Commander John Shepard
I straightened my suit just outside the med-bay, not paying attention to any glances I may have been getting. We had been on the Citadel for about two hours. Kasumi had gotten me my tux right away and demanded I put it on immediately, and waited. When I stepped out of my quarters dressed, she hummed, looking me up and down, then straightening out a cuff or part of the jacket, almost just like my mother used to do.
"Perfect. You should go show Tali. I'm going to make sure the statue gets secured," Kasumi suggested. And that was a pretty good idea. With a smirk on my face, I entered the med-bay. Tali was at work, running through the designs for her new shield tech.
"So, how do I look?" I asked.
"Hm? Oh," she looked over. "Oh…" Hell yeah. Satisfied with myself, I looked over, ignoring Chakwas chuckle. I watched her eyes behind the mask running her eyes over my body. "You… look good," she managed.
"Thanks. Kasumi and I are off to Bekenstein in an hour. She had the wonderful idea that I show myself off to you before we go."
"I'll… be sure to thank her." Oh, bold of her. I smirked. It wasn't lost on me that her attempt at being bold was both slow to come out, and that it was laced with uncertainty. Not so much on the claim, but the delivery.
"I can pass it along."
We spent what we could of the remaining time talking. Part of it about her progress on the shield tech, still coming along and getting closer to the answer. Then about the plan. She didn't like that backup would be so far behind, but I'll trust Kasumi. Play our cards right, and even if we do have to shoot our way out, I think we can manage.
Currently, I was piloting the shuttle away from the Normandy's dock, and towards the beacon that marks where ships can safely initiate FTL travel to the Boltzmann system. True, EDI was connected to the ship via QEC, but, other than me wanting to pilot something after a long time, and the fact a part of me is still nervous about EDI, despite the fact she's basically controlling our getaway, I was piloting. Kodiak shuttles aren't designed for Mass Relay transit, but they are capable of short range FTL travel, provided one discharges the core soon after. It's enough to suit our purpose. This part of the journey required at least some level of focus. Mostly just to be aware of any alerts so that our paths didn't intersect with any other ships in system. But once we were in FTL, I was able to get my thoughts together. First, Bekenstein. I doubt most of this will help with the op anyway, but I like to know our destinations. The Colony was founded in 2158 by the Alliance, surprisingly. Apparently, the other races simply hadn't laid a claim on it during our first wave of colonization when we joined the Galactic stage. It's essentially our commercial hub and our planetary entrance to the Citadel markets. The entire colony is made to focus on manufacturing. At first it didn't go so well, and anything Bekenstein sold was just for novelty. But during the second wave, they changed things up and focused on luxury goods and high-quality entertainment. Bekenstein is also home to "New Hollywood." The name says it all. Hollywood back on Earth is still booming, but here is the one we have right by the Citadel. As a result, Bekenstein boasts itself on being home to more millionaires and billionaires per capita than any other Human colony. As for crime, it's pretty much all white-collar and nonviolent. Unfortunately, it's suicide and inflation rates are among the highest in all the Alliance. There's virtually no unemployment because it's too expensive to live there without a job already lined up. Where Hock fits in so well is that those who make it on Bekenstein have a bit of an ego. The tycoons there just love to flaunt their money. With all the money flowing into the planet, and the fronts he owns, no matter how much the Alliance 'suspects' his hands are dirty, being so cozy with the Eclipse, there's no damn proof.
"So, any other details?" I asked.
"Nothing, really, but I am going to run things over with you one more time. What's your cover?"
"Solomon Gunn, arms dealer in the Terminus."
"Good, don't mention the small time part, probably bristle if someone points that out. As part of the business you run a small but talented group of mercs. It's exactly the type of person Hock respects. I won't make you memorize all the interviews and articles, you just need to not talk business with anyone. I double checked and made sure you can keep your Phalanx, just keep it concealed. They won't hassle you over a sidearm and it'll only help you fit in. Here," Kasumi handed me my gun from beside her seat. "I took it out while it was being loaded. You can put it inside either side of your jacket. Next?"
"Make our way in, locate the vault, figure out the security then take it down. Get inside the vault, take the Graybox."
