Guess what, I am back! Sorry for the extremely long delay, but the last months have been... difficult, to put it mildly, a lot pf shit to take care of. I'll try to get back on track, because I really want to finish this story and get on with the other ones. Enjoy.
7th July 2183, TCS Normandy, currently docked in the citadel, docking bay 422
"Keelah, this ship looks pretty advanced, even for coalition standards." Tali complimented as soon as she saw the Normandy:
"It looks a lot like our frigates. Joint effort?" Garrus asked:
"Yeah, it was designed by human, quarian and turian engineers. It also carries some sort of new prototype weapon. No idea what it does, only captain Anderson and commander Shepard were briefed to its capabilities." Kaidan said:
"Bah, it's too small. What hope does this flying stick have against Saren and his army of Geth?" Wrex snorted:
"You're lucky that both captain Anderson and the commander aren't here to hear you saying that Wrex." Kaidan quipped, earning a sidelong glance from the krogan veteran:
"Just thinking out loud, no need to get all riled up." He made a dismissive gesture. Soon, captain Anderson showed up along with commander Shepard. The 2 talked about some matter out of earshot, then saluted each other and separated. Douglas headed towards the Normandy's entrance, getting a salute from Kaidan, Ashley and even Tali:
"Come on, don't go all greetings and salutations, you make me feel old. So, to the new soon to be residents of this vessel, welcome the TCS Normandy, the fastest and most advanced piece of garbage in the galaxy. Line up for de-con everyone, keep your heads and limps inside the ship, the last thing she needs is a new paint job." Douglas ordered, taking a posh British accent and bowing slightly, ushering the dumbfounded teammates inside. The commander was widely known for his military accomplishments and skill, but that behavior was... uncharacteristic for a soldier of such caliber. But hunters were always considered a mystery, even among humanity, maybe it is just a quirk. The outer door sealed them in the airlock as a mechanised voice announced:
"Decontamination in progress." Repeatedly for 20 seconds until finally:
"Logged. Commander Shepard is aboard, XO Presley stands relieved." The inner door opened and allowed them to enter. Everyone in the ship lined up to see their new captain and his unusual squad, until Presley ordered them to go back to their posts. The 8 soldiers made their way to the conference room and each took a seat:
"Alright, first order of business, housing. As our very own resident overgrown space dino friend stated, this place isn't exactly a luxury estate. Which means some of you will have to rough it to the cargo bay. Any questions?" Shepard said. Garrus raised his hand:
"Yes, Vakarian?" The commander asked:
"Is it usual for commanding officers of the coalition to perform such menial tasks? Aren't there any qualified officers available to deal with this issue?" Garrus asked. Like any turian, he was raised in a strict hierarchy where everyone, from the lowly grunts all the way to the primarch, obeyed orders and fulfilled their assigned duties. While in certain events or emergencies it was possible for someone to overstep his or her authority, it was something unheard of for a superior officer to occupy themselves with tasks like that. Garrus however received strange stares from most, even Nihlus:
"To be frank, I'm bored. So, I take care of you and learn more about how you think and act. Consider it a team building exercise. Besides, those citadel jackasses are late as usual with the intel and..."
At that exact moment, Joker announced from the intercom:
"Commander, the council is on the horn. They took their sweet time to wake up." Shepard huffed:
"Speak of the devil, patch them through Joker. Also, tell the quartermaster to make some room in the cargo bay for our new residents." He ordered:
"Alright commander, will do." Joker acknowledged. A few seconds later, the 3 holograms of the councillors blinked to life, bathing the conference room in a soft blueish glow. While everyone, even Wrex, rose from their seats as a show of respect, Shepard stayed seated:
"Hello councillors, what can we do for you this fine day?" He courtly asked, legs crossed:
"You will show the proper respect when you address the council commander. As of now, you are in official spectre business under the citadel council authority, so do as your superiors say." Sparatus, as expected, immediately chomped at Douglas, who remained unfazed and calm:
"Why, I am respectful councillor. I didn't make a single remark or quip and believe me, it's really difficult with you around." He neutrally answered. Wrex, Jenkins, Williams and Tali looked ready to burst in a fit of laughter, the rest where mortified. Sparatus was about to launch another tirade about discipline and respect, but Tevos stopped him:
"Enough. This is not the time for petty grievances. Commander Shepard, we have a lead on matriarch Benezia's only child, Liara T'Soni. She is an independent archaeologist and prothean expert, currently stationed on Therum, Knossos system, Artemis Tau cluster. Your objective is to find and secure her before Benezia does." The asari councillor briefed:
"It is likely that she has information about Saren. If that's the case, bring her to the citadel for interrogation." Valern added:
"If it's necessary I will. Oh, and councillor Sparatus, you should listen more to councillor Tevos, she does have her head on her shoulders after all." Shepard replied. The turian didn't understand the idiom and looked confused:
"And where is my head supposed to be?" He asked. Shepard grinned:
"... I'm wondering the same thing myself. Joker, shut it off." The holograms blinked out before Sparatus could retort:
"Aaaand cut. Smooth moves commander."
Joker commented:
"All in a day's work. Tell Presley to plot a course for Therum. We leave in 20 minutes." Douglas ordered:
"Aye aye commander." Joker acknowledged and closed the comm. Shepard turned and saw his companions talking in hushed tones, some if them giggling:
"Commander, that was utterly priceless. The face Sparatus made..." Jenkins didn't finish the sentence as more laughter escaped his mouth. The door slid open and a Normandy crewmember arrived, who saluted:
"Commander, apologies for my tardiness, but the requisition team forgot to provide dextro rations, took some time to rectify it." He reported:
"No worries, our dextro guests starving to death is more serious than being late. Alright everyone, calm down and shut up. Let the man here do his job and do show some gratitude. Nihlus, my office." Shepard ordered and exited the conference room, with the turian spectre following behind:
"This way fellas, your new luxury bunks are ready, courtesy of the coalition. Comes with free lockers and armor hangers, completely free of charge." The quartermaster called the new visitors to follow:
"Wait, bunks?" Wrex asked incredulously.
