Time: 9.27 am
Date: September 21, 2011

The final team soon cleared their own hyperjump, right on time. Hyperspace was always hard to get used to. At least Tundra thought so. She'd been a Space Ranger for years, a captain for only three, but she always found the blank whiteness of hyperspace pretty unsettling. With a soft exhale, she pushed her blond hair out of her eyes. "How long until we reach our destination, Flarn?"

The robust, reptilian-like alien checked over his dashboard one last time before croaking, "Oh-one hundred and thirty hours."

About an hour and a half. Good. That gave them some time to prepare and rest a bit. It had been a long time since Tundra had been on an actual mission--and to think it wasn't even that early.

"Should we let the passengers know?" her co-pilot asked, scratching absent-mindedly at his curly black hair.

"We probably should. Some of them might want to prepare themselves before we scout out the ship wreckage."

"Like that large fellow in blue armour," the last member of their team, an avian-like Ranger, noted. "I heard some rumours about him. He seems to be pretty big on honour. Maybe he's got some sort of preparation ritual to go through." Elsu Vok had his own people's customs to consider, so he could relate in part if the fighter had something like that going on for him. Although he was still pretty new to Star Cruiser 36's crew, he knew that Rangers usually allowed preparation of the sort.

"We could ask," Flarn reflected.

Tundra nodded in agreement. "Okay, boys, I'll have them report here, then they can go about their preparations, and we can go about our own."

---

The team on this spacecraft, Team Gamma, consisted of Garrus, Shepard, Red Spy and Rasa'Jeqkogomee. Three out of four were comfortable and used to travelling through space, so they were already settling in comfortably, but Red Spy was probably not so lucky. Before they could begin exchanging conversation amongst themselves, the intercom on the wall crackled. "This is Captain Tundra Skyrim speaking. Please proceed to the bridge to be debriefed, ASAP." Then, it went silent.

They were placed in teams of four and were on one of Star Command's cruisers. Shepard was glad that at least Garrus was here with her. A familiar face and all, although it would be a good idea to become acquainted with their teammates.

While they were waiting, the other alien in the room seemed to be meditating. Must be a custom his race usually does, or just something personal to himself and it would be wise not to interrupt him. The other man, the one in a mask looks like a fish out of water. He must not be really accustomed to space travel but he must have gotten training from the space rangers.

She was brought out of her thoughts when the captain asked them to come to the bridge. Checking all of her weapons in place, she walked towards the bridge.

"Shepard. I'm ready." She then gave a slight bow to the alien as he did as well. Their mission would soon begin.

Already time to meet the crew, huh? Garrus removed his eyes from the loudspeaker and spent the extra second polishing the last details upon his trusted sniper rifle. Damn, this thing had been with him through a lot. He was almost sentimental about it like Zaeed was to Jessie, the merc's very own assault rifle. He loaded the chamber with a satisfying click and slung it behind his back as he headed out. Great, let's see if the rest were ready.

There was the big blue alien, a species Garrus didn't really know about, and he decided not to really interact with him. The guy had Wrex all over him, and Garrus rather not piss him off early. Just get a load of the muscles on that ripped body! Besides, the alien -- Rasa, or something -- was almost like a turian in some ways. He seemed orderly, military-trained, and devout in his duties. Yeah, maybe he came from a strain of turian that offshoot in another galaxy? Hey, Collectors were once Protheans, remember? It was a strange universe they lived in. That got a chuckle out of Garrus, and he made his way towards the bridge.

On his way he passed the human, Red Spy. Kind of cryptic, but Garrus knew better than to ask questions. Anyway, the human didn't really seem adjusted to space travel. First time?

And finally -- finally -- Garrus saw the familiar face he had always counted on seeing during these suicide mission runs. "Shepard." He tipped his head in greeting and kept his mandibles tight. "Should have known that wherever you go, I'm following right behind, straight into the gates of Hell. Only this time, I'm driving the Mako, if they have one." Because everyone knew Shepard couldn't drive the Mako worth beans. The friendly mingling done, Garrus walked with the Commander all the way to the bridge and he stuck close to her as they single-filed for the Space Rangers to get a good look at them. Space Rangers... Who came up with that name, honestly? Well, it was better than C-Sec.

"Garrus Vakarian. Locked and loaded." He remarked in his usual gritty timbre.

Space travel was not, on the spy's list, the most comfortable form of travel. He was slowly adjusting though, and the second trip was not as rough on him as the first and his poker face remained as flawless as ever. Or at least as flawless as he could keep it.

