Mass Effect is the property of Bioware. 20th Century Fox owns the Alien/Predator franchise.
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Eden Prime, Maglev station.
"Get into cover!"
Obeying her own command, Shepard dove to the ground behind one of the crates that were scattered around the station. The Maglev station, like the rest of Eden Prime's capital city, had been built in the hills and for some reason, the designers had decided not to bother levelling the area. Instead, they had let the railroad run through a valley and built the station on top of the hill next to it. Getting from the station building to the platform required the use of a flight of stairs. Stair, which, unfortunately, were wide open on the platform side, and in full view of a squad of Geth, a squad of Geth that included the biggest robot she'd seen so far. It was painted bright red, featured heavy shields, and could spit out automatic fire at a rate that rifled a human smartgun. All in all, not a good proposition for her small unit.
"Alenko, get to work. I need you to get its shields down."
"Yes, ma'am." The lieutenant had dropped to one knee behind a rock and was busy typing commands into his wrist computer.
"Williams, Jin," Shepard looked over at the last two marines she had with her. "Pop up and shoot, keep them occupied. Don't take any risks. When Alenko drops the shields, I will take that thing down. You'll need to cover me from the rest."
She put her rifle down and reached behind her for the grenade launcher that was slung on her back, flinching as a burst of mass accelerator rounds ripped into the crate. Getting into cover was all well and good, but at this rate, it wouldn't last very long. In any case, they couldn't afford to be pinned down for long. If the xenomorphs showed up again, they'd be in a hopeless position. Unable to evade and without the necessary firepower to fight both them and the geth at the same time. She unslung the grenade launcher and reached for an armour-piercing round.
When it came to grenade launchers, the Marines seemed to be unable to make up their minds. In the days before the United Systems, the Colonial Marines had made use of the short-barreled launchers on their M41 Pulse rifles. Those had been easy to use, could lay down a lot of firepower, and had the advantage that their 30 mm grenades could also be used as hand grenades. The downside had been the lack of accuracy, which had made them nearly useless at long range, whereas no-one in their right mind would want to use a grenade launcher at short range. Then had come the Lacrimae, which had gone to the other extreme, exchanging the short ranged, smoothbore launcher for a rifled, highly accurate, complicated, and extremely expensive system that allowed for precision fire of 25 mm grenades that could either be fired directly at targets or be set for airburst explosions. Unfortunately, this had reduced the firepower to the point where they started to lose their effectiveness as area-effect weapons, while still being overkill against individual targets. They had also lacked the ability to double as hand grenades. With the Lacrimae being removed from service, the Marines had once again changed policy. The new Draco Double Burner weapon system, which had been designed based on experiences from the First Contact War, lacked a grenade launcher in its standard configuration, leaving the marines with only hand grenades. Several new solutions had been proposed, including a massive, full-automatic grenade launcher that would use the same exoskeleton mount as the M56 smartgun. Some of these had been rejected, others were still undergoing evaluation.
Meanwhile, a simple solution had been implemented. Each marine rifle squad now carried one smoothbore launcher. While lacking the accuracy of the Lacrimae, or the rapid-fire ability of the pulse rifle, it could launch powerful 60 mm grenades, which simply doubled as standard hand grenades, simplifying the supply problem. It also gave the Marines a much-needed indirect-fire ability. Used for the first time during the assault on Torfan it had quickly gained popularity for its ability to clear out an entire room with a single shot. However, there was no such thing as a free lunch in weapon design. What the Marines had gained in indirect firepower, they had lost in ammunition flexibility. In the old days, each marine could carry enough 25 mm grenades for a Lacrimae to have an ample supply of each ammunition type, the new grenades were simply too large. Shepard carried two standard high explosion fragmentation grenades that could double as hand grenades and two special, shaped-charge, anti-armour grenades and that was all. Normally, there would be additional grenades distributed over the rest of her unit, but she had not had a full rifle squad to begin. Now, of her original squad, only Jin was left. Alenko, already burdened by his specialist equipment, didn't carry grenades; and Williams, whose unit had been equipped according to the old standard, had carried the wrong model even before she expended them. They had scavenged some of the ammunition of the dead, but the situation was still far from optimal. Fortunately, there was only one target to be dealt with.
