"And how exactly can you help us?"
"I... the Old Root used me to obtain the knowledge that was in the Beacon, which Saren absorbed. He structured it, and then, with my help, passed it to Saren. So he found out exactly where to look for the Conduit."
"And where is it?"
"The planet Ilos..."
I frowned slightly.
"...I've heard of it, the planet is a myth."
"Not a myth..."
Liara corrected me.
"...many studies confirm that Ilos exists, but the Mass Relay that led to it has disappeared. As a result, no one can accurately determine its location, and travel on conventional Faster-Than-Light Drives could take more than ten years. Although even so, various universities periodically send expeditions in hopes of discovering this legendary planet."
"Yes... that is indeed true. And it is on this planet that the Conduit is located, which can help Saren."
"What does he even want there?"
"I... don't know..."
The Asari shook her head.
"However, I can, through the Embrace, indicate exactly where to look for this planet."
"Embrace? Girl, do you seriously think that after Saren affected you with something, and then that unknown crap that called itself the Old Root, I'll let anyone from my team Embrace Eternity with you?"
"Well... I can show you on a regular map too..."
"Then show us on a regular map."
I sighed with slight relief, then, obeying my gesture, we all, along with half a squad of huntresses, headed to the surface. At the same time, the Asari were all green, and if not for their different facial features, I could have taken them for sisters.
"I won't let you on the ship. Tali, find where we can bring up a projection of the galaxy map so this green one can show us where to fly..."
"I'll keep an eye on it, and you report to the Council in the meantime."
Jane patted me on the shoulder, and I nodded understandingly, then hurried to the ship. However, before getting inside the SSV Normandy, I had to go through an extremely serious decontamination procedure. There was hot air, and cold air, and some chemicals, and a chemical deactivator, and radiation... in short, until the air in the transition chamber became completely sterile and my armor so clean that you could eat off its soles using it as a plate, I didn't get inside the ship.
"Whew..."
Taking off my helmet, I shook my head and walked quickly to the comm room.
"I'm listening..."
Tevos answered quickly enough; I only had to wait five minutes.
"The planet Feros. I recommend: evacuate all inhabitants to a separate station, or you could bring some old Dreadnought and hang it in orbit and move everyone there, and put the planet itself under quarantine."
Tevos immediately tensed up.
"I hope this is a joke?"
"What kind of joke is this? Also, to my deepest regret, Humanity, or rather one specific corporation, has overplayed its hand—I'm talking about ExoGeni Corporation. Actually, the recommendation to impose a quarantine on the planet and evacuate all its residents to a separate old ship or station and keep them under observation is precisely because of what the corporates were playing with."
"And what is that?"
"A certain sentient plant-like being. Saren made a deal with it, and it helped find the Conduit, or rather, helped establish where it is located."
"Plant-like?"
Tevos was somewhat taken aback by my words.
"Yes. A plant-like being that communicated with us through an Asari commando it had consumed, infected with spores, and then controlled. ExoGeni Corporation knew the creature was spreading spores and therefore used the colonists as guinea pigs, which is why they are all infected. Fortunately, none of the colonists died, although they tried very hard to make us open fire to kill."
"This sounds like nonsense."
"But it's the truth. So I ask you to impose a quarantine, and only then deal with the spore-affected people. And yes, even though we managed to destroy the root that was available to us, I don't believe the creature is destroyed. And considering it has sided with the enemy of all living things... So I recommend, after the colonists are removed, to carry out a large-scale orbital bombardment, and then drench the planet in some kind of herbicide."
"You want us to destroy an entire planet?! A habitable planet?!"
"That is my recommendation as a Spectre, and the reasons for this recommendation will be confirmed in a more detailed report. In any case, the decision is yours to make, not mine."
"Sigh..."
Tevos, without disconnecting from the call, pressed several keys.
"...send ships to blockade Feros. From this moment until further instructions, leaving the planet is forbidden to everyone who does not have special permission. At the moment, only Spectre Shepard has permission. The permission includes the ship and the ship's crew."
After she said this, she immediately turned all her attention back to me.
"Transmit the information. I will analyze it in more detail, after which the Councilors and I will make a final decision on exactly what we need to do. Both with Feros and with you."
"Transmitting data."
I nodded and began transmitting data over the encrypted channel.
"Briefly, I'll continue to explain. The so-called Conduit is on the planet Ilos. And at the moment, the Asari, freed from the control of Saren and this creature, is indicating on the galaxy map exactly where this planet is located."
"That's all well and good, but if Saren flies to Ilos, we'll have at least a decade to prepare for an invasion..."
"Too optimistic... if I were you, I'd talk to the Rachni Queen; maybe there are simply no traces left on that Asari's Omni-tool of what she found out?"
"Maybe..."
Tevos sighed.
"Alright, wait for the blockade ships, after which you may leave Feros. There are no assignments for you for now, so you can pursue your own investigations or whatever."
"And Virmire?"
"At the moment, the STG is handling this matter, and the intervention of the Spectre corps is not required."
