Authors note: Sorry for the lateness, things have been hectic as a family member broek their ankle so I'm helping take care of em. I'll try extremely hard to pick up the writing pace here though, as I've also been playing wat too much Starpoint Gemini warlords.
Magic Academy Ship Philosophe, Location unknown, October 3rd 2142
The MAS Philosophe was designed with one thing in mind before all others, classes. This made it different than the Final Spark, designed for combat primarily, or the Wonderland, designed more for research. Designed first for classes the Philosophe had dozens of practice rooms, classrooms, research and study halls, and of course its doorway into the Voile Library, where most research took place on the ship. What took up the most room however were not the classrooms of the ship, but the practice hall.
The practice hall was a rectangular room roughly the size of a professional football field. Small alcoves set in all the walls to allow spectators to learn off those who trained, and powerful barriers kept magicians spells inside the field, and out of the alcoves. Many classes were held in the practice hall, but there were also times where it was used for free study or practice, often leading to mock duels that allowed students to test their metal.
Such as one such duel that was currently going on, with almost the entire ships student body watching either from alcoves or video feeds.
"Damn, neither of them are stopping, are they?" Anderson said with a chuckle as a flash of blue light nearly blinded all those watching the field.
"Of course not." Adaaya deadpanned with a sigh as she looked to her right at David Anderson and Kahlee Sanders who both stood watching the spectacle before them. "It's the old immovable object scenario, as long as both of them have mana, they're not going to stop. It's a battle of endurance now unless one of them changes their tactics."
"I agree, they both are strong, but this gets neither of them anywhere." Kahlee said tilting her head a bit as she watched the show of power. "Do you think, they don't realize it?"
"No, they both know this." David said with a smile as he noticed Adaaya's own grin. "They're both waiting for the other to slip up.
"Then we just have to see who does!" Adaaya said as she leaned forward a bit, her smile widening to a smirk. "Or we see who makes the other trip up!"
Down in the practice field, the two magicians that were creating such a stir were one Conrad Verner, and the Alliances only Turian, Desolas Arterius.
At the one end of the field Conrad stood firmly with both hands up. A shimmering shield of magic, both spiritual, physical, and elemental billowed out in front of him forming an impenetrable barrier that would stand up to all except perhaps an S Rank power, or an asteroid. He wore simple grey pants and a loose white shirt, both billowing and flapping against his body from the waves of force that echoed and billowed out from his own power.
On the other side of the room was Desolas, his arms up as well, great orb of light and energy floating in his claws, and streams and forks of lighting pouring out of them faster than the normal naked eye could watch. He was wearing pants that had been made for him of a dark blue thick material that could take some punishment, mainly from his claws. He wore no top, leaving his upper body bare to the elements, and on each leg, and forearms were strapped small holsters that held not guns, but solid blocks of Silver.
Both men seemed equally matched in strength of power, ones offensive, and the others defensive, and while impressive many of the onlookers were getting bored. They had been continuing such a scene for almost a half hour straight after all.
Then, as some spectators turned to leave, the battle changed. Desolas' output faltered for but a second, giving Conrad a chance. With a single push, his shield flashed out and filled the whole field, dispersing Desolas's magic. He smiled as he then ran straight down the field at Conrad.
Conrad sent beams of white hot light down at Desolas, only for him to dodge them by bare centimeters. Then he formed balls of spiritual energy and sent them flying at Desolas one at a time. As they neared it seemed he had no defence, until the blocks of silver he carried shot out and formed a dozen long thin blades that hovered in the air, and promptly began slicing the magic apart before it could strike him, like a tornado of steel.
Conrad then did something that surprised everyone, and formed a massive wispy aura shaped like a tortoise around himself, and from it a never ending barrage of attacks poured out from its shell, all homing in on Desolas.
