Mass Effect: NO SIGNAL

[Redtracer7]

"Be careful."

Exiting out the door, Oli makes for Kahlin's room. She hesitates at the door, considering knocking, but quickly elects to simply enter. It's not like she was liable to walk inside and find Kahlin in the middle of getting dressed, or anything.

"Hey, Kahlin? We need to talk," she says, opening the door with a hiss.

She may not be capable of getting undressed, but Oli does walk in to find Kahlin kneeling among her plants, hood pulled down to rest around her shoulders.  Clearly she had been quite intent on the pair of potted flowers she had been holding as well, for when Oli speaks up she visibly does a double-take before letting out a loud eep!

"You scared me so badly my ancestors must have, like, felt it," she says, working quickly to set a plant down so as to pull her hood up.  Once that particular quarian cultural taboo had been righted, she explains.  "I thought you were the poisoner, coming back to raid my garden again!  But you're not... unless you're the culprit."

Her eyes narrow suspiciously, but only for a moment.  "Wait, no.  That wouldn't make sense."

Silence lapses briefly between them.  "So... uh... what did you, like, need?"

[Oliviar Valerius]

She may not be capable of getting undressed, but Oli does walk in to find Kahlin kneeling among her plants, hood pulled down to rest around her shoulders.  Clearly she had been quite intent on the pair of potted flowers she had been holding as well, for when Oli speaks up she visibly does a double-take before letting out a loud eep!

"You scared me so badly my ancestors must have, like, felt it," she says, working quickly to set a plant down so as to pull her hood up.  Once that particular quarian cultural taboo had been righted, she explains.  "I thought you were the poisoner, coming back to raid my garden again!  But you're not... unless you're the culprit."

Her eyes narrow suspiciously, but only for a moment.  "Wait, no.  That wouldn't make sense."

Silence lapses briefly between them.  "So... uh... what did you, like, need?"

Taking a deep breath, Oli lets out a weary sigh. Between this and restraining Jaova, she'd have preferred the latter. This whole affair in regards to Jaova had been taxing enough, but Kahlin was going to be ten times worse. "Kahlin... excrement, there's no easy way of doing this, so I'm just going to be blunt. Someone used your plants to break into the captain's safe, and it seems very likely someone used them to poison V'nado. If so, that means the culprit had to of been part of the original Ordo crew. Given that we've had several security leaks involving transmissions using an old form of asari encryption, and that the plants came from your garden... we've confined Jaova to a makeshift brig Nix is putting together, as she is currently the prime suspect. While she's being held there, Nixidonia and I are going to be going through her belongings and her omni-tool to see if we can't verify her innocence. As the plants came from your garden, we will be needing to go through your omni-tool, as well, to see if we can come across anything that will help, and until we have gone through both yours and Jaova's... you will need to remain in your quarters."

[Redtracer7]

Evidently, Yan hadn't anticipated that question, given his sudden silence and uncertain, craned glance meeting her suspicious glare. "Be... cause... that thing you're wearing was designed by a sociopath who wanted to enslave you...?" Spreading his arms, the pirate prince shrugs with an almost humorous roll of his shoulders. "Did I not tell you? Tsk. Forgive my poor manners. Still, you are a quarian and part of maintaining a proper, healthy life is a genuine environment suit."

Stepping around the crate, Yan gives it a rap of his knuckles, continuing, "It's much like my own, with a few more robust and custom details. Entirely made from anti-ballistic mesh materials, carbon-fiber ablative plating, polymer resin shot through with lighter-than-air gas, premier filtration systems, radiation and thermal shielding, in-built shield emitters anchored to unobtrusive hardpoints, an on-board VI to handle all medical and environmental controls, gel-lined smart fibers a rather comfortable interior sleeve if I do say so myself, and just for you an entire network of surface-to-skin biometric sensors, completely free of subdermal interfaces and virtually immune to hacking."

