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[Cainhurst Crow]

"Heh, I like to make sure I keep up a good stock." He said as he ran a claw over some of the incendiaries, "Never hurts to be too prepared. This ships armory is rather lacking when it comes to explosives. All they got is standard issue turian stuff." he said with a roll of his eyes.

 

"Speaking of which, I'll need to restock on incendiaries once we hit our next destination...if we hit our next destination..." he said, correcting himself with a sigh as he looked ot irina.

 

"So...how are you holding up?" He asked, sounding actually concerned.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"I'm doing the best I can, considering," Irina said, "I wasn't expecting that bloody buggerin' mess at the DA like that. Cult turned into something a lot worse than I've ever seen. You see Zenon? She's cleanin' me bike. Keepin' busy. That's what I used to do: keep busy. It keeps the demons at bay for a while. I gave her my hat. Told her I was wearing it when I found her and it would keep her safe. I know it's bulls***, and she does, too, but in her condition we buy the bullshit... for a while. Tonight's going to be a bugger for her. I hope I'm back. If not, promise you'll take care of her."

[Cknarf]

Frank followed Vayne to his armory.

Holy sh*t.

"You're lucky to be alive." Frank picked up a piece of the armor, and stuck his fist through the hole. "I know Krogan are tough, but this is absolutely ridiculous." 

"I may be able to do something with it, but I'll need materials."  He thought for a moment.  "Actually, if that armor job goes well, I might be able to hook you up with something better."

A human female arrived at Vayne's shuttle.
-----

"Man's name is Frank Eli, he's an engineer." Vayne replied. "Frank, meet Irina. She looks human but I think she's got some Krogan somewhere in the family."

Frank gave her a nod.

"An engineer, eh? If you know anything about Starstreamers, my tools are in the back of that bike over there that the young teen is cleaning. I'd really appreciate it if you could get her balanced properly. Her rear doesn't stay in on turns like it used to. I'll pay you."  She began talking to Vayne before Frank could get in a word.


Frank gave her a thumbs up and listened quietly to rest of their conversation

They're working for a council spectre... who's robbing another spectre? 

"NOPE!"  He threw up his hands and stepped out of Vayne's shuttle.

[Cainhurst Crow]

"Wait...what do you mean nope?" Vayne asked as he watched frank leave, looking to Irina, "I said I'd help look out for her planet side. I don't plan on going back on my word now." he said before he tried to follow frank.

 

"Nope to what?" He asked as he watched the human leave his shuttle remarkibly fast.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"I think he means he doesn't want anything to do with this. Hey, Vayne. We should probably head up to the comm room and see what these bird brains have for a plan," Irina said, "We wouldn't want to be looking like idiots if their plan was actually intelligent, would we?"

[Cknarf]

"Something like that.  Asari commandos?  Spectres? You people have a death wish."

[Cainhurst Crow]

"I've lived through a mutiny and getting spaced. I can handle a spectre and some commandos." Vayne commented as he headed towards the elevator. He held it for Irina as she got in, hitting the button for the floor where the comms room was. On the trip up, vayne had his hands behind his back, fingers fidgeting.

 

"What you said...about coping....how long does it usually take, in human years I mean?" Vayne asked sound uncharacteristically unsure of himself.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"It depends, Vayne. The acute trauma part with the flashbacks you get over. Some people turn to drugs and alcohol to handle it, but that doesn't work. Me? I had a counselor for a while, then after that ran its course I had to deal with what was left," Irina said, "Some things still set me off. When it gets bad I go walkabout and hunt. It's just me and nature, then. It keeps me focused on something other than the trauma. Over time the intensity gets less and less. Three maybe five years. I don't know. I'm still have bad days. I guess you never really get over it."

[Cainhurst Crow]

"So...you humans aren;t that different from us after all..." Vayne commented as he kept looking straight ahead to the doors, "Or maybe I'm just closer to human then most of my kind..." he said simply, closing his eye.

 

"I've lived over 400 years, and almost all of my life has been one battle after another, for survival, for wealth, for power, or just for a paycheck. I can remember all of them in my head...every act, every face, though not every name. They never really go away until I get in a fight, then my mind gets to focus on remembering new information to keep me awake..." he commented with a bit of a laugh, sounding somewhat pained coming from him. "None of it goes away...it just hides in my mind, waiting for the right moment to remind me of it all...I think that's why so many of us become mercenaries or raiders. Cause it lets us forget for a while, all the stuff we've done before, if only by adding more fuel to the fire..." he stopped as the elevator arrived, looking to Irina as he let out a long held breath.

 

"Come on...let's get to the meeting so we can break some asari skulls. I'm tired of talking about depressing stuff..." he said as he walked forward, heading to the comms room like a krogan on a mission.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Irina and Vayne walked into the comm room on the Audron. Aelias was there. Irina ran her fingers through her stringy hair and shook it. Vayne knew trouble was about to start. To Vayne that was the human equivalent of a Krogan head butt.

 

Irina swaggered into up to the Turian. "So I guess you're Aelias?"

 

"That's right?" She made eye contact with Irina.

 

"So when were you going to tell everyone about Xanthe Remi, the Asari Spectre who's in charge of operations at the facility, and the Asari Commandos we'll be facing on the train?" Irina asked.

 

"I assume you spoke with Naleena?" Aelias asked.

 

"No, I worked there for ERCS. Remi used to give our group leader our assignments." Irina said.

 

Aelias thought for a moment about this. If what she says is true, she could be a valuable resource. "So can you tell me anything about defenses on the train, or security responses that may be in place?"

 

"No, I'm under an NDA." Irina replied, "It never expires."

 

"Wonderful. Would you divulge the information if compelled by a Spectre?" Aelias asked.

 

"No. Do you know violating a NDA can do to one's economic status for the rest of their life?" Irina replied. "I can't even tell you what they make there. Would you hire someone who violated a NDA?"

 

Aelias looked down.

 

"I didn't think so."

 

"So you're off the mission?"

 

"Did I say I was off the mission?" Irina asked and then looked over at Vayne. "Did I?"

 

Vayne laughed.

 

"No, I didn't. Why? Because I'm on a team headed by some Spectre, and I know the score here. Just keep me in the rear so I don't betray anything inadvertently." Irina said. "It's not that I mind the killing. It's that NDA thing. Also I might know some of the girls. I worked there for a few years, and you know how Asari are. They get kind of sociable, if you know what I mean, especially on long assignments."

 

"Ha!" Vayne laughed.

 

"Spirits save us." Aelias said.

[Kel Riever]

Sergeant Septimus, the quartermaster of the Audron had his hands full.  On the shuttle deck, the scene was mostly chaos.  For craft that weren’t assigned to the turian frigate, like the human’s dilapidated Kodiak and asari Scythe shuttle that he had personally made sure were off limits to passerbys, they were spaces of calm.  For the rest of the deck, including the assigned turian shuttles, the intake of civilians and assorted belongings created what any organized turian would consider a madhouse.

In front of Septimus were several crates that had been delivered to the Audron before the invasion of the town.  They included standard resupplies, packages for the crew generally sent by family and friends, plus the assorted miscellany that always came with it.  Within that miscellany were three containers of a fair size that the sergeant was only now taking inventory on and were slated for Captain Stone.  None of the loads had been through anything but standard preliminary scans and a more thorough inspection was usually done on a military vessel, but then the town had been overrun.

