When Fates Collide
Chapter 30
~ ~ End Game ~ ~
Citadel
"What do you mean they are gone?" barked Lieutenant Pressly.
Exasperated at his own words, the Alliance pilot stammered, "I'm telling you, one second Shepard was there and the next she was gone."
"We have top of the line tracking systems. That is impossible" countered the increasingly worried navigator.
Trying everything he could think of to find his lost cargo, Joker affirmed, "They're gone. Liara, Tali, the mako, all gone."
Panic was beginning to sweep over the senior officer when he heard an unmistakable female voice broadcast through the cockpit terminal. The message was hard to understand, buried under a huge amount of static; but what Pressly heard was clear enough for him to order the bridge to immediately pinpoint that transmission.
"Joker, Joker, can you hear me?"
A joyous voice replied as did a growing cheer behind him, "Copy that commander. We read you, but barely. Where the hell are you?"
"It's a long story, but we are fine." Shepard announced from the other side, "Although, I think the Normandy is going to need a new M35 assault vehicle."
"What?" gasped the aviator.
"Let's just put it this way, I had to preform another crash landing and well, I don't think the mako survived this one very well."
The ornery pilot laughed as he turned around to see several more crew members of the mighty alliance vessel listening in. "Good to hear Commander. How is everyone?"
Static again threatened to severe the line, "We are fine. Inform Pressly and get your butts to the Mu Relay to meet up with the galactic forces the council collected." The message stopped a bit before the spectre's voice could be heard through the heavily crackled transmission, "I need the Normandy on high alert. This is going to be the battle we have been waiting for. Sovereign will be waiting."
"Wait, what about you? I just can go running off to the Citadel and leave you stranded on Ilos."
Interference again rattled the conversation. "It's ok Joker. I'm already on the Citadel. In fact, I'm standing in the middle of the Presidium as we speak."
"What the…?!"
"No time to explain. Just get here as fast as you can." His commanding officer paused before continuing, this order coming through clearer then the rest, "And Joker… make me proud."
"Copy that commander. You can count on me and the Normandy!"
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The three crew members from the other side of the line were collecting themselves after their hard landing on the Citadel. As Tali tried to retrieve her assault rifle from inside the badly damaged and slightly burning mako, Liara adjusted her armor back into place. Watching her squad, the galactic warrior changed her wording in her mind. Perhaps, I should have said we smash landed.
Ripping her weapon from the debris, Tali remarked, "I take it back what I said about you knowing how to crash land." Kicking a piece of burning steel, Shepard joined the joke, hoping to relieve the shock of what just happened, "Now, that wasn't my fault." Looking back at the mangled metal, "Well, not entirely that is." They had in fact just crossed half the galaxy in about ten minutes, it's not like they had time to prepare for a proper arrival.
They had barely gathered themselves before the trio found geth troopers advancing, left behind by Saren to guard the small scaled mass relay. The veteran soldier had not even taken Maggie out of her holster and pointed her weapon before Tali's omni-tool and Liara's powerful biotics made haste of the minor obstructions. Releasing the rifle's handle, allowing it to slide back into its carrying case, Shepard smirked, "I hope the rest of the geth are that easy to kill."
Behind them Avina's synthesized voice abruptly stole their attention. The asari AI was calmly providing evacuation instructions because the station was under attack. The electronic voice soothingly warned, "Critical failure is detected across all monitored systems.' Void of all emotion, like the AI she was, the digital asari continued, "Please begin emergency evacuation immediately."
Taking in the scene around them, the redhead scanned the area. The Presidium's normally docile lights were flashing, while puffs of smoke filled the immediate area. It bothered the N7 officer to see a few dead citizens who happened to be at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Twisting on the heel of her boot, the savior of the galaxy looked up and saw the rogue spectre already going up in the glass elevator. "We need to get to the top of the Presidium Tower!"
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A flood of geth fighter ships enter Citadel space and begin attacking her protecting fleet. Floating high above the galactic station, a feminine voice panicked, "Commander, the arms to the Citadel are beginning to close."
Struggling over to her ship's navigator was an experienced asari naval officer, covered in traditional war paint across her cheeks and forehead. "Lieutenant Tau, open up a line to other ships."
