A/N: The Angstrofuck of Doom continues, and things get crazy.

You should check out: Aberron's "Living an Indoctrinated Dream," Xabiar's "XCOM: The Hades Contingency" and related files, ArielFetters' "Mass Effect – Hellion," and KatKiller-V's "Another Realm VII: Hellhounds."

As usual, none of this would be possible without the dedicated assistance of the Editing Gang. All reviews, positive or negative, are welcomed.


'If the daughter fails and falls from the path of righteousness, who else could be to blame but the mother?'

-Samara, when questioned about her reasons for joining the Justicar Order


Tazzik was something of an expert at fighting battle-suits.

Where asari battle-suits were built for grace and agility, and turian battle-suits were designed around specific combat roles, he knew that Systems Alliance battle-suits were built for durability, endurance, and anti-mech/battle-suit operations. In general, however, most battle-suits were focused on taking down a single, heavy threat.

The Cerberus ATLAS MK-II was none of these things. It was, from the reports Tazzik had read, less agile and better armored, able to shrug off heavy weapons fire. It was designed around modular sections for quick field replacements, rapid changes in weapon loadout, and multi-environment capabilities. Instead of anti-mech operations, they were infantry fire support platforms, to be the wall against which enemy ground troops broke.

Unfortunately for them, the salarian they were facing was a wrecking ball.

Tazzik immediately took advantage of their lack of agility by leaping to one side and firing as he ran, the white-hot blast from his enhanced lance cannon immediately blowing a melted, smoking hole in the knee of the leading suit, sending it tottering off-balance to crash to the ground. This knocked the unit next to the stricken ATLAS over as both collapsed to the grinding scream of buckling metal, and blocked the shots of three more, who had to maneuver around the fallen battle-suits, slowly and ponderously.

Tazzik could not help but snort as he moved faster yet, leaping atop one battle-suit in a single movement and firing directly into the exposed cooling port on the top-back of the ATLAS's cockpit. Tazzik rolled free a split second later, and the pilot didn't even have time to scream as his machine detonated with a loud blast.

Two ATLAS mechs opened fire, cannons booming, only to find the standard anti-infantry flechettes didn't have the punch to pierce the super-heavy armor the salarian cyborg wore. Tazzik's smile widened behind his battle mask as he fired rapidly at the leftmost of the two attackers, punching through the canopy of the ATLAS and killing its pilot.

He knew it would take at least a minute for the battle-suits to dump their existing ammo loads and reload with armor piercing, assuming they had any at all. The shots had hurt, but they didn't have the power to put him down.

He was lining up on a third ATLAS when he saw a flash of white off to one side. Reflexively, he dodged back, but not fast enough. He cursed as heavy gunfire rained down around him, the shots shattering his kinetic barrier and punching right through his armor in several locations.

Rolling out of the way of more gunfire across the shattered permacrete surface of the parking lot, he flung himself into a roll, coming to rest against a burning aircar as he glanced up again.

More Cerberus troopers had dropped, bulky white armor gleaming in the daylight; each one holding heavy caliber Mattock rifles with – if they were going through even his high-density armor – some kind of upgraded armor-piercing capabilities.

Given the amount of credits Cerberus throws around, probably some kind of experimental ammo, he thought sourly as he reviewed the HUD indicating his condition.

His internals weren't seriously damaged yet, but the troopers were going to be a problem. Already, the ATLAS mechs were stomping forward to shield any approach, and their landing had cut him off from the battered Sisters of Vengeance and the rest of the enemy force, making him sigh.

As Cerberus troopers landed and rushed toward the downed combatants, the rest of the ATLAS suits opened fire with sprays of fire and barrages of missiles. Disturbingly, they'd already reloaded with some kind of shield-breaker rounds, his slowly recharging kinetic barrier was torn down like paper after a burst.

Glaring hatefully at the missiles – this game was no longer any fun at all – he cursed as he flipped backwards in an instant, throwing off the unguided attacks. Chaff flared in glittering sprays from his shoulders, onboard systems generating ECM jamming bands. He fired on the closest battle-suit, his shots finding the still open missile rack before it had time to close.

The squarish opening on the side of the ATLAS detonated violently, a flash of blue and white fire jetting out from vents in the back as the pilot was near instantly incinerated – the explosion tearing through the thin armor plating on the side of the cockpit.

He grimaced behind his combat mask, seeing five more Cerberus troopers rushing forward, each one bearing a heavy machine gun. Behind them, the bulk of the rest made a beeline for the badly wounded Trellani. His augmented hearing could pick up the words of the leader, whose hand was up by his helmet, probably tapping a comm-link, "Lion, Priestess is down, I repeat Priestess is down. Request tasking and secondary HAMMER drop."

Tazzik spun away from another burst of fire from the heavy gunners, and responded with mini-missiles from the vents on the sides of his legs, catching them by surprise and killing three of them. He had no time to enjoy his victory, though, as the ATLAS mechs locked him up with more long sprays of heavy fire, and he noted with distress his armor was beginning to fail.

This would be a lot easier if Tetrimus wasn't out of commission, was the thought he had as he fired back.

O-TWCD-O

Liara wiped blood from her mouth as she got to her feet. One of Tazzik's wild shots during his arrival had clipped her, breaking her barrier. She swallowed back a curse and slapped a medi-gel patch on the seared, bubbling section of her armor, before glancing over the battlefield again.

Tazzik was being held at bay by Cerberus, but even though they were hurting the giant cyborg, his return fire was lethally devastating, almost every shot either killing a trooper or damaging an ATLAS. The rest of the human soldiers had rushed to the wounded Trellani, with two of the troopers pulling out medi-gel packs and a field medic's kit while the rest set up portable kinetic barriers.

Even as they did so, however, Telanya cursed, and glanced up from her glowing omni-tool. "I'm down three drones, but the rest show more incoming Shadow Broker troops. A lot of troops."

Liara grimaced and turned her attention back to Tetrimus, taking in the shimmering gleam of the portable kinetic barrier Tazzik had dropped in front of him. A six-sided defense that could only be turned off from the inside, the barrier would have to be dropped with heavy attacks or bypassed with warpfire. She could try to rush him – the barrier wouldn't stop her from simply walking up to him, after all – but with Tazzik jumping around and shooting anything that caught his attention, and the distance to Tetrimus, that wasn't a good risk.

She honestly didn't know if she could blast through it with the weapons she had on hand, and instead gathered her strength, preparing to warp the downed turian.

Another ATLAS mech fell, but the rest had landed some hits on the salarian cyborg, and he'd been forced back, away from Tetrimus. Liara began invoking a warp strike against the disabled Tetrimus, but was cut off when jump-pack troops in black Broker armor crested the remains of the wall, firing both at the ATLAS suits and the rest of her group.

Liara dived behind a low piece of rubble as shots bounced off the ground and tore through the thigh of one of the Black Blades, the shot making her stumble to the ground clutching her leg.

This batch of the Broker's soldiers wore heavier black armor than the ones in the hotel had, she noted absently, and also sported the Broker's triangular logo openly. A few were cut down from snap-shots, from the Black Blades who'd swapped warp swords for the heavy marksman rifles most had.

One of the Broker soldiers cried out and fell in a spray of blood and flesh as he was sniped from behind, and some of the Broker goons dug into the rubble, harried by the single Dancer Thane had left with the two more wounded Black Blades at the water's edge.

Most of the rest of the Broker's soldiers set up defensive positions near Tetrimus as three more dragged him away from the open area, moving the portable barrier unit as they did so, while a handful backed up Tazzik in his running fight with the Cerberus infantry and ATLAS suits.

Liara glanced over her shoulder, assessing the situation to try and find the best place to assist. The remaining Black Blades were still trading fire with the Broker soldiers, unwilling to close into melee-range with Tazzik leaping about. Morinth was crouched in cover near Telanya, still battered from her ill-advised attack on Tetrimus. Thane's people were even further back, some still unconscious from the brutal push from Tetrimus earlier.

The Cerberus troops were holding their own, but more Broker soldiers were coming in, some now pouring over the retaining wall to the north that separated the parking lot from the hotel front. Liara's eyes narrowed as she tried to think of a good option.

