Chapter 37: Chapter 37

Alliances

Chapter 37 : Vote

"47 damned space docks and the most interesting thing we've see was that asari pleasure cruiser." stated Andrews as he pulled up the data on their next target. Oh goody, a closed dock.

"Sir, these docks have pretty good security, what's your plan to enter?" asked Jazzy. Jasmine Smythe was her name but she hated it, didn't have that killer sound she would tell everyone.

Andrews looked at her wondering how she ever made it into Recon 1. "Smythe, how do we infiltrate anything? Use that pea brain of yours for once." Looking away from her he says "Greene, start your magic. Time to get a security override in place." he said.

Cursing at his insult Jazzy sat down again. Talking to herself she says "Son of a b*tch, thinks I'm stupid. I'll show that smartass."

"Smythe! Shut the hell up or you get to ride shotgun, outside the shuttle." Andrews said firmly.

"Aye sir." she replied angrily but sat there quietly. She would show him.

Waiting for the exchange to finish Greene said "Computer probe away, shouldn't be too be too difficult breaking into their security once we open up their computer systems sir."

"Any idea how long Greene?" asked Nguyen their sniper.

"Unfortunately no, they have some pretty sophisticated systems out here. Bunch of these places use stuff illegal in citadel space so we just get to sit and wait. Our systems will get in, don't you worry about that." replied Greene as he patted the console before him.

"So? Anyone up for a some cards?" asked Chavez. "I've still got most of last months pay just sitting there waiting to be taken."

"Ha, Taken my ass. Last time you said that your account grew with my creds!" replied Landry loudly. "Thanks but no thanks, I'm going to just get some rest."

"Alright people, just keep the noise level down. Shuttles cramped enough, we don't need to add more irritations with your shouting." stated Andrews.

"Through the first firewall LT." Greene said as the data changed again. "Second one bypassed as well. Should be in the system soon."

"Good, as soon has you have access bring up the internal camera's. Let's see what their hiding." stated Andrews.

"Ten creds says it's a damn private yacht." called out Chavez as he looked around for any takers.

"Stow it Chavez, this isn't a game." replied Andrews.

"And we're in LT." stated Greene as he scanned the data before him. Finding the routines he needed he called them up and substituted his overrides for the standard security. Digging deeper into the system now he says "LT, camera's are all isolated to internal systems. Unable to view the dock itself, the system does say the dock is empty though."

"Empty? You're sure?" Andrews asks as he watched a hauler was landing on the docks loading platform.

"Well, that's what it says but judging by the equipment being brought in I'd say it was lying to us. Could be they are staging for an incoming repair but the way they have the internal systems isolated from the external it could also mean they just like tight security." replied Greene.

"Fine, we do it the hard way. Insert a command stream and get us access to that dock." he said to him then louder he adds "Alright people, get ready to move out. Seems we get to actually do some walking today. And please no shooting the locals, that really pisses them off."

…

"What are you doing up? It's only been about 3 hours and I know you're exhausted." John asked as Tali eased herself into the co-pilots chair. They were as comfortable as the one Joker used aboard the Normandy but more worn and broken in adding that additional comfort.

"Well, um.. I couldn't sleep." she said feeling slightly embarrassed now since she had been teasing him earlier.

"I know what you mean, it's just too quiet in that cabin." he said thinking that she was still upset about the earlier revelations. Her day had already been difficult enough as it was and he was not going to bring up Daro again.

Smiling in her mask at his remark she replied "It is quiet but I should be used to that by now. The hotel room is pretty well insulated from sound as well if you remember. I just can't seem to get my mind to relax, as soon as I close my eyes I start thinking about the past and what has happened."

Turning to her he said "You've got to let it go Tali, don't dwell on the things you had no control over."

"I've tried, for 3 hours I tried. They were in the past, safely buried where all bad missions need to be but since I learned of the real cause they keep coming back. I keep thinking of all the people that died because of me. I keep seeing them staring back at me." she said, her exhaustion was apparent in her movements.

"No Tali, they didn't die because of you. They died because of Daro and her twisted plans. You had no control over it, only your abilities got you through alive. Remember that. Remember them. All you can do is make theirs deaths mean something to you, let it make you stronger and through you, your race." he replied

Yawning Tali said "I'm sorry, I'm just so tired from today and hearing your voice helps me relax. I know what you're saying is true, that I had no part in their deaths but it changes nothing. Their still dead." Leaning back in the chair, she turns her head to watch him.

He responds "Yes but now you no longer need to feel responsible. They were friends that died, you morn their loss and remember their courage every day but they don't blame you so you don't need to either."

