A/N: It's finally started. The fight against the Blue Suns is about to begin, and a lot hangs in the balance. This chapter will bounce back and forth between Alex and Chellick as they go about their separate missions, this will continue into the chapters to follow as well.
Now let's get this started. I own nothing.
Alexander 'Maverick' Drake
Industrial District - Lower Wards
November 25, 2180 - 06:00 hours
(3 Hours Until Assault Begins)
It had taken several hours until Alex could locate where Nelon was hiding out. Having Prophet scan multiple communication channels until the Salarian's location was broadcasted over a private channel.
Nelon was holed up in a small warehouse with roughly 20 mercs guarding him with an unknown amount of mechs programmed to kill anything not wearing Blue Suns armor.
Alex parked the hacked skycar on top of a roof outside the warehouse's perimeter before observing the opposition down below. Half of the mercs were outside the building along with a handful of LOKI mechs.
A call came in on his omni-tool, "Yes?" he asked answering. "It's Chellick. I got the data to Pallin. He's forwarding it all to the rest of C-Sec, E-Sec and the guards stationed around the Presidium. E-Sec is preparing several squads to go into the service tunnels to try and secure the power conduits from the mercs' control."
"I've located Nelon's location. When they secure the conduits have them on standby until I can get the deactivation code for the devices." he replied having his visor zoom in on the group below.
"The Executor wants answers on how I obtained the information." said Chellick. "Tell him you found it at the crime scene. They won't take any of it seriously if they know it came from me." replied the vigilante as he started to make his way down to street level.
The detective sighed, "Do you need back up?" "No. You need to help organize the defense when they attack. I'll handle Nelon."
Alex reached the ground as he heard his Turian friend let out another breath, "Good luck Alex. Try not to get yourself killed out there."
Smirking, Alex drew his Grendel and activated his cloak. "I've survived this long on my own Chellick. I think I can handle this." the call ended just as he slipped inside of the warehouse's perimeter.
"Tactical Options Available." Prophet said into his ear as he tagged all of the hostiles in the area. With less than five hours before the attack he didn't have time for stealth.
Reaching the first merc, he shot him in the back of the head with his assault rifle before quickly taking down the other two that were standing close to him. With his cloak now down the rest of the gathered mercs began shooting in his direction.
"Maximum Armor."the rounds bounced off of his armor as he emptied the rest of his weapons clip into the other mercs. Smashing the butt of the rifle into the head of a LOKI mech and crushing it like a tin can.
The surviving mercs began to fall back, Alex charged forward. Kicking one hard in the chest and sending him crashing into the door of the warehouse as he reloaded his Grendel, shooting the last handful of hostiles in a hail of heavy slugs before they could regroup.
"Now then, let's find out what's behind door number one." he said switching to his Jackel before raising his foot and kicking the already dented door off it's hinges.
X
Chellick
C-Sec Headquarters - Upper Wards
November 25, 2180 - 06:13 hours
All of C-Sec was in a state of chaos. Ever since Chellick arrived with the information everyone was called back to headquarters so that they could be prepared for the Blue Suns' attack.
Executor Pallin had read the data and had it authenticated before forwarding it to the council and the security stationed around the Presidium. He then called all on duty and off duty officers in to prepare for the worst. E-Sec was mounting a strategic attack on the service tunnels to ensure that the power conduits were secure.
"To think the mercs are this desperate to attack the head of the government makes you wonder if there's something else going on." said Garrus as he and Chellick stood in the stations armory as they assembled their weapons.
"The fact that they're doing this at all is troubling." said Chellick slamming an ammo block into the Avenger assault rifle in his hands before slipping on an armor vest.
Garrus shot his long time friend a look before setting his sniper rifle aside, "How did you get that information anyway?" he asked straight to the point.
Chellick looked up at him, "At the crime scene. The apartment Maverick was located at, I told you this already Garrus." he said activating the kinetic barriers on the armor he now wore.
