~ I don't own mass effect, Bioware and EA does ~
11.03.0005
Omega System
Turian Battle Cruiser
Yano L'voke grinned and sat herself down next to her Human counterpart, tired from sparring with her Commandos and deciding to watch for a bit. Though from the look on her friends face she was thinking up something interesting and probably completely unconventional. She could also guess what Zaire was probably thinking about.
"So, what completely unconventional ideas have you got for this big thing? I mean, what are you gonna need a Battle Cruiser for anyway?" Asked L'voke, grinning at her Human friend in anticipation.
Said Human snorted in amusement, "I got some ideas." Knowing full well that the Asari Commander wouldn't let up until she had thoroughly picked her brain on the matter.
They were sitting on some metal cargo containers in the Battle Cruisers cargo bay, both Commanders were watching as the other Commandos did light training and exercises, making use of the space to keep in shape and giving those bored something practical to do. The flare of blue biotics giving the place a flickering blue tinge.
"Ideas? Come on Ze, you can giving me more than that! I know you have something good, you have the same look in your eyes as when we were on Yuopra. And that time over 200 Batarian slavers ended up dead with minimal casualties."
Zaire grinned deviously, letting the Commando stew for a bit, but relented after a few seconds, "Liara has been digging into her contacts in the Republic's military scrap yards, and has managed to get hold of enough scrap Solaris Armour for the Cruisers plating."
Yano gave a bark of surprised laughter, and grinned back at her Human friend. Solaris Armour was developed by the Asari just before the War had started, and was rated to take on dreadnoaght level mass accelerator fire and cruiser level Thanix fire. Nobody had found anything other than Reaper Armour that could hold up against a Dreadnought level Thanix cannon, though there was only 4 ships that carried that level of fire power.
"Goddess, are you armouring this ship or building a mini Citadel?" Yano asked sarcastically, leaning back on her arms and swinging her legs over the edge of the container.
Zaire returned the laugh, standing and stretching her legs, sighing as the pleasant feeling of stretching stiff muscles caused her to smile.
"If we ever get in a space battle, then by the time anything's managed to get through both the upgraded barriers and new armour, we should have crossed half the Traverse."
The Asari Commander grunted in amusement, "and what about the main gun?"
"Getting rid of it."
That surprised the Commando, causing her to twist around to look up at her friend.
"What?"
The Human shrugged, "I don't need it, and the space can be used to add extra FTL capacitors, which will let us bug out quicker if shit ever hits the fan."
The Asari was quick to point out the obvious down side.
"But you lose your main offensive weapon!"
Shepard smiled, shrugging helplessly, "I'm not going to be needing the Cruisers main gun Yan, it's going to be able to take the hits until it can hit FTL and run. Plus, it won't piss off the Council as much if it's only got defensive capabilities."
"Yeah, maybe you don't need the fire power now, but what about 50 years down the line, or 300?"
Another shrug, "Yan, if I need the fire power of a Cruisers main gun, then chances are it's already a shit situation and that the best option is retreat. And you also forget, the hanger has room for 3 Frigates, if I need fire power, I'll arm them with Thanix Cannons, Frigates are far more maneuverable and a hell of a lot quicker."
Yano nodded, seeing that her friend had thought the situation though and had covered all bases.
"Fine, you wanna help me with this lot? I'm sure there's a trick or two you could show while kicking their asses."
Zaire smiled, "sure, I could use the practice, it's been a while since I've practiced some of the more advanced marshal arts I've learned over the years."
Omega Station
4 hours later
The Turian Battle Cruiser slowly made its way to Omega's docking areas. The smaller, poorly maintained ship's common to Omega's trade lanes buzzing around like flys, until Aria's Black Fleet gave it access to their private docking station, thus stating it was under The Queens protection.
Twenty minutes after the ship had docked with the station and the Queen of Omega herself stood at the airlock, flanked by a dozen visible Commandos, backed up by Rampart mechs, obviously scavenged from Cerberus's old occupational mech force.
