From Ashes
Chapter Sixteen: Race Against Time
A/N: Fair warning, guys: I will be switching perspective in this chapter. You'll see it marked, so it won't be too confusing... I hope. I didn't intend for it to be this long, but here it is. :) Enjoy.
"I felt it was my only course of action…" That had been her answer when asked for the umpteenth time why she had gone against her fellow councilors and lifted the Normandy's lockdown. She had been questioned by C-Sec, Venari Pallin himself, Ambassador Udina, and now Valern. The salarian had given up and left the holding area with his robe sweeping behind him. That left one person.
"I see no point in asking the same question." The subharmonics in his voice were a low growl as he clasped his two-fingered hands behind his back.
"Good. I see no point in giving the same answer." She offered as a stiff reply from where she stood; just a few short paces away.
"What changed your mind?" Sparatus' obsidian eyes glinted in the electric blue light above.
"Something no one else could see." Tevos answered evasively. She knew he would figure it out soon enough.
"You saw the visions." He said flatly.
"As I have said, I had to be sure."
"Ethically-"
"Ethics be damned." Tevos said sharply. At Sparatus' bewildered expression due to her sudden change of mood, the asari explained. "If what I saw is bound to happen, then ethics will be the least of our convern if she fails."
Sparatus did not speak for a few moments; he let thosewords take meaning, and there was something not so blatantly disturbing about them. Yes, if it was true and the "Reapers" were indeed going to wipe out all life, then that would be more than a serious concern. Still, something bothered him, and it had nothing to do with the reapers. Finally working his mind around it, he voiced a question. "You crossed a line with Shepard; how far are you willing to let that go?"
"I cannot answer that-"
"I believe I just got my answer."
"-Not for the reasons you think." Tevos cut him off as he had just done her. "Ethically speaking, I could care less about how far. The reason I say I cannot give you an answer is because I truly don't know." She paused. That was true; she had no idea where it was going, but she knew where she wouldn't mind it heading. Still, she frowned in thought. Eyes on her turian coworker; watching his expression. "Now answer this: Why does this matter to you? Never mind the fact that I crossed a very obvious line; why are you here?"
"Perhaps I give a damn." Sparatus said in a near whisper. "Not just about your professional career but for you personally. I've seen what power can do to people: it changes them, makes them feel as if they are more important than others. I took solace in the fact that I was working with someone that was able to avoid the negative effects of this position."
"You would have done the same thing; had you seen what I did." Though what he said came as a slight surprise to her, Tevos putt it aside for the moment. "I was a commando first; roped into this position due to a few successful negotiations and a perceived talent for diplomacy. You were a soldier; you know that those reflexes are difficult to suppress when a situation that warrants them arises."
"Yes, but I do not act on them each time." Sparatus shot back.
"Neither do I." Now, her tone softened slightly. "I did not know that was how you felt." She approached him. "Take this for what you will: I will, of course, take full responsibility for my actions today; I had no intention of doing otherwise, but I had to do something."
"And if your are dismissed because of it?"
"Then I will find another way to continue my work." They were interrupted soon after she had said that. A C-Sec officer came barreling around the corner and motioned for the pair of them to follow her quickly.
"This way." She said sternly. They were headed out of the holding area and into the main foyer at C-Sec. There was a set of stairs that led to a few offices and another stairwell.
"What is going on?" Sparatus barked as they passed several officers with riot gear on. "What has happened?"
"No time." The asari officer led them up the second flight of stairs to a lift that was usually locked down; a row of weapons lockers facing it. "Go. Someone will clarify once you're safe."
"Safe from what?" Tevos echoed in Sparatus' concern as the officer waited for the door to drop on the lift for them to enter.
"Just go. They'll tell you everything up there."
"You know what this is." Sparatus said; realization etched in his features.
"The emergency lift to the docks, yes." Tevos said as she looked back down; the officer heading out at a sprint. "What do you suppose is happening?"
"Hopefully not what we were just discussing." The lift rocketed up to a more secure dock, and they could see people moving quickly. Looking around before they advanced, Sparatus spotted Valern. "He's here as well… Something is wrong."
