Chapter 13: Confrontations

Nev'El awoke to find herself in what appeared to be a dimly lit passenger cabin. She assumed that she was still aboard the ship that was going to take her to wherever Sylvea wanted her to go. Earlier she had been given a drink courtesy of the Batarian pilot that she met at the port. She figured she dozed off during the trip and that they were close to their destination. The Asari looked around and thought she saw the silhouette of someone sitting across from her. The lighting came back on and the silhouette was revealed to be Sylvea still in her usual shimmering blue dress, smiling warmly at her.

"Ah good to see you awake dear." the older Asari said.

"Oh...Sylvea! I...I didn't see you come aboard." Nev'El replied, still groggy as she sat up in her seat.

"I came on later, had a few things to take care of. Don't you remember?"

Nev'El shook her head as she rubbed her brow, "Yeah...that's right. Well where are we? Where are we going?"

"To see a friend of mine. But before that, I needed to discuss a few things with you."

"Alright, go ahead we've got nothing else to do right now." said the younger Asari as she laid back in her seat.

The Matriarch nodded, "Why did your mother send you to Aria of all people?"

"Well its complicated. It started with me returning back to my mother after an incident. She was a bit of a...troubled case herself. Tended to blame me alot for things that weren't always my fault. She thought I was hanging around the wrong kind of people and eventually told me, 'Well if you're going to sleep around with assholes you might as well sleep with assholes who don't immediately stab you in the back!' She suggested I move to Omega and that Aria was an old friend of hers. Of course she said that after I left my first boyfriend. A Krogan who tended to get...rough with me at times."

Sylvea shook her head, "Goodness...I can't imagine you together with such a brutish sort."

"Yeah, but I didn't mind. It was a new experience for me and Krogan are unique. Kunash was part of a merc group but not of the Blood Pack. Just a low tier mercenary rising up through the ranks. He just needed some love and support I thought. The stories he told were fun to listen to. The pay was enough to support both of us and well I thought we could make it work. But when times got tough, he started taking it out on me...in alot of ways."

"I presume you returned back to your mother for a while after that?"

"At first she was happy I was out of that relationship but...she just kept lecturing me. About my taste in men, how I dress and the usual stuff. It just got to be too much, predictable I know. I told her I wanted to move out again which she was fine with. Said if I wanted to go to a place where I could be with people like me well, Aria could help me out."

"Sadly Aria wasn't much better was she?"

"No...she wasn't. She just used me for her club and I ended up doing what I usually do, looking for strong males who could save me. Grash was a thug, but at least he had a heart and cared for his friends...and me. Sure he did bad shit but then again everyone on Omega did to varying degrees. So...now he's gone...and I'm all alone again."

Sylvea got up from her seat and sat down next to the younger Asari, "You're not alone anymore dear. You have me here now to keep you safe."

Nev'El looked to the elderly Asari with tears going down her face, "...But you're so old and frail. How could you possibly keep me safe from everything? I mean, no offense Sylvea I appreciate everything you are doing but..."

Sylvea closed her eyes and looked thoughtful for a moment before standing up, "We're here." Nev'El looked out the window and saw they were now on a planet's surface. It seemed strange though, because there had been no feeling of a landing sequence. Maybe she just was so caught up in her emotions she missed it?

"Come dear, I will show you why you need not be afraid." Sylvea stepped aside to the ship's passenger side door. It opened and bright sunlight flooded into the cabin.

Even squinting her eyes, Nev'El couldn't see anything beyond the light. While Sylvea stepped through, the young Asari tentatively got up from her seat and put her hand over her eyes. She walked through the light grimacing and then when she stepped through she found herself in the middle of a plain...no...a plaza? There were black pyramids and obelisks around her permeating with green energy and symbols. Some kind of mechs and robotic spider-like machines all were working or standing guard around her. They went about their tasks completely ignoring Nev'El's presence. She searched frantically for Sylvea and when she blinked the machines were gone, with Sylvea appearing before her alone.

The Matriarch took several steps forward before responding to her frightened eyes with assuring calmness, "It is alright child. I know this is confusing, your mind's sense of time and reality has been...disrupted. But I am going to show you what I truly am."

The Matriarch closed her eyes and her form began to melt away like dust before Nev'El who covered her mouth. The dust at the same time reformed Sylvea into a taller being, eight feet by the looks of it. She was gaunt, but her form was fine and feminine. Sylvea's features were similar to humans or maybe even Batarian but not wrinkled and she didn't possess more than two eyes nor even a nose though nostril slits were present. Her skin was grayish in coloration with dark purple lips and plated ear rings of gold hanging from small lower ear tips from her skull. The top of the skull was higher than a human's and the irises of her eyes were green and beautiful like emeralds. Her dress had become elaborate showcasing parts of her mid section and her bosom had become non-existent. Perhaps her species were not mammalian? Nev'El wondered.

Sylvea spoke with her true voice, deeper and carrying authority, "I...am Solvatas. Thanatar of Solvatakh. I welcome you child to our world."

The Asari girl stopped covering her mouth and nervously asked, "What is this place?"

"Veridine, currently my dynasty's homeworld."

"Dynasty?"

The royal alien woman nodded, "Indeed, you will have much to learn child. But know that my people the Necrontyr, after all these eons, have come to return balance to the galaxy once more."

"Bringing balance?"

Solvatas strutted around Nev'El in a regal manner, not taking her eyes off the Asari, "Yes, we once ruled a galaxy like this one many millennia ago. However, great struggles, rebellions and even our own biology had to be overcome before we finally brought lasting peace. In fact my people were nearly wiped out by a great horror that had been unleashed during the aftermath of our last war, forcing us to withdraw and hide ourselves to hibernate. We had hoped that in doing so that the evil would pass. When we awoke the horror indeed had long since fled and my Phaeron now seeks to return order to a realm currently embroiled in chaos. This region of the galaxy that you call the Terminus. You have seen but a fragment of such turmoil upon Omega have you not?"

Nev'El wasn't sure how to answer, "Yes...but.."

Solvatas strode towards Nev'El who clenched her hand and drew it close to her chest, intimidated by her friend's new appearance. When Solvatas stood over her she knelt down to bring herself to the Asari's level. The Necrontyr reached out slowly and took the Asari girl's hands and cupped them in hers, all the while looking into her eyes with a motherly understanding, "I know you're scared child. You have been scared all your life. Of your mother, of those you even love. But I tell you now, truly that I care for you. No one shall be be able to harm you again."

Nev'El relaxed slightly upon hearing that, but was still anxious. Solvatas then asked, "I know it is difficult to ask you this so soon. But what if you allowed us to reforge your body?"

"Reforge?"

"Upon this world our technology can allow us to transform your frail organic form into something more."

"But...why would I want that?"

"Because I saw it in you...in your rebellion against Aria. Though you try not to show it you do have a strength of will, one that would fight those who harm you or those you love."

The Asari girl began to grow slightly anxious again but she listened intently while Solvatas continued, "I can grant you this power Nev'El. A frame that can encase your form and give you strength that can allow you to face Aria and anyone else who would do harm."

"...Really?"

The sun shone down on the two of them from atop one of the pyramids in the distance. The light engulfed them and Nev'El once more grimaced from the brightness of the light. When it faded she once again found herself in a new place. This one looked like some kind of alien manufacturing facility with grayish hues and green light. In front of her was an operating table with a mechanical body laying on top of it. It looked like an Asari but it was metallic and when she moved to touch its arm she recognized a familiar cool feeling as she ran her fingers across it. She looked ahead and saw Solvatas across from the table looking at her intently, then the Necrontyr's expression softened into a smile.

"You're...in something like this too aren't you?" Nev'El timidly asked.

Solvatas closed her eyes thoughtfully and then answered with a nod. Once again Solvatas' organic form began to crumble away to dust. When the dust fell away, all that was left was a metallic skeletal figure draped with a blue shimmering cape. The Necrontyr looked to her now robotic hand and a sigh emitted from her now expressionless face, "It was good to remember what I was...for a brief moment. Time is cruel to us all Nev'El."

"So you've just been resorting to using robotic bodies. For how long?"

"Longer than you can imagine and it wasn't by choice. Like I said, our physiology had to be overcome, for my species was weak and frail unable to live even a fraction of your people's natural life span."

"What if I don't want this? What if I wanted to stay as I am?"

Solvatas shrugged, "Well then I suppose I could find you another role that you could serve. It would be a shame, but such would be the way of things."

Nev'El looked to the metal body on the table again and her face became thoughtful. Solvatas moved over to the end of the table and asked, "What holds you back Nev'El?"

"Other possibilities, other things I could do that doesn't require me to change too much. I just...I don't think I could do what you're asking me to do."

"Do you remember what happened to you Nev'El?"

"What happened to me?"

"Yes...they often say victims of trauma try to not to remember or downplay what happened. You're thinking what if I could still be a mother...what if I could still be something not so monstrous. You've forgotten how horrible Kunash's abuse was."

Suddenly Nev'El grasped her forehead and felt terrible pain in her lower abdomen, then the words of a deep heavy voice that she didn't want to hear again sounded in her ears, "That's right! You always were soft and weak!"

Nev'El then covered her ears trying to shut out the voice but it did no good, "You like getting smacked around doncha?! Is that why you've been hanging around the others so much? Trying to whore yourself out to someone else!? I guess I'll treat you like one too if thats what you want!"

"He was drunk! He didn't know what he was saying!" Nev'El shouted still grimacing.

