I raise my pistol and fire four shots into one Geth trooper, striking it three times in the chest and once in the head. I've been pinned down behind a blown up Mako for the last fifteen minutes as a group of around twelve flanked me and began to rain hellfire on my position. I managed to bring down five of them however, they've managed to keep me pinned down with suppressing fire.
I bring up my left hand and enshroud myself in a biotic barrier before twisting out of cover and firing off a maelstrom of shots into a Geth trooper that was stupid enough to advance past the firing column of its comrades. I then draw on the energy from my barrier and convert it into a lift that sends two of the Geth climbing into the air. An orb flares in my hands and I thrust my hand outwards, launching a warp at the suspended synthetics. Upon contact the orb destabilises the lift and causes a huge biotic explosion that rips the two tin cans into shreds, causing shrapnel to rain down ceremoniously across the battlefield.
Have that you murdering bastards! Too many civilians have died today for me to not fight my heart out.
Suddenly, one of the troopers brandishes a rocket launcher and fires; I don't have time to dive out of the way so I quickly create the strongest barrier I can manage. The rocket strikes my barrier, and my body is sent soaring through the air like a bird. My back hits the ground first, causing me to arch it upwards in pain. A grunt of agony escapes my lips and I stare up into the now blood red sky of Eden Prime. Smoke is billowing into the air from burning buildings and disturbing screams can be heard in the distance as well as gunfire although, the sounds are distorted and muffled. My breathing becomes erratic and I sit up slightly despite the pain, all of the Geth have raised their rifles to finish me. I try to reach for my pistol but find that it's fallen about three metres away from me.
So this is how it ends? On a planet that was previously labelled a paradise, killed by Geth? At least now that the jamming rig is down, the marines and the colonial militia can call for reinforcements and beat back the Geth offensive. I've had a short but eventful life at twenty-two years old, first there was my life in Oslo back on Earth, then there was joining the Alliance and specialising as a Vanguard after my basic training, then my deployment to that moon with the marines on the SSV Kokoda, following that Admiral Hackett recommended me for the Intelligence Service...now I'm here.
I accept my fate, staring into the flashlight heads of my enemies, daring them to pull the trigger. The thud of gunfire against my body never comes. Suddenly, two huge charges of electricity arc across the remaining group of five troopers and the familiar sounds of a sniper rifle echoes through the air twice, two of the Geth fall to the floor missing their flashlights. I sit up and combat roll to the right, grabbing my pistol and firing seven shots into the synthetic on my left, destroying it in a hail of microscopic metal shavings. The final two are lifted off the ground by a biotic field that wasn't of my doing, despite this I throw a warp into the field and cause another biotic explosion that vaporises the final two enemies.
I take a few seconds to recover as my ragged breathing takes over from the adrenaline I was just feeling. I then turn to see who had helped me and I see two helmeted figures in full combat armour however, I spot one thing that makes me smile broadly. On the armour one of the soldiers who from their body shape I can determine is female there is the N7 symbol proudly emblazoned on her chest. I begin walking up to them. I stop halfway and holster my pistol.
I roll my shoulders and work out some aches before speaking. "Thanks for the assist, looks like destroying the jamming rig managed to get the cavalry to arrive. Lieutenant Asher Svenson, Alliance Intelligence." I say, introducing myself to them.
The N7 is the one who speaks. "I'm Commander Alina Shepard and this is Staff Lieutenant Kaiden Alenko. We received an emergency communication from the 212th Marine Division. I need a status report now." She demands.
Fuck, Commander Shepard is here? The Lioness of Elysium, thank god command decided to send in the cavalry on this one.
I nod. "Yes ma'am. I was deployed by Admiral Hackett to do a security review of the garrison that was designated to protect the Prothean beacon that was unearthed. I determined that even a sizable pirate force could capture it if they found out, the reality was worse though. The enemy we're fighting, they're Geth, Commander." I say, trying to keep an even tone.
She doesn't speak for a few seconds, and then crosses her arms. "Do you know where the beacon has been taken Svenson?" She asks hopefully.
I shake my head. "No ma'am, all I know is that the Geth likely have it now." I state calmly, not betraying my nerves and sense of dread.
She sighs. "Understood, we're going ahead to try and take back the beacon. Stay safe, you're exhausted, head to the colonial bunkers." She offers.
I scoff. "With all due respect Commander, these synthetics slaughtered my unit and countless civilians, I want to come with you and take the fight to them. I can still fight." I snarl, I never normally lost my cool like this but losing so many civilians had angered me beyond my normal range.
She pauses for a few moments. "Okay Svenson, but you follow my orders to the letter, none of that lone wolf bullshit. I don't like you spooks, you play pretty much outside the law and get innocent people killed." She says, her voice carrying a razor edge sharper than any knife.
I'm shocked. "Yes Commander." I utter, barely avoiding the embarrassment of stumbling on my words.
She pulls an assault rifle off of her back. "Let's get moving then." She finishes with a cold tone in her voice.
