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Operation: Mechanical Accelerant

Archived Council Logs – Councilor Sparatus' Private Suite

Councilor Udina: Sparatus, you've got some goddamned explaining to do.

Councilor Sparatus: Udina, I don't have the time to deal with-

Councilor Udina: I received a report from Spectre Williams telling me that not only is Commander Shepard alive, but that she is undercover on your confidential orders.

Councilor Sparatus: ...ah. That situation.

Councilor Udina: You don't deny it then?

Councilor Sparatus: To use your own words, I was attempting to mitigate and delay the political shitstorm that the news will cause.

Councilor Udina: ...do explain.

Councilor Sparatus: If I must... It was to be portrayed in three parts. First, fabricated information would have been created to indicate she was not killed, but rather so badly crippled she needed more than a year of intensive surgeries and recovery. Quietly, so as not to draw attention from her unknown attacker.

Councilor Udina: I see where this is going. You'd portray her first mission as the downfall of Cerberus, acting in concert with Spectre Severa in the Terminus, and during that mission she just happened to come across information on the Traverse attacks?

Councilor Sparatus: Essentially.

Councilor Udina: That may satisfy Council politics, the others won't believe it but they'll accept it, God knows that Tevos and Valern have Spectres running around on far less savory tasks. If we threaten to bring those up they'll keep their mouths shut. The Alliance, however, is going to explode. She was a hero, a martyr, that Turians were keeping her away from her people will send Terra Firma into collective apoplexy.

Councilor Sparatus: What do you suggest then?

Councilor Udina: Bring her here for a full press conference and public Council debriefing, as soon as possible. Get our story straight and published, then send her back to the Traverse under full Council authority before the Prime Minister or the Admiralty can do something stupid.

Councilor Sparatus: That would be a mess of epic proportions and you know it.

Councilor Udina: I fail to see another solution. The AIS owns Williams' ship, and there was no love lost between Shepard and Mannfeld. He'll find a way to leak the information in the worst fashion possible, at the worst time possible, and we'll lose control of the situation entirely.

Councilor Sparatus: ...likely true, I'll make the call.

Silent Witness

Voya'chi vas Xentha

Date: 12-07-2187

Location: Normandy II, Dholen System, Perseus Veil

Shepard leaned onto the conference table, speaking quietly to the room. It wasn't a full crowd for once, with just Liara and Zorah from her group, Miranda and Kelly for Cerberus, and then Cieran and myself, leaving the room mostly open and thus not nearly as annoying as it would have been otherwise. "To put it bluntly, the situation is a mess. No one is sure who is actually in command of the Migrant Fleet anymore, and nearly everyone is threatening to shoot everyone else they refuse 'lawful' orders. The Geth are, thankfully, staying out of it, but the pirate battle-groups are ratcheting up the tension just by being in system."

Cieran stirred from where he was standing beside me, the pair of us the closest to the door as usual. "According to a friend in the Eclipse fleet they're officially staying to remind the Admirals that they still owe Aria tribute. Unofficially, they're bluffing their asses off and aren't about to pick a fight. If the Quarians decide to make for the relay they're going to get out of the way."

"Doesn't matter." The Spectre shook her head, "Bluffing or not, just the threat of them engaging is causing more problems since its making elements in the fleet want to rally against outsiders pressuring them; it's causing tension in a situation that can't afford much more of that. Tali?"

The tall inbred princess was on Shepard's left, her body moving in time with her words to make her emotions clear. "My father is blaming the entire situation on Admiral Koris, and to a lesser extent myself and the crew of the Calaruush. We're all being accused of treason, and therein lays the problem. He can't attack Rannoch without the Civilian Fleet, and he certainly won't do it with Koris as its commander."

Meaning Zorah didn't think that Koris would live up to his promise to abide by the Conclave's decision. Considering that I'd checked Cieran's old will last night, and knew that Koris would in fact do such a thing, that said a lot about the idiot's state of mind at the moment. The stupid keshin was probably living in a deluded fantasy world where the Geth were the cause of everything.

"An Admiral under accusation of treason cannot call the Conclave," The princess continued, "So they're saying his motion to summon it is irrelevant. They're instead calling for a trial of everyone accused on the Rayya, to determine if we're guilty of treason or not."

Miranda sighed, "Allow me to guess, the Admirals are the ones who make that decision?"

"Yes." Zorah's voice was bitter. "My father will have to recuse himself, and Koris obviously won't be able to vote in his own defense, so that will leave Gerral, Auntie Raan, and Xen. We would need two of them to side with us to not be exiled, and even if that happens, we could still have a giant mess if they refuse to respect the Conclave's vote."

The Cerberus woman nodded slowly, drumming a few fingers along the table's wooden surface. "To what degree are we involving ourselves, Shepard? We hardly have the ability to involve ourselves in a conflict on this scale, and any outside interference would likely be taken badly even if we aided Koris in achieving victory."

Shepard exhaled slowly, as if physically pained, "...agreed, which is why we aren't going to let it get to that point. Based on a few information leaks coming off of the Alarei, the plan is pretty simple. They try Koris, Tali, and the crew for treason today, and use that to drum up popular support for the war. Give it a day or two to get everyone ready and hyped up, call the Conclave after that just to rubber-stamp the action and make it clear they aren't tyrants."

"The Elder Conclave." The inbred added detail, "Meaning only those Captains who are flotilla leaders may vote."

Cieran snorted, more or less covering up mine, "Let me guess, all in the Heavy Fleet?"

"More than two thirds of them, yes." Her helmet shifted as she nodded, "The Heavy and Scout fleets are divided into far more flotillas than the Civilian or Science fleets, for obvious reasons, so they have a significant advantage there."

"Which," Liara spoke, her tones resolute, "Is why we aren't going to let it get to that point as Kaya said. Victory in the trial keeps Koris in place, and by definition will have turned Xen and likely Raan away from the war. That would give them all of the political will they need to call the full Conclave and agree to the armistice. Zorah and Gerrel would be outnumbered militarily and decimated politically if they attempted to resist."

