Mass Effect: Going Dark

[frigidmagi]

Lysander slipped out of the conference room, 12 hours was an easy enough time frame to stay away from a reporter. He always thought that troops like Specters should try to stay out of the news anyways. He headed down to the mess deck, he was hungry, it would be a good idea to grab some chow and shut eye before training started. They were likely to run short of both.

[Soleimon Berserker]

Still leaning back in his seat, the Quarian had simply glanced over his shoulder at the reporter, giving her a slight nod and a small flip of his hand in welcome. Turning his attention back to what he'd been doing before, one of the most challenging, blood pumping, nerve rending things the warrior had ever done. It made the Reaper War look like a walk in the park, a light series of gasps were coming from deep within his chest as his eyes narrowed...

....And removed the right side block on the second lowest row.

He'd loaded this Janga game to his omnitool just before leaving Bastion, and so far he'd lost almost every time he'd played. The game was set to Normal, he wouldn't be able to be satisfied at winning a game on easy, nevertheless he breathed a sigh of relief as the blocks didn't fall.

Tossing a call at the retreating backs of Amy Wong and Tallos, the Quarian's grin could be heard in his voice. "You kids play nice now, I'll give an interview when I finally beat this, Yuki Toriyama kid from Shanxi!"

[White Haven]

Iona carefully controlled the smile that threatened to surface on her face; it wasn't so much that a smile was out-of-place, she just didn't want to have to explain it.

Mental note. This one? Never on a stealth mission. She'd never stop talking.

Outwardly, she instead responded in a different fashion, shaking her head slightly in disagreement, "You can never have enough control, or at least no biotic I've ever seen or heard of has reached that point. Tighter focus, a reduction in wasted energy, resistance to distractions...never enough." She paused for a few moments, her lips quirking as a memory of her last night on Ilium surfaced.

"Besides," she flashed a sudden grin, "My preferred strength training would be...difficult in a shuttle."

[Sabre72]

Iona carefully controlled the smile that threatened to surface on her face; it wasn't so much that a smile was out-of-place, she just didn't want to have to explain it.

Mental note. This one? Never on a stealth mission. She'd never stop talking.

Outwardly, she instead responded in a different fashion, shaking her head slightly in disagreement, "You can never have enough control, or at least no biotic I've ever seen or heard of has reached that point. Tighter focus, a reduction in wasted energy, resistance to distractions...never enough." She paused for a few moments, her lips quirking as a memory of her last night on Ilium surfaced.

"Besides," she flashed a sudden grin, "My preferred strength training would be...difficult in a shuttle."

Junko, grins in amusement mentally then says , " Oh you are right, I still do control training, still however it wouldn't be safe on a shuttle if I lost control. Junko then smiles, "that may not make sense right now, but who would show their ace in the hole at the start.

I only use this said ability, when I want to kill someone, if thats not the case I keep it away from people, but enuogh of that am not the boasting type.

[JD196]

"True," Emily smiled, "I doubt Shepard ever really enjoys being in front of a camera. Well, thank you, Tallos. May I have another interview with you after the trials?"

"Of cause." Tallos stood up and left the lounge heading down to his quarters.

[rhoenix]

The flight for both shuttle and the Normandy was otherwise uneventful, as the next few hours passed quietly; some in contemplation, some in relaxation, and others in nervousness.

The redshifted look of FTL faded away outside of the windows of the Normandy as she cruised through a solar system, quickly sweeping past gas giants on her way to the inner planets. Soon, they closed on a small space station, and smoothly entered orbit. At that time, the ship's comm sounded. "Spectre candidates, this is Shepard. Grab your belongings, and make your way down to the shuttle bay. We'll be leaving in ten minutes, and arriving stationside n five more. See you on the inside, candidates," she said before the comm turned off again.

True to her word, there were three shuttles prepping for launch in the shuttle bay. The candidates were being directed to both shuttles on the left, and the few Spectres, including Shepard herself, were getting smoothly into the one on the right. Soon enough, all were loaded, and the shuttles emerged in single file out of the shuttle bay, and into the blackness of space, where they beheld this small, though impressive space station before them.

