Woo! Action!
Tuchanka. The homeworld of the krogan. Shepard had heard of Tuchanka before, but had never thought that it would be so bad. The nuclear war had obviously taken it's toll. The whole planet was in ruins. His team apparently thought the same.
"This is the glorious krogan homeworld? The land of Kredak, Shiagur and Veeol?"
Grunt snorted, shaking his head "This chunk of rock is barely worth standing on. Never thought I'd miss the tank."
Shepard lifted his eyebrow, and turned towards Grunt "There was a nuclear war here, you know? What did you expect?" he asked.
Grunt merely growled in response.
Childish expectation, but Shepard could understand him. Grunt was still very childlike, since he was only a few years old and lacked experience. Even with his faults,Shepard liked Grunt. He reminded him of Wrex.
Wrex. He was apparently on Tuchanka, but that was all they knew.
The krogan were generally very interesting, with their conceptions of honor and strength. They had many rites, but most of them were secret, and there was not much info on those in the extranet.
But that was not why they were here. Mordin's and Grunt's problems were the only reason they ever stepped on this 'worthless chunk of rock'.
The team of nine began to travel towards a door, leading deeper into the Urdnot's camp. The door was guarded by several krogan.
"Stop, aliens!" the one roared, he was apparently in charge.
Shepard signaled for his team to halt.
"Something wrong?" Shepard asked, frowning.
"Yes," the krogan answered, then pointed his finger at the team "You are. You are in a wrong place. We should kill you where you stand!"
Shepard clenched his jaw. He really didn't want to fight them, but perhaps they had to. The rest of the camp might be upset though, because murdering the camp's guards would not be a really good signal of their good will.
"Then why don't you?" Shepard asked coldly, looking the krogan in the eyes.
The krogan growled deeply. It apparently did not like Shepard's defiance.
"The clan leader ordered us not to. Speak to him."
"Fine," Shepard answered, and the door opened. As they began to walk towards it, the krogan snapped again.
"And keep your pet in a leash! Or we will!", he pointed at Grunt.
Shepard turned towards him "You know what's wrong with him?"
The krogan growled again, even deeper than before.
"Clan leader. Now."
Shepard decided best to just leave in peace, so he remained silent.
The team walked through a long zigzagging corridor, passing through several krogan. Apparently they were quite happy on Tuchanka. It was surprising, because Shepard could not imagine anyone being happy here. Then again, krogan were very different.
They arrived to a large opening, which apparently was the main hub of the camp. In the middle, was a throne made of rubble, which was surrounded by guards. A very large krogan sat on the the throne, and was having some kind of an argument with a another krogan. The argument ended, when the large krogan head-butted the another. The team approached the throne carefully, since they couldn't afford to enrage the clan leader. One of the guards turned towards them.
"Stop! The clan leader is in talks. You will not disturb him," the guard said, signaling them to stop.
Garrus sighed in frustration.
"This again?" he muttered quietly.
Shepard shared his feelings.
"We were told to see him," he answered strictly to the guard.
The guard crossed his arms "You wi--"
His response was interrupted by a loud bellow.
"Shepard!"
The large krogan, who had head-butted the another one, was walking towards them quickly. Shepard turned towards the noise, when the large krogan grabbed him from his armpits, lifting him up. He could not believe who he was seeing.
"Wrex?" Shepard asked.
Wrex laughed with his deep voice, and lowered him down, offering his hand.
Shepard took his hand, and the krogan immediately embraced him in a one-armed hug.
"My friend," Wrex growled quietly.
"You're squeezing pretty hard.." he muttered to Wrex, in pain.
The krogan chuckled, but let go.
Wrex shook his head, still chuckling.
"Should have known that the void couldn't keep you."
He glanced towards the rest of the team, as if seeing them for the first time.
His eyes stopped, when he saw Garrus.
"Vakarian?" he growled, and walked towards him.
Garrus took a step back when Wrex approached him. His mandibles opened widely at the Wrex's offered hand. They had not been the best of friends. Hesitatingly, Garrus shook his hand. Wrex slapped him on the shoulder with his free hand.
"Should have known you'd be with Shepard", Wrex growled, then noticed the scars on Garrus' face. He growled lowly, before continuing.
"You look even uglier than the last time."
Garrus chuckled twice.
"Trying to imitate you," he answered.
Wrex tilted his head.
"Apparently so."
"Hello, Wrex", Tali chimed in, and Wrex turned towards the voice.
Tali wove at him with her fingers, and Wrex now walked to her, chuckling.
