First of all I'd like to apologize for the delay between new updates. It's been a rather hectic couple of months, but within the next 2 weeks, I'll be uploading several parts.
Enjoy!
[REDACTED], [REDACTED], Terminus Systems / [REDACTED] 2376, 00:24 local time
1st Lieutenant John Shepard and his team of Marine Raiders sat in a H-66 Osprey Combat Support Dropship, callsign Firedrake-one, as it made its descend through the atmosphere towards the Landing Zone several kilometers from the target compound. The inside of the Osprey was lit by a dull red light, casting a shadow on each member of Evocati, every one of them equipped in unreflective black ablative armor used by Alliance special forces. John Shepard checked his equipment, he synchronized his North-Atlantic Defense Corporation M-56 Mattock JSOC Mod. Battle Rifle and NADC M-25 Hornet Sub-Machine gun with his omni-tool, having it conduct some last minute checks before a message appeared stating that both were fully functional. A split second later, all relevant information appeared on his helmet HUD. All around him the seven other members of Evocati were doing the same, performing last minute checks on their armor, weaponry and equipment. Across from his, sat Gunnery Sergeant Angelo Castello, nicknamed 'Titan' for his role as the team's weapon specialist and support gunner, carrying a M-142 Typhoon Squad Automatic Weapon. The both of them sat on the seats closest to the ramp. As the dropship approached the LZ, it lowered its ramp, letting the light of the planet's both moons brighten the interior. Hovering half a meter above the ground, Shepard and Castello were the first ones out, sweeping the tree-line with their weapons as they stopped several meter of the ramp. A biotic shield was created around them as the team's biotics exited the dropship. Staff Sergeant Levana 'Liv' Yogorov and Corporal Harry 'Albino' MacMahon bodies were covered in a blue glow as both Vanguards stood behind Shepard and Castello. The team's Navy Corpsman Chief Petty Officer Jack 'Doc' O'Dofflin and the team's engineer and demolition expert Sergeant Nicolo 'Odin' Tomorchio came of next, moving to the left and right of Shepard. The last two team members were the stealth experts, Staff Sergeant Mikhail 'Zan' Van Zan and Corporal Baja 'Hunter' Hudgens were equipped with tactical cloaks and sniper rifles or designated marksman rifles. The Osprey lifted off and Evocati moved towards the trees. The Osprey would fly below radar to an old abandoned airfield where 3 other Osprey's and 3 type A-79A Mantis Ground Attack Gunships were waiting for the call for extraction.
A scrambled voice came over a secure comm-line asking for the authentication codes, Shepard responded, and once the codes turned out correct, a team of 8 Salarian STG operatives carrying Poison Assault Rifles, Bane SMG's, Venom Shotguns and Toxin Sniper Rifles, uncloaked from their positions in the forest. The team leader approached Shepard.
"Lieutenant Shepard? I'm Lieutenant Kirrahe, 5th Infiltration Regiment, Milon Cell. This is your unit?" Kirrahe quickly looked past Shepard towards Evocati, but without giving Shepard time to respond, the fast talking Lieutenant started stating the facts about the compound several kilometers away. The STG team had been observing the compound for the past week and had collected the schedule of the guards, the location of the hostages and all relevant information. The largest group of guards had left hours before to the planets capital and wouldn't be back for days. Only 14 guards were left. One of the STG operatives projected a 3D holo of the compound on the ground. "The hostages are located in the attic of this building." Lt. Kirrahe pointed at the building in the center of holo. Guards patrol the perimeter, there are watchtowers here, here and here." The holo projected the route the guards walked, highlighted the watchtowers and showed many other things that Kirrahe mentioned while he laid out the plan of attack. Evocati would infiltrate the base and secure the captured scientists, while STG Milon Cell would raid the labs in which the captured scientists had been working before destroying everything they couldn't take with them. Both team would be extracted from the roof of an abandoned high-rise several hundred meters from the compound. Using several of the Batarian vehicles from around the compound, they would transport the hostages to the extraction point. The Rules of Engagement demanded total silence, unless discovered, then they were weapons free.
[REDACTED], [REDACTED], Terminus Systems / [REDACTED] 2376, 00:48 local time
Using several ground based vehicles both Evocati and Milon Cell had reached a ledge overlooking the compound in less than 20 minutes. The primary extraction point lay about 420 meters from the compound in the opposite direction.
