Mass Dragon Effect I: Shadows of the Past
Chapter 1: The Nominated SPECTRE
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age or Mass Effect, as they both belong to Bioware, and they have the copyrights for them. In addition, on writing style, please look in Author Notes B for details.
Beta Reader: Albert
Last Update: 12/23/2020
Location: Undisclosed
Human Date: February 1, 2183
In a dimly lit room, a holographic conference call that spanned thousands of light-years between the various participants took place. The two initiating the call were Ambassador Donnel Udina and Ambassador Nakmor Utag. A human and a krogan that served as the primary ambassadors for their organization, the Union of Federations (UF). The human ambassador was similar to other humans, a bipedal mammal with hair visible only on top of his head and above his eyes. The only difference compared to other tanned skin humans was that he was an old, thin man, with a small chin and a wrinkled box-like face. His countenance created the perfect poker face as it hid his calculating demeanor behind his brownish-grey eyes.
The krogan ambassador was similar to other krogans. A massive, warm-blooded brown skin reptile with a short, stubby tail, legs, and three-digit hands. Along with a natural colorful shell armor on his back and a distinct hump that stored enough nutrients to last for weeks without food. However, the krogan ambassador stood out from other krogans by wearing clothing instead of body armor over his natural shell. Which continually grows along their back, with smaller plates on their chest, thighs, and arms. He also had a unique red, three-point smooth armored shell with spots along the shell edge. A proud man whose green predator (vertically slit pupil) eyes did not flinch as his superiors stared him and his fellow ambassador down.
To be more precise, his immediate elected superior, President Shala'Raan, of the recently centralized federal government they all worked for. A woman who was not human or a krogan, but a purple skin species that looked remarkably similar to humans, a quarian. Quarians have a similar gender-based body structure and hair, which the female President kept short. Overall, very much like humans except for some distinct physical aspects. Such as her three-digit fingers and toes. Thin limbs that could bend in ways humans could not bend, even taking into account the legs bowed backward beyond what humans could accomplish. Moreover, her eyes had no visible irises within the pale silver pupil with two slanted creases above her eyebrows.
She also wore a traditional skin-tight environmental suit that most quarians wear off-world, wrapped in a purple cloth that looked dignified. Dignified, but apparently agitation had shown on her thin aging face as she demanded answers politely. "Ambassador Nakmor Utag, Ambassador Donnel Udina, what does the Citadel Council want with our government now? We already agreed to share and retrieve the Pro-classified device we found on the colony world Eden Prime in the Exodus Cluster. What more do they want?"
The krogan, Ambassador Nakmor Utag, stood tall as he related the Council's request. "President Shala'Raan. The Citadel Council has requested that we consider one of our own in the First Battalion for the Citadel Council's elite black ops: The Special Tactics and Reconnaissance branch. Also known as SPECTREs. They also request we allow one of their current SPECTREs to be granted Federation citizenship. And be allowed to partner up with the Federation SPECTRE candidate to run joint operations with their First Battalion division team. Allowing both agents to act as a representative for both the Council and Federation. And be allowed to operate in both Council and Federation Space."
The announcement sent a series of grumbling conservations to pass among the listeners, as a tall, dark-skinned human looked on thoughtful. In his black and white uniform, with the insignia of Rear Admiral (three gold stripes with two silver stripes) on his shoulder pads and sleeves. "I can figure where this is going," the man had commented. "The Council wants us to consider one of our soldiers within the First Battalion for a position in the SPECTREs. And you need my experience to help pick a candidate and team that will work well with the SPECTREs that will be partnering up with one of our own. It would be the only reason you contacted me during an opt we are handling in the Exodus Cluster."
"Yes… the Council wants to extend their influence into the Union of Federations by taking one of our elite soldiers to order around. While dictating what they want through an operative assigned to 'work' with the First Battalion," Ambassador Udina scolded as he voiced his own angry thoughts.
"Or just to improve relationships between two great powers. And counter the growing number of galactic criminals and terrorists that commit crimes on one side before running to where the side after them has no jurisdiction. Just a thought," Ambassador Utag joked to his fellow ambassador, who frowned in response.
"And while we're on the subject of the First Battalion. Mind telling me what operation Rear Admiral David Anderson was conducting in one of the most densely populated clusters in Federation Space. One that holds some of my people's oldest colonies?" Udina asked with a growl.
Anderson stared at his superiors, Grand Admiral Steven Hackett, the commander of the Federation Navy, to silently ask if he should speak up. A man who was more than fit to wear the rank of Grand Admiral (five gold stripes and four silver stripes) on his uniform. With his cleaned uniform, short white hair, cleanly cut beard, and firm body. He gave off the impression of being a disciplined and dignified war veteran. Even his elected superior, President Shala'Raan, felt the power that seemed to radiate from his small, steely blue eyes as he spoke in a firm, scratchy voice. After he got silent permission from the President, as he respected the chain of command, as short as it was.
"At three hundred hours, Galactic Standard Time, we received a distress call from Asteroid X-57. An asteroid that we planned to put in orbit around Terra Nova to mine and eventually turn it into a space station to defend the planet. Batarian extremists had somehow captured three of our freighters to bypass the FRC (Federation Recon Core) patrols along our borders to take over the asteroid. With plans to crash the asteroid into Terra Nova. I just found out about it a couple of hours ago."
"Is Terra Nova in danger Grand Admiral Hackett? And should I prepare for the appropriate response?" Udina asked with a scowl at being kept in the dark.
"It never was in danger," Hackett responded to the angry ambassador. "Our defense forces stationed at Terra Nova and the planetary defense grid alone would have been enough to destroy the asteroid if it was a threat."
"Needless to say, it was a plan that was never going to work. We don't even need to destroy the asteroid as my teams on the surface have already taken control of the three Fusion Troches propelling it. They had then changed the asteroid's course. Preventing the asteroid from crashing into Terra Nova. It is why I am here now informing you of the threat instead of letting my communication expert handle this call," David Anderson explained to the ambassador. "If we're lucky, we can snag a number of them for the FID (Federation Intelligence Division) to interrogate."
"Especially as the region's commander is sending his forces around the cluster to capture any that attempt to escape. We should have a large number of batarians to hand over to Chief Operative Legion's Shadow," Hackett explained to the same comrade that was not organic.
Legion's Shadow was a geth, a black robot that resembled their creators, the quarians. Resemble but still different for they were made of metal, and they had a single glowing blue optic that took up most of its head, similar to most geth units. It had a large antenna/mainframe-shaped structure coming off the right side of its back, also seen on most geth units. A design shared with this particular model, the legion model for its main design differences were mostly internal. As it was designed to not share processing power to gain sentience and intelligence, unlike most geth models. Instead, it was designed to work and think independently as it spoke in a mechanical voice with clicks.
"This Unit thanks you, Hackett-Grand-Admiral. The Federation needs to discover how those units found out that asteroid designated X-57 was being moved to Terra Nova from its location in the Exodus's Asgard System," the machine commented. Its eye twisted and its frame flexed in a manner that stimulates annoyance as it continued. "While the data was not classified, it was not broadcast on civilian channels. Therefore, either this collective of batarian units found a way to listen in to our communications, or another collective with access told the batarian units."
A worrying assessment that made the taller than average krogan, over 2 meters in height, snort as he stared with his amused red eyes. He was a strong character that had scars along the right side of his face and along with his thick, red, and purplish-black head plate shell with two sets of seven points. Evidence that he had lived longer than his average krogan. Most krogans do not live past fifty because of their violent nature, the tendency to live on dangerous planets and perform deadly biologically driven puberty rituals. However, the few that do, like the Supreme Commander of the Krogan Alliance, often live to over a thousand years-making him a very old and powerful krogan.
"Well, besides hearing about conspiracies and how much the batarian bastards have failed. Why don't we get back to the fact that the high and mighty Council wants one of their members on the First Battalion." The other krogan had pointed out before he asked what was on everyone's mind, "Who are the brains behind this suggestion?"
Udina scolded as he stated, "Several SPECTREs led by a turian who would evaluate the candidate and become co-SPECTREs on the joint First Battalion team, Nihlus Kryik."
