21 Hours. 29 Units February 3, 2184 AD
Planet Gamma Xeta
Facility Target Alpha
Day Two of Operation "Unmasked Retrieval"
As the doorway allowed the squad enough time to all enter fire answered their arrival from up ahead. James found the room had two levels with enemies on both coordinating defensive fire at the Cohort squad. Enemy rounds splattered off his kinetic barriers as he rolled forward into one of the alcoves that dotted the first floor walls. The room seemed to be a large store room of some kind, but it had little cover save for support pillars and niches in the wall like the one James had taken.
The whole area felt like a shooting gallery with his team on the wrong side of the glass. The setup was made worse by the fact that the shooters on the elevated floor had a horrendous advantage on the pinned troops, an advantage that would turn deadly in a hurry unless they acted fast. While a marksman on the second floor peppered James' hiding spot the squad leader glanced back to his squad mates making sure to not expose his helmet as he did. He found Sol'kahf and Tholam crouched behind a pair of pillars about twenty feet away from the enemy shooters. Cahleura and Arterius were holed up in a set of alcoves like James and Gerick was currently prone against the metallic floor while doing his best to use the columns ahead of him to obscure the enemies' view.
James clicked his com once and then held up his left palm to his squad. Clenching it at a first and then opening it rapidly three times in succession he set up the next chain of orders before he fired a burst to the enemy group. Almost all in the same breath Sol'kahf Cahleura and Tholam unclasped grenades and hurled them forward toward the enemy position. The small defense barrier between the Cohort squad and their enemy would have stopped the explosives but suddenly a blue shimmering field seemed to cover them all. Completely defying the laws of gravity the grenades sailed upward and over the barrier to stop right in front of the surprised group. With no time to think only two of the ten turians that had been firing upon the commandoes managed to jump up and over the barrier as the explosives ripped through both armor and kinetic barriers. The two's escape was brutally and efficiently cut short as James sallied forward locating a better position against the enemy still entrenched on the level above them.
If the gunmen overhead had any brains at all they wouldn't fall for the same kind of trick and would be either preparing an immediate attack or trying to find a better area to hit the commandoes at. There was still a torrential amount of fire scaling back and forth between the commandoes and defenders and James did his best to block out the noise as he formulated the right plan of action. Over to his left he noted what he hoped would be an elevator that would take them to where their foe remained. As he checked the doorway out it was indeed a lift but with only space to possibly fit two people abreast. Anyone trying to attack the floor above would only be able to send up two soldier at a time and the defenders would have easy pickings for anyone foolish enough to attack.
Quickly turning back he noted that Sol'kahf had caught up with him in the momentary distraction and awaited orders while the rest of his team were still bogged down. Then suddenly the idea struck him even as Tholam had to fall back to avoid his helmet becoming riddled with enemy rounds. James clicked his com unit once more and then relayed several hand signals in Cahleura's direction. Immediately replying to the orders the blue skinned asari made a few gestures questioning the plan.
James quickly waved them away and repeated the orders and this time Cahleura slowly nodded before firing off a few shots at an unseen attacker. The squad leader kneeled and grabbed several grenades from his belt. Next he opened his utility box on the back end of the belt and grabbed a spool of cable. As he began assembling his contraption he turned back to Sol'kahf who watched the construction with intrigue. Once he was set with his creation the Cohort Captain headed for the elevator doors.
"If this goes wrong," James mulled over his next words carefully "tell Nina I'm sorry we didn't have more time." The broulian warrior looked at him and then nodded. In front the elevator doors parted and James stepped into the small space. As the doors slid shut Sol'kahf prepared himself for his part to play.
/
Nina and Bacek led Sigma team down the corridor the adjacent to the one they had walked down originally. Just a few feet in front of them Sigma's captain Signius was on point with his second in command Tom Yugior. Yugior was slightly ahead of his turian squad leader but both kept their attention vigilante and their guns at the ready. The door ahead had parted instinctively to the presence of movement and before them was what appeared to be an access hallway with doors branching off in several directions. As the group fanned out Nina wished once more that they had some sort of blueprint of the base to at least get their bearings. The five doors that led out of the room could lead anywhere and splitting up could open up the avenue for ambushes by the foes that knew this facility all too well.