He spread his arms, and hugged Tali gently. Tali could barely get her arms around Wrex's one arm, let alone his whole body. Wrex had always got along well with Tali, probably better than he got along with anybody else on the team. He had always liked her fire. Most people would yield before him, but she wouldn't. He respected that. Both of their peoples had also lost their homes and bonded them together as well. They let go, and Wrex padded Tali on her head.
"What are you doing here? Don't you have the Fleet or something to take care of?"
Tali lowered her head.
"I was exiled," she said quietly.
Wrex took a step back and tilted his head, growling quietly.
"Well, so was I, but here I am" he answered.
Shepard could swear, that he saw the krogan smile.
The team stood at the approach to the tribe Weyrloc's base. The road zigzagged around the ruins, and at the end was a long, straight part. The silhouette of the hospital could be seen in the horizon. The two squads advanced carefully towards it, taking cover behind ruins and wreckages. Shepard advanced with Miranda's squad on the left, while Garrus' squad handled the right side.
"Noise reported," Garrus said on the radio, and the whole team fell down on their knee.
"Any life signs?," Shepard asked, and could see Tali opening her omni-tool.
After a few seconds, Garrus reported back.
"Over twenty."
"Send a scout," Shepard ordered.
He could see Garrus sending Tali and Jack to investigate.
They advanced slowly towards the source of the noise. The screeching sound became louder and louder, as they approached it. There was a fallen pillar, and the sound came from behind it. They crouched in front of it, and carefully tried to peek over it.
"Vorcha..." Tali muttered.
Along with the worm-like vorcha, there were several varren and members of a third species, which she could not recognize. They reminded her of rachni.
They ducked down again and Tali turned to Jack.
"Do you know those insect creatures?" she asked.
Jack shrugged.
"Don't know, don't care. They'll die like the rest," she answered, sounding annoyed.
Tali tapped the side of her helmet, activating the radio.
"Shepard, many vorcha, probably twenty. Also, several varren and a few of an unknown species. They look like rachni."
Shepard growled quietly. That was many hostiles. Luckily, the whole team was there.
"Grunt, any idea what the rachni things are?" Shepard asked.
The krogan growled, trying to remember them from the tank-imprints.
"Klixen. They spit acid, and explode when dying," he answered, and started to chuckle "Sounds fun."
Not to Shepard, it actually sounded quite the opposite. They would have to take them out from a distance.
"All right. Miranda, we'll set up an ambush. Garrus, you'll draw them in. The vorcha are aggressive and pretty stupid, so they'll fall for it. Keep your distance from these klixen things, they seem to pack quite a punch when near."
Miranda and Garrus nodded, and began to move into positions.
Miranda's team, along with Shepard, had taken positions at the end of the road, careful to remain out of sight. Rest of Garrus' team, Grunt and Garrus himself, had joined Tali and Jack at the fallen pillar.
"In position," Garrus reported.
"Go when ready," Shepard ordered on the radio.
Garrus' mandibles fidgeted a few times, but he managed to steel himself.
"We went through this. Tali and Jack, you're Duo 1. Me and Grunt, Duo 2."
They all were crouched behind the pillar, waiting nervously for the order.
"Duo 1, open fire. When they return it, get down and fall back to waypoint 1. Go."
Duo 1 got up from the cover, and immediately began firing at the vorcha. Tali's shotgun blast hit one of the vorcha to the shoulder, and it staggered backwards, screeching horribly. Meanwhile Jack fired her shotgun at one of the klixen, removing one of it's legs. The surprise only lasted for a couple of seconds, then the vorcha started to return fire.
Tali and Jack took cover again, and began to crouch-run towards waypoint one. The waypoint 1 was another pillar, about 10 meters towards the ambush point. As they ran, Garrus issued another order.
"Grunt, covering fire!"
The krogan and the turian got up, and started spraying fire at the vorcha. Few vorcha fell under the fire, while the rest tried now to focus their fire on Garrus and Grunt.
Garrus could hear his shields ringing as the shots hit them, but he still kept firing. They had to keep at it until Tali and Jack were behind WP1.
"Garrus, we're ready!" Tali reported over the radio.
"Grunt! Fall back!" Garrus yelled to the krogan next to him, and they started running towards the WP1, while Tali and Jack began firing, providing cover fire for the Duo 2's withdrawal.
As soon as Garrus and Grunt had reached WP1, Duo 1 started running towards WP2, while Garrus and Grunt again provided support.
The waypoint 2 was a large truck, which had fallen over. It was their final destination. When Tali and Jack reached it, they started firing, while Duo 2 withdrew with the vorcha on their tail, repeating the same pattern as before.
"Shepard, we are nearing your position" Garrus yelled, panting "Get ready!"
