The Normandy orbited Surkesh as Zenna, Garrus and Liara grabbed their weapons and armour. Wrex was also coming too in order to make the transition goes smoothly. The Kodiak was soon ready and the group entered it and Cortez took off. The ride wasn't bumpy, but there was tension in their air as they descended to the forest world.
"This is the Salarian home-world Wrex. So don't expect a warm welcome," Zenna said as she cracked her neck trying to relive some of the tension.
"I still don't trust a word they say." Wrex huffed in response while checking his shotgun.
Zenna just shook her head. "Let diplomacy work it's course Wrex. I don't want to have to deal with two wars to deal with," she sighed
Wrex only grunted in annoyance. "These females are the best and probably last hope for my race,"
"Don't worry Werx we'll get them," Liara said.
The old Korgan Warlord smiled at that. "Thanks Liara, wouldn't have anyone else on this mission,"
Garrus feeling a little left out gave an audible cough getting the Krogan's attention.
Wrex turned to him with a smile. "Don't worry Garrus I can find a place for you," he said while chuckling.
"Figured you'd gone soft, sitting too long on your throne." Garrus said. "Forgot how to hold a gun," he teased with the Krogan responding with an amused grunt.
Zenna just smiled at that as the ship hovered over the landing pad on the base. But they
"Err commander the base is refusing us entry," Cortez then called.
Frowning, Zenna walked over to the cockpit and looked at the controls. "Tell them the Delatrss authorised this herself," she said her frown furrowing deeper.
"Huh I knew they wouldn't keep their word." Wrex said opening the door. "Let's see them stop a Krogan airdrop,"
"Wait Wrex, stop!" Zenna yelled but before she could do anything the Krogan jumped down onto the platform sparking an alarm.
"We have an unauthorised landing." One of the Salarians said over the speaker.
Several Salarian soldiers came up and aimed their weapons at the Krogan. In response Wrex took out his shotgun. He then noticed two red lasers dots on him he looked up to see two snipers aiming at him. Zenna, Liara and Garrus then jumped of the Kodiak and the Salarian walked up to him. Ordering his troops to stand down.
"Commander restrain you colleague, we only got word on the transfer a few moments ago." the Salarian said.
Zenna nodded before looking to the Korgan. "Wrex stand down," she said with a growl making the Krogan lower his weapon before turning to the Salarian. "I would like to avoid a diplomatic incident,"
The Salarian nodded. "As would I." he agreed, voice betraying his relief.
"But the problem is that you got something Wrex wants," she said trying to find a way to get this done peacefully and quickly.
"Something worth dieing for," Wrex added with a growl.
"I understand but I must insist that he be remain under guard," the Salarian said with a nod but making Wrex groan.
"Wrex, in respect you did this to yourself. Besides I can handle this." Zenna added her tone making it clear she was not impressed with his actions.
Wrex then put away his shotgun still not looking pleased. "Anything goes wrong and all bets are off," he quipped.
"Depends on what goes wrong," the minotaur muttered as the Salarians then walked Wrex away as Cortez landed the Kodiak.
As Wrex walked past, the Salarian held his hand. "I'm Padok Wiks, I appreciate the understanding, Commander. With the war, everyone's on edge." Padok said as a container lowered with a Yarg in it. "As you can see this place has valuable information,"
"This planet smells wrong." Wrex said.
'I agree' Zenna thought before speaking up. "I would like to see them,"
"I need to clear you for the lower levels please give me a moment." Padok said before walking away talking on his omni-tool.
"Make it quick," she muttered silently.
The team waited for a few moments before Padok came back but just then a siren sounded along with a loud bang. The Salarians aimed but Padok indicated them to hold fire. But they were all on edge now. Zenna sniffed the air, there was something in it that she couldn't place but felt familiar. Padok and the Commander looked to each other with knowing looks.
"Stay alert, commander this way.," Padok said as he indicted to the door.
Zenna and her team followed Padok. As they reached the lift the alarm sounded much louder this time gunfire erupted as Cerberus Kodiak and troops came in. The team got in the lift and headed to lower levels. The lift soon opened and the team entered the labs. A Salarian scientist approached the team.
"Shepard good to see you again." Mordin said with a smile.
Zenna smiled as well. "Mordin same to you too. I guess that the Genophage cure we gave you helped?"
He nodded in response. "More than you can imagine. Had trouble with immune system with previous attempts but with Malon's data, only one survived,"
Mordin pointed to the cell where several Krogan females lay dead.
"Shepard Cerberus troops Incoming. Holding them off with your troops but they are much tougher than before." Wrex chirped in.
"Wrex we only have one of the females, the others didn't survive," she responded as she looked at the dead bodies.
Wrex just growled with annoyed as he replied. "Thought as much, just get her onto the Normandy."