"Let's go!" One asari came to meet them quickly; her gun in hand. "Get to the ship now."
The two followed and found the massive asari dreadnought, the Destiny Ascension, docked just ahead. When they moved up the walkways and eventually boarded the ship, they were greeted by its commanding officer and Valern. Wordlessly, she directed them to follow. They passed several stations, countless commandos, and heard various orders. Finally, when they reached one of the upper decks, the CO spoke; clearly addressing her helmsman who was sitting just a short distance away. They wee on the bridge.
"Get us out of here, Lieutenant."
"Yes Ma'am."
The scene they took in through the observation panels was one that didn't seem possible. Ships, mostly the turian peace-keeping fleet, were moving at high speed toward what looked to be the direction of the Widow relay. Projectiles were lighting up the darker and more dstant hues of the nebula as they went. There was something or many things firing at the cruisers and frigates departing the Citadel. Finally, as the Ascension cleared the Citadel's arms and changed course, they all saw the cause of the disturbance. Many ships, small due to distance, were approaching the station like a mad swarm. They were surrounding something that sent an icy chill through the asari councilor as she watched it looming closer. It was the same sort as the monstrous ships that had ravaged the Prothean empire; it was Sovereign.
"I want a constant visual on that thing." Matriarch Lidanya stated firmly to one of her other officers nearby.
"Yes Ma'am."
"They want us to fall back, Ma'am." A tactical officer, or what they all assumed was one, spoke up.
"Helm, fall back behind the turians. We can take a hit, but we need to stay at a distance." The CO stated. "Main cannon works better that way."
"What is that thing?" The tactical officer questioned; indicating Sovereign. "That can't be a geth ship."
"Doesn't look like any geth creation I've ever seen, and I've been keeping an eye on them off and on." Lidanya remarked.
"That is Sovereign;" The asari councilor pointed out.
"The sentient machine Shepard accused of being a reaper?" Valern questioned sharply.
"The very one."
"The main gun on that thing looks as if…" The tactical officer trailed off as an angry red particle beam came from Sovereign's main firing chamber and collided with a turian cruiser; tearing it in half. "Goddess…"
"We're in for a long hard fight." Her CO stated darkly.
"There!" Ashley Williams had pointed out something ahead. "That's the conduit!"
"No time to admire the view, people." Shepard said as she shifted the Mako's engines so that the tank would move at top speed. "Wrex, hit that thing and let's get the hell out of here!"
They had moved out of the bunker and onto a crooked path that had been filled with geth of all sorts. Not stopping to shoot them with the turret, Wrex had simply plowed past them and had gotten to the hilltop that revealed the blinding blue that was the conduit. When he revved the engine, the mako took off after a slight hesitation in the sodden path. They moved quickly down a curved slope and Garrus was on the main turret firing away at whatever got between them and the ramp that led to the small-scale relay. As he caused a colossus to crumble, they all felt the shuddering as the tank reached the ramp and started toward the conduit.
"Shepard, if you are right, this leads…"
"Right to the tower." Shepard finished before gripping the overhead beam to keep herself seated. "Hang on!" They hit the conduit and were sent rocketing ipward. The tank's visuals were replaced by a blinding white-blue light, and they were all forced to turn away from the display panels. Time itself seemed to stand still as the mako was sent from one point in the Terminus to the heart of the Citadel, but when it was over, it was over.
The presidium was a dark and hellish sight to behold: trees were on fire, the water reservoirs had a black and smoky look to them, and there wasn't much light past the Citadel tower itself. The artificial sunlight and most support functions were malfunctioning, so the air was thick with a black smoke. Geth were patrolling the strip in front of the tower when they were bathed in a brilliant blue light. The rings on the relay monument had started to turn; slowly at first and then they sped up to an almost blurred speed. The walkway shuddered as the relay became active, and the troopers stared in bewilderment. Something was coming out of the relay, and it wasn't a friendly sort. The M35 Mako surged through the relay and collided sharply with one of the base lights for the geth that had been standing there were reduced to scrap as the tank turned on its side; wheels spinning idly in the air.
