Palaven, a silver world of fortresses and fire. Homeworld to the Turians. And it was burning. The Reapers had come in force, catching the Turian Hierachy off-guard. The Strongest Military in the galaxy and the reapers are obliterating them.
They were still putting up a fight, having strategically withdrawn to take position on Menae, Palaven's largest moon. Garrus Vakarian was dressed in a new decorative armor of silver and blue. His exo-skeleton making him resistant to radiation as his avian features were evident. Grasping onto his semi-automatic Krysae Sniper Rifle, sniping down every single husk, cannibal which got into his crosshairs.
General Adrien Victus had sent him off to deal with the heavy reaper unit on the right flank. He narrowed his aim onto one of the brutes, hulking amalgamations of Turians and Krogans victims of the Reapers. It was in a blood rage as Vakarian had his armor-piercing mod engaged and pull the trigger, several bursts were fired which hit the brute's forehead.
It got the brute's attention alright, it had changed its trajectory to get at the pesky Turian which was being such a pain the ass. He kept firing as to wear the brute down but he was being supported by a large quantities of husk, withdrawing from his elevated and rocky position as he quickly exchanged the sniper for his Phaeston Assault Rifle, fully automatic and engaged with the same armor-piercing mod as he took rapid aim and started bursting the incoming husks and the brute.
Everytime they got closer, he moved back to a better position. A rather unorthodox tactic but one necessary to combat an overwhelming force. Garrus believes it was called kiting which was very popular in twenty first century video games. It had him smiling for the briefest of moment as he grasped a grenade and tossed at the husks who were climbing up to overwhelm his previous condition.
The limbs of the organic and synthetic fused matter scattered in the blow, leaving wake for the Brute. Garrus already had a tactic in mind, he had his back against the wall. The brute was going to charge which meant he had to build up momentum which gave him the opportunity to trick the Brute to charge into the wall itself. Another typical tactic from human video gaming, he had to do something else in his spare time other than calibrating his guns.
The Brute was off, charging towards him. Ten meters, five meters, three meters and he was off, throwing himself aside as he threw a grenade straight into the heavily implant covered chest. By the time the brute had it the wall, the grenade exploded resulted in a controlled explosive which had him utterly neutralized. Sighing in relief, Garrus Vakarian gazed up to see a familiar ship in the sky. A vague smile formed on his face, the scar on his right side twitching slightly but he could put up with it. He climbed up as the stealth frigate known as the Normandy launched a Kodiak Shuttle, making way to General Corinthus' base. Seems like he had to rendezvous with old friends. With those words in mind, he eagerly took off.
…
The Doctor was shocked, the feeling from each time he saw a Reaper or their ground forces made his skin crawl. Shepard had been reluctant to have him along on the ground team but Captain Jack Harkness had vouched for him and so had Admiral Lethbridge-Stewart. That had to count for something, besides him there were Liara and James. They didn't want to bring Strax due to the hectic situation which could make it difficult to determine if he was a friend or a foe.
The Doctor had refused the offer of a weapon or armor, shaking his head in disbelief as the Kodiak window opened, husks was crawling the landing zone. Valkyrie aimed as he in controlled bursts took them down. The door slide open as they quickly exited the Kodiak which immediately took off. They cleared the LZ, with exception of the Doctor who stayed behind while the experienced did their efficient work.
Approaching the barricade to the camp, turian called out to hold fire. They were friendlies. With that the barricades were lowered. Entering the camp which was in full motion. Turians took pride in the militaristic cultural heritage which proved useful in this case. No panic, just pure discipline and loyalty drilled in.
They made their way to the command both were a Turian was leaning over a virtual map. "Thebastek, get your men on that north barricade." He voiced as a Turian took off, uttering a Yes, sir as he passed to gather his unit to reinforce the designated barricade. "Sergeant Barthus, find a way to get that com tower operational." The other turian gave a salute utterling "Sir!" with a deep voice before heading off.
