A/N: Just a reminder for my readers, all reviews are welcomed. V-rcingetorix's for example has helped me give you some of the combat scenes and details. Also any plot suggestion will be taken into consideration, as I enjoy having PM conversations with my readers discussing the details of the story. If you have any questions or concerns please PM me.
3-22-2184 1237 hours (Citadel standard time)
SSV Normandy
Corvette
Medical Lab
En route to Arcturus station
"What you did Shepard was clearly irresponsible and you needlessly put your life, and those of your team, in danger. What do you have to say for yourself?" Chakwas said, scowling Shepard like a mother. The reason being he had sustained grievous injuries that could have been avoided if he wasn't so focus on completing the mission. This was the fourth time she had lectured him on his injuries and would probably continue to until he was healed or stopped coming into the infirmary. Though now his arm was in a full length cast, it did not bother him much and he still had some movement. He was given pain killers to relieve some of the pain, he still felt a strong stinging and burning sensation from time to time.
"It could have been worse." He sheepishly replied. He knew that as the ship's doctor, and as a critical member of the crew, that Chakwas deeply cared for everyone onboard and especially him, which was why he was often the brunt of Chakwas's infamous lectures on safety.
"Well, Shepard the operation was a success, however I'm more concerned with your physical well being. As I doctor I advise you not to part take in any extraneous exercises for at least another two weeks."
"And by 'extraneous exercises' you mean?"
She gave him a glare that could melt the Normandy's plated armor. "I mean no ground missions until you are medically cleared." She stated with pure authority.
"And what about Jacob and Grunt?" He asked looking over to his two comrades that were being examined by Mordin nearby. Shepard, despite his injuries, was more worried about his two team members who had taken a beating during their escape from the batarian forces.
Before Chakwas could update Shepard on their conditions, Mordin took it upon himself to deliver his diagnosis. "Grunt's injuries are almost completely healed due to his species' unique redundant systems. Krogans are able to handle more pain and damage to their bodies as a result. Would still advise to avoid any more gunshot wounds, such distractions from my work are problematic. As for Operative Jacob, his injuries should take a longer time to heal, but should make a complete recovery in time."
"Well that's good news to me." Jacob proclaimed with enthusiasm.
"So does this mean I can go now?" Grunt asked nonchalantly.
"Of course." Mordin replied, nodding his head. He then turned his head towards Jacob. "You may leave if you wish, however I must insist you either use crutches or a wheel chair."
Over the speakers, Joker's voice piped in. "Hey, don't feel back Jacob. Could always use another crippled pilot over here."
Jacob merely chuckled at the joke. "No thanks, I'll stick to what I know best."
"Getting shot?" Joker seemed to be having a good day, if his constant jokes were any indication.
"How about you focus on flying and they can focus on the ground missions, Flight Lieutenant." Chakwas remarked coldly.
"Uh-h…y-yes ma'am." It seemed even the sarcastic pilot knew not to anger the good doctor.
"If you'll excuse me, Shepard. I must go analyze the Collector sample that Cerberus has sent for studying." Mordin eager to get back to work quickly walked out and headed towards his lab. All the while humming a tune to himself.
"Well at least the ground team is recovering. But we're still down a pilot and I doubt Joker would ever want to leave the Normandy cockpit willingly." Shepard said, trying to think of how they'll be able to get a full-time pilot on such a short notice.
As if on que, EDI's avatar appeared in the room. "Shepard if I may make a suggestion. The reporter that you rescued from the quarian ship seems to have a history in aviation mechanics and has had flight training from the National Aviation Academy on Earth. It seems he may be a suitable replacement."
Shepard merely raised his eyebrows at the turn of events. He glanced at Chakwas and said "Well that's convenient."
"Though his file also states that he was kicked out of the academy when they found that he was upgrading his aircraft outside the academy's regulations." EDI warned.
"Did he ever have any disobedience issues with any of his instructors?" Shepard inquired.
