The search, in simpler terms, was much more difficult than first expected.
Having never stepped foot in the Artemis Tau cluster, Julik was flying blind without the information steadily being supplied from Alliance central command. Three days into the search, multiple planets empty, and entire systems of nothing, they finally happened upon the planet Therum in the system Knossos. From what the Normandy's scanners were able to detect, a large energy signature was bubbled below the surface in one of the prothean ruins. However, they were not alone. Geth ships orbited low above the planet. Julik ordered Joker to activate the stealth drives and take them in fast, and he did so.
Though the stealth systems would only mask sensor pick-ups and thermal readings, anyone could blatantly look out a window and still see them. Perhaps Geth did not use windows, or have the idea to, as the Normandy swerved right between two large frigates and down onto the surface. Julik gathered up his squad, Garrus and Tali, and hurried down to the shuttle. One large weapons locker was at the far end of the shuttle, so the gang helped themselves to the brand new weaponry. Julik carefully plucked out a HMWA VII from the rack but kept his old pistol. The thing had been through far to much to be replaced by some fancy piece of plastic.
The three sat silently on the leather benches of the Kodiak as it descended from the Normandy, taxiing them to their location. Julik hoped dearly that they were ready to face the Geth resistance, considering neither of his squad mates probably had any actual experience fighting them. Tali had killed that one wherever she'd gotten the memory core, and her species had created the Geth, but that didn't exactly settle his worries. The shuttle set down beside a choke point created by a set of a few large boulders, and sped away as soon as they were off. Prothean ruins were visible on the hill behind the rocks to the north, and to the south, was a bubbling magma river. Julik couldn't help but think what purpose this place must have served 50,000 years ago.
His helmet's H.U.D came alive with vital sign trackers and a small map at the bottom left. Crafted by his father when Julik was still at a very young age, the helmet was capable of assisting aim in firefights, set up a narrow communications up-link with squad members and keep track of enemy positions in the heat of battle. It was extremely useful, and had even saved his life on countless occasions, but there was only one made and the technology was extremely difficult to manufacture. "Clear." Julik said crisply, scanning the surroundings with his new rifle. "Clear." Garrus replied. "Clear." Tali responded. With a curt nod the group went to work getting past the choke point.
In an effort to squeeze between the large boulders, they all tossed their guns over and slid between. Tali had no issue, being much skinnier than the two turians. But Garrus and Julik found trouble when they discovered that their bulkier body shape refused to fit between. Realizing this, they simply did their best and climbed over. Suddenly, the world was alive with sound. Geth poured out from behind the hill, setting up mobile shield generators and wasting no time before firing down at the trio. Both of the turians stumbled for their guns before diving into cover. Julik's H.U.D clearly identified just under a dozen contacts on the ridge.
Tali released her personal combat drone, the little purple ball danced circles around the large geth units, zapping them with multiple energy jolts. Using this as a distraction, they easily gunned down the once menacing squadron. Julik looked over to Tali as they continued forward, jabbing a finger in the direction of the dead geth. "That was a nice little trick." He said. Tali raised her omni tool and nodded in agreement, bringing up the holographic sphere again. "They may be quick-" Tali chuckled. "But no one is faster than Chikkita Vas Paus." The group had a nice big laugh before the prothean ruins finally began to form around them.
Mostly half-buried, the only ruins visible were the ones actually surrounded by excavation equipment. A large tunnel lay at the far end of the patch of buildings, and let straight down to the large energy source below the ground. Julik gestured for Tali and Garrus to split up, each taking a separate approach. It was odd how no more Geth had arrived to halt their progress, they had to know the group was there by now. It almost felt like Eden Prime all over again. His train of thought was interrupted by a geth drop-ship soaring overhead, almost as if on cue. Weirdly enough, only two units dropped out instead of a swarm. The two units were, however, beefy Juggernauts wielding powerful energy cannons. One garbled out the same computer language Julik had heard before, and his buddy fired. A large blue beam of energy rushed past Garrus, missing the ex C-Sec officer by inches. "Spirits!" Julik heard him cry.
Few moments passed before the other Juggernaut began to fire the pulsing swath of energy as well, searing a hole right through a cargo container Tali was hiding behind. With a few disorganized shouts, the group rushed out of cover and charged the Geth. Nearly being sawn in half by the cannons several times before being upon them, Julik was close enough to shoot without having to worry about shields. The powerful HMWA rounds cut through whatever metal it was constructed from like cheap tin, blasting holes right in it's chest-plate and rupturing new ones on the other side. Within seconds, the scuffle was over and both Juggernauts lay dead.
They all curiously looked up at the hovering drop ship, as it still hung in the sky. Garrus had suggested finding a way to blow it up with the energy cannons, Tali was tinkering with her omni-tool and scanning the geth bodies, and Julik barely had time to leap out of the way before a hulking mass fell from the ship and smashed onto the ground with a powerful force. The miniature shock wave was enough to lift both turians and the quarian off their feet and throw them back a small bit. Groaning, Julik turned over and rose, assault rifle hissing as a new thermal clip was packed in.
The massive geth unfolded from the little cube it had folded itself into, 4 legs churning up the dirt as it rose. The thing was huge, nearly a dozen feet in height or larger, and sadly, it was not on their side. Either to dazed to move, or just frozen in fear, Julik quivered as it looked down upon him. Muscles turned to cement and lungs struggling for air, Julik was completely paralyzed. A blinding white light enveloped the Armature's one oval eye and pulsed brightly.
It took Julik a moment to realize that bright light had just slammed into his shields with the force of a charging krogan, and smashed him into the nearest wall.
Out Cold