Mass Effect: ODST Lost

Chapter Five:

Mission Start

I'll admit, Shepard knows how to give a pre-mission speech. The man had just finished over the intercom when I'd felt the drive core pick up, signaling our departure from the Citadel, and I had just managed to get my Omni-Tool networked with my laptop. I was essentially able to use it as a secondary interface, with the Omni-Tool itself providing the actual processing power and data storage. It was about half an hour later when Shepard found his way into the storage room I'd hijacked.

"I was starting to think we'd left you behind when we took off." Shepard joked. "What are you doing tucked away in here?"

I chuckled at his attempt at humor, fighting the urge to snap to attention and salute. He was technically the captain of the ship I was serving on, but Anderson had made it clear that, while Shepard had final say on all decisions, we were basically equals for the course of the mission. Just another point to the growing list of departures of UNSC protocol. "It was quiet and seemed out of the way enough. If it's a problem, Commander, I can find a new spot to set up in."

Shepard shook his head, leaning against the wall next to the door. "It's no problem. Almost everyone else is hanging around the cargo bay. Tali's holed up here in engineering and Kaiden's found a spot on the crew deck." He chuckled. "If anything, you're in the most out of the way spot compared to everyone else. What are you working on?"

"Just a little research, tech and history mostly to start. Can't be a good advisor if I don't know how the galaxy works, right?" I smirked slightly, but sobered quickly. "That and I'm still trying to get my head together. Hasn't been a lot of time to just stop and take stock, you know? It's been almost constant motion since I got here and I doubt that's gonna change anytime soon."

Shepard frowned in thought and I could practically see the million questions racing through his mind. "And how are you doing on that front? It can't be easy to deal with."

"Not gonna ask for proof of my inter-universal travel?" I snarked, my smirk reappearing momentarily.

"It would be nice, but Anderson's already showed me what you gave him. Not exactly hard evidence, but it's enough for me to go along with it for now."

Better than thinking I'm a delusional liability. "Brutal honesty, I'll take it. Honestly, it's a lot to take in and I've got a lot to learn. The little bit of research I've done so far has already shown a lot of differences between our worlds. Most of which make me want to make getting more ammo for my UNSC weapons a priority."

Shepard looked unsure if he should be confused or slightly insulted. "How different could they be? Are they really big enough for you have so much faith in those relics of yours?"

"Just because your society adopted new weapons technology doesn't automatically make it better." I admonished lightly. "Mass Effect based weapons technology certainly has its advantages, primarily with its near limitless ammo system, but it doesn't seem to offer much more past that. And when you take thermal clips into account, it basically works back around to the same problem in the field. From my perspective, they have more negatives than positives. The primary negative being that they, along with most armor and shield systems, are the galactic standard. As in everyone in the galaxy uses them, which all but eliminates any battlefield advantage because the other side's using the same equipment. Not only will the slugs my guns use overpower shields with mass alone, they also don't rely on micro supercomputers to work, so they can't be hacked or overloaded. Not to mention that standard UNSC weapons were made to fight enemies tougher than this galaxy's ever seen. The Krogan come close, but a Sangheili would tear one apart."

I think I should get used to that look. Seems like he thinks of a new question every time I talk.

"Putting their effectiveness aside, it wouldn't be too hard to get old fashioned bullets made. Gun enthusiasts keep old models in firing condition for recreational purposes, some even having their own shooting range. So, getting them made should be pretty simple, but I hear it isn't cheap, and getting them mass produced could get expensive quick."

That made me flinch. Well shit. So, I'll need to get the components and make them myself, which means I need a fabricator that I'll likely need to make myself as well, assuming there're no reliable ones on the market for cheap. Double shit. This really is going to be a long-term project, isn't it?

"That pisses me off a bit, but I'll figure it out eventually. At least it won't be an immediate issue." I said, gesturing to my newest weapons. "Speaking of immediate, however, what's the plan for Saren, Commander?"

"You can call me by name if you want, when we're not in the field at least. As for Saren, he's in the wind, but we do have a few leads. The one we're on now is the daughter of his accomplice, an asari Matriarch named Benezia T'Soni. We need to see what she knows, if anything."

Note to self, add asari Matriarchs to the growing pile of shit I need to research. I think I might be losing sight of the top of that pile. Outwardly, I just nodded. "Sounds like a good first step. If you can't find the target, find the people closest to 'em. Are we assuming her to be hostile?"

"Right now, we assume nothing." Logan said firmly. "We don't know what role she has in Saren's plans or if she's even involved at all. Does your universe have the expression 'better safe than sorry'?"

I gave a wry smirk. "That we do. Not that we've had the luxury of listening to it in the last half century or so, but I get the idea. ETA?"

"Six hours, give or take. I want you on the ground team when we get there. Think you're ready for it?"