The other Turian stood up, his look turning calculating. "Chellick, I've known you for a couple of years now. I know the story you fed the Executor isn't the truth." he stood infront of his fellow detective how looked back at him just as hard. "Where did you get the information Chellick?"
Not backing down, Chellick just stared right back. "Does it matter where I got if from? This data has been proven to be genuine and most likely will save countless lives. What's with the interrogation Garrus?" he asked with an edge.
Garrus narrowed his eyes, "I find it rather convenient that the same place that Maverick was at has the data that contains everything about the Blue Suns' movements and their plans. I find it convenient that all of this data was found in one location so easily."
He got closer to the point he was almost in Chellick's face, "I find it convenient, that you find this data even though I know you were nowhere near the apartment in question. You were on the ground overlooking the crashed gunships when you got a call on your omni-tool. You left, then suddenly came back with all this valuable intel."
Chellick's hands clenched into fists, Garrus was too good at his job sometimes. He could see any lies that are fed to him and spit them back out like a bad piece of meat.
"You got this intel from Maverick didn't you?" Garrus asked when Chellick didn't answer. "Everything he collected on the mercs when he attacked their operations he gave to you to give to us."
Keeping their gaze locked, Chellick clicked his mandibles. "Like I said, does it matter? It all adds up, everything the mercs have been working for under our noses is now bought to light."
"He's a vigilante!" Garrus hissed lowly. "How can he be trusted, he could be working for the mercs for all we know. Making us all follow a false lead and leading us into a trap?"
Chellick growled, "He can be trusted." Garrus didn't look convinced. "Garrus, if there was ever a time for you to trust me. Now is that time." he said using Alex's words.
After several seconds, Garrus sighed and stepped back. "I've never doubted you before. I won't start now. But when this is all over your 'friend' will have a lot to answer for. And you better be willing to help with that." without another word Garrus gathered his weapons and left the armory.
Breathing out a sigh of defeat, Chellick sat down on the bench in the center of the room rubbing his eyes. Praying to the Spirits that everything turned out okay when this all came to an end in the next few hours.
X
Alexander 'Maverick' Drake
Industrial District - Lower Wards
November 25, 2180 - 6:20 hours
Entering the warehouse, Alex shot the first merc in his sights before diving behind cover as a hail of gunfire roared in his direction. Peering around the crate he was behind, he tagged five mercs and ten LOKI mechs in the open space.
Six more mercs were on the catwalks around the room with sniper rifles waiting for him to come out of hiding.
"Cloak Engaged." Alex stood up and saw several of the mercs on the ground level clustered together behind various forms of cover. Putting his shotgun away, he pulled out two disc grenades and primed them before hurling them across the room to the mercs in cover.
His feet were moving the moment the explosives left his hands. The explosions caused the whole room to erupt into chaos. Gunfire went around as the mercs tried to find his location.
Dropping behind cover again, Alex drew his bow and took out a few explosive arrows. Drawing one back, he shot it into the support of one of the catwalks above the room. He did the same to the rest of the catwalks before dropping back into cover and hitting the detonator on the bow's handle.
The four arrows exploded all at once, weakening the supports for the catwalks and causing them, along with those standing on them to collapse to the ground crushing anyone and anything that was under them.
"Maximum Armor." Alex got up with his Jackel and shot one of the disoriented mercs. Blowing his chest plate open and punching a large hole in his chest before shooting the head off of the damaged LOKI mech that had been standing next to him.
The remaining mercs and mechs attempted to regroup. Alex's shotgun blew the mechs into scrap metal while the mercs fell in pools of blood.
With the room empty, Alex reloaded his shotgun before switching back to his Grendel. "Now Nelon, it's time we met face to face." he said heading to the offices of the warehouse.
"It was a mistake for you to come here Maverick." said the Salarian's voice through the building's intercoms. Alex had his rifle up and was surveying the area for any more hostiles. "You can't stop what the Blue Suns have set in motion. The council will fall. The Citadel will be ours. And there's nothing you can do about it."