The occupants of the three shuttles noted that there was a fourth shuttle just beginning to make landing into the station, as they fell into line behind it, and docked in the shuttle bay. As everyone got out of the shuttles, Spectre and Spectre candidate alike, they met Shepard, standing next to an older-looking man in an Alliance military uniform. "Everyone, welcome to Pinnacle Station," Shepard said in a clear voice, looking over all the candidates. "There will be other arrivals over the next few hours. Your barracks locations have already been uploaded to your omnitool, and there will be dinner in ninety minutes. This is Admiral Ahern, the director of this facility. He will be running the training scenarios here under my direction. Over the next few days, we will be narrowing down our list of candidates to one that's much smaller. Settle in, ladies and gentlemen - Hell will begin tomorrow morning."

With that, Shepard and Admiral Ahern walked off together, Admiral Ahern's booming laugh being heard as the two walked away.

A turian, wearing white paint over his face in what almost appeared to be a skull pattern, wearing Spectre armor, nodded once to the Candidates. "I'm Livianus Velnaran, and I'm here to get all of you settled in. The barracks are through the door to your right from this room, the training facility itself is ahead of you, and the mess hall and rest areas are off through the door to the left. If you have any questions, just use the comm, and someone will get on the comm to answer you. Does anyone have any questions before I show all of you to the barracks, so you can get settled in?"

[General Havoc]

The instant Many-as-One entered the room, Shaddai noticed. The instant Many-as-One entered the room, Shaddai moved.

It was nothing violent or overt, but as Many-as-One took position against the wall, Shaddai moved in counterpoint, as though the two of them were involved in some sort of sympathetic ritual. Shaddai's motion was reasonably subtle, might well have appeared to be simply a casual whim, but Shaddai moved around the room to place itself directly between Many-as-One and the Quarian. Once Many-as-One stopped, so did Shaddai, its arms crossed, leaning against a piece of furniture. Though Shaddai neither said anything nor made any overt move, his positioning made several things incredibly obvious, both as to what he was doing, and what he expected to see.

[frigidmagi]

Lysander shook his head in the negative. He was sure he would have a question... eventually but none at the moment. He picked up his duffel and got ready to move.

[Soleimon Berserker]

Glancing around the crowd of Spectre candidates, the Quarian quickly realized he wasn't the only one of his race in the room, two or three other Quarians were in attendance. Choosing to ignore the others, the biotic continued his scan of the crowd, alighting on a group of Asari, probably Commandos standing in a group off to the side, a pair of Krogan Battlemasters other than Urdnot Tallos, and multiple humans, Turians, and even a few Drell. All in all this place was a bit crowded, and it only seemed normal that Shepard would be cutting down the numbers pretty quick.

And while he was acting like he hadn't noticed, he did in fact notice his new Geth acquaintance moving in sync with Many-As-One when the other Geth entered the room. In fact he seemed to be....

'Hmm...I'll have to ask him about that later.'

[rhoenix]

The taller turian who had come with others on the Normandy spent a few quiet moments with his wife and son, ignoring the looks, stares, and mostly-whispered comments that would be all too plain to a turian's hearing. After a minute or two, he walked the two of them slowly toward the civilian barracks.

There was a wide berth given to Sings-to-the-Stars by quite a number of the other SpecTRe candidates, especially after he attempted to "talk" to a few of the others. Most of the comments were unfriendly, to which the brood warrior seemed unphased. He seemed content to simply observe the many others gathering in this relatively large room.

A moment later, everyone's omnitools buzzed with an incoming message. It reads:

SpecTRe Candidate: You will be expected to report to the mess hall at 0700, and to the point marked on your map at 0800 to begin Day 1 of the SpecTRe Trials, which will conclude at 2000 each day for another meal. Trials will proceed over seven days, at the end of which final graduates are named. Others will be sent back to Bastion Station via shuttle.

Good luck.