"True," Cieran crossed my arms over my chest, "But that relies on you convincing at least one Admiral to change their mind, and for Xen to keep her word. I don't see either of those as likely."

Shepard pursed her lips, "I've got a few ideas on that, and I'm actually going to be heading over to the Rayya soon to find out what I can. I'm still close to a celebrity from what I did in the Geth War, so hopefully I can sound out all three Admirals in question before things get started."

"And..." The princess spoke up once more, her voice both hesitant and wary, "I have a few ideas of my own. My people need... well, we've been living in stasis for nearly three centuries. Too many of them believe anything an Admiral says without thinking for themselves... they have to be shown what the alternatives are, realize what's at stake."

This was evidently news to Shepard and T'Soni, and they both turned to frown at their companion before Shepard spoke up again. "What are you thinking?"

The young woman's hands started to come together, then stopped as she forced them apart, her helmet turning to let her stare at me. "I... need to talk with you, Voya'Chi vas Xentha. Privately."

I blinked in surprise before I could stop myself, my tongue flicking over my lips as my brain tried to translate the babble she'd just uttered into actual words. "...what?"

"I need to talk with you." She repeated, not sounding quite as pathetic the second time. "Privately."

I stared at her for a long few moments, then rolled my eyes. "Not interested."

The inbred's fists clenched tightly. "I need to-"

"I," I interrupted her purely for my own amusement, "Do not care."

Glowing eyes narrowed before flicking to Shepard, who in turn glared at me before turning her own attention to Cieran in a clear request to order me to do it. Cieran crossed his arms, leaned back against the bulkhead, and closed his eyes. The Spectre didn't quite twitch angrily, but it was clear it was taking all of her willpower to avoid doing so. In turn, The unspoken permission made me smirk, and I rolled my head left to right to make my hair rustle loudly, the sound making Zorah tighten up even more.

It was entirely too delightful, and just what I needed considering the events of the last week.

"Chi." Shepard's voice was low and hard, "We aren't asking you to do anything, just to talk with her for a few minutes."

I flicked a hand dismissively and turned my nose up to them both, "That's a few minutes more than I want to spend with a gangly kolsha."

Zorah twitched. "I want you to-"

"I don't care what you-"

"-act just like this," she raised her voice to speak over me, "In front of the Admirals at the trial!"

That made me pause and blink, my tongue flicking out again as my brain once more ran right into a damned cliff facing. "...what?"

Her armored chest seemed to heave as she sucked in a breath, "I want to talk about it privately."

My eyes narrowed as I tried to work out what she was after. She wanted me to speak at her trail? And to amuse myself by annoying the inbred elders who'd be running the sham of a trial? She'd implied that she wanted to 'shake things up', to destabilize her people, a Xenthan on one of their precious colony ships would certainly do that much, even if I was in sealed armor. Was I supposed to be some kind of example? A horrifying sight of what they could turn into? Or some kind of moronic, hopeful display of someone who could live outside of a suit?

I considered her for several moments before shaking my head once again, "I am not a thing to be put on display, inbred. I won't be an example."

"That's not what we want." She shook her bucket back and forth, then paused, then seemed to wince. "That's... not entirely what we want. Five minutes of conversation in the lounge, please."

"No." I repeated once again.

Shepard spoke before anyone else could, her voice hard, "Chi, give her five goddamned minutes in the lounge. You can always say no and insult her some more after."

I was opening my mouth to once again tell them to fuck off, then I felt Cieran bump me gently with his elbow. It wasn't much, but it made me grind my teeth together as forced myself to think like he would for a few seconds. As fun as insulting the bitch was, they weren't going to give up on this, or they'd have already stopped pestering me. Better to suffer through five minutes with the princess and then tell her to fuck off than have to keep going in circles for twenty or thirty... and then maybe having to sit through the bitch's speech anyway.

And besides, Shepard had given me permission to insult her when she was done. That had potential all on its own.

"Your five minutes starts now." I informed her flatly, flicking my fingers to start a timer on my omni-tool even as I got my legs moving, heading for the elevator. There was a confused pause behind me, then heavy footfalls as someone moved to catch up with me, her long legs letting her do so with irritating ease.

She said nothing as we moved through the armory, the CIC, and then entered the lift, my finger stabbing the command to drop us down to the crew deck. "Four minutes, twenty seconds."

"Keelah, you're a bitch." Her breath came out hard enough to make her speaker hiss with the sound of it.

"You wanted me to help." I replied with a shrug.

"Admiral Koris wants it." She countered, "I wanted nothing to do with you."

"Well you've got four more minutes of my company to make the keshin's argument for him." I responded as we arrived, the doors swinging open. Her fists tightened up again, but she kept her mouth shut for the short walk to the lounge. While she asked the AI for privacy and for the door to be locked, I settled behind the bar and started making myself something strong.

Once we were in private, she resumed, "Admiral Koris wants you at the Trial to... remind everyone of what we could have if we just settled down and stopped fighting the Geth. That we could live without these stupid suits and masks."

My eyes narrowed, "I told you I'm not going to be put on display just to make some inbred's point... and don't try and guilt trip me into caring if a few million of your kind die. I doubt many of my people would give a shit if your entire race offed itself."

"Because of what?" Zorah spat in reply, "Something our ancestors did? Something we had no control over?"

"You had control." I bared my teeth at her, "Or are your kind not always boasting about having the largest fleet in the galaxy? The Hakar didn't have a proper empire until a century ago, and even then all you'd have had to do was join the Lady's realm as the Antivans and Anderfellians did. You cold have overwhelmed those slaving fucks and ended our torment."

