Remnants

by General Rage

From Halo's ashes, a mismatched Alliance is born. UNSC soldiers now serve alongside both Batarian deserters and shifty Jackal Space Pirates. Now Shepard and Master Chief have to keep these strange bedfellows from killing one another before they can stop an emergent new threat to the galaxy. The Next Swashbuckling Chapter of the Wormhole Chronicles.

41. Take What you Can and Run Part 2

Chapter 37 Part 2: Take What You Can and Run

The Whale is a Creature Made to Roam the Oceans, And So Am I.

- Anthony Douglas Williams

The security tower was on high alert, its defenders planted firmly in their defensive barricades. Plasma Cannons on the upper platforms, snipers stationed at the top of the tower and various shield users patrolling the area.

It was a well-fortified position, nothing Varvok hadn't faced before though. To be fair, those had always been Alliance Outposts or Council Held Fortifications. Most of them had been smash and grab attacks, this was about taking and holding the place. Also it was on behalf of saving human as well as alien lives. The fact taking down the tower was the only way for his batarians to leave as well did nothing to reduce that reality.

Luckily, he had come up with a plan before they even got out of the maintenance shaft. He had only refined it further now. He was putting sharpshooters in some trees overlooking the tower. He placed a light machine gun team near the main entrance. The rest of them had moved around to the secondary entrance, guarded by a plasma cannon and a number of kig-yar pirates. This would be a three-pronged assault. One launched once everyone was ready. When they were Varvok gave the order.

"Execute."

The machine gun team at the front entrance opened fire. Instantly, the pirates reacted, returning fire and rushing to respond. Good, they were being drawn in. The mass of machine gun fire would convince them that this was the main thrust. And it would bring the snipers to bare down on the enemy line. Not that it would matter, they'd never make their shots, they had been zeroed by now.

The first kig-yar sniper went down with a blast to his eye, the next was shot as he tried to relocate. The upper platform plasma cannons opened up on the treeline. Hopefully the sharpshooters had quickly moved out of them. Varvok couldn't concern himself with their status for now. They needed to move. With the enemy distracted at the front entrance, and the extra plasma cannons worried about the snipers, they could move in.

With one signal, Varvok ordered his men forward. A rocket slammed into the lone plasma cannon turret barricade. With their main defensive weapon gone, the secondary entrance was wide open as many of the guards stationed there had moved to the main entrance to protect it.

Classic panicked defense, they thought they were secure, that they could relax with their friends keeping the enemy nearby at the docks bottled up. They hadn't had to defend this place in years, because it was secret. They had gotten complacent and that was their way in.

Varvok led the assault of course, firing on the few enemy pirates that had stayed around the area. Their shields defended them for a moment, before the overload and disruptor ammo caused them to fail. They fell quickly after that and the team made a beeline for the tower. They didn't bother unlocking them, they quickly blew open the doors and ran inside as they were forcibly shoved open. Varvok fired on three Kig-yar as they moved to engage to intruders. He fired expertly into each defender, one shot for each, taking them down quickly.

"Keep moving," he ordered. "Get to the top, no stopping!"

The only way to win this was to not give these pirates a chance to react. They pushed up through the bottom of the tower. One group split off to clear the bottom floors, Varvok led the others up the steps to the next.

They came out onto the platform outside. There was a plasma cannon operator nearby firing into the tree. When he saw Varvok, he moved for his plasma pistol. A ballistic blade found the kig-yar's neck instead. Varvok lowered is omni-tool after that and directed his men.

"Clear the platform," he ordered. "Turn the cannons on the enemy below. You two, with me!"

He led them up to the main tower's door. He planted the breaching charge himself and blew into the room. It killed a single kig-yar that had been positioned near the door. His men rushed in and killed the others inside. Now there was just a small gravity lift up to the top of the tower. Varvok wasn't about to take a chance though. He sent a flashbang through the gravity lift first, letting it burst up top. He and his men then moved into the lift themselves.

They shortly arrived in the tower top, the kig-yar that remained there blinded for a brief few seconds. All they needed. Varvok let loose with a stream of bullets, cutting through the pirates surrounding them. His men cleared their sections while he moved around the area, making sure they had terminated everyone inside.

They had, save for one. A single kig-yar pirate, cowering behind his shield on the floor. Varvok kicked the shield away with his foot and grabbed the pirate by the throat. Give the look of his armor, he assumed this was the security tower commander or at least a ranking officer.

"Make this easier on yourself and me," he ordered. "Tell me how to access the anti-air systems."

"Fuck you," the kig-yar screeched. "You know what Snarlbeak is gonna do to you fucking raiders? What he's gonna do to me if I help you do anything here?!"

"Is it really worth your life to protect that bastard's bottom-line?" Varvok questioned.

"I have a company insurance policy!" The pirate claimed. "Loyalty clause states any cooperation with hostile or enemy forces renders all potential benefits null and void! I have seven fucking hatchlings to feed! If I lose my policy, various debts to the company get put on them! That's even if I wanted to! No one fucks with Snarlbeak and lives! You're all fucking dead!"

Varvok knew better than to keep pushing this guy. For starters, he didn't have the time. There were also way too many things keeping this pirate loyal. Fear of losing his cash flow to his family and fear of his boss himself. Varvok imagined anything he could do to him, Snarlbeak could do ten times worse. Or at least his psychopathic bodyguard could. So Varvok just bashed the man head on the dashboard and let him slump into unconsciousness. He imagined the bossman would have a worse fate in store.

He didn't need him anyway, he had far better help on the line. He had just hoped the pirate would've sped things up. Right now, he needed someone who had actual expertise with computers, he wasn't too proud to admit he was not good at that. So he got to the main console, his men keeping the area secure, and opened a comm-channel to Commander Shepard.

"Commander, Varvok here," he reported in. "I'm at the Security Tower, we've taken the main control room at the top. I need your assistance."

"Varvok? What are you doing at the tower?" Shepard asked.

"Well you were held up at the docks and we still need a way out of here, so took it upon myself to get it done," Varvok explained.

"Not that I don't appreciate it, but you do realize you're stuck out there," Shepard warned. "We still have a full blockade outside the gates."

"I'm well aware, and as soon as they see what we're doing the Nest's defenders are going to respond so I hope you have a plan," Varvok explained. "Honestly, this was Zek's idea, so don't think I'm some noble self-sacrificing idiot. I fully intend to get out of this, for everyone to get out of this. Right now, I just need your help. Can you put the quar-" He stifled himself briefly. It would not be the proper thing to do to ask for help from someone by calling them by their species alone. "Can you put Zorah, on. I need her assistance. This was supposed to be her job anyway."

"Can do, give us a second."

Varvok took the moment to check in on his men below. They had broken through the main entrance's defensive line and were swarming the courtyard, although the pirates were still fighting to the last. Those insurance policies had to be really good for them to be this loyal to such a terrible boss.

"Varvok, it's Tali," the quarians voice soon cut in. "Are you at the main console?"

"I am, haven't started anything," Varvok replied. "Waiting for your word."

"Alright, this going to be tricky from a distance, but if you can log me in remotely, we can start slicing the system," Tali explained. "Pull up the communications command module, that should give me an entry point. While I'm running that, look through the defensive system protocols. You should be able to find it in the primary node. Check under priority systems."

Varvok did as instructed, working as fast as he could. He trusted that Tali knew what she was talking about, even if he didn't. Once he got a channel open to her on the system, she could probably take over, but he'd remain in case she needed manual help from the system directly. It was funny, he never thought in a million years he'd be working so closely with a quarian for the benefit of humans as much as himself.

It didn't matter though, this was bigger than him or his squad or perhaps even the Hegenomy itself. What mattered was stopping the Covenant and this mission was all about getting them closer to that. He'd do anything to accomplish that goal and in truth, he was perfectly fine at this point with Shepard and his crew being the ones to help him.

Once he found the defensive weaponry systems program, he began transferring access for it to Tali. She of course helped a bit in it. However, he could still hear fire below them.

"Teams ground teams reporting we have enemy units at the perimeter," one of his men stated.

"Hold them off, form defenses," he ordered. "We need time to get this done."

If they lost the tower now before they could lock their work in, everything they did here would be for nothing. They had to make sure the enemy didn't retake the tower and couldn't undo their work. It was up to Shepard to help get them out of here.

Relying on a human, let alone the Hero of the Skylian Blitz, to save him. Things had undoubtedly changed by this point. And again, he was fine with it. Shepard would pull through, he always did.

---

It was a little surprising to see so many people piling out of the secret freighter hangar they had found. It was even weirder to find out that there was a secret rail station below even that hangar. Learning that said tram car was currently loading a massive whale-creature onto said freighter was of course the biggest surprise, but it sorta made sense given everything else. It was just turning into one of those missions where it seemed just about anything was bound to complicate things. So why not a mythical alien whale?

Zek and Retz did their best to explain all of this to Commander Shepard while Miranda and Garrus organized their defenses with the Marines and ODSTs. They were setting up among the defensive barricades and positions Shepard's team had constructed. They were also assisting in securing the Nuclear Warhead, one of the many things Zix had apparently decided wasn't important enough to tell them all about among other things, including the whale.

The good news was now their defensive plan was a bit more viable now that the bulk of their people were here. They couldn't hold indefinitely, but they could keep them at bay long enough to get out of here with the freed slaves and anything else they could grab. Which, again, included a whale. Shepard was still trying to wrap his head around that.

At least he could rest easy knowing they had an actual chance at pulling this off now. The only group not accounted for were the Spartans, although Varvok's team were currently accomplishing the very key component to escape and would need to be extracted to the docks as well.

That did not change how Shepard was feeling more than a little used, although he wasn't the only one.

