Chapter 5
Target: Batarian Pirates
Ventius had returned to his apartment once more after the events at the Dantius Tower involving the Illium slave trade.
He had been listening to the news reports concerning recent events, involving the "jobs" Ventius had done recently.
"Alliance officials are going to trial today after an investigation on the SSV Aradonis turned up evidence that Sergeant Hank Cash murdered a fellow soldier and the ship's former Admiral, Theodore Pironage is also being brought to trial on charges of obstruction and evidence tampering after an internal investigation determined he had withheld information crucial to the case. Ship medics involved in the supposed cover-up have been suspended from active duty pending investigation."
Ventius turned off the news when he heard his comm going off.
"Control to Spectre Ventius. We have a new assignment for you. A radical group of Batarian pirates are harassing the local populace on the planet Benning in the Arcturus Stream, Euler System."
"Understood control." Ventius said as he left the apartment and made for the spaceport.
"Well now. I see you are working for the Citadel Council and the Alliance. You know they haven't had the best track record when it comes to Spectres. Saren. Remember him. Tried to destroy the galaxy with the geth. So I wouldn't be too trusting of the council. They can turn on you in an instant. Remember that." The man said as he walked away.
Ventius ignored him and boarded the Aequitas, setting course for Benning.
Benning, the nearest garden world to Arcturus Station, is the primary source of its food supply and an important staging area for starship maintenance and repair. Occupying the planet would be key in any attempt to retake the system's relay.
For a number of years now, the Alliance had attempted to take up residence there and implant its own government, but failed after the current Benning government refused the negotiations the Alliance had come up with during their talks.
The Aequitas landed at the Benning spaceport, where he was welcomed by the planet's governor, Aldan Threk.
"Governor Threk, I was told there are Batarian pirates harassing ships in this system. I will need some assistance with taking them down. I need to know where they are and who is leading them." Ventius said to the governor.
"But of course Spectre. The Batarian pirates are currently above the Arcturus Station. They are being led by a Batarian named Baalar. He is ruthless and aggressive. He has killed dozens of colonists and soldiers in this system. He needs to be stopped and we will do whatever must be done to do it." Governor Threk declared as he led Ventius to the Benning military command center.
"Governor, the Batarians are attacking the Arcturus Station again." One of the soldiers said to the governor.
"We have a number of fighter jets, a detachment of soldiers and a Thanix Cannon at your disposal Spectre." The governor said meaning Ventius was now in command of the counter-offensive against the batarian pirates.
"Get the Thanix online and prepped. I want fighters striking that ship every chance they get. Get a shuttle and I will lead the soldiers on board. We will take out any batarian pirates who get in our way. We will take the command bridge and capture their leader Baalar if possible. Understood? Alright let's move out." Ventius said as he made his way back outside towards the shuttle.
"Spectre we are yours to command. Sergeant Blake Hanson of the Benning military sir." A man said as he approached Ventius.
Ventius nodded and motioned for the soldiers to board the shuttle as if began to lift off the ground a follow the fighter escort that would lead them to the batarian ship above the Arcturus Station.
The fighters fired on the batarian ship, just as the ship primed it weapons and fired back.
The shuttle passed through the fighting and chaos around them, a fighter getting struck beside them.
The shuttle turned left, just barely being struck as the fighter zoomed past, flames engulfing the small spacecraft.
Another fighter zoomed past and fired a missile at the ship, blowing a large hole into the side where what looked like the barracks was, sending batarians shooting out as a shield wall closed the hole.
The shuttle landed inside the ships hangar and the soldiers quickly exited the shuttle to clear the hangar of the batarians guarding it.
After thoroughly clearing the hangar, Ventius and Sergeant Hanson led the soldiers through the first set of doors where the hallway split into two separate directions. One left and one right.
"It's up to you sir." Hanson said to Ventius.
Ventius looked in either direction, pondering what could lie ahead in both directions.
"We split up. Hanson will take half of you and go left. The remainder will go with me to the right. Move out." Ventius said as the team split up.
The right pathway was just a series of bedrooms and storage rooms.
They found little resistance and were able to reach the reactor easily.
"That was too simple. Watch our backs. You, take point. Keep an eye out for any batarians." Ventius said as he motioned for the soldiers to keep moving.
Gunfire rang out inside the reactor as batarians came out from each and every direction, firing on Ventius and his half of the team.
"Ambush! Take cover!" Ventius shouted, but his orders went unheard as the soldiers were being picked off one by one.
"Surrender now Spectre and we might give you mercy in the form of a public execution." A voice said from atop the walkway.
A batarian walked out into the open. He was different than the other batarians. His armor wasn't the typical red. It was a gold color. He wielded a modified claymore shotgun. He had a scar going down his left eye.
"You must be Baalar. Surrender and I might not blow this ship to hell." Ventius said with a grin.
"You are making threats to me? That's swell Turian. This ship is rigged to blow already. So if you take this ship down, it crashes into the Arcturus Station, killing everyone on the station. You willing to risk that just to bring down a few pirates? By the look on your face, I'm guessing no. Tell your men to stand down. And don't even think about putting a bullet in me because either way, my men still have orders to make an "unexpected" crash landing into the Arcturus Station. Tell them." Baalar was saying to Ventius.
