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[u]  PRIORITY: SVALBARD[color=red]◢[/color][/u]
[sub][color=gray][s]Longyearbyen, [/s][/color][b][code]Svalbard[/code][/b]
[color=gray][s]Evening, [/s][/color][b][code]April 13,[/code][/b][color=gray][s] 2187[/s][/color]
[color=gray][s]Snowing, [/s][/color][b][abbr=-4°F][code]-20°C[/code][/abbr][/b]
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[color=red][b]S[/b][/color]valbard was very cold.

The entirety of April 13 was taken up by a non-stop flight across the Atlantic and into the Arctic circle. There was scarcely any room in the shuttle. With seven active members, two unconscious members, a dog and all of their gear, it was barely possible to sit without bumping into the nearest living being. Sevipia did most of the flying, as she had piloting experience from her search and rescue background. It was a bumpy ride; the shuttle was in need of a tune-up and the turbulence threatened to toss passengers out of their seats. To make matters worse, Ranger vomited, and the only thing that resembled a lavatory was a dirty bucket behind a tools crate.

Finally, the pressurized shuttle door opened to the promise of much needed fresh air. Instead, the SRN team was blasted with a bitter faceful of icy wind. Swirls of white drifted down from the sky. The temperature was 40 degrees (celsius) colder than Cuba. Even Zenn, in his temperature controlled enviro suit, could feel the chill biting through.

It was already night, but the lights of Longyearbyen reflected brightly off of the snowscape. Svalbard Spaceport was active. Though not as busy as Havana, the SRN shuttle wasn't the only one touching down tonight. Several winterized vehicles and hovercrafts transported cargo and cleared snow on the tarmac. One of them, a tracked security transport bearing SRN's [url=https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/851247559682818098/1074412284815884371/srn.png]logo[/url], approached the shuttle. Two armed security guards, a human and a salarian, came flanked by two [url=https://masseffect.fandom.com/wiki/LOKI_Mech]LOKI mechs[/url].

"Power down all systems and prepare for inspection!" The human ordered; their voice amplified by omni-tool loudspeakers to be heard over the howling winds.

Just as it happened, a sleek six-wheel [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/masseffect/images/9/9b/MEA_Nomad_Tabula_Rasa.png]rover[/url] pulled up next to the security. Painted on the rover's doors were the words [i]ND-1 | Concept Vehicle[/i]. Those doors swung open diagonally and an important-looking human in thick winter parka hopped out.

"Mr. Saracino, the new arrival has not been cleared! It's dangerous for you-" The salarian warned. Charles Saracino gently waved the guard aside.

[color=00ffff]"It's alright, I invited them myself."[/color] Charles flashed the guards a faint smile, and both of them backed off. The LOKI mechs remained by Charles' side as he greeted the new arrivals.

[color=00ffff]"Welcome to Svalbard!"[/color] Charles shouted amid the snowstorm. He lowered his heavy hood, revealing a middle-aged man with short black hair and a long, thin scar across his face. [color=00ffff]"Come on, I'll give you a ride in the [url=https://masseffect.fandom.com/wiki/ND1_Nomad]Nomad[/url]. You must be freezing out here!"[/color]

Ranger was the first one outside. Golden fur leaped onto the tarmac. Charles took a surprised step back, and both mechs took up position between him and Ranger.

[color=00ffff]"Ah, didn't know you had...no matter. You can leave your pet with security."[/color] He pulled the mechs back, but kept his distance from the dog. [color=00ffff]"Your equipment, too. Oh, and they can also transport Lieutenant Commander Serova and Specialist Danya. Sorry, my rover can't fit everyone."[/color]

[color=ed1b2e]"I'll stay with Katya and Janiri."[/color] Sevipia volunteered to go in the security truck.

