SfS-22

==Salvaging from Strife==
==Chapter 22 - Cold Reception==
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===Part 1===
World of Omega
Outside Citadel Space
Deep Periphery
3080
"An open assault against the research facility on Noveria has been ruled out by Normandy Relay Command," Precentor Kamea Shepard briefed the secure room. "An unannounced frontal assault against a neutral Terminus Systems corporate planet will tar Normandy Relay's reputation and invite retaliation in kind, and Saren will likely be warned by his associates if we attempt to negotiate with the Noveria Development Corporation."
"FedCom Lyran Intelligence Corps and Capellan Maskirovka had both planted agents on Noveria on unrelated business before the Feros Scandal. Normandy Relay Command was able to secure their assistance, and the agents will smuggle a small strike force onto the planet to raid Saren Arterius' research facility."
"Precentor Shepard," the DEST squad leader spoke up, turning his head left and right to look at the Clan Elementals, his squad, Commander Montgomery Shepard, the quarian Miss Zorah and Adept Williams. "I assume we are the strike force, but why are the mercenary Star Hunters being deployed for Mech support instead of the honourable Elysium Cavalry?"
"There will be no Mechs deployed for this operation, Commander Shepard and Miss Zorah will be the only Star Hunter assets on this mission. A Geth specialist will be valuable on Noveria, and Commander Shepard will be in charge of the strike force."
Her nephew frowned, and warily asked, "Then why, exactly, am I being sent on this? I'm a Mechwarrior, not an intelligence operative. This sort of cloak and dagger business is right up your alley, isn't it, Aunt Kamea."
"You are being sent because you're useful as a figurehead," Kamea Shepard bluntly told him. "The FedCom and Capellans agreed on you as a compromise candidate. If the operation is a failure, you will be disavowed as an Aurigan native who went renegade against orders, to minimise political fallout to the Normandy Initiative and the Star League. Even if Noveria or Citadel don't believe it, a flimsy cover story will still be helpful."
"So much for family."
"Adept Williams and other trained personnel will handle the covert operations. All that is required is for you to follow their advice, and offer your expertise as necessary. I expect that to be within your capabilities, commander."
As she thought, Montgomery relented quickly. "A chance to make Saren pay, I'm not passing up on that," he conceded.
"Good. One last thing. C-Sec Observer Vakarian and the asari commandos will not be informed of this mission. The Citadel must not be permitted to leak the operation to Saren. Officially, you are investigating Geth sightings in the Terminus Systems. You will be departing Omega with other uninvolved Normandy Relay forces on a shakedown exercise before going off radar. Further details will only be provided by Adept Williams once you are underway. Any questions?"
"Yes, how exactly are we disguising the Elementals?" the DEST squad leader asked, looking straight at Point Commander Alenko. "Do we simply put fake mustaches on them?"
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===Part 2===
World of Noveria
Outsider Citadel Space, Deep Periphery
Garrus navigated his way through the busy corridors, dodging past humans rushing to and fro with last minute preparations. After failing to find Commander Shepard in either the Mech Bay or his personal quarters, one of the human engineers had suggested visiting the library chambers. So following the map, the turian paused to confirm he was standing at the correct entrance before opening the door and poking his head through.
It was a utilitarian room, sparsely furnished with some chairs, tables and shelves. The few occupants he saw glanced at him before averting their gaze, so Garrus stepped inside. He took a closer look at a nearby shelf, which was half-filled with physical printed books from human culture, one of them the turian recognised as a copy of the Word of Blake from the humans' religion. Spotting doors leading to other sections of the library, Garrus checked them, finally finding Commander Shepard sitting with some of his officers in a side room.
"Shepard, mind if I come in?" he asked. The Mechwarrior waved him in, turning back to a video recording playing on a wall viewscreen. Garrus recognised the face of the turian Coromodir Expedition Admiral Antonius, his ship's bridge in the background and a hologram of a planet floating beside him. "Has the comm buoy relay been restored then?"
The chain of comm buoys into the Human Periphery had suffered a disruption the previous day. The Citadel Council and Star League government were no doubt still being kept up to date via the quantum communicators and human HPGs, but the loss of the comm buoy at the Capellan-Aurigan border world of Weldry would hamstring communications until it could be replaced.