Abruptly however two of the doors at the north end of the room burst open and figures appeared. Several bursts of fire suddenly lit up Yugior as he tried to crouch down to avoid the fire. The man fell forward as Signius bellowed an order.
"Split up your shot lines and coordinate!" Siginus' voice shouted over the squad channel. Nina poured the ammo on as the turian squad leader barreled out of the path of both the group's firing lines. The cohort squad members divided into two three man firing groups and each concentrated their fire on one of the doors. Nina and Bacek joined in after realizing the ploy and at least two of the enemy combatants fell under the accurate barrage.
As Signius finished his roll the turian realized he'd made it right to another one of the doors on the east side of the room. Suddenly he heard a mechanical whirring and the door sped open and a blue metallic blade swung out at him as he stepped back to dodge the weapon. For a moment the sword glanced off the doorway before it angled back at the Cohort captain. Moving quickly to his right to avoid the swing Signius caught sight of his attacker. The turian's gold rimmed eyes seemed to glow with hatred as he snarled back at Signius once more swinging his ornate sword at the commando. Signius brought up his rifle this time to intercept the blow but the blade crashed right on through the weapon and slashed through the chest piece of Signius' armor. Dark blood spilled from the wound as Signius fought hard to stay upright through the pain. While he stumbled slightly backward he heard his opponent laugh at him.
"I didn't realize that the supposed elite hammer of the council trained its soldiers to be so weak and spineless." The voice spoke in a harsh undertone completing the visage that Signius' tried to move back from. "It's too bad they didn't try to send a spectre after us, that may have been interesting." The enemy soldier said as he raised his sword once more.
"How can you fight me knowing the betrayal you've committed. I am a fellow warrior and you will kill me without mercy?" Signius managed to spurt out while blood began to stain the floor beneath him.
Amidst the torrent of fire in front of him the gold eyed turian smiled grimly. "We've committed no betrayal save the salvation of our species. Only you and that false council have betrayed your oaths, and you shall pay for your transgressions." With an inhuman roar the turian brought the blade down as Signius' closed his eyes awaiting the inevitable.
But no sweep came to his neck. He felt nothing besides the pain he already was dealing with and suddenly most of the ferocious concert of fire that had been the backdrop to the room had vanished as he opened his eyes. The turian in front of him was laying face up before him with only a scant remnant of his face to confirm that he was the swordsman about to sow death for him. As Signius turned around he saw an open door where a bandaged Troaviel held an unwavering rifle. As time seemed to flow again the rest of 3rd squad entered the room. The image began to fade however as one of the squad rushed towards him with a medkit in hand. As the human reached him he slipped into darkness.
Captain Troaviel breathed a slight sigh as he had his team secured the immediate area. As his squad reported back an all clear he turned to the remainder of Sigma. "Sorry we couldn't arrive sooner we ran into a bit of trouble when we hit the secondary entrance." As Nina and Backed approached them with questioning looks he continued. "Sorry about the deception but the captains and I decided we needed an ace in the hole. While we said we would stay as a perimeter watch we actually went on to infiltrate via the ventilation shafts we found while on our initial observation. We climbed through and made our way through trying to find the security center and, he were are." He finished as the medic finished examining Signius. "Will he make it?" he asked as he moved toward the fallen turian.
The medic bowed his head slightly. "It doesn't look good unless I can get him evacuated within the hour. If he doesn't get to a med center in two there isn't much chance.
Troaviel nodded and then looked back at Signius. "Stabilize him and hold up here. We'll come back for him and Yugior and make sure they get a prober ceremony when we return.
Even as he finished something seemed to bug Nina in the back of her mind. She knew they'd been maintaining com silence for the duration to make sure that the enemy didn't realize just how many commandoes were there but hiding Troaviel's mission from the rest of the group didn't seem like something James and the other captains would do and the grim reminder of what had happened to O'Kreamer still fresh in her mind she decided she'd better be safe than sorry. "Captain you remember our first assignment right?" she asked as she turned back to Troaviel.
The turian looked back at her somberly and nodded. "Yes but we really need to get moving Collins we need to find the center and..."
"What was the mission Captain?" she asked again making sure her that he heard her clearly.
