Chapter Text
Baria Frontiers Office Building
Biting her lips as she and her friends rushed into the building, Liara’s tears, mingling with the water from the fire suppression system, trickled down her face. Spotting a salarian moaning in pain as he laid on the floor in his own blood, she and her blonde human/Trill companion rushed up to him as the other member of their party, the turian vigilante, Garrus, also checked on the wounded and dead. Kneeling down next to the wounded salarian, Liara shook her head somberly as she whispered to her friend, “We’re too late, Cilla. He just died.”
Placing a gentle hand on her asari companion’s shoulder as she knelt beside her, Lieutenant Commander Cilla Oudekirk, on examining the body, pointed out in her Dutch-accented voice, “He wasn’t killed by the bomb blast.”
Overhearing the Starfleet officer’s comment, Garrus echoed, “Neither were the others. They were shot with military grade weapons.”
“That means that whoever did this is probably still here.” Cilla replied as she drew her phaser. Her eyes taking in the carnage, the willowy Dutch woman exclaimed in surprise, “Where are the first responders?”
“Broker’s paid them off.” Garrus grimly responded, “We’re not going to get any help.” He then shook his head in sadness at the bodies lying on the floor, “Neither are they.” Heaving a mournful sigh the turian placed gentle hands on both women’s shoulders, “I’m sorry. There’s nothing we can do about the dead and I’ve got a feeling that we’re going to be in for a lot of hard fighting.”
“You’re right, Garrus.” Liara somberly agreed, “Every second we waste puts Sekat in even more danger. “We have to go.”
Taking a deep breath, Cilla nodded her head, “Then let’s go.”
Samantha and Satra
“She’s rigged the door with an explosive device.” Samantha grimaced. “We open it and we’ll trigger the bomb. Ideas love?”
“Hmmm…” the Romulan science officer murmured as she spied an access panel. “Let’s see what’s behind that panel…shall we?”
“Let’s.” Samantha grinned as she opened the panel to reveal a tiny object connected to several wires. “Well…well…well…what do we have here?” the dusky-skinned communications specialist drawled in her posh English accent, “Wireless detonator triggered to explode when the door opens.”
“I’m no engineer…” Satra mused, “But I think I can disarm it with a low energy gravimetric pulse.” Adjusting her tricorder, she pressed a button, a broad grin appearing on her face moments later, “And success. We should be able to enter now, but it wouldn’t hurt to do a second scan.”
“Good idea.” Samantha concurred as she again scanned the door and surrounding area. “All clear. We can go in now.”
Entering the room, Satra scanned it with her tricorder. “Asari DNA traces, but otherwise it’s clean.”
“Vasir’s a SPECTRE.” Samantha pointed out, “She’s a pro. But still…” the communications specialist smirked as she pointed at an OSD laying on the floor next to a spent thermal clip. “Even the best make the simplest of mistakes. She must have been a hurry and it slipped.”
“It’s corrupted.” Satra shook her head, “But I think we can get something useful.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Samantha grinned, “Let’s get to work.”
Miranda and James
“Whew! That was a tough one.” Vega panted as he and his companion downed the last of a company of Eclipse mercs and mechs that had met them the moment they entered the terminal complex. “We’re not gonna be able to cut through these pendejos on our own, Miri.”
“Agreed.” The raven-haired biotic replied as she recharged her phaser. “They were pouring on so much fire that it almost got through both my biotic barrier and my personal shield.”
“I’m calling in backup.” James declared as he tapped his comm badge and spoke. “Hey, Bau! Can you and Gears give us a hand? That is if the two of you are done doing whatever it is you’re doing.”
“Will transport to your location immediately.” The salarian Spectre replied, appearing moments later with his Romulan teammate. Looking at the carnage, Bau laconically remarked, “Hard fight.”
“Yeah.” James agreed as he kicked a dead Eclipse trooper with his toe. “The bastards are learning.”
“That and/or someone is feeding them information.” The astute Spectre observed.
“We do know that Cerberus is getting extra-universal help of some sort.” Miranda remarked thoughtfully
“That makes the need for us to open a portal to our universe all the more urgent.” Veril pointed out before asking, “So what’s the situation?”
