Thanks to Janizary and Rec0n412 for the reviews. Your support means a lot.
-Minos wasteland-
-Vir-
-Blood Pack territory-
Zadia Avari was lying on the rocky ground, battered and bruised. She gave a dull groan as she was dragged back into consciousness. She felt dizzy and sick, the taste of blood in her mouth from when one of the Blood Pack Vorcha had managed to sneak up behind her and claw her in the face. The attack had taken her by surprise, and the hissing creature may have succeeded in overwhelming her if a stray slug from one of his fellows had not torn through his chest, leaving a sizable hole behind. The Vorcha's red eyes had widened in surprise as he collapsed to the floor with a dim whine.
Then a grenade had exploded a few feet from her position, rupturing her shields and flinging her backwards. She had laid their, spread eagled and winded, when a second Vorcha had leapt onto her, clawed hands around her exposed throat. Then blackness.
Zadia gazed around wildly, trying to regain a sense of her place in the battle that was raging around her.
The corpses of a dozen Blood Pack were scattered haphazardly around her position, Mostly dead Vorcha but a single Krogan was also among the dead. She gave a slight groan, felt herself losing consciousness, when suddenly a strong grip grabbed her by the wrists and pulled her to her feet. Zadia looked at her helper, a man.
A man she knew.
"Got you!" Said Captain James Rhyder, grinning at her. Zadia recalled that he had been distinctly unruffled by the ambush, calmly taking aim and blasting away at the swarming attackers one by one. His usual dark spiky fringe was plastered down his forehead with sweat, and his handsome features were full of concern for his comrade.
"As far as stealth missions go," Rhyder reflected. "This isn't going very well, is it?"
"Oh shit…" She muttered. She had to stay where she was for a moment, swaying uncertainly on her feet. She glanced down at the body of one of the Vorcha corpses, a Vorcha which several seconds ago had strangling the life out of her; until Rhyder had emptied a few slugs from his Heavy Pistol into its head.
"I thought I was gonna-"
"But you didn't," Said Rhyder.
"But I thought I was-"
"But you didn't," Smiled Rhyder.
Zadia took a deep breath, and brushed her red hair out of her eyes. "Thanks, captain."
Captain James Rhyder patted her on the arm and handed her the Vindicator Assault rifle that had been thrown clear in the attack.
Zadia gratefully grabbed it and started to follow Rhyder as he ducked and weaved between the Red Sand supply crates, Gunfire thumping ineffectively off the crates hulls.
A Krogan reared out from cover ahead of them, his wide mouth was curled into a cruel grin.
"Tear them apart!" he roared and his thick set lizard eyes glared at them as he opened fire with a heavy duty shotgun.
Rhyder and Zadia were forced back behind a crate as three dozen slugs impaled themselves on the ground where they were a moment ago with fiery thuds.
"This is Anya. come in strike team," A voice crackled in both Rhyder's earpiece and her own.
"This is Rhyder," The captain responded, he was still firing at the Krogan with one hand, the other pressed to his earpiece. "It's all going to hell down here. We're gonna need a pick up! I'll send the coordinates!"
"Roger that, Strike team. Making preparations."
Zadia slid out of cover and squeezed her rifles trigger several times in a controlled fashion. The first two waves of fire thudded and bounced off the Krogan's shields, and the third wave succeeded in destroying them; Rhyder finished the dinosaur off with three well aimed shots to his head, and the Krogan dropped to the floor with a heavy thump.
The rest of the Blood pack which had ambushed them were advancing on the pair, and Rhyder grabbed Zadia by the arm and started to drag her away from the advancing gang of Vorcha.
"Lets go!" he called over the din. "Time to move! Vacate! Leg it!"
"Why are we running?" Zadia protested, trying to break out of Rhyder's strong grip. "We can take them!"
"We've got what we came for," Rhyder told her, and he pulled a small date Chit from his pocket.
"One data Cache of Smuggling trade routes."
"I'd high five you, but I'm a bit preoccupied at the moment."
Rhyder nodded, grinning like a naughty schoolboy. "The blood Pack do NOT like it when we're the ones doing the raiding are they? now, let's get moving. Time flies! And if you've ever seen a time fly, you'll know they are NOT to be messed with. They're the size of Varren with wings like tennis rackets."
One of the nearby Vorcha gave a shrill cry. "Hsssss! Foe ship!"
