The Kodiak flew through the atmosphere of the barren wastes of Tuchanka. Looking out of the window, Zenna took in the firefights scattered across the wastes. Krogan and minotaurs moved together in large groups. The Reaper forces were pushing hard despite taking a lot of casualties. But she smiled at the cooperation of the Krogan and minotaurs. Several minotaur clans had called Tuchanka their home and did their best to restore the planet.
But it wasn't something that was always returned. Most Korgan clans didn't like non-krogan on their world despite the similarity of culture. Zenna wanted and hoped to see it succeed, maybe it would after the war. With a sigh, she turned to the others as Wrex finished a call.
"I ordered the Clans to assemble at the Hollows. It's our sacred meeting ground. We'll land there and take the armoured convoy to the Reaper. This will be the defining moment in Korgan history," he said proudly.
"Korgan history filled with defining moments, most bloody. Hope this one better," Mordin said.
The female Krogan looked to Zenna. "Commander," Eve said. "You seem to be troubled,"
"I am," Zenna said. "I may have revealed the sabotage, but… part of what the Delatrass has said, she does have a point. About the Korgan, I know I won't live long but… I need some assurance from the other clans that they will abide by the treaty they signed. Once I'm gone that treaty will mean little and little to the clans,"
Both Wrex and Eve nodded. "Humm, you do have a point," Eve said as she looked down. "The clans may see the need to expand the Korgan..." but before she could finish the Kodiak took a hit and shook.
"Wrex this is Wreav," Wreav said over the comm. "The Reapers are already at the Hollows! Come in guns blazing," he said.
"Hang on tight," Cortez yelled. "We're going in."
Reaper anti-air was on them as they moved into the hollows but thanks to Cortez's flying, they soon landed and the door opened with Wrex taking the lead. As soon as the door opened a Husk looked at him and was about to attack but Wrex just blew him away. He then jumped off and turned to Zenna.
"Shepard you take care of Eve, I'll sort out what's happening with the other clans," he said before moving.
Zenna and the other two got off the ship and followed the path into the hollows itself. The group armed to the teeth ready for a fight. They jumped down in a large round room with bodies scattered all over the place.
"Everyone, pick your targets and watch each other's six," Zenna said with a low growl
As soon as she said that, one of the Husks came at them. It pounced on them, but didn't get far as Zenna bisected it. The two halves of it landed at opposite sides of the entrance were the team came out of.
"DON'T LET THEM NEAR EVE!" she called out. The three moved down as more Husk came at them.
The group split. Each of them moving to the nearest target and taking them out with speed. Zenna, declining to use her guns, moved with speed and force to slam into the nearest husk before cutting it down with her axe. James took a similar approach, but using his omni-blade and pistol in getting up close and personal. Garrus, on the other hand, found a perch which he used to snipe the husks giving Zenna and James cover.
"Sheppard, it's chaos out here," Wrex said over the comm. "Whatever you do, keep them away from the female,"
"Already working on it," Zenna said as she decapitated and cut in half a husk trying to sneak up on her.
"Reminds me the mess on Palaven," James quipped as he slammed a Husk in the face so hard it exploded.
A large group of husks moved up to them and the team moved to counter them at speed. Zenna drew her pistol and fired at a few to gain their attention before using her axe to finish them off while James grabbed one and attached a grenade to it. He threw the husk which Garrus sniped. The unfortunate husk exploded killing the rest of his friends. Garrus then jumped down as the team regrouped and Krogan began to walk in with Wrex coming down a set of stairs.
"They will sing battle songs of this day," he said, his voice booming in the hollows. "Reaper blood has finally soaked out soil,"
Roars of agreement echoed in the room as he moved down the ramp while Korgan looked on to the foreigners in the hollow. Wrex, joined with Mordin, walked up to Shepard who gave the Korgan leader a bow in respect. While it wasn't required, it did show to the others that she saw Wrex as a worthy leader and battle master. He nodded back as several leaders of other clans walked up to Wrex
"We need to get to the shroud. The air strike is on its way, so is our backup," Zenna said walking to meet the leaders.
