Chapter 25: Chapter 25
Alliances
Chapter 25 : Cabin
"Miranda, issue an emergency recall for Dr. Chakwas and her surgical staff please. As soon as she gets here please let Tali or myself know." he says over the link.
"Sending the recall now Commander and I believe crewman Engels, one of the surgical nurses is aboard already. Would you like me to contact the authorities? We definitely need to clear the shuttles passage through Illium space to the docks with them" Miranda states.
"Yes, grease any palms you may need too but please make sure they have a unobstructed transit here Miranda" he says.
"Understood Commander, Miranda out" she says cutting the line and opening another one to dock control.
"See John" Tali says using the opportunity to sit in his lap. She had come to realize that contact with John, no matter what part was used, always seemed to calm him. "Kal just needed time to think it through, he knew we were closer. Now will you stop worrying please?"
Putting his hand on her hip as she sat down he begins unconsciously caressing her bottom saying "Yes. I can't help thinking that I could have done more to help them but as you said, it was his call to make. I'm glad that Reegar's smart enough to see all his options. Will this cause trouble for him in the fleet?."
"That's hard to say" she says looking down at him. "I don't think this has ever come up before, there's not too many non-quarian ships out here that can and will offer assistance to us. I'm guessing they must have already called for assistance from the fleet and if they diverted here after a ship was dispatched then there may be an upset Captain to deal with. They don't like burning fuel for no reason."
Laughing alittle as his mood had finally improved he said "Well, fuel we can replace and I've dealt with irate Captains before so if that's all we have to worry about we're home free." he says. Once again his omnitool beeps, looking up at Tali he asks "Um, could you please?" holding up his arm so she could accept the call for him. Grinning he finishes by saying "My hands busy right now" and gives her a little squeeze.
Snorting she says "Busy huh, good thing this suits resists wear or parts of me would already be showing!" Lifting her hand she activates the unit.
"Shepard" he states.
"Commander, crewman Engels informs me that she cannot access the sickbay. The door is sealed and she doesn't have the access codes" states Miranda.
"Tell her Tali will be right down Miranda, out." he replies then patting her butt says "Sorry Tali, you locked it, you get to unlock it."
"You know I'm keeping count John" she says ominously as she stands and takes a step. Pausing, she turns back to him saying "One day, you'll be taking orders from me and when that day comes I will enjoy every minute of it." She had tried to keep a stern tone in her voice though she knew she had failed as he started to grin.
"When that day comes Tali, I will gladly follow your orders" he said still grinning as the thought of him on his hands and knees doing housework came to mind. Life after the Reapers had been one the topics Tali had tried using to take his mind off of Lana's issues and just who would clean the bathroom had been the latest topic.
"I'll be right back John, keep that lap and hand warm for me" she said then turned and headed towards the elevator.
…
"Transit complete Kal, ETA Brevaert 2.7 hours" Patyn calls out.
"Thank you Patyn, Gavn please inform the Ceslian of our course change. See if they can dispatch a shuttle with medical supplies like blood please. And if anyone asks just...just tell them I held you at gunpoint" Kal says before sitting down again.
Speaking up Han said something that truly surprised not only Kal but everyone else as he had been complaining about abandoning the mission since they had lifted off. He said "If they ask you tell them we're following orders, got that Gavn? I won't let Kal put himself up for treason no matter my feelings."
Looking over at him Kal says "Thank you" then once more looks towards the door. Worst they can do is exile me but most likely it will be reassignment to some work detail scrubbing the waste recyclers but as long as she lives I can put up with anything he thinks to himself.
"Ceslian, this is Fleet shuttle M325266-45N32 informing you of a course change. Currently in Tasale System in route to the Brevaert Space Docks at Illium. We request any medical supplies you can spare, liters of blood needed most. Can you provide?" Gavn says.
"Why have you deviated from your flight plan? We are scheduled to rendezvous with you in 14 hours shuttle 45N32?" came the reply.
"Medical emergency. By order of Kal'Reegar we are proceeding to the Normandy, currently in refit at Brevaert. On board blood supplies are insufficient to reach the rendezvous point. I repeat can you provide medical supplies?" Gavn asks.
"One moment 45N32" and the line went silent. After a few moments the Ceslian replied "We are dispatching a courier shuttle with what medical supplies we can provide. ETA Brevaert is 16.3 hours shuttle 45N32. Good luck with your emergency, Ceslian out."