The air was buzzing with nervous anticipation, not helped by the Cruisers Guardian Laser System, which was visibly tracking Aria's commandos movements with mechanical precision.
Aria herself however, appeared bored, and was casually typing something into her Omni-Tool and tapping her foot impatiently.
The airlock door panel changed from red to green, giving a small beep of warning before the doors slid open, revealing a Human Female, surrounded by 5 of her own commandos, all fully armoured and armed with rifles, although both clearly out gunned and out numbered, they walked out calmly, giving off an air of indifference to the firepower being pointed around the room.
Reaching Aria, the Human waited calmly as the Queen kept typing, Asari Commandos fingering weapons and preping biotics. Finishing whatever she was doing, Aria closed the Omni-Tool, the bored expression never flickering, before calmly speaking.
"Did you know that the Council has put out a request for information on a rogue Turian Battle Cruiser, apparently it's very important to them."
The Pirate Queen then gave a devious smirk, "a shame that I can't locate it, the monetary reward alone could buy me 2 Battle Cruisers of my own."
Behind her helmet, Zaire grinned, keeping up the sherade, "I agree, but sadly it could have gone anywhere, it's such a big galaxy we live in."
The Asari gave a low chuckle, she had always liked Shepard, she lead from the front, wasn't afraid of getting her hands dirty, and could actually back up what she said with real action. The galaxy made her out to be a saint, but in reality Shepard was an opportunist, she would take any advantage so long as it was useful, apart from slavers of course, but Aria understood where the hatred came from, and respected Shepard for her control over it.
With a flick of her wrist Bray walked over and did the scan, you couldn't be too careful, IR were practically everywhere and anyone could change their appearance to look like someone else with a decent doctor these days.
With a grunt of confirmation, Aria waved her people off, they were loyal to her, but the less who knew that a Galactic War Hero was on her station the better.
With most of her guards gone, Shepard's commandos appeared to relax slightly, though they kept their guns in hand and heads rotating, Aria noted that they were probably Commandos who had abandoned the republic to fight in the War. Highly experienced, properly trained, and highly motivated, they were probably even better than her own personal Commandos.
"Been a couple years Shepard, got bored being dead again?"
The helmet split, revealing the humans grinning face.
"Alliance hospitality got a little clingy, thought I would take a walk and see how the galaxy's been doing."
The Asari nodded, before moving her attention to the ship the Human had arrived in, giving it a more detailed look.
"How'd you get hold of a Battle Cruiser? It's marked as Blue Suns, but I haven't heard them whining about any stolen ships."
Zaire joined Aria in observing the ship, making notes of battle scarring and other ware and tear.
"You hear of a group called Orthius?"
The Asari grunted, "yeah, caught a few agents going by that name, some Cerberus knockoffs apparently."
Zaire gave her own grunt of affirmation, "yeah, idiots attacked and destroyed the station I was on, plus anyone else that was docked there, so I took their ship as payment."
The Queen shook her head, "if they had a Athame be damned Battle Cruiser, then they're better equipped than I thought. I'll keep a bigger eye out for them."
Aria finally turned to face Shepard, "so Shepard, what are you doing back on my station?"
Zaire smiled, "I need the Cruiser refitted, quietly and with no record. Omega was the best choice to keep away from the God damned Council and any Orthius presence."
Aria nodded, seeing the Humans point. While Zaire gestured to the main hanger, which had opened while they were talking.
"It's got enough space to house a couple Frigates, and its Guardian system is Hierarchy standard, but it needs newer armour plating and better kinetic shields fitted."
Aria looked contemplative, listening to Shepard as she made her request, outlining what man power she needed, and after a few minutes of silence she spoke.
"Alright Shepard, it'll get you the man power and equipment you need, consider this payment for helping me retake Omega, now were even."
Shepard nodded seriously, "Liara is working on getting the materials needed, new sensory equipment and software upgrades, oh, and fixing the hole in life support as well."
