Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect or the various X-COM games. They belong to their respective copyright owners. This story is not written for profit. I make no money from it. It is not for sale or rent.
Chapter 7: Citadel Blues
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Part 3
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15 June 2177 CE
Insight Cyber-Solutions Warehouse
Zakera Ward
The Citadel
"Start from the beginning!" The Executor growled, displaying his impressive teeth.
"Well, as you know, the powers that be decided that the pure PR stunt we had going is finally over." I began. That was the only good news related to this bloody mess.
"We finally got to go out and do something different from being damned tourist attractions and beat cops." Tela didn't even try to hide her bitterness – she got through the last few months only thanks to copious amounts of alcohol and a game of spot our Spectre observers, who were different every week and looked like they used us to hone their covert observation skills. We even got to run a certain Salarian buddy of hers last month for stalker-ish behaviour. Of course as a Spectre nothing came out of it besides a bruised ego at being caught.
"Now you can stop looking so damn pleased and continue with the important part of the report. Like what in the name of the Spirits happened here!" Palin's voice brought me back into the present. "Made it fast and factual or I'll ensure you'll do nothing but publicity stunts as long as I have any authority over the two of you!"
The bastard already knew us all too well.
"Today was to be our first drug 'bust'." Tela's voice dripped poisonous sarcasm and she did add air-quotes for emphasis.
It was always weird to see such human gestures being natural for someone evolved at the other side of the galaxy. At times, X-Comie or not, it was hard to see the aliens here at the Citadel as anything but people, something that would have been unthinkable back in the day.
"A milk run, Vacarian said. Just to wet our feet and make sure we had the procedures down right. At worst there was supposed to be a bit of chemicals for making legal drugs the company got on the sly as a tax scam." Vasir said. "The bunch of detectives and the ERS were a gratious overkill or so Vacarian and everyone thought. If any of us believed there was even the distinct chance of any resistance higher that a rent-a-cop and couple of mechs, we would have busted the place with more backup, after properly securing and scouting the area."
Palin scowled at that, complete with his crest standing up involuntary as a display of his deep displeasure.
"It was meant to be a blue collar crime at worst with no resistance to speak off. Otherwise, I don't believe you've left any of us near it... and all things considered it was a good thing we ran into this mess instead a couple of detectives sent to casually check up the place." I added. "You would have two missing cops and those bastards would have had enough time to sanitize the place and make themselves scarce. They've got active Psionics, Executor. Low powered, however very skilled. At least those had counter-measures against psionic intrusion – when I subdued one of them and attempted to gather actionable intelligence – like a more precise number of the opposition present and who the hell they were, her head blew up."
My translator was unable to catch even a third of the string of curses Palin showered us with all in the space of twenty seconds. Then he got his emotions under control. "Vasir, call your Spectre buddies, I'm sure at least one of them is stalking us as we speak. That way we'll be able to sidestep the necessary paperwork to go after the corporation owning this place." He looked at us for a long moment and briefly appeared torn by something. "In your opinion, will it be mistake if we go in without X-COM assistance?" He asked our resident Spectre.
"Unless my colleagues figured a working counter-measure against Psionics or there aren't any at the corporate HQ, we'll have a bloodbath on our hands and they will buy themselves enough time to wipe out any relevant intelligence before we secure the place – provided they are in any position to prove credible resistance." Tela nodded sharply at the warehouse behind us.
That was a reasonable assumption. While there were ways to counter Psionics if you didn't have any, that usually meant using overwhelming numbers and fire-power. Not a good idea if you wanted to gather intelligence. Just a few people with the skills of the ones we encountered today could ensure that whatever other security Cyber-Solutions had in place could turn any raid on the place, even one executed by the closest Council special operations detachment and led by Spectres into another bloodbath with little to show for... and if we wanted to get something before all the drives over there were wiped out and then melted to slag, we had to go in fast, which meant with whatever C-SEC ERS we had on hand, a few spectres and when they get the authorisation and could get there – some marines from the Citadel fleet.
Naturally, it wasn't that simple. Politics were going to raise their ugly head sooner rather than latter. I knew that the Council was raring to go get themselves some enemy Psionics to work with, not to mention the enticing carrot of tech that was a counter-measure for the gift. The powers that be might not want me or anyone else aligned with either X-COM or the Alliance near this mess and that was too bad.
"There are two likely options here, Executor." I spoke formally. "This is either an Ethereal backed incursion, in which case it concerns everyone or Exalt aren't as dead and unlamented as we believed. In both cases, I can assure you, my superiors will want to look into this." Speaking of them, it was high time I called the Embassy and lit up a fire under everyone's feet. I did send a burst transmission about what we encountered while Tela and I brought back our captive, but now it was a time for a proper report and request for instructions.
"The politics are irrelevant. If we want to find something of use, we need to move, now." Vasir prompted.
She was right – if they didn't know already, the people in Cyber-Solutions would soon learn about what just happened. We were on borrowed time already.
"Call the Spectres and your Embassy." Palin ordered. "I'll see what's available and arrange a raid." He glanced at the warehouse. "We might need some heavy support on short notice for this one."
