Researcher Log:

Many still question my motives for using a pure-organic body. It is considered outdated, built on values even before the advent of the Relays. They argue that machine soldiers are cheaper, more efficient, and overall more powerful. If not, then a cybernetic soldier should at least quickly overcome the weakness of Mankind that God had condemned. Although their views are correct, they continuously fail to realize the superiority of a human body, and ignore the gift of God. Machines can the built, modified, engineered, destroyed, all within less than a year. We have more than enough technology to create the AIs which will serve our purpose. But those creations are built by mere mortals with inherent flaws and faults.

Humans are a different matter. We are creations of God, and he has given us the ability to improve ourselves. Our job is now to follow what He has started, and complete His creations. That will be Subject 400. When that subject is born, it will signal a new beginning, for us and for the world. We will show that we no longer need to fear machines. The old fear of AIs, justified after the tales of Quarians, will be solved. We will have created the Supreme Being as an organic lifeform, a word of God.

Subject 101:

This subject is an anomaly. I had initially wanted to remove it, but others seemed to be interested in its progress. I had begun to fear that they were misguided from the true purpose, but perhaps this was Fate. If so, I will not go against His will. The original idea was to create a Subject with total immunity to poison and control over toxins. Subject 47 had developed a high level of immunity, and we had noted a significant improvement in cellular vacuoles in its muscle cells. As such, we had developed this one specifically to test our hypothesis, and perhaps allow the Subject to contain various toxins. Delightfully, we were successful, with Subject 101 being almost completely immune to all types of toxic chemicals (except, I assume, for one sleeper compound ingrained genetically into all Subjects to control them). However, the most interesting thing had happened when we had injected it with a lethal dose of element zero – it gained the ability to manipulate dark energy. The damage incurred to doctor administrating the poison was remarkably precise and powerful, tearing his artery at the wrist with minimal effort (That event proved that a part of our work was successful – these subjects were indeed efficient killers). Many more tests stretched the Subject's abilities. We had decided to graft on a second layer of nerves just to supply electric power to the muscles. Although it was unable to breathe by itself due to pain for three days, the results were pleasing. Subject 101 had now the ability to pulverize his surroundings and tear apart armoured vehicles at its will. More astonishing, however, is not the energy output, but the total control it had over its powers, with its biotics being accurate enough to solve a Rubik's cube. Although its height and muscle growth was stunted, it did not fall significantly below the average reaction times and strength output of other Subjects. Unfortunately, the Subject had received gradual brain trauma, most liking arising from mental pressure. Not only did it need to supply electricity to two sets of nerves, but it also didn't seem to have high enough pain tolerance. Thus, after the operation to upgrade its frontal lobe, the Subject seemed to recover. But one day, it vanished during a field test. According to Subject 98, it died from an unknown cause, and they had not bothered to retrieve the body. As much as we wish to collect the armour and body for study, its current location on Earth makes our visit unlikely. Although I am disappointed by our inability to conduct an autopsy, I am content for now, for we have more than enough information to recreate the Subject. I am starting to ponder if this is the direction that He has chosen to lead us – a being able to do supernatural things. This may indeed be His will.

…

The planet was admittedly beautiful, but Alexander was too nervous to really appreciate its beauty. Although he was a battle-hardened soldier, being on the battlefront was something he could never get used to. Dull, perhaps, to the dying and violence, but never comfortable at the concept.

"It's been some time since we've been on a hospitable planet, don't you think?" Thea asked, also taken by the view.

"Hospitable? As long as they don't start shooting at us, I would agree. But considering that we are in the Geth space, I don't think we will be out of sight for long. Well, we do have the reverse stealth on the Horizon, but… I don't entirely trust it. And it only lasts for four hours tops. So your claim seems rather invalid, I'm afraid." He replied.

Alexander knew that he was feeling uneasy, as he had started chatting uncontrollably. It was one of the ways he dealt with combat stress. He would jest, tell stories, tease companions or just complain as usual. Oftentimes, he would admit his innermost feelings during these combat missions. Liam had told him once that he became "more friendly" when he was in combat. He knew that Liam was wrapping his chattiness in a pretty package.

Speaking of Liam, he had disappeared into his shadow faster than he normally would. He usually continued to speak others right until the actual combat began, but today his shadow came unusually quickly. Alexander learnt a long time ago that Liam's 'shadow' was not a stress mechanism. In fact, it was quite the opposite – Liam felt most comfortable in combat. The approachable, helpful man was the mask – this war machine was Liam's true self. Whether he was happier this way was a mystery.