The Queen of Omega simply querked a tattooed eyebrow in question. Zaire however, simply shrugged.
"How else do you kill the entire crew of a Battle Cruiser with a couple Asari Commandos in only 10 minutes?"
Aria simply smiled, "you are one of a kind Shepard, in all my years I've seen anything and everything, but you always have a trick hidden and waiting."
Said Human just grinned, "all part of my charm Aria, I'll let you get back to Afterlife, I've got a million and one things to do and I'm sure you do too."
The Asari pirate Queen nodded, and turned, walking away and throwing "until next time Shepard" over her shoulder.
Once Aria was gone, taking the rest of her Commandos with her, Zaire sagged slightly and sighed. She was always tense when dealing with Aria, the Asari was as likely to help her as kill her, but her promises were never broken once made.
"You okay boss?" Asked one of the Commandos that had accompanied her.
Which the Human replied with a grunt, turning and heading back into the ship. Liara had wanted to see her as soon as possible, something about the Council wanting to speak to her.
10 Minutes of elevator music later and Zaire made it to the small collection of rooms Liara had taken for her own on the crew deck. Nodding to the two commandos that were standing guard, Zaire heading in, finding her Asari at the small bank of computer screens that had been attached to the same desk she had been at for the last week.
"Liara?"
When given no answer, Zaire walked up to her Asari and noticed that she was slumped slightly on the desk, gentle snoring indicating that she had fallen asleep while working. Again.
Instead of waking her up, Zaire turned to look at what she had been focusing on.
2 of the monitors was what Liara had on Orthius, but the others had data on the Council. With notes on meetings and separate opinions of the individual Councilors, as well as the Board of Directors.
One of the monitors was displaying the transcript of a private Council meeting. Unsurprisingly, the topic was Zaire herself, though what was surprising was what they were talking about her for.
Apparently they wanted to speak with her personally and Zaire had to repress a snort of amusement, imagining how a in person meeting with the Citadel Council would go.
Though as she thought about it, talking with them now would be useful, she could make it clear that she didn't want her job as a Spectre back, at least no now.
She could also get the Asari to back off as well. She and Liara couldn't settle down on Thessia if the republic was sending assasins after her.
And from what Liara could see, the Alliance was being handled well enough without necessary intervention, leaving them with their focus on getting the Asari Republic sorted out.
But before Zaire could think any more on the subject, Liara's breathing pattern changed, and Zaire knew she was about to wake.
"It's okay Li, it's only me."
Her Asari mumbled something as she slowly opened her eyes and sat up, clearly still tired.
Zaire quietly ordered Glyph to save and shut down the monitors, and gently picked up her girlfriend, who snuggled into her neck and fell back asleep.
Though Zaire hadn't lied to Aria when she that she had a million and one things to do, Zaire still climbed into bed after laying Liara down, and wrapped her arms around her Asari and began to doze.
Though she still had nightmares often, Liara could normally sense her bondmate's fear and unconsciously meld with her, soothing her mind and keeping her sleep peaceful.
And after a few minutes, Zaire joined Liara in sleep, both feeling content that they had a future together to look forward to. Without Reaper, Assasins and mercenaries getting in the way.
12.03.0005
Thessia - location unknown
The Holo flickered to life as the QEC gained input from the other end.
"Athames ass. You really do want me to go though with this, don't you?"
The speaker was angry, though at what was unclear.
"Of course, Asari superiority is threatened. There is only one course of action."
The other voice, older, didn't care who lived or died, so long as the objective was completed.
"I don't care about the Human, I'm talking about the location."
The older speaker didn't care about the location either.
"She will be there soon, and Shepard will most likely be aware of our actions. We must deal with her quickly before she tells the rest of the Council."
"Fine, I'll get it done, though it'll be on the Goddess Damn news for months."
"I don't care who knows about it, we cannot allow her to live."
The connection was cut, and the older speaker sighed. The Asari had maintained superior to the other races for over 4,000 years. Some primitive Human would not change that.
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