Chapter 57: Inception
Tali walked out of Normandy's QEC feeling rather smug. The smile on her lips that showed in each step she took towards her husband. Garrus was waiting just on the other side of the door leaning against the upright, his weight resting upon one foot while the other was crossed at the ankle.
"I take it that little performance went well?" the turian questioned.
Tali nodded. "The Council really got into a bit of a lather over Shepard bringing the three of us into the meeting. But they didn't have much of a choice after Shepard reminded them that the precedence had already been set ages ago." there was a playfully coy shrug to the young woman's shoulders. "It felt kinda good standing on that projection platform looking down on the four of them as they were doing the same thing to our Commander.
"Of course, I think that was her whole plan. 'Two can play at this game' type of thing. 'You may lord over me, but my information lords over you'."
At this Garrus laughed
"Felt strange too." Tali admitted. "It was sorta like digital vertigo. You ever get that feeling?" Tali cocked her head to the side so she might better see her husband.
Garrus gave a minimal head nod. "Only a few times when I was playing a couple of omni-games. There's this one part on Galaxy of Fantasy that you're running around on the rooftops of these old ruins of an ancient temple and it kinda gets in you the gut from time to time. It's just a game but the sim-effects are so good, makes you feel if you're there in person. Strange thing is I never get vertigo in real life. But I get your meaning."
As the two walked out of the docking bay of the Normandy's berth Tali turned to her husband. "And I think Shepard's right about something else, too. That this whole political arena is a four-way game of 3D chess. Only the players are also game pieces in another player's side. So, as you move against them you're moved as well." Tali linked her arm into the vee of Garrus's elbow and leaned her head upon his arm. "And I don't think there are going to be any real winners here, only losing less to someone else."
The turian nodded agreeing with that assessment. "TIMmy sure as hell has been moving pieces into position. For a human, he sure has an asari matriarch's long view of things. Create a bit of havoc there so he can have a man placed here. Using a person's own demeanour against them."
"Like telling Shepard, Ash might be in trouble because the Collectors are hitting a colony she just happens to be on. Of course, Shepard would swoop in and save the day. Only to have Ash become a turncoat and disbelieve nearly everything Shepard says because of this 'alliance' we have with Cerberus. Even though that bosh'tet bitch knows its all sort of undercover to get to The Illusive Man."
"Which worked, if Anderson's disappearance and his teaming up with a turian general and her task force to take out TIMmy is anything to go by. "Garrus nodded. "At least Shepard is playing a modded game...changing the rules out of necessity."
"I still have a bad feeling about this." Tali admitted.
"Like it's all going to go horribly wrong." Garrus managed to make the statement not sound like a question. "What is that human phrase Jack used the other day, something about tits and going up? Didn't understand the metaphor but I think I understood the context. I think this is going to be something like that."
A few humans and a couple of passing asari gave the ex-C-Sec officer a look of distain and shook their heads.
"What was that about?" He turned to his wife who was desperately trying not to giggle but failing miserably. "Okay what did I say?"
"Of course you wouldn't understand the context love; your people don't have them." She grabbed him by his left mandible and very gently pulled him down so she might whisper into his ear to explain just exactly what part of the anatomy he was talking about. .
Turians were physically incapable of blushing but he tucked his head all the same to show his embarrassment. Then a very slight twitch in his mandibles thinking of his wife's tits and how they became very perky when he licked them. And how much he rather enjoyed that reaction as did she, if the cooing sound was anything to go by.
"Naughty naughty." Tali voiced as if she heard just where his mind had wandered. Her own voice laced with promise. "Later. Trust me I want to as much as you do, but I want to pick up a few things while we're here on the Citadel. And...and I think maybe we talk to Mordin." her hand let go of the mandible and stroked the underside of his chin before returning to the quarian's own shoulder. "I might have been a little hasty with my words back on Tuchanka. I saw him at the hospital and after the reports today...I don't know..."
"You want him to help us have our baby." Garrus finished for his struggling wife.
She nodded.
