Once they were back on the Tempest, they parted ways with Kalinda, who was as good as her word and provide them with some Remnant artefacts.

Scott, however, wasn't best pleased with how they landed on the planet. "Peebee. You put us through a pretty rough ride. Where are you at?"

"How she delivered?" Peebee asked.

"We just received a massive shipment of Remnant tech, quite valuable," said Scott and handed her a datapad. "And this."

Peebee saw that it contained a message and read it out loud. "'Pelessaria, with my compliments. My crew won't bother you again. In your debt. Always, Kalinda.'"

"So she made good on her promise," said Scott though he still had some scepticism. "She still doesn't strike me as someone to trust.

"Being a fingertip away from death can change a person. Still, best if we scan everything she sent over."

Scott nodded. "Better safe than sorry."

"I just wish we could have had that device," said Peebee looking disappointed. "The scan data does provide a glimpse into how Remnant acquire programming, though. So we missed out on a key to unlock secrets of the tech, but maybe came away with a glass to listen at the door."

"We do have a little bookkeeping matter to discuss," said Scott gesturing to their missing escape pod.

"Ah, nuts," said Peebee. "Yeah, the Tempest is light one escape pod. That's gonna cost me, isn't it?"

"Next time we docked at the Nexus, you buy a new one," said Scott bluntly. "If you don't have the funds, you work it off over time. Got it?"

"Hey, I'm the one out a bedroom," Peebee pointed out. "What do we have to do about that?"

There was no way that Scott was the letter a mile from an escape pod after what happened. "Tell you one thing, you're banned from all future escape pods."

"Except in cases of emergency?"

"Especially in cases of emergency."

Peebee pouted. "Oh, you're no fun."


Scott had finally finished gathering the materials for the Ghost Storm technology and now all they have to do was wait until was finished being constructed.

"The Ghost Storm technology has been fully researched, Pathfinder," SAM informed him.

"Excellent," Scott smiled as we began making his way to the meeting room. "We're ready to make our push on Meridian, then. I'll call a meeting immediately."

"Prepping vidcom communications."

Scott immediately assembled every member of the crew began gathering around the table. Both Adam and Hayjer were part of the meeting as well as holograms.

"The Nexus leaders think our search for Meridian is a waste of time, but we know they're wrong," said Scott looking at every single one of them. "Turning on vault won't be enough without the heart of the system."

"Just to clarify: You're define a direct order?" said Cora.

"No, not 'me,'" said Scott as he looked at everyone. "'We.' We are going to defy them."

Drack laughed. "That's the spirit."

"And the kett?" Jaal asked.

"That's where the Ghost Storm technology comes in," said Scott. "Isn't that right, Hayjer?"

"Exactly," Hayjer nodded. "Our forged signals should divert some kett from you."

"It won't be all of them, that it'll be enough," said Vetra.

"The Tempest is small and fast," said Kallo. "I don't need a big window. We'll drop you off and they cut exit before the kett catch on."

"Once we're on Meridian, it'll be a small team," said Peebee. "Move fast, figure out its secrets."

"Right behind enemy lines," Drack added. "Good time to assess their numbers, defences…"

"And when you're ready, we'll extract you the same way we got you in," said Kallo.

"If we come back with actuals on Meridian? The Nexus will sit up," said Liam.

"I'll do everything I can to let the Nexus know of the danger that the kett pose," said Adam. "However they will need some actual evidence, something that will make battling the kett worthwhile."

"Sounds like a solid plan, team," Scott smiled. "Hayjer, are you ready?"

"Good to go on your word, Pathfinder," said Hayjer.

"All right, guys," said Scott. "This is it. Let's get moving."

With that the meeting was adjourned and everyone got to their positions, because they knew that a hard fight was awaiting them.


Scott made his way to the bridge but before making his way to Meridian, decided to check a few more systems. His first destination was the Dar'hegah System

"They named this system after a batarian pioneer," said Suvi as the entered the system. "The first astronaut. It's good to remember these things."

They made their way to the planet H-505 and located a pretty large crater which had to be the largest on the planet. Scanning the system they were also able to locate what appeared to be a kett scout ship in the asteroid belt and they began to scavenge the wreckage.


They then headed towards the Togessan System.

"Very little signal traffic around," said Kallo curiously as they entered the system.

"It's pretty remote," Suvi pointed out. "I wonder what view of the Milky Way you'd get out here?"