"Exactly." Kasumi looked out into the black void of FTL. "And I'll finally get a chance to say goodbye," she murmured.
"Getting the Graybox means a lot to you, doesn't it?" I asked quietly. Kasumi sighed.
"His Graybox is full of priceless, personal memories. It's all that remains of who he was."
"What about the memories in your own Graybox?"
"It's… different. With how they work, it's like there's still a part of him. I could hear his voice again, I could see him again. Instead of just the memory, it's actually hearing it all over again. Besides," she changed her tone, forcing away the somber atmosphere. "There's that dangerous intel he told me he found. We can't let that stay in Hock's hands, can we?"
"Fair enough."
We spent the rest of the journey in silence. Understandable, it's a sensitive topic for Kasumi. I just tried to get some shut-eye before we would transition out of FTL. Right on schedule, we came out just outside of Beckenstein's orbit and made our way down towards Hock's mansion, just outside the capital of Milgrom. It was big alright. Built on the side of one of the mountains outside the main city with a few other large mansions. And I suspect this one has a large amount of underground space too. The windows facing both the street/skycar landing pad, and the city were almost entirely glass. It was probably officially about three or four stories, but in the main ballroom, there's nothing overhead until the top of the house, rather than another floor. We made our way down towards the landing pad and one of the specific shuttle slots lit green to indicate that was where we should land. We touched down, and one of Hock's "Corporate Security" goons walked up to the shuttle. It was black armor with a pair of white stripes on the left arm and the inverted triangle with Hock's name as a logo on the right on his chest.
"I'm just going to cloak now, and follow behind you. Your names on the list so he shouldn't give you any trouble." I nodded as Kasumi shimmered and faded from view. Though I could see the ripple in the air as she moved. I opened the shuttle's doors and made my way out to meet the goon.
"Name?"
"Solomon Gunn," I frowned, putting on the act. He opened his Omni-tool and checked his list.
"I see the gift. Don't suppose you want to bring that in yourself," he murmured.
"You want to say that again?" I responded, furrowing my brows. Grumpy, the goon said nothing.
"Michaels! Over here," he called out. His buddy made his way over. "Gonna need to scan you." I said nothing, but his scan of me did go red as it went over the pistol. I opened the jacket enough to show it. "Just keep it holstered. It was now that 'Michaels' arrived. The two began to inspect the statue of the Rogue Spectre and quickly found a button on its backside that activated a very small mass effect field that would let it hover just over the ground to make moving it that much easier. Once it was out of the shuttle, they scanned it too. Something in the base seemed to screw with it, but not nearly as much as the handgun. At that moment, a figure in a white suit, mustache, small triangle beard just under his lip, and thin sideburns walked out. Jesus, Hock really does look like a Bond villain.
"Hold on a moment, sir."
"Is there a problem, Gentleman?" Hock asked his men. His accent was South African, but a part of me couldn't help but think there was a hint of Scottish.
"No sir, scanners are just off with the statue." Hock studied the statue, and me.
"I don't believe we've met. Donovan Hock." He didn't offer his hand. Neither would I.
"Solomon Gunn."
"Sir. The scanners aren't picking anything up," the guard seemed more confused now than anything else. Should be Kasumi's handiwork. Hock studied the statue again.
"I don't think our guests would come all the way here from Illium to cause trouble. Do you?" Hock turned back to me. "You and your gift may pass through, Mr. Gunn, with my apologies," he nodded, hands behind his back. I nodded in response. Hock entered his house again first, and I followed behind at a distance. The door had shut by the time I was there. There were a few guests in the entry hall talking. A mix of nonsense and less than reputable acts. Damn, wish I was recording all this so I could take the evidence to the Alliance or Citadel, but suppose I won't hear enough anyway to get past their lawyers. Most of the guests were human, probably in part because of Bekenstein's population. There were also Asari, in less numbers, as well as some Salarians, in fewer. Assuming everyone here has their fingers in a few white collar crimes, Asari are obviously damn good at the long con, smaller amounts over longer times, then as they learn later, they can really get the big numbers, and Salarians are damn thorough, but can put so much more work into it. Their successful white collar criminals either succeed outside Salarian space, or because they are really, really damn good.
