Chapter 23: On the Horizon
The shuttle entered the cargo bay and landed. As soon as the cargo bay door closed, Miranda exited the elevator. To greet Shepard's team. She was surprised to see the extra soldier. "Commander, who is that?"
"This is Nihlus Kryik," Shepard said. "A Spectre. He was the one who put my name forward for Spectre consideration. He'll be joining our mission."
"Shepard, usually we should have prior knowledge of any individuals you wish to recruit so we are able to put together a dossier."
"If I find people who are willing to fight by my side, I'm going to recruit them, whether or not I have a dossier."
"Very well, Commander," she relented. Miranda approached Nihlus. "Welcome aboard, Agent Nihlus." The two awkwardly shook hands. Miranda looked to Shepard. "The Illusive Man is currently waiting to speak with you."
"About time," Shepard sighed. "Need any help settling in Nihlus?"
"I'll be fine, Commander. I think I'm going to explore this vessel first."
VVVVVV
Shepard's hologram appeared in front of The Illusive Man. TIM took a puff on his cigarette and immediately said upon the completion of Shepard's hologram, "Shepard. I think we have them!" A hologram of the Milky Way appeared between the two. The image zoomed in on a green planet. "Horizon—one of our colonies in the Terminus systems—just went silent. If it isn't under attack, it will soon be. Has Mordin come up with the countermeasures for the seeker swarms?"
"Not yet," Shepard replied.
"Let's hope he works well under pressure. There's something else you should know." TIM took another puff of his cigarette. "One of your former crew members—Ashley Williams—is stationed on Horizon."
"Last I checked, Williams was in the Alliance. What is she doing in the Terminus?"
"Officially it's an Alliance outreach program to the Terminus colonies to improve relationships. They're up to something. If Williams is involved, it's big."
"The Collectors just happen to pick a colony one of my former crew mates is on? That isn't a coincidence."
"It shouldn't be so surprising that the Collectors are interested in you. Especially if they're working for the Reapers. They might be going after her, to get to you."
"Send the coordinates. We'll head straight there."
"This is the most warning we've ever had, Shepard. Good luck."
The connection closed.
"Joker, set a course for Horizon," Shepard ordered. "And notify Garrus, Tali and Nihlus that they're needed groundside. I'm going to see the professor."
"Aye, aye, Commander."
VVVVVV
The shuttle entered through the planet's atmosphere. Shepard and his crew were making last minutes checks on their weapons.
"Where did you get that armour from?" Nihlus asked Shepard.
"It belonged to my father."
"Who was your father?"
"It doesn't matter. Associates of mine found it and returned it to me." Before Nihlus could go into further questioning, Shepard then added, "I'm sorry about sending all of you on another mission, but knowing that Ashley is on this world, I thought you would all want to try and save her."
"No need to apologize," Garrus said. "I'm always up for a mission."
"And like you said," Tali reminded. "Ashley needs our help. We don't abandon friends."
The shuttle landed allowing its occupants to set foot on Horizon's ground. The four immediately focused on the giant ship that stood vertically. It looked partially organic.
"Spirits," both Nihlus and Garrus gasped.
"Keelah."
Shepard waved for them to move forward. "Mordin, will these countermeasures hold up?"
"Certainty impossible," Mordin replied over the comm. "But in limited numbers should confuse detection, make us invisible to detection. In theory..."
"In theory?" Garrus repeated. "That sounds promising."
"Experimental technology. Only test is contact with seeker swarms. Look forward to seeing if you survive."
"I'm still trying to figure out if he's insane or genius," Nihlus commented.
"Last time I heard," Shepard answered, "they are two sides of the same coin."
They heard something fly towards them. Several Collectors flew into the area and took cover behind some crates. Nihlus and Garrus took the right flank while Tali and Shepard took the left. Shepard biotically lifted an explosive crate which Tali detonated with a pistol shot. Garrus and Nihlus took advantage of the Collectors' distraction with their ARs.
The Collectors' formation broke sending them into chaos. Shepard ran into the area with Asha in hand. The last Collector drone didn't know whether to focus on Shepard or his two squad mates attacking the flank. Shepard swung his sword and sliced up the center of the Collector. The area was quiet once more.
