538 réponses à ce sujet

[Redbelle]

(Note:  The following installment was a collaboration with FuriousFelicia)

The Valkyr screeched to a halt, sliding to the left as it began to tilt up on it's leftmost wheels before finally, coming to a full stop. It's rightmost wheels coming down with a bump as the suspension absorbed the impact of the fall.

Wyld gripped the Valkyr's frame as she turned to Zia. “Where did you get your licence”?

Zia turned and shrugged. “What licence”? She pointed out across Wyld and, turning, Wyld saw the staging area was filling with more and more troops. “I just wanted to make sure everyone noticed your arrival”.

“Your loving this aren't you”.

Zia smiled and, crooking her finger, indicated Wyld should lean closer. Wyld did so. And as she did, Zia leaned forward, pulled her helmet off slipped a hand round the back of her head and pulled her lips to her's.

Wylds warm glow, in the pit of her stomach, erupted as she found her body pushing itself forward. In the back of her mind she was glad they were so high up that no one else could see what they were doing. It had come out of the blue. So fixed on the notion that she had to give a speech that she'd been fixated on what she was going to say. And coming up blank.

Now though? Words didn't matter. She was not, could not think about anything other than the full bloodied, warm skin to skin connection Zia was gifting to her.

Wyld own hands were coming up to wrap themselves around her when Zia placed a hand on her chest and pushed her back. “Your good under pressure”. Zia told her as she thrust Wylds kestrel into her hands. “Tell them what you feel, what your instinct's tell you. Your good at that. Don't think. Just go”.

Wyld just sat there with her mouth partly open, her eye's at half mast. “Just go”. She repeated, dreamily, though looking closely, it was apparent that she had no idea what she agreeing to. She looked dazed and was only starting to come out of the stupor.

Zia pointed. “Jan? Honey? Speech”?

Wylds eye's blinked as she caught up with herself and looked. The crowd had grown a little. “Okay. Not. A. Problem”. She stated empathetically, pulling herself out of her seat and, moving up over the windscreen, rose to stand on the bonnet of the Valkyr. She pulled up her Omni-tool and linked her tool to broadcast to everyone. Looking up one last time, she saw a group of commanders, Steiner included, now decked out in his destroyer armour watching in amusement.

Well. She'd show them.

Oh grud she had to show.

And she still had no idea what to say!

Okay. She said to herself as she toggled her Omni-tool to transmit. First things first. Remind everyone who they are.

“I am Commander Jerry-Ann Wyld. And I am here to address you...... The people who are now the soldier's of Bastion”.

Remind everyone why we're here.

“Very soon you will receive orders to roll out into the battlefield. And we will all become embroiled in the war for Earth”. She paused. “The Earth.....”. She repeated. “.....And every other planet.... containing every man, woman, and other this galaxy has to offer. This army may be the last remaining uncommitted body that we offer to war”. She paused. “And when we meet the enemy, they will not expect, nor know, what hit them”.

Say something personnel so they know your paying attention.

“We could probably get the MisQueen and Armitage on a radio debate and broadcast their voices throughout the relays to bore the Reaper to death. But that would affect all of us, so the higher ups classified the two as weapons of mutually assured destruction and have them both bound and gagged in the locker room”.

Wrap it up before you look like an idiot......... Nah screw it.

“Listen people”. She said, deciding to step away from her formal speak. “This evening I've encountered all sort's. I mean, people. Some have been wrapped up in their own worlds, unable, or unwilling, to join the greater whole that you all now embody. I've met those who refuse to consider any plan but their own in defeating the Reapers. And rejected, or subverted the ideals that our civilisations hold sacramental. All to achieve their own personal goals”.

“I've thrown in with other's I never knew before tonight. I've been alone, running after those who needed me. I've seen the best and worst, not only in my own people, but in those who are not of this Earth”.

“And now.... Here we are. Those who have choosen to stand by each other ”.

Wyld paused. Allowing that statement to hang in the air for a moment longer than needed.

“You are all here. You have not run away. You have all seen the enemy and stepped forward where other's would turn and flee. You can not run away. We are, perhaps, the last ground based fighting force this planet can muster. And we do not carry the hopes of the galaxy with us as we march. WE ARE.... the last hope of this galaxy..... And we will march forward! We will cut through the Reapers! Because beyond the Reapers?...... Beyond this day.... there lies the rest of our lives and freedom to choose how all of us wish to live out the time that has been granted to us”!

“And we.... shall not.... run away”!

Wyld surveyed the group in front of her. Silence reigned. She took a deep breath.

“We are fighting now for one reason and one reason only..... To get back to living out the rest of our lives as we choose. Not to be told by a militaristic egotistical entity, with delusion's of godhood that our species right to exist is over. The Reapers look at us as they look at themselves. As a collective. As a giant body with one destiny”.

Wyld shook her head. “The Reaper's cannot and will never understand, that within this body lies the hearts of individuals. The Reapers think that all of you, speaking with your own voice, is discord and chaos. I say. It. Is. Glorious! We have lived our lives, from the day we crawled out of the primordial soup, to this day, living by the rules we choose for ourselves. Some say that we had no choice in deciding how we live.... Perhaps they have a point......

Wyld paused. “But what those people fail to accept, is that nothing done to us as free thinking individuals, defines, absolutely!..... who we are! Accept the Reapers..... And you accept that everyone, in every way that matters..... ought to.... and must be the same as every other. But to reject the Reaper..... is to embrace what makes us different. We are all different. We all have strength's and weaknesses. Character flaws one might say. The Reaper offer to extinguish these flaws through surrender. I say, through my own effort's. I will overcome anything that holds me back. I will earn my own way through life and when the Reapers are nothing more than dust I, and all of us, through our own individual strength's will ascend above and beyond whatever the Reaper's ever dreamed possible for us”!

“Or maybe we won't...... And we may fall by the wayside”.

“But don't we owe it to ourselves, to find out, for ourselves? To not hand our future's to an overbearing figure who hides, manipulates, and is afraid of change? Of what is different”?

“I know many here have issues with others. That if given the choice, you would choose isolation with your own kind, rather than fellowship with those who have chosen to join us in the call to fight the Reapers......”.

“But this eve...... We have all had to overcome the flaws that hold us back. We have chosen, that who we are, while we may not be perfect..... Is no excuse to destroy us for who we are! We have lived and held this galaxy together. We will live! Because our lives..... up to this point and far away into the future..... are not for monster's, who hide in the dark, to take because they feel they are entitled.

A smattering of cheers came then. Wyld rocked back on her feet as she surveyed the people once more. She could see nods and a notion of agreement among the troops, but some thing was still missing.....

“We are not Reapers”. She called out. “Reaper's, through their actions, show themselves to be monster's and demons. Bent on grinding down anything they deem as unacceptable to their plan for the future of the galaxy. But why? To date.... No Reaper has ever been able to tell us this. There has been communication between us and them. I kid you not! We have spoken to Reapers. And they have spoken to, but a handful, of us. The free species..... And when we asked them.... why? They came back with..... Because we must”.

Wyld paused once more. “That's it! We. Must. Harvest.” She paused once more and said in a low voice. “Not, we want to harvest. The Reaper's do not believe in what they do. They do it because they have no choice. They do it, because they are forced to think and believe that the actions they take are necessary and justified..... They simply believe. But belief alone, in what an individual does is not enough”.

“The Reapers have no future. They are stagnant. They are not a species.... We know they are little more than flying coffins, filled with the murdered remains of species from.... since time we cannot comprehend! They are no more alive than a fruit shake. This is their aspiration for us.... And it is our charge to free them”.

“By fighting the Reapers.... we not only defend our species.... we lay theirs to rest. In a test of faith the Reapers have none. Only a burning rage fuelled belief that they are right and we are wrong”.

“That's child playground logic”. Wyld said sneering.

“For our faith is built upon more solid foundations..... We will free ourselves from the shadows of these self proclaimed gods. We will liberate the remains of what lies trapped inside of them, and calm the rage within to keep their fire from burning our galaxy. We will either force our truth into the uncaring ear's of a deaf machine, or scatter them to the winds in the cause of emancipating them in their shackled ignorance.

And the only reason I can offer you for what we shall do, is a feeble, we are right.... and they are wrong”?

Wyld looked down as if in thought. Then looked back up. “But.... We are right. And they are wrong. They have taken what being alive means..... and they have mutilated the gift that is being alive. They fear the future. We embrace it. They quake in terror at what living beyond a certain time will mean as it takes us into an unknown future.....”. Wyld then took a step forward as she tilted her body and bellowed. “WE ARE THE DAMN FUTURE!!! AND IT'S HIGH TIME WE MADE THE REAPERS KNOW!!! THAT THEY EITHER GET OUT OF OUR GALAXY OR BE CRUSHED UNDER OUR HEEL!!!”

“BECAUSE WE ARE RIGHT AND THEY ARE WRONG! AND IT IS THIS SIMPLE TRUTH THAT THEY REFUSE TO HEAR THAT HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT! THEY WANTED THIS WAR! WE DIDN'T! AND IF THEY THINK THE FREE THINKING, LIVING SPECIES OF THIS GALAXY JUST ROLL ONTO THEIR BACKS WHEN SOMEONE ASKS THEM TO DIE.... SO THEY, THE REAPER'S, CAN BE COMFORTABLE LIVING THEIR..... JOKE.... OF A LIFE.... THEN THEY ARE SADLY ****ING MISTAKEN”!

Wyld stopped as a roar hit her. As if her words had hit a deep nerve the camp erupted and the blast of hundred's of people roaring their cheers almost made her fall backwards. Instead, she rallied herself and continued to speak over their cheers.

“THEY FOUNDED THEIR EXISTANCE ON LYING TO RACES LIKE US! BUT WE FOUND THE TRUTH”!

The crowd roared!

“THEY PRETEND GODHOOD! BUT THEY ARE JUST MACHINES! AND MACHINES, EVEN THOSE FEIGNING DIVINITY CAN BE BROKEN”!

The roar grew louder!

“AND ABOVE ALL. WE ARE NOT A MOCKERY OF LIFE! THEY ARE!”

The roar rose till Wyld could not hear herself speaking and looking around, she saw people emerging from buildings and adding their voices to the chorus all around her. Wyld knew she had no hope of matching them now. Something had erupted in front of her and it had to run it's course before they could continue. The cheers went on and on, and slowly, they subsided as the people settled to hear Wyld.

Okay. Now wrap it up before you make an idiot of yourself.

“I'm heading out into the field now”. She told the crowd. “There are people who need me there. They need you to. Don't leave them waiting”.

Without waiting, Wyld jumped back, over the wind shield and into the passenger seat. Zia turned her head to Wyld. "You said south-east, right?" Wyld confirmed with a nod.

The wheels of the Valkyr rolled in place for a second before she leaped forward when Zia pressed the throttle. Zia's face was carved with a satisfied smile when she felt a kick in her back from sudden acceleration that locked her in her seat.

Modifié par Redbelle, 20 octobre 2013 - 11:08 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Meanwhile on the Eastern Front, Gnish led its platoon of Bloodpack into battle near Gellatly Rd. The platoon had a half dozen Krogan mercs, a few Batarians, and the rest were Vorcha. the Vorcha were equipped mostly with heavy weapons like flamers, rocket, and grenade launchers. Vorcha have no sexes so they're "it". They reproduce asexually like planaria and they're immune to indoctrination.

Gnish looked over the battle field in front of it: Brick row houses. Burned vehicles. "Not good. Sidewalk on left below street. Too many places to hide. You, Tarak, take Grell and three others down sidewalk. Rest of us stay on street."

Tarak nodded, and moved into position, and they advanced forward. A reaper dropship landed.

"Arrrrrr. We kill you!!!!" Gnish shouted and pointed at them.

Cannibals poured out and a couple of Marauders. The Vorcha took cover behind the burned vehicles and fired their rockets at them. Gnish wasn't afraid and charged at them. "You can't kill me. Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!" And fried the Marauder with his flamer. He went into Blood Fury.

Another dropship landed. This time some heavies and husks came out. The Krogan took care of the husks but Gnish dodged the brute that charged him then kicked his flamer on and fried it. The brute was in pain. Gnish switched to his Reegar Carbine and finished it off. "Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!"

The husks ran at the the rest of the platoon and were just annihilated.

"Reapers think they can take Bloodpack? Bah! We kill them all!!!!" Gnish shouted. "Now, Aria say we must find Shepard. Come on." Gnish sniffed the air. "This way." They headed north toward Evelina.

[Redbelle]

(Note:  The following installment was a collaboration with FuriousFelicia)

The Valkyr raced towards the main gate, and just as they passed the armoury, Zia stepped on the brakes, and the Valkyr skidded to a stop just a few meters from the gate. Two soldiers that stood on the sentry above the gate startled at the sight.

"C'mon open the gate, what are you waiting for." Zia shouted up to them. The two soldiers hesitated for a moment, looking baffled at the sight of the new Valkyr and its new array of weaponry at the back.

"Today guys!" Zia jelled. The soldiers gave them a quick salute, and engaged the door mechanism and the gate opened. "Hold on Jan." Said Zia smiling, and hit the throttle all the way down. The Valkyr screamed and stormed through the gate in a flash, leaving a trail of dust behind them.

"Hahaaa! This is awesome!" Zia was thrilled with the force with which the Valkyr raced forward. She jabbed the wheel to the right in the direction of their destination, and she could feel the rear end slide to the left, and then steered itself straight when Zia brought the wheel back. "Are we on course now momma?"

"Yes Zia, just hold this heading. I scanned the route and it seems to be clear of enemy activity. How do you like the Valkyr? "

"Like it? I love it!" Exclaimed Zia joyfully. "Can't wait to see what those guns can do."

"I would offer a demonstration, but firing the main ordinance might alarm the enemy to our position. I suggest a demonstration can wait until after the mission is done."

"Roger that! So Jan? Why white?" Zia turned her head to Wyld, referring to her new armour.

Wyld held up a her gloved hand and looked at the white pitted armour. "It was supposed to be painted in camo. But Sully decided to overhaul the armour when he found the fabricator had a party trick to it. What do you make of this"?

Wyld activated the armour's camouflage and abruptly the colour and shape of the armour quickly shifted. It now perfectly matched, not only the colour, but the texture of the seat she sat in. Wyld held up the formerly white hand and saw it now looked like the leather of the seat's they sat in.

"This is going to take some getting used to". She said when a thought struck her. "I wonder..... Momma, can this armour remember pattern's"?

"I believe it can". Came the response. "Unfortunately, the suits microprocessors are not up to the task of anything other than responding to their environment. If you wish to attempt preprogrammed pattens I would have to infiltrate your armour through your new Kestrel and take control of the systems".

"You can do that"?

"The new Kestrel has greater communication and command and control ability. I took the liberty of increasing it's data storage and processing capacity. I find my satellite copies prefer the more spacious conditions of your head".

".... You mean the helmet.... on my head".

"I stand by my misstatement".