There was a great desire to move the containers and crates out of the way, and it would have helped make room, but Androkan had a mission and the Spectre had emphasized that the civilians needed to be safely relocated.  Septimus raised Aelias on his com, “Aelias, we’re down here, packed tighter than a platoon in a squad bunker.  If Androkan wants these civilians off ship, I’m going to need all of our available shuttles.”

Aelias came back, sounding somewhat distracted. “I’m dealing with the briefing right now.  Deidrus was clear; the civilians must be moved to safety no matter what the means.”

“They’re going to have to board those shuttles, filling them to the brim, and get to space where they can rendezvous with the other escaped freighters.  That’s going to leave us without any smaller craft for the mission except what the guests have brought on board.”

A sigh could be heard over the com from Aelius, “Then do it.  There’s no time left.  We’re doing the best we can and those civilians have no place on this vessel in a military operation….hold on….Androkan inquiring about the new engineer that we brought onboard and if he is nearby you.  His name is Frank Eli.”

Septimus looked around and spotted the human wandering the deck, looking somewhat exasperated.  “I see him.  What does Deidrus want?”

“Androkan says to ask him if he wants to go with the civilians, or if he thinks he’s up for assisting with a mission that could very much use his services.  If he wants to stick around, tell Eli to head up to the comm room where he can get briefed.”

“Afirmative, Aelias, I’ll ask him.  Those civilians will be underway in the next fifteen minutes.  With the window you’ve given me on the mission, I’m going to have to devote the rest of my time to prep after they're off, not cleaning the shuttle bay.”

“Loud and clear.  I will relay the message.  Aelias out.”

Septimus twitched his mandibles.  He’d have to leave the crates and containers where they were, but he was cleared to do so now.  The civilians demanded immediate attention, and then the mission.  The containers could wait.

[Cknarf]

I was brought here to install armor.  Having my skin ripped off by collectors, or warped by asari commandos? Yeah... not part of my job description.  I should have stayed on Ontarom.

 

"Frank Eli?"

 

Frank turned around.

 

"Sergeant Septimus, quartermaster."

 

"That's me.  What do you need?"

 

"We're loading civilians onto the shuttles.  They're leaving in the next 15 minutes."

 

Oh hell yes. Get me out of here.

 

"Great!  I'm ready, load me up."

 

"You do have another option..."

 

"Yeah?"

 

"Androkan is giving you the option to stay.  He feels that you may be able to contribute to the mission."
 

"Absolutley not.  I'm leaving with the civilians."

 

"Alright, see that line over there?  That's where you need to be." Septimus pointed over at a line forming near one of the shuttles.  "They're leaving shortly."

 

"Thanks." Frank started toward the line.

 

Like I'd agree to that.  Risking my life for some damned armor.  They can keep that junk shuttle of mine too.  I don't even care.

 

Frank turned to look at the Kodiak one last time.

 

Well, maybe just a little.

 

He boarded one of the civillian shuttles.

 

"We're leaving in 2." The pilot came over the intercom.

 

Frank sat down, and thought over his short time on Duellos.

 

I spent the last of my money getting here.  What the hell am I going to do?  I don't exactly have a home anymore, either...  Maybe I should... No.  This is what I want.  It's not like I havent been homeless before, I can bounce back.  It did kinda suck, though...

 

He leaned forward, and rested his chin on clenched fists.

 

"One minute." The pilot warned once more.

 

"Don't make me regret it."  Frank remembered Eteon's words. 

 

I owe my life to that turian.  I was so dead out there...

 

Frank took a deep breath.

 

"Thirty seconds."

 

"Sh*t."  Frank jumped from his seat.  "Wait!  I'm getting off!"

 

Just this one mission, enough to pay my debt, then I'm done.

 

The doors closed behind him, and the shuttle lifted off. 

 

"Septimus!"  He yelled, as he ran across the shuttle bay.  "Septimus!  Tell them I'm coming!"

 

"Aelias, he's changed his mind, I'm sending him up."

 

"I'm going to need my weapons."

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

 

 

Frank quickly got into his armor, and holstered his weapons.  He stepped onto the elevator, helmet under his arm.

 

"Comm room?"

 

"Right over there."

 

Everyone turned to look as he walked in. The briefing was about to begin. 

 

Frank shrugged, and fell in with the rest of the group.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

the following is a joint post of Redbelle and SGJ.

 

When the burst of light died, Anika found herself and Naleena standing, clasping hands, alone in the dark. Her towel had been replaced by her white jumpsuit and Naleena wore the combat leather's Anika secretly thought she looked good in.

 

Naleena smiled. "It's partly the reason I'd like to see you in some too".

 

Uh oh... she was in her mind.... Of course she was in her mind.....

 

Naleena chuckled. "Talking to one another as you would in the real world takes some getting used to, when in a meld.... You'll get used to it".

 

"Anyway...." Anika went on. Falling back on her past experience during her combat training with her Asari trainer she conjured a floor under their feet and stood. "You know about how I lived in a complex. What they did to me there.... Now though....". She smiled as the darkness around them flared as Anika summoned the memories forth as Naleena's mind gave them form inside their environment. "Now you get to see how I got away".

 

She looked around. "Hmmm. Smaller than I remember".

 

They were in a room with a bed, a chair sitting flush against a table with a small table lamp and an educational holo display. Like Anika's jumpsuit, the entire room and furnishings were white. "So inspector's could see i was keeping it clean". Anika explained, looking off to the large roller door windows against the side of the room. Looking outside they could see a balcony where wood and brick coud be seen. "And there's not much else to see beyond that. Just a wall and some of the parade grounds where we marched. For some reason they allowed trellis's against the walls for ivy to climb. It was strong and thick". She gave a hmpph. "I haven't thought about those grounds in a long time. They'd keep us marching for the whole day and night. Just to see whose alteration's gave them the best stamina and resiliance.... Ah, Here I am".

 

The door to her room opened and Anika walked in. Covered in mud. Her tracksuit's original colour lost under the sticky black muck that clung to her from head to foot. Anika watched and nudged Naleena. "Watch my hand".

 

The younger Anika grabbed the door frame as she wobbled and someone appeared behind her as other girl's walked on past in similar states as her. The figure stood behind her and scowled. "C'mon number Eight! You held up on the course! You trying to tell me the walk back was more than you could handle"?

 

The young Anika looked back over her shoulder and seemed to be about to issue a retort.... that stopped just short of her lips. "No sir". She answered. She pulled her hand away and as she did, a little slip of something white remained behind, covering where the locking pin had once sat.

 

"Good". The figure said. "Half hour till classes! Clean up and get this mess sorted. Inspection's after class".

 

"That's not enough time"!

 

"Then why are you arguing Eight! Half an hour"! And the figure reached for the door handle and pulled it closed with a slam.

 

The minutre it was shutting and Anika was out of sight she pressed a hand up to and against the door, leaning into it and stopped the door from bouncing open once more. She paused, then slowly leaned into listen. After about a minute she backed up, foot against the door and reaching into the bag across her shoulders, pulled out a plastic bag. It was streaked with drying dirty water and she reached in to daintly withdraw a towel that she'd taken from the washroom earlier that day. Careful to keep the mud from sticking to bad she pushed it up and against the door then pulled her foot abck. The door stayed closed. That would be good for making sure it stayed that way. Not so good if anyone came knocking and found out what she had done. She had to be quick.

