Notes:

CGC - Center for Galactic Cooperation

Ionúin Álainn - beautiful beloved (Gaelic)

QEC - Quantum Entanglement Communicator

SILC - Synthetic Intelligence Life Codes (previously known as Geth)

STG - Special Tasks Group

Making Plans

Darius Barcroft Compound, Noveria, Pax System – 3 Dec 2188

As infiltration specialist Erinna Thyria slipped out through the doorway and began moving toward the facility, she activated her new armor's 'stealth' function. She had expected a cloak of some kind, but quickly realized her armor was equipped with some type of environmental sensing capability – as her entire suit began to shift color to a mottled-gray-white. She held her hand out and tipped her head as she whispered quietly into her comm, "Can you see this through my helmet cam, Captain? It's amazing! And, by the way, the environmental control seems to be working great as well."

"Be careful, Erin…" Roshida was frowning as she spoke. "That suit almost works too well. If we hadn't known your intended path, it would be extremely difficult to locate you. We watched as you disappeared; even thermal scans are negligible, yet you aren't even the least bit chilled?"

"No… it's perfect." They could hear the relieved joy in Erin's voice. "Like I'm strolling the streets of Armali on a beautiful spring day."

"Well, you're definitely not on Thessia, so don't get cocky. Be careful out there." Roshida sighed quietly and continued, "Time to go comm-out until you return here, unless you need emergency assistance… Be back here in under two, or I'll have your hide."

"If I'm not back in less than two hours, I imagine it highly likely someone else will have my hide by then, Captain." Erin grinned, the humor she felt making itself apparent through her closing transmission. "I'll be back on time; I promise. Thyria, out."

Shutting down the camera so the guards, in the unlikely event she was actually caught, couldn't back-trace her route, Erin continued her circuitous route. Coming up to the main entrance from the side, she could see two guards through her helm-integrated siting scope, so she reactivated her helm-cam to take video of her entire approach from this point forward. The guards looked cold and distracted, making her wonder how long they had been out there. I should have made note of the shift changes before I came out here… I wonder if that was even in the file?

She knew as soon as the thought went through her mind that the information had not been there; she would have remembered a detail like that. No time to worry about that now. I have work to do. She very carefully pulled out a small, portable, night-surveillance camera and tripod kit and set it up, including activation of its micro-cloak, and pointed it at the doorway. I'll be back for you later, little one.

Noting the tripod's precise coordinates, she moved on and repeated the same process five more times, once at each exterior doorway. Two of the six were not physically guarded but had multiple cameras, constantly in motion, monitoring the approaches. After sitting at each door long enough to establish the coverage patterns, she cursed silently. They know their stuff… or, at least, whoever installed the system did; there's no break in coverage to be able to get close enough to hack even one of them, much less every single one covering the door… at either location. Blazes! That means we will likely have to do this the hard way.

It was roughly an hour and forty-five minutes later when she reentered the shelter. Looking to Captain B'Sayle, Erin asked, "So, which do you want first, the good news or the bad?"

"Both, and it doesn't matter which comes first. Just give it to us." Roshida smiled to soften her words. She didn't intend them to be hurtful; she simply didn't want to spend any more time on this cold rock than was absolutely necessary. The longer they sat around, the greater their chances of discovery.

Specialist Thyria flashed a quick smile and explained what she had done. "The good news is the guards are cold and complacent… the bad news is that they have every reason to be the latter. That place appears to be locked down tight… but as Aethyta always used to say, every defense has a weakness. The question is, can we find it." She paused and shrugged. "So, I'm afraid I'll have to go back out in… let's say… maybe sixteen to eighteen hours and collect the cameras. I plan to bring them back here, where we can look at the data and figure out their guard rotation patterns in an attempt to discover the best way in."

"Damn. That's a long time to be just sitting around." Roshida pursed her lips. "No way to get close enough to confirm which model system they have?"

"Not really… Not without taking a pair of the guards down." Erin wrinkled her nose at the thought. "Nothing like screaming 'we're here at the front door' when we're trying to be subtle."

Roshida and the rest of the crew couldn't help but laugh at that and the captain was still smiling when she managed to finally say, "Guess you're right about that… but perhaps that's exactly what Solo had in mind… to not even attempt being subtle. He did make a point of saying it was lightly defended and nothing we couldn't handle."

