SSV Normandy SR2
C.I.C.
Commander Shepard and Liara T'Soni leave the War Room each wearing an expression of frustration.
"More trouble with the Quarians." Shepard grumbles to her companion. "I warned them that stirring the pot with the Geth was a bad idea last year."
"Did you actually expect Han'Gerrel to listen?" The Asari asks. "You know what type of man he is."
Jane can't help but sigh. "I know. I was just hoping this wouldn't happen while the Reapers are bearing down on us. Still, it'll be nice to see Tali again."
"If they didn't exile her..."
"They have no reason to! The charges were dropped. Garrus and I made sure of that."
The conversation is interrupted by a skittish Comm Specialist nearly being run over by the Commander yet again.
"Sorry, Traynor. This isn't the best time."
"I'm terribly sorry, Ma'am. It's just that Lieutenants Vega and Cortez wish to set up a display of our newest teammate's abilities." Samantha explains. "She seems to have made an impression on them."
Liara nods at the idea. "That could be useful. I may be able to find out more about this organization she's from as well."
"Yeah, okay." Shepard agrees. "Sorry for snapping at you, Sam. That was just an...unpleasant conversation."
"I understand, Commander."
"Joker! Plot a course for the Far Rim. Let me know when you find the Quarian Envoy Ship. I'll be in the Shuttle Bay." Shepard orders.
"Copy that, Boss Lady." Joker replies casually.
The trio enter the Shuttle Bay to find Abby helping James up off the floor. He laughs off a comment made by Cortez and the group look over to acknowledge the Commander's arrival.
"Jesus, James." Abby says, shaking a pain out of her hand. "What's that jaw of yours made of? Concrete?"
"Ha!" He replies. "Ya'know, Lola over there said something similar, but she wasn't talking about my mouth." The Marine shoots Shepard a sly grin.
"Yeah you're right." Jane fires back. "I was talking about your head!" The remark earns a snicker from Liara.
Steve looks around and notices the growing crowd. "Okay! We've got a full house now! Abby, do an unarmed takedown again." He glances at the Marine at his side. "Ash, get a load of this." Ashley crosses her arms and watches her sister intently. After giving a brief instruction to James and Garrus, she turns to face the former. Garrus comes up from behind and grabs Abby in a choke hold while James aims at her with a practice rifle. Using her light weight to her advantage, the Assassin pushes her feet up, kicking the rifle away with one and hitting James with the other. The force of the kick makes the Marine fall and the Turian stumble back. Abby uses the remaining momentum to pole vault over Garrus' head and pull him to the floor, pulling a hand back and deploying a blade.
Abby stands and helps Garrus up, receiving a small applause and some "Hooyah!"s from the crowd.
"Wow." Is all Ashley can manage. She, along with Liara approach Abby while Garrus and James look each other over for injuries.
"This 'Assassin Brotherhood' is intriguing." Says Liara excitedly. "What more can you tell us about it?"
"There isn't much that I haven't already told." The Assassin replied with a shrug. "We fight to maintain freedom and peace, and the one thing standing in our way is the Templar Order, whom we've been fighting throughout recorded history." She looks at Liara for a moment. "Human history, anyway. The Brotherhood was officially founded in Egypt between 48 and 47 BC, but cells have been around since even earlier. The very first was created in the Roman Empire in 456 BC, and this war against the Templars has been going on since then."
"How is it that the two of you could be fighting for so long?" Liara probes further.
"Ideas are powerful, Doc. This fight is like day versus night." Abby looks down. "It may never end. The Order I hail from had it's Sanctuary on Arcturus Station. As far as I know, I'm the last of my kind."
"Were you close to your compatriots?"
"It's called a 'Brotherhood' for a reason. We were a family. I was on Benning when the station went down, and nearly everyone else was on board. A few may be on other frontier planets, somewhere in space, or wherever the Templars or Cerberus may be found."
"I understand fighting Cerberus," Ashley says. "But how are they related to the Templars?"
"The two support each other, since they have some similar goals. Cerberus wants a new society with Humanity put first, and the Templars want a new society with them at the center. In a way, one hand washes the other. Some of the highest ranking people in Cerberus are Templar sympathisers, possibly even The Illusive Man himself. The highest up that I know of is his lap dog Kai Leng, who I nearly caught on the Citadel."
"Cerberus is a massive group with endless wealth and resources." Liara points out. "How do you hope to take them on alone?"
"I won't be. I'm here on the Normandy, aren't I? Just about everyone on this ship has an axe to grind." Abby gives her sister a pointed look at that. "Regardless, if I bring these people down, it will end this war. The targets I have are the very last members of the Templar Order."
"Is there anyone else you know of?" Shepard asks, adding herself to the conversation.
The young Assassin thinks for a moment. "Well, there's Oleg Petrovsky. A General. He has an entire fleet at his disposal and is practically TIM's right hand man."
"That's funny." Jane replies. "Aria T'Loak asked me for help with him. His fleet has captured Omega."
Abby gives a look of skepticism. "I've been to Omega. It's not the type of place someone like Petrovsky would go, much less try to conquer."
"Well, he's there. Aria wants help taking him down."
"Then I'm coming with you." Abby declares. "I've helped Aria with a few...errands here and there."
"Hold your horses. We aren't going there yet. First: we need more fleets for the fight against the Reapers, and it seems like the Quarians want to toss their hat into the ring."
"Great." Abby sighs. "Quarians mean Geth. I. Hate. Geth."
