Disclaimer: I do not own the Mass Effect games. This story is written with no profit in mind. It isn't for sale or rent.
Chapter 8
=DC=
Part 5
=DC=
29.04.2183 GS
Peak 15
Noveria
Pax System
Horse Head Nebula
Thanks to grudging cooperation by the surviving mercenaries and science personnel, the Spectres finally got access to crude maps of the facility drawn from memory. As it turned out, there was a laboratory with equipment to synthesize a cure for the bio-weapon and samples of the weapon in a small annex before the proper Hot Labs zone.
That piece of information changed the plan. The Turian Combat Engineers led by Lieutenant Gaius sent a swarm of drones into the lab annex, finding it empty. Turian marines secured the area while a combat medic went into the laboratory, followed by a security detail. After finding and scanning the samples of the bio-weapon, Vasir sent a squad back to the surface with vials of the damn poison. Meanwhile, the medic got busy creating the cure while receiving directions from Dr. Cohen. At the same time, the Combat Engineers set up another choke-point. They sent their drones ahead to map up the laboratory complex.
The Hot Labs themselves were deeper into the mountain. Sonar and seismic scans confirmed a lot of movement down there, 'echoing' through the elevator shaft leading below. Not-so-apparent tunnels under the floor dug in by the Rachni complicated the tactical situation. Fortunately, the Rachni Queen was supposed to be much closer.
Shepard and Vasir looked at screens projected above their omni-tools showing raw data from the drone swarms. The first obstacle would be a relatively open and bloody lab complex. There were various large vents and the Rachni tunnels to worry about. So far, there was no trace of more Geth or the Commandos escorting Benezia.
"We'll need reinforcements to proceed," Vasir concluded. "When we get in there, the Rachni are liable to swarm us. We'll need manpower and firepower to take and hold the labs, then seal all the holes leading down beside the elevator shafts. After that, we're likely to run into heavy resistance by Geth and Benezia's retinue. We'll be stuck assaulting through a choke-point and guaranteed to take casualties in the process."
"More drones. All the drones we can get our hands on," Shepard suggested. Ideally, they would find another entrance or make one. Without heavy digging equipment, that wasn't an option.
"Lieutenant, have your unit keep manufacturing combat drones. We'll need a large swarm," Vasir ordered. "What's the status of our reinforcements?"
"The first to respond is hours away," The response eventually came from the fleet in orbit.
=DC=
By the time a Turian military transport could bring in a part of an Assault Legion, the Spectres and CDF marines had parts of Peak 15 locked down tightly. They had to fend off two swarming assaults by the Rachni, which were fortunately uncoordinated. Drones, mines, improvised traps, and heavy firepower won the day, even though nearly a Platoon worth of CDF personnel had to rotate out of the front line for medical aid.
Despite the storm, supplies flowing in from all over the planet immensely helped hold the established positions by allowing the CDF forces to manufacture sufficient quantities of heavy armor, specialized ammo, and the chemicals necessary to neutralize Rachni acid.
The combat medic managed to synthesize enough cure for the exposed casualties. She then got busy making more, just in case the wounded CDF forces would need it before being allowed to leave the planet.
The reinforcements had ample time to fabricate the necessary equipment to deal with Rachni, Geth, and Asari Commandos. When Major Brutus arrived leading the Turians of the 221st Assault Legion, he brought a detachment of Combat Engineers with Cabal support to assault the Rachni Queen chamber. A Company worth of heavy infantry ready to take on the Rachni followed suit, as well as a few metric tons of supplies.
The respite allowed the Combat Engineers to fabricate a large swarm of combat drones. The Spectres and their team had more than enough time to rest, recover, and in Wrex's case, regenerate before getting into a juggernaut of an armored suit.
Hundreds of drones swarmed into the laboratories, followed by Wrex and Turian Shock Troops. Their entrance point was yet another elevator shaft. However, instead of rappelling down, the first waves relied on Biotic support to get down.
Missile and suicide drones headed into the Rachni tunnels just in time to meet a wave of angry armored flesh, tentacles, and acid. Explosions sent rhythmic tremors through the heart of the mountain. The drones did their job and slowed down the Rachni onslaught until nearly a platoon managed to deploy into the labs. Only then the first Rachni finally managed to break through, only to get shredded by concentrated firepower.
