Reaper Threat v2
Chapter 20
Shuttle Bay, Stolen Cerberus Cruiser, Bahak System, Viper Nebula.
Alexa J. Shepard held the helmet of her Cerberus armor suit at her side, as she waited for the moment when she had to leave. Naruto stood with her, and the two were enjoying their last few moments together before Shepard's mission got started. Unlike most times, Shepard was going to pilot the shuttle herself this time.
"You be careful out there, Alexa."
"I think I can handle it. However, if I need help, I know what to do," Shepard replied, motioning to her right arm, where the seal remained, "Also, you can monitor my progress using your Omni tool.
"I can do better than that, in sage mode," Naruto told her, "remember, just concentrate on the seal, and I'll be there."
"Ok, Naruto, but until I'm ready for pickup, keep the ship on the outer fringes of the system. Don't want to attract attention from the Batarians. According to intel, the Hegemony doesn't send out as many patrols around this system, but we do want to keep a low profile."
"Ok." Naruto and Shepard shared one last kiss, before she entered the shuttle, and was off to the Batarian prison planet of Aratoht.
Aratoht: Batarian Prison
"Sometimes I wish I had a ninja's skills in stealth," Shepard said as she snuck around the prison. Not far from her location a batarian guard had his back to her. She deftly moved up behind the alien, grabbed him by the head and snapped his neck, before dragging him off somewhere to dump the body. "Maybe a weapon on my omni tool. That's an idea to bring up to Mordin, maybe an 'omni-blade'. Yeah, I like the sound of that." She rounded another corner, her omni tool honing in on Dr. Kenson's location. "I will say this about this suit, though. Its internal cooling systems are leaps and bounds better than the standard N7 suit. The temperature on this planet is higher than it was on Therum when we rescued Liara, and that was a volcanic environment, and I'm as cool as I can be in this thing. Dislike their methods all you want, but Cerberus outfits their people well." She pulled a K-bar knife from behind her back and jammed it upwards into another Batarian's brain, before hacking a door lock into the Doctor's cell.
"Dr. Kenson?" Shepard asked.
"Who are you?" the doctor answered
"Someone with an interest in seeing you get out of here," the Spectre kept her answers to her identity as vague as she could, so nothing could tie back to the Alliance.
"Cerberus?"
"Yes…somewhat. This mission is off the record. I'll explain more when we're off this planet." Shepard broke the restraints holding Kenson to her interrogation table and soon, both women were on their way out of the prison.
Stolen Cerberus Cruiser: Observation Deck.
Naruto sat in the center of the observation deck of the stolen cruiser. He had given the mercenaries their orders to keep to the fringes of the system, and to alert him if things went awry. Now, he sat meditative in the center of this room, with the stars of the bahak system in front of him, using his sage abilities to sense things going on in the system.
"A shuttle just took off from Aratoht," he thought, "And it's headed to that asteroid. Interesting. I'll have to keep an eye out for Alexa."
He got up and walked over to the lift, where he selected to go to the bridge.
Stolen Cerberus cruiser: Bridge.
"Commander on deck," a mercenary announced as Naruto stepped out of the lift. He nodded to the mercs as he made his way to the tactical station.
"What can I do for you, sir?" the tac station officer inquired.
"A shuttle just lifted off from Aratoht and is headed to an asteroid not far from our location. I want to know what's there."
"Running sensor sweep. Holy shit."
"What is it?"
"Sir, I've not seen anything like this in a couple of years. Last time was when a team of people from my home colony of Terra Nova were going to mine an asteroid in orbit. They moved it using fusion torches as thrusters. I'm seeing the same thing here."
"For what purpose, I wonder."
"No telling. It could be meant as a forward operating base, or a weapon."
Naruto closed his eyes and started to meditate again, this time standing up. He reached out in the streams of natural energy and was able to sense Alexa again. She was on the asteroid, and talking to Kenson, in front of some strange piece of tech. It was then that he felt a shock hit Shepard, and she was soon knocked out cold.
"Helm, bring us around and set a course for that asteroid, but keep us at a distance from Aratoht where we won't raise suspicion just yet. I'm going down there to help Alexa. Do not leave us behind. Give me about 30 minutes to get her out of there, then come in for a pick up. Don't worry, I'll be able to teleport in here if you can just get close enough to the asteroid for me to see the ship."
