There was a point where a person could not stand being in a room any longer, a point where they would prefer being in any place other than wherever they were at that moment, and Martin had reached that point two days earlier. It was understandable why he and his fellow crew-mates from the Leatum were restricted to their quarters, the Turian soldiers had no reason to trust them, but it didn't make being in the same room for every hour of every day any more bearable. At least they had been given their omnitools back. They were not allowed to send messages, their omnitools somehow restricted from doing so, but they were allowed to use the extranet, and Martin found himself occupying his days by visiting every stupid site he could find. He found conspiracy sites claiming the Reapers were a hoax by galactic militaries to increase their funding, he found a site dedicated to the number thirteen, he found a forum to discuss some strange new sport gaining popularity on Earth. When the officers came for them on the fifth day, Martin was sure his IQ had dropped at least ten points, maybe as much as thirty.

"We're not an army," Martin had told Garrus after his father's friend had explained what the Hierarchy wanted the Leatum's crew to do. "What the hell are the pilot and engineers and cooks supposed to do? They can't fight."

"The turians in the crew can fight, it doesn't matter what they are doing now," Garrus said with certainty. "Anyone that cannot fight will remain in a cell until this is done." Martin opened his mouth to protest, but Garrus raised a hand. "I trust you, Martin, because I know you, and I know your father. I'm inclined to believe your friends were not involved either because you would know if they were involved. Everyone else is guilty until proven innocent, and they will only prove themselves innocent if they do what we say."

There was nothing Martin could say to that. "I'm pretty sure the other engineers weren't involved," he chimed in. "I worked for hours on end with those men, and never caught the slightest hint of them being in on this."

"I'm sorry, Martin, but anyone not willing to participate in this mission is staying in a cell, and will be investigated fully. That includes you."

Martin was left with no choice but to agree. The mission itself was straightforward in theory. Located the stolen cargo, send in a team to secure it, and eliminate any hostile presence on site. Of course, the problem was the Leatum's crew was no army, and the identity of the thieves was unknown, let alone how many they were. When Martin asked why they were being sent, why the Hierarchy wasn't sending in their own team, Garrus was frustratingly vague. All he would say was that this cargo was top secret, and that the number of people who knew about it needed to stay as limited as possible. Since most of the Leatum's crew were turians, and every turian served in the military at some point, they claimed to have full faith in their ability to handle this.

Not that it was all up to Martin and his crewmates. On board the Adrien Jorillus were more turian special ops soldiers, two squads of five, led by the officers that finally came to tell them the cargo had been located, and the mission would begin in five hours. Lietunenants Hirillius and Varintus were hard men whose only words were the orders they barked, something Martin was quickly learning applied to the vast majority of turian soldiers. Hirillius told the assembled crew of the Leatum to follow him to the armory. Soldiers lined the hall, all standing straight with their heads held high, looking straight ahead. Hirillius and Varintus strode past the soldiers, the others doing the same. The armory was its own room aboard the ship, with enough arms and armor for the crew to fight a war themselves. Armor lined the walls to the left, all of it naturally designed for turians. The weapons were of various make and model, pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, light machine guns Martin had never seen before, at least twelve types of grenades, anything a soldier could possibly need to kill anything.

None of the armor fit Martin's body type, so his own set assigned to him on the Leatum, confiscated with everything else on the ship, was returned to him. They were given their pick of the weapons, and he decided on a sniper rifle and a pistol, with five incendiary grenades on his belt. Thermal clips to hopefully last him through the battle were placed on his belt as well. The lieutenants watched as Martin and his crewmates armed themselves, and once they were done the lieutenants led them to the hangar bay, where they were told to stay and wait until they reached their destination. Martin watched the orderly urgency with which the ship's crew moved around the hangar bay, preparing for the coming mission. "This is all kinds of fucked up," Piok managed to whisper. It almost shocked Martin to hear the krogan whisper, he was so used to hearing him bellow every word he spoke. Piok had begun to crack his knuckles, shake his arms, stretch his legs, all the nervous movements he always had before combat.

"We just need to do our jobs and keep our mouths shut," Lucanus said. He was icily calm, as always. "Stay alive, secure the cargo, and they'll let us go."

"You really believe that?" Piok asked.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Because these same people had us all locked in cells a week ago, feeding us rotten leftovers. And they're turians."

Lucanus bristled at the insult. "So am I. These men are military. Turian soldiers are good for their word, unlike anyone else in this damn galaxy."

"They're such good men they unleashed the Genophage on my people because they couldn't win a fair fight."

"Both of you, shut up!" Martin whispered harshly. "I don't know why you're choosing right now to have a problem with the fact the other is a krogan or turian, but it's awful timing." Both his friends quieted, looking away in random directions. "We have no choice, no matter what you think their intentions are, we have to go down there if we don't want to get shot here and now. So stop whining and complaining and get ready to fight."

