Mass Effect is own by BioEAWare. Concept based off the A&E Entertainment program 'LivePD'.
Stayn District, Block 3775 (Orlop Wards), Zakera Arm, Citadel, Widow System, Serpent Nebula, February 15, 2175
NARRATOR: DUE TO THE GRAPHICAL NATURE OF THIS CONTENT, VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
[BEGIN POINT-OF-VIEW RECORDING]
[An ASARI in multicolored armor appears from a doorway, wielding a two-handed rifle-looking weapon with a large tubular revolver underneath. It is a grenade launcher]
[DECANTUS/CORPORAL JANE CATHERINE SHEPARD runs right towards the ASARI and full-body tackles her to the ground with an audible crunch of armor as both go down to the ground]
[A nearby gunshot ahead is heard OFF-SCREEN]
MICHAEL PATRICK GREENE: SHEPARD!
[SHEPARD stands up from the tackle, her Smith and Wesson Model 44 Magnum-Weight Duty Pistol in her right hand, and a Elanus Risk Control Services M-100 Grenade Launcher in her left]
CORPORAL JANE CATHERINE SHEPARD: We need to get moving, cookie dough.
[POV nods, looks over to the ASARI. The armored Thessian is laying in a pool of lavender blood that is spreading around where she lays face-first on the ground. A black spot is over the head]
MPG: [Gulps audibly] Is… that… her…?
JCS: We need to get to Civi Jovis and Centurion Reminion, cookie dough.
MPG: Right. [Coughs] Lead the way.
[SHEPARD moves, picking up speed as POV runs after her. The sound of gunfight is loud, constant, and seemingly from multiple directions as POV looks along the buildings on either side, to look for sources as SHEPARD runs forward. A star of yellow and orange flares from above the building ahead and to the left, a vapor trail coming from it]
MPG: [Still running, heading towards the buildings] Oh God, oh [beep]
[The star introduces itself to the building across the corridor and a bloom of fire is seen. Less than a second later, the sound of the explosion comes]
MPG: Shepard, that was a [beep]ing rocket!
JCS: [Running ahead] No [beep]!
[A torrent of gunfire is heard, seemingly from everywhere up ahead, small flashes of light coming from multiple levels and locations in the buildings ahead]
JCS: [Hand goes up to her ear, to her SquadComm] 10-19! Where are you!
VOICE: [Off-Screen to left] Shepard! Over here! In DayWard!
[POV looks to a small business connected to a building where a green face and black eyes pop up from an open window]
JCS: Sprint it, cookie dough!
[POV immediately heads towards the open doorway where scorch marks and pock-marks in the wall are seen as POV dashes through the entrance as gunfire erupts in high volume. POV goes dark for a few seconds from the change of illumination as POV stands several meters from the entrance, looking towards it as SHEPARD takes to an open window, crouching below its opening for protection with her Elkoss Combines' Avenger Mk. IV Assault Rifle in her hands, another C-SEC Officer manning the other window across from the door. The Officer is a Drell, and the panic in their tone is obvious]
DRELL: Thank Amonkira you showed up, Jane! Everything exploded approximately five minutes prior and it's been constant ever since! [There is still heavy gunfire outside of the windows and open door, and POV sees that the open windows were really once lined with plastiglas, now shot out and broken on the ground at their feet] Cavis had us come here to protect the sapients in this business and was shot several times pulling a mother and her two children inside. [The Drell looks down for a moment] They're using grenade launchers, rocket launchers, as well as armor-piercing and incendiary ammo blocks, Shepard.
JCS: [Speaking just above the gunfire outside] Where's Cavis at?
[The Drell C-SEC Officer turns to look at the back of the store, nodding towards POV's direction]
[POV turns to see an open room with four dozen people inside, a the back of the business. There are approximately five adults of three species, and the rest children. By the group is a Turian male in C-SEC Armor, lying on the ground and not moving]
MPG: Jesus! This is a daycare! They're shooting at a [beep]ing daycare! [POV shifts to SHEPARD] Is there no other way for them to leave other than the front door and a hail of gunfire?
DRELL: No. [POV looks to DRELL] Who are you?
JCS: Ameki, this is Mike Greene with Future Content.
DRELL: Cookie dough?
MPG: [To SHEPARD] Why does everyone think that's my name?
JCS: Mike, meet Civi/Officer Ameki Jovis. Her partner is Centurion Cavis Reminion. [To JOVIS] Is Cav…?
