Omega
Cameron Shepard stood on top of an Omega sky scraper looking out over the alleys and streets that made up Omega. It still doesn't seem right, a skyscraper on a space station. He glanced up, and saw Kurl in all of his armored glory looking around the station on a platform which placed him above his surrounding troops, which included for the Spectre right now James Vega and Miranda Lawson. Paul Leighy and Cynthia Jackson were here too, just elsewhere.
"You sure that's a good idea standing there?" Cameron asked incredulously.
"When the battle starts, I will move." Kurl replied simply.
"OK…"
"It is good for me and my troops to be here, to be seen; it gives me confidence and lets me know I am alive, leading a great battle. It gives my troops the confidence of seeing a Krogan is on their side." Kurl relented to explain.
"If you say so, I would personally prefer to be alive."
"And if the gods smile down on us we may yet live." Kurl grinned.
"And if they don't?" Cameron asked.
"Then it comes down to our skill, are you skillful Cameron Shepard?"
Cameron nodded stiffly.
Normandy-CIC
Abigail Shepard leaned over the well of the Galaxy Map watching the path between the local relay and Omega, the likely invasion path, waiting for the show to begin. This was probably something she was the least suited to do. While she personally 'led' the attack to Earth it was more of an "Attack" and "fire". The individual commanders and leaders made the decisions on how, before she rushed off to Earth. Now she was responsible. For the Geth Programs in the Geth ship, even though they couldn't probably die and just transfer. But for the Quarians, for the Alliance forces that had decided to join them, and for the three Omega fighter squadrons that Kurl had generously made a part of the Normandy's 'air wing' under both her and Ashley's personal command, a unique enough experience as it is. She smirked ruefully.
The Galaxy Map trilled at her as the display focused in on the distant Relay. Ships started to pour through it of various Alliance and Turian makes and models, at least one hundred and fifty of them, all divided into task groups, and flying in tight formation. The Cruisers protecting the Dreadnaughts, and the Frigates protecting the Cruisers. Finally it stopped.
"All ships commence check ins." Abigail ordered.
"Geth command, all ships active and waiting the commands o Shepard-Captain."
"Quarian fleet checking in."
"Free Alliance task group awaiting your commands Shepard." The male Alliance controller leading his ship checked in.
"Paragon Squadron here." Shepard smirked as the first of the Omega squadrons checked in.
"Renegade Squadron checking in."
"Black Devils, ready to punch the Alliance back through the Relay." The last squadron, all Vorcha, hissed in.
That's everyone, Abigail thought. "Traynor, get me the Alliance ships on frequency, send it in the clear so there is no way they can ignore it."
The communications specialist nodded typing in the commands on her computer display without a second word. As soon as she was finished she looked up and gave Shepard a subtle nod.
"Attention, Alliance Fleet, you are participating in an illegal invasion of a Sovereign power, withdraw from this space and return through the Mass Relay or you will be fired upon."
"You will find Shepard that we have the proper notarization and legal chain of command here." A male voice spoke over the intercom.
"Alright, now that I have your attention, you have the legal authority but do you have the moral one?"
"You and your station represent a threat to Alliance Interests and Galactic stability," the voice persisted, "a threat that must be dealt with."
"You, are the one declaring war, you are the one who is upsetting the cosmic order." The Captain persisted.
"We wouldn't be here if you hadn't rebelled against the Alliance and stole Alliance military materials, and turned those materials over to a Krogan Warlord who rebelled against the established order, threatening the entire Galaxy with war." The voice of a familiar woman spoke.
"Admiral Jameson?" Abigail asked gripping the rail again.
"You have lost the right to call me that."
"Admiral, no, Courtney, listen to me. You have to realize what is going on here. Even if some Prime Minister or Parliament has signed off on these orders you, these orders are contrary to the spirit and purpose of the Charters and Constitutions to which our Governments are supposed to hold sacred. And what about everything else? The building of massive military supplies, the forcing of civilians into work camps, hell into sex camps, have you been paying attention into what is going on here?"
"I have, whatever my feelings on these policies it is not the role of the military to set policy, it is not the role of the military to steal supplies and ferment revolution. If these actions are wrong then the Government will be replaced in the next election by the will of the people."
