9/21/2211
"Shepard," Garrus greeted, the turian nodding to him as he entered the ship's helm.
"What's our status, Garrus?" Shepard asked, gazing at the display screens before them. He frowned, unable to make heads or tails of the imprecise data streaming in from the ship's scanners. Despite the massive overhaul the small transport had been given, much of it was still woefully out of date compared even to how the Normandy had been twenty years ago.
"We'll be touching down in thirty minutes, unless we are met with unforeseen 'complications'. The coordinates Liara dug up for us put the site in a valley in the southern hemisphere of the planet. Our weather forecast sunny with a zero-point-zero-one percent chance of rain on this blighted rock. Temperature is a balmy fifty-six degrees celsius with a nitro-CO2 atmosphere. So sadly no bathing suits on this trip," Garrus quipped.
"Darn, and I had mine ready to go," Shepard replied, smirking at his friend's joke. "I better go suit up then. Would be really anti-climactic if I suffocated to death... again."
"So, you think we'll find anything?" Garrus asked, speaking up just as Shepard started to turn away. Pausing, the Spectre waited for his friend to continue. "So far these guys have managed to cover their tracks damn well. You'd think Project Winter's mysterious source would be one of their first targets."
Shepard nodded. Most of the past week had been spent scouring Ilium for any lead they could use, for something their foes had left behind. As loathe as he was to admit it, part of him had hoped that Ria had merely missed something in her inexperience, but his own investigations had turned up nothing. Even if there had been something left behind, simply too much time had passed, with their foes having ample time by then to completely cover their tracks.
"I wouldn't be all that hopeful if wasn't for the fact that it would be very difficult to hide an entire dig-site. If I were a betting man, I'd put money on us finding at least something here, " Shepard replied at last. "Even if it doesn't help us get any closer to finding the skullheads, it will still be good to know what the Council is so determined to keep us from finding out."
"Skullheads?" Garrus asked, the plates on his forehead shifting in the turian equivalent of arching an eyebrow.
"The name Ria and her friends came up with for our 'mysterious friends'. Its a good name as any: the helmets their agents wear do look a bit skeletal."
"Right," Garrus muttered, turning back to the view screen. "Maybe we should leave names to me in the future, okay?"
"I'll keep that in mind."
Exiting the cockpit, Shepard made his way down to the ship's lower deck. Ducking into engineering, he found Tali at work tinkering with his armor's electronics. Absorbed by her work, his lifemate did not seem to notice him as he entered.
Smiling to himself, Shepard quietly moved up behind her, planning to startle her as he'd done so many times before. "Alm-"
"I already know you're there," Tali interrupted suddenly. So unexpected was this that Shepard himself was the one who was startled, a low yelp escaping his throat as fell back, landing with a dull thud.
"Ow," he managed at last, wincing as he rubbed the back of his head. "What tipped me off? I was so sure I'd had you."
"Oh, I just figured you try teasing me like that," Tali replied, her laughter filling the air. Extending a hand, she helped him to his feet. "Surprising you for once sounded like a good way to pay you back for all the other times you snuck up on me."
"Devious." Shepard chuckled. "I guess I need to up my game then, can't have you outsmarting me."
"I don't think I'll have to be worried, then. A big bosh'tet like you couldn't outsmart me even if you tried," Tali replied fondly, a smile in her voice.
"Ouch. That hurts, Tali," Shepard said, gasping in mock surprise. Taking an exaggerated step back, he clutched at his heart with both hands. "Oh cruel fate, scorned by the woman I love."
"Being melodramatic will get you nowhere, you know," Tali giggled, swatting him on the arm. "By the way, I'm done with your armor. Honestly, I don't know how you manage to fry the shield capacitors this quickly."
"Well, there was that explosion. Big explosion. It wasn't my fault this time, I swear," Shepard replied sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Right," Tali said, sighing deeply. "Good to know your ability to attract those hasn't gone away. At any rate, the shield generators should be working at full capacity now."