“Here’s what we’re facing…” James replied, briefing the new arrivals. “We know of at least two…probably three…companies of Eclipse mercs and that we’ve got a leak somewhere in Miranda’s organization.”
“Likely suspects?” Jodrum inquired.
“No one I know would betray me.” Miranda answered back forcefully. “I’ve known Niket for years and Lanteia is completely loyal.”
“The leak has to come from somewhere.” Jodrum politely but firmly pointed out. “It would have to be someone who knows about your sister and her arrival here. Who in your organization possesses that knowledge?”
Lowering her head, Miranda sighed, “Only two: Lanteia and Niket.”
“Sorry, Miri…” Vega sympathetically, yet emphatically, stated, “I know you don’t want to hear this, but it’s gotta be one or the other.”
“I know.” The Australian biotic replied, her shoulders slumped in dejection. “It’s just…I trusted both of them.”
“Who do you think is the most likely suspect?” Veril asked, “Who would gain most from betraying you?”
“That’s just it.” Miranda answered back with a frown, “I can’t think of how either one of them would benefit.”
“Credits talk.” Vega pointed out. “Wave a big enough credit stick, and you can buy almost anyone.”
Nodding his head in agreement, Bau echoed the Alliance Marine’s statement, “It wouldn’t be the first time a trusted individual turned coat for credits. Who would be the most likely?”
Covering her eyes so that no one could see her tears, Miranda replied somberly, “It’s not Lanteia. Her knowledge of the operation ended after our meeting. She knows nothing about where or when we’re supposed to meet up with Oriana and her family. There’s only one person who knows as much about this operation as me—Niket.”
“I’m sorry, Miri.” James said apologetically, “But we have to assume that he’s got your sister and is planning on turning her over to Enyala.”
“I know.” Her face now showing a mixture of anger and determination, the Australian declared in a steely voice, “We have to go now. We don’t have much time.”
V’lana and Anaya
“Gather around and quick gawking at the Romulans.” Anaya ordered, motioning the other officers as well as the newcomers to her desk. “And get Dana and her people at the Transport Hub on screen—now!”
“What’s going on, Detective?” Bellana, one of the sergeants, still stunned by the surprising arrival of Tali and the Romulan security team, asked as she entered the detective’s office.
“A shitstorm is about to land on top of us.” Anaya replied, “And we don’t have much time to get ready for it. I’ll let the Subcommander take over the briefing from here.” Turning to her Romulan companion, the asari police officer smiled, “Your show.”
“Thanks.” V’lana smiled back at her asari friend. “First off…” she addressed her audience, “Expect the mercs we’ll be facing to possess upgraded shields and weapons thanks to the technology being given to them by our enemy. As for Shepard and her team…they’ve received implants and in at least one case—the krogan’s—genetic reengineering and grafting with one or more alien species…again thanks to technology given to the Illusive Man and probably the Shadow Broker by our enemies.”
“Who are these enemies of yours?” Bellana inquired with a skeptical look on her face.
“Bad news.” Anaya interjected, further clarifying without giving away their extra-universal origins, “I’ve seen footage of them and what they can do on V’lana’s ship. They won’t give up. You can’t negotiate with them. It’s either kill them or they kill you or make you into one of them.”
“Anaya’s right.” Tali echoed, “We ran into a krogan on Tuchanka that had been enhanced like the one on Shepard’s team.” After a momentary pause, the quarian engineer added, “We also ran into enhanced humans—thankfully they were all dead when we got there.”
“Tali and Anaya are telling the truth.” V’lana declared, “They seem to be a fusion of multiple technologies: one coming from a cybernetic race we call the Borg for obvious reasons. The other being Reaper tech. They’ve also been genetically augmented and we think they have also been exposed to Thorian spores. Make no mistake, they are dangerous.”
“Will they have energy weapons like you?” Anaya inquired with a concerned look on her face.
“The mercs probably not.” V’lana replied, “It takes some training to use one of our weapons well. You were a fast learner and picked up on using a phaser pistol pretty quick. But the more exotic of our weapons…” she shook her head, “they’ll probably stick with what they’re familiar with. But again, expect the weapons they have to be more powerful.”
