Falkris looked at Milenya, pondering as she layed out her additional theories of why the site was so empty.<span style="color: Red">That sounds like the most plausible scenario. If this active Prothean tech is as valuable as you suggest, then espionage would be conceivable.</span><br/><br/>Cantenelli just shrugged.<span style="color: Blue">We won't know anything until we're planet side.</span>He replied.<br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">If we find a significant hostile presence, then we get everyone back on board and take off.</span>Cantenelli reassured Maethia and Darion.<br/><br/><span style="color: MediumTurquoise">Followed promptly by several high impact battery discharges adding some more craters.</span>Mickey tapping the arm rests of his chair while he examined the scan feeds.<br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrange">Hold on here.</span>Sorv piped up.<span style="color: DarkOrange">Landing to get the salvage is good and all, but Darion and commando girl have a point. Why don't we just shuttle down over the site and take a look from safety?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Red">We can't.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrange">And why the hell not?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Its... not on the surface.</span>Cantenelli said, looking back at them and pursing his lips.<span style="color: Blue">Look at the scan.</span>He pointed at the bright spot near the fissure.<span style="color: Blue">Mickey, rotate it.</span><br/><br/>A moment later the image rotated, showing the depth response from the scan. The site was distance underground, the bright blue areas connecting with the outside air deep within the fissure.<br/><br/>Firas reeled slightly.<span style="color: DarkOrchid">So the only way to know what's going on is to actually go inside.</span>Ashana said, looking at it.<br/><br/><span style="color: MediumTurquoise">Looks like.</span>Mickey said.<span style="color: MediumTurquoise">And honestly, looking at it... I don't know if shuttle access will even be an option once we're down. Take a look at the dimensions down there.</span>He gestured to the screen.<span style="color: MediumTurquoise">The fits not that bad, but that close to heavy thermal activity would make keeping the thing from smashing into one of the sides a hell of a job. </span><br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrange">So, what, we walk? That place is at least three miles from freighter.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Lets... worry about that once we're happy with the freighter.</span>Cantenelli interjected.<br/><br/>After a moment Firas just shook his head.<span style="color: Blue">We'll be getting ready in the cargo bay.</span>He said and Cantenelli nodded.<br/><br/>The Turian started down the gangway, keeping his eyes low and shaking his head. Sorv followed, while Ashana let the others go before her. Sorv caught up the Firas, and asked<span style="color: DarkOrange">You sure this is a good idea?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Actually, I'm pretty sure this is a terrible idea, Sorv.</span>He hit the key on the elevator to call it up.<span style="color: Blue">But what choice do we have?</span>He looked at Darion and Maethia.<span style="color: Blue">One way or another, we have to go down there.</span>He got in the elevator.<span style="color: Blue">So let's get it over with.</span><br/><br/><br/>***<br/><br/><br/><span style="color: Indigo">No. there are variations in the... design, part.</span>Shira'Va said, looking down at the suit while the cards were doled out. She put her grey-purple hand on the chest plate.<span style="color: DarkOrchid">This is what we'd call a hard plate model... for combat and general... purpose.</span>She added struggling to remember the words amid her alcohol induced haze.<span style="color: Indigo">Its my little keepsake from the Marines.</span>She tapped the chest plate.<br/><br/>Shira laughed triumphantly as she put her cards on the table, beating out the other hands. Taseer threw up her hands in dismay, no less mirthful as she declared,<span style="color: Navy">Oh come on!</span>her own hand coming up just short of Shira's.<br/><br/>Shira sat back and looked at her.<span style="color: Indigo">Go on then. You're intent to see mine, so now you get to show me yours.</span>Taseer gave the Quarian a devilish look, and, rather than stripping off her grey bra, stood up and pulled her panties down her well toned legs, among yet more cheers and whistling, baring the cleft between her legs. She sat back down in the chair and crossed her legs. She stared down Shira, taunting her with how casually she had gone bottomless.<br/><br/>Shira looked at Kala to see if she had the guts to be as brazen, then shook her head, bringing broadly behind the mask.<span style="color: Indigo">You know...</span>she said, looking back at Taseer.<span style="color: Indigo">If I win this next hand... you'll be out, and you won't get to see a thing.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">Hah!</span>Taseer laughed.<span style="color: Navy">Kala will finish the job for me. One way or another, you're showing everyone what you like hiding in those suits.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Indigo">Grab the deck and put those cards where your mouth is, then, blue butt.