Chapter 40: Chapter 40
Alliances
Chapter 40 : Cleared
Deck 5:
Kal knew there was at least one more so he stayed where he was, hidden within the Hammerhead. He heard the soft report of two pistol rounds just as the message indicator on his HUD lit up. Opening his omnitool he accepted the incoming call as he scanned the Deck 4 observation deck. In a soft voice he said "Reegar here." He wasn't sure who was contacting him so he was not giving any information yet.
"Creator Kal'Reegar." said Legion. "Shepard Commander instructed this platform to remain in sickbay to guard ships personnel. We are transferring you to EDI to explain more."
"Kal, this is EDI. We have been infiltrated by at least 6 Cerberus operatives. 1 has been killed in sickbay, Lana is safe. What is your status?"
Kal was surprised that Legion had contacted him but his mind was now more at ease knowing Lana was being protected but who was Edie? He had not met any woman called Edie but still...he had not met all the crew. "I have killed one as well." he said. "There is also at least one on the main engineering deck, I saw him moving to the starboard hold."
"That means at least 3 unaccounted for. I am sorry but you're alone right now.
You need to try and stay alive until the Commander's ship can reach us in 17 minutes."
"Understood, Reegar out." he said as he watched a slightly unsteady mercenary move slowly down the wall to the engineering doorway from the compartment he had seen the black clad soldier enter earlier. One of Shepard's crew?
Deck 4:
"Hurry up Greene," Landry said aloud as she busied herself by checking the consoles. She had not been briefed on the newer designs used aboard the Normandy but she was pretty damn sure she and Greene could handle the power and propulsion systems long enough to get the ship back to base.
Bringing up the propulsion's diagnostics she smiles as she recognizes the configuration of thrusters, typical Cerberus over engineering. The units installed are larger than a ship this size normally takes and looking at the sidebar readouts notes they're brand new. Poor Shepard, getting new engines and never getting to use them she thought to herself.
Moving to the power console she looks in awe at the power levels displayed there. With those thrusters and this amount of power the ship must be faster than anything in the galaxy. Looking around for Greene she begins to wonder just where the hell he is. She would give him another minute before she started b*tching at him, he was going to help get the ship ready for flight even if he didn't want to. Well, at least until that ass Andrews told them to move elsewhere.
Deck 3:
Walking to the door Legion closed and sealed it then turned back towards the dead commando. Looking at the knife that laid beside the body Legion said "Interesting choice, choosing a melee weapon when consensus was reached that this was a ranged attack."
"Legion, why didn't you fire sooner?" asked Judy, still sitting on the floor after the push.
"You were in our line of fire, revealing ourselves then would have put you in more danger." it replied. Legion began attempting to contact Kal as it assisted Judy up from the floor. "Nurse Engels, do you require medical aid?" it asked.
"Thank you Legion but other than a bruised shoulder and a lump on my head I think I'm fine. That b*tch didn't touch Lana did she?" Judy asked.
"No, one moment please." Legion stated aloud then spoke to Kal. After a short while the said "We were communicating to Creator Kal'Reegar, he is alive in the cargo hold and has killed another Cerberus operative. Currently the door is sealed and we are to remain here by Shepard Commander's orders."
"I wish the Commander was here Legion, the look in operatives eyes when she saw Lana was scary. Not that I'm unhappy you're here, you understand." she said still feeling angry about the hatred she had seen.
"Assistance is coming Nurse Engels. You will be safe." Legion said as it waited for the next attack it stowed the sniper rifle and unhooked the assault rifle.
Deck 2:
Great, now I get to put up with that b*tch Smythe. Well, hopefully there will be a firefight down there even if it is with crew pansies.
Unsealing the door to CIC he exits and reseals it. Looking once more to ensure it's empty he summons the elevator and waits until finally it opens and he enters it pressing 3.
Damn slow ass elevator he thought to himself. Takes forever to get anywhere on this ship.
Deck 1:
Waiting for the final seconds to pass he knows that most likely both Shepard and the quarian are inside. His team would have signaled if they had her so he may have to get a little rough with the girl. Sealing his suit, he ensures no fumes from the gas grenade will affect his abilities. Finally reaching the one minute mark he activates his cloak and opening the door rushing in to stop dead in his tracks as a second door stands before him. Looking down he sees the now useless gas canister.
