Two hours ago, the Coalition of Galactic States publicly announced the execution of six Alliance prisoners of war (POWs), consisting of four enlisted personnel and two officers. The statement accompanying this announcement sent a shiver down the galaxy's spine. The Coalition Leadership supported Commander Jane Shepard's decision to carry out the execution, while emphasizing that the Alliance soldiers should be allowed to die with dignity, without restraints or hoods if they so wished. This was in stark contrast to how the Alliance treated Coalition POWs.
In response, the Alliance swiftly condemned the Coalition's act as murder of their soldiers. Initially, they dismissed the executions of Coalition soldiers by the Alliance as a false flag incident orchestrated by the Coalition, citing a lack of evidence. However, this notion was quickly dispelled when the Coalition presented and broadcasted compelling evidence to the contrary. The Alliance promptly changed its stance, condemning the actions of their ground commanders on Faros, acknowledging that such actions were not authorized. The Citadel Council also voiced their condemnation, emphasizing the need for regulations even in times of war, particularly among civilized nations.
The Coalition, although considering the Council hypocritical, chose not to openly express their opinion. They have finally established a schedule for sending reinforcements to Faros, but it will take several days for them to arrive. In the meantime, the Coalition remnant must continue to hold their ground.
Commander Shepard is positioned in a bombed-out building, overlooking their target. It took them two days to reach this location, but they successfully made it. Shepard observes that the target building appears deserted, but signs of a fierce fight are evident. Considerable losses from both the Council and Hierarchy forces lay dead, indicating their attempt to take the building. From her vantage point, Shepard can also see some dead Alliance soldiers. Whatever happened here was clearly bad.
Meanwhile, the former N7 Shadows and Gibson are scouting the area, while Garrus and Sara stay by Shepard's side, awaiting the N7 team's return. Shepard glances at her two closest friends, engrossed in reviewing the area on a holographic map. They confirm that the research facility is functional, but they need to verify the nature of the research being performed. While Sara's laughter fills the air, Shepard assumes that Garrus must have said something amusing or foolish. Lost in thought, Shepard gazes at her friends as Gibson radios in.
"Commander, there are no signs of Alliance or Hierarchy troops here, at least alive anyway," Gibson updated Shepard, which struck her as weird. She promptly ordered them to find a way inside. Shepard then analyzed the newly updated map of the building that the scouting team had managed to locate. Sara overlaid the new map onto the old one. Based on their observations, it appeared that neither side had accessed the area dedicated to Reaper research. Shepard and her small group moved down the building, feeling that something was wrong.
As they made their way down, Gibson radioed in to tell them that they had found an opening. Shepard navigated through the field of fallen soldiers, heading towards the entrance implied by Gibson. Sara picked up a Hierarchy rifle and spare clips from one of the dead Turians, while Garrus followed closely behind, analyzing the surroundings with his Coalition rifle. The group carefully stepped over the dead soldiers, with Garrus noting that there had been at least three waves of attempted assaults on the building. However, he suspected that these waves were merely diversions, cautioning them to be wary of potential encounters.
Shepard considered Garrus' advice, finding some reasoning in it, yet still feeling that something was off. Shepard and the team closed in on Gibson and the Shadows, the Shadows turned to see Shepard jogging towards them, rifles raised. Upon meeting up, Gibson reviewed a map and reported on the ongoing situation. So far, he observed the usual technical jargon and a few highly classified files that could only be accessed and opened within the designated area. Shepard then ordered Gibson to open the door, which he effortlessly completed.
As the door swung open, two of the Shadows were the first to enter, followed by Shepard. Inside the building, the lights were off, but the power was still running, and the computer screen monitors remained illuminated. The floor was strewn with the lifeless bodies of Alliance, Hierarchy, and Council soldiers, evidence of fierce combat that had taken place. Shepard approached the security station, with Sara following closely behind and moving towards the main workstation. Shepard and Garrus kept a watchful eye on Sara as the N7s examined the deceased. Sara produced a key card from her belt and inserted it into the workstation.
"Do you think the Alliance wouldn't erase your creds?" Shepard inquired, observing as Sara turned the card, bring up the administrator options and access.
"When you've worked in the field as long as I have, you leave safeguards... This facility was built during my time as Director of Intelligence. I laid some deep and hidden measures, only recognizable to those who know what to look for," Sara explained, navigating through the admin controls. She searched for information about the ongoing activities in the facility. However, the files discovered by Gibson could not be opened here; they needed to access them research area. Sara signed off and retrieved her key card, prompting Shepard to follow her to the elevator. Sara ordered the N7s to remain behind and report any findings.
