Darcy's Starry Sky

by Theodore Daniels

  - Commander, as we go through the chain rest. - Titov soft eyes looked sitting in a nearby chair for remote commanding Streltsov. - All the way to put up mobile teams Yartaru Intervention Forces ships. Batarians are likely not risk to oppose now, if we did not dare to oppose us when we were in their territory.

  - Thank you, Stanislav. - Svetlana with an effort rose. - I hope we will not have to fight with batarians today. And then, too. We already have a common enemy, and today we have enemies - more than enough.

  Willing nod senior assistant - and Svetlana leaves the Central Post. Zirda buried her usual cold and wet nose in his hand sp Menus, received his share of the usual caresses and desirable. Svetlana slowly and carefully toward the commander's cabin. Three hours on the repeater chain will be running a nap. And there ... there will come the time of the work, will monitor the return of the remains to its original location on Yartare. Jewelry work. It is not important now how the remains were removed from the leviathan batarian, important now to bring them back to the burial place with the utmost precision.

  It was hard to believe that such action could delay the start of the Harvest. Complicated. But history has taught mankind including the fact that in order to achieve the desired result it is necessary to use every opportunity and every means. Cryptstalker could not resist the force of the protective mechanisms built into the tomb of the unknown masters too fast the payback for the invasion of the tomb. Too serious and powerful was payback.

  But - on the scale of a planet, and the scale of the space ... Well, if the price paid for the invasion really late in this particular case. Well, if batarians did not become the first victim of the Harvest. Imperial astrorazvedka and, accordingly, the Imperial Russian intelligence has counted a few dozen of these options have tested their development virtsredah for set of parameters. batarians would become the first converted. The first people to be replenished troops Reaper's henchmen, who would become a living nightmare for others, not yet transformed and not indoctrinate reasonable organics. Yavik Svetlana showed much of "pictures from the past", from the times of confrontation with the reapers their Empire. Scary pictures. Seeing transformed in full race hurt. Consciousness, perception immediately project the transformation of humanity. It turned out even more scary, because to resist this transformation to people quickly and efficiently, and most importantly - just ... could not. A batarians rejected by the Council of the Citadel, four-eyed fans of easy money - especially could not.

  In batarians was complex and very negative reputation within the Milky Way. They developed mainly medical technology, and they were sent only to ensure the submission and to ensure the helplessness of their victims. Race, who lives at the expense of slavery. Well there shackles, blocks, chains. It could be understood even by isolating batarians, give them the right to play with these testimonies of the rule over the enslaved. But chipping ... The transformation of a living intelligent being a puppet, in a submissive working cattle ... It was too ... too avant-garde and unacceptable.

  Svetlana reached out, picked up from a stack of one reader. She was sitting in his desk chair in the lobby of the commander's cabin. Sheepdogs, calming down and making sure that the hostess is all right, sleeping on their mats. Streltsov also did not want to relax more than minimally necessary because did not take place in an office or bedroom. There was in the lobby. The reader contained a full report on the meeting with the former John batarian slave. All materials. And now, rereading familiar texts, Svetlana thought that batarians risk. Seriously risked becoming slaves to a much more powerful opponent - the Reapers. It is difficult to compete with the race, which has behind him - dozens if not hundreds of successful harvest.

  Batarians live in a narrow world they are unable, despite four eyes, always cover the whole picture, always in every detail. Yes, as hunters, it is possible, they are good. But only if they are - more the victim of a hunt. And if the victim is stronger? If instead of the victim - the forerunner of the very Reapers? Revenge for the originator of the part of their direct descendants - Reapers aimed at batarian will, beyond any doubt and, terrible. The entire race can be addressed. The entire race. Its main part. Yes, this will be addressed and chipped slaves. That, in turn, will Reapers understanding of vulnerabilities inherent to representatives of the other races of the current cycle. And the main thing - the Reapers will springboard from which they will lead the offensive in maternal worlds of other races, having trained previously on the same helpless slaves.

