SEE CHAPTER ONE FOR DISCLAIMERS
PLEASE READ & REVIEW, AND TEND TO THE TROPE PAGES
-CHAPTER START-
Normandy II, Deck Two, CIC
"Commander," Traynor said, "I've found something you need to see."
"What have you got?" Shepard asked.
"A group of Cerberus scientists cut ties and fled. Perhaps they finally realized they were on the wrong side. We don't know what they were researching, but they were among the Illusive Man's top scientists. They could help build the Crucible."
"Maybe we could recruit them. Lots of Cerberus people think they're doing the right thing. I know I did."
"And you were right, Commander. Whatever crimes Cerberus is committing now… I was on Horizon when the Collectors attacked."
"Really?"
"You'll recall I mentioned growing up in the Terminus Systems. I was visiting my family at home. While the Alliance was running studies, you were saving me and my family."
"Has the Alliance tried to make contact with the scientists?"
"They've been unable to find them, but they've been searching… as has Cerberus. I've been monitoring Cerberus communications. I've charted signal frequencies from various Cerberus cells by location and cross-referenced known ship movements…"
"You found them?"
"I believe so, yes."
"Nice work. Put it on the map, and I'll give it a look."
-SCENE BREAK-
Minos Wasteland, Arrae System, Gellix
SCAN: "Gellix was given to the Krogans after the Rachni Wars, but bitterly contested in the Krogan Rebellions and re-conquered by the Turians. This left the Turians as caretakers to a levo-amino-acid-base world that they could not inhabit themselves but were unwilling to give up. In cooperation with the Vol Protectorate, the Turians attempted to rent the planet out for colonization. Between the high price and a surface littered with unexploded ordinance, however, Gellix found few reputable tenants. Its most notable inhabitants were penal colonies. To those who know of it today, Gellix is a symbol of tragic waste - an entire garden world nearly forgotten by the galaxy at large."
CODEX: "Gellix, the second planet in the Arrae system, is a marginally habitable world of mountains and ice. The planet was turned into a human penal colony in 2161, but its prisons shut in 2179 after racking up the worst safety records in the Systems Alliance. Lawsuits are still in the courts. Shortly after the closure of the prisons, a handful of intergalactic corporations moved in to set up mines, supply depots, and other facilities on the planet."
"What's the word?" Shepard asked as the Kodiak carried him, Ashley, Zaeed, and Marie/Gamma-4 over and between the snowy mountains. "Do we know how long these scientists have been holed up here?"
"'Fraid not, Commander" Ashley replied. "Not a lot of intel on this place."
"Sir," Cortez called back, "I'm picking up chatter from a Cerberus squad engaging the supply depot."
"Engaging the scientists?"
"And if I'm reading it right, sounds like more troops are on the way."
"Okay. Set us down, then get out of here. I need those scientists alive."
As the Kodiak flew in, the forward viewscreen showed as heavily armed & armored Cerberus soldiers were exchanging gunfire with scared and cornered scientists wearing plain uniforms that couldn't even protect against a punch, much less a bullet; the amount of fire coming from the defenders was visibly diminishing by the second as they were coldly cut down. The shuttle touched down on a landing pad, and the quartet hopped out.
"Well," Marie said, "here's one reason why Cerberus left this place behind: it's freezing here!"
A pair of Cerberus Troopers came rushing up onto the walkway leading to the landing pad, but before they could take cover to 'properly' engage Team Shepard, a Concussion Missile from Marie's Device and a precision shot from Ashley put them down. They hurried ahead, coming up behind the squad of Cerberus soldiers slowly whittling down the hapless civilians.
"What did these people do to bring this down on their heads?" Shepard said.
