Chapter 26: Blackout
"Damn it." Ashley cursed, grunting louder than she expected. She was moving wreckage to get to an escape pod, she hoped that the escape pods had survivors in it but she wasn't hopeful.
"Ash, relax. I've got this." James jogged over, helping her lift the steel sheet, throwing it aside. "Miranda found some of the CIC but no survivors, she doesn't think anyone survived."
"She's probably right but none the less, we need to find out why she went down. Where were her fighters, she couldn't have recalled them all." Ashley said, she thought about the fact that the Normandy didn't have everyone survive and it was only a little wreckage compared to this.
James threw his head up when he saw movement, "Survivor!" James yelled, moving to get the rubble off the survivor.
"Help me." She barely whispered, Ashley saw a metal beam through her. She silently cursed herself, knowing that she would die no matter what James did. It was war, and nobody could escape the pain of it. She took a deep breath as Carter jogged over, "Carter?" She said, Carter whipped his head towards the survivor.
"Shelly, how did you end up here? I thought you never escaped Earth." He knelt beside her, gripping her hand tightly as he examined the wound. "Williams, I need a medic." Carter tried to move Shelly but she screamed in pain.
"Don't, it hurts too much to move. Just hold my hand." Shelly put on a brave face for Carter who was worried, he caressed her cheek. They had enlisted together from high school, he removed his helmet. His black hair sweaty as he leaned on his helmet, his brown eyes met Shelly's who took a deep breath. "I hate it when you look at me that way." She smirked, coughing up blood.
"What happened, you guys were giving us support?" Carter asked, he would have preferred to ask the questions over the commander. Ashley moved to kneel across from them, examining the wound closer. She pulled out some medi gel and applied to Shelly's wound to make her feel more comfortable.
"I don't know much myself, but we had a complete system fail. Someone on board sabotaged the carrier, we lost all systems. We still don't know how they did it but you need to find out how before it happens again." Shelly explained best she could, she went to move when Ashley placed her hand on her shoulder.
"It's ok, you couldn't have predicted a system wide failure. It just doesn't happen." Ashley said, looking up to Miranda. "We don't have the time to comb through the ship and find the part that doesn't belong, it wasn't hacked. Alliance system was updated by EDI to avoid Reaper or Cerberus hacking which means someone installed a virus that EDI's system couldn't detect."
"Shit, it means every Alliance ship is vulnerable." Miranda stated, looking at Ashley who wished they had a signal to tell the fleet but there radio was knocked out in the crash. They looked on as Shelly passed away, Carter closed her eyes.
"No radio which means we better hope they don't get hit and it also means that someone on the Normandy has installed it without EDI noticing." Ashley sighed, getting up and walking away from Carter who was sobbing quietly to himself. Miranda following her, "We need to get word to the fleet somehow, can you use any towers from here?"
"Nothing that will help me, none are powerful enough to pass the jamming." Miranda replied.
"Then, we need to take down the jamming frequency." Ashley said, crossing her arms as looking around at the crash site. She'd anticipated that the carrier would be mainly intact, but nothing like this. There was nothing left of the ship, nothing to identify it. "Everyone fall in, we're moving out."
"We going to charge the front line still like Shepard planned us for?" James asked, approaching Ashley beside Milque who looked relaxed.
"The nearest is to the north, but it's a good hour away." Milque replied, switching his ammo type on his rifle.
"Carter." Ashley spoke louder than she meant to but they couldn't stay any longer, not without Cerberus catching on where they were. She watched as Carter was helped to his feet by Davies, they nodded to each other before walking over to her.
"Where to?" Carter asked, Ashley looked at the squadron assembled before her.
"We go and kick some Cerberus ass, Cerberus will have a base of operations in the capital. We are taking that, and finding out what we can about their operation here." Ashley explained, she turned and looked at Hartlett who was not with the group. "Hartlett, you will head back to the shuttle and try and get the radio working. I can't let you go into combat but I'll be sending Carter with you."
"I want to go with you." Hartlett spoke out, approaching Ashley who sighed.
