So, as the title says I accidentally found Urdnot Wrex’s ceremonial armor while wondering around exploring planets to lvl up. My question is this, will it change anything in the endgame? Or should I reload save? (I hope this is in the right place)

Greetings Mr.Sauer, it is with great pleasure that I am messaging you to say that you've been approved to join the crew of the Normandy (in the position you requested no less!) as a biotic amp and cybernetics technician. Do note that while this is role is strictly non-combat you are still expected to maintain a healthy training regimen for both health/fitness reasons and in-case of emergency. The Normandy will pick you up from docking bay F23 next time it arrives.

Be sure everything you need is packed into a footlocker's worth of space, all your equipment and work materials will be waiting for you on-board.

P.S. With the exception of C.O Shepard and X.O Adams, no-one else in the crew is aware of your former affiliation with Cerberus. If you would like to you can either speak with them on it yourself or have me notify them of it via replying to this E-Mail.

To say that the young man was excited was an understatement with how he just...Exploded in joy, dancing, pacing, happy laughter. All of it. After a few minutes of celebration he takes in a few deep breaths and focuses himself. Packing what little he owned into a duffel bag and toolbox before ensuring he'd leave his temporary housing the way he found it. That is to say: He cleaned it like crazy. Quick shower, some proper self-care, and off he went. While waiting for the ship to appear Josef would shoot a message off to the correspondent who'd confirmed his position.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve aboard the most prestigious vessel in the galaxy, I am excited to see what is in store and hope to exceed expectations. I will not take this responsibility for granted.

In regards to my former affiliation with Cerberus, I do request that others are briefed on the matter, I do not wish to be in the habit of hiding such relations under the guise of 'what's past is past' or maintaining personal comfort. Especially considering the severity of Cerberus' actions during the Reaper War with Sanctuary. Building trust is paramount in a position such as mine.

Again, thank you for this opportunity.

Now, all he had to do was...Well, hurry up and wait.

Welcome to Normandy News, I'm your host, disembodied voice, and this is what you need to know:

We've had a string of new arrivals, including one Specialist Maya Parker, the twins Artem and Boris, and the mysterious Lana Rhodis. Give them a wave and a smile if you run into them, will you?

Additionally, we've received word that your lovely ex-CO and XO, Lt. Cmdr O'Neill and Lt. Harada, have already begun their first operations with the new crew of the Leyte. Pirates and mercs beware!

And to close things out, we've got an update from Alliance Intelligence - apparently, the pro-human organization known as Arachne has recently come to attention as the primary suspect in the assassination of Citadel politician Joram Talid. Further information is included in a 2556 page bulletin that nobody will read.

That concludes this edition of Normandy News.

A shuttle departs from an Alliance frigate after it enters the Illium system. The frigate hails the Normandy and informs them that the transfers requested a while back were now on their way. The shuttle zooms from the frigate towards the Normandy.

Inside, twin brothers wait patiently to arrive to their new destination. Artem leans against the door of the dropship in a dark blue suit. They both were very tall, about 6'5, while they were technically identical twins, they didn't really look alike. Artem was tall and lean, plenty strong without the huge bulk while Boris resembled a toothpick for the most part. Artem brushed his messy hair back and nodded along to his music. A bright green eye from an injury contrasting his natural brown colored eye. His brother wore a simple pair of jeans, shirt, and a windbreaker. He was lighter and paler than his brother, and had both his natural eyes. Boris continued reading off of his laptop, searching through files sent to him by Vees.

The pilot looks back and taps the door to get the two's attention as they land in the Normandy. Artem stops leaning on the door so the pilot can open it. Boris grabs his laptop and files and nudges his brother to get his bags. They both hop out, Boris carrying several large bags while Artem holds onto a small backpack.

They talk to each other about personal matters as they walk around the landing area looking for the CO, or whoever was supposed to meet them.

Miranda sits at her desk, fingers steepled as she looks at the screen in front of her. What was going on here? Movements in Henry's accounts and each of them bounced off numerous relays to throw off the trail where it had been nearly impossible to find the original location to be Illium. They only started recently and she was quite deadset on getting to the bottom of it.

The woman writes up a message to Shepard, asking her it they can make a stop at Illium as soon as reasonably possible, attaching a short summary for the cause of this detour. Easy to figure that Shepard would be concerned as well if her dead father's money suddenly started moving around.

