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[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Vera contacted Naleena with information. "I wasn't able to locate the origin of the transmission. It was... widespread."

 

"Thank you, Vera." Naleena replied.

 

"Spectre, I would exercise caution at our destination. The call was not from a member of the NAPD. It was pinged off multiple locations, and that was not an Asari. For one thing we do not use the word reckon. It was, however a close approximation of an Asari voice. I would suspect that the caller was using a voice modifier. This does not mean that the information was not good. It means that we should be ready for anything." Naleena switched her Black Widow to AP rounds and put her suppressor on it. The suppressor controlled the muzzle flash and kick as well as reducing the noise so that she would be able to better hear after each shot.

 

 

(note that rail guns have a muzzle flash even though they use no powder - I'm assuming that ME weapons are based on the rail gun)

[Terca]

Androkan tilted his head side to side and rolled his shoulders as far as they would within his armor before replying. "And we're flying over the 'slums' of Illium. More or less the regions that the people of this planet have been willing to set aside for the less 'admirable' population to have their disputes far from what might call the 'prestige'. The NAPD or IDF would not send someone this far out for a disturbance unless structural damage to buildings was occurring." He shrugged before standing up and moving to the door of the shuttle. "Not that they don't do their fair share of work..."

 

He had his Paladin drawn and his Mattock on his back for now as he waited for the pilot to update them on what it was looking like on the ground.

 

"Sir, I'm going to sweep us over the general area the person on comms directed us to. The firefight should be visible from above. We're unmarked so nobody should try and hit us but if we start gathering heavy arms attention I'm going to need to set you down a little ways away. We're armored so I can get you close enough though."

 

(Yeah, they are essentially small rail guns. Muzzle flash is still a factor.)

[Redbelle]

Jess entered her cabin to find Anika sat on the foot of her bed. Still clad in her white armour. The red drapes, unhanged, lying neatly folded next to her.

 

Jess arched an eyebrow as she noticed something in Anika's hands. She was looking at a pad when she walked in and now Anika was looking at her with a blank expression.

 

Gone made her mad. Jess thought, trying to figure out what she had done this time as she walked over and dropped on the edge of the bed next to her. "Penny for your thoughts luv".

 

Without a word, Anika handed her the pad. Jess took it and saw Turian anatomy files open. Jess chuckled. "C'mon now. You have to admit they have some interesting curves".

 

"Yeah". Anika gruffed. "If by curves you mean angles so acute they were drawn with a ruler". She turned and regarded Jess. "I don't mean to be out of line. But how could you even think of....... with that"! She pointed at the pad.

 

Jess clucked her toungue. "You didn't have a problem with the Asari twins".

 

"No one has a problem with Asari twins"! Anika blurted out. "But...... I mean......". She slumped. "Captain.....".

 

"Jess luv. In the cabin, I'm Jess".

 

"......Jess". Anika said slowly. "Please tell me we're not taking up the job. We're not going to work with them".

 

"Problem with Turians"?

 

Anika drew a deep breath. "It's not that. I'm just.... not sure what to expect. I don't know them and I can't read them like I can our own people. I'm supposed to be your bodyguard and AS your bodyguard...... I'm telling you that whenever I try to sense motivations, or look for hints of what they might do....... I'm in the dark. I worried that if their not being truthful, you could be in for a world of hurt". She paused. "And honestly..... Those mandibles of their freak me out. Just watching them twitch and snap....... Half the time I want to have my gun hand ready because I think their going to try something".

 

Jess was silent, then after a few moment, she felt an odd rumble begin in her stomach, shudder it's way up to her chest which started to shake until finally she let out a laugh as she flopped back on the bed. Her hands covering her eyes. "Oh.... Ann..... Annie Ann Ann. This is perfect"!

 

"Captain"?

 

"You've never really been around aliens much".

 

"I've met them".

 

"But you never tried to get to know them"! Jess pulled her hands off her eye's as she rolled her head towards Anika. "Look. I need to lay it out for you. And this is how it's going to happen so you may as well get comfortable with it".

 

"I'm going to the Audron. Your coming with me. in case something happens and I need you to pull me out. Or....... in case something doens't happen. And you get the face time you need to see these people as..... well...... people".

 

Anika huffed and looked away as Jess rolled back up and slid closer to her. "Luv. You remember the day you asked me to take you away with me"?

 

Anika nodded.

 

"I haven't asked anything of you much since then. Sure, bodyguard is alot to ask, but you had all the skills already so it wasn't a big jump for you. This though? How many alien species have you had regular contact with growing up"?

 

"None". Anika admitted.

 

"Well then..... Today's the beginning of the day we change that".

 

"Captain....."!

 

"We lost a colony Ann".

 

That brought Anika up short. "One of ours"?

 

"One of ours that was supposed to be an easy five year shipping run plan. It went dark. With all the other's going dark and no official investigations, this might be our chance to influence what's happening. One of my investments may have been taken which means our pockets are going to be considerably lighter this quarter, and the next. And after and so on. No one knows what's happening out there really. But if someone took one of our colonies.......". She left the sentance trailing with a grim light in her eyes.

 

Anika though was still hesitant. "The Medusa's beena good place to hide Jess. We don't advertise ourselves and we don't make waves. What if us being on the Audron changes that"?

 

Jess shrugged. "Can't dictate how the winds blow luv. Gotta go where they take you. But if Lawson shows up and tries to snatch his property back, then he'll have to take up his case with Bernard..... which reminds me"!

 

Jess slid and lay on her front as she reached under the bed and drew out a box. Opening the lid, she drew out a slab of red metal sidearm that had a skull and crossbones drawn on either side. Jess sighed in contentment as she slid open the clip housing and felt the action slide cleanly. "Bernard...... it's been to long".

 

Anika just stared. "Your taking that monstosity onto a Turian ship"?

 

"If they get up to funny business, an executioner should give them pause".

 

"It's only good for one shot per clip"!

 

Jess slid the executioner to the hard point on her thigh and felt the mag clamp lock it in place as it folded into itself as her hand left it.

 

"I know luv..... but it'll be a hell of a shot when it happens".

[Redbelle]

The crew didn't like it.

 

Anika didn't like it.

 

Hell, even she didn't like it. But as she stood in front of he crew she knew they'd go with it.

 

Not that they had much choice.

 

Oda stood at the front of her crew in the cargo bay and seemed to speak for them. "Captain..... The crew aren't happy about you going".

 

Jess watched as Anika stowed the last of her cases aboard the Mule MIP which had a compartment emptied of it's life support and couch for extra storage space. Most of the two hours had been spent packing what she thought she'd need. She'd had to par down. She'd been actively cruel with herself in choosing what to take.

 

Anika slammed the hatch closed and the crammed compartment bounced the door off the cases. With an annoyed glare Anika pulled out and tossed one of the cases aside and the this time, managed to get the hatch closed.

 

Jess turned to Oda. "You and me both. All of you. I'm not happy it's come to this. But if anything happens I want the Medusa and you lot as far away as possible". She faced Oda square on and breathed a sigh. The time had come. "Luscious won't be in charge while I'm gone by the way. Oda will. He has my full support and if I hear any funny business while I'm gone heads will roll. I literally mean heads..... will...... roll. Right off anyones shoulder's who doesn't toe the line". She shifted her gaze around her crew, some of whom seemed fidgety and wouldn't meet her gaze. "You've got your assigned runs to make. When I'm done you come and pick me up".

