A/N: I'm so busy kicking ass with these chapters I should be taking names! The ME1 timeline is quickly coming to a close and I intend on getting out as fast as possible.
The battle for the Citadel starts now! (I own nothing)
Alexander 'Maverick' Drake
Bunker Access - Ilos
August 21, 2183 - 22:21 hours
The Mako roared at top speed down the bunker's tunnel network. Jane had the accelerator floored as they made their way toward where the Conduit entrance was located.
After filling in the rest of the team about what they encountered with Vigil. Everyone was more anxious to put Saren down for good. The idea of the Citadel being a giant mass relay had left them in a state of shock and awe. But knowing what was at stake had them ready for anything.
Alex sat in the turret seat, scanning for hostiles while he had Prophet scan through all the nano suit's systems to make sure whatever the Prothean VI did to it wouldn't have any drawbacks.
But each time the scans came back inconclusive. This didn't make sense. The surge of energy he felt was indescribable, and Prophet had picked it up as the suit seemed to absorb it and then adapt it to the systems. What had changed?
"Hostiles Detected." said Prophet as Alex swung the cannon around and blew away a ground of Geth Shock Troopers as they blew past. "Jane, no matter what don't stop!" he said targeting another group of Geth and blowing them apart.
"Wasn't intending to." replied the Commander as she kept the gas pedal firmly on the floor. Pushing the rover to its limits as they fishtailed around turns and curves in the tunnel network.
They barely missed several shots fired at them from an Armature that was off to the side. A second stood in the center of the path, but Jane just kept going as it slammed into the front of the Mako before going under it as they kept going.
"We're taking some bad damage. Barriers down to 53%" said Garrus going over the readings.
"Prophet, reroute all non-essential power to the shields." said Alex as the AI hacked into the Mako's system. "Power Rerouting..."
Garrus' eyes widened when he was the rover's barriers shoot up to nearly 200% while everything but the engine and guns shut down. "How the hell will we know where we're going?" asked the Turian as the navigation system went down.
"Easy, follow the path ahead." said Jane as they turned another corner. Avoiding incoming enemy fire while Alex shot down what he could.
They spun around another corner only to nearly run right into a Colossus that had waited for them. Jane slammed on the breaks and hit the reverse just in time to avoid a blast from its main gun. "No time to fight, we have to go now!" she shouted gunning the accelerator again.
"Everyone hang on to something!" Garrus yelled into the troop compartment. Everyone locked in their harnesses and grabbed emergency handles as the Commander slammed the Mako into one of the large Geth's legs.
The synthetic toppled over on to the ground, but not before getting a shot off that struck the top of the rover dead on.
"Shields have been cut down to 133%! We can't take too many hits like that!" said Garrus as they went around the crippled Colossus. After blowing through several more roadblocks that was in their way. The squad found themselves on top of a large incline that lead down to a wide space where a small mass relay stuck up out of the ground like an odd statue.
"That must be the Conduit! It's incredible!" said Liara as they all saw it.
Jane squeezed the steering wheel. "Alright...here we go."
X
Unknown to the team. Geth fleet came out of the mass relay close to the Citadel. Sovereign right behind them as they began to make their way toward the station. They launched a powerful salvo of rounds that tore through multiple ships in the Citadel Fleet before allied species returned fire.
The Commander of the Destiny Ascension staggered as the ship took a hit before getting on the comms. "Activate the defenses! Seal the station!"
"The arms aren't moving! Systems not responding!" said the navigator.
The Commander narrowed her gaze, "Abandon the Citadel! Evacuate the Council!" she ordered.
The navigator got on the radio immediately, "Citadel control! Citadel control! Do you copy?"
Inside the Citadel tower, Saren looked down at the dead Asari who were in charge of running the control center. Turning toward the door, he left to find his main objective with a squad of Geth following behind.
X
The Mako flew down the incline, drawing closer and closer to the Conduit as the team prepared themselves. "Shepard we have to go faster! The Conduit looks like it's going to close!" said Garrus as they rocketed down the slope.
"I'm giving her all shes got!" said Jane with her foot and the accelerator on the floor.