"Got it," the tactical and helm officers said as Naruto focused his chakra on finding Alexa's seal. He created a rasengan in his hand then disappeared from the bridge of the ship.
Asteroid base: Med bay.
Alexa Shepard felt groggy, like she was just floating over her body. She hadn't felt like this since she was on Miranda's operating table on the Lazarus base. She brought her hand up to the bridge of her nose and began to wake herself up, when a flash of yellow and the sounds of bodies crashing through tables, walls and numerous other things shocked her awake. She looked around and saw a familiar patch of blonde hair slinging around people like ragdolls.
"Naruto?" she asked, and the blonde ran up to her.
"That's me," he replied, "I sensed you get knocked out by that shock. What was it?"
"Reaper tech," she explained as she got her armor back together, "The relay in this system is where the Reapers will come through to invade our galaxy." She looked at the counting clock on the wall, which showed the countdown. "Oh Christ," she said, "We've only got 3 hours to stop the Reapers."
"Not a whole lot of options, then," Naruto noted, "The mercs mentioned fusion torches being used for thrusters."
"Yeah, this asteroid is a weapon that can take out a mass relay. Ignite the fusion torches and it will crash right into the relay, destroying it. However, it'll also kill everyone in the system."
"The ship can pick us up, but can we light those torches remotely?" Naruto handed Shepard her weapons, "If so we can get to a pickup spot, and I can teleport us to the ship, then we can launch the asteroid to the relay and be off the system when it hits."
"It'll take some work, but I think I can set it up to fire the torches remotely. Follow me." Shepard led Naruto through the base, toward the central command chamber, where she found the controls for the torches were. "Cover me," she ordered, "and give me time to send the firing control programs to my Omni tool." While she worked, Naruto cut a swathe of destruction through the indoctrinated scientists with Kunai and rasengan. "Crap," she said, "Now we've got to restore power to the torches. There's a fusion generator one level up that supplies the power."
"Then let's do this," Naruto nodded, and pulled a special kunai out of his pack, this one was one of the 4th Hokage's kunai. The pair ran as fast as they could up the stairs to the generator, where they spotted Kenson standing in front of it
"Now you will never light the thrusters and destroy the relay," she said, "I'll destroy this generator, and soon the Reapers will bless us all with salvation through destruction."
"She's lost it," Naruto said and threw the kunai at her as fast as he could throw. He then teleported to the Kunai and hit her with a Rasengan, but not before taking the detonator from Kenson and crushing it in his hand. Shepard then made her way over and reactivated the generator, before looking at the clock again. "1 hour 15 minutes."
"Commander," comes a voice from naruto's Omni tool, "We're within range for a pick up, but we need to go soon. Aratoht will soon be able to spot us on sensors."
"Ok, 5 minutes," he said as he turned to Alexa, "Activate the generator and the torches. I have a Hiraishin seal on the bridge of the ship. We jump to the ship, and then get the hell out of here before that asteroid hits the relay."
Shepard nods and punches in all the commands to start the project back up, and the asteroid began moving. Naruto then used Hiraishin to jump them both to the cruiser.
"Helm, get us out of here NOW!" Naruto barked as the ship sped its way to the relay. One quick jump, and the stolen cruiser was then in the Pax system of the Horsehead nebula, where the Normandy awaited them. The smaller frigate moved in to dock with the cruiser.
"Cruiser, this is Normandy, awaiting the return of our people."
"They'll be coming in the air lock in a couple of minutes, Normandy," comms replied.
"Tell Aria that she can keep the ship. Just have it repainted out of Cerberus colors," Shepard told the mercs as they moved from the bridge to the air lock, "And we look forward to working with her again against the Reapers."
Naruto and Shepard then left the ship, with Naruto supporting her on his shoulder. As soon as the pair was back on board the Normandy, the frigate disengaged from the cruiser. "Send a message to Admiral Hackett to meet us here in Pax, EDI," Shepard told the AI, "And you get ready to go on the mission with the shinobi. You'll be leading Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura through the base."
