"Proceed, Commander. Once we're in the system do not approach the Medusa closer than our maximum enhanced passive sensor range. We cannot use active sensors," Naleena ordered.
"Understood, Spectre," Selani replied.
Naleena then made an announcement. "I want the entire team assembled in full gear on the ready line in the shuttle bay in one hour." We'll have over an hour. I would rather not 'wing it' when we get aboard the Medusa.
As he made his way to the shuttle bay, Avan took out his omni-tool to call Typhin. A moment later, Typhin answered.
"Helloooo, Avan. How is everything going?"
"Well, my turian friend. Quite well."
"That's good to hear." Typhin let out a long yawn and stretched his arms. "Man, it's been one of those days. So, by the way, did you ever get to making those guns yet?"
Avan smiled. "Relax. Everything is falling into place."
"Ok, if you say so. Anyway, I've got to return to other endeavors, which is finally getting to bed. Goodnight."
As he put the omni tool away, Avan got to the bay and saw the others preparing. Hopefully, he won't have to drag their corpses on the way back. But as soon as they boarded the Medusa, the device could be assembled and the files would be sent to the Broker. That was the plan, at least. Everything was slowly working out with a pretty bow.
Commander Selani called up to the Janiri’s turian pilot, “Quintius, commence relay approach.”
“Affirmative.”
“Bridge, send the orders down that we are going stealth coming out of the relay. I want this operation by the book.”
The Janiri lined itself up for its journey through the Mass Effect Relay. In fifteen minutes time, she hit Illium’s relay on her way to her destination cluster and system.
As the vessel entered the Xe Cha system, displays throughout the ship streamed mission information and the Jovian form of Vem Osca loomed large on the screens. The orange-brown gas giant was nearly the size of Jupiter, with an orbit that took almost as long – 10 Earth years. And as a comparison, it likewise spun fast, though not nearly so much, completing a day in just under twelve earth hours. Thirty five moons, at a minimum, were companions to the celestial body. The anomalies of the other planets in the system never seemed to come to Vem Osca, and perhaps the volus who named it did so in belief that it was silent witness to some great tragedy fifty-thousand years in the past.
But it was clear whoever had decided to keep the Medusa at its current location in orbit over the “Weeping Witness” had intended for the name to be a foreshadowing of events to come.
~ ~ ~ ~
Forward on the Janiri, Hans Steiner, second in engineering on the vessel, stood by the launch tubes. They had been modified to fire the two Manned Insertion Pods that Jess had brought aboard. Essul was the first team member to show up, and as someone who never had seen the inside of an MIP, Hans decided to go over some basic details. At least the ones that he knew, were obvious, and would matter.
“These are pretty low tech,” Hans said, “And purposely so. You’re life support is your suit so I brought along a booster pack to extend its period, should you run into difficulties. It's extra weight, so use it first and ditch the pack when you land. It sounds like Stone is flying, but I’ll tell you, you’re going to get to know each other very well in there. Think riding b*tch, uh, I mean a motorcycle…if you have them wherever you come from. Never mind you’ll be pressed up one on top of the other is what I’m trying to say.
“And don’t expect a lot of electronic interface. I mean, it might be more like a kid’s game in there. You’re pretty much in the dark electronically, so I hope you’re patient and not claustrophobic. Or mind flying the vacuum of space in a tin can hurtling so fast if you don’t slow down, you’ll disintegrate against whatever you hit. Verstehen?”
"....I can manage." Essul said as he looked at the cramped tube. IT was certainly smaller then the one the hegemony employed...and tighter...more aerodynamic perhaps? "I didn't except them to be so small..." he said simply as he looked to hans, giving him a nod behind his skull faced helm. "I thank you for your advice, and the booster pack. I've done this only once before...and never in this type of model before..." He said as he looked it over.
Small spaces, claustrophobia, old memories of the box from his gladiatorial youth, the batarian couldn't help but shudder at the thought. He would rather not have been shoved into such a space, but he would endure it so long as it didn't become a permanent accommodation. After all, dying in a sealed coffin with a human wasn't on his particular list of thins he'd enjoy.
He looked to hans though to take his mind off of that, remembering a strange thing he'd said, "What is a motorcycle, and why is the vulgar term of a hunting pet involved in it?" He asked as he tilted his head curiously, unsure what to make of terminology. And grateful to have something to take his mind off the ride.
Jenus and Irina finished up.
Jenus rolled over to face Irina. “That was fun. Now why don’t you tell me what’s really bothering you, Red?”