"Maybe not, but what came after that changed everything didn't it?" Solvatas continued.

The pain to the Asari's lower abdomen came again and hurt intensely causing Nev'El to drop to her knees. Then she heard the same voice in her head again, "What...what did I do? Nev...I'm so sorry."

Nev'El shook her head, her eyes beginning to tear up, "But he apologized the next day! He even took me to see a doctor."

Another voice spoke into her head as the memories kept coming, "Miss Nev'El. I don't know how to put this gently but...it would seem that the damage to your uterine lining was extensive. It will heal but I am afraid it will be replaced with scar tissue, this will make the possibility of conception considerably more difficult...perhaps impossible. I am...very sorry."

The first voice spoke again to Nev'El as she started to cry, "Nev...I can't be with you anymore. I've ruined everything, for you and me. What I have...is clearly too much for you. I'm sorry."

Solvatas continued now standing over Nev'El, "Your mother was not so sympathetic was she? After all she sent you to Omega, to her friend Aria. Then you ended up right in the same place as before with the same sorts of individuals that ruined you."

Nev'El still crying replied, "But Grash...he was different. He just wanted to live his life to the fullest. He looked after his friends and he loved me for who I was."

The Necrontyr drew closer to Nev'El, "Then he stepped too far out of line and Aria made sure that he suffered before the end."

Nev'El's eyes widened as she looked up and instead of Solvatas she saw a Turian, whom she remembered was Grizz. He was standing over the bodies of some of Grash's gang before standing over the wounded human himself who held out his hand and begged, "Please, we...we didn't know Aria gave this much of a shit over the shipment! You want it back, you can take it!"

Grizz drew a knife and walked over to the human, "It's not about the shipment anymore human...it's about the message you sent by what you did. You fucked with Aria." The Turian then stabbed the knife into Grash's lower regions and began to carve. Grash screamed bloody murder the whole way and Grizz simply replied, "Now Aria fucks you."

Nev'El turned away from the scene and cried covering her face. Then she felt the metallic cold hand of Solvatas gently rest on her shoulder. The Asari looked and saw the skeletal Solvatas kneeling down beside her. The Necrontyr's face had no expression but her voice sounded calm and warm, "I am sorry you saw that. But it was necessary for you to know the truth. One cannot make an important decision such as this one on falsehoods."

Nev'El sniffled and then nodded in response, the Necron Thanatar continued, "This happens all across the Terminus Nev'El. Creating more victims like yourself and perpetuating the cycle of suffering again and again. I am here to show that there is another path. Another way, to end this cycle of pointless violence. If you accept this, you will be my right hand, dispensing justice in my name."

"...Like a Justicar?" the young Asari asked.

Solvatas hesitated but answered, "Yes...exactly that."

After a moment of breathing to compose herself, Nev'El rose along with Solvatas where she found herself at the table again with the metal body. Once more skeletal Solvatas stood across from her and asked, "What is your choice Nev'El?"

Nev'El looked resolutely at Solvatas and then to the body on the table. The Asari put one hand on the metal body's forehead and one on it's left hand gripping it tightly. She looked back to Solvatas again, "Yes...I'll do this. For me...and Grash...and for you."

The Necrontyr shifted her form once more, returning to her original organic shape with a smile on her face. Looking touched at Nev'El's declaration of loyalty, she placed her own hand on top of the Asari girl's that lay on the machine body's forehead, "I accept your declaration Nev'El. Now the transference can begin."

"Will it hurt?" Nev'El asked hesitantly.

The Necrontyr assuredly nodded, "Only briefly, but you are strong enough to endure it. When you awake, you will be so much more."

Nev'El closed her eyes, breathed in and out and then the pain came. Light, painful sensations, and sounds flooded her senses all over her body. She screamed but no sound came from her throat. As time went on the pain began to lessen, but the tingling and sensations continued for what felt like minutes before it finally all stopped. For a while there was nothing but darkness. Until what looked like a lens opened, revealing a green heads up display. It had unusual script moving across it but soon she recognized the symbols. They looked like the ankhs she had seen before, but now for some reason she could understand. It was a language, they were stating that systems were booting up and coming online.

Eventually she moved her arms in front of her eyes that were looking up into a dark ceiling with green lights. She saw the smooth metallic glint of her hands and realized she could feel the air upon them. It was so strange to her, that she could feel sensations with metal fingers. Being reborn as a machine she thought she would feel nothing. She rose from the table and saw a cyclopean skeletal biped with a staff before her. She intuitively knew who this was, a Cryptek called Du'Maat. He spoke to her with a matter of fact metallic tone, "Your mistress awaits, Besakt Nev'El."

The former Asari, now Biotic Pariah, pooled biotic energy into her hands and looked to them. It was unlike any feeling she had ever had when channeling her biotics before. She had never experienced so much power flowing through them and the possibilities of what she could do now began to fill her mind. It was almost intoxicating. A chuckle was emitted by her now expressionless robotic face, hiding the grin she mentally bore at the tremendous feeling of power brimming through her.

Du'Maat contacted Solvatas as the newly created Pariah proceeded to one of the gates in the complex on her way to the Thanatar, "The process was more efficient than anticipated. Your manipulation of the Asari's emotions and mental processes was quite effective Thanatar."

"It helps to know your subject Du'Maat and I developed a rapport with this one for some time. As a Besakt she will serve me well, especially when she arrives here at Omega to deal with Aria. I look forward to watching that confrontation personally."

"Perhaps I could ask for your assistance with one of my other subjects in the future. The complexity of her mind makes progress...difficult."

"Jack I presume? Based upon the analysis of her dossier, I can see why. Her mind is far more damaged than most humans. I am afraid however, that my duties preclude your projects Cryptek, so you are on your own in that regard. The only advice I can give you is to continue to probe her for weaknesses. After all, organic minds can only stay resistant for so long. Eventually she will run out of walls to erect and be broken down. We have all the time in the universe." Solvatas quipped.

Du'Maat let out a sigh from his audio emitters, "A pity, though there are several avenues of egress I can pursue, I was hoping for a less drastic approach."

"It is what it is Du'Maat."

A moment passed before Solvatas inquired, "I have a query Cryptek."

"What is it?"

"I have been going over the data Xamutet sent from his battle over Sanctum and something has been bothering me. How have these Collector's been able to achieve the firepower to damage our ships? Your own analysis of the species of this galaxy reveal that their technology is woefully inadequate."

"The species known as Collectors have been speculated to be connected to the beings that Shepard has called Reapers. The Reapers are also a machine race, though it would appear that they are far more akin to constructs fulfilling a function than to beings with their own will such as we. Least according to Shepard's memories and data. It is possible that an escalation protocol was initiated when the Relay of Sigurd's Cradle was captured. This may have occurred in the event that a species exceeds the Reaper's expectation of technological progression for the galaxy."

Solvatas wasn't satisfied, "It is possible, but that does not answer the question."

The Cryptek than brought up a diagram of the enemy vessel that attacked the Serap along with data points showcasing Du'Maat's own analysis of the ship, "My brief study of our foe's ship reveal signs of recent retrofit."

The holographic display then zoomed in on the rents of damage that the Serap's Lightning Arcs had unleashed upon the Collector ship, showcasing a dark velvet material deep within, "Based upon visual observations between the rock like casing and this new material it would appear to be strong enough to withstand our lightning Arc batteries to a degree. It also does not bear signs of wear which most organic races' materials tend to acquire over time. Given the estimated age of the vessel's overall structure, either this material is similar to our own which is highly unlikely, or it was recently embedded to protect the interior of the ship."

The hologram over the Thanatar's eyes once more shifted, revealing an overview of the vessel, namely its power distribution network and drive core, "The power output of the enemy's core when compared to other 'eezo' cores is also far beyond what most are capable of accomplishing. However in theory, it is possible that a large enough core when stressed beyond safety limits can enable an output that can damage our ships necrodermis hull. But the stress and heat induced on the core would be immense, resulting in limited firings that can be achieved before eventual shutdown or destruction of the core."

The Necron Thanatar perked up upon hearing it, "Ah...a weakness that can be exploited. Good to know. I assume that the same overcharge of the drive system is present in their smaller drones as well?"

"Presumably, though it is mere assumption at this point. The Gravatar did not give enough details on the smaller craft, merely firing on them as quickly as he acquired them or focusing on evasive maneuvers." Du'Maat replied.

"Xamutet isn't much of a shipmaster sadly. I remember when Kazarakh punished him by putting him in charge of that escort ship."

"The Gravatar was punished with command over a vessel?"

"Yes, it was before your time with us Du'Maat. Our uncle declared that if Xamutet wanted to rule, he would have to do more than simply destroy. The Phaeron also said if anything happened to that ship that he would be disowned entirely. I know Xamutet is no coward, but protocol is absolute. Sadly in this case it caused defeat to be snatched from the jaws of victory."

"Indeed, does my analysis satisfy your query?"

"Adequate, but it is still mere speculation. A more thorough analysis will be required should we get another chance. The Phaeron will need to know how far the Reaper's escalation has reached. We are still woefully understrengthed in our ship numbers."

"More data on their ground forces may be forth coming once the Gravatar's current situation is resolved. Unless the enemy proves victorious against my current projections."

"I doubt that. Like I said, Xamutet may not be much of a shipmaster. But a war on the ground is where my cousin is in his element. I am sure you will have more than enough data to work with when he is finished."