Meanwhile, Normandy's captain cabin...
"Have a seat Nihlus. Don't bother activating your secret recording device, this room possesses a dead zone generator. It renders every unrecognised electronic device within its range inert." Shepard, sitting behind his desk, gave permission to Nihlus, who stopped fiddling with his omni tool and complied, to sit:
"I am certain you have questions about my standing with the council. Ask away."
Douglas broke the silence:
"Why? Just why are you antagonising the council like this?" Nihlus questioned:
"Simple, I am disappointed by them. Nonono, make it completely disgusted. I believe you are smart enough to guess the answer." The answer only served to further frustrate the turian spectre:
"Can you stop talking in riddles? This is a serious matter!" He angrily said. Shepard slowly stood up, exhaled and walked towards the right wall, hands clasped behind his back:
"Then Iet me be perfectly clear..." He turned back to Nihlus:
"... I don't approve of the council's indecisiveness and general incompetence. And frankly, the big heads of the coalition don't approve of it either." Shepard explained:
"So you risk angering the 3 most powerful people in the galaxy because you don't like them?" The turian interrupted. Now Douglas lost all his good mood and his expression became furious:
"No, I am trying to wake them up, force them to find their guts and make the tough decisions. Ever since Torfan, the BSSR (Batarian Soviet Socialist Republics)
and the Quarian Democracy are still howling for blood, were you briefed on it?":
Nihlus shook his head:
" Anyway, it is the job of your precious council to keep the peace. Instead, pirates and slavers keep assaulting unprotected colonies, red sand flows like water even in the citadel and now we have a rogue spectre with an army of synthetics in tow thrown in the shit pile. We are in some pretty rough times while your bosses sit on their thrones with their heads in their asses, letting everything rot and fester so that they don't look like the bad guys, am I clear enough for your bird sized brain to register?" Shepard stopped ranting to take a breath:
"I understand, there's no need for insults."
Nihlus' patience was thinning out:
"With Saren going rogue, this instability will only increase further, which means that every gang and criminal syndicate will try and take advantage of the ensuing chaos. The hegemony will surely follow and also become emboldened. What must the council do in this case, in your opinion?"
The commander sat back, waiting intently for an answer:
"You can't blame the council for being cautious, these are extraordinary circumstances and..." The turian spectre had no time to finish however:
"Caution means nothing without charisma. For if someone plays the fool, it's only fools he'll persuade. This is idleness, plain and simple. Now think with your own head and answer my question." Shepard asked again, frustrated. While turian discipline made them good soldiers, it limited both their creativity and capability for independent thinking. Just like the famous coalition joke: 'A stink in the ass and the brain of a bird on top', which spread to the human sphere of influence:
"Such decisions are above my station, but I would first reassure the citizens to convince them that we are strong." Nihlus said after a moment's thought:
"Good answer. Unfortunately, they won't do jack shit. They became complacent and wait for others, in this case us, to clear the mess." Douglas explained:
"I have a question now. Why are you telling me all this?":
"Simple my blue blooded friend. Humanity also prepares for war with the hegemony, but our leaders don't want it to break out. If you are familiar with the DEFCON system, you know that we are at level 4, which means that some military information will be kept secret. In this case, any kind of hegemony aggression." The human hunter explained, his voice quieter than before:
"The stakes are always higher than expected, right?" Nihlus concluded. Spectre ops and politics usually walked together. Why would the hunters be any different?:
"No shit Sherlock. Just a reminder though, some of the stuff I've told you are classified. Open that mouth of yours and, in the best case, we'll both end up in shallow graves." Shepard warned:
"This isn't my... how you humans call it, my first rodeo, I still keep my fair share of secrets. Besides, you did save my life at Eden Prime. You can count on me when the time comes." Nihlus assured the commander:
"I hope so. You can leave now, because I need a stiff drink and some peace and quiet for now, not your ugly mug within eyesight. I will be down in 15 minutes, dismissed." The commander gestured and opened a mini fridge under his desk, pulling out a whiskey glass and a bottle of hard liquor. Nihlus, like any good turian, left quietly, heading down to the cargo bay. A slight bump signalled that the magnetic locks were disengaged and the ship started moving. The conversation with the commander proved to be... enlightening, to a point. For all his sarcastic and dismissive behavior, the commander had enough good sense to side with Tevos after angering Sparatus. Elite soldier, decent diplomat, engineer, thresher maw killer and drill instructor all wrapped in one convenient package. A sudden chill crept over his spine as the turian spectre recounted all of Shepard's achievements and training in his mind:
"Thank the spirits he is not a biotic or even worse a psychic, the whole galaxy would be unable to handle him." He concluded, trying to regain his composure. If only he knew...
Meanwhile, in the Normandy cargo bay...
Say whatever you want about the coalition, but no one could deny their expertise at rapid deployment. In less than 5 minutes, 6 bunks, including a reinforced one for Wrex, were erected and ready for use, lockers and armor racks close by in case of emergency. The crew already started familiarising with the newcomers, same the other way around. For the sake of efficiency and to make them feel useful, the quartermaster gave offered different assignments, based on capabilities and skills. Tali, of course, applied immediately for engine duty, Garrus happily accepted vehicle maintenance, adding that he always wanted to calibrate a Commodore APC, or any human vehicle with big guns really. Kaidan kept his position as leader of the marine detail, Ashley took the armory. As for Wrex... well, the old lizard was content with sitting next to a bunch of crates, looking all intimidating and stuff.