My smirk hardened. "I'll be ready, Shepard. Count on it."

oOooOo

Being dropped in a tank a kilometer from the ground, has nothing on being dropped in a coffin from orbit. That was just…underwhelming.

My hours before drop were spent mostly going over relevant mission information, riveting right? Ok, maybe it was the most boring way to spend six hours possible, but it was necessary and definitely useful. Asari Matriarch's were basically the wise old men of human history. They were the oldest and wisest of the asari and were highly respected in their culture. That Benezia was a Matriarch was bad enough, but the T'Soni family was one of their oldest, wealthiest and most respected families in asari history. Benezia following Saren would likely leave a stain, both social and political, on the family name. Possibly even the asari as a whole in their eyes.

There was, however, the possibility that she was an unwilling partner in Saren's scheme. Political blackmail, threat to life, threat to the daughter. It was all a possibility, which made our current mission even more imperative. We had to get to this Liara before others did. She was either involved and was a high priority target for interrogation, or she was innocent and would likely need rescue and protection. Speaking of speed…

"Shepard, who the hell cleared you to drive!?" I yelled, completely abandoning any sense of command in the face of the commander's abysmal driving skills.

"There's nothing wrong with my driving!"

"We've almost gone into the lava three times now!" Tali, my fellow backseat passenger of the apparent suicide tank, confirmed. Kaidan, seated up front with the suicidal Commander, elected to stay silent with his eyes closed. The deep, slightly shaky, breaths implying it was simply out of an effort to avoid hyperventilating than anything else.

Let's just say, if you haven't got the picture just yet, that Shepard's driving could be very much improved. Truly, I have seen green as hell marines drive warthogs and scorpions better than this supposedly elite soldier. Hell, I drove a scorpion in basic for the first time better than this. "Shepard, if we make it out of this thing alive, you are never getting in the driver's seat again!"

"I'll take that under advisement!"

Which means it's being ignored. This is so going in my report to Anderson, I don't care how petty it is.

Thankfully, aside from another close up to a lava pit, the trip was fairly uneventful. The Mako was able to practically mow down the various Geth platforms in the way, until we hit a narrow section of the path that forced us to proceed on foot. Shepard and Tali took point with Kaiden just at their six for mid-range support, leaving me to take rear guard and a sniper/marksman position. Picking off distant targets and playing counter sniper, letting the others play with the closer enemies, were games I knew all too well. Given that this was our first mission together, we were making a surprisingly effective team all told. While I would have preferred the entire ground team be here for the assault, the Mako simply couldn't hold all seven of us, and that's before taking Wrex's size into account. A Mako I really wish we didn't have to abandon right now…

"Renkov, take Tali and try and flank it from the other side! Split its attention!" Shepard ordered, blindly aiming his N7 Hurricane out from the crate they were taking cover behind. Kaiden was doing the same from the crate's other side with an M-4 Shuriken and both men were making substantial use of their biotics.

The Geth Armature didn't seem to appreciate it.

After clearing out the final pathway to the mine entrance, the Geth ambushed us quite effectively outside said entrance. The hulking Armature, along with several more standard platforms and a few Spiderman copycats, had immediately taken offence to our presence and open fired. Tali and I, using the storage crates left behind, followed the Commander's order. Tali used both her technical expertise to attack the Armature's shields and software while peppering it with her shotgun, while I attempted to fall back to more distant crates to better cover Tali and the Armature's movements. Attempt being the operative word, because just as I rounded the crates I was suddenly facing down two very close barrels.

"Shit!" Attempting to stop I fell backwards, eyes wide, unintentionally going into a slide. Bullets tore through the air above me as I swung my own rifle around and hip fired several shots. At such close range, the rounds pierced through their shields and metal bodies like a hot knife through butter.

Like a hot knife through – how old am I!? Even granddad never used lines like that! What is wrong with me!?

Quickly rising to my knee, I put a few more rounds in each downed Geth for good measure before turning my attention back to the Armature. Thankfully the smaller platforms seemed to be dead, or at least were kind enough to leave Tali alone while I was distracted. And with the Armature's focus officially split between two sides it was felled rather easily, all things considered.

Reforming near the Armature corpse, my position was swapped with Kaiden's as we made our way into the Prothean dig site. Truth be told, I was more than a bit eager to explore the area, even through the trepidation of the serious nature of the current mission. My only experience with precursor technology was my last proper deployment on Installation 00 and that had been a terrible experience all around. Hopefully this one ends better. At least this place isn't likely to blow up a star system, right? Right?

Deciding that I had jinxed myself enough, I shook my thoughts clean and focused on our decent. Sadly, I was destined to be disappointed today, as the only things to look at as the two lone Geth fell to our bullets were white walls, white pillars and a white mass effect powered elevator. The only truly interesting bit about the place was that it had managed to last so long in such pristine condition.

