"Sir, sensors are detecting two vessels on the surface, one Salarian scout craft and a Batarian mining vessel." An Asari ensign said as she looked at the screen before her. "Probe seven has located the precise area, and the mining vessel has just released over twenty life forms that are converging on the Quarians' vessel."
"We must hurry then." Saren said as he, Maevor, and a dozen fully armed citadel commandos strapped their gear on and activated their armor systems down in the air lock where they would deploy.
"Wait, I've spotted one more signature heading for the mining vessel." The ensign said over the radio. "Switching to tactical optics......it's a Quarian!"
"That must be your target Spectres, good luck." The frigate's new acting CO, the tactical officer said as he stood in the CIC, watching the crew before him manoeuvre the swift frigate through the atmosphere of the planet.
"Just be ready to extract all of us once we have him secured." Maevor said. "What is that fool doing anyways?"
"Why sit where your enemy can find you instead of taking the fight to them when they least expect it?" Saren asked. "A brave strategy, and an intelligent one, but we should assist him."
"I would recommend you hurry, the drone has detected weapons fire." The Asari ensign said. "And the large group of infantry seems to have been alerted; they are returning to the vessel, you have three minutes before they return."
"Approaching Drop Point One, I am now descending to proper height of deployment." The Salarian helmsman said as the frigate flew over the landscape below and hovered over a clearing. "Deploy!"
As one, the fourteen fighters dropped from the ship, ready to fight nearly twice their own number for the sake of the citadel, and for the first time in their lives a Quarian.
-
The hatch hissed shut and the kinetic barriers activated. Talo stood guard over the surviving pair of crew members, the other four lying dead from bullets and a grenade he had used upon storming the ship. "Good, now both of you into the cargo hold."
"You will not escape this planet freely Quarian, you're worth more than this entire ship together, if we don't get you somebody else shall!" One of the Batarians growled as Talo forced them out of the command deck and down a corridor to the cargo hold and forced them inside before locking the door and disabling the controls with his Omni tool. "Give me a sit rep."
"Enemy infantry have begun to return to the Batarian vessel, they are one hundred- four yards away and closing." His VI reported. "Sensors have also detected a new vessel two kilometres away." She paused. "Fourteen new signatures detected, vessel is withdrawing to low orbital position."
"Great." Talo said. "Prepare for takeoff, I shall be there in half an hour or less." He walked out into the command deck and looked out through the canopy at the forest...where indeed several shapes could be seen rushing towards the ship from. Somebody fired a burst that struck the barriers. Talo went over to the tactical console and typed in a command.
"GARDIAN Defence Gird activated." The computer stated before two turrets slowly unfolded from the hull of the mining vessel and fired two shots each, hitting and incinerating two of the mercenaries.
Suddenly a rocket launched through the air and struck the barriers, followed by four more, making them flare as the projectiles struck them. Talo saw that several mercenaries had rocket launchers, grenade launchers, and one oddly had a type of weapon that launched a thin stream of energy that was beginning to quickly drain the barriers. Talo recognized it as the Batarian wielding it got closer. It was a collector weapon, something you could get in a trade with the enigmatic aliens, and usually they went for quite a price in citadel space due to the extremely high capacity for murdering an entire platoon from a distance and tearing through barriers in seconds.
The barriers flashed and vanished, and the beam cut through the armor and the canopy. Talo threw himself to the floor as sparks flew and smoke began to fill the cabin. Luckily his visor's optics allowed him to see through the haze. He got to his feet and rush out of the command deck, heading to the central area where he could see the air lock hatch was beginning to melt. Perhaps they were using the beam or a cutting tool, but either way they would be in the ship in a minute or so.
