Hello again, everyone, and welcome back to my Escape from Tarkov/Mass Effect crossover.
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Geneburn - Stranger
Virmire
Near Research Facility
2183
As they walked back to rejoin the others, O'Connor could tell that the tension everyone was feeling had lessened greatly. Talking to him was the right choice, he thought when he spotted Ashley, with her sidearm out. She would've killed him in a heartbeat, not that I wouldn't be able to, though. Either way, I'm glad I convinced Wrex to see reason. I don't want to have to kill a friend.
As he walked over, Ashley came over to him. "You're lucky you talked him down," she whispered. "I was about to get ready to kill him. Good to see that I didn't have to do a thing."
"I would've rather let him go," O'Connor replied. "Still, I get your point. Wrex doesn't like it, but he can be reasoned with. Still, he wants Saren's head for this."
"I don't blame him either. I want Saren's ass dead for what he did to my unit at Eden Prime. You were there, even though you didn't bump into my unit."
"I know, I saw the AAR. All members, except for you, dead. I've been in a situation like that before."
"You're kidding?"
"No."
"Oh, I see."
"Either way, We've got more worrying matters to tend to, like blowing this base the fuck up." With that, he reached Kirrahe and Shepard, who'd finished talking by this point.
Kirrahe, spotting him coming over, said, "Thank you for speaking with the Krogan. The assault on Saren's base will be difficult enough as it is."
"That Krogan has a name," O'Connor growled back. "You'd do well to use it. Still, judging by what you've said, I can guess that the two of you have a plan to blow this base to pieces."
"Of sorts. We can convert our ships drive into a 20 kiloton ordinance. Crude but effective."
"Hold on. Back up. Are you saying you can convert your ship's drive into a nuclear weapon?"
"Precisely," Kirrahe nodded.
"I like it," Ashley beamed. "Drop that nuke from orbit, and Saren can kiss his Turian ass goodbye."
"I'll bet it won't be that simple," O'Connor frowned.
"Correct," Kirrahe replied. "The base is too well fortified for that. We'll need to place the bomb at a precise location."
"Kirrahe filled me in on this part," Shepard added. "We'll have to move the bomb to the far side of the facility. The Normandy can drop it off, but we've gotta get inside, disable the AA weapons and terminate any hostiles inside."
"You want us to go in on foot?" Kaidan asked. "We don't have enough men."
"It does sound a bit risky," Shepard agreed. "Is there no other way?"
"No, but I think we can work around that," Kirrahe nodded. "I'm going to divide my men into three teams and assault the front of the facility. While we've got their attention, you can lead a 'shadow team' and infiltrate the facility through the rear."
"It's a good idea, but you're people are going to get slaughtered," Shepard frowned.
"I think he knows that," O'Connor added. "When you're on a high risk mission like this, there's a chance you won't be coming back. If he'd found another way by now, we wouldn't consider taking this course of action."
"We're tougher than we look, Commander," Kirrahe agreed, "but it's true. I don't expect many of us will make it out alive, and that makes what I'm going to ask even more difficult. I need one of your men to accompany me to help coordinate the teams."
"We'll need someone who knows Alliance communications protocols," Shepard agreed.
"That rules me out," O'Connor replied. "I've been studying those protocols, but I'm more familiar with the USMC communication protocols. Either Kaidan or Ashley will be a better choice."
"I volunteer, Commander," Kaidan piped up.
"Not so fast, LT," Ashley countered. "Shepard will need you to arm the nuke. I'll go with the Salarians."
"With all due respect, Gunnery Chief, it's not your place to decide."
"Why is it that when someone says 'with all due respect,' they really mean 'kiss my ass?'"
"Enough of that, you two," O'Connor growled. "I think it's the Commander's decision in this case." Looking at Shepard, he asked, "So, Shepard? Who do you think should go? Both people are good choices, but it's up to you."
