Alright, chapter 28. Mass Effect is owned by Bioware, so let's get to it!
Ch. 28: Despoina
Normandy SR-2
Commander Shepard
Shepard stood in the CIC, watching over the fleets as they moved around the Normandy. They were nearing Despoina and would soon jump out of FTL. Shepard heard a cough behind him and turned.
Traynor looked at him, worried, "Commander, there is someone on vid-comm... I think it's Chancellor Hackett."
Shepard took a step forward, "Hackett? You mean he's still alive?"
Traynor nodded, "I think so, Commander. You should hurry."
Shepard returned her nod and walked to the QEC, wondering how Hackett had survived...
"Shepard, end this now, and we will not harm you." Hackett spoke in the Leviathan's voice.
Hackett was alive, but... he was not himself.
Shepard glared at him, "Leviathan... I will never surrender to you. Your kind had their chance, but you failed and everyone else had to pay for it."
Hackett merely stared at Shepard, "You have no choice, Shepard, you will be ours. This galaxy will return to its rightful owners. We will control everything and rule fairly, as any Master should."
Shepard crossed his arms, "You are the 'Master' of nothing, but you'll learn that soon enough. And I do have a choice. There's always a choice!"
Hackett shook his head, "Your death is assured then, such a waste. You would have made a fine puppet, Shepard, but we cannot allow your idealism to continue. We must protect our galaxy from your lies."
"This isn't your galaxy! Get that through your thick crab skull!"
Hackett glared back, "If this is not our galaxy, then whose is it? Yours? We have observed the government you created after your war with the Reapers. You created a government that would, in the end, be just as corrupt as the last."
"You are no hero, Shepard, you merely defend the ideas of your politicians and your own morality. This galaxy cannot be saved by free will nor you. The races will one day fight again, and the endless slaughter will continue."
"How do you not understand we are necessary? You and your allies may be together today, but in the future these alliances will break apart. Your galaxy cannot prevent the chaos without intervention. With you under our control, the wars would end. The slaughter would end. We would give you the peace you so desperately sought for. All we would ask in return is your tribute. Is that really too much to ask?"
Shepard took a defiant step forward, "Free will is what will save us, not subjugation! You can talk about 'peace' until the cows come home, but in the end I know all you want is complete control of everything! You simply want to have everything for yourself! And there's only one reason you would actually care whether we killed each other: tribute. Us killing each other wouldn't help with your tribute would it? We will fight for our freedom, no matter the cost. We will never bow down to you!"
Hackett shook his head again, "We tried to be reasonable, Shepard, but it seems negotiations have failed. Goodbye, Shepard... this exchange is over..."
With that the QEC flickered off and Hackett disappeared. Shepard knew he had to save Hackett and everyone else or die trying. Despoina had to be destroyed by any means necessary...
The comm suddenly turned on and Joker began speaking, "Commander, the fleet is jumping out of FTL over Despoina in 2 minutes. Everyone be ready for a bumpy ride!"
Shepard bolted out of the room towards the CIC; he had to get to the helm to assist Joker and ensure the rest of the fleet would follow orders. Not every ship had the anti-Leviathan upgrades, but they couldn't afford to waste any more time. The Leviathan's thralls grew exponentially as they spread their control across half of the known galaxy. Given a few more days they could effectively control the entire galaxy!
Shepard rushed up behind Joker; Joker remained in his chair, facing towards the controls. "Joker, status."
Joker pressed a few buttons, "All ships know their orders. We will be exiting FTL in 3... 2... 1..."
The Normandy suddenly shook violently as it exited FTL. Outside lay Despoina... and the Leviathan's entire fleet! The Leviathan fleet was already firing towards their position; someone must have given them some kind of intel on the Senate's ship movements.
Shepard grabbed Joker's chair as the Normandy shook, "Joker, evasive maneuvers!"
Joker turned the Normandy to the left, narrowly avoiding a blast from a Geth cruiser. He fired up the Normandy's Thanix cannon; the blast flew forward and punched through a Reaper corpse, causing it to explode in a fiery blast of molten metal.
