Chapter 8. To Each Their Own


3. April 2388 AD, Arcturus Station

"Lal Qila has confirmed that Eclipse was not involved in supplying the arms to the IFS, Chancellor Noé. He'll stay where he's right now until further orders are given to him," one of the ministers at the table said. "What's our next course of action, Sir?"

The chancellor looked at the evidence laid out in front of him, most of it came from 'Lal Qila's' mission report. Not only was the HSA dealing with the resurrection of its worst enemy, they also didn't know who was backing them up. The mass accelerators secured on sight could've come from anywhere. Outdated council gear used by almost every Terminus warlord in existence.

"What do we got?"

"Just about nothing, this whole thing was a masterfully executed false flag operation," another member of the government replied.

"Harper?" Noé turned his head towards the man to his right.

"Do all of you recall the operation above Illium?" the director of Cerberus questioned as he brought up the disrupted footage caught by a helmet camera, showing an asari running out of a room within the Eclipse freighter, an operative in grey armor stepping past the door as his SR-8x fired into the direction she had fled into before three other Cerberus agents came pouring through the door and towards the downed man who's perspective they had just witnessed.

"We've got a positive ID on her. Tela Vasir," he explained. "Special Tactics and Recon, the personal agents of the Citadel Council. This confirms what we already feared, a Spectre engaged Cerberus forces and retrieved the data cache Eclipse was guarding for the Shadow Broker," Harper argued. "Someone with a Spectre on their payroll, the ways to cover their tracks and the resources to back up the IFS is behind all of this. Most likely someone with close ties to the Citadel Council."

"This is a very serious implication, if another, alien government is sponsoring terrorist organizations on our soil, it might as well be a declaration of war," Noé said in return. "But even with this footage I still have to ask, who is responsible for this, Harper?"

"We don't know yet but I do not believe that the Hierarchy would play nice with us only to stab us in the back. Doesn't fit their modus operandi or their recent actions. Furthermore we've been nothing but on good terms with the turians. The salarians however are another story. This is exactly the way the Union does things," Harper concluded as he folded his arms in front of his chest.

"It would explain the salarian mercs training IFS insurgents," the minister of inner affairs chipped in.

"But I don't believe it to be the salarian's work either," Harper countered, drawing the look of the man who had bought into his initial explanation. "Why would they leave such an obvious trail? They've been waging their wars with deception and covert operations since the rise of the roman empire. They wouldn't be this sloppy," the director argued.

"Leaving only the asari," the chancellor realised,"But we have nothing that would incriminate them nor do they have an obvious motive," Noé said and received Harper's nod in return, confirming the notion. "How likely is it that this was the work of a rogue agent within their ranks? Are we sure Vasir didn't go on this trip on her own? As a Spectre she should have the resources to pull this off."

"The possibility of a rogue Spectre exists. It has happened before," the minister of alien relations, Kadlec, confirmed. "54 years ago a turian Spectre went rogue and murdered hundreds of people before she got tracked down by a task force with the sole goal of hunting her. Called her the 'Demon of Athena' because she roamed the Athena Nebula during her killing spree," the minister explained, further supporting the theory.

"We could send Ambassador Goyle to approach the Council on our findings. We still have the ace of saving over 2000 civilians up our sleeve. That has to be worth something. Besides if there's someone within their ranks who's working behind their backs, they should know," Minister Kadlec argued.

"I strongly advise against that Chancellor," Harper countered almost immediately. "If this isn't the work of a rogue agent but really a Council operation, we'd be at a serious disadvantage by revealing that we are on their trail. Give me and Cerberus a few weeks, I'll find who's responsible."

"Noted," Noé said before turning towards Kadlec. "Get me Ambassador Goyle, let's play this the nice way for now. If it doesn't work, I'm coming back to that offer, Harper."

"Chancellor I-" the man began only to be shot down.

"Director Harper, Cerberus is not needed at the moment. You're dismissed, return to your duties."

"Yes, Sir." Jack Harper replied coldly and walked out of the room without another word. He didn't enjoy doing this but at the moment Harper's approach wasn't the way he wanted to do things.


18:33 Local Time, 4. April 2388 AD, Shanxi, Living Quarters in the Outskirts of the Colonial Capital

"The deaths of our brothers and sisters on New Canton, Fehl Prime and Ferris Fields served as a reminder to the one ugly truth most of us have forgotten in the last few years," the voice echoed through the tv screen of the prefabricated colonial building. "After over two centuries, the Human Systems Alliance is still unable to protect us!" it declared just as a large, red banner with a heptagon on it was illuminated by spotlights behind the speaker, betraying his allegiance.

"With the revelation that alien mercenaries can simply land on our worlds and slaughter us as they please, we have to come to terms with the fact that the HSA is now not only an oppressive force but a threat to the very survival of our species!" the IFS spokesman declared as the screen displayed pictures of the breached shelter on New Canton, dead civilians killed by krogan and vorcha mercenaries were lying in a small sea of blood that had collected within the room. The attacks had happened only roughly half a year ago, the memories were still fresh in his mind. He noticed the image of a child, she couldn't have been older than his sister, literally torn to pieces by one of these alien savages and felt the anger wash over him.

This couldn't stand.

As if the spokesman could read his mind he went on with his broadcast.

"The IFS will not tolerate this. In the past, we stood up for the oppressed Fringe Worlds but now our struggle has grown in scale. The HSA no longer simply ignores our demands and suppresses us for speaking up against them. No, now they endanger every human that has ever lived!"

The pictures ceased to switch as the spokesman returned on the screen resting his arms on the table in front of him.

