Chapter 10: Noveria

The Normandy made its way to Noveria. They made it to the port when the intercom to the cockpit came on. "State your business, you are not scheduled to land."

Joker, Shepard, and Nihlus were in the cockpit when the message was spoken. Nihlus spoke to the intercom. "This is Specter Nihlus Kryik we are her on official Council business."

There was a brief pause before the voice on the other end spoke. "Confirmed welcome to Port Hanshan."

"Lovely place will come here for my next vacation." Joker sarcastically said.

"I wouldn't recommend coming her unless on business it's cold and you can't go outside without freezing to death." Nihlus advised missing the sarcasm.

"Uhm Nihlus he was making a joke." Shepard explained to the Turian.

"Oh, that makes more sense." Nihlus realized. "We should get going."

Shepard gave Joker a look that told him 'not a word.' Joker put his hands in the air in mock surrender. Shepard the exited the cockpit and meet with the rest of the ground team. The four exited the ship and made their way to the security checkpoint. There they encountered two humans and a turian waiting for them.

"Specter Nihlus I am Captain Maeko Matsuo head of security hear at Port Hanshan." The human in the middle introduced. "I don't know why a Specter and his guests would be here, but I would advise you that you go see administrator Anoleis."

"Understood." Nihlus said taking the crew to the administrator's office.

The four entered the office and saw his receptionist at work. Nihlus walked towards the receptionist with the others following behind him. "Excuse me miss."

The secretary looked up and greeted the Specter. "Greetings Specter Nihlus, I am Gianna Parasini Administrator Anoleis secretary."

"We were told to see him by the captain." Nihlus said.

"Yes, hold on for a second." She said before pressing on a button. "Director Anoleis."

"Yes what, what, what."

"Specter Nihlus is here to speak with you."

"Fine send him in."

"He will see you now."

"Thank you."

The four walked into the administrator's office where said administrator stayed. "Specter Nihlus, sorry if I don't stand but I am always busy and I get notified what would probably be every second."

"Then we will keep it short then." Nihlus said. "The Council has obtained information of a threat to the galaxy on this planet."

"I see." The salarian started. "Do you have anything specific?"

"Most of it is classified." Nihlus stated harshly. "What I can say is that it all comes from a place called peak 15."

"Yes, rented by Binary Helix one of our least respectable labs by reputation only."

"Reputation only?" Alenko asked surprised that he would only know of their reputation.

"Our clients rent out our labs due to our privacy policies as long as it is not illegal we don't ask questions."

"We need access to the garage, so we can get to peak 15." Nihlus demanded.

"I am afraid that will not be possible at this time." Anolies rejected. "The snowstorm is at a level that all passes and roads in and out of Hanshan are closed."

"Even the garage?" Nihlus asked in disbelief.

"Yes, no traffic in or out if you are hoping to use you will have to wait until the weaher clears." The administrator told him nod hiding his condescension toward the turian.

The turian was about to say something but Shepard beat him to it. "When will the weather clear?"

"Given that this is an ice planet I would say 2-3 weeks at best." He answered dismissively.

She looked at Nihlus as he looked ready to strangle the powerful Salarian. "We should go." She told guiding the angry turian away.

"Good, I see that 12 important messages appeared while you all were wasting my time."

The four exited his office. Nihlus turned to Shepard. "Why didn't you let me 'persuade' the salarian?" He asked furiously.

"Because it wouldn't help us if anything he would hit a panic button and security would shoot us or kick us out causing an incident the council would have to fix."

"So, what do we do now commander?" Williams asked.

"I see that none of you encountered corporate bureaucracy before." The secretary stated.

The four looked at her. "You can't just bulldoze your way through, you need people who owe you favors or information that can motivate those that you are dealing with."

Shepard raised an eyebrow at this. "Go on."

"Annolies isn't the only one with a garage pass." She explained before whispering. "Lorik Qui'in might have what you are looking for he is located at the hotel bar can't say anymore within earshot of the administrator."

"We should go." Shepard said so that the secretary wouldn't get in trouble.

The four then walked to the elevator that takes them to the hotel bar. The walk out and see a turian at a table drinking. The four walk towards him. He notices the four soldiers walking towards him. "What can I do for you all?" He asked them.

"Lorik Qui'in?" Shepard asked.

"That would be me."

"I heard that you might have a garage pass?" She inquired.

"That depends are you my ally or an enemy?"

"Right now, an ally or Anolies won't allow us access to head to peak 15." Shepard elaborated.

"Well then I think we can help each other then."

"What do you need?" Shepard asked.

"I have acquired evidence of the administer's corruption; however, before I could do anything with it he accused me of corruption locked me out and paid some of the security personnel under the table."

"Corruption in this place no you don't say." Ash said with heavy sarcasm.

