After boarding the ship, I sent a message to Aria T'Loak asking her to deal with the pirates blackmailing the Asari diplomatic emissary, after which I calmly gave the order to head for Feros. Or rather, to prepare for departure, as some ordered items were still being loaded onto the ship. This included several LOKI Mechs, as well as a YMIR Mech, which in my imagination Tali would be controlling.
In the meantime, while we waited, I received a reprimand from Tevos for the shooting on the Citadel. She said it wasn't right to shoot at camera drones, though she understood the situation was ambiguous given my recent opponents. In short, she gave a reprimand while simultaneously showing understanding—a true diplomat.
"Captain, we are ready for departure."
Joker's voice distracted me from working at my personal computer, and I immediately gave him the green light for takeoff. But the distractions didn't end there, as Williams entered my cabin.
"So, what brings you to me?"
"Captain, I... wanted to apologize for my behavior. I admit I was wrong, and I ask you to understand that my reaction to that order... It wasn't because I'm unwilling to follow orders, but because I've been offered promotions several times before if I..."
"Spread your legs."
I saw no point in sugarcoating it, and Williams only gave a restrained nod. Though I could see in her eyes that she really wanted to swear.
"Williams, I don't have a problem with you because you didn't follow that order..."
I shook my head.
"...I have a problem because you're a xenophobe."
"Me?!"
"You. You might not notice it, but you often let slip remarks that belittle the capabilities of crew members who aren't human. Yet you don't allow yourself to do that with the others."
The girl frowned slightly.
"Captain... I... I can't guarantee it, but I will try to improve."
"Try..."
Sighing, I tried not to shake my head, but I think she understood perfectly well that I didn't quite believe she could handle it.
"...let's make a deal..."
Williams tensed slightly, clearly expecting something unpleasant from me.
"...I will turn a blind eye to your snide comments as long as you don't cross a certain line. And as long as the targets of your remarks themselves turn a blind eye to them."
"I... thank you."
"Don't be too quick to thank me, because if they complain about you, or if I hear them cursing you among themselves, or if I see a conflict between you and them, you're off the team. Deal?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"Good. You're dismissed."
She gave a forced smile and left my cabin. I had just managed to dive back into my work when Jane came in.
"Hello to you too..."
Casting a mocking glance at her, I pretended to be immersed in work.
"I sent Williams to you..."
"Yes, I figured she didn't come on her own. And yes, you did well. If she hadn't come and had continued behaving the way she did before, I would have kicked her out, despite your intercession."
"It wasn't that strong of an intercession..."
Jane looked away slightly embarrassed.
"It was strong... because before this, if a subordinate of mine had behaved like that, I would have already transferred them to some other company. And believe me, not every subordinate of mine could have convinced me not to do it."
"Is that because you want to get into my panties?"
"That too..."
I didn't hide my desire.
"...and also because I respect you. I've looked through your service record, you know, so I understand exactly what you're capable of. And I wouldn't want you to hold a grudge against me."
"Well... I don't think I'll hold a grudge over Williams, though I'm certainly pleased that you trust me so much and allow me to build my own plays in this little sandbox."
"You're welcome to; as long as we're completing the mission, you can do almost whatever you want with the landing party."
"Sure, sure..."
She nodded mockingly.
"...anyway, it's normal for you to interfere a bit in my machinations since you're the commander. Actually, I came for something else."
"Yes?"
Arching an eyebrow, I looked at the girl, who only snorted mockingly at the gesture.
"Basically, there are too many of us for the SSV Normandy. It's not that I want to drop anyone off, but..."
A look of doubt appeared in Jane's eyes as to whether such a large roster was truly necessary.
"...anyway, I suggest not taking the whole group on landings. Because while it makes the job easier, it also makes us less mobile. Evacuating such a large group is extremely difficult."
"I don't mind, but Tali must be in the group, as we have no other technician like her."
"Yes, yes, and the fact that you want to stare at her firm backside has absolutely nothing to do with it, right?"
"Absolutely nothing."
Jane laughed merrily.
"Fine, I don't mind, as she really is useful, especially after you ordered those LOKI Mechs and YMIR Mechs. So she'll be in our landing party. I think one or two more people will be more than enough."
"We'll pick them depending on the situation."
"Yes... thanks for not insisting that everyone has to land."
"Why would I?"
I looked at Jane with slight surprise.
"You're an experienced girl, and if it's required, you'll tell me yourself, or you won't argue if I say to do it. At the moment, I see no reason why I should argue with you."
"Good. I've pulled up information on Feros. What do you think is waiting for us there and where? I just can't understand what could have interested Saren Arterius there..."
"What if I told you I know what interested him there?"
I raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"I'll just ask you to share the information if it doesn't conflict with your plans, but I won't ask unnecessary questions."
Smart girl... I like those. To someone who barely knows her, she might seem like a grunt who only knows how to hold a rifle and fire it; to subordinates, she might seem like a good commander; but those who look deeper will see that she is very intelligent.
"Well, then I'll tell you that beneath the colony, there is a certain ancient creature..."
