Chapter Eight
Geth On Ice Planet Noveria
Part One
"Go tell that long tongue liar, go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down"
Johnny Cash: "God's Gonna Cut You Down"
SSV Normandy burst through the Pax system mass relay and set course for the system's second planet, a small frozen world named Noveria. As soon as they cleared the system's asteroid belt, Gunnery Chief Hastings' passive sensor console began beeping for attention.
"Captain," Hastings reported, "we have been painted by active LIDAR from traffic control stations orbiting the fourth planet."
"Acknowledged," Captain Beckett replied. "Maintain present course and speed, steady as she goes."
The Normandy continued its course into the system, passing the orbit of the fourth and then the third planets in the system until they matched the orbit of Noveria and began their steady approach to the small mostly blue-white planet.
"Noveria Approach Control, this is SSV Normandy," XO Pressly announced into the ship's comm, "requesting a vector and a berth."
"Threat detectors just went active, Captain!" Hastings reported as her console screamed, "Orbital GUARDIAN and torpedo batteries just locked on!"
"Normandy, your arrival is not on our schedule," the voice on the other end responded tersely, "Our defense grid is armed and tracking you. State your business."
"Citadel business," XO Pressly replied, "we have a council Spectre aboard."
The comm net was silent for several tense minutes before the Noveria defense grid's target locks went silent and two fighter interceptors rose to escort them in.
"Landing access granted, Normandy. Docking bay 94 pending confirmation identification of your Spectre's credentials. If confirmation cannot be established, your vessel will be impounded."
"What a fun bunch," Castle quipped sarcastically as he watched one of the fighters take up station off the Normandy's bow. "I think I'll bring Alexis here on my next leave."
"Take us in, Mr. Ryan," Kate ordered, "Mr. Pressly, the Alliance Navy does not recognize this planet's authority to impound the Normandy, so any attempt to breach the ship or its primary systems is to be treated as hostile. Chief Engineer Adams is to begin core discharge procedures to cover the implementation of active intrusion countermeasures. Set GUARDIAN defense grid on standby mode and maintain a full combat watch."
"Aye, Aye Captain," Pressly replied.
"Chief Castle, Suit up and inform Lt. Esposito, Garrus and Wrex that their presence is required at the main lock, bearing full arms. I'm going below to suit up and will meet you there in twenty minutes. Mr. Pressly you have the deck."
As Kate emerged from her quarters testing the arm and finger joints of her combat hard-suit, she was met by Liara T'Soni.
"Captain, if I have heard correctly there is the distinct possibility that my mother may be here?" Liara asked without preamble.
"That is possible, yes," Kate replied, "why do you ask?"
"My mother is a powerful biotic, and she may have brought a number of her followers with her, which we can assume to be elite asari commandos," Liara replied. "Though I do not discount the abilities of either Wrex or Chief Castle, I am unarguably the strongest biotic on this ship, trained by Benezia herself. If she is able to see reason, I may be able to head off a violent confrontation before it begins."
Kate weighed her options. Though she wasn't sure if she could trust Liara yet, the young asari had a point. Against a powerful opponent like an asari matriarch, she would need all of the biotics she could get.
"Permission granted," Kate replied, "have the ship's quartermaster issue you a combat hard-suit and report to the main airlock in fifteen minutes."
"Thank you, Captain," Liara replied, "I will not forget the trust you have placed in me."
"Remember that, when the shooting starts," Kate replied as Liara retreated below decks to the Quartermaster on the cargo deck.
When Kate emerged into the CIC and made her way to the main airlock, she contemplated her team. Turians were not known for their love of frigid environments nor were his intrusion skills quite a match for Tali, but Kate had serious misgivings about taking somebody so young into what could easily degenerate into a very messy combat situation. Though she was certain of where the young quarian's loyalties lay, she knew that among the Citadel races, her people had a bad reputation. People would only see the suit and care nothing for the person underneath it, an added complication she sought to avoid.
As Liara rushed behind her toward the lock in a nearly brand new light armor hardsuit, Kate noticed something was missing. She accessed the flying bridge arms locker and produced a standard issue Karpov Mk V, checked the action and selected a belt pouch containing spare heat sinks.
"Take this," Kate told her, indicating the hard-point at Liara's right hip.
"I do not like firearms," Liara stated, shaking her head. "I have worked at hundreds of dig sites across the known galaxy and never needed more than my biotics for self defense."