Shepard and the others wirked to get one of the side hatches open so tha they could leave the vehicle, and with a hard shove of her, Wrex, and Garrus' shoulders, the one that was above them finally opened. This left them to clamber out of the tank that was still and permanently on its side. First to drop down to the ground, Shepard drew her pulse rifle and kept it primed in the event that they had more visitors. Already, she could see the pieces of the few geth that had been there before they arrived. Ash, Liara, Tali, Wrex, and finally Garrus emerged and drew down as well while Shepard approached the Avina terminal that looked to be malfunctioning.
"Critical f-failures detected across all-all monitored systems." The VI was giving an automated message regarding evacuation procedures. "Please begin with emergency evacuation procedures. This is not a drill." When Shepard stood before her, Avina continued. "The presidium is experiencing major power and system malfunctions. All non-essential personnel must evacuate immediately."
"Give me an analysis of the situation." Shepard said quickly while Garrus and Wrex took out a few husks that had been brought down from dragons' teeth nearby.
"We have lost all primary power to the level." Avina ticked off one issue after another. "Environmental controls are not responding. Class three fires are burning in sectors 2, 3, 6, and 7. Civilian casualties are high. I am also detecting numerous unauthorized synthetic lifeforms; these are assumed to be hostile. Please approach with caution." The entire time this was going on, her projection was flashing and flickering; in danger of losing power.
"What happened to the council?"
"In accordance to emergency Citadel regulations, the Citadel Council had been evacuated to the Destiny Ascension." Avina reported with a few small hiccups in her speech and her projection facing in the opposite direction for a split second.
"Where's Saren?" Wrex asked.
"Former spectre agent Saren Arterius is currently in the viscinity of the council chambers at the top of the Citadel tower. A warrant has been issued for his arrest; though Citadel Security is unable to respond at this time. Please approach with caution."
"What about Captain Anderson and Ambassador Udina?" Ash added.
"I have no information on specific individuals." Avina managed while still flickering and disappearing on occasion. "Once the current crisis is resolved, a complete account of casualties and survivors will begin."
"Let's go." Shepard motioned to the lift that led to the top of the Citadel tower. "He's up there, and I don't intend for him to openthat relay."
Outside, the Citadel fleet gathered and prepared to go on the defensive with the approach of Sovereign. Geth had alrady managed to hamper them as far as offense was concerned; then there was the fact that Sovereign's main weapon was easily able to cut a ship in two in one go. With the reaper's approach to the station, the Citadel's arms began to move. The Ascension had just made a pass by the station to avoid a wing of the geth fleet following Sovereign, and they too had noticed the Citadel closing.
"I can try to access the Citadel's systems remotely again…" The helmsman looked over one of the panels to her left. "We were unable to bridge a connection last time, though."
"Don't bother." Lidanya countered as she watched carefully. "We won't get a connection to the station again; as it is, that thing doesn't need to get inside the arms." That seemed to be one of the turian generals' thoughts as well. His voice came over the comm from one of the heavy cruisers.
"The arms are closing. Don't let any hostiles into the station!" While other ships moved forward to do just that, they were either severely damagd or utterly destroyed as Sovereign moved past them. One frigate was directly in its path and exploded on impact.
"Was it worth it, Councilor?"
"What?" Both Sparatus and Tevos turned. Valern was looking at the latter with sharp eyes.
"Was it worth sending Shepard after a conduit that isn't helping us at the moment?" He clarified.
"We still do not know what it is-"
"You still didn't know before you decided to simply let her go?" Valern hissed.
"No, I didn't." Tevos said flatly.
"And your opinion on this?" Valern addressed the turian; his eyes were on the ships that had been destroyed, or where they had been beforehand.
"I don't know." He finally faced the others. "If it exists and can help us now, then it may have been worth it. If not…" Sparatus shook his head finally.
"…Shepard, where are you?" The asari councilor wondered under her breath.
The lift rocketed upwards, but just as fast as it had started, it stopped. Shepard and the others were nearly brought to their knees due to the sudden sotp.
"Saren's locked down the lift." Garrus guessed.
"Helmets and magboots active." Shepard ordered. "We'll hae go get there the hard way."
