Well… With RWBY Season (excuse me, "Volume") 2 starting and it being canon that it starts only a couple weeks after the end of Season/"Volume" 1, I've run into a problem here thanks to the ~3-month time skip between Travels Books 26 and 27. I could ignore Season 2's happenings altogether, or have them casually mentioned as having happened in future updates as the episodes roll on, or I could end up making a "Book 26.5" once Season 2 is finished airing… I just don't know.
SEE CHAPTER ONE FOR DISCLAIMERS
PLEASE READ & REVIEW, AND TEND TO THE TROPE PAGES
-CHAPTER START-
Normandy II – Deck Two, Conference Room
"The Krogan is in no position to be making demands" the Salarian Dalatrass said, contempt in her voice.
"'The Krogan' has a name" the old red-armored warlord growled. "Urdnot Wrex. And I'm not just some junkyard varren you unleash whenever you're in trouble."
Shepard walked in, wearing his Alliance dress-blues, and took his spot at the head of the table; Wrex gave him a respectful nod.
"Commander," EDI interrupted, "a high-ranking member of the Dimensional Defense Force's politico-military command wishes to join the meeting. I have filled him in on the details. He will not be joining in person; a quantum-entanglement holographic communication is ready."
"Patch him through."
In a shimmer of blue, a hologram appeared of a massive saurian alien, just under eight feet tall and clad in ornate silver armor.
"Arbiter Thel Vadam?" Shepard said. "This is a bit of a surprise."
"I was the only DDF head of state available who isn't too busy dealing with other issues" the Sangheili leader replied. "I will be informing the others of the contents and results of this summit afterward. …It is good to see you still live, Commander."
"Likewise."
"I've heard about you guys" Wrex said. "The Sangheili… The clan-like structure, focus on honor, and love of battle of the Krogans, combined with the self-control, tactical doctrine, and regimented discipline of the Turians…" he looked up to meet the hologram's eyes. "As well as the physical size and strength of the Yahg."
"A bit taller than the Yahg, actually, from the looks of it" Dalatrass Linron replied. "Not quite as bulky, though."
"Anyway, I've got my own problems" the old Krogan continued where he'd left off. "Reaper scouts have arrived on Tuchanka. So why should I care if a couple thousand Turians die? The galaxy has more than enough of them still in it to keep their population going..."
The others present easily detected his unspoken statement: with the genophage affecting their birth-rates, the Krogan species couldn't survive the attrition that fully committing themselves to the Reaper War would cause.
"Trying to draw out negotiations will get you nowhere, Wrex" Primarch Victus said. "I have no time for it. Just tell us what you want."
"I'll tell you what we need…" He looked around at everyone. "A cure for the genophage."
"Absolutely not!" Dalatrass Linron slammed her hands on the table. "The genophage is non-negotiable!"
"Why are you so opposed to the idea, Dalatrass?" Shepard asked.
"Because my people uplifted the Krogans. We know them best."
"You mean you used us!" Wrex responded. "To fight a war you couldn't win! It wasn't the Salarians or the Asari or even the Turians who stopped the Indoctrinated Rachni! It was Krogan blood that turned the tide!"
"And after that you ceased to be useful! The genophage was the only way to keep your 'urges' in check."
If looks could kill, Wrex's ensuing glare would have reduced Dalatrass Linron to ashes right there on the spot.
"I had heard rumors that the Salarian Union and its representatives could be astonishingly callous and tactless when it came to dealing with some other races" Vadam crossed his arms. "I am not happy to see those rumors held some truth."
"Dalatrass," Victus spoke up, "you may not like him, but Wrex is right. Insulting him won't change that."
"I won't apologize for speaking the truth! We uplifted the Krogans to do one thing: wage war. It's all they know, because it's all we wanted them to know."
"Your people should have thought the matter through, then" Shepard replied. "Was it really a surprise the Krogans revolted?"
"That's precisely my point, Commander. We made a rash decision; we turned to the Krogans in desperation. It's the same mistake you're about to make today. No good can come from curing the genophage."
"The Krogans have paid for their mistakes. The genophage has gone on long enough."
"1,476 years, if you're keeping track" Wrex chimed in. "78 longer than I've been alive."
"It was 1,000 years of peace free from these brutes!" the Dalatrass snapped.
"Enough!" Victus shouted. "Whether or not they deserve a cure is academic. It would take years to formulate one."
"My information says otherwise" Wrex replied. He walked up to Victus' spot, the Turian moving aside to let him have the console. "A Salarian scientist named Maelon Heplorn grew a conscience. He was on my planet, testing a cure on our females."
"I remember" Shepard said with distaste. "His methods were cruel and barbaric."
"Yeah, they definitely were. …But what you didn't know, my old friend, is that some of the females survived his experiments."
He inserted a data-packed from his omnitool into the terminal, and on the far wall's screen a recording was displayed of the inside of a Salarian base, as someone carried or wore the camera while moving through it, focusing on around four Krogan females, clad in veils and robes, in containment cells.
"So, the Dalatrass here sent in a team to clean up the whole mess, and to take them prisoner."
"Where did you get this?" Linron asked, looking a bit rattled. "It… It could be a fabrication!"
"Don't lie to me! Those are my people! They're immune to the genophage, you kidnapped them, and now you're going to give them back!"
"Is this all true, Dalatrass?"
"How will curing the genophage benefit my people?-! How could anything good come from helping these beasts?-!"
"Are you blind?-!" the Arbiter snapped. "Listen to me, Salarian. If we do not free the Krogans from that which has shackled them all these years, they will not only be unable to survive this war, they will not help the Turians either. Without their support, the Turians will fall. And without the Turians, the Humans will perish as well." His hologram stalked close, towering over the woman and glaring calmly down at her. "Would you doom three species to extinction for the sake of your ridiculous racist grudge?-! And when the next threat to the galaxy comes and your people are in its sights," he leaned in close, "how long do you think you will last without the Humans and Turians around to protect you?"
