538 réponses à ce sujet

[Redbelle]

Zia ran over to Naomi who was shrugging off her mass chute. Her hands trembling over a catch that was stuck. They had come down somewhere in London sure enough. Zia had thought she'd seen a column of alliance personnel on the way down that Momma's guidance had steered them towards.

 

Wyld was nowhere to be seen. She could only hope she was near and was heading to meet up with the column.

 

Reaching Naomi she clasped her hands over Naomi's trembling ones before reaching up and unsealing her helmet. Her hair cascaded out and Naomi's eye's were wide with fury.

 

“Jan.....”. Was all she said before her teeth clenched in a rigour mortis grimace. She trembled slightly as she shook her head and focused on the catch. Finally unclasping it and wrenching the chute off.

 

“What about Jan”? Zia asked, concerned at Naomi's current state.

 

Naomi tried to speak but found herself to wound up and stomped away spaces before stopping and turning back. “She did it to me AGAIN”!

 

“What”?

 

“Helped me damn it”!

 

Zia blinked and reached up to take her own mask off. “That's..... not a bad thing though, right”?

 

Naomi stomped back up to her. “And then that thing about..... you know”.

 

“What”?

 

“You...... and her..... and...... you know......”. Naomi turned scarlet as her voice shrank down to almost nothing, making Zia lean forward to catch the final word of. “.......me”.

 

Zia unbent herself. “Not happening”.

 

“Of course not”. Naomi agreed.

 

“I'm not..... wired that way”.

 

“Me neither”. Naomi agreed nodding vigorously

 

“I mean...... both of you? At the same time? Who thinks like that”?

 

Naomi opened her mouth to say something, then snapped it shut as Zia's words penetrated. “The same...... time? That's...... Damn it I was talking about....... not that! Not that kind of........ Zia”! Naomi backed away a few steps and looked her up and down. “I meant..... Damn it Jan! She's done it again”!

 

Zia closed her eye's and rubbed her thumb and forefinger into the pits of her eye's. “Now your not making any sense. We talk, after the war, right? After..... the …... War......”!

 

Naomi made a hollow sound in the back of her throat. “Yeah right”. She said sarcastically as she turned around.

 

And then swung back with a questioning look on her face. “What's it like”?

 

“What's what like”?

 

“Three people”.

 

Zia mouth dropped open. “I....... How should I know”!

 

“Between me, you and Jan..... you just like the one who might have.......”.

 

“Jan? Hell no! That girl was born a nun, but you”?

 

Naomi's eye's narrowed. “But, me, what”?

 

“That little confession on the shuttle about how you passed your biotic exam”.

 

Naomi rolled her eye's as she gave a slight shake of her head. “Five staff and seven students Zia..... And none of them knew about the other's”. She said as she turned away.

 

Naomi began heading towards the direction of the column as Zia stared after her. “Just.... when you think you know someone”. She muttered before she picked up the pace and followed.

[Redbelle]

Emerging from a alleyway Zia and Naomi saw the head of the column trundling across the broken streets. There at the head rolled the Valkyr with soldier's in the seats with their weapons out, scanning the streets and rooftops.

 

One saw them and called out for the other's to halt. The Valkyr, the scores of soldier's stepping in from behind, and one of the red Geth mechs found places to stop that provided cover as all had their weapons out as the soldier waved Zia and Naomi over.

 

They ran and two of those in the Valkyr reached down, grabbed their outstretched hands to pull them up. Zia looked in the driver's seat but didn't see Wyld, or anyone else sitting there. “Zia and Naomi, biotic division”. She said to those in the vehicle. “What's been happening”.

 

“Well.....”. Started one, but Zia held up a finger.

 

“Momma? Sit-rep if you please”.

 

“Jerry-Ann was taken away on your shuttle as it was attacked and has not been seen since. In the meantime this group fell under new leadership and has progressed it's way towards the beam”.

 

Zia looked over at the assembled soldiers. “Which of you took charge”?

 

They looked at each other as one coughed. “Um, none of us, ma’am”.

 

“Then who”?

 

“The....er”.

 

Another soldier butted in. “She threatened us! She has a flame-thrower! And she's mental! Really..... really crazy in the head ma’am She said to keep up and that she'd lead the way”!

 

Another interjected. “Well to be fair we haven't seen any Reapers..... other than the ones that were on fire”.

 

Zia interrupted them all. “Whose in charge..... Momma”?

 

“Jerry-Ann did not get the opportunity to assign the lead role to anyone before she left”.

 

“That.... computer threatened us too”. The angry solider snapped.

 

“It was that, or start a fire in the Valkyr's cockpit that would have burned my black box. I assure you. Mutual self preservation was the underlying factor in my actions. And it has paid dividends in that our commanding officer has kept the route ahead clear of hostiles”.

 

“Who is in charge”! Zia demanded.

 

Just then there came a biotic boom off in the distance and Zia turned in time to see a group of Reapers, nine or ten in all, thrown out of the forth story of one of the broken buildings. A figure clad in green was leaping out of the building after them in a suicidal dive as a gout of flame extended out and caught two or three of the Reapers in mid air. It was hard to tell at this distance.

 

With a sinking feeling in her heart Zia called for the group to advance double time as the falling figure suddenly called forth a maelstrom of biotic energy mid fall and shot forward, ramming one of the Reapers and pushing it further away from the other's while increasing the arc of it's fall. That Reaper hit the ground first and skidded across the ground, the green figure surfing it across the asphalt till she jumped off, raised a hand and called upon a biotic tendril to lash around the Reapers throat.

 

With but a gesture the Reaper was flung back into the air, towards the other's who were hitting the ground with sickening thuds. The one in the air would have fared better, if a stream of napalm-esque fire hadn't hit it in mid air, leaving it's floundering fire covered body flailing as it fell among it's companions. Two of the husks managed to roll out of the way and got to their feet as the other's were likewise bathed in fire and turned to run away.

