A/N: Half a million views. I freakin' love you guys.

SSV Cambrai, Kithoi Ward Docks

Day 2, 1900

"Alright, last couple crates! Get 'em in, and get outta here!"

Captain Murphy hopped down the cargo ramp as his loaders set to work on the final few boxes of equipment, striding out onto the dock beyond. The docking bay was a hive of activity, the cruiser Pretoria steaming gently in the opposite mooring as techs went to work on her exterior, and marines in uniform black armour set about loading her up. They made quite a contrast to the ragged bunch from the Cambrai, arrayed in human, krogan, turian armour of all colours, or no armour at all - Victor for one, now recovered from his chills on Yasilium, was heaving in a simple black t-shirt as he and Kamur pulled an ammunition crate up the ramp.

The captain himself was exempt, on account of the bloody bandages still wrapping his chest, but he had insisted on coming down to observe. Stretching his shoulders slightly, he wandered off across the mooring platform, settling by a railing on the far side and staring off into the purple abyss visible through the Citadel arms.

"Captain Murphy?"

He glanced to his right, neck cracking slightly in the act, to see another figure in Alliance attire approaching. Tall, well-built. East African, by the looks of him. Buzz-cut hair. Leather strap over one shoulder obscuring his bars. Murphy glanced to the other shoulder, but before he could catch a glimpse of the man's rank-

"Captain Olufemi Fofana. SSV Nairobi."

Murphy nodded, briefly, but his eyes were following the leather strap up Fofana's chest. Large pad on the shoulder to hold it in place, looped down his back and under one arm… holster? Brow rising slightly, he noted the white bulk resting inside.

"M-97 Viper," he observed, in a tone of amusement. "Rosenkov-made. That's not standard-issue for a fleet man."

"SSV Nairobi… and formerly Marine Corps," Captain Fofana smirked, leaning against the railing next to Murphy and likewise staring out into the void.

"Sniper?"

"Tactical weapons systems."

"Uh-huh. Support man. Broad view of the battlefield…"

"…and not so different from the helm of a cruiser, no."

"Marine on the helm. It's like Singh, but younger."

Fofana's brow quirked, as if he alone appreciated the irony of Captain Murphy saying that, but he didn't mention it. Instead, he shrugged, and muttered:

"I served with Nitesh on the Hyderabad. So that's not much of an insult, captain."

"Wasn't meant as one."

The both of them chuckled quietly, and Fofana nodded a few times, agreeably. After a moment's silence, it was Murphy who spoke up again:

"Is this a friendly visit, captain?"

"Business."

"Uh-huh. Singh Jr," he smirked.

"Heh. Quite. You've got your share of the supplies from the Pretoria?"

"Loading the last of it now," Murphy replied, nodding to the loaders behind him. "Appreciate the specialist tech."

"Not a worry," Captain Fofana smiled, waving his hand dismissively. "You have specialists, after all. I'm sure they can make good use of it. The Rio package arrived as well, I take it?"

"Locked up in the armoury. I'll pass it on to my men when they're both fighting fit again. One was, ah… quite badly hurt on Kahje."

"My condolences. A speedy recovery, I hope?"

"Mm. Tough man, I should imagine so."

The Nairobi's captain nodded, and stared out over the edge for a moment or two more, chewing his lip thoughtfully. Then, he turned back over his shoulder, and murmured:

"I'm curious about your ship in truth, captain. She's an SR2?"

"Mhmm."

"Tantalus core?"

"Fresh from repairs and all."

"Aha… quite a formidable piece of machinery. My helmsmen could do with a power plant like that," Fofana chuckled. "We have several other frigates, as I'm sure you know. Good ships, good crews. Agincourt, Ain Jalut, Trafalgar. None of them quite able to match an SR2, though."

"I'll assume the flattery's going somewhere?" Murphy smirked.

"Indeed," Fofana chuckled. "I want you on the vanguard, captain. We've received some new intelligence."

"Oh?"

"The Reapers are pushing faster than expected in the Silean Nebula, as I believe you discovered on Yasilium."

Murphy didn't reply, just nodded, grumbling a little at the memory and the flash of pain in his chest.

"We have supply drops to make on Cyone and over Phoros," Olufemi continued, "but I'm worried about our third, Nevos. It's in the Teyolia system, quite far removed from the rest of the cluster."

"…we can cover that distance quicker than you can," Murphy concluded, presciently.

"Quite. There is a garrison outside the capital, Astella - the city has yet to be hit, but it is only a matter of time. I want the Cambrai in Teyolia as quickly as possible with the necessary supplies, and you have complete freedom of manoeuvre to make it happen."

"Shouldn't be too difficult…" the N7 nodded. "We're almost done taking on fuel. One quick shift at rest, and our helmsmen can take us out in the early morning. We'll be at Nevos by midday."

"Perfect. You have the supplies already - everything in your hold is designated for Astella. The Ain Jalut will be taking a small team of frigates to contact resistance forces on Phoros, while the cruisers and the rest of the force make for Cyone."

"And once we're done? I'll assume it's not safe to broadcast our rendezvous over the radio…"

"Mm, indeed not," Fofana sighed, reaching into the breast pocket of his shirt and drawing out a small datapad. "Give these co-ordinates to your helmsmen. All ships will retreat there once their respective tasks are complete. If no other vessels have met you there by midnight tomorrow, fall back through the mass relay, our operation is aborted."

Murphy nodded, with a slightly grim expression, as he took the datapad and tucked it into his belt. A low hiss of steam had just risen in the background, as the Pretoria's crew began venting heat from her core. Closer at hand, Yui and the other loaders had just pulled the last crate aboard the Cambrai, and were slumping down on the cargo ramp for a well-deserved breather.

"If the rest of the task force does arrive," the other captain continued, "we'll proceed with our objectives as best we can."

"Right…" he muttered, uneasily, and Olufemi caught his expression in an instant.

"Problem?" Fofana murmured, quietly.

"Nothing major. Little uneasy about the smash 'n grab, is all."

"Ah…" his fellow nodded, with a sigh. "I can understand your disquiet. If it helps at all… every man has a line. Nitesh would not have put me in command if he thought I would have to cross mine. We will take what has been abandoned, but we also help those who have been abandoned."

"Hm. Guess that's something," Murphy replied, nodding approvingly. "We'll be in flight by four, captain."