Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Odanrav on 12-10-2013, 01:43:40</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>12-10-2013, 01:43:40</strong>
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				“I’ve got no previous military record, no commendations, no formal training, nothing. Not even any past work for another merc ship. What are you doing here&nbsp; kid? We want military backgrounds, can’t you read?” Tavik asked irritated by another nobody hoping to hop on with the crew. The Batarian’s top pair of eyes blinked while the bottom pair kept their gaze firmly locked on the young human male before them. The add had been specific, looking for individuals of any race with military backgrounds and experience in the field and young Wayne Essex looked to lack both.<br><br>He was as green as grass, but an impressive specimen all the same being taller and more bulky than Tavik even was. Wayne’s frame filled up a old pre-war Alliance issue combat suit thats age was easy to see. Dents and scars from numerous battles dotted the outer layer, but they seemed ancient. The young man was a strong jawed lad who carried himself like someone who wasn’t as much a rookie as his record may have indicated. Short black hair covered the top of his head with the sides shaved almost to the skin, a military style buzz cut, to go along with blue eyes and a clean shaven chin. <br><br>“I told you, my dad trained me. Look up William Essex, he was a Alliance marine who came to Omega after the war,” Wayne quickly explained, clearly becoming irritated with his interviewer. He looked over to his left at the Turian and Asari leisurely sitting at a table nearby in the private room the ad indicated to go to in the Tuhi District. “I know how to handle myself, you want me.” he emphatically added, keeping his gaze on the captain of the merc band he wished to join.<br><br>Mourin Vellus sat clicking two of the three digits on his left hand on the metallic table in a rhythmic pattern, the other hand propping up his chin. The day had been long and fruitless to find suitable replacements for the men he’d either lost to slugs or outside circumstances. He was down a pilot and manpower, and he’d found neither after sorting through dozens of pretenders. To his own surprise, this Wayne kid was making something of an impression however if only for the balls he showed. <br><br>“William Essex checks out, still doesn’t mean you know a damn thing kid,” Tavik critiqued as he turned his Omni-tool off at last and looked over at Mourin for judgement. Steely grey eyes in an expressionless face measured Wayne, Captain Vellus giving nothing away except for the slight flare of his mandibles. The captain looked back at Tavik and only gave him a slight nod. <br><br>“Congratulations rook, you got lucky. Now go get your shit and take care of whatever you gotta do. We’re leaving tomorrow,” Tavik said in his usual sour way.<br><br>“No need,” Wayne said as he lifted up a single handbag filled with clothes and a few personal items. “Got all I need.” <br><br>“Kailani,” Mourin finally broke his silence, a deep flanged voice ringing out into the room, as he turned to the Asari seated at his side, his second in command. “Go see if you can salvage a pilot out of whatever’s left outside and send the rest away. I’ve seen enough for today.”
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				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>12-10-2013, 23:03:15</strong>
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				Kailani sat at the metallic table on the other side from her captain and commander, leaning back in her chair, arms crossed, and a slightly bored expression on her face. She was pale for an Asari, her skin an ice blue color and her face void of the markings her kind sometimes sported. She was slender and long limbed, she'd be considered lanky almost if it weren't for the fact that she carried herself too well to have the awkward look usually associated with the gangly. As it were, she had her legs stretched out in front of her, the heel of one boot balanced on top of the toe of the other, the top boot wavering every so often as she tried to keep it balanced. This was how she was entertaining herself while Mourin went through the prospective replacements for the man they'd lost on their last job.<br><br>She'd known as soon as this kid came in that he wasn't military, yeah he had the look, and he carried himself like he probably knew how to fight, but he was green. He reeked of inexperience and just some kid looking to prove himself. Maybe she was just being hard on him, but she was hard on everyone. Why should she be any differently with him? So Kailani only half listened, expecting Mourin to have Tavik toss the kid out. So when Tavik looked to their captain for judgment, she didn't even look up, until Tavik was congratulating the kid. <br><br>Kailani's top boot fell off the other with a loud <em>thunk</em> and her contrastingly dark blue eyes, nearly black in color, stared a bit from Mourin, to the kid, and then back. “What?” Her tone was a little surprised, and her eyes narrowed a touch, voice lowering, “Captain, you can't be serious...” She said with a sneer, casting a pointed glance at Wayne. Her jaw clenched a bit then relaxed, feeling a flare of irritation. She didn't want some untested little wanna be on their ship. But Kailani knew better than to argue with Mourin in front of every so she let out an irritated breath through her nose and stood, a little on the tall end for an Asari, the top of her head brushing 5'10”. She gave Wayne a slightly withering look, lips pursed in displeasure, before she walked to the door.<br><br>She stepped out into the hall and about a dozen heads turned her way, “The rest of you grunts can go,” she told them, only two left, a Batarian and a Krogan, muttering to one another in irritation. Kailani watched them go and then looked at the ten remaining pilots, they were of assorted races, human, Salarian, Asari, even a Drell, and they all looked at her expectantly. Kailani pulled up her arm, tapping at her omni-tool and eying the list before picking one at random. “Artemis Chase?” <br><br>“Here!” A small human woman with her red hair pulled back in a pony tail, short cropped sides dyed black and a sprig of blue dyed bangs falling into her forehead pushed out from behind an Asari and a human man. They gave her irritated looks but she didn't seem to care, a duffel bag on her shoulder, her clothing a mixture of Alliance issued combat boots, black pants, a dark green shirt, and an Alliance-issued pilot's jacket over it, leather with the Alliance patch on one sleeve and looked to be the insignia of her flight squad, a hawk with talons bared, on the other.<br><br>Kailani eyed her a bit then motioned to the door, “Inside.” Then looked at the other, “The rest of you can go home.” There were a few mutters of disappointment and angry but they all turned and left. As Asari came, Kailani was a powerful biotic, and anyone with half a brain could tell as much by looking at her. Her armor was light, not designed to take direct hits, which meant that no one ever got close enough, or managed to get a shot on her. She followed the pilot inside, pointing to the chair near Tavik, and noticing how she gave the Batarian a slightly narrow-eyed look, a barely restrained glare, before she sat down. “Artemis Chase,” Kailani told Tavik and Mourin before she sat back down.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>13-10-2013, 04:51:14</strong>
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				The captain of the Axios eyed his second for just a moment, long enough for her to get the message to stop&nbsp; whatever insubordinate chain of thought she was going down in front of a new recruit. Her job, along with Tavik, was to break in the new members and not question who Mourin chose to accept. Without a word Kailani fell in line and did as she was commanded. As the Asari got up and left the room momentarily Mourin did as well, arching his back and shifting his neck in a deep stretch.<br><br>Mourin wore the heaviest armor designed for Turian shock troopers in the military, though the set was not made by the Hierarchy precisely. Captain Vellus had not dawned military grade arms and armor for half a decade, and instead wore a black market replica. He possessed a dark complection than the norm of his race as well, almost dark enough to be a deep black, with grey eyes, and a series of red markings that were symbolic of his upbringing on the colony world of Invictus. <br><br>“You get to bunk on the floor tonight kid, throw your shit down somewhere and keep your mouth shut while we finish up,” Tavik commanded Wayne as the young man watched the Asari stroll by him, sneaking a few peaks as she passed by that didn’t go unnoticed by either Tavik nor Mourin. <br><br>“Aren’t you a bundle of joy,” the new member muttered under his breath as he reached down to pick his bag back up and found a quiet corner to hide himself away in as he watched the rest. Wayne didn’t seem to possess the discipline that came with being a soldier and learning to take orders, at least not yet. Mourin was banking that he would learn those lessons the hard way aboard his ship under the watchful eye of his veterans. The captain picked Wayne for his potential down the road, rather than what he might immediately provide the team. <br><br>As the door opened back up, a wiry young human female came inside, followed closely by Kailani who introduced her. She seemed even more odd than the normal human did to Mourin, possibly due to the strange hair, though his face gave nothing away save for a examining stare. Tavik put in the name into his Omni-tool, bringing up only a single match. The Batarian was a skilled hacker and&nbsp; was able to gain access into several Council military databases, the Alliance included. Her record popped up on screen for him.<br><br>“Alliance background, top of the class in flight school, and several recommendations here. No red flags, but the record does suddenly end six months ago. I don’t have anything else on her after that,” Tavik informed his captain as Mourin idly took it in. He stood still, weighing her up by the way she stood, the way she spoke and carried herself. Nothing got by the experienced soldier.<br><br>“Two questions,” Mourin spoke up at last as he stepped towards the shorter girl. “Why did you leave, and can you operate a Turian frigate? And if you can’t, can you learn?” He directly asked the young woman.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>13-10-2013, 05:29:45</strong>
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				Artemis didn't sit down like the Asari had seemed to expect her to, casting a glance at another human sitting not too far away. She supposed he was the one they'd picked to fill in their combat spot, well, at least they weren't racist against humans. In Council Space, racism was no longer much of an issue, not since the races had had to all band together to survive. She'd encountered it more out here in the Terminus Systems, but she imagined it wasn't as bad as it had once been. Ironically, Artemis had a strong distrust for Batarians. It came from being raised on Elysium, where the populace still had yet to forget the Skyllian Blitz, and probably wouldn't for some time. She didn't hate them, but she tended to dislike them until she got to know them, and definitely didn't trust them. They were the only race though that she harbored any prejudice against.<br><br>She put that little bump in her rug aside though, face passive as she waited for the slicer to pull up her record, one hand in the pocket of her jacket, the other hanging onto the strap of her duffel bag. She had a relaxed, but slightly cocky stance to her, it was obvious she knew she was good, but didn't feel like she had to prove it. Artemis only nodded a little when the Batarian read off the basics of her record. She was a little surprised that her citations for insubordination hadn't popped up, but they hadn't been major. She had never disobeyed a direct order, but she had a habit of voicing her displeasure if she thought the order was bad.<br><br>Artemis turned her green eyes on the Turian though as he spoke and then stepped towards her, having to crane her neck a bit to look up at him, but she didn't seem fazed by his size. “Needed a change of scenery,” she said, the leather of her jacket groaning softly as she shrugged her shoulders, along the back, a phoenix had been stitched into the leather, surprisingly intricate, with the words 'Fire Bird' in red patch letters arching over the top, across her shoulders. Her answer was true, but a lie at the same time. She had needed to leave, but it had been far more than just because she felt like it. She didn't particularly want to give anyone her life's story, and she didn't think they wanted to hear it. “I've never flown a Turian anything,” she admitted, but gave a smirk, “But I can learn how to fly it.” <br><br>She didn't try to sell herself, there wasn't anything she could tell him that wasn't in her record. She wanted this job though, needed it really. She'd had a few jobs since leaving the military, but nothing very good and nothing long term. Artemis didn't particularly feel like scrounging from job to job, she still had enough money left to last her a bit, but she knew it wouldn't last forever. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>13-10-2013, 17:46:08</strong>
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				Mourin found himself slightly amused by the answers he received from the human pilot, though he did not make a sound or give anything away that might make her think that. Truthfully, he liked her attitude and thought having something of an edge was essential to make it in the hard lifestyle he lived in. Despite his years as a gun for hire, Mourin hadn’t had a great deal of experience with humans, only ever having one crewmember of the race before. But he’d seen plenty of them on missions and on Omega, and he was impressed with how quickly their race was able to expand to the far reaches of the galaxy despite still being very young on the galactic stage. It might have been their “hair” as they called it that made them seem so much more strange to Mourin. It was hard for the Turian to tell one apart from another just looking at the face, but the hair and all the different shapes and sizes it seemed to come in helped him to differintiate. And Artemis might have had the most odd or unique of hair he had seem yet with it’s strange blend of colors. As he continued to size her up, Mourin seemed to be developing a good feeling about the girl. And as a captain, most of his decisions were made by his gut feeling and instincts more than anything.<br><br>“Be prepared to head out at eight hundred hours sharp tomorrow morning, Chase,” he addressed his new pilot with a slight flare of his mandibles and then turned away to take another seat next to Kailani. “Welcome aboard,” he said as he let himself relax, relieved to finally have the replacements he needed. <br><br>“Humans everywhere now,” Tavik grunted under his breath as he looked at both Wayne and Artemis. “If I were you, I’d get rid of those damn Alliance logos, sooner or later they’ll get you shot out here,” the Batarian warned the pair of recruits as he let himself settle in as well, thoroughly sick of fighting through firewalls and declining fools all day. <br><br><hr><br>The group arrived at hanger D9 on time the following morning with Mourin leading the group as they pushed through the crowds of people gathered there. The oddball group received a few strange looks, but no one dared to impede such a well armed looking unit. They reached the hanger door that led to the Axios, but as the automated door came open there was a human standing inside already propped up against the wall with arms crossed, waiting for the group.<br><br>“Captain Vellus?” The man immediately asked as the door swung open. Mourin nodded in response and the man stepped forward. “I’ve been waiting for you… I represent a mister Richard Hellickson who has a… business proposition for you,” the man began to explain. The name was not familiar to the captain. “It is a delicate situation… but if you will please follow me to mister Hellickson’s suite we will be able to explain the job in greater detail.”<br><br>Mourin considered for a moment. Work, especially the well paying kind, was a hard thing to come by. He deemed this avenue may have been worth exploring even if It made them a little late leaving. “Tavik, bring the recruits aboard and get them started. Kailani, you’re with me,” he ordered his crew as the strange man gave a odd smirk and began to walk off. Tavik had already begun going down the walkway when Mourin called out to him again. “And look up everything you can find on this Hellickson.” Mourin ordered.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>13-10-2013, 21:04:03</strong>