"I don't think I like having crucial information about my missions kept from me," Shepard informed Zek and Retz. "Especially when it's ultimate goal is stealing a big black beer-oozing whale."

"I did warn you all this was a likely scenario," Retz reminded him. "Maybe not this precise scenario, but I did say we could not trust Zix and this entire mission has only proved that fact beyond a shadow of a doubt."

"But we're getting some Black Chorka Ichor out of it!" Zek piped in. "So it's still not so bad."

Retz eyed his shipmaster with an incredulous glare, forcing Zek to sigh.

"Fine, fine, we can be pissed she lied to us and obviously we can't trust her," he admitted. "But no matter what we're getting something out of it."

"You're getting something out of it," Retz reminded him. "You specifically. You're getting Black Ichor."

"Which is fucking delicious and apparently what has kept me coming back to Snarlbeak's liquor for years," Zek replied. "So ultimately, this is me being able to finally break away from his shit and maybe take over the market from him. After today he's gonna be ruined, might as well fill the void. Why are you so upset over this?"

"Why aren't you more upset?" Retz demanded to know. "So what if we got something out of, we only did so because we caught her and she was deliberately sitting on information that could've made this mission easier just because she wanted to cheat us out of it as much as possible."

"Which you prevented, as I knew you would," Zek said gratefully. "You get to be right, I get to have Black Ichor, we get the information for this attack on Earth, free some slaves and make things easier to steal that final relic we need. This is a good day! Just enjoy it."

Retz was clearly not enjoying it and Shepard was a bit surprised that Zek and him were so far off from each other on this. He could see it though, Retz hated that he had helped the Syndicate in any small way. That they had used him once again and used his friend to get the job done. It didn't matter what they got out of it, like Shepard he didn't like being played for a fool when it would've been easier and more beneficial had Zix just been honest. But she hadn't because it was easier to just lie. Or maybe she just wanted to lie, regardless of how much easier or harder it was. Those lies had almost cost them a lot more than what the Syndicate was offering in return.

Shepard could sense something else though in Retz's glare. It wasn't anger or even frustration, it was disappointment, astonishment that Zek only seemed to care about getting the Black Ichor. Shepard didn't know why, he assumed Retz would probably agree with his Shipmaster on that point at least, even if they disagreed on the hows and whys of its procurement. There was no clear indication as to the reason for this reaction though. He just knew that Retz wasn't really on the same page as Zek, which was weird for them given how they mostly were literal partners in crime.

The questions as to what had caused this minor fracture in the friendship would have to wait though, they still had more pressing concerns.

"Listen, let's focus on getting out of here first," he told them both. "Now, Varvok is hacking the Nest's Defensive System as we speak. The orbital and anti-air guns will be on our side soon. And as long as that Warhead is inside these walls, the pirates outside will not risk bombarding us. But once they find out that we can make our escape... that probably won't matter, especially when they realize you're stealing the Black Chorka."

"I know, I know," Zek assured him. "It's pretty down to the wire here, but it won't take too long to load the Black Chorka and everything else. And once the Spartans are here our chances go up exponentially. All we really have to worry about is getting Varvok back behind these walls as quickly as possible."

"Agreed and I have a plan to help them, but it's a bit of a risk to execute on my own," Shepard confessed. "It would be easier with the Spartans here, but they might have their own problems breaking that seige line out front. We need to hit a section of enemy line to the north entrance hard, give them a corridor to get in along with however many prisoners they've liberated. We need to give them an entryway."

"We have the numbers for that," Retz claimed. "Problem is how long we can hold that corridor open?"

"Let me and the Marines worry about that," Shepard told him. "Miranda should already be laying out things with Johnson and McKay. What I need from you is to try and draw a few of their forces away from one of the main entrance gates. Split their focus a little, maybe the we can-"

That was when his comm lit up. Knowing who it likely was, he quickly hit the icon on his wrist and put a finger to his ear.

"Shepard here, go."

"Commander, this is the Master Chief, apologies for going dark for so long, we were securing things here."

This was a relief, any longer and Shepard would've started worrying about how the Spartans' mission was going. Now, hopefully, they could coordinate a little on getting them inside the dockyard safely.

"It's good to hear from you, Master Chief," Shepard informed him. "What's the status on the prisoners?"

"At least fifty or so human colonists and ranking military personnel," Chief replied. "Not to mention a lot of Alien Prisoners, not bothering to count them as we don't have the time. I'm hoping we have enough ships for all of them."

"More than enough with any luck," Shepard assured him. "Varvok is working on turning the defense grid against the orbital fleet, but there's a sizable blockade between your position and the dockyard. We're working on a plan to get you a corridor inside, but we're not sure how long we can hold it open. Do you have some sort of fast transportation for everyone?"

"We do in fact, plus a bit more," the Spartan leader assured. "Don't worry too much about holding that corridor for long. We're going to bust right through them anyway."

Shepard didn't question exactly what Chief was planning, he only presumed it would be sufficient enough to take down some of the Nest's Defenders and get the prisoners inside the dockyard safely. He was a Spartan, it was what they did. He just needed to know where and when they were planning to make their move.

"Just let us know what the plan on your end is and we'll be ready," the Commander told him.

"We're just about finishing it up," Chief told him. "Don't worry, you'll know it when you see it. Just keep everyone back from the North side of the docks as long as you can."

Shepard looked to the North side Entrance. It sounded like whatever Chief was planning was going to get executed soon. He'd have to be ready and fast.

"Come on," he told Zek and Retz. "We need to get everyone into position fast."

---

With Shepard notified, the Master Chief headed back towards his Wraith. Settling once again into the control seat, he mentally prepared himself. Protecting civilians while pushing towards a heavily fortified position was no small task. However, their plan was fairly solid and he believed they could pull it off. He checked in with Kelly one last time.

"Shepard is getting things ready for us. Are we set?" He asked her.

"We're good, last charge in place," She answered. "I've synced it to your omni-tool. Detonate whenever you're ready. I'm already headed back to the Wraith."

"Alright then, no time like the present," he said, switching the comm to speak to the entire squad. "We're ready to go everyone. Remember, do not stop for anything. Keep the protective screen around the civilians in the center of the formation. Do not bunch up, draw hostile fire to you. Prioritize enemy heavy armor. We're going to drive straight into dockyards hard and fast before they can realize what is happening. We're proceeding in two minutes, be ready on my signal."

Chief kept his eye on the wall, his finger now hovering over the detonation command on his omni-tool. He had full confidence in Kelly's placement. She was always good with numbers and with Cortana assisting the explosion should achieve the desired effect.

"We're going to have about five minutes or so before these pirates can properly consolidate themselves in the aftermath," Cortana cautioned. "Breaking the enemy line is crucial in this timeframe."

"Shepard will keep a part of their focus centered on him," Chief assured her.

"He will, but that doesn't change the factors," Cortana warned all the same. "Cover will be limited and the 'offensive decoys' will be discovered pretty quickly."

"We'll practically be on top of them by that point," Chief stated. "All we need is speed."

"Yes, speed in a Wraith," Cortana stated. "You realize its booster system is generally meant for quick evasion, not lightning strikes, correct?"

"It will be enough, trust me," Chief insisted.

"I do trust you," Corana insisted. "I'm making sure you don't forget the other variables in this little scheme is all. You tend to overlook them."

"I don't overlook them," Chief told her plainly. "They're just not at forefront prior to execution."

"Fine, at least one of us is keeping them there at least," Cortana sighed. "I'll be there to readjust things when something expected happens then,"

"That's why you're here," Chief shrugged.

That's when the two minutes came and went. Chief pushed the detonation command and the explosives charges went off. The blasts ripped apart a massive section of the wall. Being that they were plasma-based, their destructive power was significantly greater than anything in the UNSC arsenal. Great enough to easily deliver serious damage to the slave pit's giant wall. The blasts ripped apart the superstructure and the gigantic barrier collapsed.

However, because of their precise placement of the charges, the wall toppled towards the exterior of the pit's perimeter. The debris field it kicked up was massive and no doubt continued towards the pirate blockade presently outside the dockyards.

"Move out, now," Chief ordered. "Activate decoys."

The cloud of debris from the demolition hadn't even cleared before the protective screen of confiscated Wraiths began escorting transports loaded with prisoners, both human and alien. They moved out in a wedge formation, the transports surrounded by them on both sides. Some of the Liberated Covenant Slaves were riding in Ghosts or Revenants, volunteering to help protect the others in the transports. Samara and Grunt were in a Revenant of their own, close to Chief's Wraith.

There were two other vehicles though, however they were unmanned. Two massive plasma drill rigs, taken from the mining quarry were moving out ahead of the group. They were being operated remotely via a hack Cortana had installed in their autopilot function. She was directing them towards the enemy pirate lines further down, assuming they would draw attention away from their actual escape route.

Chief didn't expect the ruse to last, nor this smoke from the debris kicked up by the collapsing prison wall. But he was hoping it would last long enough to close the distance between the slave pit and dockyards themselves. With any luck, some of the debris had damaged or even taken out a few of the enemy in the blockade lines as well.

He could hear enemy fire before they even broke cover. Shepard was likely shooting at the blockade and the decoys had probably reached their destination as well. Either way it was taking the focus off their intended path. Just enough confusion to make it harder for the pirates to rally.

Once they cleared the smoke though, they were exposed. They weren't too far from the docks now, but they still weren't across the main road. Still, damage to the enemy was extensive. A good deal of the shrapnel, metal beams and large chunks of the wall had smashed into the pirate vehicles. At least one wraith had been impaled by a metal beam while a few ghosts were crushed by chunks of iron. There were still plenty of hostile craft though, but they were scattered. They closer to the docks at least, he hoped they were close enough.