"You heard Kal? They're sending a courier shuttle with supplies. Over 16 hours away but it's the best we can hope for" Gavn says. "That shuttles not much faster than we are but since it's unarmed there should be no trouble with the local authorities."
"Thank you Gavn, let's hope the supplies aboard the Normandy can be stretched long enough for it to make a difference" replies Kal.
Almost as soon as contact with the Ceslian ended another transmission was received. "Illium Patrol-ship Tinquare to unidentified quarian shuttle please identify yourself and state your destination."
"Patrol-ship Tinquare, this is shuttle M325266-45N32 en route to Brevaert Space Docks with a medical emergency." Gavn replied trying to keep his agitation out of his voice.
"Please hold your course as we verify" replied the Tinquare. After a short pause the Tinquare reponds "You are cleared for fast transit M325266-45N32 but do not deviate from your course."
"Understood" Gavn said dropping the connection. "Kal, they cleared the path for us. We are free to burn hard."
"Thank you Gavn, Patyn please increase to full military power" Kal responded. He will have to thank the person who thought of the local velocity limitations near planets and had them removed for their sake. "Gavn please inform the Normandy of our revised arrival time."
The Captain of the Tinquare watched as the shuttle began pulling away from his ship at speeds they couldn't match. It's a good thing he wasn't required to give chase he thought to himself.
…
"Hey Silkie, looky here." calls Jacko. "You gotta see this."
"What's it now? Did the new copy of Fornax finally get here? I'm waiting for that new asari sample holodisc" he said.
"No, but you're not going to believe this. Jojo want's us to round up as many quarian's as we can. Seems she actually found a buyer that wants them. Alive and unharmed no less" replied Jacko.
"You're kidding right? Some brain-dead sap wants to get their hands on quarian's? Hope they got a reason for them cause them quarian's are hard to keep for long before they spoil." Silkie says.
"I don't really care if they just want to use them for target practice, it's a job that we get paid for." he replied
"So's mopping a floor Silkie but floors don't shoot back or put up a fight.
What makes you so eager?" Silkie asks.
"Jojo's offering a hundred credits each for what we can nab. I say we see what we can and make a few credits. What do you say?" Jacko asks.
"Fine, we'll take a look but for christ sake no females! I can't stand their squealing and kicking and you know how I feel about that other thing" he says as he grabs his pistol and wrist restraints. "Come on, I heard of a couple down in the turian sector."
"Yea, you got some weird ideas about where to draw the line but hell I can live with them" Jacko replies grabbing a few refuse bags. Easiest way to catch a quarian is come up from behind and pull one of these babies down over them. Can't tear it and the vacuum system seals and compresses like one of those frozen food-packs. They get held tight and those suits of theirs seal up scaring the bejeezus outta them he thinks with a laugh. Silkie's right about one thing though, easier to get a male, them women really know how to kick.
…
"Please Zaal, we know you love the geth but you must remember you're are a quarian. Look at that data, we need those weapons and we need them first. What resources we have must be used to improve our offensive ability" states Han'Gerrel.
"I fail to see the need to rush head first into increasing our destructive power at the risk of leaving the entire fleet defenseless Han. It would take far less resources to improve the shielding used by every ship in this fleet. What resources that are left will be free for use in other needs" Zaal replies.
"What is left will go to the conclave for planetary settlement if they get off their padded backsides and make a decision. All they do is argue and we need to move forward. You know as well as I do that if they do come to an agreement then they will request all resources for themselves. We need to begin at once allocating what we have to the weapons research teams" replied Han.
"I tend to agree with Zaal on this" states Daro. "Protection should be our first priority to the fleet, the upgraded shields would give us the advantage in defense allowing even our older ships to survive until reinforcements could assist them. If the conclave does require the resources then we will adjust, have no fear you will have your toys Han but only after we secure the fleets safety and that includes Aeia." Smiling to herself as she imagines Han's blood pressure already spiking.
"TOYS!" Han shouts. "Those toys you speak of are the only reason this fleet exists and everyone here knows that. How many times have we had to fight off pirates and mercenaries? Where would be we if those toys had been ineffectual against the raider that attacked Shepard's shuttle? Had it not been for the Zarax and it's toys we would not have this data now!"
