CHAPTER ELEVEN
Communication

Kara studied the damaged pieces of her armor carefully. The flexible base material of the pressure suit all across the right arm was ruined, tearing apart with only minimal stress. It was unsalvageable, but more easily replaced than the hardened ceramic plates, including parts of the chest piece, which the thresher maw's acid had made brittle, easily fractured by a light blow. They were third-generation design, incompatible with the ship's stores of older components. What spares she had would be depleted by the repairs. She sighed; their supply problem had just become acute. She dumped the armor on the floor, and activated her omnitool. "Liara, could I see you in the armory?"

While she waited, Kara stripped off her armor's cloth under suit and started to dress. She had only just pulled on her trousers when the asari arrived.

"I heard what happened," Liara said, briefly making eye-contact, before her attention dipped to Kara's bare torso. Her curiosity was natural, and obeyed without lust or embarrassment. "Such a poor reason to lose so many lives."

"Yes," Kara sighed, as she shrugged on her shirt. The Alliance Navy had a media relations office to turn such things to its advantage, which she guessed would mean blaming her for their dead marines. Presumably, their orders had been to capture her, but whoever planted the beacon on a thresher maw's nest had wanted her dead, which she saw as the more urgent matter. "I'm not sure what to make of it, yet."

"Surviving a thresher maw attack on foot is no small thing," Liara said, taking a seat at Kara's side. General policy among asari, whose name for the creatures translated at 'violent hermits', was to disengage, rather than kill, and to leave them be if possible.

"Is there…" Liara hesitated. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Not with that," she said, retrieving her armor's battered chest piece. "Only a month old, and it's ruined. I thought, maybe you'd be willing to help me get a new set."

"I don't know," Liara said, lowering her face. "I don't have many contacts of my own, but I could try some of my mother's."

Kara turned to face the asari more directly. "You'll need a set for yourself, as well, if you want to join me in the field. I'll cover any cost."

Liara's eyes rose, surprised by the suggestion. After a moment of self-doubt, she nodded. "If you need me, I'll be ready."

Smiling in return, Kara laid her hand on the young asari's shoulder. "I know you will."

"You're very—" Liara breathed; she cut herself off abruptly, her brilliant blue eyes turning downward. "I should go see about that armor," she muttered.

Kara let the asari go, even though they were still twelve hours out from the relay, and well beyond range of the comm network. Had Liara's early infatuation evolved into romantic interest, rather than fading away? If so, she would have to act more carefully to discourage it. That wouldn't be easy, unfortunately. The young asari was brilliant, and confident in her knowledge and reasoning, if not her whole self. A little shy, but not willing to let it stop her. Compassionate.

Kara sighed. Just the sort of person that she found attractive, but she did not need the added complexity of a relationship, particularly one mixed up with her mission.

"You wanted to see me?" Kara asked, leaning against the rail between Engineering and the ship's oversized Tantalus mass effect core. She had caught Tali'Zorah staring at the sphere as it hummed and pulsed. It could be entrancing, she supposed, all shifting lights, and a faint blue aura caused by the mass distortions that emanated from it. Close as they were, she could feel it, as a tingling sensation in her limbs, and randomly buzzing static at the back of her mind. It wouldn't take long to transform into an major headache, which provided the Alliance with a good excuse for not letting valuable biotics become engineers.

"The ship I grew up on was over a century old, and constantly being repaired. I got involved when I was little, and it was such an adventure. Each new system was an adventure—a puzzle to figure out," the young quarian said, turning her head towards Kara. "I'm grateful for the chance to see this ship close up. Your people have made some interesting adaptations to the basic turian technology. I just wish it wasn't so quiet."

"Quiet?"

"Yes," Tali nodded, turning her side to the rail. "Haven't you ever been on an older ship? There's always something vibrating, and the ventilation always rattling. I always found it comforting, like the ship was letting me know it was still alive. The Normandy isn't like that at all."

She did know what Tali meant, though it was, to her, a sign that repairs were needed, and not something she tolerated. Given time, the Normandy might be an exception, as spare parts ran out, but that point was a month or two out. More to the point, she knew what it felt like to find herself in an alien environment. "Are you having trouble sleeping?"

"Not anymore, though sometimes I wake up suddenly, and I know that something is not right, but I can't figure out what it is. When I do, I remember where I am, and that it's fine, but I'm too anxious to sleep."

Kara straightened and, smiling at the quarian, laid a hand on her shoulder. "I think, maybe, it's something else that's bothering you."

"Like my father?" Tali suggested, her softly-lit eyes closing briefly. "Sometimes, I just wish I'd hear something. Even condemnation would do. Then I wonder, has he even heard yet? We can be pretty insular, even if he is an admiral."

