I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE BELOW CHARACTERS 'CEPT THE WANDERER AND ALL OTHER CHARACTERS / NAMES BELONG TO BIOWARE
Holy, sorry about the update time, life has been busy. I have actually completed part 37, 38 and 40, but I just need to format them.
O +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 0
"The man of the hour has arrived."
Stepping out of a white gleaming transport shuttle, Dominic Solis casually strode through the courtyard into the waiting arms of security and immediately ascended the raised platform at the center of the hall. He had short black hair, a dark blue suit and a smug expression placed on his sharp features. A man with confidence.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said in a booming voice, pausing to gather everyone's attention. Within seconds he was within earshot of every being within the building.
"Just a few short months ago, the Eclipse group was on the brink of destruction due to some poor decisions from some unsavory individuals, and the work of the councils loyal dogs."
Snickers passed through the crowd. No doubt he was talking about Spectres.
"When our 'great leaders' failed to get a grip on the rapidly changing circumstances, I knew someone had to take action, so I rose to the challenge." He raised a fist. "As one man I was helpless, however with the support of my fellow comrades in arms and all of you here this evening, we have recaptured control of the Eclipse from those who would oppress us and reforge the true spirit of the Eclipse mercenary group."
Cheers.
"No longer will we squander our men shipping illegal sand and element zero all over the galaxy, no, that job is for the pirates and the filthy beings the inhabit the outer reaches of the terminus systems..."
As a side note, his coup d'état was anything but peacefully. Himself and those loyal to him had stalked and slaughtered all higher-ups of the Eclipse including those loyal to them. It was messy. The red sand issue was interesting though, perhaps they were ready to liquidate all of their inventory just as Shepard showed up and wiped the base out.
"Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we are moving toward more legal ventures..."
A cry rose from the crowd. He put out his hand to silence them.
"I understand many of you are worried how profit will be gained. Do not worry, we have a plan. After our red sand inventory was.." He cleared his throat. "eliminated..."
Ha. He was right.
"...we chose to build ourselves up back from the brink of dissolution, and find another way to carry on and do what we do best. By expanding our business into the public sector, we have taken what our competitors have not. Protection and enforcement in the public spaces. With more people, come more work and more profit. Not only have we cleaned up our image, but also earning the reputation of a trustworthy and reliable service. Our profits have actually risen 250% over the last two months, compared to the last six. The Eclipse mercenary group is becoming a name unto itself..."
Hm. This was QUITE the development. Out of the major mercenary groups in the galaxy, there were the Eclipse, Blue Suns, Blood pack, Grim Skulls and the Tiburón Rojo. The Grim Skulls were mostly wiped out by Seran Arterius. The Tiburón Rojo were a group based on Earth, but still in its infancy. Blue Suns specialized in "private security" and the Blood Pack on drugs. From what he was hearing the Eclipse were moving out of "private security", the blue suns' business, and moving out of the drug trade, the Blood Pack business, in order to peruse a new type of income. Because of this, each mercenary group now had their own exclusive area of speciality, leaving each group with no competition in their chosen field. It was risky and dangerous, as the former Eclipse group had been making billions from their ventures all around the market. What would they gain from doing this?
"..and with a trusted name, we are planning to release our own line of armor and weaponry, further expanding into a market none of our competitors have gone before. It will be risky, I understand, but I believe... I know, that will be triumph and go where the Eclipse have never gone before."
Applause. Dominic Solis gave a polite bow.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen I ask you to enjoy yourselves tonight, for new winds are blowing, and this change could very well mean a change for all of us. Life and death it seems, is nothing but a statistic behind the great Eclipse that shall cover this galaxy." He gave a bow and exited the stage amid the clapping of those around him.
Wait...What?
That last line worried him.
.
"Mr. Farren?"
The Wanderer spun around to face the speaker. It was an Asari, elegantly dressed and looking quite beautiful. She looked slightly surprised to find herself staring into emerald green eyes.
"Yes..?" he said, inquisitively.
"The... the private showing will start soon. Please follow me."
Nodding toward Shepard he followed the Asari toward the back of the atrium, through double doors and down a flight of steps. At the end of a long hallway stood a large metal door next to a security checkpoint.
"As per safety and confidential purposes, we ask that all omni-tools or any other electronic devices capable of recording be left here outside the demonstration room. You can reclaim them after the demonstration is over." Said the Asari.
"Of course."