"And that's assuming you even live through this war" Shepard chimed in. "How long do you think you'll last alone against the Reapers, Dalatrass? Because if you don't help us, that's how it'll end up."
"And I'll be the last friendly Turian you ever see" Victus added, the sub-harmonics of his voice subtly displaying just how angry and serious he was.
Linron looked furious, but then she acquiesced. "…The females are being kept at one of our STG bases on Sur'Kesh. But I warn you, Commander! The consequences of this-"
"Will be nothing compared to those if the Reapers win!" Shepard snapped, interrupting her. "Come on, Wrex. Let's go get your people."
"You're not setting foot on Sur'Kesh! This will take time to-"
"It happens now" Victus said. "As a Council Spectre, Shepard can oversee the exchange."
As the group began to make their way up, Dalatrass Linron tried to get one last jab in.
"I won't forget this, Commander! A bully has few friends when he needs them most!"
The Arbiter's hologram turned back to face her. "Oh, so you're foolishly stubborn, short-sighted, a racist, and a hypocrite. Lovely" he sneered. Then his hologram dispersed, the connection being terminated.
-SCENE BREAK-
Annos Basin cluster – Pranas System – Sur'Kesh
CODEX: "Alternating between large oceans and landmasses covered in flora, the Salarian homeworld, Sur'Kesh, is known for its humid climate and lush vegetation. As with the rainforests that once covered Earth, the planet's many forests enjoy a rich biodiversity. The Salarian desire for intellectual stimulation drove them long ago to explore every aspect of their environment, developing ways to thrive without consequences detrimental to their habitat. The areas near major cities and industrial centers are meticulously maintained, with an eye towards ensuring that sunlight penetrates to the ground level and that established paths through the jungle are kept clear for travel. Burngrass, a soil-enriching and adaptable weed native to Sur'Kesh, has become a major export because of its value for terraforming."
SCAN: "The Salarian homeworld has been likened to the jungles of Earth: pretty to look at, teeming with life, uncomfortable to live in, and dangerous to the unwary. The technophilic Salarians had significant pollution and waste problems early in the development of their society. They also embraced social solutions just as quickly, and through complex breeding rules, Sur'Kesh now maintains a crowded but sustainable population. The planet tends to be wetter than Earth, and Salarian cities spare no expense to collect and provide fresh water, as one might expect from an amphibious species.
Due to Sur'Kesh's location in the galaxy, far from dark-space, it has yet to be invaded by the Reapers. But its rulers are all too aware that they are in the path of attack. Because they could not strike the first blow, as their military doctrine suggests, many already consider their forces at a severe disadvantage."
The UT-47A Kodiak shuttle descended over the rainforest-jungles of the Salarian homeworld; onboard were Shepard, Wrex, Liara, Garrus, Javik, and Teana in her red Mark-VII Mjolnir armor.
"This is the Salarian homeworld we're headed to" Shepard said to Wrex. "They aren't used to seeing Krogans here, so let's keep it simple. We land, get the females, and leave before anyone changes their mind."
"I still don't trust a word they say" Wrex replied.
"Let diplomacy play out, Wrex. You'll get what you want."
"These females are the best – and probably last – hope for my people."
"We'll bring them back, Wrex" Liara replied. "Don't worry."
"I appreciate that, Liara. I wouldn't want anyone else along for the ride."
Garrus loudly cleared his throat, and Wrex turned to him with a grin.
"I suppose I could make room for you too, Garrus" Wrex chuckled.
"Figured you'd gone soft sitting on your throne," Garrus remarked, "forgot how to hold a gun."
"Heh." The old Krogan looked at Javik, who was carefully inspecting his particle rifle. "Who's this?"
"Javik" Shepard replied. "A Prothean; found him on Eden Prime."
Wrex shook his head. "After all the crazy shit we've been through the past three years, nothing connected to you surprises me anymore, Shepard. …Well, maybe a little."
"I imagine it also helps that you've lived long enough to see all the weirdness the galaxy has to offer" Teana chimed in. "…How old are you, exactly?"
"1,398 Terran years" Wrex replied proudly. "And the docs say I've still got a few more centuries left in me!"
"Remind me to get you something nice for your 1400th birthday in a couple years, Wrex" Shepard said with a little grin.
"Commander," Cortez called back, "I have the Salarian base on sensors."
"Set her down" Shepard ordered.
The Kodiak approached a two-building, multi-leveled base set amongst greenery-covered cliffs and between two waterfalls; the structures looked somewhat like a high-tech version of some of the ancient stepped temples on Earth. The craft hovered a few meters over a landing pad, as two Salarians below scrambled back into the base.
"Commander, Salarian ground control says we don't have clearance to land" Cortez said.
"Tell them the Dalatrass authorized this herself" Shepard replied.
Wrex growled. "I knew they'd never keep their word! Let's see them try to stop a Krogan airdrop…"
He opened the portside hatch of the shuttle and leapt out, his bulk shaking the ground.
"We have an unauthorized landing!" one of the Salarians said over the intercom.
"And who authorized you to hold my people hostage?-!" Wrex responded.
The old Krogan's body glowed blue with Biotic energy being readied, as he drew his shotgun. Suddenly, a pair of laser sights painted his skull, and he looked to see two Salarian snipers drawing a bead on him from another structure across the valley. The others of Team Shepard leapt out as well; Javik pointed his particle rifle at the armed Salarians on the landing pad, while Teana and Garrus aimed his Mantis and her Device's Sniper Mode at the snipers across the valley, and Liara made ready to cast a Barrier to protect her team at a moment's notice.
