**A/N: Hello everyone, and welcome to my *dun-da-da-duh!* First Ever FanFiction! *scattered applause*

Seriously though, thanks for clicking and I hope you enjoy. Please please please, provide me with some feedback (or criticism, you did put in valuable time reading at least this far) into the comments and reviews section below.**

**Disclaimer: All characters [excepting Corporal Jim Matthews, Staff Sergeant Neil Carson, Sergeant Wheeler, and Private First Class Werkheiser] are property of the Mass Effect series and their parent ownership.**

"Run and Gun. Move to cover, covering fire, wait for Neil..." I mumbled to myself.

I took several deep breaths and slid down into a crouch. I reached my gloved hand under my helmet to wipe sweat away from my brown eyes. I whistled sharply to my compatriot before shouldering my rifle. I took several quick breaths before I opened fire on the encroaching robots.

Sergeant Neil Carson scurried over to join me, his green eyes showing a very real fear that neither of us would make it off this planet. He took a moment to breath before standing up and shouldering his own rifle against the mechanized warriors. "What the hell are these things Jim? Never seen 'bots this smart..."

I ducked back into cover as my commanding officer kept the mechs suppressed. "No idea sarge. But they've definitely got better programming... than what the Alliance has," I said while catching my breath. "Switch!" I called out before sending more rounds down-range.

Carson ducked back as I took over suppression. He looked behind their position to an outcropping. "Should be able to break for it..." he whispered hoarsely. He pressed against our cover as he wiped sweat away from his own green eyes. "Break for the outcropping five meters back and I'll cover you!" He tapped my shoulder as he popped out, scoring several hits on a mech's chest plate. "Go now! Fall back!"

I nodded and took off across the dry landscape. My HUD began wailing as my shields started to fail. "Damnit!" I yelled out as my foot caught and I stumbled into the dirt, rounds cut through the air I just occupied moments before. My rifle clattered away as I braced myself. I pushed myself onto my toes, leaping up from prone before rushing behind the outcropping. I reached for my sidearm and whistled to Carson again. "Kick the rifle!" I shouted while I fired several shots at the machines, covering my friend as much as possible.

Carson rushed towards me nearly tripping over the same rock, and kicked the rifle over before he slipped into cover on the opposite side. "Only three left and I think we're clear," Carson shouted as his shots took down another mech. He ducked back into cover, his rifle actively venting.

I offered a nod in thanks as I picked up my rifle, sliding my pistol back into its holster on the armor. I sighted down the limited scope of my rifle and let out several controlled bursts. I watched intently as the enemy's shields popped before it could get into cover. I smiled while I pulled the trigger only to have warnings scream across my HUD. "Crap! Nuts to this..." I ducked back and dropped my rifle. I reached my finger into the center of my palm, tapping the mini-facturing extruder panel to activate the omni-tool's combat mode. The orange display sprang to life around my forearm. I snapped by thumb out twice in succession to activate production of an overload tech mine. I glanced over at Carson, still venting his rifle, and pointed to my omni-tool. Carson smiled and nodded. I popped out, tossing the mine at a rock between the two mechs. I ducked back down as the mine exploded, stunning both foes with an EMP. Carson fired at both helpless targets, downing them quickly.

We collapsed against our cover for a few moments, breathing heavily. We looked at one another smiling, just glad to be alive. We sat and breathed, drinking in whatever small rest we could get. Almost in unison we rose, making sure all our gear was still with us before realizing we heard gunfire coming from behind our position.

"GET BACK DOC!" I heard another voice yell. Wait... I know that voice, I thought before yelling out "Wheeler, that you?"

"Questions later! More hostiles!" Staff Sergeant Wheeler yelled back as Carson and I moved up. We glanced at two civilians that rushed towards the small habitation unit next to the outcropping we hid behind. How didn't we notice that before? I pushed the thought to the back of my mind as I tucked myself against the rock the sergeant used for cover. I quickly tapped his thigh twice in succession to let him know to switch. I popped up out of cover and fired several bursts at one of the mechs trying to rush our position. I took off it's right arm in the process, which was almost comical. If it weren't for the accelerated shrapnel coming at us from their guns anyway. It looked dumbly where it's arm used to be before Carson took it's head off. Come to think of it, those heads look like oversized flashlights...

I ducked back down as Wheeler took over, downing the last mech before he collapsed against the rock. "Next time... look around... before taking... a nap... jackass," he breathed out heavily.

"Sorry sir. Corporal Matthews and Sergeant Carson, Charlie Squad, Platoon 212. Comms have been down since that giant octopus showed up." I leapt up and gave him a smart salute.

Wheeler swatted a hand at me absently as he recovered. "Battlefield kid, save the salutes for when we're out of here. Least you've still got some wits about you with all this. Staff Sergeant Wheeler of the 232... what's left of it anyway. PFC Werkheiser and I are the only ones left..." He pushed himself off the rock and stood up, clapped a hand on my shoulder, and pushed gently to motion to the civilians. "Found these two running from those things. Think you can lock them in the hab over there?" he whispered.

I looked back to him and nodded before I motioned to my omni-tool. "Yeah, I can do that." Carson walked over to speak with Wheeler while Werkheiser kept watch for any hostiles. I walked over to the civilians, secured my weapon, and tossed them a wave. "Sit tight and I'll get you inside. You should be safe in there." I told them before I touched the outside of my wrist, activating my omni-tool from the touch panel.

"Th-thank you," the short-haired woman tentatively replied. "Manuel and I were lucky to have found your friends. We were stuck at the dig site... those things arrived and-"

I looked up from my omni-tool, letting the rudimentary decryption program work it's magic. "Doctor, it's alright. We're here to help you." I tried to reassure her. "We're going to get you inside and make sure you're safe. What's your name?" I asked in an attempt to get her mind off the events of the past hour or so.

She took several breaths and replied "Doctor Warren, and this is my assistant Doctor Cayce. Please..." she stopped and nearly sobbed as she motioned to the door.

I nodded back to the doctors and removed my helmet with my left hand. I dropped it at my feet and ran my gloved hand through my damp hair. I was about to crouch down and retrieve my helmet when I jumped as a hand came down on my shoulder. "How's it coming?" Carson asked me. I shook my head and lightly punched his shoulder. "Fine, just don't spook me like that man..."

"Good, good..." he replied before he leaned in to whisper "...but hurry. There's more of those things coming. Civvies need to get to cover ASAP." He patted my shoulder and motioned to them with his nose before he turned around and readied his rifle.

I nodded and let out a sigh before I turned back to the doctors. I offered them a warm smile to try and keep their spirits up. "I'll have this unlocked in a moment for you," I said. Right before the distinct sound of rifle fire.

"Get 'em in there Corporal!" Wheeler yelled over the combat din. I crouched down and motioned for the doctors to do the same. I looked anxiously at my omni-tool, offering a benediction to whatever divine being may be listening. Just let this damn door open already…

I gave out a curt laugh as my omni-tool dinged and the lock turned green. I motioned for the doctors to get inside while I stood over them to provide a human shield. As soon as they entered the building, I felt a hard knock to the back of my head, and everything went dark.

**Footnote: This is a rewrite of the original posting for chapter one. It is still short compared to the rest of the story, but it was intended to be that way.

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