Chapter 28: Battlefront part 3

Kroll led Shepard and Grunt out to where five Yahg bodies lied dead followed by two wounded Krogan on the ground struggling to stand.

"What happened?" Grunt demanded to Skrawl who was helping get the injured Krogan on their feet.

"The Yahg Moreck stole the gun when it was his turn to be taken out, we never expected him to move so fast. He shot those two and Kroll and he kneed me in the quad."

"Do we have any idea where he is?" Shepard asked worriedly.

"He went east, towards one of the major cities." Kroll informed.

"My bet is that he's off to alert his leader where we are," Grunt said disgruntled as he looked out towards the civilians out in the fields. "We're not safe here anymore Shepard," he warned warily. Shepard didn't say anything but looked out into the distance for a moment while his thoughts were forming. After several seconds he shot back into attention and looked at Grunt.

"Find Zelman and Dagg and have them meet me in the kitchen, we have work to do." In seconds the people Shepard had sent for were talking frightfully in the kitchen trying to come up with a plan, once Shepard walked in the chatter died down.

"Alright, our location has been compromised; one of the Yahg we had imprisoned managed to escape and is heading east to where they must have their main base stationed, or at least a major one. Any ideas?"

"It's no longer safe here," Zelman said worriedly. "We need to rally the civilians and find another place to hide until reinforcements arrive."

"Have you reached Rannoch yet?" Shepard asked hopefully.

"We've sent out what signals we could, it's in the Ancestors hands now."

"Who know how long it will take for help to come though," Dagg said abrasively. "I say we bunker down and fight these Yahg bastards with a little home field advantage. We get the men from the civilians to bolster our ranks and send the women and children into hiding."

"We would be slaughtered in a matter of minutes!" Zelman shouted angrily. "We have no home field advantage and the men amongst the civilians have never been in combat. They'd be a hindrance instead of helpful."

"Why don't we just hunt down the Yahg?" Grunt suggested. "Kill him before he reached the city and send his corpse to their leader as an example.

"I have a better idea," Shepard said calmly. When he was sure he had everyone's attention he stated his plan. "This Yahg, Moreck, was just captured and brought to our location. He's going to want to go to whoever is in charge of the attack and tell him where we were hiding so they can track us."

"What's your point?" Dagg asked suspiciously.

"He couldn't have gotten that far ahead of us, I say a team takes one of the ground vehicles and beats him to the city and kidnaps whoever is in charge. You saw how he reacted when Grunt killed men who were his equals, imagine how the entire invasion would act if we had their leader."

"They'd submit and follow our demands," Zelman said excitedly.

"How big a team would we bring Shepard, we don't exactly blend in with the natives here," Grunt pointed out.

"We're going to need a big team; something tells me stealth won't really be an option here."

"What about the civilians?" Zelman asked.

"We send them out in the woods with the remaining ground vehicles and the majority of our forces. The Yahg will follow their trail and take a large percentage of their men with them to track us down, making it easier for the infiltration team to kidnap the leader."

"You want to use civilians as bait?" Zelman asked incredulously. "That's a monstrous thing to do,"

"Shepard's right though, it's our best chance getting to break into the city."

"I want nothing to do with this plan," Zelman stated firmly.

"Zelman we don't have a lot of options," Shepard argued. "We can't just sit here and do nothing while the Yahg are closer and closer to wiping us out. If we can kidnap their leader fast enough then the civilians won't be at any risk. But we need to move fast." Zelman was obviously distraught over the decision but reluctantly nodded in agreement.

"Very well Admiral, we'll do things your way."

"Who's going to go into the city Shepard?" Grunt asked expectantly. After a moment of thinking Shepard listed off the group he'd take.

"Along with myself Grunt, Dagg, Kroll, Skrawl, the Shaman and several Quarians. Zelman will you join us?"

"No Admiral, I would rather stay and do what I can to protect the civilians."

"Very well, I want you to hand pick who will come along on this mission, also were going to need comm links that haven't been blocked by the Yahg. We leave in 10 minutes so gear up everybody." It wasn't long until everyone was ready and loaded into the Mako. Zelman had picked three young and abled men from the Quarians to join the attack and Shepard could tell that they were nervous. As soon as the vehicle was loaded they immediately drove east taking every necessary precaution to remain undetected.

"So how are we gonna play this out Shepard?" Grunt asked as he cleaned his Claymore. It was a very tight squeeze for the group in the Mako but no one seemed ready to stop Grunt from cleaning his gun.

"Zelman set up devices around the proximity of the house if anyone approached them, once they go off Zelman will alert us and we'll head into the city. Hopefully we should be in and out in no more than two days."

"So what are we supposed to do until Zelman gives us the ok?" Dagg asked.

"We stay in the Mako so that its cloaking mechanics can keep us hidden." The group looked around uneasily for a few minutes when Grunt raised his hand with a question.