His answer was to lean down and kiss the top of her hooded helm. Then he uttered very softly for her ears alone. "I knew you'd come around. Now... what kinds of things are you looking for? Hopefully this shopping trip includes the weapons shops? I want to get a new scope for that Black Widow Shepard got for me."
"Sure Hon, anything to get you way from those damned calibrations. I don't see why you're so obsessed with them, anyway."
"A shift in thoughts. I need it Tal. There are so many things I can't do for Shepard; she is so lonely without her beloved Liara. There are times when I look at her and I see such sadness reflected in her eyes. She needs Liara, and Liara needs her. I think they go to dark places without each other.
"Shepard's stuck in an impossible position. The best I can do other than helping her bury the bodies and kicking asses is making sure the Normandy's weapons are at the ready whenever the calls comes. Every time I tumble back into doing the calibrations even if they aren't needed, I find my comfort zone. Guess maybe it's because I can't do anything else for her. Weird, isn't it?"
Tali shook her head. "No love, I think it's sweet." and then she nodded. "And yeah it's a little weird. But I babysit the Tantalus core drive making sure she runs perfectly for Shepard because like you said everything isn't working perfectly for her."
"Then we do everything we can do for her, Tali. Whatever it takes."
"Whatever it takes." His wife agreed without hesitation or question.
MEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEME
Returning to the Normandy Shepard was greeted with Joker's voice calling out from the bridge. "Hey Commander, the guy who thinks he's the boss-man is on the horn and..."
"Joker!" Shepard all but snapped. "I am so not in the mood. A little deference would be preferable about now."
The man visibly gulped and sat a little straighter in his designer leather pilot's seat. "Ah...yes Commander." his voice took on a more professional tone. "Sorry. The Illusive Man is waiting for a conference call. He was ah rather insistent."
"Put him through Recall all personnel, immediately. I want them here ASAP!" The commander ground her teeth as she turned and stormed through the main cabin of her ship.
"Wow that was...intense." Joker commented once he knew the dark-haired woman was out of earshot.
"The Commander is under extraordinary stress. Her blood pressure is elevated by 0.04. Her respiration is elevated by..."
"Yeah, yeah EDI I get it. She needs to relax." Joker mumbled dejectedly like a scolded petulant child. "Running into that asshole Udina couldn't have done her any favours or us. Cuz now we have to live with Miss Growly. And its gonna be a whole lot worse once she gets out the QEC and we start dealing with whatever TIMmy comes up with."
"Perhaps a little less sarcasm and a little more, as the Commander said: deference would be more helpful, Mr. Monroe."
"Gee thanks Mom." Joker held his hands out in a gesture of mock surrender. "I get it, I get it, alright? I'll easy up on the wisecracks. God, what I wouldn't give to have our favourite blue Doc back onboard. Liara always makes it better for the Commander after having a real shitty day."
As he was talking Joker made short work of recalling the crew. Then muted the comms to avoid hearing their inevitable grumblings that leave was cut short by half a day. Bad enough he had to deal with Shepard in a dark mood he sure as hell didn't want to listen to the crew bitch and moan on top of it all.
"Dr. T'Soni may not be onboard the Normandy but she can be contacted, can she not?" EDI suggested through her question. "Perhaps after the conference with The Illusive Man. One might engage in missive to Illium."
"Great idea." Joker grinned at the holographic 'woman' standing before him on the small projector. Not for the hundredth-time Joker thought that Tali had out done herself with EDI's new 'body'. If he were being honest, EDI was smokin' hot. Even with her illuminated purple-blue body had digital code running like so much sequence across her torso and limbs. Like Avina on the Citadel EDI was effectively represented 'nude' and had as much sexual definition as an old-fashioned Barbie dolls Joker's little sister used to play with. (Not that Joker had looked at the dolls or anything creepy like that.)
In short EDI was disturbingly cute especially with the dark shade of purplish 'hair' styled in a 1920s bob Joker tired not to think about it with just a bit of fringe over her eyes. The pilot also tried very hard not to think of EDI as the Normandy. And despite what either Shepard or Tali thought the Normandy was his girl, she responded to his touch, his hands... So not going there...
