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>>43745406

“Ha!” Navigator Guilford says from his console. “Looks like you fixed it when you fell on it Lieutenant.”

Leo chuckles sheepishly and rubs the back of his head, “Yeah, sure looks like it. Guess it just needed a good whack.”

Chuckling to yourself, you begin planning your next course of action.

>Action?

>Check in with Engineering
>Check in with the Ship’s Doctor
>Check your mail
>Talk to one of your Squadmates (Who?)
>Wander around [Roll a 1d10 in this case]
>[Write-in]

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>43745427
Check mail while wandering around.

>>43745427
>>Check in with Engineering

>>43745427
>>Check in with Engineering

>>43745427
>>Check in with the Ship’s Doctor
Has she recovered from shirtless Airon yet?

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>43745427
>Wander around [Roll a 1d10 in this case]

Rolling

>>43745427
> check mail
> Other
Invite Garrus along, maybe?

>>43745531
>>43745830
>>43745922
>>43745931
>>43745494

>Combining these

>>43745948

You there?

>>43746578
>Yep, sorry, had to relocate to a different room.

>>43746591

It's alright, Valor.

>>43746591
Please don't pull a DRALO and disappear forever

>>43747175
>You wouldn't believe how I just fuzzed up when trying to think of names.

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You decide to check in with Engineering and see how the ship’s systems are doing as well as meet some of your engineers. Bidding Leo and Guilford goodbye, you make your way back to the elevator in the crew quarters, opening your Omni-Tool to check your mail on the way. Scrolling through your Inbox, you find that nothing particularly important has popped up. One E-Mail is from the President of your Book Club and Writer’s Workshop, Irene Bless.

You never really saw eye-to-eye with the woman, as most of your work was pulpy action and adventure and she preferred post-modern stream of consciousness type stuff. Her e-mail is a bit flowery in its language, but you can decipher that she’s congratulating you for your appointment as Spectre as well as complimenting you on the realism of your pieces. She also adds that some of the members of the club who shared your tastes were asking if you’d be willing to hold a seminar on writing with an honest tone and maybe share some of your experiences with them. You were in the process of writing a response as you walked through the crew commons, when something caught your attention.

>[CONT.]

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>>43747983

One of the Holo-Screens floating above the conference table is set to a muted news channel which just so happens to be playing a clip of you, standing in front of the Council Tower and speaking to a crowd of reporters. Walking closer, you key into the screen’s frequency with your Omni-Tool and raise the volume.

_

“…because it's a beautiful place for all of us to live,” You hear yourself finish, and the clip ends, the feed switching back to the Asari News Anchor in a low-cut dress.

“Sonali Vasusena, the Galaxy’s Newest Spectre giving what one news-site is calling ‘the most inspiring speech of a generation.’ Here with us now are Analyst Orna T’Lora, Lieutenant Lisa Chatham, Spokesperson for the Alliance Navy as well as Pata Oks, formerly of the STG. Orna, what do you make of Commander Vasusena?”

The feed switches to four talking heads, one of the Asari reporter, one of a different Asari in a pantsuit, another a pretty young woman in Alliance Dress Blues, and the last of an older Salarian in a jumpsuit.

>[CONT.]

>>43748009

T’Lora smiles at the camera, “Well, I can say without a doubt that she’s a masterful orator. My initial impression of her was of a girl who was far too young for the responsibilities of a Spectre, but the way she spoke, not just her subject material, revealed an experienced young woman with a streak of idealism. She really does believe every word of what she said.”

“Lieutenant, among the choices the Alliance had to put forward as a Spectre Candidate, why was Spectre Vasusena chosen?” The Reporter asks Chatham.

The Spokeswoman grins at the News Anchor, “Well, that speech should be all the reasoning you need.” She pauses to let the Reporter laugh before continuing. “In all seriousness, the reason she was chosen wasn’t because she can talk pretty but because she’s a soldier and damn good at what she does. Just yesterday, barely a few hours after she was appointed Spectre, the Commander led the mission to deal with the hostage situation in Zakera Ward’s 133 Block. I have it on good authority that it was because of her plan and the actions of her team that all the hostages were rescued safely.”

>[CONT.]

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>>43748042

The Salarian nods in agreement, “Indeed, while Spectre Vasusena does have excellent oratory abilities, the primary consideration of her appointment as a Spectre would be her effectiveness in the position. Spectres must be intelligent, decisive, adaptable and, above all, cunning. Her performance in the rescue mission yesterday shows that she may have what it takes.”

“She wouldn’t have been chosen if she wasn’t competent after all,” T’Lora adds.

The Reporter nods again before posing another question, “How do you believe that the Commander compares to her predecessor, Sigrun Shepard?”

