I don't own mass effect
bigwoof excellent story! thanks.
Viper-And thank you and everyone else for enjoying the story, I hope it stays that way
Love the story! Read part 1 all the way through where we are now. Spelling and typo'scould use some work but it doesn't detract from the story that much. Love the plottwists.
Viper-Sorry, for those errors, hopefully I'll get around to fixing them and hopefully you keep reading because if you like the plottwists so far there's a big one near the end.
Caboose118 Neat. Is there gonna be a clone Shepard in this story? Or is Maya actually loyal this time? I honestly hope she isn't solely for the pleasure of watching her get shot again.
Guest interesting idea having miranda replace the illusive man and Maya brooks replace Miranda
Viper-Maya will be loyal and she was the only one I could think of to do a decent job replacing Miranda plus it should keep her out of trouble. There won't be any clone but I also like the idea of Shepard walking up to her and saying...you know what? I always wanted a sister. Sort of senarios
captaindickscratcher so Cerberus is going to be a real ally this time not the villains the become in ME3. but it sounds like Javik and the Prothean faction are going to be.
i doubt the illusive man just walked away, ether he's watching, studying data and passing it to Miranda or he has another project to protect humanity such as a another hidden colony or giving the Andromeda project actual serious military backing and firepower.
as EDI got her body early has the Normandy got some of it's upgrades built in from the get go? the armour, thrusters and such, Garrus will bring bring the hopefully Prothian tech enhanced MKII thanix cannon and Tali a better barrier system.
so we have Callums team he's building, most of the original Normandy crew, the SR-2 team and possibly Garrus Omega team ( Sedonis hasn't betrayed them yet ) your going to need a bigger boat.
yes i know the game only transfers so much but in a more in world reason might be Bala Von took the Spectre Assets of Shepard when she ' died ' for his own pocket due to him being the one to hide money trails for Spectres, criminals and high ranking officials secret accounts. so he's still got Shepards money and possibly whatever is left hidden of Sarens ( which is probably quite a lot )
i'm liking Rarax, he sounds like a Anti Grunt
Viper-Cerbus is going to be a real ally and I can't say much more without spoiling something and yes the Collectors will have a much bigger team after them. ps bala is a dick and i remember at least one famfic where Shepard learned he was stealing from her.
Blaze1992 Huh Cal never told them about the citadel DLC then I guess.
Viper-I honestly cant remember if i brought it up but it could have easily happened of screen. I'm not planning any clones just yet and I don't think that's hoing to change.
Story Start
"Commander Shepard?" said a voice suddenly, waking up a sleeping Shepard all too soon
"I'm up." groaned Shepard "How long was I asleep?"
"You have been asleep approximately for ten hours, twenty-two minutes and thirty seconds." replied EDI
"It feels like I was asleep for three." grumbled Shepard
"You were asleep for ten hours, twenty-two minutes and thirty seconds not three hours Commander." repeated EDI
"I know I was asleep for more, I was...never mind." sighed Shepard "What's happening?"
"Jacob Taylor and Maya Brooks are waiting for you in communications." replied EDI
"Let them know I'm on my way." said Shepard swinging out of bed.
Putting on a hoodie and pants she entered the elevator, she'd have a shower later. Thankfully it looked like she had her own personal shower and bathroom, she would definitely make the most of that later.
Heading down she entered the communications room where she found Jacob and Maya waiting for her.
"We're less than an hour away from Omega. What do you too have for me?" asked Shepard
"Archangel is currently under siege from three different mercenary gangs and has been for a few days. The Blood Pack, a vicious gang of krogans and vorcha, the Eclipse which are made up of mainly asari and solarians with the occasional human female thrown in and the Blue Suns which are mostly turians, humans and batarians. The Blue Suns have lost a lot of clout recently after their leader was taken out with extreme prejudice by co-founder and leader Zaeed Massani but they still have a lot of bite left in them." said Maya "I haven't been able to narrow down a location but if he's managed to last this long he's either extremely skilled or is fighting from a fortified stronghold. Probably both."
"If he's been fighting from a strong point than it would have helped him survive this long. However it might make him hard to get out, they might not be able to get to him but from the sounds of it they might have him pinned." said Shepard. Was this how Callum felt everytime he played out an event he knew would happen as a hyperthecical/
"That makes things difficult, we have heavy ordnance that we can use to take them out but that was meant for when we finaly took the fight to the Collectors homeworld. We'd have to replace whatever we use strainin our budget even further, also using our heavy weapons so soon sets a bad trend. At the same time saving up all the heavy ammo in the world won't help us if it gets us killed in the process. " said Jacob
"What do you suggest?" asked Shepard
"You bring in a grenade launcher to use if needed and we get Hayden to carry a LMG and the armour that goes with it. He's one of the few onboard strong enough to use it properly."
"What do you mean go with it?" asked Shepard
"After you left me I kept going through all the weapons, when I got to the LMG something about it stood out so I had a closer look. While it has its unique heat clips, its main function is not where the heat will go for the most part. I know a couple of your companions used a sort of backpack to store heat from their weapons instead of using the heat clips that the rest of used. This armour is an improved version of that concept, instead of heat being transferred into a large pack it is spread throughout the armour. Then, when it can can't contain anymore or you want to vent, multiple sections pop out to vent heat.
