Mass Effect RPG - Part 1

[Naked Crook]

Alex: This is a warship...not a luxery cruise liner. We don't have much in terms of guest accomidations, aside from the observation decks, and the enviromental control room. We also have a few cargo holds on the port and starboard sides. I would prefer that you take one of the cargo holds, to be honest.

[Dark-F137]

"That'll do." He said, nodding. "Maybe we'll speak later, Operative. I'll be in the Starboard Cargo Hold." And with that, he turned and started off toward said cargo hold, mumbling something about jaywalking.

[Naked Crook]

Alex watched as The Turian walked off. Once the Turian was out of view, Alex heard the voice of his first office through his earpiece. Greyson: Operative Underhill, this is the bridge. Do you copy? Alex tapped his earpiece, and responded. Alex: Go ahead Commander. What is the situation? Greyson: Sir, we have completed our sweep of the debris field. We have accounted for 287 Quarian survivors. Alex: Wow...only 287? I am certain that their losses were much higher than their survival rate. Greyson: Well, to be frank, I am positive that a minority of the Quarians survived. Based on the number of ships, and types of ships that were present at the battle, their numbers would have easily exceeded 1800 souls. Could even be more. We lack sufficient intel on Quarian ship specifications to make an accurate call on the exact number. Alex: That is a sizable number of casualties to be sure. Alex sighed. Alex: Thank you Commander. Contact the Turian flotilla, and inform them that we will be jumping to rendezvous with the Migrant Fleet in order to release their survivors. Tell him to follow us. Greyson: Aye sir! Alex: I am going to go and update our resident Quarian on our results. I cannot say for certain how he will react. Greyson: Well, good luck with that. Alex: Keep me apprised of our progress, Commander. Underhill, out. Alex closed the comm line, as he turned and proceeded back to the medical bay. It did not take Alex long to get back to the Medical Bay. When he arrived, he saw that Uli had not moved from his original spot. He saw that the Quarian was still resting on one of the beds. Alex approached Uli, and looked down at him. Alex: I have news regarding your people. We were able to round up a number of survivors; 287 survivors to be precise. We have them all quarantined in the main cargo hold until we can get you all back to the Migrant Fleet. I am well aware of your species fragility to bacterial infection, which is why I have them in quarentine. Hopefully that, combined with your...suits...they should be fine for the short haul. Once we make contact with The Migrant Fleet, your people will be released, and you will be free to go.

[Kairu]

Uli took a deep breath. Any survivors is better than none. He tried to move a little. He tried reaching for his omni-tool, but the pain hurt him too much. Uli: "If you could hand me my omni-tool, I can give you the last known position of the Migrant Fleet and the rest of the information to contact them with. That will include my authorization codes and comm frequency. No doubt they will have changed it, but include that you have survivors of the Heavy Fleet and they may grant parley. Afterwards, I will agree to remove the omni-tool again, per our agreement."

[Naked Crook]

Alex looked at Uli's Omni Tool, and grabbed it. He then handed it to Uli. Alex: Keep it. You have proven yourself trust worthy enough in my eyes. You are agreeable, and you have proven you can honor an agreement. I don't need to be that cautious around you anymore. Alex paused. Alex: Besides...I doubt you could walk far enough to get to a computer terminal to hack it. And, if somehow you do, well...you won't have very places to run to. Alex paused. He thought for a moment, as he folded his arms Alex: You know...I saw things on Omega that...still don't make a whole lot of sense to me. Why did The Quarians seek out STG? What exactly happened before all of this started? If we are going to stop Lesan...I need to know everything you know.

