Ilos
While the Normandy slipped and dipped and dived and banked to stay as far away from the multitude of Geth cruisers as physically possible I went over to Navigator Presley,
"Are you able to get any readings from Ilos?"
"The Geth ships are causing a bit of interference," the elderly officer replied, "but Ilos is just within range of the scanners and it looks like the Geth are on the surface in force as well."
"Any concentration of forces which could tell us where Saren is? Or the Conduit?"
"Not yet. I could boost the scanner to get a more detailed picture, but that would cause more heat emissions and reduce the stealth systems duration."
"Ok," I relented, "we're not here for a space battle. As soon as you're able I want to be able to see Saren's every footstep."
"Yes Sir."
"What's the plan when we find Saren?" Ashley asked.
"Put a bullet in his brain," I heard Joker mutter to himself.
"Hopefully we get a lock on his position and let the Normandy's guns annihilate him," I said.
The crew seemed happy with that decision, but they knew that things were never that easy.
"Failing that," I said, "we hit the ground and strike hard and fast. If we can deal with him before he reaches the Conduit then all the better. But…" I checked Joker's LADAR screen again, "Sovereign isn't here. We have to assume that they've either found it or are close and are putting whatever plan they have into action."
After a few hairy close encounters with the Geth fleet, Joker sneaked through their perimeter and we sailed straight for Ilos.
Liara watched the planet get nearer and nearer, mesmerised by its sight.
"Ilos was one of the most important symbols of Prothean power and ingenuity to its people. Its cities were built during one of the Prothean golden ages, but it was also one of the first to fall silent. I guess that the Reapers knew how important the planet was as well. I never dreamed that I would see it for myself."
I could not help but be impressed by the majesty of the Protheans: The entire planet seemed to be covered by one, massive city; a true Ecumenopolis. Even from space I could clearly see vast expanses of criss-crossing roadways and highways. There was an extensive mountain range that stretched from just north of the planet's equator and away to the south east: and still the Protheans had built vast dwellings and what could have been industrial centres upon them, conquering every summit as if meeting the challenges that Ilos presented them with.
"I've got something, Commander," Presley called out. My eyes were glued to the screen and saw the heavy Geth presence down on the surface.
"There's an entire army heading towards some kind of underground passageway."
"A hidden underground complex maybe," I said as I traced my finger around the ring of signals that was quickly becoming apparent, "Saren knows that we're after him and he's setting up a defence around the entrance."
Presley pointed to one particular signature,
"There's Saren there! He's almost reached the entrance."
"He's found the Conduit," I knew it in my heart that Saren had found what both of us had sought for so long, "Joker! Double time it. Drop us right on top of that bastard!"
Turning to the team I ordered,
"Everyone get to the Mako."
"Negative on that Commander," Presley warned, "you need at least a hundred metres of open ground to pull off a drop in the Mako. The most I can find near Saren is twenty."
"We'd never make it," Ashley agreed.
"The descent angle is too steep," Tali said aloud.
"Can't you find anywhere else?" Garrus added.
"We have no choice. We have to try!" I said.
"It's a suicide run Commander," Ashley replied, "we have to find…"
"I can do it," Joker cut her off.
"You sure Joker?" I asked.
"I can do it." He said it in such a calm, collected and firm manner that I knew we were in good hands; the best hands. I signalled to my team and we headed down to the Mako as Joker prepared his final run on Ilos. We were being dropped into a heavily built-up area, one single lapse of judgement and the Mako would end up smashed to pieces in a building side or in the ground with all of us inside it. As we piled into the Mako, Presley informed me that Saren had now entered the underground passage and had disappeared from the scanners, but his thousands of Geth were still funnelling in behind him.
Tensions were running high, but I believed in Joker and my team believed in me. Strapped tightly into our seats in our trusty tank, we waited for Joker's signal to drop. The hanger door opened before me and my gut tightened as I saw the surface of the planet rushing up to greet us at frightening speed. The Normandy was in a near vertical descent, bearing down on the horde of Geth soldiers below us. Joker unleashed some heavy firepower to blow away any Geth that were right where we were due to plummet into the earth, but there were still thousands to contend with all around.
I knew that, somewhere, at the head of that infantry column was Saren, closing in on his prize. My whole body clenched when, at Joker's beckoning, I hit the release command and felt the lurch as the Mako dropped helplessly into the air. I watched the scanner as the Normandy pulled violently upwards and narrowly escaped back into the skies of Ilos again. Using all the skill that I could summon, I used the Mako's boosters to level it out and we hammered into the ground, the suspension complaining loudly and emergency warnings flashing up all over the place.
