A/N: I hate it when I put off things, Massively Slaughtered hasn't been hitting me much lately so I am writing up this, the next chapter of MSD, hope you enjoy... BECAUSE IT IS MORE INTRODUCTION! MWAHAHAHAHA!
Chapter 8: Butcher or Lion?
Boomer Codex: The Boomer strain of the virus takes its influence from high cholesterol and fat that would circle the body before infection, they are judged to be the weakest because of its changes, the body swells to a bulging state due to it producing 300% more bilge and other substances than normal, the skin is expanded to the point of breaking, and at points it does, including around the face, because of the constant creation of these substances, they periodically vomit upon the ground for a few hours of relief before they swell larger again, a compound within the vomit produce pheromones that attract Common and Special Infected alike, as well as being able to explode when put under enough pressure, resulting in a 'splash' effect covering any survivors in range, making them effective 'suicide' creatures after the infection was cured, the Boomer population was regarded as fragile and so put far away from the front lines, now a days, the Boomers bomb like bodies have been put through a special process given at hospitals to 'flush' the body of all the chemicals within their stomach, no lasting cure has been found however as the bodies reproduce after a while, they have been known to expand far into the research of easy personal transport because of their situation, and worked with Screamers to gather any Common Infected for research into the Common Cure program, or Commune Cura as Latin is a common language now.
The mission had started a day ago, if it could be called a mission, people didn't honestly know how to answer that, with a Spectre onboard, newest prototype of advanced ship, and Captain Anderson, known as one of the greatest Infection Army assets that the G.R. have ever had was commanding it, you would think there would be.
But it was all just a shakedown run.
Yes, it sounds like a punchline to a bad joke, and anyone would look at this situation and would saw it was a load of Creeper crap (Jockey/Hunter hybrid), but when you work with the G.R., you learn to accept a few things and not ask questions.
But then again, not asking questions probably led to the Green Flu...
But, it also payed to just follow orders as well.
Anyway, the Normandy was given the 'mission' to get to the planet, it would have taken the fastest ship from the Turians at least five days to get there due to traveling through the Mass Relays, but for Infected Humanity's cooperation with the Turian's, they managed to cut it down to only three days, because of being able to travel a the speed of light anywhere it wishes, if it hadn't been for the fact that the Turian Hierarchy were going to get other Normandy class vessels in the future, it would have been the most advanced ship in any fleet from any species.
Asari are a very close tie, but that is still up for debate, and the S.I. originally developed their own own engines and very loosely around Element Zero.
The ship took on some characteristics from the Turians, the sleek and thin design along with special additions to the engines among other parts to the ship, Infected Humanity had put forth many of its own technology, as more ships were to be produced for the Turians, the issue would be discussed at a later date or whenever the G.R. decide to let them know the inner workings of the technology in the engines.
The crew itself were just as diverse as the ship, many S.I. roamed the hall completing several tasks to maintain the well-being of the ship, the different species were from A height to C height in categories, with much variety in species including Hunters, Smokers, the occasional Witch, a couple dozen Jockeys and several different hybrids.
Codex: A through to E classification in height was made before Infected Humanity even reached space, due to different sizes among the varieties of S.I., the system was made and placed into architecture so that buildings were made to accommodate the builds of creatures such as Tanks or Naitomeadoragon, the rough sizes were A-Jockeys and similar builds, B-Human sized Infected, C-Chargers and similar builds, D-Tanks, younger Naitomeadoragon and similar builds, and last of all E-Full sized Naitomeadoragon and similar builds, usually areas are marked with signs signifying whenever it is okay for B through E can be allowed.
Apart from the S.I., two Spectres were aboard as well, one was Nihlus Kryik, a strong mind and body, he had risen up the ranks easily when he had trained under several professionals, before becoming a Spectre, he had a look of profession on him, ignoring any unease of the situation, the other was called Solana Vakarian, a 'rookie' Spectre that was learning the ropes from Nihlus, she didn't try to look as stoic as her mentor, but more relaxed, but if you looked at her at the right time, she would give a crewmember a look of disdain behind their backs.
They were currently overseeing the 'shakedown run' of the Normandy, currently overseeing the work of one Jockey helmsman, as he used his long arms to reach all of the controls easily, all the while glancing back at the two Turian Spectres every now and then with apprehension.
