_-== ...continued… : Eden Prime: CE2183 ==-_
Two more bug shaped craft thundered overhead. This time headed toward the local garrison. Several pillars of smoke already billowed upward from that direction. Distant sirens droaned to silence as the formidible form of the Reaper continued to descend toward the city.
This wasnt right.. there was only one.
More of the bug craft descended around. Some disgourging distant specks into the fringes of the colony. Some landing.
A cannon roar tore my attention closer. A lone Alliance tank barreled through a near clearing, rampaging toward its wounded target. The hit bug craft listed heavily as it drifted downward. Bipedal forms jumped from it just as a second round tore through the hull. I could imagine the triumphant cheers of the defenders as the fireball landed. The realisation cut short with the pop of a rocket that rammed into the tank. Then another.
And another.
I glanced away as the vehicle exploded.
This was madness. Everything about it was wrong.
I looked up toward the idle gargantuan that listlessly pawed at the odd building.
Very wrong.
Gunfire behind me snapped the more immediate concerns to the fore. What could I do anyway..
Crap.. where were the others. The beacon had been scheduled to be moved this morning. I'd spent the night rigging it for transport.. only five people knew the plan until the orders rolled out.. I didn't know the current state of execution. Anything would be a guess.
First priority was to contact Warren.. then focus on the beacon. Everything had gone south faster than a cheesed gasbag since that thing had made its presence known.
I sidled around the prefab to get my first glance at the black crater that once was the site comms office. Little more than some charred rubble remained, putting paid to any plan of an easy call out. I could already hear the incessant goads of 'get an omni tool'.. 'why don't you have an omnitool' .. yadda yadda. I squashed the temptation of regret, my reasons were useful.. the consequences would have to be dealt with in kind.
Two other buildings still stood at the periphery. They were mostly intact by the look. The camp was otherwise eerily silent and empty.
Another burst of near gunfire. The sound of several approaching footsteps running closer. I scrambled up the low embankment and dropped prone in the low foliage and crawled to the higher vantage point.
Two figures scrambled and slipped toward the camp. A little behind, two armoured soldiers were making an orderly retreat up the shallow ramp. Their cover was not going to last. Forcing one to make a break. He sprinted, catching up with the two civilians and forcing them forward under the spray of cover fire from the last. He barely made the last few paces before the hiss and click of a rifle overloading made him look back. The moment of hesitation was enough of a delay; rounds lit up the soldiers' barriers before he could react. Translucent blue crackled, sputtered and blinked out. The rounds didn't stop coming. The soldier slumped forward, motionless. Mere steps from the turn into the camp.
The two civilian figures still flailed forward, entering the rise of camp where the afternoon light caught their faces. The spark of recognition almost made me break cover and call out. Dr Warren. I could see her shock at the burned out ruin before her head traced to the tumbled wreck. Unyielding as always, she dragged the reluctant Manuel toward the next nearest building and out of sight before I could begin to attract her attention.
Probably for the best.
The last soldier ducked and crouched low as an errant shot pinged off his faded barriers. His rifle's barrel was still visibly steaming. The stooped helmet turned to spot the fallen squadmate a few times as the rain of fire kept coming. He was cornered and trapped. I could almost see him trying to psych himself up for what would be a suicide run.
I lept down. Sprinting around the back of the camp to just hear the prefab's door slam and lock just as I rounded the last building. Ten metres and I dived to roll and grab the fallen soldier's weapon that had scattered in front of him. An assault rifle.. it'd do.
Dropping to a knee, the trigger slipped easily behind my finger. Shots rang out. Single fire. Mark. Exhale. Repeat.
The path fell silent.
I frowned. Those weren't human.. or alien. Nothing that I could think of blead white.
I carefully made my way over to the crouching soldier and pulled him upright. "Name, rank and unit, Soldier."
The kid glaced to the motionless form a few dozen paces beside and then down the path before replying. "Conning, s-sir.. Private Connings. 232 Garrison…."
