AN:- And we're back.
Chapter Fifty-One: Treason
Once they were back on course she went to check on Grunt down in the cargo bay. Chakwas had assured her that he was fine, and Kelly hadn't reported anything out of the ordinary, but she still wanted to check for herself. She found him running through close combat forms.
"Are you feeling okay after the mission Grunt?"
He barely seemed to be listening to her. "Urdnot Grunt. I like it. I have a clan. That makes me; it makes me want to fight, not just able to." He turned to her and smiled. "And Uvenk. I wanted to disembowel him, to tear out his spine like a trophy."
She frowned, taking a step back in case he went crazy again. "We started this because you were losing control, now you sound more violent than ever."
"Wrex said I was normal, just had this built up stuff because of being grown in the tank. Now that I know it's not an outside thing, and I have a place as a krogan, I like it." He pounded his fists together. "Our enemies are in trouble Shepard, and we'd better not run out of targets."
"I'm not planning on living like this forever Grunt."
"Talk like that and it won't be your choice. I'm sure as hell not quitting with a whimper. Just so you're clear where we stand."
She was, unfortunately. And for now he was right. She nodded to him and left the cargo bay, only to run right into Tali, who was looking frantic.
"Shepard I need your help. I just received a message from the Migrant Fleet. The Admiralty Board has accused me of treason. I'm scared, Shepard."
Shepard grabbed her shoulders and forced her to stop flinching. "Slow down Tali, breathe." She waited until Tali had stopped twitching and then let go. "Go over that again. The Admiralty Board has accused you of treason? Nobody who knows you would believe you could betray your people, Tali."
"I don't know. They don't lay charges like this unless the evidence seems absolute."
A cold thought entered her head. "Is it because you're working with Cerberus?"
"I'm not working with Cerberus, I'm working with you. And I got leave to serve on the Normandy again. I have no idea what they're accusing me of. You'd think I'd remember if I'd betrayed the Fleet."
Shepard tried to run through everything they had done in the past few weeks, but none of it had been connected to the quarians, at least not in any noticeable way. "What happens when a quarian is accused of treason?"
"There's a hearing, with members of the Admiralty Board acting as judges. My father is an Admiral on the Board. He'll have to recuse himself from judgement. I can't even imagine what he's thinking right now. The punishment for treason is exile. If they convict me. I can never go back."
"Then let's go find the Flotilla, immediately."
Tali rubbed her mask. "I was going to book passage on another ship. I didn't think there would be time in your mission."
Shepard took her hand. "I'm not going to let one of my crew face something like this alone, least of all you Tali. We're going to go to the Migrant Fleet and we're going to sort this out."
"Thank you Shepard."
"Joker."
"Commander?"
"Tali's sending you some coordinates. All speed possible."
"Aye aye Commander."
/|\
"Shepard, I see you've altered our course yet again."
"Personal errand."
"You are aware that this is a military ship, not your personal yacht?"
"Hey, it's TIM who keeps saying we all need to be ready to go. If one of my crew has something bad hanging over them we need to resolve it."
Miranda frowned at the nickname as always, but she seemed to determined to actually get an answer. "What is this personal errand?"
"It's for Tali."
"Ah."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. Just ah."
"You're not going to tell me off for misusing Cerberus resources."
Miranda smiled in her most infuriating way. "Much as this may surprise you Commander I quite like Tali. And if she needs some help I would be happy to offer my assistance as well."
"That's, surprisingly nice of you Miranda, I'll be sure to let her know."
"Thank you Shepard."
And she left a very confused Shepard in the mess hall alone.
/|\
The approach to the Migrant Fleet was very different to their normal planetary approach. In many ways it reminded Shepard of docking with so-called 'Space Nations.' The largest space stations technically held enough people to qualify as their own nation, like the Citadel or Omega, but legally were still treated like a regular space dock. Boarding procedures were like a cross between the rigmarole of docking with nations and the relatively simple process of organising a brief ship to ship dock.
Tali was up in the cockpit with them, broadcasting on all frequencies as they came closer. Finally the quarian fleet picked them up.
"This is Tali'Zorah vas Neema nar Rayya, requesting permission to dock with the Rayya." Joker had isolated the return signal to a single ship, and shifted the course subtly to bring them in line with it.
"Our system has your ship flagged as Cerberus. Verify."
Shepard started a little, but Tali didn't seem too concerned. "After time adrift among open stars. Along tides of light and through shoals of dust. I will return to where I began."
