Chapter 4: Warning signs
SSV Iwo Jima in orbit over Elysium
Admiral Moore was standing beside Carrington in front of the memorial wall made to honor the crew of the first Iwo Jima, recognizing some names of close friends he would never see again. When the news had reached him of her destruction with her entire crew over Camala he could hardly believe it. In the years following the tragic loss he had campaigned heavily with the Alliance brass to build a successor of the Iwo Jima. Standing in it now felt like he could finally say goodbye to his fallen comrades.
"Did you know any of them sir?"
"Most of them I did Robert, take her pilot for instance." He pointed to a name somewhere near the middle of the wall. "She and me joined up at the same time, after our training we were both stationed on the Iwo Jima. She flew the ship and as her co-pilot my job was to make sure that she didn't crash." He still had fond memories of that time, some better than others.
"I left when the opportunity to fly a dreadnought presented itself to me, if I hadn't my name would also be on that wall." That thought had cost him a lot of sleep over the years. "How did the inspection of the ship go?"
"Well the ship is working as intended, there is one thing that I'd like to point out however. Her captain has some combat experience but most of his crew consists of new recruits, we can't predict how good they will perform in actual combat." Carrington concluded.
"When the rest of the sixth fleet is back here and we go hunting pirates they will have plenty of opportunities to get some experience."
After a short walk they reached the CIC and he found himself watching the crew handling their day to day work, it was remarkable how much the ship operated like her predecessor.
The more things change the more they stay the same.
"Admiral Moore we have an incoming call marked urgent from Fort Constantine, do you want take it?"
"I'll answer it in the com room lieutenant, in the meantime Robert you can tell the captain that his ship passed the inspection." Carrington turned around and directly headed to an officer who was waiting near the galaxy map.
The com room itself was separated from the bridge by thick walls granting the person inside a private and secure place for communication, when the doors closed behind him all the sound from a crowded ship cut off instantly. He pressed a few buttons at the console revealing a VI that addressed him in a monotone voice.
"You have one waiting call transferred through Fort Constantine, caller has been identified as Migrant fleet." After she finished the VI stared blankly at him waiting for further instructions.
"Go ahead, I'm waiting." His mood improved immediately, there was only one person in the Migrant fleet that had his contact information. A smile crept up his face when he thought back to the day he'd first met her.
The sixth fleet had just saved a quarian scout ship that had been jumped by a pirate flotilla, it was the first time an Alliance fleet encountered vessels from the Migrant fleet directly so he extended an invitation hoping to find out more about the mysterious race.
The quarian fleet commander introduced herself as Admiral Shala'Raan vas Tonbay and they had a long conversation that lasted for several hours about their people's history and culture. Afterwards he was sad to see her leave, she was quite an interesting figure.
"Finally, you know Tom it isn't nice to keep a woman waiting." Raan said with a wink to him.
He laughed back at her with an apologizing smile. "Good to see you to Shala. How are you, still waging intense political battles with the other admirals?"
"More like trying to keep them from killing each other every time they are in the same room. What about the Alliance, still ensuring that the galaxy is safe?"
"Most of the time we do when I'm not being stonewalled by high command." She was one of the few people he could vent his frustrations to from time to time. "But I take it you didn't call to hear me complaining, so how can I help you?"
"For a change of pace I'm going to help you." She smiled at the puzzled look that appeared on his face.
In the following 20 minutes Raan explained what the Migrant fleet had discovered in the aftermath of an assault on a pirate frigate. Data that proved an impending invasion would strike an Alliance colony somewhere in the near future. He listened quietly during her story, not interrupting a single time while he processed the information. If what she was telling was true and he didn't doubt it then the Alliance would be caught completely off guard. He would have to act fast in order to give the colonies time to prepare themselves.
"Do you have any idea which colony they are planning to target?"
"Most of the data was corrupted, we were lucky to retrieve this much information. Unfortunately the name of the colony was lost to us, which one they will attack is anyone's guess." She bowed her head slightly and nervously started to fidget with her hands. "I'm sorry Tom, I wish we could've helped you more."
