Mass Effect RPG - Part 1 - Page 15 - The New Order

Hells Sniper · 04-14-2014

Gates led the group through the bridges and hallways of Omega until the sound of gunfire began to get louder and louder with each step. Gates looked around and turned towards the nearest door. He waved his omni-tool over as he let his weapon drop to his side The hacking protocol began and after a few minutes they stepped inside a random apartment.

Gates: Grace, door.

Grace turned around and closed the door, relocking it with her omni-tool. Harris on the other hand took the Eclipse merc on his back and tossed him onto the nearest couch. Gates looked around.

Gates: Harris, secure the apartment.

Harris nodded and turned around, checking the apartment, room by room. Grace, stayed by the door, her biotics flared. Gates knelt in front of the Eclipse merc and removed his helmet, and slowly began to slap him awake. After a few moments, the merc groaned.

Gates: Hey, there he is.

The merc looked up and blinked a few times. He shook his head and began to look around. His eyes widened as he began to understand the situation. Gates smiled at him and wrapped his hand around his N7 Eagle pistol.

Gates: I'm going to make this easy for you.

Gates brought the pistol up to the side of the merc's head and smirked.

Gates: Tell me what's going on...and you live.

The merc was scared, and it was clear that he hadn't expected these events to unfold. He looked around, seeing Grace staring at him with her biotics flared, and hearing Harris' footsteps reenter the room as he finished sweeping the apartment.

Gates looked over to Harris, who just nodded. Gates smirked and nodded back.

Gates: I am going to count to 5.

Gates cleared his throat.

Gates: 1...2.....3........

Gates pressed the gun into his temple when the merc shouted.

Merc: S-some Salarian took over! Came h-here a few days ago...made a deal with our boss, then killed him and took control.

Gates lowered the pressure on the merc's head.

Merc: Been preaching about our "salvation" and these Reapers or something and this that and the other thing. He started a war with the other gangs, wanted them to fall into line. He took refugee in the ware...in the warehouse! Down the corridor...is a catwalk, you'll be right above it.

The merc took a deep breath. Gates pushed the gun back towards his head.

Merc: Spe-Spectral! He goes...he goes by the name Spectral.

The merc dropped his head and sobbed loudly.

Merc: Please...please that's all I know. I just...just follow orders.

Gates sighed and stood upwards, turning towards Harris and Grace.

Gates: Well...I guess we know who our Op went after.

Harris and Grace both nodded. The prepped their weapons.

Merc: Are...are you going to let me go.

Gates looked at the Merc.

Gates: We're locking you inside here...might be safer at this point. Lose that gear and get off Omega, or you're dead.

Gates turned and nodded.

Gates: Door.

Grace and Harris both nodded as Grace opened the door. They understood Gates' decision, they had heard it a dozen times before with him, he was merciful. And he would never kill an unarmed foe.

The three walked out the door, with Gates ending the train and sliding the door shut and locked. The last thing they heard was the mercenary's gear dropping to the ground and a faint shout saying "thank you."

Naked Crook · 04-15-2014

Alex had reloaded his weapon, as he emerged from cover. He took a quick scan of the hostiles in front of him. He caught a glimps of Spectral in the back, keeping position behind his forces. Alex, however, could not get a clear shot.

Alex frowned as he turned his weapon on the husks and started to fire, cutting them down to help mitigate their threat.

Alex: Navere...Justicar...I need a singularity from the both of you. Clear the field of view. Uli...if you are not dead of infection yet...do something techy. Hit the area around the singularity with an overload, a tech blast, deploy a drone...anything!

Alex reloaded his weapon again.

Alex: Do what you have to do to clear a path...

Navere heard Alex's request, as she obliged. Navere emerged from cover, as her biotics flared up and she created a singularity just above the heads of the mercs and husks. The singularity began to pull the mercs and husks upwards.

Navere: Faria...hit them now.

Hells Sniper · 04-15-2014

Gates led Harris and Grace down the corridor a ways, took a few turns, and eventually the shooting could be heard just beyond a sealed door. Gates swiped his omni-tool as the hacking protocol began and the door opened mere moments later. Gunfire immediately exploded into their ears.