"What if we have to pee?" The ride to the city took only a couple of hours; they parked the vehicle several miles away from the city and waited for Zelman's call. It ended up taking the remainder of the day and most of the night when Zelman finally called the team.

"Shepard it's me, our sensors just went off detecting a large group of Yahg approaching the house."

"Are you and the others safe?" he asked.

"Yes, we're hiding out in an abandoned factory about 10 miles away, we're giving the civilians' time to rest before we move again."

"Good, Shepard out." Shepard looked to his team and gave them an affirmative nod. "Alright team let's move out." The team exited the Mako and quickly made their way toward the city, careful to avoid the few patrols that were still on schedule. In half an hour they managed to infiltrate the city undetected and take cover in an abandoned building while they planned their next step.

"Now what Shepard?" Grunt asked expectantly. Shepard looked over to the three Quarians and asked which of them were infiltrators. Two of them raised their hands as Shepard nodded approvingly.

"I want you two to look around and find the building with the most guards; chances are the Yahg leader will be there or it's something important we can sabotage." The young Quarians nodded and both of them immediately cloaked and exited the building in a rush. Moments later the group heard them over their comm links.

"Shepard, we found one building guarded by several Yahg out front. It appears to be the city hall or something."

"Well done, remain hidden and await further instruction." Shepard turned to the others who were eagerly waiting for their orders.

"We're going to split up into two teams to cover more ground. Dagg, Kroll, Skrawl and the Shaman will go in through the back entrance; Grunt, the three Quarians and I will go in through the front once the guards are dispatched."

"What if we get lost in the building?" the Shaman asked.

"The building isn't that large, only one story. Worst case scenario we just meet outside if we can't find one another."

"Understood," Dagg said taking command of the second group. The Krogan silently ran out of the building towards the back while Grunt turned to look towards Shepard.

"So how are we going to get passed the guards? Direct approach?" Shepard pondered the suggestion but smiled when a better idea came to mind.

"Remember back on Omega when we were helping Garrus take out the merc squads?"

"Yeah,"

"Remember what you did to the progressing Eclipse soldiers?" Grunt smiled a devilish grin at the memory and nodded excitedly. The three made their way out of the building and silently approached the building guarded by two Yahg. As they took cover behind several knocked over vehicles the other two Quarians appeared besides them.

"How are we supposed to get in there?" one of them asked worriedly. Shepard ignored the question and turned to look at Grunt. "Get into position and call me when you're ready." Without a word Grunt nodded and ran off into the night to get where he was needed. After several minutes of silent waiting Grunt's voice was heard over the comm link.

"Grunt calling Shepard, I'm in position and ready for it to rain,"

"Copy that Grunt, here comes the rain," Shepard grabbed several smoke grenades from his belt and tossed them fluidly over the car and directly in front of and besides the two Yahg guarding the door. When they activated the Yahg looked around frantically for whoever had thrown them but to no avail. While Shepard couldn't see what was happening he had an excellent idea of what was happening when he heard one of the Yahg yelp in both surprise and pain. When the smoke cleared both of the Yahg were on the ground hogtied and unconscious with a slightly bruised Grunt sitting atop the larger of the two. Shepard approached with a smile on his face as he clasped the Krogan's hand.

"Figured we should keep em alive, to make an example out of them. Sound like a plan Shepard?"

"Yeah, but later Grunt. We have bigger fish to fry right now." With a nod the five soldiers entered the building and quickly began searching for Clan Chieftain Jornock. It only took them a few minutes of searching though for them to realize that the building was empty.

"I don't get it, why would the Yahg guard an empty building?" one of the Quarians asked. Shepard nodded in agreement as he put his hand to the communicator in his ear.

"Dagg this is Shepard, have you guys found anything yet?"

"Negative: the damn place is completely empty!" Dagg replied angrily.

"I smell something wrong here Shepard, you would have thought we'd have seen more than two guards guarding where their leader would be holed up." Grunt said suspiciously. Before Shepard could add his two sense the building shook violently causing the Quarians to fall to the ground while Shepard and Grunt struggled to keep standing.

"The hell was that?" Grunt said angrily as he tried leaning on the wall for support.

"Dagg report! What's happening?"

"Hell if I know Shepard! I didn't think colonies could even get Earthquakes."

"It's another trap," Shepard said angrily. He slammed his fist into the nearest wall leaving an impressive dent as he cursed angrily. "DAMN IT!" That's the third time these bastards have tricked us." One of the Quarians finally managed to get up and was stumbling as he approached Shepard.

"Admiral we need to get out of here, there's no telling what the Yahg have pl-AHHH" the Quarian was interrupted as he was shot in the side by a nasty bulled that made the side of his stomach explode on contact. The Quarian was brought to the ground where he aimlessly groped the side of his body that once held skin. Shepard turned and fired blindly, successfully hitting the Quarians attacked and causing him to take cover. Shepard knelt down to the Quarian and tried to put the wounded soldier on his shoulder for support.