When they all had their helmets on, hard suits pressurized, and magboots activated, Shepard shot out the glass and stepped out. Floating for a moment, the boots locked onto the tower's maintenance shaft, and she was able to get her bearings. Taking a few steps, she heard the others' doing the same. The station's arms had already closed, and they cold see the large form of Sovereign up close nearby. Motioning toward the only viable route, Shepard moved along the maintenance corridor and down a ramp. There, a lift opened, and geth emerged; along with a krogan. Liara, Shepard, and Wrex used biotics to lock the targets into place; either with singularity or stasis, and the others would move in closer to take them out. Finally clearing that initial area, they turned a right corner and advanced. There were more geth ahead and another krogan, but they were made short work of. The krogan got his helmet blasted off, which left him to die a very cruel death. The geth were picked off by Garrus and Ashley from their positions further back. They were both armed with rifles geared more for sniping.
The only way to go was up, and Shepard emerged out onto the tower's exhaust plain. Here, geth had set up kinetic barriers everywhere and were using them for cover. This meant that they could do the same. Advancing, she took one side of a barrier while Liara took the other. Both would peak around the corner and knock geth off their feet with throw fields or shockwaves. This left them to be slow floating targets for the others to pick off. Wrex would do the same before blowing their heads off with his shotgun. Tali's drones would distract the geth and drain power from their shields to make them easier marks.
The next area was a bit more trouble however. They had reached what looked to be a defense turret. There were two more scattered throughout the open area, and they could be useful. A geth dropship had made it into the station before it had sealed, and it was responsible for the steady stream of geth coming in. Activating one turret, Shepard saw Wrex and Garrus doing the same to the other two. They would be useful in taking down that geth ship that was also blocking the way forward. Rockets fired at it and the many geth it sent down until it sustained a fair bit of damage. The turrets fired in triplicate; all three projectiles hammering the vessel while Shepard and the others focused on the geth that had escaped it. When it started smoking and sputtering, the field it was maintaining dropped, and it attempted to pull away; the turrets still firing and eventually destroying it.
"Keep going!" Shepard urged. "We still have to get in there and stop him!" They rounded another corner and entered a corridor with two krogan guarding it. Once they were dealt with, Garrus stopped everyone quickly.
"Wait." He cautioned. "The tower's external defense grid is ahead. As safe as it sounds, it's worse. There are trenches scattered tthroughout, and there aren't any stationside turrets."
"Sounds like a party." Ash commented dryly while checking her thermal clip. "Strategy?"
"There's a trench that runs along the left side, but I'm going to guess it's guarded." Garrus muttered. "We can hear geth ahead, so they're in deep."
"We can attempt to go for the trench." Wrex volunteered. "We've dealt with a cluster of these bastards already. What's a few more?" They headed out onto the defense grid and were welcomed by destroyers, geth turrets, and rocket troopers.
"I think we're the ones in deep, Garrus." Shepard muttered while lining up a shot to take out a rocket trooper that was headed for them. "Tali, see if you can hack those turrets."
"Already on it." Tali deployed a few drones and went to work on hacking a pair of turrets to fire on their own. When that happened, it offered the best distraction. "Got it!"
"The trench!" Garrus pointed it out. They all dove out of cover and tore toward the entrance to it. When they reached it however, they found a small army of krogan waiting.
"Didn't peg you to be defending the Citadel and council, Wrex." One grunted as he aimed his shotgun. "Figured you'd want as much payback as we did for the genophage."
"Should have known you would have varren meat for brains." Wrex shot back. "Not like Saren could cure it anyway. Guess you got all your hearts roken for that one." He didn't waste time; using lift to pick up the one who had addressed him and shooting him directly in the crest. At that point, Shepard and Liara did the same. They drew them out and into the open with singularity and lift. Soon, all of the krogan were airborne, and they were being picked off or thrown out into space; their helmets shot off so that they would suffocate.
"There, that's the way into the council chambers." They had cleared the trench and rounded the southern part of the defense grid. The last remaining corridor led to a dead end. "Pull that hatch there."
"Report!"
The Ascension had come under more fire from its constantly changing position. They had gone to evasive maneuvers after Sovereign had entered the station's arms. Geth ships were swarming around and taking shots at everything. The bridge staff looked sharply toward their commanding officer as she had said that word.