Glowing eyes became slits, "We-"

"And now," I continued relentlessly, an old anger, the anger of a little girl taught our brutal history rolling out of me before I could even try to stop it, "You've sold yourself to a fucking warlord anyway, and done it to reclaim an empty fucking rock you can't even properly live on. You know what that fucking told my kin? That you don't give a shit about what happened to us, that you never did."

The bitch actually seemed to flinch. "That's what he wants you to-"

I snapped at her before she could continue, "I don't fucking care. You're a bunch of ancestor's cursed cowards, clinging to wrecks of ships and dead dreams like they mean more than your own culture, your own species. The sooner you all die off the sooner the galaxy can realize that we are the real Quarians, and you were just a bunch of pathetic, broken remnants."

The princess fell silent, not showing emotion, and that just angered me all the more.

"Look at you." I sneered, planting my hands on the counter, shaking my head to make my hair rustle. "Thinking you're brave and noble for defying your father. You're a fucking child, you all are. I won't help you, you spineless keshin, and I will never help your pathetic Flotilla."

More silence, more blank staring.

My fingers flexed, scratching the wood as I tried to force myself to calm down, to resist the urge to draw a blade and vent three centuries of rage and pain. Breathing hard, I glanced at my omni-tool, fighting to return my voice to something normal. "You've got one minute if you want to say something, otherwise fuck off."

Zorah just stared at me for thirty full seconds, time that I used to grab a bottle of brandy and a dextro soda, starting to mix the two together. I was ready to dismiss her entirely and call Cieran to see if his presence would help calm me as it usually did, when the bitch did something entirely unexpected.

She reached up, jabbed her fingers on the either side of her visor, and ripped it off.

I felt my mouth part slightly in surprise as her face came into the open. Grey skin that was so pale that I could see cybernetics running along one side of her jaw, and as she yanked the rest of her headgear back, I could see black hair trimmed to little more than a layer of fuzz over her skull. She had well balanced features and a strong jaw, and probably would have been attractive if she'd ever seen real light on her skin, or actually let her hair grow into a proper mane.

As it was, she looked like a gawky, unhealthy teenager who'd gotten her head shaved after a bad bet.

"Is that brave enough f-for you?" She spoke, betraying her nerves in the way her voice quavered.

I regarded her flatly, the surprise having dulled my anger somewhat. "Why?"

Her pert nose flared as she inhaled, her eyes seemingly widening as she did. "...does it buy me five more minutes?"

One of my fingers tapped on the wood as I tilted my head, considering. This hadn't been anywhere in my list of possible situations... the bitch had roused my curiosity, if nothing else. "Depends on what you're going to do with them, princess."

"I..." She inhaled again, swallowed, then pushed on. "Want a drink. And advice... and keelah, stop calling me that."

My finger kept tapping, my claw beating a slow rhythm as I watched her... then I reached over, grabbed a second glass, and started to mix another drink. Zorah walked over to the bar and settled into a stool, her eyes still wild, still looking around as though she couldn't believe what she was doing.

She started to reach for her drink when I finished it, paused, then started to work at the glove of her suit. Systems hissed as she disconnected it, pulling it free, revealing more pale skin and claws trimmed down to nubs. Her look of fascination only deepened when her bare skin wrapped around the cool glass, lifting it so that she could take a small measure into her mouth.

Then she surprised me again by not coughing or otherwise reacting beyond lowering her cup, staring at it, and then lifting it to take a longer pull.

"What part of that rant," I spoke in between sips from my own glass. "Made you think I'd give you advice?"

"Nothing." She said quietly, setting her drink down and looking at her hand, rolling it around. Thick needles were still visible where they penetrated her wrist, ready to pump her full of whatever her suit thought she needed to keep going. "But I'm asking anyway. What would you do?"

I narrowed my eyes at her, "You already fucking know what I'd do."

Zorah closed her eyes, "You wouldn't show up to the trial, and you'd tell Admiral Koris to start landing ships on Haestrom anyway. You'd... imprison or kill my father and the other Admirals when they arrive on the Rayya, to stop them from being able to do anything."

"Obviously." I drew the word out insultingly, channeling a bit of Cieran's caustic humor. "Did you actually want advice or did you just want to babble about crap we both already know? I'm going to start charging you for my services if you don't get on with it."

Her upper lip twitched away from her teeth, "Keelah, you are such a bitch. Why did I think this was a good idea?"

That opening made me smirk viciously, "Three centuries of inbreeding does tend to lead to mental defects."

A muscle in her cheek twitched. "There's less of you than there are of us, that would make you the ones who inbreed."

"Not if you include the Antivans and Anderfellians." I scoffed, "And whatever exiles are smart enough to join us and actually live a real life."

"A real life." She retorted, "Serving a vicious Terminus warlord."

I rolled my eyes at her, "Better three years in her army than a lifetime of servitude to a group of rock obsessed maniacs."

There was a scowl. "You're as obsessed with the past as we are, otherwise you wouldn't hate us so much."

It was my turn to twitch in displeasure. "Yes, but you don't see me giving into my urges to kill every pilgrim I come across. There's a difference between being unstable and being an idiot, and right now your kind are demonstrating that they're both."

She glowered at me, "You just... admit that you're unstable? Just like that?"

I stared hard at her, trying to convey how much of an idiot she was for being surprised, then pointedly took a long sip from my drink rather than reply verbally. Denying that I was mad was stupid, dangerous, and a disservice to Cieran. Without him I'd have been insane, utterly unable to control my urges... that or I'd be long dead.

...like the animal you know yourself to be...

My fist clenched hard around my glass, and I threw the rest of it back before checking the time. It wasn't anywhere close to her second five minute round, but I suddenly wanted nothing more to do with this entire conversation. "You have thirty seconds to actually ask for advice before I leave."

Zorah frowned a little, but blew out a breath finished her own drink before shaking her head a little. "What would a woman of my status wear to a trial like this, if it was happening on Xentha?"