More rounds tore into the crate. From the corner of her eye, she could see Williams returning fire, but there was no way her Lacrimae's small calibre bullets would be able to take a shield like that down within a reasonable amount of time. This was a specialist's job and-
"Ready when you are, Commander."
"Do it!"
Even from behind cover, she could see the light show of sparks and current arcs as the heavy geth's shield went down. Shepard jumped up, aiming the grenade launcher as she moved. While not the most accurate weapon, at this range she could hardly miss a target that size and a 60 mm shaped-charge armoured piercing round slammed into the geth's torso. As the charge went off, a hypersonic jet of molten stell went straight through armour and expanded into the inner workings lay behind it. Whatever those inner workings were, they were clearly not designed to stand up to old-fashioned HEAT rounds. The geth vanished in a massive explosion.
"Get the rest! Now!"
More rifle fire slashed across the tracks into the remaining geth, ripping two of them apart. A third suddenly staggered as a blueish shimmer surrounded it and its outer casing fell apart. Shepard charged down the stairs, finding new cover at the bottom. There were still more of the bloody robots further down the platform and they were running out of time and ammunition. She loaded another grenade, standard high-explosive fragmentation this time and aimed down the platform to the place where at least two of the geth had sought shelter. From the top of the stairs, Williams and Jin were still firing in short burst, keeping the geth pinned down. Alenko was still up here as well, waiting until his biotics were up again.
Shepard aimed and fired, the grenade arched upward to fall between the geth and exploded. Two more down. A third was still up and firing, but clearly damaged, and its shots went wide. A single burst of automatic fire took it down.
"All clear."
The small unit converged on the Maglev transport that was parked near the end of the platform. Shepard looked around. "Alright people, now for the final stretch. We've got a beacon to secure and a turian to kill. After that, drinks are on me."
-o-o-o-
Eden Prime, spaceport
The small Maglev transport started to slow down as it approached the platform. Shepard's hand tightened on her rifle as she scanned the surroundings.
"Heads up, people. I'll bet you good money that there is a welcoming committee."
Alenko grinned. "No way I'm taking that bet."
"Yeah, didn't think so. The moment this thing stops, you move. And don't stop moving until you're in cover." The transport reached the platform and the marines were moving even before it came to a full stop.
They were just in time. At least half a dozen geth were scattered around the platform and opened fire in an impressive display of coordinated action. Luckily for the marines, the station had been built in two levels, with the second level raised on a series of solid metal beams that provided ample cover. With their targets dispersed and in cover, the geth tried to advance. It was a tactical error. The Draco assault rifles might lack grenades, but they did not lack firepower. Quick bursts of small calibre rounds quickly tore down shields and the heavier armour piercing slugs made short work of the hardshell casings of the geth. One geth took a headshot that shattered its optics and send it flailing about, a second had its legs shot out from under it. Two more were simply dismantled by numerous hits.
"Commander!" Alenko had is head-up display out again. "I'm picking up a signal."
"The beacon?"
"No, ma'am. It's a countdown. It's coming from multiple locations. I think they've set explosives."
"Fuck!"
Shepard rolled out of cover, shooting in the general direction of the remaining geth to keep them from targetting her. "Jin, Williams, with me. We'll clear out the rest of those flashlights. Alenko, find those bombs and shut them down."
She moved forward, into the fire of the geth. She felt an impact, a second one, her shields were dropping rapidly, but that was the trade-off she had to make to gain time. Two more robots dropped, and the few survivors fell back toward the platform exit.
"Commander, one bomb down."
"Good, keep at it. Williams, cover that exit. I don't want them coming back with reinforcements. Jin, motion tracker. We'll do a full sweep of the platform."
-o-o-o-
They scanned along the platform, but there was no movement. As they approached the exit, Alenko joined them.
"That was the last one. No more explosive surprises."
"Good. Stay alert. We're pretty much at the spaceport now. So, the turian and his little friends will either have to get out of Dodge or make a stand. So far the geth and the xenomorphs haven't really worked together. I hope that's because they cannot, but there is no sense in taking risks. If the geth pin us down with gunfire while the xenomorphs close in, we're toast." She shrugged. "That doesn't even include that ship they put on the ground somewhere. God knows what kind of weaponry that thing has. If they decided to open fire on us with onboard weapons, we're dead meat. The captain may try to engage them, but Normandy isn't exactly a ship-killer. Besides, he'll never be able to stop them from getting the first salvo off. Under the circumstances, I'm overruling Nihlus' set of priorities. I still have one armour piercing grenade left. If we cannot get to the beacon, we'll blow it up."