It had been fifteen minutes since the beams of light stopped but Xamutet wasn't going to rest on his laurels. After several minutes of no bombardment, the Necron lord rallied his warriors and the humans over the colony's PA system from within the pyramid complex, "All laborers arm yourselves and proceed to your muster points! Refer to your Omni-tools for the location of arms and defensive positions. Show no mercy to the enemy! Those who perform well shall be rewarded well."

Xamutet then turned to the colonial administrator behind him, "Divert all power to this complex. However meager your generators are I need every sip of energy your pathetic colony can offer."

"Of course my lord, but...that would mean our heating systems will be inoperable. Our people and machinery will start to freeze if-"

"Then the fires of war will have to keep them warm. No excuses administrator..."

"...Yes my lord." The elderly man nodded to his associates who then opened their Omni-tools and began to pool all power to the complex. The interior lighting at first brightened more strongly than ever and then Xamutet's eyes glowed as he sent commands to the Necrontyr systems. He activated a barrier around the complex that flickered but for a moment before it faded away.

"There...at the very least with the aid of the Scarabs and Spyders I was able to setup Quantum shielding around the pyramid." Xamutet thought to himself.

The dark metallic lord was brought back to the present by the administrator reporting, "All power diverted my lord. What is next?"

"Acquire weapons and defend this complex. The enemy will attempt to destroy it to ensure their victory. You must give your lives to its defense at all costs, am I understood?"

"Of course..." nervously the administrator left his master to procure a weapon for himself along with all his men.

Xamutet exited the complex to find a blasted landscape before him. The foe had destroyed the edges of the colony, leaving smoldering craters where the defense towers had once been before. The beams had also softened up possible strong points of resistance, leaving destroyed buildings and structures amidst ruined civilian vehicles. However, the human workers had been performing as instructed setting up barricades and stacked crates of those human thermal clips for their inferior weapons.

The Gravatar had armed himself with a Dispersion shield in his left hand, a Hyper Phase sword locked to his hip, and held a Staff of light in his right. Alongside him, moving to the frontline, were several of his elite Immortals and Necron warriors. However, these elites numbered merely a platoon in strength due to Sanctum not really needing a strong military presence. Though he had no idea on the enemy's exact numbers, Xamutet estimated that one of his dynasty's warriors were worth hundreds of the foe. Even if they were somehow defeated, so long as the pyramid complex remained intact, they could simply be transferred and repaired quickly. The Gravatar had stationed several squads of his warriors throughout the area of the frontline and along the flanks, where the fighting was calculated to be the worst.

The Necron lord eventually reached the designated barricades that would likely be attacked first in the enemy assault, along the northern edge of the colony. The north side had rolling hills of snow and rock that the enemy could use to cover their approach and get overwatch over the landscape. Xamutet found his laborers still setting up barricades along what was once one of the towers and shivering near thermal emitters powered by mobile generators they had setup to keep warm. When they noticed him and his warriors, some stood to attention, obviously falling back on their former military habits, though they didn't salute the Necron. Others were too nervous and stared at him waiting for Xamutet to give orders.

After a moment of the Necron lord analyzing the area around him, the Gravatar spoke, "Is this all you have accomplished?"

A shivering colonist in a winter combat suit stepped forward and answered him, "We are making due with what we have at hand my lord."

"Then what you have is insufficient. This cover can be easily penetrated even by your kind's firearms."

The man looked down to evade Xamutet's piercing gaze as he dressed him down, then another human looked into the distance where he heard a rumble and said, "What is that?!"

Though visibility was getting more difficult due to the onset of a blizzard starting to roll in, even the humans could see what looked like lightning bolts streaking across the sky. Then to add to the cold winds blowing, a sound of buzzing could be heard. Xamutet filtered out the audio and tuned to the frequency of the buzzing sound and realized it was the wings of multiple creatures. Black dots appeared on the horizon and swarms of what appeared to be small insects began to form.

Xamutet's ocular lenses zoomed in and began to gather details on the creatures. They were unlike any species that Xamutet had noted before and despite the wind they were able to maintain course directly for their defensive line. The Gravatar sent a directive to his scarabs and stepped to the front of the barricades to meet the enemy. His warriors and Immortals took up positions along the light barricades, Gauss Flayers of various makes at the ready. The human auxiliaries took up positions with rifles and pistols drawn, but gave the Necrons themselves a wide berth. With an unspoken command, beams of green energy fired from several of the Immortals armed with Gauss Blasters. The beams of light disintegrated the swarm of insects, sending the small remnants reeling into the wind. Any that attempted to regroup were set upon by the warriors and their Gauss Flayers.

More swarms appeared spreading themselves out with the Necron Immortals firing again. The small insect's new formation thinned their casualties so they attempted to charge through the rays of fire burning through them. Many were felled and destroyed, but a small pack of the creatures were able to fly into the defensive line. A flurry of alien bugs rushed past the Necrons, attacking their human cohorts. The humans panicked, fleeing their winged attackers with some of them dropping their weapons. Others attempted firing on the bugs to little effect as they were swarmed in turn.

The Necrons then turned their guns on their own human allies and fired on the ones who had fled the line, fulfilling Xamutet's threat on the price of cowardice. The humans screamed out as their bodies were reduced to ash along with their insect attackers. Crumpling to the ground, their ashen bodies now were a reminder to the other humans still on the line to stand their ground or die. To their credit some colonists held on and attempted to hit the bugs with their weapons but quickly found themselves stung by the insects. Suddenly the humans were wrapped in a kind of energy field. Paralyzed they fell to the ground with looks of shock and pain on their faces.

Now understanding the purpose of these creatures, Xamutet let loose the Necron's answer to this threat. The Necron Scarabs suddenly rushed in, their formation the shape of a flying tendril. When they reached the humans they spread out and attacked the enemy insects, the buzzing sound of wings replaced with the sound of rushing metal bodies and the Scarab's anti-gravity drives. The human auxiliaries just watched in awe as the metal swarm consumed the insects attempting to sting them. A man was about to be stung when one Scarab caught the alien insect in mid-air and then proceeded to stab it repeatedly with its sharp mechanical limbs. Others used their cutting beams from their mandibles after catching an alien insect or multiple Scarabs collided into them, simply shredding them to pieces with their bodies.

Xamutet looked on the scene as the Scarabs finished their work. They then flew into holding patterns around the frontline and the Necron Lord announced to the human colonists, "The Scarabs will ensure that you will be safe from their swarms. Take the fallen behind the line and let the bodies of those who fled remind you. No cowardice and no fleeing unless you are ordered to withdraw!"

The human conscripts nodded in compliance and several proceeded to take those who had been paralyzed by the enemy insects to safety. They were met by those colonists who volunteered to be medics. Waving their comrades over, the medics helped to drag the fallen to the shelter of the nearby apartments.

Xamutet looked back to the front and saw movement along the tops of the hills. He could see the shape of flat carapace heads bobbing up and down along the ridge of rock and snow. The Necron lord assumed they were getting into positions to begin firing and proceeded to get an overview of his own frontline from the bird's eye view of a Scarab above them. He connected with the smaller machine's own ocular lens and it's vision appeared as a window in the corner of his own sight. He could see what appeared to be multiple squads of insectoid bipeds assembling amidst the rocks. A quick cross reference with known species in Xamutet's database confirmed that these were indeed Collectors.

One of the insectoid aliens looked up noticing the movement of the Necron construct and began firing on the Scarab much to Xamutet's surprise. While the machine's body easily shook off the attack, a powerful beam from one of the aliens disrupted the ocular lens, forcing Xamutet to recall it. All along the rocks multiple insectoid aliens began firing down into the defensive line with kinetic projectiles fired from organic looking rifles. Several humans were hit in Xamutet's section of the line, cutting through their shields and forcing them to cry out before ducking down behind cover. The Necrons simply shrugged off the rounds, unflinching and maintaining their position but also not yet returning fire. Xamutet was particularly focused on by the enemy and more and more Collectors began to send rounds his way, recognizing him as a leader.

After a few seconds of being showered in rounds that merely broke against his resilient necrodermis, the Necron lord began to laugh and invited more rounds to strike him, "Hah hah hah hah hah! Is this all you have to offer me insects!? Pathetic!"

Xamutet suddenly received a shot to the head by a particle beam courtesy of a Collector soldier. After a second or so of energy colliding with him, Xamutet gruffed annoyingly. He was finding that his head was actually starting to sustain damage. Quickly he unleashed his staff's energy beam upon the offending enemy and severed the insectoid's head from his shoulders. The rest of the Collectors suddenly found themselves fired on by other Necron Warriors stationed on the rooftops of the colony buildings. Gauss Flayer beams melted down the heads of several Collector drones as the insect bipeds began setting up energy barriers in an attempt to create more cover. The human auxiliaries also began returning fire with some rifle shots scoring kills or weakening the enemy barriers.

Once more the seeking Collector swarms were sent out against the line over the Collector's cover only to meet the same fate as before courtesy of the Immortals and Scarabs. At this point the Collectors began to withdraw as more and more alien soldiers fell from Necron Gauss Flayers. With the enemy force beginning to retreat, Xamutet unleashed the Scarabs and had them charge the fleeing Collectors. A tendril of Scarabs formed and began hunting down and ripping apart the insectoid bipeds. Some fruitlessly tried firing on the metal swarm before being torn in two. Others attempted to take to the sky on their own wings. Only to have said wings and bodies ripped apart as the Scarabs caught them in mid-flight.