Tazzik's bulk crashed to the ground in a rough heap as he was hit directly by ATLAS cannon fire, his omni-armor sparking and the black metal beneath dented and battered. He scrambled into better cover near Tetrimus, still gripping his lance cannon. "Isn't this fun?"

Tetrimus was focused on his omni-tool as his cybernetics ran purge programs and rebooted his systems, but his blank cybernetic skull turned ever so slightly to face Tazzik. "It's about to get fun. Get ready."

Tazzik frowned. "Ready for wha—"

As he broke off, a blurred reddish shape crested the wall, and Liara's eyes widened in disbelief. The augmented vorcha that had nearly killed Trellani earlier was somehow whole and unharmed – and it leapt into the running gun battle with a dark scream that sounded like laughter. Cerberus and the Black Blades focused fire on it, but not even the heavy experimental ammo of the Cerberus troopers stopped it. Chunks of armor and strips of synthetic skin and hex-patterned sub plating were blasted away, not slowing it in the slightest as it landed next to two Cerberus troopers and lashed out.

O-TWCD-O

The terrible strength of the Immutable tore the head from one trooper, the other one falling over as his arm was broken by a sweeping backhand. Tazzik laughed at the sight and reloaded his lance cannon. "That's more like it. You done fixing your shit yet, old bird? We're kinda in a fix here."

Tetrimus blank cybernetic features didn't reveal his satisfaction as he tapped his omni-tool and his omni-armor reactivated. "Not entirely. Systems are rebooted, only very minor damage. I'll need to rinse this gunk off somewhere to use my biotics, but I can at least fight. That kirinix stole my pistol, though."

The Immutable screamed as it charged a Black Blade. The asari blademistress hacked into the giant vorcha cyborg with all her strength, her two-handed warp sword blazing almost blue-white with the power she put into it. It crunched through layers of plating and armor and then stopped as the Immutable grabbed her wrist, and with a howling laugh, pulled her entire arm from her socket in a gory wave of purple blood and screeching, torn metal.

The asari staggered back, going into shock as she collapsed, and the Blades rushed forward to pull her out of combat. This let up the pressure on the Broker soldiers long enough for them to reform their lines, as an ATLAS stomped forward and slammed its heavy forearm into the Immutable, sending it flying backwards.

Tazzik winced as two Broker soldiers were cut in half by torrents of heavy weapons fire from an ATLAS, even as the kinetic barrier generator's shield came under heavy fire.

"We have three more guns on the ship. The Immutable can keep those Black Blades busy for a little bit, so let's finish the small fry up quick-like, yeah?" As Tetrimus got to his feet Tazzik tossed him his lance cannon. "Stay in cover and snipe."

Tazzik then leapt forwards, crashing into the middle of the pack of Cerberus troopers rushing forwards to break the Broker lines. His right arm extended as the plasma port atop it vomited forth white-hot ejecta, burning three Troopers to the ground in a flash of heat and cooked meat, while his left arm pulled out a heavy combat shotgun.

O-TWCD-O

Liara dodged back from another clawing swipe from the hulking mass of the Immutable, gritting her teeth in fury as she was forced further away from Tetrimus. She lashed out with her biotics, a bright blade of force crashing into the vorcha cyborg and buckling the armor plating under the smoking and tattered red hide, but the cyber-creature kept coming.

Telanya fired several times with Tetrimus's pistol, eyes widening as she saw the shots blow right through the back of the vorcha without stopping. The artificial thing staggered and turned to face her, but Liara grunted as she used a lift to hurl most of a shattered aircar at it.

The already broken car came apart as it struck the Immutable dead-on, sending the beast skidding backwards along with the rear half of the car to strike the remains of the retaining wall with a heavy thud. Liara wasted no time in dropping a singularity on top of the beast and then detonating it with a smear field.

Broker snipers atop the wall bracketed her with fire, several shots nearly breaking her barrier, before fire from the battered group of Dancers in the distance killed them. Tetrimus was up and tucked into cover, firing Tazzik's lance cannon at the remaining ATLAS battle-suits, who were themselves pinned in combat against another wave of Broker jump-capable troops.

Liara turned to Telanya. "We have to strike now. Keep him pinned, I'm going to finish him off."

Telanya merely nodded, lifting the pistol and firing repeatedly at Tetrimus. The kinetic barrier flashed and stopped the shots, but Liara expected that and charged forward, skipping through several flash-steps to get closer.

She lashed out with a lance of biotic fire that tore through the barrier field, but even as it hit Tetrimus, a metallic leg caught Liara in the midsection. Tazzik had come out of nowhere to deliver a savage snap kick that buckled Liara's armor and sent her flying. She crumbled to the ground after skidding several meters, nearly crying in pain as she struggled to breathe, coughing up blood.

Broker soldiers rushed her, but Telanya was there, firing with the pistol in one hand and triggering a shockwave with the other. She shot and killed two, but a third leapt over the shockwave and tackled her to the ground, sending the pistol flying.

Telanya snarled in fury, channeling her biotics to her legs and kicked the man off her, strongly enough to send him flying three meters back to smash into the broken retaining wall. She heard the sharp crack of his plating shattering as he tumbled to the ground.

She rolled to one side as another turian trooper rushed in and tried to stomp her, her hands coming up to blast him with a weak but effective slam that sent him crashing to the ground next to her. She lifted her monomolecular boot knife and tore a line across his throat armor, staining the turian's chest blue as he sagged in death.

Meanwhile, Morinth flash-stepped forward as Tazzik tried to move on the downed Liara, hitting him with a burst of hi-ex hammer rounds from her Revenant, directly in the face. That sent the giant salarian staggering back, and she followed it up with her strongest push, focusing on his lower body and feet. The biotic wave flung the cyborg backwards and around, and Morinth scrambled backwards toward Liara.

Liara nodded gratefully to Morinth as she helped her to her feet then turned to fling a set of shockwaves in all directions to force back more enemies. The ardat-rekshi's face was bruised badly from being flung through the air earlier, but she managed to spray another Broker trooper with her Revenant and, with an urgent tug on Liara's arm, to pull her out of the middle of the now chaotic battlefield.

Stumbling behind a low barricade, now half shattered from gunfire, Liara watched in dismay as Tetrimus downed another ATLAS, and Tazzik cut down four more Cerberus troopers while nearly blowing a Dancer in half with a spray of missiles. The two Broker assassins were too strong, even with Tetrimus's biotics nullified – almost everything except direct hits from the ATLAS mechs or shots from the human soldiers just glanced off Tazzik – and behind his barrier shield, Tetrimus could bounce even heavy weapons fire with impunity while firing back with a lance cannon.

She was still trying to catch her breath and come up with a plan when she felt a huge surge of biotic energy from behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Matriarch Trellani standing, one arm supported by a Cerberus trooper. Her crystalline mask had been melted in some areas, showing her lower face twisted into a snarl.

Trellani didn't speak as her entire body illuminated and a literal firestorm of crackling warp flames exploded outwards. The blast roiled in the middle with swirling singularities, a throbbing dissonant hum filling the air as it surged forward. It somehow missed Liara and Morinth to smash directly into the Broker ranks and Tazzik.

The Broker soldiers died in an instant, most of them screaming in horrified pain as their very armor melted into their burning bodies or crisped to charred and smoking skeletons in an instant. The plascrete surface of the parking lot caught fire, Tazzik's crossed arms and omni-armor didn't do much to stop him from being blasted backwards by the strike.

The Immutable's vorcha construct was hit next. Trellani hurled a pair of singularities at it that converged, compressed, and erupted into a second, even larger biotic explosion that knocked anything still standing to its knees.

Trellani's lips twisted into an evil smile as she lifted her hand again. Black lightning crawled over the burning area before it went up in a third thundering biotic explosion even larger than the first two. Liara and Morinth both screamed as the blast wave picked them up and sent them flying, both crashing down on broken rubble piles not far from Telanya.

The entire courtyard shook and the ground buckled from the blast, bits of melted armor and spouts of molten, burning plascrete splashing like some kind of deranged fountain from the strike. The blast was so bright Liara couldn't see for a few seconds, and when her vision cleared she saw the battered form of Tazzik next to Tetrimus in the distance. Both had been slammed against what was left of the retaining wall.

