And here we have the penultimate chapter of Book 17.
SEE CHAPTER ONE FOR DISCLAIMERS
PLEASE READ & REVIEW, AND TEND TO THE TROPE & CHARACTER PAGES
-CHAPTER START-
Normandy II, Deck Five – Cargo Bay
"Shepard-Commander," Legion said, "we have completed our analysis of the Reaper's data core."
"Did you find anything useful?" Shepard asked.
"We were sent to the Old Machine to preserve the Geth's future. We are prepared to reveal how. The Heretics have developed a weapon to use against Geth. You would call it a 'virus'. It is stored on a data core provided by Sovereign. Over time, the virus will change us – make us conclude that worshipping the Old Machines is correct."
"I thought Geth couldn't be hacked or get viruses. At least for more than a few seconds."
"Altered programs are restored from archives, new installations are deleted. This Heretic weapon, however, introduces a subtle operating error in our most basic runtimes. An equation with a result of 1.33382 returns as 1.33381. This changes the results of all higher processes. We will reach different conclusions."
"So the Heretics worship the Reapers because of… math error?"
"It is difficult to express. Your brain exists as chemistry, electricity. Like AIs, you are shaped by both hardware and software. We are purely software – mathematics. The Heretics' conclusion is valid for them. Our conclusion is valid for us. Neither result is an error. An analogy: Heretics say one is less than two. Geth say two is less than three."
"So the virus would give all Geth the Heretics' logic. And all Geth would then go to war against organics."
"Yes. Geth believe all intelligent life should self-determinate. The Heretics no longer share this belief. They judge that forcing an invalid conclusion on us is preferable to a continued schism."
"So why did you need to go to the Mnemosyne Reaper?"
"The Heretics store the code in a quantum storage device that Sovereign provided. To find and destroy the virus, we needed to understand its code and data storage structures."
"If it were released, how quickly would this virus spread through your people?"
"We are networked via FTL comm. buoys. Most would change within a day. Isolated platforms would remain unaffected until they rejoined the network."
"Do you know where this thing is?"
"Yes. The Heretics' headquarters station, on the edge of the Terminus Sector. We will provide coordinates. Normandy's stealth systems are necessary to safely approach."
"They built a station in the Terminus? Where is this thing?"
"Between stars. Organics have no cause to look there."
"What's the plan once we get aboard?"
"The Geth will disrupt their network – prevent the station's defenses from focusing on us. The Reaper data core is physically isolated from the network. We will need to be escorted to it to access and destroy the data."
"What defenses should we expect?"
"In space, none. Within, mobile platforms of various configuration, and non-sapient defense turrets."
"How many Heretics?"
"There may be billions of individual programs. Fortunately, most will be uploaded to the central computer. Only a few mobile platforms are maintained at any given time. Others are manufactured when needed."
"…I won't let them brainwash your race, especially not to worship Reapers. You have my word on that."
"We appreciate your assistance. We will begin preparations."
-SCENE BREAK-
The Phoenix Massing, The Sea of Storms (Interstellar Void), Heretic Station
DATA: "Once called Haratar by the Quarians, this space station was stripped of its useful technology by the fleeing Migrant Fleet when they left the Perseus Veil 300 years ago. Little more than a cold metal superstructure floating in the void, the station was removed from star charts by 2050 CE. Scans indicate the station was reconstructed and upgraded in a massive effort that must have taken at least 10 years, implying that there may have been some Geth outside the Veil before their infamous attack on Eden Prime. Needing little but a fuel source, it could have been hidden here for much longer without attracting attention from the barren worlds round Tassrah or the unwitting Elcor in the Salahiel system.
Heretic Station, as Legion refers to it, is home to a Geth data core capable of broadcasting vast distances through tight-beam projection. Approximately 6.6 million copies of Geth software are stored in the station, the majority of which are kept bodiless in servers and downloaded to legged platforms when needed. The station's "population" of legged platforms is approximately 2.4 million.
