Chapter 4
Kolesnikov paced the docks, waiting for the Chinese consul's ship. The intel offcer was informed about the arrival just a few minutes before he, not sparing his legs, rushed to the parking lot. And now, trying to guess the reason for the visit of such a person to the Citadel, Kolesnikov with his "pacing" was stressing out a volus, who served in this part of the docks. He didn't know anything about the person he was supposed to meet. He was told just his name and was told to run faster.
Kolesnikov smiled sadly: if times had changed, then people definitely hadn't. The technological progress that had engulfed and securely held the galaxy had not affected the mind in any way. And this was at best. At worst, it had made people degrade. It seemed so that there was nothing difficult in contacting him, Kolesnikov, at least a couple of hours earlier. And in telling him more about what he would have to face. And who. No, that's too boring. He would then have walked slowly to the taxi stand, thinking about the future acquaintance, admired the views of the Citadel on the way. And the ambassador would not have been sweating from running and excitement, but calm and solid. The communication service could not let it be in any way. And it was also annoying that after running from the parking lot to the docks, he lost his breath. This had never happened before. Apparently, it was time to stop using elevators and ask the C-Sec staff to take him to the shooting range. Kolesnikov would not be surprised if it suddenly turned out that he could only dart glances. It was time to stop imitating Udina the Stool King and try not to lose skills.
While Kolesnikov was thinking over the schedule, the Chinese consul's ship slowly docked. Having adjusted his uniform, the spy watched as this very Chinese consul came off the ship, surrounded by his escort.
"Good afternoon, Comrade Kolesnikov," greeted the consul. "Fai Shen, Consul of the USSR in London."
"Hello, Comrade Fai," Kolesnikov replied, holding out his hand.
Fai shook the hand.
"We need to talk privately," he almost whispered to the spy.
Kolesnikov nodded.
…
The Soviet ambassador began to understand why the expression "to start Chinese ceremonies" had, as a rule, negative connotation. Fai Shen had been entertaining him with news from Earth for an hour and had not said a word about the purpose of his arrival. China, unlike Russia, managed to adopt communism without losing most of its national habits, as happened with other republics. It was not as if Kolesnikov was annoyed by the consul's unhasty monologue, he just didn't want to think that he had torn his leg muscles just for the sake of this one-sided conversation.
"So what are you here for, Consul? And with such a mystery?" Kolesnikov couldn't stand it.
Fai looked thoughtfully at the Soviet ambassador and, taking a few steps to the door, closed it.
"The Presidium refused my request, considering it unprofessional, even personal. Distress signals from the colony are coming from Feros. I recommended sending the Soviet navy there. Of course, I was refused, citing usual general reasons. They offered to send a research ship, but what can it do to the geth army?"
"But why was your request considered personal? The fate of the colony is very important. Of course, you have a completely different kind of activity, in no way connected with the colonization and protection of colonies, but…"
"Fai Dan, the leader of the colony, is my brother," the consul admitted. "So my interest is personal, of course. However I cannot provide support for him."
"What do you want from me? The Defense Council does not consult with me on such matters."
"That is why I no longer raise this issue in the Defense Council. I left the consulate to talk to you. Frankly, I do not care who saves the colony anymore. The Alliance, the USSR or the Citadel fleet. The first and second said that this was not a priority task, and that now the planet belongs to the part of the systems, involved in the Spectre misson."
"That's right," Kolesnikov checked the datapad. "But it is not known when Shepard will decide to go there."
"That's why I am here. You are the ambassador of the USSR and you can tell the Council about the priority of Feros," Fai went to the window. "And I would not have humiliated myself and asked for such a thing if there had not been a member of my family in that colony. It is selfish, I admit."
"An attack on a colony is a pretty good reason to mobilize a fleet. But the circumstances are such that humanity, accepting the support of the Council, is forced to follow the new laws. Any action that may lead to the disruption of the Spectre mission will be severely punished. I understand both the USSR and the Alliance in their solution. I do not support it, but I understand. I understand you, too, but I cannot help you. Even an attempt to raise your question in the Citadel Council will lead to nothing. The Council is only interested in the mission."
