Mass Effect: The Hammer of War

by IX404

When fighting against Tyranids on a far flung Civilized World, Primaris Space Marine Marcus Tyrellus expects it to be like every other day in the Imperium of Man. Little does he know is that, he, and a few others, will soon be working to save another universe from destruction at the hands of an ancient foe.

7. Talks & Prison Break

Hello again, everyone, and welcome back to my Warhammer/Mass Effect crossover.

Thank you for the support you showed last chapter. I must admit, I wasn't sure if that scene with the Emperor's message coming through Garrus was a good idea, but I'm glad that you guys approved of that. Thank you very much.

Don't forget that I have a poll going on my profile. If you haven't voted yet, I highly recommend that you do so. You can choose up to eight votes at a time.

As always, leave a review and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Mass Effect or Warhammer franchises. They are the respective properties and trademarks of BioWare, Electronic Arts, Games Worshop, etc. Any material original to the franchises belongs to their respective developers and publishers. Any material not original to the franchises is of my own invention. I do not own any music listed in each chapter. Any music listed belongs to it's original composers and/or artists.

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SSV Normandy

Comm/Briefing Room

054.185.M3

A few hours later, Shepard was in the briefing room, waiting for Garrus and Tyrellus to arrive. Jacob was inside to deliver a report on the former of the two. "Commander, Dr. Chakwas says that Garrus is in the best condition possible. All he needs is some sleep. Best we can tell, he'll be up soon."

Just as he said this, the individuals in question walked inside. "Shepard?" Garrus asked, with Jacob walking out. "That was a phenomenal rescue mission. We took out those mercenaries, and killed their leaders, all while getting out alive and well."

"You can thank Tyrellus for that," Shepard replied. "He planted the bomb that destroyed Tarak's gunship, and none of the mercs could stand up to him. I think I can safely say that he'll be staying with us for quite some time."

"Until the Emperor commands it, I will not leave you," Tyrellus nodded. "Still, it warms my heart to know that we punished the enemies of Man in such a manner."

"I'm also worried about you, Shepard," Garrus added. "Remember those sick experiments that Cerberus did, Shepard?"

"That's why I'm glad you're here," Shepard nodded. "If I'm walking into Hell, I want someone I can trust by my side."

"You do realize this plan has me walking into Hell too, right?" Garrus asked. "Hah. Just like old times. I'm fit for duty whenever you need me, Shepard. I'll settle in at the forward batteries."

As he left, Shepard said, "Tyrellus, you did good out there. Are all Space Marines as good as you are?"

"Some are better than me," Tyrellus nodded. "I remember one in particular. Brother-Captain Titus if I recall, an Ultramarine like me. He single-handedly stopped both an Ork WAAAGGHHH, as well as a Chaos incursion. If your deeds are anything like his, then you two are of a similar mettle of warrior."

"That sounds like high praise."

"That it is, Shepard. The Emperor Protects."

"Pardon?"

"It is a traditional goodbye by citizens of the Imperium. It is a shortened version of the phrase, 'The Emperor protects the virtuous.'"

"Ah, I see. See you around."

"And you as well."

. . .

Up at the forward gun batteries, Garrus was busy calibrating some of the weapon systems onboard the Normandy. While he calibrated in order to keep the weapons ready, it was also something he did in his spare time. Beyond that, he'd clean his rifle and make sure his gear was good to go.

As he worked, his mind drifted back to when he had that dream. He could still hear that voice in his mind. "Garrus Vakarian, few xenos have the nobility of heart and purity of soul that defines a true warrior and defender of justice. Were it not for this purity, I would not be speaking with you right now.

"I deliver an omen and a glimmer of hope. Be wary, for betrayal will come from within your men, but when you are almost at the end, a child of one of my sons will come with Shepard and rescue you. Steel yourself, for you are nearly out of the tunnel and in the light."

The memory faded as he finished his calibrations. Taking a moment, he sat down and said, "I don't know if you can hear me, Emperor, but whoever you are, I want to say thank you for helping me survive. I don't know if my kind is worthy, but I'll do what I can to help Shepard. He's a good friend, always has been."

