Act 3: The Twilight
SSV Normandy
TIM gives Lazarus their last dossier. He would have given it to them sooner, but her previous whereabouts had been entirely unknown unlike the rest. Shield remarks that maybe she'd would have been easier to find had Cerberus not tried to suicide bomb the quarian flotilla, making enemies of them (Context is from the ME Novel: Ascension, where that other character Paul Grayson is introduced in). TIM disregards his comment, and goes on to tell the Lazarus Cell they can find Tali on Aequitas.
Dossier: The Mechanist
Some background. Shield had warned Tali about her father's shenanigans back in 2183 CE, and she had actually taken what he said to heart. Rael'Zorah could not lie to his daughter when confronted, and so, told her the truth. And after some cowing, she was able to talk him out of the insane initiative that would get him and an entire ship obliterated. After hearing about her travels however, and learning about Sovereign's influence on the Geth, a totally insaner idea spawned in Rael's head. Research the Reapers to find and mimic how they controlled the geth. When she learned about this insane project, she got on her father's case again, only to learn that this time, his agenda was secretly supported by the entire admiralty. She was forbidden from interfering with the project and given another assignment on Haestrom.
This brings us back to the planet Aequitas, where we find his team of quarian marines and scientists who've tracked down a Reaper artifact. Only Tali has abandoned her Haestrom mission and tracked them to the planet in order to stop them. How? She has no clue. But she has to do something before they all become indoctrinated or even worse, bring indoctrination devices back to the Flotilla. It's complicated, as half the team also believes her, as she is essentially a war hero to many in the Flotilla. To make matters more complicated, Heretic Geth are already present protecting the artifact, and refuse to let it come into quarian hands. To make matters even MORE complicated, the Lazarus team learns there's also a new type of geth on the planet from the quarians' comms, and has their team in a frenzy due to its advanced combat protocols. Lots of chaos going on. Ash calls it a cluster.
So Lazarus touches down and finds Tali in the quarian team's encampment...as a prisoner. She kept attempting sabotage and convincing the members they should quit, which the hardliners have grown fairly tired of. Learning Lazarus is Cerberus though, the quarian's quickly become combative (due to said events from ME:Ascension), and the parties are forced to square off. Tali is accused of treason and bringing them there when she recognizes Jane, Ash, and Shield. The situation is only defused when the geth launch an assault, forcing the two bands to work together. After surviving, the quarians admit they are getting pulverized by the machines, but they can't leave until they get what they came for. Lazarus came for Tali, the quarians came for the artifact, maybe they could reach an accord? Shield immediately gets on Khali's case for suggesting that, as they're not letting the quarians indoctrinate themselves. Jane is brought up to speed on indoctrination and how OP it is. She quickly agrees with Shield and Tali it must be destroyed.
Tali says they can turn her hidden ship's drive core into a bomb like they did on Virmire to do what must be done. They release her, though half the quarians object, while the other half relent, believing that their mission would have failed anyway. Lazarus is allowed to continue into the tunnels on their own to defeat the Heretics and plant the bomb on the Reaper object. But the quarians aren't helping. Travelling through the infested canyon to the defended mine is when they come upon the new geth subtype the quarians had encountered previously.
Shield shouts 'Legion!' upon seeing it, and it takes much effort from Ash and the gang to not fire on sight.
Dossier: The Infiltrator
Legion has been exploring the galaxy, tracking Nazara's movements and investigating Reaper remnants from previous cycles. And its quest had currently led it to Aequitas. Jane has brushed up on current events since she awoke, and asks how strange it is for a geth to communicate peacefully (what with the war going on and all). Ash says as rare as a prothean. Legion asks Jane Commander for her help, telling them it has found a secret entrance into the mines, but it does not have the hardware necessary to destroy the artifact or fight the heretics. Legion briefly touches on said heretics when Jane expresses confusion over Geth: Civil War. While literally everyone else advises her to scrap it, Shield is the only one who stands up for Legion. In the end, Jane trusts Shield's judgement, and so, trusts in Legion. Everyone disliked that.