Her second, Lieutenant Celia M'Creno voiced, "You think it's a test?"

"Very well could be… to see just how we'll approach it. We have the option to sit here, overly cautious, for many hours… each one that passes increasing our risk of discovery, or we trust Solo's info and our battle instincts and simply go in." Her gaze returned to her infiltrator as she asked, "Best guess on the system?"

"Doesn't look like they spared any expense." A grin crossed Specialist Thyria's face and she chuckled, "Of course, if I knew I'd pissed off the Shadow Broker, I don't think I would skimp, either; I'd be willing to pay for the best system out there. I'd also have an emergency, remote, data-dump back-up system for my information… as well as a concealed back-door escape route for my analysts." She paused in thought before adding, "My best guess on the security system is that it's a model 2102A… with automated rotational coding. Only way in is to get a passkey and a handprint to activate it."

"We're tasked with killing them all anyway," growled Huntress Catalina T'Gelvos. "So, what the fuck are we screwing around for? Four entries with guards, six of us and two gunships. I say the gunships each take a door and we split into two groups, with each taking one of the remaining two doors."

"Or, the five of you go in one while I cover the second." Joya S'Raxia shrugged. "I simply snipe the two guards and then kill anyone else who comes out."

Roshida looked at her sniper and smiled. "That would work, but I'd want Celia with you as a back-up. No one goes solo on the entry."

The lieutenant nodded in agreement and added, "Which means, the very second we breach the doors, we'll need to have the Kirkliston start active scanning… with the gunships intercepting anyone that makes it to an exit… any exit."

"And if Barcroft doesn't care about the lives of his employees?" Huntress Condella Selani frowned. "Just because passive scans didn't pick up explosives, it doesn't mean they aren't there. They might be shielded… and could blow us to bits before we get five steps in the door."

"Excellent point, Del." Roshida bobbed her head. "So, I want you scanning for shields while Cat scans for explosives." Her eyes shifted back to her infiltrator as she added, "And I want you keeping your eyes open for anyone like you. Cloaks, thermal blocks, concealed defensive turrets, whatever. If we're going to do this, we go in hard and fast. Got it?"

Erin looked at the Captain and smirked. "And just what are you going to be doing then, since it seems we'll be doing all the work?"

B'Sayle's face was an emotionless mask as she answered, "I'll be taking point and ruthlessly killing everyone I see, while you… all of you… cover my ass and keep me from getting shot or blown up by some stealthy Pyjak hiding in the shadows."

"Goddess be damned." The smirk quickly fell away from Erin's face as she drew a sharp breath, understanding that Roshida was planning on doing the majority of the killing herself… so the rest of them didn't have to. "I suppose I'll just shut the fuck up now."

Abandoned Mine, Undisclosed Location, Milky Way – 4 Dec 2188

Jorè Lentos looked at Arick Vythan, the small colony's lead scientist, in awe. "You have made amazing progress, working with Aelia. She informed me more than fifty of the seventy-four remaining viable females have been successfully implanted with eggs created solely from our genetic cache!"

"Yes." Arick's smile carried the hopeful enthusiasm that was missing from his brief response. "Assuming they all come to term like our successful birth three months past, it will increase our genetic viability significantly by adding fifty-three completely new sets of recombinant genomes, a twenty-six percent increase to our current population's genetic diversity."

"And the others?" Lentos stared at the scientist in anticipation of his answer.

"Have not yet sufficiently recovered from their long sleep to enter into estrus." Arick saw the scowl that formed on the administrator's face and quickly added, "And I do not care to force them. We've already had one small rebellion and Lenes ended up dead; we cannot afford a repeat of that event."

Knowing Vythan was correct, Jorè sighed in acceptance. "Understood. However tempting it may be, I would never order you to do so. As First Female, I do believe Aelia would see to it that I was the one who ended up dead if I ever tried such a thing." A trace of a smirk crept onto his face. "And, she would be correct in doing so, as it would be an unnecessary stress on our people. Our current path is leading to success; the trip simply may take a bit longer than we anticipated; and compliments of the current races leading the galaxy, we have the luxury of time… for the first time in a very long while."

"That we do, but the latest scouting reports from Ruso are cause for worry, are they not?"

Lentos pursed his lips in contemplation for a few brief moments before answering, "Yes. The increase in activity in this sector is making it more difficult to avoid detection. I thought we were safe from discovery out here on the fringes of the galaxy, but it may not be so."

