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[Kel Riever]

Desolate was an apt description of Parasc as the mag lift train raced across the desert.  One benefit to the lack of terrain is a person could see for klik upon klik upon klik.  The jagged mountain range that was the destination was visible immediately upon leaving the terminal, its cold grey jagged rock stabbing up from the flat ground; however, if it seemed close, it was an illusion due to its size and the clarity of the view.  Fifteen minutes into the trip, in fact, it seemed little had changed, except that the terminal had shrunk in size to the rear.

Saba said nothing more, though she didn't seem to stand off anyone.  It was more a matter of her speaking only when spoken to.  Cadi said nothing for the most part either, though her helm might have drifted Naomi and Chris' way once or twice.  Kamau became more at ease, however, striking up a conversation with Kuric which seemed dull at first, until they began talking military hardware, when it seemed they had found a bit of common ground.

Tolema spoke, however, to Menos and Lauren, quietly enough to not be overheard by their host.  "I've hear about this place, but it looks worse than it sounded.  When some big crest ran a well-behaved vorcha in front of the cameras, everyone was impressed, it seemed.  But isn't it like the 'uplifting' that's gone so wrong?  Let's not even mention what the Council did to the krogan, those tainted politicians.  What if vorcha are supposed to be violent?  Did anyone ever think it was a good idea to train poisonous snakes to be nice?"

Forty-five minutes into the trip and the destination came in sight.  The train rail made its only significant bend to the left around the sharp edge of the first sheer mountain.  As it did, a narrow valley appeared, rising high above and far below the rail.  Sealing the valley, and dead ahead, was a construct that seemed colder than the natural rock to either side of it; a wall, like a fortress, seemingly made of the same stone but with a smooth front.  The symbol of the Republics was large, alloy, and loomed centrally at the top of the wall, which had thin, widely separated towers.  Despite the colony's only tacit relationship to the asari government, in stark, corporate script, letters spelling 'Palladium Controls' were below the symbol.  It took another ten minutes for the train to approach the tunnel that drove through the wall.

Once inside, the scene changed, as the receiving terminal was entirely enclosed.  Those who had been to Noveria were reminded of a similar setting, though this one came with imported plants in occasional planters and a VI who greeted the train's arrival.  When the train came to a stop, there were maybe a total of six vorcha present, three of which greeted everyone and immediately offered to assist them.

[TheMajonese]

For Naomi, the last encounter with vorchas had ended with one of them exploding right in front of her and her arm being on fire, so she didn't trust those seemingly harmless vorcha, no matter how often they offered their help. Aside from that, she still ignored everyone around her and acted as if the rest of the team wasn't present.

 

 

 

During the ride, Chris avoided the others as well but not because he wanted to be left alone, he was just too tired and mentally exhausted to have a conversation with anyone.

 

When he saw the vorcha gathering around the team, he raised an eyebrow and approached Saba. "These vorcha aren't just less violent and aggressive than usual, are they? I mean...the way they act, they remind me of lower servants. How did you get to control them like that?"

[Kel Riever]

Once inside the terminal, Cadi removed her helmet.  So did Kamau.  The atmosphere and temperature inside was pleasant for most.

It was quite evident that Saba did not have an interest in removing her helm.

Saba faced Chris.  The polarization on her visor was gone, leaving her dark indigo eyes visible thorugh the thin, now transparent surface.  But when Chris saw those eyes, they were quite hard.  Not like Arcadia's either, where beneath their steely surface, it seemed that a fire burned in the soldier who was second in command of Stormhammer.  Saba's were hard like the rocky surface of Parasc, with nothing behind them than more stoniness.  "Control?" she asked, unconcerned if she was overheard.  Pointing at the nearest vorcha, Saba asked, "Porter, what is your name?"

"Klen is my name."

"Klen, I would like you to say why it is you seek to serve our guests with such ardor."

"Selfishness is the parent of all evil. Selfishness is the real enemy of peace.  And one who will be a public leader must know how to be a public follower."

"Tell our guests, Klen, who may be more familiar with your kind from other worlds, the violent ones, why it is that you are so different."

"It is not I who is different, it is we who are different.  They are not our kind, as unlike from we as asari is to man.  Yet there is the same hope and possible compatibility.  All fear violence, all are afraid of death.  Seeing the similarity to oneself, one should not use violence, or have it used.   Peace comes from within, do not seek it without.  Hatred will not cease by hatred, but by love alone.  This is the ancient law."

Cadi listened carefully to the conversation, and it was clear to the observant that she studied the interaction carefully.  Kamau looked to steer clear of Saba and the vorcha then, though he was pleasant with the Vorcha who took his gear.  Tolema looked as if things did not sit well with her.