Alex was hit with an idea as he spun the cannon around until it was facing behind them, he fired again and again, each shot causing the rover to lurch forward a little faster. "What the are you doing?" asked Liara from the troop compartment.
"Giving us momentum!" shouted Alex over the sounds of the gun firing.
They reached the base of the incline and surged toward the small relay. Five Geth Colossus' were waiting for them and fired the moment they came into range. Jane swerved left and right to avoid the large blasts, one hitting the side of the Mako and dropping the barriers down to 81%.
Alex kept shooting the cannon behind them to keep up their speed while Jane continued to dodge the blasts fired at them. They reached the ramp in front of the Conduit and shot forward.
The Mako was grabbed by the relay's mass energy. In another second, the vehicle was launched into the sky at high velocity just as the Conduit shut down behind them.
X
Inside the Citadel, fires raged across multiple sectors. The invading Geth had caught everyone by surprise when they suddenly appeared out of what people thought was just a monument.
The death toll was already high, and nothing seemed to be stopping it anytime soon.
Standing around the 'relay monument', several Geth stood guard as they waited for a target to appear.
The large device suddenly kicked on catching the Geths attention. The device glowed bright for a moment, the rings in its center spinning faster and faster as the synthetics approached with weapons ready.
There was a bright flash and a charred and damaged Mako flew out of it. Crushing the Geth as it landed before it flipped over onto its roof and crashed against the far wall at the base of the Citadel tower.
The rover was still, two wheels continued to spin before the hatch on the back was kicked open by a large red foot.
Wrex hopped out, Claymore ready for an attack as the rest of the crew slowly crawled out, disoriented from the crash and a little banged up. But alive. They all got a good look around them, "Dammit, look at all of this." said Garrus seeing all the damage. "Its going to get worse if we don't stop Sovereign." said Liara.
Jane and Alex glanced around before they walked over to the hallway closest to them, but stopped as two Dragon's Teeth lowered two Husks to the ground.
The Commander pulled out her pistol and shot them both in the head before they could get in close, "Lets get moving. We don't have much time." She said as they all headed into the elevator and began to ride it up the tower.
X
Within the Council chambers, Saren stalked through the battle ravaged atrium with a sneer on his face. Pulling out his pistol and shooting two Keepers dead as he walked toward the platform ahead.
The platform suddenly shifted, opening itself wider as a large holo-panel appeared before him. He touched a few keys and displays of the station appeared before him.
Outside the Citadel, the fleet continued to try to hold off the Geth forces just as the station's arms began to close. "The Citadel's closing! They're sealing the station!" shouted Executor Pallin over the radio.
Sovereign sped toward the closing station, a group of Turian ships quickly formed up to block the Reaper. "Don't let the enemy ships inside the arms!" ordered the Executor as the ships opened fire.
The Reaper didn't acknowledge the rounds fired as they bounced off of its powerful barriers. It barreled its way through the lines of ships and destroyed several in the process as it slipped into the Citadel's arms just as they closed.
Sovereign drifted through the open space toward the Citadel tower. Opening its massive appendages and latching onto the tower as it began to assume control of the station.
X
The elevator the team was on came to a an abrupt halt halt. "Shit, Saren's locked the elevator! Suit up, we're going out!" said Alex. Everyone sealed their suits for the vacuum outside the tower.
Alex pulled out one of his Hammers and shot the window. Glass floated in the zero gravity outside as the nano soldier stepped off the elevator, "Magnetic Boots Enabled."
Sticking to the wall of the tower, Alex drew his assault rifle as Jane came down next to him followed by the rest of the team. The two Spectres nodding to one another before they began to make their way up the tower on foot with the others following with their weapons out.
Looking up to the top of the tower. Alex watched as one of Sovereign's tentacles slammed against the tower making it shake under their feet. "We're gonna kill you, you bastard." he thought hatefully
A window in front of them shattered and Geth Troopers started pouring out in front of them. The team opened fire taking the synthetics out quickly before moving forward...or in this case up.
A Geth Rocket Trooper came out on their left, Wrex grabbed it and slammed it into the side of the wall crushing its head and causing white fluid and chunks of debris to float out around them.
