We're not worrying about how much the Commander has slept in those ten hours. Pretty sure the Protheans gave her some powers!

"I do actually work for them now, Joker. Put 'em on when I get to the bridge." She sets things up so she has Mort and Zanna flanking her, to rub it in that the Council is relying on her coterie of mentally ill mercenaries these days. Arela is at hand for a dramatic reveal as necessary, since she seems like she's good for that.

Councillor Valern flickers into view. "Commander Terentin," he says. "I'll be taking your verbal report on the Therum operation."

Oh, good, the calm one. She fills him in on everything, since lying to politicians is like trying to give a fish a shower. She talks up how there was a volcano and a bunch of prothean tech and geth and, oh, also, she has Belara's daughter quote in-secure-custody unquote. Really, she's just hanging out, but it's technically custody.

"The plan now is for Ms. K'Bael here to lead us to her mother. Might do some light subterfuge, might just blow her up, I like playing things by ear." And referencing ears, that uniquely human body part. "Anything to inspire confidence on that front for the Councillor here, Arela?"

Arela steps forward. "I haven't been in personal contact with my mother in some time, but I can practically guarantee that she's in one of her many hidey-holes. She'd have gone to ground on Omega if she thought she had a year or so to vanish into the muck, but currently, she's got more work to do. So she'd be somewhere she can get access to her accounts... and mercenaries. Ilium sounds ideal, but she wouldn't go there if Tevos is after her - she's not stupid, just an evil bitch. If you'll pardon my Batarian."

     "You were not speaking Batarian," Valern observes.

"Mangled human expression," Arela apologizes. "Anyway. I'm pretty sure she's on Noveria. She has major holdings in Binary Helix, as I'm sure you know, and with a corporate connection you can do whatever you want on that iceball."

     Valern blinks slowly in agreement. "This accords with my observations. There is too much evidence, too visible, that she went to ground on Ilium. As you say, she is not stupid. Meanwhile, Noveria is almost as rich a nest of vipers."

"This is what we get for having stock markets. Councillor, we'll get back to it with your leave."

The councillor smiles minutely. "Granted. Keep up the good work, Commander."

That's right it's good work.

"Thanks, Ms. K'Bael." Gracious! Not sourcelessly mocking at all!

The hologram flickers back into nonexistence.

"Doctor," Arela non sequiturs.

"In?" It was a sequitur, it had to have been!

"Archaeology. I'm not Ms. K'Bael. I'm Dr. K'Bael. Common mistake."

"Oh, right, well. How condescending of me."

"No, condescending would be - well. If I start condescending to you you'll know it."

Dr. K'Bael inclines her head and makes her exit.

"Will I, really." When Joker tries to answer that she tells him to can it and get them to Noveria.

"...she gets on your nerves pretty bad," Zanna observes. 

Head tilt of about 45 degrees. "I mean, she's a little confusing. I can't tell if she's joking half the time." The commander shakes her head. "But I like her fine?"

"- oh," Zanna says, her eyes suddenly widening slightly. "Uh, Morty, how about we get a shopping list together for when we make planetfall?"

"What? It's gonna be like eighteen hours."

"Let's do it anyway."

Zanna hustles Morty off, tossing a quick salute to the Commander.

"Approaching sunny Noveria," Joker says brightly after a few hours. "Wait, did I say sunny? I meant horrible blizzard."

Why is this guy still in on her staff now that she's head bitch in charge?

"We could always get you on the ground team if you want a closer look."

"No thanks! My bones don't work so good in subzero. Or, like, at all."

Speaking of ground team: who's on first?

Morty, Yakhol, Arela. All crowded onto one little base bag. In stripey uniforms. Teddy might go mad with power and form a softball team.

As is her God-given right.

As they step off the ship, they're accosted by a squad of mercenary guards. "Greetings," says a blonde human woman approaching the age at which one stops being a mercenary. "Your pilot claimed there was a Council Spectre aboard; I assume that's you?" She nods towards Arela.

"...do you guys not get the news out here? Hello, first human Spectre." Arela hitches her thumb at Teddy.

Terentin has her hands clasped behind her back, and she is operating maximally. She is so tall (she's only 5'11"), and her shoulders are so squared (only 86°), and for all that she looks unlikely as a Spectre, she is statuesque. (As in, carved from hard rock at great expense.) The entire effect, unfortunately, is usually only so impressive to the paid paramilitary of the universe, but 'only so impressive' is still so impressive.

She steps forward, her squad doesn't. But Arela can keep doing introductions. Teddy's busy doing full-contact eye-contact with her opponent.