Chapter 7

"Major Alenko."

Kaidan slowed to a stop in the hallway and turned as Admiral Hackett strode up behind him. This hallway in the Alliance's council wing didn't have much traffic. Doubtful this was serendipitous.

"Admiral," Kaidan saluted.

Hackett stopped in front of him and returned the salute.

"So, Major. How was your trip to Jump Zero?"

Kaidan hesitated then settled on, "Good."

"Heard some crazy things about your time. These pro-human groups are brazen."

"Only brazen because it didn't go as planned."

According to plan, the warehouse workers should have found Kaidan slumped next to the hacked vid system panel, no one the wiser about how it happened. Kaidan hoped they'd give him a benefit of a doubt and not jump to the conclusion he'd electrocuted himself. Still, a better outcome than if the crate-smashing trick had worked. Probably would have sent some warehouse workers to therapy stumbling across that mess the next the morning.

"A bad turn of events." Hackett nodded. "I was hoping to catch you."

"How did you know where I was?"

"You're reinstated to active duty, Major."

Kaidan shifted on his feet. "Isn't there some probationary sit-down? It hasn't been thirty days yet, sir."

"I know," Admiral Hackett said, "but things are moving forward. After the ballistics on that bullet and crew testimony, it's clear your reservations concerning XO Anchor weren't misplaced. Now that Commander Shepard has been interviewed, the case should be closing out. Summit security is our priority now. What happens later, we'll discuss at another time, but for now, it's been decided to wave the last few days of the suspension."

Kaidan tucked his hands under his arms. "Just like that?"

Hackett gave a firm nod.

"Admiral, no disrespect. This feels pretty unofficial for how officially it was initiated. I didn't even think you were involved, to now be the one telling me this … in a hallway … where you happened to catch me."

"You will receive a more official message later today."

"A message?"

"A message, Major."

Kaidan eyed him but finally nodded. "Okay, sir."

"Look," Hackett sighed. "The suspension wasn't about whether you were right or wrong but over conduct. I don't think those involved in the decision would say, or perhaps believe, they made any error in that decision. However, there is a certain air of embarrassment over it. It's not escaped notice that your efforts lead to the Normandy's rescue. Your insistence in XO Anchor's complicity turned out to be correct. Now having praised him publicly and made him out as tragic victim, the Alliance has … well, you can imagine. Trying to release that fact under the radar really only inflamed the lash back. For all that, while in their minds they're not wrong, they would rather just send a message. I wasn't dispatched to tell you, but I am telling you since I know about it and you're here."

Kaidan stared at the floor and nodded. "Okay. Thanks, Admiral."

"You still report to me though," Hackett said. "Be glad of that."

"I am," Kaidan said. "I've never been happier that you're the one over me, Admiral."

"Then, good. I'm glad we had this chat, Major. I'll be sending you an appointment to discuss some plans for the future."

"Yes, sir." Kaidan glanced down the hall. Admiral Hackett didn't make a move to leave or dismiss him. "I'm sorry. I have an appointment with Councilor Mason, sir."

Hackett smiled. "Let's go then."

"Both of us?" Kaidan said hesitantly. "It's just an informal meet up, sir."

"I'll come with you."

Kaidan didn't move. "Admiral, maybe you shouldn't come. I don't know if you'll like what you hear."

"Really?" Hackett raised his eyebrows but smiled. "That so?"

Kaidan eyed him with a frown. He nodded.

"Well …" Hackett paused. "Perhaps there's important information to discuss for Council and Alliance security, Major. You see, there are some messages. After review, the messages have been deemed immaterial to the case. You're reinstated in active duty. It shouldn't be amiss for me to release them to you. Perhaps your background infiltrating and hunting Terra Firma may give you insights missed on initial review of the documents. I've already granted you classified access. We recovered them off a private datapad recovered off the Normandy. They're Lieutenant Commander Anchor's emails."

Kaidan smiled widely. "You don't say, Admiral."

"I do say, Major. Now, let's go. I think we're late."

XXX

"The opening ceremony? You're sure?" Mason pushed his folded hands across the desk as he leaned forward.

Kaidan pointed at the datapad under Mason's arms on the desk. "The messages make it sound like the Normandy was supposed to be here that night. Everything points to the Scorpion leaving on the ship. Seems like a getaway."

"Getaway?" Hackett rested an arm on the chair and rubbed a finger across his lips.

"We know something is going to happen during the Summit," Kaidan said. "Terra Firma doesn't want anything decided at the Summit, and they're doing this because it's big and public. What's more important than the opening ceremony? All the greatest contributors to the war efforts - the war heroes, the Council, Alliance leadership – they're all there. There in front of cameras, in front of the entire galaxy. Whatever happens is chronicled and immortalized in history. If the Scorpion takes center stage in that, he'll need a getaway."

Hacket made a hmming sound. "Why leave Earth? Up until last year, Terra Firma was targeting interstellar travel, destroying space ships docked on Earth."

Kaidan turned to him. "Why did they stop? It's the same time they started to really organize and the name 'Scorpion' appeared. Whatever this strike is. I think it's been planned that long."

The leather creaked as Mason leaned back in his chair. He tapped the datapad with a finger.

