Okay, I'm almost certainly going to make a Kill La Kill Book; it'll be Book 29. I already have a fair bit of it planned out. Now, here's where I need help. I also had another idea for an upcoming Book, and I want to have it take place immediately after #29. The thing is, the KLK Book and the already-planned Book are both gonna be pretty short in terms of number of chapters. I was wondering if I should merge them into one Book – have the other Book's events happen after the KLK events.
This could cause problems, however, for one reason: this site only allows you to mark a crossover by two franchises. So, the KLK Book will be marked as a "Lyrical Nanoha / Kill La Kill crossover" even though the Naruto-verse will also play a big role. And the other planned Book is going to have the DBZ crew make a big impact, yet also has a little Touhou planned (Reisen finally goes to confront Eirin). I can't mark a Book as "Lyrical Nanoha / Kill La Kill / Naruto / Touhou / Dragon Ball" because the site won't let me.
Do I keep them as two separate, super-shorty-short Books 29 & 30 so I can at least mark their two 'main' categories, or do I merge them into a single Book 29 and randomly pick which two of the five series get used to categorize the fic?
IN OTHER NEWS: This chapter will be light on DDF involvement; to make up for it, the entire next chapter will focus on DDF personnel fighting on Equestria.
SEE CHAPTER ONE FOR DISCLAIMERS
PLEASE READ & REVIEW, AND TEND TO THE TROPE PAGES
-CHAPTER START-
Krogan DMZ, Aralakh System, Tuchanka
CODEX: "Tuchanka, the Krogan homeworld, boasts extreme temperatures, virulent diseases, and predatory fauna. Around 1900 BCE, the Krogans discovered atomic weapons and promptly sent their planet into a nuclear winter. The majority of the population retreated to underground bunkers, and Krogan culture slipped into a dark age dominated by tribal clans. In 80 CE, decades into the Rachni Wars, the Salarian Union made first contact with the primitive Krogans and initiated a 'cultural uplift' to shape them into a modern army capable of confronting the Rachni. During this uplift, the Salarians constructed the Shroud facility on Tuchanka to shield the planet from harmful forms of solar radiation. Later, during the Krogan Rebellions, reproductive rates were curtailed by the genophage, ensuring the Krogans remained a species in decline, and Tuchanka a desolate wasteland."
A lone Kodiak shuttle flew down through the dusty atmosphere of the Krogan homeworld. No sooner had the Normandy II arrived than scanners detected someone besides the Reapers setting up shop groundside. Now, Shepard was heading down with a team – EDI, Kal'Reegar, and James – to clear them out.
"Shepard," Admiral Hackett said, "Cerberus is landing forces away from the Tuchanka battlefields. Their target seems to be an ancient surface-to-orbit cannon facility that hasn't been used since the Krogan Rebellions. The site has no obvious military advantage, and the Krogans are spread too thin to deal with it."
"Do we know what Cerberus is up to?" Shepard asked.
"No, but we do know they don't act without a plan. Get in there and stop them, and find out what they're up to while you're at it."
"We'll get it done."
The Kodiak approached the facility, which had three long cannons pointed up at an angle. As the shuttle drew near, the cannons suddenly fired, the coilguns sending a trio of shells up through the atmosphere at relativistic speeds.
"Looks like Cerberus got the cannons operational, Commander!" Cortez said as the shuttle hovered over a drop-off point. "I'll go back up and get a read on what they're shooting at."
"All right," Shepard said as he and his team disembarked and the Kodiak flew away, "let's find the control room for those cannons. Kill anything in our way."
The quartet rounded a few corners and came out to the entrance of the main outdoor area of the facility. A Cerberus Trooper had his back turned to them across the way, and Shepard announced their presence with a Biotic Throw that launched the surprised Trooper over the ledge he'd been standing by. The other Cerberus forces in the courtyard took notice, and soon Team Shepard was under fire.
"Commander, I have a visual on an inbound Cerberus cruiser" Cortez radioed. "The cannon fire is clearing the way. If that ship makes it to bombardment range, the Krogan resistance is in trouble!"
"Keep track of it, Lieutenant" Shepard replied as he used his pistol to take out a pair of Troopers while Kal and James focused assault-rifle fire to shred a Centurion. They moved in, EDI sending out a holographic decoy to confuse a Centurion whom she then Overloaded the shields of, leaving him open to focused SMG fire. Shepard caught four Troopers in a Singularity, and then tossed a Warp to detonate it, ripping them apart. An Engineer emerged from the main building's side entrance, but before he could even reach back to pull a turret out Shepard downed his shields and Kal'Reegar filled him full of holes.
The team fought their way up the ramp to the control room, James' shotgun blowing away a Trooper who tried to stand in their way. Inside, an Engineer and two Centurions were waiting; Shepard and EDI took out the shields of the former and one of the latter, following with some SMG fire, while James and Reegar took down the other Centurion.
"Control room secure" Shepard said. "I think it's time to test these cannons."
Shepard called up his Omnitool and tapped into the cannons' network. However, as the guns were being calibrated, everything suddenly shut down.
"Cerberus has cut the power" EDI reported. "Marking the power junctions on our HUDs."
Team Shepard moved back down from the control room, finding the courtyard already populated by another Cerberus squad. Shepard loosed a Biotic Shockwave that slammed two Troopers into a crate, while James shoulder-tackled a nearby Trooper… and, in doing so, dodged the sniper shot fired at where he had just been by a Nemesis. Shepard quickly drew his Valiant and picked off the enemy sniper, while Kal'Reegar used his shotgun to bring down two Troopers who tried to flank the Commander.
