Halo New galaxy Ch5 New Comrades
28th June 2554
Inner Citadel space, Citadel, Presidium
Everlasting Night Bar
Ren looked over to the entrance to his bar as three newcomers arrived. Humans. He blinked with interest. He had never served humans before, barely seen them in fact. Rumors said that a lot of humans were xenophobes. Off course he never paid attention to rumors but, they had to start from something. Some small truth. But with Everlasting Night being a popular bar for C-Sec on the Presidium he wasn't worried about a fight. They wasn't going to let anyone wreck their favorite hangout.
"Hello there," Ren Plik greeted the humans openly. "Welcome to Everlasting Night, the perfect place to get a drink on the Presidium. Including getting a bite to eat if you're hungry."
His friendly gesture fell on deaf ears as Major Hathaway and his men didn't even pay him any attention until they sat down at the bar and had to talk to him.
"So, what you got xeno?" Hathaway asked.
Ren ignored being called xeno and moved on with a smile.
"Almost everything you could think of," he assured him. "Except-"
The major interrupted him.
"Whisky, two and a beer for the kid," he gestured to the youngest of them. The man glared at his superior but stayed quite.
Ren thought carefully about his answer.
"Never heard of Beer, or whisky. Sorry," he apologized. "I don't-"
"What the hell you got that?" The annoyed major asked.
Ren cleared his throat.
"As I was trying to say, I don't have human drinks, which I presume those were. But I do have everything form Turian Brandy-" the men snorted in disgust of the mention of the Turians. "-to Ryncol."
"Ryn-what?" The man beside Hathaway asked, frowning.
Ren waved him off.
"Krogan drink. Strongest on the Citadel actually. Probably the only one the Citadel. At least the Presidium. It wasn't my best business idea to buy those boxes. Give that Krogan usually aren't allowed up here and nobody else-almost-drinks the stuff." He put a datapad in front of Hathaway. He's the full menu."
"Ryncol sounds like our stuff," Hathaway decided. "Three glasses. Now."
"I don't think I could give it do you in good conscious," the bartender explained.
"Why the fuck not?" Hathaway demanded. Angrily.
"I don't even know if you can drink it. It's lethal for Volus and-and-"
"Do I look Volus to you?" Hathaway grabbed the Salarian by the color of his shirt and half-pulled him over the bar.
"Easy, sir," one of the ODST tried.
The scene caused enough stir to make three Turians in C-Sec armor to spot the situation.
"Not these guys again," Garrus groaned. "It's been a fragging day." He cleared his throat as he and his two colleges strolled over. "Okay guys, put Ren down."
Hathaway recognized Garrus and glared daggers at him. He let go of Ren and stood and stared at Garrus. He had a challenging look. Garrus could tell he was waiting for a reason to fight. Unfortunately he had to give it to him.
"Time to leave, now," Garrus said.
But Hathaway shook his head vehemently. "You have to knock me out for that xeno."
'There it was,' Garrus thought. If these guys wanted a fight, it was time to give them one. He was taking them into custody. His trail of thought was interrupting by a groan from Ren.
"More humans, grand," the Salarian bar owner groaned.
A human female in her early forties had entered. Her blonde hair was snagged entirely on the left side on her head and her dark brown eyes looked at the obvious conflict warily. She wore cargo pants and a dark green sleeveless shirt that showed off her muscular arms, her abs and her muscular form overall. She was definitely the tallest human Garrus had seen so far. With over two meter in height, she was standing above the three ODSTs and the Turian C-Sec officers.
"Beating a xenos no crime in the UNSC," Hathaway said with finality.
"You're not inside UNSC space," an officer informed him warningly.
"Which means you are under arrest," Garrus said and stepped forward. He reached out towards the Major.
As expected the Major threw the first punch. Garrus blocked his fist and raised his arm to block a second blow. At the same time the soldier on his right rushed the officer standing opposite him. The third officer helped taking down the man. When Garrus blocked a kick he saw the third and youngest soldier backing off. Thankfully he was smart enough to avoiding fighting local law enforcement.
Garrus kneed Hathaway in the groin and punched him square in the jaw. The tall human woman ran into the midst of the fight and to Garrus relief grabbed Hathaway's arm and held them firmly behind his back.
"Fuck you doing, Pam!? What the fuck!" Hathaway cried out at her in shock and rising frustration.