"Kinetic barriers are down to seventy-three…." The tactical officer was preparing to feport before they were hit again. "-Sixty-seven percent. Weapons are slow to respond."
"Communications are going in and out." The helmsman reported as she sent the ship to the left to avoid a barrage of shots from an advancing dreadnought. "GARDIAN is offline for cooldown."
"Arm." Lidanya turned to the tactical officer. "Take that thing out before it corners us."
"Firing." The Ascension's main gun tore a hole in the geth ship that had been pursuing them, but that was the least of their problems. There were several other smaller vessels rounding it.
"Ma'am?" The helmsman motioned to the scanners. "We're being pinned!"
"See if you can get GARDIAN back up and-" Lidanya started, but they were hit twice. It forced her to grip the back of the helmsman's chair to keep from falling over. "Damnit!"
"Shields down to fifty percent now!" The tactical officer called.
"GARDIAN is not responding!"
Shepard and the others reached the council chambers after descending from a service ladder. Thesight that met them was one not unlike the presidium; Everything was either burning or had been burned. The fountain was just weakly streaming a little water here and there, trees were scorched or still smoldering, and there were a few keepers lying motionless near their previous posts. An alarm was going off somewhere in the distance, and there was the subtle mechanical gurgle of geth as they emerged from the stairs leading to the council platform. Half way along, they encountered more geth. Wrex, Garrus, and Tali stayed back to deal with them while Liara and Ashley accompanied Shepard further up. They could just see Saren doing something with what looked like a holo display that they had never seen before. There were numerous feeds and other things being shown, but they were hard to make out from that distance. Getting up the last stairs however, they noticed that Saren was gone.
"He was just…" Ash looked around for the rogue spectre, but he was nowhere to be found. Liara's words drew her attention back to the center of the platform that they usually occupied during meetings with the council.
"He still is!" She indicated Saren rising from below on the hovering platform that was no doubt geth or reaper technology. Saren lobbed a grenade toward them, but Liara threw up a biotic barrier around them to shield them from the blast. It did the trick; cushioning the blow and leaving them standing.
"I was afraid you might not make it in time, Shepard." Saren said in his typical mocking tone.
"Oh?" Shepard retorted; pulse rifle still drawn. "And miss the opportunity to spoil your plans? Not a chance."
"The final confrontation." Saren extended his arms in a grand pose. "I believe we both knew it would end this way. You've lost; you know that, don't you?" He drawled. "In a few short moments, Sovereign will have control of the Citadel's systems, the relay will open, and it will all be over; the reapers will return."
"Not if I have anything to do with it."
"You survived our encounter on Virmire, Shepard, but I have changed since then; improved." Saren motioned to himself with one taloned hand. "Sovereign has… upgraded me."
"You let that thing implant reaper technology into you?" Ash interjected. "Are you insane?"
"I suppose I have you to thank." Saren looked at Shepard directly now; eyes glazed with a glowing blue tint to them. "After our talk on Virmire, I began to really consider what you said; about how Sovereign was manipulating me… About indoctrination."
"And what was your conclusion?" Liara asked while still keeping her pistol trained on Saren.
"The doubts began to eat away at me, as they did at your mother." Saren answered. "Sovereign sensed my hesitation. It implanted me to strengthen my resolve. Now my doubts are gone; I believe in Sovereign completely." Saren crossed his arms while still keeping a grip on his pistol as well. "I understand now that the reapers need organics. Join Sovereign, and he will find a place for all of you as well."
"Sovereign is controlling you through those implants." Shepard pointed out. "Don't you see that? It's using you to get what it wants!"
"The relationship is symbiotic; a union of flesh and steel." Saren explained. The strengths of both and the weaknesses of neither. I am a vision of the future, Shepard. This is the way organic life is supposed to evolve. Join Sovereign and experience a true rebirth."
"We'd rather die than live like that!" Wrex snarled as the rest of them approached. "If you had an organic cell left in your brain that was still your own, you might understand that."