They began to scan the system and located a wrecked kett dropship and they began to scavenge what little they could find with in the wreckage. They also managed to locate an asteroid which contained fragments of Remnant technology. They also located another asteroid and this one contained a deposit of aluminium which they mined.


They then headed straight towards the Shojaon System.

"This place is almost off our star charts," said Jaal.

"Considering what they were up against, your explorers made it a long way out," said Kallo.

They began to scan the planet Pas-24 and found an extremely large crevice that had hundreds of small tunnels leading underground. They then scanned the planet Pas-48 and located a copper deposit on the planet.


They then jumped to the Skeldah System.

"This is one of the most remote systems in the cluster," said Kallo as the entered the system. "We're on the brink."

"Exciting, isn't it?" said Suvi.

The only thing they could find within the system of any worth was a beryllium deposit on the planet Kotkoborra.


They then jumped to the Kindrax System.

"I studied Kindrax's theories," said Suvi as they entered the system. "A real turian aeronaut. The first across the ocean in a balloon."

"On Palaven?" Kallo blinked in disbelief. "Brave soul. There aren't many soft places to land."

They first scanned the planet H-202 and found the wreckage of an Initiative shuttle, there was hardly anything left in the only thing they could do was scavenge the remains. They then scanned the system and found the remains of a Remnant fighter but got torn to pieces when it touch one of the Scourge's tendrils.


Then they headed straight towards the Faross System.

"The light on the side of this cluster is so different," said Suvi mesmerised as the entered the system. "Maybe the Scourge is absorbing certain wavelengths."

"Does it ever give anything back?" Kallo asked.

They then scanned the planet Grill and managed to locate a volcano on the surface and its lava flow had destroyed an unmanned Outcast monitoring post. They then headed straight towards the planet Asiaq and found a kett satellite orbiting the planet and judging from the scans was badly damaged by the storms. Then they scanned the system and located in asteroid and located in empty Outcast supply post and docking station.


With that they finally headed straight towards the Civki System.

"If the Archon's information is right, this is the system," said Kallo. "Meridian should be here somewhere."

Before heading to Meridian, Scott wanted to scan the nearby planets in the system since they were still undetected. The first planet they scanned was H-110a and located a Remnant installation that the kett hadn't been able to locate yet. Then on the planet Rakaelmo they found a huge iron deposit. They then headed towards the planet H-065 and located a kett satellite orbiting the planet taking detailed readings of what appeared to be an empty expanse of desert.


They then finally headed straight towards the space station, which according to the information they managed to acquire was in fact Meridian.

"That's it. That's Meridian," said Suvi.

"Or Khi Tasira, as the kett call it," said Kallo.

"Looks like a giant space station.

The space station looked in tatters, it had clearly been hit hard by the Scourge though that did not discourage the kett shipped orbiting it. If it hadn't been for the Ghost Storm technology the only way to get anywhere near it was with a fleet of ships.

They then headed straight towards the space station and began putting their plan into action. Scott was in the cargo bay with the rest of his team while Kallo and Suvi moved in towards Meridian.

"Initiating Ghost Storm, on my mark," said Hayjer over the comm. "Three, two… go!"

They then activated the Ghost Storm along with the stealth drive. They were now flying directly underneath a kett cruiser and there were several Tempest signatures all over the board. They also managed to tap into the kett comm systems without them knowing.

"Enemy signature detected," said the voice of a female kett, designated as Archon's Sword. "Commence pursuit."

Almost immediately a large portion of the kett fleet then began to chase after the fake signal.

"Hayjer, it's working!" said Suvi excitedly.

"Reading a bunch of kett headed our way," said Hayjer. "Pulling back. It's all you now, Tempest."

Almost immediately they activated the engines and made their way towards the station.

Kallo was now desperately looking for a drop point for Scott and the others, the buildings were so close together and there was still enough kett patrolling the main landing zones. Suvi on the other hand was trying to figure out where the main control centre for everything was on the station.

"We should get them as close as possible to here," said Suvi. "Intense readings. Could be some kind of control centre."

"No decent landing sites," Kallo frowned. "This could get messy."

"How messy?" Suvi asked.


Scott and the others meanwhile were getting themselves sorted out and Gil was assisting them.

"Ryder, looks like a flyby is our only option," said Kallo over the comm. "I'll get as low as possible, but you'll have to get over the target area."

"I've fallen out of so many things now I should be a pro," said Scott.

"Ever since day one on Habitat 7," Liam joked. "Good times. Except the shuttle exploding, let's not do that again."

"I got this shuttle streamline," Gil assured them. "Plus I'm going to be on it."

