"Damn it, Anderson had better be right about my contact." Ashley muttered as she paced back and forth in front of the Afterlife nightclub, the ever present line of people waiting to get in occasionally giving her funny looks.
"Ashley Williams?" A gruff voice, which Ashley recognised as one belonging to a Krogan the same age as Wrex, said and she turned around.
"Yeah, and you are?" She asked.
"I'm Urdnot Drakus, at your service." The Krogan greeted.
"Guy's got good manners for a Krogan." Ashley thought turning around before quickly realising that he wasn't alone, she didn't recognise the young human solder that was with him but she did recognise the other person. "Sheppard?! You're my contact?"
"Nah, the guys waiting in line are." The young solder joked.
"Great, he's got a smartass on his crew; she's going to make things interesting whilst I'm here." Ashley thought.
"Hello Ashley, Anderson told me I'd find you here." Sheppard greeted.
"Why did Anderson send a Cerberus operative to meet me here?" Ashley asked suspiciously.
"Because I'm no longer with Cerberus, I quit after eliminating the Collector threat." Sheppard answered, Ashley looked at him for a few minutes trying to gage whether or not he was telling the truth, once she realised that he was she pulled him into a hug which he accepted.
"Well, that was unexpected." Jenny whispered to Drakus who shrugged.
"So Sheppard, would you care to introduce me to those two?" She asked motioning to Jenny and Drakus.
"Sure, you already know Drakus; the other person is Jenny McKansa." Ashley's eyes narrowed.
"Did you say McKansa? Why the hell are you letting a member of a family of traitors onto your crew?" Ashley asked.
"What did you just say?" Jenny said getting in Ashley's face.
"Kid, you'd better face facts, you're family's a spit in the face of Alliance history." Ashley said nonchalantly.
"My grandfather may have betrayed the Alliance but at least he wasn't a coward like General Williams was." She spat back and Sheppard's, along with everyone on the Normandy that had worked with Williams during the war against Saren who was watching the mission on the vids, jaw dropped.
"Listen kid, if I where you I'd chose my next words very carefully, because you DON'T want to piss me off." Ashley warned somehow keeping her temper in check.
"Or what?" Jenny asked.
"Or you'll have to deal with a pissed off SPECTRE candidate." Jenny backed off wisely though still angry at the comments made by Ashley.
"You're being considered for the SPECTRES?" Sheppard asked surprised.
"Well me and about a hundred other candidates, I've even heard that a Krogan's being considered." Ashley shrugged.
"It's about damn time." Drakus muttered.
"How did that happen?" Sheppard asked ignoring Drakus' comment.
"The mission on Horizon was the start off it, when I returned to the Citadel and gave my report on what happened Anderson dropped the bombshell on me that I was considered to be a strong SPECTRE candidate, he said that I only have one mission after this one to be truly considered for the role though he was vague about it." Ashley answered.
"Coincidently that's why I'm here; I've been tasked with gathering a large squad of the best of the best in preparation for the Reaper threat and you where among the names suggested to me for recruitment." Ashley grinned.
"Sounds like we'll be working together, but first I need to take care of my reason for being here." Ashley said.
"That's a good point actually, why is a SPECTRE candidate on Omega?" Drakus asked and Ashley lead the four of them to a quiet area away from the line of people.
"Someone's been smuggling SPECTRE weapons and armour to The Blood Pack, Eclipse and Blue Suns mercenary groups, fortunately they lack the training to properly use the equipment but it's an obvious security risk and I was directed here by the Blue Suns band that I defeated on Noveria who basically said that Aria T'Loak here on Omega is the mastermind as she's been giving the groups the weapons in exchange for a cut off the profits, what's worse is the fact that the Blue Suns used a Jamming Device designed for the SPECTRES during they're failed Slave Raid on Mindoir, my orders are simple, eliminate Aria and put Patriarch back in charge." Ashley said and Drakus stormed forward.
"Not going to happen." The Krogan said angrily.
"You don't have the authority Drakus." Ashley said.
"You don't understand human, I want Patriarch dead." Drakus said glaring at her. "And if the council are naive enough to believe that Patriarch will be better than Aria then Sheppard should've left them to die on the Ascension."
"How can you even think that Drakus, the council is the governing force of the galaxy.....?" Ashley asked only to be interrupted.
"Don't you think I know that human? Did it ever occur to you that you don't live as long as I have without knowledge of what's going on in the galaxy? All you need to know is that back when I and Patriarch ran this dump he betrayed me and he deserves to die." Drakus said, Sheppard got in between the two sensing that they where going to come to blows.