"I'll go find the Vault. Pretty sure I know where it is, but go look at some of the artwork," Kasumi suggested on comms. I did as suggested, the artwork was to the left of the water feature in the center of the ballroom. It was all the really expensive modern kind of art that just… for the life of you, you can't fucking tell what's going on. Or at least I can't. Maybe some Art majors can figure this shit out, but I'd bet good money that's just them pulling some sort of interpretation out of their ass that has nothing to do with the artist's actual inspiration. I really hope Kasumi finds the vault soon. "Exactly where I thought. There's a staircase right by you, leads to a hallway the vault entrance is in." Kasumi informed. Come on down, it's not watched. Probably wants people to find it and be amazed at the security, then frustrate themselves trying to open it." Figuring it would be better to not speak, I just made my way down. I saw the shimmer right in the middle, waiting. She must have been purposefully moving, just enough for me to notice. "Just walk on through." The entrance to the vault's… entrance, was apparently just a projection. Inside the antechamber was the entrance that was both locked, obviously, and secured by some laser security system. And to the right, the statue of Saren. It really was damn lifelike. Honestly, I don't know whether to hate him, pity him, or both. He helped put a stop to Sovereign in the end, sure. He was indoctrinated for a while, sure, but Anderson confirmed that he was a nigh genocidal asshole long before that too. It also didn't help the moment that in the statue's pose, it was staring right back at me. Virmire quickly flashed to my mind, just after we saved Kaidan and the Salarians. Just before Ashley was lost in the explosion.
"Shep?" Kasumi asked, snapping me back to the present. She had decloaked.
"Sorry," I focused on her.
"I got an understanding of the vault. Obviously, kinetic barrier. See the mic here? Password protected voice lock. And a DNA scanner. My guess… EX-700 series. Everything a vault needs to be impenetrable," Kasumi mused, putting a hand to her chin.
"Sounds like a challenge."
"Please, remember who you're talking to," she scoffed, not at all actually insulted.
"Voice lock? Voice sample. You'll have to chat up the big man for that. But we'll have to find a password too. DNA? Easy. Take a gander in Hock's private quarters. Barrier? Cut the power. These security systems don't power themselves and take from the building's power. Look, see these wires? It leads back up to the main floor. If we can make the security hub be on the… less attentive side, it shouldn't be noticed. Besides, I'd bet on the hub or Hock's quarters having the password. Keiji could get through a system like this in his sleep. And I'm better," Kasumi explained, full of confidence. Get back up, I'll follow the power lines, so we know where best to cut it off from. But don't talk to Hock yet. Meander around, get a feel for the place. Maybe you'll find something." I nodded, and we made our way back up, Kasumi already back under cloak. On the opposite side of the ballroom there was more art, as well as another Corporate guard by the entrance to Hock's bedroom, judging by the known layout of the building. I noticed that the art here was much more comprehensible than the other. A close up of a bird, a lake scenery in an alpine region, what I think was a flower, and a desert with maybe a settler touching their shuttle down by a large rock formation. This art I can understand and appreciate. Let's try outside. The balcony was just as elegant as the inside, but you couldn't go too far out as there was another water feature taking up that space with some seating areas. What stood out more than anything, was an Asari flanked by two members of the Eclipse, as obvious by their armor, and the fact they were carrying more than just pistols. The Asari was studying everyone, all with an angry look to herself. Like she was imagining killing all of us if it suited her. Jona Sederis, must be. Founder of Eclipse. She studied me closely, we glared at each other as I kept up the persona of Solomon Gunn. She found some sort of humor in the mess.
Still, I tried to keep an eye peeled for anything. At the far side, I noticed one of the Corporate goons was actually having a chat with a guest. I made my way over to eavesdrop, and thanks to Cerberus, I could do that from more of a distance than usual.
"Samuels' shot the idea down," the guard whispered. "I'd love to get out of here with you, but it's Chief Roe on duty and I've seen what happens to anyone who pisses her off. You want your boyfriend six feet under, or owing you one?"
"Fine, fine," the man he was standing next to sighed. Chief Roe, and she's a hardass. Ok, maybe we can use that. I made my way back inside and passed that along to Kasumi.
