Chapter 4: Deep Silent Complete
Serpent Nebula, Widow System
Citadel, Council Chambers
It's been a month and a half and the Council's search efforts returned negative. Not even the Shadow Broker had a lead. There had been some who claimed they knew where the Migrant Fleet was but it didn't check. It was safe now to say that the Councilors were at a loss. Not even the Quarians in exile had a lead; not that they'd betray their people if they knew, exile doesn't mean you don't care anymore.
"Nothing?" asked Tevos as she gazed outside through a reinforced window, taking in the sight of the Citadel's arms.
"Nothing," Valern swiftly answered. "We've got nothing. They… disappeared."
"Has the Migrant Fleet met an unexpected end? Have the Quarians died?" the Asari asked nobody in particular, more like reflecting with a sad tone to her voice.
"That would be the first good news we'd hear in a long time," Sparatus bitterly threw his words wrapped in a grudge.
"Possible if they came too close to a black hole or hit a star in FTL, no other viable option to destroy 50,000 ships," Valern stated his hypothesis.
"Any words from Executor Pallin? What is the situation of the C-Sec frigates?" Tevos asked.
"They are more busy saving the civilian ships that are part of the search mission from small pirate craft attempting to board them and take the crews for the slave market," Sparatus reported.
This left them pondering on what they had and what to do with what they had. After a few minutes of silence, Valern spoke. "I propose we continue the search for two more weeks. This is costing us money and the ships can be put to good use somewhere else."
"Not even considering this! We must find the damn Quarians and make sure they don't pull another stunt on us!"
"I agree with Councilor Valern, we can't keep this search going indefinitely. It's costing us resources. Two more weeks and then we pull back most of what we had and leave a smaller force to scour that sector of the galaxy for them. Besides, I'm sure there will be enough people left to search – mercenaries, pirates, explorers. We will rise the pay for valuable information too," Tevos stated.
"Wise choice. Most of the civilian vessels will return once the main armed forces are called back; there won't be anyone left to keep them safe from the pirates that seem to migrate there in search of fortune," Valern continued.
Sparatus flared his mandibles with frustration and held back his antipathy, "It looks like I'm outvoted."
Serpent Nebula, Widow System
Citadel, Zakera Ward
Executor Pallin was in his casual clothes when he entered an alleyway in the Zakera Wards. Nobody seemed to notice him, he was just a regular pedestrian like the many in the crowds around. Inside the alley was another Turian waiting for him.
"What is it that you want, Pallin?" the shady figure asked the cop.
Pallin brought out a datapad and handed it over to the guy. The man looked over its contests. "This will cost you. Assaulting a C-Sec frigate is no small endeavor," the man said.
"The frigate is alone with no escorts. The pad contains its plotted course for the following two months in the sector it was assigned for them to look for the Migrant Fleet. Me and my employer expects nothing short of success," Pallin told him.
"Indulge me, why do you want this particular frigate taken out? Does it have some… bad beans flying it?"
"The meanest beans we had are aboard. All crew dead and the vessel destroyed. Board the ship after you cripple it to make sure none gets out alive. This or your boss doesn't get the other half of the pay," Pallin instructed him. "Last thing we want to see is one of them being rescued and coming back here to stir trouble again."
The other Turian laughed mischievously. "My, my… Didn't think I'd see the day when Venari Pallin and the Council are trying to get rid of those who disagree with them. I know the Asari love to claw their way in everyone's economy to have the governments in their hands and the STG and SPECTRES doing the …dirty work," he said.
"It's one thing to disagree and another one to incite insubordination, sow discontent and plan a coup against the Council. Hell, some were even talking about busting into the Presidium and arresting Sparatus. This is long past the point of disagreement. A galaxy isn't kept from tearing itself apart on a regular basis only through sweet talk. Do everybody a favor and get rid of them," Pallin said.
"It begs the question, why not arrest them for this kind of behavior? You can always… 'find evidence' against them. There's always a way to silence somebody."
"And then what? We already have a fair amount of people who have lost their trust in the Council after the recent incidents. Throwing them in jail or moving against them in the public eye would be more trouble than worth. But… if they somehow get attacked by pirates…"
"Nobody bats an eye. But what's in for us? Money alone might not cut it…" the other Turian said.
Pallin regarded him in silence for a moment. "We know your AO. Maybe the patrol routes will be changed for a while… conveniently for your boss' operations in the Traverse."
"Huh. Good enough. Payment?"
Pallin pulled out three credit chits, each worth 250,000 credits and handed them to his interlocutor. "That's half. The other half, when the job's done. Don't worry, they are untraceable. But I highly doubt you folk ever convert these chits to cash."
"Yeah, our market is different than the Citadel's. We'll talk again, Pallin," his contact said before leaving the Executor alone and blended with the crowds.
Timeline
March 18th 2180: A plot of Council officials to get rid of C-Sec officers who vigorously opposed their latest actions is set in motion. Said C-Sec officers are creating a rift in the organization and slowly among the people who live on the Citadel. The truth is one of hatred.
March 20th 2180: Alliance and Quarian engineers begin the exchange program. Quarians are building two cities already on New Rannoch. Alliance R&D is eager to improve what they have or create something new with Quarian aid.
March 22nd 2180: Tali'Zorah nar Rayya is assigned to the SSV Normandy as an engineer. Certain Alliance officials argue that it is a massive breach of security to allow them access to warships but Admiral Hackett still allowed only Tali aboard the Normandy due to the skills she showed during an evaluation, and also as a sign of trust between the two parties.
March 23rd 2180: Tali'Zorah and Alex V. Wyatt report to the Normandy. The next day, the ship leaves docks for a one week trial. Rear Admiral Leonard Averescu's Expeditionary Fleet is being prepared to leave for another expedition since the first didn't cover as much ground as wanted, even if the two main objectives were achieved (locating the Mass Relay paired to the Shanxi one and making contact with an alien civilization). The mission retained its parameters from the previous one, plus gathering data on the Council if encountered without 'breaking the silence'.