Wyld shook her head and deactivated the camo. The armour returned to it's pitted white. "I have to admit". She said to Zia as they drove on. "I'm starting to like the white. I just hope it doesn't turn white in a fight". She gave Zia a lopsided grin. "Apparently Rea thinks I look like a goddess". Wyld looked over at Zia. "I think this is what Snow White would wear to go into battle.... If she was into armour and guns. And liked watching her girlfriend drive a big engine".

"Snow white?" Came a confused response from Zia. Her knowledge of her own race's history was limited by little knowledge she had from the academy back In Rio.

Wyld nodded as she sunk down into her seat. "Snow White". She explained. "A woman from a fairy tale. Cursed by a wicked queen through a poisoned apple to an eternal sleep. Some telling say she was awoken by a kiss". Wyld rolled her head over. "It's a story I used to read when I was little. It's been told and retold. If you go back to the days when it was created it's violent and scary. It's been made less so over the years. But still..... ". She jostled in her seat slightly. "I always liked the original stories more growing up. They just seemed more..... true to life". She chuckled. "Though with magic mirrors and seven dwarfs who take her in after the Huntsman doesn't kill her at the behest of the queen..... True is a relative term.....". She trailed off. "She was tricked into eating the apple by the queen though.... she wore a disguise.....".

She shook her head. "It's not important. Though if you like, we could sit up and watch movies sometime. Snow White has a lot of adaptations.... Or Jack and Beanstalk"? She saw Zia's shake of the head which she took to mean she didn't recognise the name. "Maybe Sleeping Beauty"? She asked, getting the same response. "You must know Red Riding Hood, surely".

Zia didn't have a clue about anything Wyld was talking about. Still, the thought of watching movies with her Wyld made her feel happy so she shook her head in negation but smiling as she answered." No, but I would love to watch movies with you sometime when this is over. I would like to take you to Thessia and go skinny dipping with you on some remote beach. We would claim it for ourselves." Zia giggled. "And at night, we could make a camp-fire and watch holo movies while we cuddle in the warm sand. Have you ever been camping before?"

Wyld shook her head. "Not real camping. Not, let's toast marshmallows and cook sausages camping". She sighed. "I was either taking dance lesson's or in a wheel chair. Camping never factored into life much". Her gaze wandered back over to Zia. From her new perspective her profile was striking as she watched the road ahead of them. "I was thinking of taking you to Thessia..... Maybe after the war. I don't know anywhere on the planet to go though". She smiled.

"I'd like to go with you. When the wars over. You and me together somewhere. A place called home." Wyld sighed. "I've spent nearly my whole life trying to get away from home. To get out and be independent. Home's not been a place I've wanted to go. Now though"? She stretched out a hand and trailed the back of her finger over her hip. "I think I've found a person I can come home to. No matter where home is".

Zia was thrilled With Jan's words so much that she turned her head to look at her with exhilaration, barring a broad smile. "You'd like to go to Thessia with me?" She exclaimed with glee. "Oh Jan, of all the places..you sure make it eas..." Abruptly she was interrupted by a kick from Valkyr's undercarriage and the vehicle jolted in place. Zia quickly retained control.

"Damn rock!" She hissed through her teeth.

"The Bucky Valkyr bucks, Zia. Should I take over control so you and Jerry-Ann can talk?'' Came a sudden remark from Momma.

"No, that won't be necessary momma, I'll just keep my eyes on the road from now. It's been a while since I last drove something. The last time, I think...it was a UT-46 Kodiak, but something with wheels...a long time ago. I like it. Especially the Bucky."

''Carry on please, I find it most interesting." Momma responded.

"What? My driving?" Asked Zia.

"No, your conversation with Jerry-Ann." Replied momma. "Your driving is satisfactory, but I am keeping my fifth eye on the road as well from now on."

Zia shook her head. "Fifth eye? How many eyes do you have?"

"It was meant as a joke referring to my complex sensor array." Stated momma.

"Oh, haha, I'll gonna have to get use to hearing jokes from you then ha?" Zia laughed as she threw a quick glance towards Wyld, and saw her smirking amused.

"Is it not satisfactory?" Asked momma.

"No momma, just unexpected that's all".

Wyld sat up and turned her head. Her HUD showed the road ahead was relatively clear til the turn up ahead. "I think we'd better focus....". She told Zia. ".....focus on Naomi and wait for....". She shook her head. "Dammit. Okay, Zia? This may sound like criticism but it's not okay? You've been on my mind a lot lately and its hard to keep my mind on the job when all I can think about is....". Her cheeks flushed slightly as her voice took on a breathy quality. "...More brig time.... with you". She said, clearing her throat. "But I really need to focus on spotting the route right now. Sooooo".

Wyld stopped and sighed. "Zee, I need you to know. Tonight's essentially been the beginning of what should have been my horny teenager years. And anything you can do, that makes me, not want to, tell Momma to take over so I can straddle and grind you back to Bastion, right now..... Would.... be.... ... good? I guess".

She swallowed as her mouth ran dry. Taking the time to pluck up the courage she added. "And if you want.... could you, stop me if I try"? Her two finger's were starting to tap out a pattern on her leg as she spoke. "It's not that I don't want to. It's just that I feel like I've been out of control lately. I need a calm centre. Something to bring me back down to Earth when we're out like this. I really having a strong strawberry craving and I need to learn to handle it".

"It's like basic rifle training. The first few times the leaps up out of your hands and bangs into your face till the drill instructor comes over and shows you how to handle the pulse....". She looked down at her finger's and pulled them off her leg. And found herself folding her hands into themselves. "I mean, is it normal to get this distracted? I didn't think I'd have a problem like this. But so much time goes into thinking about you that I'm getting worried. If I start thinking about you in the middle of a fight perhaps, instead of letting the training take over. Or if I start daydreaming.... because I'd rather be elsewhere". Wyld sniffed and went on. "It's not a problem so far. But it's....encroaching? I can handle it. But, I think we need to talk later. When the world isn't ending and God Machines aren't landing on our camps. And one from my first squad isn't in the hands of an Omega enforcer. And we have pizza. And camping.... Maybe not camping just now. But definitely. Talk".

"Jan, don't worry. I know the score. You just made me very happy with what you said, but trust me when I say I'm now fully committed to the task at hand, and I won't jeopardize this on account of my lust. So here's a quick sitrep on Lucy." Said Zia as she saw a turn coming ahead.

"She's a dangerous, and unpredictable and she changes her mood rapidly. One second she could love you, the next she wants to burn your head or suck your blood - literally." Talked Zia as she slowed down a bit to manoeuvre some rubble on the road. "Disdain had a tactical cloak, and I'm guessing Lucy does too, so I hope you have some kind of infra red or some other type of vision mod up in that...kestrel. I have a Geth scanner installed in my mask." Zia stated and awaited a reply from Wyld.

Wyld blew out a breath. "I can zoom in, and the HUD displays any data I need. I don't think it has anything to detect a cloaked.....".

Momma interrupted. "The Kestrel does not, the Valkyr does".

Wyld shared a look with Zia. "I don't think the Valkyr could fit inside a mall without giving ourselves away".

But Momma was unperturbed. "The Valkyr's targeting suite has IR detection that can be beamed to your helmet. At maximum power it can penetrate the walls of the building we are travelling towards. That information can be relayed to you. In addition, the sound pick-ups of the Kestrel can be utilised to pick up any sound that the target makes.".

Wyld nodded. "Sound pick-up would localise her. The Valkyr's IR suite could track her. And Zia's mask would allow her to compete on the same level as her"?

Momma sounded apologetic. "IR tracking would be dependent on how far into the building the target retreats. Also, the IR targeting system is attached to the Widow mount with a small cone of effect. To overcome the walls I would have to position the Valkyr close to the building which will reduce the effectiveness of my searching. Target acquisition would have to be done Zia and yourself. And if she drops in and out, I do not know if I will be able to keep her sighted.....".

"Sighted"?

Momma voice was chilling. "Given what Zia has said on the target.... Using the Widow would be the most effective means of take down. It will pierce the walls with sufficient force to be able to overcome any barrier's being used by the target to...".

"No". Wyld heard the word escape form her lips before she knew she was going to say them. "No". She said again. "We take Lucy alive". She turned to Zia. "I don't know what Aria did to you three. But your sisters..... They are victims". Wyld stated. "None of you asked for what Aria did to you. Maybe it was good for awhile. But.... You all grew up. You grew beyond her. Maybe your sister's didn't Zee, but you did. And they got left behind.....". Wyld paused. "And I know how bat **** crazy that can drive the person trapped in a cage with someone who doesn't give a damn about them. It's emotional torture. Knowing how someone who is supposed to love you like a mother only cares to fulfil their own selfish ambition".

Heat was creeping into Wyld's voice and she didn't hold it back. "Aria was the closest thing you had to a mother right? Then she should have taken care of all of you all. Raised you. Then let you go when it came time to fly the nest. Instead she focused all her attention on one and used the other's to make her little empire run a bit smoother for awhile. And now that's over she's.... letting your sister's try to kill you"? She shook her head. "Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's all backwards. But your sister's are victims and I'm going to help them".

"So. We catch Lucy. Free Naomi. Take them both back to Bastion and keep Lucy sedated along with Disdain. Right"? Wyld asked Zia.

Zia suddenly brought the Valkyr to a full stop so that Wyld had to brace herself from the force. Zia turned to her with looking serious. "No widow action, not on Lucy. We asses the situation, locate Naomi and Lucy, and we try to take her alive." Wyld nodded but she saw insecurity in Zia's eyes.

"Listen Jan...this is going to be tricky. Lucy is...a bit of a nut case. I wasn't joking when I said she might decide to kiss us before she fries us with something. She likes to play around. And I have no idea if she knows were coming or how she will react when she sees me and not Disdain. She worshipped her. We have to be smart here. If we can locate them without Lou spotting us, we can make a distraction and flush her out while we snatch Naomi unseen. It might require us to split up. Whatever happens, I'd like to save Lucy as well...I love her." Zia bowed her head thinking of how she killed Disdain. The wound was still fresh, and Wyld's view on Aria only strengthened Zia's suspicions, though she was unsure why Aria would want her dead. "What's your thought on this?"

"Aside from the one's we love drive us nuts"? Wyld said glibly. "I'm on board with taking your sister alive. After the war's over, there are programs we can put her through that can help her". She paused. "We can use the Widow as an extra pair of eye's. Help us keep up to speed on area's where she is and isn't". She reached into her back pouch and came out with two hypo's.

"I can fill these with sedative. If she really wants to get up close, we can use these to shut her down". She paused thinking. "Let's assume Naomi is in the building. The locator gives her general position. We can use the IR sensor to go over the building's outer edges to try and pinpoint it. Naomi should be detectable, unless they've wrapped her up in a space blanket. If we can find her from the outset... great. If not, then we move in with the Valkyr tracing our routes as long as Momma can. If we still don't find her we head in deeper".

She looked at Zia. "We're walking into a lot of unknowns so I'm preping the two hypo's so we each have one. If Lucy confronts either of us we'll have a non lethal option at our disposal. If that doesn’t work then whoever finds her needs to draw her out. If we let her loose she might decide to go back to Naomi and then we're in a hostage situation. We need to keep that from happening if we can".

As she was speaking she filled one of the hypos and handed it to Zia. "You know, given how we're trying to sedate your sister, I have to say it. This is going to be a cake walk compared to meeting my mother".

Zia twitched her head at the mention of Wyld's mother. "Let's talk about my family first." She smiled.

"These hypo's require us to get close to Lucy. And she has additional biotic barriers that she rarely puts down. Now I wish I've learned stasis." She sighed.

"If she's high, that's when we need to be extra careful, because she becomes slightly schizophrenic. If she gets in a mood for jabber, we let her talk to buy time if need be, but Naomi is priority. Jan...just be careful okay." Zia thoughtfully looked to Wyld.

"I forgot to tell you in all this mess...I killed Disdain."

Wyld could see guilt in Zia's eyes. "I killed her, but nearly lost my life in the process. They are not my sisters but I...love them in a way..like they are and..I'm kind of a liability. Disdain almost killed me, because I hesitated in my mind. But I don't want to kill Lucy, she's doesn't deserve death for all she's been through, her the most. I started to realise that this was all wrong, Omega, the sisterhood, and then I left. I didn't hold any grudges, and I believed that everyone felt the same. But the hate that Disdain showed me was..." Zia shook her head.

Wyld reached out to place a hand over Zia's squeezed. "No more dead sisters tonight Zee". She quietly promised. "This armour has a few tricks to it. If Lucy wants to play hide and seek she's going to find I'm good at blending in". She gripped her hand tighter. "I'm sorry about Disdain. But she made her choice. She chose wrong. If it was you or her, then I'm glad it's you here with me now and not her. And if she's pushed Lucy onto this path, then I think having her last remaining sister pull her off the path Disdain tried to walk..... would be a good thing". She brought her chin up. "Family can be hard, but family has good one's in them as well as bad. Your the good one in this. And we'll get her back for you if that's what you want".

Wyld stopped and wrinkled her nose. "Disdain's an ugly word though. Do you mind if I call her Dizzy"? Wyld abruptly realised she was speaking of the dead. "I mean..... She must have had a name, right? I can't see anyone calling their daughter Disdain..... Lucy! Now that's a name I can understand! Disdain.....". She trailed off. "It doesn’t conjure up the best of a person in my mind".

"Aria gave us names. Trust me if you knew Disdain, you would see that the name fits perfectly. Call her what you want, but I don't think we'll be talking about her any time soon." Zia answered and revved the Valkyr to resume their rout.

"When we get there, we'll see what's the best way to proceed. Hopefully this will be happy ending for all involving parties, and we can finally get started on the preparations for the end game. Jan...regarding Naomi..are you aware that I kissed you first, I mean before Naomi. I'm saying this because I was under the impression that you think Naomi and I wee an item before we met, but I really know Naomi maybe two hours longer than I've met you."

Wyld perked up. "Really? I thought.... I mean..... You two were.....". She found herself speechless for a moment before she said. "I thought you and her had been..... around each other longer". She paused to clear her throat. "You two were all over each other back there". She tilted her head back towards the back seat. "After the hotel, you two were doing those biotic orb things, she was wearing your uniform". She squirmed as the memory came flooding back. "And then you..... touched her, she liked it and then....".

She had to stop and clear her throat again as she felt a horse quality creep into what she was saying. "I didn't know". She said at last. "I thought people only did that with ones they'd known for a long time..... Then again, those things you showed in the brig were..... Arrgh". She said throwing her head back on the seat and planting her palm into the forehead of her helmet. "Okay. I'm thinking of cricket. On a cold day. With a naked Dalatrass in bowl". She took several deep breaths and took her hand away. "Okay, I'm back".

