Chapter 2

Mikhailovich looked like a fastidious bore even against the background of neatly dressed Soviet colleagues. Not a speck of dust on the shoes, not a little crumpled crease on the clothes. He was meticulous in everything. And, it was worth noting, he knew his job and performed superbly, for which many people disliked him. The Rear Admiral was one of those principled soldiers whom you valued very much for honesty and directness, but you prayed that they would not show up in your department. That is, it was very easy to respect him from a distance, but it was difficult to stand him at close range. However, he was one of the few people with whom Kolesnikov was ready to go on a reconnaissance mission. You didn't have to worry that he would leave you wounded in the middle of a minefield. No, he will carry you on himself, even walking barefoot on broken glass. But this devotion was securely hidden behind the knitted eyebrows and heavy gaze, which even Kolesnikov could hardly bear.

Seeing him at the docks, the Soviet ambassador felt an accelerated and enthusiastic heartbeat. And judging by the expression on Mikhailovich's face and concentrated work with the datapad, something did not suit the Rear Admiral very much, and he would not be lazy to "poke" unprepared listeners into the cause of his dissatisfaction. Shepard lazily saluted an unfamiliar, alien officer. The young man standing next to him did it more hastily, more naturally. Kolesnikov himself barely managed to stop his own palm, rapidly rising to his temple. Old habits did not want to get over.

"Rear Admiral Mikhailovich. Arrived to conduct an inspection of the SSV Normandy," he reported to Shepard.

"Commander Shepard," he said.

Mikhailovich saluted Anderson who came up and nodded dryly to Udina. And shook Kolesnikov's hand.

"So, you decided to help me with the check? Believe me, it's not really necessary. I would come to you later," he said.

"I know you can handle it," Kolesnikov replied. "I just wanted to be present, and look at the ship that the Alliance praises so much. It looks like we will soon have something to learn from our comrades."

"It is not necessary to teach us to waste money. Let them teach us to save money if they can," Mikhailovich replied gloomily. "In principle, in order to notice the inexpediency of this project, I did not need to leave the office."

"I'm sorry, but what didn't suit you specifically?" Shepard asked.

"I was not satisfied that I was called to check one of the most obviously failed projects of the Alliance," Mikhailovich answered without even looking at the commander.

Kolesnikov watched with pleasure as the Rear Admiral took notes on the datapad. Long and manually. From the young age, such inspectors who spoke little and wrote a lot always frightened him. And a few days after the seemingly successful check, it was terribly embarrassing to see a caricature of his own face on the screens at the entrance and to read snappy comments under it. Even reprimands were not so depressing.

"Have you been taught to explain your dissatisfactions in more detail?" Udina couldn't take it anymore.

"I was taught this at the time when you were lying covered with talcum powder," Mikhailovich calmly replied. "Don't rush, Mr. Udina, I haven't finished the inspection yet. Commander Shepard, may I inspect the ship from the inside?"

Shepard nodded. Kolesnikov looked sympathetically at Udina and went after Mikhailovich.

"Take a look, Kolesnikov, the captain's bridge is at the rear of the deck. Probably to develop the vocal cords and maintain a commanding voice, shouting orders to the cockpit every time," Mikhailovich admired.

"This is an experimental technology taken from the turians," Shepard explained. "The captain on the bridge sees the entire crew, and the radio transmitters help maintain communication."

"I see. Militant turians prefer not to waste energy on nonsense, like giving orders in person. And what if the radio transmitters fail at the wrong moment? You will start running all over the deck breaking your legs and splashing saliva?"

Shepard said nothing. Kolesnikov decided that the commander had not yet suffered enough from Mikhailovich and also did not say anything.

"Let's go to the cockpit, and you, Commander, imagine that the transmitters do not work. Let's simulate the situation. First, notify the entire crew of the emergency. Well, and of the evacuation at the same time," Mikhailovich resolutely went to the cockpit. Kolesnikov stayed with Shepard.

"Is he trying to convince me that the Alliance engineers are idiots, and I'm a loser on a junk with somehow working engine, isn't he?" Shepard asked, going up to the bridge.

