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Chapter 4: The Spectre

=SF=

Part 4

18:03, 4 September 2176

XSV "Rhine"

Exodus Cluster

I should have known better. Really – after all the shit I've been through after joining X-COM for the first time, I shouldn't be surprised. I should have known that the other shoe was going to drop after getting away this lightly on an op – even if the opposition was shitty slavers.

Apparently, Mr. Murphy was all right and thriving still.

"Half hour ago, we detected some unusual Hyperwaeave activity. It took us some time to narrow it down and make sure it wasn't some king of a glitch." The communications officer – a petite woman who spoke with a faint Spanish accent continued the briefing.

That shook me off my funk and I started paying attention. Who knew, I might learn something that might help me live through the next couple of days.

"Not ours, I take it?" Anderson, who with me was the other representative of the infantry detachment.

"No." Captain Michelle York stated flatly. While her voice was level and she practically radiated composure, I could feel her unease after subconsciously accessing my gift.

Even I knew that there were only two parties using Hyperwave. At least known ones. We were number one. The never sufficiently fucked Ethereals were the others.

"What are our orders?" Anderson asked quietly.

"To investigate. We'll have reinforcements in the area within forty eight hours, but we're on our own until then." The Skipper announced.

"What about our guest?" I asked. "If we have to deploy against Ethereal forces…." I trailed off. In that case we would have to either keep the VIP on ice, make sure she isn't in a position to report anything or leave her go home with potentially compromising knowledge about our ground side capabilities.

Well, at least those were the options I could think of right now. It was obvious that all of them had different drawbacks, including political. Speaking of that… I frowned as a stray thought ran through my mind.

"Is there something you want to add, Sergeant?" The Captain asked. Given her tone, it was an order to speak.

"Call me paranoid, Ma'am, but it suddenly struck me as a terribly convenient coincidence that the Rhine could detect that Hyperwave activity mere hours after we got a Council Spectre on board."

"You're paranoid." The skipper's lips briefly twitched with amusement. "Thad doesn't necessary make you wrong." The Captain looked thoughtful. "We received new orders yesterday – to go raid a small pirate base on the edge of conventional ME FTL. We've been heading there for the last few hours and the Hyperwave activity comes from the same general area, even if its about a hundred light years beyond our target."

Well, shit. Can you say a set up? I had the sudden suspicion that Command was aware what we might run into and wanted a Council representative to ride with us.

"It's not particularly subtle, and it might be a coincidence. After all, everyone working for X-COM needs to have a healthy dose of paranoia. It's in the job requirements." The Captain quipped. "To answer your question, Sergeant, Command wants our guest to experience first hand what is to face Ethereals if we're forced into confrontation."

"That would reveal some of our ground side capabilities. If she sees Ethereal craft in action – the Spectre would have some idea what we're capable of too." I stated.

"Apparently suddenly Command wants to reveal some of our capabilities to the Council." The Captain nodded. "At least that's my read of the situation."

"It makes sense." Anderson nodded. "There will be at least some who would want the Council on our side if we have to go another round with the Ethereals. Showing them how dangerous they are and what we might be able to offer them..."

"It's a dangerous gamble." The Captain finished. "Seeing the enemy in action might prompt the Council to stay out of any conflict between us and the Ethereals or even stab us in the back while we're busy with the real threat in order to get our technology."

"Reasonable concerns." I muttered. What little I knew of the Council led me to believe that they would be doing what's best for the three big Citadel races – that likely included watching us and the Ethereals killing each other and trying to scavenge tech while we were too busy.

Can't say that I would do something different in their place. The Ethereals made sure that when survival of the species was concerned, I had no qualms left in doing whatever it bloody took. The alternatives were not to be contemplated as the experiments those bastards ran on us could attest.

"Despite my qualms, the Spectre is to be read into our Alpha class equipment – that's straight from Command and you'll have it in writing, Sergeant Veil. Make sure that she won't blow herself up and doesn't steal anything." Captain York ordered. Then she turned her attention to Anderson. "Break out the nice toys and outfit your maniacs. If reconnaissance in force is required, we'll be on point. Dismissed."

When we were out of the briefing room, Anderson waved me into a nearby secluded side passage.

"I don't need to read your mind to see you're disturbed. What's up?"

I chuckled darkly. "Fucking Ethereals, sir. I can't help but think that this will turn up into a clusterfuck like my old missions." I answered nervously. My initial anger was dying out and it was replaced by fear.

"We have much better equipment now. With a bit of luck, the technological and numerical disparity won't be as huge. We might even be ahead in an are or two." David spoke in a soothing voice.

"Do you really believe that or just trying to settle my nerves?"

"Well, you're my only NCO, the only one on the ship who had fought the Ethereals and you're still here. It won't be good for morale if you become nervous wreck when we might run into the bastards. Look on the bright side – it may be someone else who kicked their shriveled butts."

"Thanks." I took a deep, calming breath. "Just promise me something."

"Anything within reason."

"Don't let the bastards take me alive if everything goes to hell."

Anderson frowned, then nodded. "No one gets left into their hands. Consider that a standing order."

=SF=

A few minutes later we entered the mess hall where the platoon was busy with dinner. The troopers were clustered in small groups, usually with their fire teams. Only Shepard and Vasir were alone.

"Attention." I barked.