Ignoring the heavy fire the flagship was taking, the equally seasoned pilot responded, "Copy that commander."
A few second later, the distress call was made. "This is the Commanding Officer of the Destiny Ascension, Matriarch Lidanya. The Citadel is under attack. I say again, the Citadel is under attack. I am issuing an order to the entire Citadel Fleet; protect the station at all cost. Do not let those enemy ships inside the arms."
In the distance, a leviathan of a ship emerged from the clouds. The slick black, squid like vessel greatly overshadowed even the largest ship known. Moving triple the speed of any other craft in space was the ship Shepard had warned everyone about. It was the Reaper; Sovereign. Soaring through the sky towards the Citadel, it was moving so fast that a turian dreadnaught was unable to get out of its path before the bringer of death barreled through it; tossing it to the side as easy as a pellet of water off a rain slicker, leaving only rumble in its wake.
Coming precariously close to the station's colossal ward arms as they were closing, Sovereign had successfully sealed himself inside; safe and alone. Instantaneously slowing his speed to a few knots, the enormous ship opened its squid like arms and with great precision landed on the Presidium Tower, solidifying a strong connection with the station.
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Gliding her fingers over the control panel, the spectre shouted over the noise surrounding them. "Tali, Saren has locked down the elevator. Can you hack it?"
On the heels of her words, the quarian genius answered, "I'm on it."
From across the square, too far to send a biotic pulse flying her direction, Liara screamed, "Shepard!"
The responsive solider twisted around without a second to spare, and propelled an incinerator round through the head of the geth trooper, sending electronic components flying through the air. A wave of relief washed over the prothean expert as she watched Shepard nod in appreciation for the head's up. Her casual smirk followed by a wink let the asari know, that she was eternally grateful for bringing the maiden along after all.
Unaware of what just happened around her, the approving beeps of the panel sang in permission as Tali cracked the remainder of the security code to the vertical glass lift. "Shepard, I got it!" The engineering genius shouted above the racket.
"Excellent Tali." Watching the doors open, the commanding officer ushered to her crew and stepped inside behind them. "All the way to the top."
"Copy that Commander" responded her good friend, making sure Liara was inside as well.
The near silent glass capsule shot the trio straight up the side of the tower before they unexpectedly stopped; knocking everyone off balance. Checking her omni-tool, the green eyed woman reported, "Sovereign has locked the elevators." Calmly latching her helmet in place, the spectre announced. "Suit up team, we are going outside."
Using their gravitatron boots, the fearless squad fought their way up the side of the building. The quick reactions from Tali's omni-tool, Liara's biotics, and Shepard's dead on shots made quick work of the fleet comprised of geth and krogans sent by Saren to stop them. Even the Citadel's own defense turrets, that Sovereign assumed control of, were no match for the highly skilled team members.
Finally reaching the top of the Presidium Tower the council's champion moved across the great plaza in urgency, she knew they were running out of time and fast. Climbing the stairs of the Council's Chambers, the hardened warrior could see the rogue spectre typing at a control panel that she didn't know existed. Commander Shepard and her team approached Saren as he finished typing on the Citadel's Master Control Unit. Spinning around the former elite spectre stared at a woman he barely recognized, as they now clearly stood on apposing sides.
Tilting his head to the side, the right hand servant for Sovereign studied the soldier who stood before him. Unlike the past, she was no longer sporting a shaggy mat of copper hair, nor was she a pale faced renegade solider. Now the defining woman was an honorary member of the galactic Citadel. In fact, she was one of their best; a spectre hand picked by the council themselves.
Though he did not think it possible, the green eyed beauty seemed to stand a little taller and even more self-confident than before. His dark spears peered upon the spectre crest that resounded from the woman's breastplate. The wanted turian chuckled, remembering the old days and how he thought a human would never make spectre. Allowing his midnight pools to scan over the fully armored galactic commander, he knew there was no better choice than her. In fact, he pondered that had he not been so busy with his current state of business of bringing about the end of all life, he would have enjoyed teaching the new recruit a few things about being a spectre.