"I think we could use that, but I'll need to tap into their comms first. Also, I found a spot to cut the power. It's behind a statue on the bookshelves by the right little art annex. Go chat up Hock. He doesn't look too interested in his current conversation," she suggested. Right, he does look bored. I nodded, suspecting Kasumi would see it. "I'll be recording. I just need enough for a voice print. Do what you can." I made my way over to Hock, both him and a strange, globe like piece of art adorning the top of the main water feature in front of me. He quickly noticed my approach, and took that as his chance to get out of his current conversation.
"Ah, Mr. Gunn. I hope you're having a good time. I know you must have come here hoping for a chance to meet a friend of mine, Vido Santiago. I hope the… loss of that opportunity has not soured your evening." Not surprised Vido would have been here.
"Vido's death just told me he's not as clever as I had heard. Yet the security here surprises me. What petty thief would try and break into the home of Donovan Hock?"
"Ah, Gunn. You are Terminus based, so I can understand the misunderstanding. But I believe we could do business more directly someday, and for that to happen, you must understand things from the more… 'civilized' worlds of the galaxy." He nearly spat the word civilization, as if thinking it was a bad joke. "You already understand our line of work attracts a certain element. Few understand the pains we all take to keep the barbarians, like Blood Pack, at bay." Hock turned towards the water feature, speaking just a little bit louder. And the crowd began to silence, listening. "People these days want comfort, entertainment, love. They don't see the galaxy is fragile." True, but he's obviously about to take it somewhere it shouldn't. He turned back to me. "They only have to worry about simple luxuries. Why? Because people like me, and you, are doing the terrible things that keep the Galaxy spinning." Yep. He even thinks like a Bond villain. "This party is for us. The cleaners. The support structure for the Galaxy's gleeful delusions of peace. May there always be a market for the things we do," he finished. The crowd gave their applause. They really do think their actions are justified, do they?
Disgusting.
"Well that's more than enough," Kasumi remarked.
"Enjoy the party, Mr. Gunn." I took my leave.
"Come near the left staircase upstairs. The door will open when you get there, just walk through," Kasumi explained. I can do that. I didn't like how there were a group of guests hanging around by the door, but if it opens for me, and I walk in with enough confidence, then they won't pay it much mind, will they? I noticed Kasumi's faint shimmer by the door as it opened. It opened to a small hallway and the door closed behind us. "Stand in the corner near the door. I'm going to open it and go through, take out as many as I can. One should come through to investigate, you take them out. Try not to fire your gun, I'm not sure how soundproof these walls are."
"Got it. Following your lead." I readied my Phalanx, just in case, nonetheless. The door opened and the shimmer vanished through the door.
"The hell?" A woman murmured on the other side, followed by some guns unfolding, ready. "Cover me." I could hear her walking closer. She made the stupid mistake of having her pistol sticking out towards the end of the hall rather than just immediately turning to check a corner upon entrance. I grabbed the barrel of her Carnifex and yanked it towards me. She nearly lost her grip, and I pulled her out into the hall, and the stumble let me grab her and pull her into the corner with ease as I put her in a chokehold.
"The two inside are down," Kasumi stated.
"Hear ya. Lady's going night-night," I responded as the guard started to go limp, passing out. I brought her back inside the security room, and Kasumi and I hog-tied them and gagged them. Heh, it seems they were slacking a bit. They were watching some cartoon with a Krogan in the middle of a shootout. A data pad caught Kasumi's eye.
"Password for the vault tonight is Peruggia. Name of the man who stole the Mona Lisa. Give me a moment to tap into their comms and mash together the voice sample. You go back to the party, have a drink. Think I've got a way to sneak into Hock's bedroom."
"Don't want me to handle it?"
"I could probably pretend to be Roe and make the guard let you in, but there's the chance I'll sound nothing like her, and if a guest notices you enter and asks Hock about it? Plenty of red flags. Let the lady with a cloak handle this one."
"Good luck," I nodded. I hurried back to the party, guests giving me curious glances as they saw me come back, but said nothing. I spent the time waiting either sipping on some expensive wine, which, considering wine generally isn't my style, this wasn't that bad. Anyone who looked like they might want to ask some questions, I just made sure I kept an intimidating stance and look to make it look like I wasn't the conversation type.
