Shepard made his way down to the engineering deck to see how things are going with putting the new thermal pipe. Oddly Donnelly was nowhere to be seen and he assumed that he was the one installing the thermal pipe.
"Thanks, Commander," said Adams. "That GX12 thermal pipe arrived. We're performing the modifications right now."
"So how did I get volunteered to crawl through the ducts?" Donnelly asked over the intercom.
"You're the power control engineer, not me," Daniels reminded.
"Damn hot in here," Donnelly grumbled. "Hey… didn't Adams say that all the Normandy is EDI?"
"Kenneth, stop right there," Daniels warned.
"Just dinna tell Joker. He'll get jealous."
Shepard shook his head and made his way back to the CIC. They were now restocked with supplies which meant they could finally deal with the genophage and so he ordered the ship to Tuchanka.
They were making their way to the Shroud facility when Joker set announcement across the ship. "All hands, full stop!" Joker yelled. "Hostiles detected at the landing coordinates."
Shepard made his way to the bridge. "Joker, what have you got?"
"Sensors show a Reaper part of the Shroud facility. No way you're going to be able to land a shuttle there," he said.
"Get everyone assembled in the War Room. I want eyes on the Shroud," said Shepard as he made his way to the War Room.
"Aye, aye, sir."
When Shepard entered the War Room he found that Mordin along with Wrex and Victus were looking over the war table. On it showed a holographic image of a Reaper destroyer standing next to the Shroud facility.
"New form of Reaper, Shepard," said Mordin. "Using Shroud of poison Tuchanka's atmosphere. Problematic."
"They want a fight, they just got one!" said Wrex firmly.
Shepard then turned to Victus. "Primarch, we're going to need your help."
"That could be difficult. Our losses on Palaven have been catastrophic," said Victus.
"We're doing this for Palaven. No one said it would be easy," Shepard pointed out.
"What do you have in mind?" Victus asked.
"A combined attack," said Shepard as he added a few turian fighters on to the war table. "Your people hit the Reaper with an airstrike." Next he added a few krogan tanks. "Wrex, at the same time your soldiers will be attacking from the ground." He then removed the Reaper, the fighters and the tanks from the hologram leaving only the Shroud facility. "Together you can draw it away from the tower."
Mordin nodded. "Yes, distraction. Small team can reach Shroud facility, finish synthesising cure. Will need Eve to come with us."
"We're never faced a Reaper up close like this," said Shepard as he looked at everyone. "Everybody on board?"
"There's even a doubt?" Wrex asked. He then made his way to the door. "Let's move, pyjak. It's time to cure the genophage."
One by one they started to leave the war room and Shepard was about to follow them when Traynor's voice was heard over the intercom. "Commander, incoming message marked urgent. I'll put it in the comm room for you."
Shepard wondered what it could be this time as he made his way to the comm room. Then to his surprise the hologram of the salarian dalatrass appeared.
"Dalatrass?" Shepard stared.
"Commander Shepard, we know you've reached Tuchanka," she said. "And, by now, I imagine Mordin Solus has proposed using the Shroud."
"Are you spying on us?"
"Hardly. The Shroud is the only viable course of action open to you," she said. Then she looked at him quite firmly. "Commander, you can't allow your misguided sympathy for the krogan to cloud your judgement. Do you honestly believe curing the genophage will end in lasting peace?"
Shepard believed that more than ever after talking to Wrex and Eve. "We have to give the krogan that chance. You can't condemn an entire race to extinction based on what might happen."
"What will happen is the krogan will reproduce out of control. We uplifted them specifically for their violent nature, not their diplomatic skills. Another war is inevitable."
"What do you want, Dalatrass?" Shepard asked, wanting her to get straight to the point.
"Years ago, our operatives sabotaged the Shroud facility to ensure that what you're planning couldn't be done. Mordin will likely detect this malfunction and repair it. But if you ensure he doesn't, then the cure's viability will be altered just enough so that it fails. No one will notice the change."
Shepard raised an eyebrow. "You mean trick the krogan?"
"They need not be any the wiser. Let Urdnot Wrex believe you fulfilled your promise."
"Mordin would never stand for that," Shepard pointed out.
"How you deal with him is up to you, Commander. We can provide you our very best scientists to build the Crucible… and the full support of our fleet."
"If I sabotaged the cure."
"Think about it, Commander. The choice is yours."
Her hologram then faded and shaking his head he made his way down to the shuttle bay.
Moments later Shepard was with his team, Wrex, Mordin and Eve and were heading their way down to the planet's surface.
"I've ordered the clans to assemble at the Hollows. It's our meeting ground," said Wrex. "We'll land there and take an armed convoy against the Reapers. This will be the defining moment of krogan history."
"Krogan history filled with defining moments. Most bloody," Mordin reminded. "Hope this one better."
Eve looked at Shepard curiously. "Commander, you seem troubled."
"I got a message from the—" Shepard began, but was interrupted when the shuttle began to shake.
"Wrex, it's Wreav!" said a voice over the comm. "The Reapers are already at the Hollows! Come out with guns blazing!"