A psychologist would have a field day dissecting just where Joker's mind took him far too often. It was much easier thinking of EDI as nothing than a toaster...or an intercom. Rather than dwelling on his lust-love-hate relationship with EDI, Joker derailed his current train of thought into something less mentally confrontational. "Glad I thought of it." he teased, deliberately trying to get a rise out of her.
EDI's holo-projection did not seem amused for the pilot taking credit for her idea. "If it is a common theme for organics to taking credit where none had been earned, then you can take the blame should this idea of 'yours' fail, Mr. Monroe."
"Spoilsport." Joker hurumphed, "Suck all the fun out of the air, why don't you?"
The purple-blue face frowned. "I do not believe sucking an emotion stimulus out of a room is entirely possible, Mr. Monroe." EDI commented baffled.
And there we go back to being a literal minded AI. It was a safer place in Joker's mindset, not to think as EDI as a sexy holo-babe. Hell the talking sex-toy Cyclops was almost preferable right about now. Because he hadn't realized just when it was when he had started thinking of the AI as a her rather than an it.
"It's called a euphemism. Look it up." He got up and started to hobble his way down to the galley for chow. He would have left for one of cafés on the Citadel but when TIMmy made the call Joker had a gut feeling they would be bugging out soon. And his gut was never wrong. "You know I could just flush the AI core."
"If you do that, Mr. Monroe you will no longer be sitting in that custom-made leather seat you are so very fond off. Tampering with governmental property is a serious offence. One that will not only get you terminated but incarcerated."
Joker's answer to that was a raspberry.
MEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEME
As soon as Shepard entered the comms room the quantum-entanglement-communications array went on line. In less time, it took to draw in a breath, the Spectre was greeted by a man she truly had no desire to talk to today. If she were being truthful, he was a man she didn't want to talk to any day of the week. Furthering that truth Shepard was more than hoping that talking to TIMmy would very soon no longer be an issue.
*I can not say if the expression on your face, Commander, is one of disappointment or surprise. * suave as always, The Illusive Man in his immaculate tailored suit, lit up one of his very expensive cigarettes. He inhaled deeply as if the act alone was one of sexual conquest. Then slowly exhaled enjoying the billow of smoke that for a microsecond obscured his face.
Shepard defiantly crossed her arms over her chest and glowered. "You can keep wondering." she hissed. "I'm sure you didn't just call up to posture and preen about your little coup-de-grace in putting your lackey in the Councillors 's seat." she left 'and to check that he's still breathing' unsaid. But those words hung between them and they both knew it.
*Indeed not. * his tone became less mocking more serious if not excitable. *We got a break. I intercepted a distress call from a turian patrol in the Crescent Nebula. I believe you are more than familiar with that particular region. They stumbled upon a Collector ship beyond the core of the system. The turians were wiped out but not before they crippled the Collector vessel. I need you to board that ship and get some hard data on the Collectors. They must have a way to get to their homeworld. *
Shepard wasn't buying it. Not fully. The turian patrol... could that be one in the same Anderson had used to attack Cerberus? Possibly. Crescent Nebula...Liara! The Ondeste System...and Illium were in the near heart of the nebula.
If the Collectors went after Horizon because Ash was there, were the bugs hitting Illium because of Liara? The thought terrified Shepard more than cared to admit. She kept reminding herself that the Collectors were going after humans, not asari. Liara was likely safe from the bugs, but not however from Cerberus.
Shepard knew she'd drive herself crazy if she delved too deeply in the thinly veiled threats behind TIMmy's words real or imagined. The Collectors may not have a vendetta against Shepard personally but TIMmy and Udina sure as hell did. They had played the assassin card already, but both had something up their sleeves, there could be no doubt about that. Only a fool would believe otherwise.
"It's hard to believe a turian patrol could take out a Collector ship." The Commander made sure TIMmy knew she wasn't buying his story.