He quickly placed two grenades on the floor in different areas and ducked behind a crate, sliding a fresh thermal clip into his assault rifle. He took a deep breath before the door exploded, sending fragments over him. He tapped a command into his Omni tool as he heard rushed footsteps and yells, and both grenades exploded as four mercenaries rush past them. The explosion sent the four flying, and sent two more behind them flying and blinded several more behind them. Talo stood and fired several bursts as three more mercenaries stumbled in, firing blindly as they tried to see through the smoke and debris only for Talo to drop one of them with a trio of bullets to his skull before the other two could see him.
By the time they had managed to return fire he dropped their shields and had taken cover, sliding a fresh thermal clip into his rifle and taking a deep breath. His shields at full power, he stood and fired as more mercenaries began to pour in. He took down the two he had originally targeted and one more. He retreated back and ducked behind another set of crates as the six that managed to get in opened fire on him. He slid another clip into his rifle, one of the last three he had for the rifle and counted how many he had managed to kill.
Two with the GARDIAN lasers, six with the grenades, four more thanks to the distraction the grenades gave him, that left a full dozen to handle. He swung his rifle up from cover and fried more bursts, managing to take out another mercenary before he took cover, his shields down from the gun fire focused on him. He kept this up for another three minutes, exchanging light gun fire with the mercenaries as they tried to close in on him only for Talo to swiftly move somewhere else in the room and prevent them from getting close to him. He had taken out only two more before his rifle clicked- the last clip empty. He shouldered it and grabbed his heavy pistol.
If the mercenaries had not been trying to take him alive he would not have been this lucky, after that little strategy with the grenades he would have been gunned down easily, but now with only his pistol left he might very well be out of luck. He rushed towards the hatch leading to the command deck, firing four shots over his shoulder, the disruptor rounds disabling the shields of one Turian and the fourth round striking him in the head and blowing a hole through his right eye as the eight surviving mercenaries began to close in on the hatch as he opened it.
His shields flashed dangerously as he fired the rest of his clip at the mercenaries, retreating down the narrow corridor towards the command deck. As he backed into the room, one round penetrated his shields and struck him in the thigh. He cried out and fell, his pistol sliding from his grasp. Luckily the head technician on the Idenna had seen fit to modify his suit with a 'new' feature. Beneath the regular armor and material was a gel layer that would form around openings in the armor to keep oxygen from entering the armor any more than it might have already, so as to minimize any chance of Talo contracting something that couldn't be treated. He coughed a bit and dragged himself along the floor away from the hatch as he heard a voice.
"That was a hit, you're with me. The rest of you stand guard!" Then a Krogan and a Turian started down the corridor towards him. Talo reached to his belt and managed to grab his last grenade, clenching his teeth together as he tossed it to the wall next to the door and pulled himself up against a computer console.
His Omni tool glowed as the two came out, their rifles aimed at him. The Krogan growled. "Don't move Quarian. You've caused us too much trouble already. I'd kill you if you weren't worth so much."
Talo looked up at them, and said. "I have never supported continuing the destruction of a species...but you Krogans don't give me a lot of choice at times like this."
"Enough talk." The Turian took a step forward before Talo tapped a command in with one finger.
The grenade exploded, and the Turian was completely incinerated and the Krogan was sent flying across the room by the explosion. Talo let out a massive battle cry, a great rage consuming him as he jumped over a console to where the Krogan had landed and straddled the massive creature. It began to growl and tried to grab his throat, but Talo withdrew his combat blade and stabbed the Krogan right in the eye. It screamed, and Talo went full out on it, punching it and forcing its hand back down. His rage was fuelled by one thing, the tragedy that had befallen his family, the death of his father, his mother reduced to a comatose state, the loss of dozens of Quarians during the very same incident, and all the other problems that plagued him and his species.
His fists were soon stained with blood as he repeatedly punched the now dead Krogan again and again as gun fire rang out from down the hall. He stopped, fist raised for another blow as he looked over his shoulder. He got to his feet; both hands clasping his wounded leg around the area the bullet pierced his suit. He coughed again, and shivered as he feared what kind of diseases he had contracted as he grabbed his pistol and held it in one hand as he stood behind one console, sliding a clip into it and aiming it down the corridor to where the screams faded.