"Really," Yan finishes, shrugging and crossing his arms over his chest as he leans against the crate, "just things any quarian should have. Your suit is yours until you die. Nobody else's. I figured you would enjoy the change of pace."

"Yes, yes," Aji agrees afterward, nodding sagely.  "In short: expensive."

But its the quarian woman that would have to pass final judgement, and the setting of her hips and head suggest a concern still unaddressed.  Only the passage of time softens the unspoken expression only another of her species could read, as what Yan said begins to meld together with what he had done thus far.

"You're like something out of a fairy tale, sometimes," she finally declares, shaking her head.  Reaching up, she pulls down the ancient veil she used as a bandana, revealing her rectangular mouthlight.  "I know what my suit is, Yan.  I asked why you were doing this for me.  But its because you just can't help yourself, not with other quarians."

The barest hint of a smile follows the cocking of her hips, before she points sharply towards the door.  "Go, then.  Wait, or don't.  I want out of this suit.  Immediately."

[Captain Seluj Temoi]

Julius is certainly slow.  His limping gait was almost painful to watch, the braced leg barely capable of supporting his weight for long periods of time.  Even so, he appears to notice Seluj's annoyance, and he's huffing by the time they make the landing bay.  Nor is there someplace easy for him to sit, but he was turian-- he could endure.

Blue eyes do widen slightly as they take in Seluj's burden.  "It asked you to make that?  I suppose I never... asked, what experience do you have, exactly, with synthetic intelligence.  We had some combat VIs in the Hierarchy, of course, but Tala clearly isn't that."

Tala flickers into sight nearby.  "Comparing me to one of your gun-trajectory calculators is a travesty, Julius."

"Tala's handbuilt, for lack of a better word." Seluj replies. "She'll far outstrip anything standard you have on your vessel."

"My experience with synthetics is extensive. The bleeding edge has always kept the Outis ahead of its peers and foes." A gaze is afforded in the direction of the probe. "And no, I don't trust the one in there. But dealing with the unknown was always my job to begin with. Neither can any of the others even attempt to get close to it."

[Devin Caulfield]

Devin's false salute draws clear anger from the batarian, but in his state and condition he doesn't risk voicing it aloud.  Instead he merely focuses on the question posed, all four eyes watching as he cloaked himself in the false trappings of common decency.  "I ain't gonna run, if that's what you mean."

No fear there, just fanatic conviction.  "But you broke my gently-carressing trigger finger, and even if I get back to my fleet they'll demand political quarantine.  So no, you'll be captured by the time we could go toe to toe again."

"Yeah, figured you'd run back to your master like a good little pup," Devin said, closing up the tool chest and hefting it under one arm. "So you go right ahead home. Tell your commander what we've done today. And tell him that unless he drops this pursuit of his, we are gonna kill him."

With that, Devin leaves the prisoner be, tipping him a curt wave as he walked out of the room with his things.

Outside in the hall, it didn't take Devin very long to catch up the Adliet. The doctor said he was not going too far, after all.

"Ya might want to see to your patient, doc," Devin said to the man as he adjusted the weight of the tool kit under his arm. "I'm thinkin' he's gonna need an aspirin. I'd suggest putting him under again and keepin' him like that until we're finished here. He's useless to us now, so I'll  the group can decide if they wanna let'em go or space him."

[Yan Luos nar Tonbay]

"Yes, yes," Aji agrees afterward, nodding sagely.  "In short: expensive."

But its the quarian woman that would have to pass final judgement, and the setting of her hips and head suggest a concern still unaddressed.  Only the passage of time softens the unspoken expression only another of her species could read, as what Yan said begins to meld together with what he had done thus far.

"You're like something out of a fairy tale, sometimes," she finally declares, shaking her head.  Reaching up, she pulls down the ancient veil she used as a bandana, revealing her rectangular mouthlight.  "I know what my suit is, Yan.  I asked why you were doing this for me.  But its because you just can't help yourself, not with other quarians."