 

One of the crew spoke up. "How come Luscious isn't in charge"?

 

"Because he's falling apart". Jess said starkly. "I've held onto him out of respect that this ship was once his family business and he was next in line for succession. But you all know he's been hitting the bottle. Making bad deals.  I hoped he'd come around but I'm out of patience. Let him drink himself under somewhere. Keep him out of ship affairs. I'll deal with him when I get back".

 

Jess glanced around at the somber crew and smiled. "Tell you what. I'm going over to a Turian ship where I hear they starch their underwear and brush their teeth with broken glass. When I call.... And believe me, I'l be calling as soon as I can. If you lot pick me up inside of six hours...... It's bonuses all around".

 

That raised some smiles as Jess shooed them out the bay and clamped her helmet on. Turning she saw that Anika had done the same and she radioed for the bay to begin depressurisation. Jess took one MIP, Anika the other.

 

Anika keyed her comm to Jess. "Captain, I got the extra guns stowed. Are you sure you want all that weaponry with us"?

 

"I promised to deliver on alot of front's luv. And I got a feeling someone over there is going to think it's christmas when they see what we have on offer".

 

"Did you transfer the money".

 

"Of course".

 

"How much"?

 

"Enough to buy the Audron three times over luv". Jess said grinning. "Could have transferred more, but I didn't want to be seen as extravagant".

 

"Perish the thought".

 

Jess's grin broadened as she imagined Anika rolling her eye's as the bay doors opened. Jess gripped the yoke in front of her and the MIP rose up and away. Anika's following close behind.

 

The two MIP's exited the Medusa's cargo door and once they were far enough out, Jess brought her stick over to see the Medusa hanging there in space. A sudden coldness gripped her as she saw her suspended there in the void. As if something deep inside was calling to her not to leave her ship.

 

Jess set her chin and set course for the Audron. There was no going back. Either her days as Jess Stone were drawing to a close, or the spectre's really did need a pirate captain to help them.

 

Either way, the coming days should prove memorable.

 

She had no idea how right she would be, just not in the way she imagined

[Cainhurst Crow]

Vayne tilted his head to the quarian to get a good look at him with his good eye. He kept his foot pressed on the vorchas chest the whole time, staring at the quarian in silence before he nodded. "A pleasure..." he said as he turned back his attention to the vorcha under his foot.

"Stupid krogan...you all die...you all GYAHHH!!!!" The vorcha let out a massive and sickening hiss as vayne pressed his foot into the creatures chest, crushing his lungs softly and making him squirm underneath, desperate to get out from under the krogans heavy pin.

"You were saying vorcha? About the blue suns and someone being after this quarian? Why don't you go on, no need to let me interrupt you." Vayne said as he eased off, the vorcha coughing and gagging as it could once again breath, its lungs not needing to evolve low oxygen adaptability just yet.

"*Gasp* W-we got a message, just after quarian run away from us! Blue suns want quarian. Want him because of volus, volus selling blue sun secrets! Big bounty for quarian, alive or dead!" The vorcha said as his red eyes looked to the quarian, "He had credits on omnitool. We would have had credits, and reward. Just trying to make a living!"

"What kind of information, huh? What's you and your bosses know about this?" Vayne asked as he cocked his scimitar, steam escaping as the spent clip was ejected and clattered to the ground, pushing the gun forward and loading another thermal clip in place before aiming it at the vorcha. "Think carefully now, I'd hate for my finger to slip."

"We don't know, WE DON'T KNOW!!! Blue Suns no say what volus sell to shadow broker, Honest!" The vorcha pleaded as he held up his arms to sheild his face, quivering in fear of the angry krogan with a shotgun in front of him. "B-b-b-but Hear rumor, yes! Rumor about blue suns, doing something. Kidnapping humans to sell. Lots of humans! That all I know!"

Vayne stood still as he looked down at the vorcha, weighing his options as he looked down at the creature at his feet. Finally, he looked to Rayya, eyebrow raised. "Any of this true, kid? You worked for an intel broker?"

[Gabi_MuadDiB]

"Aaaah... I mean... yes an no" He answered to Vayne "I was working for a Volus? yes. Did I knew he was an Intel broker... Nope" He wasn't still sure about the Krogan being an Allied, now that he knew he had a bounty over his head, dead or alive, he was afraid that the Krogan could turn him in to the Blue suns for the credits...

 

'I think the best I can do is tell him the whole story... and try to break a deal... he seems like a Merc, so... I could hire him, or try and make him cooperate with me, just need to say the right number, or maybe I could give him something that he needs...'

 

"All right... Here is the thing: I was working for Wuldar, a scumbag that loans money at the slums... I was fixing his accounting software... aaaannnd stealing some money hat the same time..." He said proud of himself, smiling even thought the Krogan couldn't notice through Arrins helmet "So... I realized I had more money that planned stealing... got a bit curious about it and looked from where the money came, and it had something to do with info that the Volus had selled... then was when I realized he was an Intel broker... So I ran away cause I knew that it could bring me troubles... I just didn't knew they will came so fast" 'ok, I think now is when i try to make him help me further, I don't stand a chance against Blue Suns and Blood pack withouth help... significant help' "The good new is, that I still have the info that was traded. Is cyphered, so I will need to crack it..." 'There you go... make him need you' " and, right now I'm starting to suspect it have something to do with the missing humans..." 'alrright.... the cards are on the table... So now... proposition' "You seem to be interested in the Blue Suns affair with the missing humans right? maybe I could be of help?"

[Kel Riever]

Morgan had found his spot, a low key ‘watering hole’ at the edge of the slums.  The bar was too small for Aria to care about, like many, as long as they paid their dues.  Small had the benefit of Morgan being able to take it all in, and though it was more difficult to find a seat with its back to a wall, some hard looks at the dregs who just didn’t want to be bothered got him a place that was out of sight enough.  It was a good place for Morgan to read the data he had gotten from Lena.

 

The data streamed into the heads-up display of Morgan’s Kuwashii visor.  Let’s see, Morgan thought to himself as he read, From Operative Iyana…contact a volus named Wuldar…his location and description…avoid Blood Pack and Blue Suns.  The last line made him pause.  “Son of a…,” he muttered, before he stopped himself.

 

‘Avoid,’ meant trouble.  And of all the merc groups to have trouble with, the Blue Suns bothered Morgan the most.  The Blood Pack was straightforward, as dangerous as they were.  But the Blue Suns?  It wasn’t that Morgan thought they were any less dangerous or cold, but they were rational.  Morgan could do business with them, as long as there was no conflict of interest.  And, of course, the Blue Suns were powerful.

 

Now he had to be on guard against the Blue Suns.  The idea aggravated Morgan, but he was resigned to do his job.  The best way he saw was to find Wuldar as fast as possible, get what he needed, and leave.  If he was lucky, he’d beat the Suns to what surely was the same objective.

 

Morgan checked that his weapons were ready, transferred credits for his drinks, got up, and left the bar on his way to Wuldar.

