Author's Note: 100,000 words! I'd like to thank everyone who gave their reviews, it's been very good to get all your opinions and hear about the little details that I missed in writing.
I'm very curious to hear your opinions on what direction the story's going. I've got a good rough framework of the plot lines for the characters but I want to hear where you think it's going. (Basically, I want to know if what you're thinking is what I want the story to make you think where it's going, if that makes any sense at all! If it is, huzzah, we got ourselves a successful story. If not, well that's why I need your input.) As always, overly critical reviews are the best, but all input is very appreciated and welcome!
Many thanks once again, now let's get this to 200,000!
EDIT: there was a section that didn't seem to make it from final draft to the doc manager. It's back thanks to the keen eye of Lord Anime! Thanks again, man
The Citadel welcomed back the Normandy with its long open arms. The small craft was soon lost in the thousands of other twinkling lights that shot on thrusters through the void. It closed in on the station, towards the docking area.
Once secured and firmly within he embrace of the station, its passengers were reunited once again. The Council had decreed that the new species called 'Eldar' remain on the Citadel for several days to establish the first dialogue of negotiations.
Those days were over, thought Glaedara as she strode along one of the docking decks the station possessed. A great space of crude construction and clumsy angles. Ships of the like she'd never seen were tied to their clamps both left and right of her. Ahead of her though, was the one she recognised.
Even without seeing she knew this was the ship. With its return came the Imperial Sigil and the blinding light it poured out. It wasn't what she wanted, to fly so close to a veil made of pure psychic light, but she seen what she needed to on the citadel. Hers and Eleiyra's place was with the human woman Shepard.
Glaedara could see the human now, standing at the top of the boarding ramp, greeting those that had remained on this station. She looked no different to the farseer. Still the same short, stumpy, red haired monkeigh that she had first seen in the ruins of the imperial temple.
But the visions cannot lie. They simply show, they can conceal. . yes, but never reveal falsehoods.
The alien Garrus was taking to the commander. She couldn't hear what, the heavy sounds of the hangar drowned out any other noise. He said something and she laughed, then he turned into the boarding ramp, bound for the ship.
The Imperials followed. The machine one simply nodded and continued on down the ramp without hesitation or delay. The inquisitor stopped and said a few words to the commander, who nodded and smiled. She does that a lot, Glaedara thought.
The inquisitor turned down the path leaving only the farseer. Eleiyra had long ago snuck around her and into the tunnel without detection.
The Shepard woman turned to her and smiled. There it is again, thought the farseer.
"Were the Council easy on you?" her head slightly to one side.
The farseer returned the smile, "It was no difficulty. Their questions were straightforward."
"Huh, you sure we're talking about the same people?"
"I assume so." the farseer kept her voice level.
Shepard paused for a moment, "You're absolutely sure you want to remain with us?"
Glaedara looked at her, her vision clear in her mind, the Eldar place was with Shepard. "Shepard, you were the one promised to help us on that planet, not anyone else. You were the one that gave us passage on your ship when you didn't need to." a pause, "We're with you, Shepard. No one else."
The woman nodded. The statement seemed to serve its purpose. The farseer thought it best not to reveal to the woman her vision just yet. Better to approach her from the altruistic angle.
"Welcome aboard once again then, Glaedara. Your quarters are just where you left them. Glad to have you back."
The farseer bowed her head and moved into the ramp.
"Hold on!" Shepard called, "Where's Eleiyra? I thought she was with you?"
Glaedara smiled, "She's already on board."
"Really?" Shepard scratched her cheek,"I didn't see her. . ."
The Normandy traced its path through the galaxy towards the Tasale system. Travel between worlds was almost entirely getting from world to relay and then from relay to world. So even when the Normandy dropped out of the Tasale relay bound for Ilium, there was still hours left before they arrived.
"You can thank our great and glorious leader for this meal." Gardner yelled out across the mess hall. "Stole it right out from under the noses of politicians. Eat up!"
The mess hall counter was stuffed with containers, each with their own mesmerising aroma. The smell had drifted through the crew deck, finding its way into corners and compartments where it had no right to be.
It had been Gardner's idea and Shepard had requisitioned the materials. Before leaving the Citadel she'd sent for a good number of food items from the Citadel stores. This was hugely popular with the crew. All of whom surviving on glorified field rations for the past month.
"Gardner, you've outdone yourself you son of a bitch." Donnelly said. The red haired, Scottish engineer smiled as he retrieved a healthy amount of chicken from the counter. He kept reaching.
"He means thank you." Engineer Daniels slapped Kenneth's hand away from a fourth piece of chicken. "Kenneth, stop being greedy!" The short, dark haired woman stared down the man.
"But it smells so good." He brought the plate up to his nose and sniffed theatrically. "And this could be a once in a lifetime event Gabby. . .Rupert making an edible meal. . I've got to seize the opportunity!"
Gardner lifted his hands in a mocking holy gesture. A dozen food stains were splashed across his apron. A grin on his face and ladle in hand. "Come all ye faithful, and eat while it's hot." He turned to see the newest person at the counter. "Hayt! Good to see you, come! eat! It's the best meal you'll have had on this ship. We pillaged the Citadel larders heavily, but even this won't last forever."
The stormtrooper approached the counter. Gardner had met him a couple of times before. Gardner liked him. Good mannered and didn't foul-mouth his cooking.