As they all waited Spy took the liberty of getting a closer look at his team mates. The first, was a large alien, male or so he assumed, and decorated in blue armor. The other was built like a house, perhaps what the heavy might have been if he had laid off the twinkies. The next was another alien, another male from how he looked with war paint decorating his face. He seemed to almost cradle his weapon as he adjusted and readjusted it until it was just the way he liked it.

The third was a woman, human in her appearance though appearances could be deceiving. She looked to be about his age.

Spy rose from his seat and made his way to the bridge with the rest of them where they called out their titles.

Rasa. Shepard. Garrus.

Spy. He said, he was getting the urge to smoke again and had to fight it. Ready, as always.

Well, Tundra hadn't expected such a fast response! Within five or so minutes, all four members of her temporary crew had arrived at the bridge, announcing themselves. Maybe she shouldn't have said ASAP. That was thinking like a Space Ranger, and being too professional. These people weren't Space Rangers--it was not required that they met Star Command's standards. Although the woman was pleased that she had gotten what seemed to be the best of the lot, judging by their scores during the two weeks of training.

Tundra let her co-pilot handle the controls and stood up, saluting. "Glad to see you all came s soon as I called. That's what I call professionalism." But she soon relaxed, giving them a warm smile. They hadn't had much time for introductions before take-off. "I'm Tundra Skyrim, Captain of Star Cruiser 36, and this is the rest of my crew. Corporal Frank Quark, Cadet Flarn and Sergeant Elsu Vok."

Each nodded or offered a gesture or grin in return when their names were said. Quark was a tall, wiry, dark-skinned human male, with short black hair that stuck to his scalp in curls. Flarn was a four-armed, amphibian/lizard like humanoid with large, navy-blue eyes and a wide, broad mouth that made his face looked disfigured when he smiled. The third was an avian-like humanoid male, with an eagle-like beak and thick forearms, hinting at the possibility of wings beneath his suit.

"I trust the four of you know by now what we're up against, but you're probably unaware of the details."

She turned to Flarn, who brought up a star chart with a few deft strokes of his fingers, the image appearing on the cruiser's starshield, large enough for Tundra to point out a few crucial points.

"We're headed for this patch of space here, where a commercial freighter was attacked four months ago by the pirates. The remains are still there, floating around in this spatial graveyard formed by this moon's gravitational field. We've got the easiest deal of the lot. Everyone else had to jump to ship remains floating aimlessly through space whose trajectory routes were calculated by the LGMs. Ours is in a standard loop.

"Our job? To board the remains of the vessel and examine whether the pirates left any clues behind as to the whereabouts of their mothership. That includes vapour trails, any weapons left behind, the works. Pirates can be sloppy when in a hurry, and if we're lucky, these pirates might have left us a few surprises."

The woman turned back to them, folding her hands behind her back. "Any questions?"

How peculiar. Aliens working alongside with... humans. Rasa'Jeqkogomee had not expected such a coalition ever to exist, the Elite used to working with strictly alien forces before. Perhaps this was their own Covenant? He curled his mandibles and decided not to comment aloud or question. He was here to carry out a mission, not to ponder how these temporary higher-ups worked.

Apparently, they were supposed to undertake a recon mission upon an abandoned and stripped ship orbiting this planet's single moon. Hardly a glorious task, but each component of a large problem was equally important. This would bring great honor regardless of difficulty. "I have no questions, Captain. Only that we get this mission underway and prepare for a long assignment ahead of us," Rasa'Jeqkogomee answered. "I have done numerous reconnaissance missions in the past, and I shall treat this as if it were my first. You have my word was an honorable Sangheili."

Rasa'Jeqkogomee would not disappoint.

--I try a new way of speech. Is it the better of reading?--

While Shepard was going to the bridge along with the others, she smiled at Garrus, of him following wherever she goes, even to hell.

"Well, it looks like we're stuck with each other." She gave shrug and chuckled when he mentioned the Mako. "Oh, come one. I'm not that bad, am I?" Of course, she meant it in a joking manner, since she isn't known of handling the Mako with style. In other words, yes, even she knows she's bad at it.

Shepard listened intently as Captain Tundra gave more details of the mission. She was wondering why pirates would attack a commercial freighter and how come it took this long to find the craft. But as she said, it's in a graveyard. Nobody would notice another craft, since they don't really care.

Finding out what the pirates stole would be a good idea and as she said, if in a hurry, pirates tend to be sloppy. "I don't have any questions either. Knowing what they plan with the cargo they stole might give us some insight on their plan, if they left something behind."

A marooned cargo ship, attacked by pirates? Garrus felt as if he loved this mission already, and the prospect of dishing out pain to some thick-headed criminals was a godsend. Compared to paperwork and red tape, this was a miracle! But first, not to appear trigger-happy and naive like a first year recruit back on Palaven. "Same as Shepard, no questions here." He spoke up, nodding his head. "We should reach this downed ship right away before any scavengers hit it and make off with anything important. The sooner we retrieve any valuable information, the better."