-----

By the time they arrive on Illium she has a name. Lana Rhodis. Businesswoman, been making a few waves, proving to be successful. And had zero background past a few years ago.... Miranda doesn't know what to expect from this. Unclear whether this Lana was a physical threat or not, but taking chances was the last thing she did. She was going to be armed, ditto Shepard.

The address she dug up was in a high rise within Nos Astra, a short taxi ride from the space port. She'll have her answers soon enough.

THREE WEEKS AGO - ARCTURUS STREAM / EULER SYSTEM / OLIVEIRA COLONY RUINS

Get down!

Shepard forces an Alliance marine's head back down into the trench he'd popped out of.

Damn it, Sanchez, we discussed this!

The frozen soil explodes inches away - right where Sanchez's head would have been. The Batarian pirates here were clearly well-armed, if they were having this much trouble pushing through their defenses. The Commander had hoped it wouldn't come to this.

Sanchez is about to speak, but Shepard silences him with a glare - even through her helmet, her eyes say all that needs saying.

Take Leibowitz and circle back to where we came from, try to extract McCarthy. I'm starting to get worried she hasn't checked in, and we need those charges.

The marine hesitates, but heads out before Shepard has a chance to bark one of her trademark "Go!"s, leaving Shepard alone. Immediately, she takes off running along the trench, emerging on the far side. Before the entrenched gunners have a chance to react, she's already closed the distance with a Biotic Charge. As the machine gunner flies backwards, Shepard swiftly dispatches the other Batarians with her Typhoon before taking cover behind a few supply crates by the emplacement, sheltering her from the incoming reinforcements. A quick look at the gun itself reveals that it can't swivel to face them - damn. As she prepares to hold the line alone, her omnitool goes off with a priority message:

[Reassignment confirmed: Report to Citadel to rendezvous with SSV Normandy SR-2. - Hackett]

Despite the situation, she smiles to herself. Shepard was finally going home. She locks in a new heatsink, takes a look out over the incoming Batarians, and braces for another round.

TODAY - CITADEL - DOCKING BAY D24

Shepard stares out at the Normandy as she leans on the docking bay's railing. It's been far too long. She has no doubt the ship will be a different place now, but the more things change, the more they always stay the same. Hefting her bag, she heads towards the airlock and, using her new command code, lets herself in. Time to get back to work.

Miranda Lawson lightly tapped her foot as she waited for the elevator to arrive on the Citadel docks. It was a little strange being back here in the middle of galactic civilization after a little over a year out on a small colony for so long. A lot more people, lights and sounds. Couldn't take a step without being hit with an ad for haircare products, a new Asari made dress or tax services. Some things never changed, even after an event like the Reapers. Businesses still wanted people's credits and were happy to bombard with ads if they smelled any profit. But that was how the galaxy worked she supposes.

She strides from the elevator as it opens with a small ding, her short, sensible heels clicking on the metal deck as she begins the journey over to the ship out beyond the windows. Normandy, it always was an eyecatcher, even after so much time aboard. It was ironic how a stealth frigate was also such a beautiful machine that it begged to be admired at the same time. And she was finally taking back her place aboard as the executive officer after almost 3 years away. Even was going to have her old cabin back - thankfully sans several dozen monitors now. Normandy had two retrofits over the previous 2 years and she was in excellenr shape. No exposed cables and plating at least like the last time she was briefly aboard from what she knows at least.

The woman approaches the airlock, greeting EDI and being let aboard at once. She'd decided on something a bit more Alliance standard today. A female officer's uniform but in grey and black instead of Alliance blue. Not as comfortable as one of her usual outfits but better for first impressions with any new crew. She steps aboard her old ship and gets to inspecting things, seeing what's changed, what's rhe same and who still remains and who's new. She was in inspection mode more or less, touring the ship from top to bottom. Time to see if the Alliance was using Normandy to the best of it's capabilities or not.

A notice comes to the Normandy Crew from the brass. They were recalled to the new Arcturus station for several important crew transfers, with two notable figures on the list of incoming personnel. Commander Shepard has returned from retirement, opting to resume their posting aboard the SSV Normandy SR-2, with Miranda Lawson as XO. Therefore, Lt. Cmdr. O’Neill and Lt. Harada will be relieved of command of the ship. Instead they would be transferred to the SSV Leyte, an SR-1X Class frigate, fresh out of the shipyards.

