A Reaper.
Sovereign's a Reaper.
The words of the machine echoed through Michael's mind, making the visions of the Prothean beacons flutter just beyond his vision. Cries of anguish and agony...Michael wasn't sure if it was that of the Prothean or the Krogan he'd just blown a leg off as his team pushed through the Krogan breeding chamber...it was all...blurring together.
Take out the anti-air guns, ensure the Normandy can land with the bomb, do it.
He clenched his eyes shut, the storm of pebbles against his chest as a shotgun shot tore into his cover going ignored as he felt his mind sway, struggling with the information of the beacons, made all the heavier by Sovereigns words...
Do it!
A small growl...and he spun round, levelled his rifle...and the Krogan before him fell with a grunt, its innards spilling into the ankle-deep water.
The Krogan breeding chamber was dank and covered in water that had been filthy even before it had been stained by Krogan blood and guts...it was a disgusting place, the walls on each side covered with massive steel cylinders, several which had opened to reveal Krogan warriors in full arms and armour, born out of steel, ready to kill.
And at the far end...the generator, a large orb of silver plates that at the bottom sported the controls Michael had to reach.
One couldn't fault Saren's choice of where to put it though, while filthy, the breeding chamber held a great number of warriors, who while barely born...still proved formidable in such numbers.
Ahead Wrex roared, the Krogan tackled out of cover by a charging clone, only for him to smash his hands into its head and send his opponent down into the mud. But more came, three more charging at Wrex, shotguns blasting even as they bowed their heads in that great Krogan charge...
Michael fired, and one fell with a gasp, its knee shattering.
And Wrex moved to meet their charge, knees bending at the last instant and then pushing upwards as the charges met...and bashed the other two over with his larger weight and skill, his shotgun quickly finishing them off.
But there were more, there were always more...and Michael was painfully aware of their lack of time.
He looked over to Liara, the Asari clutching the cover offered by one of the supporting pillars to his left...and had an idea. "Liara! The pillars!" She looked at him, incredulous...and Michael gestured up where there was clear sky just in the middle of the ceiling, the rest held up by the two rows of steel pillars, ceiling that eventually reached the breeding cylinders. "Destroy them!"
Liara stared at him, mouth opening in shock.
"Do it!"
A shake of her head...and the Asari was suddenly aglow with energy, the glow twice the size of the woman as she raised both hands over her head...
It was pulsing, two orbs of dark purple power held in her hands...
And then they arched out, up, forth...crashing into the nearest pillars on each side, through them, into the next, the one after that, and the one after that...
Steel bent, groaned, gave in...
There was a loud crack...and then the supports gave in, pillar after pillar snapping like dry twigs.
The entire team leapt into the centre of the room...and crouched low as the ceiling above bent, cracked...and folded inwards as the only thing keeping it up was the outer walls...
A crash...and the metal cylinders lining the walls to each side were crushed by the swinging and crashing ceilings.
Then Michael was moving, ignoring the coughing of Wrex and Liara, knowing they'd be fine as he himself jogged through the cloud of dust made by the collapsing roof and through the now cleared chamber...
The console appeared through he smoke, screen flickering on as he approached. Password-protected.
Good that I had a lesson with Tali then...he nearly smirked at the memory...and activated his omni-tool, digits playing over it a moment later.
Of course he hadn't learnt all that much...but the password was simply there to stop new-born Krogan from fiddling with the thing...and easy, even for him, to breach.
A moment later he reached up to his helmet, switching frequency: "Normandy, this is Shadow, the towers are offline, you may start your descent." Another switch even as he heard the others move up behind him. "Aegohr, this is Shadow, we are coming, what's your status?"
A crackle of static, then Ashley's voice: "This is Williams, the Captain's treating an injury, we're down three men, several injuries, but fuck, we're holding them!" A small chuckle, then a more sombre tone. "We really need help...now..."
Hurry.
"We're on our way, retreat and regroup." Michael whirled round, gaze momentarily flicking up to the sight of the Normandy as it came sweeping in with Kaidan and its payload.
