Disclaimer: I do not own the Mass Effect games. This story is written with no profit in mind. I make no money from it. It isn't for sale or rent.
Chapter 7
=DC=
Part 5
=DC=
28.04.2183 GS
Peak 15
Noveria
Pax system
Horse Head Nebula
The first obstacle to slow down the assault team turned out to be a not particularly large decontamination chamber, which was locked down tight. Combat engineers had to cut through one armored door, then hook up power cells to a control pane, boot it up and crack its encryption before they could proceed.
"Spirits, who thought up that thing?!" One of the Turian engineers exclaimed. "Sir, that's not an ordinary decontamination chamber!" He pointed through the armored glass of the security center that allowed clear sightlines both into the chambers and the corridor leading to the garage. The Turian hit a button and bright flames filled up the chamber.
"Someone correct me please, but you usually don't burn whatever you're trying to decontaminate. Right?" Shepard asked aloud.
"That's not even something a bastard like Okeer would do." Wrex shook his armored head.
"Leave a squad here. We need this location under lock and key if we're to get out quick." The Turian Major ordered. "At least this will slow down anyone trying to chase us out…"
"Ah, an optimist!" Wrex chuckled.
They found another corridor behind the decontamination chambers. Two turrets defended it…
"I'm starting to like this less and less." Shepard voiced his opinion on the matter. "What did Saren and Benezia cook up in this frozen hellhole?"
The combat engineers hurried past Wrex and busied themselves reprogramming the turrets. They were set up to intercept anyone trying to leave the facility, not the assault team.
"Set them up for remote control by the party at the security center." Major Navis ordered. "I do agree with Spectre Shepard's sentiment. The more I see of this set-up the more I'm convinced it is meant to contain something inside, not to stop us from getting in."
"Unfortunately, we're diving blindly on this one," Vasir grumbled in her characteristic fashion. "We could get no data on what the corpos brewing in there."
"Turrets are secure." The combat engineers chorused. "There are no traces of tampering." They fiddled with their omni-tools for a moment. "Command signal wired up to the security center."
"About time!" Wrex huffed and carefully walked between the two tall weapon emplacements. "Shepard, this can be an issue." The Krogan declared as soon as he reached the end of the corridor.
As soon as the Spectre caught up to the mercenary, he could see why – the corridor led to a small junction ending up with two relatively small elevators.
"If we go down piecemeal, whoever is waiting for us on the other side can shred us at their pleasure." Shepard scowled.
"Cut the top of the elevators, send them down and dump a bunch of drones inside? The shuttles should be bringing at least four more cases of them, along with additional supplies for the CP outside." One of the combat engineers suggested.
"Get to work, I'll have someone bring up the drones." Major Navis agreed. "Unless the Spectres have a better idea?"
"Send the drones, then Wrex, we'll follow them." Shepard agreed as well.
"That's what I like to hear!"
=DC=
A few minutes later, the elevator leading to the cafeteria and deeper into the facility was an empty shell wielded in place so it wouldn't cause problems. Magnetic clamps acted as anchors for thick thin metal wires that were strong enough to hold Wrex's weight, if barely. Two combat engineers dumped the contents of two drone crates into the elevator shaft, while others worked on the second elevator, which was supposed to be defunct.
Before the drones could reach the bottom of the shaft, it echoed with the sound of rapid gunshots, and angry screeching. By the time the drones were busy cutting through the door leading into the cafeteria and Wrex was on the way down, there was a full-scale battle going down there.
In other words, a great distraction that just might allow forcing the choke-point without suffering punishing casualties.
The drones ate through the door and burst through, swarming a pair of Geth covering the door. An Overload and overcharged shotgun blast cut through the small machines, however more than enough survived to shred the two AI platforms. Wrex charged on their heels, looking for targets, followed by the Spectres and Turian marines.
They took the lowest part of the food court with virtually no resistance. The battle was above, them, separated by two thick sheets of armored glass. There was a lot of Geth up there, all busy firing at something coming out of the facility's depths. Above them, the protective dome was cracked in places, with a few pieces missing, letting the storm in and burying most of the stairway leading up in snow.
"Contact!" Wrex gleefully reported and his shotgun boomed.