[Kairu]

Uli activated his omni-tool and started clicking and twisting different knobs, buttons, and dials. He was busy gathering the intel for Alex while listening to Alex's question. Uli didn't speak at first, only getting the data crunched. When it was ready, he spoke. Uli: "I'm ready to transfer the data to you. As for your question, I'm a traitor anyway, so I have nothing else to lose by answering. We sought out STG because of their infiltration skills. We've had an infantile cooperation in effect and Lesan was close to one of our top scientists. Because of the assurance of his loyalty and secrecy in addition to his military record we tapped into from the Citadel's archive, we asked for him personally. The STG team was to help infiltrate a Geth occupied planet and assess their strength. We wanted the intel and plan out our next moves, get an idea of what the Geth were up to. Something went wrong while the STG team was planet-side. They were reportedly swarmed as soon as they touched down, but that wasn't what important. Lesan and his team found a device on the planet. He managed to return it to the Flotilla and allowed our scientists, one being his friend, to examine it and study it. Over the course of a few days, Lesan became more and more attached. He began to change in his persona. He began to become obsessed with the device. Unlocking its secrets as though they were being whispered in his ears. One night, after the science team had exhausted themselves with their studies, Lesan entered the research lab. His friend, Shala'Koris vas Iktomi, was apparently sleeping in the lab, likely passing out from her tiredness. The lab was dark and the video we had shows Lesan murdering Shala. Lesan had since stolen the device and we branded him as a criminal of the Quarians. By then, he had fled the Veil in one of our fighters and we crossed paths. Forgive me for lying to you, but I felt that omitting part of the information would prove useful for myself and the Flotilla."

[Naked Crook]

Alex listened intently. Most of this was news to him. However, Alex felt a strange feeling come over him when he learned of Lesan's "obsession" Alex: Frankly...I am none too concerned that you initially withheld information from me. Had our positions been reversed, I would have done the same thing. Alex paused. Alex: I find Lesan's behavior to be rather...disturbing. The way you describe it... Alex paused. Alex: When you claim that something was "whispering" to him...is that an figure of speech...or...was something ACTUALLY having an effect on him? I realize this may be a difficult question to answer, but, are making a metaphor...or did Lesan's personally actually undergo a paradigm shift?

[Kairu]

Uli: "As far as I know it shifted. Other lab assistants to Shala say that Lesan was first inquisitive and curious, but willing to give space to them to work. Even so far as to spend time away. According to what we could scrounge up between first-hand accounts, the aforementioned STG record we tapped and even the Dalatrass' response when being informed, this behavior is unusual and undisplayed. I would theorize that his personality shifted. So the metaphor may be unintentionally more. If there is something whispering to him, it's through that device he found. He was willing to kill his friend to keep it, and I would go so far as to say he'd destroy Omega to keep it secret."

[Naked Crook]

Alex: I see. Alex paused. Alex: Let's go back, for a moment. Tell me more about the initial mission which resulted in the discovery of this "item". You said that Lesan and his STG team were ambushed as soon as they touched down. How would that have been possible? How does an STG team botch an insertion so badly that the enemy becomes aware of them practically immediately? I am aware of the fact that The Geth are an AI collective, and that in large groups their efficiency and intelligence increases, but the Geth are not omnipotent, even in massive collectives. How did the Geth discover them so quickly? I am not so quick to dismiss the cause of such a rapid exposure on a recon mission carried out by an STG Team. STG is known for utmost silence. It is rare, if unheard of, for STG to get exposed like that. Alex paused. Alex: I just find the course of events to be so...convenient. It all fell into place so...neatly. A botched recon mission results in the recovery of a rare artifact, which is then stolen by the same person who recovered it. It sounds pretty...odd. Alex paused. Alex: Is there ANYTHING that COULD have happened, behind the scenes, so to speak? Could the Geth have been made aware of an STG insertion, deliberately, by someone involved in the planning of this mission...someone like...another Quarian? Could there have been an ulterior motive that simply...backfired? To be clear...could it have been possible that someone involved in this mission knew more than they let on from the get go? Alex shrugged. Alex: I am, of course, speculating...planning my next moves...knowing what will need my attention.

[Kairu]

Uli tried to shrug, laying in the bed, but failed when his wound started to hurt more. Uli: "It's possible, but I doubt it. For how long we've been at war, the more likely is that the Geth my be able to tap into our network and some of our comms. Which is something I will bring up to the Board when I return to the Flotilla."