"A turian?" Wrex asked with a raised eyebrow. "That's a surprise considering the turians are not exactly the best of friends for any of us, especially my people. After all, they did release the Salarian's genophage that was slowly killing us off by lowering our fertility rate to one in a thousand. If not for the Human System Alliance developing the genofertilization accidentally, we would still be dying off. Combined with the fact the more militant birds are not too happy that we are not part of their little exclusive club only exacerbates the situation."
"Are you saying that the turians are just making the offer to screw with us and make us look bad?" asked Ambassador Nakmor.
Wrex laughed, "Depends on the turian."
"I know Nihlus; he's an honorable turian who does not seem to think the Federation being politically independent is a bad thing. In fact, he seems to think the friendly rivalry does more good than harm. As the Turians, for the first time in two centuries, have begun to expand their military strength along with the Council without having to send them to war. Which in turn means more ships to enforce the law and bring the law to lawless zones in the galaxy," Anderson explained. "He also thinks our species will eventually rejoin the Council, with the other three species tagging along. Leading to the everlasting peace that the Turians, Salarians, and Asari promised."
"That is probably why he is sponsoring one of our own be a SPECTRE and become a joint agent with the First Battalion. He is hoping to work his way into our military leadership to sway us back into the Citadel Council's control," Shala'Raan stated with a nod.
"Enough of this talk about who is asking this favor!" Udina flared with his legendary temper. "The Council wants our answer by the end of the day, and if we agree to meet up with Nihlus for a joint operation to retrieve… the object on Eden Prime," Udina added with disdain. He did not like the fact the Federation was sharing custody of a valuable piece of technology with the Council.
The others began to mutter what they thought until Hackett spoke up, "I believe we should consider the offer. As Ambassador Nakmor says, it does solve the problem of criminals using our independence to run to areas of space we can't chase due to lack of jurisdiction. And it would improve our somewhat strained relationship with the Council as we have agents that can influence the Council. This is vital as we could be overwhelmed by the Council if they declare war on us, despite the buildup of our military and political power."
"This unit predicts a ten percent chance of complete victory for the Union of Federations. A ten percent chance for a complete victory for the Citadel Council. A twenty percent chance the Union of Federations gains territory. A twenty-five percent chance of no territorial exchange between either collective. And a thirty-five percent chance the Union of Federations loses territory. Assuming no additional disasters happen to both collectives, and the Citadel Council follows traditional tactics," Legion's Shadow explained. "This scenario also runs under the assumption that the Terminus Systems various warlord units remain neutral and do not attack either the Citadel Council or the units' closest neighbor, the Union of Federations."
"Well, with that cheery thought aside, I, President Shala'Raan, have come to a decision. I agree with the Council's terms for a better alliance between our two governments." Shala'Raan sighed with a possible headache this would cause. "I'll inform the Senate of the decision while I leave you all to pick our candidate. Good luck, Shala'Raan out."
Shala'Raan's image disappeared while the rest remained online as they looked over the list of candidates. There were dozens of picks, with at least two from each of the four founding races, which was unusual since the Council was highly xenophobic when it comes to AIs. They also included every possible type of candidate. From elite soldiers trained in every field, including medical and explosives, to techno soldiers trained in hacking and using specialized electronic warfare. Which, in this case, is the more literal kind of electronic warfare as they can use specialized equipment to set targets on fire with plasma, electrocute targets, or freeze targets, to name a few abilities.
It also includes rare individuals born with powers due to exposure as fetuses or young children to elemental zero for biotics and dilithium crystals for mages. Biotics can manipulate dark energy to perform powers similar to telekinesis and matter manipulation. Mages can use particle energy with their mind, with psychic knight mages able to control primal/elemental and spiritual/pure particle energy. While magicians are mages who work with interdimensional beings for a power boost in battle and can manipulate creation (example: plants, healing, and blessings) and entropy (example: toxins, debilitation, and hexes) energy.
Eventually, Ambassador Nakmor pulled out one of the more favorable candidates, "What about Commander Jane Shepard? She's a human spacer mage, subclass psychic knight. She has lived aboard starships most of her life."
"Military service is in her family. Both her parents were in the Navy, and her mother still is with her brother," Anderson pointed out.
"And she knows how rough the galaxy can be when her old man was killed on Mindoir during a cowardly attack by Batarian backed slavers," Wrex snarled.
"She proved herself during the Skyllian Blitz. Able to rally the populations and hold off enemy forces until reinforcements arrived on the ground," Hackett stated with a smile.
Anderson nodded as he added, "She was one of two reasons that Elysium is still standing."
"She also killed a thresher maw on Akuze when it ambushed her unit," Ambassador Nakmor added.
Wrex laughed as he added, "Which is impressive as she killed that thing on foot. I can tell you from experience that it is a tough thing to pull off. Most get eaten or disintegrate by its acidic spit."
"Yet losing most of a Shepard-Commander's subordinates could have had severe physiological effects on the organic unit," Legion's Shadow pointed out.
"Jane Shepard is a survivor. And from what I've seen, the attack only made her stronger and care more for the lives that are under her protection and command. She has the strong moral compass of a paragon. Making her one of our more diplomatic officers, which is needed in such a position like this," Anderson quickly added to defend one of his officers.
"I'm sure she is a good choice, but she is not the only Shepard to consider," Udina pointed out. "One Captain John Shepard, a sentinel biotic and your current XO, is another consideration. He was the brains behind Elysium's defense, and he led the victory on Torfan by destroying most of the Batarian Hegemony backed pirates and slavers on the planet."
"He is a brilliant strategist, and he would be willing to work with the Council when called upon as his duty. But he's also a ruthless renegade that favors brutal efficiency over diplomacy. And he is also is less likely to follow orders or even listen to the Council than his sister. The Council will not pick an agent with questionable morality that is not fully loyal to them. Jane would be willing to listen to Counselors, and her morals will make her a more acceptable candidate. As they could give her missions that they would be sure she would get the job done. Like hunting down criminals and terrorists that they would send her on in joint operations," Anderson pointed out before he smiled.
"Though John would make an excellent executive officer and liaison for Jane. As he can make the tough choices that the Council may not like and be an uncompromised agent for the Federation. And it is time for him to have his own command after Eliza and I transfer over to USS Waterloo. The USS Normandy would make a great ship for this joint task force," Anderson pitch to the others.
Udina looked unsure before adding, "I can't question your logic or Jane's courage."
"The Union of Federations needs a hero, and Commander Jane Shepard supported by Captain John Shepard is the best we got," Anderson said with conviction.
Udina sighed while he looked at his fellow ambassador, "We'll make the calls."
Hackett nodded as he typed in the coordinates, "Anderson, I want you to meet with the SPECTRE at these coordinates in a nearby cluster outside restricted Federation Space. You can get there without hitting a Mass Relay, and due to the secrecy of the mission, I request you do so."
"Understood, Admiral. We'll take care of it," the Ambassadors and Anderson nodded in agreement.
"Well, I'll get everything ready on Eden Prime," Wrex smiled in amusement. "The sooner we get the artifact off-world, the sooner we can have the Unification Celebrations. Supreme Commander Urdnot, Wrex out."
The others followed suit, ending the wireless call made over comm buoys. Leaving Anderson alone in a private communication room before he walked out into the war room. In the room stood a qunari, a species that resembled a physically ample human with long brown hair. Though she had subtle differences, such as the curly horns on their heads and being taller than the average human female. Along with ashen colored skin that seemed to have an ivory glow. This specific qunari in standard navy uniform had the rank Operation Chief. Evident by the three V shape silver stripes on her uniform's wrist as she typed away, as she was focused on her job. Her purple eyes and pointed ears filtered out white noise as she monitored the situation on the asteroid the Normandy followed. Her concentration was only broken after her superior officer approached her.
"Operations Chief Sarah Sinclair, when the mission is done on Asteroid X-57, I want you to call Jane and John back on the Normandy. Tell them we have another priority assignment waiting for them," Anderson stated.
"Yes, sir," Sinclair immediately saluted before she went back to work as two holograms appeared in front of Anderson.