They fought their way through a handful of Troopers back to near where they'd been dropped off, finding the two junctions guarded by another squad led by two Centurions. Shepard and EDI took out the enemy leaders' shields, and then James and Kal threw a couple grenades in, killing one of the Centurions and two of the Troopers. An Engineer tried to set up a turret, but Shepard Biotically picked him up and slammed him to the side into a wall, breaking his neck. EDI sent out a Decoy to confuse the remaining Troopers, and Shepard used his SMG to gun them down. With the way clear, Shepard and EDI quickly hurried over to the junctions, breaking the locks on them and getting to work. After several seconds, power was restored.
"We're cutting it close, Commander" Cortez radioed.
As the team hurried back across the courtyard and into the control room, they found an Engineer, a turret, and a pair of Guardians waiting for them. Shepard immediately hacked the turret, which turned its guns on the back of one of the Guardians, cutting the shield-wielding trooper down before he could react. At the same time, Shepard Biotically pulled the shield away from the other Guardian, leaving him open to rifle fire from James and Reegar, while EDI overloaded the Engineer's shields and gunned him down with her SMG. Shepard and James tossed a pair of grenades at the turret just as the hack wore off, destroying it.
"Commander, cruiser initiating bombardment!"
Shepard hurried to the console, tapping in with his Omnitool. "Cannon controls restored" he replied. "Targeting enabled. Coordinates, Lieutenant!"
"Uploaded!"
"Firing!"
The building shook as the three STO coilguns fired. After a few seconds…
"Direct starboard hit, Commander! Target breaking up! Repeat: direct hit!"
"Alright. Good work, everyone."
-SCENE BREAK-
Normandy II, Deck Two, QEC Room
"Shepard, with those Krogan cannons operational, Cerberus has actually given us the advantage in the Aralakh system. They're pulling back, but we think they'll try to seize the facility again."
"Seems likely."
"I'm sending an Alliance team to keep it secure. They've got a foothold in a strong defensive position, thanks to you. Good work, Commander. Hackett out."
No sooner had the connection with Hackett cut, Joker's voice came over the intercom.
"Shepard, sensors show a Reaper parked at the Shroud facility. No way you're going to be able to land a shuttle there."
"Get everyone assembled here in the War Room" Shepard replied. "I want eyes on the Shroud."
Within a few minutes, Mordin, Victus, and Wrex entered the room, as the table's hologram showed the Shroud tower and its 'guard'.
"Destroyer-class Reaper," Mordin observed, "Using Shroud to poison Tuchanka's atmosphere. Problematic."
"If they want a fight, they just got one" Wrex growled.
"Primarch," Shepard said, "we're going to need your help."
"That could be difficult" the old Turian replied. "Our losses on Palaven have been catastrophic."
"We're doing this for Palaven. No-one said it would be easy."
"…What do you have in mind?"
"A combined attack" Shepard suggested as he triggered holograms of Turian fighter craft flying in formation toward the Destroyer. "Your people hit the Reaper with an airstrike." Holograms of large armored gun-bearing trucks – Krogan Tomkahs – appeared from the Reaper's left. "Wrex, at the same time your soldiers will be attacking from the ground. Together, you can draw it away from the tower."
"Yes, distraction" Mordin surmised. "Small team can reach Shroud facility, finish synthesizing cure. Will need Eve to come with us. …Krogan-Eve, I mean. Though if Lucavi-Eve wishes to join team, she is welcome to."
"Where is she anyway?" Victus asked.
"Eve in Medbay" the Salarian replied.
"Which one? The Krogan or the Lucavi?"
"Yes."
"…What?"
"They're both there, talkin' with each other" Wrex clarified. He smirked. "I can't believe the doc's trick confused you."
"Learned it from Legion" Mordin said. "Used it to mess with Kirrahe back on Sur'Kesh a few times." He smirked. "Always amusing seeing him blow his top."
"We've never faced a Reaper up close like this" Shepard said. "Is everyone on board?"
"There's even a doubt?" Wrex replied. "Let's move, boys. It's time to cure the genophage."
"Commander," Traynor said over the intercom as the three aliens left, "incoming message marked urgent. I'll put it in the comm. room for you."
When Shepard headed into the QEC room, he was met with an unexpected robed figure. "Dalatrass Linron?"
"Commander Shepard, we know you've reached Tuchanka. And, by now, I imagine Mordin Solus has proposed using the Shroud."
"Are you spying on us?"
"Hardly. The Shroud is the only viable course of action open to you. Commander, you can't allow your misguided sympathy for the Krogans to cloud your judgment. Do you honestly believe curing the genophage will end in lasting peace?"
"We have to give them that chance. You can't condemn an entire species to extinction based on what might happen."
"What will happen is the Krogans will reproduce out of control. We uplifted them specifically for their violent nature, not their diplomatic skills. Another war is inevitable."
"What do you want, Dalatrass?" the Commander scowled.
"Years ago, our operatives sabotaged the Shroud facility to ensure what you're planning couldn't be done. Mordin will likely detect this malfunction and repair it. But if you ensure that he doesn't, then the cure's viability will be altered just enough so that it fails. No one will notice the change."
"You mean trick the Krogans?"
"They need not be any the wiser. Let Urdnot Wrex believe you fulfilled your promise."
"Mordin would never stand for that."
"How you deal with him is up to you, Commander. We can provide you our very best scientists to build the Crucible, and the full support of our fleets. …Think about it, Commander. The choice is yours."