As he said this, he became aware of a slight tremor in the deck. Confused, he was about to check the diagnostic systems when he heard the door opening behind him. Turning around, he relaxed when he saw the armored form of Tyrellus walking into the room. "Tyrellus," he greeted, "need me for something?"

"I merely wished to speak with you," Tyrellus replied. "I am not interrupting anything, am I?"

"Just settling in," Garrus replied. "Nothing wrong with a little socialization." Sitting down, he said, "I thought that I'd seen every weapon in our fight against Saren. Mercenary work showed me otherwise, and then you and Shepard arrive in an upgraded Normandy from Cerberus. Wish I'd joined up with them sooner."

"They are merely providing the money for this mission from what I can gather. Nothing more."

"Relax, Tyrellus, just a figure of speech. That's when your Emperor came along and showed me what it was like in your Universe." For a long minute, Garrus was silent before he said, "For once, I'm kinda glad that the galaxy here is mostly peaceful. I would've been killed otherwise by those Orcs and Chaos entities, if your own Imperium didn't get to me first, no offense intended."

"No offense taken," Tyrellus nodded. "You are right, however. If we were still within the Imperium of Man, I would have silenced you in an instant. Still, the fact that you were not involved with the Age of Strife, and that the Emperor has commanded me to work with your kind, is why I stay my hand."

"That's good to hear," Garrus nodded. "So, what do you want to know?"

"I noticed a slight amount of animosity between your kind and my own kind. I am intrigued as to why that is the case. I thought your species and Humanity were friends, not foes."

"We are," Garrus replied. "Most of that tension comes from the fact that our species, the Turians, were the first ones Humanity encountered. Back then, opening Mass Relays was a felony by Council Laws."

"I take it the Alliance was unaware of that law."

"Correct. When our species stumbled onto yours, General Desolas jumped to conclusions and had the fleet fire on the explorers for breaking a law that your kind didn't know existed. What followed was a month long occupation, which ended when one of your Admirals evicted our kind from Shanxi, the planet that was occupied. War would've followed, but the Council stepped in and, after receiving all of the evidence, forced my species to pay heavy war reparations. In all fairness, we did instigate the fight, and we did jump to an incorrect conclusion."

"You admit that your kind made a mistake. That takes a considerable level of maturity."

"That it does. Since then, some Primarchs have been working overtime to heal that wound, as well as most of the Alliance."

"Wait a minute," Tyrellus interrupted. "Did you say 'Primarchs?'"

"Yes," Garrus nodded, not bothered by the interruption. "They are the leaders of Turian society. Turian society is a meritocracy, where you have to prove you can do the job in order to ascend the ranks. The ones at the top are the Primarchs; they oversee the general direction that the Turian Hierarchy takes. They also elect a member of their own to be the Primarch, the leader of all Turians. Why do you ask?"

"We have our own Primarchs," Tyrellus explained. "They are superhuman beings that are the children of the Emperor of Mankind. Sadly, half of them became traitors, though the other half remained loyal to the cause the Emperor champions. I, for instance, serve the Loyalist Primarch Roboute Guiliman, the Avenging Son. There are others, like Sanguinius, the Primarch of the Blood Angels, and Ferrus, the Primarch of the Iron Hands."

"Interesting," Garrus nodded. "I'm sorry about the others though. Wonder if I could've done something if I was there."

"There is nothing for you to be apologetic about, Garrus. You were not there when the Horus Heresy began, so there is nothing you could have done. Even if you were there, taking on the Traitor Warmaster would have been tantamount to suicide, though your bravery would have been commendable."

"True," Garrus admitted. After a moment, he asked, "So, do you always wear that helmet? Part of me wonders if there's a mech inside there."

In response, Tyrellus took his helmet off, allowing Garrus to view the Space Marine's facial features for the first time. Apparently, he was impressed, as both brow plates shifted upwards, while his mandibles shifted down and out. "Damn, you're one handsome looking Human. Sorry about my earlier remark."

"There is nothing to be sorry about, Garrus," Tyrellus replied. He had to admit, it did feel good to take off his helmet every so often. "Most have wondered the same. You are likely going to be one of the few Xenos to gaze at my visage."

"Right," Garrus nodded. Looking at Tyrellus' gun, he said, "Nice Bolt Rifle. I have to admit, when I first saw them in that vision the Emperor provided to me, I thought they were for hunting Krogan. Now I know they're for hunting things worse than Krogan."

