A/N: You guys have been patient. And patients gets rewarded. SO HERES SEMPER FI II CHAPTER 9!
I don't own Mass Effect
The lone mass relay within the Shadow Sea nebula came alive just as a small fleet of 10 ships appeared from a mass jump. Four cruisers, two carriers, three freighters and a dreadnaut along with over fifty fighters spread out in a defensive perimeter.
In the lead of the fleet was the Shadowed Light where Eric stood on the bridge as they headed for Horizon. "I want a carrier and a freighter to follow us in, everyone else hang back and wait for my signal as we planned." said Eric. 'Yes sir.' said the Captain of the Delta Division as the other ships broke off and got a ways away from the three still heading forward.
"Boss, we got a connection with the colony." said Cat. "Patch them through." said Eric. 'This is Chief Officer Ashley Williams of the Alliance, state your business.' said a familiar voice. Eric smirked, "Good to hear your voice again Ash, long time no see."
There was silence for a few minutes, 'Eric? Jesus...where have you been?' "I'll explain that later Ash, right now the people on that colony are in danger. The Collectors are enroute to kidnap the colonists. I have a small fleet to take them on, and a plan to do it. But I need yours and the colonists cooperation."
Silence again, then Ashley came back on, 'Alright Eric, you've never lied to me before. What do you need us to do?' "I want you to assemble all the colonists and prepare them for evacuation. I have a carrier that can take them all in. Once thats done We'll be able to set up a good defense."
'I'll do what I can, I hope your right about all of this Eric.' the link ended with that last statement. "Sir, our scouts report that the Collectors are roughly five hours out from the nebula." said the co-pilot. "Keep me posted every hour." said Eric heading to the tech lab.
X
"Terran, please tell me that secret weapon of yours is working." Eric implored when he entered the tech lab. "Yes." the Salarian scientist said enthusiastically. "When we discovered that biotics could repel the seeker swarms, we created a viable defense." he brought up a hologram of a cylindrical device. "Me and my science team managed to create a element zero shielding system. By simply planting four of these eezo pylons in strategic areas, we could cover the whole colony and keep the seeker swarms away from our troops."
Eric grinned from ear to ear, "Thats great to hear. Are they ready for launch?" "Yes, I had them loaded onto the freighter. They will be deployed from dropships when we reach the surface." Eric patted the Salarian on the shoulder, "Good work doc. Keep it up." Terran smirked, "Always do Commander."
X
The three ships made it to orbit around Horizon when Eric recieved another transmission from the ground. 'Eric? It's Ash, the colonists are ready for evac in the town square.' "Alright Ash, we're going to start sending dropships down to set up defenses." He looked over to Cat, "Ships your's Cat, don't do anything I wouldn't do." Cat waved him off, "When have I ever...never mind. Don't answer that."
Eric chuckled and headed for the cargo hold, Talon, Rico and Rez all met him in the elevator. "We got this?" asked Rico. "Course we do mon. D'oes bug bastards won't know what hit d'em." said Rez.
"300 troops in our current cluster with over 2,000 waiting for back up with enough firepower to obliterate several facilities from both orbit and on the ground. Definately impressive." said Talon.
They reached the cargo hold where over 100 soldiers, both male and female of various races, wearing the standard issue Shadow Army armor and insignia. Many of them were either talking or checking their weapons.
When one noticed Eric he shouted, "HIGH COMMANDER ON THE DECK!" Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and stood at attention in two rows of 50. Eric put his hands behind his back and walked down the rows. "Listen up! We are about to engage the Collectors on the ground. When we hit dirt, you are to ensure that the colonists make it off planet before they attack while the others set up the defenses. I need four teams, each will protect the eezo pilons so that the seeker swarms stay off of us. That is a high priority objective people! If one pilon goes down our shields won't be able to fend off the seekers and we will be paralyzed."
Eric paused before continuing again, "This will be a sneak attack. When the Collectors realize that their seekers have failed they will send in ground forces, both infantry and heavys. When they enter the shield...rain hell upon them. You have been briefed that the Collectors are using Husks that are more advanced than what was encountered on Eden Prime, don't forget that!"
He looked at all of the men and women around him, "One last thing. Dead or alive...no one gets left behind. DO YOU GET ME!" "SIR, YES SIR!" shouted everyone. "Get to your assigned dropships and mount up!" The small army mobilized, gathering their weapons and piling into the dropships that were stationed in the hanger.
The ships were designed and created in the likeness of the Pelican dropships from Halo. Only that these ones were black with the Shadow Broker insignia painted by the cockpit. They were also twice as large with twice the wing span and three times the engine output to handle the extra weight, with attached chainguns and rocket launchers that could punch a hole through a reinforced wall.
Eric walked over to the armory where he saw the others suiting up. "We gonna find some bugs and ruin d'eir day. Thats what d'is is all bout mon." said Rez slamming a clip into his SMG. "About time. We haven't had a good fight in a while." grunted Zen cocking his Claymore shotgun.
Rico walked over with a new weapon in his arms. Eric had sent the blue prints for a average SAW from his dimension. The weapon specialists on Helghan immediately started building and created the once belt-fed weapon. It looked similar to a SAW, but it was a sleek dark green with white trim, and the bottom part where the ammo clip would be inserted was instead reserved for a large box shaped thermal clip that housed 250 rounds.
