</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">Case File 760459AA
Lt. Burr Abelard, Service Number 3423-AC-2296
Age: 23
Service History: Born in 2142 on Korlus. Enlisted in the Alliance Navy in 2159. Exhibited exceptional aptitude during all stages of training. Assigned to the SSV Hyderabad in 2160.
Took part in many successful operations in the Terminus Systems, including the Alsages skirmish of 2163. Recommended for Interplanetary Combatives Training by then CO, Captain Romero Richardson. Accepted into the program in 2164.
Reached the grade N6 in 2165, though personal difficulties were noted by the instructors. Lt. Abelard was denied the N7 designation and brought before a court martial with the following indictment:
</div>
[[Moral Turpitude]]
[[Disobedience]]
[[Desertion]]
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[[ <center><h1>Mass Effect N6</h1></center>|Opening]]
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<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;"> Lt. Abelard sighted ingesting Red Sand on a classified mission in Sidon, endangering the lives of fellow squad mates. Upon further investigation, a large quantity of Red Sand was found in Lt. Abelard's quarters.Â
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<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;"> Lt. Abelard disobeyed a direct order from a CO during rescue efforts of the SSV Iwo Jima, an action which resulted in the deaths of two fellow squad mates.
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<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;"> Lt. Abelard took absence without leave during a mission in the Phoenix Massing. Additional details are scarce due to the disappearance of Lt. Abelard's assigned ship under mysterious circumstances.
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<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;"> In light of Lt. Abelards's exemplary military record prior to this incident, this panel does not believe that an additional prison sentence is required beyond what Lt. Abelard has already served. Â
However, it is this panel's view that Lt. Abelard no longer possesses the moral fortitude expected from every member of the Alliance Military. As such, Lt. Abelard will receive a dishonorable discharge, as well as forfeiture of all pay and allowances.
Signed,
Admiral James Helligar
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[[Panel Adjourned]]<script>
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</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:whie;">You emerge from the Alliance courthouse on Arcturus Station, dazed and confused. A period in your life which you believed has defined you as a person is now suddenly [[over]].Â
</div></script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">
In your hands is the discharge certificate. You were instructed to show it at the station's transportation bay in order to catch a ride to Earth. You make your way there, when an unfamiliar voice stops you.</div>
</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"You know, it doesn't have to be over."</div>
[[Turn around]]</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">
You see a handsome, well-kept Alliance Officer of Chinese descent. His slicked back hair and youthful appearance gives you the impression of a smooth operator, a player in military uniform. You've never seen this man before in your life, but you quickly ascertain from his stripes that he is a man of high rank: A Rear Admiral.
Your right hand goes up instinctively to salute him, but you stop yourself. He smiles.</div>
</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"Your service, that is."</div>
[[Proceed]]
[[ <center><h1>Three Years Later</h1></center>|Dream]]<script>
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</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You're lying on a bed that feels lighter than air, located in one of the nicer hotels on the Citadel. Your door room opens, and a breathtakingly beautiful Asari stands in the doorway, wearing her birthday suit. She giggles and climbs into bed with you.
Suddenly, another Asari appears in the doorway, followed by another. In what seems to be an endless parade of Asaris, they each climb on top of your bed, slowly covering your field of vision.
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[[Continue|Next]]</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"This isn't a bad way to go." </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You think to yourself.</script>
The Asaris open their mouths simultaneously, and emit a loud, pulsating {
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<script>
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You open your eyes and find yourself lying on top of a holo display, with an empty bottle of Batarian Ale staring at you. You wipe down your drool and look around. Back to reality. Back to your ship, the De Trop.
You recognize the wailing noise as someone contacting you on your holopad. Given the clandestine nature of your existence, it can only be one person.</script>
[[Patch him through]]
<script>A.t['beep'].stop();
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</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Without looking up, you patch through the transmission.</script>
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Hi Hu." </script>
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">""It's Vice Admiral Hu Haikou to you. The fact that you are no longer part of the Alliance does not exclude you from respecting my rank." </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You look up at Hu's hologram. The extra stripes on his uniform really complement his smug face.
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Sure, sure. To what do I owe the pleasure?"</script>
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"I have a mission for you. Humanity's future may depend on it."</script>
[["Oh really?"]]
[["Lay it on me."]]
[[Who cares?]]</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Humanity's future, eh? Isn't that what you said last month, or the month before that? It's hard to keep track." </script>
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"Laugh all you want. I don't think your credit account will find it very funny when I give this mission to someone else." </script>
[[Next|"Lay it on me."]]
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<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You look disinterestedly to the side. </script>
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"Are you even listening!?" </script>
[[Next|"Lay it on me."]] <div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"3 years ago, I saw through your failures. I saw a talented, capable soldier, willing to do what's right for the human race. Someone who can operate outside of Alliance jurisdiction, someone who can make the hard choices the Alliance can't make. We're the fastest growing race on the Citadel, yet we're still being treated as second-class. It's time we become a key player." </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"And how are we going to do it this time?" </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hu's visage turns into a map of the Titan Nebula. </script>
[[Continue|Briefing]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"A Hahne-Kedar facility on Capek reported a sighting of a strange ship emerging from the edges of the Milky Way. It's unlike anything we have in our records. We believe it to belong to a spacefaring alien species foreign to our galaxy. All of our communications attempts with this ship have so far been unsuccessful. Your mission is to make contact with this ship, and ascertain their intentions." </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"So I knock on their door, say hello, and get paid. Sounds easy enough." </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hu's visage returns.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"Not so fast, Abelard. Though we do not yet know if they come in peace, you must make every effort to establish a diplomatic relationship with this species. Imagine if Humanity were to introduce an inter-galactic race to the Council. The benefits we could reap!" </script>
[["Speaking of benefits..."]]