Not that he was scared that they would attack the crew of course, that would be suicidal, it was just that he was within their range.
Sitting next to him was a humanoid type S.I., he had a human that took on a greenish tint with his veins showing out his skin with a distinctive black, his most prominent
feature however, was his face, which had a strong underbite, with several jutting teeth at least a few inches long, curling over his lip, both the bottom and lower one sported a charcoal black as if they were burned, a small mop of black hair was perched on his head, and his eyes sat between both features normally enough, thus was a hybrid known as a Spitfire.
Codex: Spitfire's are the hybrid that is formed between a Flamer and a Landshark, because of the flammable liquids that are produced from the Flamer side of the hybrid, they can coat their projectile teeth in the compound so that they are more lethal, but unfortunately, most Spitfire's pay the price, with the constant burns that is sustained around the mouth and burning the gums of the rapidly growing teeth, all of them suffer from severe headaches due to staining of the sensitive nerves.
Meanwhile, down one floor of the Normandy was the crews quarters, a specific one stands out from the rest, as most of the others are shared, this one was a private room for one Grace Shepard to rest in.
Grace was currently suiting up her armour, yes, while her superiors had dictated that is was only to test the capabilities of the Normandy, she had not gotten so far by not preparing for what was implied false, no one knew that Batarians would attack Elysium, and she was caught unaware because of that, so after gaining inspiration from Miyamoto Musashi, to never let your guard down and always be cautious, of course not so drastic as to never take a bath or comb her hair.
She was a fighter, but still a lady after all.
She looked out of the window, the stars zipping past as the ship was travelling through 'slip-space' as some people call it, the technical name was too complex to bring up in normal conversation, she took a deep breath before getting off her bed to stand.
The door of her quarters opened and she stepped out, she had rarely ventured out into the view of the other crewmembers, she wasn't what one would call eager to make friends, she ignored a few stares in her direction as she turned her body towards the stairs that led to the command bridge.
"Was that her?" asked a Hunter-Charger hybrid to his co-worker a Jockey.
The aforementioned S.I. nodded slightly, "Yep, so what are you on the Shepard debate?"
"Lion fully, I saw her on Elysium, whatever she did on Torfan was well deserved"
"I don't know..." said his friend thoughtfully, "I saw the reports on it, however vague they may be, the brutality was clear enough, I think Butcher"
Grace ignored this, her Hunter genes may not have shown much physically wise, but her hood that covered her eyes showed so, as the lights of the ship were a strain to her eyes slightly, and as she walked towards the cockpit with a steady grace, her weapons glinting on her back, several more Lion or Butcher questions were asked from the more further away crewmembers, she ignored them as well.
When she had reached the front of the room, she stood beside the Spectres without any hesitation, Solana glanced at her, narrowing her eyes a little before looking forward again.
At the same time, Joker was currently running his hands along the piano of buttons and levers as the ship shuddered slightly, the space that was currently zooming by the window now returned to a normal view of the stars as it came out of its lightspeed journey.
"Thrusters... check, navigation... check," Joker said internal emissions sink engaged, all major and minor systems online, as well as the Wormhole Ring running under 6000 units, drift... just under 1500 K"
"1500 is good, your captain will be pleased" said Nihlus from behind him in his flanging voice that was common for most Turians, he then left his spot behind the helmsman's chair and exited the cockpit.
"Hn" said Solana, before following him close behind,
About ten seconds after they left, the Jockey turned his head to see if they were out of range, then breathed a sigh of relief.
"Damn, did you not even feel the Tank in the room there?" he asked his Spitfire co-pilot.
