Chapter Twenty-Four: Plutonium

"Even if you have crossed the sea, even if, - as Vergil says - the lands and cities disappear into the distance, your vices will follow you where you go." - Seneca the Younger

Martin leaned against the bulkhead of the small, cramped room. The ship wasn't built for large gatherings, and this "meeting room" felt more like a repurposed storage closet, which, in all honestly, it probably was. The air was thick with the faint hum of the ship's engines, the slight vibration running through the metal floor beneath his boots.

Athria stood at the front, looking every bit the confident leader she liked to be, her hands moving over the controls of a small holoprojector. The blue light flickered to life, casting the shadowy shapes of the crew around her, and illuminating a rough map of their target systems. Martin shifted his weight and crossed his arms, watching her closely.

"Listen up, everyone, this is it. We're headed for the Pylos Nebula," Athria began, her voice calm but commanding, cutting through the murmurs of the others. She pointed to the glowing blue dot on the holo-map. "Once we get to the mass relay, we'll input a specific set of instructions into the relay's controls. These instructions will take us to an unexplored Cluster. ."

Martin's eyes narrowed slightly. They'd been running blind for a while now, chasing breadcrumbs, but this was different. This was getting real. The others shuffled in their seats, their faces a mix of curiosity and tension.

"Once we make the jump, we will be in a very dense Nebula, and sensors will be unreliable. We'll have to traverse it manually, using the Scouting team's coordinates to guide us through," she continued. "Once we reach the other side, there's a second relay. That one will take us to the Far Rim, to a hopeful unexplored star system."

"Another unexplored system?" Velpia asked, raising an eyebrow from her seat near the back. "I didn't think there was any more we could get to."

Athria nodded. "It's practically unexplored, which makes it perfect for us. Hopefully, we won't run into anything... unfriendly." She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "The Geth don't seem to venture out. To my knowledge, they haven't been exploring this deep into the galaxy. But we still need to be cautious."

Martin exchanged a look with Rinn, who was seated to his right. She didn't seem convinced by the statement, and neither was he. Everything he read about the Geth up to this point made them out to be unpredictable. They might have stayed away from sections of the Far Rim, but it didn't mean there weren't other threats lurking out there.

"And once we're in this star cluster?" Dez asked, her tone casual but laced with curiosity. She leaned forward in her seat, her eyes fixed on the map. "What's waiting for us there?"

Athria zoomed in on the holo-map, revealing a single planet marked in red. "This is our destination. From the information we've gathered, it's home to the artifact. There's a bunker that's been dug up, possibly by scavengers or an old expedition. We don't know much about who or what did the digging, but the artifact is still down there."

Martin could feel the shift in the room's atmosphere. The artifact. Everything they'd been doing, all the blood, sweat, and death, led to this moment. He felt its weight settle on his shoulders. But couldn't help himself from feeling a bit giddy.

Athria straightened, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "When we land, Martin will lead the ground team." She glanced in his direction. "Once boots hit the ground, Martin will be in charge. His orders are final."

The statement caught Martin off guard. It wasn't that he hadn't expected to be in charge of the ground mission, but hearing Athria give him full control was a shift in dynamic. He nodded, keeping his expression neutral. The room turned their eyes to him, waiting to see how he would react, but he stayed silent.

Athria continued, "We'll secure the artifact and get it back to the ship as quickly as possible. Once we have it, we'll make a break for the relay and get out of there before anyone knows we were even there." There was a moment of silence before Velpia spoke up again. "And what if the Geth are already there? Or something worse?"

Athria's lips pressed into a thin line. "Then we improvise. If we run into resistance, we handle it, but stealth will be our best asset. We're not here for a firefight if we can help it."

Martin snorted softly. Stealth wasn't usually his style, but he knew better than to pick a fight they couldn't win. He'd dealt with enough skirmishes to know that getting out alive was the real victory. "So, we get in, grab the artifact, and get out," Martin summed up. "Simple enough."

Dez shot him a look. "Sure. Until everything goes sideways."

"Optimism. Always good," Martin said, sarcasm heavily on his tongue. He leaned forward, arms still crossed. "Look, we've all been through worse at this point. We can handle a few robots."

"Synthetics," she defiantly corrected. "Whatever." Rinn raised her hand slightly, her voice soft but firm. "What do we know about the bunker? Any security systems, traps, anything like that?"

Athria shook her head. "Not much. We've got some old reports, but they're spotty at best. We should expect some kind of security, but nothing we can't handle."

Martin took a deep breath, letting the weight of the mission settle in. This was it. The big play. "Alright," he said finally, his voice steady. "We'll be ready." Athria gave a firm nod. "Good. We're making the jump in a few hours. Get your gear in order and rest up. Once we hit that relay, we're on the clock."

As the meeting broke up, Martin stayed back for a moment, watching as the others filtered out of the cramped room. Athria caught his eye and gave him a brief nod before turning back to the holo-map. "You ready, Barbarian?" Athria asked as she approached him. The others left the room and shut the door. He noticed a change in her posture, a playful swagger coming over her body as soon as the door shut. He remembered to keep his eyes up and pulled his mind away from her body. "Born ready, Ma'am."

