Date: April the 3rd, 2357

Location: STG-RV "Logical Approach", in geosynchronous orbit above Shanxi

Time: 19:00 Galactic Standard time, 21:00 Shanxi time ( 29-hour clock )

"Fancy ship"

I nod. "Yah, Salarians don't cut corners with their vessels. Especially one like this"

Sarah shakes her head. "Word was this was a joint project. Us and them, working together"

I shrug. "I wouldn't know. I wasn't clued in at all. You can imagine the response CV and I had when we saw the ship"

"Heh. Well, at least the mission was a success, right?"

I nod. "Just about perfect, save for what happened to Cameron"

Sarah nods. "I heard they're giving him one of the newer military grade prosthetics, along with a purple heart award"

"That's good. He definitely earned it, saving SGT. Anderson like that"

Sarah sighs. "What happened, exactly? Anderson wouldn't say much"

"Cameron tackled him out of the path of an aimed Mastiff shell. Pellets cut right through his left arm, severing it"

Sarah shakes her head. "Damn"

I nod. "Yah"

"Was what we found worth it?"

I nod. "I saw what's on the data module. Can't believe Blisk is still kicking around…"

Sarah chuckles. "Your dad kicks ass on the Citadel half a month ago, and you're surprised Blisk is still around?"

I nod, indignantly. "Dad never really retired, and he kept in shape. You know how Dad is – he's a daredevil. Plus, Mom's always with him, egging him on to the next goal"

Sarah laughs. "Of course, she is. Hah! I was so surprised when they started going out – but that's a match that was made in heaven"
I smile.
"Okay, enough about recent events. How are you doing personally?"

I shrug. "Haven't really thought about things like that for a while. I guess staring death in the eyes and defying it really affected how I look at things"

Sarah nods. "You thought it was a Legion at first, right?"

I nod. "Behemoth class… Fits the bill. I'm guessing Samurai and Atom are enhanced versions of Ronin and Ion, respectively. You should've seen it up close Sarah. The gun was unchanged, but that thing was not in any way, shape or form, standard Legion. And those barriers… Whatever they found in Sydon was a game changer. We need to find out what it is they found and remove it from the game permanently"

Sarah sighs and shakes her head. "I didn't see what you did to defeat it in the mission report"

"That Spectre didn't tell you?"
Sarah shakes her head
"I jumped on the damn thing and hacked it's eezo core. Batteries shot out like Athena out of Zeus' head… weakened the kinetic shielding enough for CV and I to put some forty millimeter rounds through the hatch"

"Damn"

I nod again. "Yah"

The speaker behind us crackles. "Field Commander Briggs, Commander Cooper, and Lieutenant Kirrahe to the bridge"

"Time to dance, huh?"

I smirk. "Guess so"

[-]

We arrive on the bridge, just behind Lieutenant Kirrahe. He nods, then turns to the screen. "Field Commander Briggs, Commander Cooper. Lieutenant Kirrahe"

I nod politely. "Admiral Graves, Councilor Valern"

"We've went over the data you sent us. Some grave matters here"

I nod. "The wreck in Sydon"

Admiral Graves raises an eyebrow. "You know?"

I nod, again. "I got the chance to look while Bravo Squad and Lieutenant Kirrahe's team were reviewing the data. I suspect that's the source of these enhanced IMC titans. Thank goodness we sealed the caverns. I'd hate to face a group of those on the field"

Sarah nods. "I'll talk with Commander Cooper's titan, CV-9126, and see if she was able to scan this… Behemoth-class Titan"

Admiral Graves nods. "Good. If we can find a weakness, we should be able to exploit it"

The door opens, and David enters the room. "Admiral Graves"

Admiral Graves nods to David. "Sergeant Anderson"

"Rifleman Cameron is in surgery right now"

Admiral Graves nods. "Glad to hear it. I went over the data with Councilors Sparatus and Valern, along with the data Lieutenant Kirrahe's team retrieved. We'll go over the data later, right now we need to plan our next move"

I nod. "I have a suggestion"

Admiral Graves turns to me. "What do you have in mind, Commander?"