With a crack of thunder, Desolas was propelled off the ground up to a wall, and then bounded off of it, his blades still slashing all that neared him. Soaring through the air he swung his hands down, making all of his blades form together into one massive spike that slammed down on to the tortoise spirit, just as a coating of charged electricity suddenly flashed around it. The resulting flash and explosion deafened those watching for a moment, even with the barriers protecting them, and by the time it faded, the field was covered in scorch marks, Conrad was leaning against the back wall, and Desolas surprisingly was against the opposite wall.
Both of them were breathing heavily, and while Conrad looked worried and exhausted, Desolas had what counted for a grin covering his face. It was at that moment, as the shards of silver strewn around the field flew back and hovered around him, did Conrad realize that he had lost. The shards molded and melted together, forming a trio of rails that floated in the air to Desolas's side. Each rail coursed with electricity, and after a second of complete silence, Desolas pulled out a large block of metal, not silver, and shaped like a bullet. He tossed it up in between the rails, and in that moment the electricity grabbed hold of it, and the bullet was sent flying out from between the rails, right towards Conrad.
Conrad threw up a shield, as powerful as he could with nearly no preparation, just as the slug would have stuck him. The explosion of force made the barrier around the alcoves flicker, and the entire ship shook for just a second.
As the noise and shock died down, a ping was heard in the practice field as a blue sphere appeared in the middle of the room, pulsing nonchalantly. The match was over, declared a tie by the rooms magic.
Those spectating instantly roared with cheers to the two of them, and conversation amongst themselves. Adaaya, David and Kahlee however all dropped down into the field and walked over to their friends, who had already met up in the middle of the field.
"Damn Desolas, you're getting stupidly good." Conrad said with a smile.
"Thanks, I wasn't sure I'd be able to break through for a bit there." Desolas admitted, earning a scoff from David as they approached.
"Oh please, you made a railgun of all things in the middle of combat!"
"Yeah, how'd you manage that?" Kahlee asked curiously.
"Well, I just-," Desolas began, only to be interrupted by a loud klaxon that shrieked over head for a moment. The alarm for an emergency Boundary jump.
A second later the entire ship heaved and seemed to lengthen ever so slightly before returning to normal, and the klaxon stopped only to be replaced by an intercom.
"Attention all crew and students of the AOS Philosophe." Came Patchouli's voice, making everyone instantly stop what they were doing and pay attention. Especially since she called the ship the AOS, not the MAS. "We have just received an emergency transmission from Shanxi stating they are under attack by what appear to be fringe elements operating out of the terminus systems, likely pirates or slavers. We are heading to assist and will arrive at Shanxi in less than an hour. As of this moment combat protocols are engaged and everyone is to prepare for combat. Additionally, all students that are part of the advanced class are to meet me in the bridge immediately. That is all."
For a second no one moved, but immediately after everyone moved instantly. The calm demeanors and friendly smiles gone, and replaced by cold looks of hate or worry, and grins of vindictive expectation.
"That's us, looks like Patchy wants to see us!" Adaaya exclaimed as she threw a bag at Desolas, getting a nod of thanks from him as the five of them all turned and rushed out of the practice field and into the halls of the Philosophe.
"Any idea what she wants us for?" David asked as they ran past a group of students where were rushing past muttering and cursing.
"Probably for tactical information." Desolas said as he pulled a dark blue short sleeved tunic out of the bag and threw it over his head, quickly pulling it over before he could run into something. "If Shanxi is under attack by fringe elements, it's probably Batarians. Slaving fucks!"
"OH, Desolas learned the big words!" Kahlee teased with a grin.
Desolas however did not smile. "The Batarians are a blight on the galaxy. The hierarchy tried numerous times to control them, only for them to hide behind cultural significance and other such nonsense. They enslave other races, while consistently lying about doing so. And the council never did anything about it simply because it would be too much trouble." Then Desolas smiled as an arc of electricity bounced suddenly between a couple of his fringes. "Something tells me the Alliance will not accept such reasons if it is discovered they are behind this!"
"Oh, you have no idea!" Adaaya said with a grin as the five of them ran up a wide flight of stairs. "I've looked at the official response records for if they try anything with my Bladebreaker clearance, and its weakest response is total destruction of the Batarian navy if they are responsible."
