About plans and variables

I met Sagrin early the next morning after I had requested to see him shortly before. He had ordered me to get to the same room we had used the day before. As I reached the door he was already waiting for me and offered me a handshake. "Hope you recovered from yesterdays events, doesn't get much better, that's for sure."

"Yes, after a good night's sleep I feel much better, yesterday evening I felt like being hit by a Krogan." I replied with a nod.

"Ok, then let's see what you have." He opened the door and placed himself on the same chair like yesterday. "By the way Grizz is awake I shall greet you from him, Aria is still treated and unconscious but stable now. You have saved her butt, my friend, and it seems you're going to play a key role in our counter-attack."

"And all because I declined a job offer and unintentionally accepted another job." I answered a skew smile playing around my mouth.

"Life is about decisions and consequences, you made one and this is the outcome. I cannot pretend to be unhappy with your decision. Maybe you would have been successful where the other assassin failed." He stated still wearing his composed expression.

"Same for me, as things are I'm better off right now I guess. Anyway I'd like to inform you about my advances concerning my target. Have a look at this file about one of his higher officers, namely his stepbrother." I showed him the details and pointed out the important paragraphs. "My idea would be to lure him into a prepared room with an Asari as bait and obtain his access codes and possible key cards."

"Sounds like the best we have and we're running out of time. But move on, what happens after we successfully convinced this guy to help us?"

"Our target seems to be located in the uppermost floor – the sixth, so it would be a big advantage if I could sneak in from the roof, but it will be very difficult to get there unnoticed."

"I agree it will be tricky to get to the roof, but to get to the 6th floor without being seen from the ground is even more unlikely. Maybe we can arrange a diversion attack and drop you off with a shuttle. Anyway you'll also need an evacuation and if we're going to catch you on the roof someone has to secure the area. Any suggestions on that?" He queried me.

I brought up what I had already mentioned before. "I've sent you the files about the mercenary troop, they could be quite helpful here."

"I've checked the files myself, can you contact and invite them as soon as possible?"

"I'll do that immediately. There's one other issue, who's gonna be the bait? We need an Asari, preferably not too old who is able to catch his interest."

Sagrin offered a wry smile, one of the first occasions he actually showed a sense of humour or emotion. "I've got the perfect fit for that, wait a sec, try to call her."

He activated his com trying to reach her while I played through the scenario we just developed. "First we have to catch the right moment to get this guy, then we need to convince him to give us the necessary information. The next step has to follow swiftly, starting the diversion attack and securing the rooftop while I sneak in to kill the guy. That's a lot of maybes and ifs in there, kinda likely that this plan doesn't live longer than the first enemy contact."

Sagrin deactivated the com unit and returned his attention to me. "She will be here in about 10 minutes. Something else we have to consider? It's a bold plan, lots of pieces have to fall in place."

"I thought exactly the same while you called our bait. There's one other thing I didn't consider yet. He will have guards and they will be on high alert. I may be good, but I'm a sniper, not a Krogan Warlord on stims. Depending on their numbers this can get tough."

"Don't tell her she's a bait, I'm pretty sure you'd regret it in a minute." He chuckled, the second time he showed some humour. "Anyway you're right, no need to risk the whole operation if we are that far already. If you get in without being noticed your Krogan friend should accompany you while the others secure the roof."

"Sounds like a plan then, I…" I was interrupted as the door opened suddenly and an Asari stepped in and closed the door behind her. Her beautiful features were accompanied by purple skin and the common coloured pattern in her face and an aura of self-confidence. "Now that I think about it Serena doesn't have those patterns, would be curious to know what's behind that feature."

My thoughts were interrupted by Sagrin. "May I introduce you to Liselle, she is absolutely trustworthy and I am sure she's up to the task. Liselle, this is Grayson Carlyle, the guy who saved the day by all accounts."

She nodded in my direction with a smile although it didn't reach her eyes. "Good to meet you, I heard a lot about yesterdays events and your part in it. But enough pleasantries for now, Sagrin told me the two of you have come up with a plan to teach Mr. traitor a lesson or two and I'm gonna be part of it."

Sagrin nodded. "Quite so, Grayson has had a look upon the profiles I gave him and he has found some interesting details about the targets stepbrother. This guy seems to be addicted to Asari and quite often fulfils his desires with prostitutes."

Liselle eyes seemed to glow and her smile turned mean. "So I'm gonna lure this bastard into our trap. A plan to my likings, I presume you don't wanna send him back, right?"

"At least not as long as the whole operation is over." I offered already knowing the answer.

"I'm gonna cut him to pieces, make him suffer for what they did to Aria." Her voice was ferocious, betraying her composed features.

"I won't hinder you but safe something for the true opponent, this can be only the servant not the master mind behind all this." Sagrin's soothing voice showed his experience with Liselle.

"Don't worry old dreadnaught, no one gets missed I'll take care of that." She snapped back.

"Her wrath is genuine, that's for sure. But if she's just a trusted member of the inner circle this doesn't explain it, and Sagrin said she is absolutely trustworthy so maybe a relative. 'Should keep that in mind."

My thoughts were interrupted as Liselle addressed me. "When are we going to start and where?"

I fixed my gaze on her now. "the profile indicates that he has no preferred partners, he seems to wander about certain areas until he finds something he likes. That's where you jump in."