We were groundside, and less than ten metres from the entrance to the underground highway that opened up before us. I planted my foot on the accelerator and rushed through the huge blast doors as they began to close. We passed through just before we were shut out and I shouted to Williams,
"Shoot the door controls. Hopefully it'll stall the Geth behind us for a wee while!"
The Mako's cannon ripped the console by the door apart, shorting out the entire system, and the gargantuan doors closed firmly behind us. They would keep the majority of Saren's Geth out, but for all we knew we were now trapped inside as well.
Phaser and rockets began shooting towards us and I threw the tank down the passage as fast as she could go. Ashley did her best to suppress Geth positions with the main gun and machine guns while Garrus opened one of the top hatches and began firing back with his assault rifle as we roared along. It became clear that we were headed deep under the surface of the planet and soon the walls on either side of us were nearly as tall as a block of flats. In between the bumps and swerves, Liara pointed out the hundreds of pods that were protruding from the walls,
"They look like stasis pods," she said, "the Protheans must have tried to preserve themselves until after the Reapers were gone."
"Do you think that we're going to find Protheans in here?" Wrex grunted, holding on tightly to the handrails as I mercilessly pressed the Mako forward.
"No," Liara said, "all of the pods are inactive. They must have run out of power or… been discovered."
"They can't have been discovered," I said, "this base doesn't look like it was torn apart by the Reapers."
I had facts on my side. The facility through which we were hurtling was in a dreadful state, but not a battle scar was to be seen. The city back on the surface had not been the same; evidence of its violent destruction was everywhere. However, down here only the passing of the fifty thousand long years through which the facility had lain abandoned had finished this place off. Through decay and the overpowering invasion of nature, this secret place had been lost to the Protheans. The indomitable tree roots as big as houses that had broken in through the walls, floor and roof were proving the biggest obstacle to my speeding tank, not to mention that the Geth had set up ambush points at nearly every single one. There were no turnoffs to either side, the route just kept taking us forward on and on, and with no open route behind us I had no choice but to plunge further into the unknown.
"Scott," Tali said, "I'm getting a massive energy signature from somewhere to the north. It's weak but it's the same kind of energy waves that the Mass Relays give out."
"The Mass Relays?" I repeated, furiously trying to figure all of this out.
"The Mass Relays are Reaper technology," Liara yelled over the noise, "if it's sending out a similar signal it must be the Conduit!"
Feeling like I was finally making progress I urged the Mako to go faster, willing it forward with everything that I had. The poor tank had taken a beating and the damage reports were starting to grow more and more alarming by the minute. Just when I wanted to go faster, we were suddenly halted. While we were ploughing along a roadway, itself mostly submerged in a shallow river, some kind of barrier suddenly lit up in front of us. The brakes of the Mako screeched and I swerved over to the side and almost ended up flipping the damned tank. Ashley fired off a few rounds at the barrier to no avail before Garrus suddenly yelled that another barrier had appeared behind us.
"We're trapped," Liara said fearfully.
"No we're not," Garrus said as he raised himself out of the hatch, "there's a door to the right. Given our current situation I'd say it's our best shot at getting out of here."
We all eagerly followed Garrus' advice and abandoned the Mako. With weapons ready we filed in through the small doorway, only to find another dead-end. A short walkway had appeared before us, but all it led to was an ancient and apparently inactive computer console. There were no other ways out, no floor below us which we could drop down to and sheer, featureless walls surrounded us on all sides. However, just then I felt a pinch of pain in my mind, and drawn towards the computer I ran over to it and stretched out my hand. A scanner flashed into life and examined my body before the computer began to power up.
"You are not Prothean, but I do not sense the taint of Indoctrination upon you," a fuzzy, synthetic voice called out. My team and I stood in amazement as a holographic image appeared before us, no figure could be seen but it clearly was supposed to have been a visual representation of whatever the Protheans had looked like.
"Who are you?" I asked, "did you put up those barriers?"
"Yes," the hologram answered shortly, "I needed to speak with you. Unlike the other that came this way, you do not serve the Reapers. I am required to help you. I answer to the name; Vigil."
"We need to find the Conduit. Do you know how we get to it? Or what it does?"
"The Conduit is a back door to the Citadel."
"The Citadel?" I was feeling more and more confused, "what does that have to do with all this?"
"The Citadel is actually a massive Mass Relay. One which the Reapers use to transport themselves from dark space into the galaxy to begin their harvest of all advanced life."
"How has no one discovered that the Citadel is a Mass Relay?" Garrus sounded flustered, "it's been inhabited for thousands of years."
