The Next Day…
Plopping down next to Thane on a rickety wooden bench, Shepard casually munched on a biscuit while sipping on some black coffee. There wasn't much need for small talk between the two old comrades, as they were content with watching the show.
In the middle of the battle circle Pyrrha was flipped onto her back, followed by a resounding thud and grunt. Venom Snake stood above, silent as ever, extending a hand. Pyrrha groaned as she took it, standing herself up. Holding out his single edged combat knife, he flipped the blade and gave it to Pyrrha handle first. The huntress nodded, taking the knife and settled into a wide stance.
This wasn't the usual sparring match that the Legion did. Instead, Pyrrha went to the Boss early in the morning and asked for some one on one training. Shepard grinned. It seemed like her talk with the teen last night had gotten her out of her funk, and she was ready to stop isolating herself from the team.
"Again." Snake ordered, his voice neutral, lowering himself into a combat stance.
Pyrrha's grip on her knife tightened. Without hesitation she lunged forward, the knife driving straight for Snake's sternum. It was a swift strike, Snake wasn't sure if it was faster than the Parasite Unit's movement. He realized he must really be getting old if he can't figure out something as simple as that.
But even with his more advanced age, Snake's body reacted automatically. Sliding back, he moved just outside of Pyrrha's range, dodging the strike with the least amount of movement. At the same time, Snake's robotic left hand gripped itself like a vice on Pyrrha's right wrist while he blocked the flat of the blade with his right hand. With a quick chop, Snake slammed the knife out of Pyrrha's hand, sending into the dirt and disarming her. The robotic left arm then snaked around Pyrrha's right, latching onto her shoulder and putting her into a painful arm lock.
Pyrrha growled in pain, but her eyes were alive with fury. Pyrrha threw a punch with her free arm. But pinned as she was, she couldn't put her weight into the strike, and the punch was easily deflected by Snake. To dissuade her from trying again, Snake then smashed his knee into her face. Her aura absorbed most of the damage, but it still hurt like hell.
Snake continued to flow around Pyrrha, losing neither speed nor rhythm through the exchange. He placed his free hand on the back of Pyrrha's head and shoved it downward while he twisted her right arm upwards. This sent the young teen flipping forward, landing flat on her back and knocking the air out of her lungs. Shifting his stance quickly, he pinned her head with his left boot while driving his right knee into her right arm, hyperextending it.
"And from here," Snake explained, breathing slightly harder than normal, "I can easily break your arm." Snake let the huntress go and bent down to pick up the knife. Pyrrha swiftly rose from the ground, rubbing her elbow.
"From what I've seen, your fighting style relies too heavily on your abilities." The Boss lectured. "A soldier must be strong in mind, body, and technique. Your powers and your training have made your body and technique almost superhuman, but at the same time has made you arrogant. Your normal attacks have unnecessary movements that serve no purpose other than aesthetics, giving you no real tactical advantage. In addition, you rely too much on your aura for both defense and offense."
Pyrrha's brows furrowed in response. "But Boss, against attacks of this level, my semblance or even just my aura alone would be enough to protect me. And I would be able to outstrike any normal human with my speed before they could get close enough with a knife."
"This is what I am talking about." Snake admonished. "While useful, over reliance on your powers is fatal. What if your opponent is using a nonmetal weapon, be it an energy sword or a sharpened stick? Your polarity would be useless. And what are you going to do if you run out of aura in the middle of a battle? Give up and die? Your weapons and abilities are only tools, Pyrrha. You must learn to become a lethal weapon without them, so you may be invincible when you do."
Pondering these words, Pyrrha thought back to her time on Remnant. Much of the way she was taught to fight, in fact the way most huntsmen and huntresses were taught, was with elegance and honor. At both Sanctum and Beacon, fighting was as much of a sport as it was for survival. And in the ring, while they fought hard against one another, they fought with honor. And fights always stopped when their opponent's aura went in the red... almost always.
The way the Boss fought however wasn't elegant or honorable. It was brutal, effective, and Pyrrha would even go so far to say it was dirty. But Pyrrha had to remind herself. Boss' world had no aura, so combat was designed to be quick and efficient, focused on instantly killing or disabling your opponent. Without aura, even the smallest injury could be debilitating, and any blow could potentially be lethal.