 

Anika and Naleena watched her race across the room after pulling off her boots and ran on tip toe across the hard tile floor and disappear into an ajoining room. "Ensuite bathrooms.... The girls who didn't make the second cut till later were jealous.... This is me the day I sneaked off at night to the comm room. I'd done alot of sneaking off before that. Trying to find a way out. There was nothing. So I figured, if I couldn't get out.... why not get someone to come in and get me? By the way cleaning your gear's alot easier when you jump under the shower fully dressed and strip down from there. It was just one of the tricks we had to adapt or get reduced rations and extra laps.... They took every opportunity to push us till we broke. The one's who didn't? They were the one's who didn't make it to the final phase of the process. Where the techniques and gene sequencing would be used to alter this Miranda woman.

 

The sun behind them suddenly fell and Anika closed her eye's, seemingly reliving everything Naleena saw happening in fast forward. "I crafted the reward notice and sent it. Then I waited...". The sun came up, over the wall, then down again. "And waited". Up came the sun, and down. "And waited". Up and down and up and down and up and down and there was a crack of something hitting the window. Anika's eye's popped open and she grinned, turning to the window she stepped back, drawing Naleena back with her as her younger self snapped awake in bed. She was still, her eye's open and alert. Slowly, in briefs and a Tee-shirt, she crawled out of the bed in a squat and looked towards the window.

 

Something flew into it with another crack.

 

Her eye's blinking in confusion Anika she half rose and padded to the window doors, stood by the side of the wall and peered over to look outside. She could see nothing. She waited and waited. Then she saw the ivy under her balcony tremble.

 

All her days and night's in this place nothing had ever broken the vigously enforced routine that was implemented, so at first she stood there, staring. She wasn't aware her finger's had gone to and opened the latch till the lock clicked open and Anika stepped outside into the warm night air, The ivy shook again and again and she heard the sound's of someone grunting underneath. Placing her hands on the ledge she peered over.

 

A woman, dark skinned and dressed in green with bared, well toned arms looked up at her from three quarter's of the way up the trellis. She didn't see Anika looking down at first, but as she drew herself up and reached for a higher hold to grip she raised her head and froze. Anika had been taught body language. This woman was going through all the reactions of having been caught red handed doing something she should..... and then it was gone and Anika's brows furrowed and suddenly she was looking at someone who appeared as comfortable as if they'd just met in the mess hall.

 

"Gotta bun luv"?

 

"A what"?

 

"A bun? I passed by one of those pastry places flying over here and now I'm really wanting a bun".

 

"We..... don't have those in our rooms. Not allowed food".

 

"Not allowed food? How'd you get so tall? One minute". Pulling something from a pouch on her belt she thumbed a small disc and it lit up. Anika's face was on it as well as directions to her balcony and all the subsequence instruction's she'd arranged in her message that she knew instantly that this was her long awaited kidnapping attempt!

 

Finally!

 

"I know what you want. Wait there"!

 

"Hey"! The woman called out, but Anika was gone. Darting back into the room and throwing on her complex issued clothing. Taking a moment to rip the stiches in a few palces to discard the tracker's she found they'd sown in before diving into the bathroom to pick up a razorblade, before darting back out to reach under her bed to pull out a duffel bag of all the things she thought she would need. Her hand was just closing around when the woman's head popped up and over as she tried, to pull herself up, lost her footing, and found herself dangling, scrambling for a foot hold while calling out. "Now please! Don't call the guards! There's a perfectly reasonable, logical explanation for what's going on here, tonight"!

 

"Your here to kidnap me and take me away from everything I've eve known to places I've never seen and probably won't understand in order to get your hands on some credits to spend on drink and drugs and sex and whatever people like you spend credits on"?

 

The dark woman's mouth open for a moment as her eye's darted off before swiveling back to her's. "Okay.... not how I'd have quite phrased it but....". And then switching tracks she asked. ".... Drug's? Really? Do I look like that sort of person"?

 

"Are you"?

 

"No! The drink on the other hand...."!

 

"What about the sex"?

 

The woman's eye's lit up. "Well now.... I don't like to boast to every tall bonde drop dead gorgeous woman I kidnap..... Which I really need to get back to doing and I can't help but notice your not calling the guards".

 

Anika nodded. "Okay. I guess you'll do".

 

"Do"?

 

"My name Anika". Anika stuck out her hand. "I'd be happy to be kidnapped if you can get me off this planet and away from here".

 

"Um.....Captain....".

 

Anika blinked. "Your parent's called you Captain"?

 

"What? No... Stone... No Silver! Captain Silver....! Stone.... me... That's who I am, is". The woman was blinking rapidly as her mind was whirring to figure out what was going on. "Sorry", she said, sticking out her hand. "Your the first person I've ever kidnapped.... I thought you'd be...."?

 

Anika grabbed and pumped her hand in a firm shake. "Look, it's my first time too. Can't I call you something shorter? Like Cap"?

 

The woman sighed. "Jess. My names Jess. Pleased to be stealing away your person Anika"!

 

"Happy to be taken away from all this Jess. Now... Hold this". With that Anika thrust her duffel bag into Jess who, surprised, grabbed it with both hands.... Which proved a mistake as she promptly started tipping backwards, flailing out with her arms and missing the ledge, ivy and Anika's suddenly outstretched hand as she realised what she'd done and fell off the balcony.

 

From where Anika and Naleena stood Anika chuckled. "I thought I'd gone and killed my ride out of the complex. Turned out she'd altered a shield belt in a mass effect cushion so she could jump off the wall. She had one for me. I guess you could say that this was the time her and I were just starting out. It's been a roller coaster ever since but the one thing I never looked back on....". Her younger self vaulted over the balcony and was gone. "....Was this room".

 

Anika stood and looked at Naleena. "She came for me when I needed someone. Stood by me when I needed someone to look after me. Gave me the power to fend for myself and keep me under the radar from those who put me in this room..... And now..... She's pushing me to step out of all that and do it myself, I think. Nally. I want to go with you and I will if you ask. But there's something I want you to consider. When this is over and what happens happens.... Come with me back to the Medusa. It's a good life. Not always honest. Not always in the right. And always moving from place to place. I like a home that moves with me. And yes I'm torn. Because i think I could make a home with you somewhere. I don't know how it'll happen and it's to soon to decide and everything going on is outside our control. But I know that there's a place for people like us. And when we're ready, we can decide what happens to us both together".

 

"So you'll go and surrender. And i'll have your back. And if I see one of those Asari start to do anything that looks like your in trouble I'll break every last one of them. Jess will probably do something insane that makes the world go back to being normal. And we'll know there's a place we can go to where all our history doesn't matter. Nally, Jess's ship is coming soon. I'll come with you, if you come with me".

 

Naleena didn’t break the meld. She knew communication flew back and forth almost instantaneous in a meld and they were pressed for time.

 

“Nally, eh? Okay. You can call me that… in private. I think I understand your absolute loyalty to Jess, now. You were essentially a slave. I don’t know for how long. Jess wants you to be free to make your own choices,” Naleena caressed her neck, “You know, I think Jess always wanted you to make your own choices. It seems to be her way.