There was silence on the other end, along with the hiss of static. Unusual for modern communication relays, though of course that would have been fitting for quarian technology. Shepard gave Tali a searching look, but she waved her away.
"Permission granted. Welcome home Tali'Zorah."
"We'd like a security and quarantine team to meet us. Our ship is not clean."
"Understood approach steering docking cradle seventeen."
Joker looked back and nodded at her.
"How long will decontamination take Tali?" Shepard asked as they made their way back through to the CiC.
"Not long Shepard. A simple antibacterial blast while you're in armour. Obviously no one will be able to take off their armour while we're on the ship though."
"You want other people to come with us?"
"Well…"
"We can't have too many people in case we freak people out, but you want to have some support?" Shepard guessed.
"Something like that."
"How about Garrus then? They shouldn't have an objection to him as a turian, we know he won't cause a diplomatic incident like anyone from Cerberus, and he knows you better than anyone else on the crew."
Tali nodded. "That is actually a really good idea. I'll ask him."
/|\
Twenty minutes later they were standing in a decontamination chamber in full armour, helmets locked into place as a laser sweeper ran over them. They had needed to turn their shields off to let it do its work, eliminating any specs of dust or micro-organisms that could possibly cause contamination. Once the laser grid had finished its work a blast of pressurised steam washed over them.
"What was that?" Shepard asked as another blast of air signalled the end of the process.
"Antibacterial everything Shepard. We can't afford to take any chances."
They stepped through the airlock on the other side to enter the quarian ship. Half a dozen quarians were on the other side, clearly wanting to see them come in. It didn't seem too formal to her, but she had spoken to Tali before about the informality of the fleet. Living in such close quarters tended to lead to a breakdown of formality.
The ship itself was somehow clean but still looked grimy. She examined the nearest bulkhead and realised it was simply from age and use. What should have been a sharp edged, flat sheet of metal had been worn down by centuries of cleaning and repair. Unavoidable warping had crept into the metals as well, and stained them to dull browns and greys. She saw faint glimpses of copper gone green in some of the plating. When she breathed in the air was musty and stale, scrubbed and recycled constantly for three hundred years. Some of the quarian ships hadn't even seen a proper atmosphere generator since they left the homeworld.
Three quarian armed with rifles came over to greet them, though they kept the weapons trained at the floor.
"Captain Shepard." She almost corrected him, until she remembered quarian traditions. "Tali'Zorah told me a lot about you. Wish we could be meeting under more pleasant circumstances."
At the very least he seemed to be on her side. "Tali helped the Normandy's crew out of many difficult situations, I'm here to return the favour."
"I understand." His tone became more officious. "As the Commander of the vessel she serves on, your voice carries weight." He turned to Tali. "I wish I could do more to help Tali, the trial requires that I be officially neutral, but… I'm here if you need to talk." She wondered who exactly this was, but Tali seemed to know him, and some of the tension seemed to have left her already. "They're charging you with bringing active geth to the fleet as part of a secret project."
"That's insane. I never brought active geth aboard. I only sent parts and pieces."
Shepard's head snapped round at that. "You sent geth materials back to the Migrant Fleet?"
"Yes. My father was working on a project, he needed them. The materials… if I sent back something that was only damaged, not permanently inactive." She shook her head furiously. "No, no, no I checked everything. I was careful."
"Technically I'm under orders to place Tali'Zorah under arrest, pending the hearing, so Tali, you're confined to this ship until the trial is over."
"Thank you Captain."
He nodded, and she realised that he had to be the captain of the ship. Tali'Zorah nar Rayya, ah. "Preparations got underway as soon as you arrived. The hearing's being held in the Garden Plaza. Good luck."
He nodded and walked back down the corridor, leaving them standing by the airlock.
"Garden Plaza?" Garrus said as Tali led them forwards. "With all of your allergies and immune system problems is that really such a good idea?"
"Natural replenishment of oxygen," she said off-handedly. "It needs a lot of work, and a lot of anti-histamines, but without gardens on the ships we would run out of even recyclable air pretty quickly." All around them Shepard heard quarians whispering, some in support of Tali, others condemning her. "Plus, we need to grow our own food. We don't have the resources to import it."
"I had no idea," Shepard said. "I knew that living all your lives in an environment suit had to be difficult, but I thought at least within your own ships you could take them off."
"If you have an environmentally controlled cabin separate from the rest of the ship, sure. But even then we need to take antibiotics, just in case." Tali shrugged. "It's better than the alternative I suppose."