Now both Duos were behind the truck, and the ambush began.
"Miranda, fire," Shepard ordered.
Miranda's team, along with Shepard, rose to their feet, and started firing.
The combined firepower from nine weapons firing at the vorcha was devastating. They were ripped to pieces, and only a few got through.
One of them climbed over the truck, and lunged at the Garrus' team. Grunt grabbed it from mid-air, slamming it to the ground. He finished the job by stomping it's head.
The varren were killed quickly, but one of the klixen managed to close in on Miranda's position, tossing her aside.
Jacob immediately lifted the klixen off the ground with his biotics and Thane threw the klixen at a nearby pillar. Mordin finished the job by tapping his omni-tool, sending a burst of fire at the klixen, setting it on fire. The klixen screeched horribly, burning. After a moment, only ashes remained.
Shepard straightened himself, and could see the rest of the team doing the same.
"Good job," he said over the radio, walking towards Miranda "Garrus, guard the hospital."
Garrus confirmed, and Shepard reached Miranda, who was rubbing her neck.
"You all right?" Shepard asked, offering his hand to her.
She took his hand, and rose back to her feet.
"I apologize Commander. I was quite careless," she said, still rubbing her neck.
"Think none of it. Your team did pretty impressively with the klixen. Your idea?"
"Yes. The rachni were vulnerable to biotics, so I assumed it would be the same with the klixen."
"Quick thinking. Good job," Shepard said, and nodded.
"Commander," she said and nodded, with a slight smile on her face.
The team was now approaching the hospital. It was very sturdy, and seemed to be more like a bunker than a hospital.
"It's strange that the krogan take such special care for their wounded," Tali remarked, voicing Shepard's thoughts.
"Must be strong. Krogan aggressive. Especially when tissue regenerates. Dangerous. Violent. Unpredictable. Lesser building would fall apart," Mordin informed.
They had just reached the front door, and Shepard ordered Miranda's squad to form up on it. Tali could not find any lifeforms inside, so they opened the door, and surged in.
"Clear, but one human casualty," Miranda reported after a few seconds.
Shepard and Garrus' team walked in, and Shepard saw Mordin bent over the human body. Shepard knelt down besides him.
"Human?" he asked "Why are they using humans? I thought this was about the genophage."
Mordin had summoned a holographic image of the man in front of them.
"Yes." Mordin answered, without lifting his gaze from the hologram "Merely concept testing. Principles. Humans useful as test subjects. Genetically diverse. Larger reactions for smaller stimuli. Hmm..."
"What?"
"Position of the tumors suggest deliberate mutations on adrenal, pineal glands. Modifying hormone levels. Counter-attacking the glands hit by the genophage. Smart."
"Smart? As in they are about to cure the genophage?"
"Impossible to say. Need more info. Theory quite sound though."
Shepard got up.
"That's actually pretty intriguing, but we have go."
"Yes. Maelon a priority."
They arrived to the next room, and this time Garrus' team cleared it.
After the all-clear came, Shepard, along with Miranda's team, entered. The room was large, and in the middle were four crates in a square formation. The room also had catwalks on each wall, making it ideal for an ambush. As the team reached the square, the door behind them slammed shut. They turned towards it, and then the door in front of them locked with a loud click. An ambush, like Shepard thought before.
"A trap. Good," Grunt growled, glancing around the room, looking for targets.
"Tali, get us out of here. Now," Shepard whispered to Tali, who began tapping at her omni-tool.
A door on every four catwalks opened, and several krogan, along with many vorcha surged in. Shepard's squad was completely surrounded, and the only cover was the four crates. Luckily, they provided cover from all sides.
"Damn. This ain't gonna be easy," Jacob muttered.
One of the krogan on the opposite wall catwalk stepped forward.
"I am Guld, the clan chief of the glorious clan Weyrloc!" he bellowed, spreading his arms.
"Humans!" he shouted, pointing at Shepard "You are surrounded! Surrender now, and we'll let you leave!"
"Screw you!" Shepard shouted back.
"Hah!" Guld chuckled "Do you wish your krantt to die? They will, if you stay!"
"What I wish is Maelon. Give him to me and I won't kill you all," Shepard retorted.
Laughing could be heard around the room, but Guld was not laughing.
"The salarian will help me lift the clan Weyrloc to glory! First we will conquer Tuchanka! Then we will overwhelm the galaxy!"
He began to pace around.
"The asari can teach their foolish philosophies, while we boil them for our stews!"
Shepard tried secretly to reach for the rocket launcher on his back.
"We shall rip off the scales of the turians, and leave them for the varren to eat!"
