maskormenace | 002. [VIDEO]

Yeah, alright, when do you want to -- [ Turning around, he narrowed his eyes at the comm that was obviously on. ] You couldn't give me a little damn warning before you turned it on? I'm not even done cooking! [ He gestured, with a fork, before turning back around, pointedly. ]

No time like the present. [ The broadcast’s coming from the commander’s communicator, and Shepard sounds relatively relaxed … for Shepard. ] Besides, this was your idea. It’s your show, Major.

My show? Dammit, Shepard, I was thinking out loud. [ The annoyance is obviously fake, and it sounds like he's used to putting up with Shepard's shit. ] Alright, fine.

We were talking about what the possibility for more spies is, after the shuttle malfunction, and I noticed that there were a lot of people that ducked out -- we figured maybe we weren't the only ones who found someone who wasn't supposed to be there. [ He wants to say more, but held up a finger, to turn around and focus on the pan. He's already burned things once today. ]

We also figured we might not be the only ones who got permission to travel out of the country. [ Shepard picks up where Kaidan left off without missing a beat.] We think we should put that opportunity to good use.

[ After a second, there's a moment where his head tips, like he's rolling his eyes, and then he turns around, crossing his arms over his chest while he rests against the counter ] Yeah, and what I'm really asking is if anyone...might have seen anything, or talked to anyone? We haven’t heard anything from the government -- and it doesn't sound like they're going to give any answers...

... If they have them in the first place. Which is why we’re going to look for them somewhere else. Unfortunately, going directly to the source isn’t an option -- we can’t travel into a country we’re at war with. [ Or more accurately: they could, but there are several reasons that would be a bad idea. And while Shepard’s normally a fan of bad ideas, it’s usually when he has a better idea of what he’s facing. ]

So.[ He pauses. ] If you wanted to do recon about Russian undercover operations, but you couldn’t go to Russia itself, where would you go?

That’s the big question, especially if we don’t want to waste any second, with how they keep catching us off guard -- [ And he’s back around, to save his food. ]

It’s probably safe to say that things are only going to escalate from here. [ Shepard tactfully turns the camera back to himself, face managing to be mostly serious despite the sound of Kaidan muttering darkly in the background. ] We might have caught their agents, but they accomplished what they were after. They’ll be bolder next time. Aim for something bigger. We don’t intend to sit around and wait for that to happen.

[ ooc; open to action for residents of #15! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...Then we need to figure out where he is.

I don't think we can just come on in, unfortunately.

Well, no. Probably not.

It makes the prospect a lot more difficult.

Yeah, and I don't happen to know any spies.

[ A laugh. ] I, ah, I don't either. Not really.

[ Despite the fact that he's like a space james bond -- or really like james bond's second let's be real ]

I wonder if there's anyone around willing to help us who does.

Could ask around, and see. We need to figure out where to go from here. I'm not interested in seeing this swept under the rug.

The problem we're going to run into is the government is. They have a lot more clout than we do.

Yeah, and we're technically the people coming into this from the outside.

Yeah, except I almost fell out of the sky.

At least you made it out alright.

Think they'd let you talk to them -- for your, ah, time in the line of fire?

No. I just got a damned medal. I haven't even heard of them since then.

Nothing? They gave you a medal and that's it?

A free dinner and a pat on the back.

Good job catching a terrorist, by the way. I hear that gives you a free pass out of the US.

[A group of scientists and engineers saving their billions of tax dollars and the lives of their citizens safely bringing down the ship? Medal. He's not bitter. Really.]

Apparently. My friend got shot in the process, though. [ There's a shrug of his shoulders. It's obvious who his "friend" is. ]

I would've liked to see you guys get something too.