Shepard turned to SSgt Van Zan and Cpl Hudgens. "Zan, Hudgens. The both of you set up shop over here and provide overwatch together with the Salarian snipers. Callsign: Overwatch-one and two." Both nodded and found places with the best possible line of sight. 2 Salarians did the same, deploying their Toxin Sniper Rifles. SSgt Van Zan flipped open the bipod on his heavy Vektan Weapon Systems M-101 Black Widow Anti-Material Rifle while Cpl Hudgens took up a position with her Jormangund Technology M-33 Valiant Designated Marksman Rifle. The Marine and STG overwatch teams would use the terrestrial vehicles they had used before to reach the high-rise.
In the meantime, both teams moved towards the compound. It took about 10 minutes for both teams to reach their assigned entry points on both sides of the compound. Once Evocati was in position and Sergeant Tomorchio had cut a hole in the fence, Shepard opened the comm-link.
["Milon-one, this is Evocati-one. In Place."] Kirrahe answered immediately.
["Evocati, Milon-One. Ready to breach in three, two, one. Breach!"] Both teams went to the holes in the fence and entered the compound. Moving from cover to cover, sticking to the shadows while avoiding the search lights and the patrols. They moved past containers, smaller buildings acting as storage rooms, Batarian-made vehicles, a building that served as barracks, pens in which the remains of what appeared to be 2 Salarians, were rotting, before they reached the doors of the building in which the hostages were held. They stacked up against the wall, everybody keeping an eye on their assigned region with their weapons.
"Albino, hack those doors." Corporal MacMahon, a man of Irish descend, red eyes, white hair and a white skin, was an expert hacker, a master in everything concerning electronic devices. The doors opened several seconds later.
["Entering target."] A single click over the comms made Shepard aware that the Salarians were doing the same at the labs.
Shepard had exchanged his Mattock for his suppressed M-25 Hornet for the close quarters combat, the others either activated the suppression mods on their weapons or equipped weapons that had suppression mods.
Shepard was the first one inside, followed by SSgt Yogorov. The others followed close behind, with GySgt Castello forming the rear. They made their way through the barely lit hallways, sweeping the hallways and checking their corners while working their way up. Pass a room filled with servers, computers and datapads, the team stopped. "Albino, retrieve as much intel as possible. Titan, cover him while he does so. We'll pass back this way with the hostages." MacMahon and Castello did as told, while the rest proceeded.
Evocati stacked up in the stairwell, ready to breach the door and secure the hostages, when a message came over the comms from the teams providing overwatch.
["Evocati-one, this is Overwatch-two. Salarian drones just picked up a column of 12 fast moving vehicles approaching the compound."] Quickly tapping a command in his omni-tool, a screen appeared in the top left corner of his HUD. 7 Drad'benak light all-terrain attack vehicles and 5 technicals drove at a high speed across a dirt road through the hills west of the compound.
["What's their ETA?"]
["25 minutes and closing. If you want a clean extract, you need to move."]
Before Shepard had the possibility to respond the sound of a shotgun going off echoed through the hallways. Opening all channels, ["Somebody better tell me what the fuck happened!"] Shepard was furious, it was supposed to be quick and clean. Get in, get the hostages, get out.
["Nomad,"] MacMahon used Shepard's callsign. ["A tech accompanied by 2 Bats entered the room, Titan took them out, but one of the Bats twitched while dying and pulled the trigger."]
'God damn, now we have to go loud.' Shepard thought. Turning to his team, Shepard spoke. "Looks like we're going in hot." Some of the team changed weapons, while John switched off the suppression mod for his Hornet SMG. At the exact same moment, both the Marine and STG Overwatch Team started targeting the guards on the watch towers and the ones on patrol. Quickly reducing the number to less than 10.
["The vehicles just picked up pace, looks like they're coming in hot!"] Zan shouted over the comms.
