The Normandy's shuttle lands on the hull of the super-dreadnought, in the rear part. The passengers check that their suits are well sealed.
Cortez: I've landed as close as possible to the maintenance hatch.
Ashley: Remember that we want to pass unnoticed.
Tali: -On purpose- And she is not looking to anyone, Vakarian.
EDI: Or Vega…
James and Garrus look each other.
Cortez: I'll come back to pick you up. Good luck.
After opening the hatch and getting in the ship they go down through a not too wide conduit until reaching the first trap door, which looks on to the engineering deck.
Garrus: Don't look down.
Tali: Now I feel like doing it…
They go through the trap door one by one. EDI is the last.
Ashley: EDI, can you access to the ship's network?
EDI: -She comes near a console- Avoiding the firewalls won't be very complicated, but I can't do it without triggering the alarms. Besides, from these terminals I won't get much useful data, and I don't think they'll let us locate our objective either.
Ashley: Then it will be better to look for it on our own.
EDI: The signal comes from the front side.
Tali: Let's start through there.
Barla Von's frigate is almost as well equipped as the Normandy. If there's something which can be said about the volus is that they know how to use their resources. The crew, made up mostly of members of that species, also includes some turians. When the doctor has finished seeing Liara's wounds the landlord of the ship gets in the sick bay.
Barla Von: How's she doing?
Turian doctor: The cut is in a bad place, but fortunately there aren't damages in the organs. She will recover. However, she has to remain at rest for several days so that the injury completely heals.
Barla Von: Good. -He speaks to the couple- I think I made you wait quite a lot. What do you want to know?
Liara: How did you find us?
Barla Von: It was a matter of time that with the end of the war the Broker allocated new assignments, so I waited for that. I didn't receive anything, but I intercepted an encoded message which ordered some agents to go to Terra Nova to trap an important target. When I arrived they were leaving, so I followed them, and in one of their transmissions they revealed the identity of whom they were seeking out: Liara T'Soni, the Shadow Broker itself.
Liara: And why did you decide to help us?
Barla Von: Because you are the Broker. You played a vital role in the defeat of the reapers, by supporting the Alliance, helping to end Cerberus, but above all, you discovered the Crucible blueprints. Thanks to that we're still alive. You have my loyalty.
Shepard: I think we can trust him.
Liara: -She nods- Yes, I think we can… Is there any news about the CPU?
Barla Von: I have half of my crew working on it. When we find out something I'll tell you.
The infiltration team continues through a wide passage. There are Cerberus' symbols everywhere.
Ashley: It's strange we haven't seen anyone yet.
Garrus: The ship is very large.
James: No doubts about it…
At the end of the corridor there is a door.
EDI: I'll open it. -She starts hacking it-.
Tali: How could Cerberus hide such a ship?
James: They kept Cronos Station hidden until the end of the war, and they couldn't move it. This thing can travel…
EDI: Ready?
Tali: -She raises the shotgun, and the rest get into defensive formation- Ready.
The door opens, showing an immense gallery which covers almost the whole ship.
Ashley: -Advancing slowly- What the hell is this?
Garrus: -Open-mouthed- I have no idea.
James: It's huge…
Tali: And those rails? It seems to be a system of trams.
EDI: It's a smart solution so that the crew can travel due to the ship's size.
EDI activates a near panel and in a few seconds a train arrives. The team distributes over the two carriages and selects the bridge station as the destination. Halfway they pass above something which does not go unnoticed.
Ashley: Look down there.
Tali: Is it what I think it is?
James: No… It can't be.
Garrus: This is not a super-dreadnought. It's an enormous dockyard ship…
EDI: Whoever owns it hasn't wasted its time, they've already began to build a ship.
Ashley: Not any ship, a dreadnought of more than one kilometer long…
James: And that over there next to it seems to be the remains of one of the destroyed transports of refugees…
EDI: That's why they were ambushing them, they scrap ships to finish theirs…
As they soon check the length of the dry docks where many Cerberus' ships had been built constitutes half of the ship. In the lower side there are two armored gates which seal the interior of the dockyard.
Ashley: Get down!
Through the next rail other train comes closer in the opposite direction. Before stooping they only see black shadows. When it is far enough they stand up.
James: Would they've seen us?
Ashley: I don't think so.
Meanwhile, in the Normandy…
Joker: So a mega-shipyard… Another nice surprise from Cerberus. -The proximity sensors beep. Before his eyes four Cerberus' cruisers appear- This is not good… -Through intercom- Ash, you should hurry up.
Ashley: What happens, Joker?
Joker: Their friends have come. It won't be easy to go out of here.
Ashley: Stay hidden. We'll think of something.
The train goes past through several stations along the gallery before reaching its destination. Once there they hurry up to get off the vehicle.
EDI: The signal comes from downwards.
Ashley: Let's not lose more time, guide us.
They follow her through a corridor up to the end, take the elevator and descend five floors. Only a sloping passage ahead of them that ends in a security gate. EDI hacks it and when it opens they go into the server of the ship, an octagonal room crammed with computers.
Ashley: What are we supposed to be looking for?
EDI: A large size CPU.