In her world, they had the luxury of being able to dance and flip around because they assumed their aura would protect them should the maneuver fail. But how many times had she, Yang, or Nora been smashed through a wall or blasted with a counterattack when they were caught mid air by an opponent. Acrobatics were good for dodging grimm, but in a world of laser beams, aliens, and robot armies, she needed to adapt.
Pyrrha's eyes widened as she stumbled into a revelation. It wasn't just her, but aura made all huntsmen in her world cocky. Most huntsmen didn't have the musculature that the Boss or Shepard had because their aura did all the heavy lifting for them. In fact, she already had her aura unlocked when she started training, so she never really did combat training without it. Aura had become so integrated into their culture that it became a crutch. The last time she had fought with no aura was against Cinder. And like the Boss, Cinder didn't fight with honor.
Pyrrha once again glowered at the thought of the woman. She chose not to push the thoughts of her out of her mind however, instead focusing on that smug smile. Gritting her teeth, she looked at the Boss, eyes undeterred, resolute, and never more driven. The invincible girl she once was died at Beacon, and Pyrrha was glad for it. She now stood amongst equals, and she had a lot to learn if she truly wants to reclaim her destiny.
Raising her hands up to a guard, she nodded to Snake. "I'm ready to continue." Snake simply lifted the knife and lunged in response.
Shepard took another sip of coffee as Pyrrha slammed Snake into the ground. The two continued to drill various CQC techniques with dogged determination.
"Thane, what do you think of Snake?" Shepard asked her friend, her gaze not leaving the training.
Thane brought two fingers to his chin in contemplation. "As a soldier, the Boss is second to none. His skills in hand to hand combat, stealth infiltration, and marksmanship are remarkable, probably better than you, Shepard."
Shepard turned to face Thane, cocking an eyebrow with an incredulous look.
"Don't take it personally Commander. Besides, Garrus was always a better shot than you." Thane jabbed.
Shepard pouted ever so slightly. "Yeah sure, he goes and shoots one bottle and suddenly he's 'the best shot on the Citadel'." She grumbled, making a pair of air quotes at Garrus's self-proclaimed title.
"Regardless, as a leader I would say the Boss is different from you. Like you he leads from the front, and while he has the capability to inspire through words and speeches, he seems to have little use for dialogue in general." Thane expressed, getting back on topic. "Unlike you, he will not go out of his way to understand everything that ails his subordinates. He is a man of action, not words; he inspires loyalty through heroic deeds, not interpersonal connection."
"He's not very forthcoming with details about himself." Shepard blankly stated.
Thane shrugged. "True, but I doubt he does so with malicious intent. He is not the Illusive Man. I believe the Boss carries a great deal of pain with him, like all of us. But ultimately, I think he is a good man, and a good leader."
Shepard nodded in return and took another sip of coffee. "I have to say I agree with your assessment Thane."
Following the end of the training session, the Boss had gathered the whole of the Legion in the command center. Everyone took their seats as Snake stood next to an old-school slide projector and pulled down a canvas screen. Flicking the pieces of 80s technology on, the fans began to spin as an image of a swamp flickered into existence. It was a terrifying, primeval swamp, with tall, ancient trees shrouding the area underneath their canopy. The bog was rife with vegetation, and in its center, stood a single, pyramidal structure made of a steel-grey alloy with what looked like a single blast door protecting its entrance.
"This set of ruins is one of the few structures in this world whose origin we cannot identify. Located in a dense swamp that forms a neutral barrier between Korriban and Reach, this site will be the location of a meeting between the Galactic Empire and the Covenant." Snake began. He clicked a button and the projector moved to the next slide, a zoomed in photo of the pyramid and its entrance.
"We've done some reconnaissance in the area before, and found that this structure is essentially some kind of bunker. We believe that there is only one entrance, seen here, and that it leads to an extensive underground facility. Unfortunately, this doesn't leave us a lot of options save for the obvious one, a full on assault. Shepard, you planned this operation so why don't you give the briefing." He gestured a hand to the commander.