["Do whatever you have to do to slow them down!"] Then the door in front of Shepard opened. A Batarian wearing a simple light armored vest appeared, yet before he had the possibility to react, Shepard pulled him down while throwing a flashbang grenade into the attic. The Batarian fell down the stairs, landing badly as he came to a stop at the bottom of the stairwell, his head twisted into an unnatural angle. SSgt Yogorov shot several rounds into the Bat's head to be sure, nothing remained as the high velocity rounds coming out of the M-5 Phalanx shot the head to pieces. With the sound of the flashbang going off, Evocati stormed the attic.
Most of the Batarians hadn't been prepared for the flashbang and were still disoriented by the explosion. These were the ones who were quickly taken care of with well-placed shots and biotic attacks. Yet 4 hostiles had full combat armor on, which had neutralized most of the effects. They were already seeking cover behind pillars, turned over tables and hid into smaller rooms. The team took cover and spend the next couple of minutes exchanging fire. Yogorov used Pull and Singularity to try to remove them from their covers, succeeding with 2 allowing the other to pick them of. The remaining 2 were able to stay in their cover, thus O'Dofflin fired at their positions, keeping them pinned down, while Shepard and Tomorchio flanked their positions. Using his M-25 Hornet and Tomorchio using his M-66 Harrier, both surprised the 2 last hostiles by firing into their sides. Shepard fired controlled burst at their heads, while Odin's Harrier went full automatic and perforated their bodies with dozens of mass accelerated metal pellets. Brain matter and blood spattered on the tables and walls behind them. Quickly securing the rest of the room, Evocati proceeded to look for the hostages. Finding all locked away in a secure room. 7 Salarian, 2 Asari and 13 Human were all locked away in cages, the fear was visible in their eyes when the marines approached them. Some tried to crawl away and hid in the far corner of their cage, taking a fetal position and trying the shield themselves with their arms. Shepard removed his helmet and kneeled down at cage closest to him. Inside was a the youngest of the hostages, a girl whom he recognized from the files he had gone through dozens of times before deployment, yet her confinement made her look more like 40 than 20.
Using a soft and calm voice, John spoke to her: "Ms. Vinyard?" The woman stared at him for several seconds with empty eyes, before she recognized her own name and slowly nodded in response. John smiled at her before speaking. "We are with the Alliance, we are here to get you home. Your mother is going to be so happy that you'll return to her." Tears started to form in the girl's eyes as John carefully opened the cage. Then suddenly the girl shot forward and launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around him while sobbing uncontrollably.
The rest of Evocati helped the others out of their cages, providing them with a nutrition bars while CPO O'Dofflin scanned them all with his medical omni-tool and provided first aid where necessary. One of the Salarians was missing one of his cranial horns, an Asari had lost a couple of her fingers, and some of the humans had serious wounds. When all were ready to leave, Shepard spoke over the comms.
["Evocati-one to all. Packages are secure. Coming back for extract."]
Lieutenant Kirrahe answered that Milon Cell had also complete their objective. The STG unit had raided the labs, taking everything they could with them before destroying the labs. In the meantime, the H-66 Ospreys andA-79A Mantis Ground Attack Gunships had taken off and were on their way.
Evocati moved down the stairwells, like always, Shepard was on point. Taking out the last remaining Batarians with his Mattock, while the rest of the team helped the hostages. When they passed the server room, MacMahon and Castello rejoined them. When they had reached the Batarian vehicles, the STG team was already waiting for them, while the overwatch teams were making their way towards the extraction point. Milon Cell and Evocati helped the hostages into the vehicles, before leaving the compound behind them.
17 minutes later
The 3 A-79A Mantis Gunships were flying in a wedge formation in front of the 4 H-66 Osprey flying in diamond formation. The biggest part of Evocati was in the lead Osprey, the hostages had been divided along the two other ones, since they had medical personnel on board. Milon Cell was in the last one.
MacMahon sat next to Shepard, he was showing him a datapad, giving him a quick rundown of all the useful intel he had gathered from the servers.
"Well, AIA and MID will be happy with that kind of intel. If it gives us intel about upcoming raids, we can ambush them…." Before Shepard could continue Zan spoke.
"Shepard, just got word back from STG."
Shepard looked up at Zan, who was sitting across from him. "What is it?"
"Those approaching vehicles belong to SIU." The SIU, short for Special Intervention Unit, was an elite Batarian unit made up of the sons from the most important Batarian family. They were closely linked to numerous Terminus slaver and pirate gangs.