"Are you saying that I left the consulate for nothing? Well, I had such a feeling. It remains only to ask: why are we trying so hard to acquire new connections, which are not useful? To put on a new collar?"
"I think about the same. And the Central Committee, too. And if the Spectre had not been a human, then it would have been possible, pretending to be simpletons, to send all the available ships. But the realities are as we see them."
"From the consulate in the Alliance, I can see the state of affairs no worse than from your office. I understand that I have no right to order you…"
"A request is always worse than an order. I wouldn't be responsible for the order," Kolesnikov looked at the thoughtful Fai. "I'll try to help you, but if we can come to an agreement."
"If you have money you can make the devil push your grind stone," the consul replied proverbially.
"I'm not talking about credits," Kolesnikov frowned. "I am interested in information. You can assume that I am living my former service, I will not be offended, since this is true. Your consulate is located in a country that has been historically the main enemy of both old Russia and the modern Soviet one. A provocateur type of enemy, seeking to start a war, and to stay away, picking up what's left from the fighting countries. Peace treaties are unlikely to cut from consciousness what is inherent in this part of the Alliance at the root level. And you see the situation from the window of the consulate better than I do from my own in this matter."
"Do you want to know about someone in particular?" the consul was interested.
"The Ambassador Udina often contacts someone who is located somewhere in London. Communication with him has made me paranoid, and I really want to know what he does," admitted Kolesnikov. "Being a consul, you probably made right friends."
"At home one relies on parents; away from home one relies on friends." Fai responded with a proverb again. "I would be stupid if I hoped that I could live in a foreign country without having friends outside the consulate. I understand and I will try to help you."
"I don't need more," Kolesnikov nodded gratefully.
"I'm glad we were able to come to an agreement," the consul said. "Can I ask you a personal question?"
"Just not too personal," Kolesnikov smiled.
"Why did you meet me at the docks? I was surprised by this, since you didn't have to. We are not even of the same nationality, if we approach the situation not from the professional side."
"Communism is also a nationality. Frankly speaking, I was scared by your visit, because it is unofficial. So I wanted to find out everything faster than you find my office. There was also communication service who, apparently, considered the consul to be something like a high-ranking diplomat. Well, as a result, some of the Citadel's residents rejoiced, watching the ambassador of the Soviet Union running with his tongue hanging out."
The consul smiled.
"Then let me get back to work. You gave me hope, and it's worth a lot," Fai nodded and headed for the exit.
As soon as the door closed behind Shen, Kolesnikov tried to contact Shepard. There was no answer. Actually, this was good, because it would give time to think about the arguments with which he would "feed" Shepard this time. But his thoughts kept running back to Fai and the deal he made with him. On the one hand, it was terribly wrong to play on another person's misfortune for personal gain. On the other hand, he did not receive personal gain. Well, material, at least. Kolesnikov really wanted to find out why Udina had become incredibly mysterious and silent. The colleague-ambassador no longer crashed at his office, did not try to provoke a scandal. In general, he became terribly busy. This was not noticed before. Also his constant communication with London… Of course, it would be worse if he communicated with Moscow, but the British capital was not good. And considering that he was sent here from Vancouver, the spy couldn't help but get very suspicious.
The signal of an incoming call made Kolesnikov flinch in surprise.
"Comrade Colonel," Shepard with a palm to his temple. "You tried to contact me."
"I am very pleased with your discipline, but let's leave ranks until I return to active service," Kolesnikov suggested. "Judging by the good quality of the signal, are you in one of the neighboring systems?"
"I've just arrived at the Citadel," Shepard nodded.
Kolesnikov wanted to clap his hands enthusiastically. Amazing luck. It would not be necessary to set up the communication channel for a painfully long time, so that the holographic image didn't ripple. This "image" would be quite clearly visible right in front of him. Kolesnikov liked personal communication much more. The progress that had engulfed the galaxy had made people lazy about such things. And it was much more simple for the spy to work directly. It was easier to guess the mood of the interlocutor and to predict all possible reactions.