AIS Bulletin: Alert: a new pro-human organization by the name of Arachne has been added to the AIS Watchlist. The organization’s activities have not presently posed any threat, but caution is heavily advised. Stay safe. Stay vigilant.

It's been an ordeal, but thankfully the recovery from the events that shook Doran City so recently has been swift, and the crew's been able to enjoy a bit of shore leave while the Rannoch authorities restore order. In the midst of all this, as the sun begins to set on the planet, the crew's omnitools ping with a different, more welcome message.

[I don't want to alarm anyone, but I think there might be some spirits at my home, and they're insisting that people come in costume to recognize a human custom called "Halloween". Any takers can make their way to this address: (GPS directions attached).]

[-Tali]

Guests will find the stylish house along the water in the Victory District. Despite being the only home on the street decorated, some holographic skeletons of various species perform an eerie jig in the front yard, and a purple gourd carved in what appears to be an amateurish ghost shape sits by the door.

Across Doran City, the Normandy crew's omnitools get pinged with an alarming message:

[Doctor Ilia'Var's forces have been spotted at a major Geth server hub in the Ulnay District. Evidently, they crashed a skycar through the security barricades and overwhelmed the Geth forces inside. Quarian and Geth reinforcements have the building surrounded, but Revenants are holding them off. We need to get inside, stop them from escaping, and capture Doctor Var. Meet me by the Normandy's dock, a shuttle will be ready to take us there.]

[-Tali]

The Normandy's patrol has seemingly made an unannounced stop on Rannoch, the vistas of the arid world slowly coming into focus as the vessel glides into its dock at Doran City, Rannoch's newly-minted capitol. Construction is all around, as the urban environment is constructed piece by piece by flurries of Quarian and Geth workers. The city center, full of shops and restaurants, is mostly complete, as are the government buildings and intermingled Geth server hubs. Quarian citizens walk the streets alongside Geth platforms, some more happily than others.

The spaceport area seems quite lively as well, with representatives of the Quarian government approaching the airlock from the far end of the terminal. Tali'Zorah stands by the airlock, nervously awaiting them.

Vees sat quietly in the shuttle, looking up from his omni-tool to watch Alvea pace back and forth. She'd deny that she was nervous if he asked, but he was confident that she was nervous about this all. He knew highly she thought of the Normandy and its crew. He glanced up again and sighed to himself quietly.

V:"Come and sit Alvea, we have a long ride ahead of us, you should rest..." His voice wasn't quiet, but it was light and soft, as though it was a whisper.

A: "But I- I... alright, sorry if I was distracting you from your work." She sat down beside him and smiled, chuckling a little nervously. She didn't want to be a bother since he was trying to read through their new crew's medical files.

Finally after another hour of flying the shuttle lands at the Citadel docking area and they get their bags and make their way to where the Normandy is docked, Alvea getting more and more antsy as they did. Vees checks the terminal and requests entry. Alvea looks down at him and he smiles through his mask.

V: "Everything will be alright, you'll fit in fine dear. Words cannot begin to describe how proud of you your mother would be."

If the ship was anything like other Alliance vessels, there'll likely be a tour of sorts, then again, this was a famous ship... Alvea thought to herself as they waited to be let aboard.

Jaiden stood from where he had been sitting and waiting for his CO. As the older man strolled into the room and sat down across from him, he waved for Jaiden to sit.

“At ease, kid.” The gruff voice of a man who’d led soldiers to hell and back spoke up and Jaiden relaxed and fell back into his seat. He kept his back straight and his face serious. The Master Sergeant had asked him here for a reason. He just didn’t know what it could be. He hadn’t thought he’d done anything wrong and he certainly wasn’t due for any kind of promotion. He’d been promoted less than a year ago.

“Do you know why I’ve asked you to meet me here, Specialist?”

“No sir.” Jaiden spoke only in turn despite his CO’s lax attitude. He’d always been kind to him and his teammates when they weren’t on duty. He was a fair and good man, so Jaiden gave him the respect he deserved.

“As I’m sure you and all the other boys are aware, the Normandy is here and they’re looking for able men and women.”

“Aye sir, we’ve heard.” Jaiden said matter-of-factly, oblivious as to where this conversation was going.

“You’re being transferred, son.”

Jaiden was dumbstruck and, for the first time ever, didn’t respond to Easom as expected.

“Forget your manners, marine?”

“Sir, no sir.” Jaiden said, a bit startled by Easom’s reaction.

“I’m only joking, son.”

