<strong>Hydra Maelstrom System 10 hours later</strong><br/><br/><strong><em>Hydra Maelstrom System- 2183154.12.22</em></strong><br/>The Normandy cruised through the blackness of space the ship’s hull reflecting the eerie greenish glow of the Hydra Maelstrom Nebula.<br/>The Normandy’s stealth system was running masking the ship from thermal detection as they searched for the missing Batarian ship. With any luck they could either follow the ship to wherever the hidden Geth base was or if necessary they could attempt to board the vessel and access the ships navigation log to find out where it had been, or where it was going.<br/>Both options presented problems as the Normandy could only stay in stealth mode for a limited time after which they would be easily spotted while they vented the heat sinks that masked the ships thermal signature. Boarding the Batarian ship carried the potential for sustaining serious damage to the Normandy and there was no guarantee that if they did manage to board the ship that the data would be retrievable or that it had even visited the hidden Geth base.<br/><br/><strong><em>Hydra Maelstrom System - 2183154.14.43</em></strong><br/>The Normandy was continuing to close in on the missing Batarian ship they were shadowing the passive thermal sensors had detected the ships engine flare despite the masking glare of the Nebula. The freighter was moving at maximum it's velocity it’s course taking it directly at the nebula. Joker had maneuvered the Normandy in closer taking advantage of a sensor blind spot directly behind and just below the ships drives. The reaction mass plume blinding it directly astern when it was under thrust.<br/>The decision had been made to shadow he ship for as long as possible before either the stealth system had to be deactivated or there was a danger of losing the ship. and they were close to both. The stealth system was near it's operational limit and the freighter was seemingly determined to enter the nebula at maximum drive.<br/><br/>Anastasia sat at her station, waiting. the Batarian ship was running silent, no IFF, no active sensors, nothing. it was just driving right at the nebula at full speed. the passive sensor readings of the nebula didn't reveal anything they didn't all ready know it was a giant shifting cloud of superheated dust and gas mixed with a healthy dose of ionizing radiation and just for fun dense filaments of gas and dust that would be like hitting a solid mass of concrete at the speeds they were moving at, probably enough to overload the ships kinetic barriers in short order.<br/>She flicked her violet eyes over to Jemarr then Commander Shepard and Captain Anderson as Jokers voice came over the ships comm.<br/>"Were getting awful close to the nebula Captain." The pilot said the hint of concern in his voice not lost on the crew, "Were going to have to break off if were not going in with them in about 2 minutes, and I'm not sure the piece of junk were following could change course to avoid going in to the nebula now." Joker said as the Normandy continued after the freighter.<br/>Captain Anderson looked to Commander Shepard then pressed the comm control.<br/>"Fire control standby to target and fire on the Geth vessel." The Captain said as Joker's voice came back over the comm in a rush.<br/>"The freighter is changing course; hang on." Joker called out, the Normandy made sharp downward pitch then rolled to the right before evening out. " holly...Captain there looks like there is a channel of clear space into the nebula."<br/>Navigator Pressly chimed in even before Joker finished speaking.<br/>"The sensors indicate a 1 to 2 Km wide tunnel through the outer shell of the nebula Captain."<br/>"Alright; Joker keep us on that ships tail; lets see where this leads." Captain Anderson said.