The best thing in their favor though, a large path leading straight into the dockyard's main entranceway. The explosion and Shepard's attack had clearly forced a good portion of the blockade away from their intended path. Time to take advantage of that to the fullest extent.

"Form up, check your targets," Chief ordered. "Draw their fire to you and off the transports! Make for the open entrance!"

Chief fired first, blowing open a Wraith as it tried to properly position itself. The plasma burst ripped apart the side of the enemy tank and took down a few pirates nearby. The rest of the Spartans and a few of the other escorts opened fire not long after, their bombardment striking the enemy lines that were still in disarray. Some were taken down, others tried to avoid the incoming assault.

However, more than a few pirates had greater senses of purpose. They moved to intercept their formation, a pair of wraiths flanked by revenants. They opened fire along their route, Chief strafing left to avoid a strike.

"Evasive action, but do not break formation," Chief ordered. "Keep the prisoners shielded!"

He fired on the lead enemy wraith, striking its turret just as it was about to fire another volley. The kickback of the blast essentially destroyed the alien tank's gun, taking it out of the fight. It's second, moved in to replace him, the plasma cannon gunner firing on Chief's tank just before the plasma mortar itself launched. It was a near hit, shuddering the Chief's Wraith on its nose.

Luckily, Samara drove up and let loose with their Revenant's red plasma weapon. The smaller vehicle's blasts ended the plasma cannon fire quickly. It also distracted the Wraith's driver long enough for Fred to open fire on the pirate from the side. That blast managed to upturn the enemy tank, lifting its hover skirt off the ground as the plasma mortar landed beneath them.

Still, more enemy vehicles tried to move to close the gap created. Chief ordered everyone to push their engines hard, to make for the hole. Even as more plasma fire from enemy Ghosts and Revenants struck them from all sides, they maintained formation, protecting the vulnerable transports between them. Some fire got through them, hitting the transports, but the majority struck the Spartans and their Wraiths. Better them than the civilians they were liberating.

Chief might have started to worry if they could make it, when a Fuel Rod blast struck the back of one of the enemy wraiths. Followed soon after by a pair of rockets that smashed into the side of another. A group of Marines and ODSTs from a position on one roofs of the dockyard warehouses was opening fire on the Blockade, intent on keeping them away from the gap formed by the entrance.

"Keep moving, this is our chance!"

Chief's order pushed the others into overdrive, now so close to their goal. They forced the Wraiths, still under heavy fire, but partially relieved of the worst of it by the Marines covering them, towards the dock entrance. As they arrived, the Wedge of escorts split apart and reformed to cover the transports' rears as they hurried through the entrance.

Now they had to hold the line while the liberated prisoners got to safety within the walls. Chief let loose with the plasma Mortar, as Wraiths and Ghosts tried to rush them. One shot struck a Ghost directly, causing it to flip into the air and crash down onto a squad of infantry. Another enemy Wraith took two direct hits, one from Chief and another from Anton's Wraith. The others poured it on as well, even as their craft took significant damage. Once the transports were through and far enough away from the dockyard's outer walls, Chief called it.

"Move back! Maintain defense! Pull back into the docks!"

The escorts now moved to safety. The rockets and fuel rods from the Marines and Drop Troopers intensifying as they pulled into the dockyards. The blockade quickly reformed around the entrance and kept shooting, but they didn't risk shooting at the warehouses, just at the Spartans and other escort vehicles. They wanted to claim at least one kill it seemed, but in the end, they relented and pulled back to maintain the integrity of their seige perimeter.

It hadn't been completely clean, two of the smaller escorts had been destroyed. But the fact that their losses were so minimal was a testament to their planning and capability. It was also no doubt owed to Shepard and the Marines for acting so quickly and promptly when needed. Their confiscated Wraiths however were still heavily damaged, practically on their last legs. Kat's and Fred's were hit the hardest. Although pretty much every Wraith was badly damaged, the price they paid for protecting the transports.

Chief pulled himself out of the tank, quickly moving to check on the transports. They were being unloaded by Marines. The humans looked grateful, the Covenant Civies, less so. They were apprehensive over the human soldiers currently offering hands or, in some cases, odd looks. At least no one was coming to blows. Though the Master Chief was looking for one prisoner in particular.

"Do not touch me, humans! Your assistance is not required or wanted!"

Ah, there she was. Coming out of the lead transport vehicle was Kesa, swatting away the hands of a pair of UNSC Marines who were shocked to see her no doubt. Thankfully, she didn't draw her weapon, even as at least one Marine kept his gun on her. Kesa didn't flinch, but her glare seemed enough to convince the human warrior to back off. Thankfully, Linda moved up, rushing from her Tank to make sure that things remained peaceful, calling off the Marines from the detail.

In the middle of the chaotic scene of human prisoners hugging UNSC Marines or Covenant prisoners huddling together, Commander Shepard strode up. Miranda Lawson and Sergeant Johnson were with him. Chief offered a quick salute as they approached.

"Commander, Sir," he said. "Apologies for not being here sooner, there were... complications."

"I can tell," Shepard said, looking over to the various freed slaves, the Female Elite among them most of all. "Still, glad to see them all here in one piece. Never doubted you for a second, Master Chief."

"The explosion caught us a bit off guard," Miranda informed him. "As it did the enemy. They completely lost cohesion. Didn't see our own movements to counter them. An unconventional tactic, but effective."

"What about our decoys?" Chief asked, curious as to their effect.

Johnson just laughed.

"Heh, they slammed into a wraith each before exploding," the Sergeant said. "Plasma core rupture no doubt. Took a few more of them pirates with 'em. You sure know how to make a prison breakout a real fireworks show, Chief."

"Best option we had," Chief explained. "Shock and awe works for a limited time, but it was all we needed."

"I'm just glad you got as many people back here as you could," Shepard told him. "We're going to start immediate evacuation prep. We have to get the hell out of here fast before those pirates work up their nerve to storm this place."

Chief perked up at that information.

"Then Varvok's secured the defense grid?" He asked.

"Not yet, but that is something we need to talk about," Shepard began to explain.

The Commander wasn't able to continue for long, as Kesa suddenly marched up. Thankfully, Linda and Kelly were close behind her. If that deterred her from making more of a scene than usual, or even doing something stupid, Chief wasn't sure, but the reason for her interruption became apparent.

"Demon," she announced. "When you spoke of a means off this wretched world, I did not think it would be provided by another of your equally infamous heretical kind."

Her gaze fell on Shepard distinctly as she spoke.

"The False Shepherd," she snarled. "I was wondering if you were merely a myth spread by humans to our forces. Apparently... not so. Regrettable."

"Apologies for existing then," Shepard replied. "And you are?"

"Kesa 'Ralkamee of House Ralkam," she declared proudly. "And all I desire to speak to you is this, I acknowledge your rescue of me and my fellow prisoners. Your demon assisted in the restoration of my honor. But I am not grateful nor thankful, merely granting your credit. When we part ways from this system, we shall be enemies again. Make no mistake."

Kesa left as promptly as she arrived, Linda and Kelly taking her place. Shepard just arched a brow as he watched her leave. He then turned to the Master Chief, a bewildered expression on his face.

"Well, that was... intense and uncalled for," he admitted.

"Yeah, we've had to deal with it longer," Cortana chimed in. "She's not easy to get used to."

"Well I'm just gonna have to try without you," Shepard confessed. "I hate to say it but I need you and the others to go out there again. Varvok needs extraction and you guys are the only ones I think can pull it off."

The Master Chief simply stood at attention, not even batting an eye behind his visor. The other Spartans did the same. Their primary mission was over, a secondary objective was always expected. Until they were boots off this planet, they were on duty. There was no hint of a complaint or concern in Chief's mind about it. If Varvok needed help extracting, he'd get it.

"We're on it, sir," the Spartan Leader assured. "Though we could use some more ammo, we're almost spent on that front."

"I'll give you more than that," the Commander promised with a grin. "Follow me, you're gonna love this."

Shepard began leading the Spartans towards a warehouse further into the dockyards. What Chief saw as he approached the wide open doors, while not eliciting smile, certainly gave him a new sense of confidence. Compared to getting the prisoners back here alive, rescuing Varvok would be a cakewalk.

---

He expected Snarlbeak's men to respond in force, he hadn't expected it to the degree it was. Thankfully most of the Wraiths left seemed to be committed to the blockade. That still left a lot of Ghosts and Spectres strafing their perimeter. Varvok had quickly decided holding the courtyard was a fool's errand. He had his men retreat inside, covering every entrance and exit to the building. They would not get back inside.

The batatarian leader was still in the main control tower, keeping watch over Tali's upload as it began to decrypt and subvert the enemy code. As long as they held the tower, the program would go through. Once it was finished their job was over. Getting out of here would still be difficult, but at least the others could escape no matter what happened to them. Varvok had no intention of him or his men being left behind of course, but so long as the rest of the raiding party got away he'd consider this a victory.

He watched another Ghost explode as it raced into the courtyard below, a tracking missile hitting it along the side. Varvok watched a blaze of plasma cannons gun down a pack of hostile pirates as they started rushing through a hole in the perimeter wall they had blown open. He was proud of his boys, he knew they'd hold as long as able. He just hoped it was long enough to get Tali's hack through.

Most of Varvok's hopes for survival though were pinned on Shepard. When he watched a large section of the slave pit wall give way, he could only presume the Spartans were moving to the dockyards. If they had made it in one piece, and he didn't doubt they had, he suspected Shepard would ask the Master Chief to help him. He wasn't sure how the Spartans would assist though, given that the enemy assailing their position were still significantly stronger. But he didn't doubt they'd at least try to break through to them and get them out.