CIV/OFFICER AMEKI KARNA JOVIS: He took at least five incendiary rounds to the back, Jane. He stayed conscious long enough to pull a Turian and her hatchlings in with the rest before… [JOVIS's voice quits after this, looking down] The gangs are in the buildings and out in the corridors, trying to dislodge one another. I already had to stop two from coming in to flush me out.
JCS: Yeah, I took one out with a grenade launcher about a minute ago. Stole the bitch's boom-boom, too. [The M-100 Grenade Launcher is currently mag-locked to SHEPARD's back] Mike? Go over to Reminion and put your fingers under his snout to see if he's still breathing.
MPG: If he isn't? [SHEPARD just looks at him as gunfire begins pattering off the walls of DayWard] I'm checking.
[POV moves and turns towards the rear of the business, where children-oriented toys and furniture dominate the large open-bay room, heading past brightly-colored objects and items as POV looks at the five adult sapients and forty-plus children of just about every species huddled at the very back wall. The sound of whimpering is audible over the gunfire from behind POV as the male Turian in C-SEC Armor looms on-screen, coming up closer as a Human right hand appears on-screen, two fingers held underneath the Turian's nose for a moment. The two fingers then move to brush the half-opened eyelids close]
JCS: [Off-Screen] Mike?
[POV turns to look at SHEPARD several meters away, still crouched at the window as JOVIS is sticking out at her position, engaging something off-screen. POV shifts left to right quickly. SHEPARD looks over to JOVIS for a moment, who ducks back down behind cover, the Drell looking to SHEPARD]
AKJ: What is it? [JOVIS looks to SHEPARD, then to POV] No…
JCS: I'm sorry, Ameki. He died protecting a dam and her children. I know he wouldn't regret that.
AKJ: [Barely audible] I know.
MPG: I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything, but what do we do? We can't risk the kids out there, but there's only two of you. I supremely doubt me grabbing a gun will do anything meaningful.
JCS: We do what anyone else would do when in a [beep] situ like this.
AKJ: Call for back-up?
JCS: Call for the big boys.
MPG: Big boys?
AKJ: You mean…?
JCS: [Touches ear] Dispatch? This is Unit 10-35, located at DayWard Youngling Care Facility Block 3775. Request RRU Intervention for extraction of forty plus children and five sapient adults trapped in DayWard Youngling Care Facility. Repeat, request RRU Intervention at this time. Prep for explosive munitions, AP ammo, and incendiary ammo. Recommend heavy-tac.
DISPATCHER: COPY, UNIT 10-35. RRU REQUESTED AT 3775, DAYWARD YOUNGLING CARE FACILITY. FORTY PLUS LESS-THAN-ADULT AGE SAPIENTS AND FIVE ADULT SAPIENTS TRAPPED IN FACILITY. COPY EXPLOSIVE, ARMOR-PIERCING, INCENDIARY AMMUNITION IN USE. RECOMMENDATION NOTED AND INCLUDED IN REQUEST. ADVICE NUMBER OF ASSAILANTS.
JCS: Seventy-plus, at least the Deathdealers are involved. [To POV with a shrug] Tech gang.
AKJ: Scary tech gang. I also saw Pillars markings.
JCS: Figures. Dispatch? Markings consist of at least the Deathdealers and the Pillars of Verush involved. [To JOVIS] That's all we [beep]ing need. [Beep]holes with stolen military equipment fighting off a slaver gang ran by some SIU [beep]sucker. [To POV] Stick there for now, cookie dough. If someone hits a wall with a rocket, you should be far enough back.
[POV looks to SHEPARD, then to JOVIS, and then back to the four dozen sapients huddling at the back of the facility, a lot of little faces and eyes looking at POV]
MPG: [Beep]
Stayn District, Block 3775 (Orlop Wards), Zakera Arm, Citadel, Widow System, Serpent Nebula, February 15, 2175
Hato'Zulin vas Midin stood in the small office space that his company of tech dealers operated from in the Stayn District down in the Orlop Wards of the Outer Tract (Zakera), a rentable space that he gotten at a good price from a Salarian office space broker who knew better than to ask questions. The office was a disposable one; the only thing of note in it were several terminals used for transactions, orders, inventory, and budget, all backed up on his personal server and the information easily sanitized with a toggled killswitch that would erase the data, fry the hard-drives, and command detonate the terminal towers with their overloaded power supplies.
