Interesting Times - Chapter 50

October 30th, 2173

17:09 Illium Time

Illium, Tesale-System

Nos Astra

Ad Astra Branch HQ

I couldn't help the smile that appeared on my face as I read the reports from my operatives. They came in from around the Alliance territory, speaking of the first results of our actions against Eclipse. 

So far, everything seemed to go how I wanted, but I held no hopes that it would continue without any bumps along the road. 

Something like the mess that happened three days ago here on Illium. 

Some would call it a mission accomplished and be done with it, especially with the information we got from the leader of the group I sent for this mission after he woke up from his medically induced coma. Yet, it came much too close to failure to be truly happy. 

Those analyzing the battle were still arguing if it was the presence of the buffed-up mech or the drug-enhanced Asari that gave problems to the team. 

Both played their parts and were threats on their own, too. At least, that was my take on the situation. 

A warning to all active teams went out to keep their wits about them whenever they noticed something in that direction to not be surprised by a sudden shift during battles. 

My eyes flew over the notification that appeared on my datapad, and I let out an annoyed grunt as I read it. 

"Bad news, sir?" asked Commander Abebe, taking her eyes away from the big display in front of us showing half a dozen ongoing stake-outs to give me a sideglance. 

"One of my contacts inside the Illium Courts of Justice informed me that a judge had taken too much interest in our latest operations. First of all, the one where we took out Iyara Nesta. The officers coming to investigate after the turmoil we caused were sent on their way without much trouble, but they still made their reports. Furthermore, more than a few things got destroyed. We may have paid off the owners, but still... Anyway, it seems to me like this judge is taking an interest in our affairs not because of that, as I know nobody tried to sue us, and even if they did, we would have taken care of that outside the courts, but because of some political agenda. Maybe it's just a distraction by the Arbiter, but perhaps I can use it for our advantage." 

"How so, sir?" asked Abebe, and I sent a wry smile her way. 

"Don't know yet, but there's always a way to take advantage of a situation. You just have to learn what advantage you can take from it." 

"Not how?" 

"How would you figure out the how if you don't know what you want?" I asked in return and got a pensive hum back as a response. 

Commander Abebe thought about my counterquestion for a moment before she nodded to herself and returned to observing the main display. 

Since beginning to work more closely with her, I noticed some things about how Commander Abebe did things. For example, how she didn't answer some questions immediately but thought about the answer for a few moments longer than others would have done. From time to time, she didn't answer at all, like she had done now. 

The first time it happened, I was surprised, but I hadn't commented other than raising an eyebrow in response to her behavior and letting it go. 

The surprising thing was that she gave me her answer a few days later out of the blue. And it was a well-thought-out answer at that. 

When I asked her about it, she told me that whenever she had the chance, she tried to see if her thoughts were applicable in reality or needed to be adapted and modified. 

It was something her grandmother taught her when she was young, so she tried her best to keep it. 

Of course, her job didn't let her do it very often, as her position required quick decision-making skills, but she tried to do it when she had the chance. 

As I gave her a side glance, I could already see how she tried to apply my words in reality, and I was sure I would get her answer sooner rather than later. 

I looked down at my datapad before sighing and putting it on the small desk next to my chair. The rest of the updates about the operations against Eclipse in the Skyllian Verge could wait, as most would only talk about the preparations to raid new bases. I had already finished those about the finished operations, so I thought it would be better to concentrate on the ones right in front of me. 

After all, knowing how the Eclipse defenses of the base on planet XYZ were didn't help me in the slightest, as I wasn't the one going to attack it. 

That was one area I would always leave to the experts. 

The most I had done in the area was to get my personal shield updated to the newest model, or prototype without any performance issues, my company produced and to get better acquainted with the handgun Commander Abebe figuratively forced on me. 

I had never been very inclined to use or carry weapons, as that was what I paid my bodyguards for. 

Yet, the situation with Eclipse and the sudden attack on me right at the center of my power here on Illium showed me that it was better to be prepared for all kinds of situations than to be a sitting duck. 

That said, I wasn't completely unfamiliar with the use of guns. 

One couldn't produce as much as I did and not have an idea of how to use them. It would be quite embarrassing for me. 

Furthermore, some of the people I associated with were avid hunting fans and had invited me to one or two of them. That had been an interesting experience, but not impactful or fun enough for me to make hunting into one of my hobbies. 

To get back to my point, I knew how to hit the target, and after a few lessons under Commander Abebe's watchful eyes and instructions, my aim got good enough to hit the target's inner three circles consistently.

There was no way I would ever be able to take part in any military operation and come out of it alive if I was at the frontline, but that didn't bother me in the slightest. 

