CHAPTER 10: DIRECT INTERVENTION

"Your species has the attention of those infinitely your greater."

-Harbinger

Normandy Infirmary

March 18, 2186

"I'm sorry I haven't been by to check on you more, Tali," Shepard said. "Things have been crazy lately, but I never want to neglect the people who matter, the ones who helped me get this far."

"It's fine, Shepard," she said. "We've known about the Reapers for three years now. We both knew when this day came the galaxy would have its hands full. Millions of people are dying out there, and I'm alive. Saving them is more important than visiting one sick Quarian."

"Tali, you're the youngest serving Admiral in Quarian history, you brought peace to your people and the Geth, you rallied both sides to fight the Reapers together, and you've already saved the galaxy more than once," Shepard said. "You're the most selfless person I know, always giving without expecting anything in return. Even now your first thought is of everyone else out there. But your life is worth more, Tali. The galaxy needs you, and I need you too."

"Thanks Shepard," Tali replied. "That…that means a lot. I am doing better, getting a little stronger each day. But how are you holding up? I heard about Grunt. Bosh'tet was always giving me trouble down in Engineering, called me a 'weakling,' but at the Collector Base he saved my life when we were holding the line behind you. I lost shields and thought I was done for but he jumped in between me and the Collectors, used himself as a shield…it always got on my nerves how he called me weak, but keelah, he was strong."

"He came a long way in a short amount of time," Shepard said. "Grunt was a good soldier and a good friend…Everything he did: taking on the Collectors and the Reapers, helping to cure the genophage, sacrificing himself to save the Krogan…I'm proud of him."

"You did raise him from birth," Tali said. "He may have had a rough start with the rest of us, but he had a good role model to steer him in the right direction. You should be proud."

"It's hard to remember he was just a kid," Shepard said. "He really was just a baby... A giant baby that liked to kill stuff and say murderous things all the time…but still just a baby."

"You think you'll want to have children of your own someday?" Tali asked just as Miranda entered the room.

Before he could answer, Miranda interrupted: "Shepard, the Illusive Man would like to speak with you. He says he has vital information on indoctrination and how to fight it, use it against the Reapers." She was glad that this had stopped Shepard and Tali's previous line of conversation.

Partial transcript from Battlespace broadcast

March 18, 2186

From: Alliance News Network Information Partners

by Diana Allers

Good evening, this is Diana Allers with a Battlespace special report. There has been no word on the situation on Earth since the surprise invasion by unknown hostiles witnesses are calling 'Reapers' twelve days ago. Here at ANN our hearts go out to all of the victims and their families, and the brave Alliance soldiers who fighting on Earth and across the galaxy. There are still many unanswered questions after these tragic recent events, from what the Reapers and their origins are to how to fight them. However, one other question has been at the back of everyone's mind here at ANN: where is Commander Shepard? Reported as killed-in-action in 2183, Shepard resurfaced outside of the Alliance in 2185 and was allegedly involved in rogue activities, including accusations that he was responsible for the destruction of the Bahak System's Mass Relay last year. The Commander's last known location was Alliance Command on Earth where he was under house arrest while these charges were being investigated. There has been no official word on whether or not he survived the Reaper invasion or on his current whereabouts.

However, according to eyewitnesses Commander Shepard is indeed alive and has been involved in the recent flood of activity around the Perseus Veil and Tuchanka. Some of these reports claim that the Commander is working with Cerberus, a terrorist organization he was suspected of working for in the past. There have also been several reports of unknown ships, believed to be Cerberus, with highly advanced weaponry engaging the Reapers and defending evacuations at human colonies. It is not known whether or not there is any connection to Commander Shepard. Rumors indicate that Shepard is gathering non-Council forces, including Cerberus, Krogan, and even Geth and the thought-extinct Rachni to fight the Reapers but as far as we know he has not been in contact with the Alliance since the Reapers arrived. These are all still just rumors, and we'd like to remind our viewers that whether or not the Commander is even alive is still unconfirmed.