*Reports indicate the hull's intact. But all systems seem to be offline. They could be making repairs as we speak. I'm not saying it won't be dangerous But we can't let an opportunity slip by. *
Shepard didn't like it. "If the turians have a patrol out there why aren't they sending a recon team in?"
*They will. * The Illusive man said quickly. *Eventually. But I intercepted the transmissions. In the meantime, we are feeding them false reports. Even in the Serpent Nebula you are still close enough before the turians learn the truth. If you leave now. * There was weight to the end of that comment. One that heavily suggested that the turians did not in fact learn of the truth from a certain human Spectre.
"Are you sure this information is good?"
*Information is my weapon, Shepard. * The Illusive Man did not even make an attempt to hide the smugness from his voice. *"It's good. * he added, his voice dropping into a near warning growl of a very large hound.
"Send me the coordinates and I will take care of it."
*Already sent. Once you are onboard the ship, establish an uplink to EDI. She'll mine their data for information regarding the Omega Four Relay. Good luck Shepard. *
Over the ships intercom Joker called out: *Just got the coordinates now, Commander. They're punched in. All crew just returned. Let's go find us a Collector ship! *
Shepard made to leave the QEC room then paused. There was something in TIMmy's words...about information being a weapon that pinged the Spectre's radar. Yes, the assassin card had been dealt and played and trumped. Now... another weapon was deployed, one not so easily put to task.
One could not tempt the Shadow Broker into attacking with all forces on an isolated compound on Omega by saying: 'Here I am come get me! I double dog dare you.' No this called for a great deal more faience and manipulation. Something Liara had become very adept at.
Information is a weapon... TIMmy wasn't the only one to use that particular mode of operation. The Shadow Broker. Liara said she had had confrontations with his agents. And those instances were increasing—becoming far more frequent than simple competition allowed for.
Besides, Liara had concrete proof the Shadow Broker had dealings with the Collectors. It was the Shadow broker that sold out the location and how to find the Normandy SR1 even while cloaked. It was the Shadow Broker that informed the Collectors how instrumental Shepard had been in bringing down Sovereign.
Liara all but declared war on the Shadow Broker, not just for the loss of her agents' lives, or the first Normandy but for her bondmate. Asari had very long memories and could hold a grudge just as long as a krogan. There was no jest in Liara's voice when she said she would hit the Shadow Broker with a biotic pulse so strong the only bits left would fit into a coffee mug.
Shepard did not put it past TIMmy to create an alliance with the elusive king of information brokers, just as the Shadow Broker had made an alliance with the Collectors. Nor did she put it past that either bastard to use the Collectors not only as a weapon but as bait against their enemies. And there were no illusions that Shepard herself wasn't numbered amongst them.
The young Spectre typed in the coordinates that would link her directly to Liara's emergency line. She had to give her wife a heads-up that not only was the Collectors in her neck of the woods or stars as it were, but TIMmy was in all likelihood plotting some sort of vendetta for Anderson's attack on his bases. Even if the rat-bastard wasn't present on the station Anderson and the turians hit or had somehow survived the onslaught, there was going to be hell to pay. In his sly way TIMmy all but boasted of such.
As soon as Liara's face came into view the world went warm.
Even the cold hard news Shepard had to relay was waylaid by the grin sprouting on her lips as she reached out to touch the holographic image of the woman she loved more than all.
"Liara." the name was spoken as a whispered prayer. And for a moment the young woman simply soaked in the presence of her wife, in the fraction of luxury afforded to her by the call.
*Melethril! * Liara greeted her bondmate with her favoured pet name. Not that the word lover was all that exotic but the asarian word in human ears was poetry. *Am I pleased to see you. Dare I hope your travels take you to Illium? * she smiled. The lilt in the tone of her voice, Shepard knew instantly that needed to have their conversation covertly at least for the moment. Code: 'I have missed you dearly. I yearn for your touch, your return to my side.'
A thin grim smile preceded the Spectre's answer. "Unfortunately no. Though I will be close. A mission will take me into your neighborhood."