"Hang on tight! We're heading in!" said Cortez as he prepared for landing.
Everyone check their weapons and when the shuttle doors opened standing there was a husk. Wrex then promptly shot it with his shotgun and jumped off the shuttle.
"Shepard, keep them away from the female! I'll sort out what is happening with the other clans!" Wrex yelled.
Shepard nodded and he led his team into the Hollows where they discovered it was overrun with husks. The krogan were engaging the husks and were proving to be quite capable soldiers, but even they would be overrun if they didn't hurry.
"Everyone pick your targets and keep an eye on our six! Now move!" Shepard ordered.
"The enemy is approaching!" said Javik."
"Push forward! Don't let them get up here!" Shepard yelled as he fired his rifle.
They began making their way down the steps firing their weapons at the husks. The Reapers clearly didn't want the krogan to assemble or else they wouldn't have sent so many husks.
"Shepard, it's ugly over here!" Wrex yelled over the radio. "Whatever you do, keep them away from the female!"
"This is as bad as Palaven," said Liara user biotics to push some husks away.
"There are more approaching!" Javik yelled.
It took some doing but eventually they were able to wipe out the husks and the door open to reveal Wrex, Mordin and several krogan soldiers emerging from it.
"They'll sing battle-songs about this someday," said Wrex ecstatically as he walked down the steps. "Reaper blood has finally soaked our soil."
All around the krogan cheered with enthusiasm.
"We have to get the Shroud," said Shepard running up to Wrex. "The airstrike is on its way."
"Female safe, Shepard. Vital are strong," Mordin assured.
"What's a salarian doing here?" said a voice. Shepard turned to see a large krogan marching his way up to them with his own soldiers. "Nobody said anything about this!"
"Multiple krogan. Problematic," said Mordin looking slightly concerned.
Shepard recognised his voice as the one from the shuttle. "Who are you?"
"Urdnot Wreav, brood brother to our…" He then narrowed his eyes at Wrex. "Illustrious leader."
Wrex's supporters growled at him.
"Wreav and I share the same mother," Wrex explained. He then narrowed his eyes back at Wreav. "And nothing else."
Wreav snarled at him. "For which I'm thankful. I remember what it means to be a true krogan." Many krogan cheered, no doubt his supporters. "We flay our enemies alive and drown them in a geyser of their own blood. We don't invite them into our home."
"This salarian is not your enemy," said Shepard firmly. "He's here to help cure the genophage."
Wreav glared at him. "His kind gave us the genophage! Why should we trust him?"
Wrex then suddenly head-butted him hard. "Because I do. And so will you, Wreav."
There were many angry growled at one another and Shepard feared they had provoked a civil war. His fears were proven true when Wreav pulled out his weapon and was very close to pulling the trigger.
"Enough!" a voice yelled through the Hollows.
Everyone turned and saw Eve at the top of the stairs and it became clear that being cured of the genophage carry quite a lot of weight judging from the stairs that came from the other krogan.
"You can stay here and let old wounds fester as krogan have always done…" she said as she walked down the steps to the centre. "Or you can fight the enemy you were born to destroy—and win a new future for our children." She then turned to look at them all. "I choose to fight. Who will join me?"
Shepard then took a step forward. "I will."
Wrex followed his example. "And so will I." He then made his way to the steps and looked at his fellow krogan. "Now hold your heads high like true krogan! There's a Reaper that needs killing!"
The krogan cheered and even Wreav joined in. Shepard was witnessing history, because this has to be the first time in history since the Rebellions that the krogan agreed to fight at one.
In no time at all they boarded their tanks and made their way towards the Shroud making their way over the ruined roads through the and his team was sharing a time with Wrex, Mordin and Eve.
"Krogan ground convoy, this is turian wing Artimec. Our flight vector to the Shroud is locked," said a turian pilot over the radio. "We're ten minutes out and counting."
"Copy that, Artimec. We're on our way, try to make up lost time. Shepard out," said Shepard.
Eve then turned to Wrex. "Wreav isn't the only krogan who want revenge for the genophage, Wrex. You'll have to placate them somehow."
"I'll demand that the Council returned some of our old territory," said Wrex. "We'll need room to expand—recapture the glory of the ancients."
"'Glory of ancients' lead to Krogan Rebellions. Countless deaths. Creation of genophage," Mordin pointed out. "Expansion plan… problematic."
"What were the ancient krogan like?" Shepard asked curiously.
"Tuchanka wasn't always a wasteland. In the old times the krogan were a proud people," said Eve in an almost dreamlike state. "We had dreams… a future to look forward to."
"Until salarian interference," said Mordin.
Eve shook her head. "No. We destroyed, Tuchanka ourselves. Technology changed us. It made like you easy. So we looked for new challenges—and found them in each other. Nuclear war was inevitable."
"And now our planet is rubble. We'll need a better place to live," said Wrex.
"I'd say helping defeat the Reapers would be worth a new planet," Shepard smiled.
"Or ten. You haven't seen how fast we pop them out," Wrex smiled.
Eve rolled her eyes. "Wrex…"
Wrex looked at her innocently. "What? With the genophage cure we'll have a lot of catching up to do."
