A/N - Australian / British standard English. There is a good chance of reading the following: lots of profanity, characters drinking, typos, and bad grammar at times.
Proofreading and editing suggestions provided by OhDave1. Any mistakes are still mine.
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Shepard deals with a criminal enterprise
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The path to Feros in the Attican Beta cluster was an absolute pain in the arse through the relay network. Those who didn't travel in space didn't understand that a mass relay didn't just send you to wherever you desired. A mass relay had dedicated paths that might send you to only one other cluster while others could send you to any surrounding clusters. The best example is the Serpent Nebula Cluster, which is linked to ten other clusters. Our local cluster is linked to six others. Yet only the Maroon Sea cluster is linked to the Attican Beta cluster. I know there has been research into this phenomenon, but so far no one has figured it out and I doubt anyone is going to go messing with the mass relay network.
At least the journey time gave us time to organise ourselves, keep fit, spend time training, and continue to get to know each other. I'd been happy with our mission to Noveria. We'd gelled as a team rather quickly though I knew certain people would likely never get along. I think Wrex tolerated Garrus, the turian rather oblivious to the attitude of the krogan in return. Ashley's suspicions had diminished though she still remained wary about Garrus. Again, he was oblivious though I'd heard them talk about the First Contact War, surprised that it didn't devolve into an argument. Even Garrus admitted that it could have been handled differently.
Kaidan generally kept to himself though I knew he would speak to Ashley from time to time, and he was in the med-bay every day as Doctor Chakwas looked after him. I generally spoke to most of my crew every day, even if it was simply to touch base and make sure everything was going well. Boredom was the one concern whenever we were heading from one place to another.
It was during our journey that I received a call on a secure channel though it wasn't the Alliance or Council. I was left wondering who it was though accepted the call. I had it moved to my cabin, making sure the door was locked before I accepted it.
"Commander Shepard. My name is Helena Blake. I was hoping to meet you on the Citadel during your last visit, but I didn't get the opportunity to speak to you."
"How can I help you, Miss Blake?"
"I'll cut straight to the chase, Commander. I work for an organisation that would be considered to participate in criminal activities. But that isn't the reason I'm calling you as that would just be incriminating myself. My concern is, and I believe it might be something that would concern you too, is that two of my business associates have started participating in crimes that would draw undue attention to myself and my crew, and I will admit that I am aghast at the fact they are committing these crimes."
"And these crimes are?"
"Ever heard of red sand?"
I felt my fist clench as red sand was just another in a long line of addictive drugs that had destroyed people, families, entire communities. Many formerly illegal drugs had been legalised back on Earth, and I was aware that certain colonies that had fallen outside Alliance jurisdiction would legalise whatever they wanted. A soldier formerly under my command had turned into a red sand addict after suffering an injury. It was similar to those who became addicted to painkillers.
"Anything else, Miss Blake?"
I heard the sigh before she replied,
"They've turned to slave trading, Commander. I've received disturbing information that they are working alongside batarian slavers..."
I barely heard the rest as memories of Torfan flooded my mind. I only came to when I heard her asking,
"Commander? Are you still there?"
"Give me the coordinates," I demanded, "But I will add this, Miss Blake. I'm not stupid. You're obviously aware of my history. You've called me out of pure self-interest, aware that once I heard words such as 'batarian' and 'slavery' that I was only ever going to agree to help you."
"You might be correct, Commander, but I also believe that wiping this filth off the face of the galaxy would benefit us both. Wipe out these two people and those who are willingly serving them, and I will reward you handsomely. You will have my contact details now. Please call when the job is complete, and I will give you the coordinates of where we could meet."
I couldn't put Feros off forever, but I'll admit that I let my personal feelings guide me in this instance. I headed straight up the galaxy map and didn't miss the glances in my direction. Even Pressly looked ready to come and ask when I opened the galaxy map and changed our destination.
"Get us there pronto, Joker," I almost growled.
He had the good sense not to question. "Aye, Commander. Inputting new route. I'll let you know when we're in orbit."
I called my squad together to gather in the mess to detail them of the new mission. All of them could sense my fury as I described the details that Miss Blake had told me, and I'd heard my omni-tool chime to inform me that I'd received messages. I figured they would be dossiers of the people that I would be looking for. It was only after I dismissed the group that Kaidan and Ashley approached me in my quarters.
"You okay, Commander?" Kaidan asked.
I did appreciate the concern. "She knew which buttons to press," I admitted, "Soon as I heard a few key words, that was it. Feros was going to be delayed."
"How will we play it?" Ashley wondered. When she met my eyes, both of them nodded. "And Miss Blake in the end?"
"That I'm not sure about. She's said that I will meet her afterwards. I'll decide when we have the opportunity to speak in person."
"Team on the ground?"
"Everyone, Lieutenant. I'll read over the information that I've received and might fiddle with that, but I have a feeling that we're going to be meeting groups with firepower and numbers. Add to that they'll no doubt be dug in and fortified, the only advantage we'll have is the element of surprise. Or that's the hope."
Kaidan was satisfied and walked out after saluting. Ashley remained until we were alone, giving her a curious look as she gave me a cute little smile before stepping towards me.
"Now I might be reading this wrong, Commander, but a certain very cute asari has been incredibly bashful around you the past couple of days. But I can read women... Well, asari, and that asari is giving you such longing looks, and the desire in her eyes, it almost saddens me that you haven't just taken her onto this bed and fucked her silly."
"Trying to change my mood, Chief?"
"Definitely as seeing you enraged... I don't like it. I'm speaking from a personal viewpoint as a friend."
"You know my record, Ash. Miss Blake knew what she was doing. Once I heard they were dealing in slavery, there was only ever going to be one response."