Both holograms resembled beautiful woman that looked real, yet at the same time synthetic. The one staring at him was a purple woman with short hair and glowing reddish/purple eyes. She also wore a 'skimpy' version of the military uniform, shorts, and a vest, with the Lieutenant 2nd Class rank insignia on its shoulder pads, a silver line with a dashed stripe.
She smiled as she asked, "Hay-ya, Admiral. What do you need us lonely ladies to do?"
Anderson smiled as he typed in the coordinates before he looked at the AI, "Cortona, I need to give these coordinates to Joker and tell him to set a course. I want us to head there once our people return home."
"Aye, aye, boss man!" Cortona smiled before she bleeped out into another section of the ship.
Leaving behind a fellow hologram dressed in a strict military uniform and a military-type bun exasperated in annoyance. "All these years of observing and teaching that AI, and I still have no idea where she gets her disrespect from."
Anderson chuckled as he moved to a console when the blue-eyed green hologram started some private small talk, "I've heard the conversation you had with the Council."
"I figured as much," Anderson chuckled with a small smile. "You were never very good at keeping your holographic nose out of private meetings, Eliza."
"Oh, please, you wanted me to listen. Otherwise, you would have activated the internal firewalls that could keep even the Salarian's STG (Special Tasks Group) out. You know, the best spies in the galaxy," Lieutenant 1st Class (two silver stripes) Eliza shrugged before she got serious. "I assume we will move to the USS Waterloo sooner than expected. You think John and Jane Shepard are ready?"
Anderson nodded as he spoke in a deep voice what he thought, "Yes, I think it's time to move on. John is ready to take command of his own ship. Jane is beginning to trust herself as a leader on the field. And both of them had learned everything they can from me. It's time for the next generation to take over."
"Damn, you make it sound like we are old, and I'm an AI that can live up to two centuries before I die due to software degeneration," Eliza mussed. "Though I see your point, and I'm sure Cortona feels the same way."
"That she does," Anderson smiled as he looked at the hologram. "Okay, now get me the ground teams' status reports. I want to know how much I missed while on the conference call."
"At once, Admiral," Eliza nodded before pulling up reports faster than any human could possibly match. Anderson was quickly brought up to speed while he watched video feeds of the ground team's progress.
Location: Exodus Cluster/Asgard System/Asteroid X-57 over Terra Nova/Outside Main Facility
Human Date: February 1, 2183
On the asteroid's airless surface, a large aeronautically slick six-wheeled black and white vehicle moved across its rocky field. The highly maneuverable, V-shaped vehicle avoided various rubles and explosions as it moved closer to its targets. Its thick armor was not even dented by a missile as its blue kinetic barrier shields flashed. The last hit its opponent would get as its giant main cannon moved to open fire on the enemy's defense turrets. The terrorist's small automated turrets and mines did not last long under the vehicle's secondary machine guns. As the main cannon occasionally fired shells that exploded on impact, taking out its group targets and anything nearby.
The last mine was destroyed when the tank drove over it. Its explosion caused a minor hiccup to the occupants. The driver, a tall female human, laughed in excitement as she straightened the vehicle's course. She held on tightly with as much strength as her athletic body in black, airtight armor could muster as her head barred down on the red N7 logo along the armor's collar. Her open white robes flapped over her armor with painted green patches and stripes over her small chest and right arm.
The driver, Commander Jane Shepard, laughed as she turned her head so she could tease her gunner, "Looks like you missed one, Kaidan. Good thing we were in the Mako instead of the Hammerhead. Otherwise, they would be picking us up in pieces."
The gunner, a short human in black, dull airtight armor, held onto his gun joystick snorted out a response, "I'll be faster on the trigger next time, Commander."
"Good, and call me Jane or just Shepard… Lieutenant-Alenko. Commander makes me feel old," Commander Shepard had ordered the older man in black armor that had no color except blue stripe along the right arm. Signifying, he was a biotic rather than a mage like Jane.
She could hear his smirk as he answered, "You got it, Commander."
Jane grumbled as she slowed the tank down in front of the fortress, taking note of the larger, more powerful guns and defense systems. "Legion-VII, are the Federation's bases defenses still deactivated."
"Affirmative, Shepard-Commander," answered a blue and silver with a white eye and a yellow technician stripe across its right arm. The geth spoke in clicks that were synthetic as it typed away at a computer, "The batarian units have not been able to crack the Federation's encryptions."
"Good. I don't want to test the M-35B's legendary toughness against an actual defense network. With powerful explosive missiles," grunted a broad yet very strong krogan to his fellow comrades. The krogan in black and reddish-orange armor with a red soldier class stripe across his arm braced himself. As he stared at the screen with his intimidating, "scared" helmet with a white krogan handprint over the facemask.
"I thought you loved explosions, Trex," Kaidan joked to the 2nd Class Lieutenant from the gunner's seat.
"I like explosions when our enemies are the ones exploding," Trex grunted behind his helmet. "I can tell you from personal experience that it's not fun to be the one exploding. It's actually excruciating."
"Well, gentlemen, it looks like no one is going to explode today. We're here," Jane Shepard stated as she drove up to the entrance, before addressing the other 2nd Class Lieutenant. "Legion-VII, would you be so kind as to unlock the door?"
"This unit has been trying to Shepard-Commander," Legion-VII stated as his console lit up to hack the system. He succeeded, but the door refused to open. "The batarian units have obstructed the doors from opening."
"In other words, they've jammed them," Jane Shepard sighed as she turned the M-35B Mako to its side. "Trex, would you mind opening the doors the old fashion way."
Trex laughed as he took over the secondary firing control from the side of the Mako. At each side were plasma laser cannons shaped like orbs used primarily for anti-infantry or drive-by combat. The orbs began to glow before they unleashed a reddish-blue Federation colored plasma beam that cuts through the gates like butter and left a half oval shape cut on the gates. It took a split second after the cut for the vacuum of space to force the metal to bend open like a door as a turret of air escaped, allowing the marines from within the Mako to enter.
"Alright, everyone out," Jane stated as she got up before she grabbed one of her three folded weapons on her back and hip.
The weapon she picked up was her M-15 Vindicator assault rifle. A fast-paced assault rifle with standard attachments that enhanced the weapons' main features such as damage, accuracy, ammunition, and melee damage. The latter being an electrical stun baton seen on pistols or a bayonet seen on rifles like hers. Jane was the last to step out, locking the Mako down as her four-man squad headed into the facility.
Location: Exodus Cluster/Asgard System/Asteroid X-57 over Terra Nova/Main Facility
Human Date: February 1, 2183
Deep within the facility, the batarians barricaded themselves in an extensive arboretum. It was an enormous four-level domed room with cheery trees on every level. Each level had extensive scientific equipment and living quarters now patrolled by batarians. A four-eyed humanoid alien with an arachnid-boney-like face without fangs but a mouth filled with teeth. Teeth the two guards flashed sadistically on their patrols. Carrying military-grade versions of standard weapons like the M-7 Lancers assault rifles and M-23 Katana shotguns used to keep the hostages under control. Hostages include a dozen humans, two injured krogans, and a single quarian locked behind a transparent room by two guards that liked to pester their charges in an effort to intimidate them.
"So, you hear the rumors that an elite First Battalion team is on this rock, killing everyone out there?" one batarian asked in a deep-pitched batarian voice.
"That is just rumors started by the human upstarts we have imprisoned. To give hope to their pet brutes, suit rats, and pathetic Ai's," the batarian snarled as he looked with distaste at the hostages. Including a defiant, female human with short brown hair. "Just because they have introduced their fancy new technology to the galaxy, they think they can rule us all by surrounding themselves with the outcasts of the galaxy."
"The only outcasts here are you enslaving batarians," the woman with defiant blue eyes snarled to the batarian. "And when your people die, no one will cry, but celebrate that the biggest blight, outside of the darkspawn, are gone."
"Shut up, you bitch," the guard with the shotgun growled as he moved towards the door. "Maybe I should teach you to respect your superiors."
The batarian was about to force open the door when he was stopped by his fellow comrade, "I wouldn't do that if I were you. Balak wants to deal with this woman personally."
