Thanks for the patience with me. Its certainly been longer than I wanted since the last post.
Thanks to those who have left a review. Be sure to keep leaving them, I love hearing what you guys think. I'm curious to know what you think about my approach and whether I'm fairly close in accurately depicting the various characters. Let me here it.
A/N: Disclaimer: I don't own anything even remotely related to the Mass Effect Universe. I'm just here playing in their sandbox.
With control finally attained EDI was finally free to join the rest of the troops in repelling the enemy forces still surging towards their last bastion of safety, joining Garrus in concentrating on the Atlas' still significant shielding by lending her own disrupter rounds and tech attacks to his efforts. The rest of the group just concentrated on not being overrun by the Cerberus troopers and occasional rush of Husks. With the unused security mechs slowly but inexorably on their way it was just a matter of time until the Commander's group had backup.
Not that Shepard wanted to wait that long. Who could predict what other surprises Cerberus and the Reapers could come up with in that time as well? As a soldier he'd never been one to sit back on defense. Never one to be reactionary. No, if possible they were going on the attack. They were going to dictate the battle.
The mechs were nothing but a backup plan.
Their first good news came when the energy systems of the giant mech finally overloaded and vented from the constant electrical attacks, the shield emitter smoking from the barrage as the energy crackled and finally dissipated. That just left its armor. A whole, whole lot or armor.
At least armor they could deal with.
Shepard ducked back behind the supply crate he'd been using for cover. "Garrus!" he called over the team's comm channel. "You're up. Pilot's all yours. Make it quick." The Commander glanced to the side and up into the intense expression of the former felon kneeling next to him, her wide brown eyes meeting his. "Jack, you sure you're up for this? That's quite a jump."
Her usual expressive sneer split her face. "Fucking relax already, boy scout. For the last time, piece of cake. Besides, this'll be fun." Her expression morphed into that thin predatory grin of hers. "I've never done something this batshit crazy before."
Before he could respond the familiar bark of a Mantis split the air from inside the next door computer room. Glancing again over the crate he watched as the entire Atlas seem to twitch and droop. As often as he saw it displayed Garrus' prowess and precision never ceased to amaze him.
"Pilot's down," came the familiar twang of the Turian's voice.
"You're sure."
"As far as I know there's not a species in the galaxy that can keep going when they're missing a head," he said. "Well, maybe Vorcha, but I can't say I've ever seen them drive a mech..."
"Garrus," Shepard interrupted him.
"Right, clean shot, right between the eyes. He's done." He paused then, the only sound besides the constant snap and roars of gunfire being the hiss of an ejecting heat sink over the comms. "I may have made a bit of a mess though, sorry Jack."
To Shepard's right she just grinned darkly and shrugged.
"Covering fire," the Commander barked. "Jack's on the move. I want grenades twenty yards out. Centurions, Marauders, and Engineers are the priority, but keep their heads down."
Further along their impromptu firing line two of the Krogan roared and rose, unleashing streams of fire on the scrambling enemies as EDI detonated on incendiary charge amidst a group of three Cannibals, setting them alight and scrambling in panic. Jack and Shepard straightened up, the Commander launching a biotic attack before raising and sighting down his rifle. A Centurion, his shields already depleted, crumpled to the ground with his first burst.
"Jack, go!"
The crackle and woosh of the air rushing to fill the vacuum left by her sudden disappearance was followed a fraction of a second later by a crimson streaked blur as she charged across the room, slamming into the Atlas' cockpit and sending a cascade of glittering safety glass exploding outward from her impact. Quickly she went to work, reaching in to unstrap and yank the limp soldier inside out of the giant suit.
It didn't take long for the enemy to catch on with what was happening though. Shielded by much of the mech's bulk and supported by her allies firing down on them she wasn't an easy target, but they were damn well going to give it their best shot. Impacts begin smacking into the heavy steel and armor around her as she worked, gouging out portions of the material as the slugs embedded themselves.
"How bout some help here," she managed through gritted teeth. "I didn't sign up to get fucking shot in the back."
"Grenades out," Shepard said, tossing his final fragmentation device amongst a group of Reaper troops trying to circle around the Atlas for a better shot at the biotic. Grenades from Garrus, and the Krogan joined his and shredded them and a similar group on the mech's opposite flank, leaving just the indirect, inaccurate fire from the remaining forces still flooding into the room.
With a grunt and a final tug, the former pilot fell out of the machine, the small, tattooed woman scrambling inside and spinning in place to grab the controls. The giant beast took a step forward and began to turn.