"Outside his retrofitting of his aircraft? No."
"Well that's good enough for me. If you'll excuse me, Chakwas. I have a pilot I have to hire." Before he walked out of the medical bay, he turned around and saw EDI's avatar was still there. "Do you know where I can find him?" Shepard asked.
"You will find him in the engineering deck." EDI said, in a matter of fact tone. It seemed as if EDI only stayed in the room just to inform Shepard where he could find the pilot.
'Now I see why Joker hates EDI.' Shepard mused to himself as he stepped into the elevator and pressed the button to go to the engineering deck.
SSV Normandy
Recreational Center
"I'm telling you that there is no way that was pass interference!" Kaidan gestured with his fork. He along with Garrus, Zaeed, and Ramirez were all watching the super bowl game between the Chargers and Saints. "If the Saints can score another touchdown in the next quarter, they'll be able to win no problem."
"Bullshit! If the Chargers win their next match, they go through the final with the Jets!" Zaeed stated back, brandishing his knife at the opposing fan. "You just don't want the Chargers to win because they stole the Cowboy's old quarter back!" The outcome of the game determined more than just bragging rights. Each member had a betting pool of ten thousand credits for their preferred teams and chances were it would be getting higher.
Kaidan gasped dramatically before turning to Garrus, who was sitting next to him on the rather luxurious black leather couch. "Garrus, tell Zaeed that I am no longer interested in the conversation."
Garrus merely chuckled before turning to Zaeed. "My compatriot here has decided that he has lost interest in the argument and has decided to ignore you."
"Yeah yeah. I'm not deaf you know." Zaeed grunted.
"Well you are past your prime." Ramirez quipped in.
Zaeed grumbled in response. "Kid, I have more combat experience than you have years in your life."
"I don't doubt it."
They turned their attention to the screen and saw a bunch of black and blue colored padded people running around, one side trying to protect the ball carry the other trying desperately to take him out.
The two football teams have had a pretty strong rivalry for a few years now. They watched as the two teams skirmished around the field, players constantly lunging their bodies in an attempt to stop the other team. A Charger full back with the number 45 was running across the field seemingly unopposed while just 40 yards away from the end field. They watched as a black colored player ran towards the blue colored ball carrier and just a few feet away lunged away lunged his body. His efforts proved vain when the ball carrier, instead of being tackled by 320 pounds of pure muscle, spun to his left and with managed to drive the ball towards another touchdown. The fans on screen cheered at their home team scoring.
Zaeed erupted in a round of cheering as the player and the commentators went crazy. "Now that's how you drive a ball home!"
Garrus and Ramirez toasted their beers in celebrations, while Kaidan skulked as the opposing team scored.
"C'mon Kaidan cheer up. There is still two quarters left." Garrus said. "Maybe they'll fare better on offense."
"I will like to see the Charger's defense try to stop the Saints from scoring."
"Is that a challenge?" Zaeed questioned.
"Ha! Two hundred credits if the Saints manage to score a touchdown." Kaidan replied.
"I'll take that bet." Zaeed said, putting another two hundred credits on the table.
"This is going to be fun." Ramriez told Garrus, seeing how Kaidan and Zaeed bonded over football even though they supported opposing teams.
They turned back to their drinks and the game, laughing as it played out. It was nice, everything considered. Even though there was a galactic war raging around them, even though they were on a warship in the middle of space belonging to a secret military branch, even with their own dreams and personalities, it was nice that four team members could still share a drink and watch sports.
"To all members of the Normandy," Shepard's voice rang out through the ship. "We have docked with Arcturus station and a few crew members will be bringing in supplies. If you have a requisition order, I recommend you list them now."
Once Shepard's transmission ended Garrus got up. "Well I better go and make sure they remember to bring back whatever dextro food and drinks they can find." The other three members paid him little attention, their focus concentration on the game before them. Garrus shaking his head at his companions' lack of interest left the center.