"What would I do without you," Shepard asked, leaning over to plant a quick kiss on the top of Tali's helmet. Pulling away, he at once began to gather up his armor, preparing to suit up for the upcoming mission.
"Go into combat with half-fried mass effect capacitors." Tali countered matter-of-factly, stepping up behind to help with his armor's seals. "Remember, I've seen your attempts at field repairs. They weren't bad, for a human. I still don't know how you manage with all those fingers getting in the way."
"Bit of pro-quarian bias there, Tali?" Shepard teased, arching an eyebrow at her.
"Perhaps, though for some reason I decided to choose a human as my lifemate. I think I can get away with a little bias here and there without sounding like an xenophobe," Tali countered.
"Fair enough." Shepard chuckled. "Besides, these over digited hands are more dexterous than you'd think. Though I could have sworn you'd know that, given your first hand experiences with what they can- "
"Spirits, get a room will you?" Garrus's voice cut in over the comms, interrupting the rest of Shepard's comment.
"Didn't know you're one to eavesdrop, Garrus," Shepard countered, looking up towards the comms unit overhead. "You know, if you were curious, you could have asked."
"Have I ever mentioned how much we all appreciate your wit? No? Thought not. I was actually just wanting to tell you two that we're coming in for a landing now. So, you know, might be a good idea to hurry up and get ready. I'd rather not do this entire mission by myself," Garrus replied dryly.
"We'll be right up," Shepard replied. Turning back to Tali, he extended a hand to her. "Shall we?"
"Lets." Tali smiled, hooking her arm around his. Together they hurried up to the upper deck of the ship, finding Garrus already waiting for them.
"Autopilot is bringing us in for a landing now. I tried to hail the landing pad but no response. If anyone's home they sure don't want us to know they're there," the turian explained, hefting his sniper rifle. With a click he slapped a fresh thermal click into place, the sound echoing through the deck.
"Our first priority is to make contact with anyone still at the dig site. If no one's there, we move onto finding out what they'd been digging for in the first place. We need to find out what kind of tech the skullheads took from ExoGeni, get a better idea what we're going up against. This might be the only chance we'll get," Shepard said, slinging his own rifle from its magnetic holster.
A roar of thrusters blasting against solid rock filled the ship's interior, then a groaning of metal as the landing gear touched down. The ship's deck rocked under his feet as a settled on the uneven ground, forcing Shepard to press a hand against a bulkhead to steady himself.
"You know, if we're going to name this ship, I'd recommend 'crap heap'," Shepard grumbled, pushing back away from the wall.
"You really prefer the Normandy, don't you," Garrus noted, his smirk telling Shepard everything he needed to know regarding how much pleasure the turian was taking at his annoyance.
"Lets just say I'm not a fan," Shepard replied.
"I don't mind it so much, but then again, I've seen far worse in the old Migrant Fleet. Still a step up from the hundred year old ships I used to work on," Tali interjected, shrugging.
"Fair," Shepard admitted. Stepping up to the airlock, he pressed a gauntleted hand against the keypad. With a click and a hiss the lock opened. A shimmering screen of mass effect fields now the only thing that stood between them and the outside atmosphere. Red rock stretched far out into the distance, onto which rose up white prefabs like monuments of some vanished world. The red sun beat down from above, its light glinting on the few metal surfaces in the dig site, all else having been worn lusterless by the planet's harsh environment.
Cautiously, Shepard stepped out into the open, sweeping his rifle across the rocky expanse beyond. Nothing moved in the silent mass of weathered prefabs before them but for the rustle of wind that kicked up loose dust and pebbles that covered the cracked earth.
"It looks deserted," Garrus noted, stepped out of the ship behind him. The turian hefted his rifle, gazing down the scope. "No sign of movement."
"Do you think someone got here first?" Tali asked, flicking the safety off on her shotgun.
"Or an ambush," Garrus offered, shrugging. As usual, the promise of danger seemed to do little to worry the turian. Not that either he nor Tali were any more concerned. The three were probably about as jaded as anybody could get when it came to constantly having to put their lives in danger, something years of peace had never fully been able to erase.