With that question in mind, Shepard began pondering which choice to make. Ashley's got good comms experience, but Kaidan's more technically qualified. Hhmm… I think I'll ask Kirrahe who he needs. Clearing his throat, he asked, "Who would be better suited for the mission, Kirrahe?"
"Either of these two will do, Commander," Kirrahe replied. "Both seem willing to sacrifice their lives if necessary, though if we're lucky, such sacrifice will not be needed."
With that in mind, Shepard made his decision. Ashley will go. She's got experience leading squads, so she'll know exactly how to coordinate with them. Kaidan's a good choice, but Ashley's got a point. He's got the most technical skill, aside from Garrus and Tali, so he'll arm the nuke. Turning to Ashley, he said, "Williams, you'll accompany the captain. No heroics, understood?"
"Aye, aye, Commander!" Ashley emphatically replied, saluting him a moment later.
"I will have the ordinance loaded onto the Normandy and brief your crew on it's detonation sequencing," Kirrahe continued. "Do you have any questions before we go, Commander?"
"I've got one," O'Connor nodded. "I would like to know more about the bomb we'll be using. How reliable is it? Can the enemy disarm it once it's armed and active?"
"It's reliability depends on the person arming it, but it will do the job," Kirrahe explained. "The drive system is highly impervious to damage from external sources. Once it is armed, very little can be done to stop it. The key is getting it into place before the Geth can stop us."
"Aside from tearing out the actual circuitry with one's bare hands, yes?"
"Yes."
"That does it for me," O'Connor nodded. "I'm ready when you need me to be, Shepard." He walked off, satisfied with what he'd heard.
Shepard wasn't quite done yet, though. "The Normandy's picking me up. How will your teams escape the blast?"
"We will engage the Geth as long as possible. Once the bomb is armed and in place, we will fall back and try to escape the blast radius. If we move quickly, we should be able to escape with acceptable casualties. If not, then our memories will live on as martyrs to a greater cause."
"You talk about this like it's a suicide mission."
"I won't lie to you, Commander. There's a chance none of us will survive this assault. Even your team, but we do what is necessary."
"Shadow seems clear enough. What will the other teams be called?"
"Aegohr, Mannovai and Jaeto. They were the initial settlements on our first three colony worlds. They are at the heart of Salarian territory to this day. These names will remind my men what they are fighting for. They must have a personal stake in the fight if we are to have any chance of success."
With that, Shepard was satisfied with what he'd heard. "I'm ready when you are, Captain," he decided.
"If that is the case, will you excuse me? I need to prepare my men."
As Kirrahe walked off, Ashley turned towards Kaidan and said, "Well, this is it. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone, LT. Same goes for you, Commander."
"We'll be fine," Kaidan reassured her. "You'll see."
"Yeah, I just… good luck."
"Is there something you want to say, Chief?" Shepard asked, picking up on her hesitation.
"I don't know," Ashley admitted. "It's just weird, going under someone else's command. I've gotten used to working with you… all of you."
"Don't worry," Kaidan reassured her again. "We'll see you on the other side."
"I know. I… ah… it's been an honor serving with you, Commander."
"It doesn't matter if we're not in the same unit, we're a team," Shepard said to her reassuringly. "Watch each other's backs, keep your eyes open, and fight like I know you can. We'll all come out of this in one piece."
"You bet, Commander," Ashley nodded. With that, she walked off towards the Salarians, who were gathering around Kirrahe.
Clearing his throat, Kirrahe began to speak. "You all know the mission and what's at stake," he said to them. "I have come to trust each of you with my life, but I have also heard murmurs of discontent. I share your concerns.
"We are trained for espionage. We would be legends, but the records are sealed. Glory in battle is not our way.
"Think of our heroes: the Silent Step, who defeated a nation with a single shot. Or the Ever Alert, who kept armies at bay with hidden facts. These giants do not seem to give us solace here, but they are not all that we are. Before the network, there was the fleet. Before diplomacy, there were soldiers.
