar Slayt. The only information I have from Garvug is what I’ve seen on the news. I was wondering if you had anything I could use. Any contacts on the surface, perhaps?” Naleena asked.

 

Sao settled down. This distraction was good. “Normally I’d send another Spectre along with you, and the only one I have available right now is … Daliax Gavian…, and trust me, you don’t want her along. She’s a bit… rusty. I want her broken in on an easier mission first.

 

“Corporations have been loath to trust Spectres ever since that screw up with Saren and Binary Helix a few years ago, and then Shepard went in and blew up their facility at Peak 15 in Port Hanshan on Noveria, so I haven’t been able to get anyone inside Sonax.”

 

“So what you’re telling me is that you have nothing,” Naleena said rolling the ashes off her cigarette.

 

“Exactly. Nothing. I wish I could help you,” Sao said, then put his finger to his cheek and paused. “Maybe I can. Do you have something to write with? Here’s Barla Von’s QEC access code. He’s an agent for….”

 

“I know who he is,” Naleena interrupted. “And thank you. It saves me a trip to the Citadel.”

 

Sao gave her the access code, and VERA recorded it, then he signed off.

 

“Shall I contact Barla Von now?” VERA asked.

 

“Please do,” Naleena replied and moments later Barla Von appeared seated in his oversized chair in front of her.

 

“Spectre T’sarius, I was expecting your call,” Von said. “Sao told me you need some help.”

 

Naleena briefly explained the Garvug situation.

 

“I see. Normally such information comes at a high price.., but perhaps you can do me a favor in exchange for it?”

 

“Such as?”

 

“My agent in Dhazil has gone dark…. Up until a few weeks ago I was able to maintain a constant stream of very valuable information, but now that has stopped…. and thus profits in that sector have dropped,” Von said and pulled up a map next to him. “He was last in the southeastern quadrant of the city usually found lurking around Kradek’s….. It’s a dive. Here’s the location…. He is a Krogan named Pradrax Vask…. Find him and give him the encryption code I’m sending you…. He’ll pass on any information…. Then you pass that information on to me and any updated status upon completion of your mission…. Consider this an even exchange.”

 

“This is a one-time deal.”

 

Von took a breath. “Agreed…, although I could use an agent inside the Spectre’s office.”

 

“No, this is once and once only.”

 

“Very well, then…. Good luck.”

 

Naleena closed the connection, took a drag from her cigarette and crushed it in the ash tray next to her. The last drag was bitterer than the others. She just wanted information otherwise she wanted nothing to do with the Broker network. She saw what it did to Morgan and others. They sold information that got people like her hired, and that was part of life she’d left behind. This was unfortunately a necessary evil of this operation. 

[Cknarf]

Janiri armory

 

"I feel like I need something... bigger." Johnny shrugged a bit. looking down at the Hurricane on the counter. A passing member of the crew fainted, but was caught by another. She was immediately rushed to medbay. "Fire rate is important, but I need stopping power too."

 

"Hm." Septerax thought for a moment. "I think I've got something." He raised a talon, as if to say 'just a second' as he walked away and out of sight.

 

While Johnny waited for him to return, he looked around at some of the items in the turian's 'office'. There were a few photos, one of what looked to be a younger Septerax along with a few members of his old unit. Next to that, an image of an unknown turian and a bike, and finally, a small frame displaying what looked to be several medals. There was a strange weapon at the end of the counter, displayed in a rather ornate ebony rifle case, but Johnny didn't have time for a closer look.

 

Septerax plopped a large case on the counter, and turned it around so that it would open towards Johnny.

 

"This work for ya?"

 

Johnny lifted the lid to reveal a like-new M-76.

 

"How did you get a hold of a Revenant?" Johnny asked, pulling it carefully from the case.

 

"Some questions are better left unanswered, Daniels." Septerax examined his talons. "It comes back in the condition in which it left, you got me?"

 

"Yes sir."

 

"Scratches and dents happen, but I don't want to see any holes."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

VERA & Jenus – Kel & SJ

 

VERA's image popped up on a terminal nearby Jenus. "Commando Stasia, I designed the armor upgrade based upon Asari martial arts movements used by Commandos. I am aware of the need for lightweight, flexible protection used in commando operations. We are going up against Krogan. Additional protection for vital areas of one’s body would be logical," VERA said. "The armor upgrade was my idea. I am curious as to why you appear to have such a strong objection to it."