Commander Shepard was of course also rumored to be a firm believer in the Reapers and the threat they posed to the galaxy since the Battle of the Citadel three years ago. While he never issued any public statements on the matter, Alliance sources speaking on the condition of anonymity have said that the Commander's stance on the Reapers was well-known within Alliance Command but widely discredited due to lack of evidence. Now that the Reapers are here, many are looking to him to find a way to stop them given his firsthand experience dealing with them in the past…but the Commander is nowhere to be found. Which leaves everyone wondering: what is Shepard doing? Does he have a plan, and does the Alliance know about it?

Normandy Communications Room

Shepard activated the Normandy's QED and once again found himself surrounded by a hologram of the Illusive Man's office.

"Shepard, good work on Rannoch and Tuchanka," the Illusive Man said as he lit a cigarette. "Had you informed me of your plan to cure the genophage I could have had back-up ready for you on Tuchanka. But you got the job done regardless."

"Given your anti-alien reputation, I didn't think you'd approve," Shepard replied.

"Cerberus has always been committed to the advancement and preservation of humanity," the Illusive Man said. "Even after everything we've accomplished, the Reapers' numbers are still too great for us to have a chance against them on our own. We can't win this war without allies."

"I thought you said any conventional war against them was practically unwinnable," said Shepard.

"It is," the Illusive Man replied. "Even with all the allies you've gathered we still don't have a chance against the Reapers in a stand-up fight. But if they can buy us time and keep the Reapers focused on them and away from what you and I are doing-"

"Researching indoctrination was your plan," Shepard interrupted. "What are 'we' doing?"

"We're making progress in understanding indoctrination but we're missing a few key pieces of data," the Illusive Man said. "Fortunately, I know where to find them."

"You want me to get them for you," Shepard said. "Why not send another Cerberus team?"

"The artifacts I need are located in areas currently under siege by the Reapers," the Illusive Man answered. "The Normandy is the only ship that can get in and out of hot areas undetected and this mission is too important to take any risks unnecessarily. We can't afford to fail or show our hand to the Reapers."

"Any other reason you can't do this yourself?" Shepard asked.

"Your targets are in Alliance and Council space," the Illusive Man replied. "They'll see rogue operatives operating in friendly territory as an act of hostility, but they'll trust Commander Shepard."

"The Alliance and Council don't exactly trust me," Shepard said. "If you hadn't noticed, I was imprisoned by them-"

"For fighting an enemy they thought didn't exist," the Illusive Man interrupted. "Now that the Reapers are on the march, they'll believe you. The whole galaxy is looking to you to stop them. They're scared and have no idea what to do. They'll defer to your judgment."

"Yeah, but I'm just deferring to your judgment," said Shepard. "How can I trust you?"

"You can't," the Illusive Man replied. "If everything I've done for you so far: bringing you back to life, providing the intel and means to stop the Collectors, preparing for the Reapers when no one else would, is not enough then so be it. My plan is the only legitimate one anybody has. You can either work with me or do nothing and watch the Reapers destroy everything. You don't have a choice."

"Fine," said Shepard. "Give me the mission details."

"There are two Reaper Monoliths buried on Palaven" the Illusive Man replied. "The Turians are unaware of their existence. They're too large and too dangerous to move, but I need you to scan them, get any information you can on how they work. With the destruction of the derelict Reapers and Object Rho, there are no other direct Reaper artifacts for study that we're aware of. We need data on them for comparison to what we know so far."

"If the Turians don't know about them, how do you?" asked Shepard.

"That's a long story," the Illusive Man replied. "Suffice it to say I have firsthand knowledge of them. And they weren't always unknown to the Turians. Their existence was classified, but everyone else who knew the secret…including Saren Arterius, is now dead."

"Saren came in contact with a Reaper artifact before he found Sovereign?" Shepard asked. "Maybe they started to indoctrinate him even then…And you still haven't told me how you know all this."

"There's no time for the whole story," the Illusive Man said. "Just know that I wasn't always 'the Illusive Man' and the significance of those artifacts goes back further than you know. Unknown to both the Alliance and to most of the Turian military, one of them was originally on Shanxi. That was what the Turian government was really after in the First Contact War: 'policing Mass Relay use' was only part of the story. Those artifacts are also the reason the Reapers know about us-"

"This doesn't make any sense," Shepard said. "And what do you mean know about us?"

