"An explosion has occurred in the Industrial District, and the cause is still unknown. Reports are coming in, but the situation remains confusing and is developing. The Matriarchs have declared a state of emergency in Nos Astra and Ilium..."
President Jane Shepard gazes at the monitor, observing the events she set in motion. The Reaper nanites, programmed to deactivate upon command, the vials contain a liquid made from the blood of the corrupted, including her old friend, Sara Anderson, also known as the Shadow.
Shepard sought out someone to create this weapon, for which she paid a significant sum. Once she saw the results, she ordered the deactivation of the Nanites. She didn't want the new Reapers to spread out of control, at least not until she was ready for the true grand reveal. Her Cabinet and Parliament are oblivious of her plans, and even many of her friends remain in the dark. Shepard hopes this weapon will change Victus' stance on continuing the war. Initially, she wanted to test it on a densely populated area but was discouraged due to the potential risk of the nanites going out of control.
Shepard looks at the monitor, pleased that everything is going according to plan so far. The reports show progress, although her officer who planted the first device reported an attack, resulting in three dead troopers. The vials were left behind, with only a rifle and three ammo belts missing from the dead troopers. Shepard guesses her old friend, Admiral Tali'Zorah vas Normandy, to be behind it. Tali never did confirm her transfer to the Enterprise. This is her first move against Shepard. As the monitor fades, Shepard's office door chimes.
"Come in," Shepard says as Garrus walks in. She feels that her best friend is either worried or angry or both, though it's hard to tell at the moment.
"Shepard... I see you've been updated," he remarks, knowing it to be true.
"Yes... It's such a disaster," Shepard lies through her teeth. Garrus picks up on it, enters the room, closes the door, and locks it. He turns to face Shepard, bringing up his Omi-tool and playing a video he received from Tali.
"That confirms who attacked my men," Shepard states as she walks toward the window.
"You told me..." Garrus starts, unable to finish his thought.
"For the most part... I didn't lie to you. This weapon will bring an end to the war. If I can't invade the Hierarchy, then I'll show Victus what will happen if he ever entertains the thought of invading the Federation...," Shepard trails off.
"The deactivation protocols are working," Shepard states, attempting to provide some reassurance to her best friend. She avoids making eye contact with the Turian. Garrus is taken aback by what he's hearing. Shepard's blatant hypocrisy is now out in the open. She had promised never to utilize the weapons of their old enemy, yet here she is, employing the very weapons that the Reapers used. Garrus, ever loyal, contemplates his options. For now, he believes that the war still needs him here. However, he is beginning to question who the true enemy really is.
--
Tali finds herself in a corner of her abandoned room within the building, overseeing the bustling activity on the streets below. The recent explosion has caused a stir among both security forces and civilians, but Tali managed to disappear without a trace before Nos Astra Security or the Asari Military could interrogate her. The sight she witnessed still feels surreal – civilians transforming into Reapers by weaponized Reaper nanites at an alarming speed, surpassing even the ability of the Reapers themselves.
Absorbed in the files she obtained, mostly consisting of invoices and supply orders, Tali relies on her experience. Everything is connected. It is a matter of finding the right connections. Shepard has become gifted at weaving the right lies. As Tali wraps up her work, she hears commotion outside and grabs her new rifle, cautiously approaching the door. The chatter indicates Nos Astra Security is outside, and then she hears her name being called.
"Miss Reeger! Are you here?" the lead security officer calls out. Uncertain whether she should respond, Tali's omni-tool silently notifies her of a message from Liara. It appears that Nos Astra Security is there to escort her to the spaceport, as conveyed through a challenge and counter. Tali poses the challenge through the door, and the head security officer provides the correct counter. Tali opens the door to find three Turians and an Asari Officer.
Holding her rifle tightly, Tali accompanies the security officers as they make their way down the building. The officers remain silent as they reach a skycar, where Tali observes the constant movement of emergency personnel.
"Ma'am, we are fifteen minutes away from the spaceport... You are to head to port 81B," the lead officer informs her, receiving reports of three military shuttles tailing them. The officer contacts dispatch for an update, but there are no reports of any security or military aircraft in the area of operations.
"Head up, we have company!" the officer alerts, as two shuttles surround their skycar.
"Ma'am, whoever you've pissed of has some powerful friends," the lead officer remarks, as one of the shuttles forcefully collides with their car. The car jolts, and Tali gazes out, unable to ID the attackers. Unmarked shuttles continue ramming into their vehicle.
