Аннотация: The contract with Lorik Ki'in. Data collection campaign. a garage and a shootout with the Geth.
Chapter 17: The Pass
After leaving Anoleis' office, Nihlus abruptly slowed down his pace, glanced at me, and activated the mental channel on his OWN:
""What did you find out?""
""Anoleis won't go against Saren. Your mentor inspires the old bribe taker with animal horror. You're practically terrifying him now.""
""Because I mentioned a mentor?"" The Turian was genuinely surprised.
""You have very similar habits when you want to impress someone... It's a frightening experience. Associative connections appeared instantly, connecting you and Saren in the brains of this toad. Did you notice that he didn't dare refuse you?""
""It's no use anyway.""
""Shuttles really won't fly in this weather. We need ground transportation.""
""Go back?""
""There's no point. Let's just alert him.""
""Won't he pass?""
""The bookmark won't allow it. He'll forget about you if the conversation turns to Saren, Benezia, or their people.""
Nihlus looked at me in surprise.
""What did you expect? I'm a mentalist, and I don't have much respect for other people's brains. To me, only the intelligent ones from the inner circle are untouchable.""
""I'm even embarrassed to ask..."" Nihlus drawled somewhat uncertainly.
Too bad for me. She's shy... Rather, he is afraid to hear the answer.
""yeah. I could have guessed it myself.""
""Guessing and finding out for sure are somewhat different... things."" a storm of emotions swept through the communication channel.
Sending him a sense of irony, I ended the connection, but I was in no hurry to end it. What for? He'll get used to the mental connection and, lo and behold, the mentalism will come through. It's quite possible. Or at least empathy.
The hotel we were looking for was located directly opposite Anoleis's office at the other end of the huge lobby: after skirting a stone wall that stood in the middle of the lobby for some reason, we turned right, where we found the entrance to this establishment under a glowing holographic sign. The elevator quickly took us up a couple of floors and released us into a short rectangular hall leading to the hotel bar and, in fact, to the hotel itself for the guests of the planet. Behind the reception desk, a smiling Asari stood in a tight black dress and radiated outright boredom and fatigue in her mind. Our armed company was followed by interested glances, but there was not a single attempt to approach and ask who we were. Apparently, everyone already knew everything.
""Nihlus, let's go to the bar."" I barely moved his elbow, turning him toward the right door.
The Turian reacted instantly, immediately turning the whole company around. Liara did not interfere with what was happening at all, quite naturally playing the curious Asari maiden and moving her slightly snub-nosed nose around. Garrus and Rex played the role of living furniture and did not shine at all, but I clearly felt their wariness and muffled discontent directed at others. Their port was annoying too.
Cheerful music rang out unexpectedly, as soon as the airlock doors opened in our faces. Irritation flared behind his back and subsided, bubbling dully on the verge of sensitivity: Garrus was annoyed by the loud sound.
""Who are we looking for here?"" a thought came to me-a question from my partner.
""We need the Turian Lorik Ki"In. He is a representative of Synthetic Insights on Noveria and he has some problems with Anoleis. It can help with the pass.""
What can I say about the bar? The feeling is a damp two-story stone sack with dim greenish lighting, rhythmic music in the style of the unforgettable "Drum and Bass", full of diverse people huddled at low round tables. It was also quite cool and humid, so I didn't turn off the shields.
""Send Tali and Rex to the second floor.""
In response, there is agreement and no surprise or questions.
At the entrance to the bar, we had an easy castling: I walked around Liara and grabbed her elbow, Nihlus put his arm around Azari's shoulders, Garrus stood next to me.
"Rex, Tali. You can rest for now." After taking a critical look at the bar, Nihlus added: "There are still tables available on the second floor."
Rex met Nihlus gaze. Literally a second of staring was enough for the Krogan to appreciate the essence of what was said. With a grunt, he grabbed the thin hand of the Quarian and went up the wide stairs, and we slowly crawled into this nest of intriguers and sharks of local business.
