Diary of James Heinz Director of the Office of External Intelligence
I can't stand it. I can't take it. I refuse to put up with it. I refuse to be out done by those Systems Alliance hippies and their Council friends. They launched the Normandy yesterday. Built with both Turian and Human technology and probably a lot of Salarian stuff tooand we have no answer. Worse yet, they give the darn thing to Shepard. Shepard! I'm not even sure that I believe half the stuff I hear about that guy and now he has the most advanced ship in the galaxy at his fingertips. We've got to have a counter to this. But what?
Recording from James Heinz's office
Aid "Here are your reports for the day sir."
"what? Oh thank you."
Aid "And there's also someone to see you. He says his name's Smith"
"Smith you say? What could that dumbass want? Ah well send him in."
Smith "Good morning Director Heinz. How are you today?"
"I would be better if you weren't in my office Smith. Now what do you want, I'm a busy man."
Smith "oh, it's not what I want, it's what you want."
"I want you out of my office Smith"
Smith "I have heard that you want something to balance out that Human specter Shepard. Am I right? I could have a solution"
pause
"Go on"
Smith "well, what if I were to tell you that there was a being who could be the answer to all of you troubles."
"I may be interested"
Smith "and what if all you had to do to get this man is sign on this dotted line"
"This is pardon slip."
Smith "You are very observant sir"
"Who exactly am I pardoning Smith, cuss I'm not letting one of your buddies out again"
Smith "oh no one, just a former Batarian currently in lockup in Gateblack Prison who happens to be ex-SIU and has an impeccable service record."
"Then why is he locked up?"
Smith "oh you know, the usual, drunkenness, fighting, drunkenness, gunning down a crowd at a bar on Omega. But he's never failed and assignment. Never"
"I don't know."
Smith "Just think of it sir, he'd be completely off the books, able to go anywhere, do anything, to anyone. Just the right thing to stop someone like Shepard"
(sigh) "Fine, what's his name?"
Smith "Balak sir"
"Well, he'd better perform as advertised"
Smith "Oh he will sir, he will."
Gateblack Prison security camera
Guard "Hey Balak guess what."
"What?"
Guard "Just got word that your free, pardoned or something."
"What's the catch?"
Guard "I dun no, somebody wants to see you though."
Prison visitor's center
Heinz and Smith are sitting on the other side of a table in a dark room. Balak sits across from them.
Heinz "Well Balak, I've heard much about you, how would you like a job? Of course you'll have to die for it. Metaphoricly."
"Excuse me?"
Smith "We want you to become the ultimate black ops agent, someone that can do whatever it takes to get the job done."
"Alright"
Heinz "That's it? No deal to be made, no strings attached, just "alright"?"
"Yep"
Smith "Well, um, good ah luck?"
Heinz "You'll receive funding from us but you'll have to assemble your own squad. We'll make some suggestions, but it's up to you. Except for one thing. You have to take Dukov here with you"
Dukov steps out of the shadows
Heinz "Deal?"
Pause"Deal"
Balak gets up and walks out, followed by Dukov
Heinz "You sure he's up to it?"
Smith "Yes sir, he'll get the job done, no matter what."