  This is the girl managed to survive and escape. We managed to get to the Citadel, to break into the central galaxy station. How many slaves did not run away and did not survive? Dozens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands. Batarians decades and centuries lived at the expense of capture and sale of slaves. Decades. Accustomed to that role, this role was erected in the category of racial politics. And what will be the result, the result? All batarian race will be a race of slaves, entirely submissive to the will new owners - the Reapers.

  Svetlana took another reader included, looked into the image. There were batarian transformation projects in the ministers of the Reapers. On the part of these pictures it is quite possible the fruit looked sick imagination. But it was a possible reality. The terrible reality is possible. Yavik kaperangu talked about how he had to kill his sootryadnikov, as soon as he was convinced that they were indoctrinated. Kill fellow tribesmen. Which, being subordinated to the Reapers, we have kept the majority of opportunities and racial Protheans abilities. The only difference is, and was, now that these racial abilities and capacities were not Protheans, and their enemies - the Reapers. With one warrior was proteaninom and handle the problem, otherwise Protheans would not offer each novoprisoedinёnnoy the Empire race, try to throw them Protheans, challenge to fight and win, or at least reduce the result to a score. No one could. We tried a lot, but no one could. And then one Yavik had to fight against a number of fellow tribesmen. Against several former fellows. In the history of earthlings, too, there were such cases. Therefore Svetlana perfectly understood proteanina state, forced to face the betrayal caused by external high-tech effects. Indoctrination. Processing of consciousness. The ideological reprogramming. How do you want to call it, but it is no secret that any complex system, despite all the apparent perfection, extremely vulnerable. The only question is, how long the system will be able to resist. Protheans able to resist for centuries. Using at least the fact that the Reapers were forced to disperse its forces invasion of huge, Protheans subordinate territory. And still the confrontation that has lasted centuries, was fierce. When it comes to the explosion of suns and to ram repeaters ... If you had to retreat into the ground ...

  Batarians were expelled from the races Space Citadel. Driven long before their limits have come special operations forces. And now a few enclaves batarian also under attack. And by the Reapers, and by the Leviathans. The fact that the forerunner of the giant shrimp hiding in the Milky Way, Svetlana Strel'tsova had no reason to doubt - one Despoyna what cost. This planet-ocean, dotted with debris not the weakest and most poorly protected ships. The silent warning to all adventurers and seekers of easy victories.

  - Go through the chain of repeaters - completed. - Through drowsiness I heard Svetlana Titova report. - Two hours - and the squad will be on Yartarom commander.

  - Noted, thank you, Stanislav. - Streltsov found the sensor PHONES Speaker, realizing that her first mate wants it continued to have a rest before the very beginning of the "Volga" on the original burial place of the leviathan. - As soon as we will over the burial place - please, I'll go to Central.

  - All right, commander. - Gently, with a share of clearly audible meet said XO and switched channels, allowing Strel'tsova dive again into slumber.

  Shepard took starpomovskuyu watch. The screens on the sides of the Star Maps, it is evident that all the fleets, all three fleets Turian Hierarchy go into battle the order is ready to repel no longer hypothetical but very real attacks on the part of individual pirate, bandit and slave-owning gr
oups, which batarians have considerable weight and influence. Ready Fleets Hierarchy to repel the attacks of the ships allowed to hope that any attempt will be blocked at an early stage and the forces will be able to bring the cocoon with the remains of the Leviathan to the burial site, return Disu into place with the utmost precision, and putting a strong cordon around Yartara that, incidentally, also includes plans for the operation, to carry out a quick transition back to anneksiruemuyu Bahak system.

  By the end of the third report came hours starpomovskoy watch specialists from CIC that the squadron entered the Yartara orbit. Now would soon be started counting a five-hour period, when the remains of the Leviathan of Dis are with the utmost precision returned to its original place on the planet's surface. Crews and teams squadron could only observe the process - to intervene there was no need - and at the same time glancing beyond the orbital area, so as not to miss a moment of the possible appearance of ships batarian gangs.

