A/N: Please review and tell me what you think, who'd you like to see more/less of, etc.
CADMUS VAKARIAN, EARTH STARBASE, MAY 12 2185
"Oculus squadron approaching on left flank."
So far, so good. Resistance wasn't all that bad.
"Tasking autocannon turrets 10 and 12 to eliminate."
The two turrets in question updated their statuses with little chirps on his display, each one expending about two hundred solid osmium shells on the tiny fighter drones.
"Confirmed destruction of Oculus squadron."
"Copy that."
The turrets slowly replenished their munitions stock from the ship's internal munitions carousel as the active sensors swept for contacts.
"Contact! Incoming Reaper destroyer!"
"Solid copy. Prep plasma cannon turrets 1, 3 and 5 for engagement. As soon as the firing chamber opens I want an ion bolt on that thing, then immediate fire on the beam primer."
"Copy that, Chief. Turrets 1, 3 and 5 standing by. Ion cannon reports ready."
A few tense seconds passed as Cadmus anxiously fiddled with his mandible.
"Firing chamber opening!"
"Execute!"
The ion bolt lanced out, momentarily paralysing the destroyer. The effect of the ion bolt lasted for exactly seven seconds, but seven seconds of fire from three capital-class Geth plasma cannon turrets was more than enough. The superheated bolts ripped through the firing chamber and into the drive core, detonating it and shattering the destroyer in a blue flash.
"Chief! Two more destroyers approaching!"
Now things were getting interesting.
"Prep all portside plasma turrets for immediate fire. First sucker to open up, I want ions on it."
"Chief, gunnery reports power surge in the ion cannon. It's out of commission."
Fuck, that just isn't fair.
"Alright, change of plans. Focus all fire on contact rumba delta two. Time for the boys down in the energy shielding department to earn their pay."
"Copy that, Chief. All turrets firing on rumba delta two."
It took the combined fire of the plasma turrets a good twenty seconds to disable the destroyer, during which time its buddy landed two beam strikes on the Karamazov's energy shield.
"Shielding at ninety per cent, Chief."
"Copy that. Switch fire to rumba delta three."
"Sir, turrets three and seven report serious overheating."
Agh! Spirits damn it!
"Tell them to close up and vent as quick as they can."
"Alert! New contact detected, capital class. Range two thousand and closing."
"Copy that. Keep hammering the destroyer and tell the captain we need to hustle. We don't have the juice to play with the big boys."
"Solid copy. Three back online. Seven report they are experiencing some problems with their heat sink."
"Get technicians to seven immediately."
"Contact rumba delta three breaking off, sustained heavy damage."
"Copy that. Hold fire unless it moves to engage."
"Chief?"
"We need everything up and running to face off whatever rumba charlie one's going to send our way."
"Copy that, Chief. Plasma turrets venting heat sinks."
"Give me an update on rumba charlie one."
"Rumba charlie one holding at range one thousand. Turning broadside ... Launching Oculi swarms!"
"All portside autocannon, ready firing solution Diamondbox-Six-Six. Let rip as soon as those rumba oscars are in range."
"Solid copy, Chief. Portside autocannon spinning up."
"Rumba Charlie one beginning to close behind Oculus screen, Chief."
"Copy that. Tell the Captain we need to be gone yesterday."
"Understood. Captain says phase engines are charging."
Thank the Spirits for that.
"Chief! One of the tachyon tethers is leaking! Captain reports we will be gone in T-minus one minute!"
Fuck!
"Time to contact?"
"Twenty five seconds!"
"What's the status of the ion bolt?"
"Still down, Chief."
"Chief! Two destroyers closing starboard! They blindsided us!"
"Alright! Divvy up starboard plasma turrets, three and three. Sustain fire on those destroyers. Least we can do is discourage them from opening their firing chambers."
"Copy that, Chief. Starboard plasma firing."
"Ten seconds to contact, Chief!"
"Chief! New contacts, two destroyers and a capital class coming right for our six!"
"Range?"
"Two thousand and closing fast!"
"Looks like it's that time of month for the big lady in the sky."
"Contact portside!"
"Fire autocannon!"
The rattling, percussive thud of autocannon shells filled the room as the golden ingots leaped out, smashing aside Oculi.
"Twenty seconds to phase jump!"
"Chief! Rumba Charlie one now within plasma range! Charging Thanix!"
"Fire portside plasma!"
"Sir, seven's crashing again!"
Spirits protect me from the incompetence of plasma gunners!
"Ten seconds to phase jump!"
