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Crew Quarters 10, Athame's Wisdom class cruiser Kurinth's Keen Sight, traveling at FTL to the Myrik'tah System, Arcturus Stream, Milky Way.
14th March, 1918 CE.
Lieutenant Trileena Navuris was residing on one of the bottom bunks, holding a datapad containing her personnel logs, and writing up a new entry into it.
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Personnel log entry No. 673, of Lieutenant Trileena Navuris, of the 147th Huntress Unit:
14th Day of the Third Month of the Year 1918 CE.
It had been going so well. Me, and my sisters-in-arms, were on a month's leave from the mission on Logasiri, enjoying the respite as much as we could, when Asari High Command cancelled our leave, about two and a half weeks in. The ship taking us, the Kurinth's Keen Sight, was assigned to a flotilla of ships tasked for immediate deployment beyond the Cipritine Line. We only just got the full briefing this morning.
Reports from the Salarians have been coming, of Rachni ships near the Myrik'tah System. Even though we usually get reports of Rachni ships attempting to look for a secret breakthrough through the Cipritine Line, the final defensive line that is the only thing standing between the Rachni advance, and worlds like Thessia, Sur'Kesh, Palaven, Tuchanka and the Citadel itself, this report was most unusual, because the five Rachni Scout Ships were being led by a Rachni Dreadnought. This was most peculiar and High Command definitely deemed it worth investigating, because Rachni dreadnoughts only participate in major frontline fleet actions, and not leading scouting missions. So whatever the Rachni found, they've deemed it really important enough to send a dreadnought.
However, the same could not be said for us.
Even though the Rachni have a dreadnought out there, High Command could not release any dreadnought from their reserves as, quote, we do not have any to spare for a scouting mission, unquote.
Personally, I think they really need to rethink, because the force that we have, 4 Asari, Salarian and Turian cruisers, are no match for six Rachni ships, especially a dreadnought. I just hope that we will be ready to meet the challenge and survive long enough out there.
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As she finished off her entry, a voice interrupted the silence,
"Trileena?"
Looking up from her datapad, Trileena raised her head to look up to the roof of her bunk, where the owner of that voice, Lieutenant Keilgara T'Listra, was residing.
"Finally woke up, Keilgara?"
"Hey, that briefing was long. And I would have fallen asleep if I didn't catch a nap". And on que, Trileena could hear her friend yawning, and then stretching her arms to get herself awake.
Rolling her eyes, but smiling none the less, Trileena then asked her friend, "What's on your mind, Keil?"
It was only a pause and Keilgara asked, "Well, what do you reckon the bugs are up to, Tree?"
"Beats me. Besides, you know just as much as I do. A Rachni dreadnought is leading 5 scout ships towards the Myrik'tah system, and whatever's there, the Rachni are sending a dreadnought there, whilst we've only got 4 cruisers to counter them".
"Yeah. Don't you think they should have sent us a dreadnought instead?"
"Nope. High Command thinks this mission's not important to send a dreadnaught. And we've not got a lot. Not since Lihrat".
Immediately, Keilgara's mood dampened, as did Trileena's over the mention of Lihrat, where 59 dreadnoughts were lost in the first 10 hours of the battle, and from then on, the Citadel fleet had been forced to retreat, allowing the Rachni to land on Heshtok, the Vorcha homeworld, and where a siege was still ongoing as of today.
After a pause of silence, Keilgara groaned and asked, "Goddess, I just took a nap after a long briefing and I'm still bored! What 'bout you, Tree?", but Trileena knew what was coming up next, judging at how sudden that question was made and said abruptly, "Well, we're gonna be exiting a relay soon enough. So I'm afraid the Rachni will put a dampener on whatever you've got planned".
Even though Trileena couldn't see it, she knew Keilgara was pouting. "Damn bugsā¦."
But before anyone could say anything, they were soon interrupted by the intercom, and the Captain's voice came out of it, "All hands, we are about to exit the relay. All hands, man your battle stations".
Keilgara sighed and jumped off from her bunk with a smirk, "Well, duty calls", as she sprinted off out of the Crew Quarters.