Satisfied, once again Xamutet took stock of the situation. Besides a few colonists injured, this first wave was relatively easy. Perhaps he had overestimated his enemy after the battle in space. But a part of his processes knew better. This felt more like a probing action, the Collectors numbers were not nearly enough to occupy the colony. Recalling the reports that Shepard had on the insectoid aliens, he knew that the humans were their target. Yet they could have other designs as well, the Gravatar couldn't be sure.

Xamutet then sent more Scarabs around the colony rooftops to monitor the situation from the air. Cycling through the various Scarab scouts, it became apparent that Xamutet's section seemed to have been the only part of the defensive line that had been attacked. Curious about the enemy cruiser's current whereabouts, Xamutet attempted to send a ping from the colony's comm towers, then quickly realized that due to the bombardment that was no longer possible. The ruins of the comm towers from the eye lens of one of his Scarabs confirmed it. The Necron lord had his Scarab scan the skies for his next query.

The Collector Cruiser itself was found to still be in the upper atmosphere based on visual observation using thermal imaging to see through the blizzard now enveloping the area. The enemy ship was keeping its distance and when the Scarab zoomed in, he could already see a much larger swarm of silhouettes approaching. This wasn't just those smaller alien insects though. On closer inspection it was comprised of flying Collector soldiers and larger insect constructs that also seem to fly through the air. They were carrying what appeared to be some kind of cyberized glowing humanoids that had been significantly altered, mutated, or even combined together. There were hundreds of them and they were on approach to multiple points around the colony's defensive perimeter. Xamutet's hunch had been correct and now that the enemy probing force confirmed what they were up against, the foe was no longer holding back. Considering the damage potential that could be seen with some of the larger Collector constructs, defeat was possible if the Necron Lord didn't proceed with care.

Xamutet silently ordered his warriors to begin shifting positions and to prepare to meet the oncoming swarm. The metal warriors vaulted from cover to cover at a brisk pace to reach their new rooftops and makeshift cover. They pointed their weapons to the oncoming enemy swarm and waited for their lord's command. Xamutet also queued orders that when the swarm flew over, that the warriors and immortals would shift in a manner that returned them to their original positions in unison to continuously inflict casualties. As he continued to queue up commands, his audio receiver heard one of the nearby humans frantically asking him a question, "What are your orders my lord?!"

A gruff noise of annoyance escaped Xamutet's audio emitters, this is why he hated having to use these fleshlings as soldiers. The need for verbal communication in this situation was woefully inefficient but he knew it was necessary. He turned to the colonist who asked, bent down to get face to face with him, and spoke with a calm but menacing tone, "Check your Omni-tools for updates on where to go and what to do. If you have a query send it via a text using the damn tools you have. Do not bother me again with needless drivel unless it is absolutely necessary. Do you understand fleshlings?"

The men nodded still scared to death of the dark metal figure, "Yes...yes my lord."

With the colonist dealt with, the Necron Lord looked back to the oncoming horde that were now visually coming into his own view. He adjusted his ocular lens for thermal imaging to see through the blizzard that was now blowing in full force. Just as he suspected, the Collector force was spreading out and their numbers would soon begin to envelop the skies around the colony.

As soon as the first flight of Collector soldiers entered into range his warriors and Immortals opened fire. The cold freezing air found itself pierced by tunnels of high energy particles that cut into various Collector warriors who then tumbled from the sky. Screeches of agony were muffled by the blizzard winds as their dying forms smacked into the ice and rock below. The colonists looked to each other in confusion still maintaining their position against the cold until a metallic voice yelled over their comms, "Fire into the sky you fools!"

The colonists didn't bother to question it and fired into the grey cold sky. Along with the Gauss Flayers and Blaster fire, tracer rounds from Mass Effect rifles and pistols added to the chorus. Shortly after the firing started a pair of colonists were shocked when the bisected corpse of a Collector soldier fell amongst them courtesy of Gauss Flayer fire. Soon after, enemy rounds were impacting onto their positions from above. While some colonists had optics to give them some visibility through the storm others panicked from the enemy fire coming from seemingly nowhere along with the falling bodies.

Xamutet could see that the Collector's larger constructs were now breaking from the swarm and beginning to glow brilliantly on the thermals. Suddenly blue beams of lightning imbued light came crashing down into several of his warriors. The energy from the beams were forcing several of Xamutet's elite's to fall to their knees and seemingly begin to melt down their necrondermis shells. Then a surge of brilliant light came down the blue beams and when it connected with the Necron soldiers their bodies exploded into pieces. Xamutet was caught off guard by the loss but it was still within his calculations. The automated processes of the Necron soldiers to phase shift back to the main complex for repairs initiated and the Necron's remains disappeared.

However, Xamutet faced more complications. Enemy forces were getting through the initial screen of fire according to his Scarabs. Sporadic fighting was commencing on the southern interior of the colony as the humans attempted to defend themselves. Scarab swarms were doing their part in ensuring the colonist's safety from the enemy seeker swarms. Hordes of insects smashed into by tendrils of mechanical bodies. But the Collector soldiers were beginning to gain a foothold in several apartment structures. Xamutet then ordered several Immortals stationed on the roofs to shift fire onto the structures and level portions of them that they could. The buildings were ripped into with the Immortal's Gauss Blasters and this created massive holes, revealing multiple Collectors within. Some colonists seized the initiative and opened fire on the exposed enemies. Multiple avenues of fire connected with several Collector soldiers in one opening ripping through through their shields and carapace heads.

Xamutet brought his focus back to the present for now as his section of the line was about to be attacked by the insect-like constructs. A pair of them supported with Collectors soldiers were making straight for the Necron Lord and his warriors. Beams of enemy fire assaulted them through the cold blustery gloom but Xamutet chose to use his Dispersion shield and stand his ground. Green energy enveloped the front of the shield and bore the particle beams of both Collector constructs while the Necron Warriors and Immortals dealt with the enemy supports. The insect soldiers were easily dispatched, heads bored through with green ashen holes or severed limbs from Gauss Flayers. But the constructs continued their assault as they moved into visual range. Under the barrage of enemy fire, Xamutet finally was able to get a good look at them. They were blueish purple in coloration with multiple eyes, two of which were clearly the weapon ports. It had no wings yet it flew through the air, likely with some kind of anti-gravity drive. There was a kind of sack underneath the machine like creature, full of what appeared to be cybernetic human heads. The heads were beginning to glow blue under the continuous use of the construct's beam weapons. However, the Dispersion shield was doing its job in denying the enemy machines, for their beams found no purchase.

The Necron lord's supporting warriors opened fire on the insectoid robotics and when damage was inflicted upon the larger constructs they suddenly dropped to the ground. In a loud screech, the sack under the quadruped insect machine glowed intensely and they were wrapped in a field of energy. The Necron warriors kept firing but suddenly found their Gauss Flayers denied, the green energy blasts creating waves across the point of impact on the energy field.

"Impossible! Quantum shielding?!" Xamutet thought.

Indeed, while the field was blue in coloration and the pattern was different it seemed to be the case. In retaliation, the insect robotics unleashed their beams of death on Xamutet's escorts. One Necron Warrior attempted to use cover to little effect as the beams cut through and carved into the Necron's chest. Once more a pulse of energy traveled down the beam and a blast blew the Necron Warrior into scattered parts. Xamutet decided that if defense was pointless than offense would carry the day. As another of his warriors fell to the enemy's beams he charged one of the offending machines with his Dispersion shield held in front, eschewing his staff for his phase sword. While he went on the attack he ordered his remaining warriors to keep firing on the construct in front of him so that they could weaken the field surrounding it. The other insect machine of the pair saw the charge towards its brethren and began to fire down on the Necron Lord but found itself attacked from the flanks. A group of colonists fired concussive shots and even attempted hitting it with overload in an attempt to distract it. It succeeded too well and the enemy construct turned their way and unleashed its eye beams. One colonist was caught outright and vaporized within seconds, forcing the others to scatter.

Meanwhile Xamutet was about to reach the insectoid machine that destroyed several of his warriors when it turned on him and fired its deadly gaze in his direction. The beams were intense enough to actually force him to dig in his metal heels to hardened rock and brace. After a few seconds of his shield absorbing the enemy fire, the beams stopped and Xamutet leapt at his foe. He brought down his sword upon the creatures head with hopefully enough force to break the field. At first the field caught the sword coming down for a microsecond before the rest of Xamutet's weight came down upon it. The blade was then able to penetrate and break the field with ease. The phase sword slammed into the head of the creature and Xamutet continued to chop upon the creature's head until a great cavity was formed from what used to be it's skull. A gurgling screech went out from the monster machine as it died and began to break apart at the atomic level.

Xamutet could see from his analysis that the very core of the machine had initiated some kind of self-destruct turning its own energy upon itself. A field of white wreathed around its form before the robotic insect turned into black particles that were blown away by the wind. Its brother machine was still distracted by the colonists but it was now turning to face Xamutet, no doubt sensing it's brethren's demise. The Necron lord quickly attached his sword back to his side and grabbed the staff attached to his back. Xamutet noticed that the field around the creature had faded and the sack of heads under it were now smoldering and emitting smoke. The dark mechanical lord unleashed his Staff of Light upon the creature's head burning a green hole right between its eyes. He then brought the burning beam of light downwards into the sack of skulls causing an explosion that ripped into the Collector construct.

Xamutet brought his shield to bear in reflex to the explosion and when he looked again he found the enemy machine in pieces in front of him. "Good, at least I now have something to bring back to the Phaeron." Xamutet thought to himself.

