Me Meets ST
Chapter Twenty
Talo was once again at the main console in the Council tower, looking over the information. It was enough to be considered a treasure trove of knowledge to everyone.
"Hey, Captain, I'm back on the Presidium trying to download information. The VI won't let me. Looks like the Protheans didn't want the information to fall into the wrong hands, the Reapers or anyone else hostile." Said Matthews. "The information but no way to download it. Any attempts to download the information and the console locks up."
"What have you learned by looking at it?" asked Talo.
"That even if the Reapers learned about there's nothing they could do to hack it. The VI has spent the last thousands of years analyzing Reaper algorithms and coming with ways to counter it, combat it, and infiltrate it. I think they might have somehow gained Reaper technology and the VI was designed from this technology." Matthews chuckled. "We have just hit Fort Knox."
"Fort Knox?" asked Maevor over the intercom.
"An establishment on Earth that contained the largest gold depository before the New World Economy. It became a museum after that." Said Matthews. "No one was ever able to successfully break into it. Looking at this information I consider this the Prothean version of that Fort Knox."
"I see your point here. There was enough information on Prothean technology to make the Migrant fleet rich if we weren't getting our home planet back. We would not even have to send young ones on their pilgrimages anymore." Said Talo looking at the screen.
"I think many historians will be glad to look at the Protheans history. How they researched other species." Said Maevor looking at his own console.
"Forget the history; I want to know if those guys created any top of the line bad ass weapons." Said Wrex looking around the station.
"Probably. The Protheans who built this station spend their entire lives looking for ways to combat the Reapers." Said Creed standing next to Talo.
"Maybe there is a way. The Prothean VI appeared when it noticed our ship was damaged. Maybe we can ask it for information." Said Talo turning around. "Computer, we need more information."
"What do you require?" asked the VI appearing behind him.
Talo turned around and faced the VI.
"More information than you are allowing. You know more about the Reapers than anyone. What can you tell us about them?"
"What you call them was the name my creators gave them because of what they had done. Your engineer was correct that I was designed through salvaged Reaper technology. For the last centuries I have devoted myself to studying them." Said the VI. "I have discovered that the Reapers did not originate in this galaxy."
"Do you know where they came from?" asked Creed.
"The information traces the Reapers place of origin to the closest spiral galaxy to your galaxy." Said the VI.
A holographic map appeared and Creed took a close look at it.
"If what I see is right than that's got to be the Andromeda galaxy." Said Creed with a surprised tone.
"The Reapers are descendants of a species that were in danger of extinction. The name of this species is no longer remembered but they were technologically advanced and believed themselves to be the first ones to have evolved in the universe. As they evolved they discovered how to combine organic and machine creating an advanced form of hybrid technology. Believing it to be a path to immortality this species turned itself into the first Reapers when they discovered high levels of radiation coming from the core of the galaxy you call Andromeda.
This radiation had rendered Andromeda uninhabitable for this species."
"Which is why they came here to our galaxy." Said Creed.
"Correct, Lieutenant. Believing that they achieved immortality they saw themselves as what you would call gods and believed it was their sacred duty to transform other species into Reapers. When a species is culled by the Reapers while their bodies are melted into genetic paste for the body the minds are downloaded into the main computer combining the minds of billions into one. They discovered many species with the potential to 'ascend' in their view however they discovered species more advanced than them so when they built the Mass Relays and the Citadel they set it up so that the species they would cull were either too primitive or where predicted to reach sentience.
They saw the more advanced species as a threat to their survival and decided to cull more species to increase their numbers and level of technology."
"That explains a lot. No one in our space had found Mass Relays until the one in the Exodus Cluster." Said Creed.
"Correct. Many older species discovered what the Reapers were attempting and threatened to destroy them. The Reapers backed off and only built one Relay in the system called Sol."
"Which was destroyed by the Protheans." Said Talo.
"Correct. Species such as the Vulcans, Romulans, Klingons, and many others never encountered Mass Relays because of these advanced species. The Reapers see their invasions as a way to survive and lifting species to the pinnacle of evolution."
