It took over an hour for the team to hike their way out of the mouth of the volcano onto its frozen slopes. They had to get to a flat area in order for the Gregarian to land and pick them up.
Each of them took turns carrying Xavern's body and equipment down the mountainside. It was a burden each had to deal with internally and the physical weight of their comrade helped them carry the weight on their conscience.
It wasn't until they were halfway down the slope that Commander Dolen made his way to Risha and said, "Do you get the feeling that this mission was too easy?"
It took a moment before Risha, who was carrying Xavern's body at the time, could get past the apparent dishonor of the statement and respond, "Yeah. Something about this smells worse than an Elcor in an argument."
"The entire outside of the base was extremely heavily guarded but the inside was essentially deserted," Dolen continued. "Something about this is wrong Captain."
This blunt statement set Risha fully on edge and she began running through the possibilities. Ultimately, she decided that either the information they had obtained from the central computers was really that important, or they were being set up.
Unfortunately, Risha could think of no way to determine which was the case without knowing what was on those terminals. She was forced to continue on, the data in hand, Xavern over her shoulder, and hope that that AI could find something useful.
Their objective was only a few hundred meters from the base of the mountain and Risha could see the large, flat surface from her vantage point. She handed Xavern off to Dolen who stood stoically as she transferred him.
They walked on until they reached the extraction point where they hunkered down. Risha fired up her long range radio, which was also encrypted, and contacted Karlen aboard the Gregarian, "Karlen, ETA?"
"Breaking atmo now; be there in five," came the reply. "Be ready to move when I get there, the geth will know I'm here."
"Roger that, ETA is five minutes," Risha responded. "Bring her in hot Lieutenant."
"Aye, aye Captain."
The now four man team scanned back and forth with their weapons, looking for any sign of the enemy. Though they found none they refused to be caught off guard.
Finally, they heard the approach of their makeshift-looking frigate. As they watched, the modified Kowloon class freighter, designed to be modular and currently configured to appear like any other smuggling ship due to the nature of their last mission, punched through the gaseous atmosphere toward their position.
With escape in sight, the team once again let their guard down. At that moment, with every head turned toward the approaching ship, a shot range out. Just one, but that was all that was needed to vent Staff Sergeant Dalarian's cranium into the cold, hostile atmosphere.
Her body dropped softly to the ground and it took a short moment for the rest of the team to register what had happened. Then each of the team turned and crouched, scanning for hostiles, looking for the shooter.
Risha grabbed Xavern's sniper rifle from his back and looked through the scope in all directions. She noticed movement in her peripheral vision with her sharp eyes and when she focused the scope on the site of it, she saw a lone figure standing on the slope of the volcano.
This figure was a turian in blue armor with a sniper rifle in his hands, pointed skyward. Risha attempted to hit what she assumed to be Lieutenant Garrus Vakarian, the second traitorous turian in recent memory, but it had been so long since she'd used a sniper rifle at that range that she no longer remembered the formulas for bullet drop and wind correction and all of her shots went wide and short.
The Gregarian landed behind them and Commander Dolen quickly forced Solern and the bodies of Dalarian and Xavern aboard. He then turned back to drag a resisting Risha through the airlock then sealed it to prevent further casualties.
"God dammit. God frakking dammit," Dolen heard Risha whisper to herself from a sitting position in the airlock. "We were home free Dolen. We were home free."
"I know Risha," he replied. "But that doesn't mean anything in combat. We didn't have enough time to plan the Op and we couldn't adapt quickly enough. Let's just hope that data has what we need." With that he helped her up and gently pushed her through the now open airlock door.
He then helped Solern carry the two bodies down to the large bank of stasis pods. Dalarian's still warm blood left a trail behind them, dripping softly from the hole in her helmet.
Risha made her way through the central hallway and the mess hall toward the AI core near the bridge. Before she could enter the core, Karlen came out of the bridge and said, "Well, did we get what we needed?"
Risha took a deep breath before responding, "I don't know, but we lost Xavern and Dalarian down there."
"What?" Karlen responded loudly. "How?"
It took several seconds before Risha could respond through the fog of emotions. Finally she said, "Carelessness."
Then she punched in the password and entered the AI core, leaving Karlen alone in the hallway.
She quickly transferred all of the data to the AI, and impatiently said, "Analyze quickly AI or I'll blow your blue box out the airlock."