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15 June 2177 CE
Spectre Office
The Citadel Tower
The Citadel
Five people sat at their desks in the main room of the Spectre's inner sanctum, which looked in-ordinary normal. At fist glance, it wouldn't look out-of-place in any self-respecting office building. It was well lit and full with desks and had people struggling with paperwork – either filing reports, doing research or killing time while on call for the next crisis that needed a deft touch or complete overkill to solve.
Two Turians, a pair of Asari and a single Salarian were in, idly swapping tall tales, when an alert came.
"What did Vasir do this time?" Saren grumbled. The woman often made him look like a paragon of virtue and restrain.
"Trying to keep you on your toes." Nihlus snorted. He was the youngest Spectre in the room, even younger than the Salarian, who was one of the more experienced operatives that weren't Asari on the rows.
Their omni-tools lit up as one a moment later – the details were apparently important enough to merit a general broadcast.
"Humans or the newest bogeymen?" Serin, the younger Asari Spectre asked.
"Either is going to be tons of trouble." Saren stated while reading through the message. "Gear up. J'ien, be a dear and inform the Council about what's about to happen on their station. They like you the best of any of us." He addressed the oldest person in the room. This particular Asari was an eight hundred years old Matriarch, possibly the most individually powerful and skilled Spectre in the service and when she spoke, even the Council listened. It would be a sad day when she finally retired – something she had been about to do before the Humans arrived on the galactic stage and changed her plans.
"I will make sure they don't do something too stupid, then I'll catch up. Try not to die."
"Not planning on it, Ma'am." Nihlus chortled and shot towards the armoury. A few seconds later, after they secured their work stations, the rest followed suit.
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Part 4
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CIC
Destiny Ascension
CDF Flagship
Widow Nebula
Matriarch Lindra Lidanya sat in her command seat, a comfortable and highly functional piece of furniture bolted in the centre of her CIC. Command consoles were built within its two arm-rests, complete with a generous pad on the right in case the ship's commander was infuriated and needed to punch something not particularly valuable. Said seat was surrounded with holographic emitters that with the help of the Ascension's crew and the advanced AI serving Lidanya could give her unprecedented tactical awareness. Fortunately for everyone concerned, outside exercises, neither the Matriarch, nor her previous six predecessors had to take the pride of the Asari fleets in combat. Unfortunately, that was a state of affairs that might not preserve for much longer with the emergence of more and more dangerous species to the galactic stage.
The traumatized humans who even centuries after winning their war against the Ethereals still had species wide PTSD were bad enough. Finding that said aliens were still around and back to their stunts was worse and one of the reasons why Lidanya hadn't been busier in her life. The past year had been a never ending storm of meetings, briefings, tactical assessments, war-games based on hard data a whole human fleet bled to gain, fleet manoeuvres and most frustrating of all – politics. Persuading the collective Asari Republics that something had to be done was bad enough, making the bitches who usually ran them open their purses and pay for sorely needed upgrades and fleet expansion – that was a nightmare. More than half of them had their crests shoved so far up their azures that they were genuinely convinced the modest expansion authorized after first contact with humanity was enough.
Hard data suggested otherwise and even her centuries of experience backed by the best tactics the Turians could think of painted a grim picture – for the Citadel species to win a confrontation with the humans, much less the Ethereals in space, they would need overwhelming numerical superiority. It wasn't all bad, at least as far as the humans were concerned – the Citadel did have the numbers, industry and economy to bury humanity in ships of all kinds even if in doing so the losses would make both the Krogan Rebellions and Rachni wars look like little girls having a spat. The Ethereals however, no one knew their full capabilities, neither military nor industrial.
Lidanya glared at the memo that had her attention for the past half hour. The Hierarchy, working closely with the humans had their first cruisers with prototype capital grade lasers ready to come online and were less than an year from putting them in mass production. The Republics? They would have a few prototypes ready in six months, however the money for a fleet expansion or at least upgrade program were still tied up. If an Ethereal battle group or Goddess forbid, fleet, wormholled in at the Citadel or Thesia, whole fleets might have to burn in order to stop them.
She rubbed her forehead, not-too gently tracing the tattoos surrounding her eyes. Lately, even thinking about the bitches running the Serise Council and through it, most of the Asari Republics, was a sure way to a headache. Deciding that a few moments of distraction would do her good, Lindra looked over her crew. Her girls were busy at their stations with her XO overseeing a group of newly minted ensigns running simulations at the secondary tactical station.
"… use the broadside cannons?" A terribly young looking maiden asked.
Nowadays, Lindra couldn't even remember when she was so young and innocent.
"On a human or Ethereal ship that can have everything from high energy lasers to plasma cannons, fusion lances or worse?" XO Kanis sneered. "That's a great way to get my ship turned into a pile of scrap!"
Well, if the new armour, Silaris was it, panned out, a close in engagement might be survivable. Especially if those rumours of the Salarians managing to make the Tech-Armour their specialists loved so much useful on ships, even if mounting something like that would require even longer stay in dock… At least once the Destiny went in for upgrades she would have a bit of free time to go visit her daughters… Goddess how long had it been since she saw them face to face? Four years for the older and seven for her youngest?