The orange of an omnitool glow enveloped his arm as the private knelt by his comrade. A few moments later his head dropped. "Corp didn't make it.. He got us out, sir... the Director and the man. Had to fight through.. they came from everywhere, all at once." The soldier eyed my relaxed grip on the rifle and looked me over. "Where did-"
"-I'm with the Director." Making a vague gesture toward the site office as if that were explanation enough. The soldier's question expression was quickly schooled away when I didn't flinch.
"Where's the rest of your unit, Private?"
"Donk- S-Sarge was with the M29 heavy, on patrol over toward the colony side of the zone. Lost comms not long ago. Last standing orders are to get the civilians safe and secure the site.."
"Ah.. ", I acknowledged the information with a shake of my head. ".. I'm sorry kid."
He fell silent for a few moments as my tone registered. Eventually pulling himself up and following my gaze down the slope and back toward the excavation site.
"It's death down there, sir. The place is swarming."
"..strange..", I glanced toward the Private. ".. with what, Connings? That's important. And then: why."
"I..", The soldier looked worried and uncertain. His attention flitted to the site camp. "It's safer here, sir.."
I shook my head.
"No. Safety is not my concern." I gestured to the nearby rise of smoke. "That's adirect strike on the nearest comms unit. No communications, no context, no course.. can't fly blind, Private.", I added.
"There's no immediate target or threat up here. But with that: no answers, which means nothing may stay what we think it is." I paused, listening ruefully to my own words.
"This is my home and work.", I continued. "I'll be damned if I sit in a box. The Director is alive, that is important, and she is as safe as she can be. I'm going to secure my work and get some answers. Stay here if you want."
I was ten paces down as the soldier jogged up.
"Still got my orders, sir… secure the site… uh-"
"You planning to say something about civilians?", I raised an eyebrow as I paused and sighted down the path through the rifle's scope.. the immediate area was still clear.
"uh-, no-sir."
"Good. Now let's move.. and it's: Karsen."
"shit-", the soldier half tripped over his own feet. "You floored Hanwel, yesterday?... cracked three ribs! Gunny shouted at them for an hour! uh- the bastards had it coming.. Sir."
"Karsen."
"yessir"
I eyerolled internally. Bloody kids.
/ - - - - /
I crouched by the only remaining assailant corpse. Some sort of self destruct was chewing through them really fast. The exposed synthetic musculature had made me double take. I idly fiddled with my lanyard that still hung about my neck.
"Inorganic." I mumbled, noting the mangled antennae. "A lot of communications infrastructure.. mech?"
Connings shrugged.
Bullet holes were riddled sparsely through the upper torso and back pack of the thing. These appeared to be the main cause of its demise.
I rolled it over with my rifle. The flexible arched head, for the want of a better description, floped to the side. Its 'face' was set with some sort of mono-ocular assembly that looked not unlike an eye.
"I'm guessing these are new to you."
The man clearly was taking in the first upclose details of his foe.
"I…I just shot at them after they shot at me, sir. … They look like mechs with flashlight heads-"
"Fair enough.", I nodded, suppressing a mirthless chuckle. "Looks like a highly refined droid." I pointed toward a gun shaped object strewan on the ground a few steps away. "Weapons look very conventional, some sort of-" The world tumbled around me..
The construct that I'd just stepped over juddered back to life. A three fingered arm swiped at my feet, knocking my step out from beneath me. I fell forward, managing to tuck half way through and roll on a shoulder; twisting up and back to rise facing toward the reanimating assailant. The split second of chaos broke free, the adrenaline taking over as the moment of dilation collapsed. A shout of exclamation sounded from Connings as his dive landed heavily to the left. A three fingered hand swung toward me, borne by the awkward thing rising in an unbalanced lunge. Three shots rang out.
White goop plopped to the dry dirt. An electronic whine rattled gutturally between the dug out walls as rivulets of backspray dribbled down my shirt.
I stared into the twitching oculus that barely wavered in the air a few tens of centimeters from my face. The light of the 'eye' flickered with the audibly straining body beneath it.
The focus barely moved as it dropped to its failing knees, momentarily catching its weight.