"Understood, Shepard," EDI got up and Naruto helped Shepard to EDI's seat.
"You look like hell, Boss," Joker noted, "Rough time on Bahak?"
"Good thing is, it'll all be blamed on Cerberus. Naruto, get your team ready for the mission. I'll talk to Hackett. EDI?"
"Yes Shepard."
"Can you access my armor's onboard cameras and download all the footage to both our drives, and to OSD's for Hackett? That should explain it all."
"Of course, Shepard."
Normandy SR-2: CIC deck: 1 hour later
"Orizaba to Normandy," came the transmission, after the Normandy had docked with the larger dreadnaught, "Admiral Hackett requests permission to come aboard."
"Permission granted," Shepard replied. She had changed out of her armor, and into a new Alliance uniform. She now stood awaiting Hackett at the air lock. When the older gentleman arrived, Shepard saluted her senior officer and shook his hand.
"Admiral Hackett," she said, "It's good to have you back on the Normandy."
"Since this idea was yours, Shepard," Hackett responded, "I wanted to oversee the operation from here. Also, EDI sent me the footage of your mission on Bahak. A tragedy, but luckily, we can blame it on a rogue Cerberus op, and we're taking out Cerberus within the hour."
"Admiral Hackett," came the steady voice of Gaara of the desert, "It's an honor to see you again."
"Likewise, Gaara," Hackett answered, "I take it you'll be overseeing shinobi operations?"
"He's a former Kage, and knows how shinobi operate better than anyone in the Alliance," Shepard explained, "Konoha's team 7 is already in the shuttle bay, and waiting for roll out orders. They've got a specialist in Cerberus tech with them to assist."
"The rest of the Shinobi strike force is being led by Kakashi Hatake of Konoha," the Admiral explained, "Anderson has given him a special mission, though, to kill Cerberus top assassin, Kai Leng. From what I understand, Kakashi's a legend among Konoha's ANBU black ops."
"Sir, since you're senior officer, Command of the Normandy is yours." Shepard told Hackett.
"Joker, I want us at the forefront of the fleet, and open a comm channel to all ships."
"Done, Admiral."
"Hackett to Fifth Fleet," the admiral began, "As of now, we are moving into position to destroy the splinter operation known as Cerberus. Through the help of the now CAPTAIN Alexa Shepard, we have more than enough evidence to warrant their destruction. We will be focused on Cerberus's ships, while the shinobi strike force will be dealing with Cerberus forces inside the starbase, along with our own engineers. Good luck to all and come back safe. Move on into Anadius, and prepare to attack. From here on out, Captain Shepard of the Normandy is in command of this operation. Hackett out."
Fifth Fleet: SSV Normandy SR-2: Cargo bay: Anadius System: Horsehead Nebula
"We've moved into Anadius," EDI advises the Shinobi, "As soon as the fighters from the carriers Reagan and Eisenhower clear us a path, we'll take the shuttle to begin the attack on the base. Shuttles carrying the rest of the strike force will launch from the Orizaba and the Vesuvius. Your teacher, Kakashi, is leading the shinobi strike team." The 4 man fire team had been waiting in their shuttle since Naruto returned from Bahak with Shepard.
"It'll be great to see Kakashi-sensei again," Naruto nods, "As soon as this mission is over, we need to buy him a drink on the citadel."
"The way is clear," EDI states, "We're cleared for takeoff." The shuttle jetted out from the frigate's cargo bay
Normandy SR-2 Bridge
"Ravager wing, escort those shuttles to the base," Shepard commanded.
"Roger, Captain," came the reply. Shepard stood at the galaxy map, which EDI had changed into a tactical map of the system. Anadius contained nothing but a Red Giant star, and a small space station, surrounded by a fleet of Cerberus ships.
"Orizaba to Normandy. Cerberus Dreadnaught coming in at heading 210."
"Orizaba, you and Vesuvius destroy that dreadnaught."
"Captain," Kelly Chambers reported, "the shuttles have all made it inside the base."
"I already know," Shepard said, showing the yeoman her Omni tool, "But thanks anyway."
Chronos Station: Landing Bay
Someone once said that in space, no one can hear you scream. Well, inside Chronos station came the sounds of multiple screams, as flesh and armor are rended by sword, Kunai, and elementally enhanced fists.
