Radioactive Dawn

by Bearsbandit53

Inspired by erttheking's From the Ashes, this is a different take on what happens when a space faring Fallout universe suddenly finds itself meeting its galactic neighbors at the onset of a Reaper Invasion. See what happens when humanity enters the stage and does not bow to the will of those deeming to be superior.

17. A Regular Sunday Picnic

Hello Everybody. Just wanted to apologize for the delay. This last year has not been a good one and with the loss of all of my files, including the ones for this story, as well as other life issues, well I am sorry to have kept you all waiting. Anyway without further wait here is the next chapter, and a long one at that.

Hope everyone enjoys and please follow or favorite if you really like it and I surely do appreciate it. Enjoy!

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The man that had been carried in on Allimer's shoulder's now sat on a lone chair in the center of the run down room. John, Allimer, Liara and Jenkins stood together away from him, the rest of Dawn's new crew having already left. While the prisoner's hands and feet were still bound, the hood had been removed showing a scared faced man with a damp gag in his mouth. His blue eyes scanned the room, pausing to stop on each of the room's inhabitants for a moment before moving on.

John ignored the man's gaze and instead focused on his pipboy as he leaned his back against one of room's walls. The green screen displayed information given to them via access to the Coalition's network and currently displayed background on their prisoner, Mr. Jacob Young. His biography stated that he currently piloted Low Bird Six, a small transport shuttle in service for the Enclave. More than just his current information, Young's biography showed him as one that had kept his head down after the Fall, and before then served as a decorated pilot for the NCR army. Johns pipboy also gave information on the man's wife and young daughter.

John shifted his attention from the pipboy and to Allimer giving the big man a nod to proceed. Allimer moved towards Young who locked his eyes on the former general. "I except you won't do anything foolish when I take that gag out of your mouth," he said with a hint of threat in his voice. He did not wait for a response as he reached towards the man's head and removed the gag.

Young worked jaw around in a circle and Walker heard it give a soft pop. The bound man turned his head to his side and spit onto the floor. "So what can I help you boys with," he said with an small part of nervous sarcasm.

"We know that you are scheduled to made a run to the Enclave station in a few hours," said Allimer.

A grimace spread over Young's face. "What of it?"

John stepped away from the wall and towards Young. "We simply want to ride with you on your next run."

"Huh, I don't exactly have 'taxi' written on the outside of my hull. And I am not really interested in taking up any offers."

"Why, Mr. Young," said John coldly smiling. "We are not giving you a choice in the matter. You will help us, or.. well, or else."

"Or else what?" asked Young.

John stepped back from Young as Allimer walked forward as he messed with his pipboy.

"You do recognize these two, don't you?" asked John as a picture projected from Allimer's pipboy so Young could see. In it was a masked man, a large knife strapped to his chest and the butt of a rifle sticking up from behind him. The man rested his hands on two people in front of him, one middle-aged woman and a young girl, both bound to the chairs and tears running down their cheeks. The two were Young's wife and daughter and they were also currently prisoners of John.

"You bastards!" shouted Young prompted Allimer to backhand him quickly across the face staggering him for a second. "What are you going to do with them?" Real fear was in his voice.

"Well, so long as you are willing to cooperate, then nothing," responded John. "But, should you choose to refuse, then we will have to see what must be done to them in order to convince you to help us. Perhaps we can start with you daughter's fingers?

Young's face was turning grey. "Fine. Fine, I help you. Just, please don't them."

"Mr. Young," started John. "If you help us then nothing unfortunate will occur to your family. But if you do anything foolish, then I am afraid that they will meet you in the afterlife in pieces. Do you understand?"

Young, visibly defeated in whatever he resistance he formerly held gave a small nod.

"Good," said John. "Now my associate will escort you to your ship and help you with whatever you need." Jenkins went towards Young and brought out a knife quickly cutting him free form his bonds. He walked behind him as they silently went through the door and on to Young's ship docked in another part of the city.

"I really hate doing that," said John with a sigh of relief of the ordeal being over. And he did. Having to threaten a man's family was never the best way to go about things, unless one was desperate. Unfortunately with the time crunch they had, desperation was something they would have to deal with.

"As long as he is smart then he has nothing to worry about," comforted Allimer.

"Yeah," agreed John. "Just be sure you your boy that's watching over his family knows that under no circumstance is he to harm those two. We may have to sound like monsters, but that doesn't mean we have to act like them."

"No worries, boss," said Allimer. "We can trust him."

"Let us hope we can trust our new pilot," said Liara as she walked towards them.

"Well I suppose we will see, won't we," said John. Trio stood in the silence for a moment, then made their way to the door.

The sun's light could be seen only on the horizon as John, Liara, and Allimer met up with Hammond and some of the new members of the Dawn. They waited by the shuttle that Walker had arrived in when he first came to Mars barely a couple days ago. As he approached he watched as another of Dawn's shuttles made its way through the atmosphere and to their location, piloted removed by by Aria.

As it landed, the men and woman ready to embark on their next tour began to climb aboard both. There was just enough room to fit them all aboard the shuttles. John felt the engines rumble to life and watched as Red Valley grow smaller and smaller as they made their way to the Dawn. He watched and saw the morning sunlight gaining ground coming to kiss the broken city before clouds obscured the sight.

-)(-

A few hours later Diane Nelson, Director of Coalition Intelligence, starred absently into the sky noting the small tint of red that could barely be seen. She sat at a table belonging to the restaurant Didi's, a popular lunch cafe located across from the Red Valley Colonial Administration Building in the Northern District. The building served as the Citadel's point of control over the city and the Sol System. People, as well as aliens, made their way about the area, dressed much nicer than one would find most in the city. Of course Diane knew that the only ones here were those that had cozied up to the Citadel since the occupation. She hoped that the traitors had enjoyed the last few years of their wealth and prosperity as they served their alien masters. She smiled as she watched them go about. Soon they would be punished and her heart fluttered with anticipation.

She continued to wait until finally she saw what she was waiting for. An asari had stepped out from the Administration building and was making her way towards the restaurant. The sun made the purple steaks in her deep blue skin shine and as her eyes met with Diane's, her lips curved into a smile.

"Sorry I'm late," apologized Nyxi T'neos as she approached the table. "I'm afraid we have been a bit busy since the Geth began acting up."

"It's no worry," responded Diane getting up from her seat and kissing Nyxi on her cheek. "You know I don't mind waiting on you."

"I will never figure out why you love me," said Nyxi returning the kiss with a hug. "But what is this favor you needed?"

"Well," said Diane as she and Nyxi sat down at the table. "As you know my father has been doing all he can with his company to help the unfortunate in the city and on its outskirts. However, the colonial government has been withholding some crucial census data which we desperately need. I need you to get it for me."

"And how do you suppose I do that?" asked Nyxi with a laugh.

Diane reached into one of her pockets and pulled out a small black rectangle and placed it in front of Nyxi. "I need to simply upload the program on this data drive onto the government's system. I will transfer to my father's company the census information."

Nyxi's eyes went a little wide as she listened to Diane. "Diane," her voice was in a quite whisper, nervous that their topic of conversation could be overheard by fellow diners. "I… I can't do that. It's against so many regulations. We could both get into serious trouble."

"Now you listen to me," said Daine covering one of Nyxi's hands with her own and speaking softly yet with force. "You know that I would never let that happen and I have made sure that this won't be able to be traced back to either of us. They shouldn't even known the data was copied. But if we don't do this then a lot of innocent people are going to suffer and die. I need your help."

Diane watched the young Asari think over her answer. A minute passed by. And then another. But finally she gave the answer that Diane so desperately wanted to hear. Nixy took the data drive and the two ordered the meal and spoke about a variety of things, except that task that had been asked.

Finally the meal was at an end and Nyxi told her she had to get back to the office. She thanked the Asari and promised she would see her soon. After Nyxi left, Diane sat back down and asked a waiter for the bill. She watched Nyxi enter the Administration building and as the asari disappeared, she key her pipboy. She typed up a quick message and scanned over it before sending it to Dan Wright. She knew he would be pleased. Everything was coming together and soon they would have their chance and with it, their victory.

-)(-

Liara laid in her new bed in small, private room onboard the Dawn. She mindlessly moved her hand in a circular motion of her stomach, mindlessly watching the ceiling thinking about what all had transpired over the past few days.

She ached with grief, but it effect over her had grown weaker. She reflected on the events that led up to this point. The torture, the rape, Saren's betrayal and what it had cost her. Of everything is what the thought of Saren that caused rage to bubble underneath her skin and in her heart, but she did not let it consume her. Instead she though of John and her experience with him. She trusted him, and she knew that it was foolish to do so. After all they had only known each other for a matter of days. Yet, still the trust came.

She glanced slowly over to the small's rooms clock and saw that her time for rest was up. Soon they would have to begin so with a small grunt she sat up and moved to the edge of her bed.

As she stood up a small chime echoed in the room, alerting her that a she had a visitor. A small display appeared on the door showing that it was Walker waiting on the other side. She gave a small smile. "Come in," she said which unlocked the door allowing John to enter a second later.

"I didn't wake you, did I?" he asked.

"No, I was just getting up actually."

"I'm glad," he said with a warm smile. He reached up into one of his chest's pockets and pulled out a small plastic bag. "I got these from Hammond. They are just some stimulates to help us fight off any fatigue. I don't know about you but even after a few hours shut eye I am still beat."

"Me too," she said taking them from. "Although it's not really surprising considering all we have been though these past few days."

"Yeah," he paused for a moment and gave her an earnest look. "Listen Liara, I know that if anyone has had a shitty few days, it's you. I just want to let you know that you don't have to do anything you don't want to. If you rather leave, then all you have to do is say the word and I will take you wherever you want to you. It's the least I owe you."

She looked at him for a long second. "Thank you, John. But I want to stay here, if that's alright with you."