"Eve safe Shepard, vitals are strong." Mordin added as he checked his omni-tool.
"What is a Salarain doing here?" a voice asked making them all turn to see more krogan come in, one with light green armour. "Nobody said anything about this,"
The Salarian scientist swallowed. "Multiple krogan, problematic." Mordin said.
Zenna growled. "Who are you?" She asked.
"Urdnot Wreav, brood brother to our..." he said moving a bit looking at Wrex. "Illustrious leader," he said with clear hate and venom.
'Wrex's brother?' Zenna thought. 'Note to self be careful.'
"Wreav and I share the same mother. Nothing else," Wrex said with venom as well.
"For which I am thankful. I remember what it means to be a true Korgan!" Wreav declared which he received a loud series of affirmative grunts came from his group. "We flay our enemies alive and drown them in a geyser of their own blood. We don't invite them into our home,"
With a growl, Shepard stepped up. "The 'Salarian'," she said walking up to Wrex. "Is not your enemy, he's here to cure the genophage."
Wreav looked at her and Mordin. "His kind gave us the Genophage!" he yelled. "Why should we trust him?"
Wrex head butted his 'brother' making him cower a bit. Several Korgan, and Zenna, gave affirmative grunts in response.
"Because I do," he said. "And so you will you Wreav, he promised to cure the genopahnge, I don't care if a hannar cures it or a pyjak. It will be cured," the way he said it left no room for argument from the others.
The air in the room became extremely thick with hostilities. One of them pulled out his shotgun. Zenna was about to follow with her pistol, but someone stopped her.
"ENOUGH!" Eve called out, her voice vibrating authority across the Hollows.
All eyes turned to face her as she stood looking down at them.
"You can stay here and let old wounds fester as korgan have always done." she said walking down the ramp. "Or you can fight the enemy you were born to destroy and win a new future for our children. I chose to fight." she said the last part was she turned and looked at all of them from the alter. "Who will join me?"
"I will," Zenna said with James and Garrus stepping forward as well.
"So will I." Wrex said looking at her.
"Now hold your heads high like true Krogan!" he said reaching the bottom of the ramp and turned to them. "There's a reaper that needs killing!"
There was cheering from the majority of the Krogan but a few didn't. As they did, Zenna noticed a minotaur standing off to the side. he looked up to her with a nod and she nodded back.
OOOOO
Korgan trucks and tanks moved across a blown-out road as they headed to the objective. Zenna and her team were inside the command truck which was different from the others as it was larger and had tracks with a comms array and a macro cannon on the top. Shepard stood as she held onto one of the beams. She moved over to the cockpit and looked out as a Turrian pilot came over the comm.
"Korgan convoy, this is turrian wing Artimec. Our flight vector to the shroud is locked," the lead pilot said. "We're ten minutes out and counting,"
"Copy that Artimec. We're on our way trying to make up for lost time. Shepard out," Zenna said as soon as she finished the Korgan Eve spoke up.
"Wreav isn't the only Korgan wanting revenge for the Genopahge, Wrex. You'll have to placate them somehow," Eve said.
Shepard just scoffed. "Oh, if interferes I'm going to rip that plate off of his head,"
Wrex nodded as he turned. "We need to avoid the mistakes of the past, and recapture the glory of the ancients. We agreed that if the Korgan kept our population at stable levels and kept our war-like ways to a minimum we would not have a problem,"
The Commander nodded. "But not all Korgan will like it," she said.
"No, they will not, but even if they do not like it then worse will happen," Wrex added. "Again,"
"Sounds like you have it under control," Eve said but with a hint of being sceptical in her voice.
"Well, after the war we do have a lot of 'catching up' to do," Wrex said with a wink.
Zenna smiled and slapped him but then the vehicle slowed down making her lose her smile. Wrex stood with a concerned look on his face.
"Why are we stopping?" he asked.
"I smell trouble," Shepard said.