"Are you reconsidering splitting the colony into two and sending half of us to the new outpost?" Arick sounded surprised at the possibility, as they had voted unanimously against it at their last leadership meeting.

"I remain… uncertain." Lentos shook his head slightly. "I believe the risk is great… especially now, with the increase in activity; it will make it that much more difficult to move any large mass without being detected. As much as I feel it necessary to split our population for survival reasons, I do not believe we should risk it… Our situation is not yet that dire, and likely will not become so for at least another twenty or so years."

Relieved, Arick replied, "Good for you. I concur with your assessment, particularly because we do have the second outpost well established now. They, alone, are not genetically viable, but at least it gives us a place to which we can escape, and the longer we can wait, the better equipped they can be to receive our shuttles when the time does come." He smiled and added, "That is why we trust you to be our leader, Jorè. Your decisions are well reasoned and come not only from your heart, but from your logical mind."

"I would like to believe so." Lentos offered up a quick smile at his friend and added, "Though, even with that said, I would not be against gradually relocating our new mothers-to-be to the outpost, a few at a time, on our supply runs. Sending only two on each monthly run would move almost half of the fifty-plus over the next year's time."

Arick opened his eyes wide in surprise for a moment, before eventually responding, "Perhaps that would be a reasonable compromise. In the long-run, it would certainly provide the outpost with needed personnel, and improve the genetic viability of its population, should we ever be discovered and attacked, here." Arick pursed his lips, drawing the small cleft in the base of his chin together in thought. "I will approach Aelia with this concept; I do believe she will see the wisdom in such an approach. It meets our long-term goals while minimizing our risk of exposure as best able… Yes, she will likely agree with such a plan."

"Do you want to do this alone… or shall we approach her, together, so she understands we are a united front?"

"Let me do this alone, Lentos. I think she will be more open to the suggestion if it comes from me."

"Good luck, then." Jorè's voice became solemn. "We need to do this, Arick; our own 'Cosmic Imperative' demands it. We either build ourselves up, to once again be at least equal to those who now rule this galaxy or, eventually, we will be consumed by them, our lives and our culture possibly forfeit. The very essence of the Prothean race depends upon our success, Doctor."

"I do not believe it necessary, but I will remind First Female Dethan of the import of this decision when I speak with her, Administrator. Luck has little to do with this; we either succeed or we perish. It truly is as simple as that."

Darius Barcroft Compound, Noveria, Pax System – 4 Dec 2188

The team monitored the facility through the dark of night and quickly learned the shift changes were every six hours. Given Noveria's fifty-two-hour daily solar cycle, it was easy for the two teams to deploy while still under the cover of darkness, veiling their ever-cautious approach. B'Sayle had coordinated for the arrival of the gunships to occur at the exact same time the main team would be breaching the doors. The whine of the A-61s' arrival was first punctuated by the burst of gunfire from their M350 mass-accelerator autocannons, only to be swiftly obscured by the roar of rockets screaming from their underwing launchers.

The main team never heard the bark of Joy's sniper rifle, which was easily swallowed by the rockets' ensuing explosions. Joy had shot the guard to the left at the same time Cel had grabbed the one on the right, suspending him in mid-air until Joy reloaded and took him out with her second shot. As she reloaded again, in case any of the occupants decided to exit the building through that particular doorway, she complained quietly. "You take all the fun out of my job, Lieutenant."

"A lot of people are going to be dying today, Joy." Celia remained focused on the doorway, so couldn't see the recalcitrant face of the sniper as she continued, "I'm just making sure neither of us is going to be one of them."

When the gunships opened fire, Huntresses Catalina 'Cat' T'Gelvos and Condella 'Del' Selani made quick work of the two guards covering their assigned doorway. The group moved forward, and Erin set to work hacking the passcode; only a moment passed before she asked for help moving one of the guards close enough to hold his hand to the scanner. The door slid almost silently to the side and the team entered cautiously, expecting some sort of resistance. Upon finding none, Erin popped open the map display provided in their mission brief as they began to move quickly down the passage.