"Everyone stand down!" a Salarian in black armor shouted as he came running up. "Hold your fire! Commander Shepard, restrain your colleague! We only found out about this transfer a few moments ago!"
"I'd like to avoid a diplomatic incident" Shepard said.
"As would we" the Salarian commander replied.
"But you have something valuable to Wrex."
"Something worth dying for" the Krogan added.
"This matter can be resolved," the Salarian said, "but I must insist he remain under guard."
Wrex snarled.
"I can handle this, Wrex" Shepard told him.
After a few seconds, Wrex stowed his shotgun away. "Anything goes wrong, and all bets are off."
As the Kodiak set down, Team Shepard (minus Wrex, who now had three armed guards surrounding him) followed the black-armored Salarian into the base.
"I'm Padok Wils," he said, "and I appreciate your understanding, Commander. With war on everyone's minds, our people are on edge."
Up ahead, a containment cell was being moved across the area by a crane. Contained within it was a massive creature, bulky in build, with two large, curved horns over a face with eight eyes and a three-jawed mouth.
"I'd hope to never see one of those again…" Liara said with dread.
"Oh, do not tell me…" Shepard murmured. "Wils, please tell me your people aren't thinking of 'uplifting' the Yahg like you did the Krogans…"
Padok Wils looked a bit uncomfortable.
"Do you have any idea what the Yahg are like?" Shepard continued. "I do; I've fought one, and it was one of the toughest scraps I've ever been in. And their culture… Uplifting them has got to be one of the worst ideas in the history of bad ideas."
"Believe me, Shepard, I agree wholeheartedly" Wils replied. "Unfortunately, it's not my decision to make."
Shepard sighed. "What other kinds of work happen here besides potentially setting up the next galactic-scale catastrophe?"
"Evolutionary trials, morphological simulations, exo-genetic assessments…"
"They used to eat flies, and now they're one of the most advanced and verbose species in the galaxy…" Javik murmured from the base. "I am feeling my age at the moment."
"Nothing's ever simple with Salarians, is it?" Shepard remarked.
"Science has always been our best defense" Wils replied. "The research we do here has kept Sur'Kesh safe for millennia."
"Does that include studying lost Krogans?"
"The females were in poor health when we found them on Tuchanka. They were brought her to stabilize their condition."
"This whole planet smells wrong…" Wrex grumbled as he 'accompanied' the guards downstairs.
"I'd like to see them" Shepard said.
"Of course. I'll need to clear you for the lower levels. Give me a few moments and meet me near the elevator."
As Wils headed off to do what he had to do, Team Shepard made their way downstairs to where Wrex and his guards were.
"Shepard, I don't like this" Wrex said. "I should be the one going in."
"How about you stay here and we only fight one war at a time?" Shepard replied.
"Ah, that was just good old-fashioned Krogan hot air. If it'd been real, they'd be dead."
"Idle threats are empty threats" Javik said.
"Heh. Maybe when this war is over, you can come live on Tuchanka. You'd fit right in."
"What do you know about these females?" Shepard asked.
"They weren't fertile, so we used them as decoys to draw off enemies from the ones who were. But Maelon's experiments changed that. These damn pyjaks stole them right out from under us."
"That's a pretty brutal way to treat your women" Teana said.
"It was the females' idea. We've had to make a lot of tough choices to ensure we don't all die off. It's just one more thing that'll get better when the genophage is cured."
"Who tipped you off about the females here?" Shepard asked.
"Sorry, Shepard, but they're listening to every word we say." He turned to one of the guards. "I prefer my Salarian liver served raw!"
The two guards glared.
"He is correct" Javik spoke up. "It was a… delicacy in our cycle."
"I hear Vorcha prefer it grilled" Garrus added.
And now the Salarian guards looked distinctly uncomfortable.
"Are the Krogans ready to fight the Reapers?"
"Ever since Sovereign showed up, I figured this day would come. My people have spent too much time selling ourselves out as mercenaries. Now we can get back to doing what Krogans do best: saving everyone else from giant monsters."
"Never going to let us forget about the Rachni Wars, are you?" Garrus asked.
"Last time I was at the Citadel, I didn't see a Turian statue in your honor."
Garrus chuckled. "Just wait 'til this war is over."
"Back on the Normandy," Shepard continued, "you said Reapers were sighted on Tuchanka."
"Clans Jorgal and Ravanor sighted a few landing parties. The Reapers are up to something. Tuchanka may be a pile of radioactive rubble, but it's our pile, and we'll fight to the last Krogan to keep it that way."
"That's what I always liked about you, Wrex" Liara said.
"My smoldering good looks?"
"There is that" she said with a grin. "But you've never given up, and that determination is about to pay off."
"Yeah. Who would've thought back on Virmire we'd be standing here doing this together?"
"We'd better get this whole thing over and done with. It's been good talking with you again, Wrex."
"It'll be even better when we have a few Salarians for lunch."
Shepard shook his head in amusement as he and his team moved on. As they made their way toward the elevator, however, they were stopped by a familiar face, a black-armored Salarian with a greenish skin tone and the Salarian equivalent of a Major's insignia on his chestpiece.
"Commander Shepard" he greeted. "I'd heard you were coming."
"Good to see you again, Kirrahe" Shepard replied. "Judging from the insignia, I assume you've been promoted.
"Yes, due in no small part to our mission on Virmire. 'Hold the line'… You saved my men that day."
"It's nice to see you, Major" Liara said.
"Same to you, Dr. T'Soni. And Garrus Vakarian as well, hm? It seems the Reapers have a way of bringing us together."
"I guess we're both still feeling the effects of Virmire" Shepard said.