"Sir, we are nearing the landing site." Davies informed.

"Acknowledged. Silent approach. After drop, stay out of sight. Keep radio contact. Relay information to us and Horizon." Liam commanded, drawing out his rifle.

"Sir yes sir!" They replied in unison. Alexander saw his helmet turn red, indicating combat status. He drew out his pistol and gripped onto his sniper pack. The ship soon came to a stop, and the door propped open, revealing a small secluded clearing on a woody outcrop. They dropped out, alert for any signs of the enemy. The Kodiak flew away, nimble despite its size. Alexander saw that this was the modified Kodiak from Omega.

"Clear."

Alexander scanned the surroundings. The target was barely visible without visual aid, but it was luckily situated lower than their position. Alexander guessed that his rifle will still be effective at this distance. Unfortunately, the visibility was poor due to a fine mist, not ideal for sniping. He spotted a rocky outcrop roughly three hundred meters away. A little too bare for his liking, but it seemed to be beyond the mist line – probably a much better position to work from.

"Hmm. Bad mist. I suggest we go to that cliff. Seems to be beyond the mist line, and definitely better to snipe from. A little bare, but why not a little danger to keep us on our toes?" Thea suggested.

"Keen eye you have there. We should be far enough away to be not spotted, so it shouldn't be too much of a danger. Unless, of course, if they have that whole place filled with landmines." Alexander replied, positioning his pack to a more comfortable location.

"Move."

They crossed the forest in silence, leaving no trail behind them. They were all too aware that they were in Geth space, arguably the most militaristically dangerous place to be in the Galaxy. There were, of course, other places where people could draw a gun and start shooting – Omega, Tuchanka (because DMZ definitely means that nobody could carry guns), Khar'Shan and Heshtok, just to name a few. But none of those places were controlled by machines.

Liam, as always, walked ahead, totting his gun in a deceptively low position on his chest. Alexander recalled that Liam could fire an accurate shot from that position in less than 0.5 seconds. Liam had once joked that it was a "counter-ambush tactic", since he could send a bullet at the attackers faster than could they to him.

They soon reached the base of the stone cliff. Liam 'teleported' twice, reaching the top with relative ease. Thea followed his path. Alexander sighed, holstered his pistol, hoisted his pack onto his back, and activated his omnitool's climbing pick.

"Is Alex not biotic?" Thea asked Liam. Alexander commended her ability to ignore Liam's deathly aura. He drove his tool into the rock, making a painful progress up the wall.

"No." Liam replied.

"Then why is he and John always arguing about biotic amps?"

There was no response from Liam. Alexander imagined him giving Thea a death stare, and decided to save her from the experience.

"Because we have nothing better to argue about. *Grunt* The same way you ladies always argue about what colour you want for your nails or something. *Sigh* Or how kids argue *Puff* about their favourite biotic ball player. Same thing. *Grunt* Although, we have more in common, as being in *Shit* HIGHCOM forces you to work with biotics all the time. *Grunt* And most human biotics never stop arguing about their amps. Never. Save, *Sigh* I guess, for Liam."

Alexander hauled himself over onto the top. Thea was unpacking her rifle, taking up position behind a boulder. Liam was reading his omni-tool a little further back. Alexander quickly expanded his rifle, then took some time to camouflage his position. They worked in silence for five minutes, building a small fortress both invisible and compact.

Alexander finally activated his rifle, lying flat on his stomach and resting arm against a large rock. He looked down the scope.

"Let's see… We have poor visibility, even here. But even if we didn't have the mist, I don't think we could see a lot. The base seems pretty well concealed. No obvious entry points. It's… wait, damn, got a heat shield. Thermal scope doesn't work – I can't tell what's behind the walls. I can see couple of patrols. Roughly fifteen? Probably more on the other side. They're well-armed, like all Cerberus bastards. There's a radio dish, you want me to take it out. It's… a new model. Relatively new anyhow. I guess three years old at max. Lots of turrets. Most of them seems to be AA. One's a flak-cannon. Very useful against unshielded vehicles. The others… I can make out four… are lasers. No windows. That's not surprising. Hmmm… the bastards have the place pretty well locked-down. No obvious entry points, no… easy flaws in the defensive design. One good thing though – it seems to be designed against aerial attacks. Perhaps it wouldn't be too difficult to infiltrate it on foot. Geth don't infiltrate… so they won't be expecting you. What's your call?" Alexander analysed.

"Non-lethal rounds until I say otherwise. I'll go. After signal, I need your scope on me. Sorac, I want your scope on target. Keep an eye on your omni-tool, too." Liam ordered without a pause.

