A/N: Now to see what the message Rasen said was. And hello to all of you who jumped to the last chapter.


Tali tried to turn back to her console, but Prudii could tell that she had been crying. "Tali?"

As the doors to the Normandy's engineering opened, Tali turned around expecting someone else. "Shepard, I…oh, Prudii…I," Tali immediately turned back to her terminal, "How was everything on the Citadel?"

Prudii could see Tali was trying to hid something - her voice was slightly sore from crying to herself, and he could see the silvery trails of tears on her face through her helmet. Prudii wasn't sure if he could help her but he was going to try. "Tali? What's wrong?"

"No…it's, it's nothing. I…" Prudii gently placed a hand on her shoulder. He could feel her body shivering, afraid or nervous about something. He motioned her to follow as he moved to the drive core. She finally stopped pretending everything was alright and told him, "Prudii, I've been accused of treason by the Admiralty Board. I'm scared, Prudii."

Prudii was furious at the news that the Admiralty Board, two of them being her father and a close family friend, could even conceive such a thought. "No, you would never betray the quarians. They must be mistaken."

Tali wasn't as confident about it. "I don't know. They don't lay charges like this unless the evidence seems absolute. But thanks. I appreciate your faith in me, Prudii."

Prudii glanced back to Gabby and Ken. "Do you think it has something to do with Cerberus?"

Tali shook her head. "No, I was given permission to serve on the Normandy again. I even told my father that you were still with me, watching over me."

Prudii looked back at the two engineers again. "Well, we could always grab a hostage, hijack the shuttle in the hangar and get this all resolved now."

Tali wasn't sure if Prudii was joking or serious about that suggestion, but she didn't want to do something that drastic. "I think we can save that plan as a last resort. I want to tell Shepard. Hopefully he is willing to take the time out to help, otherwise I'll book us transport on another ship to take us there."


As Aran and the others returned to the Tervho, Rang was waiting for them, "Araniik! We need your help."

"What's the matter?"

Rang motioned to walk and talk. "It's Ras, boss man. She's locked herself in her room and she's not talking to anyone."

Aran accused Rang, "Did you do something to her mask's air filter again?"

Rang took offense at that. "Hey, how was I supposed to know she was going to have such a reaction to the smell of lemon-lime? You know I'd never do anything to hurt her!"

They worked their way to the crew deck were Beviin was trying to talk to her. "Rasen, you know you can talk to us. Unlock the door so you can tell us what's wrong." Bev saw Aran and Rang approach as he stepped aside.

Aran knocked on the door, "Rasen? It's Aran. Are you alright?"

Prath had found his way to them as he informed them, "I believe I know what the matter is. We had recently received a message from the Migrant Fleet. I forward the message to Rasen's personal email so she may look at it in private. I do hope the two are not related, but if they are, I believe our next course of action should be to find the Migrant Fleet."

Aran made a mental note of the suggestion and responded, "It will be, but I want to speak with her first." The door unlocked. Aran was the only one in full armor, so he entered the decontamination chamber alone. Inside her room, Rasen was refitting her mask as the door opened. She had her back to Aran as he moved closer. "Rasen, do you want to talk about what's the matter?"

Rasen sat down in her chair. "Aran…" She was tired, she had been crying and she was exhausted. "I…I'm being charged with treason…"

"What? There has to be a mistake! They must have the wrong Rasen."

She stopped him with an upraised hand "Our people have maintained excellent records of our current population, individuals with the same name among our people are rare enough but the fact that the message was sent to the Mandalorian account is irrefutable. When the Admiralty Board accuses a quarian of treason, they must have evidence that seems undeniable and affects the entire fleet's safety."

Aran wasn't going to stand for it. "Rasen, you know everyone on this ship would gladly defend you. Why didn't you want to talk about it?"

"Because…" Rasen wasn't sure anymore, "Because you guys are always watching over me, protecting me from a distance like Ysin…I don't want…I…"

Aran took her into his arms and embraced her, "It's alright. We'll get this resolved. We won't let you be considered a traitor. We promise."

