"Chief!"

"Overlord!"

"Ha! It's about time you got your scrawny hide back here Runt." Wrex grinned as he marched up to Harry.

*THUD*

The team winced as the two males smashed their foreheads together.

"It's like some frat boy greeting." Ashley grimaced.

"At least they haven't pulled out a ruler." Miranda sighed.

"A ruler?"

"I'll explain later Tali." Kasumi chuckled.

"So, how's the family?" Harry grinned.

"Shut up Runt." Wrex scowled. "I spend half my time in negotiations with the female clans trying to convince them that we can't handle another wave of births yet.

"If we didn't have the geth helping to watch them then a third of my men would have staged a coup… against the females."

"Interesting. Cultural dynamics have changed." Mordin mused. "Previously, krogan would insist on producing as many offspring as possible."

"It's been a thousand years since your kind began committing its baby murders." Wrex looked at him flatly. "Most of my men haven't seen a baby krogan since they were hatched. They have no idea how to care for them and the females are the same."

"Although have regrets over part in genophage, am pleased that krogan have more… 'enlightened' attitude to pro-creation." Mordin said as respectfully as he could.

Wrex looked at him shrewdly for moment before turning to Harry. "Gonna take him to see his land?"

"Definitely." Harry said seriously. "We need to make sure that the genophage is firmly killed off."

"I do not understand. I have purchased no land on Tuchanka."

"That's because the krogan have gifted it to you." Harry said expressionlessly.

"Why don't we go and visit now?" Wrex suggested.

"Must find Maelon. Have res-"

"We found your boy hours ago." Wrex assured him. "Fool of a salarian was actually experimenting on volunteer krogan to try and cure the genophage."

"Experimenting!" Mordin said in horror.

"That's right. We took him prisoner and put him to work. If you weren't so valuable to Shepard I'd have you arrested too."

"If Maelon was experimenting on live subjects… can not condone. Will not argue punishment."

"We'll go see your land first, then we can go see your boy."


"Welcome to Mount Mordin." Wrex said solemnly.

Mordin Solus was currently on his knees. An expression of horror on his face. If salarians could cry… he would have been bawling.

Mount Mordin was at least three hundred feet high and six hundred feet in diameter.

It was made completely of the remains of dead and decaying foetuses.

"There are more than six thousand female krogans on Tuchanka." Harry said quietly. "It has been nearly five years since you modified the genophage to continue this… vile crime. Each of these babies is named 'Mordin'.

"I believe you can do the math to figure out how many there are."

Mordin was in shock. His brain on autopilot and the only reason he was still breathing and hadn't collapsed.

"Six thousand females capable of producing a thousand eggs a year. Six hundred thousand times five. Three million." He rattled off in a harsh whisper.

"You have made an error in your math." Harry commented. "Or possibly your assumptions.

"A female can produce up to a thousand fertile eggs in a year, yes. If conditions are normal. But, since the genophage, things have not been normal and like all life, they tried to adapt. They mated more frequently, they began to produce more eggs at a time. All reasons that you believed they were adapting to the genophage.

"Recalculate based a female producing four thousand eggs a year." Harry instructed in his calm quiet manner.

"My god! One hundred and twenty million babies!" Miranda gasped.

"Were I not under oath to Shepard, I would be forced to slay you where you stand, Doctor." Samara said solemnly.

"Fuck… I've done some sick shit… but babies?" Jack muttered.

"Of course this is quite small compared to Mount Turian and Mount Salarian." Harry shrugged sadly.

"Centuries of burying our offspring before they could breathe, and some even dying mere seconds after hatching… and the galaxy wonders why we are so violent." Wrex scoffed. "When I was born I had more than six hundred brothers and over three hundred sisters.

"Before the geth, we were lucky if one egg would hatch."

There was a moment's silence.

"Before the geth?" Miranda asked curiously.

"Chief Harry of Clan Potter has defeated the genophage."

"Clan Potter?" Harry glared at the large krogan.

"Your Overlord has spoken… Runt." Wrex smirked at him.

"Wrex, how can you smile here?" Tali asked, tears streaming down her cheeks. Shiala, Liara and Kasumi were in similar states as the three women held each other.

Wrex smiled wider. "Because we are krogan. We are hardy. We live for the victory and we relish the fight! Come girl, I'll show you the reality of a krogan victory."


"I hope you don't intend to show her how you relish the krogan fight." Harry said dryly as he stood next to Wrex.