Three large crates suddenly split open drawing the Post-Human soldier's attention. Three YIMR mechs unfolded and stood at their full height as their weapons systems came online. "You may have survived my apartment Maverick, let's see you get out of this one." The large mechs raised their chaingun arms and opened fire.
Alex dove into cover as the heavy rounds tore through everything around him. Peeking over, he had Prophet do a quick scan on the mechs for weaknesses.
Blueprints of the YIMR class mech appeared on his HUD and several points were highlighted as weak points. "Tactical Options Available." Taking out his bow again, Alex lept from cover and let an arrow fly.
The bolt stabbed into the optic of the YIMR on the right, the mech shuddered with sparks shooting out of it before collapsing on it's knees with a loud beeping coming from it's chest. Alex dropped back down behind cover as the mech overloaded and exploded with the force of a brick of C-4.
When the dust settled, the vigilante saw that the explosion had weakened the armor of the two other YIMRs greatly giving him something to work with.
The two large mechs lifted their other arms and fired two rockets in his direction. "Maximum Armor." Alex sprinted from his cover as it was destroyed. Two more rockets were fired, hitting the ground right behind him as he vaulted over a large crate that shielded him from the blast.
Drawing one of his Hammers in his right hand, while taking out a grenade in his left. The vigilante ran toward the YIMRs, shooting at them along the way. Each round bouncing off of the heavy mechs' armor but caused them to step back and hold up their arm as a shield.
Alex dropped from his sprint and slid between the legs of one of the YIMRs, throwing the grenade up into an exposed section of it's armor.
Coming out of the slide back on his feet and diving behind cover again. The grenade exploded blowing the mech's lower half to pieces and dropping it to the ground as it shut down from the excessive damage.
The last mech, uncaring of the fall of it's partners, opened fire with it's chain gun. Shredding apart the crate Alex has behind.
The YIMR stomped forward, shaking the ground slightly with each step as it approached the crate. Raising it's rocket launcher arm and smashing the crate aside only to see that it's target was not there.
Alex deactivated his cloak and leapt up onto the mech's back, driving his knife into the exposed circuits in it's neck. Cutting as many as he could before grabbing the cylinder head of the YIMR and snapping it hard to the side until it ripped right off of it's body.
Leaping off a moment later. The mech shuddered before collapsing onto the ground face first and laid still. "I've had enough of these games." Alex growled before reloading his pistol and heading toward the offices.
The corridor leading to the offices in the back of the warehouse was empty save for two LOKI mechs. Both of which had two holes through their heads as the vigilante walked past toward the main office of the building. "Nano Vision Enabled."
His visor lit up and revealed a single body sitting at the desk behind the door. Alex kicked the door open and stormed the office. The sight before his eyes making him freeze at the door.
X
The Cruiser sped through the early morning traffic along with several others as C-Sec personnel made their way to the Presidium to help defend if against the coming attack. Chellick drove while Garrus sat next to him with his sniper rifle out ready to use when they arrived.
E-Sec had reported Blue Suns in the service tunnels and were currently in the middle of a firefight to regain control of them. But the mercs were putting up a good fight, the the personnel in the tunnels were requesting backup.
They all landed close to the Presidium Commons and helped evacuate all of the civilians in the area that could be caught in the crossfire as C-Sec began setting up a perimeter. Several squads heading into the tunnels to assist E-Sec.
"Let's hope this ends quickly." said Garrus setting up. Chellick nodded in agreement while at the same time wondering what was happening on Alex's end.
X
Alex stepped into the office slowly, Hammer at the ready as he observed the room. It was basic, a few filing cabnets, a desk with a terminal and only one door leading in or out.
Behind the desk sat Nelon Xambit, a bullet hole in the side of his head as he slumped into the chair he was in. His large eyes glossy as they stared at the vigilante when he entered.
Lowering his weapon, Alex checked the body and found it cold. He'd been dead for a while. And from Prophet's scans, he was dead long before the incident at the apartment in the 800 Blocks.