The barest hint of a smile follows the cocking of her hips, before she points sharply towards the door.  "Go, then.  Wait, or don't.  I want out of this suit.  Immediately."

Shrugging with a casual and playful air, Yan takes up the burden of the noodle cart once more, all to pleased to saunter along as the cookware clatters and bangs together in his steps. "What can I say? I am a consummate gentleman and patriot. But perhaps I simply believe you are not some lost pup for me to nurse, yes? All you need are the tools to prove it. Perhaps that's all our kind need. Believe what you will, we'll be outside."

Rolling the noodle cart out and awaiting Naeir's return with Aji, the pirate prince sets it down once more, taking a glance at the salarian's various wares and tools, only noticing after the fact that one pot was still quite steaming. "Cihop Aji. Bulletproof Aji. A Spectre and noodle chef. Well... This venture has been far from boring, I can say that."

[Redtracer7]

Taking a deep breath, Oli lets out a weary sigh. Between this and restraining Jaova, she'd have preferred the latter. This whole affair in regards to Jaova had been taxing enough, but Kahlin was going to be ten times worse. "Kahlin... excrement, there's no easy way of doing this, so I'm just going to be blunt. Someone used your plants to break into the captain's safe, and it seems very likely someone used them to poison V'nado. If so, that means the culprit had to of been part of the original Ordo crew. Given that we've had several security leaks involving transmissions using an old form of asari encryption, and that the plants came from your garden... we've confined Jaova to a makeshift brig Nix is putting together, as she is currently the prime suspect. While she's being held there, Nixidonia and I are going to be going through her belongings and her omni-tool to see if we can't verify her innocence. As the plants came from your garden, we will be needing to go through your omni-tool, as well, to see if we can come across anything that will help, and until we have gone through both yours and Jaova's... you will need to remain in your quarters."

"Oh," the girl replies, rubbing carefully at her metallic chin in thought.  "I guess that makes sense."

Stepping back, somehow managing to avoid a plant upon the floor by the barest of measures, she takes a seat upon her bed.  "You're, like, totally the expert.  And I sorta stay here pretty much all day anyway, I guess.  So... okay.  My omnitool is sorta built into my suit, though, but I can give you a copy?  Or remote access... I think I can do that.  As long as you promise not to share it with Yan, alright?  Search history is kinda... really embarrassing."

Kicking her legs back and forth for a moment, she cocks her head suddenly.  "I don't want you treating me, sorta like... special, though, Oli.  I want to help you find the culprit!"

[Oliviar Valerius]

"Oh," the girl replies, rubbing carefully at her metallic chin in thought.  "I guess that makes sense."

Stepping back, somehow managing to avoid a plant upon the floor by the barest of measures, she takes a seat upon her bed.  "You're, like, totally the expert.  And I sorta stay here pretty much all day anyway, I guess.  So... okay.  My omnitool is sorta built into my suit, though, but I can give you a copy?  Or remote access... I think I can do that.  As long as you promise not to share it with Yan, alright?  Search history is kinda... really embarrassing."

Kicking her legs back and forth for a moment, she cocks her head suddenly.  "I don't want you treating me, sorta like... special, though, Oli.  I want to help you find the culprit!"

Oli hangs her head, mandibles spreading into a sheepish smile. Kahlin, at least, could be reasoned with.

"Thank you, Kahlin. Go ahead and give me remote access, and I'll go through everything here, so we can get it over with, yeah? Then I'll lock the door behind me when I go. Until we get this sorted out, I don't want anyone else having access to your plants."

Opening her own omni-tool, Oli prepares for access, so that she can begin going through Kahlin's files.

"And I promise, whatever's on here will stay between us. Like I tried telling Jaova, I'm only interested in anything that pertains to ship safety. The rest doesn't interest me."

[Redtracer7]

"Tala's handbuilt, for lack of a better word." Seluj replies. "She'll far outstrip anything standard you have on your vessel."