"A callisho." I responded flatly. "In the colors of her vhaka, unless you want to declare yourself of no family, in which case you'd wear all white. You'd bear weapons to show your intent to fight the charges, with violence if necessary, and any trophies you've earned to display your status."

Her fingers shifted as she brought her omni-tool up, a quick search bringing up an image of the appropriate attire. "Four and a half hours to get one of these made... I... thank-"

"Don't." I shook my head, the annoyance coming back, "I didn't tell you anything you shouldn't already bloody know, and I'm still not showing up at that waste of time."

"...and you don't care if we all die." She said, reaching down to pick her glove, sighing as she started to pull it back on. "That seems like a horrible way to live your life, even some of your anger is justified, it's millions of innocent-"

"And we're fucking done here." I growled, not about to start a conversation on morality with a stuck up inbred princess. Not when I knew the only reason she'd be bringing it up would be to try and guilt trip me into showing up or at least tacitly helping more than the crumbs I'd given her... and all three of my companions would explode with anger if I drank enough to get me through that conversation without killing her.

Zorah pursed her lips as I stalked around the bar, but made no move to stop me as I slapped at the controls, leaving her to get her mask and helmet back on alone. Stalking the short distance to the crew quarters, I entered to find no one else present, the glow of the ship's core the only light in the room. Mewling in displeasure I made my way to to the bed I shared with Cieran, taking off my boots before curling up beneath a few blankets.

I was bringing my omni-tool up to send him a message when the door slid open, revealing Shyeel's yawning form as she came in. She blinked a bit in surprise at seeing me, then wandered to the room's sole table before dropping into a chair. "Meeting over already?"

"The princess dragged me off to have a private chat." I replied, rolling onto my side so I could see her properly, "It was as aggravating as it sounds."

Shyeel sighed, "Please tell me she's alive."

"Of course she is," I muttered, "Shepard would have killed us if I'd shot or stabbed her."

There was a quiet snort as she rolled her eyes, "Well, look on the bright side; we don't have anything else to do until we get back to Omega."

I hummed in reply, flicking my eyes to the door, "Where's the big idiot?"

"Medical." She replied, "Shifting down a cast size and getting another round of injections. Cieran still up in the meetings?"

"As far as I know." Rubbing my face in the pillow, I tried to get comfortable. I wasn't precisely tired, but I also had no desire to speak with anyone else today. Or at least, no desire to speak with anyone outside our ourselves. "How are the wounded?"

Shyeel rolled a shoulder, "About as you'd expect. Trena is already up and around, so is Vasir even though she shouldn't be. Think they're both in the cargo bay tinkering with crap. Shaaryak is still in bed, still seems like she'll be good long term but she took a lot of damage. Tough bitch."

I felt... conflicted about that. I didn't really want the bitch to end up dead, she was one of us, an older member of the team than even I was, and Cieran would not have handled it well. But she was such an uptight kolsh... and I didn't care for the fact that I couldn't read her at all. She was like a cold, disapproving statue of a Batarian woman instead of being an actual person, and I had absolutely no idea how Cieran could tell what she was thinking.

Or what the fuck he'd seen in her in the first place.

"How are you doing today?" Shyeel asked a few quiet minutes later.

"I'm alive." I reported flatly.

She flicked her attention to me, sighed, and shook her head. "You want me to lay next to you?"

"No, not tired." I pursed my lips, then shrugged, "Pull the table over. Cards or that Human game you found."

The scarred woman nodded, rising and getting to work. A few minutes later I was upright in the bed, the pair of us staring a tiny board, a pile of white stones in front of me, and black ones before her. We took our time, choosing our positions carefully, trying to encircle one another, and more than an hour passed with almost no conversation.

Cieran arrived as I was trying to figure out a way to avoid losing a giant section in the next dozen moves or so, looking tired.

"Who's winning?" He asked.

"Like you have to ask." Shyeel snorted, leaning back as I growled at her, "How'd the meeting go?"

He rolled a lazy shrug, walking over to bat my knee out of his way so he could sit on the bed. "About as you'd expect. Tali said she got something out of you, and also that she's just as sure you'd kill her if you could get away with it."

I pursed my lips, "That sounds about right."

His head shook as he reached up, rubbing at his left temple, "She had to calm down Shepard after that, she wanted to confront you. Think she views Tali as a little sister or something, expect an invite to a spar in the near future."

A grimace stole over my face. I hadn't been all that impressed the first time we'd seen the Spectre alive and in action, but whatever Frankenstein had done to her had amplified everything. She wasn't all that skilled at hand to hand, but none of us could keep up with her regardless. Too fast, too strong, too irritatingly able to take a punch and not give a fuck. Cieran and Lawson were the only ones who could even give her a mild work out, and only because of their own respective skills and upgrades.

I liked a good fight, but being used as a punching bag didn't hold any appeal. "I'll avoid her."

"Probably smart." He sighed as I shuffled backwards, shoving a pillow aside and sitting cross legged. When her merely lifted an eyebrow, I pointed firmly at my legs. The idiot male sighed again, then turned and laid down, using my cross shins as a pillow. "In other news, the trial should be done in six or seven hours. Depending on how that goes, we'll probably be heading back to Omega to figure out what we're doing next."

"Hmm." Shyeel hummed, "Let me guess, sitting around until the old fish's people figure out the IFF?"

"That," His eyes closing tiredly, "Or we get to ride along on the first suicide mission of this campaign."

I blinked and looked down at him, my hands playing absently with his hair. "There another Collector base we don't know about?"

His chin twitched in a negative, "Shep wants to go to the Citadel to talk with Sparatus in person, and to check out a few things Leviathan related. Tevos is apparently acting weird as fuck, and the goddess alone knows what Udina is up to."

"So?" I asked, "That has nothing to do with us."

"No, it doesn't," He agreed, "But apparently Exo-Geni is trying to bring a lawsuit against us for illegal colonization on Novgorod."