At the end of the corridor there was a female quarian who turned as they approached, spreading her arms out. "Tali'Zorah vas Normandy, I am glad you came. I could delay them only so long." Shepard caught the name, but Tali apparently had not, rushing forwards and wrapping her arms around the older woman in the galaxy's most awkward hug.
"Auntie Raan!" She cried, letting go and stepping back. "Shepard vas Normandy, this is Admiral Shala Raan vas Tonbay, she's a friend of my father's…" She suddenly caught the change as well, and turned back to the admiral. "Wait, Raan, you called me vas Normandy."
"I'm afraid I did Tali. The Admiralty Board moved to have you tried under that name, given your departure from the Neema."
Shepard stepped forward as Tali seemed to have been stunned into silence. "I take it being associated with a human ship is a bad sign?"
"They stripped me of my ship name. That's as good as declaring me exiled already."
"It's not over yet Tali. You have friends who still know you as Tali'Zorah vas Neema, whatever we must call you legally."
Shepard managed a smile at that. It gave her some hope. "You're an admiral," she said. "Does that mean you're one of the judges?" It would have been good to know they had at least one judge on their side.
"I'm afraid not, my history with Tali and her father forced me to recuse myself."
Tali nodded. "I imagine my father had to do the same."
"You'll see inside Tali." That set alarm bells ringing in Shepard's head. "For my part, I moderate and ensure that the rules of protocol are followed. But I have no vote in the judgement."
"I guess we should get started. Does Tali have a defence councillor? Someone who speaks for her side?"
"Indeed she does, Captain Shepard." That time she definitely caught undertones of something more. "She is part of your crew now, recognised by quarian law. And remember, an accused is always represented by his or her ship's captain."
Tali spelled it out in case she still didn't quite get it. "So, er, you would actually speak for my defence."
She forced herself to stay calm. "I'll do everything in my power to help you Tali." Internally she was screaming. She would have had no idea what to do in a human court of law, and at least there she could at least understand the laws themselves. In a quarian court she would be totally lost.
"Thank you Shepard, I could not ask for a better councillor."
Raan seemed to sense her discomfort at least. "Our legal rules are simple. There are no legal tricks or political loopholes for you to worry about. Present the truth as best you can, it will have to be enough. Now come, I promised that I would not delay you."
She led them into a magnificent wide open room, water running over thick tree trunks at the far wall. In between the plating on the floor grass grew, and the smell of the ship very suddenly grew sweet and fresh. Shepard took a deep breath, marvelling in how good it felt.
The room was arranged like so many other forums, multiple tiers that the other quarians gathered on to watch as Shepard and Tali walked down to the podium. In front of them the Admiralty Board gathered, Raan on a higher platform behind the other three. Shepard turned to Tali as they all took their places. "Your father?"
"Not here."
Before she could say anything more Raan held up her arms to call for order. "This Conclave is brought to order. Blessed are the ancestors who kept us alive, sustained us and enabled us to reach this season. Keelah selai."
The quarians around them chorused. "Keelah selai." Shepard kept her mouth shut, not sure about her place with something like that. She heard Tali say it behind her though.
"The accused Tali'Zorah vas Normandy has come with her captain to defend herself against the charge of treason."
The crowd started to murmur, but were quickly silenced when one of the admirals stepped forwards. "Objection! A human has no business at a hearing involving such sensitive military matters."
Raan leaned over the podium to look down at him. "Then you should not have declared Tali crew of the Normandy Admiral Koris. By right as Tali's captain, Shepard must stay."
Bitch. She was glad her helmet hid her grin.
"Objection withdrawn."
"Shepard vas Normandy, your crewmember Tali'Zorah stands accused of treason, will you speak for her?"
You're up Shepard. Better make it good. "If it helps Tali I will, but in her heart she remains Tali'Zorah vas Neema, a proud member of the Migrant Fleet." She turned slightly to where she had seen the captain of the Neema taking his place. "I regret that her captain is forbidden to stand at her side today."
The same admiral who had spoken before stepped forwards again. "Nobody has been forbidden from anything. It is a simple-"
"Lie to them if you must Zaal'Koris," another of the admirals said. "But don't lie to me and expect me to stay silent. The human is right."
"Admirals, please." Raan had to lean forward again to get them to stop. So much for no political issues. "Shepard's willingness to represent Tali'Zorah in this hearing is appreciated. Tali you are accused of bringing active geth to the migrant fleet, what say you?"
Before Tali could speak Shepard stepped up. "How could Tali have brought geth to the Fleet while serving on the Normandy?"
