The Cosmic Age
Long after the defeat of Caesar's Legion and the liberation of New Vegas, the Courier and Lone Wanderer make use of the Theta Technology to bring humanity back from the edge of extinction and take to the stars. When they reach too far they discover that the galaxy is not always receptive to the adventurous.
I do not own Fallout or Mass Effect
Also, for anybody who is sick to death of stories where the Council is incompetent/evil/out of character/childish/any sort of combination of those things...this is for you.
Also, I will be taking SOME liberties with material from both Mass Effect and Fallout.
Xxx
Chapter Thirteen: The Shanxi Insurgency, Part 5, Breakdown
Shanxi System, Shanxi
Turian Dreadnaught A'Kalez
Cargo Bay forward section
March 15th, 2353, 0200 hours
Desolas stood at the cargo bay entrance, watching as teams finished depositing and securing crates in place. The room ran the length of the ship and was located beneath the mass accelerator, allowing for many tons of supplies, weapons and equipment to be safely stowed in fifty meter compartments linked together like a chain. At the moment it was brightly lit and appeared to be far more open than it really was, but Desolas was aware of just how enclosing it could feel when the VIs no longer detected any life and proceeded to plunge the room into a choking, oppressive void. He knew this because he'd once had the misfortune of being in one such chamber when the VIs had suffered a malfunction, leaving him entombed until his absence had been noticed hours later.
He could still recall how each moment had been another of living death until he'd finally lost track of time entirely. Most Turians would have patiently awaited the next time that those doors groaned back open, lesser hearts may have gone insane with fear as the oxygen ticked away with the seconds. Desolas remembered his own fear gnashing at his self control during the first hour when he'd started to fear that he had been forgotten, doomed to suffocate over the course of hours or days as the ship he'd been stationed on at the time cut through the cosmos at FTL speeds and destined to be found when the mess area ran short on rations. But then in the suffocating darkness he found himself being reminded that he was an Arterius, a soldier of the greatest military in the Galaxy and that it was his responsibility to brave this situation and survive...
"These are the last of your personal effects, General."
The voice of the crew chief snapped Desolas back to reality, and he nodded. "Good. And the latest shipment from the station?"
The crew chief pointed to the side where the latest batch of equipment from the station had been stacked. "It's all right over there sir."
"Excellent, you may leave now." Desolas said and stepped towards the single rectangular crate deposited in the middle of the open floor cutting between the rows of supply containers and stowed vehicles.
Desolas waited for the footsteps of the team to fade beyond the threshold of the compartment doors before kneeling down and unlocking the box. He carefully lifted the lid as though he was handling a priceless and fragile work of art, and was even more cautious in his handling of the lone occupant of the crate.
It was a hexagonal cylinder in shape made of a black metallic alloy that tapered towards the top where the top was sealed together by six triangular metal pieces that formed a pressure sealed hatch. The corners were sharp its surface was smooth to the touch and strangely cold, so much that it still caught Desolas off guard whenever he picked it up after a few months of refraining from giving into the urge to see it. He was wearing full battle armour yet the skin of his hands felt a burning chill through his gloves as he lifted the cylinder up so that he could examine it in the light.
Months before the incident with the malfunctioning Cargo VIs Desolas had purchased this under the belief that it was a Prothean artifact, a trinket dug up from some ruins on a nameless world deep in the Skyllian Verge or pulled from the ancient wreck of a Prothean ship or station. For a while that was all that it had been...and then it had been the whisper in the darkness that reminded him, pulled him from the depths of melancholy and focused him.
From that point on it was no longer an artifact, some inanimate canister believed to contain the ashes of a Prothean hero. From that point on it became Desolas Arterius' guiding light.
It spoke to him when he set fire to the cities of Pheldi.
It spoke to him at each victory he added to his record.
And it spoke to him when he set his eyes on the corner of space occupied by this Alliance.
It even spoke to him now, whispering almost intimately to him as he cradled it like a mother would their child. In that moment Desolas felt his doubts dissolve away.
"They don't understand," He said, shaking his head. "They don't see. But they will. When they see, they will understand. When they see..."
They will see that this is for the good of the galaxy.
"They will see that this is for the good of the galaxy." Desolas repeated in a deadpan voice. "They will see soon."
They will see.
Desolas nodded. "They will see." He agreed.
They will see.
Far from where Desolas Arterius sat on the floor of the A'Kalez's cargo hold, thousands of light years away from the Shanxi system and in the depths of space close to a region known as the Perseus Veil a dreaming god stirred. Even as it slept its tendrils reached out across time and space, using the cylinder as a beacon to focus its will through. From there it dug its way into the matter of Desolas' brain, corrupting neurons and wiggling through synapses, flooding his neural network with its toxic influence.
And as the god dreamt it whispered in its sleep.
Salvation through destruction.
"Salvation..." Desolas droned, setting the cylinder back down into the container, "Through destruction."
He locked the container back up and rose to his feet, turning and departing while locking the cargo hold behind him.
The dreaming god returned to its peaceful slumber, envisioning a galaxy in flames as its puppet worked to make that dream reality.
Xxx
New Taiyuan, Brotherhood of Steel Citadel
0430 hours
Nathan slid a fresh energy cell into the gleaming Theta rifle he'd been issued and examined the optics fixed to it. "So in short, we can expect upwards of several hundred Turian soldiers, internal defences and possibly some of these...Biotics?" He looked up from his weapon and looked at Zero, who was examining a Theta pistol.
"Affirmative," She answered and holstered the weapon before hefting a Theta Caster. "So far they've been encountered in isolated instances, primarily by the mercenary team mentioned by Colonel Williams: the Frontier Rangers."
Jane snorted while sliding a shotgun onto her back. "Give that lot points for creativity." She drawled and picked up another Theta rifle.
"According to the captured data a Biotic is an individual exposed to dust form Element Zero in utero and is born with nodules of the element in their body enabling them to generate and manipulate mass effect fields through selective firing of neurons to generate a specific effect while assisted by a cybernetic implant to enable use of these abilities." Zero explained, causing the rest of the team to turn away from their lockers and stare at her. "...they have telekinesis, are stronger, can create shields and teleport and conjure miniature singularities in addition to manipulating their own mass."
That appeared to be easier for them to understand. "Ohhhhhhhh."