The Dalatrass cut the connection before Shepard could say anything more. Sighing, he turned and headed out.
-SCENE BREAK-
The Kodiak was rather packed as it descended through Tuchanka's dusty skies – Shepard had taken along Garrus, Liara, Javik, and Lucavi-Eve, while Wrex, Mordin, and Krogan-Eve were along for the ride as well.
"I've ordered the clans to assemble at the Hollows" Wrex said. "It's our sacred meeting ground. We'll land there and take an armored convoy against the Reaper. …This will be the defining moment of Krogan history."
"Krogan history filled with defining moments" Mordin remarked. "Most bloody. Hope this one better."
"…Commander," the female Shaman spoke up, "you seem troubled."
"…I got a message from the-"
Shepard was cut off as the shuttle lurched.
"Wrex, it's Wreav! The Reapers are already at the Hollows! Come out with guns blazing!"
"Hang on tight!" Cortex called back from the cockpit.
The shuttle flew in under a few (badly-aimed) flak bursts and set down in front of the entrance to the massive Hollows structure. The door opened to reveal a Husk less than a meter away, and Wrex blasted it with his shotgun before it could so much as move in the group's direction.
"Shepard," he said as he hopped out, "keep them away from the female! I'll sort out what's happening with the other clans!"
Team Shepard disembarked and moved through the main entrance of the Hollows. Inside, Krogan warriors did battle against a horde of Husks, the reptilian juggernauts' power and skill being matched by the cyber-zombies' raw numbers. Liara threw out a Singularity that snatched up four charging Husks, and Shepard used a Warp to detonate it, ripping them apart. Javik and Garrus added their rifles' fire, cutting down Husks a bit farther away, while (Lucavi) Eve leapt in with her staff in dual-saber mode, using the energy blades to decapitate or bisect a pack of six Husks she landed amongst. Shepard and Javik finished off the Husks left in their area by Biotically throwing them into the deep pit in the center of the room. Soon one of the large doors opened, Wrex leading a pack of Krogans in.
"They'll sing battle-songs about this someday" he said. "Reaper blood has finally soaked our soil!"
Krogans roared out from the various balconies lining the high walls of the multi-level chamber.
"We have to get to the Shroud" Shepard said. "The airstrike is on its way."
"Female safe, Shepard" Mordin said as he came down the steps into the Hollows. "Vitals are strong."
"What's a Salarian doing here?-!" a Krogan in Clan Urdnot armor with a dull-brown head crest said, walking up at the head of a pack of Krogans (most of them in Blood Pack colors). "Nobody said anything about this!"
"Who are you?" Shepard asked.
"Urdnot Wreav, blood-brother to our… 'illustrious' leader."
The Krogans supporting Wrex growled at the slight against their chief.
"Wreav and I share the same mother," Wrex explained, "and nothing else."
"For which I'm thankful. I remember what it means to be a true Krogan. We flay our enemies alive and drown them in a geyser of their own blood. We don't invite them into our home."
"This Salarian is not your enemy" Shepard said. "He's here to help cure the genophage."
"His kind gave us the genophage! Why should we trust him?"
Wreav began to make a threatening move towards Shepard and Mordin, only for Wrex to floor him with a headbutt, earning growls from Wreav's supporters.
"Because I do" Wrex replied. "And so will you, Wreav…"
Wreav snarled as he got to his feet. Krogans on both sides growled and made threatening gestures, as Wreav drew his shotgun…
"Enough!"
Krogan-Eve's call drew the attention of every Krogan in the Hollows, bringing an immediate halt to hostilities; when someone who was both a female and a Shaman called for attention, the males listened.
"You can stay here and let old wounds fester, as Krogans have always done…" she spoke as she walked down the steps. "Or you can fight the enemy you were born to destroy, and win a new future for our children." She took position atop the 'stage' in the center of the room, overlooking the crowd of males on the ground floor. "I choose to fight. Who will join me?"
"I will" Shepard spoke up.
"I will as well" Mordin chimed in.
"And so will I" Lucavi-Eve stepped up.
"Count us in, too" Garrus spoke up, Liara and Javik standing beside him.
"And so will I!" Wrex said. "Now hold your heads high like true Krogans! There's a Reaper that needs killing!"
The Krogans filling the Hollows roared and pounded their fists in approval, ready for battle against the true enemy. After several seconds, Wreav nodded, he and his underlings joining as well.
-Break-
"Krogan ground convoy, this is Turian wing Artimec. Our flight vector to the Shroud is locked. We're 10 minutes out and counting."
A convoy of Tomkahs rolled down the sturdy old highway. Out in the distance, the Shroud was visible amongst the ruins, as was the Reaper Destroyer guarding it. Shepard rode with Mordin, Wrex, and Krogan-Eve aboard one of the lead Tomkahs.
"Copy that, Artimec" Shepard replied. "We're on our way, trying to make up lost time. Shepard out."
"Wreav isn't the only Krogan who wants revenge for the genophage, Wrex" Krogan-Eve said. "You'll have to placate them somehow."
"I'll demand that the Council return some of our old territory" Wrex replied. "We'll need room to expand – recapture the glory of the ancients."
"'Glory of ancients' led to Krogan Rebellions," Mordin spoke up, "countless deaths, creation of genophage. Expansion plan… problematic."
"What were the ancient Krogans like?" Shepard asked.
"Tuchanka wasn't always a wasteland" the Shamaness replied. "In the old times, the Krogans were a proud people. We had dreams… a future to look forward to."
"Until Salarian interference" Mordin surmised.