"Very true," Tyrellus agreed, standing up and putting his helmet back on. "I must go back to what I usually do now, Garrus. The Emperor Protects."

Garrus nodded, before surprising Tyrellus a bit when he said, "The Emperor Protects." With that, he went back to calibrating, while Tyrellus began to move towards the CIC of the Normandy

As he walked along, Tyrellus thought back to what Garrus had said about Humanity's first contact with the Turians. I think I know what the Emperor meant by a species that had attacked Humanity, only to realize it's mistake and seek penance, he remembered. From the looks of things, the Turians are well on the way to fulfilling their penance to Humanity. Building a voidship together is a good step towards reconciliation.

He was about to head for the elevator when he remembered what Miranda Lawson had tried at one point. He had to admit, though, he didn't know much about Cerberus, and that was a deficit he couldn't allow to go on. It is time that I speak with her, he nodded.

Moving for Miranda's office, he watched as the door opened to reveal a room that contained a desk with computers, a sofa, a bed, and a few other pieces of furniture. A view-port to the outside world revealed the stars that were currently visible from this angle. The room was quite cozy, though Tyrellus was more comfortable with the bunk that he had back aboard the Scourge of The Xenos.

He could also see Miranda, who was typing at her monitor. Looking up, she said, "Tyrellus, I didn't expect you to come inside." Finishing up her typing, she leaned back and asked, "What can I do for you?"

"I am curious as to your organization, which you mentioned after you tried to steal my weapon," Tyrellus replied. "To that end, I would like to learn more about it"

"I see," Miranda nodded. "No doubt that you've got a lot of questions, and I've got answers for those questions. Cerberus isn't as 'evil' as most people think us to be. I'd be happy to allay any worries that you have."

"I am merely curious as to what your organization is about, Miranda. What are it's goals? How is it structured? Who leads Cerberus?"

"Cerberus is a privately funded organization with one goal: the advancement and betterment of the Human race, nothing more, nothing less. We use a number of methods to get the job done. As for who leads us, that would be the Illusive Man."

"A strange name for the leader of an organization."

"It was a codeword that the Alliance designated for him when they received the Cerberus Manifesto. However, that codeword adequately describes the Illusive Man, as no one, not even I, knows his real origins. As such, it has remained that way for quite some time."

"I see. Shepard mentioned to me when we came aboard that he had some ill encounters with Cerberus. Care to elaborate?"

"I see. Shepard mostly encountered the military branch of Cerberus. We have multiple branches, though they can be grouped into military, scientific and political branches. While the experiments conducted by the military branch were extreme, I can tell you that the Illusive Man reprimanded those individuals for their approach."

"And what about you?"

"I was in charge of a specific group with one purpose: to bring Shepard back. That was our only goal. Only time will tell if that is the correct one."

"You don't trust Shepard."

"I trust Shepard," Miranda frowned. "I simply want him to understand that Cerberus is not evil, just misunderstood."

"Yet your organization has given the rest of the galaxy good reason to be wary," Tyrellus added. "Surprised? I decided to read the records and data-slates on your organization's actions. Attempting to create a bioweapon using an insectoid Xenos race? I cannot tell if your organization was being foolish, or stubborn."

Miranda frowned at those words, though she did come up with a reply. "I take it your organization didn't do the same?"

"No," Tyrellus replied. "We are taught to hate the xeno, kill the mutant and to purge the heretic. While your organization has done good for Humanity, it has also done a considerable level of harm. Many of our Tech-Priests would be disgruntled by the nature of your experiments, and the Inquisition would certainly frown at your actions."

He was about to continue his observation when the intercom chimed in. "Marcus Tyrellus, Garrus Vakarian, Miranda Lawson, report to CIC immediately. Tyrellus, Garrus and Miranda, report to CIC immediately."

"It seems like we're needed," Miranda noted as the intercom fell silent. She was about to ask Tyrellus a question when he turned and left.

This time around, Tyrellus had arrived before Shepard or Garrus, as they walked in to see him waiting for them to arrive. "You're very punctual," Shepard noted. "That's good to see."

