Huddled in an empty corner of the lounge, the group discusses what they’ve learned.
“So Benezia brought her commandos? That’s not good. I once took on a mission and fought a few of them… they gifted me with quite a few of my beautiful scars,” Wrex comments.
That scary, huh?
“I’m not sure it’s smart to interfere in these corporate games, Commander,” Kaidan adds, looking worried.
“Kerber said the same thing, and I agree—however, we don’t have much of a choice now, do we? I’d rather not slaughter my way to the Mako,” Shepard replies.
“I predict a slaughter if those security officers are indeed corrupt,” Garrus notes.
“It always ends like that, huh? However, I think it’s best if we kill Corrupt guards instead of honest guards doing their job. The chances we’re getting in trouble are also way lower, since they are breaking the law,” Alex analyzes.
I guess this universe is a truly violent place… or it’s the system.
“I agree, let’s go. Strictly speaking, we’re not breaking any laws here, so don’t hold back,” Shepard orders, leading the group through the port until they arrive at a distant corridor with an elevator.
Riding it down to the level where Synthetic Insights is located, they swiftly exit.
Walking down a long corridor, they reach the office—only to find a couple of armed guards. Alex takes a quick look around and notices the office is spacious, like the main plaza, but separated into smaller segments with stone walls.
“Freeze! Hanshan Security. This office is sealed!” one of the guards—a human woman—barks. She’s part of Elanus Risk Control Services, clearly flustered by their arrival.
Shepard smirks. “What’ll you do if I don’t? Take a good look at us, and think before you speak.”
“Y-You’re the Spectre, right? Lorik Qui’in is under investigation. We’re just doing our job…” she mutters, losing confidence.
Shepard casually waves her gun around like she’s playing with a toy. “Anoleis is paying you to shake this place down. That makes you a criminal. I can kill criminals.”
“You’re bluffing! You wouldn’t—!”
“Everything the Commander said is true. I’d step aside if I were you,” Garrus says, his eyes narrowing, a look he has repeated countless times at C-Sec.
The guard glances at her colleague, then exhales. “Anoleis ain’t paying me enough to take on Spectres… and people like you. Look—how about you didn’t see us, and we didn’t see you?”
Shepard laughs but gives a brief nod, prompting them to leave quickly, retreating to the elevator.
As the guards scatter, one of them—a Turian—pretends to leave, only to suddenly draw his gun.
Reacting instantly, Shepard whips out her pistol and shoots him clean through the head, killing him before he even raises his weapon.
“Get these fuckers! Anoleis will pay extra if we get rid of them!” a man in the back screams, while others make a break for the elevator.
Alex rushes toward the one who shouted, drawing his [Executioner’s Blade R2] and violently swinging it over his head.
The man raises his rifle to block, but it’s futile. Alex’s blade slices through the weapon, through his shield, and cuts deep into his shoulder.
You have dealt 61 damage to ERCS Guard
You have caused bleeding to ERCS Guard
Reacting quickly, Alex conjures Mustrano’s Malice Mauler and uses Ko, driving the claw into the guard’s face for a lethal blow.
You have dealt 132 x 3 = 396 damage to ERCS Guard
You have killed ERCS Guard
A firefight erupts. Around ten ERCS guards who hadn’t fled now engage the crew in desperation.
Alex, using the layout of the office to his advantage, dashes forward and takes cover behind a stone wall.
Only three guards remain in front of him.
He channels his strongest move—Flying Thundara Blade
—charging it with as much AURA, using Ko, as he can.Gunfire hits him. His shields break as he is targeted by three Guards.
Shields broken
You have received 31 damage
You have received 34 damage
Despite the hits, Alex is healthy enough to accurately release his charged attack.
One of the guards dies instantly. The others have their shields shattered, their bodies spasming from the impact—unable to move.
You have dealt 171 damage to ERCS Guard
You have killed ERCS Guard
You have dealt 81 damage to ERCS Guard
You have stunned ERCS Guard
You have dealt 82 damage to ERCS Guard
You have paralyzed ERCS Guard
Not like I can spare them…
Without hesitation, Alex rushes in and ends them with two clean slashes.
You have dealt 95 damage to ERCS Guard
You have killed ERCS Guard
You have dealt 87 damage to ERCS Guard
You have killed ERCS Guard
“I’ve got three of them at the very back, the last corridor is clear!” Alex reports through comms.
At the same time, he notices the fallen guards’ omni-tools blinking. He picks them up, receiving familiar notifications.
You have received 2,000 Credits
You have received 2,000 Credits
You have received 2,000 Credits
“The front is clear! This was too easy,” Alex hears Wrex brag with amusement.
