Time: 15:21, Galactic Standard
Date: May 24th, 2357
Location: Backroom of "Afterlife" club, Omega Station

"So, why should I let you investigate Vyrrnus' facility? My spies say that he's not doing anything that's threatening me, after all, and he's paying me a lot of credits to keep his facility buttoned up"
Aria T'Loak. Pirate Queen, CEO, Empress, etc. of Omega Station. A megalomaniacal narcissist with an iron grip on what's considered the Citadel of the Terminus Systems.
And our key into whatever Vyrrnus is hiding here on her station. I sigh
"And you're sure that they haven't been paid off? After all, Vyrrnus has a general in the Hierarchy Resurgent backing him, and all the funding that entails. Could be he's working an invasion plan to supplant you and claim Omega – and by extension the Terminus Systems – for the Hierarchy. And then where would you be?"
Aria scowls. "If they had been paid off, I would know. And they would be dead
David, off to my right, nods. "We already know he's working on building an army of biotic supersoldiers. In fact, Commander Cooper and I have seen the black site on Gothis where he was developing his procedure"
Aria tilts her head to the side. "Is that so?"
David nods. "Even you have to have heard of the riot on Gothis"
Aria laughs. "Oh yes, I did. And who started it, of course. A Loyalist Spectre... and a Human operative. One, who has since been promoted to Pilot, and has his own Ronin class Titan. Curious. Would that be you?"
I can imagine David smirking under his helmet. "If you're so well acquainted with my recent exploits, Aria, then you know if you don't give us permission, we'll just find our own way. And you know how well our way works…"
Aria raises an eyebrow. "Threatening destruction of my station just to get some information? Rather blunt, I would say. And normally, I would shrug it off. But you're right. I know how well your way works"
I cross my arms. "So, you'll let us in?"
Aria looks at me and tilts her head. "I will. But like all others who have asked favors, I will expect repayment. Not today, of course. But sometime down the line"
David and I turn and head out onto the main floor. "That was risky, David" I say on our way out
David nods. "Yeah, but with someone like her, it was the only way to get what we need"
I sigh. "Still a risky move"

[-]

Time: 17:32, Galactic Standard
Location: Doru District, Omega Station

"Think we're getting close?"
I lower my Mastiff shotgun and take a look around. "I think so David. Considering that we've taken out three Separatist patrols, I'm pretty sure that we'll – "
David raises his SMG, and I raise my Mastiff as…
"Who – and may I ask what – are you?" David asks as three suited individuals emerge from an alleyway near us. One of them raises their hands. "Don't shoot. We're Quarians, captured during our pilgrimage"
I take a look at David. David shrugs. "Haven't met one yet, but they look the part. Enviro-suits, hoods, colored visors. Matches everything I've seen on the E-net about them"
I sigh and fold my arms. "Okay, I'm gonna need some names. Better than Quarian 1, Quarian 2, and Quarian 3, I'd imagine"
One of them steps forward. "My name is Keenah'Breizh. These other two are Vato'Sotan and Nara'Vel. Each of us was captured and brought here several months ago – for what, we don't know"
I put away my Mastiff. "How did you escape?"
The first one – Keenah – chuckles. "We Quarians are very technologically minded – over the course of our duration, we accumulated enough materials to fabricate a single omni-tool. With it, we were able to escape our cells and make our way out of Omega"
"And I'm guessing you heard the gunshots and wondered what was going on?"
The second one – Vato – nods. "Yes. I was curious – who would try to assault this base?"
I grin, unseen underneath my helmet. "Well, you found some allies. My name is Pilot-Commander Cooper, and this is Pilot-Sergeant Anderson"
Nara's eyes – at least, I'm assuming those are eyes – widen underneath her visor. "With the Frontier Alliance?"
David nods. "Got it in one"
"So why are you here, in the Terminus Systems? On Omega, of all places?" Nara asks David. David turns to face me, and I nod. He then turns back to the Quarians. "We're here hunting a Separatist Commander, probably the guy who had you captured. A real bastard named Vyrrnus. We know he's hiding something here, and we want to know what it is. Thing is, we don't know where exactly his base is"
Nara turns to Keenah and Vato. "You know we could help them. And it might just help us with our pilgrimages"
Keenah thinks for a moment, then nods. "Yeah. Alright, I'm in. What about you, Vato?"
Vato nods. "Like I could get off this blasted station by myself? Count me in"
I crack my neck. "You have weapons? Cause a full team is gonna draw some attention"
Keenah shakes his head. "We each had a single pistol when we set out on our pilgrimages, Unfortunately, when we were captured, they were taken away from us"
I nod. Makes sense. "Alright then. We have some secondary weapons you can use for now"
Keenah looks to his fellows and nods. "Thank you"
I chuckle as David and I hand our secondaries – pairs of RE-99 machine pistols – to Keenah, Vato, and Nara. "Don't thank me yet. We still have to get to the facility"

