|
Post by Esteban Bridges on May 4, 2014 13:36:55 GMT -6
Esteban listened to the discussion unfold, trying to figure out what to make of it all. Strange bugs. VI projections without any obvious origin. Keepers. Reapers. How did the Collectors know where the base was? A leak in the ambassador's office. Maybe. Nothing about this sat right with him.
Esteban leaned back, pinching the bridge of his nose while closing his eyes.
"Excuse me, Captain," he heard the Quarian say.
"Yes?" Esteban responded calmly, not moving from his position. "What can I do for you?"
|
|
|
Post by Murchadh on May 4, 2014 15:31:01 GMT -6
Meanwhile, the scot had moved over to the kitchen and after retrieving a bottle of beer from the fridge and was now searching through many of the kitchen knives. Three of them where on the counter along with the beer as he put several others back in the draws. Picking up his beer and tucking the knives into his belt before heading back to the elevator. Stopping for a moment he pressed the button for the ship wide communicator. " Is anybody free Ah need a hain wi' somethin' doon in th' shuttle bay."
|
|
|
Post by Shala'Bekk vas Neema on May 4, 2014 18:56:51 GMT -6
"Yes, what can I do for you?" he said, leaning back with his eyes closed.
"Captain, I wish to apologize for my rudeness earlier," she said, dropping her head in a gesture of meekness. "I know your questions were only motivated out of concern for my welfare, like any good captain, but I responded in anger and disrespected you in front of your crew. For that I am truly sorry."
She knew if she was on a quarian ship, such an apology would be accepted, but here, who knew? Would he accept it? Would he refuse it? Would he withhold her pay and throw her off?
I suppose I better get used to this if I'm not returning to the Fleet...
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lysander on May 4, 2014 19:47:50 GMT -6
"You could say that. They were able to use starships." Artacus flipped through his holos, stopping at one going down in flames. "Surprisingly... the Keepers fared well. They took down many Reapers with these tactics I have recorded. They might be of some use if we do encounter one."
Eric thought of the Keepers on the Citadel. If they were once a proud race of warriors any fight they had was long since beaten out of them. All that remained of the species were now mute and enigmatic caretakers of the Citadel, their past known only to them. That is until Esteban Bridges' discovery.
"I should of gotten that tech that was in the theater... there would be so many wondrous possibilities with that technology..."
Something then occurred to the N7 veteran that needed to be brought to his employer's attention. While the exact function of the ruined installation was still largely unknown, enough evidence had been found to link it to the latest Reaper appearance. Officially their existence was dismissed but there could be those within Alliance Intelligence who took the threat seriously, putting out feelers for any intel on this new threat. If so, Bridges' entire claim could be snatched up by Systems Alliance Military under Article 8 of the Galactic Salvage Code:
Any and all equipment, installation and data salvage that pertain to a known and declared enemy of the state must be immediately remanded to military jurisdiction under penalty of imprisonment.
Ambassador Udina looked the type to renege on a deal. Eric's employer could very well find himself without so much as a piece of pottery to auction off. But there was a ridiculously simple way out of the trap.
Just hide the Keeper data tracks and the existing arrangement will be honored.
Shala walked over and apologized to Esteban for shooing him off earlier while presenting her shotgun to Cruendi'has. Eric could not help but feel for her. Trying so very hard to stay focused and stable, to get along with her teammates, stumbling but then quick to make amends. Fortunately she had only suffered the one breakdown; maybe giving away her prized weapon was another way of managing her burdens.
Eric motioned for Esteban's attention when Murdach's voice came over the ships PA system. "Is anybody free? Ah need a hain wi' somethin' doon in th' shuttle bay."
The ex-Marine rose from his seat and went over to a nearby intercom.
"... Hey, Murdach! I'll be down in a minute. Just need ta run somethin' by the B Man."
|
|
|
Post by Esteban Bridges on May 4, 2014 22:10:40 GMT -6
"Captain, I wish to apologize for my rudeness earlier," she said as Esteban blinked his eyes open. "I know your questions were only motivated out of concern for my welfare, like any good captain, but I responded in anger and disrespected you in front of your crew. For that I am truly sorry."
He fought the urge to heave an exasperated sigh. Rather, he sat up in his chair. These sorts of situations were so awkward.