"Part of their purpose is to scan for intelligent life, a probe the Reapers use to determine when civilizations are fit for harvesting," the Illusive Man said. "…the Monolith from Shanxi is how they first learned of humanity's existence."

Normandy Starboard Observation Deck

2 hours later

"You've gone it alone long enough, Commander," said Kaiden. "We have to bring the Alliance in now."

"I know," said Shepard. "The whole reason I went back to Earth in the first place was to get them on our side, because I knew Cerberus and our other allies wouldn't be enough against the Reapers. Then I just hung them out to dry when the Reapers hit…"

"The whole galaxy would have been hung out to dry no matter what you did, Shepard," said Garrus. "Even if everyone was ready and waiting for them, they would still have easily rolled right through our defenses. The Reapers have technology far more advanced than all of us. We couldn't have developed new tech comparable to theirs in three years."

"Cerberus did," said Kaiden. "I understand why you disabled the Collector Base instead of just destroying it, Commander, but why didn't you had it over the Alliance or even the Council? Why'd you give Cerberus a monopoly on Reaper tech? You're angry that they didn't believe you about the Reapers, but you were sitting on the evidence for over a year! Maybe they would have taken you seriously if you had showed them the Collector Base, the technology housed there. And don't say you couldn't risk it falling into the wrong hands, considering who you did give it to."

"Preserving the Collector Base was a risk and I didn't want the Alliance to have to deal with any of the blowback from it," Shepard replied. "You saw what happened when they tried dealing with Reaper tech in the Bahak System. They weren't prepared for it and ended up being indoctrinated. After Aratoht human diplomatic relations were already shaky and I don't think the rest of the galaxy would have taken kindly to the Alliance developing Reaper tech in secret. Having Cerberus do it gives the Alliance deniability."

"So you trusted Cerberus with Reaper tech to give the Alliance deniability in all this?" Kaiden asked. "That makes no sense."

"What do you want me to say, Kaiden?" Shepard asked. "I made a judgment call. Maybe it was the wrong one. Either way, the Reapers are here now. We can't change the past but we can do our best to win this war with what we have now. Maybe I should have brought the Alliance into the fold sooner, but it's happening now. Are you with me on this?"

"Yes, Sir," Kaiden replied.

"Take all of our Alliance personnel with you: James, Jack, and Jacob, and report to Admiral Hackett," said Shepard. "This is a top priority: no side trips this time."

"You aren't coming?" asked Kaiden.

"I need to lead the rest of the squad to Palaven," Shepard replied.

"Still working behind the Alliance's back?" Kaiden asked.

"No," Shepard replied. "Tell them the plan and get us some reinforcements if you can. Then bring the Alliance in behind them on my signal they can hit those bastards from behind. The Turians have them busy fighting to advance on the planet. They won't be looking for Fleets coming from the other side."

"You think the Alliance will be willing to do this, risk some of the few ships they have left to help the Turians?" Kaiden asked. "It's the right call, but think about it: Earth got hit the hardest by far and nobody came to humanity's aid."

"We need to stand together, and that means making the first move," Shepard replied. "This is no time for 'we won't help them unless they help us first' bullshit. If the galaxy keeps that up we don't have a chance. Wrex knows it, and he's acting accordingly. I'm surprised none of the other leaders have stepped up yet, but now it's our turn."

Normandy Bridge

En Route to Palaven

March 20, 2186

"So we're supposed to infiltrate a secret Turian military base that's so secret the Turians themselves don't know about it with an all out war going on around us?" said Kasumi. "And I thought stealing the Mona Lisa was hard…"

"You stole that?" Miranda asked incredulously.

"Yeah," Kasumi replied. "Not like it matters anymore. The authorities have way bigger problems on their hands than petty theft right now, and it's not exactly an art seller's market at the moment."

"You probably saved it," said Shepard. "Paris is probably a pile of rubble by now…at least Palaven is still putting up a good fight."