March 26th 2180: Pirate attacks on Council ships intensify, forcing more and more vessels to give up the search for the Migrant Fleet, the handsome ransom not bring worth the risks.
March 30th 2180: The SSV Normandy finishes its trials. The ship docks to resupply before heading to Shanxi to rendezvous with the Expeditionary Fleet. Normandy's first mission is an exploratory and espionage one.
March 31st 2180: Shanxi's first town is finished. It houses a population of just over 10,000 Humans, Smart AIs and Quarians. A Quarian embassy is opened on Arcturus Station.
April 1st 2180: Alliance leadership debates on how to approach the wider galactic community. The opinions are split and the politicians and experts are in heated debates. President Kevin Montgomery and the military fancies a trade treaty with the Elcor for the high amount of metals they put on the market, even more so that they're under a temporary embargo on metal exports. The Expeditionary Fleet, now renamed 1st Heavy Reconnaissance Fleet, sets sail once more into uncharted space to look for resources, habitable planets outside the Relay network and conduct passive espionage on Council forces if encountered. Arcturus Shipyards continue reparations on Quarian vessels.
April 5th 2180: After a few days of debates, the Alliance concludes that a trade treaty with the Elcor will be beneficial and they will wait a bit more until time is right to make contact with the Citadel Council. Most officials consider the Council a threat to Humanity's independence with their attitude towards other client races, AIs, Quarians and unique technologies that gives the Alliance an edge. Jack Harper is promoted as Director of Alliance Intelligence Command.
April 6th 2180: In light of the newly signed military alliance with the Quarians, Alliance High Command offered the Quarian Heavy Fleet a refit and upgrade in terms of avionics, targeting computers, improved kinetic barriers and Titanium-B battleplate. In exchange, the Quarians will pay the value of the refit at a later date when their economy is stable. The Admiralty Board gladly accepted the offer. The Alliance Heavy Shipyards are tasked with the endeavor and it is expected to finish the refit in two months at maximum working speed.
CDF Frigate-07, Unnamed system
Officer Garrus Vakarian
Aboard the Citadel Defense Force Frigate-07 operated by C-Sec and Turians of the Hierarchy Navy, was Garrus Vakarian, apparently as security force aboard the ship. He didn't feel like this was something regular. They fought a few pirates and were ordered not to stray from the mission anymore, even if it meant saving civilians in their stellar vicinity.
Garrus didn't like it at all. Something was foul here. One thing he also found out during his stay aboard the frigate is that the overwhelming majority are C-Sec officers who were publicly criticizing the Council in the recent years, especially with the incident between the Quarians and the Turians involving the Eezo deposit. He was one of them. He used to make many jokes on the Council's behalf and got in conflict with Executor Venari Pallin for that.
"Battle stations! Battle stations! This is not a drill! All hands report to your posts!"a voice said throughout the ship. Garrus snapped immediately from his table where he was busy mounting another mod on his rifle. He took a few thermal clips, grabbed his helmet and put it on just in time when the ship violently shook and alarms went off.
"What's happening!?" another C-Sec officer asked.
"We're under attack by the looks of it! Hurry to your post!" Garrus said and rushed to his post. 'Security detail…' he remembered Pallin's words.
The ship shook again and Garrus fell to the ground. Another set of alarms let everyone aboard know they had a hull breach and were venting atmosphere. Behind him, an airlock sealed to prevent the air being sucked out into the void through a breach in the engines room.
He managed to make his way to the bridge where he found half of the crew panicked and the other half were trying to fly the ship and retaliate.
"What's going on?" Garrus asked the Turian CO.
"Pirate attack! Right on us! Our engines are crippled. GET THAT SOS MESSAGE ALREADY!"
"Sorry, sir. We have a few cables cut somewhere! Somebody must get to the comms through the maintenance hall and get it fixed. And then manually activate it," an Asari in C-Sec clothes reported from her terminal.
"Pirate cruiser is launching boarding craft! They're headed straight for us!"
"They're jamming us!"
The Turian Captain turned to Garrus again. "Vakarian, go get that link repaired and manually activate the distress signal! One deck below us is the entrance to the maintenance corridors, just right after you exit the elevator."
"All hands, stand by to repel boarders!"
"Yes, sir!" Garrus said and rushed through the corridors. Cracked pipes were filling the air with gases and smoke was coming from engineering. The ship shook again violently, this time the bridge was hit and everybody there killed by the impact or slowly suffocating in space.
The elevator wasn't working so Garrus had to take the stairs. For one deck he didn't bother going by every step, he wanted to just jump and fall a few meters, knowing his armor could take the short fall. But the artificial gravity failed just as he was lounging himself over the railing.
'Dammit!' he cursed and engaged his magnetic boots. After a couple seconds, he got to the lower deck. One of his colleagues was floating dead with a hole in his head. Garrus immediately prepared his rifle, the pirates managed to get aboard already. He moved through the clouds of smoke until he came to a small door, almost unnoticeable if one didn't actually look for it.
He forced the door and it hissed open, allowing Garrus entrance into the narrow corridor before closing behind him. Pipes and electrical systems were all around him, making his advance awkward. He kept an eye open for a symbol remotely connected to communications. On the radio he was listening to his friends and fellow coworkers coordinating a desperate defense against the numerically superior pirates, mostly Batarians and lawless Turians.
'This is all your work, isn't it Pallin? But you're too busy kissing the Council's collective asses to come up with this crap. No, it was you and Sparatus for sure. You're a dead man when I get out of this, Pallin!' Garrus cursed in his mind.