Eve shook her head and turned to Shepard. "Commander, on the shuttle—was there something you were going to say?"
After hearing them talk Shepard could see that the dalatrass was wrong. In my cost him help from the salarians, but a small price to pay to secure the future of the entire species.
"The dalatrass try to cut a secret deal with me," said Shepard.
Wrex looked up. "What kind of deal?"
"She said they sabotaged the Shroud years ago. The cure won't work until we fix it," said Shepard replaying the recording.
"Years ago, our operatives sabotaged the Shroud to ensure what you're planning couldn't be done," said the recording of the dalatrass.
Wrex narrowed his eyes. "And she thought we wouldn't know better?"
"Correctly. Would likely have fooled tests," said Mordin. "But familiar with STG work. Can adjust. Do not come this far for nothing."
"You just spared our race another genocide, Commander," said Eve gratefully.
Wrex smiled at her. "I told you we can count on him." Then suddenly the tank stopped much to their confusion and Wrex rose to his feet. "Why are we stopping?"
Shepard and his team when out and investigate and they saw the Shroud in the distance. There were some sort of green omission launching into the air and Shepard had a feeling that it was poisonous. Also patrolling the facility was the Reaper destroyer and it was about half the size of the Shroud.
"Look at that Reaper," said Liara pointing into the distance. "It's like the end of days out there."
Javik smiled at it. "It will be my first kill, but not the last."
Shepard then went to investigate what was the hold-up of the convoy and approached the Krogan scout.
"What's the holdup?" he asked.
"Road's out. The convoy can't make it through," said the Scout.
Shepard then saw for the first time that the road had been completely demolished. There was no way they could reach the rendezvous point with the turians fighters in time.
"Turian wing Artimec, this is Shepard," said he said reaching for his radio. "We've been delayed—hold off your attack."
"Negative, Commander. Our approach is locked. The Reaper already knows we're here!" said the squad leader.
Suddenly flying over them were several turian fighters making their way towards the Reaper. They then began to engage the Reaper, but it was very one-sided.
"The airstrike alone won't do it," said Garrus looking at Shepard. "We have to get in that fight."
Artimec wasn't even scratching the Reaper's paint job let alone taking it down.
"Damn it," Shepard cursed. He then turned to the krogan scout. "I don't care if we have to build a new road! We're going!"
Then suddenly things got worse, the Reaper shot one of the fighters and it was losing control heading straight towards them.
"Shepard…" said Liara.
"I've lost control! I can't pull up!" said the pilot.
"Move!" Shepard yelled.
Everyone threw themselves to the ground just as the fighters slammed into the convoy knocking a tag into the air and slamming it into another just in front of it.
"Shepard, what's happening?" Wrex asked over the radio.
"Wrex, get the female out of here now! Go!" Shepard ordered.
The smoke was so thick that he couldn't see how many tanks managed were able to get over the ruined road, but he was pretty sure that only two of them made it. His attentions were now upon Artimec, who were getting ripped apart.
"Artimec, do you copy?" said Shepard over the radio.
"We have to abort, Commander!" said the squad leader. "That Reaper's tearing us to pieces!"
"Understood! Save your pilots—we'll find another way!" Shepard assured.
"There's a tunnel over there!" said Liara pointing to an opening. "Could be a way off!"
"Get to it!" Shepard ordered.
They quickly jumped over the ledge made their way into the entrance which went down deeper into the ruins. It was so dark they had light their torches to navigate.
"Wrex, are you receiving this? Is everyone okay?" Shepard asked.
"Yeah, just a few scratches, nothing the salarian can't patch up," Wrex assured. "Wreav's truck made it out, too."
"The turians had to call off the airstrike. We'll need a new plan for dealing with the Reaper," said Shepard.
"First we'll have to find you. Where did you end up?"
At this point Shepard and his team finally reached the bottom of the stairs and found themselves in a strange environment. It looks like some sort of temple, but judging from its state had been neglected for centuries.
"Underground. We see ruins of some kind," said Shepard shining his torch around the area.
"Commander, that's the city of the ancients," said Eve.
"How do we get out?" Shepard asked.
"No maps exist. It's been abandoned for thousands of years," said Eve.
"Your a trailblazer, Shepard. Get through there, and we'll find a place to meet up," said Wrex. "Nothing will stop this cure."
Suddenly the entire chamber began to shake and dust fell upon them.
"What was that?" Liara gasped.
"It felt like a tremor," said Garrus.
Shepard was no architect, but it looks like the ancient krogan had designed this place to last. Hopefully that meant that the tremors couldn't cause a cave-in and kill them all.
They kept on moving, but the tremors getting worse. However, they discovered something that caught their eye making them forget the entire thing. On a wall was some kind of writing and pictures like the ones Shepard had seen from ancient temples on earth when he was in school.
Liara, being an archaeologist, found them intriguing. "Fascinating. This painting suggests krogan had an artistic side."
"'Had' being the operative word," said Garrus. "Now they have rubble."
They made their way deeper into the movements in the tremors became even larger.
"More tremors," said EDI almost toppling over.