"But how long until the fight's kicked out of you?" Garrus said grimly. "If only they had listened to your warnings about the Reapers…we might have been ready…"

"We're in this together," Shepard replied. "We can't control what our governments and the rest of the galaxy do, but we'll do our part to stop the Reapers. We make a damn good team."

"Hell yes, Shepard," said Garrus. "But something seems off about this mission-"

"-Most ones involving the Illusive Man do," Kasumi interrupted.

"It's more than that," Garrus continued. "Do you think he's telling the truth about this artifact or whatever it is? Hard to believe my own people were screwing around with Reaper tech long before this all started…"

"Technically the whole galaxy's been messing with Reaper tech for centuries," said Shepard. "The Relay Network, the Citadel, it was all part of their plan. We just didn't know it…"

"Just about everything we've found so far has been a part of their plan," Miranda added. "So who's to say these Monoliths aren't as well? What if it's just another trap?"

"That's a risk we'll have to take," Shepard answered. "Using Reaper tech is always risky, but the Reapers are so advanced beyond our own technology that we can't fight them without it. There's a chance it won't help us or could even make things worse, but if we do nothing they'll definitely wipe us out."

"If it is a trap it's damn good one then," said Miranda. "The Reapers win no matter what we do…"

"I know it seems that way," said Shepard. "But we still have to try."

"We've almost reached the planet, Commander," said Joker. "You'd better strap in, everything around Palaven is a warzone right now."

"I'll take the ground team to the Shuttle," Shepard replied. "The area's too hot to risk keeping the Normandy here. We'll contact you for pick up."

"Aye-aye, Sir," Joker replied. "ETA 10 minutes to Palaven."

Shepard suited up for combat and stopped to see Garrus in the Forward Battery on his way down to the Kodiak. Garrus loaded his Mattock Rifle and silently looked to the Commander, clearly concerned.

"I'm still not used to this, Shepard," he said. "Used to be, we were always on the chase: stop the bad guys before they hurt anymore people…but this…now they're tearing our homeworlds apart and there's nothing we can do to stop them. We're the ones on the run now, hoping they don't catch us before we can complete our diabolical plan…whatever it is."

"Got any close friends or family down there?" Shepard asked.

"Some of my old military buddies are probably fighting on the frontlines…if they're still alive," Garrus said. "Luckily most of my family was off-world when the Reapers hit. My dad and sister were visiting my mom at a treatment facility on Noveria run by the Helos Institute. I haven't heard from them since, but Noveria didn't get hit so they should be ok. They're lucky…"

"I'm glad to hear they're safe," said Shepard. "You know you don't have to do this, Garrus. If you want to be with your family now, I understand."

"Not a chance," said Garrus. "After everything we've been through, everything leading up to this, I'm not backing out now. Now let's go out there and give them hell."

Normandy Shuttle

On Course for Palaven Landing

15 minutes later

"Damn you, Harbinger…" Shepard said quietly as he observed the battle taking place above Palaven. The Reapers had it completely surrounded and were relentlessly bombarding the planet and the fleets defending it. Turian ships massed in orbit fired on the Reapers, slowing their approach and taking out a few of them, but it was not enough to repel the incoming forces. Smaller Reapers acting as troop transports broke through the Turian blockade and unloaded swarms of Husks, Cannibals, and Marauders on the planet. The space above Palaven was littered with debris and constant explosions as the Reapers cut through the Turians' defenses. On the surface entire mega-cities were engulfed in flames visible from orbit.

"See that orange smear? The big one?" Garrus asked. "That's where I was born…"

"Earth fell in a matter of hours," Miranda said. "It's amazing the Turians are still putting up a fight at all."

"To be fair, they had a lot more warning, time to properly mobilize" Garrus replied. "When the Reapers got here they were already dug in and waiting for them. This wasn't a surprise attack."

"It's still impressive," Shepard added. "Make those bastards pay for every inch they gain."

"We're paying far more," Garrus said grimly. "Our cruisers have crews of about 300, dreadnoughts about twice that. All those explosions you see out there, that's hundreds of soldiers dead in minutes. We can't sustain this. The only reason we've lasted this long is because our whole society is militarized. Every Turian down there able to hold a gun is fighting to defend this place…At this rate we'll lose them all, and it still won't be enough to stop these things."