"No," the mercenary answered. "This was transmitted via ComStar's HPG network. He's just assuring Citadel Space that the fleet is fine and still at Panzyr. I don't suppose your superiors know more about what the Citadel Fleet is doing?"
Communication with Executor Pallin was still quite terse. Garrus' superior was probably still quite unamused with his latest stunt. "Not really, but a part of it will certainly be stationed to guard the comm buoy relay now. Admiral Antonius had left their defences to the Star League, but that was clearly inadequate. The Expedition should have brought some spare comm buoys, so I expect up-to-date communications in a few days, once the new buoy is properly calibrated. Does the Normandy Initiative know who targeted the comm buoy?"
Miss Oliveira answered, "Weldry's defenders claimed a geth raider destroyed the comm buoy in a hit-and-run attack, but there's no proof the Capellans are speaking the truth. It could have been pirates looking to steal the element zero, or perhaps the Word of Blake for all I know. I doubt the Capellans were responsible, it's in their best interest for the Normandy Initiative and Coromodir Expedition to succeed. And to be warned if the Black Ghost attacks another system."
"Just for the sake of argument," Virtanen debated, "cutting clear communications could be beneficial if they needed to accomplish something without Star League interference. Maybe a crackdown on Panzyr's pro-Arano House Decimis, to cement their grip on the planet. Or perhaps one of the FedCom Capellan March lords was concerned about the Capellans having better communications infrastructure. Could be the Taurians or Canopians too, at that rate."
Garrus had watched salarian soap operas with less plots. "I think I'm going to regret this, but what is happening on Panzyr?"
"House Decimis rules Panzyr," Shepard explained, changing the viewscreen to a stellar map. Highlighting one of the systems brought up a picture of the planet from Admiral Antonius' message, with important locations marked and additional planetary information on the side. "They rejected Capellan assistance following the Fall of Coromodir. The Capellans sent dropships anyway, with backing of the Star League Emergency Council on Mars. They announced the formation of an emergency government, House Decimis refused to recognise it. Last I heard, House Decimis was accusing the Capellans of failing to support them against geth raids, and the Capellans were claiming House Decimis was hindering efforts to defeat the geth. Fighting shouldn't escalate, given ComStar has a HPG station on Panzyr and is already investigating. And with the Citadel's Coromodir Expedition still at Panzyr, neither side will be interested in inviting alien intervention."
"Spirits." Garrus vaguely remembered being younger once and wondering why the Turian Hierarchy didn't pacify the entire Terminus Systems. "The geth are in human space, and you're still at each other's throats?"
"The Star League rulers are wise enough to plan beyond the present," Shepard explained with a hint of mockery in his voice. "If the geth can be driven out, they are strengthening their own realms in preparation for the future. And if the Black Ghost is unstoppable, it doesn't matter anyway how many ground forces are left when it burns another planet to ashes."
"My father was the cynical one, it doesn't suit you," Virtanen said. "The Star League is working to save the Aurigan Reach, and we're doing our part with the Normandy Initiative. Sure, we can't do anything about the Black Ghost ourselves, but we can still do something against Saren's geth and other allies here in the Relay Systems."
"About that," Garrus spoke, "the Star Hunters are leaving Omega soon for an exercise?"
"That's correct," the man answered. "We need to learn how to work together with the rest of Normandy Relay, and Omega's not a good place for that. I take it you're not coming along?"
"Dr T'Soni is still here, as is your aunt," Garrus pointed out. "I'm supposed to be the observer for the Normandy Initiative, not one of its exercises. Besides, your aunt asked for my assistance negotiating with the Quarian Migrant Fleet. Though Miss Zorah is apparently going on the exercise as well, from what she told me."
"Orders are orders," Shepard shrugged and looked away. "Her expertise on geth will be useful."
The mercenary was hiding something, Garrus suspected. The exercise was probably an excuse for another operation. But he didn't pry further. The turian wasn't welcome by the rest of the humans, and in any case, they weren't likely to be targeting anything controversial this time, with the Citadel now keeping a closer eye on the Normandy Initiative. "Anyway, Commander Shepard, there's something I wanted to ask you about. C-Sec wanted some advice about the Mechwarriors who stayed on the Citadel. Apparently, one Freeman is pushing for Mech melee combat training."
