"Second team deployed." A sigh. "Now to wait, you know, quietly."

Joker's voice betrayed his nervousness, but Michael felt surprisingly calm. He knew the Geth military doctrine intimately from his pursuit of Saren, and the Quarian battle data he'd studied during their journey to the system had only served to confirm his belief about their odds. Not that it wasn't dangerous, but it was an acceptable danger. Sure beats fighting Reapers on foot like on Tuchanka...

The Geth ship they had just forced themselves into was silent, the gravity only just enough to allow them to walk without mag-boots, the lights just enough for them not to require flash-lights or night-vision. The interior was much as the one on the Heretic base Legion had led Michael into, simple and minimalistic, the walls smooth, tinged blue and concave, the floor and ceiling made of the same material, but straight. The odd monitor, no furniture. The only movement were the motes of dust lazily drifting through the air of the ship, glowing white whenever a light shone directly at them.

If Michael hadn't known better, he would think the ship to be dead.

James nervously chuckled at the pilot. "Hey, at least you have a nice view."

"Oh sure, I love the view of the five hundred times the size of the Normandy Geth Dreadnought I've just parked next to..." Joker groaned. "...almost as much as the entire Geth fleet practically surrounding me...who thought this was a good idea?" A glum mutter followed his complaining. "Nobody ever asks the pilot what he thinks..."

Michael offered a small laugh. "Relax, they can't detect you, if they could you wouldn't be alive right now, now would you?"

"Wow, that such a comfort, Sir." The sarcasm dripped from Joker's reply. "Actually, I think I'll sign out until you need me, just in case they manage to detect this signal." Another low mutter followed the words. "I need a change of shorts anyway..."

The words made the group chuckle, though most of them uneasily, no one felt entirely safe in the ship they were in, after all. James was the first to speak though, glancing over at the Quarian at the head of the group, the woman busy crouching by a door, quietly working on unlocking it without alerting the Geth on the ship. "Wow, I'd tease Bones, but..." He hesitated, nervously looking around himself even as Michael arched an eyebrow under his helmet. Bones? Now that's just mean...and Joker getting another nickname is just silly. "...he's right, this is damn creepy." He shot Liara and EDI, standing opposite him in the hallway, a glance, and cleared his throat. "Not that I can't handle it, of course, I'm just saying..."

The two women looked at one another, EDI cocking her head to the side with a frown. "I have heard numerous mentions by the females of the crew about males and their need to protect their egos...is this an example, doctor?"

"Hey!"

Ignoring James' protest, Liara offered a pale smile from underneath her helmet. "I do believe it is, yes." She looked over to the Marine, her amusement tempered by genuine concern. "What bothers you, James? We haven't even been fired upon."

"Well...yeah, that's exactly it." The soldier grunted, hefting his Wraith shotgun, glaring at the nearest wall, as if expecting a Geth to step out of it at any moment. "We've been through what, three rooms now? But there's nothing here, where's all the...you know...stuff? Heck, where's the guards? I thought this ship would be crawling with Geth."

"It is." Tali muttered, not looking away from her work as she continued working on the door, her omni-tool glowing bright as she struggled with its locked controls and the security system within. "This ship probably contains millions of Geth, but, as you humans always seem to forget..." Michael smirked, remembering her lecture three years ago about the Geth all too well. "...Geth are software, not hardware. They're busy within the ship, in its computers, controlling every little system and sub-routine on it."

Stepping closer, Michael smiled and tapped James' shoulder. "Exactly, and why would they put some in the bodies you think as Geth here? It's their ship, and they don't know we're here to help the Quarians." Though if they did, would they have prepared for us? Legion is well aware of our capabilities but...I just can't see him betraying us...or am I fooling myself? He frowned, suddenly worried. Legion, where are you? Shaking the thought off, it would do him no good to worry any more than he already did, Michael forced himself to keep smiling. "Maybe they have 'real' Geth in storage, but they're probably relying on their security systems on the ship." Under his helmet, James frowned at the information, not quite understanding. "Just think of them as...ghosts or something, and they possess their computers and machines and such only when they need to..."