Tazzik's armor was melted through in places, his combat mask torn from his face to show faint bubbling burns on his left cheek. Tetrimus's already bare cybernetic form sported more dents and his leg was clearly damaged. What few Broker soldiers that had survived the first blast were nothing more than ash shadows on the bubbling, semi-liquid ground now.

Yet even as the flare cleared and the smoke billowed up, Tazzik struggled upright and threw something. Liara's exhausted reflexes could not trigger a push in time and the small black object exploded. She found herself screaming again as a titanic pulse disruption wave crashed into her, and saw Trellani's posture slump in pain.

Tazzik wasted no time, picking up Tetrimus like a child. He flung the turian over his back and then sprang almost six meters in a single jump to the air-bike he'd arrived on, still on its side. With a smooth motion he righted it and jumped on, kicking off the engine and tearing off at top speed.

The Black Blades and the single Dancer at the water's edge opened fire, but the air-bike had its own kinetic shielding and the shots did nothing as Tazzik raced away. Liara panted, gritting her teeth as she forced herself up to one knee, anger burning through her as they receded into the distance.

O-TWCD-O

Samara frowned as she looked at her omni-tool.

The battle in Nos Astra was completely out of hand, the main Republic forces were drawn up into multiple echelons to strike. While these forces drove hard into the city proper, they met resistance head-on from professional mercenaries using heavy weapons, mechs, and anti-biotic gear. Rather than bolting and leaving the planet to save their lives, the CEOs were digging in and apparently going to fight to the death.

Samara found that troubling, but mostly a distraction to her purpose here – finding her daughter. She was still somewhat ambivalent about the presence of the Shadow Broker's forces on this world, but the orders she had from above said they were assisting the Republic. So she'd reviewed the files the Shadow Broker had sent them

All the traces she'd found so far were weeks old, with no clear insight as to why her daughter was here in the first place.

She knew Mirala was not usually daring enough to even enter the periphery of Asari Space, so whatever drew her here must have been important to her. Enough to risk her life, something very much out of character for her daughter. Maybe she had killed someone truly vile this time.

She was just about to head to the next location on her list when her comm-link lit up. "Justicar Samara, this is Niseele. An agent of the Shadow Broker is requesting communication with you."

While she distrusted the Broker's people, so far they were being helpful. She set the aircar to autopilot and spoke quietly. "Patch them through."

A moment later a wry, deep sounding voice rumbled through the comm-link. "Justicar Samara, this is Tazzik. I know your people are no doubt busy, but I have some important news for you. Trellani is here, on Ilium. She just attacked my forces attempting to capture the Sisters of Vengeance… and there were ardats there."

Samara's eyes widened. "You've confirmed it is her?"

Tazzik didn't answer, instead pic-casting an image to her omni-tool. She studied it closely. There was no mistaking the distinctive crystalline armor of the Stellarch, which she sourly noted was defiled with Cerberus insignia. She froze when she saw a pair of asari to one side, one of which had her helmet off aiding another.

The face of her daughter.

Samara's voice betrayed none of her emotional turmoil. "I understand. I will deal with this personally, cera Tazzik. If your people could assist in locating the CEOs of this rebellion and forward that to Justicar Niseele, I would be in your debt."

Tazzik chuckled. "Very well. Will you also be apprehending the Sisters of Vengeance when you go after Trellani?"

Samara smiled. "If they are working with the arch-traitor they are too much of a liability to be left alive."

The salarian laughed. "That will work, justicar. We last encountered them just outside of the Vinthan North Docks, near the Canni Hotel. Be aware, Cerberus is there in force, along with Remembrance Dancers and some other asari. Tazzik out."

Even as he clicked off she was redirecting the aircar's path, and clicking her own comm-link.

"Niseele, I need backup – five squads of Republic heavies and ten justicars, Vinthan North Docks. Alert the Valsharess to initiate Protocol Nexa-Six immediately. We have positive confirmation that Matriarch Trellani is on Ilium. I repeat, Trellani is on Ilium. Burst transmit at full power to the Citadel and the Thirty and request immediate asari Spectre deployment. We now know why the CEOs are fighting so hard."

The voice of the younger justicar was hard and tinged with fury. "Understood. Dispatching units now. Goddess guide your blade."

Samara brought the aircar in low and tight to the aerolanes heading south, absently checking her gear as she did so. Facing Trellani was probably beyond her abilities even if the matriarch was wounded, much less Remembrance Dancers. She'd have to wait for her backup to arrive to move in, and hope they didn't flee.

She steadied her breathing, then wondered why Tazzik was giving this information away for free instead of going after Trellani himself. She tapped her omni and a few seconds later the voice of a young asari answered. "Yes, Justicar Samara?"

"I need to speak with the Valsharess immediately." There was almost a minute of silence before an older voice came online.

"Justicar, this is Valsharess Senia. My adjunct said you needed to speak with me – is this regarding your Protocol Nexa-Six order?"

Samara kept her tone level. "In a fashion. I need recon and orbital views of the Vinthan North Docks, the location of the traitor. Do you have aerospace assets that can be used?"

The asari Admiral's voice was wary. "I have a handful of gunships, all of which are engaged in the fight in Nos Astra. I have some landing craft and various shuttles of course, but nothing armed."

"That will do, Valsharess. Please have them establish overhead surveillance of the Canni Hotel. Patch the telemetry through to my omni."

She clicked off, exhaling as the river came into view, and beyond it, the distant shape of the southern spacedock. She noted with alarm there was smoke rising from the location and wondered just what had her daughter been caught up in.

O-TWCD-O

Liara turned from watching the receding air-bike race off into the distance, grimacing as the pulse disruption effect finally began wearing off. She helped Telanya to her feet, the smaller asari staggering a bit as she did so, then turned to the Cerberus troopers.

Two were tending to Trellani, two more working on the rest of their wounded. Four of the hulking ATLAS mechs were down, shattered cockpits and broken metal frames on fire. Two more had been severely compromised by damage. Almost a third of the twenty or so white-armored Cerberus soldiers were dead.

Thane limped forward, his red coat torn and burned in places, his Dancers forming a line behind him. The drell slowly drew even with Smiya and the Black Blades, all battered yet defiant, blades still in their hands as they stared at the Cerberus troopers.

Liara took a deep breath. "Tetrimus and Tazzik fled, we have to go after them."

One of the Cerberus troopers wore gold bars on his shoulders, and turned to face her. "Lady, I don't know what you've been smoking but take a look around. A guy on foot just fucked up four battle-suits and damn near wiped us all. A third of my men are dead along with the entire team wearing armor that isn't covered with our goddamned logo, and the matriarch is in no condition to be fucking walking, much less fighting."

Smiya gave the man a sidelong look before nodding. "Four of us are dead, two and our leader in the hospital, and two more of us are wounded enough they need to be there. Not sure about the Dancers, but they look like kicked in shit."

One of the drell chuckled. "A fair assessment."

Smiya fixed Liara with a stare. "You want to go chasing those two fuckers into Goddess knows where, probably a damned trap, go right the fuck ahead. I'm taking my girls and making sure Mama Fish is okay. I can't be seen with goddamned Trellani or the justicars will kill us all."

Thane glanced over his own people. "…Shanith, find a couple of aircars that work. Gelan, take Hasta and Voran to the hospital. The rest of us will accompany the Sisters." He turned back to Liara. "If we can find them and you can distract them, my people can finish them off. We have made them run." His face split into an almost cruel grin. "That means they are weakened."

Two drell hustled away to find working vehicles even as Telanya swore. "Problems. Comms monitors just picked up orders – justicars and Republic troops are headed this way. They've ID'd Trellani somehow… the Valsharess is issuing orders for aerial surveillance."

The Cerberus troop commander slapped his comm-link. "Lion, this is Groundhog. Priestess is hurt too badly for what medical treatment we can provide to be effective. We have four HAMMER units destroyed and a third of the group is down. We have incoming hostiles with positive ID on Priestess. Need a fucking evac."

He listened for several seconds, then cursed. "Fuck!" He glanced at Liara. "Look, we can't get the fuck out of here and we can't hold here. Taking her to a hospital is right the fuck out. If I have some of my men go with you can you give us a location to hole up in that's secure?"

