Bring down the sky

Disclaimer

Starcraft is the property of Blizzard entertainment.

Mass effect is the property of Bioware.

Any elements used in this story are used only in order to create a story for no monetary gain nor do I claim any ownership over them, beyond the names and characters unique to this story.

"... This is Irig Dunnigan with Alliance News Networks,

This just in, the failure in the communication array from the Asgard system has been identified as an act of sabotage perpetrated by a group of batarian terrorists who have called themselves 'The batarian cultural reinvigoration army'.

This group claims that their strike against the Asgard system and the colony of Terra Nova was in response to grievances against the alliance's development of the Skyllian verge and in protest of the council's inability to support what they call 'The hegemony's cultural integrity' after accepting the alliance into the galactic community.

Alliance officials have clarified that the terrorists have taken control of an asteroid that was originally hauled towards a stable orbit atop Terra Nova for mining purposes, with the intention of destroying the colony.

We will report further as the situation develops".

Exodus cluster - Near Eden Prime

Shepard

Those fucking bastards.

It wasn't enough that they raided and kidnaped countless innocents from undefended colonies that did not even lay atop their supposed claims in the Skyllian verge.

They now wanted to murder millions because of their stupid resentment.

As Shepard listened to the news report along with everybody present in the CIC, he saw that most of the people present were thinking the same thing as him as their faces showed both horror and disgust. But in those same faces he saw the poor and innocent people who now needed their help to stop this intentionally made apocalypse.

He wouldn't allow it to happen.

"Joker, take us to the Asgard system" Shepard ordered over the CIC's comms system.

"Aye, aye. Commander" Joker replied over the intercom "ETA, two hours".

Shepard had not been deployed to that system, but the commander knew that the closest response force wouldn't make it in time and Shepard also took into account that their vessel held a considerable advantage as its stealth capabilities would allow them to approach the rock undetected.

"Navigator Shepard" he called Jane to attention "Can you give me an estimate of how much time we have until the course of the asteroid cannot be reversed?".

Jane nodded and began to make quick calculations of the trajectory of the body as its mass since its course had already been charted by the alliance military "It will reach an irreversible course in 5 hours. We will only have 2 and a half hours to stop it".

Shepard nodded, while they could not make it any quicker they could at least create a plan to save the colony "Understood. Bringing up a display of the asteroid's surface" the technicians followed his orders and showed the layout of the asteroid on the holo display.

"There are three active torches that are being used to change the course of the asteroid. The rest are deactivated so we can assume that the batarians were locked out of the system before they could get to them" Jane began to explain "Fortunately the torches that are active are near the main control hub. We… you will need to get atop the asteroid and reach the control hub here in order to adjust the trajectory of the asteroid once the torches are deactivated" she said while pointing at the structure on the far end of the map.

So they would need to deactivate each of the torches if they were to save the colony. But the distance was too great to drive to each torch in time and deal with whatever resistance was inside each of the torches…

"We can't rely on the Mako this time, we wouldn't be able to get to each torch in time. We will have to deploy at each location with the Normandy…" Shepard began before he was interrupted by officer Waaberi.

"That will not be possible, commander. There are gun emplacements near the third and second torch…" She said as the information from alliance reports stated that these emplacements had been put in place there by the company in charge of the operation in order to deter any attack "We could only sneak atop one of them before the other location activates its defenses and shoots at us".

So much for that.

"So we will only get one run to deploy our forces…" Shepard began to hatch a plan with these conditions "But we should be able to visit the three locations in one run, correct?".

This last question surprised Jane, she made another calculation and made her report "Yes… though we will only be able to deploy our Mako in one location".

"That will be enough" said Shepard as he made eight dots appear in the hologram "We will divide our forces and strike each of the torches separately. I will deploy with the Mako on the farthest torch and pick our forces as we pass by each one".

Jane nodded "I see what you're planning, commander. We can begin an assault on each torch and wipe out the defenders while simultaneously trying to deactivate them" She changed the eight markers so they would represent each member of the ground team "How will we deploy our forces?".

"The first location will be the one closest to the base. We want to deploy our forces before they have the chance to activate the gun emplacements if they see us" as Shepard said this, the hologram shifted to the last torch he would approach with the Mako "It lies in between some ridges that can be used to snipe any batarian that tries to defend the torch. Garrus and Williams will deploy over this ridge" Shepard pointed to the ridge in front of the torch "Lets add Wrex with a ML-25 missile launcher so he can destroy those turrets from afar".

