Chapter 36 – The Plan
Shepard worked with the salarians on a plan of attack. Salarians, while being one of the physically weaker species, relied on quick attacks and stealth. Shepard could handle that. In the end, they came up with a solution.
Shepard called her team to the tent, sitting quietly as Kirrahe explained their mission. "We are going to convert our ships drive system into a twenty-kiloton ordinance. Crude, but effective."
"Nice," Williams grinned. "Drop that nuke from orbit and Saren can kiss his turian ass goodbye."
"Not so fast, Williams," Shepard said in a low voice. Alenko frowned, something was bothering her, and bothering her bad. Her eyes were hardened, and her whole face was tense. "AA guns have the Normandy grounded. And the facility is too well-fortified, it needs to be placed at a precise location." Shepard brought up a holomap of the facility on her omni-tool, "The bomb has to be taken here, far side of the facility. We're going to need a team to infiltrate the base and disable the AA guns, that way the Normandy can come in and place the bomb."
"You mean go in on foot? We don't have enough men, Commander," Alenko said.
"None of us have the numbers to hit them head on," Kirrahe said. "I'm going to divide my men into three teams and hit the front of the facility. While we've got their attention Shepard is going to sneak her 'shadow' team in the back."
"It's a suicide mission," Williams said in a low voice.
"It's true, we don't expect many will make it out alive," Kirrahe admitted. "I need one of the Normandy's team to accompany me. To help coordinate the teams."
Shepard stood up, "They need someone with Alliance communications training."
"I volunteer," Alenko said without hesitation. He already knew, it would have to be him leading that salarian team. He was Shepard's second in command, more experience and higher ranking than Williams. From the look on Shepard's face, she didn't like sending anyone into that mess, and he wanted to make it easy on her. Volunteer before she was forced to order him.
"Not so fast, L-T. Commander Shepard may need you to arm the nuke. I'll go with the salarians," Williams said.
"With all due respect, Gunnery Chief, it's not your place to decide," Alenko said.
"Why is it that whenever someone says 'with all due respect' they really mean 'kiss my ass?" Williams countered.
"Shut up!" Shepard snapped, rounding on them. She looked furious one moment, then her face softened as she looked between her two friends.
"Skipper, we've both taken the Oath," Williams said in a quiet voice. "We know our duty. To the Alliance, the Council…and to you."
"I know," Shepard said. "It's not easy…but I've made the decision. Williams, you'll accompany the captain. No heroics, understood?"
"Aye, aye, Commander," she said.
Shepard grabbed her arm and looked into her eyes, "Ash, you take care of yourself out there. This mission does not end here. As soon as this is over I want your ass back on the Normandy."
"Yes, ma'am," she said.
"Alenko," Shepard turned to him, "I want you to go with Kirrahe while he loads the nuke onto the Normandy. They are going to go over the arming sequence with you and a few servicemen in case I'm not available to arm it."
Alenko nodded and swallowed the lump in his throat, "Aye, aye."
Shepard sat back down, her head in her hands as she thought over the plan. Kirrahe's teams were going to draw the worst of the fire, while her and the rest of her team would only have small resistance getting to the bomb site. The base was so heavily fortified, it was valuable to Saren. Doing this was going to hurt him.
Once they disabled the AA guns and cleared out the bomb site the Normandy would come in. While they set the bomb the Normandy would go back for the salarian teams, and come back in time to pick up the shadow team. Set the timer, be in orbit before it detonated. That was the plan, at least.
"Are you ready, Commander?" Kirrahe asked.
"Whenever you are," she said, standing up.
"Excellent. Just give me a minute to prepare my men," he said, and called for his troops to gather. Shepard's team gathered close as well.
Kirrahe looked his squad up and down, "You all know the mission and what is at stake. I have come to trust each of you with my life, but I have also heard murmurs of discontent. I share your concern. We are trained for espionage. We would be legends, but the records are sealed. Glory in battle is not our way. Think of our heroes: the Silent Step who defeated a nation with a single shot. Or the Ever Alert, who held armies at bay with hidden facts. These giants do not seem to give us solace here, but they are not all that we are. Before the network, there was the fleet. Before diplomacy, there were soldiers. Our influence stopped the rachni, but before that, we held the line. Our information stopped the krogan, but before that, we held the line! Our influence will stop Saren! In the battle today, we will hold the line!"
Kirrahe stepped away from his team and faced Shepard, "Good luck. I hope we will meet again."
"Shadow team, let's get into position," Shepard said.
"What? No heartwarming speech? Where's the motivation, Shepard?" Garrus said in a mocking tone.
"You want motivation? We get killed out there Saren is going to win and doom the whole galaxy," she said flatly, walking ahead of him.
"She's not in the mood," Alenko said quietly to Garrus.
"You don't say?" Garrus muttered back sarcastically.