Mass Effect Project Renegade
Chapter 12: Geth Incursion
Five year old Jack Shepard was in a brightly lit room, surrounded by two way mirrors, sitting on the ground trying to discover what was happening. Jack could hear faint and muffled conversations on the other side of the mirror, Jack perked his ears up to listen to the conversation.
"Director the learn-ng interface - only proto-pe, we don't know- effect it could have on -"
All Jack could make out was something about an interface, he continued to listen to the conversation, being very careful not to make a sound to disrupt the conversation.
"Your concern is noted Doctor Cooper, - out of time - need to hook him up - to begin - immediately."
Jack realized they were trying to hook him up to something but what? He continued to listen in.
"I …. Yes Director.. Michel would you kindly get - hooked up to the interface?"
"Sure thing Alex."
Jack stood away from the door as it opened, Jack then saw her Doctor Michele, a care taker and scientist of Project Renegade. The Nurse activated a holographic panel, tapping a few commands on the console, once done a chair with restraining arm guards appeared from the Floor. Doctor Michele approached Jack with a worried expression.
"Jack, this interface is going to help you further your abilities."
Jack hopped in the chair putting his arms in the restraints and looked up at the ceiling. The lights in the room began to dim, Michele strapped on safety Goggles on, from the interface effects. As the room darkened, a strange helmet was lowered down from a sealing panel. The Helmet lowers onto Jack's head concealing his whole face. Inside the helmets eye lenses, two red dots pointed on to Jack's glowing red iris. Moments later two needles along with a blinding blue light appeared and plunged in to his eyes transferring information, knowledge, history, math, Culture, languages, etc, all being poured in to his mind, several seconds later blood began mixed with tears began to stream down Jack's face, his hands twitching and shaking from the interface. The interface continued for hours, the interface showed no end to the nightmare of images, the interface immediately disappeared and darkness surrounded Jack.
Jack immediately woke to the nightmare, sitting up slowly from his bed. Jack looked at the ground for a second then proceeded to get up from his head trying to clear his head from the nightmare. Jack left the Captain's quarters, and headed to the mess hall to get a quick bite to eat; Jack usually ate with his platoon back during when Cerberus was influential in System Alliance Space, then he ate with Subject 100 [May], they entered an 'dating stage' and then it got even serious when Subject 1 and 100 entered in the 'sexual intercourse' stage, after the incident when Jack's platoon was wiped out, Jack usually ate in seclusion. Jack checked his surrounding to make sure Kaidan and Jenkins weren't around. The area looked clear, Jack cooked an instant meal, Steak with Fried chicken rice. Jack takes his food and sits at the Mess hall table, but before he has the opportunity to chow down on his cuisine, he hears sniffling added to what it sounded like crying coming from the other side of the room [Where Garrus works on his 'Calibrations'] Jack got up from his seat and looked down the hall, it was Zoey, leaning up against the wall and looking at something in her hand. Jack took the initiative to go and investigate, on what this was all about. Jack approached Zoey who immediately hid the item behind her, from seeing the approaching Commander.
Zoey wiped the tears away from her eyes and tried to change the expression on her face.
"Oh! Shepard, I didn't see you… (sniff)"
"Is something wrong Zoey?" asked Jack
"N-No, Nothing's wrong…." Replied Zoey trying to deny anything was wrong with her.
Jack crossed his arms, his body language showed doubt.
"Really? Because you were looking at something in your hand and started to break down in tears."
Zoey's eyes started to well up with water, she took a deep breath trying to collect herself.
"I had a dream last night, a dream of a memory… a really good memory."
Zoey handed Jack a platinum locket, which contained a picture of a brow short haired human female, green eyes, pale skin, and an alluring smile.
"She looks beautiful…. Who is she?"
"Jamie… Her name was Jamie." Replied Zoey
Jack heard was, meaning past pretense, dead.
"What happened to her?"
Zoey was at a loss of words she didn't know how to explain it to the Commander.
"I—She…"
Jack immediately held up a hand, signaling she didn't need to proceed.
"Hey… look you don't need to…"
Zoey's eyes widened and tried to fix the conversation.
"No I'm sorry… If you're still interested, I'll tell you later… as long as you tell me about yourself."