Zadia looked up at the sky and saw a cruiser in the distance sweeping down towards them.
The SSV Valiant.
A heavily modified and converted Alliance patrol frigate, The Valiant was one of the fastest ships in the entire galaxy thanks to its state of the cutting edge drive core, which was fully three times the size of other cores installed in other frigates in the Alliance. The Valiant could hit fast, and fly even faster; as the Blood Pack were quickly learning as the Valiant opened fire on their entrenched positions with blasts of it's GARDIAN lasers, reducing them to ash.
The Valiant did another swoop of the area, and then serenely floated down about three dozen meters from their position, it's docking ramp lowering down the surface.
Zadia and Rhyder hurtled towards the open docking ramp, Rhyder's Great coat that he wore over his grey Onyx armour was flapping like a pair of wings behind him as he ran.
As soon as the airlock hissed shut behind them the engines blazed into life, and Zadia felt a bolt of acceleration as the Valiant blasted away from the surface.
Rhyder and Zadia grinned at each other.
"Good job, lieutenant." Rhyder commended, already moving towards the CIC.
Zadia watched him as he swept away then turned her attention to the cockpit, where Anya was guiding the ship out of the planet's upper atmosphere.
Lieutenant Zadia Avari slumped into the co pilot chair, and she heard the distant hiss of a door as Rhyder made his way to his office on the other floor.
"I trust everything went to plan?" came a voice from Zadia's right. She turned to see their pilot, Anya. Her brown hair tied back into a professional bun and her smooth features glowing from the Valiant's orange glowing interface. Her bright green eyes were watching Zadia carefully.
"If by "according to plan" you mean complete and utter "fuck up" then yes. It all went splendidly."
Anya was far too professional to worry out loud, but she did allow herself a small concerned frown.
"I was surprised that the Blood Pack responded to our attack with such speed and force. For some reason, they were well aware of our presence."
Zadia frowned and shuffled slightly in her co-pilot chair. She wished she hadn't. It caused her rib to give a unpleasant twinge.
"You think someone tipped them off?" Zadia wondered.
"I would not like to hazard a guess, but no doubt the Captain will be having words with Command about potential intelligence leaks."
Anya smiled and returned her attention to piloting. Zadia felt a rush of speed as the Valiant punched into FTL.
"Nice flying by the way,"
Anya gave a small smile. She was a damn fine pilot, but that was not her only duty on board. She was also the intelligence officer, requiring her to keep track of groundside strike teams and support them as necessary, as well as gather intelligence on various targets. "I aim to please, lieutenant. Finn is awaiting your presence in the Medi bay." Anya informed her. Her bright green eyes never leaving the Valiant's controls. "I would get moving if I were you, I would not want the blood that is pouring from your right temple to stain the chair."
"So nice to know you care, Anya Adams" smiled Zadia. She knew this was as close Anya ever got to making a joke and was grateful for her effort. She winced as she forced herself out of the comfortable Co-pilot chair and made her way the ship's Medi bay.
"Don't be such a baby! " reprimanded Doctor Finn Stewards. Zadia tried to pull her arm away, but Finn had a strong grip.
"I am NOT a baby, Finn!" Stewards grinned at her and pressed an cleansing swab to her wound. It stung and burnt.
"Owwwww!"
"Yeah, not a baby. Right. Well, I'm convinced."
Finn dabbed a small portion of Medi-gel on the wound and smiled at her.
"There. All done."
They were sitting in the tiny medical compartment of the ship - it was too small to be called a Sick bay. Just big enough to hold a narrow bunk, some medical computers, stores and a swivel chair for Finn.
"I take it things didn't go exactly to plan?" asked Finn. He was short, but slim, his sharp features full of concern.
"We were set up," Zadia admitted, inspecting her clean bandage. "They knew we were coming."
The mission had been simple. Command had ordered the team to retrieve some data concerning trade routes within a nearby Blood Pack facility, preferably without causing to much noise on the way; The Alliance had been getting hit hard by pirate attacks out in the travers, and this approach was preferable to spending millions on credits on escorting supply convoys with even more security then they had presently.
They had touched down, everything was quiet and then Blood pack had descended on them with full force. It was only thanks to the pair's superior training and equipment that they managed to make it back to the Valiant in one piece.
She looked the doctor in his dark eyes. "It wasn't even supposed to be a difficult mission! And then the Blood Pack were all over us… I just lost it. Forgot everything Rhyder had told me."
