Noveria: Peak 15
Commander Shepard's POV.
Liara, Garrus and I entered the facility, only to be welcomed by a Geth Jaggernaut, repair drones and Krogan warriors.
We made quick work of the welcoming party and entered the facility. A female voice spoke from the speakers around the room.
"User alert. All Peak 15 facilities have suffered a great deal of damage. Biohazard materials present throughout facility. Virtual Intelligence user interface offline." It informed.
"We'll need to get the reactors back online." Garrus instructed.
My team and I journeyed through the first hallway of the facility. Upon entrance, there were assault drones, facing the exit door. Strange.
"Why are the turrets facing the wrong way?" Liara asked.
"They want to keep their people in as much as they want to keep others out." Garrus guessed.
I notice an operational elevator on the left. My team and I entered it and the elevator took us up. It reached its destination and we entered another large room, full of Geth forces.
My team and I took them out, then there was a noise of something moving within vents. It was loud, so it must've been very close-by.
"What was that?" Liara asked in startle.
"Animals? Wind? This place is in bad shape." Garrus answered.
Above us, appeared two large insect-like creatures. Smaller scarabs, glowing a poisonous green, attacked us. Liara, Garrus and I took out the scarabs and the insects with little difficulty.
Garrus caught his breath and asked, "What were those things?"
"Xenobiology is not my field. Maybe someone in the labs knows." Liara suggested.
I took a closer look at the insects. Can't say for sure, but they could be part of a species that supposedly died out decades ago.
I shook my head of the thought and continued further into the facility. My team and I entered another elevator and were taken up to a higher level. Once entered the next room, more of the green scarabs swarmed in to attack us.
Once we took them out and everything calmed down, Garrus looked around and noticed a power junction, "A backup power system, Commander. It must be for the station's mainframe."
"The damage is not extensive." Liara noticed, "It could be repaired."
I walked up to the junction and switched it on. The female voice from before spoke again, "Critical startup error. Virtual Intelligence user interface offline. Manual boot required."
The door to the other side of the room opened to reveal a server room. Must be the VI server room. I entered the center of the room and the platform lowered to the deep inside of the interface.
I looked around and noticed the memory core was badly damaged. Benezia must've done something here to cover her tracks. I used a few batches of omni-gel and the memory core was repaired in no time.
The platform lifted back up to center of the room and my team and I were greeted by an orange Virtual Intelligence hologram in the form of a human woman.
"It looks like you're trying to restore this facility. Would you like help?" The hologram greeted.
"You're the Virtual Intelligence that runs this place?" I asked.
The hologram nodded, "This system is monitored to respond to the name 'Mira'." The she asked, "May I ask your name?"
"Commander Shepard. I work for the Citadel's Special Tactics and Reconnaissance." I answered.
"One moment, please." She told me, then replied, "Council authority confirmed. You are entitled to Secure Access of all systems." Then she warned me, "Please note that queries relating to corporate secrets require Privileged Access. Privileged Access is only available to Binary Helix executives."
"This system is ready to process queries. You may access me at any holographic interface within Peak 15." The hologram, Mira, finished.
"I need to find Matriarch Benezia." I told her.
"Lady Benezia departed on the passenger tramway to the Rift Station subsidiary labs." She answered, then alerted, "User alert! The tramway system is currently inoperable."
If Benezia is at the Rift Station, and hasn't left yet. Then I still have time to catch up and fix whatever needs fixing, to get the tramway up and running again.
"What's the situation here?" I asked.
"One moment, please. Diagnostics in progress." She told me, then answered, "Critical Failure: Main reactor shut down in accordance with emergency containment procedures. Manual restart required." She added, "Critical Failure: Landline connections are disabled. Passenger tram systems are offline. Report complete. Do you have an additional systems status query?"
I thought for a second, then shook my head, "That's all I need right now."
Mira nodded, "Very well, Commander. Logging you out."
(A/N: I'm well aware I've been skipping a few bits and pieces of dialogue. I don't like wasting time and data on EVERYTHING the characters say, so I get straight to the point. Also, I won't miss what I think is crucial info.)
With that, Liara, Garrus and I ran to the back of the room and used the elevator, that lead to the roof, and see if we could repair the landlines.
Once on the roof and on the landline station, there were more of the insects and the green scarabs. My team and I quickly shot them down and cleared the station. I found the landline terminal and switched it back on.