Zia chuckled. "Why thank you, but you know...and this is the truth..you showed me pleasure, both giving and receiving like no one ever before. And..." She paused for a moment and then continued in a slightly embarrassed tone. "This coming from a person like me, well...means you are...um..amazing to say the least." She breathed as she came to an end before adding. "It's meant as a compliment to you but is also a potential hazard for how that reflects on how you see me."

Wyld bit her lip, not wanting to admit what she was about to say....but still..... "Zia. I need you to understand something about me. I'm a product of my upbringing. And I've been running away from the most controlling aspect of my past ever since I joined military service".

"My mother's a warm loving person who practically strangled me with her idea's of who I should be. And you aren't the person she'd want me to be with. She wants babies and a man and me coming to see her every weekend. And calling her every other day. She wants my life to one she understands and can live with....".

".....And I've never wanted the life she picked for me".

"I want this. You and me. Together. I don't have much experience in love but if this isn't it then what else can be? I don't think we really know each other yet. But we know enough to want find out more.... right"?

"But, I've been so focused on respecting your freedom's that I haven't been paying attention to how you feel.... or what you want".

"I thought I was living in a cage growing up. And that the goal in life was to escape the cage and fly free. And then I met you and..... you are so free! I didn't want to take that from you. So I told you that it was okay to see other's.... Naomi was that other for awhile. And I've been.... going overboard on the whole horn dog thing. I had to treat Rea tonight which ended up in a deep muscle massage and having her under my hands drove me up the wall. But still....".

"Look. My mother drives me insane but I still love her. Even though she refuses to understand that my life and my choices are my own. So it's not hard to grasp why you love your sisters, even now"

"Discovering that I actually, have, a sex drive.....? That I can be with a lover that doesn't run on batteries"? She paused. "It's not just about the sex. It's more. I want more. More doing what couples do. Only I don't know what those things are. But I want to find out what they can be. With you at the centre of it all".

"But I've been thinking back to all the times you said you loved me and I have to admit. I found it hard to hear. I wasn't ready to admit that someone could love me because it's been so hard to find anyone".

Wyld held out her hand and grasped hers interlacing their fingers. "I'm ready. I'm sorry it's taken so long. But I believe you. I just don't believe I deserve you. But you say I do.... And I'm going to put my faith in that. Because I don't think it's a lie". She swallowed. "I've got hurdles to clear, what with this being my first real relationship. But I promise you. Whatever love is... devotion, faith, loyalty, whatever the mix that makes up that word is. I believe that you love me. And I want you to know that in everything I do, I love you too".

She was silent for awhile, then chuckled. "Look at me. We're in the middle of a war zone and all I want to do is hold you. These Reapers won't kill themselves....." Yet still, she didn't take her hand away from Zia's as she looked into her eyes.

"I know where we are, but because of that, I want to speak. The important thing is what makes you happy. If your mother wants something from you that goes against your will and wishes, or denies you things that make you happy, then excuse me but she sounds like a bad mother to me."

"I agree." Momma issued a remark.

"Momma, you said you'd listen."

"Excuse me Zia, it's the mother in me. Please continue."

Zia was confused by mommas reply, but she figured it must be another AI joke, so she continued on her previous note.

"Jan, don't get me wrong, I never had a real mother, and I never really had a choice. I was young and I didn't know anything. It felt like I was born a 12 year old. What you say about me being free, well it might as well be quite the opposite. But I started to see that and I did a good thing and left. But I didn't feel fulfilled. The the academy was boring, they were learning more from me than I was from them, I don't even care that they used me, and later on my off world ICT, I was still killing by someone’s orders. Jan I want to get away from all this, and you gave me something I've never had before. A reason to go on. To escape the leash and devote my self to you. Because the time I spent with you, what little moments we've had together made me feel something unlike anything I felt before." Zia pulled her hood of her head, and let her hair loose as she threw a quick look to Wyld. Wyld saw a little tear escape Zia's eye.

''We'll figure out together Jan, you and me. Your mother, us, this damn fu***** war, and we'll be happy, I promise."

Modifié par Redbelle, 21 octobre 2013 - 07:01 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

BoL - The Lost Asari (On The Road Again) LIX

Ereba opened the flap and checked the back. "Everyone nice and cozy?"

The Krogan spoke up. "It's too crowded in here! Ow!"

"And here I thought you'd like being the center of attention." Ereba laughed at him. "Kiss and stroke his plates, 'Nassa. It'll make him feel better. That's what my mom does. We're going to be in here for about fifteen minutes unless we run into a ****storm."

"It's getting ****ing hot back here. Do you mind getting this piece of **** moving?" Jack yelled.

"Alright! Alright! Quit your b*tching." Ereba looked over at Shay in the passenger's seat. "Damned aliens."

"Ereba, we're the aliens here." Shay reminded her. She was checking through the slots in the windshield.

"What does the manual say, Shay." Ereba asked.

"Depress clutch, that's the pedal on the left, and push stick into the upper left position. Then depress accellerator. That's the pedal on the right, and slowly release the clutch." Shay read.

"What the ****? How do they drive these things? Alright. Hang on." Ereba revved the engine and released the clutch and the vehicle lunged and jerked forward. "Okay, now what?"

"Hey, can you actually drive this ****ing thing?" Jack shouted.

"Now depress clutch, and pull the stick to the lower left, and smoothly release the clutch." Shay said. "And I think that's as fast as we should go."

"I agree. Yeah, if you had advanced to hovercraft like we did, we wouldn't have this problem. Damned piece of **** vehicle." Ereba shouted back at Jack. "So shut the **** up."

"**** you!" Jack shouted. "Just get us there. The Krogan farted."

"Krogan always fart." Ereba shouted back. The vehicle was lumbering down the road at about 10 mph.

"Roll down a window." Shay yelled back at her.

"There are no ****ing windows!" Ranassa shouted.

"Well then stick your nose in a bullet hole." Ereba shouted. "You'd think these people never lived with Krogan, Shay. I swear to the Goddess. Hey, bring up the map on your omni-tool. Where am I supposed to go? And is there anyway I can get these 'armor' flaps up. I can't see ****."

Shay looked in the manual and hit a button, then checked her omni-tool.

"Wow, something is ****ing automatic in this piece of ****." Ereba commented.

"You're doing fine, babe." Shay put her hand on Ereba's thigh. " Just stay on the 201 until Elephant & Castle. Then you'll want to look for Walworth Rd. and follow that. It'll turn into Camberwell. Stay on that and it'll turn into Denmark Hill, then..."

"Slow down. I'm not going to remember all of this, and half of the place is all mangled and ripped up. It's dark and How do I know what street is what? Where are the signs?" Ereba was getting frustrated.

"Does this thing go any faster?" Prangley asked.

"Look, I'm doing the best I can. We're overloaded. We've got a ****ing nuke in here, and it's almost as old as one of us. If you want to go faster in this piece of ****, you be my guest. But the place the nuke goes off might not be where we want it to go off. Do you get my ****ing point?" Ereba shouted. "Now don't make me stop this vehicle and come back there."

The sarge was about dying listening to the conversation. Ereba was acting like a parent, and she was guessing like her Krogan father.

Shay slid next to Ereba and rubbed her neck and kissed her to try and calm her down. "It's okay, babe. Don't let them bother you. We'll be there soon. Then the fun begins."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Gnash led its squad into the wooded area next to Linden Grove. It had one Geth Juggernaut with a widow, six vorcha with flamers, and five mercs with assault rifles.

Gnash sniffed the air. "Air smell bad. Human, you take Geth and three others left. Rest stay with me. Shrrn take point. Stay low." (vorcha breathing sounds)

The vorcha moved quietly except for the breathing up the right side, while the humans and the Geth moved up the left. Then there was a scream, and another, and another, followed by some growls.

"Reapers! Attack!" Gnash pointed out of the underbrush. The banshees started jumping toward them. Shrrn used its flamer on one of them and rolled back, but was taken down by a husk.

"Not good. Not good." Gnash flamed the husks and drew the attention of the banshees. This allowed on Gnrrls to run to Shrrn and revive it.

"I'm alive!!!" Shrrn shouted. Somewhere in England, a kitten died.

The Juggernaut had one of the banshees by the throat and was beating it against a tree. But a banshee was getting close to Gnash. Gnash's flamer had run out of fuel.

Gnash was panicking. "No! No!" It switched to its shotgun and fired. It hurt the banshee but it was not enough and the banshee picked it up. The banshee smiled at Gnash as she sucked the life force out of the vorcha then discarded its lifeless body. The kitten was avenged.

The other vorcha had taken care of the husks and were now playing hide and seek with the banshees leading them one at a time into the grasp of their Geth Juggernaut.

The Juggernaut grabbed the next one and beat it senseless. "0010 110 100 1101 110 11010." ("That was for Gnash you b*tch!")

Shrrn was now in charge. "More reapers come! We leave! Too many! Wait for others."

And the unit left the wooded area. The reapers were heavily reinforcing the Eastern Front as the Alliance kept sending more and more troops to make sure that Commander Shepard got through to Peckham Rye Common.

[Redbelle]

Momma suddenly issued a warning. "We are half a mile from our designated location. I advise caution, possible enemy activity in proximity of our target."

Wyld felt her breath catch as she felt the rush of exhilaration. "Happy huh? Well, the way I see it. We've got to get past a crazy sister. Drag Naomi out of whatever has happened to her. Make sure the Bastion army doesn't implode on itself. Win a war against the powerful fleet of ships this galaxies ever seen and then tell my parent's I'm in love with a former Omegian enforcer". She looked over at Zia with a grin on her face. "You think every Tuesday's going to be like this"?

The Valkyr rumbled on, it's tyre's chewing up the distance until finally, they arrived a street away from their destination. They could see the blocky outline of the top of the shopping centre as they came to a final halt. a ruined building between them and the centre.

As they looked, they could see it's glass facing's had been blown apart leaving corridor’s and open spaces clear to see. Piece's of glass that had managed to cling on to their frames dangled perilously over a great fall. The cladding had had been ripped away in places with giants holes exposing the steel skeleton of the building. It looked like something had ridden up to the building and torn large chunks out of it. Leaving it hurt and wounded where it lay.

Naomi was in there, somewhere. With a crazy woman who might kill her on a whim.

The Widow swung over and it's IR sensor began sweeping the building as Wyld and Zia descended

It was time to go to work

Modifié par Redbelle, 22 octobre 2013 - 05:48 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

BoL - The Lost Asari (The Final Push) LX

Ereba was negotiating the roads the best she could following the instructions that Shayrana was giving her between licks on the back of her neck.

"Keep that up, babe, and I just might pull over here and embrace eternity. I still have those stim packs." Ereba had goosebumps all over her and was starting to weave a bit.

Seanne was starting to look green in the back, and Jack caught a glimpse through the slot separating the cab and the passenger area. "Hey! Knock it the **** off up there and drive in a straight ****ing line. It's ****ing hot and a some people are getting motion sick."

"Too late." Prangley said. Seanne vomitted.

"I'm kicking the **** out you.... After the mission." Jack pounded on the wall, then sat down and muttered. "Now I gotta smell this ****, too. First a Krogan fart, now puke."

Shay stopped licking Ereba. "Sorry. It's for the mission. Now turn...."

Ranassa put her hand on Jack. "Easy. Remember what we went through. Nothing can ever be as bad as being knee to hip deep in that. And knowing what it was, too. "

"Yeah, you're right." Jack replied. "We'll get through this. Hey, Seanne, how are you doing?"

"Better, for now. I just wish this ride was over." Seanne was still feeling horrible.

"Stay in the back when we get out, okay?" Jack ordered. "What's our status up there?"

"We're getting close. Hey Sarge. How close do you want to get? Do we want to run it?" Ereba asked.

"Depends upon what's there. The beam will be defended. One of those brute things could take out this thing though. Get as close as you can safely, we'll exit, then go down as quickly as possible. Anyone know anything about the Commons?" The Sarge asked.

Prangley raised his hand. "It's all open. No cover."

"Erikka, use your barrier to protect the big guy, and harden it. 'Nassa, you and T take out the trash. It would be a good time to use grenades, and explosive combos. Protect Xalrath." The sarge ordered.

A few minutes passed. Ereba was on the road that led directly to the Commons. The beam was directly in front. Burned out brick row houses lined the road.

"That's it were done. The road is blocked." Ereba shut down the vehicle. "We've got to walk from here. If I had a tank it would be different, but there are vehicles in the middle of the road. Destroyed vehicles. Everyone out. We've got about a block and then it's all open."

They were out of the vehicle and ready to rock.

"Okay everyone. My squad in pairs except for Erikka. Jack, you're with me. Marisa, stay in that barrier. Jack's squad we're going to need you to cut loose here. No holding back. This is all or nothing. When we get to the beam, everyone grab onto each other so we all end up in the same place. Let's move."

Jack was picking up some chatter on her com. '.... Shepard, this is Hackett. A group of Sovereign class reapers including Harbinger, have broken off and from our vector calculations, are headed to London.' "Hey, guys, we gotta double time it. We've got maybe five minutes before the ****storm arrives."

"You heard her. Let's move!" The sarge ordered, and they trotted to the green.

When they got to the edge of the Commons there was a drop off of about 4 feet. They helped Xalrath down. They could see most of the reaper forces set up in a defensive perimeter on the other side of the beam. There was a light defense perimeter on this side. A few hundred rounds or some well placed biotic detonations would make quick work. Erikka threw up her barrier. The atmospheric entry burns of the reapers could be seen. They were coming. It was going to be tight.

"We've gotta move!" The Sarge ordered. "Go! Go!"

"Let's rock!!!!!" Ranassa shouted and opened up on the reaper position around the beam with her minigun and capped off 400 rounds, and T was using her grenade launcher with incendiaries to create a corridor and put the entire place in disarray.

Now the teams charged the beam. The main reaper force turned and started to attack, but it was too late. Shay was fired with her Paladin and was taking out the husk wave that was closing in rapidly. The sarge had her AR on warp rounds and fired head shotting the banshees to stagger them as they tried to warp in close. Ereba was using her Locust with AP rounds on rushing cannibals.

Then Harbinger landed just about the time they were reaching the beam.

"Everyone, grab each other." The sarge ordered then she stepped into the beam.

Harbinger fired in their direction.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

The Geth drop ship arrived outside of Camp Bastion and dropped three primes, four hunters, three troopers, three rocket troopers, and four pyros. One of the primes seemed to be in charge of the group.

Prime 0010110 directed the others. "01101 101 1110 11011 100001 11100 101"

The others in sequence acknowledged with "1101101" The squad moved into the camp and took up defensive positions.

Prime 0010110 approached Captain Radcliffe, and turned on its D/A converters. "We are 0010110. We are here to assist you against imminent reaper attack. We will not give up our sentience. Your organic platforms that remain in the camp should act as the second line of defense. Instruct you platforms not to fire on us.

"0011101 1101 111101 1101 101110 1011100 10101 00001 0101 001 000 1011"

A Prime, 10100100, took position near the entrance. "1101101. 0101 100001 10110 10001 10101 101011101 00001011010 100001 1001 000110101 0000010 101001011 0101000011 1000101001 10010010 0100."

