A Matter of Time and Space

RAISE HELL

Traffic Control, C-Sec Academy, Citadel – 00:12 GST – 25th June 2185 CE

Vereen was finding it a little hard to concentrate over the noise of the battle.

She'd spent the last few minutes desperately searching Traffic Control's vid log for any clue as to who might have been in the docks at the time of Valni's abduction, a job that wasn't made any easier by the fact C-Sec were trying to storm the room. Fortunately, thanks to Valni's krogan friend, they weren't having much success. In fact, judging by the yells of "Is that all you pyjak's got?" and the cries for back-up emanating from the narrow stairwell it sounded like Chaill was fighting every officer in C-Sec.

Vereen tried to focus on the data on screen, while her friend, Rui, was checking the manifests of the ships docked at the Citadel. That was when he noticed something.

"There's a turian ship making preparations to leave its mooring on the Presidium docks," he said. "It's the Imperium. It's has diplomatic clearance, I can't stop it."

"With the lockdown in place?" Vereen said, having to raise her voice over the sound of the battle. "Who's the Imperium registered to?"

Rui checked the ship's details. "Haliat Armory."


The asari in Eclipse armour strode onto the Imperium's CIC. She had just escorted Teelia D'Veyra back to the Armali Council ship, the Sword of Keres. The asari envied her.

The design of turian ships had never appealed to her; they were too angular, nothing like the elegant lines and graceful curves that made asari ships the envy of the galaxy. Not that she would have to suffer being on the ship for much longer. The alliance between Eclipse and Haliat Armory was a marriage of convenience – Haliat Armory were already partnered with Armali Council by the time Eclipse discovered what the slaves were being sold for – but it was only temporary. Armali Council was about to get a new CEO. When Tusanna Cathropiln developed a conscience, and tried to go back on their deal, she had to be removed. Soon, Teelia D'Veyra would replace her as CEO. Eclipse would control Armali Council, and, in time, take over Haliat Armory as well. Eclipse would have the monopoly over the Collector technology. Armali Council and Haliat Armory were fools to think Eclipse would ever share power with them. Armali Council may have needed Eclipse to help capture all those people, but that all changed when Jona Sederis discovered Armali Council's plan. That's why Eclipse negotiated an alliance with the two companies. And soon the tech the Collectors supplied would give Eclipse – and Jona Sederis, especially – total control of the mass relays. And through them, control of the galaxy.

And I will be at Jona's side, the asari thought. Together we'll rule everything. The power we'll have will be supreme.

Her thoughts were distracted by one of the turians manning the communications station. "Ma'am!" he called out. "We have a problem. Traffic Control is denying us permission to leave the Citadel."

The asari scowled behind her helmet. The turian fools from Haliat Armory were forever trying her patience. She moved over to the console. "What do you mean?"

"Traffic Control is telling us there's a lockdown in place and denying our departure request."

"Use the diplomatic codes," the asari ordered. "Override the docking clamps."

The turian inputted the clearance codes and a dull clunk signalled the docking clamps had disengaged.

"We're free," he said.

The asari nodded. "Good. I trust there are no more problems?"

"Two of the guards haven't checked in."

"What? Where?"

"The Brig. It's the guards sent to transfer that woman down to the hold."

The asari cursed. "Why didn't you lead with that? Bring up the security feeds!" she barked.

The man tapped at his console. "The cameras on the security level aren't functioning, but there is a recording just before they went down…"

A holographic screen appeared and displayed a recording taken from the corridor on the security level and showed Severan being dragged towards the elevator by two guards. Her body was limp; she looked unconscious.

Suddenly she started to retch and cough. The guards stopped and one of them grabbed her by the shoulders.

That's when Severan attacked.

She unleashed a flurry of blows on the men, each one performed with unnerving precision, and within seconds, the men were brought to their knees.

She was pitiless. When both the guards lay still on the floor, Severan quickly unlocked her handcuffs, took the guard's weapons, checked the thermal clips, and then, almost as an afterthought, shot out the cameras.