They were standing in large open area, perhaps a square mile, filled with over a thousand krogan children of varying stages of development from babies on all fours to toddlers.

Krogan developed much faster than most species and it was likely that these children would be half the size of an adult within a year. After that they would slow in growth.

Tali was gushing over the babies with the rest of the team.

Even Zaeed was enjoying a bit of rough housing with the larger krogan children.

"So… what do you think of the team?" Harry asked.

"If Shepard wasn't leading them then the galaxy would be doomed." He said flatly. "Considering you are on the team… there is a good chance of that happening anyway."

"Thanks." Harry said sarcastically.

"Runt, in the short year that I've known you I have seen you do the impossible over and over again. You made allies of the geth. You defeated a Reaper. You discovered the secrets of the Protheans. You cured the genophage.

"I know the galaxy will survive the Reapers because of you… I'm just not sure the galaxy will survive you."

"It's not like I'm going to declare war on them!" Harry objected.

Wrex laughed loudly and slapped Harry hard on the back. "You already have! The fools just haven't noticed."

"I have not!"

"Let's see, you control Bataria, Rannoch and the geth. You rule two of the largest krogan clans and have me as an ally and friend. That makes you incredibly dangerous to the Council.

"But when they discover that you have cured the genophage? That you have all the knowledge of the Reapers and the races they harvested?

"The asari, turian and human councillors might be your allies, but the salarian will easily convince the turians that you are a threat. It won't be long before the asari and humans give into their fear."

"You mean I'm going to be stuck fighting a war for the rest of my life?" Harry asked worriedly.

"You don't fight wars conventionally, Runt." Wrex snorted. "You defeated the Hegemony single handedly. Same with Sovereign and Saren.

"I know you. You'll have defeated the fools before they even realise they were in a fight. We might consider you a krogan, but it isn't because of how you wage war."

"Ah… shit." Harry swore, his face remained neutral.

"Cheer up, Runt." Wrex grinned. "We won't let you fight alone."

"It's not that." Harry shook his head. "Tali has a fairly terrifying look in her eyes."

Wrex frowned and looked at the young quarian.

Tali was standing with a female krogan and looking longingly at the baby in her arms.

"Sounds like justice to me." Wrex smirked.


Elsewhere, Mordin was having an interesting reunion with his old apprentice.

"Professor!" Maelon said in shock. He then scowled and moved to stand determinedly in front of the baby krogan and mother in his examination room with a scalpel in hand.

"I won't let you hurt them!" He declared.

Mordin looked at him with a raised eyebrow. He then calmly looked to either side at the two large krogan standing guard over him. "Pleased to hear it. Though disappointed that you believe I could be so impulsive."

"I know you Professor. You're mind is probably trying to determine how the krogan are cured and how to stop it." Maelon refused to back down.

"Already know how. Have determined several possible counter-measures. None permanent." Mordin stepped forward with a frown on his face as he quickly knocked the scalpel out of the younger salarian's hand. "Now, let us talk about your experiments."


Whilst Mordin was instructing his apprentice on the ethics of experimentation on live subjects, Wrex was holding counsel with his Shaman and Harry over the two new krogans on Shepard's team.

"You have taught them well, Chief Harry." The Shaman said in approval as he stood to the left of Wrex's throne. Harry stood on the right.

The throne room had been repaired. It was something that the geth had managed to figure out on their own, that Wrex would need to have a place to meet visiting dignitaries that didn't make them look like a defeated people.

"Thank you Shaman. I admit that I have instilled some of my own opinions on victory in them." Harry demurred.

"Bah!" The Shaman said dismissively. "I am over a thousand years old. I fought in the Rachni Wars. My father was alive before the nuclear winter. We are pale shadows of our true selves."

"The geth have uncovered ancient ruins." Wrex nodded. "We had art once. We had a true culture."

"And with the help of our allies we will have the chance to build a new culture." The Shaman declared. "But for now, we must focus on these two. Whilst they weren't hatched like a normal krogan, Chief Harry has made sure that they have lived like krogan.

"They look like krogan, smell like krogan. I see no reason to deny them the chance to undertake the Rite."

"I trust the wisdom of Chief Potter and the Shaman." Wrex declared. "Grunt, Tank, you will travel to the arena and under go the Rite of Passage to see if you are worthy of being called 'true krogan'.

"Before you go you must select the members of your Krantt."