That team should be able to clear the area fairly quickly. But if they met with heavy resistance he knew that this group could handle themselves.

"On to the next torch. It lies in an open plain and it has fewer gun emplacements. Alenko and Xiltar should be able to enter the structure and deactivate it without much effort" he concluded that the pair should be able to infiltrate and deactivate the torch if Kaidan managed to get inside.

"That leaves you, Tali and Liara on the last and furthest torch. We will be deploying you on the Mako since there are no gun emplacements there" Jane concluded what his brother was most likely thinking.

"Perfect. I will inform the squad and have them prepared within the hour" he said "Let's hope we can save the colony".

"..." An alert from the CIC made it clear to those present that somebody was trying to contact them "Commander. Incoming call from fifth fleet. It ¡s from admiral Hackett's office" said Waaberi as she read the id of the message.

"Patch it through" Shepard replied.

"Commander…" spoke the voice of Admiral Hackett as the link was established "I see that your vessel has diverted its course and is headed to the Asgard system" the grizzled admiral had already realized what the commander was intending to do "I called to inform that the fifth fleet will quarantine the cluster until the batarians involved had been either captured or removed. Your vessel will aid in enforcing the blockade after you have made your deployment".

Shepard understood his orders "We will require that it remains within comms range so we are able to communicate with any local forces of either the alliance or the civilian company".

Hackett understood his reasoning and agreed to this request "It shall patrol the vicinity of the asteroid. But we will have the Normandy pursue any hostile element that tries to escape the region. Hackett out".

Since the Normandy wouldn't be able to aid in this operation directly he understood that the vessel would be left to Jane after he had deployed.

"You heard the admiral. After we get boots on the ground this tub will hunt any stragglers that try to run" Shepard turned to the navigator "Make me proud, Jane".

"No need to say it twice, commander" Jane saluted her brother.

Shepard went to inform his team and within the hour they were ready.

Orbit of Asteroid X-57

Time until impact - 02:38:21

Garrus Vakarian

The turian had been placed in charge of the first team and his orders were clear:

Take out any hostile elements outside of the structure, destroy the anti-air batteries and infiltrate its control room to deactivate the torch.

That should be easy enough.

"All right team" Shepard called all of the people present in the cargo bay to attention "Each torch we deactivate will buy us some time. Should any team find stiff resistance we will redeploy to their location shortly after we are done with the furthest torch" he paused as he turned to Garrus "We are at your stop. Have your team ready".

Garrus nodded and turned to his other teammates "Wrex, Ashley. With me" both the human and krogan nodded. If Wrex had not been wearing a helmet for their space walk Garrus would have most likely seen a massive grin on his face as he clutched the prototype missile launcher the alliance had handed the Normandy.

As the Nomandy rocked slightly he understood that was their que to depart and he put on his helmet for his space walk.

The secured cargo bay began to decompress as the atmospheric elements were moved towards the containers that would house them until they were needed again.

Then the ramp lowered to reveal the gray surface of the asteroid.

"Move out people!" Garrus ordered his team and after they had cleared the ramp of the Normandy, the vessel began to depart towards its next destination as shots from their destination began to follow the vessel as it rose.

The batarians now knew they were here.

They had been deployed at the other side of the ridge as they wanted to cover the Nomandy while they deployed and as such they would need to hike over the ridge to gain their vantage point.

"They sure like to make us walk" said Wrex as they began their ascent over this hill "Hope you can keep up".

Ashley answered the challenge by overtaking them fairly quickly and reaching the top of the ridge first.

"Well would you look at that…" came the voice of Williams through the radio "Not only are they shit at defending their own people, but they don't even know how to defend themselves!".

Garrus confirmed the callous comment of Williams as he also reached the top of the ridge and began to study their opponents.

The presence outside of the base was abysmal to say the least. Only two batarians defended the door and watched over some type of skimmer vehicle that had a cargo hold at its back and some type of robber bikes betrayed the presence of somewhere between ten or twenty batarians as they counted the amount of bikes.

As he continued to study the torch he saw that all of the gun batteries were aiming at random places and scorch marks in those spots made it clear to Garrus that they didn't know how to operate those turrets well enough.

"They really are bad at this" Garrus told the team as he ordered Williams to take aim at one of the guards while he aimed at the other.