"General." Shepard voiced to announce his presence, the Turian glanced to his side. "Commander Shepard, heard that you were coming but didn't believe it. General Corinthus." He voiced and finished with introducing himself, plain and simple.
"I've come to get Primarch Fedorian." This had the General halt in his track which indicated the worse. "Primarch Fedorian is dead. His shuttle was shot down a hour ago when he tried to leave the moon."
"That's going to complicate things. Nevertheless. How bad is it, General?"
"We just lost about four hundred men in half (of) an hour. We set up camps on this moon as an advancde position to flank the enemy. A sound strategy but…" General Corinthus voiced but trailed off in the end.
Shepard interjected with the correct term. "Irrelevant." Corinthus seemed to agree as he continued. "Exactly, the sheer force of the Reapers seems to makes them immune to that sort of tactic. The Primach and his men found out the hard way."
"I'm sorry, I heard he was a good man." Shepard said in sympathy with the Turian who glanced his way. "And a friend. He would've made an outstanding diplomat."
"So what happens now?"
"The Turian Hierachy provides a very clear line of succession."
"Right, General Corinthus?"
"With such heavy casualties, it's hard for me to be certain who the next Primarch is. Palaven Command will know. However, at the moment. Contacting them is impossible. The com tower is out. Husks are swarming that area, we can't get close enough to repair it." The General voiced as he lifted his Omni-tool and started managing through combat reports.
"Don't worry, General. I'll get your com tower operational." Shepard voiced as he steadies his Valkyrie rifle. The General looked up, staring him straight in the face. "Thank you, Commander. I'll take care of things on this end."
Shepard called out, addressing his squad. "Alright, let's go."
They spotted the com tower, off to the left of the main barricade. Making their way, The Doctor was with them. Atleast for now as his mind was racing. Explosions, gunfire and the thundering sound of reapers made skins crawl. He didn't like war or weapons in general. However, lives were at stake. He couldn't turn down providing assistance. Odd glances were given to him by Turian soldiers but shook their head and returned to the fighting.
Once beyond the barricade, they stumbled upon Sergeant Barthus and his men who seemed to be wounded, having taking a big toll on them. "Hostiles at the tower, overwhelmed us. Had to withdraw. Good luck, Commander."
Weapons raised as they advanced, shot down any and all husks advancing. Combing the tactics of biotic shockwaves and singularities, they were easily managed as Vega had shifted to the N7 Pirahe shotgun which was developed for the war. It had proved rather handy in close quarters with a large amount of husks.
The Doctor ran through all the chaos, reaching the com tower. Seeing himself the obvious choice to fix it as he climbed up the ladder and yanked forth his sonic screwdriver and get at it. Meanwhile, Shepard and his squad held their ground. Squandering any husk assaults on their position.
Smiling widely as communication was back online, he slide down the ladder as a husk charged at him. A distant instinct from a previous incarnation woke up at the face of mortal peril, lifting his sonic screwdriver which radiating its focus as the synthetic matter detached itself from the organic, leaving a slimy rubble where the husk once stood.
His face and gaze determined, disgusted by the sight and the war. He directed the screwdriver at the com tower itself, using it as an amplifier for the same sonic signal which dissolved any remaining husks in the proximity. His previous incarnation's voice echoed in his head like a distant memory. "No more."
The others looked at him, Vega let out a whistle. Clearly impressed by the Doctor's latest deed as they made their way back to the camp. The Doctor didn't listen to what words Liara, James or Shepard was voicing. All he heard was the memories of the time war.
Being there at the com tower had awoken memories long since buried which made his blood go cold. Returning back to camp as General Corinthus looked up at them. "What do you got?"
"As your partner said, succession is usually simple. But right now, the Hierachy is in chaos. So many dead or MIA."
"I need someone, I don't care who. Aslong they can't get the Turian resources we need." Shepard voiced to General Corinthus which was prevented to speak by another voice.
"I'm on it, Shepard. We'll find you the Primarch." This came from a turian in an armor of silver and blue, a scar on the right side of the face along with a blue illuminating eye-piece. "Garrus!" Shepard voiced as he immediately recognized his best friend.