"Sir! Rumba Charlie one now firing!"
"Brace!"
The entire room shuddered as the beam struck the energy shield.
"Shields at forty per cent! We're fucked!"
"No we're not!"
"Phase jump successful!"
The tac display was frozen on the display updated one millisecond before the phase jump. Two Reaper capital ships, one coming from directly behind, prepping to fire into the engines, the other striking from slightly above the plane and on portside. Two destroyers coming from down and starboard, both effectively suppressed, and two more about to fire from behind. A scattered field of debris that used to be a swarm of Oculi and one heavily damaged destroyer limping away.
Holy shit that was close.
RAEL'ZORAH VAS KARAMAZOV, EARTH STARBASE, MAY 12 2185
"I have to say, I'm impressed."
Beside him Legion nodded its head.
"The candidate showed an impressive control of his temper, as well as sufficient adaptability to recognise when it was appropriate to switch from a more offensive stance to a defensive one. In this simulation when the two destroyers come from starboard most candidates focus fire on one, eliminating it but opening themselves up to attack from the other. By choosing to suppress both destroyers candidate Vakarian managed to avoid extra stress on the shielding while still damaging both destroyers. This was also demonstrated when he ordered to hold fire on contact rumba delta three as it fled, instead preparing his plasma turrets for other targets."
Rael nodded, hands clasped under his chin.
"Mm, yes. He only made one mistake I saw. When rumba delta three was escaping, he had all portside plasma turrets vent at the same time, briefly negating all heavy firepower on that side of the ship, despite the fact that rumba delta three still had partial operation of its main weapon. If the destroyer had decided to make another run it could have done significant damage before the plasma turrets could re-engage."
Legion shifts its head flaps slightly, splaying the lower ones out like a Turian's mandibles.
"Acknowledged. However out of all available candidates Cadmus Vakarian is the most consistently efficient. He shows remarkable control of himself and his crew and is quick to adapt to rapidly changing situations."
"I agree with you there, XO. What about his family situation?"
Legion paused briefly, retrieving data from the starbase servers.
"Wife, Carissa Vakarian. Competent surgeon but medical shows she has a higher than usual probability of developing Cassatian syndrome, a wasting muscle disease, within ten years. The condition should be easily treatable with a gene mod. Son, Garrus Vakarian. Thirteen years old, currently engaged in genetic modification for the Sigma programme, has developed a circle of close friends on the Karamazov. Daughter, Solana Vakarian. Six years old, aptitude tests show she is highly intelligent, bordering on genius level, but too early to definitively determine."
"Alright, tag and bag him. Our medbay is short staffed anyway, we could use an extra surgeon."
"Acknowledged. Submitting transfer request."
TALI'ZORAH NAR RAYYA, EARTH STARBASE, MAY 20 2185
"Kaz? Are you okay?"
The thirteen year old boy looked up at her from his position hunched on the bench in one of the observation decks.
"Oh. Tali."
He looked back out at the view of Earth. After a second, she came to sit next to him, peeking up at him from under her bangs.
"What's wrong?"
There was a pause for a moment.
"It's my stupid parents again."
Tali leaned into his side and after a moment he put his arm around her.
"What did they do?"
"They just think they're always right, you know? And they're getting all high and mighty about being Sigma. They say things like 'Ascension are all biotic freaks' and 'N7 aren't real soldiers' and then they go and tell me and Karina they don't want us to hang out with people who aren't Sigma. And then we told them that was bull, and they said either we were with them or against them, and I said fine! I'm against you and your superior bullshit, and the next thing I know ..."
He swung his arm round and for the first time Tali noticed that there were several bags in the corner piled up.
"They kicked you out?"
"Yeah."
"Those bosh'tets!" She paused as something occurred to her. "Where's Karina?"
He glanced over to the woman's bathroom.
"She locked herself in one of the stalls and hasn't come out."
"Do you want me to go talk to her?"
"Could you?"
She smiled and patted his elbow.
"I'll be back soon."
She got up and headed into the women's bathroom, easily zeroing in on the sound of weeping emanating from the stall at the end of the row.
"Kari?"
"Fuck off Tali."
"Kaz told me what happened."
"Fuck Kaz! This is all his fault!"
"Please, come out. We can sort this out ..."
The door slammed back against the wall and Karina stormed out, the enormous Sigma recruit bodily yanking her off her feet and slamming her back against the wall. She cried out in shock and pain as the back of her head hit the unyielding metal and suddenly the fire in Karina's eyes was extinguished.