"You aren't special forces, not like us. You'd only slow us down." Ashley was brutally honest, she knew it was true. He was an engineer on the Normandy, working under Adams as maintenance.
"If you get me to a computer in the Cerberus base, then I could get access to their computers. I can help you more there in ten seconds then trying to fix a shuttle signal." Hartlett was honest, Miranda understood what he wanted to do.
"I'd take him." Miranda didn't trust him but she knew it would have taken her longer to hack the system than him, he was the strangest engineer she had ever met.
"Shit." Ashley murmured to herself, she looked at Hartlett and then Miranda. She needed to make sure he remained safe but she needed Miranda up the front with her biotics, "Ok, Davies. He's with you, keep him safe." She ordered, grabbing her rifle and leading the way.
"Do you have any idea where there base is?" James asked, pointing to the obvious.
"The Illusive man can't help himself, all the reports I've read about Cerberus taking over planets. They always move into the old Alliance base." Ashley smirked, she remembered where the Alliance base was built here. It had been expanded here to avoid more Raider attacks and artillery had been built in the city, they ducked when they heard artillery go off nearby. "They are using the Alliance artillery."
Ashley knelt down by the corner of a building, poking her head to look at the Alliance base entrance. She turned her head to Carter, signaling him to cross the road so they approached from two directions. "Carter, Milque, Harwell and James." She ordered, James moved up to Ashley.
"You sure you don't need me here." He asked, Ashley smirked.
"I'll be fine, you just focus on what needs to be done." Ashley ordered, James nodded before following Harwell across who waited for him. Hartlett had a pistol, he wasn't a bad shot, he had killed on Eden Prime but it was different, he watched as everyone used the buildings as cover on their advance. Davies and Hartlett moved to the nearest roof with the best view over the entrance, he was laid out on the roof. "
"Williams, duck your head." Davies said, Williams hitting the ground with her squad as a Cerberus patrol passed in front of her. He looked through his scope, "Clear."
Williams got up, signaling to her squad to follow her as they got to the entrance. She checked her rifle, switching ammo type to stun them. "Miranda. I want you to hit them with a biotics and Davies. Hit them where it hurts." Ashley smirked, "Carter, your squad will be up front but Milque. I want you to watch for flankers."
"Yes commander." Carter responded, Ashley nodded to Miranda before moving forward. She fired her rifle, stunning a soldier which Miranda lifted and hurled into another soldier. Carter moved up ahead, using the cars as cover. James smacked a Cerberus soldier with the butt of his rifle before grabbing his head and slamming it into the mako, the Cerberus soldier struggled before James finally got him in a headlock and snapped his neck. Hearing the crunch it made as he dropped to the ground, Ashley slid underneath the boom gate. Shooting two soldiers down before aiming the one on the roof and taking him down. Carter beside her as he covered her, He pulled her to his feet before being shot in the shoulder.
"Lousy shot." Carter hissed in pain as Ashley shot the enemy soldier down, she approached him and noticed his armor was different to regular soldiers. "Keep moving Milque and James." He yelled, both James and Milque charging ahead.
"Miranda! You recognize this armor?" Ashley asked, Miranda jogging over as she reloaded her pistol.
Miranda quickly examined the armor before smirking, "Yes, Cerberus Special forces. Headed by Kai Leng, he's the one who stabbed Shepard."
"Which means he must be here." Ashley replied.
"He's not here, we'd already know. He's wherever Shepard is and we can't warn him." Miranda sighed, moving on to catch up with the rest of the squad.
"Carter." Ashley applied Medi gel to Carter's wound, she knew they must have all ran out. "Guessing you were out?"
"Yes mam, we ran out over a week ago. Anyone who got shot after that had to suffer." Carter said, he reloaded his rifle before nodding to her.
"Davies, bring Hartlett up. We're charging the main facility now." Ashley ordered, she saw Davies stand and tap on Hartlett's shoulder from where she saw. She turned and led Carter to the main doors, ducking behind cover when she saw the main bulk of the base forces guarding the door. They were engaged with James, Milque and Miranda. They hadn't noticed Carter or her yet which gave them a window to flank the enemy.
"Flanking them?" Carter whispered, Ashley handed Carter one of her grenades.