Kate pushed the pistol and thermal clips into Liara's hands more forcefully.
"I didn't ask if you liked it, Dr. T'soni," Kate commanded, "I told you to take it. Your mother might be willing to see reason with you along, but she also might not. Things could get hot and you may have to defend yourself."
"Understood, Captain," Liara replied, collapsing the pistol as if by second nature, clipped it to the hard-point on her hip and affixed the pouch of thermal clips to her belt.
With that, Kate nodded at Castle who popped the hatch and they proceeded into the airlock. The inner door cycled closed and the outer door popped out of the hull and slid up and open.
"Be ready for anything," Kate cautioned, "they were not exactly happy that an Alliance frigate has come calling."
As they approached the entry to the the spaceport proper, there were security guards waiting for them, hard-suits bearing the livery of Elanus Risk Control Services. At the apex of the trip stood an Asian woman, her face an unreadable mask, a collapsed pistol at her hip. By her air of authority, she was clearly in charge. She was flanked by a Nordic looking human woman cradling a shotgun behind one shoulder, at the other a turian armed with a rifle. Immediately above and behind them were two assault drones, their weapons extended, clearly tracking them.
"That's far enough," the Asian woman said tersely.
"I'm a Spectre on important business for the Citadel Council," Kate affirmed.
"This is an unscheduled arrival," the inscrutable woman replied, giving away nothing. "I will need to see credentials."
"You first," Kate challenged.
"We're the law here," the blond woman interjected acerbically, her voice like ground glass, "show some respect."
Their leader raised a hand and the blond woman backed down.
"I'm Captain Maeko Matsuo," she offered, "Elanus Risk Control Services."
"Captain Kate Beckett," Kate replied, "Citadel Council Special Tactics and Recon."
"Load of horse crap, ma'am," the blond woman interjected again.
"We will need to confirm that," Captain Matsuo replied more diplomatically. "Also, I must advise you that firearms are not permitted on Noveria. Sergeant Stirling, secure their weapons."
As sergeant Stirling stepped forward, Castle, Esposito, Garrus and Wrex all drew their rifles, stopping the woman in her tracks.
"Citadel authority supersedes yours," Garrus challenged.
"I cannot allow that," Kate interjected, her pistol drawn, but held at her side. "Nobody takes my weapons."
Stirling fell back and ordered, "Charge and lock!"
"We are authorized to use lethal force, Captain," Matsuo stated without drawing a weapon. You have until the count of three to surrender your weapons or we will open fire."
Kate's pistol tracked upward until it was aimed directly at Captain Matsuo's head, but the woman did not flinch. She could hear the low hum as Normandy's GUARDIAN defense grid came online and began tracking the drones.
"One," Captain Matsuo said, fully aware that "three" might be the last word she ever said with Kate's pistol aimed directly between her eyes.
"Two," Castle, Wrex and Liara charged biotics and began erecting barriers.
"Thr..." Matsuo never got to finish the word when she was interrupted by the intercom.
"Captain Matsuo, stand down!" a woman's voice exclaimed. "Captain Beckett's credentials have been confirmed. Spectres are authorized to carry weapons here."
Captain Matsuo waved her officers to back off, the drones retracted their weapons and returned to their stations. Kate raised a hand and the others relaxed, putting away their weapons as she put her own pistol away. At a signal from Castle's omni-tool, the Normandy's defense grid returned to standby mode.
"You may proceed, Spectre," Captain Matsuo stated. "I hope the rest of your visit will be less confrontational. Ms. Parasini will meet you upstairs."
"Behave yourselves," Sgt. Stirling admonished grumpily. Kate had a very bad feeling that she might very soon become a problem should their stay be a lengthy one.
The doors to the spaceport and the group walked in as if the confrontation had never took place. They walked up the stairs to what was apparently the intake desk for the spaceport. But before they could get within ten paces, an alarm sounded and their hands twitched toward their weapons.
"They're just weapon detectors!" said the woman in a formal dress at the desk, waving them forward.
"I'm Gianna Parasini," she continued, "executive assistant to Bel Anoleis, Administrator of this spaceport. We apologize for the incident in the docking bay. We only just received confirmation from the Citadel of your Spectre status."
"Somebody piss in your security chief's coffee today?" Esposito snapped, earning him a glare from Kate.
"Captain Matsuo takes her job very seriously," Parasini replied, as if Esposito had asked about the weather. "She is a valued asset to the company."