"Yeah, I doubt anyone would believe that." Muttered Creed.
"To them, Lieutenant, the end justifies the means. The Reapers believe that no matter how horrible it may look it allows a species to achieve immortality."
"If there are species more powerful than the Reapers and knew what they were doing why did they allow them to get away with everything?" asked Talo.
"Some were xenophobic and chose not to leave their territory to stop the Reapers, others might not have been able to stop them, in any case none of them decided to stop the Reapers when they started building the relays."
"Leaving us to do it." Muttered Creed.
"This station was designed as a method to turn the Reapers own weapons against them."
"Yeah and we might have ruined. They should know about it because of Tyrant." Said Talo.
"Do not worry. All though Nazara whose name meant Sovereign in Reaper language was able to alert the Reapers to the Federation before it destroyed itself Tyrant was unable to send any transmissions to dark space because the station jamming system. They do not know that Tyrant has been destroyed nor do they know about this station and its functions. If you activate the sequence Harbinger will assume that Tyrant opened the Citadel."
"Harbinger?" asked Creed.
"What you would call the leader of the Reapers. Harbinger was among the first Reapers who were born in the Andromeda galaxy. It is the first one to awake and is the first one to come through the Citadel in each invasion and is the one who directs the attacks and the one who supervises the creation of new Reapers. Tyrant, Dominance, and Sovereign were three of the four vanguards who stayed in the galaxy to monitor the evolution of species."
"Did you say four?" asked Talo.
"As in four Reapers in the galaxy?" asked Creed.
"Yes, I did. The other one was called Shadow. This galaxy has four quadrants, Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Gamma and each Reaper was assigned a quadrant to monitor for signs of life. Sovereign was the Gamma vanguard, Dominance was the Beta vanguard, Tyrant was the Delta vanguard, and Shadow was the Alpha vanguard."
"Okay, but what happened? Where is Shadow and why were Tyrant and Dominance damaged?" asked Talo.
"Both were damaged in battles against Crimson Sunrise. A Reaper who betrayed them."
"What?" both said.
"Are saying a Reaper turned on them?" asked Creed.
"I am. This Reaper apparently became dissatisfied with what its people were doing."
A holographic image of a Reaper appeared but while the other Reapers had blue and red colored hulls this Reaper's hull was colored crimson.
"Apparently this Reaper instead seeing what its people were doing was ascension it saw it as murder. Maybe the species that was used to make it found a way to keep themselves from losing their individuality or maybe this Reaper was more open minded to change but it stayed behind and damaged Tyrant and Dominance badly. It helped the Protheans destroy many Reapers in orbit of Ark and Dominance was crippled beyond repair. Sovereign and Shadow had already hidden themselves and gone into hibernation. While it damaged Tyrant and crippled Dominance Crimson was forced to hide but its actions allowed this station's construction to be possible."
"You mean . . ." started Talo.
"Yes. Crimson Sunrise was the ship that the Protheans used to come to this system and construct the station. It offered its technology and knowledge to the Protheans who built this station. Its damage was great and it's time was short. The damage was extensive, too much for it to be prepared so it programmed me to dismantle it and destroy the organic parts ensuring that its corpse could never be found. With Sovereign, Tyrant, and Dominance destroyed only Shadow knows that Crimson betrayed them.
It's IFF and the station will lure the Reapers into the trap."
"But there's still Shadow." Said Talo.
"I do not know where Shadow is but I know it will reveal itself in order to stop you from starting the sequence."
"It might already be here. Lieutenant, remember how Dominance used that priest as an avatar? Shadow might be planning to use an avatar to stop us." Said Talo.
"Well it can't have the crew. None of them have the kind of cybernetic implants that a Reaper would need." Said Creed.
"Does Shadow know about the station?" asked Talo.
"It knows that Crimson devoted the last of its life to help the remaining Protheans to make a weapon to stop the rest of the Reapers. I believe I know who its avatar is. Do you know about the Shadow Broker?"
