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Post by Weyrloc Karn on Jul 16, 2014 6:29:49 GMT -6
"We're getting ready to go steal what they've worked for and kick their hive.", said Maelstrom.
Karn grins slightly, before giving a brief laugh, himself shuffling his now folded hammer onto his 'holster' of sorts. "Now that's what I needed to hear..", he chuckles out. "Yeah, don't worry on me not understandin', swarm instinct is pretty much like klixen, fuckers'll pop outta' everywhere when you piss them off." He folds his arms as he leans against the nearest solid object, "And that's why you two have some sort of plan after pissin' off an entire army of them, eh?"
"That's the short version. If you need to know more, I'll send you send you a data packet."
Karn gives a brief nod, "S'appreciated if you send whatever you got over, don't wanna' go in blind y'know?"
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Post by Joe Fischer on Jul 16, 2014 12:10:56 GMT -6
Joe had finished gearing up to escort Artacus off the ship, but hadn't received any notifications about arrival, so he figured he had some time to kill. As he walked out of the sleeping area, he saw several others--Karn, Lysander and Maelstrom--sitting at a table in the eating area.
Never hurts to talk with the team, he thought as he approached. Don't want to get a rep as a loner.
"Hey, what are we doing, swapping cookie recipes?" he asked as he sat down.
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Post by Eric Lysander on Jul 16, 2014 13:40:27 GMT -6
“No batter for you to lick here, Junior,” said Eric. “But if it’s cookin’ you’re inta, me n’ Mal just hammered together a recipe for Skewered Praetorian. Get at that nice chewy center before it nails us with its death rays. How’s our grumpy turian doin’? Ya give ‘im back his stick? If it were me I’d put it back in the other way!”
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Jul 16, 2014 13:42:29 GMT -6
Esteban calmly sat back while the young woman looked over at him, appraising him. He had no idea what was going through her mind, though he assumed a healthy amount of skepticism. He was not disappointed. "One, what makes you think that's something I can even do? And two, what is your mission, exactly? I already have an employer and I don't blindly help just anyone, regardless of pay. Obviously, I understand the need for secrecy, but I'm going to need some sort of... reassurance before I join your little team."
He rested his chin on his right palm, his right elbow pressed into the chair's sturdy arm. "What makes me think you can analyze the video?" he rephrased her question ever so slightly, weighing her words. He tapped his index finger on his cheek once or twice. "To be honest, just what I observed from you. I would prefer using an information broker, but that option is not available. You displayed calmness under pressure, a keen mind, and a great deal of attention to detail. Coupled with your obvious talent with electronics and obfuscation, I would imagine working with video feed would be something you had a great deal of experience with."
Esteban did not continue immediately. Rather, he stayed quiet, seemingly watching her for any sort of reaction. Thouugh in reality, he considered how to explain the next mission. It was delicate, trying to not have it sound like suicide. He tapped his cheek again and took a breath.
[RP Note: If Morgan speaks up, Esteban will appear to watch her passively, listening]
"As for your second question," he said slowly, cautiously. It was not as if he was stalling, but taking his time to weigh his every word. "The mission is an extraction mission, where we are to break into an enemy base to retrieve captured aliens that are being experimented on and access their systems to retrieve vital data. It is dangerous, I will not hide that. This team...."
Esteban tilted his head over toward the door, gesturing toward where the rest of the squad was at. "With the exception of Iskra, is very top heavy with brute force. Not enough thinkers and planners. If they had their way, we would break into the base with guns blazing, failing to understand it would be far easier to not engage and quietly do the mission, only attacking when necessary and attempt to cover tracks rather than leaving a body count. I suspect your skill set will be important for the success of the mission."
He took hold of his tea, his fingers wrapped around the handle with great care. "I trust this answers your questions."
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Post by Joe Fischer on Jul 16, 2014 14:12:22 GMT -6
"Skewered Praetorian, huh?" Joe said. "Haven't had that yet, but I do know it's all about the preparation. I hear lead traveling at 2000 feet per second applied numerously works. I also hear that Grilled Scion may be on the menu as well. Now, I don't know you about you, but I prefer mine well-done."