Rasen knew when ever Aran made a promise, he would keep it, just like his contracts. Rasen finally accepted his hug as she grabbed him. "Thank you…"


As they approached the Migrant Fleet Rasen, like Tali, asked for docking clearance, "This is Rasen'Doran vas Idenna nar Tonbay requesting permission to dock."

They were greeted with the same security as last time the Mandalorians docked with the Fleet. "Tervho, we have you flagged on approach. Please verify."

Rasen recited her personal passphrase she had memorized before departing for her Pilgrimage: "Through time alone in darkest space, Past nebulas bright and emptiness, I come now, to port at last."

"Identity confirmed. Welcome Rasen'Doran."

As per procedure, Rasen, made the usual request for a non-quarian vessel. "We request a security and quarantine team to meet us. Our ship is not clean."

"Understood. Approach exterior docking cradle 9 on the Rayya."

As they made their approach they spotted the Normandy along with its Cerberus colors and symbol. Rang noted obviously, "Looks like we might be seeing Tali and Prudii too."

Rasen knew what was involved in a trial. "Araniik, if Mal isn't here I need you to be my defense councilor."

Aran nodded. "Tare, Bev, Rang, we're heading out. Nyona, you're in charge while were gone. Don't do anything crazy."


On board the Rayya they were greeted by a security team. "Welcome to the Rayya, Captain Araniik. It is an honor to meet you."

Aran extended out a hand to shake, "We're just here to clean up this mistake my vod here is in."

The security chief replied, "I understand. As the captain of the ship she serves on, your voice will carry weight."

Rasen was uneasy about the whole setup. "Security Chief, why is my trial on board the Rayya? I've only stepped foot on her twice before. Why was I not sent to the Idenna or the Tonbay?"

The quarian was quiet for a moment. "Because you and Tali'Zorah are both being charged with bringing active geth into the Fleet as part of a secret project."

"What? I…I would do no such thing!" She then remembered when Prudii asked her to examine geth components to send back to the Fleet. In the back of her mind she was desperately hoping the two were not related. "I…I…I've…sent deactivated parts and non-functioning pieces…as a request for a friend." Rasen knew if Prudii was there he would defend her but she didn't want him to. She wanted to just clear this and move on.

Again, the security chief was hesitant. "Technically, we're under orders to place Tali'Zorah and Rasen'Doran under arrest pending the hearing. But the captain has decided to confine both Tali and Rasen to this ship until this trial is over."

Rasen gave the chief a nod. "Thank you."

"Regardless of what I think, that was the Admiralty Board's decision. Preparations for the trial got underway as soon as Tali had arrived. I would suggest you hurry to the garden plaza before they start without you." As one of the security team members escorted them, the security chief said to Rasen, "Good luck, Rasen'Doran…"

As they past several quarians, Sigma Squad couldn't help but overhear some of the conversations, many of them negative toward both Tali and Rasen. As they got closer to the garden plaza a quarian woman came up to them. "Rasen? Rasen is that you under that armor?"

Rasen then embraced the other quarian in a hug as she too expressed her joy. "Keelah! I didn't think you would be here." Rasen then released the quarian and turned to face her Mandalorian 'brothers'. "Sigma Squad this is a friend of mine from the Ideena; Shani'Tore." Rasen turned back to her friend, "Shani, I wasn't expecting to see you until after the trial. What are you doing here?"

Shani shock her head. "Don't be silly Ra. As soon as I heard you were being charged with treason, I went straight to the Admiralty Board to defend you."

Rang had to interrupt. "Ra, huh? So what happened to 'Little Ra'?"

Rasen tried to defend herself. "Ra is just the nickname I let my engineer team call me or close friends on the Ideena. Not that we aren't close friends…I mean…"

Beviin tried to change subjects for her, "So Shani, if you're part of the Conclave do you know any details about what's going on?"