"What's the biggest response?" Conrad asked as they all turned at the top of the stairs.
". . . . . you don't want to know." Adaaya said grimly as they came up to the door to the Philisophe's bridge and stopped in front of it. A second later it opened, and they walking in, finding Patchouli waiting for them, her expression cold and calculating.
"Thank you for arriving so quickly. There are two things I need from you, information," Patchouli said as she looked to Desolas. "And cooperation. What can you tell me about Terminus Pirates?"
"Batarian pirates, you may as well call them what they are." Desolas said dryly. "Half the pirates in the terminus are either Batarians, or payed off by the Hegemony. Do we know how many ships or forces are attacking Shanxi?"
Patchouli shook her head. "The emergency call stated numerous ships and ground forces coming from them, not exact numbers."
"I understand. Massive pirate attacks have only happened a few times, and are usually caused by one or two high ranking pirate lords or Batarian captains trying to earn big and solidify their control over others with a successful gambit." Desolas said as he pulled out his Omni tool and began tapping away, bringing up small holograms. "Slavers have two primary methods of capturing people, electrified nets, or shot gun style weapons that fired a cone of small needles filled with a paralytic. If they are not slavers but pirates, there will be no attempts to capture people, only kill them."
"Noted. What of their ships, can we tell who is leading the attack from the ships themselves?"
"Probably not. Pirates often buy or steal older models of frigates and cruisers primarily, then refit them as needed." Desolas explained calmly.
"I see. Then what I am about to ask become even more important. As you all know, even if the Hegemony is behind this, without proof, we cannot act against them. I would like the five of you to form a squad and break into one of the pirate ships. You are to find the bridge, and break in and find out where the ship came from, and who is leading the assault. Understand?"
All five of them nodded, and Kahlee rose a hand up halfway. "What of the ship and its crew?"
"If possibly the ship could be captured for study. The crew, unless they have useful information, can be executed without issue. They are pirates, nothing more."
"How are we getting on the pirate ship then? David asked. "I doubt they'll just let us on."
"There is a shuttle being prepared, unfortunately it's all we have."
"It will do, I can shield us from any fire it would take." Conrad said with a nod.
"Good. I realize that this is a potentially dangerous mission, but I believe you all will suffice. Prepare yourselves and your kit and armour and then head down to Side hanger C. The shuttle is waiting there. Dismissed!"
With a bow they all backed out of the bridge, and as the door closed, the seriousness of the situation dawned on them.
"Holy shit, we were just given a mission by Lady Patchouli!" Kahlee exclaimed with glee.
"It's not that big of a deal, you know." Adaaya said calmly. "you guys were on Shanxi under General Williams, right?"
"Yes, but being ordered by a general and being given a mission by an operative are two different things!" David said, breathing slightly heavily.
"You might look at it differently because you have military rank already, right?" Desolas suggested, earning a strange look from Adaaya.
"Well, maybe. . . I guess."
"You must not think much of it either then, huh Desolas?" Conrad said with a grin. "Having already, err, I mean having been in a military with rank, or . . . sorry."
"No it's alright, I know what you're meaning, and I think you may be right." Desolas said as he took a breath and let it out. "Admittedly, the thought of being ordered to board and take over a pirate, and possibly a slaver ship, is something I've wanted to do for a long time though!"
"Well then, we better get ready!" Adaaya said with a grin, "let's head to our quarters and get suited up, I'll see you guys in the hanger!"
"Aaaand she's gone." David said as Adaaya bolted off, her wings propelling her down the halls more like flight than a sprint. "Admittedly, while I am willing to do it, I'm not sure about this mission."
"Oh, why?" Desolas asked as the four of them began walking down the hall at a rather quick pace.
"We may have some experience, but you and Adaaya have more. Our experience is fighting an enemy that didn't know our capabilities, but these pirates, they've probably read the information that the council was given. I just feel like we'll be walking into a trap.
