CE 2183…0800 hours…August 8...Salarian Camp, Virmire
Jason looks around from his seat in the sand, taking in the sight of his first beach. The bright sun clearly illuminates the gorgeous scenery. The trees, while not like the palm trees he had always imagined would litter a beachhead, were still a luscious healthy green that covered the mountains that surrounded the cove they found themselves in. The clear water that lapped at the sand mere inches from his feet caused him to wish he could feel the fluid against his skin. There is the rumble of a distant thunder, though whether it is from the approaching tropical storm or his sister's Mako blasting a geth with its cannon he couldn't tell.
"Hello, Jason." The familiar voice of Liara says from behind him.
"Sup." He says happily, his eyes catch a couple of strange tropical fish in the ankle deep water and he points them out to Liara as she situates to sit next to him, he turns to her, finding her in her doctorial cloths. "I wish we had a fish tank on the Normandy, keeping some of those would really spice things up from the deep blue metal and dark orange monitors that adorn everything. The way Tali describes the quarian liveships makes them seem to be the way ships should be built, the perfect balance of nature and machinery."
"Much like yourself." Liara says with a smile. He can still make out a bit of sadness in her face that will likely never go away, and he feels a twinge of guilt for his failure. "Perhaps that is one of the reasons that she is drawn to you."
"That and my charm and good looks." He laughs.
"Indeed," she giggles, "she is a very fortunate girl to have found you."
"You aren't jealous of her are you?"
She blushes, "O…Of course not!"
He playfully pushes her, "You totally are! Don't worry, I know I'm hard to resist so I won't hold it against you."
"I am not jealous." She says seriously as she turns away, a slightly miffed look on her face.
"I'm just teasing Liara, besides you're like a third sister, I could never see you that way." He laughs
She sighs, "I wish I would have gotten to know some of the humans on my digs before I met you all. It is difficult enough to understand humans," she continues with a smirk, "but you and Samantha seem to make it more so than normal with your constant teasing."
"Oh don't blame it on us," he says, "you know Garrus, Ashley, Kaidan, heck even Wrex tend to do the same. You just got unlucky with the Normandy apparently."
"Apparently..."
The pair turns their attention to some distant splashing to see the Mako approaching from a break in the mountains in the distance.
"Finally…" Jason stands as the Mako pulls in front of them and Sam, Garrus, and Tali climb out. There is movement behind him as the STG leader Captain Kirrahe approaches with Ashley and Kaidan, who have been attempting to talk with him though he refused to go into detail on anything until Sam arrived.
"So what are we supposed to do now?" he hears Ash asking.
"Stay put until we can come up with a plan." He answers.
Samantha approaches Kirahee while he greets Tali with a loving hug.
"Are you in charge here? What's the situation?" Sam asks.
"I'm Captain Kirrahe. Third Infiltration Regiment STG. You and your crew have just landed in the middle of a hotzone. Every AA gun within miles has been alerted to your presence."
"What are we supposed to do in the meantime?" Sam asks.
"We stay put until the Council sends the reinforcements we requested." Kirrahe says.
Jason rubs the back of his neck as he approaches; Tali had already headed to a nearby tent to help a salarian with a malfunctioning medical station. "We kind of are those reinforcements." He says.
"What? You're all they sent?! I told the Council to send a fleet!" he says irritably.
"They couldn't understand your transmission. They sent us to investigate." Kaidan says.
"That is a repetition of our task, I lost half my men investigating this place." he looks at the metal structure behind him.
"What is this place exactly?" Kaidan asks.
"Saren's base of operations, he's set up a research facility here, but it's crawling with geth and very well fortified."
"What's he researching?" Sam asks. Jason turns his head to see Wrex approaching.
"He's using the facility to breed an army of krogan."
"How is that possible?" Wrex says. Jason can hear the slight elation at the thought of krogan breeding. He had explained to Jason about the "sterility plague" called the Genophage that all krogan were infected with because of the Krogan Rebellions. A war that started because the then recently uplifted krogan couldn't contain their constant battle-lust and once they defeated the Rachni they began to out breed and overtake Citadel space, the war ended with the turians appearing and using the salarian developed bio-weapon to end it.
"Apparently, Saren has discovered a cure for the genophage."
Sam places her chin into the space between her index and thumb, holding her chin the way they both did when they were in thought. "The geth are bad enough. But a krogan army…he'd be almost unstoppable."
"Exactly my thoughts," Kirrahe says, "we must ensure that this facility and its secrets are destroyed."
"Destroyed?" Wrex asks in surprise, "I don't think so. Our people are dying. This cure can save them."
"If that cure leaves this planet, the krogan will become unstoppable. We can't make the same mistake again." Kirrahe says firmly.
Wrex gets a very furious look on his dinosaur like face, and Jason can almost see the fiery hate in his blood red eye as he steps toward the Captain pointing an angry finger into the salarian. "We are NOT a mistake!"