"Second squad reports incursion repelled below," one of Varvok's subordinates said. "But more of the enemy are surging through a hole they blew through one of the lower floor walls."

"We just need a few more minutes," Varvok insisted. "The hack is almost complete!"

Sadly, he soon wondered if they really had that sort of time. A blast rocked the side of their tower. It came from two Wraiths, encroaching on their position from the southeast. They weren't the real concern though, so much as the four-legged machine marching between them. It was one of the Locusts and when Varvok gave it a closer look through his rifle's scope... yep it was actually two. The other one was badly damaged, no doubt the Locust caught in the explosion at the Distillery. Somehow it had survived the blast that brought down the building and it was limping towards the Security Tower.

Damaged and alone, Varvok would've only been concerned about managing to finish off the Locust. But there were two of them, accompanied by Wraiths. This was bad, very bad. He'd have to do what he could.

"Alternate all heavy weapons units," he ordered. "Fire when the enemy armor is in range."

"Can't we just shelter in place and hold out?" One of his lieutenants asked.

"No, I suspect they know what we're attempting," Varvok cautioned. "If they can't stop the hack, they'll shut it down by destroying the tower."

"But that takes down the defense grid either way," the same lieutenant said.

"And leaves the small fleet overhead safe," Varvok reminded him. "They're sacrificing one piece on the board to protect the more valuable one, it's the only play they have left."

As if to prove his point, the damaged Locust let loose a beam to cut into the side of the tower. The good news was that the damage prevented it from firing a sustained shot and the superstructure of the tower managed to hold. They built this thing to last it seemed. Varvok doubted it could survive many more sustained shots though.

"Shepard," Varvok spoke through his communicator. "I hope you're sending backup because we need it here right now and fast! The enemy is sending in their big guns to finish us off!"

"No need to fear, Lieutenant Commander, we're already underway with FAR bigger guns."

That wasn't Shepard, that was the AI Cortana. Which meant the Master Chief was on his way as suspected. What was not expected, was the sound of rolling heavy tank treads. Crashing through the trees appeared a massive tank that Varvok recognized even with the decals covering and the different paint job. It was a Grizzly, like the one the Colonists had used. It rolled across the area, firing its massive guns on the smaller pirate forces, causing them to scatter.

Jumping off from the tank's armored treads were other Spartans, armed to the teeth as they rushed into the Security Tower perimeter. They gunned down the enemy pirates as they either tried to flee or rush inside the building itself.

The Grizzly, meanwhile, kept rolling straight past the main entrance towards the approaching Wraiths and Locusts. A lone Spectre Attack Vehicle opposed it, their gun blasting at the massive Tank to no avail. The metal hulk merely pushed it out of its just through its sheer girth before the massive dual gun turret turned and blew it to bits.

Varvok suspected the Master Chief was driving the Grizzly. Who else would it be? He drove straight towards the Locusts and Wraiths now, the enemy armor instantly turning to meet the new threat. One of the Wraiths fired first, the plasma blast striking just to the side of the massive tank. The Grizzly then fired a double blast from its turret that ripped clean through the Wraith's hide. An explosion of blue tore through the air, ending the enemy tank's life in an instant.

The Locusts quickly took up defensive positions, strafing to the side as their weaponry lanced across the heavy armor of the Grizzy. The second Wraith attempted to back up out of range, flinging plasma mortar shots as it did. While it was taking heavy fire, the Grizzly maintained its forward momentum. It fired another shot that cut through the hovering tank with ease. Another plume of blue plasma fire ejected into the air as the Wraith's core ruptured.

Now on their own, the Locusts attempted to split the focus of the Grizzly, attacking the tank from two sides at once. However the Grizzly pulled an evasive maneuver, reversing itself as the plasma beams shot out. The Locusts nearly hit each other, while the Grizzly opened fire on the more damaged of the two walkers. A shot landed right on the cockpit of the damaged four-legged vehicle, heavy smoke now pouring from the craft. It retaliated with a shot that struck the Grizzly's tread.

However, that plasma beam seemed to be too much for the already damaged walker to take. The Locust's weapon short-circuited, one of its plasma coils exploding. The smoke and fire was now pouring out of it. It began charging towards the Grizzly at full speed. The pilot must've suspected they weren't going to make it, so might as well take out the human tank with it.

It wouldn't get far as Varvok watched the Grizzly pull back and fire another shot at one of the Locust's struts. The leg came right off and the Locust crashed to the ground, moments later it exploded in a blast of purple plasma. However the other walker was still in play and it fired a searing beam shot that cut into the side of the Grizzly's turret.

However, even as the remaining Locust pressed its advantage, there was a sudden pair of red bursts along its side. The shots had originated a level below Varvok's current position in the tower. Looking down, he saw Linda and Jun, both lugging huge shoulder-supported weapons with. If Varvok remembered right from his briefings, these were Spartan Lasers and the sniper pair had just used them to interrupt the attacking Locust and damage its shields.

The Grizzly took advantage of the momentary lull in the plasma beam. It charged at the Locust, firing one shot that hit one of the leg struts. The tank then rammed straight into the walker, taking out one of its legs from under it. The Grizzly backed off as the walker tried to fire its beam at the tank, intent on regaining the initiative.

However, another pair of Spartan Laser shots struck the walker hard, ripping it its armor and what was left of the shield. The Grizzly fired another shot from both cannons, ripping a hole clean through the cockpit.

At that moment, the computer began buzzing. Varvok turned to see that Tali's program had finally cracked the system. The Defense Grid's Friend or Foe Functions were wide open. All Varvok had to do was execute the program. With a few clicks on the screen, the system activated, an alert of enemy targets picked up by the scanners. The Nest's Defense Fleet had just been targeted.

In the distance, Varvok watched as concealed weapons stations popped out of the ground. They all spun around suddenly and began to fire into the sky. Plasma torpedoes and energy beams ejected into the sky and flew into the upper atmosphere. Varvok quickly contacted Shepard with the good news.

"Commander, Tali's hack worked," he reported. "The Plunder Nest's fleet is being targeted as we speak!" He quickly looked at the screen. "The system is already reporting direct hits on some of the lead craft in the blockade."

"Excellent news, now get you and your men out of there, the Spartans will escort you back!"

Varvok relayed the message to his men and they began to pull out. As they did, he overheard Jun and Linda speaking.

"Not my usual method of sharpshooting, but effective," Linda observed.

"I don't know how you IIs do it," Jun said, rubbing at his shoulder. "That kickback is massive."

Varvok got outside, his men already gathering with the Spartans. The Grizzly stopped in the courtyard, its armor singed but intact. The hatch popped open, revealing the Master Chief was indeed at the controls. He looked over at Varvok briefly.

"We'll need to hoof it," he told the Batarian leader. "Once the remaining Nest Defenders realize what has happened, they're going to throw caution to the wind and charge the dockyards."

"Agreed," Varvok concurred. "Given what I just saw that Grizzly is going to be the make or break weapon that gets us out of here."

Varvok stepped up onto the treads of the tank.

"Let's not keep the Commander waiting," Master Chief nodded.

---

The evacuation efforts were briefly interrupted once the defense grid began to fire. Everyone looked into the sky as the devastating plasma-based weaponry flew into the upper atmosphere. It didn't stop firing either. There were lulls in the sheer volume of the bombardment, but they never lasted long.

There was a response however, as plasma torpedoes struck some of the defensive platforms. Some were hits, others were off. The sheer amount of anti-orbital defenses across the compound proved to be substantially greater than any counter-attack could truly silence though. The grid held and continued to fire into the sky.

Not long after the initial attacks began, everyone below could see bright streaks of orange descending rapidly from high above them all. They were like shooting stars, hundreds of them, but there was no doubt as to what they were in reality.

Looking through their high-powered binoculars, the Marines groundside confirmed it for themselves. What remained of the Plunder Nest's blockade was plummeting from space back to the planet beneath it. They enemy ships that opposed their escape were gone now, burning up in the atmosphere or floating dead within the inky black above them no doubt. A short cheer went up at the apparent success of the mission at this point.

That was until things were interrupted by plasma fire. The front barricades were assailed by a furious assault of Ghost Attack Craft. They were few in number, but they made up for it with speed. They strafed the forward defenses, attempting to break through the Marines and Drop Troopers blocking their way. A rocket slammed into one of the Ghosts as it tried to strafe the front barricades. Machine gun and plasma cannons ripped into the others, trying to beat them off.

It mattered though in the end, one of the Ghosts suddenly rushed through the ranks of his fellows. It rammed towards the barricade proper. The Marines and Drop Troopers nearby quickly scattered as the Ghost crashed into the crates and dividers, exploding as it did. The pirate riding the thing jumped at the last second, clearly not so fanatical to go down with his craft.

He didn't last long after it though, as a Marine took him down with a clean shot to the head and neck. The damage was done though, there was now a great big flaming hole in their first defensive position.

The pirates had seen their blockade destroyed. They were now the last hope of stopping the raiders from escaping. It was evident now that they aimed to prevent that, no matter the consequences. With that in mind, Shepard made the only call he felt made sense, to ramp up the evacuation. Civilians first onto every ship then one by one the defense lines would pull back, returning to the Chorka Transport they had all come here in. Said transport was now located closer to the main hangars, along a separate evac route from the civilian groups. They'd have to hold off the Nest's defenders as long as possible until they could make their escape.

Zek ordered his men to speed up loading their ill-gotten gains onto the transport. The Marines would take some of the cargo freighters to ferry away the weapons and supplies that had been looted from the dockyard warehouses. They also had to carefully load the nuclear warhead onto a small cargo freighter. None of the rescued prisoners wanted to be on that ship.