Gil finally finished attaching Scott's jump jet to his back and then looked at everyone.

"All right, you know the drill," said Gil. "Watch your rate of descent. Shields should take care of the rest."

With that Scott and the rest of his team made their way to the ramp.

"So far so good," said Suvi. "The kett have detected us."

"But once we go in, we'll be clear as day to any troops on the ground," Kallo warned.

"Don't worry about us," said Scott. "Just make sure you and the Tempest get out safe."

"Loud and clear."

They then just waited for the ramp door open.

Kallo began to manoeuvre the ship throughout the station towards the energy signature that Suvi detected. He piloted the ship straight upwards and then hovered over the area just beyond the large tower in the centre of the station.

The moment the ramp door is open Scott and the others jumped and use their jump jets to slow their descent. The moment they were on the ground they saw the Tempest moving away, no doubt to avoid detection.

"Everyone okay?" Scott asked looking at the others.

"I think I bumped my head, but I'm good," said Peebee.

"We'll need to survey the area," said Scott. "Fergie out what we're dealing with."

"I am detecting active conduits nearby," said SAM. "Your scanner should be picking them up."

Indeed they were Scott activated the first of the interfaces and it managed to create a bridge that reached the other side of the ridge.

"Pathfinder, while interacting with that console, I detect the presence of a complex network, connecting via a central command hub," SAM informed him.

"A hub?" Scott blinked. "You mean we found Meridian's controls?"

"Most likely. However, the hub is dark. Deactivated."

They crossed the bridge and began making their way through the main door.

"Let's see what Meridian's all about," said Scott. "We can start by finding its central hub."


They didn't get very far until their path was blocked, but fortunately there was an interface terminal and Scott wasted no time accessing it.

"Pathfinder, we are looking at the central command hub I detected earlier," said SAM as the doors opened revealing a massive tower ahead of them. "As with the monoliths and vaults, the hub is connected to the two neighbouring towers."

Scott looked at the two towers that stood at the base of the larger one. "So activating those towers will also activate the command hub."

"Guess recon's over—we could activate Meridian right now," said Cora.

"Forgetting about the kett?" Vetra pointed out.

"Activating the vault has previously activated the purification field," said SAM. "Perhaps Meridian is similar."

"Better to those towers and see what we can find," Scott suggested.

"Pathfinder, interfacing with that console has activated a gravity well," SAM added.

Scott got the message and access the gravity well and soon they found themselves gently falling towards the base of the tower they were in.

"Look at that," said Drack gesturing to what appeared to be a Remnant city.

"Pathfinder, and picking up radio interference—a kett signal," SAM informed them as they landed.

"Alert!" said the voice of the Archon's Sword. "The detected signal was a decoy. Khi Tasira has been infiltrated. All units are to focus on the incapacitation and capture of the 'Pathfinder.'"

"Let's teach them a lesson," said Cora.

They then exited the door and then found a bunch of kett meeting them outside.

"Here we go!" Drack smiled.

They immediately began to engage the kett, but the main problem was is that some of them had a high ground and they were shooting down at them.

"Kett above us! We're completely open!" Scott yelled.

The kett present in Wraiths to attack them, but Drack managed to catch one and slam it into the ground. Jaal then performed an excellent sniper shot shattering the second one score and and fired another shot into it head. Cora then used a biotic charge in order to attack the kett above them and began fighting them in close range. Scott led the others down into the middle to engage the main kett forces there.

Scott then noticed for the first time that it was actually raining. "I wonder if there's a broken atmosphere processor somewhere that's causing this downpour."

"Or maybe the builders just liked rain," said Peebee.

"Look out! Reinforcements!" Drack yelled as a kett dropship descended towards them.

They quickly began to engage the reinforcements and adding to the complication were Observers shooting at everything, but they managed to persevere and were left with a choice.

Scott nodded. "Right. So Command Hub. Probably need to check out those other two towers first."

Before making the decision on which way to go Scott scanned the wreckage in front of them.

"SAM, what do you think?" Scott asked.

"Intense vortexes of Scourge energy," said SAM. "I would stay clear if I were you, Pathfinder."


So they then decided to go right they soon found more wreckage within the city.

"Weird had readings coming from that anomaly," said Peebee looking down at her omni-tool.

"We better find something amazing at the centre of this place," said Vetra.

They kept on moving and saw more of these strange pockets of Scourge.

"This was some fight," said Drack.

"Detecting high levels of Scourge energy," said SAM. "Be careful."

They then saw kett bodies littering the place.