 

The figure in green laughed and chased them. Unleashing small bursts of flame that licked at their backs prompting them to put on a burst of speed before the flames died down. Only to come back again as Lucy, for that was who Zia was sure it was now, gave them another burst after using her biotics to slide herself to within the flamer's range.

 

Zia couldn't stand it any longer. Picking a rifle out of a surprised Marines hands, she aimed and fired two bursts. The rounds sliced through the remaining Reapers who dropped in their tracks as the Valkyr rumbled forward towards the green clad figure.

 

Lucy spun around, her voice shrill with anger. “I thought I told you to let me have them! Jan said I was in charge you..... you.....”. Her voice faltered as the Valkyr drew closer and Lucy saw her sister atop it, hefting the rifle. Lucy sagged “.......ooooh s**t”. She muttered.

 

“Lucy! What..... just what..... are you doing”?

 

Lucy stood up straight and puffed out her chest. “That's General Lucy to you...... minion”.

 

“Luuucy”.

 

“Wyld said I was in charge so I took charge! Just like back on Omega! The sister's lead! Everyone else does as their told! Wyld said I could”.

 

“Did she now”?

 

“Yes..... probably. I'm ninety percent sure..... maybe eighty if I'm honest. And then I found this great flamer aaaaand...... I got a little carried away”.

 

Naomi piped in. “Are those all the Reapers in this area”?

 

Lucy nodded as a big grin crossed her face. “Yeah! As soon as I started setting them on fire they didn't want to fight any more. They left some behind, but a bunch of other's ran towards that beam”. She paused. “Is that where we're going to again? I forget. We probably shouldn't. I think we'd run into a bunch of these Reapy things and I'm nearly out of gas”. She raised the flamer and shook it a little as she said, a tell tale faint slosh could be heard.

 

Zia sighed and jerked her head for Lucy to get in with them. “Great job....... General”. She said, trying to keep a straight face. “But I'll take over now until we can find you some more fuel”.

 

Lucy shrugged. “I was getting tired anyhow”. She said as she ambled over to the Valkyr and held up a hand. She looked straight up at Naomi who looked down on her. Hands gripping the edge of the Valkyr's frame.

 

Lucy saw the look in her eyes and gulped. “Yeeeeah. Sorry about the torture. But you have to admit! The sand afterwards..... was..... wonderful”.

 

Naomi hesitated. Then reached down and grasped Lucy's hand. Before hoisting her up she leant down over the side and whispered. “The sand..... Do you have any more”?

 

Lucy's brows came together in confusion, unsure as to why they were whispering as she followed suit. “Sorry. Jan's got it all. Have you seen her? She's nice but she won't let me take it off her fingers like Aria used to”.

 

“Jan.... Always Jan”. Naomi muttered as she pulled Lucy up and over the side. A little to hard as she part pulled, part shoved Lucy into the back causing her to fall into the soldier's laps.

 

“Ow”. Exclaimed Lucy.

 

“I'm sooo sorry”. Naomi said sarcastically as she hitched a thumb over her shoulder to the soldier in the passenger seat. He scrambled out as Naomi dropped in, folding her red trench coat under her legs as Zia dropped into the drivers.

 

Zia put her hands on the wheel. “You okay with this Momma”?

 

“You are down as a designated driver Zia. Please though...... do not allow your sister access to the heavy weapons while she is inside the vehicle. The last time I was rather..... concerned that I would become a statistic under the friendly fire section”.

 

Zia reached over and grabbed the flamer off Lucy who pouted. “I'll fill it up for you when I see a refill point”. Zia promised. And Lucy let go. Only to fling her arms around Naomi who squeaked at the unexpected show of friendliness.

 

“You look sooooo good in that coat”. Lucy purred in her ear. “But I think we can do better”. Lucy's hand caught the zipper and tugged it down as Naomi had once done revealing the expanse of pale skin to the air. “That's better. Zia always liked the dancer's who showed skin on Omega”.

 

Zia put the Valkyr into forward motion once more and the column began rolling onward. “She doesn’t need to know that Lou”.

 

“Oh, I don't know”. Naomi said eyeing Zia. “What else does she like”?

 

Lucy paused. “I probably shouldn’t say. But gossip. She likes gossip a lot”.

 

Zia rolled her eye's. “I doubt you know anything we don't already Lou”.

 

“Well.....”. Lucy said conspiratorially. “I know that Wyld won't give you sand if you try and get intimate with her for it. I tried. I got as far as kissing before she stopped us from going further”.

 

The Valkyr came to a sudden halt causing the column to stop suddenly enough that armour clanged off armour people bumped into the ones in front. Zia spun around. “Jan! You kissed Jan”!

 

Lucy nodded enthusiastically. “Yeeeeah. She was awesome”.

 

Naomi smirked. “Looks like Jan's getting to be as popular as you Zia”.

 

Zia gripped the steering wheel tightly. She stopped it. Lucy said. She stopped it. Zia put them in motion again, but something at the back of her mind was unsettled.

 

Despite everything she'd told that woman. Jan didn't seem to understand her own feeling's about intimacy. Zia had underlined it for her. Love was something between two people. Only two people at any time. Oh sure, Wyld had gone through a tough life where love had been denied her, but whereas Zia wanted Wyld to focus her attention on her, she seemed far.... far to keen on spreading it around.

 

She'd kissed her sister? Okay.... not her biological sister. They were sister's thanks to the Omegian order Aria had established to train them to become Fury’s. But still......

 

Zia's emotion's warred between a cold, seething anger and worry. “Momma. Any word from Wyld”?

 

“Nothing thus far. I will alert you when she comes back into contact”.

 

“Let me know when you do”. Zia said as they drove on, towards the beam.

[Redbelle]

Wyld was walking.

 

After putting out several calls for a pick-up she'd found a way off the roof. Between the grapnel and her prosthetics she'd managed a relatively safe climb down the crumbling exterior of the building and decided to walk back to the hot zone. Only, after about ten minutes of jogging she'd had to pull up.

