A/N: Hello and welcome to chapter 4 of V.B
Last chapter I changed POV to Ashley because I wanted to give an unexpected and new prospective on how Operation Prometheus went, this time it's Kasumi's POV, (with a little Thane) because let's face it they are both underused as a significant character and I want to help change that.
I do not own Mass Effect … sigh, the possibilities.
Kasumi giggled "this is going to go down in the history books Blue, you do realise this, right?"
Liara smiled and answered with a wave of her hand, "considering everything that's going to happen, combined with what has happened, and this is going to be easy as it is simple, Kasumi."
"Send me the details Blue, and I will get to work on a good entry/exit strategy"
"There is no need, Kasumi" Liara replied "we have one drawn up already, I will send it to you in a moment."
"Then why do you need me?" Asked Kasumi.
"Because I want to see what the Alliance's response is, and to do that, I need someone to break into the Alliance's main server room and data storage hub, under the Vancouver base, and place a secure data tap to remove video evidence and listen in on Alliance Comm. chatter." Liara grinned, "I think it's a job for a professional infiltrator, don't you agree?"
Kasumi giggled once, nodded and disconnected from the call, oh this was going to be unbelievably fun! She could already think of the expensive and priceless objects in a place like the main Alliance Military Headquarters for Earth.
'Besides' she thought, 'it would be great to see some of the Normandy Crew again'.
3 days later.
Shepard crossed her arms behind her back, "Then lead on, Alpha 1" she stated.
The Turian nodded once before signalling the rest of Alpha team to move back the way they came.
I giggled before mock whispering "I'll scout ahead" and then quickly cloaking. Moving ahead of the others I reached the stairs and took a look both down and up. Once I'm sure no one is moving floors I activate my Omni-Tool to call Alpha 1.
As I am however I notice a Alliance Officer jog past in standard Alliance P.T kit, I sneak over to check she's gone, as I do my Omni-Tool buzzes and I answer. "Your clear to the stairs, though watch out for an officer in P.T gear, it looks like she decided to take a jog around the edge of the building."
"Roger that Specialist, Alpha team is moving to you now." Alpha replied.
Three minutes passed and Alpha team turns the corner. I nod to Shepard as she passes before heading down, away from Alpha.
Once I got to the basement I walk to the vault/door and typed in the combination Liara gave me. The pad turned green and the door slid open, revealing a automated security station.
The station systems let her walk right past, due to Kasumi placing her ID into the system yesterday. Skipping over to one of the servers near the back, Kasumi reached into one of her pockets and brought out a small data tap. Pulling one of the hardware racks out, she slipped the data tap into a port at the back, once this was done she pushed the rack back in.
Kasumi then opened one of the holo screens and accessed the data on Shepard, and provided a gateway to the device she just plugged in.
Kasumi was about to close the holo when she saw something that caught her eye, the QEC connection to Arcturus station was here as well!
She quickly added another gate to the QEC connection before logging out.
All she needed to do now was remove her digital traces and she was good to meet up with Shepard on the roof.
Thane smiled slightly as Alpha team met up with Beta team on the roof. 'Good, Shepard's moving quickly' he thought.
Thane took a deep breath, before moving his Widow to scan the floors below them. The cybernetics in his lungs working to keep him from suffocating due to lack of Oxygen in his blood stream.
The Illusive Man may not have had it in mind, but thanks to him and project Lazarus, cybernetic additions used on Shepard's lungs could also be used to stop Keplers Syndrome in Drell.
A flash of motion caught his attention, the same woman previously jogging was now running to the nearest security station. The Drell frowned, before speaking into the Comm.
"This is Specialist Krios. We may have a witness, she is the Alliance Officer that was jogging, she is now running for a security station and talking on a Omni-Tool."
Just as he finished his sentence however, a alarm went off. The Drell sighed before sighting up the entrance. Charlie team moved past his cross-hairs, one of them stopping to plant explosive charges.
"This is Charlie 4, detonating explosives in 3, 2, 1 ..."
Thane moved his eyes away from the scope at 3 and closed them at 1. The boom, caused near by windows to shake and armed Alliance personnel started to move towards the entrance.
"This is OverWatch 1, distraction team you are cleared to move in."
10 seconds later and four skycars landed near the entrance, and 8 heavily armed and armoured Krogan got out. The Alliance security had enough time to duck back into the reception area before heavy rounds started tearing through reinforced concrete. As the Krogan moved forward, Thane kept his eyes on the floors below the roof.
Krios's eyes spotted what he was looking for and stated over the Comm. "Alpha and Beta, be warned, a 7 Alliance Officers are moving to the rooftop from the stairs you came up from."
