"Ambassador, I understand your frustration, but I can't just allow the entire Migrant fleet to enter Citadel space. It has nothing to do with being Anti-Quarian; you have to understand that that many ships of their size would be chaos! The docks would be closed because of the Flotilla blocking them, do you understand?" The Minister of defense for the Citadel said, combing his hands through his thick grey hair in frustration to the conversation.
The huge interior of the Citadel tower surrounded their conversation. The seats where the Council once sat were empty, while a new one was still being decided upon. Until that moment, all races have to work together to keep peace and democracy.
"I understand, but we are trying to sell some of the ships we don't need and where better to sell them than a place where all species live together, the Citadel?" The Quarian female Ambassador told him in a young high toned voice.
"End of discussion" He swiped his hand out in finalization. He saw her solemn reaction and sighed, caressing the bridge of his nose. "I will see if I can allow a few ships into Citadel space, but Ambassador, that's the best I can do"
"Thank you, we will only bring the ships we are definitely selling, With Rannoch back we have no need for them. Time to start disassembling the fleet" the female Quarian said as she wrung her hands together.
At the same time of the conversation in the Citadel tower, tall autumn stained trees enveloping around them, and the shadow the Crucible above, Liara, Feron and Joker arrived. The marble floor had some cracks from the Reaper war, but nothing that wasn't being patched. In the center of the tower was a statue of Admiral David Anderson, and of course Commander Shepard, commemorating their sacrifice and bravery. Liara looked around the almost Identical Citadel tower to four years prior.
"Joker, who? Who am I looking for?" Liara grew impatient.
Joker chuckled. "You'll see" He said, pointing forward. Liara looked and her eyes widened in delight.
The Minister shook the Quarian's gloved hand. "Of course Ambassador, I'll go over the legal problems with the rest of the Ministers. But like I said, it's not a yes, just a maybe" He said.
"Thank you Minister Geoffrey. Whatever you can do will be appreciated. Keelah Se'lai"
"It was nice to have met you Ambassador...I'm sorry, I missed the name?"
"It's Tali. Tali'Zorah Vas Rannoch" the Quarian female smiled from within her purple hazed mask and hooded head. She was wearing the same environmental suit she had worn during the war, with a few differences, golden straps across her waist and belt, with accents of gold on the metal of the mask.
The Minister nodded, walking away. Tali turned and faced the trio. "Liara? Keelah it is you!" She cried out, jogging over to greet her Asari friend. Liara and Tali hugged, laughing at how crazy it was to bump into each other like this. Thanks to Joker.
"Take pictures" Joker whispered to an, arms crossed, serious faced Feron. Liara heard him, pulling away from the hug and raising an eyebrow at him. "Seriously Joker?"
"Yes" He simply stated, tilting his cap to Tali. She shook her head and turned back to Tali.
"Tali wow, you look amazing! How have you been?" Liara asked her friend. Tali nodded to her.
"Thank you. It's been...interesting. The Geth did what they could for us before the Crucible blast killed them; A horrible loss. Huh, never thought I would say that about the Geth"
Joker stood quietly, thinking about how EDI just dropped lifelessly beside him. He couldn't save her...no matter how he tried.
"So Tali, what this I hear about you being an Ambassador? We overheard" she smiled. Tali shrugged.
"No need for Admirals anymore. We needed people to oversee the selection of the new Council. We're hoping the Quarians could get a spot on there now. We proved ourselves in the war"
"That you did"
"Shepard would be proud. Anyway enough about me, what have you been up to Liara?"
Liara sighed, walking over to a bench, basking in the shadow of an autumn tree. She sat down, beckoning Tali to sit next to her. She did.
"I've been searching. Six long months of searching...for Shepard" she explained. Tali gasped.
"Keelah Liara, you're not still doing this to yourself are you? There is no way...no way he could have survived the blast. They checked the rubble, he was gone" Tali emotionally stammered, choking on her words.
"Well that's just it Tali. I've got proof he's alive" Liara said with a nervous chuckle and raised shoulders. She saw Tali's eyes widen inside her purple visor.
"What? Keelah that is cruel Liara, even for the Broker. You loved him! Why make up-"
"Tali I'm not! I had a conversation with him...he's...he's being held captive by a monster. A monster I can't find. I know he's alive Tali, bit I need to find him" Feron stepped forward.
"It's true, she recorded it secretly on her Omni tool while it played, here listen" Joker nodded behind, having recently heard it himself on the way to the tower. Many questions were asked on that walk.
Liara opened her tool and hit play. Tali listened, her eyes widening when she heard an injured Shepard moan Liara's name. She gasped in shock.
"Liara, that...that's him. Well can't you use the Shadow Broker network to track this man?" she innocently asked. Liara scoffed.
"These scuff marks on my armor are new Tali" She gently chucked "I have spent the last day or two having to hide. I can't show my face on Illium or we'll be killed for a forty Million credit prize. Tali, Church destroyed my Office. I'm done...the Broker network is dead. He made me confess my identity over the channel" Liara explained. Tali sat in awe, trying to take in this information. "Tali, he destroyed everything I was, my legacy everything...I don't know how to save Shepard"
"Keelah. Liara, what are you going to do?"