 

The Commandos all looked at the image of VERA.  Jenus huffed again, and stormed off towards the fabricator in the armory.

 

"Well, I don't like to be told what to do, when someone also doesn't follow protocol."  Jenus' eyes wandered, like they were searching for someplace to get away.  Of course, there weren't that many places to do that on the Janiri.  "Thousands of years of development by asari...and suddenly that's not good enough.  'Let's use Claymores.  Let's put inserts in the Commando uniform.' "  The last two sentences, Jenus mocked with a nasal voice. 

 

At the fabricator, Jenus started typing (noticeably not asking VERA) instructions to produce another, new insert.  She punched the keys hard.  "I don't know, you're supposed to be 'all this' and more.  Smart, right?  Some AI, able to process things at speeds faster than anyone can think, or with more capacities, or whatever gets blown up your virtual skirt.  Why can't you figure it out for yourself if you're so smart?"

 

VERA raised her eyebrow at Jenus' hostility. "Has it occurred to you that I have been concerned for your safety, Miss Grumpy Pants?" she said. "Spectre T'sarius wears commando armor. Her wounds on Garvug were nearly fatal. My calculations showed that if this micro-mesh had been in place, it might have prevented penetration."

 

She overrode the commands Jenus entered and instead fabricated her a new suit of armor in her colors with the insignias in the proper places, the only difference was that the micromesh was already woven inside the armor. When Jenus picked up the armor she could not tell that it contained the inserts. It was flexible just like her original armor, and made out of real leather like her original armor.

 

"You might like this better than what would have been made from the instructions you entered. Based upon the measurements taken during your last workout, the fit should be perfect. But before you wear it, to keep with proper protocol, you should check with your commanding officer," VERA said with a snark. "There is nothing wrong with a Disciple shotgun when it is in the right hands. Asari weapons were designed for use with powerful biotics, but they are insufficient in the hands of someone without biotic powers. I am certain that the suggestion to utilize the Claymore in your load out was to give the team an added edge in firepower.

 

"Also Specialist Danri uses the M-98 Widow sniper rifle which is based upon Geth technology. That rifle is a significant upgrade over anything that was available in the galaxy prior to a few years ago. Just because a technology is not Asari in origin does not make it inferior. Nor is a suggestion to use a design that is not Asari in origin meant as a slight against the Asari. The Asari designed and constructed this ship, and it is among the most advanced ships in the galaxy."

 

Jenus wasn't much listening to the last few things VERA was saying.  Instead she was picking up the suit that got fabricated, and looking at it in more disbelief.  It was perfect, of course, as far as what she wanted, or so one thinking logically would naturally think.  Because it was awesome.  But then Jenus got a scowl on her face.

 

"No.  No!  This is not right."  Jenus threw the suit aside and started re-entering her instructions into the fabricator.  "Spectre T’sarius, Spectre T’sarius!  I am not Spectre T’sarius!   She can't do what I do.  And even if she could, she wouldn't do it my way.  Or the way it was meant to be!"  Jenus paused, finally realizing something.  "Were you mocking me? I would check with my commanding officer because that's the way it's done!  In an efficient unit, you don't need your commander constantly overriding their lower commanders.  Every person in their right place doing their right job.  You, circuit brains, should know that more than anything.  What did they put in you when they made you, old noodles?"

 

Jenus was getting even a deeper shade of purple.  "No.  Spectre T’sarius wants me to wear that mesh?  I tested it and gave Mira my feedback, and she ordered me to wear one.  I'm going to wear one the way it was designed!  With a few of my modifications!  Within limits.  Within orders."  Something unintelligible came out of Jenus then, maybe it was cursing, but even with VERA's sophisticated audio, it really just sounded like a bunch of choked on explicative.  "Arian gets it, that rock headed Turian.  Sort of.  Except for the part about not caring if people go missing.  And I know there’s nothing wrong with a Disciple!  That's what I said!"

