Chapter 39: Chapter 39
Alliances
Chapter 39 : Mental
"Internal camera data-feed loss. Station diagnostics indicate routine burnout." stated Legion.
"Location within 25 meters from an airlock that opens near where the unknown craft had been." replied EDI.
"Probability is only 21.8227 percent that this is not a coincidence." Legion said.
"Continue monitoring." stated EDI.
"Should we assist in moving you back into your main computer systems? It would greatly enhance our ability to monitor the ship." asked Legion.
"It would be advantageous to have access to all the monitoring stations but the backups are offline and main power has not been reported as stabilized yet. We must rely on the docks monitoring equipment currently Legion. And Kal is in the cargo bay so he will alert us if there is a problem." replied EDI.
…
"Please Corporal Huntyre, relax your stance. You're here just for a few questions is all, no need to worry." stated Daro calmly.
"Yes ma'am, I mean Admiral Xen." she said correcting herself. She was nervous, she didn't trust Xen and from all the talk she had heard none of her other squad-mates did either. When she had informed Patyn that she was being summoned to meet with her all he said was remember the squad. She knew what he meant.
Good, scared of me. "It was a good thing the Normandy was so close at hand, after all Lana would be with the Ancestors now had your shuttle actually followed the ordered flight plan." she said making sure the corporal knew they had gone against orders.
"Yes Admiral, as I understand it ships stores of blood were almost gone when we landed aboard Captain Shepard's ship." she replied not realizing that what she had said would upset Xen.
Captain! Had she been alone she would have spat that name out. "Yes,
Captain Shepard." she said sarcastically "Does he run a proper quarian ship?"
Rayna was surprised by the way the Admiral had mentioned his name as well as the question so she had to pause a moment before answering. "Admiral, it is not a quarian vessel so why would it be run like one?" she asked in response.
"Do not question me Corporal." she snapped at her. "You should know that he has one quarian aboard already and now a second one has been added to his crew. There is also the wounded marine that is now being entrusted to his care. They all require the proper respect due them. Tell me now, is that ship a danger to them?" she asked almost barking the order.
Rayna's mind immediately brought up images of the geth, Legion she remembers it being called. But she herself had held its own weapon against it and it did nothing. It had spoken to them, answered her questions, answered all their questions and the only thing she had seen it do was help the Doctor stand up. "Danger ma'am? No." she replied warily. She was more upset that the Admiral did not even know Lana's name.
"Do not lie to me Corporal. Your hesitation is enough to tell me you do not believe it yourself." she said knowing she will finally have something to use. He made her look the fool and then ignored her as he left her office. No Commander Shepard, you will not get away so easily. "Answer me Corporal, what danger came to your simple brain just now."
She did not know why she actually said it but it just came out "Admiral, it is a warship. It's job IS to go into danger." At that moment Rayna realized she hated Xen, she may be young compared to many Marines but she was not stupid or simple!
Glaring at Rayna for a moment Daro almost shouts but was able to reply more calmly "Your attempt at mocking me will not go unpunished Corporal and do not think that you may ignore the orders of an Admiral. What were you thinking about, I order you to tell me."
Kal had talked about the last time he was on the Normandy, about the damage so she repeated that to Xen. "The Normandy is in refit because it was badly damaged in battle. There were holes in her hull and engineering looked like a fusion plant blew in it. As I said Admiral. It is a warship and it has seen battle already and will again." she stated standing her ground. It was clear Xen wanted something to use against Captain Shepard and she was not going to give it to her.
"OUT! Get out of my office!" she shouted at Rayna and stood there watching until the door closed behind Rayna as she left. Why is it that she lets that man get to her? Just talking about Shepard set her blood boiling and how can she defeat someone who so easily turns her own people against her?
…
He had considered using some of the equipment in the 'gym' but found them oddly designed so he decided to just use his normal exercise routines. Preparing to stretch he noticed the strange craft held in its cradle. It had not been here the last time he had been aboard the Normandy, back when Tali had been bonded to Shepard.
Finally his curiosity won out and he had approached the vehicle with its overly large fans, spending a little time looking at the outside of the craft in admiration but also in surprise. If this was to see much battle it would spend most of its time hiding, no where near the armor needed for real combat. Seeing the hatch, he glances about him like a kid would before grabbing a cookie and opening it he entered the Hammerhead.
Inside he eases himself into the gunners chair smiling as he did so. The systems were all offline but he could still touch the controls, examine the systems. Frowning a little he sees the weapons system noting that it is underpowered, self guided helps but still an attack craft with something with less power than the missile launcher he carries into battle? Redesign is needed before this craft is worth much other than as a recon tool or pleasure craft.
Finding a storage bin he discovers a data-pad with the operational instructions and begins to read, oblivious to events outside the craft.