Liara launched a singularity, sending several Troopers airborne within the gravity-well and allowing the team to gun them down. Garrus smashed another Trooper in the face with the butt of his sniper rifle and shattering its optic before looking down the sights and blowing the head off another.
Tali blasted a Stalker in half with her shotgun while Alex grabbed a Shock Trooper by the neck and throwing it with all his strength against a nearby wall.
Jane whipped out her knife and rammed it up through the base of the head of a Rocket Trooper before using it as a shield to take down another that had stood behind it. "Taking my moves, darlin?" asked Alex as he peppered a Trooper with rounds from his rifle.
"You rub off on me in some ways." she replied as they kept pushing forward.
They went up a ramp and two Krogan came charging at them with weapons drawn. "Weaklings!" Wrex roared as he charged forward and slamming into them.
He smashed his fist into the face of one, crushing its helmet causing it to suffocate from the lack of oxygen. Wrex yanked the shotgun out of the hands of the dying Krogan and pressed the barrel to the head of the other while it was dazed. "You are not a true Krogan." he growled squeezing the trigger, blowing the Krogan's brains out of its head.
Past that, the team encountered a blockade that had several energy shields set up with a squad of Shock Troopers waiting.
Alex pulled out his sniper rifle and picked the synthetics off one at a time allowing the others to move up. They reached the top of the ramp and went into cover as several sniper rounds zipped past them. A Geth Destroyer began to make its way toward them as the two snipers sat on top of a nearby ridge waiting for an opening.
"Garrus, with me. Take out the snipers." Alex ordered as they both waited for their shot. The rest of the team focused fire on the Destroyer.
The moment the two snipers poked up to take a shot both their optics were blown out from two sniper shots. "Scoped and dropped." said Garrus pulling the bolt back on his rifle. When the Destroyer fell they started moving again. Pushing their way through any resistance that stood in their way.
After taking down another squad, they entered a large opening when a Geth dropship came down and started dropping troops on to the tower. "Tali, Alex, get the tower defenses running! We'll cover you!" shouted Jane as she and the others took cover and opened fire on the hostiles.
Tali ran to the first gun and began hacking it. Alex fired up his omni-tool and hacked the next one "Connection Established.". When they came online, rockets flew out of the guns striking the dropship causing significant damage.
Alex moved to the next gun and hacked it as well as small purple and blue fires started to break out along the Geth ship's hull. It continued to drop additional troops, but they were cut down before they even had a chance to unfold themselves.
One final salvo of rockets caused the ship to sputter. It veered off to the right and drifted away from the tower before exploding in a bright fireball.
Liara launched a throw attack that sent the last of the stragglers flying off of the tower allowing them to move forward.
The resistance persisted from there. Several more Krogan and powerful Geth units came at them as they continued to work their way to the top of the tower. The squad eventually found themselves in a large expanse of tower that had three Geth turrets set up that locked on to them the moment they got close.
They dove into alcoves for cover as rockets rained down around them along with a hail of pulse rifle fire. Alex poked his head up and tagged everything of importance on his HUD before dropping back down. "I can hack a couple turrets, that should give us a big enough distraction to deal with the mobile platforms." he said to Jane as she dropped back down to vent her rifle.
"Sounds good, try to keep your head down." she said with a nod.
Alex returned the nod before standing up. "Maximum Armor." rounds peppered his torso as he bolted out of cover and toward the first turret. His energy meter dropped to half by the time he had the thing hacked and it started firing on the Geth around it.
The nano soldier ran over to the next turret and hacked that one as well, forcing it to turn around and destroy the remaining turret before focusing on the remaining Geth.
One Trooper got close, but Alex whipped out his Hammer and shot it through the optic before it got within striking distance as the team began to move again. Moping up the last of the Geth as they now stood directly underneath Sovereign. "There has to be a way to get inside." said Tali as they walked down another access ramp.
"The tower's littered with ducts and venting systems. Any of them will lead us to where we need to go." said Garrus.
Alex and Jane approached a hatch at the end of the access way and motioned the others over. "This is our ticket in." said Jane pulling the hatch open.
"I'll go in first. I'll radio in if it's clear." he said taking out his pistol again. "Cloak Engaged." he vanished before leaping into the hatch. Moving his way slowly and as quietly as possible through the shaft. The nano soldier found himself dropping down into a room just outside the atrium leading to the Council chambers.