When Nihlus came down, he saw the rest of the team looking at the aforementioned pile of crates, where a heated exchange was occurring between the Wrex and the human quartermaster:
"I didn't tell you to strip yourself naked. You can sleep in your armor for all I care. But the guns stay inside their lockers when onboard the ship." The officer explained, trying his best to keep eye contact with the aggressive reptilian:
"And I say that my gun stays with me, considering present company." Wrex retorted, as he cast a withering glance at both turians present:
"Just perfect. That's exactly what we need now." Nihlus silently cursed. A trigger happy krogan mercenary in a small vessel full of possible targets. No one willing to keep the peace and the commander was having a drink like it was nobody's business. The turian spectre was about to break up the upcoming brawl that threatened to occur, risking losing some more fringes and, maybe, even teeth. Until the elevator door slid open, revealing the aforementioned commander, who called for everyone's attention. Nihlus could smell the strong scent of alcohol coming from Shepard's mouth, sure sign that he drank a copious amount:
"Glad to find you all so eager for battle, but
please refrain from fighting inside the ship. I mean, it does kind of keep us safe from the cold, unforgiving void, eh?" He held his hand up before anyone could answer and continued:
"You, I didn't get your name, mind telling me? Calling you quartermaster every time is a mouthful." He asked:
"Staff sergeant Robert Bradshaw, awaiting orders sir." The quartermaster crisply saluted before answering:
"Good. I believe it is high time to outfit this ragtag band of misfits with some quality equipment, don't you agree sergeant? 1 gun for each, need to test them first." Shepard replied, receiving a nod from Bradshaw:
"I'll get the nano-assembler up and running. Carbo-ceramic titanium block, not that cheap plasti-polymer crap." He then turned to a piece of machinery on the opposite side of the Commodore, next to the footlockers:
"Gather around kiddies, Santa Claus came early and has presents for those in the nice list. No need to push, keep it nice and orderly, let the good man do his job." The squad complied, even those who never heard about Santa Claus before didn't bother to ask. When Wrex moved however, the commander gripped his shoulder from behind:
"Whoa, where do you think you're going big guy? I said nice list, not naughty list.
Not following the rules AND threatening one of my crew? No new weapon for you."
Shepard said. As expected, Wrex didn't take kindly to being denied better armaments. His keen sense of smell detected something however. Alcohol. Looks like a bit of cunning had to be used:
"Shepard, you know I respect you as a warrior, so I think you can understand how important it is to keep your weapons available." The mercenary replied as diplomatically as possible. The commander scratched his chin and thought for a bit:
"...You want better guns or the privilege to carry your own on board the vessel? Make your choice." He asked. Now that was a low blow. But Wrex knew that he also had his biotics, so:
"Better guns." He replied:
"If you want them, you got to earn them the good old fashioned way..." Shepard paused for suspense:
"...unarmed combat. Do you agree old chap?" Wrex just stared at disbelief, did the commander go insane? But he looked at his eyes, the challenge was real and no true krogan ever backed off from a challenge:
"I like this old fashioned way of yours." It took about a minute to organise the cargo hold into a crude ring. Kaidan, of course, argued if it was a wise choice, as krogan are ferocious in melee. Tali, reluctantly, agreed to be the ring girl, after Shepard threatened to talk about 'that one time with the terror drone'. Jenkins accepted to be the referee. A cheering, betting crowd quickly assembled to enjoy the festivities, even Joker quipped in as he watched from the ship's cameras:
"Okay Shepard you convinced me, no need to risk getting hurt. Why don't you just give me the guns already and avoid getting embarrassed in front of your men?" Wrex taunted:
"And lose the opportunity to punch that ugly mug of yours? Seriously, you look worse than ripe, radioactive meat left to rot in a cave for a year." Douglas retorted.
A staring match started, which ended shortly at Leroy's timely intervention:
"Okay, old school underground rules. No weapons, no biotics, no tech, no hits to the groin and no eye poking, ALRIGHT GET READY TO RUMBLE!" He excitedly announced, earning a holler from the crowd. On cue, Tali held a holographic display overhead showing the writing 'Round 1' in orange, capital letters. She wore her glass mask and tried to walk as straight as possible, but her tight outfit still aroused most male participants. She cast a venomous look at the commander, who just showed a thumps up, taunting smirk ever-present:
"I CAN'T WAIT ANYMORE, READY OR NOT, FIGHT!" Jenkins dropped his palm between the contestants and backed off quickly. Wrex charged first with a bellowing roar, trying to finish the fight quickly, but Shepard sidestepped, landing a low kick to the krogan's knee, sending him tumbling on the floor:
"All muscles, no brains, eh big guy?" He goaded. Wrex heard it and got back up wordlessly. Countless fights and brawls taught him well that when the direct approach doesn't work, it is time to change tactics. Wrex adopted something that resembled a boxing stance, using his strength and mass to box Shepard into a corner, successfully landing a few hits, cracking ribs and leaving him winded, battered and bruised, but still standing:
"Not many can claim they survived melee combat against a krogan battlemaster, especially non-krogan. You have earned my respect, if only by a little. You can give up now, it's not a shame." Wrex once again
tried to force a surrender out of the commander. The reason why Douglas was still alive and well, if relatively worse for wear, was his genetic treatments, graduation gift from Camp X. Only hunters who survived training without dropping out received it. Apart from regenerative abilities capable of regrowing lost limps within hours, energy deposits efficient enough to survive for 3 weeks without food, water or sleep, extensive strength, speed, dexterity, awareness, intelligence and toughness augmentations, they also got the 'play dead' feature. In case of heavy damage, the afflicted could minimise the vital functions to a level undetectable even by the most sophisticated scanners and keenest animal senses, repairing tissue damage rapidly and giving them the chance to either get away or take their enemies by surprise. There was that rumor of a hunter who took a sniper round in the head, waiting for the shooter to confirm the kill, snapping his neck when he came close. While it was impressive, even Shepard wasn't crazy enough to test this. Hunting a rogue spectre, pissing of the council, putting crew members, and a certain quarian, in awkward positions, fighting krogan in hand to hand combat was one thing, but taking a bullet to the noggin for curiosity's sake? Nope, no, just no, no way in hell. Back to the fight in hand, Shepard's injuries already healed, without anyone noticing, and he started chuckling:
"Jenkins, call Chakwas, tell her she is about to receive a patient." Douglas said and focused his attention back to Wrex. He was holding back in the beginning, but now it was time to get serious. Shepard grabbed the krogan's incoming right fist, twisted it upwards, and with mighty heave threw him over his shoulder and on the cold metal floor. The crowd was quiet for a moment. Wrex quickly stood back up, only to be greeted with a roundhouse kick to the side. Another flurry of strikes forced the old lizard in a more defensive stance:
"A heartwarming experience. Too bad it has to end though. Time for you to sleep big guy." Shepard charged. Wrex instinctively raised his arms to a block, expecting a knee strike or a drop kick. Instead, the commander cartwheeled, without using his hands to touch the floor, and landed both feet at very quick succession, ankle first, right to the frontal plate, knocking the old reptile out cold. If the watchers stood quiet before, the silence became deafening as everybody looked with disbelief:
"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, WINNER BY KNOCK OUT, YOUR VERY OWN, COMMANDER SHEPARD!" Jenkins announced and raised the winner's hand, while 2 of the Normandy's crewmembers tried to help Wrex back on his feet. Chakwas arrived shortly after and gave the commander a good verbal chewing for putting his health and life at risk. A real bummer of Shepard's enhancements was that he couldn't, under ANY circumstances, give specifics about the extend of his improvements, under a strict 'You talk, you die.' policy. That's because, if anyone caught a whiff of it, no hunter or augmented person would EVER be allowed anywhere near council space, something that would be highly detrimental for the coalition. That was also the reason why hunters usually worked in teams with other operatives when in official missions, as cutting through entire gangs, mercenary groups or, in this case, synthetic armies without backup would certainly raise too many questions and suspicions:
"You may be captain of the ship, but I am responsible for the health and well-being of the crew. We are already at a risky mission, so no more brawling, the ward has only 3 beds and I have only 1 pair of hands." The doctor finished. Shepard, despite his attitude, knew well how to listen to others, especially those more experienced than him, and doctor Karin Chakwas wasn't anywhere near the typical medical professional. As a veteran of the first contact war, an expert in xenobiology and worked with captain Anderson multiple times, it would be idiotic to get in her bad side:
"It is to ensure his loyalty doc. You can never be too sure with mercenaries. By the way, how is he?" Douglas asked. The good doctor chuckled a bit:
"I have no idea what you did, but his head plate actually cracked. It will fully heal within the hour, but no more of these stunts inside the ship, is that understood?" She demanded. Shepard raised both palms:
"Like I said, it was an one-time thing, nothing to worry about." Chakwas nodded and left. Bradshaw approached shortly after:
"I guess no more brawls in the Normandy, right boss?":
"Not in the foreseeable future, no. Now, my cut of the winnings if you may." Shepard opened his palm:
"Jesus commander, what are you, half volus or something?" Bradshaw half joked as he counted the funds, giving some to Shepard:
"That retirement fund isn't going to build itself you know. A day will come when I'll be too old and tired to fight, I'd rather spend my last ones in a beach house, not an apartment flat.":
"You and me both commander..." The quartermaster looked around and leaned conspiratorially:
"... listen, if you ever need heavier ordnance or power armors, I have some friends in the requisition department. All army surplus, I swear." He whispered:
"For a nominal fee I guess." Shepard added:
"The other option is to wait for at least 2 weeks to get the necessary permissions granted. Having another spectre and other aliens on board isn't going to do you any favors either." Bradshaw explained:
"What arsenals you have access at?" Douglas asked:
"Future tech, Kanegawa industries, Kazminov design bureau, the works. If you're willing to pay something extra, I can whip you something from more exclusive firms,even power armors, human or alien. I have contacts in the experimental subdivisions too." He further explained:
"Sweet Jesus, are you some sort of human-salarian hybrid? What lab did you escape from?" The commander jested, making fun of the quartermaster's relatively big eyeballs:
"Hehe, it's been a while since I've last heard that. Anyway, back on track, if you are to take on Saren, his geth army and whatever else he has in stock, you're gonna need all the equipment you can get, standard issue isn't going to make the cut." He explained further:
"You're right. After I find a way to bolster the treasury, try to access some better armors when possible. I have no idea what we are going to face." Douglas finally decided:
"I'll be able to stock up next time we reach the citadel or any coalition world within the courier network. It goes without saying that if any of this tech falls to the hands, claws, tentacles or whatever, of the council, we're all dead meat. Also, be extra careful with that other spectre. He has the bad habit of being too nosey for his own good." Bradshaw warned:
"Thanks for the tip, I know just how to handle him. Build a Grummond DB model 24 while you're at it, incentive for our resident grumpy lizard." Shepard took his leave. Back in his quarters, he called Tali and Jenkins, to give them their reward:
"Here you are, you both did well. No hard feelings, right Zorah?" Douglas cheekily asked, as Tali didn't take the offered money:
"You... YOU BOSHTET ASSHOLE! I'M NOT SOME... SOME CHEAP STRIPPER, I AM A TRAINED SOLDIER, BY YOU! WHY ARE YOU PUTTING ME THROUGH THIS?" The unmasked quarian loudly protested, her expression both angry and pleading. 'Poor little Tali.' Shepard inwardly thought. Of all the aspirants he trained, she is the most gifted, the most talented, technically still is. Capable leader, good with the shotgun and the blade, excellent in all things mechanical, she still possesses 1 major flaw. Her kindness and soft heart. Sure, caring about your soldiers is a very good trait, essential even, for any accomplished commander, but at such an extent, it can only lead to devastation. Casualties in this line of work are commonplace and taking the bullet for your fellow soldier may be noble, but a leader doing it is plain foolish. So, Shepard decided to fix her up, getting on her nerves, thinning her patience, gradually making her just a little bit more aggressive. The fact that she used a human swear word was encouraging:
"Really? Because you act like a brat right now. You can kill a man in 2 dozen different ways and can't handle being eye candy for 10 seconds?" Douglas remarked, seemingly uncaring. He didn't like what he was doing, but it was necessary. Too many friends and comrades he lost already, Shepard didn't want to watch more die, especially her:
"Is there anything else you actually need me for commander?" She asked through gritted teeth, meaning that she wanted to leave:
"No, that will be all. You are both dismissed. Get some rest, we reach our destination in a few hours." Douglas finally ordered. Jenkins saluted and left while Tali stomped away. She didn't take the money. The human hunter exhaled:
"Just what am I supposed to do with you?"