Liara didn't respond straight away, she was furiously working at her computer terminal. Shepard knew that on Illium there was always someone listening, someone watching. And in order to stay ahead of not only competitors but opposition Liara had to constantly monitor her software least she become hacked by a rival agency or worse still the Shadow Broker.
The names of her rivals might only be known to a few, but they were largely invisible to the masses and could move among them unrecognized, just as Liara's people could. Information Brokers were responsible- in no small measure – for events that shaped galactic history. It was in those circles considered the Great Game and to be a player one had to be more than cunning, resourceful and could not strictly adhere to the vulgarities of morality. Not if you wanted to be a good broker, and Liara was very good.
*We are secure for the moment, but we must speak quickly. Samantha, days ago I got reports that confirm that the coup to replace Anderson not only has taken hold but Udina now hold the Council seat. I knew it was in the works but it has been accelerated. It must because of Anderson and General Orinia's attack *
"That would be my guess. So, you got Anderson, TIMmy's locale."
*Yes, but he had a very short window in which to operate. Cerberus apprehended a man once in their employ but who ran when he helped his daughter escape with the quarians. The same one that led to Cerberus attacking a portion of the migrant fleet. *
"That kid...what was her name..." the Spectre frowned then snapped her fingers. "Gillian Grayson. -Subject Zero 2.0. "
*Precisely. As I said Cerberus now has her father, who is also an acquaintance to Kahlee Sanders. Grayson was also in the employ of our favourite Pirate Queen. *
Sam shook her head. "You know I'm not surprised Aria has her fingers in this. She's been wheeling and dealing with Cerberus off and on for years. Hell-probably since its inception."
*Considering the Omega Four Relay is directly in her system; I suspect she will be dealing with them more frequently. If she does not proceed with more care and less ego she will be burned. She may well lose her fiefdom. *
"Cerberus is why I called Angel Eyes. TIMmy—he's up to something-he all but threatened you even as he warned me about the Collectors sniffing around in your nebula. Is a safe bet he knows you had something to do with dropping his locale in Anderson's lap. Watch yourself, love. That old hound has your scent and is on the hunt."
*Yes, I have seen a few of his agents here. They have been neutralized" Liara's tone took on a frozen edge. "They were not prepared to meet an asari commando unit. Indeed few humans are. *
Sam coughed a half laugh recalling very similar word once spoke by Matriarch Benezia. "Is anyone." a half shrug. "Well I suppose another asari unit."
*Yes. And yet Thessia has never had a civil war nor warred upon itself. Those armed conflicts we have been drawn into have always come from the outside of Thessia and her colonies. *
Sam had no answer to that. Once more her bondmate's words carried the echoes of another Matriarch, one that had lost both her daughters who had lived on the Citadel in the war with Sovereign. Before that she had lost her bondmate back during the Mourning War between quarian and geth.
"Conflict. That's the other reason I called." Sam then began to relay the conversation she had with The Illusive Man concerning the turians engaging in a battle with a Collector ship. Of course, there were many of them strewn across the Terminus Systems as the Collectors harvested human colonies. So, it is very conceivable that a turian patrol could have easily engaged in combat with them.
"My question is whose patrol is it really? Were they part of Anderson's group or an independent merc guild? The Blue Suns are pretty thick out here. It could be them. The Primarch would not have sent troops from Pavilion into the Terminus. Sparatus surely wouldn't. TIMmy said he intercepted their transmissions and is keeping them blocked until we investigate the ship. But I don't trust him. Something smells rotten."
*There was a Blue Sun hostile environment training facility: in the Lusam system on the ice moon of Gesis whish orbits Xetic. But the Kal'thor Camp was run by batarians, not turians. Back in 2168 there was a large scandal that broke out that Kal'thor was more like a death camp.
*Over eighteen percent of initiates died during their training exercises, an asari investigation unit based here on Illium uncovered mass graves. The faculty was then shut down. Of course, the batarians were later exonerated when they proved that the training in the camp was equal to their Special Intervention Unit. And no civil charges could be filed as the Crescent Nebula is beyond Council law. *
"Could there be an active base on Lusam now? Maybe something on the hush hush side of things?"