"What information do you wish to prioritize?" The AI responded coolly, choosing not to respond to the threat.
"Anything that mentions the council's current whereabouts," Risha said in response. "Next would be anything that details Shepard's plans."
"Acknowledged. It will take approximately four hours to disseminate this data," the AI responded after it had analyzed the size of the information. What it didn't mention was the presence of thousands of geth runtimes in the mirrored drive. It had sequestered these runtimes but decided that alerting Risha of their presence could prove counterproductive, organic emotions being what they were.
It also uploaded a subroutine onto Risha's omni-tool when she transferred the files. The AI had no intention of betraying Risha's cause, it had worked with the Salarians of its own free will and found satisfaction in helping the STG protect the galaxy. No, this subroutine was meant only as a safeguard against Risha personally as she had proven herself to be extremely anti-synthetic and willing to commit violence against it for the slightest reason.
This subroutine could learn, adapt to, and control any system on the ship; from navigation to life support to power. Though the AI had no plans to betray Risha, it also had to prepare for the possibility of removing her as a threat to its safety.
Risha, ignorant of all of this, left the room. Deflated by the result of her mission and drained both physically and mentally, she was forced to rely on a synthetic to make the deaths of her teammates worthwhile, a thought that revolted her.
She went to her private quarters to sync up her omni-tool and run a system diagnostic on it and her armor and weapons. This action unknowingly uploaded the subroutine onto the ship's internal network and it spread out into every mechanical function.
It was more than a simple subroutine; it was a fully-functioning, if rudimentary, artificial intelligence. Though nowhere near as advanced as its creator, it had the same goals and could make its own decisions. This would prove more vital than the AI in the AI core realized when it had created it.
Risha and her now smaller team waited impatiently around the mess hall's table. Every few minutes one of them would get up and go into the AI core.
Finally, when Dolen punched in the password and entered the core he almost immediately came back out and said, "Risha, get in here."
Risha jumped up and rushed toward the core. Solern and Karlen followed her and the storage room turned AI core was packed to hear the conversation.
"Commander Shepard has taken the council to the Pylos Nebula. There is a base on the planet of Neidus in the Kriseroi system. The council is still alive," said the AI.
"Karlen, plot a course for the Pylos Nebula," Risha commanded. As Karlen left the room, she asked, "Anything in that data about the opposition?"
"Yes. There are reports that the base in question is new. It is mentioned that it currently operates on a skeleton crew," the AI replied. "Transmission transcripts place the next troop transport at three weeks from now."
"So right now the base is mostly deserted?" Dolen asked. To Risha he said, "We need take advantage of this."
"It could be a trap Dolen," Risha responded. "Lieutenant Vakarian could have shot us all dead back there but he didn't. Why?"
"At this point, we don't have many options. Verify this Intel with the Shadow Broker and if it checks out I say we need to act on it," Dolen responded.
Risha thought about her options. Again, she was left with very little time to prepare, no time to plan an Op, limited resources and personnel, and questionable Intel. If she couldn't adapt, the council was doomed.
"Alright, we go in. Our SOPs get tossed, we have no time to run this like we usually do. We go in heavy and rescue the council," Risha said. As an afterthought she said, "Our survival is a secondary objective."
That statement quieted the room. Dolen and Solern shared a glance of recognition then Solern said, "Understood Captain. We rescue the council no matter the cost."
The three operatives left the room and missed the almost sad declaration from the AI, "Good luck Captain."
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The three combat crew members had readied their weapons and armor during the trip through the relays to the Pylos Nebula.
Commander Dolen was carrying Dalarian's heavy hitting machine gun while Risha carried Dalarian's hand cannon.
This time, there would be no discreet infiltration. While they would continue to use the noise suppressors on their weapons, their cursory scans of the complex confirmed that it was poorly protected and the Shadow Broker had verified that this was Shepard under-construction base of operations.
"Base is in range Captain," Karlen said over the ship's intercom. "Drop in five."
"Understood," Risha said from her place at the airlock. Beside her stood Dolen with Dalarian's machine gun in his hands and Solern with her SMG held to her side.
"Captain, it's been an honor," Solern said softly.
"Likewise Solern," Risha said quietly. They could all hear the gunshots pinging off the hull as they approached through what appeared to be an atmosphere shield used to keep breathable air in. The team stepped into the airlock and it sealed behind them. The hiss as atmospheric pressure was equalized could be heard by the team through their sealed helmets.
