Chapter 25 - Virmire
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Samael61
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Hello there,
If you enjoy my stories you can read advanced chapters in my patreon page
Commander Shepard, The Greatest to Ever Live, a Mass Effect story where Shepard is greater than ever, is 9 chapters ahead
Geek's Guide to Thriving in a Low End Fantasy World a Robert Baratheon OC SI in an AU, is 9 chapters ahead
Her Eternal Excellency, a Genshin Impact and ASOIAF crossover, Raiden Ei Reborn as Argella Durrandon, is 10 chapters ahead
and DCU:Blacklist, a Raymond Reddington inspired OC SI using his knowledge for his own advantage, as well as the rest of the world, is 10 chapters ahead.
By supporting me, you can read advanced and special chapters, as well as vote on how you want the fanfiction to proceed.
Note: Apple store payments will be refunded, because of the company's 75 day hold policy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Normandy
Engineering
"Addams, there you are. Get me half of the missiles and remove their warheads. We are going to prepare a surprise for that cuttlefish." The order was so sudden that Chief Engineer Addams needed a second to process it.
"Yes, Commander, but what kind of a surprise?"
"Oh, you are going to love it."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The team had gathered in the meeting room to discuss Virmire since they had no intel other than that it was something bad enough to worry the STG.
"So, we are going in blind, though the chances are Saren's dreadnought will be there, as whatever they had down in Virmire is important enough to be defended against an STG regiment." Salarians were experts at stealth, and if they couldn't get in, sabotage the place, and leave, then they must have faced harsh opposition.
Shepard wasn't done yet. "But I think it has something to do with Krogan."
This had Wrex' attention, and the massive alien perked up. "What do you mean?"
"This galaxy had three crises. First, the Rachni Wars, then the Krogan Rebellions, and finally, the Geth Uprising. Now, Saren has a sizable portion of the Geth working for him, and then he tried to enslave the Rachni and failed, which leaves the Krogan, and knowing just how dangerous the horde was against the whole galaxy, Saren will most likely try to recruit the Krogan en masse."
Saren was trying to recruit an army and had a degree of success, though whether it was to assist the Reapers or use them to facilitate their return wasn't clear. Unless the Conduit was somewhere well defended, which mostly meant the Citadel Space, then Saren did need an army, but if it was not, and that was the most probable outcome seeing as the long-lost Mu Relay was necessary to reach it, then Saren was going to use his army to assist the Reapers. Seeing as Reapers could turn their organic enemies to synthetic cannon fodder, Saren's little army was useless.
A piece of the puzzle was missing, and hopefully, Virmire could shed some light on that.
"Seeing as he is wanted by the Citadel, those idiots at Tuchanka might just join him for one last glorious charge." Wrex shook his head, remembering his attempts to save his race from extinction and how no one gave a single flying pyjack shit about it.
"Let's not have a couple million suicidal Krogan running around with a Spectre looking to bring the end of the galaxy." Garrus had his beliefs about the Krogan, though Wrex had done much to shake them.
He still didn't want them to join Saren, though.
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Sentry Omega
Hoc System
Virmire
Normandy was orbiting the planet Virmire and running scans to get an idea of what the ground team would face upon landing.
Geth had a lot of AA towers stationed on the ground, so Joker dropped Shepard, Tali, and Garrus down on the Mako.
Ordering the pilot to follow the protocols and stay out of the range of the AA towers, Shepard hit the accelerator, driving towards the enemy.
The Geth put up fierce resistance, but as was the case for every single engagement they had, the synthetics were torn apart like wet tissue before Mako's laser turret.
With the grid down, Joker began to approach the Salarian base, while Shepard and the team went ahead to meet them at the camp after clearing out another Geth encampment and opening the gate.
As the Salarian camp appeared on the scanners, Joker informed Shepard that the Normandy was grounded.
Shepard could see Ashley talking to a Salarian as he approached. "Are you the one in charge here?"