[-]

Time: 18:19, Galactic Standard

"Here we are. This door leads to the holding cells"
"No security checkpoints?" I ask Nara
Nara shakes her head. "Not one. I guess he thought no one would be foolish enough, or brave enough, to either try to escape, or assault his facility"
I chuckle. "Well, that makes our job easier"
"How so?"
David slings his SMG over his shoulder. "No checkpoints means we can go straight to where the data is and upload it to our ship. And possibly let some more prisoners out while we're here"
I take hold of the doorknob. "You guys ready?"
Everyone nods.
"David, pulse knife"
I open the door, and David throws his pulse knife inside, marking six hostiles. I toss a flashbang grenade inside, and slam the door shut. After the grenade goes off, I open the door, taking one Separatist down with a blast from my Mastiff. David takes down two with well placed bursts from his SMG, while the three Quarians take down the remaining Separatists with the machine pistols we lent them.
Twenty seconds to take down six Separatists.
"Nice work, folks" David says, cracking open a security panel with his data-knife. "Alright, let's see what we got"
I walk over and pick up one of the weapons held by the Separatists. "M-29 Incisor. This is a prototype Militia weapon. How the hell did Separatists get their hands on these?"
"IMC spy, I bet" David says, angrily. "Dammit"
Keenah walks over. "What is the IMC?"
I sigh. "Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation. They control the Core Systems of human space, as well as the Batarian Hegemony"
"Is it possible that the Separatists captured someone from the IMC?"
I consider the possibility. "Yeah. It's possible, but it'd be difficult. More likely that they captured a Batarian"
David lowers his SMG. "I think I'd prefer the Separatists capturing someone over someone giving them our blueprints"
"We did see a lot of Batarians while we were imprisoned. It's likely that the Separatists captured one with your rifle and scanned it to make a blueprint"
I turn to Keenah, who shrugs. "It's what I would do"
I nod. "Fair enough. So, which of you wants to use the rifle?"
Vato raises a hand. "My instructor said I was a really good shot during my firearms training. I could put that rifle to good use"
"Alright. It'll be on you to drop any shields so the rest of us can take down any more guards" I say, handing the rifle over.
"Alright, doors are open" David says, wrenching his knife free of the panel. "I was also able to retrieve a map of the facility. Should make things easier"
I ready my Mastiff. "Okay. What's interesting?"
"It's more than a holding facility. This whole facility is Vyrrnus' base of operations here in the Terminus Systems. I wouldn't be surprised if we could pull a large amount of data regarding Vyrrnus' plans from here"
I widen my eyes. "Looks like we struck gold, eh? Let's get to the heart of the facility and get that data uploaded"
David nods. "This is likely to be risky. Keenah, if you three want out now, we can signal our shuttle to take you to our ship"
Keenah, to his credit, shakes his head. "We'll stay and help. If we can help get this bosh'tet locked up, then we'll be happy"
David nods. "Glad to hear that"

[-]