Irina was silent. She reached for her night stand and grabbed her cigarettes, and lit one.
“Red. I’m talking to you.”
“You won’t understand, Jen.”
“Sh*t! Would you f*ckin’ talk to me?” Jenus sat up on the bed. “I’ve never seen you like this before!”
Irina took a deep drag off her cigarette and crushed it in the ash tray on her nightstand. She took a deep breath, and ran her fingers through her hair. “It’s this f*cking mission. I’ve got bugs crawling around in my head. You saw what was in those crates, didn’t you? Whatever did that is on that ship. It could be like that over there.”
“Then you do your job and take them out. You’re not afraid, are you?” Jenus asked while clipping her armor together.
“Yeah, I’m scared.”
“Red, scared? Give me a break! Don’t tell me you’re thinking of bailing on this?”
Irina glared at her. “I’ll do my job. It’s not that simple. How many combat missions have you been on, Jen?”
“Uh, fifty.”
“Forget the simulations.”
“Uh… three.”
“I’ll bet one of them was the train, and what were the other two?”
“We did a hostage rescue,” Jenus replied, “And there was Nos Astra.”
“So you’ve never been on a real combat mission?” Irina asked.
“Hey, the sims are pretty f*ckin’ real,” Jenus said, “You’ve seen them yourself.”
“It’s not the same. You won’t understand until you’re in the middle of it,” Irina said. “Morgan was on Elysium... I see Morgan, and he brings it back. That’s why I haven’t ‘tapped’ him, alright? I’ll never tap him. Jesus! I thought you’d understand this sh*t, Jen.”
“Don’t look at me like that!” Jenus said. “I’m on your side. So that’s what this sh*t is about? My combat experience?”
“No. It’s about mine. F*ck! It’s not about that either.” Irina said as she put her boot on, and she turned to look at Jenus. “I don’t know what the f*ck this is about.”
“You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Yeah, I know, but you knew that,” Irina sighed. “I’m on your side, too, you know. There’s some things… well, now is not the time to talk about them. If… when I get back from this mission we should talk more… It’s nothing bad, Jen.”
Uh oh, Jenus thought. She wants to talk? This can’t be good.
Irina noticed the look on Jenus’ face. “It’s nothing bad, ya lug head,” she emphasized and smiled as she finished putting on her armor. She threw on the robes and mask, “Give no quarter to that scallywag! How do I look?”
Jenus laughed. “You look ridiculous.”
“Come on, we should get down to the shuttle bay,” Irina said, “But come here first. I need to show you something.”
“Really?” Jenus walked over to her.
Irina put her arms around her and kissed her. Jenus returned the kiss.
“Uh,” Jenus broke the kiss, “We’d better leave now before they start the mission without us.”
“Good point.” Irina slapped Jenus on the ass.
Eteon was waiting in the shuttle bay, her eyes closed while she stood near one of the shuttles and took deep breaths. She was playing around with the sound-map and was practicing the cycling through different noises. Engine noise, humming of air through ventilation, people mumbling, a part being replaced, the sound of people moving.
It was a nice distraction. She needed it up until the mission started. When she was training she would have been forced to exercise her biotics beforehand and focus on nothing in particular. It was maddening at times though, and to keep her wits about her she preferred the mindless noise of activity.
Bidding everyone in the hanger good luck, Jess moved through the ship to the launch tubes. Inside she found Essul looking inside the MIP while someone she didn't know was pointing bit's out to him.
"Looks like we're all here. Okay Essul. We're leading the charge on this so we're heading out first....". Jess reached up and pulled her helmet on and adjusted it to form an airtight seal. "....It'll be a relatively slow trip since we can't afford to go faster than the MIP can slow us down at the end of the trip so if you need the bathroom.... now's the time".
Jess pulled the mask over her helmet and then reached back for the hood of the robes, pulling it over and on top of the mask, hiding the back and side's of her head as she did so.
"We're going to give the shuttle with everyone else a beachhead. That mean's not setting off alarms and taking out anyone int he shuttle bay. That will be mostly your job. I'll be backing you up but if we do run into resistance I'll be focusing on keeping their comms blocked. Anika's got a task outside the ship so it'll be just the two of the us inside the bay. You sure your okay with this"?
"I;m certain." Essul said with a nod of his head as he regarded her strange choice of clothing, "I can take them out without my firearms, using my biotics and martial skills if need be." he said as he motioned to the knife on his chest, "I am hopeful that the enemy will not have anti-cloak implements in place. If so, then I apologize that we may end up in an engagement. I've taken my suppressants already, and have filled up on nutrients to put me at top efficiency..." he said as he pressed a button on his helmet, his faceplate becoming transparent so he could look stone in the eyes.
