Date: April 29th, 2356
Time: 09:00 Galactic Standard
Location: 1st Floor, Zakera Ward, Citadel Station
"Today, we have Sergeant David Anderson of the 5th Militia Fleet. Sergeant, word from Elysium is that the Batarians have their own Titans now? What can you tell us?"
I fold my arms. "That's correct. The Batarian pirates we faced were using Titans of unknown configurations. It's unknown at this time where they got their titans, but I'm sure we'll know soon enough"
The reporter – one very annoying Khalisah Bint Sinan Al-Jalani – nods. "Of course. Now, word is that you've been sponsored for Pilot training by Pilot-Commander Melissa Cooper. What do you have to say about the rumors about your sponsor?"
I grit my teeth. I'd heard some of the rumors – one of which claiming that Melissa and I were sleeping together. "It's a load of bullcrap. Regs are clear – if you're sleeping with a subordinate, you can't sponsor or promote that subordinate in any way because of the conflict of interest. Militia Pilots have to be the best of the best – can't let emotions get in the way"
Khalisah nods. "And what of the allegation that your sponsoring was pushed for by Jack Cooper, the legendary Hero of Typhon?"
I shake my head. "More bullcrap. I've met Jack – he's not the type of guy to throw his weight around for anything. I got sponsored because I have skills and talents that would be honed to a knife-point in the Pilot Corps – not because I slept with someone, or lobbied for a position"
Khalisah nods again. "Of course. Thank you for joining us today, Sergeant Anderson, and good luck with your pilot training. As always, this is Khalisah Al-Jalani with Westerlund News"
Date: May 27th, 2357
Time: 09:12, Galactic Standard
Location: Mess Hall of STG-RV "Logical Approach", en route to Daratar
I look around the mess hall. David and his squad are chatting with Kirrahe and his squad, while Saren and Nihlus discuss the data David and I secured from Vyrrnus' base on Omega. I grab a tray of food and walk over to Nihlus and Saren.
"Anything new?"
Saren shakes his head. "Nothing more than what we've decrypted so far, so Nihlus and I are speculating"
I pull up a chair and sit down, balancing my tray on my legs. "Lemme guess – what it is that Vyrrnus is trading with Eclipse?"
Nihlus nods. "I'm thinking that he's buying technology from them. Eclipse has some… harsh methods, but their biotic commandoes are well armed. Makes sense that he'd buy tech to enhance his biotic experiments"
Saren nods. "It does, but it could be that he's buying people from Eclipse. As I understand it, Eclipse does have some bounty hunters in their ranks, so they have the facilities to hold people. Someone like Vyrrnus could offer money for the bounty, or bounties, then take the prisoners for experimentation"
I nod, finishing off a piece of broccoli. "Could be both. We both know he's got access to the Hierarchy Resurgent's coffers, after all"
Nihlus nods. "That's another possibility we've considered"
I shrug. "Seems the most likely to me"
Saren makes a gesture, and the screen in front of him closes. "In any case, that's enough speculation for now. Best to let the decryption processes run, so we can look at the full picture"
Nihlus nods, and closes his screen. "Fair enough. So, Cooper, how's your biotics? It wasn't that long ago that you were in a hospital bed, and now you're back with us"
I nod, repeatedly. "It's still strange to me. I have these new abilities that no human has had before, so I'm the pioneer for what's going to be normal for any other human biotics down the line"
Nihlus grins. "No pressure"
I stick my tongue out at Nihlus.
Saren lifts a finger. "Fair response, but you didn't quite answer his question. How are your biotics? It's not like you used them on Omega, so we couldn't gauge them against biotic abilities of other species"
I nod. "I know. With Omega, I pretty much ran on my training for close quarters combat, rather than try something that could have… mixed results. That said, my trainers said my biotics are stable, although they would've rather I'd stayed a little longer with them"
Nihlus tilts his head. "Who were your trainers? I know the Republics sent some biotic experts to evaluate your abilities"
I nod. "Yeah, they sent… let's see. One of their Matriarchs, Aethyta I think her name was, along with a complement of Commandoes"
Saren raises one of his brow-plates. "Matriarch Aethyta? Well, consider me shocked"
I raise an eyebrow. "What's up with Matriarch Aethyta?"
Saren nods. "Right, so the good Matriarch used to push big time for the Asari Republics to stop relying so heavily on the Salarians and us Turians. One of her big points was the activation of mass relays. Said that the Asari, being as advanced as they are, should start constructing their own mass relays. Most of the other Matriarchs weren't too thrilled with Aethyta's ideas, so she left. Of course, she still holds a fair amount of clout on Thessia, being a pariah of sorts in the Republics. Perhaps she sees a way back to the top with your Frontier Alliance"
I wince. "More politics. Just what I need"
Saren grins. "Daughter of a war hero, and an accomplished veteran herself, commander of an elite unit of Militia Pilots, hates politics"
I stare as menacingly as possible at Saren. "Yes. It's bothersome. Politics is just another form of manipulation, and we Coopers hate manipulators"
Nihlus looks over. "If you hate politics so much, then why did you accept the position of Pilot-Commander of the Marauder Corps? Surely you had to know that politics would be a large part of the position"
I close my eyes, and sigh. "Nihlus, if you had to guess, how many Pilots are in the Militia?"
Nihlus thinks for a second. "Five to six thousand Pilots"
I grimace. "I wish there were that many"
Nihlus raises a brow plate. "What do you mean?"