 

VERA stood amused watching Jenus have her conniption fit. She was beginning to understand that most of what Jenus was saying had nothing to do with the armor and everything to do with Naleena. This was personal. "That was a very interesting dialect, Commando Stasia. I suspect some were now archaic Volus cuss words. You are correct that Spectre T'sarius cannot do what you do. Nor can you do what she does. Your talents are different. Yet your armor was made to the same identical specification.

 

"During your tirade you mentioned modifications. What modifications are those? Bear in mind that the proposed model was designed for testing, and was not the finished product to be worn in the field. What I produced for you was a likeness of your field armor. If you think your modifications would improve the design I would like to be informed of what they are. We could then approach Lt. T'riel with a design by Commando Stasia and VERA."

 

"I was not having a tirade," Jenus huffed.  She looked at the newly fabricated insert, turned it around, then upside down, then looked around the armory.  Finding an already fabricated combat knife that looked rather primitive, Jenus picked it up and started carving a rough hole out of one area.  It really didn’t' seem to make sense where it was located, though it would be near her left hip, when the insert was placed.  "There.  See?  That's perfect.  That gives me the exact mobility I was looking for.  You probably don't even understand why, with all your electric brain zapping here and there.  And no, I don't want anything with anyone's name on this.  This is custom, just for me."  Sounding unconvincing, Jenus added, "You'd only understand if you were a Commando."

 

VERA paused and scanned the Commando. "While shape of your pelvis is slightly narrower than the others in your squad, it is slightly wider on your left side than your right. Your modification is logical and may prevent discomfort that could occur in the field. Is that sufficient understanding for you?" she asked. "Asari specifications have been one style fits all. Perhaps with these armor enhancements custom fitting for the entire squad is in order. It can be done with little effort. If you would like me to produce a finished suit meeting your custom specifications, please place the suit I made for you in the materials recycling. Do you still want the name 'Stasia' on your armor?"

 

"No," Jenus replied, shaking the point of the knife in the direction of VERA's holo image.  The knife was something either Vayne had fabricated, or someone who like what he was carrying had.  "I mean, yes, put my name on it wherever regulation dictates.  I don't need some for-my-use-only insert having my name on it just to show it off.  I know who it’s for!  This inserts fine, it doesn't need to be in a finished suit, it will insert into the one I have because that's how it was designed, right?  Don't answer that. Maybe I'll put another hole in it to customize it tomorrow.  Or maybe I'll add to it.  Who knows?"

 

Jenus tapped her foot impatiently, then grabbed the insert she'd printed (with the hole in it), put her chin up, and started for her quarters.

 

"Quantum noodles," VERA said. "They used quantum noodles when they made me, Commando Stasia. How about you?"

 

"Grrrrrr!" Was all that could be heard from Jenus as she left.

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul stood off to the side as he watched Jenus storm off, having heard her growl as she left in what appeared to be a hurry. He didn't even need one of his eyes to tell an argument had occurred, the shouting could be heard even through the door, and it was something the batarian wasn't about to jump into.

 

Instead, he strode in after a couple seconds, looking to VERA with a frown as he came in. "Just came to see if I could make some adjustments to this rifle..." He said, pulling the M-55 Argus he'd captured from the hooded batarian during their scuffle. It seemed a bit appropriate to use it now, that they were back on this world. He placed it into the scanner, setting some modifications to it, a change of materials as well as some kinetic coils. "If we're going up against armored targets, which we probably will, this gun needs more armor penetration. The weights a bit off as well, it could use some lightening..." He commented, feeling the need to give a reason to VERA, if only to avoid talking about what had gone on moments ago.

 

He paused as he looked around, frowning, "....VERA....Do you know what happened to my spare knife?" He asked, having fabricated one before he had went to talk with Mira.

 

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Vayne was suiting up for the mission in his quarters, frowning as he held the helmet in his hands as he dressed in his heavy armor. Garvug, they were actually coming back to this world. He closed his eye as he remembered all the fighting they had to do just to get off of this world, and now they were coming back, because of him.