"I've got a sample. Head down to the vault and start getting ready. I'll be right there with the power cut," Kasumi stated. Perfect. I made my way down and sent the unlock signal to the base of the Saren statue, opening it up with our gear, then started stripping down to my skivvies. I can't wear a tux under the armor or it's under suit, after all. I almost surprised myself with how careful I was being with the tux. I really do think I should hold onto this. I can leave it in one of the bags. Suddenly, the kinetic barrier around the door shut off. Good, Kasumi has that covered. Alright, that's all off, fold it up, and get the under suit, and… hm. I have the sudden and strange sensation that I'm being watched. I glanced behind me towards the illusionary door. Sure enough, the little klepto was there. I just raised a brow.
"I swear I only just got here. And any picture I may or may not have taken was for Tali's benefit," she decloaked. I just chuckled, shaking my head as worked on the under suit, Kasumi got the rest of her own gear. The under suit didn't take too long, but the armor, naturally took longer. Kasumi helped speed it up, at least. All my weapons were clipped to my back as they should be, and I slung a mostly empty duffel bag over my shoulder. Kasumi got the vault open with the DNA scanner, and a perfect copy of Hock saying "Peruggia." She took the first step, checking for cams, and setting one onto a feedback loop from before the door opened. I followed, and the door closed, an elevator taking us down into the vault itself. About thirty seconds later, it stopped, and a large heavy door opposite of where we entered opened into a large, wide open space. Statues, models, art. Everything was priceless. And several caught my eye immediately. One in particular, made me angry.
"The fuck?!" I exclaimed. "This son of a bitch has Lady Liberty's head?!"
"How did he manage that? It vanished in 2098."
"It was probably being traded by fuckheads just like Hock to go on their private displays," I growled.
"This really has you riled up," Kasumi remarked.
"Damn right it does," I glanced back at her, gesturing at the head. "I'm Alliance, but I'm also American. For 210 years that statue was a beacon and icon for everything America stood for. Anyone immigrating from Europe saw her first welcoming them, and then some fuckheads who didn't like America formally uniting with Canada and Mexico thought they should blow the damned thing up! They forced us into another civil war. Sure, there's a new one now, but, still. It's not the one the French made for us when we won our freedom. Goddamn it was probably on its way here where those photos of it popped up."
"Patriot through and through, huh?"
"To the Red, White, and Blue." I sighed. "Let's find the Graybox." Despite my suggestion, both of us still felt tempted to look around. Behind lady liberty were models of the Conduit on the Citadel, made of gold, of course. An Egyptian statue of some ancient Pharaoh, still in good condition.
"Even outside the Alliance, I could get a lot of money for this. Asari go crazy for this kind of stuff," Kasumi mused. Beside that was a statue almost identical to the ones I saw on Illos. Kasumi was unsettled. And after that-oh, come the fuck on, Hock. Missing a leg, the right arm, and cracked in several places, Michelangelo's fucking David.
"Damn bastard is robbing us of our history." I noticed that beyond that there were several Krogan statues as well. Browned and chipped, and clearly old. They were wielding swords that looked more like giant cleavers, or large two headed axes in various poses. Robbing the Krogan too. Those must go back before they were uplifted.
"Ugh, Rachni queen," Kasumi noticed. A gold model of one, but fortunately, rather scaled down. "Not going to complain that they're gone." I'll… just let her keep believing that. Other pieces I could make less out of. More akin to modern art, I'd say. Kasumi claimed some of those weirder ones were Turian. And they don't often become artists. The last of the large stone statues of note, was some sort of giant horned creature, almost frozen in a roar. A spiked shoulder pad, maybe meant to be some kind of leather. It had long, elf like ears, but was far from being remotely like any kind of elf. Something like an Ogre, I suppose. Near that, a model of a Turian ship. Maybe… Cruiser?
"The Kara. I hear it's like a Turian Titanic. But, space."
"Explains why the make seems weird to me. Seems like a Cruiser, but different from their modern ones."