"That didn't feel like a quake," said Liara worriedly.
Shepard reached to his radio. "Wrex, are you guys feeling these tremors?"
"Not up here," said Wrex.
"It could be something else, Commander," said Eve. "It is said that Kalros, the mother of all thresher maws, lives in this region."
"Which is another reason to get your ass out of there, Shepard. Step on it!"
Shepard and the others looked at one another all of them concerned about this new information.
"Did I hear that right? 'Kalros, the mother of all thresher maws?'" Liara stared.
"When the krogan name a thresher maw, you know you're in trouble," said Garrus. "They don't think anyone's ever going to kill."
"How about we get out of here quickly as possible," said James now watching the ceiling very carefully.
"Agreed," Shepard nodded.
They soon found a more inscriptions on the walls and this one showed a particularly large thresher maw.
"Kalros, I would guess. Impressive," said Javik.
"If that's what we've been hearing down here… I suggest we get moving," said Liara.
No one debated that logic and they made their way further into the ruins. Then suddenly they came across a dead Ravager on the ground.
"More rachni," said Garrus.
Shepard began to examine the body with his omni-tool. "There are bound to be more than the ones we killed." He then contacted to Wrex. "Wrex, we've got rachni here. Keep an eye out."
"I know. A few of them just attacked us," said Wrex. "All that matters is getting to that Shroud. Find us fast."
They soon found a staircase that led up and Shepard could definitely see sunlight emerging. They follow the stairs up and found themselves in some sort of underground entrance they realised they had been in some sort of temple.
"In my younger days, I would've loved to have spent time here studying these ruins," said Liara as she examined every nook and cranny.
"Makes you wonder what the krogan might have done if they hadn't blown up the planet," said Garrus.
They soon made their way outside and found that they had been in a temple and was technically still in it. However, that wasn't the most impressive thing they saw, because they sort of actual plant life growing.
"Wrex, we made it back outside," said Shepard reaching for his radio.
"Well, if you can see sunlight, that's progress," said Wrex.
"And the colour green," said Liara looking at the plants. "I thought plants were extinct around here."
"You're looking at hope—all that's left of it on Tuchanka," said Eve. "This was once a world full of beauty. Given a chance, it can be again."
"Shepard, that Reaper is still up to no good at the Shroud," Wrex warned. "Find a way out of there, and we'll pick you up."
"We're on it," said Shepard.
"And when we get there, vengeance will be mine," said Javik clenching his fists.
As they made their way through the temple Liara couldn't help but marvel at the architecture, no doubt she hadn't expected to see anything like this on Tuchanak and quite frankly neither did Shepard.
"I never knew the krogan had this in them," said Garrus.
"Maybe Eve is right," said Liara. "Curing the genophage might lead to a krogan renaissance."
"Seeing all this does make you wonder," Garrus agreed.
Suddenly Reaper ground truth appeared right in front of them being dropped from above. They consisted of cannibals and a ravager me this group was quite deadly at long range. They managed to duck behind cover and began to return fire.
James focuses efforts by firing upon the ravager making it forces attention upon him and Shepard and Garrus took it from the sides while was focusing on James. Liara created a singularity causing the cannibals to float up into the air and EDI shots down the down.
A second ravage appeared and Shepard quickly activated his cloak just before it turned towards them. He then snuck up behind it placing a grenade right beneath it and causing it to blow up. Javik fired his energy beam at another ravager slicing it to pieces.
Suddenly the ground began to shake once again.
"Another quake," said Liara.
"Kalros is more than myth!" Javik yelled.
"Stay sharp!" said Shepard as he led them forwards.
They made their way to the bridge and jumped over it, but no sooner have they did cannibals appeared and soon a firefight began. Fortunately they had the upper ground and much more firepower so they quickly tore them to shreds. More cannibals soon appeared and they were followed by brutes.
"Watch out! One of the big ones!" Liara yelled.
"And he isn't alone," Javik noted as husks appeared.
Shepard switched to freezing ammo to slow down the oncoming forces and they all spread out to confuse the enemy. The tactic worked as husks movement began to become sluggish making them easy prey for Liara's biotics. The brute on the other hand was another story, but James and Javik were able to penetrate its arm alleviate quite vulnerable for Garrus' sniper rifle.
Once all the enemy's forces were down they made their way deeper into the ruins and were soon contacted by Wrex.
"Shepard, how's it coming?" he asked.
"We're still in the ruins," said Shepard.
"Get a move on! That Reaper hasn't moved, and the sky's looking worse," Wrex warned.
Suddenly the ground shook once again as Kalros dug beneath the earth.
"Wrex, you're right about Kalros! She's on the move!" Shepard warned.
"Yeah, we've got some ideas on that—What?"
"Not now, Wrex. The commander has enough to worry about," said Eve.
"What's happening?" Shepard asked.
"Some crazy idea we can talk about later," said Wrex. "Just worry about getting out there right now."
They made their way around a large chasm and no sooner had they reached the other side of the Reaper forces began to attack them again. There was only a few of them acting as guards so they were quickly taken out by their combined firepower.