"Enough, both of you, maybe there's a way we can help each other." Sheppard said.
"Simple, we take out Aria and I personally kill Patriarch, you can figure out the rest for yourselves." Drakus said.
"Not going to be that simple Drakus, you used to run this place so you know how things work around here." Ashley said.
"Yeah, without Aria the Blue Suns, Blood Pack, Eclipse, and hell even the Grim Skulls will be fighting for control turning this place into an even worse hellhole than it was to begin with, same goes for Patriarch." Drakus answered. "And if you're thinking that I'm going to be perfect for the job then don't because I'm too old to run an operation like this."
"If that's the case then I've got an idea, once the mission's over we'll install someone that Drakus trusts as the leader once we've taken both guys out." Jenny added.
"That'll work, and I have just the man in mind." Drakus grinned.
"And who would that be?" Ashley asked.
"The leader of the local Blood Pack, he's a Krogan who took over after Garm was killed during the attack on Archangel's base." Drakus explained.
"Question, how can you trust him if he's the leader of the Blood Pack here on Omega?" Ashley asked.
"Simple, he's my son." Drakus replied. "He was born during the Rebellions so the Genophage didn't affect him whilst his mother was pregnant with him; he's also my contact here on Omega, I made sure to install a sense of honour in him so don't think he'll resort to slave grabs or anything other than smuggling weapons."
"It sounds like we need to pay the Blood Pack a visit." Ashley said.
"Do you have any idea where they're stationed Drakus?" Sheppard asked.
"Yeah, Archangel's old base of operations, they're actually the third group that's occupied it since Archangel's death because The Blue Suns and Eclipse kept fighting over territory until the Suns returned to the Slums and the Eclipse flat out left Omega entirely." Drakus said as they went to the Shuttle bay, the five solders got in two separate cars with Ashley driving Drakus and Sheppard driving Jenny mostly because Sheppard didn't want more arguments.
"Was that nesscersary McKansa?" Sheppard asked catching the young solder by surprise.
"What do you mean?" Jenny asked.
"Don't play dumb with me Jenny; I'm talking about your little confrontation with Williams." Sheppard said.
"Oh, and I suppose you expected me to sit back and let her badmouth my family like that? Hell no, if you where in my shoes you would've done the same." Sheppard shook his head.
"I understand you taking offence to that but if it weren't for the fact that I need you for the mission I would've kicked you off the Normandy crew and left you on Omega, you where able to put your differences aside with Garrus and I understand that it'll be tougher with Williams but keep in mind that you'll be working with her on this mission and how much she means to me." Sheppard said and Jenny didn't say anything else, until they reached the former base of Archangel, when the occupants of the two cars got out they where given a less than friendly welcome by a small band of Vorcha.
"You no come here, this is Blood Pack territory." The Vorcha that was nearest Sheppard said, Drakus stepped forward.
"I'm here to see your leader." The Krogan said starring down at the Vorcha in front off him.
"Leader Hrasus has no time for you Krogan." The Vorcha said defiantly.
"Not your place to say vermin, tell him that Drakus is here to see him." Drakus said, the Vorcha raised a hand to a primitive looking earpiece and spoke to the leader. The Vorcha finished speaking and narrowed his eyes at Drakus.
"Leader Hrasus is coming down personally." The Vorcha said before stepping aside, a tall Krogan wearing the Urdnot clan colours soon appeared.
"Are you Hrasus?" Sheppard asked and the Krogan nodded.
"And you must be the famous Commander Sheppard, the same Commander Sheppard that killed my predecessor." Hrasus said.
"I had no choice; he would've killed me and my crew if I hadn't killed him." Sheppard said.
"But I approve, Garm may have been powerful but he was also a traditionalist, under his leadership the Blood Pack where the muscle of Omega, under my leadership the Blood Pack is the second most powerful force on Omega." Hrasus replied.
"Second only to the Blue Suns I presume?" Ashley asked.
"Hah, they wish! Truth is ever since the death of Vido Santiago the Blue Suns have been crumbling from the inside, there's several different division leaders vying for leadership of the Blue Suns but none of them are fit for the job." Hrasus said.
"Zeead's going to be happy about that." Sheppard thought to himself. "You mean to tell me that the only force more powerful than you on Omega is Aria herself?" Sheppard asked.