Glancing between themselves, the Normandy's ground crew stood puzzled as of why the rogue spectre was not attacking. The seconds seemed like minutes as Saren continued to examine the new and improved Shepard. She now stood before the veteran spectre in a polished black custom made N7 armor with a gleaming blood red stripe running down her right arm, instead of her reputable gray suit with a dull green line shadowing the length of her limb. Never before had the turian seen such a perfectly well suited soldier. To him, her edgy, crimson red hair completed the ensemble. For a brief moment he speculated, that if someone in the galaxy was going to stop him, this hardened warrior would be the one to do it. Inside his head he imaged her barking at him with absolute conviction. 'Saren Arterius, I am Galactic Commander Katherine Shepard and I am here to bring you in.' Shaking his thoughts from his mind the man raised his head and snorted at the absurd idea, before delivering his own personal message to the council's new champion.
Seeing that the squad sent after him had only slightly relaxed their battle stance, the turian's talon gradually slid from under his belt and pulled off a proximity mine tossing it at the trio standing before him. Aiming straight for the prothean expert in the middle, the rogue spectre knew exactly how to distract the soldier most. Narrowly missing the blast, the savior of the galaxy dove towards the maiden, protecting her from a direct hit. Nearly on top of her Shepard inquired, "You ok?" before a simple "yes" answered her question. Lifting herself off the asari, the newly livid redhead grabbed her assault rifle, Maggie, and took refuge behind one of the large pillars.
"Damn you Saren!"
An equally distasteful replied spat from the rogue spectre's throat as he turned around, "Shepard you are too late. I have already disarmed the station's security defenses."
"You are never going to get away with this Saren!"
In a condescending tone, the council's former top agent chastised the eager human, "Even in the face of absolute defeat, you still believe you can stop me."
"Watch me!" growled the former rogue soldier.
"No wonder Benezia showed you favor."
Surprised by odd subject change, Shepard blasted, "Showed me favor? Are you kidding me? She wanted to rip my head off."
"How naïve you humans are in this universe." The turian fired a few shots ensuring the squad remained behind cover. "There are so many things you are completely unaware of, countless dangers beyond your simple comprehension."
Tired of being belittled, the veteran soldier queried, "What are you talking about?"
Flicking his turian mandibles Saren threw another tech mine at the squad, indicating his command of the situation. Filled with resentment, the man's distinctive flanging effect voice rang out, "I see you're still dragging her little brat around."
"What, Liara?" Enraged, the redhead spat, firing her weapon at the older turian, "You son of a bitch, she is the reason I found you!"
With a hint more satisfaction in his voice than he intended, Saren replied, "Yeah I know." Taking shelter behind a platform, Saren belted, "The T'Soni's have a way about them don't they?" Looking back over his shoulder, trying to keep an eye on the spectre's exact location, "They have a way of whittling inside your mind…" scanning once again out of cover, he added, "…and heart."
Glancing back at the asari who had taken haven, Shepard reflected. They sure do.
Ensuring history did not repeat itself; the galactic commander forced her way closer to her intended target, "You killed Matriarch Benezia, you monster!"
In a calm and fatherly tone, the avian man spoke, "No Shepard, you did if I remember correctly. You couldn't keep her safe." Peering back at the snaking spectre, the turian continued his taunts. "How are you supposed to keep her little bastard child safe too?" Not really talking to anyone, the rogue spectre scoffed loudly, "I knew better than to listen to the Benezia. I never did trust you. Still to this day, I don't know why I allowed her to bring you aboard the ship."
The startling admittance caused the savior of the galaxy to freeze in her tracks.
"I never should have listened to Benezia. I should have left your sorry ass on Eden Prime when I had the chance. I can't believe I let her talk me into bringing you back with us."
Suddenly feeling her stomach in the back of her throat, the council's champion flattened her back against a large concrete planter. Struggling to catch her breath, the emerald green eyed woman fought to steady her pounding heart. She was unwilling to believe what the turian warrior was saying.
Attempting to focus with all that she had, the N7 officer shouted, "What?! You're lying. You're trying to mess with my head."