"So if the Reapers didn't need the Conduit," I said, "who did?"
"While the Reapers were at war with my people, the scientists of this facility cut all communication with the entire galaxy and wiped out all information regard this facility. They planned to keep themselves hidden in cryogenic stasis until the Reapers had completed the extermination of the Prothean race. I was created to manage the life support systems of the scientists while they slept. However, hunting an entire species to extinction is a lengthy and drawn-out process, and my energy reserves dwindled. Of the four hundred and thirty-nine personnel that entered stasis in the beginning, only eighteen were still alive by the time the Reapers retreated back through the Citadel Mass Relay."
"So what did they do?" Liara asked.
"After years of study and research they found that the Citadel Mass Relay only became active when a signal sent by the Reapers was received. The Keepers are the key."
"The Keepers?" I said. Thinking of the docile nature of the Keepers, I could never have perceived that they would be tied in with all of this madness.
"They are the custodians of the Citadel. When signalled by the Reapers they activate the Mass Relay from the Master Control Unit and open the way for the harvest to begin. The scientists here found a way to block the signal and prevent it from reaching the Keepers. When the signal was sent during this cycle, the Keepers ignored it. Thus, the invasion was delayed. The Reaper you refer to as Sovereign has been searching the galaxy for years, gathering allies who would be able to find a way to reopen the Mass Relay."
"Saren," I said, hate coursing through me.
"Sovereign used his Indoctrinated servants to find a way to allow the rest of his kind through the Relay once more. That way is the Conduit. The last of the Protheans used the Conduit to travel to the Citadel and alter the Keepers. Their hope was to stop the Reapers forever."
"What happened to the scientists?" asked Liara.
"It appears that they were successful in their mission, but there was no way off of the Citadel for them. It can only be assumed that they perished on the Citadel after completing their mission."
"Well, that's not going to happen to us!" I said, "We need to go."
Vigil's image lagged and flickered,
"There is a data disc in the computer terminal. It will give you temporary control over the Citadel's Master Control Unit."
"I've never even heard of anything like that!" Garrus said, "how will we find it?"
"Follow Saren. He will lead you to it. You had best hurry, I have detected that the allies of Sovereign, the Geth, have passed through this system's Mass Relay and are headed to the Citadel."
I took the data disc and sprinted back to the Mako, the barriers now vanished and we shot off at once.
"Sovereign and Saren are making their move on the Citadel. The Defence fleet will have no idea what's coming." My mind was racing as I struggled to understand what could be happening at the Citadel right now. Millions of innocent civilians were in mortal danger and the soldiers and ships that were there to protect them had no idea about the onslaught that would soon be upon them.
Through my comm a very distressed Joker called,
"Commander! We just detected major activity at the system Mass Relay. Hundreds of Geth ships just passed through, and Sovereign was with them. It appeared from another system with reinforcements and gathered the fleet that we've been avoiding. They've all gone."
"They're going to the Citadel," I said back, "Joker, get to an Alliance Fleet and tell them to get to the Citadel now! Contact Admiral Hackett, he'll back you."
"What about you?"
"If what we've found out is true, we'll meet you at the Citadel anyway."
"Rodger that Sir," Joker did not sound pleased, "good luck."
"Go Joker! Now."
My comm crackled and went silent and I knew that the Normandy was now speeding away from Ilos and back to the Relay. I could only pray that the Alliance would get to the Citadel in time.
There were dozens of Geth all along the path, firing at us from every angle and using their bigger Armature and Colossus units to try and block us. They lacked the manoeuvrability to stop our Mako, and Ashley managed a miracle shot at the underside of a towering Colossus and sheared the thing in half. In amidst the explosions of rockets and the whizzing of Geth phaser shots going past us, there was a sudden and earth-shaking racket of thunder. A shockwave hit us like a sledgehammer merely a second later and I struggled to keep the Mako heading straight.
"What was that?" Tali yelled out loud.
"Some kind of energy pulse," Garrus answered when he dropped back inside from the open gun hatch, "something big just happened Commander."
"Saren must have gone through the Conduit relay!" Liara called out.
I had the Mako's pedal to the floor, squeezing every drop of energy out of its powerful engine, but it still took a hair-raising few minutes before we finally reached our goal.
We rounded a corner at speed and came to the start of a long, steep road. At the bottom we could all see it: The Conduit. Like a miniature Mass Relay that we were all used to seeing out in space it stood on end, the energy containers spinning madly in the centre. I threw the Mako forward at it, all the while with Geth trying to stop us. Damage readings were through the roof and the coolant systems for the gun had been well and truly fried. Tali switched all power from the armament to shields in an attempt to buy us just a few more seconds of protection. Without any means of keeping the enemy in check, the Geth infantry threw themselves in front of our tank in any attempt to stall us or slow us down. That's when Tali shouted a warning that chilled my veins,
"The energy readings from the Conduit are fading. Scott, it's closing!"
