Teana's Travels Book 27: Invasion

by D.K.N

After around three months of peace following the closing of the Malia issue, the Dimensional Defense Force's rest is violently cut short as the Reapers arrive in force, ravaging Realm ME-N7 and using warp-gates to hit a few DDF worlds outside that realm as well. Can Commander Shepard unite the galaxy, rally the fleets, and stop the slaughter? Rated M for violence and language.

23. Omega's Queen vs Cerberus' Bishop

SEE CHAPTER ONE FOR DISCLAIMERS

PLEASE READ & REVIEW, AND TEND TO THE TROPE PAGES

-CHAPTER START-

The Citadel, Presidium Commons

Before Commander Shepard could meet with Aria's man, he had a few other matters to attend to here on the Citadel. And so, he entered an unmarked room on the Presidium to find a certain ex-Cerberus-turned-ONI agent waiting for him.

"I got your message, Miranda" he said. "Is this about your sister?"

"Shepard," Lawson replied, "I need access to Alliance resources. I can't say anymore. You'll have to trust me."

"…You'll have your access, Miranda. But I don't like the sound of this."

"I know, and thank you. It means a lot. …I need to confess something to you, Shepard. When I headed the Lazarus Project to 'rebuild' you, I wanted to implant a control chip in you as a safeguard."

"I think you mentioned this before."

"I did. There's more to it. The Illusive Man stopped me."

"Sounds like it would have saved him a lot of trouble."

"Maybe. But he didn't want to interfere with who you truly were. He didn't just want something that just obeyed orders. He wanted Commander Shepard. Installing the chip might have ruined you."

"I can understand why you wanted to. I was a complete unknown."

"I've never had to deal with that many black boxes on a project. I felt blind."

"Why bring that up now?"

"I fought against my father and his need to run every aspect of my life. He wanted total control over me, right down to my bloody DNA. After I got out of there, I couldn't stand by and let it happen to my sister. I risked my life to get her away from all that. Yet I didn't give a second thought to destroying your free will when I had the power."

"This is what's been bothering you?"

"Yes…"

"Miranda, I lost two years of my life. You gave me back the rest of it. You could have taken everything from me, made me a prisoner. But you didn't. I don't know how, but you brought me back."

"Thanks. But with so much being uncertain, I just wanted you to know I always regretted wanting that chip."

"You can't keep beating yourself up over the past."

"I usually don't, but this was important."

"Some things you just don't have control over."

"Guess my fancy genetics can't help me there…"

He smirked. "No, they can't."

"…Okay. I hate to say it, but I have to get moving. Thanks for understanding, Shepard."

"Of course. And Miranda? This thing you have to do… Good luck."

"Don't worry, Shepard. I always have a plan."

-Break-

Docking Bay Area 42

After running a few more 'errands' – hanging out with Garrus at the top of the Presidium (and deliberately missing his next shot so his Turian friend could have something to brag about), meeting Javik in the Embassies (and convincing the old soldier to make his 'speech' more inspiring than it had started out as), and checking on Cortez in the Purgatory club, Shepard finally headed to Bay 42. Near a refugee waiting area, a Batarian in black armor was waiting.

"Are you Bray?" Shepard asked.

"The great Commander Shepard…" the Batarian said with a little smirk. "And me without my autograph book."

"Save it. Just take me to Aria."

"Follow me."

Shepard followed Bray over to the small parking-lot area and bridge that connected the docking bay area to an elevator. Bray took position leaning back against the railing, and right on cue a fancy dull-gold skycar hovered up from below right behind him. The car's door/hatch opened, revealing a Batarian driver and the Asari 'queen of Omega' herself. Shepard got into the back-seat passenger seat beside Aria, while Bray took the front seat next to the driver.

"Aria…" Shepard remarked. "How dramatic."

"There are too many eyes and ears in Purgatory" Aria replied as the car closed up and took off, flying along the air-route that circled the docks.

"I assume this is about retaking Omega?"

"This is about your war, Shepard. Cerberus controlling the Terminus Systems seriously bolsters their mobility. Since taking Omega, they've spread through the galaxy. Surely the Alliance has noticed."

"Cut to the chase. What's your plan?"

"Kick them out. I've amassed a fleet of merc ships. We're going to punch through enemy lines and invade. Once we're on Omega, it's a ground war. That's why I want you – I only accept the best." On her datapad, she called up a picture of a man with short, square-cut hair and a moustache & goatee. "The leader of the Cerberus occupation is General Oleg Petrovsky. He's the one who… ousted me."

"I don't know him" Shepard said as he looked at the data.

"He's the Illusive Man's top military strategist and best-kept secret. But all you really need to know is that he's a merciless bastard."

"What's your intel on the occupation?"

"Petrovsky's army is massive, and he's got Omega locked tight. The information stops there."

"So you're winging it."

"Not at all. There are secrets on Omega only I know, secrets that will provide us a foothold. I can tell you this: Petrovsky's invasion was precise and ruthless. He'll stop at nothing to win."

"Sounds familiar."

Aria scowled. "Shepard, I know my reputation. I know I'm hated. I ruled Omega with an iron fist. But the people were free. Their lives were theirs. I preserved that. This man took all that away, and he is going to pay. …When Omega is mine again, I'll give you everything. I've got ships, mercs, eezo – all yours for the war."

"What's the catch?"

"I have… objections to some of the company you keep, so you'll have to leave the Normandy and its crew behind."

"Can I bring just two along? They know Omega inside and out, and they don't like Cerberus any more than you do. Mordin Solus and Archangel…?"

After a few seconds of thought, Aria sighed. "Alright, fine. But just those two."

"Understood."

Aria leaned forward and nodded to the Batarian driver, and he pulled in to the parking area of Docking Bay D24.

"Bray will provide coordinates to my fleet" Aria said. "Oh, and while we're still on the Citadel, please be discreet."

-SCENE BREAK-

Aria's Hidden Fleet, Command Ship (Captured Cerberus Heavy Cruiser)

Three people – Commander Shepard, an old white-armored Salarian, and a Turian in blue armor with matching helmet – entered the bridge of the flagship, to find Aria in conversation with her naval second-in-command over the comm.

"We're out-shipped four to one," the other Asari was reporting, "and most of our vessels are transports with limited firepower."

"We're not here to win a space battle, Jarral" Aria replied. "We just have to punch through their line." She turned and noticed Shepard's group. "Ah, the guests of honor have arrived. We can finally start. A pleasure seeing you again, Dr. Solus."

"Likewise" the old Salarian replied. "Was working on UNSC Hopeful. Shepard contacted, asked if I wanted to liberate Omega from Cerberus. After time spent working there, helping people, couldn't say no."

"And I went to too much trouble to protect Omega's citizens from thugs & gangs to let them all be rounded up for Spirits-know-what by Cerberus" Garrus chimed in.

"Let me guess" Shepard said as Aria called up a holographic display of Omega Station and the surrounding asteroids. "You're planning on infiltrating the enemy fleet."

"Exactly. We position ourselves to strike a crippling blow, and then my forces join the fun."

"A lot could go wrong."

"This assault's been planned for weeks, Shepard. For now, just sit back and let me steer."

"Not the best start to our partnership, Aria."

"How things begin isn't nearly as important as how they end. …Bray, move through the relay. Signal the fleet to wait. They only follow on my command."

-Break-

Sahrabarik System

The lone Cerberus heavy cruiser emerged through the system's Mass Relay, making a steady approach toward the mushroom-shaped station. Besides numerous asteroids, a sizable fleet of Cerberus warships was also stationed around Omega. Inside the new arrival's bridge, Aria looked over the holo-display.

"Head for the command ship" she ordered.

As the commandeered vessel coasted forward, Cerberus' traffic control took notice.

"Cruiser, I don't have you on the flight plan. Identify yourself."

Aria nodded, and Bray initiated the playback of a recorded message:

"This is Captain Lentz; run voice recognition: alpha, tango, zed. We took damage. Seeking repairs."

"Identity confirmed, Captain. Hold for approach authorization."

"How'd you get the captain to say that?" Shepard asked.

"The hard way" Aria replied.

The commandeered heavy cruiser continued its leisurely approach, slipping past other Cerberus warships.

"That's right," Aria said, "nice and slow…"

Soon, the Cerberus command ship came into view – a dreadnought-class vessel, currently with its shields down.

"Be patient," Shepard told Bray, "get as close as you can…"

Several seconds of quiet and anticipation, and then…

"Fire!" Aria ordered.

The ship's forward guns opened up on the Cerberus dreadnought, catching it unawares and punching several holes into its superstructure; explosions chained through the now-crippled vessel as Aria's flagship zoomed past.

"Signal the fleet through the relay!" she ordered.

A few seconds later, a multitude of ships emerged through the Omega Relay – human, Turian, and Asari designs, all painted in Aria's colors. They moved to engage the Cerberus force, and the enemy group did likewise.

"We're through. Head straight for the station."

"We're being hailed by the General" Bray reported.

"Should be interesting. Put him through."

The central hologram changed to that of Oleg Petrovsky, dressed in an impeccably Cerberus officer's uniform, arms crossed.

"Aria. I knew this had to be you. You'll never make it. Call it off now."

"You're barking up the wrong tree, General, but maybe you can convince my partner…"

"Commander Shepard? I've heard great things about you."

"My partner here doesn't have much to say for you" Shepard replied.

"She's not used to being defeated; it clouds her judgment. A pity you left Cerberus, Shepard. We all sabotage ourselves in nefarious ways. Perhaps deep down you fear success. And Aria clearly thinks seeing you will unsettle me. Now it's my turn. …I see you've gone to the trouble of augmenting that ship with Silaris armor. An exorbitant waste… I've made improvements to Omega's outer defenses. My cannons will cut through you at will."

"He sounds pretty confident…" Garrus murmured.

"Yeah, he does…" Aria replied.

"So, again, I say turn back."

"…Let's see what you've got, Oleg. End transmission."

The hologram cut out, replaced with the one of Omega and its surroundings.

"That went well. Set preset course – we're ramming the station. Everyone brace for impact."

"Wait, what?"

"Omega's kinetic barriers will stop my ships from landing" Aria explained as crewmen rushed about. "I equipped this cruiser with disruptors to take it out on impact. …Don't worry. We'll probably survive the crash."

Omega's new autoguns finally came online, revealing themselves to be Thanix-type weapons. Crimson 'beams' shot out, as Cerberus and mercenary ships exchanged fire all around the station. One 'beam' cut across the flagship's top rear, and the ship shuddered violently. More hits followed.

"Shields gone!" Bray reported. "All systems failing!"

"We can make it!"

"Aria, don't be stupid!" Shepard said. "Sound the evac!"

Explosions began tearing through the ship, and Aria growled.

"Damn it! Program escape pods for the station!"

"Let's go, people!" Garrus shouted. "Everyone, we're abandoning ship! Move, move, move!"

Crewmen leapt out of their seats and scrambled for the escape pods. Team Shepard followed Aria through a red-lit hallway as explosions shook the ship and tore through the corridor. Mercenaries of all types piled into escape pods, with Aria and Team Shepard boarding one along with an Asari, Vorcha, and human.

"Guess that asshole really did upgrade Omega's outer defenses" Aria remarked as she and the others tightened their safety harnesses.

"So it would seem" Shepard replied as their pod launched. The now-crippled ship's momentum carried it forward, and it slammed into the center of Omega's 'stalk'.