"As you walk with us, you will come to understand us," Saba said to the group.  "So let us walk.  It is time for you to meet Teklia, my mother."

 

[TheMajonese]

Chris gave his sister a look that the twins often exchanged to see if the other one was thinking the same, but when his sister noticed it, she turned away from him. With a sigh, Chris instead approached Cadi to share his thoughts with somebody.

 

"That really sounds like brainwashing", he said to the blue-haired woman in a low voice. "Don't get me wrong, I certainly prefer vorcha that don't try to kill us. But...I don't know...it wouldn't surprise me if they worshipped their administrators as gods or had shrines, something like that."

[J.Ezra]

Juric was more then a little unsettled by the vorcha's speech. He'd met their kind before and the ones he'd seen were just as warlike as his own, if not more so. Seeing all of them behave in this manner was....wrong. The asari had messed with the vorcha's nature, it just seemed off that they acted this way.

 

Tolema's comment earlier hadn't gone unheard by Juric but this seemed worse to him. The council had uplifted his kind because of how they were, how they had evolved and the way they acted, they hadn't warped what made them....them. Well, not at first at least.

 

He dumped his gear unceremoniously with the nearest vorcha before going over to Tolema. "This feels....wrong. I don't like it." he said, not raising his voice but not making any attempt to hide what he'd said either.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Lauren had noticed that Saba left her helmet on, and did the same. Being a xenobiologist, she felt there must be a reason Saba didn't remove hers. She was fascinated by the display of the Vorcha. She set down her gear and approached Saba. "May I speak with you a moment in private? I'm a xenobiologist, and I find this absolutely fascinating that the Vorcha have been able to control their violent impulses. It is logical that the Vorcha will never advance until they conquer them. Am I correct in assuming that this is an attempt to uplift the Vorcha? There has to be more to this than just philosophical teaching. If so, could you tell me about it?"

[Cknarf]

Kurik too, was made uneasy by the 'domesticated' Vorcha. He much preferred ones that were violent, stupid, and predictable.

[Cainhurst Crow]

Menos gave a silent frown as he kept his mouth shut and eyes peeled. The speech was a nice trick, 'I think I saw humans do the same with their earth birds once...' He thought to himself. This place was a marvel of science and philosophy, taking a race like the vorcha and fully domesticating them. 'So lets think how my race with absolute control and a moral chip on our shoulders would do this...' he thought as he walked along with the others.

 

Constant observation, control over breeding rights similar to his own species, a matriarchy society, again similar to his own. But salarians were encouraged to grow and innovate, to break down boundaries and question things, push things too far and reel them back. Such a thing couldn't be done without making things messy, and messiness was the anti-thesis of this peace they wanted.

 

'How much are the vorcha allowed to deviate here? How much can they do before they violate whatever societal laws been put in place....' He thought to himself as his attention went to Lauren, 'Good. Find out what they know. Just don't get taken in by all the glitz and glammer kid. A circus still has its fecal matter to clean, no matter how amazing they make the show...'

 

Menos heard chris as his attention went over to him, walking up behind him as he whispered to him. "I'd keep my voice down, Chris. You never know who else is listening..." as he whispered that, his eyes flicked towards the front of the group, towards the bellhop vorcha. No one could sell out like someone trying to get the boss to like them, and menos didn't know how far the group could go either, before they'd be deemed social criminals as well..

[Kel Riever]

Cadi, it seemed, could do a lot of talking without saying anything.  When Chris came over to her, she gave him a steady nod of agreement.  Then with Menos' words of warning, she held a glance sideways at him for a while, heeding what he said.  "We will need to go over the details of our stay with our patron," was all Arcadia said for the time, when she finally spoke, but it was clear she had the same concerns as Chris and Menos.

Tolema did make sure to keep her voice down, confiding in Juric.  "We need to find out more.  I can play along with this routine."

If Saba overheard Juric, or Chris, she gave no hint of it, nor did the vorcha.  Instead, she began walking through the terminal, passing everyone through a checkpoint with a simple nod at the Vorcha behind the security desk.  Her armored footsteps, heavy on the hard floor, echoed noticeably through the place.  Her response was saved solely for Lauren's inquiry.

"Why is it so difficult to understand?  Is not belief the most compelling of forces?  Uplifting is a term that has no meaning here.  And you might consider that your xenobiology referenced through a greater whole takes on new meaning."  As she said her last sentence, Saba made a motion with the fingers on one hand straightened and held together to face upwards.  She made a circle outwards with that hand.  "All is one."