“That’s a comparison that’s pretty much impossible to make,” Chatham immediately answers with a frown. “And it wouldn’t be fair to either of them.”

“Even I’d say I’m not qualified to evaluate that,” T’Lora says, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. “Spectre Shepard has a reputation that’s nearly legendary and Commander Vasusena is just starting her career.”

Oks shrugs, before simply saying, “I have insufficient data.”

>[CONT.]

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>>43748058
_

Sighing, you switch the screen off, not really wanting to hear the rest of the discussion. You should have realized that the media would be scrutinizing your actions. The frenzy probably won’t be as bad as back when Shepard was appointed Spectre, but it’s still probably going to be a clusterfuck. You’re surprised you weren’t mobbed yesterday while you were out shopping. Then again, most people probably don’t want to piss off a Spectre.

You enter the elevator, setting it to take you back to the cargo bay. Absently, you note that it’s much faster than the one on the Trenton.

The Marines are still doing drills and Cath is still messing with the Omni-Forge. Coates nods to you as you pass by on your way to engineering. Jaro is nowhere to be seen though, and her work station has been cleared off.

Entering the Drive Core room, you note that there’s a fair number of Engineers around here, more than you previously saw on the Trenton. All of them appear quite busy, rushing to and fro from various terminals and panels and other technological bits. You’re good with Tech, but you know barely anything about drive cores and engines.

>[CONT.]

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>>43748090

“AAAAND TIME!” The Chief Engineer, Ai Shan shouts from a console near the back of the room. Immediately, the bustling technicians freeze whatever they were doing and turn to look at the Ensign, who grins and puts both her thumbs up.

“Good job folks!” She says happily. “If this were a real Core Meltdown we would have successfully stopped it. Kudos! Now get back to work.”

There’s a few whoops and a little cheering from the tired Engineers as they walk to their stations. Some of them leave the room, saluting you on the way. You return their gestures and make your way to Shan’s console.

“Commander!” She greets you with a wide smile. “How can I help you?”

>Response?

>”How are things?”
>”Anything you need?”
>”Just wandering around, don’t mind me.”
>[Write-in]

>>43748090
>Absently, you note that it’s much faster than the one on the Trenton.
Does this mean our elevator conversations are shorter?

>Sorry about the delay, I got interrupted a few times and my head got awfully fuzzy a few times.

>>43748118
"You know, I think-"
DING
"Nevermind, we're here."

Mass Effect would have been much different if elevators were faster.

>>43748111
"Just checking in with everyone. How's the ship? Everyone settling in fine?"

>>43748111
>”How are things?”

>The sudden realization that the Extranet is going to be blowing up about Sonali.
>The terrifying realization that 4chan probably still exists in one form or another.

>>43748414
>
[x] look up lewd smut of self and the drell

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You shrug and wave a hand to your surroundings, “Just checking in with everyone. How’s the ship?”

Shan’s smile somehow widens further, “Fantastic. Most interesting ship I’ve ever been stationed on. That drive core is enough to give me wet dreams for a month.” You raise an eyebrow and the Engineer has the decency to blush. “Excuse the coarse language ma’am.”

Letting it slide, you gesture to some of the techs at their stations, “How’s the crew settling in?”

“Great, apparently,” Shan says, leaning against her console. “Most of them are pretty excited to be here, judging from their chatter. Well, except Armstrong, but I’m pretty sure he’s just got a chronic case of the grumpies.”

“Armstrong?” You query, raising an eyebrow.

“My Second in Command, technically,” the Chief explains. “One of us has to be in here at all times, so we’ll be switching up every shift. He’s probably asleep or something right now.”

You nod, “Makes sense. I’ll check in with him later.”

“Oh, just remembered,” She turns around and points up at the observation platform near the Tantalus Core itself. “Is he allowed to be up there?”

Partially obscured by the Core’s Mass Effect Field, floats Airon Voris. He’s “sitting” in the Lotus position and still shirtless.

>Response?

>”Yes, that’s fine.”
>”No, I’ll get him down.”
>[Write-in]

>>43748789
>”Yes, that’s fine.”

>>43748789
>”Yes, that’s fine.”

"Sometimes I do it too, even."

>>43748789
>"Yes, that's fine."
"Any reason he shouldn't be up there?"

>>43748868
Can we say "I thought I was the only one who did that."?

>>43748789
>”Yes, that’s fine.”

“Yes, that’s fine,” You respond, eyeing the Drell’s meditating form. “Any reason he shouldn’t be up there?”

“Not really,” the Engineer responds, crossing her arms and looking up at the Assassin. “Well, if the core is on high output, you know, in combat or something, he’s in danger of getting fried.”