"Yes, it's ironic. You destroyed Saren's genophage cure, yet now a cure is the key to an alliance. Your standoff with Urdnot Wrex is legend within STG."
"I'm sure you saw Wrex's entrance."
"Our colonies three systems away saw it."
"He's not exactly happy with the security arrangements" Teana said.
"Apologies, but it's better that than an irritable Krogan with a shotgun wandering the base. Think of all the casualties; our med bay would never be able to handle it."
"What do you think about bringing the female Krogans here?" Shepard asked.
"Our scientists say it's important to preserve the females – 'evolutionary paradigms'. I say, when people know you're hiding something valuable, they'll want to steal it. Either way, I have my orders. They'll be your problem soon enough."
"Security seems high. Are you expecting trouble?"
"Our motto in STG is to always expect trouble – and, failing that, to create trouble for someone else. Our enemies have the same idea."
"A good principle to live by" Javik remarked.
"Who's this?" Kirrahe said.
"He's a… friend" Shepard replied.
"Hmm…" the Major examined Javik. "Genetically-modified Drell or Turian? Maybe Batarian? Let's have a look-see…"
Kirrahe called up his omnitool, performing a basic medscan of Javik, who scowled at him all the while.
"…A… A quad-strand genetic structure?" Kirrahe remarked as he looked at the scan results. "But that's impossible. That would mean…" He looked up at Javik with shock and awe.
"I was buried in a stasis pod on the human world of Eden Prime" Javik said.
"I… I see… Gracious, Commander, nothing connected to you is ever simple or predictable, is it?"
"How did you get posted to this base, Major?"
"I led the team on Tuchanka that found the females. Nasty business. Maelon may have meant well, but his operation was crude. Test subjects were unaccounted for. The females easily escaped his lab."
"Are the Salarians prepared for war with the Reapers?"
"I've heard what they're doing to Earth. I'm not sure any species can prepare for that. Though rumors suggest you're building a superweapon of some kind…?"
"The business with the Krogan females is part of it. I need the Turians' support, and they need the Krogans'."
"That is why I never became a diplomat – too much hand-holding; leave it to the Dalatrasses."
"Well, it was nice seeing you again, Major."
"Likewise. And Commander…" Kirrahe leaned in close, speaking low. "Regardless of what the politicians decide, you can count on my support in retaking Earth."
"You'd do that?"
"Consider it my way of returning a favor. It would be an honor to fight alongside you again. Good day."
The quintet made their way over to the elevator, finding Padok Wils waiting nearby.
"You have clearance now to see the females, Commander" he said. "I hope we can solve this matter without reenacting the Krogan Rebellions."
"What do you think about handing over the females?"
"I differ from most of my colleagues. Curing the genophage will bring closure to this issue. In the future, the Krogans may yet play some role we can't even imagine. We should let the evolutionary process decide who lives and dies, not galactic politics."
They walked over to the elevator, which scanned Shepard and then opened.
"Now," Wils continued, "take this elevator down and someone will-"
Suddenly, a low-pitched alarm began sounding throughout the base.
"Alert! Threat condition two has been declared. Scramble readiness teams."
"What's happening?" Shepard asked.
"Sensors have picked up activity on the perimeter" Wils replied, checking his omnitool. "Hurry, Commander. Someone will meet you below."
As Salarians scrambled to prepare and a gunship took off, Team Shepard boarded the elevator. Riding it down, they arrived in an expansive laboratory. Salarian scientists and soldiers moved about, securing data and checking reports. Up ahead, a few soldiers were gathered around another scientist.
"All specimens are accounted for, sir" one said.
As the soldiers moved away, the team got a good look at who they'd been reporting to: an older Salarian in a red-lined white labcoat, missing part of one of his cranial horns. He smiled as he caught sight of the team.
"Shepard!" he said. "Excellent timing. Good to have you here."
"Mordin?" Shepard sounded a bit surprised as he shook Dr. Solus' hand.
"Eyesight still sharp. Surprise understandable. Hadn't expected to return to work."
"His speech is strange…" Javik murmured.
"Ah. A Prothean. Excellent."
"You're back with the STG?" Liara asked.
"Special consultant. Had to be me; someone else might've gotten it wrong." He looked around, and then leaned in close and whispered. "Helped female Krogans. Fed information to Clan Urdnot. Encouraged political pressure to free females."
"You must be Wrex's inside source" Shepard said.
"Yes. Can explain later. Security warnings not normal. Need to get offworld for sake of Krogans." He led the group through the lab. "Females had weakened immune systems; side effect of Maelon's 'cure'." He stopped by the window of a containment cell holding a handful of bodies with sheets draped over them. "These… didn't survive."
"But what about Maelon's research? I thought we saved it."
"Indeed. Data saved, but not complete. Lacks crucial details to reconstruct cure, but still useful for synthesizing from living tissue. …Couldn't save them."
"I'm sure you did everything you could, Mordin."
"Arrived too late. Cannot delay now. One survivor. Immune to genophage. Can synthesize cure from her tissue."
"She's still here?" Shepard asked as he and the group followed Mordin further in.
"Yes. Last hope for Krogans. If she dies, genophage cure… problematic."
He led them to a containment cell, within which was a 'pod' holding the female Krogan, her body and face – except for her eyes, a calm yet piercing gaze – obscured by the robe and veil she wore.
"I'm Commander Shepard, Alliance Navy."
"Are you here to kill me?" she asked.
"Goddess…" Liara whispered, looking at her Omnitool's display of the Krogan's med-scan data. "What she's been through…"
"Urdnot Wrex and I are here to take you home" Shepard said.
"Why? What am I to you?"
"Have the Salarians been mistreating you?"