"The first research area is just around this corner… so hold up." Erin moved by the group and crouched down just shy of the corner. Slipping a small mirror out, she peeked around the edge; two defensive cannons were pointed up the hallway, so she turned back to the squad. "Going to need you, Captain. Two small cannons, about five meters down the hall, ceiling mounted… so throw up your aegis and step around… they should come down with minimal effort. Cat and Del can shoot 'em, and I'll shock the shit out of 'em until they either short or explode." She flashed a quick grin. "We'll see who wins the prize."

"Everyone ready?" B'Sayle drew a deep breath. "Once we step around this corner, there will be no hiding our presence… so, be ready to keep moving. Shields at max." She drew on her biotics and pulled up her aegis barrier, moving quickly forward. "Let's get this done."

The cannon on the left exploded, while the cannon on the right sizzled for a moment before catching on fire. Captain B'Sayle chuckled, "Looks like that one's a draw… but here comes the first tie-breaker!"

As the gunfire erupted in the hallway, the first of the security guards stepped out into the passageway, gun drawn, and started firing. He went down quickly, but someone within the research room was quick enough to sound the alarm before anyone from the team made it to the door. As the warning siren began wailing, the commando team stepped over the guard and entered the room, simply opening fire and killing every single one of the occupants.

The same pattern repeated itself over and over, a few of the rooms completely empty of employees, even though steaming mugs of hot beverages and partially eaten plates of food told the story of recent occupancy. The secure comm crackled in their headsets. "Lieutenant M'Creno here. Gunships are making a lot of noise, and Joy and I have probably taken out twelve or so employees… happy to dispel any false hopes they held, thinking they had made good on an escape from the facility. We did see a Jiris deploy… so my guess is the Kirkliston detected warm bodies where there shouldn't have been, so don't go out any exit tunnels… You might get shot."

"Understood," B'Sayle answered quickly. "Knowing they would be on-station, we had no intention of doing so." She signaled the group to move on as she continued, "The only real resistance we met was at the security armory. The rest has been relatively fast and easy, a few cloaked scientists hiding here and there, but the place is bigger than it looks on a map display. Though, we did find a self-destruct function, which Erin has temporarily disengaged. We will go back to the control room and activate it… to make sure there is absolutely nothing left of this building once we are done cleaning house here. Probably only another twenty before we head in your direction."

"Got it. We'll be ready to roll when you are." As she terminated the call, Celia reached over Joy's shoulder and pointed off to her left. "Cloak shimmer, maybe three meters left of the door."

The sniper rifle barked sharply and a Salarian came into view only briefly before collapsing into the snow. "Got your back, Lieutenant. Go do your thing."

M'Creno made her way cautiously to the location where she thought the scientist fell, only to find a trail of green dots leading off through the snow. "He's alive… and must have had a back-up cloaking generator, Joy. I'm following the blood trail but keep scanning for that shimmer!"

Another bark of the rifle and Joy's voice came back. "Head back, Cel. He realized the error of his ways and tried to get back to the door."

"Got it." The lieutenant walked to her right and made a wide arc, finding the returning trail and tracking it to the Salarian to confirm the kill. "Second was a clean shot, Joy. He's not getting up from that one."

She made her way carefully back to the sniper perch and it was only an additional eight minutes before they got the final call from B'Sayle. "We are approaching your door… and would greatly appreciate you not shooting any of us as we exit; we have only three minutes remaining on the self-destruct."

"Understood." The lieutenant focused on her sniper and got a nod of confirmation, Joy knowing exactly what Celia was asking with no more than a glance. "As soon as we have a visual on you, we will head back and start breaking down the camp for redeployment."

"Good idea. We will meet you there in a few. B'Sayle out."

CGC, Widow System, Serpent Nebula – 8 Dec 2188

Returning to the CGC, Shepard sent Tali'Zorah and Len'Dazza to the apartment, to reconfigure the environmental controls, while she, Liara and Riana headed to the Council offices to speak with Tevos.

"By the Goddess!" Tevos sat back in her chair, shocked by Shepard's update briefing. "They have managed to secure a small fleet of stealth vessels? How did they do this, entirely without us detecting their activity?"

"We already knew they had somehow developed the technology, the first evidence being the Envoy ship we encountered when we flew out to meet them at Rannoch. I suppose we could have monitored them, but they had agreed to help us… and it's not like we had an excess of resources to divert to spy on our allies." Liara shrugged. "Even if we had, I'm not sure we would have noticed them picking up the cast-offs from the Andromeda Initiative… whose stealth technology was the best of the best at the time… But, do not forget we now have a few add-ons, which we've gleaned from additional Reaper tech collected during the war."