"Oh my god, Tali, I'm so sorry!"
Tali tentatively put her arms around her enormous friend.
"Come on, Kari. We'll all get together, figure something out, okay?"
Karina hugged Tali tightly, bending her neck down to press her face into the top of Tali's head.
"What could we possibly do?"
Tali pulled back slightly and looked up at her best friend.
"You're forgetting something."
She put on an incredibly phoney Miranda impression.
"My daddy's the Captain."
ASHLEY WILLIAMS, VANCOUVER, MAY 21 2185
"Oh, motherf..."
Her exclamation of dismay was cut short by her stomach giving another almighty heave, eliciting a low groan from the thirteen year old girl kneeling over the toilet.
"Ashley, honey, how are you doing?"
She briefly clutched at her backflipping intestines before hollering back a response.
"I'm fine, Mum. Just the gene mods acting up again."
After a moment, she heard her mother padding away from the bathroom door. Moments later:
"Ashy! Ashy!"
"Not now Sarah. I'm busy ... urk"
Once again her stomach spasmed epically despite having run out of puke two hours ago. The Sigma gene mods made a subject stronger, faster, larger and smarter but they also made them sick as a varren for about forty eight hours after each monthly dose, which is, as Kaidan put it, suboptimal.
Oh shit. Here it comes again.
"Fucking gene mods ..."
JEFF MOREAU, SATURN STARBASE, JULY 5 2185
"Spade checking in."
"Club checking in."
"Diamond checking in."
"Queen checking in."
"Heart checking in."
"King checking in."
"Ace checking in."
Flight Trainee Jeff Moreau skimmed his eyes over the engine lights and nodded to himself. All good.
"Joker checking in. Alright people, this is our first flight as a squadron, so let's not fuck this one up, okay?"
"Copy that, Joker."
"Stick with your wingman and try not to die. This is one hell of a big step up from the simulator. Even with the compensators on full we're still going to be feeling some Gs."
He glanced at his mission clock.
"Launch in T-minus two minutes people. Last chance to check your engines, call your ma, touch yourself, whatever."
He flipped the comm off and turned around in his seat. His trainee squadron were the first to be trained solely on the new Shriken-class corvettes. Unlike the old five-man Stilat class, the Shrikens only required a single pilot, the functions of the other four crew filled solely by a highly advanced AI.
"Edi, talk to me. How are we doing?"
The holographic AI avatar of an incredibly fit brunette in an un-naturally tight Flight Academy uniform glanced at him from her position perched on a metal panel in the roomy cockpit, idly swinging her legs. Like him, she took the appearance of a sixteen year old Flight Trainee, albeit an incorporeal supermodel Flight Trainee.
"All systems optimal, Joker."
The comm crackled briefly.
"Normandy squadron, attention. Your mission brief is being uploaded to your co-pilots now. Be advised, your ships are carrying live munitions for a live-fire target exercise at the end of the mission. Launch in thirty seconds."
"Copy that. Normandy squadron out."
He thumbed the comm off.
"What the shit! Live fire on the first flight?"
Edi blinked and rubbed her forehead.
"Well, our squadron and us specifically have attained consistently record-breaking scores on all areas in the simulators."
"Have we ... Wait. You didn't hack the database, did you?"
The avatar smirked and put her finger to her lips.
"I won't tell if you don't."
"Copy that, ma'am."
JUSTICAR SAMARA, ARDAT-YAKSHI MONASTERY ON LESUSS, JULY 16 2185
"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you where you stand!"
Morinth subtly shifted her grip on her pistol, keeping it trained on her mother's head as Samara aimed her Disciple shotgun straight at her eldest daughter.
"Look around you, Mother!"
"Don't call me Mother!"
"I came here to save Falere and Rila! You abandoned them here, but I never forgot about them. Like it or not they're my sisters!"
"They stayed in the monastery, swore to do no harm! You ran around the galaxy, leaving a trail of bodies!"
"THEY'RE STRONGER THAN ME!"
Samara was briefly silenced by the tone of Morinth's voice.
"I was too weak to control myself! I couldn't stop myself, but Rila and Falere could. That's why I came here. I need to save them because they're better. Stronger."
A single tear rolled down a blue cheek as she continued, her pistol wavering.
"You can't imagine what it's like. The power. It's addictive. I tried to stop, I always told myself it was going to be the last one, that maybe this time I would settle down, live a normal life, but I never could!"
Before Samara could reply, an unearthly shriek rent the air. Mother and daughter looked at each other.
"Fight Banshee now, kill me later."