It can't hold as much heat as the pack but it allows a lot more manuvabity as the weight is spread throughout the armour instead of running around with over fifty kilograms on your back, though we do also have the backpack.
You still need someone of higher than regular strength and fitness even by Alliance standards to be able to carry it though and if you add the pack onto that all they can do is hold specific points or move very slowly if it wasn't for the advanced suit cooling and ventilation, the wearer would litterally be cooked alive inside." said Jacob
Shepard could believe it, Ash had put on a brave face but she knew carrying around one of those packs took a lot out of her. To have that sort of heat being stored in the suit was both a great idea and an awful one. It eliminated the need for the pack but having something that would be red hot with only a bit of insulation stopping it from burning your skin off was not something she'd like to deal with.
"There's also another problem, as I said before there's three large gangs going after Archangel, if you're spotted helping him they might cause problems for you if they recognise you later. While I doubt they will chase you around the galaxy it is still possible, much more likely that should they see you on Omega or nearby what's left of the local charter will have it out for you. Talking with Mordin Solus could have unexpected consequences." said Maya
"What do you suggest?" asked Shepard
"There are a few options, one you see Mordin first. This choice could however get Archangel killed if the gangs manage to overwhelm him in the meantime. The second is that I go myself with a couple of security personal while you pick up Archangel. Another option, and I suggest you do this even if you send me to meet Mordin is that you forgo your armour with its N7 markings. We have multiple armour sets downstairs, I recommend repainting them into colours that won't attract attention, say brown, grey or dull green. Perhaps a mix of all three to make it look like patchwork armour." suggested Maya
"Get to work on that paint job, we'll head to Archangel first. Then depending on how things go you or I will go talk to Mordin. Jacob I what you, Forbes and Hayden fully armed and ready by the time we get there. We've fought together and I'd rather not get used to fighting with someone new, also any weapon is up for grabs." said Shepard "Let them use whatever they want as long as they put it back afterwards."
Now chances were Archangel was still Garrus, unless for some reason that too changed. Either way she would need to think of a way to show that she was on his side. Opening fire on those wanting to kill him would work but if she did it too soon then it would put her and her team under too much fire. Too late and chances are that one he might have already fired at one of them. Since the armours getting painted she could ask that, say a picture of an angel be added on. Problem is that would be seen by the mercs and tip them off. No it needed to be something that only Garrus would notice or Archangel on the slim possibility their not the same person and not anyone else...hold on that gave her an idea.
"Hey Maya." said Shepard after turning on her omni-tool tool
"I want you to make a set of badges for the upcoming mission, sending you a rough design now. Hopefully it will clue Archangel that we're on his side."
"If you think it will help Commander." replied Maya in tone that said she didn't think that was likely
"Short of sending him an email I think this is the best bet." answered Shepard
"Even if were able to send him a message he would have no reason to believe it. He would just assume that it was a poor attempt to lue him out." responded Maya
"You have a point." commented Shepard. Even if she sent out a personal message without proof Garrus shouldn't take it at face value. He knew she'd be hopefully coming back but there was still the chance of people trying to use her identity. On top of that...well she didn't exactly have to hide the fact that she knew Garrus was Archangel but it would certainly raise a lot of questions on how she knew something no one else did only hours after finding out Archangel existed. Though that did give he an idea.
As Shepard got ready, she started writing emails to everyone who was in her old ground crew. She didn't say who she was but each email was specific in choice of words that she was sure that they would know who it came from.
Did your sister tell you to meet me at the bar? I'm on my way to Omega to meet an angel but I'll try to meet up with you as soon as possible. I've kept you waiting long enough.
With the email sent Shepard continued to get ready, a mere ten minutes out she donned a recently painted armour of brown, black and a splash of red. Shepard had to hand it to Maya, it really did look like the gear was salvaged from a couple of sets. Maya even went the extra distance an added an odd shoulder piece. It wasn't as good as her set with the N7 markings but it had decent shields and good recharge rates if slightly heavier.
Upon arrival she disembarked along with Jacob, Hayden and Forbes. Each wearing a full and similarly mismatched suit but similar enough to tell they were in a group, they didn't make it far however when...
"OY you!" shouted out a batarian in what looked to be a set of Heavy Liberator armour
"Yes?" asked Shepard, her helmet altering her voice.
"Aria wants to see you now." said the batarian firmly before turning around and immediately leaving
"That was odd." remarked Jacob
"You're telling me." added Shepard "From what I know, this Aria is in charge of Omega and runs things from a club called Afterlife. It's a detour but I'd prefer not to piss off the 'boss' of this station, it would make things harder than they need to be."
Moving forward they travelled down the corridor before making it to an elevator. All too soon it arrived...how did a run-down, shit whole like Omega have faster elevators than both the Citadel and both Normandys?
Reaching the main level of Omega, the first thing Shepard saw was the nightclub Afterlife and the long line that went up to it. Walking past the line, she overheard the complaints of a human trying to get past an elcor bouncer.
"Come on, let us in I've been waiting for half-an-hour." said one of the people standing in line
"Annoyed: You have been standing in line for less the five minutes. Amendment: Do you think I'm an idiot?"
By passing the line Shepard headed in.
