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[TheMajonese]

"And now I'm supposed to just wait? Unbelievable...", Naomi said with crossed arms and stared at her leg which was bandaged now, while she continually grumbled about the fact that she was restricted to laying on this bed in the med bay.

 

Chris didn't say anything, he just sat on an empty bed next to the one Naomi was occupying and watched his sister. The look in her eyes and the tone of her voice worried him. The exhaustion as well as the injury were taking their toll on Naomi and since she tended to quickly become emotional about certain things, Chris figured it was best to just let her complain about her leg instead of mentioning something that might upset his sister. These things could wait for now.

 

"You have any idea when Sally plans to take off?", Naomi asked her brother impatiently and his answer was a shrug.

 

Suddenly they both heard the voice of the unknown woman. "Palladium employees and in particular Teklia V'Siliou, I have come from a place far from here and inflicted pain upon you for my purposes..."

 

Naomi sat up and looked around as if she was looking for the speaker. "Who's this wo-?"

 

"Shut up!"

 

"...to find you have something that I want. I will give you back your precious mines without further conflict if you will but give me that one thing. Capture Major John Reith. Deliver him to me alive and your assets will be restored."

 

Right after the communication ended, the twins looked at each other for a few moments. Then Chris jumped up and turned to leave the med bay.

 

"She wouldn't...", Naomi tried to calm her brother down but he interrupted her.

 

"How can you be so sure. We don't know enough about Teklia. One of her daughters was killed and she just lost everything. She might be tempted try something if she can get the mines back in return." Without any further words Chris left the med bay. At first he wanted to look for Reith but then he decided to head to the bridge instead. Sally surely had heard this transmission as well and Chris was more than curious to know what the quarian was thinking since she was the one who would give the order to take off.

[Kel Riever]

Those in medical likely had no idea that the Lucky 7 had already left the starport, its ascent completely smooth and quiet.  Monitors, also, were medical and there was currently no feed to the ship's status, though the com have been on general audio.  One of the wounded was an old Koehler's Brigade member, a slightly overweight man who was some sort of tech who'd had his arm shot into.  He mumbled something, in fact, akin to, "Let's stay I need the money," before he passed out from his meds.

But the Lucky 7 hadn't escaped the atmosphere when the message came through.  Reith was in the bridge, where almost everything sensitive was handled from including com, and he had barely gotten off with Teklia before her image returned.  The Major's expression changed from one of contemplation to one of anger.

Teklia wasted no time, "You've got to come back now, Reith.  We're not going to hand you over, but we can use a ploy.  Trick them into thinking we will..."

"Forget it, Teklia.  We're done."  Reith's eyes wandered over to Sally, who approached him as her attention was caught by the conversation and what was happening with the threat.  Briefly he wondered where she stood.

"I'm not asking John.  Get you, your ship and your people back here now."

"Hey, listen up you two faced howler cat!" Sally jumped in, agitated, Just as Kuric and Lauren entered the bridge to hear her part.  "I've had my fair share of dealings with you and your the kind who looks out for herself.  Why I shouldn't be surprised you'd turn your back right on the people who helped you out.  It ain't cause your bitter.  It's cause all you got under that crest of yours is the though of how many pieces of eight you're gonna lose otherwise.  Cut a deal with the devil, I'd be ashamed to be one of your daughters!"  With that, Sally slammed on a panel to disconnect the com.

"Nice to know where you stand, Sally."  Reith's hard face smirked.  "I'd dare say I owe you."

The quarian made enough of her hand movements to show not just her anger but her concern.  "I aim to collect, too, but our bacon is headed for the fire if we don't get us gone."  She turned to the pilot. "Full speed, we're leaving this system lickety split!"

The com came alive again with an alert this time.  "This is Parasc Space Control.  All personnel aboard the starfreighter Lucky 7 are ordered to return to the launch origin immediately.  Return the Lucky 7 with all members aboard to the launch origin immediately.  Those who do not obey this order will be subject to arrest and detention by order of the Parasc Corporate Confederation and the Parasc Systems Authority.  Comply or face prosecution."