I take out my pistol again and begin slowly advancing next to the two Alliance soldiers, the one who was introduced as Alenko looked tense and his body betrayed this completely with the way his hands are tightly gripping his pistol as we slowly walk forward, sweeping our weapons from left to right, and watching for ambushes. In complete contrast to this Shepard is almost completely loose, it looks like she is barely even holding her weapon at times and still she looks absolutely lethal.
I've fought Batarian Special Intervention Unit soldiers before and even they didn't strike me as much as this woman does right now. She has the deadly calm aura of a predator, waiting to strike.
We continue moving forward for a few minutes until we reach a tree line and out of nowhere six of the Geth's recon drones advance towards us rapidly. I flare my biotics and catch two of them in a throw that smashes them against the trees, causing them to explode viciously. Shepard follows immediately with her assault rifle, she fires two bursts from her assault rifle and she manages to nail two of the drones that were getting close to her.
Damn, I knew she was good, but she barely even aimed for them!
Alenko uses a pull to bring one of the drones towards him slowly; he takes advantage of this and nails it with repeated shots from his pistol. In this time, the Commander finishes off the last drone with a prolonged burst from her rifle.
Shepard turns to us. "Asher, you take point considering you know this colony better than us." She demands, leaving no room for agreement and I simply nod in compliance.
Alenko follows slightly behind me. "You seem to be a fine soldier Svenson, how come you switched to intelligence?" I know what he's saying is a compliment but the thought of why I actually did accept Hacketts offer causes something to trigger in me.
I take a deep breath, trying to keep my sudden anger in check. "Alenko, it was for personal reasons. I like to keep my personal life personal." I answer, with no calm in my voice anymore.
He sighs. "Okay, forget I asked." He replies meekly, seemingly crestfallen.
I nod, now feeling awful. I can't keep letting the mere thought of what happened on the Kokoda rule me like it is now.
I hear gunfire ahead, the others do too and we advance forward with more speed. We reach the top of a small hill and I can see a woman in pink and white armour running away from multiple recon drones. No way, it can't be.
She stumbles and falls, still managing to destroy the drones with several shots from her pistol whilst she's falling. Then, multiple Geth troopers advance on her position and I count seven before I begin running down the hill, Alenko follows me whist the Commander stays back, having pulled her sniper rifle from her back.
Alenko opens his Omni-Tool and a large shock of electricity hits two of the Geth, allowing the unknown marine to turn around from the rock she was taking cover behind and drop them with copious amounts of assault rifle fire. I slam my back into the rock standing next to her and manage to get a look at her face.
"Ashley, it's good to see you!" I shout and she turns to look at me.
Her expression shows shock. "Asher? I thought you'd died! I couldn't raise you on the radio!" She exclaims and I nod.
I come out of cover to see two Geth have their 'heads' ripped off following the booms of two sniper rifle shots. I use a lift on two of the remaining three Geth, which suspends them in the air. This only lasts for a moment as Alenko releases a primal roar and uses a powerful throw on the helpless synthetics which slams them into some rocks, utterly crushing them and allowing all four of us to open fire on the final Geth trooper, absolutely ripping it apart in a storm of pistol, assault rifle and sniper fire. When it collapses to the ground, it is little more than a heap of scrap.
The Commander comes down from her perch and approaches us, or more specifically Ashley.
She doesn't even holster her weapon before she starts speaking. "I need a status report, now." She demands and I'm still shocked by Shepard's abrupt and demanding nature, of course in interviews she seemed to be kind and caring, but here in the battlefield she seems to be a different person.
Ashley puts a hand to her head. "Yes ma'am, Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams of the 212th Marine Division, oh god. We were caught off guard when the Geth hit, we couldn't send for reinforcements as they'd set up a jamming rig at the spaceport ahead. Asher- I mean Lieutenant Svenson went alone to destroy it, and he succeeded.
After that I called for reinforcements but it came too late, the Geth ambushed the remainder of my unit with heavy infantry and light vehicles. I'm the only one left..." She explains, trailing off at the end.
Fuck...everyone gone? I promised Jarvis we'd get out alive. Shit! It's the same thing every time.
Shepard pauses before speaking again. "I see, we'll take it from here Williams." She says icily and I shake my head.
I bring up the nerve to speak. "Commander, with all due respect I think we should bring Williams with us. She's a good soldier and we could use another person with skills in multiple weapons. I'm restricted to a pistol for now and Alenko seems to never use anything else. No offence." I say and Alenko shakes his head while the Commander makes a humming sound.
She nods. "Okay. I see your point, but if she screws up it's your ass Svenson." She says bitterly and I nod in understanding.
Ashley interjects. "I won't let you or him down Commander." She announces with newfound confidence.
Shepard just scoffs. "See to it that you don't, let's move out to the dig site." She orders and we all follow suit.
Ashley and I take the front, with Alenko and the Commander brining up the rear. If I survive this, I intend to find out why there is such a huge difference between Shepard's demeanour now and what she seems to be normally. All soldiers change under fire, but this is an extreme difference.
