Citadel
Normandy
The loft was quiet. The only sounds were soft bubbling and occasional splashes from the aquarium. At her desk, Shepard signed off on the last requisition order and pulled up the next file. It was from engineering, she saw, not exactly a favourite document to wade through. She was more than glad to be back on the Normandy, however. Away from the grieving pall that took over the ward. She was expecting it ever since Tevos spoke of the impending announcement from Thessia.
It was as bad as the time during the Reaper War, when the station was one giant can of fermenting apprehension. She could not walk several paces without overhearing anxious discussions, the strain in sharp voices, private quarrels that became strident. Feeling the undercurrent of foreboding, the cries of the pain and lost among the refugees, the soldiers. Those who would fight put on a brave front, carrying on with their duties. Almost frenzied in their drive to maintain a facade of calm while underlying fear threatened to take away their resolve. How had the asari borne it when the beat of emotions was so palpable to her?
Once the news from Thessia broke, the atmosphere was similar. It was fortunate that only one ward was active and there were places to get away to. Her own apartment offered no such refuge. The usually animated and chatty asari were mostly silent. Their conversations were hushed, they sat in quiet observance. Now and then they went about their business in a restrained manner.
When she went out for walks with Liara, it was the same with the rest of the asari populace. The contentious topics of the TI and the political wrangling in forums were overtaken by long lists of memorials, subdued discussions of the prothean scrambler and whether its effects were taking place on other homeworlds. If it were, was the same sort of dissolution happening to the other TI?
She was glad to get away from it. Visiting Hannah offered some respite. Her mother was better. If she completely recovered her memories, she wasn't displaying any of that brickwall she usually carried around with her. Liara visited daily with Delenn. Maybe the baby was knocking holes in that wall. She could manage a complete and pleasant conversation with her mother on mundane stuff now instead of stiffly running through the oft repeated list of the right stuff to talk about. A beep from the intercom interrupted her musings.
"You have an incoming call from general Vakarian from Palaven, sir," the comm officer said.
"Put it through." She picked up her mug of coffee, took a sip and leaned back in her chair, glad to be distracted.
Garrus took one look at her and the surroundings. "Back in the driver's seat already?"
"Unless you're in permanent exile, those little yipping reports will always sniff you out, no matter where you are," she grinned at him. "Right now, yipping is something I can handle."
"How bad is it?"
"I'm lucky it's just one ward. The crew isn't so deeply affected which is the reason why I'm hiding here."
"What wouldn't I give to borrow your shoes," he rumbled.
That got her attention. "What's the news?"
"I think the asari got the softer end of the stick. We're seeing something of an effect here that we're attributing to the scrambler but it isn't anything like what's taking place on Thessia."
That made her sit up. Putting back the cup of coffee back on the table, she leaned forward. "Are they running amok?"
"Spirits," he sighed, "they're crazed. They're fighting each other and us without any kind of planned strategy or any thought of self preservation. It's a mad rush at any target they see, throwing everything they have." His head fringe flattened in his agitation. "I've seen everything in the war. I thought I've seen it all but this. They're savages. We lost several outposts that were close to their bases. They used their purloined shuttles and skycars as missiles," he nodded at her muttered imprecation.
"They overwhelmed defenses, there's only so many that can be shot down. They seemed to have lost their perception of friend or foe so we're pulling our front lines as far back as we can to encourage them to focus on themselves. They still have some that seemed a little more mentally sound coming at us but they're a mere handful compared to the thousands out there. It's a slaughterhouse."
"I'm sorry, Garrus," she said sympathetically.
He sighed. "We're strengthening defenses around the reclaimed cities just in case they could run that far. When the asari sent that unofficial notification, we thought the same thing was happening here when the TI went quiet. We want the conflict to end but we never expected such a reaction. We were expecting them rendered incapable of fighting on such a scale." There was a note of bewilderment in his voice.
