*If you haven't guessed yet, AU for Mass Effect. I will become more obvious.*
Liara was in shock. The last fifty years of work, half her life, were about to be stripped from her by these Batarian slavers. She had managed to convince the captain of this training mission for the Asari maidens on board to take her with them. Things were going well, the evidence for her theory was coming along nicely. She had even found trace proof of civilizations from before the Protheans! The impact that this would have on the galaxy would be immeasurable.
The trip had started out so well. The ship had headed out into uncharted space from terminus station. It had not taken them long to find a dormant relay. The research team started to investigate the structure in the hopes of finding some clue or detail not found on other relays. It was at this moment they were ambushed. The small fleet of vessels that seemed to have followed them very clearly not there with friendly intent.
A short fight had ensued between the lone Asari vessel and the small enemy fleet. Before its communications array was destroyed the Asari vessel sent out a distress beacon, although everyone on board was well aware of how slim the chance someone responding to the signal in time was. It was not long before the ship was floating dead in space, power to virtually all its systems gone with its destroyed power core. The intent of the enemy fleet became apparent when the Asari ship was not completely destroyed. They wanted to capture its passengers alive.
"Quickly, you must get to the bridge!" The Asari commando assigned to protect her team said. They quickly made their way to the room that was to be a last line of defense, other scientists and many of the younger, inexperienced maidens soon joining them.
"What are we going to do? At this rate we will all be killed!" one of the panicking maidens cred.
"Unfortunately, they seem to have a much more sinister plan in store for us. Otherwise they would just blow the rest of the ship up from afar." Liara said in a very depressing tone, her frank nature becoming apparent. "If I had to guess, I would say they are going to try and capture us, so they can turn us into slaves or get information from us."
"What kind of information could they possibly be looking for?" Another frightened maiden spoke up.
"I do not know. We can only hope that we are able to repel them, or that help arrives. Otherwise we must resign ourselves to our fate." Liara said as she looked at the few working screens left, and their saddening image of boarding ships heading towards the crippled vessel.
*Inside the captured base*
"Well general. How do you wish us to help?" Carysu said to the R'ha leader.
"The first thing we must do is get this planetary defense gun working again, it will be of great use in slowing down the enemy."
"Agreed, my men who are skilled in technology will stay to assist your men in working the controls. The rest of us should go gather whatever forces you have and meet up with our own re-enforcements."
"Very well, we should get moving. I will send word to the other generals to inform them of the situation, as well as attempt to figure out where they land so we can mobilize our forces to repel them."
"Alright, my men just landed outside, we should go join them before your men start shooting them."
Once they were outside, they met up with the group who had come to support them on the ground. Carysu could clearly see the hesitation and tension in the R'ha troops present. It was very understandable given the presence of four death knights and one other huge, armored, individual. He quickly walked towards the large armored figure, ignoring the other Nazarick troops who were moving about and the R'ha general following behind very meekly.
"Drang, there you are." He called out. Drang, now identified as a hulking war troll, turned towards the group.
"Ah, captain. This is all of the force we were able to find. Where do you want us to set up the defenses?"
Carysu then turned to the general behind him. "I think we should split any forces we have here in two. One will fortify this position and defend the gun for as long as possible, the other should be a group who is mobile, and can move to assist the local defenders wherever the enemy sets down."
"That seems like a solid strategy, you should lead the mobile force, and I will join you to help ease any conflict."
The soldiers then worked quickly, both R'ha and Nazarick forces moving as quickly as possible to set up solid defenses. Carysu watched as the one vehicle mounted heavy mining laser the Smaragdina had converted into a weapon was set up in a makeshift bunker. The last pieces of useful equipment were put in place shortly after. The leaders of the two groups moved into the base to view the progress of the enemy forces, and wait for the right moment to strike with their gun.
Inside the control room, they could see clearly on the large holographic screens that the enemy fleet was almost in range, but one vessel was peeling off too chase after the departed Smaragdina. "They appear to be planning on attacking the city of Ro'hul, it is the largest remaining city in the northern plains." General Vai'llum said from Carysu's side.
"Are they in range yet?" Carysu called out to one of the men manning the terminals.
"Yes sir."
"Open fire on the smaller assault craft. Try to cripple as many as possible. Don't worry about destroying them, we only want to stop them from landing in force right now." Carysu called out. He watched with baited breath to see the reaction of this weapon. Two smaller vessels were quickly crippled. And the fleet reacted violently. A large and very well armed ship started making towards the base they were in, while the rest of the fleet did its best to start landing as quickly as possible, even the poorly armed transports.
"I believe this is the time for us to leave. We can get to Ro'hul just after the enemy lands if we take your drop ship." Vai'llum said from his side.
"Alright, let's go. Drang, hold out as long as possible. If it becomes hopeless sabotage the gun controls and fall back to safer ground." He said as they left for the waiting drop ship.
"Yes sir."
*Entering the R'ha's system*
Commander Terrack was pleased with himself, he was finally able to amass a large enough strike force to take care of the rest of those four armed aliens. The size of the fleet they were bringing would be more than enough to destroy any pathetic resistance those inferior beasts could muster. 'Four arms is just weird, they do make great slaves though. I want to find a new female too, that last one is just about worn out.' He thought darkly, reflecting on his more perverse pleasures he was allowed to partake in on these raids.
"Alright, let's slaughter those beasts. We have almost taken out any form of resistance. So let's finish them off." He said to all of the crews in the fleet. "I want the combat vessels to launch an assault on the main city in the north. Two of them will hang back to escorts the transports. Once we have created a large enough beach head."
As they neared the planet an alarm started going off. "Sir! There is a large unidentified vessel in orbit around the planet. It appears to be moving out of the system towards the relays now sir. It seems to have seen us first." The grunt at the controls called out.
"What? Who does it belong to? It shouldn't be one of ours, and those beasts should not have the technology to make something like that."
"Unknown sir. It is too far to get a solid reading, but it appears to be slightly larger than a normal cruiser, and is of an unknown design."
"Damn it, nobody can interfere with our work here. Alright, I want one of our assault ships to break away from the invasion and go investigate that ship."
Terrack watched as one of the more armed vessels broke off from the main fleet to chase after the mysterious ship. They were finally nearing the atmosphere of the planet, its surface clearly devoid of any oceans, the fleet started to move towards a large city in the plains of the northern continent. However, this day had one more unpleasant surprise for Terrack and his fleet. As they passed the nearest moon, a beam of light hit one of the smaller vessels in the fleet. The ship's shields clearly flared for a brief moment before falling, the deadly beam slamming into the ship. The now clearly crippled vessel listed to one side as it slowly started to loos altitude. Very shortly after another beam hit a different ship, which soon followed its predecessor.
"What is shooting at us?!"
"Sir! It is a large mass effect cannon of Prothean design. They must have gotten it working somehow. We have located the area the gun is firing from."
"Alright, someone get down there and take out that gun! All other ships are to continue with the assault on the city, including the transports. We need to get them out of range of that gun!"