Chris had gotten up to the bridge by that point, Sally's reaction loud enough to actually hear down the narrow corridor leading up to it and through the closed hatch.  But there was someone in the way before he got there.  Standing in the narrow corridor, facing the bridge (and with most of his back to Chris) was one of a tall man from the Koehler's Brigade, his hand resting just on the butt of a holstered shotgun.  He'd heard Chris and turned over his shoulder.  "Come on, we know what to do, right?  It's for everyone's good."



 

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Lauren, now on the bridge with Reith and Sally shook her head and had her hand ready on her holster glanced up at Reith. "I got your back. This is about to get ugly," she said. "Prosecution? Shmosecution! I have no intention of going back down there, or coming back to this system."

[TheMajonese]

Chris was taken by surprise when he realized what the man was up to. However he quickly decided to play along and gave a short nod. He didn't carry a gun with him but still had Naomi's knife. He grabbed it in one hand and motioned the member of Koehler's Brigade to go ahead. "Let's do it."

 

Despite being somewhat confused about the man's motives, Chris knew that he didn't have much time to come up with something. He was going to wait until the man would be entering the bridge and show him his back to quickly take him out from behind.

[Kel Riever]

"Name's Seth," the tall man whispered to Chris as he approached the hatch to the bridge.  He had an edge to his glance as he quietly drew the shotgun out of his back holster.  Chris recognized it as an Eviscerator, a nasty weapon banned by the Council.  "We've got them cornered up here, if they don't want anyone to be ripped apart and the control systems damaged, they'll do the smart thing.  We just have to wait until they're distracted."  Seth paused. "These merc leaders, f**k them.  Mine turned his back on me, yours can be traded to get us out of trouble.  And reward, those asari have money.  You and me, we'll split it, give the Captain some comfort money...she'll change her mind once she's faced with making the right choice.  It's business, smart people will understand."

The conversation continued a bit, with Seth listening carefully.  Chris saw the bridge door hadn't been locked.  It was only a few moments before Seth heard what he wanted.  He sprung the sliding door open, and as it did, he put the barrel of his weapon against the head of the person closest to him.

~ ~ ~ ~

The Lucky 7 was certainly fast, and those who'd worked in engineering suspected the small freighter wasn't equipped with any old standard drives.  Rising out of the atmosphere rapidly, the ship was making course straight for the Relay.

"They're not going to let us go by just yelling at us," Sally predicted and pointed to one of the readouts near the fore of the bridge, bringing attention there.  "See that? Got us what Earthers call a 'bandit'.  And...oh hell she didn't!  That howler cat looked like she pulled that strafing fighter out of the fray to come for us!" 

The pilot agreed.  "Affirmative.  Count our luck that it's just the one so far, and that we haven't seen any frigates in system.  Though this crew that invaded must have..."

"Freeze!"  The shout came from the bridge hatch and Lauren felt the unmistakable barrel of a gun at the back of her head.  "I goddamn mean it!"

One of the Koehler's Brigade members had the drop on Lauren, his Eviscerator Shotgun placed against her head. He looked like he meant it, and quick enough to deliver on his threat.  Chris stood behind him.

[Cknarf]

Reith's eyes narrowed as felt the muzzle of an assault rifle push into his back.

 

"I'm sorry, major."

 

He immediately recognized the voice, belonging to one of his own, before taking a blow to the back of the knee that sent him down.

 

"But there's only one way I can see this going."

 

Kurik, with his weapon aimed at his boss,  looked up to the man with the shotgun, as if to say, 'now what?'

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

With the shotgun pressed against her skull, Lauren chose this moment to present the logical argument. "Really? After all you saw on the planet, do you really think that those people are going to live up to their end of the bargain?" Lauren said. "Sure, they want the major for their own purposes, but you really have to be stupid if you think that they want any news of what transpired here to get out to the galactic community. Do you really think they'll give you credits and let you just walk away?

 

"Think! You'll end up dead. Teklia will end up dead. Everyone on this ship will end up dead just like the others. Now lower your shotgun before you make that mistake. If it's credits you want you can have my share."

[TheMajonese]

When Seth aimed the shotgun at Lauren, Chris cursed inwardly. Even though the man wasn't moving which was perfect for quickly taking him down, Chris didn't want to risk Seth pulling the trigger of his weapon out of surprise. Of course he could just kill Seth from behind but that wasn't an option for Chris.