"Don't allow the HSA to pave the road to our destruction. Rise up my brothers and sisters, fight for our safety and our right to exist. Remember the Fringe, remember Fehl Prime, remember Ferris Fields and remember New Canton!" he shouted and the charisma of the person simply overtook everyone in the living unit as they erupted into cheers of agreement, cheers loud enough for them to not register the knocking on the door.

A crucial mistake.

"Open up!" a voice shouted from the outside while banging on the door. "Shanxi Colonial Watch!"

"Oh shit," one of the young man in the room said as he quickly hit a button on the remote switching the channel towards a sports news reportage while another walked up to the door and opened it as the faceless armored figures walked into the room, shoving the boy who had opened it up to the side, causing him to trip backward and rub his head as a result of the fall.

"This is an unscheduled inspection of Living Unit B-312," the goon in charge declared as his black visor stared back at the man that had stepped in front of him, his eyes reflecting of the polished, coloured glass. "You are going to give your identification cards to the soldier over there for processing." he pointed at his own 'clone' who had made his way to the single desk int he room. Just another faceless government enforcer, armed to the teeth and looking equally threatening. This was how they treated them.

"While you are processed, we will search this living unit. Then you have to disperse, no social gatherings after 19:00 local time" he kept instructing as more soldiers walked into the room and started to heard the crowd which had peacefully watched television towards the man that would take their IDs in a cold, mechanical manner. They showed little to no sympathy for even the youngest among them, one pulling the boy that had let them in to his feet before forcing him to the rest of the crowd.

"Hey, no need to get pushy!" one demanded as he saw the events unfold. The goon behind him, apparently unsatisfied with his behaviour, reacted to the man's insistence by poking his rifle into his back. For some reason the man decided to turn around, only to receive an armored elbow to the face.

"Don't you fucking touch me," the man replied as the smaller civilian hit the ground with a thud, blood pouring from his nose. He hadn't even laid a hand on the soldier.

"Cut it out, Private Santiago," the man in charge ordered with no empathy, most certainly simply repeating rules set by his superior. "Someone wake that one up, he hasn't been processed yet," he ordered without looking at the bleeding man.

His eyes remained glued to the treatment of the people around him until he felt the hand on his shoulder at first softly but soon enough rather strongly pressing him to move on. He gave in to the demand and came to a halt at the end of the line that had formed in front of the soldier who now carried a device that would read the small plastic card in his hand. The line started to move up and soon enough it was his turn. He handed the ID card over and the soldier pulled it out of his hand, a sting of pain radiating as one of its corners cut into the side of his finger. The ID card displayed his name while flashing green and the soldier simply handed it back to him without apologizing.

"Saracino, Charles. No previous offenses. Everything checks out. Next," he said as Charles was shoved to the side by another soldier. He walked over to the group that formed in the corner of the room and chose to stand in front of it only to hearing a beeping noise behind him.

"We got one," the soldier said as another walked up with his rifle trained on the man currently being processed, he was an older citizen who had previously watched the broadcast with them and Charles had only found it somewhat odd that he'd spent his time with much younger people. The beeping was now raising a lot of questions in his head. Had he been the one to turn the broadcast on to sway them? If he was an IFS member, they were all screwed. This was looking bad.

"Bag him," the leader ordered as the faceless figure with a blood stain on his elbow forced the man to the ground by stomping into his kneeling before pulling a black bag over his had.

"Thought you could hide from us, Iffy scum?" the man chuckled as he forcefully threw the man to the ground while putting handcuffs on him.

"This living unit has sheltered a known terrorist," the leader declared, confirming Charles' worry, "I'm placing all of you under temporary arrest for interrogation in accordance to the fifth directive of the Fringe Martial Law. If you resist, we will not hesitate to use force."

"How the hell were we supposed to know that he was with the IFS?" Charles questioned angrily, earning him the 'glare' of the soldier's visor who simply hit a button on the remote, switching back to the IFS broadcast which now displayed old combat footage from the Fringe Wars, calling for people to step up to the deeds of their predecessors.

"We're not exactly as stupid as you Fringers think," he replied. "Bag that one too."

Charles saw the end of an SR-7 smashing into his stomach before a black hood was pulled over his head.

That's what happened if you said something they didn't like to hear.


5. April 2388 AD, Citadel, Office of Councilor Ioventus

"Just give me the benefit of doubt here, Councilor."

"This has nothing to do with doubt on my side, Ambassador."

"I'd like to point out that saving thousands of Council civilians should give the HSA some credibility."

"This isn't about credibility either, this is a very serious accusation, Ambassador Goyle. An accusation that has to be backed up by conclusive evidence," Councilor Ioventus stated as he looked at the evidence given to him by Anita Goyle. The chancellor had ordered her to present the data, cleansed of any hints of Cerberus even existing, to the turian representative. Strictly speaking, this was going behind the back of the Council but apparently Noé, while willing to walk the diplomatic path, still considered the words of caution given to him by the director of the Cerberus Initiative.

"Which is precisely why I came to you with this," she said pointing at the report. "Even if Tela Vasir is not the main culprit of these acts of terrorism, it still means that there's a rogue agent among the highest echelons of the Citadel," she explained.

"Then why do you trust me? For all you know I could be the rogue agent," Ioventus countered, it was a legitimate question since he was breaking several laws regarding the range of actions allowed to a councilor.

"Turians don't solve their problems with backstabbing. If you'd want us out of the picture, you'd be duking it out with the HSA Navy right now, not hire a Spectre to give information to mercenary bands to allow them to hit soft targets."

Ioventus threw her a skeptic glance, cultural values did nothing to support her case.

"Furthermore you've been pushing an investigation of Vasir for four years," she said, finally able to put her knowledge of Council politics to good use.

"How do you have that information?" Ioventus mandibles twitched in surprise.