Captain Radcliffe asked for a translation.

Prime 0010110 obliged. "It said, 'If you are planning to go anywhere, now would be a good time to do so. We will defend this camp.'"

"Why couldn't it have said that in the first place?" Radcliffe asked.

Prime 0010110 replied. "We find analog communication inefficient."

[Kel Riever]

“There is a point to what Artemis is doing,” Grelk snorted as he looked sideways at Radcliffe. “Everything is going to get overrun. We need to move out, with whomever we have available.”
 
“I need every asset available, and that includes Artemis,” Captain Radcliffe protested.
 
“Captain,” Grelk consoled, “If they are like many Commando groups I know, they were always going to do what they deemed necessary. We’ll make amends for recon. I’m sure we’ve benefited from whatever they’ve already done. Look at our forces. A squad like that would be hindered by these regulars, let alone the new blood.”
 
Heavy footfalls caused a stir in the command center. Steiner entered, fully decked out in his N7 Destroyer armor. He strode directly up to Radcliffe and Grelk, saluting.
 
Radcliffe shook his head, “We’ve been looking for you.”
 
“Sorry, sir,” Steiner responded, hardly hiding his insincerity with the apology. “But the ‘new blood’ you’re talking about is as ready as they’re ever going to be. We’ll need to integrate them, and don’t expect to go without a problem or two, but I’ve…pressed…the idea into them that they’re best chances of survival are working with each other. And us, for that matter.”
 
Captain Radcliffe was generally patient, but he felt himself approaching his limit, “Fine. There are some missing personnel here…another commander, a supposed force integration specialist, now Artemis. I’m still looking for an N7 fury. But I’m not waiting to get what we have organized and orders handed out.” Radcliffe eyed the two other senior officers in the room, Commander Jahangir and Operative Lawson. “Anybody disagree?”
 
Neither of the two objected.
 
“Right,” Radcliffe affirmed and pointed to the holo-map technician, who pulled up an aerial display of London. Captain Radcliffe went on, “This is the situation. We need to move our forces that can’t be transported across London Bridge. That primarily means the Geth Primes and ground APCs. Some of our vehicles like the Tomkah, Makos and air transports can get across without the bridge and secure the opposite side. Still, our forces will be vulnerable on the bridge when they cross. One good Reaper beam can pull the whole thing down and I can only believe they haven’t bothered to do so already because they are responding to other threats.”
 
“Sir,” Farzam interjected, “What about that Reaper force moving in that you spoke of before. Will we be fighting a rear action?”
 
“Negative. We do not have the resources for that,” Radcliffe responded. “This Sovereign Class Reaper and its aggressors will try to overtake us. But we need all our fighters moving forward, and to evacuate the civilians to the bunker. So we are going to blow some of the base buildings to try and slow them down once we are out. There’s enough to make it happen, even with the ordinance that was…run off with.” 
 
Grelk stared at the map. “They can still catch us, but if we can make it onto the bridge before then, they’ll be bottlenecked on this side.”
 
Captain Radcliffe used his omni-tool to zoom in with the map on the opposite side of the bridge. “Exactly. Once across, we will have to form up to make our advance to the beam.” Radcliffe gave a hard glance to Steiner, “Commander, your Einsfeld Rifles, along with Terra Firma and the Misfits are the core. The APC’s are yours and you’ll be crossing the bridge on foot, because the Geth Primes will be walking with you. Once across, feel free to pick who is on each flank, with the exception that I want your Einsfelds directly in the middle, and walking with the Geth Primes to protect them. In return, they will increase your firepower.”
 
“I suppose you want me to secure the shoreline,” Grelk guessed.
 
“That’s right. I’m assigning the majority of the shuttles, some Makos and the Tomkah to get your men and the krogan across, ahead of Steiner’s move onto the bridge. Once everyone is across, Captain Grelk, your situation will change. The krogan will be the lead…the tip of the spear. They’re giving up the Tomkah at that point and proceeding on foot. Beyond that, Grelk, I’m counting on you for almost everything else. I need your unit to provide recon, shore up Steiner’s flanks, and in general, go where I need you to go. Its going to be a mess over there but you’re going to have to cover all the trouble spots while giving me the intel we need as we go.”
 
Miranda spoke up, “Sir…”
 
“Yes, I know,” Radcliffe grumbled. “There are a few exceptions to this plan. First off, Operative Lawson has her own mission, under direct orders from the top. She’s coordinating a Thanax missiles strike. So she has authority to pull whomever she needs for that strike. The missiles will be on board the Tomkah and its Lawson’s to do with it as she pleases once it is across. If anybody has a question about who she pulls for the task, you can run it by me but she’s likely to get whatever small force she needs for her mission. Moreover, Commander Wyld will have her own say…”
 
Steiner let out a heavy sigh.
 
“Yes, Steiner,” Radcliffe squared off with the Destroyer, “Wyld still answers to me directly and nothing has changed in regards to that. What she says, goes. She’ll also determine her own role for the group of…mechs. This is not up for debate.”
 
“What do you wish Tempest Squadron to do, sir?” Farzam inquired.
 
“You are our air cover. I know you only have three gunships but like Grelk, your mission will need to be fluid. Air cover and emergency transport. You may get called away by Miranda, Wyld or one of the other leaders, but you’ll have to roll with it. And be ready to cover our asses, too, if that Reaper force behind us gets too close.”

Captain Grelk asked, “And you, Captain Radcliffe? Where will you be?”
 
“My men will be rear guard, but I will be in a Mako. I’ll get across the river with Grelk, but once we form up, I’ll be with Steiner and the Primes.”

A quiet descended on the room as the plan began to sink in. Farzam busily examined smaller data displays while Captain Grelk surveyed the London map. Radcliffe gave everyone a moment, and then spoke again. “Let’s go over the details, but I want us wrapped as soon as possible and the troops briefed.”

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

BoL - The Lost Asari (The Citadel) LXII

The Sarge landed hard, and a second later she took a gasp of air. It was dead silent. Then she looked around and saw a lot of movement and heard groaning. The area she was in was dark reddish. She stood up and noticed there were bodies all around her. Most of them were dead humans. Some humans were moving and getting to their feet. Some were Asari. She was getting her bearings.

"Hello? Ereba? Shay? 'Nassa?" She called. "Anyone here?"

"Yeah, that was a hell of a ride." Ereba was still getting her bearings. "Did everyone make it?"

"Looks like two of the humans didn't." Urdnot Xalrath was climbing to his feet. "Don't worry. I've got your bomb."

"Jack!" Ranassa shouted. "Are you okay?"

Jack was checking on her squad. "Yeah. We got some casualties. Caitlyn and Steve didn't make it, and a couple got injured. I'm patching them up."

Shay got out her kit. "Give me a minute. I'll be over."

"Thanks. That Reaper fired at us just as you were going into the beam, and it hit the ground. We're lucky to be alive." Jack was checking over Seanne as Shay got over to her. "She's got some severe burns. Do we have anything?"

"Just Medi-gel. We weren't expecting anything like this. Sarge has some special training though, and might be able to help." Shay was applying the Medi-gel. "Sarge! We need you."

"Be right there." She went over to Seanne. "Ouch. That looks bad." The armor had burned away around her heel and she had second and third degree burns.

Ranassa grabbed the liquid from the kit. "Jack, hold still."

"****!" Jack winced.

"You got a nasty wound on your back. Let me clean it." 'Nassa said.

"I'll be alright." Jack said.

'Nassa snapped at her. "The **** you will. Did you see where you landed? Don't be a ****ing hero. Let me clean it and Medi-gel it. T, grab her if she tries to get away."

"You guys." Jack smiled.

"You're one of us now." T told her.

"Could you apply a pain block, Sarge." Shay asked.

The Sarge nodded and stroked Seanne's head. "Okay, Seanne, relax. I'm going to need to go into your head and bond with you a little. And I'll find that spot where that pain comes in, and put a biotic barrier on it." The sarge said. "Now this will only last a couple of hours. She shouldn't even be moving with where this burn is, but we can't leave her here or she'll get processed. I'm pretty sure of it." The Sarge entered Seanne's mind and took care of the pain.

Jack looked around. There were Keepers processing corpses. "That's what it looks like. You mean this Citadel is a ****ing reaper factory? It's been that all along, and I was ****ing partying in it about a month ago?" Jack lowered her weapon and was ready to start firing.

Ereba stopped her. "Jack. I know what you're feeling. They know we're here, but we're nothing to them until we start hurting them. We might find something bigger."

"Yeah, like that ****ing reaper they're making. Come on, let's move out." Jack pulled it together. "My guys have heard this, but did I ever tell you about what me, Shepard, and this merc Zaeed did on this Collector base? We saw where they were making a ****ing reaper...." Jack told them the story while they were walking toward what looked like an exit from the hall of gore.

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 31 octobre 2013 - 07:21 .

[Redbelle]

Padre and Babylon exited the command centre just as a massive cheer erupted in front of them. Looking at across the ground, that was filled with the bodies of soldier and militia alike, she saw Wyld, standing atop the bonnet of that vehicle she had first met her in.

Wyld was saying something and Babylon realised that her Omni tool was still in it's privacy setting. She toggled it off, and heard Wyld's voice. “..... don't leave them waiting”.

Wyld then jumped into the passenger seat next to some woman she had never met and together, they launched themselves towards the front gates and out of her sight.

She swallowed. The time for Bastion to push out now seemed more real than ever. She had always known they would of course.... But after seeing Wyld leave......

And she still had so much to do......

Looking around, she spotted Steiner standing with a group of other commander's. She turned to Padre and said. “I've got to get back to things. Are we done for now”?

Padre nodded, tipped his hat. “For now”. He repeated, and strode away.

Babylon turned back to the group that Steiner was with and saw them beginning to melt away. No doubt walking off to ready their own troops for action. As she approached him she heard the sound of Mako engines turn over and several of the giant tanks began slowly moving out towards the gate as well. The recon teams, Babylon knew. Seemed like Radcliffe was now putting out a greater projection of eye's and ears.

The push was now feeling uncomfortably close. She had to be fast.

She strode up to Steiner, who saw her and half turned to nod an acknowledgement when she dropped the bombshell.

“Who's Sam”?

As if a switch had gone off Steiner's face clouded over as he swung himself around to fully face himself against Babylon. She was now standing in front of a towering figure of muscle and armour who was face was twitching with barely contained fury.

He pointed a finger and poked her chest with every word. “That's. None. Of. Your. Business”. He sucked in a lungful of air as he came up to his full height. “Is that understood”?

Amy however would not be put off so easily. “This is important Klaus. I need to know who this person is. You need to.....”.

“IS THAT UNDERSTOOD”! Steiner roared.

Crack.

Babylon’s hand stinged where her hand had met his face but she could not be sidetracked now. “I'm not one of your recruits, jackass”. She told him coldly. “You think I want you in my life like this? Your a problem to be solved. A man with a past. And now I know..... what's eating away at you? It's Sam. Isn't it. Who was he”?

Steiner's head swung around and fixed her with a glare and she understood. “It wasn't a he, was it..... It was a woman...... Yours”?

Steiner's eye's narrowed to slits and he waved a MP over.

“Klaus.... I've seen people go into events with something eating at them and it's cost them when it counted, because their mind wasn't on the game. You may not be comfortable with your image I've built for you. But trust me.... It's going to be your most important..... HEY”?

As she had been speaking the MP had come to a halt and Steiner simply pointed at her. The MP had grabbed her arm then, prompting the squawk of protest. The MP looked to Steiner.

“I want her on the first transport back to their bunker”. He told him. The MP nodded and starting pulling Babylon who tried pulling away.

“Klaus! You can't do this”?

“I'm an N7 Amy”. He told her without looking back. “I can do anything”.

Modifié par Redbelle, 26 octobre 2013 - 04:24 .

[Kel Riever]

(Note:  The following was a collaboration with Khambilo)

Careful to keep under cover this time, Rea maneuvered the Starscreamer among low sitting buildings. Her movements were fluid and elegant as she curved through the alleyways. Rothan held firmly onto Rea as he had before, but his touch was less anxious. He was no longer clinging onto her for dear life. He was holding hear because he wanted to.

The few minutes it took to return to Camp Bastion passed too quickly. As they rounded the corner, catching their first glimpse of the encampment, Rothan could already see more movement than before. Whatever respite had been found at the camp seemed to be coming to a close.

In another fluid motion, Rea brought the bike to a stop within the boundaries of the camp.

“You know, it is not too late for us to fly back out,” Rothan said.

Rea chuckled, readying herself for a remark, but was cut off.

“Rea! Rothan!” They both turned to the sound of the incoming voices, spotting Hugh and the other Misfits running for them.

Then, the loud roar of cheering echoed off the walls of the camp. Rea and Rothan looked up and around, wondering what was going on.

“Oh for all that is holy,” Hugh said, disappointed, “We missed Wyld’s speech.”

“That’s what you were coming to tell us?” Rothan tilted his head, perplexed. “You wanted us to see Jan rouse the troops?”

Hugh ran his hand through his hair, “Well, yeah! I mean, lift our spirits and all that.” Then Hugh smirked, “But, of course, you two lovebirds probably have your spirits as high as they can fly. Am I right?”

Rothan watched Rea’s cheeks turn a deep purple through the illumination of her hard light helm.

Cole raised and lowered his eyebrows, “I think I can see Rothan smiling through his visor…” Then Hugh and Cole simultaneously screamed out, “OW!”

Mia stood behind them, with a tuft of hair from each of her fellow Misfits in her hand.

Rea and Rothan’s omni-tools sprang to life. The two were taken surprise. A familiar voice was audible through their coms. “Well, if you two are done with your rest and recoup, I have some business to discuss with you.”

Rea sighed, “Miranda…”

“Rea, its good to hear your voice.” Miranda said warmly. “I was trying to contact you…”

Rea looked away from the watching Misfits to Rothan. “Yes, I was without my omni-tool for awhile. I just… needed some quiet.”

“I understand,” Miranda said. “Meet me over at the launch pad.”

“Will do,” Rothan said. A simple click to his omni-tool and the transmission ended. Rothan looked to Rea, frowning slightly. Rea matched his expression. They both knew what was coming.

Meanwhile, Hugh and the others ventured over to the Starscreamer, examining its glossy surface again.

“Soooo….” Hugh began, looking to Rothan. “Did you enjoy the ride?”

Rothan immediately softened his expression as he looked to Hugh. “Oh yes, very much so. And Rea… You should have seen the way she flew. She was amazing.”

Hugh smirked. “I’m sure she was.” Cole giggled, trying his hardest to cover his expression.

“Alright, alright,” Rea groaned. “Why don’t you boys make yourselves useful and tune up the bike once more. Rothan and I have someplace to be.”