"Whatever I can; I have lost everything, to save the only thing I need...I care for. Shepard" Liara sighed emotionally, having realized how much she had sacrificed already. How much more could she lose? She looked down at her palms. Suddenly Tali's hand grazed her thigh.
"Tali...what I'm about to ask of you...it's huge and so selfish. But...would you, be willing to help me find him? I'm trying to get the crew back together" Tali looked up at Joker.
"We're going to steal the Normandy" Joker said with a roll of the eyes. Feron tutted, nudging him.
"Ow! Watch the arm"
Tali looked to her, staring at her for well over a minute.
"Liara, I appreciate it...but I have a home now"
Liara sighed. "Okay. It was worth a try. Nice to see you again Tali" She went to get up, having failed. Suddenly the Quarian grasped Liara, holding her back.
"I have a home, that can fend for itself. They'll be fine without me for a while" Tali shrugged. Liara's eyes widened.
"Really?" Liara gave a sincere smile.
"It's peace time, well at least for Rannoch it is. There are plenty of other Ambassadors...and I could use a break from it all"
"Tali...this isn't going to be easy. We're going to steal the most important ship ever made...commit treason, all for the man I love. Are you sure?" Tali stood up, fists clenched.
"Yeah. I'm doing it for him Liara, not that I'm not doing it for you too, but...He gave me my home. It's time to return the favor" she snarled, hands behind her back and neck straight. Liara chuckled, hugging Tali tight.
"Thank you, for this Tali"
"Family stick together. Keelah se'lai" she hugged back.
Joker sniffled "that's beautiful...now kiss" He soon received another bump from Feron. "ow!"
Tali and Liara exited the hug. "Welcome to the crew Tali" Liara smiled.
"I'll send the Flotilla...er I mean Rannoch my findings and the information from the Minister. Then I'm turning in my leave of absence. They have a problem with it, they can go to hell" Tali snarled, flicking her Omni tool. Liara looked at her slowly growing team, how easily they all joined up, all to save Shepard; to help her. They were true friends.
"I guess Shepard has earned a few favors from us huh?" She chuckled.
But she couldn't help thinking what Church meant.
Make sure you're friendships are solid, because they will be tested.
This is going to get worse before it gets better. Tali lowered her arm as the Omni tool disappeared.
"So, how are we going to steal the Normandy? It's got to be the most guard thing in the galaxy!" Tali asked, straight to business. Liara crossed her arms, looking at Joker.
"Ladies, I do believe I have a plan" he smirked, tilting his cap down.
...
They decided the Citadel tower wasn't the best place to discuss stealing a ship. After a long debate, they settled on getting some food and drink, while Joker explained his plan. The location? None other than Apollo's cafe. After heading back down several elevators and long hallways, they reached the Presidium.
It had definitely changed over the years. Now no one bat an eyelid at Tali. Years ago, a Quarian on the Presidium was considered disgusting. Another thing Shepard had done for them.
Apollo's sat looking over the construction work on the presidium, Cranes layered the bridges and hauled pieces of metal upwards to rebuild the damage.
Tali and Liara sat with Feron as Joker limped gently over from the bar, a tray of food and drink in his hands. He placed it down on the table mumbling.
"Yeah make the guy with brittle bones disease get the tray of food, nice one" He groaned, sitting down beside Liara.
"You made a joke about Tali, you pay for it by getting the drinks and food" Liara pointed out.
"Oh come on! I asked her if she want tequila se'lai! That's' genius, old fashioned comedy. Ah Garrus would have appreciated it" he sighed, biting into his ham sandwich. Liara looked to Tali.
"Which reminds me to ask, how are you and him doing...you know relationship wise" Liara shrugged to Tali. She on the other hand sighed and removed the straw from the induction port.
"We...broke up"
"Goddess, I'm sorry Tali" Liara sighed to her friend.
"It was too much of a strain, him being on Palaven, me on Rannoch. It was nice while it lasted but...well that's just it. It was never going to last. We're better as friends"
"Are you...friends? No awkwardness?"
"Garrus, awkward, Never! To be honest I haven't seen him in over...three months! Keelah, that long?"
"Yeah sounds right. I haven't seen him in nearly six. I hate when friends drift apart"
"Well, by the looks of the crew we're assembling, you'll see most of them very soon" Tali chuckled, inserting the straw.
"I hope so. I mean it was unbelievable how quickly you and Joker joined me. Thank you so much" Liara said to then, sipping her water. Joker swallowed his bite and looked at her.
"Liara, we were never going to cope in peace time. And for everything the Commander did for us? We owe him this, at least. Time to save his ass"
"Agreed" Tali nodded. Feron sat quietly watching the friends catch up.
"Oh where are my manors, Tali this is Feron. Feron, Tali" Feron nodded at her with a smile, reaching out and shaking her hand.
"I remember you! You were in the Shadow Broker's base, right?" Tali was brought along by Shepard for that mission.
