Chapter two in my series, thanks for reading this far, there will be more action in the next chapter or so. Please review and comment, I appreciate all the input I get.
Chapter 2
Dithrian, seven hours later.
The Normandy appeared in space alongside the Dithrian relay, it launched the lander and went into cloak.
The lander touched down just outside the defence grid of the Cerberus base, Shepard, Garrus and Miranda dropped out and started moving toward the base.
Almost immediately, Garrus spotted a Cerberus patrol, three marines were walking along a small footpath, completely oblivious to the Spectre and his team, Garrus sighted through the scope of his sniper and took aim.
The first man dropped without a sound, the second looked around to try and spot where the shot came from, then he was dead as well, the last man tried to find cover when the next shot caught his neck, spraying blood over the rocks.
Joker's voice crackled over the comm.
"Watch out commander, in a few minutes, that patrol is going to be missed, you'd better hurry up.".
David led his team to a ledge overlooking the Cerberus base, it was small but well guarded, there were multiple bunkers and anti-air turrets placed around the compound, and patrols combed the area constantly.
"Joker, I need an air strike at these three coordinates.". Shepard uploaded the coordinates to the Normandy, in seconds the ship flashed by overhead, a trio of blue flashes lit up the base, the defence generator was destroyed, the primary generator was damaged and there were several fires going on around the base, David and his team slipped in undetected.
The data core was guarded by a pair of marines, all of the other personnel were fighting the fires or repairing the generator, David use his biotic powers and blasted the pair with a ball of fire, disintegrating them, Miranda got to work hacking into the mainframe, in seconds she had accessed all of the data collected from Sovereign, top secret or otherwise.
"I've got it, let's go.". The group slipped out and was heading for their exit when a squad of seven Cerberus troopers spotted them, the soldiers opened fire and charged, Shepard tossed a grenade and hid.
Only three soldiers survived, one was screaming into his mike, reporting the breach, the other two were disoriented, Shepard left them alive and headed back to the lander.
EDI was already processing the data when Shepard arrived on the ship, Joker fired the engines and the ship strained to break through the atmosphere, suddenly the AI's holographic form turned a deep red.
"Warning, two hostile vessels approaching, scans match them to, Cerberus cruisers, powering up weapons and FTL drive.". Shepard stood by Joker's chair.
"Joker, take them out, but don't destroy them.".
"You got it commander.". The cruisers fired their primary cannons, a pair of pulse lasers raced at the Normandy, who's shields absorbed the force and shrugged it off, joker gunned the engines and dove.
The cruisers moved to track the nimble ship as it arced around and raced toward them, the Normandy's Thannik cannon fired, the first cruiser's engines were cut loose and the ship drifted, primary power lost, the second scored a direct hit on the Normandy, flaring the shields as it whipped past.
Joker expertly manipulated the controls of the ship and brought the weapons to bear on the engines of the second cruiser, but before he could fire Shepard stopped him.
"Wait, EDI, open a channel to that ship's captain.".
"Of course commander.". A gravelly voice filled the speakers.
"This is the captain of the 'Silver Dawn' what do you want?".
"This is commander David Shepard of the Human Systems Alliance, I am giving you one chance to stand down and rescue your buddy, let us go and we'll let you live.". The comm was silent, then EDI spoke up.
"Commander, their weapons are powering down and they are moving off.". The Cerberus ship tilted and tractor beamed the other cruiser and headed away from the planet, the Normandy did the same, and they made off with the data they needed.
Unknown location.
The Illusive Man clenched his fist as the newest data on Shepard came in, the two cruisers he had sent had failed, and Shepard had gotten away with all the information on Sovereign, he tapped his cigarette and pinched the bridge of his nose, Shepard was more trouble than he was worth.
Aboard the Normandy, somewhere in the Dithrian system.
David the whole crew were assembled in the conference room, discussing their find.
"If it's weapon technology we should employ it." Said Tali, Grunt nodded but Samara disagreed.
"We don't know if it is legitimate data, it could be a trap, but it's up to shepard." Everyone turned to shepard who cupped his chin. After a few seconds he looked up to the expectant faces.
"We'll use it, if these new technologies will give us the edge against our enemies they are worth the risk, EDI, begin the upgrading ASAP, the meeting was dismissed.
Several hours later David was going over some dossiers that the Illusive man had sent him just before the suicide mission, most were irrelevant now but one stood out, he tapped the icon.
Cerberus dossier #137259.1736.
Kevin O'Neil.
Subject is an ex Special Forces agent, he is to be considered dangerous and should not be underestimated.
Description: Green eyes, brown-blonde hair, hair goes down to eyebrows and is slightly curly, 6'5", well built.
Specialties: Stealth, assassination, martial arts and one of the last remaining beings that use a Katana, this weapon is to be considered extremely dangerous in his hands. Subject is also a very competent biotic.
All attempts to capture have failed information available from encounters.
Parties that are enemies of subject include; Blue suns, Salarian intelligence, C-sec, Cerberus, and various other groups.
Threat level to assigned target once hired: high.
End of dossier.
David whistled as he closed the file, he activated EDI's panel, the AI's hologram materialised and flickered blue.
"How may I help you commander?".
"Can you tell me the last possible sighting of Kevin O'Neil?". EDI's form dimmed as she searched her memory banks.
"Subject's last sighting was on the citadel around the Green Moon bar, two days ago.". Shepard clapped his hands together.
"Great, have Joker get us to the citadel ASAP.".
EDI turned the panel off and very soon the Normandy was headed off to the citadel.
The Green Moon was not as busy as you'd imagine a club to be, there were several people at the bar and several tables were occupied.
Shepard, Garrus and Miranda walked into the centre of the club and looked around, Garrus spotted Kevin in the far corner, seated alone and hunkered over a shot glass, they slowly worked their way to him.
He seemed not to notice as they approached him, Shepard stood a mere two feet away, seeming to dwarf the man at the table.
"Are you Kevin O'Neil?". Kevin downed the shot.
"Are you here to kill him?". Shepard shook his head and Kevin leaned bavk, giving them a half shadowed view of his face.
"Then, to you, yes, what do you want?". Shepard proceeded to explain their mission, Kevin's face never changed, it just remained a solid, neutral expression, he waited until David had finished before speaking.
"So you want me to join up with your group of little heroes and save the universe, possibly getting killed by either Geth, Collectors, Krogan, Mercs and/or Reapers?". Shepard nodded, he was sure that kevin would decline. Kevin let five seconds tick by, then he chuckled.
"Better than sitting here, sign me up, I'll find my way to your ship.". He stood and left, the trio watched him go, before they left as well.
Author's note, I hope you are enjoying the series so far, sorry this chapter didn't have more action and was so short, chapter 3 will be coming out in maybe two to three days after this is posted. I'm writing this on my iPod touch in the Notes section, so I type faster but there may be some delays between chapters, because the Internet connection around my place is really bad and I need to email these stories to myself because there is no other way that I know about to get the story onto a computer.