"It's more than alright," he said with a smile. "You're one of the few people in this crazy world I trust so you can stay here as long as you want. I am honored to have you as part of this crew. I trust you Liara. You've earned it, so feel free to always share what you think needs to be shared."

"I think I can manage that," she said with a friendly smile.

"I thought so. Anyway, we have a command meeting in fifteen minutes. Think you will be able to make it?"

"Just let me clean up and I will see you there."

He said his goodbye and left the room. She moved to the small bathroom in her cabin. She looked in the mirror looked over the barley healed marks on her face. She again though to everything that had happened over the last few days. She reflected on it and in doing so she realized how she felt. She felt alive.

The grief was still present and what she lost could never be replaced, but she felt different from before it had all started. Before the Enclave had captured her and her team. For the first time she had the power to change the future of the galaxy, to do some good. She knew that the young asari that had spent her life locked away in a small room away from the world was dead. She had died on Earth at the hands of the Enclave and Saren. She would not let this dead girl control her, but she would avenge her. She would destroy the Enclave and then she would go after Saren. She would make him suffer.

Yes, and in the process she would help John and the others against the tyranny that had come to plague her galaxy. For the first time in her life she would live. As she finished cleaning up she looked into the mirror one last time. The person that stared back at her was one willing to go out and change the galaxy. She gave her mirror self and nod and made her way out the door and to meeting.

-)(-

Minutes later John Walker watched as Liara entered the conference room followed quickly by George Allimer. The room, snuggly located behind the bridge and CIC on the Dawn's second deck level, featured a table a a dozen chairs. In the room was everyone that constituted what Allimer had referred to as the command crew. It was made up of those that were responsible for each of the ship's systems or responsibilities. Himself along with Allimer and Liara were here. As was Hammond, Cooper, Watson, Bishop, Carpenter, Sergeant Silva, and from the Coalition Sergeant Leeway who would be in command of the second squad of marines now on board. Having Coalition forces on board bothered John, but he had been assured by Allimer the man and his men could be trusted. Of course, even though they all had spent the last few hours getting use to the ship, which fit them like a well worn glove, they were still all strangers to him. He hoped they lived long enough to allow that status a chance to change.

After Liara and George took their seats, each next to John who sat at the head of the table, he began the meeting. Holographic displays hovered in the air giving off a blue glow. On them was information about their task, information that had already been dispersed to the crew after they had boarded. John proceeded outline the plan for the final time and ask for any question or last minute concerns. The plan was relatively simple. John along with Jenkins and the smuggler Young would go to the station on Low Bird Six with Young passing them off as new hands. They would locate the location of the Key and relay a signal back to the Dawn which would begin its assault while John and Jenkins secured. The assault would be as much an effort to take out Enclave forces as it would be to serve as a distraction allowing him to grab the key.

As he outlined the plan is was easily apparent that the new crew was anxious about the upcoming mission.

"I have to ask this again," said Allimer after John had finished speaking and asked for questions. "Are you sure you should be the one that goes onto the station instead of someone else?"

It was a question that he had already been asked by his now second-in-command and one that he had previously brushed off. He decided that it would be better for him not do so again. "Running a mission," he began, "whether its a run to clear out a vault or flying on a space ship to prepare for war, you have to put the people best suited for each position in the proper place. I have never commanded a space ship before but I do now how to get into a place and get what needs to be gotten."

"But you have to learn sometime," responded Allimer. "After all, you are the Captain."

"And now is not the best time to practice, not with so much at stake," said John.

"No, I suppose it isn't," said Allimer.

John knew that the man simply did not want his Captain to be put in a position that was not exactly the most secure. However, this was John's ship and while he understood that their were limitation to his actions and abilities, he would do what he thought best. He knew he was lucky to be aboard with people such as Allimer that would respect him for his decision even if they may be the most comfortable with it.

"Captain," said Aria using a term John was not quite use to hearing. "Low Bird Six has launched from Red Valley. It will be here in just under ten minutes. I would suggest you make your final preparations."

With that the meeting ended and the real work began.

-)(-

John watched the Dawn grow smaller and smaller on a small screen onboard Low Bird Six. With a rumble the smuggling ship's faster than light engine kicked in and the three men crammed together in a less than cozy cockpit began to really move to the Enclave station. With red numbers, a clock located over the pilot's seat counted down the time till they reached their destination. Just under thirty minutes and they would arrive.

"Now remember," said Aria's voice echoing out of the ships speakers as she spoke to Young. "Your delay was caused by reactor showing incorrect data. You stopped for a few minutes to reset the system. It is not an uncommon problem for ship such as this and I have altered your flight log to collaborate accordingly."

John wondered what else was common for ships in space. This ship was one that looked old and well lived in. He hoped that Dawn would not experience similar problems. But as he looked at Young who sat in front of him and Jenkins, he realized he should not be focusing on problems to far down the line to worry about.

And also remember," said John to Young. "Anything foolish and you will not be the only one to pay." The man turned around and looked at him with a mixture of hate and fear in his eyes. John hoped that the man would simply play his part and not to anything foolish. Some part of him laughed at that notion.

As the clock counted down and neared the zero mark, the little ship shuttered and dropped back into regular space. Through the cockpit windows in front stood the Enclave station, seven ships connected to it on the opposite side of the station from where they were.

"Low Bird Six," said the station controller's voice over the comm. "Transmit your flight data. I hope there is a good reason you had a delay after you launched."

With a swipe of his finger Young sent off the data. "Just had shut down the systems to run a diagnosis on the reactors," said the Smuggler.

"It does seem that way," agreed the controller. "Very well. Proceed to Hangar 4 and remember protocol."

Young gave a confirmation and began to move to the station. They approached the side and John saw a blue field covering the entrance of a busy hangar. They and their ship passed through it without any trouble and soon came to a soft landing. After the engines were off and final checks completed they stood up from their seats and moved to exit the ship. From the cockpit they moved behind it to the cargo hold. The opposite side was already opening up showing three men. Two looked like station security and each loosely held a plasma rifle. The third man had a display emanating from this pipboy ready to check them in.

"Please hold," said the third man as John and the others approached him. They did and John knew that their persons were being scanned by the station systems. He only hoped that the false data that Aria had loaded into the flight log would hold up fool the station as it was suppose to.

"Alright, you three are good to go," said the third man. "Stay in the waiting area until you are called. We should have you set up to go within the hour."

Young started to move towards one of the hangar's exits off the the side and John and Jenkins moved to follow. Suddenly Young stopped as though he was frozen in place. Before John could inquire as to why, the smuggler quickly turned around towards the thee men that had checked them in. "These two are with the Coalition. They kidnapped me and forced me to bring them here."

Immediately the two security personnel raised their plasma rifles, their green glow staring John and the rest in the face.

"Young, what the hell are you talking about?" asked Jenkins trying to play off the situation.

Young ignored Jenkins and continued to look at the man that had checked them in. "Please, they have my family."

John's blood boiled. Both at Young's betrayal and letting himself get in this situation in the first place.

"When I say so, drop to the floor," said Aria over the comm in his ear. He looked over to Jenkins and saw that he had received the message as well.

"You brought the Coalition here?" asked the man that had checked them in, the one that Young had pleaded to. A smile spread over his face. "Well then, I think you will be joining them in their cells until we can sort this out. Strip them of their gear and escort our smugglers to holding."

"Come on now," said John. "The man's talking nonse…"

"Now!" ordered Aria over the comm interrupting him mid sentence. As one John and Jenkins dropped to the floor. With a rumble that made its way through the station, Low Bird Six exploded shattering debris into the cargo and piercing the unfortunate men standing to close in the hangar. John could feel the heat from the explosion radiating on his back as air pressure pushed itself against his ears and body.

"The access way to your left, run to it." said Aria's voice and John and Jenkins leapt to their feet and dashed to the door as men flooded into the room to contain a fire that had begun to spread and see to the wounded. No one gave him and Jenkins any mind and they did not look back.

They made it to the door and passed through as two men and a woman ran towards the scene of the explosion. The door began to seal shut but before it managed to close fully Young passed through, hot on their heel. He was bleeding from multiple areas of his body. His left arm was limp with a piece of shrapnel a few inches long jutting out of his forearm.

As he stepped in the door shut and immediately and alarm began to sound. The door had large sections of see-through blue glass and John watched though it as red lights began to blink along with the shrieking alarm.

As the lights began to bling and the alarm sounded, the people still in the hangar began to panic. At once, everyone that was able began running towards the various access doors like John and Jenkins now stood behind. Unfortunately for those still in the hangar, these door were now all closed. Multiple people crammed themselves in front of the John's door and pounded on it in sheer desperation. As John could see them, so too could they see him and he listened to their muffled curses, pleas, and screams through the hardy door.

Then as one all of those on the other side turned their heads towards the destroyed ship surrounded by fire and corpses, and towards the shields that protected the hangar from ravaging emptiness of space. Through the door, he watched the shields blink, and then fail. At once and along side a rumble the atmosphere in the hangar was swept out dragging people and cargo along for the ride. After a few seconds it was done. Most were missing from the hangar, but there were still some left. Most laid on the ground and died while others were lucky or smart enough to have access to a breather or full suit of armor that protected them from cold space.

"That shouldn't have happened," said Young who stepped up to the door and rested his forehead on its cold surface as though stunned in disbelief.

"Aria," asked John to the AI. "I take it you had something to do with that?"

"Correct, Courier," she responded though his and Jenkins' comm which Young could not hear.. "We cannot afford the delay of you being detained. I was able to activate Low Bird Six's self-destruct mechanism and then temporarily hacked the hangar's emergency protocols allowing me to override what needed."

"That was a risk you took," said Jenkins. "I think there is another way to go rather than turning into a roasted gecko."

"There was a 96% percent chance that you would come out unharmed, Corporal, assuming that you followed my instruction and acted when you did. It falls within the safety range that Robert House established. But this digresses from our mission. We should proceed to the marker that I have placed on your map."

John glanced at his pipboy to see a new marker located a distance away in an outline of the station. "Is this were the key is?"

