BioWare/EA; by your powers combined! #RBG #FML #GoPlanet!
Dig Site Alpha, Therum, Knossus System, Artemus Tau Cluster, June 7, 2183
Author's Note: Yes, that is in fact a Captain Planet reference. OLD!
It had been nearly twenty-four hours since the DefConOne Alarm had gone off initially.
Petty Officer (Third Class) Sara Elaine Ryder stood at the main defensive position at the entrance of the Prothean Dig Site, providing a rest period for some of her attached Marines who had been ordered to defend the Site in case of attack. Three of the Marines, Privates Mikael 'Blowjob' Holodansk, Louis 'Brassiere' Broussard, and Nathaniel 'Ballsack' Balsach, were currently sequestered in the Dig Site itself, utilizing some spare cots for rest, donated by the University of Serrice Expeditionary Team, along with a space for them to bunk down for a few hours. Sara knew that to keep a Human effective, they would require at least a few hours down time per day for rest. She had instituted a rotation for rest, keeping four up while having a three-hour rest plan throughout the night for the Marines to keep enough awake for any updates while ensuring her Marines got some rest. The civilians of the Serrice and Oxford Teams were in their personnel tents, having bunked there for the night after waiting nearly twelve hours without any idea of what was happening or when the DefConOne Alarm would end. Sara made the decision to keep the group together and have the civilians get some rest in their bunks as oppose to the extraction point, letting the team members know to be ready at a moment's notice for escape and extraction. The team of Turian Reservists provided both security and overwatch of the civilians, keeping them in the living areas of the Dig Site Expedition. Sara ad made the call that no excavation or research would take place, opting to keep everyone together in case of emergency. There had been some grumbles, of course, but the Department Heads of the Serrice Team had complied with little issue thanks to Professor Irissa T'vara's agreement to the order.
It was one of the few things that went right.
The search from the previous day of the Oxford Team had gone well for the Marines and the Turian Reservists as Sara, Bra, and Lap Dance searched the Humans with the assistance of three Turian Reservists, taking turns who searched and who guarded, going from Human to Turian to back to Human for the effort. The action hadn't been very popular amongst the Oxford Team, but considering they had been caught red-handed trying to steal someone else's property, Sara was less than inclined to give a shit.
"Doc? This is Gunny." Sara heard her communicator come to life, hearing the voice of Gunnery Sergeant Fredrick Halverson coming over the SquadCom. She had been performing hourly radio-checks with the TOC as was procedure, but this was the first time she had been addressed for something other than confirmation calls.
"Go ahead for Doc." Sara replied, looking over to Lance Corporal Hong 'K-Pop' Jeong, who noticed that Ryder had instinctively pressed her hand against her helmet for better listening. Everyone in Red Platoon, Betelgeuse Company had a SquadCom, but if K-Pop was looking at her inquisitively, then Gunny was only talking to her.
"Got notification from AllComNet." Alliance Command Net was the secured network that sent traffic and updated statuses throughout the Systems Alliance Military. Likely, something had come down from the Admiralty Board or even the Systems Alliance Government. "The Alert has been dropped to DefConTwo, and I'm ordering a stand-down of active units. Go ahead and have the Dig Site personnel resume normal activities, but remind them that DefConTwo means that we aren't in the clear yet. We don't need a repeat of last time." Halverson knew what had happened with the Oxford Team during the initial alarm, Sara having texted him the basics and filling him in on the details after the search had been completed. Three members had been found absconding items upon their persons, two of them with physical artifacts, and one with a datapad that wasn't his own, if the Asari High Script were to be any indication. Those three were under detainment, with fabricated PlastiCuffs from Sara's supply of military-grade PlastiGel stored in her Sirta Foundations' Phoenix Light Medic Armor. Doctor Richard Sanders had been the one with the datapad that belonged to Doctor Lysana M'ala, who had been rather wroth at the fact that her notes and conjectures had been taken, and rightfully so.
"Understood, Gunny." Ryder replied. Yes, they certainly didn't need another potential intergalactic incident.
"Doc? We'll need to have a talk when you return to the Barracks with the rest of the Marines. It's going to be about what happened." Sara winced as she felt a nice little hole open up in her guts. While she didn't realistically think there was a better way she could have handled the looting situation, that was just her opinion. Sadly, the right opinion would be the highest ranking one, not necessarily the best one. If some Admiral thought she should have let the Oxford Team loot to their hearts content without a thought towards the repercussions, especially since she solved said repercussions in a decent fashion, she would be tanked. Ryder could be redeployed to anywhere in the Systems Alliance, especially to less-than desirable locations. Her twin brother was already attached to a ship that maintained vigilance over a Relay. There was nothing preventing anybody to sending a Corpsman to, say, Bass Reeves Station to become a health Care Provider for the prisoners there.
"Understood." Sara felt her mouth and throat dry up at the thought, a nice sharp stab of pain in her heart. She had worked for years to get where she was, volunteering to work at a clinic on the Cit when she was sixteen years old. Some Ready Room Admiral with a grudge and without a gram of compassion or consideration could easily sign off on some orders and metaphorically destroy her. Perhaps in light of the incident that had the DefConOne Alert sent might buy her time, but once things were calmed down, something would come down the pipe. Sara would never get a chance to explain her side of things and would likely find herself swabbing IV sites in Venus.