Arcturus station
System Alliance Parliament Headquarters
Once the Normandy had exited worm space it appeared fifteen kilometers from Arcturus station, the head of the Alliance Parliament. Governors, Senators, Representatives, and even the Director all met four times a year to discuss major policy proposals from improved social safety nets to increased military spending. The station itself appeared to be a crimson mega-giant star. Having a smooth saucer-like sphere shape. Lights illuminated the exterior all along the docks. If it wasn't for the strong lighting, one could confuse the station for a small moon against the black background of space. The station had numerous docking stations for both military and civilian vessels. Several ships flew gracefully around each other; one small freighter vanished into FTL, leaving a glowing purple light-line in its wake.
Then there were the station's defenses. Orbiting the station were fifteen ion cannons, each measuring 1.3 kilometers tall and 600 meters long; each station is capable of firing 68 kilotons of firepower every four seconds, having six B61 nuclear missiles for anti-capital ship capabilities, and one B41 nuclear bomb capable of unleashing 25 megatons of nuclear firepower. It was retired during the 20th century, however they were reinstated in 2145 with only ten ever built. All the stations were hovering protectively around the massive space station.
And that was just taking into account the station's defenses, not to mention the 23 hornet-class nuclear space mines and the 45th flotilla, a detachment of the seventh fleet. Originally it was supposed to be guarded by the seventeenth and nineteenth fleet, however with the losses the Alliance navy sustained it was decided twenty-one ships would permanently guard the station from attack; two light battle cruisers, twelve heavy cruisers, and seven heavy destroyers
After Shepard had delivered his transmission he had received an order from Head Admiral Hackett on his private terminal. It stated to meet with him at his earliest convenience. Though he did not state any particular reason, Shepard knew something big had gone down or was about two. Navigating his way through the station, and greeting some old time friends, Shepard found himself in a room face to face with Hackett and Anderson. The interior was rather small with a small round table in the center.
"Shepard, it's good to see you again." Anderson said, shaking his long time friend's hands. He then noticed Shepard's left arm was encased in a cast. "What happened to you?" He asked.
"Uh…we had…a bad landing with the shuttle. Some of the ground crew is still recovering, but the majority of us are still combat operational." He replied. His attention was drawn to the one man that had control of the entire System's Alliance Navy, Head Admiral Hackett. Giving the Head Admiral a salute, he said "Sir."
"At ease, Captain." Hackett said. He was not one for formality when the situation did not call for it. He had nothing against it; it was just that he disliked all the Admirals trying to gain his favor by getting on his good side. Unfortunately for them, the only good side he had for anyone was when they showed they had the skills and the courage to lead. "Shepard, I call you down here because we have a major problem."
'Is there any other type?' Shepard mused.
"S.A.I.D has been monitoring quarian transmissions, when they picked up some critical information." S.A.I.D or Systems Alliance Intelligence Department was responsible for the espionage and intelligence gathering efforts of the Alliance Navy. "Our liaison to the migrant fleet has been shot down over a geth controlled planet. As you know, up until this point they have been assisting the batarians by conducting raids on Alliance merchant ships. Parliament decided that it could no longer continue and decided to push the Citadel Council to great amnesty for their crimes against the Alliance in exchange for not siding with the batarians." He explained.
"Why haven't we done this sooner?" Shepard asked.
Hackett and Anderson exchanged glances at each other, before Hackett gave Shepard an answer. "Because in the past there hasn't been any reason to since the raiders were often easily driven off," Hackett leaned close as if afraid that someone else might hear the information he was about to divulge. "However, with the Alliance Navy, Army, and Air force coordinating together for a major offensive we cannot risk any disruptions."
"I don't understand Admiral. Any offensive action by the Alliance forces always required the coordination of all the Alliance's branches."
