Priority: Taetrus 1 of 2
A/N: Been very busy, but hoping update makes you happy. LR-1
-Normandy SR-2, Captain's Cabin-
It was still going to be several hours before the Normandy reached Taetrus, and Shepard had decided to try and get some sleep in. No sense fighting a battle while yawning.
When he couldn't get to sleep and found himself drawn to his desk and personal terminal, he couldn't help but think that maybe Chakwas was right. He needed to eliminate his stress if he wanted to lead a somewhat healthy undead life. Fat chance that was going to happen so instead he decided to look over the plans General Victus had arranged with Quintus.
He stretched his neck as he tried to focus on the page, but his eyes kept fluttering…
"Skipper?"
Shepard turned to look at the doorway where Ashley stood. He'd been sitting at his computer terminal in his quarters, trying to figure out how to write a letter that could possibly explain what had happened mere hours ago on Virmire. Ash looked sunken in her standard dark blue BDUs, almost like she was trying to hide. "Chief?"
That's what they'd been for the past few hours; Skipper and Chief. Not Shepard and Ashley. It was the only way to not get into an argument. Ashley didn't move from her position at the door. "Do you have a minute?"
It was obvious what was on her mind, it was on everyone's mind. It was just that this problem affected her directly rather than generally. "Not really, but go ahead."
Ashley flexed her fist hard enough to audibly crack her knuckles. "We… I… I want to know why you chose me."
Shepard clenched his jaw and went over his thought processes. It hadn't been an emotional decision; he was too well trained to let that happen. "I already told you. It was my decision and Kaidan knew the risks."
"He was an officer; I'm just the rank and file." In three months he'd only ever heard he speak like this when she spoke of her family, and he had plenty of conversation to support his theory.
Shepard had patience with Ashley because despite her bone headedness - he knew she took even the smallest things personally. "I've got no use for someone with a death wish. Shanxi is ancient history."
Ashley shook her head. "It's not that Skipper, it's…"
"How many times do I have to tell you, Ash?" Shepard tersely interrupted her. She was just repeating the same old tired rhetoric. "I'm the one who gave the order." Shepard got up and waved her in. "Don't just stand there, if you want to talk then we'll talk in private."
Ashley frowned, but did as she was told. She stepped in and the door closed behind her. "Sorry if I'm being jar headed skipper. but that comes with the package."
She wouldn't take no for an answer. Shepard expected as much. He wondered if she'd ever mature and learn to make hard decisions that weren't so black and white. "The attitude doesn't help, Chief. I can't put my life and the lives of my crew into someone's hands who doesn't trust me."
Ashley bristled. Shepard was making it clear that this wasn't the private personal conversation she'd grown accustomed to. "No, sir! This Marine has your back all the way!" She snapped to attention, obviously falling back on her training.
Shepard shook his head. She just didn't get it. "Stand down, Ash. We're way past rank and titles now." Turning around again, Shepard winced. It was a tactical and logical decision. It just happened to coincide with saving a woman whom he was… well, that was another matter altogether. "You want to know the truth? What made me decide to go back for you instead of Kaidan?"
Ashley slumped a little, but only enough to be at ease. "I…" Sighing, Ashley bowed her head. "You know, I don't think twice about putting myself in harm's way. You tell me to take on a Colossus and I know you're right there by me. I'm ready to meet my maker and that gives me an edge. But I can't… I just, I can't function at the thought of someone dying for me."
Not exactly an answer, but not exactly surprising. Shepard was impressed with Ashley's combat abilities. Fighting Geth, Biotics, Rachni… it was all so much more than just a standard grunt could handle. Ashley was something different. "I know you're ready. You've made your peace and you're just doing what you think is right."
"Did he die for me?"
Turning back to Ashley, he could see that the only answer he could give was the truth. "He didn't die for you. He died because he wasn't protecting that nuke."
Ashley furrowed her brow, he hands behind her back as if at ease, but quietly fidgeting. "Excuse me?"
Shepard closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose with both hands."Tactical appraisal, Williams. Kaidan was holed up in an AA tower, you were protecting the nuke, what was more important to protect from the Geth? What would have qualified our mission as a total failure?"
Ashley's jaw dropped slightly, it had been so obvious and yet she missed it. "Wha… you… you mean...?"
"Command level decision." Shepard whispered, now getting into Ash's personal space. "Look at the big picture Williams. I had two choices, Save the superior officer and pray to god you held them off long enough for that nuke to go off, or back you up and make sure it did."
"I would have…" Ash began.
"I know you would have set off that nuke, Ash." Shepard interrupted. "I'm not questioning your dedication. But what I didn't know is if you'd have the chance before the Geth and Saren killed you. I don't care how good of a soldier you are, you can't hold back an army on your own. Kaiden may have been the superior officer, but that nuke had to go off."
"So… so you came back for me because…"
Shepard clenched his jaw and took a deep breath before replying. He knew she must have had an hundred questions – but he had not answers she would like. "I'm sorry Ash. Kaiden was an officer and his last words were exactly what I expected. He…" Shepard held in his sorrow. Kaiden had been such a good friend for so long – these… Reapers were ripping everything from him. "Is that all?"
Shepard jolted awake, his chair shifting and his back sliding away. He barely caught himself before shaking his head.
"Are you alright Commander?"
EDI's voice had likely been what woke him. He was tired for sure, but he needed to let his mind wander and slip into dreams, regular sleep was too difficult.
The wisps of the memories haunting him were frustrating, so he simply ignored it. He replied. "I'm… fine, EDI. give me a hologram of the city we're going to on Taetrus."
EDI appeared in front of his fish tank and replied in a much too alert tone. "As you wish." It took a moment, but the screen ahead of Shepard turned into Taetrus. The Turians idea of architecture was very much what he'd expected – lots of tall buildings that looked menacing, and curves everywhere. Not at all like Earth or her colonies with their very structured square design. The surroundings on the other hand were very much untouched marshlands and forests, more like Virmire or the tropical areas of Earth.
EDI marked out several points, and changed the image to a grid pattern. Some of the buildings suddenly dropped, while others seemed to have holes blown in them. EDI marked out blue and red points, showing Turian and Goa'uld forces. "General Victus has given us the locations of Turian resistance pockets."
Shepard got up and looked carefully. The city was a bustling metropolis of skyscrapers, with an even more packed and dense underground. A series of subways and underground apartment complexes spiderwebbed around. Shepard couldn't help but be reminded of how Kai Leng and the refugees from Watson had survived the siege. Maybe the Turians were doing the same.
As he marked out each point the Turians held, it was clear that they were avoiding the subway. Something odd Shepard thought. "Alright EDI, give me any Goa'uld positions the Turians know about."