"Who?" asked Creed.
"I do. An individual or an organization that trades in information, always selling to the highest bidder. No one has seen or met them because not a single secret sold or given gives a customer an advantage over the Broker. They always act through an agent.
Are you saying that the Shadow Broker is the last vanguard?" said Talo.
"Yes, it is most likely. I know that the Broker has been in contact with the Collectors. With Tyrant gone if it wants to stop you it will act."
"It makes sense how the Broker was always one step ahead. It doesn't need one body and the cybernetic implants could allow the body to function for perhaps even centuries." Said Talo.
"Shadow spent centuries looking for this station but no one could find it. However it might know now."
The VI paused. "Warning: Expedition Sensor Drone Six-seven-four-four-zero detecting activity in Shadow Sea Cluster, Grid 11 by 16, Systems Venari, Iera, Lyca, Ashen, and Hold."
"What is happening in the Shadow Sea cluster?" Talo asked.
"Detecting build up of a massive amount of ships, unknown design, reporting nearby civilian, merchant, and pirate vessels have been destroyed." The VI replied. "Fleet is composed of 83 Cruiser sized vessels, 143 Destroyer sized vessels, 34 Carrier Sized vessels, and 303 frigate sized vessels along with 62 gunnery vessels and 504 various types of support craft ranging from repair to transports, all armed. The ships appear to be made up of designs from various species" including Batarian, Salarian, Turian, Asari, Geth-."
"I think you might be paranoid, those are friendly species." Creed interjected.
"Negative, ships all show sign of modification with Reaper technology." The VI replied as a hologram of the Shadow Sea cluster appeared, showing the fleet's position. "The ships vary in age and design, some dating back several centuries, and there are no life signs aboard."
"It's an invasion fleet...but where are they heading?" Talo asked.
"The Indoctrination Fleet has gathered into two groups in the Iera and Ashen systems." The VI replied. "One group is composed of one thousand-nine vessels, including the majority of the heavy war ships. The other group is composed of one hundred-twenty vessels, mostly support ships and Destroyers and frigate escorts with two cruisers and a carrier vessel."
"VI, plot possible destinations of this fleet." Talo commanded.
"Highlighting valuable targets." The map zoomed out to the show the galaxy, and highlighted area such as Earth, Omega, the Citadel, the capital planets of every species in Citadel Space, the Geth Stations in the Perseus Veil-which held millions of Geth platforms if not billions. "Factoring defences and distance along with tactical value." The Geth, Turian, Asari, Salarian, Batarian, Hanar, Elcor, Volus, Krogan, and Human planets were removed while Omega and the Citadel were highlighted.
"Computer...factor in the defence capability and strategic value of this station." Creed said.
"Improbable that Hostile Fleet is aware of-"
"Just do it!"
The VI added 'Citadel B' to the array. "First Fleet is moving; Shadow Sea Alpha Relay is in use, destination...Serpent Nebula."
"The Citadel!" Creed looked to Talo. "It's an invasion, if they take the Citadel the whole plan is down the drain!"
"Second Fleet is approaching Shadow Sea Relay; ETA to Shadow Sea Alpha Relay is 4 hours." The VI said. "Omega is an unlikely target; it possesses defences based off of the Reaper Crimson Sunrise, enabling it to eliminate large scale invasions."
"This is why the Council did not dare go to War with the Terminus Systems; they would eventually have to take Omega." Talo explained to Creed. "They tried once, sent in over five hundred ships that established the current border before they tried to take the Omega Nebula and were blown to pieces. Barely a hundred vessels survived that invasion."
"So the most likely destination for that Fleet is here!" Creed looked at the VI. "Can you calculate a probability of this station's defences defeating them?"
"Probability of a victorious defence is 45 percent." The VI responded. "Possibility that the Second Fleet is aware of this station's existence it minimal. It is possible Tyrant had left a message for Shadow before coming to this system to track your vessel."
"ETA to arrival here?" Talo continued to question the VI.
"Six hours." The VI replied.