"The same way we know that the salarians and the asari have been holding private meetings excluding the Hierarchy ever since the start of our joint exercises," Goyle replied, not revealing the fact that a Section 13 agent had simply 'borrowed' the omni-tool of a worker of the asari embassy for a couple of minutes during a meeting in the HSA embassy. The miracles of slight of hand.

"Councilor Ioventus, Humanity sees the Hierarchy as the closest thing we have to an ally on the Council at the moment," Goyle started her strategy of once more aiming for turian sympathy, it had worked in the past. "And we trust you to not be the rogue agent due to lack of motive. Because of this I was ordered to approach you for your input on this subject," she finished, stressing the last part of her sentence.

Ioventus seemed to consider the words for a moment and sat down at his desk, his talons drumming on top of it, the sound of them hitting the metal desk echoing through the room.

"Turian Naval Intelligence has been tracking Vasir's operations for over a decade now, ever since one of her operations accidentally caused the death of the entire crew of a turian frigate," he finally explained. "I've had reason to believe that she is working for the Shadow Broker for some time now but we never had any hard evidence to back it up, she's good at hiding her trails."

Goyle saw her chance, even at the risk of getting fired and sent to prison for treason.

"If I were to give you hard evidence that she is connected to the Shadow Broker, would it be possible to determine if Agent Vasir was responsible for the attacks?" Goyle asked.

"Where would that evidence come from?" Ioventus replied as he looked at her, his amber eyes filled with curiosity.

"I have to make an urgent call, Councilor. I might have what you need," she replied. "I'll be back."


20 Minutes Later, Citadel, HSA Embassy

Goyle had bursted into his room and, without his permission, hijacked his secured terminal. Now she was talking to Harper and Alec was stuck sitting on his bed, awkwardly eavesdropping on the exchange.

"Ambassador, do you realise the consequences of giving the Council access to the mission reports of Cerberus?" Harper's voice questioned. "There's a reason why we wiped all traces of the initiative off the record, our very existence could cause irreparable damage if its revealed under the wrong circumstances."

"I just need the mission report for Illium, not Cerberus' entire track record. Besides, ever since your little 'excursion' over Invictus, at least the Hierarchy is bound to suspect we have some form of black ops naval formation."

"The details of the operation were never disclosed to anyone outside the Council of Primarchs," Harper argued. "They just know that we destroyed the raider vessels, they have no clue how we did it and no intention to find it out."

"For god's sake Harper, just give her the files and blame it on a N7 team," Alec sighted frustrated, no longer willing to hear the pointless discussion between two people wanting the same thing, at least not if it took place during his free time. "Change up a few words and it will be a regular special operations raid, no need to disclose Cerberus in any way. Illium isn't Council territory, they have no jurisdiction. Anything we do over there is irrelevant for them. Hell, blow up the right building they might even be grateful."

The silence lingered for a moment and Goyle looked at Shepard who had fallen back onto his bed, now looking at the ceiling, regretting that he hadn't locked his door.

"Where did that come from?" she asked, confused by his unusual irritation.

"Just a tiny bit on edge recently," he explained.

"Altering the report is one thing, the recordings are the actual issue," Harper said. "Cerberus forces are clearly visible in the footage."

"To people who know their insignia. Just explain it away with a new type of armor that's looking differently. Wouldn't even be a lie since Cerberus wears its own new, fancy stuff anyway," Alec reasoned. "Come on Harper, you know I'm right."

"You owe me one, Shepard," Harper finally replied. "I'll send the altered files to you within the next hour, Ambassador."

Before he could protest, the transmission was ended.


Three Hours Later, Citadel, Office of Councilor Ioventus

"My analysts have confirmed the authenticity of the recording, Ambassador," Ioventus said as he brought his omni-tool up. "Combined with the other evidence, this undoubtedly links Agent Vasir to a known enemy of the Council, the Shadow Broker."

"Even if it turns out to be a false lead, can the HSA count on turian support to find out who was responsible for the attacks?" Goyle questioned.

"I will plead your case to the Primarch of Palaven but I can't guarantee that he will support you," Councilor Ioventus replied truthfully. Honesty was its own reward. "However you have my promise that I'll do everything in my power to bring justice to your dead."

"I appreciate it, Councilor Ioventus," Goyle replied. "I believe I will see you in the next council meeting, correct?"

"Indeed you will. I will bring this information to Council and launch an investigation as soon as possible," he said as his omni-tool, along side it's orange glow, disappeared.


6. April 2388 AD, Shanxi

The bag was pulled off his head and the blinding sensation of white light hit him like a freight train. As his eyes adjusted to the new level of brightness, he noticed that he was handcuffed to a table. Not exactly one of his favorite ways to wake up.

"Charles, do you know why you are here?" a man questioned from behind him as he heard the door close. While he couldn't turn his head completely, he did notice the guard standing next to the door with the black bag in his hand and a stoic expression on his face.

"Because I said something you didn't want to hear?" he muttered.

"Because you are charged with assisting a known terrorist in escaping justice. Do you know who that man was?" the man in the green uniform of the HSA's army questioned as he walked into Charles' line of sight.

"I have no idea," he replied. "I only know that you beat the shit out of an old guy after his ID didn't check out."

"He worked for Andrej Kamarov," the man threw a glare towards Charles. "One of the last remaining high ranking officers of the IFS, at least until they themselves declared him a rogue. You may know him as the Butcher of Elysium," the interrogator explained. "Do you know what that man did?"

"I'm sure you're going to tell me what he 'did' in the eyes of the HSA." Charles spat back in defiance, he had heard the name Kamarov. Evil tongues called him a zealot, more neutral ones called him pragmatic.

"I'm not your enemy, Charles."