Wrex would remain on standby and would begin to destroy them after they had dispatched the two guards.

The moment then came.

Take aim…

And shot.

Two heads were gone.

"Now Wrex!" The krogan began to shoot his missile launcher at the batteries as one by one began to turn.

Shortly after, more batarians began to exit the building and searched for the intruders over the ridge. And as they turned their gazes up they saw as two figures began to shoot at them from above.

"All turrets are down!" Said Wrex as he aimed his missile launcher at the lingering batarians who had entrenched themselves behind some fallen rocks and destroyed turrets.

"Let's hope the rest are doing better than this" said Ashley as she took cover from batarian fire.

Garrus hoped this as well.

Kaidan Alenko

Things had gone well… too well.

That was a bad sign in Kaidan's book.

They had deployed further from their objective than the other teams as the placement of the turrets was far too erratic for them to make a safe approach.

Once the duo had deployed far away from the base it was their turn to try and approach the site.

They got behind the last cover before the stretch of land between them and the torch was nothing but flat lands with no way to mask their approach.

The main problem would be the turrets…

No batarians were outside of the structure to his surprise, but the turrets at the edge of the valley remained active and they wouldn't be able to approach the torch without being blown to kingdom come.

This was quite the trouble.

"No way for me to get to the torch…" Kaidan began before he turned to his companion and saw that the teal eyes of the Protoss were focused on the turrets as well "Can you make a commotion inside so I can make my approach?".

His answer surprised him.

(...) Xiltar began to ponder something before he looked at Kaidan (Allow me to try something…).

The protoss began to reach towards Kaidan with his hand and the soldier instinctively recoiled before he could touch him.

(I mean no harm) Xiltar began as he held his extended hand in place (I only wish to try something that may aid us).

Kaidan was unsure as to what the protoss intended but a quick glance at the turrets reminded him that the way forwards would be impossible to him alone.

Kaidan sighed.

He reached for the extended hand and touched it with his own after some deliberation.

"What now?" Kaidan asked in turn as nothing happened.

The protoss did not answer and only narrowed his eyes as if focusing.

What was he doing?

As if his answer was conjured by magic, smoke began to appear at the lieutenant's feet as well as that of Xiltar and began to rise until it covered him from top to bottom.

After the smoke dissipated and he could see once again his surroundings there was only one thing that Kaidan could do.

He shuddered.

Kaidan did not know what was happening as he saw that Xiltar was clearly invisible even if he could feel his own hand grasping that of the protoss.

His hand…

Kaidan began to look towards the spot where his hand was supposed to be holding that or Xiltar.

It wasn't there.

"What the hell?" Was Kaidan's appropriate question as he looked at where his hand was supposed to be before looking down at his feet and seeing that they were also gone.

(Do not panic) the alien said in his head (It would seem that my theory was correct).

"Uh hu… what theory?" Kaidan asked while perplexed before he tried to retrieve his hand and felt that he could not pull from Xilar's grasp.

(It appears I can share my skill with any creature I remain in contact with) Xiltar began to explain before Kaidan felt as the alien's other hand grabbed his shoulder and let go of his hand.

"Uhh… why does this sound like a surprise to you?" Kaidan asked with some concern as Xiltar sounded as surprised as the lieutenant had been.

(I had never tried such a thing consciously) he answered his question with some concern in his voice (I thought that particular time had only been due to an accident… or an exception).

Kaidan was confused as to what he was talking about but felt as he was turned towards the torch before Xiltar spoke again.

(I will match your pace but you will most likely stumble in this state… Try to walk carefully and do not look down) the alien said as he instructed him how to walk in such a manner.

But he had to try.

At first it did feel like he was about to fall over several times as he could not see where he was walking but after some trial and error, he managed to get the hang of walking like this on an uneven surface.

But something felt off about this.

(Yes… this is wrong) Xiltar answered in his mind (No one has tried to stop our advance or come out to investigate from the structure).

"They must be planning something" Kaidan said as they stopped mere meters away from the torch, right next to one of the defensive turrets.

Xiltar then took away their invisibility and before Kaidan could ask what they were doing, he realized that the turrets had not turned towards them.

What the hell?

(...) The protoss then began to ponder something before he reached for a compartment on his back and retrieved his artifact from Therum (Guide… Dot. Do you detect any anomalies?).