"Shepard, if you only knew the half of it." The turian chuckled as he stroked his mandibles. "You know, I recruited the Great Benezia with her believing she would try to lead me down a gentler path." The man shook his head as he focused on his own thoughts. "She was supposed to talk the asari into surrendering without a fight. She was such a highly respected matriarch. I don't even think she knew how grand her influence could actually be."
Twisting around the turian blasted as if taking his sorrow out against the human spectre. "She was supposed to make things go smoothly!"
Surprising both fighters, Liara hollered, "I'm glad she disappointed you."
Hearing regret in his tone, the savior of the galaxy attempted to try a different tactic than she was used to. "Sovereign hasn't won yet!" Peeking out of cover the redhead pleaded, "Step aside, and I can prevent the invasion from ever happening!" The experienced soldier could see doubt beginning to cloud the former top agent's face. "Can't you see it, Saren? The reapers are just using you!"
Mocking the young spectre, the turian flared his mandibles and spouted, "You can't stop them! Their invasion is inevitable. You saw the visions. You saw what they did to the Protheans! The reapers are simply too powerful."
Not willing to loose the battle, so easily, the human pushed, "Some part of you must realize this is wrong! You can fight this!"
Shaking his head as if to clear an insect from his thoughts, Saren muttered, stroking the side his crest of horns, "Perhaps… you are right. Perhaps there is another way. Possibly another chance for me…" Abruptly, the man grunted gripping at his skull in searing pain. "Ahh! The implants!" Nearly bringing him to his knees, the older spectre groaned, "Sovereign is too strong. I'm sorry it is too late for me." A few heavy pants later, the turian suddenly raised his head without a trace of pain reflecting upon his face. He stood taller, and more assured of himself.
Worried she had lost the upper hand, the veteran soldier appealed to her previous employer, "Saren, it doesn't have to be like this. There has to be some good left in you."
A sinister laugh filled the great hall. "Whatever good was there, died when Benny died." Taking a few arrogant steps, the former council's champion bragged, "You think you can keep her safe, but you can't!" Looking past the first human spectre, Saren spat, "Your little prothean expert will parish just like her idols."
"That isn't going to happen!"
Sensing the human would say something in that manner, Saren added, "Keeping her by your side may prolong the inevitable; but I assure you Shepard, she will die just the same."
Hoping the former glorified spectre had not completely been lost, the human spectre implored. "Saren, it's not over yet! You can still redeem yourself!"
In an action not expected by the galactic commander, the rogue spectre swiftly lifted his side arm to his chin, "Good bye Shepard, I can't fight it anymore..." Regret filled his eyes as he looked onto the council's new champion, "…stop them before they kill us all." Summoning every bit of inner strength he had left, Saren's index finger slowly pulled the trigger of his mighty caliber weapon, sending an incendiary round straight into his skull.
Dumbfounded by what she had seen, Shepard stood and watched as Saren's body slowly drifted down and into the atrium below; shattering the glass as he fell. Studying the fallen spectre for a moment, the green eyed woman felt pity for the man, rather than pride as the savior of the galaxy.
Shaking the soldier from the fallen spectre's body, the quarian engineer piped up, "Shepard we need to install the disk."
Flashing a smile of recognition, the redhead responded, "You're right Tali. We don't have a moment to waste."
Inserting the copied disk, the living spectre's fingers quickly glided over the station's master control board like they had on Therum and Ilos before. It had only taken a few moments before the control panel seemed to be operating on its own. The protheans must have anticipated the need for urgency as a multitude of lights flickered on and off. "Vigil's data file worked. I've got control of all systems." Anxiously tapping on the Citadel's main control board, the hopeful savior of the galaxy announced, "I'm going to open a line of communication." Leaning forward in hopes to make a clearer connection, the redhead called out, "Hello? Is anyone out there?"
A feminine asari voice was the first to ring out. "This is the Destiny Ascension." Her tone was rushed but thorough, "Main drives offline, kinetic barriers down 40%."
Another asari voice added to the line, calling desperately for help against the unexpected fleet of geth ships. "This is Matriarch Lidanya of the Ascension, the Council is on board. I repeat the Council is on board!"
The spectre shot a troubled look towards the asari safe at her side before answering the troubled vessel. "Ascension, this is Commander Shepard. I'll see what I can do."
