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Salvaging from Strife
Chapter 9[]
The Gathering of the Faithful[]
Comstar Compound
Citadel
Widow Star System
3080
Behind Kamea Shephard, there was the quiet hiss of the door opening, and the muted footsteps of slippers on carpet. She kept her face forwards, facing the mural of stars depicting the worlds of the Inner Sphere and Periphery on the wall.
"Precentor Shephard, I was told you were meditating here." Precentor Citadel Donnel Udina greeted her cordially. "I hope you don't mind if I join you?"
"Not at all, brother." The door softly closed again, and she felt the bench bend under the second Precentor's weight. For a while, the only sounds were of their breaths, slow and steady. Kamea's eyes flickered unseeing from star to star, tracing routes across the Inner Sphere.
"This must be the only place in light-years where I can find some peace." Precentor Udina finally lamented. "Did you know a group of Great House nobles just ambushed me today in the Citadel Tower with yet another list of demands? Utterly intolerable. Your day wasn't much better I suppose."
The Clanner glared at her and cracked his knuckles menacingly. "Permit me to rephrase, honored Precentor. Whatever secrets ComStar is concealing from the aliens regarding Feros, my Khan demands full disclosure, as is our right as the descendants of the Great Kerensky."
Kamea shrugged. "It could have been better." she conceded. "Have the Councilors come to a decision about me yet?"
"They still seem reluctant to send you along with the Coromodir Expedition." Precentor Udina apologetically replied. "I'm afraid there wasn't much I could do. Perhaps a miracle might occur in the next few weeks, but the Council seems determined to keep you here."
"Doubtless they hope to unveil more secrets from me before I escape their grasp." Kamea drily replied. "I suspect they desire my contribution when the Inquiry finally lands on Feros."
Precentor Udina chuckled. "That should be soon. Taurian stubbornness can be most inspiring, but Westergaard must obey the will of the Concordat and Star League, or the choice will be taken from her. I expect an order from the Protector Calderon on Taurus is on its way to the relays already."
The room was silent again. Kamea's eyes followed the stars of the mural from Sol through the Inner Sphere to Coromodir.
"Saren must be on his way to Coromodir by now." she murmured. "Even if he's covered his tracks well, we know his goal. My presence isn't necessary to fulfil Blake's will."
"Well, I hope he and the expedition will be satisfied with what they find." Udina answered. "I know better than to pry too deeply into sensitive matters, but I suppose you already have a new assignment?"
"Remember, the comm relay technology is alien, my children." she instructed her newest subordinates. "It cannot be entrusted with our secrets. There are alternative methods of communication open to us instead. Couriers, for instance, or the HPG if in a human cluster, to name another."
"I was granted one before leaving Sol, yes." Kamea affirmed. "There are some issues in Citadel Spacespace that require discretion, the salarian and Saren included. My unit shall be operating independently of the main ComGuard command structure here, but our aid is available if needed."
Udina sighed. "I understand. Our resources are open to you as well, in that case. What little can be spared, at least, given the new trouble from the Great Houses and the aliens. Our faith will be sorely tested in the coming days."
Kamea didn't reply.
"Sometimes I wonder if we have gone astray." Donnel quietly whispered. "Did ComStar misinterpret Blake's will? Did we wait too long on Terra as humanity suffered, or were we too impatient to restore the light of civilization, before our time had come?"
"Heretics, you shall doom all of us with your weakness!" the radio screeched. Her Gauss Rifle fired point-blank into the cockpit of the crippled Orion, silencing the voice.
"The thought plagues me sometimes as well." Kamea confessed. "But I have faith in our brothers and sisters. Even if we have erred, Blake shall show us the way again."
"By Blake's will." Donnel canted solemnly. "In any case, you remember Adept Ashley Williams, I hope? I believe you met her at a function on Mars a few years back."
"Wait, that was Williams?" Precentor Shephard turned back towards the young acolyte, searching curiously for traces of the legendary Martyr of Shengsi in his granddaughter. Acolyte Williams stared impassively ahead, fingers fidgeting at her sides.
"Only briefly. She has risen from Acolyte to Adept then?"
"Indeed." Precentor Udina confirmed. "I intend to assign her to you as adjutant, to help with any issues that may arise."
Shephard spun her head towards him. "A Williams here on the Citadel? Is that wise?"
"First of all, ComStar can shelter Adept Williams in seclusion on Terra for her safety, of course, but she shows much promise, and deserves a chance to fulfil her potential. This was considered the best place for her. Even the Hanar know better than to send assassins onto the Citadel to kill a descendant of Precentor Williams. And she had been sent here during better times, when provoking the aliens was still acceptable."
"And assigning her to me?"
"As I said, she shows much promise. It will be an excellent opportunity for her. Only if you agree, of course. I can always find someone else."
Precentor Kamea Shephard contemplated the mural silently. "I accept." she finally decided.
Opposing Parties[]
Citedal
3080
As a rule, mercenaries like the Star Hunters generally stayed clear of local law enforcement agencies. Neither side felt too comfortable with the other, what with one being technically guilty of various violent offenses while operating in their jurisdiction and the other being unable to control several hundred tons of highly lethal mayhem. There was cooperation and liaising where needed, as well as the inevitable visits to post bail for misbehaving personnel, but Shephard generally didn't walk into the security offices when he could help it.
