Chapter 41: Chapter 41
Alliances
Chapter 41 : Dropped
Deck 4:
Having checked the lower cargo hold and only finding dead dock workers both Kal and Zaeed had moved to the engine room being careful to look for hostiles before entering. More dead bodies but no Cerberus. Calling up Edie he let her know that another was dead and that they were proceeding to deck 3.
"Kal, be advised that Legion is moving on deck 3 as well. He is checking on noises." EDI replied.
"Thank you Edie, you've been a big help so far." Kal replied.
Entering the elevator Zaeed pulls the dead body in with them. Noticing Kal's look he simply states "Doorstop."
Kal just nods silently, wondering how anyone could be so cold to their own dead. Such a disrespectful way to treat a body even if it was Cerberus.
As the doors closed Zaeed started speaking "This reminds me of the time I led a team of bastards assaulting a cargo ship. We were doing pretty good, only lost 9 but..."
Deck 3:
Scanning the area Legion did not detect any hostiles so it moved towards the noise. Entering the corridor for the elevator it focused on the crews berthing doorway. Verifying the hallway was empty it began hacking the door. Quickly finding and overriding the lockouts, as the door opened a chair came out followed by Ken. He had been off balance now that the door did not stop the chair he had been holding to pound on it.
"Well it's about bloody time someone came to help!" exclaimed Ken as Gabby and Dr. Chakwas looked out of the doorway at Legion.
"Our apologies. We have Cerberus operatives aboard and we were ordered to protect sickbay and the personnel there already." replied Legion.
"Cerberus? Help me up and give me a gun." Ken said and he tried to stand.
"Ha, I've seen you shoot. Ken, none of us have any armor, better leave the fighting to those that do for now." stated Gabby as they moved out of berthing.
"We concur with your analysis Engineer Daniels. This platform has already relinquished a weapon to alleviate fears, more would increase the probability of accidental damage." Legion said as the elevator doors opened.
Deck 1:
"What the hell is taking the damned elevator so long?" asked Chavez, irritated at the turn of events.
Pressing the call icon again Andrews said "I have no f*cking idea. Dumbest thing I ever saw too, a single elevator being the only way to move deck to deck. Designers, one and all can rot in hell."
"Dumbest thing I seen today is you Andrews. Your brilliant plan to take the Normandy has gone to hell and it's your fault." Chavez stated bluntly. He had almost had enough of this idiot.
"Watch your mouth Chavez." he said as he brought up his omnitool trying to hack the elevators controls to move it to deck 1.
"Watch your back Andrews." Chavez replied.
…
"Commander, we're about 8 minutes from the dock. Brevaert has identified an unknown shuttle setting on what should be an empty pad. What are your orders?" asked Miranda.
"Miranda, you and Jacob know those systems. I need one of you to take that shuttle and make sure no one gets aboard it. Tali and I will be landing in a couple of minutes and entering in through the forward hatch. Have your team enter through cargo and hold there until we have better intel." stated Shepard.
"Understood. It appears there are only two remaining hostiles. I plan to leave Kasumi and Jacob at the shuttle. their tech skills should be enough for it. The rest of us will head to the cargo hold." replied Miranda.
"Sounds good Miranda but I'd like Garrus to join up with Tali and I in CIC, we should be there soon." Shepard said.
"Jacob, I need you to assist and protect Kasumi as she breaks into the shuttle and its systems." she said.
"No problem Miranda, we'll get into that thing and find out what's going on." responded Jacob.
"As soon as we touch down we'll be moving Commander." said Miranda.
"Miranda, good luck. We're landing now." Shepard said cutting the link.
...
The yacht landed a bit rougher than normal as John applied the breaking thrust just a hair too late. He didn't really care though for as soon as it grounded he just cut all power and moved quickly to the door. Tali was already opening it as she watched him approach.
"Nice landing" she said with a snicker as the door opened enough for her to exit. Not waiting for the steps to extend she jumped down the meter to the docks landing pad and moved towards the door. Her HUD showed John was right behind her.
Following her out the door his only comment was "Any landing." but he was already shifting to full business mode. By the time he reached the airlock only the soft look in his eyes when he looked at Tali was left to indicate to those who saw him that there was any warmth in his heart.
Shepard opened the hatch and moved inside quickly with Tali keeping up easily. Letting him know she's there she says "Right behind you Shepard."
Hearing Tali call him Shepard caused him to hesitate, throwing off his stride but he quickly recovered. The last time she did that was still a raw, painful memory to him that he had kept buried. This was not the time for familiarity, it was a battle and that required professionalism. It took them only a couple minutes to negotiate the corridors of the dock and now stood at the companionway leading to the Normandy's hatch.
When Tali saw the stumble she realized what must have come to him, she had not realized that it still affected him so. Shaking her head to get back to business she continued following him promising herself to address the issue later.
…
Deck 3:
As soon as the elevators doors began to open the crew moved behind Legion or back into the berthing compartment, anywhere out of the line of fire.
"Creator Kal..." Legion had started to say but was interrupted.
"Introductions later, right now we need to kill some Cerberus assholes." Zaeed said as he dumped the dead body in the elevators doorway.
Stepping out of the elevator Kal looks at Dr. Chakwas and nods saying "Ma'am," then addressing Legion he asks "Has this deck been cleared?"
"No, we were checking on a noise and found the crews berthing door sealed. Probability is high that all doors on this deck were sealed in the same way to prevent any confrontations between the Cerberus operatives and the crewmen." replied Legion.