"Come on listen to yourself Courtney," Abigail felt her temper and her voice rise and took a steadying breath, "at the current rate there may not be a next election. The manipulation, the slavery, the blatant mind control, the elections can't be free if the people aren't."
"And you, as one woman, can't force your will on a peaceful process." Courtney said and then the com link clicked off.
"Damn it," Abigail cursed, "Traynor open a message to the rest of the fleet." She waited a second. "Shepard to assault fleet, activate all systems, and stand by for battle. Fighter squadrons, they will try to take out Omega's defenses before their Capitol Sheps reach Omega's defensive envelope, take these forces out any way you can, concentrate on troop transports as they come through. Divide your forces to protect them. Assault ships stay within the envelope and make their forces come to us, force them to engage in Omega's defensive envelope, we may not have the forces to stop them even then but they will know they were in a fight."
"Uh Shepard, it's not like I can maneuver well if I am pinned to one general location." Joker grunted out.
"What, afraid of getting pinned?" Ash asked innocently, "Afraid the big bad pilots will outflank us?"
"No," Joker bristled, "just pointing the fact out for anyone who is interested."
Abigail and the Normandy CO traded a look and smirked, but the enemy fleet surged forward causing both of them to redirect their attention. Tiny dots began to pour off the larger ones, indicating enemy troop and fighter launches.
"Five hundred thousand Kilometers." EDI reported, "Enemy forces continue to advance on us, accelerating."
The CIC of the Normandy grew deathly quiet, the lights darkened as the ship began its final preparation for battle. People looked up and then tentatively returned back to their displays and screens. Most of them may not actually have anything to do in the battle ahead, but the stations have to be manned. People were sweating, even with EDI pumping cool air through the CIC the tension was enough to cause bouts of sweat even on the steadiest of soldiers.
"Two hundred fifty thousand kilometers." EDI intoned.
"Captain, something strange." Traynor reported, "The communications between the enemy fleet has suddenly spiked, and they do not look like they are official transmissions either."
"Why not?" The Captain asked.
"Because they are being transmitted in the open."
Abigail's eyes widened, "Put them on, now."
Traynor's hands flew across her console.
"General Beck, tighten up your formation, this is an order, whatever your personal feelings-"
"This isn't right, she is a war hero, she has enough gold and silver pinned on her chest to afford a Cruiser. And she is right, what is happening on Earth doesn't make sense."
"This is not the first time that a loyal officer has gone rogue, learn your history Beck."
"I know my history all too well, which is why I cannot support this action, it is we who are the traitors, not Shepard." A burst of static broke over the line at the last announcement.
"If you do not get your ships back into formation, you will be court-"
"People of the Turian Hierarchy and the Alliance, those who love Freedom, those who have been uneasy about our current circumstance, join me, this action is not right. Defend Captain Shepard and defend Omega, for the rights of people everywhere!"
"Captain!" EDI yelled out, "one of the Alliance Cruisers just fired off a broadside into a Turian Dreadnaught; the two fleets are beginning to fire on one another."
"Confirm that!" She shouted over the tumult of chatter breaking out through the CIC, "and shut up, stay focused."
"It's confirmed," Ashley reported, "most of the fleet is now engaged with its self, but a few disengaged task forces are attempting to cut us off."
With her mind racing at the stunning turn of events she moved to dissect the new tactical situation. If she played it well the mass defection amongst the enemy could be the key to winning the battle. If it's legitimate that is. Abigail checked the screens her eyes rolling around the displays taking in the information, well the explosions seem legitimate, the weapons fire, they could be using explosive panels along their hull, but that seems like it would be difficult when they could just pummel us into submission. That meant she had to join forces.
"We have to save them." She toggled the fleet communications, "All ships, forward at full speed, engage the enemy, box them in between their forces and ours, try and give them something else to shoot at and overwhelm them, fighters stay behind and guard Omega, Black Devils you are with Normandy."
A burst of chatter met her orders, but they were filled out.
"Wahoo!" Joker whooped.
Obviously at the fact he has open space to run around now and could show his piloting skills off.
"You sure about this Captain?" Ashley quizzed, "I mean leaving the Omega defensive batteries."
The former Council Spectre nodded stiffly, "we have to save them, we have to hit the enemy before they can regroup, Traynor, establish contact with Cameron and update him on what is going on. Advise him that we are going offensive so there may be enemy forces coming his way."