She turned to the Salarian. "Mordin where is the female?"
Mordin looked to the only female standing and pointed to one of the cells. Zenna nodded and approached her. The Korgan just looked to her with a curious look in her eyes. There was something there, but the minotaur wasn't sure what it was.
"Why are you here human?" she asked as the minotaur stood before her.
"I'm here to get you out, your race needs you more than ever. But I need to take you to my ship. Is that ok with you?" Zenna asked trying to be diplomatic,"
"Yes, but I hope you have an army with you," as she spoke alarms sounded and the base shook.
"That is an understatement." The minotaur muttered.
As she said that, another large blast made the room causing the lift to cave in blocking one of their exits.
"Release the female we are leaving!" Zenna yelled at one of the Salarians.
"Negative there are...AHHHH!" a Salarian was trying to say but Mordin electrocuted him.
"Objection noted," Mordin said in a deadpan tone. "Release the female," he ordered.
He then climbed into the control room next to the glass cage. "Meet you at the first check point," and with that the cell started to move.
"Got it," Zenna nodded. "Everybody move!"
The team then climbed up a ladder and immediately met with gunfire. They took cover as Cerberus troops pined them down. Garrus took out his assault rifle and started to pop up from cover to get their attention while Liara moved around firing her smg to drain their shields. Zenna just followed Garrus's lead before throwing a grenade to clear the way. The three then rounded a corner fast as a few Salarian solders were taking fire. However, none made it.
Just then from the far end of the platform they were on several Cerberus troops came out and a Cerberus transport came in to drop off more. They began to suppress the team making them take cover as an engineer deployed a turret. The gun fire from the turret and troopers held the three off but then loud bangs could be heard. Salarian fights took out one of the dropships. It took out a few of the troopers, but the team had to finish them off before moving o
Liara got working on the door while the other two covered her. As soon as the door opened, they moved inside but just then a wall segment blew killing to on guard Salarians and a Yarg burst from its containment before running.
"Look out there goes the next Shadow broker," Zenna quipped with a smile.
"Could have sworn he was muttering T'soni the whole time." Garrus added.
"Not funny." Liara said not impressed.
But the other two just laughed as they continued to move up faster up a flight of stairs.
"Shepard Cerberus troops at checkpoint, containment shield won't hold out." Mordin said as they neared the Checkpoint.
"We'll get there as fast as we can," the commander replied.
They rounded the corner and unleashed a hail of gunfire at the Cerberus troopers. But as the smoke cleared four minotaurs large calibre weapons stood there. The weapons were aimed at the three and hummed into action.
"TAKE COVER!" Zenna yelled diving behind a pillar while the other two took cover behind something else as heavy rounds flew passed them but destroying their cover.
When the whirring began to die down, Zenna exited cover axe in hand and charged. The other minotaurs responded in kind by dropping their heavy weapons and drawing their blades. Using her speed, she moved to the side before pushing off a wall and beheading one of the minotaurs. But she ended in reach of the other three earning a new scar on her arm. They wouldn't get a chance to attack however, as she swept the axe to remove their legs from under them.
The minotaurs fell allowing for her team to finish them off and regroup.
"Shepard technician dead, Clear us through the checkpoint." Mordin said.
Shepard walked up to the terminal and stated to type in a few keys to begin the override. "You guys, ok?" She asked.
"Fine will repair containment, if necessary, can't speak for Krogan's however." Mordin said.
"I'm fine commander." the female said with a hint of annoyance
"Females kept secret, mole in STG probably indoctrinated. Reapers left unchallenged if females die," Mordin began running though thoughts about how Cerberus could get here.
"I won't let her die." Zenna growled as the containment boxes began moving.
"Shepard meet us at next checkpoint Cerberus likely to target..." Mordin tied to say but a blast knocked him off his feet.
Cerberus troops started to fire on the box trying to take Mordin and the females out. But it moved up into a covered area.
"Next checkpoint." Mordin yelled at the lift continued to move.
Liara threw a warp at the Kodiak making the ship lose stability and fall. The three moved onto a green patch on the next platform as Cortez's Kodiak flew by with a gunship hot on his tail but the gunship was met with a blast from one of the bases turrets. Zenna smiled as the three moved onto the platform.
"Shepard last attack compromised security systems trying to compensate." Mordin said over the comm.
As soon as he said that three Cerberus transports came in fast. Their side doors opened and dropped off. The team moved into defensive positions and take the Cerberus troopers. It didn't take long, but they did have to use to doses of medi-gel to heal the wounds. Once that was done, they moved up to the next level only to meet a familiar face.
"Commander good to see you again." Kirrihe said,
"Captain good to see you too." Zenna said with a smile
"Thanks, but it's Major now," he said tapping his new bars. "Anyway, careful Cerberus is up ahead."