As they approached the desk warily, Parasini smiled sweetly.
"One of my duties is the orientation of new arrivals," she said. "Are there any questions you have for me?"
"This is pretty heavy security for such a small spaceport," Kate observed.
"The Noveria Development Corporation Executive Board does everything in its power to protect the safety and privacy of our client corporations," Parasini replied, parroting what was likely their sales pitch to potential investors. "Out here on the frontier, with neither Council nor Alliance support we have to be very proactive when it comes to security."
"I can't afford to have my investigation hampered," Kate replied, sounding more like a cop than she had in years.
"Tread lightly," Parasini whispered, leaning in close to avoid the security cameras. "The Board could bury you in litigation so deep you'd need an asari lawyer to see your great grandchildren to the end of it."
"Has anyone unusual passed through recently?" Kate asked, pretending to ignore the last statement.
"Unusual?" Parasini replied. "An asari Matriarch passed through a couple of days ago. Lady Benezia."
"Benezia?" Liara whispered, suddenly seeming like a lost little girl. "My mother is actually here?"
"Matriarch Benezia is a threat to galactic peace," Kate stated coldly. "I have a warrant from the Citadel Council to bring her into custody in connection to the criminal activity of former Spectre Saren Arterius. Dead or alive."
"The Board doesn't like having outside problems dumped in their lap, Captain Beckett," Parasini replied, her tone suddenly serious. "Regardless, Benezia departed for the Peak 15 complex days ago. To the best of my knowledge, she's still there."
"That's fine with me," Kate replied. "Give me directions to Peak 15 and the loan of a vehicle and we will be on our way."
"I'm afraid I can't authorize that, Captain," Parasini stated. "You'll need to speak to Administrator Anoleis for clearance to leave Port Hanshan."
"Where do I find him?" Kate asked.
"His office is on the main mezzanine," Parasini replied, waving toward the corridor leading to the elevator. "Take the elevator up two levels and turn left when you get off. His office is right down the stairs in front of the fountain. If you need my help with anything, my desk is out front."
"She is here," Liara breathed, "I cannot believe it."
"I understand that you and your mother are estranged," Kate began, "but she's still your mother. If Benezia doesn't come quietly the use of force might be required and I need to be certain which side you're on."
"Captain," Liara replied after a brief pause, "I know what my mother is doing with Saren is wrong and that she has to answer for her crimes. If you feel it would be best for me to return to the Normandy I will go. But, if I come along I might be able to convince my mother to surrender peacefully."
"I don't know if that's likely or not," Kate replied, "but you are welcome to try."
"Thank you, Captain, your trust means a great deal to me."
"The Noveria Development Corporation LLC welcomes you to Port Hanshan," The Port Hanshan VI droned as they entered the elevator. "The galaxy's most respected site for independent scientific research and development. For your own safety and the privacy of others you are required to follow any directions given you by our security personnel. If you have any questions or concerns our friendly and courteous administrative staff is always available. Thank you and enjoy your stay."
Kate could feel the eyes of everyone in the port on them. She was sure they were flagged by every security camera feed as well. The rumors about Noveria aside, it was clear to her that a great deal of the "research" done here would likely be illegal in both council and Alliance space.
When they walked into the outer atrium of the Port's administrative offices it became clear to Kate that there must have been a shortcut or an express elevator for the staff, as Gianna Parasini was sitting primly behind her desk without any outward sign she'd had to hurry to get there ahead of them.
"Good afternoon, Captain," she said with professional good cheer. "A pleasure to see you and your associates again. How may I be of assistance?"
"I would like to speak with Administrator Anoleis," Kate stated coolly, she really hated being handled, it rankled her every time.
"One moment please," Parasini stated pleasantly, then hit the intercom on her desk. "Mr. Anoleis?"
"Yes, Miss Parasini," an annoyed sounding salarian replied on the other end. "What? What? What!"
"The Council Spectre here to see you," Parasini replied, barely blinking back the flicker of annoyance. "Captain Beckett."
"Right. Fine," Anoleis replied, "Send her in."
The door to Administrator Anoleis' office swung open and Parasini waved them through it, before it slid shut behind them.
"I am Rannadril Ghan Swa Fulsoom Karaten Narr Eadi Bel Anoleis, Administrator of this port," Anoleis stated, not even bothering to disguise his arrogance and contempt. "You will forgive me if I don't stand up. I have no time to entertain refugees from that urban blight called Earth."