"May I ask you to meet in person, Commander?" Kolesnikov asked.
"Of course. But Udina..." Shepard paused.
"If you don't mind, we can meet at the docks. Embassies are not the best place. And if you allow us to enter the ship, then we will be completely sure of safety."
"Perhaps. But if you do get noticed? I care about it too, but I am a Spectre and there won't be punishment for me. I hope so, at least," the commander began hesitantly.
Kolesnikov understood his doubts. Even despite the friendship between the powers and long-term cooperation in many areas, there was rivalry between the Alliance and the Soviets. Though not as hot as a century ago, it certainly hasn't completely disappeared. The Alliance still believed that the USSR was pursuing a peaceful policy only until it was profitable for it. And, of course, they believed that in addition to the officially registered number of soldiers and officers, there were also some wild partisans, sitting in the swamps and waiting for a lonely lost Alliance soldier. Well, and bears with balalaikas were released immediately after the departure of the delegations. Surely during the visits of officials they were simply hidden somewhere. Most likely, they were taken to the partisans in the swamps… Although Kolesnikov had heard a lot of tales about the Alliance. It was rumored in the Defense Council that biotics could read minds. And that all politicians who visited Moscow, or the capital of one of the republics, were all people with biotic abilities. Kolesnikov didn't really believe in it, but he didn't completely reject it either. There was no exact evidence that biotics were really capable of such a thing, but there was no evidence to the contrary. It remained only to rely on his own intuition.
"Oh, leave it to me. Believe me, the version of why I showed up on the ship will be true."
"Otherwise I'm not a spy, but a Cheburashka," he thought.
"I have business at the Presidium. Can we meet in three Earth hours?" Shepard asked.
"As you like," Kolesnikov nodded.
He really liked the young commander. With all that he had to go through, he did not lose his innocence. The intel officer did not want to say "credulity" or "naivety". These words did not fit Shepard. Kolesnikov tried to collect all the data about him that he could find on the Extranet and in the non-classified files of the Alliance. A colonist who had lost his parents during the batarian slavers attack. Well, that explained his anger during the Blitz. But he was clearly a decent man - and this was pleasing, because such a phenomenon was becoming rare.
After thinking about it, Kolesnikov tried to call Mikhailovich. He answered as quickly as if he was expecting a call.
"Kolesnikov calls me himself. It will be necessary to get a tattoo in memory of such an event," Mikhailovich noted. "And surely Kolesnikov needs something from under the rear admiral."
"You guessed right. You get a chance to help your comrade again."
"I'll miss this chance with pleasure," Mikhailovich replied. "What do you need?"
"Boris, I need you to tell Shepard right now how much you apologize for the harshness during the inspection of the Normandy. I want you to record and send me a video message. To divert the attention. It's too long to explain."
Mikhailovich looked at the ambassador in surprise.
"I can send you personally. Where should I send you to screw yourself?"
"Let's not be sarcastic. Send me wherever you want, but then fulfill the request."
"Maybe it would be better for me to drop everything, put oil on, arm myself with a guitar and a pot of geraniums and come in person? You're ruining my reputation as a principled and uncooperative bastard. And I've been working on it for so long."
"God damn it, Boris. I'm telling you: I need it. Do you think I want to have a recording with your mug for personal pleasure?" Kolesnikov couldn't help himself.
Mikhailovich answered with a thoughtful look.
"I don't know, but I hope you continue to jerk off to the military charter, and did not succumb to Western fashion… However, I was ordered to support you in all your nonsense. Promise that not a single Udina will see this insidious lie."
"Not a single Udina will see this," Kolesnikov promised.
Having recorded an obviously hypocritical apology on the omni-tool, the intel officer looked at Mikhailovich's upset face.
"Thank you, man, that was a big help."
