Calistaris
Adventurer
[TI1]
Name: Calistaris Ardelion
Race: Turian
Occupation: Shadow Broker Wet Worker
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Post by Calistaris on May 4, 2015 3:32:33 GMT
Cali, having been on one of the front lines of the Reaper war, was constantly flagged down to be questioned by historians and documentary composers in her later years of life. She never hated it, but she felt like it was always the same questions. "How many were there? What weapons did they use? Was it just reapers?" The questions went on and on. Until one day, she was asked a question she wasn't prepared for. "What, or who, was the most memorable part of the war?" The interviewer asked, omni-tool at the ready to begin recording. This question caused her to lean back in her chair and scratch her chin to think. "Let me tell you about this guy named Daniel..."
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Illium, 2186. Height of the Reaper war. It was pandemonium. Large sized Reapers came crashing from the sky, unleashing hordes of horribly mutated beings. Millions were dying by day, but still they fought back. One of the least recognized of these was the ground side resistance by the lower class on Illium. They didn't have many resources; mostly scavanged guns and ammo. To combat this, they engaged in Guerrilla warfare. One of the prominent organizers of this resistance was Calistaris Ardelion, a turian cabal with history in such secret ops. Bunkered deep beneath the basement of what used to be a towering building, she was organizing on Reaper indoctrination and transformation locations. Abruptly, one of her scouts came down to the basement, pistol on hip. "Ms. Ardelion?" They began, gesturing behind them with their thumb. "I got a guy here who says he just came from off planet." The scout reported. Cali lifted her head up, almost in shock. She paused for a moment, then nodded. "Send him in."
After the man in question entered, Cali looked up at him. Her eyes darted across him to scan his body. He looked like a normal civilian human. Pale skin, brown hair, blue eyes. Nothing about him really made him out to be someone who could just waltz onto a planet under siege by far superior forces. Cali slowly stretched her back straight, wearing what appears to be clothes with some impromptu armor on top. "So explain to me," she began, grasping one hand in the other behind her back. "How the hell did you sneak past the Reapers and wind up here?"
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Daniel Evans
Traveller
[TI0]
Name: Daniel Evans
Race: Human
Occupation: Ex-Cerberus Combat Engineer
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Post by Daniel Evans on May 4, 2015 3:48:01 GMT
The man in question approached the Turian giving her the same treatment, giving her form a quick glance over. She looked like someone who knew how to fight, to survive, and by the state of this planet it's a miracle she and all the others here were still alive. When he saw the Reaper forces from orbit he knew deep down this was it for Illium, it would be just another Earth, a scorched planet and a mass grave. Daniel's eyes told her his current state of mind. He seemed nervous and on edge, but with this war going on who isn't. "Is it that hard to get on a Reaper controlled planet?" His reply was short, the young man's voice seemed weak but didn't hide weakness. Though in his case it was more like crash landing pass the Reapers than sneaking past them. Really with all the chaos going on it isn't too hard to sneak a small cargo ship through the system, you just have to be really careful or really lucky, or a little bit of both. Call it a miracle that he made it through to the surface and survived a crash landing, seems like a stubborn enough person can survive just about anything.
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Calistaris
Adventurer
[TI1]
Name: Calistaris Ardelion
Race: Turian
Occupation: Shadow Broker Wet Worker
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Post by Calistaris on May 4, 2015 11:08:38 GMT
Cali couldn't help but scoff and smirk at the notion that coming to a world under attack was simply "hard". "I suppose you're right," she began, starting to pace behind the table that separated them. Survivors i n the bunker looked away, murmuring to themselves. "Winning a three legged race when your partner is missing a leg, that's hard. Killing a krogan barehanded with one arm tied behind your back, that's hard. Eating rock soup with no teeth, now that's hard." She stated, placing her hands firmly on the table after she stopped pacing. "What you did is damn near impossible." She explained, scanning him again. Clearly he was worried about something, something beyond the Reapers. "Why are you here, son? Clearly it's not to see the sights." She asked, squinting as she waited for an answer.