"Lady Liara, may I have your attention for a few minutes?"
A soft deep voice announced the beginning of a chain of events. Nihlus turned abruptly, frowning at the tall Asari in a gold formal dress sitting at a small table in a shaded corner. Liara blinked in surprise, but I squeezed my fingers on her forearm twice, and the girl nodded graciously to her compatriot.
"Why not?"
"Can I talk to you in private?" The Asari asked cautiously, cautiously squinting at the armed and angry Turians.
I squeezed my fingers again.
"Sure." Liara sat down lightly on a chair. "Nihlus, if you don't mind..."
Nihlus nodded coldly and walked away, politely pulling me along with him. The bar turned out to be filled with people, and there were no completely empty tables, but we found a fairly large table near the water wall, at which a lonely, upset Turian sadly nested. Lorik? Maybe.
Suddenly, a signal came from Tali and the Quarian's voice was heard in the miniature headphones:
"There's something interesting. I'm turning it on from the recording."
There was a click of the broadcast switch and the Salarian's voice sounded in our ears:
"An older brother? It's me. I'm on Noveria right now. I can't take long. The call is ten credits per minute. A straight line from the Traverse. Do you think it's cheap? I need information. About Synthetic Insights."
Nihlus, Garrus, and I exchanged glances, and the voice continued to rattle off the information we needed:
"The manager, Lorik Ki'In. He was caught by the arm. The Hanshan administrator has closed the office. I need you to take a look. What can I find out about... writing down a name?" pause. "Rannadril Ghan Shwa Fulsooom Karaten Narr Eadi Bel Anoleis."
The length of the Salarian's name made me a little skewed. Even the high elves with their sick ego didn't come to this! And the unknown Salarian continued to mumble:
"No. This is the administrator. The administrator of Hanshan. Well, think about it. A Turian will not risk closing the office. He won't let his "team" down. They teach them this in the army, so be healthy. I think the administrator is using this Ki'In to keep the flies away from his nest." a pause, indignation in his voice. "Of course I can find out everything myself! But how do you think I'll get this information through Noveria's networks? And the search results from other systems will go here for a hundred years!" a pause, and relief. "Thank you, big brother. It's time for me to go. Yes. I'll call you back soon."
The message beeped off, and Tali asked:
"Is it important?"
"Yes," I replied softly.
The connection was lost, and as if on cue, we stared at the sadly hunched Turian.
""Shall we check?""
Instead of answering, Nihlus silently pulled us along. Lorik, and it was him, noticed our company only when Nihlus literally loomed over him. The Turian blinked in surprise, shifting his puzzled gaze from his kin to me and back again. Something purred softly... He perked up.
"Good afternoon. Have a seat. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"You've already helped us." I smiled at Loric, who was visibly relaxed. "There are practically no places."
"O!", Lorik looked around the room intently and nodded in agreement. "Will you join me? He cocked his head questioningly and tapped the clinking bottle with his claw."
Nihlus nodded benevolently. We sat down, and Kraik tapped the order on the menu bar built into the table.
"I am Lorik Ki'In. Glad to meet you, Spektr."
Nihlus blinked in surprise.
"Do you know me?"
"Everyone here knows you." Lorik's grin was veeery much like a snarl. "Immediately after your arrival, EVERYONE received your description and... a ban on communication."
"That's how." Nihlus frowned. "I see that you are not embarrassed by this ban."
"Ah" Lorik waved his hand listlessly, flushed with despondency. "Talking to you is unlikely to worsen my situation."
"Something happened?" Garrus asked, having sniffed out problems on our asses with an investigator's keen sense.
"I am the manager of the local Synthetic Insights office. For now..." The mandibles twitched in annoyance, and the Lorik drooped slightly. "Anoleis closed my office."
"We've heard a lot." Nihlus studied his kinsman with interest. "What is the essence of the conflict?"
"Allegedly - an accusation of corruption against me." The Turian grumbled.