"We might be, but pirates excel at that, so we'll just have to . . . what was the saying again?" Desolas asked curiously. "Play it by eye?"
"Play it by ear." Conrad corrected as Desolas turned down a different hall to where his quarters were. "Meet you at the hanger!"
"Count on it!"
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Forty minutes later Conrad, David and Kahlee stood in the hanger looking over their equipment as their shuttle sat idly waiting for the mission to start.
All three of them wore the regular spacefaring armour for magicians, a combination of hard suit sections over the torso, and lower legs, with cloth sections between and magical runes and symbols all across it. The wearer was protected from space by the magic, and as long as the outfits power was stable, they could survive even if unconscious.
Conrad was looking over a pulse pistol he had in his hands, its holster sitting on his one leg, while Kahlee and David were checking over each other's suits, making sure all the magic circuits were in good shape.
". . So, what do you think?" Conrad suddenly asked as he slipped his pistol into its holster.
"About what?" David replied calmly, tightening a fastener on his arm while Kahlee went behind him and tapped on his armour to check it.
"Adaaya and Desolas."
Both Kahlee and David froze for a moment, looked at each other, then looked at Conrad.
"Adaaya is insanely strong. She's an N5 class blade breaker, and her skill with wind magic is more powerful than I could ever hope to control." Kahlee said calmly.
"And Desolas, despite being still new to magic, learns faster than most people I've met, and his skill is equally impressive. He's so powerful he could probably enter the N program and get far. As an example of his races potential for magic, they are insane for not seeking it out." David said before letting out a sigh. "They both deserve being considered among the elite on the ship."
"Um . . . . I was actually meaning what kind of armour did you think they would wear." Conrad admitted.
Both Kahlee and David looked at him before looking away, clearly embarrassed by their words.
"That never happened." Kahlee said as he looked back at Conrad, doing her best to compose herself.
"Of course." Conrad said as he held his hands up. "I do agree though, both of them are extremely powerful. I could see them graduating from the Philosophe whenever they want."
"Not going to anytime soon though!" Adaaya said as she walked into the room. Her armour was similar to the basic magician armour, but clearly altered and customized. Armour covered her chest and torso, while smaller, sections of plate were on her lower legs, outer thighs, and her shoulders. Cloth sections hung from her torso around her waist and off her shoulders, but most of her legs and arms were uncovered. Her wings were mostly uncovered except for some metal beams that seemed to be held against the upper edged out from her shoulders, and she had a helmet in her hand that was devoid of features, looking like a faceless black plate, and on it and the upper left side of her chest piece was a small red N5 logo. "And don't worry, I only heard your last sentence, I didn't hear what the start of the conversation was, sorry."
"No, its fine." David said as he looked at Adaaya' armour. "Customized magician?"
"Customized Blade breaker actually." Adaaya said with a grin as she looked around. "Desolas is not here yet?"
"No, we thought he'd get here before you actually." Kahlee said as she stood up and began stretching as a red light began flashing in the hanger.
Five minutes until Shanxi, all personnel prepare for combat.
"Wel,l he better get here fast." Conrad said with a sigh, just as the door to the hanger opened.
"I'm here, don't get impatient." Desolas called as he walked over, and then noticed Conrad, David and Kahlee staring at his armour in surprise.
His armour was a full hard suit, or at least it had been to begin with, now it was cannibalized and redesigned so heavily it was nothing close to it. The torso armour was roughly untouched aside from glowing lines and symbols etched into it, and the legs looked to have been redesigned, with hard ridged sections covering them and built in holsters on the upper legs. The arms were lighter armoured, looking more like vambraces connected with cloth up to his shoulders, where shoulder pads sat connected to the cloth itself and not the torso. The helmet was a half helm that covered the back and the lower section of his head, leaving his eyes uncovered by all but a clear plate, and all across the ensemble were veins of bluish silver energy and light, among etched symbols barely noticeable.
"What the hell is that?!" Conrad exclaimed in surprise and clear interest as he looked it over, making out some of the markings on the arms.