They follow Legion into the mines, plant the bomb under the relic that is most definitely Reaper in origin, and then the heretics start pouring in once they realize they're inside their shrine. Things take a turn for the worse when several quarians reveal they had followed them in, and try to take the relic (or a part of it) for their studies. It becomes a three-way-shootout as they're all forced to engage one another. With only seconds left on the clock, they subdue the quarians en masse, escape through the secret entrance, and the whole places collapses on the geth inside. Heretic ships start amassing in the system, and the Normandy zips out before they're blockaded.
Back on the ship, Legion asks if it could stay. Jane opposes the Old Machines, and the geth oppose the Old Machines. The true geth also believe that the Collectors are helping the Old Machines from experiences in their journey, which Jane affirms. Despite Khali and Ash's opposition, Jane accepts Legion's proposal, hoping they can also put an end to the geth war still ongoing inside of Citadel Space by learning about one another. Grunt pipes up later, revealing he picked up a strange weapon while fighting inside the mines. After Jane brings the subject up at the next briefing, Shield identifies it as a Collector weapon. The geth are now speculated to also be dealing with the Collectors. Shocking.
SSV Normandy
Now that they have Legion (along with everyone else), Shield realizes there's no longer any reason to delay the mission. He doesn't have to worry about the timing anymore. Though she's still not as skilled as she once was, Jane's biotics and marksmanship are now somewhat salvageable, and a majority of the team is now present to back her up. So Shield phones TIM saying he's got intel now on how to strike at the Collectors. Collector Base, Omega 4 Relay, IFF, Black Hole, etc. TIM remains skeptical, so Shield just tells him to reveal the location of the Dead Reaper Cerberus has. They can at least it use for something other than indoctrinating Cerberus agents. TIM says that's impossible, as the Broker destroyed it several weeks ago. Now Shield is floored, as that was their only way to obtain a Reaper IFF. What do now?
In the downtime, Kelly's rapport with Jane and Shield continues. Jane continues to get deeper and deeper into her impostor syndrome, and delves into if she's really worthy of command. What has she done to deserve leadership over Lazarus? Khali or Shield are much better suited due to their confidence and conviction. Kelly does what she can to soothe Jane's doubts, but it's obvious Jane doesn't command authority like she used to before 2183 CE, and from talk on the ship, everyone still questions if they can really pull this off. Shield is starting to open up more and more to Kelly after every mission too, and he shares he's having the same nightmares over and over now. Of 'his' life before Project Backdoor, of Shepard dying, of his many other failures. He feels that whatever the VI did on Aite broke his mind. Kelly thinks it's largely just stress and that he needs to stop thinking the world relies on his shoulders. There are so many others to share that burden with. And to go easier on Jane too.
This causes Shield to finally share that he doesn't like how Jane constantly reminds him of how naive he once was, and every time he talks with her, he's reminded of how he killed her. It becomes clear to him that Jane isn't Shepard, putting even more pressure on him to carry on her previous legacy and fix her. His constant 'coaching' is one of the reasons Jane's self-esteem is not doing so hot. Kelly advises him to talk with her in a heart to heart on this, as Jane looks up to him, and values his input immensely. But Shield refuses, thinking it won't help. In reality, he's just scared that he'll confirm Jane will never be the same way she was again.
Tuchanka
While TIM will look into options for getting that Reaper IFF that will supposedly help them, he tells the Lazarus Cell to continue looking into ways to defeat the Collectors and strengthen their team. After speaking to Mordin and Grunt, Jane expresses her desire to do their loyalty missions. Since they have no other leads at the moment, it's figured why not. Once on the planet, Wrex greets them as leader of Clan Urdnot, and is caught up to speed on events. He affirms that Jane is different, which makes her further self-conscious about her identity, and Wrex is then angered as Okeer shows his face alongside Grunt. They have a brief dispute on what the krogan need as a people to survive. Okeer mentions Droyas, Wrex's mentor and Okeer's former partner in research, and draws parallels to Wrex's dream being as futile as his. Before Wrex kills Okeer, Gatatog Uvenk interrupts. Some more krogan politics go on, and though Uvenk insults Grunt for being tank-bred, he's glad a veteran of the Krogan Rebellions is present. Uvenk invites Okeer back to his clan (without Grunt), but Okeer refuses, citing his ultimate creation is worth more than a thousand of the pitiful warriors he'd find there. Wrex waves everyone off, telling them they can take care of their business somewhere not around him, except for Okeer who is exiled from the site.