James: -He looks round. That description matches with almost all computers in the room- Eh… Great…
EDI approaches to a transparent bulkhead on the other side of the room, and when she does that the room onto which it looks out lights up.
EDI: I've found it.
Ashley: Can you deactivate it?
EDI: Yes, but there's no way to avoid triggering the alarms.
Ashley: Do it.
Garrus: Only one escape route. I remember once I was in a situation like this, and things got very complicated…
EDI: This isn't Omega. They won't have time to organize the assault.
Garrus: I hope you're right.
EDI begins to manipulate a console, but the server shuts down.
Ashley: And now what?
EDI: As I intuited, the system has disconnected to prevent my intrusion and a general alert has been sent to the whole ship. I'll try to access again. -Two minutes later- I'm connected again! I go on!
Tali: Somebody is coming down through the elevator!
Ashley: Take cover! Open fire at my signal!
James: I think we're going to have a magnificent opportunity to prove who is the best, Scars.
Before the elevator opens Garrus deploys a mine. Everyone waits, hearing footsteps which advance towards the doors of the server. Suddenly, the mine explodes.
Ashley: Now!
The team shows up and attacks the enemy. Two have already fallen because of the mine.
Garrus: Are they yahg?!
Tali: Don't let them come near!
Ashley: -She kills one- Do you know what those things are?! What have I lost?!
Garrus: It's a long story! -He avoids a projectile aimed at his head-.
Codex
The yahg: Persecutor
Fierce by nature, the persecutors form the bulk of the yahg army. With the purpose of surpassing the Council forces, the battle suit they wore in Parnak has been improved basing on the armors of Cerberus' soldiers. Besides, shields have been added to increase their endurance in combat. Armed with Mattock assault rifles or Hornet submachine guns they are the spearhead of any assault, overwhelming the enemy by numerical superiority.
The persecutors do not seem to be intimidated by the casualties and keep their advance towards the server, they are getting closer and closer. James throws a shrapnel grenade killing two more. Without cover, the yahg fall one by one. The last falls at several meters from the door.
Ashley: Who are the yahg?
Garrus: A pre-spaceflight species, discovered long time ago by the Council. They're violent, but very intelligent too.
Ashley: Not so much if they tried to eliminate us by a frontal assault… But what are they doing here? How have they taken possession of this ship if they still can't travel through space?
Tali: It's clear now they can.
EDI: Inhibitor deactivated.
Ashley: Well done, EDI.
Joker: -Through intercom- I'll call the cavalry.
Ashley: Let's go.
EDI: Wait, I detect a failure in the system's security. I can overload the reactor of the ship. -She starts to key in orders in the terminal-.
Garrus: A self-destruction?
EDI: Exactly.
Tali: It would be one threat less to worry about.
EDI: It's done, we have fifteen minutes until critical mass.
James: Then we have no time to waste!
Ashley: -Through intercom- Cortez! We're leaving! Pick us up at the meeting point!
Cortez: Received. -Connecting with Joker- I can't come for them with the fleet there.
Joker: I will always have to be the bait, won't I? Ah, it's okay, let's stir the wasp's nest!
The team quickly returns to the station, but the enemy is waiting for them. When the door opens they find a train from which three berserker yahg get out.
Codex
The yahg: Berserker
Advancing behind the protection of their holographic shield, a group of berserker can mean a challenge to any squad of the Council's forces. They are specialists in clearing fortifications, harassing their enemy with a Cerberus' Harrier rifle while they approach to fight hand-to-hand, in which their superior physical strength increased even more with implants gives them a great advantage over the rest of the species. While it is true that without their shield they are vulnerable, their thick armor awards them the necessary defenses to eliminate any threat.
James: -With the shots he rolls to cover behind a bench of the station- These are better equipped!
Garrus: -He reaches James' position- We need to flank them!
EDI places herself behind other bench at their left while Ashley and Tali stay covered on both sides of the door of the station. The team prepares to carry out the maneuver, but before they can do anything the other tram arrives. Twenty yahg soldiers more disembark.
James: -He shoots blindly, sticking out only the weapon over the bench- They're too many!
Ashley: EDI! Is there an alternative route?!
EDI: We could cross the ship through the side batteries, but like that we won't get engineering in time!
The benches are covering little by little of red-hot metal.
Tali: And the dock?
EDI: Yes, there we can!
Ashley: All right! Fall back! Tali and I will cover you!
Before the yahg reach their position, EDI, Garrus and James move back up to Ashley and close the door of the corridor.
Ashley: -As they run towards the elevator she contacts the Normandy- Change of plans, Cortez! Pick us up at the docks!
Cortez: You'll have to open the gates!
Ashley: Understood!
The elevator takes them to the level of the batteries and they go towards the starboard battery. Behind the armored doors they find an extensive and wide corridor of breathtaking length. Reinforced big windows show the external cannons. The automated reloading systems remain inert waiting to feed the weapons of the ship. In the opposite wall to the viewpoint numerous terminals are distributed along the battery. Taking advantage of the scarce yahg presence the team quickly reduces distance to the meeting point, crossing section by section.