“Huh, that’s good to know. I thought I was the only one who did that.”

Shan turns and gives you an incredulous stare, “Wait, what? You do the floaty meditating thing too? Why?”

You nod, “It’s easier to concentrate. Plus it allows me to exercise my Biotics without too much effort.”

“Uh, right,” the Chief looks somewhat disgruntled but seems to let it go. “That everything Commander?”

>”Yes. As you were Ensign.”
>No, I wanted to ask about [Thing]
>[Write-In]

>>43747983
Huh, we should write again sometime.

>>43749130
>"Yes, As you were Ensign"

>>43749130
>”Yes. As you were Ensign.”

>Tell you what, do you guys just want to timeskip to Departure?
>I'll give you list to choose things to do during the timeskip and write those out.

>>43749130
>”Yes. As you were Ensign.”

>>43749210

I say that's fine.

>>43749130
Dude's stealing our trick.

>Time Skip Options:
>Choose Three

>Talk to Jaro
>Talk to Leo
>Talk to Airon
>Talk to Armstrong
>Talk to Doctor Delacroix
>Talk to [Who?]
>Do Research on the "White Ravine" Facility
>Do Research on the Sira'fa
>Do Research on Manticore Interstellar
>Do Research on [What?]
>Test out Your New Omni-Tool
>Check your Equipment
>[Write-in]

>>43749364
>>Do Research on the "White Ravine" Facility
>>Do Research on the Sira'fa
>>Do Research on Manticore Interstellar

>>43749364
>Do Research on the "White Ravine" Facility
>Test out Your New Omni-Tool
>Talk to Doctor Delacroix

>>43749364
>Do Research on the "White Ravine" Facility
>Test out Your New Omni-Tool
>Check your Equipment

>>43749364
>Do Research on the "White Ravine" Facility
>Do Research on Manticore Interstellar
>Test out Your New Omni-Tool

>Do Research on the "White Ravine" Facility
>Do Research on Manticore Interstellar
>Test out Your New Omni-Tool

>Writing

we really need to find time to work on our novel.... the problem is just starting it though.

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“As you were Ensign,” You say, returning the salute the Engineer gives you as you walk away. You’ve got a few hours before the ship is ready for departure and you may as well check out that Omni-Tool you bought yesterday.

Opening your locker in the Cargo Bay, you pull out the small package on the upper shelf and open it up, pulling out the small device that is the HK-01 “Decker.” Detaching your Logic Arrest from your wrist, you slot the Decker into place and run the start up sequence. It’s significantly faster than your old device and should have a larger module capacity as well. Removing the memory chip with all your info from your old tool, you slot it into the new one, initializing the data. The UI is intuitive, and, when your modules finish loading, you find that you have space for a new module, if you wanted to add a new one. Placing your old tool back in your locker, you head up to the Commons to do some research.
_

You settle into one of the chairs around the conference table, delving into the Spectre Network on your Omni-Tool and pulling up the files on the White Ravine Facility on Noveria. Original info hasn’t changed; hundred klicks away from Port Hanshan, built into the side of the valley where it’s located and has twelve levels. The upper four are visible from the outside and are taken up by a hangar, garage and ship development facilities. The lower eight are underground and occupied by various offices and laboratories.

>[CONT.]

>>43750503

The hangars form one entrance point, with another in the road carved into the side of the gorge that leads to the garage. In addition, there’s a series of large fans on the roof of the facility that connect to the ventilation system that could theoretically be used to get inside, provided the infiltrator didn’t get sliced to pieces. No mention of maintenance access.

It’s noted that food is shipped in every few weeks aboard fliers from Port Hanshan. Security forces are comprised of fifty humans with various military backgrounds and a sizable mech force consisting of mainly LOKI and FENRIS variants. Nothing else about the facility’s security is recorded, so you have no idea if there are any auto-turrets or what the camera layout on the inside is. It’s noted that every few weeks, some of the personnel are allowed to visit Port Hanshan for R&R.

You’ve got a fairly decent idea of what you’re up against at least. Taking a break to grab a sandwich for lunch, you continue on to look up info on Manticore Interstellar.

>[CONT.]

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>>43750510

Manticore Interstellar was found in 2166 by one Declan Kane, a former Major in the System’s Alliance Marines. Fairly distinguished, fought in the First Contact War and along the Frontier before being Honorably Discharged. Formed Manticore a few months later and hired primarily Veterans. Somehow acquired an old Cruiser slated for decommissioning and managed to refit it for active combat again. They gained a reputation for being extremely skilled despite their small size and primarily were employed in the Verge fighting Pirates and Mercenaries.