"Throw your grenade and flank them but wait for my signal." Ashley ordered, Carter nodded as Ashley snuck up to the main group. Carter was concerned about how close she was going to be to his grenade but he couldn't worry about this stuff. She knew what she was doing and he was following an order, "Now." She whispered, he stood and ditched as far as he could. IT hit the door and rebounded down the stairs by them towards the back of the enemy. Ashley nodded to him as she pulled out a grenade, "James, you have any grenades left?" Ashley asked, she knew james would have used some to try and unpin them.
"Certainly do, have four." James replied, Ashley had five left but wasn't concerned. No doubt Cerberus would have grenades they could steal.
"Throw one just into their defenses and watch your throw, I'm hiding at the back." Ashley ordered, James nodded as he grabbed one of his grenades. He pulled the pin, quickly standing and ditching it into the enemy's camp before ducking again. She moved along to get behind the enemy, she heard the grenade explode. She checked her ammo before looking over her head, some had moved to engage Carter who had opened fire. But they hadn't noticed her which was good, she placed her rifle on the cover. There was a soldier standing at the back barking orders which meant he was the leader, she quietly climbed over her cover. Approaching the nearest enemy soldier, wrapping her arms firmly around his neck. He resisted and Ashley snapped his neck, she moved back to grab her rifle. She aimed up the nearest soldiers and opened fire, quickly knocking them down. "Charge you four." She ordered through her headset. She used her rifle to block an incoming soldier's punch, it took the brunt of the power but still forced her back, she watched as he glowed. "Biotic." She smirked as he went to swing but he fell, Miranda standing behind him with her pistol still pointed at him. She fired again to make sure he was down.
"Couldn't let you have all the fun." She smirked, Ashley chuckled to herself as they finished off the last of the soldiers outside. Davies approached with Hartlett, "Ok, Miranda. Get the door open, Harwell and James. You two take point, Hartlett. You stick to me and Davies, you cover our backs." Ashley ordered, she approached the door. Kneeling and pulling out on her grenades, she knew it should blow a hole big enough for them to get it open. She carefully placed it on top of the handle, pulling the pin carefully before moving back to get out of the way. James placed his helmet on, preparing himself for entry. He looked at the door before it exploded, the door handles exploding.
"Now." Ashley ordered, Harwell opened the door for James to enter first. Holding his rifle up with the flashlight on as he examined the area. Harwell just behind him, with the rest following them in. They cleared each room at a time before heading downstairs to the servers room. "Servers, ok. Hartlett, once we're in. Work your magic."
"Magic?" Hartlett smirked.
"You know what I mean, just do what you need to do to bring our communications back online." Ashley said, Hartlett nodding as he checked his pistol. He had fired maybe two shots off but he was still in the action, it was amazing to see how marines worked.
Miranda approached the main doors, checking for any sort of security codes. "Doors are clear for any security, just hope they haven't hooked a bomb to the handle." Miranda chuckled, James raised an eyebrow at her.
"And they thought I was crazy." James smirked.
"You are crazy dude." Milque added, taking his position across from James. Ashley knelt and held her rifle at the door, Miranda behind Milque as Harwell covered the approach behind them.
Ashley shot the handle, Carter kicking the door open for James who quickly entered, firing his rifle at two Cerberus soldiers, taking them down before Milque took down the one on the main computer. "Clear." Milque yelled, Ashley jogging in behind Hartlett who approached the computer. Milque pulled the dead soldier off the desk, "It's all ready for you."
Hartlett sat in a chair and looked at the bloodied screen, he quickly typed on the keyboard. Ashley staring at how quick his hands were moving, she was quick but nothing compared to that, "He authorized a system wipe." Hartlett said, pulling out a hard drive and plugging it in. "I've stopped the wiping, but you've lost files. Hopefully not any that bring Cerberus down."
"Ok, no doubt Cerberus already know we have this facility now. Milque, Davies. I want you two on top scouting for reinforcements, James and Harwell. I want you two securing the main entrance. Carter, get Miranda to strap that wound best she can. I need you fighting fit." Ashley ordered, everyone nodding and moving off. Miranda and Carter went upstairs to the Medical bay they had cleared earlier.
