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Atlas braced against the doorway to the cafeteria. Firelight had been monitoring enemy comms while he fought his way through the ship, leaving a bloody mess wherever he fought due to his preference for close range combat.
Patching into the ship's cameras on his helmet's HUD, Atlas studied his enemy as they set up defenses in the cafeteria. None of the "cover" they were setting up would protect them in any way, his bullets would punch right through.
The two Krogan might be an issue though. Atlas had learned the measure of the Batarians, figured out their way of combat and how to kill them most effectively. But these Krogan are an unknown quantity. The codex entries made them sound nigh invincible.
Atlas didn't believe it, but if they were as durable as Cabal soldiers and hit as hard, this fight might be slightly more annoying.
Firelight, got any old fashioned grenades?
Like regular physical grenades? No, but I can modify some grenades from the grenade launchers. Firelight replied.
Do it, give me two.
…Done. Check your waist pocket.
Atlas pulled out two modified grenades from his bag. Due to originally being designed for a grenade launcher, he could fit both grenades in one hand. Both were designed to detonate with Sol power, so they should work just as well as his usual gear.
Atlas rechecked the enemy positions on the cameras. Marking out in his mind where he would throw the grenades and then the various routes of combat he could take. The enemy were split into six groups, three lines of two squads. Assembled in a triangle formation, with the door to the main hall being the base of the triangle. One Krogan was at the top of the triangle with a machine gun while the other was right at the door with what appeared to be a Warhammer.
Luckily, Atlas was standing at a door to the side of their formation. After a few moments of planning, he decided on a very simple plan. Lock all the doors and go to town.
Firelight, lock every door into the cafeteria except this one. Make sure they can't escape the room.
Done Guardian. By the way, we have an audience.
What do you mean? Atlas asked.
The crew and passengers are watching on the cameras from the bridge.
Then let's give them a show.
Atlas turned into the door, Firelight opening it without even needing to be told to do so. Atlas threw the grenades with one hand using a Hunter knife throwing technique he learned. Both grenades landed right on target. Each catching a cluster of slavers, incinerating them with the power of Sol.
Immediately after tossing the grenades he began firing on the left Krogan, the one with a machine gun, not bothering to turn and make sure the thrown projectiles hit their screaming from detonation of both grenades was all the assurance he needed.
Unlike the Batarians, who died to short three round bursts, the Krogan gunner required a much longer stream of rounds to take down. Evidently their shields were also much stronger as it took almost an entire second of fire to break through the shield, and three entire seconds of fire to actually kill the beast.
They were strong, but they were nothing compared to Fallen Captains, creatures Atlas killed by the dozen. Turning to the next Krogan, Atlas brought his rifle over-
"ARGH"
The Krogan had closed the range while Atlas was firing, evidently not caring about helping its fellows. The mercenary hit Atlas square in the chest with its warhammer, the unexpected blow hitting Atlas square in the chest, throwing him to the ground and knocking his rifle out of his hands. The signature crack of ribs and chest plate breaking resounded through the room.
The Krogan swung again, straight down to his head. Atlas rolled to the side and onto his feet with practiced ease. The Krogans hammer slammed into the deck plating, getting lodged into the floor. Atlas rushed forward throwing a left jab into the Krogans chest followed immediately by a right hook leaving the Krogan momentarily stunned.
Drawing Ace Atlas rolled backwards into a kneeling position and fired once into the Krogans chest, the creature finally falling to the ground. Atlas turned to the Batarians as he rose. The slavers had stopped firing, appearing to want to spectate the fight, the fools. He fanned Ace into the Batarians, killing five before they regained their wits and began firing back. He jumped to the side behind the cover of a support pillar.
After taking a moment to reload his revolver, Atlas turned out of cover and fired off two rounds, both hitting their targets, the absurd amount of energy behind each round causing the impact areas to explode. He charged straight into the fire of the last five opponents, trusting his shields to protect him. Atlas continued to fire as he ran, killing two more by the time he reached them.
He kicked one in the chest, throwing them back and shattering their ribcage, a second came at him with a knife, he pushed the knife wielding hand out of the way with a backhand strike. The barrel of Ace lining up with the slavers head in the motion, Atlas fired, the close proximity to the shot splattering more blood on his armor.