"Chief Harry." Grunt said immediately.

"I commend your choice." The Shaman smirked. "But I advise against it. Chief Harry's power is well known. Your victory would be in question as some would see you as hiding behind his power."

Grunt was clearly unhappy with that but couldn't argue with the logic.

Besides, taking Harry to the Rite would be the very definition of 'overkill'.

"Shepard, Vakarian and Williams." Tank said in his calm and methodical manner. "I propose that we not be judged on if we can survive the thresher maw but on how quickly we kill it."

Wrex and the Shaman shared a look of surprised amusement.

Harry was just snickering.

"And we stand as Krantt for each other." Tank added.

"You want not only two humans to be considered krogan but a turian also?" The Shaman asked in shock.

"They are Krantt to Chief Potter. They have the heart of a krogan and have survived worse than threshers."

"My brother is right." Grunt nodded as he pounded his fist into the palm of his hand. "They fight like krogan and they fight for krogan."

"I can't accept a wom-"

"It is a time for new traditions to go with our new culture." Wrex interrupted the Shaman. "I will vouch for the woman."

"As will I." Harry added. "But do the three of you agree to join the Krantt of Grunt and Tank?" He asked. "To submit to their leadership in this matter as they have submitted to yours?"

"They've been taught well and fought and lived good lives so far. I'll be their Krantt." Shepard nodded.

Garrus and Williams both nodded firmly.

This would be a major event. A turian being invited to be a part of a Krantt. Turians in general were persona non grata on Tuchanka. Garrus was only welcomed because Wrex had ordered it.

Shepard was exceptionally happy with Ashley's inclusion and her own personal willingness. It just went to show how much she had grown from the slightly naïve and prejudiced human female she had been.


Harry was with Wrex and the rest of the team in the arena where he had defeated Guld. The stands were filled with krogan who where looking forward to seeing how this would play out.

The Rite was taking place elsewhere but was being transmitted to large screens in the arena.

"How long do you think it will take them to finish?" Wrex asked Harry as they watched the shuttle drop off the five warriors.

"Depends on how long it takes for each wave to show up. They won't waste time… well… Grunt can still get a little… enthusiastic."

Wrex looked thoughtful. "Why is Tank such a calm creature. He is almost like a geth."

"Because Okeer stopped his imprints early." Harry scowled. "The bastard decided that Tank was imperfect as soon as the battle training was complete. He didn't bother giving him additional education. As a result he is having to learn about emotions."

The warriors… the Krantt, had performed a quick survey of the battle area and where positioning themselves in a defensive formation.

Garrus hit the keystone to begin the first wave: Varren.

"At this point the team is probably feeling insulted." Harry laughed.

They watched as the Krantt easily mowed down the dog type creatures.

"There isn't even an alpha varren." Tali scoffed from Harry's side as she recalled the one on Feros.

"Ash took that down with a single shot. It wouldn't fair any better now." Harry shook his head.

The wave of varren finally ended.

"What is Grunt doing?" Tali asked as she watch the krogan drag the varren bodies around.

"He is fortifying his position." Harry smiled proudly. "He is using the bodies to create cover."

"Smart. Your teachings?" Wrex asked.

"No. This one is all Grunt."

Again, Garrus hit the keystone.

This time they seemed to have a different strategy. The two krogan had clearly studied the Rite and knew to expect klixen brought in by Harvesters.

Klixen were like huge, Rachni sized, red insects, almost resembling the Rachni. Instead of acid they spewed liquid fire. They also had more of a crab or lobster leaning.

Harvesters reminded Harry of dragons. Long necked, winged creatures that were the third of the size of a thresher maw. They were known to carry kilxen around.

Ash had taken a defensive position to guard the group whilst Shepard and Garrus where standing at the front with sniper rifles ready.

As the harvesters approached Grunt and Tank threw grenades into the air at them which Garrus and Shepard detonated with their sniper rifles.

"Impressive." Wrex nodded in approval as they watched the harvesters and klixen drop harshly to ground. Grunt and Tank immediately ran to the fallen creatures with their shotguns and finished the injured predators off.

"Those two are going to be invaluable when it comes to facing the Reapers." Harry nodded. "They learn quickly and can strategise and adapt to anything."

"It usually takes killing a thresher to gain prestige in the clans. Those five have already achieved it." Wrex said as he indicated the impressed murmurings of the watching krogans. "No one has ever taken out a harvester during the Rite."