"Those were my sisters you saw back there. They did in a lot of pain."
"Did the best we could…" Mordin remarked.
"And now I know I'm the only one left. That makes me dangerous to a lot of people. What about you, Commander?"
"You're the future of the Krogan race. I'm fighting for that."
Suddenly, alarms began blaring.
"Then I hope you brought an army…"
"Alert! Unidentified vessels have breached the perimeter!"
The Salarian scientists and soldiers began scrambling.
"Give me an update!" one asked his colleague working on a terminal.
"Outbound communication has been severed!" the soldier replied. "We're cut off!"
"Secure all data to off-site location!"
"What's happening?" Shepard asked one who ran over to the terminal of the female Krogan's pod.
"We have multiple ships inbound!" the Salarian replied.
"Shepard, it's Wrex!" the old Krogan said over Shepard's omnitool. "Cerberus troops are attacking the base! Get the females out of there now!"
"Only one survived the aftereffects of Maelon's work, Wrex. It might be safer down here."
"What, so the Salarians can kill her, too? No deal! If you still want this alliance, get her out of there!"
Shepard nodded as the connection closed, and turned to the Salarian at the console.
"Release the female" he ordered. "We're leaving."
"I can't. Protocol states during lockdown no specimen-"
The worker abruptly seized and twitched, a Neural Shock wracking his body for a second.
"Objection noted" Mordin said, holding his Omnitool to the man's head. "Now, please release Krogan."
The Salarian keyed in a few commands, and the door to the transfer pod's control section opened.
"Need to monitor pod as it clears quarantine procedures" Mordin said as he got in, the door sealing behind him as a holo-terminal formed at his fingertips. "Meet us at next checkpoint, Shepard. Likely Cerberus opposes genophage cure."
Shepard nodded, as the pod began to rise out of the lab.
"You'll see Tuchanka again" he said to the female. "I promise."
As the pod rose, Team Shepard hurried back to the elevator they'd come down in. They opened the elevator door… and were greeted by the sight of an explosive charge sitting right in the middle of it, counting down the last second of its timer. Immediately Shepard, Liara, and Javik formed a triple-strength Biotic Barrier, which Teana supplemented with a Rune Shield. The bomb's blast was contained, protecting the nearby Salarians, but the elevator was gutted.
"Is there another way out of here?" Shepard asked a scientist.
"An emergency exit on the other side of the lab" the scientist pointed out.
Team Shepard hurried to the exit, Liara taking point as the team made their way up the ladder on the other side.
"Shepard, it's Wrex! I took the shuttle! Do whatever it takes to get the female up to the landing pad! I'll try to make life miserable for Cerberus!"
At the top, they rounded a corner and passed a squad of Salarians exchanging fire with Cerberus troops in the other structure across the valley. Moving on, a Cerberus Kodiak flew in and dropped off a fireteam of Cerberus Troopers right in Team Shepard's path. Teana had Mirage Rifle in burst-fire mode, and put a trio of rounds through the head of one Trooper. Garrus' Phaeston gunned down a second, while Shepard used a Biotic Throw to slam the other two into a wall. There was another group up ahead, but Javik and Liara threw out a double Shockwave-Chain that sent them all flying, some of them over the edge to plummet to the valley floor far below. Shepard pulled out his N7 Valiant and used it to finish off the rest, and the group moved on.
As they passed through the far door, in the next hallway a pair of Cerberus Troopers was waiting. However, the wall to the Troopers' left suddenly exploded out as a Yahg tore its way through, shoulder-checking one into a wall hard enough to cave his chest armor in, and then grabbing the other by the skull and slamming him into the floor, cracking his helmet like an egg. The Yahg roared at Team Shepard, but the jet of flames from a broken fuel line between it and them drove it to retreat.
"Careful," Shepard said, "there goes the next Shadow Broker."
"I coulda sworn it was muttering 'T'Soni' the whole time" Garrus added.
"Not funny!" Liara snapped.
After a quick detour around the jet of flames, the group made their way up a staircase to the level with the checkpoint.
"Shepard, Cerberus troops at checkpoint!" Mordin radioed. "Attempting to kill Krogan! Need assistance!"
As they ran out into the checkpoint area, Garrus made the first kill, a shot from his Mantis rifle blowing the brains out of one of the Cerberus Troopers shooting at the containment pod. A triple-shot from Mirage Rifle took down another, and a third had a hole burned through his upper chest by a sustained beam from Javik's particle rifle. The fourth tried to run, but a pistol shot from Liara got him in the back of the head. Shepard hurried over to the checkpoint terminal.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Containment shield is holding" Mordin replied, working on his own terminal. "Will try to repair if necessary. Can't speak for Krogan's health, however."
"I'm fine, Commander" the Krogan said.
"Females kept secret" Mordin continued. "Possibly a mole in STG. Could be indoctrinated. If no Krogan alliance with Turians, Reapers left unchallenged."
"We'll do more than challenge them" Shepard replied, finishing the command input and clearing the pod, which began to rise toward the next level.
"Shepard, meet us at next checkpoint. Cerberus likely to target-"
There was a blast from a thrown grenade, as a Cerberus Kodiak hovered nearby, two Troopers firing their submachine guns at the rising pod. Shepard hit both with a Biotic Pull that yanked them out of the craft to fall to their doom, and the shuttle flew away. As the team moved through the new opening out onto a ledge overlooking the valley, giving them a good view of the battle engulfing the facility, the Alliance Kodiak zoomed by, pursued by a Cerberus gunship. Without stopping, the Kodiak fired its guns at a pack of Cerberus troops ahead that were pinning a group of Salarian soldiers down, and the Salarians returned the favor by shooting a rocket at the pursuing gunship's tailfin, taking the Cerberus craft down.