"You beat me with a rifle, trashed my living unit, put a bag over my head and kidnapped me. You sure as hell aren't my friend."

"The HSA is doing all of this to ensure the continued safety of the Fringe Worlds."

"No you are doing all of that because you core people just don't understand us. We don't want you here and we sure as hell don't need you here."

"Andrej Kamarov was the leader of the insurgency on Elysium. His methods included bombing hospitals, abducting and torturing the families of HSA servicemen and as you are probably aware, detonating a dirty bomb in the center of New Illyria. He vanished without a trace after the Fringe Wars and now the IFS is painting him as a hero. If one of his men is on Shanxi, you're in a lot of trouble," the interrogator argued, not reacting to his own accusation.

"That's what you claim," Charles spat back. "I've heard that the HSA needed to deal a blow to the image of the IFS, make them hated on Elysium in order to occupy the world," he pulled on his hands in a vain attempt to remove the cuffs. "You people just don't get it, the lies you are fed growing up on your fancy core worlds with a spoon up your ass. You still believe that the HSA is actually the knight in shining armor it makes itself out to be? No. You're just as bad as you claim the IFS is. Hell you are worse. I lived through the IFS 'occupation' of Shanxi, they didn't raid living units, they didn't raise barriers in the street and they didn't arrest anyone for simply being in the same room as one of their enemies."

The interrogator folded his hands in front of him.

"For the record, I'm from Port Bigby," Charles didn't believe that for a second,"but I am not here to discuss with you and I don't believe we are making a lot of progress here, so let me try another angle." he argued. "Where you at any point aware of the fact that someone working for the Butcher of Elysium was living right next to you?"

"No," Charles simply said.

"That's what you claim," the interrogator replied with a suspicious tone as his mouth twitched into a grin. "Why were you watching an IFS broadcast? You should be aware that viewing terroristic propaganda is a felony. Did you simply not care?"

"Why do you care what I watch in my free time?" Charles spat back.

"Because the IFS has a singular aim with their broadcasts, they seek to recruit people for their sleeper cells by twisting them with fear and lies," the man explained. "Charles, you were the only one in that living unit with no previous offenses, don't drift down that path," the interrogator said as he nodded at the guard.

"I am willing to offer you a deal, you make a statement that the man who was arrested supported the IFS and we let you go, turn a blind eye. No need in sending you down the same road he already walked."

"You want me to give you a reason to lock an old man up? Nah."

"There's no honor among thieves, Charles. He'd take the deal without hesitation should we offer it. Don't go to prison for people who'd throw you away the moment you are no longer useful to them."

"I'm not doing it. You can stick your deal wh-" he was cut off as the guard pulled another black bag over his head.

"Charles, we can hold you for three days until we have to find a charge and trust me we will find something to charge you with. Take some time, cool down and think about my offer. Next time I won't be so generous," Charles heard the man get up as his chair scraped on the floor. "Throw him into solitary. No need for him to discuss this little chat with his friends."

"Yes, Sir," the guard said as he pulled Charles up from the chair.


In another room

"First one who didn't bite at the Kamarov move," the HSAIS officer said to his army comrade. The deeds of the Butcher made him a perfect method for cracking most people. It was a scare tactic. While the man they had arrested was a member of an IFS cell, he hadn't been associated with Kamarov, after all it was hard to be associated with dead people.

"You say that like it's a good thing, this one's IFS material," the interrogator replied as his index finger pointed through the mirrored glass and towards the young man. "So what's the game plan, just keep them here for a few days? Most of them are too young to go to jail and frankly, there's no reason to lock them up."

"No, there isn't. We'll just put them on a watch list, especially that one. They'll either find their way or lead us to the big shots once they actually link up with an IFS cell."

"That's a gamble."

"It's worth the risk."

"If you say so," the army officer shrugged. "You're the intelligence officer."

"That I am," the man nodded. "When is the raid taking place?" the HSAIS officer added.

"Any minute now, sadly we're stuck watching interrogations."

"They have a charm all by themselves.."

"Maybe for HSAIS, I'd rather be knocking down doors," the man as he took a sip of coffee. "Same strategy with the next one?"

"Yes."


6. April 2388 AD, Shanxi, Living Unit B-331

The door was kicked down and Zaeed twisted around the corner, a man with a red band on his arm appearing in his line of fire, his armor only partially in place. He squeezed the trigger and the man dropped while the Iffy next to him tried to go for the gun on the desk. They had gotten the drop on them after all. The soldier who had walked up right behind Zaeed Massani dispatched him with practiced ease and both of them moved up to the next door just as another soldier prepared to open it. His hand touched the handle just as mass accelerator rounds tore through the wall and embedded themselves in his left side, causing him to collapse and scream in pain.

"Bloody hell," Zaeed cursed as yet another soldier, Vido Santiago, dragged the injured soldier into cover while the small rounds smashed through the thin walls of the living unit's interior walls. While build to resist hostile weather conditions, the prefabricated buildings were far from bulletproof. The sand grain sized rounds worked their way towards Zaeed as he threw himself to the ground, the rounds meant for him instead hitting his squad leader in the neck, resulting in a large pool of blood closing in on Zaeed's position as the man tried and failed to stop the flow of blood.

"Toss a grenade in there!" he shouted to Vido who unhooked the round object from his combat rig and pulled the pin. He rose to his feet and forced the door open, somehow avoiding a deadly hit in the process before tossing the object into the next room without looking.

"Incoming!" a voice shouted from the inside of the room. It was followed by the sound of an explosion that silenced the mass accelerator fire. Zaeed crawled over to his squad leader and felt no pulse, leading him to hush away Vido before the man could move to help his commander. They had been to slow.