[["Okey dokey."]]
[[Let Hu talk|As usual]]
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Speaking of benefits, who's gonna reap the benefits of my efforts this time? You? Some N7 punk? Maybe the secretary you're shagging this week?" </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"Don't be dense. No one is going to shower praise on (if: $moral is true) [a junkie](if: $disobedience is true) [an insubordinate](if: $desertion is true) [a deserter]. Besides, as far as the Alliance is concerned, you are a non-factor." </script>
[[Continue|As usual]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Okay, boss man. I'll get it done." </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"See that you do." </script>
[[Continue|As usual]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"As usual, practice extreme discretion. Tell no one about the true nature of your mission, not even your mother, if such a person still exists." </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You chuckle. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"What, did you forget? I'm your best operative." </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"You're the closest operative to the target, that's what you are. Above all, you're expendable, and don't you forget it. Now get going, before the other races catch wind of this." </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hu ends the transmission. You sigh. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Yeah, love you too, pookey." </script>
[[Continue|Memory lane]]<script>
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<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You lean back on your chair and think back to the events that brought you to this point: </script>
(if: $moral is true) [<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You always believed you had what it takes to be one of the best soldiers in the Alliance. Even when you were climbing the hellish ranks of the ICT program, you were able to handle the pressure for the most part, while your peers became fewer and fewer.
That all changed when you reached N6. Now, only the cream of the crop remained, and in each one of your peers, you saw a better version of you. You started to lag behind, exhaustion slowly numbing your senses. You needed something to take off the edge, something to give you that extra boost you needed. Red Sand was your answer.
It started off light, buying small amounts in back-alleys while ashore. Soon enough, your need for the drug supplanted your need to become N7. One day, you cracked. You usually dusted up out-of-sight right before the mission, but that mission was a particularly rough one.
Fighting invading Blue Suns at a research facility, you felt your power quickly fading.  "One quick top-off wouldn't hurt." You thought. You were wrong. Someone spotted you, even in the heat of battle. They reported you, and your fate was sealed.</script>
[[Continue|Party over]]](if: $disobedience is true) [<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">When you heard of your invitation to the ICT program, you were elated. You believed it was a chance to better yourself, to work with the best the Alliance had to offer, and that was exactly what you got. It was challenging, sometimes overwhelming, but you powered through. When you reached N6, however, your belief in humanity's finest began to erode.
As you went on training missions throughout the galaxy, you were assigned to what your training revealed as inferior officers. Petty, bull-headed, malicious even. They were people who let their ego drive them, rather then the other way around. Â
Your boiling point came at a mission on the Batarian colony Camala. Receiving reports that the SSV Iwo Jima was downed, your squad was sent to look for survivors. You were travelling there under the authority of a especially nasty Commander.
When you arrived at the crash site, your squad was sent to investigate. While approaching the ship, you sensed that something was off. An ambush. As squad leader, you ordered a quick retreat, but the Commander ordered you to push forward. You refused and began to pull back. Your two squad mates couldn't decide who to listen to, and stayed put. That's when the Blue Suns struck.
Those two squad mates got hit the hardest, and though you managed to repel the attack and get them to safety, they didn't make it. Upon return to your ship, you were immediately put in restraints and sent to the brig. Apparently the Commander was busy reporting your insubordination while you were fighting for your life, and your fate was sealed.</script>
[[Continue|Party over]]](if: $desertion is true) [<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Deathly bored with a prospectless military career, you took the ICT invitation as a welcome challenge. The program was quite challenging, but you took it in stride. It was all a game to you, and you kept winning. That is, until you reached N6.
It started innocently enough: A patrol in the Phoenix Massing. You let your hair down in your quarters, looking out into infinite space. Then you saw it. It was small at first, almost imperceptible. The longer you looked, however, the more you realized something that your extensive training could not mistake: A Geth ship. Alerting your fellow squad mates to your discovery, you were only met with derision.
"A Geth ship? Beyond the Perseus Veil? You're out of your mind."Â They told you. Undeterred, you went to the Commander of the ship, who quickly brushed you off. "I've been flying around these parts for five years. Unless we deliberately go though the Veil, we'll be fine."Â
But you were unconvinced. You know what you saw. A Geth ship on your path. "If they take us by surprise, we won't know what hit us." You thought to yourself. You joined the ICT for a challenge, not a suicide mission. You quickly packed your supplies and made your way to the shuttle dock, roughing up anyone who dared to stop you.
After you gained some distance with the shuttle, you dared to look back at the ship. Then it happened: The Geth appeared as if from thin air, and seemingly swallowed the ship whole. You managed to crash land on Aite, and were put under arrest the moment you reached Alliance space. As it turns out, the ship's Commander managed to report your desertion before the ship was destroyed, and that sealed your fate.</script>
[[Continue|Party over]]]
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<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You open your eyes. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"No time for pity parties."</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You think to yourself.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Gonna need some extra hands on deck for this one. Better tell [[Marek]]."</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You head to the small cockpit and find Marek steering the ship to no particular destination. A still ship is a dead ship, after all.Â
You recall your first meeting with the unsightly Vorcha. An Asari hookup on Omega had gone very, very wrong, and you were in an especially foul mood. You took off in the De Trop and fell asleep at the cockpit with a bottle of Asari Hard Liquor.
Several hours later, you woke up to the sound of something scurrying in one of the vents. "Great, picked up vermin" you thought to yourself.