"Naturally. It was before they made contact with anyone else, after all." Only one area to check now, and that's probably where the Graybox is. Two columns, three stands on each side, right in front of lady liberty. There was another Krogan statue, some expensive looking vase, two strange, modern art like statues, and some very, very old looking stone tablets under a glass frame. Oh, that's strange. The etchings don't look at all human.
"Kasumi! Can you tell what this text is?" I asked. She made her way over and looked down. Studying it for a moment.
"Oh! That's some form of Quarian script!"
"Khelish?"
"No, no. It's older, much older, has to be. I can't read it but it's in Quarian patterns. Probably a precursor to Khelish. And, hell, when was the last time the Quarians wrote on stone?"
"Damn, that's chunks of Rannoch then," I muttered. "We're taking those." I set down my duffel bag and opened it. "Take this?" I asked, handing Kasumi all the parts of the tux. She wasted no time putting it in her bag, and I worked on the display to open the case. I unlocked it a few moments later and Kasumi helped me move the glass to the ground, I took the tablets and put them together from their backsides without any of the script, and stored it in the bag. I'll have to take it carefully, but if I can get these for Tali and the Fleet, I'll be happy. The weight on my back wasn't exactly comfortable, but I could manage it. Only one pedestal left. It had a gun, and some sort of tech. Probably the Graybox.
"A Kassa Locust? Wait… that has to be The Kassa Locust. Gun that killed two presidents," Kasumi studied it. "I'll be keeping this," she remarked, holstering it. She then sighed. "There it is. She activated her own Graybox a display appearing over her eyes as she interfaced.
"Don't bother, Ms. Goto. Its code locked," Hock's voice filled the room as holo displays by the other end of the room lit up to show a giant 3D display of his head. Straight out of fucking Bond. He grinned, self-satisfied. "The guards in security were very talkative when they weren't responding at first. I knew it must have been you. And if I was right, my vault wouldn't stop you."
"I don't like to disappoint," Kasumi responded.
"Then don't disappoint me now. I need what's in your Graybox. You know I'm willing to kill you and your friend for it." I started to stop listening. You know, that vase looks mighty expensive. I took out my pistol and shot it, the top half almost shattered and the force rolled the whole thing off its pedestal and to the floor, where it broke entirely. "No! You idiot! Do you have any idea how expensive that was?!" He growled, staring at me.
"That shut him up," Kasumi smirked.
"You'll pay for that, Gunn. If that's even your real fucking name. What are you, Alliance spec ops trying to take me down around the law?"
"Close, not quite. Council Spectre, Commander John Shepard. Helping out a friend. If I get the chance to put you down, that's a bonus," I shrugged.
"Bullshit, Shepard's dead."
"Am I? Ask your friend Sederis. I saw her at the party. Caused some trouble for her on Illium."
"Kill them," Hock growled as an alternate entrance to the vault at the far side opened up, about two squads of guards pouring through. Kasumi snagged the Graybox and secured it somewhere in her suit while I ran to cover by the pedestal of the now broken vase, and Kasumi, cloaked and vanished. I took aim with my Mattock and was able to only take down one guard before being forced to take cover. Kasumi's going to need to give me my opening. And she did. She decloaked behind them, still in cover, fortunately, and making use of the Kassa, she opened fire. Taking down five mercs before they understood what was going on. The confusion giving me an opportunity to take down three more. Just two left.
"Goddamnit!" one of the mercs cried out, a female. She tried to take cover from me and open fire on Kasumi, but she was already gone. I took out the only other merc as he tried to shoot me. The woman tried to change focus onto me, but with perfect timing, Kasumi appeared behind her, barrel of her gun behind the shields, and pushed the trigger. With the guards dead, we could afford a brief moment to plan the escape.
"Checking blueprints… Landing pad to the east. Through those doors they came through." Without any option, that's where we made our way. It was essentially a small security room, maybe a loading entrance. That perception was reinforced by how on the other side of that small security room, everything became rustic and utilitarian. Crates, supplies, loading vehicles.
And a damned YMIR mech.
"Hand me a grenade," Kasumi requested. I tossed her one off of my belt. Not primed, of course. She vanished again, and likely made her way to the mech. I just took cover because I didn't feel like getting turned into swiss cheese. And damn would I become just that if I stood right now. It was firing it's MG to keep me pinned. And then, it was all replaced with an explosion. I peeked up to see the YMIR as a smoking mess.