Small yellow bugs were coming out of air vents at the far end of the courtyard. As soon as someone shot them, they blew up, spreading steaming liquid in a small area around them.
"That's Spirits damned acid!" A Turian exclaimed.
The remaining drones formed a phalanx near the ceiling, aimed down, and began mowing through any bug that dared show its ugly head.
"Vasir, those things look awfully familiar, aren't they?" Wrex asked in a voice barely loud enough to be picked up by the communications suite of his armor.
"Benezia knows better. This has to be something else. It's not like there aren't nasty bugs to weaponize all over the galaxy!" Vasir denied.
"You can hear those screeches as well!" Wrex pointed at the battle above them."
"Alpha Squad, hold position, the rest of us are taking the Geth in the back. We'll see what they're fighting soon enough." Major Navis suggested.
"Damn right!" Wrex turned around and gleefully plowed through the snow.
Attacked on two fronts, the Geth detachment didn't last long. There were a lot of them, bunched up in close quarters, where Overloads, Sabotage programs, and grenades made a short work of their forces. The platforms that survived the CDF attack soon fell under a wave of angry chitin, tentacles ending up with razor-sharp manipulators, and acid bugs.
"I knew it!" Wrex let out a primal battle cry and unleashed a carnage round into the open maw of a huge armored insect.
Its ugly head disintegrated, showering dozens other with ichor.
"Set up those machine guns! Grenade the bastards! And someone call the fucking fleet, we're about to be overrun by Spirits damned Rachni! We need reinforcements here yesterday!"
The Rachni screamed, seeing enemies that could provide sorely needed sustenance, and surged forth in a tidal wave of screaming hunger. The larger Rachni warriors launched globs
Explosives, Biotics, and rapid-fire until weapons overheated, barely stopped the horde's advance. The larger Rachni warriors launched globs of potent acid that moved slow enough to avoid triggering barriers. Turians fell screaming, as the acid ate through their armor while cursing medics dragged them behind the congested firing lines and did their best with what they had at hand.
Wrex stood his ground at the front, even as his armor rapidly melted around him. He kept firing until his shotgun overheated, then threw it at the approaching horde and pulled out his rifle. A Warp took off the front legs of a large Rachni and armor-piercing bullets shredded its head. More acid washed over Wrex, ruining his weapon. He threw it away as well and pulled out a large pistol, while angry biotics surrounded his free hand.
The only reason the Rachni ceased coming was that their bodies blocked the corridors leading into the cafeteria.
=DC=
Part 6
=DC=
28.04.2183 GS
Council private chambers
Citadel Tower
The Citadel
Widow Nebula
Tevos stormed into the Council's private chambers, after a meeting cut short with representatives of various Asari Republics. She had been busy making sure everyone was on the same page about the internal issues the SA faced, and what approach might avoid unpleasantness with a negative effect on the economy. After all, the breakneck colonization pace of the SA brought forth many new mines for all kinds of precious minerals, resulting in an unexpected, boost to everyone's economy.
"Valern, what was so important you practically summoned…" Tevos began to demand before she trailed off. "Please tell me you're for some odd reason looking at the newest Rachni horror show?"
Her fellow Councilors sat in front of terminals, with multiple screens projected in front of them, showing scenes of combat against both Rachni and Geth.
"Yes, Primarch. We've got confirmation. Commodore Quale has already put Noviera under quarantine…" Tevos heard Sparatus speaking into his lit-up omni-tool.
"Found out what Benezia and Saren invested on at Noveria for. Rachni are trying to overrun the Peak 15 facility. Deployed CDF and Spectre forces managed to survive first contact with the Rachni and are currently holding position." Valern informed her, without ceasing his work. His large eyes were opened as wide as possible, as he tried to absorb the feed from multiple screens. His hands moved like a blur over two holographic keyboards.
Tevos took a few moments to compose herself, while internally she allowed herself a brief moment to scream. Rachni, Goddess… She took a few deep breaths, switched on her omni-tool, and began to rapidly browse through the available information. The Councilor noted that there was a live feed with the ground units on Noviera, courtesy to the fleet units in orbit.
"Spectre Vasir, report," Tevos demanded, as soon as she found that the Asari Spectre wasn't in immediate danger.