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Post by Maelstrom on Jul 16, 2014 15:51:05 GMT -6
"Ya give ‘im back his stick? If it were me I’d put it back in the other way!” Lysander said.
A small smile pulled at the corner of Maelstrom's lips. He quietly asked Lysander, "Are you sure we shouldn't replace his stick with one of your spikes?" The little laugh he allowed himself was hopefully enough for the older man to understand it was just a jest.
"Skewered Praetorian, huh?" Joe said. "Haven't had that yet, but I do know it's all about the preparation. I hear lead traveling at 2000 feet per second applied numerously works. I also hear that Grilled Scion may be on the menu as well. Now, I don't know you about you, but I prefer mine well-done."
"Trust me, Fischer, you don't want to tangle with a Praetorian unless you have to. Shepard's reports made them sound easier than they are to deal with," Maelstrom said. He was not certain whether that spoke to the N7's skill or just his talent for understatement. "Based on that, I wouldn't want to deal with a Scion either. Especially not without having our resident Scott with us, and I have a feeling Bridges is going to want us to tiptoe around on this one."
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Post by Murchadh on Jul 16, 2014 15:54:30 GMT -6
The sound of the lift echoed through the mess hall as the Scottish mech pilot steeped out. Without saying a word he stood over to the freezer and pulled on of the bottle of beers from the bottom. Finding the bottle opener he opened it allowing the cool liquid to pour down his throat before sitting down at one of the tables free chairs. " Guid day troaps hoo is it gonnae."
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Post by Weyrloc Karn on Jul 16, 2014 17:03:29 GMT -6
"Skewered Praetorian, huh?" Joe said. "Haven't had that yet, but I do know it's all about the preparation. I hear lead traveling at 2000 feet per second applied numerously works. I also hear that Grilled Scion may be on the menu as well. Now, I don't know you about you, but I prefer mine well-done."
Karn gives a small laugh, rolling his eyes slightly. "Oh great, I'll start gagging in excitement.." He runs his gauntlet along his plate a moment as he gives it a rub, listening to the group talk amongst themselves, before giving Murchadh a wave before lowering his hand. "You lot are actin' like you've been against these things already..", he chuckles out.
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Post by Joe Fischer on Jul 16, 2014 20:00:32 GMT -6
Joe nodded at the biotic's comments. "True, but I'm betting that goes out the window once the Collectors realize their prisoners are missing," he said. "Unless maybe we can hack their security, then all we have to worry about is a random patrol raising the alarm."
A thought suddenly occurred to him. "Does anyone know how they communicate?" he asked. "I don't remember Shepard talking about that in his interview."
I'm smelling a whole lot of "if" coming off this plan...
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Post by Morgan Bryn on Jul 16, 2014 21:28:46 GMT -6
Something wasn't sitting right with Morgan. It was almost as if Bridges knew more than he was letting on. There was a lot of assumptions going on from his end, but it was hard to say if they were just lucky guesses or if he was working off more information about her than she assumed he had access to. Either way, it was making her uncomfortable.
At his almost cavalier mention of an information broker, she had to force her face to stay neutral and not give herself away. 'Electronics, obfuscation, calmness under pressure, a keen mind, and attention to detail,' he had cited for his reasoning... it was a wonder the man didn't think her a spy.
Regardless of how he figured those particular sets of skills added up to to the ability to analyze video tampering, she had to admit he was right, but she was reluctant to tip her hand just yet. Instead she merely shrugged nonchalantly.
"I'm willing to give it a look for you, if that's what it will take not to get dumped off on a derelict station," she relented calmly, unnerved to see Bridges' face so neutral.
"As for your second question," he spoke up again. "The mission is an extraction mission, where we are to break into an enemy base to retrieve captured aliens that are being experimented on and access their systems to retrieve vital data. It is dangerous, I will not hide that. This team... with the exception of Iskra, is very top heavy with brute force. Not enough thinkers and planners."