Nihlus approached one of the bodies and gave it a nudge with his foot while aiming at it with his AR. "Collectors," he observed. "So they really do exist. I'll have to send word to the Council."
"For now let's just kick them off of this planet," Garrus said.
They moved towards a gated community. A thick swarm of seekers flew just a few feet above them.
"At least the countermeasures work," Tali commented.
In the next area a couple of Collectors are seen moving a container. Shepard threw a warp at the closest Collector. Garrus sniped the furthest. This alerted the other Collectors and Husks. The Collectors flew in while the Husks charged straight for Shepard's group.
Shepard sent off a biotic shockwave towards the group of Husks. They were immediately destroyed. Tali summoned her drone within the group of Collectors. Upon its appearance, the Collectors immediately focused on the drone. This gave Garrus and Nihlus the opportunity to move it. One of the Collectors fired its AR at the drone. When they looked up, Garrus and Nihlus were upon them. Nihlus fired his shotgun in the face of one of the Collectors. Garrus let off two burst shots from his AR taking down the other two.
"Area cleared," Garrus announced.
"Those look like the Husks the Geth used on Eden Prime," Nihlus commented.
"So it's true," Tali said. "The Collectors really are working for the Reapers."
"This still won't be enough to prove the Reapers are real though," Nihlus said. "We should hurry."
They went through a gate into the next neighborhood. There on the ground was a Husk body. "These things used to be human," Garrus observed. "This what's left of the colonists?"
"No," Nihlus answered. "The Geth turned their victims into Husks by impaling them on spikes. We haven't seen any since we got here. The Collectors must have brought the Husks. They're taking the colonists alive for some other reason."
"What are they doing with the colonists?" Shepard asked out loud. "Can't be because they want to make Husks."
"Might be best not to think about that," Tali replied.
Shepard kneeled near the Husk to get a better look. "These Husks are different from what we've faced before. They don't have the EMP pulse the previous generation had, but their bodies are more durable and they seem to be stronger. More evolved."
"They still die if you shoot them," Garrus quipped.
"We won't let them take anymore colonists," Shepard declared.
"Right," Tali nodded.
The next area was filled with containers for the unlucky colonists of Horizon. More Collectors greeted the squad. Shepard released shockwave after shockwave to keep the Collectors off of their feet. His squadmates advanced one by one taking down the confused Collectors. They went around the next corner to see another half dozen Collectors taking cover behind some crates under stairs. There were explosive canisters all over.
"Everyone take cover!" Shepard ordered. "I have this."
Shepard's body glowed. He raised his arms causing the canisters in the area to rise up. "Eat this!" he yelled while throwing them at the Collectors. The Collectors' remains were splattered against the wall.
There were no more Collector chirps. The team relaxed somewhat as they advanced. Around the building, they found their first colonist. It was a man helping up a woman, but they were frozen. There was a slight orange glow around them. A dark red mist moved around their body.
"They appear to be inside some stasis field," Tali observed. "Keeps you conscious but completely helpless."
"They've been like this for a while," Shepard said. To the two frozen colonists he said, "I'm not sure you can hear me, but I'm Commander Shepard and I'm not letting these monsters take you."
They entered the alley way. There Shepard found a Collector weapon leaned up against a container. "Garrus and Nihlus, go scout ahead," he ordered.
The two nodded and slowly went ahead. Shepard picked up the weapon and examined it closely. A look of irritation came across his face.
"Shepard?" Tali said.
"This..." he said. "This is a particle beam. This isn't their technology."
"It's Artician, isn't it?"
"Yes. Very primitive recreation of my people's technology, but this is it. We have particle beam weapons for our soldiers and for our ships. Even if this is primitive... This still makes it the most powerful weapon in the galaxy. This can slice right through most kinetic barriers."
"Commander!" Garrus called to him. "We have company!"
Several Collectors flew into the area. Shepard and Tali caught up with Garrus and Nihlus. Shepard tossed Garrus the particle beam weapon. "I lean towards my pistol, sword and powers," Shepard said to him.
The Collectors landed on the ground. One of them started to glow bright yellow. A burst of energy came from it. There were cracks of light all over its body and its eyes glowed.
"I AM THE HARBINGER OF YOUR DESTRUCTION."
"Focus on the underlings!" Shepard ordered. "I'll take on this one!"