Ashley looked over Hartlett's shoulder when Miranda approached, tapping her arm. "A word?" She asked, looking at Ashley who nodded to her. she led them to just outside the door by the stairs, giving them some pivacy.
"What you need Miranda?" Ashley asked, crossing her arms as trying to read Miranda's expression.
"I don't need anything, I'd watch Hartlett. Giving you a heads up but Shepard's asked me to investigate him, you shouldn't even know but right now. He's in a cerberus computer and he could be wiping any information they have on him." She whispered, Ashley nodding.
"If I think there is a problem, I will deal with it. Until then, just focus on the task at hand." Ashley replied, "Miranda, just be-"
"Fuck" They were cut off by Hartlett yelling, it took them both by surprise as they quickly made their way back to him.
"What's the issue?" Ashley asked, placing her hand on Hartlett's shoulder.
"Timer started, its not linked to the base. No sirens or alarms have gone off. " Hartlett replied, staring at the screen. "It's what Shelly told us, how her ship went down."
"Four minutes, ok." Ashley took a deep breath, she was trying to work out in her head how to deal with it. "Can you get planet communications up?" Ashley asked, Hartlett nodding as he accessed the frequency and realigned it to the Alliance frequency.
"Done, but I doubt you can do much with it." Hartlett replied, looking at Ashley who was leaning next to him.
"Can you disable the satellite so the signal doesn't go off?" Ashley asked.
"No, I can't get in contact with it. I entered the communications system which caused the trigger and it is encrypted. I can't break through this in time, It will take at least an hour to get through it. By then, it will be too late." Hartlett explained, Ashley took a deep breath.
"Can I communicate with the Normandy?" Ashley asked.
"No, I can't get surface to ship yet, only planetary." Hartlett replied, both Ashley and Miranda thought that was odd. She pushed Hartlett out of the way, connecting her omni tool and opening her contacts.
"EDI." Ashley put it on loudspeaker. "EDI!"
"Yes, Commander Williams." EDI replied, Ashley smiled.
"Why contact EDI? She can't help us, you don't even know what the timer is for?" Hartlett spoke out, Ashley took a deep breath.
"EDI, I need to shut down power to the Normandy." Ashley said, everyone looking at her.
"A little insane I might say." Carter smirked, "It could be us."
"It's not, Cerberus wouldn't destroy their own base. Not when they are sending reinforcements." Ashley looked at him, she was right. Well, she hoped she was.
"Shouldn't she tell the fleet? She is the ship." Miranda said.
"She cannot communicate with them, it's the most she can do is save the ship. If the Normandy is unpowered when the timer goes off, then rightly speaking. It should be unaffected which means it's up to the Normandy to protect the fleet whilst it re powers." Ashley said, looking as the timer hit the 30 second mark. "EDI, you still there?"
"Yes Commander, I'm shutting down the Normandy. Joker is fighting it." EDI replied.
"EDI, can you send morse code to Joker. He would know how to read it, he might get the message out in time to save the fleet." Miranda said, the timer hit zero barely ten seconds after she finished.
They listened to a loud boom when Milque smiled, "it's not the first time they have done it, I heard that same noise only moments before the Carrier crash landed. And no doubt the Madrid was destroyed with the exact same signal."
"Hartlett, stop the signal from being sent out again. Everyone else, prepare for reinforcements and EDI. Get ahold of Shepard and tell him they need to retreat, we took back the alliance base here." Ashley ordered, she grabbed Miranda's arm to stop her from walking away.
"What do you need?" Miranda asked, she trusted Ashley more than what she expected.
"If we have to retreat, I want you to get everyone out. I will stay behind to set off a bomb to make sure Ceberus pay for it." Ashley kept her voice down, Miranda nodded.
"Understood, I'm guessing I'm your second then." Miranda had a little smirk on her face, Ashley nodded before letting her walk away. She turned her attention back to Hartlett, she didn't understand completely what he was doing but knew how to work on well enough, unlike Shepard the caveman she smirked.