"I'm not one to pass up a good meal." the stormtrooper helped himself to several portions of each.
Shepard approached from behind the stormtrooper, datapad in hand. She was sick of looking at it and was eyeing the veritable feast with a hungry look.
"Shepard!" Gardner exclaimed, "The woman of the hour. You've made quite a few friends this evening!"
She smiled and started picking her items from the counter. Some made it to her mouth before they even reached the plate.
Sure, she had her own cabin and could order her meals sent there if she wanted but she preferred to eat with the crew whenever she could. The team needs a leader, she had thought inwardly. And a leader who hides in their luxurious loft cabin isn't a leader worth following. . .
"Good to see you're putting the Citadel produce to use," she pointed down at her meal, "This is really good by the way!"
A grin spread across the old grey man's face. "What you're eating Shepard, is art! And art needs quality ingredients or it's shit art. I made real sure everyone knows who got them." his voice full of pride.
"You keep cooking like this, I'll see what else I can get for you." She scooped up another bite from her tray.
"I hear that Shepard, you want people to follow you? There's no greater motivation than three hot meals a day, cooked by one of the finest chefs this side of the Presidium."
"Really?" Shepard asked, "You know this great chef? We could use him."
"Hah! Go on, get out of my kitchen. I got a dozen more hungry mouths to feed." he grinned and turned back to the waiting diners, "Right, who's next?"
A few tables down, Jacob spied the Normandy's XO. Sitting alone, datapad in hand.
"Miranda?" Jacob joked, pulling up a seat opposite her. "Sitting with the crew in the mess hall? Never thought I'd see the day."
She looked at him with a blank stare. She brushed some hair from her eyes "Don't get used to it Jacob, it's only temporary." she bit a piece. "Besides, I don't ignore good food."
"No, you don't. I've seen you go through those ration bars." He felt her glare. "I'm just saying, you look well for someone on five thousand calories a day."
She glared at him, "It's the biotics, you know that." her voice flat.
"Yeah, I know that. I spend more money than I should on just staving off hunger during the day."
"Is the crew performing as they should?" she asked. "We'll be coming up on a couple more potential. . .". Jacob shook his head
"Miranda. Stop working! For dinner at least. Worry about the mission after."
She sighed and put down the datapad. She picked up her fork and began skewering things on her plate.
"There, see? Much better." Jacob put a piece of food in his mouth. "What's been going on with you then? we haven't had much time since lazarus station."
She twirled a piece of food round on her tray. She didn't answer him.
"Miranda? You hear me?"
She looked up, leaned in, "Jacob, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, anything." he sensed something else behind the question.
"Just how important is this mission?" she looked at him.
"Uhh Miranda I. . ."
"Just answer the question."
"Uh, very important! Critically! Thousands of lives are at stake Miranda. Entire worlds!" he tried to figure out what she was getting at, "But you know this. . ."
She nodded. "I do." A pause, " So do you think Shepard needs as few distractions as possible?"
Jacob noticed her absent look, "Uhh. .yes. I think she would. Miranda, what are you asking? .." He couldn't even guess what she was getting at, her face was as impassive as ever.
Miranda sat without speaking, looking over to the commander. She was chatting to Gardner. She said something to the cook and the two of them burst into laughter.
She thought of her sister. . .the sister she'd tried to hide from her overly jealous father. Her sister, who was in danger of being captured and dragged back to his caged custody.
She weighed her personal plight against the countless thousands of colonists. The mental scales moved slowly, got stuck often, rebounded more than once but inevitably . . . inexorably, tilted in one direction.
Even a day spent on Oriana. . . could mean thousands of lives.
"Thanks Jacob." she said, her voice weak. She got up from the table, food barely eaten. "Its been good, really."
"Yeah fucking right!" Zaeed exclaimed, pieces of food flew from mouth onto the table, "Go on, pull the other one, it's got bells on!"
Hayt grinned. "Throne, I swear its the truth! Five kilometers, at least!" he added. He took a drink. "Sorry if your vessels are all pathetically tiny." he joked.
"What's this?" Shepard asked as she sat down. Zaeed and Hayt were laughing at each other. Of all the newcomers, Hayt was the one that interacted the most with the crew.
Or at least the one the crew most interacted with. Particularly the female portions. . . she'd already heard rumours of his morning laps of the cargo hold. And how some crewmembers just happened to be passing by the cargo observation port at five in the morning.
She set her tray of new and improved luxury citadel aristocrat rations in front of her and took a bite. She looked over to Hayt.
"Good to see you up and around Hayt, now what's so funny I was forced to come over here and find out?"
Zaeed gestured to Hayt, grin on his face. "His imperial stormtrooper here was telling me about the ship he was stationed on back in the future." he looked at Shepard. "Five kilometers long!" he shook his head. "I naturally called him a liar and a bastard. But he's not budging."
"Five kilometers?" Shepard exclaimed, she could scarcely conceive of a ship that size. Something that big would dwarf the destiny ascension!
The imperial nodded. "Aye, ma'am. Wasn't mine of course, it was Lord Eisenmus'."
Even here, even now, it's 'lord Eisenmus' Shepard was struck by still how little she knew about these people.
She could see the inquisitor from where she sat. It was rare to see him at the mess hall at mealtimes, he usually ate elsewhere. She'd asked him to make an exception today on account of the improved meal. He'd said he'd make it if he could, which pleased Shepard. It only occurred to her later to ask what else he could be doing that could cause him to miss it.
