A/N: I came up with a nickname for the turian councilor. Hope you'll like it. ;)
On another note, I have received a large amount of PM's (this might be an exaggeration) asking me whether everyone's favorite reporter Diana Allers will make an appearance in this story. I'm afraid I must disappoint the numerous fans of Ms. Allers. When thinking about this decision, I remembered a quote from the game that went roughly like 'the greatest insult you can inflict upon your enemy is to ignore them'. I found that the quote works perfectly if I replace words 'your enemy' with 'Diana Allers'.
Also, allow me to wish you all a Happy Leviathan Day!
Chapter 46 - The View of Palaven
A day later, the call from the turian embassy finally comes. As Shepard and Liara make their way over to a rarely visited part of the Presidium, Morgan remarks with some degree of satisfaction that the turians have actually contacted her directly, leaving Udina completely out of the loop. I can't believe it, but I'm starting to like the other councilors. They see Udina for the ridiculous idiot that he is, she thinks as they arrive at the embassy, four grim faced turian guards crossing their path but then quickly allowing them to pass after confirming their identities.
The quarters inside the embassy are large but sparsely furnished, in typically ascetic turian fashion. Sparatus is already waiting for them, his impatient stare suggesting that they are late, even if Shepard checks her omni-tool to see that they have actually arrived ten minutes early. Wonder if it's a good etiquette to arrive twenty minutes early if you're invited by a turian. Well, he'll just have to get over it, in case this is some great insult.
"Councilor Asparagus," she says, giving the turian a small bow as Liara faces her with a stare of incredulity before greeting their host herself.
"That's Sparatus for you, Shepard," the turian councilor snaps, looking tired and frustrated. "But you know that, so I assume you're just being your irreverent, flippant self."
"Guilty as charged," Shepard grins, before her expression turns serious. "Councilor... my condolences over Taetrus. I understand it was a... massacre."
Sparatus nods gruffly, but appearing appreciative for her sympathy. "Yes. Our people are scared. And... there have been further complications. The Reapers are already at Palaven."
"Goddess! Already?!" Liara exclaims, shocked. An unspoken word passes between her and Shepard. Garrus.
"They are certainly moving fast," Morgan remarks, feeling dismayed at the news. Damn it, are they trying to take the turians out of the equation first? I can't let them do it, they have the fleets we need!
"The war summit I mentioned had been called by Primarch Fedorian," Sparatus explains. "However, we have lost all contact with him after the Reapers attacked. The summit can't proceed without him. Palaven is under heavy siege, but you, Shepard... you have a ship that can slip in undetected, retrieve Fedorian and deliver him to the summit."
"Suppose I do this, Councilor," Shepard says thoughtfully. "Will you then give me what I need? Support for building the Prothean device? Fleets to deploy it when it is finished?"
"I cannot promise you that, Shepard," Sparatus shrugs. "Only the Primarch can make such a guarantee. And a grateful Primarch might be very responsive to your requests... if you understand my meaning."
"I understand perfectly," Shepard nods. "Slip in quietly, grab the Primarch, slip back out. Sounds like the right kind of job for a Council Spectre. Any intel on where to find him?"
"Our latest intelligence suggests that Fedorian has been moved to a base on Palaven's largest moon," the turian says.
"Menae," Liara speaks quietly, standing right next to Shepard.
"That is correct," Sparatus nods. "I have nothing more to add, Shepard. The rest is up to you. Know that by helping us, you will help yourself." He falls silent then, indicating that the audience has ended.
"Thank you, Councilor," Liara says politely, while Shepard simply nods and turns to leave, not much concerned about the breach of etiquette. There's just one thing on her mind, they finally have a mission again, a plan no matter how slim, to secure the aid for united stand against the Reapers.
Shepard starts to prepare her report to Hackett immediately after returning to the Normandy. Liara and James are with her in the War Room, as she quickly brings Vega up to date with the latest developments. "Rescuing a turian Primarch from the Reaper clutches?" the Lieutenant speaks, pointedly cracking his knuckles. "Sounds like fun. Never been to the turian homeworld, myself."