Kaidan was about to ask what he was doing but found that the answer came in the form of the object coming to life before it began to levitate… and speak.

-No electric signal seems to be coming from the defensive devices, wayfarer- the orb spoke with an echoey voice as he projected a beam of light towards the closest of the turrets -Furthermore, no anomaly lies within the outer layer of the asteroid- it said in a flat tone before its white color was changed to a yellow one.

-Subterranean countermeasures detected… Traps- a more synthetic but rugged voice said in turn as it now shone this beam of light towards the ground from which they had come -Mines are surrounding this structure. They appear to be deactivated, but should they be allowed to remain, a blast from them could destroy the surrounding area-.

(I thank you Greed and Dot) Xiltar said as he extended his hand in which the sphere landed before he stored the orb once again and then turned to the lieutenant.

This wasn't good.

Kaidan thought it had been some sort of VI but the articulation and multiple personalities of the orb began to make him fear that it was something else entirely.

Was this an AI?

(By the definition of the galaxy it is one. But I see it's inception as different from what you could consider as one) Xiltar answered honestly to the human's fear as he looked somewhat apprehensive to his own words (I know that the galaxy has no appreciation for artificial life, but this particular one is essential for my mission. Please keep this between us).

Kaidan clutched his rifle as he considered what to do.

On one hand he could rid the galaxy of something similar to the geth as this object could become a tool of mass destruction in time.

But on the other hand… he did not wish to fight one of his crewmates because of such a thing.

And one he wasn't sure he could beat.

"It doesn't want to kill us, does it?" Kaidan asked, worried.

(No) Xiltar answered (One of the two entities doesn't trust organic life. But the other serves me willingly).

Holly shit, there were two.

"Okay…" he tried to downplay how terrified he was "Just promise me they won't shoot me in the back".

(I promise) the Protoss reassured him.

Kaidan nodded before he turned to the torch "We have to deactivate the mine field before Shepard arrives or he is going to blow up if he approaches the torch".

(Agreed) the protoss said as he prepared himself and entered the structure behind Kaidan.

Unknown to the lieutenant, the protoss had not repaired his blade in time and would need to eliminate the enemies another way.

Liara T'soni

Liara thanked the goddess for having mercy on her as the Normandy would be landing at their destination rather than just dropping the tank to the surface.

She was in the copilot's seat as Shepard deemed it appropriate for her to help navigate them through a short patch before they arrived at the first torch while he drove them there.

Their other companion had been instructed by Shepard to man the turret as neither Garrus nor Williams were present with them. So it would fall to Tali to protect them until they reached more of their companions.

The commander exited the ramp and told Liara how to search for any enemies in the surrounding area.

The area looked clear.

"All right. Let's move" Shepard said before he began to drive the tank between the walls of a small canyon, since the mouth of said canyon ended right next to their objective: the torch.

Liara might not have had any military experience prior to her rescue from the ruins. But she knew how to navigate using alliance instruments as she had used their sonars and sensors in one of her most recent excavations.

Those were better and far more simpler times.

"There is a signal after the next turn" Liara said as the sensor began to track some dots that shifted slightly as they approached that spot.

Shepard stopped the tank in its track as he began to see said turn "Tali, aim at the wall on the other side of the canyon so the shell creates some debris. Let's flush them out".

The gun turret began to shift awkwardly before it stopped at the correct angle "Ready Shepard" said the voice of the girl through the radio.

"Be ready to follow up with the machine gun" Shepard said as he turned to Liara, the dots had not moved and Liara confined this with a thumb up "Fire!".

The shot was true and part of the wall exploded as the tank's shell hitted the cliff.

And as they suspected, some batarians had come up to welcome them but not all of them were able to face the tank as the rocks managed to separate them in small pockets.

"Gun them down" Shepard ordered as he began to ram whatever batarians wished to stand out of cover and in their way.

Liara could see that Tali was struggling with the controls of the turret, but the quairan managed to eliminate some of the batarians that dared to peek from their covers.

"We don't have time for this" Shepard said as he accelerated the vehicle and overpassed the assailants as went for the torch at the end of the cliff.

While those that remained were still great in number, the pursuers would not be able to stop them from reaching the torch.

Once they arrived at the base of the torch some more batarians tried to stop them as they shot at them even as their attacks did nothing to deplete the vehicle's shields.

Shepard then rammed the cover from which these batarians were shooting at them and Tali gunned down those that remained behind or dodged the mako in time.