"I'll tell you what I've heard," Kara said, folding her arms as she leaned her hip against the rail. "I've heard that you've been an invaluable help to Greg's team. He claims you know more about this ship than anyone else on his staff."

The distraction was effective, Tali's eyes lighting up as she mimicked Kara's posture. "Really? He said that? I don't know. Kara, I've never actually worked with anything this advanced before."

Kara smiled, and turned back to the core. "Except for Greg, we lost all our senior engineers back on the Citadel. He needs someone to take over second watch. It's routine maintenance, mostly, and he'd assign the work. You'd supervise Pema and Ajuna, and monitor the systems for more serious problems."

"Kara, are you sure about this? I haven't even completed my Pilgrimage. I haven't the slightest idea how to command-"

"I'm sure," Kara interrupted softly.

"If you need me, Kara, I'll do it," Tali said, standing straight and nodding.

Kara smiled. "You start today, sixteen hundred hours."

"Wait… what if I had said no?" Tali inquired, her bright eyes narrowing slightly.

"I knew you wouldn't," Kara smiled.

Tali sighed. "I guess you're right, as usual," she grumbled.

"I have help," Kara said, squeezing the Quarian's shoulder. She recalled feeling terrified, before her first command, and wished someone had shown her some understanding. That had given way to a sort of cold dread, after Elysium. She did not fear her mistakes; she feared success, and fresh dead added to the pile of people she had killed. "So will you. Don't be afraid to accept it."

Tali nodded. "Then I can help you to be right about this transmitter," she said, leading Kara to the main workspace, along the port wall. The distress beacon they'd recovered from Edolus lay there, partially disassembled.

"The casing is from a standard Alliance distress beacon," the quarian continued, "but the electronics aren't. They're of human construction, and use some fairly advanced techniques."

Not the Alliance, which had access to the technology, but too much to lose. There was no profit in it, to suggest corporate involvement. A third party, one with money and connections, and motive. That didn't leave many suspects. "Anything else?"

"There's a second device built in, which detects nearby movement and then activates a low-intensity sound pulse, a sort of thresher maw lure."

Kara closed her eyes. She had expected something else. The batarians were a possibility, if remote. They were being pressed on all sides, and had resorted to using terrorist tactics against the Systems Alliance, though usually on a larger scale. A few dead marines would not be worth the cost in time and resources of setting the trap, and the location less than ideal.

Still, she suspected ideology over money, and herself as the target. An assassination attempted, hidden in an ambush. Coldly calculated. She didn't understand that kind of thing, and she never had. If not that were not bad enough, her head had begun to ache from the proximity of the core. "You did well, Tali."

Kara tensed as she once again found herself standing before a holographic Council. They had contacted her almost as soon as she filed her report, less than an hour after the Normandy had come within range of the comm network. Perhaps they had useful information, but she expected a lecture.

"Councillors," she nodded.

"Shepard," Tevos said, her eyes focused intently on, presumably, the place where Kara's image stood before her. Her tone and expression were stern, but not angry. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused us?"

"Yes, but Human-Council relations are not my concern," Kara replied. "You appointed me to stop Saren, a task I cannot complete without your continuing support. Are you withdrawing that support?"

Sparatus' mandibles flared as he stared at her. His grey eyes were more appraising of her than before, less filled with outright distaste. "No. Your species wanted you made a Spectre; now they want you recalled. We are not here to indulge Ambassador Udina's whims, and we will not tolerate interference in your mission."

"Salarian STG teams have been deployed to the Traverse in an attempt to track Saren. They will also be watching you," Valern said. "Should your behavior be questionable, your Spectre status will be revoked, and you will be turned over to the Alliance. Is that clear?"

"One hopes that, considering Saren's betrayal, you're giving as much attention to your other agents?" Kara asked sharply. Of course they were concerned—her record was not exactly filled with examples of her respect for authority—but she had no intention of allowing them to single her out, either. They didn't response, so she ran her fingers through her hair and moved on. "Have these STG teams reported any sign of Saren?"

"Not yet. You'll be notified if they discover anything you need to know," Valern replied.

"Councillor, this is my mission, and I expect to see their reports for myself."

The salarian's mouth tightened, as he regarded her cautiously. He must have known that she had a point, but had to balance that against the Special Task Group's power and desire for secrecy. "You'll be given access to all relevant information."

"Not good enough," Kara insisted. "If I'm expected to take responsibility, then I want the reports from every agent that's investigating Saren."