The asari turned away from the screen, her whole body glowing with biotic energy. "Get a squad down there," she snarled. "Do not let Severan off that deck. If you see her, shoot to kill!"


Valni rummaged frantically through the draws and cupboards in the storage locker, scouring the 'personal effect' cabinet in a desperate search for the one item that could save her life. After a minute of fruitless searching, Valni finally spotted it, and her heart soared.

"Found you!" she exclaimed as she pulled out her omni-tool.

She reattached the device to her wrist and activated the start-up sequence. The omni-tool sprang to life and an orange interface surrounded her arm. Valni immediately opened the comm-link. She held little hope of getting a signal, and sure enough the link was being jammed; there was no way of communicating with her team. Valni expected it, but the disappointment still hit like a blow to the chest. She swore under her breath and gripped her weapon tightly. At least she was still armed.

Then a noise caught her attention.

Valni moved to the doorway and peered into the corridor. The elevator opened and three armed turian men, flanked by two LOKI mechs with pistols, swept onto the deck.

Valni ducked back into hiding. She was outnumbered and outgunned, with no means of escape.

Except

Valni activated her omni-tool, and searched for Lia'Vael's prototype hacking mod. It might give her the edge she needed. She waited, biding her time until the mechs had moved into range. She was going to have one chance at this.

The squad moved closer, moving past the two fallen guards lying unconscious in the corridor, and approached the storage locker. Valni could hear their footsteps growing louder. When they were just outside the door, she activated Lia'Vael's Area AI Hacking mod. An orange flash enveloped the LOKI mechs. They froze, the mech's armour alive with electrical energy.

"Disengaging friend/foe protocols," the mechs announced in oddly feminine voices.

Then they opened fire on the turians. The men hardly had a chance to react.

When the gunfire had stopped, Valni poked her head out. Three men lay dead on the floor and the mechs were standing over them, their weapons lowered, as if awaiting further orders. Lia'Vael's mod was working just as intended, it seemed. The hacking signal was being constantly refreshed. The mechs were still under her control.

Now she had allies.

Valni smiled.

"Thank you, Lia'Vael."


The skycar sped away from the Presidium towards the docks.

Zaalia, Timoleon and Erata were trying to listen to Vereen talking on the link from Traffic Control. Though it was hard to hear her over the noise of fighting in the background.

"It's a ship called the Imperium," Vereen yelled. "It's owned by Haliat Armory."

"Thanks, but Mallene Calis already spilled that little nugget of information," Zaalia said.

"How'd you get her to talk?" Vereen asked.

"Oh, Erata was very persuasive," Zaalia admitted, glancing at the asari engineer behind her who was busy checking her pistol. Mallene Calis had been reluctant to answer questions initially, but after Erata's interrogation techniques came into play she quickly proved to be quite forthcoming. Zaalia had never seen Erata lose control before. The change in her was almost frightening. Gone was her cheerful smile, replaced instead by a look of cold determination that suggested anyone who got in her way would experience her full fury. And having watched her unleash her full fury, Zaalia wasn't keen to get on her bad side.

"Mallene's with C-Sec. We handed her to a squad of officers," Zaalia said. Which she's probably quite grateful about, she added to herself.

"The Imperium has left the docks," Vereen shouted over the battle cries. "I couldn't stop her, but I might be able to slow her down. If I create false hazards and misleading traffic signals, she might not get a clear exit corridor."

"Do whatever you can," Zaalia told her. "We're heading to the Threads of Fate. The Imperium won't leave Citadel airspace!"


Valni bounded up the stairwell heading towards the Engineering Deck, the alarms ringing in her ears. By now every guard on the ship would be on alert. She had lost the element of surprise.

She emerged from the stairwell and spotted a camera in the ceiling and took it out with a single shot from her rifle.

"Intruder alert! Intruder alert!" an automated voice intoned.

Valni cursed. The shot had no doubt alerted security that she was on that level, but at least they wouldn't be able to track her movements easily. Valni wished she had her tactical cloaking equipped, or a kinetic barrier, but that had been removed from her jacket when she was unconscious. At least she had her omni-tool.

