Chapter 84
"Lieutenant Lawson, I have those results you requested ma'am." A nervous looking Quarian woman in a smart looking Intelligence Corps uniform announced.
"Very Good Operative Cross." Miranda said taking the information pad from her. She poured over the document, absorbing it with near superhuman speed and as she read on her smile widened. This all but confirmed her theory. Humanity, the Turians and the Quarians had all been genetically altered by another species more than a hundred thousand years ago. This explained their shared biological traits like protien chirality. While she refused to step across the ethical line of real experimentation, she was able to run several simulations and discovered that because of these changes and a hundred thousand years of evolution causing similar developments across all three species, it may be possible in the future for human/turian/quarian hybrids to exist.
That in and of itself served little more than to be an intellectual exercise, there was really no pressing need for interbreeding, though she suspected there were a pair of Admirals that would disagree with that assesment. The implications in medicine however were very encouraging. Blood transfusion, detoxification procedures, radiation mitigation all could be combined and shared amongst two of the alliance races and their Turian allies.
The real implications were that while this represented a simple disease vector for an engineered virus to wipe out all three races, treatment would only need to be devised once since it could be done in a way that would help everyone. Her musing was interrupted by her superior, Commander Gula Tavo.
"What you got there Miranda?" He asked gesturing at her data pad.
"Confirmation on my theory that Humans, Quarians and Turians are genetically linked and have been so for a hundred thousand years. Definite outside interference. It will also lead to expanded treatment options if we're ever attacked by bio-weapons." Miranda said.
"That's amazing. I assume your team is working hard on it?" Gula asked.
"Yes, they're running a few old earth diseases through a simulator to see how they react to Turian and Quarian biology. We'll have more data in a few months." Miranda said.
"That's great. However I need you to delegate the project to one of your team, we have an important assignment that is suited to your talents." Tavo said, guiding Miranda to a secure room. As secure as the whole facility was there were several rooms hardened to the point that Rothschild would struggle to eavesdrop, if he needed to which given his status he would not.
"What do you need, Commander?" Miranda asked.
"We have learned that there are a group of scientists working on a garbage heap of a planet called Korlus. It's in what used to be Citadel space, but way at the edge nearing the Salarian border. Their activities are... disturbing." Tavo said, bringing up an image on his omni-tool. It was a covertly taken photograph of a filthy looking medical room, piled high with deformed Krogan, Human, Asari and Salarian corpses.
"Jesus, what am I looking at?" Miranda asked.
"We believe they're engaging in reckless and unregulated genetic engineering. They're being lead by a known Krogan war criminal named Okeer." Tavo said, bringing up another image of a snarling Krogan in makeshift medical garb.
"Don't let his appearance fool you, he's a genius, quite probably one of the most talented scientists in the galaxy, but he seems to have little knowledge of the concept of ethics. " Tavo said.
"What do you need me to do? I'm handy with a gun and can lead a squad but you'll need an army to take this monster out." Miranda said, gesturing at the new picture which showed Okeer talking to a heavily armed mercenary group comprised of Humans, Batarians and Asari.
"Funny thing that, let me introduce you to the Blue Suns mercenary group, and it's leader Zaeed Massani." Tavo said, bringing up a picture of a middle aged man with one green eye and one piercing blue artificial eye, along with an ugly scar going down the side of his face.
"He looks friendly." Miranda said, sarcastically
"He actually is, especially if you get enough whiskey in him. The Blue Suns are actually a front for a covert Alliance military operation that we were originally setting up to infiltrate the Citadel if it had come to it. Zaeed has been recruiting mostly liberated slaves that wanted to help but didn't want to risk hurting family members in the Batarian war. They've been "hired" by Okeer to safeguard his operation. Through the blue suns we have eyes all over the outside of the operation, but we don't have any operatives in his labs amongst his scientists. That's where you come in." Tavo said.
"So you're sending me in to observe what he's doing?" Tavo said. He nodded.
"Mostly, observation is your primary goal, your secondary goal is to do what you can to help any test subjects and scientists being used against their will. You will not be alone however. We're sending you with a "tool kit." Tavo said, taking out a sleek looking tool box that he opened. There were scanners, probes, surgical tools and hypodermic injectors inside, all functioning.
"Built into this toolbox is a QEC connection to Rothschild. You'll be smuggling him in to infest their computer systems. Also, there is something else, that you may not appreciate so much..." Tavo said, his expression turning grim.
