Disclaimer: I do not own the Mass Effect games. This story is written with no profit in mind. I make no money from it. It isn't for sale or rent.
Chapter 5
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Part 1
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24.04.2183GS
Nova Yekaterinburg
Therum
Despite everyone's best efforts, there were still at least a few Geth platforms and drones skulking around, keeping low profile and doing their best to ambush unwary soldier as well as too many of those cyberzombies Shepard and his crew first encountered on Eden Prime. A Turian marine company was slowly clearing what was left of the town house by house with liberal support from APCs and drones along with a frigate hovering on station above the settlement ready to provide close air support with her Gardian lasers. Sooner or later, the place would be secure – which was a cold comfort for all the dead people or those whom might yet run afoul of the enemy. The reason why Shepard was back there in the first place was the need for specialists, if they were still alive in the first place. With Therum being a mining colony on an active volcanic world, which naturally meant often earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, even at the best of times a well made mine might collapse making it necessary to dig out trapped people. That logically meant that there were specialists to deal with said issue in a safe manner – if they were still alive anyway. Unfortunately, none of those were among the survivors back on the Normandy being treated by Dr Chakwas. On the bright side, a few of them did have names complete with pictures on their omni-tools of a number of said specialists. That's why, Shepard along with Alenko and Williams had to go from shelter to shelter, checking up on the survivors. Meanwhile, the Turians were busy using drones and scanners to map the mine, its ventilation shafts, search for an alternative way in and transporting proper mining equipment from nearby more or less intact mines. With their primary target and other people confirmed trapped inside, they had to be careful on how to proceed, especially when it became clear that the mine/archaeological side was in the side of a dormant volcano. No one wanted to use explosives in the area any more than it was absolutely necessary, especially after the very close orbital strike – awakening said volcano could prove disastrous.
Currently, Vasir was there in charge along with the two Asari survivors from Dr T'soni's security detail. Among other things, they were investigating if it was at all feasible to try digging through the cave-in with their biotics.
"The next shelter should be under that building over there." Alenko said. He was patched into the Mako's cameras, while Ashley was in control of the weapons – so far she got to blast a Geth straggler and a pair of rocket drones that tried to ambush them near the first shelter they checked. On the bright side, the place wasn't compromised and did hold over two hundred survivors. On the other hand, none of them had the necessary expertise, though they offered a few more names to add to his list. They seemed not too pleased in being rescued either – in their mind, the Alliance had arrived to late, not to mention their reaction when he suggested that they either seal themselves back up for the time being until the town could be secured or go east to be protected by the Turians.
Shepard shelved those thoughts for later – he would be adding his impressions on the political situation here to his AAR for the Alliance.
"I see it. It sure looks like it. Look alive people, lets not get ambushed again." The Spectre said.
They met no Geth after piling out of the Mako and carefully breaching into the building. What they did find out was arguably worse – there were four Dragon Teeth in one corner of the warehouse, complete with people impaled on them and slowly turning into husks.
"Put them out of their misery." Shepard barely managed to keep his fury to himself at the sight.
The small squad wasted no time in shredding the transforming bodies with a hail of well aimed bursts. "Alenko, on point. Find the control panel and contact the survivors. We'll cover you."
Five minutes later, they were back on the Mako with a pair of specialists in tow.
=DC=
When they got back to the mine's entrance, they found the place transformed. A Turian platoon had dug in the area with their tech specialists having drones flying all over the area scanning and looking for a vent big enough to sneak a person in… or safe enough to make bigger without bringing the mountain down on everyone's heads. Vasir was at the cave in along with the other two Asari and they were arguing quietly.
"Unless we have a way to stop more rock and dirt from coming down, we might need to remove the whole top of the mountain. It's doable in theory, however we've been fighting for a day now and are exhausted. If there are a few powerful biotics with the Turians or humans, they might be able to keep a field up while you did in, at least for long enough for engineers to stabilize the ceiling before it comes down again, Spectre. Either that or we wait for some proper digging equipment and someone who knows how to use it without bringing the mountain down on the head of our Lady." The senior Asari from Dr T'soni's security detail said.
"Good news, we've got the specialists. The Turians should be bringing the necessary equipment to safely dig in shortly." Shepard explained once he reached the three Asari.