And seeing a capable alien beside him, the one called... uh, let's say Rasa, lifted Garrus' hopes even more. Just like Wrex, only educated and law-abiding.

Perfect.

A cargo ship and space pirates, how very interesting. This was going to be one of his more "unusual" adventures from the looks of it. It mattered not though, the Spy was a professional, and would deal with this just as he would anything else.

Each of the crew took their turns asking, or should we say, not asking the question that they apparently did not have. Quite to the point this group, all ready to go ad ready to get things done.

It would appear that our group has no questions. The Spy said, addressing the rangers. He knew everything that he wanted to know for now, now all that was left to do was get the so called show on the road.

The large, heavyset alien, who called himself a Sangheili armoured in blue merely expressed his anticipation that they undertake this assignment. Tundra dipped her head to him in respect and approval. None of the others had any questions either, merely expressing their eagerness at setting off and stopping the pirates before they made off with anything, or finding something of importance behind. They were like Rookies, just as eager, though with years of experience laden on their shoulders.

"All of Star Command appreciates your efforts."

She dismissed the group with another nod, watching them file out before returning to her seat. She closed her eyes for a moment and leaned her head back, but not before checking the timer. In around an hour and fifteen minutes, they would be arriving at their destination...

---

The planet they were approaching wasn't a proper planet, technically speaking. Classified as a dwarf planet, its surface appeared grey and barren, littered with crater holes and swirling blue nimbus-like expanses. It more closely resembled a moon or satellite, but given that it had its own orbit, Flarn didn't want to get technical.

Instead, he focused his attention upon a large mass in the distance. Despite the planet having no moons of its own, it had its own gravitational field, and trapped within it was their destination. The ship had been decimated, somehow sliced in half by an unknown, unseen foe, its innards and hull laid bare before them, with bits and peices of metal floating around it. It was a miracle the ship had not crash-landed into the planet yet.

"We're here, Captain. Any closer and we might risk disrupting its orbit."

"Roger, Flarn. Quark, take the helm. Vok, let's see the mercs off."

"On it, Captain."

"Yes, ma'am."

Tundra and Vok rose from their seats and exited through the back. It didn't take them long to find their new recruits, who were already climbing up the ladder and settling into the shuttle that would take them to the wreckage. Normally, the shuttle was only large enough for two, but they had earlier adjusted the seats to hold four, specifically for this mission.

"How're things up there?" Elsu inquired, his beak hardly a proper indicator of emotions. Instead, his concern was shown through his voice. he'd been in the shuttle before and knew how much of a tight fit it was, even when it held two seats. "Just remember that the shuttle has no actual weaponry," he reminded them, although it had probably already been covered in their training at some point.

"You can still radio us for assistance or advice," Tundra chipped in. "Flarn will send you coordinates to properly navigate to a safe position. Keep in touch."

Once the four of them were settled, Vok and Tundra returned to the bridge. It took them but a few moments to strap up, years of training kicking into gear. Tundra gave Quark another nod.

He nodded back, then opened communications with the shuttle. "You are cleared to take off in five... four... three... two... one... take off!"

The shuttle's engines roared to life, and whoever was at the helm would soon spot Flarn's coordinates on-screen. The process would take less time depending on the pilot's dexterity, but as far as the four were concerned...

They were on their own.

Shepard nodded her head to the captain when they were dismissed and the group went towards the back. While they were waiting, she was checking her weapons quite thoroughly, making sure adjustments were made, if they were met with trouble, which she hoped would not be the case.

Another thing is that she was also observing her teammates, except of Garrus. Red Spy seemed to be new in this, which could mean that in his world, there wasn't much space travel. However, Rasa, a Sangheili as he said, was an experienced alien. Must have seen and fought many battles in his universe. And he seemed to take honor very highly.

When they finally arrived, the team was already entering the shuttle, so they could go towards the wreckage. It reminded her a bit of the Hammerhead, though smaller in size. Shepard took a seat that wasn't the driver's. She agreed fully with her friends. Shepard wasn't the best driver.

The Captain and another member of her team went to see them off and informed them about basic things, like there weren't any weapons on this shuttle and they could radio them if needed. Though cramped, Shepard just nodded. "We're alright." The eagle like alien had asked how they were and they would also get coordinates.

As the rest strapped up, the communications told them that they would be clear in a few seconds. And they were off into the asteroid field of the planet. Well, dwarf planet. Let's hope that they would find some clues without complications.

A shuttle, and it was cramped.

