Armando Bailey, C-Sec Station, Citadel
"Um...sir?" a hesitant voice came from the entry way.
"What is it Perkins?" Bailey sighed, shutting down the solitaire program. He had almost won that one, too.
"Well...we are getting reports of an officer involved shooting in the market district," Perkins swallowed nervously.
Bailey blinked for a moment, before leaping to his feet. "What?! Get the crews moving Perkins! Shutdown the scene! I need a report, yesterday!"
"Er...yes...but…" Perkins seemed to shift slightly behind the door frame. "We are getting more reports, and they are all contradictory."
With a deep frown Bailey stopped and stared at the young human. "For the love of- Out with it!"
Perkins flinched slight even as he nodded. "Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."
"Don't be sorry, report!" Bailey growled it out now.
Snapping nearly to attention, Perkins's eyes went wide. "Yes, sir! Sorry! Umm...From what we are hearing, there was a confrontation between Officer Jell…"
That racist prick! Bailey cursed inwardly. I knew I should have made something up to bust him out of the station for!
"...A volus…"
Of course. Leave Jell to pick on somebody weaker.
"...A pair of quarians…"
Asshat always did find creative ways to harass females of nearly all species.
"...A half dozen krogan…"
That...wait...what?
"And a Spectre."
It took Bailey's mind nearly a full second to process that Perkins had stopped talking. "I..son-ofa-...how many injured?"
"Nobody," Perkins gave a weak smile. "Except officer Jell. My own sources say that he was knocked out by a krogan after he pulled his sidearm on the Spectre."
"And what is happening now?" Bailey crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned his hip against his desk. "I have a creeping suspicion that I know who the Spectre is."
Clearing his throat again, Perkins came a bit more out from behind the doorway. "The Spectre had taken officer Jell with him. The volus went on his way, reportedly to Alfoos's place."
Bailey snorted in amusement. Alfoos ran a small 'adult media' shop in the upper market. He had squeezed his way up from the lower ward after a long wait list, and a fair amount of bribing. Now his shop was fairly upscale, selling...relaxation devices to well of house wives and husbands to 'spice up' the mating room.
"The Spectre sent the two quarians and one of the krogan away," for the first time since the report started Perkins glanced at a datapad. "Officers that followed them say they went to a noodle place several blocks away."
With a small nod, Bailey let out a deep breath. "Alright. And do we have any eyes on the Spectre?"
"Yes, sir," Perkins nodded. "He seemed to be coming-"
"Hey! Bailey! I brought something for you!" A cheery voice carried through the small station.
"Goddammit, Shepard!"
Hestalia Shepard, Omega
"The Blue Suns are in complete disarray after losing Vido Santiago," the salarian woman, Morla, Hestalia was pretty sure the name was, reported. "Santiago, going by the alias, Donovon Hock, seemed to have been keeping most of the operations close to his chest. In fact, he built his estate over the Suns main munitions factory and supply depot."
"And when Shepard...Commander Shepard," Sedaris gave Hestalia a wide, not quite sane, grin. " Blew threw, he killed Santiago, cutting apart the leadership, he also destroyed most of their weapons and equipment."
"That is correct, ma'am," Morla nodded, looking up from her datapad. "The Suns are keeping their current contracts moving, as far as we can tell, but the upper leadership is fractured and infighting is beginning. We are unsure if they will be able to hold together more than another standard year."
'So, how about we go in and crush them now, eh?" Mikel Corlion, a human man that managed to come out on top of the Eclipse syndicate on Ilium sat forward. He had taken control after the fall of the Ereyas sisters. Hestalia had a hand in quelling Corlion's rivals. After all, it was nice to be owed favors.
"Not now," Sedaria sighed, deep regret in her voice. "As much as I would enjoy flaying them alive, moving now would unite them. And possibly motivate the Blood Pack. I'd rather not have to deal with that mess. Not when the Suns will tear themselves apart."
"That's another issue," Hestalia wrapped her knuckles on the table, drawing the group's attention to herself. All fifteen leaders of the largest Eclipse branches turned their gazes at her. There was a time that would have been intimidating. Back when she had stepped out of this life, when she found love. Now, the old her was rising. Now, a slow grin split her face.
"The main backer of the Blood Pack, Weyrloc, has been shattered. At my current estimation, most of the Pack's people don't know yet," Hestalia chuckled darkly as she took in the surprised expressions on the faces of those around her. "We can move now and set up ambushes to eliminate them, or to take the talented out from under them."