"Not one like this, Shepard." Anderson said. "Having weathered the initial assault, our forces are prepping for an attack on a batarian colony responsible for ship construction on the edge of the traverse. Because we lack numerical advantage, we've enlisted the help of the turians. Fleet Admrial Maximus Palavenus will be the Supreme Commander of what we are calling the Citadel Joint Strike Force. The asari and raloi have pledged military support, while the volus and salarians have offered medical and monetary support."
Shepard let out a whistle. "That is one large force you are carrying towards the batarians. Might be a bit overkill."
"Not this time, Shepard. In all honesty we'll be fighting against a foe that is far more advanced…the Collectors." Anderson said with a face full of grim. Seeing Shepard's shocked face, he continued "I don't know how our troops will react, but we have to try. If they are the Reaper's advanced scouts then the less they know about us the better."
"In the meantime, you focus on getting that liaison to Arcturus station safe and sound." Hackett ordered.
Giving a salute, Shepard responded "Yes, sir. Now who exactly is the liaison I'm supposed to extract and from where?"
Hackett clicked a button and a hologram of a planet appeared. "This is Haestrom. A former quarian colony shortly before the Exodus. Our liaison to the Mirgrant fleet is Admiral Koris. He has been trying to dissuade the migrant fleet from openly supporting the batarians to no avail, until now."
"What changed?" Shepard asked.
"Following a failed raid, one of their Admirals, along with his or her ship, were annexed by the batarians. From what we've been able to gather, the Admiral and the crew have been detained and locked away in of the batarian gulags. It seems this had the negative effect of alienating many quarians from assisting the batarians any further. In order to make sure we have any peace agreement with the quarians, Admiral Koris must survive. Am I clear?"
"Crystal, sir."
"Good. And one more thing, if anyone asks you were never on Har."
Shepard nodded his head and left to board the Normandy. On the way there, he established a link with Joker. "Hey, Captain what's up?"
"How long until we are flight ready?"
"Well about thirty minutes after pre-flight checks and another three for flight authorization from Arcturus traffic control. Why?"
"We have another rescue mission."
This seemed to get Joker up and running. He immediately began checking all the prerequisites needed before takeoff. "Hey, Captain. Did they tell you who we're rescuing?"
"An Admiral from the migrant fleet."
"You do realize the irony in that don't you?"
"It'll make a great laugh later, but right now if we don't rescue the Admiral the migrant fleet will continue to assist the batarians and rescuing him will be a hell of an olive branch." He stated, walking quickly back to his ship as he possibly could. A few even raised their eyebrows, seeing a rather athletic man fast-walking across the station.
"So know you are a diplomat, huh? I swear Captain, you were a prodigy in another life. Hey maybe this time, the quarians won't shoot you on site."
"Just get us airborne as fast as you can, Joker" He reprimand.
"Aye, Captain." With that, Joker cut transmission to focus entirely on all preflight diagnostic.
Realizing that his injuries would prevent him from actively serving in the ground team, he knew he could give support over their comms. Still he was aggravated at the thought of having to stay on the Normandy doing nothing while others put their lives at risk.
'Better get it over with.' Shepard thought as he reached the Normandy's airlock.
Haestrom
200 meters from crash site
"Prazza, I've got six geth. All standard trooper platforms, I can engage now."
"Copy that, Reegar. It's Lieutenant by the way." A rough growl was heard over the comms. Reegar was neither happy nor was he surprised that Prazza was the one leading the marine platoon. Nonetheless he has managed to avoid feeding him to the machines.
"On my mark." Prazza said, holding up a hand. When he saw the geth platforms were in position he closed his fist and said, "Mark."
Stepping out from behind the wrecked ship they'd been hiding behind, the quarian marine platoon fired a volley of disruptor ammo into the center of the geth squad. The shots fired sliced through all the geths' metallic frame with ease, sparking circuits firing in every direction. Using his rifle, Reegar fired at the rear geth platform, its shield failing followed by an explosion.
"Vexa take out the remaining three." Reegar ordered over the sound of the firefight.