"You're fucking kidding me." Shyeel groaned, "Everyone on the colony was dead, if they were the corporate sponsors then they were responsible for security right?"

A pale hand rose and waved, "No bloody idea. I need to call the old fish when we get back and get a hold of whatever contract they were issued, hopefully before someone can make it vanish. That may also necessitate an agent deliver our case to a subcommittee, or even the Council proper."

It was my turn to groan, "They want to use that as cover to slip the undead bitch onto the station, don't they? Disguise her as a bodyguard for Shaaryak."

Cieran grimaced without opening his eyes. "Nynsi can hardly walk Voya... it's either Ayle or its me, we're the only ones that Sparatus might set aside time to meet personally and argue our case. The Benihi case is still settled, and Freedom's Progress never filed a grievance with the Council or the Alliance, so we've got no legal worries."

"Unless a Justicar ends up on station." Shyeel muttered darkly.

"Yes." Cie muttered irritably, "Unless a Justicar is on station. Regardless, Ayle's on Novgorod right not dealing with shit, so we either go there and take her place, we go with to the Citadel, or we use the next week to come up with a better idea."

I closed my eyes, hearing my hair rustle as I shook my head. "I miss the old days... things were so much simpler. We hunted people down, we killed them, and then we got paid."

My lover snorted. "Got a message this morning, that splinter group of the White Tigers are trying to reform. Ghai was thinking of sending Trena's recruits plus our trainee Lancers after them... and I was wondering if you'd want to go with. We'd have to stop there for a few days to repaint the ship and get things settled anyway."

That made me snap my eyes open, my heartbeat accelerating at the very idea, looking down to see a little smirk on his lips. "...who do I have to take with?"

"Preferably me."

The two of us, hunting down idiotic gang members through Omega's lower levels? Stalking them like prey? I shivered and leaned down, smirking as my hair fell over my face to tickle his own. "Consider it a date."

The Shepherd

(Kaya Shepard)

Date: 12-07-2187

Location: Liveship Rayya, Dholen System, Perseus Veil

Considering how many drugs and herbal supplements she was hopped up on, I was stunned that Tali was able to walk around, much less argue in her own defense. Then again, evidently being high as a kite had gotten rid of all of her nerves, because she'd made it through about thirty seconds of the opening speeches before interrupting.

"None of you care about the Quarian people!" Tali's hands were planted on the railing in front of her, the pose partly dramatic, partly necessary in helping to keep her upright. She'd added civilian clothes to her suit, all in the dark purple and light gray of her reik, something she'd called a callisho. It had broad, billowing sleeves, a loose blouse style top, and an almost ragged looking skirt, leaving much of her suit and armor hidden away.

The other accused had done much the same, the men wearing cloth vests, thick scarves, and loose pants over their own suits, and it was definitely making a statement against the utilitarian equipment that everyone else in the broad room was wearing.

"This useless trial is proof enough of that!" She continued, half-shouting though managing not to slur her words. "You're not accusing us of endangering the fleet, you're accusing us of endangering your war!"

Admiral Gerrel stirred angrily from his lectern, "The accused was not called upon to comment at this time! Be silent or face removal!"

Tali shook her head furiously, almost fell over, then recovered, "I will not be silent! That's all of you want from me, from this! To make us shut up and stop saying things you don't want people to hear!"

"Tali!' Admiral Raan barked from her place in the center of the three 'judges', "Please, wait for your turn to be called."

From the way she stirred, she was about to keep going, and it was only Koris placing a hand on her shoulder that prevented her from continuing. The various Admirals stared at her for a few more seconds, as though making their displeasure known, and then from his place above and behind the others, her father resumed the opening speech and the list of accusations being leveled against the accused.

Beside me near the back of the chamber, Liara stirred and dipped her helmet to tap against mine. We were the only aliens present, and had only been allowed entry as a 'thanks' for the number of Geth I'd killed back during the fight against Saren. Even so, we'd been bluntly told to stay in the back, to keep our mouths shut, and to keep our armor and suits sealed at all times.

"I don't think she's in any shape to be doing this." She murmured. "What was she thinking, taking her helmet off like that? She could have died, she could still die."

"I.. think she wanted to make a point." I replied softly.

Her tone became disbelieving. "To Chi?"

I shook my head, "To herself."

Liara's weary disapproval came through our bond, and I smiled slightly before wrapping my fingers around hers. We sat in silence as Rael'Zorah finished the charges, mostly consisting of endangering the Fleet by conspiring with the enemy, with a few lesser charges of aiding and abetting for the crew of the Calaruush. Then he officially recused himself due to his relation with Tali, indicated that guilt would be determined by a majority vote of the remaining three admirals, and invited Admiral Gerrel to begin the questioning.

That one of the Admirals, the judges, was also acting as the prosecution, made my teeth grind a little... and from the way that the packed crowd shifted uncomfortably, this wasn't exactly normal for Quarians either. Which was definitely good for us, as I'd told Koris when he'd arrived. I'd done a lot of questioning in the time I'd had, and I'd realized that Tali's dad had shot himself in the foot.

By refusing to gather the Conclave at all, not even the Elder Conclave, until after the trial, the only people attending said trial were the crew and officers of the Rayya. Oh there were a few VIPs from other ships, but they were vastly outnumbered by the locals, most of whom had sounded both confused and uncertain as to what this was about at all. Koris had a middling reputation as a Geth-lover, but also someone who cared deeply about his people and did his best to keep the standards of living up despite the Civilian Fleet being on the bottom of the resource-allocation table, but Tali...

Tali was a goddamned hero so far as most people knew.

She'd fought beside me against a rogue Spectre and his army of Geth, had been recognized by the Council itself for her bravery. Then she'd returned home with reams of data on the Geth, everything we'd learned fighting them, what we had taken from Heretic outposts, and what little Legion would share. Then she'd lead two separate operations to Haestrom in preparation for this war, been badly wounded both times, and most of the marines seemed to consider her the only reason any of them had gotten out alive on either occasion.