What you found was not far off the mark. Marek was cramped in a position you didn't think was physically possible, and you forced him out into the open.  </script>
[[Continue|Marek2]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Marek struck you as different than other Vorcha you've encountered. Rather than attacking you, thus ending his already pitifully short existence, Marek just sat there, mocking you.
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:yellow;">"What you wait for? Shoot me, stupid!"</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">he said, followed by a hurl of creative, grammatically incorrect insults directed at every member of your immediate family. Â
You found his brand of irreverence to be oddly endearing. It's nothing that a projectile to the back of the head can't fix if it ever gets out of hand. To Marek's astonishment, you decided to keep him around. Â
A childhood spent around ships on the starcraft cemetery known as Korlus has turned you into a damn good pilot, even before you joined the Alliance, but someone has to fly the ship while you get your drink on, so that's what you taught Marek. He proved to be a capable pilot.</script>
[[Continue|Marek3]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:yellow;">"Mission interesting, huh boss?"</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Marek greets you as you approach.</script>
[["So you were eavesdropping?"]]
[["Stay outta my business Marek, for your own safety."]]
[[Shrug it off|To Omega]]
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You pull out your sidearm and aim it at the back of Marek's head. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:yellow;">"Me no listen boss. Me lucky guess!"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You don't feel like scraping Vorcha brains off of the cockpit, and therefore decide that Marek's answer is adequate. You holster your sidearm.</script>
[[Continue|To Omega]]
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:yellow;">"Safety? Ha! Me Vorcha. By the time danger finds me, me already dead."</script>
[[Continue|To Omega]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"We have business in Omega. Take us there."Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:yellow;">"Aye aye, Boss."Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You turn to leave, but Marek has more to say. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:yellow;">"Boss?"Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Yeah?"Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:yellow;">""Why Hu man call you expendable?""Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You sigh. No harm in telling him. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"When someone calls you expendable, they expect you to do everything in your power to prove that you're not."Â </script>
[[Continue|Bribe Time]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You throw yourself against your rock-hard bed, and look around your quarters. The De Trop, which you won in an underground Quasar game, is a far cry from even the smaller Alliance vessels.
Your childhood on Korlus managed to work in your favor. After a few run-and-gun trips to your home planet, your ship was finally space worthy. It's useless in a fight, but it is fast, with an even faster escape pod.
Nonetheless, your ship is in a desperate need for a tune up, and the money Hu pays you barely covers your basic needs. Â
Your datapad chimes, and you pick it up. Two new messages have appeared in your inbox. You open the {
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"Congratulations. We understand you were tasked with a very important mission. Contrary to what Vice Admiral Haikou believes, introducing a new alien race to this galaxy is not in humanity's best interests. We have enough trouble setting ourselves apart from the other races as it is. If this new species' presence in our galaxy would prove to be short lived, the person responsible will be well compensated."</script>
[[Open the second message]]<script>
A.t['message'].play();
</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:#CFB53B;">"Your mission is a fool's errand. The Alliance acts like a house pet, bringing gifts to their Council masters for a smidgen of attention. This discovery must be used to benefit Humanity. Secure the alien ship and transmit its coordinates to the attached address. Your reward will be substantial."</script>
[[Continue|Drink to decide]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You could definitely use the extra income. Paint the aliens as extremely hostile, and Hu won't suspect that you intentionally sabotaged the mission. Then again, who's to say that these messages are legitimate? You decide that a shot of Ryncol will help you make up your mind. Or pass out. Either one works. </script>
[[Continue|Omega]]<script>A.t['detrop'].stop();
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<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You touch down on one of Omega's landing docks, and you take in the acrid air into your lungs. Omega is the closest thing you have to a home.
Normally you'd stretch your legs and catch up on the latest happenings in one of the districts, but seeing as your next paycheck is living on borrowed time, you decide to get down to business: Recruiting drunk, non-discerning mercenaries.
Besides, the longer you stay on Omega, the more likely it is that someone will try to steal your ship.
</script>
[[Go to the Afterlife Club]]<script>A.t['omega'].stop();
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<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">The Afterlife club greets you with especially loud techno music. You wish you had access to the DJ station so you could shoot them in the face. In the meantime, you tune it out. </script>
[[Go to the bar]]<script>A.t['afterlife'].volume(0.25)
</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You find your favorite Hanar bartender, Taxol, and hand him a credit chip.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:pink;">"This one thanks you."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You initially found the idea of a poisonous jellyfish handling your drinks uncomfortable, but Taxol has proven itself to be a good asset. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Any discreet, affordable mercs I should know about?"Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Taxol points a tentacle to a Salarian figure sitting on the other end of the bar. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:pink;">"That one is known as Fistur, a Lysenthi. This one has heard tales. Brutally efficient, but hard to work with."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Got it. Anyone else?"Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Taxol points another tentacle to an Asari sitting with her back to you on the second floor.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:pink;">"That one is new to Omega, but claims to be a mercenary. This one knows not much else."Â </script>
[[Check your credit balance]]
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Even on the lowest market rate, you can only afford to hire one mercenary. Shit. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Hey Taxol, make me a Quad Kicker, will ya?</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Taxol fixes you the drink, and you gulp it down. Time to work your magic. </script>
[[Approach Fistur]]
[[Approach the Asari]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You make your way towards Fistur. At first glance, the tactically dressed Lysenthi doesn't seem any different from his Salarian counterparts. Nonetheless, A full examination of their biological difference would have to wait.
You are now facing Fistur's back. He seems to be aware of your presence, but isn't acknowledging it. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">You're Fistur, right? </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Fistur continues to ignore you.</script>(set: $fisturtalked to true)
[["Damn, you ugly."]]
[["I think you'd want to hear what I have to say."]]