Heavy explosive packs went into the tunnels, collapsing several of them and partially collapsing the floor in parts of the laboratory complex.
The Spectres and their augmented assault team barely paid attention to the holding action. They headed for the far end of the area, escorting the Combat Engineers and the second swarm of drones. A liberal application of explosives cleared up the two elevator shafts leading down into the Rachni Queen chamber from this area of Peak 15. The Combat Engineers sent in the drones. Wrex, Vasir, and the Cabalites jumped after them, engulfed by coronas of Biotic energy. As soon as they jumped, the engineers rapidly attached ropes for the rest of the strike team to rappel down.
Judging by the sounds from below, Shepard was sure they were assaulting a prepared position. His position as a leader of the Combat Engineer unit going in gave him just enough time to get a glimpse of the unfolding battle. It was thanks to the data a few of the drones sent back before Biotics and overload pulses fried them. Stacked crates, heavy machine guns, and snipers created a killing field in front of the elevators. The drones had flown into a minefield as well. They survived just long enough to clear the traps and give Vasir and Wrex the opportunity to Biotically Charge at the dug-in Geth.
At that point, Shepard grabbed a metal rope and jumped into the fray.
=DC=
Part 6
=DC=
29.04.2183 GS
Peak 15
Noveria
Pax System
Horse Head Nebula
It was a time for an object lesson as to why the galaxy still feared Krogan Battlemasters. Wrex slammed into the barricade with a happy roar. Vasir did the same a split second later. The combined Biotic explosion shattered some of the heavy containers, throwing them away from the impact points. Pieces of assorted machinery flew in all directions. The Geth platforms manning the HMG followed suit, flailing like broken toys.
Wrex's nerves tingled as he rose a powerful barrier as soon as his charge ended. Plasma, warp fields, and heavy sniper rounds splashed over his defenses. Kinetic barriers flashed white and popped up a split second after the heavy barrier shattered. Then, enough firepower to take out a light vehicle bit into his armor.
Blood Rage boiled in his veins, yet it was a cold and calculated fire. Wrex unleashed a carnage round into a Geth sniper, splattering the platform's fluids all over a pillar. Biotic attacks weaved above and around the Krogan a moment before he charged deeper into the fray.
The Cabalites attacks smashed into the jagged line of Asari Commandos, taking cover behind whatever they could. Dark matter imploded and exploded, eating at armor and burning through barriers.
A light blue Asari had just enough time to widen her eyes before Wrex smashed into her barrier. The Biotic defense and kinetic barriers broke, while the backlash of the attack threw the Commando off her feet. Wrex's shotgun boomed, proving once again that commando leathers were no substitute for proper armor. The heavy serrated pellets sheared off as soon as they sliced through the Asari's armor. The result was pleasantly bloody – her torso imploded and burst in a shower of viscera all over the floor. Wrex laughed and whirled around, seeking more targets.
Vasir materialized on the platform above the battlefield, engulfed by raw Biotic energy. She clashed with Benezia, who was doing her best to shield a couple of Geth snipers. The shield held. The Spectre blurred away a split-second before the two AI platforms sent burning slugs through the space she had just vacated.
A Turian Cabal was less fortunate. Overloads cascaded over her barrier, blinding her. Plasma ate through her defenses, followed by sniper rounds that smashed into her helmet, cracking it like an egg. An Asari Commando Biotically charged the Cabalites. They were still trying to move away from the killing zone in front of the elevators. The resulting Biotic explosion staggered four of the Turians. One died when the Asari's shotgun took off his head.
A warp burned through the kinetic barriers of a second Turian, distorting and weakening the chest plate of his armor. The Asari spun and kicked him in the chest with a leg bathed in dark energy. The armor caved in, followed by his ribs. The kick drove him into the wall with a sickening crack.
The other two Cabalites retaliated. A warp and a shotgun blast gutted the Asari's defenses. She nevertheless managed to finish her spin and aim her weapon at one of the surviving Turians. She shot him at point-blank range in the exact moment the second Cabal picked her up with all his Biotic might and slammed her into the ground. The Commando bounced off the metal floor, and the Turian shot her repeatedly before she could land again. Inferno rounds shredded her leathers and lit her on fire.
