Chapter 42: Chapter 42

Alliances

Chapter 42 : Damn

"EDI, let everyone know two more are dead and that should be the last of them. Until we know for sure though I want everyone staying put, once Miranda's team gets to the cargo hold have Kal send the elevator to deck 5. We'll hold here until they clear deck 2." he said carefully, trying not to show any pain.

"Understood Shepard." replied EDI. "I am detecting stress in your voice, have you been injured?"

"What! Let me look." said Tali as she moved around him and quickly saw the puncture in his side. "Damn it John, why didn't you say something?"

"Both of you stop worrying, it's just a nick or at worse a small hole. Never seen anyone firing a revenant single-handed before." he replied and as Garrus came around the holotank he nodded saying "Glad you made it."

"Glad to be of service." Garrus replied with a chuckle then moved to the still open shaft and carefully inspected it's occupant. He wasn't too concerned about Shepard's injury, not with Tali there to help him if he needed it.

Looking at her John says "Just when did you have the time to hack my comms this time or is it a permanent connection now? I still haven't administered your punishment from before you know."

Before she could answer Kasumi says "Hey Shepard, Jacob and I are inside the Cerberus shuttle. Lots of nice little toys here but the most important thing we found is the crew roster. Just 6 of them, by the logs it looks like they were dropped here about 13 hours ago. Oh-oh. "

"That didn't sound good Kasumi, what happened?" he asked.

"Not sure, some kind of dead-man's switch or timer but this ship just transmitted its location. Best case scenario is we have 13 hours before the ship that dropped them here comes back. Worst case, about 8 to 9 hours before a ship from earth can reach us." Kasumi replied.

"Alright, take your time and get every bit of data you can from that ship. When you're done, wipe it clean and have it ready for flight." John said then stood, grimacing alittle.

"Shepard there has been a transmission from the Cerberus shuttle, it was a broadband radio signal and we cannot intercept that. We can prevent Cerberus headquarters from being informed though, as long as their normal communications channels are use. Also, Miranda has entered the cargo bay and the team are boarding the elevator." stated EDI.

"Thanks EDI" he replied then to Tali "As soon as that elevator gets here I want you on it. You need to find out if they did anything in engineering."

"No John, not until I see you to sickbay." she said and seeing his look added "You're injured and I can't just leave you. You should know that."

…

"Kal, Shepard and his squad have killed two more. There should be no more remaining operatives but until we know for sure please remain on guard." stated EDI.

"Thank you Edie. It will be a pleasure to meet with you after this is over to properly show my thanks for your assistance." he replied.

"I look forward to that Kal. Lana has been told about Legion and is dealing with the news that a geth platform roams freely here. I would suggest though that when relieved of duty you visit her, her heart rate has increased with so many humans in sickbay." said EDI.

"I will Edie, if you can please let her know I will be there as soon as possible." he responded worried now. She was surrounded by humans and her only real protection was her helmet and visor. Looking down at Zaeed he still cannot believe that anyone could use a dead body as a headrest for sleep.

Kal was still scanning the hallway between the starboard and port lounges when EDI contacted him again saying "Kal, can you please release the elevator and send it to deck 5. Miranda and her team have arrived."

"Doing it now Edie." he replied and carefully woke Zaeed up.

…

It took only 2 minutes to for Tali to get John to sickbay but that was after 5 minutes of convincing him he had to go now and not later.

"There Shepard, patched up and good as new." said Dr. Chakwas as she stepped back from the table. "You're lucky, that round missed your kidney by two centimeters." Walking back to her desk she enters yet another log into his medical file as she shook her head at the shear number of entries that preceded it.

Glancing to his right he saw Kal bending over Lana looking at her much the way he did with Tali and that brought a smile to him. He had been going to talk to Kal but not wanting to interrupt them he said nothing, before he could look away Lana noticed him.

Turning her head to look directly at him she said "Captain Shepard I wish to thank you for my life as well as the life of my inszel, Kal'Reegar. As soon as I am able I will do all I can to repay this debt of resources."

Watching as Kal straightened up he smiled at Lana and said "That which is freely given is no debt." He had learned a few things during his brief stay in the fleet and this was one of them, how to respond properly to a debt of resources statement. He added to it saying "I'm just happy we were able to help you." He could tell by the shape of her eyes that she was smiling.

"Captain Shepard as there is no better time to ask, when am I expected to return to the fleet?" Kal asked. He and Lana both knew he would be reprimanded and it had been one of the topics they were just discussing.