"Calm Han, it was just a poor choice of words" said Shala as she glared at Daro. "We all know the importance of our weapon systems to the safety of the fleet and all it's people." Saying it that way she was including Tali and John and no one could deny that statement. "With improved shields then even our older weapons have longer to turn any attacker into salvage, you must admit that."
"Excuse me" states Daro "there is a matter I must attend to" and with that drops out of the conference. Looking at her secondary terminal she reads again of the strange behavior of shuttle M325266-45N32. Diverting to Illium and almost 5 hours ahead of scheduled mission completion projections. Calling up the missions map sections she knows that there is no understandable way they could have reached their assigned goal already.
Seeing the communication log entries Daro notes the medical emergency but if someone was flying that shuttle then they could have completed the mission. Even if Kal'Reegar was the emergency they should not have left until that data had been obtained, they all knew the mission was always more important than a single life.
Looking closer at the entries she sees 'By order of Kal'Reegar'. So he is fit enough to order the mission aborted but not healthy enough to return and face his actions? Bah, she should have listened to the psych when they said he needed more time to recover after Haestrom. It's her fault for choosing him when he was clearly not ready but no need to advertise that fact.
And why Illium? If an emergency exists where better to go than here especially if it's a medical one? Ah, the Normandy. Shepard you are interfering again but still, Tali has been living aboard for awhile so their medical staff must have some idea of how to treat quarian's properly. His decision process is good then, his mind active and still he fails to report on the mission.
A lesson must be taught to all, we must never forget procedures no matter the reason. Which charges though, cowardice? May be hard to prove if his men stick up for him, now dereliction of duty...yes. He has not reported in, he most likely left the mission early. Now, what punishment is fitting for dereliction?
…
"Miranda I'm aboard a shuttle now and heading to the Normandy, what is the nature of the emergency? Who's been injured?" asked Dr. Chakwas.
"Doctor, we have a quarian shuttle coming in hot with an injured woman. From what I've been able to piece together they have no medic and have been unable to stop the bleeding from a leg wound, it seems they are unable or unwilling to remove an object from the wound. I really don't know much more than we have 2 hours to get ready for them" Miranda said.
"Understood Miranda, have any of the surgical team shown up yet? We will need to get the sick bay cleaned and sterilized after the work they have been doing" she says. "Once I arrive I can contact their ship to get more information."
"Yes Doctor, both Engels and Stanford are here and are already prepping the room. I have also requested an isolation gurney from the Space Dock and it will be delivered within 30 minutes. Don't worry Doctor, your people have had to deal with Tali so they know what to expect" replies Miranda.
"Just in case, is Dr. Solus available?" Dr. Chakwas asks thinking that with quarian's it's always best to over plan any operation and his skills are considerable.
"I'll see if I can find him Doctor" replied Miranda.
"Thank you, I'll be aboard in roughly 30 minutes so please inform the Commander that we will be ready" states Dr. Chakwas. "Now if you could please transfer me to either Engels or Stanford I can give them instructions."
"Understood Doctor, transferring now" Miranda stated and pressing the icons shunted her call to the sick bay. Calling up the Commander she waits for his answer.
…
After Tali had left he had stared at the new door. The installation looked good to his eyes but he knew that before he or Tali trusted it she would examine ever millimeter of the seals as well as the decontamination quality. Looking back to the refit logs he scans and finds the entry stating 'Job completed' for their cabin. Smiling to himself he wonders when they would get to try it out.
Talking with Tali had helped him deal with his sense of failure but he just couldn't get rid of all of it. She was right though, no matter what he had done or said it was still Reegar's call to make. Now if Dr. Chakwas can perform her magic everything will be alright. Having nothing else to look at he once more returned to his models and reaching for one to clean he heard his omnitool once more sound out. "Shepard" he said.
"Commander, Dr. Chakwas just contacted me. She is en route and will be here in approximately half an hour, she is also in contact with her team getting prepped for the emergency" said Miranda.
"Thank you Miranda, please keep me informed of any issues. Did you have any trouble with the authorities?" he asked.
"A little but when I told them we would cover any legitimate repair costs they approved the request. I do expect to receive some bogus statements though so you should be prepared to see them. I'm sure our lawyers will be able to correct any documentation they may present" replied Miranda.
"Alright, it's now a waiting game Miranda. Thanks for handling the details"
he says and signs off. Looking at his models he decides they can wait and noticing his lap is still empty leaves the cabin in search of Tali.