"Agreed."
And with that they both dove for cover. The Banshee emerged at the end of the room, shrieking as it biotically jumped towards them, flanked by three Cannibals.
"Mother! Reave it!"
Samara leaned out of cover and threw a purple ball of energy, surrounding the mutated Ardat-Yakshi in a nimbus of purple before putting several rounds into one of the Cannibals, felling it. Morinth reached out mentally, hammering her way into the mind of another one of the Cannibals.
Kill the Banshee.
The Batarian husk paused for a moment before redirecting its fire towards the Banshee. The monster was quick to turn around and pick it up, examining it curiously before plunging a clawed hand through its abdomen. Morinth cried out in shock and ducked back into cover. It was always horrible when someone she was controlling was killed. For a moment she had felt the claw as if it was striking into her own gut instead of the Cannibal's. Samara glanced over to her before spraying more Disciple rounds at the Banshee.
"Move to flank it!"
Morinth scrambled up and, still crouched, ran over to a position at the Banshee's four o clock, popping up to send a flurry of pistol shots that felled the last Cannibal.
Before Samara could do anything else gunfire sounded out, tearing through the Banshee. She looked back in amazement to see a line of white armoured figures holding out glowing blue shields, absorbing one of the Banshee's biotic bursts with little difficulty as more of the white figures split off from the main group, surrounding the mutant Ardat-Yakshi and opening fire with rifles that seemed to be a fusion of Geth technology with the M-76 Revenant, the glowing plasma rounds tearing through the armour of the abomination with disturbing ease.
The Banshee fell, shrieking, as one of the figures approached Samara, scanning her with what seemed to be a blue version of an Omnitool. The figure was of a Turian, regarding her through a black full-face visor. The armour was quite strange, seeming to have design influences from Krogan armour, Geth plating and even Quarian exosuits as well as some design elements that were utterly alien to her.
The Turian removed his helmet and nodded to her.
"Major Nihlus Kryik, TEC Marines, Sigma corps. Are you wounded, ma'am?"
She blinked and shook her head.
"No, I am unharmed. Are you not a Spectre?"
Nihlus grinned and absent mindedly scratched his mandible.
"I was. Thanks to my prior combat expertise, I was approved for the accelerated Sigma programme induction. And of course, that means nothing to you. My apologies. And you are ..."
"Justicar Samara."
His mandibles swung open in surprise.
"A Justicar? What brings you out here?"
Samara looked downwards, ashamed.
"My daughters. This is an Ardat-Yakshi monastery. They are residents here."
"Ardat-Yakshi?"
She sat down heavily on one of the planting beds she had recently been taking cover behind and sighed.
"It is a rare genetic condition. An Ardat-Yakshi will kill anyone she tries to meld with."
At that precise moment, Morinth walked up with two more Sigma troopers. Nihlus nodded at them.
"Ma'am, may I introduce Lieutenants Armando-Owen Bailey and Kal'Reegar vas Lazarus. Owen, Kal, this is Justicar Samara."
Kal removed his helmet and scratched his nose.
"Mm, a pleasure. Major, Morinth. Morinth, Major Nihlus Kryik."
Samara spoke up again.
"My daughter here is an Ardat-Yakshi."
"Owen, take a tissue sample."
Without further ceremony Bailey jabbed a needle through Morinth's armour and into her wrist.
"Ow! Daughter of a bitch!"
"Ah, quit whining ya big baby."
He withdrew the needle.
"Siri, run a genetic assay on this, will ya?"
"Yes, Lieutenant Bailey. Analysis complete. Ardat-Yakshi genetic markers identified. Transmitting data to Lazarus for gene mod synthesis."
Morinth was looking at the glowing blue iTool with amazement.
"Your Omnitool talks?"
"iTool, not Omnitool, and yeah. So shall we get hustlin' or what?"
Samara narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"What was all that about?"
"Synthesisin' a cure for your Ardent Yakshagger whatever."
"You can do that?"
The one called Bailey tilted his head. Although it was impossible to tell through the opaque visor, she had the feeling he was looking at her with incredulity.
"Yeah, the TEC ain't half bad at playin' with genetics. Woulda thought the seven foot tall Quarian bloke would be a dead giveaway, but eh."
Morinth shook her head.
"Look, we can worry about that later. Right now we need to find my sisters and anyone else left alive. The Reapers are turning them into those ... Those."
She gestured at the dead Banshee on the ground.
"Holy shit. She was one tough bitch, too."