Another transmission quickly followed the first, however much more broken up, "Normandy to the Citadel, Normandy to the Citadel. Please tell me that's you, Commander."
The galactic officer had never been so happy to hear the ornery pilot's voice. "I'm here, Joker."
"We caught that distress call too, Commander." The galactic aviator's voice mimicked the urgency of the flagship's navigator. "I'm sitting here in the Andura sector with the entire Arcturus fleet. We can save the Ascension. Just unlock the relay's arms around the Citadel and we'll send the cavalry in!"
Picking up the call on another terminal, Pressley objected, "We can't risk so many human lives and resources, Commander."
Tali moved to the veteran's side, pleading her case, "Shepard, Sovereign is a threat to every organic species in the galaxy!"
Listening in, the Normandy's navigator pushed, "Exactly! We can't throw away reinforcements trying to save the Council. What have they ever done for humans? We have to hold them back until Sovereign is vulnerable!"
Gently gripping the spectre's forearm, Liara's eyes begged, "Shepard, we will need the council's wisdom and guidance to prevent future attempts of the reapers invading."
Shifting uneasy in his custom leather chair, Joker question, "What's the order, Commander?! Come in now and save the Ascension, or hold back?"
It barely took a half minute for the galactic officer to make her decision, "Opening the relays now, Joker. Send what you can to spare to save the Destiny Ascension." Peering back at the blue eyed beauty next to her, the confident warrior finished, "We are going to need the council's support to rally the rest of the galaxy to fight more of these reapers when the time comes."
A concise answer omitted from the spectre's ship, "Aye, Aye Commander!"
Smiling as brightly as she could under the tough circumstances, the asari maiden on her left, supported her lover, "You made the right decision."
Coming up to her right side, Tali offered her opinion as well, "Shepard, you did the right thing."
Gazing up into the massive window that overlooked the squad, the redhead could hear the fighting beginning as the station's arms opened wider and wider, "Let's hope for all, it was the correct choice."
Knowing there was nothing else she could do from her current location, the newly appointed spectre strolled over to the exposed atrium. Looking down at the fallen spectre, believing she would feel somehow more gratified than she did, Shepard spoke with a stitch of pity in her voice, "Liara, Tali. Go down there and make sure he's dead. I'm going to monitor the fight from here."
The prothean expert, nodded as the quarian genius responded, "Copy that Commander."
Her team began to head down to the shattered room below, as Shepard looked about the great walls of the council's chambers. She heard several large explosions in the distance and the commander realized that the fighting was well in progress. The war on Sovereign had begun. She had done all that she can do. The experienced warrior felt helpless on the ground unable to command her ship, now it was up to Joker and Pressly to lead the attack against the largest known ship in the galaxy. The final battle would now belong to those who soared amongst the stars.
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The mass relay opened up propelling reinforcements just outside Citadel space. Making up the welcomed fleet was a cluster of Alliance dreadnaughts, cruisers and several frigates. Following closely behind with great precision, that to the naked eye it looked as if they might collide, was an escort entourage of several large turian dreadnaughts accompanied by a handful of smaller cruisers. Leading the impressive armada was a senior Alliance Officer, commanding both the human and turian forces.
A man's raspy voice instructed, "Alliance ships move in. Save the Destiny Ascension." Calculating that the larger turian vessels would need more time to reach the Citadel safely, the confident gentlemen, again ordered, "Arcturus Fleet, focus on the reaper. We're going to hit it with everything we got."
"Understood" returned a distinctive flanging effected voice coming from the turian ship.
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The asari's feet were the first to hit the ground in the small atrium floor beneath the council's garden. Shortly behind her, Tali grunted as her boots soon entered the space as well. Wanting a bit of her own revenge, the professor carefully made her way closer to the downed spectre. Borrowing a piece of Shepard, from their melds together, the young asari withdrew her side arm and dispatched a couple of well placed bullets in the turian's head. Experiencing a foreign feeling, one she had never felt before, the maiden growled the status up to her commander, "He's dead!"