"Ma'am," Alenko shook his head. "Nihlus may be dead, but he was a Spectre and his recommendation is on record. The council-"
"Isn't here. Neither is anyone else. As the commanding officer on the scene, the final authority is mine. Nihlus' decision was based on limited information. He didn't know we'd be facing geth and I doubt he even knew what xenomorphs are. This ship is an unknown. We don't know where it came from, what the geth are doing with it, or who else is involved. If they make off with the beacon, our chances of recovering it are pretty much zero. In any case, I've made my decision. Now, let's see what they have planned for us. Williams, take point."
-o-o-o-
"One down! One more in cover."
Shepard moved up, passing Williams, who had ducked behind one of the supporting beams that held up the platform above them. One of the geth lay in pieces at the bottom of the stairs. Another was crouched behind a cargo box. Shepard launched a grenade, blowing up the box and the geth at the same time. A bit further away, she could see what she assumed was the beacon. A tall, almost blade-like structure that was clearly not designed by any human engineer. It seemed to be floating above the ground, glittering with some kind of energy field.
"Commander, 9 o'clock!" Jin came up behind Shepard and fired a quick burst at another geth that was approaching from the left, cutting off one its legs.
"Clear to the left!"
"Clear to the right!" That was Williams.
"No movement on scanners. Commander, I'm getting a massive energy spike!" Alenko came running down the stairs. "Ma'am, it looks like a mass effect core powering up. I think it's their ship. Their lifting off."
A massive roar confirmed his statement. A shadow fell over the spaceport and as they looked up, they saw a ship, lift off. Th vessel was large, about the size of a human destroyer, but it manoeuvered with the agility of a much smaller ship, twisting in the air, even as it rose and accelerating quickly.
Shepard followed the ship with her eyes for as long as she could.
"Now there is something you don't see every day. Alright, people. Let's take a look at our beacon. Cause I'm not sure it should be doing what it's doing. Williams, you've seen that thing before. Was it always floating like that?"
"No, ma'am," Williams shook her head. And it wasn't glowing either. Or, you know, doing that!"
Something in the beacon released a shower of sparks that were absorbed in the surrounding energy field.
"Okay, So-"
"Normandy calling ground team." Captain Anderson's voice came through their communicators. "I repeat, Normandy calling ground team."
"And it seems like the jamming is down." She activated her long-range transmitter.
"Normandy, this is ground team. Shepard speaking."
"Shepard, this is Captain Anderson. We're still in stealth. We saw the ship take off. They're making for the edge of the system. Do they have the beacon?"
"Negative, sir. Beacon is right here. Sir, Jenkins and Rahn KIA, so is Nihlus. I've detached Estanza to guard a couple of civilian scientists. Alenko and Jin are still with me, as is a gunnery sergeant Williams of the 2nd Frontier Division. Sir, we have both geth and xenomorphs on the ground."
"I know, Commander." Anderson's voice sounded weary. "We got your warning as soon as the jamming stopped and we have recordings from your helmet cameras uploaded from the military network. We've got the first reinforcements from Arcturus coming through the relay right now, and they've been informed as well. Help is on the way. What do you need right now?"
Shepard looked around. "Sir, we're going to need extraction. So do Estanza and the two scientists and there is another civilian in the Maglev station near where they found the beacon. We're outnumbered, low on ammo, and there's no telling how many xenomorphs there are. There may also still be geth on the ground. But, right now, we've got a problem with the beacon. It looks like it's been activated and I haven't got a clue how to shut it off. I need specialists to secure it. The civilians with Estanza may be able to help."
-o-o-o-
USM Normandy
"Call Estanza!"
"Yes, Captain."
Anderson sighed. Xenomorphs, geth, a dead Spectre. So much for it being a milk run. His last assignment before he had to take a desk job in the Citadel. In a way, he had been looking forward to it. As much as he would miss field assignments, the idea of spending time on the Citadel had its appeal. But not under these conditions. He didn't know the details of all the negotiations that had been happening behind the scenes, but it didn't take a diplomatic mastermind to figure out that they must have been extensive. A unique prothean artefact to be handed over to aliens; a Spectre, an acknowledged Council agent, aboard one of humanity's newest warships; the concessions the Council made to get all of that had to have been significant. And now the Spectre was dead, and if the witness at the station was telling the truth, Saren was involved. That name hadn't meant anything to Shepard, but to Anderson, it did. No good was going to come of this.