"Shepard, get cracking!" Wrex said. "I'll try to draw some of their fire!"
"Shepard, last attack compromised security systems" Mordin reported. "Attempting to compensate."
The next area was a long, open area with Cerberus forces throughout – perfect for sniping. Shepard and Garrus used the Valiant and Mantis to thin the enemy's numbers, with Teana picking off the few stragglers. The team moved on, through a door and up the stairs to the next level. Here, Major Kirrahe was performing a quick and lethal melee takedown of a Cerberus Trooper as the team reached him.
"Commander, stay back!" he said, readying an odd-looking pistol-sized weapon. "Hostiles just down the hall."
"Is there an easier way around?" Shepard asked.
"You could say that…"
He then slid out of cover, firing his weapon at the trio of Cerberus Troopers advancing. Instead of bullets, it shot small glowing-blue spheres of some sort that adhered to whatever or whomever they hit. After a second, they exploded, killing the Troopers.
"How do I now have one of those?" Garrus murmured.
"Go, Commander!" Kirrahe said.
Up ahead, a Cerberus Engineer deployed an auto-turret, as a pack of Troopers joined him as well. As Team Shepard moved up, the Commander hacked the turret, causing it to turn on the Cerberus forces, shredding through half of them – including the Engineer – before being destroyed. Teana fired a 40mm grenade from Mirage Rifle's underslung launcher, killing two more, and Garrus' Phaeston & Liara's SMG put the rest down. They moved up to the next door, which scanned Shepard and then unlocked.
"I think Mordin was right" Teana said as the group filed through the hallway. "Cerberus got here way too quickly. Someone must've tipped them off."
"Every war has its traitors…" Garrus replied.
In the next, two-leveled room, a squad of Cerberus soldiers was ready and waiting, hiding behind barricades made from desks and the like. However, one met a surprising end as a varren broke free from a containment cell off to the side, leaping on the Trooper and tearing his throat out before the others brought it down. Teana switched her Device to shotgun mode and rushed in, dodging shots or letting her shields take them. Her weapon boomed, and the 8-guage shot tore through a Trooper's chest. She kept at it, thinning their numbers, and when a Guardian turned to face her he was cut down from behind by Javik. A Centurion and two Troopers fired at them from above, but Shepard overloaded the Centurion's shields and then took him out with his pistol, while the Troopers were gunned down by Garrus' Phaeston.
The group hurried up to the second level and Garrus bypassed the door, letting them out into the next checkpoint area. Another squad of Cerberus Troopers was opening fire on the pod. Shepard sent out a Combat Drone, the little construct immediately firing a few mini-rockets at the closest Trooper, while Teana fired Mirage Rifle in single-shot mode to kill two more. Liara threw out a Singularity that snatched three Troopers up, and Javik detonated it with a Warp, killing two of them and wounding the third enough for a brief burst of particle-rifle fire to kill.
"Shepard, suspect Cerberus has cut power. Can't progress until you reroute emergency systems."
Garrus hurried to the power station up ahead, and after only a handful of seconds he had everything back online. However, another Cerberus squad emerged from behind the group, led by a pair of Guardians. Shepard formed a Singularity that yanked the Guardians into the air, allowing a Mirage Rifle 40mm grenade to kill them. Garrus and Javik focused rifle fire on the baseline Troopers, thinning them out, and a Warp from Liara took out the last one.
"Excellent" Mordin said from within the pod's control portion. "Affinity for destruction intact, Shepard. Can clear us through now."
"How are you holding up?"
"Containment shield strong, but not designed for direct fire."
"This isn't your problem, Commander" the female said. "You don't know me."
"But I'd like to. Hang in there. Mordin, how many more checkpoints?"
"Just the landing area. Hope Urdnot Wrex still waiting."
"Wrex can't keep his hands off a fertile female" the Krogan woman said. "He'll be there."
As the pod began to rise again, another fireteam of Cerberus soldiers, including a Centurion, emerged from up ahead. A quick Overload/snipe combo from Garrus took the officer down, while Shepard's N7 Eagle killed the Troopers. The team hurried through a door and up a ladder, finally reaching the landing area. A squad of Cerberus soldiers was already there, and as soon as Team Shepard arrived they shifted fire from the pod, forcing the heroes' heads down. Teana and Garrus threw two grenades, killing or wounding around half of the enemy forces, while Shepard and Liara used a Singularity/Warp combo to take out most of the remainder, the last few being finished off by Javik.
"Appears safe. Need final approval now, Shepard."
Shepard moved up to the console, keying in the commands that Mordin highlighted for him. The part of the pod containing the female Krogan moved up, and a heavy crane grabbed hold of the pod and began slowly and carefully moving it across the ceiling. Suddenly, the ground shook as an Atlas dropped in from the sky above, slowly straightening up. Shepard ran for cover as it fired its cannon at him, and then it turned toward the pod containing the female Krogan, stomping towards her.
"Shepard, I can't land until you deal with that thing!" Wrex radioed. "It's too dangerous!"
"Door's jammed!" Mordin shouted. "Can't get out!"
"Stay clear" Shepard said. "We'll handle this."
"Protect the Krogan, Shepard! She's vulnerable!"
Shepard and Garrus hit the Atlas with a double Overload, weakening but not downing its shields. Fire from Liara's SMG and Javik & Garrus' rifles chipped away at the walker's shields further, but then it fired a missile that forced them to back off. Garrus hit it with another Overload while Shepard threw a grenade, and that did the trick, the walker's shields flaring and failing. Shepard looked to Teana, who nodded. Then, the red-armored Spartan/mage/shinobi took off in a burst of speed. She zigzagged, dodging cannon shots, and then leapt up and clung to a side wall. She launched herself off that, twisting through the air to avoid another cannon shot, and landed on the Atlas. Holding on despite its attempts to shake her off, she fired Mirage Rifle on full-auto at point-blank range into the cockpit canopy, shattering it after a few seconds of fire and then perforating the pilot. She leapt off as the Atlas toppled over backward, inert.