"Save it, he's gone," Zaeed sighted as he crawled back to the corner of the door peaking his head around the corner. "Shit," he muttered with a horrified voice as the inside of the room was revealed to him, causing Vido to turn the corner as well.

"Damn," the man said as he faced the consequences of his throw. While the grenade killed the shooter it had also killed who had been with him in the room, yet for some reason the soldier seemed unaffected by it. He was probably too shocked to display emotion right now. Zaeed opted for damage control.

"You couldn't have known, Santiago," Zaeed tried to sound earnest but considering the remains of the shooter's family sounded far too horrified for it to actually work. "This isn't on you. It's on him."

"Damn right it's on the Iffy," Vido replied walking into the room and kicking the corpse of the shooter. "Had it coming you little scumbag."

Apparently the soldier didn't share Zaeed's feelings about the scene in front of him. He followed him into the room, only throwing a glance at the torn up corpse of a young boy before seeing Santiago kneel down next to the dead separatist, his armored boot slowly turning redder as the blood flowed towards it.

"Enough, get up," Zaeed ordered as the rest of his unit walked into the living room. "Call HQ. Tell them the cells busted but also tell them that collateral damage was caused in the process. Three dead civilians."

"At least we got what we came for," the injured engineer of his unit said as he held up the intelligence that had been the main cause for the raid, positions of other IFS cells in the immediate area.

While Zaeed never shared any sympathy for the IFS, he still felt guilty as he looked at the mangled remains of the shooter's family.

"This better be worth it," he grumbled before turning away from the remains. "Fucking Iffys," he sighed.


2130 CE, Citadel, Chambers of the Citadel Council

"Ludicrous," the projection of Tela Vasir said as she looked down at Ambassador Goyle. "Tell me you aren't believing this? I've served this Council longer than their species can even live."

"Agent Vasir," Councilor Tevos said in an attempt to calm the Spectre down. "The Council will follow this lead. If your statement is correct there's no reason for you to be hostile. The truth will come out."

"I am not hostile, Councilor," the Spectre replied, still angry. "I'm offended at the notion that you are listening to these ridiculous claims made by some upstarts."

She didn't expect them to come this far, if she were to be honest. Tevos had been rather certain that they'd just fight it out with Eclipse and be done with it. But apparently something had caused them to dig deeper, actually managing to link Vasir's operation over Illium to the greater picture. So when Ioventus had come to her with the human findings, she had been forced to call a meeting. Truthfully, she knew that Vasir was probably far angrier at her than she was at the humans, even if her behaviour indicated otherwise. This made the agent a loose end, an end Tevos planned on cutting sooner than later. Vasir could do far more damage to her than she had let the Spectre to believe and Tevos suspected that the agent knew that.

"Agent Vasir, I ask you to watch your language," Tevos stuck to her act. "The Council will review the proposal of Councilor Ioventus and the HSA Embassy," she added in her famously mediating voice. "Until then, consider yourself dismissed, Agent Vasir."

"You're just letting her go?" the human ambassador said.

She had to.

"She's right Tevos, this evidence is solid. Agent Vasir needs to be brought in for further questioning, not left to her own devices," the salarian betrayed her.

"Councilor Idril is right," the turian said as he turned towards the salarian in surprise.

"In this case I have to side with Councilor Ioventus and the HSA," the salarian councilor added, much to Tevos' disapproval. That backstabbing amphibian coward would pay.

"Then it is decided. Agent Vasir, please report back to the Citadel as soon as possible," she declared, her facade still in place. "Idril? I'd like to continue our previous conversation now. If you'd join me in my office," the asari councilor offered a smile hiding her true intentions.

"No, he won't have a word with you," Ioventus commanded, causing her to see her plans crumble in front of her eyes. "As the third member of this council, I refuse to once more be excluded while the Union and the Republic talk behind the Hierarchy's back."

It was bound to happen eventually. Tevos had admittedly called salarian councilors into private meetings too often in the past. She had just hoped that the circumstances would be more favorable.

"If there is something you need to discuss, I demand that you do it in front of me," the stubborn old turian said, his past in the military doing well to make it sound more like an order than a request.

"Councilor Ioventus, rest assured that this is simply the continuation of a meeting we held before you contacted us."

"A meeting that can't be held if the representative of the Citadel's biggest contributor to the peacekeeping force is present?" the councilor insisted as his mandibles clicked in anger.

"This is a matter that doesn't concern the Hierarchy, Councilor Ioventus," the salarian councilor quickly explained. "You just met with the human ambassador alone as well, didn't you?"

Tevos smiled at the revelation. At least he was a more adept liar than Vaelan. Maybe he had his reasons for speaking up against her proposal after all.

"Now before you say that it's not the same, I'd suggest you save face and let us continue our meeting, Councilor," Idril nodded towards the turian before he and Tevos began to leave the council chamber.

He was good. Very good.

They walked into the office and locked the door just as Idril pulled his hood down, the scars standing out to her almost immediately.

"I'm not used to this much competence from a fellow councilor, your late predecessor never would've pulled this off," Tevos admitted, deciding not to becoming hostile just yet.

"Reason I was selected, Union wanted someone who could deal with current situation caused by Vaelan and you. Did my fair share of deception with STG," the salarian explained quickly, experiencing a complete change of personality while dropping the mantle of politician. "Have to ensure Vasir is taken care of. Should use her as a way to permanently cover our tracks when the need arises."

Tevos hid her surprise at the revelation that Idril had played her for months with a practiced facade. So he wasn't what he pretended to be, she'd have to giver her contact with the asari's intelligence service a call later on. An STG agent turned councilor, this was a new one. She also picked up on his apparent dislike of the plot Vaelan and she had set into motion. For now he'd be useful but she'd have to keep an eye on him. The salarian intelligence service had never approved ot the things most salarian politicians did, only their loyalty to the Union's Inner Cabinet keeping them in line.