I cocked my head to the side. The off feeling of being looked at crawled through me. I frowned.
The head rammed to the side in slow motion as an orthogonal shot ripped through it. The entire thing collapsed to the ground in a wet metallic thud.
A wide eyed Connings cautiously stepped into view, weapon steady and still ready.
I nodded a curt acknowledgement then looked down. In the two seconds unobserved whatever disintegration protocol the thing possessed had start to kick in. The body had already begun collapsing and crumbling into into isself.
"Synthetic..", I thought half outloud. "Clever too… designed.. too many organic characteristics for mere chance.. a drone, would require control.. V.I .. or..." I nodded slowly to myself as I shook some of the goop off my weapon. ".. A… I.."
A sinking familiarity settled over me.
"uh- V.I. Council Space has a strict ban on any AI, sir.."
I wanted to roll my eyes but decided against it, making only to sigh. "Declarations can't unmake things like that.." I stared at the still vaguely humanoid remnants. "I prefer to trust what I see in front of me- and this, I'm almost certain.. no, I am certain... these.. that was Geth. and.. I think we just witnessed an actual death- you see, its communications array was shattered, leaving the cluster unabl-" , the private was loudly and obviously quiet. "-what is it Connings?"
".. are What? sir?"
"Geth."
I grabbed a discarded strap to fashion a sling for my rifle. The mechanical task let my mind recentre and gather my thoughts.
I ignored the impatient gaze of the soldier.
"Did you cover any history of the Council species, Private?"
The hesitant nod told me what I needed to know. "Okay.. and what of the former client species-"
"Baterians! They-"
"-do you know of the Quarians? .. they used to be an active Council race-"
"Why would they attack-!"
I shook my head. "No.. They aren't. No homeworld, no planets.. and lots of politics. And, No.. They didn't. For your edification: the Council short of this is that the Geth were created by the Quarians, the A.I. went rogue, almost wiping the Quarians out before going silent… for the last three hundred-odd years."
"Why would they attack a Human world?"
"This..", I shook my head again, "This.. isn't an attack- if it is its really stupid for the hornets nest it will kick.. plus Humans have zero history with either of those parties. The old Quarian homeworld, now in the Geth dark zone, is deep in the Perseus Veil.. which is a hell of a long way from here; through Council space and out toward the Galactic... Rim… no.. surely not; unless... it.. had.. worked.." I turned, unseeing, toward the obfuscated colony, remembering the ancient monster that presently stood there, pieces clicking into place. "Fuck.."
The suddenly on guard soldier scanned the perimeter. ".. clear..sir?"
"No, no.. we must get there ASAP."
"To where, sir?"
"Beacon"
The Private blinked, confused. "A cargo vertibird airlifted it to a secure dock at the space port barely fifteen minutes before the attack began. And all hell broke out…."
"... how did you-"
"Assigned to the Director's detail, sir"
I stared through him. Realisation dawning. ".. shit.. they didn't know.."
The Private frowned, "Not following, sir"
I gestured toward the now empty floor. "The.. Geth.. they didn't know.. they had come for the Beacon. Damnit. Okay, Okay.. this is actually good." I rubbed my forehead. "I need a moment to think."
...
Damnit... did I really want to get involved. If They.. the other They.. were after the beacons then it meant that something had gone really right. The present was a testament to that no matter how you colour it.
I frowned. I'd accepted that I was done with this a long time ago. Then, when along had come actual godsend Humans I was happy to just be normal.. I'd found a good place too. But.. this, this was shaking my recent comfort delusion to the core. Worse, if the cycle continued then it wouldn't just be an end, it could be the end of any sort of resistance..
Best part of it all was that I could not possibly be worse prepared. I sighed deeply.
"Which terminal was the beacon finally sent to?"
"Uh.. B.. System Alliance, auxillary cargo."
"Damnit. Okay.. The only train from here goes via the exchange.. We'd better move. It'd be faster to run from checkpoint C. How're you for distance sprinting?"