"Wait..." Edward said, sitting on a bench and running a diagnostic on his armour. "Dust form Eezo...why does that remind me of something?"
Victoria spoke up from her end of the locker room. "You're thinking of The New Washington Explosion of 45."
"Oh..." Edward nodded before the ramifications of that event struck home. "Oh god...all those children...the ones born with the birth defects!"
Zero grimaced. "The ones born with the Eezo nodes are the lucky ones...most who go through exposure in utero don't come off so lucky."
"The Alliance is going to have a field day with that shit." Nathan shuddered, "Poor kids..."
"Ten-hut!"
They all rounded on the door at once, standing at attention as Owen stood in the opening. He was clad in a fresh Night Hawk armor suit with the helmet held under one arm while another person was standing over his shoulder.
"At ease Shadow Team," Owen said and stepped forward, "I'd like you to meet someone who is going to be accompanying us."
"The Ranger," Zero said before the newcomer could introduce himself, "Leader of the Frontier Rangers mercenary group."
The Ranger chuckled softly. "Well, looks like my reputation precedes me." He said, "Colonel Williams has decided to lean on the side of caution and asked me to take part in your raid."
"He doesn't think we can do it?" Nathan asked, hands on his hips.
"He doesn't want to take the chance that you can't do it with just six sets of hands." The Ranger shrugged, "He offered me a bonus and as it happens when I retire I want a space station of my own with a front row view of a star."
"The fuck would you want something like that for?" Jane scratched her scalp.
"Besides any and all power bills being a bad memory and a unique view which I would have the pleasure of bragging about?"
"..." Jane nodded. "Understandable."
"The Ranger is present because speed is of the essence and we need to hit three different areas at the same time." Owen explained as he stepped forward into the heart of the gathering. "I'm willing to divide us into two fire teams of three again, but three teams of two is too small for my liking."
"And I happen to specialize at working in a team of three also." The Ranger added, "I usually prefer to work alone so I can move faster, but I don't mind working with my own people, with professionals."
Nathan shrugged and sardonically replied. "Hey, if you and a few of your pals want to take a stroll around the enemy ship I'm sure that your charming personality and prize winning humility will be more than enough to steamroll the Turians. What's the exact plan anyways?"
"About to get to that," Owen turned and set his helmet on, "In the meantime we have to get moving now. The beacon was just transferred on board ten minutes ago and the enemy dreadnaught is still locked into the Chairman. I'd prefer that we get moving before anything changes."
The squad picked up their gear and followed Owen out. The corridors leading to the Molecular Relay Chamber beneath the Citadel was lined with scattered groups of Alliance and Brotherhood soldiers along with several mercenaries clad in old fashioned dusters and ranger helmets mixed with more modern armour. Some saluted them as they passed while others called out to them.
"Kick some ass!"
"Take 'em all down Mason!"
"Raptors will never see yah coming!"
Edward looked around awkwardly, his helmet hiding how red his face was turning. "Uh...did we get popular overnight? I don't remember people cheering for us when we went to get packed."
"They have heard of your accomplishments." The gravelly voice of Sentinel Noland greeted them at an intersection where the Super Mutant began to match their pace. "Certain details were skewed, but they know you fought General Mycroft and retrieved a treasure trove of vital information right from the center of an enemy camp. Already people are beginning to chant your name, Mason."
Owen frowned through his visor. "No...not my name, just my father's." He whispered, "If they want to see this as the grand return of the Lone Wanderer then they can damn well feel free. Just don't expect me to smile and wave."
"Fair enough," Noland shrugged. "We have managed to lock onto the relay and confirmed that there is sufficient space around it for your team to drop in. You're clear for immediate deployment."
The team stepped into the Relay Chamber itself. It was bare save for a raised section of floor carved in a perfect circle at the far end of the room, enclosed on three sides by machinery and overlooked by a vast array of metal and wiring. On the fourth side it was blocked off by rows of control consoles. The rest of the chamber was featureless metal that was occupied by several Brotherhood Scribes and two people dressed in armour similar to the Ranger's.
"Meet my team: Ben and Eva." The Ranger gestured to the pair, "Heavy and infiltration specialists, respectively."
"Great, more names to memorize." Owen said without glancing at them and stepped onto the raised section of floor. "Everybody on the platform and for god's sake keep your hands and feet inside the gigantic teleporter."
Ben glanced at the Ranger while he and Eva followed the group. "Wow. And here I thought that you could be a real ass, Jack."
"He's had a long week," The Ranger shrugged as the group settled into place. "Let's pardon the manners and focus on the prize."
Owen ran the squad through one final equipment check to make sure nobody would suffer any unexpected malfunction and then gave a thumb up to Sentinel Noland.
The Super Mutant nodded and began to personally type in the authentication code required to activate the Relay. "Relay transition is set. Countdown set at five seconds." He looked up and raised one thick hand in a salute that was mimicked by everyone else in the room. "...God be with you, Mason."
Rather than assuring Owen this made him question why Noland would choose such a...cheesy final farewell before Shadow Team was engulfed in a blue light. Electricity crackled throughout the room as the smell of ozone permeated the air, leaving the raised section of floor empty and clean as a plate. Noland waved one hand in front of his face and turned away with a weary sigh.
"All our hopes on nine ass holes," The Sentinel muttered, "This can't possibly get any more interesting."
As though the universe itself conspired against him in that very moment his Pip-Boy received an update directly from the front lines. Noland looked through the message as he departed the chamber and raised one confused brow at the latest enemy troop movement.
"They're...pulling out entirely." He said aloud and picked up the pace as he made for the command centre where Williams was located.
Xxx
Turian Dreadnaught A'Kalez
Cargo Bay aft section
0435 hours
The cargo bay was pitch black and devoid of life support systems as a measure to save power for the rest of the ship. If the Turians had the option they also would have cut off gravity to the whole area, but that invited the risk of something being shaken loose during a battle unless every last container was perfectly secure. There was still enough air inside to sustain at least several life forms for a few hours in the event of a mistake such as the one suffered by Desolas Arterius himself years ago on another ship, but there was no one present to hear the crackling of electricity as one of the crates taken from the Alliance station began to rattle and glow through slots in the side.