The group of colonists who had come to his aid approached him from behind as he analyzed the creature's remains. One man stepped in front of his fellows and reported, "My lord! We have a problem!"

Xamutet quickly spun around and grabbed the human colonist by the scruff of his arctic coat and raised him up, "I told you-"

"But...the processing building..."

Xamutet relaxed his metal grip slightly, "What of it?"

"The bugs have breached it and are taking the workers there...the ones who...can't speak."

Xamutet slowly let the man down. The colony's processing building was where the mindshackled colonists had been put to work. The Gravatar had designated it to be a strong point back behind the front as the battle progressed. If the garrison stationed there had already been overrun then this could be a problem. The Necron lord knew if the enemy forces captured and learned of the nanomachine technology via the mindshackled colonists then there was no telling what could happen.

"What is your name?" Xamutet ordered.

"Kerrick...Simon Kerrick, my lord." the man said as he recovered.

The Gravatar's eyes narrowed into slits while he looked the man over contemplating, "Hmmm, you've shown competence and initiative. You will do...take your fellows and move to stop the enemy's assault at processing. I will send warriors to assist you in this task. Recover your brethren if possible and if not...do what you must to ensure they are not taken. Do you understand?"

Realizing the implication of his orders the man slowly nodded, "...Yes my lord, I understand."

Dismissed by Xamutet, Simon motioned to his fellow colonists to follow him. As the humans ran towards processing, Xamutet checked on the overall strategic picture again through the data being fed to him wirelessly. Scarabs sighted multiple firefights now breaking out all over and it was clear the Necron Lord needed to move towards the east side to help against another pair of those constructs again.

A small swarm of Collector soldiers were also now approaching the pyramid complex. The Gravatar was confident though. Once the fallen warriors that were there reconstituted, they along with the large portion of human defenders could drive the enemy back.

With the few warriors he had left the Necron Lord headed out to the east side of the colony. All the while one Collector in particular kept its distance in the hills overlooking the colony and observed Xamutet. It's carapace body was crackling in yellowish tinted light and it continued to eye the dark skinned Necron as he proceeded to the east. The glowing Collector was joined by its fellow soldiers and flew alongside the rest of the swarm to meet Xamutet on the east side of the colony.

In a meeting room aboard Maius Gravinius' ship, the Turian Spectre's team was finishing up their briefing. While Maius omitted some details, the target in question was what took time for some to process. It seemed unthinkable that Shepard, the hero of the Citadel, now potentially could have gone rogue. Whether Cerberus was involved or a third party was not clear.

Maius pressed holographic keys on the meeting room table to cycle through the various data points and people of interest that Shepard had picked up along the way according to reports.

"That's why I've called you all here, Shepard has been building a team of specialists for some time. He's also been off the radar for a good while doing who knows what."

Tel'Se Neran took a moment to process everything from the briefing before finally saying, "Wow...so we're going after the first human Spectre?"

"That's right." Maius replied

The Asari leaned back in her chair, "Never thought I'd get hired for a job like that. I thought it would just be some small time guy we'd have to baby sit or maybe a possible informant."

"I understand why you would want to bring him in alive. Killing Shepard I imagine is not something the Council would want, especially from a political and public relations stand point." Kusko said. The tan Drell had been silent throughout the whole meeting.

Gefren nodded while standing upon a makeshift stool, "Indeed! That and we still don't know much about his relationship with Cerberus. We suspect that it was they who shut down the relay at Sigurd's Cradle and if not, we think Shepard knows who did."

Tel'se looked uncertainly at Maius asking, "Do we even have a place to start looking? Kinda hard to start a manhunt when he hasn't been seen for awhile."

"I'm putting out feelers to find that out. Omega was one of the last places Shepard was sighted at a few weeks ago. I figure that-" An alert sounded from Maius' Omni-tool prompting him to activate it, the voice of a Turian comm officer spoke, "Sir, we may have something for you."

"What is it?"

"We just received an anonymous tip regarding Shepard. It claims that the Commander was sighted in Zakera Ward on the Citadel over five hours ago."

Everyone in the room perked up at that, with Gefren commenting, "My...that was fast. Awfully convenient to say the least."

Maius felt the same way as his friend, this was awfully suspicious especially after having fought through an enemy ambush recently, "Do we have any proof that it was Shepard?"

"Transmitting data to your Omni-tool now sir."

Maius looked over at the data as it came in. It was a message comprised of a picture taken from what looked like a local vendor. The photo's main subject was a man wearing mercenary armor in front of a computerized advertisement screen. Underneath the screenshot was biometric data that claimed to be from Shepard.

"Have we cross referenced these biometrics?" Maius asked.

"Yes sir, they are a match with Shepard and we did confirm that the data came from the advertisement booth. Someone tried to wipe the booth's scanner data according to our tip, but whoever recovered it was pretty damn good. Though they didn't say who did the data recovery or why they sent it to HQ."

"Awfully convenient of them to leave out those details." Tel'Se remarked agreeing with the others.

Gefren shrugged, "At this point, its our only lead. In spite of my own reservations I say we follow up on it as soon as we can."

Maius turned off his Omni-tool and concurred with his Volus comrade, "Agreed, guess the Citadel is our next stop."

"So whats the plan? Just in case Shepard is there?" The Asari mercenary asked.

Maius worked the holographic keyboard at the table again and brought up the roster for the team and their duties, "Was just about to get to that. Once we pin down Shepard's location, Kusko and I will be on the ground to follow his movements. Tel'Se will be on overwatch, along with Gefren for support. We'll be equipped with non-lethal munitions for this operation, but be careful where you hit him. Even non-lethals can be deadly in a bad spot."

Gefren stirred uneasily, "I'd feel better about this if our team was up to full compliment."

"It's already been over five hours since this data came in Gefren. We've got to get on this now. If Shepard is gone maybe I'll consider picking them up but right now we don't have time."

"I understand, it just would have been nice to see Nemar and Miya again."

"You never know Gefren. Like Maius said, Shepard may have already moved on. I wouldn't mind meeting more friends of yours though." Tel'Se said smiling flirtatiously.

Gefren cooed at the notion, "Oh my dear, I would certainly enjoy taking you on a tour of the galaxy to meet some of them. A shame we have this business to be about."

Maius activated his tool's comm function to communicate with the ship's pair of pilots, "Alright Cantus, Tavea, we've got a destination, set a course for the Citadel. Prilus inform C-Sec that I'm going to need compilations of surveillance data to go through."

"Aye aye sir!" The Turian pilots acknowledged.

Maius stood up from his seat in the briefing room and looked to everyone, "The rest of you head to the armory and gear up, just in case. I'll go to the station first to confirm if our target is there."

The team nodded and proceeded out of the briefing room, except Gefren who walked up to his friend. Maius noted his comrade's discomfort, "Still got a bad feeling about this?"

"Absolutely." Gefren replied, "Too convenient for my liking. But sometimes the...'gut feeling' can be wrong. I honestly hope that is the case."

Maius crossed his arms and shook his head, "Like it or not, its our only lead. Besides I'm the one who volunteered to go over that data."

Gefren seemed offended at the notion, "Oh come now I wouldn't let you deal with that yourself! 'Many hands make for light work' as the humans put it."

"Heh, well thanks Gefren. I mean you don't have to-"

The Volus wasn't having it however, "I insist! Besides raw data isn't quite your forte Maius."

Maius shrugged at that and decided to go along with it. The Turian internally hoped that they could just get this resolved quickly and that Shepard would cooperate. But he just couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about this tip.

Aria was sitting on her usual couch overlooking After Life's dance floor with a scowl on her face. She was reading the report about the recent incident that Maius had been involved with, the Omega Queen was not happy about any of it.

"Turian asshole, doesn't even have the manners to apologize to me about this fucking mess."

Anto scatched the back of his neck nervously, "At least he's gone boss."

Aria put down the datapad unsatisfied, "What do we know about the perpetrators who attacked Maius?"

The Batarian activated his Omni-tool and went over a list of names, "A bit, but...it's weird. These guys were a mix of smugglers and professional mercenaries. Some Blue Suns, independent freelancers, but the sniper was...if you can believe it, a Sword of Kharshan."

Aria cocked an eyebrow at that, "The Batarian terror group?"

"The same...and we're still trying to find out if there's anymore of these guys out there. But its hard to understand how all these differing groups are banding together or who's the one uniting them all."

Aria handed the data pad back to Anto and he pocketed it, "Keep on it Anto. I want these assholes found and their boss or bosses unmasked before things start getting out of control."

Anto nodded and then found an alert notification on his Omni-Tool. Turning it on he heard the panicked voice of the station's dockmaster, "We're being attacked!"

"What?!" Anto replied.

"We were doing our usual unload from our regular freighters and they just came pouring out of the cargo containers! They're killing everybody!"

Anto then received streaming vid data on the call. Multiple assailants of various races and armor were all firing on dock workers with various kinds of firearms. They weren't trying to steal or take anything from the looks of it, they just were actively hunting down anyone working in the dockyard.

"If we don't get help they'll overrun the dock!"

Anto looked inquiringly to Aria who closed her eyes and merely nodded at Anto, "Got it! We'll send security over. Just hang in there and lock the dock down! Get yourself somewhere safe!"

"I'll try!"