"The Goa'uld have occupied all major military facilities and spaceports." EDI explained. The image zoomed out to show the entire city. The few large flat areas where spaceports were glowed in red. "They have taken control and are currently using them as transport hubs for their raiding parties. They've been focusing on Element Zero as well as capturing civilians and resistance forces alike."
"Turians aren't your average civilian." Shepard muttered. He sighed and pumped his fists. "Show me Victus' plan again. Extrapolate any changes you feel might be better."
EDI paused for a moment and asked. "You trust me to make suggestions?"
"Not really." Shepard admitted. "But you've got the perfect mind to see potential problems. Whether I trust you or not is inconsequential for something like this, and it's not like you're going to risk the ship you live in."
"I see…" EDI replied. Shepard could swear he heard some bitterness, but he cared less. "The Goa'uld have complete air superiority – they've focused on Al'Kesh with troop transports and cargo ships. Victus' troops have entrenched themselves on the lower floors to avoid aerial bombardment, but also to more easily run guerilla tactics on the occupying forces. It appears there are no civilians."
Shepard raised an eyebrow. "What about children? Females?"
EDI's reply sounded like a shrug. "More than likely they were the first to be evacuated, and as all Turians undergo military training, they've been drafted."
"Good." Shepard muttered. "Fewer people who can't protect themselves means more who can bring the hurt to the Goa'uld." He sighed and shook his head. "What about the entry to the underground spaceport? You see any better way than Victus'?"
The image zoomed in again onto the underground subway system. A group of Victus' troops had hunkered down at the entrance, but hadn't gone in just yet. "I've analysed General Victus' plan. As Councilor Quintus said, it is not a standard strategy endorsed by conventional means of war."
"So he's a lateral thinker." Shepard commented. "Can't have too many of those."
"General Victus' ploy of keeping his men out of the subway in anticipation of using them for this counteroffensive appears to be working. Without any targets, and minimal element zero involved in the construction of the underground transport system, the Goa'uld have been ignoring it. Victus' troops have clustered near potential entry points –yet far enough that the Goa'uld have not encroached."
"So it's a good plan?" Shepard asked and then yawned. Sleep beckoned.
"It is an unexpected plan." EDI surmised. "My only modifications would be to use Normandy as a distraction against the Goa'uld mothership. It could very easily target Turian forces from orbit if the Goa'uld see them as a major threat."
"Yeah…" Shepard mused. "I was thinking the same. What's our armament looking like now?"
"Councilor Anderson was most gracious with resources and weapons." EDI replied – almost cheerful. "We've restocked on disruptor torpedoes, though not compatible with Javelin technology - A complement of thirty torpedoes total. Our F-Class cannons are currently overclocked with the enhanced naquadah generator, outputting D-Class levels of firepower with a lowered rate of fire. In addition, we have replacement parts for our GARDIAN turrets which we will need drydock to properly repair."
"Small arms and equipment?"
"Alliance Grade weapons and armor from multiple manufacturers." EDI replied. "A few extra schematics for our replication facility, but complex equipment will still need either a dock or larger vessel with a maintenance facility."
"What about barriers?" Shepard asked. "Any chance Carter was able to get those plans for Goa'uld shielding working?"
"Unfortunately not. While we have the power to spare, I would recommend dodging any incoming Goa'uld fire for the meantime."
Shepard rolled his eyes at EDI's obvious sarcasm. "Noted." He stretched his arms and blinked hard, his face felt stiff and tired. "I'm catching some rack time. Let whoever's on night duty wake me an hour before we reach Taetrus."
"Sleep well, Commander."
-Normandy SR-2, Engineering Deck-
John scratched at his ear. He could feel the implant in his head and the strangest connection to the rest of his body. He'd been able to feel the strange biotic power flowing through his body earlier, but this was ridiculous. It was like his skin was crawling with ants. Miranda had offered to 'assist him' with the change but it just didn't feel right.
He couldn't bring himself to believe that something like a brain implant could be an outpatient surgery. That medigel felt so strangely good – he wondered if it had a narcotic effect.
More importantly, John wanted someone with better experience at this sort of thing, and there was only one other biotic on the ship.
The darkness of the lower engineering bay was a stark contrast to the rest of the ship. He made out a few shipping crates – probably filled with engineering doohickeys. Something told him rats weren't much of a problem in the future though so he was more worried about the other feral creature down here.
Miranda had told him everything she knew about Jack, but something bugged John. He'd seen when Commander Shepard showed up to visit Jack and himself, and he didn't see a barely controlled ball of rage. He wasn't sure exactly what he saw but she certainly wasn't feral. John was down here for one reason, to see if Jack would be willing to teach him what she knew.
"Hello?"
John moved carefully, step by step into the depths of the ship. Eventually, he reached the bottom where he could see a cot with random trash nearby. It almost looked like a teenag-
What felt like the barrel of a gun suddenly jammed into his back, causing him to go tense. "What the fuck are you doing down here?"
It was Jack, John recognized her voice from her taunts in the medical bay. He raised his hands to show he was unarmed. "Uhh… hi. I'm really hoping that's a gun you've got to my back or else I've been woefully misled."
Jack snorted and pulled the gun away. John was relieved she seemed to have a sense of humor. "That's actually kinda funny, now if you don't explain what you're doing here, you just might feel that 'woe' anyway."
John shrugged and turned. What was it with the women on this ship and dressing skimpy? "Right. Well, we met – sort of – in the medical bay. Figured we should be introduced properly." Jack harrumphed and pushed past him. John momentarily wondered how Jack had managed to get behind him when he was typically pretty on the ball about ambushes. Then he noticed the stairs on the other side of the room. "Guessing you heard me coming down and went around. Nice."
"Right…" Jack replied, then scowled. "Look, I know you've been spending all your time with that cheerleader slut upstairs, so unless you've got a real reason to be here other than spying on me for her, make like a rabbit and fuck off."
John didn't say what he thought, having one gun barrel pressed to his back a day was his limit. "Alright, straight to the point. My name's John, Major John Sheppard. I was hoping we could talk about biotics."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Biotics? The fuck you care about biotics?"
John shrugged and sighed. He'd thought carefully about how to go about this. "Well, we've been keeping it a bit of a secret. But Miranda told me I should tell everyone now. When the Normandy crashed on Earth, there was an element zero leak and I was exposed. Technically I died from my wounds, but some weird alien technology brought me back and somehow imbedded the…"
The sudden glow around Jack's body wasn't unexpected, but the iron grip that felt like a titan squeezing him and flinging him back into the bulkhead was. Jack's voice grew into a furious howl. "You mean you're a biotic now?"
John choked out the words as he felt his muscles fighting an invisible force. "Yes!"
"Do you have any idea what I've been through?" Jack asked – her voice quieting but the grip from her biotic field just as powerful. "You think I'm happy with what I am? You think I want to share?"