"Oh, it's so my turn you little pricks." The autocannon began spinning up. "Eat...this!"
The first Cerberus trooper she hit was nearly cut in half, the heavy, armor piercing slugs ripping through him and into his comrades. Having seen that everyone else was quickly scrambling to get to cover. In the large open hall though the remaining debris and obstacles were mostly, well...destructible.
A missile engulfed one flipped work desk, sending a group of enemies flying. The heavy gun cycled up again quickly afterward, stitching a line across the floor and through several pieces of furniture before Jack unleashed another missile into a Brute that had appeared in the far doorway. The creature exploded, sending sharpened pieces of shrapnel spinning into the crowded hall and chopping down even more of the reinforcements.
The Commander put two bursts from his Vindicator into the chest of a straggler and lowered the weapon. "Wrex," he called. "Fire support. Get your boys down there into a firing line. Biotics, herd them. Keep them in front of Jack and the Krogan. All units, on the offensive." He launched his own shockwave down the closest perimeter wall, sending a group of cannibals diving out of the way and into Jack's fire where they were cut down.
Nevermind the stairs, the Krogan hurled themselves over the railing and dropped down to the lower level, marching forward under sporadic fire to join up with the Atlas and press on the attack. By now even the normally fearless indoctrinated units were falling back under the pressure.
With things seemingly coming under control and the enemy falling back and being herded into a slaughter by the entry hall Shepard was finally able to get his first good look at the second access point that the Atlas itself had smashed in the wall earlier. Thankfully only the mech and a small complement of Cerberus forces had made use of it as it now stood empty, revealing a side corridor that headed back the opposite direction from the room's other entrance.
"What're you thinking, Shepard?" Garrus asked as he came up to his side. He folded his Mantis and attached it to one of his armor's hard points in exchange for the Mattock. "I recognize that look. You're scheming."
The Commander glanced at him and then peered back into the hole. "Those security mechs will be here soon and will hit Cerberus and the Reapers from behind. That could prove to be a pretty convenient diversion for us. This," he said, pointing to the gaping, crumbling hole in the wall, "might be our best way out of here. We wouldn't have to go through them. Even with their attention divided that would be a pain."
"I get it," the Turian said, his mandibles flexing in thought. "Sneak attack. Keep the enemy thinking we're here fighting them, but get away to surprise them somewhere else like...oh, say, the Presidium Tower. Not a very Turian strategy, but I like it. It's devious."
A roaring Krogan made both of them glance over towards the skirmish line as the giant reptiles broke through the last of the hastily constructed defenses with Jack and her raging war machine following close behind. The small group of biotics, now led by Samara, were bringing up the rear, moving from cover to cover to avoid any lucky shots, but hammering the retreating enemy in their own way with lethal effect.
"You know," Garrus said in the relative silence, "They could really use those security droids on the Wards. We could still probably sneak away even without them and redirect at least some of them that way. I mean, do we really need them now that we have Jack and her little toy?" He looked back to watch the rear of the Atlas stoop to fit into the entry to the connecting space. "I just don't like the idea of leaving those people out there to die. Not if there's some way we can help. Hell, I probably know quite a few of them from my days in C-Sec. Believe me when I say they're not equipped to handle this." He kicked the corpse of a Cannibal at his feet. "No matter what you gave Citadel Security to try and prepare them."
It wasn't a role he relished, but it was one he knew was vitally necessary. The Commander made the hard decisions. They all knew and accepted that. Here...now...and probably ever since the discovery of Sovereign's true purpose he'd been doing it whether it was asked of him or not. As unwelcome and distasteful as it may be somebody had to. Somebody had to suffer the sleepless nights.
"I know, Garrus," he finally whispered. Shepard patted his friend's armored shoulder a couple times and walked past him towards the front of the room. "I don't like it either, but they buy us time and draw off the enemy. Tactically we need them. As long as they keep the fight here it won't be at the Tower." He looked at the ground and sighed sadly. "The Reapers are slaughtering us from one end of the galaxy to the other. God knows how many millions have already fallen, much less how many more will die. Garrus," he turned around and met the Turian's eyes, pouring all his resolve into his look. "We either end it here or it doesn't matter what we try to do to help those people. That's just the way it is. There is nothing else until this is done. Can you live with that?"
Garrus nodded without hesitation, but didn't meet the Commander's eyes. "You know I'm with you, Shepard. All the way to the end. Whatever that means. Let's just make it count and wipe every last one of the bastards out."