Garrus was able to use the particle beam to slice through the Collectors fairly easily while Tali covered him in close range. Nihlus took to taking the left flank. Shepard's focus was solely on Harbinger.
Harbinger threw a yellow-coloured warp at Shepard. Shepard pulled out Asha. He swung the sword causing the warp to split. Shepard flung a warp which caused Harbinger's barrier to weaken.
"ARTICIAN!" Harbinger roared. "YOUR KIND WILL SHARE THE FATE OF THIS GALAXY. NONE SHALL ESCAPE ASCENSION."
Shepard closed the gap between them and swung the sword through its abdomen. Its torso fell to the ground while its bottom half stood up briefly before collapsing. Shepard looked at the bloody torso. There was a mixture of blood, guts and machinery within its body. The Collector was still active.
"TIVEN'VIAN... ARTICIAN... YOU CANNOT STOP US. THE CYCLE WILL CONTINUE."
Shepard stabbed Asha through its head, killing the host. Tali, Garrus and Nihlus regrouped on him. Both Tali and Garrus understood the significance of what Harbinger said. The whole Reaper fleet knew the parallel universe is involved in the war.
"What did it call you?" Nihlus asked Shepard. "Artician? Tiven'Vian?"
"Who knows?" Shepard shrugged. "The Reapers seem to have a preference for the dramatic and talk weird. Come on."
The group approached the garage bay and opened the door. They entered inside. There something fell to the ground. Shepard pulled out his pistol and said, "Company. Get out here. Now!"
A scared man slowly and cautiously walked out from around the generator. Shepard holstered his pistol upon seeing it was a Human.
"You're..." he said in surprise. "You're Human. What are you doing here? You'll lead them right here!"
"You had to have heard them trying to get in. It seems like no one can hide from the Collectors."
"Those things are Collectors? You mean... they're real? I-I thought they were just made up. You know... propaganda to keep us in Alliance space. No! They got Lilith! I saw her go down. Sten, too. They got damn near everybody!"
"What happened?"
"Well, we lost our comm signal a few hours ago, so I went to check on the main grid. Then I heard screaming. I looked outside and saw swarms of bugs. They froze everyone they touched, so I sealed the doors." Anger flashed across his face. "Damn it! It's the Alliance's fault! They stationed that Chief Williams here and built those towers. It made us a target!"
"Why are you blaming the Alliance?"
"We're just a simple farming colony. We've gone unnoticed for this long... until the Alliance came in and built those towers. So of course that grew attention to us!"
"The Collectors have been abducting Human colonies all over the Terminus. The Alliance was trying to help."
"We didn't ask for their help. Too many strings attached."
"Tell me about this Alliance rep."
"Chief Williams? Heard she was some kind of hero or something. Doesn't mean much to me. Didn't mean nothing to me, though. Would've rather she stayed in Council space."
"Any idea what she was doing here?"
"Supposed to be helping us get those defense towers up and running. I get the feeling she was here for something else. Spying on us, maybe."
Shepard looked to his teammates and said, "We can use those defense towers against the Collector ship."
"You would need to recalibrate the targeting system," the mechanic pointed out. "It's never worked right."
"We can figure it out once we get there," Tali interjected. "Just tell us where to find it."
"Head to the main transmitter on the other side of the colony. It's pretty hard to miss. The targeting controls are at the base."
"It's best you wait here," Shepard suggested.
"Yeah," the mechanic agreed. "I'll let you out, but I'm locking the door behind you. I'm not taking any chances. Good luck. I think you're going to need it."
They exited the garage. They could hear the insectoid chatter of the Collectors on the other side of the wall. Shepard peaked around the wall and saw two Collectors. He signaled to Garrus to take the left flank to give them cover fire. Tali was to summon her drone while Nihlus stay close with Shepard and take them in close combat.
"Now!" Shepard said.
Garrus beelined it onto the walkway to give sniper support while Tali stayed behind cover and caused a distraction with her drone. Nihlus unleashed his AR on the Collector on the left while Shepard one-shot the Collector on the right. A couple more Collectors appeared along with a pack of Husks.
Shepard saw the pack heading towards Garrus. He launched a shockwave at the horde blowing them to bits.
"YOUR GALAXY WILL BOW BEFORE US!" Harbinger roared as he flew into the area. "YOUR PEOPLE'S EXISTENCE IS AN INSULT TO OUR ORDER."