"What's that?" Miranda asked.
"Your cover story. We're sending you in as a 'Cerberus agent'." Tavo said.
"I was under the impression that these prototypes were clunky and awkward to operate." Dunn said to a stunned looking Naran.
"Keelah! I personally tested one of the Quarian models, there's no way I could get it to work like that, I could barely stay upright!" Naran said. In front of the amongst the wreckage of several dozen training drones, and the other trainees in their superficially damaged but mostly intact power armor suits were two power armor clad humans literally dancing around each other. The occupants of the advanced systems were Oriana and Jacqueline Lawson.
Oriana dove forward, attempting to sweep Jack off her legs, but Jack was too fast, leaping three meters into the air, Oriana's armor passing harmlessly underneath. With seemingly no effort, Oriana skidded to a halt, spinning around and leaping just in time to catch Jack's armor with a kick to her back that sent her flying. Jack oriented her armor so that she hit the wall feet-first, and pumped her legs absorbing the momentum and pushing forward drilling her head into Oriana's armor's chest, bringing them both to the floor. Both leapt to their feet and were about to resume combat when they were interrupted by the shrill noise of a whistle.
"STAND DOWN!" Dunn bellowed. Jack and Oriana obeyed immediately, and Jack was first to her feet, helping Oriana up to hers. They stomped up to Dunn, their suits emitting a hiss as the front of the chest cavity lifted up and the leg armor collapsed down allowing the two to exit their suits. They jumped out and stood immediately at attention.
"Lawson, Lawson, have either of you had any training in piloting combat vehicles?" Naran asked, his voice flat.
"Sir, no sir!" They both shouted.
"Well I suppose that little performance was adequate for now. Get your miserable asses to the showers now!" Dunn shouted, her stern demeanor having never dropped off.
"Yes Ma'am!" they shouted and the whole squad ran to the showers. When they were out of earshot Naran rounded on Dunn.
"Keelah Nunn, did you see that shit? This is their first time in a whole new type of technology, neither of us are even capable of teaching them even the basics. This was supposed just be an intro and demonstration and those two acted like they were born in those suits!" Naran said.
"That's not what impressed me. Did you see the rest of them? During their first minute in those things they were stumbling around like idiots. Like we were. Five or six minutes with the Lawsons and they were working together and executing maneuvers perfectly. Hell I even picked up a few tricks I hadn't thought of. We need to get some of those eggheads here to observe them, those girls will probably dictate half of the training manual when it comes out." Dunn said. Naran just nodded, looking dumbfounded.
Back on Earth Hannah Shepard sat at a conference table, around which were gathered the Quarian Admiralty, as well as the Human admirals, The Krogan Tribunal, General Noruva, General Korvus, Admiral Charr and Jane Shepard, most there via QEC hologram. Charr was still touring around shaking down the Kalros, Jane and the Tribunal were on Tuchanka, Xen and Chambers were still engaging with the Oathbound, and Noruva and Korvus were aboard their command vessels. Rothschild was assuming the form of a bizarrely dressed woman with wild hair in her 20's along with a strange looking oversized Geth unit with a rubber band on one of it's bolts.
"According to everything we've discovered, Kar'Shan's air defenses are significant. While their technology is old, and laughable compared to what we have at our disposal, there are millions of planetary anti-air guns, automated weapons installed on many of the bodies in Kar'Shan's rings, and at least a thousand armed ships in orbit. They were paranoid before the war, but the successful incursions and repatriation of slaves had driven their paranoia to dangerous levels." Xen reported as she read from her omni-tool.
"We recommend after the Geth report confirmation that as many slaves as possible are secure, we swarm the system with automated drones and the nanoswarms. Once their defenses are softened we will bring in the carriers and unleash our fighters on them. This will distract their defenses while we land infiltrator units at several strategic points to cut off power and communications to the major gun emplacements. The Geth reported that the automated terrestrial anti-aircraft weapons are all controlled by central hubs which are easily accessible." Chambers said.
"With the anti-air defenses down, we'll bring in the frigates, cruisers, dreadnoughts and battlecruisers in, lead by Rothschild in the... His ship, will broadcast the chip scrambling signal and announce to all of the ships around Kar'Shan that they are free to use their weaponry as they see fit. We suspect this will end the air battle." Gerrel reported.
"SAY IT'S NAME!" Rothschild bellowed.