"Naruto, I need to get to that control panel up on that level," advised EDI, "It's a security control panel, and if that alarm is any indication, they're going to vent the hangar."
"Ok, Go on, EDI, we'll cover you." Naruto, sasuke and Sakura ran ahead of EDI, cutting through Cerberus troops left and right, before leaping up to the afore mentioned level and clearing a path for EDI to the control panel.
"Their encryption is good," EDI commented, "But mine's better. Let's see how they like being locked out of their own security systems. Transferring control to me…done. They'll still send soldiers out after us, but there'll be no more of that 'vent the landing bay' business."
"Troops we can deal with," Sasuke stated, "How far along are our allies?"
"Next chamber, fighting a platoon of Cerberus troops. We'd better move." They jumped down from the landing they were on to the main floor, where they ran right up to the main door to the hangar bay. "Luckily, I now control the doors here." EDI made one motion with her left arm, and the door opened to reveal an outright slaughter. The Shinobi strike force was destroying all that came against them, and doing a damn good job of it. "We're not joining them yet," EDI told the three, "We're going after the Illusive Man."
"Then lead the way, EDI," Sakura told their friend, "can't keep him waiting."
Shinobi Strike Team: Chronos Station: Main Level
"These guys are way too easy," noted Kiba Inuzuka as he and Akamaru landed beside their teammates, Hinata Hyuga and Shino Aburame.
"I highly doubt we'll have much trouble here," Shino stated.
"Still, we've got work to do," Hinata reminded her friends, "Let's get to it."
"She only got this focused after Naruto left with Shepard," Kiba thought, then went back to slaughtering Cerberus troops.
Elsewhere in the station, teams from all 5 great nations were having similar luck with their assignments. Finding them little more than an annoyance. All over the station came the pained cries of dying men.
Chronos Station: Central Control Room.
"Team 7's tech genius has control of all security systems," an alliance engineer told Kakashi Hatake, "She's monitoring our progress and helping us access other areas of the station."
"Ok," Kakashi responded, "Show me our progress as it stands."
"Teams are represented by their respective nation, Earth, Wind, Fire, Lightning, water. As it stands now, our forces control about 70% of the base."
"What's that room there?" Kakashi pointed to a room directly below the Illusive Man's office."
"Secure storage chamber. Bringing up video feed."
"Merciful Kami," Kakashi thought, "What is that?" The veteran shinobi pointed to an enormous mechanical death machine that appeared to be armed for combat against starships, not people.
"Prototype mech, codenamed Atlas. It's sitting on an elevator to be brought up if the Illusive Man needs it."
"Do we have control over the elevator?"
"No, it's not on the network. Only the Illusive man has access to it."
"Who's headed up that way?" Kakashi asked
"Your students, Team 7."
"I'm going to help them. Keep me posted on further developments." Kakashi then ran out of the control room, making his way to a lift to carry him to the Illusive Man's level.
Team 7
"You shinobi truly are a marvel," the Illusive Man said, an amused tone in his voice, "How we never found you before Shepard is beyond me." His tone suddenly started to darken, as he turned to face the three young ninjas. "But now, you've become nothing more than a thorn in my side, and it's time I removed it." He entered a command on his chair arm, and the floor behind him started to open up. "You should consider yourself fortunate," he continued, "I had originally designed this to fight against air to ground threats at our outposts. After Shepard found you, though, Mr. Namikaze, I started to rework the design to go up against your powers." Behind the Illusive Man, an enormous white mech rose up via elevator. The Cerberus leader jumped backwards and landed in the pilot's seat.
"This won't be pretty," Sakura told her teammates, "That thing has shields, armor, and weapons that are probably built to take on ships like the Normandy."
"But we're faster than it is," Sasuke reminded, "and I have an idea."
"Then let's get to it," Naruto smirked. The three shinobi jumped into action.
Kakashi
"You're coming up on them now, Kakashi," came the voice of one of the alliance engineers through the cycloptic jonin's own omni tool, "Just up that ramp and through that door. Surveillance feed shows that your students and their friend are holding their own."
