Message chain between CEO of AMMO industries, Michael Arias, and Director of finance, Telria Arias. Dated 2171, April 6th:
Telria: Michael, The board of directors would like to know what project Silent truth is, considering that you have put trillions of credits into the project.
Michael: It is one of my new Colonization initiatives.
Telria: Since when did we start funding colonization projects? And why didn't you seek the board of Directors' Approval.
Michael: Oh yes, those stuck up ass holes, if you would check the file that's on your desk.
Telria: Severance packages? What is the meaning of this?
Michael: The former head of this company, my father, thought that he needed the board in his later years. I don't feel that they are necessary as they only hinder my ability to lead the company with doubt and second guessing.
Telria: We both know that he isn't your father, your biological father died centuries ago, you are the result of someone's narcissism and loath of anyone not worthy of his time.
Michael: So, should I start calling you 'daughter' then?
Telria: Don't patronize me, you'll never be my father, all you are is his one success at cloning himself.
Michael: The explanation for my existence is a bit more complicated than that, but I'll let you figure it out yourself.
Telria: You've kept when it comes to anything you do, I demand that you shed some light on your background. We both know that it is impossible to create a clone that has accelerated aging in the beginning of their life and standard in the beginning.
Michael: Yes that is true, it is also impossible to truly control a clone because they will have their own free will and experiences. Even if I am a direct copy of your father, our thought processes are different and therefore I am not him but a creation of his. Isn't that exactly what you are in a sense?
Telria: We are not the same, do not even think that we are on the same level.
Michael: You are right, I'm better than you, or do I need to send you a recording of our little competition to see who is more fit to lead this company, again?
Telria: You will die a decrepit old man.
Michael: No, I'll die long before I become decrepit. Then you can have what's yours, and not one moment sooner, of course, by that time you'll see that my way of running things is a bit better than yours.
Telria: I will not lose to an arrogant Human.
Michael: And I can not lose to an ignorant Asari. Goodbye, sister.
-Message chain end-
Therum
"Two Armatures at three and twelve O'clock!" Michael shouted as two pulse rounds hit the side of the Mako, "Kyon, focus on the closest one, Shepard, vent your anger on the second."
"It isn't easy to fire like this," Kyon said to himself as he spun the turret around, disorienting himself and Tali, who was sitting on his lap for the Mako ride because of how little room there was in the tank.
"I'm sorry..." Tali said as she looked down, obviously embarrassed.
"Don't be," Kyon said as he pulled the trigger on the cannon and followed up with a volley of bullets from the chain gun, "I like the challenge," he smiled under his helmet as he saw the armature explode, before he felt the Mako hit something and bounced, "What the hell was that?"
"Shepard just ran it over," Michael said with a chuckle as the Mako backed up onto the head of the armature.
Shepard put the Mako in park and hit the gas, causing the wheels to shred the Armature's head, "Alright, let's get moving."
"Joker, I'm marking the areas where we encountered Geth, after we clear out of each area, send a salvage team to retrieve any spare parts we can get. We'll be able to sell them to the highest bidder for funding."
"Is that wise?" Tali asked as the Mako continued forward, "Giving Geth technology to private companies?"
"If we don't, someone else will," Michael said as he worked on his Omni-tool giving the Coordinates to Joker and Grant, "at least this way, the money will go to a good cause instead of lining someone else's pockets."
"True," Kyon said as he took a deep breath, "just keep ten percent of the materials for me, I could make something useful, and if I'm lucky we might be able to reprogram some of the Geth operating systems to for tactical analysis."
"Don't lie, you just want to make yourself a friend because you are lonely," Michael joked as he saw what he knew was a Geth outpost ahead with heavy turrets guarding the front gate, "Looks like we'll need to go around, there should be a side passage to the right Shepard."
"I'm not lonely, I have Tali," Kyon said as he patted her on the shoulder, somewhat awkwardly due to their current position, "What does it look like Aries?"
Michael scanned the side-road that they were about to go through, and sighed. Everything was going according to plan so far, "Shepard, stop for a moment. Looks like they put a turret in the side passage, judging from the armor, a few well placed shots should take it out. Tali, you know more about Geth technology than any of us, do you think there will be a weak spot?"
An image of the turret appeared in front of Kyon and Tali, allowing them to make assumptions about it, "Um, maybe if you shot it at the base of the cannon, where it swivels, you'll be able to hit it's power source, assuming the Geth haven't reinforced it under the mechanisms."
"Got it, aim at the swivel joint," Kyon said as he smiled, "Commander, ready when you are."
Without another word, Shepard slammed on the gas, turning hard and nearly flipping the MAKO, Kyon was barely able to aim where he needed and fired the cannon. The shot blew open the armor, revealing the power source, Kyon followed up by holding down the trigger to the mini-gun. The Mako finally leveled out, but bounced around making him miss his target. Before he could get another shot off at the turret, Shepard slammed into it at full speed and smashed the power core. The turret gave way to Shepard's mad driving, and they continued until they turned into the Geth outpost.
"Kyon, fire at will," Michael said as he detected Geth all around them. Michael unbuckled his seat-belt, and jumped out of the Mako as Kyon started firing at the Geth. Michael took out his sword, and smiled as the electrified edge came to life, "Let's dance," he said quietly as he dashed forward at the nearest Geth Unit, a Juggernaut, and swung his sword in an upward motion. The Geth was split in two up to his chest, where the blade was stopped by the armor of the large unit. It didn't matter, the Geth's electrical systems were fried by the blade, making it fall to the ground. The Geth nearest to Michael Perceived him as the most immediate threat and turned to fire, when a biotic orb flew from the Mako and destroyed the Geth's arms, "Thanks Athena," Michael said without looking back. He threw his blade to his left, impaling another Geth as he took out an SMG from his coat and unloading in a second to his right.
The battle was over, almost as soon as it began, without anyone receiving any major injuries, "I'll go open the gates," Michael said as he grabbed his sword from the Geth rocket trooper he had impaled with it. The white synthetic blood squirting out as the sword exited. Michael took out a circular device and dropped it on the ground. It was a transmitter, letting the Normandy know that the area was clear for them to pick up and salvage the Geth.
Michael went into the building where he knew the gate control would be, and took out his pistol. He made no attempt to hide his presences as he walked up to the lone Geth trooper and unloaded into it. Michael took a deep breath as he collapsed the gun and put it on the inisde of his jacket. He pressed the open button and opened up the gate for the Mako to pass through, when he thought about something, "Hey, Joker, when you come to pick up the Geth salvage, be careful because there are still a couple of Geth turrets in front of the outpost."
"Why don't you destroy them?"
"We are running on a schedule," Michael walked out of the building and into the Mako and nodded at Shepard. He sat down, almost at the same time she started driving, and put his seat-belt on, "Be careful, alright?"
"Why are you worried about them?" Athena asked, "It isn't like they'll blow up the ship."
"Because Athena, we need to do our best to keep everyone alive, or else we risk losing our humanity in order to save the galaxy."
"Wasn't it you that told me the end justifies the means?" Athena asked as she looked at Michael, "Turning soft on me now?"
"No, just thinking about how I lived my life," Michael took a deep breath as he squeezed his left arm, feeling the hardened substance that was once his skin. He took a deep breath as he looked back at the radar, "Kyon, contacts at three and nine o'clock."
A/N Sorry, it has been a while, but I wrote this chapter, over the course of a few months, so hopefully you all like it.