Chapter 17.5: Current Events III
Incoming Encrypted Transmission…
Decrypting…
Displaying…
"Jordan Sower, I apologize for the unexpected message, but I believe I have found several of the things you had asked me for. Going around the archives, I have discovered many important messages, conversations, and other important data regarding your 'foresight', as I still wish to refer to it as. I know you haven't told me the full story, but based on some of my preliminary findings, I believe much of what you know is changing. Thank you for your patience. You may look upon them at your leisure."
-The Shadow Broker
Recorded Conversation: Omega, Afterlife.
Time of Recording in EST: February 10th, 2184. 3:45 pm EST.
Aria T'Loak: BRAY! In here, now!
Bray: Yes, Aria?
Aria: Contact Garm, Jaroth, and Tarak. Tell them to stop fucking around. I have a contract for them.
Bray: Blood Pack, Eclipse, and Blue Suns? You sure they'll work together on a contract?
Aria: Are you questioning me, Bray? I thought you were smarter than that.
Bray: Of course not, Aria. It's just- I'll send it out at once. What's the contract?
Aria: Good… It's a manhunt, Bray.
Bray: A manhunt? For who?
Aria: For whoever put Nyreen into her coma and nearly killed her. *Aria began to glow with Biotics* I want whoever is responsible's head on Afterlife's doorstep.
Bray: At once, Aria. *He turned and walked away*
Aria: *click* Doctor Solus, how is she?
Doctor Mordin Solus (over comms): Assume you mean patient Nyreen Kandros. Doing well, all things considered. Still, no sign of awakening. Coma length… inconclusive.
Aria: Who the hell did this to her?
Mordin: Unknown, but have identified several clues. Found connections to Talon Mercenaries. Also found all technology on person destroyed.
Aria: What?
Mordin: All technology destroyed. Omni-tool. Medi-gel dispense in armor. Biotic amp. All fried, seemingly simultaneously by attacker. Don't assume EMP. Unlikely given circumstances and lack of collateral damage.
Aria: You will update me with any changes in her condition.
Mordin: Of course. Would never jeopardize partnership with Aria or health of patient.
Aria: Good.
Mordin: Yes. Doctor Solus, out. *click*
Aria: Grizz.
Grizz: Yes, Aria?
Aria: Take some men. I want everyone within 10 meters of a Talon logo questioned.
Grizz: About the attack on Kandros?
Aria: Yes. You know the drill. Anyone who refuses to answer is dead. Anyone who rats someone else out lives, but will be executed later. I want a full report covering all Talon members within three standard days.
Grizz: It'll be done in two, Aria.
Aria: That's what I wanted to hear.
Full Report: Miss Cynthia Wake (Deceased)
Formed via leaked conversations, reports, and intel from Cerberus.
Written By: Operative Miranda Lawson.
A full autopsy was performed on the deceased Cynthia Wake, allowing us to take a look at what made her tick and what, exactly, made her biotics as powerful as they were. Preliminary scans on her DNA structure indicated a synthetic and artificially constructed framework. The vast amount of genetic modifications we found with in-depth scans appear to be more advanced than even my own, hinting at the fact that she may have actually been created in a similar sense as I have.
Further scans revealed something far more disturbing. Her implants and her entire nervous systems were fried by whatever the observed blue pulse was upon her death, making reverse-engineering impossible of these implants, with little-to-no evidence on what might have been the cause of her accelerated powers. He has, however, surmised that a side effect of whatever process was used on her changed her irises to blue since they have been hazel since the time of death.
Though we have failed to learn much from the autopsy, access has been gained to much of her private records, which will also be included in this report.
Operative Cynthia wake, according to her profile, was born in the United North American States, in the providence of Quebec. She claimed that she grew up somewhere near the city of Quebec, to a middle-class family. Furthermore, her claims extended to claim she had been a private high school teacher South of Quebec, in the state of New York. However, all records on Earth contest this, as no records of Cynthia Wake exist.
Delving deeper into her private logs, we discovered further proof of her instability. Her claims began to grow more and more outlandish. Firstly, there had been no mention of her biotic abilities in her logs, which is alarming, and possibly hinting at an unnatural origin for her biotics. Next, she claimed her birthday was in the late 1980s, making her approximately 200 years old if she was to be believed.