John tried to focus his own biotics, but all that came of it was slightly less stress against his neck. "I've heard about you, but I want to hear it from you. People tend to have bias." He struggled a bit more before giving up. "Look, I don't mean any offense. I just figured maybe you could relate or something."
Jack narrowed her eyes and pushed John harder into the wall. "Relate? You think we can relate?" She scoffed and then let the biotic field drop. John dropped to the floor and choked in breaths. "Get the fuck out."
John caught his breath and decided that this was enough for today. She wasn't killing him with her mind so he figured mission accomplished so far. He quietly left, his ear still itching.
-Normandy SR-2, Conference Room-
"Really?" Shepard asked, Miranda gave him a stare back of certainty. "You think he'll even survive?"
Miranda took in a breath and replied. "Yes. There's no way to be sure about him other than seeing how he reacts. The stress of combat will also force him to try and develop his power and we need to see how far a trained military officer can take newly developed biotic abilities."
Miranda noted the way Shepard seemed hesitant to let John join the team for this mission to Taetrus. It was just another of those strange traits Shepard had. "Develop his power? Miranda, how long did it take you to learn to use your biotics?" Shepard asked. "Giving fire support from a transport is one thing. Hell I can even see him fighting on the ground and maybe flying a Kodiak. Thing is I'm expecting heavy resistance on Taetrus. I don't want to have to come back and tell the SGC he's dead – again."
Miranda fought her smirk. Shepard's deadpan humor could be quite good at times. "That won't happen. The plan you showed me from General Victus looks promising. It would have been perfect to have something like that for Watson."
Shepard narrowed his eyes and sighed. "It would have been, but let's see what everyone thinks about it." He motioned ahead as the doors opened. "Show time. Hope they're ready for it."
The doors opened fully and Major Sheppard along with Garrus walked in. Miranda noted how Sheppard looked calm, and as always, Garrus looked cool as a cucumber. Behind them, Grunt entered with Jack behind him. Everyone was here, and Miranda was eager to get this done. Admittedly she wasn't too happy with Cerberus resources being used to help the Turians, but in the end she knew it would benefit them all – this… 'Coalition' most.
Shepard got up and nodded. "Alright, you've all gotten the brief but we're going to go over the plan now." He engaged his omni-tool and brought up an image of Taetrus – a Goa'uld Mothership in orbit. "This is our target. Turian Colony named Taetrus. Turian reports say non-combatants were the first evacuated and the only people left are either civilian militia, Turian army regulars or Special Forces."
Grunt chuckled in amusement. Miranda raised an eyebrow to the large Krogan. "I fail to see the humor of Turians in battle."
Grunt just laughed harder now, shaking his head. "I don't expect you to understand."
Shepard sighed and lowered his voice's tone. "People." he pointed out the Goa'uld ship and the surrounding patrols of Al'kesh and Death Gliders. "The Goa'uld have learned. While they've still got those Death Gliders in the air, they're focusing their power on Al'Kesh which are about as dangerous as a Frigate."
Now Jack snorted. "Great, so we're taking on a fleet? Suicide mission no matter what huh?"
"Not a suicide mission." Shepard explained. "In fact, I'll be very disappointed if any of you decide to turn this into one for yourselves." He zoomed in on the target city on Taetrus. "This is Spaedar. Intel has the Goa'uld targeting it along with the capital city of Vallum in particular – likely because of their military significance." He focused on the location – near marshlands that would make good farming land, but far from the mining camps and refineries. "The Turians need this colony if they're going to provide us with any real support long term. They lost a lot of smaller colonies in the shift and the Goa'uld have begun to target them. We're gonna ease the pressure."
Major Sheppard raised his hand as if to speak. Miranda was surprised he'd be so brash. "Excuse me?"
Shepard turned to him. "Major."
"Isn't that the same ship that turned a Turian Dreadnaught into melted cheese?"
Jack replied in Shepard's stead, her voice more than a little harsh. "Fuck do you know about that?"
Miranda decided to avoid an argument, and instead interjected. "Regardless of Major Sheppard's intimate knowledge of our technology or culture…"
Jack scoffed luridly. "Oh so that's it."
Miranda didn't rise to the insult and just continued. "…he has a point. The Turians weren't able to defend their colony primarily because they focused on heavier craft that aren't as maneuverable. Our most powerful craft are ironically at the mercy of the much faster and better-armed Goa'uld. Conversely, in a defensive situation, a highly agile fleet would stand a decent chance against a Goa'uld craft."
Shepard nodded. "It's not an easy fight, but we've seen the Goa'uld have trouble dealing with Disruptor Torpedoes, that's where our plan comes into fruition." He shifted the view into one of a small spaceport on the outskirts of the city. "The Turians on the ground are a mix of all their forces – pilots included. General Victus wants us to sneak in, find as many pilots as we can, and escort them to Spaedar spaceport."
Garrus made a pensive noise, something Miranda had noticed from the typically calm Turian. "I thought the Goa'uld destroyed all the heavier military craft on Taetrus. What're they going to fly?"
Shepard smiled. "Come on Garrus, sniper or not, you still carry a knife."
Miranda couldn't help but find Garrus's pause almost human in its sarcasm. "Only to trim certain things." He crossed his arms and wondered out loud. "So there's a secret hangar there. Must have been left over from the Taetrus rebellion – or installed because of it."
Miranda shrugged. "You'd know better than we, but the plan will hinge on a proper sequence of events. We need to find pilots willing to go up against that Goa'uld mothership, protect them as we traverse across enemy held territory, and then create enough of a distraction to let the pilots leave orbit without being shot down by the enemy's superior combat air patrol. This is all counting of course that their disruptor torpedo payload is effective against the Mothership."
Jack rolled her eyes. "Fuck their shit up. Got it."
Grunt nodded in agreement. "Those Goa'uld husks are tough enemies. How much fun are we expecting Shepard?"
"Battalion strength from the Turian's last report." Shepard replied. Miranda couldn't help but wonder why he insisted on putting them up against YMIR Mechs, overwhelmingly numbered forces, and she suspected even Geth Colossi if he had the chance. "The Turians have been hitting back so by the time we get there who knows how much is left."
Grunt slapped his hands on the table surprising everyone. "Then go faster! Can't let the birds have all the fun." He turned to Garrus. "No offense."
Garrus shuddered almost imperceptibly. "Just a little I think." He furrowed his brow once more. "How exactly are we going to get planetside? We can't exactly fly a shuttle down there if they've got air superiority."
Miranda turned to Shepard and gave him a look. Her idea was… unique. "You're completely correct, only Normandy with its dual stealth system will be able to get into the atmosphere. If we land however, it'll create enough of a disturbance for the Goa'uld mothership in orbit to detect – we'd be shot down before we could do anything."