"My experience with synthetics is extensive. The bleeding edge has always kept the Outis ahead of its peers and foes." A gaze is afforded in the direction of the probe. "And no, I don't trust the one in there. But dealing with the unknown was always my job to begin with. Neither can any of the others even attempt to get close to it."

"I figured as much," the turian sighs, waving away the VI apparition.  "I was inquiring as to where you learned this.  Not everyday one digs out an artificial intelligence specialist out of the galactic black, Temoi.  Not a lot of demand for that sort of thing way out there.  You could be making a good bit of credits in Citadel Space... although I believe you did do that, once.  Celirn suggested Seluj isn't your real name.  Oli mentioned it to Nix, Nix to I.  Is that were this experience comes from?"

[Redtracer7]

"Yeah, figured you'd run back to your master like a good little pup," Devin said, closing up the tool chest and hefting it under one arm. "So you go right ahead home. Tell your commander what we've done today. And tell him that unless he drops this pursuit of his, we are gonna kill him."

With that, Devin leaves the prisoner be, tipping him a curt wave as he walked out of the room with his things.

Outside in the hall, it didn't take Devin very long to catch up the Adliet. The doctor said he was not going too far, after all.

"Ya might want to see to your patient, doc," Devin said to the man as he adjusted the weight of the tool kit under his arm. "I'm thinkin' he's gonna need an aspirin. I'd suggest putting him under again and keepin' him like that until we're finished here. He's useless to us now, so I'll  the group can decide if they wanna let'em go or space him."

"I only heard a few instances of screaming, I suppose that's a good sign?"  The doctor asks in jest, before holding up a hand.  "Nevermind, I don't want to know.  As long as you didn't do anything internally, consider that part of your interrogator-interogatee confidentiality."

His omnitool had been engaged, a galactic newsite visible before he whisks it away.  Tossing a thumb over his shoulder towards the door, he nods.  "I'll go fix him up.  Just to note: I'd support dumping him here alive.  We don't need to leave a trail of corpses everywhere we go."

[Devin Caulfield]

"I only heard a few instances of screaming, I suppose that's a good sign?"  The doctor asks in jest, before holding up a hand.  "Nevermind, I don't want to know.  As long as you didn't do anything internally, consider that part of your interrogator-interogatee confidentiality."

His omnitool had been engaged, a galactic newsite visible before he whisks it away.  Tossing a thumb over his shoulder towards the door, he nods.  "I'll go fix him up.  Just to note: I'd support dumping him here alive.  We don't need to leave a trail of corpses everywhere we go."

Devin shrugs with his one free arm. "People just die too easily these days," he sighed before heading off to return the borrowed tool kit before Nix chewed him out for taking her excrement.

[Redtracer7]

Shrugging with a casual and playful air, Yan takes up the burden of the noodle cart once more, all to pleased to saunter along as the cookware clatters and bangs together in his steps. "What can I say? I am a consummate gentleman and patriot. But perhaps I simply believe you are not some lost pup for me to nurse, yes? All you need are the tools to prove it. Perhaps that's all our kind need. Believe what you will, we'll be outside."

Rolling the noodle cart out and awaiting Naeir's return with Aji, the pirate prince sets it down once more, taking a glance at the salarian's various wares and tools, only noticing after the fact that one pot was still quite steaming. "Cihop Aji. Bulletproof Aji. A Spectre and noodle chef. Well... This venture has been far from boring, I can say that."

"What a Spectre can provide is limited.  Investigate, observe, infiltrate-- very limited, yes.  But noodles?  Something everyone enjoys.  A good hobby."  Aji's ruined teeth become visible again as he grins widely.  "And useful, on occasion.  Everyone looks to the armored ones first, even Diamond Princes.  This is a what a Spectre must resemble, they think.  It blinds them."

Together they're alone in the empty corridor, the docking ports on each side empty.  From their vantage a good view is provided of the station exterior, however, allowing them to observe another small flotilla of craft making their way from the station.  Aji's odd blue eyes watch them go, before he turns to Yan again.  "You are as expected, however.  Yes.  What is that pistol you wield?"