Warning bells were already going off in Morgan's head before the man was even finished speaking. Although she was an expert at breaking and entering, such ops never went as smoothly as planned, especially when entire bases were involved. His reference to 'aliens' did not go unnoticed either... The only reason not to call an alien race by the actual name of their people was if the race was largely unknown to the outside galaxy. Not to mention his assertion that Iskra, the woman she'd seen face down a mech with her biotics alone not an hour before, was on the lower end of the brute force scale for this group also told her she was getting in way over her head. She glanced back up at the man, she swallowed the lump forming in her throat as she listened to him continue.
"If they had their way, we would break into the base with guns blazing, failing to understand it would be far easier to not engage and quietly do the mission, only attacking when necessary and attempt to cover tracks rather than leaving a body count. I suspect your skill set will be important for the success of the mission. I trust this answers your questions."
If someone of her skill was that important to the mission... why the hell were they going to proceed without hiring someone with her abilities before hand? She wasn't sure she liked the idea of being on a ship full of people who sounded so reckless. Not to mention, if she were the only one capable of proceeding with caution as Bridges' had indicated, that pretty much placed any recon and infiltration squarely on her shoulders.
Morgan rubbed the bridge of her nose, taking a deep breath as she to figure out how to carefully phrase what she was thinking in her head. "I appreciate the opportunity and the offer of pay, and although I usually work alone, like I said, I'd be happy to look over that vid for you or help where I can, but... what your describing..." She shook her head, letting out a breath of air. "I just met you, Bridges. I don't know your people, who hired you, or who we're going to 'rescue' exactly... I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the level of responsibility you seem to think I'm capable of accepting," she replied frankly, hoping this statement didn't earn her a one-way trip out an airlock.
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Jul 17, 2014 1:33:47 GMT -6
Morgan wore her nervousness on her sleeve, shifting uncomfortably in her chair as Esteban explained the situation. At least, how he understood it. Her nervousness was more than reasonable. She was a stowaway with a weapon pointed at her face no more than ten minutes ago. Now, it sounded like a lot was being asked of her. She took a deep breath.
"I appreciate the opportunity and the offer of pay, and although I usually work alone, like I said, I'd be happy to look over that vid for you or help where I can, but... what your describing..." She let go of that breath she held. "I just met you, Bridges. I don't know your people, who hired you, or who we're going to 'rescue' exactly... I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the level of responsibility you seem to think I'm capable of accepting."
He traced the rim of his cup with the tip of his finger, around and around while he considered what she said. Did I misread her? No... I am missing something.... He watched her for a moment, reviewing quickly what he thought he knew about her.
"Nobody hired me," he said plainly, pulling his hand away from the cup. His classic rolex watch peeked out from underneath his sleeve. "I'm the one who hired everyone on this ship. We do have a financial backer. This is his ship. As for the team..."
Esteban leaned forward, placing his elbows on his thighs for balance as he rest on them. His hands came together when he folded them. He kept his voice and tone plain, talking to her rather than at her. "We have a Salarian who is an expert at infiltration. We have a highly skilled sniper. A demolitions experts. Maelstrom. A former Alliance officer. A mech pilot who speaks a language our translators still can't figure out. A Krogan Battlemaster. A number of the team possesses biotic abilities. And there is me, an Engineer."
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes to recenter himself. He knew she would find out about the mission one way or another if she stayed on the ship. More details would not hurt. "As for the rescue," he paused, letting the last word hang in the air. "Aliens and humans were sold to the Collectors in exchange for technology by a corrupt Alliance politician. I want them rescued and find definitive proof against the one behind it. Computer files. Testimony from the ones we rescue. Getting them out safely requires subtly. Meldom will be leading that front."
"All I would ask of you on the mission is to go with him to provide technical support. Things you have already shown yourself more than capable of. He is more than skilled enough to handle any threat you may encounter. And ideally, having someone else who doesn't rely on brute force would create a much needed balance."
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Post by Eric Lysander on Jul 17, 2014 11:21:00 GMT -6
Maelstrom offered another jest at the ousted turian’s expense. "Are you sure we shouldn't replace his stick with one of your spikes?" Eric wheezed through his nose. “Sure… if you like ultrasonic yodeling!”
Murdach made his way in and sat down amongst the other mercenaries as Joe and Maelstrom remarked more on the Praetorian threat.
