The trek across the Krylkock's homeworld had taken several hours including bits where they had to use the Firewalker to get across chasms; they hadn't encountered any other non sapient life forms since arriving on the planet.
"How much farther is it Sdres?" Drakus asked as they walked up a steep hill echoing what Shepard was about to say.
"Not much farther now." Sdres said turning his head briefly.
"Care to be a little more specific?" Grunt asked as they reached the top of the hill and found themselves facing a ruined city around the same size as the city of London.
"Does this answer your question Grunt?" Sdres said.
"Yes, actually it does." Grunt said.
"You see any more of those lifeforms around?" Drakus asked looking around the city.
"No, though if we do see them I'll be sure to let you know." Sdres said teleporting into the city, Shepard put a hand to his earpiece.
"Sdres, encase you've forgotten, we can't teleport." Shepard said agitated.
"My apologies but my species can't teleport more than one person, that person being the teleporter more often than not." Sdres said.
"I guess we're walking then." Drakus shrugged.
"Where abouts in the city are you?" Shepard asked.
"The centre of the city, I'll give you directions from where you are now." Sdres said and ten minutes later they were in the city alongside Sdres.
"What are you expecting for us to find here?" Shepard asked.
"The elders of the Krylkock, what you would call Government, constructed a large, underground bunker if the race ever faced extinction." Sdres explained and Shepard looked confused.
"Aren't the Krylkock a Warrior race? What need would they have for Government?" Shepard asked.
"It's simple really, to impose order and respect on the chaos off combat and war." Sdres said.
"Sounds like a slogan." Drakus observed.
"Because it is, that was what the Krylkock elders sworn to do when they joined the ranks, I'm not saying that they where weaklings more often than not the elders killed they're predecessors in order to take they're place." Sdres said.
"And they where okay with that?" Shepard asked.
"The only thing that gets you respect among my people Shepard is power and ruthlessness, which was the only semblance I had of my old self whilst I was indoctrinated." Sdres said.
"If you know that then....." Shepard started.
"I was an elder, the youngest to be given that honour; I was the one that gave the idea of the bunker to the other elders." Sdres said.
"If you don't mind me asked, how long do the Krylkock live for?" Drakus asked.
"We live just as long as the Krogan do." Sdres said simply. "However that is only when we have experienced combat, the more combat we experience the longer we live, those who chose not to fight typically live for 500 years."
"The longer you fight the longer you live, sounds like the Krogan and Krylkock were made for each other." Shepard joked.
"Indeed, which was what made the indoctrination process so difficult, the Reapers initially kept us in a stasis field similar to the Collector's sweeper swarms until they decided to use us but when they realised that they were killing potential agents in this manner they started using as assassins and shock troopers." Sdres said.
"Enough about this, where's the bunker?" Grunt asked impatiently, Sdres looked around and pointed to a large, heavy looking pile of rubble.
"Drakus, Grunt, help me move that rubble." Sdres said simply and the Krogan nodded, with they're combined strength the aliens where able to move the rubble quickly kicking up some dust as they did, when the rubble was cleared they saw a large doorway in the ground which Sdres opened with ease.
"The bunker is down there I take it?" Shepard asked and Sdres nodded. "Lead the way." Shepard said and Sdres complied, they walked down the many steps before eventually finding a large chamber filled with skeletons of Krylkock and artefacts.
"I would've thought you'd include food supplies for your people." Drakus observed his eyes looking over the artefacts. "Some of these artefacts look valuable as well."
"The Krylkock can go for years without food due to our unique digestive system." Sdres said casually approaching the artefacts when his eyes darted on the last one. "This is odd."
"Is there something wrong?" Shepard asked walking up; Sdres motioned to the other artefacts.
"The other artefacts are of Krylkock design, simple and elegant, this on the other hand doesn't belong here at all, in fact I recognise the design, and it's a Reaper indoctrination device." Sdres realised with horror in his voice.
"How did that get down here?" Drakus asked.
"One of the other elders must've been indoctrinated." Sdres said his eyes darting to another artefact. "There, that's a recording device typically used to record meetings of the council maybe that will give us some answers." Sdres activated it and another Krylkock, the same one from the ship, appeared speaking the Krylkock's native language, whatever it said it appeared to trouble Sdres deeply.
"What did that thing say?" Grunt asked.
"That was Wrund, the eldest elder and the most respected, he spoke about The Reapers as if they where gods and other such nonsense." Sdres said shaking his head. "How did I miss it?"
"We all make mistakes, especially those in a position of power." Shepard reassured him. "Can we take the device? It's the proof we need that the Reapers where indoctrinating your species."
"Of course, thing is you'll need me to translate it into English and I doubt that the council will be too pleased to see me." Sdres said.
"We'll see what happens." Shepard said as Sdres took the device. "Normandy, we're ready for pickup."
"Aye, aye Commander, the shuttle will be there in a few minutes." Joker replied as the four soldiers emerged from the bunker and minutes later they were on the Normandy.
"Joker, take us back to the Citadel ASAP." Shepard said approaching the bridge.