The batarian growled as he stepped back. He noticed the grin on the woman as he snarled, "Don't count yourself, lucky woman. Once Balak gets a hold of you, I will take great pleasure in hearing your antagonizing scream as he…"
The batarian never finished as his armored kinetic barrier broke along with his entire head after the distinct sound of a magnetic field weapon fired. The batarian's warm, red blood and brain matter splattered across the transparent wall as his headless body slumped to the ground. Causing the civilians and the batarian alike to panic. The batarian turned around to see a blue and silver geth with its long Javelin sniper rifle. He watched in slow motion as the geth unload one of its used thermal clips from the geth-style, heavy sniper rifle. The replaceable heat sink used to keep weapons from overheating bounced on the ground as it took aim at the other batarian. Using a thermal scope to focus on the target with great accuracy even with the greater weight brought about by a heavy barrel attached to the weapon's barrel for increase damage of an already deadly rifle.
Though the specifics did not matter to the batarian that only had time to scream, "Geth Sniper!" before he was blown away like his comrade.
The alarm was sounded as the batarians ran for cover while Legion-VII methodically killed its third target with its sniper rifle. It was about to move onto another target when a batarian engineer appeared to the legion's side with a glowing engineer drone/orb, intent on killing the geth. The geth to flick on its holographic forearmed mounted computer and micro fabricator called an omni-tool to use the sabotage hack program. Cause the batarian weapon and drone to overheat and explode. Taking a large chunk out of the batarian's shields as the geth put up its Javelin sniper rifle for a Geth Pulse Assault Rifle programmed to fire cryo coated rounds.
The assault rifle fired a large number of its frozen needle-sized bullets into the batarian to overwhelm what was left of its shields and armor before he fell to the ground dead. Leaving the batarian nothing but hope that he would be avenged as batarian reinforcements flooded in to take the geth. Their numbers forced Legion-VII to take cover on the ledge it was sitting on. The batarians, determined to kill the geth, failed to notice the inferno-grenades thrown in their direction. The grenades went off in a flaming inferno of phosphorus and polonium gas that killed four of the batarians. The sudden death and explosion created confusion among the rest, allowing Legion-VII to activate its cloak and escape from the batarian's view.
As Legion-VII ran to safety, Trex continued to create confusion with an M-37 Falcon cannon. It was a rifle with a stability damper instead of a scope to steady his aim. He continued to fire off specialized, microfilament explosive rounds that detonated on contact with each batarian or any solid object near them. This forced the survivors to stumble for cover while the remaining batarians died from the explosions Trex unleashed. The krogan continued to fire until he noticed movement coming up from behind him. Trex quickly puts up his M-37 Falcon before he pulled out his revolving assault shotgun, the N7 Piranha, with an omni-blade to stab the charging batarian vanguard in the stomach.
The blue, biotic field of a biotic charge dissipated, along with his shields, as Trex dug his large glowing blade into his stomach. Before he pulled it out and discharged his shotgun three times onto a second batarian behind the vanguard. The tightly knit spread of shells destroyed the batarian's shields in the first two shots before shredding the armor by the third shot. Trex smiled behind his enclosed helmet as he continued killing batarians as Kaidan join the battle. His body armor swirled with biotic energy as he charged into battle like a biotic soldier.
Kaidan's prominent chin and lips had a serious look as he took aim with his Y shape, heavy N7 Valkyrie assault rifle. His brown eyes behind his helmet visor were filled with fire as he opened up on the batarians. The gun acted like a mini machine-gun as he took out four batarians before he burned out his entire thermal clip. Forcing Kaidan to plop out a thermal clip as he continued to fight, though at a slower pace. Firing in bursts to keep the thermal clip from overheating while his armor absorbed every shot thrown his way. He continued gunning targets down until a heavily armed batarian appeared, rushing towards the smaller human.
Kaidan responded, but not with the massive N7 Crusader shotgun on his back. Instead, he used a biotic pulse to send a pulse of dark matter-energy to overload the enemy's shield. With the batarian's barrier down, he then summoned a blue, biotic field to fire off a biotic warp right into the batarian. Shredding the slaver's armor and internal organs for the kill. It was the start of the human's offensive as he sent a biotic push to fling two lightly defended batarian soldiers into the wall. Their necks snapped from several kilo-Newtons of force. Kaidan continued the offensive as he was joined by Trex's explosions and Legion-VII's sabotage of enemy weapons after it reappeared to flank the enemy.
Something the commanding batarian slaver was not too happy about, as he tried to reorganize his men for a counter-attack. He fell back behind cover as he cursed the situation, "A geth infiltrator, a human biotic soldier, and a krogan demolitionist. All we need to face is a quarian engineer, a marksman, commando, another biotic, or mage, and we will be screwed."
"At least there are only three of…" a second batarian started to declare until a fireball hit the alien and set him aflame.
Several batarians looked up to see a redheaded human with powerful green eyes behind a blue, clear visor with a microphone on top of her shoulder-length, messy hair. A frown was frozen on her heart-shaped face with freckles as she stared at the scared batarians before her. A look that people recognized as she and her brother were used by the First Battalion and the Union of Federations' Navy recruitment posters.
To the hostages, it was hope as some muttered the title that she earned for saving the colony Elysium, "The Hero of the Skyllian Blitz."
While the batarians shook as they muttered a title that she earned for killing a thresher maw on foot, "The Beast Queen of Akuze."
The leader knew her better as "Commander Jane Shepard, an N-7 psychic knight class elemental mage."
That was all she needed before Jane took to the offensive. She jumped off the ledge and opened fire with her M-15 Vindicator assault rifle, taking out two batarians before she hit ground level. Running as she summoned an ice spike and slammed it into the head of a batarian as the young woman rushed towards the lead slaver. Another batarian tried to intercept her when Jane put up her assault rifle to pull out her short, light M-22 Eviscerator shotgun. She hit the batarian at close range for maximum effect of her short-range weapon. She passed the bloody batarian corpse as she put her shotgun up on her back.
Energy swirled around her hands as she headed for the batarian leader and his two guards. The batarians did not wait to open fire at the approaching mage. With little effect as her golden, harden kinetic barriers had an easier time shrugging off enemy bullets. Her shields outlasted her opponents as she came up close to drench her opponents in water with her affinity for hydrokinesis. Before she followed up with a wave of lightning through controlled electrokinesis. Her opponents' kinetic barriers and two of the three batarians quickly fell. At the same time, the slavers leader's heavy armor absorbed the electrical strike.
The surviving batarian growled as the holograms on his omni-tool harden to form a superheated omni-blade to attack the approaching mage. He was planned to gut the mage with his raised omni-blade but was not prepared for Jane's counter. Her wrist launcher shot out two tubes that folded out into a monomolecular bladed tomahawk and a short sword, respectively. With a quick strike, Jane's tomahawk caught the omni-blade and pushed it away to follow up with a sword struck across the batarian's face. The blade dug deep into the man, making him yell as he tried a jab strike in Jane's stomach with a reformed omni-blade.
Jane avoided the quick strike, parrying the move, and was ready to kill him when she noticed movement at the corner of her eye. With rapid precession, Jane broke through the batarian she was fighting attack before she channeled her gravitokinesis and telekinesis at the batarian. Using telekinesis itself, Jane flung the batarian into the approaching terrorist behind her. The enhanced force of a gravitational push broke bones and battered the batarians. To the point that they could not stop Jane from using her pyrokinesis to send a fireball hurtling towards them, roasting the commander with his own men. Jane stared with satisfaction before she was forced to evade enemy gunfire.
A sniper shot and assault rifles' bullets squashed/shattered on her shields, causing Jane's kinetic barrier to fall. Commander Jane Shepard was forced to jump off a rail to a lower ledge for cover. She hid behind the railing for safety, waiting for the VI (virtual intelligence) to tell her shields had recharged. While waiting, Jane looked over to see over a dozen batarians behind a cargo container with a batarian engineer activating or creating several robotic drone turrets. She was about to make a call when she noticed three batarians had snuck up on her, weapons pointed at her.