The truck then came to a stop the doors opened letting Zenn out first. She looked to the back of the convoy and moved along as Garrus and James exited their vehicle. As they did the other trucks began to slow down and stop, as they did the team looked over to a tower in the distance with a greenish black cloud coming from the top. It didn't look good at all.
"Wrex, you and Mordin stay with Eve. It's setting ugly out here," she said calmly over the comm.
"Will do." Wrex said with an annoyed grunt.
Shepard then moved over to the front end of the convoy where a Krogan scout was looking at a crack in the road.
"What's the hold up?" she asked.
"Roads out, the convoy cannot make it through," he said indicating to the broken tarmac.
Zenna grunted as she turned and tapped her comm.
"Turrian wing Aritmec, this is Shepard. We've been delayed- hold off your attack," she said.
"Negative Commander. Our approach is locked. The Reaper already knows we're here!" the pilot said.
'Shit!' the Commander thought as the turrian fighters flew overhead and towards the Reaper.
Running up to her, Garrus grunted in annoyance. "An airstrike won't cut it. We need to get into that fight," he said as the fighters began their attack.
The aircraft fired their weapons but it had little effect on the massive machine. All they did was annoy it as it turned to target them and tried to take them out.
"Damn it," Shepard muttered before walking over to the scout. "I don't care if we need to make a new road, we're going!" she practicality yelled but the sounds of a blast made her look to the reaper as it shot down one of the turrian fighter crafts.
The red beam hit one of the fighter's main engines causing it to fail and fly toward them.
"Oh shit.." James muttered.
The fighter came in fast as the turrian came over the comm.
"I've lost control, cannot pull up," he said before the fighter crashed into one of the trucks and sent Shepard and the team flying a few feet in the air.
Groaning she slowly got up as Wrex came over the comm. "Shepard what's going on out there?" he asked.
Shepard hit her comm with a grunt. "Wrex, get Eve out of here now! Go!" she yelled.
As soon as she said that the truck drove as fast as they could across the road and jumped over the gap. As they did one of the turrian pilots came on.
"Commander, we have to abort the mission. The Reaper is tearing us to pieces," he said.
"Understood, save your pilots we'll find another way." she said hearing as the fighters pulled out.
As soon as she said that Garrus pointed something out. "There's a tunnel over there, maybe a way off."
Shepard looked to where he pointed and could see a passageway upward. She was the first to over followed by James and Garrus. They jumped over a gap and made their way up a ramp before dropping down a level. Aside from a large square of light the rest of the area was dark. Igniting herself to see a set of stairs in front of her, she hit the comm.
"Wrex, are you receiving this?" she asked as she walked down the stairs.
"Yeah, just a few scratches. Nothing the Salarian cannot handle," he replied before continued in an annoyed tone. "Wreav's truck also made it out too,"
"The turrians called off the airstrike," she said as she looked around in the darkened room. "We need a new plan to take out that Reaper,"
Wrex grunted in agreement. "First we need to find you. Where did you end up?"
"Underground. We see ruins of some kind," Zenna said as an explosion rocked the room.
"Commander that's the city of the Ancients," Eve said over the comm.
Garrus "Ok how do we get out?"
There was a sigh on defeat from the Korgan. "No map exists. It's been abandoned for thousands of years,"
"Perfect," Zenna replied in a sarcastic tone.
That got a laugh from Wrex. "You're a trailblazer Shepard. Get through there and well find a place to meet up. Nothing will stop this cure,"
Zenna nodded before looking to the left where there was hole in the wall. She and her tea walked up to it and dropped down into a new room and continued moving. They followed the darkened corridor to the right with explosions happening above them. Which each one the rooms shoot and dust came down from the ceiling. It gave them the feeling that this place wouldn't last long. They then followed a set of stairs down before another more powerful quake shook the ruins.
Shepard lost her balance and fell down the stairs ending up in a heap at the bottom.
"There it is again," James muttered.