Major Sheppard visibly grimaced. "That's not good. No transporters in the future?"
"Alas no." Miranda checked her eyeroll. "In fact, because of the city setting we'll be going to, in order to avoid a long trek from outside the city in the marshlands we'll be using an older style you may be familiar with – rappelling."
Jack's eyes went wide – much to Miranda's amusement. "You mean we're going to jump out of this ship attached to a rope?"
"Technically a mass effect compressed steel cable, but you've got the idea." Miranda mused. Everyone's face looked shocked except for Shepard's. "Normandy can hover over the city without exposing herself while we rappel down. We're such small targets that it's very unlikely that we'll appear as a threat on their sensors."
"No such thing as parachutes in your galaxy?" Major Sheppard muttered.
Shepard shook his head. "Unless you want to advertise a turkey shoot, this is the best way."
"Jetpacks?"
Miranda noted the amusement in everyone's faces and decided to answer. "Too loud and the heat signature would give us away to sensors." The humor seemed to relieve everyone's hesitation, but she knew they'd all signed up for some pretty intense action.
-Normandy SR-2, Cargo Bay-
"Courtesy of the Alliance. Take whatever you'll need." Shepard smiled as he cracked open the crate. Suits of armor, weapons and even omni-gel now lined one side of the docking bay. The team behind him eagerly began to explore – each trying to suit their tastes.
Shepard himself had learned from Watson and the Goa'uld training facility. His Kestrel Armor lended to his style, but the Goa'uld's weapons changed things. He needed hard-hitting weapons and light flexible armor. Hahne Kedar had graciously built exactly what he wanted in N7 format – with less emphasis on armor protection and more on speed and extra ammo. Following that train of though, instead of a Viper, he exchanged it for the customized Widow Sniper Rifle the Alliance had 'donated'. It was fantastic to have something so powerful that wouldn't rip his arm off every time he fired it.
For close to medium range, he went with the standard M-8 Avenger Assault Rifle. Nothing complicated and plenty of reserve ammunition. He thought the combination of spray fire and the one-shot, three ducks lined in a row kill weapons would come in handy given their opposition.
In particular he wanted to make use of the Widow's massive penetration against the heavily armored Goa'uld and Jaffa advanced husks.
"I see you've taken my advice literally."
Shepard turned to see Garrus grinning at him. He snorted. "I don't see you holding a peashooter."
Garrus chuckled as he drummed his fingers on his Mantis. "If you're having trouble hitting the target, I don't think getting bigger bullets will help."
Shepard chuckled and looked at everyone else, Grunt had forsaken the Claymore Shotgun and instead now wielded an Alliance made Revenant machine gun. For his backup weapon, a lightweight Katana shotgun hung onto the small of his enormous back. Shepard figured he wanted mass fire than hard hitting shots, or something he could swing like a club effectively.
Garrus' Mantis was accompanied by the same Vindicator he'd used on Watson – and the Goa'uld planet. He rarely if ever changed his kit because he knew it worked.
To his surprise, Miranda had opted against the standard Cerberus jumpsuit she'd worn on most previous missions and instead now wore a customized slimmer Cerberus Armor in black and yellow. An odd thought struck across his head as he realized she actually had some pudge in her face. At least she'd also decided to carry heavier weapons as well, with a Mattock Assault Rifle along side her standard Predator Pistol. It was very strange to see her like that.
Jack hadn't bothered with armor, instead wielding a Katana shotgun and Phalanx pistol. She'd survived till now on her biotics so he didn't question her decision.
That left only Major Sheppard, who to his surprise, seemed to fit right in with standard N7 built armor and Evicerator Shotgun. His backup weapon was also an M-8 Avenger, a good counterpart to Shepard's own kit. It was clear to Shepard though that the Major was nervous as hell, continually shooting Miranda glances to see if he was doing things right.
Shepard didn't need something like this. He had to deal with it now. "Major?"
John Sheppard turned to him as he walked up. "Uh Commander?"
"Walk and talk?"
John nodded. "Okay…" He followed Shepard as they walked towards the elevator. Shepard wanted privacy. "I know we haven't had much time to talk. I know I'm not the top priority for you guys right now."
Shepard sighed and entered the now open elevator doors. "Regardless, I want to know what you think of this situation. I know you haven't exactly volunteered for this gig." He turned to him. "My team was ready for a suicide mission. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"I get it though." John replied as the elevator closed, but Shepard didn't call out a level he wanted to go to. "Once I got past the 'holy shit' factor, it makes perfect sense what you're doing."
Shepard raised an eyebrow. "You seem to be taking it pretty well. But I want you to know that I'm not forcing you to be here, nor do I expect you to join my team. If you're having second thoughts about this mission…"
John raised his hand and seemed to focus. Shepard was a little surprised when he noted a faint hint of blue around the man's fingers. "Gotta find some way of harnessing this." He stopped and blew a sigh. His forehead looked sweaty and he took a deep breath in – clearly a sign of exertion. "I don't suppose you've seen Star Wars?"
"Ancient history to me." Shepard replied. For the man to get tired even just creating a slightly visible biotic field meant he was barely beginning to use it. "Jedi, yes I've heard you like to call it that. Biotics are significantly more scientific than magical."
John shrugged. "Also I don't know if I could pull off that snazzy robed look."
Both of them chuckled for a few moments, but Shepard spoke first. "I just want to be clear with you. I wouldn't hold it against you if the odds we face seem a little too daunting."
"I want to do this." John replied tersely. "I don't know how much Sam told you, or even how much she knows. But it's been a long time since I've felt useful or even qualified to wear a uniform. Guess I'm still a little rusty."
"I can see that." Shepard said. "Miranda told me that you didn't agree to get that biotic implant until after rescuing Jacob Carter. Figured seeing combat again made you change your mind."
"I wouldn't say it was the fighting." John answered. "It was just a combination of everything. Why fight it when I can fight for it?"
Shepard smiled, John seemed to be in a much better mood than he'd originally seen him in. "That's a pretty optimistic outlook. You'll have whatever support I can give you. Starting with getting you and any other SGC members into some real quarters – I've allocated space in the starboard viewing deck but it'll be a bit before it's done."
"Cool." John smiled back. "Although I'd kill to fly that hovertank of yours."
Shepard grimaced. "Uhh… Not just yet."
-Normandy SR-2, Cockpit-
"Approaching mass relay to Taetrus, FTL drop in twenty seconds."
Shepard took a few calming breaths – if things went perfectly, they'd have boots on the ground within the hour. The strange warble of starlight in FTL was always disorienting. At least he was the only one up here with Joker. "I want stealth systems activated before we hit the relay. Warm up all weapons and be ready for a fight – just don't go looking for one."