"Hold on why are they allowed in?!" demanded the same man
"Deep frustration verging on fury: You have been doing this every night for the last week. If you still can not understand that some are given special treatment than for the betterment on your species do not reproduce."
"Hold you can't..."
"Reaching end of patience: Back off or I'll be cleaning parts of you off my foot."
What happened next Shepard she didn't know, but she hoped that there wasn't going to be a messy stain when she left. Though with Omega it would be hard to tell.
Passing numerous people waiting on the side, they entered the club itself. It was an enormous room with multiple platforms, bars and multiple nearly naked asari spread throughout to room. The music wasn't that bad, maybe she'd add some songs to her playlist later.
On her left was a rough-looking batarian in Blue Suns armour next to a set of descending steps. Walking past him Shepard came to another set of stairs, this one going upstairs.
"Hold it there!" ordered a turian dressed in black and grey armour. "Your leader only, the rest of you can wait here."
That immediately got the attention of Jacob.
"Hold on you expect us to let her to go see Aria all by herself?" asked Jacob
"I don't expect you to do anything." shot back the turian "Aria wants her to see her on her own and unless you want your trip to Omega to be a lot shorter than you expected I suggest you do what she 'asks'."
"I'll be fine." calmed Shepard. It wasn't ideal but as far as she knew Aria had no reason to want her dead.
Walking up the stairs, Shepard came to a purple asari laying back lavishly on a couch. A couch that was easily the nicest thing in this room if not most of the rest of Omega.
Before she got too close however she was stopped by a batarian and a turian. One with a scanner and the other with a rifle.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to scan a girl without at least buying her dinner first?" asked Shepard. Part joking, part annoyed at just how detailed he was scanning her.
"Relax he's just doing his job. Its not often you meet a dead Spectre, isn't that right...Commander."
"...how on Wrex's scaly ass do you know who I
am?" asked Shepard. She was wearing a full faced helmet for petes sake!
"Omega might look like a shit show when compared to the Citadel but no one...and I do mean no one enters Omega without me knowing. Not even someone who's supposed to have died a year ago. So tell me what brings you here?" asked Aria
"I'm here to pick up someone called Archangel. I need him for a mission and I hear that he's in trouble, I'm hoping that we can help each other out." answered Shepard
"Oh really?" asked Aria, sounding both annoyed, bored and amused all at once. "You know most say that no one knows who this 'Archangel' really is. I think you and I both know that it's a certain C-sec detective/sniper that used to be on your team. Name's Garrus if I'm correct."
"And how would you know that?" asked Shepard. This could be bad, Aria had a lot of connections, Garrus had likely pissed off a lot of people. Blue Suns, Blood Pack and Eclipse were just the surface. If Aria wanted to, she could tell everyone who wanted him dead who he was. If she remembered right it could lead to a very similar situation as a certain drell assassin.
"Another of your teammates, Callum came here a few months ago. Just before Archangel started making his rounds really, asked me to look out for him. Only two turians were working with you on the Normandy and only one of them was male...unless you're not the only Spectre to come back from the dead." mused Aria
This could definitely be bad.
"Relax, I won't tell. I'll even let him know you're coming, wouldn't want this reunion ending with one of you standing over the dead body of the other." continued Aria
"You can do that?" asked Shepard "I would have thought he'd be harder to reach than that."
"It's not the first time I've sent him intel. When the gangs started to get organised I let him know." explained Aria
"...why are you helping him?" asked Shepard suspicious
"I'm not, I'm helping myself. Your friend Callum? He warned me that certain individuals were going to try and take me out. Your friend Archangel? He's currently taking them out for me. The more he takes out the easier it will be for me to pick up the pieces later and the less likely they'll be able to cause me problems later."
"And what does the Archangel get out of this?" asked Shepard
"His life for one, and the life of his friends. Thanks to me, he got a heads up about an attack. An attack he wouldn't have seen coming. If not for me he would have lost a lot of his friends, his response was interesting though. Instead of bunkering down with everything he has he sends everyone but himself off and asked me to keep them safe. Before you got here I was starting to think he wanted to become a martyr." said Aria
"And now?" asked Shepard
"Now I can see that something else is planned. You obviously made some effort trying to hide your identity, as for Archangel the only thing known about him is that he's a turian. Even his own people have no idea what colony he's even from. It could be that someone just wants to scratch his justice boner, it could be that he was here to find some information on these Collectors...whatever it is I don't care. If Archangel or his buddies want to risk their lives trying to make Omega a better place so be it, as long as the one running it is me I don't care. I've got bigger things to worry about, such as the upcoming invasion of giant squid monsters.
Your Archangel...your...Garrus wants me to keep his old team safe. At the moment everyone is gunning for him and not them, after all why worry about the lackey's when you can go after Archangel himself. Especially when he's stupid enough to send everyone away leaving himself vulnerable...well except for him that is. After Archangel is gone they'll go looking for everyone in his crew. I'll stop that from happening, say they're under my protection and make them back off. In return they'll make things more...stable, I can't worry about invasions if I'm also dealing with coups simultaneously after all. The common man gets to feel safe under the protection of those that worked for their hero Archangel are still protecting them, so there's less for me to worry about. The only unhappy party will be the mercs who will hardly be in the situation to cause any problems. When I reveal that I knew what they were up to they'll assume Archangel was my idea, that I orchestrated everything and that with a single person I brought them to their knees. They'll be so afraid of what I can do they'll won't make another move for the rest of their lives."