He finally reached the end of the narrow corridor and it lead upwards. He deactivated his boots and jumped, in zero gravity he was able to reach the top where the antennae terminal was. There were holes in the hull and there were many cables severed. Garrus tore off the terminal's cover to reach the controls. Curiously, there was a small generator manually activated. Garrus pushed the button and the terminal came to life. He linked his suit's radio to the terminal to broadcast a message with the regular distress signal.
"This is CDF Frigate-07, we are under attack! Pirates are boarding us and the ship is crippled! Requesting immediate assistance!"
SSV Normandy, 1st HRF
Shadowing CDF Frigate-07
Alex Valentine Wyatt was in her bunk aboard the Normandy. She was relaxing after a training session with her teammates; that includes EDI. She has a very good opinion about everyone, even Joker. But her teammates, especially Ashley, see her as a retreated person, keeping more to herself; and a bit nuts.
Fireteam Immortal found itself on the sparring ring of the ship's gym after working out together, now honing their CQC skills. They had plenty of training in that regard from the Alliance but what better way to keep in shape other than sparring with the top graduates of your year's N7.
"Nice one, EDI," Alex congratulated the AI after a match with Ashley. AIs who were serving in the Marine Corps and Army were expected to know hand-to-hand combat.
"Thank you, Alex," EDI said as she left the ring with Ash in tow.
"I could've kicked your tin ass if I wanted to," Ashley taunted.
"Miss Williams, I am fully aware that N7 soldiers are more powerful than regular people with the genetic, muscular and bone augmentations they get. But I highly doubt it will be of use when you aren't proficient as Miss Wyatt here."
"Awh, thanks EDI!"
"Yeah, not as if we are super soldiers with the enhancements but they are something. Hey Alex, your turn," Kaidan said from the sidelines while switching his soaked shirt.
Alex stretched for a few moments at first. "Alright, who's next?" she asked before proceeding to put on some protection gear.
James smiled as he cracked his knuckles after putting his gear and joining Alex in the ring.
"Let's see what you're packing, lola."
Alex adopted her fighting stance. "Let's dance, big boy!" she said and approached James with her guard up. "I've beaten everyone on this ship so far."
"There's still me, you know? So, how come you so good?" he asked as he threw a diversionary punch that got deflected and avenged with a kick to his thigh.
"For starters, you don't get to look out for two sisters in a bad neighborhood," she answered and went proceeded with a series of quick kicks to James' legs to wear him down.
"What are they like? Your sisters," James catches her leg at one point and pulls her closer for a pinning move. She responds by giving herself more momentum and kick James with her free knee in the chest. He staggered back from the power behind the kick. 'Damn, she's strong!' he thought.
"Think of me but 14. You hurt 'em, Vega, I end you! I got them out of there and to Queensland to make 'em happy. Last thing they need is my sidekick to go pedo mode," Alex says and loses focus for a moment as she remembers the good looking girls on the beaches of Queensland.
James manages to put two powerful punches into her. "Stop daydreaming about the good stuff, lola. I'm here."
"Excuse enough to daydream," she retorts along with a roundhouse kick that throws James off balance with the force it was delivered it. Alex uses the opening to deal a double punch into James' guard and then swipe his legs from beneath him.
"Bloody hell, James! Stop thinking about perfect butts and focus! In real combat against an Asari you'd be dead. You good?" she asks him as she extends a hand.
Vega takes her hand and stands up, giving her a mischievous smile. "Yeah Mom, I'm good. Only one way to stop the competition for those perfect butts. But that's out of my league."
"Shameless flirt!" Ashley says with a shake of the head.
"James, what is this? You're getting soft?" Shepard finally voiced his presence.
Vega threw him the protection gear with a chuckle. "We're just getting to know each other. You know I'd come on top in a real fight."
"Oh? Is that a challenge?" Alex teased.
"Damn right it is. The muscle tank versus the leopard. Wanna see that one," came Kaidan.
"Might I suggest we end our training here, Shepard? We are nearing the two hour mark," EDI said, to which Shepard nodded.
"Yeah, enough for today. Let's go get a shower and something to eat, Immortal!"
Alex winked at Ashley when Shepard said shower. Ashley in turn rolled her eyes. Alex was simply enjoying doing this to people.
But that didn't bother her at all, or her teammates. She pushed any thought she had aside and grabbed a book to read. She glanced over the cover, Eugene Sledge – With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa', one of the best first-hand accounts of combat in the Pacific during World War II. She opened it where she stopped last time and started reading.
But her joy was short lived when Joker's voice came on the intercom.
"Captain Anderson, please report on the bridge."
It wasn't every day that Joker asked Anderson to present himself on the bridge. And when he did, it usually was something the Captain didn't enjoy. This time would be no different because in 15 minutes the whole of Fireteam Immortal was summoned by Anderson to the CIC. She let her book fall on her face with a thud before getting up, putting the good book aside and walking outside of the Crew Quarters and taking the elevator.
"Hold it!" she heard Shepard's voice. Alex put her foot in the elevator's door in the last moment. The doors opened again and Shepard jumped in the elevator.
"Thanks, Sarge Wyatt!"
"No problem, sir. What do you think the Old Man's summoning us for?"
Shepard chuckled a bit. They weren't on this ship for long and Alex already started affectionately calling Anderson the Old Man, and it soon spread to Ashley and James.
"Hell if I know. Something big if Joker wanted him on the bridge. By the way, don't think I've had time to ask but you gotta teach me some of those moves you've got in you."
Alex smiled, "Sure you wanna take Vega's place and be on the receiving end?" she asked Shepard who in turn seemed to think about it. "Blimey, I'll teach ya. But you gotta get me a date with somebody in turn."
Shepard cocked an eyebrow, "Oh?" and he feigned innocence. "Ah, right… and here I was thinking you're asking me out."