 

“I have no home. I travel. That has been my way of life for the past 250 years. I know of no other way of life. I’ve only settled in one place for 10 years. Now that may seem a long time to you, but for me that’s nothing. I do own a condo on Sanves, however, since I vacation there. It’s a resort world. You would like it. Otherwise, my home has pretty much been a ship, a hotel, or VERA until I was picked up on Illium.”

 

Naleena looked up at Anika with her eyes. “You like a home that moves with you. In other words, you’re at home on a ship captained by someone you trust. And you’ll join me in my surrender if I join you on the Medusa after the Audron is finished with this job. Is that what I’m to understand?"

 

Anika smiled. "I'm.... coming with you either way Nally. But when we're done? I have to go back. I made a commitment and if I break it to Jess until my contract's through then what good is my word to you? I know it may not be what you want to hear now but when I make a commitment, I stick to it. It means that when I'm free? Any promise I make to you? You know I'll keep it. I hope you'll make this easier on me and come with me after. Because there will be an after.But don't feel like I'm ttying you down to something if you don't want to come. I'm just putting out the hand". Anika laughed. "I know Jess would love to meet you. She's been asking me for details about our encounters. I keep telling her it's in our heads.... well, most of the time". She shrugged. "It's her way. She's.... very open. She's been telling me all about her and Morgan. Whew". She said faning herself. "I didnt think he had it in him".

 

“Anika, I understand about contracts. Honoring them is why I'm still alive," Naleena laughed, "Let me explain what is going to happen to us. The only weapon I will be carrying is my SIG 226, and it has tranquilizer rounds. That is in case things go wrong. I don’t expect things to go wrong. I expect that initially they will treat me roughly, like throw me to the floor and tie my hands, even if I am making moves to cooperate. Why? A precaution. I will not resist. Do not interfere. Do not struggle when they subdue you. Let me do the talking. Do you understand me?”

 

“Yes.” Anika nodded.

 

“We’ll be evacuated off world with the Asari. I expect we’ll be questioned and released. Then, after the Medusa makes its rendezvous with the Audron, I’ll join you. I was waiting for the invitation. I’m no longer welcome here anyway.”

 

"I'll be in my armour. It's tough and it's my size. And in the showers Jess mentioned something about breaking openthe ships riot control gear. Lots of non lethal ordanance that we can use if we need it. I'll follow you on this. But I'm not about to sit back and do nothing if I think your life's in danger. I know a bt of roughing up is in the cards. I've taken it in the past. Just try to keep them from feeling like going that distance. With luck we'll meet a professional and not a maiden whose watched one to many movies of John Wayne". Anika shook her head. "The number of amateurs who think they need to act tough and wave guns around..... The movie business has alot to answer for".

 

"Alas, so does ours." Naleena sighed, "Fortunately these girls have 30 years of training before they receive their first military assignment. I'm expecting them to be professional, although there are exceptions in every squad."

 

Naleena eased them out of the meld. Anika caught her breath. Naleena smiled and said, "I'm glad we melded, and I'm glad you're coming with me," Naleena looked over Anika and felt a longing but had to pull it back, "I'm sorry, we can't right now. I want to stay with you. In here. You need to get into your armor, and we need to go to the comm room. There isn't much time."

 

Anika giggled. "Yes... I.. should go. See you in about five minutes."

[Redbelle]

Anika hummed as she all but skipped back to her's and Jess quarters. She opened the door and walked in. Seeing Jess's armour was gone off it's storage dummy. Happy she'd taken her advice she began to pull her's off when she heard moaning and groaned and a wet slurping coming from the bedroom.

 

Walking up she raised her eyebrows at the scene that played out before her. "Well.... Captain..... I see you and Morgan have found a rappor".

 

Shaking her head she turned back to the room where her armour stood. But looked over her shoulder. "Naleena's coming with us if this goes the way we hope. I'm sure we'll get on well..... I'm, not going to be your bodyguard for awhile. I've decided to go with Naleena on this one and if this all work out.... I'll see you back on the Audron. We can get to know our other's better if your alright with that". She smiled. "I think I get what you were talking about Jess.... Making my own decisions? It feel's good".

 

Jess licked her lips salaciously as she caught her breath. "As long as you know where we both stand. I only want to see you be amazing Ann. Pirate's life is never simple. I know your pulling in all directions. There your water's to navigate though luv".

 

Anika nodded. "You'd better be quick. We're meeting in the comm room. I need to armour up". With that Anika turned her back and the sound of Morgan's groaning came back as she quickly removed and attached her armour. Trying to block the distraction was impossible and the thought of her and Naleena together with them brought a smile to her lips. When the armour was on though Jess and Morgan emerged. Morgan looking like he'd run a triathalon while Jess went to pick up her helmet from the table.

 

"Alright Luv's.... Let's go see what the Spectre's got for us and see if we can hammer out a plan they won't see coming".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena gathered her weapons and headed over to the comm room. When she entered, Irina, Vayne,Dahlia, and some guy she'd never seen before was there already. Dahlia had just gotten there ahead of Naleena. Aelias saw Naleena enter and turned to the back wall momentarily to gather herself. She was facing a hostile audience. It wasn't her fault. Androkan had made a mess of things and left her to deal with cleaning it up.

 

Naleena walked over to Dahlia. "Did I miss anything?"

 

"Only Irina going off on the comm officer." Dahlia said.

 

"About what exactly?"

 

"I just caught the end of it, and it wasn't very cordial." Dahlia shook her head.

 

"Hmmm..." Naleena turned and walked over to Irina and Vayne, neither of whom seemed to be very enthusiastic.

 

Vayne and Irina were mumbling to each other and Frank about the mission.

 

"You don't look too, happy. Do you know something I don't?" Naleena asked, playing dumb.

 

Irina turned to the Asari. "I don't know if you knocked a screw loose in his head, but you sure didn't knock any sense into him. But far be it from me to not follow orders."

 

"Just tell me what's going on." Naleena said, "Vayne?"

 

"Irina tells it better." Vayne said.

 

"Alright, when I worked for ERCS at the base, Xanthe Remi, an Asari Spectre who by the way is also Asari military, used to give our CO our work assignments. Just saying. This is a charlie foxtrot if I ever saw one. My guess is that our Turian leader, since he's a Spectre and Turian military, buggered the negotiations," Irina said, "But I'm just a grunt in need of credits. So what am I to say?"

 

"See, Dahlia? What did I tell you?" Naleena said, "Stay with Morgan and do what he tells you."

 

"You've got enough weapons there. Expecting trouble?" Vayne laughed when he saw Naleena's loadout.

 

"I'm always expecting trouble," Naleena replied, "But they're not all for me."

[Cainhurst Crow]

--Illium---Tasale System--Crescent Nebula--

Essul checked his omnitool once again as he sat in his booth, the bar music a loud synth-techno blend that had been seeing resurgence lately, and one he didn’t care for very much. Essul was dressed in a black suit, sleek and slimming yet not quite hugging his form, though even the fact he was well built and a soldier showed through the outfit. One might mistake essul for a eezo baron of camala with his suit if not for a few simple distinctions, one being the lack of beautiful women and exuberant debauchery he exhibited. The others were the lack of much else besides the nice suit and his scars, the way he held himself, it all screamed a man with discipline and someone constantly on edge for danger, traits which made him stand out from the rest of his batarian brethren not wearing body armor on this planet.