[White Haven]

Iona stepped clear of the shuttle's door and immediately aside, twisting in place to get a good look around the noes of the landed craft. A split-second later, the blue over her cheeks deepened slightly, followed by a wry twist of her lips. So easy to fall back into old habits... With a shake of her head, she turned back to the shuttle and retrieved her two hard-shelled cases, setting them against the hull for the moment while she looked over the disembarking occupants of the other shuttlecraft. The mix was...well, she'd expected it to be wide, but a few certainly stood out. She gave a slight nod of acknowledgement to the other commando nominees, glancing over the gaggle of humans, looked curiously at the small scattering of Quarians -- a touch unusual, given their susceptibility to crippling disease in the event of a suit breach.

Come to think of it, why don't they use hardsuits? They've got the tech-base, and it'd have to be a safer option than those flimsy little things. Have to ask one later.

The Rachni certainly drew attention; its bulk ensure that it'd be an easy spot. So...not an infiltrator. She frowned at it for several seconds, then just gave a slight shrug. The Geth -- first one, then two, once she noticed the second -- produced a more visceral reaction. Her hand dropped to her hip, sliding along it in the absence of the expected heavy pistol that was notably absent. In the same motion, her fingers slipped through a half-hidden seam in her dress...and then stopped. No one else was going for assault weaponry, so the odds were that the Geth were supposed to be there. She sheepishly straightened up and, when one of the Geth photoreceptors twisted her way, nodding stiffly in a movement that was more salute than anything else.

At the call for questions, Iona waited for a pause where she could interject without making a splash, then spoke up, "For those of us who brought equipment, is that to be stored in the barracks, or is there an armory for that purpose?"

[rhoenix]

At the call for questions, Iona waited for a pause where she could interject without making a splash, then spoke up, "For those of us who brought equipment, is that to be stored in the barracks, or is there an armory for that purpose?"

Livianus nodded to Iona at her question. "Just take it with you to your room in the barracks for now."

[JD196]

"OK lets go then." Tallos turned and walked through the crowd towards the candidate barracks, the assembled people quickly moving out of his way.

[Sabre72]

Wearing her N7 medium armor meant she had less things to carry including, her dagger and pistol that is already attached to her suit.
Swiftly, Junko got out of the shuttle, grabbed her duffel bag and katana, slung both over her shoulder, Then proceeded to the barracks according to the message sent by Shepard to all the specter nominees. Upon entering the barracks, she was struck with a very new experience, two Geth , two different paint jobs.

Junko muttered to herself "Ok, why would the Geth send 2 platforms, this doesn't make any sense."

When the Geth seemed to be moving around at the same time, with the oddly painted one, always get in the middle of the other Geth and the Quarian. This is when Junko, broke her silents," I think I dont want to know whats going on, am just going to go my room now ok? ok then."

Before Junko can retreat to her room, She came face to face with what seems to be a Rachni, and from what she knows about them, it would be a brood warrior. which Junko knows that the Rachni helped a lot during the Reaper war. The whole big bug thing didn't bother her at all, Since Rachni are big bugs they would have a very hard time sneaking in your bed sheets, like small bugs, Junko's was astonished at how big this Rachni was.

Quickly, she regain her composure then spoke with uncertainly. "ummm hello brood warrior, am guessing you're here to be a specter as well?, What is your name?, am Junko Mori."

[rhoenix]

Before Junko can retreat to her room, She came face to face with what seems to be a Rachni, and from what she knows about them, it would be a brood warrior. which Junko knows that the Rachni helped a lot during the Reaper war. The whole big bug thing didn't bother her at all, Since Rachni are big bugs they would have a very hard time sneaking in your bed sheets, like small bugs, Junko's was astonished at how big this Rachni was.

Quickly, she regain her composure then spoke with uncertainly. "ummm hello brood warrior, am guessing your here to be a specter as well?, What is your name?, am Junko Mori."

The rachni turned to look at her, seeming pleased. "I sing... greetings-songs to you, Junko Mori," the rachni said somewhat hesitantly.

For a split second, as the rachni spoke her name in his mental voice, she got a mental image of racing sheet lightning across an a night-time open ocean.

"I am Sings-to-the-Stars. Yes, I am here to see if I can join the Spectre Hive," the rachni continued without interruption. Some of the other Spectre candidates gave the rachni odd looks at this, to which he appeared to ignore.