Garrus's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"And what do you say?" The insinuating rumbling voice made the frustrated Turian look at the young kinsman with interest.
"The administrator is interesting and reasonable. He's gotten very rich since he took over the rent."
"What an interesting one... connection." Our sniper grinned.
"Exactly." Lorik bowed his head.
"What did you do to annoy Anoleis so much that he had to close your office?" I asked.
Lorik stared at me with such an expression in his dark gray eyes, as if he had just seen me. Or rather, unexpectedly discovering that a pretty doll, it turns out, also knows how to talk. A slight effort, and I slipped completely unnoticed into someone else's mind.
A brief analysis: the state of protection is much better than that of Nilus, the natural shield... ooo!! The shield is practically in good condition! Great, great. However, I'm not going to get into the personal core. I just need to peek and eavesdrop.
The reaction to our trio is quite expected: the Asari Maiden's guard, the Turian Spectr with... hmm... Why can't he figure out my status? My first impression of me is that I am either Nihlus lover, or the Asari who came with him, or both at once, which, as it turned out, is quite common in a multi-species Galaxy and no one is surprised. I wonder why that is? I hooked an associative chain and reached for my memories. OH, WOW! Yeah... Well, you're a good guy... removing my mental probe from the layer of memories that had been disturbed by my curiosity, I switched to my jumping image, which did not want to acquire integrity and completeness in any way. And what's stopping you from believing in your first impression?
The associative connection arose suddenly: a blurred visual image surfaced from long-term memory, awareness passed, caught on the imprint of strong surprise and memory, and ... and here it is: the news about the appointment of the first human spectrum, my physiognomy in an article on the extranet, read by the case about fifteen days ago.
Nihlus and Garrus watched their kinsman's face with sadistic interest, while Lorik stared intently at my face, and gradually a clear and uncluttered dumbfoundness appeared on his face, and recognition appeared in his eyes. The memory that surfaced passed awareness and got into the layer of short-term operational memory. Lorik Ki"in recognized me as a Spectr.
"I have collected materials about... not entirely legitimate activities of the administrator." Lorik finally said, waking up from his stupor. "To find them, Anoleis hired thugs and turned my office upside down."
"Am I right, he didn't find anything?" I chuckled, shaking my head slightly at the suspicious gleam in the Turian's eyes.
Lorik lifted his upper lip, grinning contentedly for a moment, nodded, confirming that he understood me. I like that ALL Turians have gone through army training and understand sign language with a bang.
"You got me right, lady." The Turian called me a rather curious Turian term, which my omny-tool translated as "lady," and my mind flashed with a complex chain of associations.
The drinks Nihlus ordered were brought to us. In front of Lorik's surprised eyes, Garrus peeled off the lid with his claw, turning the bottle into a glass, and silently handed it to me.
"Is the data still in the office?" I asked, calmly sipping a Turian drink under Ki'In's surprised gaze.
"Yes".
I removed the mental feelers from Lorik's mind. I've already found out what I need to know. He will help us voluntarily and will be glad to have a mutually beneficial deal. It won't deceive. That's enough for me, but I didn't really want to find out the secrets of this individual: the Turian's life was stormy, and in his youth he absolutely did not deny himself... an insatiable curiosity and a desire to try everything that his wild imagination and sick imagination pushed him to.
"Do you need them? - Nihlus looke the conversation.
"yea"
"We can get them." I said, swinging a narrow glass with a lilac drink. Lorik squinted, with some excitement and ... hope, looking from the imperturbable Nihlus to me and back again.
"Perhaps... I believe that the Spectrum will be able to get this data. Especially so much... famous." The dark gray eyes lingered on me for a moment and shifted to Nihlus.
"Do you have... an assumption about how we can satisfy our desire... get this information?"
"Undoubtedly, lady". that strange word again, flashed through my mind like a flash of images. "However, there is one... What does that sweet earthly expression sound like? "A fly in the ointment in a barrel of beer?""