Time: 18:40, Galactic Standard

It had been a hard fight through the facility, with Separatists around every corner. Keenah and Nara had picked up assault rifles from the turian guards and provided suppressing fire while Vato used the Incisor to drop the shields of those foolish enough to stay out in the open, while David and I used our weapons to drop any flanking attempts.
And now, we were at the door to the Logistics Hub – the heart of Vyrrnus' facility.
"We ready?"
David and Keenah nod. I open the door and toss another flashbang. Didn't need David's pulse knife to know the room was packed with hostiles. The grenade goes off, and I slam open the door.
I slide into cover, while Keenah and Nara lay down cover fire. David takes cover behind a pillar and starts spraying automatic fire from his position. Vato stays inside the hallway, using the Incisor to put shots into Separatist heads. David throws a grenade and flushes out some Separatists hiding in the main circle of the hub, who get put down by accurate fire from Vato's rifle. Two Separatists try to flank me, but they meet the business end of my Mastiff.
Two minutes, and we had cleared the heart of Vyrrnus' facility.
"Alright. Get set for a siege"
David nods. "Yah. Reinforcements are probably en-route as we speak"
The three Quarians nod and take up defensive positions in the main circle
"Logical Approach, this is Pilot-Commander Cooper, do you copy?"
One second passes, then two. Then three
Four seconds.
Five seconds.
"Logical Approach, this is Pilot-Commander Cooper, do you copy?"
Three seconds pass.
"Logical Approach here. Status report"
"We're in Vyrrnus' facility. Get ready to receive an upload"
"Copy that. Databanks are ready. Initiate upload"
David starts uploading the data. On our helmets' overlay, we see a blue circle appear. "Logical Approach here. Stay in that circle to maintain optimal upload speed. And brace yourself. Enemy forces incoming"
I nod. "Copy that, Logical Approach"
I turn to face Keenah. "Enemy forces incoming! Get ready!"
The doors slam open, and Separatists pour in. "OPEN FIRE!" I shout, letting off a blast with my Mastiff
Automatic fire drowns out anything we can say. Lines of fire, both incoming and outgoing, dominate our view. For the next three minutes, we five hold out while the data is uploaded.
It was the most harrowing three minutes of my life. Even compared to the torture I endured on Gothis, this was an experience most seasoned soldiers dreaded – to hold a vital position, barraged by enemies on all sides…
But we make it. Though sheer force of will, we manage to put down every last Separatist that assaults our position.
"Logical Approach here. Separatist forces are falling back, and the upload has been completed"
I exhale. "We did it?"
"Yes, Pilot-Commander, you did. Well done. Rendezvous at the arranged coordinates"

[-]

Date: May 26th, 2357
Time: 09:31, Galactic Standard
Location: STG-RV "Logical Approach"

"Lieutenant Kirrahe. You rang?"
Kirrahe chuckles, and nods. "Yes. We've been analyzing the data uploaded from Vyrrnus' base of operations. Lots of interesting items"
"Like what?"
"Transmissions, experimentation logs, you name it, we got it. What's really interesting is this bit of data"
I take a look. "What the hell is that?" I ask, pointing to an image of a bug-like alien on the screen.
"That, Pilot-Commander, in all likelihood, is a Collector. Here, listen"
Kirrahe plays the transmission. "We have received your payment of Batarians. In return, here is the technology we promised"
Vyrrnus nods. "Good, good"
"We can provide more, if you can send us a shipment of humans"
"That's not gonna be easy, Batarians are one thing, but humans are well armed, no matter the faction they're aligned with"
"Ease of acquisition is not a concern for us. Provide the humans, and receive your reward. Are we clear?"
Vyrrnus nods. "Yes"
The alien chitters. "Good"
The transmission ends.
"So, Vyrrnus is trading lives for technology. Another crime to add to his list"
Kirrahe nods. "Indeed. That he's secured contact with the Collectors is interesting though. We'll have to warn the Militia Fleet"
I nod. "Of course. But for now, what's our next objective?"
Kirrahe turns, and pulls up an image of a planet. "Daratar. Vyrrnus has been trading with the Eclipse. We think it's an excellent location to ambush and arrest him"
I nod. "Sounds like a plan"

[-]

Beginning of the end. What do you think? Think our team will nab Vyrrnus on Daratar, or do you think he's going to escape? What are your thoughts on the three quarians joining our team? Or the involvement of the enigmatic Collectors?
We'll see what happens next week

On another note, now that work is slowing down, I'm hoping to put out two chapters a week instead of just one. The trouble with that is that I still need money.
If you want to help, I've set up a SubscribeStar ( link on my twitter, JThorncross ) where you can pledge to support me. I have ( currently ), two goals set up, one to help ease my financial burdens, and if you're crazy enough, to make it my full-time job.