We continued without any resistance for a long time, and it became evident that the Geth had moved the beacon from the dig site. The Commander thusly ordered us to advance to the spaceport; she's every bit as lethal as she's been made out to be. I haven't seen her miss with her sniper rifle yet.
We make it to the spaceport and I can see why we hadn't seen any resistance before now, the Geth had all congregated at this area and there was about thirty of them. Thankfully, they hadn't spotted us yet.
"We can't take them all out in a straight up fight without casualties. Do you have any ideas Commander?" Alenko asks and she scans the area frantically and gives a low, dangerous laugh.
She points towards some fuel tanks. "Alenko, if you overload those things they're gonna blow. Wait for my signal. Svenson, move in undetected and pounce on the Geth with your biotics in the confusion. Williams and I will cause chaos with our sniper rifles." She outlines and I can't lie, it's the best plan we can get in the circumstances.
"I'll get it done." I say.
"Affirmative Commander." Alenko confirms.
"Yes ma'am." Ashley whispers.
I move forward slowly, hugging an outcropping of rock that leads down the hill and keeps me out of sight of the enemy troopers. If they spot me and open fire on me, my barrier won't even last for two seconds before I'm turned into Swiss cheese. I come to a point next to one of the ramps in the spaceport that will allow to vault onto the platform that the Geth are on. I hear something like the sounds a damaged terminal would make. My heart is beating much faster and I activate my radio.
I breathe in as I activate the audio filters in my armour, meaning my voice won't carry outside of my helmet. "Commander, I'm in position. You can start the barbeque in your own time." I say, joking slightly.
I see Alenko moving. "Roger that, stand by." She says, not even acknowledging my attempt at humour.
A moment later all hell breaks loose, seven explosions rip through the space port, the explosion is deafening and causes me to stumble slightly and debris scatters everywhere, some of it even lands on me. I coat myself in a biotic barrier and vault over the top onto the platform, taking in the carnage as soon as I get up there. I quickly count the amount of remaining Geth that are stumbling to their feet. There are ten of them, two booms ring out and the number drops to eight, Shepard and Ashley drilled them both with their rifles, two more booms sound out as I dive into cover behind a crate and the number drops to six. I peer out behind the crate and see three troopers advancing on my position; however they are lifted up in the air using the power of biotics, it wasn't me doing it. Alenko storms into position next to me. I create a warp field in my hand and throw it at the suspending Geth, causing a detonation that tears them to shreds and leaves only four remaining. We both combine our pistol fire to bring another one down, cutting the number down to three.
I shout. "Throw!" Alenko gets the message and we both hit the remaining three troopers with a throw that slams them against the wreckage of the fuel tanks and destroys them completely.
Silence reigns over the battlefield and I realise that I'm panting heavily; it looks like the strain of overusing my biotics is finally starting to get to me. I open my Omni-Tool and press a button that activates the stimulant pack in my armour; this causes me to immediately begin feeling more energetic again. I look up to the hill and I see Shepard talking with some colonists at the top of the hill.
Noticing an opportunity, I turn to Alenko.
I cough, before turning off my audio filters. "Alenko, about before...the reason that I joined the Intelligence Service is very traumatic for me. It still haunts me, I'm sorry for snapping at you." I say sincerely and he nods at that.
He extends a hand. "Don't worry about it Svenson, I understand what that's like. No hard feelings...although the comment about me only using a pistol..." He remarks teasingly and we both chuckle.
I take the Lieutenants hand and shake it, solidifying what we'd just said. A moment later, Shepard comes down with a look of rage plastered on her face, helmet forgotten. If it wasn't for the fact she was pissed off, I'd say she was stunning. She has shoulder length red hair that perfectly frames her emerald green eyes. She storms up to me and points at the body of a dead Turian on the ground.
She grabs me by the arm. "I can see that the wound in Nihlus head was not done by a Geth plasma weapon and you were at the spaceport earlier. Did you fucking kill Nihlus?" She snarls, jabbing her finger into my chest.
The only thing I can think before anger overwhelms me is, 'what the fuck is going on?'
AN: Hey guys, I'm here bringing you another chapter. Thanks for all the follows and favourites as well as the reviews on the last chapter, it really got me driven to get this chapter out for you. I will also be answering some reviews and addressing issues brought up. If you enjoyed it please leave a review, follow and favourite, it really helps me get these out quicker. Thank you and PEACE.
Masterdude94: It's possible that Hackett didn't expect there to actually be a threat to the beacon as it was kept top secret and any outbound communications from Eden Prime were monitored before the Geth jammed them. Also, sending a fleet would cost a lot of money and arouse suspicion, with budget cuts and the possibility of provoking the Batarians if they mobilized a fleet, it wouldn't make sense to send that large of a force.
General-Joseph-Dickson: I plan for the effects of Eden Prime on Ashley to become clearer later on than to have it thrown out into the open immediately but believe me, it will play a huge role in shaping her character, more so than it did in canon.
Anon: Oh believe me, they will.
Fullbreaker: Thank you, much appreciated.