The Sigmas were distracted from their conversation with Samara and Morinth by a bright flash in the sky. Moments later the shout went up.
"They did it! Captain Kirrahe took down the Rumba Charlie!"
Samara and Morinth looked at each other, baffled by the stone cold warriors suddenly jumping up and hugging one another.
"What's going on?"
Nihlus turned to her, elation apparent on his face.
"Our ship just took out a Reaper capital ship!"
Nihlus allowed his men exactly forty seven seconds of celebration before snapping them back into order.
"Nexus Unit! Let's move!"
The twelve white-armoured figures fell in, forming three four-man squads.
"Samara, go with Kal'Reegar's squad. Morinth, you're with Bailey's squad. Let's shift, people!"
RAEL'ZORAH VAS KARAMAZOV, TON KARAMAZOV, JULY 19 2185
Hannah stared in disbelief at the transfer orders in her hand.
"Captain ... TON Titunev?"
Rael'Zorah nodded solemnly.
"Correct. Captain Gerrel is in need of some experienced Sigmas to shore up his detachment. Most of them are straight from the Academy."
The Titunev? Hannah and her husband Artyom could hardly believe their luck. The Titunev, serving under the legendary Captain Gerrel on the only ship in the fleet with three confirmed Reaper capital ship kills painted on her bow?
"Captain, I ... I don't know what to say."
"I didn't want to lose you two, but Han'Gerrel is an old friend of mine and he managed to convince me he needed your expertise more than me. Congratulations. However, I do have one piece of bad news."
Hannah just blinked at him, not seeing any bad news possible.
"The Marza-class dreadnought TON Lazarus has just reported another confirmed Reaper capital ship destroyed. I regret to inform you that you are now transferring to the second most successful ship in the fleet."
Both Hannah and Artyom chuckled at that.
"Well, thank you anyway, Captain Zorah. It's been a pleasure serving under you."
"And it's been a pleasure having you on my ship. Your shuttle to Mars Starbase leaves in six hours."
The two Sigmas hurried off to pack up their cabin and Rael let out a tired sigh.
"XO, you have the conn."
"Acknowledged, Captain."
Rael jogged through the corridors to his cabin, finding Tali sitting at the table with Kari and Kaz, the Shepard twins.
"Hi Dad."
"Hey Tali. There's a package for me at Shuttle Bay 3. Do you think you could go fetch it?"
"Sure Dad."
The Quarian girl enthusiastically bounced out of the room as Rael sat down at the table.
"I've got some good news for you two."
The twins turned to look directly at him, their green eyes boring into his silver ones.
"I finally managed to transfer your parents off the ship. They're headed over to the Titunev."
The two of them immediately leaped up and hugged him, eliciting a surprised squawk.
"Thanks so much for everything you've done, Mr. Zorah."
"Ah, I'd do it for any of Tali's friends."
Slight fib. There was no way in hell he'd let Massani's whelps move in with him and Tali if their dad kicked them out, but then again that would never happen. Say what you will about Zaeed but he loved his kids.
"Now I believe we have something to set up before Tali returns."
TALI'ZORAH NAR RAYYA, TON KARAMAZOV, JULY 19 2185
Keelah, this package was heavy! Arms straining, she lugged it through the corridors, almost colliding with several crewmembers who seemed to find the sight of a twelve year old Quarian girl tottering under the weight of whatever was in the package incredibly cute. Finally she made it back to the cabin she shared with Rael, groaning and running a hand through her hair after dumping the package on the floor. The lights were out.
"Dad? Kaz? Kari?"
Huh. Odd. She flicked the lightswitch.
"Surprise!"
She nearly jumped out of her skin as the room lit up, showing her circle of friends, along with Dad, Mr. and Mrs. Vakarian and Uncle Wrex, all standing under a banner reading 'HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY TALI'.
Her friends swarmed her, Kaz and Kari lifting her up and parading her around the spacious cabin as everyone struck up a chorus of 'Happy Birthday'. As they set her down, Tali looked over to her father, her face a picture of innocence.
"So what's in the box?"
WARLORD OKEER, BENNING MILITARY LAB, JULY 24 2185
Benning was a soft planet, thought Okeer. None of the challenges of old Tuchanka. Ironic, that this soft planet had been selected for the location of the creation of hardened warriors.