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				Artemis just looked back at the captain as he sized her up, she knew the scrutinizing gaze of an officer when she saw one. She didn't seem bothered by it, but considering she was used to it, she had no reason to be. She looked unconcerned, maybe even slightly bored, as she stood and let the Turian examine her, but like Mourin was hiding his amusement, she was hiding her nerves. She needed this job. So she stood quietly, keeping her mouth in check, as she had a habit of saying things she really shouldn't. Artemis was incredibly sarcastic, and no matter how many times she'd been smacked, grounded, screamed at, and reprimanded by her parents and superior officers, they couldn't seem to get her to not be such a smart ass. She couldn't help it, being impulsive, she had a tendency to do and say things without really thinking about it first. Right now though, she was managing not to do or say anything, she supposed maybe she was finally growing up and managing to grasp the concept of self-restraint.<br><br>So she was glad when she also managed to hold back a sigh of relief when Mourin gave her the go ahead, giving him a small nod, “Yes, sir. Thank you.” Artemis looked to Tavik though when he muttered under his breath, green eyes narrowing at him, and then when he spoke again, “I can think of other things that'll get you shot.” She felt a flash of irritation with herself, and decided she'd best get out of there before she said something particularly stupid. “I'll be there in the morning,” she said, looking at the Turian before she turned and walked out. She'd kept her hotel room for the night in case this didn't work out, she decided it'd be smart to just stay there till morning.<br><br>Morning came and Artemis found the group at the docks, walking along in the wake of Kailani and Mourin as they cut through the crowd. The two made a formidable pair for sure, she couldn't really blame the people around them for getting out of the way. They reached the hangar and Artemis got her first glimpse of the Axios, and fought the urge to press her face to the glass and stare at it like a kid outside a toy store. She just stared a bit from where she was, feeling a nervous ball of excited energy build in her chest at the thought of getting to pilot a frigate. It was small, really just barely the minimum size a frigate should be, but that was just fine with her. Artemis was used to piloting one or two person star freighters, so the smaller the better in her opinion.<br><br>The group paused though, Artemis not really paying attention to the small conversation, staring out the glass domed roof of the docking bay they were standing in, observing the ship.<br><br>Kailani, on the other hand, was paying sharp, close attention, dark blue eyes narrowed slightly, listening to what the man had to say before looking at Mourin. He seemed at least willing to hear whatever it was this Hellickson had to say, so she gave a curt nod when he told her to come with him and followed the man and Mourin out, back into the crowd.<br><br>That left Artemis and Wayne with Tavik, who didn't look very happy about being stuck with a couple of humans to show around. Well, Artemis wasn't exactly happy about it either, but she kept that comment to herself for once. “Alright, come on then,” Tavik said, walking the rest of the way down the docking bay, the doors to the ship opening and they were in a docking port, the ship's VI announcing an incoming scan before the inner doors opened and Tavik walked in. He stopped just inside, and motioned to his right, “Cock pit,” Artemis immediately turned, but Tavik walked off, to her irritation, and she was forced to follow after him. “Combat Information Center,” The Batarian said as they walked through the circular room, the raised platform over the galaxy map in the center, in Turian fashion. <br><br>Tavik pointed to a door to the right of the elevator, “Armory and research, I spend most of my time in there,” then he pointed to a door to the left of the elevator, “That leads to the captain's quarters, stay out unless invited.” Then he went to the elevator, the three of them crowding into the compartment and waiting as it lowered, stepping out on the second deck. “Mess hall,” he announced as they stepped off into a room with some table and chairs and a kitchen off to the side, “Kailani's room. Stay out, especially if invited.” The Batarian said, pointing to a door of to the left, and Artemis couldn't tell if he was joking or what he meant. “Battery,” He pointed to a large door on the far side.<br><br>Then he turned and walked through an open archway into a short hall with four doors, “Bathroom and showers,” he pointed to the first door on the left. “The rest are crew quarters, you two can have the second on the right,” He told them, Artemis nodded and took a moment to step into the room, dumping her duffel bag and jacket just inside, glancing around to see a small room with two beds, two dressers, and not much else. She stepped back out of the hall and went to another room off to the right of the mess hall, “Med clinic.” They stepped through the doors as they opened and a Salarian was busy putting supplies in a cabinet, he turned and Artemis blinked a bit, brow furrowing.<br><br>“Tavik,” the voice was soft and high, “Are these the new recruits?” The Salarian walked over and stopped in front of them, hands clasped in front of him.<br><br>“Yep, recruits, this is Januntha, our medic,” The Batarian told them.<br><br>“You're female!” Artemis blurted suddenly, then looked a little embarrassed, rubbing the back of her neck, “Ah... sorry... I've just never met a female Salarian.”<br><br>Januntha twittered a soft laugh and nodded, “Yes, very observant of you.” Like most females of her species, she looked hardly any different from a male, the only indication of her gender was that she was a little taller than the average male, given that females were larger, and she had wider hips. Her skin was a mottled soft blue-gray, with her face a vibrant green and her eyes a dark yellow. <br><br>“But what's a female Salarian doing here?” Artemis asked, obviously a little confused.<br><br>Tavik made an irritated noise and Januntha patted Artemis on the shoulder in an almost maternal way, “Some other time. Let Tavik finish his tour.” <br><br>They left and returned to the elevator, descending down to the final level. “Cargo bay and engine room,” Tavik said as they stepped off the elevator. The cargo bay was massive, and off to one side there looked to be a Krogan and a Quarian playing a card game, using some crates as a make shift table and seats. “That's Raze, muscle of our ground team, and Nel, our engineer,” Tavik told them, pointing to the two massive open arch ways on either side of the elevator, “Those lead to the engine room, stay out. Don't need either of you damaging anything.” He crossed his arms, all four eyes narrowing a little as he smirked, “So there, that's your tour.”<br><br>He tossed Artemis a datapad, “That's the manual for the ship, head up to the cock pit and start learning the ropes,” Artemis caught it and nodded, then Tavik looked at Wayne, “You, Essex, have nothing to contribute to this ship, so you get to clean the bathroom. Have fun. You'll find the cleaning supplies under the sink.” Artemis held back a smirk as she headed for the elevator.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>14-10-2013, 03:16:21</strong>
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				The Juhni district, the richest part of Omega is where the strange man led Mourin and Kailani. It felt strange being there for the first time, and the captain could never have imagined any part of the grimy station being so high class as this. The privileged strutted about in high priced attire and there was a private party seemingly around every corner. Mourin felt like he’d just transplanted himself onto Illium or some other luxurious Asari tourist world.&nbsp; And suddenly they were descending steps as the light around them dimmed and then burst to life again as they entered a night club. Loud music blaring as the rich danced and drank and partook of drugs illegal in outside of the Terminus Systems. <br><br>“Sorry, we’ve got to go through the club to get to the boss,” the man yelled back to the pair following, the place deafening and making him barely discernable. They weaved their way through the mass, one intoxicated woman bumping hard into Mourin’s shoulder and spilling her half full drink all over the floor. He shoved on through, ignoring his surroundings as best he could. There were too many people here, too much noise, and it was one of the few environments where he felt uncomfortable finding himself in. Thankfully they finally got to their destination and Mourin and his second in command were quickly rushed inside of a personal office.<br><br>“Captain Vellus,” A middle aged looking man seated behind a large desk greeted them as they went inside. “A pleasure.” What only could be the man named Hellickson stood up from his chair and began to walk around the desk to stand in front of Mourin. He possessed a soft body, untouched from work or labor, with a slight gut and a balding head. Yet he wore the finest of tailored suit’s a man might be able to afford and his office was equally lavish. <br><br>“I’m sure my associate has already told you who I am and that I have a job for you,” Hellickson began as he peered up into the glaring eyes of Mourin, always calculating and disguised of their true intent. “Apologies for having to bring you here, but I did not trust meeting in a public place nor sending a contract normally. No, I prefer to do business directly.”<br><br>“What’s the job?” Mourin held a hand out to stop the man from pandering further and get to the point. If Hellickson was attempting to make a sales pitch, the Turian wasn’t going to buy it.<br><br>“Straight to it then, I like that. They told me you were good, fast, and you got results.” the businessman complimented Mourin and his crew’s skills as he turned back around and propped himself up leisurely against his desk, folding his arms. “I own the club you just came through out there… as well as some other establishments here on Omega. But truthfully, the majority of my revenue comes from my ventures in the Eezo mining business. I own several facilities scattered throughout the Terminus and Traverse you see.” Hellickson began to tap the top of his rare wooden desk absent mindedly and his expressions seemed to become more solemn.<br><br>“Two days ago one of my facilities in the Hourglass Nebula went dark and we have not been able to contact the mining crew there since.” Hellickson confessed as a shadow of anger passed over his face and his brow lowered. It already was beginning to feel odd to Mourin, and&nbsp; something didn’t seem right about this man. But the captain continued to listen.<br><br>“My fear is that pirates have assaulted and taken over the facility, and my hope is that you will be able to infiltrate it and drive them out… and leave my property in tact. That is why I came to you with this and not the Eclipse or Blue Suns. They are effective, but they leave a crater everywhere they go, I’m hoping you will be more subtle than that.” Hellickson informed the captain.<br><br>Mourin’s mandibles noticeably flared out on either side, and his eyes suddenly became more focused. “How do you know it’s pirates? Maybe their communications have simply went down.” he suggested to the businessman, but Hellickson didn’t seem that convinced.<br><br>“I… have a hunch it is what I think it is… we’ve had trouble like this in the past with these callus types.” he retorted quickly.<br><br>“What’s your offer?” Mourin then asked after a short pause.<br><br>“Twenty five,” Hellickson quickly and confidently replied making Mourin’s eyes go a little bit wider. Twenty five thousand creds for one job would be his biggest haul yet, and for a relatively simple sounding job. And that’s what made him hesitant, this all felt too simple to the captain. Every bit of his instincts were telling him to say no or at least think things through. But he looked to the side and met with Kailani’s gaze and he knew this was not an opportunity he couldn't pass up regardless of the risk involved. His head lowered in thought for a moment.<br><br>“Deal,” he agreed finally. <br><br><hr><br>Kailani and Mourin arrived back at the ship a short while later with a new and immediate job to fulfill. Hellickson had supplied them with coordinates and half of the pay up front, showing a great deal of faith in Mourin being able to follow through. They stepped aboard the ship to see things already in full swing with the crew hard at work to get the ship ready to take off. All except for Artemis at least. She was seated at the helm with her feet propped up on the controls and headphones in her ears. Mourin sighed and walked behind her. He subtly grabbed one side of the headphones and pulled it far enough away for her to hear him.<br><br>“I see you’re settling in, Chase.” the captain sarcastically remarked to his new pilot. “When you’re done, we have our coordinates on the navpoint.” 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>14-10-2013, 04:26:08</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani went with Mourin, walking just slightly behind him, but practically abreast. She respected Mourin as her captain, but considering him a 'superior' wasn't quite right. She didn't think anyone was superior to her, though many were beneath her. Mourin was one of the few beings she knew that she considered an equal, so while he had more authority than her, and she obeyed his orders, she did not see him as her superior, she didn't act like it either. In public she played the role of the obedient second far more than she actually felt it, but that was because she was wise enough to know that it was important not to question Mourin in front of others, to compromise his position as leader like that. It was dangerous for the whole crew. They needed a fixed point, and Mourin was it.<br><br>So she walked along with him, not nearly as bothered by the club as they walked through, though she kept her eyes fixed ahead, feeling the gazes of many on her, having to walk behind Mourin now. The drunk woman who stumbled into her captain and spilled her drink let out an angry curse and moved to throw an off kilter fist at him, but Kailani grabbed her by the wrist as she passed, twisting it painfully, and shoved her away into the crowd. She didn't appreciate anyone trying to strike Mourin, he could be an idealistic fool at times, but he was her friend as well as captain. She'd look out for him whether he liked it or not, or even realized it. <br><br>When they reached the VIP room, Kailani stood aside, arms crossed, and listened. The conversation was pretty typical. And while she felt that Hellickson wasn't being completely truthful with them, the money was good. So when Mourin glanced at her she nodded her head slightly. They needed money and work was the only way to get it, they couldn't afford to pass up something like this. So she was pleased when Mourin accepted, though she didn't show it, that same icy expression on her face as always.<br><br><hr><br>Artemis had settled in up at the cock pit. The chair was a bit big for her, but it was made for a Turian. At least it gave her plenty of room to lounge in. So she'd slouched down, propped her boots up on the console, and started reading the manual, occasionally glancing at the controls to keep things positioned correctly in her head. Her mouth was pulled to one side, the face she always made when she was concentrating, and she had her headphones on, music blasting into her ears loud enough that it would probably damage most people's hearing. But years around jet engines had done that already for Artemis.<br><br>She also had a bag of candy in her lap, an assortment of flavors and colors. Her sweet tooth was famous among friends and family, and you could bet money on her having a bag of candy in her pocket or near by at almost all times. Artemis had just popper a red hard candy in her mouth when some one pulled the headphones aside and spoke into her ear, making her jump, and then promptly start choking on her candy. “Shit!” She sputtered, feet slamming down on the floor, coughing the candy out of her throat and tucking it onto her cheek. <br><br>It took Artemis a moment to process what Mourin had said, but nodded quickly when she did, pulling her headphones off. “Yes sir,” She turned her music off, holding up the data pad, “Just reading the manual.” She explained, not wanting to seem like she was just slacking off. She was a bit of a slacker, but he didn't need to know that so soon.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>15-10-2013, 02:31:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“As you were, Chase,” Mourin told his new pilot approving of her already studying the instrumentation of the foreign vessel. For the last few jumps it had been Tavik who’d been at the helm of the ship, and a shit pilot he proved to be almost getting them into collisions twice and nearly missing a Mass Relay once more. Mourin needed a proper replacement for the Drell&nbsp; pilot they had at the helm before, who suddenly quit citing family issues as the reason. And the captain hoped the strange human female might be the replacement he needed, but right now he needed to get to the Hourglass Nebula more. So until she learned what she was doing, it would Tavik who would be taking them there.<br><br>“Tavik, report to the helm and relieve our new pilot until she’s ready to go, and don‘t scratch my damn ship up again.” Mourin called over the intercom and then quickly made his way off.<br><br><hr><br>“Breather mask on rook, we’ll have to breach the facility from the outside,”&nbsp; Mourin commanded Wayne as he noticed the recruit grab the wrong helmet. The ground team was assembled and ready to go in the cargo hold as Mourin, Wayne, Raze, and Kailani all stood fully equipped and ready to breach the compound. It was a small facility stationed on the surface of a massive asteroid rich in Eezo deposits. They were getting close to the point of dropoff. Luckily the asteroid was large enough and the ship small enough to allow for a drop straight from the hanger doors at a safe distance from the base. They would have to infiltrate on foot from then to clear it out.