Chapter 10
STG
The pavement cracked and shattered when Wrex slammed into the ground, standing up from the miniature crater he had created, he looked defiantly at the approaching Salarians.
"We have an unauthorized…landing" a very surprised Salarian reported over the intercom.
"Put the shuttle down Cortez" Shepard barked his eyes locked on the scene below. Damn it Wrex
The guards reached the enraged warrior, weapons at the ready. "Halt!" one ordered.
"You don't have authorization to keep my people hostage!" Wrex reared back, charging up his biotics. Jerking out his arm, a bolt of biotic energy slammed into the pair of Salarians, throwing them off their feet and into a nearby wall.
Shepard felt his heart race when his friend reached for his shotgun, but the Krogan stopped short when more Salarian guards arrived, with enough firepower to take even him down.
Not waiting for the shuttle to land, Shepard jumped out, and raced over to his comrade, praying that this situation could be recovered,
"Stand down, stand down! Hold your fire!" a high pitched voice yelled. Another Salarian, this one wearing black armor, sprinted up to the group.
"Commander Shepard please restrain your colleague, we only hear about this transfer a few moments ago!" the Salarian pleaded.
Wrex growled incoherently, shifting his gaze to the new speaker.
"Wrex, if you want to see the females you have to calm down." Shepard whispered, barely audible. The Krogan's eye briefly jerked to him, but outwardly he gave no sign of having heard him.
"He'll be fine, I want to avoid a diplomatic incident." Shepard said evenly.
"As would we, you and your men are welcome here, but I must insist that your companion be under guard." The Salarian insisted.
"Not a chance…" Wrex muttered.
"Wrex I can take care of this, you know I won't let anything happen to the females." By this time Shepard companions had reached him, taking up position behind him.
Wrex said nothing for a moment then nodded reluctantly. "Anything goes wrong and all bets are off." Putting his shotgun away he allowed himself to be brought over to a small area near the landing pad, though he seemed more amused by the guards than annoyed.
The black armored Salarian sighed in relief. "Thank you Commander, my name is Padok Wilks; I've been assigned to assist you in this process."
"I can't imagine you get many Spectre visits to this facility Wilks." Shepard said conversationally, gesturing for the Salarian to lead the way.
"Not enough to make this seem a regularity, but we do know how to handle the delicate situations that arise when Special Tactics and Reconnaissance is involved." Wilks answered brightly.
"Delicate as in Krogan females?" Shepard probed.
Wilks shook his head in disapproval. "The females were in poor condition when we recovered them, Maelon's tests had sapped most of their strength from them already, and Tuchanka is a very harsh environment in the best of times." Several more Salarians were milling about around them, Shepard briefly heard someone say something about strange signals, but Wilks spoke again, drowning out the conversation.
"I'm glad at least that we were able to help these females, the Krogan have suffered enough." Wilks said firmly.
"You don't approve of the Genophage?" That was surprising.
"Any race deserves to fight for their survival, and with the war being what it is, the Genophage helps no one." Wilks answered black eyes focused on Shepard.
Another Salarian walked up "Excuse me sir, we need your final approval."
"If you will excuse me Commander, I'll see to getting you inside." Wilks said with a polite smile.
Shepard nodded him taking the chance to look around the area. A railing was nearby; Shepard walked over and leaned on it, taking in the scenery for the first time.
It was like a city combined with a jungle, vines and trees grew in between large concrete buildings, and rivers flowed peacefully directly under a gunship platform. A Cruiser came in for landing, dropping out of a blue, cloudy sky.
The conflicting images, peace and war, irked Shepard, but he couldn't figure out why.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" Liara breathed, speaking for the first time.
"Yes, it almost makes you forget there's a war on."
"Sur'kesh has been described as the "most dangerous peaceful planet" in Council space; the Salarians seem to like this metaphor." EDI put in.
"I can believe it" Shepard pulled back from the railing, and started moving towards the elevator, a Salarian was fiddling with a terminal nearby, and for some reason this one struck a chord in his memory.
Stopping he looked at the black armored alien, who must have sensed his presence. Standing up he turned to Shepard, a smile etched on his familiar face.
"Commander Shepard, I was hoping to see you again, it's been a long time since we last worked together." The Salarian said brightly, extending his hand. "Major Kirahee if you've forgotten. "
Shepard took the proffered hand. "Good to see you too Major, it sounds like you moved up after we destroyed Saren's base on Virmire."
"Yes, quite ironic really, we destroyed the Genophage cure back then, and we're trying to cure it ourselves now." Kirahee mused. "Still, we did what was best, can you imagine the destruction an army of Reaper-loyal Krogan could have caused?"
"It was for the best" Shepard echoed.
"Do you think that your race is ready for the war?" Shepard asked.