"Consider it forgotten," he said neutrally, glancing over at her. "Just relieving stress, right?"
Before he could continue on, the P.A. activated. "Is anybody free? Ah need a hain wi' somethin' doon in th' shuttle bay."
"... Hey, Murdach! I'll be down in a minute. Just need ta run somethin' by the B Man."
He fought the urge to laugh. The way Eric was so nonchalant was disarming.
"We can talk on the way down there," he responded, rising up to his feet. He kept his eyes on the former Alliance officer. "What do you want to know?"
|
|
|
Post by Maelstrom on May 4, 2014 22:26:01 GMT -6
Maelstrom had been watching the pictures on the turian's omni-tool since he arrived on the crew deck. He felt drawn to them. It felt disturbingly similar to the way he felt on the planet, when the bugs were controlling him. The familiar sensation made his skin crawl, but, at the same time, he knew he was in control this time.
"They were only doing that well because it was on a fortified world. At a critical node in the relay network. This was a world prepared for attack before it ever saw war," Maelstrom blurted out, unsure of how exactly he knew this. "The worlds on the fringes didn't do as well."
He looked away, cutting the invisible cords. His jaw clenched as he realized that again, he was left with scars he could not see.
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lysander on May 5, 2014 9:20:09 GMT -6
"We can talk on the way down there," Said Esteban, eyes on the former Alliance officer as he stood up. "What do you want to know?"
Eric did not think his employer would accompany him to the shuttle bay. Maybe he just wanted to hear what he had to say or maybe he would be assisting Murdach as well which would be even more surprising. This trip was never for a lack of surprises.
“Well, sir,” said Eric as he went down the stairwell with Esteban “I was curious to know about the arrangement you have with Udina, if you would be mentioning the data Mal and Aractus acquired or the dead Keepers. There’s a good chance that Article 8 of the Galactic Salvage Code could be invoked. You could wind up losing your dig site and everything in it. I know; I know – officially Alliance High Command agrees with the Council: Reapers don’t exist. Confiscating your claim over a non-existent threat would be suspicious.”
Then he stopped midway down the second stairwell and added “But then the possibility that the Keepers crawling around the Citadel today – that do exist - could be agents of another potentially hostile race… that the Citadel could really be theirs… that’s another powder keg altogether. My point is that this whole situation’s becoming more than about money. You may wanna retain some control over it as long as possible… at least until you’re sure what exactly it is you’ll be handing over or selling off.”
|
|
|
Post by grandest on May 5, 2014 14:42:50 GMT -6
Cruendi'has watched Esteban and Eric walk off downstairs to help Murchadh. There was a slight twinge of frustration as the one person who seemed to know the most about that damn moon was so dodgy. Then again, it's possible even Esteban had no clue what kind of hornets nest they were walking into. "They were only doing that well because it was on a fortified world," Maelstrom blurted out, his eyes transfixed on Artacus' hologram. "At a critical node in the relay network. This was a world prepared for attack before it ever saw war. The worlds on the fringes didn't do as well." Cruendi'has squinted incredulously. "How do you know that?"
|
|
|
Post by Maelstrom on May 5, 2014 15:02:16 GMT -6
"How do you know that?" Cruendi'has asked, squinting at him. Maelstrom was unfamiliar with batarian expressions. He wondered if he was being sized up as a threat or marveled at as some amazing freak accident.
"I don't know," Maelstrom said. "I just do. Looking back through at my recordings, I can't make sense of half of it, but there are these bursts, like when I see these pictures, when everything is clear as crystal." He sighed. "Damned bugs."
|
|
|
Post by PaladinKOSP on May 5, 2014 15:19:56 GMT -6
The turian closed the images and continued to type down on his omni-tool. It didn't matter how the human knew about that, since Artacus already knew what the bugs were making him do. If only his batarian friend didn't disobey one order... The turian turned to the two of them and speaks. "I'd appreciate if I had some space, could you move somewhere else please?" He calmly says.
|
|
|
Post by Maelstrom on May 5, 2014 15:30:03 GMT -6
"I'd appreciate if I had some space, could you move somewhere else please?"