Shepard read in Alex's bio that she was lesbian but didn't hurt to make a small joke about it, did it?
Alex patted him on the belly teasingly, "You still have a lot to go before I'd ask you out, Shepard. James could give you his workout program."
"Are you telling me you'd date a physical prowess supremacist and not me?"
"Even Kaidan."
"The fuck? Come on, Kaidan's been a pansy since I know him," Shepard said with his pride somewhat wounded by their small talk.
"Joking aside, thanks. Let me know when you want me to teach you. Surely then you will be able to beat James in a sparring match and have your man ego restored. But alas, here we are…"
They entered the CIC where Anderson, EDI, Vega, Ashley and Kaidan were, all clustered around the holographic projection over the tactical table with a display of a signal of varying wavelength.
"Sir, reporting as requested!" Alex saluted alongside with Shepard.
"At ease, Marines. Now that you all are here, let's begin. We've got something. The Normandy and the Desert Fox have both intercepted a distress signal while scouting ahead of the fleet," Anderson said.
"Distress signal?" Shepard asked.
"Yes. And it is from one of those Council species," the Captain said and pressed a button to let it play. "Along with the distress signal was a message. If it wasn't for the Prothean communication technology we incorporated we would've had a tough time intercepting it. EDI was able to filter it and here it is…"
A synthesized male voice spoke in English, "This is CDF Frigate-07, we are under attack! Pirates are boarding us and the ship is crippled! Requesting immediate assistance!"
"The message was in Turian and we were lucky enough to hear it through jamming. Thanks to the translator the Quarians gave us, we were able to formulate our own," EDI said. "And we were able to get it in English. A frigate of this CDF is under attack, their location is in a solar system just 2 light hours from our current location."
Every other member of Fireteam Immortal looked at each other as if knowing what the next thing they'd do was.
"I've forwarded this to Rear Admiral Averescu aboard the Spirit. He got in touch with HIGHCOM and they approved a rescue mission. The Normandy will go in and check it. The Desert Fox will be our backup," Anderson said.
"Sir, wouldn't this make our presence felt sooner than the Alliance initially planned?" Shepard asked. The Alliance wanted to make contact with the Council at some point but they were postponing it for the time being.
Anderson nodded, "Yes, but we can't let pirates run rampant like that. They seem to have the same issue we had with piracy. And we wouldn't live up to our principles if we let pirate scum freely attack other ships. We will go in, stealth mode engaged, give the guys a hand and leave. EDI will hack their computers and wipe out everything on us, surveillance cameras, sensors data, anything possible in case they detect us. Now the reason why I've called you here is to tell you that you're infiltrating the pirate ship and download everything they have in their computers and deliver some justice along the way."
"No prisoners?"
"Can't afford any. Besides, law and regulations are clear – the senior officer decides if they arrest the pirates who surrender or executes them."
"But sir," Alex began, "they are not Alliance citizens and do not fall under the same regulations. The anti-piracy laws were passed for pirates that were Humans, thus Alliance citizens originally."
"I doubt somebody will care about a bunch of pirates," Ashley said.
"Fair point," Alex conceded.
"Gear up, folks, and report to the hangar as soon as you are ready. Cortez will get you there with a Stealth Kodiak," Anderson ordered. "We're already on our way to intercept the ship that broadcasts the distress signal."
All six members saluted with a "Yes, sir!" and rushed to the armory. In five minutes they were in their T-Kev N7 Marine armor and armed to the teeth. Everyone had the M7H variant that fires the 7.62mm round for extra stopping power. All except for Alex who had her Minimi Mk II belt-fed light machinegun at the ready.
Only EDI was standing out in the group with her N7 armor adapted for AIs. It had the same colors and markings but it was a more reinforced variant with more powerful shields, her UP being able to carry more weight than a Human was able to carry an armor configuration with better shields.
Cortez was waiting for them. He made last checks for the Kodiak and all he needed was the go ahead from Anderson. Fireteam Immortal embarked on the shuttle and got ready for the first time they'd see action since assigned to the Normandy.
CDF Frigate-07, Unnamed system
Fireteam Immortal, Boarding mission
"Alright, so here's the plan," Shepard said to get the team's attention as the Kodiak left the Normandy's small hangar bay, "EDI will hack their ships as soon as we get aboard and shut them down. Engage your magnetic boots 'cause we're operating in zero G. We get everything out of those computers and bugger off. Killing the pirates is a bonus. No prisoners. Keep your helmets polarized all the time, we don't want anyone to see our faces just yet. Capisci?"
"Aye, sir!" came the collective roar of the team.
"Major, you might want to see this…" Cortez called from the front. Shepard moved to the pilot's cabin and saw a ship about the size of the Normandy with severe damage. Its engines were emitting a blue glow with irregularity, sign they were damaged. The hull had multiple breaches and atmosphere was still venting on the lower decks. On the other side, a few kilometers from the crippled frigate was the pirate ship, an old Turian cruiser, its guns trained on the CDF ship.
"Normandy, you're seeing this?" Shepard asked through a heavily encrypted channel.
"Yes. We have a minor development that will shorten your mission. The AI of the Desert Fox found a doorway into the pirate ship's systems. The Fox pinged the ship and is in their systems, data downloading. We'll turn off the life support and every other major system aboard that pirate ship and let the crew suffocate to death. You're only going to deal with the pirates aboard the frigate."
"Good to hear that, sir. Thanks for the heads up," Shepard said before turning his attention back to the sight outside. A small debris field formed and there were bodies drifting in space. Cortez maneuvered through and touched down on the frigate's hull with a magnetic lock. Shepard returned back to his team.
"You guys heard that?" he asked them and received affirmative answers.
The pilot cabin's door closed and sealed hermetically. The troop bay was decompressed and the air sucked into small tanks on the walls so as not to lose it once the door opens and reveals the void of the space and the hull of the frigate.