Damn it, if it was just one of them he wouldn't worry but he doubts he can take both out. Stepping back out into the corridor he signals Chavez. "Deck 1, now." he said and closed the outer door. Why the hell would they put another door there? Damn thing looked like and airlock. Oh... An evil grin comes to his face.
…
Deck 5:
Kal watches the mercenary, unsure of who he was or his allegiances. Reconnecting to Edie he asks "There is a merc on deck 4, not the same one I saw before. He moving like he was injured, it's possible he killed the hostile I saw earlier."
"That is Zaeed most likely, he is a member of our crew. If he can assist you we have a better chance to survive till the Commander arrives." stated EDI.
"Thank you Edie, I will attempt to join up with him." Kal said then closed the connection again. Standing up now, he waves to the merc, Zaeed, trying to get his attention.
On his second wave the engineering door opens and he just watched as what happened proved that the human was not the enemy.
Deck 4:
Landry was getting annoyed now, Greene should have reported in to her at least and to Andrews that engineering was clear. Something is wrong or that ass found a plaything while she was working. When I find him there will be hell to pay, screwing around on a mission gets everyone killed and she was not going to die today.
"Greene?" she says over her comm unit. Drawing her shotgun she moves through the starboard door and as the outer one opens sees a quarian waving at her from the hatch in the Hammerhead. What the hell? She didn't realize quarian's were idiots as she smiled to herself. Waving back as she stepped out of engineering she began giving the hand signal to 'come here' hoping to call him up to the 4th deck but what she heard next really ruined her day.
Zaeed said "More guddamn rookies," as he put two rounds into her head. Looking at what she had been waving to he sees the quarian and motioning first at him then pointing to the elevator he waits as he sees him moving.
Deck 3:
Just as the elevator reached deck 3 Chavez hears Andrews telling him to join him on 1. Son of a b*tch, that asshole can't decided where to send him and that means plans have changed. Not a good sign when an empty ship starts giving you trouble. Pressing 1 he waits again for some action.
"Legion, we just can't sit here waiting for them to find us again." stated Judy. "Dr. Chakwas was in crews berthing and if they got to her first..." She didn't even want to finish that thought.
"If she was found first then she is already dead and we can do nothing. Until we have received new orders from Shepard Commander or Creator Kal'Reegar we must remain here protecting you." stated Legion.
Checking on Lana again she knows Legion is right but still she worries for the Chakwas and Ellen, both were staying aboard to help if Lana needed it.
Deck 1:
"Greene report." nothing. "All team members report." he said on the all channel." Something's gone wrong, damn it.
"Chavez here Andrews." came the single reply.
Shit, it should have been so simple! Quick in, kill the sleeping crew and then take the Normandy home but the plan's gone to hell now. Looking at the closed door he knows at least one thing will go right, Shepard dies but before that happens he will make both of them pay for his team.
…
"Let's go Miranda, we should already be heading back to the Normandy." Garrus said as he checked his rifle again.
"No Garrus, EDI relayed the Commander's orders and they were to stay here until the whole team is assembled or at least has checked in." stated Miranda checking her weapons as well. She knew she had screwed up, she should have had armed guards on the ship at all times but damn it, it had been going so smoothly up until now.
"F*ck it cheerleader, we can be there in 20 minutes if we move. No way am I letting those Cerberus assholes take my home." Jack said loudly.
"I do agree with Jack, Miranda. With just the 5 of us it should be more than sufficient to handle any Cerberus operatives left." stated Jacob. "If it is just a recon team their shuttle must be somewhere nearby, it may have useful data
in it."
"Miranda, following orders is important but we are just waiting on Professor Solus. He may not even notice the message if he is in the middle of more research. The longer we delay, the more innocents may die." said Samara.
"Kasumi does her own thing, she may be there already for all we know. We're wasting time here." Garrus said a little annoyed about the delay.
"You're all right, I wish we had a heavy like Grunt or Zaeed to put in front but we're it. The shuttle to Brevaert should be grounded by now, move out. Oh and Jacob, thanks for forcing the issue on taking our weapons with us."
