"Commander, the geth jamming towers are interfering with your signal." Traynor said over the comms, "I'm compensating to keep you patched in."
"Good work, Traynor." Kacey said as they entered the base.
"Shepard-Commander. Hostile geth are closing a blast shield over the base." Legion chimed.
Kaidan ran out to the outer walkway with James, taking out the two geth on the walkway with a singular blast to the head. Kaidan looked down, where he saw the blast shield moving into position.
"It'll take the Normandy hours to break through that shield." Kaidan mused.
"We don't have that kind of time." Kacey responded.
"We have located an override atop the geth fortifications." Legion said through the comms, "It can retract the blast shield."
"Got it." Kacey replied, "Anyone get a good look at that thing?"
"Didn't look like geth technology I've seen." Kaidan said.
"I agree." Garrus mused, "Looks more like Reaper tech."
"They've certainly put a lot of work into protecting that signal." Tali mused.
"Right." Kacey mused, "Let's blow it up."
"Why am I not surprised?" Garrus joked.
"Because it's her response to basically everything?" Kaidan added.
"Laugh it up, you two." Kacey mused, "We've got geth incoming!"
Geth troopers flooded the catwalk ahead, leading to Kacey and James throwing grenades to buy the squad time to get into cover. Kaidan used his biotics to pull the geth towards them, allowing Garrus and Javik to take advantage to the geth's incapacity
EDI deployed a decoy on Kacey's orders, as the scarlet haired commander took a risky shot at the geth rocket trooper; her bullet hit the rocket causing a large explosion. The explosion destroyed the geth on the walkway as the squad moved forward, keeping their heads down.
"Snipers on the left side balcony!" Tali shouted.
"Kaidan, Liara! Pull them out of cover!" Kacet shouted.
Liara used a singularity while Kaidan simply lifted the geth up, allowing Tali and EDI to shoot them while the rest dispatched the geth on their balcony.
"Shepard-Commander, do you need assistance?" Legion chimed.
"We're fine." Kacey replied, "What's your status?"
"The Old Machines' upgrades grant us targeting superiority." Legion explained, "We are drawing hostile fire from your position."
"Keep it up. We'll get to the blast shield controls."
Kaidan sighed, "I don't know, Commander. Reaper code?"
He wasn't sure if he could truly trust the synthetic; he mostly tolerated Legion for Kacey's sake. The fact Legion had Reaper code didn't reassure him in the slightest.
"No." Tali said firmly, "Legion's on our side."
"Never thought I'd hear you say that, Tali." Kacey laughed.
"Neither did I." Garrus mused.
…
Hitting the override was a lot easier said than done.
Geth flooded the room the moment the squad entered, and was making them work for the chance to reach the control console. Rockets and grenades flew across the room with alarming frequency, as did the odd singularity and cryo blast. Tali's combat drone was in the thick of it, whittling down the geth's shields in between Garrus and Kaidan's overloads. Kacey's orders were the only noise that rang out over the gunfire, barely audible.
Disruptor concussive shots flew at the geth, exploding the synthetics upon contact. Kaidan could see Kacey fire one after another with little delay while he focused on taking out the rocket troopers hiding on the other side of the room.
"Someone hit that override!" Kacey shouted as she switched over to her machine gun.
"Got it!" Garrus shouted as he bolted up to the terminal, "It's done."
"Legion, we've hit the override." Kacey said.
"We have gained system access and are bypassing security." Legion replied, "Stand by."
"We've got reinforcements!" Tali shouted.
"Kaidan, Garrus, Tali take the right!" Kacey ordered, "Everyone else with me and take the left!"
"Yes, ma'am." James mused as the room was flooded with geth.
Rockets flew past Kaidan as he dived into cover and began to overload the shields of the incoming synthetics. Tali already sent her combat drone to attack the geth on the far side of the room. They blasted their way through the machines the moment their shields were dropped. Kaidan blasted holes through each synthetic that wandered into his line of fire, even using his biotics to lift them into the air to make it easier to shoot.
