A/N: I'm introducing a new idea to the fic here, that of the crew splitting forces, using the shuttle, to take care of multiple missions at one time. I was seriously thinking of letting Tali's loyalty mission be just Shepard, Tali and Ashley, and this idea just cemented the other idea in my head. Also this will come into play again because of other plot lines I'm working on, too, before ME3.
Chapter 14
Normandy SR-2: C.I.C.
Shepard had just finished talking to Tali in engineering. Apparently, the Quarian was in a bit of distress, seeing how she was being accused of Treason by her people's government. She was considering who to take with her to the Migrant Fleet when she stepped off the elevator, and saw a large group of crewmen gathered around the galaxy map, or what was the galaxy map, but now looked like a huge holographic display showing a fight of some sort. Crewman Henderson was walking around collecting bets. Shepard walked up to Ashley, who was standing near the back, and tapped her on the shoulder.
"What's this?" she asks of her friend, gesturing to the display, and the crowd.
"Naruto and Gaara are having a sparring match against Sakura and Sasuke in the Cargo Hold," Ash explained, "Edi is broadcasting it over the closed circuit screens on this deck, and the crew deck. Henderson decided to take bets."
"Currently, there is a rather large betting pool on this match," Edi interjected, "Current odds favor Naruto and Gaara, but not by much. I've also had to slow down the frame rate of the broadcast by a considerable amount, seeing how fast the shinobi move."
"Well, since we won't need the map for a few more minutes, EDI, continue the broadcast. It'll be good for morale," Shepard told the AI, then thought, "meanwhile, I'm wondering if I should take Naruto to the Migrant Fleet." She then walked up to the cockpit, where she sat down in the chair beside Joker.
"What's on your mind, Fearless?" Joker asked of his commander.
"Wondering something," Shepard replied, "Tali's got some trouble at the Migrant Fleet and needs our help. I'm wondering if taking Naruto with me would be a good idea."
"He's great in a fight," Joker adds, motioning to the screen in front of him, "But I doubt he's really the political type. If I had to choose, and I'm not, mind you, I'd take a shuttle to the Migrant Fleet, while we use the Normandy to go on to the Derelict Reaper, and get that IFF. You already said that Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke are the ones going in, right?"
"Yeah," she answered, "I'm thinking of taking Ash to the Migrant Fleet, while leaving everyone else on the Normandy to head to the Reaper. I still want a second fire team ready if the shinobi need help. Think maybe...Garrus, Zaeed, and Jack?"
"Switch out Zaeed for Mordin or Miranda. They may need a tech expert. Oh shit."
"What?" Shepard asked, as Joker motioned to the screen again. Naruto had hit a sage mode powered kick on Sasuke, only to get blasted back into a bulkhead by a chakra infused punch by Sakura. Shepard laughed a bit as Naruto just shrugged it off and went right back at his Uchiha friend. "Adams said I have an eye for talent, back on the SR-1," she said, "Seems I didn't know how much of one."
"They'll be ok on the mission," Joker tells her, "Just go take care of Tali's problems, and we'll meet you at the Migrant Fleet as soon as we're done. I have the coordinates."
"Ok, Joker," She responds, "I'm going to catch up to Naruto and then we'll head out in a couple of hours."
Normandy SR-2: Cargo Hold – 15 minutes later.
"Damn, guys," Naruto said to his friends, "In the last two years, you really did get better."
"I'm surprised you didn't tap into Kurama's chakra," Sasuke noted, "I was giving you everything I had. You're still not winded."
"Sage mode, Teme." Naruto then noticed Shepard coming out of the elevator. He gets up and starts walking toward her. "I'll catch up to you later."
"Just so you know," Jane tells all of them, "Your match was broadcast all over the ship. Crewman Yates won the betting pool that started up. She was the only one to bet on a draw. Man is the rest of the crew pissed. Naruto, we've got something to discuss." Naruto follows her to the elevator, and to their cabin.
20 minutes later
"So," Naruto says, "We're going to go on to the derelict reaper, while you, Ash and Tali take care of some business with Tali's people. You're taking a shuttle?"
"Yeah," Jane replies, "The reaper is too important to pass up, and Tali needs help. I figure that Ash and I will be enough, since we've been friends for so long."
"Let me give you something first," the blonde adds, "roll up your right sleeve." She does so, to reveal a special forces tattoo, that is given to most N7 graduates. Naruto puts a finger on the tattoo, and a series of markings appear around it.
"What is it?"
"It's a special seal," Naruto explained, "During my time away from Konoha, I decided to learn seals, seeing how my parents were both masters of the art. That seal will allow me to teleport to you, from anywhere. If you need help, just focus on the seal, and I'll find you."
Cargo Hold: 45 minutes later.
Shepard, Tali and Ashley stepped onto the shuttle, with Crewman Chiles as pilot. Everyone else watched as the shuttle took off from the hold and headed off toward the Migrant Fleet. Garrus then turned to the assembly. "We've still got a mission to perform," the Turian noted, "Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, I'm going to want you to be ready when we get there. Joker, how far out are we?"
