AN: Thank you for your reviews. I feel stupid cause I keep forgetting to give credit to where I get some of my ideas in the chapter I use them; anyway, I got the name Thalia Grace from the Percy Jackson book series. Mass Effect doesn't belong to me.
Commander Alex Shepard sat in his quarters thinking over his plan to get to Archangel. His thought process was interrupted by Joker coming over the loud speaker to tell him that the Illusive Man wanted to talk to him in the briefing room. 'Argh, what does he want now?' Shepard thought. After reaching the Comm. Room and reaching where the table disappeared, an orange holographic circle appeared around him and the next thing he saw was the brown hair and unnaturally bright blue eyes of the Illusive Man.
"What do want? I'm busy trying to gather this team you wanted me to use." Shepard demanded not wanting to waste time.
"I hear the Council put two of their people on my ship…"
"You may have paid money to have this ship built but it's under my command. I will have anyone I damn well please on it. You should be thankful that the Council is even trying to help these colonies. Isn't that what Cerberus is for? The advancement of humanity or are you full of shit like I think you are?" The Commander interrupted as he yelled at the holographic man.
"Fine but if anything goes wrong with these people it's your fault." The Illusive Man snarled.
"Glade to see we have an agreement." The soldier smirked as the transmission was cut. "Didn't even let him say bye, Joker."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Commander. It just cut out on its own maybe EDI has a malfunction." Joker and Shepard chuckle at the pilot's words.
"I am not malfunctioning. Mr. Moreau cut the transmission." EDI stated trying to defend herself in her own computer way causing the two humans to laugh harder.
A couple hours later, they were approaching Omega. Shepard had informed Thalia and Miranda come with him to get Archangel. As they left the airlock, they were greeted by a Salarian, who was then interrupted by a Batarian.
"Aria wants to see you in Afterlife, now." He demanded.
"I'll get there when I get there." Shepard replied casually.
"Don't keep Aria waiting." The Batarian ordered again while walking away.
"Commander, I may be out place but I think we should talk to her. She may have more Intel on Archangel and Professor Solus." Thalia suggested.
"If we take too long, Archangel may end up dead." Miranda advised as well. "But, it's your call, Shepard."
"You have a point Miranda but, if we walk into this situation without proper intelligence, we could do more harm than good." Shepard said strategically.
With the decision made, the ground team quickly made their way to Afterlife. The group walked into Aria's area of the club and the gang around them drew their weapons causing Miranda and Thalia to draw theirs just waiting for the order to fire. Another Batarian started scanning the commander.
"If you're looking for weapons, you're not doing a good job." Alex pulled his pistol from his waist and waved it in front of the Batarian's face.
"I have to be careful anyone could be wearing your face." Aria said unworried with her back to the group then turned and sat on the couch with her legs crossed. "So, what brings a dead Spectre to Omega?"
"I'm trying to track down Archangel." Shepard informed sitting down on the couch.
"You and half of Omega." The Asari answered. "You want him dead too?"
"No, I'm building a team and he's on my list." The soldier stated.
"You're going to make some enemies teaming up with Archangel assuming you can even get to him. He's in a bit of trouble right now." The woman said uncaring.
"What kind of trouble?" The Commander wondered.
"The local merc groups have banded together to take him down. They've got him cornered but it sounds like they are having trouble finishing him off. They've started hiring anyone who could help them. They're using a private room for recruiting here. I'm sure you can make it." She laughed.
"Which merc groups are after him?" He questioned.
"Blue Suns, Blood Pack, and Eclipse. They're Omega's major players. Unless they're at war, you will never see them together but one thing they hate more than each other is Archangel." Aria stated firmly.
"Sounds like I don't have a lot of time." Shepard dismissed as he got up from the couch.
"You have all the time in the world; Archangel not so much." Aria remarked uncaring.
The group ran down the steps and immediately towards the recruiter standing outside the private room. They told him that they were here to sign up and he pointed them inside the room. As they walked in, there was another Blue Sun explaining things to another freelancer about the conditions of his service then called for the next person.
"You look like you could do some damage." He said as he looked them over.
"If this is the place to go after Archangel, sure." Shepard stated.
"It is. The pay is five hundred credits each and if you die your friends don't collect your share. You're going to need weapons and armor, looks like you got that covered. No, this does not make you apart of the Blue Suns, Blood Pack, or Eclipse. You're strictly freelance. Your driver will explain anything else you need to know. He's over in the transport dock." The recruiter informed and they turned to leave. "Next."
"Is this the place to sign up?" A young looking boy walked in.
"How old are you?" Shepard wondered looking this kid over.
"Old enough. I grew up on Omega. I know how to handle a gun." He answered holding up a pistol and continued, "I paid fifty credits for this."
"Sure, Kid, all that's going to get you is a bullet in the head." Thalia scoffed. "But sign up if it will make you feel better."
The commander pulled the gun from his hand and jammed it before pushing it back into the boy's chest. The guy looked mad about his pistol being broken.
"Get your money back." Alex said and they left the recruiting room before turning on the Alliance Corporal under his command. He glared saying, "I'll talk to you about your actions after we pick up Archangel but until then don't advise people on what to do."