===Part 3===
In transit onboard Smallcraft Shuttle
Outsider of Citedal Space, Deep Periphery
3080
The Migrant Fleet's Pilgrimage Oversight Department was responsible for evaluating Pilgrimages and providing guidelines to young pilgrims on what was acceptable while they wandered the galaxy. Tali suspected the members of the department had a list of the most outlandish Pilgrimages in the Fleet, if only to amuse themselves or use as a reference for what not to do. If that were so, she was certain her own Pilgrimage was going to be a highlight for years.
At this rate, Tali wasn't sure if she would ever return with a suitable gift to the Migrant Fleet. The Migrant Fleet's Pilgrimage Oversight Department had sent her a message on the Citadel, before the geth had suddenly become active beyond the Perseus Veil, warning that mercenary work was unsuitable for providing a gift, encouraging her to seek other opportunities instead. Then Tali had joined the humans' Normandy Initiative and was now dragged into a Human Star League covert operation, while still part of the same mercenary unit. Somehow, she knew the Pilgrimage Oversight Department wouldn't approve of her current activities either.
Frankly, Tali was still wondering how she had gone from studying geth parts on Omega to sitting in this shuttle descending towards Noveria. For all that she had been the one to retrieve the critical data from the geth wreckage, Precentor Shepard was putting a lot of trust in her. There was the disturbing possibility the ComStar adept had orders in case her loyalty was in doubt.
Then again, once Commander Shepard's aunt had told her of her new assignment, there was no chance to turn it down. Tali suspected she'd have been lucky to leave alive if she had. And in any case, she reasoned, this was an operation against geth collaborators. It was where she'd be able to do the most against the rogue AI.
"Your disguise had better hold, quarian." one of the human operatives from the Draconis Combine skeptically commented, drawing her from her paranoid worries.
"They all look the same anyway, freeborn." a giant Clan Elemental chuckled. She and the other Elementals looked strange to Tali, with their larger than average body size and thick muscles visible beneath nondescript uniforms.
"Avoid using Clan jargon," Adept Williams called out from where she was seated. "It will draw attention to the five of you. Leave the talking to me and Conrad Verner."
"I hate that name," Commander Shepard muttered.
The shuttle touched down smoothly in the landing bay. Tali stepped out, following behind the Draconis Combine operatives towards the exit of the landing bay. Two people were waiting for them there, a salarian and a human.
"Doctor Conrad Verner, welcome to Noveria," the human woman greeted them with a smile. "And this must be your assistant Miss Miranda Lawson. Charmed to meet you."
"Likewise, Miss Zhou," Adept Wilson replied. Commander Shepard muttered something unintelligible. "Please forgive the good doctor, he's had a long journey."
"This is an unusually large number of arrivals," the female salarian interrupted. "Are all these people on the list?"
Miss Zhou made a show of looking at her datapad. "They are, Supervisor. Doctor Verner, personal assistant, lab staff and support personnel of Defiance Industries. The head of research is eager to put them to work as soon as possible, so could we please speed things up?"
The salarian supervisor scrutinized them, eyes settling on Tali. "Very well," she dubiously accepted. "They will still need to pass through Security and Customs, as well as any cargo being brought onto Noveria. This way, please. By the way, Doctor Verner, I'm curious as to how useful a quarian is to your research."
"None of your business," Commander Shepard grunted. "Your superiors are paid not to look. I want to get started with my things, so lead the way."
The group moved after the salarian, 'Miss Lawson' and 'Doctor Verner' in the lead, still in stilted conversation with the Noveria Development Corporation representative. Tali tried not to walk suspiciously, though the five scowling, obviously military Elementals were not doing a very good job either. Hopefully, her all-concealing standard quarian suit and the insular nature of the Migrant Fleet would be useful for passing Tali off as just another quarian. The Pilgrimage Oversight Department was going to implement new regulations about false identities once they heard about this."
===Part 4===
Conference Room
Noveria, Unnamed Star System
Outsider of Citadel Space, Deep Periphery
3080
Fortunately for Shepard's sanity, he didn't have to pretend to be an expert in innovative Mech systems for long. As much as the Mechwarrior knew about Mechs, he doubted anybody would believe his credentials if he had to talk for longer than five minutes about emergency coolant venting. Once sequestered in the Defiance Industries Mech Design Labs with the rest of the strike force, Miss Zhou had bundled them into a secure conference room and introduced them to the other agent on Noveria, as well as the person in charge of the research facility.