"Yes ma'am." Traynor replied.
"Garrus, get ready, we have targets for you to shoot at soon." Ashley said into the intercom.
"Oh Williams, you say the sweetest things" The Turian grunted over the intercom.
Abigail smirked and Ashley blinked.
The Normandy surged forward and lanced through the picket lines of the enemy fleet. Now that they weren't paying attention to them because they were busy defending themselves from attack. They swooped in quickly before any of the ships could gain a target lock and looped through space, they had two Geth frigates for escort. The Normandy's forward laser batteries came up and began to spill energy into space. The bolts of light slammed into the amidships section of the Alliance Cruiser causing the armor to explode and crackle under the assault. A pair of disruptor torpedoes continued the assault and continued to harass the Cruiser.
But before any more damage could be done by any party the Joker performed a perfect pivot in mid space and flipped the Normandy back on its edge. The Geth frigates made their own pass at the Crusier.
The fleets were fully invested, with the three way cross fire, all of the ships firing in multiple directions, the fleets going ever forward. Inexorably towards Omega.
"Keep it up," Abby ordered, "make sure they get within Omega's defensive perimeter."
The Normandy pitched over and rolled past a blast trying to cut them off at the seams, Joker was keeping them one step ahead of the enemy before anyone could even get a full lock on them, causing the Normandy to dance like a ship the size and capabilities of the Trident.
But their path took them careening by a Frigate that was not firing at them. Soon their weapons swiveled around and fired a pot shot at Normandy's lower hull. Joker spun the ship and took them out, but too late as three rounds slammed into their kinetic barriers.
Shepard felt the ship pitch dramatically forward and clutched onto the CIC railing to keep herself from falling into the well of the Galaxy Map. Something popped and began hissing to the side as the CIC started to fill with noxious smoke.
"What is that?" Abigail spluttered covering her mouth. "oh nevermind."
"Damage report!" Ashley yelled out.
"We have a hull breach!" One of the techs reported from his station.
"Where?" Ashley and Abby said together, the latter felt her blood run cold.
"Somewhere on Deck 3, AI core, it's just a small stress factor keeping it sealed for the time being." The tech grunted.
"Doctor Chakwas is also reporting an injury." EDI supplanted.
"What the hell happened?" Shepard hissed drawing her view along the wall to where the gas had exploded from.
"One of the enemy ships opened up on us, we thought it was a friendly since it wasn't firing on…well anyone I guess…sorry Commander." Joker reported.
"It's ok." Ashley smiled.
"We need to head this off," Abigail snapped, "Traynor fleet wide. Attention, anyone fighting for the side of freedom and the liberty of the Alliance send up a blue pulsing signal on your communication link. If you are against us then do not."
Ashley turned to the Captain curiously, "Won't the enemy just use our signals to confuse us?"
"They won't like firing blind any more than we do, trust me, they'll stay out of our way if they have any intention of creating clear lines of battle."
"Captain, many of the transponder signals are emitting the requested frequency you wanted, forty three in all." EDI reported.
"That evens things up a bit," Ashley grinned.
"Yes, only a little, Joker, try and drag their fleet closer to Omega, I want the station involved taking pot shots." Abigail ordered.
"Right away."
Omega
Drones and breaching pods streamed towards the surface of the pirate station, just above it the drones exploded as one depositing small mechs which bore through the hull and into the streets below. Other Drones locked on and spewed forth gunships and small fighters, these crashes into the holes the lead burrowers were making.
Cameron listened to the activity along with his irregular 'battalion' of troops spread around him. The metal above him sounded as though it were twisting and being wrenched apart and eaten into, his soldiers shifted in their spaces nervously. He looked up and Ranaak Kurl had placed himself on a raised platform on one of the buildings looking regal and disinterested in his surroundings and environment. This should be good Cameron decided.
His attention was drawn skyward as rocket powered mech boots bursted down on them. "Heads up." He ordered drawing his weapon up skyward and aiming down the sights.
At least two hundred hands joined his as two hundred weapons came up into two hundred shoulders, and only two of them were a part of his squad.
It's nice being on the side that has some numbers for once, Cameron grunted annoyed.
"Stand by, stand by, fire!"