"The Emperor abhors tardiness," Tyrellus replied. Turning to Shepard, he asked, "What do you require of me? I am ready to fulfill your commands in accordance with the Emperor's wishes."

"Good to see that you're ready to go," Shepard nodded. Pulling up another dossier, he said, "The next recruit we're going to be picking up is a convict that's known as 'Jack.' Not much else is known about Jack, though we do know where we'll be picking Jack up at: Purgatory."

"Is that some kind of prison?" Miranda asked.

"I know a little bit about Purgatory from my days back at C-SEC," Garrus explained. "According to some information we got, it's a ship that acts like a mobile prison. Anyone that's caught doing a crime can end up there if they're far enough from a legitimate state penitentiary. Last I heard, it was being run by the Blue Suns, which we just dealt with on Omega."

"We'll have to be cautious about that," Shepard nodded. Looking at Tyrellus, he asked, "Any experience on this that you can share?"

"Yes," Tyrellus nodded. "I was a participant in numerous boarding actions against various enemies. Whenever you are on a ship controlled by someone else, expect them to be treacherous and crafty. Betrayal, especially with these mercenaries, is not far around the corner."

"Sound advice. Any questions?" When none presented themselves, Shepard beamed and said, "Alright, then. Grab some rest everyone. We'll go to pick up Jack in four days time. Dismissed."

. . .

When the day of the mission came, Tyrellus was up, having slept in his own armor. Normally, he would've taken off the armor to rest more comfortably, but the Normandy wasn't equipped with the proper machinery to allow him to take his armor off. In addition, it was a common practice of his to sleep in his armor so that, if an enemy came, he would be prepared for a fight.

Looking out of one of the Normandy's viewports, he could see the prison ship Purgatory. It looked like a long shaft that had a number of prongs sticking out on all sides, with each pair spaced at regular intervals. A docking tube was present in one area, while the rest of the ship's entrances appeared to be welded shut.

Tyrellus, though, did not like the look of the place one bit. We are about to speak with mercenaries that we have engaged at Omega not a day ago. I would imagine that they have received word of what has happened, and are highly displeased with our actions. Caution will be our guiding light here.

Checking his Bolt Rifle one more time, he followed Shepard as they exited the ship and began moving towards the entrance to Purgatory. Reaching the entrance, they found a checkpoint that had soldiers in heavy armor, armed with heavy weapons. From their relaxed stance, it was clear that they hadn't seen a lot of fighting in some time.

As soon as they approached, a Turian in full body armor walked up to them and said, "Welcome to Purgatory, Shepard. Your package is being prepped for delivery. As this is a high security vessel, we require you to relinquish your weapons before we proceed."

That set Tyrellus on edge, though Shepard was the most on edge. "I can't do that," he replied, shaking his head.

The others were about to reach for their weapons when a voice said, "Everyone, stand down!" Moments later, a Turian in heavy body armor walked into view. His helmet was off, exposing his face, which was a brownish-tan color that had no paint on his facial plates. "Commander, I'm Warden Kuril, and this is my ship. Your weapons will be returned on your way out. You must understand that this is just standard procedure."

"It's my standard procedure to keep my gun," Shepard replied.

"I will not hand over my weapon to a Xenos like you," Tyrellus growled.

Kuril stared at the two long and hard, with Shepard and Tyrellus returning the stare. Eventually, he said, "Let them proceed. Our facility is more than secure enough to handle four armed guests. We're bringing Jack out of cryo. As soon as the funds clear, you can be well on your way."

"Let's go," Shepard nodded.

As they proceeded along, Kuril began talking to them about the way the prison was set up. Tyrellus, however, was disinterested, and decided to take a look around to see if this 'prison ship' was anything close to what the Imperium used for a space station, or a voidship for that matter.

So far, I am rather disappointed with what I am seeing, he frowned as he looked around. The walls, according to my Auspex, are rather thin for a voidship. Onboard an Imperium voidship, the walls would be dozens of meters thick, to prevent even the slightest hope of burrowing through the walls to escape, and to make boarding much harder.

I also have to shake my head at their so-called 'security measures.' There are too few guards and not enough checkpoints. On an Imperium voidship, especially one used by Adeptus Astartes like myself, there would be checkpoints before each hallway junction, and those checkpoints would be armed with, at least, a pair of Heavy Bolters.