"That's right. Consider it an exercise. And another baptism of fire," suggested Kolesnikov.

Shepard snickered, announced over the radio that this very radio communication was turned off and looked at Mikhailovich standing in the distance. Then Kolesnikov watched the fussy running around the CIC and made disappointing conclusions. Noticing that Mikhailovich had already forgotten about this "simulated situation" and got carried away by the pilot, Kolesnikov headed to the cockpit.

"Why didn't you run to the escape pods with the rest of the crew?" he was bothering the unshaven, contemptuously looking at him pilot.

"Can I answer for him?" Shepard tried to protect his man.

"Wait a second," Mikhailovich frowned at the pilot again. "And why didn't you get up and salute me when I first came in? I don't understand what the matter with discipline in the Alliance is?"

Shepard gently pushed Mikhailovich to the exit.

"Lieutenant Moreau has Vrolik syndrome. You know, fragile bones. However, this does not prevent him from being a first-class pilot, believe me," Shepard whispered to the Rear Admiral.

"If the illness prevents the pilot of a warship from lifting his ass and saluting an officer, then he is not a pilot, but a driver," Mikhailovich said. "And job should be chosen accordingly in this case."

Kolesnikov already felt sorry for both Shepard and the unfamiliar pilot. However, Mikhailovich habitually measured everything by Soviet standards. And, it was worth noting, the Defense Council would not have let a person with such a disease pilot such an expensive ship. Any ship, actually.

"Well, let me at least look at your famous engine. I hope at least there won't be any problems," Mikhailovich said mercifully.

Problems overtook the commander before reaching the drive core. Mikhailovich got interested in a turian poking in the Alliance "Mako" tank and a krogan propping up the wall in the same section.

"There is no turian or krogan among the crew members," Mikhailovich said, checking his notes just in case. "Are they migrants, kindly picked up, or technical staff?"

"No, these are new crew members. The Alliance counts on such cooperation to strengthen interspecies relations. I can personally vouch for each of them," Shepard replied.

"The Alliance should either count with a column method, or not count at all. That is, you have recruited representatives of races with whom there are no direct cooperation agreements and no personal data about these particular members. This is an unreasonable start for friendship. And what if one of them is here for espionage or sabotage? And if he succeeds, who will you ask? The turian councilor? Or you will run around Tuchanka, looking for the tribe of this particular individual?"

Mikhailovich became interested in the datapad again. Shepard, apparently, had considerable patience and endurance, since he did not knock Mikhailovich down and did not start kicking. Although, judging by the commander's thoughtful look at Mikhailovich, then at krogan, Kolesnikov presumed that now he would say "bite!" and order the reptile to chew off the hands of the nasty inspector so that he would not grab his datapad again. It didn't happen. Shepard continued to put up with the Rear Admiral. He even mockingly held his elbow, leading him through the step behind the elevator.

"I'm impressed, Commander," Mikhailovich spoke after a few minutes of silence. "The engine is just great. Although, for the invested funds, it must be like that."

Glancing at a quarian holed up in the corner, the Rear Admiral greeted the engineer.

"What can you say about the engine, Engineer Adams?

The engineer seemed to the only one who did not annoy the Rear Admiral. He listened to him very attentively and did not interrupt with questions, and even shook hands, saying goodbye.

"The project was partially financed by the Council, wasn't it?" Mikhailovich asked the commander, leaving the Normandy.

"Yes," Shepard answered honestly.

"So this ship doesn't even belong entirely to the Alliance? And the Council can say at any moment: "You've played enough, now return it to the owner"?"

"Unlikely. Building this ship was a way to strengthen a budding friendship. The Normandy is assigned to the Alliance fleet, not the Citadel one," Shepard explained.

"But at the moment its captain is you, a Spectre, reporting directly to the Council. Will you be able to ignore the order to put the ship in the hangar? Is it worth noting that the appointment of you as captain and as a Spectre happened suspiciously at the same time? If I hadn't been so polite and tactful, I would have ventured to assume out loud that this was a bend to the Council."