With his free left hand, Atlas grabbed the knife the Batarian was holding and threw it at the last standing opponent. Flying true, the knife embedded itself right through the helmet lens and into the head within, killing the slaver.
Taking a moment to regain his breath, Atlas walked over to-
Five o'clock!
Atlas rolled to the left as the melee Krogan came at him again, having pulled its hammer from the deck. As he turned to the warrior, Atlas crouched slightly bracing himself as if about to shoulder charge, causing the hammer to impact against his heavily armored pauldrons. Years of training and combat allowed him to ride through the force of the blow. As much as he hated the creature, he loved knowing these creatures knew the wonderful combat art of the warhammer.
Roaring in rage, the Krogan swung a second time, Atlas blocked the strike by grabbing the shaft of the hammer, and pistol whipped the Krogan in the head. The strike seemed to have no effect on the raging warrior. He pulled the hammer with as much force as he could, pulling the Krogan off its stable footing. Kicking the creature in the previous gun wound, Atlas pushed it to the ground. As the Krogan warrior tried to stand again, Atlas shot it again. Twice in the head, finally finish off the creature.
He stood there for a moment watching his target to make sure it wouldn't get back up, while also regaining his breath, despite the fact that he technically doesn't need to breathe.
No more life signs on the ship other than you, that one Batarian you kicked, and the crew on the bridge.
"Good."
THOOMP
Atlas fired one shot into the writhing slavers head, the deep report of the hand cannon shaking the now silent room, and turned to leave. "It's time to meet the natives."
The bridge was silent with shock. None of them could believe what they just saw.
Not only did this warrior just tear apart four squads of Batarians in moments, they also witnessed them kill two Krogan mercs in short order, and one of them was in melee combat!
Killing a Krogan in melee combat was nigh impossible for anyone other than another Krogan.
Yet she had done it, while she had finished it off with a gun, she managed to out punch a Krogan.
On the camera the orange warrior retrieved their rifle and began walking out of the cafeteria. They didn't even appear to be winded, much less wounded, but that was also odd as much as it was awesome.
Someone this good at fighting, and this ostentatious with their armor would be well known, wouldn't they?
"Captain." Liara called out, breaking the silence of the room. "Have you ever heard of a mercenary or bounty hunter like this?"
"What?" The captain replied, caught off guard. "No. No I haven't. Why?"
"Exactly, you'd think someone of this skill level with such attention grabbing armor would be known."
"You're right, it is odd that none of us know who they are. First officer T'haava, where are they going?" The captain asked.
"They appear to be heading to the bridge ma'am." T'haava replied.
"Then we'll just ask them who they are when they get here." The captain said, turning back to Liara. "And pray to the Goddess that they've not after us too."
The room slumped into a tense silence as the stranger began marching to the bridge.
"Are you sure we should let them in, Captain?" The first officer asked.
"No, but I have a feeling that what we want doesn't really matter. Whoever that is, if they really want to get to us can likely force their way in. Besides, we're still being jammed."
It was a tense few minutes as they watched the warrior walk to the bridge. Liara found it odd that they never seemed to waver in their course, as if they already knew the exact location of the bridge, they hadn't even stopped to look at a map. As she reached the bridge the Captain ordered the doors opened, and she walked in.
She was just as tall, just as broad as she looked on the cameras. Liara, in her excitement, pushed through the crowd of the classmates to get closer and get a better look, finally breaking through the group she came face to chest with the massive woman. Looking up at her she saw the blank orange faceplate spattered with droplets of blood. Their rifle was on their back but Liara could still see the bayonet, coated entirely with the red of Batarian blood. It was an intimidating sight and she regretted making her way to the front.
The warrior turned to Liara and gazed at her. In a flash of movement it reached out and grabbed her by the chin, and stared a lot harder. Pulling her by the chin this way and that, analyzing her face and head. Liara was too frozen in fear to do anything but just stand there and wait, luckily she did not have to wait long as the Captain quickly showed up as well. Too late however to save Liara's dreams of being saved by a dashing warrior.