In front of them was a large catwalk, with stairs down to smaller catwalks, and extensions to other catwalks. Eventually you could make it down to the ground. They were on top of everything. Gates took a few steps in and scanned the area, the catwalks were clear, so he walked towards the middle of the catwalk and then stopped. Grace and Harris both looked at him as he smiled and pointed at the fighting of the ground. Gates leaned on the rails of the catwalk, with Grace and Harris beside him as they looked down.

Below, they could see the fighting. Alex, Uli, Faria, and Navere were all pinned down in cover and being attacked by Spectral's forces. They were clearly not doing so well.

Harris: Gates, what are those...things?

Gates had noticed it immediately when he saw the fight. Among other things of course, the husks were the ones that stuck out the most. They were human-like, but they're bodies seemed morphed into that of a synthetic, they're eyes almost a blinding blue color. They seemed zombie-like, even when the bullets hit them, they kept attacking. Like zombies trying to get a meal.

Gates: No idea Harris. So now we have a few questions to consider here...

Gates looked at Faria, an Asari Justicar from the looks; she was definitely not supposed to be here. And the Quarian, who was he? Gates could get that he was wounded from the way he was holding his weapon and clenching his shoulder. And a wounded Quarian never lasted too long. And then there was the Turian and human. From where he was looking, this was a ragtag team against an all out army.

Gates: An Asari Justicar, a wounded Quarian, and an unmarked human and Turian fighting an army. Who? How in God's name did they get together? When? Why? And for fucks sake, what the hell are those zombies?

Grace chuckled.

Grace: That's a tall order, Gates.

Gates laughed as he took his sniper off his back.

Gates: Only the tallest for us, Grace.

Grace and Harris both armed themselves when Gates set his sniper on the ledge. He looked through the scope and spotted Alex. From the description he received on the Cerberus Op, he fit it. The fact that there was a female Turian fighting with him even added to him believing this was him. He took a few moments looking at each individual, before speaking again.

Gates: It looks like the Cerberus Op, but, I can't be too sure. Not unless I get a clearer look.

Grace and Harris both looked at Gates as he lifted his sniper.

Gates: We go any closer and we risk blowing our cover.

Harris: Orders, then?

Gates shook his head.

Gates: This army must have a leader...and he must be on the field. See anything?

Grace began to point seconds after he spoke.

Grace: Middle field, all the way back, drones are all around him. He looks like he's barking orders, Salarian.

Gates immediately looked where Grace was saying and nodded. He saw Spectral in his scope, pointing and obviously yelling around.

Gates: Well, he's definitely Salarian.

Gates lifted his sniper again and clicked his teeth. He watched as the Turian created a singular field and sucked in mercs and husks alike. He doubted the group of four would win against the army, but he did not doubt their resolve.

Gates: Stand down for now. All I see ahead of us is a field of enemies until we can get in contact with them. I want to see what happens next before we move forward.

Kairu · 04-15-2014

Faria did as requested, using singularity to left another group of husks and soldiers up giving Alex a clear shot at Spectral. With the path clear, Spectral immediately took cover, re-deploying his combat drone and deploying his sentry turret. He ducked behind cover, moving out of the way, changing his location. Spectral tapped his earpiece.

Spectral: "Drop in more mechs! Reinforce our position!"

Several LOKI mechs and a YMIR mech dropped in and deployed, assisting in Eclipse's push. Spectral then got a notification from his Second-in-Command.

Vyus: "Sir, we've cracked Omega's critical systems. All docking bays are now locked down. Should we begin moving our plan to Phase 2?"

Spectral ducked behind the cover with some shot hitting the side of the fallen pillar.

Spectral: "Yes, begin Phase 2."

Vyus: "Redirecting non-essential power, initializing quarantine procedures, combat systems are arming and shields are up."

Spectral: "Do me a favor and cut the power outside the stronghold!"

Suddenly the lights went out outside the stronghold. Spectral then activated his omni-tool, allowing his voice to project to the visitors.

Spectral: "As you can see, I have full control of Omega now. I would strongly suggest you surrender and allow yourselves the privilege to ascend to a greater level. I do not understand why you would resist."