Shepard and Zaeed used their sniper rifles to pick off the two Centurions, alerting the other Troopers to their presence. Marie fired a charged Wave-Blast that destroyed the Cerberus shield pylon, while Shepard threw out a Singularity that snatched up three Troopers, leaving them vulnerable to focused assault-rifle fire from Zaeed & Ashley. Marie moved up, firing Dark-Blasts that took out two more, and Shepard took out the remaining three with precise pistol headshots. With the way clear, the team hurried forward. Tragically, it seemed every one of the scientists was dead. However, Shepard heard a cough, and went behind a piece of cover to see a familiar man slumped against it, holding a hand to his midsection.
"Shepard?"
"Jacob? …How bad?"
"I'll live… I think."
"This is Brynn" a woman's voice said over a nearby dropped communicator. "If you can hear me, come in. Is anyone alive out there?"
Shepard walked over to the comm. and retrieved it. "This is Commander Shepard of the Alliance. The enemy is clear for now. Open the door."
"Is Jacob there?"
"It's okay, Brynn" Jacob called out.
After a few seconds, the huge heavy gates began to open. A woman with tan skin was waiting inside, as Shepard helped Jacob in, the others following.
"Jacob! Oh my God…"
"I'm all right. But the others didn't make it."
"What are you doing here?" Shepard asked him.
"I'm supposed to be protecting these people from the Illusive Man and his attack dogs."
"Are they gone?" Brynn asked, a moderate Australian accent to her tone.
"For now" Shepard replied. "But they'll be back." He turned as Jacob winced. "You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah. I'll walk it off. Save my life more than once, and I'll start owing you."
"This one's on the house."
"Shepard, this is Dr. Brynn Cole. She's in charge here."
"Tell me what's going on" Shepard asked her after a handshake. "Intel says you're Cerberus."
"We're all ex-Cerberus scientists, mostly" she replied.
"Civilians?"
"Call us 'refugees'. If we hadn't run, we'd be dead."
"Why does the Illusive Man wanna kill you?"
"Our stories are different, but the themes are the same. We were each using information from the Collector Base to work on the different components of a larger tech. After someone completed their component, they disappeared; no bodies, just… gone. As we progressed, we started feeling like we were signing each other's death warrants."
"The Illusive Man doesn't mess around. If he can't control something, he'll destroy it."
"The brain trust here has to be a significant loss for him" Jacob remarked.
"You had to know they were going to find you."
"It's a pretty smart bunch" Brynn said. "We covered our bases."
"But the Illusive Man is one tenacious bastard" Jacob growled.
The building suddenly shook briefly, an explosion hitting the heavy armor plating up top.
"Time to evacuate" Shepard said.
"Agreed" Jacob replied. "We just need to get the AA guns on the roof back online; Cerberus is jamming them somehow. With those guns down, Cerberus will just blow our escape shuttles out of the sky."
"It might be the network link" Brynn suggested.
"I'll check and meet you upstairs."
"Jacob," Shepard called as the man started walking/limping away, "you really should get that wound looked at."
"I'm good. I mean, I will."
"Commander," Dr. Cole said, "I should see to my people. Join my upstairs when you can."
"You know this Jacob guy?" Ashley asked as Brynn walked away. "More ex-Cerberus?"
"He worked with me to stop the Collectors" Shepard replied.
"He's a decent bloke" Zaeed said to Ashley. "You don't wanna know what his dad got up to, though."
The quartet headed left, up a short flight of stairs. And near the door, working at a console, they saw a familiar face… one that they were very much not happy to see; Marie actually growled, sounding more like a dog ready to bite someone's throat out.
"Commander Shepard – Dr. Gavin Archer. We… met on Project Overlord."
"That's one way of putting it…" Shepard glared at the man, crossing his arms.
"Yes, well… After you took my brother to Grissom Academy, I tried putting all that behind me. I don't suppose you have any news from there? I've heard rumors the academy is in trouble."
"We were there" Marie said. "Cerberus tried abducting the students, and they got some of 'em, but David wasn't one; he's safe."
"Oh, thank God…" Dr. Archer visibly relaxed, relief flooding across his features. "You have no idea what that means to me."
"It's a little late to start worrying about his safety now" Shepard said crossly.