"I just ignored the tension you were making Joker" he replied back, the now named Joker huffed in response,
"I hate those guys"
"Nihlus gave you a compliment... so you hate him?" with an eyebrow raised at the Jockey pilot,
"You remember to zip your jumpsuit up on the way out of the bathroom Alenko? Thats good" exasperated Joker, "I just jumped us halfway across the galaxy and bit a target the size of an atom, that is nearly impossible, yet I did it"
Alenko rolled his eyes, "I just know you make that line sound more incredible each time you tell it"
"Besides, Spectres are trouble" Joker said, ignoring the jab, "Having them on board might as well be a Amazon, you don't know when they will snap, worst of all, their both Turian"
Instead of disagreeing, Alenko inclined his head in slight agreement, "Well, that is a complication I have to admit, but the Turians did joint this whole project with us, they have a right to look over what was half made by them"
"More like a quarter" Joker mumbled, "And that is the 'official' story, and only an idiot would believe the official story"
"Perhaps you should cut on the coffee Moreau" Grace spoke, all tho the phrase could had been interpreted as being an attempt at humour, it was rather cold and with not much life, the other two S.I. jumped in their seats as they just noticed their superior standing behind them.
Thank god they weren't the type to complain about their bosses, that would have turned out awkward.
"Well, um, Commander" Joker struggled with his surprise, "I'm just saying you know, I mean the last time a Spectre was here..."
"They blew up a secret facility, yes, I know" Grace cut in, she wasn't one for obvious facts.
"Well, yeah" Joker fit his name well for a reason, even in front of anyone from a higher rank, but trying to lighten the mood with Shepard around was like flirting with a Witch at her lovers funeral, or anytime afterwards for that matter, "You know, it just pays to have feelings like this, you know, what are we doing out here is the question"
"Point, yet moot" answered shortly the Hunter-Witch hybrid, "We have orders here, so we'll see them through, understood?"
Joker nodded his head nervously, not that he was particularly scared of her, Jockey nature naturally was what made him slightly cautious, also the fact that he had learned Jokers console made a chiming sound, his hand touched the flashing icon on instinct, eager to get away from the awkward conversation.
"Joker" A commanding voice spoke up from the intercom, "Status report"
"Just cleared slip-space captain" Joker replied with a slight professional tone, "Stealth systems are working fine, and no troubles with the Z.G.E. generator, it is working at 120% efficiency from the previous most advanced generator I may add, everything is solid"
"Good, find the Inter-Connect signal and patch us through, I need the G.R. to to get the mission reports before we reach Eden Prime"
"Got it sir, by the way, brace yourself, Nihlus and the scary girl is coming your way" warned Joker, trying humour again,
"They're already here Joker" he answered back in a tired voice.
Joker shook his head at the knowledge that the so called scary girl was going to be glaring holes at the back of his head later on.
"Tell Commander Shepard to meet me in the comm room for a debriefing"
The link clicked out and Joker turned his head slightly to the side.
"You get that Commander?"
He waited a few seconds, before turning his head completely to look at the spot where his superior officer was, but all that stood there was empty space.
Slumping as much as he could in his chair, given his large spine, and breathed a sigh.
"That Shepard, sometimes I feel as if she is staring into my soul or something"
"What, you are into that Butcher Lion debate as well?" asked Alenko, as he glanced at the pilot.
"No, whole thing is stupid anyway, just her general feel you know, I had felt chills during my survivor years less creepy than that"
Alenko fully turned to him, "You Infec-Turned?"
"Don't be so surprised, not all of us are scared of our own shadows you know"
"Well, okay, but that can't be her fault, after what she went through, you have to give her some sympathy"
"I guess..."
Three awkward situations in one day was to be avoided for a reason.
After a few seconds Joker attempts another line of conversation,
"Is it just me or does the Captain always sound angry?"
"Only when he's talking to you Joker"
Grace POV
I walked past the crew, not paying them any mind as I walked directly to the comm room, also ignoring the conversation of one of the ground crew she would be with as she past him, some hybrid of a kind.
I opened the door of the comm room, looking forward to see one of the Turian Spectres at the controls, looking at some data of Eden Prime from what the pictures depicted, from her shorter stature, I could tell that it was the female one, Vakarian.
Her armours colour scene mostly took blue and a darkish sliver into account, it fit snug around her figure and had a lot of heavy armour along the chest and neck, and lining down the outside of her legs in a hexagon pattern, finished with a neat black lining around the details.
Impressive figure, but I didn't like Turians, no Witch really did actually.
As I walked to the centre of the room, Solana turned her body to look at my approach, and it wasn't a surprise when she glared at me, like all military from the Turians, there was bound to even be caution around the open minded ones.