Zoey gave a weak smile trying to hide the sorrow, seconds later she went off to her quarters, leaving Jack to go back to his meal. As Jack sat down he dug his spoon into the rice and was about to take a bite, but was cut off by Joker interrupting him, which Jack just put down his spoon causing a clank to echo throughout the mess hall.
"Commander, urgent message coming from Admiral Hackett, Patching you through."
As the Comm channel was changed Jack could hear Alliance Command personal speaking in the background before the Admiral began issuing orders.
"Commander we have alarming report of Geth activity in Alliance contested territory in the Arm Strong Cluster"
A questioned look appeared on Jack's face.
"How bad could it be Admiral?"
A moment of silence was on the comm which was a bad sign, followed by a sound of a data pad being put down.
"Bad… Our survelliance drones, spotted the Geth massing towards the Grissom System on Solcrum, I'm no Geth expert but, this system has the potential to harass more of our colonies."
Jack knew that wasn't the case.
"Or a full scale invasion…"
"Let's hope that's not the case, we need you to go to that system and neutralize the Get Forward base in that sector." Admiral Hackett replied
Jack stood up from the mess hall making his way to his quarters.
"Yes sir."
2162
Exela Outer Rim/Dextro based planet/Hell Dog Platoon/Intercepting a distress signal[Unknown Orgins…]
The entire Platoon was set down by transports skowering the area, looking for the signal,
Jack accompanied by May and Kai Leng moved through the strange brush of vegetation while a ray of light is shined down from an Orange sun.
Leng was cutting through the brush clearing a path for Jack and May.
"Shepard, did I tell you how much I hate dextro based worlds."
Jack chuckled a bit from Leng's statement.
"Several Leng, Several…. Dextro food doesn't hurt us… so it must be you hate them because of the Turians."
The Squad cleared through the brush and stumbled upon the signal, it was attached to a corpse… an alien corpse.
The Alien was in a yellow enviro-suit, with red blood coming out from her lower abdomen.
Kai Leng crouch down to observe the Alien.
"Huh bleeds like us."
May approached the dead Alien.
"What do you think killed her?" Asked May
Leng was about to say something but was distracted by a mech with a glowing light as a head.
"What the hell is that?"
Jack was about to say something to it, but instead it fired 40 shots at Jack from its plasma rifle, not one projectile made Jack flinch. A second later Jack drew his Colt and fired one round in to the Geth's head.
"I think we know what killed her, [Jack activates the Comm]Hell Dogs regroup on my signal, [Looks at Leng] Leng grab that thing and let's get off this rock."
Leng nodded and proceeded to pick up the Mech as for May she stopped Jack in his tracks.
"Jack, I tapped in to her Visor cam… she's only a girl, she deserves better than this."
Jack let out a sigh through his Nightmare Helmet.
"Fine, we'll take her back to the lab, 43 [Krieger] will look at her."
/
/
/
10 minutes later…
Location: Solcrum
Team: Shepard/Tali/Garrus/Jenkins/Ashley/Kaidan/Zonya
The mountainous terrain shook the Mako and it passengers, Jenkins, was observing the outside world, observing the strange terrain.
"You know Solcrum has a strange atmosphere, I mean look at the surroundings, poisionsous to breath, sharp rocks everywhere." Stated Jenkins.
Jack smiled to himself thinking of the good times on toxic assignments.
"Reminds me the time when my superiors locked me in a small room." Replied Jack
Ashley leaned over to look at Jack.
"Why did they lock you in a small room?"
Jack kept his eyes on the road, while talking.
"To see how long I'd survive in there."
Zoey came to the conclusion that it was a psychological test in the Alliance, to survive in a POW camp.
"Ah so they locked you in the room until you cracked?"
Jack shook his head.
"Nope"
Kaidan decided to add in to the discussion.
"deafening noise?"
"Not even close" replied Jack.
"Starving dogs?" Jenkins asked.
"No" Replied Jack.
Garrus decided to get to the bottom of the question and look for the answer.
"Well what's the point of putting you in a small room?"
"Easy, they filled it with nerve gas." Replied Jack.
Tali's eyes widened from that remark.
"Nerve Gas?"
Jack smiled to himself nodding his head.
"Good times : )"
Garrus was a bit skeptical of hearing that.
