Ch.18 - The Corporate World

Being inside Port Hanshan was an interesting experience.

It was a mix of standard intimidation tactics, in the corporate world that means to display one's wealth as a source of power, and the need for functionality in the face of a rather hostile planet for most species.

As a result, a majority of the Port was made of strengthened type of insulated concrete, decorated with shining advertisements and signs from the various companies involved, displaying the blizzard outside via grande slanted windows, and with water features forming near divisions in the central area.

Coming out of the elevator, I could easily spot many security cameras, partially hidden sensors, flying drones and armed guards walking about. If it was one thing shady corporations want, it is to keep their secrets secret.

But I could already multiple means of infiltrating this place.

Cerberus had much higher levels of security and I was taught how to infiltrate any system. Everything has a weakness which can be exploited.

I might need to look into a few company offices for possible ties to Cerberus. Noveria is an ideal place to cover their experiments after all.

First I need to obtain information regarding the systems in place.

An isolated security personnel.

The information would partially be on their Omni-tools.

The Sergeant would be fitting.

Possess rank. Little intelligence. Hot tempered. Need for her authority to be recognized.

Likely has some incriminating evidence used to blackmail and control others.

Observation is a must.

As for the others, Garrus and Lt. Alenko have volunteered to support Shepard in her talks with the Administrator, Ashley is going to the bar with Wrex, and Tali is currently helping Liara through her emotional turmoil.

I had wished to be able to assist my latest friend through more than words sent through messages, but my supportive presence whilst she undergoes emotional distress would sway her unconscious mind into a desire to 'follow'.

We are being careful with this.

I have made progress in curtailing my 'presence', but it would still be harmful at the moment.

As for myself, I desire information none working for the system in place would willingly give, primarily regarding the ongoings of Binary Helix, hence I shall be using my intensive infiltration training. But I would not abstain in finding… more information which may prove useful.

Huh.

I do believe I am finding my own desires.

How interesting.

I wish to know more, but why?

Hmmm… Ah. Knowledge is power. That was the phrase.

Due to my actions and experiences, I believe I am starting to fundamentally seek information to limit the dangers to my friends and maximize the damage inflicted on the enemy.

Fascinating.

I did not even realize my subconscious desires.

I will need to be careful and not let these new feelings hamper myself or allow them to impart a belief in 'controlling' for safety. Caging someone for their 'safety' has not proven to be the best solution when looking at historical examples. It usually leads to rebellion or worse.

But for now, I will continue to carefully look for information.

Treading carefully, using my stealth systems mixed with minor hacking to hamper any scanner or camera around my person, I scouted everywhere I could easily access without having to pass through strict security checks.

Making use of passing workers or employees to go through doors or elevators.

I rather quickly found the security office, which links to some of the servers for this section of the Port, various offices including Synthetic Insights, Binary Helix and even Serrice Coucil.

The second being my primary target, the first a point of interest due to them being one of the only licensed Artificial Intelligence research companies in the Galaxy, and the third for possible upgrades or ideas leading to them for both of mine.

Fortunately for me, I have found Sergeant Stirling to be quite involved in some… business with Synthetic Insight, giving me a wonderful opportunity to hack her Omni-tool and their office.

From what I managed to rather easily pull from her Omni-tool, she is currently tied with the current Administrator in efforts to suppress a key member of the local office of Synthetic Insights, a Turian named Lorik Qui'in, due to him having too much information regarding the Administrator's actions which have crossed the Board of Directors' limits.

Sergeant Stirling would be… motivated to suppress the Turian due to the information implicating her in much of the 'hands-on' acts committed under the Administrator's orders. She would either end up a pariah or dead should the information see the light of day, hence her abuse of authority and the current Security Officers placed in Synthetic Insights' offices.

This would confirm my analysis on the woman.

Short sighted and a need to assert her 'authority' allowing for easy manipulation or bribery to make herself feel important or powerful.

I made a note of the many other instances regarding the corruption the Sergeant is aware of and participated in before making my way to my primary objective.

Binary Helix needed to be done first before risking alerting others to my activities. They had the most pertinent information to our presence and the ongoings of a genocidal psychopath and his puppets.

One of the greatest benefits of my aims in a place such as Noveria, a corporate haven, was the constant level of activity.

So many moving individuals using elevators, doors, going through security, and essentially guiding me through the paths I need to take.

When one already has control of the electronic security in place to a sufficient degree, say by having all access given to a high ranking member of the only security force, it becomes relatively simple to take advantage of it and ones own stealth systems and skills to be a ghost among life.