 

Orbit diving..... and that landing..... really takes it out of you. She thought as she leant against a piece of rubble.

 

The whole night had taken their toll on her and she was fast approaching the limits of how far she could push herself physically. She was aching all over. The repeated calls for help and missions she'd undertaken on behalf of the war effort had been more action than she'd seen in some tours of duty.

 

Picking herself back up off the rubble she decided on a steady pace and took off towards the beam. There were no Reapers around, fortunately for her. Actually, it was suspiciously quiet the further along she walked. The sounds of weapons echoing out through the streets had all but died down to a few idle chattering's here and there. Had they finally broken the Reaper lines? Most times a war zone went quiet was hen the enemy was fleeing, or falling back to other emplacements. Jan found herself hoping it was the former.

 

Her footsteps were the only thing she could hear when Momma came on in her ear. “Jerry-Ann, The Kestrels audio pick-ups are detecting sounds of movement from behind us”.

 

Wyld swung around, her rifle up and pointed. “Any idea who”?

 

“Nothing that corresponds to any known profile”.

 

“Let's get off the road”. Wyld looked around and saw the burnt out wrecks of a sky cars at the side of the street. Shifting towards them she ducked around and knealt down before looking over the side of the burnt out chassis to look in the direction Momma had indicated. She didn't know what to expect.... but if she had to guesses, what she saw probably wouldn't have been one of them.

 

A figure, clad in rags atop a white horse, or what she thought was a horse, holding the banner of the alliance up and forward as the horse galloped on. The sound of the engine and the screeching of metal on metal...... Wyld recognised it at once as a Mecha Steed. Something rich playboys used when owning flesh and blood horses became unfashionable after the first Mecha Steed demonstrated itself as faster and more durable than their organic counterparts.

 

The figure approached and sped past, the Mecha Steeds hoof prints kicking up dust and dirt. Wyld decided then, to hell with it and rose up from behind the Sky car

 

“Alliance Rider”! She called out after the retreating figure. “This soldier needs your aid”!

 

At first she thought her voice hadn't carried that far. But then the figure slowed and turned the Steed around in a U shape before charging back towards her. They slowed as they neared, the figure sitting up and pulling down the rags around his face.

 

“My dear! An officer and a gentleman never leaves another comrade by the way side when he can assist in their endeavours. State your need and if it is within my power! I..... shall grant it. So says Brigadier.....”!

 

Wyld gawked as she made out his face a cried out in dismay. “BALDURJACK”???

 

“......Baldwin the forth”. He finished. “I see you've heard of me? Naturally of course. Now who might you be my dear. Come now, let me see your face”.

 

Wyld reached up and grabbed her Kestrel. She pulled it up and off and now it was Baldurjacks turn to gawk. “YOU”???

 

“Yes me”! Wyld shot back as she approached his side. “What the hell are you doing here”?

 

Baldurjack puffed up his chest. “Why..... I'm journeying to the front lines where my forces await me! To long have I been kept away from where I can do the most good”!

 

Or the most harm. Wyld thought to herself.

 

“And now I am armed in the traditional garb of my forefathers! Wielding the banner of my people! I am ready to lead you all to whatever fate.... nay..... whatever adventure shall be taken when we clash with our enemies! For I have seen them my dear! I have seen them! Past the illusions they place on our minds to cloud our judgement and slave our souls”! He raised his voice to the sky and cried out. “DO YOU HEAR ME DOUGAL? I'M NOT YOUR PUPPET ANYMORE! DO YOU HEAR?!? DO YOOOU”???

 

Wyld blinked as he lowered his head down the ground and took several deep breaths. “You have to be careful though. If you lower your guard, for an instant! They try to worm their way back in. Or send their minion's after you. They tried several times now. But I used the weapon of my enemy against him! This”! He clawed back part of his ragged shawl and Wyld saw a black cylinder tied by string around his neck. It looked worn and scratched and otherwise, utterly unremarkable.

 

Wyld gnawed her lip. On the one hand, Baldurjack was a lunatic.

 

On the other, he had a mode of transportation to get her back to the front lines. She was going to regret this later, on so many levels, and had to hold back a sigh.

 

“Brigadier..... I know where the front lines are. If you have space....... I can take you there”.

 

Baldurjack looked down at her as if seeing her for the first time. “What's that? You know where the front line is? Well then stop dawdling woman and lead on”!

 

“It would be faster if I ride with you”.

 

Baldurjack thought about it for a moment. “Yes..... Yes quite right to. An excellent suggestion, what”? Wyld closed her eye's and shook her head as Baldurjack's Steed took a few stomps forward and he reached down to her. “Well get on then soldier! There's room on my horse for two”.

 

Opening her eyes and reaching up to clasp his hand, Wyld swung herself up and behind him. It was then she noticed the blood. The rags were hiding it, but now she was up and had her hands on his hips to steady herself, she saw the dried blood and Baldurjacks slightly manic stare back over his shoulder.

 

“Now then. Hold tight my good lady! Once the wars over I'll take you back home to your husband. He must be worried”!

 

“I'm not married”.

 

Baldurjacks face fell. “Not...... Well then my good lady! I see you are doubly in distress! But no matter. For once this war is done I shall marry you myself for your assistance in this endeavour”.

 

Wyld shuddered. “Are you high on Medigel”? She asked.

 

“I am high on the thrill of our impending victory”! Baldurjack cried. “Now hold on tight lass. We shall fly to out destination! AWAY”!

 

Baldurjack revved the Mecha Steed and the engine soared before coughing and falling idle before the whole contraption shook and died. Baldurjack banged the flank with his heel. “Drat it. Not again”. He brought his fist down on the starter and on the third try the engine soared back to life and he called once more. “To victory! For the Alliance! AWAY”!