"I know you're right but it's not easy" she said eyes half lidded.

"Maybe you should head on back to bed, you're fading out here." he said smiling at her.

"No, I can't sleep there but here is okay. The sound of your voice keeps them away" she replied, her eyes closing then opening slightly only to close again.

Still smiling he says "So you're saying I bore you to sleep?" Watching her he sees her head shake only slightly but that could have just been her getting more comfortable in the chair. He sat there just watching her as she slept, all for about 3 minutes before she jerked awake again.

"What?" she said as she looked around then seeing him just smiling at her said "Sorry." as she layed her head back down.

"Tali, did I ever tell you how I got that little scar on the back of my knee?" he said watching her still. Her eyes had closed again but he continued softly "It was at my grandmothers house. There was a little stream that ran through her property, my grandfather had put a small bridge over it..."

As he sat there telling her the story Tali finally found the peace she needed to sleep.

…

"Okay Kal, you have to leave. Now." Ellen said to him as he just looked at her. Seeing that he just wasn't going to move she resorted to stronger tactics. "Hello? Kal unless you want to explain to Lana just why you were looking at her naked body I suggest you get out."

"What!" he said looking at Lana then back to Ellen.

"Kal, we need to get that cool suit off her and to do that.." she was saying.

"Keelah, wait. I'm leaving." he said taking one last look before quickly leaving the sickbay.

Ellen just watched him go shaking her head, finally as the door closed she said to Dr. Chakwas "Men, they can be rather dense at times."

Dr. Chakwas sealed the door for privacy then went to assist Ellen. It had been touch and go but luckily Lana was a strong young woman. Her fever had finally broken and as her temperature lessened so did the infections in her body though it was still days away before it would be considered finished. Her delirium had subsided earlier and had actually managed a few coherent sentences before once more succumbing to exhaustion and falling asleep. Those few words though had done a lot for Kal as he visibly relaxed afterwords.

Gently rolling her body first left then right they managed to loosen the straps that held the cold suit in place and removing it began cleaning her body, removing any sweat and dirt that had gotten in. Pulling out a fresh blanket to cover her with Ellen asks "Dr. it wouldn't be much but knowing how much they value bodily privacy why don't we dress her in that robe Tali dropped off. You know, the green long sleeved one with the pretty lace. I've seen how uncomfortable she was before when her arms were visible."

"Wonderful idea Ellen, it may not cover all of her but it will definitely keep Kal from seeing anything she would be upset about. Please get it as I check her leg." Chakwas said as she examined the thigh. There would still be a nasty scar there but it looked like it was healing nicely, barely any drainage in the last 6 hours. Soon she could remove the tubes and let the leg fully heal. Only time and use will tell if it will actually even support her weight but for now, best to not mention that.

Looking up she sees Ellen returning with the robe and says "Yes, lovely. I think she will approve of this change in attire." Together they quickly had her dressed, although with the robe ending mid-thigh Lana might not consider this any where near as dressed as she wanted to be. Best to put the blanket on her and wait until she wakes.

As Dr. Chakwas adjusted the blanket she said softly "You gave us quite a scare young lady. When you wake, you better be ready to do a lot of talking as a certain young man may very well have run out of things to say. That is until you answer the question his heart was asking." Gently patting her shoulder Dr. Chakwas returns to her desk to review the latest readouts.

Unsealing the door she jumped as it opened immediately revealing Kal standing there.

Looking at Lana he asked "Dr. Chakwas, it's alright if I enter now? She is doing well?"

"Yes, yes. Come back in Kal. Give her alittle more time and she'll be able to tell you that herself." she replies to him, a warm smile on her lips.

Instead of walking towards Lana he approaches Dr. Chakwas and whispering he asks "Um, you're not going to tell her that I, ah, that she kicked her blanket off are you?"

"No Kal, that is one secret you can rest assured will never be mentioned. Now go sit by her if you must but she's out of danger now. What you really need is to get some rest, you can't keep going like this. We'll call you if she starts to wake up."

"If you don't mind I would prefer to stay here for a bit longer if I may." he said glancing over at Lana's sleeping form.

"What is it with you men or should I say quarian women that can push men well past any tolerance known? First I'm stuck with Commander Shepard while Tali healed and now I'm stuck with you." she said though the smile belied her irritation. "Go, sit with her. When you pass out we'll just put you in the other bed like we did the Commander."

