Notes/Summary: More Comm-Room stuff and a peek at how the crew 'suits up' with some interesting back and forth about upgrades and the merits of various weapons. Action will come in the next chapter, no worries.
The ride back to the hotel was rather uneventful. The two made small talk, discussing this and that. When they arrived at the hotel they packed everything up. Shepard called the rest of the crew to tell them that regrettably shore leave was at an end. No one complained. They all seemed ready to move on to the next thing.
"Okay, Joker. Patch Aria through to the comm room," Shepard said as she strode onto the ship.
"Patching her through now," Joker said. Shepard nodded before briskly making her way to the comm room. She stopped for a few spare seconds at the scanner- I really hate this thing- with Ashley and Liara following behind. Miranda met the three in the war room.
"Ah, Miranda. Good. Comm room, if you please," Shepard said, barely slowing down. Miranda scowled a little but followed regardless.
"Shepard. What does it take to kill you, I wonder?" Aria said once Shepard had opened the channel.
"I could say the same for you, Aria. Surviving the attack on the Citadel... not an easy feat. I hear that it's time for you to employ violence," Shepard said, a smile somewhat formed on her face.
"You hear correctly. I have the Blue Suns, Eclipse, and Blood Pack on standby around Omega. But I don't think it will be enough. The Cerberus bastards are dug in and have had plenty of time to get accustomed to the layout. That's where you come in," Aria said.
"What exactly are you wanting me to do? Sneak in and disable whatever alarm system Cerberus has jury-rigged?" Shepard asked, folding her arms.
"Nobody sneaks into Omega, Shepard. They'll see you coming a light-year away," Aria said, shaking her head.
"Oh, I don't know about that. I am after all the Commanding Officer of a stealth frigate," Shepard said.
"Don't get cocky, Commander. We do this my way. No, what I need you to do is distract them so that the mercenaries can board. You can double-back to help for all I care," Aria said sternly.
"You know, I really don't like being a distraction team for anybody. It's hardly worked out for me," Shepard said, frowning. She didn't want to put her crew at such an obvious risk if she could help it.
"You have the fastest and sturdiest ship I know of. And I seem to recall you have a damned good pilot. I think you'll do just fine," Aria said.
"Fine. When?" Shepard said.
"Thirty of your Earth hours."
"All right. We'll be there."
"I knew you'd agree. See you when you get here, Shepard," Aria said, smirking lightly.
The line went dead and Shepard sighed lightly.
"I hope you know what you're getting us into, Shepard," Miranda said from the doorway where she had been standing to listen to the conversation.
"Yep. We're going to kick some Cerberus ass and hopefully get a bit of information on why they're hitting colonies," Shepard said as she turned around then marched out of the room.
"That isn't what I-" Miranda started to protest.
"I know what you meant, Miss Lawson. And your concerns are noted. But we had to get back into the fight sooner or later. This should be relatively easy. There shouldn't be that many on Omega. We can handle it. We've gone up against worse. Besides, we have experience navigating the place so we aren't going in totally blind," Shepard said as she passed the map on her way to the CIC.
"If you say so, Shepard," Miranda said, resigning herself to the fact she wouldn't be changing the Commander's mind. She hadn't been successful doing so even once.
"Joker, set a course for Omega. Time to kick some Cerberus ass," Shepard called out when she paused at the CIC.
"Aye aye!" Joker shouted back from the cockpit.
"Ash, head down to the armory. Make sure everything is tip-top. Liara, I need schematics of Omega to refresh my memory on the layout. Miranda, I need to know who I'm going up against," Shepard ordered.
"Right away, sir," Ash said with a salute before heading to the elevator.
"Of course, Shepard," Liara said, joining Ash on the elevator.
Shepard made her way to the terminal sitting near the galaxy map. Miranda dutifully followed then cleared her throat.
"What exactly do you expect I will be able to tell you?" Miranda asked.