Her logs also contained mentions of archaic and antique technologies, including gunpowder-based weaponry, plasma televisions, early 21st-century cell phones, and even mentions of a gaming system known as the Play Station 3 and 4. What becomes even more disturbing is her description of a game series she had interest in, simply called 'Mass Effect'. Though details of the specifics of these games were not present in any of her logs, they seemed to hint at current events and much of her apparent 'foresight' and advances planning.
Other than that, the name seemed to be an allusion to the mass effect, which was dubbed after the effects of element zero. If what she said was true, this game was apparently created in the early 21st century. A time in which the mass effect was unknown to humanity.
However, I would advise against taking her logs seriously. She was proved to be a madwoman, and anything she said in her logs could very well be her ravings, especially with such wilds claims being present without any sort of evidence. My recommendation is to hold the body in cryo-storage, and halt all studies until we gather another individual with similarities. Another Avatar to compare her to, if you will.
We believe that Jordan Sower could be a valuable addition to the study, but it has also come to our attention that there very well may be another 'Avatar' out there, as hinted at during the exchange between Sower and Wake on Cronos Station.
Her logs and transcripts are attached to the report.
Broker Note: Search for the supposed 'Third Avatar' is to become a top priority.
Outgoing Transmission From: The Shadow Broker.
To: Spectre Tela Vasir
Operative Vasir,
I have an update on the situation with the Avatar, Jordan Sower. As you will recall, we had you go to Illium for a mission and redirected to you Doctor Liara T'Soni's and Jordan Sower's location in Eternity, in an attempt to capture the Avatar alive. While they had escaped you and my men, my secondary plan came to fruition perfectly. After they escaped, another group of my army had apprehended the two of them, along with the Geth.
We have reached an… agreement. Jordan Sower, with his association with the Geth, have granted us access to much of the Geth's intelligence and information, greatly extending our reach and resources, as I have entered a sort of partnership with him. He is no longer considered an enemy of the Shadow Broker, and now works as a Tier-One Operative for me. As for Liara T'Soni, as per our agreement, has been pardoned on the condition that she remains out of my business. We, too, have come to an understanding.
As it currently stands, even with my vast resources, I am unable to clear Sower's Bounty on him. He is needed for an exchange of data on the Citadel. An exchange that could only occur in person and if Jordan Sower was our representative. Due to his notoriety and the notoriety of the Geth accompanying him, he will have difficulty getting to the meeting point on the Citadel.
That is where you come in. As per our agreement, you work for me in exchange for data concerning your job as a Spectre. In exchange for your cooperation with this upcoming assignment, I am prepared to give you intel on an upcoming terrorist attack on the Migrant Fleet. While the Quarians may be of no concern to the Council, the attack is being coordinated by Cerberus officials, and will provoke the Quarians towards mobilization if it occurs. You will be commended for stopping this.
Your mission is a simple escort mission, Spectre. Jordan Sower will be in Geth Dropship at the following coordinated in the Serpent Nebula on March 26th, 10:00 am. Earth Standard Time. From there, you will meet up with him, using a Council-issued Shuttle to enter the Citadel. You will accompany Jordan Sower as an escort, protecting him from mercenaries and other oppositional forces. The exchange of data should not take long once you arrive. After the fact, you will simply escort him back to the shuttle, and then to his ship.
I have also deemed the importance of this mission to be a top priority. You will be reimbursed three-fold for your expenses, and a team of commandos from my personal army have volunteered for your mission to the Migrant Fleet.
Respond within the next solar day with confirmation that you have received this message.
-Shadow Broker
Response Message To: The Shadow Broker.
From: Spectre Tela Vasir
Of course, sir. I read you loud and clear. I will be at the rendezvous point with the designated shuttle.
-Vasir
Updated Locations of Commander Shepard's Former Associates:
Flight Lieutenant Jeff "Joker" Moreau: Honorably discharged from the Alliance Navy. Has gone dark following his grounding and discharge, but Intel reveals his current location is Cerberus' Minuteman Station in the Horse Head Nebula. He had arrived no more than one earth-standard month ago.
Doctor Karin Chakwas: Previously stationed at the Mars Naval Medical Center, the Doctor has since left the Alliance and joined Cerberus after they approached her with an offer of working with Shepard. She is currently stationed at Minuteman Station in the Horse Head Nebula. She arrived around the same time as 'Joker'.
Operations Chief Ashley Williams: Still serves the System's Alliance. Cerberus Operatives have not approached her to join because of Shepard. Her given history indicts it would have ended in failure. Currently stationed back on Eden Prime, aiding in the reorganization of the armed forces of the planet. Will likely ship out to another location within two Earth-standard months.