 

He positioned himself next to the tall man and tried to look as unsuspicious as possible. He searched for Kurik's eyes, hoping that the turian would react as quickly as he had just done by seemingly threatening Reith. 

 

Then without any warning, Chris threw himself against Seth, causing him to lose balance. They both hit the floor, briefly stunned by the heavy impact.

[Cknarf]

 Kurik gave Reith a slight nudge with his knee, as he made eye contact with Chris. The human acted as he had hoped, although he would have preferred to be in a better position. Lauren narrowly avoided losing her head, moving just enough for the sudden shotgun blast to miss, leaving her with a slight ringing in her ear.

 

As Kurik began to move, the major smoothly detached the handgun from the passing turian's hip as he stood himself.

[Kel Riever]

"Dangit!" Sally shouted as the Eviscerator went off.

Reith, always combat ready even at his age, crouched, and put the barrel of the Predator pistol that Kuric had made available to him to the cheek of Seth.  "You're done.  Let go of the shotgun."

Seth didn't move from his position on the floor and let go of the Eviscerator.  It clattered on the deck, and was immediately snatched up by none other than Sally herself.  Sally tossed the Eviscerator to Kuric, then helped Chris up with surprising strength. 

"You can't get away," Seth said quietly to Reith, "Don't take everyone down with you."

"Hey!" Sally shouted and her anger only brought out more of the odd accent one would never expect to come from a quarian.  She drew her own sidearm, and people caught the flash of nickel plating on some sort of huge, ancient pistol before she finally pointed the barrel of that pistol at the center of Seth's forehead, "I am the Captain, not you, and my word is law on this ship!  So if I say you're worth a bullet in the brain, you are.  And if I say we're going to get away, we damn hell will!"

Seeing Sally had Seth dead in her sights, Reith stood up, though he kept the Predator trained on Seth.  "What are you packing there, Sally?"

"Oh, this thing?  It's an old, forty-four Smith and Wesson Special, model six-two-nine.  I got it from a gun collector on Duellos.  Had to nab it before some red haired human looney, who I knew had her eyes on it.  Works perfect to this day, if it don't but leave a mess behind."  Sally cocked the hammer.  "Now get up, you worm-bellied critter."

Seth stood and raised his hands.  Reith nodded to the nearby team to remove Seth of any remaining weaponry.  After that was done, Sally said, "I ain't figured out what you broke in here yet, and I should either put you in the hooscow of my vessel, or put you out the airlock, but I got no time for babysitting, nor am I gonna give them bastards one more reason to think we're the bad guys.  So you're gonna walk with one of my crew down to the nearest escape pod, strip yourself down to your briefs, and I'm gonna launch you back to where you came from.  You can see if your new sweetheart Teklia's got a new job for mercs that come with just their underwear.  Harry, just in time!"

Harry, the first mate of the Lucky 7 had arrived, coming through the door with a Claymore in his hands, wondering exactly what was happening, and for a man of his heft, a rather nasty look in his eye of who needed to be killed.  Sally took another few seconds to explain, then Harry hauled Seth off, to meet his fate.

Sally looked around at two overhead monitors that had been blown out by Seth's shot.  "I swear, there's always something.  Anyway, we can get by.  Ya'all get yourselves situated, in or out of the bridge if you want.  We're heading for that Relay like I said, and get out of here."

The Major caught Chris' eye and said, "Nice move.  I owe you."
 

[Cknarf]

Reith handed over Kurik's handgun, grip first. It was promptly returned to its designated area. Kurik just grunted a bit in response, as he was occupied with some of the items he had just acquired. While the shotgun was nice, he was far more interested in the blade. He took hold of the wooden handle, and removed it from its sheath. The blade was black in color, seven inches long, and free of serrations. 

 

It will suffice.

 

The next item wasn't quite as interesting. A pliable gold square, obviously a protective layer of some kind, as whatever was inside was squishy. He tore it open with the tip of his talon, and removed the contents. The item was slippery, perhaps covered in some kind of lubricant

 

"Hm."

 

He accidentally poked a hole through the elastic membrane in the center of the ring, before finally unraveling it.

 

"Ah." Kurik's mandibles twitched, as he realized that it was.

 

Contraceptive prophylactic of human origin.