“Clear,” Garrus adds in a calm voice.
“That should be the last of them. Let’s gather at the front, get the data, and then get the hell out of here!” Shepard orders.
The group regroups near the office entrance. Alex notices the other corpses, but the system won’t let him loot their omni-tools.
Too bad…
“According to Lorik, his office is located on the upper floor. Let’s get up there, quick!”
The group rushes forward. Alex spots two more officers ahead, but before he can react, Shepard takes them down with practiced precision—an Overload shattering their shields, followed by a Throw that slams both guards into the wall.
She coldly finishes them off with two accurate shots to the head.
“They had their chance to surrender,” she mutters, and nobody says a word.
Using the keycard, Shepard unlocks the door. “A few of you stay outside. I’ll grab the data.”
Alex enters with her. While Shepard works at the console, swiping the keycard and retrieving the files, Alex casually strolls over to the nearby safe—and empties it.
You received Synthetic Insights documents
You received 10,000 Credits
“Nothing of value inside,” Alex lies, slipping the data stick into his inventory as he returns the keycard to Shepard.
“I’ve got the data. Let’s bail. I don’t want this to escalate further,” Shepard says, already moving toward the exit.
The crew rushes forward towards another elevator, allowing passage to the higher level. As they get next to it, the elevator doors open, and more guards storm in from the offices.
Alex immediately recognizes the woman leading them—it’s Kaira Stirling, the assistant of Ms. Matsuo, the head of Elanus Risk Control Services.
Wearing a smug smile, she steps forward. “I don’t think you’re supposed to be in here, Shepard.”
Shepard, unfazed, raises a brow in confusion. “Do you plan on making me leave? Really? You?”
“Leave? You think I’m going to let you walk out? Uh-uh. Anoleis would throw you off-world for what you did here. I won’t. You know what we did to cop killers on my world?”
“You’re no cop, you’re a lowly mall guard, silly Karen,” Alex mocks her, voice dry.
“You and your men are dirty. You’re here off-duty, breaking the law for bribe money,” Garrus adds coldly. “This will be your end.”
Before anyone else can move, Garrus raises his rifle and fires—shattering her shields and punching a shot into her shoulder.
Alex follows up with a Flying Thundara Blade, arcing lightning through the entire group.
You have dealt 111 damage to Kaira Stirling
You have killed Kaira Stirling
You have dealt 111 damage to ERCS Guard
…
You have dealt 126 damage to ERCS Guard
You have killed ERCS Guard.
Without missing a beat, Shepard throws a grenade into the stunned guards, wiping them out with a violent blast. Alex feels the impact ripple past him as the area goes quiet.
A few distant officers panic and flee.
Shepard lowers her hand. “Let them go. We’re taking the other exit. Give them a few seconds to run.”
Alex immediately picks up a few more omni-tools and then follows suit.
You received 2,000 Credits
You received 2,000 Credits
You received 4,000 Credits
As they begin walking toward the exit, Alex glances down at the item he looted from Lorik’s safe.
[Synthetic Insights documents]
World: Mass Effect
Quality: Blue
Type: Data-Stick
Note: Classified Documents belonging to Synthetic Insights.
Note: Can’t be taken out of this mission.
I could probably sell these… maybe the Shadow Broker would be interested? Might as well transmit the data to Menchi and let her try her luck.
Exiting the offices, the crew rides the elevator down. When the doors open, Gianna Parasini is already waiting for them, a small smirk visible on her face.
“Commander. There have been reports of… noise coming from the Synthetic Insights office. Would you know anything about that?” she asks innocently.
“Speak plainly. What’s your interest? I don’t have time for your games. You led me here—I’m losing my patience,” Shepard says, clearly annoyed.
“Not here, Spectre. Meet me at the bar for a drink! Before you talk to Lorik Qui’in. I’ll be waiting,” she says, turning away and walking off.
“What do you think we should do, Commander?” Liara asks.
“Might as well hear her out,” Alex suggests. “It’s not like she can force us into anything. If she’s relying on people like us, her influence can’t be that strong.”
“That makes sense,” Garrus agrees.
“I’m getting tired of these games,” Wrex grumbles, his deep voice like distant thunder.
“Fine,” Shepard sighs. “We’ll give her one chance to explain herself. Frankly, I’m getting slightly annoyed with this frozen hellhole. Anoleis is responsible for all of it, and with Benezia at Peak 15, I don’t want a corrupt little backstabber ambushing us later. If possible, I want him gone… permanently.”
They return to the bar. Gianna Parasini is already there, waving them over.
“Thank you for meeting me here. Allow me to reintroduce myself—Parasini, Noveria Internal Affairs.”