Naturally the robust and broad-chested alien found no comfort in so small a metal construct, but Rasa'Jeqkogomee kept his internal rumblings to himself and quietly slipped into the vessel. His seat was in the back, away from prying eyes, and the alien felt comfortable knowing that he could see everything from his position. The preference of a true assassin and spy. Although, he did feel as if he should be driving somehow as he watched the lone human female get close to the controls. In either observation, Rasa'Jeqkogomee wisely chose to clasp on his seat belt and he made sure to be secure and fastened. He also checked to make sure that his helmet had a plentiful supply of oxygen in case anything went awry in the cold, heartless vacuum of space.

Once everyone was in and the sickening sensation of take-off had long subsided, the coordinates were brightly displayed upon the screen. "At last, our objective has been given," the soldier spoke from the back. It was due time, and his amber eyes winked from the shuttle's darkened corner. "Let us follow them, but let us also go in slow and steady. If the pirates are nearby then it would be most unwise to enter blindly."

Did this ship possess stealth capabilities? Now would be the time to use them.

Uh-oh... Shepard was getting close to the controls. "You, ah, better let me handle this one, Shepard," Garrus weakly suggested. Now in the flier's seat and buckled in, the turian cleared his throat and tried not to let his mandibles flutter. "Sorry, Shepard," he turned his face to address her, "but this isn't the Mako and we don't have the unlimited funds to repair any damage that comes our way." And he meant that in the nicest way possible.

That little wrinkle smoothed out, Garrus checked and re-checked all the controls before he glanced at everyone through the rear view mirror. The big guy was in the back along with the human called Spy, while Shepard was at his right-hand side in the navigator's seat. "Alright, here we go. Buckle up, because this may get rough."

Take-off wasn't as rough or turbulent as the turian had thought, but the shuttle sure did shudder a lot. Geez, it felt like a damn amusement park ride! Garrus tried his hardest not to bare his teeth and he waited out for the G-forces to dissipate and the ship to recalibrate the internal pressure and atmospheric controls. When the violent ride ended, Garrus shook his head and tried to rotated his shoulder blades to rid himself of the new kinks. "Could they have made it anymore intense?" he griped to himself. Even Krogans had better spacecrafts than this! Krogans! "Everyone okay back there?" The lack of groans and moans said yes, and Garrus was now free to handle the shuttle any way he pleased.

Well, so long as no one ejected him out the airlock.

When the coordinates came online the turian studied them for a second and brought up his gaze to face the pitch-black void. "Hmm... Shepard, mind handling the navigation? I don't quite know this stretch of space well, and you're better at reading diagnostics that aren't weapons than I can. Where are we headed?" Once Shepard had told him where to pilot, the shuttle eased itself into a low thrust and they were off, Garrus minding the big fellow's words. "You got it. Going in nice and slooooow..."

Recon and retrieval. Shouldn't be so bad, right?

As the minuscule ship sailed through the darkness twinkling with tiny bright stars known as space, it seemed this team were looking forward to this trip. Garrus eased down on the throttle... and the craft flew smoothly towards its destination: the wreckage of the cargo vessel. The ruined vessel didn't move even slightly; it just hung there, giving off a creepy aura of loneliness and evil due to how unbearably still and silent it was. It would seem that the pirates that had destroyed this ship with their high-tech weaponry were long gone, leaving only a wreckage for any passers-by to gaze in wonder at. It really made one feel sorry for the ones that had died in there. Their bodies were most likely were they had fallen. Better than being taken by the space pirates, anyway.

Slowly and steadily, the Star Command craft was landed in a surprisingly in-tact landing bay on the east side of the cargo ship. Must've not been an important enough place for the pirates to attack. As the four embarked, they would find nothing unexpected for a ravaged vessel. Destroyed parts of various machinery and technology everywhere, added to a lot of dead bodies scattered around. The place was far from alright... burned with plasma and frozen with supercooled plasma in areas, the left wall of the docking bay was truly and utterly ruined. Blood and bodies stained the floor everywhere. It was a horrific sight.

Across the room, there was a strange door. It could be opened like any regular door. The door led people to a large empty room full of sparking electricity due to torn wires everywhere. This must have been the room that held the electronics. The units had supposedly all been ripped from the walls so the pirates could modify them and use them for their own ships and base. Wherever that was. A crackling sound could be heard in this room. It was the sound of the electricity. Other than that, the place was deadly quiet.

Team Gamma had to carry on now.

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(Right, this round doesn't count but from now on, skips are in use. Those of you who don't post once before the Universal NPC does from now until the end of the plot will gain posting strikes, and after three will be KO'd immediately. So make sure to post!)