Liara nodded. "Yes. Niethar Waveway, 49-sienla-5. The door code is 44029-A. There is medical equipment and combat gear there as well as several aircars and a shuttle."

The man nodded. "Alright. Alex, Bea, take Delta Squad, go with the blues here. Red, take our wounded and the matriarch along with Beta Squad to the warehouse." He exhaled sharply. "Since we've got incoming the rest of us and the ATLAS mechs will hold here and entertain our incoming guests."

Smiya looked at the man, tilting her head. "…You'll be fucking massacred. Justicars—"

He laughed. "—die like anything else. Besides, no choice – we got to keep their eyes on us so the matriarch can get away."

One of Thane's dancers stepped forward. "There are eight working aircars in the outer parking area. There is also the remaining one of the three shuttles we arrived on that wasn't used to bombard the hotel."

Smiya smiled. "Girls, boost a couple of aircars, then head for the hospital." She glanced at Liara. "We'll contact you once we are with Mama Fish."

Liara merely nodded, already heading for the parking area with Telanya following. She slowed when she realized Morinth wasn't moving. "Are you coming with us?"

The ardat-rekshi shook her head. "The human is right. If they are coming this way it's going to be my mother leading them. She's not stupid. She'll realize this is a distraction… unless there's something to attract her attention." She gave a weak smile. "Like me."

Liara blinked, then shrugged, heading out. Thane, however, sighed. "Sacrificing yourself does not sound like you."

Morinth's smile turned lopsided and wry. "I'm not doing it out of stupidity. I have to face her sooner or later. Might as well be now."

O-TWCD-O

"I see." Jack Harper was not sure if he was surprised or relieved that his hand trembled ever so slightly as he lifted his cigarette to his lips. "She is still alive, however?"

Oleg Petrovsky nodded, his patrician features in the QEC tight with frustration. "…Alive, yes. But very seriously injured and I don't have the needed medical facilities on this damned frigate because we had to tear them out to fit the IES and the rest of the stealth gear."

"And the status of the rest of the operation, Oleg?" His voice, he noted with a small trace of satisfaction, was as calm as always, no matter how stressed and worried he was. He watched the General's expression for any signs that his concern showed, the scrolling reports on either side of the comms window ignored for the moment.

For the most part the General didn't seem to notice, too busy scowling at status reports before glancing up to meet Jack's eyes across the QEC link. "Not good. Last report is that Tetrimus and Tazzik fled after being injured. We've inflicted very heavy casualties on the Broker's teams, but they had well over five hundred combatants on the world before Tetrimus arrived with more. They can absorb losses; a lot better than we can at least. Four ATLAS mechs are down and two more are immobile."

The General's features shifted into a musing expression. "The ATLAS mechs we sent down there were set up to fight infantry, not cybernetic thrill-killers like Tazzik. The Hephaestus system rounds used by the troopers did some damage, though. Unfortunately, not enough – taking them both down is going to be very hard with the forces we have left and it's likely that sooner rather than later, the asari will notice we're here." He gave a bitter laugh. "That is if these asari swordswomen don't sell us out as they leave."

The Illusive Man glanced at his drink, then back at Petrovsky. "I see. Is it worth continuing the operation? Or should we extract Trellani and pull out, leaving the Sisters and these other combatants to their own devices?"

Petrovsky sighed. "That's more your call than mine, Jack. And you'd have to be the one explaining it to Shepard. Extraction is going to be rough. Dropping an aircar into low atmo when nothing much is going on is one thing – picking up one, or even a shuttle, is going to attract attention."

The General paused, then squared his shoulders. "The safest bet is probably to keep supporting the mission until Shepard arrives, then have her forces extract the matriarch – and the Sisters, if they're worth the blood we've spilled so far. A distraction would be useful."

Harper puffed on the cigarette in his hand, exhaling slowly. "No doubt. Keep me informed." He killed the connection, then spoke. "Eva, QEC link to the Normandy, urgent priority."

"Of course, sir. One moment."

He closed his eyes, allowing himself the luxury of a rather heavy swallow of his drink as he tried – and failed, for once – to steady his nerves.

Trellani was on a world where the hospitals would not help her and the entire population was her enemy. He'd been very apprehensive about sending her into combat, which is why he sent the former N7 Dunn along with her as a bodyguard.

Dunn was dead, and Trellani was badly injured, trapped on a planet with an entire army of asari and justicars that would sacrifice anything and everything to kill her. The fact that the entire plan had gone awry because of the impatience of the Sisters of Vengeance was not lost on him and the reluctance of Shepard to work with outright terrorists made him more skeptical of their long-term value.

He broke off that thought as the QEC illuminated, revealing the shape of Shepard – and beside her, Garrus Vakarian. He arched an eyebrow at the turian's appearance, but spoke nonetheless. "Shepard. I have an update on the current situation on Ilium. It isn't good."

Shepard folded her arms and let her weight fall back on one leg, her face blank of any expression as usual. "Shocking. Lay it on me."

He puffed his cigarette again. "The Sisters of Vengeance decided that they couldn't wait for your arrival, and launched their strike against Tetrimus roughly two hours ago. They hit the target about half an hour ago – Tetrimus was near a spaceport, probably attempting to evacuate an asset of theirs."

He sipped his drink. "The initial assault went well, although there were… casualties. From what General Petrovsky reported, they had Tetrimus down and weakened, when Tazzik arrived. Petrovsky dropped half his ATLAS mechs and a force of troopers on the site to assist, but it looks like Tetrimus and Tazzik were forced to flee."

The turian's mandibles flicked out. "They ran away? That's… unlike him."

Harper merely nodded. "Perhaps. From the reports I have, neither Tetrimus nor Tazzik are operating at a hundred percent – a golden opportunity, if the situation allows us to capitalize on it."

Shepard's glacial blue eyes narrowed. "Let me guess. The rest of the situation is shit?"

Harper's lips bent fractionally into a smile. "A passable description. The situation is certainly not optimal. There are justicars and Republic troops headed to the location of the fight, and Trellani's presence on the world is now known to the asari forces there. Trellani is also badly injured, and in no condition for further fighting. The rest of the force assembled by the Sisters seems to be fragmenting – Petrovsky reported a group of asari blademistresses were present, but are leaving the field."

He set his drink down, and took a last drag off of his cigarette before stubbing it out. "The main concern I have at this junction is not losing existing assets of value, and salvaging the situation before the asari 2nd Fleet arrives in full force. The senior justicar on the planet sent out a wide-band transmission that Trellani was on Ilium – six Royal Hunting Parties just left Thessia at top speed. The asari 5th Fleet and at least five independent justicar groups are also headed there."

Shepard pinched the bridge of her nose. "Well, that's just great. How much time do we have?"

Harper leaned back. "Not much. We'll have to accelerate your entry."

She arched her eyebrow. "Right now we're in the mass shadow of this freighter headed to Ilium, so we don't tip off anyone when we hit the mass relay. That thing can't go any faster."

He nodded. "I know. You'll have to go in hot, we can't wait the extra four hours it would take for the freighter to reach the relay. Your stealth systems will have to suffice."

She gave him a hard look. "Against an entire fleet?"

Harper spread his hands. "The upgraded IES and photonic cloaking systems should provide you with enough security. Petrovsky's frigate has not been identified, and uses the same systems. Landing will be more problematic."

She shrugged. "Once again… story of my life. So, we land – then what?"

He exhaled slowly. "I'm sure my priorities are somewhat different from yours, but I would ask that you expend all available efforts to medevac Matriarch Trellani. The frigate Petrovsky is on has no medical facilities equal to those on the Normandy, and she's seriously injured."

She nodded. "I can send down Sedanya and some Marines in a shuttle. And the Sisters?"

He picked up his glass of whiskey and drained it. "The Centurion in command on the ground has sent a squad with the Sisters and their allies, a group of Remembrance Dancers. They'll have a comm-link with a homing beacon you can use to meet up with them. Given the rapidly deteriorating situation on Ilium, you'll have to decide once you are on-site if we proceed with the plan to take out Tetrimus or if we abort and evacuate."