Tali chuckled at that, making Michael shoot her back a warm look...only for it to turn guilty as he shot an awkward-looking Liara a glance.

"Oh...okay." James looked back to the door ahead, squaring his shoulders. "Artificial ghosts possessing technology at will...yeah, that is reassuring to think of."

Now it was Michael's turn to chuckle. Meanwhile, Garrus moved to lean against the door Tali was working on, smirking at the Marine from underneath his helmet. "Really, Vega, you're beginning to sound like Joker, is this the best the Alliance Marines has to offer?"

"Hey, watch what you say about the Corps, Scars." James grunted, tone sharp as he straightened to his full length.

"That's better!" Garrus guffawed, then turned his gaze over to the kneeling Quarian. "Anyway, say Tali, I recognise the Geth shotgun, but what's that side-arm you're carrying? Looks fancy." Michael rolled his eyes. Of course he'll ask about that, always looking for a powerful gun...freaking nut. "Let me guess, your design?"

"Actually, Xen designed it. I only...helped." Tali replied, briefly glancing down at the pistol at her hip. Garrus and Michael exchanged a knowing glance. Helping means she did half of the work, I bet... "The Arc pistol uses an ionising laser to deliver an electric shock to anything struck. It rapidly depletes shields, which the Geth rely heavily on, and also fries circuitry quite well, another benefit when it comes to facing them."

"Very much like using poisoned rounds against a human." EDI compared, tone dull. "A 'painful', if you pardon the analogy, way to die."

This time, Tali looked away from her job properly, giving EDI a long look. "Geth don't die, organics do."

"If enough hardware is destroyed, they do die, and if not..." EDI hesitated, frowning at Tali's back as the Quarian turned back to her work. "...I recall a human myth, of Prometheus, chained to a mountain by his lord Zeus, to have his liver pecked out each day...immortality is not always a boon."

Silence.

Tali simply squared her shoulders, apparently not about to reply to the synthetic.

Garrus though, always unwilling to keep things awkward, cleared his throat. "And the grenades on your belt? They don't look like those new ones Michael is sporting...what's up with that?"

Michael glanced down at his chest, noting the pair of new explosives attached to his bandoleer, making them his fourth type of grenade fixed to it. They were bulkier than the rest, a pale blue light emanating from the top as if the energy was already about to escape. Tali's voice was calm. "The Arc grenades I gave to Michael are my design, yes. Kal'Reegar expressed a need for for Marines to have more firepower in boarding actions without endangering the hull,given how frail the hulls of some Quarian ships are..." Of course, Reegar... Michael frowned, he knew he was being unreasonable, even ridiculous, but he had never trusted that man. "...it's really just a generator designed to overload in a specific way to fry nearby circuitry, nothing fancy, but the Marines seem to like it." Tali finished, tone a mixture of pride and a strive to be humble about it. "Though these things on my belt are actually deployable turrets, and yes, my design...figured we Quarian engineers could use some extra firepower versus the Geth."

Those things? Michael eyed the little orbs fastened to Tali's belt, enough of them to force her to carry her shotgun where Michael usually carried his Revenant, not to mention making her hips look even wider than they already were.

He smirked, forcing himself to look above her rear. "More of your little toys? Named them too? Does Chiktikka get jealous?"

The Quarian looked back at him, and he felt a shiver run down his spine at the way she cocked her head to the side. "He's the only one I've named, and I hope you don't intend to get on his bad side again, remember what happened last time you managed that?"

Michael chuckled at the memory of the drone crashing into him during Tali's attempts to teach him basic hacking. "I knew the thing attacked me!"

"Sorry...what's a Chiktikka?" James raised a hand, eyebrow raised. "And why is something named that a he?"

"Long story." Michael grinned, though his grin faded a little when he noticed Liara standing silently to the side, their bond telling him of a carefully suppressed vein of jealousy in her forced calm.

Fortunately, Tali had already turned back to her job...only to sigh and lower her head as Garrus spoke up. "Just...one more thing..." Here we go. "...the armour, what's up with that?"