He slid off the cliff, landing ghostly on the ground. The last thing Alexander saw was Liam's black armour melting into shadows of the trees.

…

That is the least camouflaged military base I have ever seen.

Thea remarked under her breath as she scanned the Cerberus base with her scope for the second time. Her finger was off the trigger, stretched along its side, tense and ready to twitch at will. It had been some time since she had held her modified Javelin in her hand, but it felt good to be behind its silent bulk again. The vast distance did worry her, but she had experience taking shots. She was sure she could hit the enemy when called for.

The Cerberus base (called Tango Site now) was painted with reflective white, hiding the residents from thermal scanning. It stuck out from the hillside like a price tag, being extremely noticeable to the eye. Whoever entered this particular valley could spot it immediately.

Alex's analysis was perfect. Thea had nothing to add. It was good to be told what to do, instead of thinking up of the whole contingency plan.

"Entering Tango Site." Liam's comms sparked to life. Her heart started to pound faster in response.

"I… have you in sight." Alexander responded. "Sorac. Could you monitor secondary feeds?"

Thea peeled her eye off the scope and lifted her upper body. She shifted a little to the left, giving her a clearer view of her computer. "On it."

"Executing operation."

"Tracking your movement. There's tango three o'clock."

Thea waited patiently, watching the monitor for the tactical feed from Liam.

"Tango five o'clock."

"Blindside only."

"You've got none. Two tangos, three o'clock."

Thea brushed away some dirt from the top of her computer. She reached forward to adjust the screen angle, keeping a close eye on the monitor.

"Time?"

Thea relaxed back into her original position, satisfied with the new angle of the screen.

"Sorac! Mission time!" Alexander barked.

Thea's face flustered. "Oh! Sorry. 1706 standard Citadel time. We have ninety six minutes till Horizon's stealth expires."

"Next Horizon overhead pass?" Alexander asked

"In four minutes." Just as Thea finished speaking, her computer flashed. A reflection data was logged into its system, sent by Liam. "I just received the data sir. Please give me a minute."

Thea's hand flew across the keyboard, running the program to calculate the heat signatures. Soon, both hers and Alexander's scope received the algorithm, allowing them to see through the heat shield with decent accuracy. The interior of the base was now exposed for her to see – and attack.

"We can see the base interior Liam. Ready to take down whatever bastards you want dead!"

…

Dialogue Log. Recorded on Jackson. L. armour.

Voice 1: "Hold fire. Scan and search."

Voice 2: "I see… this place is like a factory of some sort, Liam. People are lined up in rows… I can identify some machinery. I am not sure though. Few notable cold spots… likely to be a cooling system. I see the mainframe – lowest floor, Eastern corner of the building. Lots of tangos everywhere. Zooming out… shit. That's approximately five hundred people. I think… half of that are armed soldiers. Not exactly sure, hard to tell. Depth perception is difficult."

Voice 3: "I see a vehicle from my angle. A couple, actually. Just transport, I think. Stealth, but only equipped for interstellar stealth. Definitely not planetary stealth."

Voice 1: "Mainframe, Tango One. Machinery, Tango Two. Proximity?"

Voice 3: "Tango Two is just two levels beneath you, Liam. Tango One… you'll have to figure that out. It's approximately at eleven o'clock, hundred meters from you."

Voice 2: "Tango One seems to be in a separate building. You want to risk it?"

Voice 1: "Yes. Track Tango Two."

Voice 2: "Acknowledged. Tracking Tango Two. Enemy approaching, six o'clock."

Fast forwarding…

Voice 1: "Track this vent."

Voice 2: "Sharp eye, Liam. That seems to lead down, near Tango Two. It's running – rather high temperatures. Try not to spend ages in there."

Voice 1: "Acknowledged."

Voice 3: "I've got my eye on its temperature."

Fast forwarding…

Voice 1: "Switch to lethal rounds."

Voice 3: "Uh, Liam? May I confirm your feed? A Geth disassembly line? By the Cerberus? High-order artificial intelligence? Are these correct?"

Voice 1: "Affirmative. At least three violations of intergalactic law is visible. Use of lethal force is authorised. Moving to Tango One."

Voice 2: "Warning! Vent temperatures are escalating. Fast! Really fast! You need to get out of there!"

Sounds of crashes, gunfire.

Voice 1: "Weapons free."

Audio feed lost. Presumed damage to helmet. Vitals unstable. Significant increase in atmospheric static. Significant increase in atmospheric element zero. Kinetic barriers disabled. Emergency beacon activated.