The remaining geth fell upon their fallen comrades, as an explosion from Vexa's missile launcher vaporized the geth platforms.
"Casualty report." Prazza ordered.
"Six geth platforms neutralized, zero losses on our side." Reegar responded.
"Admiral, the area is secured." Over the radio, Koris' voice was heard.
"Good. Get your men back here."
"Yes, Admiral." Facing his men, Prazza ordered "We're heading back to the wreckage site. Be vigilant."
It wasn't a long walk back to the wrecked ship. The Qwib Qwib originally had been designed as an volus heavy cruiser. While the ship had no weaknesses, it also had no strengths. It was an-all round ship even keeled ship, however it was no match for geth missiles. The Qwib Qwib and her two escorts the Fos and Ity were shot down and severely damaged beyond repair. When they had arrived they saw the remaining scientists and engineers trying to make repairs to the ship's communications. To Reegar it was all in vain. Right now they had to get out here; no doubt the geth would send a larger force.
Walking over to the repair crew, he was brought to a stop by an all too familiar voice. "Stop," Tali ordered when he was near a bundle of wires. "Something's disturbing the circuitry of all the transceivers."
"And you think you know what it is?"
She grumbled in response. "Not something that can affect electronics on this grand of scale."
"Reegar!" A quarian marine yelled running through the wrecked ship and nearly tripping over some wires.
Reegar recognized the marine. He was young and had showed excellent skill, but was a bit reckless.
"Calm down son. What is it?"
"Geth drop ship!" Within seconds the sound of gunfire could be heard raging outside the ship. Reegar loaded his rifle and Tali did the same with her shotgun.
"And what do you think what you're doing?" Reegar said in a condescending tone.
"Getting ready for a fight." And glaring at him from behind the visor of her mask, she added "And don't try to stop me."
Reegar chuckled in response. "The more guns, the better." He said running behind her, followed by Zio, the young marine.
As they reached the battlefield, they took cover behind a severed wing of the ship. Coming at them were seven regular geth platforms, three geth hunters, two rocket troopers, and they were being led by a geth prime.
"Painting targets," Zio declared, and a flare from his sniper rifle signaled the round that followed. It connected with the face of a regular platform, dropping its shields. Zio tried firing again, but was forced back down by a rocket coming from the rocket trooper. "Keelah, this is going to be difficult."
Tali, using her omni-tool, hacked one of the geth rocket troopers. It soon switched targets and began firing at its allies. One of its rockets hit the other geth trooper and both were destroyed by fired from the opposing sides.
Vexa firing her missile launcher managed to keep the geth pinned down, however they started to use drones to draw fire away from the platforms. "I don't have much missiles left! Any ideas?"
"We hold our ground!" Prazza ordered.
However, a pair of geth hunters appeared right behind the quarian platoon as they cast of their stealth blankets dissipated as a result of their shot-guns firing.
"Behind us!" Cried a marine, but was soon silenced when two rounds from the hunter's shotgun tore right through his armor and shields.
"Everyone switch targets!" Prazza ordered. The entire platoon did as they were ordered and began firing on the pair of geth hunters. Soon their shields dropped and were torn apart from the hail of fire from the quarian line, however the hunters were able to drop the shields of two marine heavy gunners. "Alright now the ot-" A quarian sergeant said as he turned around, only to be met with the sight of a geth prime. It grabbed the marine by his head and with a quick motion of its hands, cracked the neck of the marine. It dropped the lifeless body of the marine, and within seconds was fired upon by the rest of the marines. Unfortunately for them, the prime's shield was too strong. It grabbed the nearest quarian's arms and ripped both of them from her body.
She screamed in agony as purple liquid poured out from her shoulders. She was silenced as the prime's foot connected with her skull and in a display of pure strength stomped on the quarian sending blood and bone fragments everywhere. The marine was unrecognizable as she was completely flattened. To make matters worse, the rest of the regular platforms had soon appeared and began covering the prime.