Shepard, Garrus, and Sara approached a seemingly empty wall. Sara pressed a specific section of the wall, revealing a concealed keypad. Once again, she presented her key card, swiped it, and entered her passcode. As she pressed the final number, the keypad accepted her input, and the elevator doors slid open. All three entered the elevator. Shepard glanced at Sara as she inserted her card into the slot on the elevator panel. Sara overrode the elevator controls, directing it to descend to the research center.
"Your key card is quite handy, Sara," Garrus remarked, prompting Shepard to give him a look.
"Yes, it is..." Sara replied, leaving the statement at that. As the elevator came to a stop and the doors began to open, Shepard raised her rifle in anticipation. She cautiously stepped out of the elevator, with the rest of the team following suit. Shepard and Garrus trailed behind Sara as they made their way towards the main research section. They approached a large mechanical door with two keypads. Sara went over to one of the keypads.
"Commander, go to the second pad," Sara ordered, tossing Shepard a second key card, which Shepard caught.
"You do know I have a name, right?" Shepard remarked, as she and Sara inserted their key cards into the slots.
"I know, Edwards," Sara responded, as they both turned the key simultaneously. A concealed panel emerged, revealing a button. Garrus, somewhat confused by their banter, simply listened as the two old friends exchanged words.
"Call me that again, and I might just kill you. Besides, you can call me Jane. At least they allowed me to use my first name in my exile," Shepard stated, as she and Sara pressed the button simultaneously. The door began to open. Garrus approached them, and as the door finished opening, Shepard and Garrus were the first to step inside. As they moved through the research sector, it became evident that the area was devoid of personnel, soldiers, or scientists. Sara led them to the main research room. Upon entering, they were met with a chilling sight. Reaper technology secured behind barriers, husks of various species lying on operating tables, and a few suspended for examination. Garrus and Sara could see the unmistakable expression of unfiltered anger on Shepard's face.
Sara proceeded to the head scientist's office and began opening the sealed documents, while Shepard remained outside and Garrus took photographs. Shepard discovered a fragment that appeared to be part of a Reaper, she believes the rest is here somewhere, serving as a reminder that the puppet masters were still manipulating the galaxy according to their own agenda. Harbinger, the grandmaster, had shattered the unity Shepard had worked so hard to establish in a previous life that now felt distant.
Meanwhile, Sara delved into the files that Gibson had found. The Alliance's actions in this facility were nothing short of horrifying. They had come a long way since the end of the Reaper War. The stench in the room was overpowering, overwhelming even the filters in her mask. Sara noticed that both the Turian and Shepard were also struggling with the smell. She surveyed the room and discovered an ACS module, initiating a complete data download.
"Sara, how much longer?" Shepard inquired, her attention once again drawn to the Reaper fragment.
"Five, maybe ten minutes. Downloading data now," Sara replied, observing Shepard pacing in front of the Reaper fragment. Concerned, Sara quickly sent a message to Garrus's visor, warning him to keep a close watch on Shepard. Garrus had already been doing just that, never taking his gaze off of her. Shepard's restlessness and unease were observable, and something seemed to be deeply affecting her. As she continued to pace, Shepard felt a familiar sensation gnawing at the back of her mind. It was a feeling she knew all too well, one that was deafening in its intensity. Looking at the fragment, she thought she heard something. Shepard glanced at Garrus, who remained by Sara's side, unwavering in his focus on her. The voice grew louder, the voice that still haunts her dreams. It was the voice of the puppet grandmaster, Harbinger.
"Shepard! You have become an annoyance! You must be squashed!" the voice screams. A surge of pain courses through her mind, causing Shepard to double over, clutching her head. Garrus rushes over to her side. The pain intensifies, and Shepard lets out a piercing scream. Garrus gently turns her head to examine her, witnessing tears streaming down her face as the Reaper continues to inflict agony. Shepard's screams echo through the air, a testament to the pure torment she endures. Sara quickly joins Shepard and Garrus, swiping her key card on a key pad to activate the shield that surrounds the reaper fragment. The pain subsides slightly, allowing Shepard to look at both Sara and Garrus.
"I understand what happened here..." Shepard manages to say, her voice filled with excruciating agony. She attempts to rise to her feet, but the pain proves too overwhelming. Shepard feels a warm sensation trickling down her upper lip and instinctively touches it, realizing her black glove is now stained with a dark crimson hue. After a few moments, Shepard manages to stand and gazes at the fragment. She can still sense him—Harbinger, the Reaper god. Though the shield weakens his presence. Either the fragment or the Husks are transmitting Harbinger's influence. She doesn't know.