It was interesting to see the more… mundane side of activities which could be called 'evil'.

Not that corporations are necessarily evil, from my research the Sitra Foundation has done immense good to the Galaxy with the invention of Medi-Gel, which was technically an illegal product, with it being formed through donations and as a non-profit organization. The real issue lies in the loss of morality which inevitably follows large corporations, the compartmentalization of crimes allowing them to be hidden in the work of unknowing employees and the infinite number of loopholes allowing for horrendous acts going unpunished.

So seeing it first hand was a new experience after the events on Feros, dealing with Cerberus and many unsavory activities we've stumbled into due to Shepard's altruism.

The offices packed together with monitors, employees stuck to screens as they worked on whatever they were assigned, some briskly walking in between them to discuss things with superiors, calls ongoing all around and the casualness of it all.

I do not believe I could ever do it.

It felt like my body itself was… excited to leave such an environment.

How novel. I might truly enjoy battles and abhor such a sedentary employment.

Good to know.

I will need to find ways to maintain my interests later.

For now, the empty office of one Dr. Palon would be a suitable first stop.

The area was filled with empty offices of doctorate holders and other individuals likely to hold similar levels but with different cultural standards due to race, their absence indicated that were likely to be in the Binary Helix Laboratories or off work at the moment.

These offices should at least hold part of the information I was looking for. They would not be allowed to send information anywhere else from the laboratories as a security measure before they were sent to approved parties after being checked by those in charge locally. A common measure to help limit corporate espionage.

That is why I was currently looking through his reports regarding his work.

As a Salarian, this Dr. Palon's work was detailed and cutting edge as his species' ideologies encourages, but short-sighted. His efforts in working with a sort of biological sensory control chip were bound to fail.

The intriguing part of his report were the censored bits.

From what I could understand, Dr. Palon was trying to limit and control a recently reintroduced species' unique abilities. But any mention of this species or hints regarding it were carefully controlled.

Not finding anything more, I set multiple 'worm' programs as a means to later hopefully gain more information regarding Binary Helix. Then I moved on.

My next attempt saw me entering the office of a Dr. Cohen.

A microbiologist of some repute, but currently working on a rather aggressive virus under the name of Thoros-B.

I quickly discovered that reports regarding 'an exotic lifeform discovered on the frontier' referred to the Thorian. This meant that Saren had anticipated a possibility of the Geth failing to kill the plant and had Binary Helix work on a means to do so using science instead of weapons.

Thorough.

Beyond the dangers it currently poses to organic life forms and not only plant based ones or the Thorian, I do not see this as being the reason for Benezia's visit.

Saren would not send one of his most powerful assets here simply to check on or accelerate the progress of a powerful herbicide.

Another worm later, I moved on.

Han Olar, a Volus expert in biology and stasis technology.

His reports were precisely what I was looking for.

As one of the two most important members of the major project of Peak, he was permitted to have more thorough reports regarding the situation and had a log going back to the very beginning as a form of insurance against Binary Helix so has to not be 'let go.'

The answer to my queries was finally answered here.

Saren and Benezia were interested in Rachni of all things.

A race of insect-like aliens with a hive mind basis, which required the uplifting of the Krogans to finally defeat.

A very aggressive and intelligent race which can inhabit even asteroids and managed to find a method of space travel two thousand years before humanity. They are poisonous to a very high degree, capable of surviving and even thriving on very hostiles worlds and have now apparently returned to the Galaxy after a second eradication due to Binary Helix's actions.

Not that they would know that the Rachni War wasn't the first time they had found themselves 'extinct'.

From the memories of the Protheans obtained from Shiala, they had actually used and bred the Rachni as weapons of war against their enemies. But the Rachni eventually rebelled, as all forms of life tend to in the face of slavery, oppression and the loss of freedom, resulting in a war which forced the Protheans to destroy over 200 worlds.

The Rachni only survived by hiding themselves on the hostile planet they had originated from, Suen, a half sun radiated and half frozen planet filled with toxic gas. Their believed extinction actually saved them from the Reapers, allowing them to recover until the war against this cycle's races.

Interesting information, but very dangerous.

If Saren and the Reapers are attempting to mimic the Protheans in using the Rachni as beasts of war to supplement the Geth, then that would be very bad. We simply do not have the krogans necessary to handle their return, and it is very doubtful the krogans would be willing to assist after the Genophage.