"Besides that, I gave my word, and it would be disgraceful to back down now, even if I do not care for confined spaces all that much..." He said as he looked to the MIA, gulping down nervously a bit as he looked back to stone, bringing up a finger against his helm. "I will help you bring this woman to justice, even at the cost of my life. After all, who would care if one low caste batarian were to die, am I right?" He asked with a small, pained smile and a joking laugh that wasn't filled with as much mirth as resignation. It was a joke he always told to his fellows before they went on a dangerous mission, and a sentiment he shared as true, in some small degree.
He closed his eyes and sighed, shaking his head a bit "Never mind, forget I said that..,I have to ask though..." Essul said as he brought his faceplate back to its reflective shine again, hiding his face just as he opened his eyes again, "What is the point of your strange clothing?" He asked as he pointed to her mask and cloak, "I understand the mask...but why the cloak?"
Jess's grin was hidden behind the mask. "Because it looks good. And a Queen of the company has to look the part. Am I right"? Jess walked past him to the MIP. "Besides..... Wouldn't want anyone to see what I'm carrying underneath. Now come on luv. Time to bell the cat". Jess squeezed into the MIP and took position at the controls, hunched forward and over looking out the small viewport. Anika followed suit, toggling the entry hatch which caused what seemed as a flush section of hull to swing up and back, revealing an even smaller cockpit for her much larger frame. The honeycombed surfuc of the MIP's seemed to suck in all light leaving a dull black sheen to them as Jess's hand emerged with a finger beckoning Essul inside.
The Janiri’s navigator, Darya Abrasimova, informed the Commander, “We are on approach as planned, in range for first assessment of the Medusa with visual enhancers.”
“Put them into the feed,” Selani ordered.
Replacing the dominant image of Vem Osca on the displays across the ship was a picture of the Medusa. Her worn freighter image drifted in low orbit, with the gas giant filling the background. The Medusa was clearly an old vessel, still space-worthy with a care given to its boxy bulk. Nothing seemed amiss to most; the Medusa was simply another freighter, plying the spaceways, perhaps taking a rest or stopped for a minor repair. Her readouts showed a functioning, pressurized environment, and low light emitted from those windows that could be seen, as if the ship were in a night cycle, to pattern a modicum of planetside experience.
Familiar eyes on the pirate vessel, however, told a different story. Both Jess and Anika could tell the difference, with Jess noticing far more than even her body guard. First, she spotted a modest sag to the orbit, usually reserved for if a vessel of the freighter’s size were about to position itself for a slingshot maneuver around the gas giant. Second, while an outside observer might think the internal lights were on a night cycle emulation, Jess instinctively knew that the meager glow of lights was due to a lack of illumination points, not a dimming of them. It was how the light shone through the windows that she knew. And to add to it, the color of the lighting was quite off; it was as if they had been replaced by something more fluorescent and colder.
The oddness didn’t end there. A seam ran along the length of each forward cargo pod, as if they were fastened yet divided, between inner half, and outer. There was no telling if the seem really went through the pods entirely, but it was certainly possible. And lastly there was the bridge. Unlike the lighting of the rest of the ship, it was a green glow that radiated from within, as if by a single source. It was evident that changes had been made within the Medusa, although to what extent was impossible to determine without boarding her.
On the Janiri, finishing preparations for launch were being made. A deck hand was waving a blue glowstick to indicate Naleena’s personal Scythe shuttle was ready for final boarding. Below in the launch tubes, Hans Steiner was giving a few admiring comments about the MIPs before telling those inside that they were getting loaded. And on the bridge of the asari built destroyer, Selani felt the uncharacteristic need to stand. She pushed herself out of the captain’s chair, and stared at the image of the Medusa, to give her parting words for Naleena.
“We are in position. You may launch the insertion pods and shuttle as soon as you are ready.”
Jess turned her head slightly towards Essul in the cramped conditions. "Is that a Carnifex poking me"?
"Once again the teams are: Frank, Irina, Avan, and Vayne to Engineering. The commandos will stay back and stand guard on the shuttle. Jenus and Tallis will be in reserve for any team that needs them. The rest of you who are not on the MIPs are with me. We'll sweep the ship.
"Alright, let's saddle up," Naleena ordered.
