Prologue: Warning
At the end of the First Contact War, humanity began a push towards expansion within the Attican Traverse. However, batarian slavers and Terminus pirate groups have made expansion problematic. After the attack on Mindoir in 2170, the Alliance pushed for more security over their important colonies in the traverse. Around 2175, Alliance rookie Alistair Rupert Maine fought off a group of batarian pirates attacking an Alliance frigate, the SSV Atlanta, with the help of squadmates Jason 'Wash' Washington, Michael York, and Nolan North. These men were given medals of valor for their heroic deeds, and had received promotions for their actions.
Currently, they are on shore leave, unaware of the attack that would ruin their vacation on the Alliance's crown jewel, ELYSIUM.
FSV Hammer of Dawn, 08:02 am
Edge of the Terminus Systems; February 28th, 2176
Vancar Zona watched cautiously as he heard Elias Halliot, a human pirate ready to stage an attack on a human colony in the traverse, chattered over the comm system on how the Terminus Fleet was going to win with their plan of attack. He walked at a steady pace to avoid suspicion from the other men stationed aboard. His four eyes blinked when he reached the room where his brother was staying.
He looked at his new armor; the white and blue colors of a Calypso lieutenant. None of the other mercs had questioned why his armor was colored that way, but he didn't mind. If they did begin asking, he could end up doing things he shouldn't. The Stranger requested he kept things simple: grab Rodan, find Brodius Bardone and Daniel Darsan, and get them off of the ship as quickly as possible. The fleet had an hour before they were to depart to an unnamed human colony and the two humans he needed to find had potential information that could stop it.
"Rodan." Vancar spoke to the batarian who was cleaning his rifle.
Rodan turned to face him. "Vancar? What are you doing here? I thought you said you would not participate in this war."
"I'm here to get you out of here. We need to leave."
"Leave? Are you crazy? We're about to sack the largest human colony in the traverse, and you want us to leave?"
"I'm saving your life. Elysium will hold their own, and if you go on the ground down there, you won't be coming back."
"I am old enough to handle myself, Vancar. I don't need you anymore to coddle me when I cry."
Vancar grasped his brother's shoulders. "Listen to me, Rodan. I know you are going to die because I have seen it! I saw your blood soak the grass outside the walls of the capital. I saw the man who would put the bullet in your head! I was granted the option to save your life before it happens. I suggest you take it, brother."
"How have you seen this 'death' I would befall?"
"My boss, The Stranger, holds many talents that no species could ever dream to have. Come with me, and he will show you what I have seen."
"How do I know you aren't lying?"
"I swear on the armor of our father, Rekal Zona, that I am telling you the truth."
Rodan blinked his eyes before growling. "All right. I'll go with you. But if I find out you're lying, I'll blind you one eye at a time."
"You can try. Head off to the cargo bay. There's a vessel waiting for us to depart."
"Where are you going?"
"I have a job to do." Vancar walked away and headed for the mess hall. The coordinates set marked that Darsan and Bardone were inside this room with three more pirates. They were meant to guard them from an ambush in case any batarian with a grudge wouldn't stay away from Bardone's nephew and his friend. Fortunately for him, Calypso's influence has changed his perspective on humanity to an extent.
From the door, he could see three turian guards wearing the armor of the Blue Suns mercenary group. Their weapons were in their hands and they were itching for some combat. Bardone saw Vancar from the corner of his eye, the brown iris scanning the batarian ready to walk in. Darsan's head turned slightly to face him as he walked in the door.
'Hold it right there!" One turian guard spoke. "The Mastermind's nephew is not to be disturbed during meal time!"
"Don't get your mandibles in a twist." Vancar snapped. "I just came to get some varren skews."
"We're all out." Darsan spoke, activating the key phrase that was to signal them of their transporter.
"Damn shame, then. I always liked them charred."
"There's always something else you could have charred." Bardone smiled.