"You are suggesting to sacrifice her to Councilor Ioventus and blame the entire operation on her?" Tevos followed the quick sentences of the salarian.

"Operation was dangerous reckless and selfish. Personally wouldn't have done what Vaelan and you did but now Union is part of the plot," Councilor Idril began. "Will do everything in my power to protect the salarian people," he took a deep breath. "You miscalculated, didn't believe HSA to make the connection, problematic."

"So you want to finish this as quickly as possible?" Tevos figured, ignoring the critism.

"Yes."

"What do you suggest?"

"STG has prepared false evidence, incriminating Agent Vasir," he sent Tevos a package via omni-tool. "Could eliminate Vasir on her way to Citadel and release evidence post-mortem. Eliminating risk of her implementing us."

"I have to admit, you are very different from Vaelan."

"Vaelan was career politician, my political career forged by STG. Pragmatic and focused, not interested in personal gain."

"Councilor Idril, I believe you and I will do great things in the future," she offered as she extended her hand.

"Clearance for crossing Vasir off?" he questioned as he turned around, not reacting to her offer of peace.

"I believe Agent Vasir has outlived her usefulness, give the word to STG. Time to cut of loose ends," Tevos said as the salarian pressed another button on his omni-tool, the back of his red head pointing towards her.

"Will hear from me," he said. "Consider matter take care of."

Without waiting another second the salarian pulled his hood up and walked out of the room.

For now he'd be useful.


Thrity Minutes Later, Illium, Nos Astra

Damn the council for summoning her and damn Tevos. She wasn't ready to leave just yet, the moment she did she'd be blamed for everything.

Right now she needed to drink enough to forget that her life was falling apart around her. The self-righteous turian crusader, the lying asari bitch and the double tongued salarian bastard. Together they acted as the current incarnation of the Council she swore to serve back when she had still been optimistic about the state of the galaxy and the role of the Council in it. How foolish she had been. She downed the liquor as the music of the club eliminated the sound of the glass hitting the table. "Another one," she called for the bartender who handed her another tube of purple liquid, her fifth one in fifteen minutes. Others would've been floored already but she had built a high tolerance over the years.

"Sure you can handle it?" he asked not letting go of the bottle with his plated hand even when she reached for it.

"I've dealt with my issues by drinking for over three centuries," Vasir replied. "I think I can handle it."

"Whatever you say," the turian said as he released his grip,"I'm not calling an ambulance for you though," he chuckled before shifting his attention towards another customer. She began to further combat the issue at hand with her new drink when her eyes caught something out of place, something she hadn't expected to see on Illium. Even in her drunken state Tela still noticed the anomaly that had entered the room. A single human walked into the club, his head covered by a short, almost yellow patch of fur being the first unusual thing about him. Hair was a feature only shared by batarians, quarians and humans among the galactic community. Batarian hair was short, rough and unnoticeable and quarian hair, while similar to human hair, was obstructed by their suits, making humans the only species with visible, and more importantly noticeable hair which aided him in standing out which was not necessarily a good thing. Adding to these factors came his height. He towered over the majority of the people currently dancing in the club, being a good head taller than the asari and even managing to stand out among the much taller salarians as well. If Tela recalled the turian bartender correctly, the human would even see eye to eye with the average turian, which would make him an exceptionally tall member of his species.

But even more importantly was his behavouir. He carried himself in a way that induced a certain kind of attraction she simply couldn't shake, a confidence that caused people to notice him. This attraction, as far as certain parts of the extranet were concerned, was in fact rooted in the fact that asari apparently had a species-wide thing for human males due to them reminding asari of a prehistoric time when the asari species was not mono-gendered. Personally Tela didn't buy that part when she read it, considering that she, alongside any educated scientist, dismissed the notion of male asari as nothing but conspiracy theorists trying to find something to talk about. However now as she somewhat forced herself to observe the rest of the club instead, she felt that maybe there may be some truth to it after all.

Or maybe it was simply owned to other factors that made humans attractive to asari. When they had first been encountered, the uncanny resemblance between humans and asari had made them the new priority target for most asari maidens. Not only had humans had quickly earned a reputation for possessing surprisingly good stamina, they also seemed very familiar for aliens. In spite of the social stigma attached to it, a lot of asari were still attracted to members of their own race and those too weak-willed to go after what they wanted out of the fear what others would think about them had found a way out with the humans. They were the closest thing to an asari and that made them very much desirable.

Looking around, she saw these factors at work.

The human tried to make his way through the crowd only to be blocked by a blue asari who decided to act on her repressed urges. She said something to him and moved his hands towards her hip, trying to get him to dance with her. He somewhat awkwardly placed his hands on her shoulders instead after freeing his wrists and moved her out of the way before continuing his stride for a few steps, intending to further advance into the club. But after a few more steps the yellow-haired human was again stopped by an even more determined asari. She lacked the concept of personal space even more than the first one and immediately tried to give the man a taste of what could happen while pressing herself against him and moving in to kiss him only for the human to pull his head back with a smile and say something while removing the clinging maiden with a quick set of motions that seemed to be second nature to him.

Interesting.

Lipreading didn't help her much when she couldn't actually speak the language but given the disappointment on the face of the maiden and the distance he tried to gain, it had to have been some form of rejection. She had to give it to him, he was really dedicated to getting to wherever he wanted to go. Even she wouldn't have rejected that one, although that was probably her drunken self speaking.

The male human ironically danced his way through the crowd, twisting out of another attempt of a maiden with ease only to come to a stop at the bar, in hearing reach of Tela.