"Similar to STG mission 12 years ago!" Mordin remarked as the pod rocketed through space toward Omega. "Of course, pirates didn't have Thanix cannons or fleet nearly as big as Cerberus'!"

Soon the pod punched through Omega's hull, coming to rest inside a Cerberus-controlled hangar bay. As Cerberus troops moved toward it, weapons drawn, Shepard leapt out and landed amongst a fireteam of them, releasing a powerful pulse of Biotic power that sent them flying in all directions. Aria, Mordin, and the male human merc came out next, Predator pistols taking out a handful more Cerberus troopers. Garrus and the other two mercs followed, dealing with the rest of the nearby hostiles quickly enough, and everyone hurried into cover as more Cerberus forces further in the hangar opened fire.

"Hope the other escape pods made it…" Aria remarked.

"All right," Shepard said, "what's our target?"

"We need to hit the Defense System Station, shut down Omega's outer defenses so my ships can land. If we don't, they'll be blown to bits like we were." She leaned out and blasted a Cerberus soldier with her Disciple shotgun.

Cerberus troopers pressed their attack, taking out the Vorcha merc. Garrus took out a few more Cerberus soldiers, but the enemy was still keeping them pinned.

"This is what I brought you for, Shepard:" Aria said, "Ground assault."

Shepard leaned out and hit a Centurion with Overload, stripping his shields and leaving him open to a headshot from Garrus' Phaeston rifle. Mordin hit one Trooper with an Incinerate and then gunned him down as he flailed, while the human merc took out two more Troopers only to take a round through the brain from a third; the Cerberus trooper who'd killed him was promptly slammed by a Biotic shockwave from Aria that broke his neck. Garrus fired a Concussive Shot that wounded and knocked over a de-shielded Centurion who was then killed by the Asari merc, and Shepard tossed out a Singularity that grabbed three Troopers who were then killed by precise shotgun blasts from Aria. Finally, the last Cerberus soldier – another Centurion – was brought down by Garrus and Mordin. With the immediate area finally clear, Shepard moved up to the blast door controls on the far side of the room. He hit them, and the heavy doors straight ahead started to lower.

"Aria to fleet. You alive out there?"

"Barely" Jarral replied. "We're holding our own with the Cerberus fleet, but Omega's defenses are shredding us!"

"Keep my army intact, Jarral. That is your only job."

The blast doors finished opening to reveal another section of the hangar, populated with another three Cerberus soldiers – two Guardians and a Centurion. Garrus fired a Mantis round that passed through the tiny viewing port in the front of a Guardian's shield and then said Guardian's skull, while Shepard Biotically yanked the other Guardian's shield away so Aria could blast him with her shotgun. The Asari merc weakened the Centurion's shields some, and Garrus then gunned him down with his assault rifle.

Suddenly, from the door marked 'elevator' up ahead on the right, a squad of eight Cerberus troops led by a pair of Centurions emerged. Caught off guard, Aria and Team Shepard barely got back into cover; the Asari merc wasn't as lucky, a hail of bullets cutting her down before she could reach safety. As the others prepared to fight again, however, a new player entered the field. With a 'whoosh' of movement and displaced air accompanying a human-sized object emerging from a 'space bridge' jump, Eve T'Lesh warped in and leapt amongst the Cerberus soldiers, forming the head of her staff into its energy blade. She quickly began cutting down the surprised Cerberus troopers, dodging or deflecting the few shots they managed to fire even though her armor and shields could've taken them. She blasted the Centurions with a quick blast of Psionic (Force) Lightning, frying their shields and leaving them vulnerable to decapitating strikes. Very soon the last Cerberus trooper fell, an energy blade punching through the center of his neck.

"Eve?" Shepard asked as he and the others came out. "What are you doing here?"

"Shepard," the Lucavi growled, "I can't believe you! You know how I am, so how could you not bring me along on an op involving killing a bunch of members of one of the most notorious radical human-supremacist groups around?"

"You have a bone to pick with Cerberus, too?" Aria asked, curious.

"With humans" Eve replied.

"Aria, this is Eve T'Lesh" Shepard introduced. "Due to things the Sol Confederacy in Realm LDR-15 did to her, she has a vicious hatred for pretty much all humans. However, circumstances have forced her to join my team for the Reaper War, especially after they attacked her homeworld."

"Hating an entire species because of what some of them did?" Aria asked. "That seems a bit narrow-minded and immature."

Eve growled and prepared to advance on T'Loak with weapon drawn, but Shepard stepped between them before anything could develop.

"If you'd seen what they did to me," Eve growled, "you wouldn't make light of my state of mind."

"…Then show me. Let me read your memories and see where you're coming from."

After several seconds, Eve lowered her staff as she stepped forward. Aria moved to stand in front of her, and her eyes turned completely black as she delved into the 'young' Lucavi's mind. After a few seconds, she stepped back, looking a little stunned and even horrified.

"Goddess…" she whispered. "No wonder you hate them… Still, you shouldn't hold it against the entire race. They're not all assholes. From my experience, in fact, humans as a whole can be a bit too idealistic and friendly for their own good. Every species has its saints and its monsters. You just had really shitty luck in your first contact with humanity."

Any reply Eve might have made was cut off as the area shook, a small ship – merc or Cerberus, didn't matter – smacking into Omega further 'down'.

"We can discuss things later" Eve said.

Aria nodded. "Right. Now, we need to focus on kicking Petrovsky and his thugs off my station."

The group moved right, through sliding doors and down a short hall into an elevator. Once they were squeezed in, Shepard sent the elevator up.

"Ground team, report in" Aria said into the radio. "Bray, you there?"

"Affirmative," the Batarian replied, "but only six pods made it. Various entry points"

"Rally them to you, then head for the rendezvous hangar. Start prepping for our ships to land."

The elevator stopped and opened, and the team moved through an empty junction hallway, Aria leading them left and then right to another unlocked door. The next large room had a few offices/stations along the right-side wall, and a handful of Cerberus troopers in and around the center. Shepard and Garrus quickly sniped the two Cerberus Engineers, while Aria took out the two Troopers with a Biotic Flare blast. The next door was across the room on the other side, but when they hurried up to it and hit the 'button' to open it, the door remained locked.

"Access denied" the local VI stated. "Environmental hazard detected."

"The next area needs to be re-pressurized" Garrus said, looking at the readings. "Initiating…"

Shortly after he set the process going, Cerberus launched another attack. Mordin froze two Troopers with Cryo Blast and quickly headshot them, Garrus sniped a Nemesis trying to take up position on the other side of the room, and as an Engineer was trying to set up a turret Shepard hit both with an Overload that made the machine explode, de-shielding and injuring the Engineer for Aria's shotgun to finish off. Eve conjured and fired several crimson energy bolts, converging on and striking down two more Cerberus Troopers, while Garrus and Shepard used Overloads and pistol-shots to take out a pair of Centurions.

"Repressurization complete; access enabled."

The team filed through the door, passing through a hallway containing a battered, burning, and bloodstained escape pod; a few bodies, merc and Cerberus, were scattered about.

"We've lost two more transports!" Jarral radioed. "Can't keep up evasive maneuvers much longer!"

"We're right outside the defense station" Aria replied. "Hold tight!"

Garrus finished bypassing the door to the defense station, and everyone rushed in and took cover. Aria and Eve Biotically and telekinetically pulled two Guardians' shields away from them, letting Mordin and Garrus gun them down, while Shepard used an Overload and a Warp to deal with an Engineer before he could set up a turret. A pair of Cerberus Troopers tried to flank, but Aria's shotgun and Shepard's SMG put them down, leaving the room cleared of hostiles. Shepard hurried up to the console and keyed in the shutdown commands for the station's heavy auto-turrets.

"Jarral, defenses are down" Aria said. "Signal the surviving ships to converge on the rendezvous point."

"Aye. Approach trajectories plotted. We're already queuing up."

"Bray, come in. Status?"

"Rendezvous site secured. Hangar doors enabled; we'll have them open soon."

"I need them open now! My birds are coming in. Prep for reception."

"What exactly is this rendezvous point?" Shepard asked.

"It's a bunker I established on D-deck for my… more sensitive operations. It's utterly impenetrable, with its own secret hangar and dock. Independent power source, life support, munitions… You'll see."

Suddenly a gunshot rang out. The others turned to see Mordin aiming his pistol at a just-destroyed security camera.

"Likely Petrovsky knows our destination now" he stated.

"Then no time for sightseeing" Aria replied. "Bray, stay sharp! You might get visitors."

"Terrific…"

With Aria leading, the group headed out through the far exit, soon reaching an elevator and boarding it, heading up.

"Alert! Alert!" the station's Cerberus VI reported. "Defense System Station compromised. Outer systems down, unrecoverable. Armed response initiative T-752."

"We're causing a stir" Aria remarked. "Good"

The elevator let the team out into a garage already occupied by a trio of Cerberus troopers, close enough together that a grenade from Garrus took them all out. They headed down a few steps and opened a large door leading them outside. Overhead, the spires and machinery of Omega Station dominated the view like skyscrapers in a planet-bound city.

"Ah, the Omega skyline…" Aria said. "Now I feel like I'm back. …Strange. What are those things in the distance?"

She pointed to what looked like glowing orange walls of hard-light.

"Force fields?" Shepard suggested.

"That's not good…"

They headed left and into a hallway, and a smoke grenade accompanied a Centurion's attempted ambush. However, Garrus' eyepiece visor let him see the enemy through the smoke, and his reaction time was quicker than the Centurion's, letting off an Overload followed by a burst of Phaeston fire that took the man down. Two more Centurions and a Guardian emerged from up ahead, and Shepard sent out a Combat Drone that flew in amongst them and then self-destructed, the blast draining the Centurions' shields and knocking the Guardian back a couple steps. Precision shots from Mordin took out the Centurions and wounded the Guardian, who was then killed by Aria's Biotic Slam.

Moving down the hallway and to the left, they reached another elevator. Next to it were some crates, with an odd red symbol spray-painted on them. Another was inside the elevator.

"I know that symbol…" Aria murmured.

"Looks like a gang tag" Shepard observed.

"The Talons. They used to deface my property, too."

"I remember tangling with them a couple times" Garrus remarked. "Not much to write home about."

"Warning: Omega has been compromised. All Cerberus personnel, report to stations."

The elevator took them up to another hallway, with a dead Cerberus trooper slumped against a crate with another Talons symbol on it. Down the hall and to the left, they came out into one of Omega's 'streets'. Up ahead was one of those odd glowing red-orange barriers, with a Vorcha merc standing right in front of it, inspecting it. As the team leapt down to the street level, however, something dropped in right behind the Vorcha. The alien spun around, firing his shotgun at the newcomer but missing, and the attacker – now revealed to be a sort of battle droid – formed an Omniblade and sliced off the Vorcha's weapon arm. It then punched the Vorcha hard enough to knock the alien back into the red barrier, and the Vorcha screamed as his body was rapidly disintegrated into ashes on contact with the energy field.

The Cerberus 'Rampart' battle droid then turned its attention to the team, firing its heavy pistol, while behind it two more Ramparts waltzed right through the lethal force-field and joined the fray. Shepard pulled out his N7 Valiant and opened fire, but the mechs proved durable enough that it took two direct hits to the chest compartment to punch through the armor. So he aimed for the head, and that did the trick, blowing out the mech's central processor and leaving it to collapse; a second after it fell, a discharge of superheated energy began to melt and disintegrate the Rampart's body. The remaining two Ramparts advanced in a zigzag motion as they fired, but a shot from Garrus still took one's arm off. In response, the damaged droid activated 'tech armor' and an Omniblade and charged forward with surprising speed, ignoring the rounds that everyone hit it with. Finally, a sustained burst of Psionic Lightning from Eve put it down, falling to the ground just a few meters from the group's position. The final Rampart mech took an Overload from Shepard and a Flare from Aria, and was still standing afterward, though barely. A Carnifex headshot from Mordin finished the job.

