After pacifying Moirah with assurances of in depth discussions during the feast, the group moved onward. Continuing along the mountain range their dirt path led through a forest of tall trees. It was a trail clearly made for pleasure hikes; trash cans every hundred yards or so, trimmed branches and vines allowed unfettered passage over the pacted weed free earth, and a sign which depicted a type of 'Don't feed the animals' pictograph. All to soon the trail widened and the pleasant woodland gave way to a wide open field littered with carnage.
The juxtaposition had everyone speechless. An otherwise pristine hillside was covered in twisted metal and burning wreckage. What looked to be a freight train had gone off the declining mountain tracks at a high speed. Cars loaded with lumber, coal, stone and other industrial necessities lay scattered everywhere. Much of it was warped and rusted; unfit to be repaired.
Iroth Drog'nenrek spoke first. "So is this another art gallery?"
"This one wonders if the slaver has received brain damage."
"One: I'm not a slaver. The tool-breaker tribe is under indentured servitude, and Two: This would fit in perfectly with all the introspective crap I've seen Asari put up on Illium."
"Watch it four-eyes! Some of that 'crap' is older than your entire race." Commando Zelmea shot back.
"So is coprolite." To this the blue woman could only sputter.
"What in the Five happened here!" Orian screamed.
#3 sniffed the air. "Smells like fighting."
"Supportive observation: I also detect traces of methane, sulfur and nitrates."
"A form of gunpowder most likely. I would suggest being on guard." The Blue Sun Salarian inferred with a slight grin as he unclipped his SMG.
Shepard expected the other shoe had to drop eventually, but never in the form of a train robbery. She could imagine Joker telling her to saddle up with a hat, stove door and six-shooter. Unfortunately all the Spectre had was a collapsible helmet, heavy armor and an assault rifle. Her posse of bored gun toting aliens would probably help too.
Armed and armored, Shep brought forward the 'Commander' persona that becoming an N7 drilled into her very bones. "Three teams. Turians left flank. Krogan right. Roadkill you four are upfront with me. Everyone else get the VIPs fifty yards back into the woods, and keep your eyes open. They'd make a hell of a ransom"
The sound of two dozen weapons unfolding was like a nearly forgotten song to the marine. Feeling the rough ceramic and cold steel device in hand sent a chill up Shepard's spine that made her scalp tingle. Real danger had adrenaline ripping through her veins in a way combat simulations could never replicate. Every image was sharp and every sound clear. This is what she had missed more than anything.
With her micro-climax now waning Shepard activated her HUD and saw that everyone was in formation. Beside her the quartet of Vorcha each with a pistol stood ready for orders.
"You four take point. Begin the sweep." At her words all three teams set about their search one step at a time.
Minutes went by at a snail's pace. Neither group found any bodies or blood. Whatever happened here occurred perhaps an hour ago if the dying fires were anything to go by. This may have been just a tragic accident, but it just didn't feel right. Again eyes scanned the inside of an empty freight car.
Shepard moved closer to the steam engine. Walking was getting difficult as the ruptured boiler tank leaked water into the ground.
The Spectre heard a deep yawn from a male Vorcha to her left. Whether it was Larry, Moe or Curly she couldn't tell. It made a show of stretching its arms; one up high and the other tapping the pistol to their head. Next was a wink that made bile rise in Shepard's throat. At her grimace it pointed to the grass. Now she understood. With a nod the Vorcha spun around and dug into the earth lifting up an understandably startled Raloi. Back to a wall and gun to its head the birdfolk leered at their troglodyte captor.
"How did you find him?" She asked.
"Heat-nose." He replied, tapping the three holes in its forehead.
The triple burst of a horn had natives popping out of the woodwork, literally in case of the now revealed faux timber pile. A full company of soldiers appeared almost out of nowhere. The sound of scraping metal made Shepard look back at the boiler. A panel slid open to show four squads worth of combatants and what looked to be a leader. One thing she noticed was a lack of weaponry.
Shep lowered her rifle. "Everyone stand down. It's just a test." Several grumbles and words of disappointment crossed the comms.
"Correct alien, one that you have failed." Strutting forward in full dress uniform was an Amazon of a bird woman. The dark green overcoat and decorated sword reminded Shep of something from earth's bad old days. Teams two and three were ushered back to the middle.
"Colonel Egra. What is the meaning of this!?" Orian stormed up to the warrior fuming. "Who allowed you to put on such a potentially dangerous display?"