He kicked, twisted and jumped around for five seconds to get lose. That was, until the female-Pam-used her strength and body weight to force him down on his stomach.
"Just stay down, York," she told him with a hard commanding voice. "You've already caused a potential interplanetary incident."
"You just striked a commanding officer! I'll have end your career!" Hathaway was screaming bloody murder.
Garrus looked to the other soldier and saw him restraint by the two officers. He wasn't quieter and accepted the fact he had been handcuffed. Looking at his face, Garrus could clearly see that he realized how bad an idea this fight was.
Garrus took a knee beside Hathaway and Pam and while she moved slightly, he handcuffed the major.
"Next time," another Turian suggested. "Don't start a fight in our favorite bar. Some friendly advice buddy." He patted the human on the back and picked him up off the floor. He looked at Garrus. "Well, this one could be problematic." They both turned their gaze to Major Hathaway.
"I'll end your career!" Hathaway cried.
"We'll see what Shepard thinks about all this, sir," Pam replied simply. She looked a bit smug. She got up and pulled Hathaway with her. "Need some help escorting him to your lockup, sir?" She asked for whichever C-Sec officer would respond.
"We got him, but thanks for offering," one of them assured her with a smile. "We'll escort him." he turned his head to Garrus. "Catch you later Vakarian."
They pulled the furious and screaming human and the other one away outside into their aircar to get him down to C-Sec headquarters. The third ODST who hadn't actually done more than being present was allowed to leave. Ren offered him a free glass of Turian Brandy.
The muscular and tall human female turned to Garrus and snapped off a salute.
"Captain Pamela Hendricks, UNSC," she introduced herself.
Garrus returned the salute.
"Garrus Vakarian, C-Sec. uh, stands for-"
"Citadel Security Services," she finished. "I read up before we got here."
"You work with, eh…him." He nudged his head towards the door.
"Yes," Hendricks confirmed.
"Serve under Lieutenant Colonel Shepard?" He asked.
She nodded firmly.
"Correct. I command ODST Bravo Company, Hathaway Vector Company." She exchanged her smile for a harder face. "I know it's no excuse for his behavior, but he lost everything in the war. When he was six his parents was killed on board a Carrier. His mother was the CO and fathers in charge of engineering. He grew up with one of his uncles, until he deployed got KIA." She paused. And gestured if they should sit down.
Garrus responded with a nod. He was interested to hear the sad story behind the Majors behavior. The picked an empty round table with soft leather sown into the chairs backs.
"He moved in with his other uncle, an ONI scientist. Between being ten and sixteen his three sisters and two brothers was all reported KIA," she continued. He joined up himself when he got to the big sixteen. Age requirements got lowered from eighteen since the need for manpower was so great. That ONI uncle? Got killed the years he sighed up with the Marine Corps back on Reach."
Garrus leaned forward.
"No family left?"
"Not after Covenant glassed Reach," she replied solemnly.
Garrus frowned, uncertain if he wanted to know. But he asked anyway.
"Glassing? What's that, exactly?"
She took a deep breath. "Well," she said in profession voice. "The Covenant annihilated a lot of our planets during the war. Wiped out every living being, plant, animal, everything. We called it glassing since they left nothing left afterwards but glass. Planets became uninhabitable. With no plants to sustain life."
Garrus was disgusted and horrified to hear that. He couldn't even imagine what the UNSC had been through. What kind of war they had fought.
Before he could think of an answer worthy of using after that revelation, she said, "I have to go. Should probably inform Colonel Shepard and Ambassador Udina about the mess Major Hathaway potentially caused."
"Off course. I'll see you around Captain," he said and added a firm nod.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Vaelor looked over the terrace from the Presidium commons where he currently sat with an amazing view of the Citadel. As always it was sprawling with life. Across from him sat his counterpart for the United Earth Government. Ambassador Udina. It was still the ambassadors third day on the Citadel and he wasn't sure to any of it yet. Just getting where he was trying to go would be a nightmare if he didn't have people who knew that. His secretary Meila had all eyes on what he did not.
Udina swallowed the piece of meat he chowed.
"Hmm. This is pretty tasty," he admitted.
"Then I won't tell you what it is," Ambassador Vaelor joked.
Udina chuckled lightly.
"If we were to continue yesterday's discussion on those Mass Relays of yours," Udina said, sipping from a glass of red wine from France, 2468.
