Chapter 171: Cockroaches and Tardigrades

=== Summary ===
Shepard wakes in the middle of the night clutching Garrus. When he asks her what is wrong, she tells him she doesn’t know, but is filled with dread.
Jack and Miranda sneak across fields in France to meet with Zaeed and the Howling Commandos to discuss the logistics of acquiring a number of caches of ancient Prothean weapons- the upside of which is they currently don’t register on any scanners, nor do they use thermal clips. The downside? They currently have no way to recharge the batteries, so once they are out of power the guns will be useless.
Modahl Karina is doing her best to look after the people working in the Mars Prothean Archives, but her temper is being worn thin by Javik’s casual racism, the feeling of the Reaper war having never ended, and talk of the Seekers. Modahl is a skeptic of Shepard’s powers, but Javik isn’t so sure she hasn’t achieved godhood. 
On November 18, Minos’ Lieutenant Sentzke executes Min Chu Lee for the purported crime of starting the Wedding Day Riot. Clara Goyle herself is uncomfortable with the whole thing, not trusting the evidence provided by Sentzek and her people. Clara is having a lot of second thoughts- unfortunately she has turned over control of the military operations to Sentzke due to their precarious control of the people of Earth and had lost the argument to avoid executing someone to make an example of them.
=== Title Meaning ===
Both cockroaches and tardigrades are creatures noteworthy for their ability to survive extreme situations- much like the rebels, and hope they hold.
=== Easter Eggs ===
==== Discord Highlights ====
The joys of homeownership, a surprisingly civil discussion about pineapple on pizza, and casting Animate Objects on Sour Patch Kids.