"I think the Salarian R&D division never saw this coming either," she said slowly, working mentally at the puzzle. "The scrambler duplicates are an approximate match to the original device, that's one of the reasons they delayed mass deployment. Its program was supposed to speed up the rate of atrophy. The report on the TI sites on Sur'Kesh during the testing procedure showed a near identical outcome of passive self-destruction but they may have failed to factor in the unique psyche of different species."
Garrus blinked as he struggled to assimilate what she was implying.
"The asari tend towards a passive attitude, preferring cooperation, consensus, community," Shepard said. "It's their innate nature so the TI on Thessia reverted to that instinctive behaviour. They headed for home instead of fighting."
"But we're different," he said, comprehension clear in his eyes. "We're a war-like species."
"It's speculation," she cautioned. "We'll have to wait for results from the other homeworlds."
"It's a damn good speculation. Can you imagine the carnage if the Reapers decided to indoctrinate than wipe out the krogans? They won't even need the genophage."
Shepard shuddered. "Carnage is right."
"Do you think it could have been different if the salarian researchers were given more time to test the scrambler?" he growled.
"It might but then, again, I'm guessing. If it's true, I guess the salarians have to come up with some good shields."
He snorted. "They're going to need big ones. Everyone's all fired up on the scrambler in ending the TI conflict, they know the pressure is going to boil. They insisted on using testing sites on Sur'Kesh. Yes, the scramblers we're using are not perfect duplicates. All the more reason they should have carried out simultaneous testing procedures on a small scale on every homeworld right off." His talon flashed towards the screen on his end to emphasize his points. "Adjustments would have been made but they restricted it to Sur'Kesh. Who knew what went on down there? Who is going to wait the minute they hear of success?"
"Would it surprise you that some of the salarian researchers wanted different test sites?"
"What?" He stared at her.
"Kirrahe let drop there was a conference among the researchers but due to security and political concerns, the idea was dismissed."
"Conniving dalatrasses!" he said contemptuously, identifying the problem immediately. "Ensuring all their eggs are hatched instead of smashed. You can be sure there will be questions from the Turian Hierarchy to the Salarian Union."
"We don't need another war," she said, a little taken aback by the intensity of his acrimony in his tone. "We don't need to land Kirrahe in hot soup either."
"That wily campaigner?" Garrus scoffed. "Don't worry, the mess on Palaven is question enough. You can be sure there's going to be some ice going the salarians' way."
"How long is the reaction going to last on Palaven?" she asked delicately, steering the topic away from the salarians.
"Perhaps another few more days. We can't tell if there're any holding out against the scrambler. We won't know until everything dies down." He heaved a heavy sigh. "What's done is done. The important thing is it will end. After so long." Another sigh. "So, what is happening with our young comrade?" he said, deciding to change the subject.
"Thinking things over. It's a tremendous shock to find that she's an item of controversy."
"That's better than I expected." When Shepard looked at him in silent query, he added, "Thinking, not lashing out."
"She's a sensible girl." A bark of laughter erupted from him. She waited for him to settle down before adding, "She needs a lot of time to accept the terms of her situation, get used to the idea of her future. When she decides to accept the offer, I will feel better."
"I thought you were certain of her."
"I am but I'm also a realist." She shrugged when he grinned maliciously at her.
"I for one, will be extremely please when she settles down. We don't need fresh floods when the present torrent dies off. Time to live and breathe," he said. "What's next for you?"
"I've got a couple of interviews lined up. No schedule for those yet, I'm in no hurry," she said. No, definitely in no hurry to meet the Rachni Queen or the krogans. "Right now, everyone's on indefinite shore leave until we get something from Omega."
"I'm not sure we're going to get a clear picture," he said meaningfully.
"It's the best shot we have but I agree. We're not going to get anything more than what has been given to us."
"Do you think he has left by now?" Garrus stared hard at her when she didn't answer.
"Possibly," she said noncommittally.
"But you don't think so," he persisted, "do you?"
"Call it a hunch or a feeling in my bones. No, I don't."
"What're you going to do?"