[Kel Riever]

Morgan entered the small loaning office.  The reception area was empty, and he worried he was already too late, but then he heard voices coming from further in.  Pressing forward as quietly as possible, he peered around a corner office to observe an interaction in a back room.  Two Blue Suns mercenaries were questioning Wuldar, the volus Morgan had been looking for.

 

“How about a hundred credits for what I know?”  Wuldar spoke, his speech base toned and distorted by a respirator.

 

“How about I let you out of her without breaching your suit?” The threat came from a turian, clad in the typical armor of a trooper and pointing an Avenger assault rifle at the volus.

 

Just behind him was a Batarian, similarly armed, but wearing a grey suit of ERCS Duelist Armor, designed to enhance shield protection in lieu of kinetic defense once the shield was breached.  The mercenary group logo was haphazardly painted on his shoulder pads.  “Easy now,” the Batarian calmed his partner, “Wuldar is going to tell us what he knows, and then we’ll be on our way.  Where are the archives?”

 

“Don’t cause me trouble, please,” Wuldar said nervously, “I had them, and they got pulled out of my logs.  It must have been the quarian working here today.  Arrin, that’s his name, all right?  He said he was trying to get off Omega.  Maybe when you find him you can get a look at the data and give it back to me.  I’ll even throw in a reasonable fee.  You like fees, don’t you?”

 

The turian snorted and pressed the Avenger into the volus’ suit, “How convenient.  You want us to believe the quarian who was fixing your system stole the information?  Nice try, but it isn’t going to work.”

 

Both Blue Suns mercs had their backs to Morgan.  He checked his Katana shotgun as he tried to slip closer behind a waist-high heavy cabinet to get a better angle.  Wuldar, who faced both the mercs and Morgan, spotted the movement, and didn’t think to hide his surprise.  The volus made a conspicuous turn of his head and roughly gasped.  Just my luck, Morgan thought to himself as he did his best to duck out of sight.

 

“Who’s that?!”  The Batarian was the first to respond.  “You told us you were alone in here, Wuldar.”

 

“Yes!  I mean no one else is supposed to be here.  I’m a money lender, you must believe me!”

 

“I’m sick of your lying,” the turian said in scorn.  “And you’re no help, so that makes you useless.”  A burst erupted from his Avenger.

 

“No!”  Both Morgan and the batarian shouted simultaneously.  Morgan activated his tech armor, popped over the cabinet, and fired at the turian.  The Blue Suns armor took a beating, and the turian lurched forward, but was still up.  Projectiles from the batarian’s rifle peppered the cabinet and a round collapsed a hard light plate on Morgan’s armor.  He was forced to duck again.

 

“We needed the volus’ information,” the Batarian growled at the turian while he kept up a suppression fire.

 

“We’ll find it anyway,” the turian shouted back.  “After we take care of whoever this is.  No witnesses!”

 

Morgan aimed around the side of the cabinet and fired once more at the turian.  His aim was dead on.  The turian was hit with a full blast in the chest and crumpled.

 

“You’re never getting out of here alive,” the batarian menaced, “So why don’t you make this easy.  Come out here and I’ll kill you with one pull of the trigger.”

 

“One pull isn’t going to do it to me,” Morgan retorted, “On the other hand, that’s all I’ll need to bring you down.”

 

“Cocky.  I’ll take that bet.”

 

Morgan stood and shot.  The batarian was ready, and Morgan caught a triad of rounds that finished off his tech armor and sunk into his plates.  But the Katana blast caught the batarian in the knee.  He shrieked and fell, dropping his Avenger and grabbing his leg with both hands. 

 

“You’ve got good shields on that armor,” Morgan said as he kept his aim on the batarian and approached, “It’s too bad the phasic rounds I’ve got go right through.” 

 

“I don’t know who you are,” the batarian hissed in pain through his teeth, “But you know who we are, and you know you’re going to pay.”

 

Morgan stood over the batarian, Katana trained on his head.  Peripherally, he saw the mess in the rest of the office.  Wuldar’s corpse leaked blood through his punctured suit, and gore from the turian and batarian was splattered on everything nearby.  “Speaking of payment,” Morgan derided, “You should have taken the volus’ offer.  A smarter person would have realized from your short conversation together that if Wuldar had any other information, he would have kept trying to sell it to you instead of spending money to get it.”

 

“So, are you going to kill me?”

 

With a sigh, Morgan said, “That depends on you.  When I leave, there won’t be anyone to tell the story about what happened here but you.  I’d put good money on Wuldar not having any cameras in the office, like most places in this run down part of Omega, and since I’m also sure not everything he did was on the level.  You can tell your boss whatever you’d like, maybe even brag a little, maybe even forget a few things about me.  You never know when someone you crossed in the past is going to come back for you.”

 

“If you let me live,” the batarian hissed again.

 

“Right.  And you tell me about this quarian.”

 

When the batarian was done giving Morgan a description, Morgan knocked him across the head with the butt of the katana.  No sense in killing another Blue Suns merc.  He was already in as deep as he wanted to be.

[Cainhurst Crow]

"Aren't you the sneaky one." Vayne commented as he looked at the quarian, a small smile playing on his face as he heard the story. Finding a way to steal on the side on omega wasn't too hard, finding a way not to get caught though? That was something to be impressed with. Still, he had a major lead now, or maybe it could be nothing and the suns were just being extra careful. Either way, he couldn't look a gift quarian in the mouth. "How long will it take you to get that data cracked?" Vayne asked as the vorcha at his feet started to try and crawl away.

"Stupid...kill you someday...kill all of you...kill..." he muttered and murmured as he crawled on the ground, making his way towards the wall to try and pull himself off the ground.

"And where do you think you're going?" Vayne asked as his heard turned back to the vorcha, "You and I aren't done talking yet. One more question." The krogan said as he walked over, bending down as he grabbed the vorcha by the ammo belt on his chest, pulling him up to eye level.

"Let me down! Told you eveerything I know!" The vorcha said as he squirmed in the krogans strong grip.

"Not everything. I want to know something first." Vayne said as he shoved the vorcha against the wall, orange eye boring into him, "The blue suns are looking for my friend here, so why is the blood pack looking to?" He asked as he looked the vorcha dead in the eyes, "Since when did the blood pack work with the suns?"

"Not with suns! Suns not put out bounty, only going after bounty! Someone else...someone up the food chain." as the vorcha spoke, his arm was pressed against the wall, its claws moved quickly, configuring its omnitool as it spoke.

"Give me a name then. Who put out the bounty?" Vayne asked as he kept his arm pressing the vorcha to the wall. He was losing paitence with this vermin, and if he didn't give him what he wanted to know soon, there'd be one less pest for omega's security to worry about.

"Doesn't matter...cause you are DEAD!!!" at that moment the vorcha's omnitool came ot life, fabricating an omniclaw as he tried to send the searing hot carbide claw straight for vayne's face. Vayne pushed himself off the vorcha, cracking one of its ribs in the process as a few of the claws end grazed the scales on his face, the wounds smoking as he blasted the vorcha twice with his scimitar. The vorcha slumped down, bleeding out as it looked up at Vayne and Arrin.