"I am really curious about how they intend to take on the thresher maw." Harry grinned eagerly.

"You didn't give them any tips of hints?" Wrex asked curiously.

"I just told them what each wave consisted of. I've never seen Grunt so disappointed." He laughed. "He asked if he would be allowed to take the Rite twice."

"Is that why he was so depressed on the way here?" Tali asked in surprise.

"He actually came and asked me if we could make a side trip to Edolus or Akuze." Harry snorted. "Merlin knows what would have happened if he'd asked Shepard."

"Why are they cutting the harvesters?" Wrex wondered. Most of the spectators could be heard muttering the same thing.

"Armour." Harry said proudly. "Those boys are impressive."

"Armour?" Tali asked.

"They know the thresher maw comes next." Harry explained. "They are going to need protection from the acid unless they want to spend most of their time running from cover to cover."

They watched as the krogan skinned four harvesters. A very reluctant and disgusted Ashley accepted one, she wore it like cloak as she knelt on one knee with her rifle ready.

Another was passed to Garrus and Shepard who were crouched behind the wall of varren and kilxen bodies that had been erected. The skin was placed over the wall with enough hanging down in front of them so they could easily pull it over their heads.

The final skins were held loosely in the off hands of the krogan who held a grenade in the other.

Tank nodded to Garrus who activated the keystone that set off the summoning gong before he rushed back to position with Shepard, sniper rifle at the ready.

The ground rumbled and dirt spewed into the air as the thresher maw approached and burst from the ground.

Tank and Grunt tossed their grenades hard at the maw.

Unfortunately the thresher saw the krogan and spat acid at them.

Tank jumped in front of Grunt with his skin raised and took the brunt of the acid.

Two successive explosions went off in front of the maw's face and it screamed in pain.

Tank tossed his quickly dissolving skin and Grunt began charging forward with his skin raised. Tank was right behind him in his brother's shadow.

Shepard, Garrus and Ashley were firing wildly at the head of the maw as the krogans continued to charge.

"Why aren't they drawing their weapons?" Tali asked worriedly.

"Oh Merlin." Harry groaned.

"Seems like they are intent on emulating Chief Potter." Wrex said dryly.

"But Harry had a sword! Oh." Tali was impressed by what was happening.

The krogan, being within arms length of the maw's body, had ditched the last skin and had activated their omni-blades.

The flash-forged silicon-carbide blades began slicing easily through the hide as though they were the acid imbued blade of Gryffindor. The edge of the omni-blades were only an atom thick. It required a kinetic barrier to stop them.

Working together the two brothers managed to slice the maw in half so that it lay thrashing on the floor as it died helplessly and painfully.

Grunt jumped onto its back and ran to the head where he ended its misery by sending his blade through creature's brain.

It slumped… dead.

There was silence in the arena as the krogan witnessed a thresher maw killed in less than thirty seconds.

Only Harry had done it faster and it had cost him his hand.

"This is how the krogan should fight!" Wrex declared loudly to the whole arena. On the screen it was clear that his words were being broadcast to everyone as the team in the arena turned to the sound. "With tactics and strategy, with teamwork, we must fight as one! We must fight fearlessly!

"When the Reapers come we will be on the front lines and we will show the universe how to win." He pointed at the large screens. "And that is how we shall do it.

"Bring the krogans and their Krantt to the arena."


Grunt and Tank stood proudly in front of Harry, the Shaman and Wrex in the middle of the arena for all to see. Behind them were Shepard, Ashley and Garrus.

"You have passed the Rite of Passage, earning the honour of clan and name." The Shaman declared. "Many survive, but it has been years since a thresher maw fell! None have ever achieved it so quickly. Your names shall live in glory."

Tank and Grunt, moved to kneel on both knees. Harry gave the other a three a quick nod and they followed suit.

"Grunt, Tank, Shepard, Vakarian and Williams, you are Potter now. You may own property, join the army and apply to serve under a Battlemaster."

"Chief Potter is our Battlemaster." Grunt said with reverence. "In his absence we will follow Shepard."

"Understood. Congratulations, accept these tokens from Fortak. His weapons are the finest we have.

"May your foes be strong enough to keep you sharp."

The assembled krogan broke into cheers and the brothers lapped it up like a victorious krogan should.

Wrex stepped forward and the crowd quietened.

"It seems that the Rite was not enough of a challenge for these two." He eyed them carefully. "According to Chief Harry, they were upset that they could only face one thresher maw.