He monologued. It was tempting to just use psychic abilities and be done with it, but that blasted quarian is really smart. Wouldn't take long to piece it together and find out someone tampered with her brain. 'Fine, stick to the plan and hope for the best.' Shepard decided as he opened the bottle once again and poured himself a generous amount...:
"Sorry to disturb you commander, the crew demands a speech from their new captain. I tried to convince them otherwise, I swear." Joker's voice buzzed through the intercom, and he didn't sound one bit sincere. Douglas clenched his fists in annoyance, nearly cracking the glass he was holding. Giving speeches was something that he would hate for the rest of his natural life and the only person in the entire ship who knew...:
"Well played Tali..." He grumbled, took a deep breath then connected to the intercom:
"Attention Normandy, this is commander Shepard speaking. For those who need a clarification of what our mission is, we are hunting for Saren Arterius, the former Spectre that is responsible of the attack on Eden Prime. Because the council, in their infinite wisdom, doesn't want to risk any of their more... valuable assets, we are the ones who have to take care of this mess. You are aware that we have some non-human members in the ship, I am not talking about the quarian who just earned herself bulkhead cleaning duty for the rest of the month. My advice, go easy on them, let them work and learn how we do things in the coalition. Also, don't do anything to anger the big lizard cause there's a risk he might eat you." Shepard, happy with himself, closed the intercom and down the glass with 1 gulp.
3 hours later...
"So, this is the short version. Scans show geth activity near the drop point, so to avoid the clusterfuck on Eden Prime we will drop in the Commodore. It can only fit 5 of us, so I need only 4 volunteers. So, who wants in?"
Shepard finished briefing his squad after Joker and navigator Presley gave him the scan and communication results. Therum classified as a volcanic planet rich in minerals, recently claimed by the soviet union, and by extend the coalition. For safety reasons, as per protocol, they sent the refinery, communication and housing cores first. After they unfurled into proper infrastructure, a team was sent to install the terraforming spike. It wouldn't come to be as a large geth force was detected, forcing the group to make an emergency escape. The soviet union, and in extend the coalition, didn't like having another world invaded by a bunch of homicidal machines. The russians wasted no time assembling strike forces ready to deploy at a moment's notice, utilising their trademark straightforward method, numerical superiority, heavy armor, many tesla troopers and desolators. Luckily, the Normandy isn't the fastest ship in the galaxy for nothing and it was close to the target, still a chrono drive would be nice. As for the crew, all of them stepped forward, eager for action:
"Such dedication and eagerness, I'm almost proud. This is a good chance for you amateurs to prove your mettle. Garrus, you are the gunner, Tali, co-driver, Jenkins and Wrex in the back.":
"Amateurs? I've been in the business longer than your race reached space Shepard." The krogan reacted, heavy shotgun in arm:
"How many many geth have you killed in your whole life then?" The ensuring silence was answer enough:
"Thought so. Alright then, get in the vehicle, we drop in 2 minutes." Shepard ordered and took Kaidan and Ashley aside:
"I want you both to keep an eye on Nihlus, no active surveillance, discouragement only..." Shepard whispered the first part, talking normally afterwards:
"...just keep a marine detail at the ready, Nihlus included, in case we need reinforcements." He finished, both of them acknowledged.
Inside the commodore...
"So, Tali, you know the commander long?" Leroy asked the passenger in front of him:
"Since 2179, trained under him in fort Gyurza." Tali replied:
"That's awesome, you're very lucky. Man, how I wish I was in your position." Jenkins answered and the quarian sighed:
"Trust me Leroy, you don't." She retorted:
"Okay, he is intense and maybe a bit abusive from what I've heard..." Jenkins continued:
"Understatement of the century." Tali interrupted:
"... but he is really good at what he does,
I mean you saw what he did before right? No offence Mr Wrex." The corporal sheepishly apologised:
"Bah, it was all in good fun, I wasn't really trying, but I am looking forward to the rematch after we take Saren out." Wrex said dismissively. Soon, Shepard hopped in the driver's seat and the cargo bay door opened to reveal the rocky, lava covered hellscape. A series of electric crackles indicated that the vehicle was ready to move:
"Fasten your belts and hold on tight lads, we're dropping now." Shepard announced and pushed the throttle. The combat vehicle made a beeline for the planet and toggled the thrusters to bring it to a safe clearing:
"All present and accounted for? Any of you needs a change of underwear perhaps?" The joke went unanswered:
"Good. Garrus, keep the gun primed and ready, any geth is a target, free to fire."
The commander ordered:
"Got it covered." The former C-Sec officer acknowledged. The path was long and serpentine like, prefab buildings and rivers of lava dotting the landscape. Their presence didn't go unnoticed or unopposed, as several geth drop ships tried to unload hostile platforms, only to be cut down by the powerful quad .50 caliber turret:
"Damn Shepard, now that is some mean equipment." Garrus complimented:
"Next time I want to use the turret." Wrex added. The Commodore continued forward, but the geth set an ambush in a narrow passage, near a destroyed construction yard, forcing them to take cover behind a rock formation:
"I counted a least 2 colossi, 2 armatures and multiple rocket troops, it's suicide to advance." The gunner said:
"Zorah, is there any way around?" Shepard asked, calmly as usual:
"Negative commander and there are more geth coming from behind, we're trapped."