"Roger that specialist Krios. Moving into a defensive position now."
Thane kept his eyes on the the Alliance strike team moving to the roof, once they disappeared behind concrete he turned his eyes skyward to look for Alliance air support that will be incoming soon.
'In hindsight' Thane thought 'having a plan B was probably a smart idea.' Remembering the grumbling that went through the teams when it was brought up, and smiling when he thought of the Quarian who was adamant that they would not need a plan B, as he was sure that the cloaking tech would be sufficient. Arrogance and a reliance on technology would be the death of any professional assassin, and they were no exception to the rule.
Thane heard the gunships before he saw them, and he quickly lined up his sights on one of the engines, breathed out slowly and pulled the trigger. The Boom of the rifle, followed by the kick a moment later meant that he didn't see the round hit but the smoke and fire spewing out of said engine was a good indicator of a solid hit to the engine block.
"This is OverWatch 1, to Distraction team start to fall back now, Alpha and Beta are clear and we need to move quickly."
"I hear ya OverWatch, we'll throw some smoke and meet you at the car lot, Distraction team out." Growled the reply.
Thane efficiently packed up his gear and turned to the shadows, Shepard was safe and there were minimal casualties on all sides. Perhaps they stood a chance against the Reapers after all.
"I'm getting too goddam old for this shit"
Shepard burst out laughing, followed by Kasumi and Jack. Liara giggled and berried herself deeper into the crook of Shepard's arm, while Grunts rumbling chuckle sounded in the background. Thane leaning in the corner smiled, Shepard was taking the chance to hear the confused Alliance Admirals grumble to heart it seemed.
"Please tell me we have access to the footage from my last interrogation." Begged Shepard.
"I think so, let me double check" Kasumi said, opening her Omni-Tool and searching for the file.
"Why do want to watch your own interrogation Shepard?" asked Jack.
Shepard snorted "after Liara said I was getting out I decided to mess with my interrogators a bit."
"Shepard!" swatted Liara
"Does anyone remember that old Batarian Prophet, on Omega?" asked Shepard.
"of course" said Jack, "you punched him out once, remember?"
"Yeah so I decided to take a page out of his book and act all prophit'y, ya-know?"
"Oh Goddess No, please No" moaned Liara, while Jack and Kasumi fell off their chairs laughing.
"I, I got it here" Kasumi said.
"Quick play it"
L.P - This is the interrogation of one former Commander Zaire Shepard ID number 5923-AC-2826.
L.P - Zaire could you please state you name and rank?
Z.S - [calm] Of course Lorelie or would you prefer Doctor Prestwich?
L.P - Er ... Lorelie would be fine, thanks.
Z.S - [nods] [calm] My name is Directer Zaire Shepard of the GSF.
L.P - Er ... Directer?
Z.S - [nods again][calm] yes, as one of the few who has survived combat against more than one reaper, and has worked with multiple species it was deemed appropriate that I be made one of the first Directors.
L.P - One of the first?
Z.S - [calm] yes, one of four.
L.P - I see, and what about the .. GSF?
Z.S - [calm] the Galactic Special Forces? yes we work to keep war from happening from the shadows and to protect the Galaxy against Multi-specie threats.
L.P - who else is a part of this?
Z.S - [calm] Classified
L.P - The other directors?
Z.S - [calm] Classified
L.P - OK ... going back a bit what are these 'Reapers' you said you survived?
Z.S - [calm] You mean other than the one that flattened the Praesidium?
L.P - That was the Geth Zaire.
Z.S - [calm] Why are you here Doctor? You obviously don't have the security clearance for the important bits.
[turns to Admiral Mikhailovich]
Z.S - [calm] But you do Admiral, tell me, have you gotten curious about why the Batarians haven't been talking for months?
J.M - [angry] How do you know about that? You haven't been told, and you have no access the the Extranet!
Z.S - [calm] I know many things Admiral, the perks of a dead woman walking, I believe.
Z.S - [calm] I would hurry home Doctor, your two kids will be worried why your late.
L.P - I, I, I should go!
[Doctor LoreliePrestwich leaves]
[Shepard turns to Admiral Mikhailovich]
Z.S - [calm] They are coming Admiral, death comes for us all sooner or later, i simply delayed it, whether you like it or not.
J.M - [tells guards][flustered] Take her back to her room!
[Zaire Shepard is taken away by guards]
Thank you for reading, there will be one more chapter ... I think before this is completed
A Quick thanks to:
MEEKVERSEFAN2.0
death7559
and JimmyHall24
For reviewing
I am literally fly by the seat of my pants with is story,
it was meant to be a one-shot ... oh well.
-Junk Mail