The Normandy-CIC
Commander Ashley Williams stood in the well of the Galaxy Map, leaning on the railing, waiting for the storm to begin. The crew was at their battle stations, and all the systems were primed, as the first waves of refugees were already making their way to the Mass Relay. And meanwhile the planetary Governor said she would stay behind to maintain the dignity of her office and in solidarity with her people. That was the situation at least on the ground, as Cameron, James, Miranda, Paul, and Cynthia all formed the strike team.
And for Shepard…she's sulking down in the lower corridors, though I don't blame her given we don't actually have a 'fleet' to command…and the Normandy's mine and all.
But it was still annoying.
"Commander, sensors have detected a large fleet of at least twenty ships on the outer edge of the planetary approach." EDI reported.
"Twenty ships? That is not enough for a blockade of a planet like this." Ashley grunted.
"It is once they secure the area," Ashley pointed out, "but let's give them something to worry about…engage the IES stealth system and begin evasive maneuvers."
"Yes ma'am." Joker replied from the helm.
"What gives?" Garrus asked.
"I don't want them to be comfortable, and they can't be comfortable if we are in stealth mode and could strike at any time." Ashley replied.
"Makes sense," Garrus asked.
Sanctuary
"Sir, we have ten men guarding each entrance and another twenty dispersed around the landing pad proper, along with a few drones and auto turrets."
Cameron nodded, the soldier below him carried an Avenger IV across his chest, pretty much what the entire Horizon guard contingent was armed with. He was likely a professional soldier who saw action in the war and was looking for a chance to serve, but not in any official capacity within the Alliance. A nice quiet semi-retirement.
That never seems to work out for anyone, Cameron thought.
"Very good," He finally replied nodding, "just keep it up and we'll be fine."
The soldier saluted before moving off.
Cameron had led the personal squad of James and Miranda down to the planet surface, Cynthia and Paul went off to do their own thing but otherwise it was all hands on deck who weren't immediately engaged in an important position on the Normandy.
The two squads had two objectives: To organize the planets defenses in the event of attack by a large enemy ground force, who was most likely coming at any moment, and to keep people safe long enough for the evacuation to space lift them.
Cameron scrambled up the ladder checking over another box of thermal clips someone had placed on one of the platforms.
"Hey James, how are we doing?"
The Marine sighed, "Good, but usually we are talking about dealing with dozens of enemies…not a full invasion force…that are a lot more sentient then your common indoctrinated stooge or husk. I mean I know we faced down a large force like this during the Disciple crisis…oh you weren't there that's right…but then we didn't have to worry about a bunch of untrained and raw soldiers 'watching our back.'"
"Make do with what you have?" Cameron arched an eyebrow.
"Roger that." James chuckled.
"Sir, we have shuttles incoming, looks like they are breaking off for both Sanctuary and the Capitol." One of the soldiers came up saluting him.
James and Cameron traded a look, "And so it begins." Cameron grunted looking down the corridor.
Normandy-CIC
"They have assumed a defensive position around Horizon, in orbit around Sanctuary, but their formation is tight." EDI reported over the coms.
Interesting, Ashley thought. They were around Horizon flying in tight formation around the planet surface as the enemy appeared more concerned about the Normandy coming in on them and keeping them away from the planet and watching their own backsides then they were about actually doing their jobs.
But, it does actually make our job harder. Ashley frowned.
"Joker, stalk that fleet, I want them in our sites as long as we can until someone gives the final evac notice."
"Yes ma'am." Joker replied.
Sanctuary
The first group of soldiers came tearing around the corner of the processing lobby of the facility.
Cameron expertly brought his Revenant up in one solid thrust and began firing the spread of bullets down range.
The first soldier's shields flared, he fell back, only to be replaced by another soldier behind him who brought his Harrier into the action. Others followed their new leader, firing Harriers, Avengers, and Revenants as they rounded the corner. The bullets slamming and smacking off the walls as they went.