An alert on his personally-created-and-modified OmniTool had him turning on one of the trigraphical hologram monitors of a terminal and link it into the Future Content Network provider subscription he had gotten just last week when some Human C-SEC Officer had absolutely blown up the social media world by putting a hit on some Volus Sand dealer by calling (of all people) for the Sapphire Queen to pull the little wobble off the Cit and make the rest of his very miserable life as painful as possible. Hato had watched the show, simply called 'LiveC-SEC', and was utterly perplexed by the stupidity of this Future Content Network. Did these Humans not realize that there would be those that would watch the reality show for procedural intelligence on how Citadel Security worked? Even the segments that didn't look like a badly-written Turian action vid were still useful in seeing how C-SEC Officers (at least the Human variety) operated. He had a Virtual Intelligence study all the codes that were used in the show, able to hack through the secured C-SEC communications protocol after nearly a day of pen-testing the communication protocols until he got the crypto key and began listening to C-SEC chatter, able to decipher some of the codes. It paid to have an eye towards any actions against him and his group of Migrant Fleet Tech Marines.
All of this was because of a botched deal involving the greedy Pillars of Verush. Hato blamed himself. Well, and the bloody Bats, too.
The Subtenant watched the show on the holographic monitor and saw that, despite message board speculation that it was canned and made to appear to be a 'live' holovision show, it was indeed a live near-realtime show in which there was a delay of several moments. He saw in the monitor two C-SEC Officers hunkered down behind the viewports of a building that was across the corridor from where the office space he rented was located. There was in fact a business called 'DayWard' there, and it was a business oriented for parents to drop of their Natals for a Watch shift while they went to whatever employments that they had. The Officers were talking to the one with the feed, the Human man (obviously wearing some device on his head such as a recording visor) asking questions and looking about, catching 'the action'. The sight of a dead C-SEC Officer hadn't pleased him at all, even if it was a Turian. That Turian Officer had supposedly rescued a woman and her two Natals, bringing them into the facility for protection and had taken rounds for them, saving their lives at the cost of his own. That was something that Subtenant Zulin respected. He also knew that it would likely bring the wrath of C-SEC… and much worse.
"Han." Hato called up on his personal communicator, encrypted with his own crafted communication key. The less of a footprint they made as to who and what they were, the better. Nothing was to make its way back to the Fleet.
"Go for Han, brother." His twin brother, Han'Zulin vas Midin, replied back in his suit-integrated communicator. Together they ran this endeavor; Hato did the tech, Han did the protection.
"I need you to stop firing upon the port-side building, ground floor, declination six-eighty." The Subtenant said, watching the show as the Human female, Shepard, said that she was going to call 'the big boys'. The C-SEC Decantus had already outed the name of the 'gang' that was their cover over live HV, but was thankfully under the impression that they were merely a tech gang that dealt in stolen guns. Likely, they thought that the 'Deathdealers' merely smuggled the weapons onto the Cit; some were able to do that with bribes, the right people in the right places, and a great deal of personal risk. Hato and Han had a different sort of operation involved, and the less C-SEC knew, the better.
"The store called… DayWard?" His brother asked, his tone uncertain. "We are taking some fire from that location."
"It's two C-SEC Officers protecting a room filled with Natals." Hato replied, watching as Shepard called in a request for RRU; known as Rapid Response Unit, the most-premiere law enforcement agency in the galaxy, a group of heavy-hitters that deployed on the Cit to eliminate threats such as the one going on in the Stayn District.
Queep.
Yes, the Deathdealers dealt and sold in military-grade arms and munitions, as well as BlackTech. Yes, his team of eight Migrant Fleet-trained Tech Marines were battle-hardened and could even take on a Special Intervention Unit Operative-led gang of slave-soldiers sporting BSA-manufactured hardware without casualty so far minus Tressa. And technically that hadn't been on the Pillars; Hato had seen the young Asari Maiden who had joined because she was the daughter of an Asari Matron and a Quarian Pilgrim who had hit her eighty year mark and had wanted to make her Quarian female athintar proud of her for fighting for both People and Fleet killed by Shepard when she saw the Maiden armed with a ERCS-blueprinted M-100 Anti-Personnel Munitions Launcher. So far, they only had one fatality and two minor casualties while the Pillars stupidly threw its slave-soldiers into the breech, having already taken significant losses. Unfortunately, the action had brought the attention of Citadel Security, something that Hato and Han had been steadily avoiding thanks to good protocol and discretion. But the queeping Pillars had gone to the business transaction with the intent of killing the Deathdealers, keeping the Credits and taking the hardware. Everything had broken down after that, and now eyes were on them. And now RRU was being requested.