Wrex turns away from him and stomps off.
"Thanks a lot guy, you just had to talk down to the krogan." Jason says under his breath. Sam nudges him and when he looks at her she mouths "Shut it." before she turns back to Kirrahe.
"Is he going to be a problem? We already have enough angry krogan to deal with."
"He'll be fine, I'll talk with him."
"I'd appreciate that, Commander. My men and I need to rethink our plan of attack. Can you give us some time?"
"Absolutely, I'll come back soon."
"We won't be long, Commander. In the meantime, if you need any supplies you can talk to Commander Rentola. He's in one of the tents nearby."
Kirrahe walks away, and Jason is turned toward the small group that is the humans of the landing crew behind him.
"Looks like things are a bit of a mess." Kaidan says.
"Yeah, I wouldn't be so worried if it wasn't for Wrex. He looks like he's going to blow a gasket." Ash states.
"I know that's why I'm going to talk with him." Sam replies.
"Actually I wanted to talk with him." Jason says.
"I don't know, Jason, he may try something…" Ash warns.
"Which is why I should be the one to talk with him." He reassures, "Between me and Sam getting his family armor, and the fact that I have enough barriers to stop a truck in its tracks I make the best choice for talking to him. Besides," he smiles at Sam even though she can't see his face behind the helmet he wore, "our conversations didn't devolve into "Shepard." "Wrex." after he stopped telling merc stories."
Sam punches him in the arm with full force, "Gah!" he hisses as he rubs the area.
"Just try and be subtle, the Genophage is a touchy subject. Ash, be ready to jump in…just in case." Sam says.
"I'm always ready." She says as she pulls out her rifle and begins to follow Jason down the beach toward Wrex.
Jason can see the large krogan down the beach; he is holding his shotgun out towards the water and firing on what is likely some of the tropical fish he saw earlier, the shots echoing within the cove. Jason stops and turns to Ashley, "I got this, you hang back here Ash."
"No can do, Jason. The Commander said to be ready…"
"Then be ready back here." He interrupts firmly, copying a stance he saw Sam use once. Ash backs away and lowers her gun.
"Fine, but don't think I won't come running if things get too heated between you two." She warns.
"Fine, but not a moment before, we don't need to start pulling guns on our friends you know." He says walking off.
"This isn't right, Jason." Wrex says angrily as he gets within earshot of the krogan, "If there is a cure for the Genophage, we can't destroy it."
"I understand Wrex, but Saren's the enemy, and a crafty one at that, you said so yourself when you told me about that volus freighter."
"How is he still my enemy? Saren created a cure for my people; you all want to destroy it. Help me out here Shepard. The lines between friend and foe are getting a little blurry from where I stand."
Jason knew Wrex was furious when he referred to him by his new last name. "This isn't even likely a cure. Knowing what he's planning it may only be a short term benefit, one that you or any of us won't be around to witness anyway."
"It's a chance we should be willing to take. This is the fate of my entire people we're talking about!" Wrex yells as he closes the distance between the two, shaking his fist angrily, "I've been loyal to you all so far; hell you and your sister have did more for me than my family ever did. But if I'm going to keep following you I need to know that we're doing it for the right reasons." With that Wrex pulls out his shotgun and Jason instinctively pulls out his rifle, aiming directly at him.
"Wrex, these krogan are not your people," Jason says trying to sound as firm as possible without losing any calm as he lowers his weapon, attempting to appeal to Wrex's rational, "they're Saren's slaves, remember what Shiala said on Feros? And Benezia? He's just using them as tools, is that the future you are willing to resign the krogan to?"
Wrex stares at him, and Jason can see in the one eye he can see that the old krogan's mind is racing. Finally he speaks, "No, we were tools for the Council once, and to thank us for wiping out the Rachni they neutered us all. I doubt Saren will be as "generous"." He lowers his gun, "Alright, Jason, you've made your point. I don't like this, but I trust you and Shepard enough to follow your lead. Just one thing, make sure Shepard knows that when we find Saren, I want his head."
Wrex turns and walks into the nearby tent with Liara as Jason turns back to where he was earlier, finding Ash only a short distance away with her rifle in her arms and Sam close behind her. He walks to them and the girls rush to meet him.
"Wow, I didn't think anything was going to calm Wrex down. You're a miracle worker Jason."
"Not really, just copied Sam here, she probably could have done the same."
"You still picked up my skill faster than anyone normal could." Sam congratulates him.
"Well you knew even before the deal with Cerberus I wasn't normal." He laughs.
"I'm just glad you calmed him down, I'd have hated to shoot him…we've all been through so much these past months…" Ash begins.
"Agreed, that's why we need to stick together, and watch each other's backs, no matter what." Sam says.
Kirrahe waves from behind the girls to come into his tent before heading back inside.