"Sounds to me like you're getting a lot out of this." asked Shepard
"So?" asked Aria, again sounding both annoyed and amused "I've been running Omega before your mother started gushing for your father, you think it got that way because I was always looking out for someone else? No, me and mine will always come first. If it benefits you than you should just be thankful. Now unless you need something else I suggest you go see the recruitment station below, a lot of people are going after Archangel and he doesn't have a lot of backup." said Aria
"But he does have backup?" asked Shepard
"Just one as far as I know, he started appearing when things started going south as you humans say. People know even less about him than they do about Archangel, they've taken to calling him ghost as he leaves no trace. Now is there anything else?"
"Just one, does the name Mordin Solus mean anything?"
"Solus...that old salarian?" asked Aria "He just started a clinic in the lower decks. He seems that he's just as likely to help you to kill you as as to help you, he's an...interesting individual. I heard that he went to extraordinary lengths to heal a certain individual and then moments after he recovered he shot him dead before moving onto the next patient like nothing had happened."
"Just like that?" asked Shepard
"Just like that, turns out he was...less than a stellar citizen shall we say and had no intention of changing from his old habits." said Aria "No unless there's anything else I suggest you get going. I've got things to do and you need to get to Archangel before he gets overwhelmed, there's a recruitment station downstairs. And no the irony that their using my bar to recruit people to take out Archangel when they plan to take me out later is not lost on me and is something I plan on bringing up later."
"I just have one last question, you said someones helping Archangel?" asked Shepard
"Yes, though no one has gotten even a good look at him someone else has been looking out for Archangel besides me. While Archangel is certainly capable I don't think he'd be doing quite as well without him." said Aria
"If he's helping Archangel I'll ask if he wants to come along, the more the merrier after all. Now I better get going." said Shepard
"Then get going, if you come back I might just be here to see you." dismissed Aria
In hindsight, it was probably for the best that she was the only one allowed to see Aria, Callum knowing that Garrus was Archangel before he became Archangel could have brought up all sorts of questions she didn't want to answer.
Heading down the stairs she rejoined everyone else.
"How did you go?" asked Jacob
"Better than expected, Aria said she would send our mutual friend a heads up that we're coming." answered Shepard
"How did she do that? More importantly why? Aria T'loak isn't one to help others unless she benefits somehow." asked Jacob concerned
"It's benefiting her alright." answered Shepard as she walked past him and up to the batarian wearing the Blue Suns armour "I'll tell you all about it later, is this the place to be if we want to see Archangel?"
"You got beef with him too?" asked the batarian gruffly
"That's our business." replied Shepard shortly
"Whatever. Yeah, this is the place. Head right in whenever you want. Be warned, Archangel's been taking out you freelanceing types like goontak in a barrel." warned the batarian
Entering the room they passed a merc that looked like he had just finished singing up.
"You the next group? About time people who actually look qualified started signing up. The standard fee is 500 credits, more if go and manage and impress someone. Also if you die your friends do not get to claim your paycheck and no, this in no way makes you a part of the Blue Suns, Eclipse or Blood Pack. You're freelancers pure and simple. That said, if you do impress someone enough you might be invited to join one of the groups when this is all over. You also need your own gear and weapons, it looks like you've gotten that covered. Now sign here so we can move onto the next step." said the batarian handing over a tablet
After each person signed there own form...using a fake signature that was, the batarian took the tablet back.
"Good now that that's done there's a shuttle that will take you where you need to go. Just leave Afterlife and go right. Here are the coordinates so you don't get lost." said the batarian, sending them them the meeting point via omni-tool. "Next group!"
Leaving the recruitment room and then leaving Afterlife altogether they made their way to the waypoint. There they found another Blue Suns merc, human this time waiting for them next to an old drop shuttle. Judging from the wear and tear plus multiple paintjobs its had a number of owners over a number of years.
"You the next group of freelancers?" asked the man
"Thats us." replied Shepard
"Good then get in. The bosses want to make the final push soon and the more of you freelancers I drop of before then the better." said the man before opening the shuttle.
After everyone had climbed on the shuttle took off, groaning and shaking as it did so.
Either the shuttle wasn't being maintained as well as it should have been or the person in charge was rubbish at their job. The other possibility was this shuttle was older than she thought and they just wanted to get as much use out of it before the thrusters fell off...which hopefully wouldn't be today.
The journey there was rough, the power to the thrusters was neither smooth nor constant. It honestly felt like they were going through turbulence. Shepard wasn't sure who would be more pissed about the condition of the shuttle between Joker and Tali. Joker would probably say that the shuttle would only be good for melting down for scrap while Tali would say the mechanic deserves to be shot in the ejection port.
While she loved Tali, that seemingly cute and innocent quarian girl had a dark side, hacking a reporter drone to attack it's owner was just the tip of the iceberg.
Eventually, they arrived at their destination, the shuttle landing more heavily than it should have. Either due to lack of pilot skill or the boosters cut out before they should have. Exiting the shuttle they were greated by yet another batarian wearing Blue Suns armour...just how many batarians made up the Blue Suns faction on Omega?