Accusing Koris of treason was unusual but not especially unexpected.

Accusing Tali of treason had deeply unsettled everyone to a degree I didn't think the Admirals understood.

Gerrel didn't do himself any favors either. He spent a good ten minutes simply repeating everything that Tali's dad had already said, just in a more militant, macho style that didn't seem to win over anyone watching. I'd spoken with him, much as I'd spoken with others, and come away thinking of him as a soldier's soldier. He probably made a fantastic fighting Admiral, but as a leader of a people... to him, everything was a military problem to be resolved with military solutions.

Tali herself made a few more moves to interrupt only to be held back by Admiral Koris, who seemed utterly content to let his rival keep digging his own grave.

Once he'd finally finished, Rael'Zorah again spoke, his deep voice booming without any help from speakers. "The accused may now speak in their defense."

"Oh?" Koris replied, crossing his arms behind his back. "That is most kind of you, High Admiral. Are we allowed to speak the truth or will you attempt to shut us up if we go off-script?"

A rustle seemed to go through the room, as if everyone was tittering but doing so inside their helmets, not letting the sound out. Zorah was too composed to show any emotion in his voice, but the way he waved a hand told me he was already annoyed. "You may say whatever you wish in your defense."

"Then I will begin by asking a simple question." The Admiral turned slightly, regarding each of the others of his rank in turn, "How does establishing peace with the Geth endanger the fleet?"

Gerrel snorted and sounded as if he was sneering, "Because the Geth are inherently untrustworthy! They'll betray us and kill us all, just as they did during the rebellion."

"Will they?" Koris challenged, "You know this for a fact? You've been personally betrayed by the Geth in your lifetime? Seen them break their word, throw aside treaties?"

"They killed billions of our people!"

"And we," Came the retort, "Purged billions of unique programs in retaliation. Did you never bother to ask why the Geth let us retreat? You know the history as well as anyone here, we couldn't have fought off a determined band of Volus pirates, they could have exterminated us easily."

Raan stirred slightly. Of the Admirals I'd spoken with, she'd been the cagiest, the one who'd given me the least. Koris' assertion that she was submissive to Zorah and Gerrel aside, all I'd read from her was that she was tired of this entire affair and wanted it over with. Worse, she'd easily been the best politician of them, avoiding all of my questions to try and determine why she wanted to attack Rannoch... or if she wanted to at all. "Where are you going with this, Zaal?"

Arms spread as he shook his head, "The Geth chose to let us live, decided that they weren't going to commit genocide. Yet here we are, with two Admirals, leaders of our people, saying that we will exterminate a species that merely wants to be left alone! That even talking with them, trying to find a way for us all to live in peace, is grounds for immediate exile!"

Tali's Aunt seemed to wince as as the crowd shifted in extreme discomfort. Koris noted that, seized it, and plowed on ahead, "Look at us Rael, look at your daughter! You always say that we are the rightful keepers of the Quarian society, yet she had to ask an Xenthan psychopath what she needed to wear to an official occasion such as this! You want to build her a house on Rannoch, rebuild the old Federal government, do you even know how?"

"He is not a judge," Raan shook her head, "Leave him out of this, Zaal."

"You aren't a judge either, Auntie." Tali spoke up again, still holding onto the railing to stay up, and her voice was starting to slur. "You're an Admiral. Admirals shhouldn't be judging people."

"Miss Zorah," Gerrel said, "Are you.. intoxicated?"

"No." Tali shook her head woozily, "Had to take supplements, antibiotics, drugs. Took my mask off on Shepard's ship. I'm starting to regret that."

A stunned silence seemed to fill the room, even as I rather hoped that Miranda wasn't listening to this. She wouldn't appreciate her Normandy being called my ship.

"Tali." Rael'zorah rumbled, leaning forwards as much as he could from his position. "Why in the ancestor's names would you... someone send for a doctor, at once!"

The marine at the door nearest me promptly dove through it, and I heard him shouting orders before it clicked shut behind him. Tali didn't even seem to notice, instead responding to her father's question, "Chi didn't want to talk with me, kept insulting me, ranting about how we aren't really Quariansh. Had to impress her to keep talking, figure her out more. She's a bitch... but she washn't wrong. We're not... not Quarians."

He shook his head, "Tali, you're drugged, you don't-"

"Look at us." She laughed, but there was something bitter and caustic to it, something that I would never have imagined her capable of.

"We have preserved enough!" Rael snapped, any signs of impartiality gone. "We are the rightful descendents of Rannoch, regardless of what a bone-wearing psychopath might think!"

"Are we?" Tali shook her head, "Are we, father? They're sadistic... and crazy, but they remember more. Then there's ush... We're more like machines than like people... Geth have more life than we do. All of us just focused on making it to tomorrow alive, fixing our old shhipsh, not actually living. Just doing the same thing over... and over... and over."

That seemed to make him snap, "That is why we must retake Rannoch! So that we can have a home, so we can end this exile!"

Tali shifted, almost staggered, then asked, "Why Rannoch?"

Another period of absolute silence fell before Raan found her voice, "Why... Rannoch? What do you mean?"

Unfortunately that seemed to be the end of Tali's endurance, and she could only shake her head. Koris moved beside her, letting her lean on him as he continued on in her staid. "Why Rannoch, Shaala? Why not Haestrom? Zekkes? Valrush? If I dropped you on any of those planets, could you tell the difference between it and Rannoch?"

More unconformable shuffling filled the room, but Raan retaliated at once, "Of course. Reclaiming Rannoch is the difference between our grandchildren being able to live without these suits, and generations of adaptation."

"The Lady Warlord still possesses the old archives." He seemed to sigh, "We could buy them easily enough and you well know it. How many thousands, how many millions of us would die taking Rannoch back, Shaala? How many grandchildren will be alive to see a sunrise without a mask?"

