A/N: I'm at it again, with the third installment of the Semper Fi series! Here you go folks!
I don't own Mass Effect
"Semper Fi...always faithful to honor, duty, and loyalty. Something that was hammered into my head since the first day of basic."
"Incase you don't know me, the names Eric Lachance. Once a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. Now...I'm apart of a whole new war."
"My squad was ambushed in Afghanistan, they were killed. But I was saved by something unexpected, and sent to another universe that I thought was just a game, a fantasy. On top of that, I discovered that I contain the last spirits of a long lost ancient civilization called the Protheans. And with them, their knowledge and ancient power."
"I helped Commander Shepard put an end to Sovereign. I fought Geth, Rogue Spectres, mercs, and everything else that the universe could throw at me. I am a soldier...I was trained to fight, and fight well."
"When Shepard was spaced two years ago. I fought alongside Liara T'Soni, my girlfriend and mate, to bring down the Shadow Broker. We Succeeded. And Liara took control as the new Shadow Broker."
"Now its around the time of Shepard's revival by Cerberus. And I've come up with a plan to lend a hand against the Collectors. With the crew of the best I could find, my most trusted of friends since the first Normandy, I'm going to help Shepard once again. But this time...I know what to avoid, what to look out for, and how to achieve it all."
"However...no one can anticipate everything. But then again, I was trained to adapt to anything. The only thing I can ask is this. Will the Collectors be able to adapt to me when I help destroy them all?"
X
The briefing room of the Turian cruiser Shadowed Light was silent, the people gathered inside looked at the display of the small colony world deciding on a course of action. They flew in low orbit over the planet in the off chance that they were to be discovered by another passing ship. But considering that they were outside Alliance space, the chances of finding another ship were slim.
"So...they struck again?" asked a large hispanic man in full armor. "Yeah. That makes the 23rd human colony hit in the last 2 years." said a Turian. "So whats de plan mon? We gonna check dis place out?" asked a jamacian man who was sharpening one of his large curved knives.
They, along with the others in the room. A Salarian, a Krogan, a Quarian, and a human medic all looked at the man whos back was to them. He gazed out the viewport in the briefing room in deep thought.
The man turned, and the visage of Eric Lachance greeted everyone in the room. "Yeah, we're checking the colony out. Chances are we will find something useful, or suvivors if we're really lucky." Everyone nodded as Eric looked them over again, "Rez, Sev, Micka. Your all with me on the ground team. Rico, Talon, Zen, Terren, your on standby just incase. Dismissed."
They all filed out of the room and headed to the armory. Eric stayed behind and looked at the holographic display of the planet again. Two long years had passed, and he knew things had gone just as he expected. But that didn't make it easier to find out that another colony had been captured by the Collectors.
He waved his hand and the image disappeared and was replaced by a projection of a black shrouded figure. "Are you alone?" asked the dark, grave voice of the Shadow Broker. "Yeah. Everyone went to prepare to go planet side." said Eric.
The image shifted and was replaced with that of a smiling Liara, "Good. How is everything my love?" Eric smiled back, but it turned sour, "We found the colony, but I have a feeling we won't find anything...much like the others we checked out over the last couple of months."
Liara expression turned sad, "We shouldn't give up hope. I may have a good amount of data on the Collectors from the old Shadow Broker. But we don't know how to combat the venom from the seeker swarms to avoid the stasis-paralysis. Any new development is better than nothing."
Eric let out a breath, "I know. I just wish there was something more we could do." "Knowing is half the battle Eric. You know this well from your basic training." said Liara. "Besides, the ones who have been taken will be avenged, in due time." The young Commander nodded in understanding before smiling at his mate. "How have you been?"
She smiled, running a hand over the slight bulge in her belly. "We are doing fine, we miss you." "I miss you both too. We're heading back to base after this, I can't wait to see you." said Eric. "May the Goddess be with you, my love." she said as the image faded out. Eric smiled to himself before leaving the briefing room and heading to the armory to suit up.
X
The ground team had assembled at the shuttle waiting for Eric to arrive. "You think we'll find anything?" asked Micka as she made a final check of the med pack attatched to her armor. "The Collectors never leave anything or anyone behind. So its slim that we'll find anything." said Sev.
"Don't mean we won't find anyt'ing useful." said Rez tying his dreadlocks back behind his head. They were brought to attention when Eric walked in fully armored. His usual recon hood and goggles in place. "You know the music, time to dance." he said as they piled into the shuttle.
'Your clear for shuttle launch boss. Good luck out there.' said Cat through the shuttle's radio. Eric got into the pilot's seat and flew the shuttle out of the cargo hold of the ship toward their destination.