Finn smiled. "Forget about it, Avari. You're alive. Rhyder's alive. We got the date chit. So, total success. Yaaaay us."
Zadia gave a sigh, running fingers self consciously though her long dark red hair. "One day our luck will run out."
Finn gave a snort.
"When did you get so dramatic? You need a few nights on the town. You could come with me! We would have a fun night out!"
Zadia smiled at her friend. "I know what you define of as "Fun" Doctor Stewards. I'm not planning on running an asylum. Come on, let's go get something to eat."
Zadia led the way as the pair made their way down the narrow passage way to the crew quarters, where the four man crew ate and slept. Captain James Rhyder was sitting with his feet up on the table, an empty plate of what appeared to have been some Asari soup was laying empty by his feet. He was still wearing his light Armour, which had had gained several large dents and scratches over the years; his trusty tempest machine gun still sat in its holster, and his greatcoat folded carefully by his side. He looked up as Finn and Zadia entered and gave her a smile.
"Good work today, Zadia."
Zadia avoided eye contact. "It was my fault James, I panicked I-"
Rhyder raised an eyebrow at her. He lent back in his chair and ran a hand though his thick brown hair.
"We completed the mission. No casualties. That's a success. Stop beating yourself up over simple bad luck."
"Yes captain."
James turned to Finn, who had sat himself opposite him.
"How are our medical supplies?"
Finn shrugged. "We gonna have to restock soon. Almost out of… well, just about everything. Seriously, I'm going to have to start relying on kissing wounds better rather than stitching them."
The captain gave a nod and stood up, giving his seat to Zadia.
"Anya says the ship got hit pretty hard in the fire fight. One of the Krogan took an interest in firing rockets at our aft fuel tanks."
Zadia gave a groan. "I guess we going to have to park somewhere for supplies."
Finn sighed. "Any suggestions where?"
James nodded and tapped a few buttons on his Omni-tool. A small holographic 3D picture of the Milky Way galaxy appeared between the three crew members, shimmering and sparkling.
"Right. We're floating around in the Minos Wasteland. There's nothing here, Except Batarian slavers and other unsavoury characters. We're a point-two of a light year from the nearest decent fuel depot. We're half a light year from what you and I might call "Civilisation" We don't have the fuel for either."
Zadia frowned. Peering at the holo. "So…?"
The captain pointed at a single point of light on the map with one finger. "This seems to be our only option; it's small, forgotten and not even listed on most space charts. But it's in within our range, used to be a Turian military post during the Krogan Rebellions. It may have what we need."
"It's right in the middle of Blood pack territory." Noted Zadia.
Rhyder looked at her, his brown eyes glimmering.
"I didn't say it wouldn't be risky."
Zadia looked closely at the planet's picture. Reading the name attached to it.
"Sarian" She noted. "It sounds lovely."
Rhyder game a small smile. "Also known as "The planet of ghosts."
Finn snorted. "Seriously?"
Zadia jabbed him with an elbow. "What's the matter, doc? Not had enough excitement for one day?"
Two hours later, the Valiant punched out of FTL drive, Rhyder lent over the back of the pilot's seat, peering over Anya's shoulder at the read outs.
"One point three earth atmospheres of pressure and a surface temperature of minus six celsius... We're gonna need to bring our woolly hats."
"Background radiation is pretty high" noted Finn.
"We're not gonna be staying long." Replied Rhyder. "In and out. A motto that has got me through a lot in life. Just ask my exes."
Rhyder was, as always wearing his battle scarred light Onyx armour, preferring agility over armour plate. He was armed with a well looked after X-9e Tempest Machine gun, and an X-3c Predator pistol; which sat in his holster on his leg. His great grey overcoat was wrapped around his armour, giving him an impressively broody appearance.
"So why do they call it the "Ghost planet?" Finn wondered, leaning on the co-pilots chair.
"Love a ghost story." Rhyder replied, grinning. "Have I ever regaled you all with "The Justicar and the haunted valley of death?"
"You just made that up!" Finn said.
"And all other ghost stories are factual then, are they Finn?" Anya gently prodded him.
Finn was about to reply when Zadia Stepped into the cockpit, with her S-15b Vindicator rifle slung over her shoulder, her red hair pulled into a ponytail.
"Are they're any life signs?"
Anya shook her head. "It's a real ghost town. If you will pardon to expression."
She scrolled though the data that had appeared on the ships interface.