For a few moments he heard hushed voices, and then a figure, a tall Turian stepped into view, gripping a pistol in one hand. "Talo'Serath nar Idenna? This is Maevor Sarius, Citadel Special Tactics and Reconnaissance. Lower your weapon please, we are here for your protection."
"Back away now Spectre Sarius." Talo said in an even tone. "One more step and I will open fire."
"Just disarm him Sarius; he is obviously paranoid and delusional." Another Turian that was more built and obviously older stepped into view behind the first Turian.
"Talo'Serath, we are not here to harm you-" The older Turian pushed the young Spectre aside, flew forward, leaping over the console and landed a kick to Talo's ribs, sending him flying into the wall behind him. The Turian advanced on him and reached out with one hand, but Talo ducked under it and swung his knife, cutting two of the Turian's fingers off entirely. He roared in rage and pain. "You insignificant bug!" He swung a round house kick that Talo side stepped and returned with his own, making pain shoot up the wounded leg as he struck the Turian in the jaw, sending him into the console behind him.
The Turian took advantage of Talo's pain to send him flying into a console, making sparks fly up before the Turian pinned him by the neck to it with one hand and raised his mutilated hand up for a blow before a hand grabbed it. "Enough Saren!"
Maevor had grabbed Saren's wrist in an iron grip and was holding it back while Talo had his pistol jammed against Saren's gut, his finger resting on the trigger. The three remained locked in position for a few moments before Saren lowered his bleeding hand, releasing Talo, who collapsed to the floor, dropping his gun and knife. Maevor said. "He will require medical treatment, return him to the frigate."
"No..." Talo said. "They will...meet me here...on my terms Turian."
"Your suit has been breached, you will need-"
"No!" Talo looked up. "This will save my people; I will not let the council step in so they may ruin this." He slowly got up. "I have come too far, I have so much to lose and so much I must do for my people. My species will die, be it in a thousand years or ten thousand, and this opportunity could save them." He grabbed his gun. "I will not let you take control of the negotiations from me Spectre, I would die before I let that happen, and I am more than willing to do die for it."
"You insolent little Quarian, you are so blind that you cannot look at the big picture." Saren said. "This technology could very well allow the citadel to maintain peace through this entire-"
"Precisely, citadel, more power for the Citadel Council, more power for your already overblown military powers." Talo hissed. "You tossed my people to the wind, and now you wish to take our one salvation? Get away from me and stay away. You can barter for whatever technology you wish for, but not before my people have what they need."
He began to force his way past the two, but before he was three steps past them he collapsed.
-
The Enterprise moved out of space dock. Kirk sat in the command chair of the bridge watching as the great flagship moved out of orbit of the Earth.
"Set course for the Exodus Cluster at maximum warp. I have no doubt Talo has been waiting a while for us." Said Kirk.
"Setting course now, Captain." Said Sulu.
stood next to the chair Kirk was sitting in.
"Hard to believe isn't it?" asked Kirk.
"What do you mean?" asked Bones.
"The Protheans, the Mass Relays, the Reapers, and the complete genocide of possibly endless races. The hard part was that we were spared that fate." Said Kirk.
"Yeah, well who knows? We probably would have been mostly the same. And given what I heard about the Citadel Council we would have scared the crap out of them." Said Bones.
Kirk smiled at that. The Enterprise went to warp and vanished in a flash of light.
-
"Commander, something is coming out of the relay." Said the Asari pilot.
The Turian commander turned to the holographic image in the CIC.
"Show me."
He didn't even have a chance to look as the ship was blasted apart by the large ship.
-
--
Talo was in the medical bay of his ship with an Asari doctor working to save him. Maevor and Saren stood by and watched. They all wore EVA suits to not pollute the ship with bacteria.
"We should just take him with us and treat aboard our ship." Said Saren.