Kate crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Anoleis, who wasn't receiving a warmer reception from Castle or Esposito.
"I see you had time to look up my service record though," she replied after counting to ten in first English and then Russian in her head.
"Only a fool enters negotiations without knowledge of the other party's tendencies," Anoleis replied. "This meeting is merely a courtesy. I will only cooperate with you as required by the Executive Board. Businesses come here to avoid the second-guessing of Galactic Law."
"And I represent the second-guessing of galactic law," Kate replied tersely. "I'm here on a matter great urgency."
"Isn't everything?" Anoleis shot back. "This world is private property. I will not allow you to harass our clients."
"Do you do business with Saren Arterius?" Kate asked, not liking where this was going.
"Saren?" Anoleis asked. "One of your Spectre compatriots? He's a major investor in Binary Helix Corporation, one of Noveria's principal backers."
"Is Binary Helix developing weapons for him?" Kate asked.
"It's possible, given his interests," Anoleis shrugged. "What our clients do in their labs is their own business."
"I've been informed that an asari matriarch is here," Kate added, "Lady Benezia."
"She arrived a few days ago," Anoleis replied, growing slightly more annoyed, "accompanied by a personal escort and some cargo. She has since departed for the Peak 15 facility."
"What can you tell me about her cargo?" Kate asked, picking up on his annoyance and pressed him on it.
"The containers were large, heavy and sealed," Anoleis replied, shutting her down. "They passed weapons screening, beyond that their contents are not our concern."
"And her "personal escort"?" Kate asked, getting a little annoyed herself, but hiding it better than the clearly easily annoyed salarian.
"The phrase is self explanatory," Anoleis stated, as if she was an errant schoolgirl in the principal's office. "Bodyguards attending to the security of her person and cargo. Asari commandos specifically."
"Asari Commandos?" Garrus interjected incredulously. "You didn't think that odd?"
"They followed our regulations and turned over their weapons," Anoleis responded, granting Garrus a slightly higher modicum of respect than Beckett. "I had no reason to forbid Lady Benezia from taking them with her."
"I will need to speak to her," Kate stated, "immediately."
"I'm afraid that you cannot," Anoleis stated coldly. "Peak 15 is a private research facility in the Skadi Mountains. Regardless, there is a blizzard in the area. All shuttles have been grounded and surface access is cut off."
"Surface access access you say?" Castle chirped, receiving an elbow to the ribs from Esposito for his trouble.
"Cut off, I said," Anoleis reiterated, turning his attention back to Beckett. "The roads are not suitable for travel, Captain. Don't make an issue of this."
"Forget him, Beckett," Esposito whispered in her ear. "If this chuckle-head won't help us, I'm sure somebody else will." To which he received an elbow to the ribs, from Kate herself.
"What brought Benezia out here anyway?" she asked.
"If I knew that, I would not be at liberty to say," Anoleis replied. "She came here as Agent Saren's executor on business for Binary Helix. There were issues at Peak 15 that required her attention."
His desk beeped insistently. Anoleis looked down at it then back at Kate.
"Just so you know, every minute of my time that you waste costs the company twelve credits. I am keeping a running tally."
"I think we're done here." Kate stated. She knew when a line of inquiry was going nowhere. She could legally shoot the salarian, not to mention every security guard between Anoleis' office and Peak 15, but most of them were just doing their jobs who didn't really deserve a bullet in the head. Not to mention she would rather not have to listen to Sparatus lecture her about it when she made her next report.
"Good," Anoleis replied, sounding almost glad to be rid of her, "I received a dozen urgent messages while you dithered about."
As the group of them filed out of the office, they were met by Gianna Parasini, who gripped Beckett's arm, and leaned in close.
"Mr. Anoleis isn't the only one who can get you a pass to leave Port Hanshan," she whispered then stepped back to cover herself. "You've never worked in the corporate sector before have you?" she stated. "You can't bludgeon through bureaucracy."
"I can bludgeon pretty hard," Kate replied, playing along.
"Talk to Lorek Qu'in," Parasini whispered again, "he should be in the hotel bar. I can't say any more within earshot of Mr. Anoleis."
"I've taken up enough of your time, Miss Parasini," Kate replied, "Thank you for suggesting the hotel bar, my crew and I could use a good cup of coffee."
"Yeah," Castle added, "the coffee on board the Normandy keeps you awake, but it tastes like a monkey peed in battery acid."