Jane was prepared to take a pounding when Kaidan's biotic push sent the attackers into a metal wall with a satisfying crunch. Two of them died on impact while the third was pulled in front of Kaidan armed with his N7 Crusader shotgun. The shotgun used a charge shot to blast a hole through a batarian's chest while a set of explosions happened behind Jane. She looked up to see Trex fire eighteen small rockets from his ML-77 Rocket Launcher, taking out the batarians and their drones. Leaving only one batarian alive. Before he was incinerated alive by a plasma-based projectile launched from Legion-VII's incinerate omni-tool program.
Jane felt safe to move out of her hidden location as the VI on her visor's hub texted her shields were restored. Jane was back in charge as they approached the hostages when a growl stopped them in their tracks. The four turned to see the noise came from the varren, fish like dogs with sharp teeth and whiskers. They were initially from krogan homeworld, Tuchanka, before they were taken off-world and spread throughout the galaxy. Adapting to the galaxy well due to their ability to adapt to being a scavenger, an apex predator, or a domesticated dog. These varren were trained war dogs that belonged to the batarians equipped with military-grade black armor and exotic weapons seen only Batarian Hegemony alone. While Jane doubted the soldiers before the battle was nothing but disposable grunts with a few actual soldiers. She knew for sure that they were now dealing with elite Batarian Hegemony soldiers.
Jane and her comrades pulled out their pistols/SMG (submachine gun) and took aim at the batarian leader. A batarian with a green faceplate and yellow ridges along the sides of his head. Jane kept her hand steady with her silver M-77 Palladian heavy pistol as she turned to Legion-VII to ask, "Who are we dealing with?"
Legion-VII responded by lowering its short Geth Plasma SMG to scan the batarians and run facial software. It reported its search results, "That unit is Ka'hairal Balak-Captain, a batarian commando from the Special Intervention Unit (SIU) of the Batarian Hegemony. Federation Intelligence Division flags the unit as an extremist and to approach with extreme caution. Standing orders are to shoot the unit and its allied units on sight."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that, for I really want to shoot him," Trex stated as he aimed with his krogan made heavy pistol, the Punisher. "I'll suggest we kill him now and be done with it."
"Agreed, Commander," Kaidan nodded as he pulled out his bulky, rapid-fire N7 Eagle heavy pistol.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Balak stated as he held up a detonator, causing the group to tense. Jane looked around to see three long cylinder devices near the hostages, while the other two were above and below them. Each close enough and packed with enough explosives to ensure that they all went off if one goes off.
Balak smiled as he saw Jane's frown, "You humans are predictable. Now I'm leaving this asteroid. If you try to stop me, I'll detonate these charges. Meaning your helper and all of her friends are all going to die if you try to stop me."
"Why are you doing this?" Jane growled at Balak, who roared back an answer.
"Don't pretend you don't know, human! For it is your kind and the galactic outcasts that follow your kind in taking what belongs to the batarians after you forced us into exile!" Balak ranted to the udder confusion of Jane Shepard. "Your kind forced your way into the Attican Traverse, and we could do nothing. Knowing that your kind alone was stronger than us, and with the other rejects, you could obliterate us. You knew it, we knew it, the Council knew. So, my people did what had to be done.
"And what did that get us? We were forced into exile. Forced to survive on what we can scrounge up. It's been like that for decades. All the while, the Union of Federations gained power and strength as my people were forced to suffer as you pushed us into the background and deep economic depression."
"And now you're taking out your anger on these people," Kaidan exclaimed in a soft tone that carried across the room. "They've done nothing to you or the Batarian Hegemony. What could they have done to warrant such an attack?"
"Besides using resources that could have been ours. And colonizing a planet that should have been ours," Balak accused the group. "These people are far from innocent, and they will be used to make a statement."
"A statement that says you all were stupid," Jane snapped at the batarian. "I don't know what they teach to you batarians, but I will not stand you spewing lies to suit your version of history instead of the truth."
"How dare you," Balak stammered while Jane went on the attack.
"How dare you pretend your people are innocent when it's so far from the truth!" Jane huffed as she yelled out the truth the batarians denied themselves. "The Batarian Hegemony used the Attican Traverse and, to a small extent, the independent Terminus Systems to run pirate and slaving rings for your economy for centuries. All the while claiming an interest in an area of space you never intended to colonize. Just exploit through acts of slavery and private profiteering.
"That was until the Union of Federations came around and started to colonize free zones of the Attican Traverse for my people and the krogans, under the Council's approval. At first, you didn't care, for it meant worlds you could fund raids on. That all changed when we discovered that the Traverse was an area of space rich with resources. Resources you had no idea existed for you wanted a quick credit chit and did not bother to do a proper survey of the area.
"Therefore, you bitched and moaned about losing such territory and tried to kick us out with pirate and slaver attacks you help fund. Only to fail as we fought back and began draining accounts set up to fund such operations. So, you went to the Council to try to reclaim the areas of space you squandered. And when that didn't work, as you did not understand that they gave us the Traverse to curtail pirate and slaving operations, you threw a fit and left the Citadel Council. You then threw everything you had, including your own military, to push for dominance. And continued to push until you pushed your economy into ruin and drove yourself into exile."
Jane sighed as she added, "You have no one to blame but yourself for what happened."
"Not to mention if there is such a thing as a reject species, it's your kind for being known as the scum of the galaxy," Trex added with amusement as Kaidan looked at Balak. Ready to stop him if he acted too rash in a bid against reality.
"Blah-ah-ah-ah," Balak screamed. "You know nothing but lies, and I'm done listening to you!" Balak responded in cold anger. "Now, I'll suggest you let us go, or the hostages will die."
Jane stared before she lowered her gun, followed by the others, including a very reluctant Trex. "I won't stop you, but I'll promise that your end will be soon."
"Perhaps, but it won't be you because those charges are on a timer," Balak stated before he and his men backed away. "I'll suggest you get to work," Balak added before he disappeared, leaving a tensed four-man squad.
Jane seeing the danger, quickly barked out orders, "Legion-VII, Kaidan, disarm the demolition charge above the hostages while Trex and I handle the demolition charge below the hostages. We'll both work our way up to the middle demolition charge to be disarmed. Go!"
The two teams quickly rushed to the demolition charges with their weapons out. Trex was the first to reach the bomb, and he promptly got to work on disarming the bomb while the detonator was pulsing. Jane stood guard with her M-15 Vindicator as Legion-VII and Kaidan climbed up to the bomb on the top floor. As Trex worked to disarm the bomb, Legion-VII kept Jane informed through their omni-tool communicator.
"Shepard-Commander. We were able to hack the communication's wireless to determine that we have four minutes and thirty-five seconds to disarm the demolition charge, or the hostages will die. I'm sending you a timer to your hub."
"Thanks, Legion-VII," Jane stated as a timer flashed through her visor. "Have you reached the bomb yet?"
"We've reached the bomb," Kaidan reported from their comms. "Legion-VII is working to disarm it while I stand guard."
Jane hummed in agreement, as she turned to Trex as he worked his omni-tool, "How close are you to disarming the bomb?"
"I'm overriding the computer's defenses to deactivate the bomb's sensors so I can manually disarm the bomb. Give me a minute," Trex reported as he worked in crossing its circuits.
He almost lost his concentration when his shields flare from an attack of two drones rolling down to greet them. Jane responded with a lightning bolt into the two drones, destroying them in one shot. Jane grumbled, "Cheap batarian junk," before she turned to see that batarians left additional parting gifts. "Looks like they're not bringing their varren home," Jane mumbled as she watched two varrens come rushing towards her.
Jane responded with her cryokinesis to freeze the two varrens mid-run. She then finished off the two war bogs using her telekinesis to slam the shatter the layer of frost off the two beasts. If hyperthermia did not kill them, the shattering of ice and parts of their skin would have killed them. With the two fishy dogs down, Jane turned and noticed that while Trex destroyed most of the drones the batarians brought. There were still enough to be a threat when combined with the number of varren war dogs the batarians brought.
"How much longer, Trex?" Jane asked as she opened fire on the approaching machines.