"Commander Shepard, a pleasure to meet you. We may have wanted a fleet from the Council, but I am glad they sent you. I am Captain Kirrahe, Third Infiltration Regiment, STG." Kirrahe held out his three-fingered hand, and Shepard reached out.
"Your message wasn't clear, so the Council sent me to check on the situation."
"Which is a repetition of our original task, but since you are here, we can actually do something about Saren's base."
Captain Kirrahe ran Shepard and his team through what the STG had managed to unearth. To Wrex's annoyance, the base did have something to do with Krogan, as Saren was somehow breeding an army down there. Wrex' disbelief was understandable, especially since the STG believed there was a cure for the Genophage inside the base, which seemed unlikely to Shepard.
"I don't think there is a cure; it is most likely a cloning operation with a careful management of hormones to counteract the Genophage. Even if there was a cure, the Council would either release a modified Genophage or simply eradicate the Krogan if they joined Saren. He must be lying, with a show of someone working on Genophage to keep the Krogan in his employ under control."
Wrex growled menacingly, even the slightest hope of a Genophage cure stoking the embers of his desire to save the Krogan. "We should still check."
Shepard shrugged. "Sure, but I doubt we'll find anything."
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The plan was for Shepard and two members of his team to circle behind the enemy lines and take the Geth by surprise while Kirrahe and his men, along with the rest of Shepard's team, staged a frontal assault. Shepard had given the Mako to the team, knowing its laser turret would help immensely.
After Shepard and his team reached the predetermined spot, the base would be destroyed with a twenty-kiloton tactical ordinance rigged from the Salarian vessel's core.
Shepard took Wrex and Tali with him this time, to give the Krogan a chance to see whether there was a cure for the Genophage or not, as well as his laser minigun, and Tali due to her expertise with the Geth.
"Shadow is on the ground. Repeat: Shadow is on the ground." Captain Kirrahe's voice rang over the comms as Shepard and his team engaged the Geth.
"Chief Williams, with the Aeghor team. Mannovai and Jaeto teams, move. Time to get some attention." The Salarians, along with Shepard's team, started their assault.
Wrex, already irate from the mention of a cure for the Genophage and the Salarian's plans to destroy it, moved first, opening fire with his minigun, suppressing and mowing down several Geth units. Shepard followed, picking up the stragglers while Tali targeted the platform up ahead.
A destroyer charged down the ramp at Shepard and was bisected by Tali's shotgun, and with Wrex having destroyed most of them, all that was left to do was for Shepard to shut down the Geth's triangulation tower, but he had a better idea.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Why are they dancing now?"
"It's Commander Shepard; he did the same thing back at Eden Prime."
"This will more than take the heat off Mannovai. Chief Williams, assist them with the Mako." Kirrahe sounded vindictive, most likely happy to see the Geth neutralized so easily.
The team moved forward towards the base, but their path was blocked by Geth drones and the occasional Geth trooper. Frontal assault teams were facing sat-strikes, so hopefully he could find the satellite link for a nasty surprise to the Geth.
Which was further ahead on a platform, protected by Geth troopers and a Krogan. Leaving the Geth to his teammates, Shepard biotically charged at the Krogan, causing the alien to stumble, and pulled both triggers, shooting his enemy through the eyes, an instant kill.
Rather than destroy the satellite link, Shepard had a different idea in mind.
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sat-strikes on Geth positions? Must be Commander Shepard. At this rate the base will be cleared without the need for the bomb."
With this, Kirrahe and the teams should have a much easier time.
"Aircraft heading to perimeter stations to recharge. Bunker up before they come back." Ashley warned over the comms. They were handling the aircraft well due to their superior weaponry, but the Salarians didn't enjoy the same advantage.
Following the walkways, two Korgan on a circular platform opened fire at them. Wrex in return fired the plasma grenade from his minigun, incinerating both.
A Geth destroyer was waiting for them and turned to open fire before a single laser bolt from Shepard's pistol pierced through its lamp-shaped head.
Following the right path, it took them to a recharge station Geth drones used. Wrex and Shepard took out the drones while Tali handled the fuel tanks, the heat of her laser shotgun setting them on fire and causing violent explosions.