While Shepard was gathering his thoughts, Kolesnikov took Mikhailovich aside.

"A complete madhouse," Mikhailovich commented on what he had seen.

"Relax. Let them fill the ship with krogan eggs and incubate them. It's not your ship being scratched," Kolesnikov looked at the upset commander. "But you need to cancel your usual speeches for today. As an exception. I have to be a hero now and save Shepard & Co from you."

"Why so?" Mikhailovich also looked at Shepard. "Did you like the boy?"

"Yes. He's my new best friend. And in the future, an informant. So pretend that you are greatly offended by my angry reproaches and run to my office in tears. I'll let you drink blood from Udina, you'll make up for the loss."

"I thought you are a politician now, but you have not still learned to persuade," Mikhailovich again went to Shepard.

"Consider that you were saved from devastating report by Engineer Adams and our traitor ambassador," he nodded at Kolesnikov. "Good luck in your mission."

He saluted goodbye, went to the elevators and began to type in something again.

"I don't know what you told him, but thank you. Just a little longer and I wouldn't have held back," Shepard said.

"I'm glad to do you a favor," Kolesnikov replied.

"And I'm glad," Shepard said. "And as for my reports. Only they will be identical to the reports for the Council and Udina."

"I don't need more," the ambassador smiled. "I wish you good luck too, Commander."

"Thank you, Comrade Colonel," Shepard saluted, carefully looking at Kolesnikov.

"That's right, Colonel. How did you learn that?" the ambassador was surprised.

"Just now from you. I was just guessing."

Waving goodbye, Shepard returned to his ship.

"You're going soft, man. Although it is not surprising – you are in such a position. Did you decide to take care of the Alliance boy? Persuade me not to report you," Mikhailovich drawled lazily, entering the office.

"Report me," Kolesnikov agreed. "And get me removed from this office and returned back home."

"Everything is not so smooth now, at home. Petrovsky does not listen to the Council of Ministers, and, as the KGB chairman, wants the Defence Council to dismiss me because of my "naval impertinence." And this is only the KGB. Yeah, everything is not smooth everywhere at all. After this treaty with the Alliance, many people want to live like in the West. It's easier, simpler and without red armband, which chokes for some reason," Mikhailovich looked at Udina and Anderson next to him. "I envy these two. They just love their government. The way they can. And we love the way it was taught to us in childhood."

Kolesnikov also looked at Udina, who, as always, had not closed the door.

"I've never seen you so doubting. What makes you think that?"

"A little more than ten years ago I was on inspection at the Gagarin station. At the Alliance BAaT project. I was checking their programme for biotics. At that time I was beginning to think that if there was a conflict between the USSR and the Alliance, I was not sure that we would win. However, then I was just amazed at their luck. We have only a handful of biotics, and why? Because caution first, we do not allow women to harmful and potentially harmful production, we work almost blind, but put protective suits on one another. And everything seems to be right, however, take a look: the Alliance has never been so meticulous and, as a result, has an abundance of people with biotic abilities. And in terms of technology, we are not ahead of the whole galaxy and the Alliance specifically. After the discovery of the element zero, our tech level is about the same. The design is different, but the filling is identical."

Kolesnikov was silent. He had not been on Earth for a long time and had not heard of such sentiments. Although it was not customary to express dissatisfaction. Dangerous to health. Here Mikhailovich clearly felt freedom from a long, but rather tight red leash.

"Take your new friend Udina. He fumbles, shouts, but gently holds his line. And after all, it actually works. While it's boring to even look at you on the news. You just stand, blink, nod. Sometimes I regret that I am not there and there is no one to throw an ice cube into your underpants to stir you up."

"He's probably looking for the meaning of "talcum powder"," smiled Kolesnikov, peering into the ambassador's concentrated face.

"But at least he's doing something. And you put your ass in the chair and waste time on personal conversations," Mikhailovich replied.