"Thanks to you we have a chance to warn our colonies and prepare defenses to welcome those criminals. Trust me when I say that you couldn't have done more to help us." He saw how she cheered up right away.
"You always succeed in making people feel better about themselves don't you?"
He shrugged his shoulders before answering. "Come's with the job, can't lead an entire fleet without showing some empathy to the people under your command."
"I've got to go now but it was good to talk to you again, take care of yourself okay?"
"You know when all this is over would you have time to visit Elysium? I can recommend an excellent tour guide to show you around, one who'd love to tear himself away from his work for a single day." It was hard to see through her mask but he could swear that she was blushing.
"I'll think about it, goodbye Tom."
"Goodbye Shala and thanks for the information". After her image disappeared it was immediately replaced by the VI.
"VI transfer the received data to an OSD, then contact the SSV Gold Beach and tell her captain to prepare for departure asap." The VI confirmed his orders and he went back to the CIC looking for his Carrington. He found him talking to the captain of the Iwo Jima who looked more relaxed now.
"Robert I need to have a word with you in private." The captain snapped off a salute to them as he left.
"So how do you feel about going on a short trip to Arcturus station?" After telling what he had learned from Raan, Moore layed out his plan.
"I'm going to raise the state of alertness of our forces on Elysium and see if I can find a way to improve our defenses. You need to deliver this OSD in person to Alliance intelligence. Tell them to send a warning to every Alliance colony, if they're stonewalling you tell them I'll vouch for the information. Then contact the Sixth fleet at Arcturus station, cancel all repairs except the most critical ones and direct it to Elysium. I'll feel a lot safer when the fleet is here, should the pirates decide to attack the colony." He shook his friend's hand as he gave him the OSD.
"The Gold Beach is waiting for you Robert, good luck."
"Thank you admiral, I won't let you down."
"And pray to God that we aren't too late." He spoke to himself.
Interrogation room 21A – Fort Constantine - Elysium
"For the last time I'm not a spy and I don't want to sabotage anything! All I wanted to do was play a prank on sergeant Shepard. We are family, you can ask him." Jane was starting to lose her patience with her interrogator, an MP without a sense of humor who she'd been stuck with for several hours.
The day had begun so well since most of her classes were on hold for the time being. At first she planned to go with her friends to the city but a call from her aunt changed that. She told her that they would be having a family meal in Illyria and that even John would be there. She knew that her nephew was stationed at Fort Constantine and planned to surprise him before their little family reunion took place. Getting inside the base itself was easy and she had almost made it inside the barracks area when a rocket drone spotted her. Evading it wasn't difficult but in her haste she had completely forgotten that those things usually travel in packs.
She tried to explain what she was doing there to the MP who detained her to no avail, if aunt Hannah found out where her niece was now Elysium would be too small to hide from her. Jane's only hope now was that John would come riding in like a knight in shining armor, something she knew he loved to do every chance he got.
"I've informed the sergeant of your presence here miss and he's on his way but if he doesn't recognize you, well ... then you are in serious trouble." He grabbed his files and headed out of the room leaving her alone.
She leaned back in her chair and looked up at the ceiling, waiting for John. In the years that followed after Mindoir he had always been there for her, even more so than her aunt and uncle. Listening to her when she thought back to the happier times with her parents and offering support when memories of what happened to them came back. She had once told him as a joke that if he should ever get bored of the military he'd make an outstanding councilor.
The door to the room slowly opened and in came a familiar figure who was on the brink of bursting out in laugher.
"When I heard of a red haired spy being chased by the entire garrison, I just had to see her myself." He walked around the table and gave her a quick hug. "Next time let me know that you're coming by okay?"
"It was supposed to be a surprise but you can see how it all worked out." She mumbled when he let go of her.
"You haven't forgotten where we should be right now did you?" She glanced a fast look at her omni-tool when he said that. Her aunt wasn't the kind of person to keep waiting.
"Great she's going to kill me." She started to follow him outside when she realized something. "Uhmm John you're not going to tell her where I was are you?"