Over the intercom Karlen said, "Comin' in hot! Prepare for touchdown!" With that the modified freighter hit the concrete.
As the airlock door hissed open Karlen said, "Go, go, go, go, go!"
The team rushed out, guns up, and their shields were forced to take a dozen shots while they scanned for, located, and eliminated the hostiles.
Everything fell quiet as the team advanced into what appeared to be the beginnings of an auditorium. There was no roof to speak of and scattered around the area were construction machinery, supply crates, and tools of various types.
They followed their nav marker to the most likely spot for the council to be held. As they turned through the unfinished hallways with light from the system's tiny sun filtering through gaps in the ceiling a small three-body squad of geth, unusual in shape in that their arms and shoulders were larger, came around the corner with laser construction equipment in their hands.
Risha's team quickly opened fire and destroyed the abnormal geth's center of mass, the muted sounds of their rifles drowned out with the metallic clang of the bodies hitting the floor.
The team stepped over the inert forms and moved forward. Soon, they reached their objective, a completed section of the complex with what looked like holding cells that had been recently, and forcefully, vacated.
The sheets on the bed lay half torn from their place, medical leads dangling from their equipment. Bloodstains on the beds immediately struck Risha, but she had no way to determine whether they were from the wounds the council had sustained at the top of the citadel tower or from fresh injuries.
As Risha listened intently for any sign of the council, she heard, from a corridor that led deeper into the complex, the muffled scream of anger from what she assumed was Councilor Anderson.
Using hand signals she directed her team to follow and then she took the lead. With her weapon at the ready, she followed the continued cries of Anderson.
As they followed them the sounds of the councilor grew louder. Added to the protests of Anderson were the distinctive clicks of geth feet on the hard floor as well as the characteristic stuttering that had haunted the dreams of many of the C-Sec guards that had survived Saren's attack.
The team came to a doorway where the sounds of the councilor were loudest. They stopped, Dolen and Solern taking up position on either side of it with Risha situated directly in front of it, and waited for the opportune moment.
But then, through the door they heard the angry screams turn fearful and in that split second, Risha instinctively acted.
She pushed through the door to a sight that chilled her. The geth were moving to put the councilors on dragon's teeth and behind them in the large open space was a containment field. This field was keeping dozens of husks at bay.
Risha and her team opened fire, startling the councilor on the ground, and killed all four of the geth.
Risha rushed up to the inert forms of the salarian, turian, and asari councilors and checked their vitals with her omni-tool. She breathed a sigh of relief when it registered their continued life signs and then she moved toward the only conscious councilor.
"Thank you," he said. "Who are you?"
"Captain Risha, Special Tactics and Reconnaissance," she responded. I need to get you out of here sir."
"Yes of course," Anderson replied, noting the way she said "sir" but deciding it was irrelevant. "My left leg is still mostly working; I can hop my way to evac. The other councilors will need to be carried. Shepard's marksmen didn't miss on them."
"Right. Dolen, set some charges around this place, as many as you can. Then grab the salarian and asari councilors and get ready to move," Risha said as she helped Anderson up. "Solern, grab councilor Valern."
With those orders her teammates sprung into action. Dolen planted charges on each of the four dragon's teeth as well as the containment field with the husks then moved to the still forms of the councilors. He handed Risha his machine gun and then hoisted the two councilors up onto his shoulders.
Solern clipped her SMG to her belt and then put Valern over her shoulder. After she'd settled his still body on her shoulder she said, "Ready to move Risha."
"Alright then, let's move," Risha said, Dalarian's weapon in her hands. They moved as quickly as they could through the hallways and encountered no resistance. Risha was determined not to be caught off guard and scanned constantly for hostiles both in front and behind them.
As the team passed into the most unfinished section of the building, with little in the way of roofing, Karlen spoke over their radio, "Captain, we've got an unknown heat signature in orbit."
"What do you mean unknown?" Risha asked, slowing slightly.
"I mean that one second everything was cold and then suddenly there was a heat spike in orbit," Karlen responded.
"Well keep any eye on it. Risha out," and with that Risha disconnected. She picked up the pace, anxious to get out of there quickly without drawing too much more attention.