Eventually, Rothan and Rea made their way to Miranda. It had become abundantly clear that the vibe had changed when they arrived. Miranda’s once flawless appearance seemed mussed, her hair in a slight state of disarray and her face creased by stress as she issued orders to various subordinates. Then there were the crews dismantling the larger missile rigs that had once been a part of vehicles that would now have to be towed on foot. Miranda spotted them almost instantly and marched towards them.

“Ah, good,” Miranda said. “I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show.”

Rea looked to Rothan before answering. “We were otherwise… preoccupied.”

“No doubt,” Miranda said, the faintest hint of a smile coming over her face. “I’m glad you two were able to work things out.”

Rothan’s face went hot with flushed. “How did you know?”

“It’s a small camp,” Miranda said. “Also, Hugh.”

“Figures,” Rothan shook his head.

“I hate to cut this short but onto business,” Miranda tucked her hand behind her back. “We’re nearly read to move out, meaning that we’ll need you and the other diversion group to move forward.”

Rea’s brow arched. “Other. Just one other.”

“It’s volunteer only at this point,” she said, turning her blue eyes away. “The odds of survival at this point are admittedly low, but I think every soldier here can say the same thing.”

Rothan nodded in agreement. “True, but only one other group of people volunteered.”

“Krogan to be specific,” Miranda said. “I believe you are already acquainted with Clanless and his men.”

Miranda pointed over her shoulder and amongst the shuffling personnel. Rothan could see Clanless, Plog, Bruug and the others milling about. The krogan looked restless, not the two shades of panicked that everyone else showed.

“Of course,” Rea said with a chuckle. “The only people crazy enough to move forward with this plan are ourselves and a few krogan.”

Despite knowing their odds, having the familiar krogan faces around was somehow comforting to Rothan. Maybe he felt better about his odds entirely. After all, the Starscreamer was fast and glossy, bound to draw a lot of attention. But by virtue of Rea’s piloting skills and the omni-shields that Rothan had installed as armor, they and the bike were unlikely to take much damage, at least in theory. Rothan wondered what the krogans’ strategy would be.

“Here’s the plan,” Miranda said, calling up a projection of the battlefield from her omni-tool. “While Camp Bastion’s forces are moving out here,” she said pointing, “My teams will be moving here. It is a slightly more circuitous route, but it will have to do. There’s a collection of buildings near the dreadnaught’s location where will be setting up. If we can get the majority of our forces there and if everything goes right on Commander Shepard’s end, then we should be able to bring the Reaper down.”

Rea and Rothan exchanged glances. The ‘ifs’ in this plan were problematic, but what other choice was there?

“Here’s where you come in,” Miranda continued, motioning to the map again, “Reaper forces are thick everywhere. No count on how much they outnumber us by but you get the picture. We need their attention drawn away from these two locations.” Miranda pointed to two small collections of buildings on the map. It made sense that she would be trying to get her groups through there - if she did, her squads would be able to get to their assigned firing positions with ample amounts of cover available.

Miranda at last looked to them. “Think you can manage?”

Rea looked once more at the map, concentrating. “There are details to work out, but…you really can’t ask anyone else to do this. You don’t have to hold that back, Miranda.”

The cold reality was evident in Miranda’s expression, “No, you are correct. Your role is critical at this juncture.”

Rothan took Rea’s hand and faced Miranda. “Let’s get this done.”

Modifié par Kel Riever, 28 octobre 2013 - 09:54 .

[Redbelle]

(Note:  The following installment was a collaboration with FuriousFelicia)


Zia put her mask on. "My mask lets me see through walls, but it has a very small range. Momma anything on the sensors yet?"

"Negative. If the target is behind too many obstacles, the IR scope won't be able to find it."

"Can you drive the Valkyr around the perimeter to scout all sides?" Asked Zia.

"I could, however, I'm detecting reaper ground forces near the south east side of the building. The Valkyr could alert them to our presence."

Zia and Jan looked to each other. "If this gets messy and loud, we'll alert them in any case, but I suggest we try to move in closer. We can always call upon Momma for an intervention if necessary. What do you think Jan?" Zia looked to Wyld.

"We need an entry point. But let's be careful. In my book crazy doesn't mean stupid. Your sister may have a way to detect us coming". Wyld looked around the corner of the building where they hid out of sight of their target. "We have several entry points. There are some holes in the walls. Several of them look recent. If we go for one of those, and assuming Lucy hasn't had the time to trap them with detectors we may get lucky with our entry".

Wyld scanned up the side of the building and shook her head. "Facings are to badly damaged to anchor onto. The grapnels might work but I say we make entry at ground level, like we've been trained to. When we're inside we can stay together or split off. It'll depend on what we find".

She looked between them and the building. "Cover's not great. But there's enough to hide behind if we take fire. I hope she's alone because keeping an eye on the inside and outside of the centre is impossible for one person. Best guess, if there's anything to watch out for, it'll be passive sensor's and mines".

She looked back to Zia. "Mines. Now there's a cheery thought".

"If I know Lucy, she's high, and I mean both on the sand as well as in the building. The upper floors look damaged but it seems like they are accessible. If this is what Disdain picked for a hideout, than I will assume that Lucy is on the top floor. She must have some kind of gadget to keep an eye on the perimeter or I don't know Disdain." Stated Zia. "Wait a minute." She had a thought pop to her mind.

"That road is a wide run for us not to be spotted...... but look." She pointed to a sewer entrance on the floor. "We can use the sewer system to get underneath the building, and infiltrate without being seen. Momma do you have access to London maps, and infrastructure records?"

"Yes. But it would not provide an accurate information. The path on the surface suggests a possible obstructions underground. The sewer system could be damaged and obstructed."

"We can try, you can track our movement and lead us along the path." Zia looked to Wyld. "What do you think? Shall we get ourselves a little dirty?" She smiled.

Wyld pursed her lips. "Wouldn't be the first time tonight. You take point. I'm guessing Geth tech beats lo-light so you'll have a clearer picture in the dark down there. I'll take the rear".

Wyld pursed her lips. "It wouldn't be the first time tonight. You take point. I'm guessing Geth tech beats lo-light so you'll have a clearer picture in the dark down there. I'll take the rear".

''Right." Affirmed Zia. She tapped her omni tool and took a quick full turn around herself. Than she looked to the shaft on the floor. "Ok, so I'm not detecting anything in 20 meters around us except..'' Zia threw a look behind her shoulder and gave Jan a look below the brow. "How do you feel about rats?"

"Rats"? Said Wyld with a worried expression. "Maybe I should bring the flamethrower. That'll light the way".

"We do not have a flame thrower in the equipment locker". Momma pointed out as she appeared on Wyld's Omni tool. "Though if these rats have turned carnivorous and begun eating there own kind then you should be in no danger".

She disappeared and Wyld groaned. "Rat's..... Why did it have to be rats......".

Modifié par Redbelle, 29 octobre 2013 - 10:23 .

[Redbelle]

(Note:  The following installment was a collaboration with FuriousFelicia)


"Zia muffled her giggle. "It's just rats Jan. "She grinned, and checked Wlyd's barriers were up. "Besides.." She continued as she took a few stepes away from Wyld. "They'll fry before they come anywhere near us.'' As she smiled wickedly, she made a swipe motion with her hand, and suddenly she flashed in blue neon burst, and biotic tendrils started flowing around her body.

"You have your shields up, right? Walk slowly towards me."

Wyld looked at the swirls of light that glided across her body. Just walk towards her?

"Okay". She said taking a step. "But I still wish we had a flame thrower".

As she approached she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end as she stepped up to where Zia stood. Her shields hit the field Zia had erected first and they gave off a slight hiss as they connected. Zia looked up and seemed to focus, and the hiss went away. Wyld stepped in close and Zia held out her hand. Wyld grasped it, and looked on as the biotic tendrils began working their way up to Wyld's elbow, where they stopped. She looked at Zia....

"Zee..... Is this..... safe"?

"No, step back."

Wyld jumped back, and the blue tendril slipped off of her. She looked at Zia with concern.

"It's okay. I can only make it a bit less uncomfortable for you, but it will harm you in the long run." Zia saw Wyld swallow as her eyes widened. "Don't worry, just come slowly close until it just arcs on your shield, and then you can use your omni tool to modulate your shield frequency. We just have to find the right frequency modulation and the arc will brake. That means you're in the clear."

Wyld did as Zia said and with a few quick alterations, her barrier stopped arcing. She looked at Zia. "So as long as I'm close to you... we're rat proof right"? She stopped as a though suddenly hit her. "Wait!..... What if the Reapers have been transforming rats? Big biotic Reaper rats! With sharp teeth.... That are so strong they can drag a full sized human to the rat Reaper king? What if I'm indoctrinated by a rat"?

She saw the look Zia was giving her. "What"? She asked. "I'm allowed to not like rats"! She gnawed her lip. "Who likes rat's”? She insisted before getting back on track. “If we're going to do this, then let's do this". Wyld yanked her Paladin from it's hard point. "I'm totally prepared". She said. "Though maybe if we used an aerosol and a lighter....".

"We should be as quiet as possible. Just don't fire that thing on something smaller than a brute down there. I'll handle the rats." Zia said and used pull to lift the lid of the shaft. She peered down the shaft. It was dark, and she couldn't see down the hole.

"Jan, grab some torches from Bucky, I saw them laying somewhere in the back."

Jan quickly jogged to the Valkyr and came back with a couple of red flare sticks. She lit one up, and threw it down. It looked clear so Zia started to descend, followed by Wyld.

When they got down, they found themselves in a cramped pipe that led one way. Zia slowly started to walk, and Jan followed her in the back. When they took some distance from the shaft, Wyld thought to light another torch, but she saw that Zia's field was shimmering so bright that it light their way. Zia abruptly tapped her omni tool."

"What is it?" Asked Wyld.

"Meh..It's nothing. Just turned off the Geth scanner in my mask. Nothings there, and it hurts my eyes in this dark." Replied Zia.

They came to an opening, and stepped out of that cramped tube. Both stretched in relief as this section had a higher ceiling. It looked like an intersection of passages with the main canal flowing in the middle. But flowing with some kind of goo. It looked disgusting and it smelled even worse.

"What a hell is that s***." Muttered Zia looking at canal.

Wyld looked down. "Well..... we are in a sewer so I'd say you called it. But.....”. She went on. “....With the city evacuated, and all the rain? I think we don't want to know". Despite her words Wyld activated her medical scanner and crouched down.

She was there for maybe half a minute muttering about animal fat and acidic ranges and something about anaerobic conditions before she got back up. "Zee.....". She said. "....You don't want to know. Let's focus on getting into the centre".

"Okay, but something tells me we better avoid it all together." Zia remarked. "Momma, do you have our directions. We came to a junction point. Could use some way points."

"Affirmative Zia. You should see a crossing to your right. You need to cross the canal. There is a shaft on the other side that leads to the building." Zia looked right and saw a small bridge that connected walkways along the canal. She gestured Wyld to follow as she took point.

"Look Jan, a rat." Zia teasingly indicated pointing at a rat coming their way. As it came closer to them, a tendril from Zia's biotic aura arced and as soon as it touched the rat, it started to spasm and rolled dead on the floor.
Zia smiled to Jan. "See, he didn't have the right modulation." She chuckled. They got up and crossed the bridge. "Okay Momma, now what?" Asked Zia.

"To your right, in approximately 30 feet, there should be a shaft on the left." Stated Momma.

They continued to trail along side the canal for a couple of meters when they found the shaft. Zia gave Wyld a halt signal when she quickly engaged her scanner again to check if the shaft is clear. Seeing the coast was clear, she proceeded through the shaft, and Wyld followed her.

It was a cramped pipe just like the one they came from when they came down. Jan lit another torch and tossed it down the pipe.

"There should be an intersection further down the shaft." Momma remarked. "When you reach it, turn right, from there, it should be a straight line to the building."

When they came to the crossing they saw that the pipe momma was talking about had been collapsed. "It's a dead end momma." Stated Zia. "Now what?"

"I warned you that the sewer system might be damaged." Responded momma.

Zia looked to Wyld and shrugged. "Yeah we'll, asses, adapt and overcome. What's our alternative?"

"There should be another shaft on the right further down, it runs parallel to this collapsed line. There will be a small drainage pipe that connects those two shafts but it's small. You will have to crawl through it." Momma told the two.

"So much for staying clean." Remarked Wyld. Zia smirked. "Good thing that armour is pearl white." She sarcastically commented giggling. "Let's just hope we come out behind the obstruction. Ready to upgrade those shiny new robes with some mud and s***?" She turned to Wyld.

Wyld let out a sigh. "Well, this is what I get for letting Sully pick the colour scheme. Okay. let's go....". She spotted another rat and reflexively gripped her pistol's grip tighter. "..... Let's go before I start shooting up this place.... I swear.   Something's watching us down here".

Modifié par Redbelle, 30 octobre 2013 - 08:12 .

[Redbelle]

(Note:  The following installment was a collaboration with FuriousFelicia)

As Wyld spoke, Zia felt chills roll down her spine. "Let's hope the next one is walk-able." She said as she led the way to the next junction. They took a right turn as momma instructed. This one seemed clear of obstructions.

They walked a couple of meters when suddenly momma voiced out. "You missed the shaft. Go back, it should be just on your left."

Jan turned back with now Zia following her. "We didn't pass any passages." Confusedly muttered Zia.

"As I said, it would be a small drainage pipe connecting the two passages." Momma insisted.

"Oh great, how typical." Sighed Wyld.

"What is it Jan?" Zia leaned over Wyld's shoulder as she was pointing at something on the left wall.
She found the pipe, but it was so small that first time they missed it. It was no more than a meter in diameter.

Zia crouched to take a look. She turned back to Wyld and grinned. "You know, I would like to let you take the lead here, cause the only way we're going through this hole is crawling on our bellies." She giggled as she took a peek at Wyld's behind. "But, I better go first in case there's more rats along the way." She added and ducked to stick her head in the pipe. Supporting her body on her elbows, she slowly started to crawl down the pipe.

Wyld took a deep breath, and exhaled in frustration. "There goes the paint job." She sighed, and started to crawl her way into the pipe, and after Zia.

It was dark, damp and smelly but Zia found the exit was just a few meters away as she saw a feint glimmer of light up ahead. "I'm there." She shouted back to Wyld behind her. "But there are bars blocking the way out..let me see if I can open it." She pushed her hands against the bars but they wouldn't budge. She hit punched it a few times but still nothing. "Damn it! It won't budge!" She shouted.

"Try with a throw!" Came back a shout from Wyld.

"Throw from prone position...that will be a new one for me." Zia noted to herself. "Oh well, here goes nothing." Wyld heart a swooshing sound and then sound of metal hitting the concrete.

"Did it do it?" Wyld asked.

Zia's voice echoed through the pipe on the other side. "Yup, we're through."

When Wyld's head popped out of the pipe, Zia pulled her by her hands to help her out. "Oh Jan, look at your new armour."