Now, it was time for the Main Reactor. My team and I left the roof and and made our way to the main room.
Once there, we were greeted by another insect warrior. I quickly shot it down. Everything calm down and Liara, Garrus and I arrived to the elevator, that lead to the Main Reactor.
The elevator reached its destination, and we entered the main reactor room. However, we were welcomed by Geth forces. Benezia was here!
Liara, Garrus and I took out some of the forces out and walked around to the Main Reactor.
Garrus looked at the reactor and alerted me, "The He3 fuel line is cut."
I quickly walked over to the fuel lines and reconnected them. With that, the systems of Peak 15 were repaired and time to reach the tramway system.
My team and I took out the remainder of the Geth forces, returned to the main room and shoot down the incoming insect warrior. Where are these things coming from?
With the warrior taken care of, Liara, Garrus and I journeyed through the hallways and elevator, to the decontamination and transit hub. However, Mira seemed to have sealed the decontamination chamber off.
Once we exit the elevator, my team and I entered the office of the decontamination chamber. Inside was a dead Salarian scientist. Looks like he's been dead for a while, and he was laying near an active computer.
I walked over to the desk and replayed the log. It was mostly static, but we could just make out a few words, "...Control grou- ...Loose in the...They're...Can't escape...Up in the tunnels now. We're sorry. The leads couldn't get to... -Struct...Out while you can..." The rest just ended in more static, or just went dead.
"He killed himself because he was part of whatever happened here?" Garrus asked.
"He must have thought there was no hope of surviving." Liara answered, "That killing himself would be easier."
I walked over to Mira's interface system terminal and switched her on.
"Connections restored. Processing new data. User alert! Unable to connect to Hot Lab facilities." Mira informed me.
"What's this about loose contaminants?" I asked.
"Dangerous biological agents are present in the tramway decontamination chamber." She answered, "The tram station has been sealed in the interest of crew safety. Activation of the failsafe plasma jets is recommended prior to access."
I looked out the window and saw more of the insects. Mira must mean them by 'loose contaminants'. There must be more of them on the other side.
"How do I activate the failsafe system?" I asked her.
"Controls for the failsafe systems are located in the security checkpoint outside decontamination." She answered, then warned me, "User alert! The failsafe system is currently inoperable."
"What would it take to get the decon failsafes operating again?" I asked.
"There is a hardware fault in the control system. This can be repaired on-site using a standard omni-tool." Mira answered with a nod.
In other words, the controls and failsafe system are inoperable due to the insects being present in the decontamination. And the level needed to fix the failsafes is too high.
"Unlock the decontamination chamber." I told her.
"User alert! Contaminants are present within the decontamination chambers. Passage is not recommended." She told me in argument.
"Override. Open the doors now." I told Mira.
Mira nodded in defeat, "Very well, Commander. Releasing safeties. Proceed at your discretion."
"That's all I need right now." I dismissed.
"Very well, Commander. Logging you out." She nodded, then was switched off.
My team and I entered the decontamination chamber and took out the insect warriors and green scarabs. With everything calmed down, we journeyed through the hallway, to the transit hub and entered the passenger tram.
"Departing Central Station. Destination: Rift Station." Mira announced, as the tram started moving.
After a few minutes of the tram travelling through the tramway, Mira reported, "Now arriving at Rift Station. Binary Helix research facility."
The doors opened and my team exit the tram. We made our way through the facility, into the only place that was open, the bunkers.
My team and I entered the bunkers and encountered a group of armed ERCS guards and mercs. The captain was a male Human with dark skin, in white and blue armor.
The captain saw my team and instructed, "Stand down." He walked up to me and apologize, "Sorry. We couldn't be sure what was on the tram."
I shrugged my shoulders, "I'd only be upset if they had fired."
"Even hopped up on stims, my people know the rule. Two legs good, four legs bad." He explained, "Look. You're human, and that's enough that I won't shoot. But I'd like to know who you are."
"My name's Shepard. I'm a Spectre." I introduced myself to him.
The captain gave me a look, "Huh." Then he shrugged, "I won't look a heavily-armed horse in the mouth." Then he explained to me, "The aliens overran the Hot Labs last week. Only Han Olar got out, and he ain't all there any more. The first we knew, the bastards were clawing into my command post. We had a lot more staff then."
"You were taken by surprise and had civilians to protect. You did a good job, Captain." I assured him.
