A/n: Sorry, I got stuck. I had to have started and stopped this thing twenty times. I just couldn't get it right for some reason.

-brittsis

Rae encountered three more scouting parties while she planted more mines through out the colony. She dispatched of each of them and continued with her work until her supplies ran dry. Returning to the base, she scaled the walls and dropped down on the other side with a frown on her face.

"I shouldn't have been able to do that unopposed!" She was screaming as she pulled her helmet off. Grabbing the first soldier she came across, she pointed at the wall. "I want sentries on those walls twenty-four seven. If I can climb over the fucking Batarians can." She shoved him toward the wall and stalked over to command.

Grabbing a canteen of water she drank half and poured the rest on her head and entered the building. Slamming her helmet on the table, she drew everyone's attention to her. "Okay ladies, I'm taking charge here. Anyone got a problem with that?"

An older man stood up and glared at her. "No offense Lieutenant but what authority do you have here? You're not even stationed on this base. The Chief was given command and he's earned the right to lead us."

Rae glared at the man a few seconds before looking at all the men standing around the table. Finally her eyes settled on Charles who gave her a nod. She turned back to the one that spoke up and spoke calmly. "Tell me Corporal, when was the last time that any of you fought the pirates? Or hell, when was the last time any of you commanded a unit in live fire situations? Have any of you studied battle tactics? Or how about siege survival?"

As silence reigned, Rae planted her hands flat on the table and leaned forward. Her voice dropped into a deep growl. "No? Then shut the fuck up and sit down!"

Half of them followed her command before they knew what they were doing. The other half hesitantly took their seats but did so none the less.

"James, Lieutenant Shepard is more than qualified to take command." Charles spoke up, pushing the map across the table to her. "I willing step down and acknowledge her command. If any of you have a problem with it, take it up with the review board when this attack is over."

Rae pulled the map to her and examined the colony. She mentally marked where she planted the bombs and when the enemy should find them. Her eyes darted over the contents, searching for anything they could use. "What's the eta on reinforcements?"

"Just under twenty-four hours." Charles spoke. "But with the numbers we're estimating, reinforcements may take days to reach base and provide extraction in the least. Estimates show a week or more before they can expel the pirates. It appears that they decided to make Elysium an example."

"It's a fucking blitz." Rae cursed. "They exploited us when we were at our weakest. Can someone tell me who they knew we'd be so understaffed?"

The silence was answer enough. It could be anywhere from pure luck to sabotage. Rae's fist clenched and unclenched as she fought the urge to punch something. "Okay first things first. If they plan to siege us they're going to cut communication. So get out as much intel as you can while you can. Contact the fleets and tell them everything. Second, they're going to cut out supply of water." Her finger stabbed the water main that was leading to the base. "Probably blow the main. I want every bucket, glass, fucking thimbles filled with water. Anyone we don't have on sentry duty needs to be doing this. Those faucets better be running right to the last drop."

She looked up from the map. "And finally we need to arm anyone capable of firing a weapon."

"You want to arm the civilians!" The Corporal from earlier shouted and rose from his chair. "They don't know the barrel from the handle. They're farmers!"

"Then we'll teach them!" Rae shouted and moved around the table. "Do you think the slavers will care if they're farmers or not? Do you think we can hold the bastards back? We have sixty soldiers against hundreds!"

"Lieutenant maybe we should rethink this." Charles spoke up. "We're behind tons of concrete. If we hole up and wait for reinforcements.."

"That could take weeks to reach us Freeman." Rae shook her head. "We arm the civilians, teach them to fire the gun. Anyone older than fifteen gets a pistol and lessons on how to shoot it. That's an order." She glared at each of them before nodding. "Dismissed."

The room emptied out except for Charles. "Rae you asked me once to be your voice of reason. This idea to arm the civilians, to arm children, is asinine."

"It's the only chance we have." Rae spoke softly, eyes going to the still of the ships entering orbit. "Other wise we stand no chance."

She grabbed her helmet and snapped it on before leaving the room.

Rae refused to sleep, pulling a double sift on the walls. Time seemed to slow between assaults, making the other soldiers on duty itchy and nervous. She could hear them shift around and whisper the doubts that plagued them. She had tried to encourage the ranks but fear held to tight a hold on their hearts. Lessons upon lessons of morale ran through her head as she sought for an answer. What they needed was a victory, something that could show them that they could survive this.