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Daniel Evans
Traveller
[TI0]
Name: Daniel Evans
Race: Human
Occupation: Ex-Cerberus Combat Engineer
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Post by Daniel Evans on May 4, 2015 14:47:41 GMT
Well maybe the alien was right, landing on a occupied planet seemed impossible. Shepherd taking on the Collectors probably had better odds then him reaching the surface safely. Though it wasn't a walk in the park to get here. Getting into the system is like playing the most dangerous game of cat and mouse. Always spinning down your engine cores to avoid getting detected by heat scanners, keeping all incoming com and data channels closed to avoid detection. And honestly no matter how safe you are a Reaper will find you as you float out there in space, plus trying to avoid the Alliance and Cerberus at the same time, seemed like those years of hiding go seek as a kid really paid off. Guess he really was lucky he made it this far. But he didn't exactly get here in one piece, his cargo vessel took fire in orbit witch forced him to bail out in a Kodiak shuttle in upper atmosphere then hope to every god in the galaxy that a Reaper didn't look up and zap him out of the air. But here he was in one piece, a little shaken up from crashing a shuttle on the open streets below but he was alive, for now. "I didn't exactly have a choice, when you're low on fuel it was either land here or wait out in space for a Reaper to find me." It was best to be honest, except for the whole oh yeah I should mention that I've worked for Cerberus, wanna see my cool armor and stuff? Telling aliens you were part of a human advancement group wouldn't be a good first impression.
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Calistaris
Adventurer
[TI1]
Name: Calistaris Ardelion
Race: Turian
Occupation: Shadow Broker Wet Worker
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Post by Calistaris on May 4, 2015 18:26:02 GMT
She continued to read the body language he displayed. It was clear he was hiding something from her, but between the loss of makeshift soldiers every day and constant bombardments, there wasn't much reason to be picky. "What's your name? And do you have any military training?" She questioned, her eyes now scanning over a scavenged phaeston, no doubt taken from the body of a marauder. She nodded and handed it back to the civilian that handed it to her. They were a quarian, smaller and frailer looking than even an average one. "We could use more people who know more about guns than point and shoot."
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Daniel Evans
Traveller
[TI0]
Name: Daniel Evans
Race: Human
Occupation: Ex-Cerberus Combat Engineer
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Post by Daniel Evans on May 4, 2015 18:46:15 GMT
He would have to lie to her face, no one can know his ties to Cerberus. Daniel could lie and say he served with the Alliance but the thought of saying that almost made him cringe. "I'm Daniel...and yes I have, I'm a Combat Engineer." She didn't ask where he got his training, he tried to keep his answers short and sweet. The man was wearing a beat up jacket, torn jeans, basically the look of a usual spacer. He opened his jacket slightly to reveal a M-25 Hornet strapped to his hip. The weapon looked clean and well maintained, the Cerberus colors on it gleamed in the light. "I've danced along the battlefield enough to know how to fight." Or the least not get his ass shot off. Though his combat strategy is stay in cover, spam cover fire and wait for his turret to light up his targets. But over the time running from Cerberus his aim has started to get slightly better, but only slightly, give him a scoped rifle and you'll get no results.
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Calistaris
Adventurer
[TI1]
Name: Calistaris Ardelion
Race: Turian
Occupation: Shadow Broker Wet Worker
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Post by Calistaris on May 5, 2015 1:20:03 GMT
Cali pursed her mandibles into what looked like almost a smile. "Oh good, Alliance. Y'know, not many people like you but I-" she cut herself short, glancing down at the weapon. She moved a little uneasy by herself, quickly checking to see if anyone else saw what she did they all seemed to busy. "... Don't mind..." She finished, looking back at Daniel. "Ms. Skarev! I'm taking the new guy out on a quick assessment! We'll be back soon, but take command until I return." Cali called, looking very judgmental at the new recruit. "Yes ma'am!" An asari called from behind her. Cali then motioned for Daniel to follow her up into the open, taking a phaeston with her. "I'm Calistaris Ardelion, but you may call me Ms. Ardelion." She whispered almost scornfully as she passed Daniel.
Now surrounded by rubble, Cali lead Daniel away from the makeshift bunker. After being a few kilos out, she turned back to Daniel and pointed the gun at him. "What the hell is a Cerberus weapon doing on your hip?" She exclaimed, finger sliding down to the trigger.