"Vakarian, sir. I didn't see you arrive." General Corinthus voiced as he turned to face Garrus and gave him a firm and absolute salute. "At ease, General." He motioned before the General got back to the board, working.
"Good to see you again. I thought you'd be on Palaven." Shepard voiced to his old friend who responded accurately and precisely with words which seemed formal yet informal. "If we lose this moon, we lose Palaven. I'm closest thing we've as an expert on Reaper forces. So I'm advising."
"James, this is Garrus Vakarian. He helped me stop Saren and the Collectors. He's a hell of a soldier." Shepard voiced as James and Garrus shook hands. Garrus mouthed "Lieutenant" before shifting his head towards the asari doctor "Good to see you too, Liara."
Liara was smiling, obviously glad that he friend was alive and her greeting indicated as such "Good to see you in one piece, Garrus."
Garrus' gaze lingered on the Doctor, frowning at the choice of attire. The Doctor took this his que to step forward, straightening his bowtie, offering a weak smile and a handshake. "Hello, I'm the Doctor."
"Doctor Who?" Garrus responded, curious to say the least. The Doctor beamed as he just answered. "Dangerous question. Just the Doctor."
Garrus nodded as he gazed quizzically at Shepard who voiced. "He's the reason why the com tower is operational. He even managed to use it to neutralize husks."
Garrus stared wide eyed at the Doctor. "How?" he mouthed.
"I just used the tower itself as an amplifier for my sonic screwdriver as to disable the synthetic material holding the organic matter in place." The Doctor said as he held up his sonic screwdriver at display for the Turian who merely nodded.
"Never seen that kind of tech before, is that some Alliance Prototype?" he asked, obviously curious.
"No, Time Lord Technology." The Doctor responded.
"Time Lord?" Garrus and Corinthus voiced simultaneously. Garrus shifted his gaze expectingly to Shepard. "I'll explain later, Garrus. Let's just say that he got a tongue which makes the Council pause."
That told Garrus something. Someone who could talked to the council however he wanted was someone worthy of recognition and caution. "General Corinthus filled me in. We know who we are after."
"Palaven Command tells me that the next Primach is General Adrien Victus." Corinthus voiced, not even looking away from the console.
"Victus? His name has crossed my desk." Liara mused.
"Know him Garrus?" Shepard asked as Garrus nodded, "I was fighting with him this morning. Life-long military, gets results, popular with his troops. Not so popular with Palaven command, has a reputation to play loose with accepted strategy."
"What do you mean?"
"On Taetrus during one of the uprisings. His squad discovered a salarian spy ring about the same time the Turian Sepratists did. Rather than neutralizing the ring, he fell back. He even gave up valuable fortifications which the rebels took." Liara interjected, seemingly to have memorized the background information regarding the General.
Garrus bluntly then continued. "Then the rebels attacked the salarians and when the two groups had worn each out. Victus moved back in, didn't lose a man."
"A bold strategy but wild behavior doesn't you advanced up in the meritocracy." General Corinthus commented.
"Primarch Victus. That should be something to see." Garrus voiced, seemingly a bit amused by the idea.
"Do you think he can get the job done?"
"We both know that conventional strategy won't beat the Reapers. Right now, he could be our best shot and I trust him." Garrus responded, if he was good enough for Garrus. He was good enough for Shepard. "Okey, let's get him on the shuttle and get out of here."
"Commander! Shepard, come in." Joker's voiced came through their operational communication frequency. "Can this wait, Joker? We're in the middle of a warzone?"
"We got a situation on the Normandy, Commander. It's like she's possessed. Shutting off systems, powering up weapons. I can't find the source." Shepard cursed as he cast a glance towards Garrus and Liara. "I need the Normandy standing by, we may have to bug out."
"Should I go back and take a look." Liara voiced, he nodded. "Do it."
"Garrus, you said you were with Victus this morning?" Shepard rapidly spoke as he turned towards his old friend. "Yeah but we got separated. He went to bolster a flank that was breaking. Could be anywhere out there."