"We can't fail now!" I yelled, speaking to myself as much as I was to the squad.
The bodies of the Geth that went under our tyres made navigating our way forward difficult and unsteady and the Mako almost flipped on more than one occasion. But we were getting closer and closer, and I could even hear the hum of the incredible amount of energy still being given out by the Conduit. Then, before we knew it and scarcely beyond belief, we reached the Conduit and were sent soaring up into the skies of Ilos. The Tank shook violently, and for a moment I wondered if it was simply going to be broken to pieces as it was fired through the Relay network. As quickly as our rapid escape from Ilos had begun, we found ourselves tumbling onto a wide walkway that ran over to a canal or river. The Mako spun and rolled and bits of it went flying off in various directions. When we finally stopped tumbling around, I did a headcount and found that everyone, by some miracle, was alright.
While most of us were still untangling ourselves from harnesses and wires, Wrex booted out the door of the Mako and leapt outside, immediately having to blast away some curious Geth. One by one we clambered out of our wrecked tank and set ourselves up in cover to try and get our bearings. The scene before us left me feeling distraught; bodies lay everywhere and the once beautiful lawns, trees, cafes and shops that lined this level of the Presidium were all completely destroyed and ablaze. There were a couple of downed Geth here and there, but the bodies mostly belonged to hundreds of civilians and a few brave C-Sec officers that had fallen trying to defend them.
"From where we are, the Council Tower is only a few hundred metres in that direction," Garrus called. I could see the Council Tower from my position and the Geth guarding it. All round the Presidium there must have been a fierce assault by the Geth as explosions and the traces of gunfire spat in every direction.
"Looks like we're in behind the Geth advance as well," Garrus observed, "that could make it a little easier for us."
"It's not just Geth," Wrex grumbled darkly. We all followed his stare and saw hordes of those same Human/machine Husks that we had seen in the labs on Virmire. Like an army of undead seeking to sate their hunger they hollered and grunted like mindless, enraged animals. They chased down fleeing civilians and C-Sec guards and, using nothing but their hands and teeth, ripped them apart.
"Our sole objective is to get into the Council Chambers," I told my squad, "we have to stop Saren now!"
I burst forward and gunned down the nearest Geth soldiers, leading my friends in a head on charge against the enemy. Geth and Husks raced for us but were blasted by heavy gunfire or blown away by Liara and Wrex's biotics.
We received incoming fire from the opposite side of the lake and had to seek heavier cover in amongst the blasted and burning ruins of the shops and offices to our side. A Husk leapt down at us through the glass roof of the building and jumped on top of Liara, punching and grabbing at her like a zombie. Wrex's shotgun saved her, and when Liara raised herself up, I could see a fierceness in her eyes that I had not seen before. Summoning all of her strength she forced out a wave of biotic power that knocked back almost all of our aggressors, allowing us to make a run forward and shoot our enemy to bits as we went.
There was less than fifty feet to go to the Council Tower. That and a score of Geth soldiers blasting away at us with phaser rifles, shotguns and sniper rifles. The café we sheltered in was quickly being worn away before us. I popped up to fire a few rounds from my Mattock and took down a rushing Husk. When I ducked back down and looked back to check my team, I saw another face peering out at me from underneath the café's counter. Running and gunning with my rifle I raced over and took cover beside the petrified girl,
"Sophie! What are you doing here?"
My sister could barely speak and the fear was coursing through her, her entire body shaking,
"I… my Uni group were heading to the… um... tower when…"
She looked back out at the enemy Geth and the twisted forms of the Husks as they tried to break through our kill-zones to reach us.
"It's ok," I put myself between her and the incoming fire to shield her, but also to break her eyes away from what was going on all around us.
"You need to stay here, hidden. You understand?"
She could not speak, but she nodded and huddled further back under the counter. I unhooked my pistol from its holster, took the safety off and placed it in her hands,
"Do not use it unless you absolutely have to! Last resort."
I could not believe the situation that I was in, but I was also aware that it was deteriorating with every passing second. I told my team to be ready to charge again on my signal and turned back to Shea.
"We'll be back, we'll fix this!"