"What the hell happened, Shepard?" Garrus asks, his voice filled with concern, as Shepard straightens herself up. She notices her helmet lying on the ground, unable to recall removing it.
"Harbinger... He's still alive, or at least there are fragments of him," Shepard reveals.
"Gibson, have you engaged anything yet?" Shepard inquires through the radio.
"Not yet... but there's something you need to see," Gibson responds, leaving Shepard to exchange glances with Sara and Garrus.
"Husks?" Shepard suggests, to which Gibson confirms. Shepard turns her attention to Sara.
"What did you find?" Shepard demands.
"The Alliance was conducting experiments to reaperize organics without transforming them. They wanted obedient individuals. Whatever occurred here didn't go as planned," Sara enlightens them.
"It all makes sense now, why the Hierarchy is interested in the research," Garrus remarks, his gaze fixed on Shepard.
"The Turian Rebels..." Sara begins, her voice filled with concern. She glances over at the ACS module, which has finished downloading, and heads towards the office to retrieve it.
"Garrus, is there any way we can destroy all of this? Even if we can't bring down the entire building," Shepard asks, seeking a solution.
"Possibly," Garrus replies, scanning the surroundings. He spots some flammable liquid nearby and starts pouring it around the husks. He knows that the actual reaper fragment won't burn, but they can eliminate everything else. Sara returns to where they are waiting, and the three of them exit the research area. Garrus grabs an incendiary grenade and tosses it into the room, landing it on top of the fuel. The grenade detonates, engulfing the room in flames. Sara swiftly closes the doors and seals them, ensuring that only she has access to the sector. As they make their way to the elevator, the radio suddenly comes alive. The sound of gunfire echoes through the speakers, accompanied by a screech that they haven't forgotten.
"Shepard! Husks! We're heavily engaged...! Contact front!" Gibson's voice screams through the radio. Shepard swiftly pulls back the bolt of her rifle, ready to fight. As the door opens, a human husk charges at them, knocking Shepard to the ground. Sara and Garrus quickly intervene, pulling the husk off Shepard, with Garrus ultimately ending its threat. Shepard regains her footing and spots the N7 group and Gibson taking up a defensive position at the security office. She fires at two human husks approaching the group.
"Jack! How are you holding up?" Shepard asks, concerned, as she and her group reach Gibson and the N7s. Gibson reloads his SMG, an older variant design of the UMP-45, using the thermal clip system. Gibson answers his been better.
"Sara, is there any way we can bring down this entire building?" Shepard asks, her voice determined. More husks emerge, this time with a Turian reaper variant. Shepard continues to fire at the husks while Sara accesses the admin controls once again. Shepard's rifle clicks dry, prompting her to swiftly drop the magazine and replace it.
"Reminds you of old times, eh Shepard!" Garrus shouts, his voice filled with adrenaline, as he skillfully removes a Reaper's head with his repurposed Widow Rifle equipped with the new Magazine Thermal Clip System. Shepard relentlessly fires her SCAR rifle, while the N7s utilize their swords to cut down the husks. Shepard has lost count of how many husks she has taken down. The Alliance seems to have amassed quite the collection. As her magazine runs dry, she reaches for another one on her belt, only to find them empty, except for one - her last one. She pulls back the bolt, ready to continue the fight.
Amidst the chaos, a husk lunges at an N7, taking him to the ground. Neither Shepard nor Garrus can save him, as they are occupied with their own battles. The remaining N7s resort to using the weapons of the fallen.
"Found it..." Sara announces triumphantly as she brings up the Omega protocols, a set of protocols for initiating a complete purge of the building. She quickly assesses the location of their exit and sets the countdown.
"We need to move," Sara orders, prompting Shepard and Garrus to rise to their feet. The group swiftly follows Sara's lead. Before leaving, Sara stoops down next to the fallen N7 soldier, retrieving his ID tags. The group continues to fire at the relentless waves of an enemy they believed to be long gone. Shepard's rifle eventually runs dry, leading her to draw her pistol from its holster and continue firing. As the group falls back towards the entrance, they pour out of the building, with Sara closing and sealing the door behind them. They don't stop running until they feel the ground rumble beneath them. Looking back, they witness the building exploding in flames.
Reaching their borrowed Alliance transport, Shepard glances back at the burning building, struggling to comprehend the intensity of what they have just experienced. It felt like they were fighting a war they believed to be over.
Garrus surveys the group, relieved to see that they only lost one member. He moves towards the fallen soldiers to gather additional clips for their weapons before they head back to base. Shepard and the rest of the group do the same, they mostly left their empty magazines inside the building so they will do what they while restocking their ammo.