Trainee Mission

Courier Ship Chadjee – preparing to jump into the Dis System

"I hope the quarters are usable. The Chadjee was not meant to carry more than a handful of people." Jondum Bau's voice showed no real interest in the matter; clearly he expected Spectres and their men to endure such conditions.

"It is alright, the storeroom will do for a few days. I've camped under lesser conditions before," Udina responded. With the Chadjee on its way his temper had much improved. "Thank you for helping, Jondum."

"Wait a few days, Udina, perhaps then you're not so thankful anymore," Jondum smiled. "So you want me to lead this operation?"

Udina nodded: "Yes, I'll give you the information but you'll be the 'face' if there are any more or less official things to do. I'll stay behind and try to learn. I'll do the tactics and you intervene if my plans get stupid."

Jondum blinked shortly. "Good, your decision. If Nihlus would be still alive, he would be your mentor now."

Udina narrowed his eyes and stared intensely at the Salarian. "You know something about him, don't you?"

With a sigh Jondum agreed: "I'll have to be more alert around you, I fear. But yes, I know something. A good friend of mine, Major Kirrahe of the STG, is just on his way to the system Virmire. A contact there claimed that he saw Nihlus with some Salarians and Krogans a few days ago. It is still unconfirmed, that's why we didn't give you this information until now. So officially he is still thought to be dead."

"Virmire never heard about that. I hope he'll find something useful. Nihlus was a good man."

"I heard that, Rory," Udina whirled around at the voice of Garrus. "I didn't want to believe Shepard as he told me about your opinion regarding a Turian."

A deep growl escorted Udina's next sentence. "Shepard is a real blabbermouth and you can't trust anything he says. He's a real Asari sometimes."

Garrus frowned, his disgust not fully played: "That was a bit low, even for you, Rory."

"Yes, yes, whatever. Now let's speak about Kensal."

Courier Ship Chadjee – above Kensal

"She was not really cooperative," Garret smiled, earning him a shrug on Jondum's part. The salarian Spectre had just returned from a conversation with the official security leader of the planetary forces, a bunch of ex-soldiers and criminals.

"That's irrelevant as long as she cooperated in the end. So we know now that they didn't land here but on a smaller, unofficial spaceport fifty miles further south. There is an old mine belonging a batarian figure head. Planetary law doesn't allow them fortifications and they seem to follow the rules at least outwardly. We'll go in and have a look. Everyone prepares an additional weapon with concussion rounds and takes a few stun grenades. We need prisoners for interrogation. And this human, Norrich, we followed is not to be killed."

Udina agreed. "We'll carry the grey-brown dyed hard-suits I organized. Any talks are done by Jondum. We're only here as additional muscles."

After Garrus had left the room, Jondum asked: "All this only to help a serving wrench?"

With a somber face Udina shook his head: "No, I started to help because a friend asked me to. And later, after I learned about Jax, I had contact with someone who was willing to further my investigation with information and equipment in exchange for taking his operation out."

"Helena Blake I assume," Jondum smiled, obviously enjoying the surprise on Udina's face.

"I see that I have to be more secretive too," the Spectre smiled. "But yes, it had been Helena. I had some contact with her organization before and she's quite interested in preventing Jax's syndicate to get a foothold on the Citadel. She's mostly trustworthy as far as you may trust a criminal. And she had been helpful in the past and even more in the future as I hope."

Jondum agreed: "You never know when such contacts may come in handy. Only be careful."

Armored Freighter Ithaca – Prepare dropping on Mavigon, Han System

"I don't really expect them to fall for the messages we prepared. So stand ready to leave quickly before they blast the ship away. Jondum will lead the attack, Garrus and I man the ship's guns and try to give you shelter against the ground turrets. Enter the outpost as fast as possible. Use deadly weapons. If someone wants to surrender, don't shoot him but we're not after prisoners this time." Udina gave them the sign to prepare and went to the ship's pilot he had shackled to his seat.