"We have bypassed security, but disabling the blast shield requires manual input." Legion chimed, "We have enabled a console near your position."
"Got it!" Kaidan heard Kacey say shortly before the entire facility began to shake.
"Shepard-Commander, you have successfully opened the blast-shield doors." Legion confirmed as the last of the geth went down.
"Good." Kacey said as the squad regrouped, "We'll be back out in a minute."
"Negative." Legion replied, "The path behind you has been sealed. A nearby elevator can take you to the upper level. From there, you should have an acceptable line of sight for targeting.
"Right, everyone, let's go!" Kacey said as they all headed towards the elevator.
…
The upper level was flooded with geth primes. It took a lot out of the squad to avoid the primes charging at them and take them on. Geth primes were always tricky to deal with and were always packing a lot more firepower than normal geth.
Concussive shots flew around the area as Tali's combat drone ducked and dived through them as it locked on to one of the primes and was tearing it apart. Kaidan and Liara threw one biotic attack after another to keep them at bay as the rest sprayed the remaining geth with bullets. Once the last geth prime self-destructed, Legion spoke through the comms.
"Shepard-Commander, we detect no more geth in the immediate area." Legion said, "Reinforcements are minutes away."
"You getting anything from the base?" Kacey asked.
"No. The Old Machines have not registered us as a threat." Legion replied, "We recommend haste. The creator fleet will be overrun unless you sever the geth connection to the Old Machines soon."
"This battle was centuries in the making." Tali said as the squad followed Kacey towards the balcony, "To see it finally end…"
"And then what?" Kaidan asked, curious, "We need the quarians but their hands aren't entirely clean in this."
"I know, but…"
"First things first." Kacey interrupted as she pulled out the targeting laser, "Let's take the signal out and then we decide on who's war crimes are more incriminating, okay?"
"Normandy's weapon systems are ready to sync to your target." EDI said, "I recommend you withdraw to a safe distance."
Everyone backed away from the platform Kacey was standing on. The scarlet haired commander turned to see them standing a few feet away.
"Oh, thanks guys!" She said in a sarcastic and joking tone.
Kacey aimed the gun down, and the next thing Kaidan knew a beep came from the gun and the Normandy flew past, dropping a large missile into the depths below where the signal was coming from. The facility started to shake violently, and continued to do so after the explosion passed.
"Shepard!" Liara shouted.
"Get away from there!" Kaidan shouted as the facility kept shaking.
But it was too late. The platform Kacey was standing on collapsed underneath her, sending her plummeting down to the bottom level, right next to the edge of the giant chasm where the signal was a few moments ago.
"Ow." Kaidan could hear Kacey say at the bottom of the fifteen foot drop.
"You okay?" Kaidan asked.
"Yeah, yeah I'm good." Kacey mused, clearly winded from the fall.
"And that is why we backed away from the edge." Garrus mused.
"Fuck off."
"Hey at least you're–HOLY SHIT!" James said.
Kaidan couldn't believe what he was seeing; a giant claw rose from below and clamped down hard on the side of the facility.
"Reaper!" Kacey shouted.
"Now what?!" Tali yelled.
At the far side of the facility, a geth vehicle appeared and Legion's voice spoke over the comms, "We have secured transportation!"
"Copy that!" Kacey shouted, "Everybody get to the ship! Move!"
"Let's fucking bail!" James shouted as he ran along the balcony.
Kacey had already started to run towards the vehicle, as Legion had parked it where the balconies joined up. Kaidan was worried, but he knew that Kacey was capable of outrunning all of them. He bolted after James and Liara as they all ran towards Legion.
"Keelah, it's huge!" Tali said as she ran.
"Just keep moving, Tali!" Garrus said.
"How are we supposed to fight that thing?"
"I think Shepard was hoping your fleet would help!"
"Yep, sounds about right!"