[[Tap him on the shoulder]]
<script>A.t['afterlife'].stop();
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A.t['afterlifefistur'].loop(true);
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<script>A.t['afterlifefistur'].volume(0.25)
</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You make your way to the second floor, to the place where you last saw her. You find her sitting in a small booth by herself, wearing an alluring silky robe. You've seen plenty of beautiful Asaris before, but she definitely takes the cake. She might even give the fabled Consort a run for her money.Â
You sit down confidently beside her.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"Before you say anything, know that I am Ardat-Yakshi. While I do not carry the fatal variation of the gene, mating with me can still be extremely painful."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Taken aback by her sudden revelation, you slowly regain your composure.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Hello to you too."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"I apologize for my bluntness. I felt it necessary to share this with you before you make any attempt at courtship."</script>
[["I'm triggered."]]
[["That's not what I'm here for."]]
[[Shrug it off|I'm Yayi]]
(set: $yayitalked to true)
<script>A.t['afterlife'].stop();
A.t['afterlifefistur'].stop();
A.t['afterlife2f'].loop(true);
A.t['afterlife2f'].play();
</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Is is true that Lysenthi are even uglier than regular Salarians, or is that just a rumor?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"I try not to kill anyone unless I'm being paid to, but for you, human, I'll make an exception."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"He speaks! Wow!"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You start clapping.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"For your next feat, try to take a joke."</script>
[["I have a job for you."]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"And why would I want to do that?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I can make it worth your while."</script>
[["I have a job for you."]]
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You tap Fistur's shoulder with the ferociousness of a Bengal tiger. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"Unless you're trying to get yourself killed, which I will happily oblige, I suggest you keep your hands to yourself."</script>
[["I have a job for you."]]
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"I don't work with humans."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Bummer! I thought we could be best friends."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"Begone."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Looks like you need a new approach.</script>
[[Appeal to his business acumen]]
[[Appeal to his violent tendencies]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"How's business going for ya, Fistur?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Fistur remains silent.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I heard you have quite the reputation. Hard to work with, they say. That can't be good for your employability. Being Lysenthi doesn't do you any favors, either."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"Your point being?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I'm willing to look past that and hire you. Yeah, I'm that good of a person."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"I told you, I don't work with humans."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I'm willing to look past that and hire you. Yeah, I'm that good of a person."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Think of it like this: Play nice with me, and you show that you can play nice with others. I'll even put in a good word for you, make you employable again."</script>
[[Continue|Fistur is convinced]]
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"You have quite the reputation, Fistur. Brutally efficient, they say."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"I get the job done."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"The thing is, most mercs settle on just being efficient. No one is brutal unless they want to be."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"Your point being?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"This job may very well go south, and if it does, well, there's gonna be a whole lot of killing going on. Don't know about your past employers, but I don't really care how messy it gets."</script>
[[Continue|Fistur is convinced]]
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You can't get a good look at Fistur's face with his back turned to you, but the fact he hasn't shot you yet seems to indicate he's at least considering your proposition.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"What's the job?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Fistur remains silent for a few seconds, then finally turns to face you. If it weren't for years of instilled military discipline, you would recoil. You never knew one face could hold so many scars. One of his horns seems to have been violently torn off. A portion of his jaw is missing, revealing teeth and sinew.  </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"The rate?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You draw a figure on a napkin and show it to him. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"Acceptable."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You take a look at his blood red eyes, which may be his worst feature. He has the looks of someone addicted to death. Is Fistur really the best choice for this mission? (unless: $yayitalked is true) [Maybe you should talk to the Asari first before making up your mind.]</script>
[[Hire Fistur]]
[[Buy some time|Fistur Stall]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You transfer the credits over to Fistur.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Welcome to the party, pal."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You turn and walk towards the exit. Fistur follows you. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I'm Burr Abelard, by the way."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"I don't care."</script>
[[Return to the De Trop]]
(set: $pickedFistur to true)<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"You know what, I just realized that I gotta take a leak, so let me go do that and I'll be right back."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You walk away from a confused Fistur.</script>
{(if: $yayitalked is true)[(link-goto: "Gather your thoughts") ](else:)[(link-goto: "Approach the Asari") ]}
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"And I said: "Don't come between me and my Asati date!" And the C-Sec officer said "That's not an Asari, that's a Keeper." Then I said "She sure is!" Anyway, that's how I got banned from the Citadel. Ain't gonna drink Mindfish again, I'll tell ya that much"</script>
{(if: $pickedFistur is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"I didn't ask for in-flight entertainment."</script> ](else:)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"Should you really be drinking before the mission?"</script>]}
(if: $pickedYayi is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"This is lightweight stuff. Don't worry about it!"</script>]
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You can hear Marek's voice coming from the cockpit.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:yellow;">"Boss, boss! This it!"</script>
[[Head to the cockpit]]
<script>A.t['afterlife'].stop();
A.t['afterlifefistur'].stop();
A.t['afterlife2f'].stop();
A.t['detrop'].loop(true);
A.t['detrop'].play();
</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"You know, that's very offensive! Here I was, coming to talk to you about a completely different subject, and you automatically assume that I'm trying to bed you. Is this how Asari view us humans?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">The Asari blushes.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"I'm terribly sorry to have misjudged you."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Well, maybe you can make it up for me."</script>
[[Continue|I'm Yayi]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"Oh?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">The Asari blushes.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I'll give you another guess."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">The Asari purses her lips</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"Are you a talent agent?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I... guess you can call me that."</script>
[[Continue|I'm Yayi]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"Please allow me to clear the air. My name is Yayi Lenda."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Burr Abelard"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"Abelard. Such an interesting name."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"It's French."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"French?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"It's an Earth... human... thing. Forget I said anything."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"What do you wish to discuss with me?"</script>
[["The whole Ardat-Yakshi thing, for starters."]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I wanted to to discuss a potential job with you... but let's circle back to the whole Ardat-Yakshi thing. Shouldn't you be holed up at a monastery somewhere?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"That is true. Upon discovery of my condition, I was given the option of death, or life in a monastery. I chose the latter, and there I stayed for 300 years. Life was peaceful, and so was I."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"What changed?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"I was offered the chance to reintegrate into Asari society thanks to my good behavior."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">That's good though, right? Your face is telling me the opposite."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"There was a Justicar who regularly visited the monastery, transporting captured Ardat-Yakshi. She was extremely prejudiced against us, and when she heard I was to be released, she cornered me and said that if I were to leave the monastery, she would track me down and kill me. I felt that I had earned my freedom, so I made my escape right under her nose."</script>
[[Continue|Bad job]]
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"And now you've come to Omega, hoping to restart your life."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"Correct."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"You're not doing a very good job at it."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"How so?"</script>
[[Threaten to turn her in]]
[["You got bad PR."]]
