Hi! Here's the second in this series of AU one shots. Hope you'll like it.

edit: Didn't see i picked the wrong doc to put in this story until a week later. Sorry.

They had returned to the Citadel four or five days ago when Gabriel received the following e-mail:

"Spectre Shepard,
the attack on your ship that ocured eleven days ago is a tragedy and the Council would like to offer his condolences for the loss of your crewmen. Rest assured we have sent a team of experts to analyze it's wreckage for anything that could lead us to the attackers. While your reports mention the possibility it might e Collectors, this appear quite improbable as they don't seem to have anything capable of attacking and destroying a vessel such as the Normandy even less if, as you said, it was cloaked.

On another note, an Alliance research team has discovered a strange vessel similar to Sovereign in the system Thorne in the sector Hawking Eta. While many of Sovereign's remains have been found and are currently studied on the Citadel, much more can be learn from a mostly intact similar vessel. A research team will be sent study it in three days and, considering your experience with those sort of Geths vessels, your mission will be to oversee the research team. Miss Williams and Mr Alenko are also welcome to accompany you as their experience with Sovereign could prove useful.

You are to meet with Desaetrus Actyn at the dock 45 in the Bachjret Ward. Further details are in the join document.

Councilor Valern."

Gabriel looked up from the screen of his computer.

"Ash!" he shouted
"What?" came her answer at a slightly lower volume as she made her way to the living room.
"I've got my new assignment."
"What is it?"
"They found another Reaper. But, according to the files they sent me, it's been there for 37 million years."
"That's way much longer than what Sovereign told us."
"Yes. It's also almost completley inert so they are sending a scientific team to study it. They added that you and Kaidan are welcome to join me. Since we're the 'experts' on those kind of vessels."
"They're still not believing Reapers exist."
"Yes. And honestly, I don't blame them too much. I mean, that would mean admit that we're doomed to all die by giant mecha-squids in a few years."
"Something interesting?"asked Kaidan having just entered the apartment.
"Skipper's new mission. By the Council themselves." answered Ashley.
"Oh! What is it? Pirates, some high ranking guy hostage, catching someone hiding behind a group of cultists?"
"No. We're overseering a science team that is going to study a vessel similar to Sovereign."
"Oh. When do we leave?"
"In three days."

They were passed checking the equipment, buying mods for their weapons and armor.

The 26 November, Gabriel, Ashley and Kaidan made their way to the Bachjret Ward and took longer than they expected to reach dock 45. Thankfully, they still arrived fifteen minutes early.
They were greeted by a turian.
"Hello, mister Shepard, I'm Desaetrus Actyn and I'm the one responsible of this expedition. Mr Alenko, Ms Williams."
He guided them through the sas and into the ship proper.
"I must say," he continued,"that I'm honored to have the Heroes of the Citadel on my ship. If I was correctly informed, the ship that attacked the Citadel has similarities to the one we are going to study?"
"Some at the very least. They both are incredibly ancients and, according to the files we have been given, appear to have been made by similar species."

Gabriel, he and Ashley had also debated on what to say to the scientists that would have to examine the Reapers. On one hand, they should at the very least know what they were going to study. on the other hand, informing everyone of the Reapers' existence would either cause mass panic or have them labelled as crazy conspirationists for the rest of their lives.

"We're very luck you were the ones designed to accompany us, being the ones with the most contact with the ship that attacked us a few months ago, I have little doubt our scientists will be glad to talk to you."
"Unfortunatly sir," interrupted Ashley," our contact with Sovereign (that's how Saren named the ship that attacked us), was minimal at best and we aren't quite qualified to contribute to the science team."
"That's still most experience with it than us. Now, the TSF Kuressan is a cargo ship. Most of it's bay is occupied by the infrastructure we're going to build into the vessel. The travel there will take a few hours. Is there something special you want to ask me?"
"No. Carry on."

"Okay, we're going to split off. I'm pretty sure seeing three humans armed to the teeth is not going to reassure them. Let's meet here in two hours, okay?"
"Yes.""Yes."

Gabriel made it's way into the cargo hold.

Lots and lots of boxes. Some bigger than the Mako, obviously containing what would be, when deployed, the research station. Some smaller seemed to the furnitures. Some others were labelled "Fragile. Handle with care". In the back, near the ramp, were a couple of shuttles.
There was a group of people near a counter. Gabriel approached them.
A few turians, two or three salarians and even a Krogan were discuting about the last match of biotball.
"...that they cheated, I'm just saying that maybe the cameras didn't catch everything."
"You're just mad because your team lost."
"Hello gentlemen. And woman." Gabriel added at the attention of the female turian.
"Oh. Euh, Hello sir." One of the salarians saluted.
"No need to salute me yet. So, what are you talking about?"
"We're off-duty sir, we don't have any work until we reach Mnemosyne."
"I know and Im not accusing you. I just want to pass the time." he reassured them.
"Oh. We're talking about last night's biotiball's match. Tri'im is just pissed the turians lost." said a salarian, pointed at his turian collegue.
"Oh. I'm not really into it myself. I woudl like to know, what is your job here?"
"We're the manutention workers. We're the one who will have to build everything that's in those boxes. And move around anything the science team tell us to."
"Aren't you too few for that? Unless I haven't seen the others but,..."
"No. The shuttles all have a crane attached to their underside so they don't really need too much people for that."
"Oh, good. Do you mind if I take a look at everything?"
"Not at all, sir."
"Thank you."

"So?"
"Research team seems nice enough. Most of them have next to no idea what it really is. Those that do are sure what incapacitated this Reaper has something to do with The Great Rift of Klendagon. They aren't military." said Kaidan.
"Same for the guards. There's only thirty or so of them. They were just told to guard whatever the scientisst or us tell them to. They're from ERCS. Their commanding officer here is Galick Kyim." exposed Ashley.
"Attention to all the crew. We are approaching Mnemosyne and will reach our destination in half an hour. According to our pilot, we're going to have some turbulences so store anything that could cause harm during those turbulences, Squad 1 and the manutention team must prepare the boarding procedure and all personel aside from them must attach themselves."
They were arrived to the dead Reaper.

You know guys, I've began writing again a month and half ago and since then I got Abolutely. Zro. Review. So please give me one so I know my work is appreciated or disliked. Or even if it's just meh.

Seriously people. I'm torn between outrightbegging for reviews and insulting everyone for not giving me any.

Anyway, See you next time.