Queep.
"How do you know it's two C-SEC Officers?" His brother asked. Hato was in the disposable office, his forefinger ready to hit the electronic killswitch that would destroy all the evidence in the office, to erase anything that had been done to protect themselves, but more importantly the Fleet. This botched deal would be a major setback, but Hato and his brother had weathered such before, having done this for six years now. His twin brother was manning the ad hoc defensive positions that contained their pre-arranged escape route and fallback position. Unfortunately, Yorrl had been throwing slave-soldiers constantly at the positions, probably thinking that their Loom was located inside the building somewhere. Bosh'tet Bat.
"It's currently showing live on Future Content." The older of two Zulin brothers replied, still watching the feed. The request for RRU had been sent, and Hato clucked at that.
They wouldn't have much time. They weren't called Rapid Response for nothing.
"…that Shepard isn't anything special, as far as I can tell." His brother said, a blast of gunfire going off.
"Except for the fact that she took on four armed Turian thugs single-handedly and won, and she just took out Tressa, who was armed with a grenade launcher." Hato pointed out for his brother. There was a reason Hato was the tech-oriented one while Han handled the protection and security. They made not only great brothers, but a great team, too. "She patrols the Scows, and she claims this is her third year. One doesn't last that long in the Scows being weak or a fool, Han. Not as a C-SEC Officer."
Hato had been rather amused listening to this Shepard rant about the Scows after taking down that Pitne For character by getting him nabbed by the Sapphire Queen. Little gasbag went and tried to pull the reilk over Aria's eyes, and he got what was coming to him. Everyone knew not to queep with Her Majesty. EVERYONE. This Shepard wasn't an idiot; she saw things for what they truly were. Yet her interview said she had picked this location to be a C-SEC Officer in. It almost sounded as if she had a death wish or had a cracked helmet, save… no, she lived here, was raised here. The Citadel truly was home to her just like the Fleet was home for him and his. She wasn't crazy; she defended her home with pride, and went for the worst spot possible to do the most good. Hato got that, he really did. It was exactly what he was doing, after all.
"Alright, brother, we'll shift fire. They'll think we abandoned position and focus on the Pillars. That works in our favor." There was a short series of orders that followed along those lines, their group moving their aim away from the building in question. Han would understand why, as well as the rest of their section. Blue Shirts took the deaths of their Officers very personally, but there was a few things they hated worse than the sight of a dead cop. A dead innocent bystander ranked up there, but even that was superseded by something worse.
Dead children. One would have to be a complete and utter tuhu to endanger the life of a Natal. Especially in front of cops.
"So… you're watching the show, right?" Subtenant Han'Zulin vas Midin asked, his tone cheeky. "Does she have some nice mams? Her hips are a little too narrow for my tastes."
Hato just sighed.
[BEGIN POINT-OF-VIEW RECORDING]
DISPATCHER: UNIT 10-35, THIS IS DISPATCH.
[POV looks at SHEPARD who is armed with her Elkoss Combine Avenger Mk. IV Assault Rifle, engaging at something Off-Screen before ducking back down into cover when rounds impact against the buildings' walls. JOVIS occupies her own window, also armed with an Avenger Mk. IV]
JCS: [Touches ear] Dispatch, this is 10-35! Go ahead!
DISPATCHER: REQUEST HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED. ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL IS SET AT FORTY-FIVE PLUS MINUTES. RRU COMMANDER REITERATES THAT THE SITU IS TOO HOT FOR DEPLOYMENT, AND ADVISES THAT THEY WILL COME WHEN THE SITU DEFUSES SIGNIFICANTLY.
[There is a pause as SHEPARD and JOVIS look to one another, SHEPARD's face grim, and JOVIS' jaw hanging open]
MPG: Does that mean what I think that means? Cavalry isn't coming because it's too tough for Citadel SWAT?
AKJ: Tar[beep] kreema do [beep]lak vor!
JCS: [Amused] Don't hold back, Ameki. Tell us how you really feel.
MPG: So are we hunkering?
AKJ: 'Hunkering'?