"Sir, we have Estanza on the comm."
"Good." He activated his communicator. "Estanza, this is the captain. Do you read me?"
"Yes, sir." The marine sounded calm. That was a good sign.
"Are you secure?"
"Yes, sir. I spotted some movement a while ago, but nothing has come close."
Anderson let out a sigh of relieve. "Good. Hang tight, we'll be coming to pick you up asap. Meanwhile, I need to talk to those two scientists."
"One of them is unconscious, sir. I'll put Dr Warren on."
There was a moment's pause.
"This is Dr Warren."
"Doctor, there is something happening with the beacon. According to Commander Shepard, it has been activated. She needs advice on how to shut it down."
"Activated?" The scientist's voice sounded incredulous. "Captain, we didn't even know whether it could be activated without an external power supply. The Council may have specialists who can deal with this, but I have no idea-"
"The council specialists aren't here, Doctor. You are. I'm not going to load that beacon aboard my ship while it's active and I'm certainly not going to tell Shepard and her team to sit around and guard it for several days under these circumstances until some of these specialists can come over. So, right now, you're it."
There was another pause.
"Captain, If I could take a look at it, I might be able to help, but..."
"That can be arranged. Do you have a computer terminal available?"
"I do."
Anderson looked over at one of his techs. "Send her the feed from Shepard's helmet camera."
-o-o-o-
Eden Prime, spaceport
"Shepard, I'm routing your camera feed to Dr Warren. Can you get closer to the beacon for a better look?"
Shepard took a step forward, eyes narrowing as she studied the prothean artefact. Over the past few minutes, the field surrounding it seemed to have grown in size and intensity. It was pulsing, with showers of sparks arching off the object, and although her entire knowledge of prothean technology could be written on a single sticky note, it seemed rather obvious that this was not the way any kind of device was supposed to function.
"Commander, Dr Warren here. Check the lower part of the device. From the way they built the protheans weren't much taller than we are, so any kind of controls have to be below two meters."
She took another step. There were lines of light, flickering across the beacon, tracing patterns that were unfamiliar, yet somehow seemed to make a connection with her. At the back of her mind, she felt a strange pressure, as though something was forcing her to move forward.
Another step. Even as her foot hit the ground an invisible hand seized her and lifted her into the air.
-o-o-o-
"Commander!" Alenko moved forward, to where Shepard was suspended in mid-air, the beacon's energy field swirling around her. He tried to reach out with biotics, but the beacon's energy field shrugged his attempts off without budging. For long seconds Shepard hung there, motionless; then, with a final eruption, the field failed and the commander tumbled to the ground. Alenko knelt down beside her and checked her vitals.
"Normandy, this is Lieutenant Alenko."
"Lieutenant, what the hell just happened."
"Sir, there was some sort of malfunction. The beacon just failed. The commander is unconscious. I repeat, Commander Shepard is down."
Captain Anderson cursed.
"Alright. Hold your position. Normandy will move in for immediate retrieval."
Alenko looked around. Something was moving in the shadows.
"Please hurry, Captain. I think we're about to have company."
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Oops! Last time, I mentioned in my author's note that it's good to have a few characters die, which seemed to worry some of the readers. Guys, don't worry. Now, I'm not promising that everyone is going to survive, but I'm not going to kill off loads of characters just to make it look like I'm GRR Martin in disguise.
Regarding the grenade launchers: The 30 mm on the Pulse rifle is, of course, canon for the Alien franchise. I described the 25 mm of the Lacrimae in Someone had blundered. It is a system that exists today and was originally introduced on the OICW concept. The reduced explosive power is due to both the smaller calibre and the fact that a grenade, launched from a rifled barrel, needs a much stronger shell casing than for a smoothbore weapon, which comes at the expense of the payload. The weapon that Shepard uses here is copied from the movie Eraser (look on the imfdb website for the drillbit launcher). As to why the new Dracos don't have their own grenade launchers, I'll get to that in a later chapter.