"No. We ruined Tuchanka ourselves. Technology changed us. It made life too easy. So we looked for new challenges, and found them in each other. Eventually, nuclear war was inevitable."
"And now our planet is rubble" Wrex said. "We'll need a better place to live until cleanup is done."
"I'd say helping defeat the Reapers would be worth a new planet" Shepard said.
"Or ten. You haven't seen how fast we can pop 'em out."
"Wrex…" Krogan-Eve warned.
"What?" he replied defensively. "With the genophage cured, we'll have a lot of catching up to do. Don't worry; once our numbers are high enough, we'll do what the Quarians did when they were stuck in ships: implement limits on how many children someone can have, remove those limits temporarily if our population drops below a certain point, that kinda thing."
Shepard closed his eyes in thought. After a few seconds, he spoke up. "Back on the shuttle, I tried to tell you guys… Dalatrass Linron tried to cut a secret deal with me."
"What kinda deal?" Wrex asked.
"She said they sabotaged the Shroud years ago. The cure won't work unless we fix it." He called up his Omnitool, playing a recorded fragment of his earlier conversation with the Dalatrass.
"And she thought we wouldn't know better?" Wrex asked, scowling.
"Correctly" Mordin replied. "Would likely have fooled tests. But familiar with STG work. Can adjust. Did not come this far for nothing."
"You just spared our race another genocide, Commander" Krogan-Eve said.
"I told you we could count on him" Wrex replied with a smile.
Suddenly, their Tomkah rolled to a stop. Shepard got out to investigate, finding that the entire convoy had stalled. Javik, Garrus, Liara, and Lucavi-Eve emerged from the truck behind his, and they looked out at the Shroud tower, now much closer. The sky above it looked to be tinted a greenish-gray, and the Reaper Destroyer was visible standing beside it.
"Wrex, you and Mordin stay with the female" Shepard said. "It's looking ugly out here!"
The quintet moved up, past a few Krogans waiting around, and came to one kneeling down by a damaged section of the road right in front of the lead trucks.
"What's the holdup?" Shepard asked.
"Road's out" the scout replied. "The convoy can't make it through."
Shepard looked, seeing how a significant chunk of the steel-reinforced concrete road had long since given way, the remainder looking decidedly unsafe and unstable.
"Turian wing Artimec, this is Shepard. We've been delayed by road damage; hold off your attack."
"Negative, Commander. Our approach is locked; the Reaper already knows we're here!"
The ground rumbled as the squadron of angular Turian fighter craft flew overhead, racing toward the Reaper Destroyer. They opened fire, their blasters doing little more than annoy the synthetic titan.
"A handful of fighters can't take down a Reaper" Garrus said. "We need to get over there."
"Damn it" Shepard turned to the scout. "I don't care if we have to build a new road; we're going!"
Suddenly, the Reaper Destroyer's main gun lanced out for a split-second, striking one of the fighters. The Turian craft careened out of control right into the convoy, sending one Tomkah flying and wrecking another.
"Shepard, what's happening?-!"
"Wrex, get the female out of here now! Go!"
Wrex's Tomkah floored it, racing across the damaged road. Wreav's Tomkah managed to follow, but then the road collapsed, stranding the rest of the Tomkahs behind.
"Artimec, do you copy?"
"We have to abort, Commander! The Reaper's tearing us to pieces!"
"Understood! Save your pilots; we'll find another way."
Liara pointed out a small tunnel on the right side of the road, and Team Shepard hurried through it, dropping down into a dark, old complex.
"Wrex, are you receiving this? Is everyone okay?"
"Yeah, just scratches; nothing the Salarian can't patch up. Wreav's truck made it out, too."
"The Turians had to call off the airstrike". Team Shepard started moving deeper in, activating flashlights. "We'll need a new plan for dealing with the Reaper."
"First we'll have to find you. Where did you end up?"
"Underground. We see ruins of some kind."
"Commander, that's the city of the ancients" Krogan-Eve said.
"How do we get out?"
"No maps exist. It's been abandoned for thousands of years."
"You're a trailblazer, Shepard. Get through there, and we'll find a place to meet up. Nothing will stop this cure…"
As they advanced cautiously through the ruins, the ground trembled.
"What was that?" Garrus murmured.
Moving deeper in, they found something unexpected: ancient artwork on the walls, of three stylized Krogans kneeling before a fourth wearing ceremonial guard and wielding a staff.
"Fascinating…" Liara mused. "This painting suggests Krogans had an artistic side."
"Notice how they chose obedience as their subject" Javik observed.
They moved on, quietly and carefully moving through the millennia-old ruins. As they went down a level, the ground shook again.
"That was not a ground-quake" Lucavi-Eve said.
"Wrex, are you guys feeling these tremors?" Shepard asked.
"Not up here."
"It could be something else, Commander" Krogan-Eve chimed in. "It is said that Kalros, the mother of all thresher maws, lives in this region."
"Which is another reason to get your ass out of there, Shepard. Step on it!"
"When the Krogans name a thresher maw," Garrus remarked, "you know you're in trouble. They don't think anyone is ever going to kill it."
They moved on through the ruins, passing a few more wall paintings and enduring a few more tremors. Eventually, at the foot of a stairway, they found unexpected and unwelcome: a Ravager corpse.
"Wrex, we've got Rachni Husks here. Keep an eye out."
"I know. A few of them just attacked us. All that matters is getting to the Shroud. Find us fast."
As they climbed the lengthy set of stairs, they finally reached daylight, emerging into a partially-outside section of the ruins.
"In my younger days," Liara said, "I would've loved to have spent time here studying these ruins."