"Yeah that's me. Nice to meet you miss Tali'Zorah" their hands slipped apart and looked at Liara.
"So what happened on Illium? Forty Million credits?" Tali asked. Joker nodded, a mouthful of food preventing his speech.
"We spent six odd months on Omega, searching for any leads. We finally get one and it leads us to a Turian criminal and his thugs. After beating him, we took the drive we were after. That turned out to be a big mistake. Church used it to contact us at my office. Within minutes of me having to give out my Identity to my network, Blue Suns and Eclipse arrived and destroyed my office"
"whoa, that sounds bad...who is this guy?" Joker asked.
"Oh that's not the worst of it. We head to my informant to get your dossiers. I made sure to only have hard copies. They can be destroyed, deleted ones can be restructured, and I couldn't risk your lives or homes"
"Thank you" Tali whispered.
"It turned out my informant was working for Church, giving the location of my office and threatening to kill me for our wanted reward. There were posters all over Illium of us, wanted dead or alive"
Tali gasped at the events.
"Why? Why would this...Church Bosh'tet do this to someone?"
"We managed to get aboard a Monorail to the space port but got attacked by a mercenary or something. Goes by the name Cillian"
Suddenly Joker spat his drink out in a spray of water. He coughed and spluttered
"Cillian? Oh shit, that's not good"
"You know him? How?"
"No, I've heard of him though. Worked for the Blue suns then went freelance. He stuck it out on the scummiest places on Earth, killing drug lords for credits. He is one nasty bastard, now Church has him after us" He nervously chuckled.
Tali finished her drink and looked at them. "So, your plan Joker, what is it?" She asked. He leaned forward, looking over his shoulders before opening his Omni tool. A hologram of the base emerged and rotated.
"Okay, this is Northolt Alliance base. They refuel and repair Dreadnoughts, but recently they've had the job of retrofitting the Normandy. It's not going to be a war ship for much longer, more a diplomatic vessel, and no one is doing that to my ship!" Joker snarled. Liara pat his back.
"There's our Joker. So what are we looking at? What sort of defenses?" she said looking at the hologram of a huge complex of several hangers and a massive tarmac strip for take offs and landings.
"Right, here is the main control tower, it overlooks the whole base. Then to the left is the Alliance barracks. We can expect several squads in there so we'll have to be quick" Joker started to sound serious as the plan was forming.
"Then there's the problem of getting in, in the first place. These fences that surround the base, their electrically charge and covered with barbed wire, no way we're getting over them" Joker said, rubbing his chin with his free hand.
"Well then we go through it" Tali said like it was just that easy. "I can use an overload to short circuit the electric defenses for a while, then Liara can use her Omni blade to cut a hole through the fence" Liara, Feron and Joker sat gobsmacked at Tali's brilliance.
"I ever tell you I love you Tali?" Joker chuckled.
"No, but it's nice to hear"
"Okay. So that's how we get in, then the problem of getting to the Normandy. When I was there last week I saw that they keep the Normandy out on the Tarmac for the retrofitting. She can hover beautifully and they needed to off load some cargo"
"Do you think that it would be outside while we're there?"
"Definitely, I checked the Alliance channels while you were talking to Tali, apparently the Normandy will be having its Thanix cannons stripped. That is not happening. The quicker we get there, the better"
"You hacked their channels?" Liara asked Joker "That's not the Joker I know"
"People change Liara. You would know" he winked.
"Fair enough"
They sat there thinking and going over the perfect strategy. Thanks to Tali, they had a way onto the site, but they had to sneak to the Normandy.
"One problem is, well we're not exactly inconspicuous, are we?" Joker said. "We've got a purple Quarian, an Asari, a Drell and a limping human. Kinda calls out for questioning"
"So what do you think we should do?" Liara asked, leaning back in her seat from the table.
"Well I can get in, they don't mind me showing up to look around what was once my ship, but you guys? They've been pretty edgy recently about other species getting involved. It's not right I know, but peace time is when things are most dangerous. Everyone's afraid of the next trigger. Plus with the Reaper war debt topping trillions, things are going to be different" Joker explained.
"If I can get into the base, and you guys cut your way in, I can distract the guards. It'll involve a lot of stealth on your part and stun rounds in your pistols for the guards. No killing"
"Agreed" Liara said thinking this plan over. "We only get one shot at this. Joker, you distract the guards and we'll scoot around the crates to the side here" She said, pointing to the map on his Omni tool.
"Once we're past the guards, Tali, Feron and I will sneak aboard via the shuttle bay door. If it's closed Joker, you'll need to open it"
"I can do that. They let me aboard to help oversee things"
"We have our plan. It's not a perfect plan...but it's a plan" Liara said.
"So when do we leave the Citadel?" Feron asked them. Joker shook his head.
"I can't yet...I need to see Chakwas...I need to get my medication off of her" He struggled to say, feeling embarrassed. "Stupid bones"
"That's okay. We'll come with. It'd be nice to see Chakwas. Come on, let's go. The quicker the better"