[[Isn't it obvious?]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"You're painting yourself as a target with your opening confessional. What's to stop me from tipping off the Justicars?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You suddenly feel a pointed object against your neck. Upon a quick glance, you discover a small knife floating in mid-air, and notice a sheath full of similar knives on Yayi's thigh.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"Life in the monastery could be quite dull, so I passed the time by crafting a variety of tools, including knives. They are very effective."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Point taken."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">The knife returns to its sheath. </script>
[[Continue|Moving on]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Try not to open every conversation with "Hi, I'm an Ardat-Yakshi on the lam." It will be used against you."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"I see what you're saying, but I feel that it is my moral duty to inform any potential suitor of my condition. Besides, I can fend for myself."</script>
[[Continue|Moving on]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You give Yayi a look that says as much.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"Do humans often stop in the middle of conversations to make a funny face?"</script>
[[Continue|Moving on]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You had a chance to talk to both Yayi and Fistur. Which one are you going to pick?</script>
[[Pick Fistur]]
[[Pick Yayi]]
<script>A.t['afterlifefistur'].stop();
A.t['afterlife2f'].stop();
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"Now that you know my story, I want to hear yours. That job you mentioned?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I'm meeting some fellas new to this area, and I need someone to back me up in case it turns ugly."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"I hope you're not counting on the meeting going awry."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Excuse me?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"I've only been on Omega a short while, but I have met a fair share of bloodthirsty mercenaries, looking for any excuse to pull the trigger. Are you one of them?"Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Who, me? I'm all about love and peace. And money."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Yayi chuckles.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"At least you have a sense of humor."</script>
[[Continue|Yayi is convinced]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Is Yayi suitable for this mission? She seems capable, but her lack of experience makes you uneasy, not to mention her "condition". (unless: $fisturtalked is true)[Maybe you should see what Fistur is like.]</script>
[[Hire Yayi]]
[[Buy some time|Yayi Stall]]
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"So Yayi, what's it's gonna take to get you on my team?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">She gives you an amount and you make the transfer.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Job starts now. Follow me."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You leave Afterlife with Yayi in tow.</script>
[[Return to the De Trop]]
(set: $pickedYayi to true)<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"On second thought, I'm not sure if you're right for this job."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Yayi seems disappointed. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"I understand. I'll be here if you change your mind."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You get up and walk away. </script>
{(if: $fisturtalked is true)[(link-goto: "Gather your thoughts") ](else:)[(link-goto: "Approach Fistur") ]}<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You return to Fistur.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"Have you fixed your leak, human?"
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Wha? Oh yeah, it'll all patched up."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You transfer the credits over to Fistur.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Welcome to the party, pal."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You turn and walk towards the exit. Fistur follows you. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I'm Burr Abelard, by the way."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"I don't care."</script>
[[Return to the De Trop]]
<script>
A.t['afterlife'].loop(true);
A.t['afterlife'].play();
</script>
(set: $pickedFistur to true)<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You return to Yayi.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">"Abelard! Have you changed your mind?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Indeed I have. What's it's gonna take to get you on my team?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">She gives you an amount and you make the transfer.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Job starts now. Follow me."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You leave Afterlife with Yayi in tow.</script>
[[Return to the De Trop]]
<script>
A.t['afterlife2f'].loop(true);
A.t['afterlife2f'].play();
</script>
(set: $pickedYayi to true)<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Though you feel a little tipsy from the Noverian Rum you just had, what you see sobers you up instantly.
Hu said that the aliens came here in a ship, but this doesn't look like any ship you've ever seen. A large pooling of a constantly moving metallic liquid, suspended in space. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Marek, are you sure this is the ship we're looking for?"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:yellow;">"Yes boss. These coordinates that Hu man sent."Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"If this ends up to be a black hole or something, I'm gonna haunt Hu's ass. Take us in, nice and slow."</script>
[[Approach the ship]]
<script>
A.t['detrop'].stop();
A.t['vessic'].loop(true);
A.t['vessic'].play();
</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">The De Trop proceeds towards the strange ship. As you you approach the liquid, it slowly changes it properties and turns into a mist-like substance, allowing you passage through.
You emerge through the other end. A smooth large cylinder floats in the midst of an endless gray void. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"That must be the ship. See if you can find an opening."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">TMarek takes you closer. The smooth surface caves in on itself to create an opening just big enough for your ship. You land in a dimly lit space.</script>
{(if: $pickedFistur is true)[(link-goto: "Showtime") ](else:)[(link-goto: "Let's mosey") ]}<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You disembark with Fistur in tow. The space suddenly lights up, looking surprisingly like a run-of-the-mill Alliance landing dock.