 

As he waited, he looked out to the dance floor towards the mix of individuals milling about as they interacted with one another, eyes watching their movements from his seat as he cracked his neck, wincing as a brief surge of pain filled his body. He looked into the single glass of water in front of him, blinking to get his vision refocused as he noticed a shadow suddenly pass over him. Eyes shot open as essul turned around, hand flashing a bright blue before-

 

"Bang..." Essul heard as his eyes went from wide with fear to narrowed in irritation, staring at the salarian holding his fingers in a mock gun shape and blowing out the barrel. The salarian smiled cockily, light blue skin going against his dark blue outfit, "I'd have expected you to be faster then that, Seargent Major. We're not in hegemony space anymore..." he said as he walked over to the other side of the booth, essul still glaring.

 

"Menos Hishau..." essul said with a nod, recognizing the cocky blue short-liver as his contact with the shadow broker network. The salarian slide into the seat as essul shock his head, "I recognized you at the last second and held myself back. Had I not, you would have been broken and gutted."

 

"Ha, broken maybe, but gutted? Come on." Menos said cheerfully as he motioned for the waitress to get him another drink, licking his lips as he looked to essul and his water, "You ain't some moron sword swinging primitive like those N7 goons..." he said as he reached over to take essuls glass.

 

Essul was still as he kept his eyes closed, just as menos put his hands onto the glass, and that was when he struck. In the blink of an eye, Essul had a combat knife buried in the metal table, a cm away from menos's hand as the salarian jumped back in surprise.

 

"You were saying?" Essul asked in the same tone he'd been talking in, withdrawing the knife as some of the patrons looked to the two, menos waving them off as he nervously chuckled.

 

"Well, good to know I'm dealing with a violent psychopath..." Menos said as he rubbed his uninjured wrist nervously, "Not that I ain't used to that already."

 

"I assure you, I am quite mentally sound..." Essul said as he still kept his eyes closed, bringing the glass up as he finished the drink, "And I didn't harm you did I? Hence, I am not violent..."

 

"Suuuuuuuuuuuure you're not." Menos said with a roll of his eyes as his salarian ale arrived, 2 ice cubes as he always ordered, "Thanks Mira." he said to the quarian as she nodded, walking away as he watched her leave, extra detail seeming towards her hips. "Man I do love that sway they have..." he said with a chuckle as he looked to essul, "So, down to business I take it?"

 

"Yes..." essul said as he brought the datapad out from inside a coat pocket, sliding it over as menos scanned the contents, eyes moving rapidly to check things over. "Alright...this checks out nicely." he said with a nod as he looked to essul, taking his own datapad as he handed it to him. "This here contains some valuable data I snagged, fresh data just this day about some potential **** hitting the fan on some mining colony called Duellos, and your interested acquaintances possible locations." Menos said as he downed his ale, waving to order another.

 

"Thank you..." essul said as he started looking over the data, pausing as he watched menos in between reading some of the sentences. After about 10 seconds, menos shrugged his shoulders, "You know they don't pay me to play the subtle game..." menos said as he looked essul in the eyes, same cocky smile as always, "If you want something more...all ya gotta do is ask."

 

Essul let out a sigh as he set the datapad down, bringing a hand to rub his temple as he looked to the salarian curiously, "I was wondering about the matter we discussed...the one regarding my additional information request..." essul said, somewhat through tense teeth.

 

Menos put a finger on his chin, "Additional information request...." he said as if pondering before shrugging his shoulders with a laugh, "Nothing comes to mind. Maybe you made this deal with a different devilishly handsome salarian..."

 

Essuls hands clenched as he glared daggers at the salarian, "You know what my request was menos. Now give me what I want so I can get out of this stupid place and off this disgusting planet!" Essul got out like an angry hiss before stopping, grabbing his head and neck as a flare of pain washed through him.

 

Menos shock his head, "Glad I got you to be a bit more honest. I really don't like meeting in places like this myself, too much distractions and openings for assassinations." Menos commented as he flashed a grin, folding his hands behind his head lazily.

 

"So why have our rendezvous point here!?" Essul said as he set his hands down, head still pounding as he looked to the salarian curiously. Crowds and loud music weren't essuls forte, in fact he outright depsised the stuff. And hearing how it could have been avoided made him only more irritated with his contact.

 

"Because, it's a nice open space full of lots of people, so the chances of someone being able to dispatch someone unnoticed is a lot harder, even for information brokers or the STG." he said as he chuckled at the thought, "I mean, you'd have to be as stupid as a krogan or turian to try and pull something in a crowded bar on illium. You'd have better luck trying to hack through the hegemony firewalls unnoticed using a simple omnitool and a chat call..." menos said as he looked essul in the eyes, bringing his hands together in front of him as he leaned back comfortably, smiling the same devilish grin he'd been before.

 

"So why don't you just tell me what it is you really want, without the double language?" He asked as his silverish eyes were hard as 2 reinforced armor plating's, giving away nothing and hammering into essul exactly what it was he'd asked in this arrangement.

 

"I want..." Essul began, hands clenching as he spoke, "I want...information...on the hegemony, and its secret projects..." Essul said as he meet menos's stare with one of his own, as cold as a ice planet and stained with old tales of war in its permafrost resolve, "I want to know whats being kept from me...no matter how bad it is."

 

Menos nodded as he pulled out a small data chit, seemingly with a flick of his hand and some slight of hand, "Good. I want you to say it, and know how hard this was to get..." menos said as he tossed it to essul, the batarian catching it in his hand, "Some of its corrupted, others were junk dummy files. But I got what i could, for the price you offered..." he said as he activated his omnitool, aiming it ofr the batarian as his smile faded.

 

"Now let's get your payment over with..." he said as he hit record on his device, "Tell me about a few future deployments the Special Intervention Unit might make. And please..." he asked, though making sure essul knew with his hard look that it was anything but, "Try to make it juicy."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Matriarch Lidanya strode across the CIC on the Destiny Ascension during their 20 system victory tour celebrating the anniversary of the Battle of the Citadel. A call came over com channels to her XO.

 

XO Axiana transferred the call to the Matriarch. “This one is for you. It is from Spectre Xanthe Remi on Duellos. It is urgent.”

 

“I’ll take it in my ready room.” Lidanya replied, and she left the CIC for the adjoining room for the priority QE communication. When she entered she pressed a button and the conference room table dropped and she stood on a disk that was in the floor. Spectre Remi’s image appeared before her.

 

“Spectre Remi, what is so important?” the Matriarch asked with her regal authority.

 

“The situation on the planet has gone to hell, Ma’am. I’m getting reports… and sightings of human-synthetic hybrids pouring out of the Drowned Aspire compound. They look like nothing we've ever seen. They slaughtered the town, destroying everything in their path, and are headed this way and toward the mine,” Xanthe reported, “I have one last shipment of Silaris armor enroute to the base via grav train.”

 

“That facility is too valuable to lose.” Lidanya replied.

 

“Some of the hybrids are escaping off world. What are my orders?” Xanthe asked.