Special Note: An anonymous message has been sent, warning of the Collectors.
Staff Commander Kaiden Alenko: Still serves the System's Alliance. Cerberus Operatives have not approached him to join because of Shepard. His given history indicts it would have ended in failure. Currently un-stationed, spending a shore leave on the Citadel, before temporarily joining Councilor Anderson's armed guard. Will likely remain on the Citadel for another six earth-standard months.
Special Note: An anonymous message has been sent, warning of the Collectors.
Garrus Vakarian: Former C-Sec Officer, Garrus had rejoined the force after Shepard's death before 'vanishing' to the Galaxy. He is currently located on Omega, with a group of vigilantes under the name of "Archangel".
Special Note: An anonymous message has been sent, warning him of Sidonis' treachery.
Clan Leader Urdnot Wrex: Urdnot Wrex is currently located on the Krogan home planet of Tuchanka, uniting the clans of his people together in order to unify the Krogan and secure their future. Has not left Tuchanka since he left the Normandy and Shepard, and is not expected to leave the planet for the foreseeable future.
Tali'Zorah vas Neema nar Rayya: Tali'Zorah has been with the Migrant Fleet since she left the Normandy, only leaving to attend Shepard's funeral and on the occasional mission into both Heretic and True Geth space. Intercepted messages from the Admiralty Board hint at an upcoming mission for Tali'Zorah, but the location has not been determined yet.
Special Note: A message, stated to have come from the Shadow Broker, has been sent, warning Tali of her father's plans with the Geth components.
Doctor Liara T'Soni: Doctor T'Soni has relocated to Illium after Shepard's death. From there, she became an information Broker, herself, originally working against the Shadow Broker. Since that time, she has joined forces with the Broker, getting over their mutual differences as they prepared for the imminent harvesting by the Reapers. Current location is classified.
Commander John Shepard: Currently KIA, his body is located on Cerberus' Lazarus Station. His resurrection is expected to be within an Earth-Standard year.
Avatar Jordan Sower: Jordan Sower, a former asset and former enemy of the Broker network, he has since rejoined the Shadow Broker, bringing the Geth and their resources into the equation. He is currently either on Rannoch, preparing for a mission, or en route already to the Citadel, aboard the Neda.
Intelligence Report: Alec Ryder (N7)
Jordan, you requested a brief summarization of the intended meeting with Alec Ryder, so it is provided below. We wish you luck!
-Shadow Broker
N7 Alex Ryder is referred to many as one of humanity's greatest galactic explorers, having been a member of Jon Grissom's original task force to travel through the Charon Relay in 2149. The very first time Humanity had traveled through a Mass Relay. He has been recruited into an ongoing project, expected to launch in a year and a half, titled the Andromeda Initiative, as a Pathfinder: The leading explorer for Humanity in this journey to the Andromeda Galaxy.
He has both a son and a daughter, Scott and Sarah Ryder. Both are Alliance Military, and plan to make the journey to Andromeda with their father. He fought the Turians in the First Contact War, and became one of the earliest N7s in the program.
In the late 2160s, Alec became interested in artificial intelligence as a means of human advancement. However, being as AI are illegal in Citadel space, he was dishonorably discharged from the Alliance. This didn't stop him, however, as he began researching the Geth Uprising with Quarian historians, consulting Dr. Liara T'Soni, and even reaching out to me, the Shadow Broker.
Currently, he owns a higher-end residence in the Presidium, but spends much of his time traveling or on Earth. Tracking him down is difficult, but thanks to Liara's and the Broker's intelligence and past experiences with the man, they were able to set up a meeting.
Earth Standard Time, on March 26th, he will be in his apartment, having received word from the Broker about a mutual exchange of data pertaining to Artificial Intelligence. A Broker agent, Jordan Sower, is to meet with him in his apartment at noon, to exchange artificial intelligence data that both parties have obtained.
He is a dangerous man in his own right, and will likely have one or two highly trained and trusted men with him during the exchange, which is why Tela Vasir will be accompanying you. Broker assets will delay C-Sec and the Council, preventing them from learning of your presence on the Citadel, due to the large bounty on your head, but time will still be short nonetheless.
Good luck, Mister Sower.
-The Shadow Broker
A/N:
Got this one done really quickly, so here you go. Just setting up what is to come and maybe, possibly hinting at future events. As you can probably tell, there's quite a few, odd changes happening. Hope you enjoyed and that you stay tuned! Cya.