Vasir raised her omni-tool to look into its camera, which either by design or sheer bad luck showed what was happening behind her. A mutilated Krogan was sitting on something behind her, with two Turian medics washing acid off him. Pieces of armor, tough skin, and muscle sloughed off, showing raw, brutalized meat below. Soon, a liberal amount of medi-gel sealed the wounds, eliciting a loud, painted hiss from the large alien.
"The situation is all fucked up the azure," Vasir answered in a no-nonsense tone. "The place is crawling with Rachni. We can still hear ongoing firefights – it's either Benezia or cut-off Geth units holding their ground. Perhaps even survivors from the facility's personnel. Ideally, I would recommend that we call in a dreadnought to sterilize the site from orbit. In practice, doing so is going to be short-sighted in the extreme." If at all possible, Vasir's scowl deepened.
"Elaborate, Spectre. From where I'm standing, sterilizing the site looks like a good idea." Tevos pointed out. "We can't afford to let the Rachni leave Noveria.
"That's the thing, Councilor. For all we know, they might have either already left, or there might be other facilities working on them off-world. We need to secure and purge this Goddess-damned death-trap and recover any actionable intelligence available, no matter the cost."
"I concur." Valern shot from where he stood, doing a good impression of a rogue VI.
"The Primarch agrees as well," Sparatus noted. "Second Fleet is mobilizing above Menae and will be on the move as soon as it can load up the Armiger Legion, along with Blackwatch and Cabal support units. The only question is if it will deploy to the Citadel, or go straight for Noveria."
"The Citadel." Tevos decided after thinking about it for a few seconds. "The political fallout of this mess will be great even without throwing a whole Turian fleet at a Corporate Court world. The Citadel Defense Fleet should take the lead, and provide orbital support for your soldiers. I'll call Matriarch Lidanya and have her prepare to move as soon as your Second Fleet arrives."
"Good. Meanwhile, I've authorized the dispatch of light fleet elements to stiffen the blockade – primary frigates, and the odd command cruiser from nearby detachments. Those will need replacements as well." Sparatus said.
"See to it." Tevos nodded.
"Nearby STG assets are moving in to provide whatever support they can," Valern added.
"And there is another issue. Matriarch Aethyta has ran out of patience and demands permission to deploy ground side." Vasir butted in.
"If she wants to put her ass on the line and help you hold your position until reinforced, I'm willing to allow it." Tevos decided.
"If she is compromised, we might be unable to hold another Rachni charge. That was how we took out the Geth holding our current position – we struck them in the back, while they were focused on the Rachni."
"I'll try to speak some sense into her thick head. Patch me through to her ship." Tevos sighed. This was going to be a pain in the azure.
"Spectre, before we can get proper reinforcements to your position, we should be able to supply you with better tools to handle the Rachni. Further, you're authorized to buy, or requisition if you have to, material from the various research facilities on Noveria. We'll be making it crystal clear to the Corporate Court how severe the situation is." Sparatus continued.
"We appreciate the gesture, sir. Our medics are already running out of supplies to deal with acid burns. We weren't set up for this kind of combat. Right now, Port Hanshan is under the control of a Corporate Court Internal Affairs agent, she seemed to have a good head on her shoulders. I'm reasonably sure she'll cooperate."
=DC=
Administrator Office
Port Hanshan
Noveria
Pax System
Horse Head Nebula
"Captain Matsuo, we're officially under lockdown." Acting Administrator Parasini announced. "The Citadel detachment at Peak 15 just found out what Benezia has been cooking up, over there. They've run into Rachni of all things and their assault has ground to a still. As of right now, Noveria is under quarantine. There are more Citadel forces on the way to ensure it stays that way. Our primary function right now is to ensure the safety of the people at the port. Gather everyone in the best defensive positions we have, and deploy your people with whatever heavy weapons they have available. Also, get someone at the port control to send up to the CDF information of all ships that have visited the planet over the past six months."
"I'll see it done, Ma'am." The Captain turned to begin issuing orders of her own when the Internal Affairs agent's last words clicked. "Do you suspect that the Rachni made it off-world?"
"That's an unfortunate possibility, especially with Anoleis running things until now."