"Nothing."
"You're not thinking he's going to try to contact you?"
"At this point, I'm just shoring up the fort. That's all I can do. I'm not going to waste my time trying to chase him down out there." She flicked her fingers at the bulkheads. "Don't worry, I've got eyes out," she assured him when he still looked worried. "Do you think you can get away in a couple of months?" she said, changing the subject. "A few days, you won't be away for too long, I promise."
"A few days? Is that all I'm worth to you?" he demanded in mocked outrage before cocking his head at her as he mentally tried to approximate his schedule. "Not certain but I think I can. Scratch that, I will. What do you have in mind?"
She leaned forward. "You're going to like this." She grinned at him almost conspiratorially.
Earth
Antarctica Base
Langdon sipped his coffee slowly. It was near as rich and fragrant as he remembered it, without that acidic bite of the brew commonly served at the base. He wondered if the Old Man knew the efforts his steward put in to scour better provisions for him. Not that he had to try very hard in some quarters. Some suppliers were more than happy to trade their best stuff when they knew where their wares were going. He eyed Hackett over the rim of his cup. Yes, he's definitely looking better. He put the cup down on the coffeetable when Hackett shifted slightly, a sign that the Old Man had finished reading the report.
"Hundreds of projects and not a single element applicable anywhere for decades," Hackett said dryly. "It's a miracle the links weren't cut. Propping them up must have cost them a substantial hole in their reserves."
"They were after something. Unfortunately I've no idea what it is," Langdon admitted reluctantly, watching Hackett's face intently. When he didn't display any signs of alarm, Langdon wondered what he knew. "I don't think we have anything of use to them in our archives and R&D."
That was more of an assuring statement to himself than Hackett. A lot of effort had gone into working out the reasons for the data theft. Other than Terra Firma playing a card to rid themselves of Binery Helix and checking up on potential Alliance technological developments that could pose an obstruction to them, there wasn't many other plausible theory to go on.
Hackett didn't disabuse him of that notion. "Any sign of that merchant freighter?"
"Nothing after they translated. No freighter at Noveria matched the missing vessel. Other than posting a VOI (vessel of interest) at every spaceport, there is nothing more we can pursue at this point. I'm afraid the merchant freighter isn't the only target we can't track," Langdon said unhappily. "The eyes planted at the core are not disseminating any data. It's not clear whether they're jammed or taken out."
"Nothing at all?"
"We did have the hour long scans before the relay went dark. It confirmed initial readings that Avernus station was moving toward the accretion disc. Further analysis detected hidden thruster ports and an energy field from a power source. They remained undetected until they went online. With the only gateway closed, we have no way of finding out where exactly it's heading for." Langdon tried unsuccessfully to keep his disappointment hidden.
"We can send a small expedition via the long route but that is a project further down the line."
"You're writing them off, sir?" Langdon said in consternation.
"Pulling our scope back where we can handle matters quickly and easily," Hackett corrected. "There are no further pick ups from the beacons planted by Aria?"
"None. They went off the beaten track once they reached the Pylos Nebula. We extrapolated they were heading towards the Terminus Systems. Despite our best possible predictions and deployments, the beacons went silent. Something must have happened. Either they realised they were being tracked or they used a jammer."
"You don't think something catastrophic happened to them."
"It's pretty hard to miss a debris field from more than fifty freighters, sir," Langdon said. "Not least the energy residue they'll leave behind."
Hackett agreed with that assessment. "Where do you think they could have gone to?"
"I don't think we can assume the usual game plan with this group," Langdon said slowly.
"You don't think they're not here. As in here, in this galaxy." Hackett was pleased that Langdon's expression was receptive, indicating that he too, had given this plausibility some thought. The young officer was a different mold from the unsettled officer who fumbled uneasily at the reins six years ago.
"It's easy to hide in the galaxy but it's also going to get a little more chaotic and crowded in the future. With the Geth and Rachni in play, expansion is going to be extensive. Someone will inevitably stumble over them. If they have a way to move out to a better secured sector, I'd expect them to take it."