The private looked taken aback. "Grade 3, sir"
"No time for that.. you're going to get a 1 or die trying.. Now. move soldier."
/ - - - - /
I pointed to a right turn. The space opening ahead was the last greenway, and a sprint directly to the spaceport, B terminal..
"Who.. the.. hell.. was.. that..?" Connings panted between urgent breaths.
I'd seen it too. The sole train on the line had rumbled its way toward the exchange with what looked like a solid platoon of Geth on board.
"Best guess is they're headed where we are.. We're a few minutes ahead. Pace it. We'll make it.."
"yes…. sir…"
The final sprint into the SpacePort was not without advent. The hasty lockdown as civilians had scrambled to various bunkers had left swaths of access blocked. I punched a console in frustration as Connings futility tried the security override. "Alliance docks are in full lockdown.. N5 or-"
The reinforced door bleeped and slid open. Connings gawped, just catching me clip my card back in its holder. He frowned, ".. sir?"
"Later.. ", I readied my rifle, "Let's move."
The lower entrance to the Cargo terminals was a maze of access walkways and service ducts. Figuring out the route to the Alliance port was a relatively easy matter of following the sign posts.. mostly.
We'd dropped into the dock one gantry level high and climbed down. It was not easy to miss the sleek silvered tower of the Prothean beacon amongst the modern Human industrial utilitarianism. It gleamed faintly in the partial open sky. The transfer had at least been safe and successful.
"There it is.. " I walked toward the pylon, placing a hand on the smooth surface.
"Checking the perimeter", Connings called as he disappeared up the ramp. The window till any company arrived was going to be very narrow. I just hoped it would be long enough for me to take a few necessary risks.
I reached out and pressed a portion of the base that looked no different to any other part of the device. Then here, there and...the air tingled then rippled with a tangible pulse of static.
The pylon's base split open along a flash of seams that cast glowing lines across the floor and walls. I stepped between the surface panels as they floated aside. Crouching to kneel beside the layers upon layers of green crystalline inners. I tapped a utility console. Switching over to a temporary haptic interface. The whole pylon blinked and faded to black. The seconds of complete silence feeling like an eternity
A wide eyed Connings appeared atop the stair. "What are you doing!?"
I sighed. There was no time for misdirection or pretense.. "Unlocking the primary system's interface by resetting the input command buffer."
"... Why?"
"So I can overload it." I stood back and clasped my hands together out in front of me. Watching as a faint green glow began to envelop them. The beacon began crawling back to life, lines of light spreading over and through it.
".. what..", Conning's brow contorted, ".. will that-"
"-Destroy it.. " A sparse holo interface formed around. "I hope so.."
"How do y-"
"Connings, you'll just have to trust me." Trying to remember, let alone read, the slightly glitching script was taking all my concentration. "I need a moment.."
"But destroying-"
I snapped. "-Will save more lives in the immediate future than you can fathom. This thing far is too valuable to let fall into the enemy's possession."
The arms width holo interface around me pulsed ominously red for a moment, "Damnit.. Okay… okay. Calm. I'm
calm.. Slow and steady.. Sorry. But yes.. it has to be protected or destroyed."
The rumble and screech of tram wheels pulling into the adjacent cargo service station broke the conversation. Connings vanished from my peripheral sight. Returning tens seconds later with apprehensive haste.
"They're here. They're coming." His weapon remained trained toward the entrance way. "There's someone with them."
My attention snapped to the soldier. "Someone you recognise?"
"No. A Turian, I think." His voice dipping with growing nervous anticipation. ".. sir… we have to go.."
I concentrated. "Damn..-it... not.. enough.. time.."
Connings glanced toward the sound of approaching footsteps. "How long?"
Both my arms were enveloped in the tendriled glow of the fluid Prothean holo interface. "Minutes.. at least.. for the barest progress. This thing is in bad shape.. I can't give.. any guarantee..", I checked a mental flag and shot him a sideways scowl. "Don't be a fucking hero, Private.."
My words landed on deaf ears as the soldier ran to grab my dropped weapon and then disappear up the ramp.