Shani looked down, "Besides Ra and Tali being charged for treason and Shala'Raan recusing herself because of her history with the Zorah family. Before I forget, the Admiralty Board had also decided to try Tali under vas Normandy and you, Ra…as Rasen'Doran vas Tervho."

Rasen was speechless, almost collapsing from the news. "…vas Tervho…"

Rang was confused. "OK, I think I missed the memo here. Is the change in name a bad thing?"

Shani answered, "They stripped them of their ship names! It's practically calling them exiled already. But I will not let these bosh'tets get their way. Not with my friend."

Rasen saw some hope with Shani's presence. "Shani, is my brot…I mean, Captain Mal…is he here?"

Shani didn't want to answer but she couldn't see a way to refuse. "I'm afraid that the Admirals did not wish to interfere with Mal's search for a new planet to colonize. Admiral Zaal'Koris has forbid any communications about this trial to the Idenna until it's over or the Ideena returned to the Fleet and we both know how unlikely the latter would happen in time. But it wouldn't matter even if Mal was here, your ship name is vas Tervho now, so the captain of the Tervho is your representative for the trail."

Araniik nodded immediately after hearing that. "Understood. I'll see to it that these Admirals know that Rasen isn't one to threaten this fleet or anyone in it."

Shani looked behind her. "You better hurry. I see more people sitting down so that means Tali'Zorah has arrived."

Rasen, Tare and Sigma Squad rushed over to the gathering. Tare, Rang and Bev stayed at the top of the stairs while Rasen and Araniik were next to Shepard, who was in full armor and helmet in respect for how clean quarian need to be, alongside Tali and Prudii. Shala'Raan was moving to the center of the plaza onto a podium with three other quarians whom were standing behind a bar. One was a male who had a black visor with a tarnished brown exo-suit. To his right another male with a blue tinted visor and a red and grey exo-suit. Last was a woman on the far left who also had a blue visor but a predominately black exo-suit.

With Shala now standing behind them she spoke to the entire room. "This Conclave is brought to order. Blessed are the ancestors who kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season. Keelah se'lai."

Every quarian in the room, including Tali, Rasen and Tare, echoed the blessing. "Keelah se'lai."

Admiral Raan then continued, "The accused, Tali'Zorah vas Normandy and Rasen'Doran vas Tervho, have come with their captains to defend themselves against the charge of treason."

The male quarian in front of Raan shouted, "Objection! Humans have no business at a hearing involving such sensitive military matters! Even the Mandalorians must be escorted out, despite past actions!" The mentioning of the Mandalorians caused whispers to spread among the other quarians.

Rang muttered to his brothers, "Two sentences into the trial and I already don't like this guy."

Shala then countered the Admiral's objection, "Then you should not have declared Tali crew of the Normandy or Rasen crew of the Tervho, Admiral Koris. By right as captains, Shepard and Araniik must stay."

Sigma Squad, attuned to subtle body motions as a result of living in armor, could see Koris' embarrassment as he drew back. "Objection withdrawn."

Shala continued again, "Shepard vas Normandy, your crew members Tali'Zorah stands accused of treason. Will you speak for her?"

Shepard stepped forward and, speaking with a voice that carried around the Conclave chamber, said "If it helps Tali, I will. But in her heart, she remains Tali'Zorah vas Neema, a proud member of the Migrant Fleet. I regret that her captain is forbidden to stand at her side today."

Koris retorted indigently, "Nobody has been forbidden from anything! It is a simple…"

The other male quarian to the right interrupted Koris. "Lie to them if you must, Zaal'Koris, but don't lie to me and expect me to stay silent! The human is right!"

Raan broke the two up before the fight could proceed any further. "Admirals, please. Shepard's willingness to represent Tali'Zorah in this hearing is appreciated." Admiral Raan then turned her attention to Araniik. "Araniik vas Tervho, your crew member Rasen'Doran stands accused of treason. Will you speak for her?"