It took about half-an-hour for everything to be arranged. Sara woke up Broussard, Holodansk, and Balsach after talking to Professor Irissa T'vara and Abadexus Linaseus and giving them the update about the DefConTwo status and what that would mean. Normal but limited operations were to begin for the expedition, keeping towards the main chamber for the rest of the day, which had Ryder breath a sigh of relief. If anything were to change, everyone would be close by. Sara gathered her Marines, and with a last look back towards where the Asari Protheantologist stood, the Professor looking towards her as well, Sara left the Dig Site.
It only took about ten minutes for the Corpsman and the six Marines to make their way from the Dig Site to the Barracks, walking in the oppressive, hellish conditions over Therum, being past 'noon' on the planet as Knossos baked everything upon the geologically-active colony world. Sara barely felt it, her mind on the upcoming ass-chewing and subsequent repercussions she would likely face. While she had technically not broken any laws, she could easily be Court Marshalled for a variety of reasons, but mostly due to the fact that she had worked and used Turians. Some might consider the scenario in a favorable light, considering that it was during a time of need when there was the high potential of an attack, and that Ryder had followed her orders to the letter; the defense of the civilian lives in the Dig Site. Some might see that, considering the civilian populous was multi-species, that an equal multi-species defense looked good. But there was nothing that would stop someone from quietly stabbing her in the back while praising the situation. Any kind of medical field she wished to pursue in the future would be denied, any medical license beyond reach. If someone so wanted, Sara could be Dishonorably Discharged and her career would be over. Getting a Dishonorable Discharge was met with the same light as being a convicted felon, and the employment opportunities were about the same; the lowest of menial jobs. If the Marine Privates realized or suspected it, they were thankfully silent on the matter. Minus a few stories from Private Broussard and Private First Class Hoss detailing the situation, no one had mentioned an opinion if they thought Ryder had been right to use Turians to aid in the evacuation or the searching of persons. At least not within earshot.
Petty Officer Ryder entered the Barracks through the double-lock doors, having the Marines go in first with the order to link up with their Team Leaders first for further guidance before going through the protocol door that provided an environmental barrier before entering the wig-wag. The Marines from the Night Shift were inside, out of their armor and in uniform, occupying the gallery for the noontime meal after a full day of occupying defensive positions and scrambled schedules. Likely, most would be going to sleep right afterwards in preparation for their up-coming shift. The mood amongst the gathering Marines was somber, but that was to be expected. Sara saw more than a few look her in the eye, giving her nods or hailing her in a friendly matter, and that had her feel a little bit better about the situation. If Gunny was disappointed or pissed about what she had done, it would have reflected upon the other Marines even if he hadn't voiced it openly. Her six Marines scattered to drop their armor and head for chow while Sara went to the Gunnery Sergeant's office, knocking on the door before entering.
"Sir! Petty Officer Ryder reporting as ordered." Sara saluted, preparing for the inevitable shitstorm with her name attached to it. Gunny Halverson was sitting at his desk, looking at something at his terminal when he turned in his chair and saluted her in return.
"Have a seat, Doc." His tone was… not pissed. Not happy, per se, but not pissed. Sara felt a little at a loss as she took the proffered seat, knowing that this wouldn't be an ass-chewing. One received one of those in the position of attention, not sitting in a chair. "I'm afraid I've got a spot of bad news for you, Doc."
Here it comes… Ryder prepared herself as best she could.
"I received word from Captain Anderson that the Lion was hurt."
"W-what? Is Jannie alive?" The world went sideways for a moment at thought thought of Auntie being hurt as Sara immediately sat forward in her seat, her nerves keyed for action. That same gut-wrenching feeling that had her thirteen-year old self jump Cit and tear off onto a war-torn Elysium reared its ugly head, the thought of the woman she had looked up to her whole life hurt ripping the heart right out of her. Thoughts of recriminations and repercussions of what had happened with the Oxford Team immediately evaporated. Gunny Halverson knew that Sara and Commander Jane Shepard were close. Hell, any Human born in the past decade or five knew the story and had probably seen the movie, too.
"Calm down." Gunny advised, holding his hands up to reiterate his order. "I got a decent update, and if you'll let me, I'll tell it to you." Sara sat back in the chair, but the sinking feeling was still there. She still remembered well the sight of Auntie on a stretcher, barely patched up, left for dead on a hospital floor when Sara found her in Illyeria General. Jannie was as tough as they came; she was an N7, after all. But the kind, caring person that Sara was didn't think on that. Auntie was hurt, and it was all she could do to staple her ass to a chair and not jump ship. Again.
"Okay." Sara had to take a few deep breaths to calm herself down somewhat. It was a heroic effort, but she managed. "I…. I'm ready." GodGodGod please let her be okay! Sara remembered that sight again; the dried blood on hasty bandages, lying on the ground forgotten, so pale, barely breathing. Not again. Never again.
"The Alarm was real; we were attacked." Gunny Halverson explained, and that had Ryder's soul do a lazy flipflop. "The rest of the Non-Coms know, but I wasn't about to put it over the SquadCom. Constant, Eden Prime was hit, Doc. Hard, as I understand it. Tens of thousands dead and wounded."