"We're trying to raise him, Commander." General Corinthus notified him. However, it didn't seem to do well. However, all hell broke loose as James shouted out at them. "Incoming harvester. Heading for the airfield."
Guns were aimed and fired at the winged behemoth which passed over them. Their shots failed to connect. Shepard turned to address Corinthus. "General, tell Primarch Victus that we'll rendevouz with him here. Doctor stay with him."
Shepard turned as to face his squad. "In the meantime, let's go and take care of what that thing dropped off."
"Coming Garrus?"
"Are you kidding, I'm right behind you." Garrus spoke as he checked the thermal clip of his sniper rifle. They quickly dashed for the airfield, the barricade lowered as they were hailed by Turians which were covered with synthetic wiring and implants, armed with Phaeston assault rifles, they opened fire at them. Quick to take cover and returning fire, they discover that their new opponents. Marauders were shielded.
They suddenly heard General Corinthus over the com as they fought the reaper forces, husks were approaching as the Marauders gave them fire support. It was a bloody skirmish. "Commander, come in."
"Go ahead." Shepard voiced as Corinthus then continued. "Still trying to raise the Primarch but we got trouble back here at the Main Barricade and the Doctor just ran to reinforce it. If the Reapers breach it, we're done."
…
He saw the fall of Arcadia flashing before him all over again.
No more.
He remembered the year that never was.
No more.
He thought of the Time War.
No more.
His face was determined as he lifted his sonic screwdriver, stopping any husk in the vicinity. The Turian troops fought valiantly and was surprised to see an unarmed man in a purple tweed suit come to their rescue.
Disgusted by the revolting innovation by the Reapers to turn their victims into their subordinates. That made him angry, furious to say the least. When the Brute came, the Doctor just vaulted down to glare at the abomination before him.
"No more." He murmured as he lifted the sonic screwdriver, disabling its implants which caused the organic function to fail due to the protein incompatibility, causing them to reject one another. The hulking amalgamation let out a painful shriek before falling over.
The Husks now prioritized the doctor as a threat to eliminate, they didn't even came close before they too fell apart due to the interference of his sonic screwdriver and he was walking with a cold determination.
Once Shepard and his squad had arrived, the situation was already over. Before and around the doctor were piles of synthetic material which had disconnected from the organic matter in the husks and the dead brute which was riping itself apart.
All the turians on the barricade could testify that the fury of a Time Lord wasn't a joke. The Doctor turned around as to face Shepard and his squad as they vaulted them, they seem bewildered as they didn't believe what they saw.
"Doctor, how did you… you're not even armed." Garrus uttered, still in disbelief of what he saw.
"Doesn't matter, they're dead and we can't get a stable connection with the Primach. If we want to reach him, we have to go on foot." The Doctor voiced before they took off from the camp into the terrains of Menea, they could hear the gunfire and fighting from miles away and feel the ground shaking beneath every step made by a Reaper.
They were now all wary of the Doctor, in such a short time. He had managed to prove his worth to all of them without even using a weapon, only his scientific tool.
"Took out a frigate. Man, how many people. Oh my god would you look at that." James voiced as he stared down at an intact frigate which had crashed into the moon, they also saw the two kilometer high reaper a few leagues away from it.
"Damn it, look at Palaven. That blaze of orange, the big one. That's where I was born." Garrus voiced as they navigated through the terrain, gazing upwards at Palaven. It made the Doctor's blood boil of how many lives were wasted by this… harvest.
"That's rough, still have family there?" James asked his new brother-in-arms. Garrus acknowledged. "My dad and a sister."
"How bad is it?" Shepard asked a bit concerned. Garrus started to list up the fact. That alone made Doctor angry. "Three million lost in the first day. Five the second."
"How's your military holding up?"
"Look around, that should give you an idea." Garrus responded.
"You're putting up a good fight."
"For now, but how long will it take until the fight is kicked out of you?" Garrus voiced before shaking his head, murmuring in a tone which they could overhear. "If they only listened to your warnings about the Reapers, we might've been ready."