"Negative, Courier," said Aria. "I have yet been unable to locate it directly but that is the area where it is most likely being held."

"When you get a real fix on, message the Dawn for them to commence their part." he said. "I have a feeling we have rattled a nest of cazadors."

"Affirmative, Courier."

John realized that Young was still there, his head against the door, peering through the thick glass. He was injured but still standing.

"You did this, didn't you?" asked the smuggler still staying out through door. "They were good people. They just wanted do what was needed to help our people."

John looked at him for a second, his resolve firmed. "I know and I'm sorry that I had to bring you into this. I promise that no harm will come to your family." Before the smuggler could respond John reached towards the man as quick as a snake and grabbed onto his shoulder. He spun him around towards him with the mans back coming to rest on John's chest. His arms grabbed the smuggler's head and with a snap Young crumpled to the ground. His body gave a twitch and then stayed still.

"We better get moving," said Jenkins without batting an eye.

"Yeah, we should." He gave one last look at the man that had become a liability then set off in the direction of his pipboy's marker.

As they made their way, they passed by multiple people going this way and that. John thought for sure that they would be stopped, yet no one gave them a second look. A soft alarm sounded in the corridors they walked and it seemed as though those on the station had other things to worry about. Him and Jenkins did not stick out much either compared to the rest of the people. While many were in tan and black uniforms, many wore regular clothes similar enough to him and Jenkins'.

They left a small corridor and began their way through a much wider one easily capable of fielding eleven or twelve large men standing side by side. Looking at his map, it seemed that this was one of the main corridor onboard the station.

"The station's AI is proving to be difficult to bypass, but I will have the location of the Key soon," said Aria informing them of her progress. John hoped it would not be too much longer.

"Captain," said Jenkins quietly. "Ahead of us. Down the corridor."

John looked and saw only more Enclave, but immediately something sent a chill down his spine. It took another second before the cause of that chill registered. Bobbing up and down as he walked towards them was the same Enclave commander that had engaged them on Earth in the remnants of New Vegas. His armor was a little thinner than his power armored compatriots off to each side and he wore silver oak leaf on his armors neck that marked his rank. He thought for a moment that he might have just been being overly paranoid. However, as much as he might have wished otherwise, he knew it was the same person and one that could identify them.

"Just keep your head down," he whispered to Jenkins. The two kept walking. The distance between them and the Enclave commander closed further and further. Staying to the opposite side of the corridor as much as possible without looking suspicious, John and Jenkins eventually came to side by side with the commander and and each walked by the other.

John let out a small sigh and heard the same from Jenkins.

"And where do you think you are going, John?" asked the Commander, his voice filling John with dread.

"Run," John said so softly only Jenkins could hear. The two dashed to the right and into a connecting passageway. No one fired at them, but as they continued to run they could hear heavy thumps catching over. He looked over his shoulder to see the Commander chasing them. His two compatriots were on his heals.

"We could use some help, Aria," shouted Jenkins as the pair ran, mere yards ahead of their pursuers.

The AI did not respond with words and instead the heavy sound of one of the corridor doors slamming shut provided her response. John slowed down to a stop and turned to the door. His mind churned with what to do next.

"Keep moving, Captain," shouted Jenkins trying to pull him along. "Those doors will barely slow them down."

As he finished the last word the door exploded as a power armored Enclave soldier ripped through it as though it was paper. As the distance closed between him and the soldiers, John picked up the speed once again daring not to hang around and see how many more would come through.

As they ran more heavy thuds of doors slamming shut could be heard behind them. For every one that closed, the sound sound of metal being ripped apart could be heard soon after as the Enclave continued their pursuit.

"Just another 20 meters," informed Aria over the comms. John wondered what they would face in the length of distance, but did not have the breath to ask. They turned a corner and were greeted by a large airtight door that stood closed, blocking them for advancing further. Him and Jenkins came to a stop and turned looking for another way to go. The only other way was where they have came from. As he thought this a armored Enclave soldier turned the same corner that they had just passed. Seeing his prey, the soldier charged towards them.

They had only seconds to prepare, not that there was much they could do in defense. He braced himself to dodge as soon as the large soldier was close enough where it could be effective. Other soldiers turned the corner, including the Commander, and followed their compatriot.

The lead soldier jumped into the air, moving faster than he was before at John and Jenkins. John made his move to dodge, but from the floor and from the ceiling, thick metal plates rose out made their way to meet in the middle, right where the soldier who had leapt in the air currently resided. With an unmerciful force, door metal parts of the door slammed into the soldier and cleaved their pursuer in half at the waste like a hot knife through butter. The top part of the soldier still had momentum and made it a few more feet before falling to the ground a few feet away from John and Jenkins. The soldiers entrails lined the distance between the fallen soldier and the door cleaved him in two. The top of him twitched and then he stopped moving, blood leaking from where he was cut.

"How long will it hold?" asked John glancing form the bloody mess in front of him and towards the door.

"It should hold for some time," responded Aria. "It is a sector door, it will not be as flimsy as the other doors."

"So what do we do now?" asked Jenkins.

John wondered the same as well. They were in between two different doors, both large and looked somewhat solid. Yet he was sure that on the other side of each, trouble waited.

"I have found the exact location of the Key," said Aria. "I am sending it to the Dawn now."

"As for us?" asked John.

"I should be able to get us moving, but it will take time," responded Aria. "Extended my control over the station resources not in our immediate vicinity is proving… difficult. We should be safe for now, but it will take me a few minutes to do what is needed."

"Understood," said John. "I suppose we can stay out of trouble for a minute or two."

"Well at least now we have a weapon," said Jenkins as he walked towards the the half of the soldier they had on their side of the door.

"We do?" He did not see any obvious weapon around them between the two doors.

"Right here," said Jenkins as he bent down and detached what looked like a thick piece of metal somewhat in the shape of a rectangle. "But it's locked. Give me a second." He activated his pipboy and interacted with it while he held the piece of metal.

"There we go," he said and the piece of metal snapped out and expanded into what looked to John somewhat like a plasma rifle.

"I have seen one of those before," he said to Jenkins.

"Yeah, these weapon types were just starting to come out when the war began, mostly just companies showing off experimental builds. Didn't really take off since the war started not too long after but I guess the Enclave liked the idea enough to put some development into it. It seems to work for the Citadel races after all."

"They use this kind of design?"

"Yeah, but it's a different since they really only use kinetic based weapons instead of energy ones." Jenkins reached over to what was left of the dead man's waist. "Looks like his side arm was pretty much rendered useless so we only have the rifle."

"You keep hold of it then, I will pick up the next one," said John.

"Hopefully we don't have to wait to long."

They both could only wait until either Aria cleared a way for passage or the enemy managed to get through. Either way, John hoped it would not be too long.

-)(-

The bridge of the Dawn was a bustle of activity as men and women performed their duties as they waited to begin the task that would eventually come. George Allimer sat in the Captains chair, slightly elevated above the rest of the stations, and viewed various graphs and readouts pausing only to rub his eyes.

At this point they were ready as they were going to be. As soon as the signal came in they would into ftl travel and engage the station hopefully knocking out its defenses and landing their assault teams without too many problems. The assault teams would be traveling in two specially designed shuttles, each capable of knocking through the walls of a space station or ship and delivering their charges. Sergeant Silva and the Coalition's Sergeant Leeway led the squads charged with breaching the stations and responsible for retrieving the Key, Walker and Jenkins.

He was still uncomfortable with the fact that Walker had chosen to go. True, they needed someone on the inside to let Aria do her magic and keep the smuggler in line, but it did not have to be their new captain. Still, it would not have done well for him to have spoke to strongly against the new captain's idea. He would need all the support he could get, especially with a new crew he was suppose to lead.

"How much longer do you think till we hear something?" asked Liara who quietly appeared to his right. She stared at the display that depicted their course they would be taking as soon as they had the word. She was wearing a medium level combat armor, most white but with a blue trim. She did not have any weapons on her but still looked like she was ready for a fight.

"I hope not much longer," he responded. "It doesn't do the crew good to have to wait like this. Not for too long."

"Indeed." responded the Asari.

She stood beside him for the next few minutes, observing the bridge crew and the information that was displayed. He wondered what role she would come to play for the Dawn. So far, she was the only one on board that did not have a designated role. He had asked Walker about but he had not given him much of a response.

He turned his attention to the display as he mulled over various thoughts in his head. The display was between him and the helm, in the center of the bridge. It projected whatever what was needed. Currently it projected their position in the Sol system and the location of the Enclave station.

To the right, a purple orb shimmered to life, Aria's projection. "Commander Allimer," said the AI, the center glowing as she spoke. "I have received the location of the Key from the Captain."

Finally it was time. "Alright ladies and gentlemen," he said to the crew. Let's start the countdown." He activated a program from his chair and blue lights began to softly strobe throughout the Dawn as a countdown clock appeared over the bridge's display starting at sixty seconds.

He keyed the ship's intercoms. "All hands, report to your designated stations and prepare to jump. We will only be in ftl for a few seconds and then we can all expect things to get a little bumpy. Let's all try to come out of this in one piece."

To his right, Liara took a seat in the XO's chair and strapped herself in. He strapped in himself as did the rest of the crew. No one wanted to lose their seats if they were banged around or if the Dawn's gravity generator got knocked out.

The bridge was quite as the clock counted down. George made a fist as the clock neared zero. Slowly it made its way down and when it read all zeros, the ship shuddered.

There were windows on the bridge, but they were currently blocked by heavy bulkheads protecting the bridge from anything that could make it through the transparent, although tough, material. Multiple displays showed real time surroundings instead of windows. As the clock hit zero, the darkness of space that had been dotted with innumerable stars disappeared. What took its places was a whirlpool of various colors that surrounded the ship as it traveled in ftl.

George did not pay much attention to the swirling colors. Instead, he kept his focus on a new clock counting down to zero. Thirteen seconds remained and once this clock hit zero the ship would exit ftl and engage their targets.