"Whilst they are here, I am sending them to deal with the Blood Pack and their vorcha scum. Anyone who wants to join them will follow their lead.

"You will leave at sunrise."

Grunt roared with pleasure. The crowd answered in kind.


The following day Grunt and Tank led two thousand eager krogans into the wastelands to deal with the Blood Pack.

The sound of their thundering footsteps could still be heard half an hour after they had vanished from sight.

"And that is why the krogan are feared." Garrus quipped.

"You think that's bad?" Wrex asked with a worried look. "The Blood pack has barely three hundred members. Most of them are vorcha. There won't be enough targets for them all."

"It is a good job you forbid Harry and Shepard from going then." Tali smirked up at her pouting fiancé.

"Where is Shepard?" Garrus asked.

"Talking to Thane. He didn't get a chance to greet him properly so he wanted to make sure everything is alright." Harry explained.

"What are your plans after this?" Wrex asked.

"A tactical mission for Zaeed." Harry answered. "He was one of the co-founders of the Blue Suns. His partner is the one who gave him those scars and left him for dead because Zaeed refused to deal with slavers and hire batarians. Could be a fairly… explosive mission."

Tali scowled and slapped him as Garrus groaned.

"The Blue Suns are running a refinery." Ashley explained.


"Change in plans people." Shepard declared as the team assembled in the conference room.

As per Wrex's prediction, Grunt and Tank were fairly disappointed with the Blood Pack.

"Zaeed, sorry, but we've got a lead that is time sensitive and we can't pass up."

"This better be good." The old merc grumbled.

"We have received a report of a turian distress signal. They claim to have suffered major damage but managed to disable a Collector cruiser."

"I haven't heard anything about turian fleets engaged in battle." Garrus frowned.

"Because the turian signal is fake." Miranda explained. "The Collectors have set a trap, the question is: Are we prepared to walk into it?"

"What are the benefits of engaging this cruiser?" Samara asked. "My understanding is that Harry has already gathered the data from another cruiser."

"Yes, and there was so much data that we are still going through it." Harry nodded. "The problem with the way I took the data is that there is no way to search through it. We have to go through it bit by bit and catalogue and index it ourselves. And no Tali, that was not a programming joke." He told his fiancée before she could ask again.

"If Harry can interface with the data on the Collector ship then he can use the ship's onboard operating system to search for specific information.

"Or he can download the data with the index this time."

There was a hint of dry wit in EDI's voice.

"Watch it young lady." Harry glared at the glowing ball of light.

"What's the plan Skipper?" Ashley asked seriously.

"One team will make a stealth insertion onto the ship. They will head to the Command Centre and begin the download. A second team will make a slightly less stealthy insertion via the Stingray. They will head through the ship and look for a console that will grant as much access as possible."

"Harry is on stealth?" Shiala asked.

"With Kasumi and Thane." Shepard nodded.

"If you are all using the Stingray, how are we supposed to get on board?" Kasumi asked.


"I hate you Harry!"

"Love you too Kasumi!" Harry laughed happily.

"This is a most serene experience. Once one forgets about the complete absence of control and simply immerses themselves in the experience… it must be like floating in the egg." Thane said contentedly.

The trio of stealthy infiltrators had been lightly fired out of the Dog Star. They were currently floating on course towards the Collector Ship.

As they weren't planning on making an atmospheric re-entry, they didn't need to worry about extra shielding.

"I like the control." Kasumi scowled at the drell.

"Would you relax, we have another ten minutes of this before we reach the ship." Harry reminded her. "Besides, I consider this payback for invading my bathroom."

"I let you see my breasts!" She argued.

"I get to see my fiancée's breasts everyday. I get to play with my fiancée's breasts."

"Should I turn my radio off?" Thane asked. If he could have, he would have blushed.

The other two just ignored him.

"That is not the same. My breasts are forbidden fruit." She said haughtily. "Besides, as gorgeous as Tali's breasts are mine are a different size and colour… and they come attached to a different woman. It is completely different."

"If I wanted to see all sorts of different breasts I would ask Joker to give me a list of extranet sites." Harry scoffed.

"That is nowhere near close!" She nearly screeched. "You can't get within millimetres of a picture's breasts and feel the heat coming from them.

"You can't smell that sweet smell of a woman's musk as she longs for you.

"You can't watch as they rise and fall with every breath she takes.