Before real victory could be savored by the squad, the earth below them began to shake violently. Attempting to raise their weapons towards the newly fallen spectre, Liara and Tali lost their footing, and were tossed to the grass. A loud cracking noise shook the redhead warrior above, sending her tumbling to the atrium below. Preventing serious injury, the N7 officer tucked her body until it came to a stop, just before the Saren's body. Quickly getting her bearings, the woman was stunned to see that the turian's body was actually transfiguring as if supplied by an outside source.
Rising to his feet, the newly transformed spectre outstretched his arms and tilted back his head, seemingly sucking in all the power around him. "I am alive!" sounded the former council's top agent. His voice no longer resembling a turian; it sounded more synthesized; computerized. As the squad scanned the foreboding sight before them, the veteran soldier began to realize what the fallen spectre had meant by 'implants'.
Lowering his head that now towered over the redhead and her squad, Saren bellowed, "See Shepard, you can not stop us. We are what is inevitable!"
Seeing his body glow a luminous blue, the redhead feared the worst, "Oh Goddess, he's no longer turian. He's a reaper!"
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Watching a flood of ships attack the geth vessels harassing them, the Destiny Ascension's pilot reported to her superior officer, filled with relief, "Commander, we are picking up reinforcements." Between pressing her command terminal and calming her pounding heart, the seasoned asari glanced up at her commanding officer and offered a quick smile that was well received.
Matriarch Lidanya exclaimed, releasing a stressful breath, "Thank the Goddess! It's the alliance!"
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"I'm not going to join you Saren!" shot back the defiant commander.
Laughing heavily, Saren roared with a cynical tone, "Shepard, I don't want you to join me." The creature took a sudden daring step towards the trio. "I want you to DIE!" Without warning, the oversized modified being rushed the squad.
The smaller and more agile women readily evaded the initial charge. However to redhead's displeasure, her crew was now scattered about the room. She knew her team was more formidable as a unit and in their current situation; they were vulnerable facing the synthesized turian individually. Aware that she had to act quickly, the official spectre commanded, "Liara use your biotics! Tali, hit it with the most powerful overload you got on that omni-tool!" The new found warriors did as they were instructed: the asari maiden began to glow a vibrant blue, and Tali punched on her omni-tool causing it to whine as it powered up with everything it had.
Panic soon filled the soldier's recent lover, "What are you going to do?"
Without hesitation, the spectre conveyed, "I'm going to kill that son of a bitch once and for all."
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The Normandy led the attack, to save the Citadel's flagship; freeing her from the thick geth fleet that was pursuing her. Watching the Alliance tear the harassing force to shreds; Matriarch Lidanya placed a tender hand on her pilot's shoulder, "You got to love the human's brute force." The captain's statement received a nod of agreement from the asari lieutenant.
In a professional tone, not normally heard from the Normandy's galactic pilot, Joker reported to the Citadel's flagship, "Destiny Ascension you are all clear. I repeat, Destiny Ascension you are in the clear."
With the council safe, a new order was relayed across all channels from the armada's leader, "The Citadel is now fully open. All forces focus, concentrate on Sovereign." Admiral Hackett's crackly, but true voice was coming in loud and clear.
Following the senior admiral's instruction, the fleets, which consisted of mostly humans and turians, moved in to attack the reaper ship. However, even with the unsurpassable odds, the invading vessel was not giving in without a fight. Several of its long tentacle arms lifted from the Presidium Tower, and began shooting powerful laser beams at the influx of approaching ships. The smaller vessels were able to bob and weave their way closer, but the larger and slower dreadnaughts were sitting ducks for Sovereign's attacks. One by one, the squid like craft tore apart his enemies like a hot knife slicing through butter. For a brief moment, several ships captain's pleaded, "We are taking too much damage. We need to turn back."
An equally boisterous voice commanded, "Negative. We have to bring Sovereign down now, this maybe our only chance." Admiral Hackett understood all to well what needed to happen on this day. All life in the galaxy depended upon them stopping the reaper invasion, here and now. Raising his octave he ordered, "All ships attack. Spare nothing! We have to bring that reaper down!"