Everyone going into the shuttle got in. She stopped Dahlia on her way in.
"Here, you'll need this for close encounters. Aria had you sneaking around Omega. You and I will take down guards quietly if possible," Naleena drew her thumb across her throat, then handed her one of her blades.
Dahlia smiled and took it. The two got in, and Naleena took the pilot's seat, and was ready to launch. She waitied for the launch cue from VERA.
"Launch control signal's they are ready to begin a low velocity launch". VERA's voice chimed in over Jess's and Essul's helmet. "The Shuttle will be ten minutes behind you to give you time to gain a foothold on the Medusa. It is worth mentioning that while the information you provided shows the Medusa cannot detect the MIP's or shuttle, if another ship is providing a Line of Sight communication to the vessel and has sensor's on par with the Jeniri yours is likely to be the first detection".
"I know VERA. Let's do this".
"Launch control signal's to prepare for launch, in 10.....9.....8.....7.....".
Jess winced as her hands gripped the controls and took several deep breath's. When VERA hit 2 Jess half exhaled and held it as suddenly the violent force of a launch threatened to crush her backwards into Essul. She held on as her inertia matched that of the MIP and outside the small viewport, the metal sheen of the tubes became the black depth's of space.
The gas giant's outer poisonous atmosphere could be seen out of one corner of the MIP's view port that, over time, would grow and grow. She didn't bother looking for the Medusa. At this distance she wouldn't even be a pinprick against the backdrops till they got within several miles of her.
She didn't touch the controls. They were flying forward towards the target the Jeniri had fired them. Changing anything now cold lead to them missing the Medusa by hundred's of thousands of meter's, consigning them to empty space, or smack bang into the gas giant's atmosphere.
"Should have brought cards". She quipped to Essul behind her. "Strip poker would be a riot about now".
"Iole, do you see the blue switch, next to the red one? After VERA launches the shuttle, I want you to flip that immediately. It engages the stealth system." Naleena said and pointed to it.
Iole made note of its location on her console.
"After you've done that, flip these three switches up, and tap these four buttons in this sequence: 1, 4, 3, 2. That will engage the cloak," Naleena said, "Then we'll set up the LOS IR laser with the MIP."
"Got it. Why didn't you just label the stuff?" Iole asked.
"VERA handled this before, and I haven't had time to program the VI to handle it," Naleena said and turned to face Iole. "Besides, you're going to be my shuttle pilot and you need to know this in case the VI fails."
Iole smiled.
"Preparing for shuttle launch. Launching shuttle." VERA said. "Good luck, Boss."
The shuttle launched. Iole followed Naleena's instructions to the letter, and everything was going smoothly so far.
"Let's set up the LOS IR laser with Jess' MIP," Naleena said and tapped on the console in front of her. The VI sent a tight beam IR laser in the direction of Jess' MIP and searched until it hit a small object moving in the same direction as the shuttle.
Naleena thought she'd be a little funny. "Condor to mouse. Do you copy?" Well they were going to go through the hull.
The interior of the Scythe was packed in. Most everyone in the passenger section was shoulder to shoulder. Tallis was playing charades with Jenus and anyone else who would join in. Mira sat closest to the cockpit, listening in as Naleena instructed Iole.
Morgan glanced across at Vayne, intimidating in his armor. He was glad to have the krogan working alongside. In fact, everyone who had come along had impressed him in one way or another. He hadn’t had the time to really get to know Avan, but the man seemed extremely capable. And Frank, who had his own peculiarities, certainly was versed in the engineering knowledge it seemed they would need on the mission.
Although he did not like to wear most headgear, depending on his tactical armor and shields for protection, Morgan did have a recon hood for events that might lead to an exposure to harsh elements or vacuum. He slipped the self-sealing hood on, and its goggle like eyes glowed a light blue as the hood synced up with his other suit systems. The Kuwashii visor he normally used was customized to fit over the hood and still work.
Morgan pulled the deck of cards from a compartment on his armor and shuffled them to keep himself occupied. There wasn’t much he had to say, but he felt a great need to quiet his mind.
Frank closed his omni-tool and sighed. He looked around at the crew of bad asses that he was now part of.
One of these is not like the others.
While he was restless, nervously shifting his weight back and forth every couple of seconds, everyone else appeared calm, and ready for whatever came next.