"Fun, indeed," Shepard replies, finishing her message and then passing it through the relevant channels to Hackett. She faces Liara with a brief look. "There's probably so much you could help with that Prothean device, so I'm wondering whether I should get you involved in any ground action..."
"What? Don't you dare even suggest that!" Liara stares back at her, furious. "If you ever leave me out of the squad, I will... I will... oh, I know I would go crazy staying behind on the Normandy, worrying sick. Do you honestly think I could do any work on the Prothean blueprints in those circumstances?"
"Alright, alright, babe," Shepard smiles, raising her hands to placate her irate lover. "I'm never bringing this up again, sheesh!" She turns to James with a flippant grin on her face. "You know, LT, I'm starting to get the impression that she really cares." They both break out in laughter at Liara's exasperated sigh.
The final preparations for departure pass while Shepard is still waiting for Hackett's reply. It comes roughly a quarter of an hour after Morgan's message has gone through, and the admiral checks in on the QEC, his image appearing before her as she leaves Liara and James behind in the War Room, the asari telling Vega about her last journey to Palaven.
"Admiral Hackett," Shepard greets him with a salute.
"Shepard, I got your message," Hackett says. "This summit sounds like a good place to start. Do what you can to get their support."
"That's the plan. As long as we can get that Primarch off Menae," Shepard replies. "We have no idea what we're walking into. It seems that the Reapers are putting on the pressure and communications are unreliable at best."
"You can do this, Shepard. This is the kind of work you excel at, why we put you in the position you're in right now," Hackett says confidently, making Morgan puff out her chest more proudly. "The asari and the salarians have also been in contact about the Prothean device. They're still non-committal about giving us aid in building it, but at least we're talking."
"Maybe some ambitious matriarch or dalatrass is still hoping to increase their political capital, thinking they can build it by themselves and then pass off as the saviors of the galaxy," Shepard shrugs.
"Perhaps. All I know is that if we don't work together on this, we'll never get it ready in time," Hackett says, a little hint of impatience seeping into his words. "We need people who can help build this thing! We should not limit this only to the Council races, if you can get help elsewhere, do it, Shepard. We can't be choosy, soldiers, supplies, ships, I'll take it all!"
"Yeah, understood, Sir," Morgan nods. "Just hope that Anderson and what's left of the Alliance forces can hold the fort long enough..."
"Things are not looking good, Shepard, we don't have much time," the admiral tells her. "Now go and get to it. And don't forget to update me regularly. Hackett out."
"Right," Shepard turns around to leave the comm room. "One turian Primarch coming right up, Sir."
"Reaching Trebia System in approximately... one minute," Shepard hears Joker's voice as she is already on her way to the bridge, eager to observe the visual of just how bad the situation around Palaven is.
"This is... not good," Morgan says quietly, staring at the view that opens to their eyes after the successful FTL jump. The turian homeworld is right before them, large parts of the planet appearing engulfed in seas of fire and explosions as numerous Reaper capitol ships have spread around Palaven in a sparse line, closing in like a slowly tightening noose. The turian fleets are still there in large numbers and fighting back valiantly, trying to break the blockade, and Morgan cringes every time when a destroyer particle beam comes around to shatter yet another turian ship.
"Oh no... no, Palaven..." Liara grips Shepard's hand tightly, having just arrived on the bridge. Morgan responds with an affectionate squeeze even if her own heart is full with fear and worries.
"I'm sure Garrus is alive and well, Liara," Joker says, trying to sound cheerful. "He's one tough hard-to-kill son of a gun."
"Yeah... but I'll keep worrying until we can get in touch with him somehow," Shepard admits. "Alright, Joker... bring us in," she says pointing at the largest of Palaven's moons, a pale grey rock, also under heavy siege by the Reaper forces, its surface lit up by explosions.
"Alright... got the location of the base," Joker says, carefully guiding Normandy on its silent approach towards Menae. "Punching the coordinates to Cortez, you might want to get moving to the shuttle bay, Commander."
"Yeah, let's go people," Shepard says, leading Liara away from the bridge. "Wait for us to leave, Joker and then get somewhere... well, relatively safe. But don't doze off, we might need to leave in a hurry."