"You got that weird asari thing?" he said, not aware of it's name. "It tastes sweet and is served hot while being in a tube this big," the human explained as he tried to show its size with his hands.

"You gotta give me a bit more buddy," the turian shrugged. "That's literally half of all asari drinks I serve."

"I know that it's not alcohol," he offered a smile. "Sorry, I'm a bit of a lowbrow when it comes to asari drinks or any non-human drinks really."

"If it's not alcohol that reduces the list to two things I can give you," the turian said.

"Who dares wins. Give me both," the man replied. "Time for some old-fashioned experimentation."

"If you're not broke, it's Thessian Pine Needle Tea," Tela said as she took another sip of her liquor, causing the human to turn towards her. "The other option's called Matriarch Tea for a reason. The leaves are dried for a long time before being served and then they are sold for a ludicrous prize. If you can still afford something to drink, you didn't have Matriarch Tea," she chuckled. "Sorry for not making your night, bartender."

"It's fine," the turian's flanging voice replied. "I would've had to tell him about the prize eventually anyway. Business guidelines got a little more strict ever since an angry krogan trashed the bar."

"My saviour," the human smiled while acting incredibly grateful. He turned towards her and Tela noticed the brown colour of his pupils illuminated by the ceiling lamp above the bar.

"Just not in the mood to see a bouncer kick you in the curb for buying something you can't afford," she said setting her drink down on the desk.

The human decided to occupy the empty chair between the two and moved closer to Tela, an action that would most certainly anger the asari he had previously rejected.

"I'm Daniel. Daniel Bradford," he offered his hand.

Since she didn't mind making every asari in here even more jealous, she took the hand and put on her best smile.

"Tela Vasir," she replied, already feeling the angry glares of the rejected maidens. "You made quite the entry. Broke a lot of hearts as well," she chuckled.

"Not on purpose. I just felt like getting that drink again and since this bar is right next to my hotel I decided to treat myself."

"What are you doing here anyway?" she asked, the fact that she was drunk making her more casual than usual.

"Business," he simply replied, apparently truthfully. "You look like you're drinking to forget something or someone," he smiled. "If it's the later, I'd say that life is too short to get stuck on someone but considering you live ten times as long as I, that advice may be faulty."

"Just having some stress at work," It wasn't a lie, it was simply not the whole truth. "My bosses are being stupid and I may get into trouble for something they did."

"Yeah I feel you," he said. "Wanna talk about it?"

"If I told you, I'd have to kill you." she said with a laugh, hiding the fact that it was technically true since having someone know of her dealings with the Broker and the Council was a justified reason to kill someone.

"Not the first time I heard that line," he replied with a smile as the bartender gave him his drink.

He took a sip of the drink and Tela was surprised by the fact that he didn't even flinsh at the pain the temperature of the tea should cause. Thessian Pine Needle Tea was served as hot as possible and unless humans possessed a natural resistance against hot temperatures, it should've caused him to spit it out and try everything in his power to cool down his tongue while screaming in agony.

"That's it. You know your beverages, Miss Vasir," he smiled, not showing the effects of the drink. Instead of a painful twitch or teary eyes usually associated with someone not showing pain, she saw something she was very familiar with. The completely neutral expression of someone that had learned to simply suppress pain over time through training that bordered on torture.

"Still a bit hot though," he admitted. as he slowly set down the drink. "I think I burned my tongue."

"It tends to be," she said. "What kind of business did you attend here anyway?"

"The best ki-" he stopped himself as he turned around seemingly unprovoked. "Friend of yours?" he asked while looking at the batarian that was forcefully pushing his way through the crowd, standing in sharp contrast to Bradford's, if that was his real name, dance through the mass of people.

"Vasir," the batarian grunted. "You and I still have some unfinished business."

"I wouldn't exactly call him a friend," she shrugged. "More like a guy who doesn't know how to let go really," Tela didn't mention that he was mercenary she had left to die during a past job with the Shadow Broker. A mercenary that was probably very pissed right about now if the look in his face was anything to go by. However she wasn't scared of him, after all being a Spectre, biotic and an asari meant that she could handle just about anyone unarmed, especially if they were as brutish as him. She prepared herself to throw him through the club but before her biotics flared up, the human decided to interfere. 'Bradford' got up from his chair and placed himself in his path. His frame blocking the Batarian's access to Tela with surprising calm. While taller, the batarian was wearing heavy armor, carrying weapons and was most likely stronger than him. After all, batarians tended to be possess above average upper body strength, especially if they earned their living by killing.

This wasn't the kind of thing a sane person would do. She'd hate to see him get beaten to a pulp but something was telling her that this wouldn't happen.

"Get out of my way," the batarian demanded. "Or you'll regret it."

"Mate listen, you gotta move on," 'Bradford' joked as he brought up his hands. "Plenty of fish in the sea."

The batarian tried to shove the human but the man didn't move a single step back. It looked like the part of her that had faith in him was right.

"You think you're some kind of tough guy?" the mercenary said. "Trying to get laid by being brave?"

"Nah just trying to do the right thing here. Walk away, mate," the human replied while subtly shifting into a fighting stance, his left foot moving back slowly but steadily to improve his positioning.

"The right thing would be walking away while I kick her face in," the batarian said while reaching behind his back. "This is on you."

Then everything happened faster than most people could track, Tela however noticed every little detail.

The merc drew a knife from his back and attempted to stab the human who simply deflected the jab away from himself before locking the wrist of the batarian, preventing him from pulling the knife back. His palm smashed into the face of the batarian, causing blood to shoot from his noses before an elbow connected with his template. Next a knee drove into the stomach of the mercenary and during the motion the blade changed owners, its tip drawing batarian blood as it brushed against the skin of his throat. Then he forced the mercenary to the ground.