"*Sigh*… We made it" Shepard said as they finally stopped "We don't have much time. Tali, Liara, you both will go into the torch and deactivate it. I predict that most of the batarians gathered at that ambush behind us" the commander got up from his seat and went to the turret "I will remain here and stop anyone that tries to follow you".

Shepard offered a hand to help Tali as she descended from the gun turret after struggling a little.

…

The mission comes first, T'soni.

She shook her head to stave off the jealousy that she felt at this display.

"Play nice girls" Shepard said as he began to control the turret "I will follow after I make sure there aren't any more of them".

Liara nodded and both women exited the tank as the commander began to shoot at the batarians that were exiting the canyon.

"This way" Tali indicated as she saw the door that would lead them towards the torch's control room.

They entered the building and as the pressure in the airlock had been regulated they flanked the door and after the process had been concluded Tali opened the next door of the room

Liara was not prepared for what welcomed them in the next room.

Two batarians without helmets were watching as their varren hounds mangled the corpse of a human.

They could just see as these sadistic bastards watched with glee while the varren ripped the flesh from the bones.

It was disgusting.

"Kheela…" Tali whispered in shock as she saw the horrendous display in front of them.

Liara pitied the girl as she was certain that Tali only saw a similar display once before…

The aliens that Xiltar had shown them came to mind.

She shook her head once more and indicated for Tali to follow after her.

The two began their assault as Liara displaced the batarians and their attack dogs with a biotic push while her companion followed after the asari and began to shoot at the fallen enemies.

One of the batarians was eliminated as a shot from Tali met his skull and ended his existence. Liara followed suit and shooted at a varren as the hound recovered and tried to charge at the quarian before Liara found her mark and the hound fell with some precise shooting.

The other batarian tried to run as he called for reinforcements but was followed closely by Tali as her shorts hounded the fleeing combatant.

But it was due to her focus on the enemy that Tali did not realize that the other hound had recovered and was charging towards her. Liara could see the desperation in Tali's reaction as her barrier did not detect the hound as a threat and did nothing to stop its charge.

The asari reacted quickly as she gathered what little energy she could into another biotic push and managed to stagger the hound long enough so her companion could take care of it.

After the beast had been put down, Liara approached Tali's side to make sure that there weren't any more surprises in here.

"Liara… Thanks" Tali answered as she recovered from the fright of almost being mauled by the beast.

"Don't worry. Was your suit breached?" Liara asked as she got behind cover and began to search for the last batarian.

"No…" Tali answered as she got behind cover and began to search for more assailants "But that thing almost got me. If you hadn't…".

Tali was interrupted as the batarian from before turned the corner and pointed a finger in their direction while screaming something that their translators could not recognize. He was signaling for more batarians to shoot at them as another five followed right behind him.

Liara couldn't launch a biotic push in time as they quickly got behind cover and opened fire on the pair.

"They got us pinned!" Tali screamed in an alerted manner as the both of them came under heavy fire.

"You will die, quarian bitch!" Said one of the batarians "You will scream until your last before my boys are through with you".

Liara was angered by this and began to return fire so she could silence the batarian "You will have to go through me first" as one batarians got out of cover she pushed him into a spot where Tali could end him quickly.

"Take that!" The quarian screamed in excitement before she was forced to go back behind cover as they began to focus fire on her.

"You are next Asari" said the same voice from before as it would appear they killed the wrong batarian "You bitches will make for our finest slaves yet".

She heard in disgust as the other batarians began to laugh at this last comment and when she turned to see Tali she saw the girl clutching her shotgun in fear.

Liara would not abandon her, but their situation was dire…

She broke cover and tried to eliminate more of the batarians but they instead focused fire on her and broke trough her barrier.

A shot pierced her armor and exited out of her back as a batarian managed to perforate the side of her abdomen.

She recoiled in pain and hid behind cover once more as more fire was focused on her position.

She looked at the hand with which she had been clutching her wound.

That was too much blood.

Afterword

Crush the spider eyed freaks :v

Onto the answers:

Kukuhimanpr - Three for one my friend. Good to see you have kept up with the story.

First, good to see you catched the double negative allegory there. I tried to justify that failure could be the wrong way to look at a lesson sometimes.

Second, YOU HAVE NOT ENOUGH MINERALS!

Third, Shepard has regretted sponsoring this school trip and he must now pay the consequences.