"Not at all, Captain, this is my job after all," Parasini stated, "I will tell the waiter to comp you each for your first drink."
When they arrived at the hotel bar, they were able to identify Lorek Qu'in easily enough, simply by locating the only turian whom everyone else in the place - with the notable exception of the wait staff - avoided like he'd contracted a contagious disease. He seemed almost desperate for company as they drew near and waved them over.
"Good afternoon!" the older turian stated pleasantly, clearly having been given the silent treatment for a while. "Please, sit down, have a drink. What can I do for you?"
"Lorik Qu'in?" Kate asked. "I've been told that we might be able to help each other."
"You are the Spectre that arrived recently, are you not?" Qu'in asked, cryptically. "What could an old turian like me possibly be able to help you with?"
"I have people to see and places to go outside of this port," Kate replied.
"You need a garage pass, then?" Qu'in asked rhetorically. "How fortuitous. I'm the manager for the local Synthetic Insights office... for the moment at least anyway. Mr. Anoleis has closed my office to "investigate" reports of my corruption. Bel Anoleis is an interesting character who has become quite wealthy since he took control of rents."
"I sense a connection there," Castle interjected.
"Indeed," Qu'in replied. "I have acquired evidence that Anoleis has been embezzling from the Noveria Corporation. His hired thugs are ransacking my office as we speak to find it. Clearly your goal lies outside of this port, but Anoleis would be disinclined to allow you to wander so I will make a deal with you. If you recover the evidence I have collected I will give you not only a garage pass but the use of a vehicle suited to the current weather conditions."
"Why didn't Anoleis cancel your garage clearance?" Garrus asked.
"Why should he?" Qu'in replied. "There is nothing outside but ice, snow and hungry nathak."
"You have a plan, I take it?" Kate asked.
"I do," Qu'in replied, "but there is a... what is that charming human saying... 'fly in the, uh... lotion'? Anoleis is paying members of Port Hanshan's security force under the table to search my offices. Captain Matsuo is unaware of their outside employment. Violence against them may be necessary."
"If he's paying them under the table, they're mercenaries," Kate replied, her fingers brushing her pistol absently, "I have no problem with killing mercenaries."
"Excellent," Qu'in stated, handing over a data card and an OSD. "Here is my personal key-card to the Synthetic Insights office. It will activate the elevator and grant you full access to all offices. The evidence is on my personal terminal. The OSD contains an encryption key to access and download it. The program will auto-execute as soon as you slide it into the port."
Kate rose from her seat at the table, flanked by the others.
"Oh and do try to keep bloodstains off the carpets, would you?" he said to their retreating backs. "I just had them redone."
Beckett and her squad left the hotel bar and headed for the elevator bank not far from the entrance to the garage. As soon as they came within range of the sensors, the doors opened.
"Welcome back to Synthetic Insights, Mr. Qu'in," the elevator VI stated cheerfully and immediately transported them to the appropriate floor as the squad readied their weapons. "Please note that the possession of firearms is strictly prohibited on Noveria." When they approached the office door, they could see a pair of security guards on station.
"Freeze!" one of them commanded. "Port Hanshan Security! This office is sealed!"
"What will you do if we don't?" Kate challenged, relishing the sight as one of them visibly gulped. They were clearly used to being the only ones on the planet who carried arms. If there was one thing she hated above anything else it was dirty cops, so she had no sympathy to spare for either of them.
"You're the Spectre, right?" the other one piped up. "Lorek Qu'in is under investigation."
"Bullshit," Esposito challenged, "Anoleis is paying you under the table to shake Qu'in down."
"That makes you criminals," Kate added, "I can kill criminals."
"Why don't we just kill them?" Wrex rumbled, cradling his shotgun like it was his firstborn. "We have bigger varren to roast."
The two guards looked at each other, both realizing how untenable their situation truly was before the spokesman of the two spoke up.
"He ain't paying me enough to take on Spectres, Alliance troops, not to mention krogan," She looked at her partner who nodded emphatically. "How about this? You pretend you didn't see us, and we'll pretend we didn't see you?"
With that, the two guards, walked briskly past them to the elevator and disappeared.
Inside the office two more guards were posted, their backs turned to them. At a nod from Beckett, Castle charged biotics, lifted them from the deck and bashed them into the ceiling, snapping their necks.
"Show off," Wrex rumbled.