"Good. Maybe after this is over, you can buy me a drink." Her tone threw him off as she walked past him. "Or maybe a shower," he murmured under his breath.

""""""""""""""""""

A few hours later, the ship hummed quietly as the crew prepared for the jump. Martin stood behind Athria, his mind already running through a thousand different scenarios. The lights of the Bridge dimmed. Athria, sitting in the captain's chair in the center of the room, gave the order. "Dez, input the special coordinates."

Dez sat at the terminal, fingers moving across the screen with practiced precision. "Coordinates locked. Ready to jump."

Martin felt the tension in the room. Everyone knew this wasn't a normal relay jump—they were heading into uncharted space, into the unknown. He watched the stars ahead of them shimmer, the blue energy field of the relay expanding as they neared.

"Jump in three... two... one."

The ship surged forward, the familiar sensation of being pulled through the relay washing over him. But this time, something was different. The ship jolted slightly as if caught in a brief hesitation, and then everything went dark.

"Dez?!" Rinn's voice was high-pitched, panic creeping into her tone as the ship was plunged into darkness. The hum of the engines cut out entirely, leaving a deafening silence.

"I don't know! Everything just... shut off!" Dez's hands moved rapidly over the controls, trying to reboot the systems. "We're dead in the water!"

Martin could hear the faint beeping from the consoles as systems struggled to come back online, but nothing was responding. The only light came from the dim emergency lighting that flickered sporadically, casting eerie shadows across the crew's faces.

For a moment, Martin felt the weight of the blackness pressing down on them. He hated this kind of situation—vulnerable, without control. But he wasn't the type to panic. "Everyone stay calm," he said, his voice steady. "It's just a delay."

Suddenly, the lights flickered back on, and the hum of the engines returned. Dez let out a breath she had been holding. "Systems online. That was... weird."

Before anyone could respond, the ship lurched violently forward, pulled by the relay's power. The inertia dampeners must not have been working properly. The view ahead shifted as they shot through space, stars streaking past in bright flashes. This wasn't normal. They were thrown back into their seats, struggling to grab hold of whatever they could, as if they were being thrown through the galaxy at breakneck speed.

"We're jumping!" Rinn shouted, gripping the armrests of her seat. Martin held on to the seat in front of him, bracing against the sudden force. "This isn't Normal, Dez!" Martin sarcastically yelled over the struggle. "Yeah, no shit smartass!"

The ship finally stabilized, and they were spit out of the relay. Bright swirling clouds of gas filled the viewport, blocking out the stars. The entire nebula seemed alive, pulsing with energy and light, but there was an unnerving sense of isolation. Light flashes cut across the ship's window, and there was a rumbling feeling, like thunder after a lightning strike, but no sound. There were no other ships, no signals—just them in dense radiation clouds.

Athria exhaled sharply. "Alright, everyone. We made it through. Input the next set of coordinates. Let's not stay here longer than we need to."

Dez quickly entered the new instructions into the terminal, and the ship began moving forward again. But an uneasy feeling lingered in the air—what had caused that blackout, and where were they actually?

"Athria, come take a look at this..." Dez turned back in her chair, frightened by what she saw. Athria got up from her seat and leaned over to her console. "No, the sensors are wrong. They have to be." Velpia, sitting in the seat to their left, joined Athria at the console. "We aren't supposed to be there." Still standing behind Athira's chair, Martin couldn't see the console himself. "What happened?" he said with cautious curiosity. Rinn pulled up their coordinates on her console as Martin approached. She pointed to where they ended up. "I guess we aren't in Kansas anymore..." They were off the map, a significant distance in what should have been dark space.

"This has to be an error. There is no way in hell we jumped this far that fast. The jump from Ismar to Omega takes over a week, and we jumped twice that in about five seconds!" Dez pointed out.

Athria stammered for an answer: "I... it... it has to be wrong." She stood up and cleared her throat, trying to shake out the panic. "Let's ignore that for now. The Nebula is probably interfering with the ship's systems." Her attempt to calm everyone seemed to fail, but there was nothing they could do regardless but head for the other relay. Dez and Rinn focused on the consoles while Athria and Velpia returned to their seats. The lightening and rumbling intensified the farther in they went. Their lights flickered, trying to adjust to the intense strikes outside.

Martin turned back to Athria, "Is this..." pointing to the window, "... normal?" Athria straightened herself, "Not unless the relay is stuck next to an exploded star. Usually, they get flung out into deep space and go dormant, but I don't see any star core remnants, not that our sensors would pick that up with all this going on."

They continued forward for some time. The entire crew was on edge. Martin hated every second of it. He was powerless if anything happened. He knew it. This would be a flying coffin, trapped like a rat if something attacked, having to rely on someone else for his own safety didn't sit well with him, but it was something he just had to deal with.