My battlefields were the conference rooms of the galaxy, and I liked to think that the position of the guy pulling the strings from the background suited me more by far. 

At least I could defend myself now if I got put into a situation where it was needed. 

I looked up toward the display spanning half of the wall before me, the same screen the Commander was observing. 

The screen divided itself into four bigger pictures in the middle, while the sides were occupied by three smaller ones on each side. 

The middle showed the same operation area from four different angles. The sides showed only one view from each of the six ongoing stake-out missions. A small white number at the top left of each picture was the only hint to identify which mission the recording belonged to. 

The numbers didn't tell me anything as I hadn't learned them by heart, but if I wanted to know, I just had to ask Commander Abebe, who did know. 

I saw no need to do so. 

Instead, I asked: "How are the preparations proceeding?" 

"Operations XLK 2 and 6 are ready as they come and can start at any moment, but the other four still need some time until I'm satisfied with the gathered information. I don't want any of my teams to run into something unexpected." 

"But we are still on schedule?" 

"Of course, the raids will start simultaneously at 2300. I have no doubt that the information I'm waiting for will be collected by then, and there will be nothing Eclipse can do to stop us. They expect us to only know about the locations they had abandoned. Not a single scout of theirs noticed our agents arriving while they evacuated and following them to their new bases." 

Getting Iyara Nesta's Omni-tool had been a lucky break for us. She definitely hadn't expected to die and for the Omni-tool to fall into their enemy's hands because it was a treasure trove for us. The information about bases, supply routes, and members wasn't anything to scoff at. 

Thanks to it, our operations against Eclipse had progressed more than the last few weeks together. 

Thankfully, our experts managed to crack the Omni-tool's encryption before the information on it became useless. Time had been the deciding factor. If it had taken too long, the information would have become useless or, even more dangerously, used against us. 

The thought that the information had been planted for us to find came up during discussions after deciphering the encryption, but that would have meant that Nesta considered the possibility of getting caught or killed, something that went against the psych-eval our analysts created. 

Another possibility had been that she was used as a pawn by the new commander of the Eclipse forces, but the amount of information found was too big for that to work. 

Besides, not even three hours after we got the information, our agents confirmed some of them to be correct, and over the next day, everything else was confirmed, too. 

After that, it happened in a flash. 

Agents and officers with enough experience with staying out of sight were sent to observe Eclipse's movements. 

In return, Eclipse, after disseminating the information of Nesta's death, scrambled to clear out their current bases, lending even more credit to the info we pulled out of the Omni-tool. 

Their orders were to observe and follow only, nothing else. 

Attacking them at that moment, during their relocation, would do far less damage to their cause and infrastructure than waiting until everything got relocated. 

This way, everything would be in one place instead of at least two. It would also help to focus our forces as they weren't endless, even if they were probably larger than Eclipse's. 

Furthermore, the chaos of their relocation would help us find connections to other places and people that hadn't been mentioned in Nesta's Omni-tool. 

As of now, that avenue of investigation hadn't proven very fruitful, but I was sure that after today, there would be a flurry of activity that would lead to new targets. 

"Here's the report you asked for," said a new voice, and I turned toward my right to see who it was. 

Somewhere from the depths of my mind, I got the picture of the same young man. A second later, I recognized him as the same analyst who brought me the infuriating video of Eclipse killing my employees. 

"I hope you bring me better news this time," I joked with a slight smile. 

The young man, whose name I still hadn't asked about, returned the smile brightly with a slight twinkle in his eyes. 

"Yes, sir," he answered, "we identified the Asari in the video. It took a bit longer because we wanted to create a complete profile before we gave you the report. The others said you would rather have all the information at once instead of piece by piece." 

"They informed you correctly," I said and took the datapad he offered me. Placing my hand on it and letting the device scan my handprint unlocked its content, which I skimmed quickly for anything marked as urgent before returning to the beginning to read it again, but more carefully this time. 

Some people wondered why I had people bring me the reports in person instead of just sending them to my Omni-tool or personal datapad. 

The reason for that was two-sided. 

Firstly, it was much more secure this way than sending them by mail. Even using the house intranet wasn't completely secured against people with enough time, skills, and dedication if they wanted to steal some of our secrets. Any wireless mail could be intercepted, and the use of datapads that only allowed the transfer of data in close proximity to special terminals was how I had decided to protect the company secrets. 

The other reason was that the people who brought me the information mostly knew about the content already and could give me the short version while highlighting the important bits, in their opinion, so that I wouldn't have to rifle through unnecessary details before coming to a decision if the matter was urgent enough. 

"Give me the cliff notes while I read," I said. 

"Yes, sir," replied the young man, and from his confident tone, I guessed that some of his colleagues had already briefed him that this would happen. 

