Log 33
Date: 21ST DEC 2186
Location: EARTH RESISTANCE HEADQUARTERS, LONDON, UK
We arrived at the tower the following day and as expected it was a fortress. Fortunately there wasn't too much Reaper tech at play here. I'm guessing this isn't a key Reaper facility so the defenses were mostly limited by expediency (not that they were still formidable but at least the tower wasn't encased in Reaper armor and guarded by Destroyers). I think it had been a small skyscraper once but now the beautiful glass structure was hidden beneath twisted sheets of metal welded into place as crude armor plating. Several balconies had been added so that a group of Marauders could survey the area from above. The way they were positioned up there reminded me of gargoyles perched atop the battlements of an ancient stone castle.
The area directly around the tower had been leveled leaving nothing behind but rubble and debris. We were hiding in a small cluster of houses as close to the tower as we could get without being spotted. On the ground in front of the tower Ravagers, Cannibals, a horde of Husks and a single Banshee awaited us. A nice little army of guards considering the tower probably didn't matter to the Reapers all that much.
On our side we had the support of every Justicar still alive on Earth, all the members of the Vancouver Resistance I felt I could trust and as many of the Dublin Resistance as were willing to come. I spent several minutes studying the tower, searching for a weakness when the Matriarch interrupted my planning with an unexpected proposal.
"You're suggesting we attempt a full frontal assault?" I asked incredulously. I struggled to believe anyone could look at that tower and not be fazed by it.
"I am," she replied unflinchingly.
"My sisters and I can make the initial assault and gain swift entry into the tower. Since it seems likely that there is a considerable number of adversaries spread throughout the tower our best option is to utilize the element of surprise and maintain our momentum to prevent the enemy from gathering in sufficient force to impede our progress. For maximum speed we'll need your forces to protect our rear picking off any enemies we may have missed."
"Right," I said as an automatic response before frowning deeply. I didn't enjoy being dictated to and considered refusing the Justicar's plan. But I reconsidered, I like to think I'm able to respect the capabilities of others and I couldn't doubt the Matriarch's abilities. I consented to the plan and watched as the Asari got into position feeling slightly intrigued by their confidence.
I didn't have to wait long to see the justification for that confidence. When Ophelia gave the signal the tower came under it's first wave of assault from a dozen well trained snipers. Their shots were deadly accurate, felling the Marauders from their perches and creating a carpet of corpses that led to the front door. One shot was aimed at the Banshee but she got lucky, a Ravager stepping into the shots path at the last moment.
The Reapers scrabbled to react to the rapid attack and began diving from cover and scanning the rooftops to try and see who was shooting at them. Frankly they would've done better to watch what was right in front of them as the rest of the Justicar charged out into their midst firing off biotics to blast a path through to the doors.
Matriarch Ophelia led the charge, slashing her sword left and right to clear the few scattered Husks still in her way. She dealt with that threat easily enough but as she approached the steps in front of the tower a Ravager blocked her path cannons ready to fire. She launched herself into the air over its head. A second Ravager lay in wait on the stairs but while in midair the Justicar crushed it beneath the weight of a wave of biotic energy.
Despite this impressive display she was far from safe. She had in fact landed right next to the Banshee guarding the doors and the first Ravager was trying to turn itself round to face her. I ordered my men to move in but as it turned it was rather unnecessarily. The Banshee lunged the Matriarch with one arm, attempting to impale her with dagger like claws. She ducked beneath the blow and came up slashing her sword.
The ill timed blow had cost the Banshee an arm but the Ravagers slow speed cost it even more. By the time it had turned to face the Justicar she had already removed the Banshee's second arm and had turned to face it, ready to strike and with death in her eyes. The first biotic blast knocked it flying onto its back. The second destroyed it. With no other options the now armless (but apparently not yet harmless) Banshee dove at the Justicar trying to knock her to the ground. Within seconds it was headless.
The attack by my men had served to wipe out the remaining Cannibals and Husks outside the tower and already the Justicar were pushing on inside. Our job at this stage was fairly straightforward. The Justicar went straight for the largest areas with the most enemies they could find. We held back, guarding the many corridors and clearing the endless number of rooms. We killed plenty of Reaper troops ourselves (usually in small groups) but I can't begin to imagine how many fell to the Asari.