<br><br>“I’m on point after Tavik hacks the door,” Mourin said as Tavik stepped out of the elevator just on que with all the gear he’d need to get the outer blast doors open. The Batarian joined the group just as he was adjusting his hemlet and sealed it in place. “I want you in the back watching our asses kid, don’t do anything stupid and you might survive long enough to get your first cut,” Mourin warned Wayne as he pointed at the young man. Wayne clearly wanted to protect being responsible for watching their rear and flanks while they got to have all the fun, but he thought better of it. <br><br>“Yes sir,” the human soldier clad in his old father’s armor with a new assault rifle nestled in his arms said finally and reluctantly.<br><br>The ship touched down and with a hiss the hanger doors opened up as Mourin began to lead his unit down the ramp. “Chase, feed us scanner reports on their movements once we’re inside,” Mourin came over his personal comm that relayed back to his ship before he stepped off the ramp onto the hard rock beneath. It was always partly disorienting and partly exciting stepping into anti gravity spaces for the Turian as it took a few steps for him to gain himself, Wayne finding it even more difficult as it was his first time. The base wasn’t far for them now. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>15-10-2013, 05:09:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Artemis nodded a bit, letting out a soft cough. The controls weren't incredibly different from an Alliance vessel, there were differences of course, but it wasn't so different that she couldn't wrap her head around them. It would take a bit of studying, and some practice, but she was sure she could get it just fine, and be handling it like she'd grown up flying Turian vessels in no time. Some might call that cocky, over over confident, and maybe she was a little cocky, but Artemis was also sure of her skills. She'd been a pilot long enough to know her abilities and limits, and she didn't feel like learning to fly the Axios were beyond them. <br><br>She blinked a little though when Mourin told Tavik to relieve her at the helm, feeling a little put out. She'd hoped for a bit more time to study up so she could fly, but it looked like they needed to leave now, and she couldn't really blame the captain for not wanting to put the ship in her hands just yet. So when Tavik arrived she got up, sitting in one of the chairs built into the back of the cockpit to watch. Artemis was a visual learner mostly, so maybe watching Tavik would help her, even if it sounded like he wasn't the best example to follow.<br><br>Kailani pulled her helmet on, the right one, as they readied in the cargo hold, and checked her weapons. Being an adept, she only carried a pair of pistols, and a shot gun for close encounters, her biotics did most of the work for her in the weaponry department after all. She glanced at Mourin as he gave the rookie his orders, but her eyes narrowed when the kid seemed like he wanted to argue. She almost wished he would so she could put him in his place. The kid was so damn green, she felt like she would put him in a pot with some dirt or something. She still didn't get what Mourin saw in him, but he hadn't changed his mind yet. She guessed she'd see if his gut feeling was right or not here in a bit.<br><br>Over the comm, Chase's voice responded, “Yes sir,” her tone professional and curt, as opposed to the other new recruit. Kailani still didn't know what to make of her, she was a little weird in her opinion, but at least she seemed to know what she was doing. <br><br>Out on the asteroid, Kailani took a step or two to orient herself, then followed after Mourin, walking on his left while Raze was on his right, with the rookie taking up the rear and Tavik walking just ahead of their captain. They all stood aside, keeping a wary eye out while Tavik hacked the outer doors, then moved into the pressurizing port with them. “I've bought you about five minutes before the alarms start sounding,” Tavik told them as the cabin pressurized and he worked on the inner doors, “After that, they'll know you're here.” He got the inner door open, and then they were inside. The doors closed behind them, leaving Tavik to head back out onto the asteroid and to the ship.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>15-10-2013, 22:41:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“We’ll have to work fast then,” Mourin said as Tavik was bypassing the door code and it opened up. He quickly crouched down and moved inside with the rest in tow. They were in a straight hallway that led out into a open lobby area. Benches and moniters lined the room, but there didn’t seem to be much of any activity. Mourin reached a corner and halted the rest of his crew. He looked farther inside and could see why Hellickson believed it was pirates that caused this. There were scars all along the walls left from rounds of fray ammunition of the stains of blood smearing the walls and floor like canvases. <br><br>Around the corner Mourin quickly peeked his head out of. In the corner of his eye he saw a seated man facing the other direction with his feet propped up on a desk and a pistol laying beside him. He began to whistle as Mourin ducked back into cover. The Captain offered up the “hold” signal back to his crew and disappeared around the corner. For a man his size, and for someone as heavily armored as the Turian was, his feet were nearly deafly quiet as he crept along the room.<br><br>Before the guard even knew what was happening, Mourin’s arm was wrapped firmly around his throat and squeezing into a vice. The human scratched at the armor of his assailant and his boots kicked the desk, but eventually his body went limp and silent, falling back into the chair. <br><br>“Clear,” Mourin called out to the rest of his team with the lobby cleared. It was eerily quiet there now… and wasn’t nearly as well guarded as the captain had expected it to be. Perhaps the main force was deeper in the facility. As the rest of the crew caught up and scattered across the room, Mourin noticed a door that said “Restricted” above it and motioned for his team to move over there. <br><br>“Raze, you’re in first,” Mourrin said as they took cover on either side of the door. The Turian captain hit the door switch with the backside of his fist and it swung open. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>16-10-2013, 01:07:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani moved with the group, crouched down a little, pistol up, sighting down it as she scanned their surroundings. At first the place seemed almost deserted, they didn't even encounter any sign of anything being out of the ordinary until they reached the lobby area and saw evidence of a fire fight. She stopped when Mourin gave the signal, making sure Raze and the kid stayed put while their captain went around the corner. She'd been working with the Turian long enough to no longer be so surprised by how silently he could move for some one his size and with his preference for heavy armor, but she always found it pretty impressive.<br><br>There was a small noise of a struggle and then Mourin gave them the all clear. She spotted the dead body of the guard as they moved through the silent room. Kailani was surprised as well that there seemed to be so little in a guard presence. They obviously hadn't been expecting any sort of retaliation, or not so soon anyway, or perhaps they expected a more obvious assault than a small infiltration team, but that's why they were so good, people tended to never expect them.<br><br>As Raze passed through the opened door, their comms crackled to life with Artemis' voice, “Looks like the alarm has sounded, you've got a few groups heading your way, one from the West corridor, looks like about five, and a larger group from the central area of the facility that will take a little longer to get to you. Looks more like ten. Seems like most of the people in the facility are in that central area, I have no way of telling if they're pirates or workers though.” <br><br>Kailani frowned, that was odd, what were they doing grouped up like that? She didn't have much of a chance to contemplate it before there was the sound of boots echoing down the hallway to the left just inside the restricted door, followed closely by the rapport of gun fire. Kailani ducked into an open doorway before flinging a ball of biotic energy down the hall to make the five men scatter, jumping out of the way and dropping to the ground, putting them on the defensive, but it managed to catch one of the men, shredding through his shields and slamming him in the wall.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>18-10-2013, 06:38:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Mourin quickly ducked into cover in the form ofa open door connected out into the hallway they were going down as bullets flashed by him. The Turian was able to get a few rounds of suppressing blind fire off as he heard a heavy groan and thud of one of the pirates crashing into the far wall from heavy biotic force strong enough to cave in a chest if not for the armor the man wore. The captain was happy to have never been on the receiving end of one of Kailani’s focused attacks in such a way, his own biotic capabilities paling in comparison to a former Asari commando.<br><br>As Wayne was laying down cover fire Raze began to move up on the three remaining in the hallway, spraying them with shotgun fire. Mourin looked through the other side and saw a single target hiding behind a desk and peaking his head up now and then. In a quick motion Mourin sent a shockwave of biotic energy towards the pirate that flipped over the table he’d been hiding behind and forced him into the open. Mourin quickly and gracefully got into a firing position and put four slugs into the mans chest, bursting through his kniectic shield and sending him crumbling to the floor.<br><br>In the hallway Raze had shot up one of the pirates as he lay dead face down and had another by the throat. “Ha ha ha!” the Krogan laughed out heartily and beastly as he head butted the human and broke his neck nearly instantaneously. Raze threw him to the ground, and as he did he took a round of shots to the chest that broke through his shield and did some damage to his thick armor, but otherwise did not wound him seriously. A shot flew by Raze from behind and hit the pirate dead between the eyes. Mourin saw it as it happened, and saw Wayne fire the presise shot.<br><br>“At least you’re a nice shot kid, but don‘t let loose another round so close to one of our own,” Mourin complimented Wayne without giving him too much credit, lest him already getting too egotistical about his own abilities. It was a good shot, but very reckless all at the same time. <br><br>“You should let me on point then, so he won‘t be in my way,” Wayne began, the look in his eyes pleased with himself and his pin point shot from the barrel of a substandard rifle that was handed down to him from former crew members. “Sir,” he finished after a pause, finally recognizing the authority of Mourin and the ship. If Turians could grin, now would have been the time Mourin would have done so. The captain simply looked over at Kailani and knew what was coming Wayne’s way.&nbsp; He walked forward so he could talk over his comm without background noise seeping in.<br><br>“Axios, give me a position on the larger group. And see if you can find a good place for us to set up a ambush on the schematics Chase, we’re too out in the open here.” Mourin said relaying back to the ship. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>19-10-2013, 04:52:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani had been singled out as a pureblood, looked upon with disdain, but she was far from weak. If anything, purebloods tended to be very powerful biotics, the prejudice against them was unfounded, and all in the minds of their peers. They were seen as some how detrimental to the Asari, as if they were weakening the lines by not infusing more alien DNA into their species. Kailani found this incredibly idiotic. If being pureblooded made an Asari weak, or some how had a negative effect on the race in the long term, how in the world had the Asari survived at all until meeting other races? It was ridiculous, but there was little she could do to change something like that. Being such a long-lived species, change took time for the Asari.<br><br>When the pirates were all dead, Kailani stepped from her cover, hearing Mourin give a small bit of praise to the kid, and a bit of advice too. Wayne, though, took the praise for advantage, and greeted the advice with the ignorance of youth and pride. Her crystalline blue eyes narrowed with a flash of anger, even if he threw a 'sir' in there, and caught the captain's eye, feeling her cruel streak light up like a neon sign. Kailani was, admittedly, a little of a sadist, she enjoyed causing others pain, whether it be mental or physical. It wasn't sexual, but it was satisfying none the less, the result of the cruelty she'd suffered herself. <br><br>Chase came over their comms with an “Aye aye, sir,” but Kailani stalked towards Wayne, pistol still in hand, but by her side, slamming her fist into the chest of his armor, wrapped in the blue glue of biotics to put some extra power behind it. “Watch your mouth, kid,” she snarled, “You want to stay alive? You work with the team, you work as a group, stop thinking about yourself and your own fucking pride because that'll just get yourself or some one else killed. Stay in the back, and keep your mouth shut. You want to be a hot shot then you can take your ass elsewhere.” A bit of that was bluster, she couldn't dismiss Wayne, that wasn't her call, but he didn't have to know that, and she meant what she said. If he wanted fame and glory, this was not the place for him. “You want to impress any of us then stop acting like a god damn kid and grow up,” She spit at him before she stalked off to join Mourin.<br><br>Artemis came back over the comm about then, “The larger group is still coming down the main corridor from the center of the station,” She told them, “I would suggest you continue down the hall you're in and then hang a right and another right, it connects back to the main corridor further down. They'll pass right by you. There looks to be some sort of open room that's on the corner created by that hall way and the main corridor, a rec room or something. Probably have lots of furniture good for cover.” <br><br>Kailani nodded a bit, it sounded like a solid plan to her, but looked Mourin to follow his lead.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>19-10-2013, 17:36:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Wayne was trying to continue to not listen and be defiant as Mourin stepped away and he took a verbal assault by his second in command, the tall and ravishing Asari that was showing her more cruel side to him now. When he felt a charge in his chest that forced him into the wall behind him with a loud thud and grunt of having the wind knocked out of him, Wayne attention was entirely hers. After not having a father figure, or any person of authority, in his life for so many years, answering to “superiors” was proving a difficult task for the young man. “Yes ma’am,” Wayne muttered finally as he relented to her chastising.<br><br>“Good work,” Mourin said over the comm to Artemis. He turned to&nbsp; look at his squad to gauge reactions, with Raze being indifferent and just looking for another fight and Wayne still dejected from his recent tongue lashing. It was Kailani who seemed to be pleased about the plan the most, and that was usually enough input Mourin ever needed from his unit. “I’m on point, we move quick and quiet. We have to beat them to the ambush point and still have time to set up. Let’s go.”<br><br>The Turian led the way as he ducked in and out of corners with surprising agility to the point Wayne, and especially Raze had difficulty keeping up with the pace as they followed the route Artemis specified, a right then another right and then a rec room for them to get the drop on the enemy from. As they approached the main corrider, Mourin could already hear the faint steps and voices coming down their direction. He quickly assessed their situation.<br><br>“Kailani, take Wayne to the other side of the corrider so we can catch them in a crossfire, Raze you’re with me in the rec room,” the Turian captain quickly turned around and doled out orders. Raze ducked into the room on his left and stood with his back up against the near wall, with the main corrider on the other side of some glass he would break momentarily when the fighting started. The Krogan grinned happily at the prospects of another big fight. Mourin followed suit and ducked behind a sturdy couch that sat in the middle of the room. <br><br>“After you, ma’am,” Wayne said with a smirk, his brash youth shining through slightly again as he waited for her signal to cross and find decent cover in the rooms on the other side. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>19-10-2013, 18:37:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani hardly felt any sort of satisfaction from Wayne's reaction, it was sullen like a child's, not genuine. In her opinion he needed to have his ass kicked a few times to make him learn some humility, not that she was one to talk about that. She was hardly humble herself, but she at least knew how to respect the chain of command. She didn't think Wayne really respected anything, and that was a dangerous sort of person to have around, the sort that didn't really take anything as seriously as they should. She just hoped Mourin didn't learn the hard way that it had been a bad idea to pick the kid up, by that she meant he hoped he didn't get some one hurt or killed. He could get himself killed for all she cared, but by the Goddess if he got some one else killed, she'd kill him herself. <br><br>She nodded though when Mourin spoke, turning her attention back to her captain, falling into her familiar spot behind the Turian as they moved single file down the hall way, quick and silent. She was the only one who didn't have a problem keeping up with Mourin's quick, agile pace. They followed the route instructed by Artemis until they reached the main corridor again, the rec room to their left, completely open on the side that let out into the hall way they were in, with glass and a half wall lining the side that ran along the corridor. There were table and chair sets ranging from two to four to six chairs, some vending machines, and a small kitchenette as well as what looked to be some arcade machines.