Backtracking on the way they came and taking the other path, the team stood before a wall of barriers on a platform, with Krogan warriors and Geth snipers at the other side, opening fire on them. Since they lacked range, Shepard activated his anti-gravity generator and leaped across the field, a biotic halo gathering in his before he launched it right in the middle of the gathered enemies.
It only left a single Krogan that was taking cover, who opened fire at Shepard before Tali's horizontal laser beam passed through his body, and the Krogan fell down in pieces.
Accessing the security console, Tali quickly made her way through the cyber defenses. "We got access to base security. We can cut the alarms from here. Maybe even trigger alarms on the far side of the base. It'll clear the guards for us, though I guess you don't need it since it might be too much for the Salarians."
Shepard nodded. "Yeah, just deactivate the alarms; we can deal with anything we might find inside."
Interestingly enough, Salarians, members of the Third Infiltration Regiment, opened fire on them, along with the Geth.
Shepard launched a singularity, while Wrex and Tali waylaid them with laser fire, putting down the most likely indoctrinated Salarians.
As they traversed the base, the team came across Salarians locked up in a cell. Shepard approached to talk to one of them. The Salarian was erratic and jittery, and from the way he talked, Shepard guessed Sovereign had gotten to him. Leaving the alien in, who banged his head on the force field and knocked himself out, the team moved on.
Another cell had a crying Salarian so far out of his mind, Shepard didn't even think he was aware of what was happening around him.
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The assault teams were actually pushing the Geth back when a drop ship flew in to bring reinforcements to the enemy.
"Dropship, take cover!" Kirrahe ordered, though Shepard's teammates weren't going to stay idle. From the sound of the explosion and the cheers that followed, they must have taken the dropship down with the laser rifles and the turret.
In the meantime, Shepard, Wrex, and Tali took an elevator down, arriving in a research lab with husks, an Asari scientist, and, perhaps a first for him, a Krogan doctor, screaming about how this was the glorious salvation of his species.
It seems they found the one doing the research on the Genophage.
Wrex charged at the Krogan doctor, knocking him down and pulling the trigger of his weapon, not stopping until he got some of the rage out of his system. Meanwhile, Shepard shot the Asari doctor, and Tali took out the husks, leaving the lab empty.
Hacking a console, Shepard began to quickly view the data on the Genophage, which only included some preliminary research on how the Genophage worked. "There is nothing here, as I said. Just some data on how the Genophage worked. You can take it if you want."
Wrex did take the data with a snarl.
There was also another console with reports on the Geth fleet, which Shepard also took to forward to the Alliance.
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outside the research lab, some Geth troopers were guarding a place, and after putting down the synthetics, Shepard went in to check it out.
An Asari hiding beneath her desk shouted out. "Don't shoot! Please, I just want to get out of here before it's too late."
"Calm down. Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
"Rana Thanoptis, neurospecialist. But this job isn't worth dying over. Or worse." The Asari was scared, though whether it was of them or Saren remained to be seen. "You think the indoctrination only affects the prisoners? Sooner or later, Saren will want to dissect my brain too."
"I thought this was a breeding facility for a Krogan army?"
"Not this level. We're studying Sovereign's effect on organic minds. At least that's what I assumed. Saren kept us in the dark as much as possible."
"You helped him, and you didn't even know why?" The "are you serious?" tone Tali used perfectly represented what Shepard and Wrex were thinking.
"I didn't have the option of negotiating. This position is a little more… permanent than I expected." She explained her reasons for working under Saren, pausing near the end to find the right word.
"But I can help you. This elevator behind me goes to Saren's private lab. I can get you in."
"There is a good chance you are already indoctrinated, though you may not even be aware of it."
"No, it, it can't be. I haven't been here for that long." The Asari denied it, though Shepard had no intention of leaving it to chance.
Turning to his teammates, Shepard took his helmet off. "Shoot her if she tries anything." At their nods, he approached the Asari. "Meld with me, and keep any questions you might have to yourself."