"Batarians?" Batarians had attacked Elysium, their forces bolstered with mercenaries, guns-for-hire, slavers, pirates, and anyone else willing to make a profit out of misery and woe. They were the most likely suspect. The thought of ten thousand dead was horrifying. No, tens of thousands. Sara wasn't even sure how big the colonial capital of Eden Prime was, size or population-wise.
"No. Geth."
"G-Geth!?" Ryder's jaw figuratively dropped to the floor with that. As far as anyone was aware, the Geth stayed within the Perseus Veil, leaving the rest of the galaxy alone. "The Geth hit a species they've never encountered two-thirds of the galaxy away to attack a farming colony? That makes no damn sense whatsoever!" Jesus, Eden Prime was in the same cluster as Elysium. After the Assault, patrols there were almost as heavy as they were in Arcturus Stream and Sol!
"According to Captain Anderson?" Sara perked up at the name, Gunny shaking his head at the fact that the Corpsman knew yet another legendary military hero. "There was a pick-up of an actual working Prothean Beacon that Commander Shepard was tasked with. The Geth were there for that, but she denied them the privilege."
"Shit, Gunny… we're sitting on a fucking Prothean Site, and the Geth just assault a colony for a Prothean artifact?" Sara could easily put that two-and-two together and get disaster written all over it. A working Beacon was rare as hell, but there was a reason why just about every Prothean site was protected by either military forces or competent security forces. ProTech was highly desirous, and brought the opportunists out of the woodworks. The 1B3/7 was on Therum to protect Dig Site Alpha because it was a full structure that had survived the eons, with everything practically still intact on the inside. Some energy corporation, an arms manufacture, pirates, extra-Council government, or whoever just wanted to snatched up something and sell it on the black markets were all possible threats. At least a full twenty percent of Prothean dig sites and research facilities suffered some form of attack, be it physical, electronic, or espionage. Just because the Dig Site didn't have a Beacon, working or not, didn't mean they couldn't face the same thing. "This use to be some sort of Government Facility of some kind, according to Professor T'vara. Next few weeks are going to be hell on our Fleets with extra defensive patrols, going through the wreckage, and rebuilding. There'll be more gaps in the borders because people in Sol and Core Colonies will be scared and crying for more vessels to protect them."
"Don't I know it." Halverson sighed, rubbing his hand through his shorn hair. "And we're off in the ass-end of Alliance Space. First fleet pulled will be ours, and likely we'll be stuck here with no support. At the very least, we're going to go over everything we learned today and fix up whatever little mistakes we made so in case it does come to us, we've had a good practice run.
"Which brings me to what happened at the Dig Site."
Fuck.
"That was a clusterfuck of epic proportions, Doc. No two ways about it." Gunny told her, and Sara felt her guts clench up again. The axe was going to come, she knew it. "I can't believe the fucking Oxford Team, of all people, were trying to loot during an emergency. Aren't they suppose to be some of the smartest fucking people in Alliance Space? Didn't it occur to them that looters get shot, no questions asked? Thank God you showed up instead of Turians or Asari. That would have been… that would have been a worse-case scenario on top of a possible war."
"You're… not mad that I used Turians?" Sara asked, her tone a little weak. She was expecting recriminations.
"Not happy, but you did your job." Halverson shrugged, and Sara just felt her jaw drop. "You got stuck in a bad bind, and you used what resources were available. You walked into a potential shitstorm, and you solved it with words instead of bullets. The worst that happened yesterday was hurt feelings. Oh, sure, I'm sure someone will cry about it, but believe me, Doc, you handled that damn well. I wouldn't have used Turians, and then what would have happened if we were attacked and I was somewhere else?" The Gunny shrugged as pulled out a datapad. "I'm going to do an evaluation for a CYA for you in cause someone feels the need to lodge a formal complaint. In a State of Emergency, we have the ultimate authority, and we're practically allowed to do whatever we need at the time. You didn't cause an incident, and everyone walked away breathing. That's a win in my book, Doc. Pretty big one, too."
"Still feel like someone's going to come by and crush me." Sara admitted.
"Sara? I get it that you're Cit-born, and been living with them your whole life." Halverson said, and shockingly he didn't say anything negative about it. Sara was more than use to that with humans that learned that tidbit. "You used it to your advantage, and hell, the Turians were pleased with you as I understand it. Professor T'vara did a quick summary of the incident and forwarded to me, complementing you on your professionalism and judgment. She says she's going to keep any formal complaints from being lodged against the Oxford Team, and that's a hell of a bullet to dodge. Ain't exactly friendly towards others, but in my mind, I'm happy if we're not neck-deep in some shit, especially when it's some enterprising motherfucker who's in it for a profit. Go ahead and fill out everything that happened and download any footage you have in cause it comes up. I'll forward my view in your favor as well. But honestly Sara? You saved us big time there. I'd probably have shot someone to get the point across, and I'm not keen on shooting civilians to keep the rest of them from doing something stupid. Nasty business, that."
"Yeah." Sara had been rather afraid it might have come to that, thanks to Doctor Richard Sanders. Thankfully, the only thing shot was a display unit. "Honestly, if we get another Alarm or something similar, it would be silly not to have those Turian Reservists as a back-up plan. If something occurs that is out-of-norm, we're not having to pull Marines where we need them most to assess or develop the situation. I've already developed a pretty good repertoire with Abadexus Linaseus, and the other Turians followed his lead. Something occurs again, and they're almost going to expect to be called up again." Gunnery Sergeant Halverson looked at her for a long moment, and Sara pretty much figured she just shoved her foot in her mouth.