Eventually we made it to the top of the tower, the control hub for its operation. That's when I first caught sight of what the Reapers were turning Salarians into. I think those particular nightmares will haunt me for the rest of my life. We hadn't known until that moment that the Reapers had even tried to turn the Salarians into more of their monsters. Now we knew why we hadn't encountered them until now,. No one had ever tried to break into a facility like this before. Apparently the Reapers didn't see this species as useful for front line warfare as we'd seen with other races. Instead they had a far worse fate in mind for them, to be used as living computers.
There was about a dozen in the room, each attached to one of the consoles that were spread in a circle around the center of the room. We could only see the top half of their bodies, the rest of them (if indeed there was anything left of them below that point) was plugged into the consoles themselves so they sat in the center of them, cut off at the waist. Their bodies were a twisted mess of wires and cables, their eyes blank and cloudy. They couldn't see but somehow they knew how to work the controls. They were oblivious to the fall of the tower or perhaps like the machines they were being used as they simply had no concept of anything outside of their designated function.
Xi Chan was the last one to enter (we'd kept him back for protection) and the horror was clear on his face before he'd taken three steps into the room. His eyes, wide and round as dinner plates scanned the room taking in the full scale of the nightmare around us. I waited patiently as he came to terms with this unexpected find.
"Can we-" he began to ask, gesturing with his pistol in hand. I shook my head grimly.
"I don't think so," I replied.
"How can you just leave them here like this?" Xi demanded angrily.
"They're keeping the tower operating, if we kill them now the Reapers will notice and send reinforcements," I explained feeling like a coward.
"Don't worry, we won't leave them here like this. You have my word on that."
The Salarian nodded and plugged his device into the nearest console. He spent a few minutes tapping away at it furiously, taking out his pent up rage on the keypad. Eventually he nodded with satisfaction and walked away from it.
"Is it done?"
He shook his head.
"I've started the program running, the virus is being broken up and hidden among chunks of legitimate communication data the tower has received."
"So Harbinger will think its just part of the ordinary transmission?"
"That's the idea."
"How long will it take?"
"About half an hour, there's a lot of data to process there."
We spent the next twenty five minutes waiting anxiously unsure if the program would finish before more Reaper troops arrived. The short version is: it didn't finish in time.
Our spotters on all sides suddenly started calling out as Harvesters approached from every direction. They landed all around the tower like a flock of vultures waiting for their chance at a carcass. Next a massive troop transport ship landed, crushing the houses we'd hidden in while planning our attack on the tower. A large ramp lowered and rank upon rank of Reaper soldiers (of every type imaginable) marched out to take up positions in front of the tower. But worse yet was still to come. A black monstrosity glided out of the dust and smoke and towards us. It dwarfed the tower, so tall it wasn't possible to see the whole thing but I knew if we could measure it, it would be more than two kilometers in height. Harbinger had come for us.
"How did this happen? How did they know where to find us?" Asked Lara furiously.
"They might have simply detected that we attacked the tower somehow," said Xi Chan reasonably.
"No it has to be more than that. Have you seen the size of the army out there? And Harbinger's here too, it wouldn't bother with something like this in person unless someone told the Reapers who was coming," Lara stated coldly.
"And we both know who that person is don't we?"
"How? How the hell could he have even known about this operation?"
"You think what you like, I'm done trusting him. I've had it with these cloak and dagger games! When we get back I'm going to-"
"If we get back to the base, I'll consider myself the luckiest man who ever lived." I muttered, watching as still more Harvesters swooped into the area. Turning to face Xi Chan I asked him if we could use the program against Harbinger.
"Not yet, it needs at least another couple of minutes before we can use it." Xi Chan whispered back.
"Right then," I said. "I'll try and buy you some time."
"You're going out there?" asked Lara incredulously.
"If Harbinger didn't already know I was here, it wouldn't have come," I reminded her.
"I'll just have to keep him talking."
I strolled out onto the balcony feeling a surprising calm given the situation. I bought my assault rifle with me though I doubted it would be of any use.
"Admiral Anderson."
"Harbinger."
"You will come with us now."
"What the hell for exactly?"
"You have information on Shepard."
"Why do you care? He's not a threat to you," I called out not believing it but hoping Harbinger might. More than anything I didn't want Harbinger gunning for Shepard.
"He may yet gain the power to decide the fate of this cycle. I must know what he would decide."