"ETA to First fleet's arrival in the Serpent Nebula?" Creed asked.
"Ninety minutes, they appear to be on a more direct route." The VI explained.
"Is everybody hearing this?" Creed looked over the data sliding across the holographic screens. "The United is in shambles, I'd be surprised if we could fight one much less a hundred-twenty ships."
"Computer," Talo took control of the situation again. "Viable tactical options, now."
"The only logical course of action is to activate the relay and escape this system before the Hostile Fleet arrives." The VI paused. "Please note that in order to achieve this, the station will require a four hour charge to open the connection to Dark Space followed by another hour to send the activation signal to the Reaper Fleet, and the Hostile Second Fleet is moving in an irrational manner, it is possible that arrival will be at the same time as the Active Reapers enter the system."
"You said we would have seven hours to prepare!" Creed objected.
"Repeat: Enemy fleet is moving at irrational speeds, possibility of early arrival likely." The VI explained.
"So we need to activate the Relay and escape through the smaller relay which deactivates after the Citadel Relay is activated and avoid being shot down by a hostile fleet that will be waiting on our door step." Wrex concluded. "Sounds like fun."
"The only problem we have is that the First Reaper Fleet, it will reach the citadel in three hours and forty minutes." Talo broke in. "Computer...as commanding officer on site I am activating this relay."
"Affirmative," the VI replied. "Activating Citadel Relay, Operation Dark Sun has begun."
"Dark Sun...catchy." Creed commented. "Well Captain, I'd suggest we get the hell off of this station at the last second, make sure our incoming guests don't interfere."
"Computer, what is the status of my vessel?" Talo asked.
"Repair drones have been rerouted and your vessel will soon be operational." The VI said.
"We have nothing to worry about then, as long as the citadel fleet can hold out a few minutes." Creed said.
"Uh...Captain, there is one problem." Kenneth broke in. "I've looked over blue prints for both Citadels, this one takes hours to activate due to it being...half assed for lack of a better term. The original citadel takes ten minutes to activate!"
"So what you're saying is that even if this citadel activated, if the original is activated, the plan is a waste of time anyways." Talo said.
"That's essentially what I am saying sir." Kenneth replied. "The Protheans may have known about the four Reaper Vanguards in this galaxy, but they never took into account of the Reapers discovering this place. They were confident that the technology from Crimson Sunrise would enable them to operate here and that the Reapers would not discover it until it was too late, by too late I mean they'd get a split second light show before they were blown half way to hell and back."
"But now Shadow knows that there is something here, is there any way to track this Reaper? Any way we haven't tried before?" Talo asked.
"Maybe, I'm getting a few ideas Captain, but I need you to tell the VI to allow me to access the drone network." Kenneth explained. "If I can modify their sensors, I could detect the specific characteristics of a Reaper hull; say something real big with said characteristics such as the gigantic mass effect field they generate."
"Computer, allow my engineer access to your drone sensor networks." Talo commanded the VI.
"Acknowledged, opening Drone sensor network." The VI replied.
"Alright, here we are, nice big view of citadel Space...modify the sensors to detect this specific alloy...enhance the search software...ha!" Creed and Talo winced as Kenneth's voice was amplified. "I got something boss! But uh...I'm not so sure if it's a good thing or bad thing."
"What is it?" Creed asked.
"Well...if I've looked over the Prothean galaxy map correctly...then I think our Reaper friend is in the Refuge system in the Pangaea expanse where you found Dominance." Kenneth said.
"That's impossible, we were already cluster, there were hundreds of dead Reapers there, none of them could have been Shadow." Maevor broke into the conversation.
"Well there is something else you should know...remember how the Protheans spoke of an experimental relay called the Conduit? It's on Ilos, which is in the Refuge system."
"The Conduit...the relay the Prothean scientists used to travel to the citadel and reprogram the keepers so they didn't obey the Reapers!" Curana gasped. "By the goddess, they're going to invade the Citadel from within!"