"We can't. If the aliens return he's injured on our ship they could misinterpret that this was our doing." Said Maevor. "Which is partially was, Saren." He glared at him. "The two broken ribs are your doing if I recall, it's only fair he took two of your fingers."
Before Saren could reply the holographic VI of Talo's ship appeared in the middle of the room.
"Detecting unidentified ships in orbit. They are landing twenty miles away from here."
Maevor activated him comm. device.
"Maevor to Redemption, report."
All he got was static.
"Report."
Again there was no reply.
He cursed. "Whoever is here has taken out our only ship. Does this ship have long range communication?" he asked turning to the VI.
"Communications have been jammed. I am unable to send out a distress signal." Replied the VI.
"We'll have to deal with them ourselves. Keep someone here to watch him." Said Saren pointing at Talo.
-
Maevor and Saren came out of the ship with several of their marines and watched as a large ship landed in the distance.
"That's almost bigger than the Ascension." Mumbled a Salarian.
Maevor took his rifle and looked in the distance through his scope. Through it he saw a large number of robotic soldiers with flash lights where their faces should be.
"Geth." Gasped Maevor.
"Geth? That's impossible. They have not been seen outside the veil in over three hundred years. Why have they come out now?" asked an Asari commando.
"It doesn't matter. They are probably here for the Quarian which we cannot allow. Move out and take cover." Said Saren.
The marines spread out and took cover as the Geth came closer. A single Geth trooper spotted a Salarian hiding behind large rock. Raising its gun and instantly alerting its comrades the Geth trooper fired its pulse rifle. The Salarian ducked as he was soon under fire from the advancing enemy.
Maevor fired his rifle and one Geth fell from being shot in the head. The rest of the advancing Geth quickly turned their weapons and fired on Maevor. It was an all out fight now with Citadel marines firing and trying to slow the enemy while the Geth troopers managed to advance as their barriers managed to block most of their weapons before collapsing from several shots making the Geth trooper vulnerable. However the Geth outnumbered them and were advancing.
-
The Enterprise came out of warp and entered the Utopia system. Spock looked at the scans and turned to face Kirk.
"Captain, I am detecting several vessels on the planet Talo had landed on." Said Spock.
"What kind of vessels?" asked Kirk standing up.
"One of them is Talo's vessel, one is a Salarian scout ship, and another is Batarian mining vessel, while the rest are fourteen Citadel fighters and unknown ships." Said Spock.
"Scan for Quarian life signs." Said Kirk.
Spock looked at the scans.
"There is a single Quarian life sign on the planet with several other life signs. Turian, Salarian, Asari life signs and several unknown readings. They seem to be cybernetic organisms. Heavy weapons fire in the vicinity."
"We better hurry and find out what the hell is going on. Standard orbit and open hailing frequencies." Said Kirk.
-
The Asari doctor was still working to heal Talo when the VI appeared again.
"Detecting incoming transmission from orbit. Identified as Federation transponder. NCC 1701 USS Enterprise has returned." Said the VI.
The Asari listened and turned on her radio.
"Commander, the VI had detected another ship in orbit. It identifies the ship as Enterprise."
-
"Enterprise." Saren said. "This must be the vessel that the Quarian was planning to meet!"
He ducked as another high energy slug nearly hit his head.
"They're finally here." Maevor said. "Saren, I would recommend that you guard the Quarian, as quite frankly I don't trust you not to mess up 'my' mission anymore than you already have by disabling the Quarian."
"He cut off two of my fingers, he's lucky I didn't return the favour." Saren growled.
"I wish he did more than just cut off a few fingers." Maevor mumbled as he shot another Geth.
He pulled out his radio as he ducked to send a reply to the ship in orbit.
-
"They are responding." Uhura said. "I am currently speaking to a Spectre Maevor Sarius of the Citadel Special Tactics and Reconnaissance Unit."
"Talo mentioned them in the files we uploaded." Spock said. "They are elite agents of the citadel council. Maevor Sarius is among one of the top specters on record."