"To clarify Shepard." Shepard was glad of the wording. She wanted the situation to be as clear as possible. "Tali isn't accused of bring back entire units, only parts that could spontaneously reactivate."
Tali spoke up. "But I would never send active geth to the Fleet. Everything I sent was disabled and harmless."
"Then explain how geth seized the labship where your father was working?"
There was uproar from the gathered quarians, and Shepard at once knew that there was a lot more to the situation than they had been informed of.
Through the din Tali managed to make herself heard. "What are you talking about, what happened?"
Raan banged a gavel several times for order. "As far as we can tell Tali, the geth have killed everyone on the Alarei, your father included."
"What? Oh keelah."
Shepard balled her hands into fists and fought to keep her tone level. "I appreciate the need for this trial, Admirals." Even she could hear the contempt dripping from her voice. "But right now our first concern must be the safety of the Migrant Fleet. The Normandy stands ready to assist in whatever capacity necessary."
"Thank you," Raan said. "Quarian strike teams have attempted to retake the ship, so far without success."
Tali gripped her elbow. "Shepard we have to take back the Alarei."
"The safest course would be to simply destroy the ship." It was the same Admiral who had spoken before. "But if you are looking for an honourable death instead of exile."
"I'm looking for my father you bosh'tet."
Raan cut across any more argument. "You intend to retake the Alarei from the geth. This proposal is extremely dangerous."
"With your permission Admirals, yes." She managed to put a little more respect into her voice this time. "The good of the Fleet must come first, and Tali needs to find her father."
The other male Admiral was nodding. "Agreed, and if you die on this worthy mission we will see that your name is cleared of these charges."
"We can discuss that later," the first admiral said.
"Then it is decided." Raan brought order back to the room. "You will attempt to retake the Alarei. You are hereby given leave to depart the Rayya, a shuttle will be waiting for you at the secondary docking hangar. Be safe Tali. This hearing will resume upon your return, or upon the determination that you have been killed in action."
That's certainly one way to end these proceedings.
As the admirals left their stands Shepard turned to Tali, who had a hand to her mask, shaking her head slightly. "Thank you for agreeing to take back the Alarei Shepard. The Admirals sound sure that my father is already dead, but…" She looked up and reached out to touch Shepard's forearm. "I don't know, we won't know anything until we get there."
Shepard gripped Tali's forearm as well. "How are you holding up? They just threw a lot of fire at you, even before telling you about your father." And I'm going to have words with Raan about that.
"I knew this would be bad, but I guess you're never really prepared to be charged with treason. And, my father, I, I don't know. He could still be alive; they don't know for certain that he's dead. I just don't know Shepard, and I need to find out."
Garrus had come to join them as well. "Is there anyone here you wanna talk to before we go?" Shepard asked.
"We can talk with the Admirals. it might help us to see what their viewpoints are. But I doubt we'll change anyone's mind by talking to them privately."
"We should at least get a sense of where they stand."
"Right. But the sooner we get to the Alarei the sooner we'll know what happened."
"Let's go."
She let Tali lead the way round to the first Admiral, the only female in the trial. Talking to her revealed her to be a very straight forward person, who seemed a lot more concerned with the political ramifications of the research Rael might have been doing. At the very least she didn't seem likely to throw Tali to the wolves without proof.
The next admiral was Han'Gerrel, the one who had spoken in Tali's defence. He seemed much more protective of her, but it very quickly became clear that he was biased due to a close relationship with her father. Shepard didn't know why he hadn't been forced to recuse himself, but she did know that she didn't like the way Tali perked up around him.
When they left him she turned to talk to her friend. "You know that his talk of war isn't in the quarians best interests, don't you?"
"I'm not so sure Shepard. The research my father was doing was to help us fight the geth. If he has made a breakthrough then what is to stop us from making use of it?"
"The quarians aren't ready for a war Tali."
Tali didn't respond, leading them round to the third admiral, who had spoken against them so much. Two questions in she had firmly placed him into the 'dick' category, but she wasn't convinced he was truly against them. Tali became noticeably more antagonistic with him as well, and she fought to keep her opinions on that to herself as he left to talk to someone else.
"That's all the admirals, apart from Raan." Raan seemed to have made herself scarce, and Shepard knew it had to be because of the bombshell she had just dropped on Tali without warning.
"We should get moving," Garrus said. "Time is of the essence here after all."
"You're right," Shepard said. "Tali, lead the way."
AN:- Honestly not a great deal to say about this one. I added in some of my headcanon stuff about why this massively allergic race might have frickin' trees on their ships.
On to the next one!