"There's a spaceport." She said. "Twenty klicks due east"
"Take us in." ordered Rhyder.
Anya brought the Valiant down on one of the small landing pads situated near the perimeter. The buildings were little more than rotting husks, and the weak light from the distant sun bathed everything in a weak blue glow.
"This part of the complex was an old refuelling station," Anya explained. "The Turians would have built it fully automated. Controlled by a V.I"
Rhyder nodded. "As long as there's still some juice in the tanks we can fill up and get away from here."
He turned to Finn.
"We're gonna need you on this one Finn, suit up and meet us at the airlock. Anya, Notify us if you detect anything weird."
Anya raised an eyebrow from the Pilot's chair.
"Are you expecting trouble?"
Rhyder and Zadia were heading for the Airlock; Rhyder turned and gave Anya a small grin.
"Call me paranoid, Anya. But when you land on a "Planet of ghosts" you have to expect the worst, don't you think?"
Rhyder, Zadia and Finn filed out of the ship, the captain leading the way with Finn at the rear; scanning the stale environment with his Omni-Tool.
"Let's see if we can find the nearest fuel terminal."
"Ohhhh," said Zadia. "It feels good to get out of the ship and not be shot at."
"Maybe the ghooooooosts will get you instead," Finn grinned.
She strode to the rim of the docking bay. "Reckon we could find any medical supplies or food here?"
Rhyder gave a shrug. "Maybe medical supplies, but this was a Turian military post from way before first contact. I doubt any food we could find would be edible."
"Whatever," said Zadia. "I'm gonna take a look anyway. You coming, Finn?"
Finn gave a small nod, still playing with his Omni Tool as he set off after her.
Rhyder watched them go with a small smile. They made an unusual pair, the bubbly soldier and the grumpy doctor, but they were the very best of friends. Zadia was the newest member of the Valiant's crew having joined several months ago, but had already established herself as a popular member of his team. Rhyder was the rock and roll. But Zadia was the soul.
Rhyder smiled to himself. His team.
HIS team.
He always felt a burning sense of pride when he thought of them like that. The three of them had confronted some of the greatest know dangers in the galaxy, and they had dealt with the fallout with grace and good humour. Rhyder sometimes wished that he could have a connection like that Zadia and Finn shared, but he knew it would ultimately be a selfish act. Over the fifteen years that he had commanded the Valiant, his crew had shifted and reorganised itself over several dozen times. The nature of their work demanded it, usually due to… death. But Rhyder still felt himself wanting for more.
He just wasn't sure how to find it yet.
"Credit for your thoughts Captain?" Anya's voice crackled from his ear piece.
"A single credit?" Ryder tartly replied. "In this economic climate? Thoughts are worth at least ten these days."
"Captain."
Rhyder smiled. "Oh, don't mind me. Maybe I just need a holiday. Maybe we all need a holiday."
"Why captain, I do believe there's a heart under that armour after all."
Rhyder gave a small laugh; it echoed though deserted streets. "Who, me? I don't think so. I have an image to maintain."
Suddenly, Zadia gave a yell.
"Captain! Come here! Look at this!"
Rhyder found Zadia and Finn at a small intersection between two small rotting buildings. Finn was standing to one side, still busy scanning with his Omni-Tool. Zadia was wide eyed and excited.
"Well? What do you think?"
She gestured with a theatrical flourish at a small battered shuttle behind her, it was gun metal grey; with several strange sharp symbols etched into its side. Rhyder recognised the symbols from a couple of his earlier assignments.
"Is that a Quarian shuttle?"
Zadia gave a nod. "I think so yeah, and it touched down recently to. The ship isn't covered in dust; unlike the rest of this dump."
Rhyder circled the shuttle. It was very small, room for only two or three in it's interior. It may have even been quite elegant once; but loomed like it had been refitted more times than the valiant, giving it a bumpy and stained surface.
"We didn't detect any life signs," Rhyder noted. "The owner might be dead."
"Well, it's odd." Shrugged Zadia.
Rhyder turned to Finn. "Have you found anything yet? There's gottta be some fuel here …somewhere."
"Oh yeah, there is," Finn confirmed. "But I'm picking up some other readings too. My Omni-Tool is detecting two distinct signals coming from underground - right beneath us in fact."
"Can you identify it?"
Finn shrugged. "The first is really weird. It's… just noise. Here, I'll play it."