"Honey." I corrected him gently. A fly in the ointment. "So what is this vile substance that threatens to spoil the sweetness of having such valuable information?"
Lorik was enjoying our conversation, savoring the phrases and the wordplay. I'm a fan of damn catchphrases, wordplay, and turns of speech.
"The administrator hired thugs from the Hanshan security service."
"He pays them from under the floor. Miss Matsuo doesn't know about their work on the side. There is a high probability that force will have to be used against them."
Garrus flashed with contempt and disgust, on which a wave of rage slowly rose.
"Are the ERKS fighters working as a banal racket?"
"Some." I think we'll solve this problem somehow.
Lorik met Garrus' gaze full of kindness and understanding, shuddered, turned his gaze to Nihlus' face, equally full of love for his neighbors, positively radiant with forgiveness, and shook his head.
I suspect that you didn't come here just to admire the administration building?
Nihlus nodded.
"So your target is outside the port." Ki'in twitched his mandibles in silent annoyance. "Analeis will not allow you to travel freely around the planet. If you can get me the data, I'll give you my pass."
"Why didn't Anoleis cancel your pass?" Garrus asked.
"And why would he do that?" Lorik was genuinely surprised. "There is nothing outside but snow and hungry nathaks."
"I've always dreamed of looking at hungry Nathaks." I purred. A omny-tool unfolded above the hand. "Liara, my sweet, stop chatting with your clanmate." A soft, melodious chuckle sounded in the headphones. Rex, baby, did you fall asleep out of longing? The Krogan's angry growl was like balm on my nerves, Nihlus gurgled with laughter, and Garrus openly laughed. "Don't forget to bring my favorite dress." Tali, don't leave our baby unattended. He's so... mmm... nervous...
I cut the connection. Nihlus covered his face with his palm and silently trembled in a fit of hysterical laughter. Garrus, on the other hand, was just laughing out loud under Lorik's uncomprehending gaze. Literally a minute later, elegant blue hands were placed on my shoulders.
"I see you haven't missed me." Liara purred, glancing suspiciously at Lorik.
"I always miss you, sweetheart." I smiled, remembering the "exploits" of Azari, who had drunk light alcohol.
Liara immediately took the hint and blushed.
A gun case thudded onto the table, and the Krogan's voice, growling with anger, muttered:
"Your "dress"..." The expression on Lorik's face will long and joyfully warm my heart throughout many rebirths!
"Thanks, Rex."
The Krogan looked at my pleased face, appreciated the fucked-up face of an unknown Turian, chuckled, the lingering anger faded.
"We have to leave you. But you will wait for us, won't you? We'll just be a few minutes... I will try on a dress, we will please your "guests" with our personalities... And we'll be right back!"
A card was placed on the table.
"This is a pass to my office. It will allow you to activate the elevator. As soon as you leave the bar, turn right. The elevator is not far from the entrance to the garage. The materials are on my computer in my office. The encryption key is on this one." A small device landed on the table next to the card. "Insert it into the socket, and everything will start by itself. Lorik grinned and added: "And try not to get blood on the carpets."
"We will be very careful."
With a soft, relieved laugh, we left the company of this representative of the militant people and went to look for an office. Lorik had described exactly where the elevator he was looking for was located: a flashing red panel glowed in the gloom just before the turnoff to the garage. One touch of the card to the touchpad, the soft rustle of the doors opening, and the elevator carried us down.
Lorik's office is almost an exact replica of the bar's premises. The same anteroom with the reception desk, now empty, two doors leading to the office and office premises, the same murmur of water flowing over decorative plates. Everything is exactly the same. There was no one on the left. There are five on the right.