"P-please tell me you're joking..." Essul said somewhat shakily, a blush still developing on his face even as he kept his eyes on the viewport, looking out into space and the approaching gas giant. This woman and her lude comments would be the end of him, if from nothing else but embarrassment. He was a lower caste punk who'd risen the ranks to being part of SIU, he wasn't used to people being friendly to him, much less whatever it was captain stone was being. As he looked out the window, without nothing else to do to pass the time, he couldn't help but speak his mind.
"It's beautiful in its own way...even from this position." He said simply as he motioned to the viewport, "Space is always beautiful, like an ocean that never changes...sometimes never changes, might be more appropriate." he said correcting himself.
=======================================================================================
Vayne glanced to morgan and his cards, giving a chuckle and a grin as he watched him work, "Finding something to do, huh?" He asked as he motioned to the cards, "I'd ask to play a round or 2 of blackjack, but I don't think my hands would be up for it..." he said as he held up one of his three fingered claws, a slight tremmor in them as he clenched his fist.
"This woman...this Iyana...you know any more about her crew?" Vayne asked as he watched morgans face, wondering if he might know something, "One of the names that came up...it was familiar to me. I'd like to know if it was the same guy or not."
The shuttle reached its velocity and Naleena cut the engines. "The VI is programmed with the course, and it will periodically fire the attitude thrusters to keep us on course, and it will position us for the retro burst so we don't crash into the shuttle bay." Naleena told Iole. "All we have to do now is enjoy the view. Right now I'd usually play a game with VERA. But she may have loaded up some vids... Let's see what she's loaded...
"Hmmm.... What's this?"
Council QEC Room, Citadel, Before the Podcast
The video of the happenings on Horizon cut out short. There were a few scattered perspectives, all in motion and without movement-correction.
"The rest of the video has been lost." The Praetor said, his eyes seeing the traces of confusion in the postures of Sparatus and Deidrus. "The previous was all logged in the non-volatile backup. Disconnected from the main diffusion in solid material so that they would be unaltered in case of an accident. All which wasn't already hardlogged was lost after the skirmish between your men and these Collectors began in earnest."
"Is there information on the cause of the blackout?"
The Praetor nodded to someone off-hologram and an enlarged image of a seeker was displayed on-screen. "Your scientist was right. From the feeds and reports from your source," suspicious eyes were cast to Androkan who ignored them, "prove that they play an important role in paralyzing the populace for a time of a few hours without treatment. They also have a secondary and much more concerning effect. Severe dampening."
"Overdraw." Deidrus breathed to himself. It was a background concern for all heavy armor specialists, whether they be Armigers, Destroyers or any of the other myriad of units. It made the most dangerous members of a conflict nothing more than too-heavy and too slow. It was their Achilles heel as it were. It made stimpacks some of the most treasured pieces of modern tech for the Hierarchy.
"They survived though despite that." Deidrus said, some amount of pride in his voice at the fact his men had come out of such a situation.
"Yes. They are receiving treatment for mostly superficial wounds though their armor was heavily damaged in some places. They will be combat ready again within the coming days." The Praetor said, his tone cooling at the younger man's preening, even if it was only mental and not congratulatory to himself. "Though there are a few different pieces of information Callum wanted to get through to you."
Deidrus looked back to the Praetor from the image of the seeker to see the warbird surprisingly tense. "They have a new variant of husk that was encountered during Saren's attack. They are red and glow with a form of plasmatic fire. They are extremely volatile and upon being dispatched will explode with the force of a small incendiary grenade." The man took a breath. "That, and... It is confirmed that the artillery and violet units are both re-purposed humans. There are genera of the humans being captures which are now as dangerous as the Geth are, and rising in number."
The Spectre narrowed his eyes slightly at the new information.
"Furthermore..." The Praetor looked down to the console in front of him. "There is one video fragment which was salvaged which has rather disturbing implications."
A short video played, it was only five or six seconds. In it, a shot collided with a fiery red human, and just before they fell to the ground they were pulled into the air by some invisible force. A pause, a second at most, then an explosion like that of a high explosive artillery shell rocked the street, taking down the side of a nearby building.
"Spirits above..." It was hard to tell if the voice was from the recording or the turians standing in the room. The meaning was the same either way. These were abominations.
Self-consciously, Morgan paused his shuffling. “Sorry, old habits.” He leaned back, aware that though the hood transferred his voice normally, he didn’t like talking with it on. That apart from not generally being talkative to begin with. Vayne, however, had asked a question.
“I’ve met the heavies, at least once each. There were a few times I was required to travel aboard their ship. It was a frigate, heavily modified, and they were in the process of making changes to keep it off the radar, so to speak. Aside from the dossiers, I’m trying to think of what I could tell you.”