 

He brought it to Chris, the nearest human male, and handed it to him.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Lauren saw Seth's Eviscerator on the floor and picked it up. "Perhaps I should add this to my gun collection. I'm not much for long range accuracy, but with something like this I can cover the team from threats that get too close. The law says this weapon can't be sold anymore. I didn't buy it. I didn't steal it. I found it in the Terminus. So I guess that puts it in a grey area," she looked up at Reith. "What? I'll leave it in my locker except when we're on missions."

[Cainhurst Crow]

Menos hadn't said a word since the boarding of the Lucky 7 had taken place, in fact he was silent as a ghost as he sat atop a small crate, staring at the vorcha and brigaders who had managed to make it aboard their ship, and with his Incisor still in his hands as he kept it pointed to them. His eyes were dead behind them, shaded by the hood he wore as he looked between the survivors, his quick reflexes able to pick up any subtle movements.

 

One of the members of the brigade adjusted his seat, and Menos shifted his rifle to aim at the man as he sat in silence, both people looking at one another as menos slowly relaxed his aim. It had gone on like this since the announcement. Menos had drawn his rifle, pulled over a crate and taken a seat in front of the door, and had sat at guard.

 

They were leaving this planet. And nobody in this room was going to stop them. The others would have to make sure they neutralized their own threats.

[Kel Riever]

Reith shrugged his shoulders at Lauren, indicating he had no issue with her having the Eviscerator.  

Sally tsked Kuric.  "You given him a broken one?  Think about that for a moment."

Alex, the pilot, called over her shoulder.  "That fighter's getting close enough for discomfort.  And her guns are armed."

"Send her a warning.  Tell her she ain't got no authority and I'll burn her if she gets too close."

"Sending."  And a minute later.  "She's ignoring, of course."

Holstering her Magnum and placing a finger to her helm, Sally said, "Here's the quick and dirty, ya'all.  We're fast, we ain't faster than a fighter.  But I've got the chaff to make it a large kind of problem for her if she gets in range, if she does plan on trying to use them guns.  Nothing's guaranteed though, issue is how far she's gonna push it.  She can't get through a Relay, though, so I figure we'll...."

Another alarm sounded, this one adding to the flashing alert from the threat of the fighter.  

"When's this gonna end!  We got another threat?  Ship?"

"Aye," Alex confirmed.  "Just came out of Relay transport, arriving at the standard system destination for most freight travel.  Ship's an asari Republics frigate.  Probably responding to the threat on Parasc."

"Fine, just as long as they ain't gonna..."

"Sorry, Captain, I'm receiving the frigate's threat to hold position now."

Sally was clearly flustered.  She stepped towards the back of her pilot's chair and leaned over it, as if she needed to see the readouts first hand, herself.  "They got no authority!  Tell 'em that!"

"Sure.  But the guns."

"I know about the guns!  All right, can we make the Relay.  They might got an engine but we got position.  We can do it."

Alex, the stress showing in her expression, but with a mix of determination that reflected her Captain's, replied, "We can.  The problem is we hit the Crescent Nebula, we're going to run into ships from Illium, and we'll probably be caught because they'll com ahead.  Or we head to the Hourglass Nebula, Osun, and go deep into the Terminus Systems.  Which will work if the salarians don't have ships there or aren't interested in helping the asari for some reason.  Those are our choices, well, or we head deep into this system away from the Relays, but we might not be able to outrun that military vessel on an extended chase."

Sally tilted her head.  "There's a third option."

"A third option?"  Alex asked, wondering what her Captain was talking about.

Sally turned her visor over her shoulder to the Stormhammer members on the bridge, then said to Alex, "We go here."  Sally activated her omni-tool and uploaded a Relay destination to Alex's console.

"That's a destination?"  Alex looked closer.  "That's an unexplored jump!  How did you?...That'd be a breach of the highest Council law!  Not to mention a possible good way to get ourselves killed...we have no idea what's on the other side when we get there."

"But I bet the asari wouldn't follow us."

Alex was incredulous.  "No, because they're not crazy enough to take the risk!"