Rana gulped but did as she was told, and soon enough Shepard found himself standing before Sovereign again.
"You." Huh, it almost sounded like hatred, making him wonder if the ship was even capable of it in the first place.
"Nice try, you overgrown cuttlefish, but it's time for you to leave, again."
"You will be terminated, mortal." Sovereign threatened before the mental backlash from Shepard sent it flying out of the Asari's mind.
Coming back to the real world, Shepard saw Rana Thanoptis swaying on her feet, blue blood coming out of her nose. "What do you know, you were right." She went down like a sack of potatoes, still alive. Moving her to the side, Shepard and the team took the elevator to Saren's lab.
They could retrieve the Asari on their way back.
Inside the lab, they found another Prothean beacon, this one in much better condition than the one on Eden Prime.
"Change of plans. Saren's ship is most likely coming here, and we found another Prothean beacon. Joker, ready those missiles. Ground teams, hold your positions; we are taking this base." Shepard radioed the Normandy and the teams. Laser weapons or not, the value of a Prothean beacon was apparent, and if he was lucky enough, they might even have more information on the Reapers.
"But the Genophage."
"I checked the data; it's just preliminary research on the Genophage's effects."
"Understood, holding position."
Shepard approached the beacon, interfacing with it just like back at Eden Prime, though this time it was voluntary. The beacon levitated him again, blasting visions similar to the ones he had seen before, though this time they were clearer, along with the location of a planet, most likely Saren's next destination.
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leaving the lab and the still sleeping Asari behind, the comms lit up with chatter, as the Geth were retreating from their positions to stop Shepard, with the assault teams trying to keep them fighting.
Passing his pistols to Tali, Shepard gave the shotgun to Wrex and took the minigun without a word. "Clear out any Geth you see; I am going ahead."
Activating his anti-gravity generator again, Shepard took off, and since the Geth were already weakened from his sabotages, this would be a much simpler job.
Seeing the large number of Geth heading towards Wrex and Tali, Shepard opened fire with the minigun, a heavy rain of laser bolts scrambling the synthetics, who returned fire, though Shepard was too mobile to be shot out of the air. He flew over the base to the other side, clearing out the Geth as he went, and approached the assault teams who were still fighting the Geth left at the wall.
Under fire from the ground and the skies, the already diminished number of synthetics were cleared out, and Shepard touched down to open the gate, ordering the troops to move forward.
Which was when Sovereign showed itself, getting ready to fire at the base. Normandy flew down, with Joker's voice over the comms. "Eat this, you son of a bitch." He fired two missiles, striking the dreadnought right over one of its tentacles.
Sovereign, already aware of the capabilities of the organic vessels, ignored the missiles while Shepard ordered everyone to take cover.
A costly mistake.
The antiproton warheads detonated, knocking the ship out of the air and tearing one of its tentacles off. The shockwave crushed anyone who wasn't behind cover, further reducing the number of Geth.
Thankfully Shepard had designed half of them to be used within close range of any allied forces to avoid friendly fire.
Sovereign, with its horn blaring, slowly rose, wounded but not out of the fight. Normandy circled back to fire again, but the dreadnought blasted off at speeds the frigate couldn't match, running away seeing as it was outpowered.
Cheers rang over the comms.
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In the next chapter:
"Councillors, how is the research on the beacon going?"
The matter must have frustrated Tevos for her to visibly sigh. "Not good, Commander; research teams couldn't find a way to reactivate the beacon yet."
"Try to have an Asari meld with it. In the meantime, you'll be happy to know I just found another beacon, this one fully intact." Shepard offered his advice, since it seemed too obvious to him to have an Asari interact with the beacon.
Tevos visibly perked up, as did her colleagues. "That is great news, Commander. Where is it?"
"I am bringing it to Citadel before I head after Saren."
"Very well, we'll have a team waiting to receive the beacon. As always, an excellent job, Commander." From the look on Sparatus' face, praising Shepard must have left a sour taste in his mouth.
"I know. Have a nice day, Councillors."