"15 minutes from the nearest mass relay, and then 2 hours jump time to the Derelict Reaper," Joker advised over the intercom.
"Guys, gear up. Miranda, Gaara and I will be your backup team, should you need it," Garrus told the shinobi. All nodded and went about preparing for the mission.
Normandy SR-2: Armory
"Garrus seemed troubled," Sakura noted, getting into her armor, "More so than normal."
"He and Jane have gone up against Reapers before, and know what we're up against," Naruto explains, "If I were in his place, I'd worry too. They told me some of the things that the Reapers can do to your mind."
"And we're going into one of these things?"
"I don't like it either," Sasuke says, "But apparently, we need that device to go after the Collectors. Don't worry, we can get through it. The Collectors have no real defenses against us, from what Naruto said of Horizon."
"They really had no defense against our jutsu," Naruto told his friends, "Which is why I want us going in there and blasting them with one jutsu after another. In large areas, go for area effect attacks, such as Sasuke's amaterasu, and my rasenshuriken. I'm leaving two clones on the ship in case I need some extra sage mode chakra."
"I've got plenty of long range jutsu," Sasuke tells his compatriot, as he hands the blonde his sword, "You being a wind user could find this more useful than I will." Naruto takes the blade and sets it behind his waist. All three shinobi look to the door as Garrus walks in the armory.
"You three ready?" the Turian inquires, only to receive a nod from the ninja, "Then get to the shuttle bay. I'll have a pilot ready to take you over on the other shuttle." Sasuke and Sakura head down to the shuttle bay, while Naruto stops by his alien comrade.
"Something wrong?" he queries, "You're edgier than usual."
"Just wishing I could have gone with Tali and Shepard," Garrus answers, "We were all close back on the SR-1."
"Think of it this way," Naruto tells Garrus, patting him on the back, "She left you here so she'd have someone she trusted to lead this team while she was away. Anyway, we'll get that device. Believe it." Garrus just laughs as Naruto walks away to the elevator.
Derelict Reaper: 40 minutes later.
"This is almost too easy," Sasuke notes as he releases a stream of lightning across the floor toward a pack of husks, "These things are just mindless zombies. Technological zombies, but zombies nonetheless."
"This is what the Reapers can do to you?" Sakura asks, "If they can do this to the population of a planet, then they'd have an almost limitless supply of foot soldiers for an extended campaign. They're tough to kill, but easy to figure out." She then pummels another crowd of the creatures with her chakra-infused blows. "Madara's Zetsu army was much more skilled than this, but the husks make up for it with numbers."
"Get back," Naruto tells his teammates, "I'll clear them out." He then hurls a rasenshuriken out toward the horde of enemies, expanding it as soon as it was right in the middle of them. The destructive jutsu ripped every husk and scion to shreds in a matter of seconds. Naruto looked out around the area, when Garrus's voice stopped them.
"Guys, look right in front of you," the Turian's voice came over their radio, "Those spikes you see out in the distance. Those are called 'Dragon's Teeth'. It's how the reapers make husks. These you're fighting now must be the Cerberus research team that was stationed here. The Illusive Man sent all these people to their deaths."
"The more I know about him, the less I like him," Naruto thought, then said, "Nothing we can do for them now, just more fuel to the fire for our future operations. EDI, are you recording our visual feeds?"
"Of course I am, Naruto," the AI answered, "I'll have them all saved to my onboard data storage drives, and also to OSD's. I've been recording all of the missions since we started."
"Good," he thinks again, "more evidence that can be used against them."
"I like the way you think, Kit," Kurama tells the young man, "That information could get more races on board to put an end to Cerberus, but we're still going to be the ones to finish them off."
"With more help from home, I hope."
Shinobi Homeworld – Land of Lightning – 5 Kage Conference
"This information is troubling," Oonoki, the Tsuchikage, notes, "This group is doing all this to it's own people? I can see where they need to be brought down. The Hidden Stone will gladly help. I will gather my best shinobi to join a task force to take down Cerberus."
"Agreed," A, the Raikage, comments, "Tsunade, Admiral, you will have the assistance of the shinobi of the Hidden Cloud."
"And the Hidden Mist," came the reply of Mei Terumi, the Mizukage, "We will also lend our assistance with the Reapers, when the time comes."
"The Hidden Sand will join in as well," added Temari, the new Kazekage, just sworn in after Gaara left, "If this is what my brother is fighting against, then he needs our help. What do you need, Admiral Hackett?"
"We could use a force of your best shinobi to take on the forces of Cerberus, inside their base of operations," Admiral Steven Hackett explains, "Konoha's team is already working with my Commander Shepard. Tsunade has already offered the rest of the 'Konoha 12', as well as Kakashi Hatake, and Might Gai. A comparable force from your villages would be greatly appreciated. The Alliance will offer assistance in the form of technicians that will round out the force, as well as equipment that will allow your shinobi to better defend themselves from Cerberus weapons. I already have the schematics for the upgrades needed to allow your shinobi to use chakra in our already standard combat hardsuits. Naruto and his team are using them now. The technology was developed by Salarian scientist, Mordin Solus."