"Yeah? Sure as hell doesn't feel like it." He told me, "The board sent an Asari to clean up the mess. She went to the Hot Labs yesterday. We haven't heard from her since."
"Benezia." I gasped, "Is she still over there?"
The captain shrugged, "I don't know. I don't see what one person can do."
"A Matriarch has the skill to keep herself alive for a long time." Liara pointed out.
The captain nodded, then he told me, "There's an emergency elevator out by the trams." He gave me a key card, "This card will let you activate it. It can take you down to the Hot Labs." Then he informed me, "Oh, if you need any first aid, Dr. Cohen's downstairs in the med bay."
I nodded and dismissed, "I've got work to do."
He nodded in understanding, "Yeah, I hear th-" Then he was cut off by the sounds of something moving in the ventilation ducts and insect-like screeching. He grimaced, then instructed, "Hell! Man the perimeter!"
My team and I drew our weapons and braced ourselves. It was two more of the insect warriors. We quickly took them out with ease.
Once everything calmed down, my team and I withdrew our weapons and I returned to the captain.
He caught his breath and sighed in relief, "Thanks for the help. Every few hours, a group comes up the tram tunnel. It's actually better since we locked down the elevator."
I nodded, "I'll do whatever I can."
He shook his head, "I don't know why they keep throwing themselves against our defenses. Even animals should learn not to stick their noses where it hurts."
With that, my team and I made our way back to the tram station, and summoned the elevator to the Hot Labs. The elevator took us to its destination. The Hot Labs were empty except for a human male scientist, sitting on a chair, alone.
He saw us coming and asked in a strong Russian accent, "Are you here to secure the situation?"
I nodded and asked him, "How are you holding up?"
The scientist shook his head, "You must listen to me. If we do not contain our mistake, they will drop bombs from the battle stations. You understand?"
My eyes widen in shock. He was talking about the insects we've been encountering, "You let these things out?"
The scientist solemnly nodded, "Ehh. I am only following the orders." Then he explained, "Binary Helix found an egg. It was on a derellict ship, thousands of years drifting. This was Rachni ship. Inside they find many eggs in cryogenic suspension."
'Rachni'? The same telepathic insect species the Krogan wiped out a long time ago? I thought the warriors looked familiar.
"A thousand-year-old egg hatched?" I asked.
He nodded again, "Yes. Very tough, to be so long frozen. That it survived the centuries - this is miraculous." Then his smile fell, "Binary Helix plan to clone Rachni. Mass-produce them. Create an army. But when they get here, they find this egg is not a common Rachni. It is a Queen. After she lays eggs, they move her to Rift Station. They are thinking that without her, they can raise the babies to be obedient."
"Obviously, they were wrong." I concluded.
The scientist nodded, "Ehh. This was exactly the wrong thing to do." Then he continued his explanation, "I am thinking that without a Queen, Rachni do not develop properly. Her mind is shaping theirs. These Rachni are uncontrollable."
"Then all we need to do is bring her here." I suggested.
The scientist shook his head, "No. I am sorry, but this will not work. These Rachni are beyond saving. It is a sad thing, but they must be euthanized. I am thinking that the neutron purge must be set off."
It is sad, but if it's the only way to save them, then drastic times call for drastic measures. I nodded in agreement then asked, "How do we set off the purge?"
"Arming controls are nearby. All you do is insert the key." He answered, "Then I will give Mira destruct co-" Suddenly, he was pierced through the chest by a claw, "Aaagghh!"
I quickly took a step back. The person, or creature that attacked was another Rachni. The Rachni growled and threw the scientist across the room. My team and I grabbed our weapons and shot the insect warrior down.
Once everything calmed, it looked like my team and I will have to activate the purge ourselves. I grabbed the code from the scientist's hand, and made my way to the next room.
The next room looked like it was barricaded. I found one of Mira's terminals and summoned her.
Mira appeared, "Online. How can I help you?"
"Activate the neutron purge." I told her.
Mira shook her head, "I'm sorry, but I can't do that without proper code authorization."
I looked at the code and recited, "Code input: 875-020-079. Code Omega local execution."
She nodded, "Verified. Code Omega execution in 120 seconds."
With that, Mira was switched off and it was time for my team and I to get the hell out of the Hot Labs.
It was tight run, but my team and I were able to make it to the elevator before the purge was set off. The elevator started moving and there was a sound of large explosions below us.
The Rachni should be able to rest easily now. Now, it's time to find and stop Matriarch Benezia.