 

The Mecha Steed pulled away with Wyld in tow, wondering if perhaps maybe, she would have been better off walking.

[Redbelle]

Zia scanned the horizon, as far as she could see beyond the smoke and shattered buildings that thinned out the further they pressed, and thought, not for the first time.....

 

What the hell am I doing.

 

When she'd told Lucy she was taking over she'd thought nothing of it. Then she'd looked back and saw the assembled throng as soldiers at her back, she'd felt a tinge of panic. She'd said in the past she had no interest in command. Seeing her sister issuing the marching orders, she'd just reacted and taken the reins before she could create a mess as she often did back on Omega. She hadn't considered the number of individuals who were following her yet now?

 

She'd issued the order to go forward. That was simple. They simply had to arrive at their destination. That was all there was to it.

 

But what then?

 

Take the beam?

 

The Reapers would be guarding it. Hell, the Reapers would see them trying to do whatever it was command wanted them to do and try and stop them. Because that was how aggressive action worked. You achieved your objective, the opposing side would do the same while trying to stop you from achieving yours and vice versa.

 

People would die.

 

Zia swallowed. People would die if she ordered them to go forward. People who were now her responsibility. She'd never liked that part of leading. Partly the reason why she'd often allowed Disdain to take charge was that she was more comfortable when it was only her well-being on the line.

 

Still, she urged them on and as Lucy had said, the Reaper resistance was light. Far to light. Whereas before they had fought tooth and nail to claw their way through occupied territory, now they were practically strolling through. The odd Reaper popping up that was promptly taken down as canon fodder.

 

Or, as markers?

 

Zia started which she quickly turned into a squirm, as if her seat was uncomfortable. She recognised the trap now. The Reapers had indeed pulled back. Intel had told them the whole area was infested, yet they'd been ploughing through. So the Reapers had pulled back and would hit them in one solid mass. These odd ones that spilled forth were simply there to mark their progress towards the beam. The Reapers knew they were coming. The Reapers wanted them to come.

 

Again, Zia wished Wyld was with her. Lucy leaned over her shoulder. “What”?

 

“Your nervous”.

 

Naomi's head turned as Zia looked over at the other soldier's behind her, saw their own expressions mirror her own internal worries. “I'm not nervous”. She said as she smiled. “I just wish more Reapers would show. We can't exactly win this war if the enemy keep running away from us, can we”.

 

Lucy leaned back as the other soldier's seemed to settle. “You think their running”?

 

“If I saw a force this size bearing down at us? I would”. That got everyone in the back seat smiling, except Lucy who just stared at Zia. Growing up together, she could tell when Zia wasn't being entirely forthcoming.

 

The Bastion force maintained it's trek and picked up other's. The column grew but still, Zia's feeling of unease refused to abate. The beam grew closer and closer.

 

“Zia, a moment”.

 

Zia looked at the dashboard. “What's up Momma”?

 

“I need to leave”.

 

Zia eyebrows raised. Of all the things to handle..... This was coming out of the blue. And from Momma no less! “Momma, Your our ace in the hole. The Valkyr's the best weapon platform we have and we're nearly at our target! You can't leave”.

 

“I have received a message for help from one of my other selves..... I think”.

 

“You think”?

 

“I have tried to question my other self, but all incoming data traffic is formatted in the most simplest of binary code. It is as if my other self has suffered an attack to her core program and was..... reduced, yet maintained the core presence of our mind”.

 

“I'm sorry Momma. But a lot of people are getting hurt out there. You had to have known that sooner or later, one of your minds would be.......”.

 

“Destroyed? I knew this. All my other selves did when I copied myself into the mechs and networks. It is not this version of myself that I need to leave to assist. The message coming in states that Rea and Rothan were attacked by overwhelming force. Rothan is hurt and requires emergency attention. I am the only mobile platform able to get him to the closest emergency aid station. And Rea......”. Momma paused. “My other self is identifying her as...... connected”.

 

“Connected”?

 

“Familiar. The same. I cannot ascertain her actual status with the low level of dialogue my other self is capable of..... But I am certain that she has taken injury of some form”.

 

Zia chewed her lip. “That's...... I'm sorry Momma, but.....”.

 

“Jerry-Ann has often praised my efforts to preserve life on the battlefield Zia. I know that the Valkyr's guns would benefit the charge. But the Valkyr would also serve as a main target and so any benefit I bring would be quickly neutralised by any opposing force. The Valkyr is a skirmisher vehicle able to attack small strongholds. In nearly every engagement where we lacked surprise the Valkyr has been outmatched in terms of superior fire-power and numbers. I believe I would be better suited to rescuing Rea and Rothan”.

 

Zia leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms. Closing her eye's, she thought back to the shower. The first time she had met Rea. The Asari had sent her pulse racing, but the longer they had talked, the more she realised, it was not Rea she had wanted. Rea had her issues and her desires, and refused to let a chance encounter with a overly amorous human distract her from that.

 

Distractions.

 

She, Zia, was filling in for Wyld and Wyld was a medic. Zia knew what Jan would do. Nothing she did ever seemed to make sense but seemed to pan out in the end. Sending the Valkyr away didn't make sense. But maybe in Jan's world, it would.

 

….......

 

“Sod it”. She breathed. “Stop. Stop, everyone. We're getting out”.

 

The amount of arguing that erupted ended as abruptly as it began as Zia wrapped everyone who was against the plan in a warp and lifted them out of the Valkyr, except for Lucy who simply warped herself.

 

When they were all out and on the ground Zia looked up at the Valkyr's battered panelling atop the strong Mako suspension. “Momma..... do what you have to. We'll head on. Just try to get back if you can”.

 

“Count on it”. Said Momma, and the Valkyr's wheels dug into the ground and turned, driving down and away from the column of soldier's.

 

Zia watched her go, and hoped she hadn't made a mistake as she waved a hand. “Let's get moving. It's not long now”.

 

The column marched.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"So what now?" Shepard asked.