"Another Rachni Queen?"
Jane's shoulders twitched, remembering the queen she clearly didn't like.
"No. Not a Rachni Queen... another creature. It lives and remembers even the Protheans..."
Jane's gaze became slightly shocked at these words, but she didn't interrupt.
"...it survived their empire, the Reaper purge, and I assume it woke up when living beings appeared on Feros again."
"More details?"
"The spores of this plant help take control of those around it."
"Fuck..."
"And we'll also be opposed by colonists who are already under its control."
"Fuck..."
"Exactly... and to be honest, I don't know if it's possible to negotiate with this plant. It is definitely sentient..."
"It likely has a different value system?"
Jane made a guess, hitting the nail on the head. Or rather, her guess was based on the data I had already voiced, and she made it by analyzing them.
"Most likely."
I nodded to her.
"Civilians?"
"I'd like to avoid unnecessary casualties. Although..."
"What?"
"To be honest, I just have no idea how this creature reproduces. It's quite possible that the spores it infected the colonists with could sprout inside them when they end up on other planets, and then there won't be just one underground root, but a couple of dozen."
"Hmm..."
Jane shook her head.
"...but killing everyone isn't an option either. We won't be forgiven for that, even despite your Spectre status."
"I understand that, and I don't want to become an executioner. So we'll have to play a bit of 'go here, then go there'..."
Jane looked at me silently.
"We'll have to go to the ExoGeni Corporation base; we can find information about this organism there, and then we'll put the planet under quarantine. Let the Council deal with this shit themselves."
"Agreed."
Jane sighed in relief.
"I don't think we'll need a sniper, so Garrus Vakarian will stay on the ship."
"We don't need five biotics either. I think two will be enough."
"Hmm... Kaidan Alenko has recovered, of course, but Dr. Chakwas said she'd like to observe him a bit longer, so he can stay on the ship."
"Lissi and Missi work very well as a pair, and it's better to leave them on the ship too, so they can neutralize the colonists if anything happens."
"So, maybe we'll take Liara T'Soni with us..."
Jane stood up and paced the cabin.
"...you, me, Tali... that's three. Two LOKI Mechs, that's five, but luckily they don't take up much space."
"We need a pilot for the Mako and a gunner."
"Yes, I know, I know... we can put Tali as the gunner."
"Wrex is too big, even if he is strong. He'll take up several seats in the transport at once."
"Agreed, and Williams... is Williams. She wouldn't refuse, of course, but honestly, taking her on a mission and risking her realizing that under the cover of Spectre actions you're engaging in industrial espionage..."
Jane cast a mocking glance at me.
"I'm just preparing for war..."
"I hope I'm included in your plans?"
"Without a doubt."
"Excellent. So Williams is also out. As for a driver... I could suggest Revi, but better not. Chifuyu Orimura would be ideal."
"Will you go in the exoskeleton? If yes, then Liara will sit inside; if you're inside, she won't."
"Yes, in the exoskeleton. It's more reliable. And heavy weaponry will clearly be useful in our travels."
"Excellent."
I nodded to her, and Jane immediately activated her Omni-tool.
"Attention: on Feros, the landing party will include, besides the commander and myself: Chifuyu Orimura as the Mako driver, Tali'Zorah as the gunner and technician, as well as the LOKI handler, and Liara as the second biotic. Armor must be sealed and switched to internal cycle."
Following that, I also activated my Omni-tool.
"Charles, on Feros there must be no contact with the outside world. The ship remains in nominally hostile territory; do not activate air intake, water intake, or anything else. Those returning from the landing must undergo the most complete decontamination procedure."
"Understood. I'll prepare everything. Also, while we're in flight, I'll organize a small false compartment in the hangar to prevent us from contacting the Feros atmosphere during your landing."
"Thank you."
"It's my job, sir..."
"By the way, I heard Pressly was checking to see who exactly wants to leave the ship... were there any?"
"No..."
I smirked with satisfaction.
"...the crew remained on the ship in full. Though I thought I'd have to recruit at least a third from scratch."
"Well, you've shown yourself well enough... all necessary consumables have been purchased, the food concentrates aren't soldier-grade or even officer-grade..."
"Actually, they are officer-grade..."
Interrupting Jane, I smirked.
"...just not army-grade. Essentially, my army officer concentrates are intended for regular soldiers, while these are for the officer corps. And right now I have enough stock of them for all my colonies to live on for three years."
"Wow..."
"Not 'wow,' but 'how little'..."
I shook my head.
"...you have to understand what kind of war awaits us. Anyway, in my underground bunkers, I have hydroponics and many other things, so everyone will be provided with food, and the concentrates are for a rainy day, or just for variety."
"John..."
Jane walked up to me and looked intently into my eyes.
"Yes?"
"You know, I'm possessive, of course, but my chances of survival are much higher by your side, so..."
She walked up to me and kissed me on the lips.
"Hmm... tasty, but not enough..."
I managed to put a finger on Jane's lips before she kissed me again.
"Before you do that, know that I would help even without all this..."
Removing my finger, she didn't let me finish, kissing me.
***
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