"Spectre Sarius claims that Talo was injured in a surprise attack by pirates. He along another Spectre named Saren aided him. They are currently under attack by Geth." Said Uhura.
"What are his injuries?" asked Kirk standing up.
"He has two broken ribs and his suit was breached." Said Uhura.
"Spock, alert Dr. McCoy to the transporter room with several security guards." Said Kirk walking to the door.
-
"He will meet us down here?" Saren asked.
"Yes. They will also be sending down their own doctor and several security guards." Said Maevor.
Whatever reply Saren had he was cut off by several flashes of light as four figures, two armed with what looked like rifles and one with a pistol. They all wore containment suits but the helmets were in their hands. Everyone including the Geth was caught off guard by this. The Geth decided they were an enemy and raised their weapons.
Kirk and the others were one stop ahead as they raised their phasers and fired several shots. Several orange beams lanced out and the Geth that were hit collapsed instantly as the phased energy pierced their bodies, frying their inner circuits. They fell to the ground with smoke coming out of where they were hit. The Geth was caught off guard as their barriers had absolutely no defence against Federation phasers.
Kirk and his security guards continued their attack using the enemies' surprise to their advantage. The Citadel marines added their own fire power to assist and the Geth numbers began to drop rapidly. All it took was one hit for a phaser and a Geth trooper went down. However a large number of Geth had landed more started to appear. Kirk pulled out his communication device.
"Kirk to Enterprise."
"Spock here, Captain."
"We have a large number of Geth trying to pin us down here. Lock phasers on their positions and take them out."
"Acknowledged."
"Everybody move back!" he shouted.
His landing team quickly moved back while the Citadel marines followed his lead as red ruby beams came down from the sky and the large group of Geth was struck down from at least two shots. Using advanced scanners Spock directed on where to fire without any friendly fire accidents, taking out the Geth that had surrounded Talo's ship.
Maevor, Saren and the other marines were caught off guard by the sheer precision of the ship's energy weapons. Kirk pulled out his communicator.
"Good job, Spock. Anymore Geth nearby?"
"None detected Captain, but there are several ships in the area." Said Spock.
"Don't do anything unless it looks like they will attack again." Said Kirk.
He put his communicator and turned to Maevor and Saren. Saren's eyes narrowed, but he made a gesture to his group to lower their guns. "Identify yourselves."
"Captain James Kirk of the Federation vessel Enterprise." The leader, Kirk said. "My companions are Corporal Eric Dalton, Dr. McCoy, and Corporal Jacob Farren. As for how we got here, I shall show you."
Suddenly there was a flash that blinded the group momentarily, and then the two corporals were gone, leaving only the captain and doctor.
"What? Where did they go?!" Saren demanded.
"Back to the ship." Kirk said. "Now, shall we talk before or after we see if Talo Serath nar Idenna is alive?"
Maevor nodded to the others and allowed Kirk and Dr. McCoy to enter the ship after putting their helmets. As they walked through the ship Saren chose to speak.
"I am Saren Arterius, Spectre of the Citadel council."
"We know what a specter is." Kirk said. "Mr. Idenna had been cooperative and gave us information regarding citadel space, including the banishment of his race."
Saren could tell that subject would come up later. "I and Specter Sarius are here on behalf of the Citadel Council to initiate first contact with your species, Captain Kirk. We are the first to welcome you to citadel space."
"Thank you Spectre Arterius, but Mr. Serath was more than willing to welcome us first." Kirk said. "I trust you have tried to keep him stable."
"Our doctor has repaired the breach in his suit but he suffered from breathing non-filtered air and broken ribs." Said Maevor.
They entered the medical room and Bones was Talo's bed in an instant. He held up the tri-corder and used it to scan Talo.
"He's suffering from a cold, or a disease that's similar to the basic one you'd find on most regular planets, but with his kind of immune systems it could be fatal." Said Bones.
He opened a small part of Talo's suit and injected some serum into the unconscious Quarian.