"That is what I thought, sir, when I read the mission reports," Langdon admitted. "We haven't found the repository of everything that Cerberus unearthed in their projects or learned from the Reapers. The Reapers might not have shared a lot but what the Illusive Man did at Sanctuary proved he could find ways to circumvent the restrictions. Terra Firma had the foresight to put their people in the right place, inheriting everything when Cerberus folded. All the unexplained events at the core indicated they could have learned a lot more. They will want to expand, make use of that knowledge and this galaxy, is not the ideal place to carry out their projects."
"A new place doesn't necessarily mean they wouldn't find opposition but it might be less than what they would get if they remained." Hackett frowned at the datapad in his hand. "What do you have in place for this drawback?"
"Sir, the only thing we can do is watch and continue to progress. The seeded sentry probes are on a monthly rotational schedule." Langdon relaxed slightly when Hackett only nodded. "If they're uprooting, I think we can also cautiously write off the purloined ships. If they retrofit them to whatever technology they're using, those hulls would provide adequate protection."
If they could believe such a premise, they could stand the home fleet down from the alert status they were maintaining for the past weeks. The crews were weary. Hackett more than sympathised but could they take the risk?
"The Board should have no objections to standing down," he said, coming to a decision.
Most of the officers would be more than glad to get their people off the edge. Khan would surely have something to say. Nothing he couldn't handle. He made another notation to bring up another matter on his notepad, it was as a good time as any to settle the question of the transition of high command at the next meeting.
"Sir, I've been looking into the abduction reports from the human colonies."
"You don't think they were kidnapped or that the perpetrators were TI."
The Old Man never misses anything. "I think the missing colonists are Terra Firma adherents. We've been analysing their private files, correspondence and found evidence of steganography. The so called kidnap incidents was nothing more than a smokescreen to allow them to leave without attracting attention."
"And the numbers that left are more than enough to start a viable colony," Hackett said. "I wish them luck." A flash of surprise jumped in Langdon's eyes. "They're going to need it. If they do make something for themselves, it means we'll have a problem swinging back in a couple of centuries. We've better make sure whoever is holding the reins is prepared and that means the foundation we lay down now is durable. How is the new ANI (Alliance Navy Intelligence) core coming along?"
"It's ready to go online next week. Once the ATC (advance tactical course) facilities are completed, data link will be established with the secondary core. We're still ironing out how much data we can release for the simulators with the training board but we're pretty certain the new modules are going to be more robust than the old."
"That I can believe," Hackett said.
The old module simulations usually pitched turians as the opposing force. The other was batarian. Either one was a tough gauntlet in the battle simulations. Winning was a possibility. The opposition in the new modules would put the participants on their mettle; winning was impossible. Winning, however, was not a factor in passing the module. Far from it. He wondered if the officers would realise that. How would Shepard fare in the ATC?
"Any problems with the municipal transition?"
"Mostly none although I think most of the enclave leadership are surprised that they're now responsible for their own local security and law enforcement." Langdon smiled faintly. "After so much criticisms of our inflexible management, I thought they would be pleased at getting the autonomy they were screaming for. Their reaction is decidedly timid."
A humourless chuckle escaped Hackett. Inflexible hardly describe the diatribe sprouted by Alliance opposition. Tyrants, despots were oft the accusations.
"With presidential elections in the works and Parliament elections, they'll be too busy to feel afraid."
Handing the reins back to the local governments lifted an enormous load off the Systems Alliance, whether the populace realise that or not. They could now focus on urgent issues that had to be addressed quickly.
Heading the list was rebuilding the navy. It would take at least ten years before they could form the core of a second fleet. With new intakes, there were more personnel than ships. A relief to beleaguered crews but detrimental in the long run. Inexperienced hands need to get a feel of active duty, not sitting around looking smart and wiping consoles. Where would they get the ships?
"How many hulks do we have in the local scrapyard?"
