A quiet high pitched beeping filled the cabin.

"That can't be right, those AA rockets can't reach this far."

"Aliens are stupid, overconfident people are dead, slow our forward motion further."

"Yes commander." Kaiden's voice was quiet as the Makobegan to slow hard, rockets firing to lift the Mako's front slightly as the between wheel antigrav system struggled in its low power mode.

And suddenly the beeping became a whine.

"Brace for evasive."

"Kaiden if you get us-"

"Stow it!" I cut Jenkin's off, you didn't disrupt a thinking piolet in a combat situation, though I was wishing we were using a shuttle, or even a Hammerhead instead. For all Hammerhead's were made out of tissue paper, they flew better than a brick…

Even if the Mako flew pretty good for a brick.

"Hitting in 20, no missile fire…. And off." The whine ceased as we dropped below the AA's firing arc, shortly before everyone was slammed forward by the Mako's landing.

"Ready to bail, I'll take the turret in manual. Kaiden, don't flip the Mako."

"Yessir." There was a snicker from Jenkins as I clambered over him to the turret; apparently he'd seen videos about my battlefield driving, he slid over to take my previous spot at the door quickly as we began moving.

"Geth sighted, firing."

"Activating Elerium core."

"Let's see them touch our tanks." Oordu's voice drew a laugh from Jenkins as I opened fire, raking the area with hypervelocity fire, streams of ionised gas trailing from my targets to the Mako's machine gun, my sights quickly filling with wrecked frames and rockets gutted before they got close.

.

The Mako's greatest asset was also it's greatest liability. An elerium core provided power to the heavy tank, running the anti-grav system that covered the undercarriage, as well as additional shielding. This gave the Mako speed almost on par with hover tanks with almost as much armor as Krogan Tonkas, as well as assisting in jumps, insertions, and dealing with rough terrain.

However, the computer that ran the AG system however somehow managed to always suck balls. Despite the suspension you could almost feel every pebble that ran beneath the tank, hit a large enough rock and the Mako would roll for laughs, and the Mako was almost always faster than the driver expected when you needed… Additionally, Elerium cores are well known for being unstable, a shot that did punch through the armour and shields could gut the tank and kill the crew in a flash of green plasma in an explosion that would remain instantaneous even with the best recording running a slow action replay.

.

The one benefit of the Makos erratic movement is that the Geth constantly fired wide with their weapons while the main cannon only needed to be pointed in the general direction of them.

"They're barely pinging the shields, are we sure these are Geth and not training drones?"

"I'm just going to enjoy the recording. Ok, coming up on the outer perimeter, we have walking turrets."

The Collosi, as we had been informed what they were, fired their heavy shells almost as soon as we were in LOS, some clever thruster work by Kaiden sent my shot flying off god knows where while preventing their fire from scratching the shields, and we began to trade with heavy machine guns.

It appeared the Geth were using anti-personal HMGs, their rounds would explode on hitting the Mako's barrier and most fragments would do little more than scratch the paint if they were lucky enough to be traveling in the right direction to get through the shields spin. The Mako however was set to anti-mechanical rounds, ricocheting whole off their shields to burry themselves meters into the dirt with barely any sign they existed.

Their shields gave first, much to our relief despite it being what we expected. Within seconds of the first Collosi's shields failing I had almost sawn it's head off and sent a number of rounds through it's torso. I used the cannon to kill the smaller Geth in between HMG bursts at the remaining Colossus, their high explosive nature often overwhelming their shielding and sending them flying riddled with shrapnel.

.

"It's down, status?"

"Shield is stable at 60% max temp and cooling. We've got some microleaks between plates one and two draining omnigel, however two is holding solid. Ammo is at 95% for the cannon, 97% for HMG."

Kaiden's voice had a hint of amusement as we rolled past the Geth's destroyed platforms.

"For genocidal AI's they really are quite tame. It's almost like they've only been spending enough effort to keep up with everyone else as far as armaments go. Unless there trying not to show us how much they have?"

Guuba's voice came over the channel.

"They could just have yet to produce any of their brighter ideas, something to keep in mind. We're getting partial transmissions from Geth in your area, their codes evolved enough I don't know what they're saying however I've noted a backup stream. It appears they have a beacon or two we haven't spotted."

"Hmmm… Concerning, make an official note on that. You sharing the data with Tali?"

"Yes. I'm helping him with translation, I've got more up to date data streams from the fleet. He also hasn't offered to remove my faceplate for the last 5 minutes." Tali sounded oddly exited that Guuba stopped offering death threats.

"You stopped with the annoying questions."

"This is a combat channel, relevant stuff only!"

The channel went silent instantly, much to my relief. I didn't need to hear childish bickering while in a combat zone."