The Matriarch's scowl deepened as she returned her attention to the memo containing an overview of the official Turian efforts to reduce the gap between the Council and their rivals. What she went over for a second time simply made the current situation that much more infuriating. And to think things appeared to go the Navy's way for once... Just a year ago it looked like those fossils on the Serise Council received a kick in the azure strong enough to awake them to the new realities, yet months of insistent petty arguments, old grudges and pure greed saw all plans of fleet expansion and upgrade stalled for lack of allocated funds.
At least the Turians threw themselves at the problem with a gusto, right besides the humans too. Goddess, how she loathed politics…
The Matriarch's omni-tool beeped, announcing an incoming call. The distinct tone made her frown – only a few people were programmed with it and only the Council and her counterparts with the Turian and Salarian groups of the CDF had higher priority. A reflexive gesture ensured that her seat produced a privacy bubble before she accepted the call.
"Niece, we've got a situation." The face of Matriarch J'Ien Lidanya, one of the oldest active duty Spectres, not to mention most respected and dangerous, appeared within a holo-window above Lidanya's left arm.
"Not the good kind, I take it, aunt?"
"I'll be calling the Council next. Under Spectre Authority, I need need SDF assistance." J'Ien wasted no time in sending a file. "We need that building and the surrounded are locked down yesterday. Palin is mobilizing C-SEC ERS and regulars, however not enough will be available in time. Available Spectres are gearing up and will move in ASAP. We might call in X-COM Psionic support, too. Worst case scenario – we might have Ethereal incursion to either recover assets or simply ensure we get nothing from the target. Get the fleet on high alert and deploy Huntress teams and Turian Marines down here as fast as you can."
Lindra divided her attention between listening, opening the file she just received and calling her ship to battle stations.
Alarms echoed throughout the CIC and the lights dimmed, which made the various displays even easier to see.
"I want Matriarch Cellia's girls ready for immediate deployment on the Citadel, Heavy kit. Marine QRF is to launch to the following coordinates… ROEs..."
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Hangar
Turian Dreadnought Palaven's Pride
Widow Nebula
General Victus felt both pride and worry. His QRF platoon on duty, augmented by Black Watch and Cabal elements sprinted towards waiting drop ships and they were breaking their record for fast deployment. Those were some of the best soldiers the Hierarchy had and until not too long ago, he would have pitied them against anything known or conceivable the galaxy could throw at them. Then the humans came to the stage and both earned the Turian's respect and caused countless sleepless nights among the high echelons of government, especially the military. The events on the felines world a year ago merely reinforced those fears – on the ground, when they lacked access to orbital support, the Turians were now outmatched. New, harder hitting weapons, armour upgrades to ensure soldiers hardsuits would actually protect them from plasma and then hopefully avoid being cooked within said armour soon came off the drawing boards and into production.
Today, they might just put them to the test, on the Citadel of all places.
"Remember, we need prisoners and to recover as much data as possible! Watch your backs, keep a close eye on your squad-mates and in the first doubt of mental influence, neutralize them, in a non-lethal fashion if practical. You've got extensive tech and biotic support, use it!" Victus barked at the soldiers filling into their transports.
"We won't let you nor the Hierarchy down, Sir!" Specialist Kandros shouted as she passed by the general.
"I know. You're the best we have!" Victus allowed himself a small smile, mostly for the troops benefit. He hoped that the Hierarchy's best would be good enough today.
Fifteen seconds later, the last troop ship had its ramp sealed up and the five transports carrying the QRF platoon lifted off. Through the open and shielded exit of the hangar, Victus could see that his people were the first to leave their ships followed closely by the Huntresses from the Destiny Ascension. A swarm of fighters and gunships formed up around the transports to provide air-support and escort.
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Human Embassy
The Citadel
Ambassador Udina's day went to hell with a single call from X-COM's current PR project. He heard the short and to the point summary and it was more than enough to make him want to slam his head through his desk.
Ethereal or worse, Exalt operation on the Citadel, mere kilometres from his very location. The mandatory screening of every human on the station as a consequence was going to be bad enough. If this was indeed an Exalt stunt as Veil worried, then he would have his hands full in explaining how and why a rouge Human group was busy stirring trouble on the Citadel of all places…
"I must advise that it's unlikely that we would get anything approaching the full picture unless we have boots on the ground during this operation." Veil was saying.
He was right, damn him. The SA would do the same, especially if there was a chance to get tech for reverse engineering and keep it out of the hands of the Citadel species. And the possibility of those gaining enemy Psions to experiment on – well, that actually might be a mixed blessing with the Ethereals back from the dark.
"I'll make the necessary calls. If you're asked, you're authorized to assist C-SEC and Council forces in dealing with this problem." Udina said while his hands flew over his work station. At the same time, he put his implants in overdrive and began calling in the relevant contingencies. Within moments the embassy would be on lock-down and he would have a direct link with Arcturus Station. The security detail would be gearing up and be ready to repel attack or for deployment if needed. A part of them might indeed see action if he could get authorization in time. On a second thought, while compiling the report from Alliance HQ, he put a call to X-COM too, beyond the contingencies he already activated.