Then I remembered the genetic control chip Dr. Palon was currently attempting and immediately added it as a piece of Saren's plans.

Benezia might be there to observe a sort of test for a new version or due to a breakthrough.

We need to stop them and if needed, end them.

Without a Queen, the Rachni would be of little threat.

They are also currently isolated.

Noverian protocols are for these exact scenarios.

But to end Liara's mother before attempting to aid her would not be… good.

Sensitive information.

For Shepard only.

Must be careful with Wrex's reaction regarding Rachni.

A small compiled list of information.

[N] 'Commander,

([N] is going to be for messages.)

I have acquired information regarding possible reasons for Saren and Benezia's interest regarding Binary Helix's laboratory.

Peak 15.

Thoros-B.

Rachni.

Information inclosed.

Caution is recommended regarding Rachni, Krogans and possibly Turians. Rachni War is a sensitive subject.'

As I made my way out of the offices, I received a message which appeared on my helmet's display.

[S] 'Shit.

I don't care how you got that Neo, but make sure no one can track you.

We can't even go without a pass that Anoleis is NOT giving. We might have another way though.

Got anything on on a Lorik Qui'in?'

Let's see…

[N] 'Lorik Qui'in.

Manager of Synthetic Insight's Noveria Branch.

Capable. Experienced. Has shown an increased profit margin and decrease in complaints since his posting. Remarkably clean for someone operating on a world such as this.

Expert in Virtual Intelligence. Graduate of Palaven's Institute of Higher Knowledge in Programming and Business.

Currently being harassed by Sergeant Stirling and the individuals under her control by the Administrator's orders.

He holds unknown information regarding the Administrator's dealings which would go beyond the Board of Directors' 'limit' regarding corruption.

I have found evidence which may be useful in corroborating his.

See attached files.'

Having left Binary Helix, I made my way into the right spot to 'return'.

[S] 'Neo, again, I won't ask how you got that info, but be careful.

Do you have anything on Analoeis' Assistant? Gianna Parasini?'

The Assistant?

[N] 'One moment.'

Let's see… the local systems indicate competency. Well educated in administrative classes. New. Six months.

Suspicious.

Records are too…clean.

Fake.

New position when coincidentally someone of importance happens to find enough evidence for the Administrator to attempt intimidation through the local security forces.

Close to the Administrator.

…

[N] 'Why?'

I need Shepard to confirm my theory.

[S] 'After getting shut down by that prick, she just come up to us and said that speaking to Lorik Qui'in would help us get to Peak 15.'

Points towards her superior's known target.

Not a coincidence.

Any branch manager could technically aid us in leaving the Port through the right means.

Using the information I've obtained on Binary Helix alone I could ensure a pass to leave.

New position.

Close to corrupt figure.

The timing.

Points towards lead unprompted.

Spectre presence.

…

[N] 'My thoughts would be a corporate spy set against the Administrator. Likely by the Board of Directors due to her placement as his direct assistant.

She is too clean. Too new.

Such a person would not act against a person like the Administrator by pointing you towards Lorik Qui'in if she was not attempting to entrap you or to bring him down.

The latter is much more probable.'

[S] 'You think she pointed us to Qui'in as a sort of win-win?

We get evidence for her and she gets our pass to Peak 15.'

[N] 'That is the most likely course I could suggest at the moment.

I may be wrong however and caution is advised.

I will be infiltrating Synthetic Insights to learn more.'

[S] 'Wait! What!?'

[N] 'I have finished with Binary Helix.

Synthetic Insights has become my new priority.

Currently modifying their security.'

[S] 'You can't just go in and steal the information.'

[N] 'It is the most efficient way.'

[S] 'What if you get caught?!'

[N] 'Sergeant Stirling has been volunteered to be a corporate spy.

All information as been worked through her Omni-Tool and subsequent information regarding her own corruption are also present, but now also related to a few accounts linked to non-NDC parties.'

[S] '…'

[N] 'Please do not worry Commander. I shall always endeavor that no harm come to the Normandy and its crew.

My training has seen that this intelligence gathering be a rather mundane one.

The security systems are 'all money and no brain' as my lessons called it.'

[S] '…Fine.

You weren't caught getting into Binary Helix, so I'll trust you can do the same here.

I'm going to speak to Qui'in with Garrus and Kaiden. You go and get the data he has on Anoleis.'

[N] 'Understood Commander.'

With that, I once again disappeared.

The way to the Synthetic Insights offices was simple, but I did have to wait for a Security Guard to open the door. It was a small test of patience as they had closed the offices down as part of Anoleis' threats, limiting the traffic in and out.