"The MSV Go Fuck Yourself, are you happy?" Gerrel said, sighing in exasperation.
"Immensely. Do continue." Rothschild said grinning.
"After the sky is clear, Shepard, Noruva and Korvis will lead the ground offensive starting at Grem City. The Geth have discovered through their data mining that unlike their distributed air defense, their government is extremely centralized, Emperor Grem along with his ministers operate out of the Black Palace. Emperor Grem is extremely paranoid and keeps as close an eye as possible on his staff." Anderson said.
"Major Goto will send her forces into the Black Palace while we're knocking on the door, they will be able to gather information about internal defenses and the locations of important people. We'll push through the city along their main highway, and surround the palace on all sides, and that should be the end of it." Admiral Zorah said.
"We will have hospital and support ships on standby right outside the system, and the Asari ships will be attached to the Fifth Fleet. I will command the Asari ground troops along with Shepard on the planet." General Noruva said.
"Our dreadnoughts will be patrolling the edge of the system to interdict any attempt at smuggling the emperor off planet as well as cut off outside reinforcements. I'll also be commanding my troops alongside Shepard.
"We're going to go in slow and steady. I want to minimize loss of life as much as possible. Our first step will be to establish a forward operating base just south of the city, and we'll be setting up the galaxy's largest field hospital/refugee aid station. As we take each checkpoint the Geth will begin funneling slaves into the FOB for chip removal/medical attention, they'll pick up any casualties along the way. We're keeping any antimatter weaponry in reserve for now, they present too much opportunity for collateral damage." Jane Shepard said.
"We've got ten thousand riled up Krogan in transport ships ready to support the invasion as well, in the coming months after the sacking of Grem City they'll be vital in taking out any loyalist holdouts in cities all over the planet. We've also got some construction/demolition crews on standby to deal with any collapsed buildings and here's the kicker. A hundred Vorcha from Omega have volunteered to assist with search and rescue." Admiral Charr said.
"Vorcha? Seriously?" Admiral Korris said. Charr nodded.
"Former blood pack mercenaries, they were based on Omega. Aria T'Loak broke up the organization personally, and without their leader they had nothing to keep them occupied. A hundred bored vorcha is a dangerous thing. A few amongst them are liberated slaves, one of them mentioned he talked to Captain Shepard on the first outpost." Charr said.
"Oh yeah, I remember, did he like the steak?" Shepard asked.
"It's a popular delicacy on Omega now, I'm told." Charr said, grinning.
"Ok, we've got a solid plan, and our assets are close to being in place. Are the Geth holding up ok on Kar'Shan?" Hannah Shepard asked.
"Affirmative, the new stealth technology has worked without any problems. We have not been detected." The burly Geth next to Rothschild said.
"Ok, then are we all in agreement with the plan?" Hannah said. She received acknowledgments from everyone present except Jane.
"Do you have any objections, Captain Shepard?" Hannah asked.
"Me? Uh no. Why?" Jane asked, obviously confused. Everyone chuckled at that.
"You never are going to be used to that are you?" Noruva said.
"Huh?" Jane responded intelligently. Rothschild rolled her eyes.
"Ok, this shit is annoying. So what, Admiral, General? Grand High poobah?" Rothschild asked.
"Fleet Commander I think." Wrex added, grinning.
"What?" Jane asked.
"By the power invested in me, blah blah blah, I dub thee lady Fleet Commander Urdnot Jane Shepard Vas Normandy. Mazel tov." Rothschild said, tapping Shepard's shoulders with a non-existent sword. Everyone present laughed, then applauded and offered their congratulations. She sat in stunned silence as they discussed other matters, finalizing the plan on their push towards conquering Kar'Shan. A few adjustments were made, but the plan remained largely the same.
"Once the diplomatic envoy arrives, we'll head to the outpost and get the Mayhem into position, our support ships are already there." Chambers said.
"The fifth is gathering in the Sol system and will arrive in force in three days." Hackett said.
"I'm coordinating transportation for our ground troops and the Asari, and we'll be in place right around when the Mayhem arrives." Korvus said.
"Excellent. Hopefully soon we can put this nightmare behind us and start preparing for the real threat. Thank you all for coming." Hannah said. Before they disconnected, Jane raised her hand to get their attention.
"One question.." Jane said.
"What's that sweetheart?" Hannah asked.
"What the fuck?"