Well, this one almost caught me. The time line is rather messy though i've tried to keep track of it as best I can. I might have made a mistake and I am sure some of you will correct me. It's all good. So as always Mass Effect and Bioware is not mine but they graciously allow all of us to play in their playground.
Alex nodded and took in the huge garage. "This, this has a use. I have Shadow team downloading all data. Maybe we can figure out what's going on. Call in the Vengeance and get the Elephant here. We are going to clear this place out." She added.
When the company got back Alex made sure the haul was stored. It took weeks for the Quartermaster to document everything. When she was done she sent the report to Alex. The data that Shadow team had downloaded didn't make a lot of sense and for the most part they left it alone. Alex didn't have an intel officer who could translate the data which didn't help much.
"Ma'am, here's the data on the load brought back from the moon. There's a lot of rations, enough to supply at least 3 of our units for 6 months. There is also weapons which I've listed there. Some of it is cheap crap though. I'd suggest tearing them down for parts. I've also taken what weaponry there is that isn't crap and put it into our stockpile of weapons. Some of it is really good stuff."
The Quartermaster was a thin human of Hispanic heritage. She barely stood above five feet tall and was an ex-Alliance naval officer. The FCW had done a number on her though. Her ship had gone down and she was the only survivor. It took years for her to get back to where she was now and since the Alliance couldn't keep her, when she came to Alex, Alex hired her on the spot.
Alex looked over the list on the datapad and frowned. "They are planning something," she said.
Laura, the Quartermaster, nodded. "Si, the Pendejo look like they are planning a small war with all that. Also looks like they planned on throwing bodies at it too with the crap weapons."
Alex gave a short laugh. "I don't disagree at all." She set the pad down and tapped at the desk in thought.
"Ma'am?" Laura showed a bit of concern at that point since Alex had never been one to have to muse over things.
Alex's gaze came up and she shrugged. "Tear down the crap for parts, keep the better stuff for when things break or someone is looking for a new weapon. I notice there's a couple of sniper rifles. Put them to the side so I can look them over. If the MREs are ok use them as supplies. If they are terrible, burn them. No use is giving terrible crap to others."
Laura nodded, making note of what Alex said and then leaned back, crossing her leg over her knee. "And the other stuff?"
Alex frowned at the datapad. "I'll have to think on it. Some of it can be sold, but some of it... the slave collars destroy them or take them apart and they can be recycled. Yes?"
There were a dozen boxes of collars and each box held at least a thousand collars in it. That troubled Alex. These pirates were really looking to score at least twelve thousand slaves. It pointed to the Hegemony which didn't surprise her but something did not add up yet. She made a mental note to look over the more recent data, maybe that could shed some light.
Laura grimaced and nodded. "I'd rather melt that crap down to scrap. Then it's really useful to us for repairs and for credits on the overstock. The prefabs look to be simple command structures. Quite useful for us if we go into a mini war."
Alex shook her head. "True, I rather not see the Legion doing that but you never know what the future will hold. If we don't have a use for them, they can be sold in the future. Anything else?"
Laura shook her head. "No ma'am. That's everything. I'll shoot you a message if anything comes up." She stood and walked out of the office, leaving Alex to ponder the obvious mystery.
For the next few weeks all was quiet. They had new recruits to train and no jobs lined up so that gave Alex a chance to look over everything they had gathered data-wise from Etrat. It made not a lot of sense to her. She had someone who went by ElHa seemed to be brokering a deal on banding smaller pirate bands. It had worked and that brought her to reference some older data she came across only because ElHa was rather specific.
She was sitting there one night when Liara came in quietly. From the position of the Asari's shoulders Alex could guess that she was tired. Alex gave a faint smile to her while Gavin enthusiastically greeted his Asari aunt.
"Aunty! Kraz let me fire his rifle today. I hit a target!" Gavin all but danced.
Alex sighed and groaned. "Gavin, finish your homework. Liara will be around for you to inform later."
The boy pouted at Alex and then sighed. "I am almost done now. Just have three more questions to do."
"Ok, then it's a shower and bed for you young man," Alex smirked at Gavin who grimaced but didn't fight it. Last time he had, Alex had just tossed him in the shower, turned it on cold and scrubbed him red. He didn't fight her after that.
Liara got a drink and gratefully sat down on the couch across from Alex, eyeing the datapads on the table between them. She reached out to tweak one closer and look at it, reading it and then giving Alex a questioning look. "What's all this?"
Alex shifted so she was more comfortable, her back was aching a little. "Data we got from the last assignment. The pirates were stockpiling munitions and supplies but I can't make heads or tails of the info downloaded before we left. It's jumbled. I know I am missing something but… I can't see it."