"Hope...they kill you...give you plague...like be...fore..." with that the vorchas eyes rolled up into its skull as blood loss toke its toll, the vorcha losing consciousness and no doubt dead soon.

Vayne brought a hand up to his right checks, feeling the wound with a small wince. It wasn't bad, he'd honestly had worse than that in a normal bar fight. But it'd show for a little while, and that itself was an annoyance. Vanye looked to his new partner as he held his shotgun aloof, raising a brow as he spoke.

"Any chance you got a safe place left on this station? I have a feeling things are going to get heated here."

[ParkBom]

"At least, from my experience, there is no real protection for those who are unfortunate enough to live in the slums of Illium. A perfect opportunity to snag some test subjects, don't you think? Perhaps do some recruiting? I'd say a few hundred thousand credits per test plus paying for their stay on the Audron would cover it."

 

Taking out her M-15 Vindicator, Elara began to relearn her way around the assault rifle. The scientist's hands fell comfortably into place on the ridges and curves of the gun, right index finger tracing the designs on the weapon. With the suggestions from both the other Asari as well as the pilot, the doctor seemed to comply. With a wave of her hand, a pale blue light emitted from her body, a visibly powerful barrier forming around Elara. While her offensive biotic skills were still quite rusty, her barriers were top-notch. Perhaps it was out of paranoia or utility but whenever she was out of the lab, the Asari found herself placing a personal barrier around herself. It was better to use that amount of energy and be safe rather than sorry, if a stray bullet sought to end her life. Science garb was never that protective, usually.

 

"I hope we finish this operation quickly. I still need to finish ordering lab supplies." she chimed in, holding her assault rifle to the side, the barrel facing away from the Spectre and the assassin.

[Terca]

"We will find out soon enough." Deidrus replied as the sound of the shuttle taking a round was heard dully from within the cabin. The pilot made a clicking noise and you could tell he was thinking about something before the softened sound of a heavy assault rifle was heard and he let out a swear that the translators didn't know what to do with. "Get us down sooner than later Pilot, no need to take more damage than necessary."

 

"Of course sir." The Turian replied with a light growl as the Shuttle banked sharply and set down, sliding a little bit before coming to a complete stop. "Radio me when you're done, I'll pick you up when I can. Contacts at rear of shuttle around the corner, a number of them  were firing into the windows of the building beside us. Heavy guns... Don't know what kind. Not of Turian make."

 

"Understood." Deidrus grabbed a leaver on the side of the shuttle and pulled it back and with a hiss of hydraulics the door slid sideways to show the sidewalk beside them, the sound of hydraulics covering the crackling noise of his cloak engaging. The Turian turned left out and raised his hand cannon, his eyes scanning side to side quickly. Seeing nobody had rounded the corner yet, no doubt due to whomever they were firing at in the building, he decloaked and waved with his free hand for the others to follow. "You heard the pilot, grounded contacts with heavy weapons, take care."

[siphernin]

Cole surveyed the shuttle as the inhabitants unloaded themselves.  The AI tapped into the salarian’s turret targeting system and eased up upon the rounds per second, allowing the mercs within to have a better chance of counterattack. 

 

Taking the chance as provided, the gap in the assault resulted in a hail of gunfire back into the building across from the depot where the turrets were firing from.  A preprogrammed message came across a distress bandwidth with an asari’s voice broadcasting on all nearby frequencies. 

 

“Captain!  Captain! We need back up!  I repeat, we need back up.  We have five down, there’s only three of us left.  We’re getting killed out here.  AH!”  The scream was accentuated with the sound of a round and an asari in the distance screaming for medigel as the gunfire from the building decreased.

 

“We got one of the *****,” one of the mercs shouted.  “Come on.  Let’s earn our pay, boys.  Someone grab that launcher.  Let’s light the rest of these ***** up.”

[Redbelle]

The two MIP's descended into atmosphere, having used the planet's orbit to arrive on top of where the Audron was located. For all the MIP's stealth capabilities however there was one problem in that there sensor range extended out as far as their eye's could see. That would have made the travel to extremely risky had the Medusa not downloaded all the local traffic's to-ing and fro-ing into the MIP's extremely simple navigation computers.

 

Actually to call it a computer was like calling the sun a boiled cabbage. What little procesing power the MIP's had was taken up in keeping life support going. Leaving what little remained to display traffic vectors. Without that information, with orbital traffic moving at relatively high speeds, being in the way of any ship would result in a collision whereupon the MIP and it's occupant would become a small smear on their bow.

 

Still, with what they had, they managed and made good time before the descent. Jess angled the MIP and brought it down as the computer froze before telling her the MIP's heat shields had detected an increase in heat.

 

Jes rolled her eyes. Little wonder she hadn't been able to sell these things with a computer that told you what was happening after it had happened. Finally she and Anika cleared the initial drop phase and the hulls temperature climbed back down to normal.

 

Anika commed her. "They do know we're coming right"?

 

"Yep".

 

"Are we going to announce"?

 

"Where's the fun in that luv"?

 

"Fun? Captain, these things look like oversized missles. We could give whoever's in the Audron's docking bay a heart attack"!

 

Jess pondered the issue. Temptation gnawing on her before sighing. "Fine. We'll do it your way".

 

"That's a relief".

 

Jess stayed quiet a moment longer. "It wold have been fun though".

 

"Like a heart attack, captain". Came Anika's deadpan response.

 

Jess sent out a standard meet and greet message, from her Omni-tool, into the local planetary message server, directed at the Audron and Eteon.

 

Com's.......Another thing I'll have to build into the MIP design. She thought as she finished and saw the space port up ahead.

[Terca]

Eteon had finished recounting her experience of the Medusa to the men and women on the Audron by the time Jessie had sent the ID signal. A good chunk of the people looked at her like she was crazy and thought that the young Turian must have made it all up, to which she replied with a far-too detailed account of what happened. A few just shook their heads and walked away, all to happy to pretend what they heard had not actually happened. A few of them had only had limited interactions with humans, mainly because the Humans had yet to have much of a unilateral training initiative like the Turians had with the Salarians and the Asari. The Asari might make better Commandos in the long run but Turian training has had a habit of being the best the Council has. Humans, with their own Special Forces units hadn't quite managed to get too-strong a deal with the Hierarchy. Thus, most the Turians on the Aurdron had somewhat abstract views of the fleshy species.

 

"And that would be our pirate." Eteon mused aloud, to which a couple of the people around her shook their heads and wandered off. She jogged from the area just behind the CIC and took the elevator down to the cargo bay to greet Jess when she arrived. When she walked into the spacious room the cargo bay was open and ready, the warm breeze of Illium wafting through.

[Redbelle]

The trip down was like riding an aerodynamic brick. The slanted outer fusalage, while providing a small surface for sensors to bounce off, did little in the way providing craft stability. Once they had hit atmosphere their crafts began slowing, to the point that they had to kick in the rear mounted engines, keeping what few aerodynamic surfaces the MIP possesed, providing lift. They were essentially riding miniture rockets now. The engine burn probably showing them up on half a dozen sensor nets nearby.

 

Ahead Jess saw the dock, and nestled in one of it's berth's, she spied a ship marked as the Audron moored in it's dock. An impulse grabbed her and she commed Anika. "Hey girl! Race you there! Last one get's to carry the cases"!