“Yes sir.” That explains it, thought Jaiden. The CO was just playing a strange joke on him. He wouldn’t be going anywhere for some time surely.

“You’ll be boarding the Normandy by 0700 tomorrow morning. Dismissed.”

--

The next morning, Jaiden sat quietly aboard a shuttle with a kit bag holding all of his belongings. The night before hadn’t felt like much of a celebration despite the fact that the boys from his old team had taken him out for drinks. It was always hard to say goodbye to those you’d fought beside. Even when they weren’t your best friends, there was something special there that couldn’t be broken. He’d miss them all.

On top of that tensions had been high. Now that the Humanitas Rex terrorist threat had been mostly handled, the outcry had begun. Human-Quarian relations had especially been hurt by the conflict that had taken place here. It felt impossible. After the war it should have been different…

As the silent ride to the Normandy came to a close, he shouldered his bag and stood with a deep breath waiting for the airlock of the legendary ship to open.

Would Dad be proud?

Vidscreens across the Normandy display breaking news - an old story for the crew, however.

"Alliance forces have formally occupied Proteus tonight following a difficult skirmish at the colony's main square. After the disrupted gala event several days ago that prompted the SSV Normandy to investigate the status of the wind-swept system, the colony's hostile takeover by a human supremacy group calling themselves Humanitas Rex was revealed. The frigate crew proceeded to stop a terrorist plot to destroy the Mass Relay to the Artemis Tau cluster, led by Humanitas Rex leader Marissa Ardsley, who had illegally claimed the role of Governor."

As footage rolls of armored Alliance marines and at least two Makos rolling through the colony's main thoroughfare, the voiceover continues.

"The remaining Humanitas Rex agents have surrendered peacefully or fled into the Prothean ruins near the colony, and the Alliance is preparing to transfer Proteus to joint control with the rest of the Council as a show of goodwill in light of the crimes against non-humans committed there. Emergency elections are already being planned for, with former Asari Huntress and leader of the Proteus resistance movement J'Sari V'Sola being an early favorite for the post."

More footage of the pacified colony, with shots of J'Sari speaking with Alliance soldiers interspersed.

"Quarian Admiral Tali'Zorah vas Rannoch was reported injured in the fighting, causing an outcry of anti-human sentiment from the isolationist Rannoch First Party in her home system, in addition to the news that Humanitas Rex agents had murdered Quarian pilgrim Ahki'Renn nar Neema in 2186, even as the Renn family and Admiral Shala'Raan vas Rannoch speak out against this rhetoric. More on this story as it develops."

"Finally, in entertainment news, Aish Ashland has formally apologized for her comments about the Elcor Courts of Dekuuna, but will her comparison between her critics and Cerberus go unnoticed? More on this, after this word from our sponsors."

At this point, the crew can stop paying attention. They're orbiting Proteus, and shuttles are ready to shuttle crewmembers back and forth from the colony. Time to rest up, relax, and take in the sun a bit before moving on.

The Normandy's shuttle bay is open, with a single Kodiak prepared for takeoff. All that remains is for the strike team to assemble...and it best be soon. The Colonist forces are assembling already, so our heroes must get a move on to beat them to the insurgent hideout in the ruins and get some answers about all this. Now would be a good time for our party to swap information that they've learned thus far...

It's the day after the attack on the reception dinner for the Normandy crew, and there are still no leads to speak of. The team might find answers exploring the colony - the marketplace, maybe, or the residential sector. There's also the matter of tracking the barge the sniper used as a nest. Decisions, decisions...

A text message sounds off on omni-tools across the ship.

[Crew: many of you know by now that the relay system has reached Artemis Tau, and traffic to and from will be beginning in the coming weeks. The Normandy has been..."volunteered" for a run to Proteus to meet with the colony officials there.]

[We aren't expecting trouble for once, and Proteus is a nice, tropical world, so try to have some fun with it. We'll be expected to make an appearance during a broadcast later - no guns allowed, according to transmissions from the colony governor, so dress blues on where applicable. We're en route now, so get your camera-ready faces on. PS: Yeoman Fitch, please report to the port cargo bay, there's been a mild chemical spill.]

[-Shepard]

As the Normandy hurtles along its patrol, it helpfully receives regular news updates about galactic events. This is one such broadcast.