"I'm not exactly partial to it, but considering what happened yesterday and how it turned out, I can't say your line of thinking is wrong." Ryder's Commanding Officer replied finally after mulling it over. "Two days ago, I'd have said not a chance in hell. Anyone else in your situation would have handled it differently, and I can honestly say that it wouldn't have been a good thing. Go ahead and run with it, Doc. I can't say what might happen or when it will happen, but having a few extra options wouldn't hurt. It isn't like the Turians will be a bunch of civilian pukes armed with crap weapons who think they're badass. They've been trained, and they know how to take orders. Having an in with… Centurion, was it? Centurion Linaseus is certainly a positive thing, means you two won't be butting heads when seconds matter. End of the day, our mission is the protection of the lives at the Dig Site, all of them. If the Council makes us patrol their borders, then we should be allowed to use others to help us in our efforts."
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
Auntie? R U Ok? :'-(
Petty Officer Sara Ryder had Chirped that message almost seven hours before to her Aunt Jannie, and hadn't gotten a response back. Normally, she didn't worry about delays, understanding that between different space/time zones, time lag, different shifts, and the fact the both of them had pretty involved jobs and duties, that a quick response was almost never to be expected. But hearing how her Auntie was hurt on Eden Prime had Sara thinking the worse; Jannie in surgery, in critical condition, prospects not looking so great. She was spending her time in the Clinic, updating some of the evacuation protocols, including the Turian Reservists and coming up with some different ideas in case the unlikely should happen. As Gunnery Sergeant Fredrick Halverson said, it was a good test run in case the real deal should happen. Sara felt a bit better with all that happened in the Dig Site, knowing that not only had she gotten her Commanding Officers' approval, but any forwarding complaints by the Serrice Team would actually be in a positive light towards her. True, some politician might make words about how Sara could have 'helped' humanity, but she really could give two fucks less about some Earth-born mouthpiece. Sara fiddled with her Tech Armor Project, studied up on Turian Basic Aid, and wrote up a summary on the Marines who had been with her during the Alert, sending memos to their team leaders about their actions individually. Sara had been fortunate that they had followed their orders to the letter, and none of them had shirked from their duties. She also wrote (and erased, and re-wrote, and re-erased, and finally just blathered something out) an EN-mail to Irissa, knowing that the Professor was likely busy with clean-up with the Paleontechnology Tent and smoothing out feathers. Sara hoped that they would be able to see each other tonight; she needed someone to talk to and unload a little bit of the stress of the past day.
Seven hours before she finally got a response from Auntie.
JaneShepard
LionElysium
No worries, kiddo. I'm still amongst the land of the living.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
OMG! I was really getting worried! I know Poppa Bear would have mentioned if the worst happened.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
How bad?
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Me? Or the mission?
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
No offense, but I could give two fucks about the mission.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
I shouldn't say that. I heard Constant was hit hard, lots of casualties. #KickTheCans
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
I don't know what happened except that the Geth attacked Eden Prime, and that it was for a Prothean Beacon.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
My main concern is U, Auntie, of course. R U Ok?
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Took a strange hit. Got fried by a Prothean Beacon. Security field plus something else.
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Don't know what to make of it.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
Want me 2 ask around?
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
I am at a Prothean dig site. With some of the top experts, after all.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
I mean… it wasn't just electrical, was it? If it were, I'd doubt u'd B concern.
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Dunno, kiddo. Got hit, and… had the most vivid dream ever.
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Like I was stuck in a nightmare for days.
JaneShepard
LionElysium
What's weird is that it isn't fading away like a normal dream, ya know?
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
What was the dream about? And how many senses could U use?
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Like… all of them. Srsly. I didn't go out and taste stuff, but I could taste it too.
JaneShepard
LionElysium
And I was in a warzone. Not Elysium or some other place.
JaneShepard
LionElysium
It wasn't a war, it was a slaughter. Some race I didn't recognize fighting off machines or synthetics.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
Mental download, perhaps? We don't have the tech 4 that, but if it was a Prothean Beacon?
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
I seem 2 recall Beacons have done that B4. Interacted with someone, put something in their head.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
Auntie, those people lost their minds after a while. :'-(
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
I'm worried. Srsly.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
Pro. T'vara would know more about this. Can I talk 2 her about it?
JaneShepard
LionElysium
I'm not exactly keen on that.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
I know. But U are at stake.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
I don't wan on a hospital bed again, alone and left 2 die. #NeverAgain
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
What would U say if the situ was reversed?
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
I just don't want to say goodbye. I don't want a repeat of Mom.
There was a good fifteen minute lull after that. Sara wasn't exactly worried, but she wondered if Auntie really was okay. Jannie always was a stubborn one, insisting that everything was fine despite the evidence. Sara noted that Jane really hadn't gone into actual details about what had actually happened during the mission, or her. She briefly wondered where Auntie was at. It had best be at a Med Clinic on a Medical Vessel or Arcturus Naval Medical Clinic. Sara wondered if Jannie was busy or mulling it over. She had gone for a low blow, but this was important to her. Sara had watched her mother waste away from Aggressive Entropic Neurological Dystrophy, turning that wonderful woman into a prisoner of her own failing body. It had slowly tore Sara's heart apart, watching her Mom wilt and decay like that, her body finally failing her. Being powerless to do anything about it had been the worst thing for her to suffer. Sara had held onto Scott and Dad as they said their final goodbyes, the twins' mother living just long enough to see them graduate, just before they were to head off to Boot Camp.