"Legion, you're the only one with tech skills so I need you to come with me and Zaeed, guard the elevator. We need to check every room for more crew or hostiles." Kal said.
"Bossy one aren't you." replied Zaeed. Holding up his hand when Kal looked at him he said "No worries, killing's easy even when drunk but thinking still seems a bit fuzzy."
Legion's head flaps moved once then it said "We will unseal the medbay door first so all personnel can enter." Turning he moved back towards the door with the rest of the group behind it.
Kal let Legion lead the way as he took up position behind the rest. He did want to see for himself that Lana was safe but he could let his need endanger the ship or her. A quick look is all he would allow himself before making sure the ship was secured, at least on this level.
Deck 1:
"What the hell did you just say Chavez?" Andrews asked as he looked at him angrily.
"You heard me asshole. Your brilliant plan is what got us into this mess." he replied with equal anger.
"Back off Chavez or you'll be on report so fast your ass will be in shackles before your dim brain even knows it." he replied.
"Andrews, you think your so good? You busted your ass trying to make recon! HA! You're just as expendable as the rest of us." he replied.
"Just shut the hell up and let me get us out of this mess!" he said and watched as Chavez stepped back. Turning back to the elevators controls he began attempting to hack them, if he can't get the whole elevator he can at least get it's door open.
…
"Stay behind me." he said as he began sprinting down the companionway. His feet pounding the deck as he watched the Normandy's hatch coming nearer and nearer. He didn't know where the two operatives were and he was taking no chances with a lucky shot at Tali.
Following closely Tali had her omnitool open ready to rip the shields off the first Cerberus operative she saw.
Reaching the hatchway he passes into the Normandy and pauses at the corner, looking first into the bridge then aft looking for anything out of place.
Quietly Tali asks "See anything.." she almost added Shepard but now knowing it bothered him she just left her sentence unfinished.
"Nothing, just a quiet flight deck. Moving in." he replied and pushing off the bulkhead moved into the Normandy proper heading aft.
Tali moved up to where he had stood and watched as he moved towards CIC. Seeing nothing reacting to him she followed quickly and caught up to him as he reached the center holo display.
"EDI, in CIC now. Status please." he asked.
…
"Move out" Miranda called as the shuttle touched down. Contacting EDI she says "We're here and deploying. What's your status?"
"Legion has joined up with Kal and Zaeed on deck 3. Currently they are checking the deck clear. Decks 4 and 5 have already been checked. There are a number of dead dock workers in engineering. Commander Shepard and Tali are now in CIC waiting for your group to arrive." replied EDI.
Miranda listened to the report as she moved with the rest of her squad towards the docks airlock.
They had landed near the Cerberus shuttle so Jacob and Kasumi were already attempting access when Miranda's team entered the lock. "Commander, inside the dock. Give us a few minutes and we will be in position."
"Understood. Seems Kal is keeping the elevator stuck on 3 for right now. Not sure how long before they hack the system and override it's controls so get to cargo as quick as you can. The doorways to the lab and armory are sealed so unsure what's behind them." replied Shepard.
"Once we board the Normandy we can get some people up to you to help you sweep the area." responded Miranda and they raced through the dock, passing security forces who just stared blankly at them.
…
Deck 3:
Having shepherded Dr. Chakwas and crew to the sickbay Kal had looked once at Lana and seeing her nod to him he responds in kind and moves with Legion through the deck. He knew the other members of the crew and was a bit confused that he still had not seen Edie.
They paused only briefly when an occupied sleeping pod was discovered. Readouts indicated that a salarian was inside and had died when the unit had been purged though his identity could not be obtained.
Kal said over his link "Edie, it appears deck 3 is clear. Inform Dr. Chakwas of a salarian body in a sleeper pod and please patch me into Captain Shepard."
"Switching you to his channel." EDI replied.
Deck 1:
"Got it." Andrews said as the door finally opened onto an empty elevator shaft. Looking down he could see the top of the stalled car and just a meter above that, the door to deck 2 and a way out. Looking at Chavez he says "We climb to deck 2 and out through the forward hatch."
"Finally, and your still an ass." Chavez said as he swung into the shaft and using the support struts began to climb down.
"F*ck you." replied Andrews as he joined Chavez in the shaft.
…
"Captain Shepard, decks 3, 4 and 5 clear. What are your orders sir?" asked Kal.
"Keep the elevator there for know Kal and good job to you and the others." he replied. Looking at Tali says "Lets move around this console, closer to the doors. Follow me." and moved around towards Kelly's station.
"How will we get them off deck 1?" Tali asked.
"Wait till Garrus gets here then have Legion rig the elevator to go to only decks 1 and 2. They'll have to come out here. The doors opened as he was finishing.
Kneeling by the console Shepard sees the first operative land on the deck and begins to call out "Drop the weapon!" but seeing the man raising his omnitool he fires, having decided not to give any of these men a second chance.
Tali had seen him as well and with her own omnitool locks on him, dropping his shields as Shepard's revenant penetrates armor and flesh.
Return fire comes from the elevator shaft, lighting Shepard's shields and forcing him back into better cover with a grunt. Spotting the attacker he barely makes out a big man firing at him using the elevators recesses to hide in.
Tali sends Chiktikka into the shaft and cursing can be heard as her drone discharges into the Cerberus soldier. Maneuvering her drone to attempt to force the operative out so Shepard could get a shot she then pulls her shotgun out, getting ready to rush the open door.
From behind and to their right a single shot is heard followed by a dull thud from within the shaft. Loud enough for Shepard and Tali to hear Garrus says "Scoped and dropped."