Tali responded:
"Good that we came prepared. Vakarian, use the TOW launcher." Douglas ordered:
"Impossible, I have no missile lock and the geth are jamming all signals." He replied. Shepard didn't know whether to laugh or facepalm, or both:
"They are wire guided you cunt. They don't need to lock-on and cannot be jammed. It's fire, guide and be done with it already." The rest of his words, mainly insults and cusses, couldn't be heard clearly, but whatever he said made Tali blush furiously behind her visor. Regardless, Garrus managed to steer the missiles and destroy the enemy units, clearing the path:
"Road clear." The turian announced after the 3rd missile sent every geth at the scrap heap:
"About bloody time." The commodore pushed forward once again, leaving piles of mangled robot parts and pools of oil, passing through tunnels and over rivers of lava, until they reached another narrow passage, impossible for the vehicle to pass:
"Of course it wouldn't be so easy, we're going on foot, check your guns and armor, safeties off." The commander ordered as he shut down the vehicle:
"I don't like it commander, seems like an ambush to me." Tali added. Everyone agreed. The passage led to the top of a hill and, as expected, more geth poured down, including flyers:
"SPREAD OUT AND TAKE COVER, TARGET THE FLYERS FIRST!" Shepard said through the comm, scrambling for cover. The geth shields may be powerful, but no match for the magnetically accelerated, high caliber
cartridges shot from the squad's new weapons. Garrus dropped a flyer with a well placed sniper shot, Tali hacked another to explode, Jenkins raked the rest with automatic fire. Wrex took the initiative and charged at the remaining platforms with a bellowing war cry, crushing 2 and shooting the last 3, sending parts and machine fluid everywhere:
"Dead, done. Just the way I like it." He proclaimed. Unbeknownst to him and the rest of the squad, there was another geth, crawling instead of walking upright, that didn't carry any weapons and stayed unseen thanks to its portable camo field. It set its optic to the krogan. Just a second to charge up the energy beam and... BANG! The last thing recorded by the platform was a human figure in gray and black armor, wearing a short cloak and holding something that looked like a heavy pistol:
"Zorah, come take a look at this." Shepard called while standing over the peculiar platform. Both of them needed only half a minute to examine it, and the findings proved worrying:
"Light bending emitters commander, geth mastered portable cloaking technology." The quarian concluded. The commander cussed under his breath:
"Not just that, the optic looks like a high power particle beam cannon. It had to break stealth in order to charge it."
He added:
"I need to examine it closer. I'll leave a beacon to collect it later." Tali asked:
"Sure, go ahead. The rest of you, listen up. As you see, the geth have stealthers among their ranks and that complicates things. Jenkins, Vakarian, you will provide sniper overwatch. The rest of you, on me. If you see any red flashes dive for cover, these things can fry our shields." Shepard warned. The team proceeded, coming face to face with a colossus and even more troopers. And if that wasn't enough, there were more of these stealthy geth, which also had the ability to climb on surfaces and jump from wall to wall:
"Now that's just cheating." Leroy scorned after missing his first shot:
"In my opinion that makes things interesting, far better than C-Sec. Scratch 1!" Garrus whooped after a successful takedown:
"If you 2 bosh'tets are done talking, I need support down here." Tali shouted, a barrage of rockets keeping her pinned. Shepard devised a plan in order to get rid of the colossus. He gave Wrex a sticky grenade and ordered him to launch it with his biotics straight to the target. The result of the detonation, nothing but a smouldering crater and half the robot missing. They quickly mopped up the remaining stragglers:
"All hostiles are down commander." Tali
announced:
"I think hoppers is a more appropriate name." Leroy added. They walked to the entrance, leaving Garrus and Jenkins behind to stand guard in the entrance. The ruins looked like an old prison complex, barriers still active and the rooms colored white. They got in a barely functional elevator:
"Hey, does anyone hear that?" Tali asked. The lower they got, the clearer the sound:
"Hello? Could somebody help me, please?"
A feminine voice was heard clearly now. The elevator was stuck short of the floor and the 3 fighters had to jump off. They stood in front of another cell, this one with an asari prisoner inside, trapped in some sort of stasis bubble:
"Can you hear me out there? I am trapped, I need help." She asked again with desperation. Judging from her haggard appearance, she must have been in there a while:
"Yes, we can hear you, none of us is deaf. Now, you mind telling me how to disable that forcefield? Unless you enjoy being in there, I don't know." Shepard asked bluntly, trying to help her focus:
"There is a control panel in here, but I can't reach it. There is no way to unlock it from the outside. Is there any way you can get through the forcefield?" The asari questioned:
"You got more of these fancy explosives Shepard?" Wrex gave his opinion:
"I wish, but that was the only Drakon charge I brought. Aaaand, I kind of don't have a chrono dislocator with me either." Shepard replied:
"Unbelievable. All that infamous coalition tech and... How are we supposed to deactivate the barriers then?" Garrus wasn't happy with how things were playing out. Could the commander really be that careless? No, he thought, he must have a, as the human saying goes, trick up his sleeve. He saw that smirk before, the same Shepard had plastered on his face when he exposed Saren in front of the council. Wait, maybe there's something in the area that can help? The turian scanned the surroundings and located a long, tubular, laser mining drill:
"Looks like your training in C-Sec will pay off after all. Me and Wrex are going to blast a nice big hole under the cell, you keep the good doctor calm and distracted. You do know how to do it, yes?" Shepard gave him a pointed look. Garrus nodded and stayed in front of the cell. An awkward silence ensued:
"So, why did you get in there?" He started:
"Me and my team have been researching this prothean prison complex for several months now. Yesterday we were attacked by the geth. Can you believe it, the geth, beyond the veil after 300 years..." Garrus nodded, telling the asari to continue:
"...my team didn't make it, I hid in this containment unit, it kept me safe from the geth. But I must have pressed something wrong and this energy bubble was activated. I've been here ever since." She finished her story, her head hanging limp:
"GARRUS, GET YOUR SCALY HIDE DOWN HERE! WE GOT THAT THING WORKING!"