"We move a portion of our fleet here out of the system and deactivate some of our defenses. Make it look like we're improving our ships and stations procedurally. The Separatists should view it as an opening to attack Shanxi and gain a foothold in Frontier space. Let them capture me, Sergeant Anderson, or both of us. If I'm right, the Separatists will take us back to Hierarchy space. We get out…"

Admiral Graves grins. "And you find Blisk and put a bullet in him. Councilors, what do you think? It'd be a good chance to take out a large number of Separatists and take out some of their leadership as well"

Councilor Sparatus nods. "I like the sound of it. It's a hell of a gamble, but I think it's worth the risk. I'll send some of our remaining fleets to assist as well. With our combined forces, I think we'll stand a good chance of wiping out the Separatists"

[-]

Date: April the 12th, 2357

Time: 09:30, Galactic Standard. 12:10, Shanxi time ( 29-hour clock )

Onboard the STG-RV "Logical Approach", near the Shanxi Mass Relay ( Also known as Relay 314 )

It was a slow process. Announcements needed to be made, and circulation takes time. Ships were moved out, ostensibly for upgrades. Stations were deactivated too, for the same reason. In the first time in the Turian Empire's history, according to Sparatus, the Loyalist 2nd, 10th, and 15th fleets were snuck into the Frontier via warp drive. The STG-RV "Logical Approach" sat near the Mass Relay, monitoring any movement while cloaked. CV and I trained… and trained… and trained some more. Our plan was dangerous. CV would be on-board the Logical Approach while I was on Shanxi. After I was captured, the Logical Approach would follow the ship I was held on. How would they follow me? I had a sub-dermal tracker, programmed to emit a faint, almost untraceable signal. Fortunately, the Logical Approach would be able to trace it. On the Salarians' end, they contacted the Turian Spectre who had infiltrated the Separatists, and told him to urge the Separatists to attack Shanxi, while supplying him with several anti-AI and anti-Titan weapons, like Arc grenades. Bravo Squad was getting ready too. Rifleman Cameron was training with his new prosthetic, testing the abilities he had received with it. Among other things, he had received a miniature Repeller shield, implanted in the back of his hand. According to David, he had since modified his EVA-9 to be able to fire it one-handed, freeing his left hand to use his new tricks. Sarah, as well as the rest of the Marauder Corps, had been stationed on Shanxi, ostensibly for upgrades to the Titans' chassis.
"Commander Cooper, Sergeant Anderson to the bridge"
I grin. Blisk, we're coming for ya, I think to myself as I walk to the bridge. I'm joined by David on the way there.
"Hey David. How's Bravo doing? Ready for the fireworks?"

David chuckles. "Cameron is. Definitely eager to crack some Turian skulls, that's for sure. Lyon's ready, I'm sure. I don't know with Burke. You know how he is.
I nod. Burke was quiet even before Sydon. Now…
"Has he said anything? Anything at all?"

David shakes his head. "I think seeing Cameron's arm fly off affected him. I've suggested counseling for him after we're done in Separatist space. Hopefully it'll help"

We enter the bridge, greeted by Admiral Graves, Sarah, and Dad. "Our man on the inside just reported in. The majority of the Separatist fleet is moving. Commander Cooper, Sergeant Anderson, are you two ready?"
David and I nod. "Good. I'll send word to the Turian fleets, as well to the station teams"

[-]

Location: New Hong Kong, Shanxi

Time: 19:23 local time ( 29-hour clock )

Dad and I, along with Bravo Squad, were shuttled to Shanxi after we left the bridge of the Logical Approach. It's been about six hours since we touched down, and the Separatists should be arriving soon. The MCS "Valor's Edge", the same ship that brought us here almost three years ago, sits cloaked above New Hong Kong, waiting to drop BT into battle. M-Cor is stationed outside the city too, waiting in their Titans along with several riflemen and grenadier battalions. The entire city has been evacuated, sent to Harmony, told that the Militia had intelligence that the Separatists were going to attack Shanxi. True, in a way.
"Commander Cooper, Separatist ships exiting the Mass Relay"

I turn to Dad. "Here we go" I say, pulling on my helmet. "Bravo Squad, Separatist ships just arrived. Get ready! Marauder Corps, prepare to engage!"

Dad pulls his helmet on. "Droz, you copy?"

"Yeah, we hear yah loud and clear. This'll make one for the records, eh?"

"Definitely one for the logbook"

"Ha ha"

"Commander Cooper, drop pods entering atmosphere"

I nod, drawing my R-99 SMG. Upon seeing my gun, Dad and Bravo Squad draws their guns. I look skyward, and see hundreds, if not thousands of individual pods approaching the city limits.

"You think they might be overcompensating?"

