Chapter 23: Espionage
As the newest subcontractors for the Blue Suns, Garm and Linn sat in a room with a number of others. After their recruitment on Omega, Thane and Jack were told they had to attend this orientation meeting, happening offworld.
It took nearly three hours to reach their destination, but sitting in a cargo bay didn't reveal anything to either of the operatives. They were joined by two other crew teams. One was headed by a Batarian by the name of Nayrob who had two Vorcha with him that thought of snarling as a hobby.. He put on a tough guy persona. The other was headed by an Asari female, and she had a Salarian with her. She said nothing, nor did her associate, but when Jack looked her direction, she stared right back into her.
The small freighter they took dropped out of orbit and onto some planetary service. Even though they couldn't see, the familiar deceleration of an approach made this much clear. She looked over at Thane who seemed completely in another world. If the rumors she had heard about the Drell were right, he could be in any thought he ever had before. Who needed holovids with a memory like that?
Touching the surface, Jack heard a voice come over the intercom saying. "Welcome to our base of operations. It's windy and cold out there, so you'll want to get inside quick once we land. Understand?"
With no further warning, the doors opened and a blast of cold air flew into the cabin. Having no choice but to assume it was safe to breathe, she found herself wondering just how much value the Blue Suns placed on the people they hired.
First out the door went the Batarian led team. They jumped and ran quickly.
The Asari made eye contact once more with Jack, inviting her to go first. It was a test of wills with this one, but she wouldn't choose her fight here.
"Come on, Garm". As they exited the vessel, they both looked upon a bleak world with dark orange skies. It was rocky, apparently devoid of any plant life, and had howling winds.
Using her abilities, she placed a biotic shield around her and her companion as they walked forward. She asked him, "Does this place look familiar to you?"
Thane shook his head in rejection, "I've seen worlds like this, but have no idea where we are."
"I'm sure we'll find out soon enough."
Less than a quarter kilometer in the distance, there was the front of a building she could only presume was the base being mentioned. It was built into a rock face where you couldn't see it from three sides, perhaps to avoid detection, so the two prepared to walk.
"If you want, you can come with us," she offered to the Asari.
Hesitating, the Asari considered her own situation, and said, "Thank you," as her own partner walked a few steps behind her.
Leaving Thane to assume a similar position, Jack introduced herself using her false persona. "The name's Linn. My partner is Garm."
"Astara," she responded. "The Salarian is named Helicon."
Wanting more information, Jack tried to ferret out a little more information from her cohort. "So what brings you to this hellhole."
"Money," she said. "The same reason we all do this."
As they walked closer to the door, Jack said, "We'll see if it is worth it, though. This isn't what I call a professional introduction."
Answering the question with a shrug, Astara and her companion said no more. When they reached the door, they entered first, leaving Jack and Krios to follow.
While the outside looked abandoned, the truth was clearly different on the inside. They had to pass through a security screener, and there were mechanized weapons at the entryway. Behind them, there was a single elevator. Each team was waved through the scanners after being checked they did not contain any illicit weaponry or recording device. Krios would be an advantage here, and she noticed his eyes take everything in they saw.
As the elevator descended through many levels, she concluded whomever had built this facility must have hollowed into the mountain. Such organization suggested military involvement from her experience, and she had a flashback to her own time in a secret facility. Pragia was a hellhole, and she was glad to see it destroyed.
Jack lived her life in the open, not hiding who or what she was, largely because she had been forced to conform so much to what others wanted for her. She let herself smile slightly thinking how she was pretending to be someone else today, but that a place like this deserved special recognition. She was certain Zaeed would have some ideas about what this place could use for some redecorating.
When the elevator finally opened, the teams were ushered through a grand hall with monitors and consoles throughout the room. There were dozens of Blue Suns members moving about, as well as a nearly equal number of Batarians dressed in some uniform with which she was not familiar. She looked around in the disinterested fashion mercenaries usually adopted, but wondered just what was the use of this place.
Whispering to Astara, she said, "It looks like this is where they keep the heavy guns."