Shepard stood and gave a stern nod, moving to the front of the impromptu classroom. "We'll be splitting into two teams for mission. First will be Fireteam Eagle, consisting of Snake, Sarah, Thane, and Pyrrha. Your job is to move in and secure the bunker exterior. Once we kick things off, we'll be expecting enemy reinforcements, so you'll be holding the line."
Snake gave a silent nod while Thane quietly sat, emotionlessly absorbing the information. Sarah on the other hand grew a large smile and excitedly punched her palm with her fist. Pyrrha had a look of fierce conviction, Shepard seeing a fire burning in her eyes. Shepard smirked and continued on.
"The second squad will be Fireteam Raven, which is myself, Six, Sev, and Galen. Once Eagle secures the exterior, our job will be to push into the bunker. The good thing about one way in means that there's only one way out. We move in floor by floor, until we find our targets. First will be Tartarus, Chieftain of the Brutes. We take him out, we throw the entire Covenant into disarray. Our second target is this mysterious Imperial contact. If possible we will secure this contact and extract them, alive." Shepard's stare bored holes into Six's helmet at this detail. "Alpha will then secure an LZ for T3 to get us out. Remember we've all fought brutes before, so bring some heavy fire power for CQB contacts. As for the Imperials and Sith, Galen will brief us on what he knows." Shepard gave a nod and moved back to her, swapping places with Galen.
Galen, now standing by the projector, only gave a small sigh to the piece of archaic technology. Flicking it off, he called over T3, who projected a 3D holographic image of a stormtrooper.
"This," he began "is the standard Imperial Stormtrooper that I am sure you are all familiar with. These are the frontline infantry of the Galactic Empire of my time, and are the successors to the clone trooper army that Sev was once a part of." Galen gestured to the bloodstained hunter, who only grumbled in response.
"They are trained in mass infantry tactics, armed with blaster technology, and are drilled to both feel no fear and enjoy inflicting pain. That being said, they are only general infantry and to us will only pose a problem should we encounter them in large numbers. They do have various specialized units however, such as snipers, heavy weapon specialists, and commandos, giving their army a great deal of versatility." T3 flashed through more holograms, first a Scout Trooper wielding a DLT-19 heavy blaster rifle, then a red colored Shock Trooper clutching a rocket launcher, and finally the black armored Shadow Stormtrooper that Shepard had gotten far too intimate with on her first mission.
"The greatest threat however comes from the Empire's Dark Jedi or Sith Warriors." Galen cautioned, as T3 brought up a final image of a human male dressed in grey and black robes, with a matching black hood and mask that covered the lower half of his face. "These warriors are trained in the ways of the Sith, as I was. They are cruel, unrelenting, and highly skilled in the ways of the Force. A single acolyte can easily kill a dozen men in seconds."
The hologram came alive as it drew a crimson lightsaber and began to flip and twirl, cutting apart rebel soldiers with ease. What Shepard found most disconcerting was the Dark Jedi's expression of pure glee in the face of such a slaughter. Shepard heard a small grunt behind her as Six decided to cut in.
"So how do we kill them? It doesn't matter how fast they are, or how many powers they have, if they bleed it means we can kill them." Six offhandedly asked.
"While powerful, Force users are not invincible. The easiest way is to simply have a better force user on your side. So, Fireteam Raven, try to leave any Dark Jedi we come across to me. I have already fought against some of the strongest Force users in the Galaxy, and I do not boast when I say I believe I can handle most acolytes that would be here." Galen said. He was right in saying it wasn't a boast, as he felt no pride in assassinating some of the strongest Jedi that once lived, nor for failing to kill the Sith that currently ruled the galaxy.
"But regardless, preparation will be key for this battle. First, weapon selection is critical." Galen summoned his lightsaber with the Force, activating the blue blade and giving it a few casual twirls. "All force users, both Jedi and Sith, are trained in the art of blaster deflection, allowing us to easily deflect or even redirect incoming energy weapon fire. Luckily though, slugthrowers that the majority of you use are marginally more successful as the lightsaber may not be able to completely disintegrate the slug on contact. Similarly area of effect weapons such as grenades, sonic screamers, rockets, and plasma charges can bypass this specific defense, as well as prearranged mines as Jedi and Sith prefer hand to hand combat."