As if that was all there was to say in the matter, Saba went on in silence, bringing the members of Stormhammer through a glass door into the foyer of an office area.  There was another vorcha behind a desk, who greeted Saba politely and the group.  Without stopping, Saba pressed through a waiting area with several seats, entirely unpopulated.  Finally, she pressed a communication panel on another clear door, likely made of reinforced material.  Into the com, Saba said, "Stormhammer members here.  Reith is not.  Arcadia Del Castillo speaks in his absence."

The hard light control on the door turned green and Saba pushed it.  The clear door slid open.

Leading the way again, Saba brought everyone into the room beyond.  It was spacious, with little furnishing, though what was there had an elegant and simple beauty to it.  Behind a large alloy desk at the far end of the high ceilinged room sat an older, well manicured asari in a long white gown that came up to a high collar around her neck.  In front of the desk and to the side was a man with a face not shaved in a couple of days in a dark red heavy armor.  Behind his smile he did not hide that he was judging those who entered. 

"Mother, I bring you the members of Stormhammer."

The woman behind the desk stood and came around to the front of the desk.  "Welcome.  I am Teklia V'Siliou, President and owner of Palladium controls.  This is Commander Otello Koehler.  Please, come in and have a seat."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Not satisfied with the philosophical control of the Vorcha, Lauren did a check on her omni-tool for anything unusual: electromagnetic frequencies, airborne microbes, unusual gases, etc.

[Kel Riever]

As people came in to take seats, or even stand as they saw fit (Cadi stood), Teklia took a glance at Lauren activating her omni-tool, then asked Arcadia, "Reith, I trust, will speak with me later."

"Yes, as he has a commitment that demands his immediate attention.  He sends his apology for not being able to attend."

"It is not an issue, as long as you and your companions are prepared."

There was a sarcastic smirk from Otello, noticeable to anyone looking his way.

"You've been gathered here, as you are aware, because we are having difficulty with contacting an outlying mining facility.  This demands further investigation, and we have lost contact with our response team.  I cannot stress the unusual nature of this situation, as we have registered no natural occurrence to explain a loss of communication, nor have we received word, warning, or detected any threat.  The facility has simply gone quiet and we have had difficulty organizing another team to the site.  By the time we would have equipped another team appropriately, we would have had to ship in new supplies anyway, so we opted to not only request supplies, but people on the ground.  I have data for you, but the sum of it all is we cannot tell anything by satellite imagery other than the predominantly underground site is quiet.  It is as if people left, yet they cannot be found.  This is not a hub world, or a capital, so our satellites cannot snap an image of everything at every second of our day.  Still, our scanners and satellites are substantial enough to tell a good story, when there is one to tell.  Here, we simply do not know what happened."

[Kel Riever]

Saba watched Cadi closely as she listened, and Cadi let her eyes slide over to the white armored head of security and daughter of Teklia before returning her gaze to the mother.  Cadi said, "There seems to be some misunderstanding that we are performing a recon mission for Koehler's Brigade.

Otello chuckled openly then.  "Semantics.  We will have a presence at the next nearest mining site, which will operate as a forward base.  We will provide additional security and give available manpower should you need it, while you are to lead the investigation into the questioned location.  After all, we have experience in these matters.  If there is trouble and you are in over your heads, we are there to bring down our might and you'll be glad we did so, with the resources we have available."

There was a noticeable glint in Cadi's eye as she examined Otello.  There was plenty of experience now with Cadi to know that wasn't one of the humored glints in her eye.

"Please, your roles are specifically designed," Teklia stepped in.  "We have Stormhammer, and Reith is well known for his own capability and experience in assembling a good team.  In fact, I am pleased that Reith no longer answers to anyone else in the matter.  Arcadia Del Castillo, I do not know you, but you have my faith, as does your team.  What Otello says is true in that his Brigade is there for other reasons, and you may call on them as you deem necessary, only if you do deem it necessary.  This is a matter of calling in resources that we do not have here already.  So I hope that you can come to operational terms that support both of your objectives."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Lauren was puzzled by all of the conversation. "Pardon me for asking the obvious question, but it seems like you know more about the situation than you're telling us, otherwise you wouldn't be thinking it would be over our heads. So what haven't you told us?"

 

She had a reputation for being a "sh*t stirrer" in her old outfit, asking the inconvenient questions and being an overall smart ass.

[Kel Riever]

Otello looked at Lauren, not being used to having a member of a team speak instead of a leader, clearly.  "Excuse me, but why don't I ask you a question before I answer yours:  Doesn't your commander know enough to talk for all of you?"

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Lauren shook her head and smiled. "Our commander never said we couldn't speak. Why don't you just answer my question?"