It was Shepard's turn to nod. "When the mechs arrive and begin their attack pull back Wrex and his guys. They won't be happy about it, but he'll understand. We'll have to leave the Atlas behind too. As much as I want those guns with us its size and lack of maneuverability will be a liability." He sighed and stretched his neck. "Until then what say we see if we can't find an armory to stock back up. I'll have EDI get us a map of the complex or something. Grenades, heavy weapons, upgrades, weapon mods...anything we can find. I want us as ready as we can be for the final push."
"Alright, I'm done. Door's opening," Tali said, scooting back away in the darkness from the green status panel as the ancient gears of the rusted pressure door creaked into action.
Above, the muffled thumps of explosions and impacts could be heard occasionally rattling loose some dust or pieces of the crumbling ceiling. Good to his word Admiral Hackett had managed to sneak a pair of New Delhi class cruisers into low orbit to shell the battlefield. A squadron of Trident fighters was even provided for close air support and air superiority missions to aid the fight. The diversionary force gearing up to enter the fray above may not have been as large or well trained as Hammer's first strike force had been, but they at least had some support from above carving them a path.
In the end though, it was up to the strike team, dubbed Arrow, that Tali was moving through the old sewers with. The diversionary units would only dash halfway to the Citadel beam before they pretended to be halted by the enemy and settled into a defensive retreat. It was hoped that by utilizing the vacuum left behind by Reaper forces pursuing Hammer, Arrow would be able to reach their objective.
Colonel Lakine led the way, his Phaeston held up at the ready as the massive door groaned and parted to either side. One by one the individual squads moved up, maintaining a safe tactical separation as they swept forward through London's old sewer system.
Having grown up in the Migrant Fleet Tali hadn't been sure what to expect down here. Things like this were still so new to her. Pipes large enough to fit a group the size of the one she was currently a part of were all but inconceivable on even a vessel the size of a Quarian live ship. It was just...unnecessary, not to mention that it would have been a colossal waste of space. Besides, her people recycled most of their bodily fluids and waste within their own survival suits. Other races considered the practice disgusting. Quarians considered it a way of life.
What she did find disgusting though was the thigh deep water they were having to trudge through. Thankfully she could turn her olfactory sensors off and try to avoid thinking about what else might be in the liquid and sludge. She'd never been happier for her helmet or felt more sorry for Ashley, Liara, and the rest of the team that had to suffer through it.
Okay, perhaps she was slightly less sorry for Miranda.
The dark, branching system of tunnels also turned out to be just as large a maze as they'd thought they could be, slowing their progress dramatically. Cave ins or damage had already made it necessary to detour twice, taking longer more circuitous routes to reach their eventual destination.
But at least they hadn't run into any Reaper forces yet. Already nightmarish enough to fight as it was in broad daylight, they'd be downright terrifying down here. Like something straight out of a nightmare.
"Another pressure door ahead," the Colonel called from up ahead of them somewhere in the darkness. "Quarian, you're up. Second and third squads assault positions. Normandy team in reserve."
Tali rolled her eyes at the gruff Turian's seeming inability to actually use her name but proceeded forward dutifully to hack yet another door. As she passed Ashley she noticed the woman still fidgeting in the dark with her assault rifle. The slow progress and their squad's delegation as nothing more than a reserve unit were chafing the Spectre. Her unofficial, but still fairly well known relationship status with Shepard certainly couldn't be helping things for her either.
Once upon a time Tali probably would have begrudged what Williams and Shepard had. Back when they'd been scouring the galaxy for Saren she'd been infatuated with him, his inner fire and charisma drawing her to him. Of course she also hadn't been the only one either.
Two years, a lot of mileage, and several eye opening missions for the fleet opened her eyes to a lot and forced her to grow up in quite a few ways. She'd been more than a little juvenile on the first Normandy and had come to recognize it as such, including her puppy love for their commanding officer. The Commander would be her lifelong friend, of that she was sure. Someone she'd defend to her death and value as long as time permitted. She loved him but had come to terms long ago with the fact that his heart belonged to another.
That it wasn't the former Cerberus ice queen made things even easier to digest too. Tali actually liked Ashley despite the woman's initial mistrust of her species.
For the sixth time her intrusion software packets made quick work of the primitive encryption protocols for the door's locking mechanism. Within thirty seconds of firing up her omni tool the enormous steel barriers were parting and she again stepped back to allow the assault squads room to clear the next section of sewer.