Hells Sniper · 04-15-2014

Gates dropped his weapon to his side and leaned on the railing with one hand, he watched Faria use singularity to grab even more mercs and husks. He stroked his chin as he watched Spectral drop from cover and disappear.

When the lights went out, Gates simply stayed where he was, while Harris and Grace both shifted a bit. He knew something was wrong as he stood upwards and checked his omni-tool.

Spectral: "As you can see, I have full control of Omega now. I would strongly suggest you surrender and allow yourselves the privilege to ascend to a greater level. I do not understand why you would resist."

Gates cursed under his breath. He was getting a report directly from the SSV Newcastle.

Gates: Omega just locked down. The station's shields and weapons system just went up.

Gates shook his head.

Harris: Whoever this guy is, he wanted to be left alone.

Grace looked at Harris and Gates.

Grace: Then why does he keep preaching about ascendance?

Gates shook his head.

Gates: I don't know, Hardenburg. But whatever is going on here, it's bigger than we thought before. A lot bigger. We need that Cerberus Operative alive.

Harris leaned on the railing, facing Gates.

Harris: You saying what I think you're saying, boss?

Gates didn't look at Grace or Harris. He looked at the battlefield in front of him. He looked at four individuals about to die. And he looked at something he knew he needed to get in the middle of.

Gates: Weapons up, biotics up. We're going in as soon as that Op makes his move.

Harris stretched his body, rolling his shoulders and refueling his Firestorm. Grace reloaded her pistol for good measure and flared her biotics in one hand; she looked at Gates.

Grace: How do you know he'll make a move?

Gates chuckled, a grin grew across his face.

Gates: IF he's Cerberus...he'll make a move.

Gates paused.

Gates: They always do.

Naked Crook · 04-16-2014

Alex listened as Spectral made his demands. With the lights out, it was difficult to see. Alex knew he had to tread carefully at this point. He had to lay his cards right.

Alex: I have a counter proposal for you Salarian...

Alex paused for a moment to consider his options.

Alex: I propose a deal...one that I think is quite fair...

Alex paused.

Alex: You call off your mercs...and I will call off my team...and you and I can talk...face to face...man to man...no guns, no weapons. We can discuss your ascension and your greater levels.

Alex paused.

Alex: What do you say? Does the disgraced STG Colonel have the balls to face ONE human without so much as a kinetic barrier? Surely you have done things much more risky.

Alex turned his Omni Tool off, as he waited for a response from Spectral.

Navere listened to what Alex was saying. She could tell from experience that he had a trick up his sleeve. He was up to something.

Kairu · 04-16-2014

Spectral: "I'm sorry, but I cannot allow myself to be put into such an exposed position."

Spectral then radioed his forces.

Spectral: "Deploy more troops and press forward continuing the attack."

Spectral however felt that it was time to mobilize. He instead used the darkness to his advantage, escaping the battlefield and retreating back within the bunker. The mechs pushed in, filling in a couple gaps in the Eclipse lines as the soldiers moved forward.

Uli switch his helmet's visor to nightvision, allowing him to see properly in the dark. He then pressed a few buttons with his omni-tool and began an area tactical scan, relaying the information to his team members' omni-tools.

Uli: "It's a trick I picked up on my Pilgrimage."

Uli coughed, the infection starting to invade his body.

Uli: "If I stay here, I'll die. Please... I need a doctor with medical help."

Faria turned to Alex.

Faria: "I can throw up a biotic barrier around us to let him fall back. We can still handle them if we stay coordinated."

Inside the compound, the retreat order had been given and the scientists were already in the process of moving their research to the maintenance elevators, including the Fangs. Many of the engineers and scientists were still moving equipment when Spectral walked in.

Spectral: "Help these people. Get a maintenance team ready to weld and seal all other exits and chambers. Someone wipe the consoles! Absolutely NOTHING gets leaked or accessed!"

Spectral then tapped his earpiece.

Spectral: "Vyus, send out a message telling people to avoid going near Omega. If they're neither the Collectors or Eclipse, shoot them out of the sky. Get a list of suitable planets for me by the time I arrive."

Vyus: "What kind of parameters do you want for the planets?"

Spectral: "Anything that is both remote and contains a partially harsh atmosphere. We're going to set up new, independent bases that no one can find. Not even Cerberus. We're going to leave Omega and destroy here while everyone is here. Get our ships ready!"