"What the hell does that mean?" I yelled at it in frustration. Up until then I had just been focused on playing for time but now I was too incensed to think.
"Synthesis. Peace. My Destiny."
"What? What do you mean peace? You started this war!"
"The conflict between organics and synthetics is inevitable, the cycle must continue."
"You're wrong, our alliance with the Geth proves that. Machines and organics can live side by side."
"Your feeble mind fails to grasp the complexity of the problem or the flaws of your solution. The alliance you speak of has lasted mere weeks, born out of fear our power. Your lives are measured in years and decades, we are eternal and we have seen the problem across the eons. Considered from that perspective your alliance is irrelevant." Harbinger intoned in its deep, powerful voice.
"It has happened before and come to nothing. And it will happen again if the cycle continues."
"If? You mean the cycle can be broken?"
"The experiment must run until a solution is found. In your cycle Shepard may be that solution."
"So let him do whatever is he's meant to do now. Just let it end."
"Unacceptable. He may yet fail and your species along with him. We will continue the experiment until a solution is found or organic life evolves beyond even our ability to contain it. Now it is time for you to come with us. Surrender, your situation is hopeless."
Harbinger emitted the same fog horn blast I had heard from other Reapers in the past. In the past it hadn't been so bad, like small waves crashing against a sea defense but at such close range? It was a tsunami. I was paralyzed, my head feeling like it had been split open as the sound washed over me. For a moment I imagined I could see myself dropping my weapon and raising my hands before Harbinger in surrender. I threw off this vision and hauled myself to my feet, breathing heavily.
"I won't give you what you want Harbinger, not ever."
Harbinger addressed his troops.
"Storm the tower. Bring me Anderson. Kill everyone else."
I looked below and saw Reaper forces charging towards the main doors. The Harvesters took flight and soon filled the skies above the tower. The attack had begun.
I raced back inside the tower to warn the others.
"We're under attack, is that program ready yet?"
"It is but we still need to upload it onto Harbinger's puppet and then kill it."
"Can you upload it from here?"
Xi Chan shook his head.
"We need direct access."
"And our target is outside the tower, with an army of Reaper troops between us. Maybe I can get us close, they still want to take me alive."
"It's risky, they can't kill you but they could still grab you or shoot you in the leg or something."
"Aye and what about the rest of us? If you go outside, Harbinger won't have any reason not to demolish the whole tower," pointed out Rupert.
"That's why we all need to get out of the tower beforehand."
"Are you mad? If we go out there we'll all be sitting ducks."
I sighed heavily.
"I know. But the tower isn't a safe haven, it's a death trap. If we stay here Harbinger will just keep throwing troops at us until we're all dead. If we're going to try and get out we should do it now before they completely surround the tower. While there's still enough of us left to stand a chance out there."
"How do we get out, they're storming the main doors."
"A place like this must have had other exits even if the Reapers covered them up. Hell blow a hole in the walls if you have to. Take my troops and try to get as many out as you can. Just break out and try to run for cover, I'll try and keep Harbinger distracted to give you a chance."
"What about the Justicar?" Asked the Matriarch but from my hesitation she quickly realized what I was going to ask.
"You want us to hold the main doors to give everyone else a chance of escape."
"If there was any other way of getting us out of this-"
"No. You're right that this is the only way that any of us survive this. I sent several of my sisters downstairs after you went out so the Reapers hopefully haven't beached the doors yet. I shall go and join them now, T'Ren you're with me."
Lara stayed where she was.
"Anderson will need my help to reach Harbinger's puppet, I'm sorry."
The Matriarch cocked her on one side for a moment examining Lara closely. I remember thinking that this would be a bad time to argue over the Justicar Code but to my surprise she simply nodded.
"Very well. Best of luck to you Admiral. I surprise even myself when I say that it was an honor to serve under you, no matter how briefly. But if I might make one final request?"
"Anything."
"Make sure you kill Harbinger. A lot of my sisters are going to die today, I want the Reapers to remember what we stood for."
She left in her usual brisk, no nonsense manner with the rest of the Justicar (except for Lara) leaving me near speechless in her wake.
"Right then," I said clearing my thoughts.
"Xi Chan and I will get out downstairs and head straight for the target. Lara go down to one of the first floor balconies and cover us for as long as you can, then fall in behind us."
"What about them?" He asked, pointing in the direction of the Salarian husks still in the room.