Sally stood taller.  "And we could be.  But I'm not gonna just up and decide this myself, even if I could.  I ain't gonna cause a mutiny.  All of you on this bridge, your the committee.  Right here, right now, clock's ticking.  Risk the law, risk the Terminus, or get crazy?  I know which one I'm leaning towards, but you better pitch in cause there'll be a lot of explaining to do later for everyone not here."

 

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"Yeah, this isn't looking good," Lauren said and took a look at the star chart. "I'm not an expert, but what about making a jump to the Valhallan Threshold then to Omega? There's nothing in the Raheel-Leyya System except a relay and a double star system. Yeah, it's the gateway to the Paz System and news reports say there's been a big corporate war on Garvug but the Council is steering clear of it. I sold my Sonax stock a couple months ago. They should've known better than to try and take on the Krogan. Just thought I'd mention it."

[Cknarf]

"I am not normally one to take risks, but I recommend making the jump to the unexplored system." Kurik took a closer look at the chart.

 

"As you said, captain, it is unlikely that they will continue their pursuit. Also, I doubt we will encounter hostile spacecraft beyond the relay, at least, not as many as we would while travelling through the Terminus Systems."

[TheMajonese]

Chris looked at Kurik as if the turian was a ghost, then he just dropped the thing Kurik had given him. "Thanks, but...ahm...I don't think I need this..." In the past, there had been quite a few moments where Chris would have been glad to have one but that was many years ago. Right now it was just awkward.

 

When Sally came up with her idea to jump to an uncharted location Chris wasn't sure what to think about it but it still seemed better than staying around Parasc. "The sooner we get out of here, the better", he said. "Kurik's right, they wouldn't follow us. It might be the best option we have at the moment."

[Kel Riever]

"Valhallan Threshold?  No!"  Sally seemed unusually adamant about her decision on it.

"But...," Alex started.

"No!  I have my reasons, and you should know them."

Alex nodded slowly.  "We really could go to the Ismar Frontier, gas giants mostly, remote."

Sally considered, "They're smart and they're closing.  The frigate will chase us two of the four ways, leaving her allies to close off the other two destinations.  We go to the Ismar Frontier, that's a fifty-percent chance we're followed and caught.  I'm more fond of a zero percent chance."

"But...," Alex protested once more.

Sally turned towards the others on the bridge.  "Decision's made, like it or not, Alex.  We're breaching the Relay.  Take it on faith I know what I'm doing.  And I might be crazy, but I got a sense in these people.  Hit the Relay, and the next job at hand is getting a head count of who all is on here still between vorcha and these Koehler's people."

Alex grumbled, "Going with Captain Sally's gut instincts, always a great comfort."

"I heard your sass!" Sally called over her shoulder as she was heading out the door to the bridge.  She told the other Stormhammer members.  "Anyone else wants to help me out, come along."  

[Cainhurst Crow]

"You should all brace yourselves. ..we're hitting the relay soon.." was all menos said as he got onto his own comms, "Hourglass Nebula would be best. But if you really want to lose them, go ahead."

Menos drew the cards from his pouch, shuffling them as he glanced to the others, "Who wants to see if we live or die?" He asked as he drew the first of his cards, doing a tarrot reading as he sat in tense silence.

[Cknarf]

Kurik responded to Sally with the usual affirmative grunt, and followed along.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"I mean what could go wrong? Another Rachni incident? I heard about the Yahg, too. Nothing like getting eaten. Suppose there's giant squid-like creatures that live in the oceans of the world on the other side that control the minds of people? Nothing like letting them loose on the galaxy, is there?" Lauren rambled. "If sh** goes south after we go through it, don't come running to me and sayin' 'why didn't we listen to you, Lauren?' Nope. Don't do that."

[Kel Riever]

"Ain't nobody runnin' to you, sweetheart," Sally said as she headed away from the bridge.  "In the end it's all my fault, 'cause I'm the captain.  And I kinda like it that way, even if I was asking you to whisper in my ear."

About ten minutes later, Sally was in the rear cargo hold of the Lucky 7, with those who came along, and she'd had what she wanted after talking to Harry, which was a headcount of the unknowns aboard.  "I thought the point of us evacuating, Harry, was to get all these loose ends off the ship before we left," Sally chided her first mate.

"Well, it was a rush.  We disgorged two loads of evacuees, and these people were on when we rushed out of there.  We did rush out of there, you know."