"Good," Kakashi thinks, as he keeps running, only to spot someone standing between him and the door.
"I was prepared for a battle," Kai Leng said, "But against Shepard. Who are you?"
"Kakashi Hatake," Team 7's sensei answers, "And you're standing between me and helping my students." Kakashi removed his hitai-ate from his left eye, showing the Sharingan.
"So you trained those 3?" Leng asked, "You must be skilled then."
"I was but one of their masters, but they're still my students."
"Then show me what you're made of, Kakashi Hatake." Kai Leng drew his sword from behind his back and rushed headlong at Kakashi. The assassin struck out at Kakashi with sword strikes, punches, and kicks, but nothing seemed to hit the Konoha Jonin.
"No matter how skilled he is, I can read his every move," Kakashi thought as he dodged around every one of Leng's strikes, "He's never seen us in action and probably knows nothing about the Sharingan."
"Why can't I hit you? Is it that eye?" Leng lashed out with a sloppy, unbalanced swing, which allowed Kakashi the opening he needed to sweep Leng's feet out from under him, and bring his kunai down to the man's neck. He looked Leng in the eye and his Sharingan turned into the Mangekyo sharingan.
"That, and I'm much more skilled than you, Leng," Kakashi answered. He turned the gaze of his mangekyo sharingan on Leng, and the Cerberus assassin's head imploded as if sucked into another dimension. "Now that he's done for, I've got to help Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura." Kakashi Hatake continued his way into the Illusive Man's office.
Team 7
"Naruto, bring down his shields. I don't care how you do it," Sasuke ordered as the three Konona nin moved around to keep out of the Illusive Man's line of fire.
"On it, Teme," Naruto turned to Biiju mode and created an army of shadow clones. Each clone, in turn, created an enormous rasengan, "Odama Rasengan Barrage!" The attack not only drove the massive mech back, but knocked down it's shields, too.
"Sakura, break the canopy glass with your strength!"
"On it!" Sakura Haruno released the seal on her forehead for extra power to put into her attack. "EAT THIS!" She leaped high into the air, and dove at the mech's canopy, and with one punch shattered the would-be bulletproof glass. "Sasuke, he's all yours!"
Sasuke landed right in front of the Illusive Man, mangekyo sharingan eyes staring right into the blue orbs of the illusive tycoon. The Illusive Man slumped forward.
Inside the Genjutsu
The Illusive Man was now strapped to a huge cross inside the world of Sasuke's genjusu. "You think you've beaten me like this?" he asked as Sasuke Uchiha walked casually up to the business man.
"You're caught in my genjutsu," Sasuke stated, "There is no escape, unless I allow it. Now, you'll tell me your access codes to the Cerberus networks."
"The code is Eva," he answered, "After a friend I lost in the first contact war."
"Good, thank you." Sasuke Uchiha disappeared from the genjutsu, leaving the Illusive Man stuck inside.
Office
"EDI, the codes for the Cerberus networks is Eva," Sasuke told the AI, "Download everything and we'll have all we need for the Alliance."
"Of course, Sasuke," EDI responded.
"You guys ok?" came a familiar voice. Team 7 turned around to see Kakashi Hatake running up to them. Sasuke stabbed a kunai through the Illusive Man's right eye, and jumped down to join his teammates. After a couple of seconds, the paper bomb on the kunai exploded, and so did the Illusive Man's head.
"Yeah," Naruto grinned, "It was nothing that teamwork couldn't beat, right guys?"
"That was what you taught us, sensei," this from Sakura. All four had a laugh for a moment, before being joined by EDI.
"The entirety of the Cerberus networks has been sent to Alliance command," the AI reported, "All strike teams have reported in, and we have control of the station. Kai Leng and the Illusive Man are dead, so Cerberus is no more. Alliance spec ops teams can take down smaller operations as needed."
"Then we're done here. Sensei, tell our friends from Konoha that drinks are on us at the Citadel."
"We'll be there," Kakashi eye-smiled, as all 4 shinobi, and EDI walked out of the Illusive Man's office, and back towards the shuttle hanger. There wasn't much said as the group rode the lift down, but when they emerged into the hangar bay, cheers erupted from all the shinobi strike force. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura shook hands with all their old friends of the Konoha 12, as well as the rest of the force, then joined EDI in their shuttle headed back to the Normandy.