"That's the corporate world for you." Kaiden said in response.

"Will we have access?" Shepard asked ignoring her companion's banter.

"No when Annolies got wind that I had evidence against him he took away my access."

Shepard and Nihlus gave him a glare and Lorik put his hands up to prevent any misunderstandings. "However, I have kept a key pass that I had made without anyone knowing."

"Alright we will look for your evidence." Shepard agreed to the terms taking the pass.

"Good luck to you all."

The four exited the hotel bar and then headed to the synthetic insights offices. They went to another elevator and headed up to the offices. The four encountered two security officers standing in front of the offices. The wo turned their guns on them only to find four soldiers have their guns at them.

"Halt, this area is under investigation for corruption." One of the security officials announced.

"Really, youwant to risk your life for someone paying you under the table, does Captain Matsuo know about why you are here?"

The two corrupt security officials looked at each other. "I think it's time for our break right."

"Right."

The two then left the offices, but before Shepard and crew could explore further into them they were spotted.

"Over here, over here."

"Die."

A fire fight broke out between four trained soldiers and group of corrupt armed guards. After 10 minutes of shooting the Normandy ground team defeated the port's security. They found the evidence and were heading back only to encounter three human security officers blocking the stairs to the lower level of the offices.

"Stop right there." The female of the three ordered.

Nihlus recognized her. "I remember you being Matsuo's right hand, but I never got your name."

"Kaira Stirling, not that it matters." She introduced herself. "I hear gun fire and I come in and find a bunch of my fellow officers dead."

"I have a feeling that she is in on that Salarian's payroll." Williams speculated vocally.

"Do you want to know what we do to cop killers where I am from."

"And do you want to do this?" Nihlus asked before being hit with a biotic throw.

Shepard and her teammates quickly took down Stirling's accomplices. Stirling was moving around while the Alliance officers were doing their best to avoid the biotics. Kaira was so focused on her human opponents she didn't notice Nihlus sneak behind her with a shotgun until it was too late, Kaira Stirling was shot in the back killing her nearly instantly. The four then went to the elevator to get them out of synthetic Insights office. Once they made it down, they found Annolies' secretary waiting for them.

"There have noise complaints." She started. "Do any of you know anything about that?"

The soldier looked at each other before shaking their head. "Well if you found anything from Qui'in's office talk to me at the hotel bar before talking him please." She requested before walking away.

The four looked at each other before heading to the hotel bar. They took the elevator up and saw that Qui'in was preoccupied with a volus, so they looked around and saw Gianna Parasini having a small drink. They walked over to her and she greeted them.

"Glad you could see me let me reintroduce myself, Gianna Parasini Noveria Internal Affairs."

"What is an Internal Affairs officer doing posing as a secretary?" Shepard asked.

"The Board is aware of the administrator's corruptionsothey sent me to find evidence." She answered. "For the past six months I had to wear this stuped dress and I am still trying to get a crumb of evidence."

"That's one thing, but I also need you to get Qui'in to testify on the accuracy of the evidence."

"So that's why you need us to give you the evidence." Kaiden stated.

"That's one thing, but I also need you to get Qui'in to testify on the accuracy of the evidence."

"Qui'in has a garage pass which I need to finish our mission."

"Help me and I can get you a garage pass and I will buy you a beer when you want it." She offered.

Shepard raised an eyebrow at the meaning. "Alright, what type of corruption is the good administrator supposedly involved in?"

"Extortion mostly, collects extra from our clients for more favorable contracts and even gets extra form people just trying to do business."

"So, your bosses want him bad?" Shepard guessed.

"Yep."

"Alright, I will see if I can get him to testify."

"If you do talk to me at my desk."

Gianna then went back to work. Shepard and crew went over to Qui'in who was now by himself. "Ah I take it you found the evidence."

"I want you to testify against the administrator."

"What now that you have my evidence you want to dictate how I use it." He said angerly.

"The board knows of the administrator's corruption and everyone is chaffing under it, do this and you will be a hero." Shepard said buttering him up.

The turian sighed in defeat. "Fine tell your agent that I will give testimony."

Shepard smilled before heading towards the secretary's desk. They approached Gianna. Shepard handed her the evidence. "Qui'in has agreed to cooperate and give his testimony."

"Excellent, I can finally stop wearing this dress, but first something I have been waiting months to do." She said standing up and heading towards the administrator's office.

A couple minutes later Gianna dragging the soon to be disgraced administrator out of his office. "You can't do this, you will never find work again, Specter, Commander I demand that you place this bitch under arrest."

"You have the right to remain silent I wish to god that you would use it." She told the squirming Salarian. "Thanks commander I owe you a beer." She said to Shepard as continued to drag the former administrator away.