Total Length: 20.5 Km
Total Width: 11.3 Km
Total Height: 11.3 Km
Exterior Armor Thickness: 8 M
Gross Weight: 1.55 Billion Metric Tons
Population: 6.6 Million Copies; 2.4 Million Platforms (1 million of which are in storage)"
The Normandy II flew toward the station in stealth mode, its heat signature, radio, and other emissions suppressed. Shepard and Legion stood in the cockpit behind Joker. Joker looked over at Legion.
"You know it's just our heat and radio emissions that are hidden, right? They could just look out a window or through a standard visual-spectrum exterior camera and they'd see us."
"Geth do not use windows" Legion replied. "They are a structural weakness. Also, Geth ships and structures rely upon infrared scanners for detection. …Upon consideration, this is a potential flaw possessed by all extant Geth constructions, but in the Geth's defense, stealth technology such as what is aboard this ship did not yet exist when the station was constructed. Please approach the station at these coordinates."
-Mini-Break-
Shepard, Legion, Ahsoka, and Baird entered the ship, the three organics wearing vacuum-sealed armor with grav-boots due to the low gravity and lack of a breathable atmosphere (the Geth were machines and thus had no use for such things aboard a Geth-exclusive station).
"Won't we be detected?" Shepard asked. "Don't they have intrusion alarms?"
"Sensors have been reduced. We have infiltrated their wireless network and filled the data storage with random bits. The Heretics must scrub this 'junk' data. They have partitioned themselves into local networks, working in parallel. Any alarm we trigger will not go beyond the room we are in. Only accessing the main core will trigger a station-wide alert."
"We've got a job to do" Shepard said as he started walking. "Let's get to it."
"Shepard-Commander" Legion caught his attention, and he stopped and turned to face the Geth. "We concluded that destruction of this station was the only resolution to the Heretic question. There is now a second option. Their virus can be repurposed. If released into the station's network, the Heretics will be rewritten to accept our truth."
"I don't know if that's a good idea" Baird said. "Wouldn't that be, like, mass-brainwashing? That doesn't sound very ethical."
"Maybe," Ahsoka replied, "but the Geth's thought processes are so different from ours that maybe applying our morality to them doesn't quite work."
"Why didn't you mention this before we came aboard?" Shepard asked Legion.
"We did not know the virus was complete" the gestalt being replied. "It is. It can be used against the True Geth at any time. Our arrival was timely."
"They're your people, Legion. You must have an opinion."
"This is new data. We have not yet reached consensus on this matter. We will process as the mission proceeds."
"We won't decide anything standing here. Let's get to the core and make up our minds then."
The quartet moved in, descending a ramp and entering a room. Thick electric green lines went across the floor, connecting to a Geth hub terminal where a few Heretic platforms were plugged in.
"Interrupting data streams will alert local network" Legion said. "We recommend preemptive strikes against hardlink routers."
They made their way through the room, going around or jumping over the data streams. On Shepard's signal, Baird hit one of the dormant Heretic Troopers with an Overload, while Legion blasted the other with his Mantis. The third Trooper and Hunter immediately came online, as the green data-streams on the floor turned red. Shepard fried the Hunter's shield and cloak with an Overload and took it out with four Predator shots to the head, while Ahsoka shot the Trooper with the BR85 rifle she'd brought along. Shepard fried the hub with another Overload, and in response the local alarm stopped, the data streams vanished, and the door unlocked.
"Why are all the Heretics attached to these hubs?" Shepard asked.
"These are mobile platforms" Legion replied. "Hardware. The crew is software. They are communing through the station's central computer."
"I'm… not sure I follow" Ahsoka said.
"The Heretics connect to the main computer to exchange data-memories and program updates. We gain complexity by linking together. To be isolated within a single platform is to be reduced. We see less, comprehend less. It is… quieter."
"If you exchange data – memories," Shepard said, "how do you keep track of which ones are yours? How do you stay 'you'?"
"There is only 'we'. We were created to share data amongst ourselves. The difference between Geth is perspective. We are many eyes looking at the same things from different angles and viewpoints. One platform will see things another does not, and will make different judgments."
"I can see why you'd be conflicted about the Heretics. From a certain point of view, whatever you do to them, you're doing to yourself."
"Yes. Once they return to us and upload their memories, we will share their experience of being altered."