It was thus a bit of a novelty, to be sitting in a C-Sec station of his own free will. He suspected Officer Vakarian was similarly inexperienced with mercenaries if the fidgeting was any evidence. The turian didn't seem at ease with their location either, alone in his office out of the way of eavesdroppers or curious glances rather than a secure interrogation chamber. Shephard didn't know why the officer was working alone, and he wasn't about to ask why.
"Look, Officer Vakarian, I've no interest in interfering with your investigation." Shephard told him yet again. "All I want is information on Harkin and the IndustrialMech gang, for our mutual benefit. Matron Helena wasn't able to tell me much yesterday."
"You are only talking to me because you plan to take the contract from her." Officer Vakarian groused. "Which means you are planning to engage armed IndustrialMechs in the Wards. Not with non-lethal weapons, I suspect. Interfering with my investigation is the least of my concerns."
"Only if I fail," Shephard assured him. "If I capture some data, or a pilot, you'll have all the evidence you need to finish your investigation. The Serpent Utility Mechs will be safe, and one traitorous Mechwarrior gone."
The turian remained unenthusiastic. "If. The entire sector is under Harkin's jurisdiction. He can arrest you instead, or kill you in the name of public safety. He's supposed to deal with the criminal IndustrialMechs, and he's already imprisoned some innocent pilots who got in his way as scapegoats. You won't stand a chance."
"What about his superiors? Co-Workers? Somebody must be keeping an eye on him." Shephard suggested.
"I don't know if you noticed, mercenary, but C-Sec has to keep most of our BattleMechs on the Presidium and Docks right now to keep an eye on security risks. Officer Harkin is the only C-Sec pilot in the sector, and the others follow his lead when it comes to Mechs."
That was bad, and yet… "So, he's got the only BattleMech. Thanks." He received a groan in reply. "You won't tell me, but I suppose he has crooked accomplices assisting him as well."
"I cannot disclose the sensitive details of my investigation, and Officer Harkin is to be considered innocent barring evidence," the turian stonewalled.
"Suit yourself. Hypothetically speaking," Shephard mused, "what does Harkin pilot?"
Officer Vakarian sighed. "He pilots a Commando, modified by C-Sec. The specifications are not exactly restricted information, but they are not easily accessible. If you truly want to see how outmatched you would be…" With a few taps on his Omni-tool, a new file popped up on Shephard's datapad, and the mercenary opened it.
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Commando Light 'Mech
"That's a Commando?" The light Mech still looked outwardly similar to the original design, but the equipment was a different matter altogether. A large eezo core supporting high-power kinetic barriers, eezo-reliant jump thrusters and over double the normal armor, combined with increased speed, mobility and firepower. The endo-steel and ferro-fibrous materials seemed almost afterthoughts in comparison. "And Harkin owns it? Who does C-Sec expect to fight?"
"The Star League, apparently." The C-Sec officer bluntly answered. "He earned a commendation for his actions during the Embassy Revolts. You'll just give him another medal and render him further untouchable."
"So, you have a vested interest in helping me after all."
"Mercenaries." Officer Vakarian muttered. His faceplates shifted indecipherable. "Tell me, mercenary Shephard, why do you insist on taking this contract?"
"Would you believe my answer?" Shephard rhetorically replied. "It's how I make a living."
"I'm still interested in how you justify yourself."
Shephard considered the turian sitting in front of him. "I won't lie and say it's not about the money. The Star Hunters do need to make a profit. Look at it this way. We mercenaries are expensive. Sometimes, we're the option of last resort for our employers. Matron Helena is panicking, and she's not waiting for you to bury Harkin under the law. That she's hiring Mechwarriors should tell you that. Whether with or without professional help, she'll try to solve Harkin on her own. She and her people need assistance, and I am obligated to provide it."
The C-Sec officer was silent for a long moment. "You were right. I don't believe that."
"Alright then, let me try again. A Citadel Spectre ruined my unit, killed many good people, simply because it suited the Spectre. I hate the Spectre. The Spectre works for the Council, and the Council doesn't like me, so I can't hurt the Spectre. To put the cherry on top of the cake, the Council is not letting me leave the Citadel. C-Sec works for the Council. There is a corrupt C-Sec cop I get to vent my suppressed urges on. As a bonus, I get paid."
Officer Vakarian blinked slowly. "Somehow, I like that answer even less."
"I'll be frank. We both want to deal with Harkin, so why not help each other? I need a clean cop to keep the bad one off my back, Officer Vakarian. You could use the help, for finding evidence or simple force. Alone, neither of us will accomplish much against Harkin. But together…" He held his hand out.
The turian didn't shake it. "I intend to bring Harkin and his associates to justice. That doesn't mean I want a battle in the Wards. My opinion hasn't changed. You shouldn't take this contract, mercenary Shephard. I can handle Harkin's network without you, find the evidence I need. I just need a few more weeks." He paused and sighed thoughtfully. "Still, if you insist on getting involved, I'll do what I can, if only so Harkin doesn't win. Just don't push your luck."
Shephard smiled and withdrew his hand. "Thanks, you won't regret it." Now he just had to figure out how to kill a BattleMech with only IndustrialMechs.