"Done," Trex grunted as the krogan pulled out his Executioner Pistol and fired, destroying a drone in one shot at the cost of the weapon's thermal clip.
Trex smiled as he switched with his M-37 Falcon and opened fire with limited success as the drones began to spread out. Jane realized their tactics when Kaidan reported through the radio, "Commander, we have disarmed the bomb, but we're pinned down by enemy drones."
"They're trying to pin us down as well to prevent us from getting to all three bombs. Well, I'm not about to let Balak kill these people," Jane growled.
"We'll still have time once we deal with these pests," Trex stated as he fired an omni-tool manufactured mine onto the ground.
The mine soon exploded, taking out two varren while Jane looked over, "But that would be cutting it close, and I don't like letting it get close." Jane then puts up her assault rifle as air swirled around her. "I'm going to take a more direct approach. Trex, cover me, and all of you try to get to me as soon as you can," Jane ordered, and her men acknowledge her orders.
Trex was laying down cover fire as Jane used her aerokinesis to fire a burst of wind from her fingertips to the ground. She shot off the floor and onto the balcony that held the hostages and the second demolition charge. With a quick tap of her omni-tool, Jane began to hack into the demolition charge with a ticking timer. She had over three minutes to work as she began to work on the bomb's circuitry. She was about to start crossing circuits when she heard a varren that had slipped past Trex. The dogfish rushed Jane, intent on feasting on the human when Jane pulled out her M-77 Paladin and opened fire.
While weaker than the Trex's Executioner, the semi-automatic pistol was still a powerful pistol that out damage an assault rifle per-bullet. Therefore, one-shot destroyed the entire front of the varren's head as blood gushed out and spread across the floor as it fell to the ground. Jane ignored the dead varren in favor of putting up her gun to continue her work. She was so close she could feel it as she manipulated the circuitry until finally, she got the right combination, and the demolition charge was deactivated.
Jane breathed a sigh of relief until a varren appeared and jumped her. Her kinetic barrier flared under a registered melee attack as the two fell to the ground. Jane began to fight the varren off when she noticed a second at the corner of her eye. Approaching like a pack of wolves working together to take down a challenging target. Jane was tensed as the varren moved on the attack when an electrically charged omni-blade went through the varren, killing it.
Jane never felt so happy when Legion-VII's cloak dispersed to reveal the cavalry had arrived. The varren on top of her found out the hard way when it was knocked off by Kaidan with a biotic push and into Trex's axe. The krogan wasted no time to cleave the beast in two. With the brutal animal dead, Jane pushed herself off the ground as she examined the field to see that the fighting was officially over.
"That's it, we're done," Jane commented as Trex pressed a button to cause his helmet to unfold into his armor.
Showing off his grin on his burnt face and a burnt green three-point shell. His brown eyes look for enemy contacts as he barked out a joke, "Ah, and I was looking forward to an evening of more explosions. Oh well, there is always next time."
"Glad you're looking at the upside, Trex," Jane smiled before she turned to Kaidan to give out a few orders. "Kaidan, let's get the hostages out."
"You've got it, Commander," Kaidan acknowledge as his helmet unfolded off his slick, combed black hair and creased forehead.
With a tap of his omni-tool, the door unlocked within the building, and the dozens of hostages came out, giving their thanks as Jane's team helped them. All accept a brown-headed woman who had the nametag that read 'Kate Bowman.' Jane knew something was off as she approached in tears, "I can't believe you let Balak go, to save us. I had expected you to let us die. To sacrifice the few for the many, just as I had when…"
"When you wouldn't give us up for the man Balak held as a hostage," Jane stated.
"Yes…" Kate Bowman cried. "My brother was so stubborn. Always doing what was right, and now you let his killer go to save us."
"If I didn't do that, then I would be no better than the batarians," Jane told the young woman. "Besides, Balak is not going to get far. Knowing my brother, Balak is not going to leave this rock alive if he has anything to say about it."
Location: Exodus Cluster/Asgard System/Asteroid X-57 over Terra Nova/HMS Soulless
Time: February 1, 2183
Far away from the main facility, Balak and his surviving crew drove up to a triangle and oval-shaped ship, the HMS Soulless. A Batarian corvette that served as a long-range transport that had snuck past the FRC. Balak was smug as he walked down the halls while his men strapped into their seats. He headed to the cockpit to tell the pilot to lift-off, not noticing the small amount of blood on the floor as he entered the cockpit of a ship that hand a standard crew complement of 5.
"Okay, it's time to get off of this two-eyed infested…" Balak started as the pilot quickly turned to face him and stick a standard semi-automatic human rifle, the M-96 Mattock, in his face.
A standard rifle held by a not so ordinary human as it was a tall, muscular human in black, heavy armor with blue stripes along the chest and right arm. A human he recognized with his unshaven face, strong chin and cheekbones, and the broad forehead that made him tremble. Especially the human's cold, steely blue eyes that were glowing behind an orange visor. The last sight he ever saw was the human, Captain John Shepard, as he opened fire at a close enough range to bypass his shields.
Balak fell to the ground, dead as all four of his eyes were pulverized from the powerful, semi-automatic rifle's polonium rounds. That was the only warning Balak's men had when vines shot out from their seats and wrapped around the batarians. They were frantic as an elf in green armor with a cape and a mask made from roots stood before them. Controlling the planets that held them down with her biokinesis. They stared at the short, dirty blonde-haired woman with a tattoo and green visor over her round, thin, frowning face.
The would-be revolutionaries and terrorists were scared as her court style hair did not even move as she pulled out her weapon aimed at the batarians. A small weapon, unlike her bladed staff or the multi-shot, highly accurate N7 Valiant sniper rifle. Though it could still pack a punch, for it was a bulky, rapid-fire N7 Eagle with the power amplifier that amplifies biotic and mage powers. However, they were not as afraid of the female elf that held them in place as they were of the male human in glowing technical armor used by a biotic sentinel. Wielding an N7 Eagle equipped with a power amplifier and an M-12 Locust. A powerful but accurate slick submachine gun, fitted with a power amplifier.
A few mumbled, "The Shadow's Strategist," for his planning that saved the Elysium colony during the Skyllian.
While the majority of batarians mumbled in fear, "The Butcher of Torfan," due to horror stories of the human that slaughtered everyone at Torfan.
John did not pay attention as he turned to face the female elf, "Good job, Lieutenant Commander O'Connell. Looks like we got some batarian soldiers to deliver to the FID. They'll be pleased."
"Thank you, sir," Velanna O'Connell saluted softly as her superior turned to the captured batarians.
"Now then, I'm Captain John Shepard, if you don't know. Though I doubt it since the Batarian Hegemony has been using me as a bogeyman in their propaganda," John stated before he waved his dual weapons at the batarians. "Though to be fair, they have every right to do so. For I am a ruthless man within the famous and elite special forces, the First Battalion. Meaning I have no qualms killing all of you. So, you should consider telling me if there are anymore batarians on this rock before I turn you over to the authorities. Otherwise, I start shooting some of you at random until someone talk."
The batarians, who were usually strong-willed, were not adequately trained to deal with emotionally draining entropy powers, like hypokinesis. Powers that made the user sleepy and terrified from living nightmares. It would not be long before the youngest of the batarian elite soldiers broke, "We're all that's left, and we would have died as well if Balak did not have hostages."
"My sister, let you go?" John asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes…" the batarian nervously answered the Captain.
John responded with a sigh as he put up his guns, "Looks like I'm going to have a talk with Commander Jane Shepard. Not that it will matter to you, as the authorities will be here soon, so goodbye."
John then got up, ready to leave, when a batarian yelled, "You've thought this is the end, but it is not! You may have stopped the will of the Batarian People! But there are others who will ensure you upstarts will get what you deserve!"
"So, you did have help," John stated with a curious expression.
"It was a very powerful individual with influence across the galaxy-an individual who agrees with us that your kind is becoming too powerful. And he will do something about it," the batarian smirked as John raised an eyebrow.
"I don't suppose you would tell me who?" John asked as silence was John's only answer as he shrugged his shoulders, "I guess it doesn't matter. I'm sure the FID will get it out of you soon. Velanna, I believe this is the time for them to sleep."