He sat alone at the far table, stooped over his tray. His silver beard rose and fell in time with his chewing. Frail, utensil bearing hands brought the food to his mouth. He was staring off into the mid distance. He'd changed out of his citadel clothes and into a Cerberus officer's uniform someone had evidently lent him. Black and silver, with his omnipresent I pendant hanging in front of his chest.
She felt a stab of pity. He looked smaller than before, older and more vulnerable. If Hayt was to be believed, this man had once commanded more resources than the entire asari fleet combined.
And now he sat there, alone at the empty table. Lost. Slowly chewing through one of Gardner's special meals out of a tray. . .
After Hayt and Zaeed, she resolved to go over.
"Is this the truth?" she asked, turning back to Hayt. "Or is Zaeed here right and I have to call you a liar and a bastard as well?" she grinned. Zaeed laughed.
"You're all right Shepard." Zaeed said. And took a drink out of a bottle he'd stashed under the table." Shepard wondered where he managed to get those from.
Hayt nodded his head."I swear by the Throne it's true. The Hibernis Rex. Ambition class cruiser. Technically it was the Merchant Prince's but it suited Eisenmus to commandeer it from time to time."
"Sorry . .. Merchant Prince?" Shepard asked.
Hayt mid-drink, nodded. Merchant Prince Flavius Maxentian. Good man. . ." he paused, "for one of the nobility that is."
"Lord Inquisitors, Merchant Princes. . .your world sounds like some kind of fairy tale."
To that, Hayt laughed. Shepard recognised it, the laugh of grim irony.
"Ma'am. Our fairy tale is not one you'd be telling the juvies."
"Well we're not juvies, fill us in, I've read the interviews what you and Eisenmus did when you arrived, but other than that, we hardly know anything about you."
"Aye!" Zaeed shouted. "I'd like to hear more about these mystical spaceships that grow up to four times the size of the Destiny Ascension."
The trooper hesitated for a minute, his eye instinctively darted over to the Inquisitor for a moment. After hesitation, he nodded. "My lord's come to trust you, so I'll answer what you want. I won't give any secrets though."
"Fair enough." she stopped to think of a question and was interrupted. Zaeed had beaten her to it.
"How bloody big do your ships get then? If a cruiser is five kilometers long?"
Hayt sat back, he'd emptied his drink. He set the plastic cup back ont he table. "Couldn't tell you exactly, I'm no navy officer, but I know of battleships going up to 8 or 9. That's not counting the space stations or mechanicum vessels, which are a scale unto themselves."
Zaeed whistled. He stared at his own bottle. The liquid was three quarters down the glass. "Could sure use some of those ships about now. . ." he remarked.
"Yeah," she agreed, "what about. ."
The artificial voice of EDI drifted through her earpiece. "The illusive man wishes to speak with you in the communications room, commander Shepard."
"What about what, ma'am?" the stormtrooper asked when Shepard didn't finish her sentence.
"Sorry, I have to go. There's a message for me in the comm room." She sighed and put her fork down with force. "They really do pick their times, don't they?"
"You going to finish that?" Zaeed queried as she began to rise. His eyes stalking out the half uneaten portion of her meal, fork ready to pounce. Shepard lifted it away just in time, Zaeed's fork scraped across the table.
"You want seconds, Zaeed? Go get your own." she said, "These are mine."
"Might just do that. . ." she heard him mutter as she left the mess hall.
The mess hall was busy with bodies. The sounds of laughter and conversation.
He lifted another piece to his mouth. It was pleasant, much better than the food they usually got on this ship. The inquisitor looked around at the people eating, laughing, talking. Even here, there was a common camaraderie between the crew of a ship.
He managed to pick out his stormtrooper in the midst of diners. he was laughing with the old veteran mercenary. Zaeed his name was.
He took another bite.
A figure sat down opposite him. A tall man with a tanned complexion. Eisenmus hadn't seen him before. He set his tray down and nodded to the inquisitor.
"Evening." he said. He smiled. The inquisitor nodded in reply. His beard itched.
"Evening." he replied and ate another forkful of chicken.
The man shook his head. "Sorry, Crewman Leuz. You've been with us for over two weeks and I haven't bothered to introduce myself yet." he offered his hand to Eisenmus, who shook it.
"Eisenmus." he offered, the man speared one of his chicken pieces with glee and popped it in his mouth. He grinned.
"There's no need. Everyone on the ship knows who you are. I'd say most people on the citadel know who you are by now as well."
A thought that didn't exactly sit well with Eisenmus. He continued eating. Somewhere, someone dropped something. A great mocking cheer went up from their fellows. "I don't find attention conducive to the work we're trying to do."
The man chuckled. "Tough. You and the eldar are pretty much the centre of attention now. If you don't mind me saying, of course." he held up his hands in a gesture.
Eisenmus hummed in aggreement. "You work for Cerberus then?"
"I help where I can. Do my part for humanity, you know?"
To his surprise, Eisenmus found himself nodding in agreement. "Nothing's more noble than that. Creeman Leuz."
The man scoffed, "Please, just call me Basil," he shrugged, "I'm just doing my bit, trying to make the galaxy a better place for us."
"You should be proud. From what I've seen of the galaxy, humanity need more people like you."
He smiled again, "Well, for now I'm all you got." he paused. "I got a good eye for people, Eisenmus. And I can see you've got something on your mind."