A large deformation of a Husk walked out from behind a building. The Scion charged up its cannon and fired a shockwave towards Shepard's position. Shepard ran up the wall to his side and jumped off, flinging himself towards Harbinger's avatar.
"YOU WILL SUBMIT!" it roared before Shepard sliced it down the middle.
Tali ran into the area and summoned a drone behind the Scion. The Scion was distracted while Shepard and Nihlus moved it. Garrus fired round after round from his sniper rifle. The Scion had a thick hide that protected it from harm. A burst of energy came from the Scion that destroyed Tali's drone. The Scion turned towards Shepard and Nihlus.
Nihlus was relentless in firing his AR at the Scion's face. Shepard moved in close and unleashed a devastating biotic blast and sent the unholy horror flying. Energy dissipated from Shepard's fist.
"That was for Tali's drone."
"Area cleared," Garrus announced. "Odd that we haven't seen anymore of them."
"They've probably been loaded onto the Collector ship," Nihlus concluded. "We should hurry."
Shepard approached the gate to the defense array base. He activated the panel, opening the door. The entered through. Two Scions moved out from behind the control base. Tali, Garrus and Nihlus took aim, ready to fire, but Shepard signaled for them to hold. He walked towards them and raised his arms. His body glowed green as the Scions' cannons charged. Green energy surrounded the two horrors and twisted them towards each other. Their shockwaves hit each other at full force in close range.
Shepard observed another horde of Husks approaching their position. He nonchalantly unleashed a shockwave to stop them in their tracks. His group approached the base. Tali got to work on the terminal. After connecting a few nodes, the terminal was back to capacity allowing for communication.
"Joker, do you read me?" Shepard asked over the comm.
"Your signal is weak, but I read you Commander," Joker answered.
"EDI can you bring the towers online?"
"Errors in calibration software can be easily rectified," EDI answered, "but it will take time to bring the towers to full power. I recommend a defensive posture. I will not be able to mask the increase generator output."
"Once the Collectors know this, they will try to stop it," Garrus commented.
"Any other helpful tips?" Shepard asked.
"Just one," EDI answered. "Enemy reinforcements closing in. I suggest you ready weapons."
Right after that suggestion, the sounds of wings fluttering entered the area. They took cover. The Collectors flew in by droves. Shepard's group returned fire in response. The Collectors did their best to be tactical in their approach, but none could get in close. EDI announced to them what was the status of the defense towers, periodically.
"EDI is going to have to hurry," Tali said as she fired her Geth shotgun into the face of a Collector assassin.
Occasionally Harbinger would possess a drone that is on the edge of death. Its dialogue was beginning to truly irritate Shepard.
"ARTICIAN. YOUR WORLDS. YOUR ALLIES. WILL FALL BEFORE US."
"Shut up!" he roared while slicing the Reaper avatar in half.
The flow of reinforcements seems to have finally been stemmed as the sound of fluttering wings stopped. Shepard's squad cautiously walked out from their cover.
"Cannons at 100 percent," EDI announced. The cannons roared to life and started firing at the Collector ship.
As they watched the Collector ship get attacked, an object flew over the building across the field. It was a Husk construct of sorts. It resembled a crab with a beak.
"Take cover!" Shepard ordered.
The Praetorian approached and started blasting them with duel particle beams. They had to move quickly to avoid it. As soon as the beams died out, everyone popped out of cover and bombarded the creature.
The barrage weakened the creature's shield, but as soon as they were damaging its armored shell, it slammed onto the ground and sent out a shockwave as it screamed. Shepard saw on his HUD that its barrier went up. He dashed towards the creature as the shockwave subsided. Shepard jumped onto its back as it rose.
"What the hell is he doing?" Nihlus screamed.
Shepard pulled out Asha. This sword was made to destroy Reapers. Shepard spun the sword and stabbed it through the thick armour of the Praetorin. The creature screamed as the sword slid into its back. Green energy emanated from the blade and started to dissolve the material of the creature. Shepard jumped off of the Praetorian as it shuddered and dissolved.
When the creature dissolved, the Collector ship let out a roar as its engines came to life. The ship lifted off and quickly left the colony behind.
"Goddamn it!" Shepard roared. His helmet dissembled revealing his face.