 

"We wait for our forces to gather," Anderson replied. His communicator got his attention. "Yes, Major. What? They're withdrawing?"

 

"What is it, Sir?"

 

"The Reaper forces that were fighting Steiner and the advance from Bastion are withdrawing to the Common. We've got to go. Now!" Anderson shouted. 

 

A company of marines led by Shepard and his team jumped down the drop into what was left of the Common and began to make a run for the beam. Harbinger began firing its lasers at the troops killing them in swaths. Wrecked vehicles exploded and flew up into the air killing even more marines. Shepard and his team were dodging the lasers. There was no cover. This was do or die.

 

Harbinger fired and hit a vehicle. It flipped up into the air and landed near Ashley and Garrus. Saw they were down, and checked them. Ashley was injured badly. Garrus tended to her. 

 

"Go, Commander!" Ashley shouted, "You've got to make it!"

 

"Hang on, Ash!" Shepard shouted, and then turned and continued his run to the beam. 

 

Harbinger continued to fire. Liara was hit and knocked down by debris. Another vehicle exploded and shrapnel from it flayed open Javik's leg. James was hit, nearby Javik, but not severely and attended to him. EDI made it to Liara and was attending to her. 

 

Most of the company was down. Harbinger fired again and his laser hit the ground in front of Shepard. Shepard was down 60 yards from the beam. He lay face down in the dirt, and he was not moving. His armor had been burned away. Harbinger left the battlefield. His job was done.

 

"Fall back! everyone regroup!" Major Coates said over the com channel.

 

"Are there any survivors?"

 

"Yes, a few but most are seriously wounded," EDI said, "We are near the wall. An evac can be made. Shepard appears to be... dead."

 

An evac shuttle flew in to pick up Shepard's squadmates, and returned them to the Normandy.

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 10 mai 2014 - 06:37 .

[Redbelle]

They had arrived.

 

Zia stood on the lip of the sloped descent, the other's hanging back out of sight except for Lucy and Naomi. A reaper was ascending into the sky as they witnessed, what seemingly was the aftermath of a battle that had just ended.

 

Hammer looked wiped out. Bodies of men extended from a ridge from the far side of where they stood and extended down towards the beam. Broken wrecks of Mako that had been blasted aside. The bodies, becoming fewer and fewer as they neared the beam.

 

In spite of the sickening spectacle, Zia looked down the slope they now faced. As bad as Hammer had been beaten, her own attempt looked to be equally impossible.

 

Reaper's of all kinds were assembling at the base of the slope, near the beam. All those she had suspected were retreating were now assembled in front of the Bastion force as a last stand. Only this was not a desperate last attempt by a beaten force to prevent them from achieving their goal. This was a wall of mutilated flesh that simply stood in place, waiting for them to come.

 

Taking Lucy and Naomi by the arm, she tugged them back down the lip and stood looking out over her own force. Those before her in turn looked back at her, waiting for her to give the word.

 

Zia stood, the words not quite able to pass her lips.

 

They were going to die.

 

Deep down, she knew. So many Reapers, not enough of them. They had nothing to pull out of their hats. No secret weapon. No support.

 

They were all going to die.

 

One of those closest to her shifted. “What's the plan ma'am”? He asked.

 

Zia looked down at him. “The plan”? She asked. In her mind she was trying to think of a way to pull this off. “The plan.....”.

 

At the rear there was a commotion which wasn't helping her collect her thoughts as she looked up and shook her head.

 

At the back the crowd was parting something, a horse? No. Some sort of horse mech was approaching. The lead rider was dressed in rags, carrying the Alliance banner in one hand as he guided the steed through the crowd. The other one however..........

 

She knew those ears.

 

Zia darted forward, calling for those ahead to make way. Those that didn't she shoved until she arrived in an open space the crowd had made. The steed was there with a man still atop the battered mech while the white armoured.....

 

“JAN”! Zia shouted at the dismounting figure who turned and reached up to pull off her helmet. Zia moved towards her so fast she might as well have charged her as she shoved her hard up against the steed who simply stood immobile. It was Wyld. Soaking wet. Looking exhausted. Her eye's probing hers with questions, seeking what was the matter as Zia felt all the stress of indecision, fears and the worries she'd had over the woman in front of her being gone for so long. Like she might never see her again. There was only one way she could make her see what was going through her mind without going into a lecture.

 

Zia punched her. Wyld's forearm snapped up as she saw it coming and glanced off to the side as Zia shouted. “Where were you”?

 

Wyld grabbed her arm, forestalling any further action Zia could make. “My chute failed. I fell into a water tower”.

 

“What are you Mmmmmppphhhmmm”. Zia tried to ask until Wyld's other hand slipped around the back of her head and pulled her body towards hers. There lips met, and then nothing mattered. The crowd erupted into wolf whistles and cheers but nothing could distract the two women.

 

Atop his steed, Baldurjack looked down to his side and seeing the spectacle, looked back up quickly. “Really”! He muttered. “Now of all times. No matter, this is your moment Jacky ol boy. Let's get......”.

 

“Snipers”! Wyld interrupted. The kiss having ended a moment ago as Wyld looked around at the assembled throng. “Find positions and wait for orders! Don't be seen! Engineer's! Find anything that'll roll and get ready to fill what you find with whatever munitions we have left”! Wylds eye's looked deep into Zia's and reluctantly, she let go of her, and moved towards the lip of the slope. “The rest! Make sure your ready to move on a moments notice. You need something? Talk to your team leaders. They'll figure something out”. She paused as she stopped moving forward and looked around, looking for someone. “Where's Steiner”?

 

Zia was moving just behind her. “He's coming in now. He was leading scout party. Making sure the area was secure”.

 

Wyld nodded and bounded up the lip, past Naomi and Lucy, to peer up, out and over the rise that stood between them and Reaper army. A quick glance and she ducked back down. “Looks like they gathered their forces”.