Cameron flung his arm out launching a dark channel into the heart of the group, and followed it quickly with a shockwave blast, combining into a biotic explosion, causing the soldiers in the row to scramble and scatter.
But they were still dramatically outnumbered.
"Go, go!" Cameron grunted behind him as James fired his weapon in staggered fire, hoping to pin the enemy for a few seconds.
All we are doing is buying time. Cameron muttered internally.
One of the soldiers came rushing through the door behind them, Cameron launched into a charge and finished him off with a spray of bullets to the chest. They were back tracking now, as a squad, to the Sanctuary's 'hidden entrance'.
"Paul seal the doors if you can we're coming through!" He said vaulting over the ladder and down into the bottom of the bay as it began to slosh up with water.
Cameron waded quickly, into the entrance, and face to face with the waiting Infiltrator who was covering the door.
"There, that should keep them occupied for a few minutes." Cameron smiled.
But, just as he said it the lights flickered and the building rocked.
"Or not." Vega grumbled.
"Come on," Cameron grumbled.
Paul ran off back to where his assignment was on the backup landing pad, to join with Cynthia, as Miranda ran to catch up with him. In her black cat suit it made Cameron pause for a split second before running to meet her.
"How is the evacuation coming?" Cameron asked her.
"We've loaded three more shuttles, and a mineral ship that we are also trying to convert while we are cramming civilians into it. But," another explosion cut her off as she looked skyward, "with their fleet in orbit this will probably be the last run we can justify making."
"I know," Cameron nodded, "One thing at a time."
"Why don't they just try and wait us out, bomb us from orbit?" Vega asked.
"They want to seize power and kill or capture us; they don't want a bunch of charred corpses." Cameron responded.
"That's loco."
"That's war." Cameron cut in grimly.
He led them off deeper into the facility to their prepared positions, and ran over to make sure they were ready to face the oncoming storm of soldiers which were about busting down their door any second now. James assumed the position on the left flank, Miranda was just behind him, and he was on one of the top platforms overlooking the area with a sweeping Revenant. Several soldiers dotted the perimeter to assist them if they needed the assistance. Every little bit helps after all.
The Revenant burst to life as the first soldier came through the door even before Cameron could recognize he was there to shoot. The soldier crumpled but others quickly advanced into the breach holding their weapons and firing them, trying to take cover, but mostly using their superior numbers as a bludgeon.
The Horizon forces surged forward, and one of them took a burst to the chest from a Harrier, James responded by gunning him down.
"Where's Nathan?!" James asked as he took cover to reload.
"In chess the pawns go first." Cameron pointed out firing another burst of his own to kill the incoming forces, three of them in a line.
"What?!" James asked finishing up emptying another thermal clip.
Cameron launched a dark channel down the line into the center of the group. "They are using these forces to wear us down." Cameron fired another burst as the dark channel jumped to the next soldier; he flung a shockwave which exploded. "Use up our ammunition, kill the people who are working with us, test our defenses."
"Why couldn't we have done this?!" James grunted.
Cameron smiled wryly, "We were never apart of a fleet, or were working with Cerberus, or were involved on a Frigate engaged in Special Ops and not exactly front line operations, and besides the squad was never that large to make any of us expendable."
"And here I thought it was my charming personality." James teased.
Cameron grunted as he finally had to reload preventing him from making a retort, the enemy began to fire up at him finally, and he was exposed. Miranda unleashed an overload which caught the enemy off guard causing him to jerk, Cameron launched a Shock wave taking him off guard and finishing him off.
"Thanks," Shepard nodded at his former girlfriend who was someone else's best friend in this universe with his name…
"It could be a distraction too," Miranda pointed out.
Cameron grunted as the thought shot into his consciousness like a Thanix round.
"She has a point Loco,"
Some things never change,
"That is what Paul and Cynthia are for."
The Vanguard was brought out of his reverie as three mechs, rocketed in, scooting in over and around the Sanctuary ground, one of them went for him, one of them went for a soldier and gave him a Shot Gun blast in the chest, and the other went for Miranda and James.