"Shepard, looks like we've got a bridge of the head," said Wrex over the radio. "Try to find it, and we'll pick you up there."
"We're little preoccupied right now!" Shepard yelled as more Reaper forces came.
"I didn't say it would be easy!"
The new reinforcements turned out to be a couple of ravagers and they were already firing their heavy cannons at them. Fortunately, they managed to get behind cover before they struck, but husks began to appear on the other side. Liara quickly created a singularity that captured the husks and while Shepard, Garrus, James and Javik laid down covering fire both she and EDI took them down.
The ravagers were quickly cut down by Javik's energy beam, Garrus sniper skills, James overwhelming force and Shepard altered ammo. After they fell they managed to find themselves out of the ruins overlooking a large temple.
"Shepard, we're coming under the bridge!" said Wrex as his and Wreav's tank appeared. "Get down here, and we can get to the Shroud."
Shepard was about to make his way to Wrex when something large headed straight towards them. Some sort of armour plating was slicing through the sand like a shark to water and was heading straight towards the tanks.
"Wait… Kalros!" Wrex yelled.
"Wrex?"
"Break off! We're getting out of here!"
They drove under the bridge and Kalros sliced right through the bridge and continue to chase after them.
"Kalros' territorial instinct confirmed!" Mordin yelled.
"She's not gonna get us!" said Wrex firmly.
Shepard and the others in ways any time and jumped over the ruined bridge.
"Go on ahead, Shepard!" said Wrex over the radio. "We'll try to shake this thing and find you!"
They then saw Wrex and Wreav driving as fast they could away from Kalros as he began to close the gap between them.
"Thesher maw getting closer!" Mordin yelled.
"Tell me something I don't know!"
"Metal in trunk an excellent iron supplement for maw's diet!"
Liara looked at Shepard. "This planet is one giant deathtrap."
"The Reapers must feel at home," said Javik. As they made their way through the ruins Javik took notice of the wasteland around them. "The krogan seem to have one talent: destruction… even of their own home. The genophage was a necessity."
Shepard wouldn't deny that the genophage was the right thing to do at the time, but now the krogan were in danger of extinction and they have a chance to create a sustainable government with Wrex and Eve in charge. Also he felt as if he owed Wrex after the events on Virmire.
"I wonder where we are now?" Liara wonders as the entered into an open chamber.
"It appears to be a memorial krogan?" said EDI noting the statues in the centre chamber.
They soon reached the centre of the chamber they were in and were attacked by cannibals. Fortunately they were able to duck behind cover just before they fired and soon they found themselves in another firefight. They also had to content with husks that were making their way towards them.
"Shepard—Wrex busy driving truck! Are you still alive?" Mordin asked over the radio.
"Doing what we can!" said Shepard as he shot a cannibal.
"Alarmed yet entertained. Kalros is quite persistent."
"Wreav, stick close!" Wrex yelled.
"Drive faster!" Wreav yelled. "I can smell that damn thing's breathe!"
Soon marauders began to join the firefight and did their part by enhancing the strength of the remaining husks and cannibals. Shepard switched his ammo to shock to his shock ammo in the hopes to penetrate their shields. The ammo enhancement did the trick and the marauders were taken out with ease.
Once they took down the last remaining of resistance they made their way through the chamber and towards the edge of the shrine.
"Shepard, we've almost lost Kalros!" said Wrex. "Get down from there and we'll find you!"
They soon reached to the other side of the shrine and stood there waiting for Wrex hoping that he and the others were not in the belly of Kalros. Then they saw the two tanks emerging from behind the shrine.
"Shepard, get over here!" Wrex yelled as he moved his truck towards them. "Wreav, keep an eye out for that maw! I don't want it sneaking up on us!"
Wreav placed himself in a position that overlooks the area. "Make it quick, Wrex! We're exposed!"
Wrex parked his truck next to Shepard and he gestured to his team to get on board quickly. "Move it!"
Sadly it wasn't quite quickly enough as Kalros emerged from the desert and headed straight towards them.
"It's Kalros!" Wreav yelled.
Luckily Kalros went past them, but unluckily for Wreav she was heading straight towards him. He had no chance to move out of the way in time and soon collided with the large thresher maw in the last thing they heard with his screams.
"Move, Shepard!" Wrex yelled.
Shepard was the last person to board and in waste a second. "We're in! Go!" he yelled.
Wrex placed his foot down on the accelerator and they skipped across the wasteland towards the Shroud as quickly as possible. There was absolutely no trace of Wreav or his tank meaning that he was most likely dead.
"What about Wreav?" Eve asked.
"No way he survived that. And he was a pain in the ass, anyway," said Wrex. He then turned her attention onto the Shroud. "Now let's finish this. There's a Reaper waiting for us."
Ten minutes later they reached the Shroud and saw the reapers standing guard over just beyond another set of ruins.
"We no longer possess the firepower to defeat a Reaper," said EDI.
"I know we've beaten the odds before…" said Garrus looking up the Reaper. "But getting to that tower… I don't know."
"We're curing the genophage no matter what it takes!" said Wrex firmly. "Anything my people will ever be depends on it."