"The Mass Relay to the Artemis Tau cluster is wrapping up its reconstruction, much to the relief of the galactic community. Construction crews are preparing to bring the mass effect core online within the month, and leaked documents suggest that Council engineering crews are preparing to ship out for new horizons. Said Rear Admiral Morrison of the SSV Beirut - which led the reconstruction efforts on the Relay - "It's been too long since the war ravaged this cluster. I'm just glad to know that the people on the other side of that Relay will get the relief they deserve soon."

"In entertainment news, box office champion Nekyia Corridor's reign might come crashing down this month, as SSV Lyon, a new action-adventure-romance film about a multiracial frigate crew, makes waves from Hollywood. The new simulstim from Arcane Adventures has garnered controversy for its thinly veiled retelling of the SSV Normandy SR-2's exploits during the Reaper War - right down to featuring character names such as Captain Shyamalan, Gorlus Menarian, and Talsi'Orah vas Nero. Nonetheless, the action adventure has crushed Salarian-produced musical comedy A Garvugian Vorcha on Sur'Kesh, garnering five billion credits in its opening week to the Salarian production's two billion."

"On the topic of certain famous frigates, Normandy-watchers have a rare public event they might aspire to catch the renowned vessel and her crew at. Spokeswoman Iala L'Sol of the Citadel Council government indicated that the Normandy will make an appearance at the colony on Proteus once the Artemis Tau cluster is accessible, as a show of solidarity between the Council and the struggling colony. While access to the tropical world will be restricted until the official proceedings have come to an end, fans can expect the crew to appear in one of the first official peacetime broadcasts the ship has been a part of since 2183."

"Coming up next: have Aish Ashland's comments about the Elcor Courts of Dekuuna gone too far? The socialite's parole officer will weigh in - along with comments from Elcor Extranet star Xerlot. But first, a word from our sponsor."

The crew may now roll their eyes at the tenth Tupari commercial today.

Normandy Team,

This is Captain Helles with the Alliance Rehabilitative division. I caught word that you were looking for talented snipers, and I've got just the person. Name's Lindsey Blackburn, and she was subjected to Cerberus' Nemesis Program. Quiet girl, stays out of trouble mostly, and one hell of a shot.

She's technically still under the mandatory observation period, so her contract is being offered to the ship pro-bono.

-Captain Xavier Helles

It hadn't taken long for Jeff to find a suitable place to sit and ignore everyone. He didn't really get along with Alliance types, but they were paying.

He was in the lounge at the moment, taking a sip from his flask and browsing the extranet on his Omni.

Normandy has returned to the Citadel after its deployment to Horizon. A few small adjustments were needed to the drive core after performance tests during the final shakedown, but more importantly were the additional crew and specialists that were to be brought aboard now after the transfer approvals came through.

Top of the list was a Marine NCO by the name of Allison Bennet, Service Chief. Notes on her included the fact she was biotic and a seven year veteran of the Corps now, and a number of past assignments and postings. She had a number of commendations... and a list of citations. Insubordinate behavior and a handful of scuffles with other Marines, but it was also noted near the bottom she had a reputation for not being exactly... friendly to non-humans. Her technical scores were excellent and she had several glowing reviews by her old CO aboard the Tannenberg and even one positive notice from Rear Admiral Mikhailovich himself. It made sense she be assigned, though it remained to be seen if she'd work well with aliens....

The woman herself is walking down the gangway to the Normandy now, duffel tossed over her back as she passes through decontamination and onto the ship everyone in the galaxy knows by now.

She gets settled in the port crew quarters before heading to the galley. So far she's had fairly little contact with anyone in particular, having come in with a group of other enlisted who all also needed settling. But that could change at any moment as she takes a seat at a table to take down some grub.

The Normandy ground team and allies regroup following the defeat of the pirates and mercenaries that had attacked Discovery. The count so far was 12 colonists injured, 5 security injured and some moderate damage to a few areas of the city. All in all, it was a pretty acceptable result for the surprise and chaos that had followed the mechs being hacked.

A report had already been sent to the Alliance Brass that the pirate berth had been located and destroyed and most of its gang members killed or captured at this point. The lack of casualties and quick execution of orders had the Admirals quite pleased with the results of the first mission they'd launched the Normandy on. At least some concerns on the ship's effectiveness without her usual captain was assuaged.

Governor Bryant insisted on some sort of celebratory ceremony following the attack, but Commander O'Neill had steadfastly refused the offer on the grounds time and resources be better spent on the rebuilding effort, which this attack had certainly hamstrung yet again. Many of the colonists seemed more amicable now after the Alliance directly intervened and protected them, but several were still grumbling about the lack of supplies and some were blaming the Alliance for escalating things where this attack occurred in the first place. It was still an improvement from what they had first arrived to, but not exactly perfectly tame.