Sparatus folded his arms, and scowled at his fellow Councillor. "Agree already, Tellin. I'm sure you'll manage to keep your secrets."

"Very well," the salarian agreed, sparing an irritated look for the turian.

"There is one other matter," Tevos said, regarding Kara's boldness with interest. "Liara T'Soni. Are you certain she can be trusted?"

Kara hesitated. "I trust her," she said quietly. She doubted her judgement more than Liara's intent, and that was not the Council's business.

Tevos appeared to noticed, but let it pass with a nod. "If we do learn anything, I'll make sure you're informed."

"Thank you," Kara nodded. The three holographs nodded, and the projector went dark.

Kara slumped into the nearest chair. No leads, and no new information. She did not handle a lack of direction well. Even wandering the galaxy alone she had always found some goal, often just enough to carry her through a day or two, maybe something to see, or someone to meet, and she had not been inflexible. Right now, it felt like she was drifting.

"Kara?"

"Yes?" she snapped, recognizing Liara's voice without turning. She regretted her tone immediately, and stood, facing the asari.

"I'm sorry—" they both said at once.

"I'm just feeling frustrated, Liara. I'm glad to see you," Kara finished, forcing a smile. "I spoke to a friend of mine, who lectured at the University of Serrice while I was there. She works for the Serrice Council Cooperative, and will be on the Citadel in a few days," Liara said, sitting in the nearest chair and leaning forward. "They don't sell to the public, but your Spectre authority will get you access."

Serrice Council's electronics division had designed her implant, a modified version of one intended to enhance the natural biotics of asari commandos. It was hard to say how much it had improved her power or control, over the Alliance's L2 model, but it no longer triggered migraines, which left her free to utilize her abilities. They produced the finest biotic-enhanced armor in the galaxy, with integrated amplifiers and a host of other features, which they distributed to the Asari Defense Forces. Techniques they pioneered were eventually passed on to general manufacturers in the cooperative asari economy, which produced equipment for private interests and other species, but Serrice Council products were always decades ahead.

"Thank you, Liara," she said, relief making her smile genuine. The step up would certainly make her job easier, though it also added a new complication—how to get to the Citadel without a run-in with the Alliance. She doubted they would fire on the Normandy, and risk greater division between them and the Council, but she preferred to not give them the chance. "Wait here a moment."

Kara nodded at the asari's brief acknowledgement, as she waited for the door to open, then walked into the CIC. "Prepare a course back to the Citadel, Keyx. Use the shortest route."

"Uh, ma'am?" the man said, briefly checking his console. "That'd take us through Alliance space."

"I know. I'll deal with them," she informed him.

He let his breath out heavily, turning to his station. "Let me guess, Captain, blackmail. What a wonderful solution."

It had crossed her mind. The logs and orders recovered from the destroyed Grizzly were certainly incriminating, but also unsigned. Their unit designation indicated that they were part of the fifth fleet, under the command of Fleet Admiral Steven Hackett. More precisely, they were attached to the fifty-third rapid-response group, under Rear Admiral Errol Kahoku. Either officer might have issued the order, or it might have been an ambitious captain. "I didn't force anyone to lay an illegal ambush."

"No," he muttered, though hardly in agreement. He kept any further arguments to himself, scowling at his console.

Kara sighed, and made her way forward. If they could not settle their relationship, they would both be better off if she found someone to take his place. If Tali's new appointment worked out, then perhaps Adams could fill the post. The alternative was Alenko, or even Moreau.

"Brynja," she smiled, leaning against the console next to the ops officer's station. "I need to talk to Admiral Kahoku."

"No problem," the young woman replied. Like most of the crew, she was still wearing her uniform—possibly the only clothes she had onboard—but the dark blue tunic was missing, revealing her plain white undershirt. According to Keyx, the change had come after they had left the Sparta system. He had wanted to discipline her, but it hardly made sense to adhere to the Alliance dress code. "Is this about that thresher… thing? Odd name."

"It's translated from turian," Kara noted. It was from them that humanity had first learned of the creatures, which probably added to the feeling of being hazed, considering the difficult state of their relationship at the time. She did not know how accurate the translation was. "Code it Spectre priority. I don't want any delays."

"That'll definitely get his attention," Brynja agreed. "Though if I were him, I wouldn't want to talk to you after what he did."

Kara decided against pointing out her uncertainty. She didn't plan to mention it to Kahoku, either. "Is that why you changed your look?"

The blond lowered her head, her hand self-consciously drifting to her buttoned-up collar. "Yeah," she scowled. "Those bastards tried to use a distress call against you. Pirates use tactics like that, Kara. Criminals. I joined up to help stop scum like that, not to serve them. I know we're all headed for a court martial anyway, but I wrote up my resignation last night, just to be sure. I'm going to send it in when I get off duty."