"It is very simple. Be convincing and you will survive. Do it badly and you'll go down with the ship." The smuggler's pilot nodded with heavy drops of sweat on his forehead. Udina smiled thinly and left for the backboard rocket thrower.

Silently he listened as the pilot tried to convince the station's crew. He floundered two times out of fear but he didn't betray the Spectre and his words were at least believable enough not to shoot the ship down before it landed. That they had a welcoming committee on the landing pod was in reality a very good thing. It would hinder the turrets to open fire on the Ithaca for a while at least, Udina hoped. Good personal is hard to find nowadays.

The hangar door opened and Jondum left the ship with Wrex, Kaidan and Jenkins at his sides together with two of his salarian crewmembers. Seconds later Garrus and Udina opened fire, knocking two of the three turrets out in short order. The last was not targetable and had to be destroyed with hand held rocket throwers. After a last salvo towards the radio tower of the outpost he left his place and hurried for the hangar where Garrus was already chambering a round into his rifle. "Let's have some fun."

Armored Freighter Ithaca – on the way back to the Citadel

"Your targeting with the SMG has improved," Garrus discerned with a smile. "But you're still much better with the sniper rifle."

"Yes, I am. The new SMG Ashley modified for me is an improvement but still …" Udina shrugged. "I would have felt more comfortable with my revolver but the disguise would be a bit jeopardized with me carrying around my signature weapon."

Jondum agreed with a neutral tone: "You should think about leaving that weapon behind altogether. It is very noticeable and conspicuousness is bad in our job."

Udina sighed: "I know, I know. What about the ship?" He looked around. "I read in the files you gave me that Spectres have the right to confiscate the equipment of criminals."

"Yes, that's true. But you have to remember that a ship needs a crew and costs money. You can't simply park it in a garage."

Shortly Udina narrowed his eyes and put his lips together into a thin line. Then he smiled: "We could give it to Councilor Valern to keep it for use of Spectres and STG teams. It has been a salarian mission, not?"

Jondum reciprocated the smile: "Yes, that would be acceptable."

Somewhere in the lower market district – Citadel

He had left the ship and sent Kaidan to the Normandy with Wrex and Jenkins. The young corporal had made a good impression on the mission and even the light wound he had got had not been able to suppress his enthusiasm. If he gets a tad more careful he'll one day be a good marine.

Turning around to Garrus, the Turian whistling lowly behind the small carrier with a ten feet long casket on it, Udina allowed himself a moment of content. A short message had proven that Jenna was still alright and now he was on the way to deliver a small present to a trading partner.

A sign from a side entrance was all he needed. Warily looking around – even among 'friends' it was always good to be prepared – they entered the storeroom of the electronic shop. The grey-haired woman was already waiting there, convincing Udina that this was no trap. Helena wouldn't endanger herself; she's too experienced to do so.

Opening his jacket to show that Garrus was now carrying his only weapons Udina went to her and bowed slightly to make a kiss on the hand. "It is always nice to meet you, Rory."

"And you look at least as wonderful as the last time, Helena." He pointed towards the casket. "I have a little present for you. Jax, as could be expected, but this one could be helpful too."

On her sign one of her bodyguards opened the casket and signaled that there was no danger. Helena Blake neared and looked down on Jenna's former admirer, shackled and gagged, his eyes full of terror. "Norrich, happy to see you again. We hadn't that much time to speak after you left my little family so … short dated. We have much to discuss."

Neither Udina nor Garrus was willing to intervene as Norrich silently pleaded for help. "I hope he'll be able to give you some directions about Jax' trading partners on the Citadel."

"That would be nice and is very thoughtful of you. May I do you any good in reciprocation?"

Udina nodded: "Yes, there is something. His former girlfriend works at Chora's Den. She could need a good friend, a bit of protection and a little money from time to time. And a trustworthy ear in that club wouldn't be too shabby either, don't you think, Helena?"

Helena Blake slightly pinched his cheek: "You have always been too soft-hearted to the girls. But I'll have that in mind." Waving her men to put the casket away she said goodbye. "See you later. I'll ring if there are any interesting music instruments incoming."