Actually, that's a good question. Tali had never worn anything but her suit before, but now her visor was covered by a grey plate, the opening for her to see through resembling an angular 'V'. A layer of lamellar plates in the same dull grey, as well as a few black pieces, covered her torso and neck. Her legs and arms were also covered by large pieces of black armour that left the joints free, even her hood looked as if it was armoured! Michael approved of the change, partly because the plates somehow squeezed her suit tighter around her slim waist, but mostly because while Tali's suit sported strong shields, he'd always thought a little armour on her could never go wrong. "It was Kal'Reegar's idea."

Of course... Michael's approval flew out of the window as he frowned.

Tali, busy with her work, didn't notice his irritation, much to his relief. "Given how Geth weapons are designed to primarily counter shields, he suggested all Quarians in direct combat with the enemy should wear armour over their suits to make us more resilient to Geth weaponry. It was simple to implement, and the Marines who'd seen boarding actions seem to think they were worth it, so I got myself a set too."

"Ah, sounds like it was a good idea then." Garrus replied, a smirk in his voice as he kept leaning against the door, turning his gaze to Michael. "He seems the clever sort."

Hmpf. Looking away, Michael grunted in irritation, arms over his chest, making them demonstratively clack against his armoured chest. "Yeah, putting on armour for use in combat, who could ever have thought of that?"

This time, Tali turned her head, gaze on him as he could feel the smirk behind her visor...it was Liara who replied though. "Jealousy doesn't become you, Michael." Huh? Turning his head, Michael grimaced at the sight of the Asari staring at the floor. "Especially when you have no reason for it."

Oh... Michael looked away, irritated with himself for not thinking of Liara's feelings as much as for the feeling that he couldn't protest at her words. She was right, and however much he felt guilty for it now when around Liara, he loved how he felt when looking at Tali.

"Exactly." Garrus chimed in, far too cheerful for his own good. "Don't worry about that handsome Quarian soldier. Or at least, I'm guessing he's handsome, he sounds like it, don't you think so, Tali?"

"Very much so, Garrus." Tali chuckled...and Michael glared daggers at the both of them even as he struggled not to show his amusement. "Ah, there we go, got the door unlocked."

"Finally, what took you so long?" Garrus asked with a grin and stood away from the door, the Saber suddenly in his hands aiming square at it for when it opened.

"Mostly you talking too much." Tali replied with a not so innocent shrug, Geth shotgun in her hands as she inched to the left of the door.

Michael grinned, drawing his weapon of choice, the Revenant feeling as if it was made for his hands. "Okay, be ready for everything people..." A quick glance around to check everyone was moving into position...and Michael nodded. "Open it."

Soundlessly, the door slid open.

"Oh for...more walking?" James asked, glaring at the hall ahead. It was smooth, featureless, and lead far ahead towards a white light.

Sighing, Michael shrugged, he knew the plan after all, they weren't there yet. "More walking."

With that, the group set off, steps cautious as most eyed what few corners there were for enemies. Michael was calmer though, realizing EDI and her systems on the Normandy would probably alert them of any changes before they even were aware of them. He did, however, note several square holes in the ceiling, big enough for a Geth to drop down in their customary way...

Better not wake them then. Michael brought his hand up to his helmet. "Kal'Reegar, this is Shepard, we're in the main hallway, approaching our target, no hostiles so far. What's your status?"

There was a crackle of static, then a grunt of exertion before the Quarian replied, sounding slightly out of breath. "We're making good time, we've just passed that area with many ladders, but weren't ambushed, as we hoped." A pause. "Right, we're in the Drive Core, it seems too sturdy for the explosives though, I'll have Tyn'Zoon hack the console, a few viruses courtesy of Admiral Xen should do the trick."

"Just hold them until we've reached our objective, in case the Geth manage to react even without their Drive Core." Michael said, though he was sure Kal'Reegar understood that, one shouldn't take chances.

"Got it, Kal'Reegar, out."

Lowering his hand, Michael turned his attention to what was ahead, finding the light ahead emanating from a closed door. "Huh...what's with the white light?" He frowned, slowing to a stop. "Why does this door have a different kind of console?"

Everyone looked to Tali for the answer...and the Quarian just shrugged, her guess as good as theirs.