"Aye Aye, Sir." She acknowledged her order.
The team continued their way through the club before hanging a right and going to the transport area. There was another Blue Suns merc standing in front of a space car. They said they were ready to go and off they went to the merc base. Once they landed and got out of the car, the driver turned to them and asked if they had any questions.
"What is the plan?" Shepard asked.
"We've infiltrated his base but he sealed the lower levels and barricaded himself in a room. Only way across is over a bridge but he has a perfect vantage point. We're sending you freelancers in as a diversion while our infiltration team breaks into his little hole." The Batarian explained. "We had a Gunship before he damaged it."
"Sounds like a suicide mission." Miranda mumbled.
"A Gunship for just one guy." The Commander was astonished.
"He had a whole team but we already took care of them. Now, we just got to worry about him but he's wearing down." Salkie informed.
"So, what happens if the infiltration team fails?" Alex questioned.
"I don't know about that. I would try Sergeant Cathka when you see him or one of the bosses but don't be surprised if they don't talk to you, freelancer." He answered and walked off.
"It looks like it will be trouble getting out of there." The genetically altered woman said.
"Let's worry about one thing at a time." Shepard suggested.
"I have run a diagnostic of the area. I believe it would be beneficial to sabotage the gangs before going for Archangel." EDI's voice rang in their ears.
As they explored the base, they came across the gang bosses and figured out more information about the operation. Shepard had found a datapad lying around talking about killing Aria and taking over. Miranda had hacked an YMIR Mech's friend/foe identification software. The team crossed over to the side where they were to meet Cathka. Shepard walked back where he saw a Batarian working on the Gunship while the rest of his group stayed back a little.
"You Cathka?" He asked.
"Sergeant Cathka." The Batarian corrected before setting down his torch and lighting up a cigarette. "You must be the group Salkie mentioned."
"Yeah; is there is anything I should know?" Shepard pried for information.
"All you need to know is that you're going over that wall as a distraction to buy our Infiltration team some time to get in there. So, don't get any big ideas." Cathka advised.
"Will you be supporting us in the Gunship?" The soldier was carefully interrogating.
"No one flies her except Tarak." The mercenary explained and a beep came from the computer. "Alright, Bravo Team go, go. I should get back to work."
When the merc had turned his back to the Commander, he focused on the torch that Cathka had left on the table. He picked it up as the other watched the freelancers jump over the wall. Walking over to the Blue Sun, he patted him on the shoulder before shoving the torch into his back. Once Shepard walked back to the rest of the squad, they jumped the wall and immediately started firing at the freelancers.
It wasn't long until their enemy figured out that they were with Archangel and fired at them as well. The freelancers were quick work and when they entered the base Miranda overloaded a flammable canister, burning the guy over it. The two soldiers of the group were picking off targets while protecting the biotic. They fought their way upstairs and gunned down the merc closest to the door before finishing off the rest
The team entered the room with their guns drawn and saw Archangel standing at the window with a sniper rifle. He held up a finger at them to be quiet as he lined up his shot for the last freelancer. After executing a perfect headshot, he turned back to the group and walked over to a couch pulling off his helmet along the way. Garus chuckled at Shepard looking surprised.
"Shepard, I thought you were dead." The Turian smirked.
"Garus, I can't believe it." Shepard had a giant smile on his face. "How did you manage to piss off every major merc group on Omega?"
"It wasn't easy. I really had to work at it." Garus sarcastically stated.
"So, how did you get yourself into this situation?" The Commander wondered.
"I let my feelings get in the way and it cost me my entire squad." He sighed.
"So, what should we do now?" Alex asked his old friend.
"I've been holding them off by funneling those witless idiots into my scope but with you here we could wait for a break in their defenses and run for it." The Turian suggests. "Now, let's see what they're doing." Garus lifted his rifle to check what was going on and he saw some Eclipse Salarians jumping over the wall. "Hm, a scouting party. Looks like Eclipse. I think they figured out their Infiltration team failed." He handed Shepard the rifle and the soldier lined up a head shot firing, hitting one in the head.
"One less now. I always hated sneaking around." Shepard said as he handed the rifle back to him with a smirk on his face. "We can head down and stop them there while you take them out from up here."
"It's good to see you haven't changed, Shepard, and here take this." Garus chuckled as he handed the Commander a Vindicator Battle Rifle.
The Squad ran down to the first floor and set up a defense. Thalia had lay down with her sniper rifle behind some tall shelves while Shepard and Miranda moved up and stood behind the pillars at the end of their side of the bridge. The heavy mech was dropped on the bridge and opened fired on all the Eclipse that were coming over the wall. Soon, they had drawn the leader out as no matter how many they sent over they were either picked off at the wall by sniper fire, killed by the mech, or finished off by the two forward squad members. Jarrod had finished off the heavy mech and that let any Eclipse alive start moving forward. Both snipers were taking out the small fry letting Alex and Miranda to focus on the boss and finish Jarrod off. As a hiding merc was about to shoot the Commander in the back, his head exploded and Shepard turned to see the last dead Eclipse merc.