Vyus: "But Sir, with respect, we just spent our best minds and men to take over the station. We shouldn't be so hasty to leave."

Spectral: "I'm giving you an order, Vyus! Omega is compromised! Cerberus is likely on their way, if they're not already here! If we want to stay ahead of everyone, we need to get moving, now! Stop questioning me and prepare the fleet!"

The comm line went dead and Spectral turned to his people again, watching more equipment being loaded into the elevator in loads. He then checked his omni-tool, watching the battle outside.

Naked Crook · 04-16-2014

Alex looked at his Omni-Tool, and he could see that the odds were not in his favor. As Alex considered his options, he was contacted by his XO.

Greyson: Operative Underhill...this is Greyson. We have a problem.

Alex initiated the comm line with Greyson.

Alex: What is the problem?

Greyson: Omega's Kinetic Barriers are online. If those Barriers are in place...there is no way for you to escape, and there is no way for us to reach you. Our tactical appraisal of Omega shows that we would not survive a solo-engagement with the station.

Alex sighed.

Alex: Omega's defenses are not state of the art. Most of it is comprised of rag-tag and obsolete weaponry. There has to be a way through.

Greyson: The problem is, is that we do not have enough firepower to break through the kinetic barriers before we would suffer extensive damage. If we had more ships...say...half a dozen...we could easily coordinate a precision strike on the station. However, there are hardly any ships here that are considered heavy weights.

Greyson paused.

Greyson: There is currently a System's alliance ship near the station...but I doubt they would be interested in helping us.

Alex: If there is an alliance ship near the station, why have they not fired on you yet?

There was a paused.

Greyson: I am not sure why. Perhaps they have other business?

Alex: Or perhaps they are here on similar business.

Alex paused.

Alex: If you teamed up with the Alliance ship...your odds would be better. If you carefully coordinated your attacks...and hit them in their most vulnerable spot...you might be able to punch a hole in their kinetic barriers long enough for us to escape.

Alex paused.

Alex: We may even be able to help you a bit.

Greyson: How so?

Alex: I don't know yet. I will think of somthing. In the mean time, find the weakest vector on Omega that would be a prime candidate for an attack. After that, contact the Alliance ship, inform them of what they need to know...and then contact me with the details.

Greyson: Aye sir!

Alex closed the comm line with his ship, and then immediiatly contacted the pilot that had flown the Kodiak that had got the team to Omega.

Alex: Pilot...this is Operative Underhill...do you copy? Are you still with the Kodiak?

Alex waited a moment. He then heard a transmission from the pilot.

Pilot: Affirmative. I am still with the Kodiak...but things are getting wild out here sir. I am not sure how much longer my end of the dock is going to remain quiet.

Alex: Pilot...listen very carefully. I am going to need that Kodiak at my position ASAP! We have wounded, we are getting over run, and I am not sure how much longer we can hold our position. Our objective is in sight, and I do not want to order a retreat yet. I am going to need the Kodiak to help us clear the way to our objective.

Alex paused. As he did, he activated a homing becon on his Omni-Tool.

Alex: I am sending you my current location. In order to reach me, you may have to fly through some of the maintenance passages in the super-structure of the station. However, we are close to a residential district, so that means that you should be able to get most of the way here just by flying the Kodiak through the open airspace inside of the station.

Alex paused.

Alex: Make it quick! Underhill out!

As Alex closed the comm line, he felt someone brush up against him. He turned as he saw Navere take up position beside him.

Navere: Alex...I noticed something...odd...

Alex: I have seen a lot of odd things today. Elaborate!

Navere: Well...I overheard your conversation with your ship...and they said that Omega's Kinetic Barriers have gone up.

Alex: Yes.

Navere: That is what is odd. You see...violence like this on Omega is not unheard of. When riots like this break out, Omega does not raise it's shields to TRAP mercs inside of the station.

Alex: Go on.

Navere: I have been keeping tabs on some of the civilian comm lines going back and forth, and even some of the unencrypted channels...and it seems that the order to raise the Kinetic barriers did not come from Omega's central command point. It originated from another location.

Alex: Where did the order come from?