Tali had been awake for more than an hour, but she didn't want to move. She wanted to enjoy laying exactly how she was for as long as she possibly could, cuddling up against Shepard with her head resting on her chest. The sooner she got up, the sooner she would have to take a shower, put on her suit, eat breakfast, and leave the comfort of her home for the stupid bickering involved with being an Admiral. Laying in bed with the man she loved was far preferable to all that. She was nothing if not dutiful, however, whether it was duty as an Admiral or duty to those she loved, so when it was time she gently removed herself from the comforting warmth of Shepard's body and got out of bed.

Both crowds were in front of the capital building as they had been for three days now. At first, Tali had smiled with pride for her people when she the crowd gathering to support peace with the Geth. How anyone could want another war with them, she could not understand, and when the peace crowd matched the numbers of the warmongers, she had been happy about it. Three days and two violent clashes between the groups later, she felt the same scorn and shame towards both groups. The loud chants began by both sides as she walked by, both mobs pushing against the marines holding them back. Tali knew it was only a matter of time before this got out of hand and one of the Admiralty was assaulted. The focus of the meeting that day was to prevent that from happening. A chosen representative from the anti-Geth movement was meeting with the admirals to voice the group's concerns, hopefully allowing them to reach an understanding. The only understanding Tali wanted to give the bosh'tet was the understanding that she would kick this bosh'tet's teeth in if he didn't make his people disperse and stop risking all their lives. How did they not understand that any wrong move, any act of hostility towards the geth, and they would have a war on their hands just the same as the one that led to their exile in the first place? It was enough to make her scream.

Hana'Klitschk strode into the conference room five minutes late, a smugness around her that choked the air and made Tali sick. Hana took a seat at one end of the table, folding her hands together on the table in front of her. Pleasantries were exchanged, and Hana made her case. "They've already turned on Admiral Xen. They killed her and all those innocent people with her. Everything in their history suggests they not only are incapable of not fighting, they will actively seek a fight out. At the very least we cannot let them continue to be welcome on Rannoch."

"Hana'Klitschk, you may not understand the geth the way we all do," Koris said. Stupid way to start, Tali thought, to basically tell the woman she is stupid. "They only fought us in the past because we did not try to coexist. We got along with them before, and there were no complaints. What has changed?"

"The Crucible fired, that's what changed," Hana replied. "As evil as everything concerning the Reapers may have been, the Reaper code that gave the Geth full sentience was the only reason we were able to get along. Without that programming, they are once again the cold, violent machines that drove us from Rannoch before. We have fought so hard, sacrificed so much, and to allow exile to be thrust upon us again is a mistake we cannot allow."

"Hana," Tali jumped in, somehow managing to stay calm. "You are misinformed. We have spoken to these geth, learned the history that our own people forgot. The Geth are capable of great violence, that much I do not disagree with. But the circumstances were those where any species in the galaxy would have done the same in their position. They drove us off Rannoch because we were trying to extinguish their newfound life. They defended themselves. Can you say you would not do the same in their position? Is peace, and the benefits from that peace, not preferable?"

"And what of the vast number of casualties they inflicted while 'defending themselves?' What of their hostility towards all organic life afterwards? What is their excuse then?" Tali decided to wait for Hana to finish rather than answer. "I cannot trust these machines to leave us be and neither can those innocent people outside this building, who want nothing more than to know they can sleep at night without fear of a cold death coming for them."

"That same death would come for many of us if we started a war," Raan argued. As if that wasn't obvious. Maybe it wasn't to this bitch.

"Over ten million of us are combat ready. At most, the number of geth is in the hundreds, they would not have had time to build their numbers up larger than that. Better to suffer casualties now and keep our homeworld than suffer worse in the future and lose it." Hana leaned forward. "If we continue to fight among ourselves over this, it will only fracture the Quarian people, leaving us weak for the Geth. I can guarantee you we will not back down. So unless you want to face the Geth as a splintered, unsure people, assuring we lose, you have to come to our side. We will try to save ourselves from these machines, whether you approve or not. With your support, and a united Quarian people, we can succeed."

Tali left that afternoon in a panic. Hana'Klitschk's threats had worked. The Admiralty Board was now considering military action against the Geth. The past decade, the life she had built on her homeworld, all flashed before her eyes. She may lose it all. She had yelled, screamed, made threats of her own, but she was one woman, and her threats were not as serious as what Hana had said. Tears formed in her eyes as she hurried to her car, the shouts from the crowds outside little more than static to her hearing. She just wanted to go home, not knowing how much longer that would be her home.