"You know, I never hated politicians before you. Go fu…"
Kolesnikov quickly disconnected. No, he liked to replenish his vocabulary by listening to Mikhailovich, but only when the inspector's anger was directed at someone else. Right now, he definitely didn't want to bother his head. Although, now it was necessary to be prepared for the fact that Boris would tell him everything in person. And considering the recent shamefully slow running and disgusting state of health after it, he will not even be able to escape from the rear admiral. No, it was clearly necessary to negotiate with the C-Sec about training…
There were several reasons why Kolesnikov wore only a military uniform, although without shoulder straps. The first, but not the main one, is habit. The second (also important) – he liked himself dressed in a uniform. The third - the main one - is convenience. Kolesnikov honestly tried to wear the long clothes accepted on the Citadel. However, these few hours ended with him stepping on the hem and falling flat, barely managing to put his hands up and not leaving an imprint of his own face on the floor. And then he watched for a long time: whether anyone saw his fall and heard his battle cry during it. Since then, traditional clothing had been far hidden and repeatedly cursed.
However, it would be foolish to show up in a typical Soviet uniform. On the Citadel, he was the only one so communistically fashionable in uniform and with a red armband. And if he could be the one and only in the embassies, then in other places it was necessary to constantly remember that he was a spy and try not to fail on such trifles as clothing.
Thank the party, in other things he was lucky. More precisely, nature was clearly thinking about who to make a spy, and who a walking museum exhibit. An absolutely ordinary and unremarkable face and average height –this was exactly what was required from an intel officer's appearance. And nothing outstanding, conspicuous. And no signs, tattoos for example. Kolesnikov heard that Soviet intelligence in the United States during the Cold War failed precisely because of signs. The seemingly unintelligent "friends" noticed a trace of vaccination on the forearms of suspicious citizens. It turned out that such things were made only in the USSR. A trifle, it would seem, but only for fellow citizens who wore the same markings. Reinsuring himself, Kolesnikov never did tattoos, and even tried not to keep his native rubles, still operating on the territory of the USSR, in his pockets, being not at home. Of course, the times were peaceful, but just in case.
"Commander, I have a message for you. Rear Admiral Mikhailovich could not personally contact you, so he asked me to convey it you," Kolesnikov said deliberately loudly, turning on the omni-tool and playing the message.
Let the crew members, who gathered to take a look, understand that he came with a purpose. A fake, hypocritical one like the record itself, but still... they would say, that an old man lifted his wrinkled ass and brought it to the ship. Noble, no matter how you look at it.
"Thank you, Ambassador. With your permission, I will save the message and show it, if possible, to our pilot, who suffered mentally because of Mikhailovich," Shepard nodded towards the door leading, apparently, to his cabin.
Kolesnikov nodded and followed Shepard, followed by the incredulous glances of the eternally frowning girl and Elvis. For personal convenience, Kolesnikov decided to call the young man, who looked like a trimmed Indian, exactly like that.
"Is this the reason you came here?" Shepard asked.
"The excuse, but not the reason," Kolesnikov examined the miserable cabin. "And what is it like to work in such conditions, commander? Doesn't the darkness cause headaches?"
"No. Migraine starts from bright light. One of the unpleasant consequences after getting a biotic implant," Shepard smiled. "However, I can make the light brighter if it's more convenient for you."
Shepard turned to the door, almost groping in search for the light control. Kolesnikov, taking advantage of the attention absence, with a quick, practiced movement, attached a bug under Shepard's desk. And at the same moment he regretted it so much, because he wasn't going to do it. But the old habit of fixing them at the right moment worked. And carry them in pocket, it's worth noting.
"Is that better?" Shepard asked.
"You're very kind, Commander," Kolesnikov said gratefully.
"I hope the Lord will remember this little thing," Shepard said, pointing to the chair near the desk.
"Do you believe?" Kolesnikov asked, sitting down.
"Being under fire almost every day, one way or another, you start to believe. And you, Comrade Colonel? Communists don't build churches, do they? So what exactly do you believe in? In a communist paradise after death?"