The inquisitor paused his chewing. Looked up, the man was looking at him intently. There was a certain wisdom in his eyes, how unusual, for someone so young.
He shrugged. "Well, where do I start? Plucked from my home into this time. . . Surrounded by people and aliens I don't know, with no way back.. . ."
The man nodded soberly and pierced another chicken.
"What did you do? Back where you came from, if you don't mind me asking of course."
He shook his head. "I was. . .am" he corrected. "An inquisitor." he saw the quizzed eyebrows form. "An. . agent of authority." Much like Shepard herself, he realised, now that he came to think about it. "I had missions vital to the safety of my nation. And I was given free rein as to how to complete them."
The man nodded in understanding. "Forgive the bluntness. But you picked a hell of time to come back in time." he smiled.
"It wasn't our choice."
"I realise that. Who'd want to be thrown to a time whenever entire colonies of humans are disappearing?. . "
Images flashed in the inquisitor's mind of Agrippus. Of the bombardment and the fire storm campaign. Of the cities on fire. The twisted and ruined streets of the capital, strewn with bodies whose forms were twisted and warped by chaos.
He thought of his orders, of the quarantine he'd had to put into place. Of the terrified refugees trying to flee their ravaged home. He wondered briefly if back in his time the tragic wrecks of their transports still orbited around their doomed world.
Two billion people had lived on that world, he mused. It would have been optimistic to say half a million survived. . . his hand instinctively went to the inquisitorial seal around his neck.
"That said. . ." the man continued. He scraped the last remains of his meal around his catering tray. "You may be what we need. My old man always said everything happens for a reason. Who knows, maybe there's one behind this?"
The flat tones of Hakkon appeared in the inquisitor's ear. He brought up his hand to block out the surrounding chaos.
"Lord, I request your presence in the armoury. It concerns the sigil. Something's happening, lord."
"I'll be right there," across from him Leuz continued eating. He took his hand away from his ear.
"I apologize but the magos requests me in the armoury."
Leuz held up a hand and shook his head. "No worries. It's good to meet you, Geralt." he said, smiling.
"You too, Leuz." He rose and left, too distracted by the Magos' potential discovery to notice the obvious.
She stepped into the middle of the holo-platform. It scanned her and she saw the projection fizzled into focus in front of her. A familiar sight. The illusive man, in his chair, smoking. Jesus if he didn't cut back, he'd be dead before they made a move on the collectors.
He turned towards her. "Shepard! I think we have them, Horizon!" He keyed a button on his chair and a blue green orb of a planet came into view. He stood up next to it. He took a long breath from his cigarette. "One of our colonies in the Terminus systems - just went silent. If it isn't under attack it soon will be. Has mordin delivered the counter measure for the seeker swarms?"
She folded her arms, "Not yet." she replied. She'd met with the professor a couple of times about it. All she'd been able to get out of the manic salarian was something about a wave frequency. She hadn't questioned him further.
"Let's hope he works well under pressure." he put out his cigarette in the ashtray on his chair. "There's something else you should know." his eyes swivelled back to her. "One of your former crew, Ashley Williams, is stationed on Horizon." an image of a blue green pearl of a planet continued to rotate slowly beside the illusive man.
Shepard thought about it, the more she did, the more the whole thing stunk, "The collectors just had to pick a colony with one of my former crew? I don't buy it"
His hands opened, "It shouldn't be a surprise the collectors are interested in you. Especially if they're working for the reapers. They might be going after her to get to you." he pointed at her chest.
"Send the coordinates, we'll head straight there" Although she got the impression he was holding something back from her, this wasn't the right time to press the point. If she got to Horizon in time, she could get Ashley's viewpoint, perhaps find what she was missing. It was then she realised she hadn't seen Ashley in two years. . .
"This is the most warning we've ever had Shepard. Good luck" he deactivated the call.
The illusive man dissolved into nothing as the hologram stopped. She was again looking at the small, utilitarian briefing room.
"Joker, set a course for Horizon immediately."
"Mpha May com. .fer. .."
"It's rude to talk with your mouth full Joker."
"uhyes Chom". .a swallowing sound. "Yes, commander." Shepard shook her head
Shepard made her way back to the mess hall. This could be it, she thought. When we start fighting the collectors. The images of Freedom's Progress and simlar colonies flashed up in her mind. That's if we can get there on time. . .
She exited the elevator and marched round to the mess hall. She stood near the entrance, hands on her hips. "Listen up!" Dozens of eyes swivelled round to her.
Just got word, "The colony of Horizon has just went dark," the room audibly tensed. "If it's not under attack it soon will be. The ship's turning round and heading there now. Be prepared for combat soon. Until then . ." she looked at the pairs of eyes looking at her. "Until then, enjoy your meal. . ." she departed the mess hall for the elevator.
There was a definite hush among the diners as she walked back.
"You really know how to liven the mood Shepard. . ." The voice of Garrus appeared behind her, followed by the turian himself as he trotted up along side her.
She smiled, "You up for another mission archangel?" she entered the elevator.
"You know it Shepard."
She smiled and cocked her head, "Come on, we're going to see the professor."
The communications room was empty save for Shepard and Miranda. The briefing table had been flipped up to serve for the meeting. Shepard rapped her hands on the briefing table. She and Miranda were the first ones to arrive. It was quiet, she could feel the low humm of the engines beneath her.