The crate exploded outwards in a bright flash of white-blue light as electricity arched on the nearby floor and crates surrounding the Molecular Relay, which had been stowed on top of an industrial grav-plate with the other leftover crates that couldn't be fitted into large cube shaped stacks and strapped together. In the aftermath nine figures were left standing in a circle around the now burnt out relay device, their guns aimed outwards.
For a moment all was silent, and then they began to set their visors' settings to allow them to see in the darkness and took in their new surroundings.
Nathan was the first to speak. "Well damn, we really did it. And nobody lost any fingers or toes or anything, right?"
"Shut up Campbell." Victoria whispered to him, "We don't know if we're alone."
Nathan looked around the room as the group began to spread out. "...look pretty alone to me, and even then our suits' external speakers are off." He reminded the Inquisitor, "I could practice my yodelling and nobody would hear me except you guys."
"Please don't try to prove that." Edward groaned before focusing his attention on a section of wall that appeared to be covered by computers. "Hey, think I found something for you, Zero."
The android turned and followed Edward's line of vision. "Oh you Brotherhood types always give me the nicest toys to play with." She patted his shoulder and stepped up to the computer panel. "Okay...looks like power has been cut to it and probably this whole room. Makes sense, but let's see if I can't fix that without giving us away."
"The rest of you scout out this whole compartment," Owen ordered, "Teams of two, nobody wander off alone. Report back when the whole room is clear."
Zero pried the panel out while the rest of the squad spread throughout the room and checked behind or between the stacks of crates. It didn't take long to finish establishing that they were alone in the dark and they quickly returned to surround Zero as she sorted through the wiring within the metal walls.
"Okay...think I can power this one panel with my own core. Cross your fingers."
The panel lit up with a red tinted screen and a matching three dimensional hologram interface in place of a keyboard.
"Bingo."
Zero's free hand danced across the interface as different shapes and walls of text appeared on the screen.
"Okay...we're in the aft section of the cargo hold. Looks like the sensors picked up on our arrival but it looks like their AI thinks that we're a sensor glitch and is running a self diagnostic." She shook her head. "Poor thing looks about as smart as a First Gen Synth, pretty good processing power though...ah ha, there we go littla fella. I just erased us from its vision, now it's back to maintaining other ship systems and nobody will be the wiser until they see this glitch in the next automated system report tonight."
"Can you open the doors and get us out?" Jack asked.
"Yes, but there are two guards waiting outside who will catch onto us pretty quickly."
Nathan slung his Theta rifle over his shoulder and reached for a weapon hanging from his thigh in a sheath. "Let me worry about them." He glanced at Owen. "Sir, they teach us how to sneak up on Yao-Guai back in Arizona. Give me one partner who's almost as good and we can take them nice and quick."
"Count me in." Eva said while pulling out a knife of her own.
"Fine," Owen answered, "But no Proton blades."
"Captain, you wound me." Nathan shook his head as he and Eva moved to stand where the thick metal doors leading out of the cargo hold met. "Do we look like amateurs? I prefer an old school approach."
"Your armour's physically enhancing functions should give you enough strength to break one of their neck." Zero informed them both while working on the door controls. "I wouldn't test it though."
"Noted."
The doors began to groan open, a hiss of compressed air escaping as they parted to reveal a well lit corridor outside. Both Nathan and Eva activated their Stealth Generators and slipped through the gap once it was open enough and saw one Turian guard standing on either side of the cargo hold doors, clearly startled by Zero's handiwork. One began to place a call in.
"Command, Cargo Deck Aft, the doors just opened up and-" The Turian was silenced by Eva jamming her knife right through the material beneath his helmet while Nathan pulled his concealed blade from the sheath on his thigh and slid it across the second guard's throat from behind.
"Repeat that Cargo Deck Aft." A voice emanated from the helmet of the first guard as his corpse twitched several times and then fell still. "Cargo Deck Aft, repeat!"
Zero rushed out and knelt over the dead guard, placing one hand on his helmet. Nanomachinery flowed through ports in her glove and the opening in the Turian's throat section, moving a lightning speed to establish a connection with the Turian's communicator.
"Command, Cargo Deck." Zero said in a perfect imitation of the dead guard's voice. "False alarm, my partner was running a scan from the exterior console and accidentally triggered the door mechanism."
She glanced through the wide open doors into the widely lit cargo bay as the rest of the team stepped out into the corridor. Nathan and Eva dropped their cloaks and reappeared with blades dripping with blue blood. Eva held a simple combat knife while Nathan had...a whole sword, a special model favoured by the hunters of Arizona based on the ancient Greek Xiphos sword-more like a machete or a long knife.
"Acknowledged Cargo Aft." The irritated operator sighed, "Cargo Deck Aft, authentication check: Menae."
"Stand firm." Zero responded.
"Authentication check acknowledged. Try not to mess around anymore, things are tense enough as is. Command out."
Nathan released a breath. "How did you know what the response was?"
"I pulled it from the Turian frigate." Zero answered, "I'm surprised they haven't changed it, but they might not even know that I managed to get it. Each ship has its own unique authentication challenge phrases and answers, and even if they did know that I had the pairs for every ship in their fleet do you think they'd expect someone to pop out of the cargo hold on a highly secure flagship?"
"Still pretty damn stupid of them to not change it," Parker chuckled, "I ain't complaining though."
"We're still to act as if they know we're here." Owen decided, "Zero, did you manage to pick up a layout of this tub?"
"No yet, give me a minute with a fully working and networked console and I should." Zero walked over to the cargo bay's exterior console and hit the command to shut the doors after the bodies of the guards were flung through. She then connected herself to the ship's network and began to carefully sift through streams of data, avoiding the gaze of the simplistic artificial beings who acted more as managers than controllers for different systems on the ship. Soon she managed to access the Turian Battle Net.
"Okay...found it...and I found something else you are definitely not going to like."
Owen stepped forward and stood next to Zero. "Give is to us Zero, how bad?"
"Bad." Zero disconnected from the Battle Net and turned to the squad. "They aren't stating it outright but I think I know what they're doing next. They've set charges on the Chairman along with detachable thrusters. The charges are set in places that won't destroy the station but will blow off non-essential sections of its mass."
"Why would they blow chunks off of the station but not destroy it?" Ben asked.