"Ouch," Peebee winced. "Kett got their asses kicked."

"It still hurts to see it, sometimes," said Jaal.


They then jumped down and found what appeared to be some sort of massive battlefield. There were pockets of Scourge, but there were spread out.

"Ground zero, I'm guessing" said Drack.

"Pathfinder, it appears the energy waves from these craters contributed to the Scourge throughout Heleus," said SAM.

"So what happened here cause the Scourge to rub all across the cluster?" Scott stared.

"Yes, Pathfinder."

"Could the Remnant builders have created the Scourge?" Vetra asked.

"Or someone attacked them with it," said Peebee.


They kept on pushing until they eventually reached the first tower, but get inside they had to fight against a remnant turret and a whole bunch of Remnant. Once they took care of the box they started to make their way inside.

"Everything here has a purpose, and we haven't got a clue," said Liam rubbing the back of his head.

"Detecting low levels of power, Pathfinder," said SAM. "As scan may help and identify conduits."

Scott activated his scanner and indeed saw conduit running all over the place, but they appear to be some kind of pattern as they were linking to nearby terminals.

"I see the conduits," said Scott. "Some kind of pattern here."

Scott then made his way to the console that all the conduits were leading to an activated it. Unfortunately there was an overload and immediately deactivated.

"Wow," said Scott. "I think that's fried. Will it even work?"

"I have no idea," said Jaal as he examined it. "Ask SAM?"

"Damage to parts of the system are preventing power-up," SAM informed them.

"Can we reroute past the damage?" Scott asked.

"That may work, Pathfinder. Boosting trace signals…"

Glyphs than appeared throughout the entire Remnant consuls and it in take long for Scott to figure out that there was some sort of pattern. Also whenever he got a pat on the wrong Remnant bots were immediately constructed and attacked them.

Took some doing but eventually Scott managed to figure out the pattern and power was soon restored.

"I think, that's it?" said Scott.

"The primary console should work now, Pathfinder," said SAM.

Scott wasted no time and made his way to the primary console.

"Provision of repairs are complete, Pathfinder," said SAM.

"Only one way to know for sure," said Scott.

Scott raised his hand over the console and immediately activated it. Then a certain amount of glyphs appeared on a holographic screen judging from the way they were written it looked like some sort of log.

"Translating… 'Flight control system online. Welcome, Administrator,'" said SAM.

"Looks like those repairs worked better than expected!" Scott smiled.

"Restoring systems has reactivated something else nearby, Pathfinder," SAM informed them.

"Yeah, but what?"

Power began to spread throughout the entire facility and then suddenly they saw for the first time Remnant fighter's awakening.

Peebee just stared at them and wonder. "Look at it. It's like one of those derelicts we've seen only… no longer derelict!"

They then noticed that appearing over the console appeared to be yet another log.

"Translating… 'Exploration vessels on standby,'" SAM translated. "We have seen remnant ships, but none in working condition. It says it cannot receive command from the Meridian Engine."

Scott frowned. "Hmm. 'Meridian Engine.' SAM, do you know what—"

Scott stopped midsentence when he saw kett forces patrolling the landing pad and use only a matter of time until they discovered them.

"They're going to be trouble," said Scott.

"Restoring power welcomed the Remnant!" Jaal groaned.

They immediately began to engage the Remnant and the ricin everything they had at them.

"Ryder!" Suvi yelled over the comm. "I detect a surge of energy on the scans! The section you're in lit up like Mardi Gras!"

"What's a 'Mardi Gras'?" Jaal frowned.

"What's going on?" Suvi asked sounding frantic. "Are you all—"

"Can't talk right now!" Scott yelled.

They had a battle against all different kinds of remnant, Assemblers, Nullifiers and most annoyingly a Destroyer. Taking out the Assemblers was the main priority before they created more Breaches after which they began flanking the Nullifiers attacking them from behind. It was only then they could concentrate everything they had on the Destroyer, eliminating to tell its first and then aiming at its power core.

"Security's down," said Scott as they took out the Destroyer. "We're good here. The kett are probably waiting out there for us, so stay alert."

"Always am," said Liam.

When they got outside they found that the entire city was lit up and it was completely overwhelming.

"Wow. It's… beautiful," said Cora mesmerised.

"One more tower to go before the hub powers up," said Drack.


They then began to make their way to the second tower, fighting off a bunch of Remnant at the same time. It was an easy due to the fact they had been so much damage done to the place and then they found that the kett were busy battling against Remnant bots, they quickly engaged both groups attacking them before they realised what was happening.