"Exactly, and if I had my way she'd be kicked out off the nearest airlock but the truth is I don't have the manpower to attempt such a feet." Hrasus said.
"What about the Vorcha, Varren and other Krogan." Jenny asked.
"The vorcha are well trained but lack discipline, they'd be mowed down in minutes. The Varren won't do to much good whilst they're on the receiving end of a rocket launcher. And as for the Krogan they'd help the most but the Krogan who worked here before the siege on Archangel's base where killed alongside Garm and the ones who survived where loyal to Garm and not me." Hrasus explained.
"Well now you have backup." Drakus said walking forward.
"Father, your Krant looks strong but somehow I doubt it'll be strong enough to take down Aria." Hrasus said.
"No need to worry about that, he has a SPECTRE and a SPECTRE candidate backing him up." Jenny answered.
"Impressive, but where does that leave you?" Hrasus asked Jenny.
"She's got the least experience out of the four of us but she can still hold her own in a fight." Sheppard said.
"That right? Guess I'll see for myself." Hrasus said with a shrug.
"Do you have a plan?" Ashley asked.
"Follow me; I don't like discussing things like this out in the open." Hrasus said leading the four solders away from the Vorcha and into the old Archangel base, the interior was a lot different from what Sheppard remembered from his last visit, the door to the basement had been sealed off and there as no furniture to be seen, they passed several Krogan keeping hungry looking Varren on leashes, Hrasus lead them to the second floor and to the room where they found Archangel originally. "The plan we have is simple, we have struck a deal with the Blue Suns in order to take over Omega using our combined forces."
"Why would the Blue Suns and The Blood Pack work together again?" Sheppard asked.
"Like I said earlier, The Blue Suns are a ticking time bomb waiting to go off from the inside; they see this as the only way for them to avoid liquidation." Hrasus explained.
"And like I said we are going to help but in return we want the assistance of every race in the Terminus Systems in the upcoming Reaper War, think you can arrange that?" Sheppard asked.
"Just put The Blood Pack in charge of this hellhole then you'll have Terminus Systems races serving you lunch." Hrasus said.
"I'll take that as a yes." Sheppard said.
"Good, now that we've reached an understanding I have to give the leader of the local Blue Suns band a call if you excuse me." The four solders took it as they're cue to leave the room and they did so whilst Hrasus made the call, a few minutes later Hrasus emerged from the room. "We're good to go, Trajure, the leader of the local Blue Suns, will meet us outside the Afterlife VIP section."
"What can you tell us about Trajure?" Sheppard asked.
"Turian, served with C-Sec for about a week before quitting, rumoured to be the son of a dead SPECTRE agent but the only one who knows the full story is him, one of the view Turians that possesses biotic powers, the only Blue Suns division leader who realises that he isn't fit to run the whole operation. We're not exactly buddies but we have a mutual respect for each other because of our combat prowess." Hrasus answered.
"Really? How good is he?" Ashley asked out of curiosity.
"Good enough that the two times we fought in hand-to-combat ended in a draw, same thing with armed combat and gun fights." Hrasus said catching his father's attention.
"I trained you personally in those fields and yet this one Turian can manage to fight you to a draw? Sounds like a worthy adversary." Hrasus laughed.
"Father, that's the exact same thing he said about his dad, only difference was that he was trained to eliminate humans but that, went to hell the moment he joined the Blue Suns." Hrasus said.
"His dad hated humans?" Jenny asked.
"Yeah, think he lost a close relative in the First Contact war." Hrasus shrugged as he left the building, he stopped and turned to his troops. "Wait here until I give the signal, when I give it you will meet me outside Afterlife, understood?" The troops let out a war cry which Jenny guessed meant that they understood and they got in the shuttles this time with Hrasus riding with Jenny and Sheppard, they soon arrived outside the VIP section where a small band of Blue Suns mercs where waiting, they drew there guns on Sheppard and the crew. "Hold it, they're with me." Hrasus said and the Blue Suns immediately holstered they're guns.
"I see you're keeping strong company as ever Hrasus." A Turian accent said and a tall Turian baring a striking resemblance to Saren stepped forward wearing a Blue Suns uniform. "Commander Sheppard, it's an honour to meet the hero of the Citadel."
"You know who I am?" Sheppard asked.
"Of course I do, first human SPECTRE, the one who killed Saren Acturus, the one who killed my father." Ashley and Sheppard shared a surprised look.
"You're father? Wait you don't mean....."
"Yes Sheppard, I am the offspring of Saren Acturus."