"I guess we're being summoned." He says.
"Then I guess we should go ahead and find out this plan." Sam says. The trio head to the tent, collecting Kaidan as they go and head inside.
"Thank you for speaking with the krogan." Kirrahe directs at Jason as they enter the tent, "The assault on Saren's base will be difficult enough as it is."
"Guess that means you got a plan together." He responds.
"Of sorts, we can convert our ship's drive system into a twenty-kiloton ordnance. Crude, but effective."
"Nice!" Ash states, "Drop that nuke from orbit and Saren can kiss his turian ass goodbye."
"Unfortunately the facility is too well-fortified for that. We'll need to place the bomb at a precise location." Kirrahe replies.
"Where do we take the nuke and how do we get there?" Sam asks, and knowing her she is probably prepared to make her own plan up if the salarians can't provide one.
"The bomb must be taken to the far-side of the facility. Your ship can drop it off, but we'll need to infiltrate the base, disable the AA guns and pacify any ground forces first."
"You want us to go in on foot?" Kaidan says disbelieving, "We don't have enough men."
"We got more than enough really, our team isn't exactly normal you know." Jason reassures.
"It does sound a bit risky. Is there no other way?" Sam asks.
"No, but I think we can work around that. I'm going to divide my men into three teams and hit the front of the facility. While we've got their attention, you can sneak your "shadow" team in the back."
"Seems solid if we send whoever isn't in Shadow from our group with you." Jason suggests.
"I'm afraid not, Saren already knows we are here, but not you in the sense of a Spectre and her crew rather than just a random ship. We need to keep it that way until the last possible moment, and that means as few of your crew assisting us as possible."
"But that's suicide!" Sam says loudly.
"We're tougher than we look, Commander. But it's true; I don't expect many of us will make it out alive. And that makes what I'm about to ask even more difficult. I need at least one of your crew to accompany me. To help coordinate the teams."
Sam grips her chin, "Good idea. We'll need someone who knows Alliance communication protocols."
"Guess that puts me out, kinda sucks considering I'd best fit the job here… you know, unless I'm in shadow now." Jason says.
"I volunteer, Commander." Kaidan says.
"Not so fast, L.T. Commander Shepard will need you to arm the nuke. I'll go with the salarians." Ash suggests.
"With all due respect, Gunnery Chief, it's not your place to decide." Kaidan says, even if he was trying to avoid making Ash mad his rude comment did it anyway.
"Why is it whenever someone says "with all due respect" they really mean "kiss my ass?"?"
"I gotta agree that was a punk move Kaidan."
Sam nudges him "Don't encourage them." She whispers without turning. "Williams," she turns to Ash, "you'll accompany the captain. No heroics, understood?"
"Aye, aye, Commander." Ash responds.
"I will have the ordnance loaded onto the Normandy and brief your crew on its detonation sequencing. Do you have any questions before we go Commander?" Kirrahe asks.
"No, sir, I'm ready when you are, Captain."
"Excellent. Then if you'll excuse me, I need to prepare my men."
Jason steps back to allow Kirrahe out of the tent, and then returns to his spot as Ashley begins to speak.
"Well, this is it. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone, L.T. You too, Commander."
"That's good; I can take up the stupid for both of them." Jason jokes.
"Oh no, you especially don't need to do anything stupid."
"We'll be fine, you'll see." Kaidan says.
"Yeah, I just…good luck." Ash says, showing worry on her face.
"Is there something you want to say, Ash?" Sam asks the woman, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I don't know. It's just weird, going under someone else's command. I've gotten used to working with you…all of you."
"Don't worry; we'll see you on the other side." Kaidan reassures her.
"I know, I…ah…it's been an honor serving with you, Commander."
Sam gives her a quick hug and Jason grabs both women in his own bear hug, laughing as the usually stone cold women can't help but squeak in surprise as he squeezes them just tighter than he normally does, "Don't worry so much Ash, you know I won't let anybody down." He feels a twinge in his stomach at these words. "What if I do…What if I'm not strong enough…"
"It doesn't matter if we're not in the same unit, we're still a team. Watch each other's backs, keep your eyes open and fight like I know you can. We'll all come out of this in one piece." Sam says.
"You bet, Commander." Ash finishes.
"Okay, since we're obviously supposed to be an infiltration group I've decided it's going to be me, you, and Garrus for this." Sam directs at Jason. "At least until we can get the nuke down. Everyone else needs to stay on the Normandy."
"Wrex isn't goin to like that; I forgot to tell you he specifically called Saren's head when we caught him." Jason warns.
"Then let's hope we don't run into Saren until I can grab him from the Normandy when we set the nuke, Kaidan, make sure he's ready with you and the crew that's unloading the thing."
"Aye, aye, ma'am."
"Jason, go grab Garrus and tell him to be ready."
"I'm on it."