"Aye sir, running silent." Joker replied. "So how'd Illusive Man react when you told him we were saving a bunch of Turians?"
"You know I haven't." Shepard grumbled. "This is my ship now. He can give suggestions, but ultimately it's my decision what we do and this is the best option right now."
Joker chuckled. "I'm just saying, Cerberus might seem like a bunch of power hungry racists, and don't get me wrong, they totally are. I'm just saying I'd have loved to see the look on his face."
"You might still get the chance." Shepard replied.
"Coming out of FTL now. Stealth systems standing by."
Shepard felt the gentle shift as the Normandy popped back into non-mass effect driven speeds and looked out. Surrounding the Mass Relay was at least a dozen ships – Turians. "Damn. Thought they might be here. Guessing they've seen us?"
An alarm began to beep, and Joker quickly muted it. "Why else would they be pointing their guns at us?" He sighed an turned. "They are hailing us though Commander."
"Put it up."
It took a moment, but the screen ahead of him resolved into the face of a Turian wearing black and red armor. Shepard recognized the insignias on the armor as a high-ranking officer. "This is Commander Shepard of the Normandy, we're here to help."
The Turian gave him a perplexed stare back before replying. "General Victus here. Quintus said we should be expecting you."
"Sorry to sound impetuous, but any reason you've got guns pointed at me?" Shepard asked.
Quintus turned to the side and barked orders. Joker turned and nodded. "They've powered down."
"Apologies Commander." The General replied. "This fleet consists of what remains of the Taetrus defense fleet. They're a little of edge."
"I don't blame them." Shepard replied. "Quintus didn't mention you'd be here. We're ready to execute your plan, but I wasn't aware you'd have fleet assets available. Are there any changes I should be aware of?"
Victus nodded and brought up a map of the space on the other side of the relay. "Your side of the battle will still be the same. Rally our forces and get those fighters in the air. Once they've taken off, the rest of my fleet will jump in and surround the Goa'uld mothership – we're going to try and disable it to capture it."
Shepard opened his eyes wide. "Bold. You've seen what that thing is capable of."
"And we'll never be able to fight them effectively unless we learn more about them." Victus replied. "I would have thought from all I've heard of you, you'd be all for this plan."
"I'm all for getting them off your planet." Shepard replied. "Throwing your ships at a wall of plasma isn't going to help anyone. I'd recommend waiting until we see if the fighters are effective before committing larger forces. There are things you don't know, allies who can help us develop those counters we need against the Goa'uld without having to risk your men like that."
"No offense Commander, but my people are itching for payback." Victus replied. "If I don't give them the chance, they'll always look at the Goa'uld as invincible. Even if we don't capture it, we need to be the ones to take it out."
Shepard sighed and bowed his head. "I understand, but don't throw lives and resources at an unattainable goal. We'll do our part and I'm going to trust you to do yours."
"I'll take it under advisement." Victus nodded and gave a half-hearted salute. "We'll await your signal Commander. Tell my men to save some for me."
Shepard nodded and tapped Joker on the shoulder. "Shut it off and engage stealth systems. Get us to Taetrus."
"Aye sir."
-Normandy SR-2, Cockpit, Above Taetrus-
"I'll never get used to being this close to something like that." Shepard took a few deep breaths as he looked out the window. Joker continued "You've got to wonder who did their ship designs?"
The Goa'uld mothership not too far from their approach vector made no signs of noticing them. It was unlikely they'd detected the mass shift as they'd entered the system. Shepard prayed that the Goa'uld cloaking device held up to the constant use. "If you read the notes Doctor Jackson and Carter provided, you'd understand why they look like that."
"No." Joker replied. "I mean, yes sir. I understand why the Egyptians look the way they do. That still doesn't explain why a race of aliens decided a giant pyramid made a good ship. At least have the point heading where they're going if they want aerodynamics."
Shepard shrugged and looked down to the radar. "I'd love to ask them Joker, but they're a little busy trying to enslave all our asses." He focused on the planet below. Cities dotted the planet with vast expanses of forest and beachhead. In fact, it reminded Lots of CAP. Keep us clear of any accidents and get us down there." He got up and walked out of the cockpit. "Keep Normandy safe Joker."
"Aye sir." Joker replied as Shepard left earshot. The crew on the CIC was at full attention; only giving Shepard quick glances as he moved past.
Kelly in particular gave him a longer look as he approached. "Commander."
"Something wrong?"
Kelly shrugged and shook her head. "No. I just never really know what to do when we get into a fight."
Shepard had been thinking about this in the back of his mind, so now he wondered if maybe Kelly was ready for it. "Well, there's probably a lot of wounded people down there. You could help Chakwas prepare for casualties."
"Yeah… I can do that." Kelly smiled. "Thank you, I mean, sir."
Shepard nodded and gave Kelly a squeeze on the shoulder as he passed her by to the elevator.
-Normandy SR-2, Cargo Bay-
"Holy shit."
Shepard didn't see a need to add to Jack's blunt exclamation as they slowly lowered towards Spaedar. The planet below visible through the open cargo bay doors. The distinct conical shape of Goa'uld Al'kesh patrols buzzed like vultures around the city – joined by Cargo Ships going up and down to the mothership in orbit. Roads crisscrossed the streets below, but nothing large enough to accommodate wheeled vehicles or their new Hammerhead. The city was built on the premise of well made public transportation and flying vehicles – much like most large scale infrastructure nowadays.
The smoke that added to the clouds above, as buildings and vehicles burned was a dead giveaway as to what had happened. Some buildings looked completely burnt out, as if washed over in plasma while other looked like they'd taken explosive hits, chunks missing and littering the streets below. Fires raged and didn't look like they were at any risk of stopping anytime soon. "Looks like the Goa'uld aren't playing around. Wonder if that ship in orbit did this."
Beside him, Miranda secured herself to the rappelling lines that had been hastily installed to provide an easier way of getting out of the ship through the hangar without having to actually land. A quick glance and nod told Shepard she was frosty and committed – She then handed a cord to each team member, each giving the metallic wire a doubtful look as they attached it to their body harnesses.
Miranda tugged on it and gave a reassuring nod. "A single wire can theoretically hold our entire team plus gear without issue." She pulled a face. "Not that I'm keen to test that."
When a cloud of smoke suddenly blossomed out from one of the deeper streets, Shepard held up his hand. "Hold!" He pulled the large canister shaped rifle off his back and hit the safety – a loud whir and clack resounded as the Widow locked into firing mode with extended barrel and variable zoom optics. Shepard sighted down it and aimed towards the base of the smoke trying to make out what happened.