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With each squad member acting as requested by their commander, Shepard sprang from the large rock closest to the mechanized spectre. Opening fire with a fresh clip deep within Maggie's belly, the N7 officer charged. As soon as she emptied an entire clip into the former gallant spectre, she quickly slammed another one in her assault rifle with little wasted time. Her moves so well executed, that the galactic commander never had to lower her aim to complete the transition to a new thermo clip.
A short struggle ensued, but the victor came in numbers. The combined efforts of the prothean expert's powerful biotics, the crippling effects from the quarian engineer's omni-tool, and the soldier's frontal assault were no match for the former spectre; even in his transfixed condition. Satisfied that Saren now laid in a million pieces at her feet, the warrior allowed her arm to drop to her side, rifle in hand. "Now that ladies and gentlemen is how you kill a rogue spectre."
The asari maiden watched as a rage festered behind the savior of the galaxy eyes. "Come on Tali, we should head up now." Liara said, slowly backing away taking the technical genius. She desired to comfort her commander, but the young T'Soni knew this was neither the place nor time. Fearing what might come next; the quarian quickly agreed and led the blue professor up to the next level.
Now alone, the council's new champion was able to say her last regards to her nemesis in private. The heroic redhead took the opportunity to allow a bit of the old renegade Shepard out. Leaning forward, the hardened soldier spat on what was left of Saren's body after she finished her declaration. "That is for Matriarch Benezia you piece of shit."
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Upon Hackett's order, Sovereign was finally fighting for its life. The reaper was continuing to rip dreadnaughts into pieces, before it quickly found itself surrounded. In a last ditch approach, the foreign vessel began lashing out at any ship it could, tearing it to shreds. Like Sovereign's most trusted insurgent, Saren, it too became out matched by the sheer numbers of enemies. The unexpected fleet's constant bombardment soon overloaded the mighty reaper's shields. Suddenly appearing to be frozen, the long arms stopped as its faint red shields began to fail. The gigantic ship seemed to have short circuited and began to slowly peel off the Citadel Tower.
With urgency, Joker shouted, "Its shields are down, this is our chance! Attack! Attack!"
"Joker, hit him with everything we got" Wrex grunted, as the large battlemaster gripped the back of the pilot's chair.
Admiral Hackett's voice was next to fill the airwaves, "Copy that Normandy. All fleets, I repeat all fleets, target Sovereign now."
The Normandy started climbing, going full throttle to escalate her power for the upcoming attack. Doing a large about face in mid-space, increasing her speed, she fired her main cannon and nailed the reaper straight in the gut with a direct hit. Seeing the precise shot Joker screamed out loud in absolute jubilation, "Hot damn Tali! You sure know how to amp a … cannon!"
Lieutenant Pressly silently observed for a moment before he acknowledged the reaper machine beginning to break apart. Under his breath, the senior navigator, who had willingly given control of the Normandy to a 2,000 pound krogan, muttered, "Aliens, they're everywhere." Watching the first of many explosions on the defenseless reaper as the Normandy sped by, the navigator smiled. Maybe that's not such a bad thing after all.
Joker's eyes suddenly peered up, as a mammoth of a ship unexpectedly came about blocking the sun for a short period of time. Even from the far distant, he could hear the Destiny Ascension's massive cannon firing up. The low grumble soon elevated into a loud high pitch electrical sound. Moving into range the enormous cannon fired. The Normandy's pilot fought the urge to let go of the controls and cover his ears from the shrill eruption as he observed a remarkably vivid blue light expel from the Citadel's flagship. It was the Destiny Ascension's massive cannon, and the final blow that caused the unwanted reaper to finally explode; sending several large components flying in various directions.
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The trio climbed their way out of the damaged atrium, with Tali and Liara a few meters ahead of the satisfied warrior. Sensing that her two squadmates might be concerned about her current state of mind, the savior of the galaxy glanced back down at the destruction below. Half heartedly the commanding officer attempted to crack a joke. "I hope the council doesn't send me a bill for this." Rubbing the back of her neck, the redhead added, "I mean that would totally suck."
Before the squad had time to laugh at the lighthearted comment, the deadly soldier saw a gigantic piece of Sovereign's debris hurtling towards the Presidium's Tower, engulfed in flames, from the explosion. Shepard yelled at the top of her lungs without a second to waste, "RUN!"