Ten minutes later, the Kodiak shuttle brings them to one of the many besieged turian bases on the surface of Menae. Even inside the shuttle with no visual they can feel the fighting is intense, the gunfire never dies down for a second, and explosions follow one another. "Commander! The LZ is getting swarmed!" Cortez shouts from the pilot's seat and Shepard pushes herself past James to take a look outside.
"Piles and piles of husks," she says, after a brief examination of the enemy forces. "Nothing we can't handle, Lieutenant. Just drop us off and get out."
Shortly after, they jump out of the shuttle to land on the rocky surface of the moon, facing about two dozens of husks trying to claw their way through the walls of the turian base. As the turians decimate the husks from their barricades, Shepard and her team quickly join in, taking the enemy by a surprise attack from behind. James' assault rifle sprays a deadly rain of fire, leaving little for Liara and Morgan to play with, but the asari is happy to save her biotics for more deserving targets and Morgan doesn't mind giving James an early handicap, feeling confident in her ability to surpass his score later.
As the last of the husks falls, the gates to the base open and a turian soldier quickly ushers them inside, raising the barriers behind them. "Goddess..." Liara suddenly exclaims, yanking Shepard by the hand and pointing ahead. "Just look at that..."
Morgan's heart almost jumps into her mouth at the sight that has shocked Liara. The horrific silhouette of a destroyer looms at best two miles in the distance from the base, strolling the surface of Menae almost casually, now and then stopping to fire its deadly red particle beam at someone insolent enough to oppose these magnificent machines of destruction. "Well... let's just hope it doesn't decide to wander this way..." Shepard manages.
"Uh, Commander... if you'd care to look to your left..." James speaks, keeping his voice low.
Shepard turns around and almost takes a step back from the disturbing view. There is yet another destroyer there, sowing death and destruction in its wake, its menacing shape against the background of burning Palaven creating a view that Shepard knows will be etched in her mind until her dying day. "That is... some sight," she says. "How do you fight something like that? And damn, it's the same on Earth right now... gods."
"Like you said, Commander... you can't beat this, you can only survive it," James says grimly as they search the base for someone vaguely resembling a commanding officer.
"There!" Liara points towards one of the more fortified barricades holding a small commanding post, three more distinguished looking turians animatedly discussing their desperate defense plans.
"Tobestik, get your men up on that north barricade," they can hear one of the turians giving orders to his subordinate who nods and hurries off. "Sergeant Bartus, find a way to get that comm tower operational!" The sergeant salutes and immediately disappears, leaving the turian commanding officer alone as Shepard and her group approach him.
"Commander Shepard. Heard you were coming to join us, even if I didn't really believe those news." the turian greets her with a curt nod as they join him behind the barricades. His eyes burn bright green as he introduces himself. "General Corinthus, at your service."
"I'm looking for Primarch Fedorian," Shepard says quickly, wanting to conclude this dicey mission as fast as possible. "Apparently he needs an escort to his own war summit."
"I don't think he needs an escort to where he's heading," Corinthus replies, not taking his eyes off the consoles in front of him. "Primarch Fedorian is dead. His shuttle was shot down an hour ago as it tried to leave this moon."
Morgan sighs, exchanging a worried look with Liara. "Okay... this is not a good start," she says, before looking at Corinthus again. "My condolences on your loss, General."
"He was a good man... and a friend," Corinthus replies quietly. "He would have made an outstanding diplomat."
"So... is there anyone else we can get for this war summit?" Morgan ponders aloud.
"The turian hierarchy provides very clear lines of succession," Liara speaks up, staring at General Corinthus.
"With so many casualties, it's hard to be certain who the next Primarch is," the general replies. "We need to get in touch with Palaven Command. Unfortunately..." he points towards a comm tower not far outside the western gate of the base. "Communications are cut and husks are swarming that area. We can't get in there to make the repairs."
"Did you say husks?" Shepard grins. "That's our specialty, General. Let us handle them for you... and we'll even fix your comm tower, free of charge!"
"How many was that, Commander?" Vega asks, kicking aside the sad remains of a husk that had almost managed to reach him. They are already on their way back to the base, having successfully restored the communications.
"Sixteen," Morgan says proudly, confident of having won this round.
"Hah, seventeen for me! I win!" James cheers.