Slowly Troaviel's eyes locked with hers. "The siege at Beloraud. Why do you ask." He said as everyone else seemed to stop their tasks.
"And what was the contact's name that we met up with?" Nina finished as she felt Bacek move up beside her. Her squad mate seemed to share the apprehension over Troaviel's sudden appearance and he knew she was just making sure.
After a few moments Troaviel replied back keepings his voice solid and calm. "Chaveninski, his wife was taken 30 years from when you met him." After a moment the tension started to fall away and then he continued. "Satisfied?"
Nina finally let go of the breath she had held and then looked back at the turian. "Sorry captain I've just been a little on edge since that attempt on the councilor."
Troaviel nodded curtly back to her. "No need for apologies Collins I think we're all in need of some serious R and R once this mission is over. But for that we need to move out and finish it. Everyone set?" he asked as the rest of the Cohort troops readied up.
Nina nodded back but something caught her eye where Signius had fallen. "At least we don't have to look for the command center anymore." She said as she moved past to the doorway were the medic was still watching over the downed captain.
"Why's that?" Troaviel asked as he moved in behind her watching his step as he approached the turian with the melted face. Inside was a host of data screens and sensor feeds along with a massive display of what Nina assumed had to be the facility. On the map she could make out the two branchoff corridors that Delta and Sigma had taken along with the room they had just entered. The weren't any symbols on the map but the amount of interfaces and command prompts held up the idea this was their goal.
"Ventim secure a terminal and see what you can find. Then load up that image onto a file for our HUDS so we can see where were going in this place." As the human technician sat down to work the captain turned to the single Otrale in his squad. "Avenk once we secure the information I want you to stay here and make sure nothing happens to Signius or Ventim."
"Understood sir." The small reptilian-like being hissed as he moved forward into the command center. Nina watched as its back eye continuously scanned the area as if always on guard for any threats. After a few moments a new image was uploaded unto her helmet's HUD and then Troaviel was moving again.
"Alright it looks like if we continue north and then take the next right we'll arrive at this room here." On her HUD Nina watched as a glowing orange beacon appeared a few rooms beyond the hallway that she and Bacek had split off from Delta squad with. "Let's move out."
/
As the doors opened James immediately found himself being watched over by at least three turian soldiers each with a suit of grey armor sheathing them. Each of the enemy soldiers raised their weapons to him as he stepped out the elevator.
"I don't think that's such a good idea." James grinned as he raised up the item he had created barely a minute ago. The weapon he held before them was a combination of three high explosive grenades with a length of cable strung through their pins. The front end of the cable was in James left hand while the other end was anchored into the pin of the last grenade in the row. "You shoot me and a whole lot of turians go off to meet their maker. Drop your guns now." He ordered as he noted at least three more turians lined up on the railing still trying to keep his squad pinned down. Slowly however most of their gazes occasionally made it back to the insane marine with the apparent death wish.
None however were willing to lay down there weapons and after a few moments one spoke up. "I know humans my ignorant friend and none of you would be foolish to think something like this will defeat us. I can see it in your eyes, you're not willing to kill yourself over a few grunts like us." He finished with a cruel smile.
James grinned widely and then replied staunchly "Well there's a first time for everything." He replied back as he yanked hard on the cable. Each pin was ripped out of the explosive with a mechanical click and suddenly the realization hit the turians and they dove back away from James, two even vaulting over the railing. Instead of an explosion however all that came was the small chime as the elevator once more opened up its doors and allowed another commando in. as the turians stood back up bewildered they saw a massive broulian now standing besides.
"That's it? All that just to get one more soldier up here to die along side you?" the turian who had spoken before said trying to push back the laughter at the ploy.
James turned to his comrade and then grinned back at the enemy troops. "Well he's a good soldier but I think she's more than enough for you guys." James said as he raised his rifle. The turians looked back behind them and suddenly a shimmering blue figure seemed to span across almost their entire field of view. At the center of the glow the asari commando floated towards them, her hands spread out like a mighty bird of prey and columns of mighty blue energy roared forward to the turian defenders. Suddenly all four of the remaining troops were cast into the air by the force of the biotic attack. Encased in their own blue glow their bodies were swung effortlessly as if they were as light as a feather but slowly enough that Sol'kahf and James easily riddled each one with fire.