Loyalty: Pureblood's Rite
After the recent battle on Aequitas, Grunt has been feeling his blood-lust grow uncontrollably. Okeer says that's typical and he should ignore it, but Jane quickly picks up that's not an option. Hence coming to Tuchanka to find someone who understands what's happening to him (against Okeer's wishes). Grunt's loyalty mission goes the same as in game, though Okeer constantly derides the entire experience as he watches from the Normandy, telling Grunt he has no need to join any clan. He'll be strong enough to lead his own. Okeer is essentially an overbearing parent and Grunt constantly acts like a rebellious teen in response. Upon killing the Thresher (though the experience puts Shield into conniptions), members of Clan Jorgal show up, telling the team that no scion of Okeer's will live among the krogan. Warlord Jorgal Okeer sold his fellow krogan into slavery for his vision, and was overthrown due to this. Though Jane tries to convince them Grunt isn't related to any of that, they attack, and the Lazarus team is forced to fight them off. This gives Grunt, small brain boy, some actual introspection, and makes him consider what it means to be tank-bred. How significant it is that he was born on the backs of hundreds who died for him to be born. What purpose will he fulfill with his existence? Then Clan Gatatog shows up having watched the entire thing, and they offer Grunt a place in their clan along with Okeer. Together, they can overthrow Wrex and restore the traditions the krogan are quickly losing. They all die too. Jane learns krogan politics are violent.
Loyalty: Haunted Genius
Mordin's loyalty goes exactly the same. The only change would be that Clan Weyrloc has gained additional research from the Collectors along with Maelon's experiments. Everyone else misses it, but Shield finds a log of Cadus being the one to deliver said Collector data. And he's adamant he'll correct his mistake from Alingon. Though several members think they should destroy the data when they finally crack the case of Maelon's involvement, Shield is adamant they save it. Despite Mordin's moral quandary on using it, and the other's qualms about a 2nd Krogan Rebellion, Jane trusts Shield once again, and saves the data. Several members relevant to the topic reflect on all the different ways the krogan are addressing the genophage, and how they're trying to recover from it. Wrex's reforms, Gatatog's traditionalism, Weyrloc's unethical research, Okeer's eugenics, Droyas' clones. Which is right, which is wrong. The discussion helps cement Jane's ideology, as she expresses her belief that everyone deserves a second chance. People change. And that's okay. Shield greatly dislikes this philosophy. Though he once held it himself.
Upon returning to the camp, Wrex congratulates them, and hears out Grunt's thoughts on the krogan's predicament. Grunt thinks that it's up to each individual krogan to decide for themselves, and in the end, the strongest left standing will eventually choose. Despite coming from Okeer, Wrex remarks Grunt might turn out a better krogan than most of the dumdums on this rock. Wrex then wishes Lazarus luck in their hunt, and thanks them for getting rid of some of the dissidents opposing Clan Urdnot while they were there. Before they leave, Mordin goes off to do some soul-searching, visiting old stomping grounds. Jane has also fallen smitten with Urz the varren, and to the chagrin of her escort, the creature follows her onto the Normandy right before they depart. Joker remarks her room is becoming a zoo.
Assignment: The Paragon
TIM suddenly calls the team with critical intel: the Collectors are attacking a colony. Get there and stop them. The Normandy immediately corrects course and heads for the location given: Fehl Prime. The Normandy arrives to already find a Black Ark parked right in the middle of the colony. Quick sidenote, the ME3 Multiplayer DLC: Retaliation, says Collector forces return to the galaxy on their 'black arks' from deep space. Due to Collector ships holding specimens like Noah's ark, and being the only ship the Collectors are shown to ride on, I have gone ahead and made the decision that the Collector Ship is canonically called a Black Ark. Who cares if the DLC was just a poor way to reintroduce a new enemy type? I'll take what lore I can get.