"We should be coming up on Horizon within the hour." Miranda checked her datapad clock. "I've gone over your plan. It's good, Shepard."
Shepard stayed silent. She was thinking. This could be it. They'd received word sooner than ever before. Maybe this time. . .maybe they could make a difference here. .
Shepard continued to stare at the far wall. "The two eldar said they want to help as well." she continued rapping.
That got her attention. Shepard had received the notes and messages from her XO on the subject. The gist of them was, if they're anything like the other humans, they could be useful in the team.
"You sure they're up for something like this?"
Shepard shrugged. "The imperials talk like they take them seriously. They don't trust each other though. It's our job to try and get them to."
"Old habits can be hard to break out of. They were nigh enemies before they arrived here."
"yeah. . ." Shepard continued to stare ahead.
"Shepard, I. ." Miranda began but cut off when she heard the door open. Her head went straight back to the datapad.
Shepard glanced at Miranda. What was she about to say? Shepard thought. Whatever it was, she didn't want others to hear. She'd have to ask her up on that later.
Mordin and Okeer entered. Shepard nodded a greeting and they took a seat. After them, the others began to trickle in, Shepard counted them off as they entered.
Jacob, Jack, Glaedara, Eleiyra, Kasumi ( who materialised in her chair), Garrus. . . .
When everyone was present, she rose from her seat and stood at the end of the table. From where she stood it looked very crowded.
She paused, tapped her knuckles of the table.
"In an hour. . " she began, "we arrive at the alliance colony of Horizon. . . " she paused. Taking the time to look at her audience. "by now the collectors will have been there a few hours already. This is the earliest warning we've ever had."
Her audience was silent. She pressed a button on the table, a high res map of the planet and the surrounding statistics filled the centre of the table. The lights dimmed in accordance with the hologram and its soft blue glow illuminated the faces of those present, casting a ghostly quality over the ensemble.
The map zoomed in on a section of land on the equator. Slowly a settlement came into focus. Shepard knew the map well. She'd been studying every part of it for the past three hours. . .
"The settlement's called Discovery. De-facto capital of Horizon. . .if the collectors attack anywhere, I'll be here. It's the largest single concentration of humans on Horizon. Population's around 400,000. Not massive, but a decently sized town. The rest of the population's spread out over several continents, too sparse for a collector attack." She clicked another button and several red pings popped up on the map.
"I've radioed alliance command and told them that collectors are inbound on horizon." she received a glance from her XO. Her face remained impassive but Shepard felt the lingering doubt. Miranda had been hesitant to let the alliance in on something like this so early.
"I briefly managed to speak to Hackett. He's promising to do everything he can to get the alliance to send a couple of cruisers to provide backup. He says the alliance brass are wary of sending anything larger than a scout probe into the terminus systems, so let's not get our hopes up."
She pointed to the map. "What he did manage to get us were up to date defence maps for the colony. The red pings are anti ship defence towers, a gift from the alliance. Installed to keep pirates and the like at bay. They're located here."
"The mission is simple. Go in, look for survivors. If we find any, we scour the area for collectors and see about getting these towers back online."
She paused, "As grim as sounds, we'll hopefully catch them as they're rounding up the colonists. If we can catch them in the act and stop them, we could save thousands of lives today."
The weight of the statement reverberated through the room. She continued,
"I have no idea of the numbers down there so we're taking the hammerhead for heavy fire support. We'll deploy onto one of the main thoroughfares here." she pointed. "It's wide, open and with ample cover from the side walkways and buildings, so we'll have plenty of warning of any hostiles if they approach the landing zone. According to these maps, the main security and police precinct should be located here." she pointed to another. "Once we land, that's our first port of call. Check for survivors, link up with the local garrison and move out to secure the towers. Any questions?"
The room was silent for a moment. There was much shuffling.
"Would an small infiltration team work? Say only about three or four people?" Garrus asked.
Shepard shook her head. The thought had crossed her mind over the last few hours. "We know nothing about the collector weapons, or their numbers. Against mercs or pirates, things that we know. . it might be viable. But pinning our hopes on a team like that for this, against collectors? Would be suicide."
"What are the teams?" Jacob asked, his arms folded.
"You, Garrus, Miranda and Mordin I want in the hammerhead. The rest of us will land in the kodiak."
"Shepard." Okeer spoke, his hands made fists on the table."This will be a true fight against the collectors. I ask that we awaken my prototype from its sleep. This is what it was made for. It will perform as a true krogan would."
"You almost risked everything for the safety of that prototype, now you want to risk it all on the battlefield?"
He waved dismissively, "The prototype was not finished when you arrived. Thanks to the time you bought me, now it is. Besides, if it cannot hold its weight in real combat then it is as useless as the hundreds that I flushed down the disposal tubes. Let me awaken it, and I'll show you the true power of a pure krogan warrior."
"Shepard, this sounds like a bad idea. ." Miranda said.
She looked to Okeer, and nodded. "you'll get your krogan. He better be kept under control though."
"My thanks Shepard." he slowly bowed his head to her, the scales of his forehead shone in the low blue illuminance.
"Has there been any word from the colony?" Jacob asked.
"No," Mordin interjected, "all communication went dark with onset of collector attack."
"You've seen these things before Shepard, at the other colony." Zaeed said. "What can we expect?"