Navere: Nobody is sure...but...who on Omega would be the one person to WANT to keep people in omega and keep reinforcements out of Omega?

Alex thought for a moment.

Alex: The Salarian?

Navere: That is my guess. I am going to guess that The Salarian has SOMEONE circumvented control of Omega's primary systems...and he is doing it from THAT facility.

Alex: I guess there would be nobody else who would want to.

Navere: And the Eclipse are the most technically capable of the three major gangs. It would be within their capability to do this.

Alex: Assuming that The Salarian was responsible,for the defenses going up...

Navere: The only place that would allow us to shut the Kinetic barriers down...would be from the inside of that facility. We need to get in there. Right now...we only have two chances of getting off this station and back to your ship; shut down the Kinetic Barriers from inside that facility...

Alex: Or if my ship can do enough damage to put a hole in the Kinetic barriers.

Alex paused.

Alex: And I don't think The Damocles has enough firepower alone to break through the barriers before it is lost. Even if we had a few other ships...it is a lot to ask.

Navere: That means...the only way off this station...is to get inside that facility...and shut the Kinetic Barriers down. We need to get in there...and we need to get in there now!

Kairu · 04-16-2014

Everyone on the Eclipse strike teams had began to coordinate fire on the hacked mechs. Inside, the Eclipse scientists and engineers were nearing their evacuation order. Several of the technicians were still wiping the consoles and locking out all commands while some of the engineers were sealing access to other areas such maintenance shafts. Spectral pointed at one of his welding teams.

Spectral: "When you guys finish over there, get to work on the main door!"

Engineer: "What about our strike teams outside?"

Spectral showed the engineer his feed on the battle outside.

Spectral: "Those outsiders, whoever they are, are very good. Most of our regulars don't stand a chance with them. Most of the husks are gone and the mechs will be, mostly, easy pickings. If you think you can go out there and help, then be my guest. Otherwise, get to work on that door as soon as possible."

Engineer: "But what if they manage to survive?"

Spectral took out his SMG and fired a round into the Engineer's head. He then pointed at one of the engineer's team members.

Spectral: "You're your team's new leader! Get that door sealed when you're done!"

Hells Sniper · 04-16-2014

Gates leaned on the railing once more and nodded. He could see the gunfire from where they were standing, the four-person team still had some mechs, but they were not going to last forever. That's when he noticed the Asari run to the Quarian's aid.

Harris: The Quarian is obviously wounded...he won't last long.

Gates shook his head, mouthing the words "No, he won't."

Grace: If I can get to him, I might be able to help him...I'm not entirely sure about Quarian anatomy, but I can repair a suit alright.

Gates stood and began walking towards the staircases to a lower catwalk, he was high up, but he had a chance to get closer and could take out a lot more enemies from up here.

Gates: Alright, we're going in. I want to talk with that Op and I want to make sure his whole team survives.

Gates paused as they went down the stairs. Once he found his vantage point, he set up his sniper.

Gates: I am going to start picking off the officers. Grace, I want you to overload the enemy mechs. Harris, that should give you enough time to hit them with your explosives.

Harris: More than enough, if Grace can hit them in correct order.

Grace shoved Harris a bit and flared her biotics. Harris laughed.

Gates: Harris, you're on diplomacy til I get down there. Form up with the Turian and human, introduce our team.

Harris nodded and tossed his flamer, he removed the heavy launcher from his back.

Gates: Grace, the Quarian and Asari are yours. Introduce yourself, tell him you can fix his suit.

Grace nodded and checked her pistol. Gates nodded and looked through his scope, he was looking for the first officer.

Gates: Go.

Harris and Grace immediately darted off, running down the closest staircase to the ground floor. Gates watched as they hit the floor and separated. Gates nodded and lined up his first shot on an Eclipse merc. He opened fire and seconds later, the mercs head was on the bulkhead door behind him. Gates clicked another bullet into the chamber and lined up another shot.

Grace had began running towards Uli and Faria when she hit the closest mech with an Overload shot from her biotics. Harris, seeing the mech falter a bit, stopped running and fired his launcher. The rocket his the mech square in the chest and it exploded moments later. Harris started running again, towards Alex and Navere.