<br><br>Kailani's lips pursed and she gave the human an annoyed look with their captain told her to take him across the corridor to create a crossfire, Wayne was the last person she wanted to work with, but she didn't argue. She merely gave a curt nod as Raze and Mourin moved off. She looked at Wayne, crystalline blue eyes narrowing at his smirk and tone, she grit her teeth a little against the urge to punch him in the face, and brushed past him, sliding against the bit of wall the formed the corner and glancing around it. The pirates weren't in sight just yet, but they'd need to move fast, she could hear foot steps and voices echoing down to them.<br><br>She glanced over her shoulder at Wayne and motioned for him to stay close before she darted across the corridor, quick and graceful as a cat. Once across she moved back a bit, keeping herself pressed to the wall, and motioned to the space between her and the corridor, “You want point? You got it. I'm not going to save your ass if you get in too deep though.” Kailani whispered to him, almost hissing, sneering a little, honestly hoping he got shot. Maybe not bad enough to kill him, but enough to teach him a lesson.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>21-10-2013, 16:36:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Wayne quickly followed suit of the Asari, staying right on her ass as they moved across the corridor and ducked into position. Until he was shoved out of cover and told to take point. The&nbsp; real estate Kailani held was the best to be found on that side of the hall, leaving only a small shipping crate ahead and by the wall for him to take cover in. It was far more open, but he would be getting his wish of being up close and personal with the enemy. The young recruit peaked his head up for just a moment before he saw the group coming down finally and went back into cover.<br><br>“Hold…” Mourin whispered over his comm to everyone in the group as they drew closer with every step.<br><br>“Richards? Varnus? What the fuck is going on up there? Somebody come in god damnit!” One of the voices of the pirates rang out in the hall, what seemed to be the leader in the front of the pack. A mostly human pack with a Turian and Salarian mixed in as well, they were more well armed than the last group they’d fought, perhaps because they’d had more warning and time to prepare for a fight.<br><br>“Spread out!” the commander yelled to his men as the dozen fanned out&nbsp; across the breadth of&nbsp; the corrider and slowed their pace slightly as they were coming across the junction where Mourin had set the trap. The man in front stopped, raising a fist in the air to halt the others. The fist opened up with five fingers and then pointed forward, and quickly five of his comrades began to move forward.<br><br>“Fire on me…” Mourin again whispered over the comm as the group was coming within his line of sight. Shortly after, they all came into Mourin’s line of sight, and one in front was standing just on the other side of the crate Wayne had hidden himself behind and clearly he was getting fidgety waiting. Suddenly, Mourin’s rifle sounded off in a blaze of ammunition as he took one of the pirates down before he’d even known what happened. Raze was the second to unload a round from his shotgun and bust the glass down in front of him. While Wayne rose up and hit the man close to him with the butt of his gun so hard it seemed he’d knocked him out in a single shot. All in all, the group made quick work of the five who unwisely stepped into the trap after Kailani had joined in the fray. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>22-10-2013, 01:19:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani kept herself pressed against the wall, waiting quietly and listening as the group of pirates drew ever closer. Unlike Wayne, she'd been fighting for centuries, and felt only a seasoned sense of expectation. It took more than taking down some pirate gang to rustle her jimmies, as she'd once heard a human say. So she waited, staring at the wall across from her, one hand holding her pistol ready, the other crackling softly with biotic energy, keeping it ready. She heard Mourin's voice over her comm, but knew he was more talking to Wayne, and probably Raze. The Krogan was definitely experienced, but like most of his race, was prone to bouts of passion that overrode his better judgment. <br><br>The voices of one of the pirates echoed down the hall, and Kailani's hand squeezed her pistol tight, waiting, the sort of cold anticipation of a killer snaking up her spine. She barely heard Mourin's whisper in her comm, but when they shooting started, she joined in, taking down the shields of one of the humans before slamming him into the ceiling and then on the floor. She made sure he was dead with a quick shot to the head, and then the flurry of fighting was over. <br><br>She could hear the remaining pirates shouting but when she glanced around her corner, they weren't coming at them, but instead retreating. “Looks like they're heading back to the center of the facility,” Chase came over their comms. Kailani had figured as much, and fell in at Mourin's left as they proceeded down the hall, Chase occasionally assuring them that there was no incoming resistance. Finally though they seemed to be drawing close to a pair of large double doors, “Looks like there's about twelve people on the other side,” Chase came in, “I don't know how many are pirates, could be a few hostages. I wouldn't suggest trying to go through it, they're all gathered inside waiting to throw you a party.” There was a pause and then, “There should be a maintenance door to your left, take that, I'll guide you through some service corridors to come in from another direction.”<br><br>Following Chase's instructions they finally reached a door that would let them into the main area, and at her signal, went through quietly. They were around the corner of a huge piece of machinery that seemed to fill most of the room, it was whirring and hissing, a million pieces moving in synchronization. Following Mourin's lead, they edged up around the piece of machinery, spotting the pirates gathered around the door, most of them ducked into some sort of cover. Kailani only saw eight, which meant there were either four out of sight, or four hostages tucked off. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>23-10-2013, 20:43:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Mourin peered around the large vat like machinery he and his crew were positioned behind, looking at the layout of the area and the position of the pirates on the other side of the room. There were another three vats that were near identical to one they were behind, and the room had an odd smell to it that the commander couldn’t seem to place. Regardless, his tactical mind kept turning, coming up with a plan of action.<br><br>“Raze move up and wait for my signal, when I give it draw as much of their attention as you can,” Mourin ordered as Raze simply grunted and moved into a better position behind several crates that gave him a clear shot to backs of all the would be assailants. The tense eyes of the commander darted back to Kailani and Wayne and then he looked over to the right side of the main entrance the large group was guarding. <br><br>“I don’t think all this shit is mining equipment,” Wayne muttered to them both then, lifting his head up to try and see the top of the huge vats. “And the smell… I think I know what it is,” the young man continued as Mourin looked on.<br><br>And the captain realized that the young man had a legitimate point. These machines were unlike any sort of Eezo minding equipment he’d ever seen, and the place in general didn’t have the feel of a true mining facility. Everything was too clean, too well organized and fortified for such a simple station in theory.<br><br>“What is it?” Mourin asked as he pulled out his sniper rifle from off his back, it reflexively extending to full length and the light on the side turning red, signaling it was prepared to fire. <br><br>“Red sand,” Wayne answered him directly.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>24-10-2013, 01:01:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani was beginning to think the same thing as Mourin and Wayne, eyeing the machinery with a sort of dubious expression, sniffing the air a little, which had a sharp, metallic tangy scent. It was familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. And this equipment didn't look fit for mining. In fact, the entire place didn't really strike her as a mining facility. She wasn't here to solve mysteries though, jut kill pirates, and kill pirates was exactly what she was going to do. What they did here when pirates weren't disrupting them was really none of her business.<br><br>She stayed in cover while Mourin gave Raze his order and the Krogan moved into place. They were poised to attack, and she glanced at Mourin as he looked at her, giving a small nod to indicate she was ready, one hand wrapped around her pistol, the other ready to use her biotics. She glanced at Wayne though when he muttered about the equipment, glancing at it but not really paying much attention. Kailani narrowed her eyes a little though when their captain asked the kid what he meant and Wayne named the source of the familiar but elusive smell.<br><br>The Asari glanced at the equipment, frowning to herself. He was right, it was Red Sand, why hadn't she recognized it sooner? Kailani wished he hadn't said anything, she glanced at Mourin, knowing his stance on drugs. He refused to make money in between infiltration jobs doing things like running drugs or weapons. Hellickson had been smart, in a way, to lie to Mourin, who wouldn't have accepted the job if he'd known, but at the same time, he'd lied, so that was two strikes against him, no doubt, in her captain's book. “It doesn't matter,” Mourin spoke up, “We've got a job to do.” She was speaking to Wayne, but really her words were for Mourin.<br><br>Kailani had no qualms with running drugs, or even selling them. She didn't touch them herself, but if some fool was so weak as to get addicted to drugs, to need them just to operate, well then that was on them.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>26-10-2013, 18:57:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Red Sand. Mourin had fully expected Hellickson to be withholding some truths, and making up complete falsities as well. But this was something different entirely. Something corrupt and filthy that Mourin couldn’t stand being apart of. He was no paragon of standing, but even a mercenary could have a code. And his own personal code dictated he would not get himself involved in drug running and slave trading. And now he found himself directly involved in the production and procurement of drugs. One that was a plague upon the people of Omega and the entire Terminus Systems. <br><br>The Turian’s mandibles flared out in a moment of thought as Mourin simply stared at Wayne in thought until his concentration was broken by Kailani at long last. It didn’t matter to her, few things were too low for her to feel one way or another about. It was one of her weaknesses, and strengths from a certain perspective. Someone without reservations could make themselves a very rich person in the Terminus, but at the price of their on dignity and honor. And these sort of fundamental disagreements might have been the reason for the pair never truly growing close, despite years of on again, off again entanglement. <br><br>“I’ll decide whether it matters or not,” Mourin told her bluntly. “But you’re right, we have other things to w--,” the Turian continued but he was cut off by the blast of a heavy shotgun going off the battle roar of a impatient Krogan. Raze had grown tired of waiting while the others debated and charged ahead, blasting one poor pirate in the back of the head. The wild Krogan blasted another target in the chest and sent him flying back.<br><br>“Shit!” Wayne called out as he got up and started firing. Things rapidly were getting out of control&nbsp; as more pirated fell, but as they did Raze was taking heavy fire from all sides. The insane Krogan underestimated how well the pirates would be able to respond from the initial shock of the surprise attack. Soon he was down on one knee after his shields had been obliterated and his armor littered with the scars of impact. Soon Mourin joined the fray and the three able bodied mercs found themselves in a firefight, out numbered and outflanked. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>27-10-2013, 01:08:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani frowned at Mourin, but didn't argue, when he said he'd decide what was important. Sometimes she wondered why she followed his fool ass around, but she never seemed able to just go and work for some one else. They worked well together professionally, for the most part, their differing opinions could sometimes make them butt heads, but at the same time she made him face hard decisions, and he kept her from just killing everyone that ticked her off. It took people like Kailani and Mourin both to keep the galaxy running, people with morals balancing out those who had none. Like a typical Turian though, Mourin was prone to putting his honor above getting a good pay day. <br><br>The down side, if you could call it that, to their often opposing personalities keeping one another on their toes was that it definitely didn't allow for a stable base for a more personal relationship. Kailani didn't know if she really considered that a bad thing though, he was her captain, getting too involved with him could make things... difficult. She honestly preferred the relationship they had, having no desire for things between them to become more serious than the occasional periods of ending up in bed together, mostly in between ports when one or both of them felt like sleeping in an empty bed was getting old.<br><br>Kailani looked up from Mourin at the sound of a heavy shot gun blast, seeing Raze shoot the head right off one of the pirates. The Asari let out a curse under her breath. Stupid Krogans! They had no concept of patience! Raze kept rushing into the fight, over confident in his regeneration abilities for his own good, until he was in the thick of things, down on one knee, his shields down and getting blasted to hell with gun fire. Kailani tried to put up a biotic shield around him, surrounding the Krogan in a glowing blue bubble, but the pirates kept shooting her into cover, forcing her to drop it so she could attack them instead. <br><br>She saw the hulking Krogan finally go down and Kailani sent two pirates crashing into one another so hard it broke one's neck instantly, the other lay screaming on the ground, a couple limbs broken. She finished him off with a warp field that ripped him in half.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>30-10-2013, 04:47:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Despite being initially outnumbered, the combination of Kailani’s biotics, Mourin’s precision, and Wayne’s reckless yet effective bludgeoning style of fighting made for a rather one sided battle. The hardened Asari merc slammed two of the poor souls together in a sickening thud, killing them both gruesomely. While&nbsp; Mourin way able to take down two more targets with a sniper rifle from mid range. Wayne, as could be predicted, rushed ahead, but he fared far better than the motionless Raze did after wading into the thick of gunfire and taking out the remaining forces who were left standing at their initial entrenchment. <br><br>The last ring of ammunition sounded off as Mourin rose from his cover, with rifle still at the ready in case there was still one somewhere hiding. He made his way over to Wayne, who was standing next to the fresh corpse that was Raze, his shock trooper. The crazed Krogan had been on the squad for only a few months, but he’d proven himself a useful battering ram and meat shield in his short tenure aboard the Axios. Tactically, his loss was significant, but Mourin doubted there would be a severe reaction emotionally from the crew for Raze’s loss. The Turian checked for a pulse, there was none.<br><br>“Axios, area is clear, but we lost Raze. Send a crew down to---,” Mourin began over his comm to Artemis but the blast of more gunfire caused him to stop midsentence and rounds flew past him and Wayne. They quickly ducked behind cover as they could see on the other side of the main area another group of pirates, only about four perhaps who were at another large set of blast doors. They sprung open and rushed inside, closing them behind. Wayne reacted quickly enough to get some shots off, but they were off target. He chased after them as they went through the door and sealed it behind, locking it from the other side.<br><br>“Correction, there’s still hostiles in the facility. I need a location on them now.” Mourin said with a surprising calmness to his voice. “See what you can do with the door,” he continued to his second in command Kailani, who was by no means a proficient hacker but she was the best they had in the circumstance with Tavik back at the ship.