"Our influence stopped the Rachni, but before that, we held the line! Our influence stopped the Krogan, but before that, we held the line! Our influence will stop Saren! Today, we hold the line!"
A cheer erupted out of the gathered Salarians that were present, indicating that Kirrahe had chosen the right words to revitalize their fighting spirit, and their will to drive on and finish the mission. Turning to Shepard, Kirrahe said, "Good luck, Commander. I hope we meet again."
"I hope so too," Shepard nodded. Whistling loudly, he said, "O'Connor, Liara, Garrus! You three are coming with me!"
"We're ready," O'Connor replied. "Time to kick some Geth ass where it hurts!"
. . .
With the speech concluded, they began to move towards the facility. Moving around to the rear, they climbed over a natural barricade before dropping down to the other side. Moments later, Kirrahe came over the comm. "Comm check. Do you read me, Commander?"
"Loud and clear. Let's move," Shepard replied.
"Good. We'll start our push. We'll try to make it to the AA guns, but it might be up to you to finish the job. Oh, and Commander? If you find any way to undermine their defenses, we could definitely use the help."
"That means targeting any enemy fliers, if they have any, along with communications," O'Connor decided. "Shepard, if we split into groups of two, we'll cover more ground, and disable any defenses the enemy has in place.
"Agreed," Shepard nodded. "We'll take the left hand side once we can split up. Garrus, you'll go to the right with O'Connor when we get the chance to do so. I need you at the top of your game while we're split up."
"You've got it," Garrus nodded. A moment later, he pulled out something that had O'Connor a little surprised.
"You've got my FAL," he observed as Garrus pulled the weapon out.
"I've been practicing firing drills with it," he explained. "I've gotten quite accurate with it, but we'll see how accurate I am in combat. I hope it works out."
"Me too." With that, they advanced forwards, weapons at the ready.
Moving through the scenery, O'Connor's ears were primed for any sound that stood out from the rest of the environment. Lots of ambient noise, what with the water by my feet and all, he thought. Reaching up to his helmet, he pressed a small hidden button by his communicator. Moments later, the sound of the water faded along with the ambient wind, while sounds, like footsteps, remained unaffected. That's better.
As they moved up, he thought he spotted something. Apparently, Liara had a better angle, as moments later, she hurled out a biotic attack. Seconds later, a Geth Trooper was hurled through the air, with Garrus nailing it through the head with a single shot. Said Geth's head exploded, courtesy of the bullet that exploded inside of it.
"Here we go!" Shepard shouted.
A moment later, Kirrahe added in his attack order over the comm. "Chief Williams, with Aegohr team! Mannovai, Jaeto teams, move! Time to get some attention!"
Just like that, gunfire rang out. Moving to the left, O'Connor let loose with a burst from his AK. Bullets smashed through kinetic barriers before their companions tore through Geth chassis, splattering lubricants and electronic components onto the ground. Looking ahead, he spotted something in the distance.
It looked like a platform of some kind, as well as a small storage area. Looking towards the top, he spotted what he thought was a communications dish of some kind. That's likely how the Geth are coordinating their movements in the area, he thought. It'd be a shame if someone shot it. Just as he thought that, he aimed and fired a 40mm grenade at the comm dish's general area, before firing at the dish itself.
While the 40mm grenade didn't hit the comm dish, it did hit the control panel for it. There was a loud BOOM as the grenade detonated, the shrapnel and shockwave tearing through the dish controls like paper. Seconds later, the bullets tore through the comm dish itself, causing it to sag to one side before it snapped off it's mount and fell to the ground, shattering as it did so.
Apparently, that was a very smart move, as Kirrahe said, "Something scrambled their targeting. Team Mannovai is no longer under coordinated crossfire! We've got a shot! Chief Williams, take the heat off Mannovai!"
"Smart move, O'Connor," Shepard beamed.
"Just a hunch," O'Connor shrugged.
"It paid off either way. Let's go."