"I'm in. It's all clear so far." he radioed in while scanning the atrium and tagging four Geth Troopers that were waiting for them on the next level ahead.
The rest of the team quickly joined him, weapons still in hand as they made their way through the burning atrium. "The seat of government, reduced to this." said Liara shaking their head.
"It'll be much worse if Sovereign gains complete control." said Jane as they headed up the stairs. Taking down the four Geth standing guard around the room before charging forward toward the Council chambers.
Reaching the top, they saw Saren standing at the Citadel's controls. Alex opened fire with his pistol as the Turian leapt from the platform and on to his hovering device. He primed a grenade and tossed it at them, forcing them all to separate as the explosive went off.
"I was afraid you two wouldn't make it in time." Saren said smirking.
"In time for what?" asked Jane from her cover. Alex right next to her drawing his assault rifle.
"The final confrontation. I think we all expected it would end like this." replied Saren. "You've lost. You know that, don't you? In a few minutes, Sovereign will have full control of all the Citadel's systems. The relay will open. The Reapers will return."
"How about I tear both your fucking arms off this time?" said Alex gripping his rifle.
"You and may have survived our encounter on Virmire, Maverick. But I've changed since then. Improved. Sovereign has...upgraded me." said the rogue Spectre with something akin to pure elation in his voice
"You let that thing implant you? Are you insane?" asked Jane horrified.
"I suppose I should thank you all. After Virmire, I realized that I may not be strong enough to take on the both of you. This coupled with my fears of indoctrination plagued my ever thought, the doubts began to eat away at me. Sovereign sensed my hesitation. I was implanted to strengthen my resolve." explained Saren. "Now my doubts are gone. I believe in Sovereign completely. I understand that the Reapers need organics. Join us and Sovereign will find a place for you both as well."
"My answer hasn't changed, split-lip! You're just letting that thing run wild inside your head because your too damn weak to think for yourself anymore!" Alex called out.
"The relationship is symbiotic, Maverick." Saren started. "Organic and machine intertwined, a union of flesh and steel. The strengths of both, the weaknesses of neither. Why do you continue to fight what you are? Your just like us! So much more than the rest of your pathetic race."
Alex let out a breath, "Because at my heart, I am still a Human. No matter what get's put into me that will never change! You gave up what made you who you are because you let your mind fall victim to Sovereign, your nothing like the man you were before!"
The statement seemed to make Saren pause. The glow in his eyes dimmed slightly before he held the side of his head in pain.
"Sovereign hasn't won yet Saren. We can stop it from taking control of the station! Step aside and the invasion will never happen!" Jane called out.
"We can't stop it!" Saren barked out "Not forever. You saw the visions. You saw what happened to the Protheans. The Reapers are too powerful."
"Maybe they are! But we have the power to postpone the invasion! We can do what the Protheans were unable to do!" Alex stood up with his rifle trained on the Turian. "There is a chance that will give us valuable time! Now stand aside! I won't let you walk away alive this time if you don't."
Saren looked like he was starting to struggle, "Is there...truly a way to stop this. A chance for...unh!" he screamed and clutched his head. "The implants...Sovereign is too strong...I can fight it!"
Jane rolled to her feet next to Alex, "It's not over yet! You can still redeem yourself!" she said to the ex-Spectre.
Saren gave them all a sorrowful look. "...I...I'm...Sorry..." he struggled against himself as he pressed his pistol under his chin and pulled the trigger. Blue blood blew out the back of his head and he fell off his platform through the glass floor and slammed into ground below.
Watching Saren fall to the ground, Alex ran toward the holo-panel and brought up his omni-tool and the data files they had acquired to gain control of the station from Vigil. The rest of the team gathered around as the files started to take effect. "Data File Transfer Complete. Connection Established."
"I've got control of the Citadel's systems." said Alex looking back at all of them.
"Open the stations arms. Maybe the fleet can take Sovereign down before he regains control of the station." said Garrus.
"See if you can open a communication channel as well." said Jane added.