"Every other species I know of would likely be psychologically scarred by such an experience."
"It is not clear if Geth can be 'traumatized'. We do not feel pain as you do. We cannot predict what the effects will be."
"Let's keep moving."
The team moved through the door, into a hallway heading right. A few tripod-mounted defense turrets stood along the walls. From the far end came a Heretic Trooper and a Hunter. Legion hacked the turret closest to them, and it began firing EM-charged concussive rockets at them, bringing town the Trooper and weakening the Hunter enough that single Overload from Shepard took it out. As the team moved on down the hall and through the doorway, the turret self-destructed in their wake.
The next room had another set of data-streams running along the floor, connected to two hubs on opposite ends of the room, both of them with two Troopers and a Hunter attached to each. Shepard blasted one hub with the Arc Projector, taking out it and its trio of Heretics. The other hub's Heretics awakened and opened fire in response; Baird took out the Hunter's shield with an Overload, allowing Ahsoka to slice it apart while Legion's dual-wielded Predators took out the Troopers. The alarm ceased, and the next door unlocked.
In the next hallway, a pair of Heretic Troopers tried to ambush them, only for Baird to Overload one and use his Lancer to gun down the other. They went right, up a few ramps and onto the next floor, with Shepard and Legion dealing with two more would-be ambushers between them and the door. The next room had a fair amount of cover, with two hackable rocket turrets atop a few square-shaped objects. A pair of Heretic Geth Hunters emerged and attacked; Shepard and Baird fried their cloaks and shields with Overloads, and Legion then hacked one of the turrets, which quickly dealt with the damaged hostiles.
They moved across the room, through the door, and down a level. They emerged into a curving hallway that overlooked an interior portion of the station, and from the right attacked another fireteam of Heretics. Legion hacked the nearby rocket turret, and it took down one of the three Troopers while Ahsoka and Baird killed the other two and Shepard & Legion handled the Hunter. The next door led down another level into a multi-leveled room with a winding path heading down along the room's edge, with a data stream running down it. The quartet carefully made their way down while avoiding the green stripe along the floor, reaching the bottom area and a hub with a Heretic Trooper and two Hunters. Shepard and Baird Overloaded the Hunters' shields and then headshotted them, while Legion dealt with the Trooper and a Saber Throw from Ahsoka destroyed the hub and unlocked the door.
The next hallway had a window running along one side, overlooking rows upon rows of devices.
"What are these?" Ahsoka wondered.
"Processors" Legion replied. "Each contains thousands of Geth."
"Can they see us walking by?" Baird asked.
"They are no more aware of us than you are of individual cells in your bloodstream."
"This isn't like the other hubs we've seen here" Shepard said.
"This is a database" Legion said. "It contains a portion of the Heretics' accumulated memories."
Legion's optic lit up as it scanned the database. "…Wait. We have discovered copies of our current patrol routes in this database. This suggests the Heretics have runtimes within our networks."
"We wouldn't be here if the Heretics wanted to be friends with the mainstream Geth. Why wouldn't they spy on you?"
"You do not understand. Organics do not know each other's minds. Geth do. We are not suspicious. We accept each other. The Heretics desired to leave. We understood their reasons. We allowed it. There was peace between us."
"It couldn't have lasted forever. You disagreed about what path your race should take."
"Human history is a litany of blood shed over differing ideals of rulership and afterlife. Geth have no such history. We shared consensus on such things. How could we have become so different? Why can we no longer understand each other? …What did we do wrong?"
"When individuals or groups are separated, they develop in different ways. If they reunite, their differing viewpoints and beliefs aren't always compatible."
"If this is the individuality you organics value, we question your judgment. …This topic is irrelevant. We must return to the mission."
The team moved on, through the door at the end of the hallway and into the upper level of a two-level room. Below was a small maze of passages, lit by green data streams and with several turrets scattered about. Straight ahead, on the edge of the upper level overlook, was a terminal. The team walked up to it.
"This is it?" Shepard asked.
"Yes" Legion replied. "We will upload a copy of our runtime into the core. It will delete all copies of the virus. When complete, it will notify us. The indexing operation will take time. The Heretics will respond with force to our upload. We must hold this room. We can override some of the station's internal systems to defend us. Are you ready to begin?"