His breath caught as he watched husks charge across the street, acting as a meat shield against a group of pinned down Turians. The Turian squad had somehow been cornered against a fallen building with no escape route – a large force of husks and what appeared to be Jaffa regulars escorting a pair of Goa'uld Venom Husks encroaching on them. They wouldn't last much longer at this rate. He snapped images using his omni-tool and sent it to the rest of the squad as well as Joker. "Listen up! I want a combat drop behind the Jaffa Joker. The rest of you, take cover once you land and fire at will." He tapped his omni-tool. "Turian squad on the ground, hang tight, reinforcements are on the way!" He then turned towards Jack who still looked shocked at the devastation. Normandy swung in several hundred feet above and behind the Jaffa, a perfect flanking position. "Feel like showing off?"
Jack gave him a morbidly amused look. "You shitting me?" Shepard shook his head. "One of these days you're gonna buy me a goddamned liquor store. What do you want?"
"Can your biotics handle a drop from this height?"
"Ha!" Jack cackled and turned her back to the open cargo bay doors. She held the rappelling cord in one hand, but hadn't secured it. Jack looked over the rest of the team who were speechless as she backpedaled. "Pay attention to the latest hit from the psychotic biotic!"
Shepard watched in amazement as Jack raised her arms and jumped backwards into the airstream.
"Jesus! Did someone fall off? We're not in position yet!" Joker's panicked voice came a moment after, the entire squad shocked at Jack's actions.
Shepard tugged on the line Miranda had handed him and suddenly felt more than a little in debt to Jack. An affirmative ping from the Turian squad below told him it was time to act. "Uhh, yeah. No problem though, I think." He turned to the rest of the squad and barked. "You just gonna stand there and grow old?" He prayed to god that the line held as he charged towards the cargo bay doors and leapt out, rifle at the ready. He noted on the omni-tool's tracking suite as the rest of the squad jumped out as well.
The rappelling cable tensed and slowed his descent, he wondered what the Jaffa would think to suddenly see a combat drop from what must have appeared like nothing – probably scared the crap out of them. Shepard then realized it was probably worse as he noticed another plume of dust blossom out, but this one tinged with a blue sheen.
-Streets of Spaedar, Taetrus-
The rush of air against her face and skin was exhilarating – almost as good as the rush along her spine when she got in a fight. The several hundred feet had passed by much too quickly and now she was about to hit the ground. Jack felt the energy flow through her body as she focused her biotics to create a shockwave around her - acting as both a cushion for her fall, and one hell of a wave of destruction in the midst of the Jaffa point guard.
They'd taken a phalanx position, using the husks as a meat shield and a pair of those heavy Goa'uld husks as fire support. The massive biotic shockwave only radiated about five meters around her though and Jack found herself landing on the floor with a head rush that was blinding.
As she stumbled forward and shook off the fugue, she heard Grunt yell over the radio. "Ha! I knew I liked Jack!"
Jack heard the husks approaching through the dust cloud before she could see them. She'd spotted a good cover position by a downed hovercar near her landing spot on the way down, now she just had to clear a path. Jack didn't respond to Grunt's almost flirtation and instead raised her shotgun. One husks flew apart as the shotgun ripped it apart – her aim slightly off and blowing its legs out despite aiming for a body shot. Another charged behind it and then another, Jack fired three more times, missing once as she suddenly found her legs unable to hold her properly upright and arms swaying. The husks were still put down easily enough.
When a fourth husk tried to side-rush her, she reached out with her left hand and tried for a biotic push – instead of a wave of energy flowing out from her, her opposite leg gave out and she landed on the hard ground. So she settled for firing her handgun wildly one-handed, knocking the husk back but not killing it. That came when the Turians nearby opened fire, covering her despite the harsh visual conditions – they must have had infrared mods.
Her aim was woozy, the biotic insertion had seriously drained her and it'd be awhile before she could muster up more than barriers. She fought past the fugue and moved towards the Turians, all the while pulling the trigger in the general direction of the ungodly howls.
Shepard held his Avenger in one hand and fired despite the unlikelyhood of scoring a hit. He needed to get those Jaffa – and more importantly – those Goa'uld husks attention off Jack and the Turians. They could handle a few husks and Jaffa regulars, but now that he could see the heavy units in the back he had a plan. "Grunt, Major! Follow me and stay low once we hit the ground! Miranda! Garrus! Give us covering fire!"
The rappelling carabineer was now glowing red hot from the friction, but Shepard knew he had to get in the fight. The ground rushed at him and only in the last few seconds did he squeeze on the line and slow enough to prevent any injury upon landing.
The slow drift of the Normandy translated to a near whip speed across the top of the building they'd tried to drop on. Shepard released the line, but now had more horizontal speed as he skidded across the concrete building four stories above. He rolled to spread the damage but using his omni-tool, created a claw with which he slammed into the ground to stop sliding – it ripped into the rooftop material and left a long three fingered trench as it brought him to a halt.
The rest of the team did variations with the exception of Major Sheppard, who miraculously had landed in some kind of garden and didn't need to take further cover. Shepard felt his arms strain as he held on, breaking the horizontal inertia and then shaking it off. "Sit-rep!"
"Miranda here, taking cover position."
"A little dusty, but I've got you covered Shepard."
"I didn't land on one! Let's move Shepard!"
"Sheppard here, no hostiles, no injuries."
Shepard winced and got up, his voice more than little irate. "Everyone, I'm designating Major Sheppard as 'John' from now to prevent confusion. Grunt, Major, let's move!"
"I'm fine if you give a fuck!"
Shepard looked over at Grunt who had a ton of scratches on his armor from the less than graceful landing across the building, but looked okay. "Never doubted you Jack, now hold on! We're coming!"
As if to remind him, he suddenly heard a loud whoosh as a heavy mass effect driven round flew past and tore a divot out of a building on the opposite side. He'd just moved out of a line of fire with the streets and was glad for it. Shepard brushed past the sudden realization that his back was actually in pain and crouched into a flat out run towards the center of the building – his voice raising to a scream. "Joker! Get Normandy out of here before the Goa'uld get wise! Stay in radio range but do not engage the enemy!"
"Copy that, over."
Shepard spotted the entry to the building ahead of him. To the sides, Garrus and Miranda had taken positions using broken pieces of nearby buildings and what appeared to be air conditioning units as cover. Miranda's fired much more freely than Garrus, while the Turian waited for each shot. Shepard wondered who had the better aim. "Grunt, clear us a path down the stairs! John, watch my back! Move it move it!"
The locked and probably heavy door to the stairwell of the building didn't hold beneath Grunt's boot smashing into the handle. Shepard saw the bolt come flying off and bouncing against the opposite wall. Major Sheppard had caught up to them and seemed relatively on the ball as he covered their movements, aiming towards the wall where the Husks were on the ground floor.