They moved up to near the force-field, looking at the scorching and ashes that were all that was left of the Vorcha.

"Poor idiot…" Aria said. "Something tells me these force-fields are going to be a problem."

"Are we blocked?" Shepard asked.

"Not this time. Come here."

She headed left, opening a door that led into an abandoned shop of some sort. She walked up to a slightly darker section of the wall, activating her Omnitool.

"What are you doing?" Shepard asked.

"Letting you in on a secret."

The panel slid up, revealing a ladder. The group slid down it into a hidden passageway, and immediately they were on guard, weapons out as they carefully swept the area. Suddenly, Aria and Mordin turned their guns on a spot near some crates, where a hooded figure emerged.

"Spirits," the figure said in a flanged female voice, "look who's back: Aria T'Loak."

"Nyreen…" Aria lowered her weapon, as the figure stepped out of the shadows to reveal a female Turian with red and white face-paint. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Playing cat-and-mouse, mostly, just trying to stay alive. If it wasn't for these tunnels…"

"My tunnels. I'm sure glad I showed them to you."

"If you hadn't, I'd be dead or locked up by now."

"Aria doesn't trust easily" Shepard said. "I guess you're a good friend."

"I don't know. Are we, Aria?"

"Shepard," the Asari warlord said, "this is Nyreen Kandros, ex-Turian military. We… go way back. I've got a lot of questions, but they'll have to wait. Follow us. We'll get you to safety."

"I'll do my best…"

"Ready to put that gun to good use?" Shepard asked.

"You have no idea how ready. …Who's the rest of the gang?"

"Lucavi commando Eve T'Lesh, Salarian ex-STG Mordin Solus, and Garrus 'Archangel' Vakarian."

The plates above Nyreen's eyes rose as she looked at her male counterpart. "Archangel? …Wait, wasn't 'Vakarian' some C-Sec big-shot?"

"My father" Garrus replied. "It's a… long story, as is how I ended up as 'Archangel'. We can swap tales later; for now, we should get moving."

"So… Why are you back, Aria?"

"To reclaim what's mine" the Asari warlord replied.

"Left something behind, I take it?"

"Not something. Everything."

"Aria, you were right!" Bray suddenly radioed. "We're under attack!"

"What's the fleet's status?"

"Still landing, inside the bunker."

"Keep the enemy out at all costs! Lock it down!"

Shepard bypassed a door, and the team of six headed into a long tunnel running alongside a thick pipe. Aria signaled for them to climb a ladder near where "ACCESS 8" was printed on the wall. They emerged in a side 'room' with a large window looking out at a sizable courtyard area; on the other side was a currently-retracted bridge leading to a large and heavily-armored structure. Cerberus forces – two Centurions, four Ramparts, and an Atlas – were approaching the bridge, which was flanked by inactive turrets.

"Bray, why aren't the cannons online?" Aria asked.

"Something's jamming them. Trying to identify."

"We'll flank the enemy, get them off you."

As the Cerberus forces exchanged fire with Aria's soldiers across the bridge, Team Shepard leapt down into the courtyard. Sniper shots from Shepard and Garrus took out two of the Rampart mechs, while Aria hit the Atlas in the back with a Flare blast, nearly knocking it over. The heavy mech, Centurions, and remaining Ramparts turned their attention to the newcomers, and Nyreen stripped one Centurion's shields with an Overload, letting Mordin gun him down. Eve charged to meet the two remaining Ramparts, her staff's two energy blades on either end active; she blocked an Omniblade strike and decapitated the battle droid responsible, and then stunned the other with a split-second Psionic Lightning burst and then stabbed it through the head. Aria's shotgun blew away the other Centurion, while Shepard and Garrus finished de-shielding the Atlas and started blasting at its armor with Incinerate blasts and grenades. Another Flare from Aria did further damage, and then a shot from Nyreen's rifle pierced the damaged canopy and the pilot's skull.

"Aria, there's a Cerberus Engineer around here somewhere hacking the cannons, keeping them offline."

"We'll find him."

"Incoming!" Nyreen warned.

Another force of Cerberus soldiers, around a dozen strong, came rushing into the courtyard. As the others engaged, Shepard swept his gaze around, and soon enough he spotted a Cerberus Engineer half-hiding behind a crate in the far corner, close to where they'd come in. As Garrus covered him, he readied his N7 Valiant and sighted his target; thanks to the advanced rifle's negligible recoil, he was able to fire two shots in rapid succession to drain the Engineer's shields and blow his brains out.

"Got him" Shepard reported, as Mordin sent a burning Cerberus Trooper screaming over the edge near the bridge.

"Cannons initializing… Aria, the cannons have to be armed manually."

"We're on it!"

At Shepard's signal, the team made a sprint for the bridge and the cannon controls, even as a veritable horde of Cerberus troops poured into the courtyard from all directions. Eve and Aria formed a barrier to protect them as they hurried, and as he neared the controls Shepard heard and felt the thud of an Atlas landing in the courtyard behind him. He hurriedly triggered the controls, and the bridge extended, allowing Bray and his men to meet the team halfway.

"Cannons engaging!" the Batarian reported. "Head to the blast door!"

As the team made a tactical retreat, firing their weapons as they moved backward toward the bunker, the multiple heavy autoguns finally came online. A terrible storm of bullets tore down-range, ripping through the tens of Cerberus soldiers; even the Atlas didn't last long against the withering barrage of rapid-fire, high-caliber ammunition. Soon the field was littered in bodies and blood, as the guns continued cutting down any Cerberus target in sight.

"They ought to keep the general's forces busy for a while" Aria remarked.

"Let's get inside" Shepard said.

Aria nodded. "Bunker team, retract the bridge and lower the blast door. We're coming in."

-Break-

Inside the bunker, mercs tended to their wounded and checked their weapons & ammo.

"We're in" Aria said. "Lock it down!"

Two Asari nodded, moving up to the blast door and casting a double-strength Biotic Barrier on it.

"Aria," Nyreen spoke up, "I know this place is built like a fortress, but is it safe now that the general's clued in?"

"Yeah," Shepard agreed, "I feel like a sitting duck here."

"Again with the idioms, these humans…" Garrus mumbled.

"I have no intention of sitting around," Aria replied, "and you both should know I assume nothing. And on that front… Nyreen, you left Omega fairly angry with me. I wasn't aware you'd returned. Explain yourself."

"The truth is I never left," Nyreen replied, "a fact I went to great lengths to keep from you."

"I'm not easily duped. Well done. But why?"

"I just… couldn't leave. Considering all this, I wish I had."

"Well, you always said I'd be the death of you…"

"Nyreen has military training" Shepard said. "We can put her to good use."

"…You're so quick to trust, huh, Shepard? Nyreen never approved of Omega's…" She turned to the female Turian. "What did you call it? 'Moral bankruptcy'. Are you willing to help defend it now?"

"You'll find me very willing to liberate this station" Nyreen replied.

"Your combat skills seem a little rusty, but you're still a good shot. See my duty officer."

A few seconds after Nyreen nodded and walked off, Aria turned to her Lieutenant. "Bray, keep an eye on her" she ordered quietly.

"Will do" the Batarian rumbled, heading off to do so.

"…All right, Shepard. We need to move fast. I'm itching for revenge."

"If you think I'm just going to let you carve a bloody path through this campaign," the Commander replied, "you're sadly mistaken."

"And if you think you're going to change me, well, you're welcome to try. …Once up and running, this bunker will provide recon and secret access to much of the station." She looked over a datapad handed to her by a Batarian. "I'd appreciate it if you would quickly check operations, see that things are setting up smoothly."

"What will you be doing?"

"Checking in on my forces. I need to know how many survived the initial assault before I can plan the attack. It won't take long. Join me at the command console when you're ready."

The team watched as Aria headed up the short stairs and into the command room.

"Well," Garrus remarked, "she hasn't changed much."

"Going to help with wounded, Shepard" Mordin said. "Call when ready to move out."

Eve went off to do her own thing as well, leaving Shepard and Garrus to enter the command room together. Off to one side, a Batarian mechanic was grumbling as he fiddled with something.

"What's the trouble here?" Shepard asked him.

"Power inverters are shorting" the alien replied. "Trying to find a workaround, but no go. They can probably be scrounged up somewhere on Omega. If you come across a set of Kehri inverters, bring 'em back here."

"I'll see what I can do."

As they moved on and approached the command console…

"Commander, if you have a moment…" a woman with an accent called for Shepard's attention.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I've been tasked with increasing this command center's control of Omega's operating systems. I've hacked surveillance on many decks, tapped various internal communication conduits… but I can only reach so far. There are terminals in Cerberus-controlled areas, and… Well, you could get your hands on them. When you find these terminals, a simple input code will give me access privileges and more influence on station systems."

"Easy enough."

"I'll keep an eye on my board, and I'll let you know when my codes are activated. Thanks."

Finally, the duo headed over to where Aria was overseeing operations.

"Ahz, how are we looking?" she asked her Salarian tech specialist.

"All systems operational" the Salarian replied. "Full Omega schematics coming online now."

The command room's central holo-projector showed an image of Omega Station, semi-transparent and showing the various passages and chambers within the massive construct of rock and metal. A few areas were darkened, and there were red bars going 'through' multiple locations.

"I see…" Aria murmured. "Shepard, those force-fields we saw? The general has them set up everywhere."

"He's controlling access across the station" Garrus observed.

"…What are these dark areas?"

"Many sections of Omega are powered down" Ahz replied. "I'm betting power is being siphoned to run those force-fields."

"Find the source – priority one."

"And we'll need a full tactical assessment of all Cerberus positions" Shepard added.

"I'll get on it" Ahz replied.

"Shepard, we have work to do" Aria said. "Our losses were significant. We can't field an army large enough to face down Cerberus."

"Then we need to find allies" Shepard replied. "Story of my life…"

"We've confirmed there is a merc gang that's still active. The 'Talons' are resisting the occupation." She looked at a nearby display, showing security-cam footage of Talon soldiers milling about. "Not my first choice, but they're all we've got."

"Then it's time to play diplomat."

"And if the current leader won't join us, the next one will."

"Sorry to interrupt…" Bray spoke up as he walked over.

"What is it?"

"I turned away for a second to offload supplies. When I looked back…"

"You lost her."

"Well, I…"

"We're locked down" Shepard said. "She's got to be here somewhere."

"This bunker has secret access points to other parts of the station" Aria explained. "Unfortunately, Nyreen knows them. …Damn it, Bray. If I wasn't already short on manpower…" She took a deep breath. "We have to focus on getting the Talons on board. Shepard, I'll meet you in the armory when you're ready to go."

"Got it. Lemme just find Mordin and Eve."

-Scene Break-

"What's your history with this gang?" Shepard asked Aria as the team moved down a corridor, weapons up.

"Some mutually beneficial dealings," she replied as they moved through a door and into an area 'outside', "and some occasional violence. The Talons weren't even a blip on our radar until the plague in 2185. Your little war against the other gangs left a vacuum."

"Not our intention."

After checking the immediate area, she looked out over the railing at the 'city' in the distance. "Their leader, Derius, took advantage of the situation and carved the Talons a bigger piece of the local drug trade."