"A partisan light hardsuit." Desolas replied. "I've gutted and redesigned it from the ground up though, so it's more original than anything else."
"It isn't powered by Eezo is it? And how'd you get it? "David asked, knowing the story of how Desolas was rudely removed from the council.
"No, it's powered with alliance technology, a small MAGTECH Reactor just like yours. And I got it from an, acquaintance I know on the Citadel."
Conrad looked at Desolas for a second before a hollow look covered his face. "Wait, you don't mean . . . her, do you?"
Desolas looked confused, making Adaaya laugh as she nodded. "Yep, Desolas is personal acquaintances with Flandre Scarlet!"
"Mother of, just. . . . . Damn!" David said as he shook his head.
"Whats the big deal?" Desolas asked as he checked his vambraces, revealing that they had holsters with silver blocks in them as well.
"Flandre has a nasty history of blowing people out of existence on a whim. She doesn't do it a lot now, and she's a lot calmer, but most people still hold a healthy, or psychotic, fear of her." Adaaya said with a grin. "The idea of asking her for favors scares people."
"Really?" Desolas asked with a confused expression. "I'll admit she scared me a bit when we first met, but that was on Shanxi."
"Just . . . . hope you never see her angry." David muttered with a gulp. "I heard the last time she got pissed off she blew up a small star."
"You're joking, right?" Desolas asked, making Adaaya grin.
"I'll show you the video when we get back. It's quite the spectacle, and is a good way to show the different in power between operative classes." Adaaya explained, just as lights flashed in the hanger.
Entering Shanxi system, all personnel prepare for combat maneuvers and target acquisitions.
A second later the Philosophe came out of its boundary slip and into the Shanxi system. A screen popping up in the hanger showed the situation, and it looked worrisome.
Shanxi sat in the darkness of space, while surrounding it was a swarm of ships. Turians frigates, Batarian cruisers, even mercenary cruisers and corvettes sat around the planet. The screen showed numerous frigates and transport ships already down in the planet's atmosphere, and more being disgorged by the fleet above it. There was however a great amount of wreckage surrounding the planet, and many pirate ships looked damaged or crippled.
"The Philosophe is the first ship to arrive, prepare for combat; all units are free to engage!" Came Patchouli's stern voice over the ships intercom, and immediately the ship seemed to vibrate. A second later the feed showed a swarm of magical blasts flying out away from the Philosophe and toward the pirate fleet.
Then, the screen changed, zooming in on a pirate ship near the back of the fleet, a cruiser that looked in good repair, and that was not immediately in danger from the Philosophe's fire. A green aura suddenly surrounded it on the screen, just as the hanger door began to open, showing the darkness of space.
"Looks like we have our target ship." Conrad said as he walked over to the shuttle and threw the door open. "Everyone got what they need?"
"Yep!" Kahlee exclaimed as she and David picked up their laser rifles from the floor beside them. Despite being mages, they knew it was best to be prepared. A person's mana did not last forever after all.
"Are you two grabbing weapons?" David asked as he looked to Adaaya and Desolas.
Desolas nodded and walked over to a weapon locker, pulling out a light beam rifle and tossing it onto his back. Adaaya smirked and shook her head. "I don't need a gun!"
"Your funeral." Conrad said as he walked into the shuttle and it began humming. "Get in already so we can go!"
Everyone filed in and got into the shuttles large seats, buckling themselves in as the door shut, and the engine roared. A second later everyone felt a moment of inertia, before it was lost as they entered the blackness of space.
"Wasn't R&D going to make a heavy assault landing craft modeled after the Danmaku class interceptor?" Kahlee asked after a few minutes of silence.
"They are, but I heard they were having some trouble with balancing it." David replied as he looked to Adaaya. "I have to ask. You're already a blade breaker, so why take advanced magic courses?"
"I wanted to increase my prowess." Adaaya replied with a shrug.
"But your wind skills are already extremely strong, why would you-," Kahlee tried to ask, just as the shuttle shook suddenly, making everyone buckles do their jobs. "Hey, watch the flying, Conrad!"