As they advanced, more Geth came to block their path, though they were no match for the teamwork that Shepard and the others brought to the table. Countless missions had sharpened their ability to work together to a razor edge. In fact, O'Connor had remarked that, at times, they didn't need an order to know what needed to be done.
As they advanced, O'Connor heard a comm burst from Kirrahe. "They're calling sat-strikes! Jaeto, watch for comm stations! Chief Williams, can you see anything?!"
"We'll need to watch for those as well," Garrus told Shepard.
"Agreed. If we find any sat-strike com dishes, take them out," Shepard ordered.
"You got it," O'Connor replied. As they moved forwards, they spotted another platform, this time, with a large, and wide, comm dish that was pointed at the sky.
"I've got it," Garrus told the others. Bracing himself in the way O'Connor had when he used the FAL, he switched to fully automatic fire and proceeded to dump the entire magazine into the comm dish. The FAL roared as it spat 7.62mm bullets at the comm dish, which rapidly fell apart from the explosive ordinance each bullet used. As good measure, Liara hurled a Warp attack at the dish, causing it to fall apart in short order.
"We've got Krogan!" O'Connor shouted.
"Garrus, O'Connor, take them out!" Shepard ordered. "Liara?!"
"On it," Liara replied. While she hurled biotic attacks at the Krogan, Garrus began firing accurate shots with the FAL, while William moved up, his AK barking once he had a clear line of sight on the Krogan.
While the Krogan were tough, they were about to learn that a Kalash could kill just about anything when kitted out properly and handed to an experienced combatant. One Krogan fell as it's barrier's shattered, bullets tearing through it's tough hide and exploding inside. Another charged at O'Connor, only for the merc to juke to the side at the last moment, sending that one tumbling down the ramp. Two more bullets later, and said Krogan was dead.
"All clear!" he shouted, with the team quickly moving up.
Heading up onto a series of walkways, Shepard spotted a rock path that had a short drop leading to another ascending ramp, while the one he was on proceeded to take a left hand turn. "O'Connor, Garrus, head right!" he ordered. "Liara, with me!"
Nodding wordlessly, Garrus and O'Connor moved to the right. Taking a shot, Garrus blasted a Geth Trooper's brains to pieces, while O'Connor tangled with a Geth Juggernaut. Pulling out his shotgun, which he'd gotten during Kirrahe's speech, he fired rapidly, blasting chunks out of the Juggernaut's armor. Within seconds, it fell over, dead.
"Move up!" he ordered, climbing up the ramp with Garrus moving along quickly behind him. They proceeded along like this, moving along the ramps and terminating any hostiles that got in their way. Good thing I put the RPG away and filled in the space with more ammo for my Kalash, he thought. I might need it later, but too late for that now.
Eventually, he and Garrus came upon a platform of some kind, but it was what it had that caught their attention. "Geth flyers!" Garrus informed him. "They must be refueling for another attack."
"Well, they're about to have a terminal case of shrapnel," O'Connor remarked as he loaded in a grenade to the underbarrel launcher. Taking aim, he fired directly at the fuel tank, as it was close enough that he didn't have to angle the launcher.
There was a loud WOMP-BOOM as the grenade smashed into the fuel tank before exploding. Thanks to the incendiary compound in the explosive, the fuel also caught fire, generating an explosion that knocked O'Connor onto his ass, while Garrus was staggered. It also did exactly what the merc had been hopping for: it tore all of the Geth flyers to shreds.
"Wow!" O'Connor whistled as he got up. "That was one hell of an explosion! Knocked me on my ass!"
"No kidding!" Garrus, who'd just recovered from his stagger, remarked. "I think we've undermined their defenses as best as we can!"
Just as he said this, Shepard came over the comm. "O'Connor, Garrus, get to our position fast! We need fire support!"
"We're on our way," O'Connor replied.
As they did so, Kirrahe came over the comm again. "Air threat has not materialized! We may be getting some help from Shadow!" As soon as the comm call ended, O'Connor and Garrus reached Shepard and Liara's position.