[Redtracer7]

Oli hangs her head, mandibles spreading into a sheepish smile. Kahlin, at least, could be reasoned with.

"Thank you, Kahlin. Go ahead and give me remote access, and I'll go through everything here, so we can get it over with, yeah? Then I'll lock the door behind me when I go. Until we get this sorted out, I don't want anyone else having access to your plants."

Opening her own omni-tool, Oli prepares for access, so that she can begin going through Kahlin's files.

"And I promise, whatever's on here will stay between us. Like I tried telling Jaova, I'm only interested in anything that pertains to ship safety. The rest doesn't interest me."

Kahlin's green holographic interface encircles her arm, allowing Yan to observe as she struggles for several moments to provide Oli with the proper authorities.  It does eventually come through, however, a cheerful chirp announcing the key's arrival.  Interestingly, a noted of registered users also lists Yan as having almost the same level of access to her omnitool and the suit functions it was tied into.

"I went through my plants, by the way," she advises.  "Like you asked.  I didn't find anything else missing, or damage  But they grow so quickly!  Its hard to be sure."

[Captain Seluj Temoi]

"I figured as much," the turian sighs, waving away the VI apparition.  "I was inquiring as to where you learned this.  Not everyday one digs out an artificial intelligence specialist out of the galactic black, Temoi.  Not a lot of demand for that sort of thing way out there.  You could be making a good bit of credits in Citadel Space... although I believe you did do that, once.  Celirn suggested Seluj isn't your real name.  Oli mentioned it to Nix, Nix to I.  Is that were this experience comes from?"

"No, I can't really say that my gifts were passed down to me by Tevura. Especially since the siarists think that to be a long dead tradition."

A smirk creeps onto her face. "You would be very surprised what the void demands. I have had centuries to hone my craft, among others."

Seluj shuts the case, waiting for the door to open. It hangs from her organic grasp.

"Why the curiosity now?"

[Yan Luos nar Tonbay]

"What a Spectre can provide is limited.  Investigate, observe, infiltrate-- very limited, yes.  But noodles?  Something everyone enjoys.  A good hobby."  Aji's ruined teeth become visible again as he grins widely.  "And useful, on occasion.  Everyone looks to the armored ones first, even Diamond Princes.  This is a what a Spectre must resemble, they think.  It blinds them."

Together they're alone in the empty corridor, the docking ports on each side empty.  From their vantage a good view is provided of the station exterior, however, allowing them to observe another small flotilla of craft making their way from the station.  Aji's odd blue eyes watch them go, before he turns to Yan again.  "You are as expected, however.  Yes.  What is that pistol you wield?"

"A valid point," Yan acknowledges with a low laugh, recognizing that he did indeed deign not to notice the noodle chef when searching for a Spectre, "Although had that thug indeed been you, I have to say, I would have been bitterly disappointed to have killed you."

Drawing his sidearm from its holster and presenting it to the Spectre with a twirl to offer it grip first, the pirate prince holds the weighted weapon forward with a nod. "M-6 Carnifex, although with quite a few modifications of my own. Phasic jacketing to puncture shields, a custom grip for a quarian hand... I removed much of the extraneous weight, if you look at the filed-down vents. However, this increases the recoil, even with dampeners. But it is a true duelist's piece, very capable if you know how to handle a quick draw."

[Oliviar Valerius]

Kahlin's green holographic interface encircles her arm, allowing Yan to observe as she struggles for several moments to provide Oli with the proper authorities.  It does eventually come through, however, a cheerful chirp announcing the key's arrival.  Interestingly, a noted of registered users also lists Yan as having almost the same level of access to her omnitool and the suit functions it was tied into.

"I went through my plants, by the way," she advises.  "Like you asked.  I didn't find anything else missing, or damage  But they grow so quickly!  Its hard to be sure."