Just as he entered the door, he heard a loud crack of Major Sheppard's shotgun beside him. Shepard turned and saw the husk that had climbed up, now missing its left arm from the blast. A burst from Miranda's Mattock sent it back and toppling over the edge of the roof – other husks shoving it past as they approached.
Shepard knew they wouldn't be able to keep up a rush like that, so he pushed forward following Grunt down the stairs.
Garrus sighed as he put away his Mantis and unslung his Vindicator. Husks always made his head ache. "Three more coming up!" He didn't bother waiting for Miranda's response and instead just pulled the trigger.
The husks didn't seem to have any regard for self-preservation as they ran headlong into their fire, Garrus' accurate Vindicator tearing their heads off while Miranda pushed them back with short bursts from her Mattock.
It creeped him out how Miranda had decided to actually wear armor rather than rely on her barriers. He didn't know the woman to be overly cautious – but maybe taking fire on their last mission had taught her a bit. His own heavy armor had served him well against a gunship.
The Husk rush ended nearly as soon as it happened, maybe twelve husks total against a fortified position with no additional covering fire. Miranda didn't hesitate at all, and Garrus saw putting down Husks as a mercy. He held position as he heard more gunfire below in the streets, a mixture of heavy mass effect drivers, Goa'uld Zats and Staffs, along with the consistent popping of rapid fire assault rifles and shotguns.
He held position for a few moments, waiting for another assault on their position when Miranda beat him to it. He watched her vault over the air conditioner she'd taken cover behind and move forward. "Take a cover position! Get your tech ready!"
Garrus didn't reply, but he followed the suggestion as it made sense. He switched his ammo into armor piercing for the added penetration. He noticed Miranda had swapped out her own ammo for disruptor ammo – handy against the mechanical nature of the husks.
At the edge of the roof were only a few positions that could be considered cover, so Garrus kept his head down as rounds flew above him. He forced himself not to think about what would happen with air support. "Shepard!" Garrus crouched and pressed his back against the piece of broken building that had handily landed nearby. Miranda on the other hand had chosen what looked like an air vent to hide behind. He looked down on the streets, seeing the Jaffa had changed their tactics – now covering both their front and rear like a row of meat shields. In the middle were the two Goa'uld Venom Husks, laying down heavy fire on the Turian position from a covered position. "They're bunkered in! Let me know when you're in position and I'll hit 'em with a concussion blast!"
It took a second, but Shepard replied. "Roger, we'll time it with Grunt's blast – give em a one-two hit. Standby.""
The sound of a hiss nearby warned Garrus, so he backed off momentarily and readied himself. A part of him did want to unsheathe his knife, but that'd be giving Shepard the perfect ammo. So instead he took a tighter grip of his Vindicator.
The husk had climbed up right in front of him, its face sticking up across the wall like some mole out of the ground. Garrus chuckled "Bye." And threw a hard palm strike into it's face. An electrical discharge tickled his arms, though if the Husk been ready it probably would have hurt like hell. The Husk screamed in a strange non-biological pitch as it fell off, flopping around as it dropped to the ground.
The building had been burnt out by some kind of fire, the ashes and scorch marks made that point clear to him. John thanked that his helmet had a rebreather so he didn't have to put up with the ash. They'd made it to the ground floor quickly and without opposition to his surprise. A room to room fight in a burnt out commercial building wasn't what he was looking forward to.
Not that the body of the husk that landed on the ground in front of him and literally exploded into limbs was what he thought this was going to be either. "Jesus!" John pushed on the balls of his feet to the side, slamming into the side of the exit doorway with Grunt and Shepard covering the other side. Staff blasts flew up towards Garrus and Miranda's position – the Jaffa created a wall of men holding off any attack. Ahead, the Goa'uld Husks crawled forward still pushing to destroy the Turians.
Grunt just laughed at the whole thing. "Ha! Wish I could see that everyday!" He leaned out and seemed to assess the situation. "Dozen troops, mostly regulars. Jack must have fucked up their charge and they know they're on the ropes."
Shepard as well peeked out and nodded. "Agreed, those Goa'uld are the only real threat left. Grunt, time your concussion shot with Garrus and buy us cover so we can flank them. Major?"
John looked up to Shepard and shrugged. "Seriously, John will do."
"John then." Shepard nodded. "Stick with me, we're going to flank to the left and take cover behind that overturned shuttle. Cover me from Husks while we put down those Goa'uld."
"Got it!" John breathed deeply – this reminded him of the few street-to-street fights he'd been involved with in Afghanistan – except he wasn't a hundred feet in the air in a Kiowa providing ground cover. "Whenever you're ready."
Shepard nodded and gave Grunt a slap on the back. "On your move Grunt! Swing right and stay out of the furball till those Goa'uld are down."
Grunt held up his hand, showing n affirmative. He then screamed "Garrus! Now!"
He swung out and let off his concussive blast, the projectile flew out and slammed into the phalanx column of Jaffa regulars shoving them around like a tidal wave of air. They held their positions, only stunned by the impact.
When the blue pulse cascaded from the middle of their ranks in a wave of electricity, John fought the urge to watch like fireworks. The electrical attack finished whatever resistance the Jaffa had, which was then followed by another concussive blast.
This time the Jaffa didn't hold on, the blast ripped through whatever defenses they had and flung them around like ragdolls. Grunt bellowed a warcry as he charged out, firing his machine gun with no thought of bursting as he swung to the right. Shepard followed, his Avenger rifle laying suppressive fire and picking off the few still standing Jaffa.
John followed and kept his head down – shooting while running was useless according to his training, but these weapons were so light and the omni-tools did a fantastic job stabilizing his arms that he could see why these people did. He sighted in on a pair of Jaffa who were getting up and fired – the shotgun's spray pushed the targets back, but didn't finish them.
The hell am I doing? John thought to himself as he skidded into place behind Shepard, the Commander slinging his Avenger to his back and pulling out what appeared to be a spaceship cannon. John kept to mission though and checked corners, his shotgun at the ready for any approaching target.
Garrus let his aim drift and fired another reaction shot – his Mantis with AP ammo had kept him alive on Omega and now, it kept Grunt covered as he moved through the broken streets of Taetrus.
Miranda was quiet as she worked – her Mattock putting accurate fire on the fallen Jaffa leaving no survivors. Garrus wondered if maybe they could interrogate or give them to that Bra'tac fellow, but right now what mattered was saving this planet.
It'd been so much worse than he imagined. Watson hadn't been physically destroyed beyond the raiding parties – Garrus expected the same here. Instead the Goa'uld had obviously bombed it from orbit with impunity – entire buildings had been flash fried from the convection of plasma impacts. He wondered how much of the ash was his fellow Turians.
So he didn't hesitate in sighting in on the next Jaffa, this one trying to fall back to the Goa'uld Husks who now seemed to be turning to face the new attackers. A single shot through the head finished him – and punched into the barriers of the Goa'uld behind him.