 

“Get the last shipment loaded; evacuate the base and the corporate facility. Use your base defenses to shoot down any space craft leaving the planet. I’m invoking Council Regulation 320 regarding plagues. I’m sending in elements of the 2^nd fleet that are patrolling that cluster to purge the colony. You have two hours.” Lidanya ordered. “Is there anything else I should know?”

 

“There is a Turian frigate here commanded by a Turian Spectre.”

 

“Let that one leave.” Lidanya said. “I do not want a diplomatic incident.”

 

“Yes, Ma’am. Ma'am, these things. We'll try to hold them off the best we can. Our defenses can only do so much. They can tear through walls.”

 

“I'll alert the fleet to get there flank speed. Lidanya, out.”

[Redbelle]

Jess, Morgan and Anika emerged into the Comm Room looking, for all intent's and purposes, like nothing had happened. Which in Anika's case at least was completely justified. Jess and Morgan however were smirking. Which for Morgan, lasted right up until he heard a.

 

"Ooooh there he is! Now what's all this about about a shoulder wound? Silly silly..... Why do you have to be such a baby about coming down to my med bay"?

 

Elara appeared right behind them and Morgan's smirk left him as he looked at her. "Oh no".

 

"Oh yes. Good thing Jessie here got on the comm and told me or you'd have gone into action with a shoulder wound wouldn't you? Well not on my watch. Fortunately I can treat you here". Elara strode up and pushed Morgan back until she'd maneuvered him into one of the chair's in the comm's room. The back of his knee's hit and Morgan half fell, half recoiled away from Elara.

 

"Last time I was in your care you..... you...."!!

 

"Oh Morgie... that was for science. It wasn't personal". She looked up, annoyed, at Jess. "And if it wasn't for her I'd have..... Well it doesn't really matter now. What matter is that little flying statis beetle got free while a Turian repair team were fixing a camera and I got two test subjects for the trials. And it turn's out....? I may need to do further testing on other species. Not get that top off Mister"!

 

As Jess strode into the Comm's room she nodded to Aelias as Elara started reaching for Morgan's armour clasps while he tried to bat her away. His eye's squinting as his shoulder ached. "Morgan! Don't be a baby. Your fine this time. Aelias.... Wasn't expecting you here, Your in charge of the briefing"?

 

Aelias nodded, feeling a little more at ease as Jess's aura of calm authority gave her something to anchor onto. As well as present as good an opening as she'd probably get. "Yes. I think. The captain might be along but he's co-ordinating at the moment. This ship is heading towards a train from the Silias armour facility. The Aspirant's, as Deidrus insist's we call them....".

 

"Numan's". Jess interjected casually.

 

"....As-pir-ant's....". Aelias continued. "Haven't managed to get so far that they're trying to evac everyone while the armour get's shipped to an alternative cargo hauler. They're leaving a defence crew to hold off the Aspirant's and hope they can hold out till reinforcement's come".

 

"Has the captain tried telling them staying's suicide? I know the Asari has biotics as a core skill". She said nodding to Naleena. "But unless they have a way to apply some sort of suppression those things can't overcome..... They're toast. Bernard's one of the most powerful guns around and one of those armoured things took the hit and fell down. And then got back up again! People don't just get up when you hit them with somethign that hard. Only other thing that might pierce them is a Widow with armour piecing and an extended barrel".

 

"I know. We know. Analytic's have figured this out too and the reccomendations are on the Captains table".

 

"And what's he doing with them"?

 

Aelias sighed. "The captain went and presented his case to the complex where he met another Spectre, who told him in no uncertain terms that the armour would not be released to him. He said he'd go to the council. The Asari Spectre said he'd be rebuffed. Something about the need for secrecy and how they wouldn't allow him to threaten the project the armour was intended for.....".

 

"Secret fleet". Jess mummered under her breath. Then out loud. "There's a Salarian judge in lockdown. He mentioned something about what this planet's been doing regarding a project. Aelias... Can you make sure he stay's there for now? I think he has answer's we need. but that'll have to wait till after..... What"? She asked. Finally asking Aelias to put the assignment in the table. "What does Deidrus want from us"?

 

Aelias swallowed. "Captain Deidrus has run out of options in way's he can acquire the armour through proper channels. Due to the nature of the threat on the planet he believe's the resource we require to continue the mission and stand a chance of thwarting a collector attack is in danger of slipping through our fingers. Spectre authority allows him to to what he feels must be done to safeguard the council which now has human representation. As such, to continue his duty.... he's tasked all of you to take the armour in a show of force.... Look, guy's...."! Aelias blurted out. "Deidrus is right about this. We DO need that armour. But he's also wrong. This is down to two Spectre's butting head's over jurisdiction. The Asari's council directive is to preserve the armour so it can go and be fitted to.... whatever it's been assigned to. Deidrus's directive is to investigate the collector threat and do all in his power to neutralise it. If he can. Fact is.... is that we're all caught between those two and ontop of it there's a hostile force threatening them, making both of them harden their positions. The situation on this planet's been escalating and it's....". Aelias shook her head. "I don't know. If we don't do as Deidrus says we waste time looking for other sources of Silias, meanwhile the collector's keep harvesting while we search. If we do? We're actively work both for and against council interests.....".

 

With that Aelias looked up. "The official plan is that Audron swoops in, stops the train, neutralises the crew, offload the train to load onto the Audron and make off leaving the evidence to be taken care of by the Aspirant's. A case of what the council don't know won't hurt them... which.... is kinda their policy. Clean hands, clear conscience.... someone else does the dirty work. Which mean's Spectre work.....". She looked up. "But, you guy's? I've been getting a sense your not happy with how grey the morality of this assignment is. So here's what we need. What this assignment HAS to produce. The Audron get's enough armour to withstand collector beam attacks. The one we caught on Omega? The beam's would chew through the Audron's current armour and barriers. And we all know that we'll be encountering collector ships in the future. So.... maybe...maybe you people can think of a way. I just handle comm's. I'm supposed to just keep everyone able to stay in communication. And this whole thing is going to happen... because the Spectre's won't back down from their positions".

 

Jess blew out a breath. "Deidrus know your telling us this"?

 

"Heh... No. He told me to tell you the plan. Then walked off muttering about how you lot probably wouldn't stick to any plan and he'd need a fall back in case things went bad".

 

Jess nodded. "Thanks for the heads up luv.... how's the dress"?

 

"Turian's.... Aren't supposed to.... Look forget about the dress! We're still surging through the Asari radar net. What are you going to do when we get to our target"?

 

Jess chewed her lip as she heard mummering's off to one side. Morgan was now being restrained by Anika as Elara fussed over his shoulder as she worked to extract something there. Aelias was looking like she was in completely over her head and looking for a way out for all of them. Naleena looked distracted and Jess spotted another man, human, whom she'd never seen before.

 

Turning back she shrugged. "Take the armour. Apart from that, I'm open to suggestions. We need some idea of how we're going to handle this when the boom goes down".

[Cknarf]

Frank watched as the rest of the crew entered the comm room, followed by another asari he hadn't seen previously.

 

"...I got two test subjects for the trials. And it turn's out....? I may need to do further testing on other species. Not get that top off Mister!"
 

 I'll be sure to avoid the medbay.

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

The briefing began, Frank stood with his arms crossed, a female turian gave the team the rundown.

 

"...he's tasked all of you to take the armour in a show of force.... "

Vayne elbowed Frank, nodding his head with a grin.  