  Three fleet Turian Hierarchy took Yartar under Border isolation mode. Dreadnoughts in groups accompanied by frigates went down, aiming exactly in the area where once housed the remains of the forerunners of the Reapers. Now Dis returned to their place of final resting. Normal seems to be working. But the success of this operation depended on what will be possible to delay the start of the invasion of the Reapers. All otryadovtsy well aware of the degree of unpreparedness races Space Citadel to the fact that now, for example, a few hours later, just a few hours outside batarian Hegemony will include dozens of kilometers and polutorakilometrovy vessels - shrimp, accompanied by smaller ships and begin the systematic destruction batarian race. Batariane will be the first who will join the ranks of the local henchmen Reapers, who will be consumable in battles with the forces of the Resistance, with the armed forces of the Citadel races Space. There is no doubt that the territory batarian Hegemony will be even more closed and inaccessible - in fact it will be the springboard from which harvest will unfold.

  - Attention. Dreadnoughts took up positions on the primary place of burial. - I reported to the watch "Volga". - Before the start of "Operation Return" - ten minutes. Conducted last inspection. Force ground support operations reported a full readiness.

  Briefly murknula main siren razvedkreysera. On many screens it has been clearly seen, as the four steel dreadnought slowly and carefully lower the frame leviathan in its place. At the bottom, on the surface Yartara, ground support forces arrived here long before the media on the planet, have prepared everything necessary for the positioning of the remains according to data salarians and several races Citadel space. Five hours on the job was given to the maximum - it is clear that none of the participants in the operation did not rule out the possibility of complications. It is for their elimination and designed most of the exhaust in the "Operation Return" time.

  With complex feelings Earthlings watched for a while now Yartare. Yes, the Leviathan of Dis was, quite possibly, even very likely - the forerunner of the Reapers. Yes, Leviathan might well rule the nations of the galaxy for billions of years. And then try to extend the time of his absolute power into more distant future. But there was neither the strength nor the capacity nor the time just to stay permanent helmsman and lords. Still, the situation in the Galaxy inevitably changed, and in addition will, desires and aspirations Leviathans. Evolution, part of which were Leviathans, gradually moves away in the shadow of giants, leading them to key posts. Against this background, the young aggressive race could well try to fight the weakening rulers - the adage about a dead lion, which kick dumb former subordinates,

  Slowly unwound from a coil ropes harness. It seemed motionless hulk skeleton Disy fell on her intended place from which it was sdёrnuta batarian dreadnoughts. Commanders dreadnoughts is dead kept the ships accommodation options over the area of the operation. Techniques repeatedly checks the condition and functionality of all involved in the process of return and the challenges in "hot standby" systems and mechanisms. Finally, the bottom edge of the core reached the surface and now there are very few opportunities for large-scale change in the position of the leviathan. People turians peering in multi-bit digital displays - accuracy should be ensured absolute. And there may be all sorts of surprises until the bulk of the core is not completely stabilized,

  - Sorokaprotsentnaya stabilization - achieved. - He reported having received permission Anderson, who replaced Shepard's officer of the watch. Message means that very soon the skeleton of the Leviathan all the way down to the surface Yartara. It lies almost as he lay for centuries until, as the planet has come batarian Dreadnought. As part of the three fleets of ships Turian Hierarchy movement began - group rebuilt for the organization of the protection of burial places of the leviathan.

  - Shestidesyatiprotsentnaya stabilization - achieved. - I reported to the officer of the watch of the cruiser "Volga". Svetlana has a few tens of minutes did not leave his desk chair in the control room. Some of the officers working on the adaptation of the plan to return Bahaku. Often provides control zaorbitalnogo Yartara area.

  - Batarians have not appeared. - She said, realizing the commander of the state, Titov.

  - A little shock it does not hurt, Stanislav. Teaching is necessary. Until we can teach them yourself. Because if there will be the Reapers, the teaching they will not. They will be in full use batarian, without asking permission, and not interested in the opinion of four-eyed outright losers. - Svetlana looked up for a few seconds from the set of commands on the keyboard instrumentrona account code.

  - I agree, Commander. - XO nodded. - So, we teach.