 

"Captain, I'm not su......".

 

Jess didn't catch the rest of what she said as she kicked in the engines into maximum thrust and shot off ahead, Anika's MIP hestated for a split second and then followed in pursuit. The roar of the engine filled Jess's cabin as she grinned like a maniac.

 

Finally, she was having fun.

[Gabi_MuadDiB]

Trembling after the gun shots and staring at the death Vorcha, Arrin said “Aaaah… Ok Sir, I think I don’t need much time to crack it, but I need  to use my working station, my Omni-tool alone wouldn’t do the job” He picked up the shuriken knowing he would need from now on to be armed… He was surely not expecting all this to happen ‘Now those are great news, I’m being pursued by some big shot that just put a price on my head!!! By now the whole Omega would be after me, Just what I NEEDED!... at least I have an Allied, big bad a** Krogan it seems, surely as long as I’m of use to him’ He knew that sticking with the Krogan could certainly  rise his live expectation “Look friend, it seems I’m deeply in need of your help, let’s work together and the info is all yours, ok?... Right now we need to head up to my apartment to crack the file… I hope is still a safe place for us to hide… But I think with this bounty on my head that is very unlikely…  What’s your name by the way?” He said while started walking in the direction of his aparment...

[Kel Riever]

Morgan headed out of the office briskly, glancing down at the chest plates which had caught the rounds that had gone through his tech armor.  What was I thinking? His heavy Predator armor had been substantial enough to prevent penetration to his body, but it could have gone badly.  Shaking his head, Morgan was about to exit the outer office when he spotted a datapad behind the receptionists desk.  He snatched it and took one quick glance at it. The screen was open, to send funds for a purchase.

 

That’s a stroke of luck!  The auto-lock screen needed a six character entry to continue.

 

Wuldar didn’t seem to be that smart.  Morgan wasn’t a hacker, but there wasn’t even a place for an authentication entry beyond the password.  He typed Wuldar’s name in.

 

An error screen popped up, and then Morgan was prompted again.

 

Morgan tried entering six spaces.

 

Another error message and prompt appeared.  Morgan guessed he’d have one more attempt before the datapad locked him out for good.

 

Morgan spoke as he entered numbers into the password field.  “One, two, three, four, five, six.”

 

The datapad unlocked. 

 

Morgan smirked and rerouted the displayed credits to his own account via his omni-tool.  He’d have to dispose of the datapad itself, but that wouldn’t be a problem.  All told, it was two-thousand credits which wasn’t a fortune, but Morgan needed to find that quarian, and the money could buy some help.

 

When he exited the small office, Morgan took a quick look around.  Apparently, the exchange of rounds didn’t even get a glance from passer bys – not entirely unusual on Omega.  To ensure nothing else was amiss, Morgan left the area taking a circuitous route.  Once he was positive he was alone, Morgan headed to a more crowded neighborhood to blend in.

 

An emergency decompression portal marked the passage into one of Omega’s many red light districts.  Noisy, crowded and with the acrid smell of the streets, it was exactly where Morgan wanted to be at the moment.  He spotted a brightly lit casino machine poking out from the awning of some cheap café, and was tempted to press his luck with finding cash.  Morgan was interrupted, however, by a scantily clad woman who approached him.

 

“Hey, soldier boy,” she enticed, “got something to fill my time with, today?”  The woman’s fragrance overwhelmed the air, and her smile was surgically perfected. 

 

“You’re a charmer,” Morgan unnecessarily flattered, “But not now.”

 

A weighty digit tapped on Morgan’s shoulder.  “Maybe she is not what you seek.”  The voice was heavily modulated through Morgan’s translator, and he turned to see a Hanar behind him.  The digit that tapped his shoulder was one of the many tentacles that dangled beneath the Hanar’s hovering body.  “This one caters to more eccentric tastes,” it went on, “Perhaps you find this one more appealing.”

 

“Ah, no,” Morgan suppressed a chuckle.  “But, maybe you two could point me in the direction of something else I need.”

 

Short a few credits later, Morgan was heading to a salarian contact that could help him narrow down the vessels the quarian might be boarding.  Arrin wasn’t going to be caught if Morgan was watching the wrong dock.  Beyond that, Morgan needed to get an encrypted message to Iyana.  The Shadow Broker would be wondering what went wrong.

[Redbelle]

Despite Anika's best efforts she couldn't close the distance that Jess had opened between them. The two MIP's had the same engine. But with Jess's cases loaded on her's, Anika carried more mass. It was simple physics. So as the two MIP's raced towards the Audron, Jess opened a lead giving her enough advantage that, when she saw the open cargo bay, she had a large enough gap to throttle back her engine output.

 

She had no idea how large the Audron's cargo bay would be. Certainly, it was unlikely it was as spacious as the Medusa's. Her views were confirmed as she saw ahead the interior of the bay. As she throttled down she heard Anika shouting over the com and she turned an ear to listen.

 

"...... gine thermals! They'll think we're missles! Dammit Jess"!

 

The bay loomed before her and Jess saw the insides. Spotting a large open run that led to the back she aimed and cut the engines. She was still moving forward at to higher speed however. Enough to send her shooting into the back wall and out the other side.......

 

Jess kicked in the maneuvering jet's on the left most side and spun the MIP around in mid air as it crossed the threshold of the bay before arresting the turn and cycled up the engine one last time. The MIP's forward, now technically backward momentum dropped considerably to the point that the station keeping thrusters could begin working and on a whim, Jess tweaked the manuvering jet's one last time as she cut the engine sending her into a two seventy lateral spin. On the underside plates shifted as the landing skids swung out and made contact with the deck. Friction made the MIP and the Audron's deck screech as it's landing plates abosrbed the landing and the MIP came to a stop. It's nose pointing towards the cargo bay's hull.

 

Jess turned her head and saw Anika's MIP make a less dramatic entrance as she waited for the cockpit cowl to slide back allowing Jess to sit up and stretch, her arms reaching for the ceiling, as she arched her back. By the time Anika had landed and opened her cowl Jess had her helmet off and was exiting her MIP as she stutted across the bay towards where Anika was now tugging off her own helmet.

 

"Oh yeah! Whose the Captain?" Jess proclaimed as she raised her hands in the air. "S'me luv! I'm the captain"!

 

Anika narrowed her eyes. "Jess. The engines paint the MIP's with a thermal signature. That can DEFINITELY not be hidden when your at full burn! What if they'd seen us and thought we were missles"?

 

Jess was not listening as she she leaned forward, placing her palms on Anika's MIP and said, in a sing song voice. "Who takes the luuuug-gage? Who takes the luuuug-gage? I think it's Annnn-niiiiie. She carries luuuug-gage"!

 

"Are you listening to me"?

 

"Always Luv. But your making a bit of a big deal about this aren't you? We were expected, right about now.... ish".

 

Anika face hit her palm. After a moment she looked up with a resigned expression. "And what made you think that approach was a good idea"?

 

"Practice luv. Back in the day I'd fly rings around the other dock workers in the cargo movers...... Looking good doing it too". She patted Anika on the shoulder. "You worry to much. Lighten up luv. This is supposed to be fun"!