Through a door at the other end of the dock, five furry, three-legged, one-eyed creatures emerge. They're definitely not from this galaxy.Â
The creatures advance in unison. The one in the middle forms membranes over its large eye, simulating a mouth.</script>
[[Continue|WTF]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You disembark with Yayi in tow.
The space suddenly lights up, looking surprisingly like a run-of-the-mill Alliance landing dock. Through a door at the other end of the dock, five furry, three-legged, one-eyed creatures emerge.
They're definitely not from this galaxy. The creatures advance in unison. The one in the middle forms membranes over its large eye, simulating a mouth. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">"Welcome, Human and Asari!"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You quint. Though your omni tool translator isn't working, you can understand the creature, as it is speaking in English! </script>
[["How is this possible?"]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Before it can say anything, however, its eye explodes in a gory spectacle, spraying a golden brown liquid on its compatriots.Â
You swiftly turn back and spot Fistur, shotgun in hand, still warm from the discharge.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"What the fuck?!"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"I wasn't in the mood for a conversation."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You definitely pissed the creatures off, as they begin spewing projectiles from the corners of their eyes, hitting your shield. You and Fistur prove to be more than an adequate match, and make short work of them. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"Let's go greet the rest of the ship."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Before you get a chance to protest, Fistur takes the lead, disappearing through the door the aliens came out from. </script>
[[Follow Fistur]]
<script>A.t['vessic'].pause();
A.t['battle'].loop(true);
A.t['battle'].play();
</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Fistur takes you through every accessible area of the ship, methodically wiping out any resistance like a one-man genocide machine.Â
You eventually reach a large open area at the center of the ship, and encounter what you surmise to be the leader of these creatures, as it is 5 times their size. As you expected, Fistur takes the "Shoot first, then keep shooting" approach.
You're tempted to let him take on the damned thing by himself, but you change your mind once the leader turns its attention to you. It growls a command in a strange language, and you find yourself floating in mid-air. The gravity modulator was turned off. </script>
[[Continue|Boss Battle]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You spend the rest of the battle in zero-g, struggling to find your bearing and get a good shot at the leader's eye. A combined attack from you and Fistur brings the creature to its metaphorical knees.Â
The leader turns its great eye towards you, and you feel it sizing you up, judging you. Fistur drives his omni-blade through the leader's eye, and life quickly drains from it. Â
Fistur turns around and makes his way towards the ship, but you have words for him. </script>
[["Fistur!"]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Fistur stops in his place and turns to face you. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"What the hell is wrong is with you?!"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"Do you have any complaints about my performance?"</script>
[["I'm the leader!"]]
[["You're damn right I do, you bloodthirsty maniac!"]]
[[Stare at him angrily]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I'm paying you. That means you follow my lead, not the other way around."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"I did what I was paid to do. It's not my fault you lack proper command skills."</script>
[[Continue|You humans]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I told you not to use force unless we have to. This was supposed to be a fact-finding mission, not a murder party!"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"You wanted to know whether or not these creatures are a threat. Well, they're not anymore. You're welcome."</script>
[[Continue|You humans]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"Angry stares don't make for good constructive criticism."</script>
[[Continue|You humans]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:red;">"This is why I don't work with you humans. You never mean what you say. Don't fool yourself: You knew exactly what you were getting when you hired me. I live for three things: A warm meal, a warm bed, and the warm blood of my enemies. If that's something you can't handle, then next time, hire an Asari wet-nurse ."Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Before you can say anything else, Fistur disappears through the door. </script>
[[Continue|Transmit]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Seeing as you cleared the ship, you feel it couldn't hurt to transmit its coordinates to the anonymous source that requested it.Â
As you make your leave, you notice a small, shimmering circular object at the corner of your eye. You pick it up and pocket it. It could fetch a nifty price on the black market. </script>
[[Back to the De Trop]]
(set: $vessickilled to true)
<script>A.t['battle'].stop();
A.t['vessic'].loop(true);
A.t['vessic'].play();
</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You sit in front of your holo display, waiting for the call with Hu to be connected.