"Then I hope this idea you were talking about is a good one," said Shepard as he emerged out of the tank.
"It was hers, actually," said Wrex gesturing to Eve.
"Kalros. We summon her to the Reaper," said Eve.
Shepard stared at her, they had just escaped the claws of the creature and he could see how they would even convince her to attack the Reaper. "Would that even work?"
"Already discussed strategy," said Mordin. "Just need to distract Reaper, draw it away from power while cure synthesised, released."
"What makes you so sure she'll come?" Shepard asked.
"Legends say she is the mother from which all other thresher maws spawn. This is as much as home as our," said Eve.
"If Tuchanka has a temper, Kalros is it. Nobody's ever faced her and survived," said Wrex.
"I have taken some risks in my time, but this seems crazy," said Shepard.
"And going head-to-head with Sovereign didn't? This is the only way to get to that tower and released the cure. There's no other choice."
"But how would we summon her?"
"The tower was built in an area devoted to Kalros' glory. Salarains thought she would scare away any intruders," Eve explained.
"Appears to have worked," Mordin noted.
"There are two maws hammers there, the largest in existence," Eve continued. "If you can activate them, Kalros will come. That should distract the Reaper."
"Meanwhile, laboratory patrolling nearby. Will finish synthesising cure," said Mordin gesturing to the laboratory's entrance.
Shepard could see they had no other choice. "Let's make sure we all get out of here alive," he said as he cracked his knuckles. "We're going to have one hell of a story to tell."
Shepard was about to move, but Wrex stopped him. "Wait—" he said. "I want you to know no matter what happens… You've been a champion to the krogan people, a friend of Clan Urdnot…" Wrex then shook his hand. "And a brother to me. To every krogan born after this day, the name 'Shepard' will mean 'hero'!"
Shepard then grasped Wrex's hand in a brotherly manner telling him that he felt the same about him.
"Now let's show them why!" Wrex yelled. Suddenly several ravagers appeared calling their way towards them. Wrex pushed past Shepard and the others. "I've got this!"
He then charged at the ravagers in a blood rage. "I AM URDNOT WREX, AND THIS IS MY PLANET!" he roared as he showed a ravager aside and shot another one with a shotgun.
He practically jumped into the incoming ravagers, shooting them and pushing them aside as if he was a living tank. Mordin and Eve then made their way towards the laboratory.
"See you on the other side," said Shepard as he and his team made their way to the shrine.
"Stay alive, Shepard. Will have cure ready," Mordin assured.
"Let's get in there!" Shepard yelled his team.
No sooner have they step foot in the shrine then Reaper forces came down from the sky. It was clear that the Reapers did not want them to proceed and were throwing everything they had, but despite they pressed on taking out any Reaper forces that stopped them.
"Shepard, I took care of those rachni!" said Wrex over the radio. "But someone has to raise those maw hammers before you can use them!"
"We're kind of busy, Wrex!" Shepard yelled as he shot a cannibal with his sniper rifle.
"Lucky for you, I'm here—I'll handle it!"
Once the Reaper forces were eliminated they made their way up the stairs and were soon contacted by Mordin.
"Shepard, some luck! Original strain in storage. Preparing the cure now," said Mordin.
"Make it quick, Mordin! They're all over us out here."
They were making their way across the bridge, but unfortunately that put them in the crossfire is a Reaper destroyer.
"By the goddess! To our left…" Liara yelled.
Shepard jumped over the ruined bridge, but no sooner had he did that the Reaper destroyer provided powerful beam towards them. Shepard had a quickly made his way back onto the other side of the bridge, but it gave way and he tumbled onto the other side and soon the others followed suit.
"Everyone all right?" Shepard asked.
"Fine here. Mostly," said Garrus.
"I just got shot by a Reaper?" James gasped.
"Consider that practice," said Shepard.
They didn't waste any time to get back onto their feet, because the Reaper destroyer was preparing to fire again. They began rushing their way across the main bridge to make their way towards the maw hammers, but the destroyer was not making it easy for them.
"Okay, Shepard—I raised the hammers!" said Wrex over the radio. "You have to activate both of them! My advice avoid the giant laser!"
Easier said than done as a the laser could cut through anything it blasted and they barely had enough time to duck behind cover.
James looked at Shepard. "You've got to be kidding!"
"If I was organic that would probably burn!" said EDI narrowly avoiding getting hit by the beam.
"Just keep moving!" said Shepard and rolled to the nearest pillar. "Stick to cover!"
"I'm not sure cover is going to work!" Garrus yelled.
"I can't believe what actually doing this!" Liara yelled as they ran as the destroyer bided beam over their heads.
"Don't stop," Shepard yelled.
The destroyer was about to buy beam up on them, but there struck the destroyer. They looked up to see Artimec flying over their heads engaging the Reaper.
"Commander, this is Artimec wing!" said the squad leader. "We'll try to get that Reaper something of the shoot at!"
They caught the Reaper completely by surprise and soon it sounded as attention upon the fighters giving them the opportunity to get out of its range.
"I knew they wouldn't give up," said Garrus.
"Goddess be with them," said Liara.