Liara nodded and then picked up another datapad. This one had the message sent from ElHa to the leader of the pirate group the Legion had raided. She set it back down and grabbed a random one. She set it off to the side after reading it. Within minutes Liara separated the messages.
"Well… some of this is old and doesn't mean much. You have a odd message here and there like this one," Liara handed over one of the first bits of data Alex's team had acquired.
"Your merchandise should arrive by tomorrow…," Alex read it out loud and tossed it back down. "It honestly sounds like someone was getting a delivery."
Liara nodded. "Except there is no such thing as Elanik Support Gear. It sounds Turrian but they would never call themselves support."
Alex sat up and rubbed her eyes, clearing the tiredness from them. "Shit, when you put it that way." She looked over all the datapads on the table then back to Liara. "I can't make heads or tails of this at all. What's your opinion?"
Liara sat back, frowning a bit. "The one thing I have learned is how to piece history together with little bits. If you just read these all, they just seem like messages from one to another. Pirates?" She gestured to the pads and Alex nodded.
"There's not enough data to say for sure but the few that talk about you, you can toss. Those are known quantities. This one, this one and this one, they have no data that can be put together with the rest." Liara tapped the three she had put off to the side.
Alex blinked a little at her friend as she basically ripped through the data. "Wait are you saying that it looks like the packs might be banding together?"
Liara pointed out how a few of the messages mention a human and then the one message that spoke of someone named Aisin, Mag and Brekin joining with someone. "If I were to theorize on the data you have, it sounds like something big is being planned and if this is pirates then there is no telling what that is. I am sorry I can't help you more. If you get more data I might be able to tell you."
At that point Kraz barged in. "Alex, you better come see this," he said, his voice tense.
Alex looked at Liara and she smiled. "Go, I'll make sure Gavin gets his shower and then goes to bed," she responded with.
"Thanks Liara," Alex said as she followed Kraz out.
They headed back to the rec room where the display was showing lights and when she got closer she could hear fighting. Kraz guestured to the screen. "Looks like they hit Mindoir."
Alex glued her eyes to the screen and before long a rather harsh picture was painted. The Alliance was bogged down by a raid and they had no way out. Pirates had overwhelmed the defenses and then set up their own which had the Marines pinned down and unable to help. The feed when on for hours and Alex finally went to bed, too tired to understand.
Later on the big picture was taken, how 90% of the colonists on Mindoir were killed and those not killed were taken. There was never any reason given for the attack but it set the Alliance on edge enough that they had a Commander come to talk to Alex. He arrived with little fanfare and was quiet, restrained. This happened about three months after the Mindoir raid.
"Commander," Alex said and shook his hand before sitting back in her chair.
She watched as the man settled himself in the seat offered, arms at rest ridgidly. She didn't say anything else but studied him and in turn he did the same finally giving a slight smile of acknowledgement. Alex chuckled softly and then offered him a drink which he took.
"Coats," he said and took a sip of the bourbon.
"Coats then. What can I do for you?" Alex folded her hands together and watched him as he took another sip and then set the glass down.
"The Alliance sent me because of the recent issues. They want you back training at Rio. I"ve been ordered to give you this," he said and dug into his jacket, pulling out a datapad and then offering it to Alex.
Alex took it with a frown, not actually expecting what he said. She flicked on the datapad after pressing her thumb to the pad and it scanning her DNA. Then it flickered on and showed the orders. She threw the pad on the desk and chewed on her lip.
"Who?" That was the only word Alex spoke to Coats.
"Admiral Jackson though there was less support from Admiral Green and Major Thomas," he answered.
"Fuck," was all Alex uttered and scowled at the pad. "This puts me in a difficult position with what I do. I would have to talk to Jackson to get things reordered, right?"
Coats laughed. "Him for one, then General Black because he runs the Rio school. I think you will have a more sympathetic ear from Black than Jackson if you have a logical explanation."
Alex nodded. "Are you here to make sure I go?"
Coats nodded and then drained the liquor from his glass. "That's what I was ordered to do but honestly I don't have a death wish. I can hope I can appeal to your better side on this. And maybe offer you some intel. It's up to you but we do need to be gone by this time tomorrow to make it."
Alex blew out a breath and nodded. "Well it's getting late. I can get one of the recruits to bring you to the Land so you can have a good meal and then bring you back to the guest quarters. That good?"
Coats nodded. "It's good. See you at breakfast?"
Alex nodded. "Yea. My son won't be pleased at all."