Alex pushed a few keys on his omni-tool and a transmission came through, '...the Destiny Ascension. Main drives offline, kinetic barriers down to 40%. The council is on board. I repeat, the council is on board.' spoke a navigator.
'Normandy to the Citadel. Normandy to the Citadel. Please tell me that's you guys out there.' said Joker.
"We're here Joker." said Alex as Jane stood next to him.
'We caught that distress call. I'm sitting here in the Andura sector with the entire Arcturus fleet. We can save the Ascension. Just unlock the relays around the Citadel and we'll send the cavalry in!' said the pilot.
"Are you really willing to sacrifice human lives to save the Council after all the shit they pulled?" asked Wrex crossing his arms.
"This is bigger than humanity. Sovereign's a threat to every organic species in the galaxy. Letting them die would cause mass panic." reasoned Liara.
"The council must be sacrificed for the greater good. Don't waste your reinforcements. Hold them back until the Citadel arms open up. Save the Human fleet to attack Sovereign." said Garrus.
'What's the order Commander, Maverick? Come in now to save the Ascension, or hold back?' asked Joker.
Jane looked at Alex, the nano soldier looked right back. "Honestly, after all of the 'help' they've given us I couldn't really care less what happens to them." said Alex bitterly.
"We can't just let them die Alex, we're better than that." said Jane putting a hand on his arm. "I'm just as pissed at them as you are, but that doesn't give us the right to be executioners." she reasoned.
Alex sighed heavily, as much as he wanted to leave the nearsighted Councilors to their fate because of their stupidity he knew Jane was right. And hopefully they would wise the hell up before things got a lot worse. "Joker, I'm opening the relays. Get in here and kick some ass!" he said punching in the sequence.
X
Outside the Citadel, the Normandy came out of mass relay with the Arcturus fleet right behind it. "Alliance ships move in! We need to save the Destiny Ascension!" ordered Admiral Hackett as they converged on the attacking Geth fleet.
On the Ascension, and Asari at the controls looked surprised, "Commander, we're picking up reinforcements!"
The Commander looked at the readouts in relief, "It's the Alliance! Thank the Goddess!"
The fleet opened fire on the Geth ships, the rounds blowing the vessels to pieces. The Geth returned fire taking out a couple of human ships, but the synthetics were out gunned and outmatched by the Alliance's firepower.
"Destiny Ascension, you are all clear. Repeat, you are all clear."' said Joker as the fleet headed toward the Citadel and leaving the Geth fleet in ruins.
The stations arms began to open slowly, revealing Sovereign still attached to the tower. "The Citadel is opening! All ships move in! Concentrate on Sovereign!" ordered Hackett as the fleet entered the Citadel. Getting the Reaper in their sights, they began the assault.
X
Shutting down his omni-tool, Alex walked to the edge of the platform and looked down where Saren's body lay. Clenching a fist, he hopped down to the lower level. Bending his knees and using a hand to stabilize himself on the landing. "Alex, what are you doing?" Garrus called down.
"Making sure this bastard stays dead." he called back taking out three explosive arrows and approaching the body of the dead Turian.
The whole tower suddenly started to tremble, Alex started moving a little quicker as red energy started to crackle through the room. Red bolts converging on the body while everyone tried to hold themselves up as the shaking got worse.
Saren's corpse began to glow as the energy reached critical levels. "Maximum Armor."Alex braced himself as the energy burst out in all directions. The platform above collapsed causing the whole squad to fall to the lower level.
Alex helped Jane to her feet as Saren's body stood upright. Blowing bright red like the fires of hell as the flesh burned away revealing the cybernetic components underneath.
The squad stared in horror at the skeletal abomination that stood before them. Eyes and chest glowing with dark red energy as it seemed to leer at them in fury. Alex glared back through his visor, drawing his bow and nocking one of the explosive arrows he had held as they all prepared to fight.
The Husk crouched down like a wild animal ready to attack, "I AM SOVEREIGN. AND THIS STATION IS MINE!"
A/N: I know a lot of you were expecting another long fight with Saren, but I decided to save the best fight for Sovereign. I was sure to add the space battle outside the Citadel for added effect to the story. The conclusion is right around the corner, and with how I'm updating lately it'll be posted very soon.