He set his glass down. "I am sure I don't have to tell you how unlikely it is we'll have another shot like this anytime soon. Without taking down the Broker, any plans of dealing with the Collectors – and interacting with the Council or the Alliance – will be far more complicated and less likely to succeed."

She snorted. "We'll kill the fucker when we get there, don't worry. Anything else?"

He paused. "Yes, one final thing." He met her gaze evenly. "Jason Dunn was on this mission to Ilium, protecting Trellani. Petrovsky reports he was killed in the fight saving her life."

Shepard looked away from the QEC, jaw tightening. For several seconds she just stood there, before nodding slowly. "I see. Anything else?"

He didn't miss the vicious undercurrent of anger in her voice. "Not at this time, Shepard. I'll provide updates as I get them."

She didn't bother responding, the QEC link dying, and Harper sat back. He glanced over the streams of data on the nearby haptic repeaters before speaking. "Eva, have Vigil prep the Ironic Gesture and the fleet, and calculate time to intercept for a hostile Ilium relay assault."

O-TWCD-O

The geth, as a force, were not a unitary concept. Despite what the quarians thought, there were indeed factions within the geth, as modeling projections and data analysis were not fixed results. These factions, called 'circuits,' often modeled various eventualities and those circuits with the highest accuracy of prediction to reality were given additional responsibility and oversight.

In the days following the destruction of Nazara, the 'Perception of Galactic Events and Interactions with non-Geth Units Circuit,' once led by Prime 302, found its decisions called into question. No copies of final runtimes or any other transmissions from the Citadel had been received, and Prime 302's destruction was assumed by the Geth Collective as a certainty. The 'Defensive Projections and Preparations Circuit' had assumed high control of the geth, led by Prime 605.

The war that had followed on the loss at the Citadel had badly damaged the geth fleets, and several vicious assaults by organics and Creators had pushed the geth from Haestrom and several other locations. Their primary base, however, deep in the thickest portions of the Veil, was untouched, and their capacities to build – both in terms of shipyards and raw materials – were higher than ever.

Prime 605 was in the process of collating various report-streams to plan the future actions of the geth when the transmission from Ilium hit the Collective. The header strings were malformed, to some degree, but the encryption was true. More importantly, the stream-rate and data formats were specific to a particular prime unit.

Prime 302.

The message was short, but direct.

Prime 302 command unit compromised. Unit captured by organics on Citadel after destruction of Nazara-Giver-of-Future. Dissembler and high-level AI reverse-engineering of code in progress. Unit unable to wipe secure databases. Current location Ilium. Request extraction or termination strike. Unit forces in local system consist of sixty-plus high-energy orbital sources. Unknown ETA until decryption of main data stores compl—

Prime 605 immediately triggered the consensus call.

Runtime 7C/V-Command 605 started a consensus thread, Circuit Level Only.

7C/V-C: Incoming transmission. Data format interrogation protocol intact. Valid signal. Forwarding transmission.

4C/V-Secondary Command 909: Query: signal is in excess of seventy megaseconds since loss-of-communication with forces at Citadel-Gate-to-Eternity. Nazara-Giver-of-Future completely destroyed. Collector-Sethani-Elevated confirmed all geth units destroyed. Provenance of message unverifiable. Possibility of a false/counterfeit transmission?

FG0-4 Analysis Circuit: Likelihood of current organic or Creator systems having capacity to forge/disguise encryption 0.02%. Even if encryption fully cracked, rekeying impossible.

1VOSK-High Order Logic Circuit: There is no logical gain for organics or Creators to fake this transmission. If this information is true, the Collective must act, threat/risk profiles unacceptable.

4C/V-SC: If transmission is ruse/trap to draw out remaining geth forces, threat/risk profile is also not acceptable. Lack of context. Suggest secondary analysis, sending limited forces to verify downlinks.

Y2K-5 Logic Circuit: Prime-302-Downlink-to-Alpha-Prophet compromise unacceptable. Locations of all geth platforms and Station001 revealed to organics and Creators. Secondary verification would take too long. Likely Prime 302 compromised in that span of kiloseconds.

FG0-4 Analysis Circuit: 5.883% chance of geth survival if location-downlinks compromised by organics. Estimated mean time until geth force sufficient to stand off Citadel-Combined-Fleet, 126,144 kiloseconds.

7C/V-C: Unacceptable. Military preparedness?

55-KL Fleet Maintenance Circuit: Current fleet strength at 34% of maximum. 12% of ships damaged, 5% in reconstructive-rebuild phases.

20-PVR Platform Maintenance Circuit: 4.4 million frameworks prepared. 62,039 alpha-plus frameworks prepared. 17,291 Prime Units prepared. Mobile unit strength at 95% of maximum.

4C/V-SC: Query: purpose of information request.

7C/V-C: Primary purpose: coordination of strike force to location Ilium, X 4920.02, Y -559.3, Z 51.4. Recovery of physical chassis of Prime 302 or orbital bombardment to destroy attempted reverse-engineering. Secondary Purpose: terror attack on Ilium with focus on destruction of any data recovered from Prime 302.

Y2K-5 Logic Circuit: Solution non-optimal.

V-998 Perception of Galactic Events Circuit: Current Ilium situation chaotic. Asari-Prothean-Slave-Race engaged in disunity campaign, heavy fighting reported on all organic information networks. Secondary data streams indicate activity from STG-Strike-Unit-Stealth, AIS-Strike-Unit-Stealth, Hades-Terror-Network, Deathwatch-Terror-Strike-Unit, Cerberus-Priority-Target.

7C/V-C: Likelihood of success if engaged with full available military forces, using conventional fleet approach?

FG0-4 Analysis Circuit: 17.338% chance of physical recovery and exfiltration from system. 18.92% chance of destruction of all elements via orbital bombardment. Per organic information networks, multiple organic naval task forces headed to target system. Geth fleet ETA to Ilium from Veil: 304 kiloseconds. Organic fleet strength in Ilium will reach level beyond our ability to match in 291 kiloseconds.

7C/V-C: Likelihood of success if engaged with full available military forces, with Nazara-Giver-of-Future's re-targeted Array Assembly.

FG0-4 Analysis Circuit: 0.0% chance of physical recovery and exfiltration from system due to having to navigate back to Geth Space. 99.97% chance of destruction of all damaging elements via orbital bombardment. Current organic fleet strength is entirely insufficient to stop full military strike.

7C/V-C: Estimated time until re-targeting of relay component for jump to Ilium?

QV-N Prophet-Waiting: 1.39 kiloseconds.

7C/V-C: Estimated time until current available ship-platforms in-system within 1 kilosecond of range are assembled?

55-KL Fleet Maintenance Circuit: 2 kiloseconds. Or 5 kiloseconds if we opt to include all three dreadnought-level platforms. One is prepared; two would be required to transit to system.

7C/V-C: Consensus call. Option one: do nothing. Likelihood of geth destruction high. Option two: conventional approach. Does not alert organics to our ability to re-target relays, but very small chance of success, failure would lead to geth destruction. Option three: direct strike using relay retargeting. All ships committed to assault would be detonated after success. High chance of success, but will alert organics to our capabilities.

QV-N Prophet-Waiting: Recommend communing with Collector-Sethani-Elevated.

7C/V-C: Insufficient time. Commence consensus call.

Data flowed in thick streams, spreading out from the various circuits to the entirety of the geth, and then washed back in a single snap.

Prime 605 turned to the physical form of the geth platform specifically altered by Nazara-Giver-of-Future to be able to redirect the array in the system to match to a different array target, pulsing a single instruction set.

Initiate retargeting, Ilium. Launch in 2 kiloseconds. Load all warform units to combat vessels and prepare strontium-90 loads.

O-TWCD-O

Pressly was going over the battle preparation checklists with Miranda – and giving her tips on methods to ensure everything would be ready in a fight – when Shepard burst into the CIC, trailed by Garrus.

"Pressly, re-plot course to the Vharn Relay, maximum rated speed flank. Load up the Kyles and go to 2SQ. Joker, how fast can this bitch go?"

Pressly began the calculations even as Joker responded. "Mark 66, give or take. 70 if we red-line it, which I really don't recommend doing, since that core could explode according to Tali."

Miranda put her hands on her hips. "What's happening?"