CPU: Alert. Increase of reactor's temperature detected. Refrigeration systems do not respond. Manual restart required. Time remaining until critical condition: 6 minutes.
Ashley: Don't stop!
Through the window they see how the Normandy comes near and carries out a very close passing to them. Dockyard's weapons miss the shot. After the frigate an enemy fighter squadron repeats the movement. Immediately afterwards the armored bulkheads descend to protect the windows.
Joker: Will you be long?!
EDI: No, we've almost arrived!
Joker: I'm saying it because with this company I need to know when I have to drop the shuttle! -He makes an abrupt yaw- If I don't do that at the right time and they see it, they will pulverize it!
The gate of the last section opens, appearing a large contingent of troops. A yahg aims at James with his omni-tool and an electric shock goes through his armor.
James: They've drained my shields!
Tali: Avoid the homing grenades!
Codex
The yahg: Assault technician
Experts in technology, the assault technicians provide support to the troops. They use Arkon yahg carbines modified to lodge in thermal clips and wear light armors with advanced shields. To keep in check their adversaries they use homing grenades and energy drain, restoring their shields in that way and bearing heavy enemy fire.
The floor trembles, the yahg also bring a heavy mech.
EDI: What's that?
Garrus: -The mech aims at them with its main gun- Take cover! -A stream of molten metal almost hits them-.
Codex
The yahg: Ares
Unmistakable in the battlefield by its black armor-plating with yellow lines in the joints of its articulations, the Ares mech is a modification of the Cerberus' Atlas carried out by the yahg. With a Thanix cannon prototype for IFVs developed by Cerberus instead of the previous mass accelerator, an improved three-headed missile launcher and a medium-range flamethrower which replaces the claw, the Ares has a greater firepower than its predecessor. Besides, trying to reduce the vulnerability of the pilot, the cockpit window has been changed for reinforced armor, which considerably increases the durability of the mech.
Ashley: But weren't they in pre-spaceflight age?!
James: It's obvious that they learn fast!
Garrus: Why everyone can have an Atlas mech except me?!
Tali: Is that a flamethrower?
EDI: Contain them!
The Ares fires several missiles which hit the reloading system of the nearest turret, blowing it up into pieces. A bit of metal is thrown to the opposite wall and gets stuck into a pipeline from which gas begins to come out.
EDI: We're running out of time!
The yahg advances slowly forming an impassable wall.
Ashley: Concentrate all fire on the mech!
When it is near enough, the Ares fires its flamethrower, burning up the cover of the team, but it also sets on fire the gas causing an explosion which makes a hole in the wall. Black thick smoke comes out of the interior of the opening cutting the line of sight of the enemy.
EDI: Over there! It's our only chance!
They fall back through the improvised way out, reaching a maintenance corridor. James covers the rearguard while EDI guides them. Behind the team the first persecutors appear, but Vega doesn't stop firing. As they arrive to a crossing a berserker catches the lieutenant unaware by his flank, deactivates his holographic shield and charges against him, bringing him down. Immediately the yahg raises his arms in a movement to break Vega's spinal column but Garrus executes him with a shot in the head before he can deal the deadly blow to James' torso.
James: -Standing up- I owe you one!
After covering a few meters more they come out to the main corridor through a side door, the dock is towards stern. Once there they protect themselves behind the construction machinery to defend the entrance while EDI begins to hack the armored gates which look out onto the exterior.
EDI: Joker, I'm ready to open the gates!
Joker: Understood! At my signal!
The Normandy has three fighter squadrons very close to it. The cruisers, however, can't keep pace with the frigate.
James: They're coming!
Garrus: Open fire!
CPU: Alert. Increa -the deafening roar of the Ares' Thanix cannon overlaps the public address system. The infantry advances with it- 1 minute.
Ashley: Joker! Hurry up!
Joker: Now, EDI!
Joker passes under the dock in inverted flight and the shuttle leaves the frigate at the same time that the gates have opened enough to get in, the fighters almost see it. When it is inside the Kodiak's doors open and a marine deploys the turret.
Cortez: Come here, we'll cover you!
The shuttle gets as near as possible to the team while the gunner fires to prevent the enemy from advancing. However, the Ares doesn't scare and goes through the door.
Ashley: Move, everyone to the shuttle!
The exterior gates begin to close.
CPU: Refrigeration systems reactivated. Reactor's temperature falling to optimum values. Status report: situation stabilized.
EDI: No! They've fixed it!
Ashley: Jump!
EDI gets in the shuttle and Cortez avoids the shot from the Ares. The Kodiak escapes in time and the Normandy picks it up before the yahg fighters attack it. Ashley and EDI go to the cockpit.
Ashley: Get us out of here!
Joker: I'm on it!
EDI: -She sits in the co-pilot seat- Preparing coordinates for FTL jump.
Joker: -He directs the nose of the ship towards two of the cruisers in route of interception- Come on, come on.
Ashley: What are you after? You're not going to…
Joker: -Calmly- It's all controlled.
Ashley: Go up, go up, go up!
EDI: Jeff!
The Normandy passes through the two Cerberus' cruisers and jumps to FTL.