They then crossed a bridge to some sort of crossroads that led to the main Command Hub, but there was a force field around it blocking their access. It was clear they had the second tower and fortunately there was a bridge that led into that general direction.

They soon entered into another district and this one was covered with those strange remnant plants they found in the vaults.

"So many plants," said Liam.

"Vorn would love this," Drack grunted.

"Wow, it's completely overgrown," said Scott. "Gotta be getting close to one of those towers. We need to activate both to reach Meridian's core."

They examined the entire district and found that the kett had left quite a lot of equipment, no doubt a study the Remnant. Scott was positive that it wouldn't be a good thing if they figured out how to operate them, that being said they had been here for decades and had only scratched the surface of course Scott was now the new variable that could be the key for them to access the technology.

They then saw a bunch of kett outside the entrance to one of these towers and it looked as if they were quite hunkered down. They had a perfectly good view of them from a balcony and it didn't look as if they were aware of their presence.

Fortunately they were close to it console that activated a nearby Remnant turret and Scott was more than willing to use it. Once activated the turret began to fire down on them and Scott and the others joined the fray, completely overwhelming the kett.


With the kett dead they immediately accessed the tower and it looked quite similar to the other one. However unlike the previous one this one was completely covered with kett much to their annoyance.

"Watch it! Heavy shooters!" Liam warned.

"I detect working Remnant technology," SAM informed them. "We could turn that against them."

Scott for there was an excellent idea and immediately access the console that allowed him to access the security systems. The kett were now getting completely overwhelmed not only by Scott's team but the tower's defences as well so it in take them long to finish them off.

They then entered through the door into another chamber and this one was filled with some sort of pods and completely covered in what appeared to be mushrooms.

"Those look like mushrooms," said Cora. "Really big ones."

"Too dark," Vetra frowned. "We could be ambushed."

Despite the dangers Scott accessed the terminal within the chamber, they really needed to know what the Remnant builders were doing here. The entire place lit up the moment Scott access the console and then Scott saw something familiar in one of the parts.

"What the hell?" he said rushing over to it.

Inside the pod was a male angara, and the can even tell whether he was alive or not. He immediately accessed his omni-tool and scanned the pod.

"Translating… 'Pattern One-Three. Viability 56.2%'," said SAM. "'Genetic template transmitted for testing.'"

Jaal looked horrified. "They were doing… things to the angara."

Scott wasn't so sure about that, as far as he could tell they weren't alive and there was no evidence of any harm to the bodies.

Scott looked at him. "We can't be sure what this is yet, Jaal."

"Really?" Jaal roared furiously. "Because the last time we saw something like this, the kett were turning us into them!"

"SAM, I need an analysis," said Scott.

"It appears that these beings are not angara," said SAM. "They are not even alive."

Jaal approached one of the pods and looked at the angara inside of it. "I don't understand. They look so…"

"The Remnant language refers to these bodies as genetic templates," SAM explained.

Scott's eyes widened. "A blueprint. Like the plants we saw."

Jaal just stared at the empty husks dumbfounded. "The angara… we came from here? They created us? Why?"

This discovery certainly indicated that the Remnant builders were doing far more than just creating atmosphere processes on planets. It was possible that the cluster had been some sort of testing ground for some sort of experiment, but then something went wrong and is the Scourge appeared.

Scott looked at Jaal and he could only imagine how this was affecting him. "Doesn't matter why?" Scott then approached him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Where you came from doesn't change who you are."

"True," Jaal nodded. "And we still face the same conflicts. I just… feel as though something has shifted. I… I need to think. I need to speak with the Moshae."

Peebee looked intrigued. "So Meridian can create life. What if the Archon can make it do the opposite? Destroy life?"

"It's up to us to make sure that doesn't happen," said Jaal.

Scott agreed without full heartedly it was plainly obvious that the builders had designed everything to support life are scientific pursuits, not to create a weapon. The Archon was obviously very shortsighted, of course he was deluded and from the brief exchange he had with the guy he believed himself to be some kind of god.

"If we crack Meridian's controls first we can make sure the archon can't use it," said Scott.

They barely had time to gather their thoughts when Remnant bots immediately began to attack them. There was also the distinct possibility that the kett were also aware of their presence in the facility and were making their way there as well.

After the battle Cora looked at Jaal with concern. "You doing okay, Jaal? If you need anything, I'm here."

"I'll be all right," Jaal assured her. "It helps to know I have the support of friends like you."