Anto was just about to turn off his Omni-Tool when another call came in, "Hey...this is station maintenance...uh Cowl here. I'm in the lower levels right now and I am seeing some weird ass sons of bitches coming through here. They haven't seen me yet...I think. We may need security down here, they're messing with cables and I don't like where this is going."

"Get out of there Cowl, we'll handle it just get-"

"Agh! No...wait! I'm just the maintenance guy I'm not-"

The sound of multiple pistols going off and a body hitting the floor made it obvious what had happened. Before Anto or Aria could say anything the lights and music in the club went out and emergency lighting took over. The club patrons started to talk amongst themselves and Aria knew it would only be a matter of time before there would be panic, "Shit."

The Omega queen stood up from her couch and addressed the crowd, "It's alright everyone, we just got a call from maintenance and it looks like we are going to have some down time till we solve a power issue. Until then, the club is closed."

"Aw come on! Really? That's bullshit..." complained one of the patrons.

Anto came up to the railing overlooking the club and shouted, "You heard Aria! The club is closed, so get your shit and get out! Everybody! You'll have to come back another day!"

The club patrons moaned their disappointment as they started to gather their things and began to leave. Others obviously would need to be forced via security since some were drugged up or had keeled over from drinking too much. Anto looked to Aria and saw that incensed look in her eyes again, "Anto...get a team together and get the docks under control. I'll have Grizz gather up his own men and check the maintenance access. It could be the Vorcha again working with whoever these guys are."

"What are you going to do boss?"

"Going to call up a few favors from our resident mercs. Figure they could also start pulling their weight around here. We need to remind whoever these people are about the one rule in this place."

Anto nodded and headed out with several other Batarians following him, leaving Aria to bring up her Omni-tool to begin calling in her favors.

Shepard walked through a busy street in Bachjret ward. He was hooded and masked up to cover his face and went into a renovating part of the district. The building still had scaffolding in front of it along with building materials. The Spectre needed the privacy due to the large bag he was hefting over his shoulder. Veronakh had ensured that the construction crew wouldn't be coming in for the day so that he could smuggle in the gear they would need for the heist. Entering into the empty apartment building, he waited at the assigned meeting point for the rest of his team. It was an apartment on the first floor numbered 5864 and the residence was barren of all furniture. A stale bluish white room with a hard floor, the apartment had plenty of space to lay down the gear to get ready. Shepard huffed as he finally let the bag down onto the floor, he had been hauling it a good while and it had been putting a strain on his shoulder. He massaged and rotated it a moment before he began to take off his disguise.

In eerie silence the rest of his squad appeared soon after Shepard arrived. Garrus, Zaeed, and Kasumi, all arriving in unison from different approaches and they all wore differing civilian disguises. Zaeed wore an eye patch and sunglasses with a jacket and jeans, Garrus wore some kind of colorful ceremonial Turian garb like he had come from a religious festival and Kasumi simply wore a mask with her usual hooded garb.

The Commander soon heard the metallic voice of his 'handler' in his ears, "Ah, I see you are ready to begin Shepard. I assume you have finalized your plan?"

"I have, we're already passed the point of no return. Have you done your part that I asked?"

"Indeed, though I would have contacted you before you left the Normandy, I was distracted moving certain...'pieces' into position."

A look of mild annoyance appeared on Shepard's face as he opened the bag and revealed more disguises and equipment within, "I assume you got the orders and identifications all setup for me?"

"Of course."

"Good, we'll get into the building's security next shift change. Then we can help Kasumi slip into the facility and get access to the data servers."

"I was also able to acquire rudimentary plans for the building to provide a map of the structure. Though there is no telling what renovations they have made and it seems to be missing a few details. I can mark out possible security checkpoints and where the data servers could be." Veronakh remarked.

"Guess we'll have to play it by ear then..." Shepard said while he started assembling the armor pieces for the various crew members.

The rest of the team thankfully had their own armor within cases or bags that they brought with them. Shepard had already been overburdened enough with the gear he was carrying. He withdrew a smaller bag from the larger one he had and inside appeared to be modifications for the helmets of the security disguises. The Spectre installed them into each one before Veronakh commented, "Ah, voice modulators?"

"Yeah, made them myself with a little help from EDI. Granted I'm not the biggest tech head but they'll do the job."

"Hopefully they won't ask you to take your helmet off."

"Yeah well I'll just have to think of something if someone asks. If we do this right we'll be in and out before they realize it."

Shepard looked to his teammates again. They were rigid, standing there like mechs waiting to be given orders. The Commander scowled and thought out loud again, "Are they going to have any autonomy once we get in there?"

"I told you Shepard, multi-tasking is my gift."

"Yeah well from the looks of it I'd say you are stretching it quite thin."

"Oh they'll be fine, you just need to do the talking for them."

"Because you can't relinquish even a modicum of control..."

"Absolutely."

"What if something goes wrong? Or they start asking questions to them directly."

"Well you did install the modulators I am sure I can come up with some kind of excuse they can say."

"What about combat?"

"A twenty percent loss in combat efficiency is a small price to pay to ensure that they don't do anything foolish. Besides, as long as you play your part well then combat won't be an issue will it?"

"Right..."

Shepard sighed and shook his head at all of the Necron Lord's answers to his questions. As he began putting on his security officer disguise, the Commander silently hoped that he and his team could just get through this mission intact despite Veronakh.

Maius and Gefren were scanned at the security booth by C-Sec. After a quick nod by the Turian operator who motioned them in, the pair kept going till they met a weathered looking human who greeted them, "Maius Gravinius." The Turian Spectre nodded in response. "Captain Bailey, I was told to expect you. Your data will be upstairs at our IT section. Officer Tirsh, show the Spectre the way."

"Yes sir!" Tirsh replied, getting up from his desk. He was a dark toned Turian with blue plates who had red and white markings on his face.

As they all proceeded up the stairs, Tirsh looked to the Spectre, "IT has been working with your request for the past hour. Had to utilize several VIs to help parse through all the data."

"Any progress?" Maius asked.

"A bit, though I personally don't have the details. We've been keeping questions regarding this request on the down low per your instructions. I'm assuming this investigation is off the record?"

"Officially for now."

"Understood sir."

The three of them finally reached the IT area. It was filled with desks and holographic displays, each screen cycling through differing cameras on the Citadel. Some screens were showing biometrics data of various persons of interest. Several C-Sec officers were working at the terminals there, one a blue Salarian with green spots on his face. Another was a human woman with tan skin and auburn hair. The IT officers noticed the Spectre and his companion approaching and nodded their way with the woman greeting them, "Spectre."

Tirsh moved ahead of Maius and introduced his fellows, "These are Officers Gefrel and Toya. They'll help you from here on out, I've got more work to finish downstairs. Good luck in your investigation sir."

Maius nodded at Tirsh who walked past the Spectre to head back downstairs. The Spectre looked to the pair of C-Sec IT workers and asked, "Officers, what do we got?"

"Well other than the data we sent to you earlier, we were able to get an idea of where Shepard could have gone after standing around that advertisement booth." Gefrel, the Salarian worked his console which brought up a map of the area Shepard was in.

The map showed a projected path of Shepard via a blue waypoint that matched his movements in the captured video feed, sped up of course. After the footage finished the waypoint on the map continued to move and show a projected course from what looked to be a ventilation shaft.

Toya continued where her fellow officer left off, "As you can see, based on vibration data compiled from the ventilation system around that time, it was determined that Shepard used it to proceed to an exit outside the ward. From there all traces of him disappeared."

"Likely via a stealth craft or shuttle, we don't have any external cameras around that section of the system so it would have been the perfect spot for a getaway." Gefrel surmised.

"Has Shepard been sighted anywhere else?" Maius asked.

Toya shook her head, "We've had VI's scouring the footage of hundreds of cameras around the Citadel for anything. So far no luck. It's possible Shepard is long gone by now."

"Any other persons of interest around that advertisement?" Maius pressed again.

Gefrel crossed his arms, "Not that we could initially see. Shepard may have been communicating with someone using encrypted comms but we don't know for sure. Based on his body language I'd say he was in a conversation with someone the whole time."

Maius looked to the holographic screens of cycling camera footage while his Volus companion Gefren brought up his own Omni-Tool, "Well I suppose we should start getting at it. Do we have data on everyone around Shepard?"

Toya pointed to the other holographic screens across the room, "Been having a VI going through all that on the holoscreens back there if you want to look. So far the VI hasn't pinged anyone we know about with a record."

Maius kept an ear to the conversation but was still looking at the various camera footage from around the Citadel. Out of the corner of the screen he noticed a hooded figure walking along a street with a bag. It reminded him of Omega and the one human who had those shimmering green eyes. Could it be the same guy? No, clothes and build were clearly different. Before Maius moved onto another camera the hooded man turned to the camera like he was looking around and a faint green shimmer was spotted by the camera before the footage suddenly shifted to another cam elsewhere. This didn't go unnoticed by Maius who then quickly tried to tap the holographic keyboard and get the footage back. His efforts were picked up on by the others, "Uh is there a problem?" Toya asked.

Maius looked to the C-Sec IT worker while pointing at the screen, "What feed is this screen linked to?!"

"What feed?" the human woman asked confused.

The Spectre shook his head annoyed, "As in, what areas of responsibility are the cameras looking at?"

"Ah! Uh lemme see."

The human woman took a seat in front of the cycling camera footage and began typing in commands to bring up the camera history, "Let's see here. Uhm, what the hell?"

"What?"

"Looks like a camera in the cycle there got scrubbed somehow..."

"Do you know which one?"