After a few tense hours, they continued to crawl forward slowly, and soon, a faint silhouette began to appear in front of them. It was large and long; it had to be the relay. But there was something else, something that looked like a hand lingered close by. "Um, what the fuck is that?" Martin pointed out the window. The darkened shadow moved, but it looked like it had stopped moving again. "I...I don't know." Dez answered, her eye fixated on the glass.
Athria joined Martin just behind Dez. She squinted for a moment before panicking. "Power down the ship." Martin looked back at her. Athria's eyes were locked solid, frozen with petrified fear. "Power down the damn ship, Do it now! It's moving toward us!" Dez quickly followed her orders, shutting off all non-critical systems. The lights throughout the ship shut off as the ship drifted toward the relay. Athria was right. The shadow began getting bigger and bigger, slowly.

The thing grew larger as it traveled. The ship drifted toward its destination. "Ten more minutes until we hit the relay," Dez said, focused on the shadow closing in on them. Her hand hovered over the controls, ready to turn the ship systems back on as soon as the order was given.

"Hopefully, they are as blind as we are out here. The radiation should mask us." Athria said, gripping Dez's chair.

The dark shadow moved across the nebula like a predator hunting through a fog. Martin's heart pounded in his chest as he watched the massive form slide past them. It was enormous, its silhouette blotting out the faint light of the stars and the gas clouds beyond. He could feel the tension in the Bridge, every breath held as the ship coasted in silence, the engines off, drifting toward the relay.

"What the hell is that thing?" Velpia whispered, barely audible in the cramped room. Rinn's voice cut in, low and strained. "I'm trying to get a sensor reading, but... nothing. The sensors can't pick up anything on it. It's like it's not even there." "That's impossible," Dez muttered. "Something that big... even at this range, we should be able to get something."

Martin's grip tightened on the back of Rinn's seat. He stared out the viewport as the massive ship passed overhead. It wasn't like anything he'd ever seen before—no recognizable markings, no familiar structure. It was just... alien. The thought made his skin crawl.

The ship drifted past, almost peaceful, but its sheer size sent a wave of dread through the bridge. Martin could see the same fear mirrored in the eyes of the others, even Athria, whose usual confidence seemed to falter.

"Is it... leaving?" Velpia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The shadow moved past them slowly as if it hadn't noticed them at all. It disappeared into the swirling clouds of the nebula, leaving a trail of silence in its wake. For a moment, the crew just sat there, frozen, waiting for anything to happen. But nothing did.

Athria finally exhaled, releasing the grip she had on Dez's chair. "Alright... it's gone. Get ready to power the ship back up. We're almost at the relay." Martin glanced back at the others, still shaking off the moment's terror. "Dez, how long until we're in range?" Dez checked the terminal, her fingers trembling slightly. "Just a couple more minutes."

"Alright, everyone, buckle up. I don't want any more surprises." Martin's tone was clipped, his eyes scanning the viewport for any signs of the strange ship.

The tension in the bridge didn't ease as the ship moved closer to the relay. Athria straightened, taking her seat again, though her eyes kept darting to the console, watching for any signs of another approach. "Dez, power everything back on," she ordered, her voice steadier now. "Let's make this jump before anything else decides to show up."

Dez flipped the switches, and the ship came back to life with a low hum. Lights flickered back on, and the familiar sounds of the systems rebooting filled the air. Martin felt a slight sense of relief as the ship's engines powered up again, but it was short-lived.

The ship suddenly went dark again as the systems were fully restored. Everything shut off, plunging them back into an eerie silence. Martin's heart sank, and he looked to Dez, whose wide eyes were locked on the terminal. "Not again..."

Before anyone could speak, the ship jolted violently as if yanked by an unseen force. The lights flickered back on just in time for them to see the relay's blue light engulf them.

"We're jumping!" Athria shouted, gripping the armrests of her chair. The ship was flung through space with the same disorienting force as before. Stars and nebulas blurred past them in streaks of light, and for a moment, it felt like it was being ripped apart. The jump was more violent than any Martin had ever experienced, and the ship creaked and groaned under the strain.

Then, just as quickly as it had begun, it was over. The ship stabilized, the stars returning to their normal, distant glimmer. They had made it. Martin exhaled, his knuckles white from gripping the console. "Everyone still in one piece?"

Rinn glanced around. "Barely." Athria leaned forward, her eyes scanning the readings on the console. "We're in. That was rough, but we made it." Martin let out a slow breath, his mind still reeling from the strange ship they'd seen earlier. He could tell the others were rattled, too, but there was no time to dwell on it. They had a mission to complete.

"Alright," Athria said, her voice steady now. "Let's get ready to move forward. We've got a planet to find." Dez turned around to Athria, "ETA is about three hours. No ships detected in the system."

"Martin, Velpia, and Rinn, I want you three ready in two and a half hours." Martin nodded, leaving the Bridge.