Raan said nothing, but bowed her head slightly, as if physically pained by the question. Gerrel gave her what looked like a sharp glare, then turned his attention to the silent Admiral at the other end. "Xen, you haven't said anything."

I glanced at the last woman and tried not to grimace. My... talk with her had been interesting, and not in a good way. She had the same mad scientist vibe that Mordin gave off, but without any of Mordin's ethics. To her, the Geth were little more than annoying pets that didn't have the grace to stop moving long enough for her amuse herself by vivisecting them. She was against attacking Rannoch not because she cared about the ramifications of killing a species, but because she thought the fight too easy to lose... and more annoying, something that distracted from her experiments.

Daro'xen shrugged, "What is there to say? This trial is both a sham and a waste of time. Koris may be a bleeding heart who thinks that machines somehow have rights beyond what we gave them, but he is correct in his realization that trying to retake Rannoch back is not worth the risk. Without the pirates aid we have no greater than a sixty percent chance of succeeding."

"Xen!" Zorah all but spat, "Military concerns are not a part of this trial!"

The woman spun on a heel and stared hard up at him in return, "You're trying an Admiral for treason, fool. If Koris is attempting to keep you from martyring us all by reaching an armistice with the Geth, I feel obliged to assist despite our different politics. Fight the Geth in another three centuries, when we actually have the numbers or allies to win such a battle."

His fists tightened, but he seemed to hold his temper in check. "...we have wandered far from the subject of treason."

Koris spread his hands, "Nothing I have done put any member of the fleet in serious danger. Every member of the Calaruush volunteered for the mission and knew the danger, as did Tali'Zorah. Our attempt to broker a peace with the Geth was an effort to save countless Quarian lives."

The two men stared at each other, then Rael tipped his head slightly, "Do the accused have anything further to say before judgment is given?"

Tali was clearly down for the count, and Koris shook his head. The assembled crew behind him simply stayed silent as well. After a few moments, Zorah nodded, "The tribunal will now render their decision. Admirals?"

Xen and Gerrel both flicked their fingers more or less instantly, then turned to stare at Raan, who still stood with her head lowered. She remained like that for more than a minute, and once again Tali's father stirred.

"Admiral Raan," Mixed anger, irritation, and something darker colored his voice. "Your vote please."

She seemed to suck in a slow breath, "Treason and exile are rather final, Admiral Zorah. I must think on the matter carefully."

"It is not complicated." Gerrel growled, "You either think they betrayed the fleet by conspiring with our enemies, or they didn't. Decide."

"I will decide in my own time, Admirel Gerrel." There was something hot in her voice when she replied. "Not yours."

The man rocked back on his heels as if he'd just been slapped, but he kept his mouth shut as she lowered her head once again, occasionally tilting it back and forth as if debating with herself. A good ten minutes of silence followed, the only sound the rustle of the crowd. The door beside me opened at one point, admitting a doctor who quickly darted to where Admiral Koris was holding onto Tali, using his omni-tool to check her suit's readings after getting her laid out on the deck.

After the fifteen minute my patience and worry snapped, and I stood up, Liara quickly moving to follow. The marine near the door moved to block me, and I hissed at him through my helmet.

"Tali is a member of my crew, and she's sick." I informed him shortly. "I'm going to check on her."

He shifted a little, "Ma'am, please-"

I moved forwards until our boots were nearly touching, entirely in his personal space, "I'm going to check on my friend. Move or I'll move you."

The marine wilted and backpedaled. No one else made to stop us as we moved down the narrow path between bodies, mostly I thought, because everyone was on edge and entirely focused on Raan. The sole exception seemed to be Zorah, who was as focused on Tali's prostrate form as I was.

"How is she?" I asked the moment I was close enough, careful not to get in the medic's way.

"She overdid it on the drugs." He replied without turning around, "Did your ship's doctor prescribe it or did she self-medicate?"

"Self." I replied, "I don't think she wanted to bother the doctors."

The man growled a little, "Typical young woman... her suit is already distributing more chemicals into her blood to try and even things out, but it's also trying to fight off her reaction to taking her mask off. Your ship have a clean room?"

I frowned inside my helmet, "There's an isolation unit in medical, why?"

"Airlock is closer than our own facilities, and easier to get to without clearing several halls worth of people." He replied simply, "We have to get her out of her suit before it over or under compensates and kills her."

"Liara?" My bondmate was already bringing her omni-tool online, contacting Miranda and telling her we needed medical prepped. "We'll need a stretcher to move her."

That made Tali stir slightly, "Strech... no, fine. I can walk."

"Miss Zorah, you're high on two different herbal immuno-supplements that you really should not have mixed." The doctor easily stopped her from trying to get up, "Please stay still."

Tali tried to rise anyway, and I reached down and held her in place without any real effort. "Tali. Stop."

My voice got her to cease her efforts... that or she just ran out of energy. Either way she went limp, though her breathing remained even and the doctor didn't sound any alarms. A few minutes later a couple of medics showed up with a stretcher, and we got her onto it at about the same time that Raan finally came to a decision, a soft chime sounding and drawing everyone's attention back to the Admirals.

Rael'Zorah stared at his lectern... and said nothing. He went on saying nothing for long enough that the crowd started to rumble audibly, not bothering to contain their impatience. Shaking himself slowly, he reported the results, "The... Admiralty Board has dismissed the charges of treason against Zaal'Koris, Tali'Zorah, and the crew of the Calaruush."

Quarians evidently didn't applaud, but there was a great deal of stamping of feet and low roar of approval.

"The charges of dereliction of duty by select members of the Rayya's crew well be handled by this ship's Captain." He continued, his voice flat. "This trial is adjourned."