[Soleimon Berserker]

Laughing at the Krogan's direct approach, something he'd come to appreciate in the hulking race, Sol'Amon quickly made use of the path his new acquaintance had created. Gliding over to fall into step beside Tallos, the other Quarians in the room easily noticed his custom made suit and lack of greeting, earning him a few narrowed eyes and disapproving stares. Feeling their eyes on his back, Sol sighed as he kept up his pace at the Krogan's side, nudging the large male on the side of the arm with his elbow.

"So you feeling excited about this yet? More than adequate chance to gain a bit of glory and prestige don't you think?" The biotic's voice was laden with unconcealed humor.

Glancing over at a few of the other participants, the black and green clad teenager quickly made note of the only person in the room to ask a question, an Asari who'd gotten off one of the other shuttles, attractive like most of her race, but it was the hand at her side reaching that had drawn his attention. Glancing over at where her eyes had been he noted that she had been looking at either Shaddai, Many-As-One or the Rachni brood warrior Sings-To-The-Stars. 'I definitely need to find something shorter to call those other two, at least Shaddai has a one word first name...though who am I to talk?'

Just as he'd dismissed the thought he heard a raised female voice behind him, apparently something about the situation had confused her, though seeing as she wasn't talking to him he quickly dismissed the situation with nothing more than a cursory glance to identify a human female wearing N7 armor. 'Hmm...Shepard's old Alliance Spec-Ops group if I remember correctly, let's hope the Commander is above playing favorites.'

[Agent Fisher]

With his rucksack attached to his armor, Kalis followed the group into the station. As he passed a particular low hanging support beams, he reached up and rapped it twice, an old habit of the Cabal. Rumor was the sixth Cabal team to come through the station's training program had broken what seemed to be a streak of bad luck. And thus, every time a Cabal team conducted training here, they knocked twice on that beam, to let the Spirits of the station know the Cabal was here and to give them their guidance and blessings. The turian smiled softly to himself. He'd need every bit of help he could get, especially if Ahern was stil- Yes, he was still here.

The biotic came to attention, listening to the welcoming speech. He remembered the old human. Always seemed to have a dislike of Turians. Nothing that ever came out while on duty, but he always seemed quicker to offer criticism than praise to anyone of blue blood and mandibles. Last time he had been here, about six months before the First Battle of the Citadel, Ahern had laid into the Cabal team for allowing hostages to die, despite the mission orders being kill the target at all cost.

Kalis shifted a bit, eyes glancing around the crowd as Spectre Velnaran spoke. A far cry from the usual Spectre Canidates. Before the Reaper War and the new council, it would have been about half turians and a even split of Salarians and Asari. A good thing though. More variety, different Spirits coming together.

As the crowd broke away, he moved towards the barracks, finding his room and dropping his gear. He changed out of his armor, pulling on his duty uniform, a dark gray uniform with blue lines running down the side of hte legs, with red piping breaking up the blue. Special Operations Group-Cabal markings. He certainly was proud of them. The turian slipped from his room, locking it behind him and finding that his next door neighbor on the right was the Turian with the human family. Kalis nodded to him.

"Spirits greet you and keep you well." He said in Turian, holding out his hand. "Kalis Maraka."

[Sabre72]

The rachni turned to look at her, seeming pleased. "I sing... greetings-songs to you, Junko Mori," the rachni said somewhat hesitantly.

For a split second, as the rachni spoke her name in his mental voice, she got a mental image of racing sheet lightning across an a night-time open ocean.

"I am Sings-to-the-Stars. Yes, I am here to see if I can join the Spectre Hive," the rachni continued without interruption. Some of the other Spectre candidates gave the rachni odd looks at this, to which he appeared to ignore.

Upon seeing this mental image from the rachni, Junko stood shocked, then mentally said, "That's very beautiful, but why am I being shown
this?" Hesitantly and with a dumbstruck look on her face, "Is this how you see me?

After Sings-to-the-Stars showed her the image and introduce himself.

Enthusiastically, that is a very nice unique name Sings-to-the-Stars, I to have a fondness of Stars as-well. I used to read Star maps and try and find certain stars with my telescope when I was young, other then stars in general being pretty to look at" Junko chuckles.

[rhoenix]

"Spirits greet you and keep you well." He said in Turian, holding out his hand. "Kalis Maraka."