I sigh. "There are a number of pilot factions in the Frontier. Military, like the Marauder Corps, Corporate, like the Dakota Companies, and Freelancer, like the 6-4. Most Pilots nowadays join one of the Freelancer or Corporate factions, since the Frontier War is over. As a result, we're more dependent on our foot troops, rather than our Pilots. Where once all Pilots fought for the Frontier's freedom, now we're divided. Our Pilot brigades are small, not more than fifty Pilots and their Titan companions"
Saren whistles. "And you're…
I sigh. "Yeah"
Date: April 29th, 2356
Time:10:00, local time
Location: Milita HQ, Harmony
I switch off the TV. "I'm really starting to hate that Al-Jalani character"
Briggs nods. "Yeah. Wonder if she's an IMC leftover from the war"
I shake my head. "Can't be. Too young. My money's on her being a corporate crony. Which is probably just as bad as IMC"
Briggs nod. "Yeah. If not worse, these days"
I rest my hands on the table and lie down. "Worst part is, nothing's going to happen to her. Too much money behind her looks and her empty head"
"Hey, cheer up. We did just get a new pilot, after all. That's something to be proud of"
I nod. "Yeah. Not that we'll be able to give him a Titan any time soon, let alone a jump kit. Wish we could get that Shepard fellow to join us as well. You should've seen him on the field, Briggs. We couldn't have held Elysium without him"
"Really?"
I nod.
"Damn"
"Yeah. If it weren't for the press, we could've gotten two pilots in training. But no, Frontier War is over, so all the Corps are grabbing as many pilots as possible"
Briggs crooks a finger at me. "We still have the 6-4 with us"
I look up with a cynical stare. "You know that's only because of Mom and Dad"
Briggs grimaces. "…damned if you're right"
I shake my head. "And now with the Batarians fielding Titans of their own…"
Briggs rubs the bridge of her nose. "We have to find a game-changer. Soon"
Date: May 27th, 2357
Time: 10:49, Galactic Standard
Location: Mess Hall of STG-RV "Logical Approach", en route to Daratar
"So basically, corporations hired as many freelancer and independent pilots as possible, gave them packages to encourage them from leaving for the militia, and sat on their contracts"
Nihlus tilts his head. "What about your Marauder Corps? Weren't there some pilots on Shanxi who were part of your brigade?"
I shake my head. "They were about to retire. They came to Shanxi as a favor to the Field Commander, Dad, and myself. Technically, they were supposed to retire before Elysium, but they decided to stick around until I had a comfortable number of new Pilots with me"
"So this is as much a recruitment run as anything else"
I shake my head. "This is me, proving I know what I'm doing in the field. Hopefully that'll encourage more troopers to apply for pilot training"
[-]
Date: May 28th, 2357
Time: 11:21 Galactic Standard
Location: Bridge of STG-RV "Logical Approach", en route to Daratar
I step into the bridge. Nihlus, Kirrahe, and David are already here. "Gentlemen" I say, nodding as I step forward.
"Pilot-Commander" David says with a salute.
"At ease, Sergeant"
David relaxes. "Decryption processes finished running just a few minutes ago. We now have full access to the data found in Vyrrnus' command center on Omega. Lieutenant Kirrahe and Nihlus have been taking a look"
I grin. Finally, we could start planning our op on Daratar. "That's great news, Sergeant. Nihlus, what do we know?"
Nihlus shakes his head. "You remember our little speculation talk yesterday?"
I nod. "What do we know?"
Nihlus pulls up a message from Eclipse to Vyrrnus. "Technology, bounties, even some contracts for their mercenary corps. Asari Commandoes, specifically"
"Fodder for his twisted experiments"
Nihlus nods. "Agreed. But more importantly, one of those contracts is about to come up for renewal"
I start to see where Nihlus is going. "So we ambush him when he heads to Daratar to renew that contract"
Nihlus nods. "That is, if he chooses to do so. There's a possibility that he's done with them now, and by now he's received word of what you and David did on Omega. So he's going to be cautious. Probably have some representatives from Eclipse head to his ship"
"So we infiltrate Eclipse's post on Daratar, sneak aboard their ship, then ride with them to Vyrrnus' ship"
Saren nods. "That's the idea. Fortunately, we have a mole in Eclipse who just so happens to be posted on Daratar right now. She'll be able to help you get into Vyrrnus' ship"
I grin. "About time we made that rat bastard pay" I say, cracking my knuckles.
[-]
Time: 20:49 Galactic Standard
Location: Shuttle Bay of STG-RV "Logical Approach", in orbit of Daratar
"You ready for this?" David asks, checking his R-99
I nod. "I did just spend all day training with my biotics"
David nods. "Good. Bravo Squad's ready. Been ready since Gothis…"
I wince. David apologizes. I wave it off. It's not your fault, I hear myself say, as memories of what happened there fill my mind.
The torture. The humiliation.
So many things they did to me during those five days there. Before David and Nihlus found me.
I clench a fist… feel David's hand on my shoulder blade. I calm down.
"You're sure you're ready?" David asks me, his eyes filled with worry. "We can wait for another opportunity. We have his schedule, his data from Omega, every resource we need to get him"
I nod. "I know. But I need to do this now. Otherwise, he'll inflict more suffering. More pain. We have to stop him now"
David nods. "I understand"
Bravo Squad, along with Kirrahe's STG team arrive in the hangar. "Vyrrnus' ship will arrive in system soon. Shuttle's prepped, and Nihlus' mole in Eclipse is aware of our mission"
David nods. "Good. Teams, mount up"
[-]
Daratar, here we come! You think our guys will nab Vyrrnus? Or will he escape? We'll see in chapter 19!
As always, thank you for reading this far, and if you want to support me, you can find my SubscribeStar link on my twitter page, which is linked on my Profile here. If you want to review, I ask again that you make an account here so I can more easily respond to your critiques and comments, and as always, see you next time!