"Which unit are they from?"
"They are Captain Dhag'dova his unit, sir." Shepard slammed his fist into the datapad when he heard that name, shattering it. SIU Captain Brekis Dhag'dova was the Batarian liaison to slaver gangs responsible for the Massacre of Mindoir, despite the Batarian Hegemony stating that he and his unit had gone rogue. It had been Dhag'dova who escaped with more than 1500 girls and young women and it had been his idea to leave behind and detonate the thermobaric bomb which had destroyed the majority of Nouveau Genève and had killed over a 100.000 people.
Shepard turned around and looked at Van Zan. "Are you 100% positive?"
Van Zan nodded, all members of Evocati knew the meaning of Mindoir to Shepard, even if he never talked about his past.
Knowing this new information, Shepard contacted the MID armed cargo ship in orbit, talking directly to the officer in charge. ["Evocati-one to Enclave. We just came across a high target of opportunity."]
The answer came immediately. ["Enclave to Evocati-one. Copy that. We received the intel as well."]
["Requesting permission to engage."] 'C'mon let me finally get this bastard. I've waited far to long for this.' For half a minute Military Intelligence Directorate Colonel Autumn remained quiet, contemplating if the target was worth risking the mission. ["Don't leave me hanging here, Enclave."]
[Get the packages out of there and you have my go-ahead.]
["Copy that. Proceeding for exfil."]
Shepard rose from his seat and spoke with the pilot. 2 minutes later, 2 Mantis' and Evocati's Osprey broke formation and flew on an interception course with the SUI vehicles.
Milon Cell Osprey on route to MID Cargo Ship
Lieutenant Kirrahe and Milon Cell watched on the Osprey's vidscreen as the 2 Mantis Gunships engaged the SUI vehicles. The gunships launched dozens of air-to-ground precision-kill missiles, taking out the first and last vehicles, thus trapping the other vehicles in between. Before turning around and doing several strafing runs with their belly-mounted M350 mass-accelerator autocannons, destroying more than half the vehicles. The Osprey remained hovering 35 meters above and behind the convoy, one of its door-guns sending hundreds of incendiary rounds on any moving target, shredding through metal and meat.
The gunships moved to both ends of the convoy, while Evocati dropped out of the Osprey before engaging the few remaining Batarians. The heavy smoke of the burning vehicles didn't allow Kirrahe to see the fight that took place. After 10 minutes Evocati returned, Shepard dragging Dhag'dova at the handcuffs over the ground, the SUI Captain's legs had shattered when the vehicles he was in, had flipped over several time. The Osprey landed, Evocati entered before taking off. In the meantime, the gunships unleashed the remainder of their rockets on the convoy, completely destroying it.
Alliance News Network, BREAKING NEWS: Kidnapped scientists rescued from slavers
We interrupt our usual broadcasting two very important news segments.
Several sources in the Alliance government have confirmed that the 20 scientists kidnapped by slavers 7 months ago have been rescued from an undisclosed location in the Terminus System. Among the scientists were 7 Salarians, 2 Asaris and 13 Humans, each one has been returned to their respective governments. Among the 13 human scientists is Rachel Vinyard, daughter of Senator Samantha Vinyard, 6 times senator for the planet of Altaïr and member of the Vinyard political family.
While the Alliance or Citadel Council refuse to divulge information, sources in both government, wishing to remain anonymous, have told us that it was a joint rescue operation between Alliance Marine Raiders and Salarian STG acting on intelligence provided by the Asari Spectre Tela Vasir.
In the meantime, those same sources confirmed to us that in the same rescue, Alliance forces managed to capture rogue Batarian SU Captain Brekis Dhag'dova. According to the Batarian Hegemony, Captain Dhag'dova and his unit of elite Batarian soldiers went rogue in 2370 when they led the Raid on Mindoir together with dozens of groups operating out of the Terminus System. While Alliance forces had succeeded in eliminating most hostile forces, Captain Dhag'dova managed to escape in several ships, taking with him more than 1500 girls and young women with him as slaves. For unknown reasons, Dhag'dova then detonated a thermobaric bomb in the city of Nouveau Genève, killing over 100.00 people, before disappearing. Dhag'dova will be trialed in an Alliance Court for War Crimes.