The Revenant in his hand roared to life almost shaking out of his hand as yellow streams of super-heated metal raced skyward into the gathering swarm of drones. He found it hard to track them as they were descending faster than he could pull the weapon along, but the pure ferocity of the combined fire from the three building perimeter was likely enough to cause some of them to come crashing to the ground.
He ran out of bullets and had to reload quickly, as he did so this allowed him to see what the other positions were doing, and they were firing a similar wall of bullets and metal into the air at the incoming waves of enemies.
The mechs crashed into the ground in front of them on the street below and they quickly charged, running with their servos roaring, rockets going up. A mantis gunship lanced over the buildings spewing its rockets, they slammed into one of the buildings, causing it to pitch over to the side and begin to collapse. Yells of shock and panic echoed from the opposite building.
Missiles went up chasing the gunship down, striking it, and causing it to lose control and burrow into the decking behind the defensive perimeter.
Cameron went to the railing on the edge and threaded the Revenant through it, toggling a target, and firing into the crowded army of rushing mechs. Other assault rifles, a carnage blast from James, and a warp blast from Miranda cut into them, the first group of five exploded. But they were closing rapidly.
One of the mechs maneuvered to leap around the barricade and powered into the air, Cameron fired down with his incendiary based ammo catching it on fire. It stooped its flight in front of him and he hit it with a shockwave causing a massive explosion to rip its heart out. More of the mechs followed before they could recover and Cameron had to charge one of them, knocking it back slightly, and then slamming his Revenant across its mechanic face, and slamming a biotically assisted fist in front of it causing it to splutter and lose power.
The Vanguard flung into a Biotic charge at another one of the mechs skirting the edge as Miranda hit it with a warp, and James with a carnage, he hit the mech and it exploded crumpling up. He swung around and peppered the alley with more shots, but it was doing little good to slow the onslaught.
"Fall back!" he yelled out.
The crowd broke behind him but he laid down covering fire making sure they were secure in the stairwell, slowly fighting their way back to the entrance of the base to engage on the streets. Where I have more room.
Normandy
"Whoa!" Joker called out.
The ship rocked dramatically at his announcement as Abigail thought he was applying a radical evasive maneuver. She clenched onto the map again stabilizing herself.
"What is it?" She called out.
"We were just buzzed by a Normandy class frigate, who is now engaging us." EDI replied.
"Can you identify?" Ashley screamed out clutching one of Normandy's side railings.
"It's the SSV Market Garden," EDI replied.
I wouldn't want to be on that ship, might as call it the SSV… her stomach clenched as Joker lurched the Normandy to one side and rocketed her away from the scene.
"The SSV Market Garden is assigned to Burke and his crew to hunt us down." EDI supplanted once the maneuver was complete.
"Thank you EDI," Shepard replied through gritted teeth trying not to barf, even though the ship had its dampeners to maximum and mass effect fields set to limit inertia they were still bucking about rapidly.
"Hey Joker, why can't you lose these losers?" Ashley queried.
"They are good, Whoa, that was close!" Joker pitched the Normandy onto its side as even Abigail thought she saw point defense lasers flash by the windows at the front of the bridge.
"Hey Joker, calm down you can do this." Abigail muttered trying to calm the pilot down slightly before he did anything too rash, it wasn't often that he ran into someone who could approach anywhere near is skill level, but she was confident he could do it.
As if on cue the Normandy rose above an exploding Frigate putting some distance between them and the Market Garden, both ships trying to gain the weather gauge, and the advantage. It was then Joker made his move, by not engaging the Market Garden, but he swung the Normandy around away from the exploding hulk and powered the engines into overdrive. The Market Garden was caught flat footed having several seconds to either engage them through the fire ball, or waste several precious seconds going around the thing to reacquire.
But, this course pointed them at the Alliance Super-Dreadnaught, one of the ones that were being built on Earth.
"Joker, uh, you sure about this?" Shepard asked through to the cockpit.
"Yeah, trust me, oh and Garrus you might want to get the big gun off its mounting."
Joker didn't get any response, and Shepard guessed correctly that he didn't need one as the Normandy leveled off, pointing straight at the Super Dreadnaught, as if on cue the front batter opened up spewing a gout of blue-white flame. The blast of super-heated metal struck the Dreadnaught in the side by its engine cowling causing massive damage to the stern, Joker flipped the Normandy on its back and up under the Dreadnaught as its active scanners came online bathing the space where the Normandy was with enough energy to fry an egg.
