No need to fear faithful readers, nothing catastrophic has happened to me. I'm sure you were all worried when I did not meet my usual twenty four hour deadline. My two excuses are work and Soul Calibur 4. This is the longest chapter of Gunning for It, it's Virmire in case you are completely dense.
Disclaimer: I don't own Mass Effect...so sad.
Chapter 12:
Virmire
The drop to Virmire was quick and quiet. Well, as quiet as a spaceship can be. In no time at all, the team of Shepard, Ashley, and Garrus made it to the first AA tower that impeded the Normandy's approach to the compound. Ashley was the first one out of the Mako, her assault rifle blazing. The small detail of geth that were guarding the controls never stood a chance against the coordinated tactics of the team.
The second AA tower fell just as easily as the first. Meeting the salarian STG unit outside of the compound was not a pleasant experience. "Damn it we called for a fleet," the captain cursed. "Instead we get a single frigate and a Spectre."
"I think we can provide just as much oomph as a fleet," Ashley commented.
"Why do you want this placed wiped out?" Raquel asked quizzically. "Surely a team could render this place useless."
"You don't understand," the salarian said with a shake of his head. "Saren is close to finding a cure for the genophage."
"There's a cure for my people and you want to blow this place to hell? I can't let that happen," Wrex interrupted.
"Please understand that this isn't up to you. We can't make the same mistake again," the salarian countered furiously.
Wrex stepped forward menacingly and jabbed the captain with a finger. "My people are not a mistake," he said before stalking away.
"Is he going to be a problem?" the salarian queried with a blink.
Raquel sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I'll talk to him."
"Commander wait," Ashley called to Shepard before she could talk to Wrex. "I'm not sure Wrex is going to listen to reason." As if to illustrate her theory, Wrex began firing off shotgun rounds towards the sea. "Maybe Alenko and I should stay ready in case things go sour."
Raquel clasped a reassuring hand on ash's shoulder. "Don't worry about a thing. I can handle Wrex," and with that, she walked over to the krogan.
The Commander's got some balls, thought Ashley, as Shepard slowly approached Wrex. Williams couldn't hear what the two were saying, but things did not seem to be doing well when Wrex and Shepard drew their pistols at each other. Ashley self-consciously readied her rifle, awaiting even the slightest signal from Raquel. Just as soon as t started, it was over. Wrex lowered his pistol and only stared at the shoreline as Raquel walked back over. How the hell did she do that?
While waiting for Shepard to return, the salarian captain had come up with a plan. They would covert their ships core into a makeshift atomic bomb. It lacks a certain finesse, but it will get the job done. The bomb had to be planted at a specific location, where the breeding facility and the main compound met. The base's AA towers meant that the device could not be dropped from orbit. Instead, Captain Kirrahe wanted to form four teams. Three would attack the front and disable two of the AA towers while a fourth led by Shepard would go around back and disable the last. Unfortunately, Kirrahe needed one member of the team to complete one of his three.
"I'll go Commander," Alenko said. " I volunteer."
"Hold on LT. With all due respect, the Commander will need you to help arm the bomb. I'll go with the captain" Ashley countered.
"With all due respect Chief, it's not your decision to make," Kaidan responded.
"Why is it that whenever somebody says 'with all due respect,' they really mean kiss my ass?"
"Relax. Alenko, you're with Captain Kirrahe. Do me proud," Raquel said.
The salarian seemed pleased. "Very well. My team will brief your engineers on the device. I must speak with my men."
As the captain made his speech, Alenko approached Shepard. "In case anything happens, well, it's been an honor serving under you ma'am."
"Don't talk like that," replied the Gunnery Chief.
"She's right, we'll see you on the other side," Shepard offered.
Alenko nodded and went to join hi new teammates. Ashley, Shepard and Wrex made up Team Shadow and made their way to the rear of he compound. After hopping a small rock wall, the team moved towards their destination. Soon enough, they encountered a small outpost that held the geth communications satellite. After easily dispatching the AI's, Shepard took aim at the satellite and opened fire. Kirrahe's voice came crackling over the radio. "Something has disrupted their communications. We may be getting help from Shadow. Open fire! Open fire!"
Raquel signaled for Ash to take point and the Gunnery Chief dutifully led the team further along the beach. Ashley saw the second outpost first and signaled for everybody to stop. Grabbing the sniper rifle from her back, Ashley scouted he small structure. "Five geth troopers, one geth juggernaut, and a krogan."
"The krogan is mine," Wrex said, checking his shotgun.
"Suit yourself," Ash shrugged before going back to her rifle. "Firing." Four shots dropped four of the geth troopers. "They're all yours," Ashley said as she folded up her rifle.
Shepard and Wrex nodded to each other, and charged towards the outpost. The fifth geth trooper was blown to pieces by a shotgun round while the juggernaut and the krogan stood tall. Wrex shoulder blocked his chosen foe to the ground before attaching a grenade to its hump and detonating it. Orange gore splattered his face as Wrex smiled in satisfaction. Shepard used her biotics to lift the juggernaut and was taking her time destroying the geth with her pistol. Ashley concluded the team's business at the structure by shutting down the geth's triangulation system.
