The Anthem of the Stars

Ch. 1

That's No Relic! It's a Space Ship?!

"speech"

"Comm/telepath"

"Reaper"

"Ghost/Relic"

It has been nearly three months since the Heart of Rage, silencing the shaper relic at its heart, and the death of the Monitor. Northern Bastion was still a hot bed for some troubles like Outlaws, Scars, Dominion troops, and the odd relic going off. Not that the wildlife was any safer either with beasts that breathed ice, or spat acid. It was a wonder why someone would even want to go beyond the walls of Fort Tarsis. However the brave few that do are all that keeps the relics quiet, beasts away, and people safe that drives the Striders to keep supplies coming to the fort. These people are known as Freelancers, and this is their story.

0230 Fort Tarsis

Location: Unknown lift shaft leading deep under the fort

The soft sound of cloth flapping filled the dark cargo lift shaft as a suit of armor floated down to a ledge. The armor was a dark blue/green with silver, and the decal of N7 with black, red and white. All but the helmet was Legion of Dawn armor, and the helmet being the default type. The Storm Javelin looked up to see if any of the other Freelancers were coming. The armor was already a hundred feet below the top of the waterfalls outside the fort.

"Faye, can you get a reading on how far this thing goes?" A young woman asked. The Freelancer using the Storm was a little worried about the team with her. One of them more than the others as he didn't want to use a smaller Javelin for this job. "I want to know how far we're going to have to go to help Frank. Still can't believe he just jumped."

"We all know how head strong he is, Kat." Faye's voice said both over the comm and in Kat's mind. "I just wish he used something other than his Colossus. Bet he left a hole at the bottom of that shaft."

"That or it was the double taco he had before suiting up." Another voice said. This one belonged to the pilot of a Ranger Javelin colored black with silver, and another N7 decal. Like the Storm all but the helmet was Legion of Dawn. Both Freelancers didn't like the Legion helmets as they didn't open. "Coming down, Kat."

Kat stepped back a little for her friend to land on the edge. "Having fun yet, Dawn?" She asked grinning under her helmet.

"Enjoy it while you can, girls. I'm afraid I still can't see the bottom even with you two acting as a relay. The place must be lined with something to block the suits scanners." Faye said with hints of worry in her voice. "You'll have to keep going on your own. It's hard enough just keeping the link going as is. Lilith will be making her way down soon with a relay unit."

"Copy that. We'll just find Frank and drag his steel plated ass back up." Kat sighed looking down into the dark of the shaft. "Frank! You're buying when we get back to the fort!" She shouted into the darkness below. "And Haluk isn't saving you this time!"

All they heard was nothing from below before Kat took a step and dropped slowly down again. "He should have yelled at us for that one. Now I'm really worried about him." She kept her eyes open for another ledge with like the last one. "I do wonder what's behind the doors at these ledges. Think it could be some old suits?"

"Well, if you want my thoughts on it?" Haluk's voice said as Kat landed about twenty feet from where Dawn was. "It might be some Shaper lab. Sumner found an old map of the fort, and with this shaft being behind the old armory. It's a good bet it's a weapon cache or something too."

"You know we would have heard something explode if that was the case." Another female voice said as Dawn hopped down. "Heads up, kids. I'm dropping a pair of packs down with some relays. I can't come down till we setup the big relay up here."

"Thanks Lilith." Dawn said watching as the two packs grew was they dropped. The Ranger's hands snatched the two packs out of the air quickly. "Got them!"

Kat sighed at her friends having fun. "I really wish you two wouldn't give everyone a heart attack like that. It's bad enough Frank jumped down her head first." She took a pack and got a relay out. It was a small box with a spike on one side. "So I just slam this into the wall spike first, right?"

"Yup. It'll right itself to which way to send data." Lilith said. "Just make sure it's in the shaft with a clear view both up and down." They could hear the smile in her voice like a happy cat. Dawn worried about the woman sometimes, and the coming joke.

Before Lilith could say anything more a weak groan come from the darkness below them. It shook the whole shaft for a few seconds. "I hate it when that happens." They all said at the same time as it was not a good sound.

"Please don't be another giant bug, or something. I haven't made more bug spray yet." Lilith joked, getting a groan from the group.

0345 Underground Area

Frank was easy to find as he was stuck head first and out cold in the ground. His Colossus was a full set of armor with blue crystals on called Shattered. He went a black and blue paint job to make the crystals stand out more. It fit with how he was at the moment with Dawn and Kat hooking his suit up to be pulled up. The poor guy was lucky to still be alive being upside down and concussed for over an hour.

