I heard "rescue pods". Rescue. I am getting old, but not that old. John thought as he made his way toward the bridge. If he was mistaken, he was outright disobeying an order from a combat captain. Being his friend will not get him out of that mess.

What is happening anyway?

The final door slid apart, revealing four people inside the bridge – Liam, Neil, Nicole and Tom. The two flight officers were wearing skin-tight EVA suits with a breathing mask, while Nicole was wearing her "life vest" (qualified for 24 hours of individual activity), similar to the one he was wearing. Liam stood out from the group, wearing his signature black armour (but without his battle-red glaze). His figure was silhouetted by the bright screen in front of him, showing a fully-equipped Eclipse mercenary. Behind the screen was the bridge window, showing two enemy cruisers and an approaching interceptor. They were surrounded, outgunned and crippled from the start.

"… do not play games with me, human!" The figure in the screen screamed. He couldn't quite place the accent, though it was quite familiar...

"There is no game. This ship is legally mine, obtained from Operation Pegasus." Liam said. His hands, placed behind his back, flared in red. John understood the decade-old sign. Spinning around, he jogged towards the escape pods as best as he could in his suit.

He smashed into Alexander at the first bend.

"Operation Pegasus! Do you remember?" He spoke before Alexander could. He was wearing his usual N-Combative Ballistics Armour, one with the wide visor. He didn't react other than mumbling 'you forgot to say sorry'. He clearly didn't remember.

John sighed. "You're younger than me. Alright, the one where we were attacking terrorists…"

Alexander's eyes flared. "And lost Joanne and Vladimir?"

Memories never get old.

"We've got similar situation. Horizon's reverse stealth can jam most sensors. Three enemy ships – an interceptor, already on its docking course, and two cruisers. We're facing the Eclipse. We need a team. How many tactical cloaks do we have?"

"Four, excluding mine. Me, Kisa… do we need two hackers?"

John thought briefly. "Best to. Kem's handy with a shotgun. Hand-to-hand?"

"Gage and Nekros. Let's not get to guns."

"Alright. Good luck. Give me a signal using the Channel 187 echo 6."

With that, John left, hoping that this time, it wouldn't be the same as Operation Pegasus.

…

Jackson hoped that Lock understood. If he did, then they had a chance of returning home. If he didn't then… it will be Pegasus all over again, except worse.

"That ship was the source of my income! It's the only ship in the whole f-king galaxy that can outfly the f-king patrols! Now you turn it into your own. Thief!" The figure screamed. That man had the better position and superior firepower, but Jackson already knew he won. A leader incapable of self-control was useless. Best thing to do now was to piss it off and buy his team more time.

"I assure you that a thief is not my profession, but yours."

The figure shuddered with anger, and put up its middle finger at the camera. Jackson inwardly smiled; only humans used that as an insult.

"Have you ever considered a profession in comedy?" Jackson asked.

…

The last thing that Kem expected when sitting anxiously inside an escape pod was a call to battle. Yet here it was, with Lieutenant Keniev handing him a Tactical Cloaking Unit. It was different from the one he used before. Small and rectangular, it had a clear casing as if to brag about its internal marvel – carbon-nitrate laced core, platinum wiring, "Aqualius" battery technology plus light amplifiers.

It was a beauty. He couldn't wait to take it apart. He noticed that Shema intentionally avoided looking at it, clearly grumpy about being left out.

"Do you normally fiddle in battle? We don't have time. Put it on." Lieutenant Keniev growled. He quickly complied, connecting the TCU with his suit. He watched in wonder as his whole body disappeared in his sight, leaving a shimmer behind.

"I would rather not talk to thin air." Lieutenant Keniev spoke again with a note of impatience. Again he followed, his body flashing back into view.

"Meet at the central chamber with your combat and hacking gear. You have three."

"Ye-"

"GO!"

Kem sprang up and ran.

…

Neil turned around in his chair and signed that something was up. Using his omni-tool, he wrote it out – INTERCEPTOR REQUESTING PEACEFUL DOCKING. Jackson thought for a moment, not listening to the torrent of profanities given off by the screen, and eventually nodded.

"… I want my F-KING SHIP BACK. Your crew can go away on escape pods, I don't f-king care. But I want YOU as my prisoner. GET THE F-K ON BOARD OR ELSE I'll BLOW THE SHIT OUT OF YOU AND ALL YOU A-HOLES." The nameless figure hissed, then disconnected. Jackson noticed two different emotions mixed into his scream – one of psychopathic anger, but also one of personal vendetta.

Why does he want to kill me? Liam thought. He'll regret it.

He held his breath and counted to three… and saw no more.

…

SSV Horizon VI, Natural Language Log:

17:02.57 – Docking request approved, releasing security locks. No updates on hull breach.

17:03.11 – Security locks released, unidentified vehicle docking. Releasing safety EMP. No updates on hull breach.

17:03.50 – Stealth systems reversed prematurely, releasing heat at 75% capacity. Unidentified vehicle docked. Static field balanced. Mass Effect core offline. Artificial Gravity online. Navigation systems offline. Equalising pressure. No updates on hull breach.

17:04.32 – Mainframe security overridden. Full access granted to Hackham, Neil. No personnel in escape pods. No updates on hull breach.

17:04.37 – Safety log offline. Weapons systems online. Communications systems online. Rerouting power to main guns.

17:04.40 – Pressure equalised. Decontaminating airlock. Left gun charge at 30%. Central gun charge at 10%. Right gun charge at 10%. Missile pods loading. Gunner room sealed.

17:04.43 – Decontamination overridden. External personnel access registered. Airlock open. Left gun charge at 60%. Central gun charge at 15%. Right gun charge at 10%. Left missile pods 1 and 2 loaded. Gunner registered; Nguyen, Jason. Gunner registered; Lock, John. Manual update on hull-breach; contained.