"Her name is Kalara Ayori, a Matron of around 650 years of age. Meaning that she's close to the biotic prowess of a Matriarch. Actually, most of us analysts believe that since she's been part of Eclipse for around half of her life, her control of her biotics has already reached the level of a Matriarch. The recommendation of the department is that a direct confrontation should only be conducted either by a team of highly trained special forces, N5 and up, overwhelming numbers with mech support, or, the most highly recommended option, assassination." 

"Did you get that Commander?" I asked, turning away from the young analyst for a moment. 

"I did, sir," responded Abebe with a frown. "It seems it will have to be overwhelming numbers or a few good teams with the surprise element on their side. Sadly, we don't have any teams on the level of N5 here, and the only people who have a similar skill level are currently tasked with your protection, Mr. Denebren. I dislike the thought of asking them to change their duty." 

"Neither will be necessary at the moment," I rebuked. "Overwhelming numbers mean high losses, and that isn't something I am willing to condone. It's a huge loss for the company at a time when such desperate measures aren't needed. No matter how tempting the target may be. I will ask around for a professional. There are enough people who either owe me a favor or would want a favor from me." 

"Are those sources trustworthy?" asked Commander Abebe, worried about possible consequences if the wrong people knew about it, sending a glance toward the young analyst. 

In return, I dismissively waved my hand. 

"It's not a big deal. I trust the people here to keep this to themselves," I said to Abebe while looking at the analyst, who nodded. He would probably bring the content of my words to his grave. 

"The people I would owe a favor to are ones I've worked with a lot over the years, and there are none more trustworthy in the galaxy. And those who owe me favors would have by far more to lose if they publicized what they did for me and, more importantly, why they owed me the favor in the first place." 

"Nothing gives you more power over a person than knowing something about them they don't want others to know," the young analyst commented before shrinking back after Commander Abebe sent him a scathing look for speaking out of turn. 

"A good observation and a correct one at that," I praised, giving Abebe a look that got her to nod apologetically toward the young man. 

"A small advice for you," I continued, looking toward him. "Before speaking, always take into account the characters of those who listen to your words. The person you want to impress with your insights may appreciate it, but those surrounding him may not. Those can hamper your path forward, and as much as I lament it, even Ad Astra isn't free of those willing to trample over others to rise to the top. I am guilty of that behavior, too." 

"You, too, sir?" the young analyst asked, and his eyes showed the doubt he felt. 

"I am no saint. I try to do my best for humanity as a whole -especially for those choosing to place their trust in me- but to rise to my current position, I had to walk over more than one metaphorical body." 

And literal body, but this wasn't what I should have to spell out. Either the young analyst realized that the galaxy didn't allow one to keep their morals completely intact when trying to rise to the top, or he would one day not continue forward. 

"But back to the matter at hand," I said, clapping my hands lightly to dispel the slightly uncomfortable aura that started to surround us. 

"What else can you tell me of this Kalara Ayori?" 

"She's wanted on twenty-three planets, with an arrest warrant spanning the whole Citadel space. As far as we know, she got sentenced to death on three Turian border worlds with no possibility of appeal." 

"What did she do?" I asked, raising a brow. Death sentences without the possibility of appealing were no joke, especially on Turian worlds. Turians raley sentenced someone without that person standing trial in person, but if it ever got to the point where they judged someone guilty, that sentence stood. If she got ever caught on any other Turian-controlled or governed world, the chances that she would get the death penalty there were 100% as long as the judge wasn't corrupt. 

"Setting off a bomb in a spacedock to kill her target and more than a dozen bystanders, torturing and killing a highly placed colonial government member, and drunken manslaughter, among the seven victims were the sons of the local Defence Force Chief and the daughter of the wealthiest businesswoman of the planet." 

"And they haven't caught and killed her yet?" 

"She committed two of those crimes almost two hundred years ago. The sentence wasn't revoked, and death penalties don't become invalid, but the warrants get lost in their systems with the years. During those years, she kept mostly to the Terminus Systems until the heat died down." 

"One would expect that with a thousand years of experience with Asari, the systems of the Turians wouldn't lose track of their criminals. Furthermore, their discipline shouldn't allow this to happen at all," commented Commander Abebe without looking away from the screens. 

"I couldn't say why that it," replied the young analyst. "I'm no expert on Turian security systems." 

"I would guess that she didn't return to the planets where she got sentenced to death," I said. "Other planets would need to request the information over the Extranet, and getting non-local information about warrants, even those of a criminal with a death sentence, can take a lot of time. The further away the system where the crime happened is, the longer it will take. If she didn't commit a crime or has a warrant in a neighboring system, it would probably take too long to get the information before she disappeared again. 