With a shudder the ship dropped from it FTL travel. The colors disappeared and space sporting a space station in front of them took up center stage.

"Enclave Station dead ahead and stealth systems are holding like a charm," reported the Dawn's pilot, Alfred Cooper.

George's eyes absorbed all of the information about their surroundings and the station being reported by the ship's sensors. Heavily defended station and seven ships docked to it. Their first strike would have to count.

"Alright, prepare to launch the arrows," ordered George using the common name for the assault shuttles. "Give us weapon locks."

"Roger," reported Stephen Carpenter. "Strikes teams on board and ready. Weapons locked. Shields ready to be engaged when we drop stealth. Ready for the order."

"Then let's begin." The the last syllable left George's mouth, the ship shuddered violently.

"We're hit," reported Carpenter. "Station has confirmed weapons lock on us. Arrow one launched. Arrow 2 launch failure. We are returning fire. Shield up and holding. How the hell did they see us?" Light and plasma leapt relentlessly from the Dawn towards the station and its docked ships.

"Cooper, use those skills of yours," George ordered the pilot. The ship accelerated and banked to the port. What had been a scene of serenity had turned into the flashes of shields as lasers and plasma were exchanged back and forth between the station and the Dawn. "Why was arrow two unable to launch?"

"Engineering reports damage on the starboard launch tube on the shuttle deck," responded Ryan Bishop. "Debris has obstructed the launch shuttle and the launch door seems to be jammed even it was all clear. Watson says it will be about ten minutes before her engineers are able to get it all up and running."

George cursed at the report. If it would take that long then they would have to be using moving equipment and that had to mean the shuttle deck received quite a beating. Not a good way to begin an engagement.

"What is the status on the enemy ships?" asked George.

"Three destroyers and both cruisers are registered disabled. We caught them with their pants down," reported Carpenter. "However, the battleship and and the last destroyer have managed to power up their shields. They have just began to undock."

"Tell engineering we need to launch that shuttle as soon as possible," ordered George. "We won't be able to once the ships get in our face."

"I can help," said Liara still strapped into her seat.

George looked at her. Her biotics would be useful. "Then get down there."

She gave him a nod, unstrapped herself and jolted behind him to head down deck.

-)(-

Liara dashed down the stairs to the shuttle deck. Normally she would have opted to take the elevator but this was not the time to be waiting on a slow elevator ride. As each foot found another step small vibrations rumbled through the ship, a reminder to the battle being waged.

She reached the shuttle deck and was met with the airlock. Its indicator glowed green showing that the other side was pressurized. She keyed the door open and opted to leave the airtight helmet that was part of her suit disengaged. Without the need to cycle through the airlock door opened quickly and closed just as quickly as she passed through.

In the shuttle deck there was room for four shuttles. Three of the four were currently still there. Two of them were the ones used to land and eventually bring up the new crew from Mars. They were mainly used for multiple troop transport, their heavy armor making them slow but well protected, as did their sizable amount of firepower. The other two shuttles, or the other one since one of them was already under way, were a different sort of beast. Unlike the other two that were lowered below the ship on a lift to take off at their leisure, these were propelled into space via a launch tube. Heavily protected by shield and armor and were meant to carry a select few through space and into the side of a structure, most likely a stationary space station. From there the boarding party would attempt to accomplish whatever their goal that had been given. However, only one of those assault shuttles were heading to their destination. The other one was stuck in its launch tube.

The shuttle deck itself was disheveled, bits and pieces of tools and debris oddly cast around the room. The launch tube was open and two of the Dawn's engineers were moving a machine into it. The machine bobbed up and down as it hovered in the air into the tube. The access door to Arrow 2 was open and she could see the marines sitting inside behind Sergeant Leeway who was leaning out watching the engineers, his helmet off.

Liara moved towards the engineers at a brisk pace. "What can I do to help?" she asked.

The engineers and the sergeant all turned at looked at her. There was a long moment of silence. "We are in the middle of a battle and need to launch that shuttle so what can I do to help," she said again a bit louder and with a measure of authority in her voice.

"We don't have all day boys," said Leeway.

One of the engineers gave a nod breaking through a hesitation that momentarily clouded his mind. She could blame him, or the other engineer. They probably saw her as the enemy, or at least close enough to it. She knew she would have to earn their trust.

"Well," said the engineer behind his full helmet that was part of his decently armored engineering suit. "You're a biotic, right? Help Ian remove some of that debris and be careful. I am going to work on getting that door operational."

She gave him a nod and quickly stepped into the tube. The tube itself was fairly long, strutting though the end of the deck. The inside was illuminated and engineer Ian was beside the hovering machine. The machine itself projected a blue beam and was picking up pieces of debris of the ground and placing it on the back of the machine clearing the launch tube.

She looked around and saw a large piece of debris. She lifted her hands and they glowed blue. She could feel the energy flowing through her. She gestured her hand and lifted the debris placing it softly on the back of the machine. For the next few minutes this is what she did until there was only one large piece of debris left. They had made good time as it had only been a couple of minutes she she arrived on the deck.

"I think I will let you get that one," said Ian as he began to back the machine out of the tube. "It looks like it might be a bit unwieldily and you seem to have better control than this girl her. He gestured to the machine.

She just gave him a nod and he proceed to leave the tube as her hand glowed blue once again. She lifted the piece of metal and could feel its weight. It was large and she slowly backed it out of room tube laying it softly on the deck outside.

"Well that clear up the tube," she said. "Is it still going to be able to launch the shuttle?

"Yeah," said Ian. "It seems like a laser beam got though before the shields were up and knocked a few hit the deck hard, but the shuttle should still be able to launch assuming we get that door working."

"We just did," said the other engineer steeping away from one of the consoles on the deck. "Alright Sergeant, you and your boys are good to go." He turned to look back at Liara. "Thank for your help. I think you are going to make a fine addition to this crew. The name's Steven Blagos. I don't think we have been properly introduced." He extended his hand to her.

Liara smiled as took his hand and shook it. "It's my pleasure. I'm Liara T'soni and it's…"

She felt her legs buckle as the the ship violently shook. She fell to the floor but the two engineers remained standing, barely. The ship shook again and she heard a horrific shriek as in the corner of her eye saw metal plating on the starboard side of the deck above the launch tube rip open exposing them to open space. The wind howled and her suit, detecting the change of circumstance, immediately activated her helmet which quickly covered her head. She felt her body lurch as the decompression pulled her to the hole, but her suit with its magnetic boots held her in place.

She breathed a sigh of relief, only to have it knocked from her as the piece of metal that she just removed from the tube slammed into her back, disengaging her boots and throwing her towards the opening to space. Her side hurt from where the metal hit her, but her wits were still about her. She called her power and her hands glowed their biotic blue as she went faster and faster towards the opening. However, as soon as her power shined with a snag she stopped moving. She turned her head and saw Sergeant Leeway holding onto her, his feet safely secured on the outside of the shuttle.

He stretched his other hand to her. She let her power go and reached over and grabbed onto his hand. He pulled and tossed her into the shuttle and she felt the other marines catch her and keep her steady.

Leeway swung into the shuttle right after. "Caught you just in time," he said with a smile in his voice.

Whatever smile he had went away as with a tremble the launch tube began to close. Quickly a transparent wall slid between the shuttle and the rest of the deck making it ready for launch.

"What the hell." said Leeway.

"Sergeant," said Steven Blagos' voice over the comm. The bridge has just activate the launch sequence. Says we are not going to have another shot. Things are getting to hairy. You have fifteen seconds."

"Damn," said Leeway. "Alright boys, saddle up." He turned to Liara. "Strap in T'Soni. Looks like your coming along for the ride."

"But…" she started but the Sergeant immediately jumped into one of the seats and stepped himself in. In a quick second she gave up trying to get off the shuttle and strapped herself right in next to him.

A few seconds later she felt a lurch and Arrow 2 was hurled into space.

-)(-

John and Jenkins hugged the wall as they waited for the sector door to slowly rise. The floor trembled as the station exchanged fire with the Dawn. Aria had said with the knowledge she gained from her limited access to the sensors that the Dawn was holding her own. John hoped that it would continue to do so.

As the door moved to fully opened soft yellow light flashed from behind it. With a soft hiss the door opened fully opened and John and Jenkins peeked around the corner looking for any signs of the enemy.

"I am detecting no signs of nearby life," informed Aria as she checked in her own way. "With the station under combat conditions all nonessential crew have evacuated to their assigned should not have to worry about anyone other than security and military personnel in this sector." John could not tell whether or not she was making a joke or not.

"And here I was worried we might run into some trouble," quipped Jenkins.

"Well let's get going," said John. "I'm sure trouble won't be too far behind.

The two men stepped from their shelter and into the hallway, each hugging the wall opposite of the other. John could hear a faint alarm that went alongside the flashing yellow light but other than that it was quiet. Unsettling so. He glanced at his pipboy. The Key was three floors down and Aria was leading them to the stairway a little ways ahead.

They turned a corner and as they neared an intersection Jenkins raised his fist in the air signaling for John to stop. He did and for a second they stood their. Jenkins looked as though he was straining to hear something. John could only hear the faint sounds of the station's ventilation and tried to be quiet and listen for more. Unfortunately he did as faintly he heard the sound of footsteps in the distance. They were growing louder and he could tell there were multiple people. They walked in unison and their footsteps sounded heavy. Soldiers.

"Aria," he whispered. "Status?"

"I have limited sensor range under current conditions," she responded over the comm. "But sound patterns that I am picking up through your pipboy indicate that their are at least ten armored personnel heading this way."

"Power armored or regular armored?" asked Jenkins.

Regular armor," responded Aria. "I am able to actively block our location from any nearby sensors and they should now exactly where we are but I would advise we move."

