Chapter 9
"Sgt. Wylde, this is MechaGinger. Skies are clear and we're approaching the bunker. We're gonna clear out an LZ and drop off a squad to assist." Ginger explained over the radio.
"Understood, I've got two squads of marines in here ready to help push back the Batarians. Let me know when it's clear to open the doors."
"Copy, stand by." Ginger switched to the ship channel. "Itchy, get your squad on the door guns, we'll be over the bunker in a moment."
"Rog."
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"Alright, open the doors and deploy the guns!" Itchy ordered as he released his harness and stood from his seat. "Nixie, take the ramp gun, Bacon I want you on the left."
Bacon and Nixie both rose from their seats and moved to their assigned weapons. All three doors to the troop bay opened simultaneously and the guns deployed on their braces. Stepping up to his gun, Itchy powered it on and began scanning the area for targets.
"Infantry, eight o'clock." Called Hat over the comm channel.
"I see em!" Swinging his gun to the right, Bacon pulled the trigger and stitched a trail of red bolts across the enemy position. Three Batarians fell under the barrage of laser bolts, their shields doing nothing against the Bulldog Repeater.
"Hostiles in the building! Six o'clock!" Nixie shouted before tearing into the windows with her own Bulldog. Sporadic fire came back from the enemy position and pelted the Cutlass' shields before being silenced by Nixie accurate fire.
"Armor and infantry to the left, four o'clock!" Bacon called out as he spotted a wheeled vehicle pushing up a road towards them with about a dozen infantry in support. He tore into the infantry for a moment, downing several before the ship turned to face the threat. The vehicle fired the large Canon on its top and the shields flared, but held strong, it began firing a machine gun with little effect until it too was silenced when Ginger blasted it with the Cutlass' Laser Canons.
The turret of the vehicle was launched into the sky as the laser bolts punched through the front armor and hit something critical inside the vehicle. The blast knocked the remaining infantry off their feet, killing some and leaving the rest easy prey for Bacon when Ginger turned the ship back to its original course.
"Bunker ahead, get ready to drop." Announced Ginger.
"Weapons ready!" Itchy ordered as he dismounted the Bulldog and drew his Demeco LMG from his back. "Bacon, find high cover and provide overwatch."
"Got it." Bacon replied, already scanning the area for a good vantage point. "Top if the bunker looks like the best spot."
"Ginger, can you drop Bacon off on top if the bunker?" Itchy asked over the radio.
"Rog." The Cutlass rotated and the back ramp hovered low over the bunker. Bacon drew his P6-LR Sniper and hopped down onto the bunker roof. As soon as he feet touched solid ground, he scrambled to the nearest cover and posted up with his rifle.
Ginger began descending until they were just above the ground and Nixie and Itchy jumped out, weapons raised and scanning the area for targets. When none were visible, Itchy began walking backwards toward the bunker, glancing over his shoulder to make sure he wasn't going to trip on anything.
"Sgt. Wylde, area is secure, we've got friendlies outside the bunker." Ginger called over the radio as the Cutlass hovered fifty meters above. Itchy heard the doors begin to slide open and opened a private channel to Bacon and Nixie.
"Keep your eyes open, just cause they're speaking English doesn't mean they're human."
"You think they might be aliens?" Asked Nixie, looking over Itchy's shoulder to try and see the colonists.
"No, he thinks they're chihuahuas." Mocking sarcasm dripped off Bacons words as he chuckled to himself.
"Chihuahuas would be better company then you." She shot back.
"Focus on the mission." There wasn't any real force to his tone, more of a resigned acceptance that this was what Itchy had to deal with. "Please?"
"You're no fun." Nixie muttered as she turned back to watch the area, though she kept glancing back to see the colonists. Itchy turned to face the bunker and prepared himself to possibly meet his first alien. What he got instead was a man if average height and build, slightly shorter than himself. His dark blue armor was scuffed, but sleek. No sharp edges and covered his entire body unlike his own armor where his grey flight suit could be seen underneath in some areas. His helmet covered his head, though his lower face was exposed and his eyes were protected by a clear visor.
"Sgt. Wylde?" Itchy asked, extending a hand to the very human man in front of him.
"That's me." Wylde replied, taking the offered hand and giving it a firm shake. "Gotta say, we sure are lucky you fellas showed up when you did. Few minutes more and they would've breached the bunker."
"You can thank Ginger for that. We'd still be out beyond the asteroid belt if he hadn't decided to haul ass down here to help."
"I'll buy him a beer when this is over." Wylde made some gestures to the three men at the bunker door that had stayed behind when he came out. Within moments, thirteen similarly dressed humans came out of the bunker and the door closed behind them.
"My guys are ready to push these Batarian bastards outta our home, but we wouldn't mind the help if youre willing."
"Lucky for you, Ginger ain't planning on leaving til this colony is secure." Itchy gestured toward the Cutlass hovering above and Wylde took his first real look at the craft. His face showed shock as he took in the sight.
"What the hell is that thing?" It wasn't shock or awe that coated Wylde's words, but genuine disbelief at what he was seeing.
"That's our ride." Itchy stated, curious about Wylde's reaction.
"No offense, but where in God's name did you cobble that thing together? I ain't seen Hydro engines outside of museums and ExtraNet sites."
"How about we save the questions for later, right now we need to focus on retaking the colony and rescuing any of your people. That 'thing' will provide air support for our advance on the frigates." Itchy turned to move toward Nixie, but stopped to call over his shoulder. "You can call me Itchy, by the way. That's Nixie and the guy on the roof is Bacon. Also, don't let Ginger hear you insult his ship. Ever."