"Okay, looks clear from here. I'm coming in now."
The Alliance Kodiak set down, and after a few seconds Wrex hopped out, carrying a shotgun with one hand.
"You had me worried there for a minute" he said to Shepard as his other hand shook his friend's.
"Let's make this quick" Shepard said.
The group walked up to the pod, which was now offline.
"Let's get you out of there" Wrex said to the female, offering his hand.
The veil-clad Krogan woman stepped down out of the pod, ignoring Wrex's offered hand but giving him a grateful look nonetheless. Suddenly, a pair of Cerberus Troopers dropped in from above. Before they could even draw their weapons, however, the Krogan female yanked Wrex's shotgun away from him and blasted the both of them one-handed.
"I can handle myself, Wrex" she said, shoving the weapon back into his hands and heading for the shuttle.
"Women…" he muttered.
As the two Krogans headed for the shuttle, Shepard walked over to one of the Cerberus Troopers, lying in a pool of blood but still alive.
"Why is Cerberus here?" Shepard asked. "What do you want?"
Whatever the trooper tried to say, it only came out as a wet cough from shredded lungs. A couple seconds later, the man went still, succumbing to his wounds. Shepard shook his head and moved on.
-SCENE BREAK-
Normandy II, Deck Two, QEC Room
"Commander," Adm. Hackett said, "I'm hearing chatter that you're brokering a treaty between the Krogans and the Turians?"
"If I get Krogan boots on Palaven," Shepard replied, "the Turians promise me their support."
"And how did Cerberus get involved?"
"I don't know. The Illusive Man is up to something."
"Then keep them at bay. I can't overstate what a victory this treaty would be for the Alliance. We'll need all the help we can get."
"How's the Prothean device coming?"
"Alliance R&D has officially begun construction. The team has dubbed it 'Project Crucible'. We're throwing everybody who knows how to hold a hammer at it. This is going to be the most ambitious undertaking in human history."
"Will we get it done?"
"I'm not saying it won't be a challenge… but our researchers tell me the designs are… elegant – massive in scope, but strangely simple as well. We can do this, Shepard. You can do this. Never doubt that."
"No, sir."
"Good. Hackett out."
-Break-
Deck Two, Meeting Room
"You have the female, Wrex" Victus said. "A cure for the rest of your people can come later."
"That wasn't the deal" Wrex replied.
"But Palaven needs your reinforcements now. We can't delay."
Shepard walked in, standing beside Mordin.
"Mordin," he said, "how long will it take to finish a cure?"
"Need to synthesize base antigen from female. Also requires healthy male Krogan tissue. Will need a sample."
"You're lookin' at it" Wrex said.
"Acceptable. Will need you to remain aboard Normandy for procedure."
"Let's hope the food's gotten better…"
"Formulating a cure that works for every Krogan sounds like a tall order, Mordin" Shepard said. "Can you do it?"
"Of course. Similar to genophage modification project. Working against own alterations this time. Not as simple as garbage DNA blocking attachment sites. Will need to counteract shutdown of redundant nervous system, adjust neurotransmitter levels… Will create cure, Shepard. No need to worry."
"Then get started, Mordin, and make it quick."
"Always do. Will be in medbay if you'd like to speak more. 'Eve' requires tests."
"'Eve'?"
"Female's real name unknown. Normandy a human vessel. Human mythology seemed appropriate under circumstances. Suggest speaking with her. New perspective. Surprising in Krogan."
As Mordin left, Victus sighed and looked out the window. Right now, he was so thankful that the Human/Quarian team whose deep seismic scans had discovered the centuries-old Turian gigaton-scale warhead buried in Tuchanks' Kelphic Valley had sent a specialist team who discreetly excavated and disabled it without telling the Krogans about it; Wrex was being difficult enough as is. The old Turian then left for the war room, leaving Shepard and Wrex.
"So…" Shepard said. "What's the situation back on Tuchanka?"
"I'm still getting scattered reports of Reaper forces arriving" Wrex replied. "Something big is brewing. I won't let those things take Tuchanka, not when we're about to cure the genophage. My people have had enough bad luck in our time."
"Back on Sur'Kesh, it looked like the female Krogan could hold her own."
"Our females don't lack for spirit. For males, a good show of force sorts things out. But females like to talk about it. Then think about it. Then talk about it some more."
"Women have good ideas, Wrex. You should listen."
"Yeah, but they have so many of them. So sometimes I pretend to listen, and… well, let's just say Krogan females have tempers, too."
"What will you do after the genophage is cured?"
"Once we deal with the Reapers, a lot of Krogans will want to settle a score with the Turians and Salarians. I won't let them. That isn't our path forward. This time will be different."
"A lot of people will be relieved to hear that. No-one wants to repeat history."
"They know we'd probably win this time. But war has never brought us anything except misery. It's time to focus on rebuilding."
"Right. That's it for now, Wrex. Let's get back to work."
"Any time. And Shepard, I like what you've done with the Normandy. Got tired of always hanging around the cargo bay before. I still don't have a window like Liara does, but… it's progress. Wish I could knock some heads around with you, but duty calls. If the Salarian says my DNA's important, who am I to argue?"
Shepard headed back into the CIC, finding Traynor hard at work. She turned as she heard him coming.
"Commander, nice to see you again."
"How are you settling in?" he asked.
"I actually feel somewhat useful. It's been challenging to integrate datafeeds for the war summit."
"How are the systems holding?"