Kane died in 2180 and the Company was bought out by the Blue Suns. A good number of the mercs jumped ship around then, including Jaro and Cath, while the rest joined the Suns. It’s not a glamourous story, but it does shed some light on a particularly obscure company of soldiers of fortune. It’s also a very straightforward story, as there really aren’t any damning secrets in Manticore’s past.

Checking the time, you find that it’s almost 1500, meaning that the ship should be ready for departure momentarily.

That’s when you receive a message from Leo. You initially don’t think much of it and just open it as you walk into the CIC. A moment later, you really regret that decision.

[CONT.]

>>43750541

It’s… a picture of you, drawn in some kind of Japanese art style. Anime, maybe? For some reason, you have Cat ears on your head and a speech bubble over your head that says “Hi, I’m So-nyah-li!” The only thing you’re wearing is a red and black bikini with the N7 logo on it. Then, the picture starts moving, revealing itself as an animation. You’re dancing. Provocatively. With music.

You immediately close the window, checking around to make sure that no one else saw that. While most of the CIC’s staff appears otherwise occupied, Navigator Guilford had turned to greet you when you entered the Bridge. Judging from the vaguely stricken look on his face, he saw the whole thing. Behind you, you hear a small squeak from Private Bishop and sense his amusement. Your cheeks burn.

>Action?

>>43750577
Leo!! Front and Center!

>>43750577
I'm torn between acting like nothing happened and acting like Leo got a bunch of spammy malware on his omnitool from downloading up too much porn.

>>43750577
Do NOT panic. Turn around and give Bishop a glare that promises that we'll do terrible things to him if he says a word.

Then explain to Guilford that Leo sent it to us as a prank and ask him to please keep it to himself.

>>43750577
Pretend like nothing happened. Ask for a situation report.

>>43750577
This>>43750630

Vengeance shall be ours Leo

>>43750630
>>43750577
Supporting

Who has Revenge plans?

>>43750759
We obviously have to write a smut fic featuring him and a Vorscha, and leak it on to tumblr, reddit and 4chan.

>>43750577
jeebus, how much does a commission like that cost?

>>43750775
Problem is that no one knows who Leo is while we are Celebrity.

>>43750817
>implying Leo didn't draw it himself

>>43750830
We add a picture and circulate it among the crew

>>43750851
Nah, can't bring too many people into this.

We also shouldn't inflict that on the others.

>>43750577
Deep sigh, "Do yourself a favor and never get famous."

I know how we can get even with the Leo, we create a virus for his omni tool, we email it to him using the doc's email. The virus will constantly download porn to his omni tool and maximize its volume.

>>43750759
Something with pies.

Well at least it's not porn.

>>43750886

And not just human male on human female porn, but the weirdest shit possible without being illegal.

>>43750915
There's probably a thread out there dedicated to Porn of us.

>>43750916
Asari on Krogan anal?

>>43750957

Hanar lolis on Krogan anal, with the Krogan being the sub.

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>>43751034
pic is obligatory

All this revenge plotting is getting int the way of our novel writing....

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Silently thanking any higher power that may exist for your swarthy skin, you calmly approach your Navigator, swearing vengeance against Leo on a later date. “Status Report, Mr. Guilford?”

The old man blinks a few times before coming to his senses, “Oh, uhm… er, we just finished up the Pre-Launch checks. Chief Engineer Shan assures me that all systems are green and I’ve already plotted the course to Noveria.”

You nod approvingly, “Excellent. Ready to launch.”

Immediately, activity on the Bridge picks up as the crew gets to their stations.

“We’ve been cleared by C-Sec Control.”

“Docking clamps disengaged.”

“Engines running hot.”

“En route to the Relay.”

There’s a subtle hint of inertia that fades as the Nakshatra’s ME field engages fully.

“FTL Drive Spooled Up.”

“Hitting Relay in 4… 3… 2… 1…“

And you’re off.

[End Thread]

>I’m completely drained and I really need to sleep.
>Fortunately, We’ve made it through the boring parts and we’ll be seeing some tactical espionage action/explosions next thread.
>Can stick around to answer questions and whatnot while heading to bed.

>>43751077
Thanks boss, see you next time.

Did Leo make that himself? Or did he find it on future /h/?

>>43751077

How is Leo taking Sonali's non-reaction to what he did?

>>43751099
> Remember that thing with Natalia Poklonskaya? That's kinda what happened with Sona.

>>43751104
> He doesn't know she's opened it yet.

>>43751147
You're going to have to explain that first thing boss, it's late as hell.

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>>43751153
>Pic related
> He found it.

>>43751178

I thought so.

And I totally misread the post, so I thought that Leo sent her a message to come up to the deck and the crew was watching the video.

>>43751178
That doesn't even look like her....

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>>43751203
>Better?

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>>43751218