Coats blinked and then furrowed his brows. "You have a son?"
"What? They didn't know?" Alex had started to rise and then sat back down.
"No. This might actually change things considering you are a reservist. In fact if you have a secure coms I can get updated orders," Coats said.
Alex waved her hand. "It's late enough no one will be able to authorize anything as is. Go eat and sleep and we'll discuss this after breakfast."
Coats nodded. "I was under the impression that you were rather icy by rep. I can see that might be a façade. In the morning then. Good evening."
Alex followed him out the called one of the lounging recruits, a boy only a few years older than Gavin. "Hargin, please take Commander Coats to the Land. Let Hinema know his meal is on my tab. When he's done take him over to the guest quarters."
The terrain stiffened to attention when Alex came over and then relaxed, nodding. "Yes ma'am. If you would follow me sir?"
Coats arched a brow at the Turian's easy way around strangers and humans in general and he gave a curious look to Alex before turning to follow the youngster. Alex just smirked at him and then headed back to the apartment she shared not only with Gavin but with Liara. By now the boy should be in bed.
Liara was sitting there and still ordering around the pads when Alex got back. She glanced up and then set the pad she was holding down. The look on Alex's face said there was something wrong and she waited for the human to speak. Alex poured a drink for herself and then downed it in two swallows.
"Alex?" Liara was hesitant because this was not something Alex normally did.
She turned to Liara and sighed. "The Alliance wants to recall me back to train their spec ops marines."
Liara blinked a few times and she opened her mouth then shut it before she finally got words out. "What about Gavin?"
"If worse comes to worse, I'll take him to his gramps. Let dad deal with his antics," Alex said and then snorted in amusement.
"What is so funny?" Liara gave a questioning look to Alex.
"I was a bit worse than Gavin is. Dad might straighten him out enough or just make it worse. Dad's the cause of me playing tricks on others. Full of mischief. The man acts like a twelve year old most the time he's not in meetings." Alex shrugged slightly. It would be amusing to see how Gavin handled a grandfather with more mischief than a basket full of cats.
Liara just nodded, not understanding what Alex meant. "I see."
Alex just laughed because she knew Liara didn't see. "Maybe you would like to visit my home too? It's someone of your learning's dream, full of ruins to explore. Our history is a bit shorter than yours at least written history, but it is full of richness and myth."
Liara frowned slightly. "I have never been anywhere but here and my home… and where ever a dig happens to be."
"Just do a little research on Greek history Liara," Alex said and yawned. "Well I better hit the rack. Gotta see what we can do tomorrow. Good night Liara."
Liara nodded. "And to you Alex." She rose up and went to her room though instead of sleeping she did a search on what Alex mentioned. Three hours later she was still awake and reading.
The next morning Alex met with Coats. They discussed her situation since it really was unusual in the sense she lead a merc group and had dependents. He learned why when she explained that Gavin was adopted and the unusual situation that came to that.
"You're serious?" Coats wiped his mouth with the napkin and dropped it next to his plate, gaze on Alex.
"Yup. He pulled a knife on me and I stuck it in his throat," Alex said with a shrug.
"That takes some guts and balls, excuse me for saying that," he said with a grin.
Alex laughed. "In a sense. He had other children there too. Most of them had family they could go to. It was one of the best things I've done and at the same time it was the worst thing I've ever seen."
Coats took a sip of the real coffee Alex had at her table, enjoying the bitter, hot drink. "Good riddance to him. He had at least a dozen warrants out between all our colonies and on Sol. You should have seen the disappointment that went through the ranks when they heard he was dead."
Alex just shrugged with a smirk. "He shouldn't have tried to kill me and kidnap a friend."
Coats barked a laugh. "Yes, I did say I didn't have a death wish."
She finished her coffee and leaned back, waiting for him to finish his meal. "Smart man. We can go to my office after we are done here."
He nodded and took that as message to finish up which he did, swallowing the last of the coffee down with a satisfied sigh. "Wish we got this stuff. It's really hard to stomach that synth stuff after having the real thing."
Alex followed Coats into the office. Andrew nodded to the corpsman at the desk and he opened the door. Both heard the younger solider say that they had arrived. Alex felt uncomfortable in the dress blues of a marine Commander with the pips at her collar but she stood there straight and at attention till the corpsman beckoned them in.
Coats and Alex had removed their covers and tucked them under their arms when they entered the building. Both saluted the General sitting behind the desk and then stood at attention.
"At ease Commanders," the General said and then watched as both did so. He left them there for a moment then smiled when the corpsman closed the door and cut them off from the rest. "Sit, you two."