A moment later, everyone but the Spectre was up and in parade rest facing us.

"You have fifteen minutes to finish dinner, then report to the armory. I want all gear inspected and made ready for heavy combat. Prepare Alpha class war loads. We've detected possible Ethereal activity and are ordered to investigate. Carry on." Anderson ordered.

"At ease. Finish your grub and go make sure no one dies because of faulty equipment. Vasir, you're with me once you've finished."

It took just a few seconds for the announcement to set in before the mess exploded with shouts, questions and even a few gleeful roars.

The poor bastards had no idea what we were in for.

=SF=

Part 5

Mess Hall

18:08, 4 September 2176

XSV "Rhine"

Exodus Cluster

A few minutes after the announcement, everyone had calmed down a bit and was busy obliterating their chow. I took some mashed potatoes and a steak and headed for the nearest free table to take a bite before dealing with the Spectre – only to find myself joined by Anderson, Shepard and Vasir.

"To what do I own the honor?" I asked after taking a bite of my food. I glanced at rest of the platoon, who were giving me pointed looks.

"Well, you're the only one on board who has fought Ethereals." Anderson pointed out. "Did you really expect that everyone won't be picking your brain over that?"

"We've all been through the same training built on the lessons of the war. There certainly wasn't anything in basic I could disagree with." I shrugged.

"You still have first hand experience. Impressions that might not have made it into the general consumption reports. Things disregarded as outliners or unimportant. When all is said and done, the war was a long time ago." Anderson continued.

"Which means that everything we know about the bastards is out of date. Take no chances, make sure you hit your targets and keep your guard up at all times. The one thing I can guarantee beyond a shadow of a doubt is that the fuckers will have nasty surprises for us." I nodded at the LT. "The boss man wants us all to run some EW inspired sims once we're sure that all our gear won't crap out when we need it most."

I was well aware that I wasn't particularly inspiring or charismatic – besides with more than a century to go over our missions the brass should have had very good idea how to prepare for the last war. Whatever new toys the shivered bastards had for us – that was the big question and there was only one way to find out.

"I get to play with the nice toys, I see?" Vasir asked once the mess calmed down.

"Just don't attempt to go home with unsanctioned scans or various odds and ends. I don't need to spell the consequences, do I?"

That's me – no rewards for diplomacy in my future, I think.

"You know, it's less amusing when the shoe is on the other foot." The Asari mussed. "Usually I'm the one who has to warn whoever I have to work with not to take liberties with my Spectre gear."

"We aim to please." I smiled at our guest.

"This is going to be one great diplomatic accident – straight for the history text books – isn't it?" David sighed.

"Don't look at me. It's not like I have a diplomatic training." I shrugged.

"I don't think that anyone on this ship but our guest has such." The LT added.

"Don't look at me! I'm not one of the Specters they sent on particularly sensitive assignments." Vasir shrugged.

"Why did the Council choose you for this job, if it isn't classified, Ma'am?" Shepard asked.

"And you are?" Vasir turned her attention to my other problem.

"Corporal Jennifer Shepard, Ma'am."

"I've often dealt with problems within the Terminus so I'm one of the more experienced Specters when those jokers are concerned." The Asari answered. If the presence of a regular and quite green trooper on the table made her curious, she didn't show it.

"Speaking about experience – you're getting familiarized with our standard war gear and getting a crash course." I added.

"The nice toys it is, then." Vasir gave me an eager smiled. "Now on a more serious tone – how dangerous Ethereal forces would be to modern Alliance and Council units?"

That was a good question. During the war we were vastly outmatched before reverse engineering the enemy's gear. If we had Council tech, we would have fared much better, though that by itself wouldn't have won us the war. Properly leveraged psionics were bullshit tier – I should know. While I was quite powerful, my training and potential weren't the best out there yet I took on an Asari with centuries of experience and won.

Further, I had some idea of what I would be capable of if I underwent a final psi-activation and the relevant training. However, the shrinks all agreed that I would need at least a few years to settle and make sure that my mind was stable before even thinking about it.

"Sarge, you with us?" Shepard asked.

"What?" I shook my head. "I was thinking." I muttered. "The two primary threat would be enemy fleet units and psionics. If they have an Elder on the scene we're fucked. Same goes for anything that the Skipper and her ship can't handle and outrun."

"Elders? Those were the most powerful Ethereals you faced?"

"Me? I met one briefly while they were experimenting on me. If I faced an Elder in combat we wouldn't be having this conversation." I shuddered.

Even then – when I wasn't aware what exactly was happening besides the pain, I could feel it's presence as it oversaw the experiments and tested my mind – only to find me lacking. The pain, the pressure as it searching for something in my mind…

I hissed as the world turned purple.

"Sergeant!" Anderson barked.

The LT's voice snapped me back into reality. I looked back at Anderson who had troubled and concerned expression on his face.

My vision was tinted purple. That and the tingling itching around my still recovering implants made me realize that I had accessed my gift.

I let it go and sighed.

"Sorry about that, sir. There are some memories that still got to me."

"Will you be all right on deployment?"

"It wasn't an issue during the war." I shrugged.

That apparently wasn't what he expected to hear.

"Report to medical when you're done with dinner. Shepard can handle Vasir's initial training. I want to be sure you won't have an episode during mission."

"Understood, sir."