"It's about time they sent someone that looks like they can do some damage and fight half as well as think they can." said the batarian looking over everyone, lingering over the LMG that Hayden was carrying. "They tell you what your up against?"
"Not really." answered Shepard
"I can see why. We wouldn't be getting nearly the number of freelancers that we are if everyone knew the truth. Okay here's the good news, Archangel had a team but the majority of them have abandoned him, he's back there on his own aside from a single ally. The bad news is that he's and his friend are at the other end of a long and narrow bridge and have killed nearly every single person that's tried to cross it. Because there's barely any cover it's pretty much a killing ground, the bodies doesn't make it any easier."
"It sounds like a death sentence." said Shepard
"Pretty much." shrugged the batarian uncaringly "But you look like you can handle it, besides what are the chances two people can kill all of you? They've been stuck there for the last few days and they're getting tired and making mistakes. Probably high on stims and who knows what else to stay awake, Omega is full of different drugs, each with their own side effect. It's kept them alive so far but there's no way it hasn't affected their cognitive faculties. They've been lucky so far and they're certainly skilled but that can only take them so far, plus the very thing that's made it hard to kill them stops them from being able to get away."
"So what's the plan? Surely there's another way to get to him aside from the bridge?"
"There were underground tunnels but those have all been collapsed and we're still trying to clear them. You are part of the distraction team, all you have to is make sure Archangel and the ghost keep looking your way. We have a small group already in place ready to attack them when they're distracted. Hopefully, they will be able to take them out, if not we'll start sending everything we have at them."
"So in other words you really don't care if we live or die?" asked Jacob
"No, we don't." said the batarian without shame. "Listen, do your job and its easy credits. All you have to do is dodge a few bullets, let your kinetic barriers take some shots in return for five hundred credits. Sounds like a good deal to me. That said if you want to do more than it's up to you, if one of your rounds manages to wound Archangel or the ghost it will be an extra three hundred per round, five hundred if it cripples him, eight hundred if it's the one that takes him out plus instant recruitment to the gang you fit into. Which in your case would most likely be the Blue Suns, plus the bragging rights to being the one that took them out. Good for a few beers at any of our gatherings at the least, pushing you into the middle ranks at most."
"Anything else we need to know?" asked Shepard
"Not really, head up the the boulevard and see a Sergent Cathka. He'll be at the third barracade, be careful though it you die or get wounded before the push then you're no good to us." said the batarian "And either way we won't be paying you
"How did you get that group close to them?" asked Hayden
"More distractions and a gunship to keep them busy. A gunship that they took out, like it was nothing. It's on the mend but it won't be fully operational just yet." said the batarian before waving them off "Just do your job and everything will work out.:
As they walked up the stairs the shuttle took off behind them, trailing smoke as it did so.
"Commander Shepard, I have scanned the area but am unable to plot any other available routes at this time." advised EDI over comms
"Looks like we have to go over that bridge after all. Second we get far enough to make or move we'll make it." said Shepard
"Be warned aside from a gunship there are also mechs including one heavy that will be quite difficult for you to take out. I'd advise trying to sabotage both of them if possible." suggested EDI
Passing the first barricade they saw two Elcipse merc firing pot shots at some target out of sight. Odd thing was that they seemed almost too afraid to aim down range, with how little time they took to aim their was no way their shots were going to be accuate.
Entering the next room they came face to face with a bunch of Eclipse mercs, the leader of which seemed to be a salarian.
"As the first wave goes in the inflitration team will attempt to take Archangel and his friend by surprise. Should that fail which it probably will we'll...can I help you?" asked the salarian annoyed when he noticed her.
"We're part of the distraction group." said Shepard, hoping that her attempt of trying to listen in wasn't going to bite them in the ass.
"Well you are certainly distracting, anyone tell you that you're supposed to be distracting Archangel and his friend rather than us?" asked the salarian annoyed. What was it about salarians that made them sound like know it all assholes?
"Sorry but I was hoping to learn more before me and my friends risked our lives." answered Shepard, hoping that angle will work
"Fine, you will be distraction. Unless you want to throw your lives away I suggest you keep to that. When you inevitably fail the real plan will start, a plan I have no intention of telling you. You want to make some credits than keep going, you want to back out then go away. Either way I have more planing to do as I don't expect you or the other freelancers to do much."
"I get the feeling you don't like freelancers?" asked Shepard
"Why should I? The majority of you are undicipled and uncoordinated, bringing people like you in was Tarak's idea not mine. Me and my men will be here when it bites him in the ass. Now if you don't mind I need to keep planning with my men when you inevitably end up failing." dismissed the salarian
Leaving the cracky salarian behind they continued to the next room, a hallway with a couple of doors. Behind one of them was a small army of small mecs and one large heavy. They weren't the top of the line or state of the art, on Omega what would be? But they looked well cared for and had multiple modifications, especially the big one.
"Forbes any chance you can hack this?" asked Shepard
"Maybe...give me a minute." answered Forbes
"Go for it, the rest of us will be out here keeping watch." as the door closed Shepard turned to Hayden "Turn around."
While confused Hayden did as he was told. When is back was turned Shepard went to work checking his armour and weapons.