"Maybe. Hard to figure preparing for something like this." James Vega retorted and he was right, it was possible to prepare for something this scale.
They were soon ambushed by a group of husks which was quickly dispatched, The Doctor didn't feel like the Doctor anymore, not with all these deaths occurring. Nevertheless, they were already dead so there's nothing he can do about it.
"Shit, I hate those things. And New York is crawling with those creepy bastards?" James Vega interjected after the fight was over. "I should've never left Earth."
"It's going to be bad all over."Garrus voiced as they kept moving, James responded with "Leaving the fight just pisses me the hell off."
"But you're here to ask Victus to do the same thing. Leave the fight to make nice is some board room." Garrus retorted back to James.
"This summit is the only chance we got. None of us is beating the Reapers alone." Shepard voiced as they climbed a ledge to find a squad of Turian soldiers, some of them were wounded. "Soldier, you okay?"
"Yes, sir. We'll make it." The one standing responded. Garrus approached and ask diligently. "Have you seen General Victus?"
"About a half of an hour ago back at the Camp." The turian responded almost instantly. Garrus nodded with appreciation for the information. "Okay, good luck."
"Yes, sir." The turian said before returning to tend to his comrade. They quickly moved on as the sound of chaos and destruction was almost eardeafning. However to relieve of the pressure, James decided to ask. "So loco, do you really think this summit will work. I mean Asari, Salarians? Where are the Krogans and the Batarians? Where's the meat?"
"It's not that easy." Shepard retorted. Sad that it was son.
"The Batarians got hit first when the Reapers arrived. Not much of them left and the Krogans have never forgiven us for the Genophage." Garrus informed decisively.
"Oh right, you sterilized them." James responded back at Garrus, obviously not agreeing with it. Neither did the Doctor, which was something he had to put right.
"The Salarians came up with it." Garrus retorted.
"And the Krogan hate them both for it." Shepard interjected.
"So they won't be joining us." Garrus concluded.
"Too bad, I've fought with a Krogan. They're tough sons of a bitches." James uttered in disappointment. They crossed a chasm as they approach General Victus' camp. They heard the sound of reaper groundforces being dropped off in it.
"That sounds bad!" James voiced loudly as Shepard nodded as he urged them onwards with an order before charging. "Okay, double time! No reapers is taking this Primarch from me."
"Right behind you!" James returned as they entered the camp-turned-battlefield. It was crawling with Cannibals and Marauders along with a few brutes. The next couple of minutes felt like an eternality as gunfire echoed through their being and eardrums. The ground shook with each step of a nearby sovereign-class reaper.
The Doctor walked across the camp as his force field deflected the shots from the Cannibals and Marauders, disabling them one by one as he glared in a rather scrutinizing manner at the brute. He loathed every moment he spent on that battlefield, on any battlefield really. He chose the name of the Doctor; not that of the Warrior.
A vivid memory flashed before him, it was the Great Intelligence speaking to his friends on Trenzalore. "The Doctor will go by other names before the end. The storm. The beast. The Valeyard." Those words fueled his ever growing silent fury. The Brute like the other one had collapsed due to the failure of the Reaper implants.
He lifted his Omni-Tool as an arc of focused energy quickly disabled the projectile weapons of the reaper ground forces. They seemed a bit stunned as they later momentarily shot down as they didn't keep up with the suppressive fire. The skirmish was over.
General Adrien Victus was in a red-colored armor of Turian design, the bunker-booth opened a hatch which lowered as he step off as to face his rescuers. Commander Shepard quickly took control but he was obviously yet again impressed by the Doctor's display. In fact, they all were. "General Victus."
"Yes?" the General responded expectantly.
"I'm Commander Shepard of the Normandy."
"Ah, Commander. I know who you are. I can't wait to find out what brings you out here." Victus mused, not really delighted to see him but he shifted his attention to Garrus. "Vakarian, where did you go?"