"Madame mercenary, we thank you for your help. I am Captain Aloa T'kalis." The warrior released Liara's face, and turned to regard the Captain as well. "While we dont have much, we can pay you what little we have." The Captain lied. Liara knew damn well that they had money to spend on the merc. Her mother had spent a lot on this trip.
The warrior however just stood there, staring at the Captain. An awkward silence settled over the room again, as everyone just stared at the warrior, and she stared back completely silently. The warrior continued to just stare at everyone, slowly looking at each person's face.
"Файрлайт, переводчик закончил?" The warrior said aloud. For a moment she thought that she had misheard, or perhaps their helmet's speaker was damaged, but looking around the others in the room were just as confused.
"C-Can you repeat that please?" The captain asked, confused.
"Подожди один момент." The words began to make sense now, and Liara had a theory on why this stranger sounded like that.
"Captain." Liara called, pulling the attention of the woman. "I-
"Even their facial expressions are just like ours, I can- oh" The warrior stated aloud. "The translator appears to be finished now. Can you understand me?"
"Y-yes. I am Captain Aloa T'kalis of the Tomorrow's Wind. May I ask for your name?"
"You may call me Atlas." They stated looking at the Captain. Liara was confused by the name, and where it came from. Most names come from a cultural source that my change in spelling over time. Like how many Asari names are religious in nature but have changed slightly due to linguistic drift.
"What is your condition? Both of the ship and crew." They asked.
Liara listened absentmindedly as the Captain told the unknown about the damages to the ship as she studied the warrior. They were a walking mystery, and Liara was nothing if not a lover of solving mysteries.
She started with the warriors armor. It was of a make she had never seen before, most likely custom made, but also well made and refined. It also appeared that it was multiple different types of armor put together into one suit. Implying that either each section was chosen to match the needs of the wearer, or that it was built over a long period of time. Both options implied the wearer was on their own and not a part of a large group.
Next was the size and shape of the armor, clearly Asari or Batarian, but with consideration of their actions Liara did think it could be one of them. The warrior also didn't carry themself with the arrogance of a Batarian. The faceless nature of the helmet didn't help any with figuring out the identity of its wearer.
Next was the rifle. While she couldn't see it on the warriors back she remembered exactly what it looked like and what it fired from the camera footage. It used old self contained rounds that hadn't been used in millennia, and the handgun that could shoot through just about everything from what Liara could see. Both should have been inferior gear, yet they were incredibly effective.
Finally and the most important thing to Liara, was the language the warrior spoke. It was completely unknown to the translator implant. While not impossible, it's rare to encounter a language that the translator can't process. She had only heard of it used in special forces teams.
"I understand, I'll shut down the jammer so yall can get out of here. Since everything but the engines are still functioning you should be good. After that however you're on your own." Atlas said as Liara tuned back into the conversation
Liara was so caught up in trying to solve the mystery that was this warrior that she actually forgot to pay attention to the conversation.
"Aren't you going to ask for payment or something?" Liara called out to the warrior as they were turning to leave.
"No?" They responded. While she couldn't see his face his body language told of confusion.
"Anyways, I wish you all luck and hope that tomorrow will be better than today." Atlas said before leaving the room in a confused silence.
I find it suspicious how much the Asari look like awoken. Firelight said into Atlas's mind. If not for the frills on their head they would look just like awoken women.
Except that their eyes don't glow like an awoken's. Atlas replied.
We could have known more if Someone would let me scan them.
We can't risk them knowing about your existence. Atlas replied.
Yes, yes, they hate AI I know.
What's your opinion on the enemy units? Atlas asked.
From my research and our combat experience, they're pathetically weak. But we were fighting pirates so that's a bit expected.
The fallen were pirates if you remember.
Yes, but they were at least organized pirates.
With combat finally over Atlas now focused on the architecture of the ship. It was, odd.
It felt too fluid to his eyes, too smooth and flowing. He was more used to the arches and hard corners of Last City architecture. This, this almost reminded him of the Dreaming City.
Muting his helmet speakers. "Bring the ship around it about the time we got out of here.
I wasn't sure how to do the meeting on this and kinda just kept typing. But "i've been sitting on it forever and decided to just release it. Let me know what I should have done to make it better.