Maelstrom bristled a bit at the comment, but he kept it largely hidden. Taking a few steps back, he activated his omni-tool and sent Cruendi'has a brief message. Hoping Cruendi'has would appreciate the joke, he typed, "I think bugs may be controlling him. Want to use your submission net again?"
Walking over to the batarian, Maelstrom said, "I'm going to be heading out soon. Probably later today. Wanted to say goodbye. If you're ever looking for work, you're welcome on one of my ops. Nice to know you're with someone who will have your back."
|
|
|
Post by Esteban Bridges on May 5, 2014 22:35:05 GMT -6
The two men headed out of the top level, walking down the stairs.
“I was curious to know about the arrangement you have with Udina, Eric said. "If you would be mentioning the data Mal and Aractus acquired or the dead Keepers. There’s a good chance that Article 8 of the Galactic Salvage Code could be invoked. You could wind up losing your dig site and everything in it. I know; I know – officially Alliance High Command agrees with the Council: Reapers don’t exist. Confiscating your claim over a non-existent threat would be suspicious.”
Then he stopped midway down the second stairwell and added “But then the possibility that the Keepers crawling around the Citadel today – that do exist - could be agents of another potentially hostile race… that the Citadel could really be theirs… that’s another powder keg altogether. My point is that this whole situation’s becoming more than about money. You may wanna retain some control over it as long as possible… at least until you’re sure what exactly it is you’ll be handing over or selling off.”
Esteban smiled slyly, nodding at the underlying message the former Alliance officer was saying. "I wasn't going to tell Udina what we found. At least not yet. I want to make sure what it was that we found." Esteban leaned back against the railing, crossing his arms across his chest. "To be honest, I still don't know what to make of the Reaper threat. Two weeks ago, I was sure that large ship was a Prothean dreadnought ship. Now, I don't know. You're right that I need to retain control over this find. Not sure how to defend the site though. I have to talk with the financier to see he can front the money to secure the site. Ships. Mining the area around the moon."
He takes a deep breath. "I'm more concerned that the Collectors knew about the site. I want to know what they were doing there in the first place."
|
|
|
Post by Shala'Bekk vas Neema on May 6, 2014 5:36:03 GMT -6
Shala was a little hurt by the captain's casual acceptance of her apology and then his quick disappearance with Eric Lysander.
Definitely something I'm going to have to get used to, she thought as she watched them head down the stairs and then turned back to face Maelstrom and Cruendi'has Tarmikos. At least I don't have to go far to say my last good bye...
"Maelstrom, may I speak with you...in private?" she asked.
|
|
|
Post by Murchadh on May 6, 2014 7:01:17 GMT -6
Down in the shuttle bay the scot had been busy next to his mech. The smell of welded metal was in the air as he continued repairs. Thor had taken a beating down there and from what he could tell the collectors could have more nasty in the works. Would his mech have enough firepower? True it particular cannon was powerful, but maybe it would be time to upgrade it secondary guns.
The sound of footsteps approaching made him look round to see Eric and Bridges approaching. " Huy troaps cheers fur com..." He began before a loud banging from part of his mech caught everyone attention. " Haud yer weesht will ye 'at things air techt sae yoo're jist wastin' oxygen." He yelled towars the baging before turning back to the huamns. " Sorry abit 'at didne ken whaur tae pit 'er." He said as he walked over and opened the compartment allowing the woman to fall out. " Ah caught 'er sneakin' roon th' deid collectors wi' an alliance napalm bomb." Murchadh said as he grabbed the woman by one of the cables he tied her up with an pulled her to her feet.
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lysander on May 6, 2014 8:35:56 GMT -6
"I wasn't going to tell Udina what we found. At least not yet. I want to make sure what it was that we found."
Esteban leaned back against the railing, crossing his arms across his chest. "To be honest, I still don't know what to make of the Reaper threat. Two weeks ago, I was sure that large ship was a Prothean dreadnought ship. Now, I don't know. You're right that I need to retain control over this find. Not sure how to defend the site though. I have to talk with the financier to see he can front the money to secure the site. Ships. Mining the area around the moon."
He takes a deep breath. "I'm more concerned that the Collectors knew about the site. I want to know what they were doing there in the first place."
