The Reclaimer Wars:The Reaper Crisis

Life and Death Part 3:Trials and Tribulation

There was a certain weight in the central meeting area of the Rayya. Even as Tali and the others went around, asking locals what this trial could be about beside the vague issue with Treason and something relating to her father, there was really no coherence, no normal answer. Something felt off and, going by the fact it was the Admiralty Board asking to make this trial public, it was scary.

The Quarian girl breathed a heavy sigh as she walked away from a group of former co-workers. Permanent farmers on the Liveship that grew the foodstuffs needed to keep their ships going. Tali had worked with them on Farm 12 back when she was a young girl and her father wasn't dragging her into his research projects.

To put it simply, no answers from them, either. She breathed a sigh, shoulders sagging as her gaze swept the room. She felt a hand land on her shoulder and looked back to see Fred standing beside her. He asked, "Anything?" to which she shook her head, visibly disappointed. He told her, "I heard something happened on a research vessel."

"So, what we knew already," Tali mumbled, "Thank you for trying."

"We're squadmates," The Spartan replied, "We have each-other's backs," and he saw her face morph into a smile behind the opaque visor of her mask. She nodded, but both paused as they saw Chief, Johnson and Anakin approach.

"We got nothin' more than what we already know," Johnson stated, arms crossed to his chest. He added, "Someone's keepin' things way too close to their chest for my liking. Most concernin' issue is the Alarei, though. Heard from Admiral Raan that they ain't answering calls right now," and he saw Tali visibly perk up, concern written all in her shining eyes.

Anakin told her, "Calm. Nothing bad's happened just yet. For all we know, it's a com malfunction," before he looked over to the left, seeing a platoon of soldiers clad in Camouflage approach. The Knight of the Republic blinked, while Chief hummed. The familiar longer-snouted mask denoted a male Quarian leading the formation. One Chief recognized by the rank pins.

He snapped a salute and said, "Lieutenant Reegar, sir."

"Chief," Reegar replied in kind, "Don't you salute me. I've got enough to worry about with being promoted to CO rank for my platoon to have one of the people who saved my ass on Haestrom salute me," then he sighed deeply and looked at Tali. He saluted her, too, stating, "Ma'am... Wish we were meeting again under better circumstances."

"Likewise, Kal," Tali replied kindly, "Glad to see you finally got that promotion," and she chuckled when the man scoffed. He then looked at General Skywalker, whom he saluted quickly. Anakin nodded, saluting him back, then looked over at Johnson as he and Kal stepped off to prepare with the local Colonial presence.

Reegar, however, stopped, turned and said, "We'll all speak for you, ma'am! Don't worry!" before stepping off.

Shepard walked over to the group, crossing her arms and stating, "Well, I guess I missed the reunion with Sergeant Reegar," before walking up to Tali. She told them, "I've been able to talk to a few more people... Even met the guy we rescued back on Freedom's Progress. Veetor," and she jabbed a thumb back toward the wary young man.

Tali waved at Veetor, who waved back and seemed relatively happy and more relaxed to see her there. She told Shepard, "By the way, Shepard, it's 'Lieutenant' Reegar now," which garnered a smile out of the Commander. Anakin took a moment to take in the sights of the Rayya's wide meeting hall, sighing deeply as he stared at the podium in the middle and thought to himself just how unfortunate they were to have wound up here for a trial.

He'd have liked to join the UNSC and Colonials in talks with these people. Potentially to both learn more about the Quarian people as a whole to bring back home. He checked his com system as it pinged, then looked over att Ahsoka. She waved and walked over to him and the others, stating, "Well, bad news is nobody knows too much. Good news is I met a specific Admiral, Daro'Xen, who's willing to talk to us."