""""""""'''

The ship was on its way to the planet, the tension palpable as the crew quietly prepared for what was to come. Martin had found a moment of peace in the conference room—if you could call it that—away from the others, using the space to go over his gear one last time. His heavy armor was already on, the familiar weight comforting against his body. He methodically checked each piece of equipment: his pistols, the Viper rifle, frag grenades, and packs of Medi-gel all carefully laid out on the table before him. He was in his zone, his mind already preparing for the mission ahead.

He adjusted the straps on his gauntlets and ensured his omni-tool was calibrated correctly. The weight of the armor felt like a second skin, something he'd become used to after years of combat, but the mission ahead was still making his gut churn slightly. He didn't let it show, though. Not now. Not when they were this close.

The door slid open quietly, and Martin glanced up to see Velpia step inside. She looked different—less of the usual cocky smirk on her face and more... apprehensive. It was a look he wasn't used to seeing on her. She closed the door, glancing around the room before finally meeting his gaze.

"Hey," she started, her voice quieter than usual. "Figured I'd find you in here." Martin nodded but focused on his equipment, slotting a thermal clip into one of his pistols. "Just making sure everything's ready. You know how it goes." She crossed the room slowly, her movements lacking the usual confidence. He could sense something was off, but he didn't press her, not yet. There was too much on the line; if she wanted to talk, she'd get to it in her own time.

Velpia hovered near the table for a moment, watching him with a kind of unease before finally speaking again. "Martin... I've been thinking. About everything, I mean. Over the last few years. I—" She hesitated, her mandibles flicking slightly. "I haven't exactly treated you well, have I?"

Martin paused, his hand hovering over his rifle for a second. He glanced up at her, surprised by the sudden vulnerability in her tone. Velpia was rarely this open. "What's this about, Vee?"

She let out a breath, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for the right words. "I don't know... It's just... I'm scared, Martin. I've been acting like a fool, and now we're heading into who-knows-what, and I'm realizing... I don't want things to end this way." Martin stood up straighter, brushing her concerns aside for now. "Come on, Vee. We've been through worse than this. Whatever's down there, we can handle it."

"I'm not talking about the mission, Martin," she said, her voice gaining a bit of its usual sharpness, though it was tinged with something deeper. "I mean us. The way I've treated you. I've been so... hostile. Jealous. And you didn't deserve any of it."

Martin blinked, taken off guard by the sudden admission. He had always sensed the tension between them, but Velpia had never brought it up before. He didn't know what to say to her, at least not with everything about to happen. "Vee... it's fine. You're fine. We'll figure all that out later, alright? Right now, we've got a mission to focus on."

Velpia shook her head, stepping closer. "I just—" She swallowed hard, her mandibles tightening. "I don't want to lose you, Martin. Not without making things right." He stared at her for a long moment, his mind running through the years of shared history between them—fights, disagreements, moments of camaraderie, and everything else in between. She was always there, even when they were on opposite sides of a situation. Martin chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood. "You won't lose me. I'm like a damn cockroach. Hard to kill."

Velpia let out a small laugh, though it was more out of relief than humor. She moved closer to him, and before Martin could say anything else, she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. It was a sincere, almost desperate gesture, one he hadn't expected from her. Her cheek brushed against his, the rough texture of her plates against his skin—an intimate, Turian kiss.

Martin stiffened for a second, caught off guard, but then he slowly returned the hug, holding her tightly. It wasn't like any of their usual interactions. This was something real, something raw. He could feel the worry, the fear, and the unspoken apologies in her embrace. "I'm sorry," she whispered against him. "For everything." He pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes. "We'll work it out. After this is done, we'll figure things out." Velpia gave a small nod, her mandibles flicking again. "Just... promise me we'll make it out of this."

Martin gave her a reassuring smile, though there was a seriousness behind it. "We will. We always do." They stayed like that for a moment longer before Velpia finally stepped back, her usual bravado creeping back into her posture. "Alright, then. Let's get this over with."

Martin nodded, slinging his rifle over his shoulder and making sure his gear was secured. He was about to head out of the room when he glanced back at her, feeling the weight of their unspoken understanding. "Ready?"

Velpia smiled, though it was a little more genuine this time. "Yeah. Let's go, Barbarian."

He chuckled. "Let's go break some shit."

"""""""""""""""""""""""

Martin stood on the bridge as they entered orbit over the planet, the hum of the ship's engines filling the silence. He glanced out the viewport, watching as the planet below loomed closer. Its surface was a mixture of dark greens and muted browns, with massive mountain ranges and sprawling forests dotting the landscape. It looked peaceful, almost like a paradise, but Martin knew better than to trust appearances. There was something down there, something dangerous.

Rinn sat at her console, running the usual scans, her visor reflecting the data that streamed across her screen. She shifted slightly in her seat, her fingers tapping on the holo-keyboard with practiced precision. "I'm picking up life-capable readings," she announced, her tone neutral but focused. "Atmosphere's breathable, but the oxygen count is lower than we're used to. You'll definitely want to keep your helmet on."