Climbing another set of stairs, they emerged into a massive courtyard-like area. Plants grew along some of the far walls, and a path lined with statues led to a ziggurat-like building.
"Wrex, we made it back outside."
"Well, if you can see sunlight, that's progress."
"And the color green" Liara added. "I thought plants were extinct around here."
"You're looking at hope," Krogan-Eve replied, "all that's left of it on Tuchanka. This was once a world full of beauty. Given a chance, it can be again."
"Shepard, that Reaper is still up to no good at the Shroud. Find a way out of there, and we'll pick you up."
As Team Shepard advanced a little ways, a pair of Ravagers emerged up ahead, firing their heavy cannons. Shepard and Liara formed Biotic Barriers to block the shots, and Garrus hit one of the Ravagers with an Overload, the Rachni cyber-zombie's body containing enough synthetic parts that the Overload did some damage. While the first one was stunned by the shock, Javik threw a pair of Lift Grenades at the second Ravager, the Biotic energy hoisting it into the air, and Lucavi-Eve telekinetically launched the Biotically-lightened Ravager to the side, over the edge of the hundred-+-foot drop. Shepard hit Ravager 1 with an Incinerate, burning through its 'armor', and Liara weakened it further with a Warp. Finally, sustained fire from Javik's particle rifle and Shepard's Hurricane SMG brought it down.
They hurried ahead, across the foot bridge, and six Cannibals emerged from a passage up ahead. Shepard and Liara tossed out a pair of Singularities, snatching up all six of the hostiles, and Lucavi-Eve's energy bolts and Javik & Garrus' fire took out four of them before the Singularities faded out and dropped the last two to the ground, where a few shots from Liara finished them off. A Brute came out next, shrugging off Incinerates and Warps from Shepard and Liara as it charged. Lucavi-Eve hit it with a Saber Throw that sliced off its smaller arm, and Garrus managed to shoot out one of its eyes. Javik charged at it while it was disoriented, pulling out a frag grenade and rolling it underneath the titan. The explosion tore into the Brute's stomach area, ripping it open, and Shepard fired an Incinerate into the new hole, burning the monster from the inside out until it collapsed dead. Suddenly the ground lurched and shook, a continuous vibration that felt like it was moving.
"Wrex, you're right about Kalros!" Shepard said. "She's on the move!"
"Yeah, we've got some ideas about that. …What?"
"Not now, Wrex" Krogan-Eve cut in. "The commander has enough to worry about."
"What's happening?"
"Some crazy idea we can talk about later" Wrex replied. "Just worry about getting out of there right now."
They moved around a corner, through an area of broken stone paths, an old stream and a few small plants. Moving ahead, they neared a path to another stone bridge, and found a squad of Cannibals and a Ravager in their way. Lucavi-Eve leapt in, using her double saber-staff to carve through the Cannibals, while Shepard and Liara kept the Ravager off-balance with Warps and Incinerates, softening it up for Javik and Garrus to bring down. With the path clear, they approached the bridge, as Wrex's Tomkah drove underneath it. … and it was followed close behind by something massive, like a giant shark's fin cutting through the earth and sand. It sliced through the center of the bridge, thankfully leaving a gap narrow enough for the squad to hop across.
"Kalros' territorial instinct confirmed!" Mordin remarked.
"I thought you said these things didn't get bigger than 100 meters!" Lucavi-Eve said to Liara.
"That's the average size" Liara replied. "Thresher maws continue to grow throughout their lives, as well as according to available territory. Kalros must be thousands of years old to have reached such a size."
"Go on ahead, Shepard!" Wrex radioed. "We'll try to shake this thing and find you!"
"Thresher maw getting closer!" Mordin said, a bit panicked.
"Yeah, I've noticed, pyjak! Hang on!"
Team Shepard moved around the outside of the structure and into a large courtyard bordered by old Krogan statues. Another squad of Cannibals was waiting, this time with Husk support. Javik and Lucavi-Eve focused on the Husks, particle-rifle bursts and crimson energy bolts cutting the reanimated humans down, while Garrus put his Mantis rifle to work picking off Cannibals farther out, and Shepard & Liara blasted the closer ones with Incinerates and Warps.
"Shepard – Wrex busy driving truck! Are you still alive?"
"Doing what we can, Mordin!" Shepard replied as he blasted a Cannibal in the face with Incinerate. "What about you?"
"Alarmed yet entertained! Kalros is quite persistent!"
"Wreav, stick close!" Wrex radioed.
"Drive faster!" his brother replied. "I can smell the damn thing's breath!"
As the last hostile fell, Team Shepard rushed through the courtyard, taking 'steps' of rubble down to the sand as Wrex's truck pulled up.
"Shepard, get over here! Wreav, keep an eye out for Kalros! I don't want her sneaking up on us!"
"Make it quick, Wrex! We're exposed!"
Team Shepard hurried into Wrex's Tomkah, squeezing in with Mordin and Krogan-Eve. Suddenly, the ground rumbled, and a massive scythe-claw pierced Wreav's Tomkah from directly under it. The earth shifted, and the vehicle was pulled under, Wreav's scream over the comm. being abruptly cut off. Wrex floored the accelerator, pushing the Tomkah as fast as it could go toward the Shroud and away from Kalros.
"No way he survived that…" Wrex murmured. "Eh, he was a pain in the ass, anyway."
-Break-
The armored truck pulled up beside an old and well-armored facility that looked out into a large, open pathway that led straight down to the Shroud… as well as the Reaper Destroyer standing guard.