"We could," Vaelor supposed. "I'm just going to reiterate that the Citadel would accept a trade treaty involving us showing you how to use the Mass Relays, if, your people provided us with Slipspace technology. It is quite superior to our present FTL capabilities."
"Hmm," Udina responded. "And I'd have to respond by saying that the military and ONI portion of the assembly would never allow our Slipspace technology to fall into your hands."
"We are supposed to strive towards peaceful coexistence and cooperation," Vaelor said.
"And after twenty-eight years of war, we're skeptical to trust any aliens. The civilians are more or less willing, but they need to be unified in that if the military portion aren't to vote them down. Plus, a lot of Councilors believe that the military will reassume its dictatorial control if they disagree with the civilian portions future doctrine." Udina eat some interesting vegetables on his plate.
"Then, I would said that we could always negotiate with someone else," the Salarian said.
"With whom, I'd say, chuckling at the ridiculous statement," Udina followed swift. "The Jackals will swindle you, the Brutes will butcher you and the Sangheili-"
"Are establishing an embassy on the Citadel," Vaelor interrupted.
Udina stopped and stared at the Salarian.
"What?" He asked.
"I see you hadn't heard. But yes indeed. Arbiter Vadam agreed to dispatch a diplomatic delegation for long term relations with the Citadel. In fact, they seem open to the idea of trade."
Vaelor continued eating calmly.
Udina stared for a few moments more before breaking free from his trance.
"I see," he said.
If the Sangheili gave them slipspace drives it could push humanity out of the equation and make the Sword of Sanghelios the Citadel races main trading partner. For Udina that meant that humanity had to hurry up and sign a treaty of some importance with the Council. The treaties signed at Shanxi was barely finalized and was extremely lose in their meaning. Especially the treaty of cooperation. In basis, it meant the UNSC agreed to help the Citadel races battle any remnant faction encroaching on their territory, but in reality, they had promised nothing. Which Vaelor knew signing it with them, but it was a-tiny bug-step in the right direction. But it seemed time was running out for the UNSC to make their move.
"You should definitely try this fish next time," Vaelor suggested.
"I do miss the fresh Salmon from back home," Udina told him. "Maybe this alien fish is a good substitute."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It had been an hour since Shepard found out his XO had been arrested in a local bar. He knew York Hathaway had problems with aliens but he never thought he'd disobey orders to quell his little thirst. Was he slipping? He should have realized Hathaway couldn't handle it and ordered him to ship off the station back to Rio and the rest of the 29th with the rest of the Sky Hoppers, as his Battalion called themselves.
If he wasn't brought up on charged he'd put him on the first UNSC transport out of here and he considered demoting him. He wouldn't accept this kind of bullshit pulled by a Company commander. When you went up the ranks you lost the privilege of starting stupid xenophobic fights. In fact, being an ODST held you to a higher standard than the Army, Marines and Navy boys. He didn't count Spartans since they obviously were the best of the best. And the best of the best was always held to a higher standard.
Although a lot of ODSTs didn't like Spartans he didn't mind them. Never really had. Granted when he became an ODST he was swept up with the hatred for a while but then he served alongside a few Spartans. That changed his mind about them.
But right now he'd do almost anything to not think about York and his stupidity. Going to a local bar seemed a damn good idea. "Everlasting Night". Name didn't sound too bad, after he got it translated by a friendly bystander. A short guy in a dark brown suit, with a rather ball-like figure. But he didn't know the species name. He had been briefed on the major races, and gotten info about the rest but he hadn't gotten through it all yet.
The lighting inside was dim, dark blue light that lighted the place up well enough. Tables was placed out inside, some small two person round and a few long for dozens of people. A few employees moved about, a few people was sitting and eating, or just enjoying a drink. Behind the bar stood a Salarian.
He seemed happy and chipper enough. Until he saw Shepard. His smile fell for a moment. He muttered something that sounded like, "Another human". He put together that this was the bar where York and PFC Örjan tried punching the local law enforcement. Thankfully Corporal Negan had been smart enough to stay out of it. Captain Hendricks intervention probably saved some problems, and might have shown a few minds that not all humans were dicks. Just a few of them.
"Colonel!" He heard the familiar voice of Vakarian.
Shepard turned and saw the Turian approaching him from a small round table.