"And there is absolutely no chance that a picture will give in and say 'touch me, take me'." She said huskily.

"My mute button appears to be non-functional." Thane was beginning to panic.

"Kasumi… I own the strip club on the Citadel."

"Oh."

"So, what else you got?"

Kasumi growled as she could hear the triumphant smugness in Harry's voice.

"Thank Kalahira. They've stopped." Thane muttered.

"At least my breasts have only been seen by one other man." She muttered sullenly.

"Why have you forsaken me goddess?!"


Whilst the stealth team was drifting slowly through space, the diversion team was already landing in the Stingray.

Grunt and Tank were first to disembark as they took up a defensive position to check for targets.

"Alright, lets find that console." Shepard ordered.

The team moved swiftly through the dark, semi-organic corridors. Ashley and Shiala had the lead as they scouted ahead while Grunt and Tank were only ever a few seconds behind in case they encountered something worth killing.

They eventually came across a pile of discarded, mutilated and decaying human bodies.

"Shit, Shepard, these must be from one of the earlier hit colonies." Ashley swore as she carefully poked around the pile.

"What if the colonists are still on board? In stasis like back on Horizon?" Jacob asked.

"If that is the case then this just became a rescue mission." Shepard said grimly. "But we don't change tactics until we know for sure."

The team moved on and after a short while they came across a workstation attached to a pod.

"Tali, get to it." Shepard ordered.

"Is that a Collector?" Garrus asked curiously as he peered over into the pod. "Why were they experimenting on their own people?"

"I doubt they were, exactly." Shiala answered. "Remember that the Collectors are former protheans who are fully enslaved by the Reapers. It was probably the Reapers who were experimenting through the Collectors."

"So sad that such a once noble race has fallen so far." Samara said solemnly.

"That would depend on your definition of 'noble'." Garrus mused. "According to Harry, the protheans were conquerors and dictators. All races served or joined them. If you didn't… well… there wasn't really a choice."

"Regrettably, I have found that many of my previous findings match up with Harry's data." Liara admitted. "I spent fifty years researching what I thought were the pioneers of civilisation… only to find that they were as heartless as the Reapers."

"Shepard, this console doesn't connect into the main ship's systems." Tali reported. "It is a standalone medical diagnostic system."

"Can you download the OS? It might give us a baseline to work with." Miranda asked.

"I can download the data but I don't know if I can access the code with the time we have."

"Could locate key components. Remove them for reassembly elsewhere." Mordin suggested.

"Do it. Professor, Miranda, help her out."


Meanwhile the stealth team were just landing on the ship.

"Wait a minute! If you are so picky about who sees your breasts, why didn't you cover them up in the bath when I walked in?"


Back where people were actually working, the team had moved on.

"Shepard, I compared the EM profile against the one recorded by the Stingray at the destruction of the Normandy. They are an exact match."

"So this is what? A reunion?" Jack quipped.

"Or their chance to finish the job." Miranda warned.

"Or a chance for payback." Ashley snarled as she glared at the ship around her.

"As long as I don't have to spend another year being rebuilt." Shepard shuddered.

"According to the geth medical records; should you require 'rebuilding', then provided your brain survives it should take no more than a month." EDI informed them.

"Thanks EDI." He said a little sarcastically.

"I guess death really is just a vacation for some people." Zaeed chuckled.

"That would explain why Harry keeps trying to get himself killed." Ashley muttered.

The team exited the corridors into a massive chamber that was hundreds of metres tall and thousands of metres long. The walls were lined with empty pods, unlike the one on Horizon, which held twelve million colonists.

"This ship must have already delivered the colonists before coming back through the relay." Miranda reasoned.

"Which means there are several million human colonists who are enduring an unknown fate." Jacob said darkly.

"I doubt they were inviting them for tea and biscuits." Zaeed scowled. "Personally, I'm hoping they are already dead."

"And what if we could save them?" Samara argued.

"You saw those bodies back there." He reasoned. "Would you want to live to suffer that?"

"Shepard, there's a console down here." Shiala called back.

The team quickly took up defensive positions as Shepard, took Tali and Mordin to the console on a platform at the bottom of a short cliff.

The whole set up screamed 'ambush'.

"EDI? I'm setting up a bridge between you and the Collector Ship. We might be a little busy to help."

"Understood Shepard. I will work as fast as I can."

The team maintained watch until several large cylinders around the platform began to activate a mechanical mechanism… then it all stopped and went deadly quiet.