"If you're jealous, we can trade places," Kolesnikov watched with pleasure as Udina dropped his datapad under the table and practically on all fours tried to get it. "In Soviet Russia, he would have been given five years of general-regime prison for this pose."

"And in Soviet Georgia, a kilogram of raisins," Mikhailovich added. "And why did you become so fond of Shepard? What kind of informant is he?"

"Anyway he is better than Udina. A mysterious bastard, like Gioconda."

"You're a spy. Put a bush near his office and sit behind it with a radar. Even if you don't find out anything, you'll drive him crazy."

"The role of an ambassador would have suited an interrogator better than a spy."

"Okay, don't drop the dignity of the country. And keep yours warm. I'm going to fulfill my duty to the Motherland while you're pretending to be busy here."

Kolesnikov silently watched Mikhailovich go. Udina also cautiously glanced at the retreating Rear Admiral. After closing the door, Kolesnikov contacted the General Secretary. Admittedly, he himself did not understand why he should personally report to him and what kind of incomprehensible worry visited the leader's mind when he asked for it. It was much easier to report to the Presidium once a week, rather than retell the General Secretary all the details of the day. And he also noticed that Udina rarely contacted his government. Obviously, they were so confident in him that they allowed him to act at his own discretion. Another thing to envy the ambassador of the Alliance of. The Gensec was not interested only in whether Kolesnikov had put on warm socks and whether he had eaten a soft-boiled egg.

"How are things with Shepard? Did you manage to persuade him to join the communist party?" the General Secretary began.

Kolesnikov was not drawn to smile now. If everything really became as serious as Mikhailovich explained, then the time for jokes would have to be postponed.

"Not yet. But at least he agreed to report about his missions, which is already a lot."

"And what about his crew? An outside opinion is also very important."

Kolesnikov could not even imagine with whom it was possible to negotiate. With a krogan? It was dangerous for the spine, which would certainly be broken in three places after the offer. With a turian? Also doubtful. With a girl who looked contemptuously at the whole zoo? Perhaps, if not for her too long gazes at the commander. The guy with the Elvis Presley hairstyle? Kolesnikov was not too fond of foreign musicians. It turned out that there was no one to talk to except the commander.

"Only Shepard himself. But that's the most important thing, isn't it?"

"You can try another way," the General Secretary thought. "What if we advise the commander to take someone else on board. Not a communist, no. Too risky. Someone "without a country and a flag". A mercenary."

"Shepard picks up his team himself. It is unlikely that he will agree. Besides, such reinsurance seems superfluous to me. Shepard did not seem to me a person who would lie," Kolesnikov tried to convince the Gensec.

"Lying and not telling are very different things, Colonel," the General Secretary replied. "The Council does not really react to the fact that a human colony has been attacked. They only want Shepard to bring Saren to them so that they can spank him publicly. It is a struggle for prestige, not for security. Meanwhile, our research ships spotted a geth pod in the Gagarin system. I gave the coordinates to Hackett. He said there was no point in sending a fleet there without first scouting the planets in the system. I agree with him here, but procrastination will badly affect resource extraction. He will probably want to send Shepard there, since he has the fastest ship available to mankind. The question is how soon our brave commander will decide to go there. That's why we need someone of our own on his ship. To raise sail in time and blow it in the right direction."

"What do you want from me? I would love to go with Shepard, but I can't leave Udina."

"Yes, Udina will look disgustingly happy in the news without you. There's no way we can let it be so. I have sent you dossier of a mercenary stationed at the Citadel. Talk to him, convince him to cooperate. And then be able to prove to Shepard that the crew is not complete without this person."

"I'm a politician now. And you make me feel like I'm on duty again. It won't be easy."

"You're on duty, Kolesnikov. And if it was easy, I would have sent someone else. After the conversation with the mercenary, I am looking forward to your report."

And although Kolesnikov didn't like the situation with the mercenary terribly, he enjoyed the implementation of the Gensec's plan. As in his younger years, it was necessary to think through everything to the smallest detail in order not to be caught red-handed. To arrange a meeting in a place where friends would not go, to get dressed so as not to attract attention and to be able to persuade this Zaeed to work for the good of the Motherland. Well, or for credits.