"Well, I do suppose it's time for you to find out." he said standing to face Kal. "Kal'Reegar," he states formally, "it was the decision of Admiral Shala'Raan vas Tonbay, active disciplinary office for the Migrant Fleet Marines, that you be reduced in rank to Chief and assigned guard duty aboard a ship in Space Dock."

A gasp was heard from Lana but Kal did not look away. "I understand Captain. When will a ship be arriving to take me to my assigned duty station?" Kal asked. He still stood straight but his shoulders had slumped alittle. It would mean separation from Lana until she was healed and her suit was delivered.

"There won't be any ship to pick you up. You've been assigned to the Normandy until such time as I deem my current mission complete." he said smiling at the two of them.

Both Kal and Lana just looked at him silently until the moment was broken by a painful twinge from Shepard's side. Grimacing he sat back on the bed for a moment then said "My first order as your Captain is for you to watch out for that lady there. Tali is dead set on having a ceremony soon." Reaching behind him he grabs his shirt and begins pulling it back on as Kal looks back at him.

"Captain, one of your crew, a woman named Edie, was of great assistance during the attempted assault. I have asked around but each person I ask either looks strangely at me or just smiles. I wish to thank her in person, can you help me find her?" he asks.

"Kal, I promise I will introduce you to her but that will have to wait just a little while longer. Now please forgive me but I have a ship to get ready." John said and turns towards the door. Halfway to the door he stopped and looked back as he heard his name.

Lana said "Captain Shepard, the debt I owe you can never be repaid."

Bowing slightly he smiled once more then turned and walked out of the quiet sickbay into a noisy mess decks. Dock workers were moving about the mess decks in a hurried fashioned, some moving boxes of stores others returning to the dock for additional items. Heading towards Miranda's suite he heard Gardner yelling at a dock worker with a palette of foodstuffs where it should go.

Signaling at her door it opens to find Miranda waving him in as she spoke to the someone on the dock. "We paid for security yet 6 hostiles managed to gain access to our ship and the only record you have of it was a guard reporting a routine camera failure?" she said loudly. "You even attempt to blame this ship on the deaths of your personnel and in a weeks time we will own this barge you call a Space Dock, is that understood?"

Smiling up at Shepard she indicates a chair for him to sit in as she listens to the reply. "You must understand Ms. Lawson, had we known what type of people would be interested in your vessel we would have provided additional forces." stated someone from the docks. Most likely a lawyer Shepard thought.

"Had you known? What part of the big gold and black emblems on this vessel did you not understand. What section of the contract that specifically dealt with security was unclear with 'Requires full security' explicitly stated." Miranda said sounding angry but the grin on her face showed she was just playing the part.

"Very well Ms. Lawson. What do you require?" said the voice sounding resigned.

"First, get the bodies off our ship and have a cleanup crew here immediately to clean up the mess. Don't forget your worker who decided to sleep through the shift in one of our sleeper pods either. We require two full tech teams aboard ASAP as well as access to any replacement parts required to get this ship underway in 12 hours. Is that clear?" she said.

"The tech teams will be arriving as soon as we can wake them but access to the parts Ms. Lawson? Surely you must understand that we have commitments already and some of those items have already be allocated." he replied.

"If I don't see those parts being loaded in 30 minutes I will have our lawyers file the suits so fast you'll be an indentured servant before you stop pissing your pants. I hope any confusion on your part has been cleared up and if I even think you're dragging your feet on this the consequences may be unpleasant." Miranda said and cut the connection. Smiling she looks at Shepard and said "Now Captain, how can I help you?"

"Et tu Miranda?" he said shaking his head. "I see you've been busy. How long until the full crew is aboard?" he asked.

"Shuttles are ferrying them up as we speak. I think I have Brevaert fully committed now to assisting us." she replied smiling. "Dr. Solus was finally contacted, seems he was deep in an experiment and never heard the recall. The Illium University at Nos Astra has confirmed that he is packing up and have provided one of their own shuttles to get him here."

"Um, Shepard. Would you like to have some time for you and Tali to return to your room at the hotel, to gather your things?" she asked sounding less like an XO and more as a friend. "What I mean is that it may be some time before you and she could...spend time together."

"Thank you Miranda but both Tali and I know that the safety of the ship is our first concern. If you could have Kelly collect our belonging I would appreciate it." he said. Miranda had caught him off guard with that question but he had already considered the loss of the hotel room and what it meant to them. "Is there anything I can do to help get the ship ready?"

"We need to decide where to go from here. The work won't be completed in the time remaining and extensive exterior work is still required. Will the migrant fleet be able to support completing our refit?" she asked.