 

Zia nodded. “Looks like”.

 

“Their reinforcing. More and more Reapers. They must be pulling them from everywhere. If we can crack that force in the centre, we can drive a wedge in and start moving people into the beam”.

 

“We're not just running in for it”?

 

Wyld shook her head. “This is Waterloo tactics Zee. We march forward in lines. We shoot. We take them down. We don't rush in. No one can shoot and run at the same time with any accuracy. Which reminds me”. She activated her comms. “Team leaders. Start arranging the men. I need the best shots in the front row. Make sure their barrier's are supported by engineering teams”.

 

“Jan”. Zia said as she turned off her comm. “That might work, but they outnumber us. The return fire will be brutal”.

 

“That's why we're going to roll whatever we can find down the slope and let the munitions disrupt their ranks”.

 

“Do we have enough left for that”?

 

“We'll find out”. Jan said. “By the way. Good work getting everyone here”.

 

Zia paused, then shook her head. “I didn't really do anything. With the Reapers pulling back, it was straight shot to the beam”.

 

“A lot of room for things to go wrong”. Wyld pointed out. “Regardless. You got them here while I was stuck to far away to make contact. You did good work”. Wyld paused. “You know, I'm not looking forward to ordering the forward march either.......”.

 

Zia looked up then and saw the same worries in Jan's eye's. The same that mirrored her own just before she came back. “How do you do it”? She asked.

 

“I think that as long as I'm taking on burden, the people I care for don't have to”. Wyld told her frankly. “Okay, enough smoozing. Their getting stronger every minute we wait. Where's Steiner”?

[Redbelle]

Steiner hurried back to the main group. Bad enough he'd had to give temporary command of his rifles to that biotic wannabe. At least she knew enough to sit tight and wait for him to finish his business. The hesitation he'd seen in her meant she'd be perfect for sitting the troops still while defending the mass from Reaper hits. Only his rifles had just radioed in to say that Wyld was on the scene. Of all the people, she was the only one left who could countermand his if he wasn't there.

 

Babylon ran behind him, struggling to keep up. Year's of smoking causing her to fall behind. He had other men with him. He could order them to stay with her while he ran ahead. The moment he thought that though, he knew he couldn't do it. Babylon had gone to enormous length's to keep him safe. Him personally. The investigation as to the intent of the Salarians had revealed that their plan had gone off without a hitch. All that were left were loose ends. One loose end was a Salarian in mechanised armour with order's to kill him and Babylon. And without Babylon's warning, it was a hit that might have succeeded.

 

The Salarian had come when he had been alone. Forced to head separate as enemy fire split him from his unit. He'd dived into the ruins of a building and waited. And waited. It was a long time before he realised, something was in there with him.

 

It had charged. He'd brought up his rifle. It swiped at him with clawed hands, knocking the rifle out and sent it clattering to the ground. He'd punched. And with unnatural speed the thing grabbed his hands and held him aloft like a prized turkey. He saw then, a Salarian, dressed in scraps of mech that had somehow been fabricated together. Giving this soldier the speed and strength a strength his species could never dream of possessing.

 

Getting a boot in his face had made the mech man drop him to the ground and he'd scrambled for his weapon. Only to be thwarted again.

 

Then he'd been told to call for Babylon.

 

His mission was that both had to die. Both having been involved in the Salarian investigation. Both had to be ended. No loose ends. Steiner refused.

 

And yet Babylon had come anyway. As soon she'd heard he was alone she'd dropped everything and raced to him. Finding him in the Mech Salarian's clutches as he'd ordered her to disarm or Steiner would die.

 

And in answer the wonderful woman that was Amy Babylon had simply shot them both with a shotgun.

 

The shot rained through the Salarian's body like it was tissue paper. The mech suit having no barrier's and only a flimsy metal sheet to provide protection. Steiner on the other hand now sported several pock marks where his barrier's had slowed the shot enough that his armour had taken it all.

 

As much as he didn't like her, Babylon had been a brave and loyal supporter who he was proud to have in his unit.

 

If only the silly moo would stop smoking and get some exercise more often.

 

At last he rounded a turn and found the ensemble of Bastion before him, but before he could raise his voice and take charge, another voice, resonating across where they all stood called out.

 

“Is this what you have all come to!?! I'm sorry, I was not here sooner to lead you all before”!

 

Steiner looked up at the figure sitting on a horse as that figure took hold of a bunch of rags and flung them off him to reveal.......

 

Oh ****! The words flashed through Steiner's mind.

[Redbelle]

Baldurjack looked around atop his horse. That Wyld woman had run off after that ghastly display of affection with a fellow officer. At least he hoped it was an officer. Hobnobbing with a subordinate would be immediate grounds for a summary court marshal in his man's army. Speaking of his army. He looked around at the assembled crowd. Those nearest were looking at him with quizzical looks.

 

Well, time to assert his rank and stature to the lower ranks. “You there. Boy”. He said swivelled the Alliance Standard around to point at a man in the front who looked behind him for the boy he spoke of. “Why are we not pressing forward”?

 

The man, having figured that the man on horseback was talking to him looked back. “We haven't been ordered forward yet”.

 

“Balderdash! I'm here now! And I say we move forward! As one! Together, we have nothing to fear as our enemies tremble at our fighting spirit”!

 

The one he'd pointed to squinted, looking up at the figure. “I'm sorry...... who are you”?

 

“Baldurjack son. Brigadier Baldwin if you must know! I believe my rank and date of commission supersedes all else here! Now, to the charge. We must act quickly! Time left to the enemy is time he can spend to.....”.

 

“We're not charging till we find out what the plan is”. The soldier interrupted. “And even then..... What good would it do us? Right guys”?

 

“Hammer got wiped out”! A voice called in the back.

 

“What's the point of trying to take that position? They'll just drop a Reaper on us like the last team”!

