"Well ain't that a sight to inspire confidence eh Badger? Final boarding call and there's a mechanic still fiddling with our ride."
Nikki popped her head out, smiling at the familiar voices. All the vehicles being used in this op had been signed off as fit for duty when they'd first come back aboard and had yet to see any combat this year. Add to that the fact that she'd personally conducted Preventive Maintenance servicing on each and every one of them since then and she knew there was nothing wrong with any of them.
She also knew there would be more than a couple of the troop leaders who either trusted her word, or were just too plain stupid and lazy to bother with the BDA (Before, During and After operation) checks but she wasn't one of them. If she was on a ground crew she always carried out checks on her vehicle, no matter how many times she'd signed off on it in the workshop beforehand.
The whole convoy was already set up in drop formation in the cargo bay and marines were finally making their way to their assigned places, some in drips and drabs carrying their gear with them like her two squad mates, and others already fully suited and booted, the whole squad walking together like the crew of the Grizzly next to hers.
"Aww shit, I'm not stuck with you again am I? Hey, Harris! Your squad's looking awful green, I'll swap you two old hats for a couple raw recruits."
The man in question glanced over.
"Who've you got in mind?"
"Taylor and May."
"Hell no! I'll take the rookies any day. I like to reach the battle with my sanity and eardrums intact."
"Aww, come on Killjoy, you know you love us really."
"That's Sergeant Killjoy to you Taylor. Watch yourself Shepard, don't let them near the radio controls or they'll have the volume limiters switched off before you can blink." Harris disappeared, his men following him inside their M29 and Nicola pulled on her gauntlets, finally noticing a new face standing nervously behind May.
"Hey Badger, who's the greenhorn?"
"Private Lambert, Rodgers replacement. Lambert, meet 'Triple-check' Shep."
"He only calls me that cos he can't count higher than three."
"Damn, did I hear that right? We got sheep and lambs in this tin can? We must be heading to a slaughter."
Nikki refrained herself an eyeroll as Bulsara came round the corner, explaining the difference between sheep and shepherds was not worth it. Besides, she suspected he already knew and she could see Lieutenant Deacon coming up not far behind.
"Sir." Just my luck to end up with a butterbar in my truck. She watched the officer run what he probably hoped would look like a critical eye over the vehicle, but it was clear he didn't have a clue what he was looking at.
"Is she good to go?" Shepard nodded and Deacon and Bulsara sequestered themselves away in the front driver's compartment, leaving the rest of the squad to squeeze into the back.
"I never know what's worse, an officer navigating or the idea that they might decide to try and drive."
"At least all he's got to do this time is follow the vehicle in front."
"Pfft, I bet a hundred credits we end up lost and separated from the unit."
"I ain't taking that bet."
...
Everybody handled the ride out to an op differently; the checkers engaged in an endless cycle of equipment checks starting with their rifle, moving onto pistols and any other weapons, omni-tools, ammo pouches, environmental suit seals, backup shield generators and back onto the rifle. Once or twice was fair enough but some of these guys managed twenty or thirty cycles between the drop point and the target location.
Then there were the chatterers, spewing a constant verbal diarrhea of shit, whether it be speculation about the current mission, recollections of a past mission or some random meaningless crap about their life.
The strong silent types needed no explanation although they seemed to come in two main categories: the ones exuding calm confidence and the ones that were just plain creepy. Then of course there were people like the ones she was currently confined with.
Shepard watched Taylor jam away on an invisible drum kit, Badger displaying an impressive air guitar beside him, it wasn't long before her head started bobbing to the beat as she tried to imagine the sound they weren't making. The duo laughed when they noticed, not at all fazed when she flipped them the finger and she turned to the only other person in the vehicle.
"You alright there Lambert?"
"Nah, battle virgin." Came the interruption before he could reply for himself. "Don't worry pork chop, when the bullets start flying at you you'll be too pumped to be scared."
Shepard shook her head in despair.
"You do know that pork and lamb are supposed to taste different right?"