Suddenly, the Silent air was filled with a harsh metallic screeching.
"Turn it off Finn!" yelled Zadia, her hands over her ears.
Finn flicked the signal off with a wave of his hand in apology. "I've heard worse in the clubs."
"I've never heard anything like that," admitted Rhyder. "You said there was another signal?"
Finn gave a nod, and pressed another interface button on his Omni Tool.
And another distinct blast of noise filled the dusty air. But this one was far more melodic than the first, almost lullaby-esqe in it's gentle notes that looped and repeated every few seconds.
"Is that…?"
Rhyder nodded. "It is. That's a Quarian SOS signal. I believe the owner of that shuttle might still be alive."
"Or a ghost," Finn finished darkly.
They traced the Distress signal quickly enough. Finn was left to locate a fuel source while Rhyder and Zadia descended several levels beneath the complex via a series of rotting and rusting metal staircases.
"This whole complex extends miles underground," explained Anya as they walked. She seemed to have taken it upon herself to explain the "fascinating" history of Sarian IV. "The refuelling silos must have been gigantic."
"I heard the Turian fleet was even bigger in those days," Replied Rhyder. "No Treaty of Farixen to keep them in check."
"Something to be grateful for," Zadia finished darkly.
The pair made their way deeper and deeper into the deserted facility, and the dust was clinging to the walls like a second coat of paint.
"This is creeeeeepy," "Zadia commented, as they advanced through a partically dark corridor.
Eventually they reached a small corridor lined with defunct computer terminals. Rhyder held up his Omni-Tool, trying to trace the SOS signal. He traced it to a large rusted door.
"Shh," muttered Rhyder. "Listen."
They could both hear the signal now- faint but distinct. They could make out the notes of the song.
"Rah Rah Rah. Raaaaaaah. Rah Rah Rah. Raaaaaaah"
"Wait a sec." muttered Zadia, and she unslung her Vindicator Assault rifle from her shoulder.
"Good idea," said Rhyder, and he pulled his pistol from its holster.
"Could be anything in there."
Zadia smiled. "One way to find out."
Rhyder gave a nod and tapped a few buttons on the small control interface near the door. The control panel bleeped and, somewhere deep inside the wall; heavy bolts slowly withdrew.
Rhyder and Zadia moved cautiously back to allow a clear field of fire as the door slowly slid open.
Sitting on a corpse at the opposite side of the small room was a female Quarian, sitting crossed legged with her Omni-Tool giving off the signal they had been tracking.
She looked up at the two humans in the doorway, with their large guns pointing at her head.
The Quarian gave a little wave.
"Hello!" The she said brightly, standing up and brushing a light sprinkling of dust off her suit.
"About time a rescue party came! Oh, this is a relief I can't tell you! It was getting seriously boring in here!"
She noticed the two guns still pointing at her.
"You can lower those guns if you like."
Rhyder lowered his pistol slightly; Zadia kept her rifle pointing at the Quarian.
There was a slightly awkward pause.
Rhyder frowned at the Quarian then smiled. "Introductions, I suppose. Not everyday you find a Quarian locked in a cupboard."
"Unless you've been on a night out with Finn," Zadia mumbled quietly.
Mia cocked her head slightly. "My name Mia'Tralaas Vas Drina. But you can call me Mia, since the full names a bit of a chore for humans." she gave a little curtsy, then turned to the corpse she had been sitting on. "I came here to scavenge. Places like this normally have some scrap of data or technology I could find useful. As you can see, the scavenging didn't go exactly to plan."
Rhyder shot a glance at Zadia, who lowered her rifle.
"I'm Captain James Rhyder, and this is Zadia Avari."
Mia gave a nod, "I suppose I should be thankful to you then. You just saved me from a very slow death."
Zadia looked around the cell.
"How long have you been stuck in this room?"
Mia gave a shrug. "About two days." she said matter of factly.
"Two days?" said Zadia Stunned.
Mia gave a nod. "I had food and liquid rations but it was lucky you came by when you did."
Anya's voice suddenly rung out in the confined space of the cell.
"Finn has located a fuel terminal, Captain. We're refuelling now."
"OK, good work." Replied Rhyder. "We've rescued the shuttles owner, she's unharmed, and we're on or way back now."
Zadia turned to Rhyder. "What about that other signal, Rhyder? The screechy one?"
"Not our problem, it's nothing to do with us and I just what to get off this dust ball of a planet."