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>02-11-2013, 02:09:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani stood from her cover and moved to join Mourin and Wayne beside Raze's body, though she mostly stood guard. She didn't feel any real emotion over the Krogan's death, she saw most Krogans as barely more than animals anyway. Raze had been likable enough, but she'd had no real attachment to him, especially considering he'd only been around a few months. Which reminded her, she'd had a bet going with Tavik about how long he'd last, she'd have to remember to collect when they got back on the ship, and discuss the bet surrounding Wayne's chances of survival as well. <br><br>She was looking off to the wrong side of the large chamber when the gunfire sounded off, so she wasn't expecting it. Even so, she threw up a shimmering blue shield that absorbed the gunfire, rolling into cover as she did so. Wayne was after them once the gunfire stopped, but he was pretty ineffective at stopping them, and she watched as the doors they ran through slammed shut. Kailani glanced at Mourin as he spoke to Chase on the ship, the Asari nodding at his instructions to her and moving to the blast doors. She was far from a hacker, but she'd see what she could do none the less. <br><br>Back on the Axios, which was hovering over the side of the facility that Mourin and the others had entered, Artemis had sat and watched the readings on the instruments, monitoring radio chatter that wasn't on their direct frequency as well as watching the heat signatures of the people inside the facility. The devices on Mourin, Kailani, Raze, and Wayne set them apart from the others, so she was able to track their movement and progress, and she saw the particularly large blotch labeled 'Raze' separate from the othes and then stop in the open. She wasn't able to hear anything that wasn't fed to her over the radio, so she could only watch the movement of the signatures, seeing the ones she knew to belong to the pirates eventually still and begin to cool in death. The Raze blotch did the same, his temperature slowly but surely dropping. So she wasn't surprised when Mourin finally came over the radio to tell her that Raze was gone. She noticed the other blotches about the time Mourin went silent, and caught the first shot of gunfire over his radio before there was a brief silence.<br><br>Finally the Turian's flanged voice came back over his radio, updating her, and needing a location, “Aye aye, sir,” she responded, and looked to the screen in front of her, watching the four figures moving North, down the main corridor to the docks. “I think they're trying to get to their ship,” she came back, seeing them go through the doors into the docks, “Correction, they're definitely going to their ship. I wouldn't bother going after them, by the time you reach the docks they'll be gone. Might want to just start heading back.” She suggested. Artemis pursed her lips as she saw a suddenly flare of heat on the monitor, announcing that they'd started up their engines.<br><br>Looking through the view shield in front of her, she saw a ship roughly a little larger than the Axios rising from the back of the facility. “They're leaving the facility,” she told Mourin, watching them. The pirate ship was still ascending from the structure, and seemed to notice her, as it stopped the clockwise spin it had been in to turn back towards her. Artemis didn't bother to hold back the smirk that curled one side of her mouth, and she flipped the weapons' controls online. She wouldn't lie about missing her days of action in the Alliance, so at this chance of a fight, she was ready and willing. She gripped the controls, and squeezed the trigger just as they fired off some light ammo of their own. Maneuvering as best she could with the ship being so much larger than she was used to, Artemis launched a small volley of missiles at the pirate ship, aiming for their left side, and hitting home with a small explosion, muted in the vacuum of space.<br><br>Artemis let out a bit of a laugh, sitting back in the pilot's chair a little, smirking in satisfaction, though she was honestly a little disappointed by how weak their shields had been. Then her eyes went wide as the enemy vessel spun a little,before it began to descend, quickly, towards the facility. “Axios to ground team, might want to get moving, <em>now</em>,” She told them quickly, tone tense but restrained, like some one trying not to shout “Pirate vessel is going down, heading right for the facility.”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>02-11-2013, 05:25:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“See if you can stall them, Chase,” Mourin said over the comm as he was informed that the pirate vessel was already being fired up and readying for take off. The captain had to hand it to the pirates, they were very proficient at tucking tail and running the moment they realized a fight wasn’t going to go their way. Obviously they had plans in store for a retaking of the facility, hell they may have even expected it was coming. Regardless, Mourin turned back to his two remaining crew members as they worked on the door.<br><br>“Forget about it, we’re moving out.” The Turian captain ordered Wayne and Kailani still at the door. The young human huffed in frustration after hearing the pirates had practically already escaped and he slammed the underside of his fist against the door. And just at that moment it opened up with a hiss and Wayne’s cheeks quickly flushed with the red of anger. “Get your ass moving Essex,” Mourin ordered again, this time more strictly.<br><br>They were at the exit into the main corridor the pirates had blockaded when the shots first rang out. “What the hell?” Wayne exclaimed quickly, and just as quickly the round of fire stopped and there passed a couple awkward moments of silence as the group had just entered into the hallway.<br><br>“Axios, report.” Mourin said over the comm finally, only a fleeting thought towards the possibility that it was his ship who had come under fire. Thankfully, Artemis soon came back over the comm, but her news wasn’t a relief at all.<br><br>“Shit!” Wayne exclaimed as his eyes shot over to Mourin.<br><br>“Double time! Move! Move!” Mourin said forcefully and gestured with his hand. He went into a half sprint, peeling down the main corridor with his soldiers in tow. As they got to the other side, the entirety of the facility shook violently following a tremendously loud crash. The pirate ship had gone straight through the roof of the room they’d just been in. And Mourin quickly realized what was going to inevitably happen with all of the Red Sand and explosive compounds that were present in that room. They needed to leave immediately. <br><br>“Axios, prepare to pick us up,” the Turian said in a heightened, but still controlled voice, over the comm after he’d regained his balance. They swept through the areas between them and the exit like water running through a stream until they finally reached the rocky soil of the asteroids surface. A small explosions set off on the other side of the facility that forced Mourin to jump slightly as he waited for his ship to come down far enough to jump on board. He clambered up onto the landing pad, followed by Wayne and Kailani. <br><br>“Go, get us out of here Chase.” As they finally pulled away, the facility erupted into red flame and smoke, leaving hardly anything left.<br><br><hr><br>“That was sloppy. Lost a crewmember, lost the facility.” Mourin said in a displeased tone to Kailani as they both stepped off the elevator to the CIC. “With Raze gone, the kid is going to have to pick up slack. Make sure he won’t end up like Raze the next time out,” he continued on. Mourin made his way up to the helm of the ship where Artemis was still working.<br><br>“I didn’t give an order to take down the ship,” Mourin said behind her with an entirely neutral tone. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>02-11-2013, 07:30:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani had stood and moved away from the door as soon as Mourin told them they were moving out, thinking that was the best thing to do. The pirates were leaving, there wasn't a reason to stick around here now. She rolled her ice-blue eyes at Wayne's little outburst. He was such a child, making her give him a disapproving frown when he finally listened and left the door. She followed after their captain, thinking she was ready to get back to Omega and get paid, when they heard the exchange of fire over head, outside the facility. <br><br>She was relieved to at least hear Chase's voice over their comm, meaning the ship was still intact. Her words though weren't very reassuring, Kailani looking about as close to nervous as she ever got, and took off after Mourin, long legs swallowing the ground easily. She had to make a conscious effort not to outrun the Turian in fact. When the facility shook with the force of what she could only assume was the pirate ship crashing, she had to catch herself a bit on the wall, but kept moving, until they were finally outside on the asteroid.<br><br>The Axios flew low to pick them up, and then was speeding off to get out of the blast zone and out of the path of any potential debris. If Kailani weren't so pissed off she'd be impressed that Chase was handling the ship as well as she was, given she'd never really flown it before. She pulled her helmet off, frowning when Mourin spoke, but not offering any words or comfort. That wasn't her way. He was right, the whole thing had been sloppy, she wasn't going to say he was wrong just to make him feel better. She made a face though when he said that Wayne was going to have to take Raze's place, and then told <em>her</em> to make sure he didn't end up like the dead Krogan.<br><br>Eyes narrowed she turned her head to look at Wayne, giving him a glaring once over before she gave a soft, unimpressed scoff. “Great,” she growled before she walked away, helmet under her arm, to return to her quarters.<br><br>-<br><br>Artemis was sitting in dread, and visibly winced a little when Mourin spoke behind her, his tone was neutral, but she knew she was in trouble. She turned the chair to look at him, the ship set on auto pilot to head for the nearest pilot, and let out a loud, frustrated sigh. “I didn't <em>mean</em> to!” she protested, “The idiots didn't have their shields up! They fired on me so I fired back and I guess their pilot got killed cause they didn't seem to know what they hell they were doing and...” the words had come out in one long rush, but she stopped herself to gave another heavy sigh.<br><br>She ran a hand over her hair, still pulled back in a pony tail, and then rubbed the bridge of her nose, giving him an apologetic look, “Sorry.” It was all she could tell him, though she was sure that she'd just cost herself her new job. She'd put them all in a lot of danger, and she didn't expect something like that, especially with some one who he had just hired, to really be forgiven. Not to mention she'd blown up the facility they were supposed to have secured. Artemis stood, one hand on her hip, the other other on the back of her neck, wearing a military-issued black tank top the tattoos on her arms and back were easy to spot, “I guess it's a good thing I haven't unpacked yet,” she shrugged, accepting her fate. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>03-11-2013, 01:38:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“Chase, sit down.” Mourin calmly told his pilot as he brought a hand up to get her to stop talking for a moment. She clearly thought she’d done something wrong, and maybe she had in a slightly different circumstance. But under no such circumstance where his own ship was being fired upon would the captain belay an order to return fire. She did what she should of done, even if the result was… complicating. <br><br>After she’d taken her seat in the cockpit again, Mourin folded his arms over his chest and leaned a shoulder up against the nearest wall, peering at the young human woman. “You made the right call,” his flanged voice said, likely much to her surprise. “Hellickson’s mining facility was actually a Red Sand factory.” He informed her, unsure if Artemis had heard the radio chatter going on between Wayne, Kailani, and himself before everything went to shit. <br><br>“I’m not broken up to see it go,” he told her, a slight glint in his eye and a softer tone to his voice than usual. “Set us on a course for Omega, take it easy while you’re still learning the controls.” The Turian began to turn his back and walk down the isle towards the CIC.<br><br>“And Chase,” he said as he turned back around for a moment. “Good work.”<br><br><hr><br>Back in his personal cabin, Mourin was busy making a mission log. He wasn’t military anymore, but some tendencies he’d learned there he simply couldn’t break so long as he was commanding a ship. His three digits typing on the holographic orange Turian styled keyboard on his desk. However his attention was quickly pulled away as his door hissed open suddenly.<br><br>“Kailani,” the Turian acknowledged his second of command as she entered his room.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>03-11-2013, 04:57:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Artemis gave her captain a slightly uneasy look but sat down anyway when he told her to, letting out a bit of a sigh. She tried to keep herself from fidgeting as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, thinking he was about to tell her that when they got to Omega she should clear out. Instead, he told her she'd made the right call. Red brows shot up in surprise, but she said nothing, letting him continue. She nodded a bit when he brought up that the mining facility was actually a Red Sand factory, she'd heard as much, but still, they'd been paid to secure the place, not blow it up. She knew she'd gotten them into trouble, even if Mourin was downplaying things a little.<br><br>That she wasn't going to be fire though, was good enough for her, so when he told her to set a course for Omega, and to take it easy, she nodded, “Aye aye, sir.” Old habits died hard indeed, she didn't know if she'd ever be able to respond to an order in any way that wasn't a 'yes, sir', or the Navy's characteristic 'aye aye'. Artemis started to turn back to the controls, but paused when he said her name, giving him a toothy grin when he gave her a bit of praise, before turning back to the controls, setting a course for the nearest Relay.<br><br>----<br><br>Kailani had gone to her own cabin, taken a shower, and brooded for a while before heading up to talk to Mourin for their customary post-mission griping, which was usually more just the Asari griping than Mourin. She didn't really bother to announce herself, there was nothing in the world Mourin could be doing that she either hadn't seen him do already, or that she would consider embarrassing to see. “Mourin,” she countered, going and sitting on the couch he had in his quarters. Being a Turian, and one with a still very military mentality, and a Cabal on top of that, who were very Spartan in their lifestyle, his quarters were rather sparse, with only the bare minimum. Kailani sometimes thought he should add a little personal style to the place, but then, this was his personality.<br><br>“So,” she breathed, “What're we going to do?” She asked, a hand brushing some bit of imaginary dust off her leg. Chase had made a right mess of things, but even before she blew the facility up, she knew Mourin would have gotten them into some sort of trouble with Henrickson for lying to them. “We're not going to get paid for blowing the place up,” she mused, head tilting to the side, her tone cool, almost disapproving, “I've half a mind to string that pilot up by her ears.” She frowned fully, “And don't get me started on that kid, why the hell you picked him I don't know. He's so green I should be watering him, and he's got a shit attitude,” Kailani could go on, but she refrained.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>05-11-2013, 06:18:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The captain spun about his chair to face the Asari lounging on his couch and he leaned forward, his elbows resting on top of his legs and his fingers interlocking with one another. He listened intently, as he always did when one of his crew members had something they needed to say. Though he couldn’t honestly say he agreed with everything that was coming from his second in command. It wasn’t a surprise that Kailani was critical of the result of the mission and of Artemis’s quick decision, and as per normal they didn’t see eye to eye about that. Though Mourin would not bring up his newly hired pilot.<br><br>“I guess it’s a good thing we got half in advance then,” Mourin said as his mandibles flared out slightly, his voice slightly more sarcastic than usual. “We’ll worry about Hellickson if the problem arises. Can’t change what happened now,” he told her in a matter of fact manner. Mourin was a great strategist, but primarily on a battlefield as apposed to backroom dealings, which is exactly what he felt like he’d unintentionally involved himself in. True enough it was rare to find legitimately clean work for a merc band in the Terminus Systems, but drugs and slaves were unacceptable in everyway to the Turian. And he had a notion to finishing Hellickson if the man ever showed himself again. He’d not yet try to contact them from Omega, so Mourin assumed that he planned to leave the station from the beginning and never make due on the second half of their bargain anyway.