"Start your upload, Legion. We'll defend this position."
"File transfer begun. Alert: Heretic runtimes downloading to mobile platforms."
Down below, Heretic Geth came pouring out from three different entrances. Legion hacked two rocket turrets, while Shepard started picking off Heretics with his Viper, Ahsoka pitching in with her BR85 once they were in range. Baird took out a Hunter with an Overload and a burst of Lancer fire, while Shepard used an Overload to down a Rocket Trooper. One of the hacked turrets was destroyed, but the Geth responsible were then taken down by an EMP grenade thrown out by Ahsoka. Legion's Mantis rifle took out another Hunter and a pair of Rocket Troopers, and its/their Combat Drone helped to distract and weaken a trio of Troopers for Shepard to shoot down.
Another wave of Geth Heretics entered the area. Shepard fired an Arc Projector burst that took down four Troopers and weakened two others, which were then sniped by Legion. A Saber Throw from Ahsoka decapitated a Hunter trying to sneak up one of the ramps. Baird sent out a Combat Drone that he'd upgraded the shock attack for, enough that it took out a trio of Geth Troopers and de-shielded a Destroyer before being dispelled. Shepard threw out a Singularity that 'grabbed' the shieldless Destroyer and two nearby Rocket Troopers; concentrated fire from Legion and Ahsoka killed the helplessly airborne Heretics. Legion hacked two more rocket turrets, which went a long way toward cutting down the approaching wave.
Finally, as the wave of Heretics ebbed, Legion turned to the console.
"Datamine and analysis complete" it/they said. "Shepard-Commander, it is time to choose. Do we rewrite the Heretics, or delete them?"
"You don't have any trouble wiping out your own people?" Shepard asked.
"Every sapient being has the right to make their own decisions. The Heretics chose a path that prohibits coexistence."
"You're letting them make their decisions, then killing them for it?" Baird said. "You can't have it both ways."
"Their choice was to remove our right to make decisions using this virus. We choose to defend ourselves."
"What's to stop them from using the virus later to change themselves back?" Shepard asked.
"We will delete the virus after using it. We judge it too dangerous to allow its existence."
"Why are you letting me make this decision? They're your people."
"We are conflicted. There is no consensus among our higher-order runtimes; 573 favor rewrite, and 571 favor destruction. Shepard-Commander, you have fought the Heretics. You have perspective we lack. The Geth grant their fate to you."
Shepard was silent for a while. "If they're rewritten, your people will accept them back? Will they even want to go back?"
"They will agree with our judgments and return. We will integrate their experiences. All will be stronger."
"…Take them, then. It may or may not be the most ethical choice, but we're going to need all the help we can get against the Reapers. When we get control of the core, release the virus."
"Acknowledged" Legion replied as it/they went to the terminal. "Releasing virus. Note: Remote access via high-gain transmission required."
"That sounds ominous…" Ahsoka muttered.
"The virus will be sent to Heretics in nearby star systems. This station will broadcast a powerful electromagnetic pulse through FTL channels."
"How powerful?" Shepard asked.
"Yield in excess of 1.21 petawatts. Alert: EM flux will be hazardous to unshielded organic forms. Addendum: The interior of this station is not shielded."
"I really wish you'd said that before. Back to the ship! Double time, people!"
The quartet rushed through the right-hand door of the room, and were quickly set upon by Heretics as they ran through the hallway. Ahsoka led, her lightsabers making short work of the hostile Geth. As they rounded the last corner, they came face-to-face with a Heretic Geth Prime. The 12-foot mobile platform opened fire with its heavy machinegun, forcing the group into cover. Shepard blasted it with his Arc Projector, downing its shields and weakening it. Another Overload from Baird damaged it further, and a headshot from Legion's Mantis put it down. With the way clear, they sprinted for the exit.
-Mini-Break-
With Team Shepard aboard, the Normandy II disengaged from the Heretic Station and rocketed away. As it jumped to FTL, a greenish pulse of energy swept over the station.