"You're telling me they filled the room with nerve gas and came out just fine?"
"Oh yeah, Nerve gas didn't do Squat." Replied Jack.
Kaidan had doubts in Shepard's story.
"I find it hard to believe this Commander"
"Not when they pump your body full of experimental drugs you don't" said Jack while laughing a bit.
Ashley was surprised to find out Shepard was tested for Neve Gas Training.
"Wait are you telling me they used you as a guinea pig?"
Jack shook his head.
"Completely safe, I was signed on to test it for future battles against nations that use chemical attacks against… the Systems Alliance."
Zoey decided to ask about the effect of the drugs.
"Any side effects?"
"Nope truth be told, my body was immune to the experimental drugs."
Garrus throws his arms up hearing that from the Commander.
"I give up."
"Funny that's what the Turian Hierarchy said to us at the end of the First Contact War." Stated Jack.
The Passenger started to laugh, leaving Garrus feeling burned over that comment.
"Very Funny Commander. -_-"
"I try [Notices the Geth Colossus] Hang on."
Jack steps on the brake while turning a 90 degree angle, smashing the Colossus against the bunker. The Ground team exited the Mako and entered the Geth infested bunker. The entrance was Geth-Free, no one unit in sight, however in the next room was a battalion of Geth Platforms in the next room. Jack equipped his AR-15 while moving in front of the next door.
"I'm going in alone… stay here watch the entrance."
Ashley got in front of Jack.
"Commander, are you Crazy you need back up?!"
Jack gently moved her to the side.
"Listen if Geth come from behind I need a rear guard, you don't follow me in on this mission unless I call for you understood?"
The crew shook their heads.
Jack stepped in the next room all the Geth Platforms attention was now on the single man. The Geth Prime pointed his Rifle at Jack, Immediately Jack Jumped 20 Feet in the air, firing on multiple heavy Get platforms, still in midair Jack tossed three frags by fuel tanks destroying dozens of Geth Platforms.
As Jack hit the ground on his two feet a Geth Destroyer Charged at him, Jack however punched the destroyer who went flying across the room hitting other Geth units. A Geth Prime got close and tried to charge at Jack, Jack however grabbed the Prime's leg crushing its knee joints. With the Prime on its last knee, Jack sliced off its head with Jack's blade. The room was littered with Geth Corpses, Jack checked his surroundings, as Jack was reloading his rifle, and he heard a deafening machine scream from the console (Reaper Destroyer Siren)
"What the Hell was that?" Jack asked cautiously.
Jack activated the comm channel.
"Alright guys coast his clear, come on in."
Jenkins went up to the door first.
"Alright Let's head in—[Runs in to the locked door] Oomph."
Zoey looked at the door.
"Did Shepard Lock it?"
Tali looked at the panel.
"No it wasn't locked on the outside, who would-"
/
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/
Jack proceeded to the next room, checking his surrounding, as no Get Platform was in here he sees a High-tech Geth Console. Jack approached the Console and begins to download the material on to the data pad, to his astonishment the console had 50tb of data on Geth. Once finished with the five second download, he went back to the entrance, but this time the doors panel was red. Jack was about to tear the door off, but before he did the panel turned green, Jack equipped his shotgun preparing for close quarter combat. As Jack entered the room, he could see his crew, scattered all over the place, none of them shot, luckily they were still breathing. Before Jack could check on his crew he was ambushed by unknown assailant wearing a cloak covering the dark spotted armor. The ambusher smacked the shotgun from Jack's hand and immediately began exchanging hand to hand combat moves with Jack, she was good, Jack thought, but he noticed she was a Turian, and immediately knew what to do…
[Attacker will swing a strike with left arm, counter with right hand/ while attacker plans next strike,use left fist to stun the jaw line 'three fractures at least if enough force is applied'/ While stunned use right foot to wrap around the attackers bowed leg, pull forward/Observe attacker stumble/ Finishing move put left knee on attacker stomach, draw knife and remove helmet/ EXECUTE….]
In an instant Jack did just that the attacker never saw it coming, as the blade nears the head of the Turian, Jack began to question her.
"Who are you, do you work for Saren?"
"My name is Bethora Commander, and no I'm not with Saren" Replied Bethora.
