Chapter 13
The hanger that the Normandy was put into was more of an actual hanger this time rather than a large repair bay. Millenar fighters were arranged in neat rows and techs were constantly running from one to another performing maintenance checks. Arcaine and Ralin led Shepard and her team down a ramp onto a walkway that spanned the length of the hanger. "Group two, launch in five minutes." said a voice over a loudspeaker. Arcaine pointed to a large elevator on the far wall of the hanger. "That will take us to the tram where we will head to the entertainment sector of the cruiser." said Arcaine "After we get there Major Ralin will take over." "What?" exclaimed Ralin "I have to report to Fleet Com and see my family; I'll rejoin you later, in the usual spot."
The group reached the elevator which opened revealing the rest of the commandoes, minus Hemmy. "Hemmy will join us in an hour or so." said one of the commandoes that Shepard assumed had stayed in the cargo bay during their raid. "Thank you Gon Zo." said Ralin. "Buckets off." said Arcaine. The team reached up and removed their helmets. Arcaine was the first to remove his revealing his blonde high and tight and a long scar that ran across the left side of his face, his left eye was noticeably dimmer than the right. Ralin had shoulder length brown and blonde hair a small scar on the right side of his chin and his eyes had a blue hue to them. Next was the one called Stryker, he had very short black hair, small scars peppered his face like one who constantly tangled with explosives. Kriss followed after revealing a clean face and rusty colored hair. Gon Zo had buzzed black hair and puffy cheeks. The last commando had buzzed white hair and a scar going from his left eye towards his ear. The Normandy party entered after Ralin and the elevator doors closed and it ascended.
The elevator reached its destination quickly and the doors opened to reveal a large rail station. The group disembarked the elevator and walked across the platform and to a tram that had just arrived. The doors on the tram opened and after a group of Millenar techs exited the large group boarded the tram, Shepard and Ralin being the last to enter. "Sir I believe introductions would be appropriate, seeing as how we have complete dossiers on them and they know next to nothing of us." said Ralin to Arcaine. "Have at it then." said Arcaine sliding back into his seat. Ralin had a look of 'me and my big mouth' on his face as he leaned forwards in his seat. "Well Shepard, might as well start at the top. My commanding officer Demetrius Arcaine, probably one of the best soldiers our race has ever seen and the only living soldier to have a cruiser named after him. To his left our demolitions expert Chief Warrant officer Marcus Stryker, I swear the man's an artist with anything that blows up. Next to him is Master Sargent Stalfon Kriss, heavy weapons expert, after him is Sargent First Class Vocagnus Halikin; we call him 'Gibby' or sleeping squad leader, tech expert. And I am Major Matthias Ralin, second in command and probably one of the few sane people in this unit." The other commandoes laughed.
The tram moved along its single track quickly and silently, flying past different sections of the Wraith. After about five minutes the tram slowed to a stop and the group disembarked. They walked through a set of doors and into the Millenar entertainment district. In the center there was a large ball structure floating in the air covered in view screens. Along the sides of the streets there were restaurants, bars, dance clubs and always a pounding club beat. "Major," said Kriss in a dull flat tone, "We're going to go home and be with our families so we'll see you tomorrow." "Yeah, if Leliana is able to walk tomorrow." chimed in Gon Zo from the back causing the commandoes to laugh. "Right… go on then." said Ralin. "Hey Major don't worry about it, you'll get a girl someday." said Gibby. "Right when he Boss and her prince tie the knot." said Gon Zo making everyone laugh again, with the exception of Ralin. Arcaine shook his head and put a hand on Ralin's shoulder. "You have the watch Major." He said before leaving and disappearing into the milling crowds. "Great, well I guess I could take you to my favorite place here, this way." said Ralin indicating with his hand. They walked through the crowds for another five minutes before coming to a stop outside a rather nice looking bar and grill. "Stryker, before we go inside, give me every single explosive you have on your person." Ralin said looking down at Stryker, who was looking down at some detonation cubes in his hand, "And make it quick. I don't want a repeat of what happened last time." "I wonder what that was." Kasumi whispered to Miranda. "He blew up the baw." said a voice behind her making her start slightly. Hemmy was standing behind her, one hand on his lower jaw. "Who are you?" chirped Kasumi. "The won that got punthed." he said. "Ah Captain Hemmy, why do you sound so messed up?" inquired Ralin "Denthal." he replied. "Roger, well as soon as Stryker removes his toys we'll head on inside. By the way, everyone this is Captain Levernicus 'Hemmy' Falcor, expert in all forms of mechanized combat, and the best damn pilot I've ever seen; and who also has the biggest streak of getting on Leliana's bad side." "Iths not my fawt." Hemmy said, "I'm justh in the wong pwace at the wong thime." Both Stryker and Ralin sniggered at his numbed condition. "Anyway, Stryker. Explosives. Now." said Ralin sternly. "Okay, okay." said Stryker handing over packets of explosives. Ten minutes later Palin loaded the last cube of explosive material onto a hovercart and sent it to the armory. "Why do you persist on making my life a living hell?" Ralin asked exasperatedly. Stryker's only response was a creepy smile.
They finally entered the bar and grill with a seemingly hasty pace "Ralin! Good to see you again" yelled the bartender over the noise of the bar. "Riley, get the synthbot up and running we have alien guests!" Ralin yelled back "Send it to the normal table." They moved through the bar section and to a large table in the back of the actual dining area. As they finished sitting a human sized robot on wheels rolled up to the table. "Just tell the bot what you want and if it can, it'll make it for you." said Ralin taking a seat next to Miranda, "the taste may be a little off but it'll still get you drunk. While we enjoy our drinks I'll tell you about some of our exploits, and, hell, I guess you could even call some of them shenanigans that we've gotten into."
Ok there is chapter thirteen. The next chapter has some of the funny crap that my battle buddies and I thought of during a blizzard at basic. And the guy that Hemmy is based off of had three teeth drilled one day and came back with so much numbing agent in his face he couldn't talk right for four hours, and with his Tennessee accent we couldn't stop laughing.
-NotaVaderHater