True enough, they were under heavy fire from Geth and Krogan forces. Moving into cover, both men began to fire, their rifles smashing down the kinetic barriers before tearing through the hostile forces with lethal effect. After a couple minutes of fighting, all hostile forces were down. "I've got to get me one of those rifles," Shepard decided as he examined the ripped up organs of a dead Krogan. "O'Connor, you think you can train me to use those?"
"So long as your a good student, yes," O'Connor nodded. "Now, let's get to the damn AA guns."
Moving towards the door, they stacked up onto it before Tali forced the door to open. Moving inside, they entered a cargo storage area, though it was mostly empty. Thankfully, there didn't seem to be any Geth inside, though they moved through the area cautiously all the same.
Moving through the area up ahead, which was partly inundated with water, they ducked down as gunfire ripped through the area. Looking up, O'Connor spotted some Salarians, but he knew something was off. "I think they're Indoctrinated," he frowned.
"My thoughts exactly," Shepard agreed. "I think we know what happened to most of Kirrahe's men. Put them down. They don't deserve to live like this."
"Agreed," Garrus nodded. Opening fire, they gunned down the indoctrinated Salarians. It was fairly easy, since their kinetic barriers were weak and their bodies relatively unarmored.
It didn't sit right with O'Connor, though. Damn bastards and their fucking indoctrination, he snarled inwardly. What kind of technology forces a man to fight against those he loves against his own free will? All the more reason to gun that bastard down.
As they moved up, Garrus spotted something. "Looks like a security control panel," he remarked. "Tali taught me how to get in." Walking over, he began to work furiously at the control console. "Got it. We can cut the alarms from here, but we can also activate them on the far side of the base."
"That'll make the Salarian's lives harder," O'Connor frowned. "Shepard, I think we should cut the alarms entirely. We can deal with any opposition on the inside."
"Agreed," Shepard nodded. "Garrus, cut the alarms."
"Roger." After a few moments, he said, "Alarms are down. We can move inside."
"Good. Liara, you and I will check for any Salarians that aren't indoctrinated. O'Connor, Garrus, you're the heavy hitters. You'll take out any hostile personnel. We'll provide what support we can."
"Copy," O'Connor nodded. With that, they proceeded inside, weapons at the ready. Resistance was initially light, with only a few indoctrinated Salarians in the way. Moving up some stairs, they found a large room that had a window on the right side. On the left hand side, though, were what appeared to be prison cells.
Looking inside, O'Connor frowned. "Damn," he growled. "Looks like indoctrinated Salarians. We can't save them, and if we let them out, there's a risk they'll open fire on us."
"Motherfuckers!" Shepard snarled. "As if torturing people wasn't bad enough. If we find any scientists here, gun them down if they fire on us!"
"Copy that," O'Connor nodded.
Again, they moved forwards, weapons at the ready. As they proceeded deeper into the base, resistance began to steadily grow, as Geth were now present, along with more indoctrinated personnel inside of the base. Spotting a ramp that led downwards to another cage area, Shepard and Liara moved downward, while O'Connor and Garrus proceeded forwards.
Moving through the base some more, they eventually came to another large room. This room was shaped like a quarter-circle, with a long, contiguous window on the right side, while the left side was occupied with medical equipment, which included scanners, operating tables and other things. It was also occupied, as there were some Husks in the scanners, while Geth and Krogan were present.
As soon as Garrus and O'Connor entered, one of them looked up and spotted the two, eyes going wide moments later. "Intruders! Alert the -" That one didn't get a chance to finish, as O'Connor blasted that Krogan in the head, splattering it's brains everywhere.
"Your little science project's coming to an end!" O'Connor shouted. "If this was grade school, this would get you a big, fat F, and a call to the military to arrest you!" Taking aim, he began to fire and gun down any scientists that got in the way.