Sophie was beside herself with fear and confusion, but my words broke through to her and she nodded again. Judging that I had already lingered too long, I threw two of my grenades out at the enemy, closely followed by Garrus and Wrex. The series of explosions was our signal to go and we rushed past the bodies of the Geth, Husks and dozens of butchered civilians. I saw Sophie's friend Michaela among them; answering my question about what had happened to her group from the university. All these innocent, honest and well-deserving peoples' lives had been cut so tragically short, and for what? Because one Turian had allowed himself to become enslaved by the forces of evil. It had to stop. With my shields taking a few bad hits I managed to reach the elevator that would take us up to the Council Chambers. I dropped two more Geth as I covered my friends before joining them in the now cramped lift, squeezing in behind a very uncomfortable Wrex.
Fearing that at any moment our elevator would be annihilated with all of us in it I chanced to look out of the window as the lift carried us closer and closer to Saren. I realised that the Citadel arms had been closed and that there were Geth destroyers and frigates flying around.
"What's going on out there?" Garrus voiced the thoughts of the whole squad.
"Commander, look!" Tali was pointing out of the roof window of the elevator and up towards the top of the Citadel Tower, to where the enormous Reaper called Sovereign had latched itself on to the tower. Cables reached out of its huge bulk and attached to the tower at various points like tentacles ensnaring and suffocating its prey. I had never felt so helpless and vulnerable in all of my life. How were we supposed to defeat something like that? There was no immediate evidence of weapons on the Reaper, but we all knew that this machination of nightmares could wipe out any cruiser with a single shot if it wanted to.
Using a hack on his Omni tool, Garrus managed to get the lift moving twice as fast as it hurtled like a missile up to the top level. When the doors had to be forced open at the top, we were met by Geth fire straight away. My shield generator was overloaded and broke within a second. However, losing my own shields had prevented any of my friends being hit and they surged onwards and upwards. I used my Widow to blow Geth to pieces while Wrex, Ashley and Garrus beat down and shot up any Husks or Geth that got too close. Liara's biotic barriers were the sole reason that we could advance as far as we had, otherwise we would have been mown down by this point. Tali threw a grenade that seemed to daze and confuse the Geth for a moment, giving her the opportunity to take them down with her trusty submachine gun.
While Ashley gunned down a shotgun-toting Geth, Wrex picked up a Husk with each hand and threw them over the side of the walkway and they dropped down the hundreds of metres to the bottom of the Citadel Tower. The mighty Krogan's shotgun was being used as a club almost as much as it was a firearm; Husk heads were beaten into pulp without mercy and the metal bodies of Geth were dented and bent completely out of shape by the time Wrex was finished with them. The number of enemies dropped by Garrus' precise shots to their heads was reassuring as well. My team, my friends, my adoptive family, were the most skilled and determined people that I had ever fought beside. I could never have come this far without each and every one of them.
Clearing the last defensive position around the last set of steps up to the top level, where I had implored the Council to be ready to fight, we finally saw Saren. He was standing at a computer terminal that had appeared from a previously unseen platform at the end of the main walkway towards the Councils' dais. I raised my scope to my eye and went to take the kill shot, but he was ready for us. A grenade was already flying towards us by the time we hit the top of the stairs and the explosion went off right in front of us, knocking us all to the ground sprawled out in all directions.
I jumped to my feet and whipped out my Mattock and unleashed an entire clip at Saren. He leapt down from the platform and into the garden below, appearing again a second later on his hover-board and flew over our heads. Using his assault rifle and biotics he forced us back behind cover. He was too quick, too accurate and seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once. Saren would fire at me from one position, and when I moved to return fire I would have bullets flying at me from a completely different part of the chamber. However, I did notice that he was trying to stick close to the computer terminal that he had activated; and he certainly did not want us getting close to it.
"You've lost. You know that Gardner," Saren's cold voice announced, "in a few minutes Sovereign will have complete control of the station and the Reapers will return. They cannot be stopped."
"Don't count us out yet Saren!" I shouted back from my cover.
"You survived on Virmire, but I'm stronger now. Improved. Sovereign has… upgraded me."
"You let Sovereign implant you? Are you insane?"
"After what you said on Virmire I couldn't stop thinking about Indoctrination. How Sovereign was manipulating me. It sensed my hesitation, but now my resolve is stronger than ever!"
I could not believe how blind he was, how completely under the Reaper's power he had now become.
"Now," Saren said darkly, "there are no doubts. I know that the Reapers need organics. Join us, and we shall find a place for you as well."
"Sovereign is just controlling you through your implants! Don't you see that? Your resolve is stronger because that's how Sovereign wants it to be, you dumb fuck!"
"I am a vision of the future, Gardner. Organic and machine intertwined, a union of flesh and steel. The strengths of both, the weaknesses of neither."
