Cruisers Objectives Part 1 Crew Talks

Leo was fine-tuning some instruments in the lab. So much to do that he neglected to speak with someone. Someone who did not like waiting.

"Leo." Aethyta said calmly at first. She was in the room, but Leo's mind was working on several matters at once. So was the A.I. stretching its processing power to the utmost limit. "Leonardo..."

The patience of the Matriarch was running out quickly now. The few others in the lab stopped taking note of her presence, turning to Leo to get his attention. They decided to stop him all at once.

"LEO!" The voices all at once definitely got him to stop. As well as make his heart skip a beat from his focus tasks.

"Something the matter?"

"A word if you don't mind." The very angry Asari said. Now that she had his full attention, she spilled her information. "The Benezia & Rachni mission, I am going with and taking a stealth team."

"Wait, I thought you took care of the Rachni there before Benezia was going to show up?"

"No. I talked to some others, and we all agreed that it deserves another chance. Since the Reapers are coming and the Krogan possible change, we need another line of defense as well." Aethyta searched his eyes for any conflict. There was none besides a slight look of curiosity. "Were you wanting me to wipe it out?"

"Yes and no. It could have gone either way. Both beneficially to me." Leo felt a tingle go down his spine. He recognized it after his improvement in cultivation as well as studying of Radio Waves and Enhanced Frequencies. "You.. are connected to it already. Aren't you?"

"Yes." Aethyta took a small step back not wanting to engage in combat so easily. "She just wants to talk, is all. Do not get trigger happy."

"Huh, I am fine." Leo tapped his omni-tool a bit. An alert to all personnel to be mindful of what's going on. "Even though we are protected a little more, caution never hurt, especially at this stage of events.

Dr.Solus was able to pick up the frequency emitted through Quantum Entanglement. However, it was sporadic at best. Excited, he focuses on this matter and puts the other work to the side.

"We are unable to free ourselves from the Hot Labs successfully on Noveria." The Rachni Queen said through Aethyta. The few that freaked out caused the Matriarch to smile more than the Rachni Queen. She was enjoying this quite immensely. "The changes in activity lately have caused a great number of my offspring to be taken from me."

"Is there an increase in Geth presence? Or activity outside the labs?" The pilot was notified to increase speed towards Noveria. "If so, they may be trying to move the lab. Hopefully, Benezia has not acquired the coordination to the Mu Relay."

"A few of these Geth are present. They have a wrong feeling about them. The song when they communicate is muddled."

"Then they have upgrades from the Reapers present. Or someone within the network has it. This is definitely a break we need in that regard." Leo contacted Kasumi to inform her of the changing situation. "Time to put this plan together effectively before we get there."

"The Planning Room?" Aethyta said with a smile. She wanted to call it the War Room, but many of the crew refused to call it that. Leo just nodded. "Good, I will bring my 1st Officer."

She neglected to tell him about the Councilor who came aboard to talk with him but it was not that much of a big deal. The official report stated Leo was attached to the Council to improve relations on teh human side.

Some were seeing it as them holding him hostage with others thinking it was a means to control the Alliance down the road. The number on the Admiralty Board that spoke out against Udina was relatively high in fact.

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Planning-

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"Alright, so we have Noveria to deal with now. The Primary Objectives are as followed." Gathered the intel was not that bad when he didn't have to worry about the Normandy's security.

"Saving the Rachni.. never thought I would see the day." Shiala muttered. She was part of the team to confront Benezia. "Is this the best course of action?"

"Yes." Leo said firmly. "That or we haul her in for a trial and then whatever the Asari will do to her. Capture after defeat is definitely a better option. Liara and Shepard's crew will think she is dead, allowing better use of her Assets and moving. If they don't talk her out of it, of course."

"Matriarch Benezia is quite strong-willed." Samara said in her defense. "Her daughter may be just the final bit to pull her back."

"Right.." Leo shook his head not really committed to the mother's love nonsense. "Her overall exposure to Indoctrination is high. The close proximity to Saren and the Reaper Artifact could stretch back further than I know. This only goes with my understanding that she is fully converted with small bouts of her "willpower" getting through."

"Then can you pull her back from this?" Dr.Chakwas asked. Having moved onto Leo's Command to help keep.. a sense of morality in him. Most thinking she did it for the Alliance but a few knew she was a good perspective of human understanding. "I have reviewed the notes from the mind/soul diving you have done. With the assistance of a few of the Asari, I believe it is doable."