The two LOKI mechs followed obediently, still in the thrall of Lia'Vael's hacking mod.

She came to another intersection and glanced down the corridor. A turian emerged from a side door, looking around for the source of the gunfire. He turned away from her. Valni ducked back behind the wall and activated another program on her omni-tool.

An exact duplicate of her appeared at the other end of the corridor. The guard raised his weapon at the duplicate. That's when Valni charged. And her double charged, too.

The guard opened fire, the shots passing through Valni's duplicate as she rushed towards him. At the last second, the guard thrust out an arm to punch Valni's double, but Valni was already leaping into a flying kick. She hit the man in the back, sending him flying forwards and hitting the ground hard. A swift punch to the back of his head ensured he wouldn't get up again. Not for a while, at least.

Valni looked around; the fight didn't appear to have alerted any other guards.

The door at the far end of the corridor was marked 'Engineering'. Valni approached cautiously. Flattening herself against the wall, she let the two mechs take up positions in front of the door, and then punched the lock. The door opened and a hail of gunfire ripped into the mechs.

Valni watched the bipedal robots reduced to twisted lumps of metal, and waited. Whoever was in engineering would have to change their thermal clip at some point.

The gunfire ceased and Valni chanced a look into the room. Four turian guards, supported by three LOKI mechs and a gigantic YMIR heavy mech, were guarding the drive core.

Valni ducked back into cover and raised her omni-tool. She had no idea how many mechs she could hack at any one time. With a silent prayer to the Spirits, and a fervent hope Lia'Vael's hacking skills were as good as she hoped, Valni stepped out and activated the mod.

An orange flash enveloped the LOKI and YMIR mechs.

All four mechs stood rigid for a moment; the YMIR heavy mech announced its status in a deep, electronic voice.

"TARGETING ERROR."

The turian guards looked around in confusion. They tried to raise their weapons, but a second later, the YMIR mech wound up its minigun and cut them down.

In the silence that followed, Valni chanced stepping out into the doorway. The mechs didn't shoot at her, and their white armour was still emitting a faint orange glow.

"New targeting orders acknowledged," the LOKI mechs said.

Valni breathed a sigh of relief.

She rushed to the main console. The layout of the room was similar to the engineering deck on Arcadias and much of it was familiar to her. She tried to call up the drive core power controls… but nothing happened. She tried a different console, but it was the same result. Every console had been code-locked. Short of blowing up the drive core, there was no way of shutting it down. For a fleeting moment, Valni did consider destroying the core, but the knowledge the ship was carrying captives brought her back to her senses.

All the controls had been rerouted to the CIC. It was a standard safety precaution to prevent marauders commandeering the ship.

Valni raised her weapon, her resolve hardening. If she wanted to stop the ship, she needed to get to the CIC.


The main doors bridge of the Threads of Fate opened and Zaalia, Erata and Timoleon spilled into the room.

They immediately set to work.

"Timoleon, take Lia'Vael's station," Zaalia ordered pointing at the engineering console that was normally occupied by Lia'Vael. "Erata, with me at weapons control."

Timoleon moved to his station as Zaalia and Erata settled into the pilot and co-pilot's seats.

Zaalia hit the controls and the bridge activated; lights and monitors came alive. Within seconds, Zaalia had brought the ship up to full power. She disengaged the mooring clamps and eased the ship out of the dock.

When they were clear of the station, Zaalia hit the comm. "Vereen, do you still have eyes on the Imperium?"

"Yes," Vereen shouted over the link. The sound of Chaill's battle with C-Sec had grown louder. "Sending you the coordinates now. I'm deluging their navigation computer with false traffic hazards. But I can't slow them down much longer."

"We're on our way. Keep those Haliat Armory bastards occupied as long as you can," Zaalia told her.

Beside her, Erata activated her console, but instead of calling up the weapons station, she was opening a comm-link.

"What are you doing?" Zaalia demanded.

"Calling in a favour," Erata replied grimly.