"Will he be okay, Bones?" asked Kirk.
"He should be fine. The sickness is easy to cure and I have managed to mend the ribs but he shouldn't push himself for a couple of weeks." Said Bones.
"That's good. We'll have to wait for him to wake up." Said Kirk.
"In the mean time Captain, would you tell us of this Federation you mentioned?" asked Maevor
"The United Federation of Planets is an interstellar community composed of various species and star systems." Kirk said. "All of which have come together for mutual cooperation, discovery, and defense."
"So there are more than one species in this federation?" Maevor asked.
"Dozens in fact." Kirk said. "My race, the humans, were among the founding races, others being Vulcan, Andorians, and Tellerites. As the Federation expanded, more and more species came into contact and expressed interest in joining us. Our mission out here is simple exploration. Despite our vessels being armed enough to take down pirate vessels; they are not officially war ships, but science and research vessels."
"I'd hate to see the actual war ships then." Maevor mumbled.
"Specter, we are aware that the species that make up your government all found these 'Mass Relays' as Idenna informed us. However, before we entered this quadrant we have never seen nor heard of these Mass Relays, nor the Protheans." Kirk said.
"You haven't?" Maevor blinked. "But the Mass Relays have been our most efficient form of travel for centuries, and the Protheans have ruins all over this galaxy."
"If that is true, we haven't found any." Kirk said. "We developed our own FTL methods. It has been our main method of travel for the past 200 years since the Federation was formed until we managed to create the FTL drives that allowed us to reach this quadrant."
"Only two hundred years?" Saren spoke up. "The Citadel Council has existed for centuries, yet your technology is beyond anything we have seen before."
"Two centuries ago you would have been far more advanced than us." Kirk said. "Our ships back then, of the human race that is, did not even have shields, but relied on armor only."
"How has your technology advanced so far ahead?" Maevor asked.
"The Federation has the resources of dozens of species of various technological advancements, when they came together; Starfleet was formed as a method of combining the technology, so each race would still possess its own personal defense fleets." Kirk said. "We are here now to repay Mr. Idenna for assisting us."
"A Quarian?" Saren said. "It is not a good idea to associate yourselves with that species Captain."
"We are aware of how they were banished and what they did." Kirk said. "The Geth are irrelevant to us. And we believe in any other case the Quarians have paid enough for their mistake. The majority of their race destroyed, being banished from their home planet, forced to live on a fleet, and yet the council saw fit to turn their backs on them. This hasn't boded well back home with the federation council."
"They were warned not to pursue the advancement of AI technology." Saren said.
"And they attempted to avoid it." Kirk said. "The Geth evolved beyond their control. And even then, are the Quarians living on the Migrant Fleet the same scientists from 300 years ago? Did they create the Geth? Did the children of the fleet make new models of Geth? Did their elders create new programs for the Geth to use?
Is the now vulnerable Quarian population the ones who created the Geth? I believe that your council is unfair in their decision to refuse to help them now, right when they require it."
"It is because of that, in repayment for Mr. Idenna for helping us, we have been given permission to grant them refugee status. The Geth and Quarians are no different from what we have encountered before."
"We've also agreed to several other things that Mr Idenna has seen fit to ask for on behalf of the Migrant Fleet, one being the process of repairing their vulnerable immune systems." McCoy said. "Three hundred years of sterile ships has done a number on them. Now with Idenna in bad enough condition I might have a head start on him with how much he will require until he's healthy enough to walk and fight off about twenty mercenaries on his own." The humans had looked over the information on the battle Talo had waged on the mercenaries. "Or beat a Krogan to death with his bare hands, from what I can tell that's not something a Spectre can do every day."
"And establishing positive relations with the Quarian race and to resolve the situation of their current homeless status. They do not have to join us but since Talo risked much to help us we will do what we can to help his people. The next order of business is discussing relations with the Citadel Council." Kirk eyed the two Spectres.
Maevor could already guess what Saren would go for.