So Lazarus immediately lands with its full squad dosed with Mordin's counter measure for the Seeker Swarms. As Lazarus' 14 man squad stealthily goes through the colony, they find hundreds of colonists' frozen and see pods the Collectors are using to imprison them in. As Jane realizes they're harvesting humans, they hear an explosion, and they immediately head for the location. Only Shield tells them to ignore it, and head for the colonial AA gun right next to the Black Ark instead. Though some immediately question his sanity, Jane trusts him implicitly, and she orders them to take off in the opposite direction as every Collector heads toward the noise. Right as they reach the tower, the AA gun fires, only to have its shot deflected by the Ark's kinetic barrier.
As the Black Ark destroys the tower, the Collectors come back, discovering Lazarus below. They go loud with the tower falling around them, and team up with Delta Squad who are just escaping the fallout (being the ones who fired the AA gun). As the two teams duke it out side by side, felling tons of husks and Collectors, they are eventually forced back to the tunnels running underneath the colony as the Collector Ship starts firing on them. Once there, Lazarus is briefed by Delta Squad on the situation, and Shield hands them some Seeker Swarm repellent he had brought from the Normandy in return. Delta Squad's leader, none other than Lt. James Vega, has his mind blown when he recognizes Shield, and when he then additionally realizes his saviors are lead by none other than Commander Shepard, back from the dead. Now they actually have a fighting chance. He geeks out a bit, causing his squad to razz him for it.
Before things go any further, Shield then shoots a member of Vega's team stone cold dead. Shield clarifies that the civilian accompanying them, Messner, moonlit as a Cerberus agent and is responsible for the attack as everyone is shook. Khali is furious considering THEY are also Cerberus, but Shield asserts he didn't deserve to live. Delta Squad is forced to sit on the fact that Cerberus is saving them, Shepard is apparently with Cerberus, Cerberus has aliens in its employ, and the Cerberus team is also killing other members of Cerberus. While Jane is also appalled by the execution, she wastes no time in coming up with a plan to save the colonists. They're being taken aboard the ship, and they're going to take them back. As well as get the Reaper IFF, Shield adds, since the plan essentially becomes to board it. Jane calls in the Normandy to get them on the ship, but no response. Something's happened to them in orbit. But there's no time to worry about that now. They're forced to go it alone with their shuttle and a commandeered transport from the colony. Charging the cruiser directly, they avoid the ship's beams as they hug the ground before blasting their way inside, two teams immediately splitting up to accomplish their missions.
The former Alliance members, Shield and Ash, go with Delta Squad to help free the colonists already boarded. Mordin also tags along in case his expertise is needed in combating the swarms. They use the colonists' omni-tools to triangulate their positions within the ship's bowels. The rest of Lazarus goes into the ship to disable it's drive core, and prevent it from taking off, giving them more time to search for the answers they're looking for. Fighting's tough, but Vega and Jane show off their burgeoning leadership, coordinating their respective squad's efforts and using their individual talents effectively. Delta Squad reaches their objective first, and starts breaking open the pods. The seeker swarms' paralysis doesn't last forever Mordin shares, and it becomes clear the pods were what was prolonging their stasis as they start waking up. The colonists speed up the process, helping each other free, and Delta Squad returns to focusing on the Collectors as their heavies start coming in.
Lazarus faces the brunt of the assault in the ship, cutting through Praetorians and Scions and of course, the occasional Harbinger. They eventually make their way to the drive core, and Legion volunteers to begin the shutdown sequence on the drive's console. However, it immediately reports that the action is now impossible. When asked to clarify, Legion states the Collectors have already disengaged safety protocols and is charging the core in a locked state. Asked to clarify more, Tali shouts that the ship is halfway to self-destructing. The Collectors would rather scuttle the Ark and its cargo before it and their secrets were lost. While Shepard directs the majority of her team to head back to the shuttle, she's going to head onward to the ship's bridge herself. They still need that IFF Shield mentioned.