Rhyder shot a glance at Mia, who was tapping her foot impatiently.
"You coming Mia? I'm guessing that is your shuttle sitting on the surface?"
Mia nodded. "That it is."
Rhyder smiled. "Shall we?"
The small group left the cell and begun walking down the corridor, as they walked Zadia turned to Mia.
"I still don't understand how you got locked in there."
"I'd quite like to know as well," replied Mia. "Before you arrived I should have been the only one on this little planet."
Suddenly, Mia stopped. Rhyder and Zadia turned around; Rhyder curious and Zadia Impatient.
"There's something going very wrong here." Said Mia quietly.
"Could be something to do with that other signal," said Rhyder. "The one that sounded like gibberish."
"I should check the system." said Mia.
Rhyder gave a nod. "OK, but be quick."
Mia stepped past Rhyder to get to the VI terminal; Zadia gave an impatient "Tsk" but was ignored.
Suddenly, a familiar fuzzy VI image appeared.
"This VI is programmed to resp—"
"Yes, yes, hello Racksen!" interrupted Mia brightly. She began flicking though the data at incredible speed.
"Racksen is the V.I?" Rhyder asked.
"Can we please get moving?" Zadia hissed. She was eyeing the shadows in the corners of the corridor with apprehension.
"Nearly there…" said Mia. Soon the murky terminal was filling up with technical information.
"This is the baseline programme for the station," She explained. "It's pretty standard for military installations; Defence, weapon production all that stuff. But…"
"What?" asked Rhyder. "What's "but?""
Mia continued shifting though the data.
"The baseline programme has been extended. Corrupted with a new set of commands. Very recently, in fact. It's a new programme bolted on; When activated – like when I arrived- the VI assumes direct control of the entire complex," she gave a pause. "I wasn't locked in that cell by accident. The VI sensed me in there and sprung the trap."
Zadia looked worried. Not to mention confused.
"But why? What for? I don't understand."
"And what about that corpse?" Rhyder interjected.
"I'm not sure," conceded Mia. "Perhaps he was also caught in this trap? But he wasn't as lucky as me."
Rhyder's face darkened. "Or maybe it wasn't an accident."
"So the Turians designed this?" Zadia wonders. "A trap for scavengers?"
"No," said Mia. Her six fingers moving as a blur over the interface, mining as much data as she could.
"That wouldn't make sense, the Turians couldn't care less about Sarian IV," she turned to Rhyder. "You said earlier one of your crew detected another signal?"
Rhyder gave a nod. "Finn found it. But we couldn't understand it."
"I've got a recording."
Zadia adjusted her omni-tool and the mysterious signal filled the corridor.
"TCHCHCHCHCHCHCHCHCHCHCHC!"
"I've never heard anything like it," admitted Rhyder. "Is it Quarian?"
"No, far too complex." Replied Mia.
Rhyder could imagine that Mia's face was screwing up in concentration under the helmet. "It does sound…. I feel like I should know it…"
"The thing is," Zadia, pointed out, "That signal must have begun transmitting when you arrived here two days ago."
"So whoever's supposed to receive this signal will have probably already done so." Rhyder suddenly looked very concerned. "Which means they must already be on their way to collect their prize."
Mia simple nodded.
Zadia gave a groan as Rhyder grabbed his earpiece.
"Anya! Get the ship ready to go! We're expecting company!"
No reply.
"Anya! Do you copy?"
A loud shrill burst of static came from his earpiece. They could hear Anya saying something, but god knows what.
"Something's set up a communications barrier," realised Rhyder. "Whoever they are, they're already here."
Mia stepped away from the console.
Zadia unslung her rifle.
Everything around them seemed to be charged with static electricity.
Suddenly a signal burst from the console Mia had been working on.
"TCHCHCHCHCHCHCHCHCH!"
And then, with a soul wrenching screeching of metal, the doorway at the end of the corridor exploded open. Shrapnel sliced though the air and the three of them were already backing away, as something humanoid in shape marched though the wreckage.
"TCHCHCHCHCHCHCHCH!"
"It can't be…." Said Mia.
Zadia and Rhyder were simple gaping in shock.
There were seven of them, filing through the remains of the door, their purple tinted armour glinted dully, Assault rifles in hand, light bulb eyestalks turned to glare at the three organics with glowing white lenses.
"Geth!" yelled Mia, disbelieving.