A sniper round smashed through the Cabal's weakened defenses and lodged into his shoulder. The shock knocked him off his feet. Before he could recover, a second shot struck him in the chest, cracking the advanced alloy of his armor. Medi-gel injectors went to work, and combat drugs flooded his veins. The Turian let go of his rifle and jumped up, surrounded by a Biotic barrier.
The Cabal drew his pistol and charged the Geth sniper. A third round struck him, deflecting in front of his face. Before the machine could shoot him again, the Cabal forced his right hand to rise despite the burning pain in his shoulder. A Biotic pull got the AI out of its cover, even as something viciously tore within the Turian's shoulder, and his arm fell uselessly. He kept shooting at the damn machine until his pistol overheated, then threw it at it and followed with a warp for good measure.
Two more sniper rounds slammed into the Cabal from the side. The first bullet broke through his barrier and nearly drained his still-recharging shields. The second hit him in the ribs, and the Turian went down in a shower of shattered armor, blood, and bone.
Wrex hammered Benezia's shield like the hammer of an angry god. The two Geth she protected shot at some unlucky pyjack below before focusing on him.
Four heavy overload charges burst right on top of the heavy barrier, followed by scorching plasma balls. Wrex's HUD pinged, and his radar showed that more friendlies had just entered the fray. He laughed and unleashed a shock wave right into the barrier, which finally cracked. Benezia staggered, and the two Geth dared to shoot Wrex in the face. The first round broke his defenses. The second shattered his helmet.
Wrex could feel something bite into his face. Blood splashed the inside of his now gaping helmet. However, the Blood Rage kept the pain away, allowing him to focus on the battle with cold precision earned with centuries of warfare and experience.
Vasir flashed past, tackling Benezia in an explosion of dark energy. Wrex roared a challenge and followed suit. He slammed into one of the snipers, sandwiching it between over half a ton of angry Krogan, jagged armor, and a pillar that cracked under the impact.
The Geth imploded in a shower of sparkling liquid.
A hammer blow struck Wrex's hump. The Krogan whirled around and glared at the second sniper.
The head-flaps of the pyjack of an AI folded. Its sniper was venting heat, making it little more than a useless hunk of metal. The platform let go of the weapon and went for a rifle attached to its back. Before it could unfold and aim it, Wrex was in its face and punched its flashlight head. He grabbed it and slammed it into the ground before stomping on it for good measure.
Half of the strike team that rappelled down with Shepard went right after they all unloaded a full barrage of tech attacks at Benezia. The rest followed the Spectre as he ran toward their primary target. Their concentrated attack was enough to give Vasir and Wrex an opening, which they took advantage of. The snipers were gone when Shepard got to the raised platform. Vasir was busy brawling with Benezia using Biotically enhanced punches. Wrex turned away from the roadkill he made of the second sniper and charged the Asari Matriarch. Shepard gestured the Cabalites to secure the other flank while preparing a heavy overload.
After the next exchange, Benezia sent Vasir stumbling back, which was Shepard's cue. He unleashed his attack and followed with a concussion round. Both struck Benezia in the face when she turned to face the oncoming juggernaut that was Wrex. Her barrier broke in a cascade of electricity. The concussion rounds spent themselves battering her kinetic barriers down. Despite that, the Matriarch met Wrex's charge head-on. A blinding explosion of Biotic energy followed.
Wrex stumbled back, laughing. The Asari was less fortunate. She flew back and struck the railing surrounding the upper platform with enough momentum to bounce off it. Before she could recover, Vasir materialized beside the Matriarch and cold-clocked her with a Biotically enhanced fist.
Shepard was sure he saw Benezia's jaw shatter, then her head whipped to the side, and she fell into a heap on the floor. Vasir wasted no time and lit up her omni-tool, using it to shock the Matriarch with enough voltage to ensure she wouldn't be getting up anytime soon. Seeing the upper platform was secure, Shepard ran past the stairs up and followed the Combat Engineers who went to secure the left flank. He found them taking potshots at a Commando who was busy ducking it against two Cabalites in close combat.
The combination proved too much for the Asari. She managed to break the barriers protecting one of the Turians and froze him with a stasis field. However, that cost her too much time and focus. A warp at point-blank range, followed by a knife trust, shattered her defenses. Two controlled bursts from the Combat Engineers splattered her brains all over the Cabalites.
Shepard scanned for more targets and relaxed a fraction when suddenly he could hear no more point-blank shots or sounds of combat, save from what was coming from upstairs.