He spun around to face her with a huge mischievous smirk. "Maybe I will or maybe I won't. I'll think about it on the way there."
The restaurant that was their destination was located amidst the huge skyscrapers that dominated downtown Illyria. John was sitting next to her, flying the sky car while occasionally pointing out several landmarks. She had to admit that of all the planets she had been to this one certainly was the most diverse and active one.
When they entered the restaurant captain Hannah Shepard was already there, as always in full navy uniform. Jane rarely saw her aunt in anything else after her uncle passed away, a loss that had affected them all in different ways.
"Well this explains why you two are so late, couldn't wait to see him huh Jane?" The frown on her face was replaced with a smile as she hugged both Jane and John.
After she released them from her hug they all took their seats and ordered their meal. While they were eating both John and her aunt shared their experiences with each other, Jane on the other hand stayed silent for the most part. She simply enjoyed to have her only family near her for the first time in several months.
Jane looked up from her pizza when they both stopped talking, instead watching how an Alliance shuttle landed on a nearby landing pad. The Alliance insignia on the shuttle had golden stars instead of blue ones indicating that it carried an Admiral. The moment the shuttle's engines died down Moore jumped outside and started walking towards the restaurant with a brisk pace.
"Moore this is unexpected if I'd known you would join us I would've ordered something for you as well." Hannah spoke when Moore reached their table.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your meal Hannah, something important has come up. You have to return to your ship immediately and prepare the task group for action." She was about to ask why when John voiced his concern.
"Is something wrong Admiral?"
"We're getting signals from different sources that the pirates are planning a raid on one of our colonies. It seems unlikely that they will attack Elysium but you know the saying Shepard. Better safe than sorry." He opened up his omni-tool and started to tap in several commands.
"You better round up your unit, should anyone ask questions the official statement is that we're having a military exercise."
"Right away Sir." He was almost outside when he yelled something loud enough for everyone to hear."Stay out of trouble next time Jane!"
"What did he mean by that?" Her aunts eyes narrowed while she waited for an answer.
Damm you John, I'm going to get you back for this.
UT-47 Kodiak – Illyria outskirts – Elysium
"Are you alright kiddo, you've been quiet for a long time now?"
She nodded to Moore but kept watching the snow covered mountains surrounding Illyria gliding by while the shuttle made its way out of the city. After an extremely awkward conversation, her aunt had decided to send her back to school. To make sure that her niece wouldn't sneak back to the city she'd asked Moore if he could see to it that she would arrive there safely.
Everybody I know is having a good time and I can't be there. Her friends would no doubt let her hear it when they came back.
At least the company was nice for the moment, to his credit the admiral never judged her because of her actions. The only thing he asked in return was that she didn't lie to him when he asked about them.
"Don't worry about your aunt, give it a few days and it will all blow over." He chuckled softly. "You aren't the first one who had to bear her wrath."
"Really, care to give some examples?" Teasing him was always fun to pass the time.
"Sorry, most of that is classified military information but I … ." She never found out what he wanted to say when an explosion caused the shuttle to shake violently. Only the safety harnesses kept them from falling out of their seats as the Kodiak lost altitude rapidly.
"What the hell is going on Hopkins!" Moore had to yell over the noise to make himself clear.
The pilot's panicked voice was barely understandable "I don't know Sir, we've lost all power to the engines! Prepare yourself for impact, I can't hold her steady much longer!"
Both Moore and Jane grabbed their safety harnesses firmly while the Kodiak made a hard dive towards the ground. At the last possible moment the pilot was able to pull the shuttle out of its deathly dive but the ground had already come to close. The Kodiak drilled itself into the hard forest floor, sliding several meters further before finally coming to a rest in a small forest clearing. Smoke soon came from the wreckage, slowly drifting upwards.
Nobody had seen the shuttle crash except for two mercenaries, standing on a ridge overlooking the dense forest. The merc leader didn't believe that anyone would survive such a crash but his clients orders were clear, ensure there wouldn't be any survivors.
"Let's move." He spoke to his partner.