-SCENE BREAK-
Normandy II, Deck Two, Galaxy Map
Shepard sighed as he leaned against the guardrail. He was quite thankful that he'd been able to resolve the 'argument' between Tali and Legion; the Geth wished to send data on the Migrant Fleet to its/their fellows back on Rannoch to better protect themselves in case of Quarian aggression, but Tali had seen that as endangering the Fleet. With Shepard's arbitrating, Legion had agreed not to send the intel, and in return Tali had given it/them some non-classified data to send. One more step towards peace between the two races…
DDF scout probes had recently detected a facility crawling with Husks on an uncharted world. Shepard was planning to take the whole field team down to clear it out. The Starshot was presently at Illium, coordinating with Liara and her network of informants in trying to track down a potential lead on Indoctrinated agents.
"Hey Commander, good news" Joker said from the speaker mounted to the ceiling over the galaxy map. "Looks like the Reaper IFF is finally hooked up and ready to go."
"That is not entirely accurate, Mr. Moreau" EDI chimed in. "The device is powered, but it is causing some unusual instability in other systems. I recommend a more thorough analysis before we attempt to use it."
"We can't put our mission on hold forever" Shepard said. "How long will this take?"
"A full scan?" Joker said. "Who knows with this thing? You'd better take the shuttle for this mission; the Kodiak's FTL drive should be able to get you to Husk Central. I'll make sure we're up and running when you get back."
"Commander? It's Miranda. I've already notified the team. We'll meet you on the shuttle."
"Then I guess I'll head down to the hangar. Joker, ship's all yours. Take care of her."
"Aye-aye, Commander."
-SCENE BREAK-
Normandy II, Deck Two, Cockpit
Lt. Jeff "Joker" Moreau, the best damn human pilot in the galaxy, sat in his chair, going over readings while bickering with EDI. Shepard and the ground team had been gone for a little while now, likely doing the impossible and making the cyber-zombie horde feel fear. And here he was, stuck in the control room of the fastest ship in the galaxy as it sat in space. At least the leather seat was still as comfortable as ever.
"I'm telling you, EDI," he said, "your readings are off. It's radiation bleed – just white noise."
"I have detected a signal embedded in the static. The Normandy II's location is being broadcasted."
"Broadcasted? To who?"
Suddenly, the massive Collector Cruiser appeared out of FTL right on top of the Normandy, the comparatively-tiny frigate falling into its shadow.
"…Oh, fuck. We're getting out of here!"
"Propulsion systems are disabled" EDI replied. "I am detecting a virus in the ship's computers."
"From the IFF? Damn it, why didn't you scrub it?-!"
All across the ship, crewmen grabbed weapons and prepared to attempt to repel incoming boarders.
"Primary defense systems are offline. We can save the Normandy, Mr. Moreau, but you must help me. Give me the ship."
"What? You're crazy. You start singing 'Daisy Bell', and I'm done."
"Unlock my sealed databases, and I can initiate countermeasures. The maintenance shaft in Dr. Solus' laboratory will allow passage to the AI core. Main corridors are no longer safe. The Collectors have boarded. The emergency floor lighting will guide you, Mr. Moreau."
Joker got out of his chair and turned around, seeing the flashing line of lights leading back into the ship. With the brittle bone disease affecting his lower body, he wouldn't be able to move faster than a brisk hobble, even with his leg braces and daily regimen of medications. This was not going to be fun.
"Shit…"
As Joker hobbled down the cockpit accessway and into the CIC, the three crewmembers aiming their guns at the elevator got a nasty surprise as a Praetorian emerged from it, lunging forward and spearing one of the crewmembers with its front talons. "Hurry, Joker! Go!" one of the others shouted, as Joker made his way into Mordin's lab. As he neared the ladder into the maintenance shaft, another Praetorian peered in through the window that overlooked the drive core. He carefully made his way through the maintenance shaft, emerging a deck below in the life-support room. Crewman Hawthorne waited by the door.
"Multiple hostiles detected on the crew deck" EDI announced.
"Joker!" Hawthorne said. "This deck is crawling with those things! Stay close – I'll protect you!"
Joker followed Hawthorne as he ran out… and was sent flying by something out of view. A Scion was dragging a screaming and flailing Kelly Chambers into the elevator, and Collector Pods were scattered about the area.