"That wasn't a tremor," Kira noted as she stood and the others joined her. "Wrex, are you guys feeling these tremors?" she asked.
"Not up here," he replied before Eve came on.
"It could be something else Commander. It is said that Kalros, mother of all Threasher Maws lives in this region," as she spoke Zenna froze on the spot.
"Another good reason to get your ass out of there. Step on it!" Wrex chimed in.
"Yeah, full agreement let's move," she said jumping down into a ruined corridor as James spoke up.
"So do I really want to know who 'Kalros, the mother of all Threasher Maws' is?" he asked.
"When a Krogan names a Threasher Maw, you know you're in trouble." Garrus said. "They don't think anyone's ever going to kill it,"
"That we can agree on," Zenna said before another tremor shook the underground passageways. "Ok, that was a…"
She didn't have time to finish as the floor opened up from under them and the three of them fell down to the next floor. They tried to get up, but the shaking didn't stop and the floor tipped sending them rolling down two levels. Dust and debris fell on the them as they tried to get up. All three of them cursing as they stood and looked up.
"Well, that was fun," Garrus muttered. "How are we getting back up?"
"Not a clue," James replied.
Zenna said nothing as she cracked her neck and looked around. She almost stopped as a light blue light came into sight down one corridor.
"Hey guys, there's a light over here," she said indicating down the corridor.
Garrus and James looked at where she was pointing before at each other the down the corridor again. Turing their lights on, they turned to the commander.
"Shepard, there's nothing down there," James said earning him an odd look from the commander.
"What are you talking about, there's a blue light there," she pointed to a section of wall.
"Zenna, are you ok?" Garrus asked. "There's nothing there,"
Zenna blinked looking at the two then that the light that only she could see, as it seemed. "Ok, weird," she muttered as she walked down the corridor with the other two following.
Their lights didn't affect the glowing blue light. After walking up to it, she stroked it and looked at her hand.
"Dust?" she questioned as she brought up her onmi-tool. "No… something like plankton,"
"Plankton?" Garrus asked confused.
"It's a microbial animal that lives in earth's seas," James replied making the turrian nod as the pair of them brought up their own omni-tools. "I'm detecting them as well,"
Garrus just blinked. "How are you able to see them?" he asked.
Zenna said nothing as she looked around seeing another set of the microbial creatures. "What the hell?" she muttered as she closed her onmi-tool and walked up to it.
More of the stuff came into sight. There was no way this wasn't some kind of marker so she followed the lights down the corridors until she came to a wall covered in the stuff. Except for the middle. A round section with an indentation of a handprint could be seen on it. The problem was, it wasn't a Korgan handprint. It looked Prothean. Looking to each other, Zenna reached out and placed her hand on it.
Due to her size, her hand was bigger than the indentation. But that didn't stop a device from activating and locking her hand in place.
"What the…" she yelled as she tried to pull away with James and Garrus helping her.
However, it didn't work as it held her tightly. Something then cut her making her help before letting go. The three of them fell back in a heap. A holo light appeared over the handprint which turned green and the wall opened up. After a look to one another, the team walked in.
"EDI can you hear me?" Zenna said but got no response. "Too deep," she muttered as the team moved into the now opened room.
Keeping weapons at the ready, they looked around. One side of the room had collapsed but for the most part it was intact. But the architectural style was clearly Prothean.
"Be careful," Zenna muttered as the three of them split looking around.
The room was quite big split into separate sections. Residential, experimentation, storage and the like. But what caught the minotaur's eye was the lab section. She walked over to it and looked over the battered and dented equipment. It was hard to make out what was done here, so she kept her eyes open for some kind of memory shards. After some time of looking, she found nothing, but someone else did.
"Commander, found something," James called out.
Zenna moved over to the marine who indicated to a memory shard on a table. Given what happened to the commander on Eden prime, both times, it wasn't a surprise that the others were hesitant about Prothean objects. Garus quickly joined them and patted the Commander on her arm.
Taking a deep breath Zenna walked up to the shard and touched it.