"Ok, it's very impressive that this place has managed to still be standing after so long, but these Protheans of yours weren't big on interior design were they?" I couldn't help but nag aloud as we entered a second elevator. After filling a couple of drones full of holes, of course. "Hell, the stuff the Forerunners left behind back home was more impressive and lasted a hell of a lot longer."

The scoffs and chuckles gave way to confused frowns. Yeah, I'm starting to get used to that look I think. Shepard was the lone exception, simply looking curious as he got the elevator moving.

"Where you're from?" Tali queried, shotgun held at ease against her chest. "I wasn't aware that there were any spacefaring species that hadn't heard of the Protheans. Or that there were others."

I looked at Shepard for an explanation. "I haven't told the rest of the crew about you. It's more personal information so I figured I'd leave it up to you on when and how to share it. Kaiden was there when I talked to the captain, but that's as far as it went."

Considerate, but would've been nice to know that when we talked last. Still haven't had that breakdown yet actually. That's probably not good. "I appreciate it, but it doesn't really matter I suppose." I said instead. "I guess I'll explain it after we get back. Best to stay focused for now."

As though the Fates themselves were actively listening to me, the elevator we were in chose that moment to spark, shudder and stop. Though we were thankfully only feet from the next platform. Shepard, Hurricane quickly at the ready, chuckled. "I think the universe agrees with that last sentiment."

"Or they just hate me, getting hard to tell the difference these last few years." I groused.

We didn't have to traverse the platform, or the connected scaffolding, for long before we came across the next example of my love/hate relationship with the Fates. The lone asari in a green and white jumpsuit, on the other side of an advanced barrier, was suspended in some kind of barrier bubble. She started calling out for help as soon as we entered her field of vision. Deciding to let Shepard handle the unusual situation, I started checking our perimeter. Instantly I made note of the various Geth patrolling the interior of the dig site. "Commander, hostiles down the cavern." I called quietly, already taking aim with my Raptor.

Shepard told the asari, apparently our mark, to hang tight while he crouched next to me. "How many?"

"Several standard looking models, nothing like what we faced outside." I reported, falling into recon mode. It's worth mentioning that I had to make an actual effort to not start giving orders at this point. "I'd advise leaving me up here for long range work while you three do a sweep from the ground, Commander."

Shepard surveyed the cavern himself for a moment before nodding. "Good plan, but I'm leaving Tali on the stairs as a midway guard. We don't need them slipping past us to sneak up on you." He seemed to diligently ignore my playfully offended glare as he gave the others their orders before taking Kaiden down the stairs. "Fire on my mark, no sooner."

I grumbled an affirmative and turned back to my scope. Focus on the far targets first and work back to the closest. The others can handle the rest.

"Now!"

There were only milliseconds of separation between Shepard's call and my first shot. Unfortunately, the Geth's shielding meant that it took another two to kill the damn thing. In the back of my mind, I made a point of seeing if there was a way to increase the rifles stopping power. I vaguely noted the retort of Tali's shotgun to my left as a third synthetic fell to the Raptor's onslaught. In mere minutes the gunfire stopped and I stood vigil, watching over my allies search the room. "You good, Tali?"

"Yes. Two Geth attempted to rush the stairs, but they were not expecting my shotgun." The quarian confirmed, sounding somewhat smug if I was reading her voice correctly. "I did tell you that I could take care of myself, did I not?"

I snorted a short laugh as Shepard gave the all clear, moving with Tali to regroup. "That you did and it definitely shows, but if I don't check in with my squad mates after a scuffle then I'm not doing my job right." I said, briefly gripping Tali's shoulder as I passed. "I may not be in charge of this operation, but that doesn't mean I won't be keeping an eye on you."

When we regrouped with Shepard and Kaiden the former was standing guard while the latter was using his Omni-Tool to interface with a giant machine near the stairs. "What's the plan, Commander?"

"When Kaiden gains access, we're going to use this mining laser to drill a path to central chamber behind Liara." Shepard explained after taking a brief moment to look us over. "Hopefully there'll be a quick and easy way to get back up to the next level, if not we'll just have to improvise."

"Is that wise, Shepard?" Tali asked. "We don't know how stable the area is. The laser could cause a collapse if we're not careful."

"It's possible, but we don't have any other options. There's no other way out of this cavern." Kaiden chimed in. "I'm in, Commander. Ready to fire."

"Do it." Shepard ordered.

The laser was so bright I had to polarize my helmets face shield for its duration, but it was able to punch a hole in the cavern wall large enough for us to fit comfortably. I'm with Tali, this is gonna come back to bite us in the ass later. In the central chamber was a platform that Kaiden was able to get moving towards the upper level. Slower than hell though. I guess I get it, freight elevators are meant to be on the slower side for stability, but it's still damn annoying at times like this. I idly switched my Raptor for the Locust, since we were going into close quarters.

