When Milenya mentioned military records, Cantenelli shot Falkris a glance which the Turian returned without comment.<br/><br/>"Wait, wait- pre-prothean? There isn't anything<i>pre</i>-prothean." One of the crew insisted emphatically, a human. "What the hell makes you so sure its not just some Prothean booby trap?"<br/><br/><span style="color: olive">The cellular compounds that we recovered from the tissue are not Prothean. It fails to come within acceptable genetic variation for any species that we have documented, extinct or otherwise. Further, the information recovered in the site suggests the team was convinced that the ruins predated Prothean design by a significant difference. Therefore, it is <i>not</i> Prothean.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: olive">Nor would it need to be.</span>He stepped forward and pointed at the husk overlay.<span style="color: olive">These 'husks' show and incredibly complex biological adaptability. Although the compounds that were regenerating were incorrect, the malleability of the technological components coupled with the efficiency of their integration into the biological tissue suggest their assembly was deliberately not specialized. If I were to estimate, I would say that if we were to apply the same process these people went through to a Turian, or Salarian, or Asari host, any sapient species really, the conversion would be successful within an acceptable error percentage. In laymans terms... these 'husks' are a weapon who's creator <i>knew</i> had to be able to be compliant with the tissue of any known... or unknown host.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: olive">The specialization of the husks in the site, </span>he continued,<span style="color: olive">if I were to fathom a hypothesis, are due to prolonged conflict with a specific target. Although meant to be universal, the weapon's creators had, at the time that whatever machine it was that produced these husks, adapted the process specifically for a species that we have no record of. Again, ensuring that these are most certainly <i>not</i> Prothean.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: blue">Doctor, are there any records whatsoever of something like this in Prothean history?</span>Cantenelli asked. Beruut raised his hand to offer his own explanation instead of Milenya.<br/><br/><span style="color: olive">No. We have no genetic samples that we have confirmed as Prothean that show anything like this.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: blue">So something like this was not employed against the Protheans?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: olive">There is no way to conclude that with any reasonable accuracy. We at once do not know enough about Protheans, nor about these husks to determine anything of that nature. Its entirely possible that other archaeological digs have uncovered such evidence... but won't be telling anyone any time soon.</span>He nodded in implication to the husk images.<br/><br/><span style="color: olive">Now... one aspect of what we have recorded from the site baffles us. And that is <i>how</i> precisely  the process that the researches in that site went through that... well, brainwashed them. The records we have access to indicate that an effect presently dubbed 'indoctrination' has been documented along side the husks. The effects described could be extrapolated into matching what we have documented in the site. </span>He ran his fingers over one of his horns then raised his hands in exasperation.<span style="color: olive">Our best estimate would perhaps be electromagnetic emissions coupled with infra and ultra sound to stimulate areas of the brain... but as we have to actual contact, images, or information about the machines that were in the site, we simply cannot make a sound judgement.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: blue">That's not entirely accurate doctor...</span>Cantenelli glanced at Firas and both of them looked at Sorv. Ashana followed their gaze to the Quarian, surprised and confused.<span style="color: blue">Sorv?</span><br/><br/>The Quarian took a long breath and crossed his arms across his chest, reclining uncomfortably in his chair.<span style="color: darkorange">Yeah... I got a good look at your "machine."</span><br/><br/>Beruut's eyes widened.<span style="color: olive">You saw it? You made contact with it?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: darkorange">Yeah. And whatever it does... it doesn't do by sound. My suit would have filtered anything in that frequency.</span>Sorv continued. Ashana couldn't see his face behind the visor but his body language was clear; Sorv didn't want to be talking this.<br/><br/><span style="color: olive">Wait, you were affected by it? You experienced the indoctrination?</span><br/><br/>Sorv gave a hesitant nod.