"Well, I'm glad we performed stress tests."
"Specialist Traynor has been extremely helpful" EDI chimed in. "The accuracy of our war-room data is a direct result of her work."
"Thank you, EDI. I'm still getting used to all this. In the lab, we'd hoard everything – piles of tech everywhere. Out here, it's like living out of a shoe box."
"Life on an active ship always feels crowded at first. You'll get used to it."
"Oh, it's not a bad thing! I've got no problems getting cozy. This is wonderful. Back in the lab, we had to hoard because we had no budget. Now… EDI, Ariake Tech uses a proprietary smart-processing algorithm that could clean up our long-range data. Can we license it?"
"We can. Analyzing and applying the upgrade now. The algorithm should reduce long-range strategic combat data analysis time by three percent."
"Impressive" Shepard said.
"If it means getting the equipment I need, I can quite happily live out of a shoe box."
Deck Three
"Shepard," Garrus said, "they say female Krogans have a thing for guys with scars."
"So I've heard."
"I've got a few myself. Here's hoping nobody's planning an arranged marriage to cement this deal. Though I have to say, I admire Eve. The things she must've endured, living with the genophage… And now, to top it all off, she's her people's last hope. Imagine the pressure. Takes real courage to face that. I hope we can measure up… I've never actually seen a female Krogan before. Seems like they're the real brains on Tuchanka."
Heading over to the medbay, Shepard walked in on what must've been an interesting conversation.
"Aware Krogan females find scars attractive" Mordin was saying. "Garrus loyal, reasonably intelligent. Bit aggressive. Almost like Krogan."
"For the third time, doctor, I'm not interested" 'Eve' replied.
"Ah, Shepard. We were just-"
"Are you okay?" Wrex asked 'Eve' as he came in.
"I'm fine, Wrex. You can relax."
"You can't be too careful, or put any faith in Salarian doctors."
"This one is different."
"Is he? What's that he's got there?"
"Simple blood test" Mordin replied.
"What kind?"
"Kind that ends the genophage. Shepard, please. Distractions counterproductive. Also affecting comfort of patient."
"Mordin was your inside source, Wrex" Shepard said. "You can trust him."
"Salarians have minds like a maze" Wrex replied. "You never know when they're leading you into a trap."
"Trap? Eve's release my doing. Would never have known about her if not for me."
"That was then. But she's out now. And if she gets hurt, I'll feel it."
"Understand. But my patient. My responsibility. Her welfare a priority. Will not allowed her to be compromised by anyone."
"Heh. You've got a quad, Doctor. Keep her safe. Our females have endured enough."
"Don't forget. Still need your tissue sample."
"I'll be back."
As Wrex left, Mordin glanced over his shoulder at Shepard.
"Common phobia. Fear of needles."
"Or Salarian doctors" Shepard said.
"Now have work to do. …Prefer females of the species."
"Alright. We're going to go pick up a few supplies at the Citadel, and then… well, we'll see where things take us next."
-SCENE BREAK-
Citadel – Docking Bay D24
Walking through the bay area, Shepard found his shuttle pilot leaning against a railing, watching the ships enter & leave.
"You finally made it off the Normandy" Shepard said.
"Glad I did" Cortez replied. "Even with the chaos of all the refugees, seeing so many ships in flight is comforting. Gets me thinking. …Hey, a Turian frigate. I think that's the PFS Havincaw."
"What's one Turian warship doing at the Citadel?"
"Looking for dry dock, I bet. She's seen battle. Look at the waver in her drive-core emissions. Alone, limping, looking for a haven. Maybe it would've been better to just go down fighting, like their families back home."
"Are you talking about the Turians or yourself?"
"…I should have been there, with Robert."
"I'm glad you weren't. You'd be dead, and we'd never have become friends."
"Yeah, that's one good thing from all this. I'm glad to serve with you, Shepard."
"The lives of future generations rest on those Turians' shoulders. On our shoulders. Nobody is giving up. Not those Turians. Not me. Not you."
"If anyone can pull this all together, it's you. And I'm with you."
"…Hey, look. Is that an Alliance cruiser? What's it doing here?"
"That's the SSV London, decommissioned years ago. Look, no guns. Refugees must have salvaged her from a shipyard. Geneva-class cruisers always had eezo cores like granite."
"People find a way to survive."
"Do whatever it takes to see another day?" Cortez sighed. "I've got to let go" he murmured. "For real this time. The refugees here have put up a memorial wall. They leave mementos of lost loved ones. I was thinking maybe…"
"What's stopping you?"
"Nothing. I mean… Let me think about it."
Shepard nodded, giving Steve a little space. As he sat down on one of the couches in the lounge area, however, Asa came up to him.
"Commander," she said, "I have a really big favor to ask of you. The Normandy-2's inter-realm slipspace drive is still operational, right? The Alliance didn't mess with it?"
"It's still working, yeah. You want us to swing by your homeworld real quick or something?"
"Nothing so selfish, Commander. I… I want us to go by Realm LDR-15, to Lucavos. I want to see if we can get Kaede out of there, alive and in one piece. I know Lucavos is still contested, but the N2's stealth drives can probably get us in and out."
"I've got no problems with it, but are you sure you want to? Considering how Fuyō views you and all…"
Asa looked downcast. "I know she hates me. And some of that hate is justified. But… I still care about her. I want to see her safe. Please, Shepard. Help me rescue my old friend."
"…Alright. We'll head out soon and make the jump. I'll let everyone know."
"Thank you, Commander. This means a lot to me."
-CHAPTER END-
Next Time: Heading to Lucavos to rescue Kaede F., and maybe help kick the Reapers off that world. Note that this chapter will almost certainly take a while to type up, since it's non-canon material.