"The five sentients are behind the left door." I put the box on the counter and opened it. One Turian. The rest are people. With what pleasure I pulled off the golden-green obscenity - words cannot convey! Bron'ka... My beloved Bronka, how I've missed you! Humming a tune that came to mind, I quickly donned my armor, connected the internal equipment, and put on my visor. The weapons slid easily into place: the familiar Harpoon, the Predator large-caliber pistol, and the assault rifle of the same name. She jumped up. Everything is in place, the armor fits like a native one. I tossed my dress and shoes into the trunk and laid out my assault rifle.
"Ready."
Garrus jerked his head toward the door.
"Dare to attack?"
"You know how power corrupts."
Garrus grimaced. I must have remembered one of my colleagues.
"Liara, try to keep your head down and put up your shields. If it comes to a shootout."
The Asari nodded. Nihlus touched the sensor and the doors began to move, allowing us to enter a spacious hall with a massive square column in the middle. On the left is a wide staircase leading to the second floor, where Lorik's office should be located. Two ERKS fighters stood in front of the column: a Turian and a human male, and they were frankly bored. The Turian reacted first: raising his rifle, he asked dryly:
"Stop! Hanshan Security Service. This office is closed! Who are you?"
"Spectr of Nihlus Krayk." Nihlus replied calmly. "I am in this office with the permission of its owner."
"Ki'Ina?" The man raised his rifle. "Do you work for him? He's under investigation!"
Nihlus choked on this suggestion. The Turian from ERKS looked at his colleague as if he were an idiot and wisely retreated.
"I am the Spectr of the Council! And I ONLY work for the Citadel Council." Nihlus' icy rasping voice carried far into the silence of the office. You are so much... Are you incompetent for not knowing widely known facts, or do you want to insult me?"
"Noveria does not enter the Citadel Space! Your credentials here are invalid!"
In response, a hard look from a Turian fighter.
"Valid! The Spectr of the Citadel Council has full rights and privileges in the territory of Noveria in accordance with the agreement concluded by the Board of Directors and the Citadel Council! I'm sorry, Spectr."
"Nihlus nodded benevolently."
"However, your companions are breaking the law. You have the right to carry weapons, as do your TWO escorts."
I silently took out my ID card and handed it to the fighter. The Turian glanced at my status, blinked in surprise, and lowered his weapon.
"I'm sorry, Spectr."
Yeah... The hierarchy trains its population with a bang. The man choked on air.
"The spectrum? Is she? Dalisar, you gullible idiot! You..." Then his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed to the floor.
"I'm tired of it," I said calmly.
Dalisar looked at his uncooperative colleague and casually asked:
"Is he dead?"
"In a swoon." I replied. "I prefer not to kill unnecessarily, and he definitely led to conflict."
The Turian nodded cautiously. I smiled wryly and said softly:
"You do understand that we will enter this office anyway, take what we need and leave? Dalisard nodded slowly. There are four of you. You, the sniper on the stairs with the Punisher, who won't even have time to blow through our shields in the time it takes for OUR sniper to remove it, and two more behind the column. One with a Lancer, the other with a Banshee. We can kill you all here and we won't get anything for it. Unless we quarrel with the sergeant and kill her if she decides to avenge you. And she's a hot-headed and impulsive girl who doesn't listen to reason.
The Turian nodded dumbly.
"Even if one of you miraculously survives, I don't think Matriarch Benezia will forgive the death of her daughter, Liara, and Saren Arterius", Dalisar flinched at the sound of the rebel Spectre's name "he will ignore the death of his only student. Do I need to explain how long and happy your life will be with SUCH attention?"
Dalisard threw up his hands.
"I get you, Spectr! Come on in. I hope there won't be any unnecessary conflicts between us."
"I really hope so."
We moved on. The evil Rex, passing by, pushed Dalisar with his shoulder so that he could barely stand on his feet, and growled:
"Get" out of the way!"
I turned around and met the angry gaze of a disappointed Krogan.
"Rex, this is petty!"
"He talks too much!"
"He saved the lives of his colleagues, no matter how stupid they were, and this is a worthy act."
Rex waved him off, but at least he stopped being angry. At least the krogan cooled down as quickly as it boiled and didn't take any bullshit to heart.