Hu's face appears on the display.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"Abelard. I trust you have quite the report."</script>
(if: $vessickilled is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Sorry to break it to ya Hu, but these assholes did not come in peace. Moment I made contact with them, they started firing. Didn't even say hello. I wouldn't even be here talking to you had I not made a smart choice with my hired gun. It was kill or be killed Hu. There was no other way."</script>](if: $vessicbanished is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I must say Hu, you really screwed the pooch on this one."</script>](if: $vessicsigned is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I made contact with the alien species called Vessic. They are quite friendly, and have indicated that they would like to build a relationship with humanity."</script>]
(if: $vessickilled is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"And what of the ship?"</script>](if: $vessicbanished is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hu's furrows his brow.</script>](if: $vessicsigned is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"Excellent work! Anything else?"</script>]
(if: $vessickilled is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"You didn't tell me to do anything about the ship, so I left it as soon as the coast was clear."</script>](if: $vessicbanished is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"How so?"</script>](if: $vessicsigned is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Yeah. They made me sign this contract with them. Something about sharing their exclusive technology with us."</script>]
[[Continue|Debriefing]]
<script>A.t['vessic'].stop();
A.t['detrop'].loop(true);
A.t['detrop'].play();
</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">"We have been studying you for quite some time."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">The creature presents you with what looks to be a digital guestbook. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">"Please sign in."</script>
[[Sign in]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">"Follow me please, Hamon would like to see you."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You quickly glance at Yayi, who is as befuddled as you are. You follow the creatures through the dock door. </script>
[[Continue|Meet Hamon]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">They lead you to a large, open space. You recognize it instantly as the bridge of an Alliance dreadnought. A significantly larger Vessic turns to face you.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">"Burr Abelard! Yayi Lenda! Welcome to our vessel! My name is Hamon, and I am what you can call the captain. Do you like the presentation? We wanted to make sure that we meet in a setting familiar to you. Come, sit, sit!"Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hamon directs you to an Alliance conference room table surrounded by executive seats. </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">"Firstly, allow me to introduce ourselves. Our species is called Vessic. We come from a galaxy you Humans call "Hoag's Object". We travel from galaxy to galaxy, hoping to share our proprietary technologies with other promising species." </script>
[[Continue|Basicly]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"So you're basically intergalactic door-to-door salesmen."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">"If that definition puts you more at ease, then sure!"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"So why this galaxy? Why now?"Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">"You are the reason. In the two decades since you've become a spacefaring species, humanity has grown at an unparalleled rate. While other races took centuries to become a galactic powerhouse, you only took eight. That is why we've decided to offer you this priceless opportunity."Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">"One of the Vessic places a pen and a stack of papers in front of you."Â </script>
[[Continue|Contract]]
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">"We are offering humanity an exclusive distribution contract. We want to share our technology with you."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"Why is this offer only extended to Humans? Surely you've considered the Asari."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">"We mean no offence to you. The Asari are a respectable species, with a rich and storied history, but you are the past. Humanity is the future!"Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"Offence... still taken."Â </script>
[[Continue|Decisions]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You look down at the contract with a confused look on your face. You couldn't imagine this scenario even in your most drunken state.Â
On one hand, this could mean humanity's biggest leap forward since the Prothean discovery on Mars. Signing the contract also falls within the mission parameters set by Hu: Establishing a diplomatic relationship.
On the other hand, this contract sounds too good to be true. A benevolent being coming out of nowhere to bestow its favors on a fledgling race? Sounds like fairy tale fluff. Perhaps they are masking their true intentions.Â
Somehow, this fateful decision has fallen into your lap. What will you do? </script>
[[Sign the contract]]
[[Reject the offer]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You quickly skim through the contract. Seems like a standard trade agreement, down to the legal language.
Signing a contract on behalf of your entire race seems utterly ridiculous, but hey, anything to complete the mission. You pick up the pen and quickly jot down your name on the last page.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">Superb!</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hamon picks out a shimmering, circular object from his fur and slides it to your end of the table.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">"Please accept this as a token of our newfound relationship: A sample of our technology."Â </script>
[["What does it do?"]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">If there's one thing life taught you, is that when something sounds too good to be true, it is. You stand up and slam your fist on the table.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"How stupid do you take me for, Hamon? You say you only want to deal with humans, but what's stopping you from turning around and sharing the same technology with the Batarians, or the Vorcha, or even the Geth? For all I know, you could be planning to instigate a galactic arms race, picking up the pieces once we've turned each other to space junk!"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"You judge them prematurely, Abelard. Give them a chance to prove their intentions."Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Shut up Yayi. This isn't your decision to make."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Yayi frowns. You didn't win any brownie points with her.</script>
[[Continue|Fuck off]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Listen here, Hamon. You can take your contract and shove it up your furry ass! Furthermore, you're going to leave this galaxy, and if you ever show your faces, or eyes or whatever, in the Milky Way again, you'd wish you never left your stinking shithole of a galaxy!"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hamon's simulated mouth turns into a sad smile.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">"We understand. Our sales pitch isn't for everyone."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hamon picks out a shimmering, circular object from his fur and slides it to your end of the table.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">"Please accept this navigational tool as a token of our good will. It is a sample of our technology."</script>
[[Send it back]]<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;"><div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">You reach out to the object to send it back to Hamon, but Yayi quickly snatches it from you.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"I will accept this on Abelard's behalf. Thank you."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Before you get a chance to protest, Yayi walks out of the room. Having nothing left to say, you follow suit. </script>
[[Back to the De Trop]]
(set: $vessicbanished to true)<div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">"It is will help you navigate your course."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You pocket the device.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Thanks, I guess? I'll... see you around."Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:grey;">"Absolutley! Take care!"</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You stand up and walk towards the exit with Yayi.</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I trust you'll keep quiet about this."Â </script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:purple;">"No one will believe me even if I told them."Â </script>
[[Back to the De Trop]]
(set: $vessicsigned to true)(if: $vessickilled is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hu brings up photos of where the ship used to be on the display.</script>](if: $vessicbanished is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"When the aliens saw me, they became quite upset. They were expecting an official Alliance delegation to greet them, not some roguishly handsome mercenary. They kicked me off their ship and skipped town. It pains me to say this, especially since I like your money and all, but you should have gone with someone else for this mission."</script>](if: $vessicsigned is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"That's... odd. I'll send an Alliance ship to meet with them. They'll hammer out the rest of the details."</script>]
(if: $vessickilled is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"The ship disappeared not long after you did. How do you explain this?"Â </script>](if: $vessicbanished is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"I see. This is quite troubling. Perhaps you're right."</script>](if: $vessicsigned is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hu's hologram seems to be pushing some buttons. You hear the elating ping of incoming credits and check your account.</script>]
(if: $vessickilled is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Hey, don't look at me! That whole area is a pirate haven. I've seen pirates abscond with ships faster than it takes you to brew your morning coffee."</script>](if: $vessicbanished is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hu's hologram seems to be pushing some buttons. You hear the elating ping of incoming credits and check your account. </script>](if: $vessicsigned is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Hey Hu, how 'bout a little extra, seeing as I did so well?"</script>]
(if: $vessickilled is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"I don't brew my morning coffee. My secretary does that for me."</script>
[[Continue|Hu out]]](if: $vessicbanished is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Wait a minute Hu, this isn't my usual rate!"Â </script>
[[Continue|Hu out]]](if: $vessicsigned is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hu scoffs.</script>
[[Continue|Hu out]]]
(if: $vessickilled is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Oh secretary no. 5462? How is she by the way? Such a sweetheart."Â </script>](if: $vessicbanished is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"I deducted a portion of your pay. I assumed that you would be more than willing to cover the cost of the spa retreat I am taking in order to recover from my grievous error in judgement. Very generous of you, by the way.".</script>]
(if: $vessicsigned is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"You're just like my secretary, asking me for gifts and trinkets. She gets in bed with a senior officer and expects a prize! It's your job, for God's sake!"</script>](if: $vessicbanished is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hu's hologram disappears. You wonder if the Alliance has an annual asshole contest, with Hu is its undisputed champion.