</span>Shira taunted right back. Taseer leaned across the table, mooning the few people watching from behind her as she grabbed the deck of cards, shuffled, and started dealing.<br/><br/>Taseer looked across the table at Kala, a knowing look in her eye. The hands were laid down, Shira'Va setting down a high and strong hand.<span style="color: Indigo">Keelah se'lai, you blue wench.</span>She said.<br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">Well...</span>Taseer said, sitting back ,staring at the cards in her hand.<span style="color: Navy">I'm sure Asari have similar sayings...</span>She set down the cards, beating Shira's.<span style="color: Navy">but I don't know it.</span><br/><br/>There was a myriad of cheers that went up as Shira's shoulder drooped in resignation. She laughed jovially and put her hand on her visor, shaking her head.<span style="color: Indigo">Fine.... but Kala has to take hers off first.</span>Shira said, looking up at the human, as her hand searched for the seals, then pausing to wait for Kala.<br/><br/>Taseer looked from Shira to Kala.<span style="color: Navy">Hurry hurry!</span>She urged Kala, looking back at Shira.<span style="color: Navy">We all want to see this!</span><br/><br/>The crowd, which had gained several more of the crewmen who had entered the lounge, starting whistling and cheering Kala out of her clothes. Shira'Va waited, watching for Kala's clothing to be removed. When the cloth hit the floor, Shira nodded a bit, then sighed, triggering the seal, prompting a hiss and condensed vapor to jet from it.<span style="color: Indigo">I am going to get such a bad rash for this...</span>She said, sliding her fingers between the separated parts, prying them apart. More of her purple toned skin became visible, and the crowd closed in, waiting eagerly.<br/><br/>The door to the lounge opened, and a familiar voice startled the group, which split enough for the new addition to the lounge to look at the group at the table.<span style="color: Red">Taseer,</span>Falkris said, not so much as glancing at Kala, or dropping to the exposed parts of the Asari. Shira stopped, not removing the chest piece any more than the tiny bit she already had.<br/><br/><span style="color: Red">All casual privileges are hereby revoked. Get the crew back up to ready state.</span>He ordered sternly. Taseer's face turned from playful mirth and enjoyment to pure rage as she stared at the Turian.<br/><br/><span style="color: Navy"><i>Bullshit</i>!</span>She yelled at him, quoting the human phrase.<span style="color: Navy">We have busted our asses getting this ship back up to ready condition!</span>She stood, planting her hands defiantly on the table, the nudity of her lower half far from her mind.<span style="color: Navy">We are done until our shift comes up!</span>She yelled.<br/><br/>Falkris started to speak over her, and the two yelled against one another, until Falkris took a step forward, a burning fire igniting behind his eyes, and he roared<span style="color: Red"><i>TASEER</i>!</span>such resolution that it silenced Taseer outright, and made those near him back away.<br/><br/>Taseer reeled, and Falkris stared her down.<span style="color: Red">The situation has changed.</span>He said, keeping her tone level, and clear, though his eyes lost none of their intensity.<span style="color: Red">I want every crewman available in the cargo bay in EVA suits and <i>armed</i> in 15 minutes.</span>He ordered.<br/><br/>The shock of the exchange had shaken the Asari, sobering her mind into grasping what he had said. She narrowed an eye and half parted her lips as she digested the order to arm everyone on board. Falkris stared at her until he was sure that she had received the message, then turned and left the lounge. Taseer looked at Shira, confused and suddenly concerned. A few moments of painful silence drowned the lounge until quiet whispers broke out among the tiny crowd.<br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">Shut up!</span>Taseer ordered them, looking down at the able, trying to process.<span style="color: Navy">Everyone, you heard him. Get your shit together, dunk your head in cold water - whatever. I want everyone in the bay, now. I'll send down loads of suits and rifles. Get the suits on and the guns loaded.</span><br/><br/>She sat back down in the chair, swaying slightly, her system overwhelmed by the intensity of the event. She looked down at her pile of clothes, shook her head to get her mind straight and put her underwear back on. The crowd, took a moment, sharing looks of confusion and surprise. Shira closed the seal back up and barked<span style="color: Indigo">Move!</span>at them, before seeing to reassembling her suit.<br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">Kala, that means you too.</span>Taseer said, gathering her remaining clothing and following the group of crewmen out.<br/><br/><span style="color: Indigo">Don't bother with the rest of it...</span>Shira told Kala.<span style="color: Indigo">The EVA suits do better if your just in your skivvies.</span>Once she had refitted her gloves, she stood, starting on the decorative portions of her suit. She looked at Kala and chuckled slightly.<span style="color: Indigo">You'll have to get me out this thing some other time.</span><div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>