"Only one way to find out," Shepard replied. "Keep your guard up and watch your corners. Garrus is right, prepare for a possible ambush."
The crunch of gravel echoed through the canyon as they made their way into the abandoned dig site. As first appearances had suggested, it seemed like they were completely alone amongst the empty structures, hollowed out husks waiting for time to wear them away to nothing.
"It doesn't look like the place came under attack," Garrus muttered after several moments, the turian keeping his voice as a hushed whisper. "No burn marks or blood stains on any of the prefabs. Either they left on their own, or this was the cleanest slaughter in history."
Shepard nodded slowly, "I noticed it too," he agreed, gazing between the empty buildings.
"No sign of transportation either. Any team here to excavate would have had a way to get off world," Tali added.
There was a pause, then Garrus chucked under his breath. "Nice to see we're all in agreement. Its a nice change of pace from my other work."
"Well, I could play devil's advocate if you'd like," Shepard offered, smirking from behind his helmet. "Can't have things too easy on you, now can I?"
"Thanks, but I think I'll pass," the turian replied.
Coming to a stop, Shepard turned back to Tali, and idea occurred to him. "Tali, you think you can have Chatika sweep the area? Should save us some time."
She nodded, tapping a key on her omni-tool. "And will do so without the extra back talk. Sorry, Liara, but my drone is much better than yours," Tali added, referencing the assistant of the asari in question. With a hiss and a pop the purple combat drone burst into existence, its holographic shell glowing like flame.
"Chatika, scan the surrounding area and send all readings to my omni-tool," Tali instructed, speaking to the drone in the same tone as someone talking to a pet varren. The drone chirped once and zoomed off to do as it was told, the hum of its mass effect fields fading into the distance.
"In the meantime we should search the surrounding area. Find anything that seems unusual." Shepard instructed.
Without another word, the three moved in unison, carfullying picking their way through the nearby buildings. Seconds into the search Shepard was struck by just how barren everything was. Not a single container or piece of equipment could be seen around the camp or within. Some of the buildings still contained their basic furniture: chairs, work benches, shelves and the like. Others were completely empty,as if they had been stripped of their contents entirely.
Several minutes elapsed before a distant hum heralded Chatika's return. The drove zoomed into sight from amongst the empty structures, stopping to hover in front Tali.
"Thank you, Chatika, you can rest now," Tali said, holding out a hand to catch the drone's core as it deactivated. Shepard watched on as the quarian activated her omni-tool, accessing the information that had been collected.
"Find anything?" Shepard asked after several moments.
"From the preliminary survey Chatika conducted it seems that besides the pre-fabs the place has been entirely cleared out. So we can rule out them leaving in too much of a hurry," Tali replied, speaking slowly as she was still reading through the data even as she spoke. She fell silent for another long moment, what little of her expression that could be gleaned from behind her mask seeming thoughtful. "Interesting. Chatika's scans detect the camp couldn't have been abandoned more than two months ago."
"Two months ago," Shepard repeated, considering this new piece of information. Now he thought he had a better idea of how this fit in. That would have put the site's abandonment only weeks before Ria's team had been assigned to investigate Exo-Geni's activities, but well after members of the project had begun to be targeted. Had Exo-Geni gotten scared and decided to pull out of the dig? Or had the Council ordered it, trying to cover up their own involvement before sending a Spectre to investigate?
"So the attacks begin on Exo-Geni after the project has been up and running for some time. Then a month later someone orders the place abandoned," Garrus said, having picked up on the same train of thought as Shepard. "You're wrong. They were in a hurry. While the prefabs were left behind, but had enough time to take everything not nailed down. That definitely rules out a sudden departure."
Nodding in agreement, Shepard turned his attention back to Tali. "Did Chatika find out where the dig is?" he asked.
"She located a crevice on the opposite end of the camp. She didn't get close enough to get a clear view, whatever it is seems to still be buried."