"Oh, shove off!" Conrad yelled back. "We've been spotted and our shield is holding. Just keep buckled up, this is only going to get rougher." Conrad added as everyone could feel a sudden vibration through the shuttle, likely the shield taking a hit.
"So, what can we expect in there?" Kahlee asked as she looked to Desolas.
"Assault rifles, shotguns, heavy weapons, and probably a lot of explosives." Desolas said simply. "The pirates will be out to kill us, not capture, considering we'll be boarding them. If it's mostly Batarians, expect regular infantry tactics. If there are any Vorcha or Krogan though, they'll come in to fight in melee."
"So keep them at range and outgun them then?" Kahlee suggested.
"No, they'll be used to regular boarding tactics; we'll need to stay a step ahead of them to take over their ship. Magic will be extremely important here, as they have no way to defend against it."
The shuttle shook again and then suddenly dropped, crashing and screetching against metal before stopping with a thud.
"Good, because I got us into the ships hanger as one of their own shuttles left!" Conrad called out with a chuckle.
"Grrrr, Gods dammit, Conrad! Tell us when we're about to land!" David screamed as he hurriedly began undoing his buckles, finding they were tangled.
Just as a cacophony of noise could be heard outside the shuttle.
"Oh crap." Kahlee muttered as she slid out of her chair without undoing her buckles, then moved and began helping David undo his as Desolas and Adaaya got up, already having unbuckled.
"Alright, we're on the pirate ship, right, Conrad?" Adaaya asked as Conrad came out of the cockpit.
"Oh yeah, and the pirates outside are already armed and ready."
"Armed with what?" Desolas asked as a heavy crack echoed against the shuttle door, followed by another.
"Um, I think rifles. All eezo weapons look the same to me." Conrad admitted.
"Alright then." Adaaya said with a grin as she stretched her neck and pounded her hand together.
"Desolas, your with me, we'll go out first, you three come out afterword's to cover us. Leave none of them alive!"
"With pleasure!" Desolas said as electricity sparked across his armour and formed in his free hand as he pulled out the beam rifle and held it in the other. "You want to open the door, or shall I?"
Adaaya smiled as she looked at the door and kicked it, sending it right off its sliders and out into a wall of the pirate hanger, a smear of red spattering the wall behind it. "Knock, knock!"
In that instant, chaos took over the hanger. Adaaya barrelled out, her wings propelling her just as much as her feet did, while Desolas was right behind. Accelerator fire either stopped on their barrier or was simply turned away, and as soon as Adaaya reached the first pirate, a Batarian, the rest knew true fear. she dashed right at him and struck him in the chest with an open palm, sending him backwards twenty feet into a wall where his body embedded in the steel. He made no sound, and blood leaked from his eyes and mouth for a second before his body fell limply to the ground.
In that one second Adaaya lunged at the next pirate and the next, while Desolas pointed his beam rifle, and his free hand at opposite ends of a catwalk and brought them together. A beam of heat and a stream of electricity covered it, burning, and cutting and electrifying the pirates above before he turned to a pirate looking to take a pot-shot at Adaaya, and sent a quick jolt at him. It struck the pirate, a Turian, in the head and fried his head so completely it would be impossible to tell he had been Turian.
In less than a minute the entire hanger was cleared, a total of nearly twenty pirates' dead, with barely half of them having had the chance to fire or realize what was going on.
"Clear!" Desolas called as he glanced around the hanger, seeing it thankfully only had one entrance in or out.
"Jeez, you two cleaned house!" Conrad exclaimed a he came out of the shuttle and looked at the carnage. "We didn't even have a chance to help!
"You'll get it, this is a big ship so there'll be lots of ground to cover to make sure we get all of them." Adaaya said confidently as she kicked a pirate's body away from the door and into a wall with a dull crack.
"No, we won't need to." Desolas said as David, Kahlee and Conrad walked over to the door where he was fiddling with a panel.