The small group slipped upstairs into the executive office level and Liara slipped the OSD into the terminal in Qu'in's office which immediately woke the terminal and began the task of parsing the data which had been cleverly hidden in multiple databases which without the OSD's decryption key would have seemed like garbage data in the system.
When they returned, they found more of the dirty cops waiting for them in the atrium blocking the from the stairwell, led by the very Sgt. Stirling who had barred their path earlier.
"I don't think you're supposed to be here," Stirling said sarcastically.
"Do you plan to make us leave?" Kate replied, "because we're already on our way out."
"Leave?" Stirling scoffed. "You think I'm gonna let you walk out of here? Uh-uh. Anoleis would throw you off-world for what you did here, but I won't. You know what we did to cop-killers on my world?"
"You and your 'officers' are dirty, Stirling," Kate spat back at them, her anger rising. "You're here off-duty breaking the law for bribe money."
"Do you know what we do to dirty cops on my world?" Wrex grumbled menacingly. "Bring it on."
Without further preamble, Wrex opened fire. The discharge of the krogan-made shotgun was so powerful it overloaded Stirling's barriers, yet still hit her with enough force to nearly snap her in half. Castle, Esposito and Garrus fanned out and attacked the rest – who were clearly stunned that the woman for whom they'd felt equal parts awe and fear - was dropped without so much as firing a shot. The resulting running gunfight with the errant rent-a-cops across both levels of the Synthetic Insights office didn't last long. Unfortunately for Lorek Qu'in, when the echoes of gunfire died down, there were in fact numerous blood stains on the carpets. Kate couldn't find it within herself to care, she didn't have time to worry about his delicate sensibilities.
When they emerged from the elevator back in the common area, they were met by Gianna Parasini.
"There have been reports of noise coming from the Synthetic Insights office," she stated as if she were responding to a complaint of loud music.
"Must be Anoleis' hired thugs ransacking the place," Castle quipped, "maybe you should call the police." He put his fingers out and Garrus 'fed the birds.' The two seemed to have become fast friends.
"Smart ass, huh?" Parasini responded, "I can work with that. Meet me in the hotel bar for a drink... before you talk to Qu'in. I'll be waiting."
When they arrived back at the bar, Kate nodded for Esposito, Liara and Wrex to mingle while she and Castle sidled over to the secluded booth Parasini had reserved away from prying eyes, particularly those of Lorek Qu'in, who was still drowning his sorrows at his private table. When they sat down the woman leaned in closer to them.
"Allow me to re-introduce myself," she stated with a New York accent which was much more 'bridge and tunnel' than Kate's. "Special Agent Gianna Parasini, Noveria Internal Affairs."
"What's an internal affairs agent doing here?" Castle hissed, "I thought ERCS was the law in these parts."
"The Executive Board knows about Anoleis, but to break his ironclad contract, they need proof, so they sent me here undercover six months ago. I need you to convince Qu'in to testify before the board. Between that and the evidence from his computers, they can deal with Anoleis and Noveria can operate profitably again."
"Couldn't you get into Anoleis files?" Castle asked, "salarians are generally pathological about their record keeping."
"Anoleis is a crook, not a moron!" Parasini exclaimed. "He wouldn't keep logs on his computer saying 'this month I stole three million credits!' He was careful... too careful. With that ironclad contract I told you about, I need irrefutable proof of his criminal activity, or he could tie up the board in costly litigation for years!"
Parasini took a moment to breathe and calm herself when she noticed people's heads were turning, then continued more quietly, "Lorek Qu'in's testimony and records are everything I need to prove Anoleis' guilt in one neat package."
"Why not ask him directly?" Kate asked. "Why go through me?"
"I'm Anoleis' secretary," she pointed out sarcastically, "you think he'd believe me? That he would meet me in some dark alley with his evidence? What do you think this is, some second rate mystery novel?"
"I thought corruption was the rule on Noveria?" Castle asked, trying to hide his hurt feelings at her unknowing dig against his off-duty profession as a mystery novelist. Thus far, nobody in the Alliance military had caught on to his literary alter-ego, but it still stung. "That your employers came all the way out here to avoid the prying eyes of Galactic law?"
"The rule on Noveria is 'don't rock the boat' Mr. Castle," she replied. "Self-interest is tolerated as long as it doesn't interfere with business. We aren't the only Corporation with a site like this, - Exo Geni for example - we're simply the most well known. Anoleis is driving paying clients into the arms of our competitors."