"That I honestly don't know. They should be already headed to Aeia so they may be too busy with their colonization efforts." he replied looking at his chrono. "Let's meet in the AI core in say...4 hours. Should allow Tali plenty of time to get a full rundown on the ship and then we can discuss it with EDI." Standing he says "You're doing an outstanding job Miranda." and turning leaves her suite.

"Shepard," she called as he passed through the door. "Thanks."

…

"No you bosh'tet, that goes there!" Tali said for the third time loud enough to be heard over the noise. Pointing to an asari who was trying to light a cigar she called out "You, move away from those fuel lines and if you two," seeing a couple of salarian's arguing "can't find something to do that does not involve talking I will seal those air leaks with bulkhead repair sealant." For the first time she really felt at home in the engine room.

Leaning close to Gabby's ear, Ken says "Ah, tis good to be home again. Well, as long as Tali yells at them and not us that is." There were at least 16 salarian's and asari moving about the engineering sections. Either rechecking hardware or stowing gear. By the looks of it, all the ships stores they used getting back from the base were being restocked.

"Even on your really bad days you've never given her reason to yell like that. But if you listen closely she actually sounds like she's having fun." replied Gabby. Glancing at her control board she leans back to Kens ear. "Once these tests are done, I'm heading back to the hotel to gather our things. There anything you want before I return?" she asks.

"Nay, just get back here before I start to worry about you is all." he replied smiling at her. They both heard a crash behind them as the noise in the engine room increased. They both looked over to see Tali approaching three salarian's who were arguing about the gear that had just been knocked over.

"Telgar did that on purpose!" "I did not, you put it in the middle of the corridor." "Hatmis you saw him kick it." the argument went on until Tali stepped in the middle of them and bringing up a can of sealant yells "SHUT UP! I swear if you can't work quietly you will eat this can! You, pick that up and stow it properly and you two grab those cables there and get them stowed in lower cargo now!" Brandishing her can of sealant the three salarian's just followed the can for a second and with mouths closed moved as they were told. Getting the ship ready for departure was the most important thing in her mind right now and she would not let any bosh'tet slow their progress.

Having the ability to amplify ones voice without actually having to yell came in handy as Tali moved about engineering and the cargo decks making sure everything was being stowed and stowed properly. She was watching the core controls but had to rely on Ken and Gabby to alert her to any problems on their sides right now. It was too important to get everything ready to focus on just one item even if it was the core. All her diagnostics had already shown it was operating almost at peak efficiency already.

"I get the feeling that chaos is the norm at times on the ships she's been on before. I've never seen her so animated." stated Gabby. Looking at her panel she sees the diagnostics are finished and checking the results logs the data and works her way over to Tali as she was reminding a dock worker where some cables went.

"Can you not read?" Tali says pointing to the nameplate on the storage bin.

"EFS/CE2 the 2 stands for 2 centimeter NOT the 4 centimeter ones you have.

That cable goes in that bin, there! CE4! Keelah!" she said then noticing Gabby beside her turns saying "Hi Gabby, something wrong?"

"No, wanted to let you know that engine diagnostics have completed and their green across the board. Also, I'm heading back to the hotel to gather Kens and my belongings. Anything you need me to get while I'm there?" she asked.

"Thank you but John already informed me that Kelly was gathering our things. I was looking forward to a few more days there at least but the Ancestors had other plans. Go ahead and get back as quick as you can." she said. Thinking about Kelly getting their things brought something to mind and quickly accessed her omnitool contacting her.

"Tali? How can I help you?" Kelly asked.

"Have you already been to our room?" she asked.

"No, I was heading there in a moment. Is there a problem? I can pick up anything you need and if you're worried I may find something...personal don't be. I can be discrete." Kelly replied.

That question surprised Tali. Her eyes went wide as she realized what Kelly was alluding to. "Keelah no, I..I just wanted to ask if you could bring up one of those flowers, the white ones, if you could please." she said with alittle too much volume.

"Oh Tali, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say anything wrong. I'll get a sterile container for them to keep them safe for you. Anything else?" she asked.

"It's okay, you just surprised me is all. Actually, there are a couple of things if you would be so kind to get." she says and explains what she wants. It was only after she broke the connection that she remembered the lingerie.

…

Looking at his chrono he sees it's time for the meeting and turning from the holotank he steps down nodding to a number of crewmen moving around CIC. The ship was alive again, well almost and his eyes moved over EDI's silent holopad but soon she too would be back where she belonged.

In the 4 hours that had passed, not once had he heard a single complaint, a single gripe, nothing about shore leave being canceled. They moved about with purpose and a renewed energy that the time away had restored to not only their bodies but their spirits as well. Damn fine crew he thought to himself.

…

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.