"Move out. Look for any entry point. EDI, as soon as you can, get us schematics for this ship."
"Copy that."
After half a minute, they reached the bridge of the frigate exposed to the void with the reinforced glass shattered and a good part of it torn off by a mass accelerator round. The door that lead into the ship was blown off as well.
"Immortal One to Normandy Actual, we're in, proceeding with the plan. EDI, see if you can access any computer," Shepard said on their channel.
EDI walked to the console that looked the most intact and shook her head upon a closer analysis. "Ship's systems are fried, nothing's working. We need to extract the hardware storage device, the hard disk, if we want to get anything out of these databanks. But to do that we must know where the hard disks are and carefully extract them," EDI said.
Alex who was watching the corridor with her LMG said, "Even if we're dealing with alien tech, I guess I could get those hard disks. We just need to find them. But that takes time we don't really have. It's just a matter of time before another ship comes in response to the distress signal."
"Good point. EDI, try to raise the Fox's AI and see if he has extracted any schematics of this ship from the pirate vessel," Shepard ordered. "Let's get moving."
"I have received the schematics. Detailed too. It is very suspicious that the pirate ship has detailed information on the vessel designated CDF Frigate-07, from every crew member to their plotted course for two months. Shepard, the circumstances are what you might call 'shady'. I'm transferring the schematics to everyone's HUD," EDI reported.
They progressed a little on the deck and came across the first body. It was a Turian in the blue and black C-Sec armor with multiple holes in his chest area and a blue liquid seemed to stain the armor around the holes.
Kaidan knelt to examine it while the others were on overwatch. "According to what we've got from our Quarian friends, this guy's a Turian. Holes in armor are consistent with weapons based on Mass Effect technology. No vital signs detected. Guy's dead for couple minutes now," he reported.
A violent explosion shook the ship just as they were getting ready to advance.
"Normandy Actual to Fireteam Immortal, be advised, another explosion in the ship's engine section. Investigate the rear section of the ship and try to save any survivors of the crew."
"Acknowledged! Let's move, Immortal!" Shepard orders and the team utilizes the schematics they have to reach the rear section of the ship. Battle damage was visible at every step with debris floating around, cracked pipes and structural damage. The bodies were more and more common.
"Damn, these aliens are ugly fuckers," Alex said when she saw a dead Batarian.
"Redefines the four eyes insult," Ashley teases as she rounds a corner with her M7 at the ready.
Alex moved near her and advanced with the LMG pointing forward. "Don't get any ideas, Williams," Alex said since she's wearing glasses or contact lenses, depends whether she's on a mission or not.
"I'm detecting movement 15 meters ahead. One individual is hunkering down while three are surrounding him and a deck below us are four more contacts. They're making their way up. Intercepted radio communications indicate that the pinned individual is the last survivor of the crew," EDI reported. "If we move now, we'll get the jump on them."
"Alex, Kaidan and EDI, stay behind and cover our asses. Take out the hostiles as soon as they pop up. Ashley and James, we're busting in," Shepard ordered.
CDF Frigate-07, Unnamed system
EDI, Kaidan, Alex
"Lieutenant, I believe the pirates will use the staircase built on the right side of that elevator," EDI said.
"Alright, Alex set up your LMG overviewing the staircase and open up as soon as they get out of there. EDI, you and I will fire a 40mm grenade into their ranks at your mark," Kaidan put up the strategy for them.
The two loaded a grenade in their 40mm grenade launcher modules attached to their M7 Lancer assault rifles and took cover with their guns aimed at the opening that's the staircase. Alex crouched and readied her Minimi.
"MARK!" EDI said. Just in that moment, out of the four pirates, two walked out in the hallway in a hurry to rendezvous with their other 3 accomplices in crime. Kaidan and EDI fire their 40mm grenades in the staircase's wall, leaving the two in the corridor to Alex and to avoid the possibility of being injured by shrapnel. The two grenades detonate and kill one bad guy instantly and mortally injure the other. Alex opens up with her LMG at the same time and tears new holes in the two Batarian pirates. They never stood a chance, especially with the element of surprise on the Alliance Marines' part.
"With love, from Australia!"
"EDI, detecting any more contacts outside the ones we know of?" Kaidan asked.
"Negative. I th- Wait! Two more headed for Shepard and the survivor from the opposite direction!"
"Major, we've dealt with the hostiles but you've got two more headed your way!" Kaidan informed his CO.
"I know, we've got them."
CDF Frigate-07, Unnamed system
Shepard, Ashley, James
The other three made their way forward into what they guess was the engine room. A lot of damage was present with multiple hull breaches. Two Batarians and a Turian were advancing on the last surviving member of the crew. The Turian seemed the more disciplined since every Hierarchy citizen gets military training. He was putting suppressing fire while his buddies were closing the distance.
The crewman managed to line up a shot with his gun and hit a Batarian, killing him with two headshots. Shepard and Ashley lines up their rifles and shot the other two, the 5.56mm rounds fired by the mini MAC guns that their weapons are went through the pirates' armor and right into their bodies and out the other side. If they didn't die on the spot, they would surely die of the exposure to the void with severe injuries and suit breaches.
"My first alien kill… not too different from shooting other Humans, really," Ashley noted.
"Let's get the crewman. Turn on your translators to what we got from the Quarians," Shepard said and approached Garrus with his hands up and rifle pointing at the ceiling.
"Sir, what are you doing?" James asked Shepard.
"I want to look friendly to him. Last thing we need is him thinking we're with the pirates. Get ready to cover me if things go south."
Garrus eyed Shepard with his gun at the ready. 'Well, he surely doesn't shoot at me which is good,' Garrus thought. He didn't recognize the armor at all, mostly black with several red stripes on shoulders, head and arms. The body structure reminded him of a male Drell. Drells don't engage in piracy at all so that added to Garrus' benefit of doubt. But it was never too late for the Drells to engage in acts of piracy.