"Ahhh...commander?" asked Hayden confused
"We need to make it look like we're doing something and as none of us have shoe laces to tie..." trailed off Shepard
In the end they went unbothered, after three minutes of waiting with no one walking by Forbes returned.
"Well how'd it go?" asked Shepard, who by this point had moved on to checking Jacob. If Forbes found her actions strange he didn't say anything.
"I tried hacking in, tried to mess with their friend and foe targeting. Make is so they would shoot at them instead of us...unfortunately either they're paranoid or take cyber security very seriously."
"You weren't able to do anything?" asked Jacob
"I didn't say that. While I technically wasn't able to hack them I was able to reset everything to factory settings. Whoever maintains these mechs does a better job than whoever takes care of that shuttle we arrived in. Each of the light and medium mechs has had their targeting calibatated and individually optimised. At least one or two hours of work per bot. Now that it's gone back to factory settings and no longer calibrated...well their shots aren't going to be nearly as good as they should be. However the best part is the heavy mech, the light mechs are programed to be defensive, not to attack unless attacked. You know patrol warehouses and tell intruders to leave rather than open fire, something that the Eclipse changed by they way. Heavy mechs are much more aggressive, meant for war rather than security details. They're programed to respond to the slightest sign of aggression unless that person is a labelled friendly. Makes them dangerous to use in public areas where a kid with a ball may be seen as a threat. The second they turn it on it's going to register the fact that everyone's armed, as long as we're not the first one to open fire than it could turn very ugly for those nearby."
"Good work." said Shepard, it wasn't as much as she wanted and she knew Tali could have done far more but mechs that couldn't shoot straight and one that could turn on it's handlers the second they looked at it wrong was better than nothing.
The next room was full of Blood Pack, a few krogan but mostly vorcha and snapping varren.
"You looking for the bathroom or something freelancer?" growled the krogan
"Just heading for the third barricade." answered Shepard
"The doors that way." spoke the krogan, jerking his head toward the nearest door
"I was hoping that you could tell me more about what's going on here." asked Shepard
"What's there to say, someone pissed off three gangs enough that they all decided to go after him rather than each other. Unlike the Tarak and that prick Jaroth I'll be thanking Archangel as soon I kill him. Tarak might have this plan to use freelancers to take him out and I'm Jaroth has a dozen plans to take out Archangel and the ghost out, each more complicated than the last but there's a reason why the Blood Pack are the muscle on Omega. Sometimes to solve a problem all you need to do is look it in the face...and blow it up with a shotgun that can take the quads of a thresher maw. And that's why I'll be to one to kill Archangel and the ghost too if I can get to him before my men. Not Tarak and his shiny gunship, nor Jaroth and his needlessly complicated plans. Just pure and simple krogan muscle."
"You want to thank Archangel? I thought he's been causing you all these problems?" asked Shepard
"Until recently I was second in charge here, names Keel. The one that used to run the Blood Pack on Omega was Garm, that was until Archangel managed to take him out, possibly with the help of the ghost if my instincts are right. Something smelt off where Garm died and there's no way Archangel could take him out by himself, his healing was something else. You could break his arm and a few minutes later he'd be punching you in the gut with that same arm like nothing happened." said Keel
"That still doesn't say why you want to thank him." said Shepard
"Do you have any idea how long krogan live for? I was second in command for the Blood Pack here, unless Garm died or retired that's were I was going to stay. You humans are lucky, you only need to wait a couple of years to a decade a most to take the next position. There was no chance I could beat Garm in a fight so I couldn't move up the ranks any further that way. Normally I would have to have waited a century or two at the minimum before Garm got bored and wanted a new posting or take over a new area. As I said I'll be thanking him after he's dead."
"If your so thankful, why kill him? Sounds like Archangel did you a huge favour. The Blue Suns and Eclipse are having a lot of trouble killing Archangel, why not let them kill him while you sit back? Archangel still dies and your two rivals are left weakened thanks to them not having the muscle they needed." if she was lucky she could turn three gangs out to kill Archangel into two
"That's a good plan." smirked Keel before that smirk vanished "I don't like plans, a real warrior looks his enemy in the eye before killing them. None of this killing them slowly crap. If it was up to me we'd either be clearing the tunnels or charging him. Not making these probing attacks to weaken him bit by bit by stopping him from even sleeping. What's next...waiting till he takes a shit?"
"I thought krogan liked battle and bloodshed?" asked Shepard. Thanks to working with Wrex she knew it wasn't that simple but hopefully the question could give her some insight.
"Krogan like the challenge." corrected Keel "Where's the challenge in killing a varren that doesn't have any teeth or has a broken leg? If I could, I would be fighting him right now one on one like it should be, however if I try to cross that bridge I'll be dead before I make it halfway and I doubt he'd accept a challenge from me. While I don't like plans I know that they're important and this one will allow me to get to Archangel, even if it's cowardly. But as Archangel is unlikely to face me on his own free will I don't have a choice if I want to fight him fair and squarish.
Archangel killed my boss, if I don't take him out everyone will think I'm not strong enough to lead the Omega faction, within a day I'd be facing down challenges from every krogan on Omega. More if Blood Pack from other factions decide they want to run Omega's. Krogan value strength, Garm was the strongest krogan on Omega if not one of the strongest in Traverse. If he wanted he could immediately take over his clan on Tuchunka with little effort or taken over a new one by rite of challenge."