  - We will. - Confirmed Streltsov.

  - Vosmidesyatiprotsentnaya stabilization - achieved. - This time the officer of the watch reported frigate, cruiser.

  Fewer had opportunities to correct possible deficiencies already made. Ground teams went only telemetry - verbally transmit the reports now there was no conceivable possibility: all reasonable have been involved in work in the area of burial. The district has been blocked and from orbit and on the surface, it is put under the global detection and control system.

  - One hundred percent stabilization. - Rumbled in handsfree speaker frigate report officer of the watch. - Start of the countdown for the shrinking process.

  Ships Fleets turian finished rebuilding. One turian fleet remained in Yartara - to support the regime of border insulation planet and ensure the safety and protection of the area of accommodation leviathan remains. It was assumed that ground crews and yet remain in the area in readiness for the implementation of emergency operations. It will also ground grouping security and defense area. Gradually formed a permanent force of ground and space-based, which will take custody of leviathan Disu after ground grouping security and defense areas will be evacuated on ships - transports and return within the batarian Hegemony.

  - Shrinkage - the norm. Deviation - zero for most parameters. - I put in the hands-free system its report to the watch "Volga".

  - Start movement of ships to warrant grouping. Prepare to return to Bahak system. Speed promotion mode - activated. - Ordered Anderson. The same order gave volgovtsam Streltsov. Frigate and cruiser weighed orbit and shifted to the place of formation of outdoorsy combat orders, which included in its membership two turian fleet and all four ships dreadnought with care and support. Now this armada was to participate in the final annexation Bahak system and transfer it under the direct control of the Citadel Council under the control of Spectra Corps.

  None of otryadovtsev not relax - the operation to seize and return to Disy Yartar was completed only at the moment when Bahak system will be fully brought under annexation. Not earlier. Until then, no one will be able to enjoy the right to a complete rest.

  Flight to promote high-speed mode, the plan was to take only four hours. And all this time, all the teams, all the crews, all ships returning group will be at full readiness of the first degree.

  Entrance to the first relay of the long chain group has carried out smoothly and quickly - patrol boats and frigates freed m
ost trains on the way to the catapult and warships took full advantage of the right of urgent priority. No front colorization - only the necessary minimum navigation lights. All transition to the repeater has been completed on time and are now expected to spend on the stage no more than three hours. Another hour was allocated to the group entry to anneksiruemuyu Bahak system.

  Titov Svetlana asked again look back to the cabin, as soon as the cruiser entered the working area of the first repeater. Streltsov agreed with the XO, left the Central Post and a few minutes later fed sobachatami. It is always comforting her, it allowed to escape from the waves of workers' thoughts, tune in to a quiet way. Gently patted her flippers Zorda and Gray and patting Zirda gratefully liznuvshuyu her hand, Svetlana umostilas in the chair and closed her eyes. An hour later, she was able to have a snack - diet is necessary to try to maintain as Alla zvereet for a few seconds, when he sees the slightest pretensions to violations of the numerous restrictions and protocols.

  Firstborn were given to Svetlana hard. Sometimes - very hard. To say that she has never regretted his decision to abandon the temporary cancellation of the trigger mechanism "on shore" maternity - is meant to tell a deliberate lie. I regretted and repeatedly. And tried not to regret about this in public, not among the teammate, but only in private, when you could let myself go. And then there's the reduction of time for subsequent pregnancies and births. These eight months, who changed the forecast of eight years ... Svetlana increasingly felt how rapidly aging. Marathon to the command chair, successful marathon, there is no doubt, successful ... turned to her, the only participant of the marathon its ugly side. whether she thought a rock and touchy, that ever love a man so much as to become his wife, become the mother of his children? I Thought. And more than once thought. Theoretically, since the time for deep and practice was not sufficient Svetlana perfectly. Thus, occasional meetings, relaxation rare, rare contacts. Light kisses, light embracing. And nothing else. For more always lacked either time, or desire, or simply appear special sense of danger makes fold relationship to the level of a working protocol.