"Can you understand me?" Shepard said and his translator turned his English to Keelish. "If you can, then know we're not the enemy. We're here in response to a distress signal."
Garrus poked his head with the gun at the ready over the heavy pipelines that served him as cover. "Why should I trust you? I don't recognize your armor. Who are you?" the Turian asked.
"A friend. Trust me or die here. It's not like if I was one of the assailants I'd kill my teammates just to get to a guy, is it?"
"Well… I guess not. But if you're greedy enough to share the loot and pay with less, then it's a sound idea for a scum pirate."
"Come on, Turian. I've got teammates guarding our way out of here. You come with us and help us kill those pirates and get you to safety or hope somebody else comes around before your ship goes up in flames or die alone here."
Garrus rose from his spot and slowly walked towards Shepard. Then, Shepard sprinted toward him. Garrus tried to line a shot but Shepard was far too fast. Garrus felt a sharp pain in his back before he blacked out and a moment later Shepard pushed him out of the way.
Two pirates popped up out of nowhere and one shot Garrus in the back. His shields held but failed in the last moment and one round found its way into Garrus' body. James and Ashley reacted and opened fire but the pirate wasn't within their line of sight when he shot Garrus.
Everything darkened and he passed out.
SSV Spirit of Fire, Sick Bay
Garrus Vakarian
Garrus slowly opened his eyes. He felt dizzy and a bright light filled his eyes, forcing him to keep them shut. He kept hearing soft voices around speaking a language his translator didn't pick up.
He tried to stand up but a pain in his back told him not to proceed with that idea and a hand on his chest kept him down. He slowly opened his eyes after they got used to the light.
"He's waking up, sir."
"The Admiral's on his way. He wants to talk to the guy."
"How do you know it's a guy?"
"Does it look like a 'she' to you? That Tali girl said he's a 'he'."
Two… 'Asari? No, the Asari do not have pinkish skin and have head crests. What are they?' Garrus asked himself. Then, another person appeared with a similar body build to the one that spoke to him aboard the C-Sec frigate.
"He all good, Doc?" he asked one of the Asari-like aliens.
"He seems stable for now. His dextro based biology made it difficult for us to treat him with what we have without making it worse, but I think he's good. He recovers pretty well. He might still be tired as we might expect from a Human, even if he got 18 hours of sleep," she replied. The …male Asari nodded and proceeded to fix a device where Garrus' ears were and one for him.
"Can you understand me?" he asked.
"Yes…" Garrus replied.
He dragged a chair close to Garrus' bed and sat down. "I am Major John Shepard, Systems Alliance Marine Corps. Your name is Garrus Vakarian, officer at… Citadel Security, right?" he asked.
"Yes… where did you get that info?" Garrus asked. "And more importantly, what are you?"
"My species is called Human, or Homo Sapiens Sapiens if you want to go science mode," Shepard replied.
The door opened and in walked another Human, this one dressed in a blue with black uniform, golden strands and decorations on his uniform and head covering. He had an escort of two other soldiers and… 'a Quarian with him? Interesting…'
Shepard stood up and saluted him, the man returned the salute in kind. It was very similar to a Turian military salute. The whole place screamed of military to him. The man fixed a similar device to his right ear with an extension that came close to his mouth, a microphone probably. He dragged two more chairs, one for him and one for the Quarian, speaking of which she seemed quite the shy one.
"Garrus Vakarian…" he began. "We have a lot to talk about. Do you feel like talking or should we come back at a later moment?"
"I can talk now. May I ask what is going on here? Who are you, people? Where am I?" Garrus asked.
"Rank and name are Rear Admiral Leonard Averescu. This young lady here is Tali'Zorah vas Normandy nar Rayya. You are aboard the SSV Spirit of Fire, a battleship of the Alliance Navy. You've been shot and brought aboard my flagship for better medical treatment. Now, we've… accessed some of the information found in the computers of the pirate ship and we know what you were doing out here and all that happened. We… get to that later. But your search for the Migrant Fleet was in vain. You would've never found them."
"Why? Ehm… Tali, right?" Garrus asked and Tali nodded, "Just out of curiosity… where has the Migrant Fleet gone that nobody would find you? Don't get me wrong, I'm happy you guys dropped off the radar, got the Council all acting like they have a talon up their collective butts. But that is also part of the reason I'm here… because I am happy."
"Not too often that a Turian is happy when we are doing well," Tali said as she crossed her arms.
Garrus let out the Turian equivalent of a chuckle, "The very reason I'm here now is because I'm not like your regular, prejudiced Turian. If my instincts are right, all this mess was a plot."
"How so?" Tali asked.
"One thing I've noticed is that the overwhelming majority of the crew of my ship were publicly expressing their… disapproval against the Council's latest policies… All colleagues of mine at C-Sec. We even got into arguments with Pallin for saying, some more jokingly than others, that we should bust into the Council Chambers and arrest Sparatus. Yeah, so we get ordered to stop helping ships that come under attack from pirates and stick to our plotted course, they actually sent CDF ships to look for your Fleet. Then we get attacked by pirates… a hell of a coincidence if you ask a detective," Garrus said.
"A good detective you are, mister Vakarian. Because, let me be frank with you, those pirates were paid to explicitly attack your ship, cripple it and kill all the crew. That's what we've got from their ship's computers," Averescu said.
Garrus turned his gaze away from them. He stared at the ceiling with anger in his eyes and his talons clenched.
"I honestly hoped that was just a coincidence… What are you going to do with me? As far as I've seen, you didn't show up after you helped Tali's people. Which begs the conclusion: you wanted to stay hidden, for now," Garrus said.
"Well, we are not going to kill you or worse, that's for sure," Shepard said.