"I never stopped. I know you think I'm a monster. And you're absolutely right. Not a day goes by where my thoughts and dreams aren't… haunted by what I did to David. All I can do now is hope that one day he forgives me."
"What are you doing here?"
"I strayed too far from the path. This was my only refuge. As a boy, I wanted to be a scientist remembered for doing right by the world – curing a disease, or discovering a new element. Not a monster who tortured his own brother…"
"What happened to Project Overlord?"
"After your intervention, the Illusive Man insisted I find another test subject, someone who shared my brother David's 'abilities'. I couldn't bear the thought of reliving that nightmare. So I destroyed all my research. Overlord is no more."
"What did you say to the Illusive Man?"
"I told him, if his intention was to work with the devil, he only had to look in the mirror. I wanted out of his nightmare."
"He just let you go?"
"If it had been that easy, I wouldn't be hiding here. Every Cerberus soldier in the galaxy has orders to shoot me on sight."
"I have to go, and I'm not even gonna pretend it was good to see you again."
"I understand. But Commander… Thank you for saving David. Both times."
Moving on, they passed through the nearby doors and then up a few flights of stairs, reaching the command center; before them, Dr. Cole was speaking with another scientist.
"…And make sure those samples from Project Mia get out on the second shuttle" she told him.
"I've already dropped one box," he said, "my hands were shaking so hard."
"We're going to make it."
The man nodded and then walked off.
"What's the status of the guns?" Shepard asked Brynn.
"Still waiting; I have my best people on it."
"How many scientists are here?" Shepard asked as he and Dr. Cole walked along, the other three following.
"43, plus research assistants."
"How'd you keep under the radar with so many people?" Zaeed asked.
"When you fear for your life, there's a lot you can do."
"Brynn," another male scientist came up, "I can't possibly dismantle the genetic amplification components in time."
"I'm sorry, Dr. Braynar. It's important work, but right now you need to tend to your family."
"Wait," Shepard spoke up, "there are families here? Children?"
"That just upped the ante…" Ashley remarked.
"So these refugees brought everyone with them…"
"Yes" Brynn replied. "We have about 17 kids here, partners, spouses, parents… I promised these people refuge, a new life free from Cerberus. I just never imagined the Illusive Man would…"
"That's what evil counts on, that it's hard for good people to imagine. …Okay. Everyone left gets out of here alive. This escape will have to be carefully executed."
"I'd hoped… We tried so hard to make sure it wouldn't come to this."
Jacob walked/limped up, still holding a hand to his midsection.
"What's the news?" Shepard asked him.
"Can't tell" Jacob replied. "I only know I can't fix it from here. I'm going to the roof. Cerberus landed a shuttle up there a couple minutes ago. You in?"
"Jacob, you're injured. Ash, Zaeed, Marie, and I will fix the guns."
"No way. These are my people. I'm going."
"Just because you survived one suicide mission doesn't mean you get two."
"…Fine. But I'm going to talk you through it from here. Cerberus is probably jamming the satellite link. Radio me when you've found the controls, and I'll give you the override code."
"Will do."
Shepard then escorted Jacob to the medbay, and the doctor there promptly got to work.
"So how've you been?" Shepard asked. "Y'know, besides the bullet wound, I mean."
"This is crazy. I wasn't sure I'd ever see you again."
"I know the feeling. So how'd you become a gun for hire?"
"Long story. It was an opportunity I couldn't resist for people I came to care about."
"You seem good. You look good."
"These are great people. Defending their ideals… I like that. I think I've found what I'm meant to do."
"So how exactly did you end up here?"
"After we got back… well, things look different when you come back alive from a 'suicide mission'. So, I quit Cerberus. I quit everything, and sat by the Mediterranean for a while. That's when I lost track of you."
"And what did all the fresh air and meditation teach you?"
"That what I choose to fight for had better mean something to me – that it comes from the heart."
"We could sure use you."
"It's real tempting, Shepard, but I like where I'm at. I'm important to these people. I want a life. I want a family."