"I need Qu'in's garage pass to complete my mission here," Kate pointed out, "you knew that when you sent me to speak to him."
"You help me nail Anoleis and I'll get you your garage pass, a ground vehicle, anything you want. Call it professional courtesy."
"She has a point," Castle pointed out, "it couldn't hurt to sow a little goodwill in case we ever have to come back here."
"Look Spectre," Parasini said with a sigh, "I don't like this either. Spectres are trouble, which can be bad for business."
"Speaking of Spectres," Kate added, "do you know what's going on up at Peak 15?"
"Before the blizzard rolled in, central control received a Code Omega signal from there." Parasini explained, "which means that the facility had a terminal breach of safety protocols. Nobody leaves there until we receive an 'all clear' signal."
"And if an 'all clear' isn't sent?" Castle asked, not sure if he was going to like the answer.
"The Executive Board votes whether to completely destroy the facility. An antimatter warhead from one of the orbital battle-stations should vaporize any loose contaminants, the glaciers will take care of the rest."
"That doesn't tell me much," Kate replied.
"That's all there is, Beckett," Parasini replied acerbically. "Nobody knows what the hell is going on up there."
"What about Matriarch Benezia?" Kate asked. "Any idea what brought here here?"
"It has something to do with what's going on up there, I'm sure of it," Parasini noted, "She arrived with two squads of asari commandos shortly after we received the Code Omega Signal. They took the last shuttle for Peak 15 before the blizzard hit with a load of large, heavy crates."
"Any idea what was in them?" Kate asked.
"None. Once they were scanned, the commandos wouldn't let anyone near them. They were big and very heavy heavy though. They barely fit on the cargo train."
"All right, Parasini," Kate replied, "I was a cop once, so I can relate. I'll convince Qu'in to testify."
Lorek Qu'in was happy to see them for about five minutes, until Kate told him about the interest of Noveria Internal Affairs. He'd wanted to handle this quietly and use the information he'd collected to wring concessions from Anoleis. He certainly didn't want to attract the attention of the Executive Board. When it was clear that Captain Beckett wasn't going to back down and her assurance that Synthetic Insights wasn't the only corporation being extorted by Anoleis, and that the Executive Board wanted to be rid of him too, he relented and agreed to testify.
Agent Parasini was much more happy to hear it when they returned to Anoleis' office. She handed Beckett a brand new transit pass through the garage and a voucher for an ERCS Mako for their trip before walking confidently into the salarian's office to slap the cuffs on and drag him unceremoniously through the atrium.
"This is an outrage!" Anoleis shrieked as Parasini dragged him away, "I'll see to it you never work in this sector again!"
"Yeah, yeah," Parasini grumbled as she perp-walked him past Beckett and the others. "let's get a move on."
"You!" He shrieked again, "Beckett! I demand that you place this double crossing bitch under arrest!"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Anoleis," Kate stated smugly, "but I can only cooperate with you as required by the Citadel Council, I have no jurisdiction here as I recall."
"You have the right to remain silent, asshole," Parasini snarked, "so shut the hell up."
She turned to Beckett before walking out the door. "See you 'round the galaxy, Beckett, I owe you a beer!"
Kate watched Parasini drag Anoleis out the door almost longingly. It had been a long time since she'd held a job that gave her that level of satisfaction. The sense that she was making a difference in the lives of ordinary people. She used to take murderers off New York City's streets, but now her job was almost as much about political shades of gray than direct action. She missed the symmetry of a murder investigation, tracking down clues, interrogating suspects, slapping the cuffs on and putting the guilty in cages where they belonged, even though she'd never been able to find that same justice for her mother.
The hunt for Saren was the closest she was likely going to get to that, so hunt him she would, along with anyone else who would help him. By attacking a human colony and killing one of her Marines, he had woke the huntress and filled her with a terrible resolve. Saren would be brought to justice, alive or dead.
"Okay guys, saddle up," Beckett commanded, "let's get out to the garage while this pass is valid. We still have Matriarch Benezia to round up."
**Author's Note** To my Castle followers who also follow Mass Effect, I had considered doing Noveria all in one shot, but getting out of Port Hanshan and Peak 15 seemed like two different chapters to me. Perfect symmetry for one of my favorite episodes of the original Battlestar Galactica: "Gun on Ice Planet Zero" which was also a two parter, so it kinda felt right.