Aria started climbing up a very long ladder, the others following – Shepard, Garrus, Eve, and then Mordin bringing up the rear/bottom.

"Are we enlisting them because they're good, or because we need numbers?" Shepard asked.

"They're cannon fodder" Aria replied. "We're using them because they're the only game in town."

"You're gonna let them know that?"

"Relax, Shepard. This is how it works on Omega. Just let me do the talking, and-"

"Commander!" Ahz radioed. "Cerberus forces are scrambling! Looks like an attack on the Talons!"

A trio of Cerberus Kodiak shuttles zoomed by.

"Judging from comm. chatter, their priority target is in the area. Could be the Talon leader."

"Looks like we fight our way through Cerberus to get to them" Aria remarked as they reached the top of the ladder. They moved through the nearby door, hurrying down a hallway.

"Commander, confirming Cerberus activity in your area. Let's see if I can hack their comm. system."

Aria led them off to the right, hopping over a short gap and then up a ladder. At the top, Garrus activated a terminal nearby, allowing Aria's hacker to tap in, while Aria hit a button to open the nearby air shaft.

"One of these air shafts should lead into Talon territory" she explained.

She led them in, moving with a purpose through the dimly-lit tunnel.

"Ahz here. I've hacked into the Cerberus comms. Patching you in now."

"Engaging hostiles!" the rough, partially-synthetic voice of a Cerberus Trooper was heard. "Get more backup over here!"

Eventually, they reached a terminal that was offline. Mordin hit a nearby generator, and Shepard looked over what was then displayed on the screen.

"Looks like they were using this to observe the detainment centers" he said.

Aria led them on, through a 'door' and down a new pipe, until finally they reached a spot where the pipe opened out into the 'outside'; a large tower structure was plainly visible ahead, with Cerberus Kodiaks buzzing about.

"That tower is the Talon outpost we're heading for" Aria said.

"Looks like the Talons are giving as good as they get" Shepard observed as a rocket fired from the tower shot down a Cerberus shuttle.

"Commander, Cerberus communications indicate that the high-priority target is nearby. Their forces will be directly on your path to the Talon outpost."

The team moved down a short ladder and then down a winding ramp, moving through a door and down some stairs. They came out into a mid-sized room with a Cerberus Engineer and two Centurions; they hadn't seen Team Shepard yet. The Commander took out the Engineer with an Overload and a Warp, while Garrus Overloaded one Centurion's shields and gunned him down, and Aria, Mordin, & Eve focused fire to dispatch the other one. Another Centurion and a pair of Troopers rushed in from a nearby door.

"Shit! Those aren't Talons!" one Trooper cried out before a shotgun blast from Aria blew him away.

After a Singularity/Warp combo from Shepard and Aria took out the other two soldiers, and Shepard had triggered another nearby console for Aria's hacker, they hurried across the room and through another door, right behind a Cerberus Trooper; Garrus dispatched him with a knife to the back of the neck before he could do anything. The firefight between Cerberus and the Talons was more audible now, and when Shepard entered a nearby side room he could see the lower area below where the fight was raging. It seemed Cerberus had the area locked down. Fortunately for the Talons, the console controlling the lockdown was right here; Shepard quickly disabled it, allowing the Talons to retreat.

"Commander, the Talons are on the move and Cerberus is not happy."

An elevator arrived at the hall's far side, carrying a Rampart and two Guardians. Another Singularity/Warp combo killed the Guardians and heavily damaged the droid, which was then destroyed by a few precision red energy bolts from Eve. In another side room closer to the elevator, Garrus triggered another console while Mordin stabilized a badly wounded Talon Turian slumped against a wall; the alien weakly nodded to Team Shepard as they left and boarded the elevator.

The (rather slow) lift carried them down a level, and as soon as they stepped out into another hallway a Trooper and a Rampart emerged from the doorway up ahead. A double Overload from Shepard and Garrus stunned and damaged the mech, letting a Warp from Aria finish it off, while Eve telekinetically slammed the Trooper into the wall and then the floor; dead or just unconscious, he wasn't moving after that. In the next area, a small hangar, Cerberus was a bit more dug in – a handful of basic troops, along with a Rampart, an Engineer, and an auto-turret. Shepard promptly hacked the turret, and the machine poured fire into the Rampart droid's backside, destroying the mech before the Engineer managed to shut it down. The Engineer was promptly sniped by Garrus, while more of Eve's energy bolts cut down the Troopers.

A Cerberus shuttle dropped off another Rampart, Engineer, and three Troopers. Shepard sniped the Engineer before he could set up another turret, while Aria used her Biotics and her shotgun to wipe out the Troopers in less than two seconds, and Eve rushed in and fried the Rampart's internals with a focused burst of Psionic Lightning. As they hurried outside, another Cerberus Kodiak hovered over one of the landing pads, its doors open and its troopers already preparing to drop out. Aria blasted the lot of them with a Flare before they could, the blast going off inside the open Kodiak, killing the Troopers inside and sending the damaged craft plummeting.

The team moved down through the landing pads, reaching a locked door. Shepard bypassed it, and they moved in to find two Talons – a Turian and a human – being 'interrogated' by a full squad of Cerberus Troopers and Engineers. The Cerbies quickly noticed Shepard's entrance, every one of them turning their weapons on the new arrivals. One of the Engineers pointed his pistol at the human Talon, his finger already beginning to tighten…

Suddenly, a bullet tore down through his skull from above. A new arrival – Nyreen, in Talon red armor – dropped down and kicked the nearby Cerberus Trooper away. She bashed the other Engineer in the skull with her Phaeston rifle, gunned down three of the Troopers, and when the last two tried to rush her from behind she spun around and hit them with a Biotic Throw that slammed them into the wall with bone-crushing force. She turned to her Talon comrades, helping them to their feet.

"Take care of the wounded," she ordered them, "and scavenge what you can. I want us out of here ASAP."

From the far door, a few more Talons – including a Krogan – emerged, weapons ready.

"Looks like we found the Talon leader…" Garrus said.

"My, my, Nyreen…" Aria walked up. "Aren't you full of surprises?"

"The deception was necessary" Nyreen replied. "I needed to figure out what your plans were. The people on Omega depend on us. I couldn't risk compromising our operation."

"Not exactly standard procedures for a street gang" Shepard remarked.

"When Cerberus invaded, the Talons were a mess. I brought… new direction." As Nyreen's underlings moved about, moving people and supplies, she walked over to a console. "The general's been hunting us ever since. Right now, he's attacking one of our outposts. That's where I need to be."

"We're done here, boss" a Turian Talon said.

"Right. Aria, Commander Shepard, whatever you're here for, the answer's no. Kindly escort yourselves off Talon territory."

"We're here to help" Shepard replied. "We'll talk about it after we reach your outpost."

"That's a generous offer. Aria, does the Commander also speak for you?"

"Not the way I would've put it," Aria replied, "but that's the idea."

"All right, then. Come with me."

"You've improved your Biotics since I last saw you."

"You noticed the Biotic grenades."

"You always did like blowing things up, given half the chance."

Nyreen led the group through the warehouse and onto a lift, slowly carrying them up a level. Here, they entered a garage of sorts, with the left-side entryway blocked by one of the red energy fields. A trio of Cerberus Ramparts emerged through it, the battle-droids spreading out; two of them moved straight in, 'tech armor' glowing and shotguns readied, while the third hung back and used its heavy pistol to try to force Team Shepard into cover so its fellows could close in. Shepard and Garrus hit one of the two approaching Ramparts with Overload attacks, badly damaging the synthetic foe, and a pair of Carnifex headshots from Mordin put it down. The other charging Rampart was staggered by a powerful Warp from Nyreen, and then a Flare from Aria that reacted with the leftover energy from Nyreen's attack to detonate with great force, blowing the mech to bits. Eve telekinetically yanked the third Rampart forward, and Garrus gunned it down with his Phaeston.

Two more Ramparts dropped in from above, along with an Atlas. However, Shepard spotted something near the center of the room, close to the hostiles: a 'Hydra' missile launcher. He Biotic-Charged into the fray, knocking the Ramparts back and grabbing the launcher, and Garrus & Aria covered him against the Atlas as he sprinted back to get a little distance while holding the trigger down, and then spun around and released. A barrage of powerful homing 'micro-missiles' flew out, impacting the Atlas all at once and blowing the cockpit – and the pilot – apart. As the Atlas toppled, Shepard threw the launcher at one of the Ramparts hard enough to damage the mech, which he then finished with a Biotic Slam attack. Meanwhile, the other Rampart met its end as Eve rushed in and bisected it vertically with her energy blade. With the way clear, the team hurried across the room and into another elevator.

"Unconfirmed sighting of target Alpha!" an intercepted Cerberus communication was heard.

"Cut the power to that sector. All units, focus on the Talon outpost!"

Suddenly, the elevator lurched as it came to an abrupt halt, the lights going out. Nyreen and Mordin turned suit-mounted flashlights on, allowing Shepard to break open a box on the wall and hit a button to open a ceiling hatch and lower a ladder. They climbed up out of the elevator and started making their way down the dark elevator shaft via ladders connected to the walkways along the shaft's walls. A couple floors down, they reached a door that still had power, passing through it into a dark hallway. The hallway eventually led them outside, onto the lower level of a two-level bridge; chest-high railings were all that separated them from thousand-foot drops.

"Hope you're not afraid of heights" Nyreen quipped.

"Reports coming in! Additional Talon forces on the catwalks! Get our people down there! Go!"

Ahead on the right side, a Cerberus Kodiak dropped off a trio of Troopers and a Centurion.

"Target Alpha in sight!"

"Finally, a little recognition" Aria remarked as she hit a Trooper with a Biotic Throw that launched him into the abyss below.

"Actually," Nyreen replied as she gunned another Trooper down, "I'm 'target Alpha'."

Garrus Overloaded the Centurion's shields and took the man out with his Phaeston rifle, while Shepard's SMG chewed through the remaining Trooper. As the team moved on, a pair of Phantoms emerged from up ahead, moving forward with great speed and agility, their Biotically-charged swords out. Aria blasted one with a Flare attack, badly wounding her for Mordin to finish off, while Shepard froze the other Phantom with Stasis, holding her in place for the two Turians to fill full of lead. Another Cerberus trooper squad dropped in up ahead, but a Singularity/Warp combo from Shepard and Aria dealt with them in less than three seconds. Garrus' keen eyes spotted a Cerberus Nemesis trying to set up a shot at the far end of the bridge, and he reacted first, his Mantis rifle firing a shot that blew the Nemesis' brains out. The team hurried the rest of the way to the door at the far end, which flashed red when they tried to open it.

"Lockdown system's been compromised so many times it hardly knows up from down anymore" Nyreen said. "Nyreen to base: Need an engineer at the catwalk's entrance! Door's jammed again!"

They dug in behind cover near the door, as Cerberus troops started dropping in through an open 'hatch' (if something ~200 feet square could be called a hatch) in the ceiling/the upper level's floor. Shepard, Garrus, and Nyreen put their Overload modules to good use, stripping the shields of Centurions and Nemeses as they dropped in and then gunning them down, while Aria, Mordin, and Eve handled the basic troopers.

"You're not just using the catwalks as a secret passage to the base, are you?" Aria asked Nyreen.

"A long drop is the best way to get rid of uninvited guests around here" Nyreen replied as she took down two Troopers close together.

