A/N Alright, I just want to apologize for the delay, school has kept me busy. I'm also trying to slow down while writing these chapters and address some of the shortcomings that have been pointed out. Also, I am currently figuring out the Beta system here, so I am hoping to get that done with future chapters.
Virmire
Kayla activated the Mako's thrusters as it began it's descent to Virmire's surface.
"Alright Commander, the Council says that the STG force is at the other side of this ravine." Vasir said, "Once we arrive, then they should be able to give us the intel that they have gathered."
Chiron looked up from his station at the Mako's monitors, "I'm picking up Geth signals with us in the ravine, Commander." he said.
Kayla nodded as she began to drive the Mako down the ravine. Within minutes, the squad found themselves facing a Geth battalion. Vasir began to fire the main gun at the Geth, scattering the soldiers at the shell's impact. As the Geth tried to get behind cover, Kayla drove around trying to hit stragglers as Vasir used the secondary gun to mow down the remaining Geth.
"We are at eighty percent shields, Commander." Chiron reported.
"Understood." Kayla replied as they continued further down the ravine.
The squad drove by a small inlet on their way to the STG encampment.
"It's a shame that we can't stay to enjoy this view." Vasir muttered.
Kayla nodded, "Indeed, we might have to come back here when this is all over."
Kayla drove the Mako around another corner and arrived in front of two Geth Colossus'.
"Alright, I've got a plan." Kayla said, "Vasir keep them from separating too much and Chiron make sure that the shields and anti-gravity equipment is working properly."
"Roger that." replied both Vasir and Chiron.
Kayla sped up, heading straight for the first Colossus as Vasir fired at the second one, drawing it closer towards the first Colossus. The Mako rammed into the first Colossus and kept moving forward into the second one, drawing both of them towards the cliff face.
"Alright Vasir, fire!" Kayla ordered.
Vasir fired the main gun, blasting the two Geth against the cliff. Kayla followed the Colossus' into the wall, activating the anti-gravity equipment to ride up the Geth. The traction from the tired began to tear through the Geth's shielding. As Kayla drove over the first Colossus head, the tire crushed it's optic center. Kayla activated the Mako's thrusters, burning through the first Colossus, causing it to blow up as the Mako was throw away from the wall.
"The second one is weakened, take it down!" Kayla ordered Vasir as they realigned towards the wall.
Vasir began to fire a combination of the Mako's main gun and secondary gun. The combined fire on the weakened Colossus managed to quickly dispose of it.
"Not a bad plan Commander," Chiron began, "but, our shields are now down to thirty percent and our fuel is nearing empty."
Kayla nodded, "Well, let's hope that we don't come across any more Geth then."
Kayla drove the Mako out of the ravine and into what appeared to be the STG base.
"This would appear to be the place, Commander." Vasir said.
Kayla nodded as she radioed the Normandy, "Come in, Joker." she said, "Lock on to our location and descend, we are at the STG base."
"Roger that, Commander, we are coming in." Joker replied.
As the Normandy descended and began to unload the rest of Kayla's squad and it's security force, a group of armed Salarians approached. The Salarians formed a line and aimed their weapons at the Imperial soldiers. One of the Salarians in black and gold armor stepped forward and motioned towards Vasir.
"Spectre, I hope there is a good reason that you are accompanied by an Imperial force." he said, eyeing the Imperials suspiciously.
Vasir nodded, "Indeed, we are hunting Saren as a joint effort so, if you would, have your men stand down."
The Salarian nodded and signaled his men to stand down. He turned towards Kayla.
"I assume you are in command of these men?" he asked.
Kayla nodded, "Commander Kayla Shepard." she replied, "Is this how you treat everyone who comes to save your men?"
The Salarian shrugged, "Your Empire may not be at war with us anymore, but STG protocol is to consider you a possible hostile force whenever contact is made." he said.
The Salarian stuck his hand out towards Kayla, "Major Kirrahe."
After he and Kayla shook hands, Kirrahe turned towards Vasir, "We asked the Council to send a fleet, one ship may not be enough here."
Vasir shook her head, "We couldn't understand your message, it was little more than a garbled mess."
Kirrahe slowly shook his head and sighed, "Very well, we will have to make do with what we have then." he turned back towards Kayla.
"Here's the situation Commander, we were sent to investigate Saren's facility here on Virmire after his Spectre status was revoked." he began to explain, "We had to pull back to this location after the Geth began to arrive, however we were able to learn what this facility was being used for."
Kirrahe paused and looked towards Wrex suspiciously before sighing and continuing, "Saren is breeding an army of Krogan."
The squad's eyes shot up in surprise, "What?!" Wrex shouted.