"You weren't strong enough to beat Garm, Archangel was so unless you kill Archangel then everyone will think you're either a coward or a weakling. Either one would make you unfit to lead anyone in the Blood Pack." said Shepard
"Exactly, I'm glad to see someone not krogan understands. It's surprising how few do with how simple it is. Garm was a minor legend among the Blood Pack, unless I prove worthy to hold his gun so to speak I'll have to climb the ranks all over again. As long as my men believe that I could have taken Archangel out at full strength but had to settle for a weakened one then I'm good. Even hunting varren requires strategy after all. If they think I needed underhanded tactics to push things in my favour however than I'm done pure and simple. Even fighting and surviving Archangel would be enough to solidify my position as long as the fights good enough."
"In that case I wish you good luck or a good death." responded Shepard getting a grin from Keel
"I like you human. I don't know why but for some reason I think you understand krogan more than most do. You better get going though, Tarak wants this over with as much as me and he's not nearly as nice as I am."
"I'm not sure that nice is the word you're looking for."
'Maybe, maybe not. Now get going, the vorcha are getting twitchy." said Keel
Leaving the Blood Pack the entered the next room and a second barracade behind which a salarian and turian were hiding behind. The second they started walking through the door the salarian was hit by a large rod.
"SPIKE!" screamed the turian throwing himself to the ground.
A second later the salarians skull exploded, sending both shrapnel and bone fragments all over the place.
As they ducked back into the Blood Pack room Keel just grinned "As I said, just surviving a fight with Archangel or his friend would be enough. I'd be careful if I was you."
"What the hell was that?!" demanded Shepard
"Near as I can tell...modified batarian spikes full of explosives. Krogan killers if you will, I was hoping I had seen the last of them but it looks like he still had a few in reserve. What you think a few bullets would stop me from charging across that bridge?"
Leaving the Blood Pack behind for a second time they passed the second barracade, making sure they ducked the entire way. Garrus knowing they were coming or not it was better to stay out of any crosshairs.
Coming to the third and final baracade Shepard saw another freelancer standing behind cover. Unlike the others he was much older, suggesting he had survived longer in a career that did not favour age or and made the switch later in life.
"You know where Sergent Cathka is?" asked Shepard
"Yes but I have no intent on speaking to him." said the man "The longer we go without crossing this bridge the longer we all live."
"And why do you say that?" asked Shepard
"Well for one he's the person that will tell us freelancers when to cross that bridge, second, you saw that spike right? You get hit with that and it's over for you and the person standing next to you if they're unlucky. Shields don't seem to count for shit where they're concerned. They told me they ran out of those spikes a day ago, seems they're saving a few and I hate to learn the hard way what else they have up their sleeve. Listen Catka is on your left fixing up the gunship, on your right is the Blue Suns. Just so you know I overheard them talking, plan is if the distraction fails Tarak is going to kill every freelancer still alive, either as an example or just because he's a dick and doesn't want to pay anyone he doesn't have to before going for Archangel. Now that could be a joke, exaggeration or misinformation but I'm not going to take that chance. The Blue Suns have lost a lot recently, according to rumours they even lost one of their founders. Tarak's not likey to mess around, if your incompetent than you're as good as dead to him."
"I thought if we did the job good enough we could join one of the merc groups." said Shepard
"And you believed them? You get that armour secondhand? They said that so you would try harder to get that shot that killed Archangel. I mean think about it, five hundred to be a distraction, a few hundred more if one of your shots wounds him. More if it cripples or kills him? Any idea how many rounds my kinetic barriers stopped over the years or my armour? Send a dozen at Archangel and maybe one of them might fire a shot that scratches his armour but how can you prove that? They want you to try and get yourself killed trying to make that extra credit like a vendor at the showground, you know the one that says 'aww you missed, but don't worry I'm sure the next one will knock over the pins.' You do what you want but as soon as they order me over that bridge I'm exiting stage left and getting out of here while they're distracted, I don't trust the merc gangs to let me go if I tried leaving the way I came. Why else have us walk past each gang to get this far? They want to make it clear we can't leave if we want to."
Deciding against talking to the Blue Suns she headed left where she found more mercs milling about, behind them was the figure of someone in Blue Suns armour working on a nearby gunship.
"I need to speak to Sergeant Cathka." said Shepard
Letting her through the group of freelancers started to disperse making it easier to see the man fixing up the gunship. Looking in their direction the man depolarised his visor revealing a batarian face. The helmet while human made looked like it was modified slightly to allow all four eyes full vision. Lighting a cigarette the batarian started talking.
"You must be the group Salkie mentioned."You got here just in time, Tarak's going to order the push any minute now."
"Salkie?" asked Shepard, not remembering that name
"The one that greeted you when you got here. You're a bit different than most of freelancers that have signed up so far. Anyway the infiltration group will let Tarak when their ready to go so I suggest if there's any last minute preparations you hurry up and make them as once the order goes through there won't be time for anything." said Cathka dropping the cigarette and picking up the arc wielder.