Hulks? Langdon called up the data on his pad, wondering why Hackett wanted to know. "It's a mixed bag. Ten cruisers with their hull relatively intact, thirty frigates, fifteen freighters and the rest in bits and pieces, mostly fighters. What do you have in mind, sir?"
"We're in need of working hulls to season the new intakes."
Langdon understood what he was worried about. "I would need an estimate from the yard-dogs but given how short-handed they are and how badly damaged those ships are, I think it's impossible to get even one hulk repaired by next year."
Hackett sighed. So much for that notion.
"But-," Langdon said slowly as a glimmer of an idea sparkled, "we can try seasoning them at other places."
"What do you mean?" Hackett asked keenly.
"Sir, don't you think it's time we have a more involved exchange with other navies? We have cooperated with the turian, asari and salarian on various research projects, ship architecture and construction. During the Reaper War, our forces have combined very well with theirs to repel enemy forces. I do not see why we should not continue these mutual military exchanges during peace times."
Now why hadn't he thought of that? Hackett mulled over the proposal.
"The turians are going to be very touchy if we put our people on their ships and vice versa. The asari may not but," he continued before Langdon could reply, "it's a good suggestion. Since we already have Shepard acting as military adviser with the asari, it behooves us to continue in that vein. I'll sound out my counterparts and see what they have to say."
He made another note in his datapad to arrange a meeting with the Citadel Council and the other military leaders. There was much they have to discuss.
"Any problems with the shipyard workforce?" he asked, bringing up the next subject. He settled down a little more comfortably in the sofa as Langdon perused his datapad and began to rattle off his report.
Citadel
Delenn cooed and waved her hands in the air as she peered around at the colourful foliage as Hilia held her. A far cry from the quiet, almost apprehensive mood that had held her at the apartment. Liara couldn't blame the little one. The air was so thick with mourning that she herself found it almost difficult to breathe. She would have gone with Shepard to the Normandy with Delenn except that she knew her bondmate needed some breathing room of her own so she did not. When the message from Feron came, she all but jumped at it. She would be glad to see him, to know he was safe and yet at the same time, she was wary.
The drell was easy to spot. Seated in plain sight on one of the benches along the path, it was hard to miss him. Hilia headed for another footpath with Delenn, the commandos that accompanied them following in her wake as Liara headed for Feron wtih Hiaras.
"Hello Feron," Liara greeted as the drell stood at her approach, examining him with a critical eye as she did so. Thinner than she remembered and slightly off colour. Was he ill?
"Liara," he nodded. "I was half expecting you to refuse to see me."
"Why would I refuse? How are you feeling, Feron?" She sat down on the bench. Hiaras sauntered off, not too far away that she couldn't keep an eye on the drell.
"I will be lying if I say I feel fine," he said without humour, sitting down but kept a good distance between them, aware of the commando's wary attention. His large dark eyes swam with liquid emotion as he looked at Liara. "I'm glad to be here."
"Oh Feron, I am sorry," Liara said with heartfelt regret.
"You did warn me. It's not as if I didn't know what I was heading for," he sighed. "Was my earlier information on the corporates helpful?"
"Yes, it went a great deal in alleviating trade tensions and improving the welfare of those who needed it," she said, knowing he wanted to hear he had done something productive. The pinched look around his mouth eased slightly. "Do you know what drew attention to yourself?"
He shook his head. "I'm not sure. I was following several leads. I could have triggered something in any one of them when I went sniffing around."
"How were you captured?"
"In my bolt-hole. They were very thorough. I was knocked out while trying to get out through one of my pre-laid escape routes." His eyes blinked rapidly as he remembered the stink of the gas.
"And then?" she prompted when he fell silent.
"Nothing. I knew nothing until I was woken up," he rasped. Even without looking at his rigid posture, his clenched hands, Liara could feel his stress coming across strongly. "You said you thought I was missing for two months. I think I was gone longer than that."
"But I received-," Liara began to say before she cut herself off.