Cameron rolled away as the mech nearly stepped on him, scrambling to his feet and pulling out the Carnifex at his hip. The mech came in; Cameron ducked and launched his hand out in a biotically assisted punch. The mech barely took notice as it slashed across him with an enhanced Omni-blade, he staggered, but launched himself into a Biotic Charge at point blank range driving the mech into the wall. He fired three bullets from his Carnifex catching the mech on fire, rolled back, and launched a shockwave causing it to explode.
But in checking the 'aftermath' he noticed the enemy was now pouring in and threatening to over run their new position.
"Retreat!" He yelled out.
He charged into the center of the group and launched himself into a Nova scattering the enemy and providing them with valuable time to retreat. His Revenant came up and vomited fire as they retreated from the field of battle heading for the exit.
Sanctuary-another location
Nathan Burke entered a back room, 'maintenance area of the former Cerberus facility. He led Amanda and the Asari Valkyrie behind him as they were going to flank the position of the…rebels? And win the day.
"Hey, you aren't supposed to be here!" One of the soldiers turned around to face him.
He rushed forward bringing his Avenger up, but was intersected by a Spike from the Spike thrower Amanda was cradling.
Three more soldiers took notice and also rushed forward trying to kill them; Nathan launched into a rolling summersault and launched a blast of biotic energy rolling down the corridor. It slammed into the group causing them to duck and fall. Nathan rushed into a charge slamming into the middle of them, and swung around with his sword slamming the three of them aside and killing them.
He smirked at his handy work.
"You know if the rest of their soldiers are this bad then we shouldn't have any problems." Amanda remarked sarcastically.
Nathan was about to agree when a sniper round shot at his head nearly taking down his shields, but none followed it so he looked calmly and curiously to the left.
"That was very impressive." A man said holding a Valiant on him.
Nathan turned in full, "You must be Paul Leighy."
"The one and only," Paul agreed, "and you are the person who kicked Shepard's ass. Something that is not happening again by the way."
"Oh so she is alive?" Nathan smirked. "Then where is she?"
"Figured she would take the day off, after all she is so far above the interests of us mere mortals, especially you."
"Is that a fact?" Nathan arched an eyebrow, "Well I did kick her ass."
"Well it was raining and it was wet, she hates fighting in the rain."
"I see."
Before the Infiltrator could react, or at least that was the plan, Nathan surged forward into a biotic charge closing the distance, but as he was, he saw Paul cloak. He surged through the air where Paul was, and tried to cut himself up short, but slammed into the wall on the far side nearly knocking him senseless.
Rael and Amanda surged forward trying to cover him but they were intercepted by a Geth Plasma Shotgun wielding Cynthia Jackson.
Paul decloaked next to him charging him with active Omni-blade, Nathan brought up his biotic sword and charged forward.
They clashed, Paul ducked, and spun around sweeping Nathan's feet out from under him, the Slayer spun out of the way as Paul moved to give a finishing blow and kill him; Paul spun away bringing up a Talon and fired it into the group.
Amanda and the Valkyrie ushered into the jaws of defeat as well, firing at the two of them, and Paul had to reload.
"Come on, we need to get out of here," Cynthia fired off two more blasts, "we just don't have the time!"
Paul nodded, "Fine! Lead the way!"
Cynthia did so as he cloaked, he slammed the door shut as Nathan and company slammed into it from behind. Nathan grunted and slammed a fist against the barricade.
Normandy-CIC
Ashley had ordered the ship to make a strafing run on the enemy fleet, to get a close in line scan with passive sensors to develop a potential and specific attack profile; she could feel the engines surge underneath her as the holographic blips began to converge on one another. This was the moment of truth.
"Hey, what are you!"
Bang, bang…gun shots?
Ashley wrenched her head around wondering who was firing in the Normandy CIC.