For a brief moment, they hesitated.

Then Javik spoke up, annoyed as he stalked forward. "This mission is a waste of time, and I will have no more of mine spent when we could face the Reapers. Out of my way, Quarian." He shoved Tali aside as he marched for the door, drawing a muttered curse from her even as Michael narrowed his eyes in anger.

He didn't get the time to berate the Prothean though, for the moment the man stepped close to the door, it slid open...and the group found themselves staring into the eyes of six Geth standing right in front of them.

The Geth reacted swiftly, faster than Michael remembered they could, and his own group were only able to respond in time because they were veterans with their instincts honed from dozens of battles.

In the blink of an eye, the chamber was filled with shouts and curses as every gun on each side opened fire.

Cursing, Michael dropped onto one knee, quickly activating his radio even as he squeezed the trigger to his Revenant. "Kal'Reegar! We have Geth! They know we're here now!"

At the other end, there was an explosion, the rough voice of Reegar not aimed at Michael. "Tyn'Zoon is down! Suppressive fire! Govo, finish the upload!"

On his own side, Michael saw Javik, having been caught so close to the enemy, scream and drop his Phaeston as six pulse rifles tore through his shields and into his armour and flesh. A growl, and the Prothean crossed his arms in front of him and erected a green hue of biotic energy...only for a much larger blast than those of the Geth Troopers to strike it, sending him flying backwards and into a cursing James, both men becoming a tangle of arms and legs on the floor.

Tali, Garrus and EDI moved as one though, omni-tools glowing and knocking out the Troopers' weak shields before Liara's singularity pulled them from the floor...only for Michael's Revenant to spit death at them, heavy calibre shots tearing all six to pieces.

It didn't affect the machine that had sent Javik flying though, and Michael's gaze travelled upwards to stare at the monstrosity of a war-machine standing before him. A Prime...I hate Primes.

There was no space to manoeuvre in, no cover, and Michael grit his teeth in frustration as his and everyone else's shots were harmlessly absorbed by the Prime's shields while it brought its cannon to bear on its next target.

"Ah...shit, always me..." Garrus muttered the words, then grunted as his shields were knocked out, cursed when the second shot slammed him into the wall, his armour sizzling, and then groaned as a third blast from the Prime's cannon knocked him to the floor.

Forcing himself to ignore the way his friend struggled to get on all fours, Michael heard the thuds of Geth deploying from the ceiling behind him, and knew there was little time as he barked out the necessary orders. Knowing there was no time to reload his Revenant, he hurled it directly at the Prime. "Tali! EDI! Distract and shields!"

The rifle bounced off the head of the Prime, making it take half a step back as it analysed the danger of the attack...only to be distracted again when the purple glow surrounding Chiktikka whipped past it, the drone's bolt of light striking the Geth's back, making it momentarily turn its head towards the new foe. Then its shields flashed as EDI's overload struck it, swiftly followed by three balls of plasma from Tali's shotgun, weakening them and making the Prime refocus its attention.

It was too late though, Michael was upon it with a vengeance. Already having drawn his secondary weapon – he had come prepared for the usual Geth with the Revenant, but this was for heavier enemies like Primes and Armatures while in close quarters like a ship – Michael crashed into the Prime's left leg as he levelled his gun at the right.

A boom...and the Claymore's shot tore through what remained of the Prime's shield, then the pellets sliced through its armour, shearing the leg off at the knee and sending the machine crashing to the floor as it landed on its side.

A growl, and Michael pressed his boot onto the neck of the struggling machine while reloading the shotgun, his arm aching slightly from the powerful recoil. He turned his head, watching Javik and James limping closer as EDI, Liara and Tali slid into the room, guns sweeping over their surroundings as they scanned for more hostiles. Behind them all though, there were Geth in the hallway they had come from, swiftly moving towards them, though not firing, perhaps afraid they'd damage whatever equipment they had transmitting the Reaper signal. "James! Javik! Grab Garrus and get in here! Tali! The door, seal it!"