Because of his millennium of expertise in genetics, Okeer, along with the Human Lawson and the Quarian Xen, was one of the chief geneticists of the Sigma project. It was his responsibility to ensure that each successive generation of Sigmas were stronger, tougher, faster than before. The latest iteration of gene mods, Sigma Four, had been released to coincide with the 2184-85 intake year. A shame he wasn't permitted to entertain some of his more outlandish ideas. Despite his best protests, Lawson continued to state that integrating Blood Rage into Sigmas would only make them a liability on the battlefield, pointing out some failed programme called Blue Sun as a demonstration of exactly how stupid it was to mess with the candidates's brain chemistry. A shame that, but he had to admit, Xen's idea of completely removing their pain receptors was idiotic beyond belief. Every Krogan knew that pain made you stronger, and Lawson also had a point about the way that pain was the body's warning system. But Lawson wasn't perfect either - both he and Xen had shot down his idea about using Rachni gene mods to give all Sigma recruits biotics. Okeer was firmly of the opinion that reliance on biotics bred weakness and Xen had pragmatically pointed out that if the Sigma programme was folded into the Ascension programme they would be out of a job.
So Okeer contented himself with testing his wilder theories on tank bred Krogan. Since the TEC used Rachni pheromone capsules to effectively render the Genophage ineffective, Okeer could focus his efforts elsewhere. Such as producing the ultimate Sigma in a tank. Obviously he had picked a Krogan basis - they were, after all, the strongest species - and now he was cramming in as many gene mods as physically possible. He had also, he hoped, manage to divorce Blood Rage hormones from higher order brain function, meaning that theoretically his prototype should be able to go into Blood Rage but still be able to think clearly on top of that.
He paused for a second and looked at the silver plated Krogan child floating in the breeding tank. Oh yes. He would be the ultimate soldier. The strongest grunt.
EDI, SATURN STARBASE, JULY 30 2185
Audio input: Hey Edi. How's the ship?
Processing
Retrieving data
Audio output: All fine, Jeff. What's up?
Audio input: Just wanted to talk.
Processing
Analysing
Analysis complete: Jeff is upset
Visual output: Facial Expression #506 (Concerned Frown IV)
Audio output: Jeff, you seem upset.
Visual input: Jeff slumps in seat
Processing
Analysing facial expression
Analysis complete: Earlier conclusion stands
Audio input: Just thinking about my condition, you know?
Processing
Retrieving data
Audio output: Vrolik's syndrome?
Audio input: Yeah, that.
Processing
Visual output: Facial expression #329 (Understanding VII)
Audio output: You must know that nobody in the Academy thinks less of you because of that. In fact many people have expressed their admiration for your resolve in qualifying as a pilot despite the condition.
Visual input: Jeff turns to look at my avatar.
Processing
Analysing facial expression
Analysis complete: Jeff feels reassured.
Secondary analysis complete: He's kind of cute.
Audio input: Uh, Edi?
Disregarding secondary analysis
Processing
Audio output: Sorry. Got lost in thought.
Visual output: Facial expression #162 (Shy Smile II)
Audio input: Alright then. Glad to see you're back.
Processing
Analysing
Analysis complete: He really is cute. I wonder if he and I ...
Disregarding analysis!
DAVID ANDERSON, JUPITER TITAN DOCKS, AUGUST 1 2185
"At ease, Captain."
Captain Anderson lowered his arm from his salute and watched Admiral Hackett walk over to the observation window.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Admiral?"
Hackett was silent for a moment, looking down at the docks.
"You do realise what an investment this ship of yours represents?"
"Yes sir, I do."
"The resources we've sunk into this, we could build twelve Kol-class battleships and their attendant escorts."
"I am aware of that, sir."
"The Admiralty feels that the ship's sheer mass makes it too cumbersome to effectively engage Reaper forces. The spinal cannon is an impressive weapon on paper, but after the first shot it fires no Reaper is going to move into its frontal arc."
"Sir, I am preparing a tactical report ..."
"You're very lucky Admirals Lindholm, Bakara and Singh share your position on this. We're too far along to halt construction anyway. I just came to ensure you had thought about the operational concerns of this ship class."
"Yes, sir, I have. For example, my chief engineering consultant, Shala'Raan, believes that the amount of Element Zero in the ship's deflector core should be sufficient to be able to effectively deflect Thanix beam charges."
The Admiral's posture shifted slightly, indicating that he was suddenly interested.
"I hadn't heard that, Captain."
"I don't know the numbers, but from what I understand, the effectiveness of a deflection field is limited not by the momentum but solely by the velocity of the incoming fire. In the case of Thanix beams, they simply travel too fast to be picked up by our usual deflectors, but deflectors of this new design have an extra layer of mass effect fields that slows the Thanix beams before they reach the actual deflection layer, making them possible to deflect. Simulations show that at peak operation the new system has up to a 70 per cent chance of deflecting a Thanix beam strike, even if the energy shield itself is disabled."