It was Jack who provided an answer. "They're going to deorbit the Chairman." He said, "It's a theoretical strategy the Alliance has talked about but never used. Turn a large enough station into a projectile and you can take out an entire city. It's also part of what made them consider the Shell as a precaution against Manifest doing something like that to a city with enough aliens and mutants in it. And this is exactly how they believed Manifest might go about it...only all the successful simulations had the Shell being at its full size and strength and with a satellite barely half as big as the Chairman being dropped on it."
"They're going to drop the damn thing on New Taiyuan?" Edward gaped. "They're that desperate?!"
"Perhaps it is because of the fact that their General fears us knowing that he won't be receiving reinforcements." Zero proposed, "If communications out of the system weren't blacked out the Alliance would have already come roaring through the relay to our rescue."
Owen shook his head. "The reasoning doesn't change the fact that they're going to do it, but it does give us another objective. Everybody listen up! We're splitting into teams of three to hit three targets simultaneously."
He pointed to Jack first. "You: Jack, Ranger, whatever your name is. Take your pals and hit the cell block, free Elder Thompson and the rest of the prisoners and arm them. The alien weapons are pretty similar to what we work with so just slap a gun into as many hands as you can and we'll have a small army to take the ship with."
Next Owen addressed Victoria. "Inquisitor Grey, take Campbell and Parker with you to the Chairman. Last time anybody with a telescope looked up here they saw this ship still attached to the station, meaning the docking tubes might still be open. Get over there and either disable those charges or blow the whole damn station for all I care. Correct me if I'm wrong Grey but the Brotherhood has a contingency for detonating stations at risk of crashing on population centers."
"Yes sir. The core uses a Prolat designed energy source and can be overloaded and set to blow on a timer or with the push of a button. The explosion will be strong enough to incinerate most of the structure and anything close enough."
"Set it to a timer that sounds reasonable and we can worry about getting away from it afterwards." Owen said before signalling Zero and Edward. "Rice and Zero are with me, just like last time. We'll head for the command deck and take their CO and control of this whole ship. After Grey's team sets the Chairman to blow we move the ship to a safe distance."
"And then we explain to the Turian fleet that we're just borrowing their flagship and their highest ranking officer." Jack added. "If I recall from what your android here wrote about these Turians they still won't hesitate to attack us even if we have their biggest ship and her commander hostage."
"Indeed, Turians have a strict set of regulations governing the capture of a Dreadnaught by a hostile force." Zero agreed, "Destruction is preferable to possession by the enemy in their eyes."
"We can worry about getting off this thing after we stop them from destroying New Taiyuan." Owen replied and walked past the team, "You have your orders and we're all on the clock now. Move it!"
Jack chuckled as the team split apart and set his radio so that only his companions could hear him. "He really is acting a lot like his old man, isn't he Ben?"
"Spitting image. Think he's anywhere near as good?"
"Well he has two successful missions under his belt." Jack shrugged, "Let's wait and see what he does. I certainly hope he's as good as Logan was. Things were a lot more interesting with him around."
Meanwhile Owen took the time to privately converse with Zero over the radio. "Tell me the truth Zero. If they drop the station on the Shell, will it hold?"
Zero looked at him, her visor masking her expression. "No sir, no it will not."
"Then we'd better hurry."
Xxx
A'Kalez Command Deck
0440 hours
"Sound a silent alert to our security teams." Desolas said as he rose out of the command chair. "We've been boarded."
"Sir?" The operator who had only moments ago conversed with the security team by the Cargo Bay's aft entrance turned and looked at the General in confusion.
"Before that security team called in you reported an electromagnetic surge from the aft-most cargo compartment, yes?" Desolas walked over, his hands folded behind him as he calmly addressed the officer. "One similar to the readings recorded at the airbase during the Alliance raid yesterday, where we discovered that these barbaric mutants somehow possess teleportation?"
"Y...yes sir."
"And more importantly we changed the authentication codes for this ship when we first moved in." Desolas said, hiding the anger that was bubbling up within. "The new response to Menae is 'Stand vigilant'."
The officer realized his mistake. "Yes...sir."
"Then there we have it." Desolas smiled humorlessly, finding the incompetent to not even be worth the time needed to administer a beating or lecture. "Quietly alert our security teams, let the intruders believe that they have the element of surprise and advance the time table. I want that station down by the time they're dealt with."
The officer nodded quickly. "Yes sir, at once General!"
Desolas looked to the back of the room as his younger brother stepped into view, flanked by two members of his own Cabal unit. "Ah, just the man I need!"
Saren and his subordinates snapped to attention. "Sir!"
"Saren, little brother, you have come at a most fortuitous time." Desolas said as he clapped both hands on his younger brother's upper arms. "I have a pest problem that just came from the aft cargo bay and seems to be eluding our sensors. Kindly take your squad and go riddle them with holes and I can worry about just how they were permitted to get on board after we've finished here."
"Yes sir." Saren looked to the Turian on his right. "Teams of three, spread out to cover all vital sections and activate the sensor traps we set up."
The Cabal nodded and left with the other lower ranking Turian, leaving Saren with his brother.
"Don't you usually accompany your men, brother?" Desolas asked.
Saren nodded. "Yes but...I need to speak with you first, General." He glanced around the command deck. "This matter may require some privacy, sir."
"Of course." Desolas stepped out of the room with Saren by his side and shut the doors, leaving them alone in the central corridor outside where Saren's men were already stepping around a corner and out of view. "What do you need, brother?"
Saren looked nervous, and Desolas knew that his brother took on some of the toughest criminals and pirates that the galaxy still had to offer these days without blinking.
"I...I am worried, Desolas." Saren began, "I agree with you that these abominations, this Alliance needs to be brought to heel for the good of all...but I am worried that others may not understand and may even disregard this when they heard of what we are about to do. They do not see or consider the future as we do - as you do. What if the Council condemns this act and punishes you? What if...what if you're going too far?"
Desolas, for once in many years, wanted to hit his brother. He wanted to strike him so hard that his mandibles snapped off and beat his skull in for daring to question the necessity of this! This needed to be done! The Alliance needed to be destroyed, the Hierarchy needed to go to war with them and destroy this collection of freaks! They had to be destroyed for the good of the galaxy! Salvation through destruction-
Immediately Desolas shook his head and groaned, resting one hand on the side of his skull.