For the other six, it was a tight fit in the rover. Perhaps sensing her unease around people, Charles invited Solveig to sit up front. The remaining five team members had to squeeze in between two cramped back rows. However, the interior was warm and comfortable, and the ride itself was so smooth that it barely felt like driving on snow.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/w0XWwEk.png[/img][/center]
Longyearbyen was even less affected by the war than Havana. According to Charles, no reaper ever landed on Svalbard. So most the majority of changes came from accommodating refugees. Svalbard's population doubled since before the war. Thousands fled there from northern Europe during the war, and thousands more arrived after war, attracted by advanced and fully-functioning infrastructure. The only obstacle to a population boom on the island, Charles claimed, was the weather.

But the main attraction of Svalbard, and the place Charles was taking everyone to, was the [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svalbard_Global_Seed_Vault]seed vault[/url]. The original vault was constructed in the early 21[sup]st[/sup] century and later expanded by the alliance in the 22[sup]nd[/sup] century. A second vault was commissioned by the Andromeda Initiative before their hasty departure last year, to house exoplanetary crop seeds suited for another galaxy. This meant Svalbard not only held the key to earth's agricultural recovery, but it was also one of the few places in sol with reserves of dextro crops.

The Nomad stopped at shielded perimeter on the outskirts of Longyearbyen. Outside of the perimeter were dozens of prefab hab units on top of flash-forged stilts. Hundreds of refugees of all species lived in there. Inside the perimeter were the vaults and miscellaneous buildings made from the highest grade carbon nanotube. Charles' office was the three-story central admin painted in blue and etched with SRN's logo. On the inside, there were still initiative logos not yet painted over with their SRN counterpart.

Sitting down at a holo-conference room, Charles was once against surrounded by two mechs. One of them brought refreshments for the guests, while the other stood guard by his side.

[color=00ffff]"First thing first,"[/color] Charles helped himself to a cup of warm tea, [color=00ffff]"who is the team leader?"[/color]

The team had no leader.

[color=00ffff]"We'll have to figure this one out later."[/color] Charles handed his parka to his mech.

The second thing was contacting the security guards. They confirmed Sevipia and the comatose patients had checked into Longyearbyen Hospital. A renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. Bawirn Taua, would be arriving shortly. Currently, the security guards were en route to deliver Ranger and the team's belongings.

The third thing and the inevitable question were those mechs. Why Charles have them follow him around? They tend to break down after exposed to the crucible energy, so getting them up and running must've taken a lot of resources. The observant also noticed the scar on Charles' face; perhaps they were connected?

[color=00ffff]"There was an attempt on my life last week."[/color] Charles laid it out bluntly. [color=00ffff]"The assassin had been dealt with, but unfortunately, at the cost of Governor Blomdahl's life."[/color]

This was why Charles suspected infiltration within SRN. While visiting refugees with Svalbard's governor one week ago, someone jumped them with an omni-blade. The governor was impaled out of nowhere and died instantly. Then the attacker killed two bodyguards and slashed Charles' face before being shot dead. It was a low profile visit; scheduled only a day in advance and therefore had no stringent protective details.

As for rooting out subversion from SRN, the action they needed to take was...

[color=00ffff]"Nothing right now."[/color] Charles said. [color=00ffff]"For you, that is."[/color]

Time was needed to determine their next course of action. SRN's IT analysts found someone had accessed their encrypted database through a backdoor. This backdoor was used to both download Charles' daily schedules and hack into the first team's communication channels. The obvious suspect here was Armistan Banes. But masterminding an assassination while running a gang on the other side of the world? That seemed too much even for an elite ex-cerberus operative. Randall could right; Banes had powerful allies.

So Charles needed a few more days to track the backdoor's origins. In addition, he had upcoming meetings with SRN's stakeholders, the same rich and influential people that (narrowly) elected him president. No doubt the critics and oppositions among them would like to see Charles fall. Would any of them go the length of allying with Banes or arranging a hit? Charles intended to find out.