Curious about the next chapter? Please consider supporting me in Patreon.
If you enjoy my stories you can read advanced chapters in my patreon page
Commander Shepard, The Greatest to Ever Live, a Mass Effect story where Shepard is greater than ever, is 9 chapters ahead
Geek's Guide to Thriving in a Low End Fantasy World a Robert Baratheon OC SI in an AU, is 9 chapters ahead
Her Eternal Excellency, a Genshin Impact and ASOIAF crossover, Raiden Ei Reborn as Argella Durrandon, is 10 chapters ahead
and DCU:Blacklist, a Raymond Reddington inspired OC SI using his knowledge for his own advantage, as well as the rest of the world, is 10 chapters ahead.
By supporting me, you can read advanced and special chapters, as well as vote on how you want the fanfiction to proceed.
Note: Apple store payments will be refunded, because of the company's 75 day hold policy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Normandy
Engineering
"Addams, there you are. Get me half of the missiles and remove their warheads. We are going to prepare a surprise for that cuttlefish." The order was so sudden that Chief Engineer Addams needed a second to process it.
"Yes, Commander, but what kind of a surprise?"
"Oh, you are going to love it."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The team had gathered in the meeting room to discuss Virmire since they had no intel other than that it was something bad enough to worry the STG.
"So, we are going in blind, though the chances are Saren's dreadnought will be there, as whatever they had down in Virmire is important enough to be defended against an STG regiment." Salarians were experts at stealth, and if they couldn't get in, sabotage the place, and leave, then they must have faced harsh opposition.
Shepard wasn't done yet. "But I think it has something to do with Krogan."
This had Wrex' attention, and the massive alien perked up. "What do you mean?"
"This galaxy had three crises. First, the Rachni Wars, then the Krogan Rebellions, and finally, the Geth Uprising. Now, Saren has a sizable portion of the Geth working for him, and then he tried to enslave the Rachni and failed, which leaves the Krogan, and knowing just how dangerous the horde was against the whole galaxy, Saren will most likely try to recruit the Krogan en masse."
Saren was trying to recruit an army and had a degree of success, though whether it was to assist the Reapers or use them to facilitate their return wasn't clear. Unless the Conduit was somewhere well defended, which mostly meant the Citadel Space, then Saren did need an army, but if it was not, and that was the most probable outcome seeing as the long-lost Mu Relay was necessary to reach it, then Saren was going to use his army to assist the Reapers. Seeing as Reapers could turn their organic enemies to synthetic cannon fodder, Saren's little army was useless.
A piece of the puzzle was missing, and hopefully, Virmire could shed some light on that.
"Seeing as he is wanted by the Citadel, those idiots at Tuchanka might just join him for one last glorious charge." Wrex shook his head, remembering his attempts to save his race from extinction and how no one gave a single flying pyjack shit about it.
"Let's not have a couple million suicidal Krogan running around with a Spectre looking to bring the end of the galaxy." Garrus had his beliefs about the Krogan, though Wrex had done much to shake them.
He still didn't want them to join Saren, though.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sentry Omega
Hoc System
Virmire
Normandy was orbiting the planet Virmire and running scans to get an idea of what the ground team would face upon landing.
Geth had a lot of AA towers stationed on the ground, so Joker dropped Shepard, Tali, and Garrus down on the Mako.
Ordering the pilot to follow the protocols and stay out of the range of the AA towers, Shepard hit the accelerator, driving towards the enemy.
The Geth put up fierce resistance, but as was the case for every single engagement they had, the synthetics were torn apart like wet tissue before Mako's laser turret.
With the grid down, Joker began to approach the Salarian base, while Shepard and the team went ahead to meet them at the camp after clearing out another Geth encampment and opening the gate.
As the Salarian camp appeared on the scanners, Joker informed Shepard that the Normandy was grounded.
Shepard could see Ashley talking to a Salarian as he approached. "Are you the one in charge here?"