<span style="color: darkorange">Yeah... I guess you could call it that. But indoctrination isn't the right word... it was more like... I don't know... confusion... it was hard to make sense of things. And I don't... I don't remember it a lot. It's all... <i>hazy</i>. Like remembering a dream. But I was there, at the thresh hold to this... machine's chamber, I guess you could call it... I was waiting for Firas before I went in. And then... I... I <i>heard</i> my name... somebody said my name from inside. I started trying to think and all I could figure out was that I needed to go in and see. And then... </span>Sorv's voice trailed off. His visor stopped moving, as he stared off.<span style="color: darkorange">And then... there was this... light and thing in the middle of the chamber, big. I could feel it in me, like... like something else in my head and I wasn't there. </span>He trailed off into silence.<br/><br/><span style="color: darkorchid">Sorv...?</span>Ashana whispered leaning in, concerned.<br/><br/>The Quarian jolted and looked at her.<span style="color: darkorange">Ahm, uhh... then one of them moved. It was pure muscle memory and training that put the bullet in its head, but as soon as I pulled that trigger it was like somebody slapped me in the face to wake me up. After that... hell broke loose. I guess it woke them up.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: red">The rest was simple fire and retreat.</span>Firas stepped in to allow Sorv to fall silent again.<span style="color: red">We found you all at the ship in the same situation we had been in not minutes before. Darion planted HE charges and we blew the airlock out of the site on our way out. Looked like it did some serious damage. Like Milenya said, we walked into an ambush. If Sorv hadn't pulled that trigger, we may all still be down there, being turned into those things.</span>He looked at the crew meaningfully.<span style="color: red">All of us.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: olive">Sorv... I must mandate that you be quarantined immediately so that I can run a thoroughly neurological scan on you. There's no knowing what effects may remain from your exposure.</span>Sorv nodded a bit.<br/><br/><span style="color: darkorange">My suit came back green on all vitals. No changes other than stress.</span><br/><br/>Beruut watched him closely.<span style="color: olive">Then perhaps Quarantine will not be necessary, but I must still mandate a complete neurological work up.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: blue">Back to the matter at hand... gentlemen. The facts are, we have men dead, we have minimal salvage, the value of which remains to be determined... and we have no direction. Ashana... you were with Milenya when she was looking into the data... any sign of our <i>friend</i> from Bekenstein?</span>Cantenelli cut in, looking at Ashana.<br/><br/>The Asari shook her head.<span style="color: darkorchid">No... no mention of the SPECTRE.</span>She looked at Milenya then back at Cantenelli.<span style="color: darkorchid">They may as well find out now.</span><br/><br/>The captain nodded.<span style="color: blue">I couldn't agree more. Milenya... Maethia... the terms of our contract have now made previously need to know information rather pertinent. The man we showed you before, we suspect to be a SPECTRE, or affiliated with the Citadel Council or its weapon's division in some way. We presently believe him to be in possession of the device we are looking for. We have been following its trail for the last week. We are not the only ones. When we encountered this agent on Bekenstein, Cerberus showed up and... <i>intervened</i>. </span>He muttered scathingly.<span style="color: blue">The data we intercepted on Bekenstein lead us here. I'm sure it.. illuminates things somewhat, but beyond that, we have a more pressing concern. What do we do now?</span><br/><br/>He looked around the room seriously.<span style="color: blue">After the events on Zeona... Firas, Sorv, and I have all come to the conclusion that this pursuit is no longer in our realm of capability to handle.</span>Ashana's lips parted and she looked at them in surprise that they hadn't so much as mentioned this decision to her.<br/><br/><span style="color: blue">Simply put we are not equipped to deal with SPECTREs or... <i>husks</i>. We're mercenaries. We fight and we get paid. This mission no longer fits that parameter... and if we continue to pursue it more of us are likely to be killed over a fight that isn't ours. Doctor...</span>He turned to Milenya.<span style="color: blue">You're welcome to remain on board and study the information that you recovered. We'll of course find you a safe harbor to leave you at, one near an academy or the like, if you prefer.</span><br/><br/>He looked around them, saddened by the prospect of submission, but after a moment he nodded and looked at Darion.<span style="color: blue">Darion! You said something about slavers before?</span><div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>