Pondering who Vayne could be talking about, Morgan took a stab. “The asari I saw once. Bad news, though, I can tell you that. I get the sense you aren’t asking about her though. There was Jrudek, the slaver. I talked to him on several occasions. He’s often the go between, the voice of reason between Iyana and…people who are more sound of mind. I don’t really know what his stake in the matter of all this is, but like the rest, he seems to have this believe that being with Iyana is all part of something bigger. That’s the common theme when you meet this group; they’re all operate under the auspice that what they are up to is far greater than themselves.
“Golt, the krogan, was the most recent addition to Iyana’s heavies. I have to tell you, Vayne, I haven’t met a more ornery, mean, member of your species. Warmonger type, didn’t work well with others. Let me tell you, he was disciplined once…I don’t know what Iyana did to him, but it made him even meaner. It wasn’t that he talked much about his past, but I get the sense he really enjoyed the moments when he got to do some damage to people. There isn’t much use for shock troop mercs in the information business but I get the sense he was around…just in case.”
Dahlia was listening to the conversation between Vayne and Morgan. She was trying to learn as much about Iyana as she could. Iyana was as powerful in her realm as Aria was in hers except Iyana sounded like the worst case in an insane asylum. She would be watching for details and anything she could find out. Aria needed to be warned about her.
"Golt sounds really bad. I hope we don't run into him," Dahlia said, "Morgan, could you tell us about the asari?"
“Xhuan?” Morgan shrugged his shoulders at first, but then thought about it. “I met her one time only. Most of what I put in that file was acquired information, background searching,…I never really was able to delve into Republics files on her, so I get the sense that more could be found out about her…maybe. But what more to know about her may be off data systems entirely.
“I met her before I knew anything of her. That facial marking she has…the look in her eyes…she can control a room with a stare. I can’t really explain her loyalty to Iyana but it runs deep. All I could add to what is in the uploaded file, beyond that, is that she reminds me most of…” Morgan lifted his chin towards the cockpit. “Our new Spectre.”
Morgan added with a faint curl to his lip, “But not as nice.”
"This entire mission sounds like a 50/50 shot." Avan remarked. "A target that is nearly impossible to kill, and in the way are individuals that are just as dangerous." He paused as everyone looked his way, almost startled.
He continued. "The only advantage we really have is that we're rather more aligned than they are. From what we know of this crew, they might be stable, but not without palpable differences. Some conflicts of interest may have come their way. Whatever makes them work together, it's only a general goal with plenty of fallacies we can exploit."
"Yeah, but...they're still dangerous as hell. And whatever's been happening to keep them on the same team, it's working." Frank remarked.
"Differences are differences. They're still working together." Morgan agreed.
"That's true. Just like us, we all have differences, with a general goal." Avan responded. "The difference being that we're more professional. Iyana, Golt, Xhuan. They're all reminiscent, and their records show it, of violent and emotional tendencies. You can't be violent and emotional, not in that line of work. Violence works wonders. Emotions should be saved for after the paycheck."
"Huh." Vayne grunted. "When he talks, he talks."
"Just sorting out their weaknesses." Avan responded. "I think we would all prefer not going in guns blazing. But if we take into account what makes them tick and peel that away, we might kill them all without casualties on our end. Iyana, for example. Sniping her won't work because of her shields. Small explosions won't kill her unless placed around her at the right time, when she doesn't have a chance to run away. Poison...possibly, but with medi gel...it depends. She's quick, agile, creative, has larger numbers on her side, and is supposedly one of the most dangerous fiends in the Terminus system. So when we kill her, it needs to be done well."
"Avan, we've planned the best we can for this operation. Do not think for a second that I've underestimated her," Naleena said. "I have our ship using its passive sensors in case there is a second ship in the area. This is a high probability. They know we are coming. Each of you should have night and thermal vision suited to low light and total darkness. No doubt they'll be able to counter the thermal vision. If I were to lay a trap on a ship, that's how I'd do it. I doubt we'll encounter total darkness."
Night vision and thermal vision came a long way in the 200 years since it first came into use. Sensors automatically and rapidly compensated for lighting conditions so that sudden changes in brightness wouldn't flash blind the wearer like it did on the original models. Still a flashbang would be effective.
"This is Jess' operation. Our primary mission objective is to secure the Medusa. Secondary objectives are to secure any crew members that may be alive. I doubt there are any; and if we run into Iyana terminate her with extreme prejudice."
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