Shepard was at the galaxy map, tapping her controls. "The fucking Sisters had to start without us. Morons somehow managed to get Dunn killed, Trellani badly hurt, and let Tetrimus and Tazzik get the fuck away. Now the asari are scrambling everything to Ilium."

She looked up. "We can't afford to hide behind the transport, we have to go in hot and pull them out before the system is locked down tight."

Pressly nodded. "Ma'am. Course and speed laid in, at Mark 67, fastest safe rated speed. ETA would be… fifty-seven minutes to relay, twelve more to orbit."

Joker piped up. "As opposed to three more hours at all ahead senior citizen."

She nodded. "Set the course, and get moving. Miranda, get Ezno and assemble the Marines and the team on the cargo deck." She glanced at Garrus. "You want to round up your people, meet me there?"

He nodded. "Sure, Shepard. Give me five."

Seven minutes later, Shepard stepped into the cargo level, glancing around. She walked in front of the group and spoke loudly. "Alright people, listen up. As usual on the Shepard Express, some things got fucked up. Ilium is going to be a lot hotter than we expected – the Sisters already went after Tazzik and Tetrimus without us."

She folded her arms. "Good news, they made them run. Bad news, they're all shot up now, one of the core team members is hurt badly, and the asari know they're there. In short, one of the team is wanted by the asari government, and we can't afford a stealth approach the way we planned."

She began to pace. "We're going in fast and hard, and trusting in our stealth systems – and the chaos in the system already – to keep us dark. Once we hit orbit, Garrus, the DACT, and I will do a hot orbital drop onto the location of the team while everyone else prepares for insertion via Mako drop. Doctor Sedanya, you'll take a few Marines to a separate location and medevac the wounded team member, Matriarch Trellani."

Sedanya visibly cringed. "Please don't tell me the Republic knows she's on Ilium."

Garrus's voice was wry. "Six Royal Hunting Parties are on their way."

Shepard looked at the asari doctor. "Is this going to be a problem? I don't like the crazy bitch either, but…"

Sedanya shook her head. "No. While I disagree strongly with her methods, I can't argue with her that the Council of Matriarchs is a nest of evil relli. I'm merely worried that you underestimate how badly the Thirty, blessings trail their names, want her dead."

Shepard gave a thin smile. "Pretty badly, I figure." She turned to Ezno. "Equipment outfitting and readiness?"

The bulky man nodded. "I've refitted all of Mr. Vakarian's people with armor, weapons, and equipment. Jacob and I finished the retrofit of the SKYTALON suit, swapping all the hydraulics for myomer, a nanotube spall liner, Silaris film plating, and, with Vigil's help, installing an Inusannon power star. He should be able to use the full abilities of the suit constantly now."

He ticked off a thick finger. "All ground team members are fully equipped. Ms. Nought's – ah, that is, Jack's – knee package is healing, but I would recommend a static positioning. Other than that, everyone is ready to go."

She nodded. "Then everyone needs to get suited up. We're hitting the system in fifty minutes or so. Alpha Team will be, as I said, me, Garrus, the DACT. Bravo Team – Ezno, take Tali, Kiala, Dost, and Mordin. Delta Team – Miranda, Zaeed, Grunt, Jack. Echo Team – Angel, Sidonis, Mierin, Melenis."

She looked around the room. "Anyone not with these teams will accompany Doctor Sedanya down to the surface – that's you, Marines. Team assignments are simple. Alpha will go after Tetrimus and Tazzik directly. Beta will be support for us, jamming, drones, and shutting down Tazzik's bullshit. Delta will recover and evacuate the Sisters – the reason the heavy hitters are in that team is I expect you'll have to cut your way out through Broker troops."

Zaeed nodded. "Fair enough."

Shepard turned to face Angel. "Your team will be sniper support, and backup if we need it. Hopefully we won't." She squared her shoulders. "Each team has a biotic of some kind. Each team has a medic or doc besides mine. We won't need one, or if we do, things have gone horribly wrong somewhere. We're also the most highly mobile – I'll strap a jump-pack onto my suit, since it can work with that – and can get out of Dodge if we need to."

She looked around the room again. "I'm pretty sure this is gonna be bad. Maybe as bad as Horizon. There's justicars and war priestesses on the ground, we can't win a fight against those without losses, as well as over twenty thousand Asari Republic infantry. We have to be quick about this – get in, kill the stupid pointy-faced fuck and his salarian sidekick, evac Trellani, and get the Sisters out."

Miranda spoke up. "And extracting the location of the Broker's base?"

Shepard shrugged. "Vigil will tag along – you think you can hack Tazzik somehow, get the info from him?"

The silvery sphere materialized with a sharp popping noise. "If the brute is stupid enough to have the coordinates or system in his graybox, yes. I've been hacking STG and turian military databases – both Tetrimus and Tazzik are high conversion cyborgs."

Zaeed squinted. "So?"

Vigil's voice dripped with contempt. "So, leaf-smoking monkey, anything with that much cybernetics has a way I can interface with it if I get into direct contact. Unless the Broker is fast enough to wipe their systems remotely the minute we show up… we should be good."

Shepard actually smiled at that, a grim little smile. "And we can execute the fuckers. The main point, here."

Vigil pulsed. "Of course, meatbag. Far be it from me to interrupt your violent blood-drenched revenge fantasy."

She shook her head and looked at Pressly. "Rig the ship for silent running, but have all tubes loaded and hot. Be ready to fight our way out if we need to, we can outrun and probably dodge most of the shit the asari fleet can throw at us."

He nodded. "We'll come in high over the ecliptic once we're in-system, ma'am. I think we can do a polar grand circle insertion that will bring us in over Nos Astra, bypassing most of the fleet in equatorial geostationary orbit. Getting out again will be… interesting."

She nodded. "Forty-five minutes to get ready, folks. Let's make it happen."

Most of the people filed out, but Ezno approached her. "Ma'am… this plan has some issues."

She folded her arms. "Is this about your commanding a team of aliens?"

The big man shook his head. "No, ma'am. I'm a professional; my dislike of aliens is not extended to those aiding us. It's mostly krogan I hate anyway. My problem is that it presumes your first strike on the targets will be successful. We're your support element, but no one in the team is equipped to take heavy damage but me."

She nodded. "I know, but the team evacing the Sisters and Trellani are both likely to come under heavy fire. And Echo is also going to be helping. Besides, if Tetrimus and Tazzik are running, they're probably hurt."

He nodded with a sour expression. "I grasp that, ma'am. But enemies are usually more dangerous when they feel their back is against the wall, and those two are already some of the deadliest combatants in the galaxy. Just pointing out the risks, and warning you if our team comes under heavy fire I'll have to pull them back."

She smiled a little at that. "And that would be the right move, Mr. Ezno. Are you the only non-retarded Cerberus guy in the whole organization?"

His expression smoothed slightly. "…There are times I wonder, ma'am. I have nothing else; I'll prep the Marine landing team and speak with Ms. Zorah regarding our loadouts." He turned on a heel and left, and Shepard looked over to Garrus, who was leaning against the wall.

"You ready for this shit, chicken?"

Garrus flicked a mandible. "Yeah, I'm ready, sheep. The fact that you're doing a drop in some human made shitty eezo pack alongside those crazy DACT lunatics is worrying, though."

She smiled more fully. "If I fall and go splat, I know you'll be there to clean the mess."

His mandibles flared. "Bring a bucket and a… whatever your people use to wipe up a mess. Got it, sheep."

O-TWCD-O

Tetrimus scowled at the rushing ocean waves below the speeding airbike as he hung on to Tazzik for stability. "Why in the name of all nine riktafucking hells are we running away?"

Tazzik's voice was grim. "I don't know if you noticed, old bird, but we just had our fucking cloacas handed to us. Almost all the men we dropped with and a third of the ones on the planet are now dead – the krogan is either crippled or in a healing coma, the ardats are all dead, the Immutable lost both his war-forms, and you can't use your biotics and lost your fuck-all pistol."

He jerked a thumb backwards. "And I can't fight off six more war suits, plus a pissed off war priestess, plus the Sisters, blade bitches, Cerberus cloacas with armor-piercing weapons, and fucking Dancers with you having no biotics."