"All right, so we're quick.  Too quick.  Numbers, Harry?"

"Five vorcha from Parasc, they're not causing trouble, all huddled up over there."  Harry pointed to some cargo crates that had been taken aboard for delivery, status now uncertain.  The five Siarist vorcha looked frightful, but were attempting to remain calm by meditating. Harry continued, "Then there's three left of this Koehler's Brigade group aboard, and it looks like someone's been keeping track of them since our incident on the bridge."  He waved an open hand towards Arcadia, who was standing nearby.

"Your with Reith, Stormhammer," Sally asserted.

Cadie nodded.  "I am sorry I missed the man who headed towards the bridge.  Lo siento.  Of the rest, there is one who is incapacitated in medical, Rastus a shuttle pilot who we've talked to, and a volus engineer who apparently wasn't good enough to take along with the main brigade.  None are a problem at this point, but we will watch them."

Sally seemed convinced by the confidence of the woman with the blue hair.  She turned to Harry again, "You ditch that rat yet?"

"Already gone, though that'll cost us one escape pod."

"Worth the cost."  Sally checked her Omni-tool. "Looks like our fighter's fired some warning shots but nothing close enough to hit.  She's counting on the frigate, but we ain't gonna get caught before we hit that Relay..."  The warning lights for a Mass Effect jump lit for all to see across the ship.  "Which is gonna happen in two minutes.  Everybody get yourself situated!"


 

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"Mind-controlling giant squids, here we come."

[Kel Riever]

Two minutes later, everyone aboard the Lucky 7 could feel the subtle shifts aboard the vessel, like the momentary transition of artificial gravity, as the jump was made through the relay. 

"Well, easy as always," Sally said as she stood up from the seat she'd taken at the side of the cargo hold.

Then there was an impact into the hull that sent her, and anyone else who'd gotten up quickly, off her feet.  Yellow warning flashes filled the hull, and another, though much lesser, impact was felt on the hull.

"Captain, to the bridge!"  Alex's voice came over the general com.
 

"What did we hit?" Sally wondered aloud as she got up and started back through the ship at her best speed.  "Cause we hit something!"  As if to confirm her guess work, there was another hit, and she was thrown shoulder first into the side of the hallway she'd made it to, before she stumbled on. 

Upon reaching the bridge, Sally got full view of what had happened.  Exiting the Relay, the Lucky 7 had ended up in a field of asteroids.

"Alex!"

"I know!  I know!"  Alex pitched the ship, barely escaping a dreadnought sized rock that hurled past them.

[Kel Riever]

By the time Sally got back to the bridge, there was a third collision on the hull, and a split second where those aboard the Lucky 7 felt the ship go to zero-G, before the gravity came back slowly. Sally herself saw something she didn't want to see on a monitor, but then she focused on what lay ahead.  After Alex pitched the ship again, over another hurtling heavenly body that would have smashed them in an instant, the ship was in the clear.  Mostly.  There was the dust field of smaller asteroids that the ship's shielding could handle, and then a few minutes later, open space.

"We're out," Alex breathed a sigh of relief. 

"That cost us a main thruster, one of our two," Sally regretted.  "I can be dumb as a rock sometimes.  You think we can get back to that relay to get outta here?"

Alex looked back at Sally, sweating.  "Yeah, if we can plan the approach.  With enough math to give me a headache for a year.  But that thruster loss is our biggest problem right now.  We've got to send someone and have a look at how bad it is."

"Henry'll do it.  Where are we?"

"Looks like we are in a system, they don't seem to build Relays unless something's worth building it around, mostly."  Alex used a screen to widen a scan for Sally to see.  "We have four planets orbiting what looks like to be a young sun.  Two are gas giants.  I'm still trying to figure out about the other two."

"Well, as long as..."  Sally was cut off by yet another alert.  This one indicated the threat of another ship.  She looked at the screen and if anyone could see her expression behind her visor, they would have seen Sally's jaw drop.  "Bosh'tet," Sally was in such shock she reverted to her native language for her swearing, "Are they out of their minds?"

The asari frigate had made the jump.

Unfortunately, the asari frigate wasn't nearly as fortunate as Sally's ship, and was immediately hit by an asteroid large enough to wreck it.