The Senate fleet flew in behind the Normandy, each ship firing into the Leviathan's indoctrinated horde with all of their firepower. Shepard knew they would have to destroy ships that had once been allies, but that didn't stop him from turning away as an 'enemy' Alliance frigate exploded to his right.
Shepard turned on the fleet comm. "Bombing squad, advance behind the Normandy, we need to hit Despoina. Shield fleet, try to blast a hole into their defenses so we can pull through!"
Shepard heard the voice of Kirrahe through the comm, "Understood, Commander, Shield will hold the line and draw them away from you."
Shield was comprised primarily of the Salarian's fleet and the ships that couldn't get close to the Leviathans; they were, ironically, the fleet without the anti-Leviathan shields. Kirrahe's cruiser was an exception, however, as well as most of the Salarian cruisers. They formed the spearhead; their ships would defend the others and slice through the enemy defenses. At least, that's what the plan was...
Approximately 20 minutes later
"How many more hits can we take, EDI!?" Shepard grunted as the Normandy was blasted again.
"Shields are at 14 percent, Shepard, we cannot take much more. We need to break through now!" EDI replied.
Shepard wiped his brow and looked out the helm's window into the chaotic battle around the Normandy. The rag-tag fleet of the Senate was faring poorly against the Leviathans; ships were converted, sabotaged, and outright destroyed by the overwhelming Leviathan force. Kirrahe managed to keep the Normandy and the bombing crew relatively safe, but it wouldn't be long before their shields would fail and their ships would be destroyed. The plan wasn't looking good...
"Commander, watch out!" Kirrahe shouted over the comm.
Shepard simply stared in defeat as Joker narrowly dodged another Reaper laser thanks to Kirrahe's assistance. The majority of the Reaper fleet and half of the Senate fleet was too much for them to handle! They couldn't back down though... they had to reach Despoina...
"Commander, there's an opening! There's a break in the line! We're sending the coordinates now!" Kirrahe yelled as an enemy dreadnaught blasted apart to the right of the Normandy. Joker turned the Normandy towards the coordinates with the rest of the bombing fleet, continuing to dodge shots that only he could dodge. They were going to make it; they were going to finally hit the Leviathans! Kirrahe's cruiser flew behind them, providing covering fire with the remaining cruisers. They had to make it...
Orbital Despoina
Jacqueline Smith
Fire the weapon.
Jacqueline grunted as she tried to resist the Master's influence. They couldn't kill those people; they couldn't slaughter the last of the free! She had... to fight!
FIRE THE WEAPON!
Jacqueline cried out as blood poured out of her nose. She wasn't strong enough to fight them... she couldn't...
FIRE THE WEAPON!
Jacqueline calmly wiped the blood from her nose and pointed the dreadnaught's cannon at a Human Frigate that was barreling towards Despoina. She could not resist the Masters...
Orbital Despoina
Major Kirrahe
Kirrahe panicked as he noticed a dreadnaught, one that had remained stagnate for the entire battle prior, suddenly move its weapon! The dreadnaught pointed the weapon directly at the Normandy; he knew the loss of Shepard would destroy everyone. He couldn't allow people to lose hope; he had to hold the line one last time! Kirrahe ordered the cruiser to diverge to the right, moving it between the dreadnaught and the Normandy...
Kirrahe turned on his comm, "We can never falter, and we can never fail. We will be victorious... just hold the line!"
Kirrahe closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. For a moment he noticed a bright light shine through his eyelids; it was a breathtaking sight, but then a new sight filled his eyes. He saw his home, his friends, his mother, and every marine he ever led and befriended. He smiled as the light engulfed him; he never faltered, he never failed, for he always held the line...
Normandy SR-2
Commander Shepard
"Kirrahe!" Shepard shouted as he watched the cruiser rip apart in front of his eyes.
The dreadnaught's primary weapon quickly passed through the Salarian cruiser's weakened shields, and hit the ship directly in its drive core. The drive core overloaded, causing a spectacular blue explosion that engulfed the Salarian cruiser in seconds.
"Damn it... damn it!" Shepard shouted as he rubbed his forehead.
Joker continued to pilot the ship, not saying anything as he flew the Normandy towards Despoina. Shepard noticed the planet wasn't far now... the Leviathans had to be stopped. The killing had to stop! For once, just once, they needed true peace...