Aran stepped forward, "I will go to the pits of hell themselves if it means I can help any of my vode. But if anything, Captain Ysin'Mal should be standing here today, not I. Even so, Rasen's efforts on the Ideena should be able to speak for themselves. She risked her life to get her team to safety, and then she willingly put herself in harm's way to inform us about Mal's orders. Without her the Ideena would not have been repaired soon enough to embark on her journey to search for a new homeworld, for her people, as quickly as she did."

The quarian who opposed Koris earlier agreed. "Well said, Araniik. None of us should forget Rasen's contributions to the Fleet."

Shala then addressed both quarians, "Tali, Rasen, you both are accused of bringing active geth to the Migrant Fleet. What say you?"

Shepard answered first. "Tali would never endanger the Migrant Fleet. She pleads not guilty."

Tali tried to clarify what she did. Wringing her hands with anxiety, she testified "I left parts and technology for teams to pick up. My father ordered me to do so. But I would never send active geth to the Fleet! Everything I sent was disabled and harmless."

Aran told the Admiralty Board, "Rasen loves her people too much to ever cause harm to the Fleet. She too pleads not guilty."

Rasen tried to show where she stood through a lie, "I was asked by Admiral Rael'Zorah, like Tali'Zorah, to send any geth component I could find that would not endanger the Feet. I personally made sure these components would not reactivate or initiate self-repairs."

Prudii could not stand by any longer. He stepped in front of Rasen as he gentle moved her aside to made himself noticed by the quairans and spoke to the Admiralty board. "I asked Rasen to examine geth parts, not Admiral Zorah."

Loud murmurs rippled through the crown at this revelation. Koris demanded, "What's the meaning of this? Who are you?"

"RC-2433, Prudii Tervho. Sigma Squad. Tali'Zorah knew we would likely engage geth in the future so she asked me to help her. I have little technical skills…"

Rang butted in shouting, "It's true your honors. If it wasn't drilled into him by our drill sergeant, a simulator, or has step-by-step instructions included, he's like a blind man trying to describe color to a deaf man."

Koris disagreed, "We recognize your many efforts and assistances you and your members have contributed to this fleet and its people, but that still does not excuse Rasen'Doran's actions."

Prudii continued, "I asked Rasen without telling anyone else. She knew how to send the packages back to the Fleet, she knew what to look for to determine if the parts were safe or not. Rasen'Doran would never endanger the Fleet! If words are not enough then blame the person who got her in this mess…me."

Aran contacted Prudii privately through his buy'ce. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Prudii simply nodded his head. Aran then turned to the Admirals, "You quarians are a family. You're all brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. To us, Rasen and Tare are our sister and brother and Prudii would never ask either of them to do anything that would endanger their families both on the Tervho and on the Migrant Fleet. We four have lost thousands of brothers to war, a war hopefully none of you will ever experience and though we were not close to all of them, losing one is never easy."

Admiral Koris became more agitated as he shouted, "That is all fine, but it fails to explain how geth seized the lab ship where Admiral Zorah was working!"

The crowd was getting worked up again. Tali, who was already nervous, started becoming frantic. "What are you talking about? What happened?"

The other male Admiral, Han'Gerrel vas Neema, explained, "As far as we can tell, Tali, the geth have killed everyone on the Alarei…your father included."

Tali was in shock from the sudden news, "What? Oh, Keelah…"

Aran didn't always show it, but he knew everything about his brothers and he knew what Prudii planned to do. He tried to convince his vod not to, "Don't do it, Prudii. Don't…"

In an instant Prudii his DC-15s pistol and fired a shot directed to Admiral Koris, missing his head by centimeters. The security team on the floor had their assault rifles aimed at Prudii as he continued to aim at Koris. Bev and Rang had to resist the urge to help Prudii, as their fingers twitched trying to reach for their weapons. The only thing stopping the security from outright gunning down the clone was how inaccurate their old rifles were and the possibility that one of the members of the Conclave might be hit with one of their stray shots.