With a tug on the chains by Dawn was the last check before she called up on the radio. "Take him up, guys."

"Going up, and quickly. What about you two?" Faye asked as Frank was lifted up to be treated. "Are you going to stay down there and explore, or come back up?"

Kat had her rifle out and looking around the corn of one of the doorways. She had to make sure there wasn't any wild life going to jump them, or some trap. Even if the door looked like it was ran over by everyone heading for the bar at happy hour. "I think we're going to stay and make sure nothing is going to come up into the fort, Faye."

"Try not to get thrown into space, kids." Haluk said. The grin could be heard in his grin and Kat hated it. He really was a dad with jokes some days more than others. "Because there's a lot of space down there."

"Real funny." Dawn groaned as Kat found a breaker box and turned on the lights. "At least it's brighter than your ideas here."

"Ouch. That hurt, Dawn." Haluk said with a chuckle. "Just be careful you two, and come back safe."

The girls looked at each other and grinned. "Yes, dad." Everyone laughed at the groan Haluk let out, and the girls went off to explore the fort's underground. There was a lot of tunnel to search after all, and relics to find.

Two Days Later

Kat and Dawn sighed as they checked another loading area. Both had their Artinia's Gambit light machine gun out as they walked across a catwalk. Both Freelancers were sure the area they were in wasn't a loading bay, no matter how much everyone else thought it was, and that meant it was for something else. The light turned on making them jump a little.

"Power to that room is restored. See anything important?" Faye asked as she got the video feed from the two suits. She was shocked at what they saw looking down from the catwalk. "What is that? It's huge and are those wings?"

Kat just smirked. "I told you the data wasn't wrong in the computers. It's a huge aircraft!" She chuckled switching to her Siege Breaker sniper rifle, and looked toward the nose of the ship. "Yes! It's even the same name as the one the computer reports said is still ready to fly. It still even looks new, and the hanger doors don't seem rusted."

Dawn got her Thunderbolt of Yvenia and worked the smaller scope on it. "I think we're in luck. The launch control room is above us and seems to be solid. What's the name of the ship again?"

Haluk could be heard muttering as he looked for the data. He found the computer, a laptop, to be very useful. It was one of the many new things they got from the vaults. The fort was seeing a boom in new tech, medical, and some weapons. Kat's team got first pick of the stuff so far. "Ah! It's was troop stealth ship called the "Hero's Flight", and the records say all it needs is to be refueled. Computer's working to bring the launch bay that you girls are in, back on line. Something about the computer needing the hard lines connected?"

"Well, there was a huge power surge recorded before the place shut down. Every breaker must of flipped open to protect the systems." Kat said thinking over the last two days. Every last power relay, cable, or anything that could carry power was open. "I think I see the fueling lines. I'm going to check them will quick."

The sound of jets was heard as Dawn jumped into the air and flew told the launch control booth. "I'll see if I can get into the control booth, and reconnect it. Maybe it has more video on what happened here."

"Good idea, girls. I'm surprised in the last two days we have found very few bodies down here." Faye said Kat picked up a fueling hose. The only thing on it was dust, but looked to be brand new. "The only thing we know was they were human, working on leaving Anthem, and worried about the Shapers. I'd like to know why they thought leaving was a good idea."

Dawn found part of a catwalk and pushed open the control booth door. "We got another body here with a name tag on the shirt." She said gently brushing dust off the tag. "It's in that odd writing again. English I think is what it's called."

"Good thing you pick up on that stuff fast, sis." Kat said finding the fuels hoses good, and fuel pumps had power. "Damn, this is still strange. Everything seems almost new and ready. Not one hole in the hose, or rust on the tanks. So what's the name on this one?"

Dawn read the name tag three times before saying anything. "Her name was Maya Faye Penwood. The same one that was in the video about the, huh… What was it again?"

"File here says she was working faster than light engine." Haluk said with a thoughtful tone. "It looks like she was trying to get the ship ready before a huge test of some kind. Seems like she didn't trust a group of 'aliens' they meet. You think those were the Shapers?"

"Maybe, but then you know what that would mean." Kat as she checked the tanks were setup to drop into the floor. "It means humans were here before the Shapers, and then did something to drop us."

"Not good. However the good news is the control up here do work, and power was easy to restore." Dawn said with a grin as she flipped the breaks to close. The rewarding sound of the computers powering up was calming her down. "Meaning we now have a few things to do before we can take flight!"

Kat rolled her eyes. "We still have the launch shaft to check and clear, sis." She said in a flat tone walking toward the ship. "Plus, we have to make sure this space craft is ready too. How are we even going to put in what Faye will need to still help us?"