"Just doing my job Miri." he replied and as they approached the door it opened showing a lone, hooded figure.
As the door opened Kasumi said "Leaving so soon?"
"Good, Kasumi follow us." Miranda said noting she already had her weapons. "I'll brief you on the flight." and as one they filed out of the room moving quickly to the hotels elevator.
…
Deck 4:
"Who the hell are you?" Zaeed asked as Kal stepped out of the elevator.
Looking at Zaeed he responds "Kal'Reegar, Migrant Fleet Marines and you must be Zaeed. One of Shepard's specialists." Kal is unimpressed with this human. His stance reminds him of a few crew members he had seen after the bonding, drunk.
"Two down here. I take it you took one out yourself so 3 left if I'm correct. Bloody recon teams, Cerberus puts the expendables in those units. The reckless ones who like to take chances, not always the brightest though." he said as he moved the dead body into the elevator doorway, preventing it from closing. "Listen, you go up to deck 3 and clear it. I'll clear anything here."
"No." replied Kal firmly, causing Zaeed to look at him. "We stick together and clear each deck. Only way to make sure one doesn't get behind us."
"Alright marine, want to be the guddamn hero? What's your plan." asked Zaeed. Listening he nodded once and followed Kal into engineering.
Deck 3:
"Legion, do you hear that?" asked Judy. "It sounds like someone banging on a door or bulkhead."
"The repeated sounds of metal on metal. Yes, we detected it. Probability calculations indicate that the frequency and repeatability of the sounds are coming from a non-mechanical source." stated Legion.
"You mean someone is banging on the door for help!" Judy replied. "You need to go help them. Give me that pistol and I can hold the sickbay while you check out where the noise is coming from."
Legion looked at Judy as all its head flaps moved quickly for a few seconds then looked at Lana noticing that she was following the conversation. "Creator Lana'Shalgur do you agreed with Nurse Engels assessment?" it asked.
When she had awakened she had seen the geth again but it was talking to Judy, like they were friends? Shaking her head slightly trying to clear her thoughts she heard Judy actually ask the geth for one of its weapons. Then it looked at her and asked her is Judy was correct? It stood there waiting for her to answer so in a weak voice she replied "If someone needs help you should help them."
Closing its head flaps it removes the pistol and hands it to Judy. Providing additional thermal clips it said "We will return quickly. The sound is not far off." Unsealing the door Legion exits and reseals it then moves towards the elevator and the sounds.
Lana just stared after the geth. It had actually listened to her. What had Shepard done?
Deck 1:
"Remember, don't kill either one of them if we can help it. Command doesn't need Shepard but I do." stated Andrews.
"Got it, no killing but I can beat the hell outta anything in there. Let's get this done." said Chavez as the both moved to the door.
Opening the outer door they step into the airlock. Activating his cloak they open the door moving quickly into the room looking for their prey. Chavez just stands there for a moment before he hears Andrews cussing up a storm behind him. Turning he just looks at him wondering if he should just put a round into him now.
"Son of a btch! Motherf*ker! Where the f**k are you Shepard!" he yelled.
Damn it, the whole damned ship was deserted or at least appeared that way. Still something or someone has taken out 4 of his team and it was time to find out what happened to them.
"Come on. Lets find out what happened to the team." Andrews said moving out of the cabin and pressing the call icon for the elevator.
…
"Thank you Brevaert Control, Shepard out." he said then looking at Tali just shook his head.
"I don't believe it, you offered them 4 times their current pay and they still refused to assist the Normandy's personnel? What kind of people would do that?" Tali asked.
"Those that look out only for themselves Tali. 10 minutes, just let them hang on 10 more minutes and we can help. At least they cleared us for immediate landing." John said.
"Commander. I have been in contact with Kal. He as killed one as well and is attempting to join up with Zaeed, apparently he was not as drunk as his actions had indicated. Also, Legion has gone to assist who we believe to be trapped crew members. It should be back soon with reinforcements." stated EDI.
"Thank you EDI, at least that's some good news. 9 minutes till we land.
Please have Brevaert clear a path to the forward airlock." replied Shepard.
"A path will be cleared Commander." responded EDI.