I could not let him influence me; he was wrong. His mind was no longer his own; this was no longer Saren the Turian Spectre but Sovereign speaking to me; trying to draw me over to its way of thinking.
"I'd rather die than live like that," I said resolutely.
"Then die you shall!" Saren's voice was rising, "all of your companions. Everyone you know and love. Your family, your friends, your Quarian lover. Everyone you've ever met. None will be spared."
"Sovereign hasn't won yet," I said back, "we can still stop him. Stand aside and we can stop it from taking control of the Citadel. Their invasion never has to happen."
"Whether now or a year from now, it doesn't matter. They will come for us all. You saw the visions Gardner; you saw what happened to the Protheans. The Reapers are too powerful."
I sensed the fear in his voice, Saren was slowly forcing his way back into his own mind again.
"Some part of you must still realise this is wrong. Saren; you can't give in to them."
Saren was delayed in replying, a conflict raging inside his mind,
"Maybe…" he started, "there's still a chance for…"
He cried out in pain before he turned back to me,
"No. The return of the Reapers is inevitable."
Garrus had had enough and took a shot with his rifle. Saren's shields deflected the shot but it still caught him off guard and he toppled from his hover board. Before he could recover, I ran over to him, firing as I went but to no avail. In the end I could only lunge at him and rugby-tackled him off of the walkway, smashing through the panes of glass that separated us from the garden about ten feet below us. In the scuffle that occurred between us, I managed to get behind him and get my arms under his, holding him on top of me while my squad either peered or leapt down to help me.
"Commander move! I have a clear shot," Wrex said.
"If he gets free," I shouted while still struggling to hold the strong, Reaper-enhanced Turian down, "he'll be able to use his biotics. Blast him!"
"We'll hit you," Garrus stated, even though I was already very aware of that.
"Kill him!" I ordered.
"Scott, we can't get a shot," Tali said.
"Kill. Him."
Wrex rushed closer and struck Saren across the head with his gun, in reply he got a nasty kick in the quad from Saren. However, the Krogan barely flinched as he placed the muzzle of the shotgun on Saren's forehead and pulled the trigger. The grey brain-matter and blue blood spattered everywhere, and nowhere more than all over me. Saren's lifeless and limp body was pushed aside and, barely stopping to take a breath, I raced to the Citadel control terminal and inserted Vigil's data disc. True to Vigil's word, the disc worked and I soon had complete control over the entire station.
"It worked," I exclaimed, "I'm opening the Citadel's arms. Hopefully the Citadel fleet is holding out."
"Try and open a communication channel as well," Tali added. I sent out a distress call and waited for anyone to answer. While the arms slowly parted from each other I now got a dreadfully accurate picture of how bad the situation was for the Citadel Defence Fleet. Horribly outnumbered and swarmed by the Geth ships they were taking a horrific beating.
"The Destiny Ascension!" Garrus called out, "it won't be able to hold out much longer."
He was right. The huge Asari Dreadnought was fighting back hard, but the Geth ships were flitting all around it like flies. The Turian and Salarian ships had been scattered and were struggling to regroup themselves to fight back effectively. Even as I was starting to feel like we had perhaps failed, I got an incoming message from Joker,
"Commander, is that you sent the distress call? Please tell me that's you."
"It's me Joker, where are you?"
"Sitting in the Andura sector with the entire Arcturus Fleet. We're about to head through the Relay."
"Thank fuck," my hope was restored a little, "bring them in and help out the Citadel forces. Now!"
"Yes Sir. The Council is aboard the Destiny Ascension, but the Fleet Captains think we should hold back all of our strength for Sovereign."
"Makes sense," Garrus approved, "save everything we can to take down the Reaper. Doesn't matter about the Council."
"And what about the then thousand Asari on board the Ascension?" I retorted.
"Scott," Wrex said, "thousands of your people could die here. You really willing to do that for the Council? When do they ever help any of the other species anyway?"
"This is bigger than race issues Wrex!" I roared at him, "Joker; save the Destiny Ascension!"
"I hope the Council appreciates this," I heard Tali say quietly.
The six of us could only stand and watch impatiently from the Council Chambers as the battle raging out in space entered its final, brutal stage.
The Alliance Fleet poured through the Relay and went into action immediately. They caught the Geth fleet in the rear and wiped out dozens of them in the first few salvos. Their attack route brought them into contact with a small number of Turian ships that joined their ranks and aided with the onslaught. The Human ships ruthlessly tore into the Geth and soon the enemy ships scattered, opening the way for the Destiny Ascension to escape its envelopment. With the multi-lateral fleet, led by the Human Alliance, breaking the Geth attack they soon turned to head back towards the Citadel, to the real threat.