As planned it would land in a large open space that had – before Shadow had cleared it – been a refuelling site for combat drones, or so the numerous tanks of gas had implied. All Michael cared for was that it was large enough to let the Normandy land however, right at the centre of the base with its deadly payload...
Running out of time...
He switched off the com as with a wave of his hand he ordered the others to follow, his voice low: "We're on our way..."
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Ahead the rampart was full of Geth snipers, or rather, the remains of them after Michael's team had gotten the drop on them.
They were unimportant however, their snipping couldn't have overly bothered the distant STG that were nothing but distant dots outside the base as they battled a virtual flood of Geth and Krogan that streamed towards them.
It didn't look good.
We can make it.
Michael begun to run...only to come to a sharp halt as the com crackled into life: "This is Alenko! I have Geth dropping in on my position! Large numbers of Geth!"
The bomb, it must be secured.
A moment of hesitation...then Michael nodded to himself: "Light, move to reinforce Alenko, secure the payload."
Garrus' voice held a grin in it: "Acknowledged, we're on it."
Good.
Michael took a step forward.
Only for Kaidan to call out again: "Negative on that! Don't come here! I'm activating the nuke!" What! "Saren's here! I repeat, Saren's here!"
Primary objective...but...
Michael went still, an odd...sharp...pain boring into his skull.
Kaidan was coughing, gunfire loud in the background "I'll hold them! You go and-"
"Negative on that!" Garrus snorted. "We're coming!"
No...wrong...we can't...
Michael felt all colour drain from his face as the calculations in his brain was overturned, the sum no longer adding up, the price racing upwards...paralysing him.
No...
"No! Don't he's too-" A scream of agony, and Kaidan's call was cut short.
"This is Light, we're moving Commander." Garrus growled, his breath heavy in Michael's ear as the Turian ran. "Any orders?"
Ashley...Kirrahe...regrouping...the plan...need more men...
He flinched, half-turning, hands finding the banister of the rampart, gripping it tightly as he swayed, the calculations were clear...and he couldn't accept it.
But primary objective...Kaidan...Garrus...Tali...no...
He's too powerful...
But we promised Kirrahe...duty...the lives of soldiers...my responsibility...
Garrus' voice was a distant call: "Commander?"
Saren...engaging him can endanger mission...but...if he gets a hold of the bomb...
But...Ashley...those trusting me...
"Commander?"
"GAH!" Michael's right hand flew up in a fist...and then crashed down into the railing, crashing right through the steel.
Then Liara's hand on his shoulder. "Commander..."
I...command.
Michael screwed his eyes shut, unclenching his fist as he struggled for breath. Where's the objective? Where's the...calm? The mission? The focus?
Nothing answered him.
I...still command...and the proper course of action says...
God...
A gasp for air, Michael not realising he had been holding it...and he straightened. "Shadow here, Light, move to assist Alenko, but do so with caution, Shadow will reinforce and flank, primary objective is securing the bomb, secondary Saren."
"Acknowledged, Commander." Garrus clicked the com shut, a hint of relief in his voice.
Then Ashley's voice, soft: "I guess that means-"
"No." Michael snapped, shaking his head violently. "Assume a defensive position and hold the line, we will finish this swiftly and then come for you."
A small snort, the voice still soft: "Michael..."
"No! You will do this!" Michael growled the words, feeling out of breath. "Hold on and I will come for you!"
"Michael..."
His right hand shot up, catching him against the railing as he shook his head, fiery pain shooting through his spine.
No.
He pushed it aside, face twisting into one of rage, voice a low growl: "You will hold...is that clear?"
"I..." Ashley sighed. "...yes...Michael."
He straightened, purpose burning through him, a need...a need to hurry. "And then I'll come for you."
Another sigh...and then a small chuckle: "Well...if anyone could pull that off it's you..."
And Michael started running.
I will make it...
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Thanks to Abydos Jackson for pushing through this one.