"Someone has used your plants to break into the Captain's safe, that we know for certain to be true. Logically, it would make sense they obtained the poison that killed V'nado from your stores, as well. Certainly, the plant they used could not of been obtained on Hyetania, it's much too cold, right? Can you tell me more about the plant, and the toxin used? We obtained the name of it from V'nado's autopsy."

Pausing, Oli flicks her mandibles into a frown. "Are you aware of how much administrator access Yan has to your suit...?" she asks deadpan.

[Redtracer7]

"No, I can't really say that my gifts were passed down to me by Tevura. Especially since the siarists think that to be a long dead tradition."

A smirk creeps onto her face. "You would be very surprised what the void demands. I have had centuries to hone my craft, among others."

Seluj shuts the case, waiting for the door to open. It hangs from her organic grasp.

"Why the curiosity now?"

"I'll leave the Hierarchy behind when I die," Julius says sharply in response.  "And not a day before."

Its a tense moment, but one that passes quickly as he waves it aside.  "So no, merely... rechecking the perimeter.  Did that translate right?  Recent events are making me a bit paranoid, I suppose.  No proper war can be fought when one cannot trust the soldiers at the front.  But you have been reliable thus far, and your motivations are very clear.  Don't... don't pay me all that much attention, I suppose.  Just an old war horse trying to learn new tricks.  No wonder I tested so poorly for that intelligence position in '62."

[Captain Seluj Temoi]

"I'll leave the Hierarchy behind when I die," Julius says sharply in response.  "And not a day before."

Its a tense moment, but one that passes quickly as he waves it aside.  "So no, merely... rechecking the perimeter.  Did that translate right?  Recent events are making me a bit paranoid, I suppose.  No proper war can be fought when one cannot trust the soldiers at the front.  But you have been reliable thus far, and your motivations are very clear.  Don't... don't pay me all that much attention, I suppose.  Just an old war horse trying to learn new tricks.  No wonder I tested so poorly for that intelligence position in '62."

"Funny. I said something similar to myself while I was still in Citadel space." Seluj circles the probe, checking if anything has changed in the short amount of time she had been separated from it.

"You always learn new tricks the more time you spend out in the Terminus." She hmm, turning her head about the cargo bay as if examining the very core of the ship.

"I'm guessing you're running a pretty standard comma array, hardened for military use? I can't say I expect to use the ship's network fairly often beyond giving it limited commands."

[Redtracer7]

Devin shrugs with his one free arm. "People just die too easily these days," he sighed before heading off to return the borrowed tool kit before Nix chewed him out for taking her excrement.

Thinking of the armored giant seemed enough to summon her, much to Devin's chagrin.  Just as he's returning the toolbox to the stash near the cargo bay elevator, Nixidonia herself emerges.  She's as tall and resolute as ever, but its whom she pushes ahead before her that more immediately draws the human's attention.

Jaova pads along on socked feet, fettered like a prisoner.  Restraints at ankle, wrist, waist, and throat provide mounting points for the short bits of chain that allows her the barest of movement, while behind her arms are pulled back and folded over-- Devin recognized it as a means of preventing biotic mnemonics, utilizing a method normal cuffing would not have hindered.  Beneath that she's wearing a tight black leotard, exposing her legs fully and half of each bicep.

"Oh-- Devin," Nix greets, keeping one hand on Jaova's shoulder as they briefly halt. 

The asari meanwhile smiles.  "Ah, hopefully a voice of reason.  I would greet you properly, but..." she shifts her shoulders, demonstrating the unforgiving bite of the bindings.

[Devin Caulfield]

Thinking of the armored giant seemed enough to summon her, much to Devin's chagrin.  Just as he's returning the toolbox to the stash near the cargo bay elevator, Nixidonia herself emerges.  She's as tall and resolute as ever, but its whom she pushes ahead before her that more immediately draws the human's attention.