JCS: Cookie dough means to ask if we are going to stay in cover and let this blow over. Unfortunately, it's not a great option. That means we have to rely on the Deathdealers or the Pillars to move on, quit, or get themselves butchered. They can bring in reinforcements, hire reinforcements, or some two-bit gang can decide to be opportunists and jump in for a slice of the pie. And all that time, we're here, sitting right in their sights without a means of taking control of the situ. We stay here, we're in a portion of their crossfire and someone might get smart and use this as another position by flushing us out and using the kids as hostages.
AKJ: I think the Pillars are sending more over!
[SHEPARD checks outside, and begins engaging with her Avenger in short, steady bursts while JOVIS does the same. Rounds patter off the walls of DayWard as the two Officers fire back. After an intense moment of exchanged gunfire, JOVIS cries out and drops behind cover, her Avenger clattering to the ground]
AKJ: [Gasping] I'm… I'm hit!
JCS: Cookie dough, check her wound to see if it's lodged in there, if it's an in-or-out, or if its incendiary.
MPG: Oh God, oh-okay. [POV moves towards JOVIS, who is holding her right upper arm, dark green blood seeping between her fingers and down her armor] You're going to have to tell me what to look for, Officer.
AKJ: E-Exit wound. Is there a hole in the back of my arm or not?
[There is Off-Screen firing going on from SHEPARD, and the sound of round impacts against DayWard]
MPG: This might hurt.
[Two Human hands show up in POV, taking JOVIS's arm and holding it steady as POV shifts to look to the underside of the Drell's tricep. JOVIS whimpers a little]
MPG: I see a hole coming out just above your elbow. Is… that good?
JCS: [Off-Screen] Means the round went clean through, likely an AP round. More bleeding, less physical damage. Assist Ameki in closing up with that wound. Talk him through it. [There is more gunfire] Damn Pillars are pouring out on the streets.
AKJ: [To POV] I'll keep pressure on the wound, you pull out the MediGel AutoInjector from my pouch on my right hip. It has a blue circle on it [POV looks down and sees the pouch in question, hands appearing to open it up to pull out a stylized AutoInjector that looks like a miniature pistol but with a conical tip] Do the one by my elbow first, that one is likely the largest. Insert the tip into the gunshot wound and fill it with MediGel.
MPG: This is probably going to hurt.
JCS: [Off-Screen] It does.
[POV lifts JOVIS' arm, making the Drell wince as the AutoInjector presses into her gunshot wound, making her bite down in pain. Then the trigger is pulled]
[JOVIS scream out in pain]
AKJ: Amonkira! Bra[beep]nti vo[beep]lk!
MPG: Sorry! Sorry!
[The AutoInjector leaves JOVIS' arm, and a clearish fluid is plugging up the gunshot wound inside her armor, dark green blood no longer oozing out]
MPG: The… other one?
[JOVIS just looks at POV, blink large dark eyes]
AKJ: [Resigned] Get it over with, Human.
[The AutoInjector goes for the gunshot wound that's in her bicep. The trigger is pulled, and JOVIS bites down through the pain]
MPG: Done, Officer.
AKJ: [Weakly] Call me Ameki, Mike. And thank you.
JCS: [Firing through the window] Give it a minute or two to dull the pain and staunch the worst of it. [POV turns to SHEPARD, who has moved back and is locking back the heat dispenser bolt on her Avenger before mag-locking it on her chest and pulling out her Smith and Wesson Model 44 Magnum-Weight Duty Pistol] That was your shooting arm. Can you still move your fingers? [SHEPARD is firing through the window]
AKJ: [Off-Screen] I can move my fingers.
[POV shifts to the fallen Avenger, two hands appearing to pick it up and turning to JOVIS to hand it to her. The Drell winces as she reaches out to take the Assault Rifle, barely able to hold it]
AKJ: Think I'm going to have to stick with my pistol.
Apt. 1408, Stannis Fields Building, 3125 Block (Lower Wards), Kithoi Arm, Citadel, Widow System, Serpent Nebula, February 15, 2175
"Dam! Auntie's on!" Maxivus Adepdos called out as Shaltis Adepdos held her youngest Lutania in one arm, holding a plate for the two-year old female hatchling to feed herself the vantikar bits for dinner as the little boy hatchling called out his favorite program happily. In the past week, 'LiveC-SEC' had aired every day thanks to the dozen Human C-SEC Officers who now had some sort of reporter following them about with a recording visor. As Shaltis understood it from Michael Greene, the other segments were chosen to help promote education and learning of diversity for the Human populous, meant to help ease tensions between the Sons and Daughters of Terra and Palavenians.