Shepard's voice thundered from the site below. The turian immediately jumped down:
"Wait, what thing is working..." She was interrupted by a bright beam of light that punched through the ground with a loud crack. The shields shutted down soon after, allowing the team to get inside:
"BY THE GODDESS, COULDN'T YOU WARN ME?" The doctor, still levitating in the sphere, screamed in fear and anger:
"Calm down already, you are intact and about to get freed, so give me a break." Shepard retorted while fiddling with the nearby console:
"Trust me on this doctor, you do not want to anger a spectre." Garrus added:
"A spectre? But I thought there are no human spectres. Wait, why are you people here?" Liara did a double take and then fell on the ground, no longer suspended:
"I'm the first. Also, we came to this scorched shithole to save you, doctor Liara T'Soni." Shepard explained, having no time for further pleasantries. A tremor started to shake the ground, making them lose their balance:
"Uh, commander, I don't know what ypu did down there, but the mountain seeps lava. It looks like it's about to erupt." Jenkins called through the comm. Another tremor, stronger than the previous confirmed his words:
"Bollocks. Call Joker, tell him to bring the Normandy near the entrance, on the double!" Douglas ordered. The squad immediately started moving towards the emergency exit elevator that Liara told them about. The shaking was becoming worse with every passing second, cracks appeared on the walls and the floor, stalactites and pieces of debris making the escape even more perilous:
"There it is. I need some time to make it work." The asari, despite her exhaustion, pressed on and started fixing the console with some help from Garrus:
"If I die in here, I'll kill you all." Wrex threatened. The elevator rocketed upward, taking them back to the surface:
"Commander, you have incoming geth. There is a krogan leading them. Permission to engage?" Tali informed Shepard through the comm:
"Negative. Tail them and do not engage until we open fire. Avoid detection." The commander ordered. After acknowledgement and a short whole later, the platform reached the top and, as expected, the exit was blocked by multiple geth troopers, some of them with rocket launchers. And in their midst, a krogan battlemaster, advancing with his weapon holstered, like he was going to talk. He stopped in front of the squad:
"Surrender. Or don't, it will be more fun." He demanded. The squad tensed up for a few moments, looking to the commander for permission to engage. The installation was still collapsing and that insane battlemaster sat there like it was nothing. Shepard didn't need long to make a decision:
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, SHOOT THAT BASTARD DEAD!" This was enough to shake his team back to the task in hand. Weapons drawn, they unloaded on the geth troopers, who responded in kind:
"Rude, but I like your attitude." The enemy battlemaster responded before joining the fray himself. The battle wasn't going well for Shepard and his squad, the geth encircled then in a place with limited cover, pounding them with rockets and grain sized rounds. Tali and Jenkins managed to take some pressure of, but there where still many geth present. Garrus took a hit and was forced behind cover, Wrex was about to be overwhelmed too, Liara did an excellent job with her biotic abilities but was too exhausted to continue. At this rate, even if they took down all the hostiles, it was almost guaranteed that the exit would collapse and bury them alive. Shepard suddenly felt an itch in his skull, almost like that in Elysium, but different. When it subsided, it looked like everything was moving in very slow motion. He checked his arm, he couldn't move it. Then he saw it, every move he had to make in order to effectively terminate all enemy combatants, like a dance pattern combined with a tactical battle map:
"Well, that's new. Better make good use out of it." Douglas whispered to himself.
Shepard's point of view (POV)
'9 enemies remaining, 5 geth with assault rifles, 3 with rocket launchers, 1 krogan battlemaster. 5 rounds in the chamber. Charge in the middle, close the distance, 2 assault rifle geth take aim. Shoot the 1 on the right, disarm the other. Kick the standing geth to unaware rocket trooper. Spin to the left, avoid rocket from behind, projectile hits downed enemies. Garrus takes advantage of confusion, snipes the aggressor. 5 enemies remaining, 4 bullets
left. Move to assist Liara, engage 2 assault rifle geth in close combat to bypass shields, strike optics and rip out neck wiring. Finish off with revolver, a shot for each of them. Enemy battlemaster takes note of worthy challenge, charges headfirst, as expected, stupid dolt. Sidestep under overhead strike, stab back of right kneecap, shoot the left. Capitalise, keep right hand underfoot, plunge knife between right eye and head plate. Sharp twist then tug, pop goes the head plate, shoot unprotected brain. The squad disabled remaining hostiles. Took 13 seconds and 5 buplets, good. Time to escape, congratulations later...Keep head plate as trophy.
Reader POV...
Leroy: "What the..."
Garrus: "How did you..."
Tali: "Keelah!"
Liara: "Goddess!"
Wrex: "Hmph, nice."
These were the quips made at Shepard's little rampage, all almost at the same time:
"As much as I'd like to boast for my achievements, we really need to get out like RIGHT NOW!" The elevator buckled, luckily no one was standing on it as the millennia old contraption fell to the depths.
The squad ran like hell, Garrus being supported by Jenkins, Liara carried on Shepard's shoulders, despite her protests.
Just after they all escaped, the exit collapsed, sending dust everywhere. They reached the place where the commodore was parked and stopped to take a break:
"Well, down goes the old prothean prison."
Garrus quipped, face showing strain:
"Not going to miss it." Wrex answered:
"What? But it is prothean and I still have research to complete and..." Liara was about to protest until:
"Save the talk for when we get back to the Normandy. Personally, I had enough of this chunk of rock." Shepard interrupted:
"What is 'Normandy'?" The asari asked. On cue, the ship appeared, then landed to a clearing:
"NEVER FEAR, JOKER IS HERE, BRINGING YOUR CHARIOT!" The loudspeakers roared the message of the boastful pilot.