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Ugh. I'm back. Sry bout that.
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Goddamn politicians. Just had a nice meet with the Dumbassador. #WhattaAsshole
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Wanted to slam my forehead into the prick's face.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
Ur on the Cit?
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
So soon?
JaneShepard
LionElysium
N, remember? #GreenPickleAward
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Got a few minutes before I get to talk to the evil alien overlords.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
Auntie. Classified aside, WTAF is going on?
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
U wouldn't be seeing the Three 4 a colonial invasion.
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Can't say. Srsly.
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Only me and Poppa Bear knows. Well, until Boo-dina blurted it out in front of two crew members. #WhattaAsshole
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
OMFG!
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
RUSRS!
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
R U saying what I'm thinking?!
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Supposedly. Before this fiasco… yes.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
Auntie! No way! Like… WOW!
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
DoubleN7!
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Okay, I'm hashtagging that. #DoubleN7!
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Might get buried though. Between what happened, Boo-dina, and the Three? Ugh. #GreenPickleAward
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
My fingers and toes R crossed, Auntie.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
Proud of U, Jannie #SecretAgentMan
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
That aside, I noticed U avoided answering. #SoNotTalkingToYou
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
Should I bring this up with Pro. T'vara? U know I have Ur best interest in heart.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
What would U do if it were me?
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Low blow, kiddo.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
You're an N. Gotta use extreme measures. #GreenPickleAward
JaneShepard
LionElysium
I guess I should be happy you're not pulling the Elysium card on me.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
I hate feeling helpless. U know that. #NeverAgain
JaneShepard
LionElysium
She's professional? Not some loon whose gonna crack my head open and take a peek?
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
No.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
She knows how much U mean 2 me.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
I talk about U a lot. I'm sure you're aware.
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Okay, talk to her. See what she has to say.
JaneShepard
LionElysium
At the least I'm looking at options.
JaneShepard
LionElysium
Ugh. This damn elevator. Why are Cit elevators so slow?
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
Elcor get motion sick if they go 2 fast.
SaraRyder
AngelIllyeria
Want 2 get stuck in a box with a barfing 1 ton xeno-pachyderm?
JaneShepard
LionElysium
And my Colonial Soldier is laughing her ass off at that response. #ThatsJustEww
Petty Officer Sara Ryder spent a portion of that evening working on her pet project, fully caught up with her college course and correspondence courses as well. During the DefConOne Alert, Sara had been wishing she had her project ready in at least a prototype phase in case the worse should happen, and armed with he knowledge that the worst did happen on Eden Prime, she was resolved into making a functional unit albeit with a few tweaks and upgrades in the future. Even a semi-decent model could be the difference between life and death, and the worlds tens of thousands dead and wounded renewed her vigor to the armor enhancement. How many lives could have been saved in Constant if Colonial Marines had the very device she had been working on? Not only theres, but the civilian lives they could have saved armed with the knowledge they could take a few more hits?
She was working on the exploded diagram of the prototype, configuring the OmniGel Dispersal Units, having figured out how to keep the fluids evenly distributed along the encoded matrix and armor without getting in the way of the other pieces. Really, it had been as simple as a designated electromagnetic field, shored up by a simple border of Nickle-Iron mixture known as MuMetal or NiFe, easily produced with MetalGel and an OmniTool minifabricator. Sara had her Sirta Foundations' Phoenix Medic Armor in the Clinic with her as she minifabricated a thin wire of MuMetal along the chassis of her chestpiece, barely using a hundred grams of low-quality MetalGel to complete the task before connecting it to the device's battery supply. Satisfied with her progress, Sara put on the chestpiece, powering up the armors' subsystems with her Hahne-Keder Bluewire Omnitool, linking the 'Tech Armor' subroutine as a selectable app on her armor's configuration during responses. Theoretically, all she had to do was switch her Omnitool to 'War' applications, and hit the 'Tech Armor' app, and let the program do the rest.
"Time for a test run." Sara said to herself as she ran a quick diagnostic of her armor, satisfied that everything was in order. And then she hit the 'Tech Armor' app.
Four OmniGel dispersal nodules immediately gushed out decagrams of OmniGel, rushing over the surface of her Phoenix Armor as Sara watched on. Thanks to the electromagnetic field projected by the armor's power system and contained by the addition of the MuMetal border she had made, the OmniGel coating stayed within the targeted perimeters of the chestpiece, not only along its surface but also within a set depth of two and a half centimeters. It took five seconds for chestpiece to be coated, the OmniGel curing quickly as it hardened into the consistency of the thermoplast commonly known as UHMWPE. Sara looked down at her worn chestpiece as she saw a semi-transparent yellowish layer coating over her chest piece, completely to the dimensions of her Phoenix Armor's chestpiece, and seemingly uniform in depth.