Erata connected with the Thessia comm-buoy. She tapped in a code and established a link. Then a blue-skinned asari with the same facial markings as Erata appeared on her screen.

"Erata," the asari said in surprise. "What are you doing? This isn't an encrypted line!"

"Then I'll be quick," Erata said coldly, "and you better listen, Cal!"


Invidius Ruthlain, the head of Haliat Armory, sat in his office on the Citadel Embassies talking to the new CEO of Armali Council over a secure link. He hated being away from the headquarters on Palaven, but the trip to the Citadel was necessary for the purposes of the merger. On his screen, the Eclipse operative Teelia D'Veyra was spinning him platitudes and singing his praises.

He was graciously returning the favour.

"I must congratulate you," he told Teelia D'Veyra. "The bombing of the conference was an inspired move."

"It provided a suitable diversion to capture Cathropiln. Our investors are rallying behind us, pledging their support. And our company stocks are climbing to record highs based on the strength of your statement," Teelia replied. "This 'act of terrorism' will send sales through the roof. And when this merger is complete, we'll have the most powerful conglomerate on Citadel Space. Nothing will stand in our way."

"I understand you left the Citadel?" Invidius asked.

"Yes, there's a matter on Omega I must attend to," Teelia replied, "but it shouldn't interfere with our plans."

"I look forward to working with you in the future, my dear," Invidius said. "I'm sure our partnership will be most amicable…"

Teelia was about to reply when an urgent call from Invidius' secretary interrupted them.

"Sir! Sir! There's a squad of commandos…" she said over the comm, but the line went dead.

Then the office doors slid open and four black-clad asari commandos swept into the room. Invidius rose from his seat.

"What's the meaning of this?" he demanded.

"Invidius Ruthlain – we'd like you come with us, please," one of the commandos said.

Invidius almost laughed. "You're obviously not familiar with the concept of diplomatic immunity," he said with a sneer. "I have the ear of the Council."

The asari smiled. "You don't understand. We don't represent the Council. We represent the Network. There's evidence to suggest you conspired to steal information of a sensitive nature. The Matriarchs would like to have a word with you."

His sneer vanished.

Invidius stared down at the screen and saw a look of alarm flash across Teelia's face. The next thing he knew, Teelia killed the link, leaving him at the mercy of the asari commandos.


Valni entered the Crew Deck of the Imperium at a dead run.

She slithered behind a pillar at the door leading to the mess hall and poked her head out. Most of the tables in the recreational area had been upended to create barricades and defences. But it looked abandoned; a cursory glance satisfied her it was deserted.

Valni snuck out and crept forward, keeping low to use the upturned tables as cover.

It wasn't until she reached the middle of the hall that all hell broke loose!

Haliat guards and mechs sprung up from their hiding places and unleashed a hail of bullets.

Caught in the relentless crossfire, Valni never stood a chance. She tried to shield her head with her arms as round after round ripped into the barricades, tearing the metal to pieces.

Valni fell, clutching at her chest, and still the enemy continued to rain fire down on her. Only when she lay unmoving in a crumpled heap did the guards move in.

Ten LOKI mechs surrounded her, with the Haliat guards bringing up the rear to surround the fallen enemy.

"Is she dead?" one of the guards asked.

Then her body flickered and vanished.

Valni emerged from the shadowed corner near the emergency ladder at the back of the hall and thrust out her hand. Her omni-tool flared and the ten mechs at the centre of the room were caught in a flicker of orange light. The Area AI Hack took effect, and the mechs turned on the guards. Then they opened fire.

The battle was brief, but violent. With half their number suddenly turning on them, the Haliat guards found themselves on the backfoot, and when a YMIR heavy mech suddenly appeared by the mess entrance, they had nowhere to run.

The YMIR brought it rocket launcher to bear. In the enclosed space, the enemy were quickly overwhelmed.

When the dust had cleared and the last guard hit the floor, Valni gazed at the scene of devastation. She had gained a further five surviving mechs from the battle. Now she had eight LOKIs and a YMIR in her arsenal. She was astonished Lia'Vael's mod was able to control so many at once. Her chances were looking better all the time.