Jaova pads along on socked feet, fettered like a prisoner.  Restraints at ankle, wrist, waist, and throat provide mounting points for the short bits of chain that allows her the barest of movement, while behind her arms are pulled back and folded over-- Devin recognized it as a means of preventing biotic mnemonics, utilizing a method normal cuffing would not have hindered.  Beneath that she's wearing a tight black leotard, exposing her legs fully and half of each bicep.

"Oh-- Devin," Nix greets, keeping one hand on Jaova's shoulder as they briefly halt. 

The asari meanwhile smiles.  "Ah, hopefully a voice of reason.  I would greet you properly, but..." she shifts her shoulders, demonstrating the unforgiving bite of the bindings.

Devin stares at the scene before him with a cocked eyebrow and a look of mild confusion on his face; still frozen in the half-crouch he was rising up from after dropping off Nix's tools. He looks from Javoa to Nix and back again, his mind piecing together the strange scene before him.

"Right..." the man says, drawing out the word as he rises up to his full height (for as little as that was compared to the amazonian turian before him). "If this is some sex thing, I want in. If not, then someone's gonna need to do some gently-carressin' explaining right now."

[Redtracer7]

"A valid point," Yan acknowledges with a low laugh, recognizing that he did indeed deign not to notice the noodle chef when searching for a Spectre, "Although had that thug indeed been you, I have to say, I would have been bitterly disappointed to have killed you."

Drawing his sidearm from its holster and presenting it to the Spectre with a twirl to offer it grip first, the pirate prince holds the weighted weapon forward with a nod. "M-6 Carnifex, although with quite a few modifications of my own. Phasic jacketing to puncture shields, a custom grip for a quarian hand... I removed much of the extraneous weight, if you look at the filed-down vents. However, this increases the recoil, even with dampeners. But it is a true duelist's piece, very capable if you know how to handle a quick draw."

"A painter's brush, as much as a weapon.  Yes.  Very fitting."  He leans in briefly, eyes wide.  "Well maintained, mhm.  And a very smooth draw from the holster?  Most impressive.  Most impressive.  Very good.  Different than I, but variety in noodles adds flavor, so too in combat.  Allow me to demonstrate."

Reaching down, the aging salarian pulls at the seam of his poncho, drawing it back to expose his chest.  Yan's earlier glimpse is proven correct, as four separate firearms are revealed to be hanging from a suit of burnt orange armor-- but a surprise comes in their make, they were all the same.  Aji draws one, a massive thing that proves to be larger than his hand.  Maintenance that appeared to be just as thorough as Yan's own could not hide the rough lines of a firearm known to be used by the Blood Pack, not Spectres of the Citadel: the single-shot Executioner, and he bore four of them.

Reaching to tap one of the others secured against his breastplate, he grins.  "Faster to draw again than reload, yes?"

[Yan Luos nar Tonbay]

"A painter's brush, as much as a weapon.  Yes.  Very fitting."  He leans in briefly, eyes wide.  "Well maintained, mhm.  And a very smooth draw from the holster?  Most impressive.  Most impressive.  Very good.  Different than I, but variety in noodles adds flavor, so too in combat.  Allow me to demonstrate."

Reaching down, the aging salarian pulls at the seam of his poncho, drawing it back to expose his chest.  Yan's earlier glimpse is proven correct, as four separate firearms are revealed to be hanging from a suit of burnt orange armor-- but a surprise comes in their make, they were all the same.  Aji draws one, a massive thing that proves to be larger than his hand.  Maintenance that appeared to be just as thorough as Yan's own could not hide the rough lines of a firearm known to be used by the Blood Pack, not Spectres of the Citadel: the single-shot Executioner, and he bore four of them.

Reaching to tap one of the others secured against his breastplate, he grins.  "Faster to draw again than reload, yes?"

The display of concealed firepower Aji carried, four massive hand cannons designed to take the heads off krogan slung in his armored chest, was sufficient to impress Yan. "May I?" Yan asks, taking the drawn Executioner from the salarian and hefting the sheer weight of the weapon in his hand. The barrel was particularly difficult to balance, but the pirate prince seemed to manage it just fine with a twirl around his fingers.