“You mentioned that their shields would be stronger.” Sergeant Dana queried, her image appearing on the monitor next to a pair of Romulan security officers and an engineer. “In what ways?”
“They’ll soak up a lot more damage.” V’lana explained, “And, along with their armor, will also probably be more resistant to direct biotic attacks. On the flip side, your biotic abilities will also give you an important advantage. While kinetic attacks such as throws and pulls will be more difficult, your abilities such as…what do you call it?”
“Warp.” Anaya interjected.
“Right.” V’lana nodded her head, “That will prove helpful in disrupting their shields and armor defenses long enough for your weapons or a follow up kinetic biotic attack to have effect.”
“Those of you who are specialists and can reave, channel, or dominate…” Anaya interrupted, “you’re going to be very important. When you see an opening go for it.”
“Also…” Tali interjected, “Expect Shepard’s team’s shields, at least, to adapt to your weapons fire. Those of us using energy weapons will have frequency modulators that can adjust for their adaptations.” Addressing the subcommander, the young quarian added, “Veril and I came up with an innovation to the standard frequency modulator. We’ve adjusted it where it will randomly shift to a different frequency either on adaptation or at random intervals during a sustained fight.”
Nodding her head as a slight smile appeared on her face, V’lana replied in praise, “Nicely done, Tali. I’ll see to it that you and Veril receive full recognition for it when we get back home.”
“Okay.” Bellana inquired, “So…what do the rest of us do? Those of us without your energy weapons.”
“The best advice I can give you.” Tali replied, “Is to continually change out your ammo mods and do it in a random manner. Hopefully that will buy you some time to penetrate their shields.”
“Tali…” V’lana requested, speaking to her engineer, “I’m going to need you to set up shield and medical regenerators and a pair of phaser turrets here…” she pointed at strategic locations on a map of the police station and its immediate exterior, “and here. Also, lay down chroniton mines in front of the entrances. They won’t stop the assault…” the subcommander explained to her audience, “but they will slow it down and we want them…especially the krogan…exposed and at a distance for as long as possible. Dana?” She said to the asari police officer on the monitor, “The Romulan engineer on your team will do the same with your kiosk. I don’t expect them to come at you in the force that they’re going to come at us, but you’re most likely going to get a great deal of heat and you’re going to need every advantage you can get.”
“We’ll give them a fight to remember.” The sergeant responded.
“If they breach the perimeter and get into either the station or your kiosk, Dana…” Anaya grimly warned, “Then it’s lights out for us. Got it? Good. We don’t have much time. Let’s get to work. I want our guests to get a very hot reception when they arrive.”
Office Cleaning Courtesy of the Bridge and Coffee Club
“The fire suppression systems must have gotten knocked out in this section.” Garrus growled as a raging fire blocked the path.
Spotting a side panel, Liara shouted back, “I’ve got it!” Opening the panel, she at once spotted the problem and, after making a quick repair, restored function to the broken system. As the sprinkler systems came to life, they rained water down on the flames, creating a thick cloud of smoke as the asari information broker pointed to the stairwell on the other side of a large area dominated by office cubicles., “We have to hurry.”
Spotting movement in one of the office cubicles, Cilla called out a warning as she tossed a photon grenade, “Cover!”
Hearing her friend’s warning shout, Liara dived for cover just as a spray of mass effect projectiles flew by, embedding themselves in the wall. Taking out her phaser, she returned fire as Garrus called out triumphantly, “Scoped and dropped.”
Cilla, spotting the small orb flying through the air towards their position had just enough time to shout out a warning as she dived for cover. “Grenade!” Momentarily blinded and stunned by a bright flash and sonic blast, the willowy Dutch woman didn’t see or hear the clinking sound closing on her position.
“Stay down, Cilla!” Liara called out in alarm, “YMIR approaching!”
“Do something about it!” Cilla shouted back.
“On it!” Garrus responded as he and Liara both opened fire, concentrating on the giant mech’s vulnerable points as the walking tank pumped out rockets and rapid fire mass accelerator projectiles until a lucky shot by the turian sniper managed to pierce its power core.