Dad shakes his head. "Given your reputation? Nah, not at all"
I detect sarcasm. There's no way I have a large reputation already.
The pods impact just outside the city's perimeter. Bravo Squad and I head inside one of the empty buildings and wait, watching Dad's position. Dad has the clever idea of sitting in a booth at an empty coffee shop, menu in hand. I have a shite-faced grin on my face as I watch a squad of Separatists walk up to Dad. They look confused. Probably expected more of a civilian presence in the city, and now they see Dad, just sitting in front of an empty coffee shop, holding a menu in his hands, obscuring his helmet. David is grinning wildly, holding in his laughs as best he can, snickering every so often. One of the separatists walks up to Dad, his Phaeston lowered. "You think they're gonna get my order soon? I've been waiting for HOURS for someone to take my order!"
Dad lowers the menu and looks at the Turian. "Are you here to take my order?"

The separatist raises his gun and shouts "Pilot!"

I nod to David. "Lyon, open up. Burke, get ready to drop them"
Lyon nods and starts peppering the area with energy rounds. The separatist squad's shields don't last long, but they scatter into cover after Burke picks a couple off with his DMR. Dad's engaged one in martial combat, easily keeping his own with the Turian youth. "You really don't know what you're doing, do you boy?" Dad says, parrying a blow from the Turian separatist.
"You really need to improve your form"
The Turian slashes at Dad, which he easily dodges.
Shaking his head, Dad cuts the Turian's side. "No, no, no, that's all wrong. I can see exactly where it's going like that, so it's easy to dodge. Short, quick movements are what you need to do"
Furious, the Turian stabs at Dad's chest, only for the old man to sidestep the thrust. "All wrong. Just completely wrong" he says, grabbing the Turian's arm, yanking it behind him and stabbing him in the abdomen. Stepping away, pulling the knife out through the Turian's back, he shakes his head. "Just all wrong. And now you're dead" Dad says calmly, flicking the blood off his knife. Running off, Dad draws the rest of the Separatist squad after him.
I release a breath, realizing I had been holding my breath in during the fight.
"You okay?"

I nod. "I'd forgotten how well Dad can fight"

David nods. "Alright, now we wait. Cameron, Lyon, Burke, report to the shuttle pad. All goes according to plan, we'll be leaving Shanxi soon, and I want you three on board the Logical Approach"
David's men nod, and head to extraction.
"There should be some Separatist squads inside the city by now. What say we go hunting?"
David's grin is all the answer I need.

[-]

Time: 19:42, Local time ( 29-hour clock )

Location: Changzhou District, New Hong Kong

"NO-"
A volley of rounds shreds the Separatist's exposed head. I sigh.
"This is getting too easy"

David walks up, Mastiff lowered. "You think so?"

I nod. "For the two of us, against how many Separatist squads so far? Yah, I definitely think so"
I see a Turian drop behind David, and raise my hand to warn him, then I feel a sting in my neck.

"Or perhaps this was just a trap" I hear, as everything goes black…

[-]

Time: Unknown

Location: Unknown

I wake up. "About time you woke, sympathizer" I hear someone snarl at me from above.

"And who's doing the snarling?" I snark back at the voice

"Your better, that's who" the Separatist says, as he starts to walk away.

I grit my teeth, unwilling to give this Separatist even a minor victory. "Really? You see how many of your friends I ended on Shanxi? Are you sure you're my better, or are you just scared of me?"
No response.
I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn and see David, along with a number of other captives, of differing species. I breathe a sigh of relief, then sit down. "Where are we?"

David shakes his head. "From what I've gathered, we're on our way to Gothis"

I shake my head. "Gothis? Isn't that deep inside Separatist space?"

David nods. "And one of their most fortified worlds"

I sigh. Things just got a lot more complicated. "What time is it?"

"Oh-seven forty-nine, galactic time. You've been out since yesterday"

I grit my teeth. "How long till we get to Gothis"

David shrugs. "Not like they're telling us anything"

I nod. "So now what? We sit and wait?"

David nods. "We sit and wait"

[-]

That wraps it up for chapter 11! I hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I'm enjoying writing it.
One thing: If you're planning on leaving a review, please, PLEASE make an account so I can respond to you. I can't respond to guest reviews other than at the end of the chapters.
Second off: To Guest-Questioner: I understand it's a little disorganized. I'm writing in a first person style with two main perspectives and a secondary perspective, so jumping back and forth between them can be disorienting. That said, I do try to keep my setting firmly in mind while writing, so bear with me while I work on this, eh?
Thirdly: I understand that most of this may be confusing to some of my readers that aren't as familiar with the Mass Effect and Titanfall universes as I am. After I finish this arc, I'm gonna go through and add Fronter Codex entries to the end of each chapter. This should help explain the setting and background of my story.
And as always, thanks for reading! Updates will resume next week, with Chapter 12 going up ( hopefully ) on Monday the 16th. See you guys then!