John looked across the hallway intersection. The soldiers were coming from the right. Him and Jenkins would be seen if they tried to cross. Would it be worth just bolting for it? They could try but with Aria's limited capabilities there was no way they could know what was even around the next corner. The Enclave knew the vicinity of their location and could most likely guess their target. They would run into more trouble eventually. They needed a bigger gun in their arsenal.

"Aria, is there anyway you could hack into the station's systems, like fully?" He asked the AI.

"Fully? I doubt it. But if we could get to an access station then I could at least attempt to gain control over a few systems in this sector."

"I think that may be our best bet," said John. "What do you think Jenkins?"

The young soldier though for a moment. "It might be a good idea but I don't imagine this station have a pushover for a firewall. Aria might be damaged or even destroyed."

"What do you think Aria?" asked John. "It's your life on the line."

"It seems like our best course of action," she responded quickly. John wondered if she feared death. "I have marked the location of an appropriate access station. I suggest we make our way quickly." John saw his pipboy flash with a new marker. He gave a nod to Jenkins and they turned back to take another passageway to their new objective.

"Aria," said John as he looked at his pipboy. "Is this the closest one to us? It seems a bit of a ways off."

"My capabilities are rather limited without access proper to the station. However, from what information I have been able to pick up from the station's network, that location is relatively restricted. It is also out of the way from where we need to go. Both will make it easier for us to do our duty unobstructed."

"I see," said John. "Do you know why that location is restricted?"

"Negative, Courier."

After a few moments they came to a corner. The marker indicated that their destination was right around it. He and Jenkins were cautious.

"It appears to be all clear, Courier." said Aria.

They turned the corner and were met by a solid door. Aria did her magic and without a squeak the door began to slide open revealing a room pitch black on the other side.

-)(-

Light invaded the room and burned his eyes as the door to his cell opened. He though he might of been sleeping, but he really did not know. To him it was all a concurrent nightmare. He tried to move his wrist but they were still firmly chained to the wall as were his legs, waist and neck. How long had it been since his last session. Not long enough regardless.

As light poured into the room he was able to get a glance his new visitors. It was unusual for anyone to be here in person. Only the Eden's hologram usually graced his presence at the start of each session. Of course it was not wholly unusual for there to be actual people, especially when they wanted to perform an experiment or two.

But the two figures stood there for a moment partially concealed behind the door frame as though they were nervous as to what they might find. He got the feeling that these two were not the usual type that paid him any visits.

"What do you want?" asked Jason Brandy to the two with a cracked voice.

-)(-

"What do you want?" cracked a voice hidden in the blackness of the room. John and Jenkins ducked further behind the door not knowing who or what waited in the dark room. John turned and peeked around the frame and for a second only darkness was present. Then with a flash the room lit up white expelling the darkness and revealing what waited inside.

It was no monster, but simply a man. To John it was an average man. Relatively tall with a decent build. A long brown beard that matched his hair. However, while the man was relatively normal his situation was not. He was completely nude and chained to the wall, his feet a good few inches off the ground. The wall that he was chained to and the floor that he was suspended above was discolored from the rest of the room. It took a second for him to realize what it was. Blood. It looked like years of dried blood. He could not even guess how many people had died to create so much. He looked back at the man. He guessed he was the next victim. Who knew for what reason.

John stepped from behind his cover and into the room proper. He could smell the stench of the blood and that of unwashed bodies. He stood in front of the chained man and each gave the other a long look.

"What do we want?" he asked repeating the question. "Well friend, I guess you could say were just looking for a key."

Jenkins came to stand beside him and the door to the room began to close sealing them in with the chained man who looked at him quizzically.

"Can you free me?" asked the chained man, his voice cracking more.

"Well that really depends on your intentions but you will have to wait a second before I can hear them." He glanced back to the pipboy. "Aria, wheres that access station?

"To the right," she responded a the wall on the right opened up revealing another room. John stepped in. Robots that were various models of something similar to a Mr. Handy lined the wall. He looked at them and saw that they were equipped with rusty bloodstained tools and covered with dried blood of whoever they had come into contact with. He guessed they were responsible for the bloody scene in the next room.

More importantly in the room though was an access station. It had a physical screen, not a holographic display, and it glowed a soft green color.

"Alright, tell me what I need to do."

"I just need a physical connection," said Aria. "There is a cable with a nano-bit that you can extend from your pipboy. Use it to connect to a port on the console. Any poet will do."

John moved to the console and pulled out the cord that was connected to his pipboy. The cord was one of the newer editions to the pipboy that had been added during his time slumbering. He found a port and plugged it in. The nano-bit at the end changed to allow a seamless connection.

A small icon of a gear turning appeared on the corner of his pipboy's screen. "Alright Aria, now what?"

"I have integrated myself with the station network," responded the AI. "It shouldn't be more than a few minutes."

"And if it is?" asked John.

"Then I will most likely have been destroyed," she said dead pan.

"Then good luck."

"Thank you, Courier. You can disconnect the cord now. We won't need it further."

Walker did so and then left the small room to return to the chained man. Jenkins was still standing in front of the door, his rifle ready.

"Now, then," said John to the chained man. "Why exactly should I free you?"

"I am no friend of the Enclave," started the man. "But I have been their prisoner for far too long. Please. Just please free me."

"We can't promise to protect you," said John. "We can't even promise to help you or stay behind to let you catch up. We have a lot riding on us."

"I won't be a bother," said the prisoner. "You don't have to wait for me. You don't even have to let me come with you. Just please free me."

John thought for a moment. He doubted that the man worked for the Enclave, unless of course they simply had too much time and prepared an extravagant trap. But just because he was not with the Enclave did not mean he was a friend either. He looked around the room. Looked at the blood that was the remainder of who knows how many countless victims before. He could not let the same fate happen to this man. John could not even imagine having to go through having a machine rip you to shreds as you watch your innards spill out.

"Fine," said John. "We will free you and you can even try to keep up with us if you want. But if you try anything I will kill you. I won't hesitate for a second."

With a gasp the chained man cried out. Tears fell down his face. "Thank you. Thank you." He said.

"Just don't make me regret it." He turned to Jenkins. "Think you will be able to cut him down?"

"Uhh, I don't think so," he said. "Plasma isn't known for its surgical precision."

"Then we will just have to wait for Aria." He turned back to the chained man. "We don't have the tools to get you down but once our AI gets control, we will be able to release you. Just hold on." The man gave him a nod.

"Aria," said John. "Any luck?" His question was met with silence.

"I hope she isn't too long," said Jenkins. "We really…" The ring of an explosion drowned out the rest of what Jenkins was saying.

John jerked as the door to the room was blown off its hinges and thrown towards them landing just a few feet in front. John's ears rang as he looked to the now doorless entrance. In the center stood the Enclave Commander. Flanked on either side of him were to other power armored soldiers and a half dozen regularly armored men.

Before John or Jenkins blink, the Commander made the first move. He crouched and leaped into the air towards John landing in front of him denting the metal floor. John brought up his arms as the Commander swiped with his back hand. John's meager defense proved to be woefully ineffective as the Commander and his power armor added strength knocked John across the room.

He hit the wall with a loud thud and his vision blacked out for a second. It came back with a few stars in time to see Jenkins firing his plasma rifle only to have the bolt bounce off of the power armored soldier charging him. The rifle was knocked from his hands and the soldier landed a solid hit into Jenkins stomach causing him to fold and fall over onto his side gasping for air.

The Enclave Commander turned to look at Jenkins and faced John and slowly walked over to him. "I am glad I found you, John. I would really hate if something bad happened to you." The Commander reached John and grabbed him by the collar lifting into the air. "You and your friends have caused us a bit of trouble today. But at least now I have a fine prize." He turned to his fellow standing over Jenkins. "You can kill that one. He won't be of any use to us."

"You bastard," cursed John. The Commander used his free hand and quickly hit him in the stomach knocking the wind out of him.

"Make it slow," order the Commander. "Let our friend see what happens when he is so rude."

Fighting for air, John watched as Jenkins tried to back away from the soldier. The soldier just looked at him. Then he lifted his foot and slammed it down onto Jenkins' left leg. John could hear the leg bone being crushed to nothing over Jenkins' screams. Jenkins still tried to scramble away dragging his useless and bleeding leg. The Enclave soldier reached over and grabbed Jenkins by the arm. With ease he broke it at the elbow causing even more screams from the wounded man.

The other enclave soldiers looked on. Only three were armored, including the Commander, and the rest wore helmets but he could see their faces. As they watched their fellow soldier torture the Jenkins, most had grim looks on their faces. All but ones. As the power armored soldier gave a solid kick to Jenkins' rib cage, causing more bones to be heard breaking, one soldier tilted back his head and laughed. His eyes filled with joy.

John looked at him, air finally coming back into his lungs, and felt nothing but hate. He wished upon him death. Thankfully some wishes do come true as spike exploded through his chest. It did not kill the man, not yet, but as blood began to spill over his lips he and everyone else turned to look behind him. Their, hovering quietly in the air was one of the robots from the other room. The robot that looked like a ghastly Mr. Handy held in place the spike currently through the soldier's chest and with another of its arms rammed a similar spike into the side of the man's head causing him to fall to the floor dead as dirt. As blood pooled on the ground more robots came from the side room.

The soldiers jumped back readying their weapons. John did not think for a second that the blood stained robots would have much of a chance. Their tools could not match the energy weapons the soldiers carried or the armor of those with power armor. For a second he felt hope but now he realized it was only a delay of the inevitable. Then he felt his stomach lurch. He began to float. There was no gravity.

The soldiers begin floating too as did Jenkins with his blood beading in the air as it left his body. For the soldiers without power armor, they floated aimlessly. The three with power armor however stabilized their position as small thrusters appeared on various points on their armor. This kept them in place as well as John who was still being held onto by the Commander.

The robots floated too and this served to establish a change in the balance of power. With a hot glow from underneath, the machines began to rocket through the air. With deft precision they accelerated towards the soldiers and begin using their tools, saws, spikes, torches, whatever was attached to their mechanical arms, to mutilate and disembowel the soldiers. The soldiers tried to fire and while plasma stalled a few of the machines in their tracks it was not enough.