"Well, you'd do the same for us."

Scott could only imagine how this would affect the angara and the is no telling how the Roekaar would take it. They hated aliens and the discovery that they had been created by aliens would either incite their hatred even more or shatter them completely.

"The Archon must have learned about the angara," said Vetra. "Maybe that's why his forces are so entrenched here."

Scott had to agree with her assessment, it might also be one of the reasons why he was so fascinated with Remnant technology. Still that the big question on what with the Remnant builders planning to do with the cluster and where were they now.

"Done, right?" Liam asked. "That gets us the command hub?"

"All right—two towers going," said Scott as they exited the facility. "Should get us into Meridian's main control room."

When the entered into the next chamber they found that the power had been restored.

"It's working!" said Cora. "The whole city's coming back to life!"

They also notice that the strange liquid had vanished revealing some kind of lab in the centre the room.

"Gunk's gone," said Drack. "It was hiding something though."

"The whole city is coming to life," said Jaal. "Just like it's meant to be."

Scott made his way down into the lab and began scanning what appeared to be logs on the Remnant builders experiments. SAM was doing a good job translating all the text it was almost a hundred percent, though they were still missing a few words. Though from what they could translate it looked as if they weren't treating the angara as slaves or servants in fact they were encouraging the independents.


When they got outside the facility they found a welcoming committee for them a kett Ascendant. They quickly began to engage him concentrating on his shield generator before shooting him with everything they had.

After that they began making their way back through the district which had now come to life. Of course I didn't stop the kett from launching surprise attacks from dropship every now and then, but they persevered and kept on making their way to the command hub.

"Look at all these light," said Peebee. "Can you imagine what this was like when it was all working. With the builders here?"

"And what you imagine a builder would looks like?" Scott asked.

"Tall, glowy. Or maybe short and round and glowy," Peebee shrugged.

"We always thought they'd look something like the creations," said Jaal. "Now that we know they created us, I wonder…"

Whether they look like the angara and Scott had to admit it was an intriguing question. The geth did resemble quarians in some regards most notably their body shape. Of course all these questions had to wait until they activated Meridian and dealt with the Archon.


They managed to make it all the way back to the crossroads, but unfortunately the kett had already arrived. The force field protecting the command hub was now deactivated in the rushing inside, no doubt to control the command centre before they did.

"Skkut!" Jaal swore. "The kett beat us here?"

"We did the work," said Scott as he made his way over the bridge. "They don't get to reap the benefits."

They quickly followed the kett only to find that they can get any further, because the place was guarded by Remnant bots. They had been so busy worrying about then they had completely forgotten about the Remnant guarding the place and walked right into a trap.

Scott laughed. "Forgot about the Remnant didn't you? Assholes!"

Drack smiled as he pulled out his shotgun. "Looks like fun! Let's join in!"

"How about we don't join in?" Liam asked.

Sadly for him no one else was listening so they immediately began attacking the kett from the back while the Remnant engagement from the front. The kett were caught a rock and a hard place and were quick to fall and that just left Scott and the others to deal with the remaining Remnant bots.


They then entered the tower and soon entered a gravity well chamber.

"What do you think we're going to find?" Peebee asked.

"No idea, but that looks like a gravity well," said Scott.

Without hesitation the access the gravity well and began floating upwards towards the top of the tower. Once they got to the top they entered Meridian's Command Hub and for ones they did had to shoot anything.

"This is it," said Cora. "The heart of Meridian."

"Finally," said Scott as they made their way over to the controls.

"Whoa!" said Peebee mesmerised looking at the large tower in the very centre of the space station. "I think we saw that from space. Wonder what's in there."

Scott had no idea but he was more focused on accessing Meridian's controls it was time to bring this place to life. The moment he access the controls holograms then appeared around them forming the shape of the station and a good number of planets. Then appearing next to the holographic station were Remnant glyphs.

"Translating… 'Connection lost. Meridian Engine not found,'" SAM translated.

"This can't be it," said Scott looking frustrated. "Come on, guys. We're so close." He calmed down slightly and try to think of the problem logically. "There must be a way. Anyone have ideas?"

"Maybe… no," said Peebee shaking her head. "Or the… couldn't be. Ugh. I got nothing."

"One moment, Pathfinder," said SAM. "I have found something."

Then SAM began playing the recording of a female voice speaking in unknown alien language. "Tavadon aviraa. An Solaraan asa valtny ganve. Berah iras—"

"Translating…" said SAM. "'Final administrator log: The Opposition's weapon may cause widespread damage. All of our weapons, our ships, will not be able to protect us… protect my goal.'"