No, not Saren. Never Saren!
"Brother?" Saren stepped forward and supported his older sibling, a look of concern on his face.
"I'm-I'm fine." Desolas tore himself away from Saren, more out of fear for his younger brother than anger. "I just...it's been a long few days is all."
He waited to make sure he had his balance and his self control back before calmly responding to Saren's earlier statement. "I understand your worries Saren, but when an action is necessary like this one cannot allow the fear of prosecution to shake their will."
Desolas stepped forward and set his hands on Saren's shoulders. "Maybe they will condemn me for this. Maybe they'll execute me themselves or try to throw me to these monsters. Maybe they will strip me of my rank and call me a monster to be feared forever by the Hierarchy, used to frighten young ones into maintaining their training for fear of my spirit haunting them...but in the face of even that I cannot stand down."
He then pulled Saren into a hug, a rarely seen gesture of affection between Turians. "I can't stand down little brother, because I have a duty to the Hierarchy to destroy or tame all threats to civilization. That is my burden to bear, and that is why if they must punish me for doing what is necessary then so be it." He released Saren.
"I will die knowing that what I do today will ensure the continuation of galactic society as we know it."
He spoke with such carefully placed words and masked the sudden rush of anger that had threatened to make him beat his own brother into a bloody mess on the floor. What Desolas did not comprehend was that these words still were not entirely his own. The presence in his mind had realized that it could not allow him to act any further out of character like it had during his conversation with General Oraka and quickly changed tactics. Luckily it had ceased its efforts just in time, allowing Desolas' own self control to take hold and calm him down-which happened quickly once Desolas realized just who he was on the verge of attacking.
It worked for the most part. Saren still seemed to worry for his brother but accepted the explanation.
"I...understand," Saren nodded, "I don't like it. Spirits, I don't know how it ever came to this but you're still right somehow."
Desolas patted Saren's shoulder. "It is only natural to be concerned or even frightened little brother. But you let me worry about what the Council will do; you are just a soldier following orders, I am the soldier who is giving them. Go and join your team and flush out these intruders, ensure that they cannot interfere."
He suddenly received an alert on his Omni-Tool and opened it up to view sensor footage of an approaching frigate.
"Speaking of interference..." He sighed, "I need to go and deal with my own problems."
Desolas stepped past Saren. "Good luck brother."
"Sir." Saren nodded and watched the General depart, taking a few moments just to breathe slowly until he was certain that his heart would not burst through his chest.
What they were about to do made even Saren question his loyalty and his brother's sanity...but what else could he do but follow orders? What could any of them do but follow orders?
It was following orders that helped to convince him that his brother was not a mad man.
Xxx
Turian Frigate Vigilant Watch, en route to A'Kalez
0450 hours
The frigate serving as Admiral Varis Trisun's temporary flagship had finished ascending away from the Turian staging ground, flanked by a squad of fighters on each side as it made its climb. Within it were far fewer crew members than normal and far more heavily armed soldiers than what was usually stationed on a frigate.
Admiral Trisun was in the CIC, surrounded by the holographic images of General Oraka, Colonel Victus and Rear Admiral Pridius. She was in full combat armour like the rest of those aboard the Vigilant despite their destination.
"It won't be that easy, Varis." General Oraka shook his head. "You must have seen it in him when you spoke to him, right?"
"Believe me Septimus, I saw it." Trisun assured her colleague, "I don't know what it is exactly but Desolas is not himself."
"But why would he become so fixated on this?" Colonel Victus asked, "I'll admit this Alliance is something to be concerned about but this behaviour goes beyond reason."
Trisun shrugged and accepted an assault rifle from a passing Turian soldier. "The reason doesn't concern me one bit Colonel, only getting that maniac off of my ship as quickly as possible before he can do something that will turn this into a full blown war. I have plenty of people in the fleet who I can trust but when I last checked Desolas had seen them all transferred off the A'Kalez and replaced with his own people."
"And he hasn't been in a hurry to obey your command to return the Dreadnaught to them." Pridius added. "I've moved my battle group into position near the A'Kalez just to be safe. If General Arterius tries anything before you get there I'll be ready."
"Good." Trisun slung the rifle on her back. "If he so much as charges the main gun I want you to blow that ship out of orbit. I'd rather have it scrapped than party to his insanity."
"Yes ma'am, understood."
"General Oraka can I trust you to make sure our troops are well away from the city until this mess is resolved?"
"Affirmative. I've already begun withdrawal of our forward battalions, but we'll need time to execute a full tactical withdrawal with these Alliance troops pressing in." Oraka looked over his shoulder as an explosion roared in the background. "Spirits, you'd almost think they want us to stay here."
"Colonel Victus."
"Ma'am?"
"Status of our special forces units?"
"All accounted for except for the Cabal unit of Saren Arterius. He was ordered up to the A'Kalez when Desolas invited himself aboard."
Trisun's eyes narrowed. "I might have guessed. Gentlemen, as far as I care General Arterius is a half step from going rogue. If any of his personnel so much as look at you funny I want you to take them out of the equation. I'll handle escorting him off my ship personally and maybe by some miracle we can get a handle on this situation before it escalates."
Oraka nodded. "Good luck Varis." He said softly.
"Worry about yourself old man, you have the hard job." Trisun said and then cut the link to all three Turians. "Helm, ETA?"
"We're on approach to the A'Kalez now, Admiral." The Helmsman answered, decelerating as he brought the Vigilant close to the larger ship which was now tethered to the human station by several docking ports and grappling arms. "Strange...it looks like they have it docked with the human station."
Giving Desolas' intent that was concerning but Trisun doubted that he'd willingly drop the station while a Dreadnaught was latched onto it even in his current state of mind. For now this at least meant that Desolas wouldn't be able to just de-orbit the station on the flip of a switch.
"Just set us up at an available docking port and let me handle the rest." Trisun ordered while donning a helmet. "The rest of you get ready! First squad to the docking port!"
Trisun had the frigate packed with eighty battle hardened soldiers whose loyalty she could count on. She was hoping to retake her ship without any deaths but given just how far Desolas was willing to go to wipe out a single city she was not about to take any chances. As a further precaution she wore matching armour to every one of her men who were now gathering near the airlock at the midsection of the frigate so that she could not be singled out and picked off by some ambush.