It was named the Firestorm RX-1, and Rico had been the first to test it. Easy to say, he fell in love with it. "Lets rock this shit." he said loading the large thermal clip into the gun.
The team split up into seperate dropships. Eric climbed into the co-pilot seat of the one he was in. "Take her in. Nice and easy." "Yes sir." said the pilot.
The bottom of the Shadow Light opened up and five dropships flew out and headed for the colony. Similar ships were leaving the carrier and freighter, four carrying the eezo pilons, two carrying Makos, and two others carrying Hammerheads. In addition there were five extra dropships to help evac the colonists. They were ready for war.
'High Commander. Our scouts have reported that the Collectors are another hour from the nebula.' "Copy that Captain. Keep watch and move in around the colony when after they make landfall. After we fight them on the ground they will most likely make a run for it. When that happens...I want you and the others to take them out." replied Eric. 'Yes sir.' was the comment, but Eric could hear the grin in the man's voice.
X
Ashley surveyed the center square of the colony. all 273 of it's residents had gathered with a few of their belongings. Many of them weren't happy that they were being moved, but after they were told that the Collectors were coming, they started packing quickly.
"Ashley, are you sure about this." said Lilith coming up next to her. "Yes. Eric is a very loyal friend, and a very couragous soldier. If he says he can help than I believe him."
Up in the sky, several dots appeared and started to grow as they approached. Ashley looked through the scope of her assault rifle and saw the ships approaching. "Alright everyone, the ships are coming down, get ready." she said loud enough for everyone to hear.
The crowd cleared out of the square just as the first ship landed allowing over 20 soldiers to pile out. And at the front of the group, was Eric Lachance. "Hay Ash." he said with a grin. Ashley shook her head, "Still as badass as ever. Where'd you get the army." she asked as the other dropships landed. "I'll explain another time chief, right now we need to get these people out of here." Ashley nodded and they got to work.
X
It took about an hour to get all of the colonists loaded onto the dropships and off of the ground. Eric had set up a makeshift command center in the center of town and was looking over a few map readouts of the colony.
"We've set up the eezo pilons here, here, here and here. That should cover the whole colony from the seekers." said Terran pointing at four points highlighted in blue on the read out. "We also have defenses set up around the square, and have the Hammerhead and Mako units set up in strategic locations to add suppressing fire if need be." said Talon.
Eric nodded then looked over at Ashley, "Whats the status of those stationary guns?" "They haven't worked right in a while, but we can get them online if they are rewired properly." she replied. Eric looked over at Sev, "Sev, I want you to take a team and see if you can get those guns online. We'll need the firepower. Ash, you know the system best, go with them."
Ashley nodded and followed Sev out of the building. "Sir, pilon teams one through four have checked in. The eezo shield is up and at full power." said one of the technicians working a terminal nearby." "Whats the ETA on Echos 5 through 7?" asked Eric. "30 minutes." replied the technitian. "Have them maintain zero visibility and be ready to bring the rain."
'Sir, the Collectors are one hour from the colony.' Eric pressed his ear comm, "All teams, this is High Commander Lachance. The Collectors are 60 minutes from our location, I want all squads in their positions and ready for combat. When you see the enemy...show no mercy. They showed the innocent none, why should we?" A compilation of 'oohrahs' and 'yes sirs' echoed back at him.
Eric looked up through the light blue glow of the eezo shield at the sky above. He narrowed his eyes. "You'll pay for what you have done Harbinger." His biotics flared and his eyes glowed making a few of the soldiers around him shiver in fear.
X
The Collector ship landed several miles outside of Horizon and the seeker swarms were released. Just as the machine-organic bugs reached the colony, they were deflected by a light blue shield that was set in place around it. The Collector drones flew from the ship and stood outside the shield and watched as their swarms were deflected.
From his station, the Collector General looked through several monitors and saw the empty colony. His four glowing eyes narrowed as he witnessed his seekers repelled.
On the ground, one of the Collectors hovered as orange energy burst from it. "Assuming Direct Control." Harbinger looked through the drone's eyes as the force entered the colony. Not a soul could be found. "Spread out. Find the Humans."
The possessed Collector lead his army through the empty colony. The humanoid bugs showed no fear or hesitation in their search. Harbinger looked up and stopped at the foot of a flight of steps leading farther into the colony.
A single human stood at the top. Not just any human. But one the beings who destroyed his brother Sovereign. "Lachance." the ancient machine spoke through his puppet.
Eric smirked as he stood at the top of the stairs with his Mattock rifle on his shoulder, "You were expecting someone else?" he asked smugly. "Your words are hollow. Your life is insignificant. Your mission will fail."
The young Commander smirked wider, "I don't believe that...what about you fellas?"
All around the area, from the rooftops, to building windows, to around where Eric was standing rose over two dozen soldiers with their weapons trained on the Collectors.
Harbinger glared at Eric who's biotic's flared to life as he aimed his own rifle. "Your life is forefit." "OPEN FIRE!"
A/N: The fight for Horizon has begun. Review and I''ll update as quick as I can folks.