"Lead the way then, you're the one who's drone has done all the heavy lifting," Shepard replied, motioning with an hand for her to go ahead.
"No doubt. At this rate with only a few more upgrades, that drone will have all of us out of a job," Garrus laughed. "Chatika Vas Paus, savior of the galaxy."
"I'm surprised you got the name right," Tali interjected with a laugh. "I wouldn't worry about being replaced Garrus, I would never intentionally make Chatika that insufferable."
"Gee, thanks, Tali. Nice to know I'm appreciated," Garrus muttered. While Shepard could not see with the mask covering the turian's features, he was sure from his friend's tone that he was rolling his eyes.
It wasn't long before they came upon the edge of camp. Just like Tali had said, a crevice opening like a wound in the rocky ground, plunging deep down into lightless depths far below.
"So, I don't imagine there's a way down?" Garrus asked, cautiously gazing over the edge.
"The dig team probably had a crane set up to provide access in or out, but took it with them when they vacated the site," Tali noted, visibly keeping a further distance from the drop-off than the turian was.
"No choice but to do this the hard way then. Good thing we brought climbing gear," Shepard said.
Within minutes they had a line secured around a nearby boulder. Running it through the clips he'd attached to his armor, the Spectre tugged on the end, testing that it was secure.
"I'll go first. If it looks clear I'll call back up for the two of you to follow." He waited just long enough for both of them to signal that they understood before moving over to the edge. Slowly and carefully, he lowered himself down until he was dangling by the rope. Pulling on one loop, he began repelling down the line, sinking deeper and deeper into the black depths.
With a dull thunk that echoed around him, his boots touched down solidly on the stone floor. Swaying for a moment as he steadied himself, Shepard gazed back up the way he came. The glimmer of daylight shone dimly overhead, at least twenty stories between him and the surface of the crevice. "Coast seems clear, feel free to come down any time," he reported back over his comms.
"Understood. We'll be right down," came Garrus' reply a moment later.
Unclipping himself from the line, Shepard flicked on the flashlight on his rifle, allowing him his first real look around. The crevice opened up slightly into a cavern-like space beyond, having been partially dug out by the excavation team. No harm taking a look around while I wait, Shepard thought to himself. Wandering away from the spot he'd repelled down to, he began sweeping the area with his flashlight. As far as he could see there was nothing odd in the immediate area. Just rock and dust, not much to really-
Shepard froze, his eyes falling on a darker shape against the red stone. Cautiously he raised his rifle, revealing something that sent cold chill rushing down his spine. For that instant it seemed like even his heart had stopped in his chest, time itself grinding to a halt. Oh no.
Behind him the sounds of Tali and Garrus touching down on the crevice floor could be heard, followed by echoing footfalls that signaled their approach. "John, did you find something? What's-" Tali's voice fell off, her and Garrus's footsteps stopping as they beheld what Shepard had discovered.
Jutting from the solid rock was part of a metallic shape. Lusterless metal plates covered inky black cables and other bizarre artificial innards in a false imitation of organic matter. From its center a single optic was visible, cold and dead. However, in life, it would have shone with a fell red light, as Shepard had seen more than his fair share of the same monsters whose corpse now lay before him.
A reaper.
For several long moments no one spoke as each of them processed their discovery. At long last, it was Garrus who broke the silence. "Who else here is a bit sick of people messing with reaper tech who should be damn smarter than that," the turian muttered dryly, his mandibles pulling back to into a scowl.
"Understatement of the millenia," Shepard replied, frowning. He kicked at a nearby rock, sending it clattering across the chasm floor until it vanished into the darkness beyond their lights, its echos lingering in the air long after it was beyond their sight. "However, I can't pretend to be shocked by this. I suspected from the beginning that Project Winter had something to do with Reaper Tech. Few things would drive the Council to the extremes they've gone to cover up their involvement, and secret research on Reaper technology falls dead center of that category."
"If the other species' governments find out it will be a political disaster. The council's action would be in direct violation of the treaties banning almost all research of reaper remains," Tali added.