"Then you will die." Saren snapped. "Everyone you know and love, everyone you've ever met… Don't you understand? You will all die!" He lowered his head slightly, and Shepard saw that she wasn't the only one who found that odd. Liara had seen it too. "The reapers cannot be stopped; not by the protheans, not by you. The cycle always continues."
"It doesn't have to." Shepard countered. "The protheans recognized that and took steps to stop it." Lowering her weapon, she stepped fully out of cover and addressed Saren again. "Some part of you must realize this is wrong."
"The reapers cannot be stopped!" Saren snapped. "Not forever… You saw the visions from the beacons, Shepard. You know that they are too powerful."
"That's because the previous races didn't have the advantage we do." Shepard cut him off. "They didn't have a chance to stop it. The reapers initiated the invasion with the keepers." She motioned to one of the dead ones nearby. "They ignored Sovereign this time. It got desperate and tried to force it anyway. You can stop this!" Stepping closer, she motioned toward the control unit. "Step aside and this invasion will never happen."
"Maybe…" Saren hesitated; gun shaking in his hand. "Maybe you're right. Maybe there is still a chance for-" His head seemed to cause him immense pain just then. He gripped it with one hand; the other clutching his pistol. He snarled in pain and had to catch his breath before shaking his head. "Th-the implants…" The turian sputtered as he blinked to refocus his vision. "Sovereign's influence is too strong. Its words are too loud-" He shuddered again; almost falling from his platform. When he spoke, the malice and typical mockery was gone from his tone. Instead, he actually sounded genuine. "I'm sorry… It is too late-"
"You can still do this." Shepard pressed. "Redeem yourself!"
"Goodbye, Shepard." Saren said quietly as he raised his gun so that its muzzle rested just between his mandibles. "Thank you."
"No!" Shepard moved forward, but it was too late. She watched as Saren pulled the trigger; dark blue blood spraying from the fatal wound. Saren toppled from his platform and landed on the walkway just to the left of the control unit's display; eyes closed and face half blown off from the self-inflicted shot.
"Quick, use Vigil's data file and see if we can get access to the Citadel's systems." Wrex prompted
Shepard did, and the display lit up again with the Citadel's systems' controls splaying all over it. "It worked." She said in a forced calm voice. The dead spectre's fate still disturbing her. She had just started to really get through to him when this happened, but she would have to dwal with that later.
"Quick, open the arms." Garrus added as he approached. "We can get the fleets in here to deal with Sovereign."
"See if you can open a communications channel." Liara quipped.
"Kinetic barriers are failing!"
The situation aboard the Ascension had gone from bad to worse. The geth had cornered them, and they had wasted no time in attacking what was deemed the most powerful ship in the Citadel fleet. They had taken a powerful dreadnought and were somewhat quickly wearing her down. The helmsman's report only confirmed what its CO already knew.
"Divert power!" She directed this to her helmsman, but got a negative in return.
"I can't from here. Tactical is the best place to do that, and she's in maintenance trying to get GARDIAN back online!"
"I'll do it." Lidanya sighed and approached the terminal. "Suppose it is a good thing I was required to remember half of this shit before taking command of this vessel…" She muttered under her breath as she worked with the holo keys. The drive core had not been responding for some time, and they were stuck here. Engineering was still working, but it was amounting to nothing. Every hit they took made them start over. Eyes moving over readouts and power conduit displays, Lidanya thought fast; there had to be somewhere they could divert power from to get barriers back up. If not, there were ten thousand crewmen and the council that wwere going to meet their end up here. Finally seeing something, she tried it. Power could be diverted from the secondary systems that were in charge of powering crew quarters. As she re-worked it, she made a note of her change that Engineering should see on one of their displays. Finally, she saw the power from the secondary systems draining. "Try it now!"
"Re-engaging kinetic barriers…" The helmsman said, and there was a very palpable tension in the air while they waited. At last… "I don't know how you did it, but they're rising; slowly, but they're coming back up."
"But how long will it last…" Liadnya had just finished voicing that thought, and for a split second she wished she hadn't. A pair of projectiles from the two geth ships nearest collided with the ship. One hit the deck they were on, and the other hit three decks down. As soon as it impacted, the tactical console sparked dangerously. Soon after, two bolts of electricity surged from it and hit the matriarch as she moved to get away from it.