"The code that I would first use when I was out of contact. I think they knew everything about me, about you."
"Yes, given that they were affiliated with Cerberus." She pressed a hand to her brow. She ought to have anticipated that particular point. She should have and she knew why she didn't. She had no one to blame but herself. "The first code was sent, then the second. When the third did not arrive, I began a search but by then, it was too late."
"Yes," he nodded. "Liara-," he waited until she took her hand away from her face to look at him. "I don't blame you. Like I said, I knew the risks when I chose to do what I do. No regrets."
Taking a deep breath, Liara felt a little better. "Did you know where they took you?"
"No. When I came to, I didn't have the time to check and frankly, I was too muddled and furious to think clearly. The person who spoke to me, Omnicron, didn't give me much opportunity to do anything. Nothing on the shuttle was of any use to me but the droid he sent along. Once we reached our target, everything on the shuttle was erased."
He wanted to blast the droid out the airlock, something, once contact was established with the Citadel forward scouts but he couldn't when the droid revealed it had vital information for Shepard. He could have screamed in fury at his ineffectuality, he hated it. How it reminded him of the time when he was held helpless by the Shadow Broker.
"By the One, I've never felt so worthless."
His distress was so strong she could almost taste it. "Feron-," Liara said softly.
"I am afraid, Liara," he muttered, his shoulders drooping in misery. "I cannot remember what happened in those months."
"You could have been held in cryo," she suggested.
"What if I wasn't? What if they experimented on me?"
There was nothing she could offer to counter that fear. Not after what Cerberus had done on Omega.
"What do you want to do, Feron? If you want counselors, we have them. Do you wish for a thorough medical examination?"
"I wouldn't have been able to come if the Alliance found something physically wrong with me. They examined me from head to foot but I'm afraid-," he swallowed nervously. "I'm afraid it's nothing physical."
She understood at once. "You fear they have done something with your mind."
"I think they did." He reached slowly into his tunic pocket. Hiaras reacted so fast that before Liara knew she had moved, the commando was at her side, a shield already in place. Liara put out a halting hand, she did not sense any threatening vibes from the drell.
Feron opened his hand. A diamond shaped crystal, about the length of the smallest finger lay in his palm.
"What is that?" Hiaras demanded, eyeing it suspiciously.
"I don't know." He stared at it. "When the Alliance finally gave me permission to leave, I found that waiting for me in my room. I don't know who left it."
Left in his room? That wasn't good. Liara didn't doubt that Admiral Hackett would be most displeased to learn of this.
"Was there a message?" she asked. Her eyes widened when she realised the matter was as bad as Feron thought it was. "You did not tell the Alliance, did you?"
"I couldn't, I tried," he whispered, agony in his voice. "I tried. By the One, I even tried writing but I was held fast. I couldn't write."
Poised to pull Liara out of the way, Hiaras hissed, "What is it?"
"I don't know what it is but something in my head tells me, I have to present it to Shepard."
"What?!" Now Liara moved. Away. "What did you say?" Both asari stared at the crystal as they would a poisonous object.
"It's for Shepard. I really don't know what it is," he said, closing his eyes in despair.
Liara forced herself to calm down, silently running through her meditation litany. She would have to proceed carefully, she didn't want to lose Feron out of carelessness. Her heart welled in sorrow for his predicament before she banished the feeling.
"Are you to hand it to her personally?"
"Yes."
"Feron, you know we cannot allow you to do what you were...have to do," Liara said. "That object has to be examined. Would your...you be able to do that?"
"I don't know." He felt even worse saying it, feeling like a mindless drone.
"Is there a schedule? You have to hand it to her at a certain date, time?"
"I don't..."
She cut him off before he could repeat the phrase. "If you felt no urgency, then there is time. Can you return to your apartment for the moment? We will contact you again once we have a plan."
"Yes." He felt slightly better for saying it and struggled not to break down. Pocketing the crystal, he stood up and left, head bowed.