"A Reaper could carry a thousand or so soldiers; maybe two or three times that." Maevor noted. "Captain, if they use the Conduit, they could conquer the Presidium Ring and the Citadel Tower in less than an hour. The relay statue on the Presidium, which must be the next end of it, every relay needs another to receive an object; it's practically next to the elevator that leads to the citadel, the public elevator on the Embassy level!"
"They need to be warned." Talo tapped in one final command. "Computer...probability of success factoring in the presence of Shadow and the Conduit?"
"Probability has reduced to twenty two percent." The VI replied.
"My kind of odds then." Creed replied. "Let's get going!"
"Wait, we can't leave this citadel unmanned." Maevor said. "We need a team to remain behind."
"I'll stay here." Creed volunteered. "They won't be able to blow this station to hell within the time they'll have when they arrive, they'll want to get somebody inside to disable it. And that's where I come in; if I can have a team I can get to work on fortifying this position."
"About half of our soldiers are able to fight." Talo said as he crossed his arms. "Are you sure you can hold this area?"
"Numbers don't do you well if you don't have the tactical advantage sir, the elevators leading up here aren't as numerous as the original citadel, and we only have the central one at the lowest section of this room to worry about." Creed replied. "Get all of the remaining infantry up here and I'll hold it."
"I'm staying too," Curana said.
"Don't think I'll leave you to this." Wrex rumbled. "I like a suicide mission, gets the blood flowing."
"I'm in; I need a little adrenaline rush." Maevor was already ascending the steps of the chamber towards Talo and Creed.
"Very well...Commander Shepard, Tali'Zorrah, you have the United." Talo said.
"What?" Over a dozen voices cried out in objection.
"I am staying to make sure our one hope remains safe." Talo explained.
"If you are going to jump ship, so am I!" Tali cried.
"No Tali'Zorrah," Talo shook his head. "If there is no way to get us off of this station alive, you will have my ship."
"Talo-!"
"As your Captain I am giving you a direct order to take the United and warn the Citadel Fleet!" Talo snapped.
"We can drop a beacon to warn any patrol ships about this place." Shepard recommended. "Maybe one could pick you all up."
"I truly doubt it Commander, but the gesture would be appreciated." Talo nodded.
"Talo, please let me stay!" Tali begged from where she stood in the engine room.
"No Tali'Zorrah, the United is a migrant ship now; it needs the galaxy's best mechanic on board." Talo smiled under his visor. "Get any non combat personnel and all wounded out of here, all remaining security and infantry personnel report to the citadel entry point, bring all spare small arms and heavy weaponry and other useful equipment."
"You do realize that even if a ship got here, they couldn't get us off of here if there is an armada of enemy ships, correct?" Maevor asked off of the comm. Frequency.
"I do indeed spectre Sarius." Talo nodded grimly.
"Looks like we all have a death wish then." Creed said.
"Anyone who does not wish to stay may go." Talo looked to the controls as he approached them.
"We've stuck with you so far Captain, we're staying." Creed nodded.
"Thank you Captain." Talo tapped in a command.
"Citadel Relay is activating, all primary systems are now off limits to user interface." The VI stated, its voice echoing all over the station.
"Gather the troops, and be ready." Talo faced the two, now joined by Curana and Wrex. "If you have any last things to do, do them now."
"I could use a cigarette." Creed said.
"What's a cigarette?" Wrex asked as they followed Talo down towards the elevator.
Xxx
Twenty seven soldiers along with thirteen Geth were gathered on the Presidium, carrying crates of weapons and equipment. As they took positions, the elevator arrived, letting out Talo, Maevor, Captain Creed, Wrex, and Curana. They all faced the group in silence as. Talo stepped forward. "You all are aware of what I am asking you to do, and I won't force you to stay. IF anyone here wishes to return to Citadel Space, they can do so, they will have the job of protecting the Citadel if they do so."
They stood there for a full minute, and nobody turned away.