"The cavalry will be here," Shepard replied. "That should take some of the heat off your people, help cover a retreat once we have the artifacts."

"You're saying my people should just give up?" Garrus asked. "Every Turian is committed to the fight, to honor. They'll die before they flee the homeworld."

"There's no shame in retreating against superior forces, Garrus," said Shepard. "The Turians should save their strength, live to fight another day. We'll take Palaven back, just like we'll take back Earth. But we're going to need every ship and soldier we can find ready to fight when the counter-attack starts."

"We can't wait forever, Shepard," Garrus replied. "Even if we can get the remaining fleets to safety, without supply-lines they'll be useless. Ships alone are no good if we can't feed and arm the people needed to operate them."

"For any of this to matter at all we need to focus on the mission at hand," Miranda added. "The Reaper Monoliths are crucial to our understanding of indoctrination and how it can be turned against those bastards, and right now that's our best shot at stopping them. We can figure out our next move later."

"If they're as important as you say they are the Reapers will send a lot of troops to secure them once they figure out what we're up to…if they haven't already," Kasumi said. "What's the plan?"

"They appear to have been dormant since Saren buried them thirty years ago, and the site is sealed off," Shepard replied. "They should be clear."

"If they're buried under a pile of rubble, how are we supposed to get in?" Kasumi asked.

"A controlled explosion in the surrounding area should be enough to open a door for us," Shepard answered. "EDI has the coordinates and schematics the Illusive Man sent, she can do it with far more precision than the rest of us. When we give the signal, she'll make an opening, but it can't be until we're on site. I don't want to broadcast what we're doing to the Reapers until we have to."

"They're bound to react to our presence once they figure out what we're up to," said Miranda. "Be ready for anything."

"Almost to the landing zone, Shep," said Kasumi

"Yeah…," said Garrus taking one last look at the devastation all around them. "There's no place like home."

Palaven

0.5 miles out from Monolith site

2 hours later

"Keep moving," Shepard said, racing through the streets of Palaven's war-torn capital. "We're almost there."

Miranda Overloaded the shields of a group of approaching Marauders and Garrus fired a Concussive blast into the crowd, knocking them over. Shepard and Kasumi quickly executed them before they could get back up.

A large contingent of Cannibals started towards them from the other side but was immediately cut down by an incoming squad of Turians.

"This way, soldier," the squad leader started to tell Garrus. "The area is too hot. We're falling back to rally-point Echo…What are humans doing here? Is that…Commander Shepard?"

"Garrus Vakarian," Garrus replied. "Former military."

"I know who you are," the leader replied. "What the hell are you doing here? Is the Alliance sending reinforcements?"

"Working on it," Garrus answered. "But we're not here in any official capacity. Shepard has a plan to stop the Reapers but we're on a time-table. We'll fill the Hierarchy and the Alliance in later, but right now we need to find some ruins buried nearby. Can you provide some back-up?"

"I'm sorry, our orders are to regroup and re-double our efforts to slow the Reaper advance, buy our civilians more time to evacuate," the leader replied. "We're spread too thin as it is. I can't spare any soldiers for your unofficial operations."

"Please," Shepard added. "Our mission is crucial to the survival of the whole galaxy."

"This isn't my call," the leader replied.

"I know, I know," Garrus said, resignedly. "Good Turians follow orders."

Suddenly one of the other soldiers in the squad came over to Shepard's side. "Good thing I'm not a very good Turian then," he said in a familiar voice. Sidonis removed his helmet. "How can I help?"

"You can't," Garrus replied. "We're heading to a Reaper artifact. They tend to indoctrinate people. If a bunch of low-life mercs could talk you into betraying the old squad, just think what the Reapers will have you doing. You're a liability."

"I owe you my life, Garrus," Sidonis said. "I should have let the mercs kill me. Instead I sold out ten men to save myself, and after hunting me down for that you spared me. I know I can never make up for what I did, there's no redemption for me, but I at least want to do something right. Let me help. If you think the Reapers are affecting my mind, you can kill me yourself."