Jack moves the blade away from her head but only slightly.
"Friend or Foe?"
"Friend Commander." Replied Bethora.
"It that's true then why did you attack my crew?"
"Your crew attacked first." Stated Bethora
Jack glared at Bethora.
"I find that hard to believe."
"It's true they did attack me first, [points at Jenkins] that one over there got spooked, and fired his rifle damaging my shield." Stated Bethora.
Jack looked at Jenkins sighing while shaking his hands, he then lends a hand to help up Bethora.
"That explains everything, so what do you want from me?"
Bethora picked up her helmet off the ground, then putting it under her right arm.
"I needed to test my skills on you first, to see if you were worthy to seek out, and I was right, but I heard you were hunting down Saren the Rogue Spectre. Commander if you accept I offer you my gun, I've been hunting that bastard since I was seventeen.
"What Saren do to you?"
Bethora looked at the ground floor trying not to dwell on it.
"He killed my Father… My father had crucial evidence against Saren, I don't know what kind of evidence he had but it important enough to get killed over, and when I saw Saren discharge his gun in to my Father's skull, he destroyed the evidence."
Another Crew member Jack thought.
"Well if you hate Saren as much as I do, then welcome aboard"
Bethora Shook Jack's hand.
"Thank you Commander you won't regret this."
Garrus immediately regains conscience and points his carnifix at Bethora.
"Commander! Get out of the way!"
Jack stood infront of Bethora.
"Stand down Garrus, she's with us."
Zoey rubs the back of her head.
"The Hell she is, she attacked us!"
Bethora leaned over to look at Zoey.
"To be honest your friend over there shot first, and then you all joined in."
"Irrelevant!" Zoey Shot back.
Jack had a surprised look on his face.
"Wait… wait… she took you all down… unarmed."
Jenkins was next regaining his footing.
"Ugh my head, no it's not like that Commander, she threw a flash bang then knocked us out."
Tali was in the Fetal position wrapping her arms around her upper torso.
"Keelah… my chest hurts."
"I apologize for this inconvenience." Announced Bethora
Ashley regains her conscience with a Lt. Kaidan slumped over her.
"Where is that Bitch!"
Bethora was starting to regret of what occurred a few seconds ago.
"Spirits… Perhaps I should've thought the matter through first."
Zoey had a killer rage look on her face.
"Oh Hell no! I'm going to kick your ass (Crack her knuckles.)"
/
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/
The Crew entered the Normandy all of them heading back to their nice soft cot.
"Okay every one grab some aspirin take an hour rest." Announced Jack
Jack headed to the Captain's cabin, he shut the door and locked it, Jack pulled out the data pad, and observed it.
[DECRYPTING…]
In an instant Jack's eyes reverted back to his Project eyes, observing and decrypting the data within a fewseconds. With all the data decrypted he made 3 solid copies, One for Cerberus, another for the Alliance, and once for Tali. He thought to himself he would give it to her later, because he needed her on the Normandy right now.
A bleep came from his PM
Well Done Shepard the data you forwarded to us will help with future study on the Geth, hopefully giving us an edge to put an end to these synthetic Bastards. This Decrypted data will be forwarded to the new project, Project Overlord, we sent a large amount of credits to your discretionary account, The Illusive Man has also been informed of your accomplishment, he is quite pleased, if you find any more useful data out there, it would make our jobs a lot easier. Good Luck Shepard!
Cerberus Command
Just then another bleep came from his PM.
Shepard we got word that the Geth Incursion has been halted by You and your ground team, well done you saved a lot of Human lives, and I like to thank you for the Decrypted Geth data, I don't know how you did it, but Alliance R&D is already developing countermeasures for future Geth Attacks, if the countermeasures are developed maybe we can put an end to the Geth Campaign in the area. To prevent further Geth Incursions, the Alliance is deploying two of our best fleets in the region, the Council is still steaming that we still have a powerful armada; The Alliance isn't taking any chances not since after the First Contact War. Good Hunting Commander.
Admiral Steven Hackett
P.S. Alliance Command wanted me to forward you a care package for your findings, make us proud!
Jack leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes, but before Jack got his Power nap, he heard a knock on the door. As Jack approached the door, he saw it was Zoey.