"Dispatch! We are under attack! Dispatch, come in!" the officer urgently calls, but there is no response. Determined to reach the port, the officer orders, "Get us to the port now!" However, another enemy shuttle slams into their car, causing it to spin uncontrollably towards a large platform. The car crashes and the three shuttles land away from it. Tali's visor cracks, a jagged line running from the bottom of her mask to the top. She feels intense pain on her right side. Glancing at the officer, Tali realizes she needs to get out of her seat. The Turian officers did not survive the impact. Tali grabs her knife, cuts her seatbelt, and opens her door, stepping out with her rifle. The Asari officer, finally free from her seat, follows her.
Using the downed shuttle as cover, Tali loads a thermal clip into her rifle's bolt. The security officer brandishes her Predator pistol. The three unknown shuttle doors open, and six troopers from each shuttle take cover behind parked skycars. Just as Tali prepares to aim, three unknown soldiers open fire. Tali seeks cover as rifle rounds whiz around them, recognizing the distinct crack of the same rifle she holds. They are engaged with Federals. Tali returns fire, taking down one trooper with her SCAR rifle. The troopers attempt to flank them, but the security officer keeps them at bay. As Tali's first magazine runs dry, she swiftly replaces it with a fresh one. The landing pad becomes littered with the bodies of unmarked Federal soldiers. While firing her rifle, Tali's omni-tool suddenly alerts her. She directs the call to her cracked visor.
"Yes... Who is this!" Tali shouts, firing another shot as another Federal soldier falls. The Federals continue their assault, and Tali and the security officer retaliate.
"Kali... it's Liara. Why have you stopped? Is that gunfire?" Liara's voice rings through Tali's helmet. Another Federal soldier goes down.
"Our car crashed! We're under attack by unmarked Federals! A quick pick-up would be nice, Liara," Tali explains, then a Federal rifle round striking her already-cracked mask. Liara screams Tali's name as she falls to the ground. The security officer turns back to check on her, while the Federals draw closer. Instead of retreating, the officer fires at the attackers. Tali slowly gets up to her knees, the rifle round had bounced off the exposed metal of her mask, shattering her visor completely but leaving it intact. The visor is now useless, and her HUD, along with Liara's video feed, is gone. However, Liara's voice still reaches her through the helmet's comm system.
"Kali! Kali! Are you alright?" Liara screams. Disoriented, Tali looks up. The security officer continues firing her pistol. Tali removes her mask and drops it to the ground, reaching for her rifle to resume firing. Just as Liara screams again.
"What... sorry, I'm a little busy here!" Tali states, her voice no longer distorted by her suit's audio filters. Liara notices this, unsure of what to expect upon hearing her friend's unfiltered voice for the first time.
"Kali! I'm sending some of my men to pick you up. Just hold on," Liara assures before the line is abruptly cut. Tali fires her rifle, the bolt recoiling and a few thermal clips ejecting. As the minutes pass, Tali takes in the chaotic scene, unfiltered by her visor. She smells the smoke and feels the intense heat from the downed shuttle on her unmasked face. Tali fires her last thermal clip from the current magazine, loading a fresh one as another shuttle positions itself behind her and the security officer, who now wields a Federal Trooper rifle she had taken from a down Federal Trooper.
As the shuttle doors open, Tali witnesses Liara's mercenaries landing on the pad and engaging the Federal detachment in a firefight. A few Shadow mercenaries rush to help Tali and the security officer, guiding them into the shuttle. Once inside, the mercenaries swiftly close the door. Tali takes a seat on the shuttle bench and notices the group staring at her. She ignores their staring, attempting to wipe the sweat off her forehead, only to realize that she no longer has a mask. It dawns on her that she is the first Quarian they have seen without a mask.
Tali averts her gaze from the group, while the security officer observes the mercenaries and notices the emblem of the elusive Shadow Broker. Tali's omni-tool chimes, and she answers the call. Just like before, Liara's image appears on the screen. Tali brings up her omni-tool, allowing Liara to see her unmasked face for the first time.
"Kali, I'm relieved my men were able to get to you... They informed me that you're with the security officer," Liara says.
"I'm fine, Liara, and yes, the lead officer is with me... Liara, what the hell happened?" Tali asks, knowing that Liara would probably have more information.
"I... I don't know. What did you find, Kali? Garrus was vague..." Liara responds, posing her own question. Tali remains silent and sends the same video and audio to Liara that she shared with Garrus. Liara looks away from the screen, cursing her old "friend." She then turns back to Tali.