The terminal's screen suddenly flared to life. The image of a Batarian with a large scar over his two left eyes wearing Blue Suns armor appeared. "Was wondering when you'd show up. You like the little gifts I left for you?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Tarak Bhelmont. Why don't you shoot yourself in the head and save me the bullet." said Alex.
"Heh, not going to happen. You know, you've been causing us a lot of fucking problems these last few months. My boss wanted you dealt with before our plans could come to reality. But seeing how you are a very hard asshole to kill, I decided to make both happen at the same time." said the Blue Sun Commander.
"I know your plans already Tarak. All of C-Sec and the council know. You won't succeed." said Alex. The vigilante got a sudden sickening feeling in his stomach when he saw the Batarian grin. "That's where your wrong Maverick. True our original plans were revealed, but I've decided to make a few...modifications to it to make sure we didn't fail."
X
C-Sec personnel had set up a very well fortified defense all around the Presidium. But they all failed to notice the large squads of mercs that were heavily armed and armored that surrounded them on all sides.
X
In the service tunnels, E-Sec and C-Sec officers moved deeper inside as they approached the location of the power conduits. Passing by several shadows that hid devices with blinking red lights.
X
Squads of armed guards rode the elevators of the Citadel Tower to set up defense positions on the key floors of the large structure in the center of the Presidium. All of them unaware of the explosive charges set on the underside of each lift as several groups of Blue Suns moved up the stairs.
X
"By the time those fools realize what is happening...it'll be too late." said Tarak sadistically. Alex glared hatefully at the terminal screen through his visor. Fists clenched in rage from the bastard's words.
"I'll stop you. There won't be any force here or anywhere in the traverse that will allow you to succeed as long as I am alive Tarak." he spat out.
Tarak narrowed his two remaining eyes, "I have an army. What could one man possible do against what I have to dish out?" "One man can make all the difference you four eyed asshole." Alex said leaning on the desk.
The Batarian growled, "I'll enjoy watching you die you vigilante fuck." "Funny, I was going to say the same to you." the soldier replied.
"You won't get the chance, Maverick." said Tarak bringing up his omni-tool. "See you in hell." he pressed a button on the device and loud beeping echoed through the whole warehouse.
"SHIT!" Alex shouted before activating his armor mode and throwing himself out of the office window just as the entire building went up in a massive explosion.
The dust cleared several minutes later revealing a large pile of rubble where the structure once stood. A black and silver gauntlet burst from the pile just as Alex pulled himself out of debris. "Suit Damage Detected. Commencing System Repair." "You better work while on the move Prophet, we don't have a lot of time." Alex said heading toward where he parked the skycar, activating his omni-tool along the way.
X
Tarak smirked, the was no way the vigilante could have survived the blast. Pressing his comm, he gave the order. "We're moving ahead of schedule. Execute."
X
Chellick looked down as he heard his omni-tool, "Chellick here."
"It's me, the place was a trap! The Blue Suns changed their plans, they've got you guys surrounded on all sides and their already within the Citadel Tower!" Alex shouted over the line in his filtered voice.
"What? How did-" "No time! They've got the service tunnels and the lifts within the tower rigged to blow GET YOUR PEOPLE OUT OF THERE!"
The ground shuddered as the sounds of several explosions echoed throughout the sector.
Service tunnels caved in, trapping and killing several personnel that were inside. The elevators within the Citadel Tower were damaged before free-falling to the ground floor, killing all those who were unfortunate to be inside.
When the explosions finally faded, every light throughout the sector flickered and died as the sounds of gunships and dropships powered up and headed in their direction.
Chellick gripped his assault rifle as they scrambled to help the wounded and prepare for the attack. Time was up.
X
Alex pushed the skycar as fast as it could go. Dodging and weaving in and out of traffic in an attempt to reach the Presidium. From his position, he watched all of the lights for that section of the Citadel shutdown as the sounds of gunfire started up close to the base of the central tower.
The attack had begun, and he needed to hurry and but a stop to it before things got a lot worse.
A/N: It has begun. This chapter was short, but the next couple will be very long as the fight for the Presidium will be a serious one. Will update fast guys, so be ready for this shit!