Commander O'Neill had a private conversation with Lieutenant Harada before submitting the report to Command. The two of them were in agreement: a new administrator was needed for the colony and they suggested as such to Command for the sake of more positive relations with the colony. It was taken into account and acted on quite quickly for once. When they returned to the surface it was with a recall order in hand that was slapped down on Bryant's deck before he was forced to vacate. Hopefully his replacement would be more understanding and helpful to the locals, and by extension better at keeping them aligned with Earth.

Before departure there were still a handful of things that the Commander wished to handle, namely the unsolved murder in the flophouse and a discussion with O'Haire about a potential job offer- and to her chagrin she suspected the demo-man may insist on a similar job being offered to Jepson in light of their apparent friendship. The Commander was unsure on how to feel about that.

Normandy enters orbit above Horizon after a few hours journey from the Citadel. Below them the green world slowly turned as the shuttle was prepared for the away team.

Commander O'Neill has decided to have herself, Lieutenant Harada, Admiral Zorah and Legion all descend to the planet's surface to begin getting a feel of the situation groundside at Discovery, the colonial capital.

She had a few concerns on the colonists being jumpy around a Geth but she wanted some of the best shots on this if they uncovered something and needed to fly somewhere else fast. Hopefully no one did anything brash.

Everyone here? The Commander asks, looking around the troop compartment of the Kodiak.

Alright, take us down, al-Sinb. She calls up to the pilot. They lift from the bay floor and thrust out past the kinetic barrier curtain before the pilot guns their engines and begins the descent into atmosphere.

It's been two years since the end of the Reaper War - two years of rebuilding and mourning - and the galaxy is starting to settle into a new sort of normal. Even though the rebuilding has a long way to go and there's plenty of political unrest and upheaval, the galaxy is starting to genuinely recover.

As part of the recovery efforts, the SSV Normandy SR-2 has been repaired, upgraded, and re-crewed in preparation of its third maiden voyage. While still Captained by Shepard, savior of the galaxy, her focus is handling political and military negotiations and agreements, rather than the ship. It is for that reason that her new XO, Lt.Cmdr. Rebecca O'Neill, will fill the duties of a CO, whilst Lt. Natsumi Harada will handle the XO duties.

Their first assignment is to scout beyond the recently opened Relay to the Shadow Sea Cluster. There has been unrest on Horizon and some of the space installations in the Iera system since reconnecting. The humanitarian mission has been been hampered by problems arising from the colonists themselves and a surprisingly active pirate ring in the isolated system.

Normandy has two primary objectives: 1) Hunt down and stop pirates active in the area for better supply flow to Horizon. 2) Do what is possible to ease tensions in the primary colony.

​

END REPORT

Its been quite some time...

Things are rough in the galaxy, and the time for heroes, old and new, to step up and do their part in shaping the direction the Milky Way takes in these pivotal years following the Reaper War.

The question is- who will they be?

In a dark room somewhere, a person sifts through the recently acquired files of several individuals, seeking to figure out the answer to that question themselves.

Having washed the purple dye out, the raven-haired Intel Agent stands in the QEC, talking with her handler.

What do you mean "reassigned"? She asks, irritation lacing her voice.

"Look, Val, that's what my supervisor told me. Said you were to be stationed aboard the Normandy... Both to help them, and report back." A tired voice replies.

What about my missions? How will I keep doing those?

"Well... We're not sure. They won't tell me anything about them."

Great. Just great. Thanks, Kay.

And the call disconnects, Valentina sighing as she steps away, in desperate need of a drink.

While the Normandy is patrolling a system, the sensors light up with signs of a pirate outpost. A team is quickly dispatched, dropping in on the Mako and making quick work of the outer defenses. O'Neill and a few other soldiers enter the base, taking down hostiles... until one remains. A pirate, clearly. Purple hair, dirty uniform proudly displaying the symbol of this band, and... with another pirate handcuffed?

A young woman donned in a leather jacket and carrying a pair of heavy duffels approaches the Normandy airlock. She casually flicks her omni on for a second to transfer her newly received access codes, the doors opening to admit her. The decontamination sequence runs its course, the smell of ozone assailing her nostrils as she gets cleaned by the field.