"Aye, aye Commander, ETA is 1 day." Joker said piloting the ship towards the Mass Relay, Shepard left the bridge and was planning on spending the rest of the day in his quarters when.....
"Tidoses wants a word with you Commander." Kelly said briefly looking up.
"Thanks, any messages?" Shepard asked.
"No." Came her simple reply.
"Is there anything else?" Shepard asked.
"Zach's in the med bay because he thought it would be a good idea to challenge Dsrondo to an Arm Wrestling contest." Kelly said with amusement in her voice, Shepard had to admit he found that amusing as well. "Mordin hasn't come out of the lab since shore leave due to embarrassment on his part and Lantar wants a word."
"Thanks Kelly." Shepard said walking towards the armoury, he entered it and saw Jacob, Marcus and Ashley working on upgrades for some guns. "You guys seen Sidonis?"
"He's working on Garrus' sniper rifle at the other end of the room." Jacob said.
"Thanks Jacob." Shepard said and Jacob acknowledged it with a quick salute, Shepard walked towards the Turian. "Kelly said you wanted to talk?"
"Irony is funny sometimes, isn't it Commander? One minute I'm being threatened by this very rifle the next I'm working on it." Sidonis observed. "But yes, Kelly is correct." Sidonis said putting the rifle down on the desk.
"What is it?" Shepard asked.
"As I'm sure you remember I went to Fade seeking an escape from Omega and Garrus, with my new life in front of me I want to leave my old one behind and that involves Fade's death." Shepard's eyes narrowed in surprise.
"Fade's been in C-Sec custody for the past five months; he's currently serving a life sentence for fraud and trafficking." Shepard said.
"True but he's being released on a technicality, I want to stop him before he makes anyone else disappear." Sidonis said.
"We're heading to the Citadel anyway so we'll take care of it." Shepard said.
"Thank you Commander." Sidonis said as Shepard walked away and left the armoury, he entered the elevator and went down to the crew's quarters, when he reached the second deck he saw a satisfied looking Dsrondo waiting for him.
"Commander, I understand the mission on the Krylkock homeworld was interesting to say the least." Dsrondo said.
"Could say that, what's this I hear about an arm wrestling contest between you and Zach?" Dsrondo laughed.
"I like the kid but he made the mistake of underestimating my strength, luckily for him I went easy on him otherwise he'd be fighting with one arm." Dsrondo chuckled. "His sister was apparently the brains of the siblings."
"What makes you say that?" Shepard asked.
"She bet 500 credits on me!" Dsrondo said. "Anyway I'm heading down to engineering, are you coming with me?"
"No, I've got to talk to Tidoses and then I'm heading to my quarters." Shepard said stepping out of the elevator and Dsrondo got in the elevator, he made his way to the forward batteries and entered the room to find Garrus alone. "Garrus, have you seen Tidoses?" Shepard asked.
"She told me that she was going to talk to Drakus about something, if you want I'll let her know that you want to talk to her." Garrus said looking up briefly.
"No need for that Garrus." Tidoses said making Shepard jump. "Sorry for the wait Commander I had to talk to Drakus about him becoming a SPECTER." Garrus' mandibles flared in surprise.
"Drakus is being considered for the SPECTERS? What next will the Batarians be invited back to the Citadel?" Garrus asked getting a chuckle from Tidoses.
"Actually he and Williams are in the final stages of becoming Council SPECTERS, but that doesn't matter, I need to speak with Shepard, in private." Tidoses said leading Shepard away from the Forward Batteries and to the area that Kasumi occupied during her time aboard the ship.
"Okay Tidoses, we both know we're heading to Palaven to help your father but now what?" Shepard asked.
"The Turians want to assist you in the battle against The Reapers; problem is they need your help with something." Tidoses said.
"And that is?" Shepard asked.
"They want the matter with my father dealt with as soon as possible given his high ranking." Tidoses said and Shepard nodded.
"At least that will tie into her loyalty mission." Shepard thought as Tidoses walked away, Shepard almost followed her out when a familiar sound came from behind him.
"I was wondering when you were going to show up." Kasumi said folding her arms.
"Normally I'd ask how you got on the ship but considering who I'm talking too I shouldn't be surprised." Shepard said.
"I got on during your second trip to Ilium, figured the crew could use the skills of a master thief again." Kasumi smiled.
"You do know this mission is far more dangerous than the Collector mission, right?" Shepard asked.
"I live for danger." She shrugged. "And I'll try not to die for danger either."
"All right, you can stay, just try to stay out of the other crew's way until the meeting I'll have after my next meeting with the Council." Shepard said.
"At which point I'll make my grand return, I wonder if Jacob's still available." Kasumi muttered and Shepard shrugged.
"You'd have to ask him yourself." Shepard answered.
"And I will, at some point." Kasumi shrugged.
"No confrontations with Legion either, I know you two have a rivalry going on but try to set it aside." Shepard said and Kasumi reluctantly nodded. "Now I can finally go up to the Captain's Quarters."
"Commander, Drakus and Grunt are having a REALLY destructive sparring match in the cargo hold, can you take care of it?" Joker asked and Shepard groaned.
"I'm on it." Shepard muttered leaving room.