"I have seen this armor you speak of," Oonoki responded, "It looks quite formidable. The Shinobi Alliance will join with your Systems Alliance, Admiral Hackett."
"The Reapers won't know what hit them," Tsunade stated, "And neither will the Illusive Man."
"Our technicians are already setting up a planetary defense grid," Hackett concludes, "It will be manned by Alliance personnel, and will answer to me, as well as to the Five Kage."
"One last thing," A noted, "Bee has been in touch with the biiju that have currently revived. He said to tell Naruto that Shukaku, Matatabi, Isobu, Saiken, Kokuo, and Choumei are ready and will be there to help with the Reapers. The last of the Biiju, Son Goku, the 4 Tails, hasn't revived yet, but will within the month. They are currently keeping to a smaller form, and out of sight until needed."
"Things are coming along," Hackett muses, "With your help, we can win the coming war."
Derelict Reaper
Team 7 had just passed through another doorway, and felt a jolt under their feet.
"Joker to Ground team."
"Go ahead," Sasuke stated.
"The reaper just put up kinetic barriers," the pilot advised, "The only way to get past them is to shut down the mass effect drive core."
"I have already made a scan, and am updating your nav point," EDI continued, "However, once you take out the drive core, the reaper will start to fall into the brown dwarf under you."
"Joker can get us out," Naruto replied, "We'll get that IFF, and shut down the drive core as fast as possible."
"Good luck, guys," came Gaara's voice.
As the team passed through the next door, they looked around to for any signs of opposition. Suddenly, two shots ring out, taking out two husks, climbing up behind the three ninja.
"Up there," points Sakura, showing the other two where to look. The team looks up to where she is pointing, to see a Geth standing there with a sniper rifle.
"Shinobi-Team 7," the geth said, then quickly left.
"Guys," Garrus asked over the radio, "I'm monitoring everything through your AV feeds, so answer one thing. Did that geth just speak?"
"And how did it know who you three were?" Gaara continued, "This is getting awkward."
"It leads me to wonder how the Geth get their information," Miranda comments.
"We'll figure it out later," Naruto told the team, "Right now, we need to go. Come on, Sasuke, Sakura."
Migrant Fleet – Research ship: Alarei.
Shepard, Tali and Ashley had just been through the first part of the trial, and found out why the quarian was being accused of treason. Now, anxious to find Tali's father on the geth-infested research ship, the three fight their way through the halls, looking for any sort of sign of what may have happened here. They came across several transport containers, which Tali used to send inactive geth parts to the ship. Tali explained everything about the nature of her sending these parts home. They also found several recordings that brought new light on the situation. Rael'Zorah was building geth and networking them to try new hacking techniques in hopes of taking control of the Geth once more, and retaking the Quarian homeworld of Rannoch.
Derelict Reaper
After fighting their way through several more rooms rull of husks and Scions, Team 7 reached a hallway where they found the device they were looking for. Sakura stored the device in a container on her hardsuit and they continued on through the next door, to see the Geth they had spotted earlier working on a nearby terminal. No sooner did the geth drop the field stopping the shinobi from entering, but it was then knocked out by husks.
"I don't know what that thing is up to," Naruto tells his friends, "But I need you two to grab it, while Kurama and I send a tailed beast ball into that drive core." Naruto then went into tailed beast form and started charging up the attack, while Sasuke and Sakura ran up and grabbed the geth, fighting through the few husks to get there, and back. When his friends were back behind him, he released the energy ball and it sailed straight into the Reaper's core, blowing it to bits.
"Grab on to me," Naruto told his friends, and they followed orders as he concentrated on one particular seal he left on the ship. The ninjas disappeared from the reaper, with the Geth in tow, reappearing in the cargo bay. "Garrus," the blonde called, "We're in the cargo bay, and we have an extra package. EDI, where is the best place to store it?"
"Store it in my AI core," EDI suggested, "I can erect further firewalls to keep it from hacking my systems, should Shepard decide to reactivate it."
"On our way," Sasuke stated, and the three headed to the AI core to drop off the geth, then to the armory to get out of their suits.
Migrant Fleet – Ship: Rayya, Tribunal Chamber.
Shepard had just made an empassioned speech to the Admiralty board in support of Tali, regaling them with the details of how she knows more about the Geth than anyone else on the fleet, and her part in defeating the Geth and Saren at the battle of the Citadel. This was more than enough to get the board to find no reason to convict Tali'Zorah of the charges against her. They then headed to the shuttle, where a message was waiting for them.
Shepard
Shinobi have acquired Reaper IFF, and one further piece of "salvage". Will discuss further when you are back on board. On way to meet with you at Migrant Fleet coordinates..
Garrus.
"This should be interesting," She thinks, while the shuttle takes off.
End Chapter 14
Next time: Legion's Loyalty Mission, and the beginning of the Suicide Mission.