 

Show of force?  Yep. You're totally getting out of this one alive, Frank.

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

 

"...The official plan is that Audron swoops in, stops the train, neutralises the crew..."

 

Neutralize the crew? Piece of cake.  I'll just use my oh-so-extensive training.

Frank sighed.

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

Frank looked across the room at one of the asari.

 

Vera's 'organic'. That asari is absolutely terrifying. Oh, god, I just made eye contact. NOPE.

He nervously looked down, scratching his head.

-------------------------------------------------------
"...We need some idea of how we're going to handle this when the boom goes down."

So... briefing's over then?

"Is that it?  Are we free to go?  I've never attended a briefing before..."  Frank looked around.  "Do we go now or later?" He gestured to his weapons.  "Was I supposed to bring these?" 
 

[Kel Riever]

Being nervous about a doctor who might not know exactly what they were doing wasn’t a sign of being a baby in Morgan’s book.  It was a sign of being smart.

Some negotiating was involved.  Only Morgan’s shoulder piece needed to be removed, and the re-patchable environmental suit over the wound was cut away.  Anika held him down and while Morgan was pretty sure he could squirm away from the seven-foot tall bodyguard if he needed, he did need the wound taken care of.  Eventually, he let her hold him down and after all, if Elara really made a mistake, being pinned might actually help. 

Morgan just hoped that he had a shoulder that worked when it was all said and done.

“Now, this won’t hurt a bit,” Elara said as she moved in on Morgan’s shoulder with a device that reminded him a lot of ancient dental Novocain needles.  The asari paused and looked up at the ceiling briefly.  “Alright, that’s an exaggeration.  It might hurt some.”

Accepting his fate, Morgan stayed still while Elara went into his shoulder. A thick, built in needle cleared the way by reopening the flesh that had been sealed above the fragment.  There would be a momentary burst of pain, followed by an immediate medigel application which was delivered by the needle’s tube.  The fragment was deeper than Morgan had realized, and the insertion went about five centimeters deep.

“It’s in here somewhere,” Elara said, and stuck the tip of her tongue out the side of her mouth.

Morgan, despite the numbing of the pain, felt she was slightly off target and shifted his shoulder.

“Ah, there it is!”

Elara removed the first device and pulled a second from her belt, which resembled a clear, elongated tube with a lit button along the side and a set of miniature forceps tucked within the aperture at the end.  She inserted it into the now opened path.  There was slight bleeding but the gel had staunched most of it.  When Elara reached the shrapnel, she pushed the button, removed the tube, and the fragment could be seen held in the forceps, glistening red. 

“Nice and neat,” Elara crowed, “If I don’t say so myself!”

Blood began seeping from the wound in larger quantities.

“Oh yeah,” Elara exclaimed, “Almost forgot to administer one last full dose of gel!”  She quickly pulled out a white, clear gel coated patch and slapped it over the wound.  “There!”

Morgan was contemplating firing off a rather out of character wisecrack remark at Anika when the comm room door opened and in walked Deidrus Androkan.  The Spectre had returned.

[Kel Riever]

Deidrus Androkan, six foot five, walked to the head of the table in the com room.  Although a trained eye could pick up a weary edge in his gait, he walked like a veteran ready for war.  Aelias and the two Armiger guards came to attention instinctively but he immediately waved for her to become at ease.  Eteon, for her part, never altered her position, but that was apparently her way as a Cabal, accepted by all the turians aboard.

“Aelius, has everyone here been provided the tactical detail download for their personal use?”

“Yes, Spectre, including everything we discussed before.”

Androkan nodded, his red facial marks on steel-grey carapace adding to his stoic appearance.  With a wave of his hand, brought up an overview of the train and its route in holographic form above the planning table.  Data streamed in from the sides of the image.  He prepared to launch into the mission parameters, but then stopped, collapsing the display with another motion, as if another thought had occurred to him.

“I will tell you without holding anything back that this assignment I am asking you to perform is highly controversial.  If there were some other way to accomplish what we must for our work against the Collectors, I would not do what I am about to.  Taking the Silaris armor from Anotaria Industries puts me in direct conflict with another Spectre who has blocked my previous attempt at a negotiation, despite my authority and my best efforts to explain the situation.  Perhaps in a more perfect universe we would have time to work this out, but as you can see from what has happened on Duellos, we have run out of time.

“If anything, I am a turian of my word.  And in that regard, none of you will be held responsible for my decision to seize this armor.  I, and I alone, bear the burden of this, and I absolve you all, as I do my crew, of any fallout that maybe incurred.  There will be an accounting for this, of that I am sure.  In the end, I can only hope that others see the needs I do.  And if they do not understand, then no harm shall come to you from it.

“Thus, if you do not find yourself in a position to believe what I say, or trust my judgment, I ask that you say so now.  I will not hold it against you, though let me be clear I will be disappointed.  There are a number of Armigers here at my disposal.  None of them bring to this what you do.  Your skills are far more diverse, and useful for this endeavor.  If what I had needed were a group of soldiers who obeyed my every command, none of you would be here.  As it stands, each of you has greater value.  Perhaps it is my own sense of duty to those humans, and truly all of us, who suffer from the threat of the Collectors, which has me presume you share my sentiments.  But if you do not, I will not hold it against you and you are free to go.

“What say you?  Are you with me or shall you be excused?”

[Cknarf]

Frank took a deep breath.  He raised a finger to say something, then balled his hand into a tight fist.  Biting his knuckle, he exhaled sharply.  His eyes closed, he lowered his head, and was silent for a moment.

He looked up, and his eyes met Androkan's.  He was waiting for an answer.

Back straight, and head held high, Frank gave him a silent nod.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena heard what Deidrus said. He finally came clean about the mission. She stepped forward to face Deidrus. As she spoke the room became dead silent. “This mission is more complicated than just between two Spectres. As a citizen of the Asari Republics, I cannot take up arms against Asari Military or steal property of the Asari Military. Unlike everyone else here, for me it is an act of treason, even if done under the auspices of a Spectre. I have my own conscience, and the Asari legal system with which to deal. Nor can I remain neutral on this matter, the Republics are my home.

 

“I believe there are other ways of obtaining the Silaris armor you require, Spectre, that does not involve an unprovoked attack upon my people: one would be to approach the Council and arrange purchase through legal channels. But since that is off the table, I hope you understand that I shall be leaving.”

 

Deidrus wasn’t surprised. In honesty, he was glad to see Naleena leave. At least now he had a loyal crew. Hopefully she didn’t sow any doubts into the rest of the team.

 

Naleena looked over at Anika who had promised to go with her. Anika released Morgan, and joined Naleena. Jess’ jaw dropped.

 

“Anika!”

 

Naleena approached Jess on their way out of the room and whispered into her ear, “We shall see you aboard the Medusa.”

 

"She promised me, Jess." Anika said.

 

Deidrus sighed. "Anyone else?"

 

Naleena and Anika entered the elevator.

 

"So what now? That was a bit unexpected." Anika said.

 

"Quite honestly I didn't expect him to be up front about this, but given that Irina had been giving information about this freely I don't think he had any choice. The fact that I also pressured Aelias over the com channel earlier probably didn't hurt matters," Naleena said.