"Vakarian," Shepard shook his hand and smiled. "Had some problem getting here, till I asked that AI…"
He noticed Garrus frowning. Than he got it. "OH, Avina, she's a VI, not an AI."
"That like, a dumb AI?" Shepard asked.
"More or less," Garrus supposed. It sounded about right anyway. "If dumb AIs mean that she's not sentient, just a smart program, no self or that Ai stuff."
Shepard had to smirk.
"You're not an AI expert, are you Vakarian?"
Garrus laughed.
"Not one bit. What obvious?"
"'Fraid so."
Garrus gestured for them both to sit down and half turned to the bar.
"What you drinking?"
"Eh, I don't know any of your drinks, so…surprise me."
Garrus grinned and waved at Ren behind the bar.
"Get us two bottles of Turian Brandy and two glasses!"
"Off course Officer Vakarian," Ren acknowledged with a smile.
Shepard took another look around the comfy bar. He saw a few Turians and Salarians sitting at a table. Although they didn't wear their armor and C-Sec equipment, they had the look of law enforcement over them. To the trained eye anyway. One of them had several scars on his face, battle scars.
"So, how is it working for C-Sec Vakarian?" Shepard asked.
"First, call me Garrus, saves time, secondly, apart for the occasionally wall of red tape, and more and more red tape as far as the eye can see, not too bad." He shrugged lightly. "Got excellent equipment, training, best personnel."
"Fair enough," Shepard referred to the first. "Then call me John." Garrus nodded. "Hard to get employed here, I'm guessing."
Garrus nodded and leaned over the table.
"You bet. This is as prestigious as it gets around here. Firstly you need you need to convince a Councilor or Ambassador to even get a shot at all the interviews and psych-evaluations. Then, almost everyone who applies has to have years of distinguished service in the military or as law enforcement. Only in except rare exceptions has it happened somebody got in without it."
"I'm guessing they had to show exceptional talent for that to happen," Shepard guessed.
"You bet John," Garrus confirmed it. He gestured up in the air with his hands. "Most rookies start out here, in the calm Presidium. Putting green recruits into a Ward might turn lethal in a bad situation. Getting the rookie, senior officers or even civilians killed."
Shepard looked the Turian up and down.
"You don't strike me as a rookie," he remarked.
"Good catch," Garrus smiled faintly. "I was on the Zakara ward up till a month ago. Transferred back here after a fatal shooting took five experienced veterans from us. With a batch of new officers arriving, HQ needed someone to take their place. Someone with equal years of experience."
Shepard nodded solemnly. "I'm-" he started but paused when Ren came over with a tray with two glasses and two bottles of Turian Brandy.
"Enjoy gentlemen," he said politely with a smile.
"I'm sorry," Shepard continued. "What happened?"
Garrus released a sigh and shook his head.
"C-Sec got a call about a guy with an assault rifle strolling down the street towards an apartment section. Send down three officers to check it out. It was an old Salarian, former STG. Went off the radar four years ago without a peep to his loved ones." He shifted slightly in his seat. "He started opening up on the guys the moment he saw them. Clipped one of them in the arm. They called for backup and kept up the firing to keep him from targeting the innocent bystanders that was still scrambling for safety."
He paused and opened the bottle and poured until his glass was full. He drank about a fourth of it.
"When reinforcements arrived they followed in inside the apartment building. The injured officer stayed outside with medical personal that arrived as the backup did. Anyway they followed him into his apartment, after putting two rounds in his leg on the way up. They…they hacked the door panel and then…bang. Old bastard had rigged something in his apartment, blew it up. Thankfully it wasn't large enough to break the walls and injury and innocent but it did kill the officers. Except the lucky one who got shot in the arm. If he hadn't been shot, he'd have died with the others."
Garrus leaned back and took a deep breath. "Getting shot was his lucky break."
"Damn," Shepard took it in. "Why did he, do you know?"
Garrus shook his head. "No idea. Whatever made him do it, probably happened during his four year absence. In this job I've learned that sometimes it doesn't take much to tip some people over, and that some people are just all-out nuts."
"Amen to that," Shepard raised his glass after pouring it full.
"Amen?"
The Colonel shook his head. "Cheer, ok?"
Garrus smirked. "I can get behind that."
They hit their glasses together and Garrus emptied his while Shepard left half remaining.