The group obeyed, Tali throwing a few of the drones on her belt through the doorway for good measure, the machines coming to hover over the ground as a torrent of shots and even a few small small missiles shot out of them to strike the advancing Geth to cover the the retreat of the the others.

While she did that, Michael lowered the Claymore at the foe under his boot and squeezed the trigger.

A spasm, and the Prime went still.

Then the door slid shut behind the men entering, Garrus swaying between the Prothean and Marine, but standing on his own as he muttered something angry under his breath, probably cursing the downed Prime. Tali was already rising from the console, having locked it down and preventing the pursuing Geth from reaching them. EDI and Liara had lowered their weapons, staring at the surrounding room, the former looking fascinated, the later disgusted.

Picking up his Revenant while collapsing his Claymore back to the small of his back, Michael focused back on the radio. "Reegar, we are at our location, got it locked down, what's your situation?"

"Drive Core is infected, it's suffering a cascade failure and will be down in maybe a few minutes..." A groan. "Two more casualties." An explosion made the radio screech with static, then a sigh. "Make that three."

The entire team... Michael swallowed. "Get yourself out of there, dammit! If the original path is cut off, use the secondary exit, I'll have Cortez stay on station and-"

"No can do, Shepard, bleeding pretty bad here." Kal'Reegar replied...and the clack of a weapon dropping to the floor made Michael turn his head in time to see Tali's hands coming up to her visor. "Pinned by rocket troopers, cover's disintegrating, plus they're trying to get to the console, can't let that happen."

"I...see." Michael sighed...and Miranda's words in the Collector base came to his mind. "We'll...make it worth it."

"I bloody well hope so." The Quarian growled, then there was a crack of a Carnifex firing followed by a Geth's electronic stutter as it died.

Tali was shaking her head though, and Michael drew nearer on instinct even as her voice, heavy with yet fallen tears, managed to speak up."No...no don't do this...Kal, I...I can't have more people under my command die, I can't...not you..." Michael grimaced, knowing all too well what she was speaking of. Prazza and his squad, the troops on Haestrom, and now, all who've fallen in this war... "Please don't do this...I...I..."

Then, Michael's arms was around her, and he felt her shake against his chest. He didn't say anything, there was no need, instead he just held her while closing his eyes.

"I...I order you to escape alive..." The words were a mere whisper, followed by a sniffle.

"I've never disobeyed an order, ma'am...but..." Kal'Reegar hesitated. "...sorry, Tali..." Another pause, this time marked by an explosion and the cry of a dying Geth. "...kheela se'lai"

Michael tightened his grip around Tali, feeling her shake as she held back the loudest of her sobs.

But the radio didn't go silent, Kal'Reegar apparently having forgotten to shut it down as he grunted. "Okay, you sons of bitches, show me what you're made of." A growl, and the radio was filled with the blast of an explosion, then three Geth crying out in unison.

In Michael's arms, Tali was shaking. "Shhh...don't listen...please."

The Quarian just shook her head even as Kal'Reegar growled a curse as the sound of shattering glass filled the radio. "That's all you got!? Can't take out a single Quarian, can you!?" A cough, then three swift blasts of a Carnifex pistol, and the crash of metal bodies hitting the floor. "Hands off the console!" A fourth blast, followed by the explosion of a grenade...and Kal'Reegar cried out in pain even as more metal bodies fell to the floor.

Tali's whisper was so low Michael nearly didn't hear it. "I'm sorry..."

A gasp of pain, the deep electronic stutter of a Prime...and Kal'Reegar's voice became a pained hiss. "I said...hands off." Another shot from his pistol, and Michael heard the electronics of a computer fizzle. The stutter of the Prime got louder...and finished with a crunch of breaking armour and bones. "Too slow...bosh'tet..."

Silence.

Michael, holding Tali close, remained standing where he was, eyes shut as his hands slowly stroked her back, comforting her.

But reality was harsh, and there was no time to grieve, and Michael forced himself to turn his head away from the grieving woman and pull himself free as EDI called out. "Shepard, I believe I've found our objective."

Blinking away a tear, Michael wasn't sure if it was out of sympathy for Reegar or Tali, the Spectre finally focused on the rest of the room.