"Hey! I think it worked!" The young woman gushed as she smiled at her armor, seeing the Imperial inch-thick coating over her high-tempered ceramic-and-hardened alumnisteel chestpiece, poking at it with a finger. It felt as firm as thick-gauge plastic, stiff and dense. It looked like it went off without a hitch thanks to her programming and modifications. With this, she could modify a rig for her armor in little time, incorporating the program and system to deliver the same results to every hard surface of her armor, literally creating a second skin that would, in theory, absorb more kinetic force and shatter locally due to its crystalline molecular construction to limit damage and encourage blunting said force. If she could get a 'real-world' test and analyze it…
…God, she could revolutionize the armor industry! Save lives!
Sara Chirped Professor Irissa T'vara of the development, asking her to visit Sara when she had a chance as the Corpsman took off her armor, scanning it with her Bluewire Omnitool and getting a more focused layout on her diagnostics program, looking for any flaws or impurities in either the curing process, the delivery process, or the overall finished product. Scanning took all of ten seconds. Diagnosing every cubic centimeter for any flaws took twenty minutes, making sure the that surface of the hardened OmniGel was two and a half centimeters from the surface of the chestpiece for both conformity and assurance. Sara knew (thanks to math and her diagnostic program) how much kinetic force the OmniGel plate could take at a depth of two and a half centimeters. If a small portion were thicker, then that meant somewhere else it was thinner; a weak point. She had used two hundred-and-fifty grams of OmniGel in the process to get the right layer and dimensions, and one segment that was off meant that it had gone somewhere else and needed modification. Sara went over the armor and the diagnosis with a the proverbial fine-tooth comb when there was an electronic knock on the door.
"It's open!" Ryder called out without thinking as she continued to examine her invention, going over the exploded wireframe of her original schematic and then the finished product, finding it to be a success. Now she would have to find a way to get to the fun part; shoot at it and see if the 'self-healing' program would seal any cracks or fill-in any missing piece to continue affording such protection.
"You finished it?"
"Irissa!" Sara stopped what she was doing to turn and smile at the Asari Protheantologist, seeing the Matriarch in… well… not her University of Serrice work jumpsuit. She was wearing something over her body that looked to be worn as acceptable outerwear for less-than-ideal conditions for an Asari, generally what humans called 'Catwoman Suits'. It was a one-piece black piece that was… quite form-fitting. Sara had to clear her throat as her mouth went dry at the sight. The Catwoman Suit went from collar bone to ankle, and all the way to the wrists, but was so conforming that it left extremely little to the imagination. Strangely enough, Asari considered it a rather conservative outing garment, and most Asarikin would think Irissa doing but a simple walk outside in something suitable for the environment. For Sara? It was making her heart flutter and that to ache. Conservative her ass. It was form-fitting enough to see Irissa's dimpled navel. Still, Sara wasn't complaining.
"Yes, I did finish it! Well, a successful test-run, at least." Sara stood up from her terminal as she was pouring over her results to show off her accomplishment to the University of Serrice's Dean of Prothean Research and Study, almost giddy. "The trick was electromagnetics! There's just enough magnetic properties in OmniGel to localize a mold, and even to help cure it! It takes about five seconds to deploy, and if my math is right, this can take a point-blank blast from most military-oriented shotguns without penetrating the user!"
"That is certainly an accomplishment." The Asari replied as Sara held her blue hand, standing by her side as they looked at the chestpiece of the Sirta Foundations' Phoenix Medic Armor. "Imagine the applications this endeavor will wrought. The lives it might save."
"I know." Sara squeezed the Asari's hand knowing that Professor T'vara saw it in the same light she did; health care providers from different walks of life that saw such duties as honorable, righteous even. Yes, likely the design would filter down into the ands to those who did not deserve it; mercenaries, slavers, and such ilk. But in Sara's mind, it would first go to those who stood for the common good. Law enforcement agents who walked the beat in the Cit Blocks and on homeworlds, military personnel who protected worlds, good men and women who looked out for the innocent, men and women like her father and Auntie. Giving them an extra chance at duty, at life? It was worth the hours at the project, the endeavor she had put into it. "Now that I have the matrix encoded, I can apply the technique to all the hard surfaces to the armor, making it to where it will protect all the vital areas. The MuMetal band that I incorporated to the border of the chestpiece will help me with the helmet where I can incorporate an OmniGel dispersal nodule to the base of the helmet at the back of the neck. I don't rightly know if it will stand up to most sniper rounds, but I think the common M-97 Viper that the Hierarchy uses might need two shots, likewise the Hahne-Keder M-42 Hammer Sniper Rifle that we use in the Alliance. Not that I'm hoping we test it out in a war anytime soon, but with Eden Prime…"
Lord, how many lives might have been saved if Colonial Marines had her design? Not that Sara was blaming herself considering she hadn't even finished the project yet. But she was hardly inventing new technology, merely using already-existing objects and incorporating them into a design that had been theorized but never actuated. At least not a design that had been produced as far as Sara was aware.
"You have done well, fair one." Irissa's hand went to the back of Sara's head, her fingers intertwining through Sara's brunette hair. The Asari found the Human's 'silky movable crest' fascinating, and Sara noted that Irissa enjoyed the feel of it just as much Sara enjoyed having it played with. "Have you thought about the idea I had come up with?"