We got the data without any problems at all. Dalisar followed us, but he didn't bother us. Already on the way out of the office, a full of rage flew at our backs:
"You shouldn't be here."
I turned lazily. Oh, what people... Kyra showed up.
The blonde's gray eyes widened in surprise and narrowed sharply when she recognized me.
"It seems to me that we are not represented... miss..." I said with a grin, shaking the Predator.
"Are you going to show respect?" the woman snorted. "Sergeant Kira Stirling, Elanus Risk Control Service."
"The spectr of Irene Shepard." I said indifferently, meeting his direct gaze. "Is there something you want to tell us, Sergeant?"
"For what you've done, Anoleis will kick you off the planet."
"He won't risk it." I grinned at him. "Or have you decided to personally play the hero?"
Kira flared up with rage.
"Your people are working for a bribe." Garrus reported. "You're not on duty here and you're breaking the law."
The rage turned into rage.
"You are violating the orders of the port administrator!"
"We are fulfilling the task of the Council." Nihlus rasped indifferently.
"And it will be fulfilled, regardless of the money spent and the blood spilled. You should step back." I finished my colleague's unspoken phrase.
"The end justifies the means, right?" The blonde literally spat it out.
"THIS goal justifies ANY means." I said dryly, and the uncooperative lady sank to the floor. You should not look into the eyes of a mentalist when he has free time. Take her to the infirmary. He'll wake up in a couple of hours. And it would be better for her if the thought of... revenge didn't enter her blonde head. She won't survive our third conflict.
"Out of the way!" Rex growled and pushed some guy out of our way.
There were no people willing to detain us. We calmly left the Synthetic Insights office, but only Nihlus went to Lorik for a pass, and we waited before turning into the garages. However, I didn't get bored for a long time, because after about eight minutes, a direct connection with Nihlus turned on, and I became an invisible listener to an entertaining conversation:
"The Board of Directors knows that Anoleis is a corrupt official." I was surprised to recognize Gianna Parazini in the quiet female voice. "I've been working undercover for six months." Don't you get it, Gianna is a security guard? There was something like that in the game, but at that moment I was too lazy to do side quests, and I didn't talk to this lady, just giving the Turian his data. Apparently - in vain.
"I want you to convince Ki'in to testify before the board of directors."
"And how can I help you with this?" Nihlus rasped.
"The information you took from the Synthetic Insights office." She can help with the investigation.
"You're too late. I've already given it to Lorik."
"What?" Gianna was definitely confused. "It was the best opportunity... Why did you give it away?"
"I need to get to the Top of 15." The Turian said dryly.
"I would help you too! It would have been longer, but is that a reason to let a criminal go free?" The desperation in the girl's voice was clear.
"I don't have time." Nihlus dismissed Gianna indifferently.
"Nothing better could have been expected from the Spectr! You never give a damn about anything except your assignment!"
There were hurried footsteps retreating.
"Did you hear that?" A quiet, vibrating voice was barely audible over the noise of the music.
"I heard it. Let them solve problems with their management themselves. We have enough troubles of our own. Did you get a pass?"
"Yes. I'll be right there."
They let us into the garage with a creak. But they missed it. It seemed that in a little while, and one of us would grab a weapon. I was close to it. The feeling of problems drilled into my brain and wouldn't let me calm down, and it wasn't about the geth that would be waiting for us in this garage. There's something else here...
The door closed softly behind us. I activated the rifle, slowly approaching the massive box.
"Be careful. There might be Geth here somewhere." Behind him, the Harpoon disintegrated with a soft rustle. I didn't need to look, I already knew that our sniper understood the task and would do everything in his power. Liara, Tali. Keep your head down, stay out of the fight. Cover with shields if... A booming shot cut me off as Garrus found his first target. The Geth-hunter yelped and fell to the floor. A second shot and the synthetic went silent. Geth creaked somewhere ahead, and massive silhouettes appeared behind the boxes. Stormtroopers! One, two... Three, four! The rifle hit him in the shoulder, and he didn't even slow down. Another shot! A harpoon went off behind me, and my stock jerked. The Nihlus rifle was aimed somewhere under the ceiling, the partner jerked sharply, shifting the sight for a quick target. Something appeared behind the box. I shifted my aim and fired as soon as some Geth got in the crosshair. The crimson stroke of a hunter's murderous shot whistled overhead.