"They seem disoriented. They must not be triangulating our position any more. Press forward," Alenko said over the radio.
This time, Wrex took point as they followed the trail of sand. "Smells like some sewers," Wrex commented. "Maybe we can get in through there."
Raquel did not have the opportunity to answer as several shots buzzed over her head. The team returned fire and pressed forward. "Those flyers are leaving for fuel," Alenko shouted over the radio. "Check your rifles and be ready when they return." Wrex took a right and stumbled upon a gas depot surrounded by the flyers Alenko had mentioned.
"Shoots the tanks!" hollered Shepard. The explosion engulfed the flyers utterly and completely. They were not going to bother the salarian teams any longer.
After clearing out a few more geth and krogan, Ashley found a terminal. "Looks like we won't be using your sewers Wrex. I've got control of the alarms from here. It's your call Shepard, I can either disable the alarms or trigger them on the salarians' side of the base."
"We can handle the guards," Shepard said. "Unlock he doors and let's go."
Ash nodded and did as asked. The interior of the compound was filled with crates and surrounded by bare steel walls. The team took cover behind some crates as the guards fired at them. "Wrex, lift on three!" shouted Raquel. The krogan nodded and as Shepard reached three, the two stood and lifted the ten or so guards helplessly into the air. Ashley knew the drill from there, opening fire as the opponent kicked and reached for something to hold onto futility.
As they climbed some steps, Ash was surprised by two salarians that charged at them kicking and clawing. Wrex quickly put them to rest. "Salarians," ash said sadly. "The captain mentioned losing some men."
Shepard shook her head sadly and accessed the next room. Ashley was not sure exactly when it happened, but she snapped out of her battle haze as the team encountered an asari neuroscientist, begging for mercy. "You don't understand what Sovereign's indoctrination can do to you. Please, let me go before I become a mindless slave!"
"I'm blowing this base to hell and back. You should get the hell out of here," Shepard warned. The asari did not need to be told again and ran for her life. The elevator in the room dumped them into Saren's personal laboratory.
"Shepard over here. It's a beacon, jut like the one on Eden Prime."
Raquel cautiously approached the beacon. Her hands turned the access dials and she was once again lifted into the air by the Prothean artifact. Compared to her first encounter with a beacon, Raquel shook less violently and it did not explode. When Shepard landed lightly on her feet, Ash let out a sigh of relief.
"Got the bridge button," Wrex said as softly as a krogan can. "Let's go. I want to tear this whole place down."
Before they could exit the room, a holographic display of Saren's ship appeared. "You are not Saren," the metallic voice said.
"You're not a Reaper ship, you're an actual Reaper!" Shepard exclaimed.
That's a Reaper? What the hell can we do to stop something like that?
As Shepard continued her conversation with the sentient being, Ash's radio clicked twice, indicating that the salarians had accomplished their goals. "We are legion, and I am the vanguard of your destruction. This conversation is meaningless, and therefore over." There was an explosion, and all of the glass in the room shattered around the team.
"Commander? We have a situation," Joker said over the radio.
Raquel keyed her suit's radio, "Hit me Joker, I love bad news."
"That ship, that Sovereign? It just made a turn that would have torn any Alliance vessel in half and it's heading straight for your location. Whatever you're doing down there, I suggest you wrap it up and fast."
Raquel nodded, "understood. Let's go."
Team Shadow crossed the recently lowered bridge and found the AA tower they were searching for. "That gun could put a mighty big hole in the Normandy," Wrex said with a whistle.
"All the more reason to shut it down," Ashley responded.
As they rounded a corner, geth rocket drones and several geth primes set upon the team. Wrex cackled with delight fervently fired his shotgun until it overheated. Raquel only rolled her eyes and went to work with Ashley by her side. Whenever Shepard had to take cover, Ashley was right there with her providing covering fire. Once the AA tower was disabled, Shepard and her team entered the elevator that would bring them to the bombsite. The giant doors opened to reveal giant turbines turning the river that flowed through the compound.
Joker swiftly brought the Normandy in and slowly turned it, allowing the engineers to haul the device to the proper location. So far so good, Ashley thought, as she joined in assisting the engineers.
"Commander! We have a problem," said Alenko's voice over the radio.
"Lieutenant, get your ass over to the rendezvous point!" Raquel shouted.
"We can't! My team is pinned down at our AA tower."
"Shit," cursed Shepard. "Ash, can you handle things here?"
Ash nodded.
"Good. Hold here. Wrex, Tali, you're with me," Raquel said and then left.
Never thought that I would voluntarily stay behind, Ashley thought as she helped wire the bomb. The water washed over Ash's leg as she frantically waited for Shepard to return. Hurry back Raquel. I don't want to activate the bomb without you.