They held out for another couple minutes. Finally, the Talons managed to hack the ceiling's heavy doors to begin closing, and just in time as two Atlases emerged on the upper level, firing down at the team. After the 'hatch' closed and the last few stragglers were dealt with, the door behind them finally opened, and they filed through. Talon soldiers greeted Nyreen warmly as the led the group down a hallway and into an elevator up to the main floor.

"We'll be evacuating this location as soon as possible" she told Team Shepard as she led them on. "Try not to interfere with my people's work."

"Intel just reported in" a Turian Talon said to Nyreen as he came up and walked alongside her. "The group of civilians we managed to evac arrived safely at the other outpost."

They passed heavy turrets, and a large armored door opened to let them into the main command center.

"Also," the Talon continued, "routine sweeps report nothing new on the Adjutant presence."

"Adjutants?" Shepard asked.

"Husk-like creatures created by Cerberus" Nyreen explained. "They eviscerate their victims' DNA, converting them into more Adjutants."

"Some kind of Reaper-based weapon" Aria added. "I've fought them before. They're a nightmare."

"It got worse after you left" Nyreen said to her as Shepard went over a datapad containing what little the Talons knew about this new enemy. "Cerberus lost control of them. Those things tore apart the gangs, and then attacked everyone in sight. If Cerberus hadn't found a way to contain them, the entire station would be infected by now."

"Keeping your people alive through that couldn't have been easy" Shepard said.

Nyreen's head lowered. "I watched friends get turned into monsters, and I had to kill them. …Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an outpost to defend."

"The Adjutants really got under her skin" Aria murmured aside to Shepard as Nyreen walked away.

"From the sound of them, I can't blame her."

The gang spread out for a bit, with Mordin finding and snagging a spare Kehri power inverter. Shepard, Garrus, and Aria headed over to the command console, finding Nyreen hard at work.

"Cerberus is backing off for now" she was saying to a subordinate. "Make sure the scouts keep an eye out for the next attack."

"You've done an excellent job, Nyreen," Aria said, "but I'll be taking over now. …You know what happens to people who argue with me…"

"And if I say no? You'll just kill me and take over? My people won't stand for that."

"Yes, they do seem… nauseatingly loyal" She looked out at the various Talon soldiers eyeing her from all around. "Either way, I'll get what I want."

"Not this time."

"The truth is," Shepard chimed in, "none of us can do this alone. Our only chance is to join forces."

"…You might be right," Nyreen admitted, "but the people of Omega are my priority."

"You take over one gang," Aria said, "and you think you're ready to decide what's best for Omega? Nyreen, watch and learn." She called up her Omnitool. "Ahz!"

"Everything's in place" the Salarian tech specialist replied. "The entire station's connected."

Soon, Aria appeared on every screen in the base – indeed, in the entire station.

"People of Omega: I have returned! Cerberus believes they have beaten you. They believe they have you under control. …They are gravely mistaken. You are the lawless of the galaxy. You cannot be beaten, and you will never be controlled. Be ready! Your chance to strike out against your oppressors is coming. Together, we will take Omega back!"

The connection was cut, and Aria strolled confidently back over to the others.

"That's your plan?" Nyreen asked. "Throw civilians at Cerberus?"

"Anything is better than being locked up like animals waiting for slaughter" Aria replied.

"I know what you're up to, Aria, and I don't like it." She looked over to where an Asari was helping a wounded Batarian move through. "I have civilians to evacuate. I'll deal with this later."

As Nyreen headed out to oversee the evac, Shepard and Aria walked off in another direction.

"What are you trying to do?" he asked her.

"Trying? The people of Omega – my people – love a good street-fight. When it breaks loose, they'll be ready. Nyreen's code of ethics won't let her sit by if civilians are exposed. It's what makes her utterly predictable and therefore easy to manipulate."

"Ma'am!" a Talon soldier came running in. "Cerberus is launching another offensive!"

"Looks like I'm not the only one who didn't like your little speech, Aria" Nyreen remarked as she came over.

"Glad I got his attention" Aria replied.

"Commander, landing pads are yours. My people and I will hold the main doors."

"I'll help them out here, Shepard" Eve said, taking position with the Talons.

Shepard, Aria, Garrus, and Mordin hurried down toward the main doors and then right, passing through a few doors and quickly reaching the garage, where a firefight was already in progress. Shepard and Aria yanked two Guardians' shields away from them, letting Garrus and Mordin take them out with precision shots. A pair of Centurions emerged through the open garage entrance, followed by a trio of Rampart mechs. As the Talons focused on the organic targets, Shepard and Garrus Overloaded and sniped two of the Rampart droids, while Aria hit the third with a Flare blast and a shot from her Disciple shotgun. Another two Ramparts followed, but a wave of grenades from the Talons blew them to scrap.

"Commander Shepard!" Nyreen radioed. "We need your help at the main doors!"

The quartet hurried back through the hallways to the main area, reaching the main doors just as a rocket barrage killed two Talons. Nyreen and Eve were already hard at work engaging and killing Cerberus soldiers, the latter wielding a Locust SMG scavenged from a dead Talon. Fortunately, Shepard spotted an unmanned heavy turret atop a parked Cerberus troop-transport nearby; he rushed over and manned the gun, using it to tear the vast majority of the attackers apart. The few survivors were quickly mopped up, and soon Cerberus was in retreat. Nyreen knelt down by a dead Talon, as Shepard and Aria walked up.

The female Turian sighed. "The Talons will join your cause" she said. "Someone's got to make sure you don't run roughshod over our people."

"You see, Shepard?" Aria said.

"…Let me guess: She said I was predictable and therefore easy to manipulate."

"Pretty much word for word" Shepard replied. "She thinks she's playing you."

"Nothing new here. …One thing, though: I maintain command over my people. This is not up for debate."

"Just have them ready" Aria replied.

"Oh, they'll be ready…"

-SCENE BREAK-

Aria's Bunker

"We're almost there, Shepard" Aria said as he & she moved through the command center. "The Talons will be the frontline fodder. Now we just need to bring down the force-fields to clear the way to Afterlife."

"Which will release Omega's civilians…" Shepard deduced.

"Cerberus will have a million fires to put out. In one fell swoop, we'll have the people and the Talons working for us."

"You might not wanna compromise your alliance before it even takes shape."

"I've learned not to put too much stock in truth and goodwill."

"It might be time to start again."

"Tell you what: I'll take it under advisement. Now… I'll be at the command console plotting our next move."

"Urgently: Your attention please" an Elcor called out to Shepard as Aria walked away.

"Yes?" Shepard asked as he came over.

"Tentative excitement: Welcome to Harrot's Emporium, human. Relieved: I am grateful for Aria's return. The hidden backroom was getting… confining. Her patrol liberated me. Curious: You seem familiar…"

"I had a discount at your store the last time I was here."

"Enlightened: I see. Cunningly: I have a plan to recoup my losses since the Cerberus takeover. Informative: The general threw out Aria's couch from Afterlife upon taking over. I would like to gain her favor by returning it. Temptingly: If you find it and send me the coordinates, I will make it worth your while."

"It's not a priority, but I'll keep my eyes open."

"Appreciative: Upon success, I will give you a finder's fee for your trouble."

"I'll let you know."

"Courteously: Have a nice day."

With that done, Shepard headed over to the command console.

"Talk to me, Ahz" Aria said to her tech specialist.

"I've located the source that's powering the Cerberus force-fields" he said, highlighting a spot (relatively) near the edge of the mushroom-shaped station's 'cap'.

"Yes, I see… Shepard, take a look at this. The general is siphoning power from one of my main reactors deep in the bowels of Omega's mines."

"Unfortunately," Ahz said, "access is cut off by the force-fields themselves."

"Not completely" Shepard replied, looking at the map. "There's an open route through that dark area, then up."

"Hmm… The processing plant for one of the mines" Aria observed. "It's been powered down. No force-fields blocking it."

"We infiltrate there, find our way through the mine, then take that elevator to the reactor's back door."

"Good eyes, Shepard. Let's go."

"Not without me" Nyreen said as she came in.

"Aria," Bray said as he followed, "my patrol caught her near the perimeter."

"Please. You didn't catch me. We're… allies now. Didn't Aria tell you?"

"Nyreen was expected, Bray" Aria explained. "Return to your station."

"The Talons are ready," Nyreen reported as Bray slinked off, "but if I'm sending my people into the breach… I want to make sure those force-fields come down for good. So, like it or not, you're stuck with me."

"It's almost as if you don't trust me" Aria crossed her arms.

"It's exactly as if I don't trust you."

"We're going to war together" Shepard cut in. "I'll make sure we can rely on each other."

"Agreed, Commander. Glad one of you isn't on a power trip…"

"Go wait by the medbay, Nyreen" Aria said. "We'll join you shortly. Shepard, I have last-minute orders to dole out. I'll meet you there, too."

[AN: Video I'm using as guide for this chapter does not have the Aria conversation from this point; I will put those in here whenever I next do an ME Trilogy playthrough, but that will be several months at least; sorry.]

"Shepard," Nyreen called out as the Commander approached the door, "got a sec?"

"What?"

"I know time is short, but I was hoping we could talk alone."

"Aria will be joining us soon. Now may be our only chance."

The Turian female nodded, leading Shepard off to the side. "I'm not trying to undermine Aria" she said. "I know she has to be ruthless. …Let her have her revenge. I'm not doing this for me, and I'm not doing it for Aria or what we once had."

Shepard nodded. "It's for the people of Omega. I get it."

"Someone has to be their voice in all this. Incredibly powerful forces are about to do battle with them caught in the middle. I just hope, as we bring down those force-fields and go to war, that you can keep the people in mind."

"What do you know about the Cerberus force-fields?"

"The technology comes from beyond the Omega-4 Relay. Flesh disintegrates upon contact. The power required must be enormous. I fear that disrupting it could destabilize other systems on the station. I hope we'll proceed with care and certainty."

"Are your people ready for the fight?"

"You needn't worry about the Talons, Shepard. They were thieves and scoundrels once, but they serve with integrity now. We're fighting for a better world. I have to wonder if the same can be said for our Asari friend. I suppose we'll know soon enough."

"How did you get mixed up with Aria?"

"I was happy in the Turian military, but when my Biotic abilities started to manifest, my superiors saw fit to 'reallocate' me. They practically locked me away. I couldn't use my skills to benefit my people. So I quit. I floated around the galaxy, looking for a new purpose."

"And you found your way here."

"More like I lost my way here. But then there was this beautiful, fierce creature who didn't let anyone define her. I'll admit, I was mesmerized. I wanted a little bit of that to rub off on me."

"How close were you two?"

"The draw was undeniable. Her strengths mirrored my insecurities. Maybe deep down, it was the same for her. But trying to be with her turned into trying to be her. Nyreen Kandros was vanishing."

"You seem like your own person to me."

"For all the drama between us, I'm grateful to Aria. She helped me remember who I am. It took a lot to break away from her, but I regret nothing."

"You're a veteran. Why are you so disturbed by these 'Adjutants'?"

"I know fighting Reapers is old hat to you, Commander. But these things? What they do to people? …They could still be out there. And if they return… I don't want to even think about what would happen to Omega's people. The image of that drives me… and haunts me."

"What's your impression of Petrovsky?"

"An adversary worthy of respect, and not just because he's shrewd. When I was just starting to organize the Talons, he offered amnesty to anyone who set down their weapons. A few of my people surrendered, and he made good on his word."

"So he has a code."

"And, as near as I can tell, it doesn't exactly match the Illusive Man's."