The Goa'uld were probably saving their stolen technology for their elite troops, not the meat shields. It reminded Garrus of how Vorcha and Krogan were treated in war, whereas his own race didn't abide by those high casualty rates.
The Goa'uld turned around, its legs slamming into the ground hard along with its tail. The one that turned towards them though suddenly shuddered as a flash of light burst from its barriers, a shockwave of dust billowing out. Shepard called out. "Switch to Cryo or Incendiary if you've got it!"
The mere fact that it survived a direct from his Widow told Shepard that this Goa'uld Husk was not something the Turians were likely to have been prepared for. Even Krogan would have trouble holding up to the relativistic properties of the Venom's weapon. He noticed John beside him flinch at the loud blast of the weapon, but then turn back to covering his back.
Shepard pulled the heatsink release lever and let it fall to the ground, steam hissing off as it boiled what little humidity was in the air. John fired a blast, taking on some target outside of Shepard's periphery. Shepard ignored it as he wrenched a new heatsink from his bandolier and slotted it in.
Above him, fire from Garrus and Miranda held back any advance. The Goa'uld had moved and clustered around a broken trench of the street, using it as a foxhole for their heavier Goa'uld husks. It left a smaller target and full visibility for their heavy mass drivers. Shepard's training took over as he instinctively switched to incendiary ammo – hoping to burn away the creature's considerable armor. Instead he fired at a perfectly arranged group of Husks covering a Jaffa - the shot punching dinnerplate sized holes in them and knocking the Jaffa back, likely unconscious if not dead. That attracted return fire from the Jaffa who remained.
He wasn't fast enough as a staff shot nailed him in the shoulder, then another pushed him back onto the ground. He let an exasperated growl out as he crouched back up; sweat suddenly developing around his head and torso. "Taking fire! Give me some covering fire while we move!" His omni-tool howled at how the Widow was already at half heat – not enough to fire again until it cooled off. He reached out and patted John on the shoulder who'd turned his head. "Follow me! Stay down!"
John nodded and moved away from this cover position, watching their flank. Shepard looked around and quickly decided on an overturned bench near the sidewalk that would give them good concealment and a more angled position. He charged ahead, slinging the Widow onto his back to cool off and unslinging the Avenger.
As he rushed out into the open, a pair of Husks rushed from the Goa'ulds position, there couldn't have been many of them left.
The Turians had been pinned down hard – lacking effective cover, they'd gone prone and used what little bits of broken street and building as well as garbage bins to hide behind. Jack had forced herself beyond the exhaustion from her earlier biotic shockwave attack and had ripped up the ground with a Warp, creating more cover that she herself could hide behind. That had exhausted what remained of her reserves and she now went prone as well next to the Turians. They gave her nods and salutes – she couldn't tell if they smiled or not.
The Husks had stopped rushing and now focused on the new threat behind them – if only that massive snakeman creature did the same. Its heavy shots tore the simpler cover to shreds, only heavy concrete could hold back a few shots. The Turians focused what fire they could but Jack could tell they were just as exhausted as she was now. The dead Turians with broken bodies and scorch marks around were clear indicators where this fight was heading before they'd intervened.
Her omni-tool told her that the Goa'uld Venom had lost the majority of its shields, but there was still a huge amount of armor left. She fired another blast from her shotgun, but the rounds just didn't have the punch needed to break the creature's barriers.
"Shepard, you've gotta kill those things or we're going home in trash bags!"
She waited for a reply, but nothing came through. She grit her teeth and risked a peek out.
A staff shot landed across her left shoulder, instantly spreading heat along her prone body. Her skin prickled as the temperature shot up and she darted back into cover. The heat hurt as what little hair she had burnt off. "Fuck!"
The Turians near her got up to cover her, their pulse rifles raining low power but high rate of fire bullets across the field. The Jaffa that had shot her took a burst across the chest but refused to fall, instead getting behind the trench he'd been using as cover.
"Fuck fuck fuck…" Jack muttered to herself. What she wouldn't give for enough energy for another Warp or at least a stronger barrier. Instead she now struggled to even keep a basic barrier around her body. No fucking way she got out of cover again.
Grunt hadn't bothered shooting the husks that came at him once he overheated the Revenant. He instead had fortified himself against attack and rushed headlong into them. He didn't know that much about science, but the numbers were still in his head from Okeer's attempt at teaching. His mass compared to the relatively flimsy Husks rushing at him meant he was a train against a wall of cardboard.
His barriers protected him from the few stray shots that grazed him. But the heat didn't make much of a difference – Krogan had adapted to the harsh nuclear wasteland of Tuchanka, a little extra heat wasn't going to bother him. Thankfully these Jaffa didn't seem to use those electrical weapons from earlier.
He crushed the Husks beneath his feet and aimed upwards with his shotgun, the Goa'uld Husk had repositioned and fired on Shepard's position now. The heavy round flew out and blew a chunk out of the concrete cover – a cloud of dust and debris raining down. Two seconds later, another round.
It obviously could see Grunt rushing at it, but it didn't bother trying to retaliate. There were only three Jaffa left who were putting up a fight, soon only two after an accurate headshot from Garrus. The two who were left turned to Grunt and fired.
A pair of direct hits raised the temperature around Grunt, but not enough to injure him severely. He pushed aside the pain and charged in. His shotgun was on the verge of redlining but he had one shot left – he put it to good use as he downed the Jaffa furthest from him.
The trench was almost clear now, and the lone remaining Jaffa covering the two Goa'uld backed away and threw his staff to the ground. Grunt didn't really understand why surrender was considered an option at times as he followed Shepard's example and charged in – he backhanded the Jaffa across the face and then brought his right arm plate down on his head. The combination of mass and what Grunt now realized was burning hot armor silenced the Jaffa's screams. A few convulsions later and he let out a guttural sound as he finally stopped struggling against Grunt's tidal wave of force.
Grunt lifted the Jaffa and threw him against the Goa'uld Venom – legs over head and slumped like a sack of rocks – momentarily stunning it. With concentrated fire, the Goa'uld Venom's shields shattered exposing the toughened hide. Against so much fire from multiple angles, the pair of Goa'uld quickly stuttered and spurted bluish blood, their cannons silenced by repeated hits.
Finally they fell, the landscape around them pockmarked from their deadly ammunition. Grunt chuckled and wiped his forehead – his metal armor plates had gathered quite a bit of heat and maybe a human would have been hurt, but his thick hide would keep him safe from these Jaffa's plasma weaponry a bit more than a few shots. He touched one of his forearm plates and instantly jerked his finger off – hotter than he'd expected. He chuckled to himself as he thought not to hug any of his teammates.