"Good." Vasir nodded. "The alternative we have isn't really feasible." She admitted. "Any issues?"
"There are still stragglers in the town, the marines are digging them out. All we should worry about is the Geth surviving warships. If we're lucky, they're running to safety. If not..."
"They might make a suicide run for asset denial. In that case its up to the fleet to keep us from being blown up." Vasir nodded. She looked down the ramp at a pair of humans arguing with a group of Turian technicians. "Those the specialists?"
It was Shepard's turn to nod.
"Let's get this done before the universe decides to make our lives more interesting."
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A few hours later, there was still no trace of the surviving Geth ships, the town was still being cleared up and most importantly, there were a few digging machines brought and after short check-up period and much longer consultation with maps and scan results, the specialists were busy carefully digging a new entrance into the mine. Everything was going more or less right and that was why Shepard wasn't really surprised that a complication arose. It manifested in the form of an Asari cruiser that dropped from FTL just out of range from the Turian ships and almost immediately became clear that said complications were political in nature among other things.
"Who the hell is Matriarch Aethyta and why is she here?" Shepard asked his fellow Spectre.
"She is supposedly T'soni's estranged father. As for why she is here, the Council forgot to use privacy fields while she was tearing strips off Tevos azure and she learned of our mission that way. At least they were properly chastised for that fuck up."
"Political complications then."
"By all accounts, Aethyta is a hard ass." Tevos nodded in approval. "Which is not necessary good for us." She frowned.
"What are the odds that she is compromised like Saren or Benezia?"
"Good question." The frown became a proper grimace.
=DC=
Part 2
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24.04.2183GS
Therum
A sleek Asari shuttle sliced through the ash choked atmosphere and gracefully came to a hover in front of the Turian makeshift positions. Its side door slid open and an armoured Asari jumped out surrounded by a corona of dark energy. She touched the ground lightly and took a short moment to look around before striding purposefully towards the dig site where the specialists were carefully and slowly creating a new entrance.
"Matriarch." Vasir wasted no time on pleasantries. Her tone was flat and less than impressed.
"Vasir." The other Asari answered in a matching tone. "My daughter?"
"Still stuck in the mine as you very well know. What are your intentions, Matriarch?"
"That should be obvious even to the likes of you, Spectre."
"We can't release her in your custody, Matriarch." Shepard interjected before the pissing match could go further. "We need to confirm if Dr T'soni has been compromised like her mother and Saren and if not, figure out why they want her."
"I'm best suited to make such a judgement." Aethyta glared at Shepard.
"If you aren't compromised as well." Vasir shot back.
"Really, little girl?"
"For all we know, you aren't here to protect your daughter but to deny us either a source of information, Matriarch." Shepard added.
Instead of answering, Aethyta took a moment to pointedly look around. At least half of the present Turians were looking their way and while they weren't aiming her way, they all had their weapons ready. "Are you really ready to open fire on a Matriarch, Spectre?" She looked straight at Shepard as she asked.
"If I have to." His right arm hovered next to the magnetic clamp holding his heavy pistol and the other needed just a gesture to activate his omni-tool and use an attack program.
"You do have quad, Shepard." The Matriarch chuckled. "I'm not leaving without my daughter. Brainwashed or not."
"You aren't getting close to Dr T'soni until we're sure you won't put a bullet in her head." Shepard pointed out.
"Then we're in impasse. I'm not letting you get your hands on her. I'm familiar with the lengths Spectres sometimes go to for the tiniest scrap of information, especially those like Vasir."
"What can I say? I'm very good at what I do." Tela said in the same flat tone she has been using since the Matriarch arrived.
"And I want my daughter undamaged, both in body and mind, Spectre."
"In that case you can get through screening at the same time she does. Then, if you're both clean, I would have no reason to keep you away from her." Shepard said. "Even if she is compromised, your presence might help break through her conditioning."
"That is of course if your own screening comes out clean." Vasir pointed out.
"For a century now, you simply can't open your mouth in my presence without making me want to splatter you all over the walls, can you, Vasir?" Aethyta shook her head. She slowly raised her left arm, activated her omni-tool and pressed a few buttons. "Tevos? Sleeping are we? Will you be so kind to call off your trained attack varren?"
"What did you do this time, Aethyta?" A groggy voice came from the omni-tool.