"I don't expect any of us to survive this, but the knowledge of the rest of the Galaxy persevering in the face of the Reapers is what drives me to go forward with this plan. I will not abandon you all here to die, if this is a mission no one shall return from, then I shall die alongside you all. I see Krogan, Geth, Batarians, Turians, Asari, humans, species once mysterious and hostile, people I would turn away from out of suspicion. A few weeks ago life proceeded as normal and the galaxy was silent, but now we have one task to do before our loved ones may ever know peace. I hoped to one day die peacefully on my home planet, but I will gladly sacrifice it to die with you all here in this dead system.
I would sooner see the Migrant Fleet burn and die in the darkness of space before I allowed a single Quarian to be used to create one of these machines that dare call themselves our gods. I would soon suffer death before I turned and ran towards a temporary safety, I would stand and fight instead of curl like a child and wait for death to find me. The Reapers would kill us all divided, but now we all see the truth, where our real enemies lie. Soldiers, assassins, criminals, pirates, all of these terms do not describe the brave men and women before me. I could be a pilgrim, I could be free lancer, I could be a hero, and none of those titles would matter to our enemies.
So I say this to you, don't see aliens and species in those who stand beside you, see your comrades, your friends, your siblings, your family. I could not be more proud to spit in the face of this horde of abominable machines than I am today, and I will give them no mercy, I will not turn and run. I will finish what the Protheans started, I will bring the Reapers into this system and watch them all burn, helpless as the countless innocents that have fallen to them. No amount of evolution or knowledge will save them from us today; they will know what it is to be cornered, to face death. We are not a meagre resistance trapped here, we are the fighters who will trap and eliminate them all, we will be remembered in life or in death."
He began to stroll among their ranks. "Now, prepare, for we will rain a Hyper Nova down upon these bastards who have butchered themselves and countless races before us. If they truly are the first species in the universe, then let us see them survive something older and greater than even they are. The raw, unstoppable power of the very universe itself! The sheer burning fire of hell brought before them! And in our last moments, as they try desperately to escape, we will laugh at their defeat, and die with smiles on our faces." He stopped. "To your posts! Squads of nine, now!"
Cheers rang out as forty eager fighters-or twenty seven eager fighters and twelve Geth troopers and Legion split into squads, one to Talo, Maevor, Wrex, Curana, and Creed. Talo began to assign areas for squads to guard and gave out heavy weaponry and ammunition.
"Battle master Wrex! Take your squadron and defend the Security Hub!" Talo shouted as he slid a clip into his new Revenant Light Machine Gun. He looked to where Legion and Maevor were organizing their squad. "Maevor, Legion! Take your squadron to the Damage Control Center! If boarding parties take it they could vent the Citadel Tower!"
"As you order Creator Serath." Legion said at the same time as Maevor spoke.
"Aye Captain." Maevor hefted his sniper rifle. "Third Squadron, on me and Legion, let's go!"
"Captain Curana, take your squadron up to the tower and set up the first blockade line on the second level of the Control Chamber!" Talo looked to the Asari as she and her nine troops hefted crates.
"On it!" she replied. "Fifth squad, move out! Into the elevator!"
"Captain Creed! Set up the second barricade on the third level of the Control Chamber!" Talo slid his machine gun onto his back and took a rocket launcher and ammunition for it.
"I'll have them ready in five minutes!" Creed replied. "Come on fourth Squad! On your feet, get that ammunition ready to move! I want everybody carrying as many clips as possible! Sergeant Incia, get us some machine guns! No, no, heavies! Heavy guns! Mounted ones, you know? Ok big guy take the heavy ammo crates!" The Krogan he spoke to growled, but nodded, taking two crates.
"First Squadron, we will set up on the top level of the Control Chamber! I need sniper rifles, rockets, any far range and accurate weaponry!" Talo called out more orders. "All reserve ammunition for every squadron will be kept at their designated munition base! The bases are Alpha: Security Control! Beta: Damage Control Center! Charlie will be at second blockade! And Delta will by my squadron's location! Use short controlled bursts; do not expend ammo at the same rate as the rest of your squadron! For every rifle fired I want two more locking on another shot!" He continued shouting out orders.