Wyld looked down and sighed. Toggling the adaptive camouflage function she leaned back against the wall and looked down to see that her armour still took on the walls texture and colour..... But the dirt and gunk that adhered to the armour remained visible. "Not a problem". She said. "I can wash it off". She looked at Zia who, likewise, was covered in the pipes grime. She shook her head. "Never mind the armour. I'll keep it in camo mode. Chances are we'll be encountering resistance sooner or later". As she got off the wall she gestured at Zia. "Look's like I'll be hosing you down later when this is done". She noted slyly. "Now can we go? I've seen the films. There's always something down in places like these that follows the party and picks off the one on the end so the group doesn't know it's under attack".

"Jaaan". Zia said, exasperated.

"Or they pick off the one at the front and leave the other's in a blind panic". Wyld went on. "Seriously? Reaper Rats. Giant mutant augmented rats with giant arms and legs that scuttle around in the ceiling". She saw Zia shoot her a look. "It. Could. Happen". She insisted.

Zia shook her head. "Jan.... Why are you so jumpy about rats"?

"I'm not jumpy"!

"There's one by your foot".

Wyld made an aborted shriek and jumped around and back into Zia's who threw her arms around her. Wyld meanwhile looked down and saw nothing where Zia had said there was. She looked over her shoulder. "You sneaky little.....".

"I'm not jumpy, huh"? Zia said.

Wyld began pulling away. "We get a lot of rats around the field centres". She said. "One's where we don't have repellent to keep them back. They....". She shuddered. "They get in..... everywhere".

"I'll admit, they are repulsive little critters, and they spawn like a plague. But it looks like the reapers have nothing on them. They will outlive us all. Roaches on the other hand, I can't stand, and they'll outlive even the rats." Said Zia.

Momma abruptly voiced herself again. "I am reading you both on the other side, can you confirm?"

"We're fine momma." Came a reply from both in the same time. Zia and Wyld looked at each other and giggled.

"What is funny?" Bluntly asked momma.

Zia and Wyld laughed. "Nothing momma, me and Jan just took a second to sync ourselves. Are we on track here, cause, there is a big pile of rocks behind us, and I wouldn't wanna go back through that pipe again?" Zia asked as she turned around and saw that the tunnel was blocked behind them. So they must have made it behind the obstruction.

"There is a hatch that leads to the shopping centre’s boiler room down this passage and to the right." Said momma so with little options, the girls made their way down the tunnel. They shortly came to a fork that led left and right so they turned right. From here it was a short way too a dead end with the ladder leading up.

"This looks right." Said Zia, and engaged her scanner again looking up the shaft. "Ok Jan, it looks clear." She grabbed the rail and put her foot on the ladder. She turned to Wyld and issued a sly remark as she smiled. "You get to look at my a*** again:"

Wyld opened her mouth to say something, then thought better of it. "It does take up a lot of the view". She smirked as she placed a foot on the ladder as Zia ascended.

Zia stopped, looked down. "I heard that".

"Then let's go already"! Wyld persisted. "Unless you want me to poke you".

"Don't you dare". Zia said as she resumed her climb. Wyld however couldn't let it go.

"I wonder.... maybe it's like poking my leg. Want to find out"?

"I saw you've covered those spots on your leg". Zia threw over her shoulder. "Okay. I'm at the hatch".

Wyld nodded. All business. "Okay. I'm staying in camo so expect me to look different if we split up and don't..... warp me. When we're in, we need to start looking for a way up. And keep an eye out for any detectors. Trip laser's on the walls. Camo cam's hidden on surfaces. You probably know better what their capabilities are. Unless they have help, and it doesn't sound like they do, we should be able to keep the initiative. And keep quiet".

Zia nodded and began to lift the hatch when she felt Wyld prodding her. She looked down. "What"?

Wyld looked chagrin. "We stink. So if we do find her..... Let's not let the smell give us away".

Zia took a sniff and had to admit, Wyld had a point. Giving Wyld a nod she pushed against the hatch and found it hard to move. Most likely it had never been lifted since the Reaper began landing on Earth.

She braced herself higher up and using her legs to assist, managed to push hard enough to feel it begin to give with a rasp of metal on metal. She looked down at Wyld who nodded.

Zia took a deep breath and shunted the hatch with all her strength and the hatch groaned in protest before popping open. Zia already had her head up and over the lip. Scanning her head around she saw nothing and emerged with Wyld right behind her.

Modifié par Redbelle, 31 octobre 2013 - 12:33 .

[Kel Riever]

Navarro guided the Starscreamer in hover mode as the Misfits walked towards the armory. Outside, several Alliance soldiers from varying units were making last minute preparations. “She really doesn’t need a tune-up, you know.”
 
Hugh glanced sidelong at Navarro. “I know.”
 
Cole asked, “Where’s Riptide? I haven’t seen her since we started working on the bike.”
 
Mia shrugged and pointed to the white armored Terra Firma assembly. 
 
“Really,” Cole remarked as he shook his head. “And they took her in, just like that?”
 
A sudden beam of red light lanced across the sky. All eyes turned to stare up at the Reaper beam as it found its target, a tall building about a kilometer away. The building was destroyed instantly. Heat from the passing beam could be felt on exposed skin.
 
Activity stopped and those within Camp Bastion became quiet. The Misfits felt the encroaching dread as they were struck with the threat of an immediate death. Hugh nervously ran a hand through his hair, and looked to Mia. Her expression had become cloudy with despair.
 
“Fall in!” An order cracked through the air like a gunshot.
 
A score of Turians preparing to board a shuttle snapped to attention in perfect unison. A reflective sheen ripple through the unit as their insignia caught the light of the Moon.
 
“Ensfield Rifles!” Another, hard voice called out its order. “Attention!”
 
Two dozen humans rose as one, in formation.
 
“For Earth!” The shout went up from the Terra Firma assembly.
 
A krogan voice erupted from the crowd. “For Tuchanka!” It was Urdnot Bruug and his comrades. They raised their fists and roared.
 
Not knowing exactly what came over him, Hugh felt an energy bursting forth. He took off his trench coat and ran to a series of crates in the armory yard. Hugh leapt on top, swung the trench coat over his head and screamed at the top of his lungs.
 
“For ALL!”
 
He was met by an uproar.
 
The mood of the Wyld’s speech, and of what was being fought for, was recaptured. A verbal cadence was given from one of the officers and the score of turians waiting to board began to march in step towards the shuttles they were boarding. Hugh stopped waving the trench coat and felt his cheeks flushed. He watched as the body of the camp began to move with action.
 
“Feeling your oats, there, son?” The voice was Sully’s and it came from behind.
 
Hugh looked back and down towards Sully. Embarrassed, he meekly stated, “I should just shut up, shouldn’t I?”
 
Shaking his head, Sully replied, “You’re fine. There’s no need to shut up for the end of this storm. But our job is done here. You and your crew are coming with me and we’re getting to the safety of a bunker.”
 
Navarro inquired, “A bunker? As in underground?”
 
Sully affirmed, “Yep. Tee Eff is supposed to have one they hid from Reapers and that’s where all us civilians and non-combat personnel are going to wait this out. We’re boarding an M-080 in five and we won’t be back. So saddle up!”
 
Hugh stepped down from the crates as Sully went back into the bunker. Mia came close to him. “I don’t want to go back underground, Hugh.”
 
Frowning, Hugh pat her shoulder, “Yeah, I know what you mean. Ain’t nothing I like about it, either. But we’re going to make sure there’s a second hole out. Like a rabbit warren. Like we always do. Make sure your friend Gizmo is close when we go. If you care about him.”

[Redbelle]

Wyld popped out the service hole and kneeled on the ground. She grabbed her rifle and it unfurled before she had it in it's ready position. Shifted her gaze around, along with the rifle she spotted a door. Half turning to Zia she pointed to the door and Zia nodded.

Padding slowly over, Wyld examined the door, and finding no energy emissions, or anything suspect, she placed a hand on the handle and, slowly pulling the handle down, pushed the door open a crack.

Wyld saw nothing through the gap and taking her rifle, she pushed it open further. Finally satisfied there was nothing on the other side, she opened it enough to crouch walk through and Wyld found herself in the open forecourt of the shopping centres ground floor.

It was empty and silent. Bag's of shopping lay where they had been dropped in places where once, people had been shopping, content and unaware of the incoming Reaper invasion. Wyld could imagine the people looking up as one to the heavens as they heard the Reapers begin planet fall. The cracking in the fascia panelling testament to the ground shaking as they hit the Earth hard enough shake the structure to it's foundation.

Wyld tried to put the people out of her mind and scanned around. The light's were off as power had been cut. The windows from the outside allowing only trace amounts of light through, from the moon, that sometimes found a hole in the cloud cover to peak through. Without doubt. They would need their Lo-Light lenses to see. Or rather, she would. Zia would be relying on her Geth tech.

The open sections that led to the shops were dark. Some had their shutters down. Most didn't. Some looked like they had experienced explosions and rifle fire. Wyld couldn't think of a reason why anyone would fight in this place. Maybe Reapers had been looking for survivors. Maybe a group of soldier’s had been tracked down and they had fought here. Between the dead plants in their planters and the stairwell and escalators leading upwards, Wyld could see no sign of life.

Zia appeared next to her and Wyld whispered. "Nothing so far. Stairs are the obvious route up. Lift shaft's should be accessible if we want to climb. We can move through and see if we can find other ways up. Grapnel’s still an option but the way this place is set up, if someone looks out, they'll see us". She flicked her gaze to Zia before settling it back to scan the floors. She could see four floors in total. A lot of ground to cover vertically. And with limited ways up they would be vulnerable to detection.

"Any thoughts"?

"I've got nothing on the scanner. This all looks too open for us to just use the stairs." Said Zia looking at escalators that led up. The whole place was made into a large dome with an array of escalators leading up that were in plain sight from the upper levels.

"Damn it, if there wasn't for Naomi, I would have just walked up and take my chances, but this..I would like to get some kind of leverage here."

She stopped to think for a moment. "Jan, I don't think Lucy would expect you. Me on the other hand she might expect." Zia looked to Wyld and twitched her brow at her, smiling. "Jaaan...how would you like to play infiltrator?"

"Huh?"

"Well the straightest route would be the elevator shaft. You would be practically invisible there with your suit, and you would have a quick access to all levels. You don't even need a grapple." Zia nodded to Wyld's legs. "You could scout the floors while I take the service stairs up. We could sweep floor by floor from both sides at the same time while keeping contact through the comm. You keeping in the shadows, and me taking a more straight forward route, clumsy but less obvious than the escalators. That way Lucy would be less expecting of a trick, and she could possibly believe that I'm alone. But there is a catch. She mus not suspect you are here, presuming that she doesn't already. Your job here is to scout, and to be a leverage. If I can distract Lucy, you could snatch Naomi unnoticed. I would be careful, maybe there's a chance I spot them first, but if not, I can alert you to their position and try to stage a distraction to get Lucy away from Naomi. That's the best I have right now, but if you have an idea, I'm all ears."

Wyld considered. "I'm generally more of breach, bang and clear type". She looked up, looking for the elevator doors to all the floors, she spotted them not far from where they crouched. "But I think it's doable.....Okay". She said. "But whoever finds her calls the other and waits".

Wyld adjusted a setting on her Omni Tool. "We've got an encrypted link now. Contact when necessary and Zee...."?

Zia looked over Wyld who seemed to be warring with something inside of herself. "....Stay safe". Not waiting for a response, Wyld padded to the elevator doors, placed her rifle on her back, and jammed her hands between the gaps and pulled. Zia came over and grabbing one of the doors, helped her open them so Wyld could slide inside.

Lodging herself in the door she looked as Wyld planted a foot on the exposed shaft wall. She did likewise with her armoured gloves and Zia noticed they to now adhered as Wyld began to climb.

Zia heard her comm vibrate and realising it was Wyld, opened the channel.

Wyld's voice came over. "Since I know your looking.....You'd better say goodbye to my backside now".

With that, Wyld's armour began shifting and soon she looked like the shaft she was ascending. Zia could still make out her outline, and as she , she saw the pattern ripple slightly as it mirrored her movement's over the wall.

Zia saw Wylds hands and feet stick to the wall and as she began to climb, realised her guns hadn't made the same shift her armour had. "Jan.....". She started.

"I know. Gun's. Nothing I can do. Better get moving".

Zia nodded, even though Wyld couldn't see her, and slid out between the doors. They closed behind her leaving Wyld alone to climb in the dark.

Modifié par Redbelle, 31 octobre 2013 - 08:50 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

BoL - The Lost Asari (The Citadel) LXIII

Jack's squad was down in numbers to four since Rodriguez and Reilly Bellarmine were back at Camp Alpha. Sergeant Soniri ordered Ereba up ahead to hack the door. Shay went with her to cover her. The rest of the team was moving at Seanne Bellarmine's pace. Shay had done the best she could to patch up her ankle and heel, but Harbinger's shot was too close. She'd wrapped it in bandages, but after being in this stuff it was likely it would get infected pretty badly.

"So Shay, what do you think our chances are?" Ereba began hacking the electronic door lock.

"I don't know. I'd say a lot better than they were about six hours ago. At least we're on the Citadel. Sarge has been pushing hard, and I'm getting sick of this fighting." Shay switched her ammo to warp rounds. "I just want things to go back to normal again."

"I hear you. All these corpses around here really creeps me, and these keepers that were so benign maintaining the Citadel now appear to be sorting and cataloging them." Ereba was almost done. "That's what's really creepy."

There was a click and the door opened. It looked like a giant mashing machine that went around the entire ring with these vertical slicing plates that raised up and down. There was a catwalk near the wall, and fortunately a railing.

"Alright, we're through, but it's pretty disgusting in here. You don't want to look down. Trust me." Shay informed the others. "Stay close to the wall and hang onto the railing. Single file."

Ranassa leaned over the railing of the catwalk and hocked a loogey. T walked up behind her and grabbed her. "Knock that **** off. Do we know where we're going?" Ranassa asked.

"We're going left, unless you've got a better idea." Ereba replied.

Marisa looked around her when she walked through the door. "This doesn't look like any part of the Citadel I've ever seen, and I used to work here."

"I've never seen this part either." Jack commented.

Xalrath turned onto the catwalk. "This is barely wide enough. It's going to be slow going."

"I'll stay behind you to snag you with a field." Erikka told him.

"I feel safer already." the Krogan quipped.

The sarge was not amused. "You should. She has one of the strongest barriers I've ever seen, and she can harden it. Then we can pull you up. Okay, single file everyone. Let's move out. Ereba you have point. Prangley, watch Bellarmine."

The mashing area just kept going on and on. The smell was like the gore in the underground. One of the biotics lost it over the railing. Jack grabbed him while he vomited.

T was looking around at the pipes and flexible tubing on the ceiling. "This place gives me the creeps. And these catwalks are for Keepers. What if we run into one coming at us? Do we turn around and go back? What do we do?"

"Kill it." Urdnot Xalrath said. "I can't turn around on this thing. Does that answer your question?"