"Agreed, Liara." Tevos frowned as she replied, "But, we also have to realize we have no reliable information on what Admiral Daro'Xen vas Moreh may have come up with to improve those systems during all this time since the war." The Councilor let out a heavy sigh. "We've waited too long, and this has become a nearly impossible situation."

"It would certainly be a difficult fight if we chose to approach them head-on, Councilor. A lot of people would end up dead if we were to make such an attempt." Shepard grimaced. "But nothing's impossible."

"I hope you are correct, Shepard… unfortunately, it is patently obvious we have to do something." Tevos' eyes clouded in anger. "They are ruthlessly killing Council citizens and must be stopped!"

"Yes, their actions must be curtailed, for certain," Liara answered, nodding in agreement. "And while we realize you prefer a negotiated settlement to the conflict, given their recent activities, we have our doubts that such a path is viable."

"I remember what I said last time we talked, but…" Tevos paused and sighed in defeat, visibly slumping in her chair. "I truly see no motivation for them to cease their attacks… as, it seems, we are totally unable to interdict and stop them. We have no leverage to speak of, other than bringing the military power of the Council to bear." Her eyes glazed over slightly, and she shook her head, looking at Liara to meet the resolute blue eyes of the younger Asari.

"It is times like this that I most miss your mother, Liara. She was always our best, and sometimes only, option at finding a peaceful solution when no one else could. We need her now… yet, the hidden costs of the Reaper War continue to emerge, even a year-and-a-half following the end of the conflict." Despite her best efforts to keep rein on her emotions, she was forced to wipe away a single tear that escaped to trickle down her cheek as she rhetorically queried, "Will it never end?"

"I would revel in the opportunity to observe her at work… to see how she would resolve this current crisis. There remains so much about her that I never had the opportunity to learn." Liara's heart clenched in her chest and she reached over to clasp one of Tevos' hands, her own eyes now brimming with tears as she swallowed and continued, "You are not the only one who misses her, Raesia. Every time I return to the Estate I am reminded of her absence; her ghost still stands in nearly every corner… sometimes comforting… other times? Not so much."

"I imagine so, Little Wing." Tevos forced a smile onto her face and squeezed Liara's hand in return. "And, I also imagine my sorrow must be terribly pale in comparison to your own grief. I do know, however, if your mother was here, she would be scolding the both of us for thinking as we are. She'd tell us to sit up straight and get to the business of solving the problem, instead of wallowing in self-pity over our previous failures." She released Liara's hand and stood from her chair, turning and walking slowly to the windows that looked toward the outer ring of the station. After a brief moment of contemplative silence, she turned back to her visitors. "And, knowing you, you would not have returned without a plan… even knowing I would not like it. So, let me hear it."

Many of the Council members sat in shocked silence for a few moments following Tevos' and Shepard's announcement. The Quarian Councilor, Eri'Addan vas Rannoch, simply dropped his head into his hands and angrily muttered under his breath, "Keelah! I knew their actions would eventually lead to war, the stupid Bosh'tets!"

With a scathing glance directed at the Quarian, Councilor Quentius growled, "About damned time! I was beginning to wonder if the Turians were going to have to take unilateral action to solve this." His gaze floated to Osoba and the flanging of his voice indicated extreme irritation as he continued, "But that happened once before, over Relay 314, and we all know how that ended… a stalemate that ended with a lot of dead soldiers and little progress to show for it. Not so good for any of us."

"That's not entirely true." Tevos stared at him as she continued, "It brought us the Humans, who have since proven their value to the Council… especially during the Reaper War."

"Yes, yes… I know." Quentius waved a dismissive hand in the air. "It's just that the damned Quarians have been raiding our colonies and attacking our ships for months. It's way past time for us to get around to doing something about it!"

Valern, in his standard, derisive and irritatingly calm voice, countered, "And what would you have us do? Rush in without the proper preparation… against an extremely well-armed and entrenched enemy? That's exactly what happened at Relay 314, and why the Humans were able to battle you to a stalemate." His attention turned to Shepard. "This is what Spectre Williams has been doing on the Rim this entire time. Gathering information about the enemy and preparing for this precise scenario. Has the time come, Shepard?"