As Shield hears this over the comms, he curses, ordering Jane absolutely not to. She ignores him, treading onward, with Grunt, Kasumi, Legion, and Tali being the only ones willing to ignore her commands or back her up. Cursing again, he abandons Delta Squad and the colonists, heading straight back for the team's shuttle, Ash following him blindly thinking he has a plan. He acknowledges there's no way they'd catch up on foot with the amount of enemies in front of them. But he can swing around and blast into the front to pick Jane up himself, before she goes and gets herself killed. It's radioed in that the colonists have had to split up due to being overrun by numerous Collector forces without additional support. Shield realizes that not all the colonists are making it off due to Jane refusing to stick to the god damn plan too. After booking it, they reach the ships, and Shield takes the shuttle to rescue Shepard while Ash decides to take the transport back to get as many colonists as possible.
As he's forced to avoid flying obstacles coming out of the Black Ark, Jane comes back over the comms, telling him to locate her omni-tool to find where to pick them up. Shield swings the shuttle around to her signal. In the time since they took off, Ash has already picked up the colonist group protected by Delta Squad and is going for the other that had ran off on their own. She swears as the other half of Lazarus Cell calls for evac. Upon reaching Jane's location, Shield finds her escort protecting a handful of colonists. As they all squeeze themselves onto the ship, Shield asks where Jane is. Tali is shocked, swearing she was right behind them. Kasumi tells him that they came across the fleeing colonists. Jane told them to rescue them while she went ahead. Tali didn't hear this, alamred. Legion additionally clarifies that she had asked it to swap her omni-tool with the geth for a reason it couldn't comprehend at the time. Though now it did. Shield screams at Jane for her location. She tells him she reached the bridge and had to fight off a giant bug. It was a tough fight on her own. But she got it. She has the IFF. In tears, choking over the line, she asks Shield if he finally thought she was-
Explosions cascade all over the ship, with Ashley yelling over the comms to pull away, as she just picked up the rest of Lazarus in the nick of time. Shield lets the shuttle be racked by the explosions, nearly killing everyone picked up, as he's unable to accept what just happened. In the aftermath, the shuttle and transport land outside of the colony as the Ark's remains create a giant debris field over the region. The colonists, Delta Squad, and the Lazarus Cell all leave their respective vessels, watching the event in a moment of silence. Except for Shield. Vega enters the shuttle, Shield being the only one that refused to leave their ship. Vega solemnly remarks that what Shield had told him in AHL Ch 9 The Man with the Prototype Gun about Shepard was true. She would have chosen to save the people beside her instead of completing the mission. Even if that meant she'd lose her own life doing so. He doesn't know if he could've done what she did. Shield says no, he wouldn't have. Vega accepts Shield's judgement, and simply calls Jane what she is: a Hero. Shield doesn't know what to say in return, as he watches the wreckage burn.
Author's Note:
So back in AHL Ch 9, I included an event from ME: Paragon Lost. Shield had warned Anderson (and the Alliance) about a Blood Pack raid on Fehl Prime so that they never got the jump. And from a news story, we learn the SSV Normandy fended off the first assault without issue. Shield then had to fend off a (non-canon) second retaliatory Blood Pack attack on the planet, alongside several other teams of Alliance's Delta Squad. One in particular being led by Lt. Vega. I know I've talked about it before, but if you've never heard of it, Paragon Lost is Mass Effect's anime one-shot, because every good sci-fi video game has to have one. Anyway, some of it breaks canon, like there being 10 foot tall Collectors, husks still having human faces inside Praetorians, and there being more than one Collector ship which I was okay with at first, 2, 3, whatever. But then I learned upon watching that there's actually shown to be like 30 more. It also states that James gave the Alliance intel that the Collectors are prothean and are building a human reaper before Shepard even finishes their mission. Wow. But I've changed my opinion, as it's honestly not horrible to watch. It also has a pretty bumming ending that renders thousands of lives lost for absolutely no reason. It's like the first thing Vega literally talks with Shepard about in ME3 too, so it's canon in that regard, and makes the event a pretty big check mark on Shield's prevention list. RIP April ;-;7
Thank goodness they saved her in this timeline. Along with the rest of Fehl Prime's colonist. Not a single life lost.
Oh. Except for Jane. I guess that was big one to prevent too.
;-;7