"My men will take you to our base. It's best if the security officer stays with you for now. I'll inform her superiors... and I'll get you another mask as well," Liara declares before ending the call. Tali looks at the group, the security officer meeting her gaze, while the mercenaries observe silently.
Fortunately, Tali has previously practiced being without her mask, allowing her immune system to adapt. Now she puts it to the test, enduring the longest period without her mask. The only discomfort she experiences is the brightness of the light, as her visor would normally dim it.
As the shuttle nears its destination, Tali stands up from her seat and joins the Asari Security Officer. Her rifle is slung over her shoulder. The pilot announces a thirty-second warning until they reach their landing zone. Tali prepares herself, mentally and physically, for what might lie ahead.
As the shuttle doors open, Tali steps out and takes in the sight of the Shadow Broker mercenaries bustling around, preparing for something. The Mercenary leader notices her and the Asari Security Officer, motioning for them to follow him to their command post. Tali and the officer fall in step behind him, making their way through the organized chaos.
The command post is a hub of activity, with mercenaries coordinating their efforts and receiving updates on some sort of situation. Tali observes the efficient communication and strategic planning taking place. The Mercenary leader approaches a holographic display, studying the map and relaying information to his teams.
Tali and the security officer stand nearby. Tali's mind races with questions and concerns, but she knows she must trust Liara. She takes a deep breath, steadying herself for whatever lies ahead.
--
Six days late
Shepard received word in her office that her covert operatives on Illium had encountered Tali'Zorah. Shepard had warned them not to underestimate her. Unfortunately, Liara's mercenaries managed to extract Tali, but not without casualties among the Federal soldiers. The leader responsible for the losses was subsequently removed from command. As far as Shepard knew, Tali was still on the planet, hiding with the Shadow Brokers' mercenaries.
The Asari Government attributed the explosion to be either Federal Extremists or Turian Hierarchy Loyalists, indicating that the war between the Federation and Hierarchy had spilled over the borders. The Matriarchs had received reports and video evidence from the Salarian STG, suggesting that whatever had occurred was merely a test. This raised concerns among the galaxy's governments. The Matriarchs, however, had not disclosed evidence of how innocent civilians had been transformed into Reaper husks by the mysterious mist.
Shepard reviewed the reports from her cabinet, which raised questions about her involvement in the attack. She blatantly lied, denying any level of influence. While she admitted to exploring weapons and ideas to end the war, she emphasized that, at the moment, she had no concrete plans. Garrus, who was present, clenched his mandibles upon witnessing Shepard's deception. Her High Command, consisting of Karan Anders, Garrel, and a Turian from the old Turian Republic, knew the truth, but the cabinet was not entirely convinced and dropped the issue.
Now, Shepard gazed at a mask on her table, its dark blue glass shattered but still intact. It was not her mask, but she had worn it. According to her operators, it had belonged to Kali'Reeger. The mask served as a reminder of how close Tali had come to death. Shepard reflected on the changes she had experienced – from being exiled to losing the Turian she loved, relying on an Asari information broker as a close friend, and considering a Quarian admiral as her little sister. Although she now led a new nation and maintained a close friendship with Garrus, she had lost the friendships of Liara and Tali. Her relationship with Wrex was on thin ice. The hardest part for Shepard was having to kill her oldest friend, the one who had helped her establish her legend. Now, she leds a new nation in a stalemate against the most powerful military force in the galaxy.
Shepard was interrupted by a familiar voice. Looking up from her report, she saw a woman in a tight black suit with long blonde hair and dark blue eyes – her old friend.
"You know, Jane... all you have to do is unleash your new weapon on the Hierarchy," Her old friend says. Shepard simply looked up and at her.
"I just can't, Sara... There are too many complications that come with that," Shepard responds to her old friend.
"Jane... Jane... Jane. You've always been one to take your time taking action, whether it's in your love life, career, or with your friends. You may hide behind denial, but we all know you won't do what is necessary right away. You claim not to want to wait and see, but all you've done is wait and watch, and it has cost you everything," Sara retorts, but Shepard refuses to look at her.
"Not everything... I still have Garrus as a friend and Katherine," Shepard tries to defend herself.
"Please, Jane..." Sara says as the door chime interrupts their conversation. Shepard looks at her door and then back to where her friend had disappeared. She has been seeing her ghost more and more each day.