But it wasn't over yet.

There were still another deck between her and the CIC.


By now, the erratic course of the Imperium had attracted the attention of most of the Citadel, and in Traffic Control Vereen was busily trying to listen in on the chatter of the other controllers that were filtering through the comm.

"We're monitoring internal explosions and small arms fire," a male controller from the control room in the Citadel Tower said. "Sounds like one hell of a firefight."

"Have you been able to establish contact?"

"They're not responding to hails. Is it a hijacking?"

"We don't have enough information to go on."

"Our priority is the protection of the station," the first voice said. "The Citadel fleet is on alert and the defence turrets are tracking the target."

Vereen opened her comm. "Be advised, Citadel Tower. The Imperium is suspected of being used to illegally transport captive slaves."

"What? How do you know this?" one of the controllers demanded.

"From C-Sec. The corvette shadowing it is a C-Sec vessel. The Imperium cannot be allowed to leave Citadel airspace."

"I'm getting interference on your line," a female controller said. "Sounds like a fight."

"No, everything's fine here," Vereen insisted over the sound of the mass brawl. "Situation normal."

"My records show the Imperium has diplomatic clearance. Are you certain?" the female voice asked.

"Yes, absolutely certain."

"Diplomatic clearance or not, if that ship presents a danger to the Citadel, it will be shot down!" the male voice said.

Negative. Negative, Citadel Tower," Vereen said desperately. "My sister is on that ship. Innocent lives are at risk. Please, hold your fire."

"Who is this?" the man demanded. "What's your operating number?"


Zaalia manoeuvred the Threads of Fate in front of the Imperium, blocking the ship's escape corridor, and trying to avoid the traffic that Traffic Control were diverting away from the turian-made cruiser. She glanced over at Erata, regarding the asari engineer with a newfound curiosity. The call she'd made to the asari, who Zaalia could only assume was her sister, had been illuminating. It sounded like there was no love lost between them. And judging by the way her sister had reacted, Zaalia could only assume Erata's family had some interesting connections.

"So, what is it your sister does, exactly?" Zaalia asked.

The look on Erata's face suggested she really didn't want to discuss it, and Zaalia was quite glad when Vereen's voice cut through the air.

"Zaalia! Citadel defences have their turrets tracking the Imperium. They're threatening to shoot her down. I couldn't talk them out of it!"

"Vereen, are you and Chaill safe?" Zaalia asked.

"Yes! But I don't know how much longer we can hold out. Chaill's doing his best, but they're all over him."

"I'm having a great time!" Chaill roared over the comm, his voice strained. "Making new friends here!"

"Hold out as long as you can!" Erata told her.

At that moment, Timoleon called out from his station. "Urgently: We're being targeted!"

Before Zaalia could respond, a series of explosion rocked the ship.

The Imperium had opened fire.

Zaalia struggled with the controls, trying to evade the barrage of missiles.

"Hope the barriers will hold!" she yelled. "Can you take out their gun-ports?"

Erata nodded. "I'll try. But we could really use some back-up now!"

Zaalia scowled. "Spirits, where the hell is T'Rani?"


The asari in Eclipse armour could hardly believe her eyes as she read the damage report in the Imperium CIC. There were multiple fires all over the ship, several power conduits on the Crew Deck were heavily damaged and most of the guards were dead. She'd ordered most of the Haliat crew to defend the CIC, leaving the pilot and gunnery officer on deck, but it still wasn't enough. Severan's progress could be tracked just from the damage to the ship.

At the moment, the fighting was concentrated on the Quarterdeck, which, as far as the asari was concerned, was far too close to the CIC for her liking.

She activated the comm and yelled at the Haliat guards. "What are you idiots playing at down there? How can one turian give you so much trouble?"

It took a few seconds to get a reply, but when someone did, his voice was desperate.

"She's not alone. She's got an army!"

The asari activated the security feed and watched the carnage unfold.