Despite the fact that the Geth fleet had been pulverised by the Human fleet, Sovereign still remained perched atop the Citadel tower. As the combined fleet approached, its giant legs rose up one by one and from the end of each one an immensely powerful beam burst out and slammed into a number of targets. A Turian cruiser disintegrated immediately and four Human cruisers suffered the same fate. My gut tightened and I sensed the awe in each of my friends as well,
"They'll do it," I said to them, needing them to keep believing. Shells, lasers and missiles from well over a hundred warships hammered into Sovereign and the fleet encircled the Reaper.
Sovereign destroyed another cruiser, then a frigate and two destroyers in a matter of minutes. After an incredible amount of punishment, the massive form of the Reaper finally made to escape from its predicament. Dozens of fighters whizzed around and fired everything they had at the enemy, and the Normandy made a couple of fly-bys as well, its main guns blazing away. That was when the SSV Caledonia, Admiral Hackett's dreadnought and flagship of the Arcturus Fleet, unleashed everything it had into the rear side of the fleeing Reaper. I heard the aged Admiral urge everyone to give Sovereign hell over the comm, and just when Sovereign was about to fire back again it seemed to lurch violently.
"They've got it now," I said excitedly, fully believing that this was the last effort. One more punishing salvo from all ships would finally destroy Sovereign. Every fighter, destroyer, frigate, cruiser and dreadnought diverted all power to their armament and unleashed the greatest, most astounding hell-storm that the galaxy could have ever seen. In a blaze of red and orange the huge Reaper was ripped apart from top to bottom, undeniably destroyed for good. Pieces of it flew in every direction and smashed into different parts of the Citadel. While we were overcome with joy at the unbelievable spectacle unfolding before us, I suddenly noticed that one of those pieces, probably about the size of a Turian cruiser, was screaming straight towards us.
"Run!" I shouted to the team and we sprinted away from the top level and back towards the elevator.
We never made it.
The Citadel Tower shook as the piece of Sovereign tore through the side of the building and we were thrown around violently. I hit the ground hard as a chunk of flying metal struck me in the back of the legs and my knees buckled. While on the floor I was struck several times by more shrapnel and my entire body screamed for the pain to stop. I lost sight of my friends and the fires began to rage around me. As smoke filled the air and all went quiet, I felt myself slipping away into blackness. However, a voice brought me back to my senses and I tried desperately to get up, but managed only to crawl forward at first.
"Commander? Commander? Scott!" The voice shouted repeatedly. I attempted to respond, but I choked on the smoke and was left gasping for air.
"God damn it Commander! Where are you?"
I realised that it was Captain Anderson calling for me and I finally managed to get unsteadily to my feet. Ducking and climbing as best I could over the debris, the remains of Sovereign, I finally spotted a team of C-Sec officers rummaging around in search of me and looking after my squad. To see them all alive and standing was a huge relief and I felt energised again. Racing into view of everyone I went straight to my friends and embraced them all,
"We did it guys! We stopped them!"
My leg felt like it had been shattered to pieces, but I still managed to stay standing as Tali threw herself into my arms. I turned to Captain Anderson,
"I'm glad to see you Sir! How did you get past the Geth?"
The veteran soldier motioned towards the C-Sec officers,
"I grabbed every available man, Turian, Asari and Salarian I could see and formed a make-shift company. It was tough, and we took losses but we fought through them. Took out a load of those mutated Human things as well."
"The Husks," I said, "we saw them on Virmire. I even warned the Council about them."
"They should have listened to you Scott," he grimaced, "about everything."
"Is the rest of the station clear? What about the fleet?" I asked.
"Admiral Hackett is mopping up the remaining Geth ships and C-Sec is here in force now. We have Saren's forces hemmed in and we're wearing them down."
"We need to get down there and help finish this," I told the team. Together with Captain Anderson and the C-Sec officers we went back down to the Presidium and linked up with a unit of the C-Sec Rapid Reaction Force led by a Human Sergeant called Armando Bailey. Over the course of the next hour the last of the Geth and Husks were hunted down and killed. On my instructions, a heavily reinforced watch was set on the receiving relay through which we had come from the Conduit. When the gunfire had stopped along with the frustrated and terrified screams, civilians began to slowly appear from their little hiding places that they had been able to find. I headed back towards the café where Sophie had been sheltering and was relieved to see her alive, peering over the top of the counter to see what was going on.