Then suddenly appearing before them was a holographic image of a giant metal sphere and then suddenly detaching from it was the space station. It only took Scott a few moments to realise that giant metal sphere was in fact a Dyson sphere, he had only read about them he never dream that the even existed.

"Ehsan davvar ferloss," the Administrator continued. "Berah iras ongann tavetlov. Hanela Jardaan."

They then watch as the Dyson sphere began to move away.

"'We need to disengage Meridian from command core, which will remain here to draw fire,'" SAM translated. "Meridian contains all the work of the Jardaan. Nothing else matters. I will send it far. We can return one day. Continue the process of renewal.'" They then watch as the Dyson sphere vanished into thin air. "End of log."

With that the holograms then disappeared Scott and the others just stood there bewildered. Scott had to assume that the Jardaan when the Remnant builders, it was nice to know that they can finally name the species, but that raised even more questions. Sound as if they had been in some kind of war with another species, both of them left the cluster without leaving a trace.

"So this isn't Meridian," said Peebee finally breaking the silence. "The Archon was wrong." She then laughed. "That's funny." She then saw that everyone was looking at her strangely. "I mean… it's horrible. But it's funny the asshole had no idea. We'll be able to bring it back, right?"

To be honest Scott had no idea, but they will be able to solve this mystery standing here they have to get back to the Tempest. Sadly before they could do anything the entire place shock violently.

The kett heavy cruiser had returned and was now firing upon the tower and enemy fighters were now approaching the city.

"They're going to bring the tower down!" Vetra yelled as they ran for cover.

"This seems perfectly in line with how everything was going," Scott grumbled. "Meridian's gone, and we're stuck in a kett shitshow! Can I please get a break once in a while?"

"Ryder, focus!" Vetra yelled.

"We're fighting!" said Scott. "The kett are not taking us. Not today!"

"Pathfinder," said SAM. "The Remnant city is not without its defences. This is its central command."

Scott's eyes lit up and looked at the console. "Remnant defences… of course. Use them against the kett!"

Scott then immediately broke from cover and made his way towards the console avoiding explosions that erupted in all different directions. Once he got to the console he raised his hand over began to access it.

"SAM… now!" Scott yelled.

There was a massive pulse of energy and within moment every single laser cannon in the city activated. Almost immediately they aimed towards the heavy kett opened fired with precise and quick energy pulses.

The cruiser fired back, but it was now directly over the city which meant every single cannon was now aiming directly at it. The constant fire was doing a massive drain on its shields and was slowly beginning to rip them to shreds. The kett fighters flew down to the city and fired on the cannons, but they were getting swatted like flies.

Finally the laser cannons did enough damage that caused the cruiser to crash into the city and it smashed through who knows how many blocks of buildings.

Cora and the rest of his team just stared at Scott as he moved away from the console. Scott turned towards them and smiled, but the moment he did his smile vanished and you pushed Cora out of the way just in time to avoid enemy fire coming from kett forces that had just entered the command centre.

Leading them was the Archon's Sword and she immediately pointed at Scott. "The Archon wants that one. Destroy the rest."

"Watch your back!" Scott yelled. "It's the one of those that can cloak!"

"I hate those things!" Jaal growled.

The immediately began to engage the kett and the Archon's Sword, who sadly was the Destined had created that blue mist around her troops. Scott pulled out his sniper rifle and began concentrating on the Anointed behind her.

Drack merely just charged into the fray with Vetra and Liam provided him with backup. Cora and Peebee were sending powerful biotics at them in order to sow confusion in their ranks. Jaal remained with Scott as they concentrated fire from above.

The Archon's Sword's then suddenly disappeared, no doubt realising that she couldn't take any more hits.

"Lost visual on their leader!" Scott yelled.

With a leader now cloaked she was now free to launch any kind of surprise attack she wanted. She had concentrated on attacking Cora and Peebee as they were the major threat that she could deal with immediately.

"I knew those kett were troubled the minute I saw them!" Scott yelled.

"But what about Meridian?" Peebee asked as she fended off the Archon's Sword.

Cora then struck her with a powerful biotic punch. "If we all die, it won't matter!"

Scott pulled out his sniper rifle hoping to finish off, but once again she cloaked. Annoyingly he was forced to turn his site on a Chosen, shooting him right in the head. Drack was wrestling with an Anointed and uses far superior strength to toss him off the tower.

