Here's a chapter. That is all.
Chapter 8: On the Horizon
The briefing room was full. All the people Shepard had recruited, plus Jacob and Miranda were assembled around the conference table. The Normandy had just entered the Iera System of the Shadow Sea, and was rapidly approaching Horizon, a garden world colonized by humans in 2168. It was home to almost 700,000 people, and its capital city – Discovery - was under attack. By the Collectors. The Normandy had set off for the colony the moment one of the Illusive Man's many sources had picked up the telltale signs of a colony going dark. Only 4 hours later they were close to arriving and - with any luck - the attackers would still be there; and just maybe, some of the colonists as well.
"This is it people." Silence quickly fell in the room as Shepard spoke up. "This is our first and best chance so far to strike a blow against the Collectors, and we are not going to waste it. Joker, do we have the scans?"
A moment later, Joker replied, "Yeah, EDI just finished them, sending them to the system."
A holographic display lit up over the table showing a representation of the capital city, with an enormous vessel parked right in the middle. The Collector Ship.
"So what's the plan," Jack piped up, "nuke 'em from orbit?"
"No, that ship's nearly the size of a dreadnought. Anything we could do to get past its shields would level half the colony." Shepard explained. "Besides, if we destroy this ship completely, we'll lose our best lead. The chances of this being their only ship are next to nothing; we can't afford to start at square one again."
The whole team waited expectantly as the Commander pulled up a few schematics. "According to intel from the Illusive Man, an alliance team lead by Staff Commander Kaidan Alenko recently arrived to oversee installation of GUARDIAN anti air defense guns."
Miranda saw where this was going, "GUARDIAN cannons use infrared lasers that bypass shields." She noted. "We could use those cannons to disable the Collector Ship without destroying it."
Shepard nodded, "Exactly. But our scans indicate the towers are not operational. It's possible the Collectors disabled them when they first attacked. Our plan is to get a small team to the air defense control station and get the cannons back online."
"Sounds like a long shot," interjected Zaeed, "what's Plan B?"
"Ground assault on the enemy ship. But let's hope it doesn't come to that. There's no physical damage to the air defense cannons, so we should be able to repair them. Failing that… we'll improvise." Shepard turned to Mordin. "The professor here has developed a countermeasure against the seeker swarms."
The salarian doctor cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Yes. In limited numbers, should prevent detection."
Shepard continued, "Unfortunately, if we send more than 4 people it renders the countermeasure moot. So the ground team will consist of myself, Garrus, Zaeed, and Miranda. Garrus and Zaeed will cover Miranda and I while we repair the guns."
Jacob spoke up, "What will the rest of us be doing?"
"If things go south, or the guns are beyond repair, we'll need extraction. The rest of you will be in the shuttle on standby. We'll be counting on you to get us out of there if the worst comes to pass."
The rest of the team who would be staying behind showed varying degrees of disappointment, but didn't object. This was not about egos. Besides, it was better not to risk the whole team at once. Didn't make it any less frustrating though.
"We're approaching the drop point Commander," came Joker's voice over the intercom.
"All right, ground team, suit up. Everyone else, be ready to deploy when and if we call." The team dispersed, heading to their positions and grabbing equipment.
10 minutes later, Shepard and the rest of the ground team disembarked less than half a click from the defense station. They were in the outskirts of the colony. Initially they met no resistance as they moved forward. They passed through a prefab unit and inside found their first colonists. They were frozen in place, surrounded by an orange haze. There was an Indian woman and what might have been her father near a table with a chess board still on it. The collectors must have hit fast, the seeker swarms, well… swarming through the colony like a plague of locusts. Examining the colonists, Miranda deduced they were trapped in some sort of localized stasis field. The frantic movements of their eyes indicated (horrifyingly) that they were still aware, but powerless to move or speak. Unable to help them, the team continued forward.
Leaving the home, the ground team encountered their first inkling of resistance. Collectors flew in from the rooftops to lay down heavy fire on the small squad. They were hard pressed to fight back, as the Collector troops used their flight to gain advantageous positioning. Shepard and Miranda countered their flanking with biotics, and while Zaeed laid down suppressing fire, Garrus worked to pick off any Collectors the biotics exposed. Slowly but surely, they advanced, until eventually they made it into a garage where they found a colonist (a mechanic) who had been spared the seeker swarms. It was unlikely he would have been able to remain hidden much longer if the Commander and Co. hadn't arrived when they had. As it happened, he was able to provide them intel on the defense towers. Apparently the guns were intact, but the targeting software had yet to be correctly calibrated.
Miranda felt a surge of uncharacteristic optimism. If they could hook up EDI to the tower's systems, she could easily rectified any errors in the software. This crazy plan of theirs might work after all. Getting to the defense station, however, pushed the team to its limit as they blasted their way through Collector opposition. Finally they made it, and after an intense battle keeping the Collectors away from the towers while EDI powered up the colony's defenses, the defense cannons began to fire on the Collector Ship. Unfortunately, while the cannons had been charging up, the Collectors had been preparing to withdraw, and the GUARDIAN lasers only managed a few glancing blows before the ship rocketed out of the atmosphere.