"Let's check the cam schedule." inputting in more commands she brought up lists of names associated with cameras. A name in the list was marked in red and the female officer highlighted it, "Looks like camera 578 in Bachjret ward. Overlooking the Heljar district, west side."

Maius brought a talon up to his chin in thought, "What places of interest are in that area?"

Toya brought up a map on the screen of the area, "Well, other than residential apartments, several of which are undergoing renovation, not much."

Maius looked at the map and as he looked at it, he recognized a particular structure amidst the apartments, "Whats the registry on that structure?"

"Okay...huh. I do not have clearance to access that information?" Toya said looking confused at the terminal.

Maius nodded, "Thought so. Sorry, I do know that building but you wouldn't have clearance. Had to be sure it was what I thought it was."

Toya cocked an eyebrow towards the Spectre, "I'm guessing need to know basis and that I don't need to know?"

"Yes, but focus on getting that camera back. It may not be Shepard but there's definitely a person of interest there."

"Person of interest? Who?" Gefrel said walking up to the terminal beside Toya.

"A human in hooded clothes with a bag, I've seen guys like this one before, so I need to confirm it."

The female officer shrugged, "If you say so sir."

Gefren looked at his Turian compatriot and noted the look of worry on Maius' face, the Turian's mandibles twinging, "What is it?" the Volus asked.

The Spectre didn't take his eyes off the screen while the IT officers worked the footage, "A bad feeling, I'd seen that kind of shimmer before from the eyes of some people on Omega. They'd been watching me the whole time before we got ambushed. Now I'm seeing the same shimmer again on yet another hooded figure walking around the Citadel. That's not a coincidence."

Gefren brought a claw hand to his chin, "Someone may have been spying on me too during the meeting with my contact. Could they know we are here?"

Maius shook his head, "I dunno."

Toya spoke up, "Alright! I got the camera back up, looks like something disrupted it for a moment there but I was able to get the feed back."

The footage began to rewind as the officer replayed the stream. She reached where the error had taken place and found the hooded figure looking back to the camera. Then a green flicker from the eyes occurred. The screen went black after that.

"Looks like a fault occurred in the camera's software when an attempt at a biometric scan of that hooded man failed." Toya explained.

The Salarian officer looked the footage over to add his own two cents on it, "That shimmer, I've heard of ocular implants that could act as a means of data transmission. It could be something similar, though it certainly would be uncommon around here."

Maius furrowed his scaled brow looking at the screen, "Regardless we have enough to warrant at least an investigatation into the area. Gefren come with me for a second."

The Turian Spectre and his Volus companion moved to a corner of the room and when they were out of earshot they conversed quietly, "Alright, Gefren I'm going to use my authorization to give you access to what that building we were talking about is. This is need to know information, you understand."

"Of course friend."

Maius activated his Omni-tool and Gefren his in turn. The Volus XO began going through the information and could only comment, "Oh dear..."

"Now you understand why we have probable cause for this now. I don't want to spook whoever that suspect is down there yet. Inform the team to get ready to be deployed we're going to move into the area around the building and sweep it. If we find nothing I'll go inside myself and check with the security if they've seen anything unusual."

"Hoping to catch them in the act? Whatever it is they are doing?" Gefren asked.

"Yeah, that and I have a feeling we may get another lead on Shepard from these guys. They keep popping up where ever he's been."

The Volus nodded, "A reasonable assertion, I'll inform our comrades."

"Stay here at C-Sec, keep an eye on the cameras and if we need backup you'll be able to speak with my authority."

Gefren put his claw hands on his hip, "Just so you know, If you do need backup I won't just sit idly by. I still feel badly about not being able to assist in getting you out of that earlier situation at Omega. That and you could need all the guns and tech you can get if things get out of control."

Maius shrugged, "Very well, whoever these people are and whatever they are doing, they won't get away with it for long."

Simon Kerrick stacked up with a group of fellow colonists by the door to the processing building in the biting cold. Even with all the equipment fitted to deal with it, the wind still found a way to make them shiver. Once an Alliance marine sergeant over a decade ago his training hadn't left him and he knew what to do in this situation. Sadly he couldn't say the same for the other colonists beside him. All he could do was direct them and guide their movements as best he could. They were waiting for the 'warriors' that their new boss told them would support their assault on the building. Simon looked off into the wind swept alleys and saw coming through the gloom several outlines. He readied his weapon just in case but soon found it wasn't the enemy. A squad of four skeletal robots arrived, moving quickly to link up with them. Behind them was a larger variant with an even bigger gun. Simon got a notification on his Omni-tool and brought it out. It was a message from Xamutet, informing him that he was now to provide direction to the Necron squad putting him in a limited command role. Simon couldn't tell the skeletal soldiers what to do but he could guide them to where he wanted them via nav points from his Omni-tool.

The machines stood there waiting for instruction and Simon pulled up a map of the building as well as the surrounding area. There on the holographic interface on his arm he started laying out waypoints. He transmitted the instructions as the message stated and a brief intense glow from the eyes of the machines followed. They quickly moved into the assigned positions and the colonial squad followed behind.

Simon looked to the other colonists while they readied to breach a side door into the processing building, "Alright, these mechs are going to go in first and take the heat. We slip in behind them and find cover to help put fire down range." he ordered.

"What?! We're really going to fight along with these things?!" said the man directly behind him, his winter combat gear covering much of his appearance.

"Don't have a choice Bret, unless you want to go in first." Simon remarked.

"Better a bot than us." said the third man in the row of colonials.

Bret wasn't convinced, "Yeah but you saw what they did to Thom and Ferol, Mack! Gunned 'em down when they got too scared. What if we're just falling back and they think we're running?! They'll kill us too!"

Simon wasn't budging on his decision however, in his mind it was the right call,"Be that as it may Bret, it just means there is no falling back. Only moving forward and playing it smart. Besides, apparently I can guide their positioning. If we need to move in a manner that pisses them off I can just direct them to where they can't see us."

"Surprised the boss is even allowing you to do that." Mack remarked.

Simon shrugged, "Yeah well, maybe its because I'm trained and I showed I wasn't as afraid of him. Or maybe he just needs a guy like me to keep the rest of you in line, I dunno. All I know is these bugs are trying to take people and while right now things are pretty shitty, I prefer the shittiness I know to the shittiness I don't."

Simon looked at the machines, their glowing green energy weapons ready. He pulled up his Omni-tool and marked the next set of waypoints.

"Alright, you guys ready?" Simon asked, looking to his men.

Mack shook his head, "Hell no, but it's either I die going in or these robots kill me."

Bret sighed and looked to the frozen ground, "This shit is fucked but like I got a choice..."

"Just follow my lead and keep your heads down. Let's do what we gotta do." Simon said, trying to encourage them.

The other colonists nodded and Simon hit transmit on his Omni-tool. The skeletal mechs charged in and instantly were fired upon by enemies. Their hardened bodies took the rounds and they returned fire as they moved in behind various kinds of processing equipment. Simon rushed inside the building as well and the other colonists followed him.

The larger robot Simon left by the door, as he didn't want to give away everything the team had just yet to the enemy. The colonials kept their heads down and moved amidst various ore processesors and crates to avoid the enemy fire coming at them. As they rounded the corner of a conveyor belt on the far side of the building, a squad of those bug aliens rushed them. They opened fire on the colonists forcing Simon and Bret to duck down, but Bret took a round in the shoulder and cried out. Mack and another colonist were further behind them and out of the alien's line of sight. They took the initiative and from their cover opened fire on the insect bipeds with their rifles. The insect soldiers had two of their number lose their shields forcing them to find cover. Simon went prone under the conveyor and opened fire on one of the enemy soldiers who had lost their shields with his Avenger. The bug soldier, its legs riddled with rounds, fell onto the floor. It quickly had the rest of its body perforated by the former marine.

Bret just held his now bleeding shoulder and winced while sitting on the ground by the conveyor. The others kept ducking and weaving from cover to cover against their alien opponents. One of the aliens fired a beam weapon at Simon when he attempted to get up and find a better position. The shot beam burned his shields and before they failed Mack was able to put fire onto Simon's attacker. With the beam-wielding insectoid distracted, Simon got behind the main processor of the conveyor and let his shields recharge. Mack and his fellow colonist kept up the pressure on the remaining enemies but the insect soldier with the beam weapon fired and kept them suppressed. The other members of the alien squad attempted to rush Mack but Simon put fire on the enemy wielding the beam weapon and broke its shields with disciplined fire to its head.

Even wounded, Bret proned under the conveyor and used his pistol to put shots into the beam wielding insectoid's quadracept or what passed for one anyway. It caused the bug to stumble over, revealing it's chest to Bret who kept firing. Five shots to the chest later the bug alien collapsed backwards dead. Seeing this, Simon shifted fire to support Mack who now was getting caught in close quarters with the aliens. One attempted to strike Mack with its weapon but found the colonial duck under its strike and he attempted to grapple with it. The other kicked the other unknown colonist down and was about to finish him off on the ground when Simon unleashed a storm of fire into its back. This distracted the foe long enough for the unnamed man to pull out a shotgun from his back and blow off the insectoid's head.

Mack was still grappling with his adversary while everyone else was finishing their opponents. The colonial was hit by the alien's knee to his gut, forcing him to back away. Before the alien could finish him, Simon had reloaded his Avenger and opened fire on the insect killer. The enemy's shield broke and it had its head riddled with rounds before it could do any more harm.