Liam decided to go in close range with his duelled omni-blades slicing through a Wraith. Vetra then tossed a grenade right in the face of a second Wraith killing it on impact. Jaal found himself wrestling with a Chosen, but he managed to draw his knife and plunged it his chest.

Then to make matters worse kett reinforcements arrived.

"It looks like the Archon's sent all his goons after us?" Scott yelled. "Could this get any worse?"

"Fiend! Fiend! Fiend!" Peebee cried as a Fiend joined the fray.

Scott had to ask, but there was nothing he could do about it now except pound the creature with everything he had. The big problem was there was a little room to manoeuvre, that being said the Fiend had a hard time moving as well, but the kett were smart enough to stay out of its reach.

Scott immediately sent in Zap to provide them with additional aid and Jaal then performed a spectacular shot by shooting its eyes out. Once it roared in pain Vetra then tossed a grenade right down its throat blowing it up from the inside out.

In the midst of this confusion the Archon's Sword tried to take Drack out of the picture and plunged a knife on the left side of his body. Sadly for her she failed to realise that most of his left side were prosthetic and all she attempted was breaking her knife. Drack then immediately turned and punched him right in the stomach sending her flying across the room.

She then rose to her feet and was about to shoot him when suddenly appearing right in front of her was Scott using his own cloak and he had managed to plunge his omni-blade into her chest. Her eyes widened for a few seconds and then she collapsed when he withdrew his blade.

"Ground team: Is everything all right?" Kallo asked over the comms.

"Everyone accounted for," said Scott.

"We saw everything from orbit—it was incredible," said Suvi. "The entire city lit up… the scans went wild!"

"And Ryder, the kett are retreating," Kallo added. "Whatever you did—it worked."

"They got the ass-kicking they needed," Scott smirked. "Hand-delivered by us."

"Given your command over the Remnant defences, Pathfinder, I predict the kett will not attempt to recapture the city," said SAM.

"Any progress on Meridian?" Kallo asked. "Have you got it working yet?"

"This isn't on Meridian—or at least, not all of it," said Scott. "Hard to explain. We'll brief you later."

He then switch off his radio and turned and looked at the command centre.

"So Meridian's gone, but shouldn't this thing know the navpoint of wherever it went?" Scott asked.

"Contact with the Scourge will have altered Meridian's original path," said SAM. "It would take countless years to terminate current location."

Scott knew they didn't have that long. "All this Remnant tech around us. The Jardaan had to have a plan…"

"I don't think they had much time for a plan," said Drack gesturing to the destruction.

"Well, if the Scourge is messing things up, maybe that's where we should look?" Scott suggested.

"Look at what, exactly?" Peebee asked.

"I was actually hoping one of you might continue the thought," said Scott rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.

"Yeah, we don't have Meridian yet, but we took the city back from the kett! That's big!"

"That just means we need a push forward before they can recover. We have to find Meridian. The real one." With that Scott began leading the others out of the command centre. "SAM, collect all the data you can. Radio the Tempest for extraction. This is going to take work, and it's going to take all of us."

Scott could only hope that the Nexus will finally listen to what he had been saying for the past week.


Adam had just been called to a meeting by the Nexus leadership and he had a very good hunting knew what was about. Fortunately Scott had sent his report very recently and he was confident it was enough to convince the Nexus they had been right.

When he entered he found that Tann looked very displeased. "We have just received word that Pathfinder Ryder had disobeyed orders and went looking for Meridian. We know that he couldn't have done this without your assistance or that of the other Pathfinders."

"Yes, I helped him," Adam admitted. "And I would do it again."

"Don't you realise that you jeopardise the safety of the Nexus?" said Kandros.

"Before you begin chastising us, maybe you should read Ryder's report I think you'll find it quite interesting."

Adam tossed them each a datapad and they decided to humour him and began reading the report. He can help but smirk every single time their eyes widened and once they finally stopped reading they looked one another completely shocked.

"Is this accurate?" Kesh asked. "The Remnant builders actually created the angara."

"Actually there called the Jardaan and yes they did," said Adam. "And surely all you can understand what would happen if the Archon got his hands on such technology."

"What can bring life can destroy," said Addison softly.

"So are you still going to punish us for disobeying your orders?" Adam asked folding his arms. "Though I should warn you of this does become public it will cause an uproar and you will need Pathfinder Ryder to calm the masses. That is unless you want to start another uprising."

Tann looked at him calmly. "You've made your point Chief Kingsman and just this once you will not be punished for your disobedience, but next time you will not be so lucky."