"Though some of the methods used are less than what I like to consider, we must consider all relations with all local powers." Kirk said. "And you did assist Mr Idenna, possibly save his life in the process, so we do owe you our gratitude for saving our new liaison. How would you as agents of the Council recommend we begin?"
"I would first suggest a meeting with the Citadel council itself, a cultural exchange and information of member species." Saren began. "And possibly the creation of embassies to both parties so as to assist with diplomatic relations and perhaps the opening trade agreements for non essential products and travels to federation and citadel territory."
"Those seem like reasonable requests; I shall forward them to Command as soon as we are out of potentially hostile territory." Kirk said.
"Enterprise to Captain Kirk." Came Spock's voice from the communicator.
Kirk pulled out the communicator.
"Kirk here."
"A large ship is moving up from the planet's surface. It is heading towards us on an intercept course."
"Beam me up and go to yellow alert." Said Kirk.
He vanished in a flash of light a few seconds later.
-
A moment later he walked onto the bridge.
"Status."
"The new ships have armed weapons, and raised kinetic barriers. They have not made any attempt to attack yet." Said Spock.
"Visual."
What he saw surprised him. The image Chief Caeo'dan showed him before was now right in front of him. A Reaper was slowly moving through space towards the Enterprise. So they were real.
"Hailing frequencies." said Kirk.
"Channel open." said Uhura.
"This is Captain James T. Kirk of the Federation starship Enterprise we mean you no harm please break off your attack." said Kirk.
He waited as the seconds passed by.
"No response. They're locking weapons on us." said Sulu.
The fleet of smaller ships launched a barrage of solid projectiles that hit the ship's shields.
"Shields are holding. No damage." said Sulu.
"Well, if it's a fight they want. Mr. Chekov prepare to fire phasers on full with a full spread of torpedoes. Hit them hard." said Kirk.
"Aye sir."
The Enterprise released full stream of red pulsing phasers that cut through the kinetic shields of the enemy ships and disarmed them instantly. The smaller ships broke up into smaller groups moving to surround the Federation flagship.
"The fleet is targeting us." said Sulu.
"Full power to shields. Phasers on standby." said Kirk sitting in his chair.
The Enterprise fired all of her phasers that reached and destroyed the smaller ships. The Reaper spread its tentacles out and began firing the massive spiral mounted guns at the end of each tentacle.
"Evasive action!" said Kirk.
The Enterprise blasted through space narrowly avoiding the blasts from the Reaper. The weapons were too slow to hit the fast moving ship.
"Captain, sensors show that the Reaper's weapons are not energy based. It is molten metal somehow being ejected at the speed of light. Our shields should be able to block the attack." Said Spock.
"Bring the helm amidships. Angle our approach to mark two, Mr. Sulu. Chekov, phasers to full power and stand by photon torpedoes." said Kirk.
The Enterprise moved at high speed towards the Reaper performing a strafing run.
"The enemy ship is increasing fire." said Sulu.
"Fire!" said Kirk.
The Enterprise released a full volley of phaser fire pairing it with six torpedoes that detonated on the hull of the Reaper with chunks of it vaporized by the phasers. They knew that they caused severe damage to the machine ship. However the sheer size of the ship showed them as sparkles. As the Enterprise flew over it three torpedoes were launched from the rear torpedo tubs that impacted the back of the Reaper dealing the mad AI severe damage.
"Reading heavy damage to enemy ship. Weapon system appears to be unaffected." said Sulu.
"It is changing course. Moving to intercept." said Chekov.
The massive Reaper turned and moved at full speed in a fury for the damage it suffered.
"Shields to maximum." said Kirk.
"Weapons coming to bear." said Sulu.
"Evasive action!"
But it was too late as one of the Reaper's weapons collided with the ship head on. The Enterprise tumbled and shook violently.
"Shields are holding. Firing aft torpedoes." said Sulu.