"Guid day troaps hoo is it gonnae," said the Scotsman. “It’s a gooin, Murdach. Talkin bout our old Praetorian nemesis from Barce among other things.”
Karn found the humans’ juxtaposition of neutralizing the dread Collector weapon to cooking amusing. "You lot are actin' like you've been against these things already," he chuckled out.
“Only one so far,” Eric pointed out. “And one’s more than enough to know you’ve been in one helluva fight!”
"Does anyone know how they communicate?" the junior N7 Joe asked suddenly. "I don't remember Shepard talking about that in his interview."
Eric recalled. “Me, Meldom and Cruendi’has were talkin’ bout that last time. Batarian Mr. B hired on for the Barce mission. Weren’t sure if the Collectors were a telepathic hive mind or not. They did like reusing a lot of the tech they found so they might have something we could wiretap or jam.”
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2014 15:26:26 GMT -6
The tea cup did not make a sound as the young doctor set it back down, her pinky allowing it to slide silently into place. Even after a decade of not needing to put on airs for various government officials, she found herself still practicing most of the manners required of a representative's daughter.
Iskra sat quietly as she read over the research paper, ignoring the two discussing a few feet from her. Morgan had asked for the Drell to be there, not to talk or listen to her story.
Parr lifted his head from the floor where he lay at her feet. His large head tilted as if listening to something before getting up and walking calmly out of the medbay. Iskra watched the Varren as he disappeared around the corner, figuring he was looking for Eric to play with.
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Post by Morgan Bryn on Jul 18, 2014 2:09:22 GMT -6
Morgan listened politely, not interrupting as Bridges listed each crew member in turn. Unfortunately, merely their names and job descriptions did little to calm her nerves. She was more interested in who they were as people. What were their personalities like? Did they have any mercy or were they hired killers? Were they loyal or likely to shoot her in the back at any given moment? Bridges seemed to have forgotten that she'd had multiple guns and a mech pulled on her seconds after her reveal, but those facts were burned into her memory. Maybe they were just a cautious sort - or maybe it was something else. Ironically, the only member of the crew Bridges did not mention was Iskra, but perhaps that was because he assumed Morgan already had trust for the Drell.
As Bridges described the nature of his mission, Morgan had to admit her curiosity was at least piqued. The idea of a corrupt politician was particularly appealing, as was further information on the activity of the elusive Collectors. This was such information that might be beneficial outside her short-lived position on this crew... even something that might be worthy of a reward from her employer - something to make up for her semi-botched mission.
Morgan weighed her options as Bridges finished speaking, the only real sound or movement in the room coming from the Varren who had decided to excuse himself from the medbay. She'd have to be careful, but if she played her cards right, this could be potentially very lucrative. Assuming she didn't get herself killed in the process.
At long last she spoke up once more with a nod to Bridges. "Alright, I'll help where I can."
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Post by Joe Fischer on Jul 18, 2014 8:05:46 GMT -6
"We're coming up on the refueling station, ETA five minutes," the pilot announced over the ship's PA system. "Anyone needs to tinkle or stretch your legs, now's your chance."
"That's my cue," Joe said, standing up and putting on his helmet. "Come on Mel, let's make sure Artacus doesn't make any last-minute messes."
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Jul 18, 2014 8:52:28 GMT -6
"Alright, I'll help where I can."
Morgan's words broke the comfortable silence that hung in the medbay. Esteban enjoyed the quiet, simply watching her and the surrounding environment. But now that she spoke up, it was time to get back to business. The businessman nodded, showing that he heard her. Now she needed to analyze the video, her test to prove her skills. It was not the ideal test, but one that should present a small measure of the skills Esteban was sure she possessed. He gestured toward the looping video on the monitor, his gaze moving from Morgan to the screen.
"Please," he said simply. "If you require any analyzing software or use of the ship's systems, do not hesitate to ask. I will be speaking with Iskra while you work, so I will be within speaking distance."
Esteban braced his hands over the armrests to get ready to rise up to his feet, looking over at Morgan in case she had any questions when the pilot's voice came over the ship's comm system. "We're coming up on the refueling station, ETA five minutes. Anyone needs to tinkle or stretch your legs, now's your chance."