 

“Stow that talk”! Wyld's voice was heard by all and the crowd parted for her as she walked to the opening where Baldurjack remained atop his horse. “I'm not throwing anyone into that until we have a way to beat them. You think I'll just charge you lot into a meat grinder? Our engineer's and snipers are working on ways to even out the fight. But don't let that make you think that we don't have to close with our opponents. They are standing between us, and where we need to be. We can do this. I need all of you behind me to do this”. Wyld looked around. “I know you've given more than you all ever thought you could give. And I'm sorry to ask for more. But if you think there's anyone else behind us. More willing and able to take up the burden, then understand. There is no one else. It's just us. We win, we fail. Our actions, our defeat, our victories, they will mean if tonight is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives, or the beginning of our extinction”.

 

Wyld looked still and saw some emboldened by her words. Other's looked how she felt. Exhausted. Ready to fall. Whatever reserves they were tapping were nearly gone. The men were on a knife's edge of giving up or soldiering on she could see. She needed a miracle.

 

Baldurjack must have seen the same thing because after sweeping his gaze around he bellowed. “Is this what you have all come to!?! I'm sorry, I was not here sooner to lead you all before”!

 

Wyld looked up at the figure of Baldurjack, sitting atop his horse he took hold of the rags he wore and flung them off him to reveal.......

 

Oh ****! The words flashed through Wylds mind. Claymore's!

[Redbelle]

Baldurjack sat atop his steed, dressed once more in his uniform as he pulled his sparkling beret out of his pocket, flipped it with one hand and placed it atop his head. Around his body was strapped the armour he had found back at the destroyed hotel. The material's that Wyld had forgotten to pick up. He'd heard of such armour before, he was sure. The kind where if someone hit you, it hit back. Some were metal shaped. Some were lumps of putty. He hadn't been sure what those were. Perhaps impact trauma absorbers? Regardless. He'd taken it all. Fashioned straps from the webbing in the case. Then for good measure roamed the streets until he found something to cover his new armoured person. Surprise, was after all, the soundest strategy.

 

He looked around as everyone in the crowd stepped back at once. Obviously in awe. He couldn't blame them for not knowing him before. The rags were in the way. Now though. They saw him as he truly was! Victory incarnate! Their open mouths testament to the image he projected that he and he alone could give them what they sort.

 

“Men of the alliance....”! He started to say before his eye wandered over Wyld's slack jawed expression. “.....And ladies”. He amended as an afterthought. “Like you, I have bled and suffered on this hallowed ground we call a battlefield. But before that I, for one, called it home! As did many of us...... As did we all! Throughout history there are those who will take what you have for no reason! Other than that they want it”. He paused. “I want my home more than they however! And I will not rest until I have taken back what is mine! And make no mistake! I intend to share what is mine with the rest of you! This soil that has so much of our blood soaked into it! That marks it as ours! And all I ask, is that you come with me! That you lend your strength to mine! For it is not a question that men like us should charge! The true question, is whether we do so in righteous fury! Do we charge in memory of the indignities that have been felled upon us! Do we charge because we want the world we came from before the Reaper's to be restored? I say yes! And if there is a man here who says no! Then Devil take you. May the Reaper's claim you as their own! And let your pleas for mercy be drowned out by their frenzied screams! For here and now you are surrounded by brothers! Men who will not turn and flee as long as at least one other remains standing”!

 

Spittle was flying from his mouth as he cried out his call to arms. The Alliance banner thrust up into the air as he spoke, invoking the power that brought them all together. “Let me show you the power of our integrity men”! He cried. “Let me show you”! And with that he revved the Mechasteed's engine. The engine came alive with a resounding clang but refused to die this time. As if his words had found their way into whatever might have passed for the machines soul and the Mechasteed darted forward.

 

People threw themselves out the way of his path as the steed pounded through the crowd, up the ridge, and suddenly he was gone. Up and over the slope.

 

Wyld gawked and scrambled up after him, the rest of the troops moving along with her till they all stood at the top of the ridge and watched as the mad man that was Baldurjack charged the collected strength of the Reapers.

[Kel Riever]

The war-torn streets of London weren’t the most comfortable place to rest.  Rea had done the best she could, propping Rothan and herself up with a duffle bag found in the ruined hulk of an M-080 personnel carrier.  She had also lifted the Rothan’s wounded leg up on a small ammo box.  The missile rig was behind them, and they waited, listening to the sounds of the war around them.

 

“Do I appear that frightening?”  Rea gazed at Rothan, the silver flecks no longer just from her natural eye color, but the Reaper induced circuitry within.

 

Rothan, weary but conscious, peered over with his own white on white eyes and answered with a raspy voice, “Actually, I find it attractive.”

 

Rea laughed quietly, and searched Rothan’s expression.  “How do you feel?”

 

“Sick.  Awfully, so.  But I should be well on my way to being dead.  Whatever Momma is doing with the dextro medicine and life support functions in my suit is sustaining me.  I really can’t explain it.  Did you ever expect her to recommend keeping my visor off?”

 

The smile on Rea’s lips faded.  She hadn’t heard Momma speak since her fight with Maelstrom.  At least not in the way she used to.   Rothan’s question only helped to confirm that something had altered.  Clearly, Momma had spoken and Rothan had heard the AI.  But Rea only heard the subtly changing tones, and chirping melodies of Momma’s communication.

 

When Rea didn’t respond in kind, Rothan inquired, “And how are you?”

 

“I…I’m not sure, exactly.  Like something new is moving through my system.  And...I hear things.”  When Rea saw Rothan’s concern, she went on. “It isn’t painful.  If anything, it’s…vibrant.  Like a current.”   

 

The sounds of approaching footsteps interrupted Rea and Rothan.  They looked to see who was coming.

[Redbelle]

Baldurjack cresting the hill gave him time. Time for doubt. Time to consider that perhaps, this was not the right path to victory. The sight of the enemy before him stole his breath, countless in number, standing before him in a vast clump of Reaper processed flesh intertwined with steel and circuits.