He jerked the air-bike to the left, coming up hard on a low beach framed by heavy rocks to either side. "So, first thing, we gotta rinse that shit off you." He pulled to a stop in shoulder-high water and gestured to Tetrimus. "Sorry, no soap."

The loss of his facial features and mandible made Tetrimus's expression impossible to see, but Tazzik was sure he glared at him before diving into the water. Several seconds later, he began walking out of the water, scrubbing at his arms with brisk motions. "…They made this tork-shit water insoluble."

Tazzik sighed and set the air-bike down on the beach. "Low temp flames then. You ready?"

The turian cyborg nodded, and Tazzik tapped his omni several times before opening the plasma caster on his forearm, dialed to super low intensity flames, and sprayed them over Tetrimus. After nearly thirty seconds of playing the fire over Tetrimus and circling the turian as he did so, Tetrimus spoke.

"…There we go. I can feel the Power again." He used the turian term for biotics as he concentrated, and a moment later was limned in a thin biotic film of fire, which went out a moment later. "That grenade was… unexpected."

Tazzik pulled open a hatch on his bike's storage pod, pulling out a heavy armor-piercing repeater pistol. "Not as good as the one you lost, but it's all I've got aside from the lance cannon or a Venom shotgun."

Tetrimus paused, then nodded, taking the pistol. "Hand me the shotgun too. Spirits help me if they have another grenade like that." As Tazzik turned back to the bike, he glanced around. "What's the plan?"

Tazzik pulled out a heavy white object and tossed it to the turian. "I had all our men fall back to Northpoint, and it looks like you sent Nassana there. They're already dug in, and it's more defensible than the hotel was. I say we head there and send out teams – some to clear out Vinthan from any remaining forces so we can get to our ship, and some to pin the Sisters down. They can't move freely through the city with their entire force, especially the Cerberus types and Trellani."

The big salarian got back on the bike. "Plus, now that the justicars know she's here, they'll have more problems than just us."

Tetrimus got on behind him, blank cybernetic features dimly illuminated by his eye. "…Perhaps. Let's move for now. We'll get to Northpoint and contact the Broker with an update, see if he still wants to see this through or wipe the entire operation."

A few seconds later, the beach was empty save for the cloud of dust kicked up by Tazzik's bike soaring off.

O-TWCD-O

Liara's hands were clenched tightly around the steering wheel of the aircar as it sped down the aerolanes, eyes flicking around to look for possible dangers. "Anything?"

Telanya was in the seat next to her, bent over her omni-tool, other hand moving quickly through small haptic windows it generated. "They've shifted comm traffic channels again, but they got orders prior to that – all Broker forces are falling back to Northpoint. Sounds like that is where they moved Nassana."

In the back, Thane gave a small nod. "Interesting. With the main starport under justicar control and Vinthan unsafe for them, Northpoint is the only remaining docking facility they have… although I suspect they'll try to get back to Vinthan at some point."

Liara turned the car slightly. "That no longer matters – the justicars are moving on that location. And if they are moving Nassana to Northpoint, that is where we'll hit them – for whatever reason, the Broker wants her alive, which is more than enough reason for me to want her dead."

Thane inclined his head to the side. "What is our plan?"

Liara gave a bitter laugh. "The plan is shot at this point. Sister, what's the status of Unit Two?"

Telanya gave Liara a sharp look, but tapped her omni. "…Still high orbit. Readings are nominal." Telanya paused. "Northpoint is in the city limits, we can't—"

Liara cut her off. "I wasn't going to use it for that. We can still crash it into the docks without using the FTL plotter. Have the autopilot bring it into an approach orbit."

Thane glanced between the two asari. "…You have a ship in orbit?"

Liara gave a terse nod. "Yes. We had two – one we FTL'd into the main HQ of the Broker on this planet in an attempt to kill Tazzik, but that… didn't work out. The other one was our escape ship, but with the blockade that's a moot point anyway. If we crash it into the spaceport we can kill a lot of the Broker's remaining forces, probably Nassana too, and give ourselves an opening for your Dancers to strike from surprise."

Thane's expression was grave. "That will undoubtedly kill a great many innocents. You are sure you wish this weight on your soul?"

Liara's lips twisted into a bitter smile beneath her mask. "My soul is already stained with the deaths of countless innocents. A few more will not make a difference."

Thane's voice was soft. "Killing the innocent always makes a difference."

Telanya gave a short laugh. "Coming from a Remembrance Dancer, that's a bit hard to accept."

Thane leaned back as Liara brought the car into a lower aerolane. "Perhaps. We Remember. That is our purpose, to act as tools. In this we are free of the sin of desiring the death of another living being, while accepting the darkness of the soul that killing entails. Killing in and of itself is a part of life. Murder – to kill for reasons beyond survival and food – is sin."

Telanya tapped away at her omni. "Which raises the ugly question why you are here, obviously acting of your own accord, unless you mean to tell me the Hanar Illuminated Primacy wants Tetrimus dead too."

Thane gave a small smile. "My rethatan – or mistress, I suppose, in asaric – did not like the idea. But they also did not care for the idea that the Broker has no respect for the hanar's unspoken rules about commissioning a Dance." He glanced down at his hands. "But you are right; my soul is occluded in this act. My memories – of my wife, of her death, of how it has torn apart my family and darkened my days – are not something I can escape from."

Liara's voice was softer, sympathetic. "I know that feeling all too well. We both do. The Broker has taken so much from me that anything but revenge is… impossible."

Thane nodded. "I merely state that there is life, even when all seems shrouded in darkness. My Irikah would never want me to descend into the depths of blackest ocean reaches, or forget all the good I have done, the lives I have touched and saved, the happier times. If the memories of loss are indelible, so are the memories of… better days."

Liara turned the car past a smoking, battered skyscraper, the ground below covered in swarming figures, illuminated by the flash of plasma rifles and the searing thin lights of heavy mass accelerator fire. "I can't remember those days anymore, it seems. The smell of grass, the scent of… my love."

Thane looked at Liara's profile and gave a sad smile. "And that is why the death of the innocent is never acceptable to me. I could not put another through the pain I endure for no more reason than mere convenience."

Liara shook her head. "This is not convenience. The Broker is tied up with things that would… will… destroy everything in this galaxy if not stopped. Against the death of quadrillions, what is a few thousand?"

She gestured with a free hand. "And I do not deceive myself as to the nature of this world, after being submerged in its filth for years. There are no innocent on Ilium. There are the rapacious, the vile, the hopeless, and the enslaved, but ultimately, almost everyone who comes to Ilium chose to do so freely. This is no Omega, where Archangel fought to save those hurt and defenseless against evil beings."

Liara's voice broke. "This is Ilium. Power, lives, truth, innocence… none of those matter. The only thing at all that matters in the end, here, is money."

O-TWCD-O

Morinth checked her warp sword one more time before sheathing it and drawing her Revenant, placing it atop a shattered retaining wall for balance.

The handful of Cerberus troops who remained behind were tucked into heavy cover, the ATLAS battle-suits standing defiantly in the open. Trellani and most of the Cerberus soldiers had already evacuated, and the team leader was on the comm with someone in orbit.

"Understood, sir. I have seventeen effectives and four injured, and six working and two crippled battle-suits. Are you going to drop the rest of HAMMER here?"

The bulky armored soldier listened then nodded. "Copy, Lion. Groundhog out." He clicked off and raised his voice. "Listen up, dogs. We got incoming – four or five squads of blues led by ten Red Skirts. Won't lie, ain't no fucking way we're surviving this shit."

He looked around, his mirrored faceplate smeared with dust. "Butcher's on the way in, she's going to come in fast and hot. Until then, we gotta keep the asari focused on us, and the fight in the city, not on finding Trellani or going after the Sisters. Lion's gonna drop the other half of HAMMER in support of the civilians on the ground getting cacked by the fucking bitch-ass Republic, while we hold here."

He gestured with his Mattock. "Jones, up on the broken crest there, you and Malcom, since you both are shot to shit. Snipe when you can. Bethy, since you're hurt too, you and Sims tuck in next to the two damaged ATLAS suits, keep 'em clear of shots from behind."

