Mass Effect Project Renegade
Chapter 36: Horizon abductions…
Collector Seeker Swarms plagued the colony's skies, as they combed the colony trying to find any stray colonists. Jack immediately took notice to the collector pods, along the walls of the colonial shelters, before he could approach the pods, Jack was hit by a barrage of different assorted collector fire, knocking him against a square cover. Seeing their commander slid across the cover, the crew moved in for fire support. Collectors began to descend from the sky with their wings, Jack however took out his Black Widow and began to take potshots off of the descending Collectors. Grunt charged at a group of collectors squashing them against the walls, while equipping his claymore shotgun.
"HA! These Collectors aren't that tough!"
May, Zoey, and Zaeed began to flank the Collectors drawing their fire, while Garrus got up on a shelter tanking the Collectors out from a far. The wave of Collectors ended, leaving the rest of the crew to check their surroundings, making sure there were no stragglers.
Garrus activated his comm, as he folded up his equipment for his sniper.
"Area clear Shepard, heading down now."
The crew gathered around Shepard, as he signaled them in.
"Well we know that the seeker repellent works, alright here's the battle plan, we can't risk splitting up, in this kind of an environment, Collectors are an unknown, so let's make our way towards their ship and free the colonists, before it's too late."
Flashback…
2157/Shanxi/Bental –After the eviction of the Hierarchy forces
Jack was combing the streets of Bental of any Turian survivors on a kill or capture order. Bental was in ruins from the orbital bombardment. Charred corpses littered the streets of both resistance force and Turian forces. Jack heard a few metal objects fall from a destroyed apartment complex, Jack reacted by quickly raising his weapon towards the disturbance, out of the rubble came a little girl covered in burns, shrapnel, and ashes, while wrapped around a shredded blanket. Jack slowly lowered his weapon, as the little girl approached Jack with a limp. Jack strapped his rifle on his back, kneeling down as the little girl fell in to his arms. May came around the corner of the complex rendezvousing with her CO, she immediately stopped as she saw a little girl severely hurt, in Jack's arms. Jack looked at the little girl in his arms pale and unmoving, her eyes shut.
Jack that moment, as the little girl lied in his arms unresponsive, felt… Nothing… no pain….. no sorrow… not even hatred, just emptiness, emotionless, cold, and calculating…
Looking back, If he was the person he was today back then, he would of expressed all that a normal Human would've acted.
"HUSKS!" Tali shouted, gaining everyone's attention. Jack snapped out of it, seeing the oncoming wave of Reaperfied Husks. Barrage of rounds shredding the Husks along with collector forces. Jack approached on of the Husks corpses, observing it.
"These look like the Husks that were on Eden Prime… except more advanced."
Garrus put the barrel of his rifle moving the skull of the husk.
"They still die if we shoot them…"
Leng knelt down examining the tech on the corpse.
"Shepard Husks being here means the Reapers are definitely involved."
Jack put in a fresh clip for his rifle, while moving towards the next compound.
"This Colony is under attack remembered, get your assess in Gear!"
The ground team saw Jack press on ahead without them, as they were reloading their weapons. The Commander turned a corner seeing more Collector pods scattered around the entire compound, realizing he couldn't save them at the moment. Collector began to descend from the sky, attempting to ambush Jack. Jack immediately began to fire on the approaching forces, bringing most of the Collectors down, before the rest got close to him. A Collector in front of Jack, began to twitch uncontrollably… like it was some sort of possession occurring. The Collector began to glow as it lowered its weapon facing Jack in a non-hostile stance.
Shepard….
Jack lowered his weapon, while the crew just formed up behind him, with questioning expressions.
"Who are you?"
The Collector was still twitching, as it was observing Jack.
You may address me as Harbinger…
Flash backs of Saren came to mind, on the battle of the Citadel, making Jack immediately raise his weapon.
"You're a Reaper."
What you call us is of no concern, but your resistance, makes us question… why?
Jack had his scope aimed down on the Collector, waiting for him to make a wrong move.
"The cycle of your Organic Genocide, drives us to resist you."
Not Genocide, we uplift species whose potential exceeds others, Humans have a potential far greater than any other race we've encountered and we must understand why? Your species will be uplifted and be established as a dominate form to our Collective.
Jack's weapon still aimed down on Harbinger, resisting the urge to blow its head off.
"And Live as the Reapers Slaves? I will do whatever I have to do, to stop your plans."
You resist us, you will fail, join us Shepard and Humanity will become the Apex Race that this Galaxy has ever seen, the other species bow before us, as we amass through the Relays, it will take time, but it is inevitable.
Leng approached Shepard, drawing his weapon.