"It's hard to think that any species could be ready for the Reapers, what they're capable of is simply astounding." Kirahee frowned, deep in thought.
Shaking his head he continued. "I've heard about what the Reapers have done to Earth, you have my deepest condolences."
"Thanks Major, with any luck we'll stop the Reapers before any more worlds fall."
Kirahee smiled again. "We'll need lots of luck to stop them I'm afraid, but just in case, you can count on my personal support for a certain plan that you may or may not have in motion."
"You'd do that?" Shepard asked in surprise.
"Consider it my way of repaying a favor. I'd be happy to fight alongside you again, even if it's Reapers we're fighting instead of Geth." The Salarian said firmly.
"Thank you Major, your support means a lot." Shepard said gratefully.
"Of course Commander, it's the least that I could do." Kirahee looked to the elevator, where Wilks was finishing up with the clearance issue. "Looks like you've got a job to do, good luck Commander."
"Goodbye Major" Shepard gestured to the ladies, and walked towards the elevator.
As he drew closer Shepard heard a few snippets of the conversation between Wilks and a pair of technicians.
"Another perimeter alert?" Wilks was asking.
"Yes, just a brief one, nothing that would be detected by the average system, it's almost as if they're testing our boundaries."
"I don't like it, keep everyone on alert." Wilks ordered.
As the techs ran off to comply with his command, Wilks turned back towards his guests.
"Sorry for the delay Commander, but this isn't a normal thing."
"It's fine-" Shepard began but cut off when alarms starting going off.
An automated voice called out over the din. "Warning Threat condition Two declared, enemy forces detected within established perimeters."
A pair of gunships docked nearby, suddenly lifted off, rushing off into the distance to engage whatever targets had arisen. Shepard could see Wrex, still standing near the shuttle. The Krogan walked right past his guards to the shuttle. The Salarians didn't seem too upset by his leaving.
Wilks waved them onwards. "Don't worry Commander, we'll handle whatever it is, just get downstairs and deal with the females."
Shepard nodded, walking into the awaiting elevator. EDI and Liara followed him, standing on either side of the human.
"I'm glad we wore armor" Liara said softly.
"Given the chance of combat, I believe you'll it appreciate more." EDI said brightly.
The ride was short, emphasizing the Salarian need to do things with expediency. Stepping out, Shepard stopped to examine the ordered chaos of the lower facility. The Alarms were still sounding; Scientists and techs were rushing all over, attempting to secure the data the structure housed.
As the throng cleared out, Shepard have a star, seeing another familiar face.
Mordin Solus strode up to him, grinning broadly. "Shepard! Nice to see you again. Good to have you here."
"Mordin! What are you doing here?"
"Came here once I heard about females, my expertise in this field is unparalleled logical choice for the assignment."
Mordin looked around before leaning closer to him. "Also fed data to Clan Urdnot, helped Wrex learn about females."
"I'm glad it was you Mordin, how are the females holding up?"
Mordin was silent for a moment the shook his head. "Poor health when STG found them, did the best I could." Tapping on his Omni-tool a window nearby opened, revealing half a dozen bodies wrapped in body bags. Another window opened to reveal a single female restrained tightly, she appeared to be inside of some sort of container. "Could only save one."
"You did the best you could Mordin." Shepard said solemnly.
"Couldn't save them Shepard, my responsibility." Mordin said firmly. "Will not let harm come to the last one."
"Will have to evacuate her Shepard, alarms not normal, this facility not safe." He continued, walking over to a panel near the female.
Shepard looked at the Krogan, taking a few steps towards her. "Can you hear me?" he asked.
"Are you here to kill me?" she replied.
"No, I'm here to help you."
"Why? What am I to you?" she asked softly. She sounds awful Shepard thought.
"You're the future of the Krogan, I'm fighting for that." Shepard, flinched as an explosion rocked the compound.
"Then I hope you brought an army." The Krogan's eyes flashed.
Mordin stepped up next to the container and activated the nearby panel, after a moment the container moved forward, revealing a small area in which a person could stand.
"Will bring her to the landing area, there are checkpoints you will have to clear us through, take elevator to access them." Mordin said, jumping aboard the container, a translucent door closing behind him.
Shepard looked up at the Krogan, whose prison was being lifted up and away. "You'll See Tuchunka again, don't worry."
Another explosion hit the compound. "Get to elevator Shepard!" Mordin barked.
The container was lifted up and out of the room, Shepard signaled the ladies and they ran to the elevator.
A Salarian tech was waiting for them. "I'll get this opened for you Commander." His Omni-tool lit up and the elevator doors slammed open. On the floor inside of the elevator was a metallic cylindrical device.
"Bomb!" Shepard yelled. "Get back!"
He had enough time to turn around before the room exploded into flame.