As the last of the guards were dealt with Cahleura finally came to a rest on the level as James and Sol'kahf secured the fallen foes. As the glow subsided around her James was startled suddenly when the asari stumbled a bit as her feet touché the ground.
"You alright Cahleura?" he asked as he finally noted the train on her usual youthful demeanor. He knew the maneuver was going to be hard on her but she'd never really spoke of limits to her powers. The plan they'd just used had always been sort of a joke but now staring at both the effects and the after effects James knew he wouldn't be asking her to do it again anytime soon.
"I'm alright just a little shaky, never. Never hovered before." She managed a slight smile as Arterius and Gerick exited the elevator and rejoined the squad.
"Cahleura remind me never get in your way when you're angry." The sly human joked as he looked over the damage.
"I knew you had it in you. Thanks." James noted as he made sure she was feeling alright again. As she nodded thanks to him the squad leader turned back to the rest of the squad that had all assembled on the upper level. "Good work everyone lets find the end of this trail and make sure we finish it just as well.
Sol'kahf nodded and then spoke up. "Found a open door over here looks like it leads into an access corridor" he finished as Tholam brought up his omni-tool for a few seconds. A small beep issued from the device and then the slender alien turned to James.
"I'm getting some interesting readings from the door beyond the corridor possibly the same as what captain Ivizzes was speaking of before we went silent. I recommend we seal suits before progressing further."
James nodded and then checked his timepiece while the others began going through setup on their suits. Twenty units total had passed since he told Sigma to hold com silence. For a few seconds his thought drifted to Nina wishing to know for sure she was alright. He managed to fend off the thought realizing it could distract him at the wrong moment and with still a lot of gaps in this mission he couldn't take any chances. He sealed up his suits and then clicked his com unit 3 times. Taking a deep breath he stepped forward into the unknown.
/
Ivizzes and his team moved as silently as their suits allowed. So far they had come across what appeared to be two technicians and one security officer but for each opponent the large alien had opted for stealth rather than brute force. The entire part of the facility however was still much of a mystery to him. There were no vats of boiling liquids or chemicals, no containment cells with mutated beings ready to be released on an unsuspecting populace. Just large machines continuously clanging and banging as gears went up and down and side to side in an awkward ballad. His best guess was the entire area was a foundry for something but so far he'd seen none of the finished product. The conveyor belts between the machines were enclosed and seemed heavily shielded. That small tidbit seemed strangest to the krogan but he tried to stay mindful over other possibilities.
"Whoever's running this places must have a nice slush fund going on here." Jimbal said as his helmet passed over the massive machines lining the space. "That's a T-90 core processor, they use it make power units in shipboard weaponry. Wasn't there something about some alliance fleet blown to hell by..."
Suddenly Ivizzes held up his mighty hand to his lips to silence his squadmate. Just up ahead he could see shadows moving just past a set of machines that seemed to be chomping small identical segments at an alarming rate. Turned his silence gesture into a forward chop he prepared his squad to move forward. Lowering his shotgun and replacing it with a large curved blade he slowed his pace and prepared to attack. As he and Jimbal stepped out of the shadows they grabbed the two turians in uniform fashion. As both commandoes eliminated the sentries the krogan spoke back to the rest of the squad. "Alright lets keep moving we got a schedule to…" his gaze finally turned back where his fellow soldiers were. At least a twenty turians in dull dark red armor surrounded the commando squad. The dull tint of the armor seemed to blend in perfectly with the churning machinery as Ivizzes realized the trap he'd led his troops into. As he lowered his knife the mighty krogan watched as one of the enemy soldiers removed his helmet.
The elderly visage of Jardron Craoutus was revealed before Ivizzes and urge to attack the nearest guard and try his luck to kill his target through sheer force of will but he doubted the odds of succeeding. "Smart move krogan we wouldn't like for you to die before the final phase of our project. Of course I do wish the genophage had wiped out all of you scum. It would have saved us a lot of trouble."
"Sorry to disappoint but I'm sure you'll be wishing that on others soon enough." Ivizzes snarled as Jardron nodded to one of his compatriots. Suddenly one of the turians slammed down the butt of his weapon into the krogan's head. Ivizzes had just the time to utter a curse as the darkness clouded his vision.