"Of course, communism, as a science, denies God. We are all equal. Accordingly, there is no one higher. I would not call myself a believer in the original sense, but when something extremely bad happens, I, like many, try to negotiate with God. Well, so that not to make it worse."
"Did you want to discuss something, Comrade Colonel?" Shepard got down to business.
"Exactly. I found out that you were able to knock the geth out of four systems solely on your own. Great job. The Defense Council expresses its sincere gratitude to you. And I just applaud you."
"My friends helped me. No matter what Mikhailovich said, I was not mistaken in choosing companions. It's inspiring."
"May I know what your plans are, Commander? It's just that I, as an old soldier, am very interested in how young people think and what guides them when setting the priority of missions."
"Hackett told me that a distress signal had been triggered on Feros. And this planet belongs to the systems where Saren was spotted. So my choice is obvious. I hope you agree with me this time?" Shepard asked.
"Completely," Kolesnikov felt relieved. "Is there anything in particular I can help you with, Commander? If you want, I will raise the issue of sending several ships that will patrol the system after you land on the planet. So Saren probably won't be able to escape if he finds out about your whereabouts. However, it will be impossible to bring him alive to the Citadel and interrogate him."
"Thank you. It would not be superfluous. And if we fail to destroy him, then at least it will be possible to calculate his course for sure. But it will also be a good help."
"I'll contact the Defense Council as soon as I get back to the office," Kolesnikov nodded. "And what about the ground team? Are you all right and ready for a long work?"
Shepard hesitated.
"Come on, tell me. I promised you support. You are fulfilling your part of the agreement, but I am so far not. Don't make me owe the Alliance commader, I beg you."
"Actually, there are problems. Lieutenant Alenko's headaches have become more frequent, and the turian, Garrus, was injured and is temporarily unable to participate in missions."
"Turian… That is, the fire support you relied on is temporarily unavailable."
"Alas. I always counted on him."
Kolesnikov feigned thoughtfulness.
"If your suspicion of communists doesn't make you paranoid, I can recommend one of my friends. Not from the USSR, don't worry. I had the good fortune to meet him while already serving at the Embassy. Or misfortune - I haven't decided yet. But he can help you compensate temporary loss of a fighter, no doubt," Kolesnikov suggested.
"One of your spies?" Shepard smiled. "It seemed to me that I was behaving well and did not need accompaniment."
"If I needed to know in such detail what is happening on the ship, I would offer myself to you. And I would do it with pleasure."
"Can I talk to him in your presence? At any other time I would have refused, but given the situation on the ship…"
Kolesnikov immediately contacted Zaeed, simultaneously thanking fate for such a combination of circumstances.
Shepard had a long conversation with Massani before agreeing.
"I think Wrex will still be the most dangerous creature on the ship, so I'm not worried. Welcome aboard, Zaeed," Shepard extended his hand to Massani.
"Where can I throw my meager possessions?" Zaeed asked.
While Shepard was showing the equipment locker to the mercenary, Kolesnikov looked around the section. It was empty, because it's dinner time. Cursing himself for such meanness, Kolesnikov threw one of nonworking bugs behind the Elvis's locker. A bad act, unworthy of an officer. He just framed the young lieutenant, but he diverted suspicion from himself. In this case, it would be possible to make round eyes, portray resentment and advise to inspect the personal belongings of the crew and the ship as a whole. And then listen condescendingly to apologies from the commander. It was possible, of course, to ask Zaeed to remove that bug from under the Shepard's table, but the fact that he so much wanted to attach it there said that he had not risked in vain. Intuition, reliance on which is not very acceptable, had not failed the spy before. And a biotic boy, in case of accusation and, of course, instant demotion and dismissal, could always be recruited for the Soviet Army. Or given to a research institute engaged in the biotics research.
"What a bitch you've become, Kolesnikov. I'm already sick of myself. It is clearly necessary to stop communicating with Udina."
"Thank you, Ambassador," Shepard said, squinting at Zaeed.
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)