"Four shots. More than enough to kill anything that moves," the masked man smirks, handing the cannon back with a sidelong nod, "Or at least you would certainly hope so. But one cannot argue with overkill."

[Redtracer7]

"Someone has used your plants to break into the Captain's safe, that we know for certain to be true. Logically, it would make sense they obtained the poison that killed V'nado from your stores, as well. Certainly, the plant they used could not of been obtained on Hyetania, it's much too cold, right? Can you tell me more about the plant, and the toxin used? We obtained the name of it from V'nado's autopsy."

Pausing, Oli flicks her mandibles into a frown. "Are you aware of how much administrator access Yan has to your suit...?" she asks deadpan.

"Oh, I know," Kahlin responds immediately, as she picks through the plants surrounding them once again.  "He needs it to update the meditation training he showed me-- although I don't do much of the meditating, just let the stimulators work the muscles.  Its, like, really tiring.  But he's so fit, Oli... ancestors.  Mhm.  And then he's been teaching me how to do some stuff when we... well, umm... oh!"

She rises suddenly, holding another potted plant up between them.  Its a clear attempt to shift topics.  "This is it!  Caer Browirh, its called.  You see the leaves?"  They're a dark purple, with thick veins visible beneath the translucent skin.  "Don't touch them.  It will give you a rash.  Well... you sort of have plates, so maybe not.  But, anyway, if you grind them up they make the poison.  I guess.  It stops the heart.  Usually smaller blood vessels, like in the nose or eyes, break from the heart trying to keep going.  Pretty gross."

[Redtracer7]

"Funny. I said something similar to myself while I was still in Citadel space." Seluj circles the probe, checking if anything has changed in the short amount of time she had been separated from it.

"You always learn new tricks the more time you spend out in the Terminus." She hmm, turning her head about the cargo bay as if examining the very core of the ship.

"I'm guessing you're running a pretty standard comma array, hardened for military use? I can't say I expect to use the ship's network fairly often beyond giving it limited commands."

"Affirmative.  The Ordo has the LL-42, a few years old but still well within Hierarchy regulations."  He remains still as she circles, to watch her weave between the other boxes and supplies nearby.  "Hardened, of course.  And we have basic encryption and decryption suites built in, of course.  Allows us to pick up the daily readiness reports sent out from Palaven, although we're so far out here they're about a week behind."

As he talks, she observes, and finds nothing out of order.  The probe remains isolated and unmoving, without eyes to see and only the most basic of mouths with which to communicate.  Tala's accompanying search for anomalous signals also comes up empty-handed.

[Redtracer7]

The display of concealed firepower Aji carried, four massive hand cannons designed to take the heads off krogan slung in his armored chest, was sufficient to impress Yan. "May I?" Yan asks, taking the drawn Executioner from the salarian and hefting the sheer weight of the weapon in his hand. The barrel was particularly difficult to balance, but the pirate prince seemed to manage it just fine with a twirl around his fingers.

"Four shots. More than enough to kill anything that moves," the masked man smirks, handing the cannon back with a sidelong nod, "Or at least you would certainly hope so. But one cannot argue with overkill."

"Intended to kill four of anything that moves," the salarian grins back, watching him test the feel of such a massive weapon.  "But yes, yes.  I have found it most efficient.  Especially as I grow older.  I advise trying to avoid that, if at all possible.  Taking cover is hell on the knees."

Taking back the weapon, he slots it back into the holster on his hip.  Its seated backwards, suggesting a cross-chest draw.  Only afterward does he reach up, a long finger tapping his lips.  "Speaking of taking cover, more advice: less effective during artillery fire.  Concrete will break teeth.  Or masks, if you intend to land upon Libertas.  Not good there."

A pop-up on Yan's HUD meanwhile announces the sudden appearance of another envirosuit nearby, running a series of connection tests.