Helplessness was not something John Shepard was used to feeling. No matter the problem, there was always a solution. He told Tali just that when she stormed into their house, struggling to tell of all that had happened that day. After she had finished, emotionally exhausted, he had held her on the couch, waited until she had fallen asleep, and went on a walk to clear his own troubled mind. It was hard to believe that this was all happening. It was beyond his comprehension. Hadn't the peace with the Geth been good news? What exactly had happened? So many of these same people had been so eager for peace before. Thirty minutes since he left the house, and he was no closer to understanding than before.

Naturally, his path led him further into Tikdara, near the heart of the city where the skyscrapers stood tall, blocking the descending sun. It kept the day chilly, and Shepard soon found that he wished he brought a jacket. The streets were crowded with vehicles leaving downtown to go home, with only a few going into the city proper, but the sidewalks were almost entirely unoccupied besides Shepard. He had seen four others walking, all of them nodding sheepishly and offering awestruck greetings. It amazed Shepard that after so long, he still had that effect on others. Its not like none of these people knew him. He had lived with Tali in their house at Tikdara for so many years now, it had been about a decade but felt like longer. He was a friendly man who did not avoid the public. Yet still he was treated like some heroic myth that couldn't possibly be real, and when someone saw him it was like the hero from some novel come to life. Sometimes it was a little much when someone would get tongue-tied to the point they couldn't even talk to him, or when others avoided him because they didn't want Shepard to disapprove of them. Who the hell was he to disapprove of anyone? The former Spectre hoped that would change one day.

Shepard continued to walk for another twenty minutes before he decided to turn around. He didn't want Tali waking up and wondering where he went. He was about five minutes from the apartments at the fringe of downtown when he noticed a quarian he thought looked familiar. Living among quarians, one had to quickly learn how to identify and recognize the small differences in the suits they wore if they did not want to offend, and Shepard had only needed a few months. She wearing a grey and red envirosuit with a matching red hood covering her head. Shepard stopped, trying to think where exactly he knew her from, when a quarian he would recognize in a heartbeat jogged across the street to greet her. Han'Gerrel greeted the woman with a handshake, and Shepard hurried into a nearby alley, trying to stay where Gerrel would not see him. After a brief conversation, the two of them began walking away, and Shepard followed as stealthily as he could manage.

When they stopped, about fifteen minutes later, it was at the largest hotel in the city, by the name of Hagst an Norah, which if Shepard remembered correctly translated roughly to "House of Norah." That had been the name inscribed on everything inside the hotel when it was restored to use, and no one knew who Norah might be. A combination restaurant/bar was built into the west wing of the hotel, and that was where Han'Gerrel and Hana'Klitschk went after entering the hotel. Shepard had recognized Hana'Klitschk after few minutes, remembering her from the crowds outside the capital building and her interviews on television. If there were any type of leader among the anti-Geth protesters, she was it. Hopefully Gerrel was meeting with Klitschk to work out some deal behind closed doors. Still, Shepard figured it wouldn't hurt to try and listen in without them noticing.

That proved an easier task than one would think due to the patrons within. Hagst an Norah was the most popular hotel in Tikdara because it was the closest to the city's spaceport, and had the size to accommodate the many visitors of many different races that came to Rannoch for whatever reason. The variety of species within the bar allowed Shepard to duck his head, slip inside, and blend in unseen. Shepard was dressed casually, in blue pants and a shabby green shirt, so anyone who might recognize him would hopefully figure the savior of the galaxy would never dress that way in public. There were a few glances in his direction, but no one said anything.

Shepard got as close as he dared, out of Gerrel and Klitschk's sight, sitting at a table that allowed him to hear them just enough to understand what they were saying. It was all small talk, without a single word spoken about the situation with the Geth. Considering the hostility with which Tali said the meeting that day had gone, Shepard was a little confused to see the friendliness with which they were talking. The two ordered some food, ate, talked a little more about various minor political issues, and then parted. "I'll be back for a meeting in a day or two, right?" Hana'Klitschk asked. Shepard's ears perked up.

"No later than two days. You really roused them today," Gerrel said with a chuckle. Why would he find this situation funny?

Klitschk giggled as well. "I was taught well. I had to admit that it was funny to see the other admirals squirming the way they did." The two shared another laugh, and Klitschk was the first to leave. Gerrel waited, sipping at the straw in his drink, and left ten minutes later. Shepard waited another fifteen minutes before he left himself.

Tali had drawn herself a bath, and was relaxing in it when Shepard came home. It was somewhat difficult to remember what he had overheard at that sight. Her eyes were closed, only her head and shoulders visible above the soapy bubbles. "You've been gone for a while," she said, never opening her eyes.

"Went for a walk," he said, eyes focused on the beautiful woman in the bathtub. "I saw something interesting."

"Too bad," Tali said, lifting one arm and using the other to rub bubbles up and down. "I could have used some company," she added seductively.

Damn it, focus, Shepard thought, realizing his mouth was hanging open. "I saw Han'Gerrel meet up with Hana'Klitschk. The two went to the restaurant at the Hagst an Norah and had a nice friendly chat with each other over dinner and drinks."