"I appreciate the intel, Nyreen. We'd better get moving soon."

-SCENE BREAK-

The elevator deposited the team of six into a dark and silent area.

"We've arrived at one of the eezo processing plants" Aria explained. "It's been powered down, so we'll have to pry open the door. Access to the mine should be on the far side."

"And the reactor is beyond that?" Nyreen asked.

"According to the schematics. I ran Omega, Nyreen. I didn't work the mines myself."

Eve telekinetically pried the doors open, allowing everyone to pass through.

"No," Nyreen countered, "you had indentured servants for tha… Oh, Spirits."

"Relax" Aria said, looking at the multiple brutalized bodies in white, black, & gold armor. "They're all Cerberus."

"They've been ripped to shreds" Shepard observed.

"Severe blunt-force trauma," Mordin observed, "tearing damage from blades – no, wait… claws. Worrisome. Also signs of damage from unknown weapon, haven't quite seen anything like it, though similarities to damage caused by Biotic attacks."

"Alright," Shepard said, "everyone be on high alert. Pay attention for any sights, sounds, or smells that seem like they don't belong."

The sextet cautiously moved through the darkened catwalks, the only sounds being their footsteps and breathing. More mangled Cerberus bodies were scattered about as they kept going.

"It's a damned bloodbath" Garrus rumbled.

"I have a very bad feeling" Nyreen whispered. "We shouldn't be here…"

Suddenly, there was a faint, distorted sound, like a cross between whispers and snarls. They all looked around, flashlights scanning everywhere, but the multiple pipes and walls made the sound impossible to pinpoint.

"Goddess…" Aria breathed out. "I've heard that sound before. That was an Adjutant."

"Oh no…" Nyreen said with dread. "The general must have locked this place down to keep it inside."

Moving with even more caution now, they came across a large, heavy door with no power.

"These pipes power the door" Nyreen pointed out. "We should follow them."

They climbed up a ladder and began walking along and atop the reinforced pipes, and soon they reached another section of catwalk.

"The whispering's receding" Eve reported.

"Maybe the Adjutant doesn't like its odds" Shepard remarked.

"Don't kid yourself" Nyreen replied. "I've seen one of these things rip an entire squad apart by itself."

Finally, they reached the control station for this area, heading down a ladder to the lower area. After a bit of fumbling around in the dark, they found the power control. Shepard quickly got it up & running, returning power to the area, and the lights came on.

"When this is over," Aria said as she looked around, "there'll be a lot of repairs to make."

"I hope you'll focus on the civilian areas first" Nyreen replied with a slight scowl.

"You are relentless…"

"That's one thing we have in common."

Suddenly, something crashed through a nearby window into the control center. It was around seven feet tall, a body of very dark blue with a few glowing light-blue patches, including two large, bulbous portions at the top of its head. Three glowing blue circles for eyes in a triangle formation sat above a mouth of tendrils/tubes. Its left arm was muscular and tipped with three sharp claws, while the right ended in what looked like a technorganic cannon with three claw-like prongs around it. The beast pointed its right arm at the group, and fired a high-velocity warp from it that barely missed Shepard's head.

"Nyreen, wake up!" Aria shouted, snapping Nyreen out of a wide-eyed daze as everyone else opened fire.

The Adjutant screeched as bullets pinged off its Biotic barrier, weakening the shield. A Warp from Shepard took it down the rest of the way, but then the monster crouched and then pounced forward with startling speed and distance; Eve barely managed to duck in time as the beast sailed over her head. Incinerates from Shepard and Nyreen burned through and blasted off some of the Adjutant's thick armored hide, and then a Biotic Flare from Aria blew its head open, killing it.

"I fucking hate these things" Nyreen breathed out.

"'Hate' should make you deadlier" Aria replied. "That looked like fear to me."

The team moved out through the nearby door and hurried down a corpse-strewn catwalk, moving toward the now-powered large door. As they neared it, however, another Adjutant emerged and attacked. A triple Warp from the three Biotics, and the resulting resonance detonation, wiped out its barrier and badly damaged it, such that a couple headshots from Aria's Disciple shotgun finished it off. They hurried over to the heavy door, hitting the button to summon the large elevator.

"Ah, hell…" Garrus groaned, seeing what was coming.

This time, three Adjutants emerged from the direction they'd come from. Eve let out a powerful torrent of Psionic (Force) Lightning at the closest one, the creature shrieking and twitching as its organic and synthetic parts were ravaged by the electrical attack. She then hit it with a 'Psionic' Push that knocked it over a nearby railing to fall hundreds of meters to its death. Shepard used a Biotic Charge to stagger another Adjutant and weaken its barriers, and then unloaded his SMG on it at point-blank to drain them the rest of the way. He then had to rush backward to dodge a retaliatory swing and a shot from the monster's cannon, and Mordin & Nyreen blasted it with Incinerates over and over until it fell. Aria used a Flare attack to drain the third's barriers and stun it, allowing Garrus to finish it off; worryingly, it took two direct headshots from his Mantis rifle to actually kill the thing.

"Alright," Shepard said, "into the elevator."

"I'll seal the door behind us," Nyreen said, "just in case."

Soon the large elevator was on its way up, ascending into the mines and leaving the processing plant behind. Everyone caught their breath, checking their ammo supplies.

"What's eating you, Nyreen?" Aria asked.

"I'm just processing" the Turian female replied. "It's clear Petrovsky sealed that area to keep the Adjutants in."

"Along with some unlucky soldiers" Shepard added.

"Yes, the creatures killed them but didn't turn them into more Adjutants. …I can't shake it – something's off."

"You're just spooked" Aria replied.

"There's a rhythm to this place, Aria – to Cerberus. If you'd stuck it out here, maybe you'd feel it, too."

"Whatever's in our way," Shepard said, "we'll deal with it."

As the ascent continued, a sort of grinding noise became increasingly audible.

"You can hear the drills…" Aria said unhappily. "Damn it, they shouldn't be straining like that."

"Cerberus must be working them hard" Garrus replied.

Finally, the elevator reached its destination, letting the team out onto a catwalk leading to a facility up ahead.

"Access to the reactor is somewhere on the upper level" Aria said.

"Let's find a way up there" Shepard replied.

They hurried along the catwalk, reaching the open-'air' facility. As they were moving through it, however, they almost-literally bumped into a squad of Cerberus soldiers, who near-immediately opened fire.

"Intruders! Sound the alarm!"

"It's Shepard! They're coming for the reactor!"

Team Shepard moved in, Garrus and Nyreen leading the charge with their Phaeston rifles and Overload modules. The team bulldozed through the dozen or so Cerberus soldiers present, barely slowing down, and soon the immediate area was clear.

"We can use that maintenance elevator across the way" Aria pointed out.

As they crossed the area and headed for the bridge to where the elevator was, however, proximity charges detonated, obliterating the bridge in question. Undaunted, Aria signaled for them to move down the nearby ladder, to the lower level of the area. They immediately had to take cover as more Cerberus troops opened fire from an upper walkway ahead, including a pair of Nemeses. Shepard and Garrus quickly Overloaded the sniped the enemy snipers, while Mordin's Carnifex and Aria's Disciple made short work of the few basic Troopers, and the Centurion fell quickly to Nyreen's Overload and Phaeston.

Crossing this area, they found a ladder leading even further down, underneath the conveyer belt. They made their way down the walkway, passing open crates of raw element-zero.

"Bastards are running this place too hot" Aria said. "It'll burn out in a month."

Up ahead, a Nemesis and an Engineer were waiting. Shepard and Aria struck first, a Warp/Flare combo creating a devastating Biotic explosion that ripped both Cerberus soldiers apart. A pair of Rampart mechs came out to play next, and Eve let loose with a wave of crimson energy bolts that damaged and knocked them back. A trio of Overloads from Shepard, Garrus, and Nyreen finished the droids off.

They reached another ladder that led them up to on the other side of the blown bridge. Cerberus was there in force, trying to stop them. Overloads and energy-blade slashes took down Ramparts, shotgun blasts and full-auto rounds downed Cerberus troopers, and an Engineer trying to sneak up on Aria got a nasty surprise courtesy of Mordin's 'Neural Shock' attack, followed by a single perfectly-placed Carnifex round to the head. They moved through, Aria and Shepard taking point as they put down whatever Cerberus forces were left in their way. Finally, they reached the lift, riding it up.

"They know our target" Nyreen said. "Expect heavy reinforcements."

"Just stay focused and find the access point to the reactor" Aria replied.

At the top, they headed through a door and got the drop on a Cerberus Engineer, Eve's crimson energy blade ramming through his heart from behind before he knew what had happened. There were a few dead workers scattered about as they passed through a small station and onto another catwalk, sliding down a ladder and reaching a long, straight walkway leading to where the next elevator was. As they started across it, however, it lurched and shook, the metal groaning. They sprinted across before it could give way, climbing back up and heading for the elevator.

"Strange…" Nyreen said. "We're not being attacked anymore."

"Yeah," Aria replied, "be ready for anything."

They reached the elevator uncontested, riding it up.

"…Why are you grinning, Aria?"

"We're almost there. When the force-fields come down, this war finally begins."

"For some of us, it started months ago."

"That wasn't war, babe. That was just warm-up."

As the elevator stopped, the massive reactor was straight ahead. Moving down the long, straight walkway, they saw no signs of resistance. As they passed through a circular area surrounding a vent, however, a crimson force-field sprang up around the area, trapping them. Seconds later, a small Cerberus holo-projector drone hovered out, projecting a 3D image of General Petrovsky.

"I commend you" he said. "Your plan of attack was impeccable."

"Looks like we were expected" Shepard remarked.

"More like 'lured'" Nyreen replied.

"I knew the reactor would be the hard target. I gave you no choice but this route."

"It's too bad you're on the Illusive Man's side, Petrovsky" Shepard said.

"I'm on humanity's side. You're the ones trying to start a war, for the 'glory' of Aria. But now it's over."

"This isn't over until your next of kin can't identify you" Aria snarled.

"I love your bravado, but have the sense to know when you're beaten. You've been neutralized, and I can leave you there to rot. You might as well give up."

"Never." She turned toward the force-field.

"Aria, what are thinking?" Shepard asked.

"I'm not going out like this" she murmured, as her eyes and hands glowed with Biotic power.

With her hands wreathed in Biotic energy, she speared them forward together into the field. Energy crackled and she grunted lightly in exertion as she began slowly ripping open a 'hole' in the field.

"Damn it, Aria, you're forcing my hand. We'll do it your way, then."

As the holo-drone cut communications and floated away, a handful of Rampart mechs marched through the force-field on the other side of the area. Shepard, Nyreen, Garrus, Eve, and Mordin took positions as Aria kept working on forcing the field open. Garrus and Nyreen stunned and damaged two Ramparts with Overloads and then gunned them down with Phaeston rifle shots, while Shepard struck another with a Warp that was followed by three Carnifex headshots from Mordin that took it out. Eve sent red energy/mana bolts out, and split her staff into two energy blades, one hand parrying a Rampart's Omniblade and the other then stabbing through its power core. Shepard sent out a Combat Drone, its shocker and mini-rocket launcher adding to the fire being thrown at the droids, while he and Nyreen then used a double Warp to destroy another.

After a couple minutes of fighting off Ramparts that just kept coming, Aria fell to one knee, but she kept widening the hole. Nyreen ran over and cast a Biotic Barrier over her just as two Ramparts dropped in from above, and Eve cut them down.