"Commander Shepard, a pleasure to meet you. We may have wanted a fleet from the Council, but I am glad they sent you. I am Captain Kirrahe, Third Infiltration Regiment, STG." Kirrahe held out his three-fingered hand, and Shepard reached out.
"Your message wasn't clear, so the Council sent me to check on the situation."
"Which is a repetition of our original task, but since you are here, we can actually do something about Saren's base."
Captain Kirrahe ran Shepard and his team through what the STG had managed to unearth. To Wrex's annoyance, the base did have something to do with Krogan, as Saren was somehow breeding an army down there. Wrex' disbelief was understandable, especially since the STG believed there was a cure for the Genophage inside the base, which seemed unlikely to Shepard.
"I don't think there is a cure; it is most likely a cloning operation with a careful management of hormones to counteract the Genophage. Even if there was a cure, the Council would either release a modified Genophage or simply eradicate the Krogan if they joined Saren. He must be lying, with a show of someone working on Genophage to keep the Krogan in his employ under control."
Wrex growled menacingly, even the slightest hope of a Genophage cure stoking the embers of his desire to save the Krogan. "We should still check."
Shepard shrugged. "Sure, but I doubt we'll find anything."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The plan was for Shepard and two members of his team to circle behind the enemy lines and take the Geth by surprise while Kirrahe and his men, along with the rest of Shepard's team, staged a frontal assault. Shepard had given the Mako to the team, knowing its laser turret would help immensely.
After Shepard and his team reached the predetermined spot, the base would be destroyed with a twenty-kiloton tactical ordinance rigged from the Salarian vessel's core.
Shepard took Wrex and Tali with him this time, to give the Krogan a chance to see whether there was a cure for the Genophage or not, as well as his laser minigun, and Tali due to her expertise with the Geth.
"Shadow is on the ground. Repeat: Shadow is on the ground." Captain Kirrahe's voice rang over the comms as Shepard and his team engaged the Geth.
"Chief Williams, with the Aeghor team. Mannovai and Jaeto teams, move. Time to get some attention." The Salarians, along with Shepard's team, started their assault.
Wrex, already irate from the mention of a cure for the Genophage and the Salarian's plans to destroy it, moved first, opening fire with his minigun, suppressing and mowing down several Geth units. Shepard followed, picking up the stragglers while Tali targeted the platform up ahead.
A destroyer charged down the ramp at Shepard and was bisected by Tali's shotgun, and with Wrex having destroyed most of them, all that was left to do was for Shepard to shut down the Geth's triangulation tower, but he had a better idea.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Why are they dancing now?"
"It's Commander Shepard; he did the same thing back at Eden Prime."
"This will more than take the heat off Mannovai. Chief Williams, assist them with the Mako." Kirrahe sounded vindictive, most likely happy to see the Geth neutralized so easily.
The team moved forward towards the base, but their path was blocked by Geth drones and the occasional Geth trooper. Frontal assault teams were facing sat-strikes, so hopefully he could find the satellite link for a nasty surprise to the Geth.
Which was further ahead on a platform, protected by Geth troopers and a Krogan. Leaving the Geth to his teammates, Shepard biotically charged at the Krogan, causing the alien to stumble, and pulled both triggers, shooting his enemy through the eyes, an instant kill.
Rather than destroy the satellite link, Shepard had a different idea in mind.
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sat-strikes on Geth positions? Must be Commander Shepard. At this rate the base will be cleared without the need for the bomb."
With this, Kirrahe and the teams should have a much easier time.
"Aircraft heading to perimeter stations to recharge. Bunker up before they come back." Ashley warned over the comms. They were handling the aircraft well due to their superior weaponry, but the Salarians didn't enjoy the same advantage.
Following the walkways, two Korgan on a circular platform opened fire at them. Wrex in return fired the plasma grenade from his minigun, incinerating both.
A Geth destroyer was waiting for them and turned to open fire before a single laser bolt from Shepard's pistol pierced through its lamp-shaped head.
Following the right path, it took them to a recharge station Geth drones used. Wrex and Shepard took out the drones while Tali handled the fuel tanks, the heat of her laser shotgun setting them on fire and causing violent explosions.