…

"In surprising short order, the Ziiten had withdrawn it's vote allowing the next ship in the Line of Votes to stand before the Conclave and be heard. Glancing at the list she was shocked to see the name. "Well, it's the first time we're voting for a planet so it might as well be the first time for this as well. I wonder just what Zaal had to promise to convince the Ziiten's crew to allow his ship the honor." she said aloud to no one but herself.

Watching the Conclaves official channel she hears Katyn'Cautry vas Qwib

Qwib ask "How long will it take for the fleet to reach the Alpha Draconis System?"

She watched as Illin'Wisik stood and quickly answered "From here, 36 hours straight flight."

Katyn replied proudly "The Qwib Qwib votes Yes!"

Shala smiled as the measure passed. It was the first time a non-quarian named vessel had ever cast the deciding vote and it would do much to remove the stigma of the ships name for her crew. The remaining ships now just cast their votes as well, no longer having a part in the decision they would still let everyone in the fleet know which side they chose. If the colonization of Aeia failed, then those that had voted nay could look upon the others with satisfaction saying 'I told you so'.

Her primary terminal lit up as the other Admirals called for a conference. Still smiling she accepted the call and heard Han saying "Congratulations Zaal. One for the logs to be sure".

"Thank you Han, yes the Qwib Qwib has a right to be proud this day. But now we must set the fleet in motion, we have a planet to call our own again." Zaal replied. He had wanted this day to come for so long that he still looked upon the results with alittle disbelief.

Finally joining the conference Daro said "I propose the immediate recall of our mining craft. We will have 7 hours before all mining craft can be retrieved and we can begin our journey so we can use that time to decide our course."

"I think it's best to wait until our mining operations complete. We may very well need that water and fuel. It only adds an additional 23 hours to the flight but safety is paramount." stated Zaal.

"Very true, as it stands we then have 23 hours to plan the course we shall

take. To be honest, out here where we find ourselves, the straight path does seem the best option." stated Shala. With the fleet moving together, even in deep space, no pirates would attack as long as there were no stragglers.

"I'm not so sure Shala." stated Han. "The straight path is the one most easily thrown off course. If we head to the Ralengrey system it puts the fleet far out of any shipping or travel lanes, making any detection of us difficult."

"An additional 5 hours of flight time. Seems like it's just a waste of fuel Han." replied Daro. She wanted this transit over quickly and this fool was trying to prolong it.

"I'm not sure that course is needed here. Nothing has been detected by our pickets. The systems in this area are old and offer nothing of value except for the water and that can be found in many more easily accessible locations. No, this time, the straight path is best I believe." stated Shala. She was not ignoring safety but space was dead in this cluster, it was one of the reasons they had chosen it. It was safe.

"Ah, a new Call for Votes has been issued. Seems they are getting around to where the colony will be founded." stated Zaal.

They all quieted as the opening prayers were said and the Line of Votes once more filled with the ships of the fleet. Taigan'Latsow stated clearly "There is one vote to be taken and two lists to be created today. First is the proposed site of our new colony. The Admiralty board has chosen this site here." he said as a map was brought up on every terminal in the fleet indicating the rivers mouth with its high cliff walls. "As you can see, it closely resembles the Ogwer's of Rannoch. Since this is the only location on Aeia with this type of structure the Vote will be yea/nay. If the choice fails then a planning committee will choose another location."

Shala smiled, at least this would go fast. All across the fleet their representatives were making there decisions and the voting tally climbed quickly. It seems that tradition still holds sway within the fleet as only a few ships voted no.

The next vote though may take weeks as they would now be deciding on a name for their new city and after that the name for the river on which it was built. She was an old sentimental fool, she knew it but still she could find no reason why her choice would be any worse than the others. Already the List of Choices for the city and rivers names were growing so she added her choice as well.

For the city she entered "Imastyl Mazu , Ancestors Hope." and for the river, she smiled at herself then entered "Unastali" or in galactic, Tali's Courage for without her none of this would have come to pass. She knew neither would make the final vote but every adult in the fleet was doing the same.

It was then that it hit her, what the vote actually meant to her and to everyone in the fleet. As Shala sat there watching the voting she knew that every single quarian who was old enough to understand was doing the same thing she was. They were crying.

Ogwer: Term used to describe a major rivers opening onto the sea. Literal Translation: High mouthed waterway. Imagine if the grand canyon on earth ended abruptly leaving the high cliffs on either side of the river and the sea before it.

Inszel: Term of status or standing within a social circle. Literal translation: Most trusted confidant and partner.

Used to describe the personal relationship of an individual. Implies a deep personal connection. Humans would say girlfriend or boyfriend but these only touch the surface of what it truly means.