The unexpected whine of the mechanism caused the Brute crouched on the other side to turn curiously, staring at the assembled team in front of it as the door opened further. For a fraction of a second the allied forces stared back. Then all hell broke loose.
"Sentry!" screamed Lakine, opening up with his Phaeston on full automatic. At the current range he wasn't going to miss. The Reaper construct reared back, rising to its full height and bellowing as the rest of the commandos scrambled to respond. The Brutes first swipe was slow and badly aimed, the surprise of the sudden intrusion still keeping it off balance. The Colonel managed to sidestep it, retreating back with the other squads as they leapfrogged backward through the sludge. Tali hugged the wall and let the creature pass as it pursued them, trying to come up with any kind of a plan.
In these close quarters with very little cover or room to maneuver the heavily armored tank was going to be all but impossible to take down conventionally. It was also going to decimate the unit with its close proximity. Ordinarily if you let a Brute get this close to you you were in real trouble. Down here, with nowhere to run, it was time to panic. So Tali did the only thing she could think of. She deployed Chiktikka.
Before it could fully manifest though she watched in horror as the Brute's clawed arm lashed out again as it again charged the retreating troopers, finally catching the human engineer attached to Lakine's squad and crushing him brutally into the wall of the tunnel, cracking and splintering the aged permacrete. Tali didn't need to be a medic to know the way he flopped limply back to the ground meant he was likely already dead.
Her drone went to work almost immediately though, floating in front of its face before delivering a thousand volts directly into the indoctrinated monster's nervous system. That grabbed its attention quickly enough despite the constant weapon's fire peppering it. Time to open up some space for the others to operate. Tali spun the shimmering construct around and accelerated it away, back down the tunnel towards her and the pressure doors she'd opened only seconds before. Maybe, just maybe, she could get it back through and close the doors after it.
The Brute roared again in anger and followed, galloping after it and nearly trampling one of the two Krogan in the team in its rampage after the little floating orb. As both closed on her, three things struck Tali almost simultaneously. First, that she really had no plan past sending Chiktikka vas Paus into the fray and luring the creature away from the others. Second, that the Brute was actually fast enough to catch the small drone, sending it popping and fizzling before it winked out in its grasp. And finally, that she was still standing nearby with her omni tool illuminated as the monster turned to glare at her.
"Quarian, move!" roared the Colonel from down the pipe.
At the same time a bright biotic corona swirled into being around Liara as she began pushing back through the dirty water toward her, screaming, "Tali," in horror.
She dumbly tried to redeploy her diversion again only to have her omni tool bleat a warning that there wasn't enough kinetic energy built back up yet for another go. In one smooth motion she drew her Katana instead despite the knowledge that it would have little real effect on the behemoth.
Rearing back the Brute charged her, its giant clawed right arm pulled back to strike. It found nothing in its way though, slamming headlong into the crumbling permacrete, leaving a foot deep crater and sending a small explosion of dirty water, dust, and debris back across the pipe before swinging back around to find the diminutive Quarian's head poking up out of the brownish sludge. It growled low as she rose again.
"Missed me, you stupid bosh'tet," she said, smirking from beneath her dripping mask. The creature howled and took a giant step towards her. Then another. Tali's smile only grew, her omni tool flashing into existence as she overloaded the control panel on the far side of the tunnel behind the Brute, sending the massive pressure doors slamming closed on it as the emergency security protocols automatically reacted.
Far from being dead, the Reaper's servant struggled, twisting against the incredible weight and force exerted by the doors as it bellowed to the point that it was actually prying and ripping off armor plates and giant pieces of flesh in its attempts to free itself. It roared again, glaring down at Tali as she stood in front of it, staring right back in bewilderment.
Now what? Her Katana still felt pretty much useless in her hands.
"I think that's my queue," said a disembodied voice from nearby. A second later the air shimmered and sparked as Kasumi emerged into being climbing and twisting her way up the still moving creature before coming to a kneeling stop atop its humped, armored back. In one smooth stroke she pulled out her Japanese short sword, spinning it deftly twice before sliding it downward, point first between the Brute's armored plates and neatly severing its spinal column from whatever was left of its brain.
The creature dropped instantly and went still, leaving a tiny, grinning, hooded Japanese woman standing casually astride its shoulder blade as she wiped sickly bluish-purple blood from the blade of her sword. In her typical exuberant manner the thief hopped down as the others stalked the last few yards warily back towards them led by Ashley and Liara.
