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After-Action Report: Re. Hades Gamma, Antaeus Trebin
Attn. Admiral Hackett
Lieutenant Commander Revan Shepard (Spectre)
1/23/2183, 2000 hours (Earth Standard Time/Greenwich Mean)
Arrived at the system while en-route to Artemis Tau Cluster to investigate reports of an ExoGeni research team that went dark one standard week ago. Upon arrival in the system, Flight Lieutenant Jeff Moreau detected weak transmissions emanating from the fourth planet in the system. (Note: Scans of the system also uncovered a deposit of Helium-3 on Edmos, a deposit of uranium on Vernal, and writings belonging to Asari Matriarch Dilinaga within wreckage orbiting the third planet of the system. Writings logged into artifact/salvage bay, Helium-3 and Uranium deposit coordinates in attachment to report). I selected Combat Specialist Urdnot Wrex and Technical Specialist Tali'Zorah nar Rayya for the ground team. Insertion onto planet via Mako drop was accomplished at 0800 hours. Primary objective was investigation of ExoGeni research team, with secondary objectives of investigating various anomalies recorded with Normandy's scanners.
The first anomaly turned out to be a crashed satellite that was being looted by scavengers. Upon detection of our presence, the scavengers opened fire on the Mako, prompting me to return fire with the Mako's main cannon. With the defeat of the scavengers, the ground team disembarked to investigate identity of scavengers and to identify the contents of the satellite. ID found on the scavengers identified them as Eclipse mercenaries under the command of one Sgt. Marcus Reynolds, a human wanted for several counts of murder and assault in Alliance Space.
Investigation of the second anomaly revealed the presence of a transmitter that was disrupting the guidance systems of the orbital GPS satellites, and was responsible for the destruction of at least five satellites. Technical Specialist Tali'Zorah disabled the transmitter. (Coordinates of transmitter attached). Suspect Eclipse connection due to nearby scavenger presence – recommend investigation of Eclipse involvement in black-market trade of GPS data and salvaged satellite parts.
ExoGeni research team's base camp was deserted, although records found inside one of the pre-fabs indicated that the team had uncovered some kind of alien artifact in some nearby underground ruins. Upon entering the ruins, we discovered that the research team had been transformed into the same type of "husk" creatures as were documented in the geth attack on Eden Prime. The "husks" proved hostile, and we were forced to terminate the attackers. An exploration of the ruins revealed "Dragon's Teeth" within the ruins, identical in appearance to the animation devices found on Eden Prime. We did not stay, but planted demolition charges on the "Dragon's Teeth" and destroyed them. I do not want to risk any further investigative teams suffering the same fate as the researchers. Furthermore, using the Mako's main gun we collapsed the main entrance to the ruins.
Notes on "husks": While retaining a humanoid appearance, most identifying factors were gone. While it is impossible to determine which husk was which researcher, the number of husks encountered corresponds with the number of researchers that ExoGeni claimed were at the research site. I would have taken samples of the husks for further research, but corpses disintegrated within minutes of death. While lacking any kind of ranged attack, their melee attacks are extremely strong, as Combat Specialist Urdnot Wrex discovered. Fortunately, he was able to regenerate the injuries to his face with minimal scarring before returning to the Normandy. The husks also possessed minor kinetic barriers, and emitted a high-frequency electrical pulse that could disable shields and disrupt even hardened electronics. Fortunately, husks are vulnerable to damage from Overload and Sabotage tech attacks. Armor-Piercing and Phasic ammunition mods work especially well on killing husks. Recommend that any future encounters with husks utilize shotguns (for knock-down power), armor-piercing or phasic ammunition, electrical-based tech attacks, and biotic attacks that focus on keeping husks out of grabbing range – Throw, Lift, and Singularity work especially well in this regard.
Upon leaving the research camp, we traveled over to the last recorded anomaly. Said anomaly turned out to be a crashed escape pod bearing the insignia of an old Turian colony. Driving away from the crash site, we inadvertently discovered a thresher maw nest that was right next to the crashed escape pod. Suspect that any survivors were eaten by the thresher maw. We managed to avoid the initial attack, and killed the thresher maw with an anti-tank round to the mouth. Combat Specialist Urdnot Wrex was instrumental in defeating the thresher maw, alerting us to the existence of a weak spot on the mouth and firing the shot that brought it down. For his efforts, Combat Specialist Urdnot Wrex received a 20% bonus in his mission pay. (Note: Thresher maws have a highly volatile ranged acid attack. Recommend using booster jets on Mako to avoid any contact with the acid, as it ignores kinetic barriers and can eat through the armor on a Mako. Addendum: SSV Normandy's Mako requires replacement of ablative armor on left side.) Upon defeating the thresher maw, we requested pick-up from the Normandy. Embarked on SSV Normandy at 1200 hours.
Summary: Scavenger team eliminated, satellite disruptor deactivated, research team confirmed dead, "dragon's teeth" destroyed, Turian colony sigil discovered, thresher maw killed. Recommend that a moratorium be placed on visiting the planet due to presence of thresher maws and an unknown number of "dragon's teeth" until both threats can be confirmed eliminated.
Recorded presence of plutonium deposit on the planet, but do not recommend mining of resource until thresher maw and "dragon's teeth" presence is confirmed removed.
***TOP SECRET***
Admiral Hackett: You're positive that the science team's readings were accurate?
Commander Shepard: Absolutely, sir. Those "dragon's teeth" are at least 48,000 years old, if not more so. There's no way that they were created by the geth.
Admiral Hackett: This is a mystery, Commander. I don't like mysteries. Nor do I like the idea of some ancient tech that's older than the Council being able to brainwash a team of scientists into a band of mindless techno-zombies. We'll keep a lid on this for now, but if you find any more data on these "dragon's teeth", let us know. If there's something worse than the geth out there… I don't need to spell out how bad this could be.
Commander Shepard: I know there's something worse out there, sir. The Reapers.
Admiral Hackett: That remains to be seen, Commander. If the Reapers are real, then find some physical proof – irrefutable evidence that they are the threat that you believe them to be. Until then, you'll just keep getting stonewalled by the Council and ignored by Alliance Command.
Commander Shepard: I – yes, sir. I'll keep you informed. Shepard out.