As for the biggest prize of all, the Black Chorka was already loaded into the aquarium aboard the massive cargo freighter it had originally been brought here in. It could've left then, had it not been ordered grounded until the freed slaves could be loaded onto it as well. There was plenty of space for them after all. Zix eventually allowed it, so long as civilians were transferred onto other transports afterwards, unless they wanted to take a long trip to Syndicate Controlled Space.

All the while, more Ghosts showed up, accompanied by hostile pirate infantry. The Marines and Drop Troopers held them back for a time, with the assistance of Legion and Thane's sniping. The Geth managed to take down another Jackal with a rigged Ghost before they could ram it into the barricade. It did little to help though, as the first defense line was already weakened. The raiders fell back towards the secondary line, just as Revenants rolled in.

Shepard watched this from the third defense line, trying his best to direct everyone over the comms. Johnson and McKay certainly helped things, keeping the fighting retreat organized. However, it didn't change the fact the enemy was pouring in fairly quickly and despite the weapons stockpile they had acquired, they were going to quickly exhaust themselves before long.

The reprieve thankfully came just as the secondary line managed to form up. The Grizzly had returned, along with the other Spartans and Varvok's Batarians. They assaulted the enemy pirates from behind, completely catching them off guard. A Revenant exploded in a ball of fire as the Grizzly charged the enemy attack, taking a few infantry with it in the process.

In response, the Ghosts, pirate infantry and remaining Revenants of course turned to engage the Grizzly. It didn't matter. The tank acted as cover for the Spartans and Batarians who opened fire alongside the massive tank. After a few more of their vehicles were decimated by Spartan Lasers and Batarian missiles, the enemy assault fell back, allowing Varvok's men a chance to get to safety behind their lines. The Spartans stayed with the Grizzly and its pilot, the Master Chief hoping to deter the enemy's next assault.

Unfortunately, it just made them step up their ferocity. The next thing anyone knew, Wraiths were moving into the Dockyards, all of them targeting the Grizzly as they came into view. They knew what the biggest threat was now. Knowing the Grizzly was tough but not invincible, Chief began to pull it back behind the secondary defensive line, at least from there it would have a more secure position to fire back from.

All the same, Shepard knew they were running out of time. They needed to start getting people out, fast.

"All channels, if your transport is loaded and ready to go... take off! Now!" He ordered. "We're not going to last much longer! All civilians still not aboard something, instruct them to head to a different craft. Get as many people as possible out of here now! All military and raiding parties, if you're not part of the defensive cordon, begin pulling back to the Chorka Transport! I repeat, pull back to our entry transport and prepare to take off!"

Instantly things began to move fast, as cargo freighters and shuttles began to lift off from the hangars. At least the civilians would get out first, that was the most crucial part of the operation. However, they still needed to escape too. Something Miranda reminded the Commander was going to prove a bit difficult.

"Commander, with how much the enemy is pressing on our positions we're not going to last long," she warned. "Once we pull back to the Transports and give up the defensive screens, they'll pour in. We need to call in the Normandy. Have them and the fleet provide fire support. With the enemy blockade destroyed they'll have free reign."

Shepard nodded, looking to his quarian chief engineer.

"Tali, transmit the codes to the fleet so the defense grid doesn't register them as enemies," he ordered. "We'll have Thane, Garrus and Legion spot targets to hit. Ask Whitcomb if he can send down Pelicans to provide close range air support and evac any gear we might have left to grab."

"On it," Tali assured.

As he finished that up, Retz contacted Shepard over the line next.

"Commander, we're all set in the Black Chorka's freighter, taken on as many people as we can," he reported. "We can't make a direct lift off due to the weight but we can make a slow ascent over the water, but we have to go now."

Shepard wasn't sure why Retz was on the Black Chorka's freighter, but he didn't really have time to ask about it. He imagined that he wanted to keep an eye on Zix until she lived up to her end of the bargain and finally left them alone. With more to worry about right now than that, he decided to grant the pirate's request.

"Take off, Retz," Shepard told him. "Meet us at the rendezvous coordinates! Make sure Zix doesn't leave before we get what she owes us."

Maybe he didn't need to remind Retz of that, but it did Shepard good to hear the Jackal acknowledge those orders. It confirmed in Shepard's mind that Retz hadn't forgotten about the wider reason they were here to begin with despite all the crap they had wadded into in the process.

In moments, the massive freighter lifted off from the hangar. The massive roof doors prying themselves open. The huge ship soon lifted from its secret little hideaway and into the sky, its thrusters at full power as it began to move towards the water.

Suddenly it started taking fire, mainly to its engines, from a Wraith among the attacking crowd of vehicles. Shepard got a good look at it through his rifle's scope. This tank was armed with two powerful plasma cannons instead of its usual mortar weapon. Anti-Air no doubt, they weren't going to let the Black Chorka get away easily.

"Chief!" Shepard called out over the comms. "Target that Anti-Air Wraith! We can't let them shoot down any of our freighters!"

"Already on it, sir!"

The Master Chief had moved up a little from his position. The Grizzly took some fire, but it let off a shot from its cannon that ruptured the armor of the Anti-Air Wraith. It was a long shot to make, but it connected hard. A second one did the vehicle in then and there.

"You're clear, Retz!" Shepard contacted the Jackal. "Get that thing our of range!"

"Will do!"

The Black Chorka's Freighter quickly moved out over the water. Shepard breathed a sigh of relief, but only for that one ship. There were still more that needed to escape, including their own and there were probably more Anti-Air Wraiths out there. He decided to contact the Normandy directly.

"Joker, get down here pronto!" He demanded. "We need get some fire on these bastards if we're gonna get off this rock alive!'

---

Shepard would hold, Retz was sure of that. This mission was in the bag, the raid successful. Well, partly. He still had one last thing to do. He sorta dreaded it because he knew what it meant, but he had already decided on this course of his action. No going back now. He wasn't worried about reprisals, he wasn't concerned about what this would cost them. He just knew one thing... Zix couldn't win.

They were almost in position, time to get it done.

Most of the freed slaves were milling about the other areas of the cargo bay. There weren't any humans among them, as they were fewer in number and opted to take any flight out of here that was not sharing quarters with members of the Covenant. Retz didn't blame them. Even if they had both been prisoners to the same terrible masters, that wasn't going to suddenly erase their collective racial animosity.

There were a lot of unggoy and kig-yar all the same, and there were more on the other transports too. It was safe to say that Snarlbeak's slave trade had just run out of livestock to sell. That was probably going to hurt his profits more than anything else they had ripped off from him, save for maybe the ichor. As loath as he was to admit it, the damage they had done here would significantly cripple Zhoc and his entire enterprise. Maybe not forever, but it would never be the same.

It wasn't just all the secret deals and projects they had blundered into essentially ruining, it was everything. The safety and security of Zhoc's entire logistic genius had just gotten its heart ripped clean out. All the little nodes and outposts, the safe havens along the way, the business fronts, they had all just lost their central governing point.

There were residual consequences too. The ships they had stole just to ferry the slaves away would hamper smuggling across this sector and beyond for Snarlbeak. That meant his own supply and shipping routes were cut off. Zhoc had already lost a ton at New Teteocan, now recovering that was going to take longer. He wouldn't be able to mount the same kind of offensive as he had at the colony.

The loss of face though, that would be the worst part. This place was untouchable, now it had been utterly brutalized, picked clean. Snarlbeak had prided himself as a powerful crime lord, one of the premiere pirate lords in this sector of space.

So much for that. He had gotten hit hard and raided, mostly by a bunch of humans who were essentially cut-off from the rest of their military. He looked like a chump. How long before someone from a rival fleet or even within his organization decided to take a swing at him? They'd probably still fail, but that wouldn't be an ideal situation for a pirate with plans like Zhoc's to be in.

So Zix had been right on that account, even if this didn't knock Snarlbeak out of the hunt for the Astral Cutlass, it would hurt him plenty. Making whatever wrench or obstacle he threw at them next not nearly as strong as it could be. Given that they were just one relic away from uncovering the location of the Cutlass, it probably wouldn't even be enough to really stop them from getting to the what the legendary weapon was. Well, assuming it even was a weapon.

That didn't change anything in his mind though. Retz had already decided on it. No matter how right Zix had been... she didn't get to win. Not today.

He found her by Black Chorka's aquarium, as he suspected she'd be. She was admiring the sea creature, its massive dark bulk taking up much of the tank. Zix's eyes were meeting the giant's own, the Black Chorka appearing grateful to be out of its confinement, but wary. Perhaps it was wondering what fate had in store for it next? Would it still be hooked up to machines? Would these new kig-yar be any different? How long would it be trapped in this tank? There were no clear answers there. Not to itself anyway, because how could the Chorka know anything?

Poor innocent Chorka, Retz thought. While the relationship between them was semi-symbiotic, it was hard to claim the kig-yar didn't get more out of it. Still, they respected the creatures' freedom, more so than any other species probably would've.

Well, at least most of them did. Zhoc had proven he had stopped caring about that some time ago, if ever. Just like the Syndicate, even if they kept saying otherwise.

"Well, more or less it seems we've pulled it off, eh Retz?" Zix asked, beaming with self-pride.

"It's not over until everyone is off that planet," Retz reminded her. "And you've given us what you promised. Assuming you will."

"I don't break deals, Retz," Zix assured him. "I'll give you the name of Earth Invasion Fleet's mobilization point and those Covenant ships won't be around to stop you getting the final relic. I said you'd get what you wanted and you have. Why can't you just be happy?"