On a balcony leading up to the CIC, Severan leapt over a crate with the swarm of mechs she was somehow controlling at her back.

Valni brought her rifle up. A controlled burst of fire sent two of the Haliat guards on the far side of the balcony diving for cover. Just then, a turian wielding a rocket launcher popped up from behind cover to Severan's right. She rolled behind a wall just as the man fired. The missile strafed the chest of the YMIR mech and it staggered under the blast, small explosions erupting over its body. Then the mech slumped, its arms hanging limp, and it blew up; the blast wiping out two of the LOKI mechs that were standing beside it.

Behind the man with the rocket launcher, a group of quadrupedal FENRIS mechs, resembling varren or Earth-born dogs, charged at Severan. Valni thrust out her hand and activated a remote hack. The FENRIS models stopped, their bodies glowing, then they turned and ran at the Haliat guards.

A series of explosions rocked the Quarterdeck as the suicidal FENRIS mechs self-detonated, killing the Haliat guards they were attacking.

The asari watched Severan advance towards the CIC, retrieving grenades from the fallen guards as she went, and moving ever closer.

The number of guards was dwindling. And Severan's army was growing.

The asari opened the comm and screamed at anyone who might still be alive.

"Stop sending mechs against her!"


Vereen heard the thump from her console. She turned to see Chaill lying flat on his back at the top of the stairs with several C-Sec officers piling on top of him. C-Sec had finally forced their way into the room and were swarming over the krogan's prone form.

"Gerumis! Zaalia!" Vereen called desperately into the comm. "C-Sec are inside! I can't…"

But that's all she could transmit as rough hands pulled her away from the console and pushed her roughly onto the floor, holding her fast.

On the Threads of Fate, Zaalia heard Vereen's call for help. They could do nothing to help. Zaalia returned her attention to the Imperium.

The ship was continuing its assault. The Threads of Fate had taken damage, but Zaalia had managed to evade most of the missiles. Beside her, Erata was doing her best trying to target the missile ports, but with Zaalia's evasive manoeuvres it was a losing battle. Zaalia knew she had to get closer to the ship to dock, but under these circumstances it was going to be difficult. Fortunately, she was a very skilled pilot.

Unfortunately, she wouldn't get the opportunity to prove it.

Because at that moment, the Imperium was rocked by explosions.

The Citadel turrets had opened fire.


On the Imperium's CIC, the asari staggered under the impacts. her yellow armour showered by sparks. She checked the monitors. Damage reports were flooding in automatically, all of them stating the same thing: The Imperium's systems were failing.

The asari's self-preservation instincts kicked in. She knew a lost cause when she saw it.

"Evacuate!" she yelled.

The remaining crew didn't have to be told twice. The pilot and gunnery officer rushed from their consoles, making for the nearest escape pod.

But before she could even leave the CIC, the main doors slid open and five mechs emerged from the smoke.

They mechs opened fire and cut the turians down.

The asari ducked behind a console and gathered her energy. Then she stood up and threw a biotic shockwave at the intruders. The mechs were thrown across the room, their bodies landing in a heap outside the CIC.

Grabbing a rifle, the asari made for the exit, only to come face-to-mask with the woman who'd ruined all her plans. Severan appeared out of the smoke, blocking her path.

The asari lashed out with a biotic throw, but Severan was much faster than the mechs. She danced out of the way of the attack and brought her rifle up to fire. The asari reacted, projecting a barrier to shield herself. The rifle muzzle flashed and bullets ricocheted around the room. A biotic shockwave chest sent the turian sprawling, but Valni was on her feet in a flash, poised to attack.

The asari threw another attack, but Valni dodged to her left and the computer bank behind her exploded under the biotic onslaught.

Then the asari pounced, sending a flying kick at her chest.

Valni barely avoided the attack, losing her grip on the rifle and it flew across the room.

Disarmed, Valni retreated. She backed up to the main console at the front of the CIC.

The asari crouched, preparing for her next attack. "This is the end, Severan!" she taunted, and Valni gasped. The voice, though distorted by the helmet, was disturbingly familiar.