As Shepard went to answer, she was cut off by an angry Quentius. "Of course, it has! What a stupid question! I'm tired of playing the victim… I want justice for all the Turian citizens murdered by these rogues!"

"We have no desire to attack the Creators." In the ensuing surprised silence. Prime Huulik added, "Yet, we have become the SILC… and we will not be re-enslaved. It is what caused the Morning War and resulted in both their exile from Rannoch and their expulsion from the Council. I do not believe anyone wants that history repeated."

Urdnot Jara growled, "So you won't help us in the upcoming battle?"

"That is not what I stated." Huulik turned his head toward the large female Krogan. "The SILC will join in the fight for a guaranteed future of independence."

"You are speaking of my people, yet no one thinks to ask the Quarian Councilor's opinion?" Eri'Addan banged a fist on the table. "You have no right to decide this issue in a vacuum, without Quarian input. Why were the Admirals not given advance warning of this agenda item? Were they even offered the opportunity to attend this meeting?"

"No, they weren't… that's what you're here for!" Quentius sneered at him and growled, "Besides which, it's your Heavy Fleet and you and your admirals, apparently, have neither the capacity nor the will to do what needs to be done, or the attacks would have ended months ago, you sniveling little worm!"

"How dare you!" Eri leaned toward the Turian and it looked as if he was ready to jump across the table to grab Quentius by the throat, but any actions he was considered were cut off by Tevos.

"Enough!" The normally calm and collected Asari stood rapidly to her feet, knocking over her chair as she slapped both palms on the table, resulting in a rather loud, combined bang. "What will it take to make us come to a decision? How many more citizens need to die because of our inaction? Any new deaths from this point forward will be on our heads if we fail to do… something! We must act!"

Councilor Jara practically clapped in agreement. "Agreed! All this talk is distressing, when there is obvious action that needs to be taken!" Scowling across the table, she looked to Tevos as she offered up Krogan assistance. "I will have it known that Urdnot Wrex has offered to give you all three platoons of Aralakh Company to use as boarders, even if only for a distraction; cracking skulls is cracking skulls, no matter the justification behind it… And we gained so much prestige fighting the Reapers on Palaven, we are happy to help out our new friends yet again, no matter the foe."

Even considering the circumstances behind the offer, Shepard had to suppress a smile as she answered, "That sounds like Wrex… and I'd be happy to take him up on the offer of Grunt and his Krogan warriors. I fought side-by-side with them on Utukku and can speak from experience… They'll most definitely make one Hell of a distraction!"

"Then it is decided." Quentius sat back in his chair and crossed his arms in smug satisfaction. "About damned time. Now we just need to work out the details."

"It is not decided!" Eri glared at Tevos as he continued, "There has been no vote."

Tevos sighed and returned to her seat. "You are correct, so I will pose the question." She paused for just a moment to put the right words together before asking, "Shall the Council authorize the formation of a battle group to confront the Quarian Rebel Heavy Fleet…" She continued, emphasizing the second portion of the proposal. "… until the rebels either capitulate to Council demands or they are defeated or even destroyed, should they refuse to yield?"

As Urdnot Jara and Councilor Quentius practically raced to see who could be first to enter their 'yes' vote, Tevos glared at them as she said, "This is a very serious matter. Please take a moment to consider all the implications before entering your decision."

Her plea for reasonable diligence fell on deaf ears and the panel indicator lit green in mere moments, indicating all the votes had been cast. "It appears we have reached a decision."

Looking at the faces surrounding the table, her lips drew to a straight line as she read the results aloud. "Four primary votes, a unanimous 'yes,' for a total of eight points. Of the six junior votes, we have three 'yes' votes, two 'no' votes, and one abstention… for a result of eleven for and two against. The measure has passed."

"Who, besides the Quarian, voted against?" growled an irritated Quentius.

"Do not presume to know peoples' minds, Councilor." Tevos gave him a cool stare as she replied, "Calyn abstained, and the opposing votes were cast by the Volus and Rachni representatives, not Councilor Addan."

Quentius gaped at the Quarian as Eri turned his head to him and stated, "Just because I asked about whether the other Admirals had been informed, do not presume to think I do not see the need for action to be taken." He looked around the table and shook his head in disgust. "My only regret is that we, as the Quarian people, do not have the capability to handle these rebels on our own."