"No!" The executive officer moved quickly, but she was held back by the turian councilor. "Let go-"
"The current is still passing through!" He hissed. "If you touch her, you will be injured." Lidanya's body jerked where she stood for a few seconds before she fell to the floor. Eyes wide open, her muscles were still reacting to what had just happened, and her breath came in uneven and ragged gasps. After a few moments, she stopped moving altogether.
"is she…" The helmsman had turned to watch the situation, but she had to remain where she was.
"No." The executive officer had finally knelt and checked for a pulse as well as other life signs. "Completely out of it…" She stood carefully and looked ahead toward the geth ships. "Status of those barriers, Lorena?"
"Resting at forty percent, Ma'am." The helmsman glanced over the readout and replied.
"Try and get a message out." The XO said with an authority she didn't really feel.
"Comms are down."
"We could try rerouting power again, but I'm not an engineering specialist." The XO admitted. "Where's tactical?"
"Maintenance." Lorena said promptly. "She was checking on GARDIAN and the other weapons systems."
"I can do it."
"What?" Sparatus and Valern both said in unison as they turned to their colleague.
"Councilor?" The Ascension's XO did the same.
"I was a communications specialist aboard the last ship I served on." Tevos explained. "One of the few technical fields I took an interest in."
"If you think you can restore it, then good luck."
We will need to find a power sourse to tap into that is not essential at the moment." Tevos explained. "Secondary support systems will not work in this case. They were more than likely damaged in the last attack." She looked down at the still motionless matriarch.
"For the moment, the engines are an option." The helmsman suggested. "They're not getting any repairs done right now. Everything they've done has been undone by these pot shots the geth are taking at us." The ship shuddered as she said this. "Like that."
"That is possible…" Tevos thought aloud. "Power could be siphoned from the engines with enough to still get the ship moving if the geth are cleared off.
"Do it. I'll alert engineering." The XO stepped back and did just ahs she suggested.
"Are you certain of this?" Valern questioned while his coworker dealt with the power diversion.
"Positive." When it was done, they saw that the comm channels were open again, and they were receiving feeds from the rest of the Citadel fleet that were hampered by similar situations.
"This is the Destiny Ascension." The helmsman tried over the comm. "Requesting assistance. Kinetic barriers are down to forty percent. The council is onboard. I repeat: The council is onboard!"
"Normandy to the Citadel." Joker's voice broke through next. "Normandy to the Citadel… Please tell me that's you, Commander."
"I'm here, Joker." Shepard confirmed.
"Just got that distress call as well." Joker was referring to the one from the Ascension. "I'm sitting here in the Andura sector with the entire Arcturus fleet Give the word, and we can save the Ascension; just unlock the relays around the Citadel and we can send the cavalry in."
"You'd risk human lives to save the council?" Garrus asked. "What have they done for humanity?"
"This is bigger than the council or humanity." Liara countered. "Sovereign and the reapers are a threat to every organic species in the galaxy-"
"Which is why you can't waste time and lives trying to save the council." Garrus went on. "Hold them back until the Citadel's arms open and focus on Sovereign."
"What's the order, Commander?" Joker asked over the comm. "Go in now and save the Ascension or wait?"
"I'm opening the relays now." Shepard didn't have to think. "Save the Ascension."
"I hope the council appreciates it." Wrex commented.
"Negative." An order came in as the relays were opening. "Focus your attention on Sovereign!" Shepard recognized the voice. It was Rear Admiral Mikhailovich.
The Alliance Fifth fleet surged through the relay as well as others to engage Sovereign, and it didn't go unnoticed. The Flight Lieutenant Lorena pointed them out as they surged toward the station, whose arms were slowly opening.
"Ma'am, reinforcements!"
"It's the Alliance…" The Ascension's XO nodded slowly. "Open a comm channel." When it was opened, she continued. "This is the Ascension. We're requesting immediate assistance. GARDIAN systems are offline, kinetic barriers are down to twenty percent. Drive core not resp-"
"Ma'am, they've closed the channel…"
A/N: I feel oh so evil right about now... Working on chapter 17: The Battle Of The Citadel now.