*No.* Liara answered decisively. *If there was one truly active I would know about. There is not much within this Nebula that I do not know of, Samantha. * the Prothean expert politely reminded her bondmate in the mild rebuke.
"Right. Right. You're a very good information broker. Okay Miss Very Good Information Broker find out who these turians belonged to."
*Already on it my love. * Liara eyes still shining bright took on a more serious expression. *Please be careful boarding that ship. Your daughters and I will be waiting word of your safe return to the Normandy. Please take no great chances. *
Sam offered a defusing lopsided grin. "Hey you know me."
*Indeed I do my love. Hence the plea. Wherever you go explosions tend to follow. *
"Well... only very slightly." Gallows humor—a soldier's way to deal with dark situations. Sam put her hand up to cup the holographic cheek of her beloved wife. Both pretended that they were touching something warm and tender and not guai interface. "Love you. All three of you." Sam said when Liara leaned into the transparent hand.
Liara's hand touched the swell in her belly. *As we adore you, Melethril. Come back to us. *
"Always."
MEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEME
Shepard had called for her elite team to mass in the War Room. And all were to be in their hardsuits. On a flat screen display behind her were recordings of the Collector's ship that had hit Horizon as well as the one that hit the Normandy SR1 recovered from the ship's black-box.
"We have a lot of unknowns, people. We're flying in mostly blind and TIMmy's information is shoddy at best." despite herself Shepard could not hope but cut a glance towards Miranda as if she were to blame for deficiency in The Illusive Man's information package. Yet realistically Cerberus knew as mush as the Alliance or C-Sec or the STG on the Collectors and their ships. Anyone other than a bug entering one of their vessels never came off again. Today that would change.
"We'll divide into two teams, four on each. I want a tech on each team, a sniper, a heavy hitter as well as two biotics." Shepard announced drawing attention back to her. "We've got that covered. Garrus, you will be leading the second team, Tali you're his tech-expert." Shepard smiled slightly knowing that husband and wife would have no other way but had she taken Tali onto her team instead of Kasumi, there would have been no hesitation, only obedience. "Together the both of you are unstoppable."
"Jack go with them. If we encounter any bugs, hit them hard and fast with everything you have." her Shepard put up a hand. "No tsunami's."
"Hell no." Jack shook her head. "Don't worry Boss, learned that lesson well." the ex-con rubbed her right temple as if she were still feeling the after affects of headache that had come with tampering with a powerful biotic attack.
The matter was dropped.
"Samara, you'll go with them. Work in-tandem with Jack. We've seen on Horizon that biotic explosions work well against husks, abominations and those scions. Zaeed you're both a sniper and a heavy cover their six."
"Not going to be a problem." the old merc committed
"Kasumi there's noting you can't get into or out of," Shepard grinned thinking back to the heist she and the thief had committed what seemed so long ago. "I want you with me. Mordin you and Kasumi will set up tech-explosions when you can against our enemy. And see if we can't add to the damage to this ship. What tech we can't harvest-sabotage."
"Interesting challenge. Will not be a problem. Problem for Collectors however." the salarian grinned.
"A thief and a super smart spy." Kasumi giggled. "Sounds like the makings of a great sim-serial. Or a graphic novel."
"Yes," Mordin nodded. "Perhaps both. Can see the plot already forming in my mind. Thief breaks in to handsome salarian's lab to steal special project."
"But she doesn't get caught, she's too good. But her curiosity well gets her digging into more and maybe why she's sent to go get the plans for this special object." Kasumi added to the frivolous moment of brainstorming. Hell, after the mission during down time there might be actual conspiring for a story plot. Shepard had to admit a thief and a tech-expert did have the makings a of a great series be it sims or graphic novels.
Shepard let her team have their moment of jocularity; she knew they all took their positions and duties seriously. There was no need to crack down on them to make them sober up. By the time she opened her mouth to assign Grunt to her team the two had already fallen silent. Looks of apology lurked behind their eyes for their distractions.
And just as silently Shepard gave her absolution. That was how well formed, well intentioned her team was. Entire conversations said with the merest of expressions.