Simon, then rushed over to Bret still holding his shoulder while propping himself up by the conveyor belt, "I got medi-gel man, just gimme a sec."

Bret grit his teeth as Simon applied the gel to him, "Agh! Fuck!...whatever those things are packing they hurt like a bitch."

Mack and the other colonist didn't remain idle. From their positions they looked to the Necron machines who were racking up more and more kills on the enemy insects. The colonials noted that the aliens were moving people and some kind of pods out of the back of the building via the cargo doors where freight brought in fresh materials. From there more squads of insects arrived and attempted to aid their fellows, taking up more positions among the ore processors.

"Hey! We better move up, they're trying to take off with our people and whatever else they can snag!" Mack called out.

"Shit, we'll come back for you Bret." Simon said assuredly.

"Nah, its fine I'll power through it..." Bret said as he forced himself back to his feet.

The squad of colonials began to move up on the far side of the processing plant. While moving among their dead enemies, Simon noticed the beam weapon the bug had used before and took it. He eyed it for a moment, wondering if he could even use it. He aimed it at an ore processor and fired it for a second. The brilliant beam connected and scarred the mining device informing Simon that indeed he could use it. The former marine took it with him though Bret and Mack also noticed the test firing.

"So you can use that?" Mack asked.

Simon nodded, "Looks like it. Come on, we can move up and flank while the bugs engage the bots. Let's go!"

The colonial team nodded and moved up through the mineral processors on the far side. Simon continued updating waypoints for the Necron mech squad to advance to. The big mech from earlier also entered the facility but Simon kept him back just in case. Another squad of insect bipeds attempted to put fire towards the colonists, forcing them into cover. However, the bugs were taken down by the Necron's precise fire via their green energy weapons. It was still disturbing to the colonials to watch the bugs have their body parts rent into ash and eyeballs burst from their skulls. But Simon motioned them to keep moving and the combined team of colonials and skeletal robots continued to advance.

When they finally reached the receiving and export end of the processing facility many of the bugs had already been killed by the precision of their mechanical allies. However, the aliens had already escaped with most of the processing staff and whatever else they could take. Simon grimaced at the scene of dead bugs and some dead humans who had gotten caught in the crossfire.

"Well what do we do now?" Bret asked.

Just then the cargo doors began opening and more insect soldiers entered forcing the colonial team to take cover. The skeletal mechs opened fire and took out a good portion of the alien attackers. Suddenly a larger quadraped machine, similar to the bugs in appearance but bigger, flew inside and opened fire on one of the robots. The beams from the monster's eyes were actually carving into the mech's shoulder and sparks were shooting out.

Seeing the Necrons actually taking damage from the bigger alien threat, Simon set waypoints for the machines to pull back to cover. The Necrons poured fire into the larger alien machine and a bulbous sack under it glowed, followed by a shriek that caused the humans to cover their ears in pain. Simon snapped out of it quickly and found enemies coming up from behind the bigger monstrocity. He used the beam weapon from earlier and carved into a bug's head as its shield quickly failed. With the enemy caught in the open, the others were able to gun down the other insect soldiers relatively quickly with rifles and pistols .

Meanwhile the larger bug machine continued to attack the mechs and advance. It was now wrapped in an energy field and the weapons the robots had no longer seemed to effect it. That was when Simon finally decided to bring in the larger robot. He put it in a position behind its fellows and it automatically began firing on the insect construct as it moved in. It seemed the giant bug was pooling all its energy into that shield to protect itself since it was now no longer firing its main weapons or flying. Simon and the others decided to add to its suffering via the beam weapon along with their Mass Effect guns. Fired on from so many angles, the creature actually began to retreat back to the cargo doors. Before it could reach them, it's shield finally failed and a blast from the larger skeletal robot's weapon created a massive hole that pierced the giant bug's frame down the middle. The insect monster collapsed and its body was quickly wreathed in a white field that seemed to burn it to blackened ash.

With the processing facility secured for now, Simon sent a text to Xamutet. From the sounds outside, the battle must be escalating. Meaning that there would be more fighting up ahead.

Bret and Mack walked up to him, while the fourth man kept to himself, "Jesus Christ, the fuck was that thing?" Bret asked.

Simon shook his head, "I dunno, but if it wasn't for those mechs we would have been dead."

"Yeah but the bugs already got what they came for..." Mack said sadly.

Bret covered where his mouth was with his hand as he realized the implications, "Shit...oh man...the boss ain't going to be happy about that."

Simon sighed, "Yeah well...he's just going to have to deal with it."

"And blame us more likely..." Mack said.

Simon wouldn't put it past Xamutet to stoop to that. He'd seen scummy officers do that back in the corps just to save face for their bad decisions. But at this point it didn't matter, Simon knew more fighting was coming and he needed to get out there if he was going to at least save lives. Xamutet could kill him afterwards for it if he wanted to.

The Necron Lord had received Simon's report from processing. While the building was now secure, it seems the enemy had achieved their objective and fled. Xamutet audibly announced his frustration as he crushed the neck area of one Collector soldier before tossing it into it's fellows. The body smacked against several other Collectors who were coming in guns blazing from above, knocking them out of the sky. Xamutet rushed their downed forms and bisected them with his phase sword before moving out with a renewed squad of his loyal Necron warriors.

They proceeded through the city streets, finding colonists caught in battle with Collectors in the residential buildings ahead of them. Xamutet ordered his warriors to spread out and put fire on any enemies exposing themselves while he took the fight to the Collector soldiers within the buildings.

The insectoid soldiers opened fire on them as they approached the area but Xamutet cared little. His necrodermis armor withstood the barrage of enemies firing on him while he charged into the building closest to him. There he found Collectors using cover and the Necron lord merely waded into the Collectors with his phase sword, carving through their ranks with ease. The process repeated itself throughout the residential structures as the dark mechanical lord cleared out floor by floor creating a mess of insect body parts and severed heads. Any Collector attempting to flee the building found themselves opened up on by Gauss Flayer fire.

When Xamutet finished his purging of the Collector's last strong point, he stepped out onto the rooftop of the building covered in the blood and gore of his foes. He accessed his Scarabs again for an update on the battle and took in the information. The Collector forces were in every area of the colony now. Colonial fighters were either tied down in combat needing assistance or were being taken by the enemy. Even worse they had only killed forty-five percent of the enemy force and more were coming from the Collector's cruiser. Scarabs reported Collectors also scavenging components all over the colony, no doubt seeking to acquire as much technology as they could.

Xamutet was angered at the outcome but knew it was inevitable, the sheer numbers of the enemy could not be denied and while his forces were potent they could only kill so many before they were just bypassed. Even if in the end they forced the Collectors to withdraw Xamutet knew that the enemy will have achieved everything they wanted to out of this raid. No doubt Veronakh would lambast him again for this. But at the very least he could take his anger out on these creatures and make them pay a bloody tally for this affront.

A surge of energy was detected nearby and Xamutet looked for it's source. Suddenly a ball of fiery energy came through the cold gloom and headed straight for him. The Necron lord brought out his Dispersion Shield and braced. The impact of the energy slammed into the shield and forced him back only a mere three feet but then he was attacked from multiple angles due to Collectors flying through the mist.

The flying insect bipeds were quickly shot down by Gauss Flayers from below in response. A Scarab relayed to Xamutet that another wave of Collectors and their larger escorts were en route to the Gravatar's position, their intent obviously meant to crush him and his forces at this location.

A deep loud voice called to the Necron Lord from the storm, "Kill one and one hundred will replace it. Your defeat is inevitable."

"Who dares?!" yelled out Xamutet as he brought his shield down.

Another Collector appeared on his thermals flying through the blizzard to his position, its energy output and heat so high it shone like a sun on the thermals. The creature's body was crackling all over and it looked like it could barely contain whatever source of power was inhabiting it. It landed across from Xamutet on the rooftop, biotic power pooling into its clawed hands. It was soon flanked by more of its kind as it approached the Necron Lord, "Your position...is hopeless. Our victory is assured...usurper."

"Usurper?" Xamutet asked confused.

"Yes, your kind has dared to interfere with a galactic process that has succeeded for countless millennia. Your usurpation of the cycle ends now..."

The Gravatar was not impressed, "You will find we are not so easily dissuaded, insect. My Phaeron's will cannot be denied. Even if I am defeated here, I will simply rise again. Our armies will soon crush you should you choose to defy us."

"Empty bravado from a deluded mind. Tainted with arrogance born from organic weakness. Though your bodies are ascended, it is clear the process has not freed your minds from such infantile perceptions."

"You know nothing of our ascension fool. Nor could you understand us. The Necrontyr shall rule over all, as we did before!"

"No one species can rule forever. This is the law of the cycle. Your secrets will soon be made known to us. Then you too will play your part in the cycle."

"Do you have any idea to whom you are speaking to?"

"A machine biped, tainted with organic essence. It's perfection marred by delusions. All other markers of identification are irrelevant."

"I...am Xamutet, the Dark Blade of Solvatakh. The Black Death of Veradati. I do not bend the knee to any cycle nor any other muling thing using a fleshling as a puppet! Once I find where you are, know that I will soon add you to my array of trophies..."

"We are Harbinger. Your flawed existence ends now usurper." More power began to fill the insectoid's hands and it's fellow Collectors aimed weapons at the Necron Lord.

Xamutet entered into a fighting stance sword at the ready with his shield held out wrapped in energy, "Come then, let us see which of us is truly marred by fallacies."