"Not in Alliance ration packs they don't."
Shepard chuckled with the rest of them, she'd have to give them that one. However before she could come back with another retort Lambert finally joined in with a completely different conversation.
"What do you think happened to the pioneer team?"
"Well I'm not paid to think-" Badger mock glared at the snide 'just as well'. "But, I'd put my money on slavers."
"Certainly a lot of the bastards about these days. Hey Sarge, you ready to kill some more batarians?"
"I'm always ready to bring down slavers, whatever the species." While Shepard felt she had every right to hold a prejudice against batarians, it always surprised her how willing others were to overlook the presence of krogan, turian and even human mercenaries during the assault on Elysium.
"Is it true they don't have hearts?" The more experienced squad members smirked at Lambert's naivety, taking the opportunity to have some fun at the kid's expense and test the boundaries of his gullibility. It took more than a few minutes for Shepard to remember she was supposed to be the responsible one.
"Alright, alright that's enough. Ignore their bull Lambert. Batarians have hearts, but it's on the right side, slightly lower down than on humans. They also have smaller gaps between the ribs, it's more like a sheet of bone than a cage. Add to that the armour and shielding... You're much better off aiming for the head, right between the top eyes. Unless you're fighting hand to hand in which case you want to stick an omni-blade through the top left eye..." She trailed off at their expressions. "What? Didn't you guys get taught this shit at boot?"
"35 degrees." Taylor backed her up, everyone's attention jumping to him. "Ideally you want the omni-blade to penetrate the eye at a 35 degree angle. Gunny Ellison right?"
"Yeah, that man was real keen on making sure you remembered what killed humans might not work on other species."
"Did he have any advice on krogan?"
Taylor and Shepard glanced at each other before stating in perfect sync: "Run like hell and hope your shields hold up!"
...
"So, why Badger?" Lambert asked, the carefree attitude of the rest of the squad was finally breaking down his barriers, allowing him to relax and his confidence to build. May's face visibly lit up at the prospect of someone new to tell the tale to.
"Well, I was posted out on Tiptree..."
Taylor and Shepard shared a silent glance, Nikki holding up seven fingers. Taylor merely shook his head indicating he had her beat, then flashed all ten fingers before holding up another two, twelfth variation.
{How's everyone doing back there Sergeant?} Lieutenant Deacon's voice came over her private comms. Shepard took another quick look round the back, Lambert looked like he was about to throw up from Badger's latest origin story.
"We're all good Sir."
{Good. Tell the men we're five kli- no wait, four klicks out from the beacon}
"Roger." She cut the connection and turned to the rest of the squad. "Game faces on, we're nearly at target."
"Fuck's sake, I just got to the good bit." Badger grumbled, but carried out orders anyway.
{Approaching-} The vehicle trembled, comms cutting out without warning at the same time as they were lifted into the air, all they could do was tuck their chins against their chest and brace themselves against the sides as they tumbled back towards the ground at completely the wrong angle.
Shepard's eyes widened as she caught sight of the metal bubbling just behind Taylor's head and she pushed him out the way just as it melted completely, leaving a hole of daylight visible.
"Move! Everybody out!"
The training kicked in as they exited the vehicle, immediately looking to set up security.
Shepard checked inside the driver's compartment as she passed, but a quick peek was enough to confirm that neither of the grisly remains would be joining them.
Once in cover her eyes fully roved the battlefield. A handful of Grizzlies were still mobile, turret guns firing at the towering monster, but the majority were in the same situation as her own. Upturned, the crews scurrying around like ants.
"What the fuck is that thing Sarge?" Lambert quavered and she couldn't begrudge him the fear audible in his voice.
A glance behind revealed the grim and determined faces of Taylor and May with their weapons at the ready. Safeties off, trigger fingers straight, awaiting her orders. She had a job to do and the first stage in accomplishing it was making sure everybody believed it was possible.
"I don't know, but it sure as fuck ain't slavers. When we get back you better pay up Badger."