The other turian stared Kalis in the eyes for a few moments before speaking, almost as if deciding whether or not Kalis was a threat. "And you, Maraka. I'm Sidonis, and don't get used to me being here."

[rhoenix]

Upon seeing this mental image from the rachni, Junko stood shocked, then mentally said, "That's very beautiful, but why am I being shown
this?" Hesitantly and with a dumbstruck look on her face, "Is this how you see me?

After Sings-to-the-Stars showed her the image and introduce himself.

Enthusiastically, that is a very nice unique name Sings-to-the-Stars, I to have a fondness of Stars as-well. I used to read Star maps and try and find certain stars with my telescope when I was young, other then stars in general being pretty to look at" Junko chuckles.

"I see all of those with strong songs differently," the brood warrior replied in the same calm mental voice. "that is how I see you without eyes. I am glad you enjoy the stars as much as I - their song helped me to fight and kill those who soured the songs of our mothers."

[Sabre72]

Upon seeing this mental image from the rachni, Junko stood shocked, then mentally said, "That's very beautiful, but why am I being shown
this?" Hesitantly and with a dumbstruck look on her face, "Is this how you see me?

After Sings-to-the-Stars showed her the image and introduce himself.

Enthusiastically, that is a very nice unique name Sings-to-the-Stars, I to have a fondness of Stars as-well. I used to read Star maps and try and find certain stars with my telescope when I was young, other then stars in general being pretty to look at" Junko chuckles.

"I see all of those with strong songs differently," the brood warrior replied in the same calm mental voice. "that is how I see you without eyes. I am glad you enjoy the stars as much as I - their song helped me to fight and kill those who soured the songs of our mothers."

"The Reapers" Junko firmly said, and with that nodded to Star, " Well nice meeting you, I better get my room sorted out, later." and headed off to her room nodding to anyone on her way.

[Agent Fisher]

"And you, Maraka. I'm Sidonis, and don't get used to me being here."

He frowned, head tilting to the side, mandibles flexing a bit. "And why is that? If B-Sec sent you, and you alone since I didn't see any other officers, you must be highly qualified." The biotic said. It seemed unheard of. A turian, nominated for the SpecTRes, not expecting to do the best they could and pass?

[rhoenix]

He frowned, head tilting to the side, mandibles flexing a bit. "And why is that? If B-Sec sent you, and you alone since I didn't see any other officers, you must be highly qualified." The biotic said. It seemed unheard of. A turian, nominated for the SpecTRes, not expecting to do the best they could and pass?

Sidonis stared Maraka in the eyes for a moment. When he spoke, it was in a low, almost-defeated voice. "Maraka, I am responsible for the deaths of ten good men. I have no business being here. I know it, Shepard knows it, and her second-in-command Vakarian definitely knows it. I am going to wash out with the others that have no business being here, and I will go back to my life on Bastion, pretending that this never happened."

Having said that, the turian looked tired; almost world-weary. "If you are here Maraka, then it is probably for a good reason. May the spirits watch over you."

[Agent Fisher]

If Maraka had been human, he would have raised an eyebrow. Anyone would assume he was still carrying around guilt at the loss of subordinates. Males and females that trusted him, counted on him. Maraka had felt that pain as well. He still remembered the names of every single defender in that district back on Palaven, all thirty five of them.

But Maraka was Turian. He could see when a fellow member of his race had lost their spirit, or was soon too. The biotic's mandibles flared slightly as his flanged voice spoke.

"May the Spirits find you again, Sidonis, and remind you of your worth." He replied. Maraka turned to head towards mess hall beforel ooking back.

"If you truly did not deserve to be here, the Spirits, and Shepard, would have never brought you here." With that, he continued on his way.

[rhoenix]

"May the Spirits find you again, Sidonis, and remind you of your worth." He replied. Maraka turned to head towards mess hall before looking back.

"If you truly did not deserve to be here, the Spirits, and Shepard, would have never brought you here." With that, he continued on his way.

The other turian, Sidonis, said nothing in reply, though Maraka could feel a wellspring of regret within the other turian. The only other sound Maraka heard was Sidonis' barracks room door closing.