Her efforts to establish a rapport rebuffed with a cold glance, a person wearing a Blue Suns uniform came up to them and said, "No more questions. You will be briefed on your missions, and be given choice of crew and vessel. Follow me."
With heavily armed guards everywhere, no one in their right mind was about to disagree, but Jack would have questions answered before she volunteered to do anything for these people.
They were led down a long hallway and then told to sit inside a conference room. Inside, there was a datapad at each of the chairs, as well a larger monitor at the head of the room. Once each member had taken a seat, the monitor turned on.
There was a human face before her, a man in his middle age, dressed in Blue Suns armor. "My name is Vido Santiago and I am the Commander of the Blue Suns. Each of your command units have been brought in to take our members on raiding operations here in the Artemis Tau Sector."
Nayrob spoke up saying, "I wasn't told we were going to be operating under such scrutiny. I'm a mercenary and this whole operation stinks of the military."
Jack couldn't agree more, but Vido responded, "You will have your choice of targets once your crews are selected, and will be paid the agreed upon amounts. Our outfit has a working relationship with the Batarian installation you are visiting, but you will have your own separate space for the duration of this contract."
Astara spoke next, "I was not aware of any time limitations on this deal. In fact, I think we would all like more of an explanation."
Vido got angry as he said, "You're mercenaries. You're not being paid to think. You're being paid to raid space vessels, collect supplies, and get rich." Softening his voice a level or two, "No one has ever accused the Blue Suns of not taking care of our people. I realize you have been subject to certain inconveniences, and for that, you will be well compensated."
"How well?" asked Jack.
"Double what was promised. Plus we're going to have first line vessels for you, with my own men under your command."
Nayrob smiled like the Vorcha who accompanied him, "Now that sounds more like it."
Vido smiled as well and said, "We pay well for those who serve us well."
As the person on the monitor looked at each of the teams, Jack found herself wondering just where she was, where he was, and what was going on.
"I will be handing you over to Field Commander Juxsun for the details, but before I go, I want to make sure you're all content with our new understanding."
Though there was some grumbling, everyone nodded, leaving the Blue Suns leader to say, "Good."
The screen faded away, and the door to the room entered. A Batarian of larger than average size entered the room wearing a Blue Suns decorated armor. He looked like someone who had seen his share of fights.
"I'm here to brief you on what is happening. Our main base is located here on Edolus in the Artemis Tau Sector. In the coming weeks, what we are going to do is grant each of your teams vessels to be used in quick strike missions against shipping targets of your choice."
Looking explicitly at Jack as he said this, "As some of you may know, the Alliance has taken it upon themselves to bully the Batarians after they destroyed one of their world. Our primary target will be their supply convoys. Does anyone have a problem with this?"
The only Human in the room, she realized quickly they were gauging her willingness to attack her own race. She responded, "I've never lived in the Alliance, and they haven't done a damned thing for me. I work for who pays best."
Thane chipped in, saying, "It won't be the first time either of us has spilled their blood."
The Batarian nodded and accepted this explanation.
"Excellent. I would hate to have had a misunderstanding damage our working relationship."
The threat was more than implicit, as Jack knew she was in deeper than she intended. While her impulses were to run at the first real opportunity, being surrounded by Blue Suns and with only Thane to help, she would have to pick her moment carefully. That said, there were also many opportunities here, and she wanted to know what was happening.
"Avoid the larger ships. We don't know what forces will be entering this sector, but you won't have the strength to fight them, and they will kill you."
The Asari spoke up, saying, "I don't intend on getting anywhere near an Alliance flotilla. Do you have any intelligence on where they can most easily be hit."
"You'll have enough weaponry on your ships where you should be more than a match for our scouts. You'll have a trained gunner at the helm to follow your direction," responded Juxsun.
"What I don't understand is this," said Astara. "If you have all these capabilities, why do you need us?"
"Because if you get caught," said the Blue Sun, "you're expendable."