"Commander Shepard" she acknowledged blandly, "You got here first then, I was hoping we could talk"
'You don't look like it' I thought, it was obvious she had issues with S.I., but I chose to hold the comments I could have said and decided to respond.
"Will Captain Anderson and Kryik be here shortly?" I ask, slightly annoyed Spectre glare in return.
"They will be here" she says, "Now about this planet, Eden Prime, right? I had heard it was quite beautiful, a paradise almost"
Small talk, not exactly my forte.
"It was also has wide open spaces and the larger predators that inhabited it were no problem for it to become the Tank homeworld, and the most safe and secure of all of them in G.R. space"
"Hn" she responded to my practical outlook, "Yes, incredibly safe, Eden Prime has become a symbol for your people, hasn't it?"
"A world like our own, only untouched by the Green Flu, yes"
She paused a little before continuing, "Also the fact that it is one of the central hubs of the G.R., and an example of one of your first colonisation and protection of a colony in space"
She then turns her attention back at the image of said planet,
"but how safe is it really?"
I actually looked at her this time, albert briefly.
"Is that a threat Vakarian?"
She turned to me, "The Universe it a really dangerous place Shepard, and S.I. may have held their own for now, but you are still newcomers, is the G.R. truly ready for this?"
She held a near smug quality in her voice as she stood in front of me, before I could answer however, Kryik called from behind me.
"Thats enough Solana" he said in a flanging voice, "I left you here because I thought you would play nice"
Vakarian stiffened slightly, before taking a step back and standing to attention, I looked back myself to see Kryik in his black armour with lines of red light covering the surface and Captain Anderson, in his uniform standing with an impressive stance, as much as a Jockey could anyway.
"Good to see you Commander, I brought you here to tell you what this mission was really about" Anderson says as he walks up to us, his short stature not lessening his aura of authority.
"This mission is far more than a simple shakedown run" Kryik adds.
Great, it is lucky the pilot is scared of me, either that or he would be shouting 'CALLED IT' when he discovers this.
"It wasn't too hard to figure out" I said to them "To be honest you made more suspicion with two Spectres on board as well as Anderson and, well, me"
It wasn't to be arrogant, I was put off duty, and would have kept like that if enough people though 'Butcher', they must have pulled a lot of strings to bring me here.
"Well, yes" Kryik said as his feet shifted, most likely just realising just how it sounded, "But, as you Infected Humans say, better safe than sorry"
"We're making a covert pick-up on Eden Prime" continued Anderson as he sat down on the high-rise chair on the side of the room, after a few panels were pressed, the chair rose from from the floor from the small Z.G.E. engine powering it up, he then was at eye level with the rest of us.
A/N: I just want to say, if this image is making you laugh, you're welcome, if you are pissed at Anderson made into a type of comedy relief, not intentional, then you don't know my address, I'll do what I like.
"Thats why we needed the Normandy's stealth systems online"
"What is the payload?" I ask, mild curiosity at what was so important.
"It was more of an accident that it was discovered in the first place, the Tank population was digging up the area for construction, and happened across a some kind of beacon, it was Prothean"
Interesting.
"What else?" I inquire, what the Spectres were doing here was another issue entirely, if we discovered something this big, then it would have kept within the G.R., unless.
"This is big Shepard" Anderson says as he sits back in the high-chair, "The last time Infected Humanity had discovered something like this, it jumped our technology forward at least two hundred years, and the researched it branched into, brought it forth another thousand"
"So why do we need to move it? Eden Prime is more than capable taking care of it" I ask, less risk of anyone else discovering it as well.
"Eden Prime does indeed have the facilities to properly look into it, but we had brought it up to a new issue, the fact that it could yield greater political potential"
He takes a great breath, "Tell me honestly Shepard, does the Witch population ever seem like they forgive the Turians for Shanxi?"
I actually gave a slight grimace before my face became straight again, "No Captain, not from what why can see"
My own father actually died in the war, I didn't know him, but I always remembered my mum looking so desolate when she looked at his photograph, it made me as angry as my mum at times, but then logic would take over and I would show them indifference.
Yet again, if I was a full blood Witch, I would have hated them a lot.