"Shepard, I can't hold this much longer!" Aria shouted. "Go!"

Shepard sprinted for the hole, diving through it. Aria then pulled back and let the hole close.

"Spirits, Aria," Nyreen said as she helped her ex up, "how did you know you could do that?"

"I didn't" Aria replied.

"Get to the reactor, Shepard" Garrus said. "We'll hold here as long as we can, but it'd be nice if you could be quick about it!"

Shepard nodded, hurrying down the path that led to the reactor. Cerberus troopers and Rampart mechs emerged to bar his path, and he went to work picking them off with his N7 Valiant. When about half of them were gone he rushed in, dual-wielding his pistol and his SMG. Waves of Biotic energy sent hostiles careening over the edges of the catwalk path, while a Combat Drone kept them from flanking him. It took him only a minute or so to get past them and to the reactor building, though it felt like longer. He hurried up to the console and started working, but then Petrovsky' hologram appeared beside him.

"You can't do this, Commander. There's more at stake than you know. That reactor powers life-support systems for dozens of wards across the station. Shut it down, and thousands of people perish."

"You guys heard that?" he asked over the comm.

"Yeah," Nyreen replied, "we heard it. Don't do it, Shepard! Try rerouting the power!"

Shepard nodded and got back to work.

"Rerouting power to maintain the other systems…" Petrovsky observed. "It's commendable… but it might take a while."

"Maybe," Shepard replied with a smirk, "if I was a stupid grunt."

What many people forgot about Shepard, what with all the shooting, Biotic attacking, and negotiating he did, was that he was a certified Engineer. Petrovsky's hologram watched in befuddlement as the Commander called up his Omnitool and linked up with the controls, taking advantage of a few shortcuts as he continued working, his enhanced eyes pouring over the displays and schematics as he worked at lightning speed. After only a handful of seconds, the hologram of the reactor's internals showed his handiwork, while outside the reactor shuddered as its lights flashed and changed, power being rerouted.

All across the station, the flesh-disintegrating force fields flickered and died. With their way cleared, the rest of the team hurried over to the reactor control room, Aria firing off a Biotic Throw that flattened two pursuing Ramparts as the door sealed behind them.

"You okay?" Shepard asked.

"Never better" Aria replied as she ejected her shotgun's spend thermal clip.

"That makes two of us" Nyreen replied. "You brought all of your skill to bear and accomplished the task without sacrificing lives. I applaud you."

"Shepard remains cool under pressure – mind clear, shit together. Take a good, hard look, Kandros – that's what fearlessness looks like."

"What are you driving at, Aria?" the female Turian scowled.

"You fought bravely against those mechs in there, Nyreen. Very impressive."

"But?"

"Why can't you bring that same grit when Adjutants attack? It's pathetic. You tense up at the mere mention of those abominations."

"Lay off" Shepard interrupted. "She just saved you."

"I'm trying to help her, Shepard. Call it tough love. …The war's starting. I don't mean to miss it."

"She's never been big on thank-yous" Nyreen said to Shepard as Aria stalked off.

-SCENE BREAK-

"Getting reports" Nyreen said as the elevator carried the team down. "All force-fields down; civilians taking to the streets in droves; Cerberus pulling back."

"That won't last" Garrus replied.

"The people don't have the training to go up against Cerberus front lines. They'll be wiped out."

"Civilian casualties can't be avoided" Aria replied. "You'll have to accept this."

"Say what you will, Aria. I won't allow senseless deaths."

"Do what you can to protect them" Shepard told her.

"Of course, Commander."

"Aria? Bray here. My team is scouting the maintenance tunnels. We've encountered Cerberus forces escorting engineers. They're moving gear, look to be setting explosives to the station's central support columns…"

"Bray, engage!" Aria ordered as she moved over to the elevator control console. "Delay them as long as you can. We're coming."

"Got it. Roll out, people!"

She turned to the others as the elevator lurched to a stop. "If they take out the main column, they'll cut off the way to Afterlife. The Talon offensive will be stopped cold."

"So we split up" Shepard suggested.

"Yes. Nyreen, lead the frontal assault. Shepard and I will meet you in the markets after we've taken care of those bombs."

"Of course" the Turian female replied. "But don't count on me building your memorials if you get yourselves killed."

"I like it when you're feisty."

After a couple seconds' thought, Shepard turned to his faithful second. "Garrus, go with Nyreen – help with the main assault. Do what you can to keep Talons and civilians alive."

"Of course, Shepard" the blue-armored Turian replied. "I'll let you know if anything big develops."

"Likewise."

The elevator doors opened, and Shepard, Aria, Eve, & Mordin piled out into the tunnels. Up ahead, Bray's men were engaged with Cerberus personnel. Shepard hit the closest Rampart with an Overload, and a blast from Aria's shotgun finished it off, while a Cryo Blast from Mordin froze another Rampart long enough for Eve to bring it down with a barrage of red energy bolts to its head. They moved into the main tunnel area, spotting a fair amount of Cerberus soldiers and Ramparts further down, and Shepard set up with his N7 Valiant, first picking off a Nemesis he spotted way back and then starting to bring down Ramparts, while Aria, Eve, Mordin, and Bray & his men handled the basic Troopers.

Team Shepard advanced down the tunnel catwalks, making short work of a few more Ramparts and Centurions. At the end, however, an explosive charge took out a catwalk that ran over a waterway that ran down the center of the tunnel, and unfortunately their destination was on the other side.

"We can extend the dam in the control room" Aria said. "That should get us across."

Mordin headed into the nearby control room and hit the controls, triggering a dam to slide out and form an impromptu bridge, also causing the water to recede.

"Nyreen here. We've engaged Cerberus and cleared our first target. ETA to the Gozu District is on track."

As Shepard crossed the dam/bridge, he happened to look down at where the water had been, spotting a large dark-red object.

"Harrot," he radioed, "I found what you wanted. Sending you the coordinates now."

"…Is that my couch?" Aria said.

Across the 'bridge', they entered the neighboring structure and bypassed a door that led into a hallway. At the end were a Guardian and a Trooper; a Biotic Slam took care of the former, while the latter was dealt with by a shot from Mordin. The door they were guarding sparked down the middle as Cerberus personnel on the other side locked it down the old-fashioned way. They headed right, Aria Biotically pulling another Guardian's shield away and blasting him with her shotgun, and the team bypassed and headed through another door. In the next room they slid down a slope that put them behind a large fan, and Eve hit the switch to stop and raise the fan so they could pass into a larger room.

"We're hitting less resistance" Nyreen reported. "I think they're sending forces your way!"

In this next area, two Cerberus Engineers were overseeing a squad of Troopers placing explosive charges on the support columns. Shepard Overloaded one Engineer's shields and sniped him, while a grenade from Mordin took out the other shields and blew him apart. Aria and Eve rushed in, the former's shotgun and the latter's staff-mounted energy blades tearing through Troopers in their way. After Shepard launched the last Trooper over a railing, he hurried to the access panel controls, opening the panels. Unfortunately, this triggered a trap: the bombs all went live, and the access panel was disabled. What's more, Cerberus troops began dropping in.

"I'll handle the bombs!" Shepard said. "You guys cover me!"

"Shepard," Mordin spoke up, "disarmed my fair share of explosives in STG! Can assist! Aria, Eve, cover please!"

"We'll each take two!"

Shepard and Aria headed to one side of the room, while Eve and Mordin went the other. As Shepard got to work on the first bomb, Aria sent two charging Troopers flying with a Biotic Throw and then blasted a Rampart's head off with her Disciple shotgun. After a few seconds of work Shepard disarmed the bomb, and moved on towards the next one; across the way, he could see as Eve cut down a pair of Troopers trying to intercept Mordin as the Salarian headed for his own second bomb. As Shepard worked, Aria formed a Biotic Barrier to block a concussive blast and then shoved the barrier as a battering ram, flattening two Troopers against a wall. In no time Shepard and Mordin had the last bombs disarmed, and then pitched in to help clear the room. Soon the last Rampart fell, a round from Mordin's Carnifex blowing its CPU out.

"Nyreen, things are under control here" Aria radioed. "What's your situation?"

"We're advancing through the Gozu District."

"Move forward!" Garrus was heard. "Keep that flank covered!"

"We're holding our own, but Cerberus has started targeting the civilians! Reports of casualties are coming in from all sectors."

"Save those you can," Aria said, "and head for the rendezvous point. We'll meet you there."

"We'll do what we can. Nyreen out."

"So how exactly do we get to Afterlife from here?" Shepard asked.

"I'm thinking the straightforward approach… for a change."

Aria formed and threw a Warp attack at a very large active fan, causing it to grind to a halt and revealing the door that was now accessible behind it. The quartet hurried across, through the door and up a ladder into a dark, multileveled room. Gunfire could be heard, along with cries of pain and retreat.

"Cerberus" Shepard said.

"How do you know that?" Aria asked. "It could be the Talons."

A battered and bloody Cerberus soldier came crashing through a window higher up, falling to the ground below with a thud.

"…Never mind."

A couple more ladders led up to another door. As they passed through into a hallway with a thick reinforced glass window giving them view of a neighboring one, they saw as three Cerberus Troopers were massacred by a familiar large, hunchbacked monster.

"Damn it" Aria breathed out. "Ahz, there are Adjutants here. Track our progress, and seal the rooms behind us."

Continuing through, they came into what looked like a laboratory. Machinery was broken and sparking, and several dead Cerberus soldiers lay about. On the lower level, by an empty pod, they found a video/audio log with three entries:

"The first-generation Adjutants have been transferred from the containment area and are being outfitted with the implants. The previous batches have been processed and moved to the storage area."

"We can now control when and where the Adjutants convert their victims. Initial testing on various species provides ample proof that the virus can adapt flawlessly, regardless of the host used."

"With the civilian population contained, we should be ready to initiate the next phase of the project on schedule. Before host conversion, we should begin the process of fusing the control implants to the subjects' nervous systems. With the current success ratio, we project being able to surpass demand by 300 percent."

"Those idiots were experimenting on Adjutants" Aria remarked.

"That explains the ones we saw earlier" Shepard replied.

Moving on, they passed through a checkpoint where only one door could be opened at a time - security in case of Adjutant outbreak. They followed a hallway to reach another open area, where a handful of civilians with stolen small-arms were engaging Cerberus forces. Shepard sniped a Nemesis, but then an Atlas dropped in, its cannon blowing a Batarian to bits and then turning to focus on Team Shepard. As Aria and Mordin handled the remaining Troopers and Centurions, Shepard and Eve hit the Atlas with Overloads and Psionic Lightning blasts, taking out its shields. Shepard sent out a Combat Drone to distract and harass the heavy walker, allowing Eve to rush in close and climb up the Atlas' back. She used her energy blade to cut deep into the power source area on the back, and then shoved a grenade in for good measure. She leapt away and flash-stepped backward just before the resulting compound explosion tore the Atlas apart.

After Mordin checked on a wounded civilian, the team made their way through a door and up a ladder, emerging in an alleyway.

"This looks familiar" Shepard remarked.

"Gozu District" Mordin replied. "Not too far from clinic. …Hope Daniel is all right."

As they moved through the ravaged district, they met no resistance for a short while. But as they entered a new area – what Shepard recognized as the place where he'd found the sick Batarian back when he was first looking for Mordin – they found a squad of Cerberus soldiers waiting at the foot of the stairs up ahead, along with a turret. Shepard hacked the auto-gun, turning it on its masters; the Engineer and most of the Troopers were cut down before a Centurion destroyed it. Shepard stripped the Centurion's shields with an Overload and then tossed out a Singularity that snatched up him and the two Guardians nearby. A Warp from Aria destabilized the sphere of Biotic energy, the resulting explosion ripping the three Cerberus soldiers apart.