"Prazza we need to retreat!" Reegar ordered.
Prazza did not respond. Merely shocked by the carnage the prime had unleashed. 'KEELAH! How are we going to take out that thing!?'
"Alright. First squad, cover our retreat!" Reegar ordered. He knew as well as them that it was a suicide order, but for the good of the scientist and Admiral, they carried out their orders. As 1st squad started to suppress the geth advance, Reegar and the survivors retreated.
The cries of agony from the marines were heard as they were tore apart by the prime and its regulars. As they reached the ship, one the marines yelled in pain as they were shot. Reegar turned around to see, to his horror that not only was the geth force a dozen meters from this position, but were reinforced by a dozen more geth platforms.
"EVERYONE TAKE COVER!" Reegar ordered. Getting into cover he began firing his assault rifle when he noticed a figure in his peripheral vision and saw that it was Admiral Koris firing a grenade launcher. "Admrial? What in the hell do you think you are doing!?"
"Keeping my crew alive, sergeant!" Koris replied.
More geth platforms appeared as they poured fire into the quarian ranks, managing to kill a few riflemen. Still as they took losses, the restlessness machines continued to advanced and refused to retreat. The quarians were forced back, deeper into the canyon. One quarian marine surged forward, tossing a handful of small explosives into the geth ranks to slow them down, however the geth fired at him killing the marine before he even hit the ground.
"Bosh'tets'!" Tali swore as she dropped onto a knee avoiding a hail of bullets. She popped up and down from cover firing her shotgun at the nearest geth. She began trying to hack them, but the prime was keeping them suppressed. Something slammed into her and let out a horrible electronic wail. Tali instinctively drew up her shotgun and fired at the thing reflexively. It's stealth field dissipated and a geth hunter emerged out of thin air. It swung its forearm, hitting Tali across the chest knocking her back. Momentarily stunned, her quickly regained awareness of the situation just before the hunter managed to impale her with a knife. Rolling to her left and bringing up her weapon, she fired her shotgun and was rewarded with a wet impact that blew a mechanical limb of the platform. She finished it off with a shot to the head. Before she could celebrate, a beam of energy hit her frying her shields in seconds. Thankfully Koris and Reegar blasted the geth that was attacking her before it melted through her armor.
"Thanks. I owe you one, Reegar." Tali said as she activated her combat drone and sent it hovering towards the geth. The drone soon began firing at the geth platforms, but the rounds merely bounced off the platforms' shields.
"Don't think anything of it ma'am." He replied.
"We need to move now!" Koris yelled, seeing their losses and feeling responsible for them.
"Roger, Admiral. But right now we don't have any covering fire and those geth aren't going to let us walk away." Looking around he could see that they were severely undermanned. If only more marines had survived the initial crash then they wouldn't be in this position. The geth were aggressively pressing on their position. "Zio I need you to thin out their numbers." Reegar ordered
"On it." Zio looked down the barrel of his sniper rifle as several geth troopers advanced on the left flank and opened fire. A round pinged of the shields on the closest one, alerting the rest to his position. "We are going to need some firepower." He warned.
BOOM! Was his response. With mouth agape behind his visor, he looked down the scope to see that the four geth troopers were in reduced to scrap metal. "I take it they're no longer a problem?" Vexa asked over the comms.
Looking down the scope of his sniper rifle, he saw that the geth prime was ordering a withdrawal, using drones to keep them from advancing. "Sergeant, I think the geth are retreating."
Gasping for breath, Reegar checked the area. All around were craters from explosives, scrap metal, dismembered quarian bodies, and several used heat sinks. He raised her gun and motioned for Koris to follow him. "Admiral, I think they were just testing our defenses. Now that they know that they can easily crush us, they'll be sending a large force."
"Hmm…sure looks that way. Plant charges on the ship. We need to make sure no vital information on the migrant fleet gets to the geth."