[color=00ffff]"Trust is hard to come by these days."[/color] Charles remarked, massaging his scar. [color=00ffff]"That is why I'm glad to be able to rely on all of you. We share a vision in making the solar system a better place."[/color]

The team got their next few days off. They would be staying in bunks, cots or sleeping pods in the staff housing complex. Compared to Meliá Resort, these accommodations were basic to say the least. There's no room service, bathrooms were shared, and the only dining option was a cafeteria serving instant coffee and reheated rations. However, all of Longyearbyen's hotels were fully booked, Charles reminded them. At least they were staying inside the vault compound perimeters; refugee housing outside tended to get...chaotic.

[color=00ffff]"I understand this leaves much to be desired, Ms. V'Lanis."[/color] Charles said before Nadara could speak up. [color=00ffff]"Rest assured we're working on improving comfort through the creation of an SRN hospitality division. In fact, I could think of no one better to head this division than you."[/color]

[color=00ffff]"Just something to think about for now. Of course, we have more urgent problems to deal with first."[/color]

While lacking in comfort, the facilities made up for it with utility. The security complex was equipped with a shooting range and an obstacle course, allowing team members to practice with their weapons and techniques. And speaking of weapons, an armory stocked with thermal clips, power cells and omni-gel should be perfect for a top up. Fabricators and workbenches at the engineering station enabled maintenance and modification of equipment. Heck, there's even a K9 section for Ranger.

When it came to acquiring new gear, the team was on their own. There were kiosks and acquisition terminals in the city, but the team had to pay with their own money. Charles' stock of guns, armor and vehicles was already stretched to the limit in order to beef up security.

[color=00ffff]"I do have this you."[/color] Charles beckoned his mech to present an all white rifle. [color=00ffff]"[url=https://masseffect.fandom.com/wiki/X5_Ghost]X5 Ghost[/url]; a state of the art prototype. Apparently it's good enough for another galaxy; just that I am not a good shot with it."[/color]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/w0XWwEk.png[/img][/center]
On the 14th, the team woke up to unread messages.

The first came from Sevipia. She was no longer a part of the team, as she decided to transfer to SRN's medical division. The horrors and dangers of the meat plant raid was too much for her. The turian medic did her best work caring for the wounded, and for that, there's no better place to be than a hospital.

On the topic of hospital, an update came regarding Katya and Janiri. Their comas were reported to have similarities with those experiencing reaper indoctrination. The neurosurgeons would experiment with anti-indoctrination treatments in the coming days. For Janiri in particular, the surgeons found a tracking chip at the base of her skull. It was manufactured by the Asari Republics, yet the transmission protocols within were Eclipse. Though chip was not active, it was taken out anyway to prevent complications.

Next was Lizbeth, who was emailing not just to say how much she missed everyone. No, she received a complaint after repatriating Tamás' body to the Citadel. Tamás' friends were bewildered to hear him killed on the first day of work, not to mention they were absolutely livid to find his remains having fallen out of the body bag during transit. So they demanded to see an SRN rep in person. Lizbeth was too busy in her new position to oblige, but hey, she heard the crisis team was taking a break from crises. How about a day trip to the Citadel?

Aside from team-wide messages, Zenobia received a personal one from the Eclipse. Somehow, one of their informants spotted Zenobia at Longyearbyen. The Eclipse didn't care much for her; the person they're after was Janiri. The message stated Janiri's tracking chip activated briefly, pinpointing her location and placing Zenobia as the nearest Eclipse personnel. Her order was to take the deserter Janiri and all of the stolen equipment to an Eclipse pickup point on earth.

Zenobia wasn't the only one ordered to apprehend Janiri. A message from asari high command found Nadara. It sounded like the chip transmitted to its original asari manufacturers as well. While Nadara's order was similar in taking Janiri to the nearest asari base, the tone of her message was vastly different than Zenobia's. The Eclipse merely wanted their assets back, whereas the asari military emphasized a grave responsibility. After all, she would have the honor of capturing an [i]ardat-yakshi[/i].
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