"You good, Sir?" Corporal Grace's voice came over his comm link.
"Yes, thank you. Let's regroup and get back to Garus." Shepard ordered.
"This is going smoothly and we got Jarrod in the process. Only Blood Pack and Blue Suns left." Garus said to them as they walked in.
"Do you think we could make it out of here?" Alex asked.
"Hm, let's see." He raised the sniper rifle for a better look. "They've reinforced the other side heavily but they're not coming over the wall. What are they waiting for?"
An explosion rocked the complex and the commander questioned, "What was that?"
"They must have gotten into the lower levels. I guess they had to start using their brains sometime. Shepard, I need you to seal the shutters in the basement." Garus requested.
"How do I get to the basement?" Shepard turned to his friend.
"The door is right underneath the stairs." The Turian pointed out.
"Okay, I can't leave you up here alone so Corporal Grace will stay up here to help." The Commander looked at the Marine.
"I'll keep him alive as long as I breathe, Sir." The young woman promised fiercely.
After those words, the other two member of the team sprinted down the stairs and to the door. Getting down to the basement, they made their way, killing the few members of the Blood Pack that had made it into the compound, to the first shutter and hitting the button, taking out any members of the Blood Pack getting close to the door. The Vorcha were a tough enemy but the Krogan proved a bigger challenge with their superior armor. After the shutter slammed closed, they headed left and vaulted over the cover in their way. More Vorcha came around a corner and one had a flamethrower.
"Miranda, use overload on the Pyro." Alex ordered.
The Operative did as commanded and the pyro was blown up taking those closest with him, clearing the corner for Shepard to jump the cover. They were receiving updates from Garus about the battle that was going on up in the main part of the building. They hit the second button for the shutter and Miranda warped away the armor on the charging Krogan allowing Shepard to kill it just before it reached the door. They headed back down the hallway and sprinted to the other side at Garus' hurry for them to speed it up down there.
The room they entered was bigger and had more space, plus more enemies. Varren ran at the two and they had to focus their shots on those first as not to be exposed to the Blood Pack members. Miranda would warp them while Shepard switch to his shotgun taking them out while using adrenaline rush. Once the Varren were out of the way, Shepard would sprint forward to take out the enemies with his shotgun. Miranda was protecting his back using her warp to slow charging Krogan. Finally reaching the button, they hit and started taking out Varren running at them hoping to kill them before they reached the doors. A Varren had almost reached the door when it slammed shut in front of it.
The main force of the Blood Pack had entered the top part of the compound and a Krogan next to Garm was dead from a headshot by Garus. The leader had started towards the stairs when a Vorcha next to him died of a head shot by the Commander as his partner and he emerged from the basement. As Garm and three other Krogan ran up the stairs, the rest stayed down to keep the other team busy while the other two humans away from the Turian. When they enter, Garus and Thalia started firing at backing up to keep out of their charging range. Shepard and Miranda finished off the group downstairs before ascending the stairs and taking out a Krogan that stood in the doorway. With the four of them, they made quick work of the other two lackeys. Garm charged at the Turian but was slowed by a warp from Miranda giving Garus time to move and Shepard used adrenaline rush to help place fatal shots to the Krogan leader. With him dead, they regrouped at the center of the room.
"Only the Blue Suns left, think we can make it?" Shepard wondered.
"May…" Garus was cut short by a Gunship appearing in the window. "Damn, I thought I took that out."
"They fixed it but not completely. I made sure of that." Shepard yelled in response.
As troop repelled in at the far right window, the Gunship had dropped back and the little squad ducked behind cover taking out as many enemies as they could. More started entering from the bottom and Shepard took Miranda down there with him to kill them off. After finishing Jentha, Tarak yelled Archangel and they turned shooting at the Gunship but it opened fired and they dove for cover. Garus stepped out to shoot it down then after a couple shots Tarak fired a missile but Thalia ran to push him. She shoved him just enough for the heat to the skin the left side of his face and them both to fly forward as it hit behind them. Shepard had been just outside the door when the missile struck he immediately ran to help his friend but found him bleeding heavily from his face. With the Gunship back in the window, Shepard ducked for cover and pulled his grenade launcher. The dark haired woman shook her head to try and clear it when she saw Garus lying in the middle of the floor she ran to him and threw him over her shoulder hauling him behind a wall, ignoring the pain where her back had hit a wall.
"You're going to be okay. You're going to be okay." Thalia kept whispering like a mantra to the unconscious Turian.
After a warp from Miranda and well placed grenades from Shepard, the Gunship blew up. The Commander turned back to his old friend. Just as Shepard was going to give up on him, Gaurs gasped awake and in a mas amount of pain.
"We need to get him to Chakwas, now. Both of you." Shepard ordered grabbing Garus and they made a run for it back to the space car that had brought them there.
After getting back to the main part of Omega, they dragged the injured Turian through the crowd and to the airlock of the Normandy being met by the Doctor the moment the doors opened. Both were forced into the medical bay, despite the corporal's protest. A while later, Garus was up and walking around with a big bandage covering the scars he had on his face.
AN: Sorry it took me a while to get this up but please review. If you have any questions, please ask.