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Daniel Evans
Traveller
[TI0]
Name: Daniel Evans
Race: Human
Occupation: Ex-Cerberus Combat Engineer
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Post by Daniel Evans on May 5, 2015 1:37:57 GMT
The notion of him being part of the Alliance really got under his skin, but if that's the cover he has to use then so be it. Showing her his weapon meant he means business when it comes to fighting, the thought of it being a Cerberus made weapon didn't cross his mind, seemed like a war like this it didn't matter who made what weapon, as long as it shoots and can kill it shouldn't even matter. But the young man did catch the change of atmosphere between the two. He could really tell when she passed him with that tone of voice. "Yes ma'am.." The Engineer replies in a somewhat same tone of voice. He didn't have a choice, might as well follow her and go along with this.
Following her in silence the human glanced around at the level of destruction as the two walked. No way these people can hold out against the Reapers for any longer, makes him think what hope the galaxy has on coming together to survive this war. He was caught in mid thought when the alien's weapon pointed at him, when his eyes glance back up he was looking down the barrel of his possible death. That fight or flight instinct quickly kicked in as his heart starts beating fast. The alien could see the utter shock and surprise in the man's soft eyes. The logical thing to do was to hit her with a tech attack or whip out his weapon to engage but he just froze there mind blank. And oh she could see it, like a machine malfunction he barley managed to speak. "I...I don't see why my weapon being Cerberus made is a concern for you." Hand slowly forming a fist he tries to appear touch and collect but it was obvious on how he was really feeling, dealing with angry threatening aliens wasn't something he was use to.
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Calistaris
Adventurer
[TI1]
Name: Calistaris Ardelion
Race: Turian
Occupation: Shadow Broker Wet Worker
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Post by Calistaris on May 5, 2015 1:51:15 GMT
Calistaris looked down the sights of the rifle at him, her eyes squinting at what she perceived as a stupid question. Cerberus, a pro-human group who was mutating themselves with reaper tech, known as of late for attempting to slaughter hundreds of their own cells and galactic strongholds. "Are you dense?" She asked, taking a step closer to him. "It's Cerberus, y'know, the terrorist organization?" She explained, acting as if she was talking to someone who knew nothing about it. "Some people around here wouldn't even give you this chance. They'd just shoot you in the back of the head and walk away." She explained, watching his hand curl up into a fist. "Now explain to me how and why you have a Cerberus branded weapon or I'll make sure someone back at the base will make good use of it." She demanded very sternly with rising agitation.
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Daniel Evans
Traveller
[TI0]
Name: Daniel Evans
Race: Human
Occupation: Ex-Cerberus Combat Engineer
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Post by Daniel Evans on May 5, 2015 2:06:28 GMT
Normally he would't just stand by and let someone say such things about the organization that he serves, the one who accepts him and treats him like a valuable asset. Well nowadays terrorist organization is a fitting description of them now. He had that fear deep down that in the next minute he will be dead, now several thoughts ran through his head. He could try to fight her or just start running, both plans would probably end in him with a round through his skull. The hardest and most honest move would be to simply tell the truth, that he was a soldier serving Cerberus before going AWOL. But his mouth started running before he could think things through. "The colony I was on was attacked by Cerberus....I grabbed this off one of their bodies before escaping." He hoped that lie was good enough, it sounded reasonable, anyone in that situation would grab whatever weapon they could use to survive. "It's the only weapon I have...now if you would please lower that weapon." At this point his voice was a little shaky as fear dripped from his words.
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Calistaris
Adventurer
[TI1]
Name: Calistaris Ardelion
Race: Turian
Occupation: Shadow Broker Wet Worker
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Post by Calistaris on May 5, 2015 2:44:23 GMT
Cali scanned Daniel one more time. Her stone hard gaze eventually softened as she slowly lowered the gun. She didn't know whether or not to believe him, but he clearly posed no significant threat to her. "I need to know if I can trust you, that you won't start killing my people just because they aren't human." She said, hoisting the rifle over her shoulder and holstering it on her back. "Most of my soldiers, my rebels, my civilians have been in poverty all their lives. This made them and their families easy targets to 'anti-alien' groups." She said, finding a piece of rubble to sit herself on. "Just the mention of Cerberus would send them running for their lives, or worse." She explained, rubbing her face with her hands. "So if you're lying to me, keep it to yourself. If you aren't, then good on you, you can kill one Cerberus soldier." She said thinking to herself, then looking up at him. She slowly shook her head from side to side. "I have no idea what I'm going to do with you." She said, scratching under her chin. After a moment of thinking, she nodded. "I do still have to assess you," she decided, standing up again. "So let's go hit a minor indoctrination center."
