Sorry this chapter's so late. :|
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anon: Thanks mate, glad you like it! :D
Chapter Ten: Ascent
Outside Ambassador Udina's Office, the Citadel
The Centurion tapped his foot as he waited outside the office, his squad of four Assault Troopers restlessly checking their weapons as they waited for their commander to leave the office.
They had heard the shot (the walls might be soundproofed, but a gunshot was pretty hard to muffle). They knew Shepard was dead. The sooner they could get up to the council chambers and finish this, the better – hell; the boss had been stalling as it was.
At last, the lock turner green and vanished. The Centurion snapped to attention and prepared to salute when the door opened.
"Sir-"
BANG-BANG!
The Centurion's head snapped back as Anderson double-tapped it with his pistol. The Assault Troopers began to raise their weapons, but were quickly downed by fire from Shepard and Tali.
The shots got the attention of the troopers in the foyer. The team bolted for the Spectre Requestions Office, getting inside moments before reinforcements arrived.
The Office was dark – obviously the power was out. Shepard turned on his flashlight and made his way to the shooting range.
There were less weapons on the bench then usual – Bau and his team must have armed here when the Reapers attacked. For a brief moment, Shepard wondered what had happened to the Salarian Spectre – whether or not he, like Bailey, was still alive somewhere on the station.
He dismissed the thought and handed out weapons – an Avenger for Anderson, an Eviscerator for Tali and a Phaeston for himself.
"Okay, here's the plan," Anderson hissed, "Tali, I want you by the door. Shepard, you and I will hang back in the shadows. We'll let them in and ambush them, then make a run for the elevator."
He turned to the Commander.
"Do we have any grenades?" he asked.
"I'll get some," nodded Shepard, walking away.
Anderson nodded, and loaded a heat sink into his rifle.
"He's come a long way, you know," he sighed.
"You've known him longer then any of us, haven't you?" asked Tali.
"Ever since Torfan," nodded Anderson, "I knew he had something in him, but I never imagined…"
He breathed deeply.
"Hell, I think I'm closer to him then to my own children," he sighed.
He turned to Tali.
"Whatever happens, Tali," he said, "I want to thank you."
"For what?"
"For keeping him going," replied Anderson, "For giving him something to live for."
"Anderson," said Shepard, returning with six grenades, "This is all I could find."
"It'll have to do," nodded Anderson, taking three grenades, "Let's get this done."
"Squad, stack up! Engineer, get that door overridden, today!"
A seven-man squad were preparing to enter the Spectre Office. A Centurion was in command, backed up by a Combat Engineer, three Troopers and two Guardians, the latter with shields at the ready.
"Got it!" exclaimed the Engineer.
The door swung open, and the three Troopers ran into the room. They skidded to a halt when they found nothing but darkness.
"Crap," groaned one, "Anyone got a light?"
Then there was a tremendous bang as the rearmost Trooper's head burst. The other two snapped their rifles towards the source of the sound, but were quickly downed by assault rifle fire from the shadows.
The two Guardians advanced into the room, firing in the direction of the assault rifles. There were two more bangs, and both fell.
The Centurion hung back, barking orders to the Engineer as he pulled the folded turret from his back. A burst of fire hit the emplacement and it exploded, blowing both the Engineer and the Centurion to pieces.
None of them had even seen their enemy, who were now emerging from the darkness and heading for the foyer.
The Nemesis was crouched behind a desk in the office sweet by the Embassy Foyer. She was to provide cover fire for the remaining Troopers and Engineers, who had been rallied by a couple of Phantoms.
The Nemesis saw Shepard's team emerge from the office and raised her weapon, her laser pointer trained on his head. She squeezed the trigger, only to watch as the Commander rolled out of the way at the last minute.
Quickly, she ducked down and reloaded. As she did so, she heard gunshots as the Troopers engaged Shepard. She jumped back up and took aim again.
A Phantom threw herself at Shepard, only to be cut off at the last moment by an omni-blade to the face that pierced her barriers. Hoping to catch him off-guard, the Nemesis fired again.
At this precise moment, a Trooper decided to attack Shepard with his baton, running right into the Nemesis' laser sight. She cringed as her bullet took the idiot's head off, leaving the Commander unharmed.
Once again, she ducked down and loaded another heat sink. There were a series of bangs and a few cries.
The Nemesis finished loading, before realising that something was wrong.
She couldn't hear gunshots.
Shit.
Hesitantly, she leaned out of cover.
She had a split second to regret this move before Anderson's concussive shot made contact with her head. Then there was a wet crack and she knew no more.
Tali reached the elevator and shut the door, quickly working to get it moving again. As he did so, Shepard tried his radio again.
"Bailey! Come in!"
"…this is Kaidan, Bailey's manning the door," Kaidan replied, gunshots echoing the background, "What's your status?"
"We got held up by the Illusive Man, but we're proceeding to the Council Chambers," replied Shepard.
"The Illusive Man? What the hell did he want?"
"He was indoctrinated," said Shepard, "He's dead now. How are things down there?"
"A little hot, but nothing we can't handle," replied Kaidan, "Husks and Cannibals, mostly. The Reapers must know you're up there."
"In a few minutes, that won't matter," snapped Shepard, "Until then, I need you to hold the line."
"Understood, Commander. We won't let you down."
Shepard felt the lift shake as it began to move.
"Well," nodded Tali, taking a deep breath, "This is it…"
Brixton, South London
Smith crouched in his hastily dug foxhole, clutching his rifle. He could see the distant shapes of Reaper forces, winding their way through the rubble. They were heading their way.
"This is it," he breathed, "Do or die."
He glanced to Andrews and the remains of his platoon. They looked like they'd been through hell – scratched armour, tattered battledress, few of them wearing helmets, covered in layers of sweat, grime and blood. A few of them were whispered prayers, a few more exchanged silent handshakes and acknowledgements. All stood firm, ready to die for their planet, for their species and for life itself.
"This is it, Corp," whispered Andrews, a slightly grazed grin on his face, "We're fucked."
Smith rolled his eyes but allowed himself a chuckle.
"Stand firm, fifth platoon," he said, loud enough for the rest of the unit to hear, "I dunno about the officers, but I'm proud of you."
He aimed his rifle at the rubble ahead, watching the first husks begin their run to the human line.
"Nulli Secundus, lads," he whispered.
Then he opened fire.