The Admiral is silent for a moment.
"Impressive. We've invested one hell of a lot in this ship. When will it be ready for deployment?"
"Nine years, sir."
"Quicker than expected. Keep up the good work, Captain. She's your baby, after all."
Anderson saluted as the Admiral left the room. Phew. That was nerve-wracking. Then he turned back to look out at the ship.
His ship.
TON Ragnarov.
A/N: Randomly felt like doing a codex. Prepare for info dump on an epic scale.
THE TRADER EMERGENCY COALITION (ORIGINS)
The Trade Order was a loose conglomeration of planets spread across ten star clusters, individual planets ruled by Human trade barons or Rachni Queens. When the Trade Order came under attack in 2133 by the Advent, a rogue faction of Humans who insisted on trying to merge their DNA with Rachni genes, the Trade Order suffered severe losses, at peak with more than one third of their territory controlled by the Advent before they re-organised into the Trader Emergency Coalition, unifying their core planets under a single high command and re-tooling their vast commercial empire into a wartime economy. Although initially their repurposed freighters and utility cruisers were outmatched 1 on 1 by the Advent ships, the sheer number of converted vessels being thrown into the meat grinder bought enough time to begin the production of dedicated war machines, most notably the Kol Battleship and the Sova Carrier. The Advent were eventually crushed under the sheer weight of firepower brought to bear by the thickly armoured TEC vessels. After the war ended in 2142, the TEC obtained a good deal of Advent technology, greatly advancing their shielding and engine technology as well as their genetic manipulation technology.
THE PROTHEAN RUINS
In 2148 a TEC survey team on Mars discovered the ruins of an ancient base dating back almost sixty thousand years. This base proved to be a treasure trove of alien technology, including vast stocks of something called 'Element Zero' that unlocked a whole new branch of physics. But the most significant discovery was the discovery of an enormous structure encased in ice, orbiting Pluto. This structure turned out to be a gateway to an enormous network of interconnected relays, seeming to have been plucked straight from the Rachni myth of the Darksong Destroyers, enormous creatures that raised them up and sent them to fight a war that eventually resulted in their destruction. Gripped with paranoia, the TEC ordered the structure to be broken up and the raw materials warehoused for study. Twenty three more such relays were found in TEC space, all of which were broken up and stored.
THE REAPER WAR
In early 2183, the Reapers appeared, with the enormous Reaper ship Sovereign opening up the Mass Relay hidden at the heart of the Citadel. The station was scoured of all life within days despite a heroic resistance effort led by Spectres Saren and Desolas Arterius, and the Reaper fleets went on to cut off the Council affiliates from one another before turning to crush all organised resistance one by one. Despite the Council's utter lack of success against the invading Reapers scattered reports have been coming in about strange ships appearing on the edge of the combat zones and successfully holding off Reaper forces in time to extract a refugee ship or a unit of soldiers before disappearing again.
The TEC's part in the Reaper war has thus far been limited. The demolition of all Mass Relays, as well as their use of phasic FTL drives, has thus far kept the Reapers out of their territory but the Coalition is well aware that if the Reapers ever manage to penetrate their territory the only result is the complete destruction of everyone there. Therefore the TEC have begun to resist the Reapers galaxy-wide by taking in refugees, building up their fleets to the point where they can effectively challenge the Reapers for control of a star cluster long enough to disassemble the Relay.
THE REAPER WAR: Operation Thresher Maw
Operation Thresher Maw, as it became known, was the total evacuation of the Krogan species from Tuchanka and represented the first major fleet action the TEC undertook against the Reapers. Luckily for the TEC, the nature of the Krogan DMZ meant that the Reapers had not anticipated any form of space combat, meaning they only sent three Reaper capital ships and about twenty destroyers, along with troop transports for concerted ground warfare. The TEC First Fleet managed to overwhelm the Reaper fleet and immediately began dropping Sigma and Ascension corps troops planetside to assist the Krogan in the rapid extermination of the Reaper forces. From that point, following three days of tense negotiations the Krogan agreed to leave Tuchanka in favour of full citizenship within the TEC. Operation Thresher Maw was completely successful and the arms stockpiles of the Krogan as well as their incredibly robust physiology resulted in several dramatic improvements to Sigma gene mods and armament.