"That's not nice," Garrus muttered.
Shepard managed to take the launcher down, holding it in his hand.
"The salarians shall be kept as slaves, and their eggs will be eaten as a delicacy! "
Mordin glanced at Shepard, both disturbed and amused.
Shepard gave the launcher to Grunt.
"Surrender! Now!" Guld roared.
"Sure! Grunt!" Shepard yelled.
Grunt brought the launcher on his shoulder quickly, and fired a series of rockets towards Guld.
"Get down!" Shepard roared, and the whole team took cover behind the crates.
The rockets hit the catwalk and exploded. The whole thing collapsed, and the krogan on it were ripped to pieces.
The rest of the enemy managed to recover from the shock, and started firing.
The firing was truly horrific. Shepard's team was completely pinned down. The krogan had the elevated position, and superior firepower.
"The launcher is out?" Shepard asked.
Grunt growled in agreement, nodding his head.
"Tali, open the damn door! The rest of you, return fire and try not to die!" Shepard ordered.
The team fired blindly at the krogan, too afraid to stand up. Sometimes one of the biotics managed to toss one of the hostiles off the catwalks and slam the unlucky enemy to the ground.
"Tali, how's that door?!" Shepard asked the quarian next to him.
"I'm trying!
"Try harder!"
She didn't answer, but Shepard could hear her muttering something about a bosh'tet.
Shepard crouch-walked to Garrus.
"Any ideas?" he asked the turian.
"Yeah. Don't get into this sort of a situation," Garrus said, firing blindly.
"Thank you! I hadn't thought about that!"
"I try."
Shepard turned to Mordin.
"Anything, Mordin?"
"Hmm. Toxins? No. Krogan and vorcha resilient. Cannot incapacitate. Hmm. Can at least provide smoke cover when retreating. We are retreating, Shepard?"
"Yeah. As soon as Tali opens the door on the opposite side, we're out of here."
"Good-good-good," Mordin answered, returning fire blindly.
Shepard walked back to Tali.
"The door. Now!" Shepard yelled to her.
"Stop interrupting, you bosh'tet!" she yelled back, clearly frustrated.
"What the hell is a bosh'tet anyway?!" Shepard asked.
"It's a...The door! It's open!"
The door on the opposite wall opened. Luckily, the catwalk over it was blown to pieces by Grunt.
"Mordin, you go first!"
Mordin was probably the least durable member of the team.
"Yes-yes-yes," Mordin muttered nervously, then shot something out of his omni-tool. The object hit the ground, and it began to smoke. The smoke spread all over the room, making it very hard to see. The firing of the krogan decreased considerably. Mordin ran towards the door, and got through it with ease.
"Jacob!"
Jacob cranked up his barriers, then ran through. The smoke still provided good cover, so he got through easily.
But it started to dissolve.
"Tali!"
Tali summoned her droid, and it appeared at the half-way point towards the door.
She began to ran and smoke kept dissolving. As the smoke dissolved, she started hearing her shields ringing from the firing. Luckily, some fire was drawn by Chikktika. She lunged forward, somersaulting back to her feet. Then she dove through the door.
Shepard sighed with relief. She was through.
"Garrus!"
Garrus surged out of the cover, and immediately his shields began buzzing and ringing. The door kept getting nearer, when his shields collapsed. The shots ricocheted off his armor, but one of them found it's mark. The bullet hit him on his head-fringe, hurting terribly.
Garrus growled from the pain, and staggered through the doorway.
Quite graceful. Another sigh of relief from Shepard.
"Sorry about this, but I have to go next! I'm not as tough as you guys!" Shepard yelled, and could see his team nodding.
He ran towards the doorway, his shields buzzing. Shepard armed a flash grenade, then dropped it to the ground. It went off, and the effect apparently stunned the enemy for a second, because he got through easily.
"Thane!" he yelled immediately after he got through.
Thane lunged from behind the cover, somersaulting, rolling and flipping around as he tried to dodge the bullets. That he even managed to return fire when doing so was an incredible feat. Thane got through and next came Miranda.
She was a very powerful biotic for a human, so her barriers managed to keep her safe.
Then Grunt ran through. His tank-like armor made him practically impervious to small arms fire. He was, however, bleeding from his bare arms, but those wounds would regenerate fast.
Finally, Jack. She raised her barriers, and was completely invulnerable to the enemy's fire. She stopped and turned towards one of the catwalks, raising her hands. Roaring, she swiftly brought her hands down, and ripped the catwalk off the wall. All the krogan and vorcha on it fell to the ground, clearly shocked. Jack jogged through the door, and Tali locked it down.