Furthermore, I would guess they keep only a temporary copy in their system of all requested data to not clutter their space with data from hundreds of planets. There will be only three permanent copies. One on the planet where the crime happened, a central data center in Turian space, and the last one with C-Sec's database. 

The Alliance uses a similar system, but there are propositions to build more data centers at important crossing points to keep the lag time short enough for the local authorities to react.

Sadly, the budget committees are in no hurry to approve the project, even if it's sensible."

Both of my listeners rolled their eyes at my words, and Commander Abebe scoffed a near silent: "Idiot politicians." 

"There hadn't been many problems yet. That made these data centers not a necessity. And as long as a system works without them, they will be slow to approve any expenditures. During my time in the government, I did something similar. Redirect assets from projects with low priority toward those with higher ones to get them finished more quickly," I explained while reminding Abebe subtly that I had been one of those "Idiot politicians" too. 

I couldn't help the smirk that appeared on my face as I watched how the commander's body stiffened for a moment as she realized that she had indirectly insulted me. The smirk vanished from my face as quick as it had appeared, and I turned toward the young analyst who had, after seeing the smirk, a slight smile on his face, too, knowing I had only dropped the bit about my government time to tease the commander and to watch her reaction. 

A nod from me signaled him to continue with his report. 

"As I said, Kalara Ayori spends much time in the Terminus Systems, where she got a reputation as one of Jona Sedris' top commanders.

Her exploits show a picture of ruthlessness, efficiency, and the willingness to do everything she can to guarantee the success of her missions. She has built a reputation among the hundreds of minor merc groups of someone who is better avoided unless that someone has a particular death wish. As a result, she keeps most of the mercenaries allied to - or in reality: under their command - Eclipse in line by her mere presence in the region." 

"That gives us a picture of the person we're dealing with. Is there anything we can use for our benefit?" I asked, rubbing my thumb over my lips unconsciously. 

"Aria T'Loak, the Queen of Omega, has something against her. Rumor is it that T'Loak told Sedris that if she ever sends Ayori even into Omega's system, she will shoot anything wearing Eclipse's logo and color without thinking twice. Nobody knows what happened between those two, but what everyone knows is that if T'Loak ever gets her hands on Ayori, the latter will be pulverized into too many atoms to count." 

"Interesting but not useable," I replied, shaking my head. "Ayori is too small a fish for me even to contemplate dealing with T'Loak. If I were to ask her to deal with the problem or even suggest a partnership, it would make me look weak. No. T'Loak is someone I will not approach until it is absolutely necessary. Is there anything else?" 

"It seemed unremarkable at first," began the young analyst, "but when I searched for Ayori's name in Illium's criminal databank, there was less of a record than I expected." He took a moment to take a deep breath before beginning his explanation. 

"I mean, there were records of her. Destruction of property, extortion, arson, assault, and so on. But there was no warrant, and every single fine got paid in full. Yet, something seemed suspicious to me, especially after finishing with her psychological profile." 

"Because the list of charges had numbered less than expected and the reasons for those had been not too violent," inserted Commander Abebe in between pauses. 

The young analyst nodded seriously. 

"Compared to the records within Council Space, it is way less than expected. I entertained the idea that she hadn't been sent to Illium very often and tried to hold herself back so she could return to Illium when needed, but the theory seems unlikely if we take into account how she acted with the hostages she had taken from our company." 

"That's right," I mused, "her actions had been bold and without care for consequences or repercussions. Furthermore, even if she is a model citizen here on Illium, her reputation in the Terminus-Systems would warrant at least a warning issued to the local authorities to be on the lookout for her. 

So, if I follow this line of thought to the end, then you're thinking that someone made most of her files disappear. Someone with enough connection in the government to pull it off." 

"That's the idea, sir," he responded. "I'm currently trying to find out where those files disappeared to and who is responsible for it."

"Do you think that will get us closer to the Arbiter?" asked Commander Abebe. 

I shook my head negatively. 

"I doubt it. The Arbiter may have hired Eclipse to stand against us, but I doubt they asked for Ayori specifically. She seems too unstable to fit in the Arbiter's methodical style. Yet, this investigation will be useful nonetheless as it will get us closer to Ayori. If she got a contact with enough power to get her to Illium without the authorities knowing of her presence, then the contact will probably have to stay in contact with her to keep every mention under the radar. Besides, there's no way the contact will do this without any form of compensation. This is Illium, after all." 

"Money or favors?" 

"Both. Neither. We will only know after we find out," I shrugged, showing that I didn't really care. Whatever this contact got from Ayori, I could outbid her on a bad day without any effort.