One corner of Eric’s mouth skewed. “Our little prisoner,” he said in reference to the Collector Cruendi’has captured during the mission. “If we can get it to talk and if we can understand it; I can run my translator app and see if it that works. As for securing the site, the mining angle’s good. I can run a deep survey of the moon, see if there’re any ores worth extracting. If we’re lucky that little side op can net enough capital to maintain a presence in this system.”
Eric and Esteban exited the stairwell into the shuttle bay and walked towards Murdach who was busy making repairs to Thor, which looked like it had seen better days.
“Oy-yoy-yoy!” Eric called out to the Scotsman. “Will the patient live, Doc?”
" Huy troaps cheers fur com..." He began before a loud banging from part of his mech caught everyone’s attention. "Haud yer weesht will ye 'at things air techt sae yoo're jist wastin' oxygen," he yelled at the mech before turning back to Esteban and Eric.
"Sorry abit 'at didne ken whaur tae pit 'er," said Murdach as he walked over and opened a compartment on his mech.
A woman tumbled out onto the deck bound up with cabling. Murdach pulled her to her feet. "Ah caught 'er sneakin' roon th' deid collectors wi' an alliance napalm bomb."
“Oh, this keeps getting better and better, doesn’t it?” griped Eric, placing one hand on his hip and running the other over and through his hair. He turned to his employer and pointed a thumb at their newest captive.
“She’s one of your crew; you should question her. And in case you’re wondering, no, the bomb isn’t one o’ mine.”
|
|
|
Post by grandest on May 6, 2014 19:23:36 GMT -6
"I'd appreciate if I had some space, could you move somewhere else please?" Artacus muttered. Cruendi'has just about had enough of this guy. After everything that had happened back on the moon, he figured the Turian would more than enjoy the ability to share more information about these fabled "Reapers." Cruendi'has' omnitool vibrated and he glanced down at a message from Maelstrom. "I think bugs may be controlling him. Want to use your submission net again?" The batarian grinned at the suggestion. "I'm going to be heading out soon." The Merc in Black said aloud to Cruendi'has. "Probably later today. Wanted to say goodbye. If you're ever looking for work, you're welcome on one of my ops. Nice to know you're with someone who will have your back." "I might take you up on that offer someday." Cruendi'has replied. "But for now... I think I'll be heading back into Batarian space. All of this information could prove useful in bringing us closer to some sort of alignment with Citadel space." Cruendi'has thought for a moment. "And it's been too long since I've left home."
|
|
|
Post by Maelstrom on May 6, 2014 19:52:19 GMT -6
"And it's been too long since I've left home," Cruendi'has said.
Maelstrom envied having a home that was more than the bulkheads of a ship. He nodded once curtly, before offering a hand to Cruendi'has to shake. (Insert response)
"Maelstrom, may I speak with you...in private?" Shala'Bekk asked, as he parted ways with the batarian.
"Shala," Maelstrom said, "I'd like that. I was hoping to get a moment to talk with you before heading out."
|
|
|
Post by Shala'Bekk vas Neema on May 6, 2014 22:26:10 GMT -6
"Good," she said. "Can we talk in your shuttle?"
|
|
|
Post by Esteban Bridges on May 6, 2014 23:35:00 GMT -6
Esteban stood by Eric while they approached Murdach. Interrogations were well outside of his element. He wasn't going to show that. He kept a detached coolness about him, as if this didn't phase him at all. He stepped forward the moment Eric addressed him.
“She’s one of your crew; you should question her. And in case you’re wondering, no, the bomb isn’t one o’ mine.”
Esteban walked around to the woman's side, taking a glance at way she was bound. It didn't look like she was going anywhere.
"She's nothing more than hired help," he brushed her off dismissively. "I hired her in the usual way." Esteban paused right there. Anyone who was familiar with how renting ships worked would know exactly what he was talking about. You hire the crew from the docks, a lot like mercenaries. The person you hire is as only as good as his or her word. "How did you catch her exactly?"
Esteban glanced over at the Scotsman out of the corner of his eye as he rounded the woman.
|
|
|
Post by Murchadh on May 7, 2014 6:55:39 GMT -6
" Ah caught 'er sneakin' aff th' ship oan mah way back. followed 'er an' she went straecht tae th' deid collectors. she was cuttin' aff their fingers when Ah clubbed 'er ower th' heed." Murvhadah replied as he held his still groggy captive.
|
|