"You're right." Vancar swiftly threw an incendiary grenade at the turian closest to him, who began screaming in panic. The two guards left standing began pointing their weapons at Vancar, who launched a projectile out of his omni-tool at the second closest merc. The blade pierced his armor, but it only disabled his gun arm. The third turian pulled the trigger on his shotgun, but it only bounced off of his shields. Vancar took cover behind the counter, and he saw that Bardone and Darsan hid under the table. Darsan quickly mouthed two words to Vancar:
"Sniper rifle."
Reaching for the long rifle on his back, Vancar slid it on the ground over to the human, who unfolded it quietly. The turian with the blade in his arm continued grasping his damaged limb, which continuously bled the blue life-blood from the severed artery. Vancar pulled out his pistol and jumped up quickly enough to end his life, and when the second turian attempted to shoot him again, the bullet from the sniper rifle pierced his skull. Vancar turned towards Darsan, who smiled at his proficiency.
"Nice shot, human." Vancar smiled.
"I was trained by the best." He folded up the sniper rifle and handed it to Vancar. "Thanks for the rifle, by the way."
"I wasn't planning on using it on a starship."
"Aww, I was hoping to use my biotics." Bardone complained.
"Next time. Let's go." Vancar led the humans to the cargo bay cautiously. The hack on the cameras could only be held for so long before Live Wire would've been caught. After a bit of walking, however, they had reached the cargo bay. Rodan had waited in front of the small cargo ship closest to the hanger doors. His face became shocked when he saw the three of them approach him.
"Are you insane, Vancar? Kidnapping the Mastermind's nephew?!"
"They're coming willingly. We intercepted a distress call from them. They're willing to offer intel to the Alliance in return for pardons for themselves and their uncle, as well as instatement into the Alliance."
"You're helping the Alliance?!"
"No. I'm helping Calypso. They're a universal group that is putting the races of the galaxy into an alliance. I don't care if you agree or not, but we need to work together with the other races; even the humans."
"What you speak would be considered heresy to the hegemony."
"Yes, well, the hegemony can kiss my ass for all I care."
"You know that father would've never stood for this."
"Father died when he foolishly attacked that human colony on Mindoir. While they had succeeded, he got killed by that biotic teen. His own knife was used against him as it slit his throat."
"That only proves that humanity will stop at nothing until we are pushed out of the traverse!"
"That only proves that humanity will always be stronger than us even when their backs are against the wall."
"What is wrong with you, brother? The Vancar I knew would've fought to protect the hegemony at any cost! Not speak of the human as if they are respectable warriors."
"The Vancar you knew had no room for forgiveness or remorse. He was a caged animal, but I am now free. The Stranger has opened my eyes to the truth; that a great evil seeks to destroy us all, and perhaps a greater evil will come after. Only by unity and faith will we succeed."
"You're insane."
"We're all insane. The difference is doing what's right and what's wrong. I know you can see that, Rodan."
Rodan shook his head over his brother's words. "You're not my brother." Suddenly, he wailed in pain as a mech behind him hit Vancar's brother with a neural shock attack. His body slumped on the floor unconscious.
"I'm sorry, brother. I can't let you die just yet. It's either Elysium or Torfan, and unfortunately, I'd rather let you die a hero than a coward."
The mech's yellow eye glowed at the three still standing. "VANCAR! I'M SO GLAD YOU FINALLY GOT HERE!"
"Quiet. If the crew hears you, you could compromise more than the mission."
"Sorry. I almost forgot. The ship is all prepared and ready to go. I recommend we depart immediately. There's a merc ship we can intercept in a matter of hours."
"We depart immediately. Get Rodan onboard and start the engines. We need to get out of here now."
"I agree. I can only hold control of the cameras for so long." The mech picked up the unconscious batarian and the others piled on the ship. Seconds later, it departed and left nothing but a mystery for the rest of the crew.
SSV Brussels, 11:16 am
Orbiting Elysium, Petra Nebula
Aboard the flagship of Elysium's orbital fleet, Admiral Thomas Wauters looked over his C.I.C. proudly. His crew has been with him from day one, and he has looked to Elysium as his second home that he would defend to the death. He did miss his homeland of Belgium back on Earth, but he didn't mind trading it for the beauty of Elysium.