A loud noise filled the air and a large shadow cast itself over the bombsite. Williams looked up to see a geth drop ship fast approaching. Ash keyed her radio, "Commander! We've got geth at the bombsite. The drop ship is flooding the entire area."
"Can you hold them off until I get to Alenko?"
Ash surveyed her situation as she pulled the trigger on her assault rifle, firing at anything that was not human. Ten geth troopers, five shock troopers, three rocket troopers, a juggernaut and a prime. Joker left with everybody to pick up the other salarians, and I'm stuck here with a bunch of engineers whose version of action his sitting in front of a computer. "Negative!" she shouted as she took cover behind one of the turbines. "There's too many of them." Think, think think. That thing has to go off no matter what. Nothing else matters. I said I'd die for this mission, and I will if I have to. Goodbye Raquel. I love you. "I'm activating the nuke!" Ash shouted as she hit the button.
"What the hell are you doing Williams?" Raquel asked wildly.
"Making sure this thing goes off no matter what. Go get Alenko. Don't worry about me."
"Belay that," said Kaidan's voice. "Go get the Chief Shepard."
Ash heard the static of the radio as Shepard mulled over her decision. Meanwhile, Ash was still firing her weapon, dropping any enemy foolish enough to go out of cover. Fifteen left. "I'm going back for Ashley. Alenko…you were my brother not just in arms. Die well LT."
"It' been my honor Shepard."
Tears stung Ashley's eyes as the weight of Shepard's decision hit her. She would sacrifice a higher-ranking officer for me. I knew she loved me, but will she throw everything away just for me? Ashley had no time to answer her question as the geth inched ever closer. The Chief poked out from cover too far and was clipped with shot just above her left knee. Williams grunted in pain, but stood her ground, switching to her pistol as her other hand held her injury.
After what seemed like hours, the doors Shepard had left through earlier opened. Raquel's effect was immediate. The geth dropped like flies until the area was cleared. Ash limped over to Shepard, "I told you to save LT."
"I know but-" Shepard was cut off from a shot that separated the pair. The two women looked up and saw the person they both hated the most. "Saren," Shepard hissed, and pushed Ash to cover before finding protection of her own.
"I have to give you credit Shepard," the turian said. "My geth were utterly convinced that the salarian were the real threat."
The turian and Shepard conversed some more, but Ash's heartbeat filled her ears. Shit! The same goddamn leg! Ashley concentrated to slow her breathing. Slowly, the pain numbed itself and Ashley tried o stand behind her cover. Gunshots filled the air as the conversation had obviously taken a turn for the worse.
Williams swung out from cover to fire at the rogue Spectre, but the turian was right next to her, avoiding Shepard's attack. Saren growled and simply kicked the Gunnery Chief at her injury site. The force of the attack caused Ashley to bash her knee to the ground. The water did nothing to cushion the fall as Ash heard a crack coming from her knee. A familiar white-hot pain shot through Ashley's body and she tasted blood in her mouth from biting her tongue.
Williams could bear the pain no longer and collapsed into the river. The final countdown alarm of the nuke forced the creeping blackness from Ashley's vision. As she struggled to her feet, the Chief saw Saren flee on his hovercraft. Still on one knee, Williams heard the familiar roar of the Normandy's engine. Ash began crawling towards her salvation when she felt arms wrap around her. Looking over, she saw that Raquel had lifted her up and slung her over her shoulder as she waded towards the Normandy.
Once inside, Joker pushed the ship as fast as it would go, barely breaking the atmosphere as the nuclear device detonated. Inside the debriefing room, the sadness hung over the crew like a heavy shroud. "I can't believe you left him behind," Ash whispered.
"I think we both know that I couldn't leave you. It's what her wanted, and it was my decision," Raquel said quietly.
Ashley only stared at the floor as Liara helped Shepard understand the completed vision. The location was to be Ilos from the Mu Relay. The Gunnery Chief was not really listening and felt absolutely nothing. Not sad, not angry, just…numb. The crew was dismissed, and Ashley limped as fast as she could towards her station. Unfortunately for her, Raquel caught up to her in the elevator.
"So let me get this straight," Raquel began. "You wanted me to leave you behind, even though we love each other?"
Ashley did not respond.
"Ash, how far are you willing to go in order to absolve our family's name? Dying is not the answer to your family's pain. Living is. I don't just want you here Ash. I want you here, by my side. Not just for this mission, but forever," Shepard finished, grasping her lover's hand.
Ash sighed heavily. "I know. And I'm sorry…for everything. I need you too Shepard."
Raquel smiled and pulled Ashley into an embrace. "We'll fight for him, just like we fight for Toombs and every other innocent life," she whispered fervently.
And I'll fight for us, and our future.
So that was Chapter 12 and I hope you all enjoyed it. It's hard to believe that by chapter 12 in my last Mass effect fanfic I was almost finished. So happy that I've gotten over three thousand hits and a whole smattering of reviews. Please add to my awesomeness.
Oh and Kendrene...the truth is... I am Flash Gordon.