Even the three power armored soldiers stood at odds. The robots' tools could not pierce their armor but they could propel themselves as fast as a missile into those that floated in their way. John watched as one of the machines sped towards the armored soldier responsible for Jenkins' injuries. With a clash of metal the machine plummeted into him. The machine came apart at the force of the impact, its pieces flying away, but so did portions of the soldier's armor as he was hurled across the room. As he hit the wall another machine was upon him ready to take advantage of the literal cracks in his armor. John could hear the man scream as a torch was brought the to man's exposed flesh.

The other armored soldiers did not fare much better. One was hit by two flying robots in quick succession followed the the sound of a grinding saw from a third. John did not hear him scream. As the sound of the saw came to his ears, one of the machines slammed into the Commander sending them both spinning. Free from his grasp, John kicked off the wall trying to make it for Jenkins. He floated close to him but unfamiliar with moving around in no-gravity space floated right by him, mere fingers away from the man as he appeared to float unconsciously though space.

John touched the other wall and began to turn to make another pass. He nearly had the breath knocked out of him as the body of a bleeding soldier slammed into him. Disoriented, he spun though space. He shook his head but suddenly the spinning came to a stop. He felt a firm grasp on his ankle and turned around fully expecting himself to be back in the clutches of the Enclave Commander. He was not.

Instead the prisoner, in all his naked glory, held onto him as he himself was held to the side of the wall with only his right arm free, though part of a chain was still firmly latched onto his right severed from the rest by a piece of metal sticking out of the wall most likely from on the the robots they slammed into the soldiers.

"Thanks," said John to the prisoner.

"Don't mention it," he said. "Just get from here."

"Courier," rang Aria's voice over the comm snugly placed in John's ear. "Do you want me to free him?"

"Yes," confirmed John followed a second later by the snap of the prisoners restraints as he was freed from the wall. "Aria, if you have a plan then nows the time."

"I am going to vent the room. Exit now."

"Shit," said John. "Is that the best you got?"

"It is, Courier. Hurry, while the soldiers are still distracted."

John turned to the prisoner who lacked a comm. "Alright, Aria is going to vent this room. We need to grab Jenkins a get to the exit."

"Sounds good to me," said the prisoner. He reached over and with a grunt pulled the piece of metal that was lodged into the wall. He held it, ready to use its sharp edge if need be. "I suppose we are lucky that the Enclave wanted a more interesting way to kill people rather than just cutting them to pieces."

"Yep," said John as he pushed off the wall followed closely by the prisoner. He aimed for Jenkins who floated between them and the exit. They reached him and managed to grab onto his coat. They slowed a bit but still managed to keep moving towards the door.

They reached the door and John pushed the key for it to open. With a swoosh it did so and John pushed Jenkins into the connecting hallway. As he began to push himself though he felt something claw into his back. He turned around to see the Commander trying to grab at him. His armor was damaged as were some of his thrusters making it difficult for him to maneuver. John looked around and realized there were no more robots or any other Enclave that appeared to be alive. Still, there was the Commander and he alone was more than a match against John and his new naked companion.

Then the air tugged as on the other side the wall snapped open revealing the dark coldness of space. As he air tugged at him, John managed to stay put, halfway through the doorway and holding on to Jenkins from the other side fearful that he might get sucked back in. His struggle was compromised as the Enclave Commander grabbed onto on of his legs holding himself in place. John began to panic as he felt himself and Jenkins being pulled out to space.

The prisoner was on the other side of the doorway, barely managing to hold on. He looked at John and gave him a nod. He held up the sharp piece of metal and launched himself onto the Enclave Commander, grabbing him around the waist barely managing to save himself from being sucked out. In an instant the naked man got a good group and raised the piece of metal in front of the Commanders chest before slamming it down into one of the armors cracks. With a shrill of a scream the Commander let go and John watched as him and the prisoner were sucked into open space.

With a little bit of shocked and it becoming a bit hard to breath, John pulled himself through the door frame and with a satisfying snap the door closed. John breathed a deep breath though it was premature. Before it was finished a half dozen soldiers stepped from around the corner ahead. They raised their rifles. John just stared at them and cursed violently in his mind. Then there was blue.

It engulfed the six men and raised them in the air. Before they could so much as protest laser beams sliced into them turned them into shredded meat. The blue field disappeared around them and they fell to the ground.

A second later Liara stepped around the corner followed by five well armored marines.

-)(-

The Dawn sped through space as she was chased by the Enclave destroyer and battleship, her shielding rippling under the weight of enemy fire. This however did not stop her from firing back. On his screen George saw the battle reach the fifteen minute mark. It felt like hours and as the clock increased in time, their shields decreased in strength. They did not have much time or energy to keep with the engagement for too long.

An alert sprang to life on the bridges display. "Enemy destroyer down," reported Bishop. "Only the battleship left." The display showed the reactor core going critical and severing the destroyer in two.

"Sir," started Carpenter. "Our shields are now below a quarter strength and critical. We are beginning to lose coverage over the hull." Enemy fire shook the ship as though to emphasize the point.

They were running out of time. The Dawn did not have the firepower, support, or armor to stand toe-to-toe against a battleship. It was not dreadnaught, but the Dawn's capabilities did not make it up for the task. From the ship design, she was one that was made to go in under the radar and unloaded devastating surprise attacks if she attacked at all. As the ship's systems begin to redline they were becoming more desperate for a solution.

"Any suggestion?" asked George to the bridge crew. He was met with silence. They knew as well as he did that the only real possibility was for them to bug out of the systems. But they could not leave behind their boys and they could not lose the Key.

"I have a suggestion, Commander," said Aria using George's official given title for the Dawn. The AI was merely a clone of Aria itself, the true one being with Walker, but listening to her one could not tell it.

"I'm all ears," said Allimer.

"I would suggest we utilize the secondary FTL drive."

"What do you mean secondary FTL drive?" asked Allimer. The notion of such a thing on a starship struck him peculiarly.

"It is outline in the dossier I provided for the crew," responded Aria. "I would have hoped the dossier in full would have been paid adequate attention to."

George scolded himself lightly. Things had been to fast and that document had been a little more than light reading. Still, if the AI was not losing then he had missed something important. He wondered what else he had missed.

"What do you have in mind, Aria?" he asked.

-)(-

Underneath their feet was true power. The power of war. The power possessed by their battleship. The bridge of the Enclave Ship Minerva, one of the few battleships in the Enclaves possession, was filled to the brim with personnel. Every seat was taken as men and women, proud loyalist of the Enclave, managed their ship in battle. Located in the center of the ship, the crew located in the bridge could barely feel the vibrations of their guns blazing or the enemy's fire impacting their shields.

The captain of the Minerva gazed over his domain, those that fell underneath his command. For their first real combat engagement his men were doing fairly well. Soon they would be a well oiled machine ready to strike against the enemies of the Enclave. Still, the cruiser was putting up more of fight then they thought they would. If it was a Coalition ship, they did not know for sure, then it might require a revaluation of their threat potential. For a smaller ship it packed quite a punch, far stronger than average and they managed to stay afloat longer as well. But soon it would be over as they laid broken in defeat, humbled by the power of the Minerva.

"Captain, the enemy ship has stopped firing," reported one of the crew.

He brought up a display and sure enough he cruiser had. He watched and the ship came to a sudden stop, still under fire from the Minerva. Before he could question what it was doing it glowed sharply and disappeared.

"Ship has disappeared," reported the same crew member. We don't… Shit! The ship has reappeared. It is inside our shield at the stern right behind our engines. She's powering up weapons!"

The Captain could not process what he was hearing. A ship that size could fit inside the shield space behind the engines, just barely. And it would make since considering the engines were one of the more vulnerable points, especially on a battleship. But he did not see how it could have simply teleported there. However, if what was reported was true, with the amount of fire power that that little ship possessed, then…

The floor buckled throwing the bridge crew into the air. Screams met the Captain's ears as explosion could be felt throughout the ship. Sparks flew and pieces of metal fell from the walls and ceilings, killing some and injuring others.

The captain looked on, horror in his eyes that numbed the burning caused by growing smoke. He froze. He could not bring himself to issue an order. He just watched the displays as the ship was torn apart form the inside out. The cruiser had done its damage.

His gaze was broken an explosion threw him across the bridge. He slammed into the wall and his entire body hurt. He tried to move but he could not touch the ground. He looked down to see a jagged piece of twisted metal sticking out of his stomach, glistening with his blood. He could feel his intestines sliding out of him and they fell to the floor only to be suspended midair as what left remained attached and held the rest. As blood begin to poor over his lips the Captain gazed to the bridge. His sight began to fade as he took his last look on the bridge's main display. As his crew screamed and died around him, his mind went quite as it realized what the display was showing. Their destination.

-)(-

George Allimer felt the seat's harness grip him tight as the Dawn sped away from the battleship. A display showed the ship breaking apart, fired bursting from within. They had done it. In one fell swoop they took it out. It almost seemed to easy. The second FTL drive was phenomenal. It had allowed them to move nearly instantaneously from one point in space to another. They had jumped right behind the battleship's engines but before the shields and let loose. It had done the trick.

However, the Dawn was not completely unscathed. Being right behind the ship's powerful engines had cost the Dawn both armor and shields, with the shields barely holding up. But they had done the trick.

"Commander," said Bishop. "The battleship has lost its maneuvering capabilities. It's out of control." He paused. "Sir, it's going to hit the station."

George brought up the ship's trajectory. Sure enough in it was heading straight for the Enclave station. A little countdown clock was in the corner. It just hit the 11 minute mark.

"Is there anything we can do?" asked George. The crew was silent. They all knew the same as him. They were still unable to contact the away parties. They could not stop the out of control ship. It was too simply to large and moving to fast.