Martin grinned, leaning against the console. "Damn. Was hoping I could get some fresh air for once." Rinn gave a quiet chuckle, her voice taking on a teasing edge. "You might, but you'll pass out eventually. But I don't need to worry about it. Already got my helmet." She tapped the side of her visor playfully, her Quarian helmet catching the dim light of the bridge.

"Yeah, well," Martin shot back with a smirk, "not all of us come with built-in air filters." She laughed softly and turned back to her console, leaving Martin to shake his head in amusement. He could tell the crew was still tense from earlier, but he hoped the joking would clear everyone's nerves before landing.

The door to the bridge slid open with a soft hiss, and Martin glanced over his shoulder. Athria strode into the room, her presence commanding, but something was different this time. She was dressed head to toe in full Asari commando gear, a form-fitting black combat suit that clung to her toned frame in all the right places. Dark silver plating covered her shoulders, arms, and legs, and intricate blue patterns swirled across the material, glowing faintly. Her twin pistols were holstered at her sides, ready for use.

Martin's eyes trailed over her gear for a second longer than he meant to, his mind wandering to places it probably shouldn't. She looked... well, deadly in an interesting way. He quickly shook off the thought before anyone noticed, but not before one part of his brain muttered something inappropriate. Velpia was the first to voice what was on everyone's mind. "Why are you gearing up?" she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and mild concern. "I thought you were staying on the ship."

Athria didn't miss a beat. She crossed the room to stand beside Dez at the helm, her face as calm and collected as ever. "After going over it with Dez, we agreed that she can handle piloting the ship herself. I'm not going to be much use up here, and I don't like sitting around while you all are down there risking your lives." Her voice was firm, leaving little room for argument. "Besides, I'm a trained. I belong on the ground, not behind a console."

Martin raised an eyebrow, both impressed and slightly amused. "Didn't peg you for the fieldwork type." Athria shot him a sharp look, but there was a glint of something playful in her eyes. "I can handle myself." Velpia didn't seem entirely convinced, but she didn't argue further. Instead, she just nodded and adjusted her grip on the console, her fingers flexing nervously. Athria turned to Dez. "Take us into the atmosphere. Head for the waypoint."

Dez gave a quick nod, her hands flying over the controls as she initiated the descent. "Aye-aye. Buckle up, everyone. It's going to get bumpy."

As the ship angled downward, the hum of the engines grew louder, and Martin felt the familiar pull of gravity as they began their descent. The others took their seats, securing themselves as the ship plummeted toward the planet. Martin remained standing near the console, gripping the nearby rail as the first waves of turbulence hit them.

The ship rocked violently, throwing them from side to side as it punched through the thick atmosphere. The clouds outside swirled in a violent storm of grays and blacks, lightning flashing in the distance. Martin could hear Dez cursing under her breath as she struggled to keep the ship steady.

"Is it always this bad?" Velpia asked through clenched teeth, her hands gripping the armrests of her seat. She tried to keep her voice calm, but the tension in her body was clear.

Athria, sitting beside her, held her position firmly, though even she was bracing herself against the turbulence. "No," she said, her tone even. "It's worse." Martin grinned, tightening his grip on the rail as the ship jolted hard to the left. "Keep it together, Dez," he called over the noise. "I'd hate to die before I even get to shoot something." Dez shot him a look, though her focus was entirely on the controls. "Don't worry, Barbarian," she growled. "We'll make it. Might be in pieces, but we'll make it."

Rinn, sitting across from Velpia, glanced at the ship's monitors, her visor glowing faintly in the dim light. "We're almost through. Just hang on—" A sudden, sharp jolt cut her off, and for a moment, everything went weightless. The ship dropped like a stone, causing everyone to brace themselves even harder. But then, just as quickly, the turbulence smoothed out, and the ship leveled off. They broke through the clouds, revealing the planet's surface far below—a vast, dense jungle of trees, broken up by jagged mountain peaks and rivers snaking through the landscape.

The ship's engines quieted, and Martin finally exhaled, his knuckles white from gripping the rail. "Well, that was fun." Athria stood, adjusting the biotic amp on her back. "Everyone ready?"

Martin grabbed his rifle, the familiar weight settling in his hands. "As I'll ever be." Athria nodded, her expression unreadable, but there was a tension in the air. They all felt it—the calm before the storm. "Dez, bring us down near the bunker. Let's get this over with." The ship banked gently, heading toward their destination.
The ship's engines hummed as they descended toward the surface, the jungle canopy stretching out below them. Martin stood near the viewport, rifle in hand, eyes scanning the landscape. He felt the tension hanging in the air as they approached their target. They were close. Too close for comfort. Something wasn't right.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, the first explosion rocked the ship. The entire bridge shook violently, throwing Martin against the nearby bulkhead. Sparks flew from one of the control panels as Dez cursed loudly from her seat.

"Flak fire!" she shouted, her hands flying over the controls. "They've got AA emplacements!"