And Shepard's aide came out of the war room entrance, holding an Eagle pistol, aiming down its sights.
"What the? What are you-"
Ashley felt a bullet slam into her shoulder as her eyes widened and she collapsed on the Galaxy Map, she looked in slow motion as the aide continued to advance.
"Security!" Traynor screamed as she dove, and took a bullet in her butt.
One of the security troops in question brought an Avenger around and began firing, but he took two bullets in the neck for his trouble killing him.
The man came over to her, carrying his Eagle in one hand, and glared at her. "I think you should be grateful that we consider you reasonable, and that I have to conserve ammo, and you are not really much of a threat to me."
Ashley wanted to prove him wrong, wanted to reach up and strangle the bastard for violating her, but nothing moved, why can't I move?
"Paralytic poison rounds." The man replied off her thought, "Certainly useful when you have few rounds left, now if you'll excuse me."
He moved pocketing something out of his pocket and attacking it to the Galaxy Map internal well. The lights immediately started to flicker and the sparks began to spark and explode along the CIC.
"What the?" Joker asked over the intercom, "Security breach in the CIC, sealing off the bridge!"
Ashley saw the door to the CIC seal itself and mass effect field come up, at least they are safe.
Normandy-Deck 3.
Abigail looked up at the ceiling as Joker reported what was going on the bridge, she stopped sipping at her Frappuccino and dropped it to the decking.
Going for the new 'secret' armory panel by the memorial wall, installed after the incident with the husks running around the Normandy during the disciple crisis.
She yanked down on the control handle as the armory hissed open, revealing a few Eagles and other equipment pieces. She took an Eagle and a shield harness out of the bay and began attaching them to her standard battle dress.
But she was having trouble attacking the shield harness with thermal clip ports, just a simple vest which provided some small shield protection for soft shield targets.
"Soldier, get over here! Help me get this thing on!" She yelled at a passing noncom.
The man rushed to her and began to seal up the back clips of her harness, and she started suddenly as he brushed against her.
"Soldier, that better be your pistol I feel." She commented.
"Sorry ma'am, it is ma'am."
She smiled ruefully at the thought.
The man finished, she nodded her thanks before dashing off into the elevator. The ride seemed to last an interminably long time as someone was shooting up her CIC.
The door to the CIC opened up and she spilled out, rolling as bullets slammed in above her, she checked to see who it was and was shocked to see her aide staring her down with an Eagle.
The aide fired again and Shepard rolled forward, bringing her weapon up in one solid motion she fired the disruptor enhanced rounds, slamming through the man's shields and knocking him down.
He tried to double clutch the Eagle in his hand, but Shepard beat him to it putting three more rounds in his chest, electricity arched through him and he collapsed on the well of the Galaxy Map. Abby reloaded the Eagle and clutched it, covering him, making sure he didn't just decide to get up to reengage, but he did look quite incapacitated.
The Valkyrie rushed forward to the well of the Galaxy Map and leaned over the Normandy's fallen CO, blood leaking out of her shoulder. "Damnit!" She cursed applying medi gel. "Ashley? Ashley can you hear me!? Stay with me! What's going on? You ok?"
Ashley was frozen in place, stiff, but her eyes rolled over and she glared at the Galaxy Map. Abigail followed her eyes and spied a small box attacked to the Galaxy Map emitting energy.
"Damn it!" Abigail cursed grabbing for it, "Ah!" She screamed as the electricity arched into her fingers.
She threw the box against the wall and fired the Eagle at it as it splattered.
"Medics to the CIC, the situation is secured! Repeat the situation is secured! I need status reports now people!" She screamed into her intercom.
A coughing noise drew her attention, she spun around to notice her aide, her former aide trying to sit up, the bullet holes smoldering in his chest.
She grabbed him by the scruff of his uniform tunic and held him up nearly face to face, "Why?!" She spat.
He laughed, a raspy, choking sound, "you have no idea what you are doing do you?"
"That was not an answer!" She replied.