"So much for Captain Ásdísdóttir," Kara smiled, placing a comforting hand on the younger woman's shoulder.

"Oh, she was lost the first time you smiled at me," Brynja said, sighing softly. Her eyes were focused elsewhere, and the curve of her lips a little sad, signs that she was imagining that lost future with some regret. Her hand found Kara's. "It's alright, though."

"When this is over, I'll help you find something else," Kara decided. She owed that much to the entire crew, though not all of them would want or need her intervention.

"Thanks," Brynja replied, releasing Kara's hand. Was that irritation in her voice? The appearance of a young man on her display, probably Kahoku's adjutant, prevented any attempt at finding out. His full lips moved, silently. "Spectre Shepard's business with the Admiral is urgent and private."

Kara left the young woman to her job, and continued forward until she stood behind the helm. The view out the forward viewports was of the band of stars that made up the core of the galaxy, its spiral arms trailing off diagonally. It was a long familiar sight, though no less impressive for it.

"Five minutes, Kara," Brynja said, interrupting her thoughts. "The admiral is in a meeting."

Kara nodded at the blond. She could not expect him to drop everything for her, even if she did prefer to catch him off-guard.

"Are we really going back through Alliance space?" Moreau asked, swiveling his chair as she turned back to the bow. "I mean, I guess I can run circles around an Alliance cruiser as easily as a geth fleet, but it just isn't as much fun."

"Don't worry, Jeff," she said, looking down at him. "I'll try to make sure you stay bored."

"Hey, thanks," he laughed. "Just so long as you promise me that geth fleet. Shooting that thresher maw was fun and all, but nothing gets the blood pumping like a hostile dreadnought or two."

"How about I let you face the next thresher on foot," Kara suggested lightly. "While I pilot the ship."

The pilot laughed again. "Hell no, sir. I won't let you hurt my ship."

"Fair enough," Kara laughed. "I'm sure you'll get a chance to show off—"

"Kara," Brynja interrupted. "Admiral Kahoku is on the line."

"Put him through to the briefing room," Kara said, touching the blond's shoulder as she passed, in response to an acknowledging nod.

She walked quickly down the deck, and into the briefing room, sealing the door behind her. She spared a smile for Liara, as she crossed the floor, and activated the holographic display. "Admiral," she nodded, retreating to the nearest chair.

"Spectre Shepard," Kahoku replied. Dark haired and brown skinned, he wore a thick beard that enhanced his vigorous appearance. His brown eyes studied her warily; mistrustful, but not outright hostile. "What is it you want?"

"I want to talk about Edolus," she stated flatly, holding his gaze firmly. "I recovered the logs from your marines. They were ordered to place a false distress call, to lure me in."

"That's a violation of Council law," Liara noted, now seated in the next chair. "It caries a felony charge of piracy."

"What happened to my marines?" Kahoku demanded, ignoring the asari.

Kara sighed. His ship would be at least eight hours behind the Normandy, and could not possibly have delivered its report. "Someone else planted a distress beacon on a thresher maw nest. They followed it, and were killed. It's dead, now."

Kahoku hunched slightly. "Who?"

"I don't know. Humans, with access to advanced technology."

"That sounds like Cerberus."

Of course. They were a pro-human terrorist group, former Alliance black-ops. Her actions were enough of an affront to their ideology that they would want her dead, and there were few limits to what actions they would take to achieve their goals. "Maybe, but I have no direct evidence."

"Understood," he replied, softly. His eyes had taken on an appraising look again, and he frowned. "I want to see what evidence you do have, and I want copies of the logs you recovered."

"Of course," she agreed. With the Grizzly destroyed, he would not get them any other way.

"I'll try and verify their involvement, and see if I can't track 'em down. If I can locate a base, would you investigate?"

Kara hesitated. It wasn't her mission, but she had seen some of what Cerberus was capable of. They were a definite threat to galactic stability, and in that sense fell under the jurisdiction of the Spectres. "Yes," she decided.

"I'll…" he hesitated, sighing. "I'll convince the Defense Committee to rescind the capture order on you."

"Thank you, Admiral," Kara said. "That's all I wanted."

He nodded. "You'll be the first to know when I learn something. Kahoku out."

Note: Not much change, here. A few extra words, and I decided that Kara should go through Keyx, in the final scene, which almost lead to Moreau getting cut out. Kahoku is also a bit more skeptical.

Anyway, we hope you enjoyed the story so far. Feel free to leave a review with your opinions and criticisms.