She shook her head " We didn't encounter any of them, all we saw was vid logs showing them taking the colonists away."
"Okeer, you have experience with collectors." Miranda said. "Please enlighten us on what we might expect."
"Nothing that we don't already know. I can't say for their weapons. To build my prototype, I asked for technology specializing in genetics and biology, not weapons. Krogan need no other advantage to succeed."
A metallic voice spoke up, "What about the countermeasures? Mordin, care to show the others what you showed us in the lab?" Garrus asked.
The salarian's eyes lit up. "Ah! Good. Yes," he retrieved something from one of his front pouches and placed it on the table, it was tiny, no bigger than a pin.
"Attachable micro sensors. Place to key sections on armour. Masks chemical signatures. Should work, probably."
"Probably?. . ." Miranda asked.
"Haven't tested effects on large scale seeker swarms. Am looking forward to seeing if we survive." he could have been talking about the weather or his family for all his tone suggested.
"Mordin, how many of these can you make?"
He shrugged, "Mass fabrication not a problem. These, fabricated form omnitool micro-forge. Could use Normandy's multi-fabricator to produce many more."
"Do it." Shepard said. "If we find any moving survivors down there, they'll be no use to us if the seekers get them."
"Can do, Shepard." his hand popped out and swiftly retrieved the miniature sensor.
Shepard looked to the back of the room. The imperials and the eldar stood there.
Both were facing her, she noticed. Not facing opposite each other. It's a start. . . she thought.
"What about you?" she said, addressing the humans, "You on board?"
Hayt looked to the inquisitor. Eisenmus nodded. "Destroying the enemies of man is what we were made for Shepard. You will not find us wanting."
Shepard nodded and looked over the eldar, who also nodded with her. "Our paths align Shepard, where you go, we go."
The commander still wasn't exactly sure what that fully entailed but was welcome for the support. "Good! And the rest of you?" a chorus of ayes and yeses sounded through the room."
She smiled. "Good. Get geared up! I want us deployment ready in half an hour. Meet in the hangar. Dismissed."
As the others began to filter out she turned to Okeer. "Time to wake the baby."
A slow, unstoppable grin spread over the Krogan's face. The scientist radiated anticipation.
"You won't be disappointed, Shepard."
Eisenmus stood before the armour. Even in pieces hung from the wall it towered over him. He could see the damage that it had sustained from the battle on Agrippus. Craters and marks had been filled in by Hakkon with a grey-white cement.
He looked at the armour that had seen him into battle for over a century. It looked back, it had its own personality, its own will. Eisenmus, like any imperial outside the mechanicus, maintained a healthy scepticism over certain aspects of their own special cult.
Looking at the armour though, he could readily say he could believe there was something in there, giving the detached pieces purpose.
"It is still strange, lord. That the Sigil would exhibit uncharacteristic behaviour so such a short time."
Eisenmus gave it a little thought, according to the Magos the Sigil had lit up psychically for a short while, before reverting back to its original levels. He had missed it, but the Maogs had recorded the strange activity and was fervently analyzing the data. He scratched his beard. Anything new they discovered about the Sigil could be critical.
The magos stood beside him. Motionless save for the odd twitch of a mechadendrite. The Sigil would have to wait, he thought, turning his attention back to the armour. "What could you repair?" he asked.
"Armour integrity has been restored to within optimal levels, lord. Have been unable to fix some secondary systems, their spirits were beyond saving." the inquisitor could almost hear a trace of sadness in the magos' voice, but that was impossible. "As for bolter ammunition, I have been able to manually manufacture a small stock of rounds. They are not numerous, as each bolt takes time to properly sanctify, lord. They should suffice for this mission however."
He nodded. "Let's begin." he said and the magos started laying out the pieces to be attached.
First the boots, which Eisenmus stepped into. He had changed back into his armour's undersuit which contained all the necessary neural implants necessary to operate the armour. He stepped onto the massive treads, and felt a click as the soles of his undersuit snapped into place. Hakkon diligently fastened in the rest of the connections. Chanting litanies to the machine god as he performed his duties.
"Omnissiah we beseech you. Guide your spirits as they prepare for battle. . " he reverently lifted the greaves and attached them. His mechadendrites twisting and turning. Forming tools and supporting pieces of the armour. Sparks flew and drilling noises screeched as the mechanicus adept went about his duties.
"Please bless your servants as they awaken from their slumber. May they bask in the divinity of your energy and light. . ."
The upper legs and waist were completed.
"For yours is the eternal glory. We merely servants to your divine and omniscient knowledge. . ."
The under-chest piece was attached. The inquisitor was jostled as heavy drills and welders attached both the back and front sections into a single fully enclosed carapace.
The arms were next. The gloves and holy armaments were attached. With each new piece, Eisenmus felt more and more of his undersuit activate in accordance to the attached armour. The spirits and circuits within awakening and recognising their counterparts in the armour plates.
Finally, the main shoulder and chest pieces, places over the under armour. He looked at the finely wrought inscriptions and seals. Each one designed to ward off evil and demonic influence. As the inquistor looked at them, he felt true. More true than he had since coming here. They were going to do the Emperor's work. They were going to hunt down the xenos and make them pay for crossing humanity.
The armour spirits must have sensed his excitement as he felt a humm as the armour's main reactor awoke from its slumber and filled the suit with life. His previously dead limbs hummed with power as he moved them. The sound of servos and gears moving was more welcome to him that he would have thought. In front of him, Hakkon was finishing his litany.