[Redbelle]

As Anika shook her head Jess turned and spotted Eteon standing in the cargo bay off to the side. Jess waved. "Hey there"!

 

Eteon didn't move. Seemingly glued to spot. Immobile for the longest of times as Jess spoke sidelong to Anika.

 

"Huh. I guess that landing had an effect on her".

 

Anika, exiting the MIP, looked over. "Probably shock. Should we call medical"?

 

Jess shrugged. "She's fine. I'm sure. Anyone luv. Grab the luggage. Let's go find a space on this tub".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena vanished. She turned down her incoming communications. She had fully charged her power cells on the Audron. She had one for her tactical web and a backup. She preferred to operate alone rather than with a group. They wanted Baladrum and that's who they'd get. She took out her Black Widow and scanned the area for any way past the mercenaries patrolling, and would let Deidrus deal with them. Her concern was getting inside the building where Baladrum was located.

 

She tapped her omni-tool. "Vera, get me a location of centralized communications going out in this area, and once those are located, call up building schematics. I need a way inside, like a ventilation shaft: preferably one with out a fan."

 

"I thought you might like a little breeze," Vera replied in text."

 

"Very funny, but if you do that I won't bring you any souvenirs," Naleena replied.

 

"Aw, you're no fun. You take thing so serious."

 

She made her way up the side of the alley, staying in the shadows moving far ahead of the main group. A group of mercs were close by moving into position behind a barricade. She stopped and flattened herself against the side of a building to let them pass by. 

 

"I hope the Batarian knows what the hell he's doing," one of the mercs said, "A damned shuttle just landed."

 

"How did they track us here so easily?"

 

Naleena moved past them. They were more concerned where the shots were coming from. Naleena's optical display in front of her left eye lit. "Naleena, Baladrum is located in the building directly across from your position. You'll need to gain access. There's a ventillation/maintenance shaft in the warehouse level, but you'll have to climb up on some shelving units to get inside."

 

"Thank you, Vera. I'll bring you some additional RAM if I find something appropriate."

 

"You know how to make a girl happy."

 

A guard was in cover in front of the door. Naleena checked her cloak. It was fine. There was a dumpster near the entrance. She sneaked behind him and snapped his neck, and then dragged his body behind dumpster, took his ID passkey, and shoved his corpse between the building and the dumpster. She entered the building. 

 

The entrance was in the shape of an L with a set of vending machines on her right, and she could see the right arm of the couch in front of her that went around the corner. She paused and listened. It was quiet. She decloaked to allow the first cell to recharge, switched to the second, and rounded the corner. There was another door in front of her. She listened, and she took out her snake and stuck it under the door. Her optical display showed her that there were a couple of guards patrolling, but there was no one close to the door. No alarm system. That was good. She watched their patrol patterns. When it was clear, she cracked open the door and slipped inside.

 

"You're in. Now scale the storage rack to your right," Vera said over her optical display, "and go all the way to the far wall, climb the ladder to the top, and climb into the vent."

 

Naleena cloaked and climbed up to the top of the rack and crouched staying low, she made her way to the end of the first rack. There was a six foot gap. She had to make a running leap, and she made a noise when she landed but immediately went silent and froze.

 

"What was that?" one of the guards asked, and he came around to investigate. It was dead silent.

 

The other guard spoke up. "It must have been some stuff from outside. Either that or you're hearing things."

 

"Yeah, yeah, you're probably right."

 

The ladder was at the end of this rack. Naleena moved quickly and silently toward it. She drew her 9mm and climbed the ladder and crawled into the vent.

[Redbelle]

What happened after Jess and Anika had come aboard the Audron happened in something of a blur. Turians had swarmed the Audron's hanger not long after they had landed. All armed. All barking orders for Jess and Anika to lay on the ground with their hands behind their heads.

 

Anika had nudged Jess as she raised her arms. "Told you. They thought we were missles".

 

Jess had looked back. "Well it's obvious we're not now. Isn't it"!

 

By then, Eteon had roused from her stupor and calmed things down enough that the Turian onboard security force grudgingly accepted that the two new arrivals were not, actually dangerous, and had been expected, and were welcome aboard.

 

The leader of the guard force had come forward and asked if they had anything they wished to bring aboard. In response Anika had gone back to her MIP, with two of the Turians, and opened the storage compartment. Then darted back as Jess's luggage poured out, catching the Turians in an avalance of cases that nearly buried them. As more Turian security force ran forward to pull them out Jess turned to the security chief.

 

"Can't wait to see where we're bunking tonight. Somewhere with a view I hope".

 

The chief gave Jess a acidic look as his men struggled to lift the cases they had managed to pull upright. Anika, her single carryall slung over her shoulder, looked at two of the struggling Turians and bent down to grasp the handle.

 

"Here. Let me help with that". She said as she lifted the case out of their hands. "Leave the other's if you have to. I'll be back down to get them".

 

Afterwhich Jess and Anika had been rushed through the levels of the ship to the crew quarter deck and pushed through a door, leaving Anika looking around their assigned quarter's while Jess, her face an impassive mask. Simply let her shoulders slouch.

 

"Awww, hell no". She said looking around the sparten room, little bigger than a closet. Two bunk beds stood at the end while near the door, a table and a single chair stood. Anika shrugged.

 

"Well...... at least it's cosy".

 

"My wardrobe is bigger than this"! Jess protested. "Don't they know who I am"?

 

"If they knew for sure, they'd probably have put us in the brig....... right"?

 

Jess threw her an annoyed look before turning around, bumping into Anika in the tight space, and hitting the door control, which slid the door open. "C'mon"! She said ushering Anika out. "This is a mistake. Obviously! Let's go find our real quarters".

[Redbelle]

"No".

 

Anika stood holding Jess's cases as she darted between doors. Opening and closing them to the same word.

 

"No".

 

Jess shut the crew cabin door before huffing and turning to the next one. Sauntering over she checked the security status and seeing it locked. Put her right hand over the control as her Omni-tool flared to life. Looking off into the distance she seemed preoccupied until the door slid open and she put her hands on the door frame to look inside.

 

"No". Anika heard her say, followed by, "And for crying out loud put some pants on! Both of you! Next room inspection your backsides will be mounted on my wall if I catch you like this again"!

 

Jess closed the door and turned back to Anika with a curious grin on her face. "True love is sooooo romantic". She said as she strode past her leaving Anika to fall in behind her.

 

"Captain, Maybe they didn't make a mistake. Maybe that room was ours".

 

"Rubbish. I'm supposed to help them speak to the right contacts. I can't do that in a cupboard. I need room to work. Space to breath. Not something that looks like it came out of solitary confinement"!

 

"Maybe there are other quarters? On other decks"?

 

"I'm not giving up on this deck yet luv. My captain senses are telling me there's a room with my name on it here somewhere".

 

Anika heard the door behind them slide open and she turned to see two Turians poke their heads out, looking after them. She squinted. It was hard for her to tell with Turians. But one seemed to look more feminine than the other.

 

Turning a corner Jess strode out into the mess area that to Anika's relief was empty. She was starting to feel silly carrying the cases around the ship when Jess stopped and pointed. "That way"!

 

Jess hurried off and turned a corner leaving Anika behind as she sighed. Then followed.