The Normandy rocked again and Shepard again grabbed Joker's chair, "EDI, talk to me!"
"Shields are... down, Shepard... We are sitting ducks." EDI responded solemnly as she turned to Joker.
EDI reached out a hand and placed it on Joker's. Shepard watched as they smiled at each other, each knowing their end was near. Shepard turned away; he couldn't accept this. He couldn't die after everything he had done, he couldn't lose! Everyone was counting on him to win…
He pulled out his helmet and put it on; he wouldn't allow himself to die like this. "Joker, pilot the ship and get us out of here! Tell the crew to get into their suits, we can't take any chances."
Joker nodded and turned back to the controls; EDI did the same. Shepard moved out of the helm towards the elevator; if this was the end, he couldn't be alone. If this was his last day, he had to spend every last second with her…
Shepard walked out of the elevator and turned to engineering. He walked inside to find Gabby, Ken, and Adams … but no Tali.
Shepard walked over to Adams, "Where's Tali?"
Adams was busily trying to restore the shields, but he eyed Shepard when he asked the question, "She's down in the sub level, trying to fix a few things that were overloaded. We're trying to get these shields back, Commander, we really are."
"I know you are, I believe in you." Shepard said as he walked out of engineering and into Jack's 'hidey hole', otherwise known as the sub level.
Shepard proceeded down the stairs and quickly found Tali replacing burnt out parts. She was nearly finished, and he simply stood near her. She replaced the last part with a small 'yes' and began to turn around…
"Tali." Shepard said quietly as she began to turn.
She looked at him for a moment. "Shepard? What are you..."
Shepard stepped towards her and gently took her hands. "Tali... I don't know... I don't know what's going to happen..."
"John, we're going to win and live on Rannoch remember?" Tali responded lightly as she moved closer.
"I wish I could believe that, Tali... Kirrahe, he... he died, Tali. Kirrahe is dead." Shepard looked into her eyes. "And I don't know if I can save you..."
Tali wrapped her arms around Shepard and gave him a tight hug. "It's ok, I know. We're going to be ok, John, we're going to be ok."
Shepard smirked slightly as their helmets collided softly. He looked into her eyes once more, captivated as always by their beauty. "Tali... I love you, don't ever forget that."
Tali slowly tapped her helmet to Shepard's. "I love you too, but we're going to be ok..."
The Normandy shook violently again, knocking Shepard and Tali off of their feet. Shepard caught Tali as he landed hard on his back.
"Ahh..." Shepard hissed as he felt pain shoot through him.
Time seemed to slow down as Shepard opened his eyes from the pain; a red glow began blasting through the nearby wall. The wall opened up, revealing the cold, lifeless void of space. He felt the air around him blast out as he too was pulled into this void. He held onto Tali, not knowing what else he could do as they were jettisoned from the Normandy into the fierce battle ground around them. He desperately tried to create a biotic field to shield them from the space debris.
He was so glad he put on his helmet...
Citadel
Ji-Wilnar
"We may not require this plan, Ji, the Senate was weaker than we originally thought. Their fleets shall soon fall and we will ensure our control of this galaxy." The Master told Ji through comms.
"I am prepared to do as you wish, Master, if you need me just call." Ji spoke neutrally.
"Ensure it is ready. No mistakes, Ji." The Master said as the comm turned off.
Ji sighed. What could he do now? They wouldn't command him to attack, they would suspect treachery if he used the weapon now! But the Senate fleets were failing; Shepard was failing! He had to do something.
Ji shook his head and began sending the firing codes to the Crucible. He had no choice. The Leviathans needed to die and for once Shepard couldn't save them. Ji smiled as the blast radiated out of the Crucible and towards Despoina...
Author's endnote: Oh no! Floating Shepard and Tali!? Ji firing a gigantic laser again!? KIRRAHE DIED!? (This one burns man) Lots of surprises this chapter, I hope you enjoyed them! No questions, you'll just have to see what I've got up next, it'll be fun! :D Anyway, as always feel free to review, follow, favorite, etc. and I'll see you next chapter!