"Slipped the grenade under the armor," Kasumi explained. Works for me. We wouldn't be able to continue along the main loading route, it was closed off. But there was an alternate route to the side. Mech storage. Great. We hurried in, there was a rack of Ymir's ahead, all of them folded up and offline, but one on the rack was missing. The one we just blew up, no doubt. Sure there will be a few LOKI's though. Their storage reminded me of Battle Droids. To the left the storage opened up more, maybe where the loading path splits off for anything that's mech specific. Considering how there was a struck stationary, with security, it adds up. Kasumi was already gone, and I started my work shooting them. Fortunately, there were far less than in the vault. This was manageable. And with Kasumi's cloak, even more so. Good thing we cut them out of here before they could wake up more mechs. They have a lot of YMIR's. Like a private army of mechs. Jesus, he even owns an older Grizzly tank. A less mobile, heavier predecessor to the Mako. All exits from here sealed. Where next? Ah.
"Fuel cells on the wall, big fucking Mass Accelerator right there. Thinking what I'm thinking?" I asked Kasumi.
"Taking cover." I climbed into the grizzly, checking the main cannon. Ammo block is in place, just have to prime the gun. Get the power going and… ready. I squeezed the triggers, and it fired, blowing the tanks and right through the wall. We could absolutely get through that. And on the other side, some mayhem as well. Something back there had started burning. I climbed out, and the Thief and I got a move on. Good for us, there were some bodies on the other side. Crushed by rubble, blown apart from the detonation. Less security to deal with. The ones left in the corridor were dazed, probably wounded already.
"Don't fight me, Kasumi," Hock spoke on an intercom. "You know what happened to your boy toy when he fought back." I glanced at the woman. That was getting to her, but she was keeping it under control. Ahead, a supply truck moved to block us, three security ready to fire. I was able to put a bullet in one's brain as I got into cover, and shifted the weight of the duffle bag. Kasumi just repeated the same pattern, surprising both of them. One gun in each hand, one bullet to each brain. Still moving through, another loading bay. Looks like it focuses on general supplies more. Some larger crates were empty and open. We could use those as cover. They had about a squad. Hock's manpower must have been spread for the party. I wonder why Hock mostly employs humans. Not that it matters, I suppose. We put em down, just the same. We were getting close. While the main loading routes were still locked down, there were still the side routes for personnel. And the light of Boltzmann struck us, our eyes adjusting to the light of dusk. The landing pad was clear of hostiles, and with plenty of cover from supplies that had to be abandoned when the alerts must have come through. Something's not right. I hear something closing in.
Ah shit.
"Gunship! Get down!" As we dove to cover, an A-10 Mantis shot up from below the platform, it's MG firing down on us. And… the hell? It's shielded?
"We could have done this the easy way, Goto. Allow me to show you the hard way."
"Stay down, I'll handle this, Shep!" Kasumi called out. If she has a plan, all the better. Small arms fire probably won't do much to that shields. Especially if he just goes below our field of view before we break the shields, they'll just recharge. Hock's untouchable like this. Kasumi waited for the gunfire to cease, then broke off into a sprint, jumping and running and climbing over the crates to some… fuel pipes, I believe. Than sprinting across those. All the while, Hock was firing again, but he wasn't leading his shots. And he proved that those pipes weren't pumping fuel, it would have detonated. Kasumi was lined up perfectly with the gunship. He was readjusting to be able to fire on her at the new height, but she was too fast. She jumped, and landed right atop the gunship's cockpit, grabbing the top of its hatch as her Omni-tool lit up. She pulled herself up into a small jump as the cockpit windshield flew open, like she triggered a partial eject sequence. She took position again just in front of Hock, shoved the barrel of the Locust into his mouth, and pulled the trigger. She pushed her feet off the base of where the windshield would be, doing a backflip for style as she came down to land safely on the landing pad, while Hock's… corpse would be landing less than safely on the mountainside. She landed on her feet, breathing hard. And I think… she was crying. Slightly, at least, but crying, nonetheless. She nodded, it was all she could muster.
"EDI, get us out of here."