"It has always been the main problem why the G.R. and the Council races have had trouble making alliances," Kryik comments as he paces up and down the room, "Witch's call on attack, Turians say they lost numbers as well, Witch's counter with them being soldiers and themselves civilians, on and on it goes and no victor, it needs to stop now"
"And that is exactly why the G.R. decided to give the Beacon to the Turians at the Citadel, with this we can at least take away any prejudices from the Turian side, the Witch's... well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it"
I nodded solemnly, but I knew something else was afoot.
"Why me then?"
Anderson and Kryik look at each other before their eyes return to me,
"Kryik isn't just here for the Beacon" Anderson says to me, "He is here to evaluate you"
My eyes widen slightly, "A Spectre"
"Exactly," Anderson confirms, nodding at my quick assessment, "not only the Beacon, but an S.I. becoming a Spectre, it would break down many barriers that these old prejudices have made, it may even move the Witch's to some degree, it can be the first step to moving into an alliance and making the Galactic Line cease to be"
Codex: The Galactic Line is basically the border between G.R. and Citadel space, build over distrust from the incident of a Spectre blowing up the AI facility, special passes were grafted for access from either species to be allowed through it, and regular patrols ensure it is never passed, it is basically a wall between both of them, and the one of the main reasons why they have trouble forming an alliance.
Being brought back into service is one thing, with a higher rank is another, but being offered the possibility highest rank for another species that hates your species in general, someone out there must be looking out for me.
Or I was the only decent choice.
…
Yeah, that sounds more likely.
"Your military career is near perfect, your acts in the Skyllian Blitz and your part in Torfan show through as well, an expert under pressure and can make the tough choices, useful talents for anyone, and it is why I put your name forward for the Spectres"
Okay, now that is even more unbelievable, I kept my poker face however and looked at him.
"So, what do I have to do?"
"Eden Prime is only one of the many missions I plan for us to do, altho it would be easy to make you one on the spot, we have to do this properly, with me valuing your skills on the battlefield"
"So, I guess we will be seeing a lot of each other" Vakarian speaks up gruffly from the side of them.
"I would say no pressure, but that would be lying" says Anderson, "I know this is a lot to digest Commander, but let us focus on the mission for now"
He continued "You'll be in charge of the ground team, Nihlus will accompany and observe you as you secure the Beacon, once you have, get it to the ship ASAP"
"Whenever you're ready Captain" I said will determination, won't this be a story once she wakes up.
…
My thoughts were interrupted however, as the pilots voice sounds off above our heads,
"Uh, Captain, you might want to see this"
Anderson turns his head to the ceiling, "What is it?"
"Transmission from Eden Prime... its pretty bad"
Anderson then floats toward the screen picturing the images that were open by Vakarian, "On screen"
The peaceful forests were then replaced a battlefield, and numerous mass effect and Z.G.E. guns firing, an image of a large individual appears in a white armour set, with pink line detailing it.
She looks towards the camera and pulls it to the ground, shouting 'get down' as the battle nearly drowned out her voice.
The camera looked around frantically as blue energy bursts around the area, dirt kicks up in the air as explosions rocked the image around, another soldier, a Hunter, comes into view sending a request for evac before a shot rang off and he slumped to the ground.
But all the soldiers defending themselves now looked up at something out of sight, with men looking on with disbelief, a strange metallic echo sound screeched through the speakers, and the camera swung around to see a ship.
It was large, from what I could see, and resembled a squid, yet it was incredibly dangerous looking, the image suddenly stopped at several more explosions around the camera before blinking out.
"The signal cuts out after that, I don't need to say what that means"
No shit Sherlock.
"Take us in fast and quiet Joker" Anderson ordered as he looked at a freeze image of the 'Squid-Ship' "This mission just became a lot more complicated"
Indeed, a ship that could breach the defences that Eden Prime had set, it sounded impossible, but whatever it was, it was not going to be easy.
"Tell Alenko and Jenkins to suit up Commander" Anderson informs me as Kryik and Vakarian walk away to get suited up, I followed them out the comm room, with my claws scratching slightly, just beneath the nails.
In preparation of another battle.
Sabertooth - …
Me - …
Sabertooth - Why the fuck, have you skipped mine?
Me - Uh, well, it was a bit difficult to write up something, I had writers block and-
Sabertooth - But evidently, not for this one... (sharpening claw)
Me - *Gulp*