-XXXX-

"Update. Normandy ground team ETA- 15 minutes."

The group stilled, even as the Geth continued to search.

"ETA from second entrance to T'soni?"

"11 minutes."

"Shit!"

"Keep on it, we need to find the entrance! Geth, can you activate the laser to get her out if needed?"

"One would need to take the shuttle to the primary entrance for in case of eruption. And would have to have left 2 minutes ago."

"… Could their transport make it to the minimum safe distance?"

"... Uncertain."

-XXXX-

"Fucking Hoppers!"

I was tracking the platforms with the Mako's HMG, but they were jumping too often to get a solid burst in.

"That's what you get for complaining about the AI overlords not being so lord like." Alenko's voice held a hint of a smile as we made our way towards the dig site, sporting micro-leaks from kinetic shrapnel as well as both laser burns and shattered hull sections from where Hoppers with infantry scale 'Cryo Lasers' had hit. I had long since made a mental note to kill whichever alien [For it was a Council invention.] with a real laser.

Thus far I was glad the wheels had held.

"Ok, narrow section in sight, if you could hurry up and kill them before we have to get out-"

"I'm working on it!"

One would think that Hoppers, however fast, could be killed simply because their jumps had to obey the laws of physics. However after the first three, they learned their shields were useless and had their mass effect cores ready to push them in a random direction if my fire got to close.

It was making me wish for the simulated code black missions. At least Thin-Men couldn't jump in two directions, fortuneately Hoppers made a more satisfying sound when destroyed.

"Got one! Two left… One!"

A hopper landed too close to where the canon was already pointing, as was blown to smithereens.

"Last one's moving away!" Jenkin's voice sounded angry as he watched the scanner.

"Probably bait. Assaults out, Alenko keep the engine warm in case we need to fall back, you have the turret."

"Worried about the stupid AI's commander?"

"It's home ground and they've had time to reinforce, let's not replay the Remnant/Alliance first military play offs."

"Yessir." Oordu sound almost embarrassed as I corrected her.

.

The entrance to the find was little more than a small cave opening, on estimate just enough for a Muton to get through if he squeezed, though it went up rather high. It also had the beginnings of a door set up around it.

The height was probably how the catwalks had been brought in, the ones a few scattered Geth were firing from.

We responded with IR lasers and dives for cover as we took stock. There were maybe 5 standard platforms, a Juggernaut, and another two hoppers. Already a standard platform lay with it's chest converted to slag, and the battle quickly became an attempt to stay in the scarce cover that remained useful while preventing the Hoppers from flanking us or the Juggernaut from closing to within it's reach.

Within moments the first Hopper was down, having used it's mass effect core to dodge where it guessed Jenkins would shoot, leaving it prey my biotics, sending it crashing to the ground to be slagged by Oordu, only for the other to use my rock as a temporary grounding point, firing at point blank in the fraction of a second it was present. I felt the area around my chest cool drastically and as I was clipped by one of it's limbs as it bounced to the wall behind us, the plate fractured. Fortuneately, Jenkins managed to hit the platform dead centre seconds after.

"Kineticing!" Jenkins shouted as his splitjaw clicked into rail mode, gas hissing as it passed over the now opened laser segments.

"Alea Duck!"

Oordu, though forced down by Geth fire, provided a half second of warning before the Juggernaut rounded my cover, swinging it's arm at chest height, planning to crush me against the rock, only for the swing to go wide as I had already began ducking and pulling back, my left arm having released my riffle and begun glowing violet as I prepared to strike.

It turns out that Juggernauts were actually made for fighting, it kicked me in the chest and forced me down before I could strike and begun bringing it's gun to bear, I quickly brought my gun around and shot it's, the laser travelling along the side of the gun and ruining it, while creating a hole in it's chestplate. Not a moment later, kinetics began raking it's barrier and Oordu began firing her laser at the Juggernaught, gouging deep holes into it's right arm and shoulder before her gun whined.

Prepared to give it's last moments, it rose it's leg to crush me, powerful hydraulics pulling back while artificial muscle tensed before pouncing almost immediately into my glowing hands, slowed momentarily by my barrier as they uncoiled and slamming my elbows into the ground, the hydrolics straining against my biotics as Jenkins and Oordu through everything they had except grenades at it.

Finally, it's shield faltered, and as Jenkins fired into it's left flank Oordu struck it's head with a laser, and moments later I had pushed it away, and begun scrambling back to cover as the Geth tried to kill me before I could recover, the Juggernaut platform finally clearing their firing lines.

"Fucking fucking fuck! Draw their fire!"

"On it!"

My riffle on the ground I drew my pistol, smoothly rising out of cover to destroy a Geth's head before opening with my biotics, trying to keep one of the two remaining Geth pinned down… But with so many platforms destroyed, it had forgotten how to duck.