"Sir," One crew member came up to him, interrupting his train of thought. "There's a call on hold in the comm room for you. The caller said his name was Urdnot Wrex, and he had made your acquaintance six months ago during a pirate raid."
Wauters smiled. He remembered the massive red krogan who saved the Brussels from the Blood Pack mercs that attacked. They had fought side by side to stop fourteen charging krogan with nothing but four frag grenades and Wrex's biotics. "Ah, I thought Wrex would attempt to contact me some time. Did he say what his call was about?"
"He mentioned something about a matter of importance regarding the security of our colonies. He claims it's vital he speaks to you now."
"Very well. Thank you for the information. You're dismissed, Lieutenant."
The man walked away as Wauters walked to the ship's comm room. A hologram of Wrex was projected from the stand, and the admiral smiled at the warrior's sight.
"It's damn good to hear from you again, Wrex." The man's dutch accent flowed along his words.
"Good to see you again. I wish we were really face to face, but I found the situation to be a little too important to wait."
"My comms officer said you had a matter of importance to discuss; something about the security of our colonies?"
"Yes. About fourty-five minutes ago, the transport I was on intercepted a small freighter. Onboard were two batarians, two humans, and a flight mech. The humans claimed that they were defectors of a massive uprising of Terminus pirates, and that they were willing to pass information to the Alliance in exchange for amnesty and instatement into the group."
"Two humans that are part of a pirate gang want instatement into the Alliance? Sounds suspicious."
"It would be if they hadn't shown me proof. They had a copy of the plans and they presented it to my crew to support their accusations. We don't have any actual idea on which colony they plan to attack; however, our quarian pilgrim we offered to drop off at the Migrant Fleet pieced together enough evidence to suggest their target is Elysium in the Petra Nebula."
"The entire Second Fleet is guarding Elysium right now; my ship is at the head of the fleet currently. Are you certain Elysium is the target?"
"I wouldn't be calling if I wasn't."
The admiral rubbed his chin. "I'll alert Arcturus about this and have my forces prepare for attack. I'm sending the SSV Berlin to your location of choice to pick up the humans for interrogation. And when this whole thing is settled, I'd be happy to offer you a chance to visit the colony, Wrex. I think I owe you that for saving the lives of my crew."
Wrex smiled. "I'll consider it, Admiral. I'm sending you the coordinates of the Migrant Fleet's current location. We'll meet the Berlin there and transfer the humans into your custody. Stay safe, Admiral."
"You too, Wrex. Wauters out."
"Wrex out." The hologram disappeared and the admiral walked to the intercom.
"Marshall, send a message to all shuttles to prepare for a likely invasion force of the planet. Send the same message to the other outposts across the traverse; including Arcturus and Athens outpost on Elysium. I'm going to call the Berlin and tell tell Admiral Parker to rendezvous with Wrex's ship."
"Aye, aye, sir."
"And Marshall, make sure to let the famous Houston squad that their shore leave might be cut early. We'll need every soldier ready if there is an invasion and their forces get by us."
"As you wish, sir."
Wauters smiled. He knew that if Elysium was the target, they wouldn't have any trouble. They had the Second fleet ready, and they had Maine; a rookie worthy of the N7 title, which is rare among the other recruits Wauters has ever met. He was sure this would be an easy victory for the Alliance.
One for the history books.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: There won't be any author's notes for the three chapters of this story, but the epilogue will have the return of my ending ramblings. Anyway, I have placed in a reference to Admiral Anderson's story Hero of Elysium in the prologue, and there will likely be others throughout the chapters. There is a cameo to the man himself as well. As such, I plan on adding in a lot of fighting into this story, but I'll attempt to add some character development for the four-five members of Houston squad, as well as the other named characters that are important. Enjoy the story. I plan on releasing the chapters as quickly as possible so I can continue with the Resolution story line.