She raised an eye. "Certain areas? I am pretty sure I've got names for these places, and Omega has lots of those. Your plan indicates we need to observe and follow him, we arrange that immediately." Her gaze turned to Sagrin, obviously delegating this task to him.

"I'll take care of that, the two of you have to be ready all the time. Grayson, please invite those mercs, the sooner the better. We're going to need them."

I nodded to both of them and stood up. "I'll do that right now, see you around.

With that I left the room and headed back to the elevator. "I hope they're still available and accept the job. This will be thrilling enough with someone at my side I can trust."

Back in our lodge I gave Serena a short summary and used the com unit to contact Racen as a first try and got lucky as he picked up with a simple "Yes?"

"Hi Racen, it's Gray"

"Gray! You're alive, glad to hear that! Sha'lea tried to contact you yesterday and was informed you'd left in a hurry with a Turian, gunfire included." He ushered, seemingly relieved to hear my voice. "Where are…" His voice was cut off and some muffled bumps and rasps could be heard only to be replaced by Sha'lea. "Sorry to interrupt, but I had to hear your voice myself. Where are you? Are you in trouble? Do you need help?"

"Hi Sha', I'll answer all your questions but let me ask one of my own first. Do you already have a new assignment?" I couldn't help but smile while saying this.

Her voice sounded curious as she answered. "no, we're not, but where's the catch rigth now?

"Because in that case I've got a new job for you and I invite you to meet me as soon as possible. I'll explain everything in detail once you're here."

"Oh, ok, wait a sec." I heard some muffled voices then Sha'lea again. "Don't know where Gatok is but he'll come with us anyway, so tell us where we meet."

Two hours later at Arias HQ

Sagrin was awaiting the three of them together with me in the main hall. Racen was the first to emerge from the security stripped of his weapons.

He grinned and came over to us. "If not for you I would have taught them a lesson not to touch my weapons with their greedy fingers."

"I should have warned you 'bout that, sorry. May I introduce you to Sagrin, he's the chief security officer and you can redirect your complaints directly to him." I replied returning his grin in kind.

The two turians eyed each other before Sagrin nodded and welcomed him. "Gray here recommended you and your comrades, but we take no chances especially since yesterday."

"Quite understandable, yesterdays events are for sure the most discussed topic in the moment. I presume you want to hire us because of that."

"Right, but no details now, the briefing will be in a secured area." Sagrin answered.

The next to join our tea party was Sha'lea. "Old Sagrin, always good to see you again, unexpected but not unwelcome."

I couldn't hide my surprise about this opening completely "This will make things easier, this woman has a widely spread network."

Sagrin seemed to be not surprised. "Sha'lea, I can return your compliments in kind. I read the name in your profile, but couldn't be sure if it's really you. Good to have you with us…ah, there's your Krogan friend and the team is complete."

Gatok stepped out of the security, obviously aroused by the necessity to leave his weaponry behind. "This' better be worth it Gray, these guys are lucky Sha'lea held me back, would have made a big mess, that's for sure!" He exclaimed as he approached us.

Sagrin showed a skew smile. "And this must be the famous Gatok, if we have time I'd like to hear some of the glories you must have witnessed."

"This guy is much more than the first looks. Sha'lea must have told him about Gatok, and the easiest way to tame him is to caress him with his glories of the past. I have to make sure not to be around when they really find the time, not that this is very likely."

The words had a visible effect on the Krogan, his anger vanished and his features showed the equivalent of a smile. "How do you…you have read about me, right? But we will need a while for a full account, and I need drinks, lots of drinks."

Sagrin chuckled. "You'll get the drinks, but first things first, we've got a job to do, so please follow me to the briefing room."

He led us to a larger room, likewise very sparsely furnished. He briefly recounted yesterdays events and explained the plan the two of us had developed this very morning. Occasionally Racen or Sha'lea queried him about details, Gatok remained silent, content with the prospect to be in the middle of a fight.

As Sagrin had finished Sha'lea sat back, her face mirroring her doubts. "This plan you've laid out has a whole lot of variables, and if one of them doesn't fit this' gonna be a very short mission."

Gatok grunted and commented. "I'm worth some variables in close quarters, 'gonna protect your little blue ass, like always."

Racen chuckled. "Right my friend, you're capable of nullifying some of the variables we may encounter once we're in. But I guess she thought more of the initial phase where we're trying to get access. If the attempt is successful we must act very quickly, and if not the whole plan is for naught."

Sha'lea nodded confirming Racen's summary, both were looking at Sagrin now waiting for a response which came promptly. "You're right, the whole thing stands or falls with the initial trap. But do you have other suggestions, a better idea? We have to act quickly, I cannot wait another week or so waiting for some genius."

I stepped in this time. "If the trap fails we should attack the same way. I'm pretty sure Racen here is able to crack the security on the roof given some time, but in that case we'll need more firepower to defend the roof, especially against air attacks."

Sagrin nodded. "A good point, one I've already taken care for, your drop-off and pick-up will be accompanied by a gunship, I'm going to handle that myself, it's payback time!" His eyes gleamed with anger, a rare display of emotion from the veteran.

"So you're gonna protect our sorry asses from above and good old Gatok will nullify the variables within. Sounds like we're ready to walk the talk." I stated looking from face to face.

"So be it." Sagrin confirmed with a solemn voice.