Trileena got out from her bunk and followed with a smile, "That it does, my friend. That it does".
On the Bridge of the Aifa's Endurance class cruiser, the Talat's Sentinel, Captain Morik Tolos observed his BattleSpace Table, which currently displayed his flotilla, comprised of the Turian Spirit of Apparitus class cruiser Spirit of Xerksulus following on alongside the Estivus Erax class cruiser Estivus Erax, with the Kurinth's Keen Sight tailing behind, traveling through FTL.
Amongst the chatter by the bridge crew, only one that Tolos was really hearing at this moment in time, was the First Officer, Commander Jurlo Tepak, "10 seconds".
And in punctual time, the Talat's Sentinel exited FTL, and so did the rest of the flotilla.
Without waiting, the view-screen was opened and they could see the Rachni ships in a defensive position around Relay 782.
Tolos' eyes analysed the situation. 5 Rachni scout ships with one Rachni dreadnought, just as the report said. The dreadnought had it's stern to the relay, as so allow it's guns to be trained on any enemy that came within range, with 3 Rachni scout ships flanking it, while 2 of them were working on the Relay itself.
Tolos ordered that the flotilla get into hiding, as so to not get shot by the dreadnought, and continue observing the Rachni.
And they did so, by hiding behind the dark side of a natural satellite of the gas giant that was located near their exiting Relay, Relay 784.
The Rachni were still holding defensive positions around Relay 782 when Talat's Sentinel and the rest of the ships got into hiding.
But as Tolos watched the BattleSpace Table, about to formulate his next plan, one of the crewmen working on his monitor, quickly got the Captain's attention, "Captain, Relay 782 just activated!"
Analysis on the BattleSpace Table confirmed that, as the Relay's set of rings started rotating, for a good few minutes, until the element zero core started glowing.
Then the Rachni dreadnought turned to port and powered engines, before the scout ships took the lead and jumped ahead.
After each scout ship jumped through the Relay, the Rachni dreadnought followed and jumped through as well.
Immediately, the flotilla had spent the entire day securing the system, and checking over Relay 782.
The Estivus Erax had established a communications link with Relay 782, trying to establish where the Rachni were going, while the Spirit of Xerksulus and Kurinth's Keen Sight maintained a patrol formation, checking out the system, while the Talat's Sentinel stayed exactly where it was.
On board the Talat's Sentinel, Commander Tepak soon got a transmission from the Estivus Erax, and reported it to Captain Tolos.
"Captain, we have their destination".
"On BST, if you please, Commander".
Immediately, the BattleSpace Table changed, and displayed Relay 782, before showing the Rachni's destination, at Relay 207, which was in a system beyond the Arcturus Stream, a mere four days journey.
"An undiscovered relay and system? But why would the Rachni head there? What's there that the Rachni would want?"
"Evidently, it's that important to send a dreadnought".
Tolos, put a hand up to his chin, obviously being in deep thought.
Everyone on the bridge let the Captain think in peace, taking care to not make unnecessary noise that'd disturb him.
A few more minutes, and Tolos finally came to a decision, "All ships, make jump through the relay. Be ready for battle upon exit".
Immediately, orders were transmitted to the rest of the flotilla, with the Estivus Erax and the Spirit of Xerksulus taking position in front of the Talat's Sentinel, while the Kurinth's Keen Sight took position behind the Talat's Sentinel and soon, the flotilla began the Mass Relay jump.
First, the Estivus Erax, then the Spirit of Xerksulus jumped through Relay 782, then the Talat's Sentinel followed. Then the Kurinth's Keen Sight was the last ship to enter the relay, and soon, all four ships were heading towards Relay 207, where they hoped to discover what the Rachni were planning.
And so it begins...
The Rachni are enroute to the Solar System, with a flotilla of Asari, Salarian and Turian ships in pursuit.
The next few chapters, the Rachni and the flotilla arrives at the Solar System.
Anyways, don't forget to leave a review whenever you can, and see you next time!
Update (29/6/17): Did a restructuring of the chapter, trying not to bunch up the paragraphs. Special thanks to Apollonir for pointing this out. Also added, some additional lines.