"I hope someone has a 'Plan B'…" Lucavi-Eve said, looking out at the synthetic titan standing between them and their objective.
"Vengeance is the goal…" Javik said. "…Suicide is not."
"We're curing the genophage no matter what it takes" Wrex said. "Everything my people will ever be depends on it."
"Then I hope this idea you were talking about is a good one" Shepard replied.
"It was hers, actually" he gestured to the Shamaness.
"Kalros" Krogan-Eve said. "We summon her to fight the Reaper."
"Would that even work?" Shepard asked.
"Already discussed strategy" Mordin replied. "Just need to distract Reaper, draw it from tower while cure synthesized and released."
"What makes you so sure she'll come?"
"Legends say she is the mother from which all other thresher maws spawn" Krogan-Eve said. "Even if that is false, she is still the oldest living thing on Tuchanka, having lived since long before we discovered nuclear power. This is as much her home as ours."
"If Tuchanka has a temper," Wrex added, "Kalros is it. Nobody's ever faced her and survived."
"I've taken some risks in my time," Shepard said, "but this seems crazy."
"And going head-to-head with Sovereign didn't? This is the only way to get to that tower and release the cure. There's no other choice."
"But how would we summon her?"
"The tower was built in an arena devoted to Kalros' glory" Krogan-Eve replied. "The Salarians thought she would scare away intruders."
"Appears to have worked" Mordin chimed in.
"There are two maw-hammers there, the largest in existence. If you activate them, Kalros will come. That should distract the Reaper."
"Meanwhile, laboratory nearby" Mordin said. "Will finish synthesizing cure."
"…Alright" Shepard acquiesced. "It sounds nuts, but it's our best shot. Let's make sure we all get out of here alive. We're going to have one hell of a story to tell."
"Shepard…" Wrex said. "I want you to know that no matter what happens… You've been a champion to the Krogan people, a friend of Clan Urdnot…" He shook Shepard's hand. "…And a brother to me. To every Krogan born after this day, the name 'Shepard' will mean 'hero'! Now let's show them why!"
Suddenly a pack of Ravagers came in from the right. Shepard drew his gun, but Wrex waved him aside.
"Go!" the warlord said, readying his M300 Claymore. "I've got this!" He charged, hitting a Ravager with a Biotic Throw and blasting it open with his shotgun. "I am Urdnot Wrex! And this is MY planet!-!"
As Mordin and Krogan-Eve headed for the lab, Team Shepard dropped into the courtyard ahead. A squad of Cannibals emerged, and Shepard & Liara tossed out Singularities that 'grabbed' most of them, leaving them open to a pair of grenades from Garrus and a Singularity-destabilizing Warp from Javik that wiped the majority out, Shepard's SMG and Lucavi-Eve's energy bolts dealing with the rest.
"Shepard, I took care of those Rachni Husks! But someone has to raise those maw hammers before you can use them!"
"We're kinda busy, Wrex."
"Lucky for you, I'm here! I'll handle it."
"Shepard, some luck!" Mordin called in. "Original strain in storage. Preparing the cure now."
Team Shepard hurried up a flight of steps and moved to cross a bridge. As soon as they started across, however, the Reaper Destroyer spotted them and fired its main gun, the crimson beam slicing downward and destroying the bridge, knocking Team Shepard into the area below, the start of a long, statue-lined walkway leading to the Shroud and to the Reaper.
"Did we just get shot at by a damn Reaper?-!" Garrus remarked.
"I remember this!" Javik said as the team started forward. "This is the easy part!"
"You have to activate both hammers" Wrex radioed. "My advice is: avoid the giant laser!"
"There's a Reaper in my way, Wrex!" Shepard said as he and the team ducked behind a statue base as the statue itself was vaporized.
"I know! You get to have all the fun!"
They hurried forward, dodging beams of relativistic molten metal as they sprinted from cover to cover. As they neared the Destroyer, its photoreceptor glowed a baleful red as it prepared to fire, only for a barrage of mass-accelerator rounds to strike it as a squadron of Turian fighters flew in.
"Commander, this is Artimec Wing! We'll try to give that Reaper something else to shoot at!"
"Goddess be with them…" Liara murmured.
Team Shepard rushed into the arena, now right beneath the Reaper Destroyer, as half a dozen Brutes dropped in.
"Go!" Garrus shouted. "We'll keep these big bastards busy!"
Shepard went right, heading for one of the maw-hammers, and narrowly avoided being stepped on by the Reaper. He ran past the Brute that leapt off of the Destroyer's leg, and hit the panel for one of the hammers. Turning around, he ducked under the Brute's charging swing and hit it in the back with a full-force Biotic Throw, pushing it over the nearby ledge; the fall didn't kill it, but did take it out of the equation for the moment.
"I've got the other hammer!" Lucavi-Eve shouted over the comm. "We're good to go!"
"Everyone, back to the truck!" Shepard ordered. "I'll take care of the cure!"
The massive maw-hammers pounded the ground, sending out an infrasonic pulse that reached out for kilometers in all directions. A few seconds later, there was an echoing screech in the distance.
"Wrex!" Shepard said. "Do we have mawsign?"
The old Krogan laughed as the rumbling drew closer. "Shepard, we have mawsign the likes of which even the Reapers have never seen!"