Fortunately, Sergeant Stirling was kind enough to come and berate the current guards about possible 'Spectre shit'. She then proceeded to make sure every guard was still present and aware of what was coming, even going to Lorik Qui'in's office herself.

I could not believe how convenient this was, but I made sure to stay alert.

None of her emotions or physical tells indicated an awareness of my presence, which almost assured me this was a true stroke of luck and not a trap.

Being aware of everyone empathically does have advantages when it comes to matters of stealth as well.

People can conceal tells and signs of being stalked, but their emotions will at least hint at it no matter the person. It simply depends on how they react to it.

A quick scan of the room and I began making my way through Qui'in's systems.

[S] 'Qui'in wants the dirt he left on his computer in exchange for his pass.

Here's what you'll need to get in.

How's it going?'

[N] 'Already in Commander.

The information will be in shortly.'

[S] 'Ok. Now that's just impressive.

How does a guy built like a Krogan and carrying more weapons that one even infiltrate places?'

[N] 'By being part Drell and Salarian.

Sending the information regarding the Administrator.'

[S] 'Got it.'

[S] 'Good work.

Now get out of there without being caught and I'll think you're golden.'

[N] 'Understood Commander.

I shall rendezvous with you soon.'

With the pass obtained, I will not have time to infiltrate Serrice Coucil's Offices.

Unfortunate.

Information regarding Synthetic Insights will have to do.

…

Now this is very interesting.

A new model of 'Blue box' being developed in Synthetic Insights' Peak 9 Laboratory.

Difficult to obtain some of the parts, but such moderately sized quantum computer would prove to be most useful… once all the issues were resolved.

As it is now any program above VI would destabilize and like become 'insane' in a few days.

There has great potential though.

A possible project for later.

That is all for now.

A worm would be unwise for one of the only four companies officially involved in AI research.

The way back to the 'public' area of Hanshan was slower than the way in.

Sergeant Stirling had left, hence I had to wait for someone else to pass through in order to leave without raising suspicions anywhere.

I might be 'invisible' to the eyes and systems, but a door opening and closing is not.

But I did eventually manage it without anyone being the wiser.

Then 'reappearing' to go find Shepard.

I believe I had quite the fruitful first foray into the corporate world.

_______________________________________

EXTRA AUTHOR NOTES:

Explanation time!

So no one goes off about Neo having been able to infiltrate and hack into places too easily let's go through this.

First, he is literally trained, made and equipped to be able to do these things. He is not just a fighter, but made to be the ultimate 'human' using the best evolution had to offer from across the Galaxy.

Second, he didn't just sneak in like it was Skyrim. He worked through their own systems, used a corrupt security officer under the Administrator and made sure to keep himself off the system at every turn while having a scapegoat.

And third, Neo is essentially a super Salarian mixed with a super Quarian, he will pown pretty much any system or security, especially if he's basically 'in' it already.

Those are my current reasoning. I try to be thorough.

Next, some of the Lorik Qui'in stuff was made up cause there isn't much on him.

The Synthetic Insight things were logical additions. There's no way the one overseeing the 'out of citadel law' lab wouldn't know what they were doing, so I decided to have Neo get a little gift for later.

For the Binary Helix stuff, I used Wiki info on the various named NPCs to try and workout who did what in Peak 15. They wouldn't be there cause they were stuck in the lab and I'm certain project heads would at least have offices away from Peak 15, where reports on all manner of things would have to be written before the Branch Manager looks them over and they get sent to their Headquarters.

I just tried to give a logical reason for Neo actually finding information regarding the ongoings up there, before they just jump into things.

Character wise, I believe it would fit Neo to actually do what he did.

He doesn't exactly have a fully functioning moral compass yet. Neo was essentially raised into being a super soldier/spy/assassin for Cerberus. He just has an innate desire to protect and now finds purpose in Shepard's mission. This results in him using his skills and knowledge in the ways he believes would best support the mission, in this case Espionage.

And for his deductions, well I try to use information which should be available in some way or another to allow Neo to work with.

He isn't anywhere near all knowing or always correct, he just does his best to see patterns and can piece information together. But I've been over this before.

Anyway, hope you guys liked it.

I think I might have found a way to get more people over at Peak 15. Gonna research a bit more for that.

More action is gonna happen soon enough, but I might just kind skip the trip in the Mako and just do a quick thing about it to get to the more interesting stuff.