6 years ago

Casey flipped several switches, turning off the primary systems of the stealth fighter. He had landed in an area just outside of the one of the main cities of the Salarian homeworld. He made sure there were no life signs in the immediate area and so started change into his civilian clothes, to suppress suspicion of a human on Sur'Kesh. He thought about putting on his utility belt, but decided against it, hoping to just scope out the people. Casey rationalized that if he did run into any trouble, he had his custom designed blue and black omni-tool.

Casey opened the hatch to the cockpit and jumped onto the jungle floor only to come face to face with half a dozen salarians in dark uniforms with their weapons drawn. Thoughts raced through Casey's mind, thinking if he could disarm the squad and overpower them. He had heard of salarians being quick and knew that he would only be able to take out two or three before the others started firing their weapons. Casey's dark eyes shot to each of the salarians as he slowly raised his hands overtop his head.

"Casey Kane, please come with us" spoke the salarian in front of Casey. Just because they knew who he was, did not mean this was a simple mugging; many knew of Casey Kane.

"Doesn't look like I have a choice" smiled Casey, putting on the rich-boy façade. Two of the squad moved, cuffing his hands behind him and patting him down for weapons. Satisfied, they nodded to the leader.

"This way Mr. Kane" gestured the salarian.

"Can I at least secure my ship?" Casey asked shrugging his shoulders. The leader turned around and nodded. "Alfred, secure the ship, I should be back in about 10-20 minutes" Casey said over his shoulder, towards his fighter behind him.

A salarian standing to Casey's left smiled at the comment, knowing this confrontation would last longer than that. Casey could only smile back as he started to walk with the squad, knowing the 10 code he had just spoken activated a signal on his omni-tool that Alfred could narrow in on and track his every move, just in case.

The group led him through the jungle to a Kodiak ship that was parked only about 100 feet away from where Casey's ship was. Before entering it, one of the salarians placed an all-black helmet over Casey's head, nullifying all of his senses. Casey figured they did it so that he would not see their base of operations. He was led into the Kodiak ship and sat down in one of the seats, taking off not long after. Casey counted in his head and calculated that the flight was approximately two hours long. The ship landed, as once again the salarians picked up Casey and lead him off the ship. Casey counted the steps and eighty-three paces later was sat down in an office chair.

The deprivation helmet was taken off of him by a guard who quickly walked out of the room. Casey was still adjusting his eyes to the light, but deduced he was in a lab, from seeing salarians in white coats walk outside the sliding door. He also figured he was underground, from the moisture in the air. That was when Casey realized the people he came to Sur'Kesh looking for, may have found him first.

Just then a salarian walked in through the door followed by two guards. The first salarian sat down across from Casey with a table in-between them. The salarian sat in silence, staring at Casey for nearly thirty seconds before breaking the silence.

"Mr. Kane, I am Commander Kirrahe. We have been tracking your movements for some time, watching you go from one to system to another" spoke the Commander. Casey studied his every word and watched him closely. The Commander continued, "We wonder why a high profile person such as yourself is trying to stay so far off the grid and why you are here now?"

"Who exactly is 'we'?" Casey asked innocently, already sure he knew the answer. Kirrahe squinted at him before replying.

"This facility is a base of operations for the Special Tasks Group. I have been assigned to interrogate you due to concerns that you may be acting as an infiltration unit, gathering information on the core species' planets. What do you have to say about this?"

Casey took a deep breathe in and thought to himself, These guys have done their homework, they've been tracking me probably since the beginning. Only reason they probably saw my fighter was one of their units saw me land. Might be best to be straightforward.

"I came here to do what I have been doing for the past fourteen years, learning all I can about your culture and to help in any way I can" Casey said putting his palms down on the table.

"Why do we need help from a spoiled rich-boy who is probably just vacationing around the galaxy?" Kirrahe retorted.

"I don't need to explain it to you, but I am acquiring skills from across the galaxy to push my body and mind to its limits in order to protect people from injustice. I came here to Sur'Kesh to learn what I could from the salarians and to possibly pass on what I have learned. If the STG is not willing to help me, I will find someplace else that will" Casey said defiantly to Kirrahe. The Commander sat back in his chair, thinking to himself. He finally leaned forward and seemed to choose his words very carefully.

"The STG will have no part in your crusade to get revenge on what happened to your parents. You will be escorted back to your ship and will not attempt to contact the STG in the future, understood?"

Casey respectfully bowed his head as they both got up from their chairs. The guards moved behind Casey, again placing the deprivation helmet on him and cuffing his hands behind his back. The trip back was the same as when he arrived; a two hour flight in the Kodiak and then a small hike until his cuffs and helmet was taken off. Adjusting to the sunlight, Casey blinked a few times before seeing Kirrahe standing in front of him.

"Mr. Kane, as I said, the STG will have no part in your crusade, but if your words are true; it sounds like a noble cause that I would like to be a part of. I think there is much we can teach other" Kirrahe said as he extended his three fingered hand out. Casey nodded as he shook the alien's hand, creating a secret alliance.

Over the next few months, Kirrahe had introduced Casey to the company of troops he was personally in command of as an observer from the Alliance. He was to be treated as a recruit in all exercises. The company was well organized with an operation center set off from the main base; it was an off shoot of the main STG compound. Kirrahe could train whoever he wanted there without the higher ups of the STG ever finding out.

The small base held nearly 250 units, most still in training. The base consisted of training areas, resting quarters and a mess hall. It reminded Casey of Alliance training, only much faster paced. Casey had trained with the Drell, and possessed faster reflexes than most humans; but the Salarians brought new meaning to 'quick'. The STG training regimen pushed his mind and body to react faster to situations. Kirrahe would often give speeches to Casey and the other recruits, often telling them when in combat how important it is to hold the line by thinking fast and reacting even faster.

The weeks blurred away into months as everyday brought new challenges for Casey. He used his skills from previous training to meditate and focus his mind to think and react faster than he normally would. Kirrahe started to become impressed with Casey's ability to keep up with the others.

Combat training was only one part of the STG regimen. A key part to becoming certified for the STG was to analyze complex problems quickly and efficiently. The situations put Casey's detective skills to the test, forcing him to analyze hundreds of scenarios at once in order to find a solution. Most of the tests put forth a problem that needed to be solved within a very small time limit or else suffer more grueling physical punishment.

Casey stayed at the base for two years, training every day, exchanging ideas with the salarians and even accompanying them on several infiltration missions. Over the years, Casey had learned much of deceptive salarian's technology, particularly taking interest in the decoy hologram that could distract enemies. Casey thought he might be able to improve the tech to be able to move and perhaps be able to scan others to replicate them as holograms. The scientists loved the ideas and as a gift allowed Casey to take some the tech with him.

That day came when Casey realized there was nothing more the Salarians could teach him. He had made many friends while staying on Sur'Kesh and said goodbye to each of them. Over the two years, Kirrahe had been promoted to Captain and put in charge of an elite infiltration team. On the day he found out Casey was leaving, he made sure to make it out to base to say goodbye.

"It's too bad, could really use you on my new team. But I wish you well and good luck" Kirrahe said once again holding his hand out for Casey.

"Thank you Sir and don't forget to hold that line" smiled Casey as he shook the Captain's hand and climbed into his fighter. He activated all systems and saluted once more the salarians below him before taking off into the sky.