"I did, actually!" Ryder smiled as she keyed up her secondary project, marked 'Life Armor'. "Same design, but the OmniGel dispersal nodules get swapped out for a few different designs; fire suppression, smoke screen for advance and retreat for military units as well as civilian evacuation, and something that occurred to me the other day; holographic light projections.
"I call it a tactical cloak program." Sara smiled as she showed the specs of what appeared to be a duel camera system for each port; one receiver, and one projector. "While it wouldn't necessarily be 'true' camouflage depending on speed and environment, I think I can make a system that can basically 'shade' a user to where a casual observer can miss an operative, and perhaps even someone focused and alert. This… this I'm thinking of making for Auntie." This kind of program wouldn't be sold to the markets, the implications staggering. While she wasn't species-centric by any stretch of the imagination, the 'tactical cloak' program would be for the N's, people like Jannie, David Anderson, Stacy Valentino, Royce Mason, and her father; her crazy SpecOps family. Auntie loved her gadgets and toys, and something like this would have her geeking out. Having an N Operative being able to move from location to location 'under the radar' so to speak would bring a huge advantage to those she she loved and called family. The other designs she could bring about for production through one of the bigger armor manufacturers, but the tactical cloak program would go to the Alliance Offensive Firearms Initiative, those that made N-specific weapons, armor, equipment, and resources. Sara knew a good many N's due to her Dad, Poppa Bear, Auntie, Aunt Val, Uncle Royce, and the various friends and acquaintances from their units.
Okay, she might leave herself a pranking opportunities were too good to pass up upon.
"Was this what you wished to talk to me about?" Irissa asked as her hand went back to Sara's hair, her blue fingers sliding into her locks as Ryder gave off a pleased noise, enjoying the affection.
"No, but I'm certainly glad you got to see a good stopping point to it." Sara saved the diagnostics and results of the test-run, intending to install the OmniGel dispersal units into the rig that would go along with her armor tomorrow for a full-body trial. "No, there's something important Prothean-wise. I don't know a great deal, but… it concerns my Aunt Jannie." The Professor must have noted her tone because her fingers stopped combing through her hair as the Matriarch looked at her with some concern. "She… she was on Eden Prime when it was attacked by the Geth. The Alliance hasn't put it out, but the main objected was evidently a working Prothean Beacon."
"Goddess! I am surprised I was not contacted." The Professor exclaimed, and Sara had to admit that she saw politics involved. One functional Beacon… one Human SPECTRE in trade? Se knew a fair deal about the backroom politics thanks her her fathers' work in the Diplomatic Security Services in the Human Embassy back when Anita Goyle was still Ambassador. High-level Prothean finds would always involve the Council of Three. Chances were, it had likely be recently unearthed. Sara had a feeling that Auntie had been sent to Eden Prime because of the Beacon, probably a pick-up. Didn't she say that she was now the XO of a top-of-the-line, state-of-the-art, brand-new Frigate, first of its class? And Poppa Bear was her CO.
SPECTRE mission, kept under wraps. But then the Geth intervened.
That was certainly fishy, wasn't it?
"Implications aside, Auntie was able to keep the Beacon from Geth hands." Sara continued, and she saw the Professor's eyes widen at the thought of such an artifact in the hands of the Geth. "Don't know why the Geth wanted it, but they crossed two-thirds of the galaxy and invaded a planet for it. But sometime during her securing it, she or the Geth activated the security field…"
"Goddess! Is she alive? Sane?" The Dean was immediately keyed up, a look of utter concern on her face. "Sara, Prothean Beacons are dangerous."
"I-I know. I was taught in the Presidium Academy, and I remember that in my CitHistory classes." While other human children learned Earth History, Sara and Scott Ryder were learning about Citadel History, about Asari explorers and Salarian scientists. "I convinced her to let me talk to you about it because I remember the dangers and… what might happen." All Sara knew was of several incidences in which some scientist or researcher had accidentally interacted with a Beacon and had either their brain fried or lost their touch on reality completely. "While she didn't tell me much, Auntie did give me permission. I… I don't want anything to happen to her."
"You are a good clan member to her, Sara Ryder, fear not." The Asari smiled at her, holding her hand in comfort. "She very well may need help, and it is unfortunate that the best possible means is either on Thessia or here on Therum. Honestly, Doctor Liara T'Soni may be a good possibility as she has several research papers documenting the spoken ramblings of those that survived but succumbed to madness in her mass extinction theory. I believe that is where she originally inherited the idea."
"Mass extinction…" The Petty Officer mumbled, remembering what Jannie had told her. "Irissa, Auntie said she was in the most vivid dream she had ever had, and all she saw was war, a race she didn't recognize fighting of machines or synthetics. She said that she could use all five senses, and that she felt like it lasted for days. I think… she might still be able to see it or feel it, by the way she barely described it to me. Jannie doesn't like admitting to weakness or that something might be wrong, so if something concerns her, it's a lot worse than she lets on. I just… hate feeling helpless. Like with my Mom."
"I know, fair one. We all face that feeling, but the difference is that you are doing what you can to aid her when she needs it most." The blue hand squeezed her own, and Sara knew that Irissa was right. She wasn't helpless, she was just not the person Auntie needed to see. But she was trying to make that happen, and that was what mattered. "You are a good Maiden, Sara Ryder. Do not doubt yourself, and do not belittle yourself. You have accomplished much, and you seek to do better for both yourself and for others. In that, you are an exceptional person I am proud to have known and met." The Asari's forehead touched her own in affection, and Sara found herself smiling at the gesture.