Ventius pulled his radio out, angered and pissed off by the circumstances, but if it came down to taking down his target, he wouldn't risk lives doing it.
"Stand down. All fighters stand down." Ventius said over the radio.
"Good. Now move." Baalar shouted, as he motioned for Ventius to follow one of the batarian pirates to the holding cells.
He hoped his plan would work. He had only told the fighters to stand down, knowing that Sergeant Hanson and his team were still onboard. If they could reach the bridge and take it over, they could change the ships course and move it away from the station.
"Sergeant. I have been captured. Reach the bridge and change the ships course." Ventius whispered into the radio as he followed the batarian.
Ventius felt the ship begin moving.
Good, the Sergeant and his team have made it to the bridge. Hopefully they can hold off any batarians who would try and retake it.
Ventius ran up behind the batarian and thrust his cuffs around his throat.
The batarian tried to fend Ventius off, but he pulled on the cuffs with all of his strength, breaking the batarian's windpipe.
He gently laid the body on the ground and unhand cuffed his hands.
Ventius grabbed the batarian's assault rifle and made his way towards the bridge.
Sergeant Hanson and his men were caught in a firefight with a group of batarians attempting to retake the bridge.
Ventius fired his assault rifle at the batarians, taking down three before the noticed him and fired back.
"How did he escape?! Kill him! Kill them all!" Baalar was shouting as he ran from the fight.
"Sergeant! Hold them off! I'm going after Baalar!" Ventius shouted.
Hanson nodded and gave an order for his men to provide Ventius with covering fire.
Ventius ran after Baalar, who was making his way to the hangar.
"Baalar hands up!" Ventius shouted just as Baalar reached the Benning shuttle.
Baalar slowly turned around with his hands in the air.
"Hahahaha! You think I am going to give up without a fight? You're mistaken." Baalar said as he tossed a grenade at Ventius.
Ventius rolled out of the way as the grenade exploded, but was unable to dodge Baalar attack, as Baalar kicked him in the face.
Baalar went to strike down at Ventius, but he quickly moved out of the way and tripped him.
Baalar fell to the ground and grabbed Ventius' leg as he tried to get up, bringing Ventius back to the ground.
Baalar pulled out a large combat knife and thrust it at Ventius.
Ventius grabbed Baalar's arm and repeatedly slammed it against the ground until he dropped the knife.
Ventius punched Baalar in the ribs and flipped him over onto his back.
He went to draw his pistol, but Baalar quickly recovered from the strike and kicked the weapon out of Ventius' hand.
Ventius ran at Baalar and tackled him to the ground and began to punch him in the face repeatedly before the batarian head-butted him, knocking him back.
Baalar swung at Ventius, striking him across the left side of his face.
He swung again, hitting him in the ribs.
Baalar grabbed the knife and charged at Ventius, who dodged it and flipped him over his back.
Baalar crashed to the ground, but quickly recovered and shot back up, kicking Ventius in the face.
Ventius fell from the blow as Baalar picked up Ventius' pistol and pointed it at him.
Ventius dodged the shot and picked up Baalar's combat knife.
He aimed it at the batarian and threw it just as the batarian went to reload the weapon.
The knife struck the batarian in the head, causing him to fall backwards and fall to the ground.
Ventius took a deep breath and exhaled, pain overcoming him.
His ribs were broken. He had a bullet in his shoulder. His nose was messed up. But the batarian leader was dead. He had accomplished his mission.
Sergeant Hanson entered the hangar and rushed over to him.
"You alright Spectre?" Hanson quickly asked, helping Ventius up.
"I'll be fine. What's the situation?" Ventius asked, as Hanson placed him on the shuttle.
"The ship is ours. The batarians who aren't dead have surrendered. The governor has sent word to the Alliance military to send a detachment of soldiers aboard to take them into custody. Governor Threk has reopened negotiations with the Alliance and Citadel Council." Hanson explained.
"Good. Go and assist your men." Ventius said, as Hanson nodded and went to return to the bridge.
"Control this is Spectre Ventius Gallus. Situation at Benning is resolved. Batarian pirates no longer a threat." Ventius said over the comm.
"Understood Spectre Ventius. Get healed up and then your presence is required on the Citadel."
The shuttle exited the batarian ship and returned Ventius to Benning.
"Good work Spectre." The governor said as he approached Ventius.
"Yeah. Real good. Got messed up pretty bad. Soldiers were killed. Arcturus Station nearly destroyed. Hah. Deal with the situation here governor. If I were you, I would accept the Alliance's terms. Or next time, you may just lose more than you bargained for." Ventius said as he got onto the Aequitas.
The Aequitas lifted off from the spaceport and Ventius set course for the Citadel." The governor said as he approached Ventius.
"Yeah. Real good. Got messed up pretty bad. Soldiers were killed. Arcturus Station nearly destroyed. Hah. Deal with the situation here governor. If I were you, I would accept the Alliance's terms. Or next time, you may just lose more than you bargained for." Ventius said as he got onto the Aequitas.
The Aequitas lifted off from the spaceport and Ventius set course for the Citadel.