"Sure. I get that."
"No, Shepard. The Normandy's your real love."
"Doesn't mean I don't wanna say 'to hell with it' sometimes. …Anything on Cerberus I should know about?"
"The Illusive Man became obsessed with indoctrination. I know that. You ever wonder how it all went wrong? I mean… was I blind? I remember him being an idealist. How come I couldn't see the evil?"
"Don't beat yourself up. And if you ever get that crystal ball working, give me a heads-up, 'cause I'd love to know how this all plays out. So, how long have you known Brynn?"
"We met through a mutual friend in the Mumbai cell; guess I've known her a year. We had a lot in common… Then she came to me about her missing colleagues – asked for my protection, my help finding a place to run to. How could I say no?"
"Who is she to you?"
"We're… together."
"And you run this enclave with her. You settling down, Jacob?"
"Yeah… maybe. It's just… If these are our final days, I wanna spend them protecting these people – building a life… whatever's left of it."
"Hmm. I should focus on getting these people out of here."
"You bet. Let's get to it."
Team Shepard headed out through the back door, making their way up a ladder to the roof.
"Kids, old folks, and eggheads…" Zaeed grumbled as he climbed. "Woulda been a goddamn massacre if we hadn't shown up."
Reaching the roof, they quietly crept to the opening that led outside. Right up ahead, an Engineer and a Centurion were gathered around a shield pylon. Shepard hit the pylon with an Overload, and the released energy arced into the two nearby Cerberus soldiers, heavily depleting their shields; sniper shots from Ashley and Zaeed put them down. As the team mantled over an air conditioning duct and moved out into the sunlight, a few Troopers emerged to bar their path, but Marie used Power-Bolt shots to gun them down.
Up ahead, in an alcove, an Engineer was working on a machine of some sort at the base of a satellite dish. A barrage of Disruptor-Ammo assault rifle rounds from Zaeed cut him down before he could get into cover, but then a Centurion and two Troopers dropped in from above with their jet-boots. Shepard's SMG and Marie's Power-Blast shots took down the shielded leader, while Ashley and Zaeed gunned down the standard troops. With the way clear, Shepard got to work on what Cerberus had been messing with, fixing the problem easily.
"Jacob? Dish should be back online now."
"Affirmative, but the guns are still down. You'll need to manually activate them. Head back to the front of the facility."
The team was currently on the roof at the 'back' of the facility. Looking back towards the 'front, they saw two elevated portions, connected by a 'bridge', with anti-aircraft guns visible atop. They started making their way, but as they climbed up onto a higher portion of the roof, Cerberus forces started coming out of the woodwork. Shepard's first act was to destroy another shield pylon, ridding a pack of Troopers of their protection and leaving them vulnerable to a pair of frag grenades from Zaeed that took out all but two of them, who in turn were finished off by Shepard's pistol.
Moving forward, four more Troopers were joined by an additional four by a Cerberus Kodiak that dropped in and unloaded them. Shepard tossed out a Singularity that 'grabbed' three and then a Warp to destabilize and rip them apart, while Marie fired three Seeker Concussion Missiles that took out three more, the last two falling to Ashley's fire. As the team climbed up over another divider on the roof, a manned heavy turret on the corner edge of the right-hand AA structure started firing, forcing them into cover. Zaeed tried to lean out and snipe the bastard, but the shot bounced off the heavy plating-shield on the front of the gun, and the return fire forced the old merc back into cover. Marie then sent out a barrage of Crossfire Shot bolts, the purplish mana blasts flying out in very wide arcs, shooting past the turret and then curving back around and slamming into the gunner from behind; their being set to 'physical' damage meant the one that hit him in the back of the skull put him down for good.
Hurrying forward onto the forward-most portion of the roof, they climbed the sole available ladder on the left-hand AA-gun structure. Moving to the guns' power system, Shepard was able to quickly get it up & running again. However, the guns wouldn't fire until both systems were online. With that in mind, they hurried across the bridge to the other guns, but here the junction had some damage.