"Oh great Omnissiah. We look to thee for favour. We look to thee for knowledge. We look to thee for salvation and enlightenment."
The inquisitor tested the movement. The great colossal feet moved again. They stomped on the deck, shaking the armoury floor.
Hakkon finished, his mechadrites bowed before the amour in reverence. His once-hands made the sign of the cog in from of him.
"Omnissiah preserve us." he muttered with utmost reverence.
The krogan scientist stood beside the tank, typing controls into the little data station next to it. The little rapid beeping of the buttons echoed through the largely empty room. His mass obscured the data station from Shepard's view. Even out of his armour, his presence was substantial.
"Vital signs stable. Everything looks good." he looked to Shepard and stepped to the side. "You do the honours. He's here because of you."
"EDI, wake him up." she said.
"Yes, Shepard." Shepard could have sworn she heard trepidation in the synthetic voice. A large mechanical draining noise filled the room as the tank emptied. The suspension fuild level fell down the front glass of the tank, revealing for the first time a clear image of the creature beneath.
A hiss of steam and vapour sprayed from the edges as the air seals broke. The glass panel on the front slid slowly off to the side. Clamps holding the creature released.
The krogan in the tank fell forward onto his knees, coughing and spluttering. It was conscious! It coughed up liquid which splattered across the decking.
Slowly, inexorably it drew up to its full height, dwarfing Shepard. It seemed not to care for its armour, still dripping with fluid. It seemed more refined, more elegant than standard Krogan armour. Shepard took a step forward, cautious of the potential voilene this thing represented. Okeer hadn't moved nor said anything, but with something akin to satisfaction on his wide face.
The tank born krogan looked at her with eyes of violence and without warning charged.
He slammed Shepard into the wall, pinning her.
"Human female, before you die I need a name." its voice reverberated like the thump of heavy machinery. Its arm had her head and chest pinned to the wall. She couldn't move, but she could speak.
"I'm commander Shepard of the Normandy." She stared at the krogan's eyes.
His head shook, "Not your name, mine. I am trained, know things. . but the tank, the tank couldn't imply connection. His words are hollow."
"Disappointing." Okeer said. He hadn't moved from his position beside the tank. "I'll have to find out what went wrong."
The krogan looked over to Okeer, just noticing him. "You. . . I know you. . Okeer. You put me in the tank. fed me the words."
"Yes, you are the legacy of the Krogan."
"Then you should know you failed. Your words are hollow, they have no meaning, no connection."
The scientist's shoulders slumped. A noise like an agitated groan. "I ask for a legacy, instead I get an ignorant grunt."
A concentrated look fell over the face of the krogan holding Shepard, "Grunt. . .Grunt. . . that'll do." He looked back to Shepard, Okeer scoffed at his chosen name.
"I am Grunt! If you are worthy of command, prove your strength and try to destroy me."
"You want me to kill you?" Show strength, thought Shepard. Show confidence!
"Want? No, I fight because I am meant to - fight and reveal the strongest. Nothing in the tank has ever asked me what I want."
"Hah, I doubt you could even hurt this human Grunt."
"I could snap her neck with a twist." Grunt spat at Okeer.
"Do you know who that is?" he waved his hand dismissively. "Of course you don't, the tank didn't teach you."
The warlord pointed at Shepard. "That human is responsible for your survival. She has faced an army of geth warriors and undead husks. She faced an army of cloned krogan on Virmire and prevented the downfall of galactic civilization. Now she wakes you to go to war with an even greater threat. . . and you think you can kill her?" a wide grin appeared on Okeer's face.
Grunt's head turned back to Shepard. His far separated eyes focusing on her. "Is this true? Are we headed for battle?"
"We're headed for a colony under attack by collectors. No one's fought them as we're going to. We've no idea how many or how heavily armed. But we're going to kill every last one we find."
The concentrated look went across the krogan's face.
"My team is strong. You'd make it stronger." she pressed.
The krogan called Grunt considered this. "That's . . . acceptable. I'll fight for you."
"You should be grateful you gave into reason you Grunt." Okeer mentioned. And nodded towards Grunt's waist.
The krogan looked down., seeing the weapon aimed at his chest for the first time. He released Shepard.
"Heh, you offer one hand but arm the other. . . " his head slowly nodded up and down. ". . wise Shepard."
"We're heading for the colony now. I want you both in the hangar in 20 minutes!"
"Yes Shepard." Okeer said and turned to his creation. "The history implants may have failed, let's hope the combat ones haven't."
"You mock me, old man?"
"Watch your tongue, welp! Now, we need to get you a weapon."
A grin showed on Grunt's face. "A weapon. . .yes. Take me where the weapons are."
They exited the room. Grunt sniffed, then sniffed again.
"Do I smell something to eat?"
Horizon loomed in the Normandy's viewscreen. The static orb of blue and green grew larger and larger in the cockpit. The wide, curving horizon of the planet gradually turned turned to flame as the tendrils of fire greeted the Normandy on returning to the atmosphere. For several minutes, the Normandy was indistinguishable from any other falling meteor in the sky.
The flames abided and the Normandy swept down through the layers of clouds. Sensors and instruments scanned the terrain below, mapping it out and storing it in EDI's databanks.
Except Discovery. A scrambled web of interference hovered over the colony. The sensors had no success penetrating it. Joker radioed this through to the commander. Who acknowledged and gave the order to continue on with the mission.