They could simply wait and hope the others realized what heading their way and get out in time.

-)(-

Jenkins was rough but he was live. John Walker carried the unconscious man over his shoulder as he made his way with Liara and the marines down the stairs that would lead them to the floor with the Key.

"Captain," said Aria. "While I do not have access to external sensors, I am picking up heavy comm traffic. Apparently the Dawn has successfully neutralized the Enclave's local fleet."

"That's great," said John with the hope that something was finally going right.

"Not quite," said Aria. John could almost hear gloom in her voice. "It appears that the Enclave battleship is on an uncontrolled trajectory towards the station. We have just under nine minutes before it make impact."

"Damn," cursed Sergeant Leeway as he ran beside John. It seems as though Aria transmitted that information to everyone which was probably for the best.

"Then I suggest we move faster," urged Liara. They all agreed and as they hit the last stair they dashed onto the floor that held the Key. People were running about, technicians in white lab coats trying to run somewhere safe. They did not care about John and his men.

They dashed into the room where the Key was supposed to be. They came to a stop. In front of them stood a few soldiers, a case open as they reached for the Key. They seemed to be the ones responsible for ensuring its safety. Too bad for them.

As one the marines raised their rifles and fired onto the soldiers who did not have anytime to even react. Within a second they laid on the ground dead, their wounds cauterized by the heat of the energy beams.

Liara rushed ahead towards the Key. She picked it up and put it in the the case the Enclave bought with them, no bigger than an average brief case. She secured held the case firmly.

"I guess we have what we need," she said.

"You seem to sound disappointed," said John.

"Not at all. I merely thought it would be a bit more climatic than this."

"Well be glad that it wasn't," responded John. "Alright we need a way off this tub."

"Captain," said Aria. "I have just received a communication for the marine squad of Arrow 1. Sergeant Silva has informed me that her and her men have arrived in this sector of the ship. They are near an evacuation pod and have it secured for our departure. She has also informed me that she has found something interesting. I suggest we hurry."

Within a couple of minutes they met up with Sergeant Silva and her marines.

"Glad you boys could finally join us," said Silva.

"We got a bit tied up," said John. "Everything alright on your side?"

"Fine," she said. "Well expect breaching the station too fucking far away from where we needed to be and having to push our way here. Of course, now things have gotten a little weird."

"Aria said you found something interesting."

"Oh yes," she said as she gave a slight shake as though chilled. "Follow me."

John laid Jenkins on the ground and followed the Sergeant. It was in a room right next to the escape pod. Three dead Enclave soldiers laid on the ground, Silva's handiwork, and they stepped over them and through the door way that was stuck open.

The first thing John noticed was a window showing empty space. He could see Sol in the distance. He yearned for its warm glow. He then noticed that they were not the only ones in the room. Being a thick piece of glass there was another.

He was still, still enough John though he might be dead if not for him staring right at him. He was a batarian, but it looked unnatural. He wore no cloths. His eyes were an unnatural cool blue and his skin was covered with dark red lines. It looked like he had been severed and then put back together. The image was quite unsettling. The placid look on the creatures face gave him even more of a creepy air.

"What's wrong with him?" asked John.

"Hell if I know," responded Silva. "But he's not natural."

"No he is not," chimed Aria. "He appears to be a cybernetic organism. There are files but they are heavily encrypted and will take some time to access. I am downloading them for review later."

"As interesting as he is I don't think we should spend too much time worrying about it, all considering," said John. He heard a noise behind him and both him and Silva turned around. Leaning across the room's entrance was one of the Enclave soldiers they had passed by. One that was supposed to be dead. He was nearly dead, but still alive enough to lift his hand and toss at them something the size of a baseball. As it tumbled past them, John recognized what it was.

"Grenade!" he yelled as he jumped towards the ground away from the grenade with Silva following suit. In less than a second the grenade explosive and John could feel the energy wave wash over him. His ears rang as he lifted his head to see a couple of marines come towards them. One of them pointed her rifle at the once thought dead man and fired dropping him to the ground. Liara was right behind them, asking if he was ok. Her voice was muffled to his ears.

He gave her a nod and turned around. Grenade has dented the metal flooring and put a crack in the glass that stretched to the ceiling. The batarian stood in the exact same place, the same placid look on his face. The crack in his containment cell was right before him. Sluggishly he lifted his arm and push his palm against it. He then quickly brought his hand back, made a fist, and struck at the glass. John saw small shards fall off and to the ground as he heard the snap of the grass cracking even further.

As fast as he could witness, John watched the batarian's eyes go from a cool blue to a powerful red. The creature leaned its head back and made a horrible strike so loud it caused them to place their hands instinctively over the ears. As the creature shrieked its skin ripped and his limbs stretched giving the creature an extra foot of height. John watched in horror as his insides were exposed, machines and a red glow emanated from inside. His arms were metal, glistening with whatever organic liquids the batarian still possessed.

It brought his hand up again and slammed it against the glass. This time instead of a few shards dropping the glass shattered around him and he stepped through.

"Shoot it!" ordered John. The marines obliged and began firing their laser and plasma weapons onto the creature. John jumped back and slid to the dead Enclave soldiers grabbing one of their laser rifles and a few grenades. As he brought his rifle up he summed up the result of the bombarding the marines were giving the creature. It had little effect.

The creature could obviously feel it, but it remained standing all the same. John opened fired and the creature leaped in the air. Liara raised her hands and engulfed it in a blue biotic field. It held the creature still. Only for a second. It lashed out and pushed itself free, a shock to all. The creature swiped at one of the marines razor sharp claws coming out of its hands at the last second and cutting the marine into two.

Sergeant Silva cursed and ordered the marines back. Behind him John heard the footsteps of the rest of the marines. Laser beams and plasma bolts launched over his head as they engaged the enemy trying to cover the retreating marines.

John primed one of his grenades and tossed it just behind the creature. It detonated and the creature stumbled to its feet. It red eyes turned to John and it shrieked again. It lunged at him on all fours like a dog. John though another grenade but the creature jumped into the air and grabbed hold of the ceiling. It lunged from up high, its blade equipped hand swiping down at John. He raised his rifle, his only real defense. It was cut into to and John was swatted across the room, away from the exit. John scrambled to his feet. The creature had its back towards the other and while the marines fired their rifles the creature seemed not to care. It charged at John. He reached for his last grenade but his was too slow. The creature was too close for him to even hit the primer.

The creatures hand came down as fast as it could. It only met metal. Glowing blue, metal plates that formed the deck created a wall. While they did not fully stop the creature, they allowed John to duck and escape the deathly blow. He primed the last grenade and threw it at the creature as it stood there as though confused. Unlike the other two grenades, this one was of the plasma variant and green energy enveloped the creature. John could feel his his exposed skin blister from the heat as he dodged out of the way.

But still the creature was not dead. It screamed again, this time in agony as it felt the plasma on its body. But it still was not dead. Liara ran around the creature to John, her biotics ripping deck plating off the walls and throwing it relentlessly at the creature as the marines fired. Like the weapons of the marines, her abilities did not do much damage but they managed to knock the creature around, keep it on unsure footing.

She came to stand beside John and unleashed more of her power. Instead of individual plates she began to ripe entire sections of the walls from their place. Her eyes were focus as she waged war. The larger pieces hit the creature harder and pushed it further back. She hit it again and again until it was knocked all the way to the opposite wall. It's back was to the room's window that allowed Sol to be seen in background.

The creature was stunned but it was not out and Liara was quickly running of viable object to throw at it. John doubted they could kill it with what they currently had. But perhaps they could use what they did before. He told Liara to begin moving towards the exit while keeping up the assault. They both began moving as the marines continued their own barrage. "Grenades!" shouted John as he and Liara reached the exit. The marines understood what he meant and the firing from them stopped as they reached for theirs. They lobbed them into the room and pulled back through the exit. Liara ceased her assault and as soon as everyone made it through John keyed the door causing it to slide shut.

The door had a piece of glass in the center allowing him to see inside. With the blows ceasing the creature shook, ready to restart its own attack. But it recognized the Grenades as they landed against and near it. It jumped but was too slows as the various grenades exploded. John could feel the explosion in the floor hard and he hoped that it was enough to empty that room into space. It was not.

When the room cleared the window was holding, though cracked. The creature was visibly burnt as it moved away form the point of detonation and the remaining plasma. Its body was burnt and it looked to be a bit sluggish. Still John cursed under his breath.

John turned to Sergeant Silva. "Take the key. Get to the pod. Make sure you grab Jenkins." He turned to Liara and Leeway. "Liara, you go with them. Our job is to get the key out. Sergeant Leeway, you and your boys stay with me. We will try to hold them off. Now move!" No one gave a protest although he could see one in Liara's eyes.

John took a deep breath. "Well let's see what else this bastard can do."

As though hearing him, the creatures red eyes once again met John and it gave another scream, muffled this time by the door. It looked ready to move but before it lunged, knowing full well it could easily shred through what little laid between it and them, it stopped. It cocked its head and turned to the window. John looked towards it well. It was barely viewable through the door but what he saw astounding him.

On the other side in the cold of space was the prisoner. Where no man should be allowed to live without proper gear he did. He was still naked except for his right arm which was covered by the right arm of a suit of power armor, blood was streaked across it. Still, even though it only was the arm, it was still powered. The small thrusters on it glowed blue allowing the prisoner to stay in place just outside the window though it did not explain how he managed to be alive.

The creature watched and as things came full circle the prisoner brought his power armored arm back. The thrusters pushed and it slammed into one of the cracks on the window. It only took once. The window instantly shattered blowing the glass away and venting the room to space. John saw the force of the air knock the prisoner back into space but the creature was more fortunate.

As the room decompressed it clawed into the floor and held itself in place. Soon the air was gone and the creature was free to move around. The gravity was still on and it did not seem to need air either to keep kicking.