"Come on soldier, we'll get you out of here." Shepard assured the young Quarian.

"Admiral leave me, it's too late for me."

"Don't say that!" Shepard ordered.

"If the wound doesn't kill me the infection surely will. Leave me and… save…. your….. selves," The Quarian went limp in Shepard's grasp causing Shepard to put the young soldier down in silence. Shepard cursed the situation as he heard Grunt firing at what could only be taken as approaching Yahg.

"Shepard we need to get out of here, there sending some brave ones in and I don't know how long I can hold them." Shepard didn't say anything but silently rose from the ground where he looked down at the Quarian soldier regretfully.

"Keelah Selai," he said silently before looking back to the others in his group. "We're getting the hell out of here," he said with more determination then he felt. Just then the wall farthest of them was knocked down, reflexively Shepard and Grunt aimed their guns at the sound but lowered them at seeing Kroll and Skrawl in the newly made hole.

"Told you this would be faster," Kroll said chastising his brother.

"Come on Shepard we gotta go!" Skrawl said ignoring his brother's jibe. "The Yahg are surrounding the building, if we don't hurry we'll be over run!"

"You heard the man! LET'S MOVE!" The group ran out through the wall, taking down any Yahg that tried to stop them (or at least preventing them for moving for a time being) as they made their way out the building where they met up with the rest of Dagg's group.

"We already called and warned Zelman, he's moving the civilians somewhere safe." He informed them as they ran to the Mako.

"Where are they?" Shepard asked.

"He didn't say, just in case the communication feeds are being tapped into, but he insured me that everyone would be safe." As they approached the area they parked the Mao they were shot back by the vehicles sudden explosion. As everyone haggard back into a standing position Dagg assessed the situation.

"Well that sucks more than Thresher Maw shit! We're sitting ducks, how the fuck are we supposed to get out of here now?" Suddenly a trio of Yahg ran towards the group in a dangerous charge.

"With guns a blazing," Grunt said with a scowl. The team fired at the Yahg hoping to slow them down; unfortunately all they seemed to do was make them angry. Kroll and Skrawl jumped atop the closest one causing it to lose balance and get into a two on one wrestling match with the Krogan; Grunt, Dagg and Shepard continued firing at the Second Yahg, managing to wound his leg before progressing. The Shaman and remaining Quarians set off a combination of biotic and tech explosions bringing the third Yahg down almost instantly. As soon as the other two Yahgs were defeated the Omni-tools of the two Quarians began going off.

"Is there a problem?" Shepard asked worriedly as he popped a fresh clip into his gun.

"No good news actually the Geth are-"At that moment a jet of gunfire came from behind and killed both the Quarians. The Shaman managed to erect a barrier around the rest of the group but it was obvious that he was straining to keep it up against the endless tirade of bullets.

"Hold your fire!" a female voice called out from the distance. As the shooting stopped a human woman dressed in Cerberus armor approached the barrier surrounded by at least 20 Yahg. Shepard recognized the woman immediately and had to fight the urge to shoot her through the barrier.

"You," Shepard spat with such venom that the woman almost looked worried. Almost.

"Admiral Shepard, I'm glad to see that you made it to Mindoir," the woman said sounding almost sincere.

"I'm sure you are Ms. Weston, if that is your real name anyways," Shepard said with a snarl.

"It is," Sonya said simply, annoying Shepard even more, as she approached only inches away from the barrier.

"I have to say Admiral, you and your team of aliens have made quite a bit of trouble the few days you've been on Mindoir, the Clan Chieftain is both impressed and enraged by your progress.

"Well you know me, I can't hear anything about Cerberus involvement and not want to blow something up," Shepard said angrily.

"We've noticed. But as you can see you are surrounded and no longer have any chance to escape."

"You think so?" Shepard asked.

"I know so, especially since we know where your hiding the civilians," Shepard's face paled as a knowing smile appeared on Sonya's face. "I come with a onetime offer Shepard: come with us voluntarily and we leave the civilians alone. Refuse and we destroy this barrier, drag you with us and kill the civilians."

"You'd kill human civilians? Has Cerberus sunk so low that it won't even protect humanity anymore?"

"What we're doing is for the greater good of humanity Shepard," Sonya said angrily. "I don't expect you to understand, siding with aliens over humans."

"Says the woman surrounded by Yahg," Shepard said dismissively. Sonya scowled and pointed at Shepard.

"I've given you your choices Admiral, now choose!" Shepard scowled angrily as he looked at the Krogan in his team. He knew that each one of them would willingly fight to the death with the Yahg surrounding them, he also knew that the Krogan and Quarians guarding the civilians would be able to put up a fight, but for how long.