Velanna grinned as she put more power into her hypokinesis to force the batarians to sleep. Within moments, all their heads slumped before she even uttered the word, "Sleep."
With the batarians down, Velanna moved to John's side as the boxy Kodak Type B shuttlecraft appeared outside of the spacecraft. Its thruster was lowering it down from the four at the bottom, two flexible armed thrusters in front and two in back. Velanna turned to see the holographic screen in front of her superior communicated with the pilot, a purple and white geth with a single large white eye and four smaller ones around it.
"We'll meet you outside and rendezvous with our sister Ensign Aviation-1971," John ordered, and the geth nodded in response.
"Acknowledge," the geth had responded as communication while John put on his environmental sealed helmet.
"Come on, we've got a sister to collect and berate for acting stupid," John ordered as Velanna nodded her head.
"Yes, sir," Velanna acknowledge as the two left the craft towards the shuttlecraft as a small fleet of Federation personal and ships appeared to take the batarians into custody. The two would leave the terrorists to their fate as John headed to confront his sister.
Location: Exodus Cluster/Asgard System/Asteroid X-57 over Terra Nova/Main Facility
Human Date: February 1, 2183
Within the Main Facility, Jane Shepard gave Kate Bowman some good news about Balak she received through wireless transmissions. Kate Bowman cried in relief as justice for her and her fellow colonist memories were realized. Jane was in good spirits when she felt a tap on the back of her armor. She turned to see it was John who was right behind her.
"Ah, we were just talking about you being the hero of the day," Jane smiled before she turned to the woman sitting with her. "This is my brother I was talking about, the one that took care of Balak."
Kate Bowman got up to thank the man who killed her torturer, "Thank you, Captain, for making sure a monster like Balak will never harm anyone else."
"A pleasure, I'm sure," John stated as he quickly brushed the woman aside to address the target of his ire. "Commander Shepard, can you come with me. We have much to discuss."
Jane reluctantly nodded to follow her brother to a secluded place, already had a feeling what it is going to be about. John did not waste a second to tear his sister a new one, "What were you thinking, Commander Jane Shepard!? Letting Balak go! He could have escaped if I wasn't on his ship!"
"I knew you were looking for the ships to make sure he wouldn't leave, and you would be waiting for them to ensure we didn't have to hunt them down. So I let him go to save the hostages," Jane told him, as he looked less unhappy about the answer until Jane opened her mouth. "Though if you weren't here, I would still let him go."
"Why?" John bluntly asked his subordinate. "Why would you risk the chance of Balak escaping to cause even more damage in the future?"
"Because it's like I told Kate Bowman. If I let those people die, I would be no better than the batarians," Jane smiled her small, innocent smile that made John shake his head.
John sighed, "You know I can't always be there to clean up your messes."
"Maybe so," Jane admitted, "but at least I'll sleep better knowing I did everything I could to save these people. Rather than allow them to die for what would be considered to be the easy path. Something Velanna and Sarah can relate to for if it weren't for our grandmother's sacrifice and rescuing all those children from the Darkspawn's homeworld, they wouldn't be here."
"Yes, and Alice McCoy's decision during the Darkspawn War on Earth cost her a large portion of her men's lives. Including her own," John stated just before his omni-tool communication beep. "Let's see how long your naivety will last when you have your own command," John added before he activated his communication. "This is Captain John Shepard speaking."
"Captain, this is Specialist Sinclair relaying orders that you return to the ship immediately for our next assignment."
"So soon? What could it be?" Jane asked for her brother.
"We are going to rendezvous to a nearby cluster to pick up a Citadel Council's Citizen for a joint mission. Details will be given to you both on a more secure channel," Sarah stated over the communicators.
"In other words, face to face," John had mumbled while Jane's hand wandered over his omni-tool.
"Okay, Sarah, we'll be there. Commander Jane, signing out," Jane stated as she pressed a button that deactivated her brother's omni-tool. Alone, Jane turned to ask, "Well, shall we go, big brother."
John nodded in agreement, "Yes, I think we shall," just as he left the room, followed by his twin sister.
Location: Undisclosed
Human Date: February 3, 2183
Within a dark ship that resembled a squid mixed with a crawfish's shell and legs stood two batarians deep within a dark structure that seemed alive even though it was a machine. The ship was a dark living presence that seemed to want to swallow them whole just for being there. And that sense of dread was only made worse by the two figures covered in shadows that stood in front of them. Characters who were not human, nor were they beast. The figure's presence was as fearsome as any beast causing the batarians to shudder in their presence and worry about giving them some bad news. Ultimately, they reluctantly told them the bad news, for there was no way to hide the truth.
"As you may have heard, the attack on the human colony Terra Nova has failed," the batarian nervously swallowed. "The entire Exodus Cluster is in a frenzy looking for all the ships involved, and we lost a large portion of our black ops in the area. I think that our joint operation has failed."
The figure chuckled in a commanding tone as he stated, "Oh, the operation did not fail. In fact, it went exactly as planned."
"What?" one of the batarians asked as the figure continued to chuckle.
"Quite frankly, you batarians are failures at just about everything, and I knew you would fail," the figure answered with a raised talon. "In fact, I was counting on it to distract the entire defense force within the Exodus Cluster. Forcing them to spread their ships across the cluster to search for your men to ensure the next step of the operation would go smoothly."
"You used loyal men and woman of the Batarian Hegemony as bait!" exclaimed both batarians at the thin figure.
"Yes, and now that I think about it. Your services are no longer required," the figure whistled out into the shadows to summon a horde of hideous creatures in dark organic armor with organic-looking weapons.
Creatures one batarian recognized as she stammered, "Darkspawn."
"Yes, the darkspawn, the same creatures that had invaded Earth through dimensional rips that killed billions on the human's homeworld. They will be the perfect weapon for what is to come. Something you two would be contributing to the wave of destruction that will save the galaxy as a whole." The figure stated coldly enough to send chills down their spines. Just before he sentences them to die.
"Send those two to the broodmothers! We could always use more batarian darkspawn," the figure added as an afterthought as the two batarians were dragged down to the lower chambers kicking and screaming.
They were soon out of sight as a single grunt darkspawn set up. The corrupted human-looking darkspawn with fanged like lips spoke in grunts that the figure somehow understood, "So the Federation's Fleets is on rotation just as planned. Excellent, then move the fleet. It's time to attack!"
The darkspawn nodded as they went to their posts. Preparing for an invasion as a large fleet of old ships covered in organic armor flew right behind the great squid to a giant Mass Relay. Its signature spinning rings inside its oval-shaped body began to turn rapidly as blue lightning shot out to latch on the fleet of ships. Before, they were flung across its two prongs into faster than light (FTL) speeds. They were heading to their designation for their first in a long series of dangerous campaigns.
Location: Exodus Cluster/Utopia System/Over Eden Prime/USS Kebel
Human Date: February 3, 2183
Over the lush, green world known as Eden Prime stood a heavily armed space station, defense satellites, and a small fleet of eight ships: two Liberty class cruisers, two Genesis class heavy frigate, two Garden class heavy frigate, four Terra class frigates, and four Zen class frigates. Of the frigate classes, the Genesis and Terra class frigates were human-based delta shape starships with a long gun neck and a heavy gun for additional firepower. While the Garden and Zen class frigates were quarian base gunships with long bodies and a ring for its head for added point defense. Both of these designs were incorporated into the Liberty class cruisers, the bases of Federation ships with their delta-shaped body with four engines. Connected to the round bulky ship body based on geth design, and the long neck with a closed ring at the front.
Leading this small fleet was the USS Kebel, a Liberty class cruiser commanded by a krogan named Captain Cruok. A massive krogan who was enjoying a stiff drink as his subordinate gave his report, "Nothing on scanners. It's quiet as always."
"Of course, it is going to be quiet. Nothing ever exciting happens over this garden world for agriculture and non-combatants," the Captain groaned. "Which is too bad. I would love to go after the batarian scum that decided to attack us."
The bridge crew began to chuckle when a geth at communication started to pick up something wrong, "Cruok-Captain. Sensors at the relay report an active transit of ships coming from the relay."