But it did not turn towards the door. Instead it continued to look out the window. John did not know why, until that is the prisoner returned. The thrusters on his arm carried him in and he let gravity take care of the rest causing him to land a mere ten feet in front of the creature.

The creature did not waste time and rushed him bringing up one of its razor claws. But the prisoner deflected it with the armor on his arm as he brought up his knee to the creature's back and knocked it forward. He raised his armor and the armor's hand extend. The extensions fired small plasma bolts in quick succession at the creature. While they did not kill it, they seemed to have more of an effect than had been experienced so far. The damage given by Liara, the marines and the grenades seemed to have weakened it a good deal.

But it did not bring the creature to its knees. It jumped to the side and struct the prisoner again and again. The prisoner managed to deflect but as the creature made one more attempt and the prisoner moved to respond, the creatures leg came up knocking the prisoner in the side. Without hesitation the creature rammed its claws into the prisoner's stomach. It held them there for a second then yanked it to the prisoners left tearing through the side of his stomach. Blood spilled from the wound and the prisoner slumped to his knees.

The creature turned back to look at the door, look at John. It smiled and its red eyes grew brightly. Then it screamed as the prisoner leapt from the ground. It grabbed the creature by the back of the neck and began to squeeze and twist as once again he fired his plasma though this time into the creatures skull. The creature tried to escape. If it had not been so damaged then maybe it would have. But John watched as the creatures necked was crushed more and more. After a few seconds of that and the additional plasma, it slumped to the ground. Its eyes still glowed red, but they were much softer than before and the creature moved no more.

"Aria," said John. "Can you close up that window."

"I can," responded the AI as shutters began to cover the hole space. A few seconds passed by. "The room is now pressurized. It is clear to enter although I would suggest you hurry up to the pod. We don't have a lot of time."

John keyed the door and he and the marines entered. The marines eyed the prisoner cautiously, their rifles held at the ready. He stood up over the creature. John saw with amazement as his wound was now only a few red lines on his skin and they seemed to be fading. He did not look at all like he had just been nearly cut in half.

"Remind me when we get back to my ship to ask you just how you did that," said John. "But we need to get off this station and if you want a ride, well I think you at least earned one."

"Right behind you," said the prisoner and he stepped towards them. "I hope you can also spare a extra set of cloths."

One of the marines gave a laugh and some of the tension with them faded. Someone else laughed but it only took a second to realize it was not one of them.

John looked towards the creature. It turned its head barely and met his gaze. "You're all fools," its said. Its voice sounded like their was water in his throat, as though it was drowning. "You have no idea. We are coming. We are already here. We will destroy you." With that its red faded and it went still and spoke now more.

Chills ran up John's arms and he could see the others, even the prisoner, was disturbed by the words that were spoken. They was an eeriness to it. But they had other things to worry about.

"We need to move," said John. "Aria, inform the others we are on our way." They left the room and the creature and proceeded to the escape pod.

Liara was waiting outside of the access hatch with another marine. The rest were inside. "I'm glad you decided to join us," she said to John. "And with a friend too?"

"I will fill you in when we get out of this place."

"I don't think you will, John," said a voice behind him. Turning around he saw the Enclave Commander holding a mean looking plasma rifle in his hands. He was right outside of one of the intersecting corridors they had just passed. John cursed his luck. But the Commander was looking worse for wear. His armor was cracked, blood lines ran from the inside. It was dirty and dented. Somehow he too had managed to survive the vacuum of space even with his armor compromised.

"We are leaving," said John calmly to the Commander.

"You move and I'll melt you where you stand," threatened the Commander.

John looked to the marines around him. "As soon as you fire these boys will unload onto you. You won't make it out alive, not in your condition."

"Neither will you. Or perhaps you little blue bitch won't make it." The Commanders rifle moved slightly to face Liara. John moved in front of her between her and the Commander.

"You would protect her?" shouted the Commander as if enraged at the possibility. It was a bit confusing.

"I would," said John.

"Then you two can…" The Commander was not able to finish what he was saying as the station went to hell.

They were all thrown from their feet and against the ceiling and then slammed back against the floor. Explosions could be felt through through the air as the station groaned with stress. The battleship had impacted the station.

The walls buckled and sparks flew out. Cracks began to appear. "Get to the pod!" shouted John. They scrambled without even giving a second thought to the Commander. The marines were in front and they jumped through that access hatch first. John and Liara dived in right after him. With a firm thunk the door shut. John strapped himself into one of the seats and Liara did the same across from him. He felt the pod shake as it detached itself from the station. John could see through the rear access hatch and the station that they were finally leaving behind. Explosion and debris were all around as various parts of the stations were torn apart. But lastly, before they got to far, John saw the Enclave Commander. He was were they had left standing where the pod was just docked. John watched him slump to his knees and just stare at their direction. A second later the flame from an explosion engulfed him. John looked away.

"We are clear from the station and its debris," reported one of the marines. "We are in contact with the Dawn and will rendezvous in a few minutes.

John gave a sigh of relief. They had made it, save one marine and maybe Jenkins. He needed help now. "Inform them of Jenkins' condition. And let them know we have the Key."

John closed his eyes. He was tired. Hopefully he would be able to rest for a bit after this. They all needed it.

-)(-

Dan Wright, leader of the Coalition, sat in his office. Diane Nelson sat across from him on the other side of his desk. They both watched a live feed from the Follower's Memorial Hospital. It was the middle of a protest. The people there were protesting against a new tax on the hospital which had been announced a week ago. The hospital before hand had been allowed to operate without paying such taxes for the services they did, however it seemed like the Citadel controlled colonial administration was trying to change things up. This did not sit well with many who showed their anger forming a protest. Of course not all of it was a grass-roots efforts. The Coalition had pushed various community leaders to commit to it so now there were thousands around the hospital. In the last few hours it had turned from a protest against a new tax to one against the Citadel's control over humanity. Once again the Coalition was promoting these views and actions from within the protest.

The news feed switched to an on the site reporter. He was a human. "And this just in. The Mars Colonial Administration has announced to the protesters that they are ordering them to disperse. Failure to do so will result to harsh measure taken. This is in response to the harsh anti-citadel rhetoric that has been increasingly ramping up over the past few hours. We will see…"

Wright's attention was drawn away as Nelson's pipboy beeped. She looked at it and smiled. "We have the Key," she said to Wright. "Now is the perfect time."

He gave a sigh. "Do you really think we should go though with it?" Part of him wanted to be talked out of it, even if it was his own idea.

"You said it right yourself," said Diane. "Our fellow humans have become too soft under the rule of the Citadel. Too comfortable with their overlords. They need a reminder of who the enemy is even if we must be the ones to remind them. We are about to start a way. We need to be sure the people are on our side."

"You're right," he said as he nodded his headed. "And the virus is in place?"

"Yes. Nyxi T'neos did her part well even if she did not realize what she was doing."

"Well then, let's do what must be done."

-)(-

In orbit above Mars waited the Batarian Dreadnought Hegemon's. From the ship all of the red planet could be monitored. It was a symbol of the Citadels presence and the strength of the Batarian military that enforced that strength. The bridge was huge, as was to be expected on a ship the size of a small city. Displays fed all sorts of information to them from system reports to news feeds.

One such news feed was being paid close attention to by the crew. It showed the pitiful humans protesting against a new tax on one of their hospitals. The Admiral in charge of the ships and defense of the Sol System looked down with disgust. It was about time more control was brought over them. They needed to learn their place. If only the Council would agree to allowing the Bavarians to make slaves out of all these humans. Yes, there were already thousands of human slaves under their control but there was a lot of potential for it from these humans on Mars. Of course they would have to be culled first to eradicate the more troublesome members but he could see a lot of profit being made if the Council had the nerve to do what was necessary to bring the species under full control. He blamed it on the Asari. They were always too soft.

"Captain, Admiral," said one of the bridge crew. "I am registering a malfunction in one of our systems. The admiral made his way to the station and was met there by the Captain.

"What is wrong," asked the Captain.

"One of our orbital bombards is activating." There was alarm in his voice."

"What do you mean its activating? Stop it," ordered the admiral.

"I am trying but I cannot access the system. I have been locked out. The system will not listen to me." The young batarian was panicking.

The bridge had grown quite. Others were working on the problem already, trying to regain control over it.

"It's most likely an attack by the damn humans," said the Captain. "They have managed to hack our systems with one of their accursed AIs and are going to use our own weapons against ourselves. We have to order and evacuation for the administration building in Red Valley."

"It's not aiming for the administration building," said the admiral. While they could not interact with the system, they could watch it and see what it was doing. As the admiral spoke his word the systems registered that a target had been locked.

"The foolish humans could not even manage this correctly," said the Captain. "They have targeted their own hospital. Good new for us then."

"No," said the Admiral with dread in his voice. "This is worse. Much worse."

The orbital bombard began its countdown. Everyone that could tried to disable it. None needed an order. But it was to no avail.

"Bring up a display of the target," ordered the Admiral. A live feed was brought up from one of the planet's satellites showing the Follower's Memorial Hospital. He could barely make out the thousands of protesting humans around it.

He could barely feel the ship shake as the orbital bombard fired. But it only took a second to see its devastation. The feed showed the hospital and its surrounding area flash white. As the white faded all that was left was a crater as large as several city blocks. Fires were all around the edges and spreading. He knew tens of thousands were dead at least were dead.

The humans. What they had done, if they were the ones behind the attack, were some of the coldest beings he had ever known to exist. To do this to their own people. They were taking quite a gamble and he had to made sure that it failed. The batarians would not allow this to break the hold over this system.

---

Hope you enjoyed it. The next one should hopefully be up soon. Also I hope everyone is excited for Fallout 4. I know I am. That being said I would like to say that I really doubt this story will incorporate the particular entry. I know it will be amazing but it will probably establish too much new lore or change too much of what we already know to easily incorporate into this story. But on this issue only time will tell.

Till next time. Remember to follow or favorite if you like the story and feel free to PM me with any concerns or suggestions. Thank you for reading!