"Lining up with starboard port five, access to primary starboard corridor on the central module," The Helmsman announced over the intercom. "Transmitting authorization codes to Docking VI, stand by."
After a minute of tense waiting the frigate was connected to the much larger vessel and locked into position. Trisun had occupied the airlock with nine other Turian soldiers in full combat gear, each of them a veteran of several years under her command.
"Stand by first squad. Equalizing interior pressure with exterior atmosphere."
Several seconds later the door slid open.
"Go! Go! Go!" Varis barked, leading her team across the docking tube and ignoring the spectacular view of the planet below as they crossed the distance as quickly as possible.
Once they reached the opposite door they found it to be open and leading into another airlock. Only when they were all inside and the exterior door was shut did they allow themselves to react.
"Stand by, decontamination in progress." A VI with a synthesized female voice announced a wave of light washed over the team, repeating this once more before the interior doors opened up. "Welcome aboard Admiral Trisun."
"Spirits," Trisun sighed, knowing that her presence was now likely logged to whoever was on the bridge. "Remind me to have that damn VI reprogrammed after this."
The team spilled out into the corridor beyond.
"Ground Team-Vigilant, entry way is clear. Bring the rest over and prepare to secure the ship." Admiral Varis Trisun said through her radio as her first squad spread out and established a perimeter around the airlock entrance. "And get me a link right to the bridge. I'm going to give Desolas one last chance to get his ass off my ship before things get ugly."
"Hardly necessary Admiral, you can speak to me face to face."
Trisun and her men spun about and levelled their rifles at the lone figure of Desolas standing in the center of the primary starboard corridor. He was carrying a small arsenal but his weapons were safely stowed in their respective positions and his hands were held out to the sides to show that he was presently unarmed.
Admiral Trisun lowered her rifle and glanced at the airlock as the foot falls of the second squad came pounding down the length of the docking tube. "General Arterius, I believe I gave you instructions along the lines of vacating this Dreadnaught and standing down. Can I assume that the rest of your crew has done that?"
"I only have a skeleton crew aboard to keep things running for you, Admiral." Desolas answered, "We were waiting for you to arrive just so I could apologize to you personally for our prior encounters."
Trisun slowly set her rifle onto her back and cautiously approached her counterpart, keeping an eye out for signs of any hidden shooters or turrets. When she was satisfied that the corridor would not yield any surprises that her men couldn't spot she focused on the sole object of her frustrations.
"It'll take a lot more than an apology to keep me from kicking you off this ship and dragging you before the Primarchs, Desolas. I can't just ignore what you intended to do."
Desolas shook his head. "Oh I know that Admiral. Despite what you think of me and what I've said or done in the past I truly do hold you in high regard. You're a credit to the Turian Hierarchy, a master tactician who succeeded in defeating the Alliance fleet with only a fraction of the casualties I or anyone else would have incurred. You have well and truly earned this fine vessel."
He bowed his head. "Which is why I truly regret what has happened between us and what is to come."
For a moment Trisun believed that this truly was the great General Arterius' surrender to her...
But then she realized one fact that had completely flown by her during the conversation. She had kept her suit's external speakers off and had not identified herself upon entering the Dreadnaught. Desolas should not have heard anything she had said even if he was able to identify her based on her issuing hand signals to her squad unless he had access to her team's encrypted frequency.
This occurred to her one second too late.
Xxx
Just further down the corridor towards the aft section of the ship Owen Mason, Edward Rice and Zero were hidden in the safety of their stealth fields. They had come upon Admiral Trisun's team while making their way forward, following Zero's directions to the command deck while avoiding the more populated areas of the ship surrounding the detention area when the Admiral had boarded. At first they had thought that it was a wave of reinforcements before Zero had hacked into the boarding team's radios and heard the gist of what their leader was doing.
"Why would they be here to remove General Arterius?" Owen whispered despite his armour being air tight and sound proof.
"I don't know, but I think we're about to find out." Edward answered as the General in question appeared before the boarding team, who appeared to regard him with some level of hostility as their leader, Admiral Trisun, spoke with him.
Zero tilted her head as she listened to and recorded the conversation taking place. "It sounds like there's been a bit of a schism in the Turian command."
"Sir, I have a clear shot of the General." Edward peered through his scope. "Do I take it?"
Owen shook his head before realizing Edward wouldn't be able to see the gesture. "Negative. Hold fire; let's see how this plays out before we do anything. Zero, I trust that you're recording this."
"Every second of it."
"From the sound of things this Admiral is the ship's CO...and this General isn't very welcome on it, in fact it sounds like he's in some big trouble." Owen said before feeling the metal floor rumble beneath his feet. "What was that?"
Xxx
As the second team stepped out of the airlock Trisun heard a familiar noise: the sound of the broadside mass accelerators unleashing a barrage of death aimed right at the frigate connected to it. The deck rumbled as an explosion roared up the docking tube only to be extinguished as the tug of the vacuum tore several of Trisun's men off their feet, flinging them down the remains of the passage and out into the void while most managed to magnetically lock themselves down.
Trisun went for her sidearm as dying screams and shouts from the crew of the Vigilant filled her ears. Before she could raise it Desolas got in close and gripped her wrist as she brought the gun up. His Omni-Blade formed around his free arm and drove itself up into Trisun's abdomen, driving a burning agony up through her torso as it cut through her armour and flesh with barely any resistance.
The rest of her men who hadn't been sucked out through the docking tube were under attack from assailants who appeared from thin air, dropping from the ceiling on thruster packs and falling upon her soldiers with Omni-Blades or shotguns to quickly put them down. Trisun's vision was consumed by blue as a glob of her blood splattered over the inside of her visor as Desolas twisted his blade and pulled it out, letting her collapse.
"As I said before Admiral," He said, his face now masked by his helmet, "I do regret what is to come, but I cannot allow you to interfere."
The airlock doors had already sealed before the atmosphere could be sucked out of the whole corridor, and in the brief period that it had taken the VI to recognize the loss of pressure in that section all of Trisun's surviving men had been gunned or cut down while only taking a few of Desolas' troops with them. Turian blood now stained the deck plating as well over a dozen corpses littered the corridor with a half dozen survivors standing over them.
"Well," Desolas turned away, "That's one issue taken care of."