"Because you are a reactionary, you are a woman who is not needed in the new order that has been rising. You have no idea what it has been like, living as you have in the Citadel, on your apartment, out amongst the stars. You and Hudson both! You have been isolated, aloof, while Earth has suffered!"
"We seek to mitigate the suffering as much as possible, and to protect from those who would cause more!" Abigail Shepard retorted.
"How? By pulling back? By leaving people to fend for themselves! Soren understands, Soren knows what it takes to rebuild! We need a strong leader who is willing to do whatever it takes to rebuild, use whatever power they have, politically, economically, and governmentally, that is something that you and Hudson will never understand!"
Abigail felt a spike of shock rage through her body, she grunted, in frustration. "You will be interrogated for all you know." Was the only response she could manage.
He began laughing, his mouth began frothing.
No! She screamed internally trying to shake the poison out, but it was far too late, for him, and any further use for any of them.
"Damn it!" She pulled herself up as the medics poured in around her attending to Traynor and Ashley. "I'm assuming command! Until such time as Commander Williams is back on her feet! I need reports people!"
"Something is acting up with the IES system, trying to keep us in stealth drive for a few moments, but it's difficult, I think we're starting to leak heat." Adams reported.
"What?" The once again Commander of the Normandy leaned across the railing.
"Whatever happened on the CIC, it has affected our entire starships power grid, I think we are leaking heat."
"Shepard, we have an Alliance Cruiser swinging around on our position."
"Joker, evasive maneuvers."
"I'll do my best as Adams tries to reset the systems." Joker grunted.
"All I can ask."
"They are closing." EDI reminded.
"Hold on!" Joker yelled banking the ship around.
"Reestablishing the IES, for a second, going to have to watch it but we are stable for now."
"Acknowledged," Abby said breathing a sigh of relief, and then to the retreating medics dragging Ashley and Traynor away on stretchers, "take care of them." She said.
"Will do ma'am."
Sanctuary
Cameron took an under cut from a Krogan charging on him, he grunted as he brought his Revenant up covering him and pushing it off, the Krogan unleashed a shockwave right to Cameron's gut, Cameron rolled away and fired a stream of bullets, before jumping down off the platform.
"Cameron!" His com screeched at him.
"What is it?" He said bringing his finger to his ear, ow.
"This is…Shepard…we have a problem up here, we need to evacuate, now! Get up here with anyone left, we'll try and give you some cover."
"Right, Commander Shepard out." Cameron acknowledged, "Miranda, James, Paul, Cynthia, we're going."
He launched into a charge taking a guard out at one of the exits to the room they were in, the man staggered and he slammed a biotic fist into his stomach killing him. Shepard switched his Revenant out for a Carnifex as he was able to cover the retreat of the rest of his squad; he took cover, aimed down the scope, and continued to fire. Aiming a few pot shots at the Krogan to let him know they were still a threat.
As Miranda and James both made their moves around him he rolled to the side behind yet another sealing door.
"Come on, let's go, and break for the shuttles." He ordered.
They moved down the corridor as a single unit, running, quickly breaking through into the secondary landing pad which was chalk full of shuttles, and the last of the crowded civilians and even a few of the troopers.
"Alright get these people moving." Cameron ordered as he ran for the Kodiak.
But an explosion to his left stopped him dead in his tracks as Nathan Burke and his squad poured on through. Nathan glared at the oncoming preparations and started to run towards them.
Cameron responded by launching a dark channel effect, followed by a shockwave causing them to stagger from the biotic explosion.
The Vanguard used this distraction to leap onto the shuttle with Miranda and James.
"Steve, get us out of here!" He yelled to the cockpit.
The Kodiak began to rise from the ground heading into the sky, its engines picking up steam as others in their convoy also began to take off. Cameron looked around the cargo compartment and Cynthia and Paul were there, as well as a couple of adults, and a group of four children. The shuttle broke atmo causing Cameron to stumble for a second.
Abigail is just going to love this.