A grenade flew past, detonating, and the roar of Rex's shotgun. I put the Harpoon on the floor, took off the Predator: the stormtroopers were rapidly approaching!
The pop of the biotics coincided with the roar of a detonated mine. A scarlet streak flew over the Krogan's head, Garrus' Harpoon roared loudly, and the hunter fell off the wall. The stormtrooper fell in a pile of scrap, Rex shouted something in his native language, and I leaned out from behind the box, firing short bursts at the Krogan-shot stormtrooper.
Nihlus jerked me sharply by the shoulder, and I find myself on the ground. The box shuddered from the impact of the rocket and began to slowly fall towards us. With a pop of biotics, the box slowed down its fall: Liara poked her head out from behind the shelter, shining with a blue halo. Grabbing my rifle, I rushed to another crate, but a rocket exploded nearby and threw me against the wall.
For a few moments, I fell out of reality, trying to reduce the focus. They grabbed me under the arms and dragged me behind a drawer. A little to the side, Rex turned the stormtrooper over with a sharp kick and put a shotgun charge directly into the light bulb. Faster! Faster! My vision cleared. I picked up the rifle and aimed at Geth. A shot, a shot, the whistle of a cooled barrel, change the sight, a shot at a stormtrooper shot down by Garrus. Rex finished off the third one. The roar of a stormtrooper in my ear. The last enemy fell to the floor.
"The freaks..." The rifle fell heavily to his knees. "Are there any wounded?"
A short roll call and Nihlus response:
- Everyone is safe.
The Turian extended his hand and helped me up, carefully examining the scorched armor.
"I'm safe. I just got a little concussion. My ears are ringing and I can't hear very well."
In the best movie traditions, when it was all over, the doors opened and Maeko and four ERKS fighters flew into the garage. And, instead of trying to figure it out, the brave captain started with a hit-and-run:
"What are you doing here, Spektr!" Maeko saw me and stopped. "Who are you?"
I picked up my beloved Harpoon, carefully checked the rifle, folded it and hung it on the grips.
It was not enough to be left without a weapon.
"Who! You! Such!"
"What answer do you want to hear, Captain?" The Nihlus screeched.
"Who is this woman?" A finger was pointed at me.
"My colleague. The spectr of Irene Shepard."
Maeko choked.
"The spectr? But..."
"We have our own affairs on Noveria, and they do not concern you in any way." The Turian snapped dryly. "Answering your question, we were just protecting our lives from the attack of the Geth, who for some reason ended up in your garage. Answering your question, we were just protecting our lives from the attack of the Geth, who for some reason ended up in your garage. Should I consider this an attack? Nihlus stopped in front of the confused woman, staring hard into her eyes. Or did the board of directors start cooperating with synthetics?"
The captain took a step back from the angry Turian.
"Solve your problems, Captain. And we will solve our own. And maybe we can help you solve yours. Do you have any more questions?"
"No, the Nihlus spectr."
Nihlus immediately turned around and, together with Rex, went to check the garage. But there were no more Geth. Tali and Liara came out from behind the shelter. The Quarian bent over the hunter, the golden interface of the instrumentron unfolded, and our genius engaged in applied evisceration in the field. And I went to the gate, near which a surprise was waiting for me... There was no Mako. There was no workable transport in the hangar at ALL. Not a Mako, much less a Grizzly. Wistfully looking around the large and EMPTY room, littered with unpacked boxes, I touched the transmitter and said:
"Nihlus... We have a problem... We need transportation."