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Marie watched the countdown for their Quantum jump. In less than two minutes they would exit Quantum above an unknown planet, potentially inhabited by humans and currently under attack. And their most experienced ship commander was down on the planet playing hero.
'Stupid Ginger.' It was a thought that was becoming much more frequent in the last day. Marie couldn't doubt his skill, but God damn was he wreckless. And stupid.
"Exiting Quantum in T-minus one minute, Captain."
"Battlestations. Power up the guns and divert power to shields and weapons." She ordered, clasping her hands behind her back as she'd seen Ginger do countless times when he'd commanded the Swordbreaker directly. She didn't want to copy him, but he'd always maintained such a calm and collected air to himself as the shit hit the fan. If she could just fake it long enough, she might survive long enough to punch Ginger's stupid, handsome face next time-
'Oh God no.' She mentally groaned. Shelving that can of worms for later, she focused back on the task at hand.
"All stations ready. Exiting Quantum." Real space snapped back into focus and she took in the situation as best she could with just her eyes. They'd come out of Quantum ten kilometers from the coordinates Ginger had sent. The planet filled most of her view, but aside from the beautiful world below, there wasn't much else she could see.
"Ping the area." She announced. "No point in trying to stay hidden."
"Engaging active scans." Marie waited for her Sensor Tech to continue. "Four ships in high orbit above the planet. I'm detecting MechaGinger's transponder coming from the planet directly below the ships."
"Can we get any readings on combat capabilities of the four ships?"
"Negative, ships are producing energy readings I've never seen before. Combat capabilities are unknown."
Marie took a moment to think before turning to her new Comms Officer. Her replacement.
"Can we establish communication with Ginger?"
"One moment." The Officer replied as he began typing on his terminal. "Connection established, Ma'am."
"Ginger, do you copy?"
"I hear you, Captain. I take it you're in system." Ginger responded. She could almost hear the smirk in his voice.
"Indeed. We've detected four ships in high orbit above your position. Can you provide any details?"
"They started shooting as soon as we got within ten kilometers of them, no attempt at communication was made. Colonists say they're Batarian slavers. I'm afraid I don't have any more for you."
"That's more than enough, Ginger. Have Hat send any combat data you've gathered."
"Understood, transmitting now." Marie glanced to her comm officer who nodded when the information was received.
"Transmission successful. Stay safe down there."
"Will do, Captain." The call ended and Marie took a second to go over it. With the information, she made her decision.
"Close distance and engage. Save the missiles unless absolutely necessary."
"Yes Ma'am!" Her crew burst into action as the Swordbreaker accelerated toward their targets. She watched the sensor screen and saw the enemy turning to face them.
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"Sir, another vessel just appeared in system." Crathan glanced up from his command chair. This raid had already gone to shit, how much worse could it get?
"Enemy vessel is cruiser class and accelerating towards us!"
"Bring the ships around and fire the Mass Accelerators!" Crathan barked. He would not let this newcomer embarass him like the last.
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"Power build up in two of the targets. Looks like they're preparing to fire!"
"All power to shields!" Marie shouted as she grabbed the hand rail by her console. "All stations brace!"
Not a moment after the words left her, did a brilliant streak of light burst from one of the enemy vessel's and smash into the Swordbreaker's shields. Translucent blue flared to life as whatever the enemy had fired at them was deflected.
"Status?" Marie's question wasn't directed at anyone specific, but she knew the right person would answer.
"Shields down to ninety-four percent."
"Second target is firing!"
Another impact shook the ship and a tech announced their shields dropped to eigthy-eight percent.
"Range to targets?" She questioned.
"We'll be in firing range in thirty seconds."
XXXX
"They're still approaching!"
"Fire everything! All ships open fire and keep shooting!" Crathan was almost screaming at this point. Cruisers didn't get this close in combat, he was out of his depth and didn't know what to expect.
So he panicked.
XXXX
"In range, gunners are engaging." The Swordbreaker unleashed a hail of fire toward the first target. It was the ship that Ginger had attacked when he'd arrived. Every turret on the Javelin was focused solely on the cruiser and Marie smiled savagely as the laser fire from her vessel tore into the enemy.
Return fire lanced from the enemy, bright flashes of Crimson that caused the shield to flare. An explosion from her targets hull drew her attention for a moment before she put it to the back of her mind.
XXXX
"Mass Effect core has been breached, we're losing power!"
Crathan nodded.
"Shields are down!"
'Not like they did anything in the first place.' He thought idly. It was strange. He was about to die. He knew it. Yet he was eerily calm. There was no surviving for him and his crew. Their foe was too powerful and their weapons ignored the shields and armor like they weren't even there.
"Abandon ship." He ordered. He knew he wouldn't survive, but maybe some of his crew could make it. He'd give them the chance.
XXXX
"Enemy is abandoning ship, Ma'am."
Marie watched the life pods launch from the wreck. The vessel was listing, succumbing to the gravity of the planet below.
"Move on to next target, but keep lower turrets focused on the wreck. Make sure it stays out of the fight."
"Yes Ma'am."
"Remaining ships are breaking off!"
The remaining ships were turning away from them, angling toward open space before accelerating. Her crew continued firing, tearing the engines of the second target to pieces as it tried to escape. The remaining two ships jumped to FTL before her crew could target them and Marie let out a sigh as the battle ended. The lasers ceased and silence took over the bridge.
"Enemy ship is powered down. Orders, Ma'am?"
Marie took a moment to think. These things, these Batarians attacked a human colony. She didn't know the current galactic situation, but she knew why these Batarians were here. Her mind made up, Marie gave her order.
"Destroy it. No prisoners."
"Aye, Captain."