That was before a certain reporter picked a certain redhead and the events that transpired pretty much command-detonated the ExtraNet with views and social media trolling.
The previous editions of the show had been rather prosaic compared to when Decantus Jane Catherine Shepard launched herself at Pitne For for killing her partner and Shaltis' bondmate, Centurion Castis Adepdos. There was always a 'Shepard Segment' now, the only Human female cop in C-SEC patrolling the worst section in all of the Citadel; the Orlop Outer Tract Zakera. The other eleven Officers had tough areas, but none of them had an area like the Scows. Whatever the other eleven saw at random, it was near-constant for her bondmates' partner. None of them had been involved in shootings like Jane had, had seen the deceased like Jane had. Only a week, and it was easy to tell why Decantus Shepard remained a fan favorite.
What did Jane call it? Sexy danger?
It was almost impossible to keep Maxi from watching what he called 'Auntie's show', knowing full well that his Auntie Jane was on holovision being a cop, and able to see her being 'one of the good guys'. It broke Shaltis' hearts a little to watch her son watch Jane when a month or so prior, he could have been watching his sire, too. That ache was still there, and Maxi still cried a little bit when he went to bed, his sire no longer there to tuck him in or read him a story. Both Shaltis and Jane filled in that role, but it wasn't exactly the same. It took a male to teach a son how to be man, and they were trying their best. At the least, Maxi had what appeared to be the galaxy's toughest Aunt in Jane Shepard, and Spirits praise her for all that she did for Shaltis and her hatchlings.
Shaltis wasn't exactly pleased that Jane was now a galaxy famous cop. But there was little to be done about that now.
"Look, dam! Auntie's with a Drell!" Maxi called out happily as Shaltis went to sit with her son in the family room, seeing Jane hunkered down behind an open window in some building, holding her assault rifle in her hands. The Turian female watched as the situation unfolded, seeing another brave Spirit giving his life for the greater good as Mike checked to see if the Centurion that was Civi Ameki Jovis' partner was still alive.
That was Castis, the widow thought, seeing Civi Jovis' face fall at the confirmation of her partners' death, giving his life to save a dam and two hatchlings. Castis gave his life for Jane, believed in doing what he felt was the right thing; protecting his subordinate, his partner, his friend. Now Jane was holding a position with a rookie cop in what looked to be a rather intense firefight between gangs, the sound of explosions intermittent in between the gunfire. Shaltis saw that her son was watching with rapt wonder, a little Turian boy dreaming of the day he would serve the Hierarchy and crush Separatists and pirates like his sire and his human aunt had. It was good that he saw these things early; it prepared him for the day it would be his turn to defend Hierarchy and galaxy from the cruelties of life and those who would take advantage of it.
Like most everyone who watched the show, Shaltis sat transfixed as the events played out to their mandible-dropping conclusion as she watched what was no less than open gang-warfare out on the corridors of the Scows with Jane, Mike, and this Ameki Jovis right in the middle; no back-up, no RRU, and no way out.
Lutania watched with fascination while Maxivus watched with glee, cheering his Auntie on. Yet Shaltis Adepdos found herself praying to the Spirits at all that she saw, watching as the situation evolve into a catastrophe.
Author's Note: A little later than I wanted for the post, but for some reason I've decided to split my efforts on like 5-6 stories between 'Sister Jane Shepard, Mormon Citadel Missionary', 'Pathfinder Down', 'LiveC-SEC', a FictionPress Original called 'Earthrise', and my newest one, a Fallout 76 FF called 'Wild Appalachia'. Oh, and I'm writing another original about a not-so-pretty superhero called 'Monstrous' that will probably go on FP in a couple of weeks once I figure out the plot down right and turn a college student into the Shem Drowne; Boston's about to get its own insect-themed superhero!
RRU (Rapid Response Unit) is my version of Citadel SWAT, created back during the Mass Effect vs. Alien days several years prior when I was still doing Valkyrieverse. In Of Lions And Angels, I reimaged Garrus Vakarian into a Rapid Response Sniper to explain why a Detective would use one (as because I extremely doubt there's ten Detectives on the planet that are also extremely-range marksmen. Sniper training in the military usually means a few years in Active Duty before going to Sniper School, and a few years at that. While I'm not sure what the police might use for SWAT Snipers [if they aren't military trained or really good hunters, the other version], but I'm sure the NYPD and the LAPD have probably got marksmen that can take out a pip on a poker card at distances that start with the number ridiculous).