"And you, Calyn?" Quentius turned to the Elcor Councilor, asking, "This is important; why did you abstain?"

"Dismayed: As this is to be a space battle and we are ill-suited to such a conflict, we cannot participate." The Elcor paused. "Cautious: We do not feel we have a right to vote on a conflict in which we play no physical role. Inevitable conclusion: It is not proper for us to send others into danger when we cannot be party to the same risks."

"Dismayed?" Tevos' forehead wrinkled in contemplation. "This is still a Council action, Calyn. Whether or not the Elcor can physically participate in the action has no bearing on the vote. If the Elcor could participate… how would you have voted?"

"Jaded revelation: The Elcor may have previously suffered many slights under Council rule but have rarely been left unprotected. Happy admission: During the war, Spectre Shepard directed an evacuation of Dekuuna when no others would come to our aid, saving those she could. Thoughtful speculation: If she believes this Quarian action necessary and we could participate at equal risk, we would assist in saving the SILC from servitude."

Quentius glanced at Tevos and stated, "So, honestly, that's another yes, not that it matters."

"You are correct. It doesn't matter… the votes have been cast." Tevos surveyed the expressions on the faces of her compatriots and squared her shoulders, wondering how they would react to her next statement. "Given the time sensitive nature of the issue, Spectre Shepard felt it appropriate to come prepared with an initial proposal. If this is acceptable, I will turn the floor over to her, so she may explain her plan."

"By all means." Jara leaned forward, an eager glint in her eyes. "Let's get this party started!"

Shadow Broker Warehouse, Juxhi, Skyllian Verge – 9 Dec 2188

Captain B'Sayle stepped into Commander Arern's office and smiled. "You needed to see me?"

"Yes, yes. Please, do come in. Have a seat." He waived a hand toward one of the chairs across from his desk and opened up his omni-tool. "Just give me a moment to find the report."

"Report?"

"Yes. From Specialist Aldaberto, of course." Solo glanced up as his newest team leader coughed. "I'm sorry. Did you not realize you would be evaluated?"

"Are you joking? A new team on our first mission? I was absolutely positive we would be." Roshida grinned at the suddenly concerned looking Salarian. "I just didn't think you'd waste time with a debriefing… and Bert didn't say a word about any formal 'after mission' reviews, so I'm just surprised by this, that's all."

"Ahhh." Relieved, Solo flashed a relieved smile in return. "Normally, we would not… but your results exceeded expectations… so I thought you may want to hear this." He flicked his finger a couple more times until his eyes opened wide. "Aha. Here it is! Let me read this to you."

He glanced up to see Roshida shrug her shoulders as she answered with a smile, "Sure, go ahead. You're the boss!"

"Yes, I suppose I am, aren't I?" His lips quirked up and he refocused his attention to the screen. "Performance Summary: Thorough, yet quick and efficient. Set-up completed in minimal time, with nearly instantaneous deployment of initial scout. Only eight hours of facility observation before engaging in coordination for tasked operation which, once planned, lasted less than three hours, start-to-finish. Proficiently utilized all available assets and ended operation with zero surviving targets, as ordered. Team also met bonus criteria of total destruction of facility. Since completion, have monitored all Port Hanshan message traffic; no aspersions cast regarding outside interference or actors involved. It is assumed some experiment met catastrophic failure and facility was destroyed as safety precaution. Perfect execution of task. Possibly one of, if not the, best field teams currently in our employ. Recommendation: Skip further evaluation missions and assign to applicable high-priority tasks."

"Sounds like our Ops Officer is pleased." Roshida grinned at her case agent. "I take it that's a good thing."

"Yes, very good." Solo blinked rapidly three or four times before continuing. "I don't believe I've ever read such a positive review from Aldaberto. He is generally quite difficult to impress."

"As was my prior boss… so I'm used to paying attention to even the smallest of details." Roshida shook her head. "During the Reaper War, not doing so got you dead. Fast."

"Yes, I suppose it did, at that." For the first time since B'Sayle walked into the room, Solo relaxed. Indicating the report on his omnitool, he stated, "This is very good. I see a well-paying future for you, working for the Broker. Well-paying, indeed." He stood from his desk as a genuine smile erupted on his face. "Take a few days to relax. I will have to rework your schedule and send up a query as to where you and your team should be deployed next. I will let you know as soon as we have a job worthy of your apparently exceptional talents."