 

As she turned the corner she saw a set of double doors. Unlike the single ones of other quarter's they'd seen earlier. Jess stood in front of them with her hands on her hips. Looking over her shoulder she grinned.

 

"This one".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

On the third floor Naleena popped the vent grill and dropped to the floor. She was in a corridor. She saw offices on both sides leading down to a lobby area.

 

"Vera, where to?"

 

"I am picking up Batarian life signs on the 74th floor in an office midway down the same corridor you are in."

 

"I'm taking the elevator to the 75th floor. Bring the shuttle and meet me on the roof of the building for extraction. Cloak as soon as you leave the Audron."

 

"Yes, hon. Good luck."

 

"Thanks."

 

Naleena moved quietly down the corridor to the lobby. She paused in cover at the corner entrance, and flattened herself against the wall. 

 

"When the **** is Baladrum going to have us move out? I'm bored as **** here," the Batarian with the green face said as he walked toward Naleena. 

 

"How the **** should I know? We're getting paid well so quit your b****ing," the other Batarian said as he stared out the window next to a plant. He was lighting a cigarette.

 

The green skinned Batarian walked next to Naleena and she reached around, grabbed him and snapped his neck.

 

"What the??" The other Batarian heard a noise and began to turn.

 

Naleena fired her 9mm three times. The head of the Batarian snapped when the rounds entered despite some of their momentum being absorbed by his kinetic barrier. The side of his skull blew out from the exit wound splattering blood on the window and three bullet holes were now in the window behind him. She called the elevator. The door opened, she hit 75, and the door closed and the car began to rise quickly. She knew this was taking a chance so she cloaked inside. The maintenance shaft access was in the stairwell next to the elevator. She watched the LED indicators quickly change. The car began to slow..., 71..., 72..., 73..., 74..., 75. The door opened. She waited a brief moment, and then looked around. 

[siphernin]

“Is anyone out there,” Baladrum shouted, holding two fingers to the side of his head.  “Da** it.  Thirty some odd hired contract Suns, and not one can deal with this problem?”  Baladrum made a beckoning motion with his hand, and  So’xako tossed the batarian his M-78.

 

“Sir?”

 

“What?”

 

“Group seven just checked in.  They found one of ours below ditched behind a dumpster.”

 

“Back up?  They said a shuttle just landed not long ago, but I figured it was one of ours!  “What the hell,” So’xako exclaimed taking his frustration out on the wall behind him.  “Tell these idiots to get off their ***** and find these people.  And make da** sure to give them some extra breathing holes.”

 

“No,” Baladrum chimed in with menace in his tone.  “Fume them.”

 

“B-but boss, what about our--- “

 

The merc was cut off by a bullet through the head.  The barrel of Baladrum’s sidearm turned to the next merc in the line.  “Any more delays or objections?”

 

The other three living men in the room just looked between one another before So’xako, with a bit of reluctance, brought up his omnitool.  Baladrum had some reserve about using the cocktail that he got from the Suns, but he heard that some really nasty stuff had gone into it.  The cocktail was apparently something special that they got from a “reparable” source on Omega and he could only get two canisters.  The orders were sent to a mech in standby mode by the environmental controls.  It only took minutes for it to retrieve one of the canisters and load it into the control unit for the floor by floor distribution. 

 

Helmets and masks went on as Baladrum loaded up the thermal clip, “Pack it up. I’m not going to wait here for some kind of pincer.  By the time they get here, the gas should deal them in.”

 

The lock on the door clicked over, and the two guards took up position on either side of the door.  The door split open, separating in a split second, revealing one of the outside guards in his blue armor right in their sights. 

 

“Christ, man,” one said relaxing his grip as he recognized him.  It took them both half a step to recognize the blood running out down from his mouth.  Two shots went out, felling the two forward guards before all three bodies hit the floor.  So’xako dove for cover out of line of sight of the door while Baladrum laid some covering fire before taking cover behind his desk. 

 

So’xako rose and from behind the door frame, looking back down at the three.  No application of medi-gel was going to save them.  Grinding his fangish teeth, he took two of the three of his grenades, pulled the pin and lobbed them down the corridor.  Turning his head away from the resulting explosion, he looked back towards Baladrum trying to coax him forward.

 

“How many we dealing with?”

 

“Not sure.  But if we stay here, we’re dead.  Come on.”  So’xako stared deeper down the corridor to check.  The sound of the manifest hitting the floor where no one was had them both turn and fire.  Before Baladrum’s guard could take his finger off the trigger, a pair of hands grabbed him from behind, snapping his neck to the left.  From the corner of his eyes, Baladrum made out the masked killer decloaking and turned to face him.  His guns would back been on him if So’xako’s body had not spiraled left, spraying everything in Baladrum’s direction with thermal pellets that barraged Baladrum’s barrier.  In the waning of the hail of gun fire, he found the assassin running out around the doorway.  He raised the M-78 only to have something circular bound into his field of vision.

 

The force of the resulting explosion had torn through his barrier and shields, knocking him off his feet into the reinforced glass behind him.  Burned, deafened, and blinded, the batarian weakly pawed at the glass for balance, as he tried to find his legs.  He felt his wait for his sidearm.  Mind swimming, he fired blankly in the dark, hoping to hit something.  He couldn’t end like this.  He wouldn’t allow his dynasty to end like this.

 

Kanae simply waited for the clip to run out, and it didn’t take long.  As he pulled out of the shadow of the outside doorway, the human found he didn’t even need to hide himself.  Baladrum couldn’t hear him crunch glass under his feet.  He couldn’t see the human walk up to him without a shred of fear and draw the M-17.  But he could feel it as the barrel was pressed between his middle pair of eyes.  This was the end, and two shots confirmed it.

______

 

Kanae put two more into Baladrum after his body was already bleeding out.  This needed to look like good for the NAPD. 

 

“Cole,” he said turning and reaching for his body.  “Pack it up and send that so called Spectre a message that I’ll meet him outside.  You start down there too.”

 

“Affirmed.”

[Redbelle]

Jess put her hand on the door control and she spaced out once more till the door obediently slid open. Stepping through Jess planted her hands on her hips and whistled.

 

"Compared to what else we've seen, this is definitely better".

 

Anika walked in after her and set the cases down. "This one then"?

 

Jess turned and grinned. "This one luv".

 

Anika took a moment to take in the interior of the room. Spartan was to generous a description in describing what the room contained. In front of them was a desk with a chair in front and behind. A data slate sat on the desk. Positioned so exactly in the centre that whoever had left it there must have measured the position out with a tape measure. The room with the desk was large and Jess strode forward towards the back room where Anika saw another set of double doors. Jess thumbed the door control and they slid open revealing a room slightly smaller, but still spacious. Containing a locker and a single bed with a wash station off to the side.

 

Jess sighed. "Well...... It's the best we've seen so far. Let's take it".

 

"Captain......".

 

"Jess luv..... Jess"!

 

".....Jess. Don't you think this cabin might already be occupied"?

 

"Maybe. But clearly whoever owns it doesn't need it". Jess strode over and grabbed up the data slate. "I mean..... Look at all this wasted space"!

 

Anika made a noise at the back of her throat. "I'm not sure you.....".

