Tevos sat at her desk looking up to the celling. Was what Shepard said true? That the humans were meant to replace the Protheans? She sighed as she coincided that option. The Asari were the most dominate force in the galaxy. They were the first for a lot of things. The fist in space, the first in colonisation, the first to find the Citadel and more. The feeling that they were the chosen never really left. Asari exceptionalism and supremacy wasn't a new concept, nor was it uncommon.
Goddess, she shared some of those beliefs as well. If this were to get out… The Asari government would panic. They always assumed that they would be on the top regardless of what happened. The Turians were there enforces and the Salarians their intelligence network. But the humans? The humans were the wildcard in the galaxy. Untested, unproven, unknown. But they expended faster than any other species, they fought off of the Turians in a ground war.
They were adaptable, smart and stubborn. They even colonised some of the more dangerous worlds that the Batarians didn't even bother with. Yet in the almost 30 years since humans entered the galactic stage, humans adapted, thrived and survived. The more she thought about it, the more she could see how humans could be the next dominant race. The reason question was, was that a good thing? Where humans right to take control of the galaxy? Or should they remain as a partner? Maybe the Asari could control them, use them guide them.
She smiled as a plan came to mind, until the station shook.
OOOOO four hours later.
Despite the bombshell Shepard had dropped on them, everything was normal but there was an amount of tension in the air between the squad and regular personnel. There wasn't much, but it was there, so Shepard decided to head back to the Citadel for some R&R and because Wrex needed to organise some relief for the Korgan now that the genophage had been cured.
But Normandy headed towards the Citadel but something was up. Zenna walked up to the bridge as she over heard the frustrated sounds of joker trying to get in contact with Citadel control. Normally, a docking only required 2 things, a quick ID check and a contraband scan. Joker was still trying to go though the first stage of that when it was only supposed to be done within a few seconds.
"Alliance control, this is SSV Normandy are we cleared to descend?" Joker asked again, his voice betraying his annoyance as Zenna came up behind.
He looked up and shook his head with a shrug while Zenna;s brow raised in curiosity.
"Alliance control, this is Normandy, we're headed to bay 1-4 Zekera Ward. Are we clear to descend?" he asked. "What the hell is going on? Even if it were a station malfunction, they would have back up online," he shook his head and looked at the console. "I got a bad feeling about this, checking emergency channels,"
Zenna said nothing as she looked at him as something came over his comm.
"Hey, yeah this is Joker. Uh-huh. Yeah, no kidding," he said before turning to Kira. "Commander there's a communication from Thane. He's saying it's important. I think you'll want to hear this,"
"Put him through," she ordered with the feeling that this was going to be more then important. But she did inwardly sigh about not being able to get some rest.
There was a burst of static before a voice came on. "Shepard, the Citadel is under attack. Cerberus troops are everywhere, and are in control of the docks," Thane said over the comm.
"Are you safe?" Zenna asked, doing her best to pick up any sounds on the other side.
"No, I had to evade their commandoes at the hospital. I'm in the Presidium store-front. However, I have witnessed civilians being taken away to become Cyberarm soldiers," as he spoke, Zenna detected the wheezing in his voice.
Concern filled her as she wondered how he was doing given his condition. Shaking her head to put it out of her mind for now, she had other things to focus on.
"You said the hospital, right?" she asked. "Did Ashley make it out?"
He let out a guttural cough. "We got separated, she said that she had to go and protect the Council. I'm going to C-Sec Headqaurters,"
That was a curious choice of tactics. "Why C-sec HQ?" she asked sensing something was up other than the attack. If he was going to C-sec, then there had to be a reason.
"It's been compromised," he said in a matter-of-fact tone. "And C-sec's response depends upon it. As long as Curberus controls the headquarters they control the station."
Zenna cursed at that. She did a check on the Citadel's security before and missed that C-sec HQ was a focal point of station security. But then again, the assumption she was running was based on an attack from outside, not an internal one.
"Ok, Joker get us away from the docks and close to C-sec HQ we'll go in the shuttle," she said as she turned to go and get armoured up.
Joker looked and the console and began to move the ship. "Aye aye commander," he called out.
OOOOO
The Kodiak flew through the Presidium as the battle below raged. C-sec was doing its best against Cerberus soldiers. With both sides ignoring them for the most part, the transport ship flew into the area of C-sec HQ. As the door opened Zenna, Garrus and James watched as C-sec fought against Cerbrus but falling. Zenna jumped out just before the ship landed and grabbed a chameleon lizard-man who was trying to hide.
"Nice try," she said as she snapped his neck while the others jumped down to join them. "Ok people, we're going in hot get to cover!" she ordered.