"But no tests on someone like this just yet." Dr.Solus answered. "Could be quite problematic. Matriarch Benezia is older than most, and those "Diving" would have to be able to resist."

"I am older than Benezia, and we have that connection." Aethyta corrected herself. "Had a Connection. I want to try."

"Hmm, then I suppose I will have to adjust my plans then." Leo changed his posture leaning back a little. All eyes are on him now. "I have been working on some ammo for something like this. The problem they are designed for those who have a lot of synthetic parts that are Indocrtinated to capture."

"So if she does not have the parts... it will do what?"

"Most likely kill her. So you'll have to capture her alive. I don't know what regular knockout drugs will do to someone in her state." His hands moved about as he flicked a few screens. "She may either go completely down or.. the Indoctrination Influence takes over completely. Since the mind is partially subdued."

"So covert it is then." Aethyta stated again. "I will take a team to deal with... Benezia following behind Jane or getting in front of her depending on the situation."

"Sure." Leo was still fine either way. "Morinth, Shiala, and Samara will take a team to deal with the Rachni Queen." He then looked to Mordin. "I think it best you join them as well Dr.Solus." He nodded, agreeing.

"Then I will take care of the moving flashlights on the surface with my teams." Zaed answered. "Still need to see how they work under pressure, and Geth make for fine target practice."

"I think I will join him on that." Nihlus stated evenly. To help Jane out, Nihlus gave her a decent evaluation which cause the Alliance Brass to take pride and have good faith back on Earth they were doing ok. "Cold combat takes an acquired hand for some. The best time to teach would be now."

"Maya and Nirali.." Leo thought better of it. "No, Maya and Jennifer with me. I need you to make sure we have a nice meal waiting for when we get back."

"What?!" Nirali, who couldn't help but join directly after everything, was grateful her husband was understanding. She felt it was her calling to go with Leo and the crew. "Am I getting sidelined already?"

"You were planning on opening a restaurant before all this went down. I am in need of a good meal that I haven't cooked myself. Or nutrient supplements." Leo smiled. "I am sure the crew is definitely interested in a good meal as well."

"That I can do." Nirali nodded with a bright smile. "I will make sure to make a dish each of the races can enjoy."

"Good, nutritious food and a good balance is hard to do. Besides, training for you and other Support staff needs to be done first. I won't let you anyone go in with .. standard training. our enemy requires a cut above the rest at all times."

They talked a little more on this subject before switching to the next objective. Everyone in the room were under Contract so it was easier to speak freely while gauging reactions.

"Jennifer," Leo called Jack's attention. The biotic woman was currently looking at footage of something closely. "you and the team you put together are going to Grissom Academy for a pickup."

"Wait.. what!?" She looked at him, suprised.

"Your work is good, and I want you talking with those cadets now instead of later. Your perspective alone can help shape them better, plus I don't trust the Alliance Brass won't target them after the changes that have taken place."

"But they are kids." Dr.Chakwas voiced her concern.

"So was I; if you think they will benefit from it, then I will." She said firmly. "I won't make them into child soldiers, though I will make sure they don't hurt each other."

"I will not for them to either. We have better control with Biotics than anything the Alliance can provide. Also, the means to remove the Biotics if the cadet doesn't want them." A few looked at him incredulously. "Yes, I remove Biotics from people. The research has come a long way, so nothing to be overly concerned about.

"An you make people Biotics fast as well?" Shiala asked, intrigued by the notion of humans with Biotics as common as the other races.

"Won't say." Leo smiled as he message came through on his Omni-tool. An update from Wrex about the Normandy moving out. "Final preparation needs to be completed before we leave ... later today."

Standing up, Kasumi moved over to him. The two had to pay a visit to someone important. The crew still wanted to bring personnel effects since the 200 rooms were the size of a dorm room each.

"Also, make sure who ever has free time to look over the mission lists. The briefing in each of them should help with gathering resources and personnel faster." Leo and the A.I. had composed just the right amount of information to stimulate the crew's desire to take a bigger initiative. 'Hmm, the Williams Operative and Lawson Operative are doing fine with the Mercenary Jedore giving good feedback on them already.'

"Yah know, working as your shadow sometimes is such a stressful job." Kasumi activated her stealth when they entered the turbo-lift. Leo was doing the same but with more use of spiritual energy instead. "I want a little more fun and romance every now and then."

"Right.. and I am to provide that for you?" Talking through secured channels, they opted out of spirit talk just in case for now. "Made you should head to Grissom Academy with Jennifer then?"

As the turbo-lift opened, both moved towards the Citadel High Rise at a fast pace.