Shepard met up with Lucavi-Eve, the two of them trying to head out of the area, only for the Destroyer to block their path, letting out its deep, reverberating bass horn sound. Suddenly, the ground exploded as Kalros lunged up, latching onto the Reaper's face, her claws and acid tearing into its superstructure. The Destroyer struggled, tossing Kalros about and trying to shake her off, hundreds of meters and thousands of tons of thresher maw waving through the air as she stubbornly refused to let go. Shepard and Lucavi-Eve leapt across a gap, trying to get as much distance from the clash of the titans as they could. The Reaper slammed Kalros into the Shroud tower, knocking her off, and she went underground, dodging the Reaper's laser.
The ancient construct turned away, preparing to pursue Shepard… and then the super-maw burst up from the side, arcing through the air and tackling the Reaper so hard that it was knocked over. She pulled it to the ground, constricting around it like the galaxy's largest python, and the Reaper let out a metallic scream as the enormous pressure began to crush it while Kalros' acid and claws dug into its innards. Kalros pulled it closer, dragging it beneath the surface, and soon the Reaper's struggles ceased as it vanished underground, Kalros already beginning to consume her prey.
"They eat metal, right?" Lucavi-Eve asked.
"Yeah" Shepard replied. "I think Kalros will be enjoying that meal for quite a while. Come on."
The duo hurried to the facility at the base of the Shroud, finding a small courtyard at the base of an elevator set into the side of the tower. Small fires were burning, and explosions were beginning to tear through the massive building. Soon, Mordin arrived.
"Mordin, is the cure ready yet?" Shepard asked.
"Yes" the Salarian replied, getting to work on a console. "Loaded for dispersal in two minutes. Procedure traumatic for female, but not lethal. Maelon's research invaluable."
"She's okay?"
"Headed to safety now. Her survival fortunate. Will stabilize new government should Wrex get any ideas. Good match, promising future for Krogans. Control room at top of tower. Must take elevator up."
"You're going up there?-!" Shepard pointed up at the rapidly-deteriorating tower, explosions and debris already shooting out.
"Yes. Manual access required. Have to counteract STG sabotage. Ensure cure dispersed properly."
"Mordin, this whole thing is coming apart! There's got to be another way!"
"I think there is" Lucavi-Eve spoke up, getting the men's attention. "You know I can teleport – a 'space-bridge', the Fallen called it. I think I can manage to safely 'jump' with one person extra being pulled along for the ride. I'll go up there with Dr. Solus, and as soon as the cure's out I'll 'jump' us out to safety."
"What if you can't get out in time?" Shepard asked.
Eve was quiet for a few seconds. "I hate humans, and want to make them pay… but I won't sacrifice the existence of the Krogans to do that. …I'm sure it won't come to that, though. I can do this. Doctor, shall we?"
Mordin nodded, and the two got into the elevator as Shepard got clear. The elevator whisked them up to the top, depositing them in the control room; fires and explosions were already raging, and a computerized voice was warning about temperature malfunctions. Eve and Mordin rushed forward, the former creating a red-hued barrier to protect them both as they reached the console. Mordin immediately got to work on the console, and soon the temperature stabilized. There was a deep bass thrum, and a wave of yellowish particles began to spout out from the Shroud's tip, dispersing into the atmosphere.
Eve immediately fired a psionic pulse that shattered the nearby window overlooking Tuchanka, and grabbed hold of Mordin. There was a blur of motion, and they vanished a split-second before an explosion gutted the control room. Watching from below, Shepard startled slightly as Eve and Mordin re-emerged from the 'space bridge', rolling to a stop.
"Thrilling" Mordin said as he dusted himself off. "Excellent timing. Thank you, T'Lesh."
"You did it, Mordin" Shepard said, smiling as he looked up at the cure particles filling the sky.
The old man smiled. "Genophage cured. Krogans freed. New beginning, for all of us."
-Break-
"A long time ago," Wrex said as the group walked through the Hollows, "my father betrayed me in this place. His own son. He tried to kill me. So I had to kill him… right over there. That's what the genophage reduced us to – animals. But you two changed that today."
"Now we'll fight for our children," Krogan-Eve said, "not against them. This wouldn't have been possible without either of you."
"Did many morally questionable things in lifetime" Mordin said. "Nice to finally do something unambiguously right."
"This wouldn't have happened without you, Shepard" Wrex said. "You've saved the Krogan race. Tell the Turians I'll be deploying troops to Palaven immediately. And when you're ready to kick the Reapers off Earth, you let me know. The Krogans are back in business."
"What will you do now?" Shepard asked the Shamaness.
"Spread the hope you've given us" she replied. "Even now, there are clans gathering in the Kelphic Valley. I'll go speak to them and make sure this gift isn't squandered. Thank you, both of you, for all that you've done. And know that Urdnot Bakara calls you friends."
-SCENE BREAK-
Normandy II, Deck Two, War Room
"Hell of a thing you just pulled off, Commander" Hackett said. "Curing the genophage… I never thought I'd see the day."
"Wrex has agreed to help the Turians, Admiral. We should get their full support."
"I take it that leaves the Salarians out of the equation."
"The cost of their support was too high, sir."
"Well, I'll defer to your judgment on that, Commander. Let's hope we don't need them. Hackett out."
As the connection cut, Shepard left the QEC to find Victus and Garrus waiting in the main war room.
"Commander, Urdnot Wrex has begun sending troops to Palaven" Victus reported. "You kept your end of the bargain, and now I'll keep mine. The Turian Hierarchy will stand with humanity against the Reapers."
"I'm glad we can help each other out" Shepard replied. "It's the only way we're going to win this."
"That much is certain. To that end, several dry-dock ships are ready to help build the Crucible. Garrus will coordinate them. And when the time comes to deploy it, the full measure of our fleet will be there for Earth. May the spirits watch over us all…"
"I'll start managing Turian support right away, Shepard" Garrus said as Victus left. "You must be exhausted."