[TheMajonese]

"Bullsh*t!", Naomi commented on Otello's reaction, her helmet hiding the angry look she gave him.

 

Chris chuckled at her comment, but inwardly he thought the same. Not just about Otell's opinion that only the commander should be allowed to speak, but his whole appearance and the concealment of information made it hard for Chris to like him. Or trust him in the first place.

[Cainhurst Crow]

'Oh...now there's a bit of insight I wasn't expecting.' Menos thought to himself as he kept his poker face up and grinning. So a top down approach to handling and dealing with orders. Could come in handy if they needed to understand how things usually operated around here. 'Good job Lauren. Chain of commands a good bit to know.'

[Kel Riever]

Otello cast a critical eye at the twins and Lauren, then remarked with disdain, "There is nothing about the mission I know more than you.  I do know, however, a good deal more about the qualifications of my company, and it looks like professionalism as well."

"You both work for me," Teklia stepped in, "And it is time to move on.  There is no seniority of either company over the other.  Both of you answer to Saba, who in turn answers to me.  This is in the contract.  I do, indeed, expect there to be no trouble between your parties as you may, despite differences, be called upon to act together.  For all our benefits.  Let us hope it does not come to that, but find our acceptance of that if it must."

"Understood," replied Cadi.  Those of the Stormhammer company knew that there was a patience and calm about her, but in this case, there was smoldering.  Controlled, but still she was angered by Koehler.

"Hmmn."  Otello simply grunted in affirmation.
 

"Then you will all proceed to the forward mining post under separate transportation.  Though most of Parasc is flat and dormant, this range is jagged and steep.   Koehler's Brigade has a few of their own transports, so will be using those.  For Stormhammer, our few flyers are used night and day for surveying, to keep us competitive, so I prefer they be used for that barring an emergency.  What we typically use to get where we need, and will be available for use, are our civilian grade M29s.  We have roads that cut through the mountains and a little patience is rewarded by a secure trip in these transporst.  Koehler, thank you for your time, you are dismissed."

"We'll be on our way," Otello responded, then walked out, without casting one glance at anyone else.

Teklia waited for him to be gone, then asked, "Does anyone have any further questions?  I do not know what else I can provide but I will be happy to if I can."

[Kel Riever]

"Yes, one I must ask after we are done in confidentiality," Cadi said.  "In the meantime, I think you will find that this team seldom asks questions that are not poignant.  Therefore, if they do not have any more questions, I do not."

Teklia nodded.  "Where you will head next is where you'll see our heavy work being done.  There, Saba will introduce you to Hestyas, who is head of our production and mining.  As this is a family run business, she is also my daughter.  She will give you more details of what she knows has happened, as few as they are.  But more importantly, you will be given appropriate clearances by her, she will show you our facilities so you understand them, the dangers present.  Lastly, this is where you are to set up your base of operations and all that entails.  I would listen closely to her; for the sake of your own safety."

The meeting was concluded, though Kamau and the team waited for a few minutes outside the office, while Cadi had a few, unheard words with Teklia and Saba.  When they were done, Arcadia came out, threw a glance to the team, and said, "We're not waiting.  Off to the Grizzlies."

Loading up was fast, but travelling with at most 6 to a vehicle in cramped spaces did not make for a comfortable ride.  Juric required a bit more space and was with Tolema, Kamau and Menos.  The other Grizzly had the twins, Lauren, Kuric, and Cadi.  A third Grizzly was for equipment, and for Saba.  Presumably the heavy crates, Vihaan and Reith would be along later, but it was likely after they had their own meeting with Teklia.  The driver of each vehicle was a vorcha, who piloted from a position in the fore closed off by a door.

It took almost two hours through winding, unpaved roads along steep mountainsides and threatening drop offs.  The air quality could be seen visibly changing outside, as dark grey clouds could be seen rising from the mining.  Eventually, that cloud formed a dark grey mist around the vehicles and finally, after one crest in the road, the descent could be seen.  

The valley below was more like a pit.  Molten pools were formed, and the equipment was so large, it could be seen from high above through the mist.  There were mag conveyors, building on tall stilt like protrusions, cones, vents, everything a full flung mining facility could be imagined to have, jumbo sized.  In fact, as the minutes passed, two giant dump trucks and a multi-purpose earth mover could be seen, each vehicle larger than the Lucky 7 or the Koehler's Brigade transport.  They were wheeled, too, massive tires taking them wherever they needed to trundle off too, at plodding but determined speeds. 