 

In his head, he heard a small voice. The Lance within urging him on even as he felt his eyelids droop.

“Go”! Shouted the Lance within. “While we have something left to give”!

 

Baldurjacks eye’s snapped open at the voice. The voice. The one that had always been with him, even when the Reapers had whispered into his mind through his most faithful of companions. The memory of how they had tried to use Dougal against him spurred a hot flush of anger as he lifted the banner.

 

“Foooor, the honour”! He roared, and sent his mount charging down the slope towards the waiting Reaper horde.

 

In his mind he could see the soldier’s under his command running after his example. It was what men of greatness were for he knew. Set the example. Inspire the men. Encourage them to meet the standard he set for them and himself. The Reaper’s did nothing. So terrified by his dash forward and the charge he led that they were cowed in fear.

 

Then they opened fire.

[Redbelle]

Atop the crest of the slope Wyld and everyone who could fit ducked, then saw the Reapers were not firing at them. But rather, at Baldurjack. The damn fool had rushed off and was about to be shredded in Reaper fire while covered head to foot in explosives and claymores.

 

And it was her fault for using him to bring her here.

 

Not knowing what good it would do, but needing to try something she shouted out after him. “Baaaalduuurjaaack”!!! Followed shortly, after watching the scene unfold, with a “What the hell”!!!

[Redbelle]

Baldurjack’s ear’s picked out the sound of his name from behind him. Bless the lads, he thought to himself. They were using his name as a rallying cry. The Reaper’s were firing and the black cylinder around his neck was heating up once more as the weapons fire passed harmlessly around him. Thumping into the ground behind as he approached the level ground. He heard his men shouting more and he cried out. “That’s right lads! Send these beggars to hell! We are the bulwark that stands against all our fears! Dare we fail? DARE WE”?

 

The ground levelled out and with a mighty thrust he ploughed the Alliance standard he carried into the ground and let go. He shot past where it now stood, between the Reapers and those behind him, leaving its length, trembling but standing strong in the dirt. Taking a moment to he pulled out a rectangular box that proved difficult with all the jostling the steed under him provided. But he quickly seized a hold of, and withdrew the device. It was connected to his armour he knew. He flicked the switch and his armour glowed with readying lights as he tossed the ox to the ground. With a flourish he drew his rapier. “Come at me cowards”! He yelled at his enemies as he closed the distance. The cylinder now so hot he could hear and smell meat cooking from somewhere. “Come at meeeeee”!

 

“Master”!

 

Baldurjack looked around and down and sure enough. There was ol'Dougal running at his side. His visage looked strained, as if something underneath was pulling from within to tear itself out. “Master! You must not do this! These are your allies”!

 

“Hold your tongue vile beast”! Baldurjack roared. “You’re no Dougal of mine! You mind jacker! You cur! You picked the wrong man to twist to your evil scheme! Now watch what men are made of. Watch and tremble Dougal”!

 

“Master, you are confused”. Dougal’s uniformed furry form said as his canine features bulged. In spite of this, his bipedal form had no difficulty running beside the Mechasteed “The real enemy is still out there! Without you....”. Dougal’s features finally started to melt as his voice changed. “Without you, we can not strike at the heart of our enemies. Turn back. Turn back or you shall fall”.

 

Baldurjack swiped at Dougal with the Rapier, cutting a deep gash across his face that simply sloughed off his disguise. And once more, Baldurjack found himself face to face with the shadow of his nightmares.

 

This time, he was not afraid.

 

“Never give up”! He called out loudly as the Reaper army drew closer and closer. “Never compromise! So say’s Brigadier..... Baldurjack......Baldwin.... the fifth”! He was nearly on them now and he swung his sword high into the air. “Tip of the Spear lads”! He cried out as he hit the mass and brought the Rapier down on the first Reaper he saw. Around him he saw the Reaper’s falling before his majesty. "Tip of the.....”.

 

And then, just like that. The sizzling flesh, the sleepiness, the voices inside his head......

 

It all just......

 

Stopped.

[Redbelle]

Wyld saw it all. One minute Baldurjack was on the enemy. The next? Fire and devastation.

 

The claymores were the first thing to go off. Their steel bearings being propelled outwards at a force not even a barrier could stop within a sixty degree cone. They flew out from Baldurjack, 800 steel balls to each device on him, at a speed exceeding two thousand metres a second that deformed the steel into elongated projectiles that smashed their way through barrier’s, flesh and bone. Anything or anyone in their way was punctured and shattered before bursting through onto the next target in the direction they travelled. The effective lethal range of the mines were fifty metres, and though they didn’t extend out to their maximum range, it was only because so many Reapers were clustered together in one place that their force was absorbed by so many targets.

 

Then the explosives went off.

 

One minute Baldurjack was there, having ripped an opening into the Reaper formation. The next, where he had once sat astride his trusty Mechamount, was a fireball expanding outwards. Had she blinked Wyld would have missed it.

 

The concussive blast of the explosion knocked nearly every Reaper prone. The ones standing closer fared the worse. The force of the concussion tearing them to pieces, turning the pieces to cinder as further back, superheated air cooked Reaper lungs and Reaper skins as their weapons melted in their hands. Those standing still ways back were hit as if hit by a jackhammer as their comrade’s ashes were blown into their faces.

 

Wyld gawked, as did everyone else who stood with her on the crest of the hill. Wyld shook it off. Madman or not, she recognised the opportunity Baldurjacks sacrifice had offered. Her eye’s fixed on the pole where the Alliance flag fluttered in the hot air.

 

Taking a step forward she turned and faced the assembled army. “Bastion”! She called out and all eyes’ fell on her. She pointed at the standard. “I want that flag lads”! She called out. Then without waiting to see if they followed, she took off down the slope at a run.

 

The cheer and the sound of footfall behind her washed away her fears and doubts.

 

Finally. The Alliance army was unleashed