Retz wasn't unhappy, that wasn't really something he could feel right now. They pulled it off, they got out of that hellhole alive. They saved some lives and kicked Zhoc in the balls. Anyone else would not be complaining too much.

But he was not happy.

Not because Zix had gotten what she wanted; no it was more than that. It was simply because the Syndicate got to win, she got to win. He helped them win. It gnawed at him that he had helped them win.

Was it pride? Maybe. Mostly though it was just the idea that he still belonged to their family. The one that treated him as disposable. The one that made him betray friends. The one that said he was broken because of who he was. They were hypocrites, criticising how his emotions worked when they felt nothing for him beyond how he could be used.

"You really don't care if we get the Astral Cutlass?" Retz finally asked. "You're willing to let that prize go... because you think we're going to squander it anyway?"

Zix just nodded, looking annoyed.

"Do you really need me to confirm the obvious?" She asked in kind. "I explained this, Zek and you are just going to waste all its potential anyway. There's no reason to worry about you. You're irrelevant. Let that set your mind ease, you'll never be on our radar again."

Retz glared at her. She honestly thought he'd appreciate that. Knowing that the family he didn't want to be a part of anymore didn't want him back and was just going to let him go. In a way she was right, he was appreciative, but not because of anything she said. He was happy to know that part of his life was over, even if it had briefly snatched him back up. They were free and in the clear.

However, they weren't really. Not to Retz's mind. Not yet. They would be soon though. Zix wouldn't like the means of it, but it wouldn't matter. She wouldn't matter in a few minutes.

Before he could rebut her remarks though, Zek approached looking more pleased than even Zix was with things.

"Just got word from ground level! All the liberated slaves are free and away guys!" He reported. "Our Chorka Transport is the last one to lift off! So, when are we headed out of atmo?"

"We should've been up already," Zix insisted. "It seems we're taking more time to cruise above the ocean for a bit."

Zek turned to the aquarium, admiring the Black Chorka within it.

"He's a beautiful big ol' fella ain't he?" The pirate leader asked. "Can't believe Zhoc kept him secret this long."

"Well he's a Syndicate Secret now," Zix declared. "Within a few weeks, our own brand of Ichor will be selling for high prices across the black market."

"So long as I get my free samples, I think we can hold onto that secret," Zek beamed.

Zix chuckled briefly.

"Perhaps you aren't that dumb... for a drunk," she said.

"I am a drunk, but I'm getting a ton of Black Ichor, so I'm cool with that," Zek insisted.

At this point, Retz had had enough. He wished Zek wasn't here to see this, but this conversation just now had pushed him over. He was not going to let his friend become too chummy with Zix and, by extension, the Syndicate. She would not win.

He had waited long enough. He just wanted this to be over and done with. They were practically in place, no sense in delaying. With a swift motion to his holster, Retz pulled out his plasma pistol. He took aim at his target and before anyone could react... he fired.

The bolt hit the terminal near the aquarium's control panel, severing its connection to the tank. Zix jumped back in shock before Retz rushed to the manual override panel nearby. He opened it up and grasped a large lever handle.

"Retz, what the fuck are you-"

He didn't let Zek finish, he pulled the handle and the airlock doors beneath the aquarium tank opened wide. Within an instant, the Black Chorka fell from the tank and plummeted towards the sea mere feet below them. The alien cetacean gave off a mournful sounding, but surprised cry as it felt itself drop. Zix looked on stunned, Zek confused. Retz just glared proudly at his handiwork. He watched the Black Chorka fall right into the ocean, a tremendous plume of salty spray ejecting into the air before falling back down as rain upon the sea's blue surface.

For a moment there was nothing more. Until the Black Chorka breached the surface of the water, spinning its body to crash back down into the sea once more before just as quickly diving back in. The last thing anyone saw of the beast was its tail, flicking up into the air, waving happily, as it descended into the dark abyss below.

Retz grinned briefly and then turned to the person he knew would be least happy with this development. Zix's head was slowly turning as he looked to her. The rage on her face all encompassing. Retz wasn't sure he had ever seen her this angry before. The white hot hatred she felt in this moment was greater than any previous slight or insult he had ever thrown back her way.

Said rage was encapsulated the moment Zix pulled her needler and pointed it directly in Retz's face, mere inches from his skull. Her eyes were flaming daggers, her beak turned up in vicious sneering disgruntled growl. He half expected her to start frothing at the mouth.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE FUCK YOU'VE JUST DONE!?"

"I set him free," Retz said, as plainly, calmly and coldly as possible. "Under the spirit of the pirate code, no pirate may ever lay claim to the Chorka. Whether that be a pod or a single creature. No matter how rare or common it is. They are the one free enterprise, the one resource, we can never monopolize, never own."

"YOU FUCKING IDIOT!" She screeched. "THAT CHORKA WAS OUR TICKET TO DOMINATE THE ICHOR MARKET! THE SYNDICATE'S EXPANSION WAS ASSURED! AND YOU JUST FUCKED US! YOU COMPLETELY FUCKED US!"

Retz didn't even blink.

"The animal has suffered enough under one master," he said. "No matter how much better you would've treated it, he'd still be a slave. We came here to liberate those. As per the contract."

"The Black Chorka didn't count under that clause!" Zix raged back, her voice only lowering because she could not keep the octave up. "We had a fucking deal! A fucking deal that you just fucking broke!"

"I broke nothing!" Retz argued back in kind. "Our contract said in exchange for giving us information and assistance, as well as freeing the slaves under the Snarlbeak's control, we'd assault his compound and make off with whatever loot we desired to be done with as we see fit. We cripple his organization, you give us a means to find the Earth Invasion Fleet AND better odds at acquiring the final relic."

"The contract is void!" Zix declared angrily. "You violated the terms!"

"Was there a term about the Black Chorka in it?" Retz asked, cocking his head. "I don't recall that being a part of things when we were hashing it out. In fact, I don't think you mentioned it existing at all. Which means, the Black Chorka wasn't yours to take, was it? It was part of OUR haul because you didn't reserve it."

Zix quickly looked to Zek.

"I made a deal with the idiot!" She reminded him. "He gets-"

"The deal for Black Chorka Ichor was made separate from the initial deal," Retz argued. "I've done nothing to violate our initial agreement. I worked within your terms. Terms that neglected any mention of the Black Chorka at all."

Zix pressed the needler to Retz's skull.

"Why shouldn't I just kill you, right now?" She demanded to know, her tone cold and threatening. Like an icicle hanging above your head and about to fall.

"Then you'll be in violation of the deal you made," Retz claimed. "Also... you won't make it out of here alive."

Zek was behind Zix, his Needler Rifle pointed at her head. There were others too, members of Zek's little commando band, surrounding her with their own weapons. Kasumi materialized just off to the side herself, her pistol touching Zix's temple,

"I get in way more standoffs than I used to with you guys," the hooded thief claimed.

Zix eyed about the room, grimacing at them all.

"Kill me and the Syndicate will hunt you down like dogs and you'll never find the Cutlass or that invasion fleet," she growled.

"We're at an impasse then," Retz said. "You kill me, you die and people will find out that Syndicate operatives will break their word."

"You cost us the Black Chorka!" Zix reminded him frustratedly. "You're in violation of the contract!"

"I just explained why we're not," Retz reiterated. "Further to the point, I got the Black Chorka AWAY from Snarlbeak. He can't use it anymore, that's as good as him not having it."

"We were supposed to get it," Zix said through her gritted beak. "I was supposed to get it. That was the whole damn plan!"

"It's not dead, is it? You can still get it for yourself if you want it so badly," Retz said shrugging.

Zix scoffed in annoyance.

"That Chorka dives deeper than any of them! It won't surface for years! Let alone stay around long enough for us to capture! It's basically lost!"

"It's a giant Black Chorka Bull floating around the ocean where several pods full of the creatures are currently swimming around right now," Retz argued. "Chances are high in a couple of years, this place will be swarming with a few of its offspring."

"Assuming Snarlbeak doesn't catch it first," Zix countered.

"After what happened here there's no way Snarlbeak is keeping this operation here," Retz stated plainly. "You were going to move in here yourselves. You'll have plenty of time to set up operations here, honest ones, that don't keep the Chorka locked up and you'll eventually find the Black one again and you can harvest its ichor like you're supposed to, instead of siphoning off as much as you can whenever you want."

Zix continued to glare in anger while Retz just stared back with a sight smug grin.

"I've done nothing but make things more even for everyone," he claimed with a degree of finality in his voice. "A stable, status quo. No power struggle, no uneven odds, just simple plain equal opportunity for anyone who wants their chance. It's fair. Isn't that what the Syndicate is all about after all? Keeping things stable, even, controlled? The code and traditions respected and adhered to? Isn't THAT what you said you believed in?"

Zix's glare at Retz lessened, then turned to the others surrounding her. For a moment, her grimacing frown deepened. Then, just as suddenly, it vanished, replaced with a pained but accepting grin.

"Well played, Retz," she confessed. "I guess you learned something from me after all."

"I learned plenty," he replied callously.

Zix rolled her eyes, putting her weapon away. With that, the others did as well, the standoff over.

"We'll have the intended reserve packed up and shipped here once we secure the planet," she said, her tone returning to one of more self-assurance and smug pride. "Zhoc will have to abandon it in the end and we'll pick up the pieces. That Black Chorka may be free, but it's out there and if Zhoc can find it, so can we. It's not ideal, but it is, as you said, fair. And that's what matters."

"Indeed," Retz answered, trying not to sound to pleased or puffed up as he did. It was hard though.

"You're good at hostile on the fly term re-negotiations, Retz, very much so," Zix confessed. "Enjoy the bed you've made for yourself in any case."