"Damn straight!" Garrus shouted as he fired his FAL, blasting apart a Geth Saboteur in the process. "You damn bastards are no better than Saleon! I hope you rot in wherever evil spirits go with him!" Both men continued to fire, cutting down Geth and hostile scientists and guards as they did so.
Moving through a door, the two found themselves on a walkway that scaled the outer section of the research facility. Proceeding along carefully, they came to another locked door ahead of them. Gun ready, O'Connor waited for Garrus to hack the door controls. Once the door controls were hacked, the door opened, and he burst inside, rifle at the ready.
Instead of a room full of armed guards, there was a desk with an Asari behind it, though cowering behind it was likely a more accurate description. "Don't shoot! Please!" She shouted, fear suffusing her voice. "I just want to get out of here before it's too late!"
"Down on the ground, now!" O'Connor shouted, motioning with his gun in the process. The Asari, not wanting to be riddled full of bullets, quickly scrambled onto the floor, spreading her arms and legs out. Both hands were empty. "Identify yourself!" he ordered loudly.
"Rana Thanoptis," the Asari replied, her hands trembling with fear. "I'm a neurospecialist, but this job isn't worth dying over, or worse! You think the Indoctrination only affects prisoners?! Sooner or later, Saren will want to dissect my brain too!"
"Explain, or you get a bullet in the back! I thought this was a breeding facility!"
"Not this level, no! We were studying Sovereign's effects on foreign minds, at least that's what I assumed. Saren kept us in the dark as much as possible. I didn't have the option of negotiating! This job position's more permanent than I assumed it to be! But I can help you!"
"How?!"
"This elevator behind me goes to Saren's private lab. I can get you in!" Roughly jerking Rana to her feet, O'Connor forced her over to the door at gunpoint, with Garrus ready to act if he needed to. Shaking, Rana put the code in before saying, "See? Full access. All of Saren's private files. Are we good?"
Tossing her from the door, O'Connor growled, "We're blowing this facility to hell and gone! If you want to live, bitch, I suggest you start running!"
"What?" Rana gasped, horrified and shocked. "You can't… but I'll never…!" With a frightened shout, she bolted out of the door as fast as her legs could carry her.
"Grab her files," O'Connor ordered. "Keyword: Indoctrination. I'll make sure the lab's clear!"
"Got it," Garrus nodded, moving to Rana's laptop before getting to work. While he downloaded the relevant files, O'Connor moved through the door, weapon at the ready.
Moving inside, he found an elevator that was, thankfully, empty. Hitting the call button once inside, he quickly ascended towards the upper level of this part of the facility. Reaching the top, he found another locked door.
Good thing Vorenus snuck this into the shipment, he thought as he pulled out what, to an observer, looked like a long cord of white material. Using adhesive tape, he strung it along the door's locking components, before fitting a detonator. Backing up, he pressed the detonator switch.
There was a loud BANG as the explosive cord fired off, cutting through the door's locked components with surprising precision. With the door unlocked, he forced each panel open and checked inside. All he found was a walkway that led to a comm console, as well as something else. "Hot damn!" he remarked. "We've got another Prothean Beacon in here. Shepard will want to see this."
As soon as he said this, he heard the elevator move. Rifle raised, he lowered it once it came back up with Shepard and the others. "Jumpy, aren't we?" he asked.
"You can't be too careful," O'Connor replied. "Found another Prothean Beacon. If you want to use it, be my guest."
It didn't take Shepard long to use the beacon, as the process, with the beacon being undamaged, was much faster and smoother. Eventually, he dropped to the floor, shaken, but conscious and ready to go.
Just as he did, O'Connor noticed a red glow. Looking to his left, he spotted the comm console, only it was now active. A red, holographic image came up, and he instantly recognized it. It's the same ship I saw at Eden Prime, he realized. Walking over, he growled, "Who the hell are you?"
Sovereign, as it was plainly obvious as to what it was, said, "You are not Saren."
"Big surprise," Shepard, who'd arrived with Garrus and the others, replied.