Apparently, Garrus wasn't impressed, as he was frowning at what he was seeing as well. When he looked at Kuril, who looked at him for a second, he turned away before mumbling, "Barefaced bastard."

"It sounds as though you just insulted him," Tyrellus observed, being careful to keep his voice low to prevent Kuril from listening in. "I take it that there is cultural significance there, yes?"

"Yes," Garrus nodded. "Turians wear facial paint, a custom that dates back to the Unification Wars, when Turians would mark their faces with paint in the sigil of their clan. After the Hierarchy reestablished control, it was adopted as part of our tradition. A turian that doesn't wear facial paint is usually considered untrustworthy, and they're called 'barefaces' as a result. The term also applies to politicians."

"A fitting title for the lowest of scum."

"I can agree on that."

Just as they finished talking to each other, Kuril said, "I'm going to confirm that the funds from Cerberus cleared. Outprocessing is just down this hallway, just keep going past the interrogation rooms and the supermax wing. I'll talk with you a little later, Shepard." With that, he left.

"That doesn't make sense," Garrus whispered to Tyrellus. "Why is Outprocessing all the way in there, when it should be closer to the front? I think something's not right."

Tyrellus nodded, though he kept his comment to himself. Walking towards Shepard, he said, "I do not trust Kuril."

"Me neither," Shepard nodded. "If he tries anything, let me know. OK?"

"That I will," Tyrellus nodded.

As he proceeded forwards, he thought he heard a cry of pain. Looking to his right, he spotted a Turian that was standing guard over a small prison cell. Inside, there was a Human being and a Turian, with the latter viciously beating the former with a handgun and a fist.

Tyrellus watched them for a moment. Beatings like that, while they happened, were frowned upon by the Adeptus Arbites, Adeptus Astartes and Astra Militarum, and with good reason. If you hammered someone like that, they would say anything to make the pain stop. While Inquisitors did use such methods at times, most preferred the use of Psykers to extract information from a prisoner, a process that was much faster, and a good deal more reliable.

Apparently, Garrus felt the same, as he frowned upon seeing the beating. "You don't get good information that way at all. Eventually, they'll say anything to make the pain stop." Looking at Tyrellus, he said, "A number of your Inquisitors could stand to learn the same. Your Emperor showed me what they usually do."

"I see," Tyrellus nodded. "We rarely get involved with the Inquisitors, ever since my Primarch returned to the world of the living intact and sane. Using Psykers is a far more reliable process, and no physical harm is dealt."

"I know what you mean. Your Emperor showed me a Psyker in action. Remind me never to piss one off, ever."

"You would be wise not to do so. Some can turn you inside out with but a mere glance at you." A moment later, he continued, while Shepard and Garrus began talking with the guard.

Moving into Outprocessing, Tyrellus spotted a number of desks that had chairs and computer terminals lined up. What had his attention, however, was the door in the back of the room. While it could easily be a route to a deeper section of Outprocessing, he felt a tightening sensation in his gut. That premonition he was getting grew ever stronger, enough that he could feel the emotion in his own skin.

Controlling himself, he barely even twitched when Shepard came inside. "Outprocessing is through that doorway and down the hall," a technician informed them. With that, they proceeded forwards.

Nearing the door, Tyrellus did a scan with his Auspex. "Shepard," he frowned. "I do not think that is a hallway. My Auspex scans indicate that behind the door is a small room lined with holes, likely for a aerosol of sorts."

"Shit," Shepard growled. "I had a feeling that Kuril couldn't be trusted."

Just as he said this, the door opened, revealing the room in question. "My apologies, Shepard," Kuril spoke over the intercom. "You're more valuable as a prisoner than a customer. Step into the cell and you will not be harmed."

"Fuck you," Shepard growled. "You were sworn to uphold the law and to protect the innocent, but it's now clear that you're a two bit slave trader! How dare you claim to be a man of the law, you piece of shit, motherfucking bastard!"

Kuril remained silent for a second, before he said, "Activate defense systems!"

"Shepard, they will attempt to force us into the cell!" Tyrellus shouted.

"Everyone, take cover and get ready to fight!" Shepard ordered. With that, everyone quickly got into cover and primed their weapons. A battle was about to begin.