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Daniel Evans
Traveller
[TI0]
Name: Daniel Evans
Race: Human
Occupation: Ex-Cerberus Combat Engineer
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Post by Daniel Evans on May 5, 2015 3:07:14 GMT
The moment was tense as he held his breath waiting for her to spare him or execute him on the spot. He couldn't help but to sigh with relief when she lowered her weapon. The Engineer had enough close encounters with death for the day. Daniel remained quiet as the other spoke, he didn't know how other species felt about Cerberus, it almost gave him a feeling of guilt being part of a pro human organization, but he shouldn't feel that way, Cerberus is and will remain his home, the people will forever remain his comrades and family. Though a terrorist organization that now uses his own family to hunt him down didn't seem like a healthy family anymore. Daniel didn't have time to ponder and think over it, others may see the Cerberus insignia as a sign of fear or terrorism but he will always be apart of the true righteous Cerberus. You know the one not trying to kill people and turn it's own soldiers into slaves. "I have nothing against aliens, you won't have to worry about that from me." His words probably seemed false or fake to her but at least that statement was true. His eyes shifted away from the alien almost like he was ashamed, it would be so much better if he didn't have to lie. It felt like the second hand guilt of being a part of Cerberus will slowly eat away at him. He needs to be strong and ignore that feeling, you can't feel guilty over things you haven't done. Her statement snaps him out of his thinking causing him to glance back at her. "Now you're ordering me around, I realize you people need help but I didn't conscript into your little army." The Cerberus soldier says walking up to her.
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Calistaris
Adventurer
[TI1]
Name: Calistaris Ardelion
Race: Turian
Occupation: Shadow Broker Wet Worker
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Post by Calistaris on May 5, 2015 10:47:22 GMT
Cali couldn't help but smirk at his defiance. "Oh, you're right, I guess you'll just be on your way to your first class flight right off of Illium, hm? Or maybe you're actually super secretly working for the huntresses, I'll let you get back to that." She mocked, shaking her head. "Do you really wanna wade this out on your own?" She asked, crossing her arms in front of him. She towered over him by an extra six inches having to look down when he got close. "Now shut up, prepare your gun, and follow me." She instructed, leading him off again.
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Daniel Evans
Traveller
[TI0]
Name: Daniel Evans
Race: Human
Occupation: Ex-Cerberus Combat Engineer
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Post by Daniel Evans on May 5, 2015 16:03:39 GMT
The engineer however was not smirking but now glaring at the others sarcasm. Jumping between space stations and small colony worlds was easy, getting off a major planet will prove a little bit more difficult for him. Though during his time on each location he tried to help out with the war effort, after departing from Cerberus he now searches for a purpose. Fighting on Illium may be that, but Daniel much rather be back on Earth to defend his own planet. Stopping in his tracks as the alien stares him down the shorter man had to look up slightly to keep eye contact. There was a lot of things he could have said at the moment but he bit his tongue to avoid any confrontation with the Turian. As Cali turns to lead him off once more he offers a one fingered salute. "Aye aye...ma'am." With no other choices he reaches for his weapon and starts marching forth.
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Calistaris
Adventurer
[TI1]
Name: Calistaris Ardelion
Race: Turian
Occupation: Shadow Broker Wet Worker
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Post by Calistaris on May 5, 2015 18:34:28 GMT
It was roughly half a solar hour out before they got to their location. Cali reached for the hood from her clothes to cover her face and for the phaeston on her back, getting down into a prone position. They had the uphill advantage, the indoctrination center being in the center of a crater that appears to have been caused by a laser with a high heat output, the ground being scorched where it hit. The indoctrination booster itself was in the center, surrounded by marauders guarding it. Cali nodded as she looked over to Daniel. "Alright Daniel," she began, trying to keep her voice low. "Tell me what to do."
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