A second explosion rattled the ship, and the windows lit up with bright flashes of red. Martin could see the sky outside now, dotted with streaks of laser fire crisscrossing their path. They were locked into an anti-aircraft grid, and it was lighting them up from below. Athria leaped to her feet, her voice sharp and commanding. "Dez, evasive maneuvers! Get us lower!"

Dez didn't hesitate, pulling the ship into a sudden dive. The entire craft dropped dangerously fast, and Martin barely managed to grab onto the rail as gravity pulled him forward. The jungle rushed up to meet them, trees and rocky outcrops blurring past the windows as Dez brought them to a dangerously low altitude, skimming the treetops. "We're too close!" Velpia shouted, bracing herself against the wall.

Martin felt his stomach lurch as the ship veered sharply, narrowly avoiding a laser that scorched the ground below. He could hear the constant barrage of flak bursts outside, the concussive booms reverberating through the hull. Dez was pushing the ship to its limits, the engines straining as they zigzagged through the jungle.

"I can't keep this up for long!" Dez yelled, her voice strained with effort. "We're gonna get torn apart if we stay in this grid zone!" Athria's mind was racing as she assessed the situation. She glanced at the map of the surrounding area on the holoprojector, her jaw set. "We need to split up!" she barked, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Martin, Velpia—get to that first gun emplacement on foot. Rinn and I will circle around to take out the second one. We can't stay in the air like this!"

Martin nodded, gripping his rifle tighter. "Got it. We'll hit the first gun hard and fast."

Velpia, already adjusting her gear, gave a quick nod of confirmation. The plan was dangerous, but it was their only shot. Dez brought the ship lower, just above the tree line. "I'm slowing us down—get ready to jump!"

The ship descended even further, skimming the jungle floor as flak exploded around them. Martin could feel the heat of the blasts as they flew by, the air thick with smoke and debris. The terrain below was muddy and uneven, the thick jungle vegetation swaying in the gusts created by the ship's engines. Martin turned to Velpia. "On my signal."

She nodded, her mandibles tight with focus. Martin grabbed onto the rail, bracing himself for the jump. The ground was rushing beneath them now, the ship hovering dangerously low. Another explosion rocked them, and Martin felt the ship shudder, but Dez managed to keep it steady.

"Go!" Athria shouted. Martin and Velpia leaped from the ship without hesitation, landing with a heavy thud in the mud below. The ground was wet and slick, and Martin's boots sank into the muck as he steadied himself. Velpia landed beside him, her rifle already in her hands. The ship's engines roared back to life the moment they were clear, lifting off quickly and pulling away from the immediate danger.

Martin looked up as the ship soared over the treetops, dodging another wave of flak. His heart pounded as he watched it disappear into the clouds, leaving them behind in the thick, wet jungle. "Well," Velpia muttered, wiping the mud from her armor. "Looks like it's just us now."

Martin smirked, already moving forward, rifle at the ready. "Just the way I like it."

He turned his attention to his Omni-tool, noting the direction they needed to take: "Northeast, Bering forty-five degrees." He said this over his helmet's communications. They began to move out. The so-called jungle consisted of patches of tropical plants surrounded by large mud fields; the ground would give about an inch before hitting anything solid to grip on. "So much for keeping my armor clean." Velpia joked, forcing herself forward. "Hopefully, we will find some decent terra firma before we hit this damn gun," Martin complained.

They moved through the muck and mud for some time, refusing to see how much time they were wasting. But soon, thankfully, the ground started to firm up, and they could hear that they were closing in on the guns. They crested a dirt hill in front of them, keeping low. Martin and Velpia pierced through the tall grass, noticing a lot of movement.
"What in the actual shit," Martin commented, his focus squarely on the military position in front of him. "Thaaaats, a lot of Geth." Velpia elongated. Hundreds of Geth were arrayed in front of them in the distance. Martin raised his rifle and folded out his scope. He began to scan the area, weak points, and the like. Then something caught his eye. "Velpia, look west for me and tell me you see that."

Velpia peeked up, pulling out her binoculars and bringing them up to her helmet. "That's a downed ship, Batarian ship." Martin interrupted her, "That's the ship we got to Illium with. Those fuckers must have tried their luck after all." Martin commented, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.

The batarian ship was torn apart its hull, a burning wreck. He was amazed the small team scurrying around was still alive. Martin gave a wry chuckle, though the situation was far from amusing. "Guess they weren't as smart as they thought."

He lowered his scope, reaching up to his Omni-tool to try to contact the ship. Static greeted him, the crackling sound of interference filling his ears. "Damn. Comms are down," he muttered, his brow furrowing as he glanced at Velpia.

"What now?" she asked, her usual bravado replaced with concern. They were isolated, surrounded by hostile forces, and without any way to reach the others.

Martin looked back through his scope, focusing on the cluster of Geth swarming the wreckage. Looking over the survivors, huddled together behind a makeshift barricade as artillery fire and mortar blasts tore up the ground around them. They were pinned, but the Geth seemed more focused on wiping them out than anything else.