"Well, now what?" Ashley said.
"…Ah, I recognize this model" Zaeed chimed in. "Don't look too bad here… Gimme a couple, an' I'll have 'em up & running again."
"I didn't know you knew how to repair this kinda stuff, Zaeed" Shepard remarked.
"I don't, for most. But about seven years ago I was on a job defendin' against a siege, and we had this model of an AA gun system. Junction got slagged, I got to escort a techie while he fixed it. Halfway through, he took a bullet in the hand, so he had to talk me through the rest of it. This doesn't look as bad as that one did. Might wanna keep the Cerbies off me while I'm working, though; I'm not keen on losin' my hand today."
"Dibs on the turret!" Marie called out quickly, returning her Device to its inactive gauntlet form so she could grab the big gun's controls with both hands.
It was less than 10 seconds before the first Cerberus Kodiak flew in, dropping a handful of troops off on the adjacent rooftop. Marie grinned as she spun up the heavy turret and fired, heavy-caliber bullets tearing the hapless soldiers apart in seconds. Another Kodiak dropped more hostiles off down below, and Shepard & Ashley put their sniper rifles to good use, taking them out one by one the moment their feet touched the ground. This continued over the next few minutes, sniper fire and heavy turret rounds tearing apart any Cerberus troops that were dropped in; even Phantoms didn't get a chance to cloak or get in close before being cut down. Finally, Zaeed was finished with his task.
"There we go!" the old merc said. "One complete set of AA guns, ready to give Cerberus a bad day."
"Alright," Shepard said, "now let's get these people out of here."
-Break-
"Okay," Shepard said as he and his team entered the base control room, "the guns are already picking Cerberus aircraft out of the sky. Where are we at?"
"On track" Jacob replied. "The first shuttle is already loaded with everyone under 16."
"Commander, when should we leave?" Brynn asked. "What's our best chance for survival?"
"Jacob, what do you think?" Shepard asked. "Are we ready?"
"Almost; we could go now, but there's no do-overs."
"Agreed. We get one shot. …Alright. Let's do this."
He walked over to the command console and hit the big blue button. A VI sounded out the evacuation's commencement, and down below the heavy main doors slid open. The AA guns sprang to life, shooting down Mantis gunships and shuttles, clearing a path. The first evac shuttle then made a break for it, and the people cheered as the craft full of children & teens successfully broke for orbit and the safety of the waiting Normandy.
"All right!" Shepard called out to the scientists. "Everyone here head to the shuttle bay and-"
Suddenly, there was a muffled explosion as the base shook.
"Suicide fighter took out one of the guns!" a scientist manning a console said. "Cerberus troops are-"
Everyone startled and dove for cover as one of the windows shattered.
"Get these people out of here!" Shepard ordered Jacob, as he and his team made ready.
As Jacob and the scientists ran, three Cerberus Troopers dropped in through the broken window. Shepard hit them with a Singularity before they could spread out, leaving them easy pickings for a few Concussion Missiles from Marie.
"Attention:" the base VI announced, "shuttle bay doors have been breached."
"Shepard, shuttles are loaded" Jacob radioed. "We need you at the landing area to make sure they get away!"
Team Shepard hurried down the stairs until they reached the shuttle bay; the doors were shut again, and Shuttle #2 was waiting for take-off. Unfortunately, a handful of Cerberus Troopers were in the way. Zaeed fired a Concussive Shot at one who'd been about to shoot at the shuttle's engines, knocking him over a nearby railing. Marie fired charged Power-Blast shots to take out two more, and Shepard's SMG & Ashley's assault rifle handled the rest.