"Me? I've been entirely reasonable so far. In related news, your pet butchers so far remain in one piece. They want to keep my daughter from me, Tevos. You know me, I've never been one of the most patient people around."
"Goddess… Aethyta we both know you won't be harming my Spectres, if you do it, I'll personally give the Spectre Office a free hand in dealing with you. Now, what in the name of the Goddess are you talking about?" Came the waspish reply. "Better put us in a conference call. Vasir, report. What did Aethyta do this time?"
"She is being her charming self as usual, Councillor."
"Of course she is." The exasperation in Tevos' voice was obvious. "What's the status of her daughter?"
"Still suck in a mine under a dormant volcano. The only viable entrance is collapsed and we have specialists digging us a new way in. They should be done in another fifteen to twenty minutes then we can go in and retrieve the brat."
"I'm not seeing the problem then."
"After that we'll be bringing her to the Citadel for screening and interrogation." Shepard cut in. "Until the Matriarch is pass screening to ensure she isn't compromised we can't let her anywhere near the Doctor."
"That's a reasonable precaution, Spectre. You aren't brainwashed like Nezzy are you Aethyta? If that's not the case then it should be fine for you to follow the Spectres to the Citadel so you can be screened too."
Everyone heard the implied or else.
"You'll owe me one for this, Tevos." The Matriarch grimaced.
"As long as you aren't brainwashed in a murderous maniac… Well, to be any crazier than the average Krogan Battlemaster, then its all right. If that's all? Carry on Spectres and report once you have the VIP safely on the Normandy." With those parting words, Tevos cut the connection from her end.
"May I suggest that I go retrieve Dr T'soni while you ladies try not to kill each other?" Shepard suggested.
That earned him a pair of murderous glares.
"Or if you try to, then do it outside and try not to bring the mountain on our heads?"
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Surprisingly, the rest of the operation went off with minimum of snags. Shepard led the rescue party – Alenko, Williams and two Turian squads along with additional medics while Vasir and the other Asari remained outside under the watchful eyes of the Turian marines. It took them twenty minutes to locate the Doctor and while there was no resistance inside, retrieving T'soni turned out to be more complicated than anyone expected – she somehow had managed to lock herself in some kind of Protean security field while trying to find a way out through the uncovered ruins at the bottom of the mine.
"We can always use the mining laser to cut her out..." Williams suggested – on the level below there was indeed a large mining laser set up for escavation purposes.
"Let's not unless we absolutely have to – we're in a damn volcano and the Turians already dropped and orbital strike almost on top of it." Kaidan disagreed.
"I'm with the human. Let's not get ourselved drowned in lava." One of the Turians shadowing Shepard's team interjected.
"The laser is last resort. Get a tech specialist to secure it just in case while we go say hi to the good Doctor." Shepard looked around for a convenient way up. There was a ramp leading that way at the other way of the lower level.
"Dr T'soni?" He asked just to be sure once they piled up in front of a blue energy field that had a young Asari suspended in mid-air like a fly frozen in amber.
"Yes? Who are you? Are the Geth gone? What about everyone else? Can you get me out of here?" She shouted out a rapid fire series of questions.
"Shepard, SPECTRE. We're here to get you out and back to the Citadel. How do we do that?" He looked for a control panel.
"I think the controls are here with me..." T'soni trailed off.
"That can be problematic." Alenko muttered. He had his omni-tool active and was busy taking scans of the area. Once he saw the reading, the LT whistled. "This is powerful field – if the readings are correct, it can take a missile or two without collapsing.
"Can we simply overload it safely with sustained fire? Even if it goes down for a short while, that should be enough for you to pull her out with your biotics." Shepard suggested.
"It might work though it will take a lot of firepower."
"Its a good thing we have a whole squad here with us." Williams nodded at the Turians.
"You heard the LT. We're shooting up the mass effect field, away from the Doctor until it collapses. Once its down, he'll pull her out. Try your best not to accidentally shoot her."
"Yes, sir. Spread out and aim!" The NCO in charge of the marines ordered and soon eleven assault rifles hammered the ancient field. It took five minutes of sustained fire before the shield fizzled and the only reason they kept on shooting that long was Alenko who constantly kept scanning the field and noticed its power slowly depleting. The moment it failed, he lit up with blue light and pulled out T'soni away moments before secondary power kicked in and the shield came back online.