After flying through the dusty haze surrounding the Mu Relay, the sudden jump to the Pangaea Expanse is a jarring difference. Joker immediately checks the sensors and gauges displayed on the helm's console.
"Jump successful, system clear, stealth systems engaged." Joker announces over the PA system. "Board is green for advancement. ETA two hours to Ilos. Updates to follow as needed. Joker out."
Joker does not normally update the entire Normandy crew regarding flight status, but given the unknowns of the Terminus Systems, he feels it best to announce. No one aboard the Normandy has ever flown through the Terminus and tensions are running high. Regardless, Joker finds it surprising that the cockpit slowly fills up as crew members finish their final tasks and enter to hear updates and receive reassurance. Shepard takes up post right behind Joker's chair. They approach Ilos quickly.
"Are you sure Saren's sensors haven't picked us up yet?" Liara asks as they approach Ilos' atmosphere.
"With the stealth systems engaged, they would need a visual to detect us. That's near impossible at these altitudes." Joker reassures her.
"Take us down, Joker." Shepard says. "Lock in on the coordinates."
"Negative, Commander." XO Pressly protests. "Saren's base is surrounded by dense foliage. The closest landing zone's two klicks away."
Garrus' voice enters the conversation behind Joker's seat. "We'll never make it in time. Get us closer."
"We're dropping in the Mako," Shepard says. "We don't need a landing zone."
"Still. The Mako would need at least one hundred meters for a drop," Pressly assesses the data. "The most open terrain near Saren's base I can find for a Mako drop is twenty."
"Twenty meters?!" Kaiden exclaims. "No way can we pull that off. Find a different drop point."
"There is nothing else!" Pressly insists.
"Look, we knew that Saren wasn't going to roll out the red carpet for us." Shepard says. "Joker. You're flying this bird. What do you think?"
Joker checks all of the data he can from his flight instruments. He weighs his knowledge of the situation against his own perceived skill to conclude that: "I can do it. I can drop the Mako in twenty."
Shepard requires no further convincing from him before instructing: "There's our answer. Garrus, Wrex, gear up for the Mako. Everyone else, report to your posts. Joker, drop us at that bastard's front door."
"Aye, Aye, Commander." Joker says.
Shepard reaches down to squeeze his shoulder before rushing out alongside the parade of feet. Joker spares a glance behind him to watch her leave before pulling all of his focus on his immediate task. He must ensure that Shepard's ground team reach the Conduit before the rogue spectre does. The objective is clear, though execution given the current parameters is an almost insurmountable challenge, for the average pilot. Fortunately, Joker is not the average pilot.
Despite the flashing warnings against excessively quick atmospheric entry and a severely steep descent, his hands remain steady and his mind clear. He compartmentalizes that part of his brain that knows the failure to drop the Mako properly risks Shepard's life. He doesn't even give her a second thought until he hears her voice via radio comms confirming that the Mako and her ground team have landed safely and gained a visual on Saren.
"Stand by, Normandy. Shepard out."
The adrenaline subsides as Joker's heartbeat slows. That part of his brain, or perhaps heart, that cares deeply for Shepard finds a voice and suddenly fear overtakes him. He swallows hard as he maneuvers the ship to bank a hard right. "Stand by" during missions generally means a whole lot of waiting. Wait close enough for immediate evacuation, if necessary. Wait without taking enemy fire. Wait and avoid thinking about the what-ifs and worst-case scenarios.
Joker flies around the base's vicinity. He finds a suitable landing zone to station the Normandy that gives them enough distance from the base's armaments.
"Commander." Joker radios. "Normandy has landed. Standing by for further instructions." A minute passes. "Shepard?"
"Read you, Normandy." Shepard responds, panting. "Heavy geth activity." Joker hears two shots fire. "Still seeking entrance point."
"Roger." Joker acknowledges. "Good luck."
"Shepard out." Further shots fire before the comms are disconnected on her end.
Joker exhales and leans back into his seat. His job is done for now. Now it's up to Shepard and the ground team to locate the Conduit and destroy it, or at least prevent Saren from using it. That's assuming Shepard's hypothesis is right and it's a weapon. They are working with few hard facts, the important one being that Saren is working for the Reapers and they plan to use the Conduit against all organics. Joker will be ready to retrieve the ground team when they succeed, he tells himself.