 

"So now what? This doesn't change anything, does it?"

 

"No, not at all. It makes things a lot easier. We can get off this ship and fly directly to the base for evacuation. I don't believe we'll be detained at all. They will notice our flight path from the Audron, however, which at the moment is not hostile." Naleena said, "I will surrender us into the custody of Xanthe Remi."

 

The elevator arrived in the shuttle bay. Naleena and Anika approached her shuttle. Her shuttle door opened and they entered.

 

"Audron CIC, this is the private shuttle VERA, preparing for launch." Naleena said as she started the engines.

 

"Under whose authority?" the XO asked. "Captain Androkan requires all available shuttles for the next mission."

 

"This shuttle is not available for the mission. It is evacuating civilians. Open the shuttle bay doors." Naleena said. "Now!"

 

"I only show two of you in the shuttle." the XO said.

 

"Fine!" Naleena replied, "Anika, find.... Zenon, and get some of the refugees, bring them aboard. At least we can keep an eye on Zenon this way. I can take nine."

 

Anika nodded and opened the shuttle door. She found Zenon wandering around. "Zenon, the captain has ordered an evacuation, would you like to come with us? Anyone else? We can take eight more."

 

"What about Irina?" Zenon asked.

 

"They're evacuating everyone. The Captain doesn't want all these civilians on board," Anika said, "At least you'll be with Naleena and me."

 

"I'm supposed to watch Irina's bike." She said.

 

"Zenon, we'll make sure the two of you don't get split up," Anika said, "This is just temporary."

 

"Where are we going?" Zenon asked.

 

"To the Asari base." Anika replied, "It'll be safe from the things."

 

Zenon grabbed her things and followed Anika. About twelve people followed Anika and tried to jam their way onto the shuttle. She gritted her teeth and growled and the other four backed away. Anika closed the door.

 

"Nice." Naleena said, "Okay, Commander, we're full. Now open the shuttle bay door."

 

"Opening bay 2 launch door."

 

"Thank you." Naleena said with exaperation and VERA took off toward the Asari base.

[Cainhurst Crow]

((This might cause some problems. For his aloof behavior, vayne is something of a papa grizzly when it comes to people who swore to protect. XD))

 

Vayne watched two of their stronger fighters leave through the doors, somewhat relieved and also saddened. They were good assets, good people as well, but the tension was there.

 

'It probably wouldn't have ended in any other way then a blood bath, given the circumstances. Naleena and the others fighting against Deidrus...' he thought as he looked towards the turian captian, 'And of course, me having to support the captain. Because I'll be damned if I let a mutiny happen...' he thought as he gave a nod to the turian, letting him know he was in.

 

'Never again...so long as I live.' he thought grimly as he pondered over their current plan.

 

"So we're gonna have to steal this material. I'm guessing that it'll be a mobile grav train we snatch this stuff off of, given that the asari are loading out the last of the stuff from their factory before the Nullectors come over and slaughter every blueskin there. Or purple skin, I'm not discriminating here." he said simply as he looked to deidrus.

 

"Point is, times gonna be of the essence to them, so this train might be moving at top speed. So my questions gonna be a simple one." He asked as he crossed his arms, "What's the plan for getting our payload? I got some ideas of my own, but I'd like to hear the official plan first, see if improvements can be made."

[Kel Riever]

Deidrus Androkan saw that no one else took the opportunity to leave.  He assessed both Dahlia and Irina mentally before waving his hand once more over the planning table to bring up the tactical displays.  “This is the route of the train.  Our records show that during its cargo runs, the train does not travel at top speed due to load primarily and possible need for the asari guards to move about the train if there is trouble.  Top speed, if it becomes a factor, is 581 kilometers per hour.”

A hollow, buzzing sound alert interrupted Deidrus.  Aelias turned to him, “Sir we are about to reach the Radius of Action formula.”

Androkan’s tightened his tone.  “This is the team.  I trust this operation to you.  You have all my resources at your disposal.  I will give you my plan as you have asked, and know that it can be modified or changed, but we have reached what humans refer to as the point of no return.  The train is about to leave and if we abort from here on forward, we lose the armor for good.”  He then tilted his head to Aelias, “Proceed with the interception.”

In a controlled, but quiet voice, Aelias relayed orders to the Audron’s pilot.  All in the room could hear the frigate’s engine powering up, and a silhouette showing the Audron appeared on the holographic display, along with a vector line and a stream of data.

“To now answer the question, the plan, as it stands, is to blow the track far enough in front of the train so that it is forced to stop.  Thereafter the train may be seized.  With all the Audron’s shuttles used to evacuate civilians, and the loss of Naleena from our team, the one transport we have left aboard is Frank Eli’s Kodiak.  It was damage in its crash, but its ability to fly in atmosphere has been restored with focused repairs.  The shuttle will be needed to fly ahead of the train with a team of Armigers so that charges may be effectively set to sever the rail.  Someone familiar with structural weak points would accompany this team as well, as the track was built to withstand heavy damage.  The Armiger engineers will need assistance and while I presume Mister Eli can add his expertise, if that is not the case or someone else feels they should go along, this is the group they would be assigned to.”

Deidrus pointed to a schematic showing a hypothetical point of interception.  “At this point the asari will have detected us and we will contact them, warning them.  The Audron will move in from behind, threatening the destruction of the track behind the train, and the train itself.  We will ask the asari to surrender themselves, as they will be trapped with no way out.

“The asari and turian military participate in war games on a regular basis, and over the years, I have been part of many.  What I can tell you is that I predict this team of commandos to be dedicated, and yet not foolhardy.  They will fight until they see no other way out, and then I predict they will accept surrender, unwilling to cast their lives away in a pointless endeavor.  They may try to reverse the train, in which case we blow the track behind them with the ship.  They may try to hold out, in which case we will have to go in.  Or they may accept the surrender if they come to the conclusion that there is no way to win.

“My bet is that they attempt to hold out for reinforcements.  The base nearby is substantially armed, and likely prepared to respond.  We will have a limited time to board the train, neutralize the asari, and seize the armor.  That will be the task of all remaining members.  Our data predicts that of the three cars pulled by the engine, only one needs to be controlled."

Androkan motioned to Eteon. “Eteon and I will accompany this team.  Eteon has the ability, as a Cabal, to teleport short distances.  While the Audron hovers for deployment, she will pass within the interior of the train, to sew mischief, to identify the armor and to prepare it for transport with anchors that cables from the frigate can attach to.  As long as that car is under our control, and the asari are at least suppressed, the side doors on the railcars can be opened.  Thereupon, the Audron can send over cables from our bay and winch in the plates.  We have the ability, but the frigate would have to remain steady throughout the operation as it is a precarious maneuver.  Once the armor is loaded, we would retreat back to the ship, rendezvous with the shuttle, and leave.  The total estimated time before action from the base presents imminent danger is dependent on response time, but I would give us twelve minutes at best from the point the team boards the train.

“I have no desire to fight the commandos, but they will do their best to defend the objective.  There is plenty that they can do to attempt to disrupt the procedure, so while it is not necessary or desired to contend with them, there may come the point where they may need to be eliminated.  Thus, as I have said before, you are authorized to use whatever force you deem necessary to achieve our goal.

“That is the plan as currently designed,” Deidrus finished.  “It is open for discussion.”