"Why is that?" David asked as he scrunched up his nose at the smell of burning Batarian.
"Because, this ship is an older model and I know its systems. I should be able to lock down the bridge and vent the rest of the ships atmosphere from there."
"Whoa, that's. . . kind of vindictive." Kahlee muttered.
"No, it isn't. See that weapon rack on the wall?" Desolas asked as he gestured to it. "The weapons on it are all slaver weapons, these are slavers who take people from their homes and force them into servitude till the day they die. They don't deserve anything less than the most painful deaths possible!"
"I agree, that plan can let us control the ship sooner and get the information we need." David said with a nod.
"Then that'll be three against two!" Adaaya said with a grin. "Let's get going, the faster we move, the less likely we'll get bogged down by pirates!" Adaaya said as she tapped the door control, only to find a surprised Batarian standing on the other side, looking as if he had been trying to listen through it. He only had a second to yelp before Adaaya hit his head so hard it came off and rolled down the hall.
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"What do you mean you don't know where they are!?" A Batarian, the ship's captain, yelled at his subordinates in a fit of rage. "They were in the hanger just a couple minutes ago! Find them and kill them already!
"But sir, they killed everyone in the hanger, there's no other option as it went silent in seconds!" one Batarian exclaimed.
"Yeah, these aren't aliens, these are monsters!" Another added, sounding scared.
"You all are failures! Every one of you! What kind of Batarian worth his name gets scared from a little death! We are the galaxy's superior-," the captain roared, until a sudden heavy banging echoed in the bridge, and the door to it had a massive bulging dent in its centre. The door was a blast door, capable of standing up to explosives and even Asari biotics, so what could possibly put a dent that big in it!?
The door tried to open but immediately got caught on the bulging dent. It tried again and again to open to no avail, until suddenly it blew out of its frame and into the bridge, catching the captain in the shoulder and blowing his arm off across the wall.
Gunfire erupted in the bridge immediately, followed by the shriek of electricity, and other sounds that the captain could not make sense of. By the time he pulled himself off the deck it was quiet, until he looked and found the barrel of a strange looking weapon pointing at his chest, and a Turian in strange armour standing before him holding it.
"Who organized this attack?" Desolas asked the Batarian captain calmly.
" Who in the-," The captain tried to say, before Desolas's beam riffle cut through his torso in less than a second without any shields to protect him. His body fell to the ground, a shocked and surprised look covering his face.
"Wrong answer." Desolas said as he walked up to the captain's chair, kicked it aside and began tapping the controls of his computer. "And . . . there. I've closed the hallway bulkhead behind us. Venting atmosphere now."
"Good, anyone found any datapads or tablets?" Conrad asked as he looked around and then scratched his chin. "Wait, are they the same thing or is there a difference?"
"Not now Conrad, we need to find that info!" David exclaimed as he looked out the bridges windows, seeing dozen of pirate ships exploding one after another, as ship after ship began dropping out of slip space all around them. "Um, Patchouli marked this ship so it doesn't get shot at with us in it, right?"
"I would assume so." Kahlee said as she picked up a datapad and smiled. "Found the captain's datapad. Let's see. . . . . there's not much, some invoices, disgusting. . . . Some gambling debts. . . Ah here it is. It says something about a Bashok Griths as an organizer for this operation!"
"We have a name then. What about a location?" Adaaya asked as she flicked on a screen only to see Batarians dying from asphyxiation in the halls, and promptly turned it off.
"Not on this." Kahlee answered apologetically.
"I've got that. " Desolas said with a grin. "I've tapped into the ships flight recorder. It was sitting in one place for almost a whole month before coming straight here."
"Where did they come from?" David asked as he watched the pirate fleet outside either get shredded to pieces or immediately try to turn tail and run. Some even managed to, albeit with extreme damage as ship after ship continued to appear, including numerous dreadnaughts.
Desolas stepped back from the console he was at and shot a bolt of lightning into it, frying it in a gleeful rage. "They came from Torfan!"