"I still don't agree with this crazy scheme," the unhappy Lyran manager complained. "Defiance Industries had invested heavily in the partnership with Terminus corporations. Once your stunts gets traced to our research facility, everybody is getting chased off Noveria, and we'll be losing years of effort."
"Then it is good you were forewarned, isn't it?" FedCom LIC agent Brown, who also happened to be chief of security, rhetorically asked. "The Federated Commonwealth requires this service of you, and you will be properly rewarded for your loyalty. Just focus on preparing for the blowback, sending stuff off-world, all those things I told you to do. Now, if you won't mind, the professionals have things to discuss." He firmly guided the still grumbling manager out of the luxuriously furnished conference room, before slamming the door shut and locking it.
"You will be given an isolated wing out of the way of the rest of the staff," Brown announced. "As far as they know, Doctor Verner is working on some top secret project. The 'lab equipment' will be ready for you there. Miss Zhou and I are still gathering intel on Saren's facility, so you will have a few days to prepare. Miss Zhou is trying to seduce inside information from one of the personnel, but I've had far more success with my tactics."
"You are simply jealous the Maskirovka was able to infiltrate your research facility right under your nose," Miss Zhou preened.
The FedCom agent refused to rise to the bait. "The facility associated with Saren is Peak 15, located here on one of the many massive glaciers on this frozen iceball. It's remote and secure, like our own labs. I'm increasingly certain Saren is researching the Feros Pied Piper there, using the bioscience resources of Binary Helix corporation, based on what data I've been able to obtain."
The Capellan agent snorted. "That was an obvious conclusion, Fedrat. Anybody could have deduced that. Skip to the parts they're interested in."
"I agree," Shepard apologetically spoke up. "We were already briefed on this on Omega. Extract what research we can and destroy everything else. What can you tell us about the defenses?"
Brown glared at Miss Zhou, then continued, "Getting there will be a problem. The whole economy of this planet is providing safe, isolated locations to conduct research without outside interference. Noveria's security forces are competent. There's orbital surveillance, and patrols sweeping the snow for suspicious activity. Airspace is strictly regulated, and they're willing to shoot down anybody who doesn't comply. The only good news is that Peak 15 paid for extra privacy, so there's a dead zone around it. Get close enough, and you'll only have to worry about Peak 15's defenses, at least until they call for help. Noveria also has rapid response forces on standby to deal with incidents, so you won't have long once that happens."
"Can we borrow one of the Mechs from Defiance Industries?" Shepard asked.
"Out of the question, I'm afraid," Brown answered. "The Noveria Development Corporation pays special attention to our Mechs. They'll know if one of them goes out of bounds. Still," he thought out loud, "there might be options. Our Mech Design Labs offers support to the security forces. Perhaps a light Mech could be possible…"
"What about escape?" Adept Williams asked once it was clear Brown was lost in his thoughts. "Have you established a fallback point? A safehouse perhaps?"
"There are some abandoned or unoccupied research facilities," Miss Zhou took over from the distracted Brown, "but Noveria security forces are likely aware of them. Your best bet is breaking contact before reinforcements arrive, then holing up in one of the glacial caves dotting the region and collapsing the entrance with an avalanche. They're interconnected underground, and you should be able to evade detection long enough for extraction to be arranged."
"That sounds like the start of a plan," Shepard accepted. "Do we have a good map of the area around Peak 15?"
"Working on it," Miss Zhou told him. "but vehicles and Mechs can traverse the glaciers and mountains."
"Perhaps we should unpack our equipment from the cargo containers and conduct some field exercises before a plan is formulated," the DEST Captain Takamori interrupted. "It would be prudent for us to know each other's capabilities first and gain some understanding of the arctic terrain on Noveria."
"Aff, the Kuritan speaks sense," one of Point Commander Alenko's Clanners agreed. "It has been a while since I last fought in such cold conditions."
"Let us finish this meeting first, please." Miss Zhou shook her head. "We still have a lot of ground to cover. Rest assured, you will have ample time to ready yourselves for Peak 15."
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