"What about gas attacks?" Shepard interrupted. She knew that most conventional military or police forces would use different gases to great effect in close quarters scenarios, whether it was a riot in the streets or breaching a terrorist hideout.
"Gas attacks can be effective should you have the element of surprise, but inhaled toxins tend to be less effective as force users can hold their breath for extended periods of time. Some even have the ability to filter out toxins in the air. These attacks should only be used as a set up for others." Galen deactivated his lightsaber and holstered it back onto his belt. "If you find yourself in melee combat, retreat immediately. Lightsabers can cut through almost anything. Energy shields like the one Six uses may be able to slow them down, but this is a temporary measure at best."
"Next to lightsabers however, the most difficult ability to attempt to counter would be the usage of the Force. The most common and direct abilities would based on telekinesis, such as pushing, pulling, or lifting objects." To demonstrate this Galen causes a nearby chair to float a foot off the ground before slowly placing it back. "These powers typically require a line of sight, so stick to cover. The Force also grants its users something of a foresight. While very few can actually see the future, almost every force user can sense danger seconds before it happens. As a result, overplanning can lead to failure as force users can sense a trap. Instead, impulsive, random acts can throw them off. Lastly and most importantly, as non-force users, you can attempt to 'hide your minds' from force users to prevent your actions from being sensed."
That raised an eyebrow from Shepard.
"How's that possible?" She asked, leaning in even more.
"By broadcasting strong emotions while thinking about something else. Guilt, lust, fear, all of these act as mental interference, making your true intentions difficult to detect. This is actually a technique used throughout history by non-force sensitive assassins to hunt down Jedi." Galen expounded.
Shepard let out a small snort. "What so I just need to think about my Asari girlfriend while trying to gun down a mind reading telekinetic killing machine?"
"Essentially." Galen gave a shrug. "You see the Force is tied to emotion. Jedi are taught emotional peace, serenity, and patience so they may focus and control their powers. While the Sith feed off of passion, anger, and strength to increase their power. These other emotions will distract them, allowing for openings to be exploited."
"What about raw fire power?" This time it was Sarah's turn to chime in. "I doubt even the best Force user would be able to handle a thousand laser beams being fired their way."
"Overwhelming force is a good tactic, as most Force users would fall to such a scenario." Galen smirked but it quickly left his face. "But this would require hundreds of troops attacking in unison. So unless you've been hiding the rest of your chapter from us, that tactic is unavailable. Any other questions?"
Pyrrha's hand tentatively raised itself. She seemed uncomfortable asking this question, but moved to do so anyway. Galen only nodded to her, silently telling her to ask away.
"Galen, if these people are members of the same order you were once a part of, is there a possibility that we would run into any Sith or Dark Jedi that you know? Are you ok with that?" Pyrrha asked, her voice carrying concern both for Galen's emotions and the possibility of them affecting the mission.
Shaking his head, Galen quickly dismissed the question. "While there were other force sensitives in the Empire, such as the Shadow Guard, Emperor's Hand, or the Inquisition, I would personally know none of them. I was a special case, trained by Darth Vader himself, the second in command of the Empire. I will have no problems fighting any Sith we come across, and I will not hesitate to kill them." He locked eyes with Pyrrha."I would suggest that all of you do the same. Anyone else?"
Silence was the response.
Snake stood up, ending the briefing. "You all know what to do. Suit up and prepare for combat."
A/N: A bit of a shorter chapter. Sorry it took so long, but this one went through a few rewrites and I spent a lot of time planning for the next few chapters as well.
Anyway, for those of you that don't know, Snake's speech at the beginning of the chapter is a reference to the Boss's speech at the start of Metal Gear Solid 3. As for Galen's explanation on how to kill Force Sensitives, that's based on HK-47's explanation on how to kill Jedi from KOTOR2.
See you all next chapter!