"Go! Let's push ahead!" Shepard yelled.
They soon reached the courtyard and look at the underneath the Reaper. This meant that the Reaper could no longer hit them with his energy beam, but it didn't stop it from trying to crush them with its gigantic metal legs.
"Over on our left! One of the hammers!" Liara yelled.
"The second is on the right!" Javik yelled.
"Getting to them is another matter entirely!"
To make matters worse brutes landed right in front of them trying to prevent them from reaching the hammers. They had a spread out to keep out of the reach and use every sort of armament they could think of.
Shepard managed activated club and get behind them to activate one of the hammers, but he was almost flattened by the destroyer's leg. However, he persevered and activated the first of the hammers especially when Artimec was forced to pull back knowing that they had done their job and didn't fancy losing any more men.
"Mordin, we have the first hammer! How's it coming?" Shepard asked as he made his way back to the courtyard.
"Almost have cure! Eve's vital signs dropping! Trying to compensate!" said Mordin.
Shepard really hope that Eve could pull through this, but he had to focus activating the last of the hammers. When Shepard returned he found that everyone was scattered across the courtyard engaging the brutes.
EDI was able to pull one with a decoy allowing James to jump on its back and planned a grenade right in its mouth. He jumped out of the way just in time just before it exploded and Javik's energy beam was cutting right through the bodywork of another brute.
A brute had managed to grab hold of Liara, but Shepard jumped off the ledge and landed right on its back and plunged his omni-blade right into its back. It roared in pain releasing Liara, who promptly shot it in the head and it collapsed.
Shepard then helped Liara help. "The second hammer's on the other side!" she said.
Shepard nodded and began to make his way across the courtyard, which was very hard trying to avoid the brutes and the Reaper's attempts to squash him.
"Shepard, get that second hammer going!" Wrex yelled over the radio.
"There is a Reaper in my way, Wrex!" Shepard pointed out.
"I know! You get all the fun!"
Shepard kept on running dodging the huge metal legs that tried to prevent him from reaching the hammer controls. Fortunately he was able to avoid getting hit and activated the last of the hammers.
He then turned to his team, who had just finished dealing with the brutes. "Go! Get to the truck! I'll take care of the cure!"
They nodded and headed their way back through the courtyard and at the same time the hammers began to strike the ground. A few seconds later Kalros appeared making her way towards the Shroud and to the Reaper.
The Reaper turned his attention upon the bigger threat as it came bow bubble burrowing towards it. The Reaper fired its beam at the ground, but Kalros dug into the ground avoiding and seconds later she jumped out and bit down upon the destroyer.
Shepard made a run towards the Shroud as the Reaper bided beam again and trying to toss Kalros off of it. Trying to avoid getting squashed by evil one was extremely difficult at one point he was nearly killed when Kalros' serpent-like body landed right in front of him.
Shepard jumped over the broken ledge towards the Shroud and allowed the two titans to fight it out. Unfortunately, during the scuffle the reapers slammed Kalros against the Shroud's base causing structural decay and forcing it to release the Reaper.
The destroyer bided beam at Kalros, but she quickly got back into the ground and the Reaper tried to stand for her location. A split second later Kalros emerged right behind the Reaper and slammed her full weight against it causing it to fire its beam into the ground itself.
She then wrestled it to the ground and began to circle it likely boa constructor and then drag it right back down into her hole. Shepard has seen the entire spectacle and doubted that he would ever see that Reaper again and hopefully it would give the reapers for the next they tried to invade Tuchanka.
He then started to make his way into the Shroud hoping that Mordin had completed the cure, because the tower looked like it was going to come down at any moment.
He arrived just in time to see Mordin running from another entrance to the control terminal. Unfortunately the battle between Kalros and the Reaper had caused the tower to lose its structural integrity and as a result pieces were falling down all around the area.
Shepard quickly ran to Mordin, hoping he had good news. "Mordin! Is the cure ready?" he asked.
"Yes. Loaded for dispersal in two minutes," said Mordin as he accessed the terminal. "Procedure traumatic to Eve, but not lethal. Maelon's research invaluable."
"She's okay?"
"Headed to safety now. Her survival fortunate. Will stabilise new government should Wrex get any ideas. Good match, promising future for krogan."
Suddenly a piece of debris almost flattened them indicating they did had long until the tower collapsed in on itself. He could only see small explosions were erupting across the tower.
"Damn!" Shepard yelled.
"Control room at top of tower. Must take elevator up," said Mordin gesturing to the elevator close by.
Shepard's eyes widened. "You're going up there?"
"Yes. Manual access required," said Mordin pulling away from the terminal and accessing his omni-tool. "Have to counteract STG sabotage. Ensure cure dispersed properly."
"Mordin, this whole place is coming apart," said Shepard gesturing to the demolished tower above them. "There's got to be another way!"
"Remote bypass impossible. STG countermeasures in place. No time to adjust cure for temperature variance," said Mordin as he looked at the tower. "No. No other option. Not coming back." He then looked toward Shepard. "Suggest you get clear. Explosion likely to be problematic."
Mordin made his way to the elevator and Shepard attempted to stop him. "Mordin, no!"