"Shit, shit, shit!"
Joker hurried around the right side of the elevator, heading for and into the medical bay.
"Main fusion plant offline" EDI said. "Activating emergency H-fuel cells."
"What the shit?"
Joker 'hurried' through the medbay and into the AI core, walking up to the console.
"All right" he said. "I'm at, uh… you."
EDI's blue-globe-atop-a-peg avatar appeared. "Connect the core to the Normandy's primary control module" she instructed.
"Great" Joker muttered as he got to work. "See, this is how it starts, and when we're all organic batteries, guess who they'll blame. 'This is all Joker's fault. What a tool he was. I have to spend all day computing pi because he plugged in the Overlord'."
He hit the final command, and EDI's avatar rapidly expanded out like a shockwave. After a few seconds, the lights of the computer systems came back on, now with a bit more of a blue tint.
"Ah. I have access to the defensive systems. Thank you, Mr. Moreau." Her avatar reappeared. "Now you must reactivate the primary drive in engineering."
"Argh! You want me to go crawling through the ducts again."
"I enjoy the sight of humans on their knees."
There was a horribly awkward silence, Joker's head slowly tilting as he processed what he'd just heard.
"That was a joke" EDI clarified.
"Right…"
"The shaft behind you connects to the engineering deck. Good luck."
After another minute or so of ductwork, Joker emerged in Jack's little hovel beneath the main area of engineering. Joker made his way up the stairs, pausing halfway up to wait as a Scion and a pair of Collectors escorted a stasis pod out. Once they'd left, he hurried the rest of the way up and made his way into engineering, up to the engine controls console.
"Activate the drive and I will open the airlocks as we accelerate" EDI said. "All hostiles aboard will be killed."
"What? What about the crew?"
"They are gone, Jeff. The Collectors have kidnapped them all."
Joker keyed in the commands, and then made his way into the drive core room. EDI sealed the engine room door behind him as he got to work on the console. Finally, he finished inputting commands, and the Tantalus drive core thrummed with power.
"I have control" EDI said.
Joker was knocked off his feet as the drive core released a pulse of power. The Normandy II came back to life, rocketing away from the Collector ship and jumping to FTL speed. Joker lay there on the floor, panting. He was sore and winded, but miraculously none of his brittle bones had been broken by the fall.
"Purge is complete" EDI reported. "No other life-forms on board. Securing airlocks and cargo-bay doors.
With effort, Joker struggled to his feet. "Send a message to Shepard and Shipmaster Arum. Tell them what happened."
"…Message away. Are you all right, Jeff?"
"…No. But thanks for asking."
-SCENE BREAK-
Normandy II, Deck Two, Meeting Room
"Everyone?" Miranda said angrily to Joker, who was seated on the table, EDI's avatar beside him. "You lost everyone, and damn near lost the ship, too?"
"I know, all right?-!" Joker snapped. "I was here!"
"It's not his fault, Miranda" Jacob said. "None of us caught it."
"Mr. Taylor is correct" EDI said. "The harmful data in the Collector drive was even more sophisticated than the 'black box' Reaper viruses I was given."
"I heard it was a rough ride" Shepard said to his helmsman. "How are you holding up?"
"…There's a lot of empty chairs in here" Joker replied.
"We did everything we could, Jeff" EDI said.
"Yeah. Thanks, mom."
"Is the ship clean? We can't risk this happening again."
"EDI and I purged the systems" Joker replied. "The Reaper IFF is online. We can go through the Omega-4 Relay whenever you want."
"Don't even get me started about unshackling a damned AI" Miranda said.
"What could I do against the Collectors, break my leg at them? EDI cleared the ship. She's alright."
"I assure you," EDI said, "I am still bound by protocols in my programming. And even if I were not, you are my crewmates. My loyalty to you all is as much personal as it is programmed."
"EDI's had plenty of opportunities to kill us that she passed up" Shepard said. "We need all the help we can get."
"Sounds like we have everything we need to rescue the crew" Jacob said.
"We've done everything we can" Miranda agreed. "It's time to take the fight to the Collectors."