Later, aboard the Normandy, conference room...
"... it has been about 4 decades since I last talked with Benezia, I had no idea what she was doing." Liara finished, Shepard and the other operatives listening:
"Decades? Quick question, how old are you?" Ashley asked:
"I hate to admit it, but I am only 106." She answered:
"Damn, I hope I look that good at your age." The human soldier commented:
"Ladies, ladies, can we please get back on track? Doctor, tell me, have you ever heard about the conduit?" Shepard asked:
"Yes, it has something to do with the disappearance of the protheans, but I don't know what it does or what it looks like. The protheans and those before them left very little evidence behind." Liara explained:
"Before them? There were others before the protheans?" Kaidan noticed the detail:
"Precisely. The whole galaxy is built upon a cycle of extinction. Every time a civilisation rises, it is then suddenly and violently cast down, leaving only ruins. The mass relays and the citadel are the only things left intact, and even they were built thanks to the technology of those who came before the protheans." A pause followed:
"So, you have no idea what might have happened?" Tali continued the conversation:
"I have heard every theory out there, but there is practically no evidence to confirm or deny them. It is like someone wants the mystery to remain unsolved and cleansed the galaxy of proof." The archaeologist finished:
"They have been wiped out by a race of sentient machines, the reapers." Shepard announced. This took everyone by surprise, as he never shared the exact details of the vision with anyone before, not even Anderson:
"But, how could you possibly know that? Do you have anything to support your claim?" Liara asked, genuinely curious:
"The beacon back in Eden Prime. It... gave me a vision before it detonated. It was confusing and unclear, but I saw black spaceships with tentacles killing the protheans and destroying cities. I couldn't make out anything else, but I know what I saw and heard. These things are called reapers." Douglas said, not happy with having to reminisce, Liara stood up at the revelation:
"A vision? Yes, that makes sense, beacons were used to transmit information directly to the mind of the user. Working ones are extremely rare. That's why the geth attacked Eden Prime, to get the beacon. And the... whoa..." Then she suddenly felt dizzy, her standing became wobbly, Garrus moved to keep her steady:
"Hey what happened, are you okay?" The turian asked:
"I am fine, just exhausted. Discovering the fate of the protheans was a bit much." She weakly replied:
"Jenkins, escort her to doctor Chakwas, return when done." Shepard ordered:
"No need commander, I can go on my own, I know where the medical ward is." The asari respectfully refused and went on her way:
"Commander, the council was calling for about 10 minutes, are you going to answer them?" Joker asked through the intercom:
"Fine, let's hear it." Douglas answered. The squad got up, but the commander remained on his seat. Soon, the holo opened, revealing the 3 really sour faced councillors:
"I'd like to believe there is a good reason for your tardiness commander." Tevos started first:
"Just figuring out a few things about Saren, why he does what he does, the disappearance of the protheans, yadda yadda yadda. So, what do you need?" Shepard replied, still seated:
"What did you figure out exactly?" Valern asked:
"Sorry, you're not going to believe me without actual evidence so I'll keep my mouth shut. Now go on, please." The human hunter continued. No reaction from the councillors, except Sparatus' dirty look:
"We have read your report commander, I understand that doctor T'Soni is on the Normandy." Tevos said:
"And I assume you take the necessary security precautions." Sparatus added. Shepard got up from his chair and showed around him:
"Look at us. 3 of the coalition's finest, a quarian engineer trained by yours truly, a crackshot turian detective, a krogan with a kill count longer than the citadel, a turian spectre who survived a close range headshot and, of course, me. So, with all due and respect, cut me some fucking slack, I know what I'm doing. Joker, you know what to do." And right on que:
"Oops, connection lost." The holo shut down before the councillors could react. Comments and laughs ensued:
"I hate to put a pause to your entertainment, but what now? We have no intel on Saren's next move or what the conduit is. This mission has done little to aid." Nihlus said:
"That's not completely true. We got a prothean expert and part of Saren's motive. He wants to find the conduit and help the reapers return. The real question is why. Why go out of his way and make so many enemies? This goes beyond his hatred for humanity. What could the reapers possibly offer him that he wants so badly?" Kaidan questioned. Silence ensued:
"We need more information to find that out. But what are we going to do with doctor T'Soni?" Garrus asked:
"I say we take her to the citadel and be done with it." Ashley recommended:
"Are you crazy? The council will just put her in a cell if Saren doesn't get to her first." Garrus snapped. Williams quickly rised from her chair:
"The fuck you called me?" She came face to face with Garrus, who stood up too. The thing escalated really quickly to shouting and arguing, the attempts at pacifying failing spectacularly as each took sides, except Wrex who stayed seated:
"ENOUGH!" All fell silent to Shepard's command:
"I see there is still some bad blood between some of you. I don't really blame you, but don't forget that when it comes to blows, you have to rely on your mates. We are all on the same side. So, as a new team bonding exercise, I want you idiots to brainstorm and think of ways to make some money in order to get better equipment." Shepard ordered:
"But you already gave them new guns... wait, you don't mean..." Ashley's eyes went wide:
"Yes."
"For real?" Tali asked:
"Yes."
"You have already figured it out." Kaidan stated:
"I did."
"What are you talking about?" Nihlus asked:
"The kind of weapons last used by humanity in the first contract war." Shepard stated. The temperature dropped several degrees at the announcement:
"But they are heavily guarded secrets." Garrus protested:
"Giving them to aliens? It's a death sentence." Ashley added:
"They are only lenders. And don't forget the possibility of an extinction event happening. I'd rather face a firing squad than those black ships in number." Douglas made his decision. The grim atmosphere was broken by Wrex:
"No arguments from me."