As I walked with my friends behind me, I set up a direct link to Admiral Hackett,
"Admiral Hackett, Sir. What's the situation with the Geth fleet?"
"We've smashed it, Commander. They're no longer a threat. The Turians have insisted on hunting down the last ships themselves. They'll wipe the Geth out soon. Damn good work down there, Commander!"
"I wasn't alone Sir," I replied, "Was the Destiny Ascension saved? What about the Council?"
"The Ascension is still going. Hull integrity is in a bad way but there were comparatively few losses among the crew. The Council is on their way back to the Presidium; I think they want to speak to you."
"Me Sir?"
"Yes you. The soldier who saved their lives. The one who saved thousands of Turian, Salarian and Asari lives in the fleet and millions on the Citadel. I hope they at least say "thank you"."
I could not help but laugh,
"I was just doing what I had to, Sir. No more than everyone else."
"Commander, I'll say to you again what I said to after your actions saved Elysium: You went above and beyond what any others could. You're a damn hero. Hackett out."
Left speechless but humbled, I finally reached Sophie and gave her a big, brotherly hug. She was in shock from the deaths of her friends and the horror of witnessing the Geth assault; killing wildly and without remorse while their master attempted to bring back the greatest terror that could ever have been inflicted on the galaxy; the Reapers.
"I'm sorry about Rachel and Michaela. It's over now," I said to my frightened sister.
"I can't believe this has happened. I want to go home."
Looking at her through the visor of my scarred and dented helmet, blackened from burns and explosions, I gave her an affirming look,
"I'll get you home as soon as I can. I promise."
Captain Anderson appeared with the Council and a large detachment of C-Sec guards, as well as Ambassador Udina.
"Commander," David said warmly, "the Council wants to have a few words with you."
The three Council members, Captain Anderson, Ambassador Udina and I went to a secluded corner and the Asari Councillor began,
"We are here to recognise the enormous contribution of the Alliance forces in the war against Sovereign and the Geth."
The Salarian continued,
"Many Humans lost their lives in the battle to save the Citadel. Brave and courageous soldiers who willingly gave their lives so that we, the Council, might live."
The Turian Councillor stood straight as he added his part,
"There is no greater sacrifice. And we share your grief over the tragic loss of so many noble men and women."
"The Council also owes you a great personal debt, Commander Gardner," The Asari said, "One we can never repay. You saved not just our lives but the lives of billions from Sovereign and the Reapers."
"Commander Gardner," the Salarian spoke sincerely, "your heroic and selfless actions serve as a symbol of everything that Humanity and the Alliance stand for."
Also speaking from the heart, the Turian said,
"And though we cannot bring back those valiant soldiers who gave their lives to save ours, we can honour their memories through our actions."
"Humanity has shown that it is ready to stand as a defender and protector of the galaxy," the Asari said with admiration, "You have proved you are worthy to join our ranks and serve beside us on the Citadel Council."
"Councillor!" Udina was almost unable to contain himself, "on behalf of Humanity and the Alliance we thank you for this prestigious honour, and humbly accept."
With a nod of agreement, the Salarian looked at me,
"We will need a list of potential candidates to fill Humanity's seat on the Council. Given all that has happened I am sure your recommendation would carry a great deal of influence, Commander Gardner. Do you have anyone in mind?"
I could feel Ambassador Udina's eyes on me, waiting for me to speak his name. On one hand he seemed a good choice; he knew the game of politics and fought hard for his beliefs. However, the very fact that he was a politician made me uneasy about him; none of them could be trusted. I looked at Captain Anderson for a moment, wondering if he would hate me for what I was about to do,
"I think Captain Anderson would be perfect for this role. We need someone with the courage to stand up for what he believes in."
"Him?" Udina was somewhere between bemused and enraged, "you must be joking! The Captain's a soldier, not a politician. Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?"
"We don't need any more politicians on the Citadel," I replied as respectfully as I could, "As I said; Anderson would be perfect."
The Council considered my words for a moment before the Asari spoke for them all,
"I believe that it is an inspired choice. The Council would welcome him with open arms, should he accept."
Captain Anderson dutifully stood tall and proud,
"I would be honoured Councillor. As Humanity's representative, I'll do everything in my power to help the Council rebuild."
We all sensed the importance of this moment and the Turian Ambassador spoke for all of us when he said,
"Sovereign's defeat marks the beginning of a new era, both for the Council and Humanity."
I hated to be the one to spoil the moment, but I had to tell them the truth,
"This isn't over. Sovereign was just a vanguard. It said that itself. The Reapers are still out there, hundreds of ships like Sovereign, maybe thousands, waiting in dark space. I'm going to find a way to stop them."