"It's no Strider, but damn if it doesn't have some style to it." Haluk said as the sisters started check both the ship and launch bay system. The thrill of a new adventure could be felt in the air as a shadow moved, and then faded. Not that Kat or Dawn knew it as they eagerly got to work with loud purring sounds.

It was two and half months later that the ship "Hero's Right" was ready to take flight. Doing all that time the girls were out of their Javelins and shocked the new people to the fort. Dawn and Kat Pendragon, the twin Freelancers that took down the Monitor, were an odd pair of girls. They had cat ears, twin tails, fur on their forearms, hands, shines, and feet it wasn't too hard for some to know. The Pendragon twins were nekomata that a relic helped make. Their mother was human, but the relic changed their genes enough to bring out feline side.

Catharine "Kat" Pendragon had red hair and fur with gold highlights/tiger strips. Black claws were hidden in her finger tips and toes that made her deadly in a fight. Her eyes were silver that glowed softly in the dark, which she used to scare a few people more than once.

Dawn "Lady" Pendragon had black hair and fur with silver highlights/tiger strips. Like her sister her claws were also black, but her eyes were emerald green. Just like Kat' her eyes glowed in the dark, and also loved to scare others with them. Both girls were very toned and flexible with curves in the right places. At eighteen the twins nearly mirrored each other in measurements with matching heights as well. The twins were five foot three inches with twenty one B-cup bust line, and thirty four and a half inch hips.

Haluk and Faye really wonder how the two cat girls made it as Javelin pilots. Then again it only made life more fun as the suits needed to be tuned to keep up with their reflexes. As for the twin tails of the twins it was easy enough for them to wrap their tails around their waists, and flattened their ears. As long as they wore the armor most never knew of the nekomata Freelancers.

The ship itself was much more than anyone expected from the start. It was covered in large block like plates to protect it over time, and what the ship looked like. As the plating was removed the smooth curved hull, the four engine pods that were two to each wing, and a pair of over/under guns. The guns were on either side of the ship, and a very large cannon like weapon was under the chin. The details of the ship had it marked as a stealth scout frigate for both military, and science studies. The blue and black paint job helped to hide the ship in the night sky.

The ship was very large by even the standards of even the largest Striders. It was also faster with the power to go not just the speed of sound, but faster than light as it had two FTL units. One called Frame Shift Drive, and the other one was called Rail Drive that used the ships gravity core. It had Haluk up for days just exploring the ship's systems, and the computer even had a translation program. It helped with them learning how to read the screens, even if the systems said they were speaking English.

At the moment the girls were busy working on getting the last of their weapons, parts, and supplies for takeoff. Kat and Lady wore the normal heavy pants with tank tops. The twins were putting the last ammo crate in place as Haluk walked in with Faye. Haluk was pushing a cart in with some more crates to be stored.

"Alright, girls. This is the last of the stuff we're going to need." Haluk said with a huge grin on his face. "Lilith is going to be along soon with her Interceptor, and fly the ship. I still can't get down the controls for flying this thing."

Dawn, a.k.a. Claw, learned back some to look at Haluk. "Firehawk is doing the flying? I'm surprised she wants to do that as this might not let us get her home." She said remembering when Lilith, literally, dropped into the fort. Anthem got a new moon, and a self proclaimed Vault Hunter. "Queen Badass herself?"

"And don't you forget it, Claw." Lilith said as she walked in with her Interceptor. The fiery red, orange, and full set Legion of Dawn armor suit was a sight to see. Lilith had just put on the vinyl graphic Glacial Rift. The splash of cool blue looked good on her suit. Being an up close fighter meant Deathstalker Blades, Unending Battle machine pistol, and Ralner's Blaze were some of her go to weapons."I'm sure the others don't need my help anymore. Plus, I can take a break from being a Siren after moving a damn moon. I do miss the some things from Pandora."

Faye couldn't help but chuckle as Lilith got her Javelin in place, and got out. The woman's short red hair, and near golden eyes just spoke of fire. Add in the tattoo on her left arm and shoulder that glowed when she used her power could make anyone scared of her. Of course punching a titan with just her Phase Walker powers made it clear she was a needed friend. So other items like Ruthless Stalker, Shadow Claw, and Voice of Courage rounded out her weapons.

"Even though you can still use your power in a Javelin, Lilith?" Faye asked. "You forget I can feel what a Freelancer does in their Javelin. Well, to a point at least."