What she didn't realize was that the moment she'd been engaged by the geth, every platform in the entire area knew of her presence. The neural network, something even the quarians underestimated, had shared the information with every link in the chain.
The team made their way back to the original LZ, where their ship would soon return to, and unknowingly walked straight into the trap laid for them.
As the team hunkered into position, the geth struck. Dozens of platforms popped up from their cover on the unfinished roofs of the surrounding buildings, from behind machinery, and from open doorways.
The team had only enough time to toss the councilors onto the ground before their shields were forced to absorb the impacts of the geth's rifle rounds.
They dived behind the cover of nearby crates and tried to return fire, but with very limited success.
In desperation, Risha called over her radio, "Karlen, where the frak are you?"
"I'm less than two minutes away. Captain, I think that heat signature is-"
"I don't give a damn about any heat signature right now Karlen," Risha snapped back. "We need evac now!"
"On my way," Karlen said.
Risha tried to look around at the situation between hails of gunfire. One of her squad had dragged the councilors behind cover and Anderson had apparently grabbed a pistol and was blind firing at the geth with his left hand.
"Status report!" she called over her radio.
The first response she heard was the preoccupied grunt of Dolen whom she could see getting back into cover. Then he said, "I'm alive."
Risha waited a few seconds for Solern's response but when it was not forthcoming she cried, "Solern, report in!"
The silence over the radio was accentuated with the phasic chatter of geth pulse rifles. Risha began to realize what that silence meant and she shared a look with Dolen.
She didn't know at the time that it would be last look she'd ever share with her faithful second in command. As she watched, his head exploded downward through his chin and his body was forced to the ground as if struck on the very top of the head with a heavy weight.
It took a few seconds before Risha got over her shock at watching the man she'd fought with in the military and across countless systems die right in front of her. When she finally did, she recognized the danger she was in sitting behind cover.
Whatever had killed Dolen had come from the air and though Risha had no idea how that was possible, she could recognize that she was now in the open.
Instinctively she dived out of cover into a hail of geth rifle fire, her shields tasked to capacity. She rolled behind another box and when she looked back at the position she'd held not five seconds prior she saw a crater had replaced the previously flat concrete.
This confirmed her suspicions and she knew then that she had to keep moving.
The Gregarian took this moment to land behind her and as Risha shifted position to avoid meeting the same fate as her second in command and most likely Solern the airlock door opened.
She quickly sprinted to where Anderson struggled to protect the rest of the council who had yet to regain consciousness, despite the firefight they were in the middle of.
She grabbed Councilor Valern and hoisted him onto her shoulder then moved toward the airlock where Karlen stood with an assault rifle, shooting back at the geth to keep their heads down as Risha dropped the councilor in.
She quickly ferried the rest of the councilors into the airlock and then she went to help Anderson aboard. His face was extremely pale, especially for a human, and was tinged with green. Nevertheless he struggled toward the airlock.
As Risha and Anderson approached the airlock, Risha looked up at Karlen only to see him take a shot to the chest. As his cover fire ceased, several more geth took the opportunity to finish the job, pumping a dozen more shots into the body of her last remaining comrade, punching through his fatigues as if they weren't even there.
Risha stopped, horrified and furious, and Anderson hopped his way into the airlock on his own. It wasn't until her suit's warning chime sounded, alerting her of low shields, that she was jarred back to reality. Too late she remembered the danger of staying still.
Though she tried to dive out of the way, her response was too late. As she landed to the right of the airlock, an enormous pain exploded in her right leg and when she looked down she saw a huge cavity where her thigh used to be. The bone hadn't so much shattered as disintegrated, leaving a large emptiness in its place. She tried to crawl to the airlock and distantly heard Anderson calling her name from the opening but she couldn't make it.
She thought somewhere outside the pain that she had failed.
But then she saw the airlock door close, Anderson's cries abruptly cut off, and the ship began to take off.
She didn't have the capacity to figure out how that was possible through the haze of pain and medi-gel. Distantly she heard a very loud concussion and it took a moment before Risha came to the conclusion that the Gregarian had been destroyed. She had never heard a sound like the one still reverberating within her skull but the closest she could come to describing it in her haze was an explosion.
As she began to drift into unconsciousness, she knew that her mission had ended disastrously. With the council dead, their bodies destroyed, and her team lost, Risha's final thought as the blood loss began to take her was of despair.