Hefting one bag on her shoulder, she stomps on in as the inner door springs open finally and makes her way through the gangway towards the elevator. She'd already taken the liberty of checking schematics and figuring out where things were. She wasn't one to go in totally blind and be lost in somewhere.

A few Alliance personnel glanced at her, not recognizing the woman, but they all didn't pay too much attention. With that AI guarding the ship they all were too lax, not caring and trusting anyone inside was meant to be. Foolish of them, any computer could be tricked if you tried hard enough. Tori was supposed to be here, yeah, but damn, Alliance was goddamn asleep it seemed....

She huffs some as she waits by the elevator, before finally being able to get in, ride it down and go find an empty room to set her shit down in. She was hungry and she needed to see what passed for standard fare on this over-glorified luxury cruise ship. With guns. Damn thing looked fat and lopsided to her, but hey, she wasn't a shipwright. The old frigate design spoke to her a lot more, she had like the small, simple and angular design. This felt far too big, especially for how few people she really seemed to see in the halls.....

The woman heads to the cafeteria, sitting down at a table with a tray of beans, pork and corn. Was pretty... alright, but definitely needed more spice. Lacked much flavor. At least it didn't taste like ass like she was expecting from military.

She brushes some dark hair back from her face, the young Tori just focusing on her grub..... though her eyes flitted around the room, watching, observing passerbys and making a few mental notes on anything she deemed worth remembering about any standout faces.

Admiral Tali'Zorah stands ready.

She has watched, silently, from her perch in the Engineering section as the 31st threatened to go by uncelebrated...unrecognized. The Quarian had grown fond of the human celebration over her years aboard the ship, and she'd had her costume all planned out ahead of time. And now...nothing?

No. She would die on this hill. For days, she had been laying her contingency plan into place, waiting to see if the crew had truly forsaken the sacred Normandy duty of observing All Hallow's...Night? Day? Some human term she couldn't recall right now but was utterly beside the point. And now, she stands ready, having slipped into her costume for the evening: some fictional human character whose bright garments she had pulled on over her envirosuit and paired with a golden veil to match the character's hair.

With a final look at her costume, she presses a button on her omni to initiate...The Protocol. And then...she vanishes into the corridors of the ship, heading towards the lounge.

Every omnitool and personal terminal onboard lights up with an ominous ping:

[Everyone...I think the ship is haunted. And the only way to appease the spirits are to show up in costume to the lounge.]

The lights onboard dim to a low orange, and with the help of some hidden projectors, wary crewmembers could swear they see shadows moving about through the halls...

Six hours of sorting through garbled reports from Spectres and their commissioned agents has presented Naya with... no end of headache. Two piles of junk lay on her desk, the useful information sorted out more or less and compiled into a small set of bullet points hovering onscreen in front of her.

Question 1: What the fuck is going on?

The answer was, as usual, 'it's complicated.' Two whole documents had been dedicated just to explaining the unusual circumstances, but she had the general gist of why other Spectres had reached out to her- the Leaks Clause. An indeterminate amount of times before, due to lack of records, the Spectres had operated without the express assent of the council due to the extreme potential of causing national or political chaos should any Council member know certain things affecting their nation.

This was one of them. Operating on postwar precedent regarding Reaper tech, the existence itself of the 'Alfrian Engine' had been covered up to prevent a power grab or arms race for the relic should any of the Council have... ideas.

As for the object itself, it was in a dark cluster far from the relays, buried in a planetoid somewhere. From what Naya could compile, the galaxy was looking at a 'Thoth' level capable AI mounted in a large superstructure that had proven impervious to conventional demolitions and was worryingly beginning to broadcast odd signals.

Question 2: Why me?

Spectres by definition were not the hero worshipping type. What advantage did a large stealth cruiser have over a smaller stealth operations vessel? Why did she get dragged into everything? The jury was still out on that one, but it didn't matter as much.

Question 3: If I'm supposed to explore and bring down this thing, who do I bring? Who do I let in on the secret? Why'd they ask me to keep it from my crew? Surely you can't expect them to fly somewhere they don't know the location of.

The answer to question 3: Call the other Spectres. Yell at them. Maybe. Change the rules. Play along. Make a decision.

So she finds herself in the QEC room once again- the usual guard having left the room as soon as she pressed the button to flash the black lights and engage top secret comms encryption before dialing in one of the other Spectres in on this 'Thoth Operation'.

Connecting...

Connecting...