"Who is in charge of the group that took over Omega, of course. How many there might be guarding the place. Whatever you think will help us survive," Shepard said, leaning up against the railing of the galaxy map.
The Commander watched as Miranda furrowed her perfect eyebrows while racking her brain for the information the Spectre wanted.
"Petrovsky," Miranda finally said. Shepard glanced over at the ex-Cerberus operative with an inquisitive look.
"Oleg Petrovsky. He's a Cerberus General. I remember something about how he was dealing with Reaper Adjutants," Miranda explained.
"Reaper what?" Shepard asked, confusion on her face.
"Adjutants. They're a little like husks. They... infect other species and turn them into Adjutants. That's how they increase their numbers. Cerberus was studying a colony of them on Avernus Station. That's probably how Aria was displaced. They got loose and Cerberus used that chance to take over Omega. You've never met one because they'd all been contained on Omega and Avernus Station."
"They... what? How the hell do we defend against something that can infect us and turn us into one of them?"
"Keep your distance and your helmets on, from what I'm aware. Make sure your armor doesn't get any holes in it. I don't know much about the Adjutants or the Avernus Station project. I just know bits and pieces."
"Now would be a great time to have Mordin around..." Shepard said, pain settling in her eyes.
"Actually, if I remember right Petrovsky managed to mop up the Adjutants," Miranda said quickly.
"I'll believe it when I see it. Tell me about this Petrovsky," Shepard said, rubbing her neck.
"He's a general. I don't have as many details about him as I'd like. I do know he is a student of military history. He knows his tactics. He's a formidable man because of it which is probably why he was chosen to take Omega. He is however most likely blind without the Illusive Man's aid," Miranda answered to the best of her ability.
"Heh, well too bad for him but I studied military history too. And you don't go through OCS without learning a few tactics," Shepard said. Miranda regarded the Commander with a frown.
"Don't underestimate him, Shepard. The Illusive Man picked him for a reason. If he was able to displace Aria then he is a threat. A big one," Miranda said.
"Yeah, but I highly doubt he's worse than a Reaper. I'll get it done, Miranda. Don't worry," Shepard said.
"I have complete faith you will, Commander. I just don't want us to suffer any casualties. It would be a hell of a time to lose somebody."
"We won't. Don't worry. If you could send me the dossier on Mr. Petrovsky so I can look it over a bit more, I'd appreciate it."
"Of course, Shepard."
The Commander gave a light smile to the ex-Cerberus Operative then squeezed her shoulder softly. "Thanks."
Shepard turned then headed off to the armory to check over her armor side-by-side with Ashley. The upgraded N7 armor that she had used during the Collector business then fighting Reapers after the invasion of Earth had saved her life many times but she always worried that the next bullet would pierce it. After the final push on Earth she had needed a new set of armor with better upgrades than the previous set. The new set was black, red, and silver like the old set but the paint stood out a bit more, showing its relative lack of age. She rapped her knuckles on the chest plate then smiled to herself. She did a double-take when she noticed that Ashley had pulled out a set of armor that was dark blue. Ashley had not gone through the N7 program, sadly.
"What're the specs on that?" Shepard asked.
"Armax Arsenal cuirass with Serrice Council modifications to the pauldrons... Standard issue officer gauntlets though. And my legs are protected by Kassa Fabrication provided greaves. Then I just have your standard issue shit-kicker boots," Ashley replied, smiling a little bit as she tucked her hair behind her ears.
"Ah. Yeah. Armax updated my cuirass too. Kassa Pauldrons, though. Armax Gauntlets courtesy of the N7 program supply chains. Ariake greaves to aid in running and jumping and climbing. Then there's the N7 boots," Shepard said, proudly but not smugly. She knew that her supply chains were different than Ash's. Shepard had been a Spectre longer and had the ability to call on her N7 clearance to get the high-shelf stuff. She had tried to buy her crew top line equipment but some of it was just out of her reach even with the favors she could call in.