Aran moved himself behind Prudii as he grabbed an ACP repeater and placed it on the back of Prudii's helmet, "Stand down soldier." Prudii wasn't listening as he remained at the ready. "RC-2433! I gave you an order!" Prudii still had the weapon at the ready. Aran made sure this was heard by everyone, "Stand down now or I'll blow that brain of yours onto the floor! Three! Two!" Prudii twirled his pistol in hand before grabbing it by the barrel as he raised his hands in compliance. "Tare, weapons. Rang, remove his pack and gauntlets."

Tare and Rang walked down the steps to Prudii as the two started to work. Rang whispered, "Sorry Bro. You know I'd never touch your stuff otherwise." With all of Prudii's weapons and equipment secured the two walked back up the stairs.

"Beviin, restraints." Bev wasn't going to waste either of their time so he cuffed Prudii from the front as he could dislocate both arms to get out of the position from behind his back. Aran kept this last bit between himself and Prudii, "I understand your feelings about this, but now is not the time for that kind of attitude. I promise we'll find a way to help both Rasen and Tali. You just have to let me handle it. I swear I'll help them." He returned to the court as he addressed the Admiralty Board. "Forgive my brother's actions but his feels about this matter are shared with myself and my brothers. We have a saying, Aliit ori'shya tal'din. I though you quarians treated each other as one big family." Aran's voice was slowly elevating until he finally exploded from his anger as he shouted, "If so, then why the hell do you bring this crap up in the middle of a goddamn trial, a trial called upon by insufficient evidence?"

Shala'Raan calmly answered, "Our apologies. Tali should have been informed."

Aran gave them a warning, "Admirals, if you ever try doing something like that with Rasen or Tare, I won't even attempt to stop my brother from killing at least one of you."

Koris wasn't impressed by the Mandalorian's threat, "If you call this attempted assassination a threat…"

"Attempted?" Aran couldn't help but laugh and he let them all hear it. "Admiral, calculate the difference between the shot he did and how much he needed to kill you where you stand. This wasn't an attempt on anyone's life, this was his warning. And he could replicate it. So you best think over your next few words carefully, Admiral."

Tali looked to Shepard and Aran as she pleaded to both of them, "We have to take back the Alarei!"

Koris stated, "The safest course would be to simply destroy the ship. But if you are looking for an honorable death instead of exile…"

Tali shouted back at Koris, "I'm looking for my father, you bosh'tet!"

Admiral Raan asked, "You intend to take back the Alarei from the geth? This proposal is extremely dangerous."

Shepard answered, "With you permission, Admirals, yes. The good of the Fleet must come first…and Tali needs to find her father."

Rasen added, "I too wish to join them. At this point I don't care if you exile me; I want to help a friend's friend."

Prudii asked his brother if he could join, "Araniik…"

Aran nodded as he turned to the Admirals, "The Mandalorians will coordinate with Commander Shepard in removing the geth from the Alarei."

Han'Gerrel was more agreeable then Koris. "Agreed. And if you die on this worthy mission, Tali, Rasen, we will see that your names are cleared of these charges."

Koris whispered to Gerrel, "We will discuss that later."

Shala'Raan decreed, "Then it is decided. You will attempt to retake the Alarei. You are hereby given leave to depart the Rayya. A shuttle will be waiting at the secondary docking hangar. Be safe, Tali. This hearing will resume upon your return, or upon determination that you have been killed in action." As everyone dismissed, Tali turned back to Shala who flinched away from her stare.


A/N: I've had half of this trial written out long before I even had the full team established(minus the new clones and Jedi). As for Prudii, he is ready to take a few heads, in particular Koris'. Now I only have Shepard and Tali from the Normandy only because the third member(minus Legion) have no dialog what so ever here, even if they were Cerberus. Now I've always found that odd, but that's just me. So, on with the mission.

Mando'a Translation:

Aliit ori'shya tal'din.(Ah-LEET or-EESH-yah tal-DEEN.)- Family is more than blood. (Saying)

buy'ce(BOO-chay/BOO-shay)- helmet