MASS EFFECT ANDROMEDA SERIES II
CHAPTER 16
"Did anyone understand that crap that VI told us back there?" Wrex was the first to break the silence as the Mako trudged through the water trench pathway.
"I can't believe all the Protheans were wiped out by the Reapers…all of them. And the ones who they thought were safe in those cryo-containers were literally wiped out by the VI." Garrus shook his head solemnly as he stared at the vehicle's nav-cam. A few pockets of geth were remaining throughout the curvy trench but nothing too threatening. It didn't make any sense. Where were all of Saren's forces?
"I don't have to understand much what it said, all I need to know is that Saren is almost to the conduit and we need to stop him. I knew those damn Keepers were not to be trusted." Shepard growled as he turned the vehicle around another bend.
"To think all this time, we were told not to bother them, but no one really questioned why?" Garrus pointed out.
"Looks like more Geth rocket troopers," Shepard slowed the vehicle down and aimed the Mako's main torrent." Firing." The vehicle rocked back as a heavy artillery blast shot out and nailed the pair of troopers up ahead. The explosion incinerating them both as they flew back.
"Hmph. Pathetic. I guess Saren's running out of Geth," Wrex chortled.
"Commander, I'm picking up a large energy signature up ahead," Garrus looked at one of the instrument panels. "It's off the charts!"
Shepard slowed the Mako as the waterway dipped down a large hill. "What is it?" Wrex asked as he tried to stand up as best as a Krogan could in the confinement. He was use to much larger rovers on Tuchanka.
"Well at least we know where Saren's army is," Shepard commented as he exited out of the Mako. Down where the hill bottom out, they saw the conduit relay spinning brightly but blocking their path to it were at least six armatures and multiple geth troopers. They were too out of range to worry about being shot at presently but it was pretty clear if they knew the Geth were there then the Geth were aware of their presence.
"There's no way our shields could withstand a full assault against that many Armatures if we go at them one at a time." Garrus' eyes widened as he saw what was set before them.
"Maybe a diversion?" Wrex threw out. "I could lead the troopers away given the Mako time to take aim at those pyjaks."
"Negative," Shepard shook his head as he studied their options. "There's no ground cover and your retreat back would be up this hill. I can't have you in the open like that, Wrex."
An alarm went off in the Mako below gathering their attention back." Um, Commander," Garrus looked down to see what the indicator was for. "The conduit is becoming unstable. We have less than three minutes till it collapses." His voice rose in a panic.
"Damnit! Saren's closing the conduit! Move! We have to go now!" Shepard pushed Wrex to get him back down into the Mako where Garrus and then he followed suit. Not bothering on strapping in, Shepard shoved the accelerator and the Mako's wheels peeled out as it got a grip on the water.
"Ha! Right into the Maw's mouth! I love it!" Wrex grinned as he eagerly watched the screen. "Want me to take the weapons control, Shepard?"
"Don't have time. We stay and fight and we are dead meat. We just going to have to hope that the Mako's shields withstand this many hits because we are going to feel it," Shepard gritted his teeth as he reached over with one hand to put his restraint on.
The armatures took no time in attacking and there direct blasts shook the Mako as it cleared the hill to head to the relay. The bolts shook the Mako's violently inside. "Shields down to 50%!" Garrus yelled as he watched the shield indicator. He felt his brow begin to sweat.
"We are going to make it!" Shepard clenched his teeth as he kept the throttle down trying to ignore what was outside. The conduit was getting closer and closer but not close enough. The Mako continued to shake as the Geth relentlessly pursued them.
A large klaxon blared in the vehicle making the situation worse. "Shields gone! We are taking direct structural hits! A few more blasts and this thing won't hold up!" Garrus pounded the panel with his fist. The relay was taking forever to reach them.
"We are going to make it!" Shepard yelled ignoring him and the alarm. Seconds later the Mako picked up energy from the relay and it shot their vehicle straight up. The sheer speed was too much for its occupants as they were pressed down flat against their seats. Garrus took notice that for once Wrex was holding onto his restraints.
Within minutes, which felt even longer, the Mako violently touched the surface as something as it slammed onto its side and skidded a good few yards. Garrus head snapped back and he felt his whole body ache. Were they dead? Shepard was the first to undo his seatbelt. "Let's move." The man stumbled a bit as he laid back down on his side to crawl out of the vehicle's exit.
"Right behind you, Shepard," Garrus held his head trying to press back the headache that was strongly coming on. As he exited, he couldn't believe the apocalyptic scene before him. They were in the Presidium on the Citadel outside the Council Tower. The only difference was that the lushness and tranquility that was once displayed there was gone. Instead everything was charred or still on fire. Dead bodies littered the pathways and the nearby scrambled message from Avina was playing over and over again. "What happened to this place?"
"This is not good," Wrex added as he was the last one to exit. The familiar sound of husks approaching directed their attention over to where Avina was. The same spikes like on Eden Prime that Shepard talked about were found and several husks were lumbering towards them.
"Lock on and blast them to hell!" Shepard ordered.