"The other messages mention targeting the relays. Why take the ship off planet if the relays won't be completed? Just to hold out until things on Earth settle?"

Kaidan shrugged. "I don't know. The list of targets Anchor is directed to target before transferring control to the Scorpion … it's a broad range from targeting human colonies, the relay construction forces, to the Blue Sons."

"Why target the Blue Sons?' Hackett asked.

"Competition. A threat. I don't know."

Mason's expression darkened, eyes straying to a family portrait on his desk. He saw Kaidan watching him and straightened.

"This large-scale assault," he said. "The messages elude to it. Is it just the Scorpion's attack at the Summit's opening ceremonies or something broader?"

"I think …" Kaidan paused then shrugged. "I don't know."

Mason frowned. "What is it, Spectre? I'm not expecting you to know. This can be conjecture. I want your honest theory, if you have one."

Kaidan glanced between Mason and Hackett. "I believe there's more than the Scorpion's spectacle at the Summit. The Scorpion will be there, get the attention and credit in this show of power. Important people die. Earth, the galaxy are left in awe or terror. For whatever reason, the Scorpion leaves on the Normandy that's been biding its time sowing discord and removing threats. That's all the big spectacle."

"But you think there's more to it?" Mason asked.

"I think, like you said Councilor, there's an implied larger scale attack. Terra Firma agents are amassing here in Vancouver. They're here for something. Something big enough to draw them all in, their best people. Maybe they're targeting Alliance Council HQ, maybe Vancouver, maybe it's something planet-wide signaled by the spectacle on live vid, I'm not sure. But I think a lot of people, civilians that have nothing to do with it, will be collateral damage."

Mason sighed. "The Council removed, Alliance leadership dead, the most influential war heroes and alien leaders killed. Depending on other targets, if communication and resource lines were cut away, Earth would be thrown into chaos."

"Human anarchy, at least for a time, controling Earth," Kaidan said. "If the relays aren't repaired in Arcturus or Sol, no one comes or goes. Maybe that's what the space ships are for. When the Scorpion came to power, he made them see the long-term goals. If you want to be a separatist, the relays can't be complete. AT some point though, the aliens will want to know what happened, take revenge maybe. Sooner or later someone's making it to the Arcturus cluster, and at some point, they'll want to repair that relay. Maybe the ships are there to defend against that, or maybe Terra Firma just has plans for the surrounding human colonies and space stations."

"Earth in anarchy. The Scorpion defending from above," Mason said.

"And ruling from above then? This Scorpion?" Hackett asked.

"Who knows?" Kaidan said. "Anchor's messages only covered up to the point of transferring the ship to the Scorpion. I haven't uncovered anything about the plans for afterward."

"Maybe they haven't thought that far," Hackett said.

"The Scorpion will have," Kaidan said. "Terra Firma in general with its heterogenicity and disorganization, maybe not have planned that far. There are layers to Terra Firma though. Anchor had a deleted message referring to a surprise for the Scorpion. I don't think it's a good one."

"A group inside working against the Scorpion?" Mason asked.

"They're on our side then?" Hackett asked.

"I think they're their own side," Kaidan said. "Maybe some of the members don't think they need the Scorpion around bossing things after they've made their goal."

They sat silent for a moment. Mason stirred.

"What about these alien mercs working for them? Why work for a pro-human agenda. What do they think will happen after Terra Firma seizes control?"

"Maybe they don't know the plan," Kaidan offered. "Or they've been promised something."

"Well," Mason said at last spreading his hands across the desk. "I will share this information among the Council. I imagine it's best to keep this close to the chest. We need whatever leg up we can get. Other than the other councilors, it won't be shared."

Hackett nodded. "Agreed. There is …" Hackett paused as if searching for how to say it. "There's some concern over infiltration in Alliance leadership. This isn't known for sure, but there have been anomalies - information leaked from high levels and tampering. Some of its outside hacking but some things? It can't be explained. Alenko, pass this information where you see fit, but I don't …" Hackett's brow knitted, and he sighed. "I'll leave it here. I'm not passing it along. I don't want any report or message about this, at least not until after the fact. For now, you and I haven't met about this, Alenko. You have proper access to the information. You won't be in trouble for digging and using Alliance resources, but don't come by my office. If you need me, find me around."

Kaidan frowned as a heaviness settled over him. No Alliance help. To distrust them even, for now. Hackett was backing off. Kaidan glanced at Mason. There was the Council, but for all purposes and effects, Kaidan was on his own.

"Councilor," the comm on Mason's desk said.

Mason pressed his lips with a frown and pushed the intercom button. "I asked you to hold my—"

"It's a Class A message, Councilor."

Mason's eyes widened. He scooted forward in his chair and leaned toward the intercom.

"Did they say what it's about?"

"Yes, Councilor," the voice paused. "Councilor, it's about the Mass Effect Shard. The armed transfer to the ship, there were complications."

"And the shard?" Mason stood, finger white from pressure on the intercom key.

"Gone, Councilor."

Mason's eyes snapped to Kaidan's. Kaidan exhaled sharply and slouched back in the chair. He rubbed a thumb against his temple and glanced at Hackett. They all had the same expression.