I cursed, chasing through the inner workings of the aged device. A lot of the code was fragmented. A mix of time and security left it interspersed with the primary recording... What felt like mere seconds was suddenly marred with the slicing rattle of opening gunfire. The answer rained back in a deluge. The blasted idiot..
Stray rounds ricocheting through the entranceway pinged randomly through the cargo bay, one grain sized round grazing the exposed inners of the beacon. The interface dipping again into an alarming red.
Damn it. I swiped a palm over the interface, it balled up and vanished. The beacon's panels began gliding closed. Far too slowly for the mounting urgency. The backdrop of live fire was always a thorough motivator.
I did what I could. Hopefully it would be enough.
I made to leave, getting to the base of the ramp before sprinting back and snatching two small crystals from the body before the final panel slid over.
The device went back to sleep. My fist balled over the crystals. I looked back with a twinge of regret. At least It wouldn't be needing them anymore.
I sprinted up the ramp, stealing a look around the doorway before snapping back. The soldier was crouching behind the solid railing ten metres along the concourse. Blood stained his face from a cut over an eye.
I listened. The breaking cadence of return fire prompted his next round of non-specific cover fire. A workable plan, if you ignored its inherent suicidal nature.
A grain sized round pinged off the column beside me, scattering dust and glass sharp concrete shards. I stood frozen against the wall fighting an internal war.
This was it.
The choice to step into the ring for this next round or back off and bide my time hoping the cards fell better in the following.
Except..
The deck was always rigged and the ring loaded. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. I was done.. finished.. retired.
I ripped the card from my neck and crushed it.
The dull grey-green crystals in my hand flashed and dissolved into the slow spreading white, a few seconds later the white metal over my hand accelerated, leaping up my arm then enveloping my torso without any sign of stopping.
In for a penny..
I dived into the maelstrom, my vision momentarily blinking out as the white fully enveloped me. A split second later the world of vision was replaced with a full live mindscape of perception.
Online
.. in for a pound. The landing was rough but serviceable. Rolling into cover behind a balustrade as rounds chaotically pinged around me. Their origin and destinations marked in faint circle and cross chevrons in my view. I scowled. There wasn't a lot of aiming going on. I jabbed at a thickening vambrace, a metal ring unfolding and expanding to a disk over the surfaces of my forearms.
Time to see if half of this still worked.
Power: 3% Chirped an internal response.
It'd do.
I stole a glance into the fray. Connings was pinned. Head down under the stream of suppressive fire. One rifle cracked and venting, the other cradled in readiness. There wasn't a chance he was getting out. He'd probably expected it already, choosing the honourable fight. I had to respect that. The kid had seen his squad killed off, his unit wiped out and world turned upside down in the literal start of an unknown end.
It took a moment of concentration for the emitter to blink
and spring to life. The hardlight materialising in two rectangles of near transparent green, the thin arcs of the shields' crossbeams hovered like blades along the length of each forearm.
I gauged the rapidly encroaching fireline. The Geth were quickly adapting to Conning's predictable fire pattern and making ground. Engagement would be counterproductive. I was also short of having a suitable weapon by count one. I looked around, locking on to a potential plan.. It would suffice.
Rolling to my haunches I expanded the shields and lept upwards and along, keeping as much in line with the inbound fire as possible. Connings was slumping back into cover, back against the low pillar in a grimace. Fresh grazes leaking blood from several punctures in his armour.
My landing rolled me to a knee. Connings glanced up at the sudden movement and then reeled back; fumbling for the closest weapon that merely fizzed and clicked.
"It's me you idiot."
Connings froze mid ram against the open vent of the rifle. "wwhat the f-"
I held up a hand to silence him. "-extraction."
The soldier winced as he shifted. Blood stained the wall.
I shook my head. "Commendably brave, but stupid.." Glancing around the barrier and ducking back. "Any medigel left?"
His head shook a negative.
"Right. Stay with it. This will hurt. A lot."
I grabbed the one cooled rifle and slapped down the vent. "But first.."