"EDI, what was that?" Miranda asked.

"A power surge was initiated from the Collector Ship. I believe the trap is about to be sprung." She responded with intrigue.

That was when the platform began to rise up off the ground, hovering in the air.

"Everybody off!" Shepard barked as he physically tossed an indignant Tali to Shiala before turning to Mordin who was already off.

"I wasn't finished." Tali glared at him.

"Tali, it isn't a good idea to fight the enemy on their terms." Garrus chided lightly. "We can find another console."

"I am having trouble maintaining a connection, but I am still connected." EDI informed them. "I will continue the search for as long as I can."

"Incoming!" Zaeed shouted as flying Collectors crested the cliff.

The snipers immediately began firing into the swarm.

"Grenades!" Grunt roared as he and Tank tossed two explosives into the Collector ranks.

Garrus showed his skill by managing to detonate both grenades with his rifle.

"We need to find a better place to defend from!" Miranda called to Shepard over the weapon's fire.

"We are retreating people!" Shepard shouted.

"This is disgusting." Grunt grumbled.

"Just kill as many as you can on the way out Big Guy!" Jack retorted.

"Jacob, Zaeed and Jack, keep our exit clear. Tank, Grunt, watch our backs and like the lady said, kill as many as you can." Shepard ordered.

It was previously decided that they were to make their 'retreat' as slowly and as destructively as possible.


In the control room the three stealthiest team members were sitting in front of the Collector General's console and hiding whilst Harry discreetly attempted to hack the Collector Ship.

They had managed to stay hidden for two minutes.

"Ah… bugger. Kasumi, stand up and flash him your tits. If they're that good it might buy us a few more seconds." Harry said loudly as he drew his sword.

"THE ANOMALY. YOU WILL BE ABSORBED AND STUDIED." The Collector General's voice was booming all around them.

"Maybe later." Harry said as he quickly stood and jammed his sword into the Collector's face.

He turned to Kasumi. "So… not all they're hyped up to be?" He asked with mock consolation.

If looks could kill…

Both of them would be two fresh notches on Thane's blade.


"Shepard-"

"Stay in formation, Grunt." Shepard said for perhaps the fourth time in a minute.

The eager krogan was miserable having to keep up the ploy of staying in a holding pattern with the swarms of Collectors.

"Another Collector is being possessed!" Tali shouted.

"I AM THE HARBINGER OF YOUR DESTRUCTION! THE METHOD OF YOUR EXECUTION! I WILL PLUCK YOUR WINGS FROM YOUR BACK!"

"That's new." Tank muttered.

"NEW RULES BOYS: RAISE THE BLACK FLAG!"

That was the code they had been waiting for. The phrase that said Harry was in control of the ship.

It had been agreed by the team that the Collectors and Reapers where irredeemable. They would take no prisoners, not even for the purpose of gaining intelligence.

The Black Flag, in relation to the old tales of pirates and the Jolly Roger, was the signal that they would stop trying to survive and fight for a complete victory.

It was like an angel's song to the two krogan as they immediately charged into the swarm.

"Snipers, watch their backs!" Shepard began ordering the team around. "Zaeed, Jack and Samara, follow them in. Jacob, Shiala and Miranda, cover the snipers.

"The rest are with me!"

"HO HO HO AND A BOTTLE OF RUM!" The booming voice of the possessed Collector sounded. "I'M HAVING FUN. YOU ARE JUST JEALOUS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE AS MUCH FUN AS I CAN."

Hearing the sound of the Collector seeming to have an indignant conversation with an unseen being was… slightly off putting.

"MERLIN THANE! WHERE DID YOU LEARN TO SWEAR LIKE THAT?"

Now the team was worried. Thane seemed like the sort of person that had near perfect control of their emotions.

They had clearly underestimated Harry.

"IT'S NOT MY FAULT! SHE'S THE ONE FLAUNTING HER BREASTS AND CLAIMING THEY ARE BETTER THAN PICTURES AND ALL THAT."

"Somebody get a bead on Tali." Miranda scowled. "Make sure she doesn't get distracted." She ordered the snipers.

"Don't worry. Tali is well used to Harry." Ashley laughed. She fired a shot but missed. Her follow up shot didn't. "She also knows that Harry is probably having so much fun winding Kasumi and Thane up. She'll watch his memories later."