Tali's eyes darted open. "What? What were they talking about?"

"Nothing, really. Just seemed like a friendly dinner between friends. That would be fine if Klitschk wasn't currently trying to start a war that Han'Gerrel is supposed to be opposed to. It would also be fine if I hadn't heard what they said before Hana'Klitschk left. Basically Han telling her when her next meeting would be and the two of them laughing about the Admiralty being pressured into war."

Tali stood in the tub, water and bubbles dripping from her very naked body. "Keelah, Han is supporting them!?" she screamed, grabbing a towel of the nearby rack. "Of course, it makes perfect sense. Han was always a damned warmonger. He's probably responsible for the anti-Geth movement in the first fucking place."

The human curses sounded strange coming from Tali. It wasn't very often she used such language, let alone the human versions of such language. "I'm not sure if there's any to prove that, but for what its worth I feel the same," Shepard said.

"We have to find a way to prove it. The movement will have nothing without his support. Keelah, how did I not think of this before. I'll call Raan, you call Koris. We need to meet immediately and figure out how to handle this."

Shepard gently placed a hand on Tali's shoulder as she made to move past him, stopping her in place. She did not fight him. "It's probably not a good idea to meet all in one place. People will see, notice, and when they don't see Han'Gerrel they will talk."

Tali breathed deep. "Okay, you're right. Separately then. Who would you rather talk to?"

"Koris. He will need some intimidation to be coerced into cooperating. Besides, I doubt Raan will listen to me. She's cordial, but I'm pretty sure she still doesn't exactly like me." Tali opened her mouth to protest, but she knew that was true. "We tell them what I just told you, ask them if they have noticed anything about Han lately that might be suspicious. Hopefully between the four of us we can come up with a way to find out whether Han is playing us all false or not."

The shuttle ride was eerily quiet. Everyone on board stared at the ground, the same thoughtfulness written on every inch of their face, every wrinkle, every twitch. Martin wished he knew what they were thinking. It would have distracted him from his own fear and uncertainty. His first battle, aboard the Leatum, had never given him time to think. The pirates came, he did his job, he fought, and it was over. This time, he had five hours in the hangar bay and forty minutes in a shuttle to think. Even Piok was silent, tapping both of his feet nervously. The pilot told them to form up, soldiers from the Adrien Jorillus opened the doors, and Martin followed the others as they streamed out, boots crunching as they made contact with the ground. Gunfire could already be heard somewhere up ahead and to the left. One of Varius's men, an older turian named Brutus, had been given command of their particular squad and led them forward. Hostiles were not far away, opening fire as they made they way down the street, but their numbers were small, and their aim bad.

Once the initial engagement was over, with no casualties among the men Martin was with, Brutus ordered them to a halt. The gunfire stopped elsewhere moments later. Harintus led his squad to join up with them, and began relaying orders. "We're to clear the warehouse ahead," Brutus told them. "Move out!"

The men who had stolen the cargo from the Leatum had situated themselves in a small, abandoned settlement, though they had not been told on what planet. They were going to sweep the entire town and kill everyone in their way while finding the cargo. It sounded like a stupid plan, the thieves would be entrenched and have superior positioning the entire time, but Hirillius and Varintus were in charge, and they insisted that the thieves' numbers were few enough that clearing the town would be no problem if they were smart and good shots. None of them were in any position to argue, and Martin knew to keep his mouth shut as Brutus led them towards the warehouse, another squad led by a man named Nihlus joining them.

The warehouse was clear, as was the garage, the two homes, and the store. They did not find more hostiles until the four story building, when two men on the third floor sniped down at them, hitting one of the Krogans whose name Martin could not recall. Brutus had Martin and Lucanus take cover and return fire while he led the rest of the squad into the building. The snipers were good, and kept them pinned down. Martin fired back when he could, as did Lucanus, but most of the fifteen minutes they spent in that spot behind a small car was spent crouched in cover. Eventually gunfire came from within the building, Martin and Lucanus were able to fire as well, and another fifteen minutes passed before Brutus emerged back outside.

The message played over the frequency they had been told to set their omnitools to. "Objective has been located inside the grocery store, repeat the objective is inside the grocery store. Heavy hostile presence, all squads converge on my location."

"You heard him, move out," Brutus said, wasting no time running ahead. Martin and the others had no choice but to follow.

I'm a real jerk about the Admirals, huh? Whatever though, screw Han'Gerrel. And maybe it's too convenient that Shepard happened upon Han and Hana, or that Martin and his friends have to secure the stolen cargo because of secrecy, but I don't think it's that convenient.

To be clear, the turian named Nihlus is just a turian named Nihlus. No relation, just a shared name. I also don't know why I've not realized until this chapter that I should be italicizing the ship names.