She pushed her way past everyone, perhaps a bit more recklessly than she was supposed to. She was still angry, good. She didn't get to win today. Everyone else seemed a little pleased with the outcome. Well, everyone but one. Zek, even as he put his gun away, did not at all look happy.

"Was that really necessary?" He asked Retz outright.

"I wasn't going to let them own us in any capacity," Retz told his friend plainly. "I'm sorry, Zek, but a few bottles of ichor each month are not worth being under the Syndicate's thumb as their secret keepers. They'd find a way to use that against us eventually."

Zek sighed, his disappointment apparent.

"Well, alright, I'll go with your call on this," he relented. "Can't do much else. Still have the barrels we got of the stuff. I just... I really wanted that supply, man. I really did."

"I know, I'm sorry," Retz apologized. "I'm sorry I didn't discuss it with you either, but... it had to be done."

Zek nodded, placed a hand on his first mate's shoulder... and then left. He was not angry, but it was clear he did feel hurt. Retz would give him time, but he knew what Zix had meant when she spoke of "making his bed" now. He had suspected this would happen, it was why he didn't want Zek to see it himself. Luckily, one friend was still there to comfort his thoughts, her hand on his shoulder.

"That got heavy, you alright, Retz?" Kasumi asked.

"I am fine, Ms. Goto," the sneaky pirate replied. "Fine."

He was lying of course, he wasn't sure what he was right now. He beat Zix, but he hurt his friend. It wasn't the best feeling, no matter how necessary it had felt. Zek would forgive him, eventually. He hoped anyway. This was for the best, for the crew and himself. He knew it the second Zek was all in on working with the Syndicate just to get some booze.

Even now, in victory, Zix's words turned out to have an awful truth to them.

---

With most, if not all, of the civilians away, the remaining raiders began to pull back towards the Chorka Transport. Shepard stayed with them, at the forefront of the fighting retreat. The Grizzly, operated by the Master Chief, continued to provide whatever support it could. However, the enemy was increasing its assault, knowing that fewer and fewer of the raiders were there to hold them back.

The Wraiths didn't advance, they held back to bombard the defensive lines. They didn't aim for the hangar, probably still wary of the warhead that might still be there for all they knew. The hostile pirates kept pressing though and it was hard to stall their advance under the withering fire of the plasma mortars.

Shepard used his biotics in tandem with those among his crew who shared that affinity. They were able to stall the pirates, pulling them up into singularities or slamming them down to the ground. That did little to stop their push though.

As they fell back further and further, they were soon crowded around the entrance to the hangars. It was clear they needed to reposition the Chorka Transport behind them. The spot where the massive freighter had once been was a good spot to park it. However, given the increased fire on their position, it was a risky thing to attempt at this juncture. Shepard remained confident though, for one simple reason.

He could hear thunder in the air. Except he knew it wasn't thunder, it was jet afterburners. The familiar sound of Pelicans flying in hot. The green-colored troop transports flew in from the west of the docks. Placing them directly behind the Raiders' positions and above their heads. The Pelicans let loose with their forward autocannons, ripping into the pirate ranks with reckless abandon. That forced their assault to fall back as the pirates were shot to pieces.

Some of the enemy vehicles tried to hold their ground, only for them to be torn up in the hail of weapons fire. The Wraiths were further back though and tried to shoot at the flying craft. They didn't have the best aim, but it did force the Pelicans to fly a bit higher and away. Shepard was grateful though, they arrived when they needed them. Already, the heat had been taken off enough for their plan to go into action.

Shepard contacted the Chorka Transport and ordered it to move behind their position, to land inside the hangars where the freighter once was. As it lifted off it made a quick sweeping motion across the docks to quickly reposition within the hangars and slowly descend.

"We need to go, sir!" Chief shouted from the Grizzly. "I'm not sure how long the Pelicans can maintain their fire!"

"Don't worry, we're about to get an increase in our window!" Shepard assured him.

That was because Shepard had spotted it out of the corner of his eye, closing in hard and fast on the docks from the Southeast. The SR-2 Normandy, beautiful as ever and steaming to the rescue. Shepard had laid in the course for Joker, a direct bombing run right on Snarlbeak's men. It would give them the time they needed to get out of here.

The frigate closed quickly and then unloaded, firing the Thanix Cannon along the Dockyards. The shot destroyed a number of warehouses just from the residual heat alone. The real target, the Wraiths and main line of Snarlbeak's pirates, was utterly decimated by a direct sustained blast that lanced up through their ranks, destroying a number of Wraiths instantly. A great cheer went up from the UNSC Ranks as the Normandy flew a second pass around to survey the damage.

"Great shot, Joker," Shepard congratulated before turning to the others. "Okay, everyone on board! Now!"

Joker's hit would give them time, but it wouldn't last forever. They had to get out of here, quickly. They piled into the Chorka Transport, a little less crowded since Zek's people had already left along with Kasumi.

Meanwhile, as Chief left the Grizzly, one of the Pelicans moved down towards the massive tank. It then activated the magnet clamps to pull the vehicle up and lock it in position. Pelicans could lift seventy metric tons, so the sixty-four ton was just within its capacity. No one was going to complain about taking one extra prize from Snarlbeak's clutches.

Within moments of the Pelican retrieving the pilfered Grizzly, the Chorka Transport was loaded with the Raiding parties once more. From Spartan down to Batarian, along with everyone else in between. They lifted off from the hangar, reaching into the sky as they finally left the Plunder Nest behind. The dockyards themselves were starting to burn. The warehouses damaged by the Thanix Cannon run were on fire and it was spreading as residual explosives from the goods still inside were going off. It was a welcome parting sight to see.

The Raid was over. The center of Snarlbeak's criminal enterprise had been decimated. But all Shepard cared about was the purpose behind their involvement in this little shadow war between the Syndicate and an enemy they just happened to share. He still expected Zix to live up to her side of the bargain. Until she did, this operation was not yet finished.

---

The Rendezvous took a while to complete, mostly because every ship had to navigate through the massive debris field of destroyed ships just to get a safe point in order to begin jump preparations. Eventually everyone arrived over the designated meeting site. The various escape ships kept an open frequency as the Ascendant Justice-Gettysburg centered itself among them.

Then came the busy work of the after mission action. The freed slaves were a bit difficult to coordinate. The captured UNSC Officers among the human civilians had to be confirmed for one, along with everyone else. Record checks went well enough with Cortana managing it. After everything was crosschecked and references, identities of all the liberated human survivors were soon verified.

Whitcomb discussed things openly with the UNSC Officers who relayed their thanks to him and the rest of the flotilla for the rescue. It was agreed that the officers would take the now freed humans to designated safe zones within UNSC controlled space. With any luck they'd be back home in a matter of days.

The Freed Covenant-aligned races were kept separate though and the only member of them that talked openly, to anyone, was Kesa. The sangheili made it very clear that they would be taking the majority of the ships liberated from the Plunder Nest, including the largest freighter. Her argument was that because there were more of them, they needed all the ships they could afford to transport everyone. S

hepard handled the negotiations with the Master Chief, although there was little to negotiate. They didn't need all these ships and the human survivors wouldn't either. As to where she would be going, Kesa made her destination very clear.

"I will be returning to my father and clan," she declared. "And I will be truthful. I shall inform them of your assistance in my rescue and the reclamation of my honor."

"Is that wise?" Shepard asked her.

"He will forgive me for aligning myself with humans so long as I ended my partnership beyond this point," Kesa declared. "The head of the enemy who sullied our clan's honor shall be sufficient enough otherwise to earn me a reprieve if not."

"Fair enough," Shepard relented. "However, you don't have to end this alliance. The Master Chief attests to how well you worked together with them. And you can see that humans are not the savage abominations your Covenant claims."

Kesa huffed.

"Your attempts at conversion are apparent, False Shepherd, but they fall on deaf ears," she said proudly. "I know of your poisoned words, how they have swayed others away from the light of the Forerunners. I am not so weak-willed."

"Clearly not, but it's not an attempt at conversion," Shepard tried to insist. "If you view the Forerunners as Gods, I won't try to dissuade that belief. All I'm saying right now, is that maybe the Covenant leadership is not telling you the full story."

"All I hear is heresy in this moment, nothing else," Kesa spat.

"Just think for a minute, if humans were the monsters that your leaders claim they are... would they have been so cordial in helping you today?" Shepard asked earnestly. "You say you're going to tell your father the truth about your rescue. A small part of you has to admit that this species you're at war with isn't devoid of honor."

Kesa, for once, did not spit back in malice. She looked contemplative, if for a moment.

"Perhaps I do have some things to... think about when returning to my father," she confessed. "But I make no promises. If fate calls my clan to draw blades against your kind, I shall do so without a second thought. No matter how... honorable you truly are."

With that, Kesa bowed at the Spartan and Commander. She left just as quickly, heading the airlock on the Crusty Chorka's bridge where her small shittle had currently been docked. Shepard shrugged, accepting that it had not gone perfectly, but it was a better result than he hoped.

"Can't convince that easily, I guess," he relented.

"It was a good try, sir," Chief told him. "And you might have gotten past her defenses more than even I did."

"At least she's proof that the Sangheili aren't all complete fanatics," Shepard said, trying to discern a positive result from the conversation. "We can't win this war by wiping them out, Chief. We have to prove to them we're not the enemy. That their leaders are lying to them."

"Easier said than done," Chief stated. "But... maybe not entirely impossible."

By now, Zek, Retz and of course Zix, had arrived aboard the Crusty Chorka. It was as good a meeting ground as any at this point. Shepard didn't want Zix near his ship and he didn't want her back aboard the Carrier either. At least the Crusty Chorka did not have as much mission critical importance. It was also easier to keep an eye on the duplicitous Syndicate spymaster, considering Zek and Retz had been watching her like a hawk from the second she left the freighter with them.