I nodded understandingly, after which the connection was cut.
"Well then..."
"John!"
Liara burst into the comm room.
"Yes?"
"We must go to Ilos!"
"Must we, really?"
"Yes!"
She looked at me with heat; it was clear she was extremely excited, but not in an erotic way—no, she was thrilled and almost salivating at the anticipation of being in such a legendary place. To be the first of all currently known scientists!
"Really must?"
"Yes!"
"Alright, where should I drop you off?"
"Huh?"
She blinked in confusion.
"John?"
Hurt and misunderstanding were audible in her voice.
"Don't you understand? Does the thirst to visit the ruins of the Prothean empire blind your eyes? Well, I'll explain. At the moment, the path to Ilos is considered lost. I wouldn't be wrong if I said that flying there on FTL Drive would take about ten years?"
"Seven..."
"Well, it doesn't matter... seven years of flight—do you think the SSV Normandy has enough fuel for that? Do you think it can hold enough food to provide for the entire crew? Do you think people can withstand such a long flight in such... small company?"
"I..."
"That's why I'm saying, where should I drop you off? You'll go to one of my colonies, gather enthusiasts, I'll even provide you with a ship..."
"But we're supposed to be there... You... seemed to say so."
"I did, but then you took it more calmly; besides, I said we should get there using a Mass Relay, and we still don't have the coordinates of the Mass Relay, and it's not a fact that they will appear. And at this moment, you're demanding I go to Ilos, forgetting that we still have Virmire to visit... Saren needs to be stopped and something done about the Reapers..."
"I... got ahead of myself..."
She lowered her head, showing that her brain was working again. Otherwise, the history fanatic in her had worked so hard that she had completely forgotten about the current situation.
"Hey..."
I took a step toward her and, gently touching her chin, lifted her face.
"...look at me. I wouldn't drop you off anywhere, you understand that, right?"
"Uh-huh..."
She looked into my eyes, and I, taking a short step toward her, covered her lips with a kiss, which she gladly returned. However, this kiss wasn't too long, as she pulled away from me, looking to the side.
"John..."
"Yes?"
"We will win, won't we?"
"I don't know..."
I shook my head. No, I would have liked to tell her yes, we will definitely win, but I couldn't lie to her.
"...I only know that some of the sentients of this cycle will definitely survive, because we are preparing. And preparing very seriously."
"Fool..."
She turned away from me, and I realized that at that moment she just wanted me to hug her and say that we would definitely win. But even understanding this, I couldn't lie to her, but as for hugging... That I did with pleasure.
"You remember, right? I'll be there... whatever happens, I'll be there, I'll help and support you."
"Uh-huh..."
She nodded, then freed herself from my embrace and left the comm room. I stood there for a few more minutes, then went to Joker.
"Jeff, we need to get into orbit and prepare to shoot down ships."
"Huh?"
"Feros is under quarantine. Leaving it is forbidden to everyone except us. We'll announce this on all communication channels, then wait for the blockade ships."
"Sir, maybe announcing a quarantine specifically isn't a good idea?"
Joker looked at me tensely.
"Because if we do that, someone will definitely try to escape, and we'll have to shoot them down, and they're civilians after all."
"Have a better suggestion?"
"Yes... Let's announce a temporary flight ban. We'll say the Council wants to investigate the activities of ExoGeni Corporation and for that reason, leaving the planet is forbidden to everyone for now. And then... when the ships that are supposed to block the planet arrive..."
"Good idea, let's do that. However, a warning that we will shoot down ANY ship leaving the planet without warning shots."
"Yeah..."
Joker nodded, then signaled everyone that they needed to get on the ship. And ten minutes later, the SSV Normandy began its ascent, and only when we were in orbit was I given a connection to the colony's public address system, so all residents could hear me.
"Attention, residents of Feros. ExoGeni Corporation has violated the law, and in connection with this, a group will soon arrive to investigate the corporation's actions. All residents of Feros are currently witnesses and do not have the right to leave the planet. Unfortunately, the charges against ExoGeni Corporation are such that ANY vessel that attempts to leave the planet will be considered an accomplice to the crime and will be shot down without warning shots."
I paused for a moment.
"I repeat, any vessel that attempts to leave the planet will be recognized as an accomplice of ExoGeni Corporation and will be shot down."
With that, my message ended, and I simply went to my cabin, where Tali was already waiting for me.
"Did you want to talk?"
"Yes... a couple of people from the Migrant Fleet contacted me... friends... they're thrilled with the jobs provided and the fact that we can now repair the ship, in general..."
Her helmet made a quiet "pssh" and she removed her face shield, then took two steps toward me and awkwardly but very diligently kissed me on the lips.
"Thank you."
"You're very welcome, my dear..."
I held her close for a couple of seconds, then pecked her on the lips again, making her even more embarrassed, and then took her by the shoulders and, turning her around, slapped her on the butt.
"Now march to Dr. Chakwas! I don't need you getting sick too!"
"Yes!"
She put on her face shield and hurried to the ship's doctor.
***
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