There was really little information about this mercenary in the dossier, which, actually, was not surprising. However, as Kolesnikov understood, the character of this Zaeed Massani was not easy, and the biography itself was extremely doubtful.

"Chora's Den" seemed to Kolesnikov the most suitable place. It is unlikely that any of the dignitaries would have come here. At the table, he noticed Zaeed, who was proving something to a waitress. And in the corner, to his displeasure, he saw Harkin. The intel officer had to spend time and credits in order to get the asshole drunk to the point of entering the astral. According to friends from the C-Sec, he was an unreliable man, and Kolesnikov couldn't risk. It was a shame that this bastard drank like a steed, and ate like a horse. Although, many people had a tendency to suddenly show the ability to eat so much when they felt a freebie.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting," said Kolesnikov, sitting down at a table with Zaeed.

"I understand your caution. So, what do you want to suggest me?" Massani got down to business.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to ask some questions first. Your dossier is amazingly incomplete," Kolesnikov suggested.

"And you decided to fill it out from the original source? Curiously. And what is my benefit?"

"You get paid, you do what you need to do. I'm not going to supplement the dossier, I just want to make sure that I'm sending the right person to the task. You understand my caution, don't you?"

Zaeed smiled.

"Just no specifics. General questions."

"As you say."

Kolesnikov carefully examined the mercenary. His age could range from forty to sixty, since gray hair, a scar across his face and a thorn in his eye did not add youthfulness. But they also made it impossible to determine the age of Zaeed. It remained only to ask.

"Your age," the question sounded short and casually.

"Less than what I look like and more than I would like," was the vague answer.

"Wife, children?"

"No, thanks."

Kolesnikov smiled. Apparently, this is not the first time he got interrogated. There was no alertness and delay in the answers. This was a sign of a hardened criminal, but for some reason the ambassador liked it terribly. There was something close and familiar in the savvy answers. Although, this man was clearly far from Soviet realities. Well, and from the Alliance ones, too.

"So, you were one of the founders of the "Blue Suns". Why are you working alone now and not resorting to the help of your own people?"

"Because I had a bad habit of being too open with questionable people," Massani replied. "Are you satisfied with this answer?"

"Quite. However, your task requires being very frank with me. And being attentive on Shepard's ship," Kolesnikov replied.

"It is much easier to tell the truth about others than about yourself. Especially when one gets paid for it," Zaeed said. "I just can't figure out how you intend to persuade this Spectre to take me on board."

"That's my business. I'm not asking how you're going to persuade Shepard to listen to you."

"Fair enough," Massani nodded.

Kolesnikov stared at him for a few seconds.

"What if the Alliance offers a greater amount of money, trying to switch you over? Will you agree and reveal me?"

"And what do you think yourself?" Zaeed chuckled. "Therefore, don't be stingy and transfer credits to my account on time. And don't worry about the rest."

But Kolesnikov was worried. This Massani, although he behaved perfectly and would certainly cope with his task in the future, remained a mercenary. Namely, an extremely dubious element, with which it was better not to negotiate anything. However, since the General Secretary himself sent him exactly this dossier, he would not look like a complete idiot if the cunning plan was revealed. At least in his eyes. It was a pity that one of his colleagues from the KGB could not have been sent with Shepard. At least you could count on those. And it would be even better to go with Shepard himself, and leave this Zaeed in the ambassador's place. Why not? He was well-spoken, calm, even reasonable. And honest, it's worth noting. Kolesnikov, on the other hand, would have a rest from the damned diplomatic service and would rejoice at the pleasant news about Udina's painful death, which would surely happen as soon as he crashed at Zaeed's office without knocking.

Thanks for reading!

Do not hesitate and write about all mistakes, translation screw-ups and your impression of the story itself)

Credits:

Author: Екатерина2 ( ficbook /authors/724290)

Fanfic: "Из СССР с любовью" ( ficbook /readfic/3443325/9028842)