I leaned out to pick cover shots and push the incoming rush into cover. One round accidentally catching a Geth trooper on the shoulder, sending it tumbling only to bounce off a shimmer in open air, an unfamiliar Geth shape flickered then faded back out of existence.
Cloaking units.
Exit time.
Tucking the rifle into an arm I nudged the shields into adaptive coverage and hefted the weight of the idiot on to a shoulder. If the Geth were getting this advanced they had to have help. I flicked the weapon onto overload and tossed it over the barrier. Its audible squeal as the powerpack tried to fully discharge into the driver core sounded far more ominous than reality. The Geth dived for cover as the insipid self destruction bought me the distraction I needed.
The universe blinked. The ground fell away, replaced with the cluttered roof top landing of the adjacent dock. I caught the stumble as the moment of dizziness and disorientation dissipated. Leaning the soldier against a container as he groaned in protest.
Caution. Power: 2%
Below, the sound of gunfire continued unabated. I crawled
to one of the openings that counted as a window over the main tramway and concourse. The Geth quickly overran the position, they were already moving to secure the dock when a different shape stormed up the distant stairs. Connings has been right.. A Turian. The seven foot metallic avian bipedal walked with a prowl wrapped in overt confidence. The Geth moved out of its way, even deferring to the organic for instruction as larger mechs carried up equipment.
I frowned as he made his way to the beacon with barely any pause. Stepping out in front of it to trigger its passive transfer interface.
He'd actually intended to do that.. I blinked.
The Turian ritualistically spread his arms as he floated in the antigravity confinement beam as though to be bestowed upon. Moments later sinking back down to his feet and staring contemplatively out into nothing. The device returned to sleep with an aberrant flicker.
A Geth approached.
"I have what I need.", said the Turian. The flanged voice carried in the air. "Destroy it all."
I scowled. The Fuck he did. Arrogant bastard.
I ducked down and sprinted back, noting an inbound bug craft headed toward the dock; presumably a transport.
Connings was slumped over but still breathing.
I scanned the surroundings. Everything was still where it had been dropped or abandoned in the chaotic evac order. Everyone, however… I concentrated, trying a wide
area scan for similar life signs... was holed up in bunkers. These Humans had learned the hard way about the risks of conflict in colonisation. It had made them prickly, but still ambitiously cautious.
I turned curiously toward the station. A bloodied cough from the soldier shifting and escalating priorities.
"Alright Connings, you'll live." I knelt down, dissipating the shields..
".. what-", he coughed.
"Not now." I thought for a second. "You're alive. You've got promise, kid… just bear with me one second.. I've not done this for a while."
I tapped my right gauntlet to trigger the medical interface.
Warning.. low power
"twenty.. one.."
I looked at him quizzically. The motion apparently translating through the faceless visor.
"not.. a kid. Just.. got my- N2 orders..."
"Good." I chuckled earnestly, "Stay in that line and you'll go far."
"What.. are you-"
I grinned. "That sort of thinking will get you places."
The man managed an annoyed look. I sighed and swiped a hand over my head. The metallic silver white helmet and visor dissolving away.
"Human.", I said.
Conning's disbelieving stare betrayed his thoughts.
"Of a kind.", I added with a shrug.
I clenched and opened my fist, bringing to life the palm bound orange glow and turning it downward.
"This isn't medigel. It will heal you but it will hurt.. got it?"
A nod.
"-but.. how"
I rolled my eyes. "Do you believe in magic?"
"...Serious.. don't.. fuck with me, Karsen."