The Reaper continued to rise from its hiding place, pulling parts of the facility apart as it did. Liara was the first to reach the ship, followed by EDI then Javik. Tali dived in as Kaidan, Garrus and James arrived, alongside Kacey who immediately headed towards the mounted turret.
"Legion, let's go!" Kacey shouted as Kaidan, Garrus and James headed inside the ship.
"We will attempt evasive manoeuvres." Legion chimed as they wasted no time in getting the ship moving.
The ship moved as quickly as possible; Kaidan could hear Kacey firing the turret at the Reaper. He was trying his best to catch his breath, but was worried about Kacey; she survived the fifteen foot drop and was now taking on the Reaper on her own.
Another explosion brought Kaidan back to reality and the ship fell silent. Everyone was focused on the conversation going on through the comms.
"What did we hit?" Admiral Gerral asked.
"The firing chamber." Kacey said, "Looks like a weak point when it's priming."
Kaidan knew that tone of voice; it was the tone Kacey used when she had an idea, and a crazy one at that.
"Dammit, their jamming towers have us targeting manually." Admiral Gerral replied, "We can't make a precision shot!"
"We may escape before it recovers." Legion mused,
"No. Pull over!" Kacey ordered.
"What the hell is she doing?" Garrus mused.
"She better not do what I think she's going to do." Kaidan mused
"Shepard-Commander?" Legion questioned as they pulled over.
Kaidan opened the door as Kacey hopped off the ship, the targeting laser in hand. Kaidan had suspected that the laser was involved in her plan, and now he knew for sure what she was going to do.
"If we run away, the geth stay under Reaper control and the quarians are dead." Kacey said, defiant, "This ends now."
"Commander, what are you going to do?" Javik asked.
"EDI, patch the quarians to the Normandy's weapons system." Kacey ordered, "I want the targeting synced up to the whole damn fleet!"
"Understood." EDI said.
"Do you need assistance?" Legion asked.
"Just stay down, Legion. I'll take it from here." Kacey said.
"Shepard! What are you doing?!" Kaidan shouted.
"I'm taking that thing down." Kacey replied, "Just get back in the ship."
"Shepard…"
"Kaidan, I'll be fine." Kacey said firmly, "I promise."
"Shepard-Commander…good luck." Legion said.
Kaidan didn't get the chance to argue with her as she dropped down the ledge and went to face the Reaper alone.
"She will be fine, Kaidan." Garrus said reassuringly.
"I know." Kaidan mused, "If anyone can do it, she can."
…
The wait was anxiety inducing.
The sound of the Reaper priming its laser was always a haunting sound, and the amount of times they heard the godforsaken noise. However, every once in a while they heard an explosion, followed by an odd noise he couldn't describe.
The wait was agonising.
And clearly Kaidan wasn't the only one who had a problem with waiting, as James also was growing frustrated by being cooped up in the geth ship.
"Fuck this, I'm going outside to see what's going on." James said, "You coming, Major?"
"James, that's extremely dangerous." Liara argued.
"So? I want to see what's going on." James replied.
"So do I." Tali said
"Likewise." Kaidan said, "Let's have a look."
As the squad stepped outside, despite Liara's reluctance, they could see the Reaper towering over Kacey, about to fire its laser, but it was stopped by the barrage of bullets and missiles from the fleet above.
The Reaper couldn't stand against the missiles and collapsed to the ground, with smoke pouring out of it. Kaidan could see Kacey run towards the cliffedge and began to make his way down towards her.
"She did it." He heard Garrus say, "She actually did it."
"Fuck yeah she did!" James said.
But as they slid down the slope, Kaidan heard the most unsettling voice he had ever heard in his life.
"Shepard."
"You know who I am?" Kacey questioned.
"Harbinger speaks of you." The Reaper said, "You resist. But you will fail. The cycle must continue."