<br><br>“As for the rooks you’ll just have to learn to live with them. They’ve got important jobs they’re going to have to be able to step into. Both of our lives may depend on them at some point. So do your job and make sure they become reliable.” Mourin said in an almost challenging fashion. It had almost always been the duty of Tavik and Kailani to break in new recruits, and it seemed like sometimes the Asari forgot about that part of her job. Perhaps she thought herself above something like that with how long she’s been with Mourin, the Turian wondered.<br><br><hr><br>A day later they arrived back at Omega, as was customary for the crew once a sizable job had been completed. It had only been a few days since they left the station, but with Raze dead and trouble possibly looming on the horizon with Hellickson, Mourin thought it best to get a quick rest before heading out again. And he also hoped that a new job would come his way. Hopefully one with less strings attached than the last. The captain had given the entire crew leave to do as they pleased while the Axios was resupplied and the hull repaired of some very minor damage the shield batteries had sustained from a volley of fire the pirates had sent their way before Artemis took them down. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>06-11-2013, 06:04:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani frowned a little at her captain, her already rather severe features hardening. Most people found her intimidating, though she knew Mourin did not. It could be refreshing at times, but sometimes it was annoying having to put up with him. So she just sighed and stood, catching the drift that he wasn't in the mood to hear her bitch and moan. “I guess half of a payment is better than none,” she grumbled, “As for the rookies, the pilot doesn't need help, just needs to curb her enthusiasm. Essex though... are you trying to punish me or something with him?” She rolled her pale eyes, the kid was nearly everything that was stereotypical of a young human male. “But I'll see what I can do,” she started to leave, walking by Mourin on her way out, pushing on his shoulder as she passed in about as close to a playful gesture as she got, “You need to lighten up, captain.” She told him over her shoulder before she left, purposefully swaying her hips a little for him.<br><br><hr><br>Back on Omega, Kailani was expecting trouble to rear it's head at some point, but as things were, it was the best place to go. And Hellickson hadn't contacted them yet, she wouldn't be surprised if he hadn't been planning on keeping up his end of the deal anyway. The facility blowing up was no skin off her teeth, but she would have preferred it hadn't happened with her inside. Still though, Chase had handled the ship just fine on the way back, not the fastest, but no one wanted her damaging the ship by pushing her luck. So slow and steady was fine. She did leagues better than Tavik at least. <br><br>With the Axios being repaired and resupplied, they had a couple days to look for work, when they weren't indulging a little in Omega's active night life and entertainment. Kailani, for one, could go for a drink, and when she mentioned as much Tavik was on board, as was Chase. Mourin, Wayne, and the Quarian, Nel, followed suit, and before long they found themselves in one of Omega's bars, a slightly less seedy joint Kailani favored called The Black. It was a bar, not a club, and served a dual purpose as off hours hang our for small time merc crews, like their own, and a place people came to when looking for said crews. She hoped that by staying here, they might pick up a bit of work. There was a back room with a few dancers, but the main room was dominated by the bar and numerous tables, with a small dance floor.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>07-11-2013, 01:03:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The light thrum of a smooth beat rang out in The Black, as the bar most of the squad found themselves in was called. I fairly laid back setting and social place meant for merc crews like the Axios’ to drink and unwind on the station for a while. Nel, Kailani, and Artemis all sat in a corner table with half empty drinks in front of them while Tavik was at the bar picking up a new round. He brought it back and laid the drinks out in front of them before sitting down.<br><br>“The dexstro shit for you Suit,” Tavik said in a low tone as he called Nel by a name he’d come up with for the Quarian himself, he thought it was exceedingly clever. “You’re gonna get someone poisoned one day for grabbing the wrong drink,” the Batarian muttered again under his breath as he took a seat. <br><br>“And you’re gonna get someone killed with your breath one day Tavik, if only I had a filter for scents in this thing,” Nel’Taan quickly quipped back as he took his straw out of his previous drink and put it into the new one. “Anyway, like I was saying we never had anything like this on the Flotilla. Pretty morbid place all around now that I think about it. We couldn’t play music loudly or any sort of real celebration because we had to be able to hear the drive cores on the ships to make sure everything was running properly. Since the war we’ve been trying to re-colonize Rannoch, but it’s going slow. The admirals decided that it was still important for us to go on our Pilgrimages, so that’s how I ended up out here in the Terminus.” Nel continued to explain to Chase after she’d asked how they’d fallen in with the crew.<br><br>“I’m here for the money,” Tavik said plainly before taking a deep swig of his drink and nearly draining it. He slammed it down on the table and shook his head like it would alleviate the hard taste. “Captain let’s me do what I do best Rook, and he doesn’t ask questions. Good gig for the time being,” the Batarian continued as he looked down at the table oddly. “Your turn Boss,” Tavik looked up from the table across him at Kailani as she was the only one who hadn’t shared yet. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>07-11-2013, 22:07:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Artemis chuckled into her half-gone drink at Nel's comeback about Tavik's breath. She still didn't like the Batarian, though she no longer felt so much like shooting him now, so anything that made him look stupid was good in her book. She sipped at her drink some more, a strange rum-like concoction, as the Quarian continued with the conversation by answering her question about how they'd all come to be on the crew of the Axios. She nodded slightly as he finished, then looked at Tavik as he answered as well, then looked at Kailani as it came around to her turn. <br><br>The Asari was leaning back in her seat, paused with her lips to her glass, then took a sip before setting the slightly glowing purple drink back on the table. “Well, we actually used to be rivals, well, our merc groups were rivals, I didn't know Mourin personally at the time,” she told them, “But both our groups took on the same mark, some rich fat Volus holed up in a mini fortress, and at first we were trying to fight one another but the place was pretty well defended. Both our groups lost about half our people before we smartened up and joined forces.” She picked her drink up, took another sip, and continued, “Afterwards, we all stuck together, the leader of my group got killed, and he told us that if we wanted to join up with them, there'd be no ill will. I did, and Mourin and I hit it off.”<br><br>She pushed her now mostly finished drink aside and grabbed the new one, taking a drink before she continued again, “Mourin not too long after that to start his own crew and I followed.” She nodded slightly before sipping at her drink again, looking at the pilot before she set her drink aside. “Why did you leave the Alliance? And don't give me that bullshit smart ass answer you gave Mourin, I don't think it's cute.” Kailani growled at her, taking a more substantial drink from her glass.<br><br>Artemis frowned, sighed, took a drink, thought for a moment, then shrugged, “It's personal alright? And no offense but I don't want to really talk about it. Let's just say I started questioning my reasons for joining the first place and decided they weren't really working for me anymore.” 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>10-11-2013, 00:07:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Even Tavik was a little surprised by how much Kailani had revealed to them, things he didn’t even know. The kind of stuff she nor Mourin ever spoke about and always avoided the topic all together if directly asked. Perhaps it was the drinks that were making her more loose lipped, or perhaps the absense of Mourin in their group that made her want to reveal more than the usual. Either way, the Batarians was only slightly amused by the revelation of how their merry band began. With the two founders fighting one another, obviously.<br><br>“That’s hardly fair,” Nel chuckled as he put the straw of his drink into his induction port and began to sip at it, a tough tasks for Quarians to do when not in a sterile and private environment. His immune system was certainly stronger than it had been ten or fifteen years ago, thanks to the time he’d spent on Rannoch. But it wasn’t nearly developed enough to risk going without his suit or even mask on unless in a safe place. It was a drastic improvement over the pre-war days, but there was still much ground to gain in the fight to become a people free of restraints again.<br><br>“Suit’s right, you make us spill our stories and then you brush us off? I don’t think that’s how this goes, Rook.” Tavik said in a not-so-friendly manner that made Nel look to his side at the Batarian. He by no means meant to become confrontational with the pilot as Tavik had twisted his words. But she did ask to know more&nbsp; about her crewmates pasts, and&nbsp; then didn’t give her own, ironically.<br><br>“Hey, you lot!” a slurred voice said from the bar towards the group. They all looked over to see a drunken human male, crouched over in his stool, try to stand up and walk over to the group. He had several more men around him at the bar, each of whom was equipped well and packed significant firepower with them. The man continued to stumble over, bumping into several people as he passed by before he reached the table.<br><br>“What the hell do you want, human?” Tavik glared up at the man as he stood there, elbows propped up on the side of the table, looking around at everyone.<br><br>“You know… you four wouldn’t be apart of uh…. of…. ah fuck what’s the Turian’s name?” the man said as he ran a hand through his blonde hair and looked down at the table. “Oh yeah, Mourin was it. Yeah you four wouldn’t be his crew, now would ya?”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>10-11-2013, 01:15:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani couldn't tell anyone who would ask why she'd told them as much as she did, even though she had left out many details, most of them personal things between her and Mourin. Despite how much she'd told them, it had been the bare bones of the story, still thought, it was more than she would normally reveal. She'd probably blame the alcohol, and likely it was mostly that which made her a little more open. She sipped at her second drink, watching Artemis frowned when Nel chuckled and pointed out that she was being unfair, withholding her own background from them. The girl sighed, and seemed ready to just repeat her stance, but she bristled with Tavik spoke, giving him an angry glare. Kailani definitely got the idea that Artemis did not like Tavik, or maybe she didn't like Batarians.<br><br>The pilot looked ready to just throw something at Tavik, and likely Kailani would have ended up having to break up some fight between them, but as Artemis opened her mouth to no doubt fling some insult at Tavik, they were interrupted. Kailani turned her head with the others as some one slurred at them, getting their attention. She saw a very inebbriated human, and sipped at her own drink again, pale eyes narrowing as she watched him struggle his way over to them. She recognized him, but couldn't place him.<br><br>When he asked them if they were a part of Mourin's crew, it was Kailani who spoke up. “We are, what of it?” She asked him coldly, giving him hard stare, but took another drink from her glass. Sometimes, rival crews did get into fights in these bars, but generally most adhered to the unspoken rule of maintaining them as neutral ground. Not everyone could hold their alcohol so well, and showed their ass after getting a few drinks in them. Kailani couldn't be sure about what crew this was, but she knew that the Axios had a few rivals, and a couple enemies.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>13-11-2013, 02:12:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“Oh, you are,” the mercenary said in a very slurred, yet sarcastic tone. A grin crept up one side of his mouth as he looked at Kailani at first and then around the table at all their faces, seemingly examining them so he could remember them. He bent down lower, bringing his eyes level with all of theirs and his hands clasped together. The smell of&nbsp; drink was heavy on him enough that even Nel could smell it through his vent. If it was what the man had intended, he had fully gained the attention of everyone at the table.<br><br>“It’s just that… few months back you see my crew had a job. We were working for some rich prick who ran this smuggling ring. Ruffled some feathers and needed a little bit of extra muscle.” he explained to Kailani directly at first, before looking around the table again. “Easy enough job, just some security detail. Following the asshole around while he planet side. Only thing was he had a lot of enemies that wanted to take him down.” he continued as he stood a s straight up as he could finally.<br><br>“Then one day some mercs show up and attack out compound. Killing everybody in their way and taking out the prick. I lost over half of my men… and a lot of money that day,” the unkown merc’s tone began to change slightly then as he began to glare at Tavik, then back to Kailani, seeming to recognize them both. “Weeks later I started to dig around, try to find out who did us in. Found out the crew worked out a small shit called the Axios, and were led by a Turian son-of-a-bitch named Mourin.” he told her at last, his grin and sarcastic tone completely leaving him as he stared menacingly at the group. The man looked down at the pistol at his hip and then back at them. But before he could do anything another human hurried over and grabbed him by the shoulder. <br><br>“Come on boss, had a little too much to drink. Let’s go,” he hurriedly said as he dragged the drunken lout off. He spat curses and threats their way as he was pulled off and sat down back at the bar, looking back behind him from time to time.<br><br>“Humans,” Tavik said in a disgusted tone and shook his head.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>13-11-2013, 07:24:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani frowned, making a bit of a face at the overwhelming stench of stale booze on the merc's breath as he leaned in and started talking, laying out some scenario involving his own crew and a disastrous scenario. She knew where he was going before he even mentioned that he'd found out who the mercs were that had killed his men. She remembered the job, and now she remembered him. She felt no sympathy, and only looked at the merc with a flat, cold stare. She sipped her drink, and rolled her eyes a little. No wonder they'd wiped the floor with his crew if their leader was so unprofessional.<br><br>She cut him a glare though when he insulted the Axios, and Mourin, setting her drink down and shifting her weight, preparing to stand and put this prick in his place, especially when he glanced at his pistol. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Artemis move a little too, and Kailani thought there was probably going to be a full out fight when one of the other merc crew's members came over and fetched their drunken boss. Kailani settled back into her seat, took a long drink from her glass, and glanced at Tavik when he grumbled about humans.<br><br>“Oh fuck you four-eyes,” Artemis snarled at the Batarian, and the Asari decided it was time she go. <br><br>Kailani stood, drained the last of her drink, and set it down, “I'm heading out, you guys try to stay out of trouble.” She told them, then looked at Artemis, “Don't forget Wayne in the back when you leave.” The pilot blinked and looked ready to argue but Kailani just turned and walked away, heading for the door. She passed by the rival merc group, giving their drunken sop of a leader a hard, disgusted glare as she passed, stopping when one of them stepped in their way. <br><br>“Baby, you're wasted on that loser's crew,” He muttered at her, standing entirely too close for Kailani's liking, and reeking just as bad as the other man, “You should come back to our ship with me, let me show you what you're missing.” He put his hand on her hip, but let out a his of pain as Kailani snatched his wrist, digging her thumb into his pressure point. <br><br>“Unless you want to be missing your hand, I suggest you keep it off me,” She growled at him, “Now get out of my way, before I embarrass you in front of your friends.” They couldn't see what she was doing with how she was standing, and the man stepped aside so she released him, Kailani walking on by, letting out a scoff, and leaving the bar. <br><br>Back with the rest of the crew, the drinking continued for a bit longer before the general consensus was that it was time to turn in. Artemis finished her drink and stood with a sigh, “Guess I should go get Mr. Essex,” she muttered, not sure how he could spend the entire night back in the titty bar. He probably didn't have a chit to his name anymore. She headed to the back, stepping through the door and looking at the bouncer just inside, a huge Krogan. “Hey, looking for a human male, bout this tall, dark hair.”