"Sir! Admiral Pridius' ships are moving in on us from all sides! He's threatening to open fire unless we surrender!" The officer left in charge of the bridge shouted through Desolas' radio link.
"Ease yourself of your fears Lieutenant. I knew that Kravos would react the moment I finished with Trisun and took certain measures to ensure he couldn't intimidate us into surrender." Desolas smirked. "We proceed as planned."
Further back down the corridor, Owen Mason and his team watched in shocked silence as they tried to understand what they had just seen.
Xxx
Turian Cruiser Valor
Command Deck
"All ships are in formation around the A'Kalez Admiral." Hen'ar informed Kravos.
"Lock firing solutions and await my command! He has until the count of thirty to stand down or by the Spirits we will blast that Dreadnaught out of the sky!" Kravos growled, his eyes fixed on the image of the exploding Vigilant.
The frigate was by now a cloud of debris sailing away from the Dreadnaught. Kravos had dispatched a flight of rescue craft moments ago to search for any survivors but he was not too confident in finding more than a few. The broadside guns of the A'Kalez carried twice the average firepower of even a frigate's main accelerator and the Vigilant's barriers had barely fended off the first salvo before collapsing.
"Sir, elements of the fleet are pulling away from their formation and taking up position around the station...and they're locking onto us!"
"What?!"
Kravos looked at the tactical display which showed as many as four Cruisers and their escorts facing off with his own ships. The rest of the fleet was sending out confused transmissions, Captains requesting orders or demanding to know what was happening.
"Attention Turian vessels, stand down!" Kravos barked, "You are impeding General Desolas Arterius' arrest."
"Negative Valor," One of the rogue Captains replied. "We have our orders...straight from the General."
"If you do not stand down now you and your crews will be held accountable for his actions and charged with treason!"
"Says the glorified Patrol Captain who was about to follow a woman who would have surrendered right when we're on the verge of victory! We followed Desolas here to put these freaks down and we are not in the business of leaving a mission half completed. So Captain Pridius stand your ships down and await orders from General Arterius or be fired upon."
It was clear that there would be little reasoning with these zealous worshippers.
Kravos cut the link and contacted the rest of the fleet. "This is Rear Admiral Kravos Pridius. General Desolas Arterius is in the middle of attempting to execute a deorbiting of the enemy station with the intent of destroying the city below in contradiction to the Citadel Conventions regarding warfare. He has just murdered your fellow soldiers, including Admiral Varis Trisun, and has illegally seized control of the Dreadnaught A'Kalez. I am ordering all ships to fall in with me and prepare for a full frontal assault on the A'Kalez and any ships allying with Desolas. Failure to do so will be considered grounds for high treason against the Turian Hierarchy and the Citadel Council. Rear Admiral Pridius, out."
He settled back into his chair and took a deep breath as he watched ships move into formation with his own while others seemed to hang back as though uncertain of what to do. In a few minutes the entire Turian Fleet found itself being split down the middle as loyalties were tested and given.
"Spirits save me," Kravos whispered, "How the hell did it come to this?"
Xxx
BSF Chairman Benny
Docking tube
When Victoria and her team had reached the tube connecting the enemy ship to the station they encountered several armed Turians guarding the passage. Their stealth fields had made it easy to get in close enough to take them by surprise but one of the Turians had quickly deployed a combat drone that managed to pick out and mark the three attackers for the remaining Turians. After that it had turned into a prolonged firefight as Victoria and her team, armed with superior Theta base weaponry gunned down their opposition with one or two shots per kill, usually reducing their targets to ashes.
As the final Turian fell nearly half way down the length of the docking tube Victoria lowered her rifle. "Alright, reload and advance into the station. We don't know how many are on board!"
"Uh...Victoria? Janie? Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Nathan asked, pointing out through one of the view ports in the side of the tube towards the Turian ships beginning to move closer to the station. There were dozens, but they appeared to be aiming at one another. "What are they doing?"
"Hell if I know or care right now." Jane answered as she finished loading her rifle and moved forward. "We still have an objective so let's not sit around twiddling our thumbs, Campbell!"
Victoria nodded, "Agreed. We can worry about them later. Let's focus on blowing this station."
Nathan sighed and followed after them. "Why do I have a feeling that we're missing some context here?"
Xxx
Alliance Carrier ASV Shady Sands
Command Deck
"What in the devil are they doing?" Captain Deathstalker wondered aloud as he observed the images of the invading fleet, which appeared to be chaos before forming into two formations surrounding the Chairman Benny. "Are they...locking onto one another?"
"Affirmative Captain, we have confirmed weapon locks between the enemy ships."
Deathstalker shook his head. "This is just ridiculous! What has come over them?"
"Don't know sir...but we're receiving a transmission from the Relay."
"What? Put it up now!"
Xxx
Turian Cruiser Valor
Command Deck
"Most of the fleet has rallied around our cruisers sir." Hen'ar said from her station, "The patrol fleets are receiving your message now and some are rerouting, but I don't know if they're coming to join us or assist Desolas."
Kravos shook his head. "We can't wait. Every second is another that mad man has to put his plan into action. Divide our ships into battle groups and prepare to attack! Primary objective is the absolute destruction of the A'Kalez and the Alliance station..." He checked his Omni-Tool, "Chairman Benny."
The ships allied with Kravos outnumbered the ones now surrounding Desolas' position, but not by a great deal. Out of the near hundred warships in the system almost forty were out running patrols or defending the relay; another twenty five were now protecting the A'Kalez while the forty armed transport ships were moving out of range of the standoff, lacking anything in the way of ship to ship capabilities. There were maybe a half dozen others returning from patrol that could change the tide of what would quickly turn into a firefight between Turian ships.
"All ships are divided into three battle groups and prepared to attack."
"Launch fighters and move in!"
"Targeting solution locked in Captain!"
Kravos had been hoping that some of the crews loyal to Desolas would lose their nerve by this point, but none of the ships protecting the A'Kalez appeared to be moving anytime soon. There was no more time to stall or fight off what had to be done.
"Forgive me," Kravos whispered before nodding to Hen'ar. "Open fire!"
Xxx
A'Kalez, Docking Tube
Saren examined the fallen Turians spread around the entrance of the docking tube as well as the few that had retreated inside only to be cut down. The few bodies not turned into piles of ash had deep burns in their armour that had gone all the way through and made clean holes through the bodies.