It was a chapel-like room, round and with a domed ceiling, the walls consisting of black metal that were not of Geth design. Reapers...the Reapers made this. The floor was simple Geth design though, as was the ceiling, yet in the centre of the chamber the two designs seemed to flow together, a Geth style 'trunk' rising out from the floor to hold up a construction consisting of five petal-shaped plates of Reaper technology, the construct resembling the shape of a flower. Yet from within the closed petals, blue light glowed.

EDI was standing by a lone console before the 'flower', a console that the Prime had been guarding just a few moments ago, her eyes scanned the board for a second, then she looked over to Michael, eyebrow arching in a silent question.

"Go ahead."

EDI obeyed, hands sweeping over the controls...and the flower opened.

Everyone, even the still grieving Tali, gasped, staring up at the sight appearing before them.

Tubes of metal, not unlike those Cerberus had used on David Archer, were extending from the base of the flower. Coiling up like tentacles of some primal beast they were twisted around the body of a Geth, a familiar Geth. Its head moved, plates around its eye flaring outwards in surprise. "Shepard-Commander, we require assistance."

"Legion...?" Michael took a step closer, staring at the machine in equal parts wonder and horror. "What have they done to you?"

"Those are hardware locks, they ensure Legion is unable to resist any commands given...much like my own from our time with Cerberus." EDI muttered, expression almost pained. "Do not worry, Legion, we'll have you out in moments."

Javik scoffed at that, but Tali was quicker to express her disapproval, voice shaking with tears, mingled with guilt and anger as she spoke. "Are you crazy!? You'll let a Geth out of its bonds now!?" Michael grimaced, remembering how Tali had been before she'd met Legion. Yet how can I blame her when she's just heard Kal'Reegar and his troops die? "Michael, this is crazy! We don't know what the Reapers have done to Legion. It could be a sleeper agent or assassin, waiting to strike!"

"Wow, deja vu, didn't you say the exact same thing last time we met Legion?" Garrus drawled, shooting the Quarian an amused look, though Michael couldn't help but notice how the Turian kept his rifle angled towards the Geth...

"Th-this is different!" Tali snapped, glaring at EDI and Garrus in particular even as she inched closer to Michael, tone insistent, angry. "The Geth are working for the Reapers! Legion is a Geth! Why would it be any different than the others!?"

"That is..." EDI cocked her head to the side, grimacing. "...a valid concern."

Michael, listening on the exchange with a frown, turned back to Legion, unsure. "Legion? Any input?"

"We'll submit to any restraints and precautions you deem necessary, remove our limbs if needed. However, we would ask to be removed from these bonds and transported to the Normandy for discussions about the future of the Geth-Quarian conflict." The response was quick, the machine, unsurprisingly, showing no fear of the idea of being crippled like that, its mind set on the greater picture.

A greater picture involving the Geth and Quarians...you might just be the key for me getting two fleets... Already having made up his mind, Michael only dutifully glanced over to Garrus, finding the Turian offering nary a shrug. Right then. "That won't be necessary." A sigh, and Michael collapsed his Revenant and put it on his back as he moved to climb up to Legion, EDI next to him as her agile platform outstripped his more careful climb.

Behind him, he felt Javik bristle with disapproval while Tali just seemed tired, angry but mostly tired.

Michael ignored them though, coming up to the top, he found EDI already working on removing Legion's restraints, the machine working with precision, yet with a frenzied undertone. Guess she doesn't approve of hardware locks, not surprising. Moving his hands to assist, Michael gave the Geth a curious look. "So you're not Reaper controlled? What's...up with that?" Damn, I hope they give me a better line than that when they make a movie out of this...

"When we returned to the collective, our software remained intact in this platform, Geth valued the perspective gained from a separate collective, only data was shared. When the Quarian attacks destroyed more and more Geth, the larger collective deemed it necessary to ask the Reapers for assistance. We, having had immediate contact with the Reapers, having been directly, rather than via mere data, influenced by you, judged such submission worse than death, and...refused to assist." The last words almost sounded painful coming from the machine, and made EDI arch an eyebrow. "The Reaper was not...understanding of such a position."