"Good. Now that I have your focus.. listen and decide.. It is no coincidence that the moment a new functioning Prothean beacon is found that it is sought out. Not quite so quickly, but that adds to the real 'why' of the concern. Did you see that giant spacecraft? Geth too, you think? -you're perhaps going to be led to believe so; think carefully. It isn't. Far, far from it and terrifying in what it represents. The Geth are pawns here, as are all in their thrall... willing or desparate you cannot trust them.. once captured you will not escape. You won't want to. So, how the hell is any of this relevant? I'll cut to the chase.. Do you know why the Protheans suddenly vanished from the galaxy.. fall of empires is a cute notion that fails miserably at any effort to actually apply, at least to them.. so, what then of the Inusannon- before them? The Xelkathi? Heurushan? Drom'wadary? Ennu? Kerositian? No.. you will know nothing of them." I pointed one hand to the now empty horizon. "They are why. Ancient machines. Vastly intelligent, manipulative and powerful. A scourge on the galaxy.. and.. unstoppable."
The sounds of a battle were starting to break from the levels below. I cast a brief glance then bit back to the focus at hand as the soldier flinched.
".. s-someone.. tried?"
I blinked, surprised on two counts; the second being that he'd managed to remain conscious under the effect of the field.
"Tried. Trying. Take your pick. That one should not have been here."
"Why..tell me..all this?"
"As in 'who would believe you'? You're missing my point.. I'm talking frankly and honestly because absolutely no one will believe you for a myriad of conveniences… and I wouldn't go about spouting stuff without absolutely irrefutable evidence unless you're keen to be grilled out of any commission and sectioned."
"all.. this.. now? What's in the beacon that makes it so important?"
"Stay still." I commanded. "... Information."
"..on?"
"Context."
"-about?"
"... what we did."
The kid stared at me.
"-to try to stop them." I finished.
A few more grimaced seconds passed. The glow faded and the soldier sank back, unconscious but stable.
The gunfire had eventually broken off, leaving only the eerie hollow abandonment of the space port. Ten minutes in and a signal alert pinged my HUD. Some sort of encrypted emergency broadcast beacon. Conning's armour was apparently fitted with a responder. I ran a crack over the response payload. Whomever sent it now knew where he was and the armour's state.
"Sit tight kid. Your people are coming for you."
_-== Normany SR1 - in orbit of Eden Prime ==-_
/ - - - - /
"The Commander's body is fine, Captain. It's his mind that needs time to heal."
"Thank you, Doctor. Keep me posted. I want to be notified the moment he comes around."
"Wasn't his fault, sir"
"You are?"
"Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams, sir. 232 Garrison, assigned to the dig site. He pushed me out of the way before the beacon grabbed him."
"I trust the Commander, Chief. This isn't a judgement call. The Commander looks after his team, I respect that." Captain Anderson of the Normandy SR1 nodded to the seated Gunnery Chief before pacing over to the final
occupied bed. "What about our pickup, Doctor?"
"A confusing case, Captain-"
"-That's Private Alex Connings, sir!", a surprised Ashely Williams interrupted as she recognised the face.
The Captain frowned. "One of your's, Chief?"
"232.. He was assigned to the Director's detail today. Probably saw the beacon being moved from the dig site. Sirs.", she finished.
Doctor Chackwas scrolled up through the report. "So what exactly was he doing at the dock?"
"Your report noted signs of an earlier battle before you secured the dock, correct Chief?"
"Yessir"
"It stands to reason he remained with the Beacon upon delivery, Chief."
"Shouldn't have left his assignment, sir…", Ashely's voice carrying no small annoyance for potentially broken orders.
"This is not constructive, Chief, Captain.", Chakwas dispelled the conversation with a gesture. "He is here now. Thank you Chief. Captain, if you please."
Anderson nodded to Gunnery Chief Williams. "Chief, dismissed. Get some food and rest."
They watched as Willams marched arm in sling out of the bay. The door swished shut behind her.
"Good to see the Williams bloodline still runs strong, Captain."
The Captain shook his head and smiled. "Without a doubt, Doctor. So. What about the Private.."
"A collection of curiosities no more, Captain. I'll start at the beginning and let you draw your own conclusions-"
The intercom chirped. "Captain. Incoming call from The Ambassador.. Priority one grumpy.. more than usual."
"I'll take it in my ready room, Joker." Anderson rubbed his brow. The day kept getting longer.
Chakwas smiled. "It'll wait, Captain."
"Fifteen minutes, Doctor."
.