THE REAPER WAR: Operation Nomad Empire
Operation Nomad Empire, made possible through intel gathered from the Krogan as well as several advances in phase space technology, was the extraction of the Quarian Migrant Fleet from the Raheel-Layya system where it had been cornered by a large contingent of Reapers. The TEC First, Second and Fourth fleets, with the Fifth and Seventh in reserve, jumped into the system by phase space and came in right behind the Reaper forces. Almost immediately the Seventh was called from the reserve - it was clearly apparent both the Migrant Fleet and the Reaper detachment were far larger than anticipated. This deployment was the first engagement of the Kol Mk. II - a reworked version of the Advent-era Kol Battleship clad entirely in Mass Relay alloy armour, with improved energy barriers and four reverse-engineered Thanix beam cannon replacing its laser beam primary armament. The detachment of eight Kol Mk. IIs alone chalked up four Reaper capital ship kills between them before the Reapers had even moved to engage. This was most likely the first time in history a Reaper capital ship had encountered a class of vessel that was their match in a one on one battle. While the bulk of the First, Second, Fourth and Seventh fleets, along with what was left of the Quarian Heavy and Patrol fleets, engaged the Reaper armada in a pincer movement, a large force of TEC Kodiak heavy cruisers broke away, attaching tow cables to the Migrant Fleet's civilian ships and evacuating them via Phase Space, returning them immediately to the Sol system in a three-leg journey to ensure the Reapers weren't tracking them. As soon as the first wave of Kodiaks departed, the Reaper forces turned back to the Migrant Fleet, inadvertently exposing their open firing chambers to the guns of the Heavy Fleet, who managed to inflict severe damage. As soon as the Reapers were no longer directly threatening them the TEC's Percheron and Sova class carriers deployed enormous bomber wings equipped with the new Abbadon antimatter missile, which proved deadly when exposed to the Reaper firing chambers, their most exploitable weakness. The battle wasn't entirely one-sided however - a small group of Reapers performed an FTL jump, appearing in the middle of a wave of Kodiak cruisers and obliterating the entire group before TEC capital ships could bring their guns to bear. Even outnumbered ten to one the Reapers proved to be a match for the combined might of the Migrant Fleet and the TEC. Reluctantly, the Fifth Fleet was called in from reserve, bringing two extra Kol IIs to the fight as well as their only reserve of Kodiak cruisers. Although the Kol IIs were brutally effective and the blocky Marza-class Dreadnoughts were nigh untouchable behind their co-ordinated missile barrages, the more support-oriented capital ships, in particular the Sova-class carriers, suffered heavy losses at the hands of the Reaper fleet. In the end only 20 per cent of the Reaper armada was destroyed by the time the last of the Migrant Fleet was evacuated and the TEC forces broke off, with losses among the TEC fleets in one case reaching 50%. Nevertheless the acquisition of the Quarians proved to be an enormous long-term advantage for the TEC due to their technical and space combat expertise.
THE REAPER WAR: Operation John Connor
After extensive debriefs of Quarian personnel, a TEC envoy aboard the Kol Mk. II TON Titunev was deployed to the Tikkun system to open negotiations with the Geth Collective. However when the Titunev arrived it found a Reaper capital ship already in the process of hacking the Geth Collective. Captain Han'Gerrel immediately ordered the Titunev bring all firepower to bear on the Reaper and, in his own words, "Obliterate the bosh'tet. He's hacking my Geth." The Titunev's first volley managed to sever one of the Reaper's legs, disrupting its hacking attempt, but the Reaper jumped to FTL before the Titunev could fire again, escaping into the Tikkun system's asteroid belt. Captain Gerrel ordered an immediate pursuit course, and thus followed a five hour game of cat and mouse in the asteroid belt that finally ended when the Titunev, with her energy barriers fully depleted and several hull breaches, managed to fire all four beam cannons directly into the Reaper's firing chamber, destroying it. At this point the Geth, having finally recovered from the Reaper's hacking attempt, were more than happy to join the TEC. A popular film was later released about the incident, entitled Our Finest Hour.
THE TRADER EMERGENCY COALITION IN 2185
In 2185, the TEC has the Humans, the Rachni, the Krogan, the Quarians and the Geth as full member races, as well as Turian, Salarian and Drell citizens. Current TEC territory covers fourteen star clusters, forty four systems and one hundred and sixty two colonised bodies, including planets, planetoids and large asteroids. In terms of military strength the TEC has twelve battlefleets based around their territory, accompanied by twelve full armies and various Sigma, Ascension and N7 detachments stationed on the fleet's capital ships.