The quartet moved up the stairs and left, passing by an area that served as a staging area for soldiers and a refuge & medical area for civilians. They hurried along down the long stretch, reaching a barricade where Talon soldiers took cover while trading fire with Cerberus soldiers downrange. At their insistence that they had it covered, Team Shepard headed left, entering an elevator and riding it up.

"Nyreen here. Something's not right."

"Cerberus is still on my station" Aria replied. "Of course something's not right."

"Not what I was talking about. I'm checking this out."

"I'm with her, Shepard" Garrus added.

As the elevator soon stopped and opened, the quartet emerged behind another Talon barricade.

"Where are Nyreen and Garrus?" Shepard asked a Turian Talon sentry.

"Scouting ahead" the sentry replied as another man started pushing one of the barricade crates out of the way for Team Shepard. "We've got our hands full, holding this area."

"She's going on to Afterlife!" Aria said, running through the gap, the others following.

-Break-

Outside the club known as Afterlife, an assault by civilians and mercenaries had been stopped cold by the full squad of Cerberus soldiers guarding the entrance. The would-be attackers were reduced to huddling behind crates and rubble for cover, and the Cerberus soldiers were slowly advancing.

Then, however, a game changer arrived of the worst sort. From the door to the docks, four Adjutants emerged. The Cerberus soldiers immediately turned and ran, locking the door behind them, abandoning the civilians to their fate. The civvies put their backs to the door, firing furiously at the approaching monsters, but all they had were low-caliber pistols and outdated old rifles – barely enough to slow the stalking horrors down.

Suddenly, a shot from an M92 Mantis rang out, and one of the Adjutants' heads exploded. Nyreen leapt down from a catwalk, firing her Phaeston on full-auto, while Garrus continued firing from above and behind her, keeping the Adjutants off-balance, crippling them with shots to joints for Nyreen to put down or finishing off those that Nyreen wounded. As Garrus then leapt down, switching to his own assault rifle, three more Adjutants emerged, and the pack now began to converge on the Turian pair. Then, however, there was a flash of blue movement and force, as Shepard Biotic-Charged into two of the Adjutants from the side, knocking them over and into their fellows. Aria and Eve followed, a Biotic Flare and a torrent of Psionic/Force Lightning taking out two of the beasts. Garrus and Nyreen rallied, using Concussive Shots and Incinerates to thin the herd more, and the remaining civilians pitched in as well, using scavenged Cerberus guns to take another Adjutant down. One tried to leap at Garrus, only for Aria and Nyreen to catch it Biotically in the air and then crush it violently, throwing the mangled corpse at another Adjutant that was then executed by a Carnifex round from Mordin. The last Adjutant let out a screeching roar and charged at Shepard, but the Commander dodged its wild swing and brought his Omniblade up, slicing upward and gutting the monster like a fish.

"Just like old times" Garrus remarked as he nudged a dead Adjutant with his boot.

"There's one more thing left to do now" Shepard said, eyeing the doors to Afterlife.

Shepard and Aria Biotically pried the doors open, the team strolling down the dark-red carpet of the entrance lounge in formation, surrounded by decorative holographic flames on the walls. At the end, Garrus hacked the door, and everyone strolled into the 'throne room' of Omega. It was clear Petrovsky had done some redecorating. Speaking of which, the man himself emerged, looking down at them from the 'perch' above.

"The 'guests of honor' have arrived…" he said. "You lot have done quite a bit of damage, you know that?"

"Not as much as we're about to do to you" Aria snarled, her body flaring with Biotic power as she started forward… only for hands to grip her wrists.

"Wait!" Nyreen said as she and Mordin stopped Aria. "Something doesn't feel right. I don't like the look of that machine in the middle of the room."

At Petrovsky's scowl, Aria realized that he'd been anticipating her to charge head-on at him, and likely right into a trap. She looked to Nyreen and gave a slight nod of thanks.

"So what now, Petrovsky?" Shepard asked.

"You just killed the Adjutants we hadn't finished experimenting on… These," he gestured to another pack of Adjutants emerging from the door below his 'perch', "are fully under our control – the prototypes for our future army."

He pressed a button, activating powerful kinetic barriers to surround his 'office', as more Adjutants emerged from surrounding doorways, snarling and twitching. Cerberus soldiers came in as well, and the team found themselves facing quite an obstacle.

"Perilous" Mordin remarked. "Likely not all of us will survive this."

"There's one thing that might even the odds a little" Eve spoke up, taking a couple steps forward. "I haven't really needed to use them in months. But I think we'll need the firepower for this…"

She focused her power and her mind, and then 'stabbed' the hilt of her staff down to the ground with a deep thud, sending out a pulse of invisible energy. After a few seconds, space-time warped as several new entities joined the fray: six large bipedal constructs, around 8 to 10 feet tall, composed of gleaming silver and white metal with glowing red lights here & there. Four of them carried either Z-130 Suppressors or Z-250 'Light-rifles', while a fifth had glowing red hard-light 'fins' on its back and wielded a Z-180 'Scattershot', and the sixth had sharp-looking metal fins sticking up from its carapace and carried a Z-750 Binary Rifle.

"You have your Adjutants, Petrovsky" Eve spoke. "And I? …I have my Prometheans."

"It'll be interesting having these things on our side this time" Garrus spoke quietly.

One of the Adjutants snarled and fired its Biotic Shock-Cannon, and that set the battle in motion. As Team Shepard and Eve's Promethean Knights dodged the energy blast, Aria hit the Adjutant with a Flare attack that badly damaged it and blew it back into a wall; a triple-round burst from a Knight to the head finished it off. Rounds from the Cerberus soldiers' rifles pinged off the Prometheans' durable energy shields, and Eve telepathically gave her constructs their orders: prioritize the Adjutants while she and Team Shepard dealt with the Cerberus soldiers. Acknowledging, the Knights turned their attention to the blue & black technorganic abominations.

Garrus Overloaded a Centurion's shields, allowing Mordin to put the Cerberus soldier down with a shot to the neck, while Shepard and Nyreen used a Singularity/Warp combo to tear apart three Troopers. Aria yanked two Guardians' shields away and then blew their heads off with her shotgun, while an Adjutant that tried to attack her from the side was speared by a shot from the Knight Lancer's Binary Rifle, its misshapen body beginning to disintegrate into orange particles. The Knight Battlewagon used its hard-light blade to sever the cannon arm of an Adjutant, and then blasted it in the face with the Scattershot. Mordin left two Troopers seizing from a Neural Shock, and then put them down with two Carnifex shots.

Shepard moved through the club, SMG in one hand and pistol in the other. He ducked under a swing of a Trooper's electrified blade and fired a 'chain' of SMG rounds point-blank from the Trooper's groin to his neck. As the white-armored man fell Shepard spun to the side and hit a Centurion with a Biotic Throw that slammed the man back against the wall hard enough to drain his shields, letting Shepard put him down with three pistol shots to the face. He heard a bizarre sound as one of the Promethean Knights summoned/ejected a Watcher from its carapace, the droid hovering around; a Cerberus soldier threw a grenade at Aria, only for the Watcher to shoot a tractor beam out and catch the explosive, swing it around a couple times and then launch it right back, the explosion tearing the soldier apart.

Bullets, Biotic blasts, and hard-light bolts filled the air in the club as over the next several minutes, Petrovsky's elite force was picked apart by Team Shepard and the Forerunner war-droids. Finally, the last Adjutant fell, ripped apart by a double Warp from Aria and Nyreen.

"Attention: All Cerberus forces: …surrender."

Eve nodded to her Promethean Knights, who bowed and then vanished back into slipspace storage. The group looked to each other and then made their way through the club, reaching the door to Petrovsky's 'office' and passing through. The general was at his desk/console, speaking into the command console:

"Cease and desist all aggression. It's over." He turned to the Commander as he climbed up the steps. "Commander Shepard, I surrender myself into your custody."

And then Aria was right in his face. "That was the most pathetic thing I have ever heard…" she growled softly, and then hit him with a Biotic backhand that sent him flying.

"S-Shepard, I'm unarmed! And I can give the Alliance intel on the Illusive Man!"

As he tried to stand, Aria grabbed him by the throat and pinned him to his desk, her hands around his throat. "You'll say anything to save your skin" she snarled.

"But…" he wheezed out. "I let you… escape Omega. I deserve… mercy…"

"Is this true, Aria?" Shepard asked.

"…Yes" she replied even as she kept choking him. "Cerberus had successfully taken the station, and he let me go." She turned to her 'victim'. "Do you feel that, Oleg? That's death only inches away. Remember this feeling. …I'm letting you live, for the sake of the war against your master. You'd better cooperate."

With that, she let him go, falling to the floor as he coughed and gasped for breath.

"Take him, Shepard" she said. "You and your Alliance can decide his faith. Just get this filth off of my station."

"Commander…" Petrovsky wheezed out as he stood, while Aria walked away. "Glad to see you've had a… calming effect on Ms. T'Loak. I tried talking sense into her one time. I look forward to hearing how you pulled it off."

"Don't assume you know where this is going" Shepard snapped.

"What? From what I understand, high-ranking Alliance POWs lead fairly comfortable lives. Who knows? You and I may even become friends."

Shepard responded by grabbing the man by the throat, his eyes faintly glowing. "That is not going to happen" the Commander said in a low, calm, and very dangerous tone. "You had better tell the Alliance everything… or I'll hand you back to Aria." He let the man go. "Bray, get this smug bastard outta here."

The black-armored Batarian nodded, and started marching the prisoner Petrovsky out of the room. Shepard and Nyreen joined Aria in looking out over Afterlife, as people began to file in.

"I've been wanting to kill that man for months" she said. "Walk around with you two for a few hours, and I go all soft. I swear, you're like a disease…"

"This victory came at a cost, Aria" Shepard replied. "It's not soft to recognize that."

"You sound like someone trying to sell something. …I admire your tenacity. And thanks to you, I have Omega back."

"So, what's your plan?"

"There's a lot to rebuild, starting with this… 'command center'." She looked around. "It may take some time to remove the general's stink from my throne. Wonder if I'll ever really enjoy the pole-dancing in here again."

"The people of Omega have been through a lot, Aria" Nyreen chimed in. "Try to remember that."

"How can I forget? There are reminders everywhere I look. …And don't worry, Shepard; I'll honor our arrangement – troops, ships, and a mountain of eezo. You've earned it."

"Then I'll be going" the Commander replied.

"Bray will take you and your people back. Nyreen and I have a station to whip into shape."

As Shepard, Garrus, Mordin, and Eve made their exit, headed for the docks to catch a ship back to Citadel space, Aria walked over to the command console, triggering a station-wide broadcast.

"Citizens of Omega, hear me! I, Aria T'Loak, have given you back your lives. My rule is reignited. My hand is on the controls once more, and I will not let go again! Each of you owes a debt. Gain my favor by rounding up the remaining Cerberus invaders, and…" her tone softened "and we will cast them from our home, then bury and mourn our dead. …My methods haven't always been popular, and I can't promise that will change. But securing this station and everyone in it is now my primary purpose. No-one will imprison us again! We may be bruised. We may be bloodied. But we! Are! Omega!"

-CHAPTER END-

Now that was a big one. Next time: the team tries to get a little shore leave…