Mass Effect Project Renegade
Chapter 38: Illium
The docking clamps sealed on to the Normandy, the ground team exited the ship, Jack immediately took noticed to Jake, and moved quickly. As Jack approached Jake, Jake immediately saluted to his CO.
"Lt. Jake, Subject 50 reporting for duty sir!"
"At ease, Jake... it's good to see you again."
Jack held out a hand offering Jake a hand shake, Jake accepted it, while giving off a confident smile.
"It's good to be back sir."
May and Leng got reacquainted with Jake, happy to see his platoon coming back to reality, Miranda approached Jack handing him the data pad mission, Jack began sorting through the missions on the datapad.
1: Two Dossiers on Illium.
2: Relocation of Oriana.
3: Information Broker Liara T'soni.
4: Investigation of the Shadow Broker.
5: Debriefing Cerberus Informant.
6: Date with Tali...
Execute Missions.
3,5,2,1,6,4
The crew gathered around Jack, preparing for the mission.
"Okay I want every one to get familiar with Jake, he's a great soldier, perfect for the mission we're on... First step is to meet up with Liara, she has information on two of the dossiers we need for the mission..."
With that said and done, the crew navigated their way through the docking station to the market, Jack was stopped when an unknown Asari called out to him.
"Excuse me Commander Shepard?"
Jack stopped turning his head towards the Asari. then approached her with caution.
"Yes?"
"I have a message for you, an old friend from Noveria."
Jack just stood their quitely trying to think about any one he knew from there.
"It doesn't ring any familiar bells, can you be more specific."
The Asari nodded, her body shook for a second, as she looked at Jack, her eyes went completely white.
"Shepard, we thank you, you who freed us, we sing songs about you, when the time comes our voice will be united with yours, and those who done us harm from the time of great silence, will burn among songs."
Jack narrowed his vision on the Asari, remembering who it was.
"So you survived, the facility..."
The Asari, went back to normal, rubbing her head from the message.
"I was sent by her to deliver this message to you commander."
Jack nodded, and turned around to head towards Liara's office.
"Oh before I go, relay a message to her, keep her antenna's clean, or I might regret letting her leave Peak station"
Jack moved up the stairs, approaching Liara's office.
"Have you ever faced an Asari Commando before? Either you pay me or I'll flay you alive... with my mind" Liara ended the holo chat, she took a sigh of disappointment, before she could sit down she noticed Shepard who entered her room.
"Shepard!"
Liara rushed towards Shepard wrapping her arms around him.
"I... I thought you were dead?"
Hearing that Jack chuckled.
"I got better... Liara I'm an important mission... I need your help."
Liara sighed, letting go of Shepard, and returning to her desk.
"I can't Shepard I have important commitments to make, I'm hunting down-"
"The Shadow Broker?" Jack interrupted Liara, causing her eyes to widen.
"Yes... How did you know?"
Jack held out the information in front of her, which she tried to reach, but Shepard moved it out of her reach.
"Na-uh, first promise me you'll help me with my mission then you get your vengeance."
Liara was in no mood for games.
"That's not fair!"
"Life's not fair, now do we have a deal or not?" Jack replied.
Liara huffed, signaling her defeat.
"Fine you have a deal... what's the mission?"
"We're going through the Omega 4 Relay..." Jack responded calmly.
Hearing that, Liara banged her head on the table showing that she could've found a better way to get to the Shadow Broker, but her friend didn't have time.
"Alright, meet me at my apartment, whenever you're ready of course, I have a few calls to make..."
As Liara left, her office, Jack and the others moved towards the bar called Eternity. The Music in the room was the first thing that Jack took notice; he didn't much care for it though it had a certain tune for it. The crew decided to take a load off and relax, all except for, Leng, May, Tali, and Jake who stood by his side. Jack approached a spikey haired figure who was facing the bar tender.
"Are you really holding out on me? I learned how to shoot a gun by (Notices Jack)…. Commander Shepard?"
Jack recognized the face of his favorite fan, Conrad Verner who wore a Cerberus Uniform.
"Verner you're my Informant?"
Verner nodded his head happily, he couldn't believe that he was alive.
"Yeah, I joined Cerberus shortly after the battle of the Citadel, they believed I could fool anyone by blending in to the populace."
Jack rubbed his helmet's face shield.
"I can actually see you doing that… So…. Operative Verner, what was the information that you had?"
Verner face palmed himself seeing he forgot where he placed the data pad.
"Oh that's right… now where did I put it? ….. Oh here it is!"
Conrad handed the data pad to Jack, as Jack took the data pad he was surprised of how detailed the report was.
Illium Report
Investigation of Fake Cerberus Cells located in Terminus Space, I introduced myself to several operatives by posing as a Xenophobic affiliate, gambit was successful, I was to head towards a undisclosed recently liberated facility… Though I managed to squeeze out what type of facility it was, apparently FCC contracted the Blue Suns to 'liberate' an Ashland facility, by your orders delivered by Cerberus Command, as soon as the retriever for this information arrives, my operations will go silent until contacted again.
-Operative Conrad Verner
"I'm impressed Conrad, this will actually help us in our fight against these instigators… Good work."
Conrad felt he could jump in the air shouting, how proud he was.
"I'll continue to make you proud Commander, don't worry I won't disappoint you and continue to serve Humanity…. I wish I could join you, on your mission, but I'm under orders to go dark until Further notice."
Jack offered Conrad a hand shake, which Conrad happily accepted, Jack pulled him in putting an arm around his shoulder turning towards, Tali while taking off his helmet. Tali pulled out her camera on her Omni-tool.
"Say Cheese!" Tali said happily.
Conrad had the biggest smile on his face, thinking that his dream finally came true. A flashed appeared in the bar, Jack let go off Conrad, leaving Tali to send him the picture.
"That was nice of you Shepard." Stated Tali.
Jack just gave off a soft laugh.
"Yeah, yeah."
Miranda approached the group, signaling Jack to follow her.
"Shepard this is the handler who is in charge of relocating Oriana."
The Asari shook Jack's hand, while paying attention to Miranda.
"Ms. Lawson, there have been complications, on relocating Oriana…"
Miranda caught the tone in her voice when she said Complications, something is preventing Oriana's handler.
"Complications? What's going on?"
The Handler handed Miranda the report file, showing her the information that is preventing her to move Oriana.
"On route to contact Oriana's family, your friend Niket went missing along with the spaceport being taken by the Eclipse infantry Corps, my informants say that they're looking for Oriana, right now and plan on delivering her to your Father."
Miranda dropped the data pad, shock and anger replaced her inquisitive expression.
"What?! Damn it! Shepard, we need to get Niket out of there along with Oriana and her family."
Miranda who was on top of things was freaking out over the problem, that was out of her control, Shepard put a hand on her shoulder, signaling her to calm down.
"It's alright Miranda, we'll handle it… if the entire ground team goes to the space port, they'll probably shoot down, innocent bystanders by mistake…. We'll go in small and quiet, You, May, Tali, (Jack), Jake, and I, will get in and, get Niket out, then Oriana's handler can get Oriana and her family out. "
Miranda tried to collect herself, seeing that things were getting under control.
"Thank you Shepard…." Miranda said with a sigh of relief.
Jack turned to Leng, which Leng was ready to hear what Shepard had to say.
"Leng, you're in command of the rest of the Ground team… concentrate on getting the two dossiers… We don't have a lot of time to waste.."
"Understood." Leng said nodding his head, with a vacant expression.
Jack will get the Next Chapter followed by Leng getting the Next few, questions will be raised, shots will be fired, and assess will be kicked!
RENEGADE ALL THE WAY!