The Colonel's remaining two squad members crouched next to their fallen comrade further back in the tunnel before reaching the same conclusion Tali had feared, sadly stripping him of his weapons and omni tool and rising to join the others.
Lakine himself approached Tali, facing the dead Brute as the scarred, one-eyed Krogan Battlemaster attached to Falco's second squad poked it with his Claymore.
"That was..."
"I think the word you're looking for is spectacular." Kasumi grinned from beneath her hood nearby, revealing bright white teeth above the small bit of red makeup she always seemed to wear on her lower lip.
"...impressive," he corrected. The tall, armored Turian shot the small human female a glare before finally turning to address Tali directly. "Your quick thinking is to be commended, Quarian. Things could have gone much worse for us."
"You'll find I'm capable of quite a bit besides hacking the occasional door," she spat, the adrenaline bleeding off. She turned slightly and gestured to the rest of the ex-Normandy crew members, even including Miranda alongside the others. "We all are. You might want to keep in mind that we've been fighting Reapers since before you even knew they existed." She turned to climb over the downed Brute alongside the rest of the assault team, passing an Asari that was trying to hide a small smile. "Oh," she said, turning back around on the Turian Colonel, "and my name is Tali Zorah vas Normandy, Turian. I should think you capable of remembering that."
The rest of the slog through the London underground proved equally eventful. Twice more the group fell upon Reaper sentries, positioned to hinder an attack as well as act as an early warning device. Now prepared and forewarned because of their first encounter, the two Brutes were dealt with quickly and in an organized, professional manner by the combined squads.
The ambush, however, that the sentries positioning foretold of and that finally came near the planned exit point near the bank of the River Thames proved far more costly.
Luckily, the force that attacked them wasn't overwhelming. Not completely. The distant noises of battle to the north meant Ashley and the rest of the allied team probably had Hammer to thank for that. But the enemy did have surprise and the high ground to their advantage. And they had Banshees.
Nomi Elandrus, the pleasant Salarian sniper went down immediately to Ashley's left, the victim of concentrated fire from two Ravagers that opened up the melee. Dozens of husks, followed up by the floating, eerie former asari constructs flooded down the broken street toward them, putting the allies' backs to the sewers and positioning themselves between the interlopers and the Citadel Beam that glowed brightly, lancing into the darkened sky nearby.
They fought well, the biotics controlling the onrush of husks and sending them arching away in droves as the shockwaves and waves of power carved swathes through their ranks. Meanwhile the soldiers and remaining special ops veterans concentrated on the Banshees, attempting to provide a continuous base of fire to keep the creatures off balance and incapable of charging into their midst. For a while they succeeded, even managing to start forcing their way up the incline toward the city streets and their ultimate objective.
So, it was with horror that Ashley watched the Harvester arrive, slamming to the ground behind their position and cutting them off from any escape back towards the sewers. Its first blast caught a still stunned Asari Spectre named Jurel in her chest, leaving her shields hopelessly depleted. The second blast all but vaporized her.
Then it started disgorging Cannibals.
It didn't take long for the Colonel to make the correct decision after that. Between bursts of his Phaeston he roared, "Run!"
Williams pulled Miranda to her feet, glaring at her before she again shouldered her assault rifle and emptied a thermal clip into the nearest massing of charging husks. Then she took off after the rest of her squad. When a Banshee flashed into her path, raising one of its elongated, taloned hands and screeching she slid sideways, avoiding it and stumbling back to her feet before she was off again making for the half destroyed city.
Far to her left the young Clan Urdnot warrior she'd been introduced to lay under a mound of scrabbling husks still bucking, trying desperately to get their weight off of him. A biotic wave from Lieutenant Falco blasted most from atop him, allowing the Krogan to crush the remaining two in his palms before rising only to watch as a Banshee skewered the human from behind with its bare hands, ripping the man in half. Mindless of his orders Drang bellowed and charged the one time Asari. Ashley kept running, firing occasionally from her hip as she darted across the battlefield and on to the city streets after the few others she could still see.
The young Krogan, barely past his own initiation was never seen in one piece again.
Williams caught up to Miranda and the third Spectre that had been a member of the original assault team, a Turian named Divadus, a block away, the ex-Cerberus operative slamming a Cannibal downward into the pavement from twenty yards away as she jogged up. Across the boulevard Liara, Tali, and the old Krogan Battlemaster darted forward under fire from yet another grouping of Reaper forces, returning fire before disengaging and heading further on.