"How did you end up with the military anyway?" Shepard asked. "I thought you were going to turn yourself into the authorities."

"I did," Sidonis replied. "Well, I tried anyway. Omega doesn't fall under anyone's jurisdiction besides Aria T'Loak. It's lawless. No one in Council Space will prosecute crimes committed there. When I couldn't get into prison, I re-enlisted. Fighting is about the only useful skill I have. I couldn't cut it as a vigilante, but I still wanted to do some good. I figured I'd join up to be ready to fight the Reapers when they came, like you."

The ground shook and more explosions could heard in the distance. "It's your call, Garrus," Shepard said, looking to Sidonis. "But we need to move, now."

"I still hate you," Garrus said to Sidonis. "But the Reapers are bigger than us and our personal grudges. We all need to work together on this. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, and right now we need all the friends we can get." He shook Sidonis's hand.

Palaven

20 meters above Monolith

30 minutes later

"EDI, do you read me?" Commander Shepard said into his communicator. "We've reached the site."

"Loud and clear, Shepard," EDI replied. "I have a lock on your position. Commencing bombardment. Your opening should be 400 meters west of your position." A low-velocity slug fired from the Normandy barreled through Palaven's atmosphere and ripped a hole in the ground and the collapsed roof of the abandoned Turian complex below.

"Nice shot, EDI," Shepard said. "We're going in. Any word on the reinforcements our people went to get?"

"Already on their way, Shepard," EDI replied.

"C'mon," said Shepard. "This looks okay to climb down." The Commander, Miranda, Garrus, Kasumi, and Sidonis descended into the ruins.

"Lights on, people," Miranda said as she activated the light on her omni-tool. The others did the same, illuminating their pitch black surroundings. They could still feel the ground shaking from the explosions aboveground in the distance, but it was much gentler here and the sound was greatly muffled.

"It's too quiet down here," Garrus said. "This place gives me the creeps."

"Stay alert," Shepard said. "We may not be alone down here."

"I still can't believe Saren and the Illusive Man were both here thirty years ago," Garrus added. "This is where it all started…how they discovered the Reapers, were discovered by the Reapers… where their obsession with them came from…Saren's search for Sovereign, the Illusive Man founding Cerberus…all this right under my home…"

"I think I see it," Kasumi interrupted. The shadows of a 20-foot tall structure could be seen on the walls of the large empty room they were entering. The obelisk-shaped monolith itself was hard to see through the darkness since it was jet black in color but reflections of its many jagged edges gave it away.

"There's the other one," Miranda added, shining light on a second, identical monolith at the opposite end of the room. "I can't believe this thing is how the Reapers found humanity."

"Keep your distance," Commander Shepard said. "I'd rather they didn't find us right now."

"They'll probably be able to tell if they're being scanned," Miranda replied. "I don't think we have a choice, Shepard."

"Fine," Shepard replied. "Kasumi and Miranda, start the scan. Garrus, Sidonis, and I will cover the entrance. There's only one way in here so the Husks can't catch us by surprise."

"That also means there's only one way out, Shepard," Garrus added.

"If we can't fight our way out that way, EDI can make us another exit," Shepard replied. "But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

"Scanning now," Miranda started. "What the bloody hell is that?" Cracks in the monoliths that looked like veins running up and down them had started to glow deep blue… and they were getting brighter.

"Object Rho did the same thing," Shepard said. "It will call those Husks here like a beacon, but we can handle it. Keep scanning."

"3% complete, Shep," Kasumi said.

"Here they come," Garrus said. A large group of Husks was racing towards their position. He fired a Concussive Shot into the crowd, knocking most of them to the ground. He picked off the ones that were still on their feet with his sniper rifle. Cannibals and Marauders followed behind the Husks and opened fire on Shepard's squad.

"Get to cover!" Shepard said. It was difficult to find in the large open room, but there were a few crates left over from its old Turian owners. "Return fire!"