…

Nekros did this before, and trained for infiltrations much harder. So he was appalled at the security of the Eclipse ship. Although all five of them did have top-end stealth gear (long-life invisi-cloak, signal jammer by Kisa and, according to Kem, heat signature cover), that didn't explain how they managed to access the ship's mainframe without getting detected.

Correction – without anyone resisting. He thought as he looked at the lifeless body of the human mercenary, pushed to the side of the room. It was a rather large room, filled with wires and large computers. A loud hum echoed off the walls, which added to the mysterious, dark atmosphere. Frankly, he didn't know why he was in here. Gage and Alexander was outside, probably trying to stealthily take over the ship's weapons.

He pulled out his Typhoon, though he couldn't see it. He probably wouldn't get to fire it for this mission, but if he did, he could wreak havoc with this gun.

"Access point is ready. Miss Sorac, are you ready?" Kem whispered from one corner of the room. Kisa didn't move, still hunched over her omni-tool, breathing mask on and TCU off.

"Miss Sorac?" Kem whispered again.

"Hey, Kisa. Kem's asking if you're ready." Nekros said, passing on the message. She flinched in surprise, and nodded in his general direction. "Kisa says that she's ready."

Suddenly, the door slid open. Nekros, retracing his training, shot his hand out to grab the new threat. There was nothing there.

"Sorac! Where's Hidinors and Aigus?" The air spoke with Alexander's voice. Nekros grinned.

"I'm here, and Kem's finishing up." Nekros replied.

"I finished. Shema should have access to the engines and the weapons now." Kem said as he walked towards them. He, too, had his TCU off. Perhaps it was a techy-thing to turn off your cloak while working. Either that, or they were trying to save power.

"Turn on your cloaks. We've got a situation."

Nekros reached behind and pressed the button on the TCU. After few seconds of loading, the outlines of himself, Kem, Kisa and Alexander was drawn on his helmet's visor. He eyed the battery as it ticked away faster… 68 %. They didn't have long.

…

Jason watched nervously as the interceptor docked with the larger cruiser. Being the left-hand gunner, he had the clear view of the enemy target. Unfortunately for him, firing at either the interceptor or the cruiser will kill Cap and the infiltration team, forcing him to put his finger off the trigger. The other cruiser was out of his view, but he didn't worry – Lt Lock probably had it.

He heard some shouting from the outside door. The crew were sacrificing their safety to give him a distraction.

Thank you everyone.

"What's the channel?" The female Quarian whispered.

Okay, everyone except her.

She had locked herself in the room with him and Lt Lock. For what purpose, he did not know. Probably fear – what else?

"187 echo 6" Lock whispered back.

He decided to ignore her the best he could.

…

Gage grunted softly as he slit another Eclipse's throat. This one was either a female human or an Asari. He gave a quick glance at his blade – red blood.

It didn't really matter.

This ship much larger than the previous one, meaning that there were many more places to hide. Their mission seemed to be getting easier and easier, and everything was going smoothly, excluding the fact that L.J. was taken prisoner.

He managed to get a brief glimpse at him – bound with biotic handcuffs, wearing only the liquid coolant wear and being held at a gunpoint, he seemed quite helpless. Kisa had almost jumped out at the sight, but Alexander had managed to stop her.

Lieutenant Keniev made a level-headed order – hack first, rescue later. "Besides, getting control of all three of their ships get our Captain back anyway." He had said. Gage personally wasn't so sure.

Again, it didn't really matter.

He pushed the thoughts about Emilia out of the way and sneaked forward. He stabbed another one in the lungs.

…

Kisa watched in horror as Liam fell to the floor. She had hacked into the ship's security cameras, which revealed that Liam was taken to the bridge to be beaten by the Eclipse figure.

Hack first, rescue later. They had full control over the three ship's systems. Why didn't they go for the rescue? Why? Why…

Lieutenant Keniev was talking quietly into the comms. Kem was reviewing the access points, Officer Hemmingway was guarding the room's entrance, and Nekros was off to rig up an explosion.

Nobody paid attention to Liam.

She couldn't help Liam alone. She hated herself for being so weak.

But I can't just watch him.

Liam tried to stand up, but was only kicked in the face. He fell again.

I can't stand this.

She picked up her gun and stood up. Somebody grabbed her shoulder. She spun around, eyes watering. "I'm going. I don't care if I can't help."

Keniev smiled. "Trust him. I've known him longer than you."

How could he be so mean? How? What kind of friend watched as his friend died?

She wanted to punch him. For the first time, she wanted to punch him hard. But his expression was so casual… She sat down, holding head in her hands.

"Look now. Liam's finished." Keniev spoke again. Reluctantly, she raised her head at the small screen once more.

"You done now?" Liam's crackled voice came through the speakers. The tormentor was tired from the beating and didn't reply. Liam slowly stood up, spinning his arm to check the joints. His face was bloody, and one eye black, but he smiled. Kisa felt a chill trickle down her back. The smile was… deadly.

"Are you going to surrender?" Liam asked again, his body glowing blue. The tormentor pulled out his pistol and pointed at Liam's face. Suddenly, the five others in the room hunched over, and a sickening snap echoed the room. They all fell lifelessly to the floor.

"Do you really think I'm stupid? I only ask once. Don't worry, they're only incapacitated." The tormentor's gun was pulled from his grasp, landing far away and out of reach.

"No, I expected this. I was hoping… f—k." The last remaining Eclipse soldier spoke, and removed his helmet. Kisa drew in a sharp breath.

Underneath the helmet was another Liam.