"Indeed," Averescu added. "For the time being, you will recuperate in one of our hospitals. Miss Zorah here was kind enough to share some of her food with you but it will soon become an issue. And since we can't exactly barge in Turian held territories to get more food for you, I'll have you transferred to the SSV Amber Fate and sent to Arcturus Station. That's where we will find plenty of dextro compatible food and better medical facilities.
You will be released, however, as soon as we make contact with the Council. Which might take a while… But you ain't going anywhere anytime soon with the gunshot wounds."
Garrus nodded, "Thank you for your hospitality, Admiral. I'm in no hurry to get back home soon after Pallin's stunt. I bet he and Sparatus are behind this treacherous act. Can you give me all the data you have on this incident, please?" he asked.
"Yes, you'll have it. It would be my pleasure to contribute to the downfall of a corrupt official. We have had a bad history with corruption, you can understand why I'm eager. And piracy too…" Averescu explained.
"Thank you again, sir. I will enjoy putting an end to his career. My father was a detective at C-Sec before leaving and being employed as a military and political advisor by Palaven Command, he might find something useful if I get this to him. By the way… what did you do with the pirate ship?" Garrus asked.
The whole group chuckled.
"Well, you see, we've sent Sparatus a small gift…" Shepard started to tell.
ARS Destiny Ascension, Bridge
Serpent Nebula, Widow System
The Destiny Ascension, pride of the Citadel Council, is the largest warship in the known galaxy with her length at 1,400 meters and 2,500 meters tall, powerful mass accelerator cannons and kinetic barriers, a standing symbol of the Asari Republics' economical and technological prowess in Council Space.
Commanded by Matriarch Lidanya, the Destiny is, as usual, guarding the Citadel from any possible attack with her fleet. It seemed a regular day with nothing out of the ordinary. After all, who would be stupid enough to attack the Citadel? The only ruckus that was going on was with the Quarians' disappearance.
The bridge was rather silent, the only sound was that of consoles beeping or small chatter between technicians operating them. Then, a beeping sound filled the bridge.
"Report!" Lidanya snapped when she recognized the beeping was originating from the sensors terminals.
An Asari maiden started to press several buttons before reporting, "A ship just came through the Relay, it wasn't scheduled and the IFF identifies it as a friendly but its name is tagged as …"
"As…? Say it already," Lidanya ordered when the operator hesitated.
"It is tagged as GHOST SHIP…"
"What!?" Lidanya frowned, almost incredulous that somebody would name a ship like that. "What do we have on that ship?"
"Ship identified as an old decommissioned cruiser of the Turian Hierarchy. It is holding position near the Relay, no power in the engines or weapons… we detect little power actually," somebody reported.
Several warships charged with the defense of the Citadel were approaching the ship for boarding when the crew failed to respond to hails.
"The ghost ship is broadcasting on every frequency! We have both audio and visual."
"Put it on screen!"
The bridge's main screen for video feeds turned on and showed the bridge of the ship, most lights out. The Matriarch saw mild movement in the background but couldn't make anything of it. Then, a Batarian's face traversed the screen from right to left. His face had a darker shade than normal, his mouth was large open and eyes were bloodied. She understood.
"The bridge is dead and so is the whole ship… they suffocated. Somebody must have vented all their atmosphere."
"There are horrors out in space," a synthesized voice speaking the Turian language came on the comms from the ship. "And fates worse than death… They know. They know…"
This sent a shiver up the younger Asaris' backs. It wasn't a pleasant thing to see and hear – a ship arrives with its crew dead and broadcasts a creepy message.
"I want that ship boarded immediately," Lidanya ordered.
Serpent Nebula, Widow System
Citadel, Private Council Chambers
"Councilors…" Valern spoke with his usual 'shit happened' tone to get the attention of his colleagues. Tevos let down a report on Asari economic evolution for the last fiscal year to dedicate her attention to Valern while Sparatus interrupted his conversation with his wife.
"What is it, Valern?" Tevos asked.
"Has the STG found something on the Quarians?" Sparatus inquired only to get see Valern's almost exasperated facial expression. The Turian was obsessed with them.
"No, Sparatus, they did not. In fact, the STG has pulled out even more resources from this search mission. No, we have a… small development. A ghost ship jumped into system."
"Ghost… ship? Explain, please," Tevos said.
Valern put a small box and a datapad on the table in the recess room of the Council and started to explain what happened.
"A week and a half ago a ship jumped into the system. It was an old decommissioned Hierarchy cruiser. Please bear in mind that I'm telling you what the STG forwarded me. And they gave an ample report into the investigation," Valern said.
"Investigation? Hierarchy cruiser?" Tevos asked with suspicion focused on Sparatus. "Councilor Sparatus, what did the Hierarchy do?"
The Turian glared at the Asari with somewhat accusing eyes. "We don't even know what is going on and you are already blaming me or the Hierarchy, Tevos?" he asked.
"Allow me to explain," Valern deadpanned. "The ship came out of the Relay and held position. It only broadcasted a single message on a regular basis," the Salarian said and pressed a key on his omnitool.
"There are horrors out in space. And fates worse than death… They know. They know…"
"It is noteworthy that the IFF of the ship labeled it with the name GHOST SHIP and the boarding party found the whole crew dead," Valern resumed. "The ship's systems were shut down, atmosphere vented. The crew presented major signs of exposure to the void. The bodies were Batarian and Turian. Now you might be asking yourselves how a ship arrived here with a dead crew, right?" he asked. Tevos and Sparatus nodded, a sense of fear was making its way into their chests.
"The computers had some data left in them regarding this – it was a pirate ship and it had just attacked Frigate-07 of C-Sec," Valern said. Sparatus had a sudden sinking feeling. "An STG ship traveled to where the attack took place and the findings were… disturbing."