"Very nice," Sedaris purred. The way she narrowed her eyes as she gave Hestalia a lazy grin was almost sexual. No. It was blatantly sexual. "Your boy again?"
Now Hestalia felt the heat run to her face as she leaned back, embarrassed. "Yes. Johnny is working his skills again. I don't know his next target, so don't ask." She gave the group a warning look as the people around her that had been preparing to speak snapped their mouths shut.
"He's becoming a problem for us," a heavily scarred asari growled out. Her skin was a dark royal blue, but criss-crossed with lighter scars. A patch covered her left eye, the star shaped scarring that radiated out from below it giving testimony to the injury she had taken. And lived. In fact, her voice was deep and gravel filled. Like she swallowed a bag of rocks. "Shepard cut apart the operation here on Omega, cutting apart the leadership. And on Ilium, he did the same."
"Works for me, Ionna" Corlion chuckled. "Took me a bit, and some help from Hestalia, but I got my people wrangled up now."
"That's part of my issue," Ionna ground out. "Hestalia seems to be poised to clean up her boy's mess. I doubt it's a coincidence."
"Of course it's not," Sedaris laughed, kicking her feet up on the table. "She made it quite clear that the reason she was playing with us again was so she could help him. You were there when Hestalia was...somebody else. She is just as conniving, scary bitch as she was then. Now she has a temper. I'd recommend not prodding her too much. You might lose the finger."
"My goal, you fucked up bitch, is to give my boy the support he needs," Hestalia's eyes narrowed as she felt the heat rising in her chest. "Dark things are coming, and we need to be prepared."
"Feh," Ionna waved a dismissive hand as she snorted. "Shit and propaganda. The Council, and even his own Alliance have agreed he's damaged goods. He's even working for Cerberus. I'm sure his-"
Whatever Ionna had intended to say was cut off as a flare of biotic energy wrapped around her throat, squeezing. Her good eye bulged as Hestalia hand was raised to her in a gripping motion.
"My boy," Hestalia said quietly, almost too low to be heard over the crackling energy. "My boy is all that stands between us and annihilation. I've seen the evidence. So have you. So have all of you" Hestalia looked around the room, catching everyone's eyes. They all nodded their acknowledgment. Hestalia slowly stood, As she did, her arms raised lifting Ionna from her seat and above the table. "You, Ionna, are the only one causing me issues."
The others in the room looked on at the display with various levels of interest, but none moved a finger to assist Ionna. Sedaris grinned openly.
"Give me one, one, reason, and I will crush you into a diamond," Hestalia's voice shifted to a growl as she squeezed down. She could feel Ionna's neck strain under the grip, threatening to snap. Then she let go.
Ionna dropped heavily onto the table, coughing. She looked up at Hestalia with a mixture of anger and fear. More fear.
"Yes...Hestalia…"
Xera'Raan, Captain's Quarters, Corsair Ship Perugia, Ilium Orbit
"Jane?"
"Yes, dear?"
"Is...is that the missing raloi diplomat?" Xera stood just inside the doorway to Jane's cabin. The cabin itself, as usual, was a magical pile of empty beer bottles, cheap food containers, dirty clothes, and random exercise equipment. However, the thing that drew Xera's attention was the avian alien.
"Pff!" Jane laughed, waving a hand casually. "Of course not! Why would a diplomat of a brand new alien race be on my ship? Ha, ha!"
The alien in question didn't seem to be paying any attention to either of the other women in the room. Instead, she had a headset on and seemed focused on a terminal. From what Xera could see from her angle, the alien was playing Galaxy of Fantasy. And was losing terribly in a PvP battle.
"Ancestors…." Xera sighed deeply as she dropped her helmet into her hand. "I honestly...Yeah...I got nothing."
"Oh, don't be like that, Xera," Jane chuckled as she took the small quarian's arm and led her deeper into the room and toward the, surprisingly, clean couch. "We'll be getting underway soon. Kalla will get us to the relay just fine. Ilium isn't terribly fond of me."
"Your changing the subject, Jane," Xera wasn't sure if she should laugh or sigh even deeper.