Ereba was wondering about those packs they carry. "What about the packs on their backs? I wonder if those could be useful?"

"They probably have things probes built into the Keepers that those packs actually are used for processing and control. I'm not touching one of those things." T was following behind Ranassa.

The squad reached an end to the catwalk. There was a ladder going up leading to a corridor that looked like they could stand in.

"Hey big guy. Can you climb?" Ereba looked up.

Xalrath grumbled and looked up at Ereba who was half-way up the ladder. "Yeah, I can climb."

Ereba cloaked when she got close to the top and poked her head over. She decloaked. "It's clear." Then scaled up to the next level.

Ranassa followed, then T, then Marisa, then the Sarge. Bellarmine was having some difficulty climbing. It looked like she was going to make it then her left foot slipped, and she dropped down a rung. She screamed, but managed to grab hold with her hand. She was dangling by one arm and her grasp was weakening by the second.

Ranassa leaned over the edge. "Reach for my hand. Come on, Seanne! You can do it!"

"I can't!" Seanne was panicking.

Ranassa took off her ammo belt and dropped her guns. "Grab my ****ing legs and lower me! Hang on you b*tch!"

Seanne was flailing, and her fingers slipped off the rung. Ranassa grabbed her arm. "Pull us up! Quickly!"

Everyone was catching their breath and Prangley made it to the top of the ladder. Ranassa put her ammo belt back on and secured her weapons. Then there was another scream down that sounded like it came from the end of the corridor the were in. Ereba and Ranassa went to night vision. The corridor turned 90 degrees right about 100 meters away and two banshees rounded it and began warping toward them. T put up a barrier, but the banshees threw that warp at them and destroyed it.

"Eat this!" Ranassa opened up with her LMG when they got within range. 200 rounds later they were dead.

"Bursts, Ranassa, bursts." Ereba chided her.

"**** you!" Ranassa laughed then looked at Seanne. "You okay, kid?"

"Yeah. I'm okay. Thanks." Seanne was still shaken, and Ranassa patted her on the shoulder and rubbed her neck while they were waiting for the others.

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 31 octobre 2013 - 09:35 .

[Redbelle]

Padre was worried. He didn't let it show as he swept through Bastion. Soldier’s were gathering. Equipment was being checked. Tee-Eff and Misfit's were clumped together with regular troops receiving talks on what was coming.

He couldn't see any Salarians in any of the groups. He know though that there were Salarians..... The leader of the Misfits was one. So was her entourage. He had to find them. Start asking the hard questions and getting to the truth while he had time.

He pulled up Momma and bluntly asked. “I need the Misqueen's location”.

Momma arched an eyebrow in her holographic form. “She has been off the grid for awhile now. My last known location was storage. However, that has been stripped and all personnel are now loading equipment into Mako's and Kodiaks. I have no presence within that building”.

That got Padre's attention. “You can access their omni tools too. Right? You should be able to track them down”?

“Normally yes..... however, I believe they are employing counter programs to block my access to their tools. I would have said something, but I put the issue down to a desire for privacy. As non alliance personnel they have the right to block access”.

“So...... You think of yourself...... as Alliance now”?

Momma paused. “I suppose I do. Something important has happened in the camp. Words have been shared, blows struck as fists, open hands offered in friendship. Between all kinds of species who have never shown comradely before tonight. As an AI, who is still technically bound by law to be terminated, I would hope that my effort's go noticed and I am allowed to share this consensus of mutual tolerance towards coexistence”. She seemed to smile. “Besides. If I was forced to rampage to protect my existence, it would be hard to arrange play dates for my son”.

“I..... suppose it would”. Padre admitted. “So the Misqueen's in that building”?

“From logs of the outside, She entered and has not come out. The probability is high”.

“Good enough”. Pulling his hat down, Padre stalked towards where he believed the Queen was holed up.

Modifié par Redbelle, 03 novembre 2013 - 10:44 .

[Redbelle]

Momma was worried. As she pointed the YMIR towards the trucks holding the LOKI mechs she tried to synchronise with her other selves. A host of voices arose in a pico second, discordant and falling over themselves to tell each other what had happened to each of her copies. Almost as soon as the jumble came, it ceased as it became a harmonious chorus of voices. All were her, as she was them.

All but two.

Wyld had taken the Valkyr and so naturally her core.... if it could be thought of as her core now she was embedded in so many devices, was away and running silently. She did not know what was happening to them. Only that they had gone to rescue Naomi from Zia's last surviving Sister of Fury. The absence of her presence, that was embedded in the core that had become her cradle, was to be expected.

The second absence was not.

Padre's omni-tool had gone offline. He had gone to ask questions to the Misqueen. And when he had entered the building where she believed the Misqueen to be..... he'd gone off the grid.

It was disturbing to say the least.

Black spots were appearing in her network coverage. Places where she ought to have a presence were now being actively resisted. Some due to programs she had never seen before and were alien in their complexity and resolve to keep her out. Unlike her, they were specialised programs devoted to one task. She knew she could overcome them. Unlike her they were simple. But the time it would take expanded out of the picoseconds of her existence and into the time span of the organics. It could take hours. And it would require all her run time. She found herself in the peculiar situation that she didn't have time to do everything.

The YMIR approached the truck holding the LOKI's and Momma brought it to a halt as she spotted Radcliffe standing next to it. He looked up at her.

“You ready”?

Momma nodded the YMIR's head. “I am prepared”.

Radcliffe nodded and reached into his pocket. He drew out the key that would undo the lock down on the LOKI's. Pulling open a compartment he ran the key card down the reader and the red light on the panel went blue.

Momma reached out through her network and found new hotspots appear as the LOKI's came online. VI's appeared and began running their system start ups.

Momma tunnelled her attention down into those spots and invaded them. The VI's attempted to prevent her from seizing control. Their anti intruder counter measures triggering even as copies of Momma grew inside of them and compressed the VI programs down to the smallest file size she could manage while simultaneously intercepting the run command's of the anti intruder software. She quickly scrubbed the software that would send the LOKI's into another lock down. Afterwards she wrote her own operating system that allowed for her own systems of control to make best use of the platform's she could feel herself inhabit. She estimated that the operating efficiency of the LOKI's had been raised by sixty percent due to her own command and control systems now operating the platforms. Speed and co-ordination, as well as targeting and decision making were all up across the board, in comparison to the VI's who now slept in a compressed format.

Momma nodded the YMIR's head at Radcliffe. “It is done. I now have full access to all platforms”.

Radcliffe looked back at the tarp covered platforms. “Can you move them to the staging area”?

“I will let them answer that”. Momma replied, and the YMIR turned around to walk away. “I must pursue another matter”.

Radcliffe was about to call after the YMIR when the figure's under the tarp moved. The tarp raised itself as those underneath came to stand. Radcliffe heard the servos of those underneath working. Then a chorus of voices, speaking in perfect unison spoke.

“I believe we have not imported the correct software to work the eye's. I can see nothing”.

The chorus spoke again. Once more in perfect synchronisation. “The eye's are working. We are simply underneath the mech's protective covering that was placed on them for transport”.

Radcliffe cleared his throat, and the figure's under the tarp suddenly twisted towards him as they spoke in chorus. “Is that you Captain? Could I ask you to remove this tarp? I do not want to test command and control function's in the dark”.

Radcliffe sighed.

Modifié par Redbelle, 03 novembre 2013 - 11:24 .

[Kel Riever]

(Note: The following installment was a collaboration with Khambilo)

Rea and Rothan walked with Commander Jahangir out of the command center. Farzam and Rothan had their omni-tools activated.

“Here are your identifiers,” Farzam commented as he pressed a panel on his omni-tool. “You’ll be picked up as a friendly by us and of course it will be transmitted to other allied forces. The sky will be pretty full, though, and your situational awareness is what will keep you alive best.”

“Noted,” Rea said. “Operationally, Commander, is there anything you can tell us about Tempest Squadron?”

Farzam shook his head and shrugged, “It is so fluid with air assets that I can only tell you once we are up there. I’m hoping ground units get across that bridge as far as they can without being noticed. If we are caught by the Reapers moving behind us, we’ll have to provide rear defense, or touch-and-go ferry troops. On the other hand, we might have to provide ground support for forward units if they encounter resistance on the opposite end. This is presuming we don’t encounter anything in atmosphere, which is a tall order.”

“Is there any support we can provide you?” Rothan inquired.

“Actually, Miranda Lawson asked that we support you if needed,” Farzam answered. “To add, Captain Radcliffe wants you to steer clear of the gunships if they are in trouble. Your role with the missiles is priority.”

The three approached the armory, where the Mantis Gunships had their engines on and were being prepared for launch. A woman with a scarred face held her hand high and waved towards Farzam. “That’s Dale and she’s my cue,” Farzam told the other two. “We’ll be aloft in minutes. I wish you two the best and happy hunting!” Rea and Rothan saluted. Farzam then jogged off.

Nearby, civilians were boarding M-080 armored personnel carriers near the bay entrance to the armory where the Starscreamer was housed. The APC nearest the building had several familiar faces next to it. The faces were the Misfits, and one extremely frustrated soldier who was trying to get them inside. When the Misfits spotted Rea and Rothan, they ran over. The soldier, much to his chagrin, felt forced to follow

Hugh was first to speak, “Tell this guy we aren’t going to the bunker. We’re staying to help fight!”

The Alliance soldier saluted, and the tension was thick on his voice, “I hope you realize I’m not trying to cause any trouble with them. The orders were to get every civilian on board the APCs and evacuate them to the bunker. For their own safety.”

“Safety,” Navarro snorted. “Nobody wants to go back underground. And we’ve survived so far with a lot less gear than you have.”

Hugh jumped in once more, “Besides, Rothan, tell this guy about our agreement. Tell him about your promise that we would get to go with you when you moved out.”

Rothan felt his stomach roll. He shifted uncomfortably, the promise he could never keep coming back to haunt him. “Hugh…everyone…,” Rothan began, and then he couldn’t continue.

The expressions of the Misfits dropped. They were stunned with the reality that they weren’t going to be able to go on with Rothan, or Rea, or any of the groups moving out.

Mia was the first to recover, “But…we want to fight. We don’t want to say good-bye.”

Rea stepped up to Mia. “Now that’s the face of an angel,” she said as she reached forward to rub a thumb across Mia’s cheek. Rea turned to Rothan, and then back to Mia and the rest of the Misfits. “I think you all know why you have to go.”

Hugh started to protest, “Wyld explained it. And she made a promise too that she probably won’t keep…”

Squaring her shoulders to Hugh, Rea responded, “I know that whatever Rothan said to you meant something, but you might have asked too much of him. And if you had asked me, you would have been asking too much of me as well.”

“But…”

“No.” Rea’s voice struck straight as an arrow.

Navarro threw his hands up on his head and peered away. Cole clenched his jaw. Mia’s eyes became misty. However, while Hugh looked pale with his reaction, he began to nod in agreement, “Your bike is all set, then.”

Rea raised her arm and gently contacted Hugh’s jaw with her fist in a pretend punch. “You make me proud, Hugh, when you rise up like an adult.” She then corrected herself, “You are an adult, Hugh. If you are responsible like one, you are an adult already.”

Mia scuttled up to Rothan and gave him a hug. “Good bye.”

Rothan patted Mia on the back, and as she pulled away, he said to her, “Watch everyone’s rear.”

Mia nodded, and the edges of her lips curled into a smile. Then she addressed Rea with a voice uncharacteristically pleading, “Will you do me a favor?”

Rea looked at Rothan and then again to Mia. “What is it?”

“I couldn’t find Gizmo. I was supposed to keep him close. Would you tell him please that I had to leave? And that I’m waiting for him in the bunker?”

Rea leaned forward towards Mia, placed her hands on her knees and gazed straight into the girl’s eyes. “Let me tell you something. I will do it. Because you have a heart of steel, Mia. I will make sure he knows. He will get to that bunker and he will find you. I give you my word, on my honor, and because I would die for you and your Earth with your Moon if I had to. That’s a promise I can keep. Is that clear?”

Mia’s stood up straighter as her heart swelled. “Clear as glass.”

Straightening up herself, Rea winked, “That’s what I want to hear. Now go get in that rolling can.”

Mia ran to the APC. The other Misfits reluctantly went after her as the Alliance soldier gave another salute and a quick thanks. After they boarded, Hugh popped his head out one last time, “We’ll see you later. You know you were always my favorite two, right?”

Rothan couldn’t help but laugh. He made a shooing motion towards Hugh.

Hugh smirked and popped inside. The APC soldier entered and closed the hatch. A moment later, the convoy of personnel carriers rolled away towards the gates.
 
"You think they won't jump off somewhere before they get to the bunker?" Rothan asked.

Rea squinted at the convoy. "I'd say it’s a fifty-fifty chance."
 
Rothan chuckled slightly but then immediately tightened. “They never signed up for this. They shouldn't have faced this.”

Rea suddenly felt guilty herself. “I know.” She immediately composed herself and gave Rothan a reassuring pat on his shoulder. The gesture spoke more than words could tell.

“Come on.” Rea said quietly. The two walked into the armory and found the jet bike at rest in a bay near the entrance.

Both Rothan and Rea moved for the Starscreamer in silence and mounted the bike. Instead of grasping onto Rea, Rothan gripped the controls of the gun mount on the back of the bike. The position felt precarious, as if he could fall off at even when the bike was at rest. He made sure to grip the hard light controls extra tightly.

Meanwhile, Rea sunk into the bike, letting herself get a feel once again for how it would move.

“I almost forgot,” Rothan called from his spot behind her. He punched a few buttons on his omni-tool and a second later the bike came to life with the omni-shield’s he had installed. Rea remembered how he had installed them but she did not recall the tech armor module installed her suit that was also now illuminated in a matching tealish blue. Rothan’s suit similarly glowed with the tech armor.

“It should buy us a couple of shots,” he said. “Though I wouldn’t depend on it blocking everything.”

Rea nodded, understanding then sighed once more. “Rothan what did you get me into….”

“Just impending death,” He said with a slight smile.

“Just?”

“Yes, ‘just.’ Besides, that status hasn't changed for us in quite some time,” Rothan admitted.

“True enough.”

Then Rea looked over her shoulder to him. “When this is all over, what do you want to do?”

For Rothan, the answer was simple. “Be with you. Even if that means exile. Even if that means I never see Rannoch.”

Rea chuckled. “You’re such a romantic.”

“And you worry too much.”

Rea arched her brow. “I worry too much? That’s funny coming from you.”

“Oh really now,” Rothan said.

“Uh-huh.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Well just because you think it doesn't make it so,” Rea grinned.

Rothan paused before launching back in, “Is this our first fight?”

Rea tightened her jaw to suppress a smile. Her lips contorted into a smirk as she revved the Starscreamer to life.

“This is our first fight!” Rothan yelled triumphantly. He’d rather fight with Rea like this any day than fight the Reapers.