Garrus Overloaded the shields of a Marauder and Shepard killed it with a headshot from his Widow. Sidonis laid suppressing fire on a group of Cannibals to hold them back. Shepard fired an Incineration tech into them and Garrus and Sidonis finished them off while they burned. Shepard used the Widow to quickly take down another group of approaching Cannibals from a distance and Garrus and Sidonis killed another Marauder. They were holding for now…but the Reaper forces were still pouring in.

"Status?" Shepard yelled.

"17%," Kasumi replied.

Everest-class Alliance Dreadnaught, SSV Moscow

En route to Palaven

ETA 10 minutes

"For the record, Major Alenko, I think this plan is a reckless waste of human lives. Nothing against the Turians but we can't save Palaven. You're asking us to throw away our ships and our soldiers' lives for a lost cause." Captain Orlova said. "But Admiral Hackett seems to have a lot of trust in your Commander Shepard, and orders are orders. We'll do what we can."

"This is strictly a hit-and-run, Captain," Kaiden told her. "We go in and hit the Reapers from the back just long enough for the ground team to upload their data and get out of there. That data is our top priority. It could be our only chance to stop the Reapers."

"You're grasping at straws and you know it," Orlova replied. "Wasting what few resources we have left on a pipe dream."

"Do you have any better ideas?" Jacob asked.

"For stopping the Reapers, no," Orlova said dismissively. "But if we stopped sacrificing everything we have to keep fighting a losing battle, we might be able to ensure that at least the people that are left will survive."

"What are you saying?" Kaiden asked.

"We could just run," Orlova responded. "Load everyone we can onto ships and run, live like the Quarians: make salvage runs, try and grow food on our ships, never stay in one place long enough for the Reapers to find us. It would be a tough existence, but at least it would be something. At the rate you're going, everyone is going to die…and soon."

"The Reapers will never stop hunting us," Kaiden said. "They're patient and continue on for centuries to finish the job. Even if we did just take a fleet and run, they could easily guard all the Relays, trap us in somewhere. Or just shut the whole network down to stop us from running. They created the things; it's not a stretch to think they can manipulate them like that."

"I get it," Orlava said resignedly. "It's a no-win scenario."

"Shepard doesn't believe in no-win scenarios," Jacob replied.

"Well he's got one now," Orlova said. "No matter what happens, we're going to lose a lot of people. Enough about that though, we're almost at the target. Main guns are primed and ready to do some damage."

"Bastards will never know what hit 'em," Jack said.

"Attention all hands, this Captain Orlava," the Captain said into the intercom. "We are 5 minutes out from Palaven. I want all battle stations manned and combat ready immediately. Entry point is expected to be extremely hot, so be prepared to fire as soon as we exit FTL. Engineers, divert all power from non-critical systems to the shields. Gunners, you know the drill: aim for their back-sides and hit them quick, before they can turn around. We'll be less than useless against those things in a head-on fight. This is a hit-and-run people, we won't be able sustain our attack very long. Be ready jump away on my command...Good luck everyone, you have your orders. Now let's go help our friends."

"Great speech, Captain," Kaiden told her. "You're a very good leader."

"I just hope your leader is good as they say," she replied. "We're taking a hell of a risk for him."

The Moscow dropped out of FTL several hundred kilometers from Palaven, along with the rest the ships from its Alliance Navy detachment. "Slow and steady, people," Orlova said. "Don't let them know we're here."

The ships continued their approach to the planet, and scanners starting picking up Reaper signatures directly ahead of them. "Steady," the Captain said. "Steady. We're almost in weapons range."

"Acquiring target," one of the officers on the bridge said. "I have a visual- shit, they're facing towards us! All of them! We're sitting ducks."

"Fuck," Jack said. "It's a trap! They knew were coming."

"Tell me something I don't know," Orlova yelled. "Evasive Maneuvers! Break off, hard right, now!"

The cruiser next to the Moscow exploded. "We've lost the Tokyo!" the ship's executive officer said.

"The Reapers in front us aren't firing," Orlova said. "What happened!?"

"…They're behind us," the officer replied. "We're surrounded."

Another Alliance ship was torn apart by Reaper fire. All hands were lost.

"Budapest is down too," the officer said. "They're tearing us apart out here. We're flanked on all sides. Orders, Captain?"