He lowered the scope again, considering their options. "The Geth are distracted with that downed ship," Martin said, the wheels in his mind turning. "We might be able to use that to our advantage. There's a trench line up ahead. If we get close enough, we can rush them and use their own cover against them."

Velpia stiffened, clearly uneasy with the plan. "Rush them? That's suicide."

Martin shrugged, a familiar smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You got a better idea?"

Velpia hesitated but eventually shook her head, resigned to the inevitable. "You're insane, you know that?"

"Yeah, well, it's part of my charm." Martin locked his grip on his pistol, his muscles tensing as he prepared for the mad dash. "Stay close and try not to die."

Without waiting for her response, he crept forward to the edge of the tree line, eyes locked on the distant trench. The battlefield in front of him was chaotic—shell craters, twisted metal, and scattered debris, all set against the backdrop of constant explosions and rapid gunfire. It felt like stepping into a war zone from centuries past, a grim reminder of how the galaxy's wars always boiled down to one thing: brutal, desperate survival.

He motioned for Velpia to follow as they prepared for the rush. Then, without hesitation, he sprinted out into the open.

The mud sucked at his boots, slowing him down as he charged toward the Geth trench line, the sound of gunfire echoing around him, the enemy pulse weapon trails whizzing past. Martin activated his Omni-shield just in time to deflect the first barrage. The bright orange energy field shimmered in front of him, catching the incoming fire with a sharp, crackling hum. His pistol barked in response, each shot landing with pinpoint accuracy as he fired back while still running at breakneck speed.

Velpia followed behind, her rifle raised, but she couldn't match Martin's pace. She struggled to keep up as she zigzagged through the muddy terrain, her heart pounding as stray shots zipped past her. Martin, on the other hand, moved like a force of nature—unstoppable, relentless.

They were halfway to the trench when a group of Geth spotted them, turning their weapons on Martin. The air was filled with the sound of heavy gunfire, tracer rounds cutting through the air. Martin gritted his teeth and kept moving, drawing the Geth's attention as he sprinted forward. His shield absorbed most of the fire, but it wouldn't hold forever. He stopped for a moment, switching his pistol to his other hand and drawing a grenade, launching a haymaker directly at the fire team.

"Velpia, keep moving!" Martin barked over the comms, his voice strained from the exertion.

Velpia, despite her protests, pushed herself harder, running toward the trench line as fast as she could. Martin continued to draw the Geth's fire, his shield flickering as it took hit after hit. Just before the shield could fail, he dove into the trench, rolling to his feet and switching to his Viper rifle in one fluid motion.

The first Geth unit in his sights barely had time to react before Martin fired a shot straight through its central core, the synthetic collapsing in a heap of metal. He advanced down the trench line with methodical precision, each shot finding its mark as he took down the Geth in quick succession.

Velpia finally reached the trench, dropping down beside Martin. Her breathing was heavy and labored. She fired off several rounds, taking out the remaining Geth on the opposite side of the trench. Her aim was shaky, filled with panic exertion, but she managed to hit her targets, clearing the immediate area.

Once the gunfire subsided, they regrouped at the far end of the trench. Velpia leaned against the dirt wall, panting heavily. "You're insane," she said between breaths. "Absolutely insane."

Martin, still scanning the area for more threats, shrugged. "Yeah, tell me something new."

Velpia rolled her eyes, trying to catch her breath. "I'll find something eventually."

Martin crouched down, his rifle at the ready as he glanced back toward the Geth forces still swarming the downed ship. "We need to figure out our next move," he muttered. "That was the easy part."

Velpia gave him a tired look, still recovering from the sprint. "That was the easy part?" Martin grinned, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Oh yeah. Now comes the hard part." He continued to look out across the area. There were several AA gun emplacements in the center of the encampment. There was also a metal frame tower in the middle.

Martin crouched low, his eyes scanning the area beyond the trench, taking in the swarm of Geth forces and the scattered AA gun emplacements. The metal frames of the turrets loomed ominously in the center of the encampment, along with a towering structure in the distance that looked like a communications hub—or worse, a jamming tower. He wiped the sweat from his brow and turned to Velpia, who had joined him at the edge of the trench, peeking out with her rifle held close.

"There's no way we have enough firepower to take out all of those AA guns," she muttered, her voice tight with fatigue and frustration.

Martin was silent for a moment, his mind slipping into a brief, unwelcome flash of memory—a feeling of weightlessness, a cold, sterile room, the sound of voices just beyond his hearing. The memory was gone as quickly as it had come, and he snapped back to the present, focusing on the here and now.

"We don't need to destroy them," he said, his voice steady. "We just need to disable them. Take 'em offline long enough for the ship to get past."

Velpia gave him a skeptical look but nodded, clearly too exhausted to argue. "Fine, but how do you plan on doing that?"

Martin grinned, checking the thermal level of his rifle. "Improvisation."