Vasir looked at Kirrahe in surprise, "How?" she asked.
Kirrahe shook his head, "We don't know." he said, "All we know for sure is that this facility needs to be destroyed."
Wrex walked into Kirrahe's face, "Over my dead body." he began, "I'm not about to allow you pyjaks to destroy a cure for the Genophage."
Kayla put a hand on Wrex's shoulder, "We will talk about this later Wrex, for now, go cool off." she said.
Wrex grunted as he shook off her hand and stormed over to the edge of the beach, where he began to fire randomly into the water with his shotgun.
"Is he going to be a problem Commander?" Kirrahe asked.
Kayla shook her head, "I hope not, but I'll talk to him and try to get him to calm down." she replied.
Kirrahe chuckled darkly, "Calming a raging Krogan huh," he said, "I doubt it will work but he's your soldier so it is your call."
Barras began to speak with his troops as the rest of the squad moved around to prepare for the fight, "Get your people ready Commander, at your word, we will begin final preparations for the fight."
Kayla nodded and headed towards Wrex. As she neared the Krogan, she noticed that she was being shadowed by a couple of Barras's men.
"Stop you two, I know Barras get's protective, but Wrex is an ally," she began as she addressed the two Batarians, "return to the Security Chief and prepare for the real enemy." she ordered.
The two soldiers looked between each other before saluting and returning to Barras. Kayla finally reached Wrex as he turned around towards her.
"So Shepard, are you really going to listen to what that pyjak of a Salarian says?" he asked.
Kayla looked Wrex up and down before sighing, "What is it you would do in my shoes Wrex?" she asked.
Wrex growled, "I would tear the Salarian to pieces and use the cure on my people, you should know that, Shepard."
Kayla shook her head, "I'm sorry Wrex, but I can't allow Saren to gain a Krogan army."
Wrex raised his shot gun and aimed it at Kayla, "Then why are we still talking?"
Kayla held up her hand, "Before you fire Wrex tell me something," she began, "Do you truly trust Saren enough to allow the future of your race, to be his to decide?"
Wrex's eyes widened temporarily as he began to lower his gun, "No, the Council tossed us aside once already, I doubt someone like Saren would be any kinder."
Kayla nodded and pressed forward, "The Krogan do not deserve the Genophage." she said, "But a cure should be found on their own terms, not on someone else's."
Wrex sighed as he holstered his shotgun, "Alright Shepard, you made your point."
Kayla smiled, "I'm glad you saw reason Wrex, I hope we can make this up to you."
Wrex nodded, "We will have much to talk about when this is all over Shepard."
Kayla chuckled, "Indeed." she replied as she walked off to speak to Barras.
On her way to her Security Chief, Kayla stopped as she noticed that the Salarian was giving a speech to his men.
"You all know the mission, and what is at stake. I have come to trust each of you with my life - but I have also heard murmurs of discontent." he began, "I share your concerns." Kirrahe began to pace as he continued his speech, "We are trained for espionage; we would be legends, but the records are sealed. Glory in battle is not our way." he continued, "Think of our heroes; the Silent Step, who defeated a nation with a single shot. Or the Ever Alert, who kept armies at bay with hidden facts."
Kirrahe continued as Kayla noticed that his men looked vastly more inspired by his words, "These giants do not seem to give us solace here, but they are not all that we are. Before the network, there was the fleet. Before diplomacy, there were soldiers! Our influence stopped the Rachni, but before that we held the line! Our influence stopped the Krogan, but before that, we held the line! Our influence will stop Saren; in the battle today, we will hold the line!"
Kayla smiled as the Salarians began to cheer, "Well, if that is what get's Salarian's inspired to fight." she muttered as she continued over to Barras.
"Everything good to go, Barras?" she asked as the Batarian turned and gave her a salute, which the twelve Batarian and Human soldiers behind him mimicked.
Barras nodded, "Yes, ma'am." he replied, "Everyone is ready to give there lives to end this threat to the Empire." he said dutifully.
Kayla nodded, "Good, though let's keep the dying to a minnimum." she said as she turned towards Kirrahe, who appeared to have finished his speech.
"Is everything taken care of Commander?" he asked.
Kayla nodded, "Yes, I suppose that you have a plan?" she asked.
Kirrahe nodded, "I plan to split up my remaining men and your soldiers into four groups." he explained, "While we attack the facility from this side; you, Vasir, and a couple others, can sneak in from behind and signal your ship to come in with a bomb to blow up the facility."
"Why can't we just drop the bomb from above?" she asked.
"We can't be sure it would take out the entire facility." Kirrahe replied, "No, sticking the bomb in the middle of the facility is the best way to ensure that nothing remains."