The main doors opened, and Shuttle 2 zoomed away to safety. A multitude of Cerberus troops were waiting outside for Team Shepard, with barricades and shield pylons set up; Shepard and Marie prioritized, using Overloads and Wave-Blast shots to destroy the pylons, while Zaeed and Ashley started gunning down the enemy soldiers. The team moved forward a little, using metal crates and barricades as cover as they held back the storm. Over the next several minutes, they stood firm against waves of Cerberus hostiles, while shuttles full of refugees took off one by one. Toward the end, Phantoms started showing up, and in response Marie started using stuff besides her Device's basic attacks, firing Super-Missiles or even ki/chakra-based attacks.
"There she goes!" Zaeed shouted as the last refugee shuttle finally passed by and climbed up into the sky.
"Shepard, heads up!" Jacob radioed. "Civvies are away, but the place is overrun! We gotta go! Headed to you with the shuttle."
Just then, an Atlas dropped in on the landing pad straight ahead. Marie injected a mana cartridge into her Device and then let loose with Charon's Wave-Blast mode's boosted attack, a continuous stream of purple electrical energy. The Atlas' shields were brought down in seconds, though the attack ended and cut off before it could destroy the mech itself. Now damaged, the Atlas fired its cannon to keep Marie's head down, while gunfire from the three others' automatic weapons chipped away at its heavy armor. Once she got an opportunity, Marie fired a charged Light-Blast shot at the cockpit canopy, cracking it open. A sniper's round then tore through the hole and the pilot's skull, courtesy of Ashley, and the Atlas toppled over backward.
One last friendly shuttle emerged from the hangar, being pursued by a very large number of Cerberus soldiers. As it set down on the landing pad, Team Shepard fell back toward it, while dodging and exchanging fire with the hostile troopers. Another Atlas dropped in, and as Shepard made a run for the shuttle the mech fired its cannon, the blast going off right behind him and blowing him off his feet. Jacob leapt out of the shuttle and fired several carefully-aimed Avenger shots at an explosive generator that was right near where the Atlas was walking, knocking the heavy mech off-balance so much it almost fell over. Using this opportunity, Jacob and Zaeed then helped Shepard to his feet and pulled him into the shuttle. The doors slid shut, and the old-modal Kodiak shot off into the sky, small-arms fire pinging off its armored hide.
"Out by the skin of our teeth again, eh Shepard?" Jacob remarked.
"Nice to see you back in action" Shepard replied.
"I was afraid we wouldn't get anyone out alive," Dr. Cole spoke up, "but because of you we got almost everyone. Thank you."
"Dr. Cole, I have a request – one that you can't afford to turn down. The coalition needs technical help against the Reapers; in particular, we're building a giant superweapon, and we need every tech-specialist we can get to help."
"Without a doubt; I'm at your service. And I'm sure you can count on the others as well."
"You too, Jacob. I need you."
"Of course" the man said. "But I wouldn't mind staying with these folks."
"Keep them safe, then. The Alliance needs the Crucible."
"You got it."
"All right. Report to Admiral Hackett for assignment."
"You know, Commander," Brynn said, "I've never met anyone like you. I just feel better knowing you're on our side."
"Shepard," Jacob added, "when this is over, drinks are on me. Be safe out there."
-Break-
Normandy II, Deck Two, QEC Room
"Admiral, I'm sending you a large team of scientists."
"I have the dossier" Hackett replied.
"They're all Cerberus defectors. Keep them and their families safe."
"Will do, and I'll put them straight to work on the Crucible."
"Jacob Taylor is with them, and is already working to find a place for the families."
"He'll be a valuable asset as well. Snagging Dr. Cole from the Illusive Man is a coup. Having her on our side could be a huge win for us."
"The sooner we get the Crucible finished, the better I'll feel."
"I'm with you on that. But in the meantime, I need you to investigate something. Ever since the war began, the Quarians and Geth have been making hit-and-run strikes on the Reapers and Cerberus, while they prepare the bulk of their militaries for war. But recently, something's gone amiss; they've stopped their attacks, and we can't get a hold of them. I want you to go and find out what's happening. The DDF will be sending a fleet to assist, just in case – mostly TSAB, but one of the Alicorn dreadnoughts as well. Hopefully, you won't need that much firepower, but just in case you do…"
"We'll head there right away, Admiral."