"Movement!" One of the sentries called out and the flood lights were turned on. "Movement on the east wall!" The lights all narrowed to the point but they were to late. The explosion threw concrete into the base, blowing a large hole in the wall. Rae cursed and dropped to the ground, running before her feet hit the ground.

"TO ME!" She yelled, her assault rifle already peppering the Batarians flowing in. "TO ME!" She yelled again and threw out her hand, a blue wave throwing a group back through the wall. She could hear the screams and the pleas as people were slaughtered. Soldiers called to their friends as gun fire littered the surge. A grenade was thrown and almost threw her back. Bodies began to fall on both sides and yet they kept coming.

"Get cover, pick your targets!" Rae commanded and shoved a young man behind cover as gun fire whizzed by them. Gritting her teeth, Rae shipped her rifle and pulled out her shot gun. She charged through the wall, her barriers deflecting a few bullets. Her shotgun ripped through their ranks and her biotics crushed them. Her hand lashed out and one of the Batarians lifted in the air. A sniper rifle fired and his head exploded. She mentally noted to thank the soldier before she kicked another in the gut. Adrenaline pumped through her as they converged on her. Her biotics flared to life as she killed one after the other.

Pain laced her head as she rolled from a blade. Blood streamed into her vision, coating everything in red. "Hold the line!" She yelled out as she shoved her shot gun barrel into a gut and pulled the trigger. Her barrier wavered as it deflected another round of gun fire. She spun and threw a warp into the group. She lost track of time and of her kills, only focused on living to another day. Out of breath, Rae fell to her knee as she used the last of her biotics to lift the final enemy. Her shot gun fired and the body fell.

Ten died in the assault, killed when the Batarians first blew the wall. Rae went to each of the dead and silently thanked them for their service, placing a light hand on their shoulder. The one that hurt the worst was a fifteen year old that had been crushed in the rubble. She had been on the wall, placed their by Rae with nothing but a pistol and light armor. The girl's mother cried over her and cursed Rae when she tried apologizing.

"May you one day feel this pain!" The woman yelled at her, tears streaking her face. "You took my daughter from me Lieutenant." Rae backed away from her, the woman's words weighing heavy on her heart.

'You had no choice.' Bodie followed behind her as she moved through the base, collecting reports on the damage.

"They're just farmers. I shouldn't have armed the children." Rae spoke softly under her breath as she looked over the wounded. Fifty had been hurt, injuries ranging from minor cuts to major gun shot wounds. The medics fought to save the worse of them while soldiers used medigel and first aid to patch up the rest.

'We were just farmers when they attacked Mindoir. Sometimes farmers need to become warriors to protect what they love.'

Rae growled and shook her head. "It's my job to protect them."

'And you did that by arming them.' Bodie took a step forward, his hand ghosting over her shoulder.

"Lieutenant!" A soldier ran forward and saluted her. "You're needed in communication."

"We got coms back up?" Rae asked and turned from the wounded.

"It took a little work, but we were able to patch a connection together."

Nodding, Rae hurried to the building. She skidded to a hult in front of the large screen and saluted the figure. "Good to see you sir."

"Good to see you was well Shepard." Hackett saluted back, "At ease soldier and give me a status update."

"Ten dead Sir. Another fifty injures, five of which are critical. The bastards blew a whole through the wall and rushed our blind side."

Hackett nodded and looked off screen for a second. "Our ground forces are trying to push through. We have shuttles in bound but we need a landing zone."

"I can do that sir." Rae mentally went through her possibilities, marking a few. "I'll have the coordinates forwarded to you in fifteen."

"Good work Shepard."

"Sir I have one request?"

"And what is that?"

"After we get the civilians out, I want to stay ground side." Rae took a step forward, her hands gripping the table in front of her. "I want to help rid the planet of those bastards."

Hackett nodded, a small smile crossing his lips before he could contain it. "Request approved Shepard. Get that wound cleaned up and prepare your civilians for extraction. Fifth fleet out."

The screen went dark and Rae turned, shouting directions. They had fifteen minutes to clear the east wall of the bodies and secure it for a landing zone.

"Lieutenant." Charles's secretary called out, her arm wrapped in a sling.

"What is it Private? I'm very busy." Rae growled as she stopped by the door.

"It's the Chief sir. In the confusion no one realized it."

Rae's heart clenched and a chill ran down her spine. "Spit it out Private."

The woman swallowed, "He was taken Ma'am. Him, ten civilians, and three other marines."