I nearly sighed in relief when the lift stopped moving and we disembarked. The only passage forward, short as it was, lead straight to Liara's 'cell'. "I am surprised. I didn't think there was any way past the barrier curtain." It seemed she heard us approach, but was unable to even turn her head to face us.

I started scanning the nearby console in interest, keeping half an ear on the conversation. Interesting. A containment and isolation cell maybe? Gotta admit, as plain and sterile as the design of the places is, these Protheans did have some good inventions.

"We can explain later. Right now, we need to get you out of here before more Geth arrive." Shepard said. "Is this the only interface?"

"Of course, you are correct, Commander. I've had enough of the Geth to last a lifetime." Liara vented. "And yes, that is the command console for the security field. There should be a switch to deactivate it."

Way ahead of you. Once my scans were complete I triggered the deactivation code from the console, causing Liara to be released and fall to her knees. Probably could've warned her first. Whoops.

Once she was on her feet Liara led them back past the lift we used and accessed the central consol. "I can scarcely believe all of this." She commented as she got the central lift moving. "Why would the Geth be after me? What has my mother been doing?"

"Saren's looking for some kind of Prothean artifact called the conduit." I explained. "Given your expertise I'd say he wants you to find it for him, whatever it is."

Before Liara could respond we were forced to brace ourselves as a large tremor shook the lift. "Oh no. These ruins are unstable. It seems like the mining laser triggered a seismic event."

Yep, called it. Me and Tali both. Shepard studiously ignored mine and Tali's 'I told you so' glares as he radioed the Normandy for a pickup. As soon as the lift stopped we ran straight for the door, only to be stopped cold at some new, very unwanted arrivals. Several Geth being led by a krogan. Shepard and I quickly put Liara behind us while Tali and Kaiden flanked her sides. The krogan immediately took point as the Geth platforms spread out to the sides.

"Surrender! Or don't, that'd be more fun." He said, eager bloodlust shone in his eyes and was felt in his tone. It was clear which option he was hoping we would take.

And something tells me we're not actually getting a choice here.

"This place is coming down, in case you didn't notice. Is this really the time?" Shepard spat impatiently.

"Exhilarating, isn't it?" The krogan laughed. "Nothing can compare to a life-or-death struggle as the world crumbles around you! Now hand the doctor over. I was told to bring her in alive, but nothing said she had to be in one piece."

Yeah, he's not letting us leave here alive either way. "Liara, stay back and take cover. Tali, Kaiden, stay close to her." I whispered as low as I could while still being heard by the rest of the team. My grip tightened on my Locust, trusting that my orders would be followed. "Considering we're on a time limit, how about we just cut to the chase, huh?"

I quickly took aim at what seemed like the biggest threat, one of the Geth next to the krogan hefting what resembled a rocket launcher, aside from the obviously bloodthirsty krogan. Said krogan roared and lunched itself at me, making me toss myself out of the way. With their leader focusing on me, I left the rest to the others. Thankfully the Locust was as accurate as advertised, with very little movement even with sustained fire. It certainly made quick work of the enemy's shields. The biggest problem was that the massive hulk of muscle seemed intent on initiating close quarters combat and was deceptively swift for its size.

I'm pretty confident in my CQC abilities, but this was like taking on a Jiralhanae in hand to hand. Okay, maybe not quite, but it's damn well close enough. I can barely keep a beat on him long enough to drop his damn shields, let alone do any damage. The sound of gunfire around us was slowing down, meaning the Geth were likely almost dealt with, but with me and the big guy dancing around each other they wouldn't be able to fire on him without hitting me.

Watching the massive maw of the steroidal Unggoy open wide in a roar, as I rolled out of the way once again, gave me a very stupid idea. Palming a grenade, I waited for another chance. A chance I got on its next charge. As it closed in I kept up a stream of bullets from my right hand while my left primed the grenade. Rather than throwing myself to the side as I had been, I leapt backwards to make sure my aim would be true. This is really gonna hurt.

I threw the grenade forward into the charging krogans roaring mouth and watched as it instinctively clamped its jaw shut, eyes wide, a moment too slow. The grenade exploded before it could react, sending blood, skull and flesh flying. Unfortunately, there was no stopping the mass of dead weight barreling towards me. My feet had just managed to hit the floor when it slammed into me with the force of a Warthog, flooring me and sending me skidding several feet.

"Renkov!" I could hear a few voices calling me, but my head was ringing so much I couldn't really tell who was who. The intensity of the caverns rumbling also seemed to be increasing. Is it getting warm in here or is it just the lump of meat on top of me?

"I'm fine." I tried reassuring the voices. Lie. Oh man is that a lie. I'll be feeling that dumbass stunt for days. "Just get the damn palooka off of me, would ya?"