"I thought you wanted unity." Reegar remarked.
"Living side by side, yes. However, now is not the appropriate time for information exchanges." Seeing his once proud ship, Koris was hard pressed to see the magnificent cruiser reduced to a smoldering wreck. "They'll be searching for us. Any suggestions?" Korris asked the combat-hardened marine.
Activating his omni-tool, a hologram of the planet appeared. He zoomed in on their location, and brought up outlying areas. "There appears to be an abandoned city 4 clicks from here. I suggest we head over there. We'll need the cover and right now I don't think anyone would want to sleep on the ground."
Reegar's remark caused Koris to look at the horizon and saw that the in a few hours the sun would be going down. "Very well. Salvage whatever supplies you can and be prepare to move out within the hour." Walking away he stopped himself. "Ohh…and one more thing," Activating his omni-tool, Koris tapped some commands and turned his attention to the marine before him. "Congratulations on your promotion, Captain. We'll need men like you in the future."
Taken aback, Reegar looked down at his omni-tool and saw that indeed, he was now a Captain. He saw the familiar figure of Tali' Zorah approaching him. "Ma'am,"
Sighing, Tali crossed her arms. "How many times have I told you to call me, 'Tali'?"
"I've lost count." He replied.
"So what were you talking about with the, Admiral?" She asked.
Reegar showed her his omni-tool and she gasped. "How?" she asked.
"I guess taking command of the situation looked well in his eyes. That and he probably doesn't trust Prazza any more than we do."
Tali chuckled at that. "Speaking of which, where is that bosh'tet?"
Reegar motioned with this head behind her and she turned around to see Prazza ordering the remaining marines to check their weapons, medical supplies, and gather geth parts. "I probably should go over there and make him get his hands dirty."
Tali snorted at that. "Ever since he got promoted, he's been a bigger pain in the neck than usual."
Reegar chuckled at her remark. "Well ma'am, if you were to enlist you'd probably be half way to commissioned officer by now."
She looked back at him. "By my own merit or by my father's orders?" She said with clear distaste.
Reegar cringed behind his visor. He had known Admiral Zorah had always made sure to push Tali harder than anyone else. He remembered the first day that Tali got back with a treasure trove of geth data, the man in question merely praised her as a commander would praise his soldiers, in other words no hug, no affection, no encouragement, just rigid words. "I'm sorry ma'am I didn't mean t-,"
"It's okay Reegar," She stopped him. Sighing she gazed back at the wrecked ship. "C'mon we have a long journey ahead."
Picking up his assault rifle, Reegar followed her back to the ship. On the way there he pulled Prazza aside, showed him his rank, and then ordered him to help the marines gather supplies. The squad snickered at Prazza's shock, and Reegar could practically see that Prazza was fuming underneath his visor. Once everything was salvaged, charges were set on the ship and once they destroyed any sensitive information, Koris ordered his men south to the abandoned city and hoped that reinforcements were on their way.
Uncharted space
Collector Station
The Collector General, taking advantage of his multiple limbs, was busy operating numerous command interfaces. He was typing a single command, a single order to his troops, four in particular. He pressed send and the message was delivered to four main locations, Illium, a Collector ship, Khar'shan, and to Mars where a large Cerberus military base was located.
'Soon these primitives will know of the true strength of our masters. Their fear will be our weapon.' The General thought. Soon information regarding the Reaper's existence will reach every colonized world and it will sow fear in the hearts and minds of the inhabitants of this cycle. The chaos that will ensue will greatly favor their masters and distrust sown into even the strongest of bonds will shatter any hope they may have when the harvest begins. If the General had a mouth he would have smiled at the events unfolding.
A/N: Dun Dun Dun. Another shocker ending. What will be next? Also can anyone guess who the four receivers of the collector general's message are? I'm thinking of having a little contest, maybe the prize being a cameo appearance for the winner. If anyone has a guess or a thought on what the prize should be PM me.