"I'd say!" Michael grunted, struggling to pull off a coil holding the machine's arm in place. When he succeeded, the limb hung limp and non-threatening, only the fingers moving as Legion tested if it was intact.

Tali hummed though, sounding suspicious. "Surely the Reaper could have forced you back into the collective, used its Geth allies to use your connection against you and turned you?"

"It could, it chose not to." Legion replied, its other arm coming loose as EDI nearly ripped apart the metal tube holding it in place.

"Why?" James chimed in. "Seems odd to keep an enemy around like this..."

Legion focused its one eye on James, and the Marine visibly shivered as what he'd always been taught was an enemy spoke to him. "It was angry with our refusal to cooperate, it wished to punish us, to make us suffer. As such it had the other Geth put us here, a beacon to transmit the Reaper signal to the rest of the Geth, enabling exactly what we opposed."

James grimaced at the thought of such a punishment and lowered his head, but Tali shook hers, confused. "It...wanted you, a Geth...to suffer? But you don't...that makes no sense."

"We are not aware of any other motivation save for what it told us." Legion politely replied, then cocked its head to the side as Michael pulled off the last coil holding it in place, a low electronic stutter escaping it. "Cutting signal, Reaper signal disrupted..." A pause. "Alert, this ship's Drive Core just went offline, defences, propulsion and weapons offline, other Geth ships report garbage data disrupting their sensors...error." Finally, it shook its head, turning to look at Michael, something intense in its eye. "We believe we are in danger, Shepard-Commander."

"Don't worry about it, we have the Quarians-" Michael's response was cut short by a beep, making his hand move up to his helmet and his radio. "Shepard."

"Shepard, you've done it! The Reaper signal is no more and the Geth are retreating towards Rannoch!" Gerrel growled out his approval. "Except the Geth Dreadnought...it's ripe for the plucking, the Reaper signal will not come back online!" What!? "Fighters and Frigates, all ahead full and destroy the Geth flagship up close! Don't let it get away!"

"Gerrel! You son of a..." Michael stood there, for a moment overcome by rage. My ship! Then he shook himself. "Korris! Stop him!"

"Korris' ship crashed on Rannoch during our manoeuvring into position, and I'm in command here." Gerrel snapped...and the ship shook, nearly knocking Michael off his feet. "Raiding wing, continue bombardment!" Raiding...he had prepared this!

For a moment, Michael's vision blurred into red rage...and then he felt Legion's hand on his arm. "Shepard-Commander, we must leave, without shields, this ship will not survive a close ranged bombardment for more than a few minutes. The hangar bay contains Geth fighters, we suggest retreat."

Michael blinked, mind drawing on the map of the ship he'd memorized before the mission. "Yes, good idea. James, use your explosives to destroy the floor over..." He looked around himself, then pointed at a far off corner. "...there."

"What?" The Marine stared at him confused.

"It's a hall leading to the fighter bay underneath it, get to it!" Michael snapped, then turned back to Tali, still speaking into the radio as he gestured at her to speak. "Admiral Zorah is still aboard! Xen! Talk him down!"

There was no reply from the other Admiral though, only Gerrel's sigh. "Sorry kid, this is for the good of the fleet."

"No! Retreat is what's good for the fleet, you moron!" Michael roared

There was no answer, only the explosion as James destroyed the floor at the other end of the room, followed by a duller one that made the entire ship shake, Legion's voice impassive. "Hull breach, engine room, warning, radiation levels increasing"

Tali, shaking her head as if coming out of a stupor, moved her own hand up to the side of her helmet. "Shala'Raan! Stop him! He'll kill us! Auntie Raan! He's killing us!"

Again, there was no answer.

And Tali lowered her hand, voice trembling in disbelief. "Auntie Raan...?"

"Let's go!" James' shout was followed by a flurry of activity as the group rushed for the exit he'd created. Tali just stood there though, staring straight ahead, unable to comprehend the silence answering her call.

They'll pay for this.

Growling, Michael grabbed Tali's hand and pulled her along with him.

Oh they'll pay..

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Thanks to Abydos Jackson for being such a hungry reader.