"Figured your shit wasn't something those of us lower on the food chain could hope to get," Ashley said. She didn't look as put out as her words made it seem.
"I did try to get you guys some good stuff," Shepard pointed out.
"Yeah, I know. And I used it. Managed to scrape together some money with my increased pay for the damn torso armor. Good thing too," Ash said.
"Yeah. Maybe we'll get even better stuff now that we all saved the galaxy," Shepard said, smirking to herself as she checked for any cracking in the armor. It was silly, since it was practically brand new straight out of the box. But it was a habit that had probably saved her life a couple of times. Once again, her fingers traced the N and the 7 emblazoned on the breast.
"So long as the stuff we have keeps us alive," Ashley said. She almost cradled the blue cuirass to her chest. She put it down then picked up the M-76 Revenant. Shepard had secured it back during the Collector Crisis, as some had taken to calling it. The Lieutenant-Commander could still remember when she had rejoined the crew after Udina's coup attempt and Shepard had told her she had gathered a few new weapons that the second human Spectre could feel free to use now since she hadn't had the chance to refit on Mars.
"I never did get to ask, how does the Revenant handle?" Shepard asked, glancing over at the weapon in her XO's hands. Shepard had used the Avenger for a long time before finally being gifted the Valkyrie, a weapon made for use by N7 soldiers. But she hadn't tested the Revenant.
"Without the use of my suit's VI... a little bit better than crap. With it? It's a dream to use. It packs a whallop and the size of the thermal clip you can use in it makes sure I can lay down surprising fire until the cows come home... And then Garrus gave me a new barrel for it from Armax. I think it blows your N7 rifle outta the water," Ashley said proudly, spinning the weapon in her hands like one would at drill practice.
"Not with the new mods I had installed before our final push on Earth. Pretty sure it eeks forward," Shepard said, smirking.
"Well, we'll just have to see while we retake Omega won't we, Commander?" Ashley challenged.
"Copy that, LC."
Shepard picked up the Black Widow, smiling to herself. She'd never been a big fan of sniper rifles until she'd teamed up with Ash and Garrus. She'd used it to some pretty great success sniping Cerberus and Reapers alike. She unfolded the sniper rifle. Hazel eyes looked over the weapon.
"I remember once upon a time you said you'd never use a sniper rifle because you liked to look your enemy in the eye as it realized it was done for," Ashley said, reaching out to take the rifle from her commanding officer. She looked it over, her fingers trailing along the grooves in the barrel.
"That thing saved my life a few times. It takes a sniper to kill a sniper, right? Cerberus apparently recruited a bunch of snipers on steroids and speed," Shepard said.
Ashley smirked a bit to herself before turning a couple of knobs on the rifle. She then brought the scope up to her eye. A smile formed on her face then she handed the rifle back.
"Maybe now you can snipe a few more Cerberus bastards with your scope actually in focus," Ashley said.
"I... what? Hey, I killed a lot of Cerberus bastards with that rifle exactly the way it was!" Shepard defended.
"And let me guess you had to compensate a lot when you found the bullet wasn't going where you'd aimed?"
"..."
"That's what I thought. You're welcome."
Shepard cradled the Black Widow, her brows furrowed. "No wonder Garrus kept making fun of me," she said, dejectedly. She hated showing she wasn't an expert on every weapon out there.
"Don't worry about it, Skip. It's fixed now," Ashley said, smiling before turning her gaze to her own sniper rifle, the Viper.
"You know, I do have a rifle you could use instead of that one. The Valiant," Shepard said.
"Why don't you use it?" Ashley asked, checking over the barrel of the Viper.
"I like the Black Widow. And the Valiant has the distinct lack of the same stopping power the Black Widow does and... I see your point," Shepard relented as she caught the look on Ash's face.
"Not to mention the Viper automatically ejects a spent thermal clip. The Valiant doesn't which makes me slower to line up the next shot," Ashley said, using a cloth to clean the scope on the rifle.