He removed his omni-tool, earpiece, and stepped through an array of scanners. After gaining entrance he was ushered into a room with at least a dozen other men. Quickly glancing at the others present, his mind brought up information about each of them and reminded him that these persons were not normal. Nearly all had committed atrocious crimes to reach their current status. Had he been able to bring a weapon to the party, he would have found no excuse not to blow the brains from their skulls right after Shepard had found what she wanted. The galaxy would be a batter place without them.
Glancing around once more he took a look at the room itself. The room itself was more of a bunker than a showroom. Surrounded by rock and metal, there was just one door in and one door out. Mr. Solis had taken measures to secure his valuables.
"Gentlemen."
All of them turned to the sound of his voice.
"I thank you all for being here tonight for a special sneak preview of the firepower you have invested in. I assure you will not be disappointed by the toys you are about to see here in the next few moments."
He snapped his fingers and at once everything moved. Bright lights illuminated the room, an assistant took off the mercenary's jacket, while another started typing commands into a console. The walls themselves were revealed to be holographic sensitive panels. They were now surrounded by screens. One of the walls revealed itself to be a clever combination of polarized reinforced glass and holograms that separated them from the weapons.
"Now then, shall we begin?"
.
Shepard was not a party person.
Ok... Not a FORMAL party person.
Trying to act causal and maintain a acceptable level of small talk with rich obnoxious folk was not her idea of a good time. All the fake smiles and insincere compliments made her want to gag. While trying to avoid everyone while simultaneously not appearing too distant, she cautiously weaved her way through the crowd as she hoped to somehow find a way to get past security.
After making a couple of rounds around the complex she had determined the only way to gain access around the sections restricted by guest was to get to the security room and gain the appropriate codes from there. Unfortunately the security room was locked and several security personnel lay within. But, as always, she had a plan.
First up, she needed the required supplies. She hit the bar and asked the bartender for a drink. Nothing too strong, but enough of it to cause some damage. Next, she went outside. Causally making her way over to one of the unused transport shuttles when no one was looking, she popped open the maintenance door to the engine and pulled a select few wires out of the engine cooling mechanism and forcefully sealed shut the dump valve. Closing the small door, she entered the drivers seat and started it, typed in a few commands to disable internal failsafes and walked back to the party.
Something that Garrus had once shown her, she had left the transport shuttle running as it dumped its heat and waste products into itself. It was only a matter of time before it suffered an engine meltdown and the ensuring explosion would attract security and bystanders alike. A most excellent diversion.
Waiting patiently near the security room door, she brought the drink to her lips, but did not sip. Instead she waited for security to come streaming through the door. Seconds later, in a bright flash of light and billowing smoke, a transport shuttle in the lot outside burst into flames and exploded. Naturally everyone at the party flocked to the scene outside, forcing all security to try to contain the situation. The door next to her opened and out poured at least five mercenaries. Quickly slipping in after no more personnel came running out she quietly made her way to the room.
.
"... Our next item is the Gyro v2 missile, shoulder fired and capable of flying a hypersonic speed, it delivers it payload faster than you can hear or react to it. Can be dumb fired or with a fire-and-forget mode, it tracts its target through an optical sensor placed at the front of the missile." Dominic Solis rolled his sleeves up as he handed one of his assistants the weapon.
"I suggest you all shield your eyes." he said before commanding the mercenary to fire.
The Wanderer reached into his suit and donned an antique pair of mirrored aviators.
The missile then fired, streaked fast and low, and then detonated upon impact as it struck a structure of metal and wood. There was a brilliant but brief flash of light, and then a explosion. The wood that had not been disintegrated, had burst into flames, and the metal had warped and shattered.
Superheated shock wave caused from rapid air expansion. Not bad.
.
Shepard quietly walked down the hall until she reached the security room. The room was dark, but the light from dozens of monitors lit up the room enough to move around. Assuming the room was empty, she made her way around the screens...
A cough was heard.
Shepard jumped back into cover faster than it took legion to calculate the first two hundred digits of Pi. Peering around the corner she saw a lone mercenary sitting in front of a computer.
That was too close. She had foolishly let her guard down.
Removing one of her high heeled shoes she crept up to him and clubbed him in the back of the head and caught his body before the mercenary slumped over. Gingerly keeping him upright she quickly transferred the buildings security codes on to her omni-tool.
No doubt the code transfer and login would be logged... They would find out what she had done... Unless...
She poured half of the drink into the computers CPU unit and watched it sizzle and fry. The screen blacked out. She then splashed some of it on the mercenaries face, wiped her fingerprints from the glass, set it right beside the unconscious body and left.
Blaming it on a new guy who wakes up with vodka on his lips and a blasting headache? Not bad.