Sensing the discomfort in the room, Juxsun addressed the issue directly. "Ladies and gentlemen, you have two choices: Do your job well and get rich. Or die. Whether it is by our hand or by a phaser strike, I trust the rules of this game will bring out your very best."
Nayrob smiled like an idiot as his Vorcha snarled. "I'm the best at killing. I can be your hunter."
Astara offered a smile that seemed not quite right, but Jack said, "I'm not speaking for anyone but me and my partner, but dying is for some other sucker."
Juxsun said, "An attitude that will surely extend your life until after this conflict reaches a satisfactory conclusion. I must leave now, but you'll be escorted to the main hangar, where you will meet your crews."
After the Field Commander left, the three teams were being shepherded out of the room and toward a bay where there were three vessels. Thane whispered to her, "Those are Turian attack frigates. The model is about ten years old, but they're good for raiding operations."
Jack listened to this, and wished she had more of an opportunity to meet with Astara. Her intuition told her the woman wasn't any more comfortable with this arrangement than she was. But it would be impossible to talk now. They had to select their crews.
Truth be told, there wasn't much to distinguish one team from another, so Jack shot a few dirty looks at one group, asking some questions about their toughness, and took upon that team. Each team was made up primarily of Batarians, with some Humans mixed in as well, and an occasional Turian. If she had to guess, she would have said these were low level recruits who had flushed themselves from whatever military they previously served.
She could work with them, and recognized she would have to do so as her life was now in their hands as much as her own. Until something changed, the game would hang in that balance. But she knew she would need some space as they already suspected her just because of her species.
Calling Thane to her, she said, "Garm, let's see if these ladies are any good in a fight. I want to get up there and get my share."
Krios nodded and directed the crew aboard the vessel. Quarters were tight, but there was a full bridge and an empty cargo bay in the back. As promised, the Blue Suns wanted to get whatever materiel they could obtain.
Jack went to the bridge and found two Blue Suns officers on deck. Each stood and presented himself.
The pilot was a skinny guy with a bald head who looked to be about thirty years old. "The name's Richards, and I'll be your pilot."
"Are you any good?" she asked.
With a suggestive attitude he said, "You're not quite my type, but if you want me to show you, we can find out."
Jack smiled in return and went really close to the man. "Lieutenant," she whispered, as she grabbed his manhood and squeezed very hard, "Disrespect me again aboard my ship, and I'll feed this to you."
He gulped and winced as he meekly said, "Yes, ma'am." She released him as he backed away.
The gunner, taking the hint said, "Lieutenant Chebek, ma'am. You tell me where to shoot, and I'll hit the target."
"Excellent," replied Jack.
She told her team, "You might be Blue Suns, you might be something else, but let's get one thing straight: On this vessel, you're mine. You do what I want, when I want, and how I want. Or you end up like the Lieutenant."
Pointing to Thane, she said, "This is Garm. He's second-in-command, and you will follow his orders like you follow mine. He doesn't talk much, so if he tells you something, you better know there is a good reason. It might save your life."
"What we will be doing will be very dangerous, and I suspect all of us are considered expendable. I've survived warrants on twelve worlds, and six prisons, because I know how to live. Stick with me, and we will live and get rich."
The crew was nodding as what she was offering was something everyone could appreciate. The only ones who seemed not to do so were the two lieutenants, but she expected as much from those who were more indoctrinated. She would have ways to work on them.
Truth was, she didn't find Richards that unattractive. It had been a long time, and Jack knew one way that always worked to win a man's loyalties.
As she dismissed the crew to their duties, she told Richards, "I'll see you in my office, now."
He was clearly terrified for what awaited him next, but Jack found that utterly intoxicating. Before she led him away, she told Thane, "Get this thing up in the air as soon as we can, and send a message to Astara. Maybe we can work together."
Jack figured she had about twenty minutes to persuade the Lieutenant to work with her. What no one knew is if he was lucky for her intervention or not.
Author's Note: Thanks for your continuing reviews. It'll be interesting to see where Jack takes this situation, but things are going to heat up real quickly.