"No!" the mechanic yelled as he ran into the area. "Don't let them get away!"
"There's nothing we can do," Shepard said. "They're gone."
"They've got half the colony in there! They took Egen and Sten... Do something!"
"I didn't want it to end like this," Shepard said remorsefully. "I did the best I could do."
"Better than most Shepard," Garrus pointed out. He wasn't about to let Shepard feel undeserved guilt. Absolutely no one could have done better.
"Shepard..." the mechanic repeated. The name caught his interest. "Wait. I know that name. Sure I remember you. You're some kind of big Alliance hero."
"Commander Shepard," a voice said. Shepard and his squad's eyes were drawn to Ash who revealed herself from behind a crate. She approached them. "Captain of the Normandy. First Human Spectre. Saviour of the Citadel." Ash scowled at the mechanic. "You're in the presence of a God, Delan. Back from the dead."
"All the good people we lost and you get left behind," Delan shook his head. "Figures. Screw this. I'm done with you Alliance types."
Ash approached Shepard. To say it was a tense and awkward moment was putting it lightly. Ash quickly examined his face and then extended her hand. "I thought you were dead, Commander. We all did."
Shepard shook her hand and said, "It's good to see you again. How've you been?"
A look of disgust came across her face. "That's it? You show up after two years and act like nothing's happened? I would have followed you anywhere! I thought you were gone."
Tali and Garrus felt a growing anger inside them as Ash tore into Shepard. They were friends and comrades. Why is she acting like this?
"You were more than our Commander. Why didn't you try and contact me? Let me know you were alive."
"Ash, I was in a coma from the last two years while Cerberus rebuilt me," Shepard answered.
Ash took a step back. "Y-You're with Cerberus..." Her eyes finally noticed his squad mates. "Garrus... Tali, too... The reports were right."
"Reports?" Garrus muttered. "You mean you already knew?"
"Alliance intel said that Cerberus could be behind our missing colonies. We got a tip that this colony could be next to get hit. I went to Anderson, but he wouldn't talk. But there were rumours that you weren't dead. Worse... that you're working for the enemy."
"These colonies have been disappearing and everyone has been turning their backs on them. As much as it pains me to admit, Cerberus is the only ones doing anything about it."
"Bullshit!" Ash spat. "I know what Cerberus is like. They talk about putting Humans first, but at what cost? I wanted to believe you were alive. I just never expected anything like this. You've turned your back on everything we stood for."
"That's too far!" Tali screamed.
"Ash, you know me," Shepard said. "You know I would only do this for the right reason. You saw it yourself. The Collectors are targeting Human colonies and they're working for the Reapers. There's a lot more going on. I-I can't say exactly without putting a lot of people in harm's way. I just need you to trust me. Believe me."
"I'd like to believe you, Shepard, but I don't trust Cerberus. And it worries me that you do. What did they do to you? What if they're behind it? What if they're the ones working with the Collectors?"
"Damn it, Ash," Tali scorned. "You're so focused on Cerberus that you're ignoring the Collectors. You can't be this blind!"
"Ash, you're letting your anger towards Cerberus get in the way of facts," Shepard said.
"Or maybe you feel like you owe Cerberus because they saved you," Ash countered. "Maybe it's you."
That comment caused Garrus and Tali to stiffen. How could she say that? They knew what Cerberus has done to him. No one, absolutely no one has suffered more than Shepard at the hands of Cerberus.
Shepard ran forward and grabbed Ash by the collar of her armour and slammed her into a crate. The action shocked Nihlus but considering what Ash said, did not completely surprise Garrus or Tali.
"How dare you!" he growled. Shepard's eyes glowed green from the Alpha energy that was surging within him. "You have no idea the things Cerberus has done to me. No one hates them more than me. But I have to put my hatred aside to save this galaxy, whether they appreciate it or not." Shepard released his grip on her collar allowing her to stand on the ground. "Don't you remember the things I have done? I fought to have the Alliance to forgive your grandfather, Ash. I gave everything for this galaxy. If you're not willing to believe in me or my intentions after everything we went through during our hunt for Saren, then I don't even want you on my ship. Good bye, Ash. I wish you well."
Shepard walked away from a shocked Ash and he activated his comm. "Joker, send the shuttle. I've had enough of this colony."