"No," exclaimed the mechanic, who had left the safety of his garage when the cannons had started their barrage, "don't let them get away!"
"There's nothing we can do," Shepard said bitterly, "they're gone."
"Half the colony's in there! They took Egan, and Sam, and… and Lilith! Do something!" The poor man shook his fist at the sky.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want it to end this way."
Garrus stepped in, "We did everything we could, Shepard, and that other half of the colony is still here thanks to us."
The mechanic turned back towards the squad, "Shepard, yeah… I know that name. Your some kind of big Alliance hero, ain't ya?" He said disdainfully.
Another voice cut in, "Commander Shepard, Captain of the Normandy. The first human Spectre. Savior of the Citadel." A dark haired man in Alliance issue armor walked into view. "You're standing in the presence of a legend, Delan. And a ghost."
'Delan' didn't look happy to see the man. "All the good people we lost today and you get left behind. Figures." He shook his head and started to leave, "Screw this, I'm done with you alliance types."
Shepard approached the man. "Kaidan? I'd heard you were on the planet, but I wasn't sure I believed it."
Kaidan took a step backwards and crossed his arms. "Heard from who, your new pals at Cerberus?" Shepard started to respond, but Kaidan kept going. "I'd heard that you were alive, and working with Cerberus. From the Alliance. I told them to go to hell, that you would never do that. But here you are."
"I was dead for two years. Cerberus brought me back to do something about the Collectors. And the Reapers. You and I both know they're still out there."
Kaidan didn't look convinced. "So, what, that makes it okay for you to consort with terrorists?"
"I'm not consorting with anyone, I'm trying to save lives!"
"By making a deal with the devil. How's that usually work out?"
Garrus interjected, "Dammit Alenko, you're so focused on Cerberus you're ignoring the real threat!"
"Or maybe Cerberus has used that threat to blind both of you from the truth!" retorted Kaidan.
"Come with me, Kaidan," Shepard implored, "see what we're doing, what we're up against. I could use your help, just like the old days."
"No Shepard. I'm no traitor. I know where my allegiances lie. I'm heading back to the Citadel to give my report. They can decide if they believe your story."
"I've already given them my story, but they dismissed it. Dammit, don't you remember how it was last time? They're not going to acknowledge the threat until it's staring them down over the barrel of a gun! I'm not going to abandon the colonists just because the council refuses to listen."
"And I'm not going to join Cerberus just because you ask. You've changed, Shepard. You've abandoned everything you stood for, and I'll have no part in it."
"Kaidan-"
"So long, Shepard. Try not to get yourself killed."
The other soldier turned and left leaving Shepard standing dejectedly in front of the other three. After a moment's uncomfortable silence, he opened a comm channel to the Normandy.
"Joker, get us out of here. I've had enough of this colony."
The mood in the shuttle back to the Normandy had been frosty (an ongoing trend, it seemed). The encounter with Kaidan aside, the mission hadn't exactly been an unqualified success. While it was true they had saved lives with their intervention, thousands more had been lost and the Collectors were still on the loose. Worse still, as they had feared before embarking on the mission, they were basically back to square one. Without further intel from the Illusive Man, the future of their endeavor was in jeopardy. They needed another lead.
Shepard's mood, on the other hand, when they had arrived aboard the Normandy had been decidedly despondent. A debriefing with the Illusive Man had soured his disposition further, and he had retreated to his cabin. Miranda found herself concerned (professionally speaking, of course) about his state of mind. She decided the duty of assessing his condition fell to her as executive officer. She reassured herself this logic completely stood up to scrutiny as she stood outside the door to his cabin and hit the buzzer.
"It's not locked," came the muffled reply from the other side of the door. Miranda walked in and was momentarily baffled by the empty cabin that greeted her, before noticing the door to the bathroom was closed. Ah. As she walked in the door opened to reveal Shepard. Dressed only in a pair of combat trousers with a towel over his shoulder, hair still wet from the shower he must have just finished. The elevated lighting in the cabin gleaming off the droplets of water festooning his broad muscular ches- focus Miranda…
"What did you need?" Shepard asked, slicking his jet black hair back with his hands, getting it out of the way of his eyes which sparkled sapphire in the- good god, get a hold of yourself. "Miranda?"
"Uh, right… um…" Why am I here again?
"Well, while you try to remember," Shepard started while pulling on a shirt – oh thank god, "the Illusive Man had some interesting things to say about Horizon. For example, were you aware Cerberus had been leaking the fact that I was working for them to Alliance Command?"
Miranda had been aware.
"They also left clues that Horizon was the next colony to be hit, and that Cerberus had something to do with the attacks. So Kaidan gets stationed there. Lo and behold, the colony gets hit. I thought it was strange we managed to get there first while in a different system, didn't you?"
Miranda had thought it was strange.