"Right," James and Garrus said as they moved to fire positions and engaged the Cerberus troopers.
Zenna moved to the bridge on the left while James moved to the right and Garrus stayed in cover near the Kodiak. As they got to cover the C-sec VI spoke up about the attacks but the three took little notice. Three wolf soldiers came up along the main bridge at speed. Garrus, who had been taking lessons from Zenna and other demi-humans, about anti-demi-human combat.
It was complex, as it varied between the various demi-human types. But there was one thing at always applied, always assume that they are fast. Speed was a good assumption as most demi-humans had superhuman speed. With that, he was able to adapt and track the wolves and force them back across the bridge. James, using a large calibre machine gun helped out while Zenna moved across the bridge.
She was spotted by the wolves who turned to face her, as she was the great threat, ignoring James and Garrus who charged in and took a wolf each. Being pack hunters, wolf demi-humans best worked in packs. So, they were normally grouped up in packs of three at a minimum. The best counter was to take one at time, or separate them and take them on individually. While they were one of the best demi-humans in terms of speed, strength and fighting ability, if you planned your attack, they can be easy to take on.
Which is not what Zenna did as she tossed a dead Cerberus trooper at her target. Said trooper got ripped in half allowing her to get in close and punch the gut of the wolf. But she didn't get it all her own way, as the wolf countered with a slash at her face forcing her back. Recovering quickly, she pouched on the wolf and slammed her first into his chest and head, crushing both.
While that happened, James threw a flashbang to dull the wolves' senses so that he and Garrus could take on their respective targets. As they recovered James jumped and plated a grenade on his target while Garrus got up to point blank range and killed his target with a shot to the head. With the area clear, the three made their way to the HQ where a familiar face awaited them
"Shepard, I saw those Wolves on you. I thought you we're done for," Bailey groaned from his position against the wall.
"Bailey. What are you doing here?" Zenna asked as she got down to one knee.
He coughed before answering. "Getting my ass kicked trying to retake headquarters. Those Cerberus bastards took in the first punch. We gotta kick them out of there. Everyone in C-sec is blind without the network," he said as the Commander helped him up before giving him a dose of medi-gel.
Garrus' police side kicked in. "What's the situation? Do you know if the councillors are alive?" he asked.
The police commander grunted in pain. "They split up. I'll know more if I can access the terminal inside," he said as he approached one of the doors.
"You get us in?" Shepard asked, brow raised with some concern.
"I can get the door open if no one interrupts me with bullets this time." he said as he typed the code onto the door. "Done," he said and the door opened up
Keeping on alert, they walked up the stairs to the reception area. Zenna, James and Garrus took positions to ensure that they would not be disturbed while Bailey worked, using his override codes.
After a moment he smiled. "Ok here we go, C-sec network courtesy of Cerberus,"
Zenna blinked. "How will that help?" she asked.
"It seems that they have control over the main channels, I can set up a new one. Without it our people have no plan and no chance. What the…?" he muttered as something happened on screen.
"What?" Shepard asked as she walked over.
"Cerberus just lost control over the main channels," he said as he continued to type before something came up. "Oh hello."
Zenna moved to get a better look. "What is it?"
"A warning from Councillor Valern," he replied with some surprise and concern. "He's supposed to be here meeting with the executor. 'Be on guard the likelihood of betrayal from within is high…' not a lot else, but if he's still inside,"
"Must be a big higher up if he's meeting with the executor," Zenna muttered while he typed.
Bailey nodded at that. "Usually, it means that someone big is about to be prosecuted. I guess that someone had Cerberus friends,"
"Kira mentioned that the Councillor mentioned Udina. But that's insane, does he even have is kind of pull?" Garrus said as he looked over.
"You'd know who have the answer to that? The councillor," Bailey said in a dry tone.
The minotaur shrugged. "Well one councillor is better than zero. Where are we headed?"
"He could be in the executor's office. It's a fairy defensible position." Garrus said.
"Just a sec." Bailey said as his omni tool activated. "There now we can communicate by omni tool. go."
Zenna hit her com. "Thane did you hear all that?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm nearing the building, but running is difficult. I'll try to get to you." Thane said.
Leaving Bailey, the three of them moved around the corner and opened the door. They entered the main lobby, as they did both Zenna and Garrus fired their rifles at the two guards stating at the door on the other side of the room. The rounds pinned the soldiers to the wall killing them before they slid down the wall leaving a mix of blood on the wall.
They moved up only to be forced into cover as Cerberus spotted them and fired.
"Troops in the lobby," Zenn said over the radio. "They were dug in."
"I can see more on the cameras. They're all over the station." Bailey said. "I'll see what I can do,"
Zenna nodded. "Right, let's keep moving." She yelled.