"Get me the fleet," she replied. After the communicator was activated she addressed all of the ships: "Attention all ships, this is Captain Orlova. Disengage the Reapers immediately. We're made, and we're no match against those things without surprise on our side. Captains, I won't ask any of you to risk your crews any more than you already have. Decision to proceed with mission or abort is your call. Only volunteers from here on in. If you're in, proceed to rally-point two. If you're out, fall back to the main Fleet. If we fail here, the Alliance is going to need you to keep up the fight. Good luck, people. It's been an honor serving with you."

"I thought you wanted to evacuate with the others," Kaiden said.

"I think it's a much better idea," Orlova replied. "But I always finish what I've started. Whether your plan works or not, I'm seeing it through."

Reaper Monolith Site

Palaven

Garrus knocked down an approaching crowd of Cannibals with a Concussive Shot and the rest of the squad picked them off while they were down. Miranda Overloaded a Marauder's shields and Kasumi killed it with a Shadow Strike from behind. Behind them the Monoliths continued to glow brighter and brighter.

"More are coming every second, Shepard, all directions" Garrus said. "They'll trap us in here if we don't leave soon."

"Kasumi, what's our status?" Shepard asked.

"81%," Kasumi yelled over the gunfire. "Wait, something's happening."

The Monoliths blasted beams of light straight up, burning holes in the ground above them. Then they went dark.

"Shepard, the scans have stopped," Miranda said. "Something's blocking us."

"They know we're here," Shepard said. "They know what we're doing. They must have found a way to shut these things down remotely. Is there any way we can re-activate them?"

"The Illusive Man said they react with organics that come into contact with them, right?" Garrus said. "Maybe one of us can jump start it."

"Are you crazy?" Shepard said. "They also turn people into Husks."

"I'll do it," Sidonis said. "I've got nothing to live for anyway. I'm not a hero like the rest of you."

"You do this, you'll die as one," Shepard said.

"No, I won't," Sidonis said. "I don't deserve that…but thanks for saying it. Re-route your scan through my omni-tool and get out of here. If I turn, the scan will keep transmitting to you. You don't all need to die for this data. Just me. And Garrus, for what it's worth…I'm sorry."

"Don't blame yourself for what those bastard mercs did," Garrus replied. "…And for what it's worth, I'm sorry I did. Thank you, Sidonis. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten."

"Shepard to Normandy, we need immediate evac," the Commander said into his communicator. In the distance, Sidonis touched one of the Monoliths. Blue lightning erupted from it and struck him down. A light glow returned to the artifact. And the omni-tool scan's progress returned. "We got we came for."

Normandy Bridge

5 hours later

Commander Shepard reflected on the mission to Palaven after his official Alliance debriefing with Captain Orlova and his not-so-official debriefing from the Illusive Man. Like Rannoch, his success had come at a heavy price. It had been a mistake to use the same strategy that had worked on Tuchanka: sneak in behind them while they were distracted by what was happening planet-side. The Reapers were more advanced and intelligent than anything they had ever faced. He should have known that they wouldn't fall for the same trick twice. His underestimation of them had cost a few more thousand human lives, and valuable ships the Alliance Navy could not afford to lose any more of. And it was not the Alliance's mission, it was his. They had come to help because he had asked them to. Most didn't even know the real mission, or believe it would work if they did, but they had faith in Commander Shepard…and he had led them straight into a trap.

It was a small miracle the ground team even made it out, and it had required heroics and sacrifices by many of the Alliance Captains that volunteered to stay the course after the disaster he had led them into. They bought the Normandy just enough time to drop in and extract him and the data, sustaining heavy damage in the process. Their sacrifice had not really done anything for the Turians at all, besides providing a very brief distraction to the Reapers. No Reapers had been destroyed in the Alliance's attack. He only hoped the data they retrieved would make it worth the cost. But the cost of his missions from the Illusive Man were stacking up, and Shepard began to question if he was really right to send so many people who trusted them to their deaths based on intel and advice from a man he didn't trust himself. The Illusive Man always got what he wanted…while everyone else paid the price.