"OK… I'LL ADMIT… THOSE… WELL… YOU DO REALISE I REMEMBER EVERYTHING I SEE… RIGHT? MY FIANCEE IS GONNE SEE THEM LATER TOO."

"Is he implying what I think he is?" Jacob asked.

"YES, AND I THINK IT IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR THAT YOU GET TO SEE THEM. THOSE WONDERFUL SOFT ORBS ARE MINE AND MINE ALONE."

"Does he even know we can hear him?" Jacob asked worriedly.

"OF COURSE I KNOW JACOB." The former Corsair paled as he was addressed. "BUT WHAT THE LOVELY MISS GOTO DOESN'T REALISE IS THAT I CAN PROJECT MY MEMORIES. I HAVE- OW! SON OF A- I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

"IN THE MEANTIME PLEASE ENJOY THESE REINFORCEMENTS."

With that the possessed Collector just stopped moving on the battlefield.

Strangely enough, the other Collectors left it alone.

There was a familiar whistling sound.

"It's not-"

"I know, I know." Jacob interrupted Miranda irritably. He was well aware of what a supply drop sounded like these days.

There were several thuds.

As the dust and debris settled they saw ten stalker platforms in a crouched position before they easily leaped high over the sniper teams and into the midst of the battle ahead.

Instead of relying on long distance weaponry like they normally did, they began engaging in hand to hand using everything from drell to asari to human martial arts.

Every time they struck an opponent their arms and legs easily sliced through causing dismemberment or decapitation. This was due to the omni-blades they had been equipped with.

There was a second whistling sound as a squad of geth snipers joined the sniper team, this was followed by a squad of destroyers and then a squad of primes.

"Alert! Incoming krogan horde in sixty seconds." One of the primes announced.

"Oh fuck." Ashley swore as she quickly grabbed her rifle and ran for the edge of the corridor. "Help us up!" She shouted at the geth.

The others had followed suit but were a little confused.

Nonetheless, they allowed the geth destroyers to hoist them onto the ledge above whilst the geth snipers jumped up on their own.

The destroyers and primes then helped each other up.

That was when the others noticed the deep rumbling that shook the deck of the ship.

A dark shadow could just be made out moving quickly down the corridor.

A second later over a hundred krogan warriors burst out of the mouth of the corridor and charged into the battle ahead.

"Shepard to ground team. Rendezvous back at the drop off point. We're heading to Harry." Shepard ordered over the radio.


When the team arrived at the Collector Control Centre, they found Harry sitting in the Collector General's chair, Thane meditating in a corner and Kasumi… pinned to the ceiling of the room.

"It was for her own good." Harry said as he watched them look at her splayed out on the ceiling… held up by nothing. "And Thane's. Poor bloke was about to have an aneurism."

"Were her breasts too much for you, Harry?" Tali smirked.

"He handled those alright." Kasumi smirked down at them. "Right up until I tried to put them in his face."

The women just sighed. A lot of 'girl talk' occurred in the women's baths. Kasumi honestly liked Tali and had told her outright that she intended to try and seduce her fiancé… just for fun and not away from her.

They were well acquainted with the thief's playful nature so they knew she wasn't trying to break them up, just wind Harry up.

"You know there's a line, right?" Ashley glared up at her.

"I say she's all talk." Harry said calmly as he sat on the Collector's bench with his feet on the console. "She kept going on about how her breasts were special, not everyone got to see them like a stripper's… then she goes and bares herself in front of me and Thane!"

"He was behind me." She said dismissively.

"At least he wasn't commenting on my outfit again." Miranda muttered.

Unfortunately Jack and Jacob heard and just grinned.

"Harry, status report." Shepard practically begged.

"I have control, the boys have the Collectors whipped and Grunt is in charge down there. Unfortunately, I am once again sitting on a dead man's switch." He sighed.

"Is there any chance you can disable it?" Miranda asked. "Even if we didn't study the ship we could use it as a Trojan horse to breach the Omega Relay."

"That and the thing is like a fuckin' tank." Jack added.

"Well, the bad news is that the other Collectors already know this ship is compromised. Harbinger is actually a Reaper who is directing the Collectors from dark space.

"The other bad news is that I have about six hours to try and disable this ship.

"The other other bad news is that Fehl Prime is under attack from another Collector ship and I have ordered our small group there."

"Shit… without you to board and control the ship we don't have a chance." Ashley paled.

"Hence the six hour window for me to disable this ship."