"Been a tough couple of days. Hopefully we can get a little bit of peace and quiet." The Petty Officer told the Dean as she gave the Professor a less-than chaste kiss upon her cheek.
"It seems that 'peace and quiet' is not what you have in mind, Chief." Irissa replied, rather bemused as a smile grew on her cerulean lips. "Is it?"
"No, not really." The Corpsman chuckled as she kissed Irissa deeply, feeling that electric tingling in her lips that inflamed her passions and hormones, that awoken that urge within her to share herself with this heavenly creature. "I seem to remember you suggesting something the other night that shocked even me."
"Oh?" Sara knew that she had Irissa there as the Asari's brow went up inquisitively. "Is the Maiden feeling frisky?"
"Why don't you come over here and find out?"
Fine: ARC I, Dig Site Alpha
ARC II: Fall Of The House Of Therum
June 15, 2183
One week later…
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Author's Notes: Like the foreshadowing? Stay tuned for Arc II: Fall Of The House Of Therum.
Those who have been Dishonorably Discharge do have about the same opportunities as a convicted felon who has finally served their time; which is to say not much. It's actually not easy to get a Dishonorable Discharge, and you really have to do something stupid to get one. President Gerald Ford was lambasted rather harshly for pardoning Vietnam-Era Draft Dodgers for their Dishonorables (which is why you see on employment applications the question as to why you might be a convicted felon; Draft Dodging during the Vietnam Era came with a felony conviction, but it was supposedly annulled. Nothing stopping an employer ((like a veteran)) from holding it against you though. That isn't illegal.)
I mentioned in the previous chapter and this one the repercussions of what might happen to someone who acts unorderly during a time of crisis, as well as in Where The Law Stands Tall. Yes, police can shoot looters and rioters on sight if given permission. You might ask why, but the answer is pretty obvious; interference of emergency personnel during said time of crisis. Whatever bad thing is going on, such people are adding to and pulling away necessary personnel to solve things in a decent and timely matter out of stupid reasons, such as greed. While I wasn't in America during Hurricane Katrina (I was deployed to Baghdad at the time) I remember footage of people breaking into stores to steal electronic equipment, forcing police and others to limit said activities as oppose to helping good people in a time of need. Because we need that flat-screen TV to float on during a flood.
Ellen (Harlow) Ryder suffered AEND, which wasn't defined. So I came up with something that fits the acronym, and sounds a lot like Lou Gehrig's (ALS, or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). In reality, radioactive isotopes generally affect the lymphatic system, while large-scale radioactive bombardments (like meltdowns and explosions) will generally kill your bone marrow, liver, and spleen. And yes, you look like you 'melt', losing weight while your skin changes colors, peels and sloughs off, while you lose hair and become a husk. Not a pretty way to go. Since Eezo exposure comes in two forms, radiation and dust (particalization), it would likely be either lymphatic cancer or lung cancer in Ellen's case, though considering the unique properties of element Zero, I went with neurological since there isn't any kind of cure for such afflictions such as ALS, Multiple Sclerosis, or Parkinson's.
I mention the Green Pickle Award. This is a joke award in the Army (and the Marines, I think). The person who seems to get screwed over the most (usually their fault) and pulls the most details, the most cleaning duties, picked on the most, etc., earns the Green Pickle Award. Yes, it's an euphemism for the Army (or Corps) fucking you over with the big green dick.
I think everyone's bashed the elevator joke about the long rides on the Citadel. In Mass Effect vs. Aliens 2: Valkyrie Rising, Chapter 11: Eindenjar, I mention that the reason they are slow is that native Dekunnan's (Elcor) get motion sick, and will barf if they go too fast. I'm sticking with this reason.
Thermoplasts make up virtually all forms of plastic you are aware of, from trashbags to high-performance parts in cars and airplanes, to even astronaut suits. UHMWPE is specifically Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene, which is used in some bulletproof armor. When I made PlastiGels for the Peacemaker Series, Thermoplast was one of the manufacturing compounds. Look this one up on Wikipedia for the many uses from Nylon to Teflon! The name comes from the fact that it is heated to be formed, and hardens into shape. The amount of plastic products that are Thermoplasts is simply staggering, from plastic silverware, to action figures, to tupperware, all the way to airline parts, space shuttle components, and even the casing to your car's battery. SCIENCE!
I have Asari have navels (belly buttons). Turians don't have one, as they are an Oviparity species (born from eggs). Likely, Salarians won't have one either, as they are likely born from eggs, too. Quarians and Batarians are likely Viviparity like Humans, giving birth to live young, while the Drell might be ovoviviparity, which the young are born in eggs in the mothers' belly, and crawl/birth out. Hanar are likely Oviparity (as they are aquadic), but I imagine that Elcor and Volus are Viviparity.
This is the first time I mention which 'combat profile' Shepard is. I am not really sticking to the 'traditional' roles that Mass Effect had, nor will I completely incorporate the ones from Andromeda. Jane Shepard will be a Tech Warrior, as she will have Combat and Engineering skills, but not as an Infiltrator. She'll use a rifle, but otherwise she's tech'ed out.
Would a Customer Service and Support Hotline in a galaxy be 24/7? It sounds better than 'anytime'.