Before she could protest, Martin moved again, sprinting across the open ground toward the nearest AA gun. Velpia cursed and pushed herself to follow, her legs screaming in protest from the exertion. The adrenaline from their earlier dash had worn off, and now every muscle in her body burned. But she kept moving, determination and survival pushing her forward.

They ducked behind a pile of debris, keeping low as they scanned the area. The downed Batarian ship still distracted the Geth forces, but that wouldn't last long. Velpia raised her rifle, breathing heavily, and started picking off the closest Geth units with precise shots. Martin fired alongside her, but after a few shots, he broke off and moved to flank their targets.

The Geth didn't even see him coming. Martin slipped through the chaos, moving from cover to cover, his rifle barking rapidly as he took down Geth one by one. Velpia kept her sights on the remaining units, covering Martin as he pushed toward the first AA gun. After several minutes of hard fighting, they had cleared the area near the guns.

"Cover me," Martin called over the comms, moving toward the massive turret. Velpia nodded, her rifle ready, as she scanned the perimeter for more Geth.

Martin reached the first AA gun and immediately got to work, breaking off one of the access panels with a grunt. Sparks flew as he tore the panel free, revealing a mess of wires and circuitry. He paused briefly, staring at the mess before him—he wasn't exactly an engineer, but he knew enough to be dangerous.

"Martin!" Velpia's shout snapped him back into action. He didn't have time to second-guess himself. Gritting his teeth, he reached into the panel and began yanking wires free, sparks flying everywhere as he tore at the machine's guts. The AA gun stuttered, its movements jerky and uncoordinated. With a growl of frustration, Martin jammed the barrel of his rifle into the exposed circuitry and fired off a few rounds, the gun letting out a high-pitched whine before powering down with a dull thud.

"One down," Martin muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow as he looked up at Velpia. "Two more to go."

Velpia kept the advancing Geth at bay, her rifle kicking back with each shot as she mowed down the approaching synthetics. She was breathing heavily now, the toll of the battle starting to wear her down. "Hurry up, Martin. We're gonna get swarmed at this rate."

Martin gave her a quick nod before moving to the next gun. They repeated the process, with Martin disabling the guns while Velpia provided cover fire. Each time, the Geth presence grew more intense, their forces regrouping as they realized what was happening. But Martin pushed forward, his movements efficient and focused, while Velpia relentlessly held the line, but the Geth kept their slow, methodical march towards them.

By the time they reached the final AA gun, Velpia was on the verge of collapsing from sheer exhaustion, but Martin's presence beside her was a strange source of comfort. They worked in sync, moving together as if they had done this a thousand times before. Martin disabled the last gun with another shot to the panel's insides, and it went limp just like the others.

"We're clear," Martin called out, his voice rough from exertion. He glanced over at the jamming tower in the distance, his mind racing. "But we've still got that tower to deal with. That might be what's blocking our comms."

Velpia was panting, bent over with her hands on her knees. "You've gotta be kidding me..." But Martin wasn't. Without waiting for a response, he took off again, rushing toward the tower. Velpia cursed under her breath but followed him, her legs screaming with every step. They reached the thirty-foot tower's base, and Martin ducked behind the structure for cover, taking a moment to catch his breath.

The incoming fire from the Geth was relentless, bullets and pulse rounds slamming into the tower with deafening force. Martin could feel the heat of the blasts on his skin, his heart pounding in his chest. He loved every moment of it, the adrenaline only being contained by the fear of losing himself in the fight and concern for the well-being of Velpia. He turned to her some distance away, his expression serious. "Fall back."

Velpia didn't argue. She immediately turned and sprinted back toward the safety of the trench line, her movements fueled by pure survival instinct.

Martin, meanwhile, prepped his grenades. He pulled the pins on two of them and shoved them inside a loose panel at the base of the tower, adjusting the timer for a delayed detonation, and tossed them in the tower.

Without waiting to see the results, Martin sprinted away as fast as he could, the sound of the explosion ringing in his ears as the tower collapsed behind him. He didn't stop running until he reached Velpia, who was waiting for him near the trench, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.

They pulled back under fire, Martin letting her lead the way out. Her slow pace made him contemplate just carrying her to safety. He switched back to his shield and pistol as they returned to the trench, and they jumped back down. Martin drew his grenade launcher and popped back over the trench to launch rounds at the clusters of synthetics marching toward them. Throwing metal and dirt everywhere.
Velpia, breathing heavily and hard, activated her long-range comms. "Dez, Athria. We need a pick-up." There was silence at first before a loud cracking sound. "Look up and get down!" Dez yelled over the comms. Martin turned around at the thunderous noise headed their way. The large grey and red blur come into focus as Dez made the C.A.S of his entire life. She raked the enemy line with munitions and laser fire, scorching the soulless machines in their tracks. He had seen CAS support before, but this was something else. The ship whipped around and hovered slowly downwards as the two ran for the ship and jumped on the docking ramp.