"Hartlett, the only time you are to move is if you have to protect yourself or if Miranda forces you from it." Ashley ordered, Hartlett nodding as he plugged in a hard drive.
"I'm transferring the hard drive, it will hopefully give us something." Hartlett said, turning to look at her. "I'm also going to help you from here, I've gotten access to the bases security which should help you."
"Thank you, it will help. Believe me, we're going to need help to hold this place." Ashley headed for the entrance. James and Carter moving anything to halt the advance when they arrived. "Milque, nothing in visual?" She asked, looking up to Milque who was with Davies, they were watching for any enemy movement whilst they prepared best they could for the next wave.
"Williams, Shepard is handing his end." EDI spoke into her earpiece, Ashley nodding as she looked at Miranda. Who was busy moving stuff either biotics, "Everything ok Ashley?" EDI asked, it was the first time she had called Ashley by her first name.
"Yes, just focusing on preparing the bases defence." Ashley felt a cool breeze hit her face, it was a good relief that would be short lived. "EDI, is the Normandy okay?"
"Yes, it didn't suffer and some of the fleet survived the system wide failure. The Normandy had no black box but I powered her down for safety concerns, I feel everything inside the Normandy." EDI was somewhat creepy with how she explained it, Ashley felt a screeching pierce hit her ears, she fell to her knees as covering her ears to try and stop the pain. It eventually stopped, she let her hands fall to the ground. Taking several quick breaths before looking around, everyone else had been affected. They looked just as confused as her, she knew it was the Reapers.
"Everyone stop and ready your rifles!" Ashley ordered, sprinting for the front line when she was knocked off her feet. She looked up to see a Reaper standing over her, "You've got to be kidding me." She whispered as staring at it, she froze. Hoping that it wasn't trained on her, and if it was. It gave the squad time to get out of the way.
Shepard watched from his position as two Reapers landed in the capital, just after a boom went off. It was hard to describe the noise other than a piercing ring, "Sir, Artillery is ours. What do you want to do?" Dunstan asked, approaching Shepard who looked through his binoculars to the capital. He just hoped Ashley wasn't near the Reapers.
"Fire the Artillery at the Reapers in the capital, its our best chance to disable them." Shepard said, Dunstan nodded before jogging off. Liara grabbed the binoculars from him, taking a look herself.
"You sure about firing, Ashley might be down there?" Liara asked, Shepard heard a ping on his omni tool.
"They know the plan, they should be down at the front line." Shepard replied, walking off and opening his omni tool. He had sent EDI, Javik and Tali to the front line trenches to relieve tired soldiers, alongside Geth and Krogan reinforcements. He decided to remain behind with the Artillery and make sure it was secure before moving off. "EDI, what is the problem?"
"Ashley took the Alliance facility, she discovered a plot to take down the fleet. The piercing ring was the signal firing, I powered down the Normandy and managed to get a message to Joker. So hopefully not all the fleet was hit." EDI explained, Shepard sighed, Cerberus was placing agents in Alliance ships now and sabotaging them.
"Communication is back up Commander." Dunstan approached Shepard again, "I'm getting word from all our Alliance squadrons in trouble."
"Good, now Dunstan-" Shepard was cut off by the Artillery firing towards the capital, he watched as a building collapsed on the Reaper. "Hold fire." He ordered once the barrage of fire was finished hitting the capital.
"Shit, who fired the artillery?" Shepard heard Miranda's voice on his radio, he was glad to know she was alive. He knew there shuttle went down, "Williams?" She yelled over the radio, "Crap, Vega?" She tried again, Shepard rubbed his eyes. Please nobody get hurt by his bad decision, he would have never fired at the capital but he thought it was abandoned and he thought they had stuck to the plan, charging to the enemy front line south of the capital.
"Miranda?" Shepard touched his earpiece, but it went fuzzy as the Reaper landed in the capital. He let his hands drop as watching the Reaper tear the Capital to the ground, helpless to do anything to stop it as it turned it to ashes.
Because we all secretly love Cliff hangers... And I hope you enjoyed it, and thank you for the continued support. Would love to hear what you think about the original content I've been writing.