The Reaper's kinetic barriers were all ready strained from the sheer power of Federation weapons. However the sheer size of it made up for it as the torpedoes did relative small damage as a small section of lit up in explosions. The Enterprise turned around and fired phasers again which continued to damage the Reaper.
"Target its guns, full phasers." Said Kirk.
The Reaper's guns were hit and exploded as the phasers collided with them.
"Weapon emitters destroyed, Captain." Said Sulu.
The Reaper seeing the battle lost quickly turned and headed back towards the Mass Relay.
"Target the engines; we are not letting them escape." Said Kirk.
The Reaper was stopped as phasers collided with its engines. There was a metallic screeching sound that some on the bridge believed the Reaper was screaming in pain. The smaller ships flew and tried to ram it the Federation ships but the shields held them off and phasers destroyed the remaining ones attempting to ram it.
"Prepare a boarding party." Said Kirk.
"Captain, according to the information prepared by Caeo'dan there is chance the boarding party could fall under the Reaper's control." Said Spock.
"Is there way to counter this control?" asked Kirk.
"Not without sufficient information on how the Reapers control their victims." Said Spock.
"Well we need to find out what we can. This species has wiped out countless sentient species in their galaxy wide trap. We have a chance to learn even if we don't need their technology to stop them." Said Kirk.
This was a chance to understand this species; probably find out where they came from, how they built the Relays and the Citadel, and what motivated them to carry out this cycle of extinction.
"Captain, we are being hailed." Said Uhura.
"Let's hear it."
A voice came over the speakers. It was deep and simulated anger and hatred towards the crew,
"Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood. You dare to harm me, a being of great ultimate power you could never comprehend. Know this, your destruction is assured."
"I am Captain James Kirk of the Federation starship Enterprise and I know more about you than you know. You are a Reaper, a species of machines that created Mass Relays and the Citadel and wiped out countless species for whatever sick reason you have." Said Kirk.
The Reaper was silent leading Kirk to believe that it was surprised at this.
"Reaper is a label created by the Protheans to give voice to their destruction. In the end what they chose to call us is irrelevant. We simply are. How could you know of this?
Your species, your technology, it brings unwanted chaos to the order we have created. You are an abomination, a threat that must be extinguished."
"The Protheans were not all extinct. A handful survived and fled to our system after destroying the Mass Relay and all evidence that we would discover that would lead us down the path you wanted. We just discovered them in cryo-tubes that they were dormant in our system for centuries. They awakened and warned us about your kind." Said Kirk.
"Impossible. We destroyed them as we had done countless times in the cycle. The Protheans were nothing. They were merely a genetic mutation, a mistake like all organics."
"You assumed that they were killed. You made a mistake and now you see before you the consequences of that mistake. We will not stand by and watch you continue to slaughter sentient beings." Said Kirk.
"Confidence born of ignorance. The cycle cannot be broken."
"If that is true than explain to me why is that you are defeated while my ship hasn't even suffered a scratch." Said Kirk.
"You and your kind will end because we demand it. We are infinite. Millions of years of civilization have been annihilated and forgotten. We will endure."
"You only managed to destroy so many species is because they relied on your technology. Our technology is extremely different and as you have just learned strong enough to harm the might creators of the Mass Relays and the Citadel. There are no Mass Relays in our corner of the galaxy so you can't reach us. And even if you could we would fight and the battle would be costly to both sides." Said Kirk.
"We are legion. The time of our return is coming. Our return will darken the skies of every world. You will be eradicated and the chaos you have brought will be removed from this plane of existence."
"That'll only happen if someone activates the Citadel. Unless there is another Reaper here your kind will be left to rot in whatever pit they hide in." Said Kirk.
"Your words are empty as your future. My kind will stand and watch as you pitiful creatures wither and die. This exchange is over."
"Captain, there is a build up in the engine core. It's going critical." Said Spock.
A few seconds after Spock spoke, the Reaper exploded in a massive fire ball that nearly blinded the crew. The Reaper destroyed itself to avoid capture.