"One condition," Shepard said straight forwardly. "You take me and me alone and let my team go free."

"What?" Grunt said angrily. "Shepard are you crazy?"

"I've been called worse," Shepard said agreeably.

"You know they're going to kill you right? Don't do this!"

"Grunt trust me, I know what I'm doing," he turned to Sonya and gave her a hard unwavering stare. "Do we have a deal or not?" he demanded.

"Deal," she said simply. "But you're to leave your weapons behind." Shepard removed the weapons on him along with his grenades and turned to the Shaman.

"Lower the barrier for me," he ordered. The Shaman opened a small doorway for Shepard to exit and shut it behind him after he left.

"A wise decision," Sonya said approvingly, she then led Shepard through the group of Yahg to their transport vehicle, a giant machine that seemed capable of carrying hundreds of Yahg at once. When they were all seated in the vehicle it roared to life and drove off at impressive speeds. They drove in silence for a time with Sonya looking smugly at Shepard from time to time. Shepard retained a hard look until Sonya said something that sent him over the edge.

"You know Shepard; if we had known it would be that easy to get you to fall for a trap we'd have played the 'loving father card' years ago." Shepard tightened his fists in anger and they momentarily glowed green, much to the surprise of Sonya and himself. Before either of them had time to act the vehicle was thrown off the road and flew for several seconds before falling back to the ground hard, causing injuries to a majority of the Yahg riding the vehicle. Sonya and Shepard seemed unharmed, until the back door to the vehicle was ripped off its hinges. Shepard's first reaction was that Grunt had come after him, but he wasn't in any way expecting a Geth Prime to be standing in the doorway armed with a Plasma Shotgun and surrounded by several Geth Soldiers.

"You are to relinquish Admiral Shepard into our custody immediately," the Prime said threateningly as the soldiers cocked their weapons in agreement.

"You're outnumbered," Sonya said through gritted teeth. The Geth Soldiers opened fire immediately into the truck, but surprisingly successfully hit only the Yahg in the vehicle leaving Sonya alone with Shepard and at least 20 Yahg corpses.

"We are no longer threatened, relinquish the Admiral this minute." Not waiting for Sonya to approve of the order Shepard crawled over the Yahg corpses to stand beside the Geth.

"You have no idea how glad I am to see you guys," Shepard sad relieved.

"We received Creator Zelman's call for help. We were aboard a ship in the area and came to provide aid," the Prime said kindly towards Shepard. It then refocused on Sonya and seemed to hum violently.

"What do you wish to be done with the Cerberus operative?" it asked. Shepard eyed Sonya angrily as she looked towards them defiantly.

"Normally I would say to detain her and bring her to the Alliance for questioning," Shepard explained.

"Understood," the Prime said.

"But this time Cerberus went too far," Shepard said angrily. "And she was the ringleader of the trap that brought me here." He looked over to the Prime unit and said in a cold uncaring voice, "I leave her fate in your hands, do with her as you wish." Before Sonya could protest the Prime shot her directly in her head, dropping her to the ground amidst the pile of Yahg bodies.

"Data shows that 98% of Cerberus leaders will betray their captors at a time of convenience to them, it is proven that killing her would simplify things for the future of the Alliance."

"I agree," Shepard said silently. After a moment he looked back up at the Prime Unit.

"You said that your ship was in the area?"

"Correct, unfortunately it is only a supply ship that was heading towards Rannoch; there are not many platforms aboard the ship and none of the creators."

"How many platforms do you have?" Shepard asked.

"Approximately 50 soldier units, 25 engineers and this single Prime unit. We were not stocked in platforms for the readiness of battle, simply enough to defend ourselves and to make exterior repairs."

"Can you give us a ride off of Mindoir?" Shepard asked.

"Yes, I can send for a shuttle at your request Admiral,"

"SHEPARD!" a familiar voice shouted. Shepard and the Geth turned to see Grunt along with the other Krogan close behind rushing towards them. At their approach Grunt clasped Shepard on the shoulder. "HA! You're gone for 20 minutes and you summon giant robots to help, classic Shepard," Grunt said approvingly.

"We got lucky is all," Shepard said modestly. He then turned to the Prime unit. "We still have work to do here on Mindoir, would you and your… team? Would you be willing to fight with us?" The Prime unit was silent for a moment as its face flaps moved while it was in thought.

"I have just found the life suits of 3 dead creators, was it the Yahg and Cerberus who killed them?" it asked solemnly. Shepard nodded sadly. "I'm sorry, there wasn't anything we could do."

"Understandable, I will alert the Admiralty board of their decease. As for our aid Admiral, you have it. We will fight for the fallen creators that died due to the Yahg and Cerberus threatening your home."

"Then let's get ready, we have a colony to take back."