As Curana's squad took the elevator up first, Talo hefted a crate, but paused as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and came face to face with Tali. "Don't you have a ship to be on Tali'Zorrah?"
"I know...I just wanted to do something first." Tali said shyly. "Doctor Solis gave me antibiotics and special herbs, so I should be fine long enough for this." She took off her visor, holding it on one hand and reached up to his new visor. He took it off as her fingers brushed his helmet and leaned down, kissing her on the lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck, as if hoping if she held on tight enough he wouldn't leave her.
But he gently pried her off and placed her visor back over her face. "If I survive this, I'd like to have the honour of making you Tali'Serath vas Tolan."
"Talo, Tali..." Tali giggled.
Truth be Talo's name was just the masculine form of Tali.
"Please Talo...survive...for me." She whispered.
He nodded. "I will...now get going, you have a ship waiting."
Tali nodded and stepped back. She spoke into her radio. "United, this is Tali'Zorrah, beam me up." She vanished in a pillar of light.
Xxx
"Commander, all systems are operational." The new helmsman, a Turian said. "Just barely though, I wouldn't count on us to last too long in a fight."
"I only need enough time to warn the council," Shepard replied. "ETA to Citadel arrival?"
"Well, we were taking safer routes last time, if we head right through this section here we can get there in an hour." The new Navigator pointed out a cluster on the galaxy map. "Pirate territory, but it should be safe for us now."
"Is the package our virtual friend gave us secure and ready?" Tali asked as she stepped onto the command deck.
"Yep, the package is prepped for transfer." The helmsman nodded. "If a Reaper gets its paws on the Citadel we'll be there to take it back."
"This is the Migrant Vessel United to Captain Talo'Serath vas Tolan, we are ready to depart." Shepard said into the radio link.
"I hear you Commander Sheppard." Talo replied. "Leave immediately, and leave a comm. Buoy for other ships to follow to here, we might get lucky after all and get a rescue ship."
"If we have the time we'll return for you later whether or not the comm. Buoy finds a friendly ship." Shepard said as he stood next to the command seat. "God's speed Captain."
"Captain Talo'Serath out." With that, his voice was gone.
"It's so weird...thinking this might be the last time I hear him." Tali sighed. "Or see him."
"I don't make a habit of leaving people for dead either Tali; we'll come back for them." Shepard nodded.
"Entering relay!" the Helmsman reported.
Xxx
As the United shot across the galaxy, Executor Pallin sat in his office, looking over the latest group of ships to arrive, Krogan warships this time. The Krogan may have made them second hand, but their weaponry seemed to be on par and their armour made up for their weak shields. He looked out over the Presidium where humans in Federation uniforms interacted with the citizens now. There was a transfer of an entire company of FNI onto the Citadel, one hundred sixty five operators patrolling the station alongside tens of thousands of guards and soldiers brought in to join alongside C Sec in any defence made.
"Sir, we are detecting a large amount of mass about to come through the fifth relay," Pallin's assistant Tarann (Tah-ran) reported from his desk. "Several hundred, just over a thousand ships if I am correct, all bear transponders of friendly species."
"Good, the more ships the less we have to worry about-." Pallin was cut off by a blinding flash that came from the Presidium and fell off his chair in shock. Tarann helped him up and they ran to the railings to see what was happening. Gun fire rang out in the Presidium from around the Mass Relay statue in the middle of the park. Aliens, four of them, two Krogan, a Turian, and a Geth Destroyer stood on the walk way next to the relay statue, dressed in modified armour-or in the Destroyer's case enhanced armour considering the extra thickness. They were firing into the pedestrians around them with what seemed to be Geth pulse rifles, but more advanced.
"What is going on? Security!" Pallin shouted.
A Turian guard followed by two Salarians and an Asari rushed into view, raising their pistols and firing on the group. Their combined fire took down the Turian, but the two Krogan charged forward, taking bullet after bullet before the Asari fired a concussive round and sent one flying into the lake. The Destroyer rushed forward and sent on Salarian flying through the air with a swing of its arm. The flailing alien landed on his head and went limp.