"Anything you can tell us about the colony?" Eric asked into the comms. 'The place was built about two decades ago. Population suppose to be in the 2,500 range...or it use to be.' replied Cat. 'Mostly a mining colony, but it was self sustaining with all the foliage and game to hunt.'
The shuttle broke through the atmosphere and flew toward the small cluster of buidlings that made up the colony. Eric touched the craft down in what could have been considered the town square and opened the hatch for them to get out.
The place was a ghost town. The buildings were bare, and the only sounds that could have been heard was the wind and their feet on dirt below them. "Dis is creepy." said Rez looking around. "I'm getting deja'vu here Eric." said Sev, remembering the trap they fell into. The same trap that claimed their friend Lazura when the last Shadow Broker was still alive.
The squad slowly made their way through the colony, checking in and around buildings to see if there was anything or anyone around. Eric looked to the side and saw a teddy bear laying on the ground. Micka went over an picked it up, her expression was one of sorrow, "Not even the children were spared." she said sadly.
A loud noise made them draw their weapons quick and aim them at the building next to them. Slowly, Eric walked through the open door, handcannon leading the way. The small home had a cozy feeling for one so empty. Rez tredded over to the table were several plates were set out with food on them. "Foods cold. Collector's been gone for a while."
There was a light thud farther in the house. "Rez, Sev, guard the door. Micka, on me." Said Eric as they went to investigate the noise. "Cat, are you picking up anything other than us?" 'Nothing boss. Somethings blocking your signals.' replied the pilot. "Must be the mines." said Micka.
The duo walked down a small hallway to a door where the noise came from. Taking positions on either side of the door, Eric gave the signal and they stormed in with guns drawn. The room was fairly big, and it looked like the master bedroom.
In the corner behind the bed there was movement, Eric looked closer and saw that whoever it was wasn't a Collector. He gave Micka a look and lowered his gun, she followed his action. "Hello? Are you alright?" he asked.
Nothing happened for a moment, then a woman stood up from the side of the bed followed by two children, and two little boys. "Your...not one of them." the woman said holding her children. "We're here to help. Can you tell us what happened here?" asked Micka.
The woman sobed, the eldest of the two little boys spoke with tears in his eyes, "The monsters came...they took everyone...even daddy." Eric felt as though his heart were hit with a sledgehammer. A mother and two boys...with a father gone...it was all familiar to him. "I'm sorry for your loss. Can you describe the creatures that took everyone?" he asked gently.
"Big bugs." said the little boy. "Hes right, they looked like humanoid bugs. There were swarms of smaller bugs that just seemed to...freeze people in place." said the mother. "My husband...he...he hid us and went to try and help the others...but he never came back."
Eric mulled over what they were told for a moment. Then he activated his comm, "Cat, have the medbay preped. We have survivors." 'Are you serious? The bug bastards missed someone?' she asked shocked. "The mines must have disrupted their equipment too." replied Eric. 'Alright, I'll have medbay ready for when you get back.'
He looked at the small family, "You can't stay here. The Collectors never leave anyone behind, so its best if we take you somewhere safe." The woman looked horrified, "The Collectors? I thought they were a myth?" "Believe me, their real. Thats why we're going to get you guys out of here." said Eric.
The woman smiled through her tears, "Thank you. We just need a moment to gather a few things." "Take all the time you need." said Micka as she and Eric left them to their own devices for the moment.
X
The team regrouped outside the home and Eric informed the others about their finding. "We got sometin too." said Rez. Sev held up a reinforced glass cylinder, and inside was a living seeker. "Where the hell did you find that?" asked Eric surprised. "Under a crate over there." said Sev pointing to a small alley, "Must have been left behind by mistake."
"Their loss, our gain. We'll have Terren take a look at it and have it analyzed." said Eric. "Survivors and a living specimen to research. Guess we finally found some luck with these bastards." said Micka.
The woman from before and her children came out of their home with a few bags in their hands and approached them. "Our shuttle is in the center of town just over there. Are you okay with space travel?" asked Eric. "We'll manage. My boys always wanted to see the stars up close." said the woman with a sad smile. Rez looked at the boys and grinned, "Don't worry little mon's, we be takin good care of you and your momma."
The boys smiled back as they headed for the shuttle. As Eric flew the craft off the planet and away from the empty colony, he couldn't help but feel a little accomplishment. They finally found survivors, and now they had a way to understand their technology a little better. He looked back into the troop compartment and saw the small family laughing Rez as he told a few jokes. Micka and Sev laughing along.
It was a start. But it was still only just the beginning.
A/N: A powerful beginning. But what does fate hold for our favorite Marine? Review!