"Will you be fighting on the ground with us?" asked Shepard
"Me?" chuckled Cathka "Tarak pays me to fix the gun ship and whatever else I have time for which isn't much. Eclipse are the ones with all the qualified engineers not the Blue Suns. There might be as many as five people in the Blue Suns on this station that can do my job and none of them as well as I can."
"Cathka you got my gunship ready yet?" asked the voice of some asshole over comms.
"Not yet." replied Cathka
"Well hurry up, the infiltration group just radioed that they're ready to go so unless you want to join the rest of the freelancers get a move on!" ordered the voice before hanging up
"What a prick. Sometimes I can't believe I work for that asshole." said Cathka out loud before opening his omni-tool "Bravo you are a go, I repeat you are a go."
At once that message started playing over everyone's comms and all the other freelancers started moving back towards the final barracade. All aside from the one freelancer she was talking to before who started hugging the wall and slowly moving away.
"Okay, you join the others I better finish up before Tarak actually follows through with his threats." said Cathka getting back to work
Instead of walking towards the barricade Shepard instead walked closer to the gunship and out of view of the other freelancers.
"Hold on you missed a spot."
"What where?" asked Cathka stopping before coming over
"Right here...can't you see it?" asked Shepard pointing at part of the gunship
Examining it Cathka stepped closer "No, what is-"
Suddenly grabbing the back of his helmet Shepard slammed his head against the hull of the gunship as hard as she could, adding a bit of biotic power behind it.
"That huge dent...you really ought to get that fixed." said Shepard walking away
Rejoining the rest of the freelancers she made sure her comms where on silent.
"As soon as we're over the bridge I want everyone ready, keep your weapons up but wait for my shot before you start firing. Hayden the second I fire my first shot I want you to do a 360 and make sure no one tries to hit us in the back. Don't worry about taking anyone out I just want to make sure no ones can take shots at us." ordered Shepard
Heading over the first/final baracade the freelancers immediately came under fire, one of them leveled a grenade laucher at the distant figure of a turian in medium armour only to be taken out from fire from two locations before he could fire a single shot. The turian, Garrus was one of them but she couldn't see where the rest of the fire was coming from.
Ignoring the multitude of bodies on the bridge Shepard waited until they were a third of the way across before she fired her first shot. She did feel a bit bad for shooting someone in the back but first of all these were mercs, second they were mercs that were trying to kill Garrus, thirdly from what she understood Archangel had sort of become a turian batman to the people on Omega and if these people had no problem killing one of the few people trying to make Omega into a better place than she had now problem taking them out.
The first shot surprised them, as did the second. It was only by the third did the other freelancers realise what was going on.
"SHE"S WITH ARCHANGEL!" shouted out one of them before a shot coming from the compound took him out.
As ordered Hayden immediately turned and opened covering fire as they continued to advance up the bridge. With fire coming from multiple directions the freelancers didn't last long.
Pushing forward they started seeing the so-called infiltration team. A number of them were setting up something that could only be a bomb. Judging from the size it was more than enough to take out everyone on this level and the one above it. Even if it didn't kill Garrus there was no way it wouldn't hurt him enough to take him out.
As soon as they saw them the infiltration team abandoned the bomb, they retreated further into to compound. Either it wasn't ready yet or it was and they needed to get some distance between them. Either way, it didn't matter.
Leaving the bomb behind they entered what seemed to be the main living area, there was even a view screen on one of the walls. As the infiltration team sought cover a figure dropped down from above...literally appearing from nowhere.
When the figure landed, it crushed one of them underneath its boots. When it hit the floor Shepard got a good look at them. The figure was wearing armour, heavy armour with no visor visible, just a smooth surface with one glowing red eye. Hayden might have been wearing heavy armour but this one looked like someone had taken krogan heavy armour and made a human version. With how thick the armour looked and how the sheer weight of it could crush someone it was a wonder someone could even walk around in it. Even the thinnest parts looked to be inches thick, as thick as it could possibly be while still allowing movement. The most notable part however wasn't the armour itself but he the undersuit, it looked like it was made of some sort of muscle fibre. In fact, without the armour Shepard was willing to bet that the person would looked like one of those human analogs you'd see in biology classes, the ones that showed what humans would look like without their skin, just their muscle tissue abet with a lot more of it in this case. Enough muscle to make a professional bodybuilder jealous.
After landing on one of them the figure snapped out with a kick at one individual with frightening speed and force that sent them flying into another, . Then pulling out an assault rifle shaped like a brick he opened fire on a fourth. The fire was loud, louder than even the LMG Hayden was carrying and it's fire tore through their barriers like they weren't even there before moving on to the rest. Within moments the entire infiltration squad was dead, whoever this person was they were carrying weapons and armour beyond anything she had ever seen.
When the last individual fell, the figure turned to Shepard and took off its helmet. The face was different than she remembered. The once brown hair and beard, red under the right light had changed to grey and he was a lot bigger than she remembered, both in height and width. But there was no doubt it was the same person. It seemed Archangel wasn't going to be the only old friend she was going to be reunited with on Omega.
"Callum...it's good to see you." said Shepard holstering her gun "Care to tell me what the hell is going on?"
Sorry this chapter took a lot longer to write than I expected, a couple of delays and personal problems but I got there.