Mordin entered the elevator and turned to face him. "Shepard, please. Need to do this. My project. My work. My cure. My responsibility." He then smiled at him. "Would have liked to run tests on the seashells."
Shepard could tell there was no way to dissuade and this was the only choice they had to cure the genophage and secure the krogan and turian alliance. "I'm sorry."
"I'm not. Had to be me." He then close the elevator door. "Someone else might have gotten it wrong."
Shepard then watched as the elevator headed towards the top of the tower as the entire thing began to disintegrate. Knowing there was nothing else he could do, Shepard made his way outside and knowing he was saying goodbye to an old friend.
Mordin took a deep breath as the elevator rose to the top of the tower. Once he reached the top he found the control room was inflames and explosions shot out at random intervals.
"Warning: Temperature malfunction detected," said the Shroud computer.
Mordin made his way to the terminal ignoring the explosions that happened around him and shielded himself in the heat. He reached the terminal and began to access it to correct the temperature variance.
"Hmm hmm hmm, I studied species turian, asari, and batarian…" he sighed as he typed.
"Temperature now within acceptable range. Dispersal commencing," said the computer.
Mordin smiled as the Shroud unleashed the genophage sure into the atmosphere which the performers yellow spores which began to cover the entire planet.
As this was happening Mordin hummed to himself. "My xenoscience studies range from urban to argarain. I am the very model of—"
Suddenly the control room exploded and Mordin was consumed by the flames.
Shepard was standing outside when he saw the control room exploded and knew there was no way Mordin could have survived. He raised his hand and caught one of the spores that was shooting out from the Shroud and knew that Mordin had succeeded in curing the genophage.
Wrex's tank then appeared and he and Eve along with his team emerged from it. They then stood by his side and watched as the spores littered across the planet bringing a new age to the krogan. The site was immensely beautiful, but it came with a heavy price of the cost of Mordin life.
A few minutes later they were back on the tank heading their way to the Hollows and watched as the Shroud caved in on itself as exploded. This will prevent the Reapers from ever poisoning Tuchanak's atmosphere and Shepard had a feeling they won't come back in some time after what happened to their scout.
Shepard soon joined Wrex and Eve as they made their way into the Hollows.
"A long time ago, my father betrayed me in this place. His own son," he said looking at Shepard. "He tried to kill me. So I had to kill him… right over there." He pointed at a spot in the distance and then turned and looked back at Shepard. "That's what the genophage reduced us to. Animals. But you change that today, Shepard."
"Now we'll fight for our children, not against," said Eve. She then closed her eyes in pity. "It's a shame that Mordin had to die."
"He wouldn't have it any other way. And I'm sure whereever he is…" He then looked up into the sky. "He's putting in a good word for us."
"We'll name one of the kids after him… maybe a girl," Wrex laughed.
"But you, Commander—we can thank you in person," said Eve gratefully.
"Tell the turians are redeploying troops to Palaven immediately. And when you're ready to kick the Reapers off Earth, you let me know. The krogan are back in business," said Wrex promised.
"Goodbye, Commander," said Eve shaking hands with Shepard.
"What will you do now?" Shepard asked.
"Spread the hope you've given us. Even now there are clans gathering in the Kelphic Valley. I'll go speak to them and make sure this gift isn't squandered. Thank you for all you've done. And know that Urdnot Bakara calls you a friend."
Shepard nodded and left both Wrex and Bakara to start a new future for the krogan. He had a feeling that the dalatrass was worried for nothing.
Rick and Rose were now face-to-face with the Salarian Councillor, who had just received a report from the salarian dalatrass.
"It would seem as if CommanderShepard did not take the offer the dalatrass offered," he said. "It now appears that were going to have a massive population increase with the krogan."
"On the plus side krogan hostility to both turian and salarians will now be in the minority," said Rick.
"Let us hope that Shepard's faith in the krogan is proven true," said the councillor. He then grabbed another datapad. "Now onto pressing business it appears you are right in believing that Udina was moving large sums of money, but what end we have no idea."
"I've doubled and tripled checked the funds," said Rose. "They don't seem to be linked to the Crucible or even to the Alliance."
"If your Councillor is corrupt we should deal we with him now rather than what later, but I understand that you have a problem with your political leadership," said the Councillor.
"I'm afraid so, anyone who could have replaced Udina died when Arcturus Station was destroyed and Admiral Anderson is trapped on Earth leading the resistance and even if he was and I very much doubt he would take up his old position," said Rick.
"While the last thing I want to do with endangering your species even further it is important that we stamp out this corruption before it endangers all other species and that and I have already contacted the executor."
"We should get some additional help, sir," said Rose. "Maybe we can bring in Shepard, he does have a lot of pull within C-Sec, he and Commander Bailey are friends."
"I'll contact him myself, but I want you Miss Johnson to contact the executor on my behalf," said the Councillor getting to his feet. "As for your Major, I believe you have important tasks to attend to with coordinating efforts for the alliance now that the krogan and turians will be joining you're in the Allied forces."
"Let's just hope this doesn't end badly for us," said Rick.