"Disturbing?" Tevos asked. Sparatus kept a stoic face but inside he was shitting himself. If the truth came to light he could lose his position as a Councilor and be imprisoned.
"Yes. The frigate was destroyed. Not a single survivor found. The engine section of the vessel had suffered extensive damage, signs it was purposefully targeted by the pirates to disable the frigate. The pirates then boarded the ship and tried to kill every single crewmember. And no, this wasn't a raid for goods or slaves. It is very suspicious because there aren't any goods missing from the frigate's wreck that could poke the interest of pirates and nothing was found aboard the pirate cruiser either.
We found many bodies. But what is most intriguing… is that we found something else. Most casualties were due to regular firearms we all know and who are in abundance in Terminus and Council space. What is interesting…" Valern said as he brought the box up in his hand and opened it, "…is this."
He picked it up. It was a piece of conical metal with a very distorted front section. What Valern was actually showing his colleagues was a hollow-point 7.62mm round. He took another bullet and showed them, the second one being the armor piercing variant of a 5.56mm round with very little distortions from piercing through body armor and flesh.
"After digital reconstruction, analysis and the circumstances of recovering these metals from the bodies of pirates, clearly tells us that these are projectiles fired by some sort of weapon. Curiously, it doesn't seem to rely on mass effect technology," Valern said. "The vessel was also broadcasting a distress signal. Can you draw the same conclusions as the rest of the STG did?"
"Either we have an unknown faction with a new type of weapon… a weapon that should be obsolete by current standards and be part of a museum," Tevos said, "or another species responded to said beacon… and… Oh Goddess!" she gasped.
"Exactly, Councilor. I see you may have realized just what this implies," Valern said.
"They know the location of the Citadel and every point of interest that was stored in that ship's computers… This is not good news. We have an unknown factor, new race or a shadowy faction," Sparatus said.
"What do we do about this?" Tevos asked her more experienced colleagues when it came to military and information.
"I'd wager it has something to do with the suit rats! The frigate was part of the search effort after all… Spirits damned Quarians!" Sparatus growled.
"Quantity of metals required to manufacture this ammunition could be put to better use by the Migrant Fleet. I highly doubt they are behind this," Valern countered. "I would recommend strengthening defenses around the Citadel and other key locations. Plant survey probes in said region of space. Intelligence is vital here."
"I'm still not convinced… I'd still wager that the Migrant Fleet is behind the attack and this is an intricate plot put together by them. Revenge on the Council for that Eezo deposit incident!" the Turian continued.
Inwardly, he was happy that the frigate and her crew were eliminated. He just got rid of some of the more notable criticizers of him and of the Council when it came to the recent history. And, in his eyes, for good reason too. He lost his wife who was a captain aboard one of the lost Turian vessels. The antipathy he was manifesting was justified in his eyes blinded by anger. He wanted to get in touch with Pallin soon. But what Sparatus didn't know is that a certain Flavian Vakarian received a message on his omnitool from his son, Garrus Vakarian, with some help from a Systems Alliance cyber warfare AI and a Council communications buoy, word of what happened and of his son's own thoughts. And so, Flavian Vakarian set out from Palaven to investigate on the Citadel.
"Valern's proposal is the only one worth following. Will the STG take care of the probes?" Tevos asked and Valern nodded. "Alright. I will contact the Matriarch Council on Thessia and the other Asari colonies to send a few ships to safeguard our Relay nodes for any possible aggression."
"It is curious that whoever it was, they are not fond of pirates. Testimony the pirate bodies and the cruiser. Might not be hostile towards others. But helps preparing for the worst scenario."
"You're wasting time. We should focus on the Migrant Fleet, not go on a ghost hunt! They are behind this!"
"Councilor Sparatus, please calm yourself or leave us alone to our peace. I need that peace to think of a public speech regarding the unfortunate demise of Frigate-07 and its crew," Tevos told him.
Valern though still had many questions in mind regarding the reason a frigate of the Citadel would come under attack like that from pirates. The STG tried to look into it, even accessed C-Sec databases and logs yet nothing dubious came up. Could it simply be a random pirate attack who mistook a frigate for a civilian target?
AN: Hello and thank you for reading the fourth chapter of my story! I'm running out of pre-prepared chapters here. But is no problem! I'll go ahead now by showing you highlights of a Q&A I've had with one of the readers of this story, Mly92Reader, so as to address a few questions some of you might have or will have. These are copy-pasted from the PMs. Feel free to ask more questions and suggest things. If they fit in the plot I have on my mind then I might add them (if they don't complicate things more than it's worth – I want to avoid complicating because it almost killed my first story). Read and leave feedback!
Q: Does humanity has biotics ? In your timeline you didn't mention any eezo exposure or experiments towards humans.
A: Humanity has very few biotics, I wanted to get on that one in a future chapter when I introduce Cerberus. Due to the very little use of Eezo, there weren't any major incidents to warrant big exposure. Thus, very few individuals manifest biotics. Very very few in numbers. More like the children of those who worked on Eezo mining and processing.
Q: Does you introduce Catalyst in this story?
A: The Catalyst, yes. He will be there at the end. Alex Wyatt, the new OC, will have a field day with the Catalyst and the Reapers, heheh!
Q: Does changes that you made involved other squadmates (in particular from ME 2)?
A: [Redacted due to spoilers] Yes. They will still be around and a play a minor or major role, depending on the characters. I'm still undecided on a few if I should include them. And if I do include them, there will be a few changes to their background.
AN: You might be wondering why I decided to create that sort of 'subplot' with CDF Frigate-07 and its crew. The answer will be revealed in the first arc and the second. It might not be there in plain sight, but it will be put forth.
A STORY BROUGHT TO YOU BY Apollonir
CONSULTANT FOR OCs & BETA FEEDBACK: VRGL1337