 

Jess thumbed the slate as she interrupted. "Look luv. I'll make this simple. I need space and privacy to do..... whatever the hell it is I'll be doing because I don't want any law and order types getting an inside look at how our little community go about their daily business. That other room was probably bugged. I would have bugged it".

 

As she spoke she stabbed a finger at the slate and saw the screen flash red. Frowning, she opened up her omni-tool once more and ran a program parallel to her finger stabs. The screen flashed green.

 

"Besides. You and I might be having to do a lot of work. And I'd rather do it in a place like this than that janitor closet they tried to pack us into".

 

"Captain....."!

 

Jess's head jerked up. "Jess luv! This isn't the Medusa, so take the luxury of being familiar while you can". Jess grinned. "After all, we're going to be sharing a room while we're here".

 

Anika looked through the doors at the back of the room. "I doubt we'll both fit in that". She said gesturing to the bed. Jess's head followed and she pursed her lips.

 

"Definitely luv. Which means we'll obviously have to order in some new stuff. This place reeks military".

 

Holding up the slate Jess linked it to her omni-tool and appeared to be downloading information before erasing the data before using it to link to the extranet. "Good thing the home improvement stores deliver. This place needs all the help it can get"! Jess crooked a finger. "C'mon luv. Retail therapy. May as well make sure we're both on the same page".

 

Anika sighed. "If your serious about this..... at least order us a new bed first".

 

Jess winked. "Queen sized luv. And while we're at it, let's clear out".

 

Over the next twenty minutes both women had decided on enough shopping that the store clerk had promised that their items would be delivered in the next hour. Anika meanwhile had removed all the existing items and put them outside the doors. She had the bed, hefting it without difficulty and heading towards the door when the doors slid open and a Turian was standing there. He took one look at Anika, who peered at him from over the bed and bellowed.

 

"What, in the name of the Primarch is going on here! What in hell's name are you two doing in my quarters! Why is my desk outside? And what, in the cold dark astral planes, are you doing, WITH MY BED"!!! He saw Jess holding the data slate and roared. "PUT THAT DOWN!!! THAT'S CLASSIFIED MATERIAL"!

 

Jess held up the slate. "Looks like women’s underwear to me".

 

The Turian barged into the room and snatched the slate out of Jess's hands. He looked at it, saw it displaying the women’s wear section of a clothing stores extranet page. He jabbed the slate before turn angrily on Stone. "This had sensitive material! Where is it"?

 

Jess shrugged. "Beats me luv. I found it that way".

 

Mandible’s clicking the Turian growled out. "Who..... are..... you"?

 

Jess stuck out her hand. "Captain Jess Stone luv. Here by gracious invitation of the council and the Spectre who I believe is the captain of this fine vessel. And you are....."?

 

"I'm the spirit's damned first officer and your backsides are going into the brig for....."

 

Ignoring Anika's facepalm from behind the Turian Jess said. "And go against the order's of your captain"? Jess tutted. "Come now. I know your in the loop on this. A spectre, especially a Turian Spectre would dot his I's and cross his T's. So you know these quarter's are now the location of a critical mission component towards archiving your objective".

 

"What are you talking about"?

 

"Well luv". Jess sidled up beside him and threw an arm over the first officer's shoulder. "Look luv. I'm kinda a big deal when it comes to knowing the goings on in the galaxy. The way it was laid out to me? My job is to provide intelligence. Information for you people. What you need to know to get the job done, your council gave you. To do that I need a lot of equipment. Alot of sensitive. Delicate. Top Secret information gathering stuff that is on it's way to this ship marked in container's from a retailer on this planet so as to not..... attract.....  unwanted.......attention. Your quarter's has the space and energy grid access I need to run this stuff. So when the Captain's proxy came over we established the needs and..... well. Your quarter's are now a vital component to the mission's success. You understand..... first officer......."?

 

".......Tullian". The Turian finally ground out. "You expect me to believe this"?

 

Jess shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me one way or another luv. See, when I signed on this little quest of yours, I signed on to take your captains orders. And my order's are to find the clues as to whose taking the colonies. Those crates coming are critical to the mission's success. Sorry if you weren't kept in the loop luv but we're pushing to get set-up. It's not surprising a few details slipped through the cracks.".

 

Tullian tried to shove the arm off his shoulder but Jess pulled him in and held a hand up in front of them. "Picture it luv. We're the forerunner's of discovering the fates of thousands of colonist's. Who knows? Maybe this is just the start? Maybe whoever is taking us humans has Asari and Salarian and Turian colonies once they've finished picking off the human ones. It would make sense, we're new to the colony scene! So what do you expect me to say when your captain gets back and finds that I'm twiddling my thumbs with my head up my arse none the wiser as to whose threatening galactic security because the Audrons first officer was being precious about his quarters"!

 

"This wasn't cleared.....". Tullian protested, still trying to get out of Jess's arm lock.

 

Jess grabbed him by the front of the armour and jerked him upright in front of her. "Then GET IT cleared luv! Show some initiative! Get this squared and get my crates up here so we can start unpacking the extremely sensitive and secret gear we'll be using to make sure this mission's a success! Do you want this mission to be a success Tullian? DO YOU"!

 

"OF COURSE I DO"! Tullian shouted back.

 

"THEN MAKE IT HAPPEN AND SHOW YOUR CAPTAIN THAT YOUR A......MAN, WHO SHOULD BE FAST TRACKED FOR PROMOTION"!

 

Tullian's eye's lit up at that, Jess saw and she released him from her grip as she brushed imaginary dust from his shoulders. "About the quarters. It's a temporary thing. I won't be here long. Just long enough to set you boys off with an idea as to whose the naughty boy that needs a Turian spanking. Take the time to settle in with your crew. ****** and moan about the humans who are in here if you have to but make sure everyone knows that these quarter's are for mission personnel only".

 

"We're all on mission".

 

"The recruited ones". Jess slid in. "This is all hush hush. I expect you were told who you would be picking up, in general details"?

 

The Turian nodded. Jess already knew. The data slate had all the information he had, and as she had been having the conversation her synthetic eye was displaying what he knew. The people who were tasked for the job. It was informative, but not especially enlightening. "Trust me luv. Play your cards right and you’ll come off this mission smelling of roses. Now. The captains proxy hammered out this deal, but I haven't seen the captain. I need to go over some mission particulars with him".

 

"He's off the ship, on a mission". Tullian admitted. "He left with the two Asari".

 

Jess was quiet for a moment before saying. "And where is he now"? The silence came and went on before Jess broke it. "Luv..... what are you doing? You should be on the bridge! What if he called and you weren't there? What's he going to think if the officer he relies on isn't ready to answer at his beck and call? What if he need support"! Jess pointed at the door. "Get going son! Get back to the bridge and make sure your captain's swell"!

 

Tullian, thoroughly confused, staggered backwards past Anika who was trying not to laugh as he nearly tripped over the door's frame.

 

"And don't forget to send up the crates"! Jess called after him as the doors closed.

 

Anika waited till she was sure the doors had sealed. Then turned to Jess. "You are unbelievable"!

 

"You want unbelievable luv"? Jess said with a smirk "Wait till we've unpacked the bed".