"Shepard it's stalling us…"
Jack raised the barrel of his gun up revealing a master key, a booming echo appeared from the gun blowing off the collector's head.
"Negotiations are over."
Hearing that Grunt made a loud laugh.
"HA! I like the way you think Shepard!"
Jack and the ground team continued forward, seeing Colonists in a frozen stasis, May scanned one with her arm tool on her armor, picking up the readings.
"The Colonists are frozen, able to see everything, but unable to move."
Jack just looked at the Colonists, seeing the irony of the situation.
"They've been like this a long time."
A bunker was blocking the ground team's path, Tali was about to hack in to it, but stopped when Jack began to issue his commands.
"May get this door unlocked."
Tali was a bit sad, from Jack's decision of security, but remained by his choice. May cracked her fingers heading near the console, two seconds later the door opened, causing the entire ground team to rush in.
Jack took point scanning the area, the Project Renegade vision picked up a life sign, where Jack just unholstered his Colt 1911.
"Company…. (The crew was signaled by Jack to point their weapons at the shelf.) Get out Here NOW!"
A colonist poked his head out to see the intruders, to his surprise they were Human, accompanied by Aliens.
"You're Human? Thank God I thought you were one of those things out there…"
Where are the other colonists, you'd think that the bunker would be packed?
I was just wondering that myself…001
Do you think he only made it in here? 100
That or he got in her first and made sure nobody else got in. 002
We should hurry up and head towards the Collector's loading point, before they abduct all of the colonists.
"How did you escape the Collectors?" asked Jack.
The Colonist looked pretty surprised, hearing that name.
"Those things are Collectors? I thought they were just a rumor, you know Alliance Propaganda to keep us in their space…. It's the Alliance Fault, they gave us faulty defense turrets that don't even work."
"You seem to distrust the Systems Alliance Government?" Asked Jack.
The Colonist expression turned to a unhappy expression, when discussing about the Alliance.
"I don't like them too many strings attach, things started to head south when they sent Commander Alenko, and Chief Williams here, oversee the defense grid they said, I told the Colonial Governor's board to let Cerberus build our defense, but no they wanted to show partnership in the name of 'good faith'."
He's not wrong Shepard, if Cerberus just built the defense, maybe Horizon wouldn't be in this situation…002
We'll worry about that later, right now we need to get the defense grid online. 001
Understood….002
Jack another pod is activating…
100: Good we need all the help we can get, who is it?
One moment…. Subject 50, is nearing his repair.
Jake? 001
Oh yeah, Jake he always looked up to you, I mean as an older brother. 002
Jake, was a good soldier…001
I thought it was kind of cute…100
Let's get back at the task at hand please…001
Jack turned to May ordering her to open the other door, leading to the next compound, before turning to the colonist.
"So you want to tell me why you're the only one in here?"
The Colonist seemed a little nervous, he began to rub the back of his neck.
"I was the lucky one who got in here, before the others…. They didn't make it in here… you know they got abducted."
May turned around to face Jack.
"He's lying, I just saw the recording, the colonist were attempting to get in, while he stood there idly, leaving them at the mercy of the Collector swarms."
The Colonist was about to reply, but was stopped when Jack backhanded him in to a bunch of crates.
"Let's get moving, being here makes me sick…"
2141
EDI?
How can I help you Jack?
I have a question… well more of a request…. 001
Yes?
Do you have access to the internet? 001
Yes I am connected to the Global internet, why do you ask… is this part of your request?
Yes… 001
One moment…. …. ….. Would you like to research on a particular topic?
Warfare 001
Streaming Now…
The Ground team made it to the defense towers, while witnessing the size of the Collector ship. Grunt just looked up, scratching his head plate.
"That's… big…"
EDI get the Defense Towers online. 001
Understood, warning once defense towers have been activated Collectors will hone in on the signal.
I understand, just get these towers operational, also have Kelly send The Illusive Man a message to bring in the fleet when we cripple the Collector's vessel. 001
Already done Shepard… Alert Incoming hostiles.
The ground team took their positions around the crates scattered across the compound, Tali, Kasumi, and May provided flanking support as a Pretorian appeared. Harbinger took possession of the Pretorian, causing it the possessed unit to fire a deadly beam at the flankers. Seeing the weaponized creature fire the projectiles, Kasumi hit the ground leaving May to tackle Tali to the ground saving her from the incineration. Tali just look at May as she lied there in the ground.
"Keelah! You saved my life, Thank you!"
May put her in cover with her shotgun.
"Don't mention it, stay down while this thing is active."