"If you need to freshen up, I believe Iskra has a private bathroom," he said almost in response to Thomas' crass announcement. "Though you should ask her before using it. It is hers, after all."
[insert questions, responses, etc]
Esteban pushed up, rising to a standing position with practiced ease. His hands swept down, brushing away the wrinkles that naturally forms on shirts. He did not see the need to stay or hover over her while Morgan did her task. So he stepped around his chair to give her more space and walked over to the Drell reading the datapad. He calmed walked, his arms swaying an inch or two at his sides.
"Iskra," he whispered as he approached. "I have an update on the device in the cargo bay if you have time to talk now...."
From the corner of his eye, he spotted something glimmer like a diamond from the nearby waste basket. He turned his head down. It wasn't diamond, but something that looked like broken glass. He frowned. The shards had no blood on them, so nobody was hurt. But the way they sat there didn't feel right, like whatever this was should not have broke. He looked back up with a curious look.
"What happened?"
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Post by Eric Lysander on Jul 18, 2014 13:42:56 GMT -6
The Valiant's pilot announced that they were five minutes from the refueling station. Artacus' last stop.
"That's my cue," Joe said, standing up and putting on his helmet. "Come on Mel, let's make sure Artacus doesn't make any last-minute messes."
"Gee, we hardly knew him," said Eric, the sarcasm boiling over in his tone. "But never was a spot o' dirt or grease safe from his hankie. And neither rain nor snow nor extenuating circumstance would stay him from his appointed rounds. I'm gonna miss that ol' grump... I'll... try not to cry..."
Eric scrunched in mock sadness, taking a long and loud sniff before letting off a cackle.
"Definitely in the wrong line o' work. He should've went into jewelry - that tight ass could crap out enough diamonds to retire on..."
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2014 20:48:24 GMT -6
"What happened?"
Iskra did not know what Esteban was referring to as she looked up from the datapad, but she had a guess, it wasn't something she wanted to talk about.
"Nothing." She responded coolly, "What did you find out about the device?"
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Jul 18, 2014 21:38:02 GMT -6
The Drell glanced up at him from the data pad, not taking a look at the crystal shards laying in the trash. "Nothing," she said plainly. "What did you find out about the device?"
Esteban leaned against the desk, half-sitting and half standing. He hooked his thumb into his belt loop so his hand could dangle, his other arm raised up... his omnitool active. All of his copious notes rolled out before him. He sighed, taking a moment to study it.
"I confirmed that the device came from off-world," he started off with a conclusion he recently came to. "I found hints of strontium within some of the wiring. Strontium..." His VI was reacting to his every word, automatically pulling up his records on the element Strontium. "...is not a naturally occurring element on Rakhana or its star system. The only way for strontium to be included within there is if it was constructed outside of Rakhana's star system."
"I found another piece of information very recently that I need you to look at," he pushed off the desk to turn to her. Data continuously ran a dozens of simulations, mimicking each and every piece of the strange machine. So far, his VI was only able to determine what one piece does. Out of over a hundred thousand components... one. He lowered himself to one knee, showing a close up of what appeared to be a microbe.
"I programmed in simulations to try to understand the device without activating it," he continued on while the screen zoomed in on something gray and worm-like, swimming in what could be water. "My VI hypothesized one of the parts generates this microbes like this. We are sure that this is a mutation from the magnaporthe grisea complex. Though what mutations it has and what that could mean is only a guess. Would you like to study the data on the simulation?"
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2014 2:45:24 GMT -6
Iskra found herself relax slightly as Esteban didn't push the issue, though it seemed more a passing curiosity than concern depending how easily he brushed it off.
She listened quietly to his information, sparing a glace of the holo he showed her. She had determined the machine had not been of Drell origin, they had discussed this at length when she had first brought the machine to him. So the information about the component was not a surprising discovery. What was interesting was the microbe.
You should have been fully eradicated...
That dark voice spoke once again in her memories, no less soul piercing that when she first heard it. What if...
Her eyes refocused on the man in front of her. "No offense to your VI, but I would like to double check the results before we accept something that damaging."
What if...that voice was real?
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