"Grunt you'll play as vanguard and Thane your sharp eyes and unique talents will keep anyone from taking our six.
Miranda, I want you at my right hand. Our biotics together will be force to be reckoned with." she gave a slight nod towards the Cerberus loyalist. (Though perhaps in recent days that loyalty had been especially waning) At hearing she was to be Shepard's right hand. Lawson seemed bolstered. Being called the 'right hand'... was a place of the highest trust. On a very personal level having it earned from Shepard as a new sensation for the agent.
"Indeed we will Commander." Miranda felt the need to answer back.
Shepard continued her SitRep. "From our experiences on Haven we know what we can expect in opposition. We know how they move and coordinate. Expect the scions and more than one of those damned praetorians. No doubt hives of seeker swarms. That's why I want two biotics on each team. If necessary one can tear through the swarms of seekers and husks with shockwaves while the other erects a force bubble.
"We know Harbinger can assume control over any of the commanders and higher functioning Collectors, keep your eyes out for their own assassins and snipers. Like we saw on Horizon and experienced with the geth back in the day, they will have guardian units that will erect barriers and force-shields as soon as they touch down... That's where our tech-explosions come in. Take them out and hack any of their drones.
"TIMmy says there is no activity of a crew onboard the vessel. I don't buy it. Even if they experienced a reactor leak the Collectors just wouldn't abandon their ship. Not in enemy territory. If there was no hope of salvage or recovery you blow your ship and scuttle it so the enemy can't get their hands on it or your tech. You don't leave it lying around."
"You expect a trap." Garrus said.
"Don't you?" Shepard tossed back. "This is too convenient. It smells all wrong."
"That fucker TIMmy would do something like this? Hitch up with the bugs? Some kinda payback or shit" Jack asked not of Shepard but of Miranda. "So what - we're the god damn flies walking into the fucking spider's parlour? Fucking great."
"He would not jeopardize humanity just because he may be holding a grudge." Miranda became defensive. "There will be a logical explanation for this all, to why the Collectors are not active."
"Tell you what princess, you come up with it, be sure to tell us. Until then I'm taking the biggest bug-zapper I can find." Zaeed grunted.
"Stomping's good too." Grunt added pounding his fists together.
Shepard nodded. "Everyone go in expecting a trap. I want recordings of everything. All Omni and helm-cams active. Tali can your drones make recordings"
"Of course they can, and relay it directly back to the Normandy."
"Commander, if I may." It was EDI. "I can tap directly into Tali'Zorah's drones and monitor the situation and terrain and advise as information is processed."
"Good. Make it so. We'll need every advantage we can muster."
*We have a visual on the Collector ship, Commander. * Joker interceded over the ship intercom.
"You heard the man. Get your gear and be ready to move out. We drop in one shuttle." Ordered the Spectre. With that everyone filed out of the War Room.
"There are no emissions. Passive infrared temperatures suggest that most systems are offline. Thrusters are cold." By the time EDI had finished speaking Shepard was leaning on the back of Joker's seat. Her eyes drew in the scene before her in astonishment. The Collector ship up close looked like a miniature although organic version of the Citadel with the ward arms closed. She had thought so before but now that idea was reinforced. The Reapers definitely made their influence known in their insectiod minions.
"That thing is massive!" Exclaimed the pilot, he looked over his shoulder. "How in the hell did the turians take it out?"
"Good question. EDI continue your scans. Concentrate on the damaged areas. I need to know what kind of weapon the turians used to breach their hull. If they used anything more powerful than our Thanix cannons. Anything that can tell us what we can use against them once we reach their homeworld. We need to know how to glass it." Ordered Shepard.
"Aye aye Commander." answered the AI.
"LADAR scans do not detect any hull breaches in the side facing us. I detect no mass effect field distortions. It appears the drive core is off line."
Shepard shook her head. She did not like this at all.
"Rendezvous in thirty seconds Commander. Good luck." Joker announced. Shepard's answer was to simply nod her head and tap twice on his seatback.