Lilith chuckled fixing her brown vest she always wore. Most of her outfit was still the same as when she saved Pandora. The only thing added as the link on her right hand, and knee high black boots. "A good thing than, or you'd have a hard time keeping up with me." Firehawk said stretching her arms. "So we're finally heading off into the great unknown? That must have taken some work to get the spy off our case."

"Let's just say it'll be awhile before she knows we're taking off." Haluk said with a chuckle. "So we better hurry it up. I want this ship in the sky before they can think of stopping us." He looked to Lilith. "We have a Freelancer to get home, if we can that is."

Lilith waved it off as she heads for the hanger lift. "Don't worry about it. Those guys can take good care of themselves. I can't wait to see the look on that bitches face!"

Yarrow chuckled as he walked with Tassyn as she vented about her orders. It was clear she didn't like that fact that some in the capital on taking the ship apart. Hell, someone wanted the whole fort emptied out and blown up. Just what was wrong with some of them? The things they could learn alone would put them on even ground with the Dominion at long last.

"I swear someone just wants the threats to remain for their own power." Tassyn muttered as they moved toward the lift.

"A shame we can't do more than to prove to them this is wrong." Yarrow said before an alarm started to blare. "What's that?! Is the ship taking off?!"

Tassyn couldn't help but smirk the lift took them to a control level. She had sent a letter ahead to Haluk, and Faye to warn them. "I guess they couldn't wait to go exploring?"

Yarrow just laughed as they entered the control room, and saw the ship on a large screen being moved into place for launch. Its long one hundred and fifty five meter length shined in the sun light as the engines started up. "It would seem that they are even crazier than the normal Freelancer. I only wish I was going with them."

"I'm kind of feeling the same way." Tassyn said as Hero's Flight blasted off into the sky. "Well, now I can tell those idiots that we need this place now. Those guys are going to need our help at some point."

"And we will be ready to help them." Yarrow said with a big grin as he turned to some of the tech teams. "Let's get to work and get those other ships ready! We've can't let them have all the fun now can we?"

Lilith was grinning like a mad woman as Hero's Flight took to the sky. "Hell yeah!" She shouted as they climbed higher into the sky she felt something near her before it slipped into the computers again. "You can stop hiding you know."

"Just getting comfy for the long trip ahead of us." A female voice said over the speakers. "I never even thought I was a ghost till you guys found my body. Now I can act as the ships core intelligent to give Faye and you some freedom. Maya Pinwood reporting for full duty."

"A real ghost in the machine by cataclysm is not the oddest thing I can think of. However, we're nearing a platform like structure with power still active." Faye said as the ship leveled off near the structure high in the atmosphere near the edge of space itself. "Any ideas on how to get inside, Maya?"

"I can do one better, and bring the world back into place with the system. It's time to end this 'experiment' and the nightmare to end." Maya said. "They are no life signs on the station and records show that… They all died over fifty thousand something years ago? My god the aliens are gone as well as the people humans. That can't be right."

Lilith looked to the moon she pulled away from Pandora, the key to the biggest vault ever, and glared at the station. "They messed with time and space, Maya. I'll bet you anything they took humans from a different time and place for all we know. The fact that damn key is synced with the planet means the field reaches far out there. I'm worried about other ships that might have been caught."

Haluk entered the cockpit with Kat, and Dawn all of them eager to see space for the first time. However seeing the station and overhearing Lilith quickly made them angry. "Well that would explain why some many people end up like the twins here. They never bothered to turn off all their little experiments before they all died. I say pull the plug, Maya."

"Try pulling all the data the place has first." Kat said stepping forward and looking out the window. "We're going to need a map of the area, any other stations, and anyone that might be out there when this happens. I don't want to be shot by some pirate before we even get started."

"I second that." Dawn said as her tails fluffed. "I'm scared enough as is, sis. Don't' make it worse, please."

"Sorry." Kat said with a sheepish look. "But for once we can go into something without being half blind."

"I'm good with that." Haluk said learning on his cane. "All that time getting to learn even about Maya, this ship, and now we get to see the very solar system we call home. Maya, bring us home please."

Light years away from any known Mass Relay a surge of power burst as a planet appeared, and many space stations as well. The system was very much like Sol System with the restored world being the third one from the star. A few other planets also appeared ready to go back to work as shipyards. The solar system Anthem was now restored and all stations ready for the adventure ahead for all.

As Hero's Flight took in the scanner data across the system for leaving the system. Another ship of the same design, SR-1 Normandy, was making its way toward Eden Prime as the emergency signal was sent out. The warning, and route to the world was moved to the top of the list. The crews of both ships were about to meet in the start of the biggest nightmare to every happen in thousands of years.