He nodded his head, scowling now too. "Which is why I'd hoped I was wrong, that the council couldn't possibly be that damn stupid." Tali had of course spoken the truth: after the war it had been deemed too dangerous to experiment on large supply of Reaper technology left in the wake of the war. This was in no small part due to the discovery that the geth could be easily repaired following the effects of the Crucible's firing. Many had feared that if they geth could be easily fixed, so too could the Reapers.
Laws were put in place decreeing that all intact reaper corpses were to be destroyed. Some research was still done of course, but only on the remains following destruction, and under close oversight from all of the galactic governments. Then again, caution wasn't the only reason for these laws, Shepard corrected himself. It was as much out of fear that a single species would gain too great of an advantage should they reverse engineer the reapers' secrets before the others.
"Not to mention we already know the Council can't exactly be trusted with reaper remains. They didn't destroy the corpse you ran into a few years back," Garrus added.
"Don't remind me," Shepard replied. If he were to list the things he'd want to forget, that particular memory would definitely be on the list. "At least everything makes sense now. The Council worked through ExoGeni since they could deny any part in the research were it discovered. Let ExoGeni take the fall and keep their hands clean."
"And now that backfired. Someone else found out about the project and has gotten their hands on spirits know how much reaper tech," Garrus added grimly. "Just when I thought this whole situation couldn't get any worse…"
"Not to mention the results of a years worth of research reverse engineering that very same technology. As far as the skullheads would be concerned, ExoGeni and the Council did their work for them," Shepard agreed. He felt his hands involuntarily clenched into fists, anger burning up inside him like a flame. "We need to focus on taking these bastards down, clean up the Council's mess before it costs more lives. If they have access to reaper tech, they'll be even more dangerous than we thought."
"So, what now then? We going inside?" Garrus asked, gazing back towards the wreckage.
Shepard considered this question a moment, then shook his head. "No, I'd rather avoid another hellish trip into one of those things. I think we've had enough of those as it is." He paused a moment, then added, "Still, we need to find out how much tech was taken from the wreck. "
"I think I may be able to help with that," Tali offered, speaking up. Activating her omni-tool, Tali tossed three small metallic objects out in front of her. At once there was a flash of prismatic light, three small orbs flaring into existence. These drone's were smaller than Chatika, about one-third of her size, and were each a different color. One had a blue and green shell, another orange and teal, while the last was gold and a dark, dusky red.
"After last year I figured it would be a good idea to come up with an alternative for the next time we ran into reaper remains. After thinking about it for awhile I came up with the idea for recon drones specifically programed to deal with reaper tech. They can gather the data we need while we wait outside," Tali explained. As if on cue, the three diminutive drones darted away into the reaper wreck, vanishing from sight.
"Any idea's what they'll find?" Garrus asked, turning away from the direction the drones had gone.
"If I'd known that Garrus, I wouldn't have needed to send Haza, Adas, and Kaddi inside. Be patient, would you," she countered back. From behind her mask Shepard caught a glimpse of rolling eyes.
"You named the drones after the planets in Rannoch's solar system?" Shepard asked, arching an eyebrow. Despite the situation, he found himself smiling at this thought
Tali shrugged. "It seemed like a good idea after Ria named her drone after the system's sun. Might as well complete the whole set."
"Ah, makes sense," Shepard replied, nodding his head. As quickly as it had come his smile faded, the weight of the discovering falling back over him. "How long will it take for the drones to search the reaper remains?" He asked, turning to Tali.
"An hour at most, depending on how intact the wreckage is," Tali answered, speaking slowly as if running some calculations in her head.
"Alright, in the meantime the three of us should head back to the ship while we wait," Shepard replied, turning away. "I think its about time I had a little chat with the Council."
Author's Note: Sorry about this chapter coming a week late, but finals kinda kicked my ass so I had to take an extra week to get caught up. However, now I should be back on schedule, with winter break letting me get ahead on my writting.