"Heavy reaper unit on the right flank? I believe your exact words were, get that thing off my men." Garrus responded diligently to the new Primarch who responded. "Appreciated."
"General, you're needed off planet. I've come to get you." Shepard voiced. Adrien Victus frowned as his eyes seems to be ready to fire lasers. "It would take something beyond important for me to leave my men or my turian brothers and sisters in their fight."
"Fedorian was killed. You're the new Primarch." Garrus explained which caught Victus aghast as Shepard went on to explain what needed to be done. "You're needed immediate to chair a summit to represent your people in the fight against the Reapers."
The new primarch steped past them as he stared up at Palaven, seemingly in disbelief as he voiced a question to himself and others, as to verify what he heard. "I'm Primarch of Palaven? Negotiating for the Turian Hierachy?"
"Yes."
Victus turned around to face Shepard as he gave the answer. Starting to speak dutifully and to the point. "I've spent my whole life in the Military, I'm no diplomat. I hate diplomats."
"What makes you think that you're not qualified?" Shepard asked, a bit curious to say the least.
"I'm not really by the book kind of guy and I piss people off. My family has been military since the Unification war. War is my life, it's in my bones. But that kind of passion is deceptive, to make you seem reckless when you're anything but." Victus expressed like if he was reading from a datapad.
"War is your resumé. In times like this, we need leaders who've been through that hell." Shepard voiced as to encourage the new Primarch, it seemingly worked as Victus voiced in return. "I like that. You're right."
"And honestly? Uniting these races may take as much strength as facing the Reapers. See this devestation, Primarch. Double that for Earth. I need an Alliance, I need the Turian Fleet." Shepard voiced, speaking from the heart and a fiery determination. The Doctor smiled, what he saw was the best of humanity.
There was a brief moment of pause as Victus murmured. "Give me a moment to say good bye to my men." Before heading off to his officers.
"Without him down here, there's a good chance we'll lose this moon." Garrus expressed in concern to his old friend who immediately retorted with a fact. "Without him up there, there's a chance we'll lose everything."
Garrus grunt as he strode closer to Shepard who turned to follow the gaze of his friend, it had been placed on a sovereign-class reaper which was laying waste to Turian forces. "Look at that, and they want my opinion of how to stop it. Failed C-sec officer, Vigilante and I'm their expert advisor? Think that you can win this, Shepard?"
Shepard sighed, "Yeah, I don't know Garrus. But I'm sure as hell going to give it my best shot."
"And damn sure that nobody else can do it. For whatever it's worth, I'm with you." Garrus responded, the two old friends reached out to grasp and shake hands. "Welcome aboard."
Attention was diverted to Victus who was returning. "Are you ready, Primarch Victus?"
He nodded as he halted a few paces from them. "One thing. Commander, I appreciate your need for our fleets. But I can't spare them. Not while my world is burning. But if pressure could be taken off Palaven."
"That's a pretty tall order." Shepard responded, it certainly was. They didn't have the manpower or the firepower to help the Turians but the Primach voiced the alternative. "We need the Krogan. I can't see us winning this thing without them. Get them to help us and then we can help you."
"The Krogan…" Shepard voiced, a bit stunned by the request from the new Primach. Garrus voiced as he joined the conversation. "Looks like your summit just got more interesting."
The Doctor nodded, it would indeed make for an interesting summit. However, would the Council races and the Krogans be enough? A thought occurred to the Doctor, there were other spacefaring species who could provide invaluable assistance against the Reapers. The Ice Warriors.
…
Author's Note:
The most difficult chapter up to date, it's hard to portray The Doctor truly to his character on a battlefield. I hope the portrayal is doing him justice, if not. PLEASE, let me know and I'll rectify it as soon as I can.
Also, next chapter will feature more of Clara, Ashley along with the Normandy Crew before they head for Eden Prime while preparations for the Summit is ongoing. Also, I wonder if people like the idea to add the Ice Warriors to the rooster of war assets against the Reapers (Maybe the Sontaren Empire too later on?)
Now, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter, please do write a review (the more feedback, the better).