Suddenly there was a flash and four more aliens, a Batarian, a Drell, a Quarian, and another Geth Destroyer came out. More officers and soldiers rushed onto the scene, but then a group of eight appeared...out of the relay!
"The statue...it's a mass relay..." Pallin stated astounded as now well over thirty hostiles began to take the presidium's embassy wing. Two FNI operators joined the fight and cut into their ranks with phase rifles. This began to halt the advance. Tarran grabbed Pallin by the sleeve and rushed him out of the office and into a flow of fleeing delegates.
Xxx
"Councillors!" Saren rushed up to the top section of the council chambers, two more Spectres behind him-one Asari and one Salarian. "There are reports of gun fire on the Embassy level, we have been infiltrated!"
"We must evacuate you Councillors, they are beginning to take over the Embassy Wards, and the elevators there lead right up here." The Salarian continued as the three Spectres along with several C Sec guards began to move them out of the chamber.
"How could this happen?" the Salarian councillor cried out.
"The relay!" Executor Pallin was next to them a moment later. "The statue in the Embassy Level, it is a relay! They came out of it!"
"An actual relay?" The Turian Councillor asked.
"And there's more, I received a report of a large amount of ships due to come through Relay 5 soon, over a thousand ships, they may be connected to this." Pallin replied. "We need to evacuate you to the Destiny Ascension, forget the emergency bunker."
Suddenly gun fire and screams rang out from the lower section of the chamber.
"We need to evacuate the other delegates!" The Asari objected.
"Spectres, these officers can escort us, protect the delegates and tell them to evacuate to the Destiny Ascension!" The Turian ordered Saren. The Ascension was designated as an evacuation ship for V. in the event of an invasion against the Citadel.
"Get them out of here!" Saren ordered the guards and drew his assault rifle. He and his two companions muscled their way through crowds of screaming delegates, yelling at them to get to the Ascension.
Soon the mid level of the chambers-the largest section was mostly clear except for a few fleeing delegates. Saren raised his assault rifle and peeked through the scope. He saw an entire squadron of aliens arranged from Geth to Turians advancing over dead aliens they had gunned down. He fired a burst and one Asari fell. "Cover the civilians' escape!"
More C Sec officers joined them in setting up a blockade when another enemy squadron of ten came out of the elevator. It became a full blown war in the Council Tower.
Xxx
The Enterprise was leading a group of Federation ships which composed of three new Constitution class ships, four Arbiter class missile ships, two Defender class bombers, three Guardian class frigates, ten Interceptor class fighters, and three Miranda class ships. These ships were sent to support the Enterprise in the battle. All of these ships were newly designed and constructed around the same time as the Enterprise.
"Sir, we have a full alert on the Citadel, Presidium and Citadel Tower." Spock reported.
"Contact the Council." Kirk ordered.
"They have transferred to the Destiny ascension." Spock replied. "And Executor Pallin is reporting from the Turian Dreadnaught Hunter Nebula. He has put the fleet on full alert and reports that there is a fleet of one thousand nine vessels in various size and make about to come out of relay-."
Suddenly alarms wailed as the Enterprise shook.
"Full combat alert! Arm phasers, load torpedo bays! Shields up! All Federation vessels mobilize!" Captain Kirk yelled.
An entire flotilla of ships had come out of the Fifth Relay overhead and was raining down hell upon the citadel Fleet. Many ships, including several federation ships were caught with their shields down and were destroyed immediately or damaged. The Federation ships and frigate squadrons were the first to respond, firing phasers and mass accelerator rounds.
"Sir, we have lost two Federation vessels and a dozen Allied vessels." Chekov said. "Returning fire but enemy shields seem to be advanced like Tyrant's to a lesser extent."
"Focus on the heavy ships Mr Chekov." Kirk said. "Contact Escort Scout flotillas and organize them to intercept enemy fighters and frigates. Full spread of torpedoes, cover our damaged vessels!"
The Enterprise joined the battle, guns blazing.
Xxx