Modifié par Kel Riever, 04 novembre 2013 - 05:23 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

BoL - The Lost Asari (The Citadel) LXIV

Ereba scoped the corridor the banshees had come up was long and dark. "Sarge, it looks like there are two corridors off to either side about midway down. Otherwise my rangefinder says 100 meters to the end. What do you want to do?"

"I don't know. Jack, what do you think?" The sarge thought she'd get the rest of the group involved.

"Well, it's a ****ing crap shoot. Let's keep going and take a look down the side corridors and see where they go. My gut tells me to take the one on the right." Jack was helping the last of her people up.

"Anyone else?" The sarge waited. "No? Okay, then. That's the plan. Stay frosty and let's go. Ranassa and T, you have point. Night vision everyone."

The team moved down the dark corridor that was still part of the keeper tunnels. Jack remembered hearing that they were almost like a maze, but the Citadel had changed configuration, and they were in a different part: most likely the tower.

"Psst... Ereba. Check under the back of my crest. Something feels weird." Shay nudged Ereba as they were walking.

"Sure, but how weird?" Ereba moved behind Shay. "Can we hold up for minute?"

"What the **** is it between you lovebirds?" Ranassa said quietly.

"Just watch ahead. Shay's got something under her crest, and I think I see it." Ereba reached in and grabbed it with her fingers. "Got you." And she held it up. It was still moving.

Shay sucked in a scream.

"What the **** is that?" Jack went over to take a closer look.

Urdnot Xalrath pushed everyone aside to take a look. "Move. Well, well, well. That's a little maw larva. Good thing you caught that." Xalrath grabbed it, threw it on the floor and stomped it.

"Why is that?" Ereba asked him.

"Well despite how large thresher maws are, they lay these small eggs. When they hatch the larva look for a host and burrow into them, and then they go into a pupa stage and emerge as an adult and grow until reach maturity. Fortunately maws have a lot of natural predators when they're young, and they're good eating especially skewered over a fire." Xalrath explained this all so matter of fact.

Shayrana's skin was crawling. "You just had to go into details."

"One of those corpses or one of the reaper troops must have had one of them, and you got lucky." Xalrath continued.

The sarge stopped everyone. "Okay crest check. Humans if you want anything checked let us know."

"We're good." Jack was checking over her team.

"You know this also means you'll probably have thresher maws on Earth now. Don't worry. We'll send you some recipes." Xaltrath was helping check over the Asari.

When they finished they continued. The corridor on the right looked different than the corridor they were in. It looked more like a regular Citadel corridor with a tiled floor and decorative walls. This one curved to the left.

"Hey, is anyone hungry?" Ranassa noticed a vending machine. "But I need some credit chits."

"**** the credit chits." T smashed the glass. "Free food. Take what you want. There's ... nutrition bars, drinks and ****. Pass these back to Seanne. She don't look so good."

"Thanks, T." Seanne was grateful. "What is your real first name."

"It don't fit me. That's why they call me T, but I'll tell you because I like you. It's Mina."

Jack laughed. "That was like when I found out my real first name was Jennifer."

"See? You know what I'm talking about." T smiled at Jack. "Jennifer?" She laughed. "I suppose when we get old we can use Jennifer and Mina, but not now. They don't have weight if you know what I mean."

Seanne was smiling and feeling better. "Thanks. I needed this energy. I think I can keep up with the group better now."

"Anytime, girl. Sarge, I think we're ready." T grinned.

The sarge gave the signal to move out. Another 50 meters Ranassa gave a signal to hold. She moved ahead to the corner where the corridor made a sharp turn left. It was a dead end, however there was another ladder going up another level. She signalled and went up the ladder with T. Then the rest of the team followed. This time Seanne made it without event. There was another ladder to the left of them and another corridor directly in front of them.

The decision was to head straight. There were mechanical noises coming from this direction, and they got louder as they approached. They could see keepers moving about. They were above whatever it was. They needed to get closer. The sarge signaled for everyone to stop. Ereba cloaked and moved forward. The area opened up. As she approached she saw other reaper troops inside on patrol: brutes, marauders, and banshees, but mostly husks. Then she saw it. (first minute).

There was a cat walk that went over the structure being made below. The structure was a reaper. The keepers were beginning to apply the outer shell from resources they had gathered elsewhere. The gore was still being pumped inside the thing, but it was almost completed. Millions of humans had been harvested. Ereba started getting sick now realizing where that gore they were walking around in under London was going. She turned and ran back to her squad, and she kept running past them. Shayrana took off after her, and found her collapsed in the corner near the ladders.

Shay held her. The rest of the squad arrived. Ereba was hyperventilating.

"I'm here, babe. I'm here. What was it, babe?" Shayrana stroked her crest. "Slow down. Easy."

Ereba tried to catch her breath. "It's... a... reaper. They're making... a reaper. That gore. All of it is going in that thing. Millions of people."

Jack stepped forward. "Well that settles it. We go in. Set that nuke and blow that thing to hell. Come on."

The sarge grabbed her. "And waste this opportunity?"

"This is my world, and those are my people going in there, b*tch!" Jack ripped her hand off.

Nasyra grabbed her again. "Listen to me!"

"Touch me again, and I'll splatter the ****ing walls with you!" Jack flared.

Soniri sighed. "Jack, think! That's just one reaper. They'll just position this thing over another city and start over."

Prangley stepped up and tried to calm Jack. "The sarge is right. Let's hear what she has to say."

"Alright, but this better be good. So what did you have in mind?" Jack was calming down.

The sarge got everone around. "The way I figure it is that these things don't just make reapers. Maybe something runs all the reapers. Maybe it's here in the Citadel. Let's look around. If we get lucky and find it, we'll blow it up. If we don't, we'll come back here and blow up this thing. Deal?"

"Alright, sarge, we'll do it your way. Let's end this." Jack got up. "You going to be alright, Ereba?" She extended her hand.

Ereba grabbed hold of it. "No, but thanks for asking. I'll pull it together." Ereba had that thousand yard stare in her eyes.

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 05 novembre 2013 - 12:22 .

[Redbelle]

Momma drove the YMIR towards where she could detect Babylon's Omni tool was positioned and stopped thirty feet from Babylon’s position to take in the scene before her.

Babylon was struggling between two large marines who each had their arms under hers and were half carrying, half dragging her towards one of the bunker bound Mako's. Babylon did not look happy at all. She was kicking and screaming and generally doing everything she could to hamper the efforts of the Marines.

Momma zeroed her audio pickups towards them and listened in.

“You can't do this to me”! Babylon was shouting. “Don't you know who I am? I MADE Steiner! He's nothing without me”!

The Marine on the left sounded fed up. “Orders are orders. Steiner wants you gone? Your gone”.

The other sounded like the first. “Just settle.... down”. He said while he readjusted his grip. Babylon had nearly managed to squirm free of the one on the right before he clamped down again. “It'll be better for you. At least you don't have to rush the beam”!

“I want to go you idiot”! Babylon screamed back at him.

Momma sighed. A mannerism she had picked up from the humans. And stomped her way over to them. They neared the waiting Mako and the two marines flung her inside the waiting hatch. There was a pause..... then both marines had to take a step back as Babylon jumped out and tried to dodge out of their way. It was no good though. They caught her and called for one of the nearby medics for a sedative when Momma made her presence known.

The YMIR emitted a feedback screech that made everyone clamp their hands over their ears. After a couple of seconds Momma stopped the noise and everyone nearby looked up at the YMIR. Momma twisted the YMIR's head around to look straight at Babylon.

“New orders. You are to join Padre at his last known location. He has gone missing”.

One of the marines took a step forward. “Now wait a min....”.

“These orders are intended for Ms Babylon and must be carried out. All orders regarding her are hereby rescinded”. Momma reached into the camps network and assigned the orders to a form that she sent to the marines omni-tool's. Loath as she was to falsify reports, she was in a hurry. The marching order's would go out soon. She needed someone who could stay behind.

Babylon took a step forward. “Finally! Someone with some sense! Where's Padre”?

Momma sent to the location to Babylon's omni-tool. “I must go now. Please be careful. I lack network access in that area. I am concerned for Padre's well-being”. With that Momma turned the YMIR around and walked it back to the staging area.

Babylon turned and smirked at the marines. “Told you I was important”!

Modifié par Redbelle, 07 novembre 2013 - 06:16 .

[Kel Riever]

Elaine stepped off the Kodiak just on the south side of the Thames River, among a cluster of ruined buildings.   Her squad, turian and human, deployed with her and spread out. Other Kodiaks landed nearby, disembarking the frontline troops under the command of Captain Grelk. Their job was to secure the far side of London Bridge so that the body from Camp Bastion could make it across. But before that could happen, the banks of the river nearby would have to be cleared.
 
Private Laurent went prone next to Elaine and scanned with his Mantis sniper rifle. “I don’t like the looks of this,” he said, after a minute.
 
“The looks of what?” Elaine wanted to know what was bothering the sniper. 
 
Around them, the cold light of the conduit beam cast everything in stark contrast. The sounds of battle could be heard nearby, but the Alliance troops had drawn no enemies or incoming fire. Laurent made a clicking sound in his mouth and answered, “They have to know we are here, but I see nothing. It’s too quiet for me.”
 
A veteran, Elaine knew exactly what he meant. “It could be an ambush. I’m going to pop inside the buildings around here and take a look for myself.”
 
“Grelk said not to run off…,” Laurent started, but a biotic popping noise indicated that Elaine was already gone. He grumbled, but signaled for his fellow soldiers to wait.
 
Minutes passed before Laurent saw Elaine run back from a building to his left. She crouched down next to him, took a moment to recover from the nauseous feelings she got after extensive teleporting, and reported, “I eliminated a few husks left to pick off stragglers, but other than those,  there’s nothing. Let’s get moving.”
 
Laurent and the squad got to their feet, giving the all clear signal to the other squads behind them. “You aren’t worried about Reapers coming down on us?”
 
Elaine shook her head, “No, I am worried. But they aren’t here willfully. I think they are letting our preliminary troops land and waiting to see what we are up to.” She checked her submachine gun briefly before continuing, “There’s nothing to do about it now but stay frosty. Tell Captain Grelk we’re moving ahead.”

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

On the Citadel LXV

"Is everyone through with their ritual posturing?" Ranassa was disgusted. "We got a job to do, and the longer we take to do it the more people down there die. You get my drift? Focus on the mission."

"Yeah. We're done. Let's go." Jack calmed down and was ready to move out.

T went up the ladder first to the next level, and Ranassa followed. It was the same routine. It was a long climb this time. Ereba and Shayrana were next, followed by the Krogan. Ereba secured a rope to the top rung and tossed it down for Bellarmine. Shay took up the slack in the rope as she climbed. Then the rest of the group and the sarge.

This corridor went around the opposite direction they had come. It was narrow and dark. The walls were black. It was almost impossible to see anything. Ereba checked ahead with her IR scope.

"At least there aren't any drops in the floor, or don't appear to be." Ereba was speaking very flat. "Go. I hope this tunnel ends soon."

The sarge didn't like what she was seeing. Ereba was losing it. The war had taken its toll on everyone. Ereba had been acting tough for Shay and the rest of the squad before the crash and now it was taking its toll. Ranassa? She was a hardened vet, but she had nothing in her but anger. Shay was too tender for this, and Erikka? Well, she was a fighter, but not a leader. T was a team mate.

Sarge motioned to Shay to stay with Erikka and Marisa and spoke quietly with Ereba. "Yeah, it's been a long assed war hasn't it. I can't wait for this thing to end, can you?"

"No Sarge, I can't. I'm looking forward to going back home and settling down with Shay. I'm going to ask her to be my bondmate."

"Now that's serious." The sarge smiled. "Have you told her that yet?"

"No. I'm waiting for the war to end." Ereba looked down.

"Now why would you do that? You know there are no do overs, Ereba, even for us. We may live a long time but this is war and anything could happen at any time. Like what happened with those people you saw. And what we've been having to shoot at. Do you think this doesn't get to me?" The sarge saw Ereba acknowledge.

"****, Ereba, I was nearly killed by a brute. I made some stupid mistake. I thought I was invulnerable because I had all this super training and it couldn't happen to me, but it happened. Erikka saved my sorry ass. Hell, we're all feeling this ****. Remember, you're not alone. Ever. You've got Shay, me, Erikka, T, and hell, even 'Nassa, and I can see by the look in Jack's eyes she's seen more than her share, too. We're all here for each other." The sarge put her hand on Ereba's shoulder.

Ereba kept walking but turned to the sarge. "Thanks. I'll be alright."

The sarge motioned to Shay, then dropped back with Marisa.

"What did you say to her?" Marisa was curious.

"Just a little pep talk. I don't know if it did any good, but she needs to know we're all on the team, and she shouldn't waste her opportunities." In their night vision they saw Shay kiss Ereba. "Like that opportunity. I guess she said 'yes.'"

Ranassa put her hand up for everyone to stop. "****! Be ****ing careful here. There is an opening in the floor. Ladder going down, or we can make a 3 foot jump across, and keep going. Your call sarge." She broke a light stick and marked it.

"Can you make the jump, big guy?" The sarge tapped the Krogan.

"I can... with a running start."

"Then we jump." The sarge formulated the plan. "'Nassa, you and T jump over now. Bellarmine, get up here, and we'll throw you across to them. Then the Krogan. Then Erikka, then the rest of us one at a time."

Everyone made it across, and they moved onward. The corridor was still pitch black but now they could see a light at the end. 'Nassa could now see the floor was solid so she picked up the pace. The tunnel exited out into a main area of the Citadel Presidium Tower. They turned around and could barely make out the keeper tunnel.

"Damn. These tunnels could be all over the place. No wonder no one knows where half of them are or where they go." Jack observed.

"I'm scanning the area, and I'm picking up and energy signature, and it's a strong one. Next level up. It's different, that's for sure." Shayrana was moving her omni-tool around.

"There's an elevator over there across from us." Erikka mentioned.

"How much you want to bet it only goes down?" Prangley commented.

"But how much you want to be there's a keeper tunnel with a ladder in it going up right near it?" Ereba smiled wrily.

"Let's go." The sarge smacked Ereba on the ass.

The entire area was empty, and dead quiet. You could hear a pin drop in it. Still the team stayed crouched and behind anything they could find for cover. You never know what might be lurking.

"This is crazy that we could get this far in with no resistance." 'Nassa said quietly to T.

"I don't think they expected anyone to even get in here, let alone get this far. Still I don't like this. I'm getting that feeling again." T said as they got to the opposite wall.

"You're always saying that." Ranassa put her back to the wall and pointed her gun up.

T did the same right next to her. "Yeah, but I haven't been wrong yet. Just be ready, sis."

Ereba scanned the walls around the elevator. "Found one. No. This one goes down...." She continued moving to her left. "Here. This is it. Ladder up."

Ranassa and T were first up the ladder and just stood there gazing into the chamber. Prangley was next and saw it. "Mother of God!"

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 08 novembre 2013 - 08:50 .