Backtracking on the way they came and taking the other path, the team stood before a wall of barriers on a platform, with Krogan warriors and Geth snipers at the other side, opening fire on them. Since they lacked range, Shepard activated his anti-gravity generator and leaped across the field, a biotic halo gathering in his before he launched it right in the middle of the gathered enemies.
It only left a single Krogan that was taking cover, who opened fire at Shepard before Tali's horizontal laser beam passed through his body, and the Krogan fell down in pieces.
Accessing the security console, Tali quickly made her way through the cyber defenses. "We got access to base security. We can cut the alarms from here. Maybe even trigger alarms on the far side of the base. It'll clear the guards for us, though I guess you don't need it since it might be too much for the Salarians."
Shepard nodded. "Yeah, just deactivate the alarms; we can deal with anything we might find inside."
Interestingly enough, Salarians, members of the Third Infiltration Regiment, opened fire on them, along with the Geth.
Shepard launched a singularity, while Wrex and Tali waylaid them with laser fire, putting down the most likely indoctrinated Salarians.
As they traversed the base, the team came across Salarians locked up in a cell. Shepard approached to talk to one of them. The Salarian was erratic and jittery, and from the way he talked, Shepard guessed Sovereign had gotten to him. Leaving the alien in, who banged his head on the force field and knocked himself out, the team moved on.
Another cell had a crying Salarian so far out of his mind, Shepard didn't even think he was aware of what was happening around him.
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The assault teams were actually pushing the Geth back when a drop ship flew in to bring reinforcements to the enemy.
"Dropship, take cover!" Kirrahe ordered, though Shepard's teammates weren't going to stay idle. From the sound of the explosion and the cheers that followed, they must have taken the dropship down with the laser rifles and the turret.
In the meantime, Shepard, Wrex, and Tali took an elevator down, arriving in a research lab with husks, an Asari scientist, and, perhaps a first for him, a Krogan doctor, screaming about how this was the glorious salvation of his species.
It seems they found the one doing the research on the Genophage.
Wrex charged at the Krogan doctor, knocking him down and pulling the trigger of his weapon, not stopping until he got some of the rage out of his system. Meanwhile, Shepard shot the Asari doctor, and Tali took out the husks, leaving the lab empty.
Hacking a console, Shepard began to quickly view the data on the Genophage, which only included some preliminary research on how the Genophage worked. "There is nothing here, as I said. Just some data on how the Genophage worked. You can take it if you want."
Wrex did take the data with a snarl.
There was also another console with reports on the Geth fleet, which Shepard also took to forward to the Alliance.
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outside the research lab, some Geth troopers were guarding a place, and after putting down the synthetics, Shepard went in to check it out.
An Asari hiding beneath her desk shouted out. "Don't shoot! Please, I just want to get out of here before it's too late."
"Calm down. Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
"Rana Thanoptis, neurospecialist. But this job isn't worth dying over. Or worse." The Asari was scared, though whether it was of them or Saren remained to be seen. "You think the indoctrination only affects the prisoners? Sooner or later, Saren will want to dissect my brain too."
"I thought this was a breeding facility for a Krogan army?"
"Not this level. We're studying Sovereign's effect on organic minds. At least that's what I assumed. Saren kept us in the dark as much as possible."
"You helped him, and you didn't even know why?" The "are you serious?" tone Tali used perfectly represented what Shepard and Wrex were thinking.
"I didn't have the option of negotiating. This position is a little more… permanent than I expected." She explained her reasons for working under Saren, pausing near the end to find the right word.
"But I can help you. This elevator behind me goes to Saren's private lab. I can get you in."
"There is a good chance you are already indoctrinated, though you may not even be aware of it."
"No, it, it can't be. I haven't been here for that long." The Asari denied it, though Shepard had no intention of leaving it to chance.
Turning to his teammates, Shepard took his helmet off. "Shoot her if she tries anything." At their nods, he approached the Asari. "Meld with me, and keep any questions you might have to yourself."