"That'll teach them." Ashley muttered.
"Yes, but the other Frigate is now moving to reacquire us." EDI reported over the intercom.
"You think you can lose them Joker?"
"Yeah, give me a second," the pilot replied confidently.
Captain Shepard took the period of relative calm to spring the next part of her plan, "Traynor, get me into contact with Cameron, he needs to know what is going on here."
Traynor went to work at the problem.
Omega
Cameron fired his Revenant stuttering the bullets down the range towards a pair of mechs who were advancing imperiously, there rockets and machine gun fire rippling out of their armor, striking just in front of him. His shields took a hit and failed, but he wasn't too concerned, yet.
Cynthia's sniper burst from one of the roof tops caught a mech in the head causing it to explode, Shepard shockwaved the second mech causing an explosion of its own ripping through its innards and disabling.
"Cameron, Shepard, come in!" A startled voice announced over his intercom.
Cameron glanced at Miranda who nodded slowly and took his place on the firing line. She held her Tempest up over her shoulder and glared out over the boulevard. Cameron dove into a well on the side of the street and activated his Omni-tool, Abigail's grim face peered out at him.
"Cameron, you insisted on a visual?" The visage queried.
"Yeah, why not? Things just got quiet here."
His sister on the other end smiled lightly, "Wish we could say the same. We're being hunted by the ship that Nathan is in command of, just be prepared, he is probably after us but if he decides to come after you…"
As the human Captain was speaking Cameron noticed out of the corner of his eye a new force approaching him, led by the aforementioned Nathan Burke. He began laying down orders causing the mechs and his squad to begin fanning out, and swiveled his shot gun around.
He fired off two blasts in Cameron's direction, causing his shields to splutter out and then he dove off to the side and took cover next to the wall support.
"Cameron?" Abigail's voice came off of his still active Omni.
"Uh, I think Nathan is here." He replied.
"What?!"
"Yeah, him and a whole bunch of his friends." Cameron fired off a stutter burst from his Revenant hoping to drive Nathan, who was now joined by Rael and Amanda, back.
But he and his mechs and his forces advanced imperiously down the alley towards them guns of theirs blazing, driving Cameron back behind the wall. He gritted his teeth and reloaded. He peeked around the corner and the army before him continued to swell, Rael launched a warp blast at Miranda which she deftly deflected back and away from her with a biotic pulse of her own.
"Damn it," Cameron grunted, "retreat!"
"We can't keep retreating; eventually we will run out of Omega." Miranda hissed.
A bullet chunked off the metal next to him emphasizing his next point, "And if we stay here we'll be dead, now move!"
They did so without further notice.
Normandy
Abigail was already moving away from the Galaxy Map rail, and already shouting into the radio, "Joker, you think you can get us over to Omega?"
"Yeah, it's me…why?" He rolled out the last.
"Because I'm heading over." She replied bluntly.
"Wait Shepard, you can't," Ashley came over trying to intercept her.
Abby toggled her eyebrow at the Commander.
Ashley paled, "You need to command the fleet."
She smirked, "I'm not exactly good at this sort of thing."
"Well neither am I, I'm a ground pounder by birth remember."
Shepard snorted, "Well, look at you now." Ashley looked doubtful. "You'll be fine without me, just let Joker keep the ship safe and shout orders now and again, the fleet admirals know what they're doing with their fleets far better than we do."
"Alright," Ashley crossed her arms, "what about messing up the chain of command you put in place, and what about Cameron? How will you feel when you come charging to the rescue?"
"Cameron won't care about it," Abby said adopting a similar posture; at least I hope not, "he probably would appreciate the help. And our primary focus here should be to destroy Nathan and his band and try and make sure they are never a threat again. We cannot accomplish this task with me here, I believe. Just like their task is obviously to make sure we are neutralized, Omega is only a secondary concern."
"Uh, I hate to rush you two, but that oh so kind Frigate is making another pass here, if we don't launch, it might be too late to do anything." Joker interrupted them.
Abby and Ashley locked eyes.
"I'm going."
Ashley shrugged, "You're going."
Abigail grinned, "Don't break it."
Ashley rolled her eyes. "Thanks mom."
Abby's grinning face disappeared behind a closing elevator door, speeding towards the launch bay.