[Kel Riever]

The same unpleasant Spartan behavior seemed to accompany Saba wherever she went, leading Stormhammer off the mag lift train and down to where they'd be bunked.  There was a series of internally connected working buildings, a 'base' of sorts, spread out, all one level, with the amenities for living.  The group passed through a large quarter where vorcha were housed.  Of course, they passed through the public zones...mall like except for the distinct lack of most decoration, but it wasn't far to the passageways that lead to the living areas.  Hundreds of vorcha were housed in the complex, it was evident, and they kept to themselves in a pious way that involved little conversation, loud noise and certainly no sounds of music or other entertainment.  That wasn't to say there was nothing for them to do; the team passed an area that involved some sort of table sports not unlike ping pong or foosball.  Another court had a Plexiglas view of a kind of handball and a pool.  But expressions were tame of the participants, and observers watched quietly. 

Stormhammer was guided to the end of the complex, down a wing which was mostly vacant and reserved for them.  Everything was painted light grey, and the furniture was universally black.  Artwork did hang in places, but all were prints or copies, nothing original.  There were no windows, not that looking out onto a pile of gray ash would be scenic.  Each person had their own, stoic room, with attached bath.

Saba then spoke.  "Koehler's Brigade is based at the other end of this complex, as they require more room.  You will likely not see them unless you go to a public area.  It matters little since you will be moving on from here.  But this section is strictly yours, is secure, and only you or our family will have access to it as the entire wing is locked.  Make yourselves comfortable, and later today, we will meet my sister for a briefing.  There is time to eat, and meditate or pray.  I will return in six hours."

Then with a quick turn to Arcadia, Saba said, "You're particular request has been fulfilled by my mother.  I have given you access to the storage and workshop nearby.  It is cleared of most equipment as you asked, and will provide a good, sturdy area for your practice.  I wouldn't worry about breaking anything in there."

With that, Saba took her leave. 

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Lauren looked around at the rest of the team. "You know I don't mind calm non-violent vorcha, and I don't want to mess with that, but there is something really weird about this place."

[Cknarf]

Plain. Boring. Quiet.  Those were like, three of Kurik's favorite things, all of which were in short supply back home.

 

"I find it rather pleasant." Kurik commented.

 

This place had something else that Omega lacked. A proper swimming pool. Kurik had always wanted to try swimming, but the whole 'turians can't swim for sh*t' thing always stood in his way. Also, immersing yourself in any large pool of liquid on Omega for an extended period was known to cause birth defects and/or other reproductive harm.

 

How hard could it be?

 

"I'm going to the pool... to perform reconnaissance." Kurik nodded.

[Kel Riever]

A trip to the pool meant heading out of the wing reserved for Stormhammer.  Kurik's short trip took him through some of the area he was in before, but not too distantly from the wing.  There was a glimpse he caught of two, maroon armored humans from Koehler's Brigade walking on the other side of a long, open area.  They were laughing to each other, and distinctively, it was not a pleasant laughter. 

It did not take long to spot the entrance to the pool, and through the plexiglass, Kurik could see about five vorcha in attendance, three actually in the water.  They looked up at him as he entered, but said nothing.  Kurik could see the pool was very large, professional, the kind one could hold official sporting events in, which was unusual since the complex looked to be the last place for any kind of festivities.  One sectioned off area was shallow enough to stand in, and most of the vorcha were there.  Signs clearly directed Kuric to one of the changing rooms where he was free to put his gear in a locker, and find the proper accoutrements for swimming.  Even for a turian.  Supplies involved a suit, goggles, a towel and really anything else he might need.

Coming out of the changing room, Kuric noticed the vorcha were gone.  The signs warning that swimming was your own risk never seemed so prominent.

[Kel Riever]

Kamau spoke to Lauren.  "I agree. I do not like this place, but I gather that some extreme practices are in place for the purpose of having vorcha act against the nature we all so believe them to have.  Still, there are methods which make me question their validity.  I will not want to stay here longer than we must." 

The Stormhammer scout was a fairly handsome man of dark skin, with long dreadlocks and hazel eyes.  He looked to Lauren, asking her as well as any others.  "We should eat and at least rest if we have not.  I for one am hungry.  We may seek the dining area which is in this wing and get ourselves what I am sure promises to be a bland meal.  Would anyone like to accompany me for lunch?"

Arcadia, for her part, had thrown her carry on gear into her bunk.  She'd moved away from the others until she could appear near the doorways for Chris and Naomi.  She folded her arms and leaned against the wall.  "I have something just for the two of you, privately.  If you are interested, follow me."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Lauren smiled at Kamau. "Thank you, I would like that. But a bland lunch? Not if I can help it," she said, then reached into her pack and pulled out a jar of cayenne and lemon seasoning and showed it to Kamau. "There is little that lemon and cayenne can't fix. And I will share."