Alex glanced at Andrew and then she took the seat to the left and he the right one. Alex wasn't at ease though. She was quite nervous because she had no clue what being recalled was going to do to her. She had enough worries that her company was going to go to hell before she could return.
The General watched the emotions pass over Alex's face rather quickly and when she realized he was watching he was impressed with how she removed all traces of those emotions. He gave a slight nod mostly to himself at that. To stall for a bit more time he looked down and shuffled the papers around till the found the folders and set them where he could get to the easily.
"First off, welcome to the Villa, Commander Stefanos. I know this is an abrupt change to what you've been faced with in the last eight years. I'll be blunt here, it took this long to get your credentials certified by the higher ups. After that last big op the Legion took and conquered, retrieving the prototype meant for the Alliance, they finally gave in." The General looked down and picked up the folders, holding them out to Alex and Coats.
"Sir?" Alex was puzzled even as she took the folder.
"In there you both will find your new orders. Congratulations, Captain Coats. You've been elevated to the rank of Captain and assigned to the training staff here at the Villa. Commander, your assignment is also here training our people through each course mainly concerning those with your skill set of sniping and infiltration." The General watched as Coats peeked at his orders and the resulting insignia of his new rank.
Alex cautiously opened the folder and read quickly over the orders only to stop and glance up at the General. "Sir?"
Black smiled at Alex. "We always make exceptions for dependents. It wasn't hard for me to get the concessions you will find with your orders. You've run the Legion exceptionally well so we know you can command. The fact that you've trained your own shadow ops soldiers and the singular fact that you are one of the few humans that see no race boundaries makes it paramount that we make sure to keep you happy. People like you and Coats here and those you share your expertise with and your vision will only help the Alliance in the future. We are new to the galaxy and the Turians mostly have issues with us. The Asari don't quite understand us and the Salarian respect us but most races tend to follow the Turian point of view. Maybe the Quarians have another view and we won't talk about the Batarians. They are trouble."
Both Alex and Coats nodded as they closed their folders and tucked them away. Coats was still rather stunned at the promotion. All's he expected was to be escort for Alex and instead he was being giving a prime job and a new rank. Still he figured Alex could teach him more tricks he didn't know. And he knew the woman could shoot and was a top level sniper. Maybe he would test her later.
"The next group does not start till next week. We already have a training regime so you won't have to come up with your own. This gives you time, Commander, to find on base housing for you and your adopted son. Of course I happen to know a certain Greek trickster that would be happy to see his daughter and grandson. You both have leave till Sunday when you two should be back." The General winked at Alex and she couldn't help but grin back.
"Thank you sir," Alex said with as much gratefulness as she could muster. It meant a hell of a lot to her.
"Oh, Commander?" The General said. "I've taken the liberty of granting you permission for a shuttle in the next few days if you wish to use one."
Alex nodded, still not quite believing her ears. "That is much appreciated sir."
He only chuckled in response to her. "You both are dismissed now. Make the most of your next week because it will be some hard work for those attempting the Villa."
Coats was slightly faster than Alex in rising up. He tucked the folder under his cover and then held his salute with Alex echoing his motion just slightly behind. The General stood and saluted them back then they turned with precision and exited the office. Once out, both blew out breaths and Alex's eyes met Coats.
"I don't know about you but I could do with a drink or three," he said.
"Let me grab Gavin and then we can find a place to eat too. No use in drinking on an empty stomach now. Think we should change to civvies?" Alex arched a brow up briefly.
Coats thought about it and then shrugged. "BDU's would be fine. The town's use to it by now with all the marines that come here. I know of a bar that serves great burgers and better beer. Your boy should enjoy that. He's a skinny little rat right now. Need to beef him up if he's gonna follow in your steps."
Alex rolled her eyes, seeing the teasing for what it was. "Oh? It is not like you have any meat to mention on your bones Capt." She gave it as good back.
He laughed as they exited, both replacing their covers back on their head properly and then heading towards the aircar they were given. Once they were in, Coats removed his cover and started the aircar. He brought them back to the hotel where they both exited and separated to get to their rooms.
"Meet you back down here in a half hour?" Coats paused long enough to wait for her response.
Alex nodded. "That and I have to collect Gavin from where ever he is. I hope he's not made trouble already."
They both went their separate ways then to get dressed in the BDUs of a marine instead of the dress blues they both wore. And in Alex's case, to find out if her son was still in the room or if he had wandered off. She would first check and see if he was there before giving him a ping on her omni tool.
This month will be another hell month but i will try and post new chapters as often as I can between assignments. As always, leave love and any other messages you wish.