Jack just witnessed three of his crewmembers duck for cover, and nearly killed in the blast. Enraged Jack drew his sword charging at the possessed creature. Harbinger took notice of Jack's movements and began barraging Jack with projectiles.
Shepard you will fail…
Jack slid under the Pretorian slicing its claws off,
This form's pain means nothing…
Jack grabbed it by its legs smashing it against the wall then breaking it in two as he slammed his foot down on its exoskeleton.
Releasing Control of this form
Jack turned around but was surprised when a collector blade went through his chest, catching him off guard, Jack used his palm to break the blade, while grabbing the collector tossing it, over his shoulder to the ground. The Collector was recovering from the shock, but was too late, when Jack brought his foot down on the Collectors head, squashing it. Tali and May rushed over to Jack to check on his injuries.
"Shepard! … Are you alright?" Asked Tali.
Jack checked his wound, thinking he need to repair the injury immediately, to his surprise the wound began to selfheal. May quickly took notice to the feat.
"Wow… that's new…"
The wave of Collectors ceased as the Defenses began to hit critical places of the ship. Out of the Horizon's Atmosphere, came three Cerberus Destroyers, companied by six Cerberus Frigates. As the ship's engines were crippled, the Collector Ship, emitted a hologram to the Ground Team's position, revealing Harbingers form, a Sovereign Class Reaper.
Shepard…. You managed to thwart our abduction, we are impressed, but it was not enough you see this as a victory, but we are more resourceful than you realize, your species will know it's Genetic Destiny…
"This was just a warning shot, we've got a lot more than this, so tell your friends that you better expect a fight."
You will fail…
The Hologram shut down, leaving the crew to catch a breath from the fight, behind them came the colonist that was knocked out in the bunker.
"Holy Shit, you did it, I can't believe it…. You saved the Colony… who are you?"
Kaidan, followed by Ashley came out from a Colonial shelter.
"Commander Shepard, Captain of the Normandy, Hero of the Citadel." Stated Kaidan.
Ashley crossed her arms while looking at the Colonist.
"You're in the presences of a God Delan, back from the Dead."
Jack immediately shook their hands; something seemed off about the two.
"You two don't seem happy to see me, something wrong?"
Ashley glared at her former Commander.
"Yeah something's wrong you play dead for two years, and come back like this?"
"We would have followed you to the ends of the Galaxy Commander, why didn't you contact us?"
Jack stepped back a couple steps, trying to gain some space, from the two.
"Wasn't my choice, I was in a coma being upgraded by Cerberus… that and dealing with the Collectors, so I apologize for not giving you the heads up."
Kaidan was silent for the moment, but Ashley looked like she still had some things to say to Jack.
"I should've guess Cerberus had something to do with this." Hissed Ashley, causing Jack to glare beneath his helmet.
"Ash—" Kaidan spoke but was shortly interrupted by Jack.
"What the Hell is your problem?" Jack shouted at Ashley, fists curled.
Ashley, stepped forward a bit, trying to gain ground.
"My Problem?! The Systems Alliance Government has members in our own Fucking Parliament, preaching how Cerberus should be leading Earth and her colonies! Cerberus is undermining our Government, and now they're setting up attacks like these all over the Terminus!"
Jack was shocked of the last statement coming from her lips, but May stepped in front of Jack, approaching Ashley.
"What? We came here to save the colony, your asses with it, and you have the nerve to say we stage an attack on our own colony?! We're you Fucking dropped on your head when you were an infant?"
Tali and Garrus approached the Commander, seeing there was a heated conversation occurring between the small group. Kaidan took notice to the two approaching the scene.
"Garrus and Tali too?" Kaidan interjected in to the conversation.
Ashley just backed up to Kaidan, seeing the rest of Jack's crew arrive.
"You all are throwing your lot with Cerberus? You guys are playing with a dangerous faction." Ashley stated.
Jack had enough of Ashley, things do need to change.
"You know what, maybe Cerberus should be running the Systems Alliance, all I've seen is weak, incompetent leaders driving Mankind down the disposal. You saw it, the Collectors are working with the Reapers, and they're attacking colonies… So why don't you get your Fucking head into the game Ash, and see the Big Fucking Picture, division is death!"
"Shepard, we don't have your beliefs, or your drives we believe in something else entirely, Cerberus is to… Harsh is Galactic affairs, they put their own needs first before the state of the Galaxy, and we can't have them represent the Systems Alliance that way." Kaidan stated to Jack.
May and Leng just glared at the two, but what Jack said next made a number of his crew gasp.
"…. Then die with the Millions who will be exterminated by the Reapers, die knowing you help cause the destruction, by doing nothing."
EDI, signal the shuttles to come around… I had enough of this Colony. 001
Understood Jack…
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