Zenna looked over to see the targets. "Is there any way past them?"
"You could say that." Kirrihe smiled as he ejected a heat sink out of a weapon he was holding.
He came out of cover and fired a few rounds that looked like black balls. One of them hit on of the Cerberus troopers and after a few second exploded.
"How come I don't have those?" Garrus asked earning an amused look from Zenna.
Kirrihe smiled at his new toy as Cerberus troops came round the corner. "GO COMMANDER, I'LL COVER YOU!" Kirrihe yelled.
Zenna, Liara and Garrus moved up towards their goal. The three were covered but couldn't get to the checkpoint. Garrus threw a grenade at Cerberus; it blew sending a few troopers back and allowing for the three of them to take them out while Zenna moved to a terminal for authentication. When it was done the three entered.
"Mordin was right Cerberus got here too quickly someone must have tipped them off." Garrus said as they followed the corridor.
"Every war has it's traitors." Liara said.
They entered the next area but the troopers there where dead due to a lose feral Varren. The team moved on to another ladder and climbed up it. They charged through a door and began to fire on Cerberus troops who were attacking the pod. Garrus focused with his sniper at the other side of the complex while Zenna and Liara moved up. Liara used her biotics to suspend troops in the air while Zenna took them out.
"Shepard, Cerberus cut power need it restored before we can continue." Mordin said in haste. The three split up looking for the power conduit.
The spent a few moments looking before a loud hum sounded and Garrus walked out of a room with a smug grin with his kills. Zenna then moved up to the terminal and typed in the access codes.
"How you holding up?" she asked.
"Containment shield holding but not designed for direct fire." Mordin said.
"Remind me to draw up some plans and get them send to you," Zenna muttered as she already started making plans in her head.
"This isn't you fight commander. You don't know us." the female said.
"No but I'm fighting so that your race won't go extinct." Zenna said. "Something my own species came close to. How many more checkpoints?"
"Just the landing area. Hope Urdnot Wrex still waiting as well as your transport." Mordin said.
"Wrex can't keep his hands off a fertile, female he'll be there." the female scoffed with amusement.
"Got it, see you up top." Zenna said as two Cerberus troopers came through the door.
Garrus blasted them with Heavy concussion rounds sending them both off the ledge. They moved on quickening their pace as fast as they could. But that wasn't enough to keep a cranky old Korgan from getting annoyed.
"Shepard what's taking you so long I can't hover around forever." Wrex said over the comm.
"The female's are on their way," the commander replied. "They'll be there soon."
That got a chuckle out of the old Korgan. "Ha pull this off and I'm making you an honorary Krogan."
"I'll hold you to that." Zenna quipped.
The three made their way through an open door and over a blasted part of the platform. They then climbed a ladder; they were finally on top but a large number of Cerberus troopers came from the open roof and started attacking. Zenna, Liara and Garrus took cover as Cerberus was setting charges on the containment boxes. Mordin watched helplessly as they did this. But he had to stay and watch as the battle unfolded in Zenna's victory.
When the last one fell Liara, Garrus and Zenna moved up to the containment box. Liara stated to defuse the charge while Shepard typed in the final access for the checkpoint.
"Shepard you must authorise release, pod's then transfer to loading area." Mordin said.
"Let's get you out of there." she said nodding to the female.
As a pully fitted itself onto the pod, it began to pull it up and off of the lift. But it wasn't going to be easy, nothing ever was. That was confirmed a second later as Wrex came over the comm
"Shepard watch out you got Incoming." he said making Shepard, Mordin, Garrus and Liara look up.
A large white mech landed on the pad and charged up. As it stood Zenna growled at it before charging at it. It fired a couple of rounds, while they missed her, the shrapnel that they sent up cut into her. Ignoring the pain, she pounced onto the mech's cockpit and began to slam her fist into the glass causing it to crack. The mech pilot began to panic and tried to throw Zenna off, but her grip was tight.
Soon she broke through the glass and ripped the pilot out of the mech and tossed him over the edge. With that done she jumped off of the mech only to fall to one knee due to her wounds. Liara came up quickly to apply medi-gel while Mordin came out of the command pod. As he did so Cortez's Kodiak then came down and Wrex came out to greet the female that would be coming with them.
Zenna got up, with some help from Liara, and made their way over to the Kodiak. As they walked up to each other, they shook hands.
"You had me worried there for a minute." he said before walking off.
"Yeah right," the minotaur groaned.
Wrex offered his hand to her as two more Cerberus trooper came out. The female took Wrex weapon and fired two shots' killing them both.
"I can handle myself Wrex." she said handing the weapon back to him.
"Huh women." Wrex mumbled before they got on the Kodak.