"Well, who is it?" the Captain asked absentmindedly, expecting it to be another fleet of merchant ships.
He was shocked when the geth reported in its clicking, mechanical voice, "Unknown. All communications are down, and our units are being jammed."
Captain Cruok knew what that meant as he pressed the intercom to yell, "We're under attack, all ships battle stations!" The Captain then turned off the comm so he could direct his forces. "Move our ships into battle positions and get the grid acti-"
"Cruok-Captain, ground team units report that there is a virus introduced into the systems, deactivating our space satellites and some of the ground emplacements. We will have limited planetary support," the geth reported to his commander. "Enemy units must have hacked into the communication satellites at the relay to deliver the virus."
"Sir, several enemy units are going to be dropping out of FTL within a light second right about, now," one of Cruok's officers reported.
The Captain watched slack-jawed, as dozens of older ships appeared on his screen that sensors profiled as obsolete class of vessels. Mostly fighters and frigates made from parts taken from a dozen races and hobbled together into a massive fleet. Though the Captain was more concerned about the largest ship he had ever seen, a squid or crawfish-designed ship that was over two kilometers long with a long gun. A gun he had a right to fear, as he watched the approaching invasion force.
"My god," one of the bridge crewmembers muttered as the Captain quickly collected his thoughts.
The Captain quickly yelled out, "Launch fighters. All ships get into medium range and open-" Too late, as the squid enemy ship opened fire with its eight tentacles.
The weapons fired long streams of hot molten slag that generated enough heat to simulate plasma as it's lashed out at the small Federation fleet. Within seconds, all frigates were destroyed. Followed by the heavy frigates ten seconds later due to fire from the entire enemy fleet. Only the cruisers survived the twenty seconds long attack, though not without scars as a long gash was marked along the ship's hull. The bridge looked like a war zone as the crew held onto their seats for dear life, even with the seat belts in place.
The Captain stared in shock as the crew read out the damage reports, "Shields are at sixty percent and hull breach along decks three through five. All gun placements on our dorsal side are damaged, except our PPC (Particle Plasma Cannons). Power is slightly fluctuating, and we have casualties reported."
"Sir, enemy ships are entering into medium combat range," a bridge crewmember reported.
"Then open fire with mass effect and PPC weapons, as well as prepare for ramming speed!" the Captain ordered as he coughed out blood. "If we're going to die, well, take as many of them with us as we can."
The two cruisers quickly complied with the krogans orders. They fired at once with mass effect bullets from their surviving broadside cannon. While the main Thanix cannon fired disruptor torpedoes every five seconds along with mass cannons along the ship's hull, killing frigates with frightening power. As the projectile weapons were going a sixth, the speed of light as they rammed into ships with shields weaken with disruptor torpedoes. A prolog to their death as the ships fired their reddish-blue colored duo particle plasma beams. Killing two cruisers while Federation ships mass accelerated weapons continued to fire.
After the fourth enemy frigate exploded under the ship's guns, the Captain was about to order ramming speed when a bridge crewmember yelled out, "Captain, the enemy dreadnaught is turning towards us! And charging its main cannon! Oh god… it's about to fire!"
Captain Cruok, seeing the enemy facing his two cruisers, stood up to say, "It's was an honor serving with you all, and it is a good day to die."
The last words the bridge crew would ever hear as a powerful, long stream of molten slag shot out of the main gun with more power than any ship had ever seen in the galaxy. The blast went right through the two Liberty Class cruisers with such intensity that it melted the ship's Solaris armor within seconds. The beam went through the vessel just before the ship exploded into ribbons. The very air within the vessels exploded, causing a chain reaction as its fuel, munitions, power generators, and elemental zero drive core followed suit. All that was left was rubble as the beam continued until it hit a space station that was in orbit. The station survived thanks to its thicker armor and kinetic barrier. However, it was still knocked into a higher orbit, and the upper-level hulls were gone or opened to space.
With the defense gone or disable, nothing stopped the invasion force that was heading to the planet. Lead by 2 km ship followed by another organic vessel. Which was a long cylinder body with biological protective covering in front of its beam weapon and a large engine in its back. Eden Prime was going to be the beginning of a long war.
Merry Christmas, and I hope you enjoy this rewrite of the Mass Dragon Effect. A lot has changed from the original idea. From the Confederation Alliance of Worlds to the Union of Federations. To changing various characters' classes, mostly Alenko being made a Biotic Soldier. I wanted each character to be a unique class. And I felt Kaidan was better suited as a cross between a soldier and a biotic as his personality did not scream vanguard. A biotic sentinel did not feel right. So please tell me what you think.
Also, to new readers, I hope you like the story has two different Shepards. Jane is the fun-loving, naive woman who can rally troops and acts as a paragon. John is a brilliant tactician that is a cold, calculating person and acts as a renegade.
Author's Note
A) Codex is in a separate story for enjoyment. Please read it if you like the Mass Effect Codex for story changes. I have also done some extensive rewrites, ranging from moving around items to adding new entries I felt were needed.
B) Style Notes:
Lowercase species name (asari): species
Uppercase Species Name (Asari): Species-Specific Government
'Colons': Reading
"Quotes": Communication Face to Face
"Bold Quotes": Dark Echoing Communication Face to Face
"Italic Quotes": Communication Done Through Transmission
"Bold Italic Quotes": Telepathic Communication
Characters Stats
Name and Rank: Rear Admiral David Anderson (N7)
Species: human
Class: Commando (soldier)
Special: can use a mine
Melee Weapon: flaming omni-blade
Grenades: inferno grenades
Kinetic Weapons: M96 Mattock, M77-Paladin, N7 Valiant, & ML-77 Missile Launcher
Ammo: inferno rounds
Name and Rank: Captain John Shepard (N7) (Shadow's Strategist and Butcher of Torfan)
Species: human
Class: Sentinel (biotic)
Special: can use biotic slam
Melee Weapon: dual omni-blades
Grenades: polonium grenades
Kinetic Weapons: M-96 Mattock (high-velocity barrel and thermal scope), N7 Eagle (power magnifier), & M-12 Locust (power magnifier)
Ammo: polonium rounds
Name and Rank: Commander/SPECTRE Jane Shepard (N7) (Hero of Elysium, and Beast Queen of Akuze)
Species: human
Class: Primal Psychic Knight (mage)
Melee Weapon: monomolecular bladed short sword and tomahawk
Grenades: cryo grenades
Kinetic Weapons: M-15 Vindicator, M-77 Paladin, & M-22 Eviscerator
Ammo: particle plasma rounds
Name and Rank: Lieutenant Commander Velanna O'Connell (N7)
Species: elf
Class: Entropy Magician (mage)
Special: power derives from a desire demon named Angle and can-do Botanokinesis
Melee Weapon: monomolecular bladed staff
Grenades: vine grenades
Kinetic Weapons: N7 Eagle (power amplifier) & N7 Valliant
Ammo: energy leach rounds
Name and Rank: Lieutenant 1st Class Kaidan Alenko (N6)
Species: human
Class: Biotic Soldier (biotic)
Melee Weapon: dual omni-blade
Grenades: lift grenades
Kinetic Weapons: N7 Valkyrie, N7 Eagle, & N7 Crusader
Ammo: armor-piercing rounds
Name and Rank: Lieutenant 2nd Class Legion-VII (N5)
Species: geth
Class: Infiltrator (tech)
Melee Weapon: electrical omni-gauntlet
Grenades: arc grenades
Kinetic Weapons: Geth Pulse Rifle (stability), Javelin (heavy barrel & thermal scope), & Geth Plasma SMG (heat sink upgrade)
Ammo: cryo rounds
Name and Rank: Lieutenant 2nd Class Raik, Trex (N5)
Species: krogan
Class: Demolitionist (soldier)
Melee Weapon: monomolecular bladed battle-axe
Grenades: inferno, polonium, & sticky grenade
Kinetic Weapons: M-37 Falcon (stability damper), Executioner Pistol (heavy barrel), N7 Piranha (omni-blade), & ML-77 Missile Launcher
Ammo: explosive rounds