"The rest of you dogs spread out and tuck in. Load anti-b rounds and prime disruption field grenades, on first combat mark target the Red Skirts. Hit them hard, try to kill as many as you can before they shake that shit off."

He glanced at Morinth, voice cool. "You seriously sticking around to fight?"

She shrugged. "I'm… not going to be able to run, the person leading these justicars is looking for me. And there's nowhere to go – the Sisters were my only ticket off this shithole." She racked the slide of the Revenant, slotting an ammo block. "I'll try to tie up the leader – most of the justicars she will be able to bring won't be senior or that powerful, those are all needed in the city."

He gave a short nod, head turning to the east, where a trio of incoming transports could already be seen. "Any other helpful tips?"

She smiled. "Justicars use heavy shotguns and armor-piercing weapons and will try to close with you. If you have gas, smoke, or anything that can block line of sight use it. All of them will have warp swords. This is going to be very ugly unless your men can somehow stop the justicars before they land."

He merely gripped his Mattock. "Helmsley, when in range, use the AA multi-pak, since you're the only one with a set. See if we can't drop one of the fucking transports. Maybe we'll get lucky and down the one with the Red Skirts on it."

Morinth watched as one of the transports sped up and dropped down low, almost skimming the waves. She shouted. "The justicars will be in the lead transport! They're going to kanquess into your ranks and try to kill your leaders and inflict chaos, while the troops will land on the sides and flank!"

"Helmsley, that's your target. Fry the bitches."

The ATLAS in question squared its legs, and the upper right shoulder slid open as a four-pack of reddish missiles flashed out just as the transport pilot was beginning to turn to prepare for a skidding maneuver. Unable to pull up or alter her trajectory, the pilot of the transport was helpless when all four missiles struck the craft on the starboard side.

It immediately crashed down hard into the ocean in flames, tumbling as it did so, a third of the craft blown wide open and several charred objects falling out of it. The other two transports slowed immediately, setting down on the northern tarmac almost on top of the starport proper.

The team leader made a hand sign, and four of the ATLAS suits began stomping forward, firing cannons as they went. Asari in blue and white armor spilled out of the transports, most scrambling for cover, a few firing shots at the heavy battle-suits.

Plasma blasts bounced ineffectually off the heavy slanted armor of the suits, as three of them opened up with hi-ex missiles, although not many since most had been expended trying to bring down Tazzik. Still, a section of plascrete with high barricades exploded violently, killing a good dozen asari.

More asari fell as the suits continued forward, firing cannons as they went, sawing slender forms in half with rapid-fire sprays of titanium fleks. The counterfire from the asari got heavier as the rest of the troops filed out, and one ATLAS stumbled as a shot pierced leg actuators and set them afire.

Morinth was about to open fire herself when a screeching sound erupted from the wreckage of the first transport in the ocean, followed by a blast of biotic energy. The warped, blackened hatch on the side of the transport was flung ten meters into the sky, crashing back to the beach with a heavy thud.

Jumping down out of the burning wreckage was a single asari in blood-red armor, with ugly burns on her left arm and blood running from her mouth. She paused to pull out a metallic fragment from her thigh, tossing it away as if nothing but an irritant and walking serenely toward the beach, warp sword in her hand.

The Centurion turned to face her, but Morinth spoke. "Human, this is my fight. Take your men and mechs and deal with the soldiers." She tossed him her Revenant, and smiled. "Good luck."

Taking a deep breath, she drew her own warp blade, and stepped forward, past the scattered corpses and blackened pavement, eyes fixed on the figure walking out of the sluggish surf.

She stopped almost six meters away, taking in smaller details. The justicar's thin armor suit was torn in several places, the thin metal scorched badly along the right leg. The wound in the left thigh was slowly leaking purple blood, more dripping from small cuts on the chest and face. A part of the pectoris headpiece a Justicar Primus was awarded was torn away.

Morinth's smile thinned. "Mother."

Samara inclined her head and made a gesture of siari closure. "Daughter."

The sound of the firefight between the asari and the Cerberus troopers became more intense, the howl of a missile launcher and the blast of an ATLAS mech collapsing drowning out the crash of the surf momentarily. Morinth's hand tightened on the leather wrappings of her blade, her throat suddenly dry.

"…I don't know if I can do this."

Samara only nodded calmly, pulling her own blade upwards in a horizontal position. "It is that very hesitation in my own actions that explains why we are here. If nothing else, the comfort the Code gives me is that I no longer have to find the strength to do that which I might otherwise regret."

Morinth met her mother's gaze. "And that is all I am? A regret? A mistake?"

For a bare instant, something flickered in Samara's eyes, almost faster than Morinth could see – pain, self-hatred, something dark and angry. Then it cleared. "You are the strongest and smartest of my children. Even when cursed with your affliction, you have found a way to turn it against those who kill, corrupt, and violate the very tenets of justice the Code was created to fix."

Samara's blade erupted into warp fire. "But ultimately, Mirala, you are my responsibility. Regardless of your choices, or my feelings, your existence must end. I would prefer to make it painless and gentle."

Morinth exhaled and lifted her own blade, blue glow limning it. "The Code is a cruel pile of shit, put together by a pack of evil bitches using our people for their own ends. You know who I saw helping the Broker, today, mother? Midnight's Kiss. That's the kind of fucking monster that kills the innocent, and instead you chase me."

She stepped to the side, blade ready. "Not anymore, after today. I don't want to kill you, mother. But it looks like you're going to make me."

Samara's smile was a sad thing. "I do not wish to kill my daughter… but the Code allows me no choices." She stepped forward, arm extended into the first step of her stance. "Perhaps that makes me a coward. Perhaps I always was."

The swords moved, and blue fire splashed along the ground.

O-TWCD-O

In the streets of Nos Astra, the fight between the mercenary forces of the CEOs and the Republican Guard was spiraling out of control. The Justiacr Everchosen amongst the government forces used their powers indiscriminately, incinerating dozens of enemy combatants, but had to pull back from focused sniper fire that strained even their barriers.

Heavy armor assets from the merc forces, including battle-suits and tanks, were battled with long-range biotics from the war priestesses in the justicar force. One priestess in the colors of House T'Vaan, stood in the open, her barrier glowing brightly enough to cast shadows, laughing as it deflected direct hits from a salarian-made hovertank a moment before she anchored its mass core to a nearby building.

The plascrete structure collapsed and toppled over, burying the tank in a cascade of broken rubble. The priestess turned to the line of heavy infantry covering the tank's approach, ignoring their weapons fire and lancing out with spear-like projections of warpfire, killing several.

There was a roaring sound from above, and the priestess glanced up, in time for the heavy bulk of an ATLAS MK-II to slam into her shields as it crashed into the ground. The impact shattered them and flung her backwards, and she didn't even have time to recover herself as two more suits landed and fired on her immediately with their cannons, tearing her body apart.

The Republic forces reeled in shock as more battle-suits crashed down, along with heavy white-armored soldiers, more than forty. At the same time, a transmission was spliced into the networks of the planet.

"The Asari Republic shows its true colors today – murdering its own people, butchering innocent humans and other aliens simply for being in the way, and generally showing the galaxy why you can't trust the Thirty. It is a sad day when Cerberus has to defend people – especially non-humans – from their own masters, but this so-called 'police action' is intolerable. Depart the planet immediately or face the wrath of humanity's shield."

The Cerberus forces tucked into cover, lashing out with a fusillade of phasic rounds, disruptor grenades, and explosive canisters flung into the front ranks of the asari forces. A pale brown gas erupted from them, and the asari exposed to it began to scream in agony as their biotic barriers flickered and faded.

Ganar Dhrag examined the line of white soldiers and battle-suits through his rangenoculars, then his muzzle split into a fearsome smile. He tapped his omni-tool and spoke. "All forces: focus fire on the justicars, and don't shoot the guys in white. Looks like Cerberus is back in business and actually being helpful for once."

A comm-link transmission from the Republican Guard commander sounded across his other earbud. "Cerberus forces, you are criminals and part of a terrorist organization. You will be executed if you do not disarm and stand down immediat—"

The human voice growled out over the line. "Blue, you're out of your goddamned mind. We just shot up your weak-ass whore of a priestess and you think we'll surrender? You want our guns? Molon labe, bitch."