"Plant charges but be quick about it, there's no time to lose."
Once we felt everyone else had time to get out of the tower near the main entrance. Xi Chan stuck as close as possible to me as possible to prevent the Reapers from getting a clear shot at him. As expected Harbinger quickly identified that I was had left the tower and begin charging its main canon, preparing to demolish it. Before it got the chance Xi hit the switch on the explosives he'd planted in the control room. There was an immediate burst of flames from the window above us as the explosion destroyed the entire floor, Xi nodded in satisfaction pleased to have given the Salarians a clean death. Helpfully the explosion also served as a signal for the Justicar to come charging out of the main doors and begin their attack.
Some of the resistance had stayed to help them fight but even so they were outnumbered at least twenty to one. Even the first wave had three times as many fighters as they did. Still they were undeterred as they charged out onto the battlefield guns blazing, swords flashing and biotics already cutting swathes though the enemy ranks. This was the Justicar Order as it had never been seen since the Rachni Wars. United for the first time in two millennia, an army of highly trained, powerful warriors with more than ten thousand years experience between them.
Even so on open ground it would have been a relatively short fight. The Harvesters had by this point unleashed a heavy bombardment of the area from the air, leaving the ground pockmarked with creators that served as perfect foxholes. The terrain served the Asari well, providing plenty of cover while simultaneously impeding the progress of the larger Reaper units and of course their biotic attacks also disrupted the enemy formation as their soldiers were tossed about like rag dolls.
We avoided the main fighting by skirting around the battle, dodging from one foxhole to another. That's not to say our progress went unchallenged of course. Husks, able to traverse the terrain more easily than any other Reaper unit, pursued us relentlessly but were easy enough to deal with. At one point we jumped into a new pit to evade fire only to be ambushed by a Marauder. It knocked me to the ground and was busy trying to bash my head in with its rifle when Xi stepped up behind it and ripped out an important looking cable. The creature spasmed briefly before collapsing and we pressed on.
Harbinger's puppet had followed the first wave (which was currently being decimated) into battle. We saw it on a nearby rise surrounded by Ravagers and Banshees. With no other option we hurled every grenade we could lay our hands on into their midst and prayed the target's shields would hold. Fortunately they did (just) and while its bodyguards were blown apart Harbinger was flung clear of the explosion and landed near by.
Xi Chan reacted first, running the last few meters down to the target. I saw him kneel down next to the fallen figure of our enemy to administrator the code. I ran to catch up with him but before I could get close Harbinger's puppet seemed to come alive again. It shot Xi twice in the gut then grabbed him by the throat and sent him flying towards me, knocking me down. Harbinger got up and pointed to something in the middle distance. When I saw what it was my blood ran cold, the second wave of Reaper troops was almost on us.
Matriarch Ophelia and her comrades had astonishingly somehow managed to rout the first wave of attackers but they had suffered heavy losses. More than half the resistance fighters that had stayed and five of the Justicar were dead. The next wave would almost certainly wipe us out and Harbinger would get everything it wanted. In a rage I charged towards his puppet firing as I ran. It was a futile attempt, Harbinger raised a hand and sent me and Xi flying backwards in a blast of biotic power that caught me off guard. Only a tiny percentage of Turians are born with biotics but it seems Harbinger had found one to serve as its puppet.
We landed in another crater somewhere behind the Asari's lines. I crawled though the mud over to where Xi Chan was lying. He was in a very bad way, there was blood around his mouth and he had to use both hands to stem the bleeding from his wounds.
"I... I did it," he said every word clearly causing him pain.
"You...just...need...to..."
"To kill Harbinger," I finished for him and looked out at the battlefield. Several Justicar were already firing at Harbinger's puppet, I guess they'd seen my attempt to kill it and assumed everything was in place.
"I think they know."
We watched from our little bunker as the Asari and Reaper forces clashed. They threw their full strength against Harbinger, he was holding them off for the time being but it was surely only a matter of time now. I hauled myself to my feet and headed out there again. The addition of one injured Alliance soldier was unlikely to make much of a difference at this point but I might be able to get some help for Xi.
Or so I thought. I never even saw the Harvester swooping through the sky or the barrage it delivered. I remember the impact, the explosion throwing me through the air, hitting my head and then nothing. Just one more body on the battlefield, lying among the dead.