"Fair enough. The option's there. The Valiant barely has any recoil, though. Something to think about," Shepard said, folding the Black Widow up then setting it down.
"I'll keep it in mind," Ashley nodded.
The two turned as the elevator doors opened.
"Ms. Lawson. Welcome to our humble armory!" Shepard said, smirking a little bit.
"Is Mr. Cortez here?" Miranda asked, her eyes searching.
"Right here, Ms. Lawson," Cortez said as he appeared around the corner.
"Were you here this whole time we've been looking over the gear?" Shepard asked, turning to look at the man.
"I was checking over the Kodiak's eezo core. Didn't even know you two were here," Steve explained. He turned to look at Miranda. "I got the replacement parts you wanted for your Hornet."
"So the tip was good. Thank you, Mr. Cortez," Miranda said.
"Replacement parts?" Shepard asked, a little puzzled.
"Some of us aren't able to carry half our body weight in weaponry all over the galaxy, Shepard. And if I'm going to accompany you, I need to make sure I'm not slowed down by my weapons. Mr. Cortez had the solution: find lighter parts for my gun. So here we are," Miranda explained before taking the small box from Cortez.
"Do you... need any help fitting the parts into the-" Shepard began.
"I think I can handle it, thank you," Miranda cut her off before walking to the work bench behind Shepard. The Commander turned a little bit then shook her head somewhat.
"Oh, speaking of upgrading weapons. Did you get that new auto-targeting software yet?" Shepard asked, turning her attention back to her requisitions officer.
"Sorry, no. Armali is holding tight to it," Cortez replied with a helpless shake of the head.
"But I have the damn license for it!" Shepard said, frowning.
"Yeah, I sent them the info and they said no," Cortez said, shrugging.
"Maybe Liara can talk them into it. I could use that software with this new fight against Cerberus..." Shepard mused to herself.
"Good luck. I did get a new stability damper for your Valkyrie though," Cortez said, making his way to one of the boxes stacked next to the Kodiak he had been working on. He removed the stock from the box then returned, handing it over.
"Thanks, Cortez," Shepard said, smiling. She took the stock then went to grab her Valkyrie.
"I'm done here if you need the table," Miranda said, holding up the Hornet that now seemed to have streaks of red to its body.
"Thanks. Get some rest," Shepard said, taking Miranda's spot at the table.
"Might as well. Make the trip go faster," Miranda said. Ashley blinked a little bit in surprise. That was new... normally Miranda would've resisted the request. She dropped her gaze back down to her Wraith and she checked the bayonet she had affixed to the end when Miranda went by.
"Shepard," EDI's voice pierced the silence that had fallen over the armory.
"Yes?" Shepard asked without looking up from her Valkyrie as she fitted the damper on.
"We are due to arrive in the Omega Nebula shortly. Where would you like us to port while we wait until it is time to help Aria retake Omega Station?" EDI asked.
Shepard paused what she was doing as she went through the map in her head. Cerberus would probably detect them if they went straight to the Sahrabarik system. There was no way she wanted to go to the Amada system... That's where I lost the first Normandy and I'm not putting the crew through that...
"Take us to the Fathar system when we get to the Omega Nebula. Since I cleared out the Eclipse on Lorek it may be a good idea to pause there," Shepard said.
"As you wish, Shepard," EDI said.
The Commander returned to fitting the damper on. Once it was placed she picked up the weapon and looked it over. There was nothing more that could be done. Her weapons were all in good shape, her armor was perfectly fine...
"All right. Everyone get some rest. I don't know if anyone moved back in when I cleared out Lorek. So be ready. Cortez, make sure the shuttle is fueled and we've got the cannons working," Shepard said, clapping her ungloved hands together.
"Semper paratus, Shepard. Semper paratus," Cortez said, nodding a little. It was a throwback to the fact that the Marines the Alliance had modeled them after had used 'Semper Fidelis'.