"That would be YOUR General Alhena." She replied, enjoying the runner's sudden look of frustration. "Now now my beloved do not fret. I would never harm your precious Starlings." She leaned down and ran her talons through the smaller Raloi's headcrest.
Orian's cheeks turned a deep gold before he pulled away leaving the woman with a frown. "It was not their safety for which I was concerned. Had Commander Shepard's trigger discipline faltered, most of your men would be dead."
"So you are the leader of this 'delegation' then I suppose?" Removing her peaked cap the militant avian took a parade stance. "I am Jovia Egra; Colonel of the Jebuk clan armed forces and government envoy to Cloudreach city." Returning her cap she gave a whistle that had her soldiers extinguishing fires and cleaning up debris. "We will clear the field and my warriors shall head home. I will be in my quarters filling out a report of our success should you wish to speak with me."
The next ten minutes of their wooded walk took place in near silence. Both Volus and Drell were now riding in a small Loki pulled cart Orian purchased from the ambushers. Their next stop would be the cultural center just in front of the city's capitol building.
"My apologies but I must ask what that woman hoped to gain from such an action." Kalius Gaition piped up voicing the minds of his fellow Turians.
"Jebuk has difficulty trusting outsiders. Several decades ago they granted asylum to the Yadan refugees of a terrible drought in four of their major cities. Shortly after each one was devastated by an explosive weapon that left all four in a state of ruin and poisoned the land."
"Yeah. Getting nuked will do that." Ravanor Nura quipped.
"What about the other thing." Shep asked pointedly. "The... you know." She said with a head scratching motion.
Again looking flustered Orian looked away. "She seeks my hand merely for political gain and the chance I may father children for a clan that lacks gifted runners. Jebuk is not only a military centric clan but also the leader in genetic refinement. Many gifted people have willingly joined them to take part in their selective breeding. All in the hopes of guiding evolution."
"Salarian reproduction very similar." Nardar added.
Now at their last and guaranteed safest destination of the day Shepard allowed her flock to wander. Numerous open air buildings of impossible shapes housed art exhibits, musical performances, dance halls, sporting events and prototype inventions. It was a world's fair held to show those not of their world all that is Raloi.
The Research team was excitedly cataloging various specimens at a petting zoo. The Krogan participated in an obstacle course. Matriarch D'aris and Officer Bellso danced themselves silly. The other two Turians entered a marksman and martial arts tournament using provided equipment. The remaining Asari inquired about construction methods. Erane ran around with other children laughing and playing as her caretaker browsed through a bookstore. Evast raun examined decorative quilts while his Elcor counterpart explained the finer points of interstellar trade to a pair of translator wearing Raloi. Vorcha moved supplies and picked up trash under their master's handling. The Quarians showed off the almost limitless uses of an omnitool. Finally there was Miranda who was reaching the masses by way of a televised celebrity Q&A panel.
Shepard and Orian sat near a fountain under one of the many obelisks around the town square. They talked about what joining the galactic community and eventually the Council would require from his people. Humans were the last new kids on the block and Shep felt Turvess needed all the help it could get being so far from a relay. She told him of the in depth medical scans, psychological tests, galactic laws and standardized manufacturing practices. She found it incredibly boring, but she had a job to do.
"This is the last one Alitroth. You know that right?" Behind said bird was an elderly looking crafter with a cane in pure white silks.
Orian took an exasperated breath. "Commander this is Hendar Marvosh of Yadan. He is the head of several artistic programs and his clan's de facto representative. Yadan controls most of our world's oil supply and is the leader in renewable resource management. They also create most of the planet's media."
Before Shepard could say a word the aged man continued speaking. "For six centuries Cloudreach has held a grand fair every five years to celebrate our people, and this is the last. From here on out all anyone will care about are these creatures. It will be their culture that grows throughout Turvess like a cancer. Don't forget that when you look back and wonder where our people's identity has gone, it was you who banished it to the stars."
As the man stormed off Orian gave an apologetic smile. "Please forgive him. Finding the Asari spacecraft in our night sky shook many of my people to their very core. A single image on a viewing monitor no bigger than your hand and suddenly the Raloi realized just how insignificant we truly were."
Shep wanted to lift his spirits. He did so much to make today one to remember. "I've worked in the heart of galactic power for over a year. The ignorant bullshit and power games still exist. We're not better than you; we just have cooler toys." Shepard watched as light returned to the little bird's eyes.