Kirrahe began to shift uncomfortable, "I will also need one of your men with me, to help co-ordinate between our teams."
Kayla nodded, "Ashley Williams will go with you then, Kaiden Alenko will stay with us to arm the bomb." she replied while also addressing the two soldiers.
Kirrahe nodded, "Alright then, you will be team Shadow, we will signal when we begin to attack," he said, "then you will head in, if you find a way to help us from your side, please do, I'd like to return to Sur'Kesh when this is all over."
Kayla nodded, "I'm not looking forward to writing letters to anyone's family, myself." she said solemnly
"Alright Commander, get in position and we will begin our attack." Kirrahe said.
Virmire
Two hours later
"Teams; Zeta, Jo'edo, Arturus, and Kola, are engaging the enemy, Shadow." Chiron heard over the radio.
Kayla nodded towards there squad and motioned for them to move forward. The squad moved quickly, while preparing to quickly eliminate any scout troops before their location was given away.
The squad continued down their path when they came across a small outpost with a couple Geth guards. Kayla noticed that there appeared to be a radio dish on top of the outpost. The Geth spotted the squad and began to open fire.
"Take them out, before they can warn Saren!" Kayla ordered.
Kaiden began to fire his pistol from behind cover as he tried to throw one of the Geth into the air with Biotics. As the orb hit the Geth was thrown off the outpost and crashed onto the ground, headfirst. With one Geth down, Chiron set up his barrier and charged towards the other Geth with his claw weapon.
Chiron aimed the weapon towards the Geth and threw a Biotic orb at it. The orb crashed through the Geth's chest and into the dish behind it, causing a large explosion.
Vasir walked up to Chiron as everyone exited cover, "Nice toy," she said, "but next time, try to not alert the rest of the compound to our presence." she continued as she pointed to the now smoking remains of the dish.
Chiron laughed, "I'll try to hold back a little more."
Kayla lead the squad onward as she heard Kirrahe's voice over the radio, "We are experiencing heavy resistance, but it seems that the Geth are confused and the Humans are putting up strong barriers." he began, "However the flyers are beginning to take out some of our men."
Kayla's squad arrived at a crossroads in their path, "Vasir, which way do we go?"
Vasir brought up her Omni-tool, "According to the map that Kirrahe gave us, the left path takes us to the facility, but my scans are picking up a fueling station to the right."
Kayla nodded, "Alright, we will go right and see if we can't provide some help to the other teams."
The squad moved down the right path and onto a raised pathway. Eventually they came upon a platform with a few large fuel tanks. Kayla ordered Kaiden and Chiron to begin planting explosives around the platform.
As they finished planting the explosives, the team was surrounded by Geth flyers. Vasir quickly held up a large barrier around the team, just as the Geth started shooting.
"Damn fall back, I'll set off the charges." Kayla began ordering, "Chiron and Alenko, provide covering fire while Vasir keeps us covered."
After the team was a safe distance away, Kayla fired at the explosives with her pistol. The tanks blew up in another brilliant explosion of red fire, taking out half of the Geth flyers who were unlucky enough to be caught in the blast.
Kayla threw a singularity into the remaining flyers, catching them in surprise. As the Geth flew around randomly in the air, Kaiden picked them off one by one and Vasir was finally able to put down her barrier.
"Goddess, I hate doing that." she muttered, breathing heavily from exertion.
Kayla grinned back at the Asari, "Thanks for the save." she said.
Vasir nodded as they continued back towards the facility.
"Hmm, the flyers have disappeared," Kayla heard over the radio, "We may be getting some help from Shadow."
The squad finally came across the facility. Kayla noticed that it seemed to be surrounded by a small river and was an incredibly large complex. She also noted that the guards seemed to have disappeared from this side of the building.
Kayla lead her squad over the river and towards the facility's back entrance. When they arrived at the locked doors, Chiron scanned the system to try and find a way to open it. Chiron's eyes suddenly lit up with an idea as he plugged in a program to open the door.
"Hey Commander, I found something interesting in the system here." he began, "It seems that we could trigger the internal security alarms for the far side of the compound, it would lead any internal security forces towards the other squads, making the path clear for us."
Kayla nodded, "Of course it would also put even more pressure on our other teams."
Vasir spoke up, "The STG squads can handle it, and the faster we can get to the bomb location the better."
"Very well, trigger the alarms." Kayla ordered.
The team waited a few minutes after they triggered the alarms so that the security forces would be lead away.
"Once more unto the breach, dear friends." Kayla said while chuckling at Vasir's confused expression as the squad entered the facility.