Shepard put her weapons back in the locker and brushed her hand along her cuirass. She then went to the elevator, followed closely by Ashley. In seconds they were on the crew deck level.
"I'll see you when we get to Lorek, Commander," Ashley said. Shepard smiled and nodded.
"Get some rest, LC," she said.
"No need to tell me twice," Ashley said before heading off.
Shepard rounded the corner then headed to Liara's quarters. She knocked on the door then touched the button to open it. Liara was at her desk in the far corner closest to her bed. Shepard's gaze turned to the empty spot in the row of monitors. Guilt hit her as she remembered she was the cause for the empty spot.
"Oh, Kate. I didn't hear you come in," Liara said, turning slightly in her chair.
"Sorry, should've said something when I came in. Do you have the layout for Omega?" Shepard asked, crossing the distance.
"Yes. Here, I'll upload it to your omnitool," Liara said, hitting a couple of keys on the terminal she was working at. Shepard's omnitool buzzed moments later and she brought her arm up to accept the transfer.
"Thanks. I'll look over it tonight. We're heading to Lorek to wait out the rest of the time before we distract Cerberus for Aria," Shepard said.
"Lorek? Ah, of course. Seems like a sound decision to me. It will give me a chance to look over my armor and weapons, too," Liara said.
"Yeah, that's what Ash and I were doing. I hope you got some better armor, the stuff you used during the final battle seemed a little flimsy to me," Shepard said.
"Ah! So you would say! My armor happened to have upgraded shielding and my barriers were more than enough and... you were poking fun at me," Liara defended.
"Just a little bit," Shepard admitted, grinning lightly.
"If you must know, father sent along a set of Commando armor while you were in the hospital on Thessia. Its shielding seems more than adequate and the VI is very helpful in finding a target for my biotics. It also monitors my vital signs."
"Good. We'll need it. I'm going to head up top for a nap after I look over these plans. Please get some rest too."
"I will. I just have to check up on a couple of my operatives."
"All right," Shepard said. She leaned down and gently kissed the asari's forehead. Her bare hand cradled her lover's crest softly, earning a soft murmur of delight from the other. "I love you. Good night, Blue Angel."
"I love you too. Good night, Kate," Liara said, leaning up to kiss her human lover gently on the lips.
Shepard slowly pulled her hand from the young asari's crest then headed off. It was time to get a good night's rest before the action ramped up.
Behind the Scenes:
Before anyone asks, I'm not making anything up about the Adjutants or Petrovsky. This was all laid out in Mass Effect: Invasion. You may also be wondering how Cerberus can still be a threat since so many were Indoctrinated and/or fitted with Reaper tech. This will be explained shortly.
The armor descriptions (as in what they improve) are slightly different than what can be found in the game. Also, I figured with Ash being a Spectre that meant she could get somewhat better armor though still a little 'weaker' than what an N7 soldier Spectre like Shepard would ("They get the best equipment, the best assignments..."). In the case of the greaves... why would they help with a *punch* when they're on your *legs*? Thus, the change.
I also tried to tailor the weapons so that nobody was using the same gun as the other person. Admittedly, this means that I have had to work very hard to match their skills with the weapon. I also felt that limiting your squad to two weapons and not being able to change what type of weapon combo was a bit weird. Especially if the squad had a different weapon proficiency when you first met them in previous games. So far only a couple of things have changed. If they have powers that help wield a weapon that was brought in to my 'equation'. If you think a weapon doesn't fit a character, I would love feedback on it.
Shepard will, in the next few chapters, display powers that span more than one class. This is on purpose and is meant to show that Shepard has become more well-rounded as a Spectre out of necessity.
Also, in case it isn't clear OCS refers to Officer Candidates School. I assume they have such a thing for Alliance Marines. Semper Paratus means 'Always Ready' (in case context clues failed) and is currently used by the United States Coast Guard.