"They have been here." His eyes narrowed.
Saren stood up and sprinted through the docking tube. "This is Lieutenant Arterius! Humans have boarded the station!"
"Acknowledged, Saren," Desolas responded. "They must have somehow found out about the plan. I'll be over with a team soon to assist. Keep them from sabotaging anything in the meantime."
"Affirmative!"
Saren reached the end of the docking tube and stepped aboard the Chairman, taking a rifle off of his back before he continued further.
Xxx
CODEX OPENED
Accessing Files...
File Opened: New Washington Explosion of 45 & the Biotic Emergence
On December 14th of 2345 the Alliance freighter MSV Barbados was on route to land at the New Washington shipyards with a shipment of element zero transported from extrasolar mining facilities. While making its final approach the freighter experienced an engine malfunction and exploded in orbit over the New Washington region, spreading dust form Element Zero over dozens of square miles. Only the crew of the Barbados died as a direct result of the explosion, however the following year showed the true consequence of this tragedy when women who had been pregnant at the time of the explosion began to experience miscarriages or gave birth to deformed children while others showed evidence of element zero in their system.
On March 15th, 2353, Android Zero discovered the existence of Biotic abilities through captured Turian data. This information led to the Alliance opening up research into Biotic implants and conducting a thorough census of all children born in New Washington who possess Eezo nodes in their bodies.
File Closed.
And here by popular demand is a list of all the significant characters involved with this story so far. Bear in mind most of these characters won't be appearing much through the rest of the story and the narrative will become more focused on a particular Commander who we all know and love.
THE MAIN CHARACTERS
Captain Owen Mason, Alliance Navy, second son of The Lone Wanderer and Captain of the frigate ASV Fawkes.
Sergeant Nathan Campbell, Alliance Marines, descended from Caesar's Legion and a member of the Alliance Marines.
Inquisitor Victoria Grey/Mason, Brotherhood of Steel, the secret daughter of Alex Mason and Joanna Campbell and an Inquisitor based out of Terra Nova.
Knight Edward Rice, Brotherhood of Steel, a tech-specialist.
Inquisitor Jane Parker, Brotherhood of Steel, an Inquisitor with prosthetic limbs granting her enhanced strength.
Zero, android (Second Generation Synth), formerly affiliated with Manifest which constructed her until Owen Mason had her personality erased, leaving her a blank slate which was motivated to assist the Alliance by a series of failsafe charges Owen had planted in her body.
SECONDARY CHARACTERS
Paladin Grawk, Brotherhood of Steel, Nightkin and based out of Terra Nova.
Colonel Ashe Williams, Alliance Marines, head of Colonial Marine garrison on Shanxi
Sentinel Noland, Brotherhood of Steel, Super Mutant and second in command of the Shanxi Chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel.
Elder Thompson, Brotherhood of Steel, Ghoul, Head of the Shanxi Chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel.
Inquisitor Alex Mason, Brotherhood of Steel, first son of The Lone Wanderer
President Gregory Irons, President of the Systems Alliance
Captain Hannah Shepard, second daughter of The Courier and a Captain in the Alliance Navy in command of the ASV Einstein.
Captain Deathstalker, Alliance Navy, Head of Shanxi Defence Fleet
Jack Harper, Ranger Mercenary Team, Leader
Eva Core, Ranger Mercenary Team
Ben Hislop, Ranger Mercenary Team
Joanna Shepard, first daughter of The Courier, wife of Alex Mason and mother of Victoria Grey/Mason (DECEASED)
Sergeant Scott (DECEASED)
Lieutenant Sutton (DECEASED)
Paladin Santos (DECEASED)
General Desolas Arterius, Turian Hierarchy, Commanding Officer of the task force invading Shanxi.
Lieutenant Saren Arterius, Turian Hierarchy, Cabal
General Septimus Oraka, Turian Hierarchy, Second in Command of all Ground Operations.
Admiral Varis Trisun, Turian Hierarchy, Commanding Naval Officer (DECEASED (?) )
Colonel Adrien Victus, Turian Hierarchy, Third in Command of all Ground Operations.
Rear Admiral Kravos Pridius, Turian Hierarchy, recently promoted by order of Admiral Trisun to take command of Turian Fleet elements at Shanxi.
General Ian Mycroft, Manifest, Military Division Commanding Officer.
I didn't include the Crusader team because quite frankly they aren't going to play a major part in the story except to show up to be bad ass and maybe as war assets. Crusaders 1 through 6 are humans (3 and 4 are women), Crusaders 7 through 9 are Super Mutants (7 is a woman), Crusader 10 is a Death Claw and Crusaders 11 and 12 are Prolat.
And here by...well...my own personal decision is THE SUMMARY SECTION. In it I will summarize the events of this chapter in chronological order for the benefit of readers.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
Desolas opens a container in the A'Kalez's forward cargo compartment which influences his thoughts and actions. Several hours later Owen Mason and his team, joined by Jack Harper and his Rangers, teleport aboard the A'Kalez with the intent of sabotaging it to break the Turian fleet's morale and depriving them of a vital military resources. Desolas becomes aware of their arrival and dispatches Saren and his Cabal unit to track and eliminate them.
However around the same time Admiral Trisun approaches on the frigate Vigilant Watch to take back command of the A'Kalez and remove Desolas from command so that she can put an end to the Invasion of Shanxi. She arrives several minutes after Owen's team and is met by Desolas, who has the Vigilant destroyed by the Akalez's broadside guns and kills the rest of Trisun's team while fatally stabbing the Admiral through the torso with Owen, Edward and Zero witnessing his treachery.
Rear Admiral Pridius reacts to this by moving his ships into position to destroy the A'Kalez if Desolas does not immediately surrender, but is stopped by ships loyal to Desolas intercepting him and creating a standoff that is viewed both by Captain Deathstalker and by Victoria, Nathan and Jane as they cross the docking tube connecting the Dreadnaught to the Chairman Benny station.
While Kravos launching an assault on the A'Kalez with a little over half of the fleet present following him, Saren discovers that Victoria's team has boarded the Chairman and rushes in pursuit of them. Desolas promises to come to his aid as the chapter ends.