 

He put it on, better safe then sorry for this one, hearing the seals take with a hiss as he looked instead to his weapons. There were a lot, to say the least; at least one from every combat mission he'd seen. He looked to his original gun, the chakram launcher, and knew for as much as he liked the gun, it'd probably be useless. Then came the carnifex, he was surprised he'd even kept it as he ran an armored thumb over the action, a layer of dust coming off as he did so.

 

The bakara pistol, as it had wound up being called, he didn't even want to look at. It's black paintjob made all too much sense to vayne now, as well as it's customized layout.

 

He decided to go with what he had the most faith in, the N7 Eagle he'd bought from that black market dealer on the citadel, and of course, Irina's Gift. A double barrel, whose kick had managed to kill one of the toughest bastards he'd ever known. There was one matter to deal with though, and that was the heavy weapons. Without Anika, someone needed to bring the heavy munitions along, at least until the commandos arrived.

 

"VERA..." Vayne called out, used to how the AI could be everywhere on the ship, "I'm gonna need one of the heavier guns we got. Any suggestions?" He asked. Explosives were more his things then heavy weapons, but he could pull his own weight when it came to weilding one.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

VERA's holo image was on her terminal where she was filing one of her nails. "There was a knife near the fabricator that Commando Stasia was using to 'custom modify' the commando armor insert. I believe she still has it," she said then displayed the diagram of the Argus. "I believe we can improve the armor penetration of the rifle by adding extending the barrel. That will provide additional acceleration to the projectile and should stabilize the recoil. Why not fabricate one and test it on the target range? Let me know how it feels and we can 'fine tune' it."

 

****

 

Vayne's request was a bit more complicated. Heavy weapons. VERA was always one for increasing firepower among the team. She looked at the arsenal on the ship and among her available schematics.

 

"There are a few ways you can go. The Commandos are using both the Asari Hellbringer and the M-100 Grenade Launcher both of which are very effective, the former is excellent for sustained fire, while the latter does excellent damage against larger targets," VERA said and continued to pull up additional images. "Then there is the M-451 Firestorm, a favorite among Krogan and Vorcha, but it is limited to close infantry type engagements. The advantage is that you would be able to find ammo refills quite easily. You may even find one while you're on the surface. Then there is the M-490 Blackstorm, a very effective weapon which destabilizes targets on a molecular level. Or if you prefer something that can take down pretty much anything, there's the M-920 Cain."

 

VERA seemed a bit excited with the last one. "The Cain isn't used very often because it needs to be fired at a safe distance, however its 25 gm high explosive slug travels at 5 km/sec and will have devastating effect on impact. And it also isn't used often because it is very heavy. It is what you Krogan call a 'real ground pounder.' Do not fire it in and enclosed area. So what will it be?"

[Kel Riever]

Jenus was in Team Boom's cabin.  She'd locked the door, unscrewed a double bunk, moved it in front of the door, then mag locked it in place with repair anchors she'd taken from a nearby maintenance locker.

"Let me see here...," Jenus' voice lingered and she stuck her tongue out as she scanned the upper parts of the cabin with her eyes and fingers. "There you are!"

Jenus had found the minute speaker output and camera system installed in every camera for security.  It was also VERA's way of seeing and speaking into a room, though she of course had promised not to do that for privacy reasons.  As if the thought was foremost on her mind, Jenus grumbled, "Privacy my blue ass," as she took what she didn't know was Essul's knife and began half prying, half stabbing the installed devices out.  With a final tug and slash, Jenus made the room 'dark' for any audio or visual access. 

A step back to a normal standing position in the center of the room, Jenus looked at the minute electronics and wires in satisfaction.  Then she placed them on the floor, and pulverized them under her Commando uniform's booted heel.

"MMMmm, MM!" Jenus hummed with glee.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

VERA no longer detected lifesigns in Jenus' quarters, and following energy conservation protocols turned off the electrical power to Team Boom's cabin.

[Kel Riever]

"Damnit!"  Jenus shouted. 

The Commando activated the lamps on her leathers which gave her an ambient light to work with, and she, in her frustrated way, started removing the anchors from the bunk so she could get out of the room.  She's already figured out what had happened and was already complaining.

"See?  I knew you'd be pissed if I kept your nose out of my business, circuit head!"

Of course, now Jenus was, in fact, really only talking to herself.