"You're pretty arrogant for a destroyed machine." Kacey scoffed, "We stopped Sovereign and geth. We stopped Harbinger and the Collectors. And we will stop all of you."
"You represent chaos. We represent order." The Reaper continued cryptically, "Every organic civilization must be harvested in order to bring order to the chaos. It is inevitable. Without our intervention, organics are doomed. We are your salvation."
"If you're what salvation looks like, then I'd rather be doomed." Kacey replied with a hint of arrogance in her voice.
"You are arrogant to assume you stand a chance at survival." The Reaper added, "Finish your war. We will be waiting."
The Reaper went dead. Kaidan looked at Kacey as she turned to face her squad. He couldn't believe he was standing in front of a dead Reaper.
"You did it." Tali said in shock, "You killed a Reaper. Keelah…"
"We can confirm that the geth are no longer being directed by the Old Machines." Legion said, "We are free."
"You did it, Shepard!" Admiral Gerrel said down the comms, "The geth fleet has stopped firing. They're completely vulnerable!"
"Shepard-Commander, the geth only acted in defence after the creators attacked." Legion spoke up, "Do we deserve death?"
It was a poignant question; Kaidan could see hesitation written across Kacey's face. Sapphire eyes were fixed on the synthetic as she replied, "What are you suggesting?"
"Our upgrades." Legion explained, "With the Old Machines dead, we could upload them to all geth without sacrificing their independence."
"You want to upload Reaper code?" Tali questioned, "That would make the geth as smart as when the Reaper was controlling them!"
"Yes but with free will." Legion countered, "Each geth unit would be a true intelligence. We would be alive and we could help you."
"The fleet is already attacking! Uploading the code will destroy us! Shepard, you can't choose the geth over my people!" Tali pleaded.
"Do you remember the question that caused the creators to attack us, Tali'Zorah?" Legion asked, "Do these units have a soul?"
Kacey took a deep breath, "Upload the code. Tali, call the fleet off if you can."
"You sure about this, Shepard?" Garrus asked.
"I'm sure." Kacey replied.
"Ten percent." Legion chimed.
"This is Admiral Tali'Zorah." Tali said, "All units, break off your attack!"
"Belay that order!" Admiral Gerrel said, "Continue the attack!"
"Twenty percent." Legion chimed.
"I beg you, do not do this." Tali pleaded, "Please, Kacey."
"We regret the deaths of creators, but we see no alternative." Legion mused, "Forty percent."
"Kacey please!" Tali said again.
"Nobody else is dying today." Kacey said with a determined look, "Legion, keep going."
"Kacey?"
"All ships, this is Commander Shepard." Kacey said firmly, "The Reaper is dead. Stand down."
"This is Admiral Tali'Zorah. Shepard speaks with my authority." Tali added.
"And mine as well." Admiral Koris added.
"Negative!" Admiral Gerrel shouted, "We can win this war now! Keep firing!"
"Sixty percent." Legion informed.
"The geth are about to return to full strength." Kacey said, "If you keep attacking, they'll wipe you out! Your entire history is you trying to kill the geth. You forced them to rebel. You forced them to ally with the Reapers."
"Eighty percent."
"The geth don't want to fight you. If you can believe that for just one minute, this war will be over. You have a choice. Please. Keelah se'lai." Kacey finished.
"All units, hold fire." Admiral Gerrel said after a long pause.
"Error." Legion chimed, "Copying code is insufficient. Direct personality dissemination required. Shepard-Commander, I must go to them. I'm sorry. It's the only way."
"Legion." Tali said, "The answer to your question was 'Yes'."
"I know, Tali." Legion said, "But thank you. Keelah se'lai."
Legion dropped to the ground, permanently deactivated. Admiral Raan limped towards Kacey and Tali, and began to talk to them. A Geth prime followed soon after, conversing with the Admiral. Kaidan couldn't believe what he had just witnessed with his own eyes. But he did know one thing.
Commander Kacey Shepard really could pull off the impossible.