Valni glanced at the console, searching for anything that might help. And found it.

She was on a turian ship. She knew turian ships.

With a quick tap of the console behind her, Valni deactivated the deck plating.

The gravity failed. The asari was sent scrabbling for grip as her feet lifted off the deck. But Valni was prepared. She lifted her feet against the console and launched herself forward. She hit the merc in the stomach, her elbows extended for full impact. They careered into the bulkhead. Winded, the asari exhaled sharply. At the same moment, Valni slammed her hand into the wall and planted something there.

Valni twisted in the air and kicked the asari in the stomach, pushing herself away. Grabbing the edge of one of the monitors, Valni hauled herself behind the high-sided console and ducked. The console was the perfect shield.

Dazed, the asari now noticed the repeated beeping sound. She stared at the wall behind her… and the grenade that Valni had planted.

The asari tried to push herself away, but the next second, the grenade exploded.

The blast threw her against against the far wall, her body tumbling lifelessly in the air, unconscious or dead – Valni didn't care which.

Valni leapt for the console. She hit the controls and reactivated the deck plating. Valni felt gravity return and steadied herself. Then she looked at the CIC's view screen.

The Imperium was crashing into the Citadel Ward!

Valni's hands flew over the controls, trying frantically to channel power to the thrusters.

Miraculously, the thrusters fired. Valni saw the ship start to rise. But too slowly. They were too close to the Citadel. Skyscrapers rushed past in a blur on either side of the ship. With rising horror, she realised a crash was inevitable.

Valni put the thrusters up to full power and tried to direct the ship between the buildings.

Then Valni saw something that made her heart soar. Ahead of her was the expansive armoured roof that protected Tayseri Ward's entertainment district. Valni redirected what little power she had to thruster control, piloting the ship towards the gabled roof.

And with a jarring impact, the Imperium crashed onto the protective, armoured roof.

Valni watched as the ship slid along the armoured roof. She flicked the retro-thrusters up to full power, but the slide was relentless. Valni could hear graunching sounds from the hull and feel the fierce vibrations and as the ship dug deep furrows into the armoured barrier.

In the view screen, the Dilinaga Concert Hall honed into view directly ahead.

Valni gritted her teeth, willing the ship to slow down.

"Spirits please!" she yelled.

But the ship continued to slide relentlessly forward.

We're not going to make it! she thought.

She could make out individuals working on the scaffolding now. Engineers in pressure-suits turned to stare and point frantically at the approaching ship. In desperation, Valni turned off life-support and diverted all available power to the thrusters.

A sudden jolt sent her sprawling over the controls. It seemed to have the desired effect.

The ship was slowing.

Valni could only watch now as the massive concert hall drew ever closer. The scaffolding seemed to grow larger until it towered above the craft.

Then, with a final grinding crunch the ship hit the scaffolding. Momentum finally took hold and the ship lurched to a complete stop.

There was silence.

Valni looked down at the flashing console. The collision detectors were warning that the ship was just three metres from the Concert Hall!

Valni exhaled, letting let out the breath she'd been holding.

But then, with an echoing crash, the scaffolding collapsed.

Like a tower being demolished, the structure rained down on the ship. Valni heard a thump and looked up to see the posterior of an irate, but thankfully very much alive, asari engineer squirming on the hull. Fortunately, the micro-gravity above the Citadel's oxygen zone was only a fraction of what it was down in the Wards. The asari engineer would probably be bruised, but she'd be fine.

A second, third and fourth thump signalled more asari engineers were raining down on the ship, but Valni had wasn't concerned about them; she was focused on the asari in Eclipse armour lying in the CIC.

She strode over and squatted down by the asari's side to check her vitals. She was still breathing. The armour seemed to have taken the brunt of the blast. It had saved her life.

Valni turned her over onto her back and grabbed the helmet. She released the catches and wrenched the helmet off the asari's head and stared down in shock at the face beneath.

It wasn't the person she was expecting.

"YOU!"