Rana gulped but did as she was told, and soon enough Shepard found himself standing before Sovereign again.
"You." Huh, it almost sounded like hatred, making him wonder if the ship was even capable of it in the first place.
"Nice try, you overgrown cuttlefish, but it's time for you to leave, again."
"You will be terminated, mortal." Sovereign threatened before the mental backlash from Shepard sent it flying out of the Asari's mind.
Coming back to the real world, Shepard saw Rana Thanoptis swaying on her feet, blue blood coming out of her nose. "What do you know, you were right." She went down like a sack of potatoes, still alive. Moving her to the side, Shepard and the team took the elevator to Saren's lab.
They could retrieve the Asari on their way back.
Inside the lab, they found another Prothean beacon, this one in much better condition than the one on Eden Prime.
"Change of plans. Saren's ship is most likely coming here, and we found another Prothean beacon. Joker, ready those missiles. Ground teams, hold your positions; we are taking this base." Shepard radioed the Normandy and the teams. Laser weapons or not, the value of a Prothean beacon was apparent, and if he was lucky enough, they might even have more information on the Reapers.
"But the Genophage."
"I checked the data; it's just preliminary research on the Genophage's effects."
"Understood, holding position."
Shepard approached the beacon, interfacing with it just like back at Eden Prime, though this time it was voluntary. The beacon levitated him again, blasting visions similar to the ones he had seen before, though this time they were clearer, along with the location of a planet, most likely Saren's next destination.
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Leaving the lab and the still sleeping Asari behind, the comms lit up with chatter, as the Geth were retreating from their positions to stop Shepard, with the assault teams trying to keep them fighting.
Passing his pistols to Tali, Shepard gave the shotgun to Wrex and took the minigun without a word. "Clear out any Geth you see; I am going ahead."
Activating his anti-gravity generator again, Shepard took off, and since the Geth were already weakened from his sabotages, this would be a much simpler job.
Seeing the large number of Geth heading towards Wrex and Tali, Shepard opened fire with the minigun, a heavy rain of laser bolts scrambling the synthetics, who returned fire, though Shepard was too mobile to be shot out of the air. He flew over the base to the other side, clearing out the Geth as he went, and approached the assault teams who were still fighting the Geth left at the wall.
Under fire from the ground and the skies, the already diminished number of synthetics were cleared out, and Shepard touched down to open the gate, ordering the troops to move forward.
Which was when Sovereign showed itself, getting ready to fire at the base. Normandy flew down, with Joker's voice over the comms. "Eat this, you son of a bitch." He fired two missiles, striking the dreadnought right over one of its tentacles.
Sovereign, already aware of the capabilities of the organic vessels, ignored the missiles while Shepard ordered everyone to take cover.
A costly mistake.
The antiproton warheads detonated, knocking the ship out of the air and tearing one of its tentacles off. The shockwave crushed anyone who wasn't behind cover, further reducing the number of Geth.
Thankfully Shepard had designed half of them to be used within close range of any allied forces to avoid friendly fire.
Sovereign, with its horn blaring, slowly rose, wounded but not out of the fight. Normandy circled back to fire again, but the dreadnought blasted off at speeds the frigate couldn't match, running away seeing as it was outpowered.
Cheers rang over the comms.
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In the next chapter:
"Councillors, how is the research on the beacon going?"
The matter must have frustrated Tevos for her to visibly sigh. "Not good, Commander; research teams couldn't find a way to reactivate the beacon yet."
"Try to have an Asari meld with it. In the meantime, you'll be happy to know I just found another beacon, this one fully intact." Shepard offered his advice, since it seemed too obvious to him to have an Asari interact with the beacon.
Tevos visibly perked up, as did her colleagues. "That is great news, Commander. Where is it?"
"I am bringing it to Citadel before I head after Saren."
"Very well, we'll have a team waiting to receive the beacon. As always, an excellent job, Commander." From the look on Sparatus' face, praising Shepard must have left a sour taste in his mouth.
"I know. Have a nice day, Councillors."
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