SSV Normandy SR-2: C.I.C. deck
Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura emerged from the lift. Shepard was the first to greet the blonde sage as they stepped off. Admiral Hackett was the second, causing Shepard and all 3 shinobi to give the fleet admiral a salute.
"You all have done incredible work," Hackett began, "And your entire race has become invaluable allies to the races of the galaxy. I just wanted to say thank you, on behalf of the Systems Alliance, and the Citadel Council. Sasuke Uchiha, you've been tagged as a spectre candidate. When you get to the Citadel, speak to Counciler Tevos, the asari. She will get you set up with a trainer."
"Of course, Admiral." Sasuke nodded
"Sakura Haruno, Doctor Chakwas speaks highly of your medical prowess. There is a position open in Alliance medical, also on the citadel, as Huerta Memorial Hospital. It's yours if you want it."
"Thank you, Admiral," Sakura responded.
"Gaara of the Desert, the council has decided that you are to become the shinobi's ambassador to the citadel. Your office will be next door to Anderson's and we'll help you get set up and up to date on galactic politics."
"Thank you, Admiral Hackett." Gaara stepped forward and shook Hackett's hand.
"Ambassador Gaara," Naruto said, "I like the sound of that."
"As for you, Mr. Uzumaki," Shepard started, "I told Admiral Hackett that I wanted you to remain here on the Normandy with me, so you're now an official officer in the Alliance Navy, rank: Commander. You're my new XO."
"I couldn't ask for more, Alexa," Naruto replied, turning to Shepard and kissing her, "What's our next stop?"
"First, the citadel, then Arcturus station," Alexa stated, "Normandy has to go through a refit to match Alliance standards."
"Where ever you go, Alexa J. Shepard, that's where I'll be."
Citadel: Zakera Ward: 2 days later
Team 7 stood together at the rapid transit station. The three friends all had places they needed to be.
"I guess I need to go find my Spectre trainer," Sasuke Uchiha said first, "Sakura, Dobe, you guys take care, and I'll be sure to drop you all a message when I get a chance."
"And I've got to go to the Normandy," Naruto noted, "We've got to go to Arcturus station. Ship has to be refitted, and Alexa and I are going on leave for a month, before we go on to figuring out how to defeat the Reapers."
"And I've got to go back to the Hospital," Sakura stated, "I've got a lot of learning to do on the physiology of the different species in the galaxy, and start helping develop new medical techniques for when the Reapers get here."
"Looks like we've all got things to do. Sakura-chan, Teme, take care of yourselves, and I hope we see each other again when before things to go hell." Naruto put his left hand out, and looked to his two friends, who each put a hand on the other. The looks in their eyes said it all. They were Team 7, even when they were apart. Naruto then turned, got into the citadel taxi for his ride to the ship.
SSV Normandy SR-2: Captain's cabin 20 minutes later
Naruto walked right out of the lift, and he could hear the water running in Shepard's private shower. A smirk came to his face as he waited for her to come out, a towel wrapped around her body. He then walked right up behind her, and wrapped his arms around her, lightly kissing her neck. Shepard turned around, a smile on her face, and said, "EDI, tell Joker to get us to Arcutus station. I'm not going to be available for the next couple of hours."
"Of course, Shepard," EDI replied as Naruto picked Shepard up and carried her to the bed.
Serpent Nebula – Widow System
The Normandy disengaged from its magnetic moorings, and quickly backed out of its dock, and made for the mass relay.
END Chapter 20
END Part 1
Author's Note: This is not the end of the fic. It's only the end of the first part. For the next 2 or 3 chapters, I'm going to do a bit of an interlude between Mass Effect 2 and 3, to see any changes politically between the 2 games, and my new vesion of ME3. I will have a better ending, and I MOST DEFINITELY WILL be doing the Citadel and Leviathan DLC….skipping Omega, since Cerberus is no longer a problem.
I would like to thank everyone who has favorited, followed, and especially reviewed this fic. You guys are the reason I'm still writing.
NEXT TIME: We begin a 2 or 3 chapter interlude between Mass Effect 2 and 3.