"Good. Hackett out."
-SCENE BREAK-
Silean Nebula, Kypladon System, Cyone
Scan: "This garden world's claim to military fame is that it was assaulted repeatedly during the Krogan Rebellions, but never occupied by more than token forces. The Asari cut off the Krogan supply line at the Citadel relay and drove the invaders out. Today, antimatter generators on the surface and in orbital stations provide fuel for military starships throughout Asari space. The matriarchs defending the planet today have vowed to maintain Cyone's legacy - they pledge it will fall to no enemy, organic or synthetic."
Codex: "Cyone, a fortified world under the protection of several Asari matriarchs, has begun to supply fuel to Systems Alliance forces in the hope that an Asari-human partnership might prevent the Reapers from seizing the planet. Alliance forces have since established several outposts in the system. The humans and Asari have been joined by a small detachment of Turians, drawn from the private militia of a corporate conglomerate that does business with Cyone. The three species are so determined to defend Cyone that integration issues have been negligible. The task force has already thrown back several Reaper attacks, although the commanders express concern that small Reaper forces could have slipped through despite their vigilance."
A DD77H-TCI 'Pelican' dropship descended through Cyone's skies. At the controls was a woman in white light armor, while in the passenger bay waited six armored soldiers, three male and three female, in armors of black, light-blue, brown, purple, dark-blue, and tan. The mission's commander came up to the cockpit – Michelle 'Mick' Church, better known as 'Agent Carolina'. The face of the UNSC's kingpin appeared on a holo-screen.
"Agent," FADM Hood said, "around 72 hours ago, the reactors at a joint Turian/Asari fuel depot went offline. Scans of the station are cold; it's deserted."
"What happened to the troops stationed there?" Carolina asked.
"We don't know. But no fuel means no fleet presence by the Asari, Turians, or Alliance in this theater. The enemy will be able to operate nearly unchecked. We need you & your team to get in there, find out what's going on, and get those reactors back online. The Systems Alliance's Marine Captain Riley is on-sight, doing preliminary recon; she leads one of the Alliance's top engineering teams."
"We'll figure this out, sir."
"Glad to hear it. Hood out."
As the transmission cut, she moved back into the troop bay, where Agents Texas, Connecticut, North Dakota, Florida, and New York were making ready; Washington was currently working with 'Team Gulch' on a different assignment.
"Alright," she told them, "we have to get the reactors down there back online, and figure out why they went offline in the first place. There's an engineering team waiting for us. Make sure your suits' seals are working tight; expect radiation."
-Break-
The six ex-Freelancers (they and Wash had actually been slated to be inducted into the Spartan-4 program, before the Reaper War began and forced that to be put on hold) were met by a Turian as they exited the elevator.
"Captain Riley is on point waiting for you" he told them.
Maneuvering through the empty reactor facility, they were struck by how quiet it was, the lack of sounds from any machinery. A lower level was up ahead, but scans showed it to be so irradiated that even their suits wouldn't protect them. Nearby, close to a control terminal, a woman in full-body red armor was overseeing another soldier's working on the terminal.
"Captain Riley?" Florida asked.
"Lancer Squad, huh?" she replied. "I'm looking forward to seeing if you live up to your reputation.
"D, anything on this facility?" York asked.
"It is a dual-reactor system," Delta replied as he appeared, "so two teams will be necessary. Both reactors' fuel rods must be unlocked before reactivation of the reactors can be performed."
"Got it!" the man at the console said, as a large metal crate blocking the way was finally moved aside by a crane.
"Ready your team to hit Reactor Two, Captain" Carolina told Riley.
They found another crane control terminal, and North used it to move a few more heavy crates around, clearing a path and enabling Riley's team to proceed.
"Somethin' bad went down here…" C.T. said quietly, looking around at the silent and empty facility.