Now, after not even two seconds, the merc was on the ground with a knife pointing at his neck and the human was looking completely unfaced at the prospect of his two allies attacking him.

"Walk away, mate. Just trying to keep you out of trouble," he explained, pushing the batarian away who now scrambled for his allies. "You and I have to talk, Spectre Vasir."

This would be an interesting night after all.


A Few Days Later, Another Location.

"We can't land here," the pilot shouted as Alec got up.

"Just get me as close as you can," the specialist ordered as he unlocked the hatch of the shuttle. "Don't linger. If this goes south, you don't want to be here," the man said with a serious tone.

The boots of Alec's hard suit hit the floor as he jumped out of the Kodiak which immediately flew upwards again and left the area. He set his eyes on the door of the building and started to run.

He jumped through the door the moment it had opened enough for him to fit through and found himself in a large crowd of people. The specialist stood out like a sore thumb in the crowd due to his worn, grey armor. The signature red dagger on his shoulder made almost unrecognizable by the events of the last two days.

He pushed himself through the collection of humans and continued to move forward, the thought of what would happen if he didn't make it in time ever present in the back of his mind. He ran past the elevator, deciding against using it due to how long it would take to reach the level he needed to get on. He only had to make five stories, he would be faster on the stairs.

Alec Shepard pushed the door open and started to sprint up the stairs as his breath began to quicken due to the strain placed on his body by constant movement at high pace. He jumped up the stairs and almost flattened two people in his way while going up. He jumped past them, ignoring their complaints. They didn't matter right now. The only thing that mattered was making it in time.

The sign for level four came up and he forced himself to keep going, telling himself the consequences of not making it in time. This might as well be one of the most important runs of his life time. He simply couldn't be late, his feet continued carrying him up the stairs as the stinging in his torso grew more intense with each breath.

Not much further.

He arrived on level five in record time and bursted out of the door, once more almost injuring a passerby in his hurry. He turned left and closed in on a crossing of two hallways. As Alec got closer he was forced to jump over an obstacle that had just entered his path, costing him valuable time. He flew through the air and the moment he once more felt ground under his feet he continued his dash only to narrowly dodge another person that stepped into his way. By now the muscles in his legs were telling him to stop and the sting in his lungs was begging him to sit down and rest. Four injured rips were crying out in agony for their body to simply give up and lay down and he almost considered listening to them.

Almost.

He remembered the stakes and ignored all of it. No matter how bad of a beating he had taken, he had to power through this. It was simply too important. The pain would be worth it if he made it in time.

When he got even closer to his target, pure determination silenced the pain and his hands unlocked the seal of his helmet. It would just get into the way after all.

The grey helmet came off as he threw himself into the room, much to the surprise of the people inside of it.


08:03 Local Time, 11. April 2388, Arcturus Station Medical Center

"Did I miss it?" he asked as he rested his hands on his knees while staring at his parents in law and their daughter, Hannah.

"No Alec, you didn't miss it," Hannah reassured him with a laugh as she glanced at him from the hospital bed.

"You look like hell," her father added as the specialist looked up at him, only barely staying on his feet. "Where have you been the last couple of days? We tried to reach you."

"Something came up," Alec winced as he grabbed a chair and sat down when relieve and pain washed over him at the same time, ignoring the sound the additional weight of his hardsuit forced out of the chair. "Sorry for just vanishing like that but an old friend needed a favour."


Codex: Paladin Mechanized Support Combat Suit

Build by Hahne-Kedar, the Paladin was first developed in 2349 as a prototype suit capable of operating in any environment. The armor has since developed into the driving force behind human Planetfall attacks due to carrying a lot of fire power and being incredibly resistant to damage while still capable of rapid deployment.Serving as the tip of the spear of the HSA Marine Corps, the Paladin is mostly limited to expeditionary forces although several army formations still maintain several platoons of Paladin Suits.

Equipped with a variety of weapons, including chain guns, mortars and rocket launchers, the suits are steered through a neural connection with a human pilot and are protected with by a shield generator and heavy armor plating. VI assistance is required to operate them. The pilots of Paladin suits have to undergo a rigorous training regime in order to allow them to endure the strain of the neural connection and to operate the mech to the highest of it's capabilities. Due to the hybrid nature of the suit the pilots are trained in martial arts, infantry combat, armored tactics and artillery theory, all of which are required to unleash the full potential of a Paladin.

The Fringe Wars first revealed the devastating impact even a single Paladin can have if opposing forces lack the means to effectively fight it. Their agility, durability and the training of their pilots make Paladins the single most dangerous conventional weapon in the HSA's ground arsenal. During the conflict both the IFS and the HSA deployed mechanized companies of Paladins and on several occasions two groups of these suits clashing left permanent scars on the battlefields of the Fringe, the Siege of Horizon turning into the single most devastating battle of the war and serving as a permanent reminder of how dangerous the technology can be.

Officially the Paladin is only operable by humans due to the complex neural connection being an integral part of the design. This connection is limited to the human nervous system and for this very reason Hahne-Kedar claims that they will not be able to produce the weapon system for any non-human. Suspicion that the HSA is paying the company to keep the technology from finding its way into alien hands has been voiced time and again.


A/N: So happy delayed holidays I guess. Chapter 8 is here. Yay. 174 follows and 138 favorites, going strong people. I like it.

Now if you'd just review more, that'd be fantastic.

I hope I managed to hit the tone I tried to hit wit this chapter and some parts didn't seem too silly.

Furthermore I hope that you are not going to decapitate me for making the HSA somewhat questionable in parts of it's actions. No one is perfect after all.

Bonus points for anyone who gets the deal with Lal Qila. :D

See you around next time.

Edit: As of 25.7.17 Chapter 8 has been remastered.