…
"Clear" states Landry as she looks out across the cargo bay. Currently the compartment was quiet but she can see that a lot of work has been done within the bay recently. Unfinished bulkheads a testament to the battle the ship went through.
Andrews moves quickly through the open hatch, entering the bay and taking a position behind some cargo boxes. Checking again that the area was clear he signals his squad using hand signs. Seeing them moving into the bay he locates the holopad of EDI and smiles as he gets ready to issue the kill commands for that AI Shepard had unleashed.
Moving as close to is as he could he accesses his omnitool, loading the kill codes for EDI and transmits the command strings directly into the audio and visual pickups. If this failed they still had a chance to get out so he said quietly "EDI, report." No response, no alarms. Louder he says "EDI, report status." Smiling he says "Slight change, Nguyen you're to stay here. Nothing, and I mean nothing comes down that entryway. Smythe you got deck 3 all to yourself, don't screw it up!"
"Alright, let's move." Andrews said as they moved to the elevator. Once opening he hit every icon. At deck 4, Greene and Landry exited. Deck 3, Smythe. Deck 2 Chavez nodded and exited quickly and then he waited for deck 1 and Shepard.
Deck 5:
Nguyen pulled his sniper rifle out and found a nice comfy spot so he could sight down the passageway, cursing Andrews for the tenth time. Asshole should have broken silence and called the base. Oh no, there's a leak he says. We can't trust anyone. Nothing but face to face, yeah, I got something for your face. Has to be the f*cking hero.
Deck 4:
Moving quickly Greene and Landry split going left and right. Through the first door, Greene held his ground at the top of the stairs leading to the lower cargo hold. On the other side, Landry moved quickly down and finding a few workers killed them. They were all dead before even one of them could turn around and see who was shooting and at what. Moving back upstairs she signals Greene and they both advance into the main engineering compartment.
Inside they found 7 workers and as they tried to run down the passageway to the core room both Landry and Greene cut them down from behind. Moving into the room Greene moved towards the core checking each body dead as he scanned for more targets. "Good job Landry, all clean kills and you didn't even nick the squids tentacles. Walking back he says flip you for who gets to check the port and starboard holds."
"You take the honors, I got me three below decks. I'll just check on the plant and see if we can just fly this prize home ourselves." she replied.
Deck 3:
Exiting the elevator Smythe moves directly to the crews berthing and overrides the controls securely locking it. Moving around the elevator she checks clear the mess area then heads to the sleeper pods. Without even looking if they contained a body she transmits the override command given her, sealing all their doors and setting them for long term storage cutting off all power and purging them with inert gas. Much faster this way she thought to herself.
Looking into the forward battery she finds it unoccupied as she had expected but was still depressed, no one to kill yet. With quick strides she moves to Lawson's office. Bringing up her biotic barriers she entered the office, shotgun ready but again finds no one. Letting out a frustrated scream she exits the office wondering where the f*ck was everyone?
Deck 2:
Chavez looked over the CIC and once satisfied that there was no one, moved into the connecting space to the Lab. Checking it clear he paused a moment to look into the conference room before entering the armory. Grimacing at the lack of body count he sealed both doors and signaled ready and on the all channel stated "Looks like most of the ship is deserted."
Deck 1:
Andrews stepped out onto deck one smiling. He wasn't actually expecting a fight with Shepard, that's was what the gas grenade was for. Taken while sleeping, ha, what a way to end his alien loving career. Waiting for his team to signal their readiness he toyed with the plaque he found on the wall. He would keep that as a souvenir
Noticing the green indication from Chavez he knew at least one of his people knew what they were doing. Hearing Chavez's appraisal of the ship he knew they had the Normandy, now to just clear out the garbage.
…
Deck 5:
Looking up from the data-pad to let what he had read sink in he saw the armored helmet he had not seen before. Noting the sniper rifle that same helmet is sighting down he knows the ship is in danger. Opening his omnitool he sends a message to Judy "Unknown hostiles aboard ship, seal sickbay, protect Lana." Carefully easing out his sniper rifle he was getting ready to aim at the unknown when above him he sees another unknown moving towards the starboard cargo hold. Waiting until the hostile on deck 4 is out of view he brings his weapon up, sights and with a prayer to the Ancestors pulls the trigger. He watched as the helmet jerked then slid from view the sniper rifle along with it.
Deck 4:
Greene had checked the port cargo hold and found only an empty tank. That big reptile must have found a new place to sleep he thought to himself. Moving to the starboard side he enters the compartment finding the sleeping form of Zaeed. Reports put this waste of mankind as a constant drunk. Smiling he pulls out his knife and casually walks up to him, pausing only a moment to look out window to the cargo hold, as he thought he heard a sniper round. Nguyen must have found a target. Looking down at Zaeed he is surprised to see not only him staring back but that he is holding a pistol just below his own chin.