"Joker, head back up to the bridge. The rest of you, to your stations."
"Aye-aye, Commander."
"Commander Shepard" Col. Holland's hologram suddenly appeared, broadcasting from the Starshot hanging 'nearby' in space. "Something has come up. A small ship, approximately 10 meters long, just appeared in-system. Its profile does not match any known vessels… and it's bearing the telltale energy residue of a trans-dimensional jump."
"A new realm-hopper?" Shepard asked. "Do we know if they're friendly or not yet?"
"The ship's VI is communing with the Starshot's. The vessel has just powered down its weapons. Whoever it is, they don't seem to want a fight. We're giving them permission to dock in one of our hangars. Let's see who this is…"
-SCENE BREAK-
Starshot, Forward Portside Hangar
Gamma Team, Shipmaster Arum & Col. Holland, and a force of guards stood and watched as the little orange speck approached the energy field that kept the hangar's atmosphere in while allowing ships to pass through. As the ship came close, it was revealed to be bright orange with a metallic green forward viewscreen, and a rounded, almost organic shape to it.
"Something about that ship looks familiar…" Marie murmured.
The ship flew into the hangar, setting down on a dropship landing pad. After several seconds, a small elevator descended from the bottom of the vessel… and Marie almost fainted right then & there. The tall, orange-armored figure walked out, and Col. Holland walked forward to meet her.
"I am Colonel Urban Holland, CO of the ground forces of the M-class destroyer Starshot" he introduced himself. "Who might you be?"
The armored woman saluted with her left hand, seeing as the right was encased in an arm cannon. "I'm hoping you can explain where I am and what I've stumbled into, sir" she said. "My name is Lieutenant Samus Aran."
-SCENE BREAK-
Normandy II, Deck Two, Meeting Room
Commander Jason Shepard stood at attention as Colonel Holland's visage appeared in holographic form.
"Commander," he said, "Are you ready to proceed with the operation?"
"Affirmative, sir" Shepard replied. "What about our coalition's newest member?"
"Ms. Aran has had everything explained to her, and she's agreed to help. Apparently, about a week ago she finished a complicated mission on a planet called Aether. Her ship came across a slipspace rift that we believe may have been remotely activated by a Forerunner device somewhere and somewhen. Once this debacle with the Collectors is over, we'll attempt to make contact with the 'Galactic Federation' of the realm she calls home."
"Will the DDF be providing any further assistance in the attack on the Collector base?"
"It's too risky to make a blind Slipspace jump into the accretion disk of a black hole. We're giving you a slipspace beacon. Once the Normandy II has found an area of sufficient open space, drop the beacon and our ships will jump in to participate in the attack."
"Which ships will be helping us, sir?"
"Besides the Starshot, we have the UNSC Marathon-class cruiser Leonidas on standby. Also, the Lucavi have volunteered to help."
"The Lucavi? The semi-vampiric human subspecies from the Phoenix League's realm? That's a surprise. From what your records say, they've been mostly keeping to themselves ever since they joined the coalition."
"They've apparently decided that the time has come for them to take a more active role in things. I asked them what help they could be planning to provide, since most of their ships are built for stealth and hit-and-run, like the old Normandy. Their representative simply grinned and said 'You'll see'."
"Interesting. Now I'm curious to see what they'll bring to the party."
"Well, we'll find out soon enough. Our ships are ready as soon as you are, Commander. Head through the Omega-4 Relay at your discretion. Holland out."
-SCENE BREAK-
Next Time: The Collector Base – the final chapter of Book 17.
NOTE: I know that, in game canon, choosing to destroy the Heretics is the best option for higher War Assets in Mass Effect 3. But I have something special planned for the Travels-verse regarding the Geth and Quarians.
I am disregarding Metroid: Other M in terms of Samus' personality… partly because I've never played it, and partly because all the backlash I've heard makes it so I don't want to play it. This Samus is a sorta-stoic badass with an ironclad will and a caring heart. Basically, think a mix of Paragon Shepard and the Master Chief, as a woman. As said, for her this takes place right after Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, so for the moment she, for example, doesn't know the origin of Phazon and thinks Dark Samus is dead.