<br><br>“You humans all look a like to me,” The Krogan rumbled.<br><br>“Thanks pal,” Artemis rolled her eyes, walking further in, despite really not wanting to, to look for Wayne, ignoring the strippers, even though a couple were eying her pretty hard.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>15-11-2013, 06:32:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The front part of the bar might have been fairly plain, quiet, and unassuming with a relatively controlled environment saved for the occasional brawl that broke out between drunken crewmates or rivals. In contrast, the back was entirely different. They kept&nbsp; it fairly dark with constant flashing lights&nbsp; along every hallway and private booth along with a larger main room with a walkway for the showgirls to work on. Probably the nicest place on Omega to go for a good time, and not get mugged afterwards (or during) the show. <br><br>Wayne had snuck into the place before, but he always got thrown out eventually. The bar, especially the back, was meant for merc crews only. That was the supposed theme of the place, but Wayne never gave a shit about that. The place had some of the better looking girls and the drinks didn’t cost an arm and a leg like they did up in Afterlife. This time though he was legitimate, really part of a team at last and he loved throwing it in the bouncers collective faces.&nbsp; Probably not a smart idea to goad Krogan, but he’d been drinking so smart ideas were unlikely to begin with.<br><br>Mister Essex was well into his second hour after spending a lot of time at the main walkway, just enjoying the show. Now he was getting one for himself, and paying well for it. The booth was small, with a couch that rounded a corner and a square table with small pole going up it for a dancer, or maybe two if you could squeeze them in there, to work. Wayne was using about ever y bit of space he could as he was lazily spread out on the couch and the table was fully occupied. <br><br>A human girl, thin with short blond hair and a solid C cup was on her knees and holding onto the pall, giving slow and lewd thrusts forward with her hips at the metal beam. She’d already reached the point of only having the bare minimum of her body covered at the top and bottom, with more to come in due time. Meanwhile, a beautiful purple hued Asari was standing up right in front of Wayne, teasingly bending over in front&nbsp; of him and bending her knees from time to time. Wayne was in the closest thing to paradise he came to. He had money, which was rapidly disappearing, and two lovely women dancing for him. What else could he need?<br><br>Suddenly then, the curtain to the booth slid open right before the Asari was about to take her top off just inches from the merc’s face and Wayne’s eyes quickly shot over to see who it was. “Chase!” Wayne exclaimed in a surprised but in a good way. He waved his hand and beckoned for her to come in. “Come on, there’s plenty of me to go around,” he boasted, clearly having had too many drinks for one night. The Asari chuckled and looked at the pilot with a devious glint in her eye.<br><br>“Friend of yours?” she asked Wayne as he nodded in return. “Why don’t you take a seat and join us?” she asked alluringly as she stood up and took a step towards Artemis to try and coax her in. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>19-11-2013, 00:19:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Artemis felt incredibly awkward, walking around the back bar, especially since she had to get a good look at every guy who bore a resemblance to Wayne, with how dark it was and the sporadic lighting. This mostly lead to guys thinking she was 'looking for a good time' and Artemis having to beat a hasty retreat before she got in a fight. And she was constantly dodging Asari, they'd always had some odd fixation on her for some reason. Finally she stopped one of the human dancers and pleaded with her to please help her find Wayne. She'd been told the dancer thought she saw a guy matching his description over in one of the private booths. Artemis hurried away before the dancer could try to suck money out of her, and went to the booth.<br><br>So she was feeling a little harassed by the time she pulled back the curtain to Wayne's little wonderland and she closed it quickly behind her. Artemis gave the slightly younger human a glare when he beckoned her over, “Sorry Essex, not interested. And I cost more than these girls.” She told him, giving the Asari dancer a suspicious look as she moved towards her and invited the pilot to join them, grabbing Artemis' hand giving it a gentle tug. “Uh, no thanks,” she said, pulling her hand free.<br><br>“Come on Wayne, time to go,” She said, nodding her head towards the curtain, her hands on her hips. The Asari dancer didn't seem so inclined to take no for an answer though and Artemis found her left arm sandwiched between the dancer's breasts as she pressed against the pilot's side.<br><br>“Aw come on, we were just getting to the good part, weren't we Wayne?” She cooed, giving the male human a sly grin. <br><br>Artemis made a face and stepped away, “Yeah, no thanks, not into chicks,” She asserted, frowning at Wayne, “Now Essex, I'm tired of getting molested every five minutes.” It wasn't some guy trying to grab her it was an Asari grinding on her. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>20-11-2013, 06:39:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“They’re just trying to be friendly Chase, lighten up would ya? Do they make all Alliance types so boring?” Wayne asked her, a question he would have never uttered if not for the significant amount of drink in his system. At least he wouldn’t have and expected to be keeping all of his teeth where they were supposed to be. He continued to beckon her even as Artemis moved to get away from the persistent Asari. The young merc began to slouch over in his seat, the alcohol and wild evening beginning to take their toll when he felt a firm hand wrap around his wrist and yank him up. <br><br>“Hey what are you doing?” He contested as he was practically dragged from his seat and quickly ushered out of the private booth. Wayne waved at the human girl who made a feigned frowning face in response as well as the Asari who possessed a wicked grin. She seemed wholly satisfied with having unsettled the uptight pilot. They, and all the pleasures of the back rooms of the bar quickly disappeared as Wayne was dragged along until they reached the outside. <br><br>Nel and Tavik were up and waiting,&nbsp; the tab already settled and ready to go when the two humans emerged from the back. Tavik quickly approached. “The hell you two doing back there? You know what, never mind let’s just get the fuck out of here already,” he said in his normal pissed off tone as he began to turn for the exit, but just as he did he was greeted with a large hulking human, taller than all of them and with a pretty pissed off look of his own covering his face. Behind him were three other men, two more humans and a Salariaan. One of those among them was the crazed man who’d walked over to the Axios crew’s table earlier in the night.<br><br>“Thought you’d just walk out, did ya?” The drunken man said in a threatening tone, his confidence exceedingly high with his bulky muscle standing in front of him then. “Ain’t going to happen like that. Your crew is in for some payback.”<br><br>“Damned idiot, none of us four were even on Mourin’s crew when they screwed you dip shits over.” Tavik said in a annoyed tone towards the man. But he didn’t seem all that interested in hearing out any excuses. <br><br>“Don’t matter, I just need to beat some respect into one of that fucking Turian’s men so maybe he’ll learn some as well.” the drunken man said as he took the first swing, just barely missing the mask of Nel, who showed quick reflexes in stepping back and then delivering a solid punch to the leader’s side that sent him reeling for a few moments. Hell soon broke loose. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>24-11-2013, 01:01:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Artemis glared at Wayne when he accused her of being boring, and asked if all Alliance types were too. She was tempted to just punch him and leave his ass bleeding with the strippers but orders were orders and she had spent too much time in the military to just ignore them. So she just gave a frustrated sigh and grabbed Wayne by the wrist and started walking. If he wanted to walk with her then he was welcome, but she'd drag him if she had to, Wayne was a fair bit bigger than her, but Artemis was in shape, and stronger than she looked, she was sure she could haul his ass out if she needed to. “Doing what I was told to do, something I know you have no clue about,” she answered his question.<br><br>“Feel like your god damn mom,” she muttered as she got them out of the back, the Krogan bouncer rumbling a deep chuckle at the sight of the petite red head dragging her comrade along behind her. She just rolled her eyes at Tavik's bad attitude and let go of Wayne, not bothering to answer. She was happy to leave though, moving to follow everyone out, but it didn't look like they were going to be leaving right away as their path was blocked by a few guys, including the one that had come to their table trying to start shit earlier. Looked like he wasn't doing with that after all.<br><br>As soon as Nel hit the leader, their area of the bar exploded and Artemis ducked as some one threw a punch at her, her training kicking in, jabbing her hand hard into the guy's arm pit, hearing him let out a howl of pain at the shock to such a vulnerable spot. As he pulled back, tucking his arm against his chest and his other hand instinctively going to his arm pit, she slammer her fist into his throat, making him choke and sputter, backing away from her quickly and tripping over some one before he crashed to the floor. Artemis didn't have time to savor her victory though as she was pulled back into the fray.<br><br><br><br>Kailani though had gotten out of the bar well before the fight had started, and headed for the apartments where Wayne rented a place. Her own apartment was in the same building, but they didn't live together, that just wasn't something either of them were comfortable with. She was perfectly comfortable going and spending the night with him though, which was what she was planning right now. Some people might feel a little nervous about walking around Omega alone, and a little drunk, but Kailani didn't bat much of an eye at it, it wasn't in her nature to walk around afraid. <br><br>And sure enough she arrived at Mourin's apartment without a scratch on her, ringing his doorbell and leaning against the door frame as she waited for him to answer the door. Once he did she gave him a sly smirk, “Hey, think you could use some company?”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>26-11-2013, 05:49:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Wayne took a firm shot to the jaw that sent him reeling backwards, already groggy and stumbling about. Throughout the mess of a bar fight that commenced he had somehow been paired up with the group leader who’d started the whole shit storm and was trading drunken blows with him back forth as chaos ensued around them. The fight had started as just four on four, but soon the rest of the bar joined in like there was an unseen gravitational pull forcing them to get up and knock some heads, even if for no reason at all. Luckily there had been no shots fired as of yet, or deaths, so things were going exceedingly well so far. <br><br>The drunken Essex landed a solid shot to the ribs of the man that made him wince and grunt in pain as he went down to a knee and looked totally done at last. In the morning he would fully regret starting shit. Wayne looked around but couldn’t find Tavik, the batarian likely getting the hell out of there as soon as he could. And suddenly Nel rushed up to Wayne, who in his drunken stupor almost hit his crewmate, but the Quarian side stepped it and grabbed the human. Dragging him towards the exit, Nel looked back and saw Artemis in the thick of it and yelled back.<br><br>“Chase! Come on, let’s go!”<br><br><hr><br>Documents and logging, that was the real life of a captain. At least Mourin thought so. It had always felt like both a burden and a curse, the position of command aboard a vessel, where the lives of everyone was in his hands on an almost daily basis. And afterwards there was nothing to do but sit in the office alone and file reports. Even though there was no one to file them with anymore save for himself. No superior officer in the Hierarchy so check in with on a weekly basis to make sure the Cabal was doing his job properly. No military father to answer to when things go bad. Only files for himself, to go back and review if the need ever arose.<br><br>The door rung suddenly a forced him to startle slightly as his head whipped around slightly. He didn’t expect anyone that night what with the crew all out at some club for the evening. The turian stood up from his chair and grabbed the pistol laying on his desk just in case, holstering it at the hip. He didn’t believe Hellickson had the balls to try and kill him while sitting in a apartment room right out in the open, but anything was possible when dealing with a vengeful ex-client.&nbsp; The button on the door flashed green as Mourin opened it and revealed Kailani waiting on the other side.<br><br>“Sure,” he greeted her and welcomed her inside with a hand wave. The moment he saw her he already knew what she wanted, and should have expected it was coming knowing she was out drinking and probably needed to blow off some steam from the last mission. Truth be told he needed to as well, but it never felt right to him going to her for some reason he couldn’t’ quite pin point. Relationships were always far more complicated for Mourin to figure out than a battle plan, or field tactics. <br><br>“Have a seat,” he said as he brought a purple tube of drink over to a round table circled around on two sides by an elongated couch. The drink was non-dexstro, and thankfully wouldn’t tear her innards apart by ingesting it as he sat it down in front of her. It was the same room that they’d been in just days ago as they interviewed countless candidates for crew spots and found Artemis and Wayne, the room felt empty and quiet in comparison now. Mourin took a seat next to her, sitting casually.<br><br>“Get tired of the bar already? Thatt’s not like you,” Mourin jested, trying to drum up some conversation. Though that was never his strong suit. “Hope the rookies didn’t get into too much trouble.”<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>30-11-2013, 17:17:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani had been a commando for nearly a century before she'd gotten into merc work, it'd taught her a lot, skills that you couldn't put a price on, but the lifestyle had never really stuck with her. She didn't like having some one constantly looking over her shoulder, she didn't like having part of her life dictated by some officer with a fat pay check. She supposed it was a little different for Mourin, he was a Turian, they had that mentality bred into them. Kailani didn't get it, but that's just how they were. She personally had never really felt as at home as she did in the life of a mercenary. <br><br>She liked her arrangement with Mourin. Kailani wasn't a leader, she knew that, she didn't have the patience for it, but he wasn't such a hard ass that she chafed being on his crew. She worked best just like that, with a good mix of a steady hand to keep her on target, but not a tight grip that would just make her turn and focus on it instead. The Asari could be volatile at times, tricky to handle, and easy to set off, but so far Mourin had yet to draw her ire beyond a bit of irritation and exasperation. But he was also about as close to being attached to some one as she'd ever been. This was strange among the Asari, who so easily bonded with others, but Kailani had always been a little harder to like, and she found it just as hard to like others as well. <br><br>She went into his apartment once he stepped out of the way, sitting on his couch and watching him go to get something to drink, taking it off the table and sipping it. Her shoulders shrugged at his questions, “Bar was kind of dead tonight, and there was some guy we'd blasted the hell out of a while back in there ruining the mood.” Kailani sipped her drink again, “As for the rookies, not as far as I know, Essex was with the strippers blowing his money and Chase was drinking with us. When I left everything was fine, but you know how it goes.”<br><br>Kailani took a long sip from her drink, giving Mourin a sideways look before she set it back on his coffee table and turned towards him. Sliding closer to him she ended up against his side, and twisted a bit until her upper body was against his and her face was nestled against the leathery skin of his neck, nuzzling it a little before she ran her tongue over the spot her mouth was against. She knew Mourin was horrible at personal relationships, sometimes it was amusing, sometimes it was frustrating, but she'd mostly learned to just work around it. She didn't see the need for an awkward conversation to prelude sex between them. They'd been doing this long enough that they both knew what to expect after all. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>05-12-2013, 06:26:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“We blast the hell out of a lot of people, the guy must have thought he was special,” Mourin joked, showing his far more rare easy going side. It wasn’t out of his nature to be more professional, it was just easier to do that when he was alone with somebody and not dealing with an entire crew of people who looked to him to make hard decisions. Was he close to Kailani? Maybe, or at least she was the closest thing he had to a friend since he left his career and family and took up a freelancer’s lifestyle. It might not have been saying much with how off and on they were, but it was better than nothing.<br><br>There wasn’t another word said between them after that, and there didn’t need to be. The Asari set her drink down and gave him the look that he’d become very familiar with over the years. Of all of her traits, the best one Kailani may have possessed was wanting something and going after it, damned the consequences. Luckily, Mourin had no objections as he raised an arm up and over her head as she slid into him, nudging her closer with his arm lazily draped off her shoulders. Her head rested against his neck, running her tongue across his neck just above the natural plating of his exoskeleton. The cool and strange sensation sent an immediate chill down his spine. Humans and Asari had very soft women, in the physical sense, but it had become something he enjoyed over his time with Kailani. The flaky scaled texture of her skin beneath his touch, and the soft press of her body against him were amazing sensations. He often wondered if it was just as foreign and exciting for her to experience his own body so.<br><br>The Turian’s arm slid down to her hip and gripped it softly, turning her more towards him. He looked in her eyes with his normal, hard to read, expression. But if a person knew him well enough, they would be able to see the slight flicker in his eyes, the excitement slowly beginning to rise within. Bringing his other hand around he grasped her outside thigh and guided her atop him, straddling his hips. She was tall enough to be looking down on him from that position, something that he always enjoyed for some reason. His mouth feel agape for a moment and his mandibles flared out wildly as his hands roamed up her sides, one lingering and the other going all the up to her neck and resting just below the fringe. Gently he coerced her down into a kiss. It was always something of a strange exercise to be able to contort his mouth in such a way that it was comfortable for her, but it was an act that Asari enjoyed and even he had developed an appreciation for the intimacy of it. Even if it was still very strange. <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>08-12-2013, 21:30:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani wouldn't like to admit it, but she was comfortable with how things were between them. They got what they needed from one another, both on a professional and personal level. He needed some one like her on the crew, and she needed some one who knew how to handle her as a leader. And while neither was interested in an actual relationship, they still had all the needs anyone else might have. It was a good arrangement, but Kailani tried not to think about it too much. Getting comfortable wasn't a good thing in their world. It made you soft, and it made you lower your guard. If she realized how comfortable she'd become with Mourin, the arrangement, she'd feel compelled to do something to change it, possibly even ruin it. Because she would know it was time to move on. It wasn't worth getting killed over, still though, no matter how she tried to pretend like she didn't have emotions beyond anger and contempt, she did, and this arrangement with Mourin was the closest thing to normal she'd ever had. <br><br>The hard body of a Turian didn't seem foreign to Kailani, in fact she had never found any of the traits of her former lovers odd or strange, all of them seemed to fit in her mind, seemed to feel natural under her hands. She'd wondered about this, because she'd never heard any other Asari mention this either, but then talking to the females of other races who had had inter-species relationships or encounters, they spoke of how strange it had been at first. Kailani wondered if it was simply a part of being an Asari, a race that could have children with any other race they encountered, and somehow seemed sexually appealing to nearly every one that was around them. <br><br>Kailani let the Turian pull her against him, lifting her head a little to look at him, a sly smirk on her face and a brow arched. Mourin's expression was harder to read, but hers was pretty obvious, and she'd known him long enough to be able to read the subtle hints in his face and eyes. Her smirk turned into a smile though as he pulled her into his lap so that she was straddling him, looking down at him and her arms draped over his shoulders, her fingers running along the under side of his fringe on the back of his head. When he coaxed her head down she went along willingly, her soft lips pressing against the hard plates of his mouth, running her tongue along them. Kissing, she knew, was an entirely foreign gesture among Turians, they did use their mouths, but not in the same way, that Mourin had taken to it though made her happy. As she kissed him her fingers unclasped the series of buckles that held her leather jacket onto her, shrugging it off while still trying to maintain their kiss, not really sure where it went after that and not caring. That left just the gray microfiber armor that covered her torso and went up her neck to just below her jaw line but not her arms and shoulders, leaving them bare, her scaled skin that unusually pale ice-blue color.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>09-12-2013, 01:06:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Mourin heard the clicking sounds of his Asari partner’s belt coming undone one after another until she shimmied out of the black jacket she wore. He felt her bare skin brush along his shoulders and neck, the tingling sensation of the millions of small flakes upon her a different, but exciting experience. In short order Mourin himself was trying to return the gesture in kind as his hands rose up to the right side of his captain’s uniform. A simple black and red formal outfit not unlike what he wore when he was still an officer in the Hierarchy, but those days were long gone. <br><br>One of the fasteners that held the shirt in place snapped off, followed by four more consecutively going down the course of his chest and midsection. Mourin was forced to put his hands on Kailani’s shoulders to pull her back for a moment, breaking off their elongated “kiss” temporarily. He pulled his right arm free of it’s sleeve and arched his back to relieve himself of the rest of the shirt, letting it fall into a clump upon the couch. Sinking back into the cushion behind him, Mourin pulled Kailani back into his bare natural breastplate, careful not to poke her with any of the hard ridges present there. The red tattoos that marked his face did not stop there and continued to stream across his chest and down his shoulders in symmetrical patterns. <br><br>Their bodies pressed together in earnest, close enough Mourin could smell the aroma of the bar and alcohol upon her, but it was only feint and he wasn’t in anyway phased by it. His hands rested atop her thighs and slowly ran up to her hips, feeling the elastic texture of her black pants beneath his touch. They continued to explore her as his three digit hands went up her back all the way to just below her fringe. Careful not to hit her with one of his talons he found the zipper at her neck that held her underlay in place. Slowly he began to coax it down, the fabric beginning to fall away from it’s skin tight position around her neck and shoulders. It went all the way down to her lower back and Mourin let it rest there instead of going all the way, allowing her to do the rest. A uncommon glimmer flashed across the captain’s eyes as his mandible flared outwards of their own accord.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>15-12-2013, 01:17:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani sat back to give Mourin the room he needed to get out of his shirt, smirking slightly. Turians always seemed such an ungainly species outside of certain activities, but get them doing certain day to day actions and they sometimes appeared awkward or out of place. Their carapaces limited their movement in many ways, but for the most part it didn't seem much of an obstacle where it mattered. There were certainly an advantage to have natural plating, but the same could be said of having a more flexible exterior as well. Either way, Kailani gave a sly smile when he pulled her back to him once his shirt was gone, pressing her far softer body against the natural armor over his chest.<br><br>Mourin's hands were tracing up her thighs and her back, finding the zipper at the back of her neck. It was always strange taking that particular layer of clothing, it was thin and tight, but so flexible it practically felt like a second skin. So as he coaxed the zipper down, she felt like she was peeling off a layer of her own skin, it was a strange, but pleasant sensation. Kailani liked to imagine that this was how it felt when a snake shed it's old skin. Her front still pressed snugly against the Turian's breastplate kept the top up as her own hands took the place of his to finish the zipper, smirking mischievously as she looked Mourin in the eye. Undoing the zipper the rest of the way she maneuvered her arms out of the piece of fabric, then leaned back enough to pull off her completely and toss it aside... somewhere, she really wasn't paying attention.<br><br>That left Kailani bare from the waist up, ice-blue skin softly texture with minute scales and small but perky breasts that fit her frame naturally. She was a predator, stream-line and swift, something so bulky as a heavy set of breasts would look out of place on her. That out of the way she leaned back in against Mourin for another kiss, though this was brief before she was slipping out of his lap. One of her hands trailed down his arm as she did, catching his hand at the end, pulling at him with a grin as she backed up carefully down the space between the couch and the coffee table, in the general direction of his bedroom. “Come on then,” She urged, flashing him a toothy grin, her eyes glinting at him.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>17-12-2013, 02:20:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The Turian commander didn’t have long to admire his second as she sat half naked on his lap briefly before pulling away. She had other things on her mind besides nibbling at one another and blankly staring. At her suggestion Mourin rose up from his seat, his eyes and mandibles expressing the closest thing they could to what a human might call a “grin.” Two of his fingers lazily stayed clasped with her hand as she sauntered towards the bedroom. At first he watched her back, the way every toned muscle on her form shifted with every step. And then his gaze lowered to her covered backside showing well through the tight fabric of her pants and admiring the&nbsp; sway of her hips. He’d grown more fond of the Asari body over the years than he ever anticipated he would.<br><br>They made it inside the door as it automatically closed behind. The lighting was dimmed but sufficient as they took the few remaining steps towards the edge of the bed. Mourin suddenly put his hands around Kailani’s waist and spun her about to face him. His greedy hands lingered about her hips for a moment before they fell off and began to unclasp the lower half of his casual attire. The first latch of his pants came undone, followed in rapid succession by three more that allowed enough give for him to get them over the edges of his own hips and let them fall&nbsp; to the ground. He stepped out of them before her naked, his manhood already emerged from his exoskeleton and half erect.<br><br>He went forward again and wrapped his three digit hands around her midsection, careful not to press his rough exterior into her soft flesh as he did so. Moving her to the right, he nudged her down onto her back on the bed, half of her body still hanging off the edge. Fingers quickly went to work to get her pants undone and pulled down, continuing to be careful with his natural claws. “Still amazes me how you squeeze into these things,” he said with a light chuckle and tried to pull them down over the curve of her ass and all the way until they were off. Her move, he thought idly to himself as he stared down towards his off again, on again lover. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>LtRipley</strong> on <strong>10-01-2014, 07:24:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kailani found herself spinning around, and as she was slightly inebriated, she had the distinct impression of continuing to spin even though Mourin's hands on her hips proved that she was, in fact, standing perfectly still. It took a moment for her brain to realize that, but she tried to ignore it, though she kept swaying a little in a slightly unbalanced way. She became aware of him undoing his pants though and stepping out of them, naked now, which made her smirk and glance over him appreciatively. Mourin wasn't the only one that had learned to appreciate an alien body. And Turians were certainly alien. Familiar enough to adjust to though, unlike a race like the Elchor or the Hanar. <br><br>She let him maneuver her back and to her right, feeling the edge of the bed bump into the back of her legs and sitting down, then laying down. The Asari did her best to help his efforts in getting her pants off, kicking off her boots and lifting her hips so he could tug them off a little easier. Kailani laughed softly at his comment about how tight her pants were, making her shrug her bare blue shoulders. “Many years of practice,” She explained with a smirk. He always impressed her though with the amount of caution he managed to exercise, always conscious of his claws and his scales. It would probably surprise most to learn how careful Mourin was with such things.<br><br>Her pants finally gone, Kailani was naked, those pants being entirely too tight to bother with underwear. Her hands reached for Mourin, pulling him down to her. Her mouth was back on his in another kiss, her thigh moving to press up between his legs, rubbing against his half hard cock. The Asari's hands soothed over his rough exoskeleton, down his sides and then up along his back to grip his shoulders from behind.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mass Effect: Freelancers (Atroxa and Odan)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odanrav</strong> on <strong>15-01-2014, 05:50:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				In a rush of pure lust, Kailani reached out and grabbed the captain firmly by the collar of his exoskeleton, yanking him down. She was strong, surprisingly strong even after working with her, on her, under her, and around her for many years to Mourin. With that determined glint in her eyes she was able to force him atop of her and into a passionate kiss. Suddenly the night had been revved up a gear, it’s core jumped into hyper drive in the blink of an eye. The captain could only release a chuckle in between her attempts to kiss the rigid edges that made up the Turian’s mouth. Humans and Asari had a strange fascination with mouth to mouth contact. <br><br>Her light blue leg found it’s way in between Mourin’s legs and pressed firmly against his groin. The captain was able to steal a peak down to see his cock pressed tightly up to her smooth thigh, slowly rubbing it up and down, coaxing it to become harder. And it was working in every way as he was soon completely ready for blowing off a little steam. With some force added in for devious effect, Mourin reached down to her free leg and spread it apart from her other by tossing it lightly away. With one leg sprawled across the bed and out of the way, and the other pinned beneath him he had a clear shot. His hand immediately went to her blue “azure” as Asari genitalia was often referred to. It always looked like a human vagina to Mourin though, he was often curious why Asari held a separate name. <br><br>Carefully two of his fingers slid down along the outside of her folds, teasing it almost. And as his hand was coming back up one of the appendages slid in between the slit of her lips with his claw still sticking around and lightly brushing along her soft skin. He’d done this before and thought he’d gotten quite good at it. Sometimes he wondered if he could even please a turian female again it’d been so long since he was with one and he had become so accustomed to the soft embrace of other species. His fingers were well trained as they came up and located the small round orb that never failed to please Mourin’s bed partners. Beginning in a slow circular motion at first and then up and down roughly, repeating and mixing the rhythm until he could hear the moans begin to escape her lips the dampness begin to build up around his hand.<br><br>Suddenly he leaned up and began to shift pulling his upper body away from her for a moment to get into position. He unpinned her leg, noticing the small damp spot he’d left on her from his cock, and spread it apart to nestle himself between. Holding himself up by an elbow he hovered over her, one hand ready to push in his wanting member. The thin point of Mourin’s cock slid between the folds and into the welcoming warmth of her azure. A light groan was the only sound the turian made as he looked down at the woman he was coupled with. <br>
			</dd>
		</dl>
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