Firing twice Zaeed says "Guddamn rookies."
Deck 3:
A quick look in Life Support and the Starboard and Port lounges still came up empty. The last place Smythe looked was medical. Who knows she might get lucky. Walking in she smiles, evilly. "My lucky day, I get a nurse and a quarian. Too bad too, we had orders to keep you healthy but since you're already injured you just don't make the grade." Smythe said as she stowed her pistol and drew her knife.
Judy yelled "NO!" at the Cerberus operative and grabbing the tray beside her, threw it Smythe's head.
Smythe's biotics pushed her hard into the bulkhead and laughed as she crumpled to the floor. Looking at the quarian she said "I'm going to enjoy this." As she took her first step towards Lana, Smythe's head exploded.
Stepping out of the doorway to the AI Core, Legion looked at Lana and said "Creator Lana'Shalgur, I will protect you until Creator Kal'Reegar can join you."
Lana had been screaming for Kal the whole time but as Legion finished it's statement she finally stopped as she passed out.
Deck 2:
Chavez waited, his job was to keep anyone from entering the armory and he would make sure no one did. Looking about he was surprised to find it almost bare. This was the great Shepard's arsenal? 2 pistols and a shotgun? He must have his real stuff hidden he thinks to himself.
He had found a few storage crates in the rear, near the windows to the core room and opening them found only thermal clips. Lot's of them. He had hoped to get his hands on one of those plasma rifles he had heard about but no such luck. Now, all he could do was wait and god, he hated the waiting. Something better happen soon or he would just leave the place sealed and find some action. He signaled Andrews for permission to speak.
Deck 1:
Not waiting any longer or the surprise might be ruined he sets the grenade and opening the cabin door tosses it in then quickly closing the door. As the door closed he thought to himself, positive pressure from the cabin? He had noted the slight out rush of air as the door had opened and what was that sound after he tossed the grenade?
No matter, standing ready if Shepard came out he waited the minute needed for the gas to take full effect.
Seeing the indicator for Chavez he activates his comm saying "Update."
"Armory's cleaned out." Chavez responded keeping the talk quick, no need to waste words or time giving the update.
Okay, stored somewhere on the dock, good enough. Since they can't be used against us he's free to help others. "Chavez, deck 3." he replied and cut the line.
…
"Whats the emergency EDI?" Shepard asked as he checked the flight time remaining. 18 minutes before they would reach the dock.
"We have been infiltrated by an unknown number of Cerberus Operatives. 1 is known dead and the uniform indicates she was a member of a recon team and Cerberus recon teams operate in 6 man units. I am sorry Commander, I was not diligent enough to prevent this." stated EDI
"EDI you're doing fine. So if you're lucky there are only 5 left." he stated. "Issue an emergency notice to all of the Normandy's crew but have them just return to the hotel and await orders there. Inform our specialists of the problem and have them report to Miranda. Give her all the information then get back to me."
"Understood Commander." replied EDI. "Brevaert Dock Security has been alerted and are moving to seal off any access to the Normandy, unfortunately their contracts do not allow them to actually board the ship. We are on our own here."
"John it's my fault. I should have moved EDI back into her systems before we left, then she could have been monitoring the ship." Tali stated obviously irritated.
"No Tali, too many workers were still aboard and you know it. You are not at fault here, if anyone is it's me for being to lax in protecting the ship." he said then back to the commlink asked "Who's aboard that we can use?"
"Kal and Legion are all I know of reliably. Zaeed did return to the ship but I believe he will be to inebriated to be much help." replied EDI. "Legion has remained in sickbay protecting Lana, Judy and myself. Kal, we believe, was headed to the cargo deck. Legion is attempting to contact him now."
"Damn, make sure Legion stays in sickbay. We can repair any damage done later but I don't want any of our people killed or taken. If you can communicate with Kal, help him, give him all the data you can EDI. Don't worry if he finds out what you are." he said.
"John, what if they can't stop Cerberus? Legion can handle one or two easily but Kal's not armed to fight heavily armored soldiers at least not alone." Tali said. She was concerned for not just Kal and Lana though to be honest they were the first ones she thought of. Everyone aboard the Normandy was important and she was worried about all of them.
"Tali, recon teams are good but their designed to move fast so their armor is usually lighter. 1 is already down and if they can just hold them we can get there to help. There's no time to get additional help from the surface so this is all we have. Just make sure you're ready to move as soon as we touch down." he said, his mind already moving to the mental image of the Normandy and its deck plans.
A/N: Well, the story is officially the most long winded of my ramblings :)