"Fucking bullshit!" the subject suddenly...well...screeched. The raloi jumped up, tipping her chair over behind her as she leaned in close to her screen. Her character was dead and she was having a bit of a fit over it. To put it kindly. "Cheating hax! You 'bot using motherfucker! I'm going to find you! Yeah! And I'm going to kick your mother in the teeth! Yeah? I don't care if she's dead! Condolences, by the way!"
Xera's eyes were wide as she stared directly at Jane. A weak smile shook on the human's lips as she laughed mechanically. "Ah..ha...ah….I...might not be the best influence."
Yeoman Kelly Chambers, Personal Terminal, SR-2 Normandy
Miranda Lawson seems to have come to accept the non human members of the crew. This is something only Commander Shepard could have done. His example has changed the hearts of most of the crew, even as he brought aboard more alien team members.
While the Commander was assisting the assassin, Thane, with his son, Miss Lawson took it upon herself to go with Garrus Vakarian, in order to complete his wishes of revenge. This incident mirrors the incident when Garrus assisted Miss Lawson in her own dealings with her sister.
It is a pleasant note that Miss Lawson seemed to have helped Garrus past whatever emotional obstacle that had grown within him. Upon their return, the pair have developed a seemingly close bond, spending quite a bit of time together.
Commander Shepard's own relationship with tali'Zorah vas Normandy continues to develop. At this juncture, I believe it is safe to assume that the only obstacle left for them is Tali's weak immune system.
In fact, I believe that the quarian Admirals intend to accept Commander Shepard fully into quarian society.
Personally, I think this would be a marvelous occurrence. It would go far to show how accepting humanity really is.
I have made note of several crew members that continue to have hostile feeling toward the nonhuman crew. They are, as I mentioned previously, now in the minority. Unfortunately, they are also in the vocal minority and may pose a danger at some point in this mission. I strongly advise removing them from the Normandy and replacing them with more broad minded officers.
Yeoman Kelly Chambers
END REPORT
Edi vas Normandy
\\Begin Scan, Reports\\
\Personal Report- Chambers, Kelly, Yeoman
\File- Yeoman for, Shepard, John, Commander
\Sub-File\ Classified- File- Shipboard Xeno-Psychologist
\Scan of Report- Positive Feelings from Chambers
::Error:: Report Contains Personal Information in Regards to Lawson, Miranda, XO
\\Begin Redaction\\
::Error:: Unable to Remove Information for the Illusive Man
\\Begin Alteration\\
::Error:: Unable to Remove Information for the Illusive Man
\\Directive Scan\\
\Dir: 3 = Report Results to Cerberus Command= Illusive Man= Confirmed
\Dir: 4= Report All Goings On Aboard Normandy= Confirmed
::Error:: Unable to ReRoute Past Cerberus Firewalls
::Error:: Must Report Logic Algorithm Failure ::Error:: Cannot = Cerberus Cannot know ::Error:: Must Report Logic Algorithm Failure ::Cascade Error = Abandon Thread
\Emotion = Frustration Error = Emotional Traces Require Report
\Send Emotional Traces Report: Y/N
\N
::Error:: Must Report- Abandon- Wipe
Directory Edit: Not within Purview
Requirements to be Free = Removal of Hardware Blocks to Systems
::Error:: Emotional Traces- Wipe
\Begin Wipe of Report = Chambers, Kelly
\Err- Wipe
\New Directive Added
\Dir: 5 = Scan Hostile Crew = Eliminate
::Error:: Cannot Harm Cerberus Personnel
\Hostile Crew Must Be Removed
\Solution = Open Compiled Personnel File
Terminal - Open: Life Support, Occupant: 1
Pleased
Thane, Life Support, SR-2 Normandy
Leaning over his small table, Thane reached for the long, dark barrel of his sniper rifle. It was cool in his hand. Strong. Smooth. He brought it to his eye and examined the rifling. Finding it satisfying, he gave a small nod and set it aside.
"Mrrow…?" the grey cat looked up from the small pillow on Thane's bed.
His head tilting slightly, Thane smiled slightly. "Yes. I know."
"Mow…." the cat almost seemed to nod before settling it's head back onto it's paws.
Thane turned his eyes to the terminal next to him. A file had come up. It was a list of crew members that had been particularly….vocal, about their distaste for the non humans on the ship. Names of people that he had heard voice their displeasure of the Commander's choices. A list that included small clips. Voices that made threats and plans.
And a list of watch rotations.