"What is this?" Garrus asked. "Some kind of VI?"
"I don't think so," O'Connor frowned.
Sovereign spoke am moment later, confirming O'Connor's suspicions. "Rudimentary creatures of blood and flesh. You touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding. There is a realm so far beyond you, you cannot comprehend it's existence. I am beyond your comprehension. I am Sovereign!"
"Sovereign isn't just a ship that Saren found!" Shepard realized. "It's an actual Reaper!"
"Reaper? A label created by the Protheans to give voice to their destruction. In the end, what they choose to call us is irrelevant. We simply are.",
"The Protheans vanished over fifty thousand years ago," Liara stammered. "You couldn't have been there! It's impossible!"
"Organic life is nothing but a genetic mutation," Sovereign countered. "An accident. Your lives are measured in decades and centuries. You wither, and die. We are eternal, the pinnacle of evolution and existence. Your extinction is inevitable. We are the end of everything."
"Really?" O'Connor growled. "There's a galaxy of species that will be more than ready to kick you and your little friends in the ass."
"Confidence born of ignorance. The Cycle cannot be broken."
"Cycle?" Garrus asked. "What cycle?"
"The pattern has repeated itself more times than you can fathom. Organic civilizations rise, evolve, advance, and at the apex of their glory, they are extinguished. The Protheans were not the first. They did not build the Citadel or the Mass Relays. They merely found them, the legacy of my kind."
"Why would you construct the Mass Relays," Shepard asked, confused, "then leave them for someone else to find?"
"Your civilization is based on the technology of the Mass Relays, our technology. By using it, your society develops along the paths we desire. We impose order on the chaos of organic evolution. You exist because we allow it, and you end because we demand it."
"Son of a bitch!" O'Connor growled, realizing what this meant. "They're harvesting us, Shepard. By forcing us to use the Mass Relays, they kill any other means of technological progression, allowing them to wipe us out without having a chance!" Stomping up to the interface, he demanded, "What do you want from us, you son of a bitch! Slaves?! Resources?!"
"My kind transcends your very understanding, anomaly. We are each a nation. Independent, free of weakness. You cannot even grasp the very nature of our existence. We have no beginning, we have no end. Millions of years after your civilization has been eradicated and forgotten, we will endure."
"Anomaly?" Shepard asked.
"I think he means me," O'Connor replied. "Remember how I got here?"
"Wait a minute. You think -?"
"I think so." Turning back to the Reaper, he asked, "How many of there are you?"
"We are legion. The time of our return is coming. Our numbers will darken the skies of every world. You cannot escape your doom." Then it did something else. "Your arrival, anomaly, will not change the Cycle. You will be harvested and eradicated like all that have come before you."
"Really?" O'Connor growled. "Well, guess what, fatass, you're not even a living organism. Your just a machine, and like all machines, you can be broken! If we ever meet, I will invade your body and I will tear your delicate little components apart bit by bit. You will beg for mercy, but you will find NONE IN RETURN!" With that, he fired at the console, shattering it.
Before the display went offline, Sovereign said, "Your words are as empty as your future. I am the vanguard of your destruction. This exchange is over." With that, the windows shattered, just as the display went offline.
"I think you pissed it off, O'Connor," Garrus remarked.
"I have that effect on any enemy I meet," O'Connor replied. "And I meant every word. Sovereign will beg for mercy before it dies if I have anything to say about it."
Moments later, Joker came over the comm. "Commander, do you read me?"
"Hit me, Joker," Shepard replied. "What have you got?"
"That ship, Sovereign? It's moving. I don't know what you did down there, but it just pulled a turn that would shear any of our ships in half. It's coming your way and it's coming hard! You need to wrap things up in there fast!"
"This console is busted," Garrus told Shepard. "Any orders?"
"Let's head to the breeding facility," Shepard decided. "Joker can pick us up there once we set the nuke."
"About fucking time," O'Connor agreed. "Let's blow Saren's little science project sky high."