"Well done everyone," she declared as she arrived. "You broke open the Plunder Nest and saved all those slaves. Among other things as well, let's not forget that. Snarlbeak's pirating empire has been dealt a severe blow. He will not be able to stay in this game for much longer, if at all. You've done the Syndicate and all of Kig-Yar kind a great service today."

"If that's the case, you'll hold up your end of the bargain then, right?" Shepard asked.

"Of course, the arrangements to scatter the Covenant Fleet at the final Relic's location are already underway," Zix promised. "Our people will be hitting their targets within the next rotation cycle."

"I'm not just talking about the Relic," Shepard reminded her.

Zix sighed most annoyed.

"Fine, the name," she relented at last. "Your Covenant Invasion Fleet is mustering at some secret space station. It's called Unyielding Hierophant. As I said, we have no location, only the name, but if you can get into the Covenant battlenet, you can likely discern the coordinates by cross-referencing that name."

"How do we know you're telling the truth?" The Master Chief asked.

Zix tossed a small data packet towards holomap table on the bridge.

"There, get your synthetic construct to verify it," she grumbled. "You'll see the name. I'm not lying. I honor my deals. The Syndicate always does."

Shepard didn't look convinced that was so, but he took packet all the same.

"I'll run this by Cortana and EDI," he said. "That should clear any doubt left. Not that it matters to you, Zix, but thank you all the same. You might have just helped us save a lot of human lives besides those trapped within the Plunder Nest."

"Whatever, like it matters in the long run," Zix shrugged. "You're still going to lose. Not that I wish it on any of you, but I just know how this story works. The Kig-yar were just able to work out a deal. Shame you humans don't have that option."

Shepard scowled a little but he didn't let it deter him.

"We have plenty of options, more than you realize," he assured her. "Today was just one example. We showed those Covenant-Aligned races, civilians, that we're not the monsters their leaders claim. That crack of doubt is just the start of the Covenant's downfall. And you're looking at two other examples beside you right now of how wide that crack is getting."

Zix looked at both Retz and Zek, before scoffing loudly.

"Please, Commander, don't fool yourself," she declared. "These two are no different than me in the end, pirates out for themselves. And those civilians' gratitude only goes so far as the knife to their throats from their real masters. You just returned them all to the yoke of the Prophets more than anything, even that Sangheili Princess."

"I don't believe that," Shepard said confidently. "It might not be right away, but the Covenant will fall. It will fracture. It can't sustain itself on its lies and xenophobic hatred. We know the truth about their Gods, about what Halo is, and there are people who will listen to that within the Covenant. I know there is."

"The Covenant will fall, maybe even in time to save your precious humanity," Zix conceded. "I don't doubt that at all. But it doesn't matter anyway. Tomorrow there will be a new Covenant and the day after that and the day after that. Because so long as there is something to fight over, people will gather around whoever they think will more easily acquire it for them. There's no future in struggling against that reality."

Shepard grimaced at the Syndicate Spymaster, but he didn't get to retort to the cynical prediction. Instead, the Master Chief asked his own question.

"If fighting is pointless, if we're going to die either way, what about you?" He asked. "What are you working towards? Why are you with the Syndicate if it can never win in the end? Why not give up?"

"Same as you, Spartan," Zix said smugly. "I fight for the Syndicate to preserve my world. To keep what makes kig-yar what they are alive, even for one day longer. Because it's one day longer that we're free. And you all might hate what I am and what I do," she looked to Retz especially when she said that. "But the truth is, it doesn't matter. As long as the Syndicate lives, piracy lives. And that piece of the kig-yar will outlive every government and creed currently bloodying each other. Simple as that."

With that, Zix bowed and left from whence she came, heading towards the docking bay where the shuttle was waiting to take her back to her ship. Two Marines left to escort her. Everyone finally relaxed a little, knowing their business with the Syndicate seemed more or less concluded.

"Guess I can't blame her and the Syndicate too much," Shepard confessed. "Why put your neck on the line for anything but yourself right? Especially total strangers."

"It's probably for the best," Chief argued. "They'd have probably told us we owe them a favor in return."

Shepard turned to Retz at this point.

"I know this wasn't easy for you, but I'm glad you stuck it out with us," he told the pirate. "You're half the reason we managed to pull this off honestly."

"It helps to know who you're dealing with," Retz acknowledged.

"And now we have an open path to the last relic and the Astral Cutlass," Zek was quick to add. "All in all, a good day."

"Tomorrow will be harder," Shepard cautioned. "Even if we're facing fewer Covenant at the Relic's location, we're still gonna have to get it. Chances are, they won't make it easy for us."

"We managed today just fine," Zek said confidently. "And that was when we were working with a partner that didn't have all our best interests in mind. Now that they're cut loose, we just have to rely on ourselves, the way it's meant to be."

Shepard shrugged, presuming that was really the only way to look at this. They had their work cut out for them, but at least the Syndicate wasn't breathing down their neck as much and neither was Snarlbeak with any luck. So you took the good with the bad.

With the formalities over with, Zek and Retz began to leave, but something was clearly on the Retz's mind as they left. In the hall, he stopped his friend for a moment, concern in his eyes.

"I want to know if... we're still good," he explained. "After..."

"Look, I'm not happy about the Black Chorka thing but... yeah we're still good, always," Zek assured him. "It's just a bit... I don't know, impulsive for you. That's all, it took me off guard."

"Impulsive?" Retz asked, confused at the word choice.

"Look, I get you didn't like the idea of the Syndicate pulling out a win there and Zix is a total bitch," Zek admitted. "I just think usually you're more business minded than me is all. It's why I defer to you. I guess it's just... that sorta thing is like something I'd do. It's off-putting."

Retz nodded, sorta seeing his point. It raised a question though, one that had stuck in his mind for a bit.

"I don't always see things through a business lens," he explained. "I see things through practicality. I admit though, Zix set me off emotionally. More than usual. I just... that stuff she said just now, about Piracy and how the Syndicate keeps it alive? It's only half truth. The Syndicate could manage that sort of thing without playing so loose with tradition. If it tried to change a little, but it has stagnated. It's as fearful and dogmatic as the Covenant, they just don't believe in anything beyond themselves."

Zek nodded in what seemed like understanding, but he still looked perplexed.

"Don't take this as me defending them, but Zix had one good point in that spiel of hers," Zek claimed. "Covenant ain't going away. Not really. If it fell apart tomorrow, you can bet some other asshole or even a bunch of them would race in to fill the void and start doing the same shit for different reasons. Best you can hope for in this galaxy is survival long-term. And sure the Syndicate plays all its cards so close to its chest that it gets a little overbearing. They don't play fair, but piracy survives because of them. What's the solution?"

"Reform?" Retz stated in response. "It wouldn't hurt them to do more at this point or even to take a backseat. They could operate towards a real goal beyond dictating which rules to follow that best suit them at any given moment. They don't have to be the way they are and they know it, but they'd rather just... coast. They don't want to know a better way and that's worse in my eyes. Just kill anyone who poses a threat to their profits and claim its for the good of all kig-yar. Tell everyone how to run their lives and claim we're still free."

Zek shrugged, although he looked sympathetic.

"I don't blame you for leaving them," he assured him. "But it ain't our place to make them change. Let them go their own way, I say. We'll be fine, sitting pretty on our own little empire with the Astral Cutlass by our side. We can just ignore them and they'll do the same."

Retz looked off to the side, his expression frustrated.

"Is that what the plan is? We get the Cutlass and sit back? Watch everything else go on and burn?" He asked.

"Hey, sight better than what Zhoc or even the Covenant might have planned for it," Zek laughed. "Having the biggest stick on your side means everyone leaves you the hell alone at last. Why risk that?"

"Well, I imagine Shepard and the UNSC have some thoughts on that," Retz reasoned.

But Zek just let out a single derisive laugh.

"Ha, they can keep fighting their dumb little war for all I care," the pirate leader declared. "Let 'em burn each other in the end. It's what they want, but not us. That's the other thing Zix was right about. Piracy will outlive all of these warning nations and beliefs. It has more of a future than any of them."

Retz looked at his friend, his expression looking resigned. Zek took it for agreement, smiled back and continued down the corridor. Retz followed, but at a slower pace, watching his friend and shipmaster lead the way. All Retz could think about though was the nagging thought that Zix had been right. But not about what she had said before she departed the bridge. In this moment, her words in the sub-basement held greater weight once more.

Zek has no cause. Zek has no greater goal. Zek had no greater ambition. He would be fine watching the galaxy burn so long as he and what he cared about didn't go up with it. And in a sick way, that made him dangerously close to the Syndicate mindset in all but size, scope and methods.

Worse though was this fact, that Retz had already known all that and he had been fine with it.

Until now. Until he saw his best friend agreeing more and more with the person who had hurt him most. He couldn't abide that. He refused to. And the same thought in his mind that led him to release the Black Chorka returned once more.

He could not let Zix win.

---

AN: Oh boy, good to have this up finally and this arc behind us. I due time, we should starting getting back on a more regular schedule as I think the next crop of chapters are likely shorter and more to the point. Anyway, we're now about to start the final stretch when we start touching on more of the plot points from First Strike, I'm sure some of you have been very patient so far about that, I only ask to wait a bit longer. But don't worry, we're getting there. Check out the profile for a link to notes about this chapter and the previous one, remember the leave a review I always read all of them even if I don't respond and as always, thank you so much for staying with me for so long, Readers. We're in this together I feel. Although, really I'm the one who has to deliver in the end and I hope I do.