Hazy clouds surrounded the Normandy. The speed of the craft left smoky contrails through the air for miles behind it. As good as its stealth systems were, there was no hiding it's path now.
Deeper and deeper the craft dropped into the grip of the planet, until the Normandy was cruising at a comfortably low altitude, ready for deployment. The team was geared and ready. The vehicles prepped and loaded. The capital city was only a couple dozen more miles ahead. The ship was now well within the interference blanket.
As the Normandy approached, and as the last vestiges of the cloud cover released its grip on the craft, Discovery faded into view ahead of them.
Joker's mouth dropped at the sight that greeted him in the viewscreen, "What the fuck is that thing?" he exclaimed. Seeing the colossal craft for the first time. It hung above the colony, a floating spike of rock and metal. It dwarfed the colony beneath it.
"Have we got a problem Joker?" Shepard chimed in. Joker realised that the comm had been on. She would be waiting in the cargo bay with the rest of the team by now, only minutes before deployment.
"We've got a massive collector ship parked right on top of the colony."
"Bringing it up now." came her reply. He knew she was looking through the cameras mounted on the front of the ship with her omni. Her silence told him what she thought.
The ship was getting bigger as they approached the colony.
"Ok, new plan. We're deploying now!" Shepard ordered over the comm. Joker, take the Normandy around on a pass and distract them. No Heroics! You've already crashed one, I don't want to pull your crippled ass out of another!"
He winced, remembering the last time. He'd mentally rerun those moments hundreds of times. It had been his fault she hadn't got to the escape pod, his fault she'd died two years ago.
"Thanks for the welcome reminder."
"Open the doors Joker!"
He flicked the controls to the hangar doors, flipped the switch. "Opening doors. Good luck down there!" He felt the Normandy lurch slightly as the cargo was released. A minor hiccup in the flight, he corrected for it quickly.
The doors in the hangar slid open and the Hammerhead and Kodiak dropped straight out the bottom. For the first few seconds, they fell like rocks. The hammerhead's mass effect field motors cut in and it slowed, with the shuttle still hurtling down towards the planet. Its engines cut in a moment later and it traced a more spiral path towards the colony.
Far, far ahead the Normandy screeched forward. Coming in on a wide arc around the collector vessel. It managed to fire a single volley of disrupter torpedoes before it screamed past the vessel.
The torpedoes streamed towards the vessel and impacted on the side. Chucks of what looked like rock and debris streamed off the side of the ship. As the dust dissipated, a dark smear marked the impact of the salvo. It was the first and only salvo from the Normandy, it didn't intend to stick around for anything more.
The collector vessel responded, but ineffectually. It's main weapon was pointed directly up, and the Normandy was flying well below the firing arc. Several of the side weapons tried to get a bead, firing arrow straight yellow beams that pierced into the sky. They hit air, as the Normandy flew past their fire cones in a fraction of a second. The Normandy streamed by, unharmed.
Having made its presence known, it sped off low over the landscape, unwilling to risk another pass. It's blue engines flared as it shrunk off into the distance. The yellow beams followed it, but the range was too great and the landscape too rough. Soon the Normandy's silhouette disappeared over and around the hills.
"Go on Joker, get out of here!" Shepard ordered through the comm.
"I don't need any more encouragement, commander. I'm not br..nging my baby anywh...re near tha ...thing!" the crackle of static started to eat its way into the transmission.
"Acknowledged Joker, get back up to orbit."
Far behind the retreating Normandy, the shuttle and hammerhead descended towards Discovery. Buildings came up fast beneath them, the hammerhead ignited its jets. Thrusters flared to life as the descent speed decreased on the final approach to a crawl.
Their final approach was risky. They'd spent much longer in the air than they'd intended. If the collectors had been paying attention, a few well aimed shots could've done serious damage.
The buildings of Discovery stretched out below. A rough street grid near the centre gave way to the chaos of early colonial development at the outskirts.
The shuttle gave a wide lateral turn, still travelling at tremendous speed. Gradually it slowed and joined the hammerhead on the ground. They both made ground in the main vehicle thoroughfare. The shuttle scraped across the wreckage ridden surface. It's engines softened.
The hatch opened and the team leapt out. They covered the surrounding buildings and formed a wide circle around the deployment zone.
Shepard leapt out, part of her team already moving further out into the street.
The scene was unsettling. Save for the vehicles and the sporadic buzz of the seeker swarms overhead, it was deathly quiet.
The street was wide. A principal vehicle carriageway cut straight down the middle, around a third of the total width of the street. Wide boulevards and promenades stood on each side of the road. None of the buildings stood more than four stories high. Mostly boxy prefab units, like the ones on Freedom's Progress. The pedestrian areas were still stacked with equipment, machinery and supplies. The hallmarks of a developing colony.
It was packed with people. People frozen in all positions as they'd tried to escape the swarm. The team was near the centre of the town, close to the main admin centres. She could only guess how many more were trapped in the buildings surrounded them.
She waited for the last squad members to clear. "Goldstein, we're down. Get the shuttle out of here!"
"Will do commander. I'll find somewhere to lie low." The shuttle's engines screamed as it flew up and away from the landing zone. She team watched it go. The hammerhead idled nearby.
Shepard looked to her assembled team.
"Right! North to the garrison. Move out!"