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" the Commander replied.
"We both know you need a clear head to win a war. There's no room for mistakes here. You should catch some shut-eye. I'll make sure Joker doesn't launch any suicide missions."
"…Anything happens, you let me know. Just gonna grab a snack before I head off to bed."
Shepard headed out to the elevator, taking it down to the crew deck. In the small mess hall, he found someone he wasn't expecting to see here.
"I'm surprised to see you out here instead of down in your 'hole'" Shepard said.
"The engineers are working something down there" Eve replied. "I don't wanna be down there while humans are moving around… At least up here, I just have to glare at them to make them leave me alone. …That is, until you came right up and helped yourself to a seat beside me."
"One of these days, it's going to sink in with you that the majority of humans aren't like the ones who tortured you; you just got the worst possible first impression."
"Or maybe humans like you, who actually care about others and 'aren't like that', are the minority" she replied with a scowl. "A handful of decent people can't make up for the sins of an entire race."
Shepard sighed. "…The Cybertronians are going to be involved in this war. Will you try to cause trouble?"
"I think a lot of my hate for Optimus Prime was actually 'artificial', implanted into my head by The Fallen's power. It's worn off by now; I'm still pissed at him for killing the one who rescued me, but I don't want him dead for it anymore… Though if he keeps going on being a 'champion' for humanity…"
"So, how does it feel having helped save the Krogan race?"
"It's not like I did much; I got the Doctor out of there alive, but other than that, you and he were the big heroes of the day. But all the same… it felt pretty good…"
"Glad to hear it. I better go."
"See you around… Shepard."
Satisfied that he'd gotten Eve on a name basis instead of a disgust-tinged "human", the Commander started making his way out, snack in hand. Nearing the elevator, he almost bumped into Mordin.
"You're sticking around for a while?" he asked.
"A little while" the Salarian replied. "UNSC Hopeful arriving at Citadel soon. Advanced hospital ship, will provide treatment and aid to soldiers and refugees. Going to volunteer my services with them. Will tag along with Normandy until then."
"Alright, then. I'm going to try to get a little sleep. See you later, Mordin."
-SCENE BREAK-
Realm TFM-7, Sol System, Cybertron
Another sizable Galactic Federation fleet emerged from slipspace, joining the GalFed, SICON, and Cybertronian ships already engaging the Reapers. The Reapers were outnumbered nearly two to one, but they fought on regardless. Thankfully, the fierce resistance was forcing the invaders to focus all their efforts on Cybertron, unable to spare even a single ship to hit the Earth of this Realm further in. The fighting took place on the ground as well; Husks did little against Cybertronians, but the Reapers had managed to hack multiple non-sapient machines and turn them on the Autobots and reformed Decepticons, in addition to landing some Destroyers as well. However, under the leadership of Optimus and Megatron, the defenders were giving the invaders hell.
A Reaper Destroyer toppled over, sparks and flames shooting out of several large holes in its hull. Seconds later, Megatron ripped his way out through one of the holes, his purple optics taking one last look back inside at the monster's 'sapience core' that he had just blasted to bits. He looked up as Starscream flew in.
"Iacon is secure" the air-commander reported. "Prime and Thundercracker managed to push the enemy out of that sector."
"How goes the battle in orbit?" Cybertron's once and again 'Lord High Protector' asked.
"Not too badly, all things considered" Ironhide replied as he walked up. "Our surface-to-orbit cannons are proving invaluable, and the fleets are keeping the Reapers contained for now. They're losing ships faster than we are, but more of them keep coming through the rift."
"Have we figured out a way to force the rift closed yet?"
"Our scientists are working on a way to repurpose the Pillars to do that" Starscream replied. "Wheeljack says they're almost at a breakthrough."
"Let's hope he hurries. After all the trouble we've been through to get Cybertron's restoration going, I am not about to see it ruined by these technorganic monstrosities."
"Megatron, this is Optimus. Wheeljack and his team have finished repurposing the Pillars, but with the current situation in orbit they won't last long enough to close the rift, especially if the Reapers realize what we're doing."
The three 'bots looked up at the flashes of light as the space battle continued. Suddenly, space-time warped as a massive vessel emerged from slipspace – a Sangheili Divinity-class supercarrier, the Eternal Devotion. The 10.7km ship started firing its plasma torpedoes and particle beams at the surprised Reapers, destroying several. The other fleets rallied, pushing back against the Reapers with renewed vigor, adding to the kill-count. Soon, a message from Harbinger came through:
"WITHDRAW FOR NOW. YOU ARE NEEDED ELSEWHERE. YOU WILL RETURN TO THAT REALM AFTER OURS IS FULLY CLEANSED."
As one, the battered Reapers made their exodus, disengaging from space battles and lifting off from the planet's surface. The defending ships and STO cannons harassed them all the way, taking out several more, as the Reapers fled through the warp rift. With space finally clear, the modified Pillars were launched, firing a beam that struck the warp rift and destabilized it, causing it to collapse in on itself, space-time being mended.
"So… Was that it?" Ironhide said.
"That was not a retreat from a battle irrecoverably lost" Megatron observed. "It is more likely they were called back to their Realm to fight elsewhere. But for now, at least, Cybertron is safe again. Once our ships have enacted repairs, we can cross over and join the fight. Let's just hope our allies are doing as well as we have so far…"
-CHAPTER END-
Next Time: We leave Shepard behind for a while to observe some of Delta Squad's adventures in the defense of Equestria.