By the time the last one had fallen, perhaps a minute of terror and trained responses had passed, the only damage being to some of my armour plates and some warm shielding units that were currently cooling, and by the time we'd taken stock and I retrieved my riffle, mine had already cooled enough to start projecting a weak barrier.

-XXXX-

"Defending platforms destroyed. No casualties inflicted."

All eyes in the elevator turned to the speaking Geth.

"… How long until we get there?"

"3 minutes. We will likely arrive immediately after they free T'soni."

"Wonderful. Let's hope the snot nosed brat is wrong…"

Though everyone was already tense, now some were reconsidering their lives… A fight in an erupting volcano was not something anyone wanted.

-XXXX-

"I see her!"

"Who? Who are you!?"

I quickly ran up to Jenkins, locking eyes on Liara, it only took a few moments for me to confirm it visually, and she was in quite the state.

Trapped behind a barrier curtain, and within a kinetic barrier suspended in mid-air, with her arms held out no less… I was glad I wasn't in Jenkin's head.

"I'm Aleandrea Shepard. Have you experienced a Human meld before?"

"I- No, no I have not."

"Well then, you're about to have your head start glowing and feel my thoughts, so if you'd take a quick breath and embrace eternity for me this will go much smoother. Jenkins, Oordu, bring up some concealment and cover both for the curtain and behind."

I took a deep breath as I walked around the side of the barrier, putting solid rock between Liara and I, looking out for just a moment as I begun the meld, lines of purple streaking out to connect us… Immediately I felt like I was looking upon a caged rabbit, doing it's best to sit still and remain unseen but shaking in fear.

'Still baby blue, I'm not planning on going deep, you've nothing to fear.'

"H- You! I thought these needed to be consensual!?" Like most first timers, she shouted, which had the side effect of echoing in my head as a shout as well. If things kept going this well I'd need a panedol.

'Then mind control wouldn't work, not that I'm quite rated that high. Take a couple of deep breaths, and just think loudly for me, what're you doing in that trap?'

'I, one of my mother's commanders came, claimed she was collecting me, but she had Geth following her as well as a Krogan in blood pack colours. I didn't know they were with her when I hit the button for the curtain, but I hadn't yet deactivated it's safties.'

'I see. How would we let you out?'

'I…' "Why are you here?" At least her words didn't come through as a shout, she sounded less scared now, more concerned.

'Benezia was implicated in an attack on Eden Prime recently. I'm a Spectre, and have been sent to collect you, just in case.'

'I- I see… To get me out you'll have to reach the upper entrance and work your way down. I hadn't found it yet, but I know where it would be, I've got it marked out on my omni-tool, but the others have already gone for it. If I'm right, they could be here any moment.'

I began quietly swearing, keeping it out of the link. The last thing I needed was to command a firefight through a barrier curtain.

'The group that left for the other entrance, did any have lasers?'

'Just the Krogan I think, he had large riffle that looked like a scaled up version of a Batarian laser.'

"Jenkins! Oordu! We need some actual cover in front of the barrier, we've got a Krogan with a laser coming that way." I shook my head… This was going to get really messy.

'Ok. I take it you've realised we're not about to just let them take you to your mother, even if they could right now. Since you gave them where the upper entrance could be, can you?'

'I… My omni-tool is open, I've got the map on a broadcast folder.'

'Thank you. I'm sorry you're caught in this tug of war.' With that passing though I disengaged from Liara's mind, turned off my suits comms, and opened a private channel to Pressley, my left omni-tool opening with a flick of my wrist.

"Commander?"

"Presley, get Joker to land and make sure all our psychics are awake. I'm sending you a map with drop locations. Once you're done I need you to park the Normandy somewhere where it can watch the zone I'm marking in red."

"Yes commander. We'll be there in half an hour."

"Sooner, come back to drop of the sleeping psychics if you need to, I need to defend our vip through a barrier curtain."

"Yes commander. I'm getting an ETA of 6 minutes for the first drop point."

I updated the map.

"Ok, 7 minutes for you."

-XXXX-

Anrea felt her stomach go cold as she listened to the bug just outside the barrier curtain, concealed underneath a rock.

"Forwarded to the consensus. Forwarded to Soverign. It is expected we'll have orders shortly after we've arrived."

"… Stop the elevator and send us up. We'll need to be near the top if we're ordered to retreat, and we'll be able to get down in time if we're not."

"Yes Anrea-Lead."

-XXXX-

"Pressley, this is Shepard, there's no one in here. How's Ashley and Jadaar?"

"Jadaar's awake and ok, Ashley's stabilised but it still sleeping. I believe you're going to schedule some metaconcert practice?"