"The Illusive Man served the colonists, and Kaidan, up as bait. All to prove that the Collectors have it out for me. Something I had been clued in on ever since they vaporized the first Normandy two years ago. So he sacrificed half a colony for nothing. It's no wonder Kaidan didn't trust me. Look at the madman I'm working for."
Miranda felt the need to speak up. "You know another colony would have been hit eventually. At least this way we got there in time to save half the colonists."
"That is the only reason I'm still on this ship. But from now on, I've made it clear that this sort of tactic is unacceptable." That must have gone over well. The Illusive Man didn't generally respond gently to ultimatums. But then again… this was Shepard.
"Anyway, until we get new intel, the only thing we can do is continue building our team. We're going to Illium. Ever been there?"
"Uh, yes, a few times." If they were going to Illium, there was something that would need to be added to Miranda's agenda. Someone she needed to check up on. Speaking of which, she finally remembered why she had come up here in the first place.
"About Alenko, you were right, what you said to him. You're doing what you have to do, you shouldn't need to make excuses for it."
"And yet I always find myself making them anyway. Makes a man wonder."
"Are you honestly saying you'd leave all this behind just because you're forced to work with Cerberus? That you'd abandon the colonists?"
Shepard sat at the foot of his bed and kneaded his temples with his fingers. "The fact that I'm here should answer your question. But you knew that." He glanced up at her, "So you said it for my benefit."
Damn. Miranda was suddenly remembering how crap she was at being reassuring. It seemed to come so naturally to Shepard.
"If you're concerned that I'll abandon the mission, let me put your mind at ease. Once I start something, I finish it. But from now on we're doing things my way, and I don't sacrifice people without necessity. Especially civilians. Make that clear in your next report." Now Shepard was even taking away the comforting routine from paperwork. He certainly had a tendency to complicate things.
"Was there anything else?"
"No Commander." Miranda had some work to do if they were heading to Illium, and now she had to think of a way to soften the blow of Shepard's ultimatum in her next report. She was supposed to be keeping him under control.
Bang up job you're doing, Lawson, she thought to herself as she entered the elevator, you can't even keep yourself under control. Seriously, ogling the Commander like a schoolgirl? It wasn't as if it was anything she hadn't seen before, after all. Admittedly, there was quite a difference between a lifeless corpse on an operating table and a living breathing man, but she had though herself above that sort of distraction. Admittedly (again), it had been a while since she had any… release, but during the Lazarus project it had neither been necessary nor convenient. The intellectual stimulation of the project at the time had been plenty. Now though… no, they had a mission to complete and at the very least she could manage to be professional. What really stung in her mind was the question of whether she was more bothered by the fact that she had been distracted by Shepard, or the fact that he never seemed to be distracted by her.
Even Jacob, the consummate gentleman the vast majority of the time, had been… diverted after their first mission together. Most of the male crew on the Normandy still had trouble hiding their sideways glances whenever she passed (and, she could swear one woman who frequented the mess hall). Hell, her attire had been designed with that very goal in mind. It was form fitting enough to be mistaken for a catsuit. As a matter of fact, it frequently was. Idiots. It was clearly two pieces of material. Why the hell did people think she wore a belt? And why was she still thinking about this? It seems she had answered her own question. Whether or not she was willing to admit it, Shepard had the effect of making her feel inadequate. A nobody from a small colony, with no family to speak of, was in charge of this mission. And was repeatedly succeeding where she would have failed. And… dammit, she wished she could distract him. Then at least she could prove he wasn't so bloody perfect.
Author Notes:
Hah, a new chapter in just under two weeks! And I wasn't miserable writing it, double win. Apparently shorter chapters are the way to go.
On a slightly more serious note, I'm considering changing the rating to M, just because I'm planning to explore some slightly more adult themes (no, it's not going to be smut) that I'm a little uncomfortable sticking with the T rating for. If anyone would be absolutely devastated (for whatever reason) if I changed the rating up to M, let me know, but failing a coup d'état, I'll probably be doing that starting next chapter (not that next chapter is necessarily going to involve the more adult material, but that's when I'll change the rating). Better safe than sorry.
That out of the way, I was thrilled to expand on a few of the details that were left out regarding the plan on Horizon. The game leaves it extremely ambiguous as to what Shepard was planning to do on Horizon, so I provided some context. There are actually quite a few plot holes in ME2 that are easily fixed with just a little explanation, so I plan to be doing that to appease my inner nit-picker. If you really hate those, just control + f, and type in "Miranda" to get to the more character oriented bits. Or just read them. They usually won't be very long.
Lastly, anyone who read the bio which was literally the first paragraph of the first chapter will have already known this, but any who missed it would have found out that Kaidan is the Virmire Survivor in this fic. The reason is that almost every other Miranda/Shep fic I've read has Shepard either having previously romanced Liara, or more often Ashley (nothing wrong with that, by the way). This Shepard hasn't romanced anyone (in the games anyway) yet, a detail that will be expanded on later. With Ashley dead, there will be absolutely no doubt that they don't have a history. Might be overkill, but hey, there ya go.