Behind her she could still hear the wheezing of the husks and occasional screech from the Banshees pursuing them. They needed to keep moving. And they needed to get moving now.
The group jogged forward, braving the weapons fire and crossing the empty street before clambering over a downed section of crumbling building that blocked their path. A still smoking Mako sat near one corner of the next intersection overlooking the beam emitter itself. Scattered around the vehicle were the bodies of nearly two dozen allied units. Left behind, the mixed makeup of Humans, Turians, Asari, and a single Krogan must have been from the first failed assault.
Colonel Lakine and what remained of a possible second failed attempt were grouped in the tank's shadow. With the three of them hurrying to join back up it brought their number to twelve from the original seventeen. And they hadn't even made it to the Citadel yet.
As Ashley approached Tali came sliding out of the Mako, wiping her hands and shaking her head sadly. "I'm afraid the systems are all fried up," she said, addressing their Turian leader, "but I think the guns look fine. She's not going to be moving anywhere anytime soon though."
Lakine nodded, frowning and looking down the hill. For the first time Ashley really stopped and looked at the small plain that had been carved out around the weird alien device. She could still see where she and Shepard had held out against hope, under fire and beneath the shadow of Harbinger. She could still make out where Vega's body probably still lay. Where the massive Reaper's bulk still lay off to the side, having flattened several city blocks in its death.
Williams took a deep breath.
She hadn't expected to be back here so soon. To really have to relive that all over again. That the Commander had seemed...dead. Again. That she kept fighting and yelling at him while he lay there completely still for what seemed like eons, the tears pouring down her face. That against all odds she'd gotten him back only to lose him again. Only that hadn't happened. The two of them had been spared again only to end up right back.
The next deep breath was deeper and shakier. Then she gasped.
The plain below was moving, shifting as Reaper forces scurried about, protecting the transport point. From their vantage point she could make out several Marauders and plenty of Cannibals. To one side the bulk of a single Brute stood out amongst the smaller shapes.
"Shit," she whispered, turning towards Lakine and Miranda. "We're gonna need to punch a hole through all that? Not to point out the obvious, but without the tank that's not going to be easy."
"And we can't stay here," Liara observed from her side. "If we take too long their friends are going to catch up and crush us. They're likely looking for us even now and it won't take long for them to have deduced our ultimate goal."
The mandibles clicked once before settling into place. The Turian Colonel finally nodded and straightened up. "Agreed. Major," he said, turning to face the other remaining squad leader. "You're taking Squad Three and Four and pushing through to the beam." One of Miranda's eyebrows arched in question at the Normandy crew's inclusion and the rather simplistic plan, but she didn't say anything. "Whatever it takes. Don't slow down. Mavia." He was addressing the lone remaining member of his original squad. The Asari Commando nodded. "You're with Major Vasquez. They're going to need another biotic before this is all done." He turned back to the Major. "I'll take what's left of Squad Two and hold here. Buy you guys some time to get to the beam and lend some help with that." He nodded at the silent armored transport behind them. "Get up there and complete the mission. Find Shepard. We'll..." He glanced at the old Krogan and the Asari sniper he'd included in the group with himself. "...we'll follow when we can."
It went unsaid that the three warriors wouldn't be leaving the crossroads, much less making it to the beam. They all knew it and didn't question it. Instead they parted ways silently, Ashley's team moving down the hill quietly from what little cover there was to the next trying to get as close as possible before things erupted.
When they were within fifty yards the smoothbore cannon on the Mako barked, punching a hole right through the lone Brute before exploding in the group behind it. The tanks autocannon opened up immediately afterward, raking over the scattering units as they scattered, some charging up the hill while others sought shelter. From somewhere D'Ronis' Widow barked twice, taking out two more of the remaining Marauders and further sending the other troops into a directionless frenzy, making more targets for the still firing chaingun.
Then it stopped, the turret swiveling in the opposite direction to take on some other unseen enemy and Ashley ran, pounding forward alongside the others as they broke for the glowing device amid the temporary lull in the defending units. A last glance back the way they'd come showed the Mako awash in husks, the entire tank rocking from their frenzied clawing as the turret continued firing into them. Then she entered the Citadel Beam.
A/N: So, yeah...a lot of the N7 guys got taken down. In accordance with movies like The Rock, Aliens, and Under Siege that pretty much HAS to happen. Also, I didn't want things to be a cakewalk. For anyone. People will die, squad members included. Now, as to who might live and who might die...well that I'm not going to tell you.
Drop me a review. Again, I'd love to hear your thoughts.