"No way! How is that... that's not even possible!" Morgan protests, then turning towards Liara. "Were you slacking during that fight, babe?"
Liara makes an irritated swat at her. "For your information, someone still needed to fix that comm tower," she says, giving Shepard a mildly exasperated look. "Though I suppose I should thank you for keeping them off me while I worked."
Shepard chuckles, before her face adopts a more severe expression as they return to the command post and General Corinthus. "You have news, General?" she asks, hoping for a positive answer.
"I do," Corinthus nods. "As your partner said, succession is usually simple, but right now with so many dead or MIA, the hierarchy is in chaos. But I have someone here who claims being able to help you..."
With those words, they are approached by another turian, carrying a Widow sniper rifle in his arms and wearing an all too familiar heavy armor in dark blue hue. "I hear you've been looking for a Primarch, Shepard," he says smugly. "I know where you can get one, Commander."
"Garrus!" Shepard exclaims with joy and relief, only barely managing to restrain herself from hugging her old friend, stopping when she realizes that he might be embarrassed by such display in front of all his fellow soldiers. "Damn good to see you! I was starting to get worried. Thought you might be down there..." she points towards the burning planet behind her.
"We can't lose this moon, Shepard. If we do, we lose Palaven as well," Garrus shakes his head defiantly. "And I'm the closest damn thing we have to an expert on the Reapers, so... I'm advising, for what it's worth."
"Well, you still seem to be in this fight, so you must be doing something right," Shepard says, then pointing at the crew behind her. "James, meet Garrus Vakarian. Hell of a soldier and second best sniper in the damned galaxy."
James steps forward and shakes hands with the turian, while Garrus is already turning to look at Liara. "Lieutenant. And Liara, good to see you back onboard," he manages a smile.
"I had no choice in this, Garrus," Liara smiles softly, looking at Morgan. "Commander Shepard was rather insistent about having me along."
"Of that I am sure," Garrus nods knowingly, before growing serious again. "General Corinthus filled me in on what you need, Shepard. I know who we're after. General Adrien Victus."
"Alright, so we have a name, that's a start," Morgan says. "Now, a location would be nice."
"I was fighting alongside him this morning," Garrus replies. "Good man. Lifelong military, gets results, popular with his troops. Not so popular with the military command because of his reputation for playing loose with the accepted strategy."
"Sounds like you're describing Shepard, Garrus," Liara remarks with a hint of mischievous smile.
"Playing loose, what do you mean by that?" Morgan looks at Garrus to elaborate.
General Corinthus replies instead. "On Taetrus, during the uprisings, his squad discovered a salarian spy ring about the same time the turian separatists did. Instead of neutralizing the ring, he fell back, giving up valuable fortifications which the rebels took. Then the rebels attacked the salarians. And when both groups had softened each other up, Victus moved back in. Didn't lose a single man."
"So... he's smarter than the average military commander," Shepard says. "I still fail to see how this is a bad thing. In fact, he sounds perfect for the summit."
"It was a bold but risky strategy," Corinthus shrugs. "Wild behavior doesn't get you advanced up the meritocracy."
"I'm sure he'll be thrilled to find out about his new duties," Garrus chuckles. "Primarch Victus. I can't wait to deliver the news."
"Can you take us to him, Garrus?" Morgan asks. "Normandy is standing by for a pickup. With the Reapers crawling around, I'd prefer to get out of here ASAP."
"We got separated a few hours ago," Garrus says. "He went to bolster a flank about to break up, and I haven't seen him since. He's probably still out in the field, bogged down somewhere."
"You can't raise him on the comms?" James pipes up with a question of his own.
"Trying to, but so far no luck," General Corinthus admits.
"I hope that is not an ominous sign," Shepard sighs, then looking at Garrus again. "Well... I suppose while the General is trying the comms, we might as well start moving towards him on foot. Garrus, can you take us to the last place you saw Victus?"
"Sure thing, Commander," Garrus says, readying his rifle. "But there's a swarm of Reapers between us and his position. Reaching him will be tricky."
"Don't tell me that Garrus Vakarian is afraid of a few husks?" Shepard gives him a challenging stare.
In response, Garrus simply pats his Widow, grinning. "Bring 'em on, Commander."