[[Angrily stomp your way to your quarters]]]</script>
(if: $vessickilled is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hu's hologram seems to be pushing some buttons. You hear the elating ping of incoming credits and check your account. </script>]
(if: $vessickilled is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Wait a minute Hu, this isn't my usual rate!"</script>](if: $vessicsigned is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hu's hologram cuts off before you get a chance to tell him about the Alliance's security leaks. Oh, well.</script>
[[Get drunk in your quarters]]]
(if: $vessickilled is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"I've deducted a significant portion from your pay due to the undesirable outcome. Be thankful that I am not withholding pay entirely."</script>]
(if: $vessickilled is true)[<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hu's hologram disappears. Looks like he didn't buy your cover up story.</script>
[[Go sulk in your quarters]]]
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You lay down in your bed and look at the latest message you received on your datapad.</script>Â
</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:#CFB53B;">"The alien ship has been secured. You made a difference today. Keep up the good work, and you may earn your place with us."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">The message is signed with a familiar logo... Cerberus.
You check your credit balance, and your eyes widen. This is more than Hu ever paid you. Getting in bed with Cerberus doesn't seem like such a bad idea when you're this well paid.Â
A {
(link: 'low beeping noise')[
<script>A.t['device'].play();</script>
(goto: 'Device Activates')
]
} catches your attention.</script>
<script>
A.t['message'].play();</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You lay down in your bed and look at the latest message you received on your datapad.</script>Â
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:#D2691E;">"Tremendous work! That's one less problem for us humans to worry about. Know that you have made friends in Terra Firma."</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Terra Firma?! Those seclusionist nutcases?
You check your credit balance, and your eyes widen. This is more than Hu ever paid you. Getting into bed with Terra Firma doesn't seem like such a bad idea when you're this well paid.
A {
(link: 'low beeping noise')[
<script>A.t['device'].play();</script>
(goto: 'Device Activates')
]
} catches your attention.</script>
<script>
A.t['message'].play();</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You lie down on your bed and feel your stomach rumbling. Your meager paycheck will barely cover ship repairs, let alone edible food. You sigh and grab a can of Salarian beer, hoping that the contract you signed with the Vessics will aid you in the long run.
A {
(link: 'low beeping noise')[
<script>A.t['device'].play();</script>
(goto: 'Device Activates')
]
} catches your attention.</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;"><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">The sound came from the small device you got at the (if: $vessickilled is true)[alien](else:)[Vessic] ship. You walk towards it and examine it. Suddenly the device opens up in your hands, and you are engulfed in {
(link: 'bright green light')[
<script>A.t['flash'].play();</script>
(goto: 'Green Flash')
]
} .</script>
[[ <center><h1>Navigate</h1></center>|Navigate]]
<script>A.t['detrop'].stop();
A.t['travel'].loop(true);
A.t['travel'].play();
</script></script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">
You open your eyes and find yourself lying on top of a holo display, with an empty bottle of Batarian Ale staring at you. You wipe down your drool and look around. This scene seems familiar.
You remember the device you were holding just a few seconds ago and search for it, but it is nowhere to be found.
The beeping noise from the holo display is driving you mad. </script>
[[Patch Hu through]]
<script>A.t['beep'].play();
</script>
<script>A.t['travel'].stop();
A.t['detrop'].loop(true);
A.t['detrop'].play();
</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hu's visage appears on the display.
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Hu, if you're going to tell me I have to go meet up with an unidentified alien race, I am seriously going to lose my shit."
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Hu is genuinely shocked.
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"How... how did you know?!"
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"Gotta go Hu."
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:teal;">"Wait!"
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">You cut Hu's feed before he can say anything else.
</script>
[[Run to the cockpit]]
<script>A.t['beep'].stop();
</script><div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Your frantic running almost makes you crash into Marek.
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:yellow;">"Boss? You drunk?"
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:green;">"I wish I was. Take us to the Titan Nebula, now!"
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:yellow;">"You crazy boss, so okay."
</script>
<div style="font-size:12pt;color:white;">Marek makes the necessary course corrections.
One way or another, you're going back to that (if: $vessickilled is true)[alien](else:)[Vessic] ship, and you're going to get some [[answers.]]
</script><script>A.t['detrop'].stop();
</script>
Thank you for playing!
Mass Effect N6 was written by Daniel Caine.
I you would like to see more of my work, you can go to (link: "my website")[(goto-url: 'https://www.well-preparedproductions.com')] or my (link: "Youtube channel.")[(goto-url: 'https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrA03SXvPm6heDwtdZcNnXQ')]