“It’s gonna blow!”
“Cover!”
“Schitjen!” Cilla shouted as the mech exploded, metallic fragments shredding her cover, but thankfully for the blonde Starfleet officer, not penetrating her shield or armor.
“Are you all right?” Liara, her face etched in concern, rushed to the side of her friend as Garrus finished off the last of their opposition.
“I’m fine.” Cilla responded, giving her asari companion a slight grin, her grey eyes showing more than a little warmth as they looked into those of her asari companion’s for several moments before the pair reluctantly broke their gaze at the sound of a clearing throat.
“Sorry…”
“Huh…” Liara, the spell between her and her willowy companion broken by Garrus’s voice, quickly turned towards her old turian friend.
“We better move.” Garrus urged, “Time’s wasting.”
Nodding her head in agreement, Cilla motioned towards a staircase. “The elevators are out. We’ll have to take the stairs.”
“We need to hurry.” Liara exclaimed as she took the lead, “Sekat might already be hurt or…”
“We’ll get there, lieveling.” Cilla replied, her final word an inaudible whisper.
Checking the charge to his rifle, Garrus declared confidently, “Time to kick ass.”
Family Gatherings—Miranda and James
Taking a deep breath, Miranda spoke to her gathered companions, “Before we continue…there’s something I need to explain. You know that Oriana is my genetic twin…”
“Yeah.” Vega responded, “You told us that at the briefing before we started this caper. Doesn’t matter whether she was born in a test tube or the old fashioned way. She’s still your sister.”
“She’s family.” Veril declared, echoing the Alliance marine’s words. “That is all that’s important.”
“What I didn’t tell you…” Miranda confessed, lowering her head, “Was that my father grew her to replace me. To him I was nothing more than a failed experiment to be discarded. I didn’t want the same thing to happen to Oriana if he’d have come to the same conclusion about her.”
“That doesn’t change a damned thing, Miri.” James declared, “It just means your father’s an even bigger asshole than we thought.”
“Correct.” Jodrum agreed, “This is but one more reason why your sister must be rescued.”
“We’re wasting time, Miranda.” Veril exclaimed, “Let’s get your sister.”
Unraveling Secrets—Satra and Samantha
“I think we’ve finally cracked it.” Samantha exclaimed triumphantly to her Romulan lover. “Take a look.”
“It’s broken up.” Satra remarked as she studied the distorted image on her screen. “It looks like Vasir is leaving a hotel room.”
“Hotel Azure.” Samantha noted, pointing to what appeared to be an advertisement that rezzed in and out.
“Okay…we know she was there…” The Romulan science officer commented, “But how does that help us?”
“She’s probably using it as a contact point.” Samantha postulated, tapping her cheek with her finger. “If we can determine what room…”
“Got it!” Satra grinned as she pointed to a something written in asari.
“My asari’s rusty but let me take a look.” Samantha requested. Squinting her eyes as she peered at the almost unrecognizable lettering, the human communications specialist slowly managed to make out the lettering. “Suite Exotica.” She smiled, “We should let Liara and Cilla know.”
“Good idea.” Satra replied as she tapped her comm badge. “Cilla?”
“Tell me you’ve got something.” The Trill/Dutch hybrid tactical officer responded.
“We’ve got something.” Samantha replied, explaining what she and her partner had uncovered.
“That’s good news.” Cilla answered back, further requesting. “See if you can get Centurion Kev to loan you Solana and one other security officer and beam down to that location.”
“Acknowledged.” Satra replied before again tapping her comm badge. “Centurion?”
“Go ahead, Satra.”
After the pair had relayed their findings and the second officer’s request to their executive officer, they heard a response.
“Very well. You have clearance. Solana and Hivan will meet you in the transporter room. Hurry up and finish your business. I am awaiting word from the Subcommander. Make this quick. I will need my Chief Science Officer, Communications Specialist, and Security Chief when we go after that Cerberus frigate.”
“Understood, Sir.” Satra replied, lowering her voice, “And…thank you, Tovan.”
“Don’t mention it.” The executive officer responded in an equally low tone. “Take care of yourselves down there.”