Lancer Squad moved on along the upper level, soon coming across the ventilation control terminal. Tex activated it, and the highly advanced ventilation system soon had the lower level flushed clean of radioactive toxins, allowing both teams to proceed. They hopped down to the lower level, and Florida hit the terminal to unlock the rods.
"Fuel rods unlocked here" Riley reported. "Wait a minute… We've got movement inbound."
"Same here" Tex replied, drawing her shotgun. "Here comes the fun, people; get ready!"
From behind them, Husks began to emerge and rush forward. Carolina's plasma rifles and Connecticut's assault rifle started chewing into them, with Tex's and York's shotguns pitching in once they were closer. Meanwhile, North and Florida used their DMRs to pick off a Marauder further back, overwhelming its shields and blowing its synthetic brains out. A few more Husks threw themselves futilely at Lancer Squad before the flow stopped.
"Riley, status?" Carolina asked.
"One casualty, but we're clear here."
"WARNING: COOLANT LEAKS DETECTED," the base's VI reported, "REACTORS ONE AND TWO. SYSTEM RESTART IMPOSSIBLE."
"I can see it on scanners, guys" Four-Seven-Niner radioed. "You'll both have to seal all the moderator tanks."
"We see the Reactor Two tanks" Riley said. "Moving to seal."
The squad followed a nav-point to Reactor One's tanks, and York did his thing, quickly sealing one tank and then heading down a ramp to the other. Finally, they approached the main control terminal, and Delta got to work, initiating the restart.
"Guys," Theta popped up, "there's a lot of movement heading our way, and Captain Riley's way!'
"Here it comes again…" North muttered.
Everyone got ready as another Husk rush ensued, with bullets, shotgun shells, and plasma bolts cutting the cyber-zombies down. CT took fire from above, battering her shields, but North quickly sniped the Marauder hiding in the rafters above, the headless body falling to the floor far below. Another Marauder attacked from the left, and York used his new Omnitool to overload the Turian Husk's shields, leaving it exposed for Florida to shoot down, while Tex threw a frag grenade to take out four Husks. Three more Marauders made up the last push; one fell to concentrated fire from Carolina, the plasma bolts stripping its shields and burning through its 'flesh'; the second fell for CT's hologram and left itself open to a shotgun blast from Texas; and the third was Overloaded and shotgunned by York.
"Lancer Squad, we are being overrun! Position indefensible; we're not gonna make it!"
"I'll go to them!" Tex said. "Meet you guys by the exit!"
As Texas ran off to help Capt. Riley, the doors to the inner reactor opened up, and a Brute came lumbering out. The super-Husk roared and then charged at the five ex-Freelancers, sending them scattering to avoid being smashed. Shotgun blasts from York and high-powered rifle shots from North and Florida bit into its thick hide, but it swung its mighty claw, forcing York to roll away.
"Really regretting not bringing a grav-hammer for this op…" Carolina remarked.
The beast rushed at North, only for several interlocking hexagonal barriers to spring up in its path, blocking its charge and claw-swing from hitting York. CT moved in next, sending out a hologram to briefly distract and disorient the monster, and taking advantage of the moment to drop a grenade at its feet. The Brute roared and stumbled as the concussive force and high-velocity shrapnel tore into its underside. Carolina blasted it in the face with sustained plasma-rifle fire, taking out one of its eyes, and then DMR fire from North and Florida took out its kneecaps. Finally, a point-blank shotgun round from York blew its damaged head apart.
"You're clear for now, guys," Four-Seven-Niner radioed, "but I can't raise Riley or Tex. But… I'm tracking some movement toward the pickup point; finish the restart and get there."
York moved over to the console, and he & Delta quickly got the reactor up and running, the sound of thrumming power filling the area. With the objective complete, they made their way back to the exit; there, Tex was waiting with Riley and one of her squad.
"Alright," Carolina said, "mission accomplished. Let's head back for now."
-CHAPTER END-
Next Time: Rannoch. And remember, in the final, 'Bonus' chapter of Book 26, the Quarians and Geth made peace. How might this, and the presence of DDF forces, change things?