And with that he turned away, not so much as looking at his prone daughter, and departed out of a concealed door. Gerrel gave Raan what I thought was a vicious expression, then turned and followed the other man. Tali's aunt stared after them, then reached over and touched Xen's arm, motioning for her to follow. The two descended from the platform, the mad scientist collected Koris and all but dragged him to a corner, while the last Admiral moved to stand over Tali as the medics heaved her up.

"Tali." Her voice was exhausted, as if she had been the one on trial.

"Auntie." Her niece replied, "Thank you."

The woman stared down, the tilt of her eyes almost sad. "...you're welcome. Go, Shepard, take her to your ship and treat her. We will... discuss her position in the fleet later, I doubt that Han will desire her to remain on the Neema."

While Liara moved to guide the doctor and medics to the Normandy, I regarded the Admiral. "Will this stop the war?"

"I don't know." She replied, her voice lowering to something almost inaudible. "I don't know Shepard. Rael and Han won't give up, not after this, and Zaal... Zaal has always been too hopeful, too optimistic for his own good. A Conclave is as likely to vote for war as it is to vote for peace."

Something in her voice told me more than she was saying. "... you still want to fight, don't you?"

"If there is a way to avoid fighting for Rannoch, I will of course accept it at once." Her head twitched left to right, "But in a way, Xen and Han are both right. Geth are not people, not organics. Saren and Sovereign seized control of them before... they could do so again. If your assertion that they are returning is true, the Geth are a threat that must be dealt with."

"They can defend themselves." I retorted.

"You're certain of that?" She pressed, her voice still very quiet. "So certain you can risk seventeen million lives upon it? When they could not even defend themselves against their own kind?"

I... kept my mouth shut after that, suddenly realizing that I wasn't dealing with a weak willed individual at all. She, unlike any of the others, was considering all of the angles, all of the consequences, and it was exhausting her. Worse, her fears weren't exactly unfounded. All we had to go on was Legion's assertion that the Geth would fight the Reapers and wouldn't fall victim to them once again... this right after the True Geth had forcibly overwritten a good portion of the heretics, effectively mind-controlling them.

If it could be done once, it could be done again, and if they settled on Haestrom... they would be on the front lines. It would be a fight they would have more allies in, perhaps, but a fight where thousands or millions of Quarians could die regardless.

"I think you made the right decision today." I found my voice as my thoughts sorted themselves out, "Exiling Koris and Tali would have made a mess of things, and at least now you have an even balance between the two points of view."

"Perhaps." She said simply. "If you could, please take Tali with you when you depart, and keep her safe."

I frowned, "You don't want her here?"

Raan shook her head, "Tali is... has become an important symbol to many, but she isn't ready for that burden. She is too young, too emotional, and right now fiery passion is not what we need. Logic, projections, and probabilities are more likely to sway the captains of the Conclave than rousing speeches."

"They worked here." I pointed out. "Didn't they?"

Another shake of her head. "This was an unusual and uncertain situation, filled with people who supported her already. Those at the Conclave will want hard facts presented concisely to know how to best represent their crews' interests... and having any aliens around at all will likely confuse the situation further. I will be asking the Steel King and the others to depart with the Black Fleet while we debate as well."

My arms crossed as I exhaled, "All right... but I think you should call her, when you can."

"Have her call me, when she awakens." Raan said instead, "I will make time for her, I always have."

"Unlike her father?" I guessed.

The Admiral of the Scout Fleet turned away, speaking as she moved to follow Xen and Koris, probably to discuss what would come next. "Do not judge Rael harshly, Shepard. The man bears wounds that cannot be healed."

"Parents should care for their children." I responded quietly.

She didn't answer, just continued walking. I watched her leave, sighed, and then turned to head for the Normandy... wondering all the while if any of these people would be alive this time next week.

Codex: Arcturas

Arcturus station is one of the most important strategic choke points in the galaxy, for the simple reason that whoever owns it can isolate Sol from the rest of the Systems Alliance. As eleven of the Alliance's twenty billion citizens still live on Earth, a full blockade of this relay would, in a single stroke, nearly remove the Human race as a strategic factor.

The station that would become the SA's government complex was built with a defensive purpose in mind, and the entire solar system has become little more than an armed camp. At least one full Alliance fleet is present at all times, supplementing the station's own considerable defenses. In addition to its powerful element zero cores powering overcharged shield networks, the core station is surrounded by a dozen additional battle stations that are effectively battle-cruiser sized mass accelerators.

Six additional such stations, supplemented by massive asteroids fitted with hangars, defensive guns, and repair facilities orbit the systems' two outgoing relays. As a second fleet is stationed above the Earth at all times, reinforcements are mere minutes away, and classified battle plans indicate that the Alliance believes defending Arcturus is equally as important as defending the home-world.

End Operation IV: Mechanical Accelerant

Not quite the cataclysmic everything blows up end to most operations, but wheels continue to spin throughout the galaxy and our protagonists have to deal was best they can. So, Tali isn't technically exiled but still isn't sticking around, Shepard is wanted on the Citadel for media day, and Cieran and Voya would just as soon find any excuse to not care.

We'll have a couple of interludes to set things up for the next operation, which itself will heavily start balls rolling to be resolved in AR:VII... once that's done, we'll be entering the final act of this particular story.

Please read and review, criticism is welcome, flames not so much, as usual. Reviews are my lifeblood as a writer.. every-time my email goes off with a review it makes me want to write more, so please take the time to leave one. Guests can leave them as well, and it only takes a minute, so please. Even if it's as simple as "I enjoyed it, please continue."

Thanks, Kat

Review Responses:

AngelForm - First, because the situation has changed. The Traverse has grown more dangerous as smaller pirate groups leave the Terminus for the Traverse, and the Admiral wants to make sure they're going into colonies invited rather than simply showing up. Second, because Ash is Ash, reclaiming her family legacy and serving the SA honorably is a huge part of her personality. Third, because for combat agents you're not likely to find many people with the required skills outside of military organizations. Further, letting them stay in said military also gives them a wealth of advantages.