"Of course. Short distance portals shouldn't be knocking people out without a thought of warning, especially when they're held for only a few seconds."

"I'll take your word for it sir. You going to stay down much longer?"

I took a moment to look at the ground around the upper entrance before kicking a rock.

"No. Tracking this group would likely be more trouble than it's worth, they'll likely be willing to outwait us to. Pick us up and unless Bau says otherwise set course for the Arcturus."

-XXXX-

Normandy: Engineering deck.

Wrex smiled as he looked at the data pad, something had passed through shadow-net to him from the Broker, at no price, apparently flagged for all Krogan operatives.

"Of interest. This is an Alliance newscast. Watch the whole way through."

Breaking News – Krogan Smuggled into Remnant Space.

Tapping play the video showed an image of a woman standing before the Alliance-Remnant embassy, likely not the real thing given the lack of thoroughfare.

"Greeting sentients, this is Kate Lockwell of ANN, recently Remnant customs located a group of 5 Krogan who had successfully stowed away into Remnant space. Currently called 'The Lucky Quint', no information has been or is being released as to who they are or how they got in. The Citadel Council immediately demanded that they be deported to Alliance space under threat of embargo, something which was replied with using laughter and derisive comments coming from Remnant ambassadors on the Citadel. After a tense wait of 4 hours, Remnant ambassador Donald Udina held a press conference."

The video switched to the Ambassador speaking before a blank screen of Udina's face on a green backdrop, the lack of reporters on scene showing that it was recorded without their presence, something rarely done and only where attacks were feared.

"My fellow sentients, before I say anything else on the matter of the Genophage, I'd like to again remind everyone why economic sanctions and threats of embargo cause the average citizen to roll around in laughter, while electing to increase the defence budget.

We produce more than we need, our population including true AI's is incredibly small compared to the amount of resources we have on hand in almost every area. In almost all aspects the Remnant is a post-scarcity economy. We have achieved which the Quarian's once dreamt, and unlike them, we haven't been overthrown by our robots and we have the ability to repel a Council invasion. The only thing the outside world provides is new ideas, which is the only thing we'd lose as we don't conduct espionage.-"

That met a snort from everyone listening, which was everyone in engineering, even if most were just to keep an eye on the Krogan mercenary.

Upstairs in the mess, a very similar snort came from those around the table, though just as many were watching the Krogan 'programmer'.

"With that out of the way, the Remnant doesn't intend to cure the genophage.-"

Wrex's pad began to dent, and Gor'ria slowly reached over for the riffle on the table, Wrex barely watching her out of his peripheral vison. Several men in the mess had their face go white.

"At least, but not in the fashion the Krogan truly yearn for and everyone else fears. We're not suddenly, for the first time since meeting the council, begin throwing around MELD. We're not going to give an aggressive species of explosive breeders back their breeding speed. The Remnant isn't made up of total morons.

Half the problem with the Krogan's declining population is their own death wish. 1 in 1000 is technically enough to sustain their population, it's true, however that will likely increase with our 'cure'. Additionally, while those of the Remnant could accept the numerous stillbirths the Salarians wrote into the Genophage as a stop-gap measure. That it remains however is nothing short of an atrocity. In the event that it is decided we can cure the Genophage, something else will take it's place, either a modified breeding cycle or partial sterility, that birth rates are simply lowered, instead of thousands being killed to remind the Krogan that they lost.

And, should we release a cure, it will appear as a method to both cure and replace the Genophage with our own measure such as to be without the possibility of only curing the Genophage, by the means of extremely detailed instructions scattered across the extranet, as well as messages being delivered through couriers.

To rioters that this hasn't calmed, I'd like to remind you that all Remnant ambassadors regularly back up, and we have bodies waiting for us in Remnant space if we get killed. There's no point wasting ammo, and attacking the embassy will merely annoy the Alliance instead of the Remnant. That is all."

The video stopped there, going back to Lockwell's face.

"As of yet, the Council has yet to respond, however many news groups are waiting both near the chambers and in embassy's around the station. For more on this, stay tuned for reports as the situation developed."

In engineering, a Krogan dropped a pad and walked away from a tense Muton, making for the elevator, while another Krogan in the mess hall made for the elevator, leaving behind a dented table and tense crew.

AN:

Background event. Wrex needs more of